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exclusive: 60 years on – Ronnie Delany recalls

his Olympic medal exploits in Melbourne Pages 24-25

Motoring: Kia Sportage’s fourth generation impresses around the city with ease Page 23

Gallery: Smock Alley fashionistas examine students’ work Page 10

New film about a real-life maths genius doesn’t quite add up

April 14-20, 2016

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poetic flair leads to a county win for alisa

A SECOND year student from Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, has won the county heat of the national A Poem for Ireland poetry contest. Alisa Oriol, centre, was congratulated at County Hall, Swords on her success by the deputy mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien (FF); Loreto Secondary School principal Edward Fynes and teacher Fiona Mc Master; and Yvonne O’Brien, senior executive librarian, Fingal Libraries. Alisa will now have her poem submitted to a national panel of judges, who will then shortlist eight national finalists to take part in the national final later in the month. President Michael D Higgins will present a prize of €1,000 to the overall winner.

Picture: Brian MacCormaic

sport Cricket:

Fingal tribute to Mooney’s stellar career Page 32

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

259 homeless families now recorded in Fingal Councillors blast latest figure as ‘shocking’ and ‘an absolute disgrace’ as crisis worsens

 emma nolan A LOCAL councillor has described as “shocking” the number of homeless families currently in the Fingal area.

There are currently 259 homeless families in Fingal, with 181 of these in emer-

gency accommodation, according to the council’s chief executive, Paul Reid.

Cllr Matt Waine (AAA) said these figures are “shocking”. Cllr Brian McDonagh (Lab) said there is “no quick fix”, and that “the root of the problem is a structural and

Constitutional one in the construction, planning and property sectors”.

Cllr Paul Mulville (Ind) said that the homelessness situation in Fingal is “an absolute disgrace and needs urgent attention from all relevant authorities”.

A spokesperson for Fingal County Council told The Gazette that the council is “in regular contact with homeless families or families facing homelessness to provide them with housing advice and support”.

Full Story on Page 2

2 SWORDS Gazette 14 April 2016

crisis | 27% spike recorded since january’s figure

Sharp rise in Fingal’s homeless families  emma nolan news@dublingazette.com

Homelessness, and homeless families, continues to rise in Fingal as with the city’s other local authorities, with the latest figures blasted as “shocking”

THERE are currently 259 homeless families in Fingal, with 181 of these in emergency accommodation, according to Fingal County Council chief executive Paul Reid.

This has risen 27% from January’s figures, which showed that there were 204 homeless families then, with 150 in emergency accommodation.

Cllr Matt Waine (AAA) said these figures are “shocking”. He said: “Unfortunately, I can only see that figure rising in the coming months as the Government’s housing strategy has been exposed as a fraud.

“The fact that there has been virtually no council houses built in Dublin 15 underlines that fact. Nothing short of an emergency mobilisation of resources is now called for.”

Cllr Brian McDonagh (Lab) also commented on the figures, to which he said there is “no quick fix”, and that “the root of the problem is a structural and Constitutional one in the construction, planning and property sectors”.

He said: “The shortterm measures needed lie in a mixture of rapid delivery modular-built homes, [the] purchase of private dwellings both directly through the council and through housing associations, and through longterm leasing programmes to deliver security of tenure.”

Cllr McDonagh said that he thinks Acting Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly was “correct when said we need a Constitutional change to implement a long-term solution to these appalling problems”.

However, Cllr Waine

said that Minister Kelly “continuously promises more houses, but people can’t live in empty promises”.

He added: “It is delusional to hope that private developers and bankers are going to resolve the lack of homes. Only a massive State programme with the mobilisation of all necessary resources can resolve the issue.”

Cllr Paul Mulville (Ind) said that the homeless situation in Fingal is “an absolute disgrace and needs urgent attention from all relevant authorities”, and said that the impact that homelessness had on those experiencing it had “long-term impacts on people’s mental health, and has severe consequences on the social, educational and personal development of children and young people”.

He added: “There are a huge amount of empty buildings and land in State ownership across Fingal and Dublin, and an urgent audit needs to be carried out of these to see how these can be utilised to address the housing and homeless crisis.”

A spokesperson for Fingal County Council told The Gazette that the council is “in regular contact with homeless families or families facing homelessness to provide them with housing advice and support”.

The council said they are also “actively engaged with homeless persons and families to inform them with respect to housing support options to exit emergency accommodation”, and that this year, to date, “40 allocations have been made to homeless/vulnerable households, with further allocations to take place shortly”.

FastNews

Awards set to highlight cleaner communities

TO RECOGNISE the work of Fingal residents, businesses and community groups in keeping their communities litter-free and well presented, Fingal County Council is launching its 2016 Cleaner Communities Awards.

The awards have seen participation grow year on year, with projects ranging from large- to small-scale, under several categories, both business and residential, and are open to new applicants each year.

The mayor of Fingal, Cllr David O’Connor said: “All of the participants are a credit to their communities, and Fingal benefits immensely from their hard work, dedication, and community spirit.” Application forms are available at www. fingal.ie.

Construction firm builds up employee wellbeing SWORDS-based construction company Ardmac took part in National Workplace Wellbeing Day recently to help improve employee health through promoting better nutrition and physical activity.

Ardmac, which is based off the Balheary Road, organised a number of activities to help mark the day. HR manager, Debbie Treacy, said: “Ardmac believe that the health and wellbeing of our staff is of paramount importance. Taking this into consideration, we have introduced a health and wellbeing programme, called Be at Your Best.”

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14 April 2016 SWORDS Gazette 3

charity | annual pre-dawn walk to support self-harm service

children

Starcamp places are filling up

Turning Darkness into Light for others  emma nolan

THIS year’s Darkness Into Light event will be taking place on Saturday, May 7 in locations across Dublin, including at Malahide Castle and Skerries Red Island.

The f lagship fundraising and awareness event for Pieta House is a unique, early morning experience that begins in darkness at 4.15am as thousands of people walk or run a 5km route as dawn is breaking.

Last year’s event attracted more than 100,000 participants in more than 80 locations across Ireland and abroad.

Addressing Dubliners taking part, the founder of Pieta House, Joan Freeman, said: “Last year’s

Darkness Into Light in Dublin was an incredible success and we’re delighted that you’re hosting the event again this year.

“We’re so grateful for your continued support.

Your courage, vision and generosity has helped Pieta House to bring hope to more than 5,000 people alone last year.

“Together we’re leading the way with Darkness Into Light now reaching communities from Dublin to Abu Dhabi, and many more across the world.”

Every week, 10 people die by suicide in Ireland and, to date, Pieta House has supported more than 20,000 people, with more than 5,000 of those seeking help in 2015.

With nine centres throughout Ireland, Pieta

House provides a professional one-to-one therapeutic service for those who are experiencing suicidal ideation or engaging in self-harm. A doctor’s referral or a psychiatric report is not required and the service is completely free of charge.

Pieta House is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. More than 20,000 people have come through the nine centres across Ireland during the past decade, and this year Darkness Into Light will take place in more than 100 locations in Ireland and abroad, including the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Online registration and further details are available at www.darknessintolight.ie.

rolling out tricyle art

CHILDREN from St Catherine’s National School, Rush were on hand to help Fingal County Council with the launch of its public art commission, Mobile Monuments, in Kenure Park recently. Mbikeku, Emma and Evija helped artists Rhona Byrne and Yvonne McGuinness unveil Mobile Monuments – a means to help bring the Rising to schools around the area by using three rickshaw tricyles. The rickshaws have the capacity to fold out and transform into colourful sites for performance and gathering when they arrive at their destinations. Inspired by the use of bicycles during the Rising in 1916, and their vital role for intelligence gathering and communication, their usage is echoed by the Mobile Monuments artworks, which form part of the council’s Rising commemoration programme for 2016. Picture: Conor Healy

PLACES for children’s performing arts network Starcamp for this summer are filling up fast.

The six Fingal summer camps will be taking place during July and August.

Supported by banana impor ter Fy ffes, the week-long camps for boys and girls aged four to 12 are designed to teach performance and build confidence amongst those taking part through song, dance, drama and games.

The camps will be held at St George’s National School in Balbriggan, Rush and Lusk Educate Together, Skerries Educate Together School and at Old Borough School Hall in Swords.

For dates and further information, see starcamp.ie.

4 SWORDS Gazette 14 April 2016

animals

Wriggle, crawl or walk to a pet store’s opening  emma nolan PET Retailer Maxi Zoo is set to open its 18th Irish store at Clarehall Retail Park in Malahide this month.

The new 8,000sq ft store, owned by Cork couple Tony and Alice Cross, opens to the public on Thursday, April 14 with the creation of 15 jobs.

Maxi Zoo has experienced significant growth in Ireland since opening its first store in Ballincollig, Cork in 2006 and plans to open up to 15 new stores across the country over the next five years.

Alice Cross, executive director of Maxi Zoo Ireland, said: “We love animals and we provide the best advice and products that pet parents can find.

We know that happier pets make happier people.”

Knowledge All staff working at the store have been trained as pet experts and are available to share their knowledge in animal nutrition and welfare with pet parents.

“Our in-store pet experts are always on hand to provide customers with exactly what they are looking for, and that is why we are such a successful brand,” said Cross.

Maxi Zoo invites pet parents to bring their pet with them while shopping.

Each store also provides a free pet weighing service and regular free demo and information events about how to provide the best care and nutrition for pets.

Maxi Zoo will celebrate the new store opening with a family fun day. Pythons, snakes, scorpions, snapping turtles, water dragons, giant millipedes and lizards will be available to meet children at the free event from noon to 4pm.

crime | decreases also recorded, notes national office

Burglaries on the rise across the region – CSO BALBRIGGAN, Garristown, Lusk and Santry all recorded increases in burglaries last year, according to newly-released figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The CSO data for 2015 showed an overall drop of 14% in Dublin’s Northern Garda Division.

T here were 2,169 burglaries and related offences recorded last year – a drop of 348 on the 2,517 reported the previous year.

However, four of the 12 stations in the division all showed increases in the number of burglaries reported as a security expert urged homeowners to take efforts to make their houses burglar-proof.

Garristown reported a 62% jump in numbers, where there were 21 burglaries last year – up on

13 the previous year.

T here was an 8% decrease in both Balbriggan and Lusk, where the number of incidents increased by 11 and seven respectively.

Lusk recorded 91 burglaries last year, up on the 2014 figure of 84.

Balbriggan’s tally was 151 last year, compared to 140 in 2014.

Effective Security expert Jim Toal, managing director of Fairco.ie, which supplies and installs burglar-proof windows and doors, has urged householders to consider burglar-proof windows and doors to deter a new, more effective breed of burglar that has taken over from the traditional opportunist.

Toal, who has advised security authorities on burglary prevention over the past decade, believes

that planned burglaries have replaced opportunism for criminals.

He said: “The day of the opportunistic burglar is gone. The new generation plan and execute their burglaries professionally.

“Burglars now typically operate in groups and will take time to drive around an area and identify 10-12 houses which fit their ideal criteria.

“The average alarm doesn’t deter the new burglar, and he has all the tools of the trade to break and enter into an average home,” said Toal.

“We would urge all householders to consider fitting windows that carry the Secured By Design specification.

“If you are going to spend money on windows and doors, you need to make sure they are windows and doors

There has been a drop in some types of crime across the Northern Garda Division, but Central Statistics Office figures for 2015 recorded increases in burglaries in areas including Balbriggan, Garristown, Lusk and Santry

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

‘The average alarm doesn’t deter the new burglar, and he has all the tools of the trade to break and enter into an average home’

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

Jim Toal, Fairco.ie

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that burglars can’t get through,” he said.

The biggest decrease in the division was in Ballymun and Malahide,

where figures fell by 39% and 35% respectively.

There were also crime drops of 17% in Skerries.

