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Month XX, 2012 MALAHIDE • BALBRIGGAN • APPLEWOOD • BOROIMHE • AIRSIDE • PORTMARNOCK • KINSEALY • CLAREHALL

INSIDE: Let our beautiful guide help to make everything perfect for your special big day P17-26

HOTEL HERO: We check in with Francis Brennan to hear about a day in his life P13

Ride on time: Ras will help to show lovely Skerries Football:

Skerries star to lead Jackies in 2015 campaign Page 40

Cricket:

Ireland stars target World Cup success Page 36

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ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES......................9 DUBLIN LIFE.................. 13 OUT&ABOUT .................27 CLASSIFIEDS ................34 SPORT ...........................35

MODEL Rozanna Purcell was joined by a number of bike riders to help announce the upcoming eight-day 2015 An Post Ras later this year, which will begin in Co Meath, wind across the country and conclude in Skerries.

Damien Shaw, David McCann, Sean McKenna and Eoin Morton were happy to help promote the almost 1,200km cycle, with north Dublin’s scenery and Skerries finale to provide a great finish to the peloton participants and spectators alike. Picture: Sportsfile

Deputy derails rail link airport proposal Farrell dismisses transport company’s long-term city connection plan

 KEITH BELLEW

A POTENTIAL long-term plan outlined by Irish Rail for trains to run directly from major cities outside the capital into Dublin Airport has been dismissed by

Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) as it would involve a heavy-rail substitute for Metro North.

Irish Rail’s plan depends on the proposed Dart extension currently under consultation (along with six other shortlisted proposals,

including Metro North) that would link-up Dublin Airport to the city via a “spur” at Clongriffin.

Deputy Farrell dismissed the idea as impractical, saying the Dart extension with the “spur” at Clongriffin is:

“Probably second from the bottom of the options that are probably prudent for the airport and Swords. I don’t see there being a heavy-rail link from the northern commuter line, ever.”

Full Story on Page 6

2 swords gazette 29 January 2015

education Teacher defends ongoing one-day school pickets

‘The public beep to support strike’

THE Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan, and teachers’ unions are to enter further talks following a second day of strike action by teachers over elements of the proposed new Junior Cycle examinations.

A spokesperson from the Department of Education confirmed to The Gazette that further

 keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com

talks are due to take place on Thursday, January 29.

On January 22, members of second level

Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Top Floor, Clarendon House, 39 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

teacher unions, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and the Teachers Union Ireland (TUI) in Fingal and around the country held a second, one-day strike action over concerns about elements of the proposed new Junior Cycle.

Some 27,000 secondlevel teachers around the country took part in the strikes.

Teachers reject proposals from Minister O’Sullivan that teachers would assess 40% of their own students’ work at Junior Cert level.

Approximately 40 teachers at Colaiste

Choilm in Swords picketed at the school, one of whom was the ASTI representative for Fingal, Ed Byrne, who also visited other pickets around Fingal.

Speaking to The Gazette, Byrne said the response was “positive”, with “people passing by beeping in support”.

He said it wasn’t an ideal situation: “It’s cold and [teachers] are losing a day’s pay, but they are willing to do it because they know that they have right on their side.”

When asked whether he favoured the current system, he said: “The current system is old and

Teachers from Colaiste Choilm, Swords, joined the second nationwide one-day strike action to protest about proposed changes to Junior Cycle exams

there is scope for changing some elements of the courses. [However] there should be no scope for changing from external assessment, that’s as simple as it is.

“I’m all for good reform, but in the last few weeks we’ve begun to see where the genesis of this comes from – it

comes from the Department [of Education] looking to save money; they were going to drop it [the Junior Cert]. It was purely an economic decision.”

TUI president Gerry Quinn said: “We believe that the introduction of school-based assessment for certification

poses a serious threat to the credibility of the examination process.”

Minister O’Sullivan said the teachers strike was “disproportionate and unnecessary”, and said the issue would be resolved “not on the picket line” but through “meaningful negotiation”.

29 January 2015 swords gazette 3

lusk

council: query raised regarding correct placement of officials

No yellow lines for estate

School wardens’ use to be examined  keith bellew

FINGAL County Council is to look into the provision of school wardens at Realt na Mara School in Skerries as parents don’t believe that the area is being properly catered for, despite the council employing two wardens there.

Cllr JP Browne (FG) raised the issue at a recent Area Committee meeting, saying that parents of children at the school had expressed their concern about the safety of children crossing the roads.

He said: “There is one warden at the Balbriggan Road exit of the school, and I haven’t spoken with any representative at the

school, but from talking to parents ... they don’t believe that there is a second warden serving the entrance from the school to Kelly’s Bay. “There are more than 400 children going to the school and that entrance serves at least 50% of them ... and I think a school warden in that location would be very useful.”

Council official Paul Smyth said that despite what parents have said, there is a second school warden there. He went on to say that it would be difficult to deploy another one there as that warden would have to be drawn from another area.

He added: “Because of the recruitment embargo,

the only way that we can put additional school wardens on is to take them from somewhere else.”

Cllr Grainne Maguire (Ind) then proposed that an investigation be carried out to ascertain whether or not the second school warden is operating in the correct location.

She said: “If there is an issue at the school, maybe the second school warden isn’t in the correct place. Maybe that could be investigated and examined.”

In response, Smyth said that if the parents feel that the warden is not operating in a suitable location, the council would “certainly look into it”.

A GEM of a win: Baldoyle woman’s work ethic scoops a national award BALDOYLE woman Ionela Nita (right) was one of 100 people hon-

oured for their dedication at the recent 2015 GEM (Going the Extra Mile) awards, which celebrate the contribution of employees involved in business supports such as cleaning, catering, security, pest control and property services. As part of the GEM awards ceremony, which is held by ISS, a major provider of outsourced business services, Ionela was presented with her award by a member of the Irish Women’s Rugby team and women’s and girls rugby development executive, Nora Stapleton. Ionela’s dedication, work ethic, attittude and spirit in her work as a cleaning operative at the Dental Hospital saw her join peers from many of the country’s top companies to claim her award.

A REQUEST to install double yellow lines outside a number of houses at Dun Emer estate in Lusk to prevent people from parking there has been rejected by Fingal County Council.

Following the request

by Cllr Ken Farrell (Lab), the council said “no double lines” will be provided in the area but traffic issues will be monitored.

A council official said that the provision of double yellow lines in residential areas often proves difficult to enforce and can result in displacing the parking problem: “While the situation will be monitored, it is the opinion of the operations department that double yellow lines are not required at this location.”

4 swords gazette 29 January 2015

community Insufficient funding to facilitate local body

Policing forum will not restart – council  keith bellew

THE Swords Community Policing Forum will not be restarted as there is insufficient funding available, Fingal County Council has confirmed.

The forum was funded solely by North Dublin City and County Regional Drugs Task Force through the then Fingal Leader Partnership, that was shut down in 2013.

Cllr Duncan Smith (Lab) had asked the council to restart the forum in Swords “in the interests of sharing information on crime prevention and community engagement”.

He said: “In a town

the size of Swords, there is always going to be a level of crime. There are no major patterns or anything, but while there are bodies like the Neighbourhood Watch, community guards and all the rest, I do think that there is a space where we need some kind of body for improved community engagement, just to share information about antisocial behaviour, areas that might need attention in terms of graffiti and that kind of thing.”

T h e f o r u m s we r e closed following a comprehensive review by the North Dublin City and County Regional Drugs Task Force, which iden-

tified scope for improved frontline services targeted at the needs of the service user.

This resulted in structural changes and the funding was redirected to the provision of those services.

According to the council: “The system as it operates at present allows for direct communication and engagement between the north Dublin Community Care Services and relevant local authority departments and local gardai.

“The North Dublin Community Care Services would not be in favour of a duplication/ overlap in service provi-

sion as this would divert essential resources.

“Without a source of funding available, it is not feasible to re-establish the local policing forum at Swords and Balbriggan.

“T he Fingal joint policing committee, established under Section 36 (2) of the Garda Siochana Act, serves as a forum for consultations, discussions and recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the local authority’s administrative area, and in particular, keeps under review the levels and patterns of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in that area,

Discussing its reason fopr closing the Swords Community Policing Forum, the council cited an overlap in services and resulting drain on resources

and the factors underlying and contributing to the levels of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in the area,” said the council.

Cllr Philip Lynam (SF) has previously suggested setting up a group in north County Dublin along the same lines as

the Safer Blanchardstown Forum, which is effectively a community policing forum.

He said: “I would want us to meet on a quarterly basis to bring issues and highlight them and also invite people from the residents’ associations all over north County Dub-

lin to bring their issues to it as well. I think that is another avenue that we can go down.”

He tabled a motion about this at an area committee meeting a number of months ago, but received the same answer to his proposal as Cllr Smith.

29 January 2015 swords gazette 5

charity Second donation to support services

Starbucks presents €20k to St Michael’s ST MICHAEL’S House, one of Ireland’s largest providers of communitybased services for children and adults with an intellectual disabil+ty, was recently presented with a cheque for €20,000

by Starbucks at its Airside outlet, Swords.

The €20,000 donation is the second donation given in support of St Michael’s My Life, My Way campaign, which Starbucks has supported since 2012.

This brings its total donation to the cause up

to €40,000.

Starbucks donated 10 cent per cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate sold on the first day of each month in 2014 to St Michael’s House. Funds were also collected from coin boxes, and in-store events such as festive raffles and choir singing.

Some stores are also providing in-house tasting of foods and drinks to customers on the first day of each month to coincide with the campaign. Starbucks has also employed St Michael’s House serv-

ice users.

Celine Gilmer, group marketing manager, Starbucks said: “We are delighted to present St Michael’s House with a second cheque for €20,000 as part of the My Life, My Way campaign.

“We initiated this project to encourage communities to work together with people with intellectual disabilities to ensure they are fully involved and supported by their local community.

“Our pledge to St M i c h a e l s Ho u s e i s

business Time to lunch and learn alike  keith bellew

Marking Starbucks’s cumulative donation of €40,000 to St Michael’s House to help support its work were Celine Gilmer, Starbucks marketing manager, with Aoibhe and Niamh Murphy and Isaac and Margaret Findley

€100,000, [to be] raised through our 10 cent campaign and in-store fundraising activities. Thanks to the generosity of our customers and partners, we are well on track to meet this.”

St Michael’s House chief executive Patricia Doherty said: “We are extremely grateful to Starbucks and to its loyal

customers for supporting this campaign. Projects like this can make a great impact on organisations such as St Michael’s House. Our service users enjoy this programme so much and the money has been used to support their independence and important integration into the community.

“Ser vice users, as

part of the My Life, My Way project, have had the opportunity to do everything from interning in some of Ireland’s best-known restaurants to learning to play musical instruments, and even moving into independent living.”

The campaign is continuing in Starbucks stores nationwide.

FINGAL Dublin Chamber will hold the first in a weekly series of Lunch & Learn network meetings from 12.30-2pm on February 3 at the Maldron Hotel, Dublin Airport.

Lunch & Learn provides a forum for Fingal business owners and managers to come together in an informal environment each month to learn new business tips, strategies and ideas to maximise business potential.

