Swords

Gazette

Finding the perfect escape for a romantic Valentine’s Day

swords

PLUS:

see travel p20 January 30, 2014

FREE

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

FOOD&DRINK: Chef Paul Callaghan on the rewards of growing your own food P22

on yer bike: Fingal cycling routes get boost from €3.2m transport fund Page 2

All AIG-cited: Locals meet Dublin players Judo:

New dawn for local club as facility opens Page 32

SWORDS family Simone Gilbert and

Damien McDermott were delighted to take their daughter, Olivia to insurance company American International Group’s (AIG) Morning With The Dubs event recently, where they met Dublin GAA players Bernard Brogan, Dean Rock and Eoghan O’Gara. AIG staff and family members had a great time at AIG’s new North Wall Quay offices, where they could also see the Sam Maguire, Delaney Cup (Leinster Championship) and National League trophies.

Picture: Conor McCabe Photography

Basketball: Portmarnock miss out in AllIreland final Page 30

Find us on

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES....................... 8 DUBLIN LIFE....................11 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................25 SPORT............................27

Controversy over new €150m Sword bus link 35-minute journey could require road to be built across a local park –Kelleher

 natalie burke

POTENTIAL plans for a new rapid bus route in Swords could cause some controversy in the area, according to a local Labour

politician.

If it goes ahead, the proposed new bus route for Swords would cost €150m –€200m to develop, and the service would transport commuters from Swords

and Dublin Airport to Dublin city centre in just 35 minutes.

However, according to Cllr Tom Kelleher (Lab), the new route could present a number of challenges

locally, including the development of a road across a local park.

He said: “If ever a plan called for public consultation, this is it.”

Full Story on Page 7

2 swords gazette 30 January 2014

dublin GAZETTe works Fingal gains from Dublin area fund newspapers i n f o r m at i o n Top Floor, Clarendon House, 39 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publishes six weekly quality free titles, covering the greater Dublin area from Swords to Dun Laoghaire

c o n ta c t s Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com Editor: Mimi Murray mmurray@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@gazettegroup.com Sports Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com Picture Editor: Hiromi Mooney picturedesk@gazettegroup.com Group Advertising Manager: Conor Mahon cmahon@gazettegroup.com Direct Ad Sales Manager: Tatum Rooney trooney@gazettegroup.com Advertising Production: Suzanne Sheehy ssheehy@gazettegroup.com Advertising Sales: 01 - 6010240 sales@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch clynch@gazettegroup.com

Find us on

www.gazettegroup.com Gazette Group Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar (left) joined cyclists to take to one of the city’s bike trails recently. He said: “From the Government’s point of view, it makes sense to invest in cycling because it’s effective, it’s healthy and it’s also extremely efficient.”

€3.2m boost for range of transport projects

A SIGNIFICANT investment in local transport projects for Fingal has this week been welcomed by a number of local representatives in north Dublin.

The €32.5m investment in sustainable transport measures for the greater Dublin area was announced recently

by Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar and Minister of State for Commuter Transport Alan Kelly.

A total of €3.2m of this will go towards significant projects for the Fingal area, with north Dublin projects receiving €1.3m.

Key projects set to benefit from the funding, which comes under the auspices of a National Transpor t Authority programme, include the Holywell village improvement and distributor road completion (€600,000), the expansion of the S2S cycle route from Sutton

 natalie burke nburke@gazettegroup.com

to Malahide (€160,000), a pedestrian/cycle route from Donabate station to Malahide station (€100,000) and the Balbriggan Station interchange (€225,000), as well as certain sustainable transport improvements for the town of Swords (€80,000).

The funding has been allocated for 13 Fingalbased projects at various stages of design, planning, and construction, and cycling projects proved to rank high on the list, with six cycling-related projects included in total.

Speaking about the significant investment, Minister Varadkar said

that commuters in Dublin have really taken to cycling.

He said: “From the Government’s point of view, it makes sense to invest in cycling because it’s effective, it’s healthy and it’s also extremely efficient.

“The single best way to tackle traffic congestion is to support people who get out of their cars and onto bikes, buses, or other alternatives. It also makes the city a nicer place to live, to work and to visit, whether as residents or tourists.

“Growing numbers of people are cycling to work in Dublin city centre. Many of these schemes will make it easier for commuters to cycle in to work from further afield,”said Minister Varadkar.

Minister Kelly said the funding would significantly improve the trans-

port experience for commuters, highlighting the fact that there has been a 40% increase in cycling numbers in Dublin since 2009.

Closer to home, north Dublin Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) also welcomed the announcement, saying the investment will deliver much-needed relief for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike.

He said: “In Swords, the long-awaited Holywell relief road has been allocated €600,000 to allow Fingal County Council to complete the road, thus reducing journey times for commuters wishing to get on and off the motorway more efficiently.

“Of course, this will also remove traffic from the residential core of the estate and away from community infrastructure like the Educate Together Primary School, local shops and playground.

“I’m very pleased to see Minister Varadkar’s acknowledgment that this piece of infrastructure is essential to the proper movement of traffic in the greater Swords and Malahide areas.”

Local Labour TD Brendan Ryan also had praise for the Holywell funding, saying the investment will “finally take heavy traffic out of the residential area of Holywell”.

He added: “I also welcome the funding to complete the feasibility study for the development of a segregated cycle and pedestrian route from Donabate to Malahide, to run parallel to the railway tracks.

“I look forward to the completion of this study, as I believe such a route would be a great benefit to the tourism potential for North County Dublin.”

30 January 2014 swords gazette 3

injury Crew member found unconscious

Fisherman is rescued by the RNLI The Irish Coast Guard rescue team from Howth along with a HSE ambulance from Swords and took part in a rescue last week that resulted in an injured fisherman being rescued.

The Irish Coast Guard received an urgent message on Sunday, January 26, from a fishing vessel in Dublin Bay. A male member of crew had fallen and was unconscious in the storage

area below deck.

T he Coa st Gua rd helicopter was dis patched and despite difficult weather conditions, managed to get the winchman paramedic on board while

the trawler headed to shore.

The casualty regained consciousness and was successfully taken out by stretcher through narrow hatches and safely on to the pier.

Boxing clever: Pavilions staff raise funds for the Jack and Jill Foundation the staff of the Swords Pavilions has raised €8,500 for the Jack and Jill Foundation by hosting a fundraising white collar boxing night at The Wright Venue recently. The funds can be used to provide over 530 home nursing care hours to the charity or to look after a baby in the local area for over eight months. Deirdre Walsh and Edelle Monahan from the Jack and Jill Foundation received the large cheque from the Swords Pavilions’ staff members Westley Downes, Emma McCluskey and Ian Hunter.

charity: superquinn sutton thanked for donation

€23,000 raised for St Michael’s House STAFF and customers at Superquinn in Sutton have raised €23,000 for St Michael’s House – a community-based voluntary organisation for children and adults with an intellectual disability.

The cheque was presented to the community service on January 13, with money raised through in-store activities, raffles and fundraising events taking place throughout 2013.

The money raised will fund events supporting LINK Ballymun services whose efforts to improve

social inclusion for adults with an intellectual disability include taking their clients on trips to the cinema, theatre, the Zoo and organising activities such as the summer barbecue.

Patricia Doherty, chief executive of St Michael’s House, thanked the staff for their donation.

She said: “There are approximately 130 services users who avail of the LINK service and it is donations like this that enable us to continue to provide these activities to them.

“We are extremely

grateful to the staff and customers of Superquinn Sutton for their generous donation.”

The team in Sutton Superquinn will have the chance to exceed last year’s fundraising amount this year, as Des Ryan, the store’s manager, aims to again raise funds for the organisation in 2014.

Speaking at the cheque presentation, he said: “We are delighted to present this cheque to St Michael’s House, and to announce that they will continue to be a charity partner of our store for

2014.”

Sutton Superquinn plans to raise enough funds to support the development of a wet room at Santry Hall, which makes this year’s target more than €12,000 to raise.

Ryan said the development figure is the store’s “first goal” of fundraising and it is for the facility’s “50 service users who are in much need of this additional space”.

Customers of Sutton Superquinn are encouraged to donate this year and can do so in-store.

4 swords gazette 30 January 2014

inspection Call for rise in staff levels met

FastNews

It’s time to be counted and vote this May

Tayto Park in Ashbourne in Co Meath has been asked to refrain from adding animals to its zoo after “inappropriate breeding” and “overweight” animals were found during a routine inspection

Overweight animals found in Tayto Park  natalie burke nburke@gazettegroup.com

A popular theme park near Ashbourne in Co Meath has been asked to refrain from adding animals to its zoo after inspectors found “inappropriate breeding” and “overweight” animals during a routine inspection.

Inspectors from the National Parks and Wildlife Service ordered Tayto Park to refrain from bringing in new breeds of animals until the conditions laid out in the inspection report had been adhered to.

The popular theme park was given three months to comply with the new conditions after the inspection was carried out in September 2013.

In the report, inspectors said that racoons and fishing cats were overweight and needed to have their diet and

husbandry reviewed and remedies put in place.

The report also showed that some birds did not have an environment that met with their physical, psychological and social needs, with the report stating that a barn owl, Harris hawks and falcons needed cover and flight areas.

Breeding

In other findings, the report stated that captive breeding was not properly managed, with the inspector stating that there was “inappropriate breeding” in place.

In the category referring to staff numbers, the inspection also revealed that staff appeared to have a “very heavy workload” and said that there are concerns that this would affect on the collection of animals.

A spokesman for the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaelteacht

confirmed that since the inspection, Tayto Park has “submitted documentation” to the Department, within the specified time period, which it claims will meet these conditions.

“The Department is currently reviewing this documentation and a decision will issue in due course as to whether the conditions are deemed to have been met,” the spokesperson said.

In a statement revealed to the Gazette, Tayto Park said that while there was a condition upon renewing their licence that no further stock be added to their animal collection, they believe they have complied with all conditions and recommendations in the Zoo Licence.

Tayto Park confirmed that they are awaiting an official response from the Department but in the meantime have received positive feedback from it.

“We have not requested permission from the Department to add any new animals to Tayto Park at this time. We believe we are in a position to obtain such permission if we request it,” a spokesperson for the park said.

Speaking about the overweight animals, the spokesperson said: “The raccoons and female fishing cat were a little overweight but in good health. Their diet was reviewed and their body weights have dropped to the desired level.”

In relation to staff workload, Tayto Park confirmed that they have increased their staff levels in line with their recommendations.

They also confirmed that the birds mentioned in the report have all been moved to larger aviaries where they can fly freely and have adequate shelter.

Local and European elections will take place on Friday, May 23. Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan announced the dates in the Dail chamber last week.

The polls will open from 7am to 10pm on the day. Candidates for each local constituency will be nominated one month before election day.

Any person resident in Ireland over 18 can vote in the local elections. All unregistered voters can register at local authorities before April 26. Local and European elections take place every five years.

Dublin man buys winning lottery ticket in Malahide A Dublin man has picked up a cheque for €588,144 from the National Lottery Offices after he purchased his lucky ticket in a Malahide shop.

The lucky Dublin man, who wishes to remain anonymous, bought his lotto ticket in Seabury Centre Foodmarket on Old Yellow Walls Road in Malahide on the day of the draw, Saturday, January 18. He shares the €3.5m jackpot with six other ticketholders.

