Swords

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€3m to upgrade Swords Castle  KEITH BELLEW

THE first phase of the redevelopment of Swords Castle, which will see €3m invested over three years, has begun, with the council commissioning an architectural master plan for the historic castle.

This master plan will give a clear idea of the timeline and overall spend of the entire project.

The plan will also cover environmental improvements to the public

spaces in the area to reinforce its identity within the town and the development of more cultural events within and around the castle, which dates back to the 13th century.

Fingal chief executive Paul Reid said the council “will invest €3m over three years to begin the process of transforming the area around Swords Castle, and this investment will continue in the coming years”.

Full Story on Page 3

A noteworthy event: Sharing the excitement on Main Street RITIKA and Rupak Sarkar were among the many people attending the opening of KBC Bank Ireland’s new retail banking hub at Main Street, Swords recently. The opening was a family-friendly affair, with RTE radio personality Brenda

Donohue acting as MC, and former Irish international and Leinster rugby star Shane Horgan making a guest appearance. The new KBC branch covers a wide range of personal and business banking options for the community. Picture: Naoise Culhane

2 swords gazette 19 February 2015

FastNews

dole Where are all these jobs – Coppinger

Council thanked for fencing off ditched area at park A DITCHED area at Glasmore Park, Swords which was a cause of concern for residents has been fenced off by Fingal County Council.

The ditch, which had a drain at the bottom of it, posed a risk to children as it held more than a foot of water.

Cllr Philip Lynam (SF, above) has thanked the council for its quick response in dealing with the issue.

He said: “I contacted Fingal County Council on behalf of concerned residents in Glasmore Park who wanted a ditched area fenced up as there has been a few incidents with dumping and fires in the past few months.

“There was also a danger with the ditch as it had a drain at the bottom and held more than a foot of water, which posed a serious risk to children in the area.

“We are delighted to now have this area fenced off and made safe and I would like to thank the council for its rapid response on this matter.”

Council to remove Smart Telecom kiosks THE council is currently making arrangements for the removal of all Smart Telecom phone kiosks in Swords and hopes to have this completed before March 17.

These nonfunctional kiosks have been idle for years and a number of local representatives, along with members of the Swords Tidy Towns Committee,

have called for their removal, as they believe they are eyesores.

The chairperson of Swords Tidy Towns, Ken Duffy, has said that the kiosks are an eyesore on Main Street, and that they are completely useless, as there are perfectly functioning Eircom phone kiosks in the town.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Every effort will be made to have this work completed before March 17, subject to contractor availability.”

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There has been a mixed reaction to the drop in the number of those signing on the Live Register in north County Dublin

‘More to do’ despite fall in Live Register THE latest Live Register figures for north County Dublin show a reduction in numbers signing on but reaction from local representatives on the latest statistics has been mixed.

While all have agreed that more needs to be done, some have welcomed the reduction, while others have questioned how it was achieved.

The figures, recently released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), show a fall in those people signing on in Swords and Balbriggan.

The numbers signing on in Swords has decreased from 4,185 people in January 2014 to 3,455 people in January 2015, while that of people signing on in Balbriggan has dipped from 4,527 to 4,188 over the same period.

 keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com

Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) welcomed the news, while maintaining that there was still a lot left to do.

He said: “While the unemployment rate has dropped, much work remains to be done in order to ensure the impact of the economic recovery is felt in every home in Fingal.

“However, these Live Register figures signify that the Government’s plan is working and the Action Plan for Jobs is continuing to facilitate job creation in our local communities.

“While the continu-

ing reductions in Live Register numbers will be very welcome in Fingal, the fact remains that too many people have yet to feel the benefits of the economic recovery in their own homes.

“I will continue to actively engage with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, as we work to generate greater levels of job creation in the north county,” he said.

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) reacted similarly, saying: “Whilst any decrease in the Live Register is most welcome, clearly much more still needs to be done in providing longterm, stable and decent paying employment for all who are seeking it.

“Through our work on the council, we will continue to do all that we can to support measures that

create the right environment in Swords and Fingal for entrepreneurs and job creation.”

Cllr Eugene Coppinger (AAA) was more sceptical of the figures.

He said: “I don’t know where all these new jobs are in the Swords area.

There is still no evidence of a [economic] recovery in my area – 150 people in that reduction are ‘employed’ on Gateway.

“While it is great that people on long-term unemployment can break the monotony of being out of work, the duties they perform are real jobs, and they should be paid a real wage.

“After years of staff reductions in Fingal County Council and an embargo on recruitment, the Government saw fit to bring in the Gateway scheme. So, instead of

people earning a decent wage, they are replaced, in part, by people on €1 per hour [on top of social welfare entitlements].

“Over 40,000 people emigrated last year. Even allowing for a number of people returning home, it is fair to say that, on average, about 400 people emigrated from this area,” he said.

“I wouldn’t go shouting from the rooftops yet.

“This country brought in €3bn more in taxes in 2014 than we spent, apart from the €7.5bn cost of interest on loans to pay bondholders’ debt.

“Instead of paying that debt, we should be using some of that €3bn to create jobs, stop emigration and get our young people back working.

“That figure on the Live Register is still, obviously, too big,” said Cllr Coppinger.

19 February 2015 swords gazette 3

heritage Ambitious architectural proposal is warmly welcomed council Decision made on concerts

Swords Castle in line for a €3m revamp  KEITH BELLEW

FINGAL County Council is currently commissioning an architectural master plan for Swords Castle as part of the redevelopment of the castle.

This is the first phase of the project, which will see €3m invested over three years. This master plan will give a clear idea of the timeline and overall spend of the entire project.

This plan will also cover environmental improvements to the public spaces in the area to reinforce its identity within the town of

Swords; works to Swords Castle as identified in the recently completed conservation plan; the development of more cultural events within and around the castle; the development of a space for artists and cultural tourism; looking at the potential to relocate Swords public library, and the potential to develop a civic theatre.

Commenting on the plans for Swords Castle, Paul Reid, the chief executive of Fingal County Council, said the council “will invest €3m over three years to begin the

process of transforming the area around Swords Castle, and this investment will continue in the coming years”.

He added: “Overall, the council wants to provide a civic and cultural place around Swords Castle for visitors, local residents, the business community and other stakeholders that recognises the historical and civic importance of Swords as our county town.

“The Swords Castle master plan will respect the long-term strategic objectives for the town

An architectural image of the proposed redevelopment of Swords Castle

as a whole, but will also allow us to deliver a new social and cultural destination around Swords Castle with links back into the retail heart of the town.”

Cllr Duncan Smith (Lab) said he is very excited about the project.

He said: “I welcome the commissioner’s architectural plan. We received a very exciting presentation at the [most recent] area committee meeting

regarding plans for the Swords Castle cultural quarter, and I’m very excited by the funding that’s been allocated to the project at this stage and the plans for the future.”

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) said he is delighted that real progress is being made and is optimistic that great improvements will be seen over the coming years.

He said: “For a start,

Swords Castle will be opened again to the public later this year. On top of this, the council has great plans to revitalise this end of the town and make more use of the Swords town park behind the castle.

“The council also mentioned options with regard to making the Main Street one-way, and a possible additional civic space at the car park beside the council building.”

ARDGILLAN Castle and Malahide Castle may soon play host to concerts once again, Fingal County Council has confirmed.

In response to a question from Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) about whether or not it was possible to use the sites as venues, a spokesperson from the council said the economic development services department is planning to advertise by the end of March for expressions of interest from promoters interested in holding concerts in Ardgillan Castle and Malahide Castle during 2015 and 2016.

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4 swords gazette 19 February 2015

Fingal Councillors worry about funding don’sdublin The brawling past of genteel Donnybrook IT IS rare that a placename finds its way into the dictionary and becomes part of common language, yet Donnybrook has that singular distinction.

It is defined as a “wild fight or contentious dispute; a free-for-all brawl” and comes from the famous – or rather, infamous – fair that was held in the neighbourhood for more than 600 years.

King John granted the Corporation of Dublin a licence in 1204 to hold a fair in Donnybrook, a border area on the banks of the Dodder.

This was on the edge of Norman jurisdiction and, as a place for fording the river, was an important place where city dwellers and their rural neighbours met and traded.

There was a church and graveyard nearby; places commonly associated with gatherings for religious festivals and burials. The elements that are usually associated with such carnivals – namely, the indulgence in food and drink, music, gambling, sporting competition – were present.

However, it was the unbounded permissiveness and increased violence that took place that it became known for, and for which the name is now attributed. This epitomised the wild, unrestrained behaviour of rural peasantry, and by the late 1700s lurid reports began to feature in local newspapers.

By the mid-18th century, fighting between the southside Liberty Weavers gang and the northside Ormond Butchers was drawing negative attention.

The movement for reform began in the 16th century, and after the 1798 Rebellion and the impact of the French Revolution that was stirring a new class consciousness, the authorities made a concerted effort to restrict the fair’s activities.

Through the early 1800s, the movement for abolition gathered steam with local merchants, the nobility and the church joining forces. The end came on August 26 (the usual first day of the fair) 1866, when a new church, dedicated to the Sacred Heart in atonement for the sins committed at the fair, was opened only yards from the fairground.

The small crowd of fairgoers soon slipped away quietly – and that was the end. The fair soon became a memory, and the fair green was later developed in 1881 as a rugby ground (the former home of Leinster Rugby), where both Old Wesley and Bective Rangers now play (below).

