West

DublinGazette WEST EDITION

FREE

WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE SDCC AREA, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED  NOVEMBER 9-15, 2017

afdad: Wasdfdsafdsafdsfaasfs P16-17

FREE

FDO Bluetooth mirrors .

(RRP €399 each)

SEE PAGE 18

SPORT Egan shines with China medals P40

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

Find us on

PAIR ARE HOPING TO RAISE €30,000 FOR THE SIMON COMMUNITY

Marathon man Mark runs around Ireland to help homeless

 MARK NOLAN A CLONDALKIN man is running 1,000km around Ireland to raise money and awareness for the homeless in Ireland. Mark Conlon and his friend Noel Ward are hoping to raise €30,000 for the Simon Community. Speaking to The Gazette on Monday, Mark said the run was tough going but he was determined to See Page 9 raise as much money as possible for the charity.

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 9 November 2017

INITIATIVE | UNITING NEED TO RECRUIT WITH NEEDS OF THE YOUNG

‘Get the younger people working for the council’  MARK O’BRIEN SOUTH Dublin County councillors have been urged to back a proposal that would encourage the council to recruit young people from the area in an attempt to tackle youth unemployment.

Cllr Dermot Looney (SD) plans to bring the motion before the council at the next meeting this month.

Since 2008, employment in local authorities has fallen by 20% across the country.

Campaign SIP TU recently launched their “Your County, Your Youth, Your Future” campaign which encourages councils to recruit young people from within their catchment area.

South Dublin County Council have told Cllr Looney that they believe that they have sufficient staffing numbers but Cllr Looney told The Gazette that he disagrees with that assessment.

“I would say that per head of population, we’re at a distinct disadvantage in South Dublin in comparison with some of the rural councils, which have many, many more staff than we do,” he said.

“If the council had the ability to hire more staff they’d be able to provide a much better service to the public and in trying to deal with that issue, we should try and deal as well with unemployment locally, particularly with youth unemployment locally where there is a significant issue.”

Cllr Looney said that he felt that the age profile of staff had been affected by the moratorium on hiring staff and that recruiting young people would act as a way of countering this issue.

“Only in the last 18 months or so, the council started hiring people for the first time in years and something like this can bring in younger people to work, be it as tradespeople or office staff,” he said.

“That’s why I think it’s good for councillors to endorse this.

“We don’t have an official say over staffing issues in the council, but what we can say to Government is we want more staff and we want those staff to be employed from local people.”

Cllr Looney added that he felt that younger people could

offer a new skillset to the council in terms of technological skills but he also paid tribute to the high level of innovation shown by current council staff.

“There’s a certain courage in South Dublin County Council and there’s people who have come from different backgrounds,” he said.

“You’ve people who have come from the private sector, people who have come from different areas of the public sector who are bringing their own skills and definitely who are encouraged to innovate and so the council itself has won plenty of awards and local government awards for some of the innovative things it has come up with, but it certainly won’t do it any damage to have younger people involved.”

FASTNews

Clondalkin woman named Carer Of The Year 2017 CLONDALKIN woman Elaine Doherty has been named Comfort Keepers’ Carer of the year 2017 for Ireland.

Elaine was named the winner at a ceremony at Kilashee House Hotel in Kildare with Daithi O’Se presenting on the night. The award was made in recognition of her work with the elderly and disabled.

She was ranked highest among Comfort Keepers’ 1,500 staff in Ireland.

Elaine has won a trip to Texas, USA, for our Comfort Keepers International Awards next year.

According to her colleagues, Elaine is “a kind and thoughtful person. She’s a deserving winner as she believes in her work and the difference that home carers can make to the person and their families.”

Retention of 9% VAT rate ‘vital for local tourism’ THE retention of the 9% VAT rate is vital for tourism here in the South Dublin Council Area, according to Fine Gael councillor Emer Higgins.

Cllr Higgins said: “The latest official data on overseas travel from the CSO, showed an increase of 2.9% in overseas visits to Ireland for the first nine months of 2017 compared to the same in 2016. Tourism accounts for 11% of total employment in Ireland with 60,000 jobs in the hotel sector alone. Over 13,000 new jobs were created in the tourism and hospitality sector in 2016 bringing the total number of new jobs since 2011 to almost 50,000.”

Cllr Higgins added that she felt it was undeniable that the 9% VAT rate had contributed to the regeneration of the tourism industry and said that it was essential competitiveness and value was maintained.

McDonald’s workers receive qualifications

Dynamic duo

SUPERHEROS Riona Farry and Donal Hewson pictured at Merrion Square, for the launch of the Irish League of Credit Unions All Ireland Schools Quiz.

Around 25,000 schoolchildren will take part in the competition, now in its 27th year.

Schools interested in participating can contact their local credit union to register.

Picture: JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY

106 employees from McDonald’s in South Dublin City and County have been awarded City & Guilds qualifications.

The employees, from restaurants across South Dublin, were amongst over 300 McDonald’s staff members to receive qualifications at a ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin on October 25.

As part of workplace training, employees from 57 of McDonald’s network of 91 restaurants across Ireland received City & Guilds internationally-recognised qualifications this year – a Level 2 Diploma in either Hospitality Service or Customer Care.

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

9 November 2017 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

A CLONDALKIN councillor is hoping to become Ireland’s entry for Eurovision next year.

Cllr Trevor Gilligan (FF) has submitted his new song “Keep You Warm” for consideration for next year’s contest which will be held in Lisbon, Portugal from May 8 to 12.

Cllr Gilligan released his debut EP, “My 1st Album” to rave reviews earlier this year. He told The Gazette that music has always been a passion of his.

“It’s something that I’m really interested in,” he said.

“I love music, I’ve a passion for it and I’m interested in the Eurovision and I think that with the songs from the past, I don’t think they were us putting our best foot forward.

“I think I can bring something to the table when it comes to Ireland’s Eurovision entry.”

Cllr Gilligan said that he would love to see Ireland return to the glory days of the 1990s when we won four contests in five years. “If we were capable of doing it then, we’re capable of doing it now,” he said.

He added that he felt a good song could overcome any obstacles, such as block voting from other nations.

“I think if we put our best song forward the music will overcome any country, any kind of favouritism,” he said.

“If the song is good and the vocals are good and the performance is good, I don’t see any reason why we couldn’t win or even if we didn’t win, just put in a good showing to give us something to look forward to and hope for in the future.”

In spite of his musical ambitions, Cllr Gilligan said that he won’t be leaving the people of Clondalkin any time soon to pursue fame and fortune.

“I do love my politics,” he said.

“I’m from Clondalkin, I’ve lived here all my life.

“I went to Clonburris and Moyle Park and a lot of the people I would deal with would be people I know from the community – friends, family and so on - and I love what I do.”

GILLIGAN’S GOING FOR EUROVISION GLORY

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 9 November 2017

Out and About

All the fans in

the stands gave their teams

great support.

Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Callum Morris, of St Mary’s BNS Lucan in action against Odhran McLaughlin, of St Mary’s BNS Rathfarnham.

Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

Schools enjoy big day at Croke Park

Girls are loud ... A great cheer from the Scoil Santain Tamhlacht players, after their victory against St Damian’s NS. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

C

ROKE Park was thronged last week for the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol finals with hundreds of primary school children from around Dublin enjoying a big day out on the hallowed turf. The venue played host to two days of finals of the annual primary schools Gaelic football finals with more than a dozen titles on the line, all played out in front of fervent support from the children’s schoolmates and their families. Dublin senior football stars Jonny Cooper and Ciaran Kilkenny were also on hand to add to the occasion, taking selfies with groups of fans and players in tandem with the mighty Sam Maguire trophy – the highlight of the day for many.

Sean O Conghaile of Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcain in action against Dylan Whyte of Clonburris.

Sean Keary of St Mary’s BNS Rathfarnham in action against Ryan

Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Clancy of St Mary’s BNS Lucan. Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

9 November 2017 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 9 November 2017

Castletymon library to close CASTLETYMON Library is to close temporarily at the end of the month.

