Dublin Gazette: West Edition

DublinGazette FEB 27 - MAR 4, 2020

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REEL-Y GOOD NEWS

SPORT SOCCER:

Peamount United make the signing of the off-season as the Women’s National League nears.

SEE P32

A PHYSIOTHERAPIST from Lucan whose groundbreaking work helps patients get fit after difficult cancer treatments was a winner at the recent Irish Cancer Society Research Awards.

Dr Grainne Sheill, who is a chartered physiotherapist at St James’s Hospital, has focused her research on helping patients with complex and advanced forms of cancer to recover physically after their cancer has been treated.

SEE PAGE 3

FRESH International Film Festival 2020 has announced that it will hold the Dublin heats of Ireland’s Young Filmmakers of the Year 2020 on Wednesday, March 4 at the Lighthouse Cinema in Market Square, Smithfield.

This year’s festival saw a record number of entries, with young filmmakers from all across Dublin set to showcase their creative talents in the city centre.

Picture: Dermot Culhane

polska gazeta READ ALL ABOUT AN INNOVATIVE SUMMIT IN WARSAW PAGE 22

‘Row over a parking space’ led to stabbing PADRAIG CONLON

Find us on Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

IT IS believed that a row over a parking space led a woman to fatally stab a man she did not know.

Gareth Kelly, a 39-year-old man originally from Donomore Park, Killinarden, lost his life after being stabbed multiple times at Brownsbarn Wood Estate in Kingswood on

Tuesday morning.

A mother of three was arrested close to the crime scene on suspicion of murder, and spent most of her period in custody on Tuesday being mentally and physically examined by doctors.

Gardai believe the woman came out of her home and stabbed Mr Kelly to death just before 7am as he attempted to get his

car started.

He did not live on the estate, which is in a small cul de sac, but was staying with his partner and had parked his car on the street overnight.

According to gardai, he had walked into the housing estate to collect his car in order to go to work.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 2

ISPCA shocked by sulky racing

THE ISPCA says it was left “shocked and appalled” by a video circulated on social media last week showing a sulky road race taking place on the N7 in Citywest).

In the footage, a convoy of horses and vehicles were recorded racing down one of the city’s busiest local roads.

Footage taken from an overhead bridge near shows the race being run between SEE PAGE 4 many cars.

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 27 February 2020

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ATTACKED AS HE ATTEMPTED TO JUMP-START CAR

Dublin man ‘knifed to death over parking space’, gardai believe

Gareth Kelly

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

As Mr Kelly’s ca r wouldn’t start, he had opened the bonnet and

was using jump leads to try and get the engine going when he was stabbed at least three times in the chest.

He then collapsed and died on the street between two cars. His body was found lying between his car and another vehicle.

The woman is then thought to have gone back inside her home, where her children and husband were.

When gardai called to the house, it is believed the woman’s husband didn’t know what had just happened out on the street.

The woman, aged in her 30s, was arrested and taken to Clondalkin Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. There was no known relationship between the arrested woman and the dead man.

The Garda Technical Bureau conducted a detailed examination at the scene.

Following inquiries with local residents, gardai believe there had been several issues in the past with people parking in the space where Mr Kelly had left his car.

His body remained at the scene for several hours on Tuesday morning before it was removed to Dublin City Morgue.

A post-mortem was carried out on Wednesday morning by Acting State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan.

A Garda spokesperson told Dublin Gazette: “Gardai are appealing to anyone who was in the Brownsbarn Estate and Kingswood area between the hours of 6 and 7am on February 25, who may have information in relation to this incident, to come forward.

“Gardai are particularly appealing to road users who may have camera footage.

“Anyone with any information should contact Clondalkin Garda Station at 01 666 7600, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any garda station.”

FASTNews

EPA announces Derval as new ambassador THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week announced that World Champion and Olympic hurdler, Derval O’Rourke (pictured) is this year’s ambassador for its national competition for secondlevel students, The Story of Your Stuff.

The EPA is again partnering with the UCD Earth Institute, which will host the finale showcase event on April 3 when competition finalists and their classmates will participate in a special programme of events and meet Derval O’Rourke, who will deliver a keynote speech.

Entrants are tasked with highlighting the environmental impact of an everyday item or activity by creatively telling its story through a visual medium.

The winners will be awarded a prize of €500 for their entry, plus a further €500 for their school.

Competition guidelines and tips are available on the competition website at www.thestoryofyourstuff.ie/.

The deadline for entries is March 9.

Dublin Bus are forced to stop No 27 service

Businesses sought for plastic challenge

DUBLIN Bus were once again forced to stop serving part of a local route due to anti-social behaviour.

Route 27 was forced to stop serving the Brookfield and Jobstown areas on Monday evening after more problems.

Dublin Bus said in a statement: “We wish to advise customers that due to anti-social behaviour, buses will not serve Brookfield/Jobstown from 20.30hrs until the last bus [on] February 24.

“Buses will stay on N81 and terminate at Killinarden. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

A previous threat from drivers on the route to withdraw service on the day of General Election 2020 to highlight problems with the route was averted at the last minute.

THE Plastic-Free Lucan Initiative aims to raise awareness and effectively manage plastic waste and use in the Lucan area.

They aim to achieve this with a strong emphasis on local businesses leading this transition.

Recently they developed a self-assessment matrix to help local businesses become plastic-free which was piloted by Danny Kenny, from Kennys of Lucan.

He said: “I found the exercise to be very helpful and not too time consuming.

“It certainly highlighted some areas that we can immediately improve with very little effort”.

They are now are looking for more local businesses to take the challenge.

Plastic-Free Lucan’s next public meeting is on Thursday, March 5 at 8pm in Kennys.

27 February 2020 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

HEALTH: HELPING PATIENTS GET FIT AFTER DIFFICULT CANCER TREATMENTS

Lucan physio is rewarded for her innovation PADRAIG CONLON

A PHYSIOTHERAPIST from Lucan whose groundbreaking work helps patients get fit after difficult cancer treatments was a winner at the recent Irish Cancer Society (ICS) Research Awards.

Dr Grainne Sheill, who is a chartered physiotherapist at St James’s Hospital, has focused her research on helping patients with complex and advanced forms of cancer to recover physically after their cancer has been treated.

She has become an established leader in this area – known as exercise oncology – which is of ever-increasing importance as more people survive cancer in line with improvements to cancer treatments.

Dr Sheill has collaborated with international experts on several novel research projects as part of her PhD and postdoctoral fellowship with Trinity College Dublin, with the aim of bringing about advances in rehabilitation for patients.

She came through a competitive field of can-

didates to be chosen as the winner of the Irish Cancer Society Postdoctoral Researcher of the Year for 2020 at the annual awards showcase held in Smithfield last Thursday, February 20.

Speaking about her award, Dr Sheill said: “The need to explore ways to enable survivors to live in the aftermath of intensive therapies, which often cause profound changes to their bodies, and to improve their lives, is a major healthcare challenge.

“We see people after surgery who are afraid

LUCAN

Limited space as People’s Art & Craft Fair returns

Dr Grainne Sheill shows her award after being named as the winner of the Irish Cancer Society Postdoctoral Researcher of the Year for 2020

to go back to doing their day-to-day activities and the things they love.

“This award acknowledges that there is still work to be done, but that we’ve made a good start.

“There are projects under way that need to be expanded and broadened so that more patients have access to the supports they need,” she said.

The ICS is appealing to the public to support Daffodil Day 2020, supported

by Boots Ireland, on Friday, May 27. For further information, see www.

Cancer.ie/DaffodilDay.

LOCAL artists and crafters who want to participate in this year’s People’s Art and Craft Fair taking place in Lucan are asked to get in touch with organisers as soon as possible.

Taking place on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5 at the Church of Ireland Parish Centre and St Andrew’s Church at Main Street, Lucan, the fee for the weekend for artists is €45 per stand, and €45 per sixfoot table for crafters.

Contact peoplesartlucan@gmail.com for a booking form, with places expected to fill up quickly in the limited space.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 27 February 2020

CITYWEST: CONVOY OF HORSES AND VEHICLES RACED DOWN THE N7

ISPCA shocked by sulky road racing footage The ISPCA says it was left “shocked and appalled” by a video circulated on social media last week showing a sulky road race taking place on the N7 in Citywest (right).

In the footage, a convoy of horse sulkies and vehicles were recorded racing down one of the city’s busiest local roads.

Footage taken from an overhead bridge near Browns Barn shows the race being run between many cars.

The ISPCA say it has been calling on the Government for some time to deal not only with the public safety issue, but also the serious animal welfare concerns caused by sulky racing and training.

The charity said: “Driving horses on

hard road surfaces can result in serious injuries and collisions with vehicles, and has resulted in the death of horses in the past.

“The ISPCA believes that the Department of Agriculture should work with local authorities to identify safe, off-road areas for sulky users where the activity can be regulated appropriately.

“An Garda Siochana already has sufficient powers under the Road Traffic Act to deal with the reckless and dangerous driving seen in the video, and local authorities have powers to seize any horse that is not microchipped.”

Dr Andrew Kelly, the ISPCA’s chief

executive also expressed his disbelief at the video, adding: “Driving young horses and ponies flat-out at excessive speed on Ireland’s busy roads is an accident waiting to happen. All it takes is a trip or stumble, which can be fatal for a horse and sulky driver.”

Travellers’ rights group Pavee Point said the incident was “completely unacceptable and endangers other road users and, indeed, animals and participants themselves”.

In a statement, the group said: “Pavee Point calls on local authorities to engage with Traveller organisations, horse owner projects and gardai to explore how to bring

about a resolution which allows this longstanding tradition to continue in a manner which is safe, legal and regulated.”

FASTNews Ryan Tubridy to judge essay competition WORLD Vision Ireland is calling on Dublin teachers, parents and children to enter its Climate Change Essay Competition, which will be judged by Ryan Tubridy.

The winner will get the chance to meet Tubridy at the RTE studios, and will also win a €500 Smyths voucher.

World Vision Ireland’s Climate Change essay competition 2020 is opened until March 31 for children between the ages of 8 and 18.

Irish children have shown how much they care about the environment, and the charity is expecting to get lots of great essays from talented young writers.

The entries should follow these instructions: write an essay entitled “How We Can Save Our Planet”, with a word count of 800 words or less.

Children should then write their name, age and school address on the top corner of the essay, and hand it to their teacher.

Teachers should put the essay entries, along with the entry fee of €2 (€2 per essay entry, per child), into an envelope and post the essays to: Essay competition, World Vision Ireland, The Mews, Garland House, Rathmines Park, Dublin 6.

Best of luck to all the children entering!

The sky’s not the limit for Clive as he gets ready to help others by skydiving THE MAYOR of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Vicki Casserly (centre) attended a Clive Skydive fundraising coffee morning event at Orwell Healthcare recently.

There she met ABI (acquired brain injury) resident Clive, who is realising his goal in April with a long-anticipated skydive.

The team at ABI Ireland and Clive’s family popped in to lend their support, and everyone dug deep to ensure all is on track to meet his fundraising goal.

Clive is pictured with Mary, Marie Lousie, Miriam, Amy, Cara, Bobby, Cllr Casserly and Maria.

Appeal for information to find missing woman PADRIAG CONLON

G A R DA I t h i s w e e k renewed their appeal to help find a Clondalkin woman who went missing nine years ago.

Ronanstown gardai made their appeal to the public for help on what was the anniversary of the disappearance of Esra Uyrun.

Esra (pictured), originally from Turkey, was 38 when she was last seen leaving her home in Collinstown Grove, Clondalkin, at around

7.15am on February 23, 2011.

She left her house in a grey Renault Twingo car, registration number 08-D-23067. The car was later found in Bray.

Esra is described as being 5’3” in height,

with dark hair and green eyes. When last seen, she was wearing black leggings, white Nike trainers, and a dark top.

A set of car keys with a photo of Esra and her son Emin on the keyring were handed in to a chip shop in Neilstown, very near to her Clondalkin home, six months after her disappearance.

Gardai and Esra’s family are seeking to locate her, and earlier this week her sister, Berna Fidan, made a heartfelt appeal on the Ray D’Arcy Show

on RTE Radio 1.

She said: “[Esra’s] just a beautiful soul; she loved people and she loved making people happy.

“It was just a shock to everybody when she just disappeared like that – none of it made any sense at all.

A nyo n e w i t h a ny information on Esra is asked to contact Ronanstown Garda Station at 01 666 7700, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

27 February 2020 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

TOURISM

FASTNews

Royals to visit Dublin next week

PRINCE WILLIAM and his wife, Kate Middleton, are set to visit Dublin as part of a trip to Ireland next week.