The number there fell

from 75 to 62 last year, with a 7% fall in Swords, with burglaries there falling from 304 to 284 last year.

Meanwhile, in Blanchardstown, which falls in Dublin’s Western Garda Division, a drop of 22% in the number of cases was recorded.

Here, there were 543 incidents last year, down 149 from the 692 reported in 2014.

Skerries native hopes that Fixing Things leads to literary success  emma nolan HAVING been shortlisted for the 45th Hennessy Literary Awards for her story, Fixing Things, The Gazette spoke to Skerries native Ruth McKee on being shortlisted and her love of writing.

McKee told The Gazette that she completed her PhD at Trinity when her first child went to playschool, and wrote The Jealous Wall, her first novel, when her second child did the same.

“I created and edit an arts

magazine – spontaneity.org – which connects short stories, visual art and poetry. I am also a freelance copyeditor and writer, and a singer-songwriter.

“The shortlisted story, Fixing Things, is a subtle story which draws on the nostalgia of childhood, but is ultimately about suicide; I tried to write it so that the reader only realizes this in the last three lines,” she said.

When asked about when she started writing, she said: “I have

always written – whether it’s poetry, short stories, or songs; as a child it was a refuge and escape, to put my thoughts and feelings down on paper. But I only decided to write seriously, as in with a view to publication, a few years ago.”

On her motivations and inspirations, McKee said: “Everything is fuel for a writer’s imagination – snippets of conversation, peering into people’s back gardens from a train window, the pain and pleasure of what’s going on in your own

life – it can all be used and manipulated into fiction.”

With a diverse range of work to draw upon, McKee was able to focus on a particular success in her writing career so far.

“Being one of 12 winners of the Irish Novel Fair last year was a real turning point for me; I secured an agent and the book is now out on submission – plus I met a couple of writers who have become great friends, and we support each other professionally.”

Asked about what winning

the Hennessy Literary Award would mean to her, she said: “Winning the Hennessy would be an incredible honour; so many writers I admire have won the Emerging Fiction category in the past – most recently, Sara Baume, whose novel – Spill Simmer Falter Wither – is a brilliant accomplishment.

“It’s not about winning, though – it is a privilege just to be nominated, to meet the other shortlistees, and be there on such a glittering night,” she said.

14 April 2016 SWORDS Gazette 5

politics | sf, fg trade criticisms over efforts to form a government

‘Brass neck’ barb as parties bicker  EMMA NOLAN

A WAR of words has erupted between two opposing Fingal TDs over the government formation talks that are currently taking place.

Newly elected Sinn Fein TD Louise O’Reilly has said that the “political circus surrounding government formation is distracting from the ongoing crises in health and housing; issues that are having serious and detrimental impact on the lives of citizens”.

She said: “There are some who are engaging positively with the housing crisis, trying to find solutions. It seems the

establishment parties would rather hide behind mealy-mouthed excuses and even go so far as to blame the Constitution for their total inaction.”

However, Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) responded to Deputy O’Reilly’s statement, saying that Sinn Fein are “an irrelevance”.

Speaking to The Gazette, Deputy Farrell said: “If Deputy O’Reilly and her party were serious about addressing the critical issues which Ireland currently faces, she and her party colleagues would be in government buildings discussing construction solutions for the deliv-

ery of a government.

“Instead, they are sniping from the sidelines, decrying the process which could deliver a government and address some of the current issues in housing and healthcare, to name but two.

“Sinn Fein cannot have it both ways. Either get on the pitch and participate, or remain an irrelevance.”

In a counter response to Deputy Farrell’s statement, a spokesperson from Sinn Fein said Deputy Farrell has a “brass neck”, and that Fine Gael have refused to speak to Sinn Fein.

They told The Gazette: “This is hard to take

when it comes from a man whose party has refused to speak to Sinn Fein and, before the election, said that Sinn Fein were unfit for government.

“Deputy Farrell has a brass neck to criticise Sinn Fein when he and his party have spent seven weeks navel gazing in a sham fight with Fianna Fail. “[Party leader] Gerry Adams has repeatedly said that we will work constructively with any party to help solve the crises facing our country, like those in health and housing.

“We will not, however, betray the mandate

Deputies Louise O’Reilly (SF) and Alan Farrell (FG) have been embroiled in a war of words over their respective parties’ involvment in creating a new government

given to us by our voters by propping up a conservative government led

by Fine Gael or Fianna Fail.”

Deputy Clare Daly (Ind) agrees with Deputy O’Reilly’s frustration surrounding the pace and “distinct lack of urgency” of the discussions.

She told The Gazette: “The agonisingly slow pace of getting a government together is absolutely a distraction from, and preventing any serious action on, [the] housing or health [crises]. “ G i ve n t h e r e a r e thousands of homeless people, thousands more

barely keeping a roof over their heads, and that 300 to 350 people a year die unnecessarily due to overcrowding in emergency departments, the distinct lack of urgency from the two biggest parties regarding government formation absolutely beggars belief.”

6 SWORDS Gazette 14 April 2016

statistics

Large drops in Fingal’s jobless figures  emma nolan

FIGURES from the Central Statistics Office ( C S O ) h ave s h ow n that, since July 2011, the number of people on the Live Register in the Swords office, serving Malahide and Donabate, has fallen by 39.3%.

In the same period, the number of people on the Live Register in the Balbriggan office has fallen by 31%, and in the Kilbarrack office, which serves Portmarnock, it has fallen by 32.7%.

Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) has said the ongoing decreases in unemployment show the Action Plan for Jobs implemented by his party is continuing to work, and to benefit the north county.

Reduction He said: “Locally, this continued reduction in employment can be seen in every social welfare office in Fingal.

“I am pleased that these figures also show a significant decrease in youth unemployment in our local community.

“In the same time period, the number of people under the age of 25 on the Live Register in the Swords office has fallen by 60.4%; in the Balbriggan office, it has decreased by 51.3%, while in the Kilbarrack office, the reduction has been 62.8%.

“It is of the utmost importance that we continue to work towards ensuring every person who can work has the opportunity to get a job.

“As the local Fine Gael TD in Dublin Fingal, I am committed to ensuring that continued job creation remains to the fore of the agenda in Dail Eireann,” said Deputy Farrell.

Dublin Airport is set to build a new runway by 2020, in light of the significant rise in passenger and aircraft numbers at the busy facility. Picture: Google Maps

enterprise | €320m project to boost national transport hub

Praise as Dublin Airport lands a new runway plan  emma nolan

DAA, the Dublin Airport Authority, is set to build a new runway at Dublin Airport in order to facilitate the growth and demand the airport is expected to experience.

The €320m project is set to be completed in 2020, with 1,200 jobs to be created during the construction process.

Dublin Airport received planning permission in August, 2007, to build a new runway, but the plans were put on hold due to the economic downturn and subsequent fall in passenger numbers.

However, the recovery in passenger numbers, particularly in the past two years, has been significant. The continua-

tion of growth at Dublin Airport is dependent on having sufficient capacity available to satisfy future demand.

DAA chief executive Kevin Tolan said that 2015 was the busiest ever year in the airport’s history, with 25 million passengers passing through, and with numbers continuing to grow.

He said: “Driven by demand from airlines and passengers, Dublin Airport’s current runway infrastructure is at capacity during the peak hours, and this must be addressed to enable future growth.

“The north runway will significantly improve Ireland’s connectivity, which plays a critical role in growing passenger num-

bers and sustaining the future economic development of Ireland.”

Guy Thompson, president of Fingal Dublin Chamber, welcomed the news, saying that the new runway is “great news” for the tourism and hospitality sectors.

He said: “This vital piece of infrastructure will further enhance Ireland’s connectivity to existing destinations and, in particular, to new and emerging markets across the world.”

The plans have been met with largely positive reactions from local representatives.

Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) has said that the concerns of local residents must be prioritised ahead of the build.

He said: “While the runway will allow Dublin Airport to continue to grow in terms of passenger numbers, measures must be taken in line with the conditions attached to the planning permission to offset any adverse

He said: “While appreciating there will be some upheaval and inconvenience around the construction phase of the new runway, the obvious benefits of more trade, foreign direct investment, tourism and the creation

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‘This infrastructure will further enhance Ireland’s connectivity to existing destinations’

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Guy Thompson, president, Fingal Dublin Chamber -------------------------------------------------------

effects a new runway may have on local residents.”

Cllr Adrian Henchy (FF) said that the inconvenience caused during the construction phase will be worth the benefits that the runway will bring, once completed.

of significant new jobs both directly and indirectly is to be strongly welcomed.

“I also welcome the fact that the new runway will be constructed within the existing Dublin Airport land bank.”

However, Cllr Joe O’Brien (GP) said that the expansion will “adversely affect” residents of Portmarnock and St Margaret’s.

He said: “Noise pollution from airports is a public health hazard and it needs to be recognised that many people’s lives will be adversely affected by an increase in air traffic and flight paths.”

However, Fingal County Council said that the current Fingal Development Plan 2011 – 2017 contains core objectives to “safeguard the current and future operational, safety, technical and developmental requirements of Dublin Airport, having regard to the environmental impact on local communities”.

14 April 2016 SWORDS Gazette 7

courts | portmarnock man among bankers pleading not guilty

Conspiracy denied over Anglo monies A SENIOR accountant with Anglo Irish Bank has denied abdicating his responsibilities in 2008 during the trial of four bankers accused of conspiring to mislead the markets.

The former executives from Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Life and Permanent (ILP) are alleged to have conspired to mislead investors by setting up a €7.2bn circular transaction scheme to bolster Anglo’s balance sheet in 2008.

Peter Fitzpatrick (63), of Convent Lane, Portmarnock; John Bowe (52), from Glasnevin; Willie McAteer (65), of Greenrath, Tipperary town and

Denis Casey (56), from Raheny, have all pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to conspiring together and with others to mislead investors through financial transactions between March 1 and September 30, 2008.

On day 42 of the trial, Brendan Grehan, defending Mr Fitzpatrick, former director of finance at ILP, was cross-examining Kevin Kelly, who was head of financial reporting with Anglo in 2008.

Counsel put it to Mr Kelly that in deciding how to account for the €7.2bn in allegedly “back-toback” loans, he had failed in his duty.

“You abdicated your intended function in this perhaps to please more senior people in Anglo who wanted their books to look good,” said Mr Grehan. The witness said he didn’t agree.

The jury heard that Mr Kelly helped prepare and “effectively signed off on” a document prepared for the bank’s audit committee in November, 2008.

An entry in the document, under the heading Customer Accounts, stated: “The Group entered into an arrangement with ILP Group whereby €7.2bn was placed with Anglo from a non-bank subsidiary and Anglo in turn placed an identical

amount with ILP. “The transaction was cash neutral. The deals were done over two days. As a result of this arrangement, Losses and Advances to Banks, and Customer Accounts, both increased by €7.2bn.”

Referencing international accounting standards, IFRS, the entry continues: “IFRS does not allow the Group to net the financial assets and liabilities as they were transacted with two different counterparts and there was no legal right to offset. In addition on maturity all accounts were settled on a gross basis.”

Mr Kelly agreed that

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

this entry misrepresented the sequence of the transactions because Anglo had first placed €1bn with ILP before ILP deposited the same money back with Anglo in a precise sequence of allegedly circular transactions.

He accepted a submission from Michael O’Higgins SC, defending ILP’s former chief executive Denis Casey, that ILP

were unwilling to take a risk with this transaction with Anglo.

The accountant also agreed that the significance of the deposit figure on a balance sheet was that it demonstrated that depositors had been willing to take a risk on the bank.

Counsel asked him how it could then be represented to persons reading

the accounts published in December, 2008, that there was €51bn risked on Anglo when it was clear that €7.2bn of this wasn’t risk.

Mr Kelly replied: “It’s my personal opinion that that full figure was at risk.