Celebrating his win he said: “I watched the Lotto draw on Saturday evening and recognised my numbers straight away when they were called out - I was in total shock! I called my family to tell them the great news.”

30 January 2014 SWORDS GAZETTE 5

BUSINESS Proposal for outlet at Dublin Road is shelved

Planning application is withdrawn by Lidl  NATALIE BURKE

PLANS for a new Lidl store in Swords have been shelved after a planning application was withdrawn in recent weeks.

The planning application for the new Lidl shop was put on display with Fingal County Council late last year, and was set to be developed on the Dublin Road in Swords.

However, on January 14, it emerged that the application for the 1,897sq m store had been withdrawn.

While Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) said he was not aware of the reasons for the withdrawal, he said that a number of concerns had surrounded the original application.

He said: “While I will always welcome more competition and jobs [coming] to the area, there were question marks over the location.

“The Dublin Road is already very busy, with traffic tailbacks, and the

location of the Lidl store would have been very close to a busy roundabout.

“Some residents living nearby were concerned about the potential increase in traffic volumes.

“I would love to see more jobs and businesses coming to Swords, and I would love to see Swords Main Street and North Street revitalised.

It would be brilliant.”

While it is not clear if Lidl will put forward a new application for a second store in Swords, Cllr Butler said he would like to see one of the empty premises on Main Street or North Street being used.

Competition He said: “It’s great to see local businesses and independent retailers doing well, such as JC’s Supermarket, but I’m all for competition. It would mean more jobs which is always welcome.

“However, the location on the Dublin Road had

a few issues attached to it and it would be great to see some of the empty premises on Main Street or North Street being used. I would love to see it revitalised.

“More shoppers coming to the centre of Swords would have a knock-on effect for the other local businesses.

The original area was too far from Main Street and too close to a residential area. I just wasn’t convinced,” Cllr Butler said.

When contacted by The Gazette, a spokesperson for Lidl declined to comment on the matter, saying: “Regrettably, it is company policy not to comment on this [planning] area of the business.”

The planning application originally put forward by Lidl applied for the construction of a single-storey licensed discount food store, with ancillary off licence sales.

The planning application was also to include the provision of a surface

WE HAVE 139,000* READERS IN DUBLIN *based on TGI-ROI 2013

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS

CALL 60 10 240

car park, comprising 94 car parking spaces and 13 cycle parking spaces.

It would also have provided for vehicular and pedestrian access via the Dublin Road, as well as the provision of boundary treatments, hard and soft landscaping, lighting and connection to drainage and water services.

While acknowledging local concerns over the possible impact on traffic, Cllr Darragh Butler said he would welcome the jobs boost and competition that a Lidl store could bring

6 swords gazette 30 January 2014

works Local share of national €333m investment programme is welcomed

€4.8m for Fingal’s roads leaves AA unmoved  natalie burke

RECENT funding announced for the improvement of regional and local roads is not enough, according to the director of consumer affairs for the AA Ireland, Conor Faughnan.

A total of €4.8m for Fin-

gal County Council was announced by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar last week, which would see major improvements to Fingal’s roads.

The funds are part of a €333m investment programme for 2014 aimed at improving

roads nationwide.

Speaking to The Gazette, Faughnan said that while the AA recognises that the country is short of money, “skimping on the maintenance of roads” is not a genuine saving, as “it costs more in the long run”.

He said: “For five years now,

since the onset of the [economic] crisis there has been a regular under-funding of the maintenance of secondary roads. “[Minister] Leo Varadkar has been pragmatic in taking some money away from new roads to maintain older ones.

“That makes sense, but even so the level of funding applied is below the level needed to maintain roads in their current state, let along make any improvements.

“This is not a sustainable strategy in the long run,” said Faughnan.

However, Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) welcomed the announcement, saying he felt “encouraged” by the news.

He said: “This funding will add significantly to road safety in the north county and further improve the local and regional roads across the county.”

Councillor ‘shocked’ and saddened over burglary A local councillor has said he is “shocked” and “saddened” after a local Swords resident was the victim of an aggravated burglary in recent weeks.

A pregnant mother was threatened by an armed gang who broke into her home in the Applewood area on Friday evening, January 17.

The woman’s two-year-old son was in the house at the time. Three men ransacked the house looking for cash and reportedly threatened the mother and son.

Some cash and a number of items were believed to have been taken.

Speaking to the Gazette, Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) said there has been a spate of burglaries over the last number of months which have caused “great distress” to Swords and north Dublin residents.

“But this sort of aggravated burglary takes our disgust to a whole new level.

“I really hope they are caught and get the sentencing they deserve,” he said. “To think that this family now feel that they have to move out and abandon home is simply not acceptable in any civil society.”

With their school winning last year’s inaugural Battle of the Books contest, Rush National School pupils Laoise Hurley and Aaron Rawlinson, and their teacher, Christopher Berkley, were happy to promote this year’s contest

education: initiative to boost reading levels

Local pupils set for literacy battle  natalie burke

FOUR primary schools in the Fingal area will be brushing up on their literacy skills as the Battle of the Books reading programme commences this month.

St Oliver Plunkett School in Malahide, St Molaga’s in Balbriggan, St Colmcille’s in Swords and St Patrick’s in Corduff will compete in the reading and comprehension initiative.

The programme aims to boost confidence and encourage children and young people to read more.

Fingal Libraries will organise various learning activities throughout the programme.

Susan Lovatt, of Blanchardstown Library, said: “It will bring all schools of Fingal together.”

At the end of the school year, teams of six children from all four participating schools in the area will battle it out against each other to win the big finale quiz.

Note taking, analysing and comparing different texts are just some of the practical tools that school children will learn and be quizzed about during the pro-

gramme, with up to five quiz rounds of questions on the full five-month programme experience.

The education initiative was piloted last year with great success, and this year’s programme, which began on January 17 with a launch in the council chambers in Swords, will run until May. In attendance were the Mayor of Fingal, Kieran Dennison (FG); Fingal County Council’s director of services, housing and community Ann Marie Farrelly and Maura Cassidy of the Dublin Airport Authority, who are supporting

the initiative.

Author Brian Gallagher also attended the launch. His book, Stormclouds, a story of young siblings uprooted from the US to Belfast in the 1960s, has been given to each school child in the competition, comprising more than 170 copies.

This programme is part of the National Literacy Strategy 2011, which aims to improve literacy skills in young people throughout Ireland.

Last year’s winner of the first Battle of the Books competition was Rush National School.

30 January 2014 swords gazette 7

transport Mixed views on possible town plan

New 35-minute rapid bus link may be on way  natalie burke

POTENTIAL plans for a new rapid bus route in Swords could cause some controversy in the area, according to a local representative.

If it goes ahead, the proposed new bus route for Swords would cost between €150m and €200m to develop, and the service would transport commuters from Swords and Dublin Airport to Dublin City Centre in just 35 minutes.

The Bus Rapid Trans-

port (BRT) is set to be called “Swiftbus” and will service up to 3,600 passengers per hour.

However, according to Cllr Tom Kelleher (Lab), the new route could present a number of challenges locally, including the development of a road across a local park.

He said: “The residents of Castlegrange, Castlefarm, Broadmeadows, Mooretown and Pinegrove will certainly have their say.

“While the possibility of an improved bus system

will be welcomed, there will most certainly be opposition to the National Transport Authority (NTA) plan to construct a road across the park and to continue along a road at Pinegrove that was closed after a long and bitter campaign.

“If ever a plan called for genuine public consultation, this is it,” he said.

Other councillors in the area welcomed the news, highlighting their relief that the service would not be considered a substitute for Metro North.

children DIY fun with B&Q classes  natalie burke

Dublin Airport would feature as one of stops on the proposed new Swiftbus service to link Swords to the city centre

Speaking to The Gazette, Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) said: “We were told by the NTA that this is categorically not intended to be a replacement to Metro North.

“This is intended as an initial solution in advance of Metro North and that Metro North is still the long-term solution.”

Why advertise with the Gazette?

Let our advertisers tell you why:

“

C&S Windows Ltd have been advertising with the Dublin Gazette Newspapers for a number of years to communicate with our customers on any special offers we have available at different times of the year.

We find the service we receive is excellent and they always give us good value for money. Our salesperson is very efficient and always makes sure our advert

“

is correct. The Lucan, Clondalkin, Castleknock and Blanchardstown editions are really working well for us, reaching all the areas we need to cover locally.

We would have no hesitation in recommending the

Gazette to other companies to promote their company.

B e c au s e L o c a l M at t e r s

Cllr Tom O’Leary (FG) said he also welcomed the clarification by officials from the NTA that Metro North or a similar project is still required for the current and future development of Fingal.

He said: “The journey time of 35 minutes compared to the current time of 64 minutes is a

dramatic improvement, and compares well to the Swords Express, which takes 25 minutes.”

A public consultation is set to commence on February 17 and, if approved in early 2015, the project is expected to take approximately two and a half years to be completed.

CHILDREN’S DIY classes will be launched in the B&Q store in Swords next week.

The Kids Can Do It classes are aimed at sevento 11-year-olds, who will have the opportunity to build their own projects, including bird houses and flower planters.

The classes have already received a great response and the store hopes to hold two classes on Saturdays and one on Sunday mornings, beginning on February 8.

The classes are aimed at teaching children DIY skills, such as drilling and gluing.

Classes cost €5, and materials will be provided. For further details or to book a class, call 01 870 8599.

8 swords gazette 30 January 2014

gazetteGALLERIES

Ciaran O’Connor, Andrea Roche and Robert Duff

Emma Kearns, Jessica Horan and Clodagh Byrne Members of the All Starz Dance School (back) Faye Mooney, Sarah Delaney, Kasey Thomas and Sarah McNulty,

Ciara McKenna, Ellen Barry and Grace Maughan

Malaidh Larkin, Zara Hussey, Jack Hussey and Alexandra Pusca

30 January 2014 swords gazette 9

Have you seen yourself in the Gazette? Buy photos online from only €6.99 at www.gazettephotos.com

All eyes were on the brightly lit stage

(middle) Kate Whelan, Danielle Lawler and Tia Rooney, (front) Hollie Kelly and Sophie Kelly. Pictures: David O’Shea

malahide: LOCAL CHILDREN COMPETE FOR TOP PRIZE

Grand talent shines on stage M

ALAHIDE Musical and Dramatic Society hosted a talent show at The Grand Hotel over the weekend.

Malahide’s Got Talent saw over 50 acts of children aged eight to 16 audition, with 25 acts shortlisted to perform at the grand

Eva Cashell, Sarah Whyms and Malaidh Larkin

finale on Sunday, January 26.

Brother and sister Zara and Jack Hussey scooped the top prize of a day in a recording studio, after they performed a song

by Damien Rice on the piano, guitar and vocals.