The royal couple will visit Dublin, County Meath, County Kildare and Galway as part of the trip, from March 3 to 5.

Kate and William are expected to meet “a broad range of people” on the trip, according to a release from Kensington Palace.

The statement says that during the three-day tour, the couple will “learn about local organisations working to support and empower young people and projects which provide opportunities to help them develop important life skills”.

Gardai warn of a scam targeting social media users

Capturing South Dublin’s wild side PHOTOGRAPHER James Grandfield was on the banks of the River Dodder in the south of the city when he snapped this great photo of a fox.

Red foxes are often portrayed as ‘bold’ and ‘fearless’ in the media, but actually they can be quite shy, skittish creatures, making photo-

graphing them a challenge – all of which makes capturing this stuning image all the more imprressive. Well done, James!

Kids read from nought to five thanks to Dolly Parton PADRAIG CONLON

A PROGRAMME backed by one of the world’s greatest ever Country singers is helping thousands of children in Tallaght.

Some 75% of all 0-5 year olds in Dublin 24 have signed up to a local free book scheme, supported by Dolly Parton, since it was launched one year ago this month.

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) project is being coordinated by the Tallaghtbased Childhood Development Initiative (CDI), to encourage local children to read more.

Emma Reilly, CDI programme coordinator, gave details of the programme’s success as it celebrated its first birthday in Ireland this month.

She said: “An estimated 75% of children aged 0-5 years in Dublin 24, or 5,331 children, have received or are currently receiving books.

“Together with the support of An Post and Tusla, some 33,108 books have been delivered

during the past year.”

Parents living in Dublin 24 can sign their children up at www.cdi.ie/imaginationlibrary.

The children will receive a free high-quality book to keep every month until they are aged five, with the books addressed to the child and posted directly to their home.

Emma also highlighted the need for corporate and public support to sustain the programme into the future.

She said: “CDI is the affiliate for the Imagination Library here in Ireland.

“DPIL provides the book ordering system, the branding and the ability to buy books at cost price. CDI, supported by Tusla, buys the books at cost and coordinates programme delivery.

“We will be commencing a major fundraising campaign in the coming weeks and months, looking for corporate and individual sponsorship, with €5 the cost of two books per month.

“CDI is grateful to Shamrock Rovers Football Club, which is actively promoting it in the

Tallaght and surrounding [communities] and also to The Rotary Club. Given this success, we are also supporting the expansion of the programme to other parts of the country, and exciting announcements are expected soon.”

CDI is a non-profit organisation working to improve outcomes for children in disadvantaged communities in Ireland.

Established in 2004 in Tallaght, CDI designs, delivers and evaluates prevention and early intervention programmes for children in literacy, health, speech and language, parenting, and conflict prevention.

Among the many benefits of reading is the fact that the more words a child hears in their early childhood, the more words they will have later in childhood.

The human voice in reading and speaking with the child has been found to be critical in children’s language development, as technology does not have the same impact.

See gallery Page 6

AN Garda Siochana at the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau have warned members of the public to be aware of social media-enabled Fraud.

As in all frauds, the goal of the fraudster is to deceive victims into parting with their money or to reveal access details for their bank accounts or credit cards.

The most recent fraud reported is targeting customers of a banking institution via advertisements on Facebook.

The advertisement refers to internet banking and invites the customer to take a tour of the system for a small reward (€15 or €30). The customer clicks on the link, and is taken to a fake log-in page.

The customer enters their login details – these details are now in the hands of the fraudster.

The fraudster then takes control of the account, and sets up a new beneficiary on the account, to whom money can be transferred The customers will receive an automated text or SMS from the bank, with a code to authorise the addition of the beneficiary to the account.

The customer will then enter the code into the fake account, which is captured by the fraudsters, or intercepted via malware on a computer, laptop or mobile phone. The bank account can then be emptied within minutes.

Gardai have warned people to be wary of any such banking scams on the go using social media platforms, particularly for vulnerable citizens.

Alzheimer club invites locals to come along THE Alzheimer Society of Ireland invites everyone to their Social Club in St Mary’s Parish Centre, Lucan on Wednesday mornings from 10.30 am-12.30 am.

The club is a place where a person with dementia can come with a family member or carer to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits over an informal friendly chat.

The society has been running these clubs for

many years now and they have proven to be of huge value to both client and carer.

Come along and see for yourself and meet others in similar situations to you, get advice from experienced staff and relax in a friendly, safe welcoming surrounding.

For further information, contact Adrienne Mc Avinue at (work) 01 862 5706, ext 2, or on mobile at 086 838 1215.

Disability service residents may get over €1m over ‘inappropriate’ spending RESIDENTS of Stewarts Care disability service could receive repayments of potentially more than €1 million after a review into “inappropriate” spending of clients’ personal money.

The Health Service Executive say the review relates to the use of some clients’ funds which may,

in some cases, have allegedly been spent on capital developments.

In 2017, the new management at Stewarts Care in Palmerstown asked the HSE to conduct a review, looking into legacy practices in previous years.

Independent consultants BDO were appointed and a draft report has

been submitted to the local charity.

Top level management in the HSE were told a “significant” level of refunds to clients is expected to have to be put in place arising from the review into “inappropriate” and “unacceptable” use of such money in previous years at Stewarts

Care.

The issue centres on money in the personal private accounts of residents which should hold day-today funds to be used for the exclusive benefit of the individual, such as for outings or gifts.

Ianstead, in some cases, this was used for a broader purpose such as minor

capital works in residences to bring them up to Hiqa standards, or for equipment and services which should have been paid for by the service provider.

Report The report is understood to be examining the use of personal accounts

in a sample of around 40 residents at Stewarts Care over a three-year period beginning ten years ago.

In some instances, it is believed guardians of service users may have been approached and had given permission for how money was spent; however, this was still outside the rules applying to the

private accounts.

S tew a r t s p rov i d e s accommodation including supported living and daily learning for 262 people as well as day services for 514 adults and children.

Stewarts Care last published annual accounts for 2018, and reported an operating deficit.

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 27 February 2020

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Stephen Moles and his daughter, Holly

Alice Costello and Kit Toman with their mums, Catherine and Aoife. Pictures: Conor Healy/Picture it Photography

Opening a new chapter of fun C

Matthew and Donagh O’Brien

Jack Purcell and his mum, Claire

HILDREN in south Dublin are taking up a free book-gifting scheme, supported by US Country star Dolly Parton. The singer and actress launched the Imagination Library back in 1995, which offers free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school – no mat-

Jacob Ballagh Mulholland with his mum, Sylvia

ter their family’s income.

More than 5,300 children in Tallaght have signed up to the programme. Co-ordinator Emma Reilly said the scheme celebrated its first birthday in Ireland last week.

Parents living in Dublin 24 can sign their children up online and they receive a free

book to keep every month until they are five.

The books are addressed to the child and posted directly to their home, and all in the name of helping to encourage kids to read.

The Dolly Parton Imagination Library operates in Ireland, Australia, Canada, the UK and USA. See full story on Page 5.

Gillian O’Brien with her sons, Matthew and Donagh O’Brien

27 February 2020 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

FESTIVAL: BIGGEST CELEBRATION OF OUR NATIVE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Seachtain na Gaeilge back to delight again in South Dublin

SEACHTAIN na Gaeilge is an annual international Irish language festival and the biggest celebration of our native language and culture.

For two weeks every March, the festival offers everyone an opportunity to enjoy speaking Irish, whether they are fluent, beginners or in the immortal words of Richie Kavanagh, have only “aon focal eile!”

According to Conradh na Gaeilge – a social and cultural organisation that promotes the Irish language in Ireland and worldwide – some 41% of our population are able to speak Irish, but only 1.8% speak Irish every day.

South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and South Dublin Library Services, in partnership with Aras Chronain, recently launched this year’s Seachtain na Gaeilge Atha Cliath Theas (SnaGACT) ahead of next month’s festival.

As well as supporting Seachtain na Gaeilge, SDCC are also getting behind the Gaeilge Le Cheile initiative, which encourages people to use spoken Irish in their everyday lives.

This involves just three simple steps: Gaeilge a usaid, Gach La, Gach Ait, le Gach Duine – Use Irish Everyday, Everywhere with Everybody.

Under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the Government announced its intention to develop the Irish language in communities

outside of the core Gaeltacht areas.

These areas would be called ‘Irish Language Networks’ or ‘Lionra Gaeilge’ and would, in effect, create urban Gaeltachts.

South Dublin is home to one of only five communities on the island of Ireland nominated to seek official recognition for Lionra Gaeilge status.

Clondalkin village has a significant number of people who use Irish every day and the campaign to achieve recognition has brought the community together and raised the profile of spoken Irish in the village and surrounding areas.

Seachtain na Gaeilge was officially launched recently by the Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Vicki Casserly.

The programme will run from March 1-17, and this year’s packed calendar has more than 100 events, including a special concert by Kila, a St Patrick’s Day Ceili, pop-up gaeltacht, workshops in the libraries, traditional music sessions, and many other entertaining events, most of which are free of charge.

Cllr Casserly (FG) said she’s really looking forward to this year’s programme of events, adding: “I would encourage everyone to get involved in Seachtain na Gaeilge, attend as many of the wonderful events as you can, and take the opportunity to speak as Gaeilge.”

For some further information, and to download the brochure, see www.sdcc.ie.

Clondalkin to play its part in Fairtrade Fortnight 2020 FAIRTRADE Fortnight is an annual promotional campaign which happens annually, organised and funded by the Fairtrade Foundation to increase awareness of Fairtrade products.

This year, Fairtrade Fortnight is currently taking place from February 24 to March 8, and Clondalkin is set to play its part.

Cllr Francis Timmons (Ind) contacted Dublin Gazette about the event, saying: “I am proud to support Clondalkin as a Fairtrade town. Our annual bake-off will be on

Cllr Francis Timmons (Ind) Monday, March 2 at 6pm in Aras Chronain “This annual bake-off has become part of the Clondalkin calendar.

“We are also holding a children’s Fairtrade art com-

petition, and entries can be left into Clondalkin Library [until March 5, at 3pm] and winners will get their medals on March 6 in the library.

“The art competition has to encourage and promote Fairtrade.

“Fairtrade Fortnight is a global fortnight where Fairtrade is celebrated and promoted.

“There will also be a Fairtrade section in the Clondalkin Handcraft and Horticultural show at that annual show on June 21, also in Aras Chronain.”

COILLTE

National Tree Week returns

Cllr Vicki Casserly (Mayor of South Dublin County Council) launches the start of Seachtain na Gaeilge with Bernard Dunne and Brian O Gaibhin (Aras Chronain) at Bru Chronain in Clondalkin. Picture: Ben Ryan

COILLTE is again partnering with the Tree Council of Ireland for National Tree Week 2020, which takes place from March 21 to 27.

This year’s theme is, Healthy Trees Healthy Planet, to promote tree health and the important role that trees play in protecting our planet by taking on climate change and providing natural renewable resources.

It also references the health benefits, to both physical and mental health, that trees and forests provide.

Trees will be available for collection across the country through local county councils and the number of trees available in County Dublin will be based on demand.

Coillte are urging all schools, companies and community groups to register their events to ensure they get the number of trees they want.

See www.treecouncil. ie, or www.coillte.ie.

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 27 February 2020

POLITICS: WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE FIRST SITTING OF THE 33RD DAIL

FASTNews

Celebrate a range of outstanding women MOTHERLAND, The Songs of 20th Century Women, performed by Edel Murphy (Celtic Woman, Riverdance) will take place this May in Dublin.

Featuring “evocative” projected images alongside spoken word, Edel Murphy (above) performs iconic songs of struggle and celebration from such songwriters as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, Kate Bush, Nanci Griffith, Richard Thompson, Dolly Parton, and The Beatles.

Under the musical direction of her long-time collaborator, Ewan Cowley, and following extensive tours with Grammy Award-winning shows, Celtic Woman, and Riverdance, Edel and her live band will sonically travel through the Dustbowl of the Great Depression, the homes of 1950s urban desperation, down the protesting streets of the 1960s, and into the confusion of the 21st Century.

You can catch the performance on Friday, May 8 in The Civic Theatre, Tallaght, and on Friday, May 29 in Bewleys Cafe Theatre.

See www.motherlandsongs.com for more tour dates.

The gathering saw an upbeat mood at Leinster House for the first sitting of the 33rd Dail. Pictures: Maxwell Photography

It’s Dail smiles for the post-election gathering THIS past Thursday, 48 newly elected TDs arrived at Leinster House as the 33rd Dail convened for the first time.