It also provides an opportunity to meet and build new business relationships.

The topic of the first meeting will be “What key numbers should you be measuring?” For further information, see www. fingaldublinchamber.ie.

6 swords gazette 29 January 2015

charity €1,300 raised for hospital ALMOST €1,300 has been raised by Specsavers Balbriggan in aid of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.

The funds were raised following a collection with Santa Claus and funds received from spectacle repairs throughout the busy shopping weekends in December.

Store director Brian Brodigan said: “We would like to sincerely thank the local people of Balbriggan for their generosity and support and I wish to thank the staff for their efforts in putting such a successful fundraiser together.”

This fundraiser is part of a commitment by Specsavers Ireland to raise €100,000 in aid of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital.

transport Councillors reject heavy-rail proposal

€300m airport rail link plan sees criticism  keith bellew

A POTENTIAL long-term plan outlined by Irish Rail for trains to run directly from major cities outside the capital, directly into Dublin Airport, has been dismissed by Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) as it would involve a heavy-rail substitute for Metro North.

I r i s h R a i l ’s p l a n depends on the proposed Dart extension currently under consultation (along with six other shortlisted proposals, including Metro North) that would

link-up Dublin Airport to the city via a “spur” at Clongriffin.

Deputy Farrell dismissed the idea as impractical, saying the Dart extension with the spur is: “Probably second from the bottom of the options that are probably prudent for the airport and Swords. I don’t see there being a heavy-rail link from the northern commuter line, ever.

“The only way to get a heavy-rail link from the northern commuter line to the airport is by going

through a greenbelt, and that will not be allowed.”

However, a spokesperson for Irish Rail said: “What Deputy Farrell criticises would be a strength in many people’s eyes – namely, that it can be constructed without disrupting existing travel within the city.

“At a low price tag of €300m, with the proven strength of heavy-rail [links] serving major airports internationally, [and] with a signalling upgrade currently under way which will bring

Irish Rail’s championing of a heavy-rail link from cities to the airport has been rejected by local councillors, who still favour the Metro North plan. Picture: Facebook

extra capacity to the Dart line, and with longer-term potential benefits of linking the entire national rail network to Dublin Airport, the project merits strong consideration.”

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) was also critical of the plan. He said: “We need a solution that addresses the transport needs of the

north side of Dublin, and this must be a metro/Luas rail link.”

The plan, which would link Galway, Cork and Belfast to Dublin Airport, would depend on the proposed Dart underground going ahead, which would link-up Heuston and Connolly stations.

The plan would also

involve a second line from the airport to Swords, which would then connect back onto the main Dublin-Belfast line. Commuters in Swords, north Dublin and Louth would also be served.

Irish Rail believes these lines could be built in less than five years, and cost as little as €300m.

29 January 2015 swords gazette 7

charity: council’s aid for hospital

€8,000 funding to help Lesotho

 keith bellew

A PORTMARNOCKbased charity has been awarded €8,000 in funding from Fingal County Council’s staff charity, Helping Hand Fund.

Action Ireland Trust was nominated as the council’s Overseas Charity 2014 and received the funding to help fund its hospital project in Lesotho, South Africa.

The cheque was presented to the chairman of Action Ireland Trust, Niall Fitzgerald, in County Hall, Swords recently by the council’s corporate affairs official, Stephen Peppard.

Fitzgerald said: “We are overwhelmed with the allocation of this funding and I can safely

say it will be put to good use at our hospital project in Lesotho.

“We have been working hard over the past three years to improve the standard of healthcare facilities at St Joseph’s Hospital in Roma, near Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho.

“Our costs for the hospital project are quite high, so this funding will be most welcome.”

The Lesotho ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Paramente Phamotese, was also in attendance for the presentation of the funding cheque to Action Ireland Trust.

Peppard said: “We are glad to be in a position to offer financial aid from the Helping Hand Fund

to Action Ireland. I have seen first-hand the level of commitment that goes into the Lesotho project and we are happy to offer our support to initiatives such as this.”

The presentation to Action Ireland Trust coincided with the council’s hosting of a “mapathon” in the Swords council Chamber.

The mapathon was attended by students of Portmarnock Community School and St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush.

The concept of the mapathon is to use Open Street Maps to map various areas of Lesotho to enable local authorities to have data available to them when they are considering planning of areas throughout the country.

FastNews

New members sought Malahide’s Got Talent’s for Swords Tidy Towns grand final approaches FOLLOWING another very successful year for Swords Tidy Towns in 2014, the group is seeking new volunteers for 2015.

Chairperson Ken Duffy said: “We are always on the look-out for new members to get involved.

If working outdoors is not your cup of tea, we need people to serve on our committees, people with computer skills, and schools liaison officers to promote the clean, Green message.” If you would like to join, contact Duffy at 086 600 8313.

MALAHIDE Musical and Dramatic Society has announced the return of Malahide’s Got Talent, for its fourth instalment.

The grand final will be taking place in the ballroom of the Grand Hotel on Sunday, February 1.

The show begins at 6.30pm, with a wide range of acts. Tickets cost €12 for adults, €10 for children and €40 for a family ticket, and can be bought at the door or pre-booked by emailing malahidesgottalent@ gmail.com, or phoning 086 321 4336.

8 swords gazette 29 January 2015

29 January 2015 swords gazette 9

gazetteGALLERY

Elaine and Jack McGuirk

Tim, Niamh, Collette and Oisin Parks

Ready for the off ... Mayor of Fingal Mags Murray getting ready to set the pace. Pictures: Niall Griffin

New year? New you T

HERE was a great turnout at Ward River Valley regional park for the recent fifth annual Operation Transformation outing, which encouraged locals to take part in a 3k walk to help get fit and get the year off to a healthy start.

Lots of families participated in the nation-

Paddy and Mairead Mulligan with pooch pal Lily

wide event, with the RTE show’s walk, held with The Irish Sports Council and the support of the council, proving a hit with the walkers, who found it a great way to share family time together, and engage in the community-supporting activity of sharing some light exercise in the fresh air.

Great support from Michelle, Luke, Eoin and

Gerry McCann and Tommy

Tommy Cregan with Bernie, Isabel and Sara Bold

McDonagh, Fingal park rangers

Owen McGrath, from Fingal County Council’s sports office, demonstrates some keep fit equipment at the park

Caitriona Geraghty; Cllr Darragh Butler (FF); Marion Browne; Cllr Joe Newman (Ind); Cllr Mags Murray (FF); Paul Reid, county manager; Niall McGuirk and Marie Farrelly, director of housing, Fingal County Council

Emma and Siobhan Jones with Deirdre Keane

10 swords gazette 29 January 2015

29 January 2015 swords gazette 11

12 gazette 29 January 2015

gazetteGALLERY

Eduardo Sastani and Simon Patton

Xpose presenter Lisa Cannon and (below) Fortitude star, actor Richard Dormer. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Jessica Meehan and Amanda Scales

Stars of the new Sky Atlantic drama Fortitude, Christopher Eccleston and Luke Treadaway. The show, which premiered at the Mansion House, is set around the town of Fortitude in the Arctic Circle, which is the safest town in the world until something awful happens.

drama in The House: Sky Atlantic previews latest offering

Stars show fortitude at a glitzy premiere

Mark and Marie Prenderville

29 January 2015 Gazette 13

escape the mayhem p15

dublinlife

asdfsdaf business P27 P16

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



Gazette

diary p14

what’son fundraising volunteers wanted : The

Hotelier and TV personality Francis Brennan: “I’m not a television watcher at all, I listen to the radio.” Picture: Marc O’Sullivan

a day in the life: celebrity hotelier on hating his chicken sandwich lunch

Brennan serves up the secrets of a regular day  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

Known for his witty banter, keen eye and high standards, Francis Brennan is becoming something of a national treasure.

The Gazette spoke to the hotelier, author and TV personality recently as he walked us through a day in his life.

“I’m out of the bed at 7.15am. While I travel I have time to think and watch the beautiful Kenmare Bay which I pass by.

I come into the hotel at around 8.30am or thereabouts and the first thing I do is go to reception and say hello to them all in there. Then I say hello to my breakfast chef and have a little chat with her

because she’s there on her own working hard. Then I say hello to the wash-up boys because nobody ever remembers them.

“I’ll go and meet guests coming and going and probably an hour later I have a bit of breakfast which consists of porridge, fresh fruit and a yoghurt. No bread or no wheat. One day a week I would have a fry as a treat; a full-Irish as they call it. Then I always help people with routing on where exactly they might be going, like the Ring of Kerry or the Skelligs.

“As reservations are arriving I find out if you want a certain pillow or have a wooden leg and can’t do the stairs

properly. Lunch can be anywhere from 12.30pm until 4pm every day and it’s always the same thing though I hate it and should change it but I don’t. It’s a chicken sandwich on white bread (which it shouldn’t be on) and a pot of tea.

“At tea-time I have a meal prepared by the chef which can be anything from veal to chicken to pork which is served in the office on a tray.

“My porter comes on at 10.30pm and I hand over to him and from then on I can go home. I do that seven days a week for nine months of the year until January comes and you’ve nothing to do. In the off-season I do all the TV work.

“I go home then and when I get into

the house I always read the newspaper cover to cover except for sport. I sit at the kitchen table at an Aga and have a cup of tea. I also make loads of phone calls to America. I’m desperate; I go to bed at 2am. I’m not a television watcher at all, I listen to the radio. I wouldn’t have seen 50% of the At Your Services over the years. I was at home recently and watched television for two nights and thought this is an inane existence.

“I said, no forget that now. Before the third night I’d be jumping off a bridge,” he jokes.

Brennan is currently championing Bord Bia’s Quality Assured Irish Pork campaign.

Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF) is calling for volunteers in Dublin on February 27 and 28 to take part in the 14th annual Lollipop Day to help raise vital funds for oesophageal cancer.

Lollipop Day sees thousands of people selling lollipops (€2) nationwide, in an effort to raise awareness and vital funds for oesophageal cancer research. The OCF is asking anyone who has a few hours to spare over February 27 to 28 to get involved and help to raise funds for a good cause.

Noelle Ryan, OCF chairperson said: “We are very fortunate to have an ever increasing number of dedicated volunteers, all of whom make Lollipop Day possible and a success every year.

“But we still need more volunteers so if anyone or any group is interested in helping out, please contact us on www. lollipopday.ie.”

For more information on Lollipop Day; to volunteer or to make a donation, go to www.lollipopday.ie.

14 gazette 29 January 2015

Gazette

dublinlife Padraig gets into the swing of things A lt h o u g h w e l l used to the pressure that comes with taking part in some of the world’s biggest golf tournaments, this week celebrated Irish golfer P a d rai g Harri ngton was feeling stress of a different kind as he took to the Gaiety stage to regale the crowd with tales of his golfing

career.

He said when he last did a similar charity event, it took a toll on his nervous system from which it took him six weeks to recover.

He said it is not nerves he suffers from when he appears on stage but an excitement so massive it takes him ages to return to his usual cool equi-

librium.

There was a packed house on January 20 for the Evening with Pa dra ig Ha rrington and all proceeds from the charity night went towards the ISPCC and the Padraig Harrington Charitable Foundation.

