Swords

Gazette SWORDS

INSIDE: Stylist Roxanne Parker’s work with The Voice of Ireland means her average day is all sewn up P11

Feature: CoderDojo children compute a great way to show their skills for awards Page 15

The Rising: Guests give a stamp of approval to GPO centre Page 8

You Moscow and see some of Russia’s many treasures

April 7-13, 2016

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digging into the details as a landfill gets a wall

THE final stage of a major infrastructure project for Fingal got under way on Monday, with the signing and commencement of a contract for the construction of the final section of vertical sub-surface barrier wall at Balleally Landfill, Lusk. The compacted natural clay vertical barrier will act as a barrier between the landfill and estuary, to prevent any cross-contamination, and safeguard the environment.

Pictured are James Wall, Fingal County Council (FCC); Paul Reid, chief executive, FCC; Garry O Brien and David Devine, FCC; John McCarthy, chief executive, Priority Construction; Derek Milton, Fehily Timoney Consulting Engineers and Ken Madden, Priority Construction.

Picture: Orla Murray/Ark Photography

sport Football:

Garristown girls continue meteoric rise Page 31

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

Proposed 10-minute DART service derailed Disappointment for commuters as unions, Iarnrod Eireann at odds over frequency change

 emma nolan

DEPUTY Darragh O’Brien (FF) has expressed his frustration and “disappointment” at the announcement by Irish Rail that plans to increase DART frequency from every 15

minutes to 10 minutes have been postponed.

He is concerned for his constituents in areas such as Malahide who rely heavily on the DART service.

Iarnrod Eireann has advised customers that the proposed 10-minute fre-

quency for DART services, which had been planned to commence on April 10, is being postponed due to “trade union intransigence on behalf of SIPTU and NBRU, who represent DART drivers”. SIPTU has said that the “assertion is

without any basis in fact”.

Deputy O’Brien said this decision will affect Fingal commuters who rely on DART services, and said that they were frustrated by an “overcrowded, stagnant service”.

Full Story on Page 6

2 SWORDS Gazette 7 April 2016

schools | kodaline promotes enterprise awards

Musicians note a way to help business  emma nolan news@dublingazette.com

Coolmine Community College student Kate Bryans with Kodaline members Mark Prendergast (lead guitar), Steve Garrigan (lead singer), Jason Boland (bass guitar) and Vinny May (drums). Picture: Joe Keogh

SWORDS rock band Kodaline are once again helping the local enterprise offices (LEOs) announce details for the national finals of the Student Enterprise Awards, which take place in Croke Park this month.

Kodaline members are former students at Colaiste Colm secondary school in Swords and Portmarnock Community School.

Lead singer, Steve Garrigan, and lead guitarist, Mark Prendergast, set up their own student enterprise, selling music lessons, when they were both students in Swords.

Garrigan said: “No matter what career you follow later in life, a good understanding of how business works will definitely help you. Setting up a business and selling music classes when we were at secondary school taught us very important lessons about the world of business and that enterprise education has really stood to us.”

This year, Fingal schools to feature at the National Finals are Loreto Balbriggan and Fingal Community College.

Loreto Balbriggan are winners in the senior and overall categories for their enterprise, Skimitquick – uniquely designed and custom-made educational playing cards designed for quick studying sessions.

Fingal Community College are winners in the intermediate category, for Little Hoots Cards

and Gifts – handcrafted cards and baby albums, and in the junior category for Koru – handcrafted wooden jewellery with minimalistic Nordic designs.

Since the programme was launched last September, approximately 17,000 budding entrepreneurs from 370 secondary schools across the country have been running their own enterprises, with help from their teachers and LEOs. Oisin Geoghegan, head of the Fingal LEO, said: “Kodaline have turned a passion and talent for music into a globally-successful business and we are very grateful to them for helping to promote student entrepreneurship in this country.

“The Student Enterprise Awards enable students to take on the world of business and develop an entrepreneurial mindset, across all industries and sectors.

“By fostering an enterprising culture in the classroom, the LEOs are working with teachers and schools to help nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

Further information around the national final on April 20 is available from www.studententerprise.ie, and by searching #studententerprise on social media.

Kodaline are set to perform in Dublin’s Marlay Park on Friday, July 8, and tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide, and from www.ticketmaster.ie.

Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

FastNews Two north county Dublin beaches have failed EU standards for clean water  emma nolan

TWO beaches in north county Dublin have failed to meet EU standards for clean water.

Rush South Beach, and Loughshinny Beach between Skerries and Rush, were classed as poor by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who released the results of their Bathing Water Quality in Ireland report for 2015 this month.

Commenting on the poor quality at Loughshinny, Peter Webster, EPA senior scientific officer said: “A single sample taken in 2014 after very heavy rainfall, coupled with slightly poorer quality in 2015, caused it to fail the standard.”

The poor rating means that Fingal County Council will have to put up signs warning the public about swimming there, but swimming will not be banned.

A spokesperson for Fingal County Council told The Gazette that they have, in consultation with Irish Water and the EPA, developed management plans for both Rush South Beach and Loughshinny Beach bathing waters.

“The plans set out short- and long-term measures to improve the water quality at both locations. All identified bathing waters in Fingal will continue to be monitored regularly through the bathing season with the objective of protecting human health and maintaining or improving water quality.”

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7 April 2016 SWORDS Gazette 3

grants | €225,500 investment to

malahide

suport a diverse range of firms

Creche turns one year old

44 new jobs created in the Fingal region  emma nolan

A total of 44 new jobs have been created in the Fingal region by startups and growing small businesses.

The 14 businesses were recently approved for grant assistance and a total funding of €225,500 was granted.

As a result, 20 jobs will be created immediately with a further 24 to become available in the next 12 months.

Of the 14 enterprises approved for a portion of the €225,500 investment, 10 are start-up businesses and four are small growing businesses. Grant amounts varied between €5,000 and €38,000.

The new companies are spread across Fin-

gal and cover a wide range of industry sectors, including manufacturing in Balbriggan, food processing and healthcare in Blanchardstown, and energy conservation in Castleknock.

In Swords, jobs in jewellery manufacturing and engineering will be made available and software jobs will be opening in Malahide, among others.

Speaking on the announcement of the new jobs, Oisin Geoghegan, head of enterprise in Fingal County Council, said that the businesses approved for funding are “well poised to grow and create further employment over the coming three years”.

He said: “With every

new business there is an element of risk involved; however, all of the businesses and start-ups approved for funding h ave d e m o n s t r a t e d strong potential to succeed and continue to grow.

“Importantly, we have assessed these businesses as holding real potential to exploit opportunities in overseas markets for their growth.”

Paul Reid, chief executive at Fingal County Council, welcomed the latest jobs announcement. He said: “In the two years since the local enterprise office was established in Fingal, it has approved grant assistance totalling almost €1.5m to 73 small and start-up businesses.”

 emma nolan

marking a 1916 battle

DOUBLE Eurovision Song Contest winner Johnny Logan was happy to help mark a key moment in Irish history recently when he played a part in commemorating the Battle of Ashbourne, in which several Fingallians were involved. He is pictured with Fiann Fail councillors Adrian Henchy and Darragh Butler, who were among the local public representatives, community leaders and citizens who attended the battle’s re-enactment at Rath Cross on Easter Monday. The battle was one of the most significant Rising events to take place outside Dublin, in which several Volunteers and Royal Irish Constabulory members were killed. As part of the commemoration, Logan sang the national anthem as members of the Defence Forces staged a helicopter fly-over.

MALAHIDE Marina Creche and Montessori is celebrating its first anniversary.

The creche is located in the heart of Malahide Marina Village and is owned and managed by Malahide local, Victoria Fitzmaurice.

Starting off with just four children in 2015, Malahide Marina Creche now has 39 childcare places fully booked until September 2017, and employs seven full-time staff members.

Fitzmaurice said: “As a team and local business, we are delighted to celebrate our first year in business. It’s wonderful to welcome children and their parents each morning to a creche we’re truly proud of.”

4 SWORDS Gazette 6 April 2016

transport heritage | mobile monuments exhibition on tour to schools US flights increased at airport  emma nolan

THIS summer, Dublin Airport will have more than 290 flights per week to and from destinations in the US. American Airlines announced last week that it is to resume seasonal services to Chicago, Illinois and Charlotte in North Carolina.

The airline’s summer service to Chicago and Charlotte will operate from May until September and will complement the airline’s additional seasonal service from Dublin to New York JFK. Dublin Airport managing director Vincent Harrison said: “We are delighted to see American Airlines’ service to Chicago and Charlotte return for the summer season.”

Rickshaws helping to roll out The Rising  emma nolan

TWO Fingal artists have created a series of sculptures, entitled Mobile Monuments, as part of Fingal’s flagship 1916 Commemorative Day on April 24 in Swords Castle.

Rhona By rne and Yvonne McGuinness have worked in collaboration with a number of local senior and school groups to create the exhibition, which will begin travelling to Swords, Rush, Garristown and Castaheany

during April.

The Mobile Monuments are built on three rickshaw tricycles that have the capacity to fold out and transform into colourful sites for performance and gathering when they arrive at their destinations.

Bicycles were key component in the transfer of information in 1916, as many of the messages delivered to the volunteers would have been by bicycle, often by a female messenger such as Mary (Molly) Adrien who delivered dispatch-

es from Padraig Pearse in the GPO to Thomas Ashe in the Swords area.

The artists are currently putting the final elements to the project through their workshops with Swords Senior Citizens, Rush ICA, Swords Educate Together, St Mary’s National School, Garristown, St Catherine’s National School in Rush and Castaheany Educate Together, Dublin 15.

Paul Reid, chief executive of Fingal County Council, said: “The men

Mobile Monuments – a Rising-related exhibition created by Rhona Byrne and Yvonne McGuinness, in collaboration with several school groups – echoes the role of bicycles and mobile information during the dramatic events of 1916

and women from Fingal in 1916, who played a vital role in The Rising, were very young, politically active and socially aware – just as Fingal today is diverse, youthful, vibrant, engaged and socially aware.”

Caroline Cowley, public art co-ordinator with

Fingal County Council, said: “Mobile Monuments is an ambitious and vibrant commission which has provided a unique opportunity for us to engage with Fingal’s younger citizens to re-imagine the activities which led up to 1916, while allowing us to

question what purpose a monument serves in how we remember and commemorate.

“We hope that people throughout Fingal and beyond will come to the gatherings and engage with the Mobile Monuments as they travel throughout the county.”

7 April 2016 SWORDS Gazette 5

6 SWORDS Gazette 7 April 2016

arts

Council to name winners of poetry contest  emma nolan

THE winners of Fingal County Council’s A Poem for Ireland poetry competition will be announced at an awards ceremony this evening.

The ceremony will be attended by the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien (FF), while one of the judges – acclaimed poet Maighread Medbh – will talk about the poems submitted.

At the national final on April 24, President Michael D Higgins will present a prize of €1,000 to the overall winner. The national runner-up will be awarded €500, the national third prize winner will be awarded €250, and all national finalists will receive €50 vouchers.

The Department of Education and Skills, the Public Library Service and the Libraries Development, Local Government Management Agency held the A Poem for Ireland poetry competition for post-primary schools as part of the commemoration events for Ireland 2016.

The county competitions were launched in early 2016 and promoted by schools and libraries. Post-primary school students were invited to submit a poem on the topic, Your Ireland. Class winners were sent from the schools to the local library branch where a judging panel decided on an overall winner.