Overall, Sinn Fein has the largest number of new representatives, with 17 TDs, while the Green Party added nine TDs to its ranks.

Fianna Fail returned eight new seats, Fine Gael five, and the Social Democrats four, with Labour only adding one new TD. Four new Independents also won Dail seats.

Sinn Fein’s nationwide ascendance was not echoed in Dublin, however, with Paul Donnelly the

only new TD for the party in the county, winning a seat in Dublin West.

On the contrary, five of the Green Party’s nine new seats came from Dublin, with Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central), Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West), Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central), Ossian Smyth (Dun Laoghaire)

and Roderic O’Gorman (Dublin West) all winning seats.

Meeting at noon, the 33rd Dail began with the clerk calling out the names of all TDs returned from each constituency, before reading out the names of the nominees for Ceann Comhairle.

Only two representatives – Fianna Fail’s Sean

O Fearghail, and Independent TD Denis Naughten – ran for the position, with Deputy O Fearghail winning the secret ballot, retaining the position he originally won in 2016.

Immediately after the Ceann Comhairle was elected, the nominations for the position of Taoiseach were called out.

Fine Gael, as the sitting government, was the first party to nominate a leader, with incumbent Taoiseach Leo Varadkar failing to be re-elected.

D e p u t y Va r a d k a r rece ived 36 votes in favour, but 107 against, with 16 abstentions.

The Dail also voted against Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin’s bid to become Taoiseach, as 41 voted in favour, 97 against, and 19 abstained.

Sinn Fein’s leader, Mary Lou McDonald, received the most votes out of all the candidates, receiving 45 votes in favour, 84 against and 29 abstentions.

However, with no Taoiseach being elected, the Ceann Comhairle suspended the house until Thursday, March 5.

Deputy Varadkar will continue in the role of Taoiseach in a caretaker capacity.

Choirs give Boxers to €15,000 to do their bit help Simon for Nepalese SOLAS Workplace Choir and the Mountjoy Prison Inhouse Voices Choir, who collaborated to produce last year’s Christmas single, Jingle Jangle, and album, presented a cheque worth €15,000 to the Dublin Simon Community recently.

Andrew Brownlee, chief executive of SOLAS, said: “It is fantastic that the Jingle Jangle collaboration between the SOLAS Workplace Choir and The Mountjoy Prison Inhouse Voices Choir raised such a significant sum of money for the Simon Community.

“SOLAS works closely with the Irish prison system, by funding prison education services through the Education and Training Boards across Ireland.

“I would like to thank all the members of the public who bought the Jingle Jangle album. The money raised will help the Dublin Simon with the important work they do.”

THE Umbrella Foundation’s Brawl for Nepal 2020 takes place on Saturday, March 14 in aid of raising funds to support young people at risk of trafficking in Nepal.

Aiming to raise €25,000, the event will take place at The Well pub in the city centre, with 21 amateur boxers competing to see who is king or queen of the ring after eight weeks of training.

Each fighter has been busy collecting donations, with further funds set to come from event sponsorship and ticket sales.

The Umbrella Foundation is a non-profit NGO charity founded and registered in Ireland and dedicated to alleviating the impact of trafficking, poverty and war on children and their families in Nepal.

Its primary work is in rescuing trafficked children and reconnecting them with their families and communities.

To learn more, see www.brawlfornepal2020. eventbrite.com.

27 February 2020 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

CRIME

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Garda warning over fake ‘prop money’ out there RACHEL D’ARCY

Dublin Zoo welcomes a new member of the Rhino family

DUBLIN ZOO has announced the birth of a Southern White Rhinoceros Calf earlier this month.

The baby male calf was born on February 10 at 4:30am to mum Ashanti, after a 16-month pregnancy.

The currently unnamed baby is Ashanti’s seventh calf, and is the newest member of the herd in the zoo’s African Plains section.

Helen Clarke-Bennet, team leader of the African

Plains, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome another rhinoceros calf to Dublin Zoo. These animals were on the verge of extinction in the 20th Century.

“Ashanti is an excellent mother. She and the calf share a strong bond, and it has been wonderful to watch them play together.

“We’re looking forward to watching him integrate with the rest of the herd.” Picture: Dublin Zoo

FSAI receives over 3,400 calls RACHEL D’ARCY

THE FOOD Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) have revealed that their advice line handled more than 3,400 complaints in 2019, with more than half relating to complaints of unfit food and

poor hygiene standards.

The 2019 figures show a marginal increase on the number of complaints made to the authority in 2018.

Reports of non-display of allergen information up were up significantly (+25%), and a consider-

able increase of issues relating to poor hygiene standards (+19%) and suspected food poisoning incidents (+8%).

There were also several reports of foreign objects contaminating food in 2019, including allegations of food containing

insects, plastics and other foreign objects such as hair, false nails, metal and plastic.

Other reports to the FSAI included a snail in a whole chicken; a caterpillar in pork chops; and a butterfly/moth in fresh cream.

The FSAI Advice Line can be reached at info@ fsai.ie or through the ‘make a complaint’ section of the FSAI website.

The advice line operates from 10am to 4pm weekdays and is manned by trained advisors and food scientists.

AN GARDA SIOCHANA have issued a warning to the public that there has been an increase in the circulation of novelty Euro notes.

Gardai issued the warning in conjunction with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to highlight that there has been a significant increase in the detection of these kinds of notes.

The notes are often marked as “movie money” or “prop money”, and bear a strong resemblance to genuine Euro notes, but they do not contain the same security features as authentic currency.

Revenue Officers have seized notes in varying denominations, representing a value of €430,895, in recent mail centre detections.

Gardai have issued an advisory to businesses and members of the public who deal in cash to be aware that these ‘prop’ notes are currently in circulation, and have asked businesses and the public to take appropriate precautionary measures.

Business owners have been advised to ensure staff members that handle cash are alerted to watch out for these fraudulent notes.

Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau said: “People need to be aware that such notes exist and at busy times, especially late at night, they need to exercise a little care and attention. These notes are easily identifiable if precautionary checks are made.

“Also people who try to tender such notes as real [notes] face prosecution, a possible prison sentence and a conviction, which is for life.

“Such convictions have serious ramifications if one wanted to travel, or to work in certain sectors, and it can affect their credit rating.”

MOTORING PAGE 21

We take a look at the great new Audi RS 5 Sportback

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 27 February 2020

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

The first shot down the road is taken Presentation of Dan O’Regan Cup: Gene Mehigan and Carmel Carey (runner-up), Dervla Toal-Mallon (winner) and Nora Harney. P ictures: Bol Chumann Na-h-Eireann

Declan Burke, Anthony O’Shea, Claire O’Sullivan and Paul O’Reilly and Micheal Bohane

Barry O’Reilly

Bowling Club launch

Presentation of Kevin Ward Cup: Paul O’Reilly (runner-up, Susan Ward and Micheal Bohane (winner)

T

HE old traditional Irish countryside game of Road Bowling has come to the capital, thanks to the formation of the Newcastle Road Bowling Club. Typically taking place on quiet, clear country roads, road bowling sees players throw a steel 28 ounce road bowl skillfully around

corners and bends, and has been played in Ireland since the 1600s. With the launch of the Newcastle Road Bowling Club, under the auspices of Bol Chumann na hEireann, road bowling’s ruling body, west Dublin fans of the old game are sure to be bowled over with excitement.

27 February 2020 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Danielle Sleater and Stephen Tuohy

Gordon and Alex Hayden Eric, Aisling, Scott and Hannah Mahon

Denise McCormack, Zoe O’Halloran and Sidney Gammell

Sophie and Philomena Fleming

Martina and Cameron O’Connell

Special preview screening

Jackie Fay and Berndaette O’Halloran

W

ELL-KNOWN faces stepped out on the blue carpet for a sneak preview of the new Sonic the Hedgehog Movie at Dublin’s Odeon Cinema in Point Square last week. Spotted were Pippa O’Connor and Brian Ormond who brought along their sons Ollie and Louis, actresses Denise McCormack and Hilda Fay as well as Venetia Quick and film buff Gordon Hayden.

Brian Ormond and Pippa O’Connor with Ollie, Louis and Zoe Houlihan

Laura and Treasa Wall

Hilda Fay (back) with children Nancy and Pearl Vale

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27 February 2020

FOSTERING ‘I cannot describe the joy that fostering has given our family’ MANY people may ask themselves, ‘Why foster?’, and wonder how fostering might affect them and their families.

One mum, Michelle, talks of her experiences with Orchard Fostering, and what fostering has meant to her and her children.

“I am a foster parent to two sisters, who are aged nine and four.

“My foster children joined our family of mum, dad and three birth children – the oldest of whom is 13 – two years ago.

“The nine-year-old had had a difficult relationship with her birth mother, and initially resisted a different type of parenting, but has now really blossomed and is enjoying being part of a family.

“The four-year-old had a lot of developmental problems when she came to us, but she has reached and exceeded all of her milestones over the past two years.

“I cannot describe the joy it has given our entire family to see the girls so happy and having the same experiences as my own birth children.

“We have recently learnt that the girls will be with us on a long-term basis until they are 18, and we are delighted, as they are part of our family and we think of them as our own children.

“I would encourage anyone who has

Fostering can enrich your family’s life just as much as that of the children you’ll be caring for, and will be making a huge, positive difference to

ever thought about fostering, or who is interested in helping a child who has not had a positive start to life, to pick up the phone and contact Orchard Fostering to see if it’s for them.

“We have had tremendous support from Orchard Fostering throughout our training, and helping us with the girls – they are literally available 24/7 to their foster carers.”

For further information, or if you are interested in fostering, contact Orchard Fostering at 01 627 5713, email info@ orchardfostering.ie, or alternatively see www.OrchardFostering.ie.

So much to gain THIS WEEK saw the launch of Fostering Fortnight, the Irish Foster Care Association’s annual campaign to raise awareness and understanding of foster care in Ireland.

Taking place from March 2 to 15, Fostering Fortnight highlights the valuable contributions made in fostering families daily.

It’s a chance for those involved in fostering, and the communities that support them, to tell their stories.

The Irish Foster Care Association recently conducted their 2020 Members Survey, to discover the benefits of foster care.

They discovered that 53% of respondents said they continue to foster because they want to make a difference to the lives of children in care.

Some 33% want to offer a child or young person in need the opportunity to be part of their family, with a huge 72% recommending

fostering to others.

More than 32% of respondents said that safety and security were two of the main benefits care to children and young people in care, while 20% said connection with a responsible adult with their best interests at heart, with 19% saying that consistency in their day-to-day lives were huge benefits.

Changes When asked about the changes they see in their foster child after time in foster care, 33% said they see better communication, 25% said the child was more settled in school, and 23% said they saw improved social skills.

There were 5,971 children in care at the end of November 2019, with 92% (5,469) in foster care, 3,924 (66%) in general foster care, and 1,545 (26%) of children in relative foster care.

Some 92% of children

in general foster care had an allocated social worker, and 88% of children in relative foster care had an allocated social worker.

Foster care is a huge part of the alternative care system in Ireland, with Fostering Fortnight providing an opportunity to celebrate foster care in Ireland.

Speaking at the launch, Bernard Gloster, chief executive of Tusla, said: “The Irish Foster Care Association’s Fostering Fortnight in March is a great platform through which we can celebrate the remarkable contribution that foster carers make to the lives of so many children.

“There are many misconceptions around foster care; for example, that foster carers are certain types of people.

“But the truth is that it only takes one person to change a child’s life, and that each child is different, with their own needs.

“You don’t have to be

perfect to be a perfect foster carer for a child – indeed, what is perfect for one child is not per-

Origins: Steadily working together to help make children’s lives better ORIGINS Foster Care is an independent fostering agency, owned and managed by qualified social workers with a combined 50 years’ experience.

Their ethos is “working together to make children’s lives better”, believing that providing nurturing foster homes for children can only be achieved when all parties involved in the fostering process work together as a team.

Trust, transparency and strong relationships are vital, with Origins working to ensure that the child and foster family are central to all decisions.

Children and young people who find themselves within the foster care system have generally come from very complex family backgrounds.

Many children in care have been exposed to substance abuse, physical, emotional or sexual abuse or chronic neglect.

Regardless of the reason why a child comes into care, the com-

Support is key for foster carers to help make sense of a child’s background

mon pattern for all children will be a sense of loss, feeling vulnerable, sadness, anger or instability, and generally a fear of the new environments they find themselves within.

Origins offer support to foster carers and helps them to make sense of the more complicated backgrounds that some children arrive with, through an attachment and developmental traumainformed lens.