Harrington, golf club in hand, also demonstrated how to achieve

DIARY

the perfect swing and afterwards engaged in a Q&A session with members of the audience.

Colin Farrell backs same-sex marriage A recent interview on gay marriage by Castleknock native Collin Farrell on RTE’s Claire Byrne Live reached a wider audience than expected as US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres tweeted the interview to her 38m followers.

Farrell was interviewed

by Byrne from Los Angeles about the upcoming gay marriage referendum in May. He discussed homophobia in Ireland and told of how his brother was bullied and beaten up in school for being gay.

Along with the link to the interview, DeGeneres, who is married to actress Portia DeRossi, tweeted: “Colin Farrell explains his support for marriage equality in a beautiful way. I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

Also in America, the Huffington Post ran an article about Farrell’s interview saying: “We love Colin Farrell!”

tea lovers for barry’s advert being sought A r ec r u i t me n t drive for tea lovers to be included in Barry’s Tea Real Character advert is heating up on Instragram.

Ireland’s iconic tea company is searching for tea lovers from around Ireland to feature in an ongoing campaign that celebrates the character of its tea and the people who enjoy it.

Golfer Padraig Harrington at the Gaiety Theatre for An Evening with Padraig Harrington. Picture: Arthur Carron

Following its launch, Instragram has been bubbling over with wannabe characters posting their pictures of a tea moment. It can be themselves with their favourite mug, on a walk with a thermos-cup or sharing a pot of tea with friends – any tea moment can be captured.

The response so far has seen people having a tea moment on their own, with friends, family, kids and even pets are getting involved.

For a chance to feature in the nationwide campaign, fans of Barry’s are being asked to upload a photo of a tea moment to Instagram, tagging it #BarrysCharacter Find out more about the campaign by visiting

w w w.facebook.com/ barrystea.

Councillor apologises for page 3 tweet How th councillor Keith Redmond (FG) landed himself in hot water recently over a Tweet he made about the rumours of the Sun newspaper’s decision to discontinue its trademark topless page three model photos.

The councillor tweeted: “Good work feminazis, you just made lots of fellow women unemployed because their work offended you.”

He later apologised and deleted the tweet after people such as Mar y McAuliffe — a UCD lecturer in women’s studies and presi-

dent of the Women’s History Association of Ireland responded to it saying: “To my sister feminazis - congrats on the big win here. Obviously we are always out to destroy female careers!”

She also prodded Cllr Redmond saying: “A lesson in how a tweet can seriously damage a political career, well done.”

In response to a tweet from fellow Cllr Justin Sinnott (Ind) asking if he was “on a wind up”, Cllr Redmond said: “I can’t stand the sanctimonious.”

He eventually apologised saying: “Re earlier tweet. Apologies. Deleted.” But as we all know, this one won’t be deleted from people’s memories!

29 January 2015 Gazette 15

escape the mayhem: novelist’s break

Amanda’s happy to be ‘in danger’  keith bellew

N OV E L I S T, e v e n t host and TV personality Amanda Brunker is currently starring in her own reality show on TV3, Danger – Amanda at Work (right), which sees her rolling up her sleeves and working in some of the toughest, most physically demanding professions there are.

This week, The Gazette spoke with Amanda about what she does to escape the mayhem of her busy career. She said that her favourite means of escape

is her writing: “On a dayto-day basis, I can think of nothing better than sitting down and writing, and that’s all I actually want to do but life keeps getting in the way.”

“My ‘happy place’ is literally just being at my computer and just having the time [to write], because then I get to be in a fantasy world.

“As a fiction writer, you get to have affairs, you can be as naughty as you like, you never get into trouble with anybody because, at the end of the day, it’s just imagining stuff and creat-

ing stuff in your head and none of it is real.”

Going out for walks with her dog is another way in which she gets away from it all. She said: “I rescued [rehoused] a greyhound recently, and I live beside UCD, which is quite lucky so I get to walk [the grounds of] UCD almost every day.

Me and the dog just head off into the distance, and I get away from the kids, the phone, dirty dishes and all the rest of it.”

Danger – Amanda at Work airs on TV3 on Thursdays at 9pm.

Gazette

ESCAPE THE MAYHEM

Gazette

16 Gazette 29 January 2015

dublinlife

Hayley Purtill-Quin, educogym

Trainer’s holistic approach gives clients support for better result AS A senior trainer in Educogym in Dundrum, Hayley Purtill-Quin has been with the company for almost three years and has a strong client base.

She offers personally-tailored training and nutrition programmes. Purtill-Quin is in her third year studying nutritional therapy and thoroughly enjoyed bringing the holistic approach to the health and fitness industry.

Educogym has five branches: Dundrum, DockHow long have you been in business?

We have been open in Dundrum since July, 2009, so we are in our sixth year of business.

We have just finished a record year for the business and are excited to recreate that success for 2015. We also have gyms in Blackrock, Docklands, Naas and the K-Club.

What makes your business successful?

We take a unique holistic approach with our clients and pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service to every client who walks through the door.

We are completely focused on results and our sole purpose is to help people realise and

achieve their goals.

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

A vital factor in the results achieved is the role of the mind. It was found that when a person has a clear mental blueprint in their mind of their ideal physique, they trained with greater intensity.

At Educogym, our clients are trained in this unique mental approach to produce amazing results, using a holistic approach that ties together our expertise in training, nutrition and mindset.

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

Surround yourself

business

Q&A

lands, Blackrock, Naas and the K-Club.

Purtill-Quin can be contacted at Educogym Dundrum at 01 275 2000, ext 2. For further information on Educogym, see www.educogym.com, or Facebook.com/myeducogym. with like-minded people. I think applying this philosophy can really help business progression and success.

How do you use social media to help your business?

We use Facebook to showcase the great results we get with our clients, using before and after pictures. On our kickstart 12-day programme, the average result is 7lbs of fat loss and 3lbs of muscle gain, and we like to use social media to inspire others.

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

Dundrum is such a diverse area, and I get to help so many different people achieve results.

My client list ranges

from Leaving Cert students to the over-60s.

What is your ambition for the business?

We are so happy with the growth of the business over the past six years and we would like Educogym to be regarded as the premier place to go for anybody looking to achieve health and fitness goals.

What living person do you admire most?

I do not admire just one person, but a lot of the people around me.

Every day, I admire my clients with their focus and dedication that they show.

Taking the first step towards making a change in your life is not easy and it is an admirable trait.

€1.55bn invested in real estate in Q4 A TOTAL of €1.55bn was invested in Irish real estate in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2014, recent research by Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL, a financial and professional services firm that specialises in commercial real estate services and investment) has revealed.

Q4 was the strongest quarter of the year, and total year-end volumes were €4.54bn, which is a 25% increase on the previous peak in 2006 (€3.63bn).

In total, there were 295 retail property transactions nationally in 2014, compared to 145 in 2013 and 121 in 2006. There were 15 transactions greater than €100m

in 2014, compared to three in 2013.

The study also shows that Dublin remains the dominant region, accounting for 72% of volumes in 2014. However, with the 2013 figure totalling 87%, it is evident that activity has broadened outside of Dublin.

Retail is expected to be the strongest-performing asset class in 2015, as there has been a number of large-scale provincial shopping centre sales in the past six months.

Speaking at the end of 2014, Hannah Dwyer, head of research, JLL Dublin, said: “2014 has been

a very active year for the property market.

“The turnaround for investments has been remarkable, with an uplift in the supply of assets coming onto the market, strong demand from investors and increases in values and returns.

“Essentially, we have seen a pent-up surge of workout activity with willing sellers and buyers in the market.

“We do not expect activity to be at the same record levels we saw in 2014, but investment volumes are likely to achieve €3bn. This is still significantly ahead of the 10-year average of €1.4bn,” she said.

Bride Groom JANUARY 29, 2015

Let The Gazette help make your wedding day extra special and guarantee you have happy memories to share with friends and family in the years to come



GAZETTE

29 January 2015 GAZETTE 17

WHAT TO WEAR:

Divine gowns and accessories to suit the most stylish guest Page 18

VENUES:

Find the perfect place to say ‘ I do’ Pages 22-24

TRULY GIFTED:

Thoughtful presents that will be cherished Pages 25-26

Lovely!

Isn’t she

The style radar is on Hollywood glamour with Johanna Johnson’s timeless, enchanting dresses SEE PAGE 20

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Gazette

18 Gazette 29 January 2015

Bride Groom

| dressed to the nines |

How to be a most stylish guest

 laura webb

wear it once because the next wedding you are at involved the same wedding

DRESSING for a wedding is just as hard

guests? Judging by our Gazette office

for the guest as it is for the bride but

hands - it’s one too many.

with stores like Covet, where you can

Renting a dress is a perfect alterna-

rent a gown, this task can be made that

tive if you want to go all out without

little bit easier.

having to spend the cash. Here are just

Hands up who has been to a wedding, spent a fortune on a dress only to

some of the dresses available to rent at Covet, Powerscourt.

Pistachio Rachel Gilbert Adrianna dress, €165 to borrow for three days at Covet

Blush jersey Badgley Mischka dress, €165 to borrow for three days at Covet

Pearl and yellow gold earrings at John Brereton Jewellers €125

Pale pink chiffon slingback with embellishment

by Menbur at Fabucci.ie €129

Navy cap sleeve Badgley Mischka dress, €165 to borrow for three days at Covet

Making your day BIG with original favours Some people won’t want to

Wedding favours are a great way

favours, as a sure way to deplete

for the bride and groom to show

the budget especially if a large

deviate from the old tradition of

their appreciation to their guests

gathering is expected. One way to

confectionery, but rather than

for helping to celebrate their big

cut costs and give a wedding an

buying countless boxes of luxury

day. The main things to consider

extra personal touch is to provide

chocolates, or sugared almonds

when deciding on wedding favours

homemade wedding favours.

baking your own cookies, or cup-

are: budget, the number of guests

Edible favours are quite popu-

cakes etc will enable you to save

lar: chocolates, sugared almonds

money and give you the opportu-

Many people choose to give

and other varieties of confec-

nity of personalising them with

small tote bags with little trinket

tionery have been a standard

the theme of your wedding.

type gifts such as wedding

since Victorian times (among the

themed key-rings. Some people

wealthy at least). But nowadays

favours, which will allow you to

like to give toiletries such as

in our health conscious age, fruit

thank your guests and support a

scented heart-shaped soaps,

wedding favours are popular.

worthy cause at the same time is

and mini perfume or aftershave

Many couples provide oranges,

to make a donation in their name

bottles.

apples, peaches, or pears for

to a charitable organisation.

and the shelf life of the item.

Modern weddings are often

each guest. Dried fruit and nut

Another option for wedding

Many charities have a system

about adding a bit of originality

mixes are also quite popular and

set up for this and will provide

and personality to the big day,

also more practical as they last

you with tent cards for all the

and wedding favours can be a

longer. This option also allows

tables at your wedding recep-

great way to reflect the taste of

for more originality by providing

tion informing your guests

the couple.

them in little personalised couple

about your donation on their

themed bags or boxes.

behalf.

