Dublin Gazette: West Edition

DublinGazette DECEMBER 13-19, 2018

DUBLINMAGAZINE: ’Tis the season for endless pantos and carols – and we have some of the best festive features PAGE 17

West Edition FREE

THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL AREA

DublinGazette DECEMBER 13-19, 2018

DUBLINMAGAZINE: ’Tis the season for endless pantos and carols – and we have some of the best festive features PAGE 17

West Edition FREE

THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL AREA

Get your paws on these TESCO in Liffey Valley hosted a very special fundraiser to launch Cedric teddy bears going on sale in Tesco stores for €5 in aid of Temple Street.

SEE PAGE 9

SPORT

SOCCER: Lucan

United in breathtaking LSL Sunday Senior 1A form going into the Christmas break SEE P35

panto-RIFFIC

WE ROUND UP SOME OF THE BEST FAMILY SHOWS IN TOWN P16

CHRISTMAS CLASSICS

From Dance LA SEE GALLERY P8

Apartments green-lit despite opposition Project at Sean Walsh Park to go-ahead

PADRAIC CONLON

Find us on Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build apartments on a site attached to a Tallaght park will go ahead.

Following a debate in SDCC chambers on Monday, local councillors voted to proceed with the construction of 81

elderly social housing apartments on a site at Watergate Sean Walsh Park.

The vote was 25 to 13 in favour with councillors accepting the motion that it was “in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

All 12 Tallaght councillors voted in

favour of the Part 8 and explained their decisions at the meeting. A council depot and socially inclusive community gardens on the site will be demolished to make way for the new development.

SDCC say both will be relocated to other locations with the depot moving to Tymon Park.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

‘Sale of drugs not slowing down’ THE recent drug seizure in Liffey Valley is further evidence the sale and supply of narcotics in Ireland is not slowing down.

This is according to Dublin Mid-West Fianna Fail TD John Curran who also said the seizure last Thursday of cocaine worth €3.43m reassures the public “work is ongoing in the fight to defeat organised and drug related crime in our urban communities”.

The operation was a joint effort carried out by the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Special Crime Task Force.

SEE PAGE 10

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 13 December 2018

PICK UP YOUR

DublinGazette WEST EDITION

EVERY THURSDAY! at the following locations:

• SuperValu – Lucan • Marks & Spencer – Liffey Valley • Tesco – Liffey Valley • Tesco – Lucan • Centra (Lynch’s) – Lucan • Carey’s – Lucan • Eurospar – Ballyowen • Maxol – Lucan • Topaz – Lucan • Lucan Comm College • St Josephs College • The Clarion- Liffey Valley • Spar – Finnstown • CBS – Lucan • Spar – Dodsboro • Tesco – Celbridge • Lucan Library • SuperValu – Palmerstown • Centra – Griffeen • South Dublin County Council • IT Tallaght • Lucan Golf Club • Eurasia Supermarket – Fonthill • Rossefayre Supermarket Balgaddy • Dodsboro Clinic • The Penny Hill • The Food Centre – Lucan • Penny Hill Cabs • Centra – Foxborough • SuperValu – Celbridge • The Mill Centre • Moyle Park College • Colaiste Cillain • Colaiste Bride • Louis Fitzgerald Hotel • Tesco – Clondalkin • O’Riodghs – Clondalkin • Round Towers GAA • Clondalkin RFC. • Clondalkin Library • Collinstown Park Community College • I.T - Tallaght • B&Q – Tallaght • Tallaght Hospital • Tallaght Firhouse • Tallaght Leisure Centre • Tesco – The Square • Leisureplex – Tallaght • Neilstown – Unemployment Centre • SuperValu – Rowlagh • Jaymarc’s Supermarket – Clondalkin • Joelle’s Restaurant • SuperValu Firhouse • Mace – Killinarden

For further info

www.dublingazette.com

01 60 10 240

COUNCIL MEETING : PLANS FOR A FOURTH STAND AT TALLAGHT STADIUM

Social housing apartments are approved FROM PAGE 1

For some locals however, the decision to go ahead with the development will feel like a crushing blow.

O p p o s i t i o n to t h e plans had been steadily growing in the community since the council announced in September that they intended building the apartments.

The Litter Mugs, a local volunteer group who have been cleaning the park weekly for the past three years opposed the plans, labelling them “a Trojan Horse.”

An online petition by

the group titled “Save S e a n Wa l s h P a r k ” received 2,267 signatures A re c e n t Ta l l a g h t Co m m u n i t y Co u n c i l drew 300 local people who opposed the proposals.

South Dublin County Council, who say they selected the site in Sean Wa l s h Pa r k b e ca u se it was close to medical services in the area, received over 500 submissions ahead of Monday’s vote.

The development, of 18 two bed and 63 one bed apartments, will be constructed by a part-

nership between SDCC and Cluid Housing.

A new access road will be built off Whitestown Way, as well as new communal facilities including an office, communal living room, toilets, laundry and mobility store.

According to an architectural design statement released in August

by S e á n Ha r r i n g to n Architects, the site is “a large brownfield site situated at the northwestern corner of Seán Walsh Park in Tallaght.”

A l s o a t M o n d ay ’s council meeting plans for a fourth stand and

A recent Tallaght Community Council drew 300 local people who opposed the proposals at Sean Walsh Park

an upgrade of the West Stand at Tallaght Stadium were presented that would increase the stadium capacity to 10,000.

The plans stated Tallaght Stadium would act as a “venue for the local community, the whole county and beyond.”

In recent years the stadium has played host to the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony, the Ireland Women’s and underage international football matches and Europa League group stage games.

Also discussed at the

meeting was a feasibility study on the viability of a new North Stand, plans to redevelop the rear of the West stand and build another floor in the Glenmalure suite.

The estimated cost of the development would be €5 million.

13 December 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

CLONDALKIN: CAB ALLEGES MAN ACTIVE IN SALE AND SUPPLY OF DRUGS

Couple to vacate house deemed by court to be proceeds of crime PADRAIG CONLON

A CLONDALKIN couple has agreed to vacate a property which the Criminal Assets Bureau claims was acquired with the proceeds of crime.

Kenneth Carpenter and Elaine Byrne gave an undertaking before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart at the High Court to leave the property where they reside at Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, by July.

CAB, which has various freezing orders against the couple, alleges Mr Carpenter is active in the sale and supply of drugs, has a number of previous convictions for drugs offences and associates with known criminals in South and West Dublin.

After the couple gave a sworn undertaking to vacate the property the Judge made orders in respect of the house under Section 3 of the 1996

Proceedings of Crime Act. CAB claims the couple have enjoyed an affluent lifestyle and spent lavishly despite the fact there is no credible explanation for the source of their funds.

The sums of money spent by them do not correlate with their known income, CAB also claims.

CAB had sought an order from the High Court under Section 3 of the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act deeming the house, which was purchased for €317,000 in 2007 as being acquired with the proceeds of crime.

CAB claims Mr Carpenter submitted false information to obtain a mortgage for the property.

He described himself as being a salesperson with a motor car company earning some €75,000 per year.

CAB said Mr Carpenter did not work for that firm.

CAB claims the house at Rowlagh Park is worth some €220,000 but that €284,500 remains due and owing on it.

CAB claims that mortgage payments made on the property by Mr Carpenter came from the proceeds of his criminal conduct.

Mr Carpenter had claimed to Gardai to have worked various jobs including truck driver and a plumber, as a courier and more recently had sold items online.

The court heard that CAB officers seized a number of items from the house following a search in May 2017.

During the search, Gardai discovered and seized quantities of cash some €20,000 and a bulletproof vest.

When asked about where the cash came from Mr Carpenter allegedly told the Gardai that the money was his and he was saving it up for a holiday and

was considering giving some of it to charity. Other items including luxury Rolex, Breitling and Hublot watches, a Chanel handbag estimated to be worth more than €70,000 were also discovered and seized by the Gardai.

The court heard the couple had travelled extensively in recent years.

CAB claims that since 2010 the couple has spent some €20,000 on flights alone, to various destinations including the UK, various European destinations and several trips to various destinations in the United States, where they went on a cruise, Mexico and Dubai.

It is claimed that in 2016 and 2017 Ms Byrne purchased thousands of euros worth of high-end designer goods and had a platinum loyalty card in Brown Thomas despite claiming that her only source of income was her lone parent’s allowance.

FASTNews AGM of the Supported Self Directed Living Leaders in Tallaght PEOPLE with intellectual disabilities show everyone how they lead their own lives. The Inaugural Annual General Meeting of the Supported Self Directed Living Leaders was held recently in the Maldron Hotel, Tallaght.

The meeting coincided with and celebrated the ‘United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities’ on Monday 3rd December.

This year’s theme is inclusiveness and equality and the Leaders’ presentations centred on these themes and they gave real life examples to bring the themes to life.

Supported Self Directed Living happens when a person with the right support is able to gain access to the “good things of life” to a similar extent to other people in society.

These good things include having a place to call home, supportive relationships, employment, the opportunity to make decisions about one’s life and being respected.

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 13 December 2018

TEACHING PARENTS SKILLS TO DEVELOP CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Initiative provides vital parenting skills PADRAIG CONLON

THE Blue Skies initiative is a local group which brings new parents together and teaches them skills to develop children’s health and wellbeing.

Based in the Oakfield Industrial Estate in Clondalkin, the initiative launched the interim findings of two of their research programmes on Tuesday 4th December.

Research The first research piece evaluated the outcomes for their Upto2 programme which over 300 local mothers have availed of since the start of the initiative in 2015.

As part of NUI Maynooth’s Enrich Programme, which conducted the research, it

was found that mothers who took part in the programme were more likely to read to their babies and have more confidence in their role as mothers.

Karen Costello, coordinator of the Blue Skies Initiative told Dublin Gazette: “These findings are really encouraging.

Reading to your child is crucial to the development of early literacy skills and research has shown that children from disadvantaged areas by the age of three have three million less words than their peers.

“The first few years are such an important time in the life of a child and can be quite isolating for parents.

“The fact that they feel more confident in their role will be of huge benefit to their relationship with their child.”

The well-being study carried out by Dr Caitriona Delaney of Archways, with 2nd year students in three Clondalkin secondary schools showed that worryingly, female students’ levels of anxiety are high, a statistic confirmed by both the students themselves and their teachers.

Students also felt a lack of confidence in their academic ability.

“These findings are interesting and the next step is to compare them to other data sources such as the Growing Up in Ireland cohort,” Karen Costello said.

“But it is important for initiatives like Blue Skies to be aware of findings such as these when planning future programmes and putting interventions in place to serve the needs of the community”.

Karen Costello, coordinator; Edwina Deegan, project development worker; Sarah Thornberry, project development worker and Dr Caitriona Delany, researcher

Trevor Gilligan chosen by FF to run for fourth time COUNCILLOR Trevor Gilligan has been nominated uncontested to run in the Clondalkin/ Newcastle/Rathcoole/ Saggart Electoral Area for the 4th time by Fianna Fail at a selection convention held in the Lucan Span Hotel on Tuesday 11th of November.

Gilligan was first elected to SDCC in the Clondalkin area at the age of 20. He has contested three elections and has been elected on each occasion.

“Speaking following his nomination, Cllr Gilligan said: “Having lived in Clondalkin all of my life, being educated and raised in the area helps with what I do.

“I understand the issues and I have 15 years of experience dealing with local council matters. I live in the heart of Clondalkin Village and I just love it here, the community, the local businesses, I wouldn’t change it for the world!”

Lucan man stands accused of people smuggling A LUCAN man and his girlfriend were refused bail when they appeared before a weekend special court accused of people smuggling through a Welsh ferry port.

Project manager Dean Hickey, 29, of Woodville Close in Lucan, faced three allegations of assisting in breaches of UK immigration law involving six different Albanians.

Magistrates at Llandudno heard on October 13 that Hickey arrived at Holyhead from Ireland in a car with four Albanian passengers and was stopped by the Border Force.

He and his girlfriend Nisjeta Papa, also 29, of Thornberry Square in Clonee, face charges from August and September.

No pleas were entered by either Hickey or Papa. They were remanded in custody until January 2 at Caernarfon crown court.

13 December 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 13 December 2018

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Maggie Burke and Aimee Dobbs

Charlie Murray and Lucey Ferris

Fainche Grimes and Nadine Monks Gill

Lorna and Adele Dempsey Emma Doonan Keyes, Laura Morrison and Heather Delaney. Pictures: SIMON PEARE

Dance LA students put on festive show to remember

D

Aoife Quill, Emily Ormond and Kayla Taitz

ANCE LA held their Winter Wonderland Christmas show last week at Celbridge GAA Club. The show was jam-packed with all the Christmas classics which were performed brilliantly by all of the students.