Origins know that being a foster carer is undoubtedly a challenging role, but also asks what better achievement in life could someone have than knowing that they have been a major part in the story of a child that leads them to become a fulfilled and happy adult?

For further information, you can contact Origins Foster Care by calling or texting 087 052 9749, or see www.originsfostercare.ie.

27 February 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

HELPING CHILDREN THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME

from foster care “

fect for another.

“This is why foster carers from all walks of life are needed, with different skills and interests.”

Catherine Bond, chief executive, Irish Foster Care Association, said: “Fostering Fortnight has become such an important two weeks in the calendar for

foster care in Ireland.

“It creates an awareness around the valuable contributions being made every day by families, social workers and the wider fostering community.”

Advocacy The Irish Foster Care

Association (IFCA) has launched a new advocacy service (funded by Tusla and Pobal) in response to some of the complex and often difficult issues that foster carers experience in their fostering role.

IFCA’s advocates support foster carers with communication, corre-

Fostering Fortnight has become such an important two weeks in the calendar for foster care in Ireland, creating an awareness around the contributions being made by the fostering community spondence and meetings with Tusla and others where issues can be teased out, foster carers’ voices can be heard, and solutions identified.

Their advocacy team works with foster carers to ensure they feel acknowledged, understood and supported, with four advocates working across the country, supporting our foster carers and working closely with Tusla and other stakeholders.

Speaking about the new service, Catherine Bond said: “We are delighted to launch our new advocacy service.

“This service is available to our members who need support in their fostering role when things get tough.

“We now have four advocates on the road supporting foster carers across Ireland, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and a much-needed service for foster carers.”

Keep up to date on all the activities taking place across Ireland during Fostering Fortnight, on Facebook and Twitter by searching for ‘Irish Foster Care Association’.

FOSTERING

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN APPLY TO FOSTER IF… You would like to work as part of a team to support a vulnerable child Many of our Irish Foster Care Association’s (IFCA) members report that they can see the difference fostering makes to a young person’s life.

Good communication and teamwork have a huge part to play in bringing a positive difference to the lives of children and young people in care.

You and your family are open to expanding your family to include a child in care Many of our foster carers at IFCA report that fostering has had a positive impact on their overall family life. Fostering is a team effort and involves the whole family.

You are single You don’t have to be married or in a relationship to foster. There are many excellent foster carers who are single.

The most important thing is that you should be able to demonstrate a strong network of support for you and the child in your care.

You are not heterosexual Your sexuality will not stop you from fostering. What is important

is that you can provide a young person with a safe, caring and stable home.

You are not an Irish citizen Applications from non-Irish citizens are welcomed, once you can remain in Ireland indefinitely and can provide a long-term commitment to remaining in Ireland to care for a child.

You are a Traveller Traveller children also sometimes enter foster care and can be greatly supported by a family who understand and appreciate their ethnic and cultural background. Traveller families can also provide a caring home for a child who is not from the Traveller community.

You do, or you do not, practice a religion It does not matter what your religious beliefs are, and this should not affect your application to foster. You will need to consider how you feel about educating yourself and your family about other faiths.

You will need to be open to assisting a child to uphold the faith and traditions of their birth family or faith of choice.

You are over 40 years old There is no upper age limit to foster. What matters is that you are fit and able to care for and meet the needs of any child you are approved to look after.

A strong network of support to care for a child will also be very important; the needs of the child will be central to assessing your suitability.

You work Depending on the needs and age of the child in your care, it may also be possible to continue to work.

Foster carers are expected to be available to care for children, attend meetings, training, support groups, and to promote and support access and contact between a child and their family. The child’s needs and best interests will be central to these arrangements.

You do not own your own home There are lots of foster carers who live in rented accommodation.

However, it will need to be secure, stable and long-term. This will have to be properly discussed and may need to be agreed with your landlord.

Your accommodation should also provide the child with the privacy and space they require.

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27 February 2020

SCHOOLS: STUDENTS ARE BUSY TURNING RECYCLED WASTE INTO HIGH-END FASHION FOR FINAL

Global financial platform Revolut has been announced as the partners for this year’s Junk Kouture contest, marrying similar goals of nurturing community and creative spirit amongst young people

There’ll be nothing that’s rubbish about this year’s great Junk Kouture designs PADRAIG CONLON

RENOWNED recycled fashion competition Junk Kouture has announced a brand-new partnership with global financial platform Revolut.

The new deal will see the fintech brand working with Ireland’s leading haute-couture design contest as it marks its tenth year.

Junk Kouture is a fashion competition using recycled materials, which challenges young people to design, create and model high-end couture from everyday junk.

It incorporates elements of fashion, design, engineering and environmental sustainability, in a

creative contest unlike any other, and one that is open to all secondary school students across the island of Ireland.

The whole idea of Junk Kouture is to create striking works of recycled couture that wouldn’t look out of place on the world’s most famous runways or in some of the best Hollywood films.

Designs can be crafted in any style of wear, from modern to male, to high fashion or feminine, and many more, with the most important rule being that designs are made from 100% recycled materials.

Over the past decade, Junk Kouture has already captivated more than 40,000 students, 8,000

“

It’s looking like this year will be our strongest and most competitive [contest] yet teachers and 100,000 audience members.

Troy Amour, chief executive of Junk Kouture, is really looking forward to what this year’s competition will reveal.

He said: “I am very proud to be involved in one of Ireland’s most prestigious post-primary competitions.

“Each year, more and more students are entering, which brings a new wave of creativity and fresh talent to Junk Kouture.

“I cannot wait to see what this year will bring – it’s looking like it will be our strongest and most competitive [contest] yet.”

Having launched in 2015, Revolut has grown a network of more than 10 million users, 500,000 of which are based in Ireland.

One feature of the Revolut app is that it allows users to enjoy a global lifestyle wherever they may be in the world with peerto-peer payments, budgeting and analytics features, commission-free stock

trading, cryptocurrency exchange, and other such fintech features.

With Junk Kouture planning to expand the competition to London, LA and Hong Kong soon, the partnership with Revolut is coming at just the right time.

Winners from the 2019 competition boast a fantastic travel CV, having attended the star-studded Cannes Film Festival and walked the red carpet in London at the Royal Film Premiere of the Oscarnominated film, 1917.

Speaking on the new sponsorship announcement, Ryan Thorpe, senior marketing manager at Revolut, said: “We’re delighted to partner with

Junk Kouture on this exciting new venture, which we believe will help further strengthen community and creative spirit amongst young people in Ireland.

“Our values closely align with those of Junk Kouture: inspiring young people to design, create, collaborate and challenge the status quo, while unleashing their creative brilliance.”

As applications have just closed for Junk Kouture this year, thousands of sustainability-driven teenage designers from the length and breadth of the country will be putting the final touches to their looks in the hopes of becoming the overall winner of the

2020 competition at the 3Arena on April 30.

Last year, everything from burnt pieces of toast to bike tyres were used by entrants, so anything goes when it comes to a Junk Kouture creation.

In attendance will be judges Michelle Visage, star of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Strictly Come Dancing and X-Factor judge Louis Walsh, lending their keen eye for star quality to fellow judges Dr Tracey Fahey from LIT, Jane Leavey of Griffith College, and former winner and LSAD graduate, Stephen McLaughlin.

The South-Eastern Regional final takes place in The Helix, DCU on Tuesday, March 3.

27 February 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

STYLE: FRESH NEW LOOKS

PENNEYS have teamed up with one of Britain’s most sought after designers – Bobby Abley – for a collection celebrating one of the most heavily anticipated films of the summer, starring some of pop culture’s best known characters: the mischevious Minions, best known from Despicable Me. Take a look inside at our favourite bits from the new collection.

MAGAZINE

DUBLIN

MUSIC P18

MOTORING P21

PAGE 19

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

Funding boost for youth group RACHEL D’ARCY

JUST ASK, a youth group from Dublin 7, were awarded funding last week by Vhi to deliver a ‘Run for Fun’ programme as the company seeks to give a sporting chance to more than 100 young people from underserved communities.

The Run for Fun programme was created by Vhi, in partnership with Irish Youth Foundation (IYF), to empower and build the self-esteem of young people through a dedicated fitness and nutrition programme.

It launched as a pilot in 2017, and since then, 125 young people have taken part, with 1,000 weeks of training completed across eight different youth groups.

Just ASK received a grant of €5,000 to deliver the programme over an eight-week period.

Through the programme,

participants train with fitness instructors while also learning about healthy eating.

At the end of the programme, they are encouraged to take part in a 5km park run.

Declan Moran, director of marketing and business development, Vhi, said: “Getting involved in sport can be difficult for many young people, who may have no previous experience or face social barriers that deter them from participating.

“That is where Run for Fun comes in. At the end of each [such] programme, Vhi employees join the young people and take part in the local park run with them.

“To see the pride on the faces of the young people when they complete the 5km is what it’s all about.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how the five successful groups

progress over the next eight weeks, and joining them at a park run in the coming weeks.”

Lucy Masterson, chief executive, IYF, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Vhi again this year on the Run for Fun programme.

“Through the programme, Vhi has highlighted how important it is to level the playing field for young people across Ireland living in underserved communities.

“This programme is an excellent opportunity for these young people to boost their self-esteem, build their resilience and reach their full potential.

“The impact of this programme over the past three years has been fantastic, and by opening Run for Fun to new community groups, we will be able to create positive change for even more young peo- The Run for Fun programme is designed to empower and build the self-esteem of young people through a dedicated fitness and nutrition programme. Picture: Julien Behal ple throughout Ireland.”

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27 February 2020

DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS I N F O R M AT I O N

QUIRKY MATTERS

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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

Celebrating the write stuff C O N TA C T S Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com Commercial Director: Liz Ferris lferris@dublingazette.com Acting Interim Group Editor & Travel Editor: Shane Dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@dublingazette.com Picture Editor: Alison O’Hanlon picturedesk@dublingazette.com Online & Style Editor: Rachel D’Arcy rdarcy@dublingazette.com Advertising Sales:

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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 City Gazette, Fingal Gazette, South Gazette and West Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

PICTURED at the official launch of the Dalkey Literary Awards in Trinity College Dublin’s Berkeley Library were David McWilliams, co-founder of Dalkey Book Festival; Sian Smyth, director of Dalkey Book Festival; Neil Freshwater, chief executive, Zurich Insurance plc, with Dalkey Literary Awards judges Fiach Mac Conghail, Rick O’Shea and Jennifer O’Connell. The prestigious new awards programme for writers in Ireland boasts a total prize fund of €30,000, and was launched by The Dalkey Book Festival in conjunction with Zurich Insurance.

Museum discovers it owns an Most expensive Irish authentic Rembrandt painting whiskey now for sale A NEARLY 400-year-old painting that had originally been attributed to an unknown artist working in Rembrandt’s workshop has now been judged to be a work by the Dutch master himself.

For decades, the Allentown Art Museum in Pennsylvania displayed a painting, entitled Portrait of a Young Woman, and credited it to “Studio of Rembrandt”.

Two years ago, the painting was sent to New York University (NYU) for conservation and cleaning.

Conservators at the university began removing layers of thick varnish that had been added to the painting over the centuries, and began to speculate that the work may have been done by Rem-

brandt himself.

The delicate brushwork hidden underneath the varnish was indicative of a style seen on other, confirmed Rembrandt works.

Outside experts then examined the 1632 painting and concurred with the NYU’s assessment that the piece is an authentic Rembrandt.

“We’re very thrilled and excited,” said Elaine Mehalakes, vice-president of curatorial affairs at the Allentown Art Museum.

“The painting has this incredible glow to it now that it just didn’t have before.

“You can really connect with the portrait in the way I think the artist meant you to.”

AN EXTREMELY rare 45-year-old Irish whiskey has gone on sale, priced at €35,000 a bottle.

Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter One is believed to be the most expensive Irish whiskey in the world, with only 48 bottles being put on sale.

The whiskey is the first in a collection of very old whiskeys set to be released by Midleton over the next five years – one year between now and 2025.

This year’s release is a “peated single Irish malt”, and was created by master distiller emeritus Max Crockett in 1974, a year before the original distillery closed in 1974.

The original Old Midleton Distillery in Cork ran between 1825 and 1975 and this new batch is the first to be released from the distillery since 2004.

Bottled in hand-blown, Waterford Crystal decanters, the bottles will be housed in a wooden cabinet designed by John Galvin.

DOG OF THE WEEK DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs.

This week’s dog of the week is Bruno, a very handsome five-year old Rottweiler cross that is a gentle giant and a real couch potato.

He is a very affectionate dog; he can be a little shy at first, but with a slow and gentle approach, he will show you just what a loving boy he is.

Bruno is a really clever dog, and will do anything for a tasty treat, making him a dream dog to train.

Bruno’s ideal home would have a large garden where he can potter about and

explore, with an adult family who would be willing to meet him a few times in the Rehoming Centre so he can build up trust. He would also like to be the only dog in the home so he can lap up all the love (and couch) for himself.

If you have room in your heart and home for Bruno 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.)

bruno

27 February 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

MANY PEOPLE may have the image in their mind of the typical Dublin taxi driver being a man.

However, the taxi business here is still male dominated, there are also many women involved who have built fulfilling careers in the industry.

Drivers are not just the heart and soul of the taxi industry; they are the ones who can put a smile on the face of customers and have them come back time and again for the service.

Thankfully times are changing and more women are getting into the industry which is a positive development for the business.

So what is life like for a female taxi driver in Dublin?

Du b l in G aze t t e caught up with one such hard working taxi driver, Marie Fullam from NXT Taxis to get a glimpse into her career.

Dublin Gazette: How long are you driving

a taxi?

Marie Fullam: I’ve been driving a taxi now for the last 20 years.

Do you enjoy your job?

I do, you get to meet loads of different people and difference situations.

Is it rewarding?

Like all selfemployed people, you get as much out of it as you put in but it’s been good to me over the years .

What do your family and friends think about you driving a taxi?

My family are used to it, my brother is also in the game. My friends look on it as just another job and don’t give it too much thought.

Would you like your family members to drive a taxi?

As I said my brother also drives a taxi and has done for the last 30 years so you might say it’s like a family business.

Do you work with an established taxi company or are you an independent driver?

I have worked with NRC Taxis for many years now and they have recently merged with Xpert Taxis to form NXT Taxis.

I prefer working with an Irish company who has a presence on the ground. I feel that a lot of customers still want to be able to pick up the phone to call a taxi.

Would you drive as an independent driver working the ranks?

No I wouldn’t like that as there would be too much hanging around and you can never be sure who is getting in the car with you. Working with NXT it’s like the clients have already

Veteran Dublin taxi driver Marie Fullam on working with NXT Taxis

“

Drivers are not just the heart and soul of the taxi industry; they are the ones who can put a smile on the face of customers and have them come back time and again for the service been vetted.

What about the App companies?

Actually NXT Taxis have their own app which gives even more options for their customers and drivers.

I know if there is ever any issues, I can always drop into NXT offices to discuss with the staff in person where the app companies can be pretty cold and faceless.

Would you recommend it to other women and why?

There’s not too many of us in the

industry but that’s changing, more and more women are getting into the industry now and rightly so as it’s been a male dominated job for too long.

Is taxi driving a safe occupation for a female driver or have you ever had any bad experiences?

I work with NXT who have mostly corporate work so it’s very safe.

How do your customers treat you?

Most customers treat me with respect but you will get the odd one that is hav-

ing an off day and will take it out on you.

What does your average week entail?

I work my own hours but generally start around 7am and work through to around 4 or 5pm with a break in the middle.

How flexible is this job when you are also looking after your family?

It allows you to come and go as you wish but at the end of the day the bills still have to be paid.

What are the best benefits of driving a

taxi?

It gives you the freedom to come and go as you please provided those bills are all paid.

How do your male colleagues treat you?

Most of the lads are fine, you get the odd old fogey who are still living in the dark ages.

Have you considered stopping driving and taking on another job?

Like us all I’ve considered changing but I’ve done this for so long now it’s second nature to me and I’m happy with it.

If you are interested in a safe and rewarding career in the taxi industry please contact NXT Taxis on 01 888 8888.

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27 February 2020

DUBLIN ENTERTAINMENT WELL WORTH A LISTEN

JOIN ME IN THE PINES ‘I want to do that thing where I go from style to style and execute it really well’ DAVE GERAGHTY is best known for his role in delicate local indie heroes BellX1, but in recent years his solo career – both under his own name and under the moniker, Join Me In The Pines – has taken precedence.

Geraghty’s life is a little different to the old days: while BellX1 recently did an anniversary tour, much of his time is spent focusing on cinematic soundscapes, including the Oscar academy awardnominated short film, The Crush.

Alongside that niche, the singer-songwriter has allowed his creative juices to flow through engaging with his long-time friend, Belfast creative Mick Major, who has encouraged his redirection into a more soulful, funky outfit.

“It’s lovely having to join the dots in somebody else’s mind,” Geraghty says of his cinematic work.

“I feel unburdened by

 JAMES HENDICOTT

not having to produce lyrics; it’s a new lease of life and energy that I can just pour into making the music as it’s supposed to be, fitting the visual.

“It has to carry the emotional intensity of what’s

“

“I’ve just been doing it if I’m into the project, which is great, but there is an analysis going on.”

There’s been a crossover between the music for movies and Geraghty’s wider work.

“Since doing The Crush, I went into the IFI to see it as part of an Irish Short Films showing, and one of them was by Roy Spence.

I’m not claiming to have reinvented the wheel, but this album is definitely not like anything I’ve already done

on screen. It’s insightful. I watch movies in a slightly different way now.

“There are potentially four projects lined up on the cinematic side, and the past couple of films I’ve watched have been research, so I have an ear on the score.

“He made many films back in the 70s, and they were real pioneers in home-made sci-fi special effects.

“I thought that was so good, and I ended up using it for the slight sci-fi feel for [new single] Feels So Heavy.

“We built the video around an edited-down version of the film. It was a great happenstance that it all came together.”

Despite being a solo project, primarily, Join Me In The Pines has taken on a collaborative bent for the newer material.

“Paul [Noonan] does the majority of the lyric writing in BellX1, and I guess there’s that melting pot of everyone’s input and influences.

“The latest album isn’t just me, I’ve got this symbiotic relationship going on with Mick Major.

“He really encouraged me. We have two very different albums, but I’m on his album and he’s on mine.

“There’s a lot of common ground to our friendship, but near the beginning of Monomania [the latest album], I got the chill about trying to pull another album out on my own. I just wasn’t up for it again.

“Mick asked me to send the songs across, and I did, and he loved where it was going.

“He kind of brought all his knowledge and his own thoughts on where it was he thought I should go with the style.

“When we talked about it, he helped me embrace my new direction, and

ignore the echoes of what came before.

“I know I’m not [David] Bowie, but I want to do that thing where I go from style to style and execute it really well, like he did.

I’m embracing that.

“I’m not claiming to have re invented the wheel, but this album is definitely not like any-

thing I’ve already done.

“It was also the result of a friendship blossoming, and I think there’s a newfound energy that comes from that, from thinking outside the box together.”

Join Me In The Pines release new single, Feels So Heavy, on February 29, and play Bloody Mary’s in Dublin on the same night.

GOINGOUTOUT FEBRUARY 27 (THURSDAY) The Murder Capital @ Vicar Street, SOLD OUT Louis Berry @ The Sound House, €13

Hot 8 Brass Band @ The Academy, €23 Tommy Fleming @ Bord Gais Energy Theatre, €30 Stu Daly @ Whelan’s, €7

FEBRUARY 28 (FRIDAY) Nelly + Shaggy @3Arena, €45+ Example @ The Academy, €20 Damien Jurado @ Liberty Hall Theatre, €25 Kila @ The Purty Kitchen, SOLD OUT Cory Wong @ The Button Factory, €23

MARCH 2 (MONDAY) James Arthur @ 3Arena, €39+ Editors @ Vicar Street, €37 Temples @ The Button Factory, €19 Shawn James @ Whelan’s, €18 The Maine @ Academy Green Room, €20

FEBRUARY 29 (SATURDAY) Gavin James @ 3Arena, €39+ Hare Squead @ Workman’s Club, SOLD OUT Kiefer Sutherland @ The Academy, €34 Jerry Fish @ Whelan’s, €22 Join Me In The Pines @ Bloody Mary’s, €15 MARCH 1 (SUNDAY) Sleater-Kinney @ Vicar Street, €34

MARCH 3 (TUESDAY) The 1975 @ 3Arena, SOLD OUT Tones & I @ Vicar Street, €23 JpegMafia @ The Academy, €18 The Aristocats @ The Button Factory, €30 MARCH 4 (WEDNESDAY) Jonas Blue @ The Academy, €20 Blossoms @ The Olympia Theatre, €27 Testament @ The National Stadium, €45

27 February 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME AND WARDROBE

Penneys (L-R): - Top €6, Shorts €7 - T-shirts €12, Hoodie €18 - T-shirt, €12 - Hoodie, €18

 Rachel D’Arcy, Style Editor

HOME & STYLE

SAY ‘BELLO’ TO A NEW RANGE

CULT FAVOURITE designer Bobby Abley was made famous for his eye-catching, cartoon-inspired collections. His designs have been worn by celebs, including model Bella Hadid.

Now, Abley has teamed up with Primark – or Penneys to us Dubliners – on a 10-piece

capsule range of apparel inspired by an upcoming film, Minions: Rise of Gru. The collection features the rebellious cartoon Minions on leggings, sweatshirts and t-shirts, turning their quirky personalities into cool athleisure wear.

The range is displayed in a creative execution that has been curated and directed by Abley himself. He said: “I’ve been showing at London Fashion Week for seven

years. One of the main comments I get on social media is: ‘We love this, but what about the people who can’t afford it?’

“So that was one of the reasons why I jumped at this opportunity to work with Primark and make my collection available to the masses.”

The collection is available now, with prices ranging from €6 for t-shirts to €18 for hoodies.

KEEPING SKIN HEALTHY AND EXFOLIATED  Rachel D’Arcy, Style Editor EXFOLIATING is key for the skin’s health, with skin care experts regularly stressing the importance of exfoliating to ‘wake up’ your skin.

Exfoliating two to three times a week is one of the most important things you can do for skin health.

Scrubbing away dead cells leads to higher cell turnover

and youthful-looking skin.

Check out the exfoliator options on offer from Dermalogica ...

Daily Microfoliant: €59.50 This is a gentle, daily use exfoliating powder for all skin conditions.

It has a rice-based powder formula which activates upon contact with water, releasing papain, salicylic acid and rice enzymes that micro-exfoliate dead cells, instantly leaving skin smoother and brighter.

Daily Resurfacer: €98.50 A daily, leave-on exfoliating treatment that brightens and tones all skin conditions.

Each dose contains one application of alpha and beta hydroxy acids and enzymes to smooth the skin, helping to reduce the signs of premature aging without irritation or redness.

Rapid Reveal Peel: €90 This is a 10-part system dedicated to re-texturing the skin and creating a more radiant complexion. Rapid Reveal Peel is formulated to tackle common signs of ageing.

It kick-starts skin renewal for instant radiance, speeding removal of dull cells on the surface of your skin to reveal brighter, smoother-looking skin.

Daily Superfoliant: €68.50 This resurfacer aids in delivering smooth skin, and helps fight the biochemical and environmental triggers known to accelerate skin ageing. The advanced powder formula activates upon contact with water, releasing powerful enzymes, skin-smoothing alpha hydroxy acids and antipollution technology.

MultiVitamin Thermafoliant: €59.50 This thermal skin exfoliant infuses skin with age-fighting ingredients, and combines physical and chemical exfoliants to refine skin texture and enhance penetration of age-fighting vitamins into skin.

Resurfacing microgranules gently polish off dulling skin cells to reveal smoother, fresher skin immediately.

All products can be found at authorised Dermalogica salons and at Dermalogica.ie.

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27 February 2020

digital

Fall in love with YOUR local paper on our newly improved website www.dublingazette.com, Facebook and Twitter

DublinGazette Wherever you are, we’ve got you covered

For all digital enquiries contact JPMontgomery@dublingazette.com

27 February 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF TRANSPORT

DUBLIN MOTORS

A brief guide to help spark your interest in electric vehicles THERE are many different hybrid and electric vehicle technologies on offer, so which one is right for you, and your motoring needs?

Read on to get an insight into the frontrunner trends in the industry right now ...

Full electric All-electric vehicles run on battery power alone, which means no fuel is necessary, while zero emissions on the road are guaranteed.

Electric vehicles are better for the environment and, with government purchase incentives, reduced road tax, and BIK benefits for company car drivers, they’re good for your wallet, too.

With a domestic wallbox, you can plug in overnight and guarantee yourself a full charge in the morning – just like your phone.

Alternatively, you will find an ever-increasing number of public charging points at supermarkets, shopping centres, motorway service stations, and many other locations.

Fewer moving parts than traditional vehicles means lower maintenance costs too.

PHEV Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) have all the functionality of full hybrid technology, with the added advantage that they can be charged from an external electricity supply.

The larger capacity of the battery makes them

capable of zero emissions while driving for ranges of up to 56 kilometres, with the ability to switch to hybrid mode to conserve battery life, and to petrol- or diesel-only for longer journeys.

HEV These days, hybrid vehicles (HEV) are an increasingly common sight on the road.

This is especially true in cities and urban areas, where their lower emissions and improved fuel economy at typical city speeds are a major advantage.

These vehicles have an internal combustion engine, but they also have a larger battery and more powerful motor.

This provides more assistance to the engine and enables the vehicle to drive parts of short journeys at low speeds using the electric motor alone – and thanks to the conventional engine, driving range isn’t an issue.

Mild hybrid With mild hybrid technology, the internal combustion engine is assisted by an electric motor.

At low speed, or when stationary, the engine can switch itself off and the 48V starter-generator seamlessly restarts when needed.

The separate 48V Liion battery is automatically recharged by regenerative braking during coasting and braking, and there is no requirement to connect the battery to a power source.

The new Audi RS 5 Sportback is more than just a sporty car, thanks to some striking design elements and raw power under the hood

A sporty delight DECLAN GLYNN

THANKS to a wonderful blend of premium functionality, comfort and dynamic ability, the new Audi RS 5 Sportback is more than just a sporty car.

Striking RS design elements promise ultimate sportiness that you can transfer effortlessly onto the road with its powerful engine, and quattro all-wheel drive.

The forward thrust of the Audi RS 5 Sportback makes everything in the rear-view mirror appear smaller in an instant.

It develops exhilarating power under the bonnet with its 2.9-litre V6

TFSI twin-turbo engine (shared with the Porsche Panamera 4S, no less).

Thanks to an output of 450bhp, and a whopping 600 Nm of torque, you can accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 3.9 seconds.

The standard lim ited top speed of 250 kmph can optionally be increased to 280 kmph.

Thanks to ‘Quattro’ permanent all-wheeldrive and a sportilytuned eight-speed tiptronic transmission (with optimised gear changes), fast and self-assured sprints are guaranteed.

It is possible to tailor your own driving experience with the Audi ‘drive

select’ dynamic handling system, enabling the driver to experience the standard ‘RS sport suspension’, which makes the RS 5 Sportback hug the road.

On the road is where the new Audi RS 5 Sportback stands head and shoulders above its competitors.

Engine Thanks to the car’s standard twin-turbo system, the new petrol engine feels much more urgent low down the rev range that the previous V8-powered RS 5.

Under strong acceleration, the RS 5 Sportback’s four-wheel-drive system

provides enough traction to whisk you off the starting line in a controlled and urgent fashion.

The RS-5 Sportback’s tiptronic (automatic) gearbox has eight wellchosen ratios, which does add greatly to the o u t s ta n d i n g d r iv i n g enjoyment of the car.

The gearbox is also smooth and amenable when the driver takes control manually, too.

My review car looked absolutely stunning in its striking Nardo Grey exterior colour, while ‘Fine Nappa’ black leather upholstery (with a honeycomb pattern) ensured that the interior of the car looked equally as desir-

able as the exterior.

Additionally, plenty of other RS-specific interior trim elements add a real sense of occasion to the mix.

The classy cabin and dashboard of the RS 5 Sportback are both exquisitely finished and super-intuitive to use.

Audi’s pitch-perfect execution of the new RS 5 Sportback is to be commended, with the car proving itself to be as close to perfection as you can get in this market segment.

The incredibly capable Audi RS 5 Sportback is priced from €114,050 (exdelivery) and is on sale now.

SEAT Ireland breaks into top ten car sales SEAT Ireland has been breaking its own records again, with the news that – for the second year running – the brand has had its best January in its history.

Not only that, it is the first time the brand has broken into the top-ten selling car brands in the Irish market.

SEAT Ireland recorded its best-ever January, significantly increasing its sales compared to January 2019,

despite a market that is down 3.47% on last year’s sales.

Once again, SEAT’s SUVs continue to drive a large part this growth, with Irish buyers very much coveting the Ateca in particular, which is now the brand’s best-selling model.

This is very closely followed by the Arona, and now in third place by the 2020 Continental Irish SUV of the Year, the SEAT Tarraco.

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27 February 2020

POLSKA GAZETA Poland looks to the fintech future with help from a Wolves Summit This week we look abroad, to Warsaw, where an upcoming conference will welcome the world

P O L A N D ’S g r o w i n g economy and innovative outlook is set to once again draw investors, corporations and startups from around the world to Warsaw for an impressive conference: Wolves Summit 2020.

Running on March 23 and 24, the eleventh edition of the international Wolves Summit conference will attract many of the world’s brightest business and entrepreneurial minds to the Palace of Culture and Science.

T h e re, c o n fe re n c e attendees will discuss effective funding, the ethical challenges of new technologies and development opportunities for the digital economy.

Some 450 start-ups, 250 investors and 450 corporations are set to attend the conference, eager to focus on diverse topics including effective financing, equality and accessibility in the technological industry; and the development of medical technologies and business ethics, to name but a few.

Wolves Summit 2020 puts the problem of diversity and inclusion, as well as accessibility in the technology industry, very high on the agenda.

In this eleventh Wolves Summit, the organisers will once again be collaborating with BalansPL, an NGO that works to support equality initiatives in the industry.

Of course, the sum-

mit is about much more than looking at key and emerging issues, and providing networking and direct peer-to-peer appointments.

It will also host The Great Pitch start-up competition, during which the best projects will be selected.

GTR Ventures is offering the winning fintech an US$10k opportunity, comprising complimentary passes and profiling opportunities at the third GTR Ventures Tradetech showcase competition, which will be held at the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore from September 8-9.

This edition of The Great Pitch will also be unique – for the first time, the judging jury will also grant additional awards alongside GPC. The winners of The Great Pitch contest will directly enter the semifinals of the twelfth Innovation World Cup, and will have a chance to present their solutions at top international tech events.

All this is just part of Wolves Summit 2020, which offers a truly fascinating look at Poland’s ever-growing business and fintech sectors.

For much more information on the diverse c o n fe re n c e, s e e t h e English-language site a t h t t p s : / /p o l a n d . wolvessummit.com/, or alternatively the Polishlanguage site at https:// poland.wolvessummit. com/pl/.

This year’s Wolves Summit will again showcase Poland’s economic and entrepreneurial strengths to a global market, building on the successes of previous conferences

Tegoroczny Wolves Summit po raz kolejny zaprezentuje siłę gospodarczą i przedsiębiorczą Polski na rynku globalnym, bazując na sukcesach poprzednich konferencji

Polska kontynuuje rozwój gospodarki dzięki Wolves Summit – konferencji biznesowej Rozwijająca się polska gospodarka i innowacyjne perspektywy po raz kolejny przyciągną inwestorów, korporacje i startupy z całego świata do Warszawy na imponującą konferencję.

11. edycja międzynarodowej konferenc ji Wolves Summit, odbędzie się w dniach 23-24.03.2020 i przyciągnie do Pałacu Kultury i Nauki wiele najzdolnie jszych umysłów biznesowych i przedsiębiorczych.

Uc z e s t n i c y ko n fe re n c j i omówią efektywne finansowanie, wyzwania etyczne nowych technologii oraz możliwości rozwoju gospodarki cyfrowej.

Udział weźmie około 450 startupów, 250 inwestorów i 450 kor-

poracji, będą poruszać między innymi takie tematy jak skuteczne finansowanie, równość i dostępność w branży technologicznej, a także o rozwoju technologii medycznej i etyki biznesowej.

Wo l ve s S u m m i t 2 0 2 0 poruszy problem różnorodności i integracji, a także jakże ważną dostępność w branży technologicznej.

Podczas jedenastej konferencji, organizatorzy ponownie będą współpracować z BalansPL, organizacją pozarządową działającą na rzecz wspierania inicjatyw na rzecz równości w branży.

Oczywiście szczyt to coś

więcej niż tylko przyjrzenie się kluczowym zagadnieniom, tworzeniu sieci reklamowych i bezpośrednich spotkań peer-topeer.

Odbędzie się również konkurs The Great Pitch, podczas którego wybrane będą najlepsze projekty.

G T R Ve n t u r e s o f e r u j e zwycięskiej firmie fintech 10.000$, bezpłatne przepustki i możliwości profilowania podczas trzeciego konkursu GTR Ventures Tradetech, który odbędzie się w hotelu Marina Bay Sand w Singapurze w dniach 8–9.09.2020.

Edycja The Great Pitch będzie również wyjątkowa – obok nagród GPC, jury po raz pierwszy przyzna dodatkowe nagrody.

Zwycięzcy konkursu The Great Pitch wezmą udział w półfinałach dwunastego Pucharu Świata Innowacji i będą mieli okazję zaprezentować swoje rozwiązania na najważniejszych międzynarodowych wydarzeniach technicznych.

Wszystko to jest tylko częścią Wolves Summit 2020, która oferuje naprawdę fascynujące spojrzenie na stale rozwijający się polski biznes i sektor fintech.

Więcej informacji na temat konferencji można znaleźć na stronie: https://poland.wolvessummit.com/pl/.

Lub w języku angielskim: https://poland.wolvessummit.com/.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADVERTISE IN POLSKA GAZETA? EACH week, DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS are focusing on news and views for the Polish community with Polska Gazeta.

Would you or your business like to get on board?

If you or any advertiser would like to be involved with this new concept,

and to be part of a sponsorship option, please contact Martyna Muszczynska at her email below.

Phone: 01- 60 10 240 • E-mail: sales@dublingazette.com

27 February 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!

CODEWORDS

You could advertise here

DUBLIN 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 ALONGSIDE BRANCH BRISBANE CAPTURING CARL DAMPNESS ETHIOPIA FARCE FOOTWORK FRITZ GRATED

HUGH IDLY MADMAN MAIM MUTE OCCUPIER PHONETIC RISKING SNORTED SPORTSMAN VIGIL

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27 February 2020 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

GAELIC GAMES P31

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: SOCCER: TALLAGHT United stormed

into the quarter final of the Richard Knight Cup with a convincing 7-2 win over Clontarf Athletic on St Anne’s Astro Pitch on a windy Saturday afternoon.

United will face either Portmarnock or Coolock Village in an away date and, on their performance in this game, they will be a hard nut to crack when they meet.



GAZETTE

SOCCER P29

PAGE 29

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS RUGBY | YET ANOTHER VICTORY FOR LEINSTER IN THE PRO 14

O’Brien fires up Blues win  sport@dublingazette.com

ACADEMY flyer Tommy O’Brien crossed for his first senior try as Leinster Rugby posted a 21-13 Guinness PRO14 win over a determined Ospreys side at the Gnoll.

Adding to O’Brien’s opener and a Josh Murphy effort, it was not until the 73rd minute that Cian Kelleher crossed from replacement Rowan Osborne’s pass to seal the result.

Ospreys had led 10-7 thanks to winger Luke Morgan’s try on the stroke of half-time, but with man-of-thematch Peter Dooley starring in a dominant scrum, the platform was laid for Leinster’s twelfth straight victory of the PRO14 campaign.

36-25 winners on their only previous visit to the Neath venue back in November 2003, Leinster had to absorb the early pressure from the wind-backed Ospreys.

Out-half Luke Price watched his seventh-minute penalty from halfway bounce away off the left hand post.

Hugo Keenan had to react smartly to bring down the fast-breaking Hanno Dirksen just eight metres out, and a

couple of poaches from James Tracy and James Lowe saw the province warm to their task.

With Michael Bent getting the better of Nicky Smith at scrum time, Leinster gained further ground from the resulting maul, before a penalty advantage allowed Gibson-Park to attack the short side of a ruck.

Quick hands from the scrum half, Kelleher and Scott Fardy sent the freshly-introduced Tommy O’Brien over in the right corner past Olly Cracknell.

Ciaran Frawley converted neatly from the right for a 7-0 lead, but Ospreys almost responded just after the restart.

Ospreys went close again with Scott Otten going close while Price slid another kickable penalty wide but they did get on the scoreboard from his boot, a left-sided penalty after Aled Davies gobbled up yards.

It got even better for the Welsh region a few moments later, Frawley’s attempted pass to Keenan on halfway going to ground and Morgan hoovered it up, fended off Kelleher and scampered clear to touch down behind the

Ciaran Frawley kept the scoreboard ticking along. Picture: John Crothers

posts; 10-7 at half-time.

Leinster retook the lead early in the second half, however. Ospreys battled through a bout of scrum pressure five metres out from their own line but they could not stop Murphy in the 48th minute, the flanker squeezing over beside the right hand post with timely support from Ross Molony and Scott Penny.

Frawley added the extras to give the visitors a 14-10 advantage. Price punished Fardy and Penny for coming in at the side on the hour mark, making it a one-point game with the home crowd roaring their team on.

But the clinching moment came when Kelleher crossed for his fourth try of the season, seeing out yet another win.

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

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 27 February 2020

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

2 1

LUCAN SARSFIELDS GARDA/WESTMANSTOWN SOMEdone WELL juvenile to the action Juniorlast A laweekend but several fixtures called off because of ongoing poor weather and unplayable pitches.

U12 boys hosted Faughs on our all weather astro pitch in a grading match and pulled off a superb win by 4-15 to 1-03,U14 boys got their football league off to a flier beating Templeogue Synge Sreet away by 4-14 to 0-01 and U13 Girls won their first competitive camogie match.

Thanks to Ali Twomey who took a coaching session on Saturday with our Under-13 and Under-14 Camogie squads.

All club members reminded that membership fees are now due and can be paid online at: https://payments.gardawestmanstowngaels.com/ It is imperative that all members are fully paid up before playing or training to cover insurance requirements in the event of a serious injury.

Mens squad continues training on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at 7.30.PM under Jack Sheedy with opening league game away to Cuala scheduled for this Sunday March 1st at 10.30.AM-Juniors have a bye this weekend.

Trip to Belfast scheduled for Friday March 6th.

Ladies pre season continues on Mondays and Wednesday’s at 7.30.PM with first competitive game only a few weeks away.Ladies section hold a Fundraising Quiz at Westmanstown on Friday March 6th at Westmanstown at 8.00. PM-please come out and support-teams of four €40.

Thanks to Eric,Bernard and all at our Facilites Team who are battling the poor weather conditions to keep Westmanstown available to all for training and playing purposeshopefully things will improve shortly and all teams can resume in their usual slots.

WANDERERS joining our Ladies LOTTO: No winner of ROUND TOWER,inteam CLONDALKIN this season please this weeks jackpot, numbers drawn were FOLLOWING defeat to 24-26-28.

Naomh O €25 goes to Phil Gallagher, Martin Gallagher, M Kelly, Gillian O’Flaherty .

Jackpot next week is €10,000. As our lotto is now at €10k we have started a background which is sitting currently at €2,200.

When the €10k is won our new lotto will start from the background draw.

Our Lotto is now online through our Website or Facebook page.

If you are interested in playing for our Adult Men’s teams this season please contact Dave on 0877256754.

If you are interested

contact Dionne on 0879315556 for more info.

Our Juvenile training is on Saturday mornings and Wed evenings along with the nursery on Saturday mornings, please contact Fergal on 0876213142 for more details, the club is looking for new members at all levels so please reach out as per above if interested.

If you would like a Match Report or Photos submitted to the website or press please contact pro@wanderersgaa.ie.

All items for the club notes must be submitted

by Sunday evening to pro@wanderersgaa.ie.

SOCCER: GAFFNEY JOINS SHAMROCK ROVERS AFTER THREE

Bradley adds more firepower to free scoring frontline LOI PREMIER DIVISION  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

STEPHEN Bradley feels Shamrock Rovers have got the right man at the right time after confirming the signing of striker Rory Gaffney from English side Salford City.

The 30-year-old watched from the sidelines, while he awaits international clearance, as his new teammates made it three wins from three with a comfortable 2-0 win at Waterford on Monday.

The Hoops’ strikers have been in top form so far this season with onloan Preston man Graham Burke scoring five in the 6-0 win over Cork City.

Aaron Greene popped up with an injury time winner against Bohs on the opening day but Bradley has been searching for another prolific

striker to take the pressure off his leading marksman.

“I’m really happy to get Rory in. It’s something myse l f a n d S te p h e n McPhail have been working on and thankfully we managed to get it done,” said Bradley.

“I think he fits the way we play and he fits as a person as well, so he ticks all the right boxes for us.

Rory will score goals for us, there’s no doubt about that.

“I’ve played with him so I know what he’s like and what his movements are like. He suits the way we play and he has all the attributes to score goals for us.”

Gaffney played with Bradley at Limerick in 2011 and was a target for Rovers before leaving the league of Ireland five years ago to join Bristol Rovers.

The Galway native was prolific with the Pirates

and made the move down to the National League two years ago, helping them reach the football league for the first time.

He has most recently spent the first half of the English season on loan with Walsall but felt the time was right to explore options close to home once more.

G a f f n ey a d d e d : “ I had spoken to the club before I went away to England initially and it was always a team that

if I came back to Ireland I wanted to sign for. It’s the best club in Ireland.

“If any other club had rang me, I wouldn’t have been too interested in coming home. It’s really just happened in the last three or four days and I was happy to take the chance.”

Two goals in the opening 17 minutes, an own goal from Akin Ademayo and a fine strike on debut from former Glenavon full-back Rhys Marshall,

saw the Hoops to a facile win at the RSC. Waterford defender Andre Burley also saw red in the early stages as a much-changed Hoops side made short work of a second Munster side in four days.

Ireland international Burke installed himself as an early favourite for the golden boot as he notched five in the rout over Cork in Tallaght, with fellow international Jack Byrne also on target.

Glens back on winning trail

Glenanne’s Stephen Brownlow. Picture: Adrian Boehm

GLENANNE picked up their first men’s EY Hockey League win since early October with a 3-2 success against Pembroke at St Andrew’s in a match preceded by a minute’s silence in honour of Ken Treacy, a stalwart of Pembroke’s golden generation of the 2000s.

Stephen Brownlow opened the scoring with a low drag-flick and it was 2-0 at halftime following a lovely interchange between Jonny McCormack and Brad Venter that ended with the latter blasting a rising shot into the top right corner.

Another classy move down the right wing between McCormack, Gary Shaw and Brownlow ended with Stu Ronan flicking home amid the scattered Pembroke defence for 3-0 early in the second half.

Alan Sothern got one back with a brilliant first time backhand volley, keeping his eye on the ball after a few flailing sticks missed out on a bouncing ball.

Sothern then added a drag-flick to cut the gap to 3-2 with 25 minutes still to play but Glenanne held on for the win.

27 February 2020 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

WINS FROM THREE

SOCCER: TALLAGHT TOO GOOD FOR CLONTARF ATHLETIC

Seventh heaven for Tallaght Town heroes UCFL RICHARD KNIGHT CUP Clontarf Athletic Tallaght Town  JOHN MOONEY sport@dublingazette.com

New Shamrock Rovers signing Rory Gaffney

BASKETBALL

Colaiste Bride’s final quarter gold-rush

CLONDALKIN’S Colaiste Bride won the Under-16B girls All-Ireland schools league final at the National Basketball Arena last Tuesday with a 64-53 win over Raheny’s Manor House.

It was tight going into the final quarter at 39-37 but an excellent run of scores from Kate Flanagan and Aaliyah Yusuf got them started before Aiobhin Dunne and Abbey O’Keefe found their range to stretch out an 11-point victory.

2 7

TALLAGHT United stormed into the quarter final of the Richard Knight Cup with a convincing 7-2 win over Clontarf Athletic on St Anne’s Astro Pitch on a windy Saturday afternoon.

United will face either Portmarnock or Coolock Village in an away date and, on their performance in this game, they will be a hard nut to crack.

This was a game of two halves and not, as the saying goes, as in the opening half referee Keith Butterly spent most of his time flashing the yellow card as both sides seemed to think it was better to get involved with each other rather than get on with the game.

However, after a stern talking to by both sets of coaches, the second half was a more open affair as the football flowed and the goal count rose.

The visitors had stamped their authority in this encounter in the opening half when the slight advantage of the wind, blowing across the pitch, had them 2-0 up at the break through Paddy Malumba and Liam Woods.

That tally was added to nine minutes after the restart when Dylan Kelly, who, by the way, is a constant pain in the neck for defenders, netted the third and the first of his hat-trick on the day.

On 65 minutes, Kelly netted his second when he ran on to a through ball from Jamie Murray, left the defence for dead, and slotted home.

It was game over at that point but Clontarf never gave up the chase and, with 20 minutes remaining, they finally got on the score sheet, when Allesandro Panatore fired home from the penalty spot after he was taken down in

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Tallaght Town’s Dylan Kelly goes by Clontarf’’s James Kelly. The Tallaght Town team is pictured above.

the area.

But, within minutes, United regained their four-goal advantage as Jay Hanlon slotted home, then two minutes later Woods made it 6-1.

There was still time for the home side to pull another back through Tom McDermott but Kelly had the last say when he went on to grab his hat-trick, and technically claim the match ball, after a great performance by both himself and his team.

Clontarf Athletic: Austin Hannon, Sam Acheson, James Kelly, Tom McDermott, Stephen McCullagh, Stephen Kearney, David Weadon, Richie Delaney, David Mulligan, Jon Martin, Rob Dunphy, Mark Banahan, John Treynor, Derek Treynor, Allesandro Panatore.

Tallaght Town: Adam Nyland, Joe Rooney, Eric Harmon, Aaron Cahill, Robert Baxter, Liam Woods, Jay Halron, Paddy Malumba, Dylan Kelly, Jamie Walsh, Jamie Lawlor, Colm Iveagh, Adam Liston, Colm Flemming.

Champs Barnhall continue perfect run WOMEN’S DIVISION TWO  sport@dublingazette.com

NEWLY crowned Leinster women’s Division 2 champions MU Barnhall won a highly entertaining tussle with Dublin University 25-12 despite the intentions of Storm Dennis to try and dictate affairs.

From the kick-off, Barnhall’s back row Claudia Astudillo took the ball directly into the Trinity defensive line and absorbed a massive hit.

Supported by Bianca Paun, the speed of the ruck allowed scrum half Ciara Carberry hit the ever abrasive Katelyn Doran for her first

carry of the day giving Barnhall the forward momentum needed.

From an ensuing scrum, it took only two phases of play for out half Orlath Murray to find an opening.

Stepping off her outside foot, she fixed the defense and released Jai Kiera, whose slippery steps dazzled the defense as she slipped through to open the scoring.

Trinity responded, mauling over for a fantastic team try which was quickly converted.

But Barnhall bounced back and a smashing ruck by Bianca Paun allowed the ball to make its way to Katelyn Doran, who made another break supported by Holly Leach, who received the off load before

setting up Murray for a try that oozed class.

Then, after a period of sustained pressure, Tracey Talbot was released to stretch the lead further.

Leah Brannigan grabbed the team’s fourth try and earned the bonus point in the process.

Trinity, though, were staying in the mix and continued to attack, keeping the gap to eight points with their second try until the last stages when a muddy forwards battle saw Paun get her hands on the ball for the fifth try.

It was their tenth win in succession and has them 17 points clear of Balbriggan at the top of the table.

Bianca Paun tackled by Trinity.

Picture: Christine Taylor

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 27 February 2020

ROUND

CLUB NOTES

2

ROUND TOWER, CLONDALKIN A DISAPPOINTING start to the league campaign for our Inter Hurlers who were beaten by St Maurs. The Junior Hurling fixture v St Joseph’s was called off. Our Minor A Footballers lost to St Peter’s in their first league game and the B team had their game canceled.

Dáta don dialann do Seachtain na Gaeilge le Cumann an Chloigthí - A date for the diary for Seachtain na Gaeilge with Round Tower GAA club: Sathairn 7ú lá de Márta sa chlub ag a 9 a chloig / Saturday 7th March in the clubhouse at 9pm. Beidh cúpla focail, agus ceol ó The Blahgards / There’ll be ‘cúpla focail’ and music from The Blahgards! Bí linn - Come and join us. All welcome!

Two for the Road - Jack Whelan and Shane Boland, will be performing in the club the night before St Patrick’s Day, on Monday 16th March. Doors open 8pm and admission €5. It should be a great night, with money raised to support our adult Camogie team.

Disco for 4th - 6th class pupils this coming Friday, 28th February, 7-30pm – 9pm. Tickets on sale on Monday 23rd and Thursday 27th in the clubhouse from 7pm -8pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Our Under 9 Boys Footballers & Hurlers have a great fundraising draw in place. Up for grabs is a signed jersey from the five-in-a-row winning Dubs.

ST PAT’S, PALMERSTOWN THE minor panel are holding a fundraising Quiz in the Palmerstown House on Friday evening (28 February) at 8.30pm. The Quiz is in support of minor players, Adam Devitt and Conor McDonagh, who are travelling to Zambia in May to work in schools and orphanages. All welcome.

Our senior hurlers went down to a stronger Ballyboden St Enda’s on Sunday morning. However, the lads kept going to the end and better days are ahead.