The figure ... correctly represents the credit risk.”

The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.

8 SWORDS Gazette 14 April 2016

Gazettegallery

| 1916-related events currently running in town

At Kilmainham Gaol were actors Joe Taylor, Barbara Brennan and Stephen Jones (top); writers Joseph RCSI president Declan Magee with Liam and Karen Bradley, Isabelle Reast and Alice Sheils, marching past life-size cutouts of Countess

O’Connor and Hugo Hamilton. Kilmainham Gaol pictures:

Markievicv and Captain Christopher Poole at the steps of the RCSI. RCSI picture: Maxwell Photography

Marc O’Sullivan

Rising to the fore W

ITH Rising-related commemorations countinuing around the city and country, The Gazette has gathered together some of the many striking events currently being marked by the people of Dublin.

The Royal College of Surgeons at St Stephen’s Green (main pic) is playing host to Surgeons and Insurgents – RCSI and the Easter Rising, which explores the stories of both surgeons and insurgents during Easter week, 1916, and runs until April 17.

Next, and Kilmainham Jail (above right)

featured in a unique, site-specific theatre piece commemorating the Rising. Entitled Signatories, the piece is moving to three venues – the Pavilion Theatre, Civic Theatre and the National Concert Hall – from April 22 to May 5. For further information and bookings, see www.ticketmaster.ie.

Finally, and the Gibson Hotel, Docklands is currently playing host (below, right) to The Untold Stories – a photography exhibition that focuses on men and women from the docklands district who were caught up in the Rising.

Eilish Lynch and Ellen Galvin

Nicky Logue, general manager, the Gibson Hotel with Grainne Keeley, daughter of Christina Caffrey, the bearer of a note signed by James Connolly to her mother. The Untold Stories pictures: Shane O’Neill Photography.

Paddy O’Brien and Anne Keely

14 April 2016 SWORDS Gazette 9

Gazettegallery

| winners in sightsavers junior painter awards

Annabelle Johnston with her art piece, Frogs Will be Safe

Aran O Meara, with his art piece,

Lisa Crawte, with her art piece, The

Dinosaurs Will Come out and Play’

Future is in Our Hands.

RTE presenter Blathnaid Tracey with overall winner Laura Gavin, and her art piece, We Will All Travel by Motorised Umbrellas. Pictures: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Brushing up on young artists’ skills B

Hannah McAuliffe, with her art piece, Don’t Smother Mother Nature

UDDING young artists from all across Dublin entered some very impressive pieces for the 2016 Sightsavers Junior Painter Awards. Despite their tender years, the yougsters submitted a great range of works in a variety of treatments, with content that ranged from the very personal, such as family- and pet-themed entries, to more thoughtful entries,

such as considering the environment, and how other people live.

Judges had a difficult task in selecting the Leinster winners, but a group were finally selected. The winners of the competition were congratulated at an awards ceremony held recently in the Science Gallery at Trinity College, where their works were greatly admired.

14 April 2016 Gazette 11

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a day in the life: fitness guru Kathryn Thomas on her summer camp for adults

Unhealthy lifestyle gets the boot  Emma Nolan

Ever wanted to leave the world behind and embark on a detox amid the serene backdrop of rural Ireland?

That dream has been made a reality by fitness guru Kathryn Thomas and her Pure Results Bootcamp which she describes as “summer camp for adults”.

Kathryn spoke to The Gazette about a day in her life at Pure Results Bootcamp where guests spend either four days or a week in the idyllic 500 acre surrounds of Parknasilla in Kerry, on a strict exercise and diet detox programme.

“A lot of the guests can’t remember the last time they spent so much time outdoors,” she says.

“It’s an early start -

generally we have clients getting up at about 6:30am.”

Kathryn and her team have arranged the daily exercises classes so that upon waking guests partake in some low intensity exercise, to “wake the body up”.

“The morning exercise session is usually some aqua aerobics or a light jog that we call our Kenyan run.

“This was devised by an Irish Brother who trained a lot of marathon runners in Kenya and his philosophy is that it’s better to wake the body up slowly.”

The camp is also opening a second and more accessible location at the Temple Lodge Hotel in Westmeath this year.

Breakfast is served at 7am where it’s either a

green smoothie and protein balls or scrambled eggs depending on what exercise class is coming up.

“We try to keep it varied, so there’s a different breakfast every day.”

After breakfast, there are two high intensity classes.

“We could have anything from circuits to boxercise or an assault course.

“The classes are all designed so everybody works outside their own comfort zone.”

Guests at Pure Results range in age up to age 70 and are all levels of fitness.

“It’s up to the trainer to push them,” Kathryn says. “Everybody can work out together.”

After the two hours of intense training, it’s time

for lunch. Lunch and dinner at Pure Results often consist of items like poached salmon with Asian greens, turkey burgers with homemade slaw and a lot of fresh fish from local suppliers.

Those wanting to lose weight are served smaller portions than those maintaining their weight.

Day trips are also on the boot camp itinerary with a day and a half off site within the week programme.

Evening classes usually consist of yoga, body balance and, once that’s done, guests can enjoy their evening in the hotel’s spa facilities.

“We also do evening kayaking out on the water in front of the hotel.

“Most people are in bed for around nine o’clock,” she says.

“Our clients say that they sleep so well because they don’t really have to think about anything.

They arrive down and leave their brain at the door and are told where to go and what to do and eat.

“People think ‘oh my God, boot camp is so intense’ and it is, the classes can be intense when you’re in them but it’s also a really good holiday and a great time to feel re-energised and eat good food, completely detox and sleep.

“It’s about investing in and giving time back to yourself.”

Four days at Pure Results Bootcamp starts at €499 and a week starts at €999 with two weeks after care. Find out more at pureresultsbootcamp. com.

Kathryn spoke to The Gazette about a day in her life at Pure Results Bootcamp

12 Gazette 14 April 2016

Gazette

dublinlife DJ Steve Aoki to bring his biggest tunes to Dublin International DJ Steve Aoki is taking to the stage at the Academy on Abbey Street next month.

Presented by Desperados, the Full Moon and Tea Party event is aiming to combine the “normal with the absurd for an epic party experience”.

The Academy will be

transformed into a neon beach party meets Mad Hatter’s haven to shock guests throughout the night.

A spokesperson for the event said: “The renowned full moon, all night beach party will be paired with the traditional notion of afternoon tea to bring music fans a night of absurdity

that only Desperados can deliver.

“Buckets, neon paint and full moon performers will transport attendees to an atmosphere rivalling the party islands of Thailand.”

Taking place on Tuesday, May 17, tickets are priced at €23.90 and available from Ticketmaster.

diary

$30,000 donation from ebay

ebay Ireland has donated $30,000 (€26,400) to three Irish charities.

Earlier this year eBay’s Global Impact Team invited the employees of eBay Ireland to nominate Irish charities for consideration in the eBay Give Grants scheme.

The chosen charities are Inner City Helping Homeless, Women’s Aid Dundalk and To Children with Love.

Debbie Deegan, Founder of To Children with Love, spoke about the donation: “To Children With Love is now operating in Ireland for the first time and we’re working with children from Colaiste Eoin, a very disadvantaged school in Finglas. “eBay’s contribution will allow us fund a cool study hub, where the children will feel comfortable and more importantly encouraged to study and do group project work.

“Without this donation from the eBay Global Impact team, the school would not have been able to create this much needed space.”

recognition for art students Visual Communication Students at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, have been recognised nationally and internationally at the “most rigorous and honest assessment in the world”, the International Society of Typographic

International DJ Steve Aoki

Designers (ISTD) student assessments.

Twelve final year students have been recognised for their responses to the ISTD set briefs, and have been offered membership to the Society.

The students and staff involved will be awarded certificates in recognition of their achievements at the ISTD Awards in London, taking place in July 2016.

The ISTD is a professional body run by and for typographers, graphic designers and educators.

NCAD student Ally Mo o r h e a d r e c e i ve d ISTD membership with Merit (one of only three awarded in Ireland). A further 11 NCAD students were awarded membership including: Shane Bonfield, Diane Dear, Melodie Fox, Katie Kidd, Eulich McGeown, Niamh McNally, Jennifer O’Brien, Christine O’Flynn, Michael Simpson, Jamie Smyth, and Shauna Woods.

Debra Ireland fundraiser Tickets for a Debra Ireland fundraiser with a performance from Ire-

land’s number one Elvis impersonator, Ciaran Houlihan, are now on sale.

Taking place on June 24 at the Hilton Hotel Charlemont Place, all funds raised from the night will be going directly to the charity which provides support to people with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).

The illness is a distressing and painful genetic skin condition causing the skin layers and internal body linings to separate and blister at the slightest touch. It affects approximately one in 18,000 babies born.

As there is currently no cure for the disease, all proceeds to the charity go towards supporting treatment for sufferers, who are in constant pain and towards high level research programmes.

Mother of six Tina O’Gorman has singlehandedly raised over €1million for charity over the past 34 years and is organising this upcoming event.

She said: “What gives me the greatest satisfaction is the joy on the people’s faces that you have just helped.”

Tickets for the night cost €50 which includes the live show, drinks reception, dinner and late night disco. For more information or to buy tickets, please call Tina O’Gorman on 085 827 4783.

celebrating Thai New Year Thai restaurant chain Saba To Go are celebrating Songkran, aka, Thai New Year with a voucher giveaway worth €15,000.

Songkran is a time of great celebration in Thailand where it is tradition to pour water on your elders to bring health and good fortune, so Saba To Go want to shower their customers with free vouchers.

Alan Cadden, manager of Saba To Go said: “We are delighted to be celebrating Thai New Year in such a big way this year, paying tribute to our Thai chefs, and our authentic Thai ingredients used in our dishes.”

The giveaway is running until Sunday April 17 and vouchers of up to €250 can be won when you order from the Rathmines and Windy Arbour branches.

14 April 2016 Gazette 13

Gazette

feature culture: eclectic greek film festival this month

A terrific collection of cinematic visions WITH summer looming on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to indulge in a little escapism, and the Dublin Greek Film Festival is a chance to do just that.

Now in its second year, the festival runs from Thursday, April 21 to Sunday, April 24 at Chester Beatty Library, Filmbase, Omniplex Rathmines and The Sugar Club.

The festival will be presenting cinematic visions of Greece through features, documentaries and short films, along with

Greek music.

It will start with the screening of the awardwinning music documentary, A Family Affair, which won Best Documentary at Hellenic Film Awards 2015.

It will be shown at Chester Beatty Library on April 21 at 6pm. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Angeliki Aristomenopoulou, and will include a wine reception sponsored by Kir-Yianni Wine Estate.

Agora (2015), directed

by Yorgos Avgeropoulos, an internationally acclaimed Greek documentar y filmmaker, opens the second day of the festival.

T his documentar y shows the development of the Greek economic crisis and will take place at Filmbase on Friday, April 22, at 6pm.

Also to be screened on Friday is Elias Demetriou’s new movie, Smac, which tells the story of Eleni, who is diagnosed with cancer and takes another look at her life.

This will be screened at Filmbase at 8pm.

On Saturday, April 23, there will be a screening of Little England, by Pantelis Voulgaris, one of the most prominent Greek directors. This period drama takes place on award-winning the Greek island of Andros during World War II, and will be shown at the Omniplex Rathmines on Saturday, April 23, at 4.30pm. wAlso that day, awarded shorts from 2015 Drama International Short Film Festival (DISFF) will be

Award-winning music documentary A Family Affair is just one of the highlights of the second Dublin Greek Film Festival, which runs from April 21 to April 24

presented at Filmbase.

For more than 15 years, the DISFF-awarded short films have been travelling in Greece and abroad.

The festival organisers are proud to add Ireland as a new destination to this journey. This free screening will commence at 6pm.