The poetry competition is part of Fingal County Council’s centenary programme, which will see more than 50 lectures, film screenings, performances, re-enactments, talks and exhibitions cumulate in a special commemorative day in Swords on Sunday, April 24.

Deputy Darragh O’Brien (FF): “Proposals from Irish Rail to expand the frequency of the DART services would have alleviated overcrowding and improved the quality and regularity of service for passengers who rely on the DART”

transport | proposal for trains every 10 minutes is derailed

Disappointment as DART frequencies will not rise  emma nolan

FIANNA Fail TD for Dublin Fingal, Darragh O’Brien has expressed his frustration and “disappointment” at the announcement by Irish Rail that plans to increase DART frequency from every 15 minutes to 10 minutes have been postponed.

Deputy O’Brien is concerned for his constituents in areas such as Malahide who rely heavily on the DART service.

Iarnrod Eireann has advised customers that the proposed 10-minute frequency for DART ser vices, which had been planned to commence on April 10, is

being postponed due to “trade union intransigence on behalf of SIPTU and NBRU who represent DART drivers”.

A spokesperson from Iarnrod Eireann said that “the trade unions have used the requirements of our customers as a bargaining chip in pursuit of completely separate issues, citing productivity despite the company training additional drivers to deliver the service; and seeking pay increases of up to 25%”.

T he spokesperson added: “The trade unions have also damaged the interests of drivers, as the extra drivers who had been

trained to allow the service to expand will reduce the need for additional hours from drivers within the existing schedule.”

SIPTU has said that the “assertion is without any basis in fact”.

SIPTU organiser Paul Cullen said: “In reality, the introduction of a 10-minute DART service is an integral part of discussions between the company and trade unions concerning productivity.

“To run such a service requires at least an additional 20 drivers, and these workers will not be in place until June.

“There are also currently not enough

train units to operate a 10-minute DART service in a manner which will actually increase operational capacity.

“What management had proposed was a more frequent service,

necessary to implement an increased DART service.

“It has also been made clear by our members that no extra duties will be taken on until progress has been made

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

‘There are ... currently not enough train units to operate a 10-minute DART service in a manner which will increase operational capacity’ --------------------------------------------------------

SIPTU organiser Paul Cullen

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

but with less capacity per train.”

He added: “In talks at the Workplace Rights Commission, the company has not made any positive response in relation to the measures

in relation to productivity issues and an outstanding pay claim.”

Deputy O’Brien said this decision will affect Fingal commuters who rely on DART services, particularly in Mala-

hide, and said that they were frustrated by an “overcrowded, stagnant service”.

He said: “Proposals from Irish Rail to expand the frequency of the DART services wo u l d h ave a l l e v i ated overcrowding and improved the quality and regularity of service for passengers who rely on the DART. “It is unfortunate that a dispute developed surrounding this proposal.

We have seen over the last few months the negative impact Luas strikes can have on the city.

“It is imperative that we do not allow a similar situation to develop on the DART.”

7 April 2016 SWORDS Gazette 7

housing | scale of issue revealed by latest figures from board

700 Fingal homes seek pyrite redress  emma nolan

MORE than 700 applications to the Pyrite Remediation Scheme were received from the Fingal local authority area up to the beginning of March.

Dublin Fingal Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) has said that recent figures from the scheme show that works under the scheme are progressing in Fingal.

In total, 1,073 applications have been received from affected pyrite-heavy areas, which are mostly concentrated in North Leinster, particularly in North County Dublin, Offaly, Meath and Louth.

Of these applications, more than 520 have

moved past the assessment and verification stage and 258 are at the remedial works plan stage, which includes the planning of works and the tender preparation.

A further 153 applications are at the dwelling remediation/certification stage of the process, with another 90 at the 12-month retention period element of the process.

Deputy Farrell said: “While I am pleased that significant progress is being made in tackling the issues facing homeowners who have homes with a Category 2 rating, I believe that more must be done to assist those whose

homes have a Category 1 rating, in terms of providing them with sufficient supports.

“Approximately 65% of all applications made to the Pyrite Resolution Board come from the Fingal local authority area.”

The board was appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government under the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 to make a scheme for the “remediation of damage to certain dwellings caused by pyritic heave and to oversee and ensure the effective implementation of a programme of remediation works for affected dwellings,” according to Fingal

County Council.

Pyrite, also known as Fool’s Gold, is a very common mineral that is present in many sedimentary rocks.

According to Aidan O’Connell & Associates Ltd – the leading engineering expert on pyrite in Ireland – it can be problematic in certain conditions in construction, such as underfloor filling and bridge embankments.

This is due to a chemical reaction that can cause pyritic backfill to swell.

Construction material containing relatively large amounts of pyrite minerals are likely to expand, crack and/or crumble over time. This occurs

Hundreds of homeowners across Fingal have made applications to the Pyrite Remediation Scheme to help deal with the current, or potential, impact of pyrite

when pyrite, air and moisture, mix causing a chemical reaction to occur that creates expanding crystals within the material.

Its presence can lead to severe deterioration in construction materials, resulting in cracks in floors and walls.

Deputy Farrell said: “The Pyrite Resolution Board was established by Fine Gael in government as a means of last resort

to assist pyrite-affected homeowners.

“In Budget 2016, the funding allocated for pyrite remediation was increased to €19 million, which was an increase on the €10 million allocated in 2015.”

A spokesperson for Fingal County Council confirmed that the council have had no role in the assessment or remediation of homes affected by

pyritic fill material since the establishment of the Pyrite Resolution Board, and said that the board have developed a remediation scheme and terms and conditions, including eligibility criteria.

These are available to view on pyriteboard. ie where it outlines the steps homeowners need to undertake to apply to the scheme if a property is affected by pyrite.

8 SWORDS Gazette 7 April 2016

Gazettegallery

| an taoiseach opens state-of-the-art facility

Megan and Laura Jones with An Taoiseach, with the trio reflecting on the symbolism of the individual

A fish-eye view of the inner courtyard at the GPO, now transformed into a commemorative 1916 space. Pictures: Maxwell Photography

rocks, representing the children killed in the Rising

GPO’s visitor centre brings the Rising to life A

N TAOISEACH Enda Kenny was guest of honour at the GPO in the city centre recently, where he opened the communication hub’s new Witness History visitor centre. The multimillion state-of-the-art centre commemorates the GPO’s role at the

very heart of the Rising in 1916, with its exhibits and multimedia tracing the path of revolution. The stories of the leaders of the Rising are mixed with the tales of the ordinary men, women and children who were caught up in the extraordinary events, with their

lives (and deaths) given a respectful and thorough analysis. Former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrove was also in attendence, with his father, WT Cosgrave – the first president of new Irish Free State – among those commemorated by the superb new visitor centre.

Songwriter and vocal artist Jack Lukeman, aka Jack L

The first President of the The hands of Jimmy Deenihan,

Executive Council of the Irish Free

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, with former Taoiseach

Minister for Diaspora Affairs,

Aidan Collins, dressed as an Irish Volunteer, and Sarah Kinlen,

State, William T Cosgrave - one of

Liam Cosgrave

holding commemorative stamps

dressed as a member of Cumann na MBan

the exhibition’s iconic figures

7 April 2016 SWORDS Gazette 9

Gazettegallery

| celebrating the musical ties between allies

Simon Taylor and His Excellence, Kevin O’Malley, American ambassador to Ireland

Paul Brady in performance

Paul Muldoon and Lisa Dwane

A lilting conversation with American friends

I

Athena Tergis

Carmel and Michael McKeown. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

RISH-American ties were at the centre of a special musical evening at the National Concert Hall recently, drawing together a diverse range of musicians, artists and well-known faces to celebrate the long-standing links between the nations.

Described by many as “a musical conversation across the Atlantic”, the eclectic evening – entitled Imagining Home – was enjoyed by all, as the rich sounds of many music genres filled the air. Artists performing on the night included Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crow-

ell, Paul Brady, Andy Irvine, Maura O’Connell, Tim O’Brien, Mick Moloney and band, with their range greatly enjoyed by guests, which included the American ambassador, His Excellence Kevin O’Malley, and Tanaiste Joan Burton and her husband, Pat Carroll.

10 Gazette 7 April 2016

7 April 2016 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 11

asdfsdaf feature P27 P16

skills P15

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

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a day in the life: behind the scenes with the voice of ireland stylist roxanne parkeR

Kept sew busy dressing stars  emma nolan

MAKING sure some of Ireland’s best-known presenters look the part is all in a day’s work for Dublin stylist, Roxanne Parker.

With the live shows for The Voice of Ireland currently under way, a day in Roxanne’s life consists of a gruelling schedule styling the ladies of the show – judges Una Healey from The Saturdays, Rachel Stevens of S Club 7 fame, and presenter Kathryn Thomas.

She said: “With television, you have to pump up the volume and things that might look lovely in real life can get lost on camera. There are lots of parameters that I have to deal with when deciding on outfits.

“Number one, the judge’s chairs are red,

so there loads of things that will clash with that.

Number two, they have to be sitting down, so I have to be careful about hemlines, because skirts can ride up.

“Number three, a lot of prints can pixelate on screen and they can actually start ‘strobing’.

So before I even start pulling clothes, there’s loads of things I have to take into consideration,” she said.

She also has to work with the girls’ figures.

“They may be celebrities, but they’re like every other woman – they have parts of themselves that they dislike as well as the parts they like, so I have to dress around that.”

With Rachel Stevens, Roxanne says she’s a “real lady with a natural, ladylike elegance and sexi-

ness about her,” so her wardrobe is a “tightrope” balance of the two.

“She doesn’t do short dresses at all; she loves maxi skir ts, longer lengths and showing off her shoulders,” she says of Rachel, who is also really “dainty”, and dressing her involves having many garments altered so as not to overwhelm her frame.

Speaking of Una Healy, Roxanne says that “rockchick is her go-to look”.

“As she’s been embarking on a solo career, we’ve really been carving out a new look for Una, which has been really exciting.

“Una is a big fan of metallics, studs and leather, but is also very feminine. On last week’s show, she wore a dress from Alex Perry in a fresh, lime green and pale pink

– she looked like Ariel the Little Mermaid; it’s been really fun styling her.”

As for Kathryn Thomas, Roxanne said: “She is under pressure – she’s on that stage for two hours and she needs to look good from a 360degree angle.”

A day on set filming the show in The Helix involves dress rehearsals, fittings and camera tests. “The day just goes so quickly.”

Roxanne stays in the wings during the show and stays on hand to ensure there are no wardrobe malfunctions.

As for balancing her work schedule with her personal life, Roxanne says it’s “out the window” at the moment, but once filming ends things will mellow out.

Dealing with criticism

from the public in an inevitable part of being in the public eye and there was some criticism for a dress Kathryn wore on the show a few weeks ago, which Roxanne has taken it in her stride.

“People were saying that the dress was inappropriate and I’m thinking: ‘Guys, she’s not in the Dail giving a speech – she’s a TV presenter and she’s supposed to be glam and sexy’. It would be inappropriate if she showed up at church dressed like that, but she’s an entertainer on a TV show.

“Part of the celebrity is the fact that they wear clothes that are amazing and different. The criticisms didn’t bother me – if you’re getting a reaction, you’re doing something right.”

Top stylist, Roxanne Parker, pictured at the Thomas Sabo SS16 collection event

12 Gazette 7 April 2016

Gazette

dublinlife Step out with Richie to help everyone with Parkinson’s ON APRIL 10, those who live with Parkinson’s disease and their supporters will convene in Merrion Square to take part in the annual Parkinson’s Association of Ireland Unity Walk.