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin.wordpress.com

Property tax motion is dismissed as populist  keith bellew

A MOTION calling for Fingal County Council to write to the Minister for Environment, Alan Kelly, to ask him to remove the 15% limit on local property tax (LPT) reductions was passed at a recent council meeting.

The motion, which was passed by 30 votes to six (four councillors were absent), was tabled

by Cllr Keith Redmond (FG), who said that because the LPT – which is based on property value – will continue to rise along with house prices, the 15% reduction put in place in September will not benefit homeowners.

The four Labour Party councillors voted against the motion, along with Independent councillors Justin Sinnott and Joe Newman.

Cllr Duncan Smith (Lab) said: “I voted against this motion as I

have serious concerns about the current and future funding of local government in Fingal.

The LPT is, for better or worse, the primary method of funding local government now.

“This is a delicate balancing act but I was elected on a platform of improved local services and responsible local government. Cllr Redmond is pursuing an agenda of rabid tax cutting and by extension cutting the funding for our local services.

‘Overtures’ “As some councillors gear up for a general election next year, one can see overtures to the electorate about cutting the LPT. “Whilst the council is still struggling to provide funding for the basics such as street lights and litter bins, I was not prepared to support a motion which had the

capacity, if implemented, to reduce the level of vital service provided by our council,” he said, Cllr Sinnott (Ind) said: “It is surprising that a Government councillor would not bring this issue to the ministers in his party that have the power to make these decisions.

“Fine Gael introduced the LPT and set the 15% rate. Trying to make headlines in a council chamber is all well and good, but the power to make changes to the LPT rests with his party.

“The motion was deeply flawed in that it does not answer the fundamental question – how are services to be paid for?

“I voted to reduce the LPT by 15% because even with this cut, there was a surplus of income.

If we had cut beyond this it would have meant cuts to services,” he said.

Cllr Newman echoed the sentiments of Cllr

While some councillors want the local property tax reduced by more than the current agreed 15% limit that local authorities are empowered to accept, there are concerns that such a move could adversely affect funding for the authority

Smith, asserting his belief that this motion was an attempt at populist vote garnering.

He said: “I felt the motion was a cynical ploy by a Fine Gael councillor coming up to the [general] election.

“By his motion, it [the LPT] could be reduced by 100%, and that is unworkable. I feel that the tax needs to be separated from the price of property, because it doesn’t seem right that as your house price goes up your tax goes up.”

Cllr Redmond dismissed these arguments and responding directly

to Cllr Sinnott, saying: “Any future decision to reduce the LPT would be made by the democratic decision of the councillors, taking into consideration all expenditure and service requirements.

“Cllr Sinnott seems to fear the very process he engaged in and voted for in reducing the LPT by 15% last year.

“If he wants to abolish the LPT, this motion – if adopted by the Government – would allow him to reduce the LPT by 100% once he could find the money elsewhere.

He seems afraid of that responsibility.”

Dangers of cars parking by green an issue  keith bellew

PARKING officials at Fingal County Council have expressed their willingness to meet with residents of Cherry Avenue in Rivervalley to discuss possible solutions to an ongoing parking problem there.

Residents have raised concerns about people parking along a green space in the area on which children play. This space is along

a busy road, and parked cars create blind spots, and residents are worried that there will be an accident.

According to Cllr Philip Lynam (SF), there are certain residents in the area who are parking along this space despite being asked not to by other residents.

Cllr Barry Martin (PBP) brought the issue up with Fingal County Council, saying: “There is a lot of stress and anxiety on

the part of the residents. Basically they fear for their children’s safety.

“Cars are illegally parking on the green and it’s blocking motorists’ vision. Obviously, residents are afraid that there’s going to be a terrible accident. They feel that they have been bounced between the council and the guards. So, a meeting is urgently required.”

In response, Fingal County Council official Martin Sweeney

said: “We feel that a meeting is the proper way to work on this because there is obviously a breakdown in communication amongst the residents themselves.

“What we will try to do at the meeting is identify what the real issues are, who the people involved are. We’ll meet with the guards as well and we’ll try to appeal to the better nature of the people who are parking there.”

19 February 2015 SWORDS GAZETTE 5

SAFETY Lifeboat station launched 62 rescue missions in 2014, saving 107 people

RNLI Howth logs busiest year to date HOWTH RNLI launched 62 rescue missions in 2014, bringing 107 people to safety in what was the busiest year in its 190-year history.

The statistics for 2014 were recently released with national figures showing last year in Ireland the RNLI’s lifeboat crews launched 1,089 times, bringing 1,414 people to safety.

There are currently 45 lifeboat stations in Ireland.

A c c o r d i n g t o How t h RNLI, the figures show more people are getting into difficulty on leisure craft.

The station has advised that proper safety advice and maintenance are vital to ensure people stay safe on the water and is calling for the public to “think ahead

School hopes for Oliver win SKERRIES Community College has been shortlisted in the best direction category of the Bord Gais Energy Student Theatre awards for their production of Oliver.

The students faced stiff competition from hundreds of schools around Ireland to make the final three in their category.

They will now travel to a special awards ceremony at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre hosted by actor Simon Delaney on Wednesday, March 4, where the winners will be announced.

The theatre awards recognise and reward participation in drama in schools across Ire-

land. Open to primary school students from third to sixth class, and all students in secondary school, the winning schools will share a prize fund of up to €10,000.

Ta ny a Tow n s e n d , sponsorship manager of Bord Gais Energy, said: “We were absolutely blown away by the number and standard of entries we received this year from across Ireland.

“The awards will take place on March 4 at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, and it’s going to be a really exciting event.

We look for ward to announcing the winners on the day.”

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and never underestimate the strength and power of the sea and inland waters”.

An RNLI spokesperson said: “We take this opportunity to thank all our volunteers, their families and friends for all the help, support and fundraising as the RNLI continue to save lives at sea.”

Deputy Terence Flanagan

(Ind) commended Howth RNLI for continuing to save lives in 2014.

‘Dedication’ He said: “The volunteers at Howth RNLI launched 62 times last year and brought more than 100 people to safety. Their unwavering and selfless dedication to the lifeboat service has undoubt-

edly saved many lives.

“I want to thank all the volunteers at Howth RNLI for their hard work and for giving up their spare time to man the lifeboats.

“Those that frequent the waters off Howth are hugely assured by the presence of the service in case they come into difficulties.”

Cllr Cian O’Callaghan

(Ind) also applauded the group for its work in the area, and reminded locals of the importance of being cautious around water.

He said: “There is huge respect for the Howth RNLI in the community and a massive amount of gratitude for the work that they do. It’s a huge voluntary effort that they carry out.”

6 swords gazette 19 February 2015

interview Joan Burton talks exclusively to the Gazette

Tanaiste hopes housing plan will start soon  Keith Bellew

WHEN asked for a specific timeframe for the construction of more social housing in Dublin 15, Tanaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said she hoped it would be soon.

In an exclusive interview with the Gazette, she said she did not know when the construction of social houses in Dublin 15 would begin, but that Fingal chief executive Paul Reid was laying the

groundwork and was “really anxious to push ahead”.

She said Reid had “identified those locations where there are sites in various stages of readiness in both Dublin West in particular and the Swords area. I believe Fingal, particularly with strong leadership from the councillors and chief executive, is very well placed to make a very strong contribution to the provision of social housing in Dublin 15 and north

County Dublin.”

In response to Fr Peter Mc Verry’s remarks that the Government’s plan to end homelessness by 2016 was unachievable, she said: “Minister for Environment Alan Kelly got the largest allocation for investment into social housing over the next three to five years, of any Minister in the history of the Department of Environment.

Minister Kelly is acquiring more houses for social housing through a variety of mechanisms

including commencing the actual building of social housing which had died out in the country in the years of the boom.

“I have great respect for Peter McVerry and the work that he does but in all fairness Minister Kelly has really hit the ground running in relation to this.”

She says her priorities for 2015 are to get more people back to work and make sure more families get some return to prosperity which she says is now beginning again.

Employment schemes

W hen asked what she has to say in relation to the remarks of opposition TDs that her recently launched employment schemes – Jobs Plus Youth and First Steps, along with all other such schemes – are “scams” that force people to work for very little money, she said: “We don’t force anybody, on the contrary we have people queueing up who have been locked out of employment because the job closed down or they left school or college and when they came out there were no jobs available.

“In that context, getting work experience, or becoming a participant in work in your own community, it’s vitally important to let people get that experience particularly young people.

“I’m happy to say that there has been really significant improvements in terms of people getting employment and leaving the Live Register in Dublin 15

Minister Joan Burton: “Alan Kelly got the largest allocation for investment into social housing ... of any Minister in the history of the Department of Environment.”

and the Navan Road as there has been all over Ireland.

“I simply don’t see being on social welfare for a long time when somebody is in their late teenage years up to 25 as being a great start.

“If we contact people to whom we’re paying social welfare which is paid for by everybody who’s at work, and they don’t show up or contact us because maybe they are too busy doing something else, we will call them in again.

“If they fail to respond then we do have the power to cut their social welfare payment. But that’s a very small group of people.”

Speaking about her

reasons for voting against Clare Daly’s fatal foetal anomaly bill recently, even though she has expressed a wish to see a change in the laws on abortion, she said: “I was one of the people who campaigned against the Eighth Amendment that was put to the people all those years ago.

Position

“I didn’t think it was an amendment which served women or babies particularly well, that’s always been my public position.