The third day of the festival will finish with a screening of The Sentimentalists (2014), by Nicholas Triandafyllidis, a film which mixes dark comedy with tragic romance. It will be shown at Filmbase at 8pm.

On Sunday, the festival closes with a fundraiser

for refugees in Greece at The Sugar Club. The event will consist of a second screening of A Family Affair, followed by a concert of Pakaw!, the all-female combo that pushes the boundaries of traditional Greek music and Mediterranean rhythms, which starts at 4pm.

Gazette

14 Gazette 14 April 2016

dublinlife

feature

public lectures: top ten tips on dealing with anxiety

Managing the negative effects of worrying Saint John of God Hospital, one of the leading providers of mental health treatment and care services in Ireland

and Europe, delivered the first of its 2016 public lecture series, entitled “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” earlier this week.

Dr Keith Gaynor, senior clinical psychologist at Saint John of God Hospital gave the public lecture that provided

information on worry, how it can affect us and how to manage its negative effects.

Here are 10 tips from Dr Gaynor on how we can teach ourselves to worry less.

1. Don’t waste time on What if’s. Don’t waste time thinking up situations that “might” happen, but in reality are quite unlikely to happen – that is just a misuse of time. Try to pin point when you start asking yourself these questions.

The majority of the scenarios you create using this approach are never likely to happen – so why waste your time thinking about them?

2. Create a worry diary.

Take a diary, a paper one or on your phone, and in it mark an asterisk every time and place you worry and guesstimate how long you worried for.

This is important for two reasons: a. It makes us aware of a process that may have been automatic until now. We need to notice how frequently we worry and most people will be shocked at what they see. b. Secondly, we need to pinpoint those occasions when we worry the most because these are the times we are going to target.

3. Starve worry of space and time. If we want to reduce the amount of time we worry, we need to starve it of time and space in our lives.

We need to look at

Dr Keith Gaynor, senior clinical psychologist at Saint John of God Hospital

those key times we marked earlier, in our diaries, and add more stimulation. We need to shift our attention from the internal (worrying) to the external (finding a solution).

4. Get lost in something different. Don’t let yourself be overcome with worry. The trick to forgetting your worries is to replace them with something else.

Exercise, take a class in something like art, yoga or read a book. Nothing festers worry more than an idle mind.

5. Problem solve, don’t worry. Worrying is normally a very inefficient attempt to problem solve.

So when you worry, try to turn this into useful problem solving by considering what you need to do now to deal with the problem. Decision making is a core skill to com-

bat worry.

6. Learn to accept uncertainty. Uncertainty is a fact of life, so try to accept that you will always have to live with, or tolerate some uncertainty. Unexpected things happen, and accepting this in the longer term will make your life easier and reduce your anxieties.

7. Go to sleep early.

Sleep is the ultimate healer. Nothing can make a mole-hill look like a mountain more than lack of sleep.

8. Don’t Google it. We are all guilty of Googling our ailments, but when the ailment itself is worry there is no point is selfdiagnosing as it will only feed the anxiety.

While the internet is an amazing resource to find helpful information, you can find a negative response for every positive, helpful result.

Panicky Google searches almost always end badly. This leads to the next point…

9. Talk to someone.

Sometimes, it really helps to just get it all out.

10. Be kind to yourself. Stay in the moment.

Spending most of your time worrying about things that might happen in the future means that you’ll spend less time enjoying the present and staying in the moment.

Acknowledge the worries that enter your head, but don’t engage them, try to refocus on what you are doing in that moment.

Put all the energy into something positive and productive instead.

The Lecture Series will take place from 8.00pm to 9.30pm on Monday evenings in the Saint John of God Hospital on the Stillorgan Road until Monday, April 25.

14 April 2016 Gazette 15

Gazette

16 Gazette 14 April 2016

dublinlife

BUSINESS

retail

property

THE opening of a new Lidl supermarket in East Wall has created 18 jobs.

The opening marks Lidl’s 146th Irish store and brings its total number of employees in the Republic of Ireland to more than 4,000 people.

After 10 months of construction, the brandnew 19,500sq ft store in East Wall opened at 8am on Thursday, April 7.

Speaking about the opening, Niall Murray, regional director at Lidl Ireland, said: “We are really excited to be opening our brand-new East Wall store. We and are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the store.”

DRIVEWAYS can showcase your house to make it a really standout property in your area.

Mindful of this, Tobermore are launching an exclusive competition on its Facebook page for you to win a free Landscape design call-out service.

Visit w w w.facebook. com/tobermore.concrete to enter.

Tobermore’s beautiful range of block paving products are designed with durability in mind, are cost-effective and minimum maintenance is required, so that’s one less job for you to worry about. The company’s call-out service involves a detailed assessment

18 jobs at new Lidl

A good driveway can add value in a number of ways

€3m rebrand for Colourtrend ACTRESS Fiona Shaw joined Colourtrend’s Liam Holland, sales and marketing director, and Kevin O’Connor, managing director, at Studio 6, Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, for the unveiling of Colourtrend’s new €3 million rebrand recently.

The investment by the Irish-owned paint brand is one of the largest in rebranding by an Irish-owned private family business. Colourtrend has added a new tagline to its brand – Infinite Colour from Ireland – allowing it to share in the current global interest in all things Irish. Shaw has worked with cinematographer Cian de Buitlear, and the Irish landscape, to help convey the range of natural colours in the Colourtrend palette. Picture: Maxwell Photography

of your outdoor space, the discussion of various ideas and a landscape design drawing from one of the company’s expert landscape designers.

Whether your house is a chic, contemporary abode or a quaint, traditional haven, Tobermore offer a driveway solution that can enhance the style, beauty and character of your home, whilst

meeting your budget.

Theresa Kiely, manager at Tobermore’s Dublin Paving and Walling Centre said: “As well as creating a parking facility, a well-landscaped driveway enhances the style and value of a property and provides a safe play area for children.”

Call 01 8437440 or visit www.tobermore.ie for more information.

14 April 2016 Gazette 17

cinema P21

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

gaming P22



Gazette

travel P20

Pets meet bouncy bernard – he’s full of love and energy

Keagan Forde, Michael Glynn, Evan Forde and Dylan Crean from Galway helping to launch the event. Picture: Ruth Medjber

Irish Youth Music Awards: showcasing talents and honing skills

Youths to take centre stage  Cathal Dennehy

Some of Ireland’s most gifted young musicians will showcase their talents and hone their skills at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday at the Irish Youth Music Awards.

Organised by Youth Work Ireland, the national event will see musicians aged between 12 and 19 from across the country representing their community and gaining experience in the music industry.

This is the ninth year of the programme, which brings some of Ireland’s top music industry personnel directly into contact with young musicians.

Those attending will have the opportunity to attend an educational hub featuring music industry panels and workshops. Open for all attend-

ing to participate in will be an industry panel with tutors Alan Cullivan, founding chairman of MMF Ireland (Music Managers Forum Ireland), James Byrne, founder of the label Any Other City, Gav Fox, member of Turn and Idlewild, and Dan Finnegan, founder of Paper Trail Records.

Students can also hone their skills with experts during workshops for individual musical disciplines. These include song writing with multi-instrumentalist Tully Gunawardhana, who has co-composed with The Coronas, and drums with Johnny Boyle, who has toured with The Frames, as well as Marianne Faithful and Damien Rice.

Paul Moore – who has recorded with Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison as well as taking the reigns as musical director with Riverdance – will be offering bass workshops. Vocal

workshops are courtesy of Shelley Bukspan, who has arranged backing vocals for artists such as Mary Black, Bronagh Gallagher and many indie and contemporary young Irish acts.

Regional finalists will be awarded points throughout the day by a separate panel featuring Keith Johnson (IMRO), Grainne Biddle (Sony Music Ireland), Laura Duff (Irish Youth Music Awards Winning Songwriter 2015) and Phil Udell (State Magazine/ Word Up Collective). The overall winning region will be announced on the day.

Performers have been chosen to represent their region at local live selection nights and will be supported by a team comprising the other participants from their region taking on individual music industry roles.

The recipient region will receive

five days’ recording time in a studio and a full backline provided by Music Maker Dublin.

They will also produce an album released on physical CD with a professional design.

The album will be digitally distributed worldwide through iTunes, Spotify and many more outlets. Last year’s IYMAs recipient act, Jake Mc Ardle, went on to perform for President Michael D Higgins.

Tickets for the Irish Youth Music Awards National Day are available from Eventbrite at €20 including booking fee. The event is an all-ages, alcohol-free event. Group tickets are also available for youth clubs or projects priced €120 (including booking fee) allowing admission for six young people, two youth leaders and include a set lunch on the day.

The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week this week is Bernard, a seven-month old, male cuddly crossbreed looking for a home to call his own.

He is a very sweet, bouncy boy with lots of energy. He loves to play but especially loves to snuggle.

His canine carers think that he is very clever, but he still needs to learn some doggy social skills, so he would be best suited to a home where he is the only dog. Training classes would be a great, fun way for him to get to know his new family!

If you think you could offer Bernard 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. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.

Gazette

18 Gazette 14 April 2016

R1

OUT&ABOUT

Reinventing the feminine silhouette  Emma Nolan

Minimal and functional – a sneak peek at the autumn winter 2016 collection from Cos has revealed an unusual and exaggerated aesthetic.

Cos have reinvented the feminine silhouette with this collection of “every day decadence” that prioritises layering and asymmetrical lines.

Hemline are long and wide, shoulders oversized and sleeves billowing.

The colour palette relies heavily on Cos staple black, but incorporates some rich charcoals, dusty terracotta and forest greens with a lilac surprise in the form of an oversized pant suit.

Varying textures are a focal point of the collection – heavy wools fea-

ture alongside silk chiffon and buttery leather.

While the looks shown might be a daunting commitment, individually, pieces can be worn with tighter pants or a line skirts for a more accessible take on the look. Such as the oversized bomber jacket (which isn’t going anywhere for the time being), the leather sleeveless turtleneck, the silk chiffon sheer panel top and the oversized wool jersey sweater.

St a n d o u t p i e c e s i n c l u d e t h e reworked menswear trousers worn as a strapless jumpsuit and the leather pumps with textured suede heels.

The collection will be available next season at the Cos Store on Wexford Street, Dublin 2.

14 April 2016 Gazette 19

R1

g spray Clarins Fix Make up settin €28

Aldi CC Cream €3.99

Aldi Face Treatment Oil €5.99

Flormar BB Cream €9.95

Dr Hauschka Tinted Day Cream €28.95

Flormar Double Radiance Primer Highlighter

Clarins Bronzer €45

get a summer glow Flormar Bronzing Powder €9.95

Achieving that bronzed summer glow is rarely achievable by natural means in our temperate (cold and wet) climes here in the North Atlantic, yet most of us have no qualms about reaching for the bottle when a little extra melanin is required.

Now, I’m not talking fake tan here, I’m talking about less intense products to give a quick easy glow without the need for Tanning Thursday and streaky sheets.

The mantra, life is better with a tan, doesn’t apply to everyone and pale skin is beautiful but sometimes you can’t beat that vitamin D glow and since a real tan can be harmful, a touch of bronzer can do the world of good.

Clarins are launching their summer 2016 make up collection this week and

it includes a “made to measure” Golden Glow Booster (€24). Simply add two to drops to your daily moisturiser for a gradual building tan that you can control.

Their bronzing and blush compact (€45) comprises of two universal matte shades, coppery beige and terracotta beige, a gold shade that lights up the complexion and an apricot blush with subtle pearl that promises to give a radiant glow. The collection also includes a make-up setting spray (€28) to ensure a long lasting hold.

Blogger favourite Flormar have a great range of affordable sun mimicking products.

The double radiance primer highlighter (€12.95) has a lightweight creamy texture

to illuminate cheekbones, cupid’s bow and decollete.

