Swords

Gazette

Step up to the task of finding the right shoes to go running

swords

PLUS:

see page 24 March 5 - 11, 2015

FREE

Month XX, 2012 malahide • Balbriggan • Applewood • boroimhe • Airside • Portmarnock • Kinsealy • clarehall

INSIDE: Don’t get in a flap over Mother’s Day – we have great gift ideas See Inside

Football:

Fingallians fight the conditions in minor thriller Page 31

Soccer:

Swords Celtic carrying on up the divisions Page 30

Find us on

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES..................... 10 DUBLIN LIFE................... 13 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................26 SPORT............................28

PJ’s tips: Timing is everything for a day in the life of funnyman Gallagher See P13

Irish Rail urged to reopen toilets  keith bellew

IRISH Rail has defended its decision to close toilets at Donabate railway station and has confirmed the facilities will not be reopened.

T he confirmation came in response to calls from Cllr Paul Mulville (Ind) for Irish Rail to “see sense” and reopen the toilets. The facilities at Donabate station were closed four months ago as part of a cost-saving exercise that involves the closure of

numerous other station toilets along Dublin commuter routes, which Irish Rail believes to be under-used.

Cllr Mulville said: “Older people, parents with young children and people with illness are particularly in need of toilet facilities.”

A spokesperson for Irish Rail said the toilets were closed due to under-usage coupled with instances of anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

Full Story on Page 2

Temple Street: Dust off your aprons for Great Irish Bake Molly Sharkey from Swords lent her support to the launch of Temple Street’s Great Irish Bake which is set to take place on April 17th to raise funds for patients at the children’s hospital. The campaign aims to

encourage families, businesses and schools to dust off their aprons to help raise vital funds for the hospital by cooking up a storm. The initiative is supported

by Tesco.

Picture: Andres Poveda

2 swords gazette 5 March 2015

donabate Closed facilities won’t be reopened – company

End of the line for rail station’s toilets IRISH Rail has defended its decision to close toilets at Donabate Railway Station and has confirmed that the facilities will not be reopened.

This statement was made in response to calls from Cllr Paul Mulville (Ind) for Irish Rail to “see sense” and reopen the toilets. The facilities at Donabate station were closed four months ago as part of a cost-saving exercise that involves the clo-

 keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com

sure of toilets at numerous other stations along the Dublin commuter belt which Irish Rail believe to be underused.

Cllr Mulville said this was “totally unacceptable

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

as Irish Rail commuters, who already suffered a recent fare increase last winter, will be left to face the inconvenience of the company’s short-sighted decision.

“Irish Rail may well say there are toilets on commuter trains, but reports in the media [on Monday, March 2] for example, point out that our commuter trains are again becoming overcrowded.

“Delays to the service are also increasing – for example, a 30-minute wait on Monday morning. On top of all this, the toilets in Donabate were only refurbished a short number of years ago.

“Furthermore, the peo-

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

‘Commuters will be left to face the inconvenience of the shortsighted decision’

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

Cllr Paul Mulville

Donabate Station, where the toilets were closed four months ago. Picture: Sinead Walsh

ple of Donabate/Portrane have a particular high usage of the train to get to work – about 1,100 people at the last census.

“On a normal day, it is absolutely essential that toilets are available in stations to railway commuters. Older people, par-

ents with young children and people with illness are particularly in need of toilet facilities. With overcrowding and delays occurring more frequently, it is clear that this decision must be reversed and the toilets in Donabate, and other north county

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

stations, be immediately reopened,” he said.

In response, a spokesperson for Irish Rail said: “The toilets at Donabate Station have been closed now for four months and we have not received a single complaint. As stated [by Cllr Mulville],

there are toilets on board all services operating through Donabate.

“The usage of the toilets at the station was low, and there were high instances of vandalism and antisocial behaviour. It also represents a significant costsaving for the company.”

5 March 2015 swords gazette 3

council

schools: colaiste choilm gets an insight into a range of ict topics

Homes sought for rent

Students network at Fujitsu Ireland STUDENTS from Colaiste Choilm were recently invited to Fujitsu Ireland’s HQ in Swords where they took part in a speed networking session with staff.

Students also received an introduction to the information and communications technology (ICT) company and the wider IT industry in Ireland, as well as a workshop from Fujitsu staff on interview skills, CVs and cover letters.

The programme also introduces participants to the career options available in the ICT industry and serves as an opportunity to learn from experienced professionals across the Fujitsu business, including human

resources, marketing, software development and finance.

2015 marks the first year that Colaiste Choilm has worked with Fujitsu Ireland and brings the total number of students who have interacted with Fujitsu to more than 100, to date.

Commenting on the programme, Cathleen Doohan, people and corporate social responsibility director at Fujitsu Ireland, said: “We are very pleased to extend this programme to the students of Colaiste Choilm.

“The programme is a great way for us to engage with the local community and offer the benefit of our insights and experience to young people looking

to begin their careers. We have seen the programme grow in popularity over the past four years and look forward to further developing it in the future.”

Speaking ahead of the event, Mary O’Keeffe, transition year coordinator of Colaiste Choilm, thanked Fujitsu, saying: “We are delighted to join Fujitsu for this careers workshop. This on-site session will be an invaluable tool for students as they prepare to leave school and decide what career paths to follow.

“We are grateful to Fujitsu staff and in particular to Tony O’Malley, director of customer accounts, for giving up their valuable time for the benefit of our students.”

Margaret’s 15,000 thanks: Naul woman’s a winner on RTE game show NAUL woman Margaret Watson had a lotto luck on the National

Lottery’s The Million Euro Challenge game show on RTE recently, where she won €15,000. Her husband, Bernard Watson (far left) was her guest support on the show. Margaret was delighted with her handy win, with a ticket bought in Tesco leading her to luck on the TV show. She was congratulated on her good luck by Declan Harrington, head of finance, The National Lottery and the show’s host, Nicky Byrne. Picture: Mac Innes Photography

OWNERS of vacant homes in Fingal can rent their properties to Fingal County Council for its rental accommodation and long-term leasing schemes.

The council is looking for good quality fully furnished one-, two-, threeand four-bedroom homes across the Fingal area, and is happy to consider single or multiple leases.

The council’s director of housing, Annmarie Farrelly, said: “Renting your house or apartment is a good way to have a guaranteed secure monthly income from your property, with regular rent reviews.”

For further information, contact the housing procurement team at 01 870 8425, or email ras@fingal. ie or leasing@fingal.ie.

4 swords gazette 5 March 2015

arts Special train trip to help encourage young Fingal readers to get into books

300 children to steam ahead on a bookish journey A TOTAL of 300 lucky Fingal schoolchildren will be taken on a steam train journey along the North Dublin Coast on Thursday, March 5, as part of Laureate na nOg’s “Once Upon a Place” programme for young readers.

Laureate na nOg (Laureate for children’s literature), and author of the Artemis Fowl series, Eoin Colfer,

will host the journey along with five storytellers who will be reading stories in each of the carriages of the train.

The event has come about through a collaboration between Fingal County Council Libraries, Children’s Books Ireland and Irish Rail, working with the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland.

It is just one of a series of once-off events as part of the Once Upon a Place programme, which was created by Colfer with the aim of bringing stories to children in extraordinary and memorable settings, sparking their imaginations and bringing the magic of stories and books to young people.

The train journey will start at

Connolly Station, travelling through Malahide, Rush and Skerries to Drogheda, and back again

Diversity The schoolchildren have been selected from primary schools all across Fingal to demonstrate the diversity of the area.

As a keepsake, each child who

takes part will receive a souvenir train ticket from the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, who are providing the steam train, with “Once upon a Place on the Fingal Express” on it.

They will also get a copy of Warp Book 1, by Colfer.

For further information, see www. fingal.ie.

Mark Whelan (who spearheaded the fundraising swimming initiative) with Frank Whelan, representative, Action Trust Ireland; Eoin Brady, swimmer and Philip Byrne, assistant manager, Arena Health and Fitness Club

charity: proportional fundraising initiative raises €3,800

Volunteers ‘swim all the way to Lesotho’

 keith bellew

A CHARITY swim in which one metre was swam for every kilometre of distance between Ireland and Lesotho (14 ,18 4 m ) r e c e n t l y resulted in a cheque worth €3,800 being presented to Action Ireland Trust, based in Portmarnock.

The charity carries out aid work in the South African nation.

L e s o t h o ’s a m b a s sador to Ireland, His Excellency Paramente Phamotese, was present last month for the handover at the Arena Health

and Fitness Club in the Grand Hotel, Malahide.

The money was raised through a charity swim at the Arena club pool.

This meant getting a couple of volunteers to help cover this distance in a relay.

Once word got out about what they were doing, regular swimmers at the pool gladly got involved.

This swim was the brainchild of Mark Whelan, who works at the club, and who has been involved with Action Ireland Trust for a number of years and who wanted to do something to raise

funds for their upcoming trip to Lesotho.

In recent years, the trust has implemented a swim programme in Lesotho, where drowning is the fourth biggest cause of death.

The programme aims to get all young people swimming at an early age in local schools so as to significantly reduce the number of drownings.

Whelan approached Arena manager Suzanne Byrne with his idea for the event, and she was delighted to get involved, with the full support of Grand Hotel management.

According to Byrne: “The day itself went ‘swimmingly’! The first swimmer entered the water at 12.30pm, and the final swimmers finished off the challenge by 6pm.

“It was soon apparent that we were going to outdo our initial target distance as the enthusiasm of the team to swim more could not be contained.

“A huge distance was covered on the day – 1,150 lengths [24,150m].

There was huge support from family, friends and staff shouting encouragement to all the swim-

mers.

“A special mention must be given to Eoin Brady, who swam an amazing 4km in just 66 minutes.

“Philip Byrne, who is not the world’s most natural swimmer, completed 25 lengths and almost had to be resuscitated towards the end! “ Two m e m b e r s – young sisters Anjali and Palavi Simhambhatla – swam 75 lengths and 125 lengths, respectively. The girls were sponsored at €5 a length, and so between them they raised an amazing €1,000,” she said.

5 March 2015 swords gazette 5

environment Waste facility’s impact on wildlife raised

Concern at proposal for use of Skerries quarry  keith bellew

A PROPOSAL to convert a disused quarry into a waste recovery facility is causing concern in Skerries.

The proposal for the Milverton site was made

by Roadstone, a subsidiary of multinational company CRH, which operates the quarry.

The area has been idle for a number of years and the proposed waste recovery facility will consist of 400,000 tonnes of stone and soil to be put into the quarry each year in order to fill the hole left by the previous works.

The potential harm

the move could cause the quarry’s wildlife, which includes the highly protected Peregrine falcon species, has prompted concerns.

Earlier in the year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a draft waste licence and submissions on it from a public consultation process, which closed last month, are currently under review.

This should be finished on March 11, at which point the EPA will make a decision on whether a full licence will be issued and if the facility can go ahead.

