Swords by Dublin Gazette

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INSIDE: Ireland and Ulster winger Tommy Bowe is on

the ball with thoughts on rugby and marriage Page 15

Opinion: Sr Stan launches an appeal for Focus Ireland as housing crisis worsens Page 12

Gallery: Revised heritage book marks the legacy of our period buildings Page 14

sport Soccer:

Portmarnock making waves in FAI Inter Cup Page 32

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December 3-9, 2015

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Swords is defended as a safe night spot  keith bellew

LOCAL politicians have played down the significance of a fight outside a nightclub in Swords which was reported in the media, saying it blew the incident out of proportion. The article in question was accompanied by photos of three young men engaged in a drunken fracas, which reportedly continued sporadically for about 15 minutes. It went on to report incidents of people falling over and other examples of drunken behaviour. Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) dismissed the idea that the article could reflect badly on Swords as a nighttime destination just weeks after the town

Politicians dismiss media report on a nighttime ‘brawl’ in town raised its Purple Flag, which was awarded for the safe and vibrant nightlife found in the town. “The article to me reads like they sat outside a nightclub somewhere waiting for a photo opportunity for a story they were running on the following Monday anyway,” he said. Full Story on Page 8

Seeing singing stars at Malahide’s Got Talent CAITRIONA O’Connor was one of the hopefuls at the first round of auditions at Malahide Community School for Malahide’s Got Talent at the weekend. More hopefuls will be seen on Saturday, December 5 at the same venue, between 10am and 2pm. If you

think you or a loved one has what it takes and want to go for it, contact Martin at 086 321 4336 to reserve an audition time. The final competition will take place in the luxurious Grand Hotel on Sunday, January 31. Picture: Stephen Fleming Photography

2 SWORDS Gazette 3 December 2015

education | senator, deputy trade barbs over planned fingal works

Farrell, O’Brien at odds over school-building  keith bellew DEPUT Y Alan Farrell (FG) has hit back at Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) over his criticism of the latest school-building announcements, saying the good news has left the senator “clutching at straws”. The argument lies in the announcement of new secondary schools in Swords and Malahide/ Portmarnock which are due to open in temporary

buildings in 2017, with construction to begin on permanent premises between 2019 - 2021. Senator O’Brien was sceptical of the announcement, describing it as “the height of political opportunism”. He said: “While news of these schools is welcome, I am reluctant to be the one who points out that the emperor is not wearing any clothes – in many cases, sites have not been selected, [and]

it is going to be at least six years before they start building some of these schools, never mind opening them.” He said he was particularly concerned about the planned secondary schools for Malahide and Portmarnock, and for Swords. “I am afraid this is pre-election rhetoric. I would be happier if there were firm details of sites, commencement dates for building works and

recruitment drives for teachers. There aren’t even roll numbers for these planned schools,” said Senator O’Brien. In response, Deputy Farrell said that in criticising this announcement, Senator O’Brien fails to acknowledge that these schools will open their doors in 2017 in temporary accommodation to provide school places for local students until the construction process is completed and brandnew buildings delivered. He said: “The senator also seems to be unaware that potential sites have already been identified for each of these schools. Obviously, the senator doesn’t allow facts to get in the way of a good press release, which will certainly be picked up by our local papers.” He added that the Malahide/Portmarnock and Swords secondary schools site selection is at an advanced stage. Sites have been identified but have not been announced due to commercial sensitivity. He also said that roll numbers are issued by the Department of Education when a school is ready to open, so they are not yet required. Principals will be recruited in mid-2016 once the projects are up and running, and teachers and administrative staff will be recruited as required for September

Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF, top) and Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) had very different views of the school-building programme for the area

2017. Deputy Farrell said: “When in government, in 2010, Senator O’Brien’s party purchased prefabricated classrooms for St Sylvester’s Infant School instead of building the new classrooms it needed. “This led to the pipes in all of the pre-fabs freezing in the snow that winter, leaving those classrooms with no running water and toilets that could not be flushed. “If Senator O’Brien thinks that this decision was serving the best interests of our children, perhaps he should go back to school.” He said that the previous Fianna Fail government refused to provide new permanent classrooms to the school in 2010 – a year that they underspent on school building projects by

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€150m. “While the senator spends his time on political point-scoring, I will

continue to work quietly and diligently to deliver for Dublin Fingal,” said Deputy Farrell.

3 December 2015 SWORDS Gazette 3

proposal | higher-density development in local area plan

shopping

A gift of free parking for Christmas

Donabate/Portrane may get 5,000 homes  keith bellew

THE Donabate/Portrane local area plan (LAP) has just been published and includes the provision of up to 5,000 new residential units across the area for the period to 2019. The target average net density across the LAP lands will range between 14-20 units per acre, in accordance with the Department of Environment Residential Density Guidelines. The higher-density development will be located in the “urban quarter” character areas within the Corballis and Ballymastone lands, and on some of the adjoining lands. Additionally, a distributor road through Donabate to Portrane to

alleviate existing traffic problems is intended to commence towards the end of 2016. Donabate Portrane Community Council said that while they have not yet read the entire plan, they recently had a prepublication meeting with Fingal County Council planners. The community council welcomed the decision to build this new road, but said they believe the construction of the facility should be put on hold prior to the project commencing. A spokesperson said: “An Bord Pleanala’s decision to grant permission for the National Forensic Mental Health Services Hospital before any alternative road was built now

seems premature. “It has always been our position that this distributor road should be built before any work commences on this project, which would take all construction traffic away from the already congested road into and out of Donabate, and away from the area around the four schools.” A HSE spokesperson said they will be installing a community relations officer to deal with the concerns of the public throughout the project. Submissions on the plan are now being sought from the public up to January 21. For further information on this consultation process, and to view the full plan, see www. fingal.ie.

style at the penthouse

KAREN Brennan, Lisa Knolles and Maxine Corbally were among the many stylish party guests celebrating the latest move by The Wright Venue in Swords recently, courtesy of The Penthouse rooftop and gardens. As one of the city’s busiest and most popular nighclub destinations, The Wright Venue’s penthouse offers a luxurious setting for weekend revelry, with its availability as a private hire or corporate function space also adding to its appeal. The ladies were certainly looking great as they added to the large number of people celebrating in style across the busy venue. Picture: Patrick O’Leary

Free parking in Balbriggan, Malahide, Rush, Skerries and Swords for the three Saturday’s in December will be extended until Christmas Eve. This follows a request from Deputy Brendan Ryan (Lab), who asked Fingal chief executive, Paul Reid to extend free parking in order to encourage people to shop locally. Originally the scheme was for Saturday, December 5, 12 and 19, but this extension will make things much easier for local procrastinators making a mad dash for gifts and other festive paraphernalia. “I am delighted to receive confirmation that there will now be free parking in these towns on Christmas Eve,” said Deputy Ryan.

4 SWORDS Gazette 3 December 2015

education | 24-hour ‘mapathon’ at portmarnock community school

Helping Lesotho with digital maps  keith bellew

STUDENTS from Portmarnock Community School will host a 24-hour humanitarian mapping event on Friday, December 4. The event will be held as part of their development education programme. They intend to arrive in school at 8am and commence a “mapathon” (a mapping marathon) for 24 hours until 8am on Saturday, December 5. They will be drawing a digital map of Lesotho, a small developing country near South Africa, which will be highly accurate and downloadable free

of charge. Te a c h e r C o l l e t t e Cronin said the students are using open-source editing software called Openstreetmap to convert satellite images into mapped coordinates of all the buildings, roads and rivers in Lesotho. She said: “This effectively allows lots of geographic features to be mapped and used to analyse the layout of Lesotho, such as whether buildings are too near water bodies, or people are living too close to the roadsides. “It goes beyond saying that this is a problem, and helps us understand which districts are worse, and the sizes of the build-

ings that are involved.” This is part of an ongoing programme between Fingal County Council and the government of Lesotho. Last year, Openstreetmap trainers from Fingal County Council showed 30 students how to map, and the activity has mushroomed in the school. This exercise allows for the collection of details and essential information for the local authorities on the ground to make informed decisions and to plan for the future. The students will gather sponsorship for the event and all of the proceeds will go to Action Ireland Trust, to help construct

an early childhood development centre at Ha Hlalele, Lesotho. On how the initiative benefits both himself and the people of Lesotho, student Colin McAndrew said: “Contributing to the map makes me a cartographer. “I am using all my subjects together – geometry, maths, geography, environmental studies, engineering and science – in a fun way, to directly help our partner school and in the long-term help Lesotho by making a free map for people into the future.” School principal Eithne Deeny said she is very proud of the stu-

Pictured at a Portmarnock Community School presentation to Action Ireland Trust earlier this year were Colette Cronin, Brian Murray, Niall Fitzgerald, Deirdre St Clair, Krysin Zawadzki, Colin McAndrew and His Excellency Paramente Phamotse, Lesotho Ambassador to Ireland (not pictured: Oliver Juchnevicius)

dents, and the association with Action Ireland Trust who will be bringing the transition years to Lesotho again in 2016 as part of the wider project to help Ha Hlalele.

The mapathon will use a website (http://tasks. hotosm.org/) to co-ordinate mappers and the students will blog using maplesotho.wordpress. com.

Show your support by tweeting support for #MapLesotho and #AIT2016, or by contacting the school to pledge a donation; email: office@ portcs.iol.ie.

3 December 2015 SWORDS Gazette 5

harbour | group calls on department to take urgent action balbriggan €15,000 for youth service

Concern rises at levels of silt at Howth

 keith bellew

THE level of silt at Howth Harbour is making it difficult for Howth Coast Guard to launch, The Gazette has learned. Speaking to The Gazette, a spokesperson for the group confirmed that it’s a problem for both the Coast Guard and the lifeboat. “It’s at the stage now where neither can launch at low water on a spring tide,” they said. Meanwhile, a local action group is calling on the Department of Marine

to dredge Howth Harbour as a matter of urgency, in order to prevent the fishing industry from coming to a standstill. Howth HarbourAction Group, which comprises representatives from the yacht club, the boating and sailing club, a large trawling company and local businesses, say that the harbour has not been dredged since the 1980s, and they report that this neglect has led to a huge amount of silt building up in the harbour. Brian Turvey, of Howth Yacht Club and the Har-

bour Action Group, said that this could prevent the Coast Guard from being able to carry out a rescue, and could result in the loss of life. He said: “The potential for that is really very serious,” and added there has been a build-up of silt for the past 30 years. “Instead of it being tended to by various different governments, [they] let it build up. We’ve got to the stage now where we have about a metre and a half of silt accumulated since the 1980s. “That causes a few

Howth Harbour, which has not been dredged since the 1980s. Picture: Failte Ireland

problems – at low water tides, the fishing boats run aground trying to get in and out of the harbour; the deeper keel boats have to be careful about when they come in and out of the harbour in terms of tides etc.” He added that the fact that the fishing and

marine leisure industries are under threat due to this inaction is hugely problematical. Turvey said that in 2009, the Yacht Club was obliged to pay €100,000 for dredging at a particular point in the harbour as the Department of Marine had refused to pay

for it, and it wouldn’t have been able to continue its activities otherwise. While no dredging project has been announced, Marine Minister Simon Coveney has sanctioned €150,000 for site investigation works at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre.

BALBRIGGAN Youth Service has been granted €15,000 in funding as part of the latest round of capital grants from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The funds are to provide much needed assistance to youth projects to improve the facilities and equipment available for their work with young people in their communities. The grants provide for the upgrade or replacement of equipment, or for the purchase of essential equipment to support the running of the project/ organisation. Examples of the projects funded include the purchase of mini-buses, IT and multimedia equipment, sport and outdoor pursuits equipment.

6 SWORDS Gazette 3 December 2015

music council | club overall winner of community categories Kodaline perform at castle SWORDS band Kodaline recently performed a special show for a couple of hundred lucky fans at Bremore Castle, Balbriggan. The show was recorded by music video website Vevo as part of its Vevo Go Shows initiative, which sees bands performing live in unique locations. Tickets for the show were not on sale and could only be obtained by entering a competition with Vevo. The gig served as an appetiser for fans ahead of the band’s homecoming shows at the 3Arena on December 11 and 12. The group have been touring all over the world on the back of their second album, Coming Up for Air.

Baldoyle Utd FC scores top title at awards BALDOYLE Utd Football Club were crowned overall winner at the Fingal County Council Community Group of the Year awards, which took place at the Draiocht Arts Centre, Blanchardstown last week. The awards night – sponsored by the council’s community culture and sports division – is now in its tenth year. This year, there were more than 100 entries received, with three groups shortlisted in each of the eight categories, covering sports

(Baldoyle Utd), community development (Blakestown Resource Centre Events Group), arts (The Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival), youth (The Pulsar Youth Cafe Committee), environment (Blakestown Drive Community Group), representative organisations (Ballyboughal Community Council), older people (Rush Senior Citizens) and community facilities (Donabate Portrane Community Centre). Also honoured on the night were the three

organisations who represented Fingal in the AllIreland Pride of Place Finals, which were held in Ennis in November. Ballyboughal Community Council, Tyrrelstown Youth Initiative and Blakestown Mountview Task Group were nominated, and these groups were presented with fitting tributes on the night by the Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Jack Chambers (FF). Speaking before the awards, Cllr Chambers said: “It is one night in the year when the coun-

Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Jack Chambers (FF) congratulates Baldoyle Utd FC on their win. Picture: Kevin McFeely

cil can pay full tribute to all the unsung heroes of the community sector who work so hard, and for no pay, to make this county a better place to work and live in.” Principal community officer Pat Queenan said the community divi-

sion of the council sees these awards as a way of acknowledging the importance of the community sector in the context of the overall work Fingal County Council does, especially at a time when there is more completion for funding.

Paul Reid, the chief executive of Fingal County Council, said the awards provide an opportunity to celebrate community work in Fingal and to recognise the difference citizens make to the quality of life in their area.

3 December 2015 SWORDS Gazette 7

8 SWORDS Gazette 3 December 2015

don’s dublin Robert Mallet and his seismic affect on our vocabulary Making a significant contribution to science and being recognised for it would be enough for most people, but not Robert Mallet who is also credited with creating new words that are in daily use. Mallet was born on June 3, 1810 in Ryder’s Row (off Capel Street), Dublin where his father, John, owned a foundry. After schooling in Great Dominick Street he entered Trinity College in 1826 where he studied science and engineering. He graduated in 1830 and went on a long tour of the Continent where he visited numerous foundries learning the latest techniques that he would use in Dublin. By the early 1830s with the introduction of railways into Ireland, the foundry was busy and Mallet became a wealthy man. He had become a partner and the name J&R Mallet, Dublin appeared on their work all over the country. You can see them at the bottom of Trinity College railings on Nassau Street and on an iron, mooring bollard on the West Pier, Dun Laoghaire. He was elected to the Royal Irish Academy in 1832, and by the mid-1840s he was using his mechanical and engineering skills to investigate

Local politicians said a report in a national newspaper about a “savage brawl” in Swords was “blown out of proportion”

and interpret earthquakes. His work, On the

swords | unimpressed by article about the town

Dynamics of Earthquakes, was a breakthrough and was the beginning of the science of seismology. He, in fact, created the word in 1858 along with seismoscope and epicentre. He famously blew up Killiney Beach while testing his theories in late 1849. Assisted by his eldest son, John, and some soldiers, explosions were set off and he recorded the time taken for the shock wave to travel through the sand. In 1877, he was awarded the Wollaston Medal by the Geological Society of London, its highest award and he was also elected as president of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Sadly, his eyesight was affected by an unidentified disease in the

Politicians dismiss ‘savage brawl’ claim  keith bellew

early 1870s and he spent his last years virtually blind. He died on November 6, 1881 and is buried in West Norwood Cemetery.

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin.wordpress.com

Scientist Robert Mallet was born on June 3, 1810 in Ryder’s Row (off Capel Street) in Dublin

LOCAL politicians have dismissed claims in a national newspaper that a fight outside a nightclub in Swords was a “savage brawl” and said it was “blown out of proportion”. The article in question was accompanied by photos of three young men engaged in a drunken fracas, which reportedly continued sporadically for around 15 minutes. There were no arrests and no injuries reported. It is unclear whether the incident happened on Swords’ Main Street or elsewhere in the town. This comes just a few

weeks after the town raised its recently awarded Purple Flag – an award which recognises excellence in a safe and vibrant nighttime economy. Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) dismissed the suggestion that this reflects badly on the town’s reputation as a nighttime destination. He said: “The article to me reads like they sat outside a nightclub somewhere waiting for a photo opportunity for a story they were running on the following Monday anyway. “Swords 100% deserves its Purple Flag for a safe and enjoyable evening entertainment environ-

ment, and Main Street is great for a night out and has loads of good restaurants and pubs on offer.” The article went on to report incidents of people falling over and other examples of drunken behaviour. Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) said the article blew the whole incident out of proportion. Analysing the media reports, he said: “It’s a blow-by-blow [account], really – somebody fell over, got helped up and went home. Well, that happens ever ywhere! That will happen on a Tuesday afternoon.” He added that publicity like this is bound to damage the town’s reputation as a destination,

and make people think twice about visiting, but he said the bottom line is that this happened around 2.30am, when most revellers have dispersed. “Unfortunately, any incident that happens at around 2.30 in the morning is invariably going to be drink-fuelled, which is very unfortunate, but they are random incidents. “It’s not as if it’s a weekend or monthly occurrence. They’re regrettable and avoidable at all times, but unfortunately, no matter where you are, when you mix alcohol and flighty individuals, you get trouble,” said Deputy Farrell.

This follows figures released by An Garda Siochana which show public order offences in Dublin have increased dramatically between January and June this year, up around a third from the same time last year. Swords Garda Station has recorded 126 public order offences per 100,000 people, which ranks in the lower end of the scale. In comparison, Store Street and Pearse Street garda stations recorded 2,567, and 3,903 offences respectively during the same period, while suburban areas were much lower, such as Finglas, which recorded 183 incidents.

3 December 2015 SWORDS Gazette 9

community | range of initiatives to help support local businesses

Building Christmas buzz in Balbriggan  keith bellew THE festive season is in full swing in Balbriggan, with the whole community getting involved, especially the children. Exhibitors at the Balbriggan ETNS Winter Craft and Food Fair braved the force of storm Clodagh last Sunday. There were a range of seasonal goods on sale, including festive artwork, crafts, wreaths and cakes. Gaelscoil Bhaile Brigin also held its annual Christmas Market, at which punters could browse through stalls packed with crafts, decorations, floral arrangements and books, along

with beauty products, jewellery, fashion and footwear. The market was replete with Christmas comestibles, as well with all the standard festive food, along with standard hot food to re-energise punters. People also turned up in droves to the Balbriggan Meals on Wheels Christmas fair recently. All monies raised go towards helping support the 80-plus meals a day dinner club on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as the meals for the Balbriggan Alzheimer Day Care Centre provided by the group. Meanwhile, voting

began this week on the Christmas window display competition organised by local community website, Balbriggan.info. The challenge is to create a winning display that best portrays a festive Christmas, and the group is taking photos of the windows of each local business entered into the competition, which will be displayed on the competition voting page. Public voting on Balbriggan.info will determine the results. The winning business will get a cash prize of €250 and a free meal for two at the Bracken Court Hotel. For further information, see www.Balbriggan.info.