The news was confirmed at last week’s Tallaght Area Committee meeting of South Dublin County Council.

No jobs will be lost due to the closure with staff being redeployed elsewhere within the library service.

A new library is expected to open on a site beside St Aengus’ Church in early 2019.

Cllr Mick Duff told The Gazette that he was hoping to have plans put in place to maintain some library service in the area in the interim.

He said: “It will be a huge loss to the area – albeit temporarily - until we get the new library but the new library won’t come on stream until early 2019.

“I’ve requested that they (SDCC) supply the mobile library service to the area and that the local community centre will

take up some of the slack as regards photocopying and other services and the use of computers and so forth in the meantime to keep some of the services going.”

Cllr Duff said that he was especially keen to maintain after-school programmes that the library currently offer.

“We’re going to try and fill that vacuum by trying to get council libraries to agree to use the local community centre for some of the services just to fill the gap, so they won’t lose contact because if you don’t have those things for more than a year, you nearly use a generation,” he said.

“If you lose that contact with the library, I think it would be a huge loss.”

Despite the inconvenience, Cllr Duff said that residents are looking forward to the opening of the new library.

“It’s very exciting,” he said. “The plans look lovely.”

COUNCIL | O’CONNELL DETERMINED DESPITE DEFEAT

Councillor calls for constituency for minorities

 MARK O’BRIEN

A LOCAL councillor has said that South Dublin County Council should investigate the possibility of creating a county-wide constituency of people from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.

Cllr Guss O’Connell (IND) brought a motion before the recent full council meeting of the council but saw the motion defeated.

Cllr O’Connell told The Gazette that he would continue to promote the idea, in spite of his motion being voted against.

He said: “We’ve 120 different nationalities in our county alone and in the normal run of events it will take – if you look at the Irish in America and the UK and elsewhere – it will take forever to integrate them into our community and one of the ways of ensuring that we do

that in an accelerated way would be by making sure that some of them are elected onto a council.

“We have now accepted that Travellers are an ethnic minority, but to give expression to that, we really should be offering them an opportunity of going forward because otherwise to work through the party or independent system is much too slow.”

Some councillors voted against the motion as they felt that creating such a constituency would be undemocratic, but Cllr O’Connell said that he did not agree with that view.

“The arguments that were put up was that there are other minority groups around as well and that it would dilute the democratic system,” he said.

“In other words, you would be giving certain individuals a better chance of electing somebody and cutting across democracy.

“I don’t agree with that. I believe that just as it’s fair to have a quota when you’re trying to get women on, the quota won’t work in this kind of a situation.

“It is much better to try and go for a direct constituency where people like that have a chance of getting elected.

“We have it in the Seanad but it would be much more relevant at local level.”

Cllr O’Connell is a member of the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) and he said that he will attempt to raise the issue through that channel.

“I’m also a member of the AILG and we’re meeting very shortly now as a deputation with the Dail committee that is looking at constituencies and looking at the way in which local government works and I’m on that delegation so I’ve another chance to bring it forward,” he said.

Maths week adds up to Confey College fun STUDENTS from north and west Dublin and even farther afield had a busy week in the Maths department of Confey College, Leixlip as they set out to show fellow students how important it is to have fun with maths.

Maths teacher Ciara Kennedy said: “It’s very important that students enjoy doing maths and see how relevant solving maths problems is in day-to-day life

situations. Students really enjoy working on the maths problems together.”

A maths treasure hunt proved a great success as students worked out the maths problems that led to the next clue and treasure. The first years had a maths quiz which the TY students organised.

The competition included the use of maths games and questions on an iPad, while third-,

fifth- and TY students also took part in the Prism competition – a problem-solving competition for Irish second level maths students held in association with University College Cork.

Principal Mike O’Byrne said: “There is such a good buzz around the school during maths week. The students love all the competitions and I’m delighted to see them engaged in problem solving.”

9 November 2017 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 9 November 2017

Jailed for stealing valuable cars and having €28k worth of drugs A DUBLIN man has been jailed for stealing two valuable cars and having €28,000 worth of cannabis.

Wayne Gilligan (22) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the theft of two family cars from a house in Swords on January 3, 2016.

Gilligan of Foxdene Avenue, Clondalkin, also pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of €28,600 worth of cannabis at his home on January 9th 2016.

Judge Melanie Greally noted the significant impact the theft had on the car owners, which including leading them to be fearful for their personal security.

She imposed a four-year sentence but suspended the last 18 months.

Judge Greally said that Gilligan’s serious drug addiction meant that he kept “extremely menacing company”, had incurred significant debts and received death threats.

She said she was giving him credit for his early guilty plea in relation to both offences, his young age and his co-operation with the gardai during their investigation.

Judge Greally said she accepted that the offences were committed in the context of addiction and debt, coupled with the fact that Gilligan knew his life was in danger.

She said the defendant, who has been in custody for 20 months has made significant attempts to recover from his drug addiction and to reform his life. Judge Greally directed that Gilligan take up a bed in Coolmine Residential Centre for addiction treatment when one becomes available.

Making history

CLLR Francis Timmons and his new husband made history last week by becoming the first couple to get married in Dublin’s Freemason Hall.

CllrTimmons wed his partner of 19 years, Darren Lamont at the Molesworth Street venue that has been the home of Irish Freemasonry for almost 150 years.

Cllr Timmons thanked everyone who had offered messages of support.

“Earlier this year we got a vile homophobic letter in our post-box but we have felt huge support since,” he said.

“Up to and following our wedding we have been inundated with hundreds of kind and supportive messages on Facebook, emails and texts and have really felt supported’’ “I grew up in a time when it was illegal to be gay in Ireland, where homophobic language and actions were common place and the fact that I am now a married gay man shows how far as a nation we have come, what an incredible long journey we have come and how incredible to have our love recognised as a couple at long last.”

Darren Lamont added: “We are proud to have been a part of making history.

“Not only was ours the first wedding to take place in this beautiful, iconic and unique building, but it was also a same-sex wedding, showing how open and accepting Irish freemasonry is.

“Freemasons Hall is now a registered wedding venue and we hope many more couples will celebrate their happy day here.”

Mark Kane, Francis Timmons, Darren Lamont and Thomas Lamont

9 November 2017 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

FASTNews

John Hume speaking with president Bill Clinton

John Hume documentary to be shown at the IMC A POWERFUL documentary about John Hume will be shown at IMC Cinema in Tallaght on Friday November 17.

Maurice Fitzpatrick’s film tells the compelling story of Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume and his pursuit of the political process in Northern Ireland and his success in creating new political structures in Ireland from the Civil Rights Movement through to peace process.

The film shows how Hume cultivated the support of a succession of US presidents to harness US support to forge an inclusive peace in Ireland.

In the film, President Bill Clinton calls Hume ‘the Martin Luther King of the Irish conflict’.

Narrated by Liam Neeson, with an original musical score by Bill Whelan (Riverdance), this 90 minute documentary includes compelling footage from the conflict in Northern Ireland and interviews with former American Presidents, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and John Major and Taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, who all discuss Hume’s vital role as one of the key agents of transformation in Northern Ireland.

Tickets can be booked at www.imccinemas.ie

Lucan student is second in Rubik’s Cube contest A LUCAN Community College student has finished second in the UK Rubik’s Cube Championships.

Ciaran Beahan took home the silver medal at the event held over the midterm break in Stevenage, Bedfordshire.

Over the past few years Ciaran has competed at the highest levels with the Rubik’s Cube and has been crowned Irish national champion for the past three successive years.

He also competed at the World and European Championships, finishing an incredible 27th and 17th place respectively.

Ciaran’s overall record with the Rubik’s Cube is particularly impressive.

He has amassed 54 gold medals, 35 silver medals and 28 bronze medals over the last few years.

A spokesperson for Lucan Community College said: “The entire school community wishes Ciarán continued success this year as he juggles his studies for his Leaving Certificate with his talent at the Rubik’s Cube.”