Kristine Bodrova, Robert

Sophie Crinian, Hana May, Georgia Goodall and Zara Crinion

Meehan and Hollie Kelly

10 swords gazette 30 January 2014

gazetteGALLERY

Have you seen yourself in the Gazette? Buy photos online from only €6.99 at www.gazettephotos.com

Model Joanne Northey wears a white Chloe jacket (€1,360), top (€520) and shorts (€750) Models Thalia Heffernan, Joanne Northey and Roz Purcell recently exclusively unveiled the new Brown Thomas Spring Summer 2014 collections in Dublin. Above, Thalia wears a Lanvin one-shoulder raspberry dress (€1,680), Joanne wears a Proenza Schouler silver foiled dress (€2,225) and Roz wears Lanvin metallic shirt in red (€780) and skirt in pink (€1,300). Pictures: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland.

New fashions to put a spring in your step

Model Thalia Heffernan in the Lanvin one-shoulder

Joanne Northey wears a Proenza Schouler silver foiled dress and Roz Purcell

Roz Purcell wears a Victoria Beckham white tuxedo

raspberry dress

wears Lanvin metallic shirt in red

jacket, white peplum dress and black trousers

30 January 2014 Gazette 11

diary P14

asdfsdaf businessP27 P16

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



Gazette

feature P12

what’son happy days in february: A new

Actress and writer Amy Huberman with pupils from 6th class at City Quay NS launching the Bord Gais Energy Student Theatre Awards

theatre: bord gais student awards recognise young creative talent

Rewarding and inspiring participation in drama  Laura Webb

Budding student playwrights are being recognised for their talent through a new Student Theatre Awards ceremony. Bord Gais Energy has launched its Student Theatre Awards which aims to support drama in schools throughout Ireland. On hand to launch the exciting new awards was actress, writer and mum Amy Huberman.

Commenting on the launch Amy said: “I am delighted to help officially launch the first ever Bord Gais Energy Student

Theatre Awards. These awards have been set up to reward and encourage participation in drama in schools and I think it’s really important that we recognise young creative talent from an early age and encourage young people to take part in drama and writing. Growing up I always had an interest in acting and writing and had there been something like this when I was at school, I would have definitely taken part.”

The inaugural award ceremony is open to fifth and sixth class in primary schools and all students in secondary

school. This year will focus on creative dramatic writing and students in Dublin are being asked to demonstrate their playwriting skills and write a short scene based on the theme of friendship.

All shortlisted schools will win a class trip for up to 30 students and teachers to see War Horse at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre on April 9, 2014. The winning student in each category will receive a €150 One4all voucher. The overall winner will receive a €300 One4all voucher as well as a €1,000 bursary for their school and €1,000 worth of books for

their school library.

Irene Gowing, sponsorship and brand manager, Bord Gais Energy, said: “We are pleased to launch the student theatre awards. There’s a huge amount of students in Dublin putting time and effort into writing and drama in schools and through these awards we want to recognise and reward these young creative people.”

Closing dates for entries is Thursday, February 13.

Visit www.bordgaisenergy.ie/schools for entry details.

musical version of the popular TV series Happy Days comes to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre this February for a four-day run.

The show features Sugababes star Heidi Range as Pinky Tuscadero and former Emmerdale cast member Ben Freeman as the Fonz.

This new musical version of the show is written by Garry Marshall, the creator of the original television series and is also the director of many hit films including Pretty Woman and Beaches.

The original Fonzie, Henry Winkler is acting as a consultant on the show to make sure all involved get all of the 50s family sitcom’s much-loved characters just right, especially the Fonz.

Happy Days includes 21 original songs by Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe award-winning Hall of Fame songwriter, Paul Williams.

The show opens on February 4 until February 8 and tickets ranging from €17.50 to €45 are available at www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

Gazette

12 Gazette 30 January 2014

dublinlife

FEATURE

a day in the life: david hynes, taxi driver

Job is still a fare way to see Dublin  aileen donegan

AT FOSTER Place, the taxi rank on College Green, driver David Hynes is waiting in line for his next customer, while some drivers are out of their cars and chatting, adding to the bustling city spirit in Dublin.

However, there’s a long wait to go for Hynes, who began his work day earlier that morning.

He says: “I generally get up between 8 and 9 in the morning. I have a shower, a cup of coffee and head

straight out the door.

“Some days, I could start at 10am and work away until 3 or 4am the next morning. You get a break in between. We lunch on the road, when we’re working.”

A taxi driver for more than 16 years, he is wellversed in the rhythm of the game.

“Come the end of the month, you have to push yourself a little bit extra,” he says.

It’s a precarious and unpredictable job, and comes with many risks,

too, with fares presenting potential trouble, at times.

“I’ve never had to raise my fist, or been hit – I’m a big lad, so it puts people off,” he laughs.

But, he says, other drivers in his rank haven’t been quite so lucky.

Unforgettable customers are aplenty, but there are positive encounters, too. He tells me about some of the journeys he has had in the past.

On one such memorable fare – his longest, to date – he says: “I did a

country run once down to Mullingar. I brought him back, too. He then wanted to go to a seafood restaurant, so I brought him down to Howth, and from Howth to Castleknock. I was with him the whole day.”

The journey amounted to €468, but Hynes has had much shorter trips, too.

“I was on St Stephen’s Green rank and an old man literally jumped into the car, and goes: ‘I just want to go two doors up’.

So, I drove up two doors

David Hynes, taxi driver: “Some days, I could start at 10am and work away until 3 or 4am the next morning”

and he jumped out!”

D av i d h a s m a ny thoughts on the taxi industry as a whole, and among other things, he talks about whether the construction of the new Luas link will affect the business.

He says: “There’s a possibility this rank will be

closing, but it’s up in the air. No one knows at the moment.”

The line of taxis in front is getting shorter, so Hynes’s next customer will be arriving soon. A larger cluster of drivers are out of their cars now, including those who have just returned from fares.

The group are laughing hard about something.

Of his daily company, Hynes says: “We’re good colleagues and friends here. If I had a breakdow n or something went wrong with my car, the lads would be out to me. We look after each other.”

30 January 2014 Gazette 13

14 GAZETTE 30 January 2014

GAZETTE

DUBLINLIFE Sitting pretty to avoid morning who uses the Twitter handle @Ken_Gok. During the morning commute he tweeted: “This guy is on my train right now. What a legend! #Dart #IrishRail”.

Being forced to stand on overcrowded Dublin trains will be old news in no time.

TAKE TO THE STREETS FOR CHARITY THE team at bereavement support charity Anam Cara are calling on the women of Dublin to lend their support by signing up for the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon on June 2.

The clock is ticking and that time of year is

www.

coming around again when women from all over the county don their best runners to take to the streets for the 10k run in aid of charity.

Staff at Anam Cara are hoping to recruit their own team from Dublin’s female population to support and represent the charity which provides help for families affected by the tragic death of a daughter, son or sibling.

The Anam Cara team is reserving a room in Doheny and Nesbits on Baggot Street for runners to prepare before the marathon and tend to their blisters afterwards.

To register for the event, go to their website at www.florawomensminimarathon.ie by February 19. All funds raised on the day will go towards providing Anam Cara’s free services.

JEZEBEL COMES TO THE CIVIC STAGE THE Civic Theatre, Tallaght, are presenting Mark Cantan’s critically acclaimed Jezebel from February 4 to 6.

The story is based on a go-getting couple who want to spice up their love life, and Jezebel is a singleton looking to get into a relationship.

Put them together and

the solution seems simple.

What appears at first to be the answer to all of the character’s problems turns out to be just the start of them.

Jezebel is a modern comedy for 21st century Ireland. The play is directed by rising star Jose Miguel Jimenez and presented by the next generation of Irish theatremakers.

The play begins in the Civic Theatre at 8pm from February 4 to 6. Admission is €18, €14 concession, and €10 preview night.

For more information about the play or to purchase tickets visit www. civictheatre.ie.

gazette

group

.com

A commuter at his ease during a busy commute

AFTER years of using public transport, it was only a matter of time before somebody had a fairly decent brainwave.

It’s just a shame the rest of us are kicking ourselves for not having thought of this first.

This particular commuter, travelling on the train from Malahide to Pearse Street Station last week, decided he had stood for long enough and took matters into his own hands.

He brought along his very own fold up camping chair, plonking himself in the middle of the aisle. Pure genius!

The picture was snapped by fellow commuter Ken Gaughran,

All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away

30 January 2014 GAZETTE 15

commuter blues THE WANTED CONFIRM THEY ARE TO SPLIT TISSUE companies around the world must have seen a peak in revenue last week after The Wanted announced their split – for now.

Fans from around the world are still drying tears of sadness following the announcement of their break-up.

Band member and Blanchardstown native, Siva Kaneswaran will be looking for new work having revealed that he and his band mates Max George, Jay McGuinness, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes will take time out temporarily to “pursue personal endeavours”

after their upcoming Word of Mouth Tour.

In a statement on their website, they try to reassure fans by saying they want to “stress” to them that they “will continue on as The Wanted” and they look forward to “many successful projects together in the future”.

Fear not, The Wanted fanatics – no boy band split (sorry – time out) would be complete without a farewell song and they will be releasing their new video and single Glow in the Dark soon.

LEO TAKES A POP AT REFORM ALLIANCE’S LOGO THEY were once the best of pals, but now there

seems to be no love lost between Leo Varadkar and Lucinda Creighton as he takes a pop at her new party’s logo.

Leo took to Twitter recently to give his stance on the Reform Alliance’s new logo, which he likened to Fianna Fail’s.

On his Campaign for Leo Twitter account he said of Lucinda’s new party logo: “Reform Conference logo is backwards FF logo. Telling?”

He is the latest political figure to talk down the alliance believing they won’t make much of an impact in the world of politics.

With the local elections earmarked for May 23 only votes will tell

GAZETTE

DIARY

whether or not they will be a force to be reckoned with.

MEANWHILE, AT THE ALLIANCE CONFERENCE OVER 1,300 people attended the Reform Alliance conference this weekend in Dublin’s RDS. Reforming the Irish State was the purpose of this gathering but by mid-morning old notions abounded.

Women apparently just “don’t have the attributes to push themselves forward in politics,” said one male attendee.

The Diary promptly shot him down and stated that his view was

Lucinda Creighton at the Reform Alliance conference at the RDS

the “worst comment we ever heard”. The room approved of this quick, dismissive rebuttal.

Politics, health and the economy were top topics. Increased power to the Seanad and GPs, an

end to “mass patronage” in Irish politics, and an improved entrepreneur strategy were among the most popular reform ideas.

The R A continues to avoid its ambiguous

party status, which is wise as some still view them as ex-Fine Gael politicians with a prolife agenda.

Only time will tell if they can shake their conservative image.

GAZETTE

16 GAZETTE 30 January 2014

DUBLINLIFE

BUSINESS SHOWCASE: MORE THAN 430 EXHIBITORS PROMOTE THEIR WARES

Q&A

Goldsmith crafts her way to success at creative expo  BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

KEY PERSONNEL OF ABOVEBOARD, DUN LAOGHAIRE

Water-based sports centre hopes to make waves with the city’s fitness fans DEBBIE Millington and Ronan Conway have a shared enthusiasm for the sea and water-based sports. Now their goal is to make their sports centre in Dun Laoghaire the hub of water-based activities in the region, and to make water sports in general more accessible in their area.

Debbie is the key administrator at Aboveboard and is keen to encourage people to

What types of water sports do you teach from the centre?