Starting Parkinson’s Awareness Week 2016 in style is the one and only Richie Kavanagh, who is calling on all those in Dublin who want to learn a cupla focal about how they can support those living with Parkinson’s disease to come along on the day.

Richie, who lives with Parkinson’s disease (PD), will perform his recently re-launched hit song, Aon Focal Eile, as a part of the Unity Walk celebrations.

He is encouraging all his fans, supporters and those affected by Parkinson’s disease to show their support for the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland by coming out to join in the Unity Walk to raise awareness for the disease, which affects over 12,000 people in Ireland.

For further information, see www.parkinsons.ie.

a moving film on suicide in ireland THE classic Irish short film, A Day For The Fire, on the tragic theme of suicide in modern Ireland will be screened on

RTE 2 Shortscreen, on Monday, April 4 at midnight.

Featuring riveting performances by Jonathan Ryan (Patriot Games) and Jon Kenny (D’Unbelievables), this follows international screenings at festivals such as Palm Springs, Savannah, Boston, Cork, Fastnet, and at Los Angeles for the 2013 Oscar longlist.

The film is written and directed by Maurice O’Callaghan (Broken Harvest), and has played in selected cinemas in Ireland throughout 2014 and 2015 and may also be viewed on YouTube.

testing for better sexual health GLEN, the sexual health centre, recently launched KnowNow – Ireland’s first national free rapid HIV testing programme.

The testing is community-based and will be provided by a team of community volunteers in a variety of non-clinical venues in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. In Dublin, this will include Pantibar, on Capel Street.

The latest HIV diagnosis figures show that HIV remains an issue of critical concern for gay and bisexual men.

Tiernan Brady, director of Gay HIV strategies for GLEN, said: “KnowNow,

the new rapid HIV testing pilot, is an exciting and innovative new approach to enabling more people to know their HIV status.

“If people have HIV, then the earlier they become aware of their status the better it will be for their long-term health outcomes.

“In addition, most HIV is transmitted by people who are unaware that they have HIV, so early diagnosis can further reduce onward transmission rates.”

borrow a way to save home energy HOME energy saving kits are now available in all Dublin City public libraries.

The kits contain six useful tools to help homeowners save energy and cut costs and are available to borrow, free of charge.

The kits have been developed by Dublin’s energy agency, Codema, and contain six practical tools to help people save energy at home.

They are available to borrow from 10 library branches across the city.

T he items in the toolkits address three key areas of energy use in the home – space heating, hot water and electricity consumption – and can help identify common

diary

Paula Gilmore, Parkinson’s Association of Ireland, joined the one and only Richie Kavanagh to help promote the upcoming annual Parkinson’s Association of Ireland Unity Walk at Merrion Square, on April 10

problems, such as a lack of insulation, poor ventilation and the appliances in the home that might be driving up electricity bills.

The kit is also accompanied by a step-by-step user manual and demonstration video which easily explain how to use each tool correctly, so it can appeal to homeowners with even the most basic knowledge of energy-saving.

knowledge for a men’s health issue THIS April, the Movember Foundation is encouraging guys and their partners to get to Know Thy Nuts.

The mission of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month is to educate the country about what’s

normal and most importantly, what’s not.

Though not always seen as such, testicular cancer is very much a young man’s disease and is most common in men aged 15-34.

Many men either never check their testicles, or don’t know how to perform a self-examination, making it all the more critical that awareness around the issue is improved.

The Movember Foundation has created a limited edition Know Thy Nuts soap-on-a-rope, to help spread awareness while raising vital funds for men’s health.

Neil Rooney, Movember country manager, says: “While testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young

men, it’s largely overlooked and many men simply aren’t aware of the signs they need to look out for.

“As the leading foundation for men’s health in Ireland, Movember is going all-out for Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, and asking guys and their partners to #KnowThyNuts.”

Visit Movember.com to purchase limited Testicular Cancer Awareness Month products, and to find out more information.

all aboard the ark for fun FROM June to August at Ireland’s only dedicated cultural centre for children, The Ark, in Temple Bar, young people can enjoy five-day summer

camps, one-off workshops and special events, as well as a free exhibition about the making of Cartoon Saloon’s hugely successful animation, Song of the Sea. Budding animators can gain insight and practical experience of the world of animation, try out different animation techniques, or become part of an animation film production team as they work in groups to create, storyboard and film a short animated film.

With events starting at age 2+ (the summer camps are for children aged from eight to 12), there is a chance for all the family to get involved.

Bookings can be made now. For further information, see ark.ie.

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dublinlife

FEATURE

Run, walk or trek to support MS Ireland’s work  ian begley

THREE upcoming events will give people the opportunity to get active, take a challenge and have fun helping to raise funds for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and their families locally.

MS Ireland, the national services, information and research organisation supporting people living with MS, is calling on people in Dublin city and county to choose an event and visit www.mssociety.ie to sign up and receive a Team MS Ireland pack.

Get active with the girls in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon, which takes place on June 6.

The VHI Women’s MiniMarathon is now open

for sign-up.

Women are three times as likely to be diagnosed with MS as men, making this a great chance for women across the country to take part and “Get Active for MS”, showing their support.

Alternatively, why not Trek the Camino Portuguese Route for MS from September 17 – 24 as part of MS Ireland’s 27th Camino Trek?

Camino, The Portuguese Route, promises an incredible experience. This year, Camino trekkers for MS will have the chance to walk the Portuguese Route – Tui to Santiago Compostela. The fundraising target is €2,950 per person.

The last section of the

Portuguese Way starts in the border town of Tui, separated from Portugal only by the River Minho and the International Bridge.

From Tui to Santiago de Compostela, the Camino trail passes wooded areas, farmlands and hamlets, as well as historic towns and cities, including the city of Pontevedra with its classic Galician old town, superb architecture and centre.

Then, later this year, MS Ireland was delighted to be one of two official charities for the 2015 Dublin Marathon. The organisation is asking anyone signing up for the Dublin City Marathon on October 30 to consider running for people

Eileen Drumgoole and Ann Marie Shevlin add a dash of fun to last year’s VHI Women’s Mini-Marathon, with MS Ireland one of the many causes being supported by participants in the popular annual event every June

with MS and raise funds for vital services.

MS is the most common disabling neurological condition of young adults in Ireland. The

condition is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.

Debilitating symptoms include impaired mobility, severe fatigue

and cognitive difficulties. There is currently no known cause or cure for the condition.

Funds raised by everyone taking part for people with MS will help to provide one-to-one and family support including newly diagnosed sessions, physiotherapy and symptom management programmes through ten regional offices across the country.

The funds will also help with the operation of the MS Information Line, to provide one-toone professional support to people with MS; and to continue to deliver specialised services in the MS Care Centre – Ireland’s only respite and therapy centre for people with MS.

Ava Battles, chief executive, MS Ireland said: “Getting active has great benefits for all of us. In my work I’m constantly inspired by people – people living with MS, people taking on challenges to fundraise for an important cause.

“It is always great to hear the positive feedback from those taking part in events like Women’s Mini-Marathon, Camino and Dublin City Marathon.

“It’s about the combination of a great personal experience while at the same time helping people with MS and their families.”

For further information on these, or to register, see www.ms-society. ie, or call 01 678 1600.

7 April 2016 Gazette 15

Gazette

FEATURE

Young blogger Lexi Schoene (above) and Harvey and Jasper Brezina Conniffe, with Lightron the robot – all helping to promote the fifth annual CoderDojo Coolest Projects awards. Pictures: Conor McCabe

children : popular annual coderdojo initiative

Young minds turn to coding awards  ian begley

MORE than 800 young innovators from across Ireland and Western Europe will take part in the fifth annual CoderDojo Coolest Projects awards, which look set to be the largest technology event held in the country this year, and demonstrate the popularity of coding for many young people.

This year’s awards will be held at the RDS on Saturday, June 18 and are expected to attract more than 10,000 spectators to witness demonstrations of the apps, websites, animation, games and robots among this year’s submissions.

The CoderDojo Coolest Projects awards are unique in Europe, have been embraced by the EU, and were established as a competition and exhibition to create, support and inspire a generation of

innovators, creators and entrepreneurs aged from seven to 17.

The Coolest Projects l a u n c h a t C HQ i n Dublin on March 29 was attended by some of Ireland’s brightest young innovators, who were flanked by a giant robot.

Eight-year-old blogger Lexi Schoene has entered the blog/website category at this year’s Coolest Projects awards with her site, lexililybelle.com.

Wordpress “I used the HTML and coding skills I learned at CoderDojo Dun Laoghaire to design my website using Wordpress,” said Lexi, who blogs on her life and interests across a range of platforms.

The awards create a unique platform for young people to develop a broad set of coding and digital skills by offering

them the opportunity to showcase the skills they have learned at CoderDojo and other coding clubs.

“Coolest Projects provides the bridge from learning coding skills at CoderDojos to innovating and creating future employment.

“We are the piece in the middle which makes the connection,” said Coolest Projects cofounder, Noel King.

“These digital skills are vital if Europe is to address the coding skills shortage which has led to 500,000 open job postings across the region in 2015.”

Coolest Projects has seen young people deliver projects across the latest technologies, from Cloud-based tech to virtual reality, and has the real potential to drive vital digital skills across a pan-European platform.

T here are awards

across a range of age groups in the disciplines of websites, apps, animation and games, advanced languages, enterprise and hardware.

This year also sees the addition of Launch’d, a unique one-day event aimed at supporting the next generation of technology entrepreneurs.

Start-ups Running in parallel with Coolest Projects, it will feature Ireland’s 100 top tech start-ups and a host of top international speakers, in what will be the biggest technology event held in Ireland this year.

Muirne Laffan, RTE’s chief digital officer, said: “Equipping young people in Ireland with the skills to become the digital creators of tomorrow is vitally important.”

For further information, see www.coolestprojects.org.

Gazette

16 Gazette 7 April 2016

dublinlife

FEATURE

property: spacious gallowhill homes could be a perfect escape from the city

An exclusive development awaits in Athy EXPERTS now say the residential market is stabilising with property values in the Leinster region rising by 15.8%, but with regional variations.

As new homes are in short supply in the greater Dublin area, Gallowhill New Homes offers a unique opportunity to purchase a quality family home within walking distance of Athy train station.

The small and exclusive development is conveniently located in the Kildare heritage town, just one hour from Dublin and 10km from the M9, Exit 3.

The remaining detached homes are being

launched this Sunday by joint agents, Fingleton and Co and Brophy Farrell.

Gallowhill’s spacious interiors are well suited to modern day living and offer a choice of two different house types, Type A and Type B. Both house types have four bedrooms, with the larger house having two reception rooms and two en-suites.

Type B has a very large open plan kitchen with dining area and double doors leading to the rear garden. The kitchen in the larger house, Type A, offers a totally different kitchen layout along with two sets of double doors opening from the kitchen

and dining area onto the rear garden.

This offers great possibilities for the addition of a sun room at a later stage, without having to touch the main structure of the house.

The “B” house price has remained at €220,000, and will particularly appeal to first-time buyers to qualify for the new regulations on residential mortgage lending.

This development is architect designed with maintenance-free facades, and offer generous living space with excellent standard features including a stove, extensive tiling, cream Shaker-style painted kitchens, ward-

robes in four bedrooms, and tiling to the kitchen.

Gallowhill is located in a sought after area, within walking distance of Athy train station, Athy golf club and the four-star Clanard Court Hotel.

Athy, an ancient heritage market town, is located on the River Barrow and Grand Canal, and is rich in architectural and natural heritage.