“When you are a member of the Government under the Constitution, you have to act in the context of there being constitutional requirements, that legislation

that the Government puts forward should be constitutional.

“Notwithstanding the motivation behind the bill, which I accept and acknowledge, the clear advice of the attorney general to us is that it’s not constitutional.

I have to abide by that advice.

“At the Labour Party’s forthcoming conference we will be discussing the Eighth Amendment and there are a number of motions on the agenda calling for the citizens to be asked to give their views.

“We will be revisiting and looking at the Eighth Amendment, but ultimately that is a matter for the citizens of the country to decide.”

19 February 2015 swords gazette 7

8 swords gazette 19 February 2015

gazetteGALLERIES Sandra Case and Linda Byrne

Fiona Peppard and Louisa Flanagan

Emer Molloy and Nicola McNamee with Sofia Molloy, James and Evie McNamee, Eric McCauley and Alex Irwin

Eimear Finn, Fiona Peppard

Adrian McDonald and Brian Irwin

Fiona Digan with Scott Glover

19 February 2015 swords gazette 9

community: launching a fundraising night

Squaring up to face The Cube ...

S

TEADY hands – and nerves – were needed at the Portmarnock Sports and Leisure Centre recently, where Portmarnock AFC was hosting a launch night for its upcoming The Cube fundraiser for the club, to be held on February 27. Inspired by the popular TV show, a wide range of challenges await would-be contestants later this month. Although The Gazette declined to demonstrate its balancing skills, there was no shortage of other have-a-go participants at the fun launch party, as club members, family and friends eagerly took part in the variety of challenges.

and Colin Gahan. Pictures: Niall Griffin

Derek Downes tries his luck with a challenging game

10 gazette 19 February 2015

gazetteGALLERY

Singer/songwriter Damien Dempsey and his mother, Adrienne

Cast members Moe Dunford and Philip Jackson

Smithfield lights up for Patrick’s Day S

MITHFIELD’S lighthouse Cinema rolled out the red carpet treatment for those attending the premiere of award-winning Patrick’s Day recently.

Many of the film’s cast and crew were in attendance for

the film, which tells the story of a young man with mental health issues who strikes up a relationship with a troubled woman. However, his obsessive mother tries to separate them – but her love may be more dangerous than theirs ...

Leads Moe Dunford and Catherine Walker were happy to praise the film’s themes as they chatted to media and cinema fans at the cinema, with the film by Irish writer-director Terry McMahon proving a hit with the audience.

Declan Conlon

Madeline Mulqueen

Jack Reynor

Cast members Moe Dunford and Catherine Walker. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Sil Wickremasinghe

Danielle Ryan

19 February 2015 Gazette 11

asdfsdaf opinion P27 P14

escape the mayhem p13

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

a day in the life: singer and actress Lisa Lambe has a packed schedule

what’son

‘A long walk will blow away the cobwebs’  Ian Begley

As a remarkably talented singer and actress, Lisa Lambe’s day-today life is packed full of rehearsals, tours and promotions.

Being a former member of trad group Celtic Women, Lambe’s current role as Sorcha in Ross O’Carroll Kelly’s on-stage production of Breaking Dad, along with promoting her debut album is certainly enough to keep her busy.

This week The Gazette caught up with Lambe to find out exactly what her day-today life entails.

“It depends on the week that’s in it. One week it could be nice and quiet then the following week could be all hands on deck with work.

“I love to have a bowl

of porridge in the mornings along with a nice big cup of tea and a glass of orange juice.

“If I have the morning free I like to go to the gym or stay at home to catch up with things, but if I have to be somewhere it’s a shower, breakfast and straight out the door.

“At the moment I get up at around 8am and spend an hour getting ready before I’m out the door to be at rehearsals for 10am.

“It’s a very exciting time at the moment doing rehearsals for Breaking Dad and promoting my new album, but it’s nice to just catch my breath now and again.

“A f t e r r e h e a r s a l s at about six o’clock I would either meet a friend in town for a coffee or just head home and learn my lines for

the next day.

“When I get home I love to go out and get some fresh air so I wrap up and go for a long walk around Blackrock to blow off all the cobwebs. If I’m not eating out with friends I love to stay at home and cook.

I find cooking really relaxing and it seems to make everything slow down for a while.”

Asked what she does in the hours leading up to bedtime, Sorcha said that she loves to watch documentaries or films online.

“I love to browse around on Netflix and I’m very thankful I have it, especially when I’m travelling or have nothing else to do.

“It’s brilliant just to switch off now and again and watch a few cooking shows, documentaries or films before I head to bed



Gazette

diary p12

evening of music for barnardos:

Lisa Lambe is currently starring in Ross O’Carroll Kelly’s Breaking Dad

around midnight.”

Lisa Lambe’s new album Hiding Away is now available in HMV

and on iTunes.

Breaking Dad is currently running in the Gaiety Theatre until

February 28.

For more information on her work visit lisalambe.com

Co-Orch, Dublin’s newest instrumental ensemble, has teamed up with Barnardos children’s charity to host an exclusive evening of music in Dublin on February 26.

Members of CoOrch volunteer their time and talent so that all proceeds from this event will go directly to support Barnardos work with children and families across Ireland.

Comprising some of Ireland’s most vibrant and talented orchestral musicians, CoOrch is an orchestra with a twist. No black tie, no evening dress, no concert halls – just musicians coming together to play the music they are passionate about.

In the intimate setting of St Catherine’s Church in Thomas Street at 7.30pm, Co-Orch will bring each piece to life and include an exclusively composed piece for Barnardos by composer Elis Czerniac.

Tickets cost €20 and are available at www.eventbrite.ie.

For more information about this event, visit www.co-orch. org.

Gazette

12 Gazette 19 February 2015

dublinlife

DIARY

Turn on the green light, for the day that’s in it!

The world is going green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day and major landmarks and iconic sites will be illuminated in the national colour, it has been announced.

To u ri sm Irel an d’s annual Global Greening has grown over the last number of years with new landmarks signing up to take part in the initiative.

The Colosseum in Rome, the Sacre-Coeur Basilica in the district of Montmartre overlooking Paris, the Jumeirah Etihad Towers hotel in Abu Dhabi and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville are some of the new land-

marks set to go green for the festivities.

The new sites will join previous “greeners” such as Niagara Falls (on both the US and Canadian sides), the London Eye, the Allianz Arena in Munich, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, the Sky Tower in Auckland, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland in Paris.

stephen’s beddy to meet mick After a somewhat theatrical appearance on

Gay Byrne’s The Meaning of Life Stephen Fry is back in Dublin filming a new movie and doing some celeb spotting of this own.

While in Dublin an advertisement for the king of all things dormitory, Mattress Mick, caught his eye, prompting him to tweet: “One day I hope to meet Mattress Mick. I think we’ll have lots to discuss.

Mattresses for example.

And prices.”

Mattress Mick must have seen dollar signs swimming before his eyes, as Fry’s 8.7million followers now know of

This is how the Colosseum in Rome may appear when it is illuminated in green

This advertisement for Mattress Mick prompted Stephen Fry to tweet it

the legend that is Mattress Mick.

Fry, a British television personality and all round legend, was spotted last week at Newbridge House in Donabate filming the new period movie, Love and Friendship.

As we went to press, Mattress Mick had not yet sprung to reply.

spitting mad over crackling rosie Some of the shoppers at St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre were spitting mad recently over an art installation displayed there.

The installation is part of a fundraising initiative by the Jack and Jill Foundation called The Pig Parade and features a colourful pig on a spit named “Crackling Rosie”.

Complaints were made to shopping centre management that the instalment was “sick” and lacked empathy and compassion for animals.

Complainants might find the reaction of

the originating ar tist, Niall O’Loughlin a bit pig-headed as he said: “Apparently it was offensive to animal rights activists. If they are so offended by this display, are they going to be offended at the ham sandwich that’s for sale in the shop next door? I never in a million years thought that this would cause controversy.”

Crackling Rosie is one of six pieces of pig art on display around the city as part of the Pigs on Parade initiative.

taking steps for a mini marathon The 2015 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is now officially open for entries. Over 40,000 participants are expected to walk, jog or run the 10km route through Dublin city on Monday, June 1.

The Vhi experts were also unveiled recently and include international athlete David Gillick, fitness enthusiast and DJ Louise Heraghty, Vhi’s Dr Ui May Tan and comedian Maeve Hig-

gins (Naked Camera) will support participants every step of the way to the 2015 event with a combination of expert advice and fun tips.

T he event gives women the opportunity to reach their fitness goals, have fun and raise money for their chosen charities.

Women can enter the 2015 Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon online by visiting www.VhiWomensMiniMarathon.ie.

The entr y window will close as soon as the maximum number is reached so those interested in running are being urged to enter as early as possible.

For further information on the marathon vis it w w w.Vhiwomensminimarathon.ie or www.Facebook/vhiwomensminimarathon.

A Picture paints a thousand words Yeats Among Schoolchildren is a competition marking the 150th anniversary of Nobel prizewinning Irish poet WB Yeats.

Primary school students all over Dublin and Ireland are being invited to submit an artwork based on a visual interpretation of a Yeats poem.

The competition has been launched through the Network of Teachers’ Education Centres in Ireland.

T he Yeats Among Schoolchildren competition invites children to draw, paint or write a poem based on one of WB Yeats’s poems.