The licence stipulates that Roadstone will have

to make sure to preserve an area of unfilled cliffface no smaller than 8m to 10m to take account of wildlife.

Green Party representative for Fingal Joe O’Brien questioned whether planning permission would be required for the development.

He said a planning application with Fingal County Council would make the process of objecting to it easier for the public, and would allow an opportunity for environmentally friendly stipulations to be added.

However, the council says no planning is need-

ed as the company has permission dating from a number of years ago.

A council spokesperson said: “The Roadstone quarry at Milverton has a planning consent dating back to 2008-09.

“The EPA recently issued a draft waste licence to regulate the restoration of the quarry.

The public consultation phase on the draft waste licence ended on February 11.

“Only those people who made a valid submission and the applicant can comment on the submissions received at this stage. The closing date for this is March 11.”

O’Brien said he is wary of the company operating such a facility in the area: “I think as a community we need to be vigilant in terms of how Roadstone plans how to operate this proposed facility.”

Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) said: “Environmental issues are extremely important and the welfare of native wildlife must be considered when such applications are being made.”

He added that unless the relevant experts were satisfied with the proposal, he would not support it.

However, he said that the EPA had an excellent

Green Party representative for Fingal Joe O’Brien has raised concerns about converting a disused quarry (above) into a waste recovery facility in Skerries

record when it comes to protecting endangered species, citing their heavy involvement in protecting falcons in Kerry.

CRH/Roadstone had not responded to a request for comment by the time of going to print.

6 SWORDS GAZETTE 5 March 2015

SCHOOLS Balbriggan students highlight up-cycling to help reduce annual waste

Loreto girls’ One Good Idea for the planet  KEITH BELLEW

TO RAISE awareness of climate change, transition year students at Loreto Balbriggan have begun a campaign, Smarticles, which incorporates art into environmental awareness and shows people how to turn potential waste into useful and decorative products.

The team believes that this idea of up-cycling will help reduce the nearly three million tonnes of waste dumped in Ireland alone annually, and thus

improve people’s energy efficiency.

Their project is part of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s One Good Idea competition.

This competition sees students team up to run a campaign to raise awareness of climate change and encourage people to make small changes in their lives that will greatly benefit the environment.

The Loreto Balbriggan team, entitled Smarticles, comprises transition year students Renuka Chin-

tapalli, Clara Golden, Maria Gavril, and Katia Kalcheva.

They have been creating and running lessons for students to teach them about the various topics associated with climate change and energy efficiency.

When asked why they chose this unique topic, Chintapalli said: “Climate change and global warming are steadily becoming a huge problem in our world today.

“With temperatures and sea levels rising, deserts expanding

“Up-cycling” waste products – such as in these creations – could help to reduce annual amounts of waste

and the air we breathe becoming increasingly polluted, there’s no denying that something has to be done to tackle one of the biggest problems existing today.

“We chose this topic because we’re all really interested in art, in some

form or another, and felt that promoting creativity in learning was the perfect way to get teenagers interested. Up-cycling junk is a great way to have fun and save the planet in the process!”

The Smarticles team hope their One Good

Idea will be successful in securing them a spot in the final of the competition in May. To get there, they must film a presentation pitch and submit it to the judges by Friday, March 13.

If they are selected for the final, they will make

their presentation pitch to the panel of expert adjudicators in a Dragons Den-style situation.

For further information on Smarticles, see the team’s website at www.smarticlescampaign.wix.com/smarticles.

DON’SDUBLIN

The Foxrock writer who left us waiting for Godot FOR someone born on Friday 13 – especially as it was also Good Friday (in 1906) – something special could be expected.

So it’s no surprise that Samuel Beckett, who was born in Foxrock, Co Dublin, went on to become one of the most important writers of the 20th Century and an inspiration to dramatists such as Vaclav Havel, Tom Stoppard and Harold Pinter.

His influence on the Beat Generation and their “experimental writing” was vital for Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and many others.

Beckett was educated originally in Dublin before attending Portora Royal School in Enniskillen (where Oscar Wilde had once been a pupil), and then entering Dublin University (Trinity College).

He was bright as a student, and an excellent athlete, excelling at cricket. He played two first-class matches against Northamptonshire and, as such,

has the unique distinction of being the only Nobel Laureate (1969) to be mentioned in Wisden Cricketers’ Almanac – cricket’s “bible”.

He went to Paris in 1927 to teach English and was soon introduced to James Joyce.

Over the next two years, and with Joyce’s failing eyesight, he did much research on what would become Joyce’s last work, Finnegans Wake.

He was greatly impressed with the older man, and his first published work was a critical essay in support of Joyce.

After a return to Dublin he went back to Paris when World War 2 began. He helped the French Resistance and in 1942 was lucky to escape capture by the Gestapo.

His commitment was recognised after the war, when he was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government (above, you can see Beckett in one of his best-known photos, sitting at a

Parisian cafe).

This was Beckett’s most productive period, highlighted by the completion in January, 1949, of his play, Waiting for Godot.

This play is considered by many as one of the greatest works of the century and, like all masterpieces, has any number of interpretations.

The critic Vivian Mercier commented that “Beckett has achieved a theoretical impossibility – a play in which nothing happens, that yet keeps audiences glued to their seats.

“What’s more, since the second act is a subtly different reprise of the first, he has written a play in which nothing happens, twice.”

Or, more succinctly: less is less!

Don Cameron www.donsdublin.wordpress.com

5 March 2015 swords gazette 7

crisis ‘More social builds are needed now’

Housing strategy is failing people – Sinn Fein  keith bellew

THE Department of the Environment has defended its housing strategy in response to criticism from a Balbriggan councillor, pointing out that the Social Housing Strategy 2020 is not the sole plan the Government has to combat the housing crisis.

Cllr Malachy Quinn (SF) has highlighted the lack of affordable housing available in north County Dublin, citing the fact that the population in the area has doubled in the past 10 years, yet the number of properties available has decreased dramatically, and rents have risen by 26% since 2011.

Highlighting local difficulties, Cllr Quinn said: “I have two residents living in one estate alone, both claiming rent allowance.

One family are a married couple with three children. The husband is in college full-time and his wife is at home with their twins, while a further child is in school.

“They have been on the Fingal County Council housing list for 12 years now. To date, not one offer of housing has been made to them.

“One of their neighbours – a lone parent, with two children in school – was forced to relocate to Balbriggan,

as she could no longer afford the rent in her last area. This uprooted her children from school during mid-term, leaving their friends, and starting in new schools.

“I searched on Daft.ie and got only three results for a three-bedroom home. One of these had ‘No social welfare accepted’ [listed as a rental condition], which is very common with many landlords.”

This was as a result of the cut in rent supplement caps in recent years, he said, adding that rent caps were slightly higher in the rest of the Dublin area, and have resulted in a huge demand for rentals in north County Dublin, particularly Balbriggan.

‘Disturbing’ Cllr Quinn said: “When are we going to start tackling the housing crisis?

We need to build social housing units. Relocation is upsetting and disturbing to family life.

“As part of the Government’s Housing Strategy 2020, it is proposed that Fingal will make 200 units available this year, by various means, with 77 of these being built in Lusk.

“Although I welcome this, a more meaningful strategy to tackling the housing crisis would be to use €1bn from the Ire-

FastNews A series of talks on poetry FINGAL Libraries are hosting Cross-stream: Ways of Writing –a series of talks from a diverse group of poets discussing the compositional process behind one of their poems.

The talks will be presented by poet and editor, Christodoulos Makris, and will feature poets Maurice Scully, Harry Clifton, Susan Connolly, Pat Boran, Maighread Medbh and Alan Jude Moore. Talks are free of charge and will be held at Donabate, Blanchardstown and Malahide libraries. For further information, see www. fingal.ie.

Have a cuppa for Nurture

The housing shortfall and lack of rental properties has hit communities hard in

A COFFEE morning in aid of Nurture, a Rushbased charity that supports women and their families who are experiencing pre- and postnatal mental health problems, is being held at Malahide Parish Centre on Friday, April 24 at 11am.

Along with the traditional tea and coffee there will be baked treats and a raffle, with all proceeds going to Nurture, in what is shaping up to be a busy but fun morning.

For further information on Nurture, see www. nurturecharity.org.

north Dublin, with rising rents adding to the problems for many people and families

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

‘A more meaningful strategy to tackling the housing crisis would be to use €1bn from the Ireland Strategic Fund and to invest this in the social housing stock, which would also create tens of thousands of jobs’

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

Cllr Malachy Quinn (SF)

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

land Strategic Fund and to invest this in the social housing stock, which would create 6,600 to 6,800 homes, and would also create tens of thousands of jobs for the many unemployed construction workers.”

In response to Cllr Quinn’s comments, a spokesperson from the Department of the Environment said: “The councillor should be aware that the Government produced two policy documents, Construction 2020 and the Social Housing Strategy, with an investment of €3.8bn, which aims to deliver 35,000 units. “[This comes] along with the recent announcement of €150m from the European Investment Bank (EIB) which will be matched by the Govern-

ment.”

Environment Minister Alan Kelly said the funding from the EIB was only the start of “a whole range of investment programmes that will come on board in relation to housing in Ireland”.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Fingal County Council, in tandem with the Dublin Social Housing Delivery Taskforce, is developing a social housing delivery programme to 2020 “The council delivers social housing through construction, acquisition and leasing and work is well under way to deliver additional dwellings this year.

“The targets for delivery in 2015 and beyond will be announced in April, in line with Social Housing Strategy 2020.”

promote your school

c o n tac t t h e G a z e t t e call 60 10 240

8 swords gazette 5 March 2015

ask the politician A weekly Q&A with local representatives looks A Youth Council of Ireland survey recently found that 44% of 18- to 24-year-old JobBridge interns believe employers are using the scheme as a source of free labour. The Gazette asks politicians from the four Dublin local authority areas if they think the JobBridge scheme is exploitative and whether there is an alternative to replace it.

Tanaiste and Minister for Social Protection, joan burton

Over 97% of all internships monitored were complying with scheme’s criteria The purpose of the JobBridge scheme is to provide opportunities for all jobseekers to gain critical experience in the workplace, particularly in their chosen field. Independent studies speak to the very real success of the scheme – three in five participants in JobBridge secured employment following their internship. The really positive thing about the JobBridge scheme is that so many people want to be involved.

I welcome the NYCI’s report on JobBridge and intend to carefully consider the findings

and conclusions. On balance the report has some very positive things to say about the JobBridge scheme. For instance, over two-thirds of people who participated said JobBridge gave them valuable work experience, and two-thirds of interns report having moved out of unemployment on finishing their internship.

It’s important to state that the scheme is voluntary; there is no compulsion on jobseekers to take part. My Department has carried out more than 9,000 monitoring visits, and over 97%

of all internships monitored were found to be complying with the criteria laid down under the scheme. Where it is felt that a specific internships is falling below the standard required, my Department will take remedial action.