The aim is to create a festive buzz around the town and ultimately to increase footfall and sales. Cllr Tony Murphy (Ind) paid tribute to Balbriggan. info for spearheading the initiative, but also praised Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce for putting up the €250 prize. He said: “In Balbriggan, we’re struggling a bit on the ground in the town centre, and any opportunity to create a bit of atmosphere is very welcome.” He said that there is always a great sense of community spirit in Balbriggan, but this year in particular it is really coming together. He cited a

Balbriggan village has a range of Christmas-related initiatives to support local businesses and the community spirit alike. Picture: Google Maps

fundraiser for local charity, Remember Us – a social group for people with disabilities. “That was a very clever one because it cost €10 to get in, which went to Remember Us, but when you paid in you

got a receipt for your €10, which you could use as a voucher in SuperValu. “So, Remember Us got the tenner, SuperValu got the footfall, and you got a tenner’s worth of stuff on the voucher. There were a number of prizes

sponsored by businesses around the town as well,” said Cllr Murphy. T he next community event takes place in Balbriggan on Friday, December 4, when the Christmas lights will be turned on.

10 SWORDS Gazette 3 December 2015

Gazettegallery

| malahide author’s Inaugural work launched

Author Edel Cush (second-right) with Edel Timmons, Mary O’Hanlon and Geraldine Freeney. Pictures: Una Williams

Edel starts a new life chapter with her book M

ALAHIDE author Edel Cush’s debut novel, The Ladybird Flies, got off to a great start at Malahide Library recently, with friends and

well-wishers joining booklovers to wish her well and pick up a copy. Catherine Moonan, pitch coach with RTE’s Dragons’ Den, and Ireland’s Best

Young Entrepreneur, was the guest speaker at the launch, which saw many people discuss the book’s core plot, with a special 24 hours, Florida, and a medi-

cal procedure all creating Cush’s first work. The 300-page paperback is available to buy now at Amazon.com, priced £6.99.

Cathy Smith and Tricia Boyle

Norma Wherton and Helen Horgan

Tracy Corbett, Annemarie Healy and Suzanne Carroll

Joe McCarthy and Thomas Ryan

Kieran Cushnahan and Edel Cush

Maura Hickey, Betty Bolton and Marie Newman

3 December 2015 SWORDS Gazette 11

Gazettegallery

| santa visits the pavilions

Vincent and Clara Flood

Annie Mc Nally with her parents, Kevin and Nicola

Ethan, Dylan and Dave

Santa’s red-dy to see who’s naughty or nice

Santa Claus was given a lovely welcome to Swords by Carrie and Liam Kavanagh. Pictures: Stephen Fleming Photography

ANTA Claus created quite a fanfare at the Pavilions Shopping Centre when he arrived recently with a number of his friends and helpers. To great excitement from the large crowd of boys and girls – and more than a few adults – the world’s most

John, Noah, Samuel and Fejiro Feeney

famous man in red made his entrance, eager to meet as many local children as possible during his visit. Members of Rolestown Theatre Group helped Mr Claus find his grotto at the centre, as well as adding to the general buzz of excitement. After addressing the crowd, Mr

Thompson

Claus then took the time to meet lots of boys and girls, and was later heard to remark that nobody in the area was on his Naughty List – yet. His arrival and temporary stay at the centre ahead of his busy work on Christmas Eve was greatly appreciated by everyone at the busy centre.

Emily, Nicola, David and David Donegan

Got a photo? Call our news team on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 2 or email news@dublingazette.com



12 swords gazette 3 December 2015

opinion | ‘The human stories tell us not enough is being done’

It’s the children who suffer most from homelessness

Sr Stan makes an urgent Christmas appeal to help support the unprecedented numbers of people who are losing their homes WE ALL think about our home at Christmas. How will we celebrate this special time of year with our family and friends? It’s the one time of year that people living away always make that special journey home to spend with their loved ones. It’s hard to imagine as you read this that there are many parents actually dreading Christmas like a nightmare, as they are homeless Sadly, this is true for more than 800 families and 1,500 children who do not have a place to call home as they are homeless. One mother told me how she can’t wait for the festive period to be over. She said: “I hate having to spend another day seeing my two young children homeless, stuck living in one little hotel room for the past eight months. It breaks my heart.” The harsh reality is that, as you read this, at least two families lost their home today. More single people will also

become homeless. I have never seen it so bad. These families live under terrible stress, and it’s the children who suffer the most. I wrote a piece for The Gazette this time last year, when I thought things were as bad as they would ever get. Sadly, since then – despite all the good work being done by many – the homeless crisis has deepened to an emergency situation as the number of children and families homeless in Dublin has doubled in a year. Economic

The major change in recent years has been the fact that many families and individuals are now losing their homes and becoming homeless purely for economic reasons. At least two families lose their homes every day in Dublin alone, and the key reason is that they can’t afford their rent increases. The Government has taken some actions that have helped to prevent some families becoming homeless, and this is positive news.

However, the constant rise in the number of people losing their homes ever y month, and the human stories behind these increasing figures tell us that not enough is being done. Rents have shot up by between 30 to 40% across Dublin over the past three years. Many people can’t manage, as rent supplement is too low. They end up getting in to debt and losing their homes. Let us be clear on this: the Government has the power to prevent more children and people becoming homeless. They must raise the rent supplement to match market rents. The Government has taken some actions that have helped to prevent some families becoming homeless, and this is positive news. Focus Ireland’s family team supports families and children who are homeless and works to help them secure a home. Our team helps 15 to 20 families to secure a home each month (often in co-operation with

Focus Ireland (FI) founder Sr Stan with FI family team manager Roisin McDonnell and her daughter, Feile, launching the charity’s Christmas Appeal outside Government buildings. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

local authorities and other NGOs), but with 70 to 80 families becoming homeless ever y month, the need for our services has never been greater. There are also many people struggling to pay their mortgages, and the Government must take a firm hand with the banks and financial institutions to ensure we do not see the avalanche of repossessions of family homes that many have warned

about. Focus Ireland is working hard to help these people who are at risk of homelessness, and we depend on the generous support of the public and businesses to help keep our lifeline support and prevention services there for people when they need support. I am asking people to please give what they can afford to support our urgent Christmas appeal.

People can donate at www.focusireland.ie, or call 1850 204 205. We need your support more than ever, as we have seen a 44% increase in the numbers seeking our help, from 8,000 to 11,500 people last year. This year is Focus Ireland’s 30th anniversary. Our work has touched many thousands of lives since 1985, and continues to do so today. You can help to play a part in helping more

people to make the journey home by supporting our work.

Sr Stanislaus Kennedy Life president and founder, Focus Ireland

Editor’s Note: If you are worried about your housing situation or becoming homeless, contact Focus Ireland at www.focusireland. ie, or telephone 01 671 2555.

3 December 2015 swords gazette 13

pets | Animal charity stresses importance of proper care

A puppy is a lifetime commitment for you  ian begley

THE DSPCA are encouraging people interested in bringing a puppy into their home for Christmas to adopt them from a shelter as opposed to buying them from private breeders. The DSPCA provides care and shelter to thousands of animals that have been the victims of illness, injury, cruelty or are simply unwanted. The animal charity have outlined several tips and words of advice for those interesting in making the long-term commitment. A spokesperson said: “When adopting, you are making a commitment to

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‘At the DSPCA, each potential new owner is interviewed and a home check is carried before an adoption is approved’

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Brian Gillen, chief executive, DSPCA

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care for an animal for the rest of his life—that could mean 10 to 15 years for dogs, and up to 20 years for cats. “Dogs thrive on several hours of exercise and companionship every day, and pooches who are constantly left alone can develop behavioural problems. “If your work demands that you travel often, or if you’re out of the house

most days and evenings, this may not be the right time to adopt. “Be sure to choose an animal who will thrive in your home. If you’re attracted to energetic, large-breed dogs, but live in a small apartment, will your pooch have enough room? “If your kids are still toddlers, you might consider waiting a few years before adopting, as pet

ownership ideally is a team effort. Children who are mature enough can happily share petcare duties.” The DSPCA currently have 60 puppies looking for new homes over the next couple of weeks from its centre in Rathfarnham. There are a wide selection of puppy types, including lurchers, golden and black Labrador-type pups, Jack Russel-types and springers. Brian Gillen, the DSPCA’s chief executive, said that the animal charity would like to remind people that under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, all pups born in Ireland from this September 1 are legally

Matilda presents the same needs that any

puppy wants from her new home:

caring people to give her all the space, training and love she needs

required to be microchipped and registered on an approved database. He said: “We keep an eye on websites that advertise animals for sale, such as DoneDeal, Adverts.ie, Gumtree and Dogs.ie, and we notice many dogs [are being] advertised for sale or ‘free to good homes’ without

mention of microchips. “At the DSPCA, each potential new owner is interviewed and a home check is carried before an adoption is approved. Each puppy is microchipped, vaccinated, wormed, de-flead and post-adoption neutering by our vets is included. Our adoption fee is

€150. “ E a c h p up py ha s been well socialised in the home of one of our dedicated foster families before returning to the shelter for adoption, and there is post-homing support from our dog training team, our dog boarding facility and our veterinary team..

14 Gazette 3 December 2015

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| heritage book launched at dublin castle

Joyce MacHale with Lee and Noreen Motherway

A new chapter in our period houses’ lives

Author Frank Keohane with Dublin Civic Trust chief executive Geraldine Walsh and Senator David Norris. Pictures: Rose Comiskey

ENATOR David Norris was a fine choice to launch Dublin Civic Trust’s flagship publication, Irish Period Houses – A Conservation Guidance Manual at Dublin Castle recently. With his passion for architecture and the city’s rich heritage, Senator

Norris highly praised the book, which is a complete revision of the previous edition of the book, Period Houses, printed in 2001. The new edition, undertaken by the same author – conservation surveyor Frank Keohane – greatly widens the scope of the manual, with a com-

prehensive array of new topics now covering all of Ireland, with Ireland’s distinctive period houses given great attention. Irish Period Houses is available to buy directly from Dublin Civic Trust at www.dublincivictrust.ie, priced €45 (€54 with P&P), and many good bookshops nationwide.

Kevin Baird and Dr

Aisling Dunne and Livia Hurley

Liam Boylan and Katrina Bouchier

Adam Browne, Stephan Farrell and Graham Hickey

Danielle O’Donovan

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3 December 2015 Gazette 15

dublinlife

the big interview

tommy bowe: Ireland and Ulster rugby winger

On the ball with some thoughts of playing for Ireland and his life beyond sport  emma nolan

AFTER sustaining a serious knee injury in one of the Irish rugby team’s most important games, to date, at the recent Rugby World Cup, Ireland and Ulster winger Tommy Bowe is making a swift recovery and is hopeful he will be better in time to play at the Six Nations early next year. In a match that saw the team’s World Cup run come to an end, Bowe tore a ligament in his knee, requiring surgery. He says: “I’m four weeks after having surgery on my knee and so far the recovery is going very well, although it’s kind of a slow process. “The first couple of months is about just letting it heal, so I can’t really do a whole pile at the minute.” Though he’s currently on crutches, he’s still training every day: “The first two weeks after the operation I was at home, bored out of my mind, so it’s nice to be back doing a bit of physio and weights to keep active.” With a few of his teammates injured for the Argentina match, he admits it was tough going into the game without them. “We put in so much hard work and effort to get ourselves to the World Cup, so to pick up an

injury then was very difficult.” Bowe is hopeful he’ll be recovered in time for the Six Nations next year, but he is being realistic: “To be honest with you, I’d be doing very well to be back in time, but who knows?” Getting back into the game without captain Paul O’Connell will “take some getting used to,” he tells The Gazette. He compares his departure to when former captain Brian O’Driscoll finished up: “It’s always going to be difficult to have such an influential person that’s been in the squad for over 10 years leave, but that’s the nature of sport – people move on pretty quickly.

Opportunity “But we were able to move on from Brian and I’m sure with Paulie gone, it will give an opportunity for new guys to come in and fill that hole.” T he recent terror attacks in Paris, some of which occurred at the Stade de France during a match, shocked Bowe, particularly as a fellow sportsman. “With everything that was going on in Paris, I know there were quite a few rugby teams over there at the time – it was scary, it was unthinkable. “You don’t expect that sort of thing to happen; the response from fellow

teams was incredible and a huge sign of solidarity.” Speaking on life as a newlywed, Bowe says it’s been great: “The first couple of months were pretty crazy, but it’s so nice to be back home and back to normality, and to have a new wife!”

Post-grad diplomas Bowe tells The Gazette how he and fellow Ulster player, Andrew Trimble, recently got their postgrad diplomas in business management from the Hibernia College at the University of London. “It took us three years to finish it – I thought it was never going to happen, but I was delighted to go and get my certificate.” Although he reckons that’s the end of his studying days, he says that it’s nice to achieve something he can focus on when he finishes his rugby career. His other ventures – XV Kings Clothing, and Lloyd and Pryce Shoes – have been growing steadily since they started in 2013. “The feedback has been brilliant; even to hear that the rugby lads are going out and buying it for themselves and for Christmas presents is a huge compliment. “It’s nice to have something outside of rugby, learning about selling and designing. It’s off the wall, compared to all the rugby

stuff I do every day.” At the moment, he’s taking on a Subway campaign and visiting school sports teams for a Train with Tommy day, where he trains and gives talks to the teams on nutrition, sports and staying active. “I’m delighted to get to meet these young players and answer any questions they have,” he says.

Tommy Bowe and SUBWAY franchisee Mark Ryan at St Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue – the Leinster winner of the SUBWAY chain’s #TrainwithTommy competition, which offered the chance to win a training session with Bowe, €1,000-worth of rugby gear for the school, lunch courtesy of their local SUBWAY in Applegreen, Knocklyon Road and a team picture with Bowe. Picture: David Maher/Sportsfile

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16 Gazette 3 December 2015

dublinlife

diary

Budding bakers needed to bake in aid of charity The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) recently launched its Christmas Holly Appeal and are calling on budding bakers to host a bake sale in aid of the charity. Holly Carpenter, who launched the campaign, is calling on the nation

to join her in supporting their Christmas Fundraising appeal #NoSilentNight. The campaign aims to run these fundraising initiatives to raise much-needed funds and to highlight the difficulties many children face at Christmas time.

In addition, ISPCC will be selling their annual Holly Badges throughout the country for €2 in early December and are looking for people to buy the badge and wear it with pride to show their support for every child in Ireland. For more information

on how you can help and on all the fundraising activities running throughout the festive season, visit www.ispcc. ie.

top culinary student chefs The search is on to find Ireland’s top culinary student chefs. The KNORR Student Chef of the Year, now its 19th year, is open to the very best student chefs from culinary colleges across the island of Ireland. KNORR Student Chef of the Year is the biggest competition of its kind in Ireland and allows up-and-coming student chefs to showcase their talent, love of food, creativity and innovation in front of some of Ireland’s leading food professionals. This year students are being challenged to create a starter using sustainable Irish seafood and a main course celebrating Irish venison. Students must demonstrate an understanding of the challenges of culinary sustainability, incorporating food waste management and allergen awareness. T he 2016 KNORR Student Chef of the Year competition is open to second year students from participating catering colleges, training centres and Institutes of Technology. Deadline for entries is Friday, January 22.

Holly Carpenter is calling on the nation to join her for ISPCC’s Christmas Holly Appeal and help to ensure that there is #NoSilentNight in Childline. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

For more information, see www.unileverfoodsolutions.ie/knorrstudentchef.

retained a dancefloor space that will hopefully continue to book great music acts.

across the country are offering free soft drinks for the designated drivers on nights out

Wigwam Bar open for business

promoting safe driving practices

biggest Christmas market yet

One of the latest additions to Dublin’s nightlife scene is Bodytonic’s Wigwam Bar. Located at the old Twisted Pepper premises, the new venue offers a slightly more mature night out than its predecessor, boasting an extensive range of the best beers, spirits, wines and coffee from around the world. The interior has been extended to facilitate a table service restaurant with a menu from Chef Pedro that is inspired by his Brazillian roots, Italian training and Irish home. Ser ving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, Dublin’s newest hotspot also houses the popular Vice Coffee and Boxcutter Barbershop. Not straying too far from its roots however, the famed basement, though much less grimy than it used to be, has

Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe, has officially launched CocaCola’s Christmas Jumper Car campaign which promotes responsible and safe driving practices using designated drivers during the party season. Ambassadors Vogue Williams and Northern Ireland comedian Shane Todd are celebrating the designated drivers across the county who stick to water or soft drinks on nights out to ensure their friends and family get home safely. Nominations from families, friends and bar staff are accepted via www.DesignatedDriver. ie and a winning driver from each province will get a surprise visit from the Christmas Jumper Car with a boot jam-packed full of prizes. To further promote road safety, participating pubs and restaurants

The Dublin Christmas Cracker Flea Market at Newmarket Co-op has become a tradition for many Dubliner’s at this time of year for both shoppers and traders, and is the place to go for all unique stocking filler needs. This year the Flea is moving to the disused Old John Player Wills Factory on South Circular road to facilitate its biggest market yet – with over 100 market traders, food stalls and music all housed under the one roof. Organisers have always deemed the event, which is taking place the weekend of December 11 to 13, as “more than just a market” but a gathering of like-minded people, friends and bargain hunters with the best selection of design, craft, vintage, second hand, upcycled, downcycled, and handmade gifts for Christmas.

3 December 2015 Gazette 17

asdfsdaf P27 cinema P25

food P22

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



Gazette

travel P20

theatre: musical interpretation at the project arts centre adapts joyce’s classic

Bringing The Dead to operatic life  Keith Bellew

AN OPERATIC interpretation of James Joyce’s The Dead is set for its world premiere at the Project Arts Centre, with six performances from December 9 to 12. For those who are not familiar with the story, it is centred around a married couple, Gretta and Gabriel, who go to a Christmas party at the house of the husband’s elderly aunts, Julia and Kate. The tale, which was hailed by TS Eliot as “one of greatest short stories ever written”, and “just about the finest short story

in the English language” by the New York Times, explores the themes of life, love and death. This new version was adapted by acclaimed Irish composer Ellen Cranitch and awardwinning playwright Tom Swift, and taps into the deep vein of musical references running through the original story. Speaking to The Gazette, director Jo Mangan said that the show is not overly complex, but is very accessible and enjoyable. She described it as operatic in “a beautiful, almost Sunday afternoonkind of way”.

While the story itself is quite melancholic, it has many humorous moments, and Mangan says that the cast make full use of these to provide some comic relief. “Julia and Kate’s characters are great fun, so Ruth McGill and Clare Barrett are playing them and they’re great comic actresses. They’re milking every bit of comedy out of it. “It’s great comedy written by Joyce, and then adapted by Tom Swift, and then by adding in a couple of fantastic actors it really kind of pulls [all the comedy] out.

“I would say Kate and Julia are our main comic relief, but then there’s also a great character – Millie, the maid,” she said. She said that all of the comedic goings on are leading up to the moment at the end of the night when Gabriel’s wife, Gretta, tells him that she had loved another man before him who died, and infers that she loved that man more than she could ever love him. “That, for me, is the high point of the whole piece; everything else is sort of working towards that moment. It allows you to look at those two charac-

ters from the beginning. “Gretta is quite separate from a lot of the action, but [in this adaption] she is doing a bit of narrating herself, and we have framed it so it is kind of Gretta’s story all the way through,” said Mangan. She said this gives their piece a different thrust to other adaptations, and it allows Gretta to step in and out of the action from time to time, which is useful as the cast comprises just four actors. Tickets are on sale now from the Project Arts Centre Box Office, and online at http://projectartscentre.ie/event/dead-2/.

Actress Ruth McGill – one of the reduced but highly talented cast members starring in the production

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Festive bird jumper €67.95

Gladstone croc pouch €79.95

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Two new stores opened recently. Joules, the much loved clothing and lifestyle store on Wicklow St and Selected Femme in Dundrum Town Centre. Selected Femme has a concession in BT2 but this is the first stand along store in Ireland. The brand is a fashion-forward and contemporary unisex brand. Part of the Bestseller family, its

fast affordable fashion for women, men, teenagers, and children. Their products are available online, in branded chain stores, in multi-brand, and department stores. Joules, who are renowned for things such as their tweed jackets, wellington boots and Breton tops opened their first full Republic of Ireland store and also their landmark 100th store. Here are a selection of the best of both.

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18 Gazette 3 December 2015

Danjas Ls Leather Blazer €139.95 Festive jumper €67.95

Hevia Top €69.95

3 December 2015 Gazette 19

20 Gazette 3 December 2015

Gazette

TRAVEL OUT&ABOUT fast TRAVEL NEWS Seize the day and enjoy the City of Lights visiting paris: standing in solidarity with Parisians

 Yvette Dolan-Collins

Journalist living in Paris

Alongside fantastic natural beauty, Malta is home to a fascinating blend of cultures and rich heritage

Make Malta your place for a winter getaway Escape the cold, grey skies of Ireland this January by jetting away to sunny Malta for the perfect winter getaway. There is no better place to recover from the hectic Christmas period and to escape the January blues as this magical paradise has everything holidaymakers could possibly want. It’s not too late to plan your trip and there are some fantastic deals on offer at this time of year. With Budget Travel, you can depart on January 3 and stay at the 3-Star San Pawl Hotel, St Paul’s Bay for €289 per person. Alternatively, you can depart on January 5 and stay at the 4-Star Park Hotel, Sliema (B&B) for €249 per person. With Mercury Direct you can stay seven nights at the 3-Star Panorama Hotel, Mellieha, departing on the January 5 for €358pp. Alternatively, you can jet off on January 26 and stay seven nights at the 3-Star Porto Azzurro, Xemxija Bay for €333pp. Concorde is offering seven nights at the 3-Star St Georges Park and La Vallette Apartments, St Julians, departing January 16 for €255pp. Otherwise you can depart on the January 21 and stay at the 4-Star Golden Tulip Hotel, Sliema for €339pp. There are some fantastic things to do and see in Malta in early 2016. The Valletta International Baroque Festival will take place from January 16 to 30. The festival has been created as a celebration of the baroque identity of Valletta which will resound with music from the period when it was built. This January is also the perfect time to experience some of Malta’s rich heritage such as the megalithic temples. Art lovers will want to visit the National Museum of Fine Arts which exhibits some magnificent art, ranging from the early Renaissance to modern times. The Maltese Islands are also an ideal destination for those wishing to get fit after the overindulgence of the Christmas period. Malta has approximately 40 health and spa outlets that focus on your overall wellbeing. Visit www.visitmalta.com for further information on Malta.

Hemingway’s memoir of Paris in the 1920s, A Moveable Feast, is in French so aptly entitled Paris est une Fete (Paris is a Party). The party is far from over, but for a time on the weekend following the recent barbaric terrorist attacks, the City of Lights was plunged into darkness. The most often quoted line from Hemingway’s book is “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast”. Having just moved to the countryside of southern France after seven abundant years living in the the French capital, I know that these words still hold true today. Although happy as a clam in my new sylvan setting, I will always have an itch to go back. A proviso of my departure from my urban perch was that the new ‘chez nous’ would have to be within a short distance of the dedicated train station for the high-speed train, Le TGV. I know that a regular fix of Paris is vital to me and my vital organs. As I sit in my kitchen and think about the city that usually spakles, I ponder on whether it has lost its glow. Yesterday my friend Emmanuelle, 40, who works in the music industry, emailed me with news of her weekend, the second since the heinous terrorist attacks

were carried out on Paris. Although grief is still very raw and palpable, she said, ‘Parisians are making it a ‘point d’honneur’ (a point of honour) to go out, to fill cafes and restaurants. It’s as though, by this refusal to accept the terror, La Resistance Française has been reincarnated. In the same spirit, last week an ensemble of high profile personalities from the French cultural scene coined the rousing slogan ‘Paris, France, Le Monde, Debout!’ (Paris, France, The World, Stand Up!). This ‘élan patriotique’, or recent resurgence in patriotism is essential in order to ‘keep calm and carry on’ in the face of the uncertainty left in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Despite the serious infraction inflicted on French Homeland Security, the French, and Parisians in particular, will not allow their ‘art de vivre’, or lifestyle, be compromised. Nor should you compromise your plans to visit Paris. L a s t we e ke n d I received an email from a discount travel website offering luxury city breaks in Paris, discounted 70%. An indication no doubt of the fall-off in sales, combined, no doubt, with cancellations, owing to fear following the terrorist attacks. An opportunist might say it’s the ideal time to travel to Paris, stay in an top hotel and dine at a Michelin Star restaurant, all at a fraction of the usual going rate. If only one could grasp

Yvette Dolan-Collins grew up in Dublin but spent the last seven years living in Paris, in the 11th arrondissement, just metres from the recent atrocities and the January attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine occurred

a crystal ball and gaze deep into it, one could plan life in such a way as to avoid all mishap, misfortune and sadness. Alas that’s not possible. Instead we can visit Paris, with Versailles Palace and its ever luminous crystalcut mirrors. A myriad of other marvels also cry out for attention in the French capital. Something as simple as a ride on a local bus is a visual feast. Traversing the city from the bobo 11th Arrondissement to the chic quarter of St Germain fills me to the brim with Paris and its beauty. The No 96 is my favourite route. Le Champs Elysees is all-a-sparkle in the run up

to the festive season. Its Christmas market chalets sell all kinds of gourmet goodies which make perfect presents and stocking fillers. A visit to the Pantheon, sitting as it does like a sumptuous religieuse pastry upon a hill in the 5th Arrondissement overlooking all of Paris, is a preferable alternative to the overcrowded basilica of Sacre Coeur, and so awe-inspiring for all the history it exudes. A wintry walk through crunchy fallen leaves in the Jardins de Luxembourg, followed by a meltin-your-mouth macaron from nearby Pierre Herme (beats any competitor, hands-down), is a

priceless experience. A stroll from Place de la Bastille with its genie atop the column, along Boulevard Beaumarchais as far as Place de la Republique, is retail therapy not to be beaten. The answer to the question of whether the City of Lights has lost its glow lies with you and me. What the terrorists want is to divide and conquer, to cause chaos, to plant fear and loathing in the western world. Whether to visit or not, is an agonising quandry. My firm answer is carpe diem. All our cards lie in the hand of destiny. So go, visit Paris, and stand in solidarity with the Parisians.

3 December 2015 Gazette 21

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22 Gazette 3 December 2015

OUT&ABOUT

M&S Pembrokeshire bronze turkey; weights – 2.6-9kg

M&S Festive glazed Oakham turkey breast €48

M&S Musical Shortbread tree tin €14.99; Santa tin €17.99 Lidl Lobster

€6.99

Tesco Finest Six-month mature Christmas pudding 908g €10.50

Aldi Crispy Thai Prawn Baskets €2.99

Iceland Oyster Rockefella €13

3 December 2015 Gazette 23

Gazette

FOOD GUIDE M&S Chocolate Yule Log Cream 70cl €16.49

Tesco Finest Sloe gin €22

Lildl Stilton cheese €4.99

Celtic Cask Do Dheag 12 €135 (Celtic Whiskey shop)

James Whelan Ham €45 (Approx weight 5-6.5kg)

WHETHER celebrating faith, family or friendship this Christmas, there’s one thing that we can all rely on – an avalanche of delicious food from all the main retailers! Once again, timeless Christmas dinner staples will grace the nation’s tables, while quirky and fun nibbles will add the icing on the cake. So, whether you’re considering where to get the family ham and turkey, on a mission to get a tasty treat for your co-workers, or looking for the right drink to toast Aunty Mary when she pops around on St Stephen’s Day, here’s our round-up of some of the most delicious fare this year ...

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Iceland Croque Em Bouche Christmas Master €12

colates Butlers Cho ent tin €15 rtm Christmas asso

Dingle Original gin box €37rrp

M&S C Whip 1 hristmas 50g € 5.99

Butlers Chocolates Christmas centrepiece €20

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By Dickens, it’s delicious

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24 Gazette 3 December 2015

OUT&ABOUT

HEALTH

nutrition: humble fare can have great power

Make your own soup for a real winter boost

 yvonne sheehy

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BA (hons) Culinary Arts

‘I don’t tend to use stock cubes.If you layer your soup with herbs and spices, it will have its own flavour.’

WINTER is here and it’s time to nourish the body and strengthen our immune system. There’s no better ways than super-soups; warming, nourishing and satisfying. The best thing about soups is that there are no correct quantities – it’s all right to put your own touch and taste to the pot! The more you make soup and play around with the process, such as the ingredients-to-liquid ratio, the better you will master the consistency and depth of flavour. Soup is an easily digestible meal which can provide a bowl jam-packed with valuable vitamins and minerals to help strengthen the immune system, and protect ourselves from winter colds and flu, and – although we may not escape them completely – the help from soups to have a strong and functioning immune system will help to alleviate their symptoms and minimise their duration. Garlic, fennel, onions, leeks and celery provide us with prebiotic goodness. Prebiotics feed probiotics through their fibre and natural sugars. Probiotics (found in sauerkraut, sourdough

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bread, miso, yoghurt, kefir or through a supplement) improve our gut function. This process helps to strengthen our microbiome, which is our defence system against toxins and viruses. The following tips are a few basic rules I follow when making soups ... 1. Soup base: this can be a combination of onions, leeks, garlic, carrots, fennel and celery. Chop finely and saute over a low heat with some sea salt and crushed black pepper to bring out the sweetness of the vegetables. I use coconut oil to saute the base in all my soups as it is a good oil to saute with, and I find it adds a nice flavour. I try to incorporate leeks, carrots and celery as a base to all my soups, and more often than not add all above ingredients to pack in as much variety and nutritional value

as possible. To this base, you can begin to build on the flavours and ingredients to your soup. 2. If a soup is to be pureed I like to keep the same colours in the pot so as not to end up with an off-coloured soup; for example, if I am making a tomato soup, I stick to red onions, carrots and red/orange ingredients, or if the soup is to be a green soup, I stick to asparagus, courgettes and peas, and add vibrant green leaves towards the end of cooking to keep the bright-green colour. 3. Once the main ingredients have been added, then add your liquid of choice to completely cover them, so as to easily stir the soup while it simmers. It is worth making your own stock as it takes the nourishment to another level. If you cook a chicken once a week, just keep the carcass and make a stock. I don’t tend to use stock cubes as they mostly contain salt and flavour enhancers. If you layer your soup with herbs and spices, it will have its own flavour. I keep fresh rosemary, thyme and bay leaves on hand to add to most soups as they simmer and, depending on the soup, fresh ginger, cin-

namon, paprika and turmeric are great to add flavour naturally. 4. Taking your soup to another level can make it a meal. By adding lentils, pasta or beans and keeping it chunky, you can serve your soup as a light and comforting winter’s evening meal. When serving a chunky soup, it helps the consistency to give it a small blend with a stick blender so as to blend it a small bit – but to keep it chunky, just blend for a few seconds. 5. Finishing your soup’s presentation can enhance the flavour and make it visually appealing. Serve in nice soup bowls with a drizzle of olive oil, some grated parmesan, home-made sourdough croutons, basil oil, balsamic vinegar, shredded seaweed or fresh herbs, depending on the soup. The three most popular soup recipes rotating through my kitchen at the moment are puy lentil soup topped with roasted cherry tomatoes and crumbled Clonakilty pudding; carrot and red lentil soup with garlic sauteed Swiss chard, and “Green goddess” (see recipe, right). So, pack a punch for your winter wellness with any of these three soups.

Make your own soup with carefully-chosen fresh ingredients, and you’ll be giving your immune system a great boost for the winter months

GREEN GODDESS SOUP

This is a thick and creamy soup. The amount of liquidto veg-ratio can vary according to your ingredients, but cover the veg with stock/ liquid. The greens will cook down a lot at the end of cooking; be sure not to cook for too long or put on a lid on after adding the final greens, in order to maintain that vibrant green colour. This may look like a lot of vegetables in the pot at first, but this soup is to pack a punch of green goodness. Ingredients – 2 leeks (finely chopped) – 2 sticks celery (finely chopped) – 1 fennel (remove tough stalks and core and finely chop) – 1 tablespoon coconut oil – 1 clove garlic, crushed or finely chopped – 2 bay leaves – 2 sprigs thyme – Quarter teaspoon cinnamon – 1 courgette, chopped – 1 small bunch asparagus (if in season – if not, replace with one cup of frozen peas), chopped – 200g bag of spinach, or half head of Swiss chard or kale (about 4-5 leaves)

To Serve – Extra virgin olive oil, red chilli seeds – Sourdough bread Preparation – Saute celery, leeks, fennel, salt, pepper on a low heat in coconut oil for 10-15 minutes until reduced in size and soft. – Add garlic to the pot and continue to saute for a further 5 mins. – Add thyme picked form sprigs and bayleaves and cinnamon. – Add courgette and peas/ asparagus and continue to saute for 5 mins. – Cover with stock/water and add more liquid, if required,

to cover ingredients. – Bring to boil then lower to a simmer for 30 mins until vegetables have softened. – Meanwhile, wash spinach and drain or wash and destalk chard or kale. Chop and add to the pot. Just as the greens have wilted (about 5 mins), turn of the heat and stir for a minute. – With a handheld or jug blender, blend the soup together. Season to taste. – Ladle into bowls and top with a tiny sprinkle of red chilli seeds (or cayenne powder), drizzle with olive oil, and serve with sourdough bread. – Serve, and enjoy!

3 December 2015 Gazette 25

Gazette

CINEMA

ReelReviews

PAN

Generally charmless PAN (Cert PG, 111 mins) by name, and panned by nature – by critics around the world, at least, who sharpened their knives to make this “origins” story of Peter Pan one of the worst-scored films of 2015. Telling of how Peter Pan became the boy who never grew up, and how he made an enemy of Captain Hook, it’s a mish-mash of jumbled ideas and poor editing, making it one to fly past.

There is, perhaps, an unintended resonance to Bridge of Spies thanks to current European events and increasing tensions and divisions. Such themes echo through this Soviet era-set tale of Cold War spying and frosty international relations, with Tom Hanks (above) adding some everyman warmth and integrity to Spielberg’s film.

bridge of spies: spielberg’s political thriller sees hanks on fine form

Feeling the Cold War’s heat PATRIOTISM lies at the heart of Bridge of Spies (Cert 12A, 141 mins), Spielberg’s fourth collaboration with Tom Hanks, though there is none of the brash flag-waving you might expect. The “inspired by true events” story sees Hanks take the lead role as James B Donovan – an IrishAmerican lawyer whose legal stringency sees him unexpectedly dropped into the mire of Cold War politics, where he must question what it means to be an American. In 1957, as tensions between the United States and Russia ramped up, Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) is arrested in New York City and accused of being a Soviet spy. At the request of the US government, Donovan agrees to provide

 Dave phillips

legal defence for Abel, but quickly realises that all the US are looking for is the pretence of a defence – this is a situation, he is told unequivocally, in which there is no rulebook. The trial of Abel sets the scene for a much longer story of hostage negotiation that plays out in the film’s latter half when the action moves from New York to Berlin. And, while the streets may be meaner in the newly divided city, we do not see an awful lot of them – following on from its courtroom drama beginnings, Bridge

of Spies is the kind of film that takes place in large armchairs, in vast drawing rooms, and under gargantuan portraits. With visually lavish sets, Spielberg masterfully and immediately sets the tone for this Cold War showdown. It is a time of terseness and temerity, where orders are given and never questioned, and conversations ended by the cold clack of Bakelite phones being shoved back onto receivers. It is up to Hanks, who invokes that impossibleto-dislike quintessential everyman quality, to bring some warmth to this frigid environment. However, there is plenty to help him along, complementing Spielberg’s fine attention to detail is some serious on-screen talent – Mark Rylance, who with clipped utter-

ances and boundless intensity, steals the show time and again as the quietly enigmatic Abel. A Cohen Brothers screenplay brings a welcome sense of humour and philosophical whimsy that at several points saves scenes from falling into that staid, grey grimness we associate with Cold War-era movies. Bridge of Spies is a timely film, as through this mostly true story Spielberg not only brings an interesting period of history to life – he also brings into question what it is to be an American. The character of Donovan provides that answer loud and clear: The American Constitution.The Constitution is a rulebook, and if you stop playing by that set of rules, then you have ceased to be an American, and have

become something else. The patriotism expounded in Bridge of Spies is not of the overt variety, like, say, in Clint Eastwood’s shockingly galling American Sniper – rather, it is concerned with interior ideals. To be a real American, Spielberg seems to suggest, is to be virtuous, honest, and to honour the spirit of the law above the letter of the law. It is fitting that this exaltation of interior values plays out mostly indoors, unfolding through conversations and negotiations. Indeed, the one or two scenes with more typical action rankle, and seem

out of place. The distinct lack of loud and frantic action may be off-putting for some cinemagoers, but it shouldn’t be. Bridge of Spies is a solid film, with more than enough given by Hanks and Ryland to carry it through its 141-minute running time. Spielberg may apply a liberal dose of schmaltz to the affair, but there is no denying he knows how to tell a great story.

Verdict: 8/10

black mass

Lives up to the hype AS REAL-life Irish-American mobster James ‘Whitey’ Bolger, Johnny Depp’s prosthetic makeup is a little distracting – however, it’s one of the few unwelcome distractions about Black Mass (Cert 15A, 123 mins). Although broadly familiar content, it’s a skillfully told tale of the criminal underworld’s clash with law and order, with ’70s South Boston providing the backdrop to a great tale.

spectre

Bond’s latest romp DANIEL Craig takes another shot at playing Bond in Spectre (Cert 12A, 148 mins), with his latest outing smashing its way through the cinema charts, despite more than a few shortcomings. An overly convoluted attempt at creating a larger overall story from Bond’s recent films and adventures, Spectre ticks all the right 007 boxes, but misfires a little along the way.