A book, with all the winning entries, will be published by Yeats2015 with Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership and the Association of Teachers/Education Centres in Ireland, to be launched at a key commemoration event around Yeats’s birthday on June 13.

The book will be distributed to all primary schools and libraries nationwide, with each primary schools receiving two free copies.

If you would like more information you can go to www.Yeats2015.com.

19 February 2015 Gazette 13

escape the mayhem: Rugby pundit Brent Pope on his 13-hour days – and outsider art

Gazette

ESCAPE THE MAYHEM

Movies put stress out of the picture  Keith Bellew

Rugby pundit Brent Pope has a hectic schedule attending various sporting events, charity nights and is currently making a documentary for RTE in which he will seek to discover Ireland’s unsung outsider artists.

This week Pope tells the Gazette what he does to Escape the mayhem of his erratic schedule.

“I work unusual hours and a lot of the time I work weekends and I do a lot of charity work.

“Most nights of the week I’d be out speaking somewhere or doing something so it’s a busy schedule in an unstruc-

tured way.

“My life for the last 20 years has never been a nine to five.

“I could be working 13 to14 hours some days, so I definitely need some time to relax.”

When Brent is not immersed in the world of rugby, one of his favourite pastimes is to travel abroad to outsider art fairs.

He said: “I’ve visited galleries all over the world, I go to New York every year to see the outsider art.

“It’s quite a growing genre over there. The description of the art which I like is Uncooked

by Culture, meaning, I

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

‘I love movies, even just going there by myself with a little bowl of gummy bears’

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think, that people who have faced social exclusion or adversity in their lives are using art to give them some normality and pleasure in life.”

Apart from his outsider art tours, he said that his most frequent means of escape was going to the cinema.

“I go to the movies two or three times a week if I can. Quite often it’s at unusual times because I go by myself to relax and it de-stresses me.

“If I get a bit of a break [during the day] I might go at three o’clock until five or something like that rather than at night at the main times.

“I just find it extremely relaxing. I love movies, even just going there by myself with a little bowl of gummy bears,” he laughs.

Pope’s documentary, Outsider Art in Ireland, which he is making with Firebrand Productions is in the making and due to be aired in the autumn.

Brent Pope: “I go to New York every year to see the outsider art.”

Gazette

14 Gazette 19 February 2015

dublinlife

Online initiatives to protect THE internet is giving tremendous opportunities to all of us.

From a professional, educational and social point of view, it is connecting us all in ways scarcely imaginable even 20 years ago.

However, there are some dreadful horrors associated with the internet, including online child sexual abuse – increasingly, an area which Garda law

enforcement is having to deal with.

Governments, families and parents have to be very vigilant in making sure that we get the very best from our modern technology while protecting our society – particularly our children – from its dangers.

As a government, we’re working with the tech industry to bring in forward-thinking legislation, and of course information and education is

the best way for all of us as parents to help our children be safe online.

In my work as a local TD, I regularly meet parents and teachers who are wary of the pitfalls facing their children.

I can relate to their worries: as a mother of three, and a social worker by training, the protection of children has formed a central part of my life for many decades.

As a politician, I have

Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald highlights her work to promote internet safety and to tackle cyberbullying

always sought to promote robust and innovative legislation to protect our children, both off- and online.

In my current role as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have carried forward this conviction from my previous portfolio as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

My department takes the lead on internet safety for children through the work of the Office for Internet Safety (OIS).

The OIS operates in the important area of prevention and awareness-raising, including the promotion of internet safety – particularly for children – and by raising awareness among parents and teachers about the importance of safety on the internet.

The OIS has pro duced a series of information booklets and other materials which are available to parents and teachers in hard

copy, free of charge, and electronically at www. internetsafety.ie.

This includes a booklet on cyberbullying, addresses for service providers, social networking sites, mobile phone companies and other sources of information.

Through the EU Safer Internet Programme, the OIS coordinates projects and funds four partner organisations for awareness raising, as follows:

– w w w.w e b w i s e . i e : Provides material and programmes to ensure children, teachers and parents understand the benefits and risks of the internet; – www.hotline.ie: Allows the public to report suspected illegal content or activities found on the internet; – www.childline.ie (1800 666 666): provides a 24/7 service where children affected by issues encountered on the Internet may turn for advice and guidance; – www.npc.ie: Antibullying training for parents.

I am proud to say that Ireland is an active member of international efforts to promote and strengthen internet safety.

The Irish hotline [site] was one of the founder members of the international umbrella organisation for hotlines, which is called INHOPE Ireland is also a member of the Global Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Online.

In November 2014, An Garda Siochana launched a new initiative for blocking child pornography on the internet.

The Garda signed a memorandum of understanding with major internet provider UPC, whereby the Garda provide a list to UPC, and the blocking is carried out in accordance with the list.

I congratulate the Garda Commissioner for initiating this innovation in Ireland and I commend UPC for having the vision to participate

19 February 2015 Gazette 15

our children

Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald: “As parents, we live in a very different world to the one we grew up in. We are as likely to ask our kids, ‘How did you get on online today?’ as we are to ask them, ‘How did you get on today?’”

in this venture.

I am pleased to say that the gardai are working with other companies to extend the initiative. It should mean that there is less chance of a child or young person coming across illegal material on the internet by mistake.

Internet companies themselves are very conscious of these issues – just this month I held a roundtable with major players such as Facebook, Google and UPC, and I am encouraged by the steps they are taking to improve and enhance their safety features.

We cannot be vigilant enough when it comes

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

‘In my work as a local TD, I regularly meet parents and teachers who are wary of the pitfalls facing their children. I can relate to their worries: as a mother of three, and a social worker by training, the protection of children has formed a central part of my life for many decades.’

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

Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald

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to online bullying, and I will work closely with An Garda Siochana and all the major internet companies headquartered in our country to ensure that no stone is left unturned in creating a safer online

environment for our children.

As parents, we live in a very different world to the one we grew up in.

We are as likely to ask our kids, “How did you get on online today?” as we are to ask them, “How

did you get on today?”

Technology can transform our lives for the better, so we have to make sure that it develops in such a way that our children can use it in a safe and secure manner.

Gazette

OPINION

Gazette

16 Gazette 19 February 2015

dublinlife

business

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

Ian Talbot, chief executive Chambers Ireland, Dr Colin Edwards, general manager, Boehringer Ingelheim and Joe O’ Connor, editor In Business. Picture: Conor McCabe

awards: recognised for work with social and health entrepreneurs

Boehringer Ingelheim wins Best in Pharma Boehringer Ingelheim has received the Best in Pharma award for the second year as part of In Business magazines editors choice awards.

The award was given in recognition of Boehringer Ingelheim’s continued work with social and health entrepreneurs. This work consisted of social projects aimed at solving some of Ireland’s greatest challenges, through the transfer of skills, knowledge and expertise.

In Business said the award was given in recognition of the company’s corporate culture of taking social responsibility coupled with the ongoing commitment to research and innovation in the pharmaceutical industry, while helping the medical profession deliver expert healthcare to patients.

The In Business editorial team considered a number of factors when

choosing the winner including: research and development, profile of the business, commitment to Ireland, with particular emphasis on the contribution made to the healthcare sector as a result of additional initiatives.

The team considered the number and quality of initiatives made by each company, relative to the size of the company, as well as how effective each company was in communicating their initiatives to key stakeholders in the healthcare sector.

Boehringer Ingelheim was selected from 28 pharmaceutical companies in Ireland and community and the editorial team felt that it had demonstrated a very high standard of excellence in terms of the number and potential impact of initiatives it sponsored as well as the proactive way it communicated with the

wider healthcare business and consumer communities.

A spokesperson for Boehringer Ingelheim said: “Taking social responsibility is an important element of the corporate culture at Boehringer Ingelheim. This includes worldwide involvement in social projects, such as the initiative Making more Health and caring for the employees. Respect, equal opportunities and reconciling career and family form the foundation of the mutual cooperation.

In everything it does, the company focuses on environmental protection and sustainability.”

According to the company, its focus is on researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing new medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine. Visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

Gazette

GETMOTORING

19 February 2015 Gazette 17

Cruise through our special supplement for all the latest motoring news

ford: popular hatchback gets a mustang heart

Focus RS ready to be unleashed  dave phillips

The launch of what is bound to be one of the most exciting cars of 2015, the Ford Focus RS, is just around the corner.

This third generation RS stands out against what has gone before in the range – with sales success expected across Europe, as well as in American, Australian, and Chinese markets.

Part of the projected global appeal of the hatchback lies in the careful balancing of

high-performance features with an accessible aesthetic. The 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine developed for RS and specially engineered to deliver well in excess of 320 PS. The bespoke unit shares its fundamental structure with the all-aluminium four-cylinder engine in the all-new Mustang.

This engine has, however, been significantly upgraded through a comprehensive package of design changes.

The work on the inside has been matched on

the outside too, with a dramatic exterior design that offers enhanced aerodynamics and cooling.

Sporting the RS badge, you could expect handling to be a major focus on this model, and Ford promise an unmatched experience through a new allwheel-drive system. At the heart of the system are twin electronicallycontrolled clutch packs on each side of the rear drive unit. These manage the car’s front/rear

torque split, and also can control the side-toside torque distribution on the rear axle – delivering the “torque vectoring” capability, which has a dramatic impact on handling and cornering stability.