Jodie Grange, Leah Dormer and Fainche Grimes

13 December 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

CLONDALKIN: NEW INITIATIVE

Festive Fun Days in Liffey Valley TESCO in Liffey Valley hosted a very special fundraiser to launch Cedric teddy bears going on sale in Tesco stores for €5 in aid of Temple Street.

The Tesco ‘Festive Fun Days’ in stores around the country included cake sales, face painting and much more in aid of charity partner, Temple Street Children’s University Hospital.

The Liffey Valley fundraiser included a teddy bear picnic in store where local children fell in love with Cedric.

It is all part of Tesco’s aim to raise €4 million in 4 years for Temple Street Children’s University Hospital.

Each year Temple Street Children’s University Hospital treats over 145,000 children from across the country and operates the busiest A&E department in Europe.

The new initiative is bringing people together through running

Running group offers sanctuary to asylum seekers

PADRAIG CONLON

PEOPLE living in Direct Provision in Clondalkin are enjoying a new initiative which brings people together through running.

The Dublin Sanctuary Runners are a solidarity-inspired group who run every week with asylum seekers living in the Clondalkin and Hatch Hall Centres.

The group, who have been taking part in the Corkagh Park 5km parkrun each Saturday for the last eight weeks, officially launched at the end of last month.

Anna Pringle, who is coordinator for Dublin Sanctuary Runners, explained to Dublin Gazette how running is helping integration in the local community.

“The Sanctuary Runners was founded

by Graham Clifford in Cork in 2018.

“Initially the group was made up of 200 members, of which 50 were asylum seekers from Direct Provision centres in Cork County.

“They took part in the Cork City Marathon and leading up it they trained together, got to know each other and bond.

“Graham’s aim was to create something that allowed Irish people show solidarity with those in asylum seeker accommodation.

“I met Graham and through my involvement with the parkrun network here in Dublin suggested we meet with parkrun Ireland.

“We were delighted when country manager Matt Shields said parkrun were happy

to welcome Sanctuary Runners.”

There are two Direct Provision centres in Dublin, the Clondalkin Towers centre with 231 residents and the Hatch Hall centre in Dublin 2 with 220 residents.

Anna says the Sanctuary Runners want to break down barriers between people in the Direct Provision system and those outside the gates through running.

“The weekly runs are very popular both with people living in the centre and the local community, it’s all really sociable, relaxed and great fun.

“It gives those in Direct Provision a chance to meet new people and integrate.

“And because Corkagh Park is only 15 minutes from the Centre it’s very accessible for them.

“The group is nonpolitical and is just focussed on showing fellow human beings dignity and respect.

“The group motivates and supports each other because taking part in activities that benefit both mental and physical health is so important.

“For people in Direct Provision it’s vital.

Everyone is welcome so feel free to join us, there’s no pressure, we are accommodating to all levels, if you want to just walk that’s great “We are looking to expand beyond Clondalkin over time.

To find out more about the Sanctuary Runners or to join us visit: SanctuaryRunners.ie or email Anna Pringle, the Coordinator of the Dublin Sanctuary Runners at SanctuaryRunnersDublin@gmail.com

Bobby Kehoe from Adamstown and Linda Barry, Tesco.

Picture: Fennell Photography

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 13 December 2018

LIFFEY VALLEY: COCAINE WORTH €3.43M SEIZED

A night to honour our Motorsport Champions CIARA and Paul O’Connell at the The 2018 Night of Champions in Finnstown House Castle last week. See full Gallery on page 15. Picture: Michael Chester

Image of some of the seized drugs. Picture: An Garda Siochana

‘Sale and supply of narcotics is not slowing down’ PADRAIG CONLON

THE recent drug seizure in Liffey Valley is further evidence the sale and supply of narcotics in Ireland is not slowing down.

This is according to Dublin MidWest Fianna Fáil TD John Curran who also said the seizure last Thursday of cocaine worth €3.43m reassures the public “work is ongoing in the fight to defeat organised and drug related crime in our urban communities”.

The operation was a joint effort carried out by the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Special Crime Task Force.

According to assistant commissioner for Special Crime Operations, John O’Driscoll, two cars had parked up at Liffey Valley in north Clondalkin at around 7.30pm last Thursday.

A handover of cocaine between the two vehicles was intercepted by gardai.

The car park is not connected to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, and is located nearer to Clondalkin.

One of the cars had an Irish number plate while the other had Dutch plates.

The garda units arrested four

“

people: A Dutch man Bernardus Jozef Scherrenberg, 47 and his girlfriend 39-year-old Sugeidys Huve in one car and two Irish men, Wayne Duffy 45, Deerhaven Close in Clonee, and Darren Coughlan, 46, with an address at Ferryhouse Road, Dunboyne, in the other.

The cocaine was contained in plastic tubs and AC O’Driscoll said their allegation is the two people in the Dutch car were in possession of the drugs and were transferring the

Court on Wednesday.

Darren Coughlan was also charged under section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. Garda Darren Caller of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau told the court that he objected to bail due to the seriousness of the offence.

Judge Murphy refused bail and remanded the man in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court on Friday, 14 December.

Deputy Curran, who is the newly appointed Fianna Fail spokesperson on National Drugs Strategy and Urban Affairs said: “Most recreational users conveniently ignore the broader impact of their drug use and its direct links to criminality.

“Recent hauls in other urban centres such as Cork and Limerick demonstrate that curtailing the flow of drugs into and around Ireland requires huge resources, co-ordination, manpower and even greater intelligence sharing with international colleagues.

“Local drug units operating within An Garda Siochana in communities across the country should be given every State support to continue to intercept hauls of this size to obstruct the sale of drugs on our streets,” he concluded.

Most recreational users conveniently ignore the broader impact of their drug use and its direct links to criminality plastic tubs to the other people.

All four appeared in court on Saturday with Huve and Scherrenberg charged under section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. They were remanded to appear in court again on Wednesday, December 12th.

Wayne Duffy, was charged under section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act and was also remanded to appear before Cloverhill District

13 December 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 13 December 2018

KNOCKLYON: ‘EVEN ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON THERE’S TWENTY MINUTE TAILBACKS’

Local commuters ‘livid’ as new cycle lane causing traffic chaos PADRAIG CONLON

A COUNCILLOR driven to launch a petition calling on South Dublin County Council to reinstate a roundabout has described Knocklyon’s traffic problem as “unprecedented”.

The online petition set up last week

by Cllr Deirdre O’Donovan (IND) has already received almost 4,000 signatures from locals demanding the council reinstate the two lanes approaching the Orlagh Roundabout in Knocklyon.

The road, which was reduced to a single lane to create a cycle lane, is now suffering extreme tailbacks since construction work started in July and local commuters are “livid” according to Cllr O Donovan.

“When the work started in the summer we were told it would be finished by the time the children went back to school.

“It’s now December and it’s still not finished, people are absolutely livid.

“The roundabout worked perfectly

fine beforehand, now the road has been narrowed so much residents have been telling me of near misses with some lorries and buses having to drive on the path “They’ve made it impossible for motorists and the affect on traffic in

“

It’s now December and it’s still not finished, people are absolutely livid Knocklyon has been catastrophic.

“A local business has told me their trade is down because of the traffic gridlock. Even on a Saturday afternoon there’s twenty minute tailbacks up to the roundabout.

“During these tailbacks even ambulances on their way to Tallaght Hospi-

tal can’t get through.

“The roundabout needs to be put back the way it was.”

Cllr O Donovan said local residents are also fearful for the future with further developments in the area planned.

“There is planning for a further 4,000 houses around Knocklyon but the infrastructure isn’t even adequate to deal with the present population.

“This problem is unprecedented in Knocklyon, it’s now unworkable.

“This is a tipping point for local residents, there is no confidence things aren’t going to get worse.

“It makes sense that the council want to build a cycle lane so kids can cycle to school, St Colmcille’s is one of the biggest primary schools in Europe.

“But what they’ve done to the road and the roundabout is all for the sake of a few kids to go to school.”

In response to enquiries about the traffic problems in Knocklyon, the council said: “The council acknowl-

Cllr Deirdre O’Donovan

edges that there are currently delays at the Orlagh Roundabout which is causing public disquiet.

“There is currently a temporary traffic management system in place at the roundabout which is necessary for the protection of the workers and public

alike.

“This has the effect of narrowing the road to less than what it will be in the permanent works.

“The road surfacing is as yet incomplete and is therefore lower than its permanent state.

“Consequently, HGV’s/buses etc are not as yet using the inner apron.

“It is widely accepted that delays are caused in roadworks situation due to drivers slowing down to view the works.

“It is not possible to construct a scheme of the scale and nature such as this scheme in such a narrow corridor without causing some disruption to traffic “Finally, the road works are not as yet complete so it would be premature at this stage to suggest that the redesign doesn’t work.

“The works however, are scheduled to be completed before Christmas.

These works will then be monitored to ensure they work satisfactorily.”

13 December 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

SHOP LOCAL: THE G AZETTE FOCUSES ON INDEPENDENT AND FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES

It’s business as usual in Clondalkin Village WITH CHRISTMAS almost upon us, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to travel long distances to get what you need – unless of course it’s a holiday you’re after!

Simply put, shopping locally benefits the local area – and sure when the weather is behaving itself, why spends hours in traffic or in a stuffy bus when you can stay in sunny Clondalkin and stroll around the village at your leisure?

By shopping locally, without any of the difficulties involved in travelling across the city, we can support local business, enterprise and industry, all of which play a far greater role in our lives than one might imagine.

Clondalkin Nurseries, premium horticultural specialists in Dublin, is conveniently located at Green Isle Road near Corkagh Park, caters for trade and landscape contractors from Dublin and the surrounding counties.

The Factory Outlet on Orchard Road specialises in the supply and fitting of tiles, bathrooms, kitchens and wardrobes. One local business that has also survived the testament of time is Becker Tansey & Co Solicitors, which has been providing legal services in Clondalkin for more than 30 years. Mill Cabs, based in the Mill Shopping Centre, has been in operation for over 30 years and continues to serve the people of Clondalkin on a daily basis without any stop for rest.

Cash In Rags, based at Watery Lane, are now going into their sixth year in business. Donna, who runs the company, says that there are a lot of people these days interested in recycling their old clothes with them. She added: “People like the idea of clearing out their house of old clothes and bringing it in to us in exchange for money.”

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 13 December 2018

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

A group photo in the rain with SDCC Mayor Cllr Mark Ward at the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Clondalkin. Pictures:Ben Ryan

Christmas lights unite community

T

HE LIGHTS on the Christmas Tree at Civic Centre, Clondalkin where switched on by the Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Mark Ward on Wednesday, December 5. Christmas carols were sung by the RAMS Men’s Choir, as approximately 100 people from around Clondalkin gathered around the tree.

The Mayor expressed delight at being able to switch on the lights in his own home town and highlighted Clondalkin based winners at last weekend Community Endeavour Awards, where he gave awards to The Friends of the Camac who won the Community Sustainability Initiative Award for their hard work around the Camac.

The Clondalkin Handcraft and Horticulture Show won the Gradam Chultur agus

Oidhreacht na hEireann Award, whilst Clondalkin’s very own Tommy Keogh won the Volunteer of the Year award for decades of selfless volunteerism in our community.

It is also worth noting that Clondalkin’s Jim Gavin and the Dublin Senior Football Team received a Special Recognition Award.

The Community Endeavour Awards aim to acknowledge, promote and recognise the work of community and voluntary organisations within South Dublin County Council’s area. So, well done to everyone involved.

Those present were invited back to the Round Tower Visitor Centre for tea and mince pies, where the RAMS Men’s Choir continued to entertain with a selection of choral Christmas tunes

The SDCC staff with SDCC Mayor Cllr Mark Ward

Paul McAlerney, Adele Hayden, Ralph McGarry and SDCC Mayor Cllr Mark Ward

The RAMS sing a few festive songs in the Happy Pear after the ceremony

Cllr Trevor Gilligan and his family

Anthony Curran and his daughter

13 December 2018 WEST ď‚ˆď‚ˆ DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

Nicole Drought, Endurance Trial Class A1 Champion with Sean McEnroe, Coffee Perfection Leo Nulty MC for the evening

Irish Super Rally Champion Derek Tohill arriving at the night of Champions in Finnstown House Castle. Pictures: Michael Chester

Honouring our amazing Motorsport Champions F

innstown Castle Hotel recently hosted The 2018 Night of Champions which celebrated the champions of many different motorsport disciplines. MC on the night was Leo Nulty. Guests enjoyed a Champagne and Canape reception, followed by a 4 course meal and prize-giving ceremony.