Many people view wedding

29 January 2015 Gazette 19

GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 29 January 2015

Bride Groom

| FINDING YOUR BRIDAL STYLE |

Johanna Johnson

Dress The

JOHANNA Johnson is the latest designer to launch her collection at the Knightsbridge Boutique, Powerscourt Townhouse Dublin. Specialising in inspirational bridal and couture gowns, Johnson is known for her sophisticated Hollywood glamour and timeless appeal. Johnson will join a range of other internationally renowned designers at Knightsbridge including, Jenny Packham, Lulu Frost, Lele Sadoughi, Alex Monroe, and Jennifer Behr.

See www. knightsbridge boutique.com ON THE COVER: The Johanna Johnson Garland Crown

YOU have the ring, the venue and, of course, the

husband-to-be so the next big thing on the list is none other than the wedding dress. Dress budgets range for each individual and it’s usually the first thing you’ll be asked when taking to bridal stores to choose “the one”.

But don’t worry, with various price tags and offers you’ll find a dream dress within your price range. Try different styles, although you may have one dress in mind, chances are you try on something completely different and end up falling in love all over again. Enjoy dress shopping with those close to you and be prepared for some happy tears when that dress is finally found.

Barnardos Bridal Room

Brides-to-be can cut costs and choose from a stunning selection of brand new dresses at a fraction of their high street cost at the Bridal Rooms in Dun Laoghaire and Wexford. All profits go to support Barnardos’ vital work with children and families in Ireland. See www.barnardos.ie/bridal for more information.

29 January 2015 Gazette 21

Let them eat cake – but only the best with delicious Crannah Crannah Cakes in

with an idea she

North Dublin is whip-

will take it and run

ping up a storm with its

with it.

delicious cakes for all occasions thanks to its founder, Jo Murphy.

Regent Tuxedo Hire €80 Buy €295 at Aston Formal Hire

Since a young age, Jo

extra effort into

sionate about cakes.

making sure each

It all started when an

cake is memorable. caters for all occa-

and only her - because

sions including

of her flair for baking.

weddings, birthand confirmations.

perfected many recipes

Whatever style,

by finding the right ingredients, as

shape or design it will be crafted by

well as finding ways for the ingredi-

Murphy who will incorporate her own

ents to complement each other.

ideas along the way. and with many different flavour

through her creations.

combinations, Murphy guarantees to

her two god children, Hannah and Caragh.

The Loft ‘Lynn Millar’ ivory satin beret with veiling and hand-beaded Swarovski pearl butterfly €155

| accessories | Nude court shoes at Cinders Shoe Heaven €139.95

Triple-strand pearl bracelet with Swarovski crystal at theparisianbride.ie €76

Cushion cut stud earrings from CM Weldon at the Powerscourt Centre

Taste is also high on the cake list

at Sugarcraft, skills that are shining Crannah cakes was named after

Petrol blue double-breasted waistcoat €40 at River Island

days, communions

phy has developed and

She has recently become skilled

Bond Brothers 3839 double-breasted, silver Prestige waistcoat RRP €85 Rental €35

Crannah Cakes

was passed onto her -

Over the years Mur-

| well groomed |

what each customer needs and puts

Murphy has been pas-

old family baking recipe

Bond Brothers 3780 Wilvorst prestige navy lounge jacket with matching trousers

Murphy spends time finding out

satisfy any tastebuds.

Crannah Cakes is based in north County Dublin, close to the airport.

According to Murphy, copying

For more information see its Face-

other designs is not something she

book page at Facebook.com/Cran-

practises so if someone comes to her

nahCakes or phone 086 160 0880.

GAZETTE

22 GAZETTE 29 January 2015

Bride Groom The perfect | SELECTING THE VENUE |

Want to leave the city behind and take in country charms? No problem! A wide range of stunning hotels offers plenty of choice.

For that glorious wedding or an intimate civil ceremony, you’ll say: ‘I do ... want to celebrate my Big Day there ...’

Dunboyne Castle Hotel

Add more than a dash of luxury to your big day by hosting your wedding at idyllic Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa

IF YOU are thinking of having your wedding in a more rural and natural setting, away from the hustle of the city, then Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa offers just such an idyllic retreat close to Dublin.

Dunboyne Castle Hotel is situated in the heartland of Meath, famous for its rich green countryside, while still on Dublin’s doorstep.

The venue offers acres of stunning landscaped grounds, a luxurious spa, spacious bedrooms and boasts a fine reputation for quality food and service.

The grounds feature magnificent landscaped gardens, and an impressive, sweeping tree-lined approach complete with historic architecture to guarantee an elegant backdrop for your special day.

The manicured gardens also have a charming oldworld gazebo which is perfect for wedding photographs.

The hotel’s dedicated

staff pride themselves on offering unobtrusive yet uncompromising service and the wherewithal to facilitate your every wish on the big day.

For the reception, the hotel’s stunning Tara Suite, with floor-to-ceiling windows, will set a tone of glamourous luxury to the top table.

It is also a fully air-conditioned ballroom with its own bar and has been specially designed to suit any wedding party’s colour scheme.

Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa features 141 oversized modern guest rooms and four suites, including a gorgeous bridal suite. The hotel is also an ideal venue not only for marriages but also for civil ceremonies.

For more information on Dunboyne Castle Hotel, you can attend their wedding fair on February 22, 1pm to 5pm, contact them at 01 801 3500, or email events@ dunboynecastlehotel. com.

You can also see their website at www.dunboynecastle-hotel.com.

Trim Castle Hotel provides an elegant mix of modern and antique charms

Trim Castle Hotel THE Trim Castle Hotel wedding fair will take place on Sunday, February 22 , 2pm to 5pm, giving couples an opportunity to view the facilities and see what’s on offer.

The Great Hall banqueting suite will be fully set for a wedding on the day and there will be an array of suppliers in attendance.

Trim Castle Hotel, in the Boyne Valley Region, nestles in pleasant, tranquil surroundings and is an excellent venue in

which to tie the knot.

It is a registered venue for civil ceremonies as well.

The hotel overlooks the ancient Trim Castle and the adjoining lawns of St Patrick’s Church, the picturesque views and the heritage of the area add an extra charm to the venue.

The combination of the ancient castle with contemporary standards of food and decor gives a wedding a mixed aura of a modern and antique air.

29 January 2015 Gazette 23

place for saying ‘I do’ The floor-to-ceiling windows of the Great Hall banqueting suite and pre-function area allow a great view of the castle and church lawns.

The roof-top garden on the third floor provides an excellent backdrop for wedding photography, with views over the grounds of Trim Castle and the surrounding area.

At Trim Castle Hotel, the wedding team commits to personal and professional attention in the planning and preparation of your special celebration.

All wedding packages

including seasonal and mid-week packages, offer complimentary consultancy and planning with experienced wedding coordinators, red carpet and champagne reception for the bridal party on arrival, and tea, coffee and homemade biscuits for all wedding guests in the Castle View suite.

Other perks include: floral centrepieces for all tables, wedding cake stand and silver cake knife for use on the day, and a complimentary stay for the bride and groom in one of the deluxe rooms with a champagne breakfast the following

morning, For further information see www.trimcastlehotel. com.

Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel R adisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel in Blackrock will host a wedding open evening on Sunday, February 7, at which visitors can tour the 18th century mansion and private garden, 4pm to 8pm.

Visitors will be greeted with a warm welcome including a glass of complimentary bubbly on arrival and can also sample some of the executive chef’s choice of wedding

menus.

These menus feature the finest and freshest of local produce while drawing on the expert culinary secrets of some of the best master chefs available.

St Helen’s boasts the highest standards of cuisine and those who wish to have their wedding there can choose from a variety of dining options.

Each private room will be set up as it could appear on the big day, giving visitors the opportunity to picture their very own wedding reception.

The wedding team will be on hand to field questions as will the wedding

Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel is also a beautiful venue for civil ceremonies

coordinator, who will offer professional and friendly advice.

Those who wish to make an appointment in advance can contact

Zuzana Hasler at 01 218 6054 or email Zuzana. hasler@radissonblu.com Those who book their wedding date at the wedding open evening will

receive a free guest prosecco reception and toast.

For more information on Radisson Blu St Helens see www.radissonblu. ie/sthelenshotel-dublin.

GAZETTE

24 GAZETTE 29 January 2015

Bride Groom

| SELECTING THE VENUE |

Taking vows in must-have spot Continued from Page 23

Headfort Arms Hotel THE secret is out – the award-winning Headfort Arms in Kells is fast becoming the must-have venue for a dream wedding.

In the expert hands of the next generation of the Duff family, there has been a big surge in the number of people embracing civil and humanist wedding ceremonies there.

The civil ceremonies

are hosted in the surrounds of the beautiful mature gardens at the Headfort. The gardens are so much in demand that the hotel has launched a new garden entrance for 2015 for weddings as well as a barbecue area.

Fully inclusive packages start at €39.95pp, or intending couples can choose the fully-inclusive package at €9,990 for 150 persons, which includes everything they could dream of.

Still embracing tradi-

tion, there are wonderful two-day weekend packages available, which include a garden party with pig-on-the spit, or a garden barbecue for the following day.

This year there will also be a launch of the hotel’s Kells Belles luxury package, or the Festive Frills package specially tailored for Christmas and New Year’s winter weddings The promise of one wedding per day is still something the Duff family pride themselves

on, so wedding parties have exclusive use of the Georgian-style ballroom and facilities, beautiful gardens, private car-park, bespoke accommodation and freshly-carved food from local suppliers prepared in front of guests, which forms part of the hotel’s Guaranteed Irish charter.

Most of all, the Headfort is all about its people, its warm Irish welcome, and the family feeling it offers, as it has been looking after families for generations.

This hotel can cater for weddings suitable for 50 to 300 guests.

For further information, call 046 924 0063, or see www.headfortarms.ie

Waterside House Hotel BRIDES- and grooms-tobe with a love of the sea can set their own romantic wedding against the backdrop of the north County Dublin coastline in the Waterside House Hotel.

This idyllic location offers spectacular views of the Irish Sea, with Lambay Island, Howth Head and Ireland’s Eye in the background.

The Waterside House Hotel is the most romantic spot for the bride, groom and guests to drink in the beauty of the Dublin coastline and is ideal for photographs to ensure a stunning wedding album.

The hotel prides itself on ensuring all of the happy couple’s highest expectations are met on the day, so that the memory of their wedding will last for decades to come.

The Waterside Hotel is located right on Donabate Beach and has 35 bed-

Waterside House Hotel has a wonderful setting by the north County Dublin coastline, with Donabate beach adding to the hotel’s ample charms

rooms.

The atmosphere in the hotel is warm and intimate, while also suiting any sized wedding party from 10 guests to 240 guests. There is also a beautiful sea view terrace overlooking the beach, which is ideal for hosting either the wedding ceremony itself or pre-reception wedding celebrations.

For the reception, the Martello Ballroom is elegance itself, with hand-made chandeliers, a private bar and a fairy lights-lit backdrop.

For information on The Waterside House Hotel’s wedding packages, you can email weddings@ watersidehousehotel.ie, or call Jessica at 01 8436153.