Next weekend, the senior footballers play Clanna Gael Fontenoy at home in Glenaulin on Sunday morning at 10.30am. The junior footballers are away to Skerries Harps at 3pm.

The minor hurlers play away to Round Towers Clondalkin at 11am.

Weather permitting, there should be a full round of juvenile fixtures next weekend. Fixture details on the website during the week.

Membership for 2020 is now due, and should be paid as soon as possible. The easi-

est way is to pay on on-line at www.stpatricksgaa.ie New members very welcome.

The Easter Camp will be on from 6 – 9 April. The Cúl Camps will be on 6 – 10 July, and 13 – 17 July. Further information will follow.

Operation Transformation continues on Thursday evening from the Clubhouse at 7.30 pm.

This is the last evening, so a big turn-out would be welcome.

The numbers in the Lotto draw this week were 1, 2, 25 and 28. There was no jackpot winner. We had one match 3 winner – Gerry McDonagh who won €200.

The jackpot next week will be €10,000.

There will also be a second €1,000 jackpot, one ticket is entered into both draws which take place on Sunday night in the Palmerstown House at 10pm. Tickets are available online, and from SuperValu, Palmerstown House, and Manor Hair Studios.

THOMAS DAVIS WELL done to both our adult hurling teams who had a good start to the league with two away victories at the weekend, the seniors beat Erin’s Isle in Finglas 4-17 to 2-17 in AHL2 while the juniors beat Round Towers Lusk in Gormanstown 1-10 to 0-5 in AHL7. The minor footballers also had a good win away to Brigids in MFL2.

In the juvenile section the U16 footballers beat Whitehall and the U16B lost to O Dwyer’s, U15 beat Erin’s isle and U15B lost to James Gaels, U14 beat Lucan, U13 beat St Brigids and U13B lost to Na Dubhgaill while in hurling the U12 beat Ballinteer and U12B lost to Whitehall.

Well done to the senior ladies footballers who took part in the annual Paidi O’Se tournament in Dingle, a great weekend was had by all.

Our Kids Academy takes place every Sat morning from 10-11am on the Astro pitch. New players welcome. Contact Club GPO Stephen Stewart for further details 0876795720. Check out our club website for all up to date juvenile training times and team contacts. www.thomasdavis.ie Our food Menu is now served in the upstairs lounge Thurs 4-9pm, Fri 4-9pm, Sat 12.30-9.00pm and Carvery downstairs 12-7pm on Sundays.

Open to all the community to enjoy our delicious food. Coffee shop now open 9.30am - 12.30pm on Saturday and Sundays.

Membership for 2020 is now due, please check the club website or Facebook for online payment options or search Thomas Davis on the Clubforce app.

Lotto Numbers 5,10,21+22. Lotto not won. Next Week’s jackpot is €1,500.

LADIES FOOTBALL: ANNUAL DINGLE COMORTAS

Boden and Davis star at O’Se event  sport@dublingazette.com

IT WAS a favourable return for local clubs as Thomas Davis senior ladies and Ballyboden St Enda’s senior and junior teams made the trip south to Kerry to the Lidl Comórtas Peile Páidi Ó Sé, the famed adult men’s and ladies club tournament, which took place all over the Dingle Peninsula last weekend.

In the senior cup, Davis overcame Cavan’s Drumlane 4-10 to 2-2 with Rachel Newell scoring two great goals, but they fell to Clonguish of Longford in the semi-final.

Boden went further with wins over Galway’s Caltra Cuans and Sarsfields of Newbridge to reach the final.

They were up against Longford’s Clonguish in the final and there was real bite in this one, with new Ballyboden manager and 10-time All-Ireland winning Cork football legend Valerie Mulcahy trying to make an impression with her adopted club.

The Dubs made a bright start with former Dublin player Rachel Ruddy impressing at centre back while Clonguish centre forward Camille B u r ke ke p t t h e m i n touch with a great goal.

The half time score saw

Ballyboden St Enda’s B team captain Laura Basquel receiving the Junior Ladies Cup from Tom Ó Sé ; inset features the Ballyboden St Enda’s A team

Boden in the lead 4-2 to 2-1.

It looked like the weekend had caught up on Clonguish but they slowly found their form and turned it around with a flurry of points and two more goals from Camille Burke to go one ahead with ten minutes left.

Despite Clonguish losing a player to a black card, Boden, who pushed hard for a draw, could not break the Longford ladies, and they held out on a final score of 5-8 to 5-7.

The Ballyboden Junior ladies team side went one better, taking home silverware in the junior

ladies cup for the second year in a row.

They accounted easily for two Kerry clubs in the earlier rounds including Ballymacelligott (6-12 to 0-2) and Annascaul/ Castlegregory by 3-14 to 0-4. The Boden girls kept their form into the final, beating Mayo’s Breaffy by 5-7 to 1-6 with Laura Basquel to the fore.

The football festival, which is supported by Lidl Ireland, McKeever Sports, EJ Menswear, Kerry County Coun cil Tourism Unit and Lee Strand Milk, was founded by Kerry iconic footballer Páidi Ó Sé and has attracted over

The Thomas Davis side who reached the semi-final of the Senior Cup

16,700 club players over 31 years, growing into a major international GAA event with senior, intermediate and junior adult club competitions as well as teams attending social events at Comórtas HQ, Páidí Ó Sé’s pub in Ventry.

Comórtas Chairman Pádraig Óg Ó Sé said, “We are delighted to have the Dubs down every year and the ladies were very competitive again this year. They conducted themselves very well all weekend.

“The locals in attendance got great value from the senior ladies final in particular.”

27 February 2020 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 31

HURLING: FINGAL SIDE PROVE TOO STRONG ON OPENING DAY OF AHL3 Round Tower got their league season off to a slow start against St Maur’s.

Pictures: Matthew Lysaght

Maur’s Rush to big win over Towers AHL DIVISION 3

Round Tower, Clondalkin St Maur’s  MICHAEL MCGLYNN sport@dublingazette.com

1-12 2-19

ROUND Tower’s intermediate hurlers got off to a disappointing start to the league campaign as they were defeated 1-12 to 2-19 by St Maurs.

Following the high of 2019, it was a humbling start to 2020 as they suffered a comprehensive opening day league loss.

The opening quarter saw the visitors edge into a three point lead before fouls on Eoin Moran, Alex O’Neill and Eoin Walsh provided three opportunities from placed balls that were taken by free-taker Liam O’Connor to level matters.

O’Neill, whose carrying throughout consistently had the northside men on the backfoot, struck Towers’ fourth from a tight angle off the right.

It left the sides tied at four apiece but Maurs registered three in reply.

The Clondalkin club needed a jolt and received it in the 18th minute.

Eoghan Young won possession in the

middle and released Eric Finn on the half-forward line. His pacey and direct run drew defenders and he palmed to O’Connor on the left who struck to the roof of the net.

But, disappointingly, Towers couldn’t build on the goal against a powerful visiting team. The rush men registered a goal almost straight off when a long free deceived the Towers rearguard and found its way into the net.

A long range free stretched the margin to four points and, on the 22nd minute mark, another decisive blow was struck, when another long-range strike edged across the Towers goal line.

O’Neill responded with another excellent finish just short of the right sideline, again while carrying at pace. But Maurs finished the half in supremacy, striking four points to leave the half-time margin 2-13 v 1-6.

It would have taken a considerable turnaround to tilt the balance of the game. The opening exchanges proved optimistic.

In the first play, Darren Gilligan seized upon a break to tee-up O’Connor to register Towers’ seventh point. Walsh also

struck early and along with substitute Conán O’Broin and O’Connor, he created an opening for Finn to strike the ninth point.

But, crucially, Maur’s had also tagged on points in the opening stages and never looked like relinquishing their commanding advantage.

O’Connor did point following another surging run from O’Neill. Maur’s were

2-18 to the good when an opening was created for Moran, but his goalbound strike was deflected over. Gilligan bookended the half, finishing for a point after O’Neill yet again was instrumental in creating the opportunity.

The Clondalkin club will hope to put the opening day disappointment behind them on March 8 when they visit Kilmacud Crokes.

FOOTBALL

O’Dell and Lavin on the mark as U-20s march on TEMPLEOGUE Synge Street’s Lorcan O’Dell landed 1-2 as Dublin’s Under-20 footballers progressed to the EirGrid Leinster Under-20 football championship final following a comprehensive provincial semi-final victory over Meath at Parnell Park on Saturday.

The Dubs laid the platform for the victory in the opening half as they led 1-8 to 0-3 at the half-time interval having played with the elements and eventually ran out 2-14 to 0-7 winners.

Kieran McKeon opened Dublin’s account in the second minute before Luke Swan got the first goal in the second minute when he finished Ciarán Archer’s angled goal effort to the Meath net.

Points from midfielder Evan Caulfield, who tallied 0-3 from play overall, and Luke Swan gave Dublin an early seven-point advantage.

Meath failed to score from play in the opening half, all their three scores coming from placed ball, while the hard-working Lucan Sarsfields man Mark Lavin chipped in with two fine points for Dublin towards the close of the opening half.

Three minutes into the second half O’Dell carved through the middle of the Meath defence before finishing to the net with poise to see his side move 2-8 to 0-3 in front. And that pretty much ended the tie as a contest. The final will be played on March 6 against Laois.

GazetteSPORT FEB 27 - MARCH 4, 2020

ALL OF YOUR WEST DUBLIN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31 33-39

ROVERS ADD FIREPOWER SOCCER:

Shamrock Rovers add more star shooting quality to their freescoring forward line with the arrival of Gaffney. SEE P28

TOWERS TOPPLED HURLING: Round Tower find opening league tie of 2020 a tough outing after highs of 2019.

SEE P31

DINING OUT IN DINGLE LADIES FOOTBALL: Ballyboden St Enda’s and Thomas Davis prove their worth at the annual Paidi O’Se tournament on the Dingle peninsula.

SEE P30

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Roche indicates Peas statement of intent  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

NO T E A M h a s b e e n busier in the Women’s National League offseason than Peamount United but they saved the most eye-catching for last as Ireland international Steph Roche was unveiled.

The 54-times-capped Irish international from a year in Serie A with CF Florentia, having taken in France, the United States and England on her travels.

She joins new arrivals Alannah McEvoy (Shelbourne) and Sadhbh Doyle (Galway) at the club, while former Peas winger Sara McKevitt has also returned following a year with Wexford Youths.

Fo r m e r Pe a m o u n t and Ireland playmaker Tiegan Ruddy has also returned following a spell at college in America, though she is still in recovery mode from a serious knee injury.

It’s the arrival of Roche that will set tongues wagging as the return of such a household name will raise the profile of a league that continues to lose its best talent to professional football abroad.

The 30-year-old was nominated for the coveted FIFA Puskas Award for best goal, eventually losing out to Colombia striker James Rodriguez, for a stunning 2014 strike against Wexford Youths.

That goal, caught on video by her then-Peas manager and now mem-

Stephanie Roche in Irish training last October.

Picture: Piaras O MIdheach/Sportsfile

“She’s a great influence. The experience she

got from playing abroad has made her a better player than when she left.“ ber of the Irish set-up, Eileen Gleeson, propelled her to national and international fame.

Spells with ASPTT Albi, Houston Dash and Sunderland followed before, following a nasty knee injury sustained on international duty, she signed for Florentia at the beginning of last year.

Following a globe-trotting six years, Roche has opted to return to Dublin and her former club

Peamount, where she will join up with James O’Callaghan’s league champions.

“Everybody knows the name of Steph, from the goal she got, so she’s a high-profile player,” O’Callaghan told Dublin Gazette.

“She scored the goal for Peamount and she’s been on the journey she’s been on and she’s coming back home now, and she’s coming back to Peamount, so it’s great

to have.

“Steph has been on amazing journey since she got that amazing goal. She was finishing up in Italy and it was an opportunity to bring her back to Peamount, and she’s another exciting player.

“She’s a great influence. The experience she got from playing abroad has made her a better player than when she left. I’m hoping she can use that experience and

be a great help with the younger players in the team.”

Roche was recalled to the Ireland set-up after a long injury recovery but was left out of Vera Pa uw ’s m o s t re c e n t squad for the home game with Greece and trip to Montenegro in March.

“She was brought back into the squad recently but, for whatever reason,she’s not in the latest one,” O’Callghan added.

“She’s back with Peamount now and hopefully she can put in some good performances and get back into that squad.

“The Women’s National League is a very good standard. It’s improving all the time. I know it’s amateur at the moment.

“I’d like to think, down the road, it could even get up to semi-professional standard. Players coming back into the league, the likes of Steph, can only help that process.”