Ardscull Moate, Mullaghmast Ring Fort, Mullachcreelin Woods, Moone Abbey and High Cross are all located in the vicinity and in the best of agricultural farmlands.

The town offers a superb choice of well-es-

Gallowhill’s spacious interiors have been finished to the highest standards

tablished modern schools, excellent clubs and sports facilities and numerous festivals throughout the yearly calendar

Gallowhill estate lies between the Kildare Road and the Kilcullen road, and has been well planned with a featured

driveway into the estate.

For further info, email info@reabrophyfarrell.ie or info@fingletonandco. com.

7 April 2016 Gazette 17

gaming P22

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

cinema P23



Gazette

travel P20

city

MUSIC The Martin brothers

Cry Monster Cry to play in Temple Bar  ian begley

These colourful characters helped to give the eleventh annual International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival a picture-perfect launch recently. With a diverse range of events on this year’s programme, the festival’s reach is accessible to all, and is not just limited to LGBT people.

arts: inclusiveness at the heart of annual international event

All welcome at gay theatre fest  ian begley

THE eleventh annual International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival programme runs this year from May 5 to 17 at various locations across Dublin.

This year’s festival will also feature a record number of plays by Irish playwrights and supports the growing interest in LGBT issues and the gay community at home.

During the two weeks in May, the audience will have the opportunity to enjoy drama, comedy, music and cabaret at accessible prices, as well as a range of free events.

This annual event will also present plays from abroad, including the USA, Canada, South Africa, Israel and Australia, as well as plays from closer to

home, from Northern Ireland and Britain.

In his speech, the festival’s artistic director and chairman, Brian Merriman, highlighted the need for inclusion of all people in the festival events.

Although 50% of the festival audience is heterosexual, he pointed out that the festival is “suffering from goodwill”.

He explained: “So many people look at the event and go: ‘Well done’, and then self-exclude themselves from it because they are not LGBT, or they think they are not into theatre.

“We do not personally profit in any way from our voluntary work supporting professional artists, but I believe we all profit from this visibility, this diversity, this inclusiveness of all, regardless of their identity, in a unique artistic cel-

ebration of new voices, new work and new horizons in Dublin in May.” This year, the festival audience will have the opportunity to experience stories about family and gender, musings on love and happiness with a poignant look at gay marriage and divorce, love and loss.

There will be talks about gay rights, politics and sex in the 1980s, and a rethink of children’s tales and fairy tales.

Love will blossom in the trenches of World War 1, football pitches and Northern Ireland, and in spite of and despite religion.

There will be stories about privilege and assumed rights that go with it; of pure malice and perceived evil; of obsession and corruption of beauty.

1916’s heroes feature, as does the work of Wilde and Jean Genet and Stephen Sondheim, and even Margaret Thatcher will make an appearance on stage. However, without fail, the festival will show stories of and about that unpredictable and uncontrollable organ – the heart.

The festival was founded in 2004 to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Oscar Wilde, in his native city. With an emphasis on new or recent international and Irish works with a broadly gay theme or relevance, the festival has grown to become the largest event of its type in the world.

Booking is available online at www. gaytheatre.ie, or at the festival box office at The Arlington Hotel Temple Bar, Lord Edward Street, from April 28 at noon to 3pm daily.

JUST over a year since the release of their debut album in 2015, Rhythm of Dawn, brothers Jamie and Richie Martin (above) have had an incredible 12 months touring the UK and Ireland.

The record debuted at #1 in the iTunes Singer/Songwriter charts, and their latest single, Atlas, has just smashed 165,000 streams on Spotify.

Fresh from a host of successful live gigs around Ireland and the UK, the band will return to play their last Dublin headline show, before taking some time off to return to the studio to work on some new material.

Their headline show takes place on April 8 in the Button Factory, from 7.30pm. Tickets are €16.50. For further information, see www. crymonstercry.com.

18 GAZETTE 7 April 2016

MANGO reversible sequin skirt €49.95, reversible seqiun top €29.95

OUT&ABOUT

Designers reign on Fashhood portal IRELAND’S top fashion designers are showcasing their work and interacting directly with a captive audience through a new online portal – fashhood.com.

The new online platform (above) features an exclusive collection of Irish fashion, focused on the working woman.

The site aims to promote and sell the work of Irish designers to a global audience and is also an up-and-coming online community where consumers can engage with the designers, share their thoughts, influence fashion and commission bespoke pieces.

Designers featured on fashhood.com include Zoe Carol, Helen Cody, Natalie B Coleman, Shirley Copperwhite, Jill De Burca, Tina Griffin, Jen Kelly, Carol Kennelly, Elaine Madigan Cashmere, Ommactive, Rant & Rave, Emma Sheridan, Helen Steele, Niall Tyrrell, We are Islanders, and others.

Designer Elizabeth McKay said that the site affords consumers a unique opportunity to learn more about the designers and engage with them.

She said: “We’ve given women a voice and a platform where they can let designers know what they feel,

what they are looking for and what they like.

It’s also a place where pictures of desirable or aspirational items can be posted, and a place where, at the press of a button, you can ask designers if they have similar [items] in stock or can make such an item.”

Markievicz Artist Emma Sheridan, who recently designed a 1916-inspired t-shirt, said: “My drawing of Countess Markievicz [screenshot, above] is my abstract version of a sketch I found of her by John Butler Yeats, and is aimed to represent what a colourful woman she was and life she led.

“By collaborating with the other designers in Fashhood, I believe we are all putting our strengths together for the future to create a team strengthened by our own colourful histories.”

Designer Helen Steele said: “I am delighted to be chosen to be a designer with Fashhood.

It is a site for like-minded women who want to connect with and cultivate a new way to explore fashion online.

“There are a treasure trove of Irish designers at your fingertips and the fact that we get to connect with the members of Fashhood is fantastic.”

Mango Metallics sweater €25.95, skirt €45.95

MANGO sequin dress €39.95

Metallic madness MANGO pleated top €9.95

MANGO skinny gloss jeans €39.95

 EMMA NOLAN

MANGO metallic sweater €45.95

It’s time  EMMA NOLAN

Style Editor

KARLIE Kloss is the face of Mango’s New Metallics campaign, which seeks to emulate the 90s Grunge era with a space-age twist. You know it’s starting to get warm again when you see the bikini display appear!

to shine

T h e combination of denims and leathers with the abundant sequin and metallic gloss textures delivers this mix of rock ’n’ roll and disco – neither of which are dead in Mango HQ this season.

Glimmering and shining, the look Mango has achieved is set to be a hit with festival goers with its flashy and chic sen-

sibilities in equal measures. Glam and casual at the same time, the styling of leather and denim over shimmering fabrics gives the collection a hard edge that’s seamlessly softened by the metallic accents.

Favourites include the high neck pleated top for only €9.95, and the sequin dresses (€39.95) paired with the cropped fitted leather jacket (€59.95).

7 April 2016 GAZETTE 19

River Island Paisley print frilly bardot top €37 Little Woods Ireland off the shoulder beach cover

GAZETTE

STYLE

Time for Tilbury’s magic help for your weary eyes

up dress €52  EMMA NOLAN

look for.

SINCE reaching Irish

up isn’t the only draw

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New Look Black Frill Bardot Neck, Long Sleeve Top €22.99

River Island White Cold Shoulder Jacket €87 Striped trousers €55

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Tilbury has managed

The trilogy features

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the Magic Cream, Magic

masses with its feminine

Night Rescue Cream and

charm and cult products,

the Magic Eye Rescue.

The full set

the most notable

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of which

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is the Pillow

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ly well, with

er, feedPenneys Pink Blue Floral print Off Shoulder Dress, €20

ing the larger-than-life

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transform tired look-

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New Look Orange off the shoulder dress €29.99

River Island Black daisy lace overlay bardot top €35

ing eyes and reduce the appearance of redness.

of make-up looks on

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Shoulder Crop Top €22.99

HARD work and weather can take their toll

Expose those shoulders

on your hands, leaving them dry with cuts and hangnails, so a good hand cream is a worthwhile investment to prevent them from always feeling parched.

Crabtree and Evelyn’s Gardeners 60 Second Fix for Hands Kit is a simple two-step system that promises

 EMMA NOLAN

SHOULDERS are the new erogenous zone du jour with designers continuing to create bardot necklines and cold shoulder cut outs.

And what could be more subtly seductive than a glimpse of sunkissed shoulders and collar bone? More restrained than cleavage, everyone can pull of this uncomplicated trend that suits all shapes and outfits.

From oversized cold shoulder jumpers to delicate bardot bodysuits, this trend can be worn multiple ways. Pair with high waisted pants, a midi skirt or a full off the shoulder dress or jumpsuit.

All the high streets have variations and the likes of Asos and Missguided have a large number of pieces currently available.

So get the bronzer out, it’s shoulders’ time to shine.

to give visible results after a single treatment.

Step one is the Hand Recovery cream that cleanses, exfoliates and moisturises, followed by the hand therapy cream, which contains shea butter and nourishing macadamia nut oil. This cream wears like a glove to give protection from the elements.

The kit is priced at €34 and is available at Kildare Village and pharmacies nationwide.

Gazette

20 Gazette 7 April 2016

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

getaways: stays in moscow, or the Cote d’Azur, will delight

This week, we have several deals from travel experts offering some great Maltese holidays

Make it marvellous Malta for a great trip  ian begley

WHY not make 2016 a year to remember by visiting the Mediterranean island of Malta?

With year-round sunshine, events and activities to suit all ages, Malta is certainly an ideal location for those who want to break away from Ireland.

Only a short flight away, Malta has a variety of events this April and May that will definitely keep you entertained.

Lowcostholidays is offering seven nights, departing on April 30, at the 4-Star Hotel Paradise Bay (B&B), from €562pp.

Alternatively, you can depart on May 14 and stay at the 5-Star Excelsior Grand Hotel (B&B), from €652pp.

With Budget Travel, you can depart on April 30 and stay at the 3-Star Topaz Hotel Apt, Bugibba (room only) for €523pp.

You could alternatively depart on May 19 and stay at the 4-Star Canifor Hotel, Qawra (B&B), for €369pp.

With Concorde Travel, you can depart on May 8 and stay for seven nights

at the 3-Star Blubay Apartments, Sliema (SC, one bedroom, three sharing) for €464pp.

On May 15, Concorde is offering seven nights at the 5-Star Intercontinental Hotel, St Julians (B&B, standard room, two sharing) for €864pp.

The 15th edition of the Malta International Fireworks Festival will take place on Saturday, April 1; Saturday, April 23; and Saturday, April 30.

A number of Maltese and foreign fireworks factories will be participating in this competitive event, presenting spectacular firework displays that will be synchronised to music.

The Valletta Green Festival, which takes place from May 6 to 9, is a weekend-long event that aims to inspire people to turn urban spaces into green oases.

One of the highlights of the festival is the Infiorata, a colourful floral display composed of thousands of flowering plants placed next to each other.

For further information and details of other events that will be taking place in Malta, see www. visitmalta.com.

A nine-night trip to Russia will take in some of the country’s cultural treasures, including Red Square in Moscow, and St Basil’s Cathedral

You’ll be Russian off to see some great sights  ian begley

Travel Editor

EXPERIENCE everything that the Land of the Tsars has to offer on a nine-night, solo-friendly holiday to Russia, from €1,789pp.

With flights departing from Dublin on September 15, travel to the regions where some of the world’s most famous art, literature and history were created, from the beautiful St Petersburg to the hustle and bustle of the capital, Moscow.

During the first half of your stay, you will visit St Petersburg, which has more of a Scandinavian feel than the capital and is home to the Winter Palace – the former residence of the Russian monarchs.