Avon Ri Wedding Resort AVON Ri Wedding Resort in Wicklow provides the perfect ambience for couples and their guests for their big day.

Situated in the spectacular Wicklow countryside, and perched on the shores of Blessington

Lake, the resort commands some of the most beautiful views in Ireland, and provides a stunning scenic backdrop for the perfect wedding venue.

Avon Ri offers its guests luxury townhouse selfcatering accommodation, a lake-view bar with a rooftop terrace and a lake-view restaurant, along with a highly reputable adventure centre, which offers an extensive range of outdoor activities and leisure facilities including a swimming pool and gym, which is situated in a breathtaking lakeshore setting spread across nine acres of land.

The Wicklow resort prides itself on the personal touch and its wedding co-ordinator will be there every step of the way to ensure that a couple’s special day is planned to perfection so that they know they can relax.

Some of the compliments Avon Ri will offer the bride and groom during their stay include prewedding menu tasting; champagne on arrival;

complimentary overnight accommodation; a champagne breakfast, and a red carpet display on arrival.

There will also be special accommodation rates for their guests, landscaped gardens for photographs, complimentary hire of the wedding venue suite, flowers and candles on tables, souvenir menu cards, a silver cake stand and knife, and ample car parking.

As an added bonus, the Avon Ri Wedding Resort package includes a strict one wedding per day policy, a complimentary dinner in the resort’s lake-view restaurant on the couple’s first wedding anniversary, and a professional team on hand to help the intending couples every step of the way.

Avon Ri is a four-star resort and welcomes civil ceremonies, celebrations and blessings.

For further information, contact Laura, the resort’s wedding co-ordinator, at 045 900 670, or email lstopforth@avonri. com.

29 January 2015 Gazette 25

| presents for big day|

Personal touch can make gifts extra special When attending the

one must remember that

wedding of a close friend,

practicality is the key to a

you are inevitably faced

great wedding gift.

with the age-old question:

A mix of the two is an

What gift should you give?

ideal way of demonstrat-

There are, of course,

thought into it while still

as kettles, coffee makers,

giving something that the

china sets, furniture and

couple will find useful.

linen, but chances are

this is by giving a person-

more of these than they

alised version of some-

can use, so liaising with

thing practical. Many

other wedding guests

shops provide this option

to find out who’s getting

but there are also numer-

what is always advisable.

ous niche shops where

Most people will want to give something original

that the award-winning Headfort Arms Hotel offers

but, at the same time,

Moss.ie Guest thumbprint tree €14.95

One way of achieving

that couples will receive

Couples-to-be are invited to Kells, to discover all

Littlewoods Ireland Personalised love cushion €20

ing that you put some

the old standards such

you can find the ideal gift.

Continued on Page 26

Rua Dublin Mr and Mrs egg cups €5.95

Gazette

26 Gazette 29 January 2015

Bride Groom

Square Cheeseboard at Slated €35

Amanda Murphy Ceramics at the Design and Crafts Council – Ripple bowl €150 Rose heart-shaped mirror €95 at Littlewoods Ireland

Gift guide for the

Continued from Page 25

Personalised items engraved with “Mr & Mrs Whoever” are a good choice. Some good ideas for this include practical household items like: coffee mugs, photo frames / albums, crockery, sofa cushions, welcome mats and wedding memory boxes.

Some of these items engraved with personalised phrases that reflect the relationship or personalities of the couple is another way to go.

happy couple

Some people might prefer to give basic, useful gifts in a less domestic vein.

A voucher can work well for this kind of gift.

Vouchers for a romantic restaurant or activity can be ideal.

If the newlyweds are a bit strapped for cash and can’t afford an exotic honeymoon, a voucher for a weekend trip or hotel stay is a great gift. Pooling together with other friends of the couple to pay for a short getaway is a very thoughtful way of treating them.

Give the gift of a relaxing getaway at Wineport Lodge in Athlone. See www.irelands-blue-book.ie for voucher details.

OUT&ABOUT

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



Gazette

29 January 2015 Gazette 27

collins barracks: untold stories of WW1 unfold

Anu takes us back in time to Gallipoli  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

A new site-specific play by Anu Productions, which brings the experience of Irish soldiers in World War 1 to life before your very eyes in the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, begins a run this February.

Pals - The Irish at Gallipoli is a site-specific performance that relates the untold stories of the 7th Battalion of Royal Irish

Fusiliers at Gallipoli during World War 1.

The Gazette spoke to Catriona Crowe director of special projects at the National Archives, about the Pals project.

“Anu brings people into buildings where things happened, like a tenement house in Henrietta Street and, to some extent, recreates what may have happened there many years ago. World War 1 is now a gigantic matter of interest to the

people of Ireland. Everyone has suddenly discovered their ancestors from World War 1 having forgotten about them for a good 78 years because it wasn’t fashionable or politically correct.

“It’s important that we deal with that need properly, accurately, historically and authentically and they’re the things Anu does properly. “[Visitors] will get an understanding of what it was like to be a soldier-in-

training in World War 1 in 1915. They were largely Redmondite nationalists heeding Redmond’s call to fight for small nations.

The ones we’re focusing on mostly in this are called the PALS where people came together through sporting or occupational interests and join companies together and in this case the interest was rugby.

“A lot of the members of D Company of the 7th Battalion, the 10th divi-

Pals will give audiences a vivid glimpse into the life and death of a brotherhood of players who were wiped out in the devastating trenches

sion, were people who played rugby together in various schools in Leinster, the Brian O’Driscolls of their day.”

Lar Joyce, curator and military historian at Collins Barracks, said: “We have a huge number of exhibitions dealing with

the history of Irish soldiery and this takes it to the next level by bringing the emotion into it.”

Running from February 3 to April 30 at the National Museum of Ireland, Decorative Arts and History, Collins Barracks, admission is

€5 and weekly performances run on the hour from 11am to 4pm with a break for lunch. Weekend performances are at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.

For more information and tickets, you can go to www.pals-theirishatgallipoli.com

Gazette

28 Gazette 29 January 2015

OUT&ABOUT

Men’s t-shirt €10

Women’s performance vest €15

Heaton’s Azzurri range (Men’s) Mesh trainer €22.50, jacket €20, Shorts €10

Women’s two-tone trainer €20

 laura webb

take fashion in your stride

Men’s gilet €22.50

Women’s performance long sleeve top €15

Women’s leggings €18

THE keep-fit regime is in full swing this January, but it doesn’t mean we have to stop there and, thankfully, Heaton’s is helping to keep us fit as well as slimming down the credit card bill.

Buying sports gear isn’t high on the fashion shopping list, but it’s something that needs to be done now and again. If you look the part, you are going to feel the part, so get sporty!

This year, Heaton’s welcomes its new Performance Azzurri range for men and women, available in store and online now.

Exclusive to Heaton’s, this range has always been strong on price but this year’s

Azzurri range is even stronger, with antiwicking, quick drying and breathable materials available in exciting designs and really vibrant colours.

Prices start from €10 for men’s shorts, and T-shirts.

The new Azzurri range offers female fitness lovers cuttingedge performance spor tswear with strong colours, durability and comfort.

Extra support is needed for the hardcore fitness fanatic, and the sports bra (€10) will give you that. Embrace the cold weather with the gilet (€22.50), sure to keep the walkers warm this January, while the two-tone trainers (€20) complete your workout wardrobe.

This week, Gazette Style takes a look at this sporty range.

29 January 2015 Gazette 29

Infinity Sterling silver, zirconia white, dark blue ring €198

ZigZag Sterling silver blackened, zirconia black, Onyx ring €239

Sublime Sabo sparkles THOMAS Sabo’s Irish brand ambassador, Aoibhinn McGinnity, was on hand to showcase the new collection for spring/ summer 2015 at the Marker Hotel recently.

The actress was in high spirits and sparkled just as brightly as the jewellery itself at the launch.

The new collection combines feminine elegance with graphic preci-

sion and oriental inspiration. Minimalist shapes, ultra-feminine statement pieces and dreamy gemstones in white, blue and pink each feature in the new Thomas Sabo, Glam & Soul collection.

Speaking about her favourite ranges, McGinnity said: “The Karma collection from Thomas Sabo has really expanded this year. I love the Karma

collection as it allows you to create your own personal style – each bead has a meaning, which means my jewellery is very personal.

“I have always loved the Rebel at Heart collection, too. It’s quite ‘rocker’ and rebellious, and I love that look. The new Katmandu range combines this rebel look with elegance and, in particu-

lar, I love the rings and earrings,“ she said.

The Kathmandu series is inspired by a variety of shapes with striking and unusual elements taken from Buddhist culture to create a new, expressive look. The unique designs in the B line are equally stunning.

Other lines include The Purity of Lotos, featuring lotos pendants, and the

Purity of Lotos Sterling silver, zirconia white, milky quartz pendant €498

Maharani Sterling silver, 18k rose gold plating, rose quartz, milky quartz, zirconia white ring €498

Karma beads range from €19 to €149 each

Gazette

STYLE

Actress Aoibhinn McGinnity, Thomas Sabo’s Irish brand ambassador, who launched and praised its new spring/summer 2015 collection

Indian royal palace-influenced line, the Maharani, that create unique and majestic jewellery statements.

The new collection for spring/summer 2015 is available now at Thomas Sabo shops and shopin-shops, independent

jewellers, online at www. thomassabo.com, and Thomas Sabo counters at Arnotts and House of Fraser Dundrum.

Gazette

30 Gazette 29 January 2015

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL Get away for summer

WITH a choice of 68 camping parks across Europe and 22 luxury mobile homes, Crystal Alfresco are offering a wide range of family holiday packages for people looking to get away this summer.

Head to resorts such as Lake Garda, Brittany, the Costa Brava and the Cote d’Azur and stay in parks with facilities such as swimming pools, kids clubs and a choice of outdoor activities.

For further information, see www. crystalalfresco.ie.

TRAVEL

special offers: many of europe’s most desirable cities are calling

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DREAMING of an exciting few days away that ticks all of the boxes?

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Gohop.ie are offering amazing value on weekend breaks away in some of the most distinguished cities in Europe.

Spend three nights in

a three-star hotel in Barcelona from only €133pp with return flights on February 22. A three-day visit to Barcelona is perfect for a short but powerful introduction to the Mediterranean lifestyle.

If you’re in the mood for visiting some of Spain’s most impressive beaches, architecture, artwork and food, then Barcelona is definitely a city that you can’t afford to miss.

In Portugal, spend three nights in a four-star hotel in Lisbon from only €118pp with return flights on March 1.

Lisbon is Europe’s second-oldest capital (after Athens), and is one of Europe’s most captivating and picturesque capitals, built on a series of hills with scenic views from every angle.

Lisbon offers all the delights you would expect from a trip to Portugal, such as Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaint museums, which are all part of the colourful cityscape.

The city has become an increasingly popular place to visit in recent years, with a warm Mediterranean climate, perfect for those looking to get away from the cold Irish weather.

Full of bleached white limestone buildings and intimate alleyways, Lisbon’s mix of traditional architecture and con-

Barcelona’s Templo del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus dazzles in Spain

temporary culture makes it the perfect place for a family holiday.