CHARITY | 1,000KM CHALLENGE AID OF THE SIMON COMMUNITY

Clondalkin’s Mark to run around Ireland to help the homeless  MARK O’BRIEN A CLONDALKIN man is running 1,000km around Ireland to raise money and awareness for the homeless in Ireland.

Mark Conlon and his friend Noel Ward have already raised €1,300 on their Just Giving page and they hope to raise €30,000 by the time the challenge is finished.

Speaking to The Gazette on Monday, Mark said: “We’re doing 50km a day for 22 days in aid of the Simon Community.

“We started off in Dublin City on Friday, we got a garda escort out of the city.

“We met the Lord Mayor of Dublin and the Simon Community were there. Dublin Bus put on a bus for us.”

Mark is an experienced runner

with over 100 long distance marathons under his belt and over 10 years’ experience serving in the Irish Army.

Noel is also an experienced ultra-marathon runner who has competed in over 100 marathons ranging from 26 miles to 100 miles in distance and in all terrains.

They have made good progress so far and were hoping to reach Cork by Wednesday.

“We are past Kilkenny now,” said Mark.

“We’ve run all the way up the canal, up past Sallins, up to Athy.

We stopped in Athy overnight and then we continued on from there.”

They then plan to run from Cork to Galway before heading to Belfast and back to Dublin.

Mark said that it has been hard

going so far, with the two men having to run in the dark for part of the way.

“Last night we didn’t finish up until probably 6.30pm and it was dark,” he said.

“We were running through the mountains on trial last night because it’s safer than the road and then we’ll continue up the road from where we finished up last night.”

In spite of the challenges, Mark said that he is relishing the run in the knowledge that it is all for a good cause.

“I’ve bad blisters now on my feet and the limbs are sore, everything you can think off but it’s worth it,” he said.

“I’ve great passion for this.”

To follow Mark and Noel’s progress please visit their Face-

Mark Conlon

book page Mark & Noel’s Ultra Marathon for the Homeless or visit their Just Giving page (https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/mark-Noelsultrama rathon?newPage=True).

Students enjoying 21st century learning skills  MARK O’BRIEN

A NEW Lucan school is putting digital first by integrating technology into the school curriculum.

Griffeen Community College took in its first class this year and the first year students are using

tablets and technology in tandem with traditional learning methods.

Principal Rachel McGrath told The Gazette that the opening of a new school presented the ideal opportunity to use these methods.

She said: “Because the

The pupils and teachers of first year

new Junior Cycle looks for the integration of IT across the curriculum, it was the perfect opportunity for a new school to start that way.”

Ms McGrath said that the students love learning through technology but staff are conscious that

there is a blend of new and traditional educational methods.

“We are very conscious about screen time and they (the pupils) still have to understand literacy so that is also a very important aspect of what we do,” she said.

“We limit the time that they use it in class and they use it just as a resource.”

Ms McGrath added that it was an exciting time for the school and she was committed to giving her pupils the best educational experience possible.

“Our school motto is ‘learn with pride and progress with confidence’,” she said.

“We are committed to providing the best educational experience and

developmental opportunities for our students and we will encourage the development of 21st century learning skills by creating dynamic, innovative, student-centred and technology-enhanced learning environments.”

The school is currently located in Kishoge Community College on the Ninth Lock Road in Lucan.

The new school will move to a purpose-built, brand-new complex within the next two years.

They are now enrolling for September 2018 and taking applications for 2019.

For details and application forms please contact info@griffeencc.ie.

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 9 November 2017

Out and About

The event featured fashion shows on the hour with all the latest trends

Fashion fans flock to a seriously super sale Carla Jackson with Faith and Lennon Whelan. Pictures: Conor Healy

Adam and Lily Larkin

S

HOPPING obsessed locals flocked to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre for their Light Up The Night Sale last week. With up to 20% off across most stores, it was a great opportunity to get all those glam party outfits for Christmas. The event was hosted by one of Ireland’s leading bloggers, Suzanne Jackson.

Anne Marie and Sarah Maleady

Ian Downes, Leon Forberg Downes and Lily Forberg

9 November 2017 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

Out and About

Vayda Whelan

Sarah O’Brien and Laura Skelly

Megan Coleman

Chi Vu

The crowd enjoyed fashion shows showcasing the latest trends

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 9 November 2017

MOTORS P22

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

TRAVEL P26



GAZETTE

MUSIC P20

CRAFTS: TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU ENJOY A WONDERFUL, RELAXING PASTIME MAKE IT GAME, SET AND MATCH FOR TENNIS BALL-LOVING MARLEY OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Marley. Marley is 6, a female Collie cross. Poor Marley has been given up on so many times by people and it has taken its toll on her. Marley is super sweet and affectionate but as people have abandoned her in the past, she has lost her ability to trust any new people that she meets. Marley is exceptionally clever and would excel in all kinds of training. She needs an adult only home with someone who is home full time to help work on building her confidence and helping her to become used to spending periods of time alone.

If you’re looking to give a very special and very beautiful dog the chance at life that they truly deserve, then Marley could be the lady you’ve been looking for. Marley loves tennis balls, in fact it is probably the way to her heart so make sure to have one if you come to meet her!

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, at www. facebook.com/dogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.

Get hooked on knitting CRAFT enthusiasts are gearing up for this year’s Knitting and Stitching Show which is on in the RDS this month.

To get in the mood for the country’s longest running textile event, The Gazette asked Marina Hand of Winnie the Wool Wagon and Winnie’s Craft Cafe in Booterstown for her top tips for those thinking of starting or returning to knitting.

“Knitting is a wonderful, relaxing and practical pastime,” Marina said.

“Here are our tips for those thinking of learning (or revisiting) this skill.”

1. Go for the easy win. Pick a simple project to start with. A scarf or a cowl in chunky wool means that you will quickly see the fruits of your work, which is always encouraging. Even if you knitted complicated patterns years ago, it is good to warm up the knitting muscles gently!

2. Pick colours you love, even if you are knitting for somebody else.

Winnie’s Craft Cafe at the Knitting and Stitching Show

You will be spending quite some time with your knitting, so you want to make sure that you will have a good relationship!

3. Avoid really dark colours.

With the darker evenings, you will only stress yourself trying to see your stitches if you make a mistake. Yes, grey is really on trend

at the moment, but a light or midgrey is just as nice and not half as difficult to work with!

4. Embellishments. A simple garter stitch scarf or hat can be made really stylish with a pompom, button or simple crochet flower.

5. If you can’t make it, fake it!

Craft shops are currently full of

knitted hats and scarves. Buy a plain one and make it your own with buttons, pompoms, felt and crocheted flowers. Let loose your creative side!

6. Winnie’s Theory on the Separation of Knitters – you are never more than two steps away from a knitter! If you are stuck, ask a friend. You would be surprised how many closet crafters there are out there! The community of knitters is also extremely connected and helpful, so, welcome on board!

7. The Knitting and Stitching Show is a great place to get inspiration and meet fellow crafters.

Call a couple of your friends and make a day of it. Comfortable shoes and a big bag are a must.

Winnie’s Craft Cafe is based in Booterstown and has a wide range of yarns for all tastes and budgets.

They will be exhibiting at the Knitting & Stitching Show from November 9 to 12 in the RDS. Stand D34 or check them out on www.WinnieTheWoolWagon. com.

9 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

Designer, tech entrepreneur and founder of Dress For Success Sonya Lennon with Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee and Dublin City Councillor Claire Byrne (GP) launching the equal pay campaign. Picture: Sam Boal

Addressing the gender pay gap

MANDATORY shared parental leave, more affordable childcare, and initiatives to tackle gender stereotyping are amongst the measures needed to address the gender pay gap, according to Dress for Success Dublin, the charity that supports women to enter the workforce and succeed at work.

The charity has launched a month-long campaign to highlight the gender pay gap and raise funds to support more women back to work.

Launching the Equal Pay campaign, Sonya Lennon, founder of Dress for Success Dublin and a wellknown designer and tech entrepreneur, said women in more precarious jobs and on lower salaries are “often overlooked” in discussions on gender equality.

“Since we held our inaugural Equal Pay campaign last year, there has been a lot of debate on the gender pay gap, and some welcome policy moves to ensure greater equality at work,” she said.

“However, at Dress for Success Dublin, we are concerned that the majority of discourse on this issue focuses on higher-income earners working in corporate settings.

“We believe the experiences of the poorest and most vulnerable women in Irish society are often overlooked.

“Addressing gender inequality in an equitable and sustainable way requires removing barriers to economic independence regardless of income or educational attainment levels.”

Dress for Success Dublin made a submission to the Government’s recent consultation on the gender pay gap, outlining the actions the organisation believes should be taken to effectively tackle the gender pay gap.

Further information is available at www.dressforsuccessdublin.org.

INNOVATION | MAKING SIGNIFICANT SOCIETAL IMPACTS

Funding solutions to our city’s challenges SMART Dublin and Enterprise Ireland have provided funding to 16 Dublin companies as part of a scheme to solve city challenges.

Solutions will be tested to address illegal dumping, to monitor and predict blocked gullies in high risk flooding areas and to design innovative wayfinding solutions across the Dublin region.

The programme is being delivered through Enterprise Ireland’s Small Business Innovation Research programme and is also a key action in the Dublin Action Plan for Jobs.

The challenges announced last May generated almost 200 expressions of interest with 40 proposals submitted and evaluated by industry, academic and

city experts.

Of those, 16 have been awarded phase 1 funding of circa €12,500 alongside supports from Smart Dublin to research and demonstrate the viability of their solution before the end of 2017.

Following this, a number of phase 2 contracts worth €25,000 to €50,000 each will be awarded to prototype the solutions in the city.

“This is an outstanding cohort of companies and we look forward to working with them over the coming months across the four Dublin local authorities,” said Philomena Poole, chair of Smart Dublin.

“We will support them to build new products and services that address our challenges, in turn

creating new job opportunities and supporting the companies to scaleup internationally.”

Maria Gavin, Enterprise Ireland, said: “Small Business Innovation Research is recognised internationally as a proven approach that works for both public bodies and companies.

“It facilitates SMEs with early stage ideas to access public sector procurement opportunities.

“I commend Smart Dublin for expanding their programme to take in three challenges and 16 new companies.

“This new fund has the potential to create in-demand technologies and innovations which can be adopted quickly to make positive and significant societal impacts.”

GAZETTE

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 9 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

DIARY

CAMPAIGN: CALLING ON DUBLIN TO ‘BE THE DIFFERENCE’ IN MEN’S HEALTH

Mo Bros unite to kick-start Movember

THIS year, Movember is calling on Dublin to “be the difference” in men’s health and sign up.

John “Coach” Kavanagh and his brother, the king of snapchat James, have teamed up to launch the annual campaign for the world’s largest men’s health charity.

As the only global charity focused solely on men’s health, Movember aims to impact the lives of Irish men by helping them take control of their health.

The Kavanagh Mo Bros were on hand at the launch to add their voices to the campaign in hopes that they will raise awareness for men’s health and what men can do to

take care of their health.

Speaking at the launch John said: “I am getting behind the Movember 2017 campaign because I know men are not talking about their health enough, both physical and mental, and we need to get a big conversation going so men know what they can do to safeguard their future health.”

James added: “Movember is not just about growing a moustache for November! People should log on to Movember. com to register and get involved, and raise funds by hosting your own event or donating online.”

Since launching in Ireland in 2008, Movember has been the primary funder of prostate

Eoin O’Neill, president, British Irish Chamber of Commerce and Alison Cotter BICC, with RNLI volunteers Chris Watson, Damien Payne, Kieran O’Connell, Laura Jackson, Craig Macintosh, Eamon O’Leary at their lifeboat station. Picture: Paul Sherwood

Social media star James Kavanagh and his brother, Irish martial arts coach John “Coach” Kavanagh , who united to launch the annual campaign for the world’s largest men’s health charity, Movember, at Sam’s Barbers in Dublin. Picture: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

cancer initiatives in Ireland through a partnership with the Irish Cancer Society. The charity highlights that most cancers are treatable and preventable – through early detection and small lifestyle changes.

To help Movember raise funds for men’s health go to Movember.com to sign up or donate.

GERALDINE GEARS UP TO SHOW OFF HER WORK AN animal-loving ar tist who creates portraits of pets designed to make people smile, will be showing her colourful work at Ireland’s premier art fair Art Source, in the RDS from November 10-12.

Geraldine Murphy creates animal-inspired wall hangings using copper sheeting and colourful vitreous enamel.

“Every single living creature in this world is significant and I love capturing the special qualities each animal has, both physical and emotional,” said Geraldine.

“I try to make something that people can easily relate to, that is uplifting and tells them something about their own life and most importantly that makes them smile.”

Art Source takes place at the RDS, Dublin, from November 10-12, admission is €10 adults,

€8 OAPs. Children under 16 free only if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Opening times: Friday Nov 10: 11am-9pm, Sat Nov 11: 10am-6pm, Sun Nov 12: 10am6pm.

CHARITY LUNCHEON IN AID OF THE RNLI THE British Irish Chamber of Commerce will host a Seasonal Charity Luncheon in aid of RNLI volunteer lifeboat.

This event is open to businesses and organisations across the capital to join in and show their support.

The fundraising event for the RNLI will take place in the Shelbourne Hotel at 12.30pm on Thursday, November 16.

A five-star raffle will be held with many fabulous prizes from RTE, CityJet, the InterContinental Hotel, Applegreen, Nuala Woulfe and many more.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will deliver the keynote address at the event followed by first-hand accounts of the lifesaving work undertaken by the charity provided by volunteer crewmembers from Dun Laoghaire RNLI and closing with guest entertainment from critically acclaimed comedian Colm O’Regan.

Announcing the event, John McGrane, Director-General

of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, said: “In the RNLI, the Chamber sees an organisation that demonstrates the strong ties between coastal communities across Great Britain and Ireland.

“The lifesaving work undertaken by the RNLI crews is awe-inspiring and speaks to the strength of the bonds across all islands.”

For those wishing to book a ticket to the charity event and demonstrate their support for the work undertaken by the RNLI please contact the Chamber’s event manager alison.cotter@britishirishchamber.com.

Tickets are on sale now at a cost of €150 per seat with all proceeds going directly to the RNLI.

official war artist and Kollwitz who lived through WW1 in Germany, and lost her son in combat early in the conflict.

Aftermath also includes a contemporary piece by Garrett Phelan who has produced new artwork, one in sound, the other in clay, in response to Orpen’s experience in the Somme in 1917.

There will also be a Remembrance concert in the Shaw Room on Sunday, November 12 at 3.30pm, featuring performances from Fionnuala Moynihan, Deirdre Moynihan, Ficino Ensemble.

CHRONICLING THE TERRORS OF WAR THE National Gallery of Ireland have announced a special programme in honour of Remembrance Weekend.

On November 11 and 12, visitors can view two exhibitions chronicling the terrors of war: Aftermath: The War Landscapes of William Orpen and Kathe Kollwitz: Life, Death and War. Both artists had direct experience of the war, Orpen as an

Artist and jewellery maker Geraldine Murphy with her dog Murf. Picture: Rara Photography

9 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 9 November 2017

Out and About

Producer Jamie D’alton and director Gavin Imelda May

Fitzgerald

Conor meets fans

McGregor biopic beats box office

Artem Lobov, Owen Roddy, Conor McGregor and John Kavanagh. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

T

HE new documentary about UFC champion Conor McGregor has knocked out the box office with the biggest opening weekend of any Irish film so far this year. Filmed over the course of four years, Conor McGregor: Notorious observes how the biggest star in MMA rose to the top.

With exclusive access, it includes highlights of McGregor’s career such as winning the UFC championship belt, his shock loss to rival Nate Diaz and his record-breaking Las Vegas bout against Floyd Mayweather. The biopic was given its first public screening at the Savoy Cinema last week and the stars were out in force.

Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin

Glenda Gilson

Owen Roddy and Kellie Roddy

Lisa Cannon

9 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

Out and About

Roz Purcell

Producer Jamie D’alton, Conor McGregor and director Gavin Fitzgerald

Erin McGregor

GAZETTE

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 9 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FOOD&DRINK

12 Dublin eateries curry favour at top competition TWELVE Dublin eateries took home gold awards at the Irish Curry Awards at the Crowne Plaze, Belfast.

Indie Spice Grill Swords, Masala, Kathmandu Kitchen, Kasturi, 3 Leaves, Banaras, Veda, Indie Spice Sandymount, Chameleon, Nightmarket, Tamarind and Saba 2 Go were among the winners.

The awards were created

by Belfast-based restaurateur Askir Ali to recognise the contribution made to Ireland’s food scene by hundreds of Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and other Asian chefs, restaurant workers and managers.

Speaking on the success of the event, founderAskirAli said: “Curry may have been born in

India, but it has grown and matured across Ireland. The Irish Curry Awards are recognition of that.

“I was really surprised and thrilled to see the level of support that was out there for the Irish Curry Awards and I am delighted that year two has been just as successful as the first.

“Nominations were up this year and the standard was too.

“We had in place a broad mix of judges and food critics onboard again this year.”

A total of 18 Asian eateries in Dublin won either gold or silver on the night.

Plans have already been put in place for next year’s event which will mark the third year of the Irish Curry Awards.

Judge Gillian Nelis presenting Best Restaurant to Nightmarket

WIN! Best Newcomer Banaras

Young Dublin chef reaches semi-finals with delish dish A DUBLIN-BASED chef has reached the semi-final stage of the San Pellegrino Young Chef 2018 competition.

Chef de Partie at The Clayton, Dublin Airport Romuald Bukaty will submit his ‘Hey John Dory’ dish for the competition. He will be joined in the UK and Ireland semi-final

by Killian Crowley, Chef de Partie at Galway’s Anair Restaurant and Michael Tweedie, Head Chef at The Oakroom, Adare Manor They have been selected from thousands of applications submitted by young chefs from over 90 different countries.

These semi-finalists will compete in their local challenge in Aveqia, London on November 20.

Chef Romuald Bukaty’s Hey John Dory’ dish

To celebrate three years in business, we’ve teamed up with Coolock Tile Outlet to offer you the chance to #WIN one of two FDO Bluetooth mirrors (RRP €399 each). Main features of these mirrors are: 1. Demister, your mirror doesn’t fog up when in the shower or bath.

2. Clock display, so you know how long you are spending in the bath/ shower.

3. Bluetooth connectivity, you can connect your phone/ tablet to play all your media.

4. IP44 rated for safety in your electrics.

TWO FAMILY MEMBERS from Coolock are celebrating three successful years in business this month. Sean Hanley and Noel Byrne have 45 years’ experience in the construction industry between them and their company, Coolock Tile Outlet has gone from strength to strength since opening three years ago.

“We opened our doors on 17th November 2014, since then we have been growing and expanding and coming up with new ideas and products bringing quality and diversity to our customers.”

New products available exclusively at

HOW TO ENTER:

Coolock Tile Outlet include Top Ciment and Venta Windows.

“If you are looking to renovate your home, come to us and we along with our resident experts, will help and guide you with your design ideas,” Sean added.

Coolock Tile Outlet pride themselves on the high level of customer care they provide and encourage customers to visit the showroom, have a coffee and discuss their plans and ideas. Coolock Tile Outlet is a one stop shop for all your home renovation needs with more than just tiles on offer.

As well as a vast range of tiles, other types

To be in with a chance of winning one of these great prizes, simply visit the #TileOutletCoolock post on Dublin Gazette Newspapers Facebook page and follow the instructions or email your contact details (name, address & contact number) to competitions@dublingazette.com.

Closing date for entries is Friday 17th November 2017

of flooring, such as solid and semi-solid wood, lino, carpets are also available in store. They also stock various types of furniture, internal doors, staircases, kitchens and tools.

“We started here as a tile and bathroom store but have gone into the renovation market in order to give our customers more choice and value.”

Visit Coolock Tile Outlet at 101 Newtown Ave, Malahide Road Industrial Park, Dublin 17 or find out more on our Facebook page Coolock Tile Outlet.

9 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

REAL LIFE: CLAIRE’S LIFE HAS GREATLY IMPROVED SINCE USING SMOVEY DEVICE  MARK O’BRIEN WHEN people think of Parkinson’s disease, they usually think of it as a disease that affects the elderly.

But one in 20 people who are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease are actually diagnosed when they are under 40. Claire Connolly (28) is one of those people.

Originally from Clare but now living in Rathmines, Claire told T he Gazette that she began experiencing symptoms 8 years ago when she was still in college.

“I was diagnosed at 24 but I probably had symptoms since I was 20,” she said.

Claire initially went to her doctor after she had a number of falls.

“I went to physios and went to doctors and it was all fine and then this tremor started happening in my foot and I thought ‘that’s not right, I can’t stop that’,” she said.

“It wasn’t a major tremor, it was very slight, so I went to the doctor and I got put on a waiting list for a neurologist

and eventually when I got round to the neurologist he said ‘whatever you have we’ll be able to sort it’.”

But Claire’s symptoms began to get worse and she experienced tremors in her hands, her walking became affected and she suffered from fatigue.

There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s but there are ways of managing the condition.

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

‘I was diagnosed at 24 but I probably had symptoms since I was 20’

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

“With Parkinson’s, you need a balance of exercise, diet and medication,” said Claire.

After moving to Dublin two years ago, Claire became involved with Young Parkinson’s Ireland. Through the group, Claire met Irene Treacy from Smovey Health

‘I was diagnosed at 24, but I won’t let Parkinson’s win’ who introduced her to their Smovey device.

The device, which weighs 1lb and includes four metal balls that run freely inside the hollow plastic tubes is designed to stabilise the back and spine while people are working out and has proved to be very beneficial to people with Parkinson’s.

Claire had been falling often and would often experience muscle cramps but she said that since she started using the device, her movement and balance have improved greatly.

“I live in Rathmines, I get the Luas out to Stillorgan

every day and I walk from Stillorgan down the road to work,” she said.

“Ever y day got easier and better. I walked with my knees before I used the Smovey and now I walk with my hips.”

Claire now teaches an exercise class in Harold’s Cross that helps other people with Parkinson’s.

Claire says that becoming involved with Young Parkinson’s Ireland and Smovey Health have had a hugely positive effect on her quality of life but there’s no doubt that her own positive attitude has also played a part.

“I can go one way or the other,” she said.

“I can say ‘right I’ve got this, I’m not going to let it win, I’m going to fight my corner and still do full-time work until as far as I can go’ or I can get upset about it and get annoyed about it and sure that’s no good for my body or my mind.”

For details on S m ove y, p l e a s e visit www.smoveyhealth.com.

9 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

DUBLINLIFE

 JAMES HENDICOTT FROM (kind of) faking his own death to releasing a single album with enough tracks to fill an entire radio show, No Monster Club’s Bobby Aherne recalls a career that’s hard to define.

BOBBY AHERNE doesn’t particularly like convention. As a core member of the wonderful Popical Island collective, a loosely formed Dublin record label that thrives on collaboration, his main outlet No Monster Club has been flirting with the fringes of the Irish music scene for some time, performing lyrically sharp bubblegum pop.

His themes are broad, their coherence, perhaps, coming from the fact that No Monster Club is emphatically not about the conventional pop subjects.

Bursting with colour, Aherne’s tracks explore Africa, wish retirement on an artist he’s sick of hearing, riff on the buzz of charity shops, and happily harmonize on drinking and smoking in parks. In his latest project, he’s releasing a short EP every month for all of 2017.

“I didn’t want to do a whole album again, as it’s such a big project,” Aherne tells us, and as a man who once released a record with over forty tracks on it, an album might be bigger for him than most.

“I just wanted to do songs this year without having to be coherent. There have been songs as a band, as a three-piece, and just solo stuff, as well as longer, more thematic pieces. With this project, I have the freedom to do that.”

The result is - in the best possible way weird. On the latest two-track, Aherne explores the festival of Samhain, but throws an Ace of Base cover as a b-side (“it’s okay, because it’s one of the tracks that isn’t written by the Nazi one in the band”).

Earlier releases - each presented with a kind of abstract, newspaper print EP cover include a cover of Lally Stott’s 70s hit ‘Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep’ and a jaunty summer ode to doing things yourself and Factor 50 sunscreen.

Things have been more fantastically odd in the past, though, like the time Aherne released a jokey press release for a track claiming that he’d died. Having taken it seriously, an American publication ultimately released a brief expose ‘revealing’ that the musician - who’d never been less than active on social media in the meantime - was still going strong.

“There was some grief,” he recalls. “Some blog ran a piece on the track, saying that sadly I’m dead now. The PR ‘story’ was that the track was put together from shoeboxes under the bed. The comments section had some mad stuff in it after people realised.

There was one guy who said he couldn’t believe this guy, and that I deserved to be dead, and someone who is dead should get to take my place. Then a Chicago place did an expose that I’m not actually dead. I did find it funny.”

MUSIC

Wonderfully weird

GAZETTE

GAZETTE

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 9 November 2017

N O S ’ T A H W

E D I U G S T N EVE

with JAMES HENDICOTT

The World Cup Play Offs

The one big event that’ll have the country’s eyes on Dublin over the coming week sees Ireland take on Denmark in a bid to play in Russia next year. The first leg in Copenhagen is on Saturday (11), the return at the Aviva on Tuesday (14).

the charming 60s-pop world of No Monster Club

Bailey’s Treatyard

The imaginative foodie haven that is Eatyard, a rotating selection of vendors at the Bernard Shaw pub, goes all sugary sweet for one weekend only, with the Baileys-sponsored ‘Treatyard’ running from November 10-12.

THE CORRS RELEASE EIR SEVENTH ALBUM JUPITER CALLTH ING

The Irish Gamelan Orchestra

An unusual Indonesian musical style gets an Irish outing at the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire, as the heady, supersized orchestra are joined by special guests including awarding winning opera-pop star Julie Feeney.

Art Source at the RDS

The annual showcase for Ireland’s best artists comes back to the RDS, where you’ll be able to explore the latest in beautiful imagery and exceptionally local talent from November 10-12.

The Killers

American indie’s finest drop in on the 3Arena to perform songs from their latest album ‘Wonderful Wonderful’, as well as plenty of other Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll on November 16.

Awesome Tapes From Africa

The DJ behind the unusual blog - one that uncovers unheralded cassette tapes from across the continent of Africa and unveils them to a wider audience - drops in on The Sugar Club, with support from rapper Super Silly.

November 11.

The routes of much of what Aherne does is very much DIY: recorded in the small hours after grabbing unfashionable slots in studios, with live shows performed in the company of a revolving collective of musicians.

Much of that ethos is taken from Popical Island, a Dublin musical collective with a crosspollinating approach to their music, at which Aherne sits at the very heart. Over the years, that’s often meant being part of several bands at the same time; essentially dedicating a life to producing this beautifully expressive but slightly strungtogether form of guitar-pop music.

Popical Island and their bands never fully broke out of the Dublin underground. Their notoriety peaked with a bit of radioplay, and the occasional nod for various acts at events like the Choice Music Prize, but the label were beloved

Dining in the Dark on the local music scene because whatever they released was sure to be colourful, charismatic and effortlessly charming.

Despite his boisterous stage persona and distinctive pop voice, Aherne is softly spoken as he describes where his career is today.

“Most of my other projects are a bit in the background now. Paddy Hanna is working on his own, so both Ginnels and Grand Pocket Orchestra [two other bands Aherne plays with] are kind of on the backburner for now.”

“Popical Island still exists, but we don’t have a physical address anymore. It’s gone back to being in our hearts, but it’s way less than it was a few years ago. Some people became parents, or got married, or got more serious jobs. There are a lot of great bands doing a similar thing in Dublin right now,” he explains, joking: “I guess we had

our own thing, but we’re past it now.”

The DIY ethos works in a very practical sense for Aherne.

“A lot of bands would be writing for a couple of years, then going into the studio to make this perfect package and stuff. That’s not my thing.

None of my favourite artists have ever prescribed to that sort of thing. I’ve always liked being like that. I just do something and put it out, I don’t have somebody coming to me saying ‘don’t put that online, you should wait a few months and we’ll do a big PR campaign.’”

“I prefer doing things my way, and it’s a common thing now. There’s more DIY music going than ever before. There’s a lot of young kids around 20 in Dublin who have these amazing, fully-formed albums online. I think the technology’s made it possible for us to do the DIY thing

more than ever before. It’s not a competition; it’s great. If you have patience for a big campaign and all that, more power to you. That’s just not who I am. I like messing with people.

“One of my big influences is that TV show ‘Nathan For You’ [An oblique parody of the business consultancy world]. I just like doing this mad stuff.”

Like the return of the 46-track album?

“I love albums, and I definitely want to put another one out,” Aherne tells us, “but we’ve reached a point now where releasing albums doesn’t really work anymore. In a way, I’m going back to that 60s things, where it seems kind of cheesy but it’s always kind of catchy with it. I categorise it as bubblegum pop. It sounds cheesy on the surface, but if you delve deeper, it really has something to it.”

The fantastic charity festival in which diners enter a pitch black room in a restaurant to consume from a secret menu goes into its final days, with the last few Dublin restaurants holding their days over the weekend. A great experience.

Ireland v South Africa

As if one big sporting event for the weekend isn’t enough, Ireland will take a pop at their World Cup hosting rivals South Africa at the Aviva on Saturday night, in the first of the November rugby internationals.

New album of the week

The Corrs - Jupiter Calling The second new release from the Dundalk family pop band since their return after a decade break in 2015. Jupiter Calling gets political with ‘Syria Calling’, and promises a style change.

GAZETTE

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 9 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FASTNews

New tests show that the Michelin truck tyres provide significant fuel savings

Tests show Michelin truck tyres reduce fuel bills MICHELIN X Line Energy tyres have demonstrated their long distance fuel efficiency after tests revealed a truck and trailer running on the fuelsaving tyres will save an average 1.4 litres per 100km.

According to the manufacturer, that equates to an annual saving of up to €2,000 and a reduction of 5 tonnes of CO2 emissions based on a vehicle covering 130,000 km per year – compared to the average of its five main competitors in the long-haul market, achieved by the superior rolling resistance of the tyres.

Michelin X Line Energy tyres went up against those manufactured by direct competitors on a 200km journey at an average speed of 80km/h on real roads, organised by the DEKRA Test Centre in Germany.

Chris Smith, Michelin’s marketing director North Europe – Truck & Bus, said: “If a typical haulier fitting this profile changed its policy from a regional fitment to Michelin X Line Energy tyres, they could easily save up to 3% in fuel, which in

Stonic aiming high in There’s a rush in the car market to dominate the new growth segment called the B-SUV segment of small SUV’s. Kia is the latest entrant with the new Stonic, just launched in Ireland and it’s offer is impressive as MICHAEL MORONEY reports following his Dublin hillside test drive.

IT’S JUST a week drive over the hills in the showrooms of South Dublin and and already Dublin into the Wicklow Engine 1.2-litre motorists are talking mountains last week Engine Power 84hp about the new Kia to get a feel for what Stonic, the latest comthis new compact 0 – 100km/hr 13.2 seconds pact SUV from the SUV has to offer. The Economy 19km/litre Korean brand. Kia test car was a petrol (5.2/100km or 45mpg) knows that the arrival powered version fitFuel Tank Capacity 45 litres of the Stonic is imported with the 1.4-litre CO2 emissions 118g/km tant and the Kia team four-cylinder engine Road Tax Band A4 €200 in Ireland believes that delivers 100bhp. that the Stonic will Around the city Main Service 20,000km/12 months be an important conenvirons this light Euro NCAP Rating NA quest model for Kia in engine delivers a Warranty 7 years one of the newest and nippy performance Entry Price €18,599 fastest-growing vehiand brings enough cle segments. pace to the car for Small SUVs such as the Stonic ment. sharp exists from the traffic are called B-SUV models in car The Stonic has some creden- lights. On the hillside runs, the industry jargon, and this market tials behind it, not just its seven- obvious lack of torque meant that segment is expected to grow by year warranty. The car is a based gear changing was inevitable as 100% in the next two years as on the well-regarded Kia Rio and we climbed into the higher routes demand for traditional B and C has additional features and more looking down over Dublin city. It segment cars declines, accord- options to give it more road pres- wasn’t the lighter air, more the ing to Kia. And the new Stonic is ence and style. steep hill challenges that faced smack in the middle of the segI took the Stonic for a test the Stonic that put its smooth

Kia Stonic 1.2 - SPECS

The new Kia Stonic is the latest compact SUV to hit the Irish market with entry prices starting at €18,995 and rising to €24,599 for the diesel powered models.

engine under a little pressure.

This led me to consider the 1.6-litre turbo-diesel version of the Stonic or the new smaller 1.0-

some cases could even wipe out their entire tyre bill.”

Michelin X Line Energy tyres enable a 30% increase in mileage performance for the steer axle on 315/60 R 22.5 and 17% for the 295/60 R 22.5 Michelin X Line Energy Z, compared to the previous Michelin XZA2 Energy range.

New car sales dip as Dublin market remains the best THE SOCIETY of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) recently issued the official October 172 registration statistics which included to movements in the Dublin car market. Car sales in Dublin dropped by 5.24% for the first 10 months of the year, with almost 3,000

Jeep claims that the new and updated Wrangler keeps to the 75 years of legendary Jeep heritage as an authentic and original Jeep SUV

less cars registered this year compared with 2016.

The Dublin market continues to dominate the Irish car market accounting for 41.5% of all new cars sold this year, up from 39.4% last year and recorded the smallest decline in new car sales.

SIMI claims that Brexit-related uncertainty and the weakness of sterling are impacting negatively on car sales. It reports that the increases in used imports are impacting on the residual values of Irish new cars, which increases the cost to change for the consumer looking for a new or newer car. In addition, with an increase in used imports of less than three years old, it is likely that some of these are displacing new car sales.

New Jeep Wrangler stays true to style JEEP claims that its new Wrangler is the most capable SUV ever and that it delivers even more legendary Jeep 4x4 capability.

The new Wrangler comes with a modern design that stays true to the original, advanced fuel-efficient engines, more

open-air options, and is loaded with more safety features and advanced technology than ever before.

The new Wrangler’s unique design includes an instantly recognizable keystone-shaped grille, iconic round headlamps and square tail lamps, improved

aerodynamics, a convenient fold-down windscreen for off-road purists, even more open-air freedom, and dozens of different door, top and windscreen combinations. This latest 2018 Wrangler will be unveiled in the coming weeks at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

9 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

MOTORING

adds the unique, new small SUV market BMW compact X2 to the range BMW claims that its new X2 SUV

Sport X models. The bi-LED light for

breaks new ground as a unique

low beam and high beam is effective

addition to the BMW X model range.

at illuminating the road, while also

The car’s chassis and xDrive

accentuating the BMW X2’s sporty

intelligent all-wheel-drive sys-

character. The headlights display

tem claims to deliver a balance

precise detailing, achieved in part

between sporting dynamics and

through 3D Icon LED daytime driv-

efficiency.

ing light and laser engraving.

The digital services from BMW

within the BMW X2 range are

nectedDrive Services, both of

impressive. The car’s driving

which are now available in freshly

responses can be adapted by using

updated form, adding further

the Driving Experience Control

to the overall BMW X2 experi-

switch, allowing the driver to

ence, with entry prices starting

choose between default COMFORT

at €50,320. The car is available to

mode, efficiency-enhancing ECO

order from mid-November.

PRO mode and SPORT mode.

The new BMW X2 is two centime-

diesel variant will be available. It

centimetres lower than the BMW

generates maximum output of

X1, yet has the same wheelbase.

190bhp and 400Nm of torque ena-

Featuring short overhangs, it also

bling a zero to 100km/hr time of 7.7

has a stretched, coupe-style roof-

seconds. Official fuel consumption

line and slim window graphic.

is still highly impressive 4.6l/100km

standard on Sport, M Sport and M

for the Stonic, giving Kia buyers some clear options?

Out on the mix of city and country roads the Stonic handles lightly while being precise and easy to drive. It has new front and rear suspension setups which are unique to the car, giving a pleasant driving experience.

There are four specification levels for the new Stonic, K1, K2, K3 and K4.

The entry level models are well equipped with skid plate (front and rear), audio remote, Bluetooth, 3.5 cluster, seven-inch screen, 15inch alloy wheels, leather gear knob and handle, front armrest, spare wheel, privacy glass, rear USB, speed limiter, cruise control, centre console and rear USB

and charger, all as standard.

You need to go to the K3 level to get the seven-inch Sat-nav, DAB radio, rear view camera and ECM interior mirror that was fitted to the test car that I drove. It also came with bigger alloy wheels to give the car great road presence.

The Stonic’s cabin echoes the appearance of the exterior, combining straight lines and smooth surfaces.

The Stonic interior is simple and practical. For a compact SUV, the cabin has plenty of space for driver and passengers, with good front and rear legroom, and reasonable shoulder room.

The modern looking D-cut steering wheel combined with the flat base of the

dashboard creates enough knee room for front passengers.

The Stonic comes with a range of technologies which includes an infotainment system that blends smart phone functionality with the control of key vehicle functions. There is a large seven-inch touch screen at the centre of dashboard.

The new Stonic has yet to receive a Euro NCAP safety rating. It should fare well with six airbags as standard (driver, passenger, side and curtain), as well as ISOFIX child-seat anchor points in the rear.

Entry prices look competitive at €18,599 but you really have to go up the specification ladder to get the better options of bigger wheels and useful kit such as reversing camera and satnav. This is going to be the competitive space in the car market for 2018, Stonic has some style and some value, it’s good to drive and petrol or diesel power, the performance will be smooth and easy.

At launch, the X2 xDrive20d

tres shorter and more than seven

Full-LED headlights are fitted as

litre turbo-petrol engine, to be a more practical choice, if you want to emulate my hillside adventures. The diesel version comes with almost double the torque of the small entry-level petrol models and at lower engine revs, making it an obvious choice and its economy rating is impressive too.

The entry level petrol powered Stonic comes with a fuel economy rating of 19km/litre (5.2/100km or 45mpg). The diesel version almost improves on that performance by 40% and that’s a serious consideration. I not convinced about all of the negative diesel talk, as cars like the new Stonic are impressively clean in terms of CO2 and NOx ratings and equally importantly they use less litres of fuel and that has to be considered as well.

For me the fact that the Stonic is not available with a hybrid drive is a little disappointing as Kia has a hybrid system in its Niro model. Wouldn’t that have been an attractive option

The TwinPower Turbo engines

ConnectedDrive and BMW Con-

(61.4mpg), while CO2 emissions are as low as 121g/km.

The new BMW X2 20d diesel model

Five-seat 4x4’s get axed in Finance Bill THE RECENT publication of the Finance Bill following the October Budget has declared that five seat N1 vehicles (typically 4x4’s with five seats and a commercial tax rating) would be liable for Category A VRT as from April 1 2018.

This means that five-seat 4x4s such as the Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Land Cruiser will be classed as a passenger cars for VRT and annual road tax purposes.

Other 4x4s such as the crew cab pick-ups will remain as remain an N1 commercial vehicle. These include models such as the Fiat Fullback, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi L200, Nissan Navara and the Toyota Hilux.