The AWD system has been tuned to deliver exceptional grip and acceleration out of a bend – the end result looking to provide an incredibly agile drive that gives a new level of both handling capability and driver enjoyment.

The third generation Ford Focus RS is set to take the global market by storm

“We have created a car which will surprise and reward in equal measure,” said director of global Ford performance Dave Pericak. “We have ripped up the rulebook which says that AWD hatchbacks cannot be fun to drive.”

The car received a lot of attention at its unveil-

ing last week in Cologne, Germany with special focus on the inspiring soundtrack that the engine provides – maintaining the distinctive burbles, pops and crackles that are a RS signature. “This very special 2.3-litre ecoboost unit will inspire drivers – all delivered with a stirring

sound guaranteed to put a smile on your face,” Pericak said.

The third generation Focus RS is the first ever RS model that will be sold around the world and will be produced for all markets at Ford’s Saarlouis, Germany, manufacturing plant beginning late this year.

18 Gazette 19 February 2015

NOISE

car maintenance: customer satisfaction a priority

A world of experience

 laura webb

Turn to a family firm KINGSTOWN Motors is a family-owned company which has been serving the needs of motorists for more than 20 years.

Originally based in Dun Laoghaire, the continued strong growth of business and the expanding Hyundai range of cars prompted the relocation of the business to Stillorgan in 2002.

Its modern premises in Stillorgan carries the full range of new Hyundai cars to test drive. Whether purchasing a new or quality used car, the team can arrange finance, provide expert servicing, mechanical and body repairs, ensuring customers’ needs are met. For further information, contact 01 213 1700, or email info@kingstownmotors.com.



Gazette

GETMOTORING road Dublin’s fastest growing motor repair business, Atlas Autoservice, is giving back to its valued customers with its Atlas Rewards initiative.

With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, Atlas Autoservice is a car expert in motor maintenance and pride themselves on making customer satisfaction a priority.

In a bid to offer customers the best value possible, the business recently launched Atlas Rewards. When a customer signs up for this they receive 5% off their

first full service, 15% off a second full service and a whopping great 30% off a third full service.

This is the company’s way of giving back to the customer and thanking them for making Atlas their trusted mechanic.

Atlas Autoser vice looks after all aspects of a car’s well-being and fully qualified technicians will have the customer’s car running smoothly all year round.

From clutches and timing belts to tyres and brakes, they have all aspects covered.

Staff are continuously trained to a high

standard and are being up-skilled to degree and diploma qualifications in such areas as advanced mechanics and auto electrics.

Par ts and oils are carefully selected to ensure only the best of each goes into a car and they use only high grade, OEM parts and high grade oil to ensure each repair or service is carried out to an impeccable standard.

Atlas Autoservice has established relationships with major tyre manufacturers such as Bridgestone and Goodyear/ Dunlop Ireland and suppliers deliver brand new

Atlas Autoservice is rewarding customers with the Atlas Rewards initiative

tyres directly from the factories to ensure only the very best of tyres are fitted to each car.

All depots are equipped with the best of equipment to ensure a high standard of work and with the latest four

wheel laser alignment technology it ensures a car’s tracking is perfect which also helps the customer get the most out of a tyre’s life.

For further information on www.atlasautoservice.ie

19 February 2015 Gazette 19

Gazette

20 Gazette 19 February 2015

GETMOTORING

opel insignia: high performance policing

An Garda Siochana’s fleet gets turbo boost  dave phillips

Irish road safety is set to receive something of a boost this month when 20 new high performance Opel Insignia Sports Tourers join An Garda Siochana’s fleet.

These bespoke Insignias feature a 2.0-litre CDTi BiTurbo diesel engine with an output of 195hp that ensures rapid engine response from low revs, making them ideal for high performance driving and policing.

The vehicles, which are wrapped in the tra-

ditional traffic corps livery, were unveiled at an event with the Taoiseach and An Garda Siochana traffic corps last month at their headquarters in the Phoenix Park and are currently being sent out to Garda traffic units around the country.

The 2.0-litre CDTi BiTurbo diesel engine is unique in the fact that it is equipped with two turbos, one larger than the other. They can operate separately or together as required to ensure quick engine response.

The smaller turbo uses

an efficient water-cooled intercooler to minimise turbo lag, while the larger turbo uses a larger air-cooled intercooler at higher engine speeds.

Fuel efficient

Compared to singleturbo Insignia engines, this has higher performance pistons, cylinder head, gasket, and camshafts to deal with the extra power. But despite all this performancefocused technology, it remains extremely fuelefficient and boasts low CO2 emissions.

Gardai who will have responsibility for these Insignias will be pleased to travel in the utmost comfort, with award winning ergonomic sports seats fitted. These feature electrically adjustable lumbar support and height adjustment which are perfect for spending long periods in the car while also providing support during high speed manoeuvres.

A leather sports steering wheel with integrated cruise control and speed limiter buttons and audio controls improves steer-

Twenty new high performance 2.0-litre CDTi BiTurbo diesel Opel Insignia Sports Tourers are joining An Garda Siochana’s fleet

ing feel and performance while minimising time with hands off-wheel. A 4.2” colour dashboard displays trip computer information in a clear easy-to-see format, with the info pages also controllable via steering wheel buttons. The

custom models feature climate control, remote central locking with deadlocks as well as privacy glass on all rear windows for operational reasons.

The Insignia is fitted with the highest safety features with front, side

and curtain airbags.

Active safety front head restraints ensure minimal impact to the neck in the unlikely event of an incident. LED daytime running lights and front fog-lights have been fitted to enhance the already highly visible livery.

19 February 2015 Gazette 21

Gazette

road

launch: stylish and compact suv

New SsangYong Tivoli on the way  laura webb

The new SsangYong Tivoli is set to arrive in Ireland this May/June and Blanchardstown’s authorised SsanYong dealer, Ryan’s Garage, is taking orders now.

Launched in Korea earlier this year, the new Tivoli is set to receive its domestic launch in Ireland in May or June of this year.

Demand from around the world for a compact size SUV offering comfort, stylish design, space and

safety has been increasing, and is expected to continue, especially in the rapidly expanding B-segment of the market.

Tivoli is a car that offers the fusion of great design and sensible practicality, as well as class-leading safety and convenience, and will attract the style conscious customer who seeks form and function from their first entry into the SUV sector.

This all new car takes its name from Tivoli, the Italian town near Rome with a reputation for style.

Noted for its cultural heritage and beautiful location, the gardens at Villa d’Este have inspired many others to use the name, including the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.

Tivoli, SsangYong’s new compact SUV is designed to provide both pleasure and excitement, is the first new model to be launched following the merger of SsangYong and Mahindra & Mahindra. It is the result of 42 months of development and an investment of 350 billion Korean won, and

NOISE

Mondeo is star of Ford’s New Year

The new Tivoli is set to receive its domestic launch in Ireland in May or June of this year

will compete strongly on design, safety and convenience.

It’s the exterior design of the Tivoli features a dynamic, urban look with a contemporary silhouette, and embodies the rhythmical motion of SsangYong’s design language, Nature-born 3 motion – rhythmical, dynamic and dignified.

Meanwhile, the interior

offers the modernity of a luxurious living space, with a stylish and contemporary look.

Ryan’s Garage is the authorised SsangYong dealer in Blanchardstown. Orders can be placed now with prices for the Tivoli starting at around €20,000. Visit www.ryansgarage.ie or visit the garage on Main Street, Blanchardstown.

Things are buzzing in showrooms around Dublin as buyers are attracted by new models and enticing deals. At Rathfarnham Ford in Whitechurch Road, it’s the new Ford Mondeo which is grabbing most attention among prospective purchasers.

The Mondeo is equipped with 16” alloy wheels, front fogs, dual climate control, power windows and cruise control as standard. Priced from €28,995 excluding delivery and related charges, it comes with a number of special value upgrade packs if purchased before the end of March.

“The Mondeo has long been the mainstay of the range here for families and company car buyers, and there is a lot of pent-up demand for the new model,” says Aidan Kane of Rathfarnham Ford.

The new Ford Mondeo

Gazette

22 Gazette 19 February 2015

GETMOTORING

car financing: turn to a trusty lending method

Try a credit union loan THINKING of changing your car this year? Lucan District Credit Union currently has car loans available for members, at competitive rates.

Members can borrow at the competitive rate of 9.49% (APR 9.91%).

Whether purchasing a new car or upgrading a car for a slightly newer model, the local credit union can help.

Paula Maguire, chief executive, says: “There are no set-up or admin fees when taking a credit union loan. Members can

pay off the loan at a rate that suits them – weekly, fortnightly or monthly, over one to five years.”

Interest on a credit union loan is calculated on the reducing loan balance, so members pay a little less interest with each repayment. Plus, there are no penalties to members for paying off their loan at a quicker pace to clear it early, if the member has additional funds.

Maguire said: “The key difference between many garage finance deals and

With their focus on community funds, credit unions can be a great alternative to other car finance deals

the credit union is that a credit union loan is not a HP or lease agreement, so the member owns the car from the minute it is purchased, and not after five years. Also, there are no final ‘balloon’ payments to be made.

“Members who go car shopping with money already in the bank are in a strong position to

negotiate on price. That can make a big difference,” she said.

Members of Lucan Credit Union may now apply for loans online once their accounts have been registered. For further information on how to apply for a loan and the documentation that is required, see www. lucancu.ie.