Even exploring the city centre will take a few days out of a family holiday, as there is no real central district, while in downtown Lisbon, the Gulbenkian – which is Portugal’s answer to the British Museum – is full of fascinating cultural artefacts with some superb gardens in its grounds.

In Madrid, spend two nights in a four-star hotel from only €155pp with flights leaving on June 19.

Madrid, which boasts a renowned setting for culture, food and nightlife, makes the city stand out amongst many other European capitals.

An attraction for many art lovers and culinary buffs, Madrid has evolved into a city that has embraced everything that Spain has to offer.

On the other hand, Amsterdam’s gentle canals make a perfect backdrop for exploring the Jordaan and Rembrandtplein square, and a visit to The Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum is an experience that you can’t afford to miss.

Those hoping to get away for a city break can spend two nights in Amsterdam in a four-star

Get an Eiffel of Paris (top) from just €267pp, or again, in Barcelona, check the interior of the stunning Sagrada Familia church

hotel from only €184pp, with flights leaving on February 13.

A two-day getaway to Paris will certainly shake off any remaining postChristmas blues that you may have. Spend two nights in a four- star hotel from only €267pp with flights leaving on February 13. Any trip to Paris must include a visit to The Louvre, Notre Dame and

The Eiffel Tower, along with the city’s grand boulevards and cafes, bistros and brasseries.

And don’t forget the shopping—whether your tastes run to Louis Vuitton or Les Puces (the flea market)!

For further information, or to book any of these deals, see www.Gohop. ie or call GoHop.ie at 01 241 2389.

29 January 2015 GAZETTE 31

THE TEMPORARY GENTLEMAN: A TALE OF INTENSE, IRRATIONAL LOVE

A hard read, but worth it

 BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

THE third novel by author Sebastian Barry, The Temporary Gentleman is a slow-burner (like The Secret Scripture), and it is not until almost the halfway mark that the story really ignites.

The second half of the novel packs in plenty of adventure and drama, set in deepest Africa, rural Sligo and Dublin.

Barry is a good storyteller with a penchant for poetic phrase which is sometimes quite beautiful and at other times simply odd.

His prose can be unclear at times before

he settles into his narrative groove. An example of his poetic description is when he calls the stars above the open sea “the sombre philosophical lights of God above”.

The Temporary Gentleman is a fascinating read once it gets going. Jack Nulty is a UN observer, who also serves in both World Wars as an officer and is a civil engineer.

He spends the majority of the novel in Accra in Ghana, building bridges and roads and back home in Sligo doing the same for the Land Commission.

He falls in love with and marries Mai Kirwan – a clever and unique girl

from a very good Galway family, whom he meets at university.

To say Jack is uxurious is to really understate it – he is obsessed with his wife to such a degree that she is constantly under his eye and he places her on such a high pedestal that he cannot see who she really is.

The relationship is a doomed and tragic love affair full of massive highs and subterranean lows.

The couple persists in staying together, despite all evidence that Mai and Jack are no good for each other. They end up caught in an eternal cycle of alcohol, physical abuse and

recrimination.

It is a hard read at times, because just when it seems that there might be a fresh start and some way forward for the couple, they end up back at square one.

Yet, Barry is very good at describing relationships and his insights smack of personal experience. He defines love, for instance, as “like holding an opinion that all the world seeks to refute”, which also betrays the stubbornness of their continued union.

Barry also has a wonderful knack of embedding a character’s identity into the world around

him.

Jack is a tailor’s son, and his voice narrates the story. When Mai’s father dies, Barry uses Jack’s paternal background to create an excellent image of his mother-in-law’s grief.

She is “silent as if grief had sewn her mouth with a cruel stitch”.

The Temporary Gentleman is an original, tragic and beautiful work which will leave readers fully satisfied and grateful to have known Jack and Mai. Published by Faber & Faber, The Temporary Gentleman is on the shelves now, priced €8.47.

Sebastian Barry’s third novel, The Temporary Gentleman (above), is a demanding but ultimately rewarding read

GAZETTE

ARTS

Gazette

32 Gazette 29 January 2015

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

into the woods A Grimm experience

Taken 3

3nough is enough, Liam!

THE first Taken film turned Liam Neeson into an unlikely action star – however, Taken 3 (Cert 12A, 103 mins) sees the series reach its nadir, with a particularly unlikely plot that sees Bryan Mills (Neeson) on the run in a desperate, increasingly violent bid to save his daughter ... again.

It’s a suitable addition to the Taken franchise but, much like the recent Hobbit films, three is just too much ...

IT’S been a reasonable hit, as Into The Woods (Cert PG, 124 mins) sees a wide cast of A-listers and lesser-known actors take to the woods to sing their cotton socks off in this bigscreen adaptation of a hit Broadway musical based on classic fairytales. However, while the likes of Meryl and Depp gamely do their best, the songs aren’t especially memorable, making it one you could skip right past.

whiplash

Drumming up a hit DRUMS – the bane of a thousand neighbourhoods – are at the heart of this film, but Whiplash (Cert 15A, 106 mins) bashes out an intense, engrossing story that rat-atat-tats along, building to a masterful clilmax. Cruelty, determination and raw power combine to create a pitch-perfect tale of pure musical talent, with veteran actor JK Simmons colliding with Miles Teller to create a terrific title.

The unlikely friendship between teenage genius Hiro and his inflatable robot pal, Baymax, drives the action at the heart of this Oscar-nominated film, helped by its creative marrying of Japanese and American culture

big hero 6: disney delivers a visual stunner

A waddling wonder

DISNEY’S latest film, Big Hero 6, is a loud and colourful story that draws very loosely from the pages of one of Marvel’s lesser-known comics.

The action unfolds in the vibrant and teeming futuristic city of San Fransokyo – think Blade Runner with a dose of perennially ferocious sunshine – where we first meet the aptly named protagonist, Hiro, a precocious robotics genius who shuns the laid-back lifestyle of his teenage peers in favour of constructing machines to take part in back alley robot battles.

It’s a lucrative but illegal pastime, and it is the only thing that poses a smidgen of a challenge for Hiro’s gargantuan grey matter. When his older brother, Tadashi, finally convinces Hiro to apply for a university course, his interest is piqued.

University promises a whole new world, full of like-minded geeks working on outlandish projects in high-tech labs. Hiro just needs to develop a project good enough to warrant entry ...

 Dave phillips

So far, so straightforward – but there’s enough novelty and flavour in the gorgeous world created on screen to keep kids and adults engaged.

Hiro develops a new kind of nano-robot: tiny programmable nodes that can connect together to form any shape or structure, promising a new wave in the field of robotics. But things inevitably don’t go to plan, and Hiro finds himself trying to hunt down whoever has stolen his new technology.

Tag-teaming with Hiro is his brothers’ class project (and the real star of the show), Baymax.

As a robot designed to diagnose injuries and nurse

humans to health, Baymax is a lumbering, lovable, inflatable giant that might just be the most enigmatic animated character we’ll see on screen all year.

Reminiscent of Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Baymax’s matter-of-fact logic often clashes with the complexities of human interaction and provides practically all of the comedy throughout this film.

We’re not on the same level of The Lego Movie here, but we do have a script that manages to convey a solid story with plenty of laughs.

Visually, Big Hero 6 is a huge treat. The colour palette is alive and bombastic – when Hiro decides the only way to go is to “suit up” using r o b o t-

ic enhancements, the already cartoonish cast of characters (below) become revved-up versions of themselves, bedecked in the kind of neon clobber we last saw on the SNES console.

It’s stunning to watch, especially when contrasted against the creepy masked villain that the gang end up pursuing.

Ultimately a story of loss and revenge, Big Hero 6 manages to lightly touch on some weighty themes, but this is a lowdepth exploration.

Big Hero 6 is formulaic, warm-hearted, and eventually forgettable – it plays out like a high-voltage version of a Scooby Doo episode, but manages to avoid mediocrity and feel fresh thanks to a wellcrafted script that will keep the adults in the audience entertained.

Go see it, and you’re almost guaranteed to leave the screen a little more hopeful than you entered.

Verdict: 7/10

29 January 2015 Gazette 33

HEALTH Systematic kinesiology: balancing the body

A unique, holistic approach to a more healthy you  suzanne sheehy

Like most of us, I tend to put up with health problems. This is either because I’m not bad enough to go to the doctor or I’ve looked for help and got no relief.

And then I heard of systematic kinesiology.

If you’ve tried everything but never heard of this, welcome to the right place! I found kinesiology during a time when I was just feeling “unwell” or “below par”. I train regularly and was learning to accept this fatigue as a fact of my hectic lifestlye.

Systematic kinesiology showed me, however, that it need not be this way.

So, what is it? Systematic kinesiology is a truly holistic therapy where all elements of the person are assessed and balanced during a treatment.

The treatment is unique as it involves the whole person approach.

This means engaging the mind and emotions; the body’s physical structure (bones/muscles/ rest/sleep); chemical balance and nutrition including food/drugs /chemicals/pollution/ radiation and, finally, energy, particularly the acupuncture meridians.

It works to correct imbalances using techniques such as massage of acupuncture points; nutritional supplements; emotional stress release; food intolerance testing and gentle structural corrections.

If you suffer from headaches or migraine, painful periods, low energy; learning difficulties; back pain/knee/hip problems; anxiety/stress; hamstring problems; neck/shoulder problems; waking up tired; being irritable, moody or sad; have sinus problems or feeling bloated with other digestive problems – then maybe you could do worse than visit a kinesiologist.

What follows outlines my treatment sessions with practitioner Deborah Cunningham: I had a few health issues – none serious enough for a trip to the doctor but I took action because I wanted to avoid the drug route further down the line.

However, it is important to always consult your doctor if you are concerned about your health.

As kinesiology is about finding the cause of health issues often the first session is about investigation and identifying a client’s imbalances.

Cunningham’s initial muscle balance test failed to highlight any weaknesses as often happens with a generally healthy person.

I was then tested for wheat against my digestive muscle which weakened it. Cunningham said: “It’s helpful to be specific about a food that needs to be avoided. In our experience it may be wheat or dairy are the culprits when health imbalances occur. These foods could have been causing toxicity

within the gut for years.”

I was also tested on various acupuncture points on the body. Each one represents the biological systems that naturally occur within our bodies, so we can tell if hormones/neurotransmitters are too high or low causing an imbalance.

At this stage Cunningham could advise that I needed magnesium phosphate and B12 (adenosylcobalamin). Throughout my session she had

After three kinesiology sessions and a few supplements (such as B3, B12, iodide, magnesium which are all easily taken with water) I can say my experience of kinesiology has been positive.

I have a level of health and well-being that was absent for a long time. I now know I wasn’t living to my full potential. I have noticed a massive increase in my general health plus I have lots more energy and no leg cramps.

a great ability to make things clear in a relaxed environment.

“If these deficiencies can be found early enough health problems can be prevented. Due to modern convenience foods and less cooking ‘from scratch’ people have become deficient in nutrients and the absorption of them,” says Cunningham.

She told me that her various techniques could correct gut issues and she also detected a mild thyroid imbalance which correlated to my symptoms. This, she added, would be an underlying problem that might not show up in blood tests until the thyroid got much more sluggish.