St Petersburg is also

home to Catherine’s Palace, in the town of Tzarskoye, which boasts some of the most opulent architecture and interior design you are ever likely to see.

For the second half of your trip, visit Moscow and see the iconic squares and palaces that make the city so renowned.

Here, you will see Red Square, which is the enormous plaza that houses St Basil’s Cathedral, amongst others.

Other highlights are the Kremlin, which is a huge compound of government buildings containing the seat of the president, and the Kremlin Armoury, which houses some of the most valuable jewels in the world.

You will also enjoy plenty of leisure time to explore these beautiful

cities at your own pace.

Alternatively, if you fancy a break a tad closer to home, then why not try a three-night city break in Cote d’Azur, better known as the French Riviera?

Priced from €499pp with flights leaving on November 10, the French Riviera has been the playground of the rich and famous since the 19th century, and all of its allure remains.

From the opulence of Nice to the tranquillity of St Paul-de-Vence, this three-night short city break is truly special.

You will visit Antibes, a town which was founded as a 5th century Greek colony due to its naturally protected port, and has historically been an important trade centre.

Today, it is home to a

Sun worshippers need no introduction to Cote d’Azur

number of noted museums, including the Picasso Museum and the Naval Museum of Napoleon.

Then you will set off for Nice, one of the most popular cities to visit in France, which boasts lots of cultural attractions, including a colourful flower market and the Promenade des Anglais, named after the earliest English visitors to the area.

There will also be plenty of time to discover the many hidden gems in Cannes at your own pace.

Relax with a drink by the seaside or take a stroll alonges Film Festival, or enjoy an al fresco lunch in the Old Town of Cannes, overlooking the bay.

For further information about these two offers, see www.traveldepartment.ie.

7 April 2016 Gazette 21

Cruising information event is sure to make some waves  ian begley

ON SUNDAY, from noon to 5pm at the Red Cow Morans Hotel, e-Travel.ie will host an exclusive cruise information afternoon event with Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Silversea Cruiseline, Norweigen Cruiseline, Uniworld River Cruising and Riveria Travel.

The travel experts are offering great deals and unique show offers on the day, with free presentations from all of the cruise lines’ representatives, and Q&A sessions for all those nautical but nice cruise queries.

Discover fun-filled, action-packed holidays for the whole family on board luxury ships bursting with amenities such as rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, onboard surf parks, Broadway entertainment, great night life, shopping and gourmet cuisine.

Imagine the spectacular glaciers and silent fjords of Alaska, paradise on the Caribbean coasts, the cultural splendour of European cities on a Mediterranean cruise, b e a u t i f u l H aw a i i a n Islands with dramatic lava flows and tropical rainforests, or broaden your horizons even further to destinations such as Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, with exiting itineraries departing from the Middle East and Far East.

Established in 1997, e-Travel is now one of Ireland’s leading inde-

pendent travel agents, specialising in cruising as well as flights, long-haul and online bookings, and are the only 100% Irishowned and managed online agency in Ireland.

They have sailed away with numerous international awards for excellence in cruising, including top honours from Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.

The e-Travel Cruise Show is free to attend for all the family and as well as great value with special booking discounts for reservations made on the day, e-Travel’s awardwinning team will be in attendance to offer expertise and advice, as well as offering early booking discounts, on-board credit, or champagne in your cabin.

TRAVEL The Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Galway

The west is best for a relaxing trip  ian begley

HEAD west and discover why Lonely Planet have named Galway city as one of the “Top 21 things to do in Ireland”, with a trip to the Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa. The popular guide book was released on March 11, and announced the coveted list of things to do in Ireland.

Changing technology and ever-improving ship design has seen the rise of super liners, with all the comforts

Sales up This January was a good month for Irish travel bookings, with sales up as much as 46% for some agents, with many holidaymakers cruising the luxury end of the market.

According to e-Travel. ie, almost 58% of cruise sales are for four-star ships, and 35% for fivestar ships, but the luxury cruise liners are fast becoming the preferred option for customers.

However, as the purse strings are loosening and luxury is back on the bucket list, enduring lessons learned during the recession mean that value for money is still a priority.

The world has changed, and tastes have changed.

Modern luxury means

Gazette

TRAVEL the aquatic life: set sail for a great gathering at Red Cow Morans Hotel fast

and attractions of a small city, providing a great range of activities to keep passengers entertained

airy spaces with all the right, tasteful details; restaurants where the design is just as important as the cuisine; intuitive service with a keen eye for detail, and doing as much or as little as you choose.

Cities Cruise ships are often referred to as floating hotels, and in some cases they are more like floating cities. You can choose from massive ships – such as Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, which can carry almost 8,000 passengers and crew – or smaller, intimate river cruises, which carry less than 100 passengers.

Among the statistics that e-Travel accumulated, $26bn is the glo-

The restful open-air solarium of Navigator of the Seas

bal value of preliminary ship orders until 2022, with 35,000 passengers from Ireland expected to cruise this year.

According to e-Travel’s latest figures, 42% of Irish cruisers are now aged under 40. This represents a 20% increase since

2014, and shows the rapidly changing profile of cruise passengers from Ireland.

The average price paid in 2015 for a fly-cruise package was €1,476, versus €1,383 in 2014, and stateroom sales breakdown to approximately

65% balconies, 28% inside, and 7% ocean view.

So far in 2016, the trend seems to be upwardly mobile, to the 5- and 6-star luxury liners such as Celebrity, Silversea, Cunard and Cr ystal Cruises.

Renowned Located at Lough Atalia, just a short stroll from the heart of Galway city, Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Galway is the perfect base to explore what the renowned travel guide publisher describes as “Ireland’s liveliest city”.

The Galway Getaway package at the Radisson Blu is available from €175 per person sharing, and includes a two-night stay, breakfast on both mornings, and dinner on the evening of your choice in Marina’s Grill, or Raw – Sushi in the Sky restaurant (below).

For further information, see www.radissonhotelgalway.com, or call 091 538 521.

Gazette

22 Gazette 7 April 2016

OUT&ABOUT

GAMING

break: this stylish title is WEEBYTES quantum certainly unique, and fun as well

Miitomo is a first step into apps for Nintendo

Nintendo’s “Mii too” in social apps NINTENDO have been quietly making headlines with a small, but important step the release of its first app, Miitomo (IOS, Android; free, IAP; Cert 3+).

Gamers have been clamouring for Nintendo to dip its toes in the app market for a long time now, as despite being a gaming giant, its hardware and software have all but disappeared from shops (here, at least).

However Mitttomo marks Nintendo’s take on a social network, which sees uses create their own Nintendostyled avatar (a Mii), and then let them loose to engage with other users (which I’ll dub Yee).

While the are a number of slight mini games, Miitomo users are most likely to see their bobble-headed characters while chatting with each other, or dressing them up in outfits for photo poses, and other silly, but fun, ways of creating character ownership, and socially interacting.

At the time of writing, with less than a week out of the gate Miitomo has already been grabbed by more than three million people worldwide, which suggests Nintendo still know exactly how to create fun and friendly content.

Just in time to help XBox One fight its corner

EVER since their respective releases, the PlayStation 4 (PS4) and XBone One (XBO) have been locked in battle, circling each other in the ring in a tireless right to be the top dog in the gaming arena.

So far, the PS4 has been nigh-on unstoppable, beating the XBO back towards a corner with one heavy blow after another, from its global sales tally to some of the platformexclusive titles set for the console. At times, the fight hasn’t been pretty ...

However, the XBO has no intention of throwing in the towel – and nor should it, as it’s an equally impressive platform that has, perhaps, been a little slow to warm up and fight back, but 2016 looks likely to be the round that puts it back on a confident, equal footing in the middle of the ring as the coaches (Sony and Microsoft) yell encouragement.

Indeed, the XBO has just landed an impres-

 shane dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com

sive, powerful blow with its platform-exclusive title (albeit shared with the PC), Quantum Break (Cert 16).

Long in development, Quantum has been a title that aroused plenty of interest along the way to release, but the finished title has perhaps surpassed expectations, and has delivered a title that is not only a great showcase for the XBO, but also stands out as a top title for 2016.

It even makes a positive impression thanks to its mixed-media stylings – see boxout below – and, if nothing else, provides a much-needed dose of creative quirkiness to the XBO’s line-up.

As the title might sug-

gest, Quantum Break follows a familiar sci-fi trope: temporal anomalies, or hijinks messing about with time’s properties, following an experiment going awry at a lab.

Ah, scientists – will they never learn to leave quantum physics alone?

The game’s protagonist – whose brother was behind the unfortunate experiment – is caught up in the unfolding catastrophe, and becomes endowed with several impressive time-related powers, all of which become invaluable once the main plot kicks in, and the shadowy corporation at the heart of the tale starts trying to clean up the mess (largely by eliminating everyone involved).

The games’s dense plot is something of a McGuffin, however, as Quantum Break can largely be summed up as being a traditional third-person shooter (where you run and gun about various

With a hero able to manipulate time (above) or even wander through spectacular setpieces where time has frozen (below), Quantum Break is a pretty unique title

levels), with some cool time-related superpowers (such as freezing enemies in place in a time bubble, or effectively teleporting across areas), and interspersed with some very, very pretty and spectacular set pieces built around the notion of fractured, damaged time.

While we’ve seen timerelated powers before in a number of games – typically, involving slomo shootouts, or used to direct story-changing gameplay – there’s never been a title quite like Quantum Break.

On the one hand, it’s an accomplished shooter that hits all the right marks for the genre; on the other, the time-relat-

ed powers and abilities create something that’s a little more open-ended, with emergent gameplay that’s as messy, or fun, as the player wants it to be.

Add in the striking setpieces, and the slick plot interruptions detailed below, and Quantum Break manages the paradox of delivering something that will feel quite familiar to seasoned gamers, while frequently being

fresh and unique, with very strong art direction and production values.

Ultimately, this great, impressive title is just the kind of thing the XBO needs to land some impressive blows against the PS4, and reminds game and industry watchers that while Microsoft hasn’t fought like a champion in the ring, there’s still plenty of fight left, and everything to play for.

Some familiar faces add some thespian cred to QUANTUM break’s plot ONE of the things that makes Quantum Break so memorable, and unique, are how it delivers its plot – while there are all the usual in-game cinematics, it also features some glossy live action footage to help advance the plot.

Quantum Break’s high-quality footage not only looks the part, with great production values that make it feel like a cross between 24, and Spooks, but also has some great actors.

Sprinkled with a number of familiar

Whassisname faces, the most wellknown and recognisable actors include Aiden Gillen, Lance Reddick (both inset) and Dominic Monaghan, adding more than a dash of credibility to the well-shot scenes.

While gaming is littered with excrutiatingly poor acting, that’s not the case here, as these live action segments have been expertly created, making it feel like a mini-series or box set that you’re just catching up with now.

Indeed, those familiar with Quantum Break’s developer, Helsinki-based Remedy Entertainment, won’t be surprised at the vision and direction on display here.

Its precious titles have also had a singular impact, with its best-known title, Alan Wake, weighed down by a dour, dense narrative with cinematic overtones – yet sprinkled with moments of levity and silliness, too.

While Quantum Break could have

been a curate’s egg, the live-action segments complete the package, making it a great game that XBO owners should definitely find the time for.

7 April 2016 Gazette 23

midnight special: this attractive film evokes a welcome familiarity

ReelReviews

A road movie that harkens back to some sci-fi classics there is a cer tain strain of sci-fi films that took over cinema screens in the late 70s and early 80s – films such as Stephen Spielberg’s ET, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, or John Carpenter’s Starman – that tend to be emblazoned into the minds of the generation that was growing up at the time They are a far cry from the kind of grim and doom-laden sci-fi films that became popular in later decades; instead, these earlier films offered grand adventure entwined with a narrative of hope of redemption – a strange mix of what is most otherworldly, and what is most human.

It is in this same vein that Jeff Nichols’ Midnight Special must be watched.

Brooding and mysterious, Midnight Special is a film that likes to keep its audience ensconced snugly in the dark.

Roy (Michael Shannon) is the concerned father who goes on the run with his supernaturally gifted son, Alton (Jaeden Lieberher).

Alton’s got a myriad of inexplicable powers – but it’s his ability to tune

 Dave phillips

into messages being relayed by satellites that has him in trouble.

Murky government agencies want to run tests and find out exactly how Alton is accessing their information, while the remote evangelical community that claim Alton as a prophetic figurehead want to utilise him for their own devices.

Midnight Special plays out as a kind of peculiar road trip, as it falls on Roy and an old friend, Lucas (Joel Edgerton), to get the boy across the country to safety before the government or the church find them.

Things get more complex when Alton’s hypersensitivity to daylight comes into play – forcing him to spend much of the trip decked out in swimming goggles, and reading comics by torchlight in blackedout rooms.

Much of the action is driven (quite literally, as

we travel across several states) by Edgerton and Shannon.

Nichols keeps the screenplay fairly spartan, so much of the relationship between the two men is played out through their silences – and their performances are all the better for it, with Shannon exuding a kind of desperate determinism, while Edgerton continues on the trip with a kind of weary loyalty.

Kirsten Dunst comes on board in the second half as Alton’s mother, as does Girls’ Adam Driver, who plays the government researcher that develops a special connection to Alton.

There is an undeniable yearning to evoke a sense of nostalgia throughout Midnight Special. Despite being set in the present day, the clothing, the sets, and the shots all feel from the heyday of feelgood sci-fi.

Adam Stone, who worked as cinematographer on Nichols’ previous features (Mud, and Take Shelter) captures and evokes that “ET feeling” in scenes set in windswept cornfields and lush forests.

Gazette

CINEMA

dawn of justice A batty but okay tale

TO USE its full title, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (Cert 12A, 151 mins) has been roundly slated by critics and fanboys, but has been a financial hit at least, with impressive box office sales around the world. Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill give decent turns as Batman and Superman respectively, but Jesse Eisenberg’s woeful miscasting as Lex Luthor almost derails the film.

CloverfielD lane

Monstrously entertaining

Although set in modern times, there’s an almost timeless feeling to Midnight Special, which takes a familiar tale (people on the run) but creates something fresh

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

‘There is an undeniable yearning to evoke a sense of nostalgia throughout Midnight Special.

Despite being set in the present day, the clothing, the sets, and the shots all feel from the heyday of feel-good sci-fi’

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

However, the film remains concerned with light and dark, and Midnight Special introduces a darkness, both literal and figurative, that was not present in the earlier films that it aspires to emulate.

Alongside the light of

hope and human connection lies a darker strand of religious fervour, desperation, and violence.

Midnight Special keeps its cards close to its chest, teasing the audience along in the dark but never quite

enlightening them. As a result, it will be accused of having more style than substance, and it is hard to argue against that.

It is a simple story that is told well, but there is something more going on. We enjoy some films because they make us feel clever, others because they make us feel tension, but Midnight Special succeeds in trying to evoke those sci-fi films of the 80s, because watching it feels wholesome.

This is good, clean, cinematic fare for a new generation.

Verdict: 7/10

AT TIMES avuncular, at times intimidating, John Goodman is in great form in 10 Cloverfield Lane (Cert 15A, 103 mins), the surprise out-of-nowhere sequel of sorts to the cult 2008 film, Cloverfield. A young woman wakes up in a bunker after a car crash, where her captor/ protector is determined not to let her leave – but what’s happening outside? It’s a taut, generally great film.

greek wedding 2 An unappetising sequel

LAST and definitely least, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (Cert 12A, 94 mins) has been met with a Greek chorus of universal derision since its recent release.

While the original was a stereotypical but fun and breezy film, this 14-yearslate film serves up a very stale sequel that reheats key parts of the original.

Veering between charmless and predictable, Greek Wedding 2 is one to avoid.

24 SWORDS Gazette 7 April 2016

census 2016 Sunday, April 24 is the day to fill out your form

It’s time to count everyone in the country – and you, too ON SUNDAY, April 24, every person in Dublin will make their mark by completing or being included on a census form.

By participating in the census, we are helping to shape our understanding about life in Ireland in 2016, and show how Ireland has changed since the last census was taken in 2011.

The census is a fundamental part of our national heritage and collective knowledge. The 2016 census will take place exactly 100 years to the day since the Easter Rising began, and the results will be of great interest to the historians of the future as they look back and reflect on life in Ireland in 2016.

Between now and April 24, census enumerators will hand-deliver census forms to every dwelling in Dublin.

Each household will be asked to fill out their census form on Sunday, April 24. This is known as census night, and everyone who is in Ireland on that night must be included on a census form.

Between April 25 and May 20, your enumerator will call back to collect your forms. The forms are then sent to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) warehouse, where the information on them is captured and analysed.

The census provides vital information on a wide range of topics and issues and is used by every government department and local authority in the country, along with a wide range of both public and private service providers.

Census data feeds into the planning stages of most aspects of Irish life

– for example, new primary schools or nursing homes, trains and tram lines, childcare facilities or shopping centres.

The greatest strength of the census is the provision of detailed population figures at a local level, and for minority groups.

This data is used to identify, for example, the most appropriate locations for new local roads and bus routes, new primary schools and hospitals, areas of relatively high unemployment and the best locations for new factories.

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

‘Each household will be asked to fill out their census form on Sunday, April 24. This is known as census night, and everyone who is in Ireland on that night must be included on a census form.’

North, south, east or west – no matter where you are in Dublin or across the country on Sunday, April 24, you must be included in the latest

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

national census. The information gleaned from Census 2016 will help to shape Dublin, and the country, for years to come. Picture: Shane Dillon

The census is also the only means of accurately measuring the exact extent of migration. By comparing the results of successive censuses, and taking account of the number of births and deaths that have occurred over the same period, we can get an accurate measure of net migration (the difference between inward and outward migration).

The last census was taken five years ago, in

2011. It showed that the population of Dublin was 1,273,069 people (619,902 males and 653,167 females) – an increase of 7.2% over the 2006 population.

Swords had the highest density population within Dublin, with 36,924 people living in the town.

The fastest growing town at the time was Saggart, which experienced 147% population growth between 2006 and 2011, making it the

fastest growing town in the country.

There were 42,854 more females than males in the state in April, 2011, resulting in an overall sex ratio of 98.1 males for every 100 females.

This trend is very evident in Dublin, where there were 94.9 males per 100 females.

Some 22.8% of the private dwellings in Dublin comprised apartments or flats, compared with the State figure of 10.7%. In

addition, 8.3% of dwellings were vacant in Dublin, compared with an average of 14.5% across the country.

That 2006 census also revealed that 74.8% of private households had a broadband connection in 2006. The number of persons whose religion was recorded as Catholic increased by 1.7% between 2006 and 2011, compared to 4.95% nationally.

Finally, 17.2% of com-

muters travelled to work in 15 minutes or less, compared to the national figure of 27.2%.

This level of information is very important in helping service providers to plan appropriately to meet the needs of the people of Dublin, and it shows why it matters that everyone completes their census form.

The first results from Census 2016 will be published this July. It will take a further nine months to

scan and capture the full set of data off the two million census forms.

The detailed results will be published in March, 2017.

Further information about Census 2016 can be found at www.census.ie.

Your census enumerator can also answer any questions you may have.  Deirdre Cullen

Senior statistician, Central Statistics Office

7 April 2016 SWORDS Gazette 25

motoring An enjoyable ride whether on or off the beaten path mokka: an impressive crossover from opel

A spacious-feeling and powerful vehicle  dave phillips

THE past five years have seen a surge in the sales of crossovers – an influx of more affordable, and more emission-friendly cars across the board has meant that many people – particularly young families – are being attracted by the extra space and versatility that these vehicles can offer.

Opel’s Mokka may be one of the award-winning brand’s lesser spotted models, but on paper it seems to have plenty of

potential, so we took it on a test drive.

Sitting up on 18” alloys, the Mokka looks like the pumped-up older brother of Opel’s more popular Corsa. Designed more for practicality than style, the Mokka’s broad frame serves to bolster a sense of security and sturdiness.

Large bi-xenon headlights set off a chirpy front grille at the front, and while the more chunky looking rear may be simple on the outside, it hides one of the Mokka’s better features.

Up to 1,372 litres of boot space (that’s including dropping the rear seats) means that the Mokka offers plenty of room for a compact crossover.

Roominess is something that this model does well, with a decent amount of head and leg space in the back row.

The dash will feel familiar to anyone who has driven Opel’s Astra. The Intellilink entertainment system that is standard in many of Opel’s range was fitted in the model we took out.

While it’s perfectly functional, its plethora of buttons looks a little complex next to the newer and cleaner touchscreen systems that Opel has introduced in its latest range, but expect that to be overhauled in the next generation of Mokka.

With the current generation, there is the choice of 1.4- or 1.6-litre diesel engines, and four different trims starting from €20,995 for the most basic.

The SE model we took out was fitted with the 1.6-

Storage is one of the better features of Opel’s solid-looking Mokka, with its boot space – up to 1.372 litres – adding to its general feeling of spaciousness

litre engine and proved to be plenty of power for getting around town.

While the Mokka has 4-wheel drive options, realistically, this is not the kind of car that is going to go off-road.

The current generation of Mokka utilises Opel’s “whisper diesel” engine that significantly reduces the amount of in-cabin

engine noise.

Emission-friendly, it also drops the Mokka into the much more attractive A4 tax band, which works out at €200 per year.

With the potential of plenty of driver luxuries, including a descent control system (if you do decide to venture off the beaten path), hill start assist, and adaptive light-

ing, the Mokka turns out to be a pretty enjoyable ride.

For those seeking the more diminutive crossovers, the market may ultimately turn into a niche one – with the Mokka poised to be a big fish in a small pond.

(Base model from €20,995; test model, €30,561.)

26 SWORDS GAZETTE 7 April 2016

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Gazette

28 swords gazette 7 April 2016

SPORT Arthur’s aim to be king of Rio

FastSport

pentathlon: donnybrook man’s multi-faceted approach to Olympics

creagh says shels will bounce back:

REBECCA Creagh believes Shelbourne Ladies can pick themselves up from the Continental Tyres Women’s National League Shield final defeat last week and land trophies.

“I don’t feel great to be honest,” admitted Creagh having seen her side lose out to Wexford Youths AFC

by Edel Kennedy’s solitary goal. “It’s unfortunate and you never like to lose, but we’ll suck it up and we’ll go for the big one [the League].”

Shels lie in fourth place in the Continental Tyres Women’s National League table five points behind UCD Waves, though they have a game in hand. They also have a WNL Cup semi-final to look forward to on April 27.

“We know we’re still in with a shot,” explained Creagh.

“Galway were on top of the League two weeks ago and look at what happened. The League is wide open and I know for sure we’ll bounce back.”

 james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

ARTHUR Lanigan O’Keeffe is the reigning European champion at the five-sport event of pentathlon and the 24-year-old Dub has every intention of grabbing Olympic glory this summer, too.

His training schedule currently hits six training sessions a day, five and a half days a week, and involves spending half of every day inside a purpose-built altitude simulation tent set at 2,150 metres, in order to turbo-charge his level of red blood cells. Lanigan O’Keeffe, who is prepping for his second Olympics, is leaving no stone unturned.

His recent trip to Rio for a rare competition has all been factored into preparation, with the former UCD student examining every aspect of the city’s facilities.

“I’ve already adapted my training,” he told GazetteSport. “I’m taking into account the light conditions at the shooting range, the height of the starting blocks at the swimming pool and the type of horses we’ll have access to.”

Of the five sports – running, swimming, shooting, show jumping and fencing – the Donnybrook man is particularly focused on the fencing, preparation which is a fine art.

“It’s the one area where you can directly take points off your

opponents,” he explains.

“Every area is important, but if you can do well in the fencing, you’re going to be up there.

“I’m being very careful where I fight, because ahead of the Olympics people are getting very clever with preparation.

“Coaches are filming each other fighting and taking it back so their athletes can go home and learn how to fight you,” he explains. “I won’t be fighting much in public ahead of the Olympics. I think it’ll help me if people don’t know what I’m doing.”

Inevitably, Lanigan O’Keeffe is an impressive all-around athlete. He was part of a Munster rugby development squad and, earlier, a national swim-

Irish pentathlete Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe

ming development squad before he relocated to the UK and focus on modern pentathlon during his late teenage years.

He describes his current condition as “doing everything I can to peak in a few months time”.

“I think gold is more than realistic,” he said.

“Everyone’s at a high standard, but the Olympics is something different.

“It’s important I had the experience in 2012 [when Lanigan O’Keeffe was

drafted in at late notice for London, after a Polish athlete received a drug ban]. The Olympics is different; there are cameras all over your face. There’s spectators times 10, more rules, more pressure.”

Lanigan O’Keeffe’s support comes in part from Nissan, who have included him in their Next Generation program as an ambassador.

In exchange, O’Keeffe drives a new Qashqai and joined a prestigious team of young people Lanigan

O’Keeffe says has helped with his belief. The program is now open for new applicants, both athletes and other young high achievers, until May 10 at www.nissangenerationnext.ie.

Lanigan O’Keeffe, meanwhile, has been on the podium at every major event over the last couple of years, and seems to be flying under the radar as a potentially huge Irish gold in Rio. What’s beyond doubt is that he’s got an eye on every fraction.

Rock keep alive survival hopes with Shannon victory  sport@dublingazette.com

Blackrock College ensured that their battle to avoid relegation will go down to the wire

BLACKROCK College consigned Shannon to their fifth defeat in a row in the Ulster Bank league Division 1B as the hosts triumphed 21-19 in another match that went right down to the wire.

Both of these sides are yet to confirm their place in Division 1B for next season, so it was no surprise that the first half was a tight and edgy affair.

Rock led 9-8 at half-time thanks to three penalties from goal-kicking scrum half Jack

O’Carroll, who struck the ball really well in the heavy conditions.

Shannon’s left winger Greg O’Shea tore clear to score an excellent individual try, and he completed his brace out wide early in the second half.

However, despite a combination nine-point tally from penalties converted by Ronan McKenna and replacement Tadhg Bennett (2), missed kicks came back to haunt Shannon in the end.

M c K e n n a a n d o u t- h a l f Shane Airey both misfired on

a couple of occasions and that allowed Blackrock to build pressure once again. Their well-organised maul forced a penalty try which was converted for 16-13.

Bennett squared things up for Marcus Horan’s men and added another penalty in the closing stages but, in between, Blackrock flanker Sam Cooke burst free on the left wing to run in the game’s decisive try.

Just two points in arrears, Shannon missed another shot at the posts in the dying minutes and Rock held on for a

gritty victory. A similar result will be needed away to Dublin University on April 16, as Emmet Farrell’s charges actually slipped to ninth place following UL Bohs’ bonus point success against Belfast Harlequins.

It makes for a thrilling final round of fixtures with four clubs covered by just two points between sixth place and ninth.

Dolphin and Shannon both sit on 34 points with UL Bohs and Blackrock looking to overhaul them, two points worse off on 32 points.

7 April 2016 swords gazette 29

Gazette

Higgins races into whole new Galaxie Famous drummer claims laurels at the recent Vartry 100 mile event as the ultra-marathon bug bites hard. He tells GAZETTESPORT about the origins of his gruelling pastime  james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

ALASTAIR Higgins is well known around Dublin as the drummer in boisterous dance-club band Le Galaxie.

As his day job, the longtime Dublin resident tours clubs and adds beats to festival stages in Ireland and abroad, with his band’s second album Le Club peaking at number eight in the Irish album charts.

Beside his musical ambitions, though, Higgins has been crafting notable ability as a distance runner, culminating in winning the Varty 100 mile (161km) race in Roundwood, County Wicklow in late March.

He finished the looped course in a time of 17

hours and 17 minutes.

It’s been a long journey, but Higgins start wasn’t quite so ambitious. “I fell off my bike, and I was having a little trouble with my knee.

“After a year, it still wasn’t right, and I went to a physio who pointed out that I was doing a lot of exercise, but not really putting any weight on the knee. He suggested running,” he tells GazetteSport.

From his first 5km race in 2011, Higgins progressed to marathons in 2012 and ultra-marathons a year later. The 100 miles in Wicklow was his longest race to date, one that he felt he’d prepared for “to a certain extent” through a series of 50 mile races.

“I knew to expect

despair and about when to expect it,” he explained.

“It came at about half way which, fortunately, was also when I found out I was leading, which offset that a bit.

“I had thought I was in second or third but, over this kind of distance, people drop out. Keith White, who is the Irish 100 mile world record holder, had had to drop out injured.

“I hadn’t really been thinking about winning,” he admits. “I was just concentrating on finishing in a good time. You get through the night with coffee and energy drinks.

In some races like this, you would stop for a half hour nap but only if you have to.”

In term of training, Higgins typically covers around 100 miles a week

Alastair Higgins with his winners trophy at the Vartry Lakes 100 miles race.

ahead of races like this before tapering his training in preparation for the race. The tapering process starting three to four weeks before a race. He describes 90 kilometres as a “light week”, and says he’s always the first up, even on tour, to fit in a

While many races call themselves the “world’s toughest”, Badwater is difficult to the point of dangerous, and has a genuine claim.

Less than 10 people have ever finished in under 24 hours, and by far the majority of starters don’t

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

‘You get through the night with coffee and energy drinks. You only stop for a nap if you have to’ - Alastair Higgins

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

couple of hours training.

“It means a lot of early mornings,” he says.

“I remember being mid-song during a Whelan’s residency – where it’s a real sweatbox – and my heart just racing,” Higgins says, thinking back to his pre-running days. His fitness ambitions are astonishingly lofty now, though, with famed ultra-distance race Badwater on the agenda.

“That’s long term,” Higgins admits, eyeing more ‘modest’ (eye-wateringly difficult) challenges in the meantime.

Badwater, Death Valley’s killer event, is notorious in ultra-marathon circles: 135 miles, 45 degree plus heat in the limited shade and thousands of feet of elevation gain, all starting at below sea level and finishing atop a peak.

finish at all. Targets, then, are extreme: there’s also the 100 mile world championship - taking place in Ireland in 2017 - to look forward to.

As Higgins polished off his win in Wicklow, his MP3 player spun towards the end of a 10-hour playlist he’d put together for the event. Having spent the early parts of the race chatting to other runners, he couldn’t have planned the track that would accompany his final strides: the only one he’d included from his own band.

Four days after his win, Higgins says he can “feel it. You always think you’re going to go home and have a burger and a beer. I think I had a bit of hypothermia, though, and I didn’t even want to eat properly until the next day.” Naturally, he’s already back running.

FastSport

UCD close in on sailing’s clean sweep over Trinity UCD Sailing Team won the 2016 Colours Sailing Championships in Dun Laoghaire, seeing off Trinity College last Saturday in a close-run contest.

The Belfield outfit also won the ladies competition, the alumni competition and the Gold Fleet. Indeed, UCD have won every national university sailing event so far this year Robbie Hynes, from UCD Sailing Club, said his club are looking to complete the clean sweep in the coming days: “UCD have won every national university sailing event so far this year, with the final event – the Student Yachting Nationals – this coming Friday so here’s hoping.”

Elsewhere, Howth Yacht Club hosted the ISA Youth Pathway National Championship and Optimist Trials over the four days in varied conditions, attracting 192 entries across five classes.

When Thursday’s racing got going after a wind delay, in the 420 class, local favourites Elmes/O’Sullivan had it their own way with two bullets, setting up their victory.

The laser radial top spot was shared by O’Beirne (Royal St George YC), Durcan and Nicole Hemeryck (National YC). Over on the topper course, the RStGYC was again dominating, with Jack Fahy burning up the course.

Day two fell victim to the elements with strong and increasing winds keeping the fleet ashore.

With a window of opportunity in the weather, the fleets headed afloat on Saturday, hoping to catch up on the schedule with a few additional races. On the 420/Laser Radial course, four races were crammed in, suiting Malahide 420 duo Gemma and Cara McDowell.

The sisters closed the gap to the leaders and ended the day only a point adrift of Elmes/ O’Sullivan and went on to claim the girls title.

Radial and 4.7 gurus O’Beirne and Higgins never fell outside the top three for the day and won their respective crowns.

On the topper course, Carroll was fighting off a strong challenge from another Hemeryck, this time Ella who was only a couple of points behind in the final reckoning on Sunday.

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 7 April 2016

SPORT

FastSport

golf: top strokeplay event returns to venue after four years

Rivervalley sweep past Hardwicke in Premier B RIVERVALLEY Rangers fired three unanswered goals past Hardwicke FC in their crucial top of the table battle, winning 3-0 in AUL Premier B. It lifts them to within two points of their rivals in first place with two games in hand going into the business end of the season.

It was a game with a split personality, Rivervalley on the front foot for the first half and making all the aggressive moves with the second half more measured as the Swords side looked to take the sting out of the game.

Ronan Murtagh was back among the goals with the opener inside 90 seconds from a corner. He doubled up 15 minutes into the game, scoring his ninth league goal of the season with a superb free-kick from 25-yards out.

As half-time approached, Dano Murphy kept the ball alive with a back heel on the byline for David Gaul on his return to the side to smash home for an imposing 3-0 lead.

The second half saw neither keeper overworked though Rivervally did hit the bar via another Murtagh free kick from 20 yards.

Thomas Cooney had the ball in the net for Hardwicke but the effort was disallowed for offside as Rivervalley ran out comfortable victors.

Skerries play part in blitz SKERRIES RFC were among 15 teams to take part in Westmanstown RFC’s mos recent girls rugby blitz as the wet and windy conditions didn’t deter the 200 U-8, U-10 and U-12 girls last Sunday.

Teams from Westmanstown, Blackrock, Suttonians, Railway Union, Terenure, Seapoint, Greystones, Ratoath,

Barnhall, Skerries, Clontarf, Wicklow, Virginia and DLSP all braved the rain.

On the day, there was some great rugby played across five pitches with plenty of tries scored and tackles made.

There was a lot of excitement when Irish internationals Sophie Spence, Nora Stapleton and Maz O’ Reilly arrived at the club and were on hand for photographs and autographs.

Skerries Maria Dunne will be a key player this weekend

The Island hosts Irish open sport@dublingazette.com

THE IRISH women’s open stroke play returns to The Island Golf Club for the first time this weekend since 2012 when England’s Emily Taylor captured the title.