Gazette

19 February 2015 Gazette 23

OUT&ABOUT

FOOD&DRINK

The Picky Eater MEMBERS clubs were big during the boom but have taken a hit in the past few years, with most clubs now welcoming one and all. One club that has kept it strictly membersonly is Residence, at St Stephen’s Green.

I had been invited along to Residence on a number of occasions; Dublin is so small that everyone knows someone with membership.

However, the club’s restaurant – Restaurant 41 – is open to all, so I recently jumped at the chance to have lunch with a friend there, partly to try out chef Graham Neville’s well-lauded food, but also to finally

check the place out.

Set in one of St Stephen’s Green’s old Georgian terraced houses, the interior is really inviting and the dining room on the first floor is one of my favourites, with lovely views of the green.

The restaurant was quite busy, with a mixture of business people and couples. The menu is quite short, with three starters and three mains.

I started with roast scallops, truffled garden onions and coral bisque.

Two plump scallops came on a bed of onions and were placed decoratively in the centre of the bisque. All ingredients married really well, and I

loved the strength of the flavour of the truffle.

My dining partner tried the Clogherhead crab on a bed of pickled seaweed and ponzu, a Japanese citrus-based sauce. This dish had bite and was dispatched quickly. A rich Gewurztrameiner really complemented these fish dishes.

For the second course, I was chuffed to see wild brill on the menu which was stuffed with prawns on a Noilly Prat sauce, which is Martini-based.

This elegant and light fish sat tantalisingly in the Noilly Prat and, again, this was a very well accomplished dish.

My companion tried

the roast breast of duck on red cabbage and preserved fruit. She prefers her duck cooked a little longer, but that’s purely taste.

After a filling two courses, the waiter recommended the milk jam, vanilla cream cheese and popcorn ice cream. He was spot on – this dish packed in all the flavour but was exceptionally light. My friend tried a cheese board, which did exactly as it said on the tin. They got the temperature of the cheeses just right, something you can never be guaranteed, surprisingly, even in very well run restaurants.

We used the oppor-

With its fine ambience and great views onto Stephen’s Green, Restaurant 41 offers diners a sophisticated setting in which to savour their dining experience

tunity to gatecrash our way into the bar afterwards, and got a peek at the beautiful people who frequent this place. They were actually all quite ordinary, which in my book, is a reason for going back!

Conclusion

SET in the heart of the south city centre, Restaurant 41 (at 41 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2; tel 01 662 0000; www.restaurantfortyone.ie) doesn’t disappoint. Despite its brief menu, lunch (€35 for three courses) is definitely a dining delight, thanks to some very well-considered dishes.

24 Gazette 19 February 2015

19 February 2015 gazette 25

HEALTH

Gazette

OUT&ABOUT

keeping on track: continuing regular exercise

Maintain motivation into the New Year  Maeve Halpin

Registered Counselling Psychologist

Our new year commitments to regular exercising can easily wane, but a number of techniques have been proven to help.

1. Make exercise part of your social life. Running clubs, gym classes and weight loss groups bring a social dimension to fitness. Getting to know others who are facing the same moti-

vational struggles helps people support each other.

2. Set yourself a goal.

Have a measurable goal with a clear timeline. You might have a favourite dress or pair of jeans that you would like to be able to fit into again.

For training goals, the online app “Couch to 5km” maps the steps that lead you to complete a 5km run.

3. Join online forums.

Online discussion groups allow people share

their experiences and offer useful advice on overcoming resistance.

Feeling part of what is a worldwide trend towards taking personal responsibility for our health and well-being is energising and motivating.

4. Schedule exercise ahead of time. Plan your week in advance, deciding where you can realistically make the time to exercise.

Write these onto a wall calendar in your kitchen and plan around them.

Each day, cross off the exercise listing.

This gives a visible record of your achievements and reminds you of what is possible.

5. Enlist an exercise “buddy” - a friend or family member to run or work out with. It is more difficult to back out of your exercise commitments when you know someone else is there waiting for you to show up! As your presence is doing the same for them, it creates a mutual support system that helps you both.

6. Think in terms of mental health. Feel-good chemicals like dopamine are released in the body through movement.

A routine of just three 30-minute sessions of exercise per week is as effective as a mild antidepressant. Exercise is also the single most important factor in preventing dementia.

7. Build exercise into your daily routine. If you drive or take public transport to work, consider parking further away or getting off a couple of stops earlier.

Commuting by cycling, power walking or jogging means daily exercise does not have to eat into a busy schedule.

8. Think variety and fun. Try out new activities like dance classes, tai chi or orienteering to discover what interests you most.

If you are exercising alone, listen to your favourite music or podcasts, or watch TV programs on your iPad while on the treadmill.

9. Link to financial incentives. On Stickk.

A routine of just three 30-minute sessions of exercise per week is as effective as a mild anti-depressant

com, you can pledge to donate to a cause or individual you support if you reach your goal, or to one you don’t like if you fall short.

At gym-pact.com, you pay if you miss your goals but get paid if

you achieve them, with funds from the money collected from the pactbreakers.

If you are unfit or have any medical conditions, start slowly and gradually, ideally with professional guidance.

Regular exercise can enhance your physical health, well-being and overall quality of life.

Maeve can be contacted at maeve@maevehalpincounselling.com and you can follow her on Twitter: @MaeveHalpinCoun

26 swords gazette 19 February 2015

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28 Gazette 19 February 2015

SPORT

FastSport

LA GAlaxy hold training camp at rovers: MLS franchise the LA Galaxy will be holding an open training session in Tallaght Stadium on February 20 in conjunction with Shamrock Rovers FC. Galaxy are on a preseason tour of Europe and will face Rovers in a friendly at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday, February 21 at 4pm.

The match will see the return of 2014 Major League Soccer’s MVP Robbie Keane, Ireland’s captain and all-time leading scorer, to his hometown.

The training session will be a ticketed event with entry to the stadium from 3.30pm.

If you would like to go along to this free event talk to your local football club as arrangements have been made to distribute tickets through local clubs.

If you are not a member of a club, contact customer services in South Dublin County Council on 01 414 9000 to request a ticket.

Tickets are limited and minors must accompanied by an adult.

hockey: young stars step up for ireland in three-match series vs france

Locals star in national side’s test  sport@dublingazette.com

MONKSTOWN teenagers Jamie Carr and Lee Cole along with YMCA player Luke Chadwick were among a group of four players to make their Irish senior international hockey debuts

last week in a threegame series against France.

For 18-year-old Carr, it made him one of the youngest ever goalkeepers to line out for Ireland while Cole, at 19, put in a fine performance in defence as

the youthful Irish side earned a creditable 1-1 draw in game one.

Chadwick picked up a nasty jaw injury in the warm-up to the tie but came off the bench after seven minutes to line out in midfield, linking up with former

YMCA’s Luke Chadwick on debut

Monkstown goalkeeper Jamie Carr who has made his Irish senior international debut at the age of just 18. Picture: Adrian Boehm

UCD team mates Shane O’Donoghue and Peter Brow n. Banbridge’s Owen Magee was the fourth new cap on the night.

Just three of Ireland’s World League 2 panel – Ireland’s next major tournament – named by coach Craig Fulton were used in a much changed selection to the one that played in South Africa the previous last week.

But coach Fulton said he was more than happy with how his young side performed.

“I’m really pleased.

We have been lining up this game for our development group for the last four months. It was positive; there was

some good flowing play and we will bring some of these guys through to [the main squad in future],” he said.

In truth, it was a tie low on chances and excitement while most of the crowd – and the officials – were experiencing the new long corner rules for the first time.

Ireland saw their first penalty corner charged down in the opening quarter before France’s Olivier Sanchez clattered an effort into the side-netting from the pick of the openings.

O’Donoghue duly broke the deadlock in the 27th minute after Davy Carson’s ingenuity won the set piece,

his drag-f lick having too much power for Edgar Reynaud. For the most part, O’Donoghue provided Ireland’s main quality around the pitch at the base of midfield as did his counterpart Charles Masson – who plays in Belgium with the WatDucks.

The second half followed a similarly close-knit pattern with defences on top for the most part.

France began to push on in the closing quarter, though, and after Sanchez fluffed a simple chance, Kieffer made sure of the draw with a sharp finish, picking up a rebound off the post and volleying home in the 55th minute.

Night Run returns to light up the capital in April  sport@dublingazette.com

At the launch of the Samsung Night Run Dublin 10km were: Gordon D’Arcy and Teodora Sutra. Picture:Naoise Culhane

The sight of neon-clad athletes is set to light up the city again this spring when the Samsung 10km Night Run returns to the streets on April 26.

For the fourth year, the Samsung Night Run event will bring Dublin city to a close as 7,000 runners take to the streets of the capital.

The expected route for the race will start at Custom House Quay and take in the Convention Centre, North

Wall Quay, The 3Arena, East Wall, Samuel Beckett Bridge and continue to culmination around Grand Canal Basin, Pearse Street with the finish line also at Custom House Quay.

Race ambassador Gordon D’Arcy will be on hand to provide his fitness expertise and experience to entrants via the race blog between now and the day of the race.

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Christy Burke said: “It’s great to see the Samsung

Night Run return to our calendar of events for 2015 and I welcome any activity which gets Dubliners out running through our historic streets.”

Linda Nolan, head of marketing at Samsung Ireland, said: “This year’s event will once again allow runners to experience Dublin and its many iconic landmarks and attractions in a whole new light.”