At Aboveboard, we focus on teaching water sports, with a sport to suit just about everyone, from adrenaline addicts to fitness fanatics. We offer kite surfing and stand-up paddle (SUP) boarding lessons and rentals.

This year, we have also added to our range of services, including full and halfday SUP and wake-boarding excursions, and kite surfing holidays to the sun.

What makes your business successful?

We offer flexible hours and arrange classes that suit the client’s availability.

We only teach on high-end equipment and have small student-to-teacher ratios, so that the students get the most from each class. The quality of our service is guaranteed, and the centre is fully insured to teach all these activities.

We take everyone’s ability level into account, and only teach in a safe and controlled environment, to put each student at ease.

Ronan’s local knowledge and expertise in these sports lends to a more unique and enjoyable learning experience, with success guaranteed.

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

We are the only southside-based kite/ SUP centre and are a small, family-run Irish business, offering one-to-one cus-

incorporate a water-based sport into their weekly fitness regime.

Speaking to The Gazette, she said: “Here in Ireland, we are spoilt for recreational amenities, including inland waterways, lakes, rivers and, of course, Dublin’s bay and coastline. My main objective is to try and grow brand awareness and interest in water and its sporting possibilities.”

Ronan is the main instructor at Aboveboard and has been kite surfing for 13 years. A Level 2 International Kiteboarding Organisation (IKO) instructor, he first received his IKO instructor’s licence from IKO grand master Xavier Russo.

He also has numerous first aid and boat safety courses under his belt, making him a fully-certified instructor at the centre.

tomer service and attention to detail. The centre is open all year round, preparing people for the summer months.

We teach in smaller class ratios, so that students get maximum value from their lesson. The staff are reliable and the club is conveniently located, making it easy for people to access lessons and the water in after-work hours.

We are also fully mobile, so can access the perfect launch areas for each class, and can also provide club safety and rescue boat facilities.

ing, wake boarding and SUP to people who would not ordinarily have access to such activities or the chance to try water sports.

How do you use social media to help your businesses?

We are big fans of using Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Meet Ups. These apps and services are great platforms to help build our company profile, keep in contact with our clients, post videos and photos of our classes and to keep our followers and members informed about club news and updates.

What is your ambition for the business?

We hope to create a safe kite surfing and SUP-ing experience for our students and to make these sports accessible to people of all ages and ability.

Ideally, we would like to employ some of Ireland’s upcoming kiters and SUPers as instructors in our school, making our school the cream of the crop.

We hope to fill our calendar with nationwide events, bringing kite surf-

What living person do you most admire?

Captain Paul Watson, the founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and co-founding director of Greenpeace Foundation.

What is your favourite Dublin restaurant?

Damson Diner on South William Street – great food and smashing cocktails!

THE winners in the recent Showcase Ireland Awards were announced last week, with the overall award for best product going to goldsmith Helena Malone.

A creative expo, Showcase was held in the RDS recently to provide a platform for Ireland’s top designers and crafts people, and saw work from more than 430 exhibitors on show at the four-day event. Stalls displayed crafts made from a diverse range of materials, from wood to fashion, in an array of styles.

Goldsmith Helena Malone won the overall award for her Rhapsody Rock Crystal Quartz neckpiece.

Other winners included Donegal fashion label Fisherman Out Of Ireland, Dublin-based Shevlin Millinery, which won for its panama hats, and printmakers Clover Rua, also based in Dublin.

Showcase is the country’s largest international trade fair, attracting buy-

ers from 26 countries around the world, with estimates of order sales for this year exceeding €20m.

Now in its 38th year, the event plays a crucial part in the craft sector’s contribution to the Irish economy of almost €500 million annually.

The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, officially opened Showcase and announced that the Crafts Council of Ireland will now trade as the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, following the recent signing of a three-year agreement with Enterprise Ireland.

Karen Hennessy, chief executive of the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, said: “The standards this year were extremely high, making selection for these prestigious awards a difficult task.”

More than 5,700 people are employed in Ireland by the entrepreneurial small- and medium-sized businesses that rely on Showcase to reach international customers.

Who would your three dream dinner guests be and why??

First would be broadcaster Max Keiser, from The Keiser Report, for his straighttalking that’s good for a great discussion on all things political and economic.

Next would be Andy Brown, the director of Royal Dutch Shell. It would be great to find out what is going through his head, and why he thinks that drilling for oil in the Arctic and hydraulic fracturing is such a great idea.

Also, Edward Snowden, just because this guy is a hero.

What is your most treasured possession?

Ireland’s natural resources.

Helena Malone was presented with her award by Karen Hennessy, chief executive of the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore and Laura Magahy, chair, the Crafts Council of Ireland

30 January 2014 Gazette 17

travel P20

asdfsdaf motors P27 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

cinema P18

PETS

help loving jake find a true home

Daniel Bruchlikowski, Karina Basova and Katie Forde, all of Gardiner Street Primary School, joined TV and radio presenter Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain to help launch this year’s upcoming Discover Primary Science and Maths Awards

schools: annual awards to encourage young minds to learn more

Discover a love of science  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

THE Discover Primary Science and Maths Awards celebrates its tenth anniversary and has Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain on board to promote science and maths in schools across Dublin.

The TV and radio presenter will champion a panel of Science Foundation Ireland’s scientists as the awards look set to break the 500 recipients milestone.

The Gazette spoke to Aoibhinn at the launch of this year’s awards, where she had particular praise for the Discover Primary Science and Maths (DPSM) programme over the course of the school year, which has several steps to foster greater interest in science.

She said: “The programme is to encourage teachers and students to

enjoy science, and there are so many interesting activities, such as the Greenwave [initiative] which concentrates on spring by getting children to look around at nature as flowers bloom, and ask questions such as: ‘Why is a daffodil yellow?’

“There are many activities online, so teachers can plan which the students will concentrate on. It’s a great resource for teachers; it’s all there online for them.

The students must also attend a science event or visit the DPSM Discover Centre, and some scientists will visit the participating schools too.

“It’s a super programme. I met students taking part recently and they are so articulate and enthusiastic about the subjects,” she said.

“The programme encourages students

to become more well-rounded learners, with an emphasis on independence and the ability to communicate ideas and think for themselves.

“We are trying to get 500 schools involved for the 10-year anniversary.

Some teachers might be afraid to get involved if they haven’t done science themselves, but all the resources are on the website for them. I would urge them to try it out and, if it fails, so be it – learning is about failure, too.”

When asked about the spirit of competition engendered by such an awards programme, Aoibhinn said: “I think competition is great, even among different classes in the same school.

“Another thing that’s great about this programme is that it’s Irish and all of the activities the students do line up with

their curriculum. The online activities are so well designed that the children enjoy doing them, and don’t realise they tie in with their curriculum.”

Aoibhinn no longer teaches in schools, as she is studying for her PhD in maths, but she is still training teachers and lecturing in Trinity College Dublin.

She said: “I train trainee teachers.

I miss teaching children – it was great craic! You really need a different kind of energy in the classroom, and we should celebrate teachers more. They are not rewarded for the work they do.”

Schools interested in taking part in this year’s Discover Primary Science and Maths Awards must register by March 21 at www.primaryscience.ie, and log books detailing the activities completed must be submitted in May.

The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week is Jake, a three-year-old Labrador-cross.

Jake is an absolutely fabulous young dog, who when he gets to know you will be your best friend forever. He is very loving and has made many good friends at Dogs Trust.

He loves cuddles and playing with his tennis balls – sometimes, he’ll even give them back! He gets on great with his doggie friends and loves having a game of chasing with them.

Jake would need to go to a calm, adult-only home where he would be given time to settle in and become part of the family.

If you think you could offer Jake the loving home he so deserves, please contact Dogs Trust on 01-879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50, and directions can be found on www. dogstrust.ie You can also find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustireland or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.

Gazette

18 Gazette 30 January 2014

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is definitely not the cat that got the cream, as the folk singer fails to make his mark on New York’s early 1960s Greenwich Village music scene

CINEMA the coen brother’s melancholy tale

Strikes sour notes THE Coen brothers are famous for writing and directing darkly humorous films that skirt the edge of traditional film narrative.

Their latest creation, Inside Llewyn Davis, continues the trend, and with the titular character we’re presented with their bleakest antihero yet.

Following Llew y n (Oscar Isaac), a struggling folk singer on the early 1960s Greenwich Village scene, is hard work.

Cold, penniless, and with a rapidly dwindling supply of couches to sleep on, we witness Llewyn’s artistic idealism clash with a harsher reality.

At first glance, Llewyn appears to be the archetypal charismatic underdog, but it quickly becomes apparent that most of his suffering is self-inflicted, and there seems to be little chance of redemption.

We have a character that is as cold and uninviting as the snow-lined streets he haunts and, like

 Dave phillips

Llewyn, we are left seeking a sense of comfort, only to encounter doors being slammed shut.

As a character, Llewyn may be difficult to warm to, but he is incessantly thought-provoking. Isaac excels in the role, oozing a despondent yet defiant air that colours the film.

His musical performances in the film are incredible, and act as a kind of counterweight to his character’s more exacting aspects.

The film follows a week of Llewyn’s life, and again the conventions are bucked – the days consist of repeating the same unfulfilling gigs in Greenwich Village, and repeating the same conversations with his agent.

Trapped in a rut, when

opportunities arise they inevitably lead back to the same place. Llewyn’s journey is a bizarre one that can easily arouse a feeling of frustration, as we see the landscape change, but never the character.

The Coens’ trademark black humour is here, but in a diluted form. The louder, more cartoonish characters that accentuate many of their films are noticeably absent and instead we’re faced with a muted and grim world, complete with desaturated colours and shadows.

The supporting cast serves to add both comic relief and to propel the narrative, with Carey Mu l l i g a n a n d J o h n Goodman bringing good performances to quite limited roles, and Justin Timberlake proving that his voice can work outside pop music.

But, ultimately, this is Llewyn Davis’ show – a fact that is simultaneously a blessing and a curse

for the viewer.

For all of his potential, Llewyn seems destined to remain in the shadows – perhaps happy in his own way to occupy that space, or perhaps a necessary and tragic by-product in the evolution of a burgeoning genre.

By bucking expectations and confronting us with sobering visions of a reality that we often shy away from, the film forces us to question our sense of heroic destiny, both on and off screen.

The real gem at the heart of the story is that it allows itself to remain open to interpretation and, in the end, we are left with a flawed but wonderfully crafted monument to the darker side of human experience.

Like a good folk song, the film is bound to evoke feelings of dissatisfaction, melancholy, and woe – but maybe that’s just what it is like inside Llewyn Davis.

Verdict: 7/10

30 January 2014 Gazette 19

Gazette

ARTS books: don’t ever tell, by kathy o’beirne

The path from a broken childhood  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

FACETIOUSLY entitled “Mis Lit” – the trend for tragic and often horrific memoirs is still thriving, as shown by the recent success of the film Philomena, based on the experience of a Magdalene Laundry survivor.

Hailed as one of the originals in this genre, the controversial Don’t Ever Tell, by Kathy O’Beirne, has now been republished

by Mainstream Publishing and is available again, priced €11.50.