26 swords gazette 3 December 2015

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28 gazette 3 December 2015

SPORT

FastSport Frustration as rain wipes out dublin games: THE Continental Women’s Nathonal League Dublin derby between Peamount United and Shelbourne Ladies and the UCD Waves against Galway WFC game were both postponed due to unplayable pitches over the weekend. For Shelbourne and UCD, it was the second time their fixtures have been called off in the league already, meaning they will have a busy second half of the campaign. The pair are due to play again next weekend on Saturday at 7pm. Both have won their two games in the competition thus far in impressive style to share second place at this early stage of the campaign. Elsewhere, Castlebar Celtic collected their first victory of the season with an impressive 3-0 home win against Kilkenny United WFC on Saturday evening . Reigning champions Wexford beat Cork 3-0.

athletics: blanchardstown distance runner back in top form

Olympics on Flynn’s agenda  james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

COOLMINE athlete David Flynn has targeted a place at the Rio De Janeiro Olympics in 2016, after a successful end to the 2015 that has

seen him move right the way back into the frame for qualification. Flynn hopes to compete in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Olympics, and is also targeting the world half-marathon championships, with

Flynn in action during his time in Arkansas

a qualification run in Houston, Texas on January 17. “I expect the strength [of my recent runs] to carry over into qualifying for the Olympics in the 3,000m steeplechase. The A standard is 8.28 and B standard 8.34; they are extremely hard to achieve as it’s very hard to find a world class steeplechase field without pacemakers but I’m very optimistic with my latest performances, new coach and training environment,” he said. Flynn has had a tough couple of years, and his seventh overall at the national cross country championships – ahead of Olympic qualified athletes and European finalists – shows the strength

David Flynn in training in California earlier this year

of his ambitions. He puts the performance down to three months at altitude in California as the key to Flynn’s ambitious return. “I went to University of Arkansas on an athletic scholarship,” he explains. “I had a very successful few years, including a national championship in 2013 where they flew us to the White House to meet president Obama. “After my eligibility was up and I graduated, I was about to join a professional group in Austin, Texas but I got diagnosed with mono [glandular fever] and wasn’t able to train for 11 months. “Instead, I became a coach at Arkansas during that time which I learnt a

lot. I then returned home to Ireland which I found very hard to settle back into living full-time.” Since then, he has been given the okay to train on a more frequent basis and admits that he initially found it “extremely hard to get back into shape” prior to his return to the US. “Moving up to the mountains in California was the best choice I have ever made in my life,” he adds. “I had been there for a few weeks in 2013 but the group had changed a lot over that time. It is at 8,000ft altitude every day I run with some of the best athletes in the world. “My coach Andrew Kastors’ wife Deena was

third at the Olympics in Athens and recently broke the masters world record in the Chicago marathon. “Having people like her around everyday is great.” And Flynn is now keen to get his local community behind him, speaking of the importance of support, and would be keen to hear from local businesses who might be able to help him attain his Olympic dream. “Support and sponsorship is extremely important for all athletes targeting the Olympics as the training and recovery involved is a full time job in itself. Some sponsorship from local businesses could really help me chase this dream.”

Loreto knock out second national league side in ISC  sport@dublingazette.com

Loreto’s Sarah Evans gives chase to a ball in her side’s 3-0 win over UCC. Picture: Adrian Boehm

LORETO knocked out higher ranked opposition for the second round of the women’s Irish Senior Cup quarter-final draw after they disposed of UCC on Saturday to be the one of just two provincial league sides still standing in the competition. The Leinster league outfit progressed as they beat the Cork side 3-0 with a superb second half showing. Hannah Matthews made it 1-0 before efforts from Sarah Evans and Niamh Small from

a corner move extended the lead out, adding UCC to Pembroke in their list of victims in this year’s competition. Donnybrook side Muckross, however, were unable to join them as Ballymoney eventually prevailed on penalty strokes in Donnybrook against Muckross after normal time had finished 2-2. Jane Gilsenan had give Muckross the early lead from a corner before Money swapped the lead by the 52nd minute. A minute later, Sarah Green equalised from another set

piece, setting up a lively closing quarter in which Nicci Daly saw one effort saved on the line and another hit the post with three minutes to go. It sent the tie straight to penalty strokes in which Ballymoney netted each of their first three while Muckross missed twice to set up the victory. Other wise, all the main players advanced to the quarter-finals of the competition with six EYHL sides making it through. For the second week running, Cork Harlequins put it up

to Booterstown’s Hermes but could not quite get the reward their performance deserved as they eventually succumbed 2-1 at St Andrew’s. Like a week ago, the first half ended scoreless. Nikki Evans broke the deadlock ten minutes into the second period with a classy reverse-stick finish. Quins fought back with Miriam Crowley equalising but the Hermes’ reply was instant with Chloe Watkins restoring the home side’s lead, one which they held to the end.

3 December 2015 gazette 29

Gazette

Pendred steps out of the MMA Octagon Dubliner ends his competitive career in the cage but says his love for mixed martial arts is not likely to be dimmed  james hendicott

sport@dublingazette.com

CATHAL PENDRED - a high-profile UFC fighter based at Conor McGregor’s Straight Blast Gym in central Dublin - has retired from the sport, citing a loss of passion. T h e we l t e r we i g h t fighter represented Ire-

Cathal Pendred

land and is a former Cage Warriors champion, and also reached a semi-final in American UFC-based reality TV show ‘The Ultimate Fighter’. He was born in Boston to Irish parents, and relocated to Dublin as a toddler, where he played in a Leinster Schools senior cup winning Belvedere

College side alongside Cian Healy before getting involved in mixed martial arts. Announcing the retirement, Pendred said: “I am a passionate person and I always give 100% to what I do. I have been passionate about MMA for a long time and my focus on the sport has been my

driving force for the last 9 years. “I now find that my passion is no longer what it was and I feel that it is time for me to move on. “I have other interests that I want to pursue. The time is right to close one door and open another. “My love of MMA remains with me. I intend to maintain my involvement with the sport, but I no longer wish to compete.” He continues: “I have developed as a person because of mixed martial Arts, as I learned to cope with the discipline and demands of the sport. MMA has made me a stronger person. This strength will carry through into other areas of my life, as I move on to pursue new goals. “I would like to thank all my coaches and teammates for their friendship and support. Thank you to ever yone who has followed

and supported me on this journey. Indeed, thanks to everyone that I met through MMA from star t to finish. This chapter of my life wouldn’t have been the same without you. “My participation in competing in MMA has come to an end, but my love for the sport has not. “I will maintain my interest in the sport and continue to support my team mates as they follow their dreams.” Pendred has recently opened a salad bar in Dublin called Chopped and he has also become involved in domestic v i o l e n c e aw a r e n e s s campaigns. He also found viral fame last year when he was pictured returning a stranded dolphin to the water on a beach on Doonbeg, County Clare. Pendred retires with a professional record of 17 wins and four losses, with one draw. He lost his final two fights.

FastSport Road races play big role in city’s Resolution Day DUBLIN’s New Year Festival has been named Resolution Day, a January 1 event intended to kick start those with New Year’s ambitions. The first of January event will incorporate the Lord Mayor’s Five Alive challenge at Liffey Valley Athletics Club (already fully booked for race one) through the Tom Brennan 5km road race in Phoenix Park, as well as TED Talk style motivations speeches. The Lord Mayor’s challenge continues into April, with five events in total. Alongside the sporting events, there will be a candlelit Procession of Light (December 31, St Stephen’s Green), a St Stephen’s Green Street Festival and the lighting up of buildings in an event called Luminosity. The festival will also attempt to beat world records for the largest Bodhran Session, with in excess of 980 people expected, as well as taxi drivers sharing their stories in talks called ‘On the Move, City Wide’. A music trail and arts workshops are also expected. Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said of the event: “We have had an exceptional year in terms of tourism and we intend to end the year with style. Failte Ireland and Dublin City Council have developed this Festival together to grow Dublin’s reputation as a destination for New Year celebrations.” “The range of entertainment and events on offer during NYF will entertain visitors and Dubliners alike. I am confident that everyone who takes part in the New Year celebrations will have a great time and be impressed by the manner in which Dublin marks the year’s end.” He continues: “A young festival by any standard, the NYF is quickly becoming the jewel in Dublin’s winter crown, and proving to be a great draw for international visitors, with last year’s event attracting thousands of visitors from both home and abroad. The St Stephen’s Green Street Fest is a great new addition to the Festival and will provide festival-goers with more options to ring in 2016.”

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 3 December 2015

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: malahide united starlet plays part in 3-1 win over poland

King Kong Carroll’s rapid rise up ladder continues JONO “King Kong” Carroll continued his promising rise up the professional boxing ladder with an impressive win on the undercard of Fury vs Klitschko on Saturday night. The 23-year-old took on Miguel Gonzalez in Dusseldorft early on in the card of the world heavyweight title decider having only accepted the fight a week before the event took place. Gonzalez was certainly no easy opponent, going into the fight with a record of 13-3 with 11 knock-outs. But Carroll limited him to some pretty tame shots throughout the fight and looked in control throughout. The Celtic Warrior Gym boxer cruised through the early rounds and then used his wits to outbox the Honduran in the latter stages. It went the distance but the decision was unanimous as the judges’ score cards read 100-90, 100-90, 99-91 in Carroll’s favour. It was good night for the Irish all round in Germany as Manchester-born former Irish champion Tyson Fury defeated Wladimir Klitschko to become the WBA, WBO and IBF World Heavyweight Champion. Carroll’s record now impressively reads 9-0 having seized his chance on the big stage, which is something he has become accustomed to doing over the past year or so. Towards the end of last year, the Dubliner entered the Prizefighter competition as a novice only to go on to become the rapid-fire tournament’s champion. That meant he landed himself a Matchroom Boxing contract, which in turn would have been a key factor in being offered the chance to fight on one of the biggest cards in boxing this year. Carroll had originally been scheduled to fight on the undercard of the Joshua-White/ Eubank Jr-O’Sullivan card in London’s 02 Arena which is also on pay-per-view TV on December 12. Having agreed to take the early bout and fighting the 10 rounds, Carroll is now eligible for a title bout but there is also chance he could now fight on the card of another payper-view show, Carl Frampton versus Scott Quigg on February 27, 2016.

The Republic of Ireland Under-15 side prior to their game against Poland

McEntee’s Ireland call

 nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

MALAHIDE United Under-15 rising star Oisin McEntee got his first taste of international football last week when he made his Republic of Ireland debut in a 3-1 win over Poland at Rock Celtic FC. Colin O’Brien’s Under15 Irish side took on their Polish counterparts in two friendly fixtures at the Louth venue at the end of November. The first took place last Tuesday, in which a 2-1 victory saw the Poles come out on top. Malahide man McEntee didn’t feature

in that fixture but played the full contest two days later as Ireland won 3-1. O’Brien’s side came from a goal down at halftime to win 3-1 thanks a second-half display packed with intricate passing and exciting play down the flanks. It was Ireland who had the first real chance in the second meeting in three days between the sides but Sean Mahon could only volley over from a Callum Thompson cross. Poland then took the lead after 11 minutes when talented striker Bartosz Marchewka fired low and hard past Harry

northern comfort Fins win AFL 11N with victory over Naul side fingallians claimed the AFL Division 11 North top spot last Sunday when they got the better of Clann Mhuire in the end of season decider with Bob Raftery leading the side to the title. The club’s inter side, however, was denied promotion in their playoff final by Whitehall Colmcilles in extra time, falling 0-11 to 0-8. They had led by four points at one stage but eventually succumbed after normal time had ended 0-6 each.

Clarke after a neat turn on the edge of the box got him away from McEntee and centre-back partner Kameron Ledwidge, Ireland had a couple of half-chances in the first half but failed to draw level and went in 1-0 down at the break. Five minutes after the restart, Poland threatened to go two ahead when Marchewka produced another dangerous strike but this time Clarke kept it out. Just shy of the hour mark, Ireland drew level. The young Boys in Green were awarded an in-direct free-kick on the edge of the box and when the

ball was teed up to him, Ireland captain Ledwidge rifled an effort into the bottom corner. Two minutes later, the centre-back had his second goal of the day. Ireland winger Marc Walsh twisted and turned his full-back before breaking into the box and was hauled down, giving the hosts a penalty. Up stepped the skipper and Ledwidge made no mistake from 12 yards to put his side in front. Walsh was looking Ireland’s biggest threat down the right and was rewarded on 74 minutes when he got on the end of quick counter-attack,

drove for ward into the box and buried an unstoppable effort into the top corner. “We were very pleased with the players over the course of the two games they’ve played this week. They will have a much better understanding of what is required at underage international level after these fixtures,” said O’Brien after the win last Thursday. “We will be looking at some more players next month and will have some assessments in the Christmas break then look towards our next international fixtures in the New Year,” he added.

3 December 2015 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

award winners

Masterson honoured with special merit prize

Club Noticeboard FINGALLIANS

fingal natives were out in force at the

Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football Association annual awards and gala evening last weekend in Croke Park as they landed a series of prizes. St Margaret’s Muireann Ni Scanaill, far left, was named senior players’ player of the year while Naomh Mearnog’s Denise Masterson, right, was given a special merit award.Picture: GAAPics.com

THERE was disappointment for the

der with the foundation award. Thank

Division 3 footballers as they were

you to Nicola Fitzgerald for hosting

defeated after extra time by White-

this event.

hall in the playoff final. Also on Sunday morning, our minor hurlers bowed out of the championship with a defeat

Happy Birthday: It was great to see

away in Ballinteer. Our Division 11 foot-

one of our ex players from the 50’s

ballers defeated the Naul to win the

hitting the magical number 90 over

league on Sunday afternoon.

the weekend – Congratulations to Joe

Congratulations to the 72 boys

football: skerries miss out on afl1 place

The end of season awards night

careers on Saturday morning versus

will be held in the club on Saturday,

Raheny in very challenging condi-

December 5. Tickets are €15 and are

tions.

available from all adult mentors or The members’ appreciation evening

9.15pm in the club hall. The recommen-

will take place on Sunday, December 20

dations of the strategy committee will

in the club bar.

be put forward and we look at their

Over the next few weekends, the

implementation over the next three

Santa experience is available in

years. It is open to all club members.

Croke Park. Admission also includes

We will be kick starting the year with

a visit to the museum. Tickets can

a coaching conference on Janurary 16,

only be booked online at https://

2016. There will be no fixtures or train-

crokeparkmuseum.tickets.ie/Listing/

ing on the day.

EventInformation/26100/santa-expe-

emy morning this year. The following week, December 12, the Christmas Party will take place in the club hall. Congratulations to all who took part in their first step on the coaching lad-

afl div 2 playoff Lucan Sarsfields Skerries Harps  sport@dublingazette.com

1-9 1-5

SKERRIES Harps will have to wait another year at least to test themselves in AFL1 after defeat in their promotional playoff final against Lucan Sarsfields on Sunday. The match was played on an extremely breezy morning at the 12th Lock, a wind so strong that it dictated play and it was the home side who used it better. Lucan got off to a great start, going two points up after two minutes. It wasn’t until the half hour mark that Skerries got on

the scoreboard and by that time, Sean McCaffrey’s side had settled nicely into the tie. Sars added their third score after 12 minutes and immediately followed it up with another. The breeze was blowing across the pitch rather than in one direction but when it did get behind them, it drove Lucan forward and they went 0-5 to no score on 29 minutes. Skerries were back in the contest when, following some sloppy Sarsfields defending, former Dublin All-Ireland winning captain Bryan Cullen popped up with a goal.

Two minutes into the second half, Skerries got their first point of the game through the impressive Colin Daly. There was a 10-minute spell where neither side registered on the scoreboard but it was Lucan who got the next point to go 0-6 to 1-1 in front. Cullen and Rory Newsholme then hit back to pull the game level for Skerries on 46 minutes. With 10 minutes to go however, Lucan went back in front but probably more importantly at this stage, had pulled Paul Casey back to manmark the troublesome Daly and it nullified much of Skerries’ threat

going forward. The Lucan backs in general were excellent throughout here once again, just as they had been in last week’s playoff semi-final. O we n E n n i s a n d Ciaran McHugh were unflappable at wing-back while Dan Gallagher led like a lion at centreback. Substitutes were key for Lucan too with Rory Kelly coming on to bag 1-2 points late on while Johnny McCormack got Lucan’s crucial score which put them four ahead with a massive point towards the end which sealed the result and a return to AFL1.

bar staff.

meeting on Thursday, December 3 at

This Saturday will be the final acad-

Harps face ill winds while Lucan prevail

Maguire from Seatown.

and girls who kick started their GAA

There will be a strategic group

Skerries Harps senior footballers just missed out on promotion

Christmas Draw: Tickets are available at €5 from the club.

rience-at-croke-park-croke-park-28 -November-2015 Last week’s lotto numbers were 15, 22, 28, 29 and 32. We had three winners: Noreen McKittrick, Carol Callen and Angela Farmer.

Fingal ravens OUR Fairyhouse Raceday took place

gratulations to Colin and Orla

on November 28 and was a huge suc-

Prendeville on the birth of their son

cess. All money raised goes towards

James.

the all-weather pitch project which

The annual transfer season for

will be a huge benefit to all our mem-

players (male - adult and juvenile)

bers.

wishing to transfer between Dublin

The Raceday was a sell-out and

clubs opened at midnight on Tues-

we would like to thank everyone who

day and closes at 5.30pm sharp on

generously supported us on the day

Tuesday, December 8.

by attending, buying tickets, participating in the auction etc.

For fur ther inquiries, please contact Lisa (adult) or Desy ( juve-

As a club, we are grateful to

nile). Please email secretary.fingal-

have a fantastic committee work-

ravens.dublin@gaa.ie for further

ing tirelessly behind the scenes to

details and to obtain a copy of the

make sure our dreams of having an

transfer form. Please remember

all-weather pitch become a reality.

that this transfer window only

A big thank you once again to each

opens once a year.

and everyone of you for your commitment to our project. The club would like to send con-

The club are now live on Twitter please follow @FingalRavensGFC for live match updates.



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

harps unstrung: Skerries bid for AFL Division 1 football ended as Lucan Sarsfields win playoff P31

december 3-9, 2015

leaving the octagon: Cathal Pendred ends his competitive career P29

Ports’ eye-catching cup run continues  nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

PORTMARNOCK AFC were the junior club on everyone’s lips at the turn of the millennium when the North Dublin side won the FAI Junior Cup, the Leinster Junior Cup, and reached and FAI Senior Cup quarter-final. It’s been a fairly quiet but, at the same time, busy 15 years or so for the club’s senior side and they’re back making the headlines once more having reached the last 16 of this season’s FAI Intermediate Cup. Managed by Willie O’Leary, the club’s first team won the LSL Sen-

ior Division 1B title last year and have started this campaign well in 1A, winning five of their opening 10 games. In the Inter Cup, they received a bye in the first round before knocking out last year’s finalists Tolka Rovers in the second round 3-2. Last Sunday, they repeated that scoreline in the third round, coming from 2-0 down to beat Clondalkin side St Francis to secure their place in the last 16. “It’s reminding people in the club of the glory days of Portmarnock at the start of the millennium when they were winning the FAI Junior Cup and the Leinster

Junior Cup. “Also, when they reached the quarter-finals of the FAI Senior Cup in 2001 and were knocked out by the eventual finalists Longford,” said O’Leary when asked the club’s run so far. Tuesday’s draw for the fourth round saw Portmarnock drawn away from home against either Wayside Celtic or Cork’s Carrigaline United. “We’ll take it as it is, it’ll be a great experience, it’ll increase the profile of the club. We’ll look to do our best but we’ll also try to remain level-headed and not getting to distracted on our targets in the league,” said the Portmarnock

manager. “The funny thing is we’re on a bit of a magical mystery tour at the moment because, if we’re being honest, we didn’t discuss the FAI Intermediate Cup too much in pre-season and didn’t expect to go too far. That’s not to say we don’t realise our ability but our main focus has been the league and we want to try earn back-to-back promotions. “The draw could have been worse; no disrespect to Wayside of Carrigaline, they’ve both got pedigree but we could have been drawn against Crumlin or Avondale and everyone knows how strong they are.”

The Portmarnock AFC Sunday Senior team