BB cream is a great warmer weather alternative to heavier foundations and Flormar’s for under a tenner version delivers hydration, sun protection and a mattifies oily complexions.

Skincare brand Dr Hauschka current have a tinted day cream (€28.95) on the market.

Available in Avoca and pharmacies nationwide, it blends with your own natural skin tone for an even complexion adding a sun kissed glow to your face and neck.

Clarins products are available at Clarins counters nationwide from April 17 and Flormar is available in all good pharmacies now.

Gazette

STYLE

Denise Mannion accepts the prize on behalf of her daughter Niamh Mannion, who is currently pursuing her fashion career in New York. Also pictured are judges Brendan Courtney and Sonya Lennon. Model Ieva Paulikaityte wears the winning outfit. Picture: Anthony Woods

€10,000 bursary for emerging Irish designer An emerging Irish designer has won a €10,000 bursar y to help further her career in the fashion industry.

Niamh Mannion was awarded the life changing prize at the 16th annual Persil Fashion Awards which were held in The Dean Hotel, Harcourt Street last week.

Eight finalists were chosen from over 60 entries from NCAD, Limerick School of Art and Design and Griffith College.

The hopefuls were set the task of designing an outfit which is completely machine washable and inspired by the theme, Bedtime Stories.

Speaking on her design, Niamh said it was inspired by the Brother’s Grimm tale Hansel and Gretel, and the haunting black forest wherein the children find the witch’s cottage.

She said: “The oversized bomber jacket is made from pleather, painted canvas, and hand-frayed bag strapping.

“The sporty poloneck dress is made with scuba jersey and mesh fabrics.

“I created this outfit as an exploration of intricate textures, hand painted patterns and fabric clashing.

“Winning the Persil Irish Fashion Award would be invaluable in furthering my pursuit of a career within the fashion industry and I am over the moon to have been shortlisted.”

Having recently just moved to New York to expand her fashion horizons , Niamh’s mum Denise Mannion was on hand to accept the award.

Speaking to T he Gazette on her daughter’s win, Denise said she was “so proud and delighted”.

“I don’t even know if she’ll believe it,” she joked. “She left for New York on March 15 and my washing machine was going non-stop before she left.

“She’s looking for a job over in New York at the moment so this will be a big boost for her.”

Gazette

20 Gazette 14 April 2016

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

TRAVEL

spain: beautiful weather, delicious food and history

Explore Germany’s many rural delights More and more Irish tourists are choosing Germany as their destination of choice for short breaks, with a 13% rise in overnight visitors so far in 2016 compared to the same period last year.

With cheap flights, decent weather, and no hassles with currency exchange, it’s little surprise that Munich, Berlin and other major German cities are proving such a hit with Irish tourists.

The German National Tourist Office (GNTO) has capitalised on this trend, and recently launched its “Holidays in the Heart of Nature” campaign, which hopes to spread awareness among visiting tourists of Germany’s rural delights.

“It’s clear from the popularity of rural interest television shows, specialist publications and the media, that people in Ireland have a deepseated love and respect for rural life – just as we do in Germany,” said GNTO’s director for UK and Ireland, Klaus Lohmann.

“Exploring rural and ‘green’ Germany will enable visitors to discover

many fascinating regions and areas, with picturebox villages, incredible landscapes and the chance to relax.”

Sporty types will not be disappointed with the array of activities on offer across the German countryside. The adrenalineinducing free-climbing was invented in Germany and the many hiking and walking routes wind their way through different terrains and levels to suit all needs.

With more than 200 long-distance cycle routes, cyclists are also spoilt for choice, combining rural landscapes with urban discovery.

The bracing coastline in the North offers a huge array of activities from windsurfing to sailing and kitesurfing, plus Germany has a whopping 16 national parks, more than 100 nature parks and 15 unique biosphere reserves.

The big cities will undoubtedly retain their popularity among Irish tourists, but if you’re planning a break this summer, there’s never been a better time to tack on an extra few days to explore the countryside.

Take a walk along the Gran Via, the city’s main tourist artery

Enjoy a European break and visit magical Madrid

 Cathal Dennehy

If you’re looking for a European break with beautiful weather, delicious food and plenty of culture and history, then Madrid may be the place for you this Autumn.

There are few better times of the year to visit the Spanish capital, with temperatures lingering in the high teens or low twenties.

A five-night stay is just about the perfect option for anyone wanting to not just see the city, but also travel outside of Madrid and take in some of the sights in the surrounding areas, rich in culture, cuisine and captivating scenery.

Spend time exploring the old town of Segovia, with its winding streets and old buildings, as well as its almost 30-metre high aqueduct which dominates the area.

There will also be plenty of free time to explore and discover these unique cities at your own pace.

Your base for this holiday will be the Hotel Puerta de Toledo in Madrid - a friendly, tastefully-decorated hotel located in the heart of the city.

An essential way to spend an af ternoon on your trip should be a walk along the Gran Via, the city’s main tourist ar ter y

which stretches from the famous Metropolis building to the Plaza de Espana.

T he street, which stretches for a little over a kilometre, is a hub of culture with museums, chic hotels, opulent theatres, historic cinemas and decorative statues lining the route.

While Madrid may not have the coastal delights of its major Spanish rival, Barcelona, it does boast an array of beautifully maintained parks, a perfect place to take a time out and enjoy a few hours of serenity.

T he biggest green space is the Casa de Campo, which is five times bigger than New

York’s Central Park, and features a large lake with small boats and kayaking facilities.

A smaller, but more central option is the Parque del Buen Retiro, which features tree-lined walks, fountains, monuments and regular performances from musicians to puppeteers.

You will take in some of Madrid’s highlights including the Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza del Oriente, and visit the historic cities of Toledo and Segovia on two full-day included excursions.

Admire the beautiful works of the Museo del Prado, which is amongst the very best art galleries in the world, or stroll

around the gardens in Parque del Buen Retiro.

Head out on a full day excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Toledo, a city beautifully situated on the banks of Spain’s longest river, the Tagus, where you will take a walking tour through the historic centre of the city.

Prices start from €699pp including flights, transfers, taxes and charges, 5 nights’ half-board accommodation and excursions, with f light departing Dublin on September 5, 2016.

For more information visit www.traveldepartment.ie.

14 April 2016 Gazette 21

The Man Who Knew Infinity: film on Srinivasa Ramanujan underwhelms

ReelReviews

Bio doesn’t add up to an inspiring tale of greatness AS ANY school teacher will tell you, bringing maths to the masses has never been an easy thing, but cinema has produced some valiant attempts over recent years.

Back in 2001, A Beautiful Mind chronicled the rise and mental collapse of John Nash, and in 2014 Oscar winners The Imitation Game, and The Theory of Everything, successfully brought to life the individuals behind the integers.

In much the same vein, The Man Who Knew Infinity aims to give the story of Srinivasa Ramanujan a big-screen treatment, and it certainly has some of the components of a Hollywood story.

Ramanujan may be an obscure figure to the general public, but among mathematicians he is recognised as a genius.

Director Matt Brown starts Ramanujan’s (Dev Patel) story as an unemployed youth in Madras in the early years of the 20th century, scrawling lengthy equations in chalk on temple floors, setting the tone for the connection between the mathematical and the divine that seems a key component to Ramanujan’s work.

 Dave phillips

Struggling to find a job in Madras, Ramanujan knows that he has an exceptional talent for numbers and just needs to find somebody in a position of power to recognise it.

The answer comes when a new employer, Sir Francis Spring (a throwaway cameo by Stephen Fry), recommends Ramanujan to some of the old boys in Cambridge.

And so we begin a tale of two worlds, as Ramanujan begins a correspondence with the celebrated English mathematician G H Hardy (Jeremy Irons).

For the most part, Matt Brown does a solid job in contrasting the dusty, convivial and spiritually literate life of people in Madras, with the emotionally stunted life of Cambridge – where the lawns may be green and lush, but nobody dares to step on the grass.

As the First World

War grows on the horizon, Cambridge remains ensconced in a sense of imperial superiority, and much of the plot revolves around Ramanujan’s struggles to be academically and personally accepted within the culture he has found himself thrust into.

With Hardy in the role of a harsh but benevolent taskmaster, Ramanujan attempts to enculturate himself and get his work published.

There are a lot of story elements in here that should make The Man Who Knew Infinity a hit, but it quickly becomes evident that something essential is missing from this equation.

As well as directing, Matt Brown takes the role of screenwriter – a task that he unfortunately performs less adequately.

For the most part, The Man Who Knew Infinity unfolds without a hint of textual nuance, with conversations playing out functionally, rather than organically.

And so, a scene in which Hardy eventually breaks Ramanujan’s spirit, forcing him to conform to Cambridge standards, features the

Gazette

CINEMA

the huntsman Snow thank you ...

AS A sequel that nobody asked for, The Huntsman – Winter’s War (Cert 12A, 117mins) is the prequel to 2012’s visually lovely (but dull as dishwater) Snow White and The Huntsman.

Charlize Theron is once again as cool as ice, while Emily Blunt and Chris Hemsworth gamely give their best – but it’s a film that’s not Grimm enough, or fairy engaging, making it a huntsman to avoid.

zootropolis

Disney’s roaring success

Although The Man Who Knew Infinity ticks all the right, if predictable, boxes in the “struggling maths genius” category, it never soars beyond the sum of its parts

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‘For a film about numbers, it spends a lot of time spelling things out, and the end result does not make for great cinema ... Just short of two hours, the stodgy pacing of The Man Who Knew Infinity makes it feel a lot longer’

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superfluous dialogue: “I see you’ve finally broken his spirit”.

For a film about numbers, it spends a lot of time spelling things out, and the end result does not make for great cinema.

Equally superf lu-

ous is the storyline of Ramanujan’s wife and mother, who are cooped up together, and at odds with one another back in Madras.

Just short of two hours, the stodgy pacing of The Man Who Knew Infinity makes it feel a lot

longer.

Neither Patel nor Irons, upon whose shoulders the film rests, perform at the top of their game and the end result is a story that feels like it has much more to offer.

An attempt to shoehorn the source material into a Hollywood format leaves us consistently skimming the surface – save a single slide at the end, there is really no insight into the significance that any of Ramanujan’s work had on the field of mathematics.

An east meets west adventure that sadly stays too formulaic.

Verdict: 5/10

DISNEY have added yet another impressive film to their CG roster with Zootropolis (Cert PG, 108 mins), which takes a familiar cop trope – a fresh rookie trying to make their mark and solve a tough case, while teaming up with an unlikely ally – but makes something new.

Warm-hearted, likeable performances add to the great design, making it a treat for audiences.

midnight special Make time for this one

WHILE we’ve all seen oddcouple/on-the-run films before, Midnight Special (Cert 12A, 112 mins) feels like something fresh, yet timeless. A protective father goes on the run with his young boy, who has special powers, while danger follows close behind. It’s a low-key film with a muted tone, yet some lovely performances, and its direction, create what could be a cult classic.

Gazette

22 Gazette 14 April 2016

OUT&ABOUT

GAMING

bafta awards: respected body selects its best titles from the past year

Paying tribute to a range of great games

SOME years ago, BAFTA – the British charity that has become an internationally recognised award/recognition brand for its celebration of the moving image – expanded its remit to take gaming into account.

As gaming sales, and the industry, quietly adds billions to the British Exchequer each year, it’s no surprise that gaming was eventually elevated to enjoy the same critical analysis and recognition as film and television, with the BAFTAs now enjoying global recognition.

The annual BAFTA gaming awards were held just after The Gazette went to press last week, but here’s my analysis of some of the big winners.

The awards proved an unexpected night for the underdogs, as small games and f ledgling companies emerged as the top winners in some David and Goliath showdowns.