Many of its critics, however, particularly in the opposition in the Dail, seem to offer very little by way of solutions in terms of how we create jobs, and how we help people get back to work, particularly for those who lack the critical experience needed in gaining employment.

dun laoghaire-rathdown county council: Cllr Karl Gill (PBP)

This is a con job designed to assist the wealthiest people in our society JobBridge, as one of many of the social welfare based internship schemes, has faced much criticism from all angles since its establishment.

Participants on the scheme have commented on how they have been forced into it by way of threat of their payments being cut.

I myself was told by a social welfare manager that if I failed to be elected I would be made take up a JobBridge internship or face having my payment slashed. People of all ages are being bullied into these schemes. For participants on these schemes there are no provisions for travel expenses, lunch payments or childcare while they work for free, often for private companies.

People with masters degrees and even Phds have found themselves with no choice but to take up these schemes. Some young people don’t have a problem with this because they might have parents who can fully support them while they are on the scheme. However this is not a position most people are in. Most of the internship placements are not offering paid positions for when people complete them and most companies effectively have a revolving door policy of free labour interns.

A report done for the Department of Social Protection, called the Indecon report, shows 29% of employers using JobBridge admitted they would have offered full time paid employment in the scheme’s absence but since the scheme is in place they are availing of free labour. Also just 19.5% of interns actually got a job with the

company at the end.

We need a real public works scheme in place to get people back to work in the areas that they trained in. The Labour Party seem to expect people who have studied for four years in a third/ fourth level degree course and paid over €12,000 in fees to work for free stacking shelves in Tescos.

This is not a back-to-work scheme. It’s a con job designed to assist the wealthiest in our society.

5 March 2015 swords gazette 9

at that are concentrating minds Duntopics Laoghaire-Rathdown County: Cllr Neale Richmond (FG) Mayor of South Dublin County Council l: Fintan Warfield (SF)

JobBridge should be replaced As a young political representative, I mix with countless people who are currently serving internships on the JobBridge scheme.

Many have had a positive experience but many more believe that JobBridge displaces paid work, depresses wages and facilitates abuse by some employers.

This must not be allowed to continue. The JobBridge scheme should be closed and replaced with a new model.

Since June 2011, JobBridge has become the central plank of the Government’s jobs strategy.

Although some individuals may have had a positive experience, it is a scheme which leaves thousands of jobseekers vulnerable to exploitation.

It is a scheme that has already reduced the number of job opportunities available and if not closed

now, thousands of future positions will emerge as unpaid internships instead.

Sinn Fein propose to replace the one-size-fits-all JobBridge scheme with a new participant centred model for internships, compiled with the support of key stakeholders including major unions,

the National Youth Council of Ireland, INOU and We’re Not Leaving, along with many individual JobBridge participants.

Tailored internships would be developed sector by sector, in full co-operation with trade unions and Education and Training Boards. Employers would be supported to be the best mentors that they can be.

Internships under the scheme would be short and agreed on a sector-by-sector basis.

Importantly, companies which have been found in breach of employment law in the previous two years would not be allowed to take on an intern.

The names of all employers participating in the scheme would be open to the public, acting as an additional incentive to ensure the proper use of the scheme.

Dublin City Council: Cllr Andrew Montague (Lab)

For many that do take it up the results have been very positive I met a young woman recently who left school early and remained unemployed for several years.

She was losing hope of ever having a decent future for herself. So when she was offered a JobBridge post in the local SuperValu she grabbed the chance.

On her first day in work, the SuperValu mystery shopper came into the store in order to give feedback to the manager.

The mystery shopper went to the counter that the JobBridge intern was on and asked her for help.

The mystery shopper didn’t know that this young woman was on JobBridge and our intern didn’t know she was dealing with a mystery shopper.

The mystery shopper was so impressed

with the service that she received that she reported to the manager that the young woman was one of the best shop assistants that she ever came across. The young intern finished her JobBridge term and with a new sense of confidence decided to go back to college.

JobBridge had given her the start that she

needed to build a brighter future and to give her a real sense of confidence in herself.

Like many other people who are unemployed, she found it difficult to get a start because she lacked experience.

JobBridge gave her the chance to get that experience. It’s a scheme for people who want to take opportunities that come

up.

It’s not compulsory.

It’s only for those that want to give it a go. So there is no question of exploitation.

But for many of those that do take it up, like this young woman, the results have been very positive.

Nearly two out of every three people that go on JobBridge end up in a job within six months.

That’s a much higher success rate than most other schemes.

Many schemes and programmes over the years have been tried to get long-term unemployed people back to work but most have had very poor results.

Here’s a scheme that actually works.

Let’s not abandon JobBridge. Let’s not abandon our long-term unemployed.

10 swords gazette 5 March 2015

gazetteGALLERIES

Paul Reid, chief executive, Fingal County Council, with Cllr Grainne Maguire (Ind), Mayor of Fingal Mags Murray (FF) and Tom Reilly, property manager, Ardgillan Castle

refreshing event: Three cheers for ardgillan castle tea rooms

T

HERE was great interest in the official opening of Ardgillan Castle’s tea rooms recently, during which a wide range of local politicians, council staff and guests were refreshed by the elegant facility. With their comprehensive design and presentation, the tea rooms sympathetically reflect the grandeur of the castle, with a classic 18th century styling adding to the timeless nature of the castle, which was built in 1738. Mayor of Fingal Mags Murray (FF) welcomed the unveiling and in describing Ardillan Castle’s rich heritage, echoed the feelings of many in saying that the tea rooms were a welcome addition for its future, too.

Grahame Pickett, chairperson, Ardgillan Castle Ltd and Cllr Mags Murray (FF)

Cllr Tony Murphy (Ind) and Cllr JP Browne (FG)

Kevin Halpenny, senior parks superintendent, Fingal County Council, Dr James Reilly, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, with Cllr JP Browne (FG) and Cllr Jimmy Guerin (Ind)

The star of the evening – Toni Griffin

and Carol Johnston

5 March 2015 swords gazette 11

Staff from My Hair salon - Olwyn White, Laura Pierce and Liz Howard - who also presented a cheque for €1,000 to the Ross Nugent Foundation

Ger and Olivia O’Rourke. Pictures: David O’Shea

Sarah Tarpey, Nicole Roche and Alvite Murphy

Cecilie Zega Kirke, Michelle Cahill and Dee Roche

Liz O’Connor and Denise McMahon

hair, hair: toni griffin’s shave or dye event

Fundraising for cancer is a snip W

E RETURN to The Gazette’s cover girl last week, Toni Griffin, for another look at her Shave or Dye fundraising event at St Sylvester’s GAA club in Malahide recently, in aid of the Ross Nugent Foundation. Joined by lots of friends and supporters, and members of the community, Toni’s head was expertly shaved by staff from Malahide salon My Hair, who soon had her hair shaved off for the good cause. Adding to the upbeat mood at the fundraising event, the staff also donated €1,000 to the cause, helping to show that the people of Malahide are always just a hair’s breadth away from happily helping charities and good causes, if they can.

Nicola O’Reilly and Sam Mockus

Jack O’Brien, Liam Feeney and Sean O’Connor

Debbie and Ronan McCarthy

12 gazette 5 March 2015

gazetteGALLERY

Orla Morrison Toolen and Carol Morris

Actors David Rawle (Martin Moone), Deirdre O’Kane (Debra Moone) and Peter McDonald (Liam Moone) at the world premiere of Moone Boy series 3 at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin recently. The new series of Chris O’Dowd’s international Emmy-winning comedy begins on Sky 1 on Monday, March 2. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

World Premiere: season 3 brings the stars to kilmainham

Moone Boy set to give us a laugh a third time Sophie McNally and Laura Booth

Maria Hennessy and Maria Connor

Barbara and Brian Kearns

Olive Kelly, Sarah Jennings and Michelle Davis

Aine Killilea and Ollie Canning

5 March 2015 Gazette 13

business P16

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

a day in the life: we catch up with funnyman pj gallagher

what’son

His perfect timing is key to a full day  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

EVER-popular comedian PJ Gallagher took The Gazette on a trip through an average day in his life ahead of his upcoming tour date in Vicar Street this April.

Waking up at 5am before heading into studio to broadcast his breakfast show on Classic Hits FM, Gallagher makes sure to get a good aul brekkie to set him up for the day.

“The first thing I’ll do is have three Weetabix with skimmed milk, stuck into a bowl and a Berocca energy boost to make sure that I have a bit of energy inside me. Then I jump into the shower – I have my little routine timed perfectly.

“I stick on some Euronews and see what way the world is going, then let the dog out to the toilet if she wants to go but normally she just tries to jump into the bed when I get up.

“She loves the warm bit, and though she shouldn’t be in there I haven’t the heart to take her out because it’s so cold in the house when I get up.

“Then I look at the bicycle and try and talk myself into cycling – and every single morning I just jump on

be drawn to an anime and manga festival ANIME Dublin is back once again for 2015 with a unique, one-day anime event packed with special events, exclusive screenings, gaming, and late night activities.

Now in its fourth year, the animation convention takes place at O’Callaghan Alexander Hotel on Fenian Street on April 11.

Doors will open at 10am, and events will run right through until 10pm. There will be a pub quiz and general pub shenanigans from 8pm until 11.30pm in the hotel pub for over18s.

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

‘I look at the bicycle and try and talk myself into cycling to work – and every single morning I just jump on the motorbike and head off’

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

the motorbike [a Triumph 800] and head off,” he says.

Once in the studio, he checks the papers to see if there’s anything worth talking about on the show.

“The show runs from 6am to 10am with Damien [Farrelly]. The whole idea of the show is basically to convince people that it’s okay to get up out of bed and go into the world.

“We play 70s and 80s music, so a lot of dancing goes on.”

Then it’s home to take out his two dogs, Wendy and Lilo.

When it comes to dinner, it seems this comedian is more used to the phone dial than the cooker’s dial.

“If I don’t have a gig I’ll have dinner at 6.30pm. I’m a terrible cook!

“I don’t cook anything and the



Gazette

diary P14

Comedian PJ Gallagher, who will be playing at Vicar Street this April

days I don’t have a chopped salad, I get a Chinese [takeaway]. I’m either extremely healthy or extremely unhealthy.

“I always call up to my mother in the evening to say hello; she only lives up the road in Clontarf, and I’m in Marino.

“I spend an hour there and ramble home and either get stuck into Netflix or try and write some jokes for stand-

up.

“I go to bed at 9pm on the button every night. As soon as the news starts I run up to bed and hang all my clothes inside the bathroom so they’re all ready to jump into as soon as I get out of the shower in the morning.”

Tickets for PJ Gallagher’s show, Concussion, on April 17 at Vicar Street are available from www.ticketmaster.ie, priced €25.