Last year’s 2014 Night Run Dublin was won by Peter Brandon Somba from

Kenya in a time of 30.09 and the first woman was Siobhan O’Doherty from Tipperary in a time of 35.35.

Second place in both categories were Raheny athletes Mick Clohessy (30.10) and Maura O’Sullivan (36.10).

The race will kick off at Custom House Quay at 9pm on Sunday, April 26.

Runners wishing to register for the event can do so at www.samsungnightrun. ie, where there will also be more information about the event.

19 February 2015 Gazette 29

Gazette

Pushing forward from the Puskas

A worldwide superstar in the wake of her world famous goal, Stephanie Roche tells STEPHEN FINDLATER about her football beginnings in Shankill and the rise of women’s soccer

WHAT Stephanie did next?

Currently, the options are being mulled over by the Puskas award runnerup.

It has been a whirlwind of late between media appearances, mixing with world football’s great and good, confidently striding past Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in “that” photo.

Throw in a Republic of Ireland training camp in Spain and different playing offers as she considers her next club after French outfit Albi, it has been quite the rollercoaster.

It is a far cry from her youth, growing up playing football around the borough in Shankill where she first developed her love for the game.

Roche’s formal days began with Valeview Shankill until she was 12 before moving to Cabinteely who had a girls section. It was there that she

came to the attention of then national women’s coach Noel King at the tender age of 13, something which made a lasting impression.

“I had a great experience,” she said of her time there. “Mick Caulfield was the manager there; he was very good to us and I still have good friends who I see now from there.

“We won a couple of things and it was when I was playing with them Noel King [then Republic of Ireland women’s senior manager] spotted me and, at a game against Stella Maris, he came over to myself and my dad. I remember him telling me ‘if you keep playing like that, you’ll get into the Irish team one day’.

“I don’t think he might even remember saying that but it stuck with me and gave me great confidence, a boost when I needed it because a lot of the girls I was playing

with at that stage dropped off. I don’t think I would have ever dropped off but it was nice to get that from someone that high up in the game.”

From there, she went to Stella Maris until she was 18, striking up a great relationship with Aine O’Gorman.

They would end up linking up again at Peamount at the dawn of the Women’s National League.

O’Gorman was to provide the cross that assisted Roche’s famous goal, something the pair recently commemorated with a certificate extolling it as “Underhit Cross of the Year”.

“It was just a bit of a joke; it was her assist but I tease her that she underhit it!”

And now she is hopeful the visibility of the women’s game will continue to rise with the extra exposure she has helped cre-

Former Munster and Ireland star Alan Quinlan and Irish footballer and FIFA Puskas award finalist Stephanie Roche at the new Topaz service station at Northern Cross, Clonshaugh. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography

ate, developing the sport she loves.

It comes with a specific focus with the national team beginning their preparations for their 2017 European qualifying campaign.

Initially, she thought that anything other than victory in the Puskas

gaining parity in terms of recognition with the men’s game, even from the governing body.

At the FAI’s annual awards night, the men’s players were all on the guest list but the women were not, something that Roche says needs to change.

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

I just thought if I win this award it will change people’s perception of women’s football - Stephanie Roche

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

award would have minimal impact but now says she has been proven wrong.

“I just thought ‘if I win this award, it will change people’s perception of women’s football’. But, having not won it, looking back on it and talking to people – even strangers in the street who say they don’t watch football – everything that I have done has been brilliant.

“Even though I didn’t win it, it has got attention and made an impact. It has brought football to a higher level and I want the attention to stay there and even higher. We have got a lot of support in the last few years but we need more if we are going to progress. I want it to keep on going and not drop off.”

Indeed, she says there is still some way to go in

“That’s one of the small issues I would have a problem with. It’s a mark of respect; they’re celebrating football for the year and all the men’s team get to go. I think it would give some sort of recognition for what we do.

“I know we didn’t qualify [for the World Cup] but we still did well, getting the highest points [in a qualifying campaign]. It’s something I would like to see change and I know a lot of the other girls would like to see it, too.”

And with that extra push, Roche says that the girls in green can rise to the highest levels.

“Last year, we had a lot of support out in Tallaght stadium and it brought a lot of atmosphere. We’re hoping to build on that for the qualifiers for Euro 2017. I would love to get to the finals!”

Ken’sDiary

Stepping up in distance with big hills on horizon Olympic silver medallist and Irish boxing legend Ken Egan is to take part in this year’s Laurels Charity Crew Cycle from Galway to Dublin on April 19. In the run-up to the event, Egan has partnered with Gazette Sport to document his preparation for the big day, and here is his latest report from the road.

NUMBERS were up this weekend which was fantastic to see with 33 bodies in total gathering at the Laurels Pub starting point to take off at 10am sharp on Valentine’s Day, the biggest crowd yet for this year’s event.

It followed a registration night in the Laurels last Thursday evening which seemed to have the desired effect.

So we departed from Clondalkin and touched on up towards Newcastle onto Celbridge towards Maynooth, down through Kilcock and pushing on past Clane before stopping at Sallins for coffee and some carbs.

The pit-stop lasted all of 10 minutes and then we proceeded up through Ardclough which, I must add, was a very fancy part of the country.

We came back down around by Newcastle, Peamount and Baldonnel and back to the base camp that was the Laurels, covering 87km from 10am to 3pm.

They said we were up on the target pace too so I was very happy with that. I mentioned hills to one of the pros and he obliged me and said we will be hitting them soon and to carb up the night before we take on that challenge.

I’m sure I will have a story for you in relation to the hills in a few weeks. Eight weeks to go and preparation is on song so I am a happy camper.

Over and out and I shall touch base next week!

For more information about the event, log on to www.facebook.com/laurelscharitycrew, and come back next week for the latest instalment of Ken’s cycling diary. The group has raised €520,000 for Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin through their efforts in recent years.

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 19 February 2015

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: swords side still challenging for three titles

Balcarrick founder gets honour at ceremony Balcarrick Golf Club recently honoured founder member Malachy Nulty with honorary membership of the club at a ceremony that took place at the captain’s drive.

In 1968, journalist Pat Ruddy who had a love of golf, gathered a group of like-minded people who then formed Dublin and County Golf Club in 1972. Nulty was a leading campaigner in the decision to encourage the club to build their own golf course, which was built in 1992 before changing its name to Balcarrick Golf Club.

Nulty served for many years on the club’s committee and also served as president, captain and treasurer of Balcarrick.

For more information about the club, log on to www.balcarrickgolfclub.com or follow them on Twitter at @BalcarrickGC

Swords double up to move into second position TRAVELODGE Swords Thunder picked up two wins in 24 hours last weekend to move up to second place in the men’s basketball Premier League.

They were pushed all the way by Dublin Inter on Saturday night in a 67-63 win but 20 points from Juan Torres made their trip to UL Eagles on Sunday a little more comfortable.

In the former game, they came up against an Inter side who put in one of their better performances of the season.Twenty points

separate the sides in the men’s Premier League but it was just a one possession game at the final buzzer.

For Swords, Isaac Westbrooks looked an ever present on the floor and controlled proceedings for Swords. He finished with a final tally of 16 points.

Inter never led in the game, but Thunder couldn’t shake them off.

With 2.13 left in the game, Thunder looked comfortable with the score at 53-67. Dublin Inter rounded out the game with a 11-0 run to give Swords coach Dave Baker cause for concern. It also gave Inter a well-deserved bonus point.

The Rivervalley Rangers side that got the better of East Wall Rovers in the Mullion Cup

Rivervalley bounce back  nathan kelly sport@dublingazette.com

RIVERVALLEY Rangers showed their “bouncebackability” last Friday night with a return to winning ways following their exit from two major cups in quick succession, according to manager Stephen Doran.

Having suffered elimination from the Leinster Junior Cup at the hands of Collinstown on January 30, Rangers were then cruelly knocked out of the FAI Junior Cup to Donnycarney via a penalty shootout a week later on February 6.

They bounced back last Friday however, booking their place in the semifinal of Mullion Cup thanks to a 4-0 win over league rivals East Wall Rovers.

Defeats have not come too often this season for this Rivervalley side, with nine wins out of nine in the league, as well as remaining in the Regency Cup along with the Mullion Cup. But after two high profile defeats, the manager was quizzed on whether he was worried.

“What I’ll say is, I’ve known for a long time we’ve got a hard-working, honest bunch of lads

all the young blues Skerries girls backing Leinster rugby side LEINSTER supporters, from left, Sarah Burns, Emma Burns and Katie Boylan, from Skerries, took in the Guinness PRO12 tie between Leinster and Newport Gwent Dragons at the RDS in Ballsbridge last Sunday.

The Blues were left disappointed as they fell 16-14, ending a run of 21 successive wins at the venue, dating back to March 2013.

Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

here,” Doran said.

“I suppose it would be normal to be concerned how they’re going to react to two defeats, especially the Donnycarney one, which really hurt.

“But they showed their class against a tough East Wall side and we seem to be back on track now.”

Being in charge of a team who have received plenty of plaudits in the junior football circles this season, Doran explained that facing the likes of Collinstown and Donnycarney in quick succession will do his Senior Sunday side no harm.

He said: “They are the

type of sides we want to be facing week in week out. Collinstown are a club we aspire to be like.

“They won leagues and cups year in, year out to get to the top and are firmly up there now.

“I feel we gave them a game for 70 minutes on their turf. Our red card changed the game and when they scored we were forced to come out and that really killed us off.