First up, and the small, indie title Her Story (developed by Sam Barlow; available on IOS, PC, Mac) was debatably the critical darling of the night, picking up awards for Debut Game, Game Innovation, and Mobile & Handheld – three more to add to its range of awards from around the world.

Her Story’s daring narrative featured jumbled video snippets from

 shane dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com

the 1990s of ‘lost’ police interviews with a woman reporting her husband missing.

This initially simple premise took wouldbe Sherlocks on a ride through an ever murkier, adult tale, creating a truly unique and innovative title in the process.

Moving on, and the award-winning indie title, Everybody’s Gone to The Rapture (The Chinese Room; PS4) also impressed, scooping Audio Achievem e n t , Music, and Performer (for Merle D a n dridge, as Kate Collins) awards to add to its global haul.

Aw a r d s f o r audio may not sound (no pun intended) like par ticularly impressive wins, but Rapture’s soundscapes were key to creating one of the most haunting titles of several years; quite simply, its audio was in a class of its own throughout.

Its imaginative setting – a beautiful, sunlit and rustic English village in Shropshire, set some time in the 1980s in the immediate aftermath after the end of the world – was gorgeous to explore.

However, seeing as it played/sounded like a cross between evergreen radio serial The Archers, and Day of The Triffids, its terrific music score, natural sound effects, and the recovered snippets of overheard conversations between initially calm but increasingly panicky and upset villagers were pretty singular in their use.

Studio co-founder and composer Jessica Curry’s superb, pastoral score also made an unforgettable impression.

Still, while the overall feeling was that the night had gone to underdogs such as these, a number of major titles also won awards.

Best Game went to Fallout 4 (Bethesda Game Studios; PS4, XBO, PC). The latest iteration in the popular franchise once again set gamers loose in an irradiated, post nuclear-war landscape, but packed in a bewildering amount of

Some of the most notable BAFTA 2016 games award winners, from top left: Her Story, Everybody’s Gone to The Rapture, Fallout 4, Batman: Arkham Knight, Until Dawn and Rocket League

quests, missions, secrets, easter eggs and sheer silliness to keep players lost in the wasteland for a very long time.

Despite being full of game bugs and glitches, and although the title wasn’t exactly pushing the consoles into a sweat, let alone to their limits, Fallout 4 became a critical darling pretty quickly, leaving a warm, fuzzy, irradiated feeling in gamers’ hearts.

Next, and Best British Game went to Batman: Arkham Knight (Rocksteady Studios; PS4, XBO, PC).

By no means a small title – Rocksteady is one of the biggest British games developers – this latest iteration of the Batman franchise had top-notch graphics that pushed the consoles hard.

Despite some niggles – its over-reliance on the Batmobile, and its

infamous, disastrously unplayable PC launch – this Batman was the best yet.

The very cinematic yet oddball title Until Dawn (Supermassive Games; PS4) claimed the Original Property award, as its complex, multichoice narrative – trying to keep a group of youngsters alive through the night at a remote, snowbound cabin – impressed with great if occasionally gory graphics, while its branching slasher plot demands repeated playthroughs.

Finally, Rocket League (Psyonix; PS4, XBO, PC, LX, Mac) continued its relentless drive into gamers’ hearts, scoring Famiy Game, Sport Game and Multiplayer Game awards.

While the thought of, basically, playing football by using cars to knock a ball about in giant stadi-

Sam Barlow collected a clutch of BAFTAs for his acclaimed game, Her Story. Picture: Matt Crossick/PA

ums doesn’t sound like much, the game’s spectacular success underscored that the simplest games, or ideas, still strike a chord for anyone just

looking for a blast of pure, uncomplicated fun.

For the full list of winners, and nominees, see awards.bafta.org/ award/2016/games.

14 April 2016 Gazette 23

Gazette

MOTORING

The fourth-generation Kia Sportage looks sturdy, but has plenty of comfort within the spacious cabin. Pictures: Paddy McGrath

kia sportage: changes to popular model deliver an impressive ride

Fourth-generation ups the ante in the crossover stakes

 dave phillips

WE TAKE a trip back to the compact crossover market this week, this time checking out what is fast becoming one of Ireland’s favourite makes and models.

In 2015, the K ia Sportage was listed in the top ten best selling cars in Ireland, and it is seems evident that the trend is set to continue for the foreseeable future.

There are currently more than 11,000 listed on Irish roads, with Kia hoping to add another 3,000 by the end of the 2016.

It is easy to see what makes the Sportage so popular – as a brand, Kia continues to take leaps and bounds in terms of quality, while still main-

taining a market-leading warranty.

And the compact crossover model essentially gives solid hatchback performance and then some, ticking a lot of boxes for buyers looking to strike a balance between performance and versatility.

The trend continues in this fourth-generation Sportage. Available with the choice of two engines – a 1.7-litre diesel, or a beefier 2.0-litre (with AWD) – the newest Sportage comes in three trim levels, and starts out from €27,995.

We took out what is proving so far to be the most popular configuration, the mid-level trim combined with the 1.7litre engine – which with stop/start technology as standard, falls into the

€200 A4 category for road tax.

On the outside, the Sportage’s familiar sleek and solid stance gives it a muscular presence on the road. Face-on, the headlamps have been set up higher than the grille – a small change from the last generation, but one that sets the new Sportage apart aesthetically from other compact crossovers on the road.

And, while the width remains the same, Kia have added an extra 40mm in length – which goes toward making the interior all the more comfortable.

A very comfortable cabin, and a good amount of adult space in the rear, will no doubt contribute to the Sportage’s popularity.

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

‘The new Sportage works out as a very comfortable ride, feeling incredibly well-insulated with minimal road noise regardless of the surface’

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

The mid-level EX trim (€29,995) comes with half-leather seats, adding a touch of luxury to the simple, wide and sturdy soft-plastic dash.

A 7” touchscreen incorporates Sat-Nav and a reversing camera, as well as the usual media inputs.

An effortlessly clean and uncluttered panel below controls heating, and a 4.2” LCD screen can act as a speedometer, as well as displaying speed limits or other

in-ride information as needed.

An incredible panoramic sunroof, stretching all the way back to the back seats, comes optional on the EX trim, and will bump the price up another €1,105.

The new Sportage works out as a very comfortable ride, feeling incredibly well-insulated with minimal road noise regardless of the surface.

The 1.7-litre engine zips along and provides plenty of torque, feeling

The latest tech deliver all the aids you could want, adding to the driving experience

like there is always something extra to give.

The Sportage feels effortless on the motorway, while suspension upgrades in this new generation, combined with the increased wheelbase, give a much greater sense of stability when

taking the car out across less-maintained country roads.

All in all, this fourth generation Spor tage looks, feels and performs solidly and impressively.

No doubt we’ll see it again in the top ten sales at the end of the year.

24 SWORDS Gazette 14 April 2016

Ireland’s most famous Olympian, EXCLUSIVE

Golden exploits of Dublin’s proudest sporting son Almost 60 years ago, Ronnie Delany sent Dublin and the rest of the country into delirium with his golden exploits at the Melbroune Olympics. No Irish athlete has managed to achieve such a gold run since. For the 81-year-old, family life in Dublin is far more important than any Olympic gold medal.  Cathal Dennehy

Almost 60 years have passed since one of Dublin’s proudest sons, Ronnie Delany, turned in a performance that would change his life forever.

It was December 1,

1956, when the Sandymount resident – competing over 10,000 miles in Melbourne, Australia – sent the Irish nation into euphoria, sprinting to gold in 1500m at the Olympic Games.

Six decades on, the memory has crystal-

lised in his mind, and it’s no surprise, because Delany’s run may well be the greatest feat in Irish sporting history.

“I remember the intensity of concentration,” says Delany, now 81.

“During the race,

Ronnie Delany and Brush Shields, during the Remembrance Run 5k 2015.

Picture: Tomas Greally/Sportsfile

you’re focused. You don’t hear the crowd.

You’re watching, focusing, monitoring, and if you have the gift to be able to win, you’re going to win.”

Delany played a patient game in the final, saving his speed for the home straight, at which point he unleashed a devastating change of gears to leave Australian rival John Landy and the world’s best milers trailing in his wake.

“I threw my arms wide in celebration as I went through the victory tape, and kneeled down to say a prayer as a mark of my faith,” says Delany.

“You’re almost saying: ‘I don’t believe it, I’ve won the Olympics.’

At 21 years of age, I was going to climb up the rostr um as Oly mpic champion.”

It was the feat which would define his career – indeed his life – but truth be told, he felt more fortunate a half century later, when his home city honoured him with the freedom of Dublin.

“That’s probably the proudest moment of my life,” he said.

“I’m indebted to my city. When your own select you for such an honour, it’s an absolute pleasure.

“I love this city, and getting that honour is a renown you enjoy throughout your life.”

D e l a ny w a s a c t u ally born in Arklow, Co Wicklow and moved to Dublin at the age of five.

As a result, both counties are understandably keen to claim him as their own.

“I can claim dual citizenship,” he says with a laugh.

“I had a dilemma back in the 50s. Dublin decided to make me the Dublin man of the year, while Wicklow decided to make me Wicklow man of the year. It required a solemn decision, so I decided I’d take both!”

At the age of 19, Delany left Ireland for six years to attend college at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, moulding himself into the world’s best middle distance runner over 3,000 miles from home.

“I never had a sense of loneliness,” he says.

“My life was extraordinarily full. I took the academic side seriously and the running seriously, and I also had to work.”

At a time when he was one of the world’s best athletes – but also an amateur who was unable to take any earnings from the sport – Delany worked a number of different jobs to get by.

H e wo r ke d a s a “grease monkey” at a friend’s garage, as a caddy at a local golf course, and as a park-

Ronnie Delany sprinting to gold in the 1500m at the

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

“That’s way above the Olympics, the happiness I’ve enjoyed in family life. The gift of my children, the gift of my grandchildren, that’s way above anything else.”

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

ing attendant at a local church.

“I’d be out parking cars for midday mass and people there would be papers hot off the press about the guy who ran a world record at Madison Square Garden the night before,” he said.

“The people probably didn’t know the guy who set the record was the guy parking their cars.”

After winning gold in Melbourne, Delany didn’t get to return home to Dublin along with the rest of the Irish team, but had to hightail it back to Villanova for his end-of-term exams.

It was weeks later before he made it back

to the Emerald Isle, landing at Shannon airport and being brought to Dublin by motorcade to be received by the Lord Mayor.

Only then did he realise the effect his achievement had on the psyche of the Irish people.

“It was celebration after celebration,” he said.

“We Irish are great for celebrating; give us an excuse and we’ll do it.”

Delany retired from athletics at the relatively youthful age of 26, though for the past six decades, he’s brought back to Melbourne in some small way on a daily basis.

“When you have the

14 April 2016 SWORDS Gazette 25

Ronnie Delany speaks to The Gazette

Ronnie falls to his knees and offers a prayer of thanks after winning the gold medal

Olympic Games

honour and distinction, when your fate says you’ll be an Olympic gold medallist, there’s never a day you’re not reminded of it,” he says.

“I still get correspondence from all over the world, requests for autographs. The impact on your life is ongoing.

“You don’t look at yourself in the mirror every day and say it to yourself, but you have a deeper sense of being part of history of the Olympic Games, part of the inspiring inspiration of the Olympic Games.”

Beyond the satisfaction of his spor ting achievements, Delany says nothing has compared to the sense of contentedness he has gleaned from bringing up four children, and the 81-year-old is now a proud grandfather to 15 grandchildren.

“T hat’s way above the Olympics, the happiness I’ve enjoyed in

family life,” he says.

“The gift of my children, the gift of my grandchildren, that’s way above any thing

House on Stephen’s green.”

Another of his regular activities is to go to the theatre, which was a

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

“My life was extraordinarily full.

I took the academic side seriously and the running seriously, and I also had to work”

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

else.”