Omitting wheat from my diet means no more digestive problems. I feel like a new woman and have no hesitation in recommending Deborah Cunningham’s kinesiology treatment, which is genuine, kind and compassionate. Last word?

I’m sold on kinesiology and will be attending for regular check ups to ensure I am on track and growing and developing as a whole and happy human being. So my advice is: go on, try it!

To book an appointment contact: Deborah Cunningham, Visage Salon, 68b Malahide Road, Marino, Dublin 3 Ph: 01 8332955 Mobile : 086 1774815.

Imbalances are corrected using techniques such as massage of acupuncture points. Inset: The Association of Systematic Kinesiology logo

34 SWORDS GAZETTE 29 January 2015

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29 January 2015 Gazette 35

sports awards P29

gaelic games P27 P31 asdfsdaf

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



Gazette

cricket P28

gaelic games: new organisation set to support and represent players in the women’s codes

Players’ power extended through ladies association  stephen findlater

sport@gazettegroup.com

DUBLIN stars Noelle Healy and Ali Twomey have warmly welcomed the introduction of the Women’s Gaelic Players Association which was launched in Smock Alley this week.

The aim of the WGPA is to “represent, listen to, and support ladies footballers and camogie players who represent their county at the highest level in their sport” with a view to improving the playing, personal and professional lives of their members.

At the launch, Cork camogie captain Anna Geary, who is an executive member of the new association, said that establishing minimum standards of player experience was a key aim, adding: “We want an equal playing experience for camogie players and ladies footballers to our

male counterparts.”

To this end, St Brigid’s woman Healy – who also lines out for Dublin’s ladies footballers and UCD in college competition – said that there is a huge need for the WGPA when you see their initial findings.

“Looking at the results of the survey, some of it was quite shocking,” she told GazetteSport.

“Things like players not having access to hot water after training, the distance players were travelling to play, how many times they were training each year.

“It was even down to players not having access to food at times. It just shows that player welfare wasn’t in place.”

Recent debate has arisen from Joe Brolly’s comments about the joy being taken out of the game for male intercounty stars.

And Healy says that many of the issues raised are the same for her

female counterparts.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the men being ‘indentured slaves’ but the women train just as many times a week. We put our lives on hold but we don’t have anyone to stand up and make these points for us. I think it is brilliant these players are taking responsibility for this and it can only mean good things. I admire they have the drive to set this up.”

For Twomey, she says that the level of commitment has gone up exponentially and so getting representation to make sure it does not go over the top is hugely important.

From her own perspective, the Lucan woman plays county, college with DIT and club while also studying and attempting to work part-time.

She says the work-play balance is always likely to leave tough decisions to fulfil each commitment.

Indeed, in February the first round of National League matches comes just eight days after the colleges season.

“Playing for your county is not like what it used to be, just training and then playing your match at the weekend. It’s full time. It’s all about your diet, your lifestyle, going to bed early, your strength and conditioning when you are not with the team.

“It’s nearly an everyday thing. The girls have set up something to support the players and hopefully it will be as recognised as the boys [GPA].

“I find it really hard.

At the moment, I train with Dublin while the colleges championship is coming up in February the week before the National league starts.

You also don’t want to neglect the club; there’s only seven days in the week and you are trying to fit everything in.”

St Brigid’s Noelle Healy, who was part of the launch of the new GAA season and the continuing sponsorship of Dublin codes by AIG alongside Cian O’Sullivan, Ali Twomey and David O’Callaghan, expressed her support for the new WGPA

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

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6230

Gazette

36 Gazette 29 January 2015

SPORT

KEN’SDiary

World in motion for O’Brien and Ireland The national cricket side are set for another trip to the top tournament on the calendar, and GazetteSport speaks to team talisman Kevin O’Brien before their Antipodean journey

Learning in the saddle but all for a good cause Olympic silver medallist and Irish boxing legend Ken Egan is to take part in this year’s Laurel’s Charity Crew Cycle from Galway to Dublin on April 19. In the run-up to the event, Egan has partnered with Gazette Sport to document his preparation for the big day, and here is his first report from the road.

Having got my first taste of the cycling world last week, I knew what was in store for me this time around and, let me tell you, it wasn’t pretty.

We again departed from the usual spot at the Laurels pub in Clondalkin, and from the nine bodies we had for the first cycle, we had a massive increase in numbers - up into the region of 16 diehards taking part.

We left Clondalkin and headed for the new road and down towards Ballyfermot. Pushing through Ballyer, we proceeded to head down towards Chapelizod and then out to Phoenix Park.

I got into the park and it was wonderful to see many people training and doing various boot camps and fitness programs - it really is a hub of fitness and well-being down there.

We pushed on through the park and came out and continued on towards Celbridge, and out as far as Straffan where someone thankfully decided we needed a well-earned tea break.

I was speaking to one of the regular cyclists in the coffee shop, and I told him my woes due to not having padded shorts yet, me being the typical rookie... He said he would nearly rather go out on these cycles without a helmet than without padded shorts, and when I got off at the end of the spin, I could see where he was coming from.

I pushed on after tea on towards Newcastle and on home to Clondalkin, and although I am in a world of hurt, it is all for Our Lady’s Hospital, a very worthwhile cause. With 65km covered and more time on the saddle in the bank, I am making the right moves... I hope!

For more information about the event, log on to www.facebook.com/laurelscharitycrew, and come back next week for the latest instalment of Ken’s cycling diary.

 stephen findlater sport@gazettegroup.com

KEVIN O’Brien says that despite the evergrowing spread of cricket tournaments around the world, the 50-over World Cup is still very much “the pinnacle” for Irish cricket.

The competition has been the catalyst for a series of golden moments for Ireland in their two previous participations, stunning Pakistan on St Patrick’s Day in 2007 while O’Brien broke the record for the fastest World Cup century in 2011 against England.

Ireland fly out on January 30 for their third shot at the competition

which begins on February 16 hopeful they can make some waves once again at the tournament which is being played in Australia and New Zealand.

And the Sandymount man is raring to go for the competition: “I’m as excited as I was in 2007; I can’t wait to get on the plane and touch down in Australia and get going.”

Ireland are in a seventeam group with the top four sides going through to the quarter-finals.

O’Brien’s side are the sixth-ranked side on the world list and so need to cause a couple of surprises if they are to finish in the top four and

advance to the quarterfinals.

B u t I r e l a n d h ave defied the odds in the two previous World Cups and O’Brien says his side are confident they can do so once again.

“You are looking at three wins minimum to get out of the group so we have identified the games against UAE and Zimbabwe as must-win to stand any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages. From there, we look to beat maybe West Indies or Pakistan and that could be enough.

“We start with a massive game against the West Indies. If we can

Ed Joyce, Kevin O’Brien and Craig Young at the announcement of Tourism Ireland’s sponsorship of the Ireland cricket team for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup. Picture: Chris Bellew/Fennell Photography

get a victory there, it sets us up brilliantly for the rest of the campaign. We would be very confident for our second game with the UAE.” There are, however, two heav y hitters in with world number two, India, and three, South Africa, also in the mix.

Since then, media interest has grown markedly in tandem with the financial support – the side announced a sponsorship deal with Irish Tourism this week – and preparation tours stepping up to a higher level.

But while those things

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

‘I can’t wait to get on the plane, touch down in Australia and get going’ - Kevin O’Brien

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

The latter feature AB de Villiers who recently smashed the record for the quickest one-day century in a warm-up game against the West Indies.

“India and South Africa are great games to play in, two of the best in the world. But we are certainly not going into them to make up the numbers. They are two very difficult games and we have seen South Africa are playing great cricket at the moment.

“India are a mixed bag outside the subcontinent so there is no reason we can’t go out and play two very good games and come away with a victory.”

When Ireland embarked on their first World Cup journey eight years ago, they were given precious little preparation for the level of attention they would subsequently garner.

have changed, O’Brien says it is an exciting time: “Certainly for the players that have been before, we know what to expect and being dragged from one place to another. But it certainly doesn’t get old!

“The pinnacle of our spor t is the 50-over World Cup. The T20 comes around more often – we have played in four of those – and, from a player’s point of view, this is the one you want to play in.

“It gives you that 10% or 15% more of an impetus than a regular game; you are playing against the best teams and the best players in the world.

It’s a great chance to put your name on the map and show world cricket what you can do.

“As a team, we want to play the best cricket we can play. If we do that, we will get at least two or three victories.”

29 January 2015 Gazette 37

Gazette

hockey: battle for top four in leinster rages on

Glenanne and Railway Union push IHL hopes  sport@dublingazette.com

A PAIR of 2-1 wins served to bolster Railway Union and Glenanne’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Irish Hockey League, putting a major dent in YMCA and Corinthian’s chances, respectively, of that same goal.

All four are looking to push for a place in the top four of the Leinster league in what is proving a hugely close-run battle.

The Glens had to soak up huge amounts of

pressure on home turf against the Y in Tallaght, especially in the second half, before Richie Shaw scored a crucial goal for a second week running.

Eddie O’Malley put the Glens in front when he intercepted, exchanged passes with Enda Tucker before O’Malley picked up a rebound for 1-0.

They just about held that lead until the break but YM were back on terms when their top scorer Jamie Tobin grabbed his 11th of the season with a

sweetly taken reverse.

But Shaw won it when Rowland Rixon-Fuller picked him out and he coolly rolled home for the killer goal. It keeps Glenanne in a share of third place while YM drop back to four points off the automatic IHL places.

Railway moved back into fifth place with their 2-1 win over Corinthian with Mark English claiming the winner inside the last five minutes of the tie.

Glenanne’s Stephen Brownlow attempts to tackle YMCA’s Jaco Fourie

FastSport

Ryan and Irvine set to lead big Irish line-up Glenanne celebrate Richie Shaw’s winning goal

The first half was even enough but saw Phil Baron’s goal separate the teams when he slid home from Fergal Keaveney’s through ball while Corinthian hit the post from a neat dink over Simon Thornton.

The second half opened up more and Gordon Elliott fired home a backhand shot after capitalising from a defensive error with eight minutes left. Both teams struggled from their corners on the day with plenty going a begging which could have changed things.

Railway, though, won it when Donal O’Mearain played in English who shot, despite a very narrow angle, and it went in the far corner with Rob Abbott on hand to make

sure if necessary.

At the top it is pretty much as you were.

Monkstown cruised to a 6-2 win over UCD, which could have been more but for an excellent performance from Conor Quinn.

The sky-blues built a 4-1 lead inside 25 minutes with Gareth Watkins banging a hat trick and Andrew Ward also picked out the top corner. Jeremy Duncan got one back – making a strong impact since his return from six weeks in Australia.

Richard Sykes and Davy Carson stretched the lead to 6-1 before Duncan got his second of the day.

Monkstown remain four points clear at the top of the division.

GARDA cycling club’s Caroline Ryan and Skerries resident Martyn Irvine will lead Ireland’s eight-strong team for the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, at the Velodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Paris, from the February 18 to 22.

It is the largest team Ireland has ever sent and comes at the end of a tough track cycling season, which included the European Championships and three World Cups.