Stephen and Sharon Ross

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 December 2018

LOVE YOUR DUBLIN: THE BREAKDOWN OF SOME OF THE BEST SHOWS TO TAKE IN THIS CHRISTMAS

GIANTS, SNOW QUEENS AND DAMES, OH MY - IT COULD ONLY BE PANTO TIME AGAIN WITH DUBLIN’S FAMILY SHOWS

DUBLIN MADE EASY T

AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT CHRISTMAS PANTOS (OH YES IT IS)

IS the season to be jolly when Dublin families hit the theatres for their annual dose of panto.

Almost everyone who grew up in Dublin will remember the buzz of being brought to the Christmas panto and seeing crazy characters in outrageous costumes, dancing and singing and joking while the audience interacts with them.

Theatre snobs may look down on the time honoured panto but it is the first taste of theatre for many people, and brings great joy and pleasure when done well.

As an artform, pantomime can trace its roots back to the ancient Romans, but it was the Victorians who created the form of panto we know and love today by taking fairy tales and retelling them in a humorous way.

Well-performed pantomime can be brilliant, creating a special bond between performers and the audience. Here’s our verdict on three of the best Christmas pantos in Dublin...

THE CIVIC THEATRE

THE HELIX

THE GAIETY

HIGHLIGHT: Its impressive kid cast dancers

HIGHLIGHT: A brilliant fundraiser for sick kids

HIGHLIGHT: Guaranteed to wow

THE Civic’s panto in the heart of Tallaght this year is the ever hilarious Jack & The Beanstalk, a spectacular treat for the whole family.

Its cast includes YouTube sensation Enya Martin (Giz A Laugh) as the hilarious ‘Instafairy’, Sorcha Furlong as the evil Baroness (best known as Orla in Fair City), Morgan Crowley as Dame Dottie (a West End veteran and EastEnders actor).

Jack & The Beanstalk is now running until January 6 with two performances daily including seven schools’ shows and a sensory-friendly performance. A family ticket costs €55 with free parking in The Civic car park from 4pm; contact the Box Office at 01 462 7477

AT DCU, Robin Hood opened in the Helix at the end of last month, impressing audiences with all its usual wit, magic and fun.

Once again produced by TheatreworX Productions, the cast includes Ireland’s premier tenor Paul Byrom as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Chris Corroon as Dame Lola, Ciara Mackey as Maid Marion and Gavin Ryan as Robin Hood.

Best of all, 100% of the proceeds from this show will go directly to Temple Street Childrens University Hospital – last year’s panto raised €12,000!

Robin Hood runs until January 20 and tickets are €19.50. Call the Box Office at 01 700 7000.

LAST but definitely not least, The Gaiety has really outdone itself this year, as The Snow Queen is one of the coolest and funniest pantos in Dublin this Christmas.

Hosting Christmas pantos each year since 1873, The Gaiety is an old hand at staging superb shows, with this year’s stellar cast included West End star Louise Bowden as the Snow Queen, Nicholas Grennell as Jack Frost and Joe Conlan as a hilarious Panto Dame.

Tickets are on sale from €19.50 (including booking fee) from Ticketmaster outlets and the Box Office; see www.gaietytheatre.ie and www.ticketmaster.ie.

13 December 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

MAGAZINE

DUBLIN

DINO SHOW SURE TO BE A ROARING HIT... P24

LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT’S ON TV FOR CHRISTMAS P25

Make it Malta for Christmas P26

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NEWS AND EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND COUNTY

PANTOMINE CAST VISIT KIDS AT TEMPLE STREET CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL THERE was a magical surprise at Temple Street Children’s University Hospital recently, when the cast of The Helix Pantomime, Robin Hood arrived in character to spread some Christmas cheer this festive season among the young patients, families and staff.

Pictured are Jack Farrell meeting with Ciara Mackey as Maid Marion and Gavin Ryan as Robin Hood. Picture: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 December 2018

FOOD&DRINK BUSINESS | IS IT TIME RESTAURANTS STARTED CHARGING DEPOSITS?

Think of the damage your careless ‘no-show’ can do REBECCA RYAN

ONE Dublin restauranteur who had a huge no-show at his restaurant on a usually busy Friday night recently has reignited the debate over whether restaurants should take deposits for bookings.

Social media posts went into a frenzy on November 30 when the owner of Michael’s in Mount Merrion, Gaz Smith, tweeted to say that he was “gutted” when 14 people failed to show up for their booking.

Gaz said: “We’ve just had a group of 14 cancel last minute for our early sitting, absolute nightmare. Nearly half of the restaurant. If anybody would like a last-minute table early this evening, we’d love to have you.

“I feel like I’m going to vomit, so gutted”, added the small restaurant’s owner.

It was not long before people got behind Gaz online to vent their disgust at the incident, and thankfully the “phone hopped” and the seats were filled.

One person even offered to make a donation to the restaurant.

Michael’s, Mount Merrion

Commenting on the kind gesture, Gaz said: “I’m not going to dwell on noshows tonight, not after your support, and look at this email – what a lovely, lovely gesture.”

Speaking to Dublin Gazette, Gaz said he was grateful for the support of the community and people online.

He said: “We were lucky to be able to turn last Friday night around, but that was due to lots of goodwill from locals and Twitter.

“The neighbourhood of Mount Merrion descended upon us as they have done in the past when the storm

hit us. We are so lucky to have been welcomed within the community here. It was very heart-warming!”

Gaz said that when people fail to show up for a booking it is a big hit for his restaurant and it makes him “nauseous”.

He said: “We’ve had a couple of cases recently of groups either cancelling very last minute or simply not turning up; this hurts us so badly.

“Losing a big group in a small suburban restaurant with barely any footfall means trying to fill those spaces last minute is a problem and having empty

tables on what should be a busy night has enormous ramifications, and can skew the [profit] margins for the month.”

Gaz added that it is getting to the point where he might have to take deposits.

“My hospitable side doesn’t want our first interaction with a guest to be asking for credit cards.

“However, a small independent like us can’t absorb the losses, and we will have to look into taking credit card deposits for larger groups.

“We hear stories of larger groups booking parties

at four or even five places, and then they decide on the day which one they all prefer. The thought of that makes me nauseous.

“I would love to live in a world where we don’t need to demand deposits, but it’s getting to the point that we’re left with no choice.”

He added: “Please, please, please don’t double-book; please call us if there are significant number changes or if you can’t make it. We really depend on it.”

The incident reignited the debate of should deposits be taken when booking a table in a restaurant, with social media posts jumping straight in to the debate.

One person wrote: “Enough is enough. Restaurants have to start taking a non-refundable deposit. This is people’s livelihoods we are talking about.”

Another pointed out that other industries suffer as a result of no-shows: “Deposits should become mandatory in the industry. [No-shows] will keep happening unless all restaurants come together to tackle it.”

Delight at fresh win for gourmet chain

Lorraine Heskin, Gourmet Food Parlour, Skerries

A RESTAURANT in Skerries has won big at the Fingal Business Excellence and CSR Awards..

The newly opened Gourmet Food Parlour branch won an award for Best Presented Business Premises, which recognised both the interior and exterior of the premises as well as the presentation of staff friendliness, quality of food and general ambience.

Owner Lorraine created GFP 12 years ago with the inspiration to serve a funky style of food, using simple, locally-sourced ingredients whilst serving it all

in a fun, relaxed way.

GFP locations include Dun Laoghaire, Swords, Skerries and Malahide, as well as a catering and events division.

Commenting on the win, GFP managing director Lorraine said: “Myself and the whole GFP team are extremely proud to win this award, especially as it’s for our new restaurant.

“I am so thankful to all the people in Skerries for their warm welcome and continued support.”

For further information on the eaterie, see gourmetfoodparlour.com.

Mince Pies to delight anyone KILKENNY, the home of Irish craft and design, is well-known for its Christmas offerings and one in particular – its signature mince pies.

From December 1 each year, Kilkenny sell on average more than 1,700 mince pies per week during the festive period.

The mince pies are made completely from scratch using Kilkenny Cafe chef Lynn Meehan’s family recipe, that has been passed down through the generations.

Preparation of the 100kgs of minced meat takes place in August as it takes four months for the mince to marinade in the premium ingredients, which includes 16 litres of Hennessy brandy.

Here we share with you Lynn’s recipe for marvellous Mince Pies.

Step 1: Make the pastry • 1kg plain flour • 175g sugar • Pinch of salt • 2 eggs • 500g butter • Zest of 2 oranges • Juice of 2 oranges Step 2:

• Evenly roll out the

pastry, cut out disks and place them into a lined pastry tin

Step 3: Kilkenny’s special minced meat • Fruit mix • 250g raisins • 100g mixed peel • 100g sultanas • 100g diced apple • 50g dried cherries chopped • 100g dried apricots

chopped

• 200g brown sugar • 200ml orange juice

freshly squeezed and strained • 250ml brandy (we recommend Hennessy) Step 4:

• Fill the pastry with a generous scoop

Step 5: Make the frangipane mix • 450g ground almonds • 350g icing sugar • 250g butter • 5 eggs Step 6:

• Pipe and spread the frangipane and bake for 20-25 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 160°C

13 December 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

FEATURES PEOPLE | LONG-TERM HOST DEFENDS THE CONTROVERSIAL PROPERTY-SHARING BUSINESS

‘Airbnb has helped us meet the world’ RACHEL D’ARCY

EARLIER this year, the Government proposed legislation aimed at tackling short-term rental site Airbnb in a bid to tackle the housing crisis.

The rental giant has become one of the focal points of the worsening crisis, with many slamming individuals who own entire homes solely to rent out on Airbnb.

However, a majority of the individuals who rent on Airbnb in Ireland let out rooms in their own family homes and rely upon the app to cover costs such as mortgages, school fees, bills and more.

“We’re hoping the new rules won’t have any impact on us as we rent out of the family home,” Danielle Vierling, an Airbnb renter in the Portobello area of the city, told Dublin Gazette.

“I got involved about five years ago, and at the time it was financially motivated as a lot of costs

in Dublin were quite high, so that was our incentive first of all.

“In the end, that’s what keeps us doing it – it’s the connection with people doing it.

“If it was just financial and you didn’t enjoy the

who’ve stayed with us – it makes you believe in the goodness of the world, and makes the world feel smaller, and that’s why we love doing it.

“People are sick and tired of staying in hotels; they want a human connection.

“We want to interact, we want to have friendly exchanges with our visitors, and some people want that over a hotel, which can be quite impersonal,” she added.

Danielle said that they’ve hosted people from all walks of life Airbnb host Danielle Vierling – from people visiting Ireland on holiday, people part, it wouldn’t be business people, to famiappropriate because we lies attending weddings, rent out part of the family sometimes even other home and we have chil- Irish people visiting the dren, and we don’t want capital. to just let anyone into the She said it’s a flexhouse. ible way for the family “As it turns out, the to make supplementary people have been abso- income, something that lutely fabulous. It really she’s concerned will be improves your view of the threatened under any community and the world new regulations. because there’s amazDanielle and her faming, interesting people ily rent out a basement

Danielle defended her Airbnb listing (above), citing it as a way not only to get some financial support, but to meet people from all over the world and all walks of life

apartment accessed through the home and a room in the house on a regular basis, turning to the service as a way of making extra income and for meeting new people.

She said: “I love the dif-

ferent people you get to meet through Airbnb.

“A lot of people that stay with us have told me that they choose Airbnb for a more personable experience, rather than a hotel where you might

not have a lot of personal contact.

“From a community standpoint, I really enjoy it. Airbnb is kind of a community building thing for me. I’ve lived in the area for eight years, I know all

the local businesses, and the businesses appreciate that I’m referring them all the time.

“The people who’ve stayed with us say they enjoy that local connection as well.”

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 December 2018

DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS I N F O R M AT I O N Heritage House, Dundrum, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publishes four weekly quality free titles, covering the latest news, sport, entertainment and lifestyle from the four local authority areas of Dublin

C O N TA C T S Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com

.

Group Editor: Patrick Finnegan pfinnegan@dublingazette.com Deputy Group Editor: Shane Dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@dublingazette.com Picture Editor: Aisling Conway aconway@dublingazette.com Travel Editor: Sylvia Pownall spownall@dublingazette.com Advertising Sales:

01 - 6010240 sales@dublingazette.com

FIND US ON

www.dublingazette.com Dublin Gazette Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

WHAT AN ICE LOOK: Bryan Dobson, Cystic Fibrosis ambassador joined Helen Somerville, SPAR marketing manager and Fergal Smyth, fundraising manager, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland at the launch of Christmas Jumper Day 4CF, supported by SPAR, with the trio creating a suitably colouful sight.

Taking place this Friday, December 14, companies are being asked to encourage their staff to wear their best Christmas jumper to work on the day – for a donation of €5, which will be sent to support Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s work.

As Ireland has the highest rates of CF in the world, and some of the most severe types of the disease, Christmas Jumper Day 4CF promises to be a fun and festive way to help people with the disease. For further information, see www.cfireland.ie, or email fundraising@cfireland.ie.

CELEBRATING BOWIE A crafty way to have CALLING all Bowie fans – the Dublin Bowie Festival will celebrate 50 years of the original Space Oddity, with the festival’s programme aiming to encapsulate the profound influence and inspiration that Bowie had on both popular culture and art.

Topped by a heavyweight line-up of live music, the festival also includes movie and documentary screenings, Q&As, debates and discussions, literary events, fashion, fine art, merchandise markets, a quiz, karaoke and more.

Venues include the National Concert Hall, The Grand Social, The Olympia Theatre, The Academy, Ebow Gallery, The Lighthouse Cinema and many other creative spaces, all coming together to pay respects to one of the most important figures in our cultural history.

The festival runs from January 7-13, with tickets and more information available from dublinbowiefestival.ie/events.

fun and save money

LET your inner artist out and save money this Christmas by making your own cards at A Very Grainstore Christmas.

The Grainstore, dlr’s Youth Art facility in Cabinteely Park is sharing a little seasonal joy this Sunday, December 16.

There will be Christmas craft workshops for families with artist Tunde Toth where you can design and create your own cards and

decorations.

There will also be parent and children music workshops, a drop-in iPad workshop for young people, and a feast of music from some of the Grainstore’s groups.

The event starts at noon and is for children aged over five (children must be accompanied by adults).

For bookings, search eventbrite for A Very Grainstore Christmas, or email grainstoremanager@dlrcoco.ie.

13 December 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

SOME OF THE LATEST EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN DUBLIN

DIARY

Picture: Naoise Culhane

Vive Les Miserables

DOG OF THE WEEK

MUSICAL lovers are in for a treat as Les Misérables is now on at the the Bord Gais Theatre, until January 12.

Originally based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Le Misérables was turned into a musical by Alain Boubil with songs composed by

Claude-Michel Schönberg.

Cameron Mackintosh has produced a brilliant new staging of Les Mis that has travelled from Broadway to a number of cities around the United States, South America, Korea, Japan, Australia, Spain, France

and now Dublin, featuring classic songs such as, I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, and Do You Hear the People Sing?

Tickets are priced from €26 to €74.50, and are available on the Bord Gais Website now.

DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs. Sheeba is a five-year old Pointer crossbreed which would make a wonderful addition to most families. She is a sweet, friendly dog which will try to say hello to everyone she meets on her walks. Since she doesn’t yet know how to greet people in a polite manner, she will require some impulse-control training. Sheeba is an active Pointer and will need plenty of exercise on a regular basis to keep her body and mind in good shape.

She would be best suited to a family that spends a good bit of time at home, as she struggles when left alone for longer periods of time.

If you have room in your heart and home for Sheeba then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000.

They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50.

Map and directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE. (Remember: Always have your dog on a lead when in public.)

JOIN THE NYE PARTY CELEBRATE the final moments of 2018 with a bang under a canopy of sparks as the Liffey Lights Midnight Moment signals the end of 2018 and the arrival of the New Year.

This dazzling spectacle will be performed against the backdrop of the Custom House and features a thrilling choreography of lasers and aqua beams, with DJS and percussionists.

Tickets are also on sale now for the 3Countdown Concert at Custom House Quay.

Platinum-selling artist Gavin James will headline the 3Countdown Concert with special guests Hudson Taylor, Wild Youth and Inhaler.

Tickets – which include entry to the Liffey Lights Midnight Moment event – are priced €29.90, includ-

ing booking fee, and are on sale now from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and ticketmaster.ie.

For additional information on all other NYF Dublin events, see www.

NYFDublin.com.

Keep up to date with news about all upcoming events by using the hashtag #NYFDublin and following @NYFDublin on Twitter and Instagram.

Red-dy to help others? IADT FILM STUDENT WINS THE iconic Coca-Cola’s Christmas Truck is coming to Tallaght, marking the last chance to catch the truck this year as it completes a nationwide journey.

It’ll be pulling in to The Square in Tallaght this Sunday, December 16 as part of its eighth annual road trip, with all proceeds from the sale of merchandise to be donated to St Vincent De

WARNER BROS SCHOLARSHIP

Paul. Look out for the unmistakeable truck at The Square from 2-8pm on Sunday.

WARNER BROS. IRELAND has awarded a scholarship to Sarah Ahern, an MA Screenwriting student at the National Film School at Dublin’s Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

The Warner Bros. Creative Talent scholarship will, over the

course of a year, provide Sarah with funding support and ashort, paid placement at Warner Bros.

Ireland’s Dublin offices, as well as access to screenings and mentoring supportfrom Warner Bros. executives in the country.

Previous Warner Bros. Crea-

tive Talent scholars, Allyn Quigley, Miriam Devitt, and Daniel Kelly, have gone on to enjoy success in TV and film.

Sarah is is currently the Projects Manager & Programmer at Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival (VMDIFF).

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 December 2018

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Jane Hayes and Evelyn Walsh

Marie Jackson and Emma Cassidy

Sinead and Rhoda McDonagh Models Caoimhe O’Dwyer, Ursula Kelly and Kerri Nicole Blanc. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Denise and Geraldine Ashe

Breast Cancer Ireland hosts Christmas lunch O

Louise O’Regan and Amy Dunne

Laura Bowe and Orla Bleahen

VER 170 glamorous guests enjoyed the style and fashion at this year’s Breast Cancer Ireland Christmas Lunch in Marco Pierre White Courtyard Restaurant. The lunch kicked off with a champagne reception on arrival, followed by a 3-course lunch with a selection of wine.

The luncheon raised vital funds for Breast Cancer Ireland.

Juliette O Connell,Adrienne McCleen and Rachel Fitzgerald Feeley

Shoshanna Hayden, Aisling Sproul and Clodagh Holmes

13 December 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

WHAT’S BIG IN MUSIC, CINEMA, TV AND BOOKS

ENTERTAINMENT GOINGOUTOUT GOING

PICKWEEK OF THE

DECEMBER 17, 18

Christy Moore @ Vicar Street, SOLD OUT Christy seems to have been around since the Vikings popped over, but his sold-out gigs at Vicar Street show that his popularity hasn’t fallen back (unlike those Vikings, the lightweights). You’re in for a treat if you nabbed a ticket, with a great Christy gig guaranteed.

DECEMBER 13 (THURSDAY)

Dino show sure to be a roaring hit with Dubs THE BBC series Walking With Dinosaurs was surreal at times. Beautifully computer-generated and based on the best guesses of palaeontologists on dinosaur behaviour, it brought monolithic beasts to life in a way that had never truly been attempted before.

The series examined likely behaviours, and set dinosaurs in the environment they would have explored, recreating the battles and struggles that could have formed part of their lives, and topped it all off with some Attenborough-light commentary from Kenneth Branagh.

What a screen can’t do, however, is give a sense of imposing scale and physical melodrama whilst shooting through 200 million years of earth’s history.

The Arena Spectacular version of Walking With Dinosaurs has been tour-

 JAMES HENDICOTT

ing since 2007, undergoing several iterations and improvements along the way, and is aimed at more than just fans of the TV series.

We grabbed a preview of the show when it landed in Belfast earlier this year, and found Michaela Strachan, an iconic nature TV presenter, in charge of the storytelling aspect of the drama.

Strachan is the sole human ‘character’, and plays the role of a palaeontologist heading back in time, uncovering the progression of dinosaurs through history, and explaining a little of their existence as the life-sized beasts roam the stage before your eyes.

Her commentary

comes across as authentically wondrous, and she heavily interacts, leaping around the arena in her rimmed hat as she dodges dinosaurs’ interest, or hiding behind rocks to give whispered commentary as youngsters emerge delicately from eggs.

It’s the lumbering mechanical side of the show that’s the main draw, however, and it is startlingly impressive, drawing gasps as the bigger animals emerge onto the stage from behind the curtains that hide them.

The dinosaurs span the eras, and you’ll meet familiar favourites in the Stegosaurus and the T-rex, the Iguanodon and the Allosaurus, as well as some lesser known beasts.

All are true to scale, with some of the slowmoving herbivores stretching towards the rafters, while the more

rapid carnivores are imposing and aggressive.

There are tiny hatching eggs, battles over food, and interaction with a fast-changing territory, before the late-era beasts meet a dramatic end.

The larger dinosaurs move on wheels, set on large bases that ‘walk’ their legs in broad, sweeping movements. They strut, seemingly independently, across the ground.

At times they’re surrounded by a plethora of detailed small dinosaurs played by actors, who are able to leap and frolic at higher speeds.

The whole thing sounds like it should provide a few minutes of entertainment at most, but it runs deeper.

It’s brilliantly scripted, has eked out a plotline that’s a good mix of entertaining and educational, and wows with both its detail and its scale. Overall, the concept far out

does the various other dinosaur shows that have toured recently.

You could dismiss something like this as a kid’s show, and it certainly does hold a lot of appeal for children fixated with ancient lumbering lizards.

What impressed us most is that it’s also surprisingly strong on the more grown-up entertainment: there’s light comedy, a nice flow to the storyline, and the scale and detail of the dinosaurs is really quite impressive.

Not your typical Christmas entertainment, perhaps, but a genuinely memorable show with lots of educational detail, and a chunky, imaginative roar into the holiday season.

Walking With Dinosaurs runs for six shows at the 3Arena right before Christmas, on December 21, 22 and 23. Tickets start at €38.50.

YG @ The Olympia, €23 Ham Sandwich @ Whelan’s, SOLD OUT Ryan McMullan @ The Academy, €20 Siomha @ Whelan’s Upstairs, €12

DECEMBER 14 (FRIDAY) Ham Sandwich @ Whelan’s, €23 Local heroes play their annual Christmas shows at Whelan’s, guaranteed to be messy, melodic and wonderfully boisterous. Get in before they sell out.

2FM Xmas Ball - Hozier, Walking On Cars, Keywesy, Chasing Abbey @ 3Arena, SOLD OUT Greatest Hits of Motown @ Vicar Street, €39 Gypsies On The Autobahn @ Whelan’s Upstairs, €12

DECEMBER 15 (SATURDAY) Hozier @ The Olympia, SOLD OUT Ham Sandwich @ Whelan’s, €23 The Blades @ The Academy, €30 The Academic @ Vicar Street, SOLD OUT Bleeding Heart Pigeons @ Whelan’s Upstairs, €12

DECEMBER 16 (SUNDAY) The Academic @ Vicar Street, SOLD OUT Josh Groban @ 3Arena, €70 Hozier @ The Olympia, SOLD OUT Jerry Fish @ Whelan’s, €22 Rob Bochnik @Whelan’s Upstairs, €12

DECEMBER 17 (MONDAY) Flogging Molly @ The Academy, €32 Hudson Taylor @ Whelan’s, SOLD OUT Hozier @ The Olympia, SOLD OUT Christy Moore @ Vicar Street, SOLD OUT

DECEMBER 18 (TUESDAY) Christy Moore @ Vicar Street, SOLD OUT Hudson Taylor @ Whelan’s, SOLD OUT Denzel Curry @ The Academy, €23 The Ruby Sessions @ Doyle’s, €7

DECEMBER 19 (WEDNESDAY) Glen Hansard @ Vicar Street, SOLD OUT Ash @ The Academy, €27 Northern Irish pop rockers bring the feel-good factor to The Academy, in a show sure to stoke the 90s nostalgia as well as explore some of the band’s newer efforts Hudson Taylor @ Whelan’s, SOLD OUT Amistat @ Whelan’s Upstairs, €15

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 December 2018

StillShowing...

ROBIN HOOD

Doesn’t hit the mark HERE comes the 347th attempt to make a good film about everybody’s favourite bad boy from Merrye Englande, Robin Hood (Cert 12A, 116 mins). Unfortunately, the end result is a fast-paced, kinetic mess, which turns Nottingham into some kind of mining-crazy industrial hell hole, Jame Foxx into an exposition-heavy Moor, and Taron Egerton into a Robin that it’s hard to root for. At least the film poster is lovely, though not the film.

THE GRINCH

Needs more humbugs WHAT can you say about The Grinch (Cert G, 90 mins) that’s never been said before? This animation looks to flesh out Dr Seuss’s most famous creation a little bit, without deviating much from the original, admittedly slight tale. The end result is a handsome looking film that should entertain small children, but will leave older minds as bored as the Grinch contemplating the annoyingly nice and happy citizens of Whoville below.

FANTASTIC BEASTS 2 Lacks a little magic

GOOD luck to everyone insisting on saying the full title of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Cert 12A, 134 mins). It’s another dive back into some Potter-ish magic goings-on as the wizarding world again threatens the moral realm, building on the lore of the first film. It’s okay, but lacking the true magic of the Harry Potter films, despite the best efforts of its likeable cast.

Powerful performances abound in the Best Film – Drama nominations, including A Star is Born, Black Panther and Bohemian Rhapsody

Few surprises in Globes nods WHILE next year’s Oscars may have tripped on the red carpet with its choice of host (see panel below), the nominations for the upcoming Golden Globes in January passed by much more smoothly.

There were few surprises in the just revealed list of categories, with most of 2018’s biggest commercial and critical darlings making their way onto the list, which is still a decent barometer of how things tend to go at the Oscars months later.

While several of the nominated films haven’t made it to Irish shores just yet, many of them are known to audiences here, and most of the nominees won’t come as a surprise.

Many eyes are on Black Panther, following that film’s phenomenal global success this year, with nods in a few categories,

 SHANE DILLON

particularly for arguably the top award, Best motion Picture – Drama.

Crazy Rich Asians also nabbed a couple of nods in the categories, with that film, and Panther, suggesting that Hollywood is finally – belatedly – grasping that there’s a global market for good films with compelling characters drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

In fact, four of the five Best Motion Picture – Drama nominees had stories or characters that are a little out of line with what you might call Standard White Westerner tropes, presenting some well received content.

Elsewhere, and bookies would have their work cut out for them with some of the names on the awards list – for example, who can make the call on whether A Star is Born is better than Bohemian Rhapsody, or Spike Lee’s provocative BlacKkKlansman, for example?

There are some tough choices in other categories, too, such as Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Music.

John C Reilly looks stunning as the beloved Oliver Hardy in Stan and Ollie; Christian Bale is similarly unrecognisable as warhawk Dick Cheney in Vice, and Robert Redford makes his cinematic swansong in The Old Man and The Gun. Moving on through some of the other categories, and while Glenn

SOME OF THE MAIN 2019 GOLDEN GLOBES NOMINATIONS Best film – Drama Black Panther BlacKkKlansman Bohemian Rhapsody If Beale Street Could Talk A Star Is Born Best Director Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born Alfonso Cuaron – Roma Close’s star turn in The Wife looks like a certainty for the Best Actress under Drama award, Lady Gaga surprised and wowed with her star-making turn in A Star is Born (opposite an impressive Bradley Cooper, himself nominated for Best Actor under Drama).

An outside Best Actress bet would be Melissa McCarthy, who managed to make the abysmal The Happytime Murders in 2018 and yet also stole the show (and earned a Globe nod) as a

Peter Farrelly – Green Book Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman Adam McKay – Vice

Rhapsody John David Washington – BlacKkKlansman

Best Actor – Drama Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born Willem Dafoe – At Eternity’s Gate Lucas Hedges – Boy Erased Rami Malek – Bohemian

Best Actress – Drama Glenn Close – The Wife Lady Gaga – A Star Is Born Nicole Kidman – Destroyer Melissa McCarthy – Can You Ever Forgive Me? Rosamund Pike – A Private War

reluctant, frumpy forger in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, making her as ever an interesting star to follow.

Irish eyes will be wishing the best for The Favourite – the latest quirky film courtesy of Irish company Element Pictures.

The five nods attached to the film (a collaboration from The Lobster director Yorgos Lanthimos and Element) are a pretty strong endorsement for the film, which sees Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz’s char-

acters competing for the attention of Queen Anne – with the actresses simultaneously competing for a Best Supporting Actress award in a little nod at life imitiating art.

It’s good to see Olivia Colman also getting a nomination as the queen, in a rare reflection of the comic actress’s more serious chops.

You’ll easily find the full Golden Globes nominations for cinema and TV online, with the awards taking place on January 6.

Hart fiasco just another Oscars blunder WHILE there was plenty of interest in the Golden Globes nominations, culture vultures have continued circling around Kevin Hart following his ill-fated – and brief – stance as the 2019 Oscars host.

The comedian (right) lasted three days in place as the upcoming host before stepping down last week when a storm of criticism erupted over long-standing homophobic comments and jokes he’s made down the years.

Hart couldn’t quite manage to quietly step aside – a Martin Luther King Jr quote he used in a clumsy fashion irritated many people, leaving him seeming unable to do

right for doing wrong ...

Ultimately, the Hart incident draws attention to the Oscars powers that be – the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – with the latest little drama underscoring that the Hollywood gods don’t quite seem to know what they’re doing any more.

After all, a cursory check of Hart’s material would have soon revealed him as a problematic host who’d be likely to draw criticism – which happened.

Let’s also not forget the Academy’s 2018 idea to introduce a Best Popular Film Oscar – a move which angered many

actors, studios and directors, forcing the idea to get quickly shelved.

Both were moves which were blunders on the Academy’s part, with both being obvious bad ideas that, oddly, the Academy still thought would be okay.

And if the Academy doesn’t really know what it’s doing, what’s the point of having the Oscars any more?

Oscar hosts come and go, often with good coverage, sometimes with bad, and Hart will continue being a popular comedian regardless of some of his ill-advised content.

However, a bigger issue is the malaise

within the Academy itself, as it continues making poor choices even as the Oscars’ power, viewership and relevancy continues to diminish.

With Oscar viewership figures now a fraction of what they were, and with changes in audience figures and statistics, the Academy really needs to make 2019 a turnaround year, and to make the Oscars relevant again.

Otherwise, the Academy has much bigger problems to worry about than just what host is probably a safe pair of hands to give the presenting gig to ...

13 December 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

WHAT’S BIG IN MUSIC, CINEMA, TV AND BOOKS

ENTERTAINMENT

CHRISTMAS TV | LOOK AHEAD TO DIE HARD AND GRAHAM NORTON

QUIKFLIX FLIX Streaming highlights on the way

UK version of RuPaul’s Drag Race for BBC Three

There’s a huge selection of Christmas movies on Virgin Media One this Christmas, including Moonlight & Mistletoe.

Virgin Media One launch their Christmas Schedule RACHEL D’ARCY

VIRGIN Media Television will be delivering a whole host of festive programming specials and family favourite movies this Christmas.

The channel unveiled their Christmas schedule last week, and it’s set to be a treat for both young and old with a range of festive treats and retrospective looks at the year that was.

Soap addicts are getting some extra love this festive season, as Stephen Mulhern hosts the quiz that tests the stars

of Coronation Street and Emmerdale on their funniest, and most memorable soap moments of 2018 on ‘The Big Soap Quiz’ at 9pm on December 21.

Corrie lovers are in for a special treat with ‘Coronation Street: DNA Secrets revealed’ which will air at 8:30pm on Christmas Eve. In this one off, 90-minute special, Coronation Street’s DNA Secrets reveals the secrets lying deep in the DNA of one of the best-loved streets.

For fans of hit TV show The Chase, there’s a treat this Christmas as Bradley

Walsh hosts a very special edition of ‘The Celebrity Chase’ on December 26, as well as brand new ‘The Chase Bloopers Show’ with all the bits you were never meant to see in an hour long special on December 29 at 7pm.

If you’re still suffering from Love Island withdrawals, an early Christmas present is on the way in the form of a festive special where Caroline Flack reunites 19 of the most talked about Islanders in ‘Love Island The Reunion’ on Virgin Media Two on December 17 at 9pm.

The channel have got the whole family covered when it comes to movies with classics such as The Commitments, Marian Keyes Watermelon, Bridget Jones Diary, Night at the Museum, Chicken Run, Babe, The Wizard of Oz, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar.

Music lovers are also being spoiled in the schedule, with specials such as ‘Happy Hour with Olly Murs’ on Virgin Media One at 9 on December 15; ‘Voice of Hope 2’, a special concert by Tommy Fleming on December 11 and

‘Celtic Woman: Ancient Land’ on December 16 at 6.05pm.

There will also be a look back at the most memorable parts of 2018, with Virgin Media rounding up what has been a memorable year with ‘Ireland’s Weather 2018: Climate Chaos’ airing on December 24 and ‘That Was 2018’ on December 28 at 9pm.

On December 31, ring in the New Year with Graham Norton as his special New Year’s Eve show, ‘The Graham Norton Show NYE 2018’, airs at 11.35pm.

IT WAS revealed last week that cult reality show, RuPaul’s Drag Race, is set to get a UK version in the New Year. The show will be delivered by BBC Three, the TV giant’s online channel platform, though it’s unclear if it will be streamed on a weekly basis like it’s US counterpart or available to binge all at once.

On the judging panel for the UK version - so far - are RuPaul himself and current Ireland’s Got Talent and US Drag Race judge Michelle Visage.

Visage has said numerous times she ‘wouldn’t rest’ until there was a UK version of the iconic show, which bagged RuPaul an Emmy award earlier on this year and has steadily grown in viewership.

RuPaul’s Drag Race sees a number of Drag Queens battle it out in various challenges and catwalk battles to be named the winner, with those in the final two each week strutting their stuff in a lip sync challenge in an effort to keep their place in the competition.

Drag Race US is currently on it’s 10th season. No premiere date has yet been set for the UK version.

Peaky Blinders cast actor Sam Claflin for new series FANS OF Peaky Blinders will be glued to the new series, as the Shelby family is in for a little shakeup.

The BBC have released a photo of brand new cast member Sam Clafin, who will feature in the fifth season of the show Netflix and BBC One. Clafin, who is known for his roles in the Hunger Games and Me Before You, isn’t the only new member of the cast for the next season however.

Joining him are Anna Taylor-Joy, Brian Gleeson. Neil Maskell, Kate Dickie, Cosmo Jarvis, Emmett J Scanlan, Elliot Cowan, Charlene McKenna, Andrew Koji, and Daryl McCormack.

The fifth season will be set in 1929, where the world is in upheaval from the stock market crash.

When Tommy Shelby is approached by a “charismatic politician (Claflin) with a bold vision for Britain,” it is clear his decisions will affect not just his own family, but the country as a whole.

Irish animated Christmas film showing on Netflix ANGELA’S CHRISTMAS, based on the popular children’s story from Irish author Frank McCourt, is now available on Netflix. The film created by Brown Bag Films, stars Ruth Negga in the role of Angela’s mother, and Lucy O’Connell as Angela. The film is written by Will Collins and Damien O’Connor and directed by Damien O’Connor.

Ellen McCourt, Frank’s widow, serves as an Executive Producer on the project and Malachy McCourt, Frank McCourt’s brother, an Irish-American actor, provides the narration. Set in Ireland in the early 1900s, it’s a heart-warming story about the power of family.

A sneak peak of some of the programming on Virgin Media One this Christmas, including Die Hard and a Dog Named Christmas

26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 December 2018

TRAVEL

OUR EUROPEAN FRIENDS WILL WOW WITH FESTIVE FUN

Make it Malta for Christmas THIS Christmas, why not do something a bit different and experience the festive season in magical Malta?

Famous as a sun-kissed island where several civilisations have fused into a memorable melting pot, Christmas is also a mustsee time to visit.

Just a short three-anda-half-hour direct flight from Dublin with Ryanair, the Mediterranean island of Malta offers an ideal short-haul destination for those who wish to spend Christmas in the sun but not too far away from home.

The Christmas season is celebrated to its fullest on the Maltese Islands with many Nativity scenes, crib displays, carol services and other events

organised throughout the islands.

As just one example of a great deal, with Budget Travel, you can depart on December 22 and stay at the 4* Gillieru Harbour, St Paul’s Bay (room only) for €389pp; prices include flights, accommodation, taxes and transfer.

In fact, with Malta and Valletta’s popularity at this time of year, many tour operators have a range of offers to whisk you there for an unforgettable Christmas break – not to mention some early New Year deals too, of course.

Fro m t h e s ta r t o f December, Valletta’s waterfront has been transformed into a Christmas village with a mix of festive decor, music and

Bustling Christmas markets, colourful lights – and one of Europe’s most fascinating cultures, surrounded by architectural jewels – it must be Malta!

food.

Free activities underneath the 35-foot Christmas tree will delights any visitor, with bands, choirs and cribs along the promenade.

Balloon modelling, face painting, crafts, games, colouring-ins, meet and greets with Santa Claus,

puppet shows and bouncy castles are all on offer as the islanders and guests celebrate.

Visitors to Malta this month have already been treated to all kinds of Christmas treats, from parades to choirs – but the Christmas celebrations aren’t the only reason to

visit Malta as soon as you can.

This December see Malta’s capital city Valletta celebrating its successful year as the 2018 European Capital of Culture.

If you’re lucky enough to get a last-minute deal, the Valletta 2018 Clos-

ing Spectacular will take place this weekend, December 15, and will feature a spectacular line-up of live shows and music.

You can join guests, visitors, artists, curators, residents, Tal-Kultura volunteers and the Valletta 2018 team as they

celebrate a fantastic year with a closing event that pays tribute to the creative diversity that exists on Malta, Europe and beyond.

Visit www.maltaireland.com for further information and details of events that taking place in Malta this December.

Find unforgettable Christmas markets in Germany Lucie Weidenauer gives readers her tips about some of the Christmas Markets back in her native Germany, where many of Europe’s best such markets are found ...

Berlin Of course, Berlin has many different Christmas markets, but the one at the Red Town hall (“Rotes Rathaus”) is very special.

It has a skating rink, where lots of children and adults have fun every year, but also visitors can find many street performers, puppeteers and sto-

rytellers, and a particularly wide variety of delicious food.

Dresden This historic town has one of the oldest markets in Germany, the “Striezelmarkt” (right).

It’s called this because of a very special biscuit, once called “Striezel” but today known as the “Stollen”.

Every year on the second Advent day, an enormous Stollen is baked and then cut in a traditional ceremony.

Essen The Essen Christmas Market is very beautiful due to a shining LED tree

Dresden’s Striezelmarkt

right in its centre of it – but it’s actually famous because it’s an international Christmas market.

People from more than 20 different countries, and from different regions all across Germany, to sell their food and wares. Here you can find every-

thing from amber jewellery to Peruvian Potatoes!

Munich The Christkindlmarkt (Christ Child Market) is the most popular Christmas Market in Munich.

A highlight at this market is the Krampus Parade, with many people dressing up as the Krampus – the scary partner of Saint Nikolaus, who scares or even punishes naughty children!

Heidelberg This city in the south of Germany is mostly known for its famous castle above the town, but also for the Old

Historic Heidelberg

Town, where every year one of Germany’s most beautiful Christmas Markets take place.

With more than 140 stalls, the take place in many parts of the historic town, so wherever you go in the old town, Christmas delights await.

13 December 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

FESTIVE CHEER AND OTHER GEAR

HOME & STYLE

Glorious gifts for gentlemen RACHEL D’ARCY LOOKING to do some last minute shopping for the man in your life?

Have no fear River Island is here.

The high street retailer have unveiled a whole ho-ho-host of Christmas gifts that are perfect for partners,

fathers, brothers, grandfathers and more at affordable prices, available online and in River Island stores now.

From chunky jumpers to leather bags, products on offer range from around €8 for cufflinks, up to €50 for a faux fur hoodie. They also have some slightly quirkier

gifts available, including a ‘Grow Your Own Festive Sprouts’ set and a game called ‘Weird Things Humans Search For’.

If you’re looking to nab any of these gifts, act quick, as they’ll most definitely begin to fly off shelves as we approach the most Wonderful Time of the Year!

RIVER ISLAND Monogram flight bag, €25 RIVER ISLAND Red chunky knit cable knit jumper, €40

All ll of these style buys are available in store now from PEP&CO at Dealz stores nationwide

RIVER ISLAND Grow your Own Festive Sprouts set, €5

RIVER ISLAND Light brown gold tone face watch , €40

pep and christmas DEALZ’S own clothing brand PEP&CO have unveiled their winter collection, with a whole host of styles perfect for the Christmas season. From glitz and glam jumpsuits for work nights out, to matching pyjamas to all the family, there’s something for everyone in the family at a great price point.

Prices at PEP&CO range from as little as €2.50 for cool kid’s tshirts, right up to €32.50 for a parka, available for both men and women. PEP&CO is available at selected Dealz stores across Dublin, with more information available on Dealz’s website at dealz.ie.

Glowing like a (green) angel RIVER ISLAND White Christmas shower kit, €20

RIVER ISLAND Black faux fur zip front hoodie, €87

RIVER ISLAND Burgundy RI monogram belt, €17

THE EXPERTS at Green Angel have been creating exclusive seaweed and essential oil based skincare, spa and haircare products by hand in Ireland since 2005.

Green Angel candles (RRP €19.95) are hand poured in Ireland and are made from 100% soy, allowing for a cleaner burn than paraffin wax, while all feature a natural cotton wick. With no harsh chemicals or artificial colours they have an average burn time of 55 hours.

There’s also a matching allnatural diffuser (RRP €29.95). An flame free option, Green Angel diffusers use natural rattan reeds and emit a fragrance that will last for up to three months.

The Green Angel range includes two stunning scents: Lemongrass & Lime and White Linen.

The range is available at all good pharmacies and lifestyle shops across Dublin.

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13 December 2018

MOTORS

WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF TRANSPORT

Marvellous MX-5 Mazda brings the fun

Some eye-catching stylings are the icing on a cake stuffed with impressive features

DECLAN GLYNN

MAZDA has launched a brand-new coupe-cumcabriolet derivative of its iconic sports car, the MX-5.

Called the MX-5 RF (Retractable Fastback), it is essentially an MX-5 with an electrically folding hardtop.

The idea to introduce the RF was in the plan from the very beginning, thanks in no small part to the fact that the previous-generation MX-5 Roadster Coupe accounted for almost 80% of sales.

It will come as no surprise to learn that the electrically folding hardtop on the new MX-5 RF is the car’s party piece.

When in place, it makes the car look like a coupe, but 13 seconds later the car transforms into a beautifully proportioned opentop sports car.

The Mazda MX-5 RF enhances the pure joy of driving with a superior power-to-weight ratio, rear-wheel drive and more comfort and technology than ever before.

Mazda’s signature KODO (Soul of Motion) design gives the new Mazda MX-5 RF a more aggressive and sculptured look, while retaining the classic coupe cues of a sleek bonnet, setback seating and a short rear overhang.

The all-new Mazda MX-5 RF has perfect 50:50 weight balance and a lower centre of gravity, giving it the advantage of responding precisely as the driver intends.

Mazda’s MX-5 is the world’s best-selling twoseat sports car, and it has earned iconic status in its 29-year history.

The new MX-5 RF is available with a choice of two SKYACTIV-G petrol engines – a 1.5-litre with 131bhp, and a 2.0-litre with 160bhp.

Chris Rea’s still got the best track for Christmas drivers IF YOU’VE already had more festive songs than you can take and are ready to go Christmas crackers at the merest tinkle of a sleigh bell – buckle up, as here comes a list of drivers’ favourite Christmas songs that they like to listen to as they go-ho-ho home at this time of year.

Motorcheck surveyed 1,000 drivers across Ireland to check out what Christmas choons they like the most, with few surprises revealed in the top favourites.

Chris Rea is still best for driving home for Christ-

Two trim levels are available – a standard RF and an RF GT. The RF model (only available with the 1.5-litre engine) is well equipped, with features including 16” alloy wheels, LED headlights, automatic air-conditioning, 7” touchscreen and a digital radio with six speakers.

You’ll also get Bluetooth, USB & AUX ports, multimedia commander, electric windows, dynamic stability control, front and side airbags, immobilizer, alarm and cruise control features.

Upgrade to the RF GT in 1.5-litre engine guise and you will also get adaptive front headlights, leather interior, and a lane-departure warning system.

That’s topped off with smart-key entry, rear parking sensors, heated seats, 16” Gun-Metal alloy wheels and a BOSE sound system with nine speakers.

And, on top of all this, if you opt for the RF GT

mas, Mariah’s inimitable yelping remains a hit with many, and good ol’ Shakey is still rockin’ around that tree, with a smattering of usual suspects also filling out the rest of the drivers’ favourites to listen to.

Alas, Gazette Motoring’s personal favourite (Elmo & Patsy’s 1978 classic, Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer) failed to make the cut. Better luck next year, Elmo & Patsy ...

The Mazda MX-5 RF has an undeniable wow factor, and its features also wow

with the 2.0-litre engine, you will also get Bilstein sports suspension, a strut tower bar, limited slip differential, body-coloured door mirrors and 17” alloy wheels!

On test this week was a Mazda MX-5 RF GT 2.0litre SKYACTIV-G, finished in stunning Soul Red metallic paintwork.

T h i s S KYAC T I V- G engine is punchy, sounds great and is well matched to the chassis.

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard and there is no automatic gear-

FACT BOX

1) Stunning hard-top retractable fastback 2) Excellent power-to-weight ratio 3) Latest SKYACTIV-G technology 4) 2 engines and 2 trim levels 5) Priced from €31,495 (ex-works)

box option available.

Annual road tax for the new MX-5 RF 1.5-litre is €390, while the 2.0-litre commands annual road tax of €570.

Fuel consumption as low as 6.1l/100km is possible on a combined driving cycle for the 1.5-litre engine, while this figure rises to 6.9l/100km for the 2.0-litre engine.

The 0-100km/h sprint can be completed in 8.6-seconds with the 1.5litre engine and in just 7.4-seconds in 2.0-litre guise.

Slim LED headlights and a gaping front grille give the MX-5 RF a slightly more aggressive character than its Roadster Coupe predecessor.

Whether the hard-top is up or down, the MX-5 RF has a classic silhouette, with the cockpit located

towards the rear of the car and a long bonnet stretching out in front.

The new Mazda MX-5 RF’s dash is dominated by an iPad-like, 7” touchscreen, controlled through a rotary dial on the centre console.

Underneath that there are three circular dials for the climate control. The instrument panel and air vents are designed to be perfectly symmetrical around the driver, for a cockpit-style feel.

Overall, the new MX-5 RF’s cabin is a pleasant place to spend hours of driving fun.

With prices starting at just €31,495 (ex-works) the new Mazda MX-5 RF provides drivers with an excellent fun-to-value ratio.

The RF GT 2.0-litre model on test is priced at €37,745.

Brexit, Sterling’s weakness affect new car registrations OFFICIAL statistics released on December 3 by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (S.I.M.I.) show that the total new car registrations for the month of November were down 5.72% (643) when compared to November 2017 (682).

Registrations this year are down 4.4% (125,415) on the same period last year (131,173), with some interesting figures revealed in the breakdowns of 2018 registrations, to date, as follows.

New light commercial vehicle registrations (LCV) have slightly decreased – some 1.55% (572) on November 2017 (581), although up 5.7% (25,340) this year.

New heavy commercial vehicles (HGV) have also seen a decrease of 38% for the month of November (80) when compared to the same month last year (129), although up 2.5% (2,538) this year.

Imported used cars have shown an increase 1.44% for November (8,732) when compared to November 2017 (8,608), while so far this year’s figure is 8.21% (95,148) ahead of 2017 (87,928).

Commenting on the figures, Alan Nolan, SIMI director genera, said: “As we approach the end of 2018 new vehicle registrations are in line with Industry projections. Our industry has experienced a decline in new car registrations some eight months out of 11 so far in 2018, and December will no doubt see a further fallback in new car registrations.

“The impact of Brexit and Sterling’s weakness continues to drive used car imports to a level where the volume is impacting on the new car market.

“This challenging and uncertain trading environment is set to continue into 2019,” he said.

13 December 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!

CODEWORDS

You could advertise here

PUZZLES

SUDOKU EASY

MODERATE

SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK FOR THE SOLUTIONS TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLES

WORD SEARCH

HOW TO SOLVE Codewords are like crossword puzzles - but have no clues! Instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle.

All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number!

To start you off, we reveal the codes for two or three letters.

As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid.

Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

FIND THE HIDDEN WORDS banana split blancmange cheesecake creme brulee crepe custard Eton mess fruit salad pavlova jelly plum duff

rice pudding roly-poly sundae tiramisu trifle yogurt sorbet shortcake souffle mousse

To advertise here please contact sales@dublingazette.com or call 01 6010240

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 13 December 2018

DUBLINGAZETTECLASSIFIEDS  WEST ROOFING

ALARMS

ROOFING

DVD TRANSFERS

INSURANCE CLAIMS

RECRUITMENT

LOCALMATTERS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZET TE CALL 60 10 240

TV SERVICES

13 December 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 31

WEST  DUBLINGAZETTECLASSIFIEDS WINDOWS

SUPPORT

LOCAL BUSINESS



SHOP LOCALLY

CONTACT RACHEL HALL AT RHALL@DUBLINGAZETTE.COM OR ON 60 10 240 GOT A STORY? CALL THE GAZETTE ON

60 10 240

Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240

32 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 13 December 2018

13 December 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 33

HURLING P36

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

USHERING IN NEW ERA: SNOOKER: FRESH from running Ron-

nie O’Sullivan extremely close at the UK Championship, Ken Doherty described seeing “green shoots of progress” last week, but also admitted he’s not quite sure how much longer he’ll remain on snooker’s full tour. His focus switches to the Masters tour and a return to Goff’s where his love for the sport developed no end.