These days, Delany likes to stay active by playing tennis twice a week at the Fitzwilliam Club, and he also swims regularly.

Though he admits he’s not a man for pubs, one of his favourite ways to spend an evening is at one of his most beloved Dublin restaurants.

“My favourite restaurant locally is Bistro One in Foxrock,” he says.

“That’s a great, local family-run restaurant.

My favourite restaurant in the city is the Cliff

particular passion during his adolescence.

“My abiding memory of my teens was theatre,” he says.

“I loved going to the theatre in Dublin. I still go to plays and musicals these days, but I don’t have the same opportunity to go as I used to.”

This December, it will be 60 years since Delany turned in his ultimate performance of sporting theatre, and for Dublin’s proudest sporting son – and indeed his beloved city – it will never be forgotten.

Torchbearers Ronnie Delaney and Bridget Taylor outside Government buildings when the Olympic Torch crossed into the Republic of Ireland in 2012

26 swords Gazette 14 April 2016

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28 SWORDS gazette 14 April 2016

SPORT

FastSport irish american football team set for debut: THE senior Ireland American Football team will travel to the Netherlands on August 26 to take on the Dutch National team in a friendly fixture in their very first international match.

It will be the first time an Irish national American Football side will take on another country’s national team and marks a significant forward step.

The Ireland programme began last year and includes a senior and junior full contact team and a flag gootball team, all with the goal of competing in friendly fixtures as well as European and International competitions.

“I am delighted that our senior team will be playing in their first friendly game against the Dutch Lions later this year” said Ireland General Manager Orla McAleese. “Our coaches and players have worked extremely hard over the past few months and they are really looking forward to it.”

cycling: dundrum club step in to organise road championships

Orwell to host Irish nationals  sport@dublingazette.com

ORW E L L W h e e l e r s won the bid to host the National Road Race Championships from June 23-26, an award announced by Cycling Ireland earlier this week.

The former club of Stephen Roche will

use the Phoenix Park as a focal point for the championships, it being the planned location for the start and finish area, subject to licence.

Orwell is one of Ireland’s largest cycling clubs, along with being one of the most progressive, having recently received sponsorship

from Scott Bicycles.

The club promises an exciting weekend of racing, which will incorporate the national time trial championships, the elite men’s and elite women’s road race championships, the veteran championships and the masters championships.

Action from the final stage of the 2016 road race

Orwell Wheelers are looking forward to hosting the national road championships

The National Road Championships are hosted by Cycling Ireland clubs every year, with the location being rotated between the four provinces.

The 2016 Championships were initially to be hosted by Clonmel CC, the Munster club who also held them in 2012.

But they were forced to withdraw their application, leaving way for new applications to be received.

Orwell were successful in securing the prestigious event. They have hosted many National Championships over the past 70 years, most recent of which was t h e ve r y s u c c e s s f u l 2009 Criterium Championships held on the

Meadowmount circuit in Dundrum.

Denis Gleeson, President of Orwell Wheelers, said of the championships: “It is a great honour for our club to be chosen to host the 2016 National Road Championships, particularly since it will be based in our heartland of Dublin City and the Phoenix Park.

“Our club, while only founded in 1948, boasts of having one of the first English speaking winners of the Tour de France. We have produced many national champions, a number of whom are still active members, and we are proud to be one of the largest and most active cycling clubs in the

country.

“Come June we hope to see many of our racing friends from around the country and those travelling from abroad.

We want this to be a special event.”

Orwell’s race director and event organiser Stephen O’Shea added: “I raced in the past in the Phoenix Park and loved the atmosphere associated with this unique location.

“Taking up the task of putting together a spectacular championships this year will be challenging!

“However, I am comforted knowing that the club’s many members are supportive of the event and I thank them in advance.”

Avoca miss stroke of fortune in national Trophy final  sport@dublingazette.com

Avoca’s Anna Richardson on the attack against Bandon last Saturday. Picture: Adrian Boehm

EMMA White’s pair of diving saves denied Avoca the women’s Irish Hockey Trophy title as Bandon claimed at Belfield last Saturday, denying the Blackrock club a cup double.

It went the distance by Avoca after a huge arm-wrestle at Belfield, one in which the west Cork outfit had the slight edge on chances but could not find the backboard until the shoot-out.

There, Jenny Buttimer, Rachel Desmond and Jessica Kingston all potted their efforts which,

in tandem with White’s blocks, allowed the nerveless Vicky Burns the chance to win it.

That normal time ended scoreless could scarcely have been predicted in a crackerjack first half in which the play swung wildly from end to end.

Amy Buttimer was sent clean through but saw her first up effort excellent shut down by a sliding Esme Galloway, Avoca’s stand-in keeper after Danni Cummins picked up an injury in the past week.

Desmond’s follow up was cleared off the line while she

also got a deflection to a cracking disguised pass from Burns but Galloway again did enough to keep it out.

W hite, meanwhile, kept out Aideen McGuinness and Rachel McAuley chances as Anna Richardson bossed the midfield in a superb opening stanza.

The second half was tighter though both sides did have giltedged chances to win it, Katie Desmond denied by Galloway’s long stick while Sarah Healy missed out with the goal beckoning.

Bandon, though, had the know-how in the shoot-out from their semi-final and shot their way to a famous maiden victory in this competition.

Nonetheless, Ronan Hickey’s Avoca can look back on a reasonably productive season.

They were promoted to the top tier in Leinster and duly stayed in Division One with something to spare.

The Leinster Hockey Shield was added on St Patrick’s Day with a 2-1 success against a fancied Glenanne side to cap off their exploits.

14 April 2016 SWORDS gazette 29

Gazette

Sailing senior still on the crest of a wave National Sailing Club’s Leonard McKay continues to get out on the water every Saturday during the summer, making the 82-year-old the perfect subject for Setanta’s new TV series  james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

LEONARD MCKAY – at 82 years old, the senior member of the Irish National Sailing Club – has spent his life living on the Dun Laoghaire sea front, and much of his life sailing in its harbour and the wider Dublin bay.

A keen fan of a sport he calls “primal,” McKay rarely misses a Saturday on the water and particularly loves the aspect of small-boat sailing that pits him against nature.

Indeed, in tandem with Mar y Beck, he claimed last weekend’s squib class silver cup on his third outing of 2016.

“I enjoy the feeling of it being you against the elements,” McKay tells

GazetteSport. “I sail in squibs, three metre boats that have two crew, and compete within the club.

The last 25 years sailing every week, spending summers on the water have been the highlight of my life.”

McKay is one of a number featured in a new Setanta Spor ts series Super Fit Seniors, in which outstanding distance runner Eamonn Coghlan talks to various older athletes about their fitness regimes, attitudes and approach to sport.

The sailor told the show his main training regimen is to “keep breathing” and that he doesn’t “know anything about calories, or pay any attention to them”.

Instead he eats the same unprocessed foods

he has eaten all his life, growing as much of the produce as he can manage himself in his garden.

The gardening itself also plays a fitness role.

“I eat a good breakfast and a three course lunch every day,” he says. “I always have, even when I was working. For tea, I just eat a slice of toast and have a cup of tea.

I don’t snack. I think snacking is a problem today.”

Speaking of the health that enables him to continue sailing into his 80s, McKay recalls his upbringing, the rationing of sugar in the 1930s and 40s, and how it led him to eat a naturally healthy lifestyle.

“I just kept it going,” he explains. “I have an artificial left knee. We’ve

Leonard McKay tends to his boat in Dun Laoghaire harbour as part of the Super Fit Seniors on Setanta Ireland

talked in the club about whether it would be possible to continue if I had another one. We think it would. The club is very big on getting disabled people out onto the water, too.”

McKay talks passionately about his love for

boats are just you, the wind and the waves. It’s just the ropes and your muscle.

“We don’t go out if the wind is above about a force four, you have to be safe,” he adds. “We’ve been out into the harbour a couple of times this year

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

‘The last 25 years sailing every week, spending summers on the water have been the highlight of my life’ Leonard McKay --------------------------------------------------------

the INSC and is often trying to tempt others onto the water. “90% of the people in the club don’t own boats,” he explains.

“It’s a very accessible sport. We’ve had a lot of people from around the world, people who work for companies like Google and Facebook, joining recently.

“They might sail at home and they want to continue here. They pay their dues and take a club boat out. There’s everything from paddle boards to cruisers.”

Not that McKay ranks them all equally. “I look down my nose a little at cruisers,” he admits. “I don’t think you’d have trouble finding people my age who use cruisers, as there’s a lot of support equipment and often a large crew. The smaller

and just turned around and come back because of conditions. But it’s two and a half hours of exercise every Saturday that I really enjoy. When I haven’t done it, I’ve really noticed the difference during the week.

“Some of my friends gave up sailing at 60 because they thought they were too old,” he concludes. “I still get them to come out with me every so often, but there’s the call of Saturday afternoon TV sport.

For me, playing sport always beats watching someone else play. So I just keep going.”

Super Fit Seniors, a sixpart sports entertainment series will be shown freeto-air on Setanta Ireland for six weeks and started this Monday, April 11 at 7.30pm.

FastSport

Kevin Sims interviewed by Eamonn Coghlan

Sims continuing 60-year connection with cycling AT 84-YEARS-OLD, Kevin Sims takes his cycling seriously. Aside from a break in the 1960s during which he took up powerlifting, Sims has been racing bicycles most of his life.

That including in the 1953 Ras, the first ever edition of Ireland’s premiere cycling race, in which he departed an O’Connell Street start competing for Kildare.

Sims trains three to four times a week - “Tuesday and Thursday, Saturday if I can manage it, and a race on Sunday,” with his sport taking him around the country, where he competes in an over 80s age category.

“I’d try to go 35 miles,” he tells GazetteSport.

“I have to compete against people a few years younger than me, and a lot of them would be former pro cyclists. Some of them looks great.

But I still race. In the winter every weekend, and in the summer, when the light’s better, on Tuesdays too.”

Sims is one of the stars of new Setanta series Super Fit Seniors, in which he says he does “a 60 mile race from Tallaght, riding with my two daughters.”

Sims also rides alongside fellow veteran Sean Lally, who twice finished second in the Ras. When he’s not cycling, Sims loves gardening, but points to the wonderful experiences the sport has brought him as particularly great memories.

“I rode through the French Alps with friends a few years ago, and the scenery was incredible,” he recalls. “We went back and did it in Italy and Germany, too. Now, I go to Spain every year.

It’s tough - it’s very hilly - but I really enjoy it.”

He does, however, avoid cycling through town, instead using Wicklow for his training, and looks at today’s obesity epidemic with some horror.

“You didn’t see big people in the 30s and 40s,” he explains. “It’s just the last 20 or 30 years, people are overeating and sitting in front of the TV instead of exercising. I’ve always kept myself around 11 stone” With his current fitness regime, Sims’ won’t be facing that kind of problem anytime soon.

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 14 April 2016

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: rush girl plays role in silver run at bob docherty cup

The Republic of Ireland’s Bob Docherty Cup side

Mehaffey holds steady to claim Irish Open title OLIVIA Mehaffey, pictured above, claimed the laurels in spite of an orange status weather warning on the final day of the Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship at the Island Golf Club.

Fifty-one players survived the first couple of days, taking on the tricky course in swirling winds.

The final group of Mehaffey, Chloe Williams (Wales) and Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) teed off at 10:50 with the former starting the day one shot clear of Williams Mehaffey, though, produced a steady front nine to extend her advantage out to five shots after Williams suffered three double bogeys and three bogeys.

Despite an impressive eagle at the par four eighth, it took Williams 44 shots (+7) to complete the front nine. Mehaffey dropped three shots on the front nine but turned in 40 (+3) to still hold a substantial lead.

Jessica Ross slowly crept up the leaderboard and turned in 41 (+4) to share second place with Williams. Ryan was +6 through nine to sit in fourth place on her own. It was all to play for on the back nine but required the chasing pack to go low in order to catch up on the world number 9.