The field has attracted 81 of the top players from Ireland, the UK and further afield. Austria’s Isabella Holpfer will return to defend her title but will be up against tough competition from the likes of Olivia Mehaffey (RCDL), Maria Dunne

(Skerries), Jessica Ross (Donaghadee) and Paula Grant (Lisburn), to name but a few.

Holpfer beat C a s t l e t r o y ’s C h l o e Ryan last year during a sudden death playoff, where she got up and down for par to secure her first Irish open stroke play title.

Ryan has been runner-up for the two previous years, where she finished second to Lucy Goddard of England in 2014. Coming off a win at the Cork Scratch Cup, she will be looking for a first place finish at

glory days Dublin’s All-Stars win Strathclyde Masters the third Strathclyde Basketball Masters international tournament, held in Paisley, Scotland, ended in an all-Dublin derby with the All-Stars ladies team winning the Over45s section ahead of arch rivals Glasnevin.

It was the first time a ladies section was included in the competition while hosts Strathclyde won both the men’s Over-50s and 60s. The next basketball masters tournament will be the fourth Dublin Masters International Basketball Tournament on May 6-8 at four venues in Dublin.

The Island this year.

Wo r l d n u m b e r 9 Olivia Mehaffey is just coming out of an illness and the stroke play will be her first championship since the beginning of the year.

Mehaffey is yet to add this title to her collection but it is no doubt on her mind ahead of Curtis Cup selection later this month.

Annabel Wilson (Lurgan), recent winner of the Royal County Down Scratch Cup, Valerie Clancy (Killarney), Munster senior champion and other high

performance players, Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little), Mairead Martin (Killarney) and Mary Doyle (The Heath) will be among the hot contenders.

A past venue for the event, the Irish Women’s close championship and the interprovincial matches, the Island Golf Club is a magnificent venue for the tournament.

It is a top class course located on the middle of three estuary-barrier complexes that lie at the mouths of estuaries in North County

Dublin, where blowing winds and fast greens will prove a challenge for all players.

The championship shall be played over 54 holes – 18 holes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and there will be a cut to 50 players (+ ties) on Sunday.

With complimentary entr y for spectators, visitors to the Island are most welcome.

For all championship information, including live scoring please follow this link: Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship.

7 April 2016 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

finian’s at the feile

Rivervalley club impress at annual U-14 festival

Club Noticeboard FINGALLIANS

st finian’s produced a fine pair of per-

formances in the ladies football feile last weekend, fielding two sides in the competition.

The first team played in Division 1 and were competitive throughout. The B team, meanwhile, reached their final in Division 8 where they were only just denied, 4-2 to 4-1, by St Monica’s.

WELL done to our U-14 squad who

It will be followed by a traditional

bowed out at the semi final stage in

Irish music night in the club bar with

testing conditions. A big thank you to

many of Brendan’s friends taking

our hosts, St Peregrine’s, the men-

part. Everyone from both clubs who

tors, parents, sponsors and, above

knew and loved Brendan are most

all, our supporters.

welcome. Anyone wishing to take part

Our Division 3 team continued their unbeaten run on Saturday evening

Picture: GAAPics.com

ladies football: o’brien inspires feile success

on the field or off it should contact the club on fingallians@gmail.com.

beating Ballyboughal 1-18 to 2-8 in

Fingal County Council will honour the

the pouring rain. The spirit of the club

role of the men and women of Fingal in

was evident as Oisin and Cillian came

the events of 1916. FCC has compiled a

straight from an extra time victory

broad programme for the Fingal 2016

for the Dublin U-21 footballers in the

Centenary Commemoration.

Leinster final. Their introduction as

The programme will culminate in the

second half subs shows their team and

Fingal 1916 Centenary Commemora-

club commitment.

tive Day. This flagship event will take

From April 1, only fully paid members

place at Swords castle on Sunday,

will be able to use their smart cards at

April 24. It will incorporate a parade,

the club bar. Outstanding membership

re-enactments, marching bands an

can be paid at the club bar.

exhibition, reading of the proclama-

As we approach Brendan Reilly’s anniversary, Fingallians will take on

tion and flag raising ceremony and much, much more.

Columba’s Rovers on Saturday, April

The lotto numbers were 3, 7, 19, 31

23 at 7pm. It will be 9-a-side half soc-

and 33. There were nine winners, each

cer and Gaelic.

receiving €613.

ST FINIAN’S

Garristown captain Ally Gormley lifts the Division 3 Feile trophy. Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

Garristown’s rise continues at pace

division 3 feile final Garristown Trinity Gaels  sport@dublingazette.com

4-6 2-3

GARRISTOWN made another massive step forward in their fledgling ladies football history in claiming the Division 3 Feile final.

It was just their second year playing in the Dublin Feile, winning Division 7 a year ago, and they had to over-turn a 2-7 to 1-4 defeat to Trinity Gaels in the group stage with an impressive, all-action performance to win the title.

Amy O’Brien was their

inspiration, scoring 1-4 while two other efforts ricocheted off the bar, creating scoring chances for her team mates which were gobbled up.

She served notice of her intent right from the off, working a position to score a point from the very first play. Trinity responded originally with Jasmine Kamptoh bursting through and her high shot evaded the goalkeeper and hit the net.

Maria Duffy replied with a great score from distance only for Niamh Cummins to make a brilliant run and clear the bar. It came in a helter-

skelter first five minutes in which O’Brien also weighed in, making it 1-1 to 0-3.

From there, the game settled for a short while before O’Brien fired the first of three goals in quick succession in the 11th minute, a superb solo effort.

A m i n u t e l a t e r, O’Brien’s free bounced off the bar and Ally Gormley followed up to finish into the net. Rebecca Kane then got in on the act when O’Brien’s ball in fell kindly for her and she palmed the ball home from close range.

O’Brien landed anoth-

er point for good measure before Emma Mulligan stopped the rot, leaving it 3-4 to 1-2 at half-time.

Garristown, though, kept their momentum going in the second half with Emma O’Brien profiting from her namesake Amy’s approach work.

Amy’s free extended their lead to 10 points and Kane’s second goal copper-fastened the result with six minutes left.

Trinity kept battling to the end with Niamh Byrne netting with a great spin and strike but it was too little, too late to affect the outcome.

IT HAS been a busy week for the club

raising committee’s work over the 18

with fundraisers, fixtures and feile

months has been fantastic with many

dominating the news.

very innovative events taking place.

The Neven Maguire fundraiser

The executive officers extend

was a great success, both in terms

deepest sympathies to the Trish and

of attendances and entertainment

Brendan Lennon and all their fam-

for all those who came along. Huge

ily on the recent passing of Trish’s

credit must be given to all members

mother Teresa Donnelly. May she

of the club fundraising committee:

rest in peace.

Pat, Aoife, Caroline, Kieran, Liz, Mary

The lotto jackpot was €2,700 this

and Marie and all others who assisted

week and the numbers drawn were

in organising a very successful fund-

13, 14, 17 and 22. There was no jackpot

raising and social event. The fund-

winner.

FINGAL Ravens

PLEASE note 2016 club membership is

Our U-8s were involved in a blitz in

now overdue; membership forms are

Rivervalley and we congratulate all

available in the clubhouse and can be

involved. Congratulations to our ladies

downloaded from our Facebook page

team for their great win last week.

or can be done online on www.myclubfinances.com.

There was no jackpot winner of the lotto; numbers were 8, 26, 3 and 37’

All membership must be paid in full,

€20 to Andrew McGuire, Dave Cough-

by all sections of the club. No player

lan and Banjo. Next week’s jackpot is

of any age will be permitted to play if

€17,000. Lotto envelopes are available

they do not have their membership

at our clubhouse, Rolestown Garage

played in full.

and Kettles.

Only fully paid up members will be

Anyone looking for club gear, please

able to avail of applications for Dublin

contact Ann Fox on 086 1771027. New

game tickets. Players of all ages are

stock is available.

required to wear gum shields. This is

Any enquiries about the pitch,

an official requirement by the GAA and

please John McCarthy on 087 6599348.

will be enforced by all referees .

If any teams are looking for a time slot

Our Easter Camp was a great success, enjoyed by all who took part.

Special thanks to Barry, all the coaches and anyone else concerned.

Good luck to our U-16s playing their championship game later this week.

in the school hall, please contact Alan Manning on 087 0651219.

Condolences to the Daly family on the passing of Jack; the Fay family on the passing of Nancy and the Mulvaneys on the passing of Anthony.

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

feile fever: Garrsitown bound up the divisions in brilliant style to win Division 3 in brilliant style P31

april 7-13, 2016

arthur to be king of rio: Pentathlete aiming to make big impact at Olympics P28

Portmarnock AFC will get to walk out at least one more time in the FAI intermediate cup

Ports still alive in Cup

Paddy’s Hill club set for replay with perennial FAI intermediate cup challengers Crumlin in the semi-final as their incredible run goes on

 aaron gallagher

sport@dublingazette.com

PORTMARNOCK AFC’S dream of a maiden FAI Intermediate Cup title remains alive as their stunning run of results against higher level opposition saw them draw 2-2 against perennial challengers Crumlin United last weekend at Paddy’s Hill.

The Fingal club will now face the prospect of a replay in Pearse Park if they are to reach May’s final at the Aviva Stadium.

Willie O’Leary’s side had previously beaten Carrigaline United on penalties as well as Cherry Orchard 3-0 in the run up to last Sunday’s semi-final.

And a sizeable crowd in Portmarnock did not have to wait long for the opening goal. As the

ball bobbled and swayed outside the Crumlin box following an effort from Darragh Coates, Graham Rusk took command of the ball to chip a glorious curling effort directly into the top corner of the net to take the lead.

Martin Loughran’s side responded well and began to attack their opponents in search of the equalizer. Carl Forsythe ran down the left wing before laying the ball off to Luke Kelly.

Kelly then whipped in a teasing cross which Conor Murphy could not direct goalbound as the ball sailed over the crossbar.

Following another effort from Coates up the other end, Crumlin managed the equalizer.

Dean Hurley’s free-kick was met by the head of Noel Murray. The ball fell to the edge of the area for Thomas Hyland to snatch a fine shot simmering into the bottom of the goal for 1-1.

Forsythe was on the receiving end of a Hyland free-kick cleared to the edge of the Portmarnock box. The player side-stepped, taking the ball onto his left foot before attempting to squeeze his effort beyond Robbie Byrne however the goalkeeper did well to tip the ball around the post and out for a corner.

The hosts would regain their lead in the second half with another wonderful effort from range. Aaron Egan’s cross into the danger zone was headed down for Rusk, the player not hesitating before hammering another effort rocketing into the bottom left-hand corner for 2-1.

United were level no less than ten minutes later. Danny McGuinness’s free-kick bended in the air before being palmed away by shotstopper Byrne. But the save could only fall into the path of the onrushing Luke Kelly.

Byrne bundled the forward over for the referee to point to the spot. Forsythe took command of the spot kick and duly dispatched to equal the scores at 2-2.

Greg Moorehouse was offered the game’s final chance for Crumlin. The ball fell neatly to his feet before the midfielder slammed a shot beckoning for the bottom corner only for Byrne to dive low to his right and palm the effort wide of the post.

The sides prepare to meet again for a replay to decide who will make May’s final held at the Aviva Stadium. The Cup’s other semi-final, Letterkenny Rovers versus Ringmahon Rangers finished 1-1, with their replay set for April 17.

Meanwhile, Portmarnock have been drawn against Letterkenny Rovers in the first round of this year’s FAI Cup.