The book and its predecessor, Kathy’s Story, drew flak from some of the author’s siblings, many of whom denied

the allegations of paternal abuse it contained, and another book (entitled, Kathy’s Real Story, by journalist Kelly Hermann) was published as a rebuttal to the original.

Don’t Ever Tell is the account of a young Irish girl’s journey through several hellish institutions in the 1970s, including reformatory school, a children’s unit in an asylum, a Magdalene Laundry and Mountjoy Prison.

However, from start to finish, the young Kathy O’Beirne sidesteps the trap of victimhood and offers the reader some hope and optimism in her will to overcome the injustice she suffers.

O’Beirne grew up in Clondalkin and was one of 11 children.

In the memoir, she recounts the litany of torture she endured at the hands of her father, whose imaginative cruelty knew no bounds.

She relates several incidents before she was seven years old where her father would beat her so badly she could hardly move, would make her sleep in the shed, or leave her out on the snowy ground all night when she had particularly infuriated him.

So troublesome had Kathy become to her father that he washed his hands of her completely and sent her to reforma-

tory school.

Here, the child met with even more cruelty, thanks to the regime of the religious order that ran the school.

(At the beginning of the book, O’Beirne announces that she will be naming no order, institution or individuals she met during her travails, due to legal constraints.)

She tells of being forced to work relentlessly by nuns, scrubbing floors and doing very heavy manual work all day long, with no schooling at all.

Added to this miserable existence were sprinkled incidents of sexual abuse by a visiting priest and terrible punishments by the nuns.

From here, the young Kathy was then sent to a children’s unit of an asylum, and from there on to a Magdalene Laundry.

As she is shunted from one awful institution to another, only the style of misery and the dramatis personae of her persecutors change.

O’Beirne has a strong writing style, and her tale shows an indomitable spirit that will not be broken by anyone.

Although there is an endless catalogue of abuse to plough through, the reader is never abandoned to despair, but rather accompanies the author on her dark journey back to the light and a sense of justice.

Don’t Ever Tell, by Kathy O’Beirne, has been republished by Mainstream Publishing, and again shines a light on some of the horrific instances of child abuse and neglect in Ireland’s recent past

20 Gazette 30 January 2014

Gazette

&ABOUT OUT fast TRAVEL NEWS

A couple enjoy the VOYA seaweed bath treatment

Unwind with a romantic weekend getaway up north Set in the heart of the Fermanagh lakelands, Lusty Beg Island is a 75-acre paradise offering the perfect setting to unwind and the ideal destination for a romantic weekend getaway this Valentine’s.

The private island features a state-of-theart spa, lakeside lodges, nature trails and delicious food and drink.

This Valentine’s, why not spend two nights in a lakeside cabin and make the most of a couples VOYA seaweed bath treatment in the brand new Island Spa for just €211.

Offer is valid Monday to Thursday and is subject to availability.

Visit www.lustybegisland.com for more information.

A romantic overnight stay sure to impress your other half For lovebirds looking to celebrate this Valentine’s Day, the Gibson Hotel in Dublin City are putting out all the stops to offer a romantic overnight stay that will definitely impress your other half.

Treat that someone special to an overnight stay in a superior double room with sweet treats in your room, kick back and relax with one of the Gibson’s love potion cocktails in Hemi bar and then on to indulge in a sumptuous three-course dinner in Coda Eatery for only €175.

Complimentary use of the exclusive relaxation area on the sixth floor is included so be sure to unwind in the sauna and steam room after breakfast the following day.

For more information or to book, visit www. thegibsonhotel.ie.

Valentine’s Day: A perfect escape

Set your heart on a romantic getaway

 natalie burke

With just a couple of weeks to go until Valentine’s Day, chances are love is well and truly in the air.

Whether you’re planning to wine and dine your other half, take them for a romantic stroll or whisk them away to a romantic hotel, there are plenty of ways to show them how much they’re cherished.

For wining and dining that someone special, why not escape the city and cosy up at Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa in County Meath.

It’s where traditional oldworld meets sophisticated contemporary design and creates the perfect romantic setting just 11 miles from Dublin.

A Valentine’s package at Dunboyne is available from just €220 for an overnight stay in a double room with breakfast and dinner in The Ivy Restaurant or stay two nights from €298. During your visit, sip on a glass of bubbly at the Terrace Lounge, or treat yourself to a little pampering at the Seoid

Spa. You may even find a rose petal turndown and chocolate awaiting your return to your room.

For more information, call 01 801 3500 or email info@dunboynecastlehotel.com.

If you’re really out to impress this Valentine’s, perhaps The Step House Hotel would be worth a visit.

Located in the picturesque village of Borris, County Carlow, the team at the Step House are pulling out all the stops this February to make your significant other swoon.

Enjoy a glass of bubbly on arrival as you check in for an overnight stay and unwind in the warm and welcoming atmosphere of this boutique hotel.

As part of the One Night Valentine’s Getaway, savour a threecourse meal in the awardwinning Cellar Restaurant – as well as a hearty home-cooked breakfast – all for just €119 per person sharing.

To book, call 059 97 73209 or email info@stephousehotel.ie.

If a road trip is part

of your plans, why not whisk your loved one out west for a romantic candlelit dip at Knockranny House Hotel.

Located in Westport, this is one of Ireland’s finest luxury hotels and spa destinations and sure to make your loved one feel that extra bit special.

Think open fires, fine dining, antique furnishings and a relaxing spa. Enjoy a Valentine’s cocktail before a table d’Hote dinner in the award winning La Fougere restaurant.

The Romantic Valentine’s Package is available from €125 per person for one night’s luxurious accommodation, full Irish breakfast and dinner in La Fougere and you’ll also receive luxury handmade chocolates on arrival in your room.

To book call 098 28600, email info@khh. ie or visitwww.knockrannyhousehotel.ie If she’s more of a city slicker than a country girl the Clarion Hotel in Cork has the perfect Valentine’s Getaway.

Cork’s premier fourstar city centre hotel is offering one night’s B&B

Enjoy two nights B&B at Faithlegg House Hotel and Golf Resort in Waterford

on Valentine’s weekend from €79 per person sharing or two nights B&B from €135pps.

The package includes chocolates in your room on arrival, complimentary access to Sanovitae Health and Fitness Spa, a romantic four-course dinner as well as a late checkout and a €20 Yonka spa treatment voucher for Essence Spa. For more information, visit www.clarionhotelcorkcity.com or call 021 4224900.

If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life however, spend a romantic weekend at Faithlegg House Hotel and Golf Resort in Waterford.

Enjoy two nights B&B with wine and handmade chocolates on arrival, and enjoy a romantic dinner for two in the award-winning Roseville Rooms for just €169 per person sharing, with the possibility of adding on a mini-spa treatment for €30 per person, or a full treatment for €80 in the

Estuary Spa. To book, call Faithlegg House Hotel on 051 382000 or visit www. faithlegg.com.

Or finally, why not whisk your better half off to a charming country estate and indulge in a well-deserved bottle of prosecco and chocolate covered strawberries at the Glenlo Abbey Hotel in County Galway.

It doesn’t get much more romantic than that! The 18th century estate boasts open log fires, pre-dinner cocktails and stunning views and this Valentine’s, you can also enjoy a romantic dinner for two in the River Room restaurant, lit only by candlelight.

The two nights’ package includes B&B, one evening meal and the arrival treat of prosecco and strawberries for only €149 per person sharing.

For more information, call Glenlo Abbley Hotel on 091519600 or visit www.glenloabbeyhotel. com.

30 January 2014 Gazette 21

Gazette

Travel

Pack your bags and enjoy an exotic and romantic Valentine destination  natalie burke

If your idea of a romant i c we e ke n d aw ay involves soaking up some much needed sunshine, Thomas Cook Ireland has a range of romantic Valentine’s Day getaways to the sun to choose from.

The ideal gift for a loved one could see you soaking up the rays this February in Tenerife, Egypt or Gran Canaria with prices starting from just €505 per person sharing.

A week-long Valentine’s getaway in Tenerife in the charming four-star Big Sur Hotel in Los Cristianos on a half board basis is available from €649 per per-

son sharing (departing February 14).

If Egypt is more your style however, then Thomas Cook Ireland has the perfect romantic recipe in the shape of a week in Sharm el Sheikh at the three-star Sonesta Club Resort from €505pps.

This special package is based on an all-inclusive basis with departure on February 13.

Finally there’s Gran Canaria, one of the jewels in the crown of the Canary Islands, and the perfect place to whisk away your loved one for a week of sun.

A week at the threestar two-star Babalu Apartments in Puerto Rico, on a self-catering

Gran Canaria is the perfect place to whisk away your loved one for a week of sun

basis starts from €616pps (depar ting Febr uar y 15) while the three-star Colina Mar Apartments in Puerto Rico is available from €516pps for a 14-night break.

This package is based on a self-catering basis and departs Dublin on February 22.

All prices are based on two persons sharing and include flights from Dublin, transfer and accommodation.

To book or for more information call the Thomas Cook team in Dublin on (01) 514 0328, or log onto www.thomascook.ie.

Gazette

22 Gazette 30 January 2014

OUT&ABOUT

BITESIZEDNEWS

Combine ingredients from Aldi for this healthy fare

Dishing the news on a delicious beef meal CONTINUING its commitment to helping customers lead a healthier lifestyle, Aldi is supporting the seventh series of RTE’s Operation Transformation health and fitness programme.

Each week throughout the series, Aldi’s in-store leaflet features delicious, calorie-controlled recipes the whole family will love, as well as hints and tips to get and keep people motivated along their Operation Transformation journey.

The following Operation Transformation healthy recipe for Hearty Beef Casserole serves two people, takes just 15 minutes to prepare with a cooking time of 90 minutes, and can be made from ingredients found in Aldi’s 106 stores nationwide – eating healthier has never been tastier ...

Ingredients 250g of stewing beef, cut into 1-inch cubes 500ml boiling water 1beef stock cube 2 carrots, peeled and diced 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped 2 celery sticks, chopped 200g turnip (1/2 turnip), peeled and diced 1 tbsp plain flour 1 tbsp tomato puree 250g white potato, peeled and chopped in half 1.5 tsp dried thyme 1 tbsp rapeseed oil Quarter tsp salt Preparation • Mix flour, thyme, salt and beef together in a bowl, coating the beef in the flour mixture.

• Heat a casserole dish to medium to high heat. Add half tablespoon of oil to the casserole dish. Then add beef, turning until browned. Remove beef from casserole dish and set aside.

• Add remaining oil to casserole dish and warm. Add the vegetables and heat until softened.

• Return the browned meat to the casserole dish.

Add in the boiling water mixed with the stock cube, tomato puree and bring the casserole dish to the boil. Then reduce to a gentle simmer.

• Add in potatoes. Put the lid on the casserole dish and cook on low heat for 90 minutes, or until beef is tender.

• Serve and enjoy!

FOOD&DRINK

chef: paul callaghan

Growing your own food has so many rewards  Ian Begley

GROWING your own fruit and vegetables has always been a great way for proficient cooks to try out new recipes while maintaining an organic lifestyle, but for the onthe-go modern individual, this may seem like an impossible and impractical venture.

Paul Callaghan, a former plasterer and author of Calso Cooks: Real Food Made Easy, has a firm belief that growing your own has a multitude of benefits, including combating depression.

Talking to The Gazette, Callaghan said that he first developed a passion for food after he lost his plastering business in Armagh during the onset of the recession.

He said: “We were going well in the boom right up until 2008 and then, basically, the phones stopped ringing and the work just stopped. I then made the decision to close down the business and begin a fresh start elsewhere.

“I moved to Clare and set up a handyman business – doing anything to make a wage and to pay

my rent.

“It wasn’t long before I fell into depression, which I battled for about 18 months. What pulled me out of it was deciding to grow my own fruit and vegetables for my small kitchen garden.”

Callaghan said he first started to develop his cooking skills by taking books out of his local library, which eventually resulted in him starting up his now internationally recognised blog, The Sustainable Larder.

Popular He said: “I started my blog in March 2011, intending it to be just for friends and family, but after a while I began to get hits from all over the world and it became really popular.

“I then started to get the notion of a cookbook in my head and always loved the idea of having one on the shelves.

“I put in a proposal into Mercier Press and they came back to me, saying they loved the idea and wanted to talk to me and, as they say, the rest is history.”

Callaghan said he

The cover of Calso Cooks: Real Food Made Easy, which is available now in paperback, and is priced €19.99

believes the advantages of growing your own fruit and vegetables results in both a healthy body and a healthy mind.

He said: “It definitely pulled me out of a very dark place – even just the therapeutic nature of watching seeds turn into something that you can bring into your own kitchen and cook for yourself and eat.”

Calso Cooks: Real Food Made Easy includes lots of ideas for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, desserts and treats, including cherry tomato and herb heart-healthy omlette; courgette carbonara; pork, beetroot and orange salad; and beef and Guinness pie.

The book is published in paperback at €19.99, and is available in all good book shops and also online through Amazon. com.

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

‘What pulled me out of depression was deciding to grow my own fruit and vegetables for my small kitchen garden’

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

Chef Paul Callaghan

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

Callaghan is a firm believer in growing your own food

30 January 2014 Gazette 23

€87

€2 0

€80

€67

€20

€47

colour contrasts  Laura Webb

NEON brights and classic monochrome are some of the trends hitting main-street stores this season, and River Island’s new collection is leading the pack.

The spring/summer 2014 collection was unveiled recently and is bursting with enough style to make your wardrobe want a facelift. The fashion fuses relaxed daywear with chic nightwear across all trends. Staple items have been reinvented for the new season, thanks to subtle pastel colour palettes, and monochrome with bursts of bright colours.

€47

€60 €33

Gazette

STYLE

GAZETTE

24 GAZETTE 30 January 2014

OUT&ABOUT

MOTORS

The Volkswagen GTI will come in at a price of €33,820 with the 2.0TSI 220hp engine

VW: THE GOLF HAS IT ALL IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE AND COMFORT

An excellent all-round ride from the new GTI  CORMAC CURTIS

THE Volkswagen Golf holds a special place in the hearts of a huge crosssection of the Irish driving public.

As a car for a young person, it was always affordable, attractive, reliable, inexpensive to own and your mates could fit comfortably in the back.

Not every Golf has stood the test of time, but of one thing we can be certain – the GTI version has always been, and will always be, the standard against which all other “hot-hatches” will be measured – and the current mark is sure to become a sought-after vintage.

What a car! And what a contrast – having spent a week test driving the enormous and tremendously fun Volkswagen Amarok, I swapped it for the Golf GTI. I went from unapologetic size and dominance to unrestrained and truly eyewatering horse power.

The VW team behind

this new GTI have achieved what generations of motoring engineers have failed to do – they have made a car that does it all in terms of performance and comfort.

It’s all very well having a big pile of horses ready to unleash on an unsuspecting country road, but a car needs to behave itself on the morning commute too. And this is what we have here.

The GTI could not be better behaved in the city.

It sounds great, with an exhaust note that is just on the right side of menacing; it’s got grunt without being a noisy beast when running about town.

The controls feel more family crossover than crazy turbo hatch. Steering is smooth, easy and responsive, the steering wheel is chunky and wrapped in leather.

The pedals all offer just the right kind of resistance for easy driving, unlike some of the unbearably heavy clutches you so often find in cars of this kind.

As mentioned, I took to the GTI following a week driving a truck, so I was understandably cautious with the throttle when first getting behind the wheel. I admit that I was a little crestfallen initially – where was the uncaged animal that I was expecting? The madness and the uncontrollable torque?

I needn’t have worried – it’s all there, all 220 horsepower of it (yes, 220!)

When the conditions are safe, legal and appropriate, the GTI can give Jekyll and Hyde a run for their money and change from mild-mannered city car to go-nuts power player. But the incredible hold is what really stays with you, long after the car has returned to the ordinary, everyday streets of Dublin.

If this car ate breakfast, then sharp corners would be top of the menu; there wasn’t a bend or a turn that it didn’t take without so much as a slip, slide or a skid. The grip and control under pressure is pure joy.

We can’t discuss the GTI without highlighting what sets it apart, visually, from the other Golfs in the range. Again, we are not left disappointed.

As standard, the GTI has its own style LED front fogs and deep red tail-light clusters, lower body setting (by about 15mm), electric autofolding mirrors, GTI-spec sports seats, start/stop system, generative braking among other features.

This spec will come in at a price of €33,820 with the 2.0TSI 220hp engine.

The test model came with very tasty 18” alloys, bi-xenon headlights with daytime running lights, fabric/alcantara top sports seats, parking distance control and rear tinted windows. The total price on this very special version of the GTI is a healthy €38,800.

So, a car as special as this is never going to come cheap – but for those who will appreciate the car they are driving, they will be happy to hand over their hard-earned cash.

30 January 2014 gazette 25

SWORDSCLASSIFIEDS holidays

CLEANING

SERVICES

SERVICES

• Plumbing • Extensions/Renovations • Carpentry • General Building Services

20%

discount for January only

Call:01-620 8992 Email: citywideservices7@gmail.com

contractors

SERVICES

AMPTECH

ELECTRICAL & ALARMS

Installations - Repairs -Service

SPECIAL OFFERS

FREE SURVEY & QUOTATION

t 0WFS ZFBST JO CVTJOFTT t 'VMMZ SFHJTUFSFE t 2VBMJUZ XPSL BU CFTU QSJDFT

Trition Electric Showers

from â‚Ź15 a week

Alarm Systems from only â‚Ź499 Finance Option Available Weekly/monthly payment plan Alarm Upgrades Security Lighting Home CCTV

HOMELESS

Call Robert on 01 6155980 or 086 2490807 rob@amptech.ie www.amptech.ie

pl anning and legal T o p l a c e a p l ann i n g or l e g a l not i c e c a l l n i c o l a on 6 0 1 0 2 5 5 or e m a i l nfee h an @ g a z ette g roup. c o m

Mobile: 087 2498985 Office: 045 438226 www.candttarmacadamcontractors.com meditation

DRIVEWAYS

NORTHSIDE DRIVEWAYS Specialise in all types of Driveways, Patios Cobblelock, Slabbing & Gravelling Paving & Landcaping We also specialize in Imprint Concrete Walling & fencing

50% discount when you ask for miles All work fully garennteed for 7 years Prices for all budgets. All areas covered

FOR UP TO DAT E N E W s fo l l ow u s :

DVD’S

DVD TRANSFERS CINEFILMS PHOTOS SLIDES

all transfered to DVD with music and titles added.

MAKE MEDITATION AN ADVENTURE Learn to meditate, no prices no fees COURSE STARTS SHORTLY Call martin: 0876906749

MOTORING

WE BUY CARS AND VANS All makes & models

Please ring 01-8428757 or 085 7558077 Email: d.g.motorsdublin@gmail.com www.declangillmotors.com Declan Gill m motors Swords Rd, Santry,D9

roofing +0)/ '&5)&3450/ "41)"-5 300'*/( -5% t "TQIBMU 5PSDI PO 'FMU t 4MBUJOH 5JMJOH t 4JOHMF 1MZ ĂśCFSHMBTT 4ZTUFNT t 'VMMZ *OTVSFE t 5BY DMFBSBODF DFSU t t ZFBS HVBSBOUFF PO BMM /FX 3PPGT t *OTVSBODF t (SBOU XPSL

INDUSTRIAL. COMMERCIAL. RESIDENTIAL. Fully Qualified, Interior & Exterior work HAND PAINTED KITCHEN CABINETS WALL PAPERING POWER WASHING SPRAY PAINTING EXCELLENT PRICES for PROFESSIONAL work For a FREE QUOTE please

The Healthy Option

Packs n i e t o Pr der to or e d a m

10 Turkey Burgers ₏10  4 Turkey Steaks ₏5 10 Jumbo (96%) Turkey sausages ₏9  5 Chicken Fillets ₏5

Call: RORY on 0851418162 OR 01-8357999 Or email: rorymcguire1@gmail.com

Tel: 01-2807838 Mobile: 087 9132265 Email:alleventsvideo@eircom.net

.PC &NBJM GFUIFSTUPOSPPĂśOH!HNBJM DPN

No Fats or Turkey legs added, only breast meat

26 gazette 30 January 2014

30 January 2014 Gazette 27

dublin GAA P29

asdfsdaf gaelic games P27 P31

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



Gazette

sport awards P28

FastSport community games open evening: Dub-

St Jude’s and Dublin hurler Danny Sutcliffe with the Provost of Trinity College Dr Paddy Prendergast last week when he was honoured for his 2013 successes

college honour: Award in recognition of performances in 2013 for dublin

St Jude’s Sutcliffe rewarded for All-Star achievements Third-year business economics social science (BESS) student, St Jude’s and Dublin senior footballer Danny Sutcliffe was last week honoured by Provost of Trinity College Dr Patrick Pendergrast in recognition of his hurling All-Star award for the 2013 season.

Sutcliffe was joined on campus by his parents and St Jude’s GAA Club representatives to help celebrate his achievement.

Sutcliffe has played hurling for the county since minor level and was captain of the team which reached the AllIreland semi-final against Clare in 2010.

He won the Leinster Under-21 championship with Dublin in 2011 and made his senior inter-county debut in 2012.

Sutcliffe has thrived under the stewardship of former All-Ireland winning captain and current Dublin manager, Anthony Daly, and played a key role in the county’s historic Leinster championship victory in 2013, following on from the teams’ promotion to Division 1 of the National League earlier in the year.

Despite Dublin’s loss in the All-Ireland semi-final last summer, where Sutcliffe contributed four points, his performances were rewarded when he received

the honour of being named as one of the elite of hurling talent in Ireland on the 2013 All-Star selection.

Sutcliffe’s talents are not confined to the hurl and sliothar as he was part of the Dublin minor football panel in 2009, and has lined out for Trinity in both codes.

Commenting on Danny’s accolades, Dr Prendergast said: “Trinity is very proud of Danny’s achievements and we are delighted to celebrate this occasion in the company of his parents and club representatives.

“Danny is a role model for his student peers and we continue to work closely

with sports such as the GAA to ensure that high performing athletes receive the necessary support during their time at Trinity College.

Head of sport at TCD Michelle Tanner said: “We are thrilled to congratulate Danny on his All-Star award. Gaelic Games at Trinity are going from strength to strength and his achievement is a huge boost to his fellow players and students in the Trinity GAA clubs and other sports.”

Sutcliffe will play for Trinity when they compete in the forthcoming Kehoe Cup and Ryan Cup fixtures.

lin Community Games are holding an open information night in conjunction with launching the 2014 calendar of events next Tuesday, February 4 at 7pm in Carmichael House, Dublin 7.

The calendar sees almost 40 different sporting and cultural activities on offer over the coming months.

The information evening is open to all and is an opportunity to find out more about Community Games - how to get involved, how to volunteer in your area or even how to bring Community Games to your neighbourhood. For more information, please contact Dublin Community Games Office on 872 8203 or log on to www.dublincommunitygames.ie.

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

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6230 or 01 651 6205

Gazette

28 Gazette 30 January 2014

SPORT

DublinGazetteNewspapers 2014 dublin sports awards JANUARY nominees

HAPPY New Year! Why, it seems like only a month ago that we were putting the wrapping on 2013’s Dublin Sports Awards, and now here we are with a fresh selection of the best of local sport from the first month of 2014.

With a wide range of sports - rugby, athletics, tennis, basketball and soccer - represented, it’s clear that this year will once again be a great one for Dublin and a great one for Dublin Gazette Newspapers.

And, hopefully, with the worst of the winter weather at bay, we will see a fine start to 2014 in terms of achievement and success for our local athletes. The very best of luck to all our sports people for the year ahead.

H STARof the MONTH

martin moore

NIAMH FITZGERALD

jule BYRNE

FORMER Barnhall and Castleknock College rugby star Martin Moore was looking forward this month to potentially making his Irish international debut in this year’s 6 Nations campaign, and may make his first appearance against Scotland.

LUCAN HARRIERS athlete Fitzgerald, a former juvenile track star, claimed the gold medal in the Over-34 women’s 800m race at the Woodies DIY Masters Indoor track and field event at the Athlone Institute of Technology Arena this month.

16-year-old Julie made history when she became the first member of Monkstown Tennis Club, Ireland’s oldest tennis club, to be selected for the Irish senior team competing at next month’s Federation Cup encounter with Estonia.

castleknock CC basketball

st tIErnan’s

clondalkin RFC

Castleknock Community College the winners of the Under-19 B Girls’ AllIreland Cup when they beat Cross & Passion of Kilcullen at the National Basketball Arena this month with an impressive team performance that showed their prowess on court.

St Tiernan’s Community School were celebrating this month after their soccer team claimed the Leinster Under-19 Boys’ title at Leixlip United’s ground when they defeated Patrician College by a two-goal margin in a tight-fought match.

CLONDALKIN celebrated a cup double this month after their first team claimed the Hosie Cup for the first time when they defeated Newbridge, while their seconds retained the Lalor Cup after a deserved win over Portlaoise.

TEAMof the MONTH H

Dublin colleges get set to head north for GAA festival  sport@gazettegroup.com

Lauren Campbell receives her U-13 player of the year award in Blakestown last weekend

University College Dublin, School of Law Trinity College, Dublin City University, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Marino College, Dublin Institute of Technology, IT Tallaght, IT Blanchardstown and National College of Ireland are all getting set to travel north to Queen’s University Belfast next month when the institution hosts the first Colleges GAA Festival in Ireland.

Queen’s GAA Festival is set

to be the third largest sporting event to take place in Northern Ireland in 2014. Over 2,250 top players from throughout Ireland will participate over four weekends in Gaelic football, ladies football, hurling and camogie.

This is the first time a university or college has ever hosted all four of the major higher education Gaelic Games tournaments in the same year.

The festival opens on February 13 when camogie’s Ashbourne Cup is contested, before the Sigerson Cup in football is

played the following day. Hurling’s Fitzgibbon Cup is played on the weekend of February 27 to March 1 before the festival comes to an end on March 21 and 22 when the home for the 2014 O’Connor Cup in ladies football is decided.

Adding to the action on the pitch, there will be a packed programme of events to offer players, supporters and those wanting to enjoy the festivities in Belfast. Events will include music and comedy nights, talks from well-known sports personalities, advice on nutri-

tion, mental health and wellbeing and opportunities to try other sports.

Queen’s GAA Development Officer and former All-Ireland winner with Armagh, Aidan O’Rourke, said: “In creating Queen’s GAA Festival we are offering a big welcome to the thousands of players who will be taking part, and to the thousands of supporters that we hope will join them on the road to Belfast.”

For further information on Queen’s GAA Festival please visit www.gaafestival.com

30 January 2014 Gazette 29

Gazette

Peregrine’s head up coaching revolution

FastSport

Dublin managers Jim Gavin and Anthony Daly among the marquee names who passed on their knowledge as part of an exciting coaching forum last week organised in Blakestown

Malahide honoured for cricket extravaganza

ST PEREGRINE’S John Lowndes is hoping his club will be at the forefront of the new wave of coaching developments in 2014 following their innovative coaching forum last week.

The Blakestown club played host to the daylong event with the likes of Dublin senior managers Anthony Daly and Jim Gavin, Meath guru Sean Boylan and Paudie Butler on hand to give their advice to around 100 mentors and managers from the club.

In addition, there were workshops on injury prevention methods with Sligo star Tommy Brennan, the benefits of athletic development with Peregrine’s innovator Gordon Ward and concept games with John Morrison.

The idea was to give

 stephen findlater sport@gazettegroup.com

the club’s coaches the best possible knowledge and tools to enjoy a fruitful 2014 and beyond as the bar rises across Gaelic Games in coaching standards.

The forum was the brainchild of Lowndes and he is delighted with how it panned out, calling it “a brilliant success”.

“It ran like a dream and I couldn’t have asked for it to have run more smoothly,” he told GazetteSport. “Everybody I asked to take part jumped at the chance.

They were all eager to

help when we explained what we were doing.”

He explains there was a very clear message running through the forum, the buzzwords being “recruit, retain, develop, succeed”.

“We think it is a very good starting point for our mentors for the new season, getting them all in a room and inspire them with talks and practical sessions from all these guys and then round it off with the top dogs [like Daly and Gavin] at the end.”

And he adds that it is a seminal moment for the art of coaching which is evolving at pace. Many of the ideas expounded in Blakestow n were laid out by Paudie Butler who, Lowndes says, “blew away 800 people at Croke Park” a week earlier at the GA A’s

coaching conference.

“It’s a ver y good time to be involved in coaching,” Low ndes continued. “There are winds of change sweeping through and it is all about best practice, doing things right and creating confident kids.

The days of bawling at a

hands, and strike off both sides. That’s what we are looking to do and getting away from the winning at-all-costs mentality.

“Coaching has changed. All our coaches have to be qualified; they have to be Garda vetted.

They have to do workshops. We ran 15 mentor

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

‘There are winds of change sweeping through coaching and it is all about best practice’ - John Lowndes

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

player for kicking a ball wide are long gone.

“It is all about getting them from the age of four to 12 so that when they finish up primary school, they go into secondary school being able to kick a ball with both feet, can catch a sliotar with both

Dublin senior boss Jim Gavin and St Peregrine’s coaching co-ordinator John Lowndes. Picture: Ronan O’Sullivan

workshops last year to educate our coaches in best practice and proper methods. Now, we are going on a massive recruitment drive now that we are happy our coaches are up there so we can boost the numbers across the club.

“It’s all smart training. You can’t flog either juniors or adults around the field, doing 10 laps or press-ups and sit-ups are gone.

“Fundamental movement skills and athletic development; that’s huge. Our coach Gordon Ward has been implementing this stuff for a couple of years and it is only now breaking through on a national level in the media.

“In fairness to him, he implemented it some years back and it’s kind of exploding at the moment.”

CRICKET Ireland, Malahide Cricket Club and a former president of Pembroke Cricket Club were celebrating last week when it was announced that the national organisation had won three awards in the Pepsi ICC Development Programme for the Europe Region.

The awards were presented in the Best Cricket Promotion and Marketing, Best Women’s Cricket Initiative and the Lifetime Service categories.

The promotion and marketing award was in recognition of the marketing campaign for the Ireland v England one-day international at Malahide, the largest and most successful cricket match ever hosted in Ireland with an attendance of 10,000 and broadcasted worldwide by BSkyB. The Best Women’s Cricket Initiative was for the girls and women’s cricket participation programme in the north of Ireland, while the Lifetime Service award was presented to Mary Sharp whose voluntary work, including president of Pembroke Cricket Club for three seasons, and as the current honorary secretary of the Leinster Cricket Union was recognised by the award.

All winners will now be put forward for Pepsi ICC Development Global Awards.

RugbyForce 2014 now open for entries Ulster Bank RugbyForce, an initiative which provides rugby clubs with the opportunity to win support packages to renovate their club and upgrade their facilities, is now open for entries.

The 2013 / 2014 rugby season marks the fourth year of the initiative, which will see over €30,000 being awarded to clubs across Ireland.

One rugby club will receive a top prize of

€10,000, as well as a special training session with an IRFU coach and two Irish rugby stars. Four additional rugby clubs, one from each province, will each receive €5,000.

All entrants will receive merchandise for their clubs to the value of €100.

Since its inception in 2010, the initiative has provided over €100,000 in funding to over 160 rugby clubs around the country.

All clubs are invited to enter the initiative via www.ulsterbank. com/rugby. The closing date is Friday, April 11.

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 30 January 2014

SPORT

FastSport

rugby: greystones prove slippery opponents in rain

Sporting Portmarnock bow out in Tallaght final Portmarnock were denied the All-Ireland Under-16 C boy’s final title last week at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght when Limerick’s St Munchin’s fought to the final buzzer, taking their chances in the final seconds to take the crown.

It was St Munchin’s second All-Ireland National Cup final title of the day after their Under-19 C side claimed their All-Ireland title against Ashbourne Community School.

Despite the seven-point gap in favour of St Munchin’s at the end of the first quarter, the period was evenly contested, with a three-point basket from Cian Collins and some skilful play

by Jaz Predijito giving St Munchin’s the advantage.

Both sides remained vigilant in the second quarter with the majority of opportunities coming from in and around the free throw line.

Both Portmarnock captain Oisin O’Reilly and St Munchin’s forward Predijito attempted to open up the play for their teams by breaking through the ranks of the oppositions defensive game.

However, both were mostly unsuccessful as both defences held, keeping the game at a low score of 11-24 going into half-time.

Portmarnock had a number of opportunities to close the gap after winning a series of free throws in the third period, but unfortunately only managed to convert two of these chances leaving them remaining trailing by seven points.

A heroic defensive display from Portmarnock captain O’Reilly in the final quarter saw St Munchin’s only manage to score four baskets during the entire period. Although visibly fatigued from his efforts in the first three quarters, and disappointed at his performance from the free throw line, O’Reilly continued to be a force to be reckoned with as part of Portmarnock’s defensive line, blocking a number of passes and shot attempts by St Munchin’s.

Baskets from Kuba Kubistal and O’Reilly managed to briefly bring the match level at 37-37 but, with only seconds remaining on the clock, St Munchin’s rushed forward and managed to convert a number of chances before Collins managed to score from a free throw in the dying seconds to hand St Munchin’s a slim three point victory.