Another steady back nine, considering the conditions, saw Mehaffey come home in 39 shots to card the joint best score of the day, 79. An 83 by Ryan and 87 from Williams placed them 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

In addition, the Ireland team A of Olivia Mehaffey, Chloe Ryan and Skerries’ Maria Dunne won the Nations Cup and were twelve shots clear of nearest competitors, Ireland team B.

Carolan to fore for Ireland sport@dublingazette.com

ST JOSEPH’S, Rush student Isibeal Carolan was part of the Republic of Ireland side that finished second to England in the Bob Docherty Cup, falling 1-0 at Dragon Park last week.

She was on the mark in a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland earlier in the competition, adding to an earlier 5-0 win over Wales that kick-started the campaign on the best possible footing.

But a well-rehearsed English move eight minutes into the second peri-

od in the deciding match saw Holly Manders come off the bench to smash an unstoppable volley crashing past Rachel Kelly in the Republic of Ireland goal.

Nonetheless, it was a fine campaign from Ireland in the prestigious annual tournament.

Manders finished off an excellent Sophie Quirk left wing cross which proved crucial in this crunch encounter.

England had settled comfortably into the game, putting Lorraine Counihan’s crew on the back foot. Stout

league challenge Rangers and Darndale stalemate in Premier B rivervalley Rangers shared a 0-0 draw

with third placed Darndale as the race for the AUL Premier B title took another swing in fortune.

Rangers beat table-toppers Hardwicke last week to take the initiative but this draw could potentially have an impact on the outcome of the league title.

The Swords side are a point of Hardwicke with a game in hand while Darndale are a point back with a game in hand.

defensive work limited the scoring opportunities but it required a full length save from Raheny student Rachel Kelly to keep out a powerful Lucy Egan header.

Dominican College starlet Lucia Lobato had to be at her composed best as half time saw the sides troop off scoreless The Irish ladies picked up their performance in the second half particularly following the English breakthrough goal, playing the game further up the field and threatening to find an equaliser.

However a competent

English defence dealt with anything the Irish could muster, clearing their lines with efficiency.

Despite the numerical advantage, England’s Lucy Johnson received a second yellow and subsequent red which marred the game a little for the Lionesses. The English were well served by captain Ellie Hack, Maya Le Tissier and Libby Smith.

The Republic of Ireland were unfortunate not to equalise at the death and had to settle for a third consecutive runners up spot in this competition.

Meghen Hengerer scooped the Player of the Match accolade following a stunning performance at centre half.

In the earlier positional play-offs, Northern Ireland defeated Wales (‘01) 3-2 to finish their campaign with a victory.

Scotland got the better of Wales (‘02) with a hat-trick from the talented Naomi Welch and a fourth from Michaela McAlonie to finish at 4-0 to last year’s champions.

It means Ireland’s wait for the title stretches into a seventh year having last won the title in 2010.

14 April 2016 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

rising tribute

Fins pair play their part in special O’Toole’s tie

Club Noticeboard FINGALLIANS

fingallians Ciaran McLoughlin (cap-

tain) and David Kileen were on the Dublin selection that played O’Tooles last weekend at Blunden Drive as part of a selection of players was taken from the 16 clubs that are still in existence since 1916.

The game was a fitting tribute to the Dublin GAA community that participated in Easter week 1916. Both players had relatives that participated in the Rising.

WELL done to Paul Flynn and the Dublin

April, the pitch has been aerated and

senior footballers as they qualified for

seeded. In the next two weeks, it will

the National league final. They will face

be fertilised and that should result

the old enemy Kerry at Croker Park on

in a quality surface for the summer

April 24.

months.

Our U-13 camogie squad lost their

In order to honour the role of the

league match in terrible conditions

men and women of Fingal in the events

against Faughs Celtic 6-0 to 2-2. The

of 1916 and share this story, Fingal

scorers for Fins were Roisin Gallagher,

County Council has compiled a broad

Niamh Crowley and Lucy O’Brien.

programme for the Fingal 2016 Cente-

The Fins U-7 Academy team had a

football: aherne salvo aids points difference

nary Commemoration.

big day on Saturday morning. A total

The programme will culminate in the

of 66 children travelled to St Anne’s

Fingal 1916 Centenary Commemora-

Park to play a challenge match against

tive Day. This flagship event will take

Raheny. We fielded six boys teams and

place at Swords Castle on Sunday,

two girls teams. Well done to the play-

April 24. It will incorporate a parade,

ers, parents and mentors. A picture

re-enactments, marching bands, an

diary of the day is now on the club

exhibition, reading of the proclama-

Facebook page.

tion, flag raising ceremony and much,

Since January, the main pitch has

much more.

been verti drained and aerated. On

Fingallians GAA will participate in

two occasions, it has been sanded and

the parade. We are looking for our

seeded. On a continuous basis, after

members, young and old, to come out

each game goalmouths are sanded and

in period dress or to come in their

seeded once dry. During the month of

playing gear with hurls.

ST FINIAN’S OUR inter-county representations

Waterford. Also, best of luck to Cal-

for the club and this week the highlight

lum Murray and Sean Clifford, who

was the appearance in Dublin county

play on our U-14 hurling team, who will

colours by two of our U-14 girls.

be representing the club with the U-13

Rachel Church and Rachel Fagan Nicola Burke, Galway, in action against Dublin’s Niamh McEvoy and Noelle Healy. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Dublin lose the battle but through to semis

national league div 1 Dublin 1-14 Laois 4-12  sport@dublingazette.com

SINEAD Aherne’s 1-8 was not enough to turn the tide for Dublin ladies senior footballers to grab a win over Galway at Parnell Park but the side look set to make the semi-finals of the national league, nonetheless.

The result ensured four teams are now locked together on 12 points, nine behind Mayo. However, with an inferior score difference it looks like Galway are missing out on a semi-

final place despite their victory.

And if Cork beat Armagh in their rearranged fixture, five teams will be separated by scoring difference only.

At half-time, Galway were 3-6 to 1-7 clear of hosts Dublin, with Roisin Leonard hitting a remarkable 2-5 in the first half alone, including four pointed frees.

St Sylvester’s Aherne, back this year after a year out, fired home a first half penalty along with three points to keep them just about in touch with Skerries Harps

Lyndsey Davey and St Brigid’s Noelle Healy also weighing in with a pair of points each.

B ut, by f ull-time, Leonard had taken her match tally to 2-9, eight of her points from frees, and Mairead Seoighe scored the fourth goal for the visiting Tribeswomen as they ran out 4-12 to 1-14 winners.

Aherne’s Syl’s club mate Nicole Owens also chipped in with a point while Davey added another score to finish with 0-3.

They were among a large local contingent with Fingallians duo

Fiona Hudson and Sinead Finnegan also playing their part in the fixture.

Aherne finished with another five points in the second half for Dublin, whose scoring difference should ensure they make the semi-finals.

Dublin’s plus 57 scoring difference currently has them in second place in the rankings with plenty to spare over Galway (+14), Armagh (+20) and Kerry (+30).

Cork (+50) could overhaul them if they get the better of Armagh in the last remaining match of the league’s regular season.

lin hurling team against Wexford and

continue to be a source of great pride

Dublin development squad.

played for the U-14 Dublin girls’ foot-

The lotto jackpot for April 8 was

ball team in their win over West-

€2,800. The numbers drawn were 6, 8,

meath, with Rachel Fagan scoring

9 and 12 and there was no winner of

five points.

the jackpot. The €25 lucky dip winners

Our county representation among

were: John Tierney; Karl McQuillan;

the boys also continued recently with

Sean Dwyer; Louise McDonald. Next

Liam Kiernan playing on the U-14 Dub-

week, the jackpot will be €2,900.

FINGAL Ravens PLEASE note 2016 club membership is

envelopes available at our clubhouse,

now overdue; membership forms are

Rolestown Garage and Kettles.

available in the club house or can be

Anyone looking for club gear, please

downloaded from our Facebook page

contact Ann Fox on 086 1771027. New

or can be done online on www.myclub-

stock available.

finances.com.

All membership must be paid in full, by all sections of the club. No player

Any enquiries about the pitch, please contact John McCarthy on 087 6599348.

of any age will be permitted to play if

If any teams are looking for a time

they do not have their membership

slot in the school hall, please contact

played in full.

Alan Manning on 087 0651219.

Only fully paid up members will be

Darren Daly has played as a member

able to avail of applications for Dublin

of Fingal Ravens since a juvenile player

game tickets. Players of all ages are

for our club and has represented our

required to wear gum shields. This is

club at all ages from the Easter U-12s

an official requirement by the GAA and

blitz to be a Dublin senior Player.

will be enforced by all referees.

We Fingal Ravens are so proud of

There was no jackpot winner of the

him and of what he has achieved that

lotto; numbers drawn were 3, 10, 22

we are so pleased to announce that

and 33; €20 euro to Eoin O’Flaherty,

Darren has been made an honourary

Gerry Rooney and Thomas Newman.

member of Fingal Ravens. We wish you

Next week’s jackpot is €17,000. Lotto

continued success.

GazetteSPORT all of your swords sports coverage from page 28-31

april 14-20, 2016

points difference: Sinead Aherne’s 1-8 salvo not Orwell land nationals: Dublin cycling club step in to enough to win Galway tie but semi place assured P31 host prestigious event P29

John Mooney celebrates his award with Jake Devane, Alisha Mooney, Robyn Mooney, John Devane, Chloe and Josh Ericson.

Fingal honours Mooney North County cricketer receives top tribute from local council following a decorated career of 182 internationals caps and a series of World Cups  james hendicott

sport@dublingazette.com

JOHN MOONEY, one of Ireland’s most influential cricketers, has been honoured by the Mayor of Fingal, Councillor David O’Connor.

A native of Fingal, Mooney was given a reception in County Hall, Swords on April 11, which formally recognised Mooney’s achievements following his retirement from an impressive career with Ireland at international level.

Mooney is most widely remembered for hitting the winning runs in a 2011 World Cup game against England, one that raised the profile of cricket in Ireland almost overnight.

Ireland remain a non-test playing nation in the sport – something which is widely seen

as controversial – and Mooney played a huge roll over the course of 14 years and 182 caps in pushing the side to their currently relatively lofty position and a popular and realistic campaign to be awarded full status.

Outside of the traditional cricket powerhouses, Ireland are arguably the most respected country in the sport, and have begun to host regular fixtures against high-profile test nations in recent years, demonstrating their growing pedigree and attracting large crowds in Malahide and Clontarf.

As well as the 2011 World Cup, Mooney also appeared at two other cricket World Cups for Ireland with his beguiling bowling and ability smash a ball in the lower order often proving a key asset.

The North County is a left handed batsman and right medium bowler who made his first class debut in 2004, and played regularly for Leinster Lightning in the provincial championship in recent years.

At the ceremony, Councillor O’Connor said: “as Mayor of Fingal and a keen cricket fan I am honoured to make this presentation to John Mooney, a proud citizen of Fingal, for his outstanding contribution to Irish and World Cricket.

“John played 182 times for Ireland in all competitions, including 64 one-day internationals and 27 ICC World Twenty20s.

“He scored 2605 runs at an average of 23.68.

John has, with other Fingal cricketers, raised the profile of this wonderful sport throughout

Fingal and Ireland.”

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, Paul Reid, added “I am delighted to welcome John Mooney to County Hall this evening to celebrate his long and illustrious contribution to cricket.

“Fingal County Council recognises the importance of sport in our citizens’ lives and, through our Sports Office, we work with a number of National Governing Bodies of sport including Cricket Leinster.

“This partnership has grown from strength to strength over the past nine years and in excess of 7,000 students in primary and secondary schools participated in our schools cricket programme throughout the county in 2015.”