In order to compete in the World Championships the Irish team had to place in the top rankings across the target disciplines in these events, and in doing so qualified Ireland’s biggest team ever to attend the Track World Championships.

Ireland’s newly formed Women’s Team Pursuit has improved consistently throughout the season, finishing in 11th place at the last World Cup in Cali, which ranked them as the eighth European nation ahead of the World Championships in Paris.

This is the first time that Ireland has qualified a team pursuit at the World Championships.

Ryan and Irvine qualified in the Omnium events, having both had a mixed season of racing so far. Irvine’s qualification is especially sweet considering he broke his shoulder bone in the Omnium at the first World Cup of the season, in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Gazette

38 SWORDS gazette 29 January 2015

SPORT

FastSport

cycling: local rider preparing for national challenge

Rivervalley roll continues with Mullion Cup victory RIVERVALLEY Rangers seniors made it three cup wins in succession as they added a 7-0 win over Broombridge in the Mullion Cup to recent successes in both the Leinster Junior Cup and the FAI Junior Cup. Paul Ryan and Paul Currivan combined for the first goal for the former to get his first of the game. Number two came direct from a corner before Ryan sprung the offside trap before squaring to Currivan who finished from close range for 3-0.

Currivan slotted the fourth from a corner move that was worked to him 10-yards out where he slotted home. Currivan finished his hat trick with the fifth as Conor Dowd drilled low and hard into the striker’s path to extend the margin further.

He scored a fourth, too, before Ian Lattin played in Ryan for the last goal of the tie. He had plenty still to do when he took the ball on but held off a defender and then finished nicely.

It sees Rivervalley move on the quarter-final of the AUL competition and keeps them fighting on four fronts for silverware.

They currently sit top of their Senior Sunday division with nine wins from nine outings thus far in the 2014/15 season.

Despite not having played since the turn of the year in the league due to their cup commitments, Rivervalley Rangers retain a four-point lead over the chasing pack who have all played at least two more games than them at this stage.

David McCann, far right, with Damien Shaw, Sean McKenna and Eoin Morton at the launch of the 2015 An Post Ras. Picture: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE

Morton set for Ras 2015  sport@dublingazette.com

Swords native and rising cycling star Eoin Morton was on hand last week to help to launch the 2015 An Post Ras, which will run from May 17 to 24 across almost 1,200 kilometres of challenging terrain, set up to encourage an even more exciting national cycling event than previous years.

Deliberately omitting some of the tough first category climbs that have featured in recent years, the emphasis this time around is on opening up the possibility of attacks at any point in the race.

This change is set to add greatly to the unpredictability the An Post Ras has long been known for.

The 2015 edition of the race will begin in Dunboyne, travelling clockwise around Ireland with stage finishes in Carlow, Tipperary, Bearna, Newport, Ballina, Ballinamore and Drogheda, before the customary finale in Skerries.

Speaking about the Ras experience, Morton, who comes from an impressive lineage in the sport - his father, Peter, was one of the top Irish cyclists in the 1970s and rode for Team Ireland at the 1976 Olympic Games with Sean Kelly, Michael Cusack, Alan McCormack, John Shortt, and Tony Lally - is looking forward to his third An Post Ras experience.

“The appeal of the Ras is to know that you are

going to mix it with the top professional riders in Europe. Tony Martin, the current world time trial champion won it a couple of years ago, so that shows the calibre of riders who are taking part and the top level the race is at. If you’re an amateur working nine to five, to be able to mix it with that class of rider at professional level is something special.”

Morton will be riding for the fourth season with Team UCD, with whom he partnered when he was studying at the Dublin college.

“I studied for my masters at UCD in environmental science and when I was studying, I joined the cycling club, and away it went.

“I actually played basketball for Swords BC when I was a kid and when I went to university, I didn’t have time for sport, but I took up cycling big time during my masters. I am pushing on with it now, and regretting that I didn’t take it up earlier. It’s going really well.”

In spite of a crash that broke Morton’s nose and bike in his first Ras three years ago, he completed the course and is looking to build on the more positive experience he had in the 2014 vintage.

“I had a massive crash on stage six outside Mitchelstown. I was sticking in all day, but moving up, I had that crash. I broke my nose and my bike, but still

managed to finish the race, completing all the three stages after that one.

It was nice to get that out of the way, that you have one Ras completed and under your belt.”

“I pushed on more last year, and the level between myself and other country riders was not that big. I managed a top 10 finish on stage six last year, ironically enough!”

“I’m going to push for country rider general classification this year, if I possibly can. It’s a difficult thing to do. One puncture or crash and your goals are gone, but you have to think about all the stages. There is one stage that shines out for me this year and it’s one I think I can push towards doing really well in.”

29 January 2015 SWORDS gazette 39

Gazette

Paul on point

All-Star Flynn calls on business for fitness focus

Club Noticeboard fingallians

fingallians and Dublin star Paul Flynn

recently called on employers and employees across Ireland to line out for Ireland’s first Workplace Wellbeing Day on Friday, March 27. The nationwide campaign aims to help improve employee health through promoting better nutrition and physical activity in workplaces. Full details on how to get involved are available on www. nhfireland.ie/wellbeing.

football: cup success ahead of start of NFL

The club hosts membership week

There will be a running mechanics

from Monday, January 26 to Satur-

and game speed in GAA workshop on

day, January 31. Please call to the

Saturday, February 21 from 10am to

bar any of the evenings from 7 to 9pm

5pm and Sunday, February 22 from

or on Saturday morning from 10am

10am to 4pm and Saturday, April 18

to 12 noon and submit your member-

from 10am to 4pm. To book, log on to

ship form. Forms can also be down-

http://www.dublingaagamesdevel-

loaded from www.fingallians.com

opment.ie/workshops/specialised-

and returned by email.

gaa-course/runningandgamesspee ​

Operation Transformation has

The hurling section have a fund-

gone from strength to strength in

raising sports prediction quiz at €10

the club. New entrants are most

per entry. Online applications can be

welcome.

accessed from Facebook or manual

Coaching dates for the diary: The coaching committee will be hosting a

Our Irish language conversation

6 at 9.30pm. The agenda is: Spot and

group for those sitting Leaving Cert

Fix workshop practical, coaching

is on at the clubhouse every Thurs-

resources football/hurling, website

day from 8 to 9pm. This will be very

and social media training.​

beneficial in the run up to the oral

The postponed hurling workshop

exams in April. The club provide this

with John Leahy on Good Game Hab-

service free of charge so we encour-

its will now be taking place on Friday,

age all our members to avail. Our

February 13 at 7.30pm on the all-

Wednesday night group for adults,

weather.

from 9 to 10pm, still runs as normal.

THE executive co

Dublin claimed the O’Byrne Cup title at St Conleth’s Park with an extra-time victory over Kildare

Carthy on point for Dubs in O’Byrne final Dublin 0-24 Kildare 0-19  sport@dublingazette.com

NAOMH Mearnog’s Shane Carthy kicked two points in extra time as Dublin finished the stronger in extra-time to capture their first Bord na Mona O’Byrne Cup title in Sunday’s all-action decider at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge to get their year off to an upbeat start.

It puts them in good stead ahead of the new season with manager Jim Gavin fielding a host of new faces in the battle for a place in his panel for the

summer.

Four points from Dean Rock as well as scores from Cormac Costello, Jonny Cooper, Kevin McManamon (two) and Tomas Brady helped the Dubs to a 0-9 to 0-3 lead inside the opening 23 minutes.

The likes of Darroch Mulhall, Eamon Callaghan and Podge Fogarty, however, inspired a Lilywhite comeback and with 10 minutes remaining the sides were level 0-13 each.

Late points from Mulhall and Fogarty saw Kildare forge into a onepoint lead as the game entered injury-time and

their grip on the O’Byrne Cup looked to be strengthening.

However, two minutes into added time cornerback Eoin Culligan slotted the equaliser to force the contest into extra time.

The Dubs were, however, reduced to 14 men late on following Michael Darragh Macauley’s straight red card dismissal in the fourth minute of added time, ruling the Ballyboden St Enda’s man out of Dublin’s first game in the 2016 O’Byrne Cup. The first half of extratime was evenly balanced with points from Shane Carthy, McManamon and

Brady helping the Dubs to a 0-20 to 0-19 interval advantage.

On the restart, Dublin kicked for home with scores from Michael Deegan, McManamon and Rock, with a pair of frees to bring his personal tally to 10 points, seeing Dublin lift the trophy for the first time since 2008.

Dublin could also afford to miss a 84th minute penalty when McManamon was denied from the spot by Mark Donnellan.

Dublin face Cork in Pairc Ui Rinn next Sunday to commence their defence of their NFL Division 1 title.

adult hurling squad.

coaching forum on Friday, February

st finian’s

O’Byrne cup final

applications are available from the

fingal ravens PLEASE support our Chr

GazetteSPORT all of your swords sports coverage from page 35-39

on your bike: Rising cycling star Morgan on his aspirations for this year’s An Post Ras P30

jan 29 - feb 4, 2015

no boundaries: O’Brien and Ireland set for World Cup down under P28

Harps’ Davey to lead Jackies in 2015  stephen findlater

sport@dublingazette.com

SKERRIES Harps Lyndsey Davey has been announced as the captain of the Dublin senior football team for 2015.

Speaking about her appointment, she said the focus for 2015 is very clearly on making amends for last year’s All-Ireland championship final defeat to Cork.

“It’s a privilege and a great honour to be named as captain of the Dublin Senior Ladies team,” she said. “Our ultimate goal is to get back to Croke Park but at the moment we’re hoping to learn from our mistakes of 2014 and turn them

into our strengths going forward.

“We have a young talented squad that we’re looking to develop and I’m really looking forward to the season ahead.”

She has represented her county at senior level for over 11 playing seasons having first made her debut against Donegal in the 2004 All Ireland quarter final with the debutant contributing two points from play as Dublin went onto to record a 2-14 to 2-12 victory in extra time.

Davey went onto play in the AllIreland final against Galway the same season aged just 15. However, the fairytale did not go to plan for the young Skerries native as

Galway went onto lift the Brendan Martin Cup that day.

Croke Park acknowledged the talent of the exciting young forward in 2005 as Davey was announced as left-half forward on the All Star team making the then 16-year-old the youngest recipient of an AllStar award.

Having lost the 2009 All-Ireland Final to Eamon Ryan’s Cork, Davey finally experienced All-Ireland glory the following year when Dublin emphatically overcame Tyrone 3-16 to 0-9 in the championship decider.

Despite experiencing heart break in last year’s All-Ireland final once more at the hands of Cork Davey

was acclaimed as one of the best forwards in the county by being named as right corner forward on the All Star team of 2014.

Davey was simply outstanding for Dublin last season scoring a massive 5-16 in the championship. She was also named as Player of the Match in the Leinster final win versus Laois and again in the All Ireland semi-final victory over Galway.

She has also been a tremendous ambassador for Dublin off the pitch last December. She presented a cheque to The Molly McNally Miracle Trust for €1,100, which she raised in the Skerries Harps GAA club Kube night.

Lyndsey Davey at the launch of the National Football League. Picture: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE