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Month XX, 2012 malahide • Balbriggan • Applewood • boroimhe • Airside • Portmarnock • Kinsealy • clarehall
INSIDE: Presenter and fashionista Lisa Fitzpatrick talks us through a typical day in her busy life P11
fringe: Don’t hang about – make plans about what to see at exciting festival P17
Roaring success: Centre holds a family fun day Golf:
Gavin Moynihan part of big Irish Walker Cup crew Page 32
OLATEJU, Olakanmi and Boluwatife Emeghai sported some great facepainted looks at the recent community consultation and family fun day held in Flemington Community Centre. The trio were just some of the many children who came along with their families to the event, which was a great way for the community to learn more about the centre and its facilities and courses, and for Fingal County Council to hear in person about a wide range of local issues. Picture: Stephen Fleming
Soccer:
Rivervalley off to winning start in AUL Page 30
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ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES....................... 8 DUBLIN LIFE....................11 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................26 SPORT............................28
Call to help dig up the castle’s lost history Public invited to help archaeologists unearth more about Swords landmark
keith bellew
A TEAM of archaeologists digging at Swords Castle unearthed a ridge tile dating from medieval times on the second day of Fingal County Council’s Digging History
project. Working with a small team of professionals, volunteers have been digging, discovering lots of artefacts and learning how to perform such excavations. Most of the other findings are from
the 19th century. A spokesperson for Fingal County Council said the project aims to answer some of the questions about the castle, such as the age of the various buildings, and whether or not there is a
graveyard underneath. Excavation takes place each weekday until September 11, and the council is looking for volunteers to come along and join the team. Full Story on Page 6
2 SWORDS Gazette 27 August 2015
health Group hopes to secure extra funding for initiative
Minister to meet drugs, alcohol force IN THE ongoing bid to curb drug and alcohol misuse, junior Minister Aodhan O’Riordain is set to discuss funding requirements with the North Dublin Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force on September 10. The meeting follows a proposal at the task force’s July meeting by Cllr Malachy Quinn (SF), who suggested a multi-party request for a meeting with the Min-
keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com
ister. He said the task force did excellent work in the community and he and his colleagues wanted funding to expand the service into Rush and
Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers
Lusk. “ We ’r e p r ov i d i n g what I have to say is an excellent service, but our catchment area is so large, it’s Balbriggan, Garristown, all the way down into Rush and Lusk and then into Swords. “The difficulty is in extending the services out of Balbriggan into the Rush and Lusk area as well, that’s the challenge we have,” he said. Following discussions with his colleagues, particularly Cllr Jimmy Guerin (Ind), he said the task force had decided to request a meeting with Minister O’R iordain about making a pre-
budget submission for extra funding. He was delighted the Minister agreed to meet them. “It’s about extending the workload of the task force and showing the work that has been done since 2014,” he said. A spokesperson for Minister O’R iordain confirmed he would attend the meeting in September. Since it was set up in April 2014, the task force has developed plans to address problematic drug/alcohol use in the three areas of treatment/ rehabilitation, education/prevention and supply reduction. It hosted a seminar
Junior Minister Aodhan O’Riordain is set to discuss funding requirements with the North Dublin Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force in September
in May on substance abuse and mental health which was addressed by Dr Adam Winstock, consultant addiction psychiatrist at the South
London and Maudsley NHS Trust, and senior lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London. If you or a loved one is
experiencing problems with drugs or alcohol, the task force can be contacted at 01 8131786, or see www.ndublinrdtf. ie
27 August 2015 SWORDS GAZETTE 3
DON’SDUBLIN Dublin native Elizabeth Bowen turns tragedy into literary gems ELIZABETH Bowen was born on June 7, 1899 at 15 Herbert Place, Dublin and baptised in nearby St Stephen’s Church, Upper Mount Street (the Pepper Canister) shortly afterwards. The family owned a big house, Bowen’s Court, in Faraghy, near Kildorrey, Co Cork where she spent her early summers. However, when her father, Henry Cole Bowen, suffered a mental illness in 1907, she and her mother moved to Hythe, Kent. Years later, Bowen would return here before her death on February 22, 1973. Her mother Florence died when Bowen was only 12 and she was brought up by various aunts in Ireland and England. This rootlessness gave her a feeling of not belonging and sharpened her observations on life. These themes pervade her writings, as do life in the Big House during the turbulent times following the creation of the Irish Free State. Many such houses were burnt to the ground, but Bowen’s Court survived and she inherited the property in 1930. She often visited the court and spent a lot of money maintaining it, but in 1959 she was forced to sell it. In London, she knew members of the Bloomsbury Group and one of them helped in getting Bowen’s first book, Encounters, published in 1923. She wrote 10 novels, 13 collections of short stories and numerous works of non-fiction. The Last September is the book she felt closest to and deals with the tensions of the early 1920s for the Anglo-Irish community. As a member, she wrote with an insider’s view, giving the story a reality. During World War II she worked for the Ministry of Information and her book The Heat of the Day (1948) is considered by many commentators to be one of the most evocative observations of life during the Blitz. And, in the same year, her literary work was recognised when she was awarded a CBE. After she died in London, her body was brought home and she was buried in Faraghy churchyard, close to her beloved Bowen’s Court.
Don Cameron
www.donsdublin.wordpress.com
Elizabeth Bowen (inset) was born at 15 Herbert Place in 1899 and was buried in Faraghy churchyard, in Co Cork
CINEMA Prestigious true story for opening night
Auschwitz tale to launch festival FINGAL Film Festival has announced that the opening film for Friday, September 25 will be Surviving Auschwitz. The film, by director Jacques Ouaniche, stars Brahim Asloum, Isabella Orsini and Bruce Payne. It is a true story, based on the experiences of Tunisian Jewish boxerVic-
tor Perez, who became the World Flyweight Champion in 1931 and 1932, before being interned at the infamous concentration camp in 1943. Whilst there, he was forced to participate in boxing matches. By 1945, Victor had survived 140 bouts in 15 months and won 139 of them.
This screening will be the official Irish launch of the film ahead of its 2016 release date, and it is hoped that the cast and crew will be present on the night. Fingal Film Festival creative director Dave Byrne said: “We are delighted that High Fliers Distribution and Picture
Tree International have supported us this year by providing us with such a powerful and moving film. This film encompasses everything that we as a film festival are about.” Fingal Film Festival takes place from Friday, September 25 to Sunday, September 27 at Movies@ Swords Pavilions Centre.
Tickets for the opening night film event are limited, so attendees are advised to book early. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.ie, and there are early-bird deals on all screenings for tickets purchased before September 8. For further information, see www. fingalfilmfest.com.
4 SWORDS Gazette 27 August 2015
charity Upcoming sale of group’s artworks will once again help a worthy cause
13th annual art exhibition will help osteoporosis keith bellew
THE Catherine Lawlor School of Art’s 13th annual exhibition takes place in Malahide Tennis Club on the weekend of September 12 to 13. Artist John Kirwan will be there to officially launch the
event on Friday 11 at 8pm. The annual exhibition provides the public with an opportunity to view and buy a great range of high-quality paintings covering traditional, still life, landscapes and portraits – all at affordable prices. This year’s exhibition involves 59 artists,
exhibiting 122 paintings. The school of art based at Balgriffin Hall on the Malahide Road is where Lawlor teaches more than 100 students of varying ages and abilities in the mediums of drawing, sketching, oils, watercolours and acrylics, in morning, after-
noon and evening classes. Each year, the show’s proceeds go to a charity of choice. This year’s target is the Irish Osteoporosis Society (IOS), the national organisation on the condition in Ireland. The charity is dedicated to reducing the incidence of
osteoporosis and promoting bone health. The IOS provides information to the public and health professionals on all aspects of the disease and offers support to people with the condition, their families, and everyone at risk. For further information on
the school of art, see www.dublinartclasses.com, or https:// www.facebook.com/CatherineLawlorSchoolOfArt. For more on osteoporosis, see http://www.irishosteoporosis.ie/ or https://www. facebook.com/IrishOsteoporosisSociety.
Fingal community groups to share Dublin Bus funding keith bellew
A NUMBER of community groups in Fingal have been granted funding by Dublin Bus as part of its Community Spirit Awards. Baldoyle Boxing Club were the biggest winners with a €5,000 grant, while St Peregrines GAA Club, The Blanchardstown Centre for the Unemployed, Sports Club 15 (Blanchardstown Special Olympics Group), Coolmine Therapeutic Community, and Malahide Fingal Hockey Club have been allocated €1,000 each. The Community Spirit Awards are part of the wider Community Spirit Initiative. Since 2004, a percentage of unclaimed passenger change has gone to the Dublin Bus Community Spirit fund and supported almost 1,500 voluntary groups. This year, 85 local groups through-
out Dublin have been shortlisted for grants totalling either €5,000, €2,000 or €1,000. On Wednesday, September 23, the 85 recipients will attend a ceremony which will recognise all the shortlisted groups and award them with the grant in order to improve their services and boost community spirit. The patron of the initiative, ex-international footballer Niall Quinn, will be in attendance on the night to announce the award winners and give recipients their awards. Ray Coyne, chief executive of Dublin Bus, said the company is delighted to provide a programme that allows it to directly help the local communities that use its services every day. For further information on the Community Spirit Initiative, see www.dublinbus.ie/.
Sandra Murphy puts on her make-up for a previous Malahide Musical and Dramatic Society production. The society is on the look out for new members to take part in its exciting new production, The Hot Mikado.
arts: musical society invites new members
Make your mark in The Hot Mikado keith bellew
MALAHIDE Musical and Dramatic Society has announced that its musical for 2016 will be “The Hot Mikado”. A spokesperson for the group described the show as a great mix of drama and comedy based on Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado, with a jazz twist. “Our production team, consisting of B a r r y K av a n a g h a s director, Sarah Lynch Barrett as musical director and Jean Gill as choreographer, are enthusiastically plan-
ning new and thrilling ways to bring this brilliant show to life,” said the spokesperson. The society is looking for new blood to join its ranks and is encouraging all budding performers to come along to its information night on Wednesday, September 2 at 7.45pm in St Sylvester’s Parish Hall, Malahide. The production team will give details at the information evening regarding the story of the musical, the characters and the vocal ranges required for the main parts.
This will be followed by the Hot Mikado Workshop in Scoil Iosa Hall on Wednesday, September 9. The open night will be an opportunity for people to meet the current society members, the production team, and to learn more about the show and how they can become involved. The workshop will consist of an acting, singing and dancing class. This will allow new members to get to know existing members of the society, and to get a feel for what the show is
about. The society has been performing in Malahide since 1976. No previous experience is required to join the society and there is no audition process for chorus members, only for those who wish to play a main character. “Being part of a musical and dramatic society is a great social outlet and is a wonderful way to make new friends,” said the spokesperson. For further information and to register for auditions, email malahidemusicalsociety@ gmail.com.
27 August 2015 SWORDS Gazette 5
assessment Sutton, Baldoyle, Howth examined by body
OPW undertaking a flood risk study keith bellew
THE Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently undertaking an assessment of flood risks in Sutton, Baldoyle and Howth. Under the national programme to assess and manage catchment flood risk, detailed flood mapping has been produced and a public consultation on this will be held in autumn. The next phase includes the preparation of flood risk management plans, and setting out measures to address it. The plans will form the basis for decision-
making on capital investment by the Government on long-term flood mitigation infrastructure. Those schemes and measures offering the greatest benefit relative to cost will generally be given the highest priority. Some 13 houses and two commercial premises on Howth Peninsula were flooded last August, some severely. Other houses were not flooded internally, but their gardens were waterlogged. Par t of Offington Court and Old Castle Avenue were particularly affected, as were properties on the Hill of Howth and The Bloody Stream
premises at Howth Dart Station. Deputy Terence Flanagan (Renua) recently highlighted the urgent need for Government funding to be allocated to protect at-risk areas. He said: “There is a substantial flooding problem in Sutton and Howth. Local residents have to live with the fear of their property being destroyed by encroaching waters. This leads to problems with people not being able to secure flood insurance on their homes.” He added that he was happy the OPW had compiled a comprehensive list of at-risk areas
which will be open to public consultation in October. “It is vitally important that long-term measures are put in place to manage the flooding problem, which affects all parts of the country. “T he Government needs to ensure that enough funding is allocated to provide important flood relief works in all areas identified,” said Deputy Flanagan. T h i s wo u l d m e a n more than doubling the current €45m budget to around €100m, he said. “I have heard firsthand reports from constituents regarding the devastating impact that
Cllr Terence Flanagan (Renua): “We need to safeguard vulnerable properties and I urge any Dublin Bay North residents with concerns to share their views during the consultation period in October.”
f looding has had on their lives. We need to safeguard vulnerable properties and I urge any Dublin Bay North residents with concerns to share their views during the consultation period in October.”
An OPW spokesperson responded, saying: “Sutton, Baldoyle and Howth North are areas for further assessment in the CFR AM programme. “A public consultation day on the draft flood
maps for these areas was held in Baldoyle Library on March 12. “These draft f lood maps are currently available for inspection on the Eastern CFRAM Study website at www. eastcframstudy.ie.”
6 SWORDS Gazette 27 August 2015
heritage Public invited to volunteer for archaeology site
Dig into the lost life of Swords Castle keith bellew
A TEAM of volunteers led by community archaeologist Christine Baker began a month-long community excavation at Swords Castle recently. Since then, there has been lots of hard work and lots of finds to wash, sort and examine. Swords Castle: Digging History, is Fingal County Council’s first community archaeology project. It gives residents a unique opportunity to take part in a real archaeological excavation for the first time. Working with a small team of professionals, volunteers have been
digging, discovering lots of artefacts and learning how to perform such excavations. Most findings so far are from the 19th century, but on the second day of the dig volunteers found a piece of a Medieval ridge tile. A council spokesperson said: “The excavation programme is designed to answer specific questions which remain about the castle. “Although Swords Castle is one of the best surviving examples of an archbishop’s residence in the country, and was an important administrative centre, there are some questions that remain
unanswered. “These include is there a graveyard underneath the castle? Were there buildings within the castle yard? How old are the different buildings in the complex? “Through this project, we hope to answer at least some of these questions.” They added that that the results would not only tell us more about the castle’s 800-year history, they would also inform its future development as the council implements the heritage site’s conservation plan, published in 2014. Excavation takes place each weekday until Sep-
tember 11 and the council is looking for volunteers to come along and join the team. To celebrate National Heritage Week, the dig also took place on the weekend of Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23. Excavation work takes place from 10am to 4.30pm each day. Volunteers must be over 18 years old and the council asks that volunteers come along at 10am and commit to (at least) one full day. For further information, see fingal.ie/planning-and-buildings, or go to Fingal County Council’s Facebook page. In addition during Her-
Kim Rice, UCD archaeologist, on site at the dig at Swords Castle
itage Week, an accompanying exhibition – Swords Castle: My Castle – takes place in the chapel at Swords Castle. The exhibition explores what the castle means to the people of Swords and runs every day up to Fri-
day, September 4 (except for Sunday, August 30). Swords Castle: Digging History is funded by Fingal County Council with funding support also from The Heritage Council. The National Museum of Ireland is also a project
partner and will also host conservation and archiving days later in the year in the Collections Resource Centre, Swords, which will allow participants to experience what happens to artefacts after they have been excavated.
27 August 2015 SWORDS Gazette 7
balbriggan
charity: challenging fitness task at the pavilions raises €28,000
Seasonal fashions at centre
Fundraisers ‘climb Mt Everest’ twice A TOTAL of 36 members of Swords CrossFit recently raised €28,000 for St Michael’s House, the community-based service provider for children and adults with an intellectual disability, and The Down Syndrome Centre, through an incredible feat of physical strength. The fundraiser was called Lifting for Lucy, and was the brainchild of Donal Lawless, whose daughter Lucy uses these services. The fundraisers challenged themselves to lift 500,000kgs in weights (the equivalent of two Boeing 787 planes), climb 15,000m of ropes (the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest twice), and doing 15,000 burpees
(a squat thrust made from and ending in a standing position) – all in 12 hours. They exceeded all challenges, lifting 505,850kg, c l i m b i n g 15 , 6 0 0 m , and completing 18,722 burpees with eight minutes to spare from their 12-hour deadline. The fundraiser took place on Saturday, August 22 from 6am to 6pm at the Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords. Lawless said:“We are delighted with everything that was achieved on Saturday, the funds raised from this event, and the goals accomplished by the end of the day. “So far, we have raised more than €28,000, and we hope that people will
continue to donate so that we can reach our €50,000 target. “I am extremely grateful to Jamie and the entire CrossFit team. I would also like to thank everyone that showed up on Saturday and everyone that donated – their support and encouragement was exceptional.” Fundraising for the event continues, with donations being collected at http://www.mycharity.ie/event/lifting_for_ lucys/. You can also make a donation of €4 by texting “Lucy” to 50300. All of the money raised will go directly into the Early Learning Initiatives. For further information, see the event’s Facebook page: Lifting for Lucy.
CU later: Credit Union help Tidy Towns to greet visitors to lovely Malahide VISITORS to Malahide’s delightful village setting on the coast may now notice two new signs on the coast road, sponsored by Malahide Credit Union. Organised to support local Tidy Towns fundraising efforts, the neat signs help to welcome visitors to the area, with the credit union welcoming the chance to help the community. Pictured at one of the two new signs are Gerry Rafferty, chairman, Tidy Towns Malahide; Vivienne Keavey, manager, Malahide Credit Union and Donal Murphy, Malahide Credit Union.
MILLFIELD Shopping Centre, in Balbriggan hosts its annual autumn/ winter fashion extravaganza on Wednesday, September 5. The centre has announced that fashion stylist and celebrity Lisa Fitzpatrick will be on hand to host the gala, which will be held on level two of the shopping centre. Customers can look forward to a day of fashion, beauty tips and plenty of entertainment for children, including free face painting. Styles on the day will be from well-known fashion brands Vero Moda, Only, Jack & Jones, Name it and Vila, while the Millfield Facebook page offers a chance to win VIP seats, a glass of bubbly and a VIP goodie bag to take home.
8 SWORDS GAZETTE 27 August 2015
GAZETTEGALLERIES
The academy’s four- to six-year-olds get ready to take the field
GAA President Aogan O’Fearghail speaks with the younger club members
Sinead Finnegan and Patsy Markham
Alan and Cian Monaghan
Goalie Liam Keeling. Pictures: Stephan Fleming
27 August 2015 swords Gazette 9
sport: GAA PRESIDENT OPENS FACILITY
New pitch for Fingallians GAA president Aogan O’Fearghail with
Catherine Walsh and Cllr Joe
Fingallians president John McGee
Newman (Ind)
F
INGALLIANS GAA club welcomed a special guest recently – GAA president Aogan O’Fearghail, who came along to open their long-awaited all-weather pitch at Lawless Park recently. With 67 teams in the club, the new pitch was a very welcome addition to Fingallians’ facilities, with club PRO Paul Gormley saying: “The new turf will provide a superb facility for the club’s ever-growing reach while also providing a facility for the several national schools in the area.”
Daniel King shows some of his skills Emer Ni Eafa, Fiona Hudson, Sinead Finnegan and Ciaran Duff
Eve, Jennifer and Holly Gibney
10 GAZETTE 27 August 2015
GAZETTEGALLERY
Elliott, Lottie, Bonnie, Babette and Morah Ryan
Paul Harrington and Joe Harrington
Holly and Shay Byrne
Gay Byrne and Kathleen Watkins with grandchildren Sadhbh, Cian and Saoirse O’Byrne and (inset) Gay with Marty Whelan and Rory Cowan. Pictures: Brian McEvoy
BORD GAIS THEATRE: OPENING OF BELOVED MUSICAL
Dublin is alive with the Sound of Music
F
ANS of the timeless musical, The Sound of Music, flocked to the opening night of a production of the classic show at The Bord Gais Energy Theatre recently, where many well-known faces were to be seen. With accomplished West End stars joining some other top-notch actors and singers, the cast didn’t have to climb every mountain to reach dizzy heights of perfection. Their masterful story of the Von Trapp family’s escape from Nazis – and of a certain singing nun’s influence – delighted the audience. By the musical’s end, when it was time to say so long, farewell, everyone knew that they had seen something good, indeed.
Jessica Whelan, Maria Whelan and Caoimhe Karla Cosgrave and Holly O Connor
Faughnan
Nuala Carey
27 August 2015 Gazette 11
theatre P14
feature P16
asdfsdaf P27
dublinlife Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week
a day in the life: lisa fitzpatrick balances her family and work
what’son
A mum with a mission àisling kennedy
KNOWN for being Ireland’s numberone fashion guru and stylist to the stars, Lisa Fitzpatrick is one of the busiest stylists in showbiz. She presents a fashion slot on Ireland AM on weekdays, appears on TV3’s Xpose regularly, runs her own fashion roadshow and is mother to two young children. She took time out this week to talk to The Gazette about a typical day in her life. “I get up at about 6am every day and I have a routine where I love to have my coffee and a bottle of water first thing in the morning.” Lisa, who is married to Paul Fitzpatrick and is mother to Sophie (12) and Dalton (9), says that her son spoils her every morning and always makes her a coffee to get the day started. “Dalton makes me my coffee every morning and he writes little letters on the coffee tray or puts a fake flower or a flower from the garden on my tray each day. He’s great, and a really thoughtful young man.” Once she has her morning coffee, Lisa gets herself camera ready and heads to the TV3 studios in Ballymount for her fashion segment on Ireland AM. “I usually get to TV3 at about 7am, and I will then sit with my models, check the re-fit of their clothes, then do the Coming Up slot, and then present the slot at 10am.
“After that, I then head into the city centre for meetings at 10.30am. I always go into Clarendon St Church and light three candles, either before the meeting or after the meeting, for whoever is in my thoughts. I never go into the city centre without lighting candles in Clarendon St.” After that, Lisa pulls some looks for Xpose in stores around the city, and then at 1.45pm she leaves the city centre to pick up her children from school. She is usually home by 4pm when she then sits down to have a healthy lunch of either a tuna salad or salmon and brown bread. She then turns her attention towards her children, and begins helping them with their homework. “I usually cook dinner while the kids are doing their homework and then once dinner is finished at about 5pm, I get into mammy mode and prepare lunches for the next day, put washes on and do a bit of ironing. “Then, at about 7pm it’s my time! I catch up on my TV box sets – I’m watching Madame Secretary, and Suits, at the moment.” She is usually pretty tired from the early start, so she is always in bed by 9pm and asleep by 10pm, ready to start the next day again at 6am. Lisa Fitzpatrick is currently relaunching her Fashion Fix roadshow in the Spencer Hotel on September 19. Tickets for the roadshow are available at www.fitzpatrickstyle.com.
Gazette
diary P12
volunteer to help a wheely great event
TV presenter and style guru Lisa Fitzpatrick is kept busy with staying on trend for all the latest fashions, while also juggling her time as a wife and mother
EVENT volunteers are being sought for the Great Dublin Bike Ride, which takes place on Sunday, September 13 in Smithfield. The event is a mass participation bike ride for people of all abilities – from novice riders to experts, and enthusiastic, reliable and safety-conscious volunteers are needed to help direct more than 2,500 cyclists through the course. Volunteers will meet at Smithfield and Swords on Sunday, September 13. They are crucial to event operations, cyclists’ safety and contributing to the atmosphere of the day. Volunteers are currently being recruited for event coordination, team support and cyclist registration. Two scenic routes (60km and 100km) have been designed for the event (subject to change, pending approval of the relevant bodies), with both routes starting and finishing in the heart of Smithfield. The Great Dublin Bike Ride is based on the international sportif model, which promotes cycling and mass participation. You can apply online at www.volunteer.ie.
12 Gazette 27 August 2015
Gazette
dublinlife Festival set to brew up a storm Bac k b y p o p u l a r demand after its inaugural outing last year, The Dublin Coffee and Tea Festival 2015 is set to be another big weekend on the social calendar for coffee and tea lovers nationwide. T he festival takes place once again in the RDS from September 11 to 13, with thousands of visitors expected to taste what the coffee and tea industry in Ireland has to offer. The Dublin Coffee and Tea Festival fea-
tures: The Roasters Village hosting an array of coffee and tea micro roasters; T he SCAE Brew School where visitors will be shown how to use different brewing methods; The National Home Barista Championships as well as The Food Village for Artisan food and beverage suppliers whose products compliments the coffee and tea drinking experience. The Festival has served as a fitting platform to promote the
renowned World Barista Championship which is coming to Dublin in June 2016 for the first time. For further information visit www.dublincoffeefestival.com.
shatter shoots back on story Alan Shatter has hit back at a story that ran last week alleging he charged €12 passport photos to the Irish taxpayer during his tenure as Justice Minister. The former minister says the
claims are “totally false”. The Star reported that Shatter claimed €12 in expenses for passport photos in October 2013 while he was earning a salary of almost €160,000. However in a Facebook post the Dublin South TD torpedoed these allegations. He said the real story was that he undertook ministerial engagements in Lebanon, Jordan and Israel, in 2013 for which inoculations and photos were required for a Lebanese visa. “I was asked to furnish all relevant receipts to the Department of Defence and did so,” he said. This isn’t the first time Shatter has been in the spotlight over photographs. Back in 2007, he circulated a bizarre leaflet with pictures of his head photo-shopped onto a picture of Star Trek’s, Captain Kirk, and Simon Cowell with headlines like Shatter has the X-Factor.
Barnardos seeks volunteers Children’s charity Barnardos is seeking volunteers throughout Dublin to support its national collection day – Buckets for Barnardos – on Friday, September 18. Barnardos is hoping to recruit over 1,000 volunteers to raise funds for its work with vulnerable children and families. Barnardos works with over 11,300 children and families in 40 projects throughout Ireland To volunteer contact Grainne on 1850 217 217 or visit www.barnardos. ie/buckets. If you are unable to volunteer but would like to help you can text BUCKET to 50300 to donate €4.
diary
Model Holly Carpenter at the launch of the Dublin Coffee and Tea Festival 2015
27 August 2015 Gazette 13
FEATURE event: ‘The Festival is packed with lectures, debate, film and walks’
Rising to open Dublin Festival of History Ian Begley
The third annual Dublin Festival of History is set to take place again this year with the question of how 1916 should be commemorated as one of the chief topics. The festival runs from September 25 to October 10 in Printworks Dublin Castle, Dublin City Council public libraries, and various other venues. A panel discussion of commemorations is only one of the topics in the 2015 programme, which will look at some of the greats of history in Napoleon, Caesar and Wellington, as well as the social history of Dublin throughout its sporting and culinary
life. As the centenar y o f t h e 1916 R i s i n g approaches, the Festival will open with a panel of Irish historians reflecting on recent commemorative events, and looking ahead to the plans to mark the centenary of the Rising. The 1916 Rising also features strongly in the programme in the branch libraries with talks on the fire brigade in 1916, the re-development of Richmond Barracks and the labour movement at Easter Week 1916. There’s a focus on women’s history, with talks on the women who took part in the Rising, the lives of the Pearse sisters, and women’s
political participation in Ireland. Speaking at the festival Dublin Lord Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh (SF) said: “The Festival is packed with interesting lectures, debate, film and walks and is a real treat for the history buff. “The programme for the 2015 Festival runs from the 1916 Rising to the Second World War, from the history of soccer in Ireland to medics in the trenches, from the field of Croke Park to the field of Waterloo, and from the streets of Dublin to the streets of Samarkand. “This year for the first time the Festival, run by Dublin City’s public libraries, will include a
How 1916 should be commemorated will be a major topic at the Dublin Festival of History. Picture: Courtesy of Dublin City Library and Archive
family and children’s programme which takes place in Dublin Castle and partner venues and includes a specially commissioned walk, A Child’s view of Dublin Life through the ages.” All lectures and children’s events at the Dublin Festival of History are free and tickets can be booked at www.dublinfestivalofhistory.ie.
Search is on for Silver Surfers Age Action is searching for people over the age of 50 who are getting online and mastering new technologies as part of this year’s Silver Surfers Awards. This year’s awards were launched by Newstalk’s George Hook at an event in DCU accompanied by past winner Marie O’Gorman and new learners Adrienne Swan and Noeleen Brennan. Although as many as 70 per cent of older people don’t use the internet Age Action’s Silver Surfers have overcome the challenge of learning something new and are now expert googlers, skypers and tweeters. Whether it’s keeping in touch with grandchildren overseas, paying bills, starting your own blog or researching your passion, Age Action wants to highlight the achievements of the
over 50s in Ireland and nominations are now open. -----------------------------------
‘I was amazed by all the different contributions to technology’ -----------------------------------
One of last year’s winners, 86-year-old Paddy Crean, said: “I was amazed by all the different contributions to technology from different Silver Surfers, from finding crochet patterns online to writing stories for grandchildren to setting up online book clubs.” Eamon Timmins, chief executive of Age Action, said there were more nominations last year than ever before and they are hoping to top
this in 2015. “The Silver Surfer awards are a great way to show an older relative or friend your appreciation and we’re urging everyone right across Dublin who knows a great silver surfer to nominate them. We hope they will inspire other older people to take the plunge and to get online,” he said. All nominees will be invited to the awards ceremony in October, organised by our partners for this year’s Silver Surfers, the DCU Age Friendly Project. Nominations can be made online at www.ageaction. ie/silversurfer or by phoning 01 475 6989. Closing date for nominations is October 4, 2015. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on October 20 at The Helix Theatre.
Gazette
14 Gazette 27 August 2015
dublinlife
award-winning : National Theatre of Great Britain
Thrilling new stage play has plenty of bite Ian Begley
The National Theatre of Great Britain returns to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre this October with the multi awardwinning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime. Christopher Boon is a 15–year-old boy with Asperger’s syndrome (a form of autism) which
leaves him ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion of killing Mrs Shears’ dog, it takes him on a journey that upturns his world. Based on the awardwinning novel by Mark Haddon, adapted by Simon Stephens and directed by Marianne Elliott, T he Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a
thrilling new stage play from the National Theatre. Speaking to The Gazette, director Stephens said that adapting the novel into a play was both daunting and tremendous fun. “Mark Haddon is an extraordinar y writer and it was a real honour to be asked to adapt his novel into a play - it was
both a massive compliment and very daunting at the same time. “Mark was such a brilliant, empowering collaborator. He basically said ‘I trust you’ and to do whatever I wanted with his novel. Because of this I felt more brave and confident about taking upon this massive feat. I took a long time thinking about how to dramatise the novel which is entirely built around the interior voice. “Drama deals with things that people do rather than the things people feel or think about. T he novel is all about what Chris remembers and what he thinks and observers. Finding a dramatic muscle to that was the real challenge.” Stephens went on to say that Christopher’s teacher Siobhan is one of the chief characters in the play despite her playing only a minor part in the book. “The novel pretends
Director Simon Stephens said that adapting the novel into a play was both daunting and tremendous fun. Picture: Alex Rumford
to be a book written by somebody else – Christopher. His teacher is quite a peripheral figure in the novel, but I made his relationship with her the real centre of the play. “I have allowed Siobhan act as the narrator in the play by reading C h r i s t o p h e r ’s b o o k aloud. “When she first picks up his book she finds something very special
in him which she finds astonishing.” He added that he wants the audience to have the same sense of astonishment and curiosity into Christopher’s world as his teacher. “We recognise ourselves in Christopher, but at the same time he’s unlike anything we have ever experienced. “What Mark’s done is that he’s invented a character who doesn’t
h ave e m p a t hy a s a means of exploring how important empathy is because of his condition - he can’t understand people’s feelings.” The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is taking place at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre from October 6 to 10. Tickets are priced from €15 - €55 and can be purchased on www. bordgaisenergytheatre. ie
Simon says please join its upcoming fun run THE Simon Fun Run will hold its 32nd charity run in the Phoenix Park this October. The Simon Fun Run is a professionally timed road race which is registered with Athletics Association Ireland and will see runners such as Olivier Meisonnave from Dax Restaurant and the Hamleys Bear take to the track. The five-mile route is open to
professional and amateur runners alike, with Simon inviting running clubs, school groups, corporate teams, family groups and friends to take part.
Activities There will be a Hamleys’ Kids Zone, Simon Food Court, live music and performers and much more activities on the day.
The run will take place on Saturday, October 3 and the meeting point is the Papal Cross in the park. There is an entrance fee of €30 for adults, €10 for 13-18 year olds, while 12 years and under are free, and school groups can register as a group for €15. To register, see www.familyfun. ie/dublin-simon-fun-run/.
27 August 2015 GAZETTE 15
FEATURES
Ryan Sheridan is set to release his new album, Here and Now , on August 28. Picture: Jelena Lihhatsova
RYAN SHERIDAN: SINGER/SONGWRITER RELEASES ALBUM
‘I’m ecstatic to get back to my native home’
IAN BEGLEY
RYAN Sheridan, the acclaimed singer/songwriter from Monaghan, is set to release his new album in Ireland on August 28 following a much anticipated world tour. His new album Here And Now was recorded in Ireland and Germany, and is the follow up to his Irish platinum selling debut The Day You Live Forever. Featuring the massive hits Jigsaw and The Dreamer, that album was only kept from the top of the Irish charts by Adele’s 21. A brand new single Hearsay is also being released to coincide with
the arrival of Sheridan’s new album. 2012 saw international deals done with Universal Music in Europe and Australia, and The Day You Live Forever climbed to the top of the German charts. Thrilling
Extensive touring soon followed, and Sheridan spent much of 2013 thrilling European audiences with his highoctane live shows. Speaking to The Gazette, Sheridan said he is very excited in the run up to his new album, along with performing in Dublin. “After my first album in 2011 I’ve been touring around the world for
a total of four years and now I’m very pleased to be back releasing another one. “Over the years I feel like I’ve progressed a little towards a more acoustic element. “I was really inspired to bring the album back to my roots and back to a raw energy acoustic sound that I was looking for. “I only just got back from a tour recently and then I have an Irish tour coming up starting on August 28 in Whelan’s Pub. It’s been about two or three years ago since I last toured around in Ireland so I’m ecstatic to get back to my native home.” Sheridan went onto
say that his upcoming performance in Whelan’s Pub is something he is really looking forward to as it was where he first started out. “Whelan’s is where it all started for me so I have a bit of a soft spot for the place. I’m now very much looking forward to per forming there again. I’m sure it’ll be a fantastic night and hopefully the place will be packed full of music lovers.” Ryan Sheridan’s new album Here And Now will be released August 28 and he will be performing in Whelan’s Pub on the same day. V i s i t w w w. r y a n sheridanmusic.com for more information.
Gazette
16 Gazette 27 August 2015
dublinlife
feature
crisis: Calling to re-establish Training Agency
Hospitality sector facing chef shortage Aisling Kennedy akennedy@dublingazette.com
Dublin, and indeed Ireland, is currently facing a
crisis in the hospitality sector as there is a major shortage of culinary chefs throughout our country. The crisis of chefs has
reached its highest level yet and the Restaurant Association of Ireland is now calling on the Minister for Education to re-es-
tablish CERT, the former State Tourism Training Agency. CERT was established in 1963 and was responsible for providing a trained workforce for the hotel, catering and tourism industry. It was abolished in 2003. Chief executive of the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) Adrian Cummins said: “The restaurant sector are calling for the immediate reestablishment of CERT, which the tourism and hospitality sector held in high esteem while it was operational. It was fit for purpose and serviced the industry with skilled labour during its operational years.” A tota l of 24,700 chefs were employed in 2014 but according to the RAI the main skills shortages are among suitably qualified chefs as many of the applicants submitted for chef positions are deemed not to be appropriately qualified. The RAI believe that there is not enough chef training centres in Ireland and said that there is an immediate deficit of 5,000 chef trainees annually. Ross Lewis, joint-owner and Michelin star head chef at Chapter One, told the Gazette that he believes there are many facets to the current crisis in chefs and there is no quick fix. He said: “The prob-
Ross Lewis, joint-owner and Michelin star head chef at Chapter One
lem is that demand is outstripping supply. The industry has been growing progressively over the last 15 years and I’m not sure that we’re surviving the supply of chefs to meet the demand. “There is probably 3,000 to 4,000 more restaurant seats in the city in the last three to four years and that’s a huge contributing factor.” Lewis explains that a shortage in chefs in Ireland is a continual problem as Ireland is a small country and chefs tend to train here and then move onto other countries. “Chefs are usually young and single and they do tend to move on to other countries. We have to try to encourage these guys back here because it’s potentially a huge area for Irish tourism.” Another aspect of some young chefs deciding against the trade are the unsociable hours and in some cases poor wages. Lewis is quick to dispel this idea, however, and says: “Yes the hours can
be unsociable but on the other hand it has never been a more positive time to be a chef. “It’s a glamorous job now and the amount of people who are interested and attracted by it has never been greater.” Crisis
Lewis believes that an important area to tackle in the crisis of chefs is training colleges. “There is an element of large drop outs from college and in the first year of the industry there is a very significant drop out. “We need to take a look at this because for every hundred enrolling, the amount that are actually making it through to the industry is considerably less and this is a real issue. “We need to take the teaching of culinary arts and cheffing back into the kitchen. Apprenticeships have been dispensed with which is a major problem. “If somebody comes through the apprenticeship system in the kitchen then they’ll know
what’s involved and what the hours are and they’ll tell you very quickly whether they want to do it or not.” Lewis explains that teaching in a classroom is a cheaper and easier option but it’s not practical because young chefs are not experiencing the real kitchen environment or being hands on with food. “There’s a big disconnect between the educational system and the industry and that’s an issue.” Lewis is aware that there is no quick fix but he is adamant that the problem should be approached from all angles. He said: “We’re going to have to do something because it’s at a crisis stage at this point. Instead of hiring chefs with training, kitchens are hiring the immigrant workforce who might not have worked in a kitchen before. “I am very proud of Ireland as a food island as the primary produce here is second to none.
27 August 2015 Gazette 17
asdfsdaf P27 cinema P25
travel P20
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
style P18
Pets it’s the quiet life for Maggie
Emily Aoibheann from performance group Dying Breeds rehearsing for their new show Object Piggy which will feature at Dublin Fringe. Picture: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland
festival: Celebrating 21 years with a packed programme of shows
No longer on the fringes keith bellew
Tiger Dublin Fringe Festival celebrates its 21st birthday this year from September 7 to 20 with a packed programme of acclaimed shows in the mediums of theatre, comedy, music, dance and circus. Speaking to The Gazette, chief executive and artistic director of Tiger Dublin Fringe Kris Nelson said the festival was created by a group of artists who felt that they weren’t being presented in mainstream festivals, and wanted to create their own context for independent work. “Unlike most fringe [festivals] around the world they decided they would make a curated festival so that their Fringe of other work by Irish art-
ists would be selected by the director, whereas other Fringes around the world are based on first come, first served,” he said. He went on to say that the festival has really grown over the years and is no longer on the fringes of the main festivals as it is now one of the main festivals. “The festival presents the very best and brightest of new Irish makers, so we focus a lot on new forms new expressions, new kinds of theatre, dance, comedy, and circus. “Over the years it’s become an incubator for new talent and new ideas, and it’s also a place where more established artists come to try something new,” he said. He said that Fringe audiences are
very diverse comprising arts aficionados, first timers and everything in between. Many of the events will be held in unique venues throughout the city, and Nelson says this lends a spirit of adventure to the festival. Possibly one of the most intriguing of these is Beckett in the City which will be performed in the former residence of Gaelscoil Colaiste Mhuire in Parnell Square. This building is steeped in Irish republican history as it is the place that the 1916 proclamation was signed. It has been left vacant since the school moved premises in December, 2002. Directed by Sarah Jane Scaife, this performance examines the female characters in Samuel Beckett’s Footfalls, Rockaby, Not I and Come and
Go. Nelson said that Scaife is one of the world’s leading experts on Samuel Beckett, both in an academic sense and in terms of staging his work. “For her what’s important is that Beckett has a connection with Dublin and with the cityscape, so what she has done over a series of works is connect lesser known pieces or parts of Beckett’s works into places in the city. “She wants to connect how the state and religious institutions have effected Irish women and she’s doing that with these iconic works and also with amazing performers,” he said. To view the full programme of venues and events visit www.fringefest. com.
The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week is Maggie, a six-year-old Labrador-cross. Maggie adores her tennis balls and adores the people she knows. Maggie would love to meet her soul mate who will make her feel comfortable and secure and know she’ll never have to live in a kennel again. Maggie is a beautiful older lady looking for a quiet home to call her own. Maggie needs an adult only home with few visitors. She would love to live in a quiet area where the noise, hustle and bustle of daily life won’t worry her. Maggie needs to be the only dog in the home but has previously lived with cats. If you think you could offer Maggie a loving home please contact Dogs Trust on 01-879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www. dogstrust.ie.
Gazette
18 Gazette 27 August 2015
OUT&ABOUT Label Lab Black scuba dress €99; Untold Black polka dot clutch €64
Biba Bird bell sleeved blouse €115, Black culottes €189, Black fringe clutch €150
Label Lab Black beaded long sleeve dress €199
Linea Two-tone cashmere waistcoat €246; Label Lab Grey cable knit jumper €99; Maison Scotch Grey check trousers €See in store Gray & Willow White and grey stripe coat €249; Label Lab Grey cable knit jumper €99, Grey skinny jeans €69 Biba Black faux fur collar coat €239
HOUSE of Fraser presented their store brands last week in the Dean Hotel. Firm favourites Biba had plenty of exceptional pieces for the autumn season, including a stunning gold luxe jacket.
Waistcoats are a key trend among all brands, with the grey two-toned cashmere offering from Linea stealing my heart. Embellished jumpers and jackets also featured heavily, while a faux fur striped coat from Pied a Terre sent fashion editors and
bloggers’ hearts skipping. The yellow tweed coat from Dickins and Jones had us all wishing for some Arctic conditions, while the black, beaded long-sleeve dress from Label Lab will have you looking fab at any Christmas bash.
Biba Black embellished jacket €159, Oriental fringe kimono dress €129
mimi murray
27 August 2015 Gazette 19
Gazette
STYLE Dickins & Jones Yellow tweed coat €259; MaxMara Weekend Black polo neck jumper €See in store; Victoria Beckham Jeans Black flare jeans €See in store
Biba Gold leather blazer €349, 1963 slogan T-shirt €39, Leggings €65
Look your best for next season mimi murray
AUTUMN seems to be just around the corner and it makes me long for lipsticks in dark berry shades. I may not be able to pull them off as a
look, but I still lust after them! Coral nails and nude, sun-kissed complexions make way for smokey eyes and nails in plums and greys. Here, I have chosen some of the best products I have sampled so far for this autumn.
Www.spongelleIreland.ie Anti-cellulite body buffer €14
Vichy Skinsleep cream €28 Lancome Vernis in Love €19.50
Pied a Terre Faux fur stripe coat €236
Clarins Double Serum 30ml €69.50
Lancome Grandiose smudgeproof mascara €30
Kiehls Daily revival concentrate €42.50
Urban Decay Naked Smokey €46
Clarins Joli Rouge €22
Great gifts for shoppers to help mark elite Lancome make-up artist’s classes at BT LANCOME’S elite make-up artist Marc Sinclair (right) will be in Ireland hosting a series of make-up masterclasses and one-on-one appointments in Brown Thomas this September, on Thursday 10 and Friday 11. This coincides with an exclusive gift with every purchase of more than three Lancome products. The Absolue Precious Cells gift contains two full-size products: Absolue Precious Pure
Cleansing Foam and Liquid Rouge in Love 316; eye cream and day cream. The Lancome gift, available exclusively at Brown Thomas, also contains an Oleo serum using rose stem cells to target anti-aging, and Rouge in Love, to add a touch of gloss to your autumn complexion. The gift – worth more than €210 – is available from Thursday, September 3 to Saturday, September 19, and will be available with the pur-
chase of three or more Lancome products. This gift is available while stocks last from the Lancome counter in Brown Thomas Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick.
Gazette
20 Gazette 27 August 2015
OUT&ABOUT
co donegal: still largely untouched by tourism, fanad peninsula delights
Make the time to visit this quiet treasure A refined and relaxing
The welcoming exterior of the sympathetically developed Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa
co meath: dunboyne castle hotel and spa
mimi murray
getaway from city life ian begley
I RECENTLY enjoyed a one-night stay at the historically renowned Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa, Co Meath. The original castle on the Dunboyne estate was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell, but the charming present day building that we see today was completed in 1764. Rooms are very spacious and modern, equipped with a Smart TV and a magnificent view of the hotel grounds. My guest and I took advantage of the hotel’s new Aromathera-tea package, which includes afternoon tea and a choice of one of three spa treatments at the hotel’s Seoid Spa for a total of €65pp. I found the afternoon tea to be delightfully lush, and felt very sophisticated, tucking delicately into finger sandwiches, freshly
baked scones, orange flower meringue pie, and a gorgeous lavender and poppy seed cake, along with several cheeky glasses of prosecco. Later that evening, after a long stroll around the woodland grounds of the hotel, my guest and I went for dinner at the Dunboyne Castle restaurant, The Ivy. To start, I had pan-fried scallops with salt-backed heritage carrots, while for my main I enjoyed a succulent roast rump of Wicklow lamb and confit of belly, which was served with an array of fresh vegetables. My companion had the seared fillet of turbot, which he enjoyed just as much. Overall, it was a really delicious meal. The hotel’s Sadleir Bar was our next stop and, again, the place was full of good cheer and music and its ambience was very relaxed.
Tuck into delicious afternoon tea treats
The morning after this eventful and enjoyable night, I received an extremely relaxing back massage with lavender, ginger, black pepper and rosemary in the Seoid Spa. Afterwards, my companion and I took advantage of all the facilities within the spa that we had unlimited access to, which included the thermal, outdoor hot tub and relaxation and fitness
suites. The Aromathera-tea package at the Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa includes the Aromathera-tea and your choice of one of these three spa treatments for €65pp. Make a night of it from €155pp midweek, including overnight stay, breakfast, dinner and the Aromathera-tea package. For further information, see www.dubboynecastle.com.
THE Ring of Kerry is one of the most visited and best known tourist destinations in this country. There is no doubt that it is spectacular. Howe ve r g o i n a straight line nor th, about 400km and about 100km east as the crow flies, and you will find scenery of equal beauty, and some of the best beaches in Europe, if not the world. Donegal is as breathtaking as parts of southern Ireland, but with none of the tourist trappings. Food hasn’t taken the massive strides that it has down south, you won’t find shops selling Aran jumpers and walking sticks, and you certainly won’t find bus loads of tourists, eager to find a gravestone with their family name on it. What you will find is real peace and solace, pubs with plenty of craic, and magical scenery all across the county. I recently stayed close to the Fanad Peninsula, in the height of summer,
and barely saw another vehicle – or human, for that matter – as we drove the route over the course of a few hours. There are plenty of pretty little towns around this area, and we stayed in Rathmullan House, in the village of Rathmullan. It’s well placed on its own beach overlook-
--------------------------
‘We drove to Fanad Lighthouse and were the solitary visitors at the head!’ --------------------------
ing Lough Swilly, and is the perfect spot to truly relax. During the summer they cater extremely well for families with children, even small children, but during the autumn and winter months, they are eager to welcome older guests who want to sit beside the fire with a good book or the papers and get away from it all. Close by are the gor-
geous villages of Ramelton, as well as Portsalon and Milford. Letterkenny is also no more than a 20-minute drive away. We dined in Ramelton for lunch on one of our days away in what appeared to be the only cafe/restaurant in the village. It was thronged with Irish holiday-makers, and there are plenty of those. There aren’t many places to eat in the general area and even the local pubs were closed at lunchtime. However, this place was doing a roaring trade, and the food was tasty. For this reason we mostly dined in Rathmullan House, which wasn’t a chore. The food was very good, with lots of choice, including some really good fish dishes, including John Dory, brill and cod. They also have an extensive wine list, with some unusual and exciting wines. It was on day two of our visit that we undertook the drive around the Fanad Peninsula, and
27 August 2015 Gazette 21
Gazette
TRAVEL fast
TRAVEL Survey says we’d all like to take a trip to Route 66 ian begley
Fanad Head Lighthouse awaits visitors to this striking, yet largely untouched part of the country. Wherever you strike out towards, Donegal’s coastline offers visitors and locals alike a wonderful range of beaches and inlets, with rock and cliffs creating unforgettable vistas along many parts of the coast.
even though it rained almost throughout, the sun broke through on occasion to allow us some absolutely amazing views of the ocean, and of beaches so sandy and velvety, we longed to swim there. We drove to the lighthouse and were the solitary visitors at the head! Back at Rathmullan, there is a swimming pool that we mostly had to ourselves, which was great as it allowed me the freedom to play with my three-year-old and try to start the process of teaching him how to swim. Our room was beautifully decorated, and there is a choice of old-
world bedrooms in the main house, and newer rooms in the new addition to the old house. Across from the hotel’s private beach is Buncrana, and a ferry can be taken across to visit that village and make the trip to Malin Head. The beach is long enough for a leisurely stroll along and there were plenty of people horseriding in the waves. All in all, this place is picture postcard perfect, and is well worth the lengthy drive from Dublin. For further information on Rathmullan, see www.rathmullanhouse. com.
Donegal wasn’t spared this summer’s inclement weather, but Rathmullan House provided a cosy retreat
ROUTE 66 has been voted as Ireland’s dream trip destination, according to a new survey by travel experts, Hotels.com. The survey revealed that 38% of Irish people long to drive the famous route, which runs from Chicago to LA. In keeping with the American theme, 27% say they would love to take a road trip along the Pacific Coast highway in California, while 18% dream of taking to the open road along the Amalfi Coast in Italy.
Playlist The survey also showed that a great playlist is the number one essential item for any car journey (83%), followed by sunglasses (52%), and snacks (48%). When it comes to road trip tunes, AC/ DC’s Highway to Hell came out on top, followed by Tom Petty’s Free Fallin’. When asked where people went in the car on holiday as a child, France was the popular destination, while closer to home, Kerry was the most popular Irish destination for a road trip.
Gazette
22 Gazette 27 August 2015
OUT&ABOUT
FOOD&DRINK
BITESIZEDNEWS
The Bridge Chowder €8
Building bridges with the best of food Situated right in the heart of Dublin’s Ballsbridge, The Bridge 1859 has gone from strength to strength since opening in September 2014. Located in the middle of Ireland’s rugby heartland, The Bridge 1859 offers more than just pre and post match pints with a brand new menu offering a wide variety of dishes. The Bridge 1859 is the latest venture by Noel Anderson, the man behind The Grafton Lounge in Dublin 2. Noel has teamed up with Ireland and Leinster Rugby players Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien, and brothers Rob and Dave Kearney to create Dublin 4’s newest pub. Head chef Simon Boland (formerly of The Church Bar and Restaurant) has created the menu which ranges from starters such as The Bridge Chowder €8 and West Coast Water Mussels €10/€14, mains such as Tempura Lemon Sole €14, Roast Stuffed Globe Artichoke €14 and the 1859 Tower Burger €16, and desserts such as the Butterscotch Chocolate Brownie €6 and the Strawberries ‘N’ Cream €6. The selection ranges from familiar and indulgent to unconventional and intriguing, and always to the highest quality. Carefully sourced highlights include the Glazed Chicken and Herb Roulade €16 which is wrapped in pork caul, the Summer Salad €11 with sweet potato, candy cane beets and Five Mile Town Goats Cheese, and the Ham Hock Roll €11, served on a Waterford blaa with candy cane beetroot and celeriac remoulade. The Bridge 1859 also serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Dishes include The Bridge Breakfast €12, their take on the full Irish, which features aged smoked back bacon, prime pork sausages and boards head black and white pudding. The Bridge Salmocado €12 is another exciting addition to the menu – English muffin, chicory, beef tomato, smoked salmon, poached eggs and avocado hollandaise. The Chorizo and Haddock Smokies €12 are an exciting addition to the brunch menu, and feature cod, salmon, smoked couli, palourde clams, chorizo, toast, wilted spinach, poached eggs and hollandaise. For the more traditional types, The Bridge Roast €13.50 is served every Saturday and Sunday, and changes each week. The Bridge 1859, 13 Ballsbridge Terrace, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Open 7 days.
The Teeling Whiskey Distillery is the only operational distillery in Dublin City
Whiskey galore at first new distillery in 125 years Mimi Murray
I recently became a tourist in my own city and visited the new Teeling Distiller y in Newmarket Square. This is the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125 years and is a great interactive experience for whiskey fans. The Teeling Whiskey Distillery is the only operational distillery in Dublin City where visitors can get up close and personal with the traditional Irish whiskey making process. We we n t f o r t h e Teeling Trinity Tasting which meant we were going to sample the brands Small Batch, Single Grain and Single Malt offerings at the end of the tour. Mmmmm, something to look forward to. All guided tours are given by Teeling Whiskey Ambassadors and take between 45 minutes and an hour. Our tour guide was well informed, engaging
and had plenty of interesting anecdotes. The tour itself involves a walk through the exhibition area, detailing the history of Irish whiskey from the very beginning, to where it is today. From the exhibition space, the tour then ventures to the inner workings of the distillery where visitors can experience the heat and sweet smell from the stills and witness the whiskey making process first hand. Visitors can see into the barrels to understand the process as it happens, every stage from grain to whiskey. The area is small but I certainly felt like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory and was impressed by the large copper stills and sheer touching distance of the process. The tour doesn’t end there. We were then guided into The Bang Bang Bar, where we got to taste Teeling Whiskey. My personal favourite and supposedly a
favourite among women was the Small Batch, although I found most men plumping for this on the day also. The single malt was a firm favourite too. There is also a cafe and shop where you
can buy the whiskey at a cheaper rate than it sells in stores around Dublin. The Teeling Whiskey Distillery and visitor centre at 17 Newmarket, Dublin 8, is open seven days a week.
V i s i t o r s c a n n ow access the distillery via the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, getting off at stop 12A. Visitors can simply walk in or pre-booked tours are available on TeelingWhiskey.com.
27 August 2015 Gazette 23
Gazette
HEALTH challenge: ‘The best race ever’
Ironman? Been there, done that, got the T-shirt! suzanne sheehy
NOW I can say it... I’m a finisher! It feels great to have faced down one my most difficult challenges to date. Since registering for the Ironman 70.3 Dublin in November 2014 along with over 2,500 athletes, I was set and ready to go on Sunday, August 9. I faced into a 1.2 mile (1.9km) swim, a 56 mile (90km) bike ride and a 13.1 mile (21.1km) run. As a two-year member of Fingal triathlon club I competed regularly. Since I now knew the triathlon it was time for a new challenge. Here was my opportunity. The Ironman 70.3 Dublin was special. First, Ironman is a global brand having its first outing in the Irish capital. You couldn’t miss these guys arriving in
their 40ft trucks only days before the event! It was also a chance to swim in Scotsman’s Bay, Dun Laoghaire, cycle through Dublin, Fingal, Meath, Kildare through closed roads and conclude with a run in Europe’s largest city park, Phoenix Park. D u r i n g my e i g h tmonth journey towards the 70.3, my training involved many Triathlon Ireland events along with Howth Aquathons. This helped prep me for the big day, helping me to try out different foods/gels/bars and find what agreed with my stomach. It also helped me identif y appropriate race gear. On the day, I had old reliables to sustain me rather than newbies! At times my confidence was knocked and I questioned my ability. For example, in one Escape from Ireland
You couldn’t miss these guys arriving in their 40ft trucks
2km Open Water event, I had difficulty with strong currents and finished – exhausted – in 75 minutes knowing the cut-off for the Ironman 70.3 swim was 70 minutes. A bad day – but an invaluable learning curve. When race day finally arrived, conditions were perfect. So many thoughts crowded into my head. I was jumping up and down on the spot not to keep warm but because of the nerves. This was a big goal race! I took comfort in knowing I was surrounded by many novices. T he horn went, I jumped into the water complete with timing chip which was fastened to my left ankle with the velcro strap. We were well and truly off. As we all began to settle into a rhythm, I managed to separate from the crowd and find some
Take care of your heart
Women urged to care for heart health
Members of Fingal Triathlon Club competing in the Ironman 70.3 Dublin. From left to right JP McKenna, David Freeman, Suzanne Sheehy, Dave Harris, Conrad O’Dea
THE Irish Heart Foundation’s September Heart Month is fast approaching and this year’s campaign is focusing on women and heart disease. In the run up to heart month, the Irish Heart Foundation is promoting a number of facts and tips on women’s heart health. Cardiovascular disease is the numberone killer of women in Ireland – yet less than one in five women know this. -----------------------
‘High blood pressure is a silent risk factor and a serious risk for stroke’
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The bike race saw competitors to travel through Dublin and west of the city through Meath and Kildare. Picture: Colm Bellew
space. Occasionally, I felt someone tugging at my leg or I got a few knocks on the head from another swimmer. Nothing to do but plough on. I kept a check on the buoys to make sure I was on track. Last thing I wanted was to add needless kilometres by veering off course. Towards the end I felt the cold and was relieved when the swim was complete and I’d reached T1 (transition 1). Stripping off my wetsuit, I grabbed a gel – and the bike. I got into
a steady rhythm and my confidence grew. I knew I could do this. People cheered us along the 90km on as we hydrated at fluid stations en route. Great! As I entered Transition 2, I rushed to rack my bike and don my runners. The run was my strongest and most enjoyable moment. I kept a steady pace throughout. My family turned out in Phoenix Park along with Fingal club members. I crossed the finish line with an overall
time of 5:59:09. I swam 52:16, biked a 3:22:01, ran a 1:36:10. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Next day, I felt my pain. But it was good to know I’d finished and it made it all worthwhile. If I could bottle it, it would be worth gold! My evaluation? The best race I’ve ever experienced – and it was Dublin’s inaugural Ironman70.3 to boot. Congratulations to all those finishers and huge gratitude to all those who came to support everyone.
Also, menopausal women are at a high risk of developing heart disease or suffering from a stroke. The foundation is advising women to reshape their eating plans and stay active and healthy. According to the Irish Heart Foundation, high blood pressure is a silent risk factor and a serious risk for stroke. For this reason, its annual blood pressure roadshow will return in September, visiting approximately 50 locations nationwide. For further information on heart health and heart month, see www.irishheart.ie.
Gazette
24 Gazette 27 August 2015
OUT&ABOUT
music MUSIC
Nils has toured with both Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen
vicar street: renowned guitarist, singer, pianist, solo artist Nils Lofgren
It’s time to face the music Keith Bellew
Nils Lofgren, the r e n ow ned gu i ta ri st, singer, pianist, solo artist and member of both Neil Young’s band and Br uce Springsteen’s E Street Band is coming to Vicar Street on November 2. Speaking to The Gazette he said he hasn’t been to Dublin for a number of years and is looking forward to his return. “My wife Amy and I insisted we get up there. We’re excited to get back to Dublin and Belfast and hopefully do some good shows up there for everyone,” he said. Having turned pro with his band Grin at the age of 17, after seeing The Who and Jimi Hendrix per form in Washington, Lofgren
has been on the road touring and recording for 47 years. His most recent release was a 10-disc greatest hits collection called Face the Music in 2014, which includes a wealth of unreleased tracks and alternate takes and he says that this tour will see most of these performed with varied track-lists from show to show. He was picked up by Neil Young around 1968 when he was 18 after he blagged his way backstage at a gig and played a few of his songs for him. “Realising I knew nothing about the music b u s i n e s s , I ’d s n e a k backstage at every concert and try to ask for advice. “In this par ticular instance, Neil Young heard me out and asked
me if we had any songs. I said yeah I write the songs and he said sing me one and handed me his Martin guitar. “I sang him a song and he said, I like that, sing another, so I ended up singing him about half of the first Grin album. “He bought me a cheeseburger and a coke at this nightclub because I was underage and I spent two days visiting with him and singing four shows on the first Crazy Horse tour,” he said. He ended up joining Young’s band, recording and touring for several albums, the first of which was After the Gold Rush. Between 1971 and 74 he also recorded four albums with Grin and began recording as a solo artist in 1975.
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‘He bought me a cheeseburger and a coke at this nightclub because I was underage and I spent two days visiting with him and singing four shows on the first Crazy Horse tour’
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Between now and then he has released over a dozen solo albums several of which are underground cult classics. However, unlike many solo artists, Lofgren has no problem playing in a band under someone
else’s leadership and he continued to record and tour with Young in the 70s and 80s. One man he met during this time was Bruce Springsteen. “Way back in 1970, his band Steel Mill and my band Grin did an audition night for Bill Graham’s Fillmore West, and I was a big fan of his music and used to go and see his shows and we had a friendship. We just kind of had a common sense of pur pose of what music could do and what it was supposed to mean. “Br uce and I had long talks about music, i n cl u d i n g my e a r l y songs with Neil Young, and how much I really liked being in a great band and not being the leader, and I think he filed that away. “Long story short, in
1984 when he needed a guitarist he called and asked me to come up and jam with the band. We jammed for two days and it felt beautiful and they asked me to join, and this was literally like a month before the opening of the Born in the USA tour,” he said. Lofgren continues to tour with Springsteen and the E Street Band to this day, most recently in 2012. When he got back from this tour, he began working on Face the Music. “As I assembled that box set, I had forgotten a lot of the things I had done, and I’m so conscious of what’s going on today or tomorrow that it was a great stroll dow n memor y lane. There’s two bonus discs with 40 out-takes, basement tapes and unreleased demos,” he said.
Lucky fans will have the opportunity to meet Lofgren after the show as he plans to spend an hour meeting and greeting and signing autographs. “Traditionally what we’ll do, [unless there’s some extraordinary bus ride after the show], is I’ll dry off and come out and sign for people, shake their hand, look them in the eye and thank them for showing up. It’s kind of the show after the show,” he said. Face the Music is av a i l a b l e o n l i n e a t Nilslofgren.com along with details of his guitar school where budding musicians can download lessons tailored by Lofgren. For more information on Lofgren live at Vicar Street on November 2, visit www.vicarstreet. ie.
27 August 2015 Gazette 25
ReelReviews
PAPER TOWNS
A something-thin plot FOR those who loved The Fault in Our Stars last year, here comes another manipulative film with ‘Hollywood teens’ in pretty contrived situations. Paper Towns (Cert 12A, 109 mins) sees a nerdy but nice guy trying to track down his crush when his toocool-for-school neighbour disappears. Can he follow her trail of clues and find missing Margo? Adults are unlikely to care.
fantastic four Oh no they’re not ... Sinister characters for a reasonably creepy tale – dead children are some of the chief protaganists of Sinister 2, courtesy of the influence from an ancient Pagan spirit
sinister 2: sequel competently delivers more of the same for fans
A creepily effective follow-up BACK in 2012, Sinister arrived on the scene, starring Ethan Hawke as Ellison Oswalt, the true crime writer with a terrible habit of moving his unsuspecting family into houses where grisly murders had taken place. It was a genuinely creepy movie, which saw a suitably haggard Hawke bearing the brunt of the load as he scrambled to solve a mystery involving ritualistic murders captured on video tape and an ancient evil Pagan god, called Bughuul. Around the same time, Dublin-born director Ciaran Foy quietly released his first feature length film. Citadel was a dark and impressive horror debut
Dave phillips
about an agoraphobic man battling teenage hoodlum demons, which despite its small distribution, was very well-received. One of the fans of Citadel was the writer and director of Sinister, Scott Derrickson, who tweeted Foy to ask if he would like to direct the Sinister sequel. Sinister 2 sees James Ransome take the lead role, reprising a bit part he played in the original. He is now an ex-cop who is working as a private
investigator, still trying to solve that very same mystery that Ethan Hawke unwittingly stumbled into, in the first film. While the original saw Hawke desperately trying to save his own family from the curse of Bughuul, this time, Ransome is trying to save his love interest (Shannyn Sossaman) and her twin boys from the childmunching deity. Ransome’s ex-deputy isn’t traditional hero material. He is the kind of bumbling, good-natured twit who just wants us all to get along. His character brings a kind of off-beat pace to the film, with his quirkiness lending a comedic element that was almost completely missing from
the original. But the cost of having such a light-hearted lead becomes clear through the lack of tension. Partly, this is down to a diminishing sense of mystery, too. The supernatural elements of Sinister 2 become wrung out to the point of exhaustion. We are never truly scared for Ransome as he creeps around in the dark as he’s so well-mannered and resilient that we are sure he will bounce back from any demonic trauma. Bughuul gets much too much screen time, and it feels like we know the gang of creepy dead kids hanging around Sossaman’s house on first name terms. That is not to say that
nothing works well here. There is good on-screen chemistry between Sossaman and Ransome, and some of the most frightening moments come courtesy of Sossaman’s abusive and estranged husband (Lea Coco), who is on a mission to capture his family and force them to return to his redneck normality. Perhaps the best thing to come from this film will be a higher platform for Ciaran Foy. Horror sequels tend to be ropey territory, and Sinister was a particularly tricky film to follow – both because of its success, and because there is not a lot of story left to go on. Yet, despite the crum-
bling building blocks he inherited, Foy has managed to create and maintain some basic structure. You get the sense that Foy’s strength lies in developing his own material, and his next project is already rolling: a big-budget horror set in Ireland that he is writing and directing. Sinister 2 may be a superfluous film, but it’s a solid showcase for Foy. While it doesn’t come close to the tension or creepiness of the original, it does have some very likeable characters, features some disturbing old super-8 scenes, and is jam-packed full of jump scares, so if the itch needs to be scratched ...
Verdict: 6/10
HERE comes yet another attempt to breathe life into Fantastic Four (Cert 12A, 106 mins), as four young scientists acquire superpowers and must try to thwart a supervillain ... Marvel’s heroes have had one underwhelming cinema outing after another down the decades, and this reboot is no different, with a dull story, weak cast chemistry, and signs of its troubled editing.
pixels
Plot barely joins the dots LAST and most definitely least, Pixels (Cert 12A, 106 mins) is the latest big budget film based on videogames that delivers a giant stinker. Aliens attack Earth, in the guise of classic videogames and characters of yore, and only a bunch of aging gamers can stop them ... Even for an Adam Sandler film, Pixels is pretty bad, and trails in the shadow of 2012’s superior Wreck-it Ralph.
26 SWORDS GAZETTE 27 August 2015
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28 gazette 27 August 2015
SPORT
FastSport ‘Big sexy’ lands deal with Spain based group: BALLYBRACK man Sean “Big Sexy” Turner has signed up with the Macklin Gym Marbella (MGM) ahead of his Lights out for the Plaza date in Puerto Banus on August 28. There, he will fight a Spanish opponent in his sixth professional bout as he looks to extend his record to six wins from six outings after a series of quick-fire victories. The Spanish based Irish promotions company officially confirmed the news in a statement, saying: “MGM are very pleased to announce that they have added a real Irish Boxing character to their ever growing stable; Sean “Big Sexy” Turner has signed a management contract with MGM. The hard-hitting heavyweight added of the new arrangement: “This is a totally fresh start, there is a long road ahead but I am in the right place here with the right people to go to the next level.”
ultra-running: bawnogue man completes 20 marathons in 10 weeks
Conlon conquers challenge stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com
BAWNOGUE man Mark Conlon smashed his own personal target as his mission to run 20 marathons in 20 weeks ended up being completed in a mere 10 weeks, complet-
ing the challenge with an incredible 10 marathons in five days. This final phase consisted of running backto-back marathons, the first starting at 6am and the second beginning at 2pm in the afternoon with just a two hour break in
between – the minimum allowed in order to be legitimately accredited. He would later find out that he was the first person in Ireland to complete such a feat while he also became the youngest person to hit 100 marathons.
On the trail
Mark Conlon celebrates following completion of the challenge
Looking back on the monumental challenge, Conlon said the fourth marathon was one of the hardest as he took on a 100km ultra distance. “I was nearly going to back out at some stages on that one. You are running on just an hour’s sleep and it begins to mess with your head,” he said. The 10 marathons in five days was another huge battle through the mental and pain barrier on a route around Howth Head. “It was really painful on the feet with blisters every day. I was peeing blood by the third day so it was a matter of getting the blister plasters on and trying to get as many fluids into me as possible. “It was really tough,
especially going up Howth Head the first time, knowing that I would have to do it all over again in a couple of hours.” With a medic on hand, he made it through the challenge and is now already thinking of new records to break and tests to put his body through. During this challenge he ran his 100th and 101st marathon on the same day and he is already looking to push on toward 500 marathons. Asked about the attraction of running such long distances with such frequency, Conlon said: “It is the mental challenge and something of an addiction. It is great for your head to get out and run, to test yourself and see how far you can go”.
Conlon got into running during his time with the Army having played football in his youth with Crumlin Untied, going for trials in his teens with Leeds United. The challenge was part of a fundraising effort for Pieta House, a charity close to his heart following his experience serving overseas: “Having seen people come back with severe depression, it’s important to know there’s someone to talk to, and how much exercise can clear your head, as it does for me.” You can donate to Conlon’s cause, Pieta House, via the following link: http://www. my c h a r i t y. i e / e ve n t / markconlons_20_marathons_in_20_weeks.
Thirteen Dublin-based players in Hibernia squad sport@dublingazette.com
Templeogue’s Conor Grace in action against China during the summer
THIRTEEN of Colin O’Reilly’s 26-man Hibernia Basketball squad hail from Dublin for the start of the FIBA Europe Cup in October. Isaac Westbrooks and Kevin Lacey are from Swords Thunder with Martins Provizors and Mark Nagle coming in from DCU Saints. Jermaine Turner and Ciaran Roe are Killester’s representatives. In south Dublin, UCD Marian’s Conor Meany and Dan James return with club mate Neil
Baynes. The Templeogue quartet of Conor Grace, Jason Killeen, Phil Taylor and Luke Thompson complete the squad. The panel draws heavily from the men’s Premier League Select at the Sino-European Championships in China during the summer but there are a couple who are unable to take part in this new side that will play in this European-wide competition. Demons pair Niall O’Reilly and Shane Coughlan step down while Paul Dick has signed a new
contract to play in the LEB Plata in Spain with Araberri. Niall Murphy, Jack O’Mahony, Michael Bonaparte, Isaac Westbrooks and Neil Campbell are the players who did not train with the men’s Premier League Select Squad named in February. All 26 players are invited to attend training sessions and prep games in August and September before the squad is reduced and player availability is assessed. O’Reilly has “left the door open” for bringing in American and other category two.
Hibernia Basketball is a newly formed club made up of players from the Men’s Premier League to compete in the inaugural FIBA Europe Cup. In the competition, they have been drawn to play away in Denmark against the Bakken Bears, Slovenia versus Tajgun Sentjur and the Czech Republic to meet Sportovni Hala Nymburk, The home matches will be on Wednesday, November 18 and 25 along with December 2. Ticket details for all home fixtures will be announced on September 1.
27 August 2015 gazette 29
Gazette
O’Caoimh riding on the crest of a wave Dublin wakeboarding star David O’Caoimh tells NATHAN KELLY of a recent series of victories in Europe as he builds toward a trip to China for the World Cup in his chosen sport KILLINEY wakeboarder David O’Caoimh has been riding on a tidal wave of success in recent weeks, winning a succession of tournaments and being crowned European champion along the way. The 21-year-old was captain of Team Ireland who travelled to the Netherlands for the European African (EA) Championships which took place August 1-9. On the penultimate day, O’Caoimh won first place at the European Super Final when he was last of the dock and, on the final day of the event, he was crowned Overall
European Champion. Speaking to GazetteSport after his success in the Netherlands, revealed how he felt when announced as champion of Europe. “I was actually pretty relieved to be honest,” he said. “Obviously I was then delighted when the feeling sunk in as it’s a brilliant achievement but initially I just had this sense of relief. “I’d performed really well over the whole event, but going into the final, I was up against a Russian guy, Nikita Martyanov, in the final and he had been bril-
David O’Caoimh in recent action
liant all week. He went before me in the final and done really well so I think that set a marker for me to emulate and beat and somehow I pulled it off.” W hile David stole most of the headlines, it was a good event for Team Ireland overall, with two athletes making it to the final of the Junior Women Division. Aisling Deegan, from Ballsbridge placed fourth and Cavan girl Nicole Carroll finished sixth. Zach Zebedee, aged 12 from Kildare is now ranked ninth in Europe, while Team Ireland fin-
ished sixth overall at the championships. “It’s always brilliant to see the Irish doing well, whether it’s me or any other Irish individual, or members of an Irish team, it’s always great,” said the Team Ireland
being able to perform as I know I can when I had the injuries, so I just really concentrated on getting back to my best and I think I’m performing at that level, or pretty close to it now. “I feel really good when
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‘For any sports person, whatever you train in, you want to compete on the world stage’ – David O’Caoimh --------------------------------------------------------
skipper on our success. While the success in the Netherlands was the highlight of his recent success, O’Caoimh won his sixth pro men’s title at the Irish National Wakeboard Championships in mid-July, and also claimed top spot at the European Pro Tour Stop in Northern Ireland. The Dubliner then followed his European Championship triumph by winning the Lowlands Wakeboard Tour Stop in Enniskillen last week before his team won the Team Challenge at the Chill and Ride event in Germany. “I’ve been on a great run,” he said. “I had a couple of niggling injuries at the start of the year which hampered my form at a couple of events, but I think that’s actually made me more focused. “It was frustrating not
I’m out on the water the last while and a lot of that is down to focus, you’ve got to somehow make your mind and performance work in sync and thankfully over the last couple of events, I’ve been able to do that.” The life of a professional wakeboarder is certainly a busy one, with O’Caoimh set to travel to Florida, China, Mexico and possibly Spain and USA before the year is out, as well as competing at a number of events here in Ireland. “The trip to China is one I’m really looking forward to,” he said. “It’s the World Cup and I think any athlete or sportsperson, whatever you train in, you want to compete on a world stage and that will be the chance to do that at a huge event. I just hope I can continue in this form.”
FastSport
McLaughlin Leinster’s captain for early games KEVIN McLaughlin has been confirmed by Leinster Rugby as the captain during the Rugby World Cup period. The 30-year-old St Mary’s club man, who has 114 caps for Leinster since his debut in April 2007, has captained the province in the past and led the team out against Edinburgh and Benetton Treviso in last season’s Guinness PRO12. Confirming the news last week, head coach Leo Cullen said: “I think this is a great opportunity for Kevin. He had an unlucky run with injuries last season and I know he is very keen to hit the ground running this season. “This is by no means a new role for him and we saw last season what he brings to the table in terms of his captaincy. He has really driven the environment during the pre-season and he is a great role model for the younger players and indeed the wider squad.” McLaughlin last played for Leinster in last December’s 21-11 win in the RDS against Connacht but had to come off with a shoulder injury. That same injury required surgery and effectively ruled Kevin out for the season. “Kevin is a player who leads by example with little regard for his own body and he epitomises everything we want to see from a Leinster Rugby team going forward,” Cullen added. “He is selfless, puts team first and is always driving his own standards as well as the standards of those around him.” McLaughlin, who has eight Irish caps to date, has won two Heineken Cup trophies with Leinster starting in both final wins over Northampton Saints and Ulster Rugby. He has also won an Amlin Cup and three PRO12 titles with the province. Former Blackrock College man Cullen was confirmed as Leinster’s head coach a day earlier as head coach of the province on a two year deal. Cullen, who won 221 caps for Leinster and is a three time Heineken Cup winning captain with the province, had already been in charge on an interim basis following the departure of Matt O’Connor at the end of last season.
Gazette
30 SWORDS gazette 27 August 2015
SPORT
FastSport
soccer: swords club firing on all cylinders in premier B
North County keep pace in Leinster title chase NORTH County remain in the running for the Leinster cricket division one title following their victory over Railway Union last weekend, keeping the pressure on Clontarf and Merrion at the top of the table. Dharam Singh scored his highest score for Railway Union, 44, but that was the only score of note in a disappointing Railway total of 146 all out. Eddie Richardson took another three wickets for just 20 runs, which was the fifth time he has taken three wickets this season. It didn’t all go North County’s way after that, and it required a 75 run partnership for the third wicket between Brenton Parchment (33) and Conor Armstong (54) to settle any North County nerves. It leaves North County on 192 points in third place, four points back from Merrion and 12 off the pace set by Clontarf with three rounds of matches to go and everything to play for. Tarf won last weekend with a comfortable win over YMCA, built around Mark Collier and Bill Coghlan’s opening stand of 155. Their title march was stalled somewhat on Sunday, however, when their tie with Pembroke was rained off. Merrion’s excellent end to the season continued, as they brushed aside Cork County with a 7 wicket win in Anglesea Road. Wickets were shared around, as Cork County totalled only 158. In the bottom half of the division, Malahide almost snatched a crucial victory against Pembroke, but it wasn’t to be. In pursuit of Pembroke’s 204, it looked to be all over at 163-9. But a last wicket partnership between Peter Saville (17*) and Alessandro Morris (25) got the Villagers desperately close, losing by two runs. Earlier Pembroke did well to get to 204 after being repeatedly in trouble at 1-2, 25-3, 110-5 and 148-7. Lorcan Tucker, Fiachra Tucker and Jack Balbirnie all made crucial contributions at the bottom of the order. It was the 11th time in the last five seasons that a Malahide senior game has been decided by one wicket, or six runs or less and the third this year.
Rivervalley Rangers are aiming to carry on the momentum from a superb 2014-15 season
Rivervalley on an AUL roll sport@dublingazette.com
THE 2015-16 AUL campaign kicked off last week and Swords outfit Rivervalley Rangers are already three games in and top of the table. Stephen Doran’s side made the leap from Senior Sunday to Premier B, bypassing Premier C in the process after they cruised to a Senior Sunday title last year, dropping just four points in their unbeaten league season. The Valley’s curtainraiser was one of this Premier B season’s biggest fixtures, the visit of Sheriff YC’s second
team. Both sides are two of the firm favourites to win the title, despite the fact Sheriff cannot gain promotion due to their first team playing in Premier A. The 2-2 draw played out here just meant that both sides will continue to be most people’s tips for the title. Last season’s champions Sheriff opened the scoring after just 10 minutes when former East Wall Bessborough man Lee Doody headed in from a free-kick. The Docklands giants doubled their advantage on 25 minutes when Doody got his second
hard racing Barrable records good finishes at Snetterton swords man Robert Barrable finished second and 10th at Snetterton last weekend, driving the Team Hard Racing Golf in the Milltek Sport Volkswagen Racing Cup. It is the first month in which Barrable has been racing in the competition having previously taken part in Formula Ford races in 2009 as he takes some time on the track rather than his usual drive on the rallying circuit.
after he cut in from the right and finished well. Just minutes later, Rangers pulled one back when John O’Donoghue coolly dispatched a penalty. The score was 2-1 at the break but that changed 10 minutes into the second half when Adam Elbouzedi - whose young brother Zack is an Irish underage international - took a corner for Rivervalley which deflected off a Sheriff man and went straight into the net. Up next for Doran’s side was a trip to Clonshaugh to take on St Brendan’s United last
Tuesday. The Swords side had to be patient in this what was a tight affair for most of the match. It took up until the 70th minute for Andrew ‘Rasher’ Armstrong to break the deadlock with a looping header past the keeper. But it seems when it rains, it pours for this Valley side as minutes later they had their second and it was Armstrong again who finished after a well worked move involving Stephen Walshe, Mark O’Brien and Paul Gibney. Conor O’Dowd added a third in the final seconds which
secured Rivervalley’s first win of the season. Last Friday night, it was Dingle in the AUL which provided the opportunity to make it two wins from three and Rangers seized the chance. It wasn’t a great game by a long way and the winning goal came from an O’Donoghue cross which really sums up the best of the action. But Doran and his players won’t mind much as they sit top of Premier B with seven points from a possible nine ahead of a crunch clash with Darndale this Friday night.
27 August 2015 SWORDS gazette 31
Gazette
Ravens unable to build on perfect start sport@dublingazette.com
FINGAL Ravens were unable to build on a dream start as they succumbed to a Na Fianna powerhouse of a performance as they ran out 3-18 to 1-3 winners in AFL1. Ravens had the perfect opening when Niall Tormey registered 1-1,
a beautiful goal and a pointed free, but Na Fianna got down to business after this shaky start and delivered a master class in attack and defence. Ravens could only tack on two more points after their bright start, while Na Fianna put up a handsome 3-18 with goals from Paddy Quinn,
Odhran O’Maoileidigh and Adam Caffrey. David Quinn was the stand out for Na Fianna at centre forward in the tie as they now look forward to a long break of matches to only get stronger. Fingal have an important battle with St Brigid’s in two weeks time, where they can secure a
definite spot in Division 1 next year with a win. St Sylvester’s inflicted Parnell’s 12th consecutive defeat as they ran up a 0-17 to 1-6 win. The result lifts the Malahide club up to 11th in the table, sharing that spot with St Maur’s and St Brigid’s in the battle to avoid the relegation playoff berths.
football: fingal stars to the fore for Jackies
Club Noticeboard FINGALLIANS THIS year we had a record number of
our seniors. Next up in the semi-final
260 kids attend the Cul camp. A big
is Armagh on September 5.
thank you to Nicola and her team of
The kids are going back to school
coaches whose hard work and pro-
and the summer hurling in Balheary
fessional coaching has made it a very
has come to an end. Thank you to our
memorable week for all the young
coach David Galway for overseeing
participants.
this each week.
Our annual U-12 hurling festival
Qualifying members can now apply
took place all day Saturday on our
for tickets for the All-Ireland hurling
main pitch with the following teams
final on September 6: Galway v Kil-
taking part: The Harps (Laois), Clane
kenny.
(Kildare), St John’s (Antrim), Mount
Dublin v Mayo tickets will be avail-
Leinster Rangers (Carlow), Dunboyne
able at the club bar for collection on
(Meath), Naomh Mearnog (Dublin)
this Thursday, August 27 from 7pm.
and two Fingallians teams.
The date for the junior B football
The Harps won the cup and Fins the
championship final will be held in
shield. A big thank you to all the par-
Parnell Park on Saturday, Septem-
ents and club members who helped
ber 5 at 4pm: Fingallians v Bank of
organise this successful event.
Ireland.
Well done to the Dublin senior
The start date for the new acade-
ladies as they beat Monaghan in the
my season will be September 12 from
All-Ireland quarter final on Saturday
10am to 12 noon each Saturday.
afternoon. It was a proud day for the
Athletic section – new and existing
club as four of the panel – Sinead,
members: Junior members from age
Niamh, Emer and Fiona – play with
five can now join.
ST FINIAN’S THE executive committee extend their
can be collected from the club office.
deepest sympathies to Monica Devlin
Raffle tickets to win two tickets for the
and all her family at the loss of her sis-
hurling and football finals are available
ter Deirdre in Australia. May she rest
from any committee member. Tickets
in peace.
are €5 each and will allow entry into
Both adult football teams had St Sylvester’s Niamh McEvoy played a key role in the win over Monaghan. Picture: GAAPics.com
Dublin keep Farney at bay in tight tussle
All-ireland quarter Dublin 1-13 Monaghan 0-13 sport@dublingazette.com
FINGALLIANS’ Fiona Hudson and Sinead Finnegan along with St Sylvester’s Nicole Owens and Niamh McEvoy all started as Dublin’s ladies footballers booked their place in the All-Ireland semi-final with a narrow win over Monaghan, setting up a meeting with another Ulster side, Armagh, on September 5 following a hard fought win in Clones. Carla Rowe finished 1-3 to her name while team
captain Lyndsey Davey tagged on three points with Amy Connolly next on the score sheet with 0-2(1f), Owens, Noelle Healy, McEvoy, Hannah Noonan and Niamh Collins all scored 0-1 each. Rowe’s first-half goal was to prove crucial for the Jackies for whom Caitriona McConnell was in fine form, clearing the bar eight times while Ellen McCarron and Cora Courtney both scored 0-2 a piece. It saw the Farney women close the gap significantly in the second half having trailed 1-7 to 0-4 at the half-time break
in a close-knit affair. Dublin begun in flying form, building a four-point lead without response in the opening phases with Rowe to the fore in a more advanced role than originally anticipated. She grabbed a couple of points while Connolly and Davey also weighing in while Monaghan struggled. Their best early chance was denied by Ciara Trant before they eventually got on the board via McConnell and McCarron. But Rowe’s goal quickly put six points in the difference as she latched onto Davey’s run and pass to
fire home while Monaghan’s woes were compounded when Caoimhe Mohan went off injured before the interval. The Ulster side, though, were a rejuvenated force in the second half. With McConnell chipping away, the margin was down to just two points with 17 minutes to go as Monaghan continued to close in forward but Dublin eventually ended their scoring drought with McEvoy landing a point. From there, they held their nerve to stay just out of reach and march onwards to the semi-final stage.
both raffles for a pair of final tickets.
matches against Naomh Olaf last
The lotto jackpot was €4,500 this
weekend and results were split, with a
week and the numbers drawn were 8,
win for the junior team in the quarter-
9, 11 and 15. There was no jackpot win-
final of the championship on Sunday
ner.
and a league defeat for the intermediate team on Saturday. Tickets ordered for the All-Ireland semi-final between Dublin and Mayo
The winners of the €25 lucky dip prizes were: B Dunne; Ann Bone; John & Ann Preston; Tom & John. Next week’s jackpot will be €4,600.
FINGAL Ravens CONGRATULATIONS to our junior D
you to all our sponsors and to all who
team who beat St Kevins-Killians on
donated prizes.
Sunday in a thrilling quarter final encounter in Kingswood. The first half was an even affair with the game all square at half time.
Congratulations to our winning team of PC Connell, Dappers Kavanagh, Michael Dwyer and Chloe Reilly. Well done to Derrick Daly and Jane O’Shea
Ravens came out strong to take the
who had the longest drives on the day
lead in the second half and despite St
and to David Bell and Brede Harrington
Kevins-Killians scoring a late goal and
for winning closest to the pin.
going one point ahead Ravens man-
Well done to all who participated and
aged to dig deep to score two unan-
supported this club fundraiser, your
swered points and a late penalty to
support is appreciated. A big thank
clinch the tie. Best of luck to Paul, Noel
you to our organising committee and
and the lads in their semi final.
to all who helped out on the day.
Our seniors suffered two league
Our three-day summer camp took
losses this week against Oliver Plun-
place last week. Thank you to all our
kett’s last Wednesday and against Na
helpers and coaches and to Michael
Fianna on Saturday evening.
Darragh Macauley for visiting the
Our Fingal Ravens GFC Annual golf classic took place on Saturday in Swords Open golf club. A big thank
camp on Tuesday. Club lotto results: numbers drawn were 14, 20, 30 and 38.
GazetteSPORT all of your swords sports coverage from page 28-31
rolling on a river: Rangers start AUL Premier B campaign in rollicking fashion to top early table P30
aug 27-sept 2, 2015
The wakeboarding dubs: Killiney man David O’Caoimh wins series of high-flying titles P29
Gavin Moynihan celebrates during his victorious Irish amateur open success earlier this year. Picture: Pat Cashman
Moynihan takes on US
The Island golfer named as part of a large Irish contingent in the Walker Cup as the finest amateurs from Britain and Ireland battle with America
nathan kelly
sport@dublingazette.com
WHEN the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team was announced earlier this week, there was a big shock for the Island’s Gavin Moynihan. That shock wasn’t his own inclusion, but rather the fact he would be joined over at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s Golf Club on September 12-13 by another four of his fellow Irishmen. “I couldn’t believe it when the full team was announced; five Irishmen in a 10-man team is outrageous,” said Moynihan when he spoke to GazetteSport. “I was pretty confident of making the team
myself as I’ve had a good year, but I couldn’t believe that half of the team would be Irish, it’s brilliant.” The other four homegrown talents on the team are Paul Dunne, Jack Hume, Gary Hurley and Cormac Shervin. The Walker Cup is similar to the Ryder Cup but for amateur players, and instead of Team Europe, it is Team Great Britain and Ireland who face America every two years. Both foursomes and singles feature across the two days and 26 matches. Moynihan featured in the 2013 event as an 18-year-old, which the US won 17-9. That year, Moynihan was joined by just one other Irishman, Kevin Phelan, on the team, which shows
how far the amateur game has come in the country in just a short time. “It was the best week I’ve ever had,” Moynihan recalled of the 2013 cup. We’ve a really strong side this year, including the English and Scottish lads. We’ve also got home advantage which can prove massive. “Lytham is a seriously tough course and I think it’ll suit us more than the Americans, who are used to shooting big under-par scores. If the weather plays up it’ll become even more difficult, but I can’t wait to get over.” The squad will get over on September 6 to get a week’s practice in before the tournament tees off the following Saturday. “We get over nice and early, some of the lads will get specific
practice sessions in but I reckon I’ll just play a few rounds in the days leading up and get as comfortable on the course as possible,” Moynihan added. “It’s also important to bond as a team as much as we can leading up to it.” There will no doubt be a lot Irish eyes watching this year’s event with the following Paul Dunne received for his effort at this year’s Open Championship. If team Great Britain and Ireland are successful, we may even see an amateur replica of that famous Ryder Cup photo of McGinley, Harrington, McDowell, McIlroy and Clarke holding their prize, but replaced with Moynihan, Dunne, Hume, Hurley and Shervin holding theirs.