Prizes The convention will feature a games room with plenty of consoles, tournaments, card games, role-playing games and lots of prizes. A purpose-designed allseated room will host exclusive screenings, panels, workshops and more.

Pre-registration has just opened and is advised as places are limited to 300 people. For further information see www. facebook.com/AnimeDublin, or email: animedublin@gmail. com.

GAZETTE

14 GAZETTE 5 March 2015

DUBLINLIFE

DIARY

Enda and Joan busting a move ing with footage of Enda Kenny and Joan Burton recently shown on RTE’s Operation Transformation.

While out and about on a walk in his home town of Castlebar, Enda performed a Thrilleresque shoulder shuffle that undoubtedly made

Michael Jackson spin in his grave. This isn’t the first time Enda busted an embarrassing move in public, who can forget his dancing to Happy by Pharrell Williams at last year’s Bloom Festival?

In the midst of a group of teenagers, Enda looked like the clueless father

embarrassing his children at their birthday party.

Meanwhile, Joanie performed what the girl beside her would probably call an “epic fail” as she tried to copy her dance steps but was always about three moves behind.

CIRQUE DU DAIL TAKES OFF AFTER TEDIOUS TANGENT 2015 may prove to be an entertaining year in the Dail if the first two months of the year are anything to go by.

The latest Cirque du Dail saw a number of amusing outbursts particularly from Fianna Fail deputies during an exchange between Gerry Adams and Enda Kenny over Bus Eireann’s plans to axe around 100 of its rural routes.

After a tedious tangent of details about the various routes in question, Kenny said he would be introducing a €4bn ruralaid package which would include transport.

Fianna Fail Deputy Barry Cowen, (brother of the illustrious Brian) said: “The only thing you brought to rural Ireland was the Fine Gael ardfheis.” This was followed by a roar from Michael Healy-Rae that the current Government was “the most anti-rural Government ever”.

The Ceann Comhairle told him to be quiet as it was not his turn to speak: “You’re not Deputy Adams,” he said.

“No, I’m not” he replied, “I shave.”

D’NORTHSIDE LIGHTS UP WITH FIVE LAMPS FEST THE Five Lamps Festival

From classic DJ posing to a dash of body popping with his shoulders, the Taoiseach threw down some moves in Operation Transformation. The Tanaiste, however, stuck to more traditional country-wedding-style steps in her segment. Pictures: YouTube

got off to a flying start this week with an elaborate opening night ceremony of music and entertainment launched by Love/ Hate actor John Connors at the Custom House.

The festival goes on for the next couple of weeks ending on March 14, with a host of entertaining things to do, see and hear.

Some highlights of this year’s festival include holistic events, children’s events such as a marionette show and a circus, dance events, plenty of live music and literary readings, drama and visual arts exhibitions.

One of the more unusual events is the Bus Eireann Tour of d’Northside on March 7. For two hours, you can take a tour of the north Inner City area where Roddy Doyle’s Barrytown Trilogy was set.

An actor will read excerpts from the books and Pia Dunne will sing soul songs

from The Commitments.

This is part of the One City One Book week.

For a full list of Five Lamps Festival, go to www.fivelamp sarts.ie.

Why advertise with the Gazette?

Let our advertisers tell you why:

“

Trabolgan Holiday Village, Cork have used the Dublin Gazette Newspapers for the last few years to advertise various aspects of our holiday village including special offers. We have always had an excellent reader response from the advertisements run and have found the area’s covered by all 8 papers of great value to Trabolgan.

The help and guidance we have received from the staff has made it easier for us to communicate our message efficiently and cost effectively ensuring we get the maximum from our budget. We would have no hesitation in recommending the Gazette to any business.

“

REMEMBER that moment in 1985 when Mick Jagger and David Bowie covered the great Motown hit Dancing in the Street? With the most cringeworthy dancing ever seen up to that point?

Well they can now move over and stop blush-

B E C A U S E L O C A L M AT T E R S

5 March 2015 Gazette 15

Gazette

16 Gazette 5 March 2015

dublinlife

Q&A liam farrell, founder, parkme.ie

Driving a market gap into a great business model THE founder and managing director of Parkme.ie, Liam Farrell, spotted a gap in the market while home for Christmas in 2011.

His firm has over 800 spaces around Dublin registered on its website and offers additional income to people who have an unused parking space.

He has extensive experience in

business How long have you been in business?

We have been in business for almost two years now.

What makes your business successful?

Our business is successful because it benefits all of our users. Members are either making or saving money where they did not before. Space owners are creating income from their parking space or driveway and drivers are saving money on their parking costs.

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

teaching, having among other accomplishments set up an English teaching institute in Argentina in 2010 With an educational background in economics, and having obtained his Masters in Boston University in 2005, Farrell is now also the managing director of his firm, and plans to continue expanding Parkme.ie.

Our main competitors are advertising sites like Gumtree.

However, these sites can be used to advertise a wide range of products and services.

There is no competitor in Ireland whose sole focus is advertising and renting parking spaces.

We do not just advertise the space; drivers can book the space online with a debit or credit card. This removes the possibility of numerous phone calls from interested parties or showing the space over and over again.

They can just put the space up

Increase in credit union’s car loans STILLORGAN Credit Union has seen a sizeable uplift in car loan applications in 2015.

Unlike garage or bank car finance packages, with a credit union loan the borrower owns the car from the outset. There are no administration charges or hidden fees and, with a credit union loan, you can pay off your car loan early without penalty.

Jennifer Finegan, marketing and business development officer with Stillorgan Credit Union, said: “We always advise our members to shop around and check out other lenders rates, but to be careful not to be influenced by repayments that sound too good to be true.

“Our advice is to look at the total offer or hire purchase price as this is what you must pay before you actually own the car.”

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

‘We aim to become a booking platform not just for individual home owners, but also for larger commercial car parks’

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

and wait for bookings to come in and then get paid straight into their bank account.

How has the recession affected your business?

While we did not exist before the recession, it certainly had both positive and negative effects for this kind of service.

Homeowners are now looking for innovative ways to earn money so the recession helped our business model in that sense.

On the other hand, drivers would now have less disposable income.

This works both ways for us in that drivers want to use our service to get cheaper parking but some drivers can no longer

afford to pay for parking at all.

What law or regulation would you change overnight to help your business?

Some of our users are concerned about the income tax payable on money earned on Parkme.ie. We suggest that they consult their financial adviser on this. We would like to see the rent-a-room scheme expanded to include driveways or parking spaces. Homeowners may earn up to €10,000 tax free by renting out their bedrooms to others. We see no reason why this should not include your parking space.

What is your ambition for the business?

I am very happy with how the business is progressing at this stage. We have new companies contacting us every week in need of extra parking spaces for their new offices.

We are currently making improvements to the site and we are in the process of adding some multi-storey car parks to the system. We aim to become a booking platform not just for individual home owners, but also for larger commercial car parks.

We are also planning on increasing the number of spaces in other cities in Ireland and the UK.

05 March 2015 Gazette 17

arts P23

asdfsdaf P27 health P24

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



Gazette

travel P19

Pets who is super bright and snuggly? Bella!

Offset is a three-day creative conference held annually in Dublin’s Bord Gais Energy Theatre which attracts visitors from around the world

Three-day festival: illustrator Tomi Ungerer expected to wow audience

Offset ready to impress  Ian Begley

Preparations are in full swing for this year’s highly-anticipated festival, Offset, which brings together in one place the most creative design talent in the world.

Offset is a three-day conference held annually in Dublin’s Bord Gais Energy Theatre over March 6-8.

Every year, the festival attracts visitors from around the world to come and hear speakers from different creative industries and to take part in panel discussions and interviews.

They outline their work, ideas and inspirations and give insights into their practices and personal perspectives.

Independently founded and run, Offset has grown from 450 to 3,000 delegates.

Bren Byrne, a festival director, is confident this year’s Offset will be a big success.

Speaking to The Gazette, he said: “We have a small team of about 200 people who help run the whole operation. The main stage will hold presentations by some of the world’s best creative professionals from graphic design, advertising, art, film, fashion and animation.

“We also have a second room which is a more intimate setting and holds about 300 people, where we do interviews, panel discussions and Q&As. “Here, people will gain insights into the creative process and different professional approaches on how to make it in the creative industry.

“We’ll have about 3,000 people there each day with about 60% of our audi-

ence working in the creative industry and the rest made up of students and creative enthusiasts.”

Asked what attendees will learn from this three-day festival, Byrne said: “People will get hands-on tips on how to improve their own creative work practices along with some inspiration from our speakers. People are going to get insights into how things are made and how to deal with clients in a very informal way.”

There is no VIP area and no green room at Offset.

The space facilitates speakers and attendees, allowing both to mingle freely and settle in for three days of inspiration.

The intimate surroundings of the second room of the Bord Gais Energy

Theatre allows delegates to get a little closer to some of the legendary speakers, who will give interviews, contribute to debates and take part in group discussions on topics that are at the heart of the creative agenda.

One highly anticipated speaker who will be attending this year’s Offset is illustrator and graphic designer Tomi Ungerer, who now lives in West Cork.

At 84-year’s old, Ungerer will talk about his youth in Nazi occupied France, along with his life in New York working as an illustrator and graphic designer, before moving to Ireland in the 1970s.

Tickets for Offset are €50 to €70 and are on sale now. For further information and to see the list of speakers taking part, visit www.iloveoffset.com.

the Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs.

Our Dog of the Week this week is is Bella, a fouryear-old female husky.

This is one super bright, super snuggly husky! She arrived into Dogs Trust pregnant and went on to have a beautiful litter of babies. They have all since been rehomed and now it’s Bella’s turn.

Bella has already lived in a home and thoroughly enjoys her creature comforts. This active lady is looking for an equally active home with adults or bigger kids who will commit to her for the rest of her life.

For more information on gorgeous Bella and her Dogs Trust pals, please call Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000 or pop into the centre. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.

Gazette

18 Gazette 5 March 2015

OUT&ABOUT

FOOD&DRINK

BITESIZEDNEWS

Tuck into delicious Boutique Bake lemon meringues

A Mother’s Day treat with lemon meringues THIS week, Boutique Bake has a delicious lemon meringue cupcake recipe using its very own lemon drizzle cake mix. You can use either one to two lemon mixes, depending on how many cupcakes you would like to make. Here, Boutique Bake used one lemon mix, which makes about 12 cupcakes.

Boutique Bake is available nationwide in selected Tesco stores, SuperValu, Dunnes, Avoca, Morton’s and many other grocery stores. For further information, see www.boutiquebake.ie.

Ingredients 1 Boutique Bake Lemon Drizzle Cake Mix 150g butter 3 eggs 1 lemon A few spoonfuls of lemon curd for the cupcakes For the meringue topping: 100g caster sugar 2 egg white Star-shaped nozzle (optional) to make a nice shape with the meringues with an icing bag

Preparation • Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with cases. In a large mixing bowl, beat The Zingy One with the butter and eggs.

• Divide the mixture between cases and bake for approx 18 minutes until a skewer poked in the cupcakes comes out clean.

• When you remove them from the oven, combine the drizzle mix provided in the Boutique Bake mix with the juice of one lemon. Prick your warm cupcakes all over and pour your drizzle over them. Allow them to cool before placing lemon curd on top.

• Once cupcakes have cooled, spread about a dessert spoon of lemon curd on top of each cupcake.

• Meanwhile, place the egg whites into a clean bowl, whisk until stiff peaks form, then whisk in your sugar, a tablespoon at a time. Keep whisking until the mixture looks glossy and has thickened a little, like shaving foam. Spoon the mixture into an icing bag with a star-shaped nozzle, or freezer bag (snip off the end to pipe).

• Pipe meringue on top of each cupcake. Use a blow torch to lightly brown and toast the meringue, or place under grill for a few minutes to lightly brown.

James Whelan Butchers in Avoca: “Irish bacon is fantastic and a great number of people consider bacon and cabbage a culinary triumph”

Butcher celebrates an Irish staple – bacon and cabbage James Whelan Butchers in Avoca is once again leading the trend when it comes to innovative and new cuts of meat for the dinner table.

There’s no doubt we Irish love our bacon and cabbage. In fact, 64% of people consider bacon and cabbage as the meal most associated with Ireland, so it’s fair to say, it’s an Irish staple. Whelan’s new rack of bacon is set

to elevate bacon to a new level and is perfect for a dinner party or Sunday lunch and with locations in Avoca Food in Monkstown, Rathcoole and Kilmacanogue, it’s easily accessible.

Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers said, “Irish bacon is fantastic and a great number of people consider bacon and cabbage a culinary triumph. The aroma of

bacon cooking instantly brings me back to my childhood, conjuring up great memories. It is such an intrinsically Irish dish and there are so many accompaniments that it can be enjoyed many different ways.”

Leaving bacon on the bone instantly enhances the taste, as the closer to the bone, the sweeter the meat, as well as creating a visual feast.

It has taken Pat Whelan months to perfect the JWB Rack of Bacon, but every second has been worth it. “Leaving meat cook on the bone adds a whole layer of flavour that’s hard to explain on paper. I can’t wait for my customers to taste it,” said Pat. Meat that has been cooked on the bone will naturally have a richer flavour and this is one of the

main features of the JWB Rack of Bacon. It has been dry cured using an artisan traditional method and the resulting flavour that has been achieved is mouth-watering.

James Whelan Butchers are at Avoca Food Market Monkstown, Rathcoole and Kilmacanogue, or check out www.

Jameswhelanbutchers. com and order online 24/7.

Let Secret Chef help you shine ALDI’S new range of dishes, aptly named The Secret Chef, are now in store and mean that you can do none of the work but take all of the credit.

Now available in all 113 stores nationwide, The Secret Chef range currently consists of 28 dishes based around beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, bacon and pork and will be updated regularly throughout the year to suit the seasons.

The full range currently offers a wide choice to suit all tastes, and is priced from just €2.99 to €9.99.

Dishes include Irish lamb as a mini joint served plain or infused with garlic butter and parsley (€7.99), or as a shoulder rack with either a bell pepper or mint

herb crust (€6.99).

Irish beef is served up as burgers with a choice of melted toppings (€2.99), a stirfry with vegetables and sauce (€4.99), a stroganoff (€4.99), or a striploin steak with either a pepper sauce or a pepper coating (€7.49).

Chicken breasts are served up with imagination – from Cajun chicken with a smashed bean salsa, garlic chicken with a creamy lemon sauce, and lime and chilli chicken with a sweet chilli sauce (all €3.69).

The Secret Chef range is available in store now and the current Aldi leaflet carries wine recommendations to accompany a selection of the dishes.

Aldi’s chicken with pesto style marinade and cherry tomatoes and a mozzarella crust

5 March 2015 Gazette 19

Paddy’s day deals  ian begley

If YOU’RE tempted by a last minute St Patrick’s weekend getaway, there is a host of luxury seasonal hotels and country houses to choose from.

From March 12 to 20, you can spend two nights at the Cashel House Hotel, Galway from €179pp. On your arrival, enjoy this year’s St Patrick’s Day in a classic country house retreat set in the heart of Connemara.

You can also sow some potatoes in the garden, hunt for hidden shamrocks or join in a singsong in the local pub in nearby Roundstone.

From €179, you can

stay at Rathsallagh House, Wicklow with a one-night escape from March 17 to18.

Experience the simple country life pleasures of country walks on the scenic estate.

At the Carrig Country House in Kerry, those eager for a Paddy’s weekend getaway can spend three nights there for €234 per person.

During your stay, you can choose from a round of golf or a one-hour body massage. A three-day stay here will give you plenty of time to explore the Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula and Killarney National Park.

This offer, which is valid from March 14

to17, also includes a fourcourse dinner on two evenings in the Lakeside Restaurant.

Make your friends green with env y by spending a one-night stay at Mount Juliet Country estate, Kilkenny from €140pp.

The package, which includes breakfast and dinner in the Lady Helen Restaurant, is valid for one night only on March 16.

For €245pp, spend St Patrick’s weekend at Dunbrody House, Wexford. Valid from March 13 to 18, enjoy two nights’ accommodation with dinner on one evening and on St Patrick’s Day the house will have a com-

plimentary shamrock for each of their guests.

There will also be live music and plenty of activities for all ages in the 16th century Duncannon Fort, and Ireland’s only beach parade in Duncannon village to enjoy.

With hiddenireland.ie, slow down with nature this St Patrick’s Day at Ashley Park House in Nenagh, Tipperary for €135pp.

Set in 76 acres of beech woodland and formal gardens, this historic 18th century country house welcomes guests to embrace life at a slower pace in the comfortable and beautifully decorated home, providing tranquillity and peace for those

Gazette

TRAVEL

Cashel House Hotel offers guests a luxurious welcome in delightful Connemara

hoping to escape the hustle and bustle of modern day living.

Take advantage of an early check-in as part of your one-night March 16-17 special retreat, which includes breakfast in bed the following morning, a four-course evening meal and a late

check-out.

Start your St Patrick’s Day early and in style at The Twelve Hotel in Galway for €140pp. Upstairs, its West restaurant is familiar to food lovers as a chic and clubby nighttime space.

Make a night of it with its “#lazysundayafter-

noons wes tpackage”, which includes an early check in on Sunday, a late check out on Monday, €40 food credit for West, overnight accommodation and breakfast the following morning.

You can also add a second night on March 16 from €99 per room.

OUT&ABOUT ndant €98 d rose gold locket pe

r an Thomas Sabo Silve

Photobox .ie of your mu Turn your favourite p m into a ph ic otobook €4 s 6.99

nis Ten s er

t cele bra

The Body Shop Shea gif

€75

t set €39.95

ell ew

J lds

Weir a nd

Fie

s watch €249

h, Mammy, this gift is for you

o €7.99 Lidl Process

Sons R o s e g o ld -plated ladie

Clarins Double serum 30ml €69.50

Gazette

20 Gazette 5 March 2015

 laura webb

WHERE would we be without our Mammy or that special lady who has helped mould us into who we are today?

This Mother’s Day, show her how much you care with a gift you know she will love, or a quirky present you know you can both have a laugh about when you’re chatting with her over with a cuppa and a nice piece of cake.

Kilkenny Store Calvin Klein

Jade clutch €100

Gifts can be as expensive or as budget-friendly as you like, seeing that most mammies just think: “Isn’t it the thought that counts?”

To help you get thinking this Mother’s Day, here are a few ideas from Gazette Style and Beauty ...

ink

yP istr

q

z uart

.10

€25

Art

Free Butlers Chocolates when you spend €75

Kilkenny Store has an extra treat for customers doing their Mother’s Day shopping – from now until March 15, you can get a free box of luxury Butlers Chocolates (below, right) when you spend more than €75.

5 March 2015 Gazette 21

Gazette

STYLE

Carraig Donn Stripey cardigan €49.95

€72

iClothing.ie Electra rose print

H&M Midi skirt €39.99

Stylemama Mate rnity dress by Pauli

yellow print set dress, Clerys Clo

na €149

Have you heard?

dress €25

Celebrate your Mother’s Day

 laura webb

c se ne en ro

t Gold Coas klace

De

be

€45

nh

am

sR ed

her

ring

bla ck

sho

e€

44

.25

FOR many mammies this Mother’s Day, a day out is likely to be on the cards, which could include a nice dinner or lunch somewhere with their adorable kids.

However, the day is also just a darn good excuse to get dressed up, and feel like a yummy mummy who’s Fab dressed to impress. uc ci This week, Gazette Nud Co e le as Style brings you t2 ath er xD some ideas for what pee ol is pt ear oe to wear for your day ring sho s€ this March 15. eb 19 yM Whether you are a aria n€ mother of one or seven, 135 or a mum-to-be, you are bound to stand out from the crowd with these Mother’s Day outf its and accessories

22 Gazette 5 March 2015

5 March 2015 GAZETTE 23

ARTS

GAZETTE

OUT&ABOUT

Solo show Sea Wall won a bravura turn from Andrew Scott.

Picture: Kevin Cummins

Detecting a true talent  BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

Mixing fact and fiction, the actors at Collins Barracks restore the legacy of lost lives to heartbreaking reality for audiences in this remarkable production

PALS – THE IRISH AT GALLIPOLI: VIVIDLY RECALLING THE SACRIFICE OF IRISH SOLDIERS

Marrying art and history BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

COLLINS Barracks is trying something new for the next few months by marrying art and history to tell the story of Irish men’s participation in the First World War. Pals – The Irish at Gallipoli, is the result of a collaboration between Anu Productions, the National Museum of Ireland and the National Archives of Ireland.

It is a site-specific piece of moving and often interactive theatre set in Collins Barracks, where the original pals from the 7th Battalion did most of their training before

going to war.

In an empty Clarke Square in Collins Barracks, the swelling sound of It’s A Long Way to Tipperary blared out from megaphones.

The effect was eerie, as it rendered a ghostly glimpse into what it was like to be a part of the Irish contingent in the war effort and how their breasts must have swelled with jingoistic pride when the anthem was played to send them off to war.

A crowd of people collected in the square as the show was to begin.

A tour guide told us that Collins Barracks – then called the Royal Bar-

racks – was the first purpose-built barracks in the world, and that 733 soldiers would parade in Clarke Square on a regular basis.

Included among these was the 7th Battalion and, as she spoke, a woman in old-fashioned turn of the century dress approached us, appealing to know where the office was so she could have her separation allowance renewed.

The show had begun now in earnest. Across the square, a soldier in a British Army uniform was being reprimanded by a superior officer.

From the high window,

another soldier shouted down, teasing the other.

The spirit of camaraderie and high-jinks was palpable among the soldiers. “I only joined for the boots,” said one.

The whole audience then followed the soldiers who were in the square, up three flights of stone stairs in the barracks to their dorm.

It was here that we experienced something truly exceptional. The audience sat on the beds or on lockers as the soldiers of the 7th Battalion moved around us, telling tales of war to each other and re-enacting battle scenes.

Real letters written by the soldiers themselves were read out at times.

ANU is an extraordinary theatre company who summoned up the spirit of the past so effectively it was impossible not to be moved by it.

It is game-changing theatre, which reaches far beyond the ken of previous drama.

I found myself getting very upset at times as the real experience of what those young Irish men suffered was brought to such vivid and appalling life.

One of the most touching scenes revealed with simple efficacy the com-

Book delves into a killer Dublin plot BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

DON Cameron’s debut novel Marked Off won the RTE Today Show/New Island Get Your Book Published Competition 2014.

Cameron has been doing the rounds on radio and in print giving interviews about his winning book, which is a crime

novel about a serial killer on the loose in the Booterstown area.

Marked Off is a good read for anyone who loves a fastpaced whodunnit and, for the first half, I found myself really enjoying the story as told by a fully-committed Cameron.

The author displays a certain aptitude for crime drama and

has a modern style of writing which is very much in keeping with other successful authors writing in the same vein today.

There is never a moment of boredom and the characters interact very well with each other. In the main, the dialogue is snappy and sometimes quite insightful.

As a first novel, Marked Off

shows a good deal of real promise for Cameron as a crime writer and it keeps the reader engaged until the end.

As a barometer of what is to come from Cameron, it augurs well for the future of modern Irish crime fiction.

The book in on sale now at all good bookstores, priced €13.99.

plicated historical tension of double allegiance to Ireland and T he Crown.

One of the officers, as he was dying, looked up at his pal and asked: “Is Ireland proud of us?”

Pals – The Irish at Gallipoli is an experience not to be missed by any Irish person or anyone who is interested in Irish history.

The performance runs at Collins Barracks daily from Wednesday to Saturday, with shows at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm, and at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm on Sunday until April 30, with tickets priced €5.

A PR ODUC T IO N of Simon Stephens’s Sea Wall brought the incomparable Andrew Scott to Dublin recently, courtesy of the Dublin Theatre Festival.

A Dundrum native, Scott – who is a BAFTA winner, and an Olivier Award winner – is best known in his home country as Sherlock Holmes’s evil arch nemesis Moriarty, and is also due to appear in the next Bond movie Spectre.

Scott appeared in front of the audience of the Project Arts Centre, pacing back and forth as he waited for the audience to settle.

Transformed Once the crowd fell silent, Scott began to talk and soon transformed the space with his simple heartfelt story of love and tragic loss.

His acting is quite simply masterful, born of ice and fire and forged in his own experience.

Not just that, but his is the kind of performance that is not artifice, it is real emotion unfolding before us in real time.

At the end, Scott received a standing ovation, which was the least any audience could do to show their gratitude for such a rare talent.

Gazette

24 Gazette 5 March 2015

OUT&ABOUT

HEALTH

HEALTHSHORTS Viviscal hair supplement could give you luscious locks right from the root to the tip DAILY activities can lead to dull, damaged hair. You may have a little bit of hair envy with your friends. Good hair makes you feel better about the way you look; in particular, if there’s an occasion coming up and you want to look your best.

Hair growth begins beneath the scalp, where the hair follicle is formed, and in this stage of growth, the nutrients received by the hair follicle play a vital role in its health and appearance.

Supported by nine clinical studies, Viviscal Maximum Strength Supplements are scientifically formulated for women to promote healthy hair growth from within, to give your hair the boost it needs to look its very

best.

Viviscal Maximum Strength Supplements is a twice-daily food supplement that contains ingredients of natural origins, providing nutrition and boosting vitality to weak hair right from the root to the tip.

The supplement is available from Boots, leading pharmacies nationwide and health stores, and online at www.viviscal.ie.

Turn to Milltown Dental Clinic for expert oral treatments WHILE there is plenty of dental competition from abroad, you do have to take into consideration travel expenses and currency.

When it comes to post-operative care and patient support, it is paramount you choose a dental clinic near you.

Milltow n Dental Clinic is based in Dublin, and provides dental implants and final implant restorations.

They have an excellent reputation in treating nervous patients, and providing advanced cosmetic dentistry at an affordable cost.

Milltow n Dental Clinic uses the highest quality of materials and laboratories,

and use Nobel Biocare and Straumann dental implants.

They also offer “click tight” palate-free dentures supported by implants, which are ideal if you have loose, uncomfortable dentures.

For a free consultation, call 0146 23963 or 01260 3741, or the emergency number 086 801 2940.

Running footwear is very important to your exercise, so don’t be afraid to take the time and effort to find the pair that’s right for you

exercise: follow our tips to find the right footwear

Step by step advice to get running shoes  suzanne sheehy

ARE you a little overwhelmed at the thought of purchasing a pair of running shoes?

With the vast range of runners available, it is becoming more complicated. With so many brands, price tags and sports shops – as well as specialist shops – it’s difficult to know who to turn to for the right advice.

If you are a beginner, your mileage may not be as high; however, you may have “bi-mechanical” problems so purchasing shoes specific to your needs is of high importance.

Specialist shops are not just for the athlete who consistently runs more than 70 miles per week, they can give you the best advice on which shoes

work best with your feet.

This will help reduce any risk of injury, such as painful shins and joints, which can commonly occur if you’re wearing the wrong running shoes.

Gazette Health went along to The Run Hub, a technical running specialist store in Ashtown, and spoke to Kevin English for a guide to buying new runners.

He discussed how important it is to understand the runner’s profile, saying: “Questions we would ask are: ‘Are you new to running?’, ‘What distance do you plan on running?’, ‘What surface will you run on?’, ‘Are you training for a specific event?’ and ‘Have you had any running-related injuries?’ “ Also, knowing the footwear you currently

wear is important, and looking at the wear patterns gives us plenty of information.

“Body type is important, as the larger runner might need a wider-fitting shoe and a good specialist store will offer widths in the shoes. Getting your feet measured later in the day is always a good tip, as your feet will be expanded a little more, due to blood flow.”

In a good running shop, the specialist will analyse your running gait by videoing your run. On this process, English said: “This is done in the bare feet and on a hardback track where we video the runner and slow down the motion to talk them through their gait cycle.

“The gait is broken up into three cycles, where we look at the contact

phase and see if they are a heel striker or mid-foot striker.

“The next phase is the mid stance, when the foot is in full contact with the ground – our body loads four times our weight at this point. The final phase is the propulsion phase as the foot leaves the ground and the toe-off position is taken.”

Specialist shops will use all the information taken from a gait analysis and form an understanding of the runner’s profile, so that they will be able to choose the right shoe that offers their feet the unique support and fit they need.

You can try out up to four models, but remember: don’t shop by price or by fashion.

And what about barefoot running, also known

as minimalism? On this, English said: “Scientific research has yet to reach a clear consensus on the benefits of barefoot running. It remains a controversial topic and many might argue it is not suitable for all runners.

“Over the past six months, brands have come full circle and shoes have become more cushioned and some very minimal shoes have been discontinued.”

Gazette Health has now covered the main things you need to know when buying your first pair of running shoes.

Here comes the fun part – choosing a pair to suit you, and start clocking up those miles.

Always remember: “Whether it’s a 14-minute mile or a seven- minute mile, it’s still a mile.”

5 March 2015 gazette 25

Ginger Brown Woollen hand-embroidered chair €510

Ginger Brown Bone Inlay Jewellery Boxes (grey and white €120, blue and white €180, pink and white €225)

think PINK! CHECK out The Gazette’s new Interiors page and, this week, our theme is all things hearts and flowers, in honour of our mammies.

We didn’t have to look too far for all things pink, as it seems to be a recurring theme in lots of the spring/summer offerings from many of the big homeware

departments.

For example, look no further than the fabulous pink flamingo from Matthew Wiliamson’s collection for Debenhams.

Uplifting!

So, for some inspiration on what to buy your mum, or just some tips for doing up your home, check out these items ...

Marks&Spencer Floral cushion €27

Kilkenny Store Max Benjamin Persian Rose diffuser €26.95

Debenhams Laura Oakes lamp €75 Debenhams Matthew Williamson flamingo €18.50

Kilkenny Store Shannonbridge sugar bowl €10.95

Marks&Spencer Large floral print jug €13

Gazette

INTERIORS

26 SWORDS GAZETTE 5 March 2015

SWORDSCLASSIFIEDS INTERIORS

INTERIORS

DOORS

SUPPORT

LOCAL BUSINESS

SHOP LOCALLY

MASONARY

▪ Garden Walls ▪ Brick piers ▪ Arches ▪ sheds ▪ Patios & paving ▪ Driveways & paths ▪ Concrete ▪ Repair to damaged masonry ▪ Stone walling & paving Call Dave 0872917647

LANDSCAPING

DVD TRANSFERS Video & Camera Tapes CineFilms Photos & Slides converted to DVD Music & Titles added Tel: 01-2807838 / 087 9132265 alleventsvideo@eircom.net



BRICK BLOCK AND STONE

WINDOWS

RECRUITMENT

CALL THE GAZETTE ON

60 10 240

FOLLOW US TODAY ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORK Visit: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ DublinGazetteNewspapers Twitter: @DublinGazette

ABC CERTIFIED 53,277 COPIES EACH WEEK

(ABC: Group MFD, March- April 2014).

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS - CALL 60 10 240

5 March 2015 swords gazette 27

SWORDSCLASSIFIEDS PUPPIES

Lineage Ad:

Local

Matters S u p p or t local b u si n ess

roofing

Registered & Insured Roofing Contractor Flat Roofing Specialists Industrial, Residential & Commercial • Felt work • Slating & Tiling Organic Seedom • Guttering Fascia & Sofits • STUART MASTERSON P:01 4439398 M: M:087 - 7712463, 086 - 2006217 E:mastersonroofing@gmail.com stuartjmasterson@hotmail.com W:www.mastersonroofing.ie

N?P 8;M<IK@J< N@K? K?< >8Q<KK<6

Advertise with the Gazette call 6010240

DUBLIN Gazette newspaper HAVE OVER 200,000* READERS EACH WEEK *Publishers Statement

C\k fli X[m\ik`j\ij k\cc pfl n_p sified e clas ss. g in th ce ertisin great suc v d a t & the ea tha found azette to b f the paper ts of e v a We h of the G on o ted lo n irculati as genera s. Also, h sectio the wide c t area rs, it ad n e v to re o e c fe it dif Du p to re areas many le pick it u e local many s for us in t th op a e p g s o in s e look busin er is free ! erefore for us ap the p cal news th ally works re lo h ir hic the w g isin advert ins e Coll Lorrain r to Direc

:Xcc lj efn fe '( -' (' )-( kf Y\Zfd\ Xefk_\i fe\ f] fli dXep _Xggp X[m\ik`j\ij n n n% ^ X q \ k k\ ^ i f l g % Z f d

advertise your business to our readers call 01 60 10 240

Industrial Electricians & Plumbers, Confined Space Operative, Painters, Cherry Picker Drivers, Welders (Tig/Steel/Copper), Location of Underground Services Operator, Scaffolders (Basic/Adv), S.L.G Operative, Flagman, Steel Fabricators, Quantity Surveyors, Civil Engineers, Foremen, Refrigeration Engineer and Labourers required for Leinster Region. Pracownicy Budowlani z safe passem potrzebni w Leinster Region.

Please email cv to jobs@clsrecruitment.ie

LEGAL & PLANNING APPLICATION

ANNOUNCEMENT

We can now officially accept planning & legal notices from all four County Councils in greater Dublin region

· Standard rate €75 + VAT · Payment in advance

Ph.01 601 0255

Got a story?

Serving 7 thriving communities of suburban Dublin. For up to date news follow us on Twitter @DublinGazette

Call our news team on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 2 email news@gazettegroup.com



Gazette

28 Gazette 5 March 2015

SPORT Confident toddlers kicking on

FastSport

soccer: little kickers giving kids a healthy start through sport

DCU secure semi-final date with Brunell:

DCU Mercy have been drawn against Singleton SuperValu Brunell in basketball’s women’s Premier League playoff semi-finals.

The Dublin side beat Courtyard Liffey Celtics 74-46 on the last day of the regular season to secure second place and home advantage in the second leg.

Liffey Celtics are also through to the post-season but they will have to play table toppers Team Montenotte Hotel Glanmire.

In the men’s Premier League, Conor Meany scored 40 points as UCD Marian reeled in Travelodge Swords Thunder and kept alive their hopes of a place in the end of season Champions Trophy.

It’s the highest score by an Irish player in the National League this season.

“I’m delighted that we were able to come back after a poor first-half” said the captain.

 stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com

BASED on a “fun-first” principle, Little Kickers’ Joe Sullivan believes the initiative can play a strong

developmental role for young kids and potentially help them on the way to a healthier lifestyle The programme is currently enjoyed by around a 1,000 children around

Training balance for toddlers

the city from month to month. Open to children aged 18-months up to five years, Little Kickers combine football skills with important pre-school learning concepts such as colour and number recognition, sharing, following instructions and using imagination.

Speaking about the idea, Sullivan says it gives toddlers a great experience not just try out football but to help develop vital skills for all parts of their lives at an early age, “It’s an early learning school for boys and girls,” he said. “It is not just football but is based around football. The focus is on learning and helping kids develop.

“It is a unique thing, coming to us at 18 months

All Little Kickers sessions are run by qualified coaches

and staying with us until they are three or four years old. It has to have a lot of variety and is very well run. Parents are not stupid and they want the best.”

Sullivan previously played League of Ireland football with Shelbourne and Longford Town before going into management at local level, most recently with Phoenix on the Navan Road.

But his passion for promoting Little Kickers has seen him pour his efforts into the initiative to the point where he oversees groups all across the city including Castleknock, Ongar, Lucan, Portmarnock, Kinsealy, Swords, Sallynoggin and Foxrock among others.

Groups of up to 16 kids

at the different age groups take part in the different games under the guidance of two Garda-vetted and FAI qualified coaches in an indoor environment .

“There is a structure to it; each week it stays on the same format but with different games.

“We’re going about seven years, and parents love it as much as the kids because there is a great structure to it.

“It’s all about building confidence with the kids.

It builds a bit of everything; listening and learning skills.

“I have a great passion for it and love to see the kids come on from the first day they come in, holding on to mammy or daddy’s leg, until they finish.

“We’re not saying the kids are going to go on and be footballers; it’s just about having confidence and bringing them on, developing them through sport.”

And Sullivan believes that Little Kickers can give youngsters a great start in life on the road to a healthier lifestyle.

“It’s all about developing kids and there is not enough of that out there.

Too many kids don’t do enough exercise; I hear this all the time from such an early age.

“Even at two-yearsold, you see some kids are overweight, stuck in front of their iPad or the television. We are not the answer but we do help them [on the way to a healthy lifestyle].”

Terenure back on track with strong win at Cork Con  sport@dublingazette.com

Terenure are second in the UBL Division 1A

TERENURE recaptured some of their best form with a 20-point first half display at Temple Hill, as James O’Donoghue, Robert Duke and Harry Moore all ran in tries to see off Cork Con 20-8 in the Ulster Bank League Division 1A last Saturday.

The result saw James Blaney’s men tighten their grip on second spot. They now hold a sevenpoint lead over third-placed Clontarf with just three rounds remaining.

Terenure made full use of

their early wind advantage on Leeside, with out-half Thornton landing a second minute penalty. Then a quick tap set up right winger O’Donoghue for a try in the corner.

Impressive f lanker Duke scored for the second week running, charging through from halfway to touch down to the right of the posts, and freescoring winger Moore grabbed his ninth try of the campaign to make it 20-0.

An unconverted effort from Munster Academy member Darren Sweetnam reduced the

arrears for Cork Constitution to 15 points, but the visitors always looked in control despite Tomas Quinlan tagging on a 55th minute penalty.

Clontarf, themselves, slumped to a disappointing 21-17 defeat to St Mary’s at Templeville Road on Friday night. Seventh-placed Mary’s may still be battling relegation but with the table particularly tight, they are only four points adrift of the fourth playoff position.

Peter Smyth’s charges were hammered 44-15 by Clontarf in early January, but they turned

the tables on the title holders.

With a big wind behind them, Mary’s burst into a 21-3 interval lead thanks to 11 points from Ray Crotty’s boot and tries from Brian McGovern and Ryan O’Loughlin, who finished off an excellent team score.

Clontarf capitalised on Mary’s indiscipline to run in tries through Rob Keogh and Ireland club international captain Matt D’Arcy.

However, despite being down to 13 men, the home side hung on to win by a four-point margin.

5 March 2015 Gazette 29

Gazette

Settled St Pat’s eye huge Rovers battle The League of Ireland fixture list has thrown up a massive Dublin derby to start the 2015 season with St Pat’s Liam Buckley and Ger O’Brien hotly anticipating a lively fixture THIS Friday night, Tallaght stadium will host a Dublin Derby between Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic in what is the standout curtainraiser in the season’s SSE Airtricity League.

Keith Fahey’s much discussed switch to the Hoops from Richmond Park, as well as Ciaran Kilduff, Jason McGuinness and Conor O’Malley heading in the other direction from Tallaght to Inchicore will fuel the fire even more in what is always a key fixture in the League of Ireland.

Speaking to GazetteSport at the launch of the league at the Aviva Stadium last Friday, Pat’s manager Liam Buckley previewed the feisty opening day fixture. “It’ll be a big test,” he said. “I think it’s a great opener for the league and we’ll be looking to do as well as we can.”

 nathan kelly sport@dublingazette.com

After a cup winning season and third place finish last time round, the Super Saints enjoyed a perfect pre-season in terms of results up until the defeat to Dundalk in the President’s Cup last Saturday.

Buckley and his backroom staff have been shrewd in their transfer activity in preparation for the 2015 season, signing just four players in the form of ex-Rovers trio Kilduff, O’Malley, and McGuinness along with Lee Desmond from Shelbourne.

Does this represent an emphasis on quality rather than quantity for

the squad? “I just didn’t think we needed to bring in too many,” said Buckley. “The bulk of my squad won the league two years ago, finished third the previous season and third last season too.

“We’ve been very competitive over the past few years. We’ve been in two cup finals in three years and won it last season.

I think who we have brought in will make an impact in the group.”

A f ter such a dramatic end to the league last year, with Dundalk snatching the title from Cork City on the final day, the Inchicore boss was asked who he felt could challenge for the title in 2015.

“Dundalk are going to be ver y competitive, Stephen [Kenny] has lost only one player [Pat Hoban]. Cork have brought in, Rovers have brought in, and Sligo

Ger O’Brien, St Patrick’s Athletic, and Conor Kenna, Shamrock Rovers, will meet on the opening day of the 2015 SSE Airtricity league season. Picture: David Maher / SPORTSFILE

have brought in so we’ll wait and see how the season goes. I think those four and ourselves all have a serious chance.”

The Saints skipper Ger O’Brien was also at the launch and like his manager, spoke with excitement about the return of the league. “I can’t wait,”

the season but don’t get me wrong; we don’t want to lose to Rovers, we want to win it.

“It’s important we prepare properly and go up to Tallaght and give a good account of ourselves.”

Providing his opinion on the squad for the new

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

It’s Pat’s vs Rovers; if you win, there’s the local bragging rights. Lose and you are on the end of that - Ger O’Brien --------------------------------------------------------

he said.

“The off-season is very long. It’s probably too long to be honest so when you get yourself into this situation where there’s just a few days to go the excitement starts to build. The fact that we’ve got a wonderful first couple of fixtures makes it even more special. It’s a very tough start for us but that’s what you want.”

On that opening fixture against Rovers, where O’Brien spent three years as a player, the right-back knows how much it means for the Inchicore faithful.

“Listen, it’s Rovers vs Pat’s. If you win there’s bragging rights for the fans, if you lose you’re going to be on the end of those bragging rights.

It’s obviously not make or break at this stage of

season, the club captain seemed content with the recruitment work done over the winter as well as offering his views on the transfer activity of the entire league.

He said: “Yeah I’m happy. I think most teams are a lot more settled this year. There haven’t been that many players floating on the market which I think is a good thing.

“You can’t have a 10 or 12 player turnaround in each team every year it just doesn’t bring any consistency.

“Having a settled squad allows fans to get to know players and it ensures players have an affiliation with the club which I think is very important.”

Pat’s visit to Rovers kicks off at 7.45pm in Tallaght Stadium this Friday, March 6.

ken’sDiary

Double session pushes Egan to limit of pain barrier Olympic silver medallist Ken Egan is to take part in this year’s Laurels Charity Crew Cycle from Galway to Dublin on April 19. In the run-up, Egan has partnered with Gazette Sport to document his training; here is his latest report from the road.

I DECIDED to head out early on Saturday morning with a group of six to tackle some hills for extra training before I joined up with the big gang at 10am.

I must admit from my time on the bike thus far, I have only really stayed on the flats but to tackle some steep bends, I really appreciate what any serious cyclist takes on.

Because I hadn’t a clue how far or how high I was climbing, I just got in to my own head and took one revolution at a time. I really enjoyed my first experience of the hills and felt like the Italian Marco Pantani, one of the best climbers cycling has ever witnessed.

We descended back towards the Laurels Pub for about 9.45am ready for phase two. I admit I had thoughts in my head of calling it a day. Word on the street was we had a rough ride ahead!

But I battled my demons and put them to the back of my mind and off we took at 10am with my personal target to break the 100km mark by the end of the cycle.

Our destination was Sallins and onto Naas and back up through Blessingtion; I was on the bike two hours and 30 minutes and on the verge of getting off and giving up. I just had nothing left to give and my body was running on empty.

But I heard we were stopping in Blessington and I saw a sign indicating just 9km so I soldiered on; five minutes later and another sign said 7km.

My head was in a bad place but I got through it and made it to our only pit stop.

I got some coffee and refilled my water bottle and got sugar into my body and was ready for the home run., We cycled right through Blessington and down towards Saggart, onto Clondalkin.

This was by far the toughest and the 8am start didn’t help, but it’s in the bank and I will benefit from it.

Total distance of 106km done so for that I am a happy man.

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 5 March 2015

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: celtic closing in on third straight promotion

Doyle breaks series of records in Canada PORTMARNOCK swimming club’s Fiona Doyle was on fire this week at the Canadian Intervarsity Swimming Championships as she broke a string of Irish senior records.

Following a new Irish short course record and gold medal win in the 100m breaststroke on the opening day of the competition, she duly followed up with a personal best in the 200m breaststroke.

A morning preliminary swim of 2:23.64 saw her secure the top seed for the final and a new Irish record breaking her own previous mark of 2:24.17.

And there was no stopping Doyle in the final as she blew away the competition to win her first 200m breaststroke event at CIS Champs in five years in another new Irish record, over the long course, of 2:27.63, over two seconds ahead of second place Tianna Rissling and over two seconds faster than her previous record of 2:29.86.

The time was also inside the world championships qualifying time.

Fingal pick up YMCA draw in Leinster league FINGAL Hockey Club’s first team picked up a creditable draw with YMCA in Leinster’s division two last Saturday with Adrian Sweeney and Jim Dunne on the mark for the ALSAA men.

It saw them bounce back from a midweek 3-1 loss to Clontarf with Declan Brady scoring the goal.

The upshot of that second tie against a side on a high in recent weeks is that

they sit in sixth place in the table with four matches remaining since the club took the decision to move down a tier following a large exodus of players.

They look to be well clear of any relegation danger, though, with Corinthian’s 12 points worse off and, with the withdrawal of Suttonians, the side will more than likely be in line to at least stay where they are when the Leinster leagues are realigned for the 2015/16 due to the introduction of an expanded Irish Hockey League.

Swords Celtic are looking to close the gap on TEK United in pursuit of another league title

Swords cut through Boro  nathan kelly sport@dublingazette.com

SWORDS Celtic continued their hunt for three league titles on the bounce with an emphatic 3-0 win over Beggsboro in LSL Sunday Senior Division 1A last Friday.

The win leaves Robbie Farrell’s side four points off TEK United who sit top of the third their of Leinster football, but Celtic do have a massive five games in hand which will be crucial when medals and ribbons are being handed out at the end of the season.

After a tight first half,

a Barry Caulfield strike opened the scoring a minute into the second half, while substitute Philly Nolan doubled his side’s lead with around 15 minutes to play.

A simple finish from Andrew Timmons after more good work from Nolan at the death put the cherry on top of the Swords cake.

With 11 league games remaining, along with an upcoming league cup quarter-final clash against Lucan United and a place in the last 16 of the Moore Cup secured, Farrell was asked after the game if he felt confident his side can

Rolling on a river Rangers through to last eight of SFAI Cup THE Rivervalley Rangers Under-12s are

through to the quarter-finals of the SFAI Cup thanks to a 2-0 win away at Corinthians Boys last weekend.

Jake O’Sullivan scored both the goals in the win, setting up a home quarter-final date with St Kevin’s Boys in the next phase.

It was Rivervalley’s fifth successive win in the competition that saw over 250 clubs enter across the whole country.

keep focus and finish the season successfully.

“The way we’ve been the last three years at Swords, the goal at the start of season has been to get promotion after promotion until we get to Senior Sunday and, so far, that’s going according to plan.

“We’ve got the added bonus of winning the two previous leagues, which I feel will help us this season.

“We’re in a great position. We’ve turned things around since a few results didn’t go our way around Christmas but we’ve put it back in our own hands.

“Promotion is the major goal but we definitely have the belief and confidence to push on for the league title.

“There is a good core of players that are still there from their first year and they have the hunger and desire to go for the third title in a row.”

Many of those remaining league fixtures look tricky encounters, with matches against the teams in third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place, all vying for promotion.

“What’s more, four of those fixtures will be played away from home.”

Is that something that

worries Farrell? “No not at all,” he said. “It doesn’t faze us going anywhere to play anyone. Our home form has been decent and our away form has been ok.

“All you can do at this stage of the season is have it in your hands and we have that. So it’s firmly up to us now to keep it that way. It’s not a bad position to be in.”

Whatever happens between now and May, you get the feeling there will be some massive games involving this Swords Celtic side in their attempt to reach the second tier of the LSL.

5 March 2015 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

dream debut

Lawless nets on her first outing for Dublin Under-16s

Club Noticeboard st finian’s

ST SYlvester’s Danielle Lawless made

an impact on her debut for Dublin in the Leinster ladies Under-16 championship at Pairc ui Murchu as they ran up a 7-12 to 2-8 victory last Saturday against Meath.

She is pictured en route to scoring her first goal as part of a good day for Dublin’s young stars as the Under-14s beat the same opposition 6-5 to 3-2.

Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

football: injury time scores prove pivotal

OUR new minor girls football team had

sen as the team mascot for the Dublin

their first game on Saturday, in some

team and will lead out the teams at

terrible conditions, against a strong

the next spring series fixture in Croke

Na Fianna team. Congratulations and

Park. Tickets will be available on the

well done to all the girls.

day - adults: €15 – stand and terrace,

Just before the minor girls’ game,

juveniles: €5 – stand​. Dublin hurlers

we saw a great performance from

versus Cork at 5pm, Dublin football

the U-13 girls in their Division 2 foot-

versus Tyrone at 7pm.

ball match against Na Fianna. The

Special mention goes out to PJ Mur-

U-13 camogie team matched the foot-

ray who refereed his first inter-coun-

ballers with a great win, in atrocious

ty fixture on Saturday in Tinahely,

conditions, against Castleknock, with

Wicklow.

a score of 7-3 to 2-1.

The adult hurling team played and won a challenge game against St Maur’s on Saturday.

Fingallians’ Cian O’Brady attempts to escape a tackle Picture: Kyran O’Brien

Fins left snow blind

by Craobh late show Mafc semi-final Fingallians 2-4 Craobh Chiarain 1-9  stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com

CONOR Ryan and Sean Nibbs’s injury times scores saw Craobh Chiarain snatch a dramatic late win over Fingallians amid a blizzard at Lawless Park last Sunday.

They looked to have blown their chance when Brandon Burnett saw his penalty comfortably saved in the 61st minute but Craobh conjured two more late scores to win a topsy turvy tie.

Fins looked dead and

buried at the break in extreme conditions, trailing 1-5 to 0-1, as they struggled to cling on to a ball that resembled a bar of soap.

Craobh, meanwhile, were able to earn the frees to tick over the scoreboard using a collection of accurate free-takers.

Dylan Keeley set out his stall with an excellent 45 while Burnett and Luke Kelly also cleared the bar.

Keith Cooling got the goal in the 27th minute when a sideline from the left was fumbled into his grasp and he made no mistake with a handy

chance.

But Fingallians stormed back into contention when TJ Howard slammed home a goal three minutes into the second half from the game’s one f lowing move.

Key man Shane Howard picked out Ryan McKittrick who in turn fed the ball forward at pace where Howard was set through on goal, battering the ball over Evin Walsh’s head.

Howard scored three points in quick succession though he may have garnered more from his third, shooting over the

bar from the penalty line after Dillon Staunton was pulled back.

It looked to matter little as Matthew Petherbridge then came off the bench to slap home a second goal, grabbing the lead for the one and only time for the Swords men with 12 minutes of normal time remaining.

Burnett pointed to level late in the game before Keeley was dragged back for the second penalty of the game. Burnett scuffed it down the middle but Ryan saved his blushes as the snow drove down and Nibbs ensured no late nervy moments.

The fixture was a minor girls Leinster championship game between Wicklow and Carlow.

Congratulations to the coaches

Next Saturday evening will be a big

from St Finian’s who, after seven

night for Niamh Rafferty from our

weeks, completed the Award 1 coach-

nursery section, as she has been cho-

ing course.

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

whiteout: Fingallians come unstuck as the snow falls during their date with Craobh Chiarain P31

march 5-11, 2015

The big kick off: Pat’s and Rovers raise curtain on new season P29

Robbie Keane and the LA Galaxy were in Gannon Park, Malahide last week to support the Special Olympics footballers

Swords stars LA-bound Billy Kane, Emmet Daly, Laurence Keegan and Matthew Troy all set for Special Olympics Summer World Games following Team Ireland call-ups  sport@gazettegroup.com

SWORDS gymnast Billy Kane, 5-a-side footballer Emmet Daly and 11-a-side counterparts Laurence Keegan and Matthew Troy are all looking forward to the Special Olympics Summer World Games 2015 which take place year following his inclusion in the Irish squad for the event that takes place in Los Angeles.

They are among 32 Dubliners in the 88-strong Team Ireland athletes for the event that runs from July 25 to August 2.

Fifteen-year-old Kane is delighted and proud to have been chosen to compete, saying upon hearing the news: “It is an honour to be selected to represent my country in such a major com-

petition.”

Kane is a member of the Mid-Sutton Gymnastics club and has been involved with gymnastics for over six years now.

On top of his regular club sessions, Kane will be doing additional mid-week training as well as conditioning exercises and, being involved with Special Olympics Ireland aged nine has given him lots of great moments.

To date, his best memory is when he competed in the Ireland Games in Limerick last year.

Daly, 18, meanwhile says that July seems a long way off, saying: “I cannot wait to play in Los Angeles.”

Daly has been playing football for over two years with Sporting Fingal and lists his selection

for Ireland in the upcoming world games as his sporting highlight.

While Daly will compete at 5-a-side level, Keegan and Troy will make up part of the 11-aside football team.

Both won gold with Sporting Fingal at last year’s Ireland Games, one of their career highlights to date.

With just six months until the world games kick off, Team Ireland is busy preparing and training for the games with the athletes supported by a 40-strong management and coaching staff.

This summer, the iconic city of Los Angeles will welcome 7,000 athletes from 177 countries to the Special Olympics World Summer Games

2015.

Supported by over 30,000 volunteers - including 200 from across the island of Ireland - the Games will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games.

Matt English, chief executive of Special Olympics Ireland, said: “2015 is shaping up to be a huge year for our athletes. It’s a tremendous achievement to be selected to represent Team Ireland at LA 2015. Over the coming months we will be working hard to generate the necessary funds to send Team Ireland athletes to the world games and I am confident that the business world will answer our call for support.”