“The Donnycarney game hurt more; a lot of things went against us on the day. Two disallowed goals, one of which I still can’t figure out what was wrong with it.

“But we can take positives from those games and I told the lads afterwards sometimes we just need to be braver .

“In my opinion, being brave in football isn’t about hard tackles, it’s about playing the ball short and fast from the back and being brave enough to use possession wisely rather than go for a long, wasteful ball.”

With his side still sitting on top of the AUL Senior Sunday division despite not having played a game since December, those big games should be coming week in, week out before too long.

19 February 2015 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

Butterly utterly on his game for Fingal  sport@dublingazette.com

THREE goals from Fingal full-forward Danny Butterly saw his side to victory in their National Hurling League division 3A at Brewster Park on Sunday, running up a 3-13 to 1-16 win over Fermanagh.

He struck two of those majors in the closing

phases to swing the tie the way of the men from the north county after Fermanagh had held the lead going into the final quarter of the game.

John Duffy was in prolific free-taking form for the home side, converted 13 dead balls over the bar during the course of the game with Fingal

concerned at conceding 14 frees in total that resulted in points.

Butterly had given Fingal a great start with an early goal but Fermanagh’s goal came 30 seconds after it in the first half with Karl Kehoe’s long delivery ending up going straight in the net.

They duly went on to

hold a 1-9 to 1-6 lead at the half-time break before Fingal turned the tide.

Aside from Butterly, Colm Byrne was their chief scorer as he landed nine points.

Next on the agenda is a home tie against Pakistan on Sunday at 2pm in Fingallians’ Lawless Park.

football: lucan defeated in football opening tie

Club Noticeboard fingallians THE football season kicked off over

maith ag Michael, Rory, Cian and Don-

the weekend. Our minor footballers

agh who represented us.

started in style with a league win 4-10 to 2-15 over Lucan.

The Irish conversation group for our Leaving Cert students is now at week

In the cups, our first team drew with

five out of 10. If you are in fifth or sixth

St Sylvesters and Juniors were beaten

year, this group will be of great assist-

away at Skerries Harp.

ance for the Irish oral exams in early

Congratulations to Emma McCormack on making the Dublin Under-14

April. Free of charge, every Thursday at 8pm. Failte roimh chuile.

Squad and also to Aoife Foley, Dear-

Fins’ golf society are welcoming

bhla Snow, Laura Dempsey and Shan-

new and returning members includ-

non Murtagh who are representing us

ing guests this year. At just €15, this

at Under-16; a massive achievement

represents excellent value for soci-

for all concerned. The future of ladies

ety membership with a great course

football is very bright. Both Leinster

lineup and prizes at each outing.

championship campaigns begin with a

The Lotto numbers were 4, 10, 14, 25

home fixture against Meath on Febru-

and 32. The big jackpot was shared

ary 28.

between Tina McGealy, Mary Kavan-

Well done to our Scor na nOg quiz

agh and Sandra Hoey.

team who represented Dublin in the

This weeks jackpot will be €2,461.

all-Ireland final this weekend. Dublin

Please go to www.fingallians.com if

came in at 17th out of 32. Go raibh mile

you wish to play online.

st finian’s THE lotto jackpot was €1,800 this week

half the lads stormed away in the sec-

and the numbers drawn were 5, 10, 21,

ond half, adding four goals to compile a

23. There was no jackpot winner.

winning score of 6-16 to 3-6.

The two €50 Lucky Dip prizewinners

With the season getting started for

were Gavin and Shane Murphy and

lots of teams it’s important to remind

Mary Timothy. Next week, the jackpot

all football players of the need to

will be €1,900.

have mouth-guards for training and

Well done to the Under-15 football-

games.

ers who had a great win at home on

Membership fees also need to be

Syl’s looking well set for 2015 season

Sunday morning against Geraldine

paid in advance of the season com-

P Moran GAA Club. After a tight first

mencement.

vincent de paul cup

Well done to the third team who had a

are now available. Please note that

great win over Man O War in the Duffy

membership can also be paid online

cup last Sunday.

via myclubfinances.com.

The St Sylvester’s senior footballers in action against Lucan Sarsfields last Sunday

Lucan Sarsfields St Sylvester’s  sport@dublingazette.com

0-6 1-8

ST SYLVESTER’S senior footballers started their 2015 season with a solid 1-8 to 0-6 win over Lucan Sarsfields at the 12th Lock in the first competitive match of the new year in the Vincent de Paul Cup Group One. Glenn Hazley played a key role on his return from travelling while Andrew Cunnningham impressed on debut and Brian Sexton looked good in a new forward

role along with his brother David.

T h e y l e d we l l b u t Lucan made a fight of it throughout in what was often times a feisty affair. Syl’s are in a fiveteam group with Ballymun Kickhams – who beat Fingal Ravens 6-21 to 2-11 - with St Vincent’s the other side involved.

T heir next date in this competition is on March 1 but the main focus is currently firmly on their opening AFL Division 1 league tie against Thomas Davis next Sunday, travelling out to Kiltipper Road in

Tallaght.

On the hurling front, Colm Byrne hit the post with the last puck of the game as Syl’s were denied an opening day win to their year against Naomh Mearnog in the Corn ui Laochra.

The effort dropped just wide off the post to see the score end up tied at 1-14 to 2-11.

Many of Syl’s side were making senior debuts in the local derby – in which no love was lost at times.

Stephen Keogh in great form at corner forward, putting in two great tackles to setup

both of the Malahide side’s goals.

Kevin Clarke had a very lively game, contributing five points from play while Conor Ryan and Des Lehane both looked comfortable at this level.

The tie serves as their first port of call leading into their AHL Division 2 league campaign that gets under way on March 15 with an away date at Kilmacud Crokes before playing their first home tie of the season a fortnight later against St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh.

fingal ravens THERE was no winner of this week’s

12pm in the league. The third team

lotto. Lotto numbers were 6, 21, 29 and

play St Mark’s at home on Sunday at

35; €20 to Betty Fox, Susie Walsh and

2.30pm.

Roisin Griffin. Next week’s jackpot is €13,390.

Memberships for 2015 must be paid in full by March 31 - membership forms

The minors also had a fantastic win

The club are running a “Predict the

against Fingallians in their league

2015 Provincial Football Champion-

game.

ship” competition - entry forms will be

Our second team team play St Jude’s at home on Sunday, February 22 at

distributed to all teams over the next two weeks.

st margaret’s SUNDAY, February 15 lotto results

first round of the Parson cup beating

are 14, 21, 23 and 24. No Winner. Next

Garda 3-11 to 1-08.Great performance

week’s jackpot is €6,200; €20 winners

by all , special mention to David Doyle,

were Conor Clarke, Angela O Reilly,

Gearod Farrell, Drew Barnwell and

Linda and Kay The Brock, Therese

Brooksie. They play Garda in the first

McGregor and Nathan Marley.

round of the league away in Wests-

Yearly lotto tickets can still be pur-

manstown on Sunday at 12pm.

chased so you don’t miss out on the

We would like to wish Frankie Kelly

weekly draw. Get in touch with Mary

a speedy recovery after breaking his

Madigan on 087 9533864.

collarbone last week. Looking forward

The juniors had a great win in the

to seeing you back soon.

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

FebrUAry 19-25, 2015

rolling on a river: Rangers bounce back with top stephanie roche’s rise: The Dubliner tells the Gazette win to keep treble hopes alive after setbacks P30 about her life in football P29

Donabate pitch finally set to reopen  nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

AFTER a three-year barren period, sports clubs and schools in the Donabate–Portrane area will be relieved to hear that Donabate allweather pitch is due to reopen in just three weeks’ time.

The facility, which was closed before a ball was kicked or struck in late November 2011 due to flooding, forced local sports clubs to travel across Dublin to hold training sessions and host matches.

And Adrian Henchy, who is an active member of Portrane hockey club and St Pat’s Donabate GAA club, spoke to GazetteSport about

his happiness at the reopening of the pitch.

“Firstly, to see it so close to reopening now I’d just have to say I’m delighted,” he said.

“I see it as something very important to the area. In fact, it was important three years ago but unfortunately it hasn’t been there and the sporting clubs and schools have really suffered not having access to the facility for a multitude of different sports.”

To see such a state of the art facility lie unused for such a period of time, it is easy to understand Henchy’s frustration. He was quizzed on whether or not he was surprised it was such a long, dragged-out affair.

He said: “Firstly, the good news is that it’s finally been sorted but there’s no doubt it’s a bit of a scandal that it was given the go-ahead around 2007-08 yet here we are seven years later and its only being opened to the public.

“It’s been particularly difficult for the schools and Portrane Hockey Club, who haven’t really had a place to play or train and that’s in turn hurt the club significantly.

“I mean to see a host of local clubs travel to Glasnevin, Malahide and out to the airport [ALSAA] just to make sure they can put on training sessions was extremely frustrating.”

That should stop now however as most clubs in the area have

expressed an interest in using the facility, as Henchy explained.

“You’re looking at soccer, hockey, GAA and athletics all being catered and that’s just the clubs.

“You then have the schools and they will benefit hugely from it as it will be the main outdoor facility for the community college and you also have primary schools in close proximity so it’s in a very strategic location in the heart of the village.”

The facility will be managed by the board of the Donabate-Portrane community centre.

Schools will have usage of it Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm and then evenings and weekends it will Adrian Henchy at the allweather pitch in Donabate be used as a community facility.