Malahide will look to re-focus on their promotion campaign when they return to action against Ashbourne next month

Malahide exit Metro Cup 98fm metro cup Greystones Malahide  sport@gazettegroup.com

10 5

Malahide fell at the first hurdle in their quest for cup glory this season with a frustrating fivepoint defeat to Greystones.

Malahide started brightly but a lack of cohesion and some uncharacteristic handling errors prevented Malahide maintaining any sustained pressure.

A number of telling breaks out of defence

by Greystones kept the Malahide defence on

their toes, and it was from one of these breaks that Greystones engineered the first score of the game.

The Greystones centre broke from deep in his own half, his offload to the flanker on the Malahide 22’ almost saw him score but when the ball was recycled, Malahide were caught short of numbers in tight and the Greystones pack drove the ball over the line for their hooker to touch down.

The blustery conditions made the conversion virtually impossible and the home team had to settle

Success for ciara St Finian’s Buchanan is player of the year ST finian’s Ciara Buchanan was present-

ed with the Dublin U-16A camogie player of 2013 following her performances for the county throughout the year.

Buchanan will step up to the minor panel in 2014 in conjunction with her studies at Loreto, Swords.

She was presented the prize while 13 other players were named club players of the year recently. She is seen here with the club’s PRO, Donal O’Hagan.

for a five-point lead.

As the half drew to a close, Malahide elected to kick a penalty to the corner. From the lineout, the home team were deemed to have stopped the maul illegally and Malahide opted to scrum from the penalty, quick work from Killian Sweeney saw him release Cormac McDonald to put the visitors on the board.

Malahide enjoyed the better start to the second half and on two occasions were only denied by some last-ditch Greystones’ tackles.

As in the first half, the home side’s threat was

the quick counter-attack from Malahide turnovers.

It was one such turnover that yielded the game’s winning score as a ball went loose in the Malahide midfield, a Greystones boot hacked it through and, with the Malahide cover failing to gather the ball, the hosts’ scrum half latched on to the loose ball and his pass put the No 8 away to score in the corner.

With time running out, Malahide continued to press and on two further occasions came very close to levelling the scores notably when

Marcus McAllister and Shane O’Kelly combined only for O’Kelly to just knock the ball on as he tried to regather just shy of the Greystones line.

Malahide will rue the number of missed opportunities when they were deep in Greystones territory and also a number of options to kick ball when keeping it in hand may have been the more fruitful option.

Malahide must now keep themselves ticking over as they face their final two league fixtures at the end of February with a place in the promotion play-off at stake.

30 January 2014 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

Fingal bow out of Kehoe Cup in quarters  sport@gazettegroup.com

F I N G A L’ S h u r l e r s bowed out of the Kehoe Cup with a 0-18 to 2-7 defeat to Down last weekend when Paul Sheehan cracked a fine tally of 0-11 to see the northern county home with plenty to spare.

Colm Foley – as he had done in Fingal’s

opening tie in this competition – fired a first half goal to help the Dublin region build a 1-7 to 0-6 lead at halftime But John-Matthew Sheridan’s goal direct from a free proved Fingal’s only score of the second half as Down scored 12 points in the second period to run

out clear winners in the final shakedown.

Sheahan had scored all of his side’s points in the first half and duly added another five in the second – just two of them coming from frees – while Gareth Johnson, Conor O’Prey and Daniel Toner all chipped in for Down.

Dow n progress to

meet Kildare while Fingal prepare for their first game of the National League division 2B where they will come up against Mayo on February 16 in Castlebar.

They are in a six-team pool with Wicklow, Meath, Armagh and Down whom they meet again on March 16 in Swords.

hurling: dubs line up final battle with kilkenny

Club Noticeboard fingallians The club would like to remind play-

are as follows: Monday – Friday open

ers and new players that the adult

until 10pm and Saturday and Sunday

men and ladies representatives for

open until 7pm.

2014 are Domhnail Connor and Nicola

The first poker night of the year

McKittrick. They are contactable at

will take place this Friday at 8pm. New

domhnail@hotmail.com and nicolam-

players are welcome to play Texas

ckittrick@gmail.com.

Hold’em. Entry per person is €10.

The 2014 adult leagues will com-

The opening National Football League

mence for football on February 16 and

games will take place next weekend.

hurling on March 2. Our minor A and B

Dublin will open their account against

footballers will start on March 2 and

the Kingdom on Saturday evening

minor A and B hurlers will start on

in Croke Park. The Walsh Cup final

March 9.

between Dublin and Kilkenny forms

The Irish Conversation Group for paid-up club members preparing for the Leaving Cert started this week.

The current hours for all paid-up members wishing to use the club gym

part of a double-header.

Tickets are available from: www. tickets.ie , Centra and Supervalu outlets and the GAA Ticket Office, Dorset Street.

st finian’s Membership forms for the coming

Thursday evening in Kettle’s at 9pm.

year are available on our Facebook

This week’s lotto numbers were

page and also through team mentors.

11, 15, 26 and 38. €20 winners were

It is now compulsory for players at

Lockie Donnelly, Niall Walsh and Joe

all levels to wear protective mouth-

Kavanagh. Next week’s jackpot is over

guards. From a safety and insurance

€9,000.

standpoint we would ask all players and parents to be aware of this.

Committee meeting takes place this

The club send it bests wishes to Bernie Kavanagh on a speedy recovery.

naomh mearnog

Ryan the difference in Walsh Cup semi

The juvenile boys playing season

A reminder to members that if you

starts next weekend and we wish all

pay your membership fees before the

our mentors and teams the very best

end of January, you get an additional

of luck.

€20 on you loyalty card.

walsh cup semi-final

place on the Dublin U-14 and 16 ladies

Good luck to Dublin hurlers and

football development squads respec-

footballers who are in action in Croke

tively.

Park on Saturday night.

Dublin senior hurling manager Anthony Daly is keen to ensure his team retain their Walsh Cup title

Dublin 1-15 Wexford 1-14  sport@gazettegroup.com

PAUL Ryan provided the game-changing goal that helped Dublin overcome Wexford at Pairc Ui Siochain in Gorey last Sunday, setting up a final date with Kilkenny in Croke Park at 5pm next Saturday as part of a double header with the senior footballers’ opening league game.

Ryan’s deadball accuracy was once again a major factor in the Dubs’ victory, with his goal 12 minutes into the second half from a free putting

Dublin in front for the first time in the game, 1-13 to 1-11.

Dublin never trailed again, though Wexford did draw level 1-13 each, with the Boden marksman adding two further frees as the Dubs edged to victory by the minimum margin.

Wexford were reduced to 14 men in the 57th minute when Richie Kehoe picked up his second yellow card, and the Slaneysiders challenge faded in the second half.

The home side made a great start when Rhys Clarke goaled in the fifth minute after Gary Maguire had saved the

original effort.

Mark Schutte replied for the Dubs but, by the interval, Wexford led 1-11 to 0-10 with Ryan (four frees), Ryan O’Dwyer with two points and Conal Keaney, Eamon Dillon and Robbie Mahon getting Dublin’s opening half scores.

Keaney and a Ryan free reduced the arrears before Ryan’s crucial goal from a free came to propel the Dubs into the lead.

However, Wexford responded with scores from Gary Moore and Paul Morris that brought the sides level.

Ryan’s two pointed

frees though ensured Dublin would book their spot in next weekend’s final.

Dublin manager Anthony Daly, meanwhile, praised the efforts of Keaney for playing a pivotal role.

“Conal, I thought, really influenced it there for the first 10 to 20 minutes of the second half.

He won a few great balls and set up a few scores.

“It was a tough battle and it’s great to have a match with Kilkenny to look forward to at the end of the week.

“We’re the holders of the Walsh Cup and we’d like to hold on to it.”

Our senior footballers enjoyed a

We launch our major fundraising

useful workout against Raheny at the

draw on January 31. Tickets cost €10

weekend as they prepare for the new

and are available at the bar. This draw

season.

offers a fantastic opportunity to the

Congratulations to Ciara Holland and Sarah Kearns who have earned a

club to generate much needed revenue. Please support.

st sylvester’s Kehoe Cup quarter-finals: Fingal

ciaranroche@yahoo.com. It promis-

2-7 Down 0-18. We had four players

es to be a great day out. Please come

on inter-county hurling duty today

along and support.

for Fingal when they took on Down in

The Laura Brennan Charitable Trust

the Kehoe Cup quarter-final. Andrew

is holding its annual gala evening on

Richardson, Alan Morris and Darragh

Saturday, March 1 in The Grand Hotel,

O’Flaherty started the game and

Malahide. Tickets are priced this year

Stephen Keogh came on as a substi-

at €80 each and can be obtained from

tute in the second half. Down however,

the Trust at pat@laurabrennan.org.

kept the scoreboard ticking over and

Pat and Nuala deserve your support

ran out winners by five points.

for the fantastic work of this great

Next Saturday we have the battle

charity. Log onto www.laurabrennan.

of the generations with the football

org for updates on the various events

sevens. This is a fundraiser for the

and activities.

club. The cost of entering a team of 10

The €5,000 Lotto jackpot survived

is €100 and it starts at 11.30am. Con-

last weeks draw. Play and win it this

tact Ciaran Roche or Donal Hayes on

week online at www.stsylvesters.ie.

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

cup crusade ends: Malahide RFC bow out of Metropolitan Cup against Greystones P30

January 30, 2014

COACHING THE COACHES: St Peregrine’s training forum welcomes special guests P29

New era dawns for Swords judo  rob heigh

sport@gazettegroup.com

Swords Judo Club took a huge step as an organisation last weekend when they opened their new facilty on Kettle Road, a fullyequipped training centre with the only sprung floor for a judo club in Ireland, in a ceremony attended by president of the Olympic Council of Ireland Pat Hickey and Irish national judo squad manager Keith Gough.

The club, which has previously used local school halls, Applewood Community Centre and space in Extreme Fitness in Airside, decided

to make the move in order to build on the success of the club and increasing interest in the sport.

Speaking to GazetteSport last week, club coach Leo Gibbons said: “This is a big move for us as a club. We cater for children aged between five and 18, and this was a big committment.

“There is an issue in Swords around the provision of space for niche sports clubs. The big problem with these minority sports is that there are no facilities around for them.

“We had spoken about getting our own premises, but we thought it would not be finanacially viable.

But the rent we are paying now is the same as we were paying on the other locations and we have the full time use of the new hall.”

The purpose of the move is to help to accomodate the training of the 75 members of the club at present and allow them to provide additional classes and facilitate those interested in the sport. “ The problem before was that we could only fit so many people on mats [for training to take place], unlike karate or taekwondo. We can only lay out so many mats as we have, and have a number of people training to match that.

With full time use of the premises,

we can start two beginners classes at the same time.”

The club has produced Irish champions and the number one judoka in their age and weight categories, and the club has a very good profile in judo circles in the country and abroad. It also features former Russian national team member Elena Pronina, who represented her home country at the the world championship in 1997, who trains a class twice weekly.

Swords Judo is always looking for new members to become involved in the sport, and for more information, log on to www.swordsjudo. com or see their Facebook page.

Swords Judo Club coaches John O’Gara, Tim Gleeson and Leo Gibbons with Pat Hickey of the Olympic Council of Ireland