GAZETTE

SOCCER P35

PAGE 34

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS BASKETBALL | REIGNING CHAMPS INTO NATIONAL CUP SEMI-FINALS

DCU show no Mercy to Glanmire  sport@dublingazette.com

DCU Mercy advanced to the semifinal of the ladies Hula Hoops National Basketball Cup with a comprehensive victory over UCC Glanmire over the weekend, grabbing a 77-40 point victory in second consecutive win over the Cork side.

The reigning champions stormed out of the blocks and put themselves hugely in control in the first quarter, with Sarah Woods, Samantha Hyslip and Aine McDonnell all on form as DCU established a domineering 27-6 lead.

Glanmire did hit back slightly, pulling DCU back by a couple of points to 43-24 by halftime after a much improved second quarter, but the Cork side could only hit four points in the third quarter as DCU upped their game and put the contest to bed early.

Following the game, DCU coach Mark Ingle said “in the cup it’s just about getting through, whether it’s by

one point or ten points, but I think in the first quarter we played exceptional basketball and really moved the ball well.

“Glanmire, I think they were chasing the game after that. They are a young team but I think we’re young enough as well. We’re young enough with a lot of experience, they have a lot of basketball in them.

“Our defence was good as well,” the coach added. “I think under ten points for that first quarter. They’re the sort of team that come back at you with runs.

We expected, and prepared like we’d lost by 20 last week. We had a good win over them last week, and a good win this week. We’re looking forward to the challenge of Father Matthews next week [in the league] and Liffey in the semi finals.”

As Ingle said, DCU will face Courtyard Liffey Celtics in the semifinal in January, after their rivals overcame Maxol WIT Wildcards 68-56 in a far tighter contest, to continue a promis-

DCU Saints Sarah Woods was in super form. Picture: Eoin Noonan/Sportsfile

ing unbeaten early season.

The pair will be joined in the last four by an all Cork other half of the draw, in which Singleton SuperValu Brunell and Fr Mathews face off in the New Year.

In the men’s Super League, C & S Neptune made it four wins on the bounce, winning away to Griffith College Swords Thunder 84-92.

Lehmon Colbert, Darragh O’Sullivan and Cian Heaphy combined for 71 of the total 92 points scored on the evening.

Templeogue had the better of Moycullen, DCU Saints pipped Keane’s SuperValu Killorglin in a nail-biter in Dublin, while Pyrobel Killester got the better of UCC Demons at the IWA in Clontarf.

SPORT CONTACT INFO SPORTS EDITOR: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@dublingazette.com Phone: 01 601 0240

34 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 13 December 2018

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

1

BALLYBODEN ST. ENDA’S THE Senior hurlers added a League title to their Championship success. They overcame Na Fianna 1-14 to 1-10. Congrats to all our management and players for an amazing year.

Congratulations to our Minor camogie girls on their Division 1 Championship Final win over Kilmacud Crokes.

Well done to our U15A Hurlers on their emphatic League win v County Champions Na Fianna, securing runners up position in Division One The 50th year 2019 Calendar has arrived at the club..an unbelievable production of photos and history of the last 50 years for €5.

Boden News time - Deadline is the 14th Dec. Send all your reports and info to sineadryanmedia@gmail.com

FAUGHS

THERE was only one game this weekend and what a game it was with our Minor D Camogie team taking on Na Fianna in the Final in Abbotstown and following a slow start came storming back to take the honours convincingly. Player of the Match Ciara O’Brien, along with both Campbell sisters Ciara & Aoife really pushed the girls on! Well done to girls and management, Roll on the New Year.

Our Christmas Carol Evening is taking place on Thursday 20th December @ 7:30pm in the Members Bar.

SNOOKER: RANELAGH ACE TO DECIDE NEXT STEP SOON

Doherty ushers in Masters at Goff’s

Former world snooker champion set to return to Goffs in the New Year for Irish Masters Snooker Championships, embracing a venue that holds a very special place in developing his love of the game

 JAMES HENDICOTT

sport@dublingazette.com

Along with our fantastic, (multi-talented) juvenile players we have the Faughs Trad Band accompanying the musiciansPlayer this year. ofI the Match personally can’t wait! Katie Fun table quizMurray every and Captain Sarah Wednesday night.

No cover Murphy after charge, just come along and Clontarf’s Ladies IFC win.. enjoy.

Picture: GAApics.

Club Lotto – Jackpot com €7,300. Numbers were 1, 4, 17 & 26. No Winner, One ‘Match 3’ Winner – Patrick Lynch. Next week’s jackpot will be €7,400. Turkey Voucher winners were Seamus O’Connor & Gabrielle McGovern.

ROUND TOWER CLONDALKIN

FRESH from running Ronnie O’Sullivan extremely close at the UK Championship, Ken Doherty described seeing “green shoots of progress” last week, but also admitted he’s not quite sure how much longer he’ll remain on snooker’s full tour.

Former World Snooker Champion Doherty, from Ranelagh, came within a couple of shots of defeating the supremely talented world number three in York.

Nonetheless, he’ll wait until the end of the year to make a decision on whether he wants to continue on the tour, and is looking forward to playing the masters games that now lie ahead of him.

Those include a return to County Kildare’s Goffs on Janu-

ary 5 and 6 where Doherty worked as an usher as a teenager and watched several of his heroes.

“It’s nostalgic for me, yeah, it’s a special place,” Doherty told the Dublin Gazette of the venue.

“I didn’t do much work when I was there,” he jokes. “I was meant to be showing people to their seats but I usually just watched the games. I met Alex Higgins for the first time, one of my heroes.

“I was getting his drinks and he told me if he asked for an orange juice, that meant a vodka and orange juice, and that if he asked for a vodka and orange juice, that meant a double.”

Doherty’s enthusiasm for the masters tour is immediately evident. “It’s great fun,” he says, “Like a breath of fresh air. You never lose that competitive spir-

it, and people like Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry, we still get a kick out of playing. It’s really well supported, and we get to play at places like The Crucible,

“

You never lose that competitive spirit; people like Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry, we still get a kick out of playing

HARD luck to our Under 21 Footballers who were narrowly beaten in the Final by 2-8 to 2-6.

Jim Gavin will draw the tickets for our Christmas Draw 2018 in our clubhouse on Monday 17th.

Tickets are now available for our Garth Brooks tribute night on St Stephen’s Night in the club at 9pm. Purchase your ticket from the bar or by contacting Phil at 087 2323521 or Linda at 086 8306740.

Round Tower Lotto 3rd December 2018. Jackpot: €6,300. Numbers drawn: 1,7,10,16,bonus ball 11. No overall winner and no bonus ball winner. 3 x €100 winners: Tony Kenny, Tony & Chloe, Enda Fitzpatrick. 3 x €50 vouchers: Paul Ryan, S Courtney, Derek Verso. During the month of December our Lotto will feature three extra prizes of €50. You can sign up and play the Lotto online via our website for as little as €2 per week.

Our bingo jackpot this week is €1,000 for a full house if called within 45 numbers. Otherwise €20 for a full house. First call at 8.30pm every Tuesday.

ST. ANNES CONGRATS to Shona McNally who has been names on the Junior Dub Stars team Thanks to Lee Moroney of Coach Approach & Jog for his sponsorship of the U13 Boys Football team for 2019.

Great to see all the teams out in force for the Juvenile

Presentations. Thanks to all involved in organising.

LOTTO 07/12/18 No’s 2, 5,8. Jackpot €2000. No Winner. 5 X €100 Winners: Carol Burnett, Patricia O’Brien, Joanne O’Neill, Anne & Andrew Doyle, Thomas Boxwell. Lucky Number 18.

”

too. It’ll only grow, especially as people like Joe Swail and James Wattana come on board in the

Ken Doherty says he can still turn it on against the big guns like Ronnie O’Sullivan

next few years.”

Doherty’s game, he says, is not quite what it once was, but he has his days. “I can still do it on a good day, occasionally, as I think the game with Ronnie showed,” he says. “I think 1997 Ken could probably give 2018 Ken a head start of about 14, 18 points. On my day, though, I still have it, and I might cause a big upset.”

O’Sullivan’s win was followed by a debate over the format of the snooker championship, which O’Sullivan feels is too demanding. Doherty emphatically disagrees. “You don’t have to play every tournament, it’s not that tough,” the Dubliner says.

“You only have to play maybe ten tournaments in a year. There were some good ideas in there.

You could look at averaging out the best ten tournaments, for example, but you either want to play or you don’t.”

While perhaps not at the highest level for much longer, Doherty quite definitely still wants to play. We take a moment to slip into nostalgia, and he recalls his 1997 World Snooker Championship with obvious enthusiasm.

“There was no crime in Dublin for three hours,” he laughs. “It was the first time that RTE had televised the snooker and half the country didn’t have the BBC back then. I got an open top bus tour when I got back to the city, which was something else.”

“I was lucky, as I grew up next to Jason’s in Ranelagh, and I used to go in and play until my tea was ready as a kid. Sometimes I’d go back afterwards.

Now I have my own little hall in Terenure, with a few tables.”

It just might be nearing its top-tier conclusion, but for Doherty, it’s been quite the ride.

The Irish Masters Snooker Championships takes place at Goffs in Kill, County Kildare on January 5 and 6.

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

13 December 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 35

SOCCER: UNITED CLOSING IN ON FIRST PLACE IN SENIOR 1B

LOI SHORTS

UCD Wave goodbye DLR Waves will once again contest the Women’s National League after UCD withdrew support for the club after four-and-a-half years.

Waves, who are supported by Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council, will re-enter the league in 2019 after the license was transferred to a South Dublin consortium.

Former Bray Wanderers caretaker manager, and longtime St Joseph’s Boys coach, Graham Kelly has been announced as manager in place of Noel Kealy.

BOHS NEW SIGNINGS Lucan United celebrate one of their goals last weekend. Picture: Stuart Bould

Lucan aim to keep gang in place for title charge LSL SUNDAY SENIOR 1A Lucan United Inchicore Athletic  DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

3 1

ALL Lucan United manager John Doyle wants for Christmas is to keep his squad together as their blistering start to the LSL Sunday Senior 1A season attracts interest from higher up.

Clubs from the top two divisions and even the League of Ireland are looking at players from the west Dublin club, who have lost just once all season and are into the last 16 of the FAI Intermediate Cup. Sunday’s 3-1 win over Inchicore Athletic leaves Lucan a point behind leaders Kilnamanagh but, crucially, with three games in hand going into the Christmas break.

Bar a slip-up against fellow challengers Dublin University in September, Lucan have been virtually flawless in the league and look virtually certain to

take pole position in the new year.

The value of a good squad was made clear as a much-changed Lucan side quickly established control and gave Doyle the right sort of selection headache going into the second half of the season.

Goals from Andrew Bracken, Bobby Mazono and Mick McLoughlin saw the home side to victory at Celbridge Park, with Daniel Geraghty managing one in response for Inchicore.

The visitors started strongly but Lucan took the lead midway through the half when midfielder Bracken latched onto a through ball and curled the ball into the net with the outside of his boot.

Former Cabinteely striker Mazono doubled the advantage shortly afterwards when he seized on a miskick from keeper Patrick Reilly and finished calmly into the corner.

The hosts should have gone into the break three

to the good after Mizono was tripped in the box, but Tayem Mercer ballooned the resulting penalty kick over the bar.

And Lucan could have been made pay for their wastefulness in front of goal when Geraghty halved the deficit after the break for Inchicore but they pushed on and made the game safe late on.

Mazono was again bowled over in the box and McLoughlin, a summer recruit from Firhouse Clover, buried it from 12 yards.

“It was a tough game for us,” Doyle told the Dublin Gazette.

“We had a few lads who came in that in the team in a few weeks, so there were five or six on the pitch who hadn’t played much.

“They tired a little bit in the second half but overall they did really well. It just goes to show having a good squad is important.

“There are players sitting on the bench knowing they could walk into other teams. We con-

vinced them they’re in the right place and they’re committed.

“They proved that when they came in and played really well.

“When the other lads come back they’re going to have to sit on the bench to get their places back.”

Doyle admits he is looking at potential new recruits in January, but only if his star performers are picked off by clubs in higher leagues.

“Whether one goes or two go, I don’t know. I’m hoping they won’t and I

don’t think they will, but you never know.

“So I’m talking to one or two lads.

“We’ve a good squad and a good dressing room, so anybody coming into the squad has to fit into that. It’s not enough being a good player – you have to fit into the group.

“We’ve got a squad of 18 now, which is about what you need. If you go higher, it’s hard to keep them all happy.

“If you go lower, you get a few injuries and you’re struggling.”

Lucan on the attack against Inchicore. Picture: Stuart Bould

FORMER Aston Villa defender James Finnerty and ex-Brighton midfielder Daniel Mandroiu will line out for Bohemians next year as Keith Long continues rebuilding at Dalymount Park.

Bohs were hit by a spate of departures at season’s end, not least the forced retirement of goalkeeper Shane Supple due to a hip injury.

The Phibsboro club have brought in goalkeeper Niall Corbet in Supple’s place, while versatile defender Michael Barker has arrived from St Patrick’s Athletic.

“There is a big void to fill with Shane Supple retiring, but Niall and James Talbot are two excellent keepers who I believe will push one another,” said Long.

Defender Paddy Kirk, winger Kevin Devaney and striker Ryan Swan have also put pen to paper on new deals as Long’s squad swells to 20 ahead of the new season.

That includes full-back Andy Lyons, who has been on trial with Wolverhampton Wanderers, but not striker Ali Reghba, who may sign back in spite of Premier League interest.

Byrne swaps Kilmarnock for Rovers SHAMROCK ROVERS pulled off the highest-profile transfer of the winter with the addition of former Manchester City and Ireland under-21 midfielder Jack Byrne.

The 22-year-old, who was called up to the Irish senior squad as recently as 2016, arrives after leaving Kilmarnock by mutual consent.

Playmaker Byrne was part of the Man City side that reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Youth League in 201314, and scored six goals in eight games the following season.

The Dubliner spent a successful year on loan with Cambuur in the Dutch Eredivisie, but after another loan with Blackburn Rovers he joined Wigan Athletic in 2017.

Short spells with Wigan, Oldham Athletic and Kilmarnock didn’t work out, and the former St Kevin’s Boys schoolboy made the decision to return home.

“When the opportunity came to sign for Shamrock Rovers I snapped the hand off,” Byrne said.

36 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 13 December 2018

CLUB NOTES

LUCAN LUCAN SARSFIELDS SARSFIELDS

ROUND

2

WELL done to Minor A Camogie who won the Shield. Well done also to Minor Hurlers who secured the league title. A nice way for the year to finish. A Massive thanks and well done to our Healthy Club gang who received stellar recognition from the Camogie Association for all their hard work in bringing a healthier lifestyle to Lucan Sarsfields. A very dedicated group and worthy recipients for their outstanding work.

The Christmas Draw tickets are out–All households/registered families should have received one book (10 tickets) to sell, if everyone makes a big effort just to sell one book this will be a HUGE success. It is a vital fundraiser for the club to ensure we can keep supporting our 140+ teams’ activities. There will be an opportunity to sell tickets in SuperValu in the coming period. We do ask Mentors to remind parents and members, players and supporters to return tickets ASAP. We wished Johnny well last week as he closed his long chapter with the Dubs, and we hope we get plenty of the benefits of that decision and he stays fit and healthy on the field longer..and can bring more success to Lucan.

Lotto There was no winner of the lotto on the 6 th December; Numbers were 2, 10, 27 and 28. Next weeks’ jackpot €7,400, draw will be managed by Shay Hurson and is sponsored by Dual printing.

Lucky Dips Winners: Paul Benson, Patty Brady, Gabriel Holohan, Finn Holland, Stapleton Clan. Turkey Winners: Cathy+Willie O’Neill, Anna Nolan, Joe Donnelly, Eamonn Maloney, Linda Gray. Play Online here, Or Tickets can be purchased at the Club, or in Kenny’s Vesey Arms.

Sars Stars – ‘GAA for All’ Tuesdays in Scoil Mhuire, Airlie Heights, all welcome, 5pm-5:45pm.

CÚPLA FOCAL’ Mondays, 8pm to 9pm. BINGO: Wednesdays 8:30pm.

Club Shop open Saturdays 9:30am to 1pm.

ST. PAT’S PALMERSTOWN Palmerstown House takes place on Saturday OUR appreciation event for club mentor and Lip Sync participants in the Palmerstown House on Friday night was a great success.

Thank you all who came along.

Hard luck to the minor camogie team who lost out to Commercials in their semi-final.

The hurling and camogie skills sessions are finished now for this year. The U11 and U12 girls had their Christmas outings over the weekend with a great time had by all.

The Christmas Draw in association with the

23 December. Tickets available in the Palmerstown House.

The numbers in the Lotto draw were 5, 10, 20 and 23. There was no jackpot winner. We had one match 3 winner – Mena McDermott who won €200.

The jackpot next week will be €7,600. The draw takes place on Sunday night in the Palmerstown House at 10pm. Tickets available online.

HURLING: BASQUEL HITS KEY GOAL IN AHL1 WIN

Ballyboden St Enda’s celebrate their AFL1 final success. Picture: John Kirwan

Boden finish on a high AHL DIVISION ONE FINAL

Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-14 Na Fianna 1-10  sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN senior Colm Basquel bagged a key firsthalf goal as Ballyboden St Enda’s retained their Adult Hurling League Division One title with a win over 14-man Na Fianna at O’Toole Park on Sunday.

It completed an impressive double for Joe Fortune’s men in 2018, following their success over southside rivals Kilmacud Crokes in October’s county final replay in Parnell Park.

Basquel’s 18th-minute finish offered ‘Boden significant breathing space throughout, and Paul Ryan’s five-point haul off the bench was a crucial factor in keeping their Glasnevin counterparts at bay.

After securing the toptier crown at the expense of St Brigid’s 12 months ago, Boden safely advanced to another showpiece with 11 wins and one defeat to their name.

Their sole reversal came at the hands of Na Fianna on May 30, when their well-drilled opponents had five points to spare (3-13 to 2-11) at St Mobhi Road.

In comparison to Boden, who had to work their way through a hectic schedule in recent weeks, Na Fianna were perhaps short of competitive match practice.

They faced a stiff breeze during the opening period and didn’t open their account until the 14th-minute, with Boden already five points up.

Paul Doherty broke the deadlock before the elusive Basquel split the posts at a right-hand angle to offer

PITCH OPENING

KH open top class new pitch THE KING’S Hospital School, Palmerstown, recently opened its second all-weather hockey pitch. To mark the occasion, past pupils and Irish international hockey players, Pamela Smithwick and Alan Giles attended a ceremony to cut the ribbon and officially open the pitch. It was also attended by members of the Board of Governors, Parents, Students and Staff.

his side early leeway, and Doherty added two more early scores.

Na Fianna finally responded with a Gavin King free, before Basquel rattled the back of Jonathan Treacy’s net to stretch their cushion to six points.

Na Fianna did gain some degree of solace in the shape of King and Donal Burke points, but they remained five points in arrears (1-6 to 0-4).

It has been a collective squad effort for Ballyboden this year, epitomised by the introduction of Conor McCormack and Ryan either side of the interval.

Seconds after his introduction in the 33rd minute, Ryan converted a free on the left-hand touchline, and Durkin’s second of the day followed.

Na Fianna suffered a

hammer blow when central attacker Tomas Watters received his marching orders for an off-the-ball incident involving his direct marker Dean Curran.

Na Fianna dealt admirably with their numerical deficiency, and King knocked over a brace of frees - including one from his own 65-metre line, and they earned a potential lifeline on 58 minutes.

Treacy stepped off his line to size up a goal-scoring opportunity at the far end. Via a deflection, he fired past Gary Maguire to cut the deficit down to four.

Another inspirational Kelly single kept Boden on tenterhooks, but Ryan displayed his true class with an ‘over the shoulder’ strike before finding the target again from the next attack as Boden held out.

13 December 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 37

HURLING: LUCAN STAR MCCAFFREY PLAYED FOR OVER A DECADE FOR THE DUBS

Leinster winning skipper calls time on inter-county career  CÓILÍN DUFFY

sport@dublingazette.com

LUCAN’s Johnny McCaffrey has called time on a steller inter-county hurling career with Dublin, spanning over a decade, in which he was a strong part of a golden era for hurling in the capital with Minor, Under 21 and Senior successes.

The 31-year old confirmed on Thursday that he wouldn’t be continuing with Dublin for 2019, thus ending a brilliant career which saw him help Dublin to a Leinster Senior title, a Division 1 League success and two Walsh Cup titles.

The talented midfielder also had a glorious career at Underage level with Dublin, picking up Leinster titles at Minor and Under 21 levels.

“I would like to announce that I am retiring from the Dublin senior hurling team,” McCaffrey said in a statement.

“I feel very fortunate and lucky to have represented Dublin since I was 13 making my senior debut in 2006. I would like to thank Tommy Naughton for giving me my debut.

“I would like to thank Anthony Daly and his management team for giving me the massive honour of captaining my county for 4 years, making history along the way. We in Dublin hurling owe a lot to Dalo for getting us back competing at the top table. I would also like to thank Pat Gilroy and his management team for the work they did over the last 12months in getting Dublin back on track.

“I was very lucky to have played with some of the best hurlers that Dublin has ever produced.

I made some great friends, won silverware and created memories that will last us a lifetime.

“I would like to thank my club Lucan Sarsfields for supporting me through my inter county career and look forward to focusing my full energy on the club from now on.

“I would like to thank my family especially my parents Sandra and Sean and brother Matthew.

“Without their support and encouragement

over the years through good times and bad none of this would have been possible. Also a special mention to my Nan who was my no1 supporter. I want to thank my wife Paula Jean for her unwavering support and understanding in helping me be the best player I can be.

“Finally I want to wish Mattie his management and all the players the very best for the 2019 season. I look forward to supporting you all the way. Cheers Johnny. Up the dubs.”

Dublin GAA paid tribute to Johnny for his dedication and committment to Dublin on and off the pitch over the years.

“Everyone in the Dublin County Board would like to sincerely thank Johnny for his loyal service & hard-work in the name of Dublin GAA, and we wish him all the best for the future.

UpThe Dubs!”

Lucan Sarsfields also wished Johnny well in his inter-county retirement.

“Lucan Sarsfields GAA Club are very proud of Johnny, and we want acknowledge his remarkable inter-county career, he has been a shining light for the club over those remarkable ten years,” they said.

“He was our GPO for a number of years and had so much time for the children of the club and inspired so many across the club and continues to do so. As Dublin captain, he lifted three Leinster titles (Minor, U21, Senior) the most historic in 2013 when he captained the Dublin Senior Hurling to the title after a 52 year gap. Bringing the Cup back to Lucan Sarsfields was a marvellous occasion for us and will always be remembered.

Lucan Sarsfields added, “While his inter county career is coming to an end, he continues to be a great asset to our club, and we hope he enjoys more success with us. He continues to bring so much to the club not just on the hurling field but all across the club, helping with juvenile teams training, offering support and guidance to coaches and sometimes even playing some football! “ A true leader.”

Johnny McCaffrey was a real leader for Dublin as they soared to new heights, bridging long gaps to win Leinster and league silverware with McCaffrey as captain.

Picture: SPORTSFILE

Galvin almost inspires remarkable Towers comeback UNDER-21 C FOOTBALL FINAL Erin’s Isle Round Tower, Clondalkin  MICK MCGLYNN sport@dublingazette.com

2-8 2-6

ROUND Tower, Clondalkin’s Under-21 footballer’s valiant second-half comeback fell agonisingly short at a blustery and wet Abbotstown on Saturday afternoon to Erin’s Isle.

The hoops did start well with Thomas Galvin dispatching a free after Sean Casey was pulled to the ground to start the scoring. But Isles responded quickly, picking off a couple of scores before Daragh Martin struck powerfully to the roof of the net, leaving keeper Oisin Douglas with no chance.

The Finglas men were four clear on the 23 min-

ute mark – 1-3 to 0-1 – when a tonic arrived by way of an Alex O’Neill goal.

Darren Gilligan and Eoghan Halpin combined on the 40 and Kevin McGibney struck for a point from the left. His effort came down off the post and Casey did excellent to control before feeding to O’Neill who finished to the net. Isles, though, rallied and went in at the break 1-5 to 1-1 ahead.

Towers needed a quick start to the second half but instead it went the way of the visitors with Conor Berrigan scoring the Finglas club’s second goal almost immediately from the kick-off.

Towers had to chip away at the lead and got started on the task from a free which Galvin converted. Isle’s notched another two and it could have been worse when the left half forward struck for the top corner but Douglas again brilliantly

palmed the strike away.

But the Clondalkin men kept plugging away, going close a couple of times with Galvin scoring his third point. He also banged home a superb goal with 17 minutes to go, reducing the deficit to four points.

He added another trio of points with his sixth

point was a beauty, clearing the bar from the 40, getting them within two points.

The ultimate turnaround almost arrived two minutes later when Adam Behan’s pass across was fielded by Casey and he poked towards goal but a last ditch block denied a goal, leaving them two points shy.

38 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 13 December 2018