Over the last few years, the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance have been advising the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) of their intention to change the taxation status (VRT/VAT/Road Tax) of certain N1 vehicles that have fouror more seats, both new and used imports.

The Finance Bill, states that any N1 vehicle that has four or more seats and does not have the EU Bodycode of “BE”, will be treated as Category A VRT (based on the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) and CO2 emissions of the vehicle), and not Category B or C VRT (13.3% or €200). As this is a change in Irish Taxation Legislation, not a Type Approval change, there is no provision in the proposal for any derogation for vehicles remaining in stock and unregistered on April 1, 2018 (or whatever date is in the final Act).

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 9 November 2017

GAZETTE

FEATURE DUBLINLIFE Neven’s busy preparing a real cracker of a Christmas fundraiser PEOPLE | POPULAR CHEF HAPPY TO HELP SUPPORT LUNG CANCER GROUP FOR ST JAMES’S

IT’LL BE A CRACKER!

NEVEN wants everyone to help support Target Lung Cancer – the only campaign in Ireland solely dedicated to lung cancer, supported by a multi-disciplinary network at St James’s Hospital – and promises delicious dishes for everyone coming to the Christmas Food Festival!

 MARK O’BRIEN

SINCE Neven Maguire’s parents opened MacNean House & Restaurant in Blacklion, Cavan more than 27 years ago, the restaurant has always closed at Christmas.

The celebrated chef inherited his love of cooking from his parents and since taking over the restaurant in 2001, he has continued with the tradition of closing the restaurant at Christmas to allow him and his staff to focus on family during the festive season.

Talking to The Gazette, he said: “I’m from a family of nine and we all grew up with wonderful memories of food, and Christmas in particular was a special family time.”

Neven sadly lost his mother to lung cancer four years ago, but he still makes sure that the extended family come together to enjoy a traditional family Christmas every year.

He has also become involved with the St James’s Hospital Foundation’s Target Lung Cancer appeal, and will host Neven’s Christmas Food Festival at the Castle-

knock Hotel on Saturday, November 19 in aid of the foundation.

Target Lung Cancer is the only campaign in Ireland solely dedicated to lung cancer. It is supported by a multi-disciplinary network at St James’s Hospital including patients, oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, nurses, scientists and respiratory physicians.

Neven said he’s delighted to lend his support to their work: “I’m with them two years now and it’s nice to be giving something back in honour of my mother.”

Fantastic prize As well as the cookery demonstration, there will be artisan food and craft stall as well as a chance to win a fantastic prize and Neven said he hopes it will be a fun evening for all while raising some much-needed funds for St James’s.

“It’s nice for me to do something worthwhile and hopefully something good. On the night, there will be lots of people who have lost parents or loved ones to lung cancer, and there’ll be lots of people who maybe are going

through treatment.

“There’s hardly a family who haven’t been touched by some variety or variation of cancer, so on the night I want it to be upbeat, I want it to be good fun and I want to cook some lovely food because Christmas is such a big part of my life!

“To be able to talk about Christmas and cook some lovely recipes – hopefully someone will be in with a chance of winning dinner and bed and breakfast in Blacklion, so that will be a nice treat for someone.”

Having cooked for 37 people on Christmas Day last year, Neven will be taking it relatively easy by ‘only’ cooking for 15 this time around.

When asked for his tips on how to take the stress out of cooking for so many people, Neven had one message: “Keep it simple”.

“It’s the biggest meal of the year and it’s probably the one day of the year where you cook for people that you wouldn’t normally cook for, and I always say to people to treat the turkey like it’s a

big chicken.

“That’s all you have to do ,and keep it simple and do as much

preparation as you can – that’s crucial.”

Tickets for Neven’s Christmas Food Festival can be purchased online from w w w.supportstjames.ie and cost €25 each. Tickets can also be bought by contacting Suzanne at suzanne@supportstjames.ie (call 01 428 4766), and also through www.eventbrite.ie.

9 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

CINEMA ReelReviews

THOR: RAGNAROK

Hammers home laughs WHILE Marvel’s superhero films are arguably facing their own Ragnarok, the film of the same name (Cert 12A, 130 mins) is anything but gloomy. Upping the laughs, the film takes a much lighter tone than recent films released from the Marvel stable, drawing together some big names for a high-stakes clash that threatens the Gods’ very own home – but Thor and the Hulk have other plans ...

GEOSTORM

The Butler to the rescue CONTINUING the loose rule that means any film starring Gerard Butler is doomed to be a flop, Geostorm (Cert 12A, 109 mins) is... a flop. Audiences haven’t flocked to see its CG-heavy disasterama, which sees the world threatened by hijacked weather satellites, and only The Butler can save the day. Unfortunately, even its disasters are dull, and the film hasn’t exactly wowed.

THE SNOWMAN

Ice just not a great film WHEN a serial killer starts making snowmen by using unusual materials – now, what might a missing person have to do with, say, a snowman’s head?

– one man must find The Snowman (Cert 15A, 119 mins) before they strike again. Audiences haven’t warmed to Michael Fassbender’s latest, with chills and thrills in short supply, despite its solid if standard serial killer tale.

There aren’t many laughs to wring from Joseph Stalin’s life – but a terrific cast of highly-skilled ‘whassisname’ character actors turn his death into the great basis for a political satire. With revisionist moves afoot in some quarters to rehabilitate the brutal dictator’s legacy, the film has an extra layer of frisson lurking behind the humour.

THE DEATH OF STALIN: BRUTAL ‘UNCLE JOE’ PROVIDES SOME UNEXPECTED LAUGHS

Worth Russian over to

WHEN one considers the myriad intertwining layers of state bureaucracy and oppression that defined the dark years of Stalin’s rule in Soviet Russia, comedy and satire aren’t exactly the first genres that spring to mind in terms of cinematic representation.

Famine, mass-execution and forced labour aren’t subjects to be treated lightly, and the headache-inducing duplicity of Soviet politics isn’t exactly the kind of material that puts rear-ends in cinema seats these days.

However, just as he tackled the banality of behind-the-scenes politics on both sides of the Atlantic in TV-series, The Thick of It, and Veep,

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

writer-director Armando Iannucci applies his razor-sharp satirical template to the backstabbing government machinery of communist yesteryear in The Death of Stalin (Cert 15A, 106 mins).

Despite the somemight-say torpid nature of the subject matter, this is every bit as biting and belly-achingly funny as his previous efforts, including 2009’s featurefilm, In The Loop.

With a subdued realist aesthetic, set against

the grand and oppressive architecture of the then USSR, and dominated by performances rooted in colloquialism and contemporary wit, this is a stark, incisive and utterly unique comedy – perhaps Iannucci’s finest (which is really saying something, following the darkly comic brilliance of Veep’s sixth season).

A f ter the death in 1953 of a typically tyrannical (though almost pathetically subdued) Stalin ( played by Adrian McLoughlin), the grovelling subordinates that make up his Politburo scheme and conspire to take his place as the leader of the Soviet Union.

Khr ushchev (Steve Buscemi) and Secret Police chief Beria (Simon

Russell Beale) lead the hostility, alongside Jeffrey Tambor’s bumbling, inept Malenkov and Michael Palin’s Molotov – a role to which the actor brings decades of experience as one of the finest comic actors in British media, delivering some of the film’s best lines.

Of course, for such a film so subdued in form (bar the occasional flourish of slow-mo), the genius is in the dialogue.

W h e r e a s i n Ve e p , careers and reputations are on the line, in The Death of Stalin a misstep or a word misspoken can land one in a gulag or an unmarked grave.

Consequently, every conversation is weighted with hilarious urgency and absurd logic – no

one is ever really sure what lie they’re supposed to be telling to whom, and state-sanctioned facts change with the weather.

Iannucci has his actors make no attempt to latch their dialogue or performances to the period setting, instead having them embrace their roots: Buscemi’s Kruschev is a weasely, luck-pushing Brooklynite, while Jason Isaac’s Minister of Defence, Zhukov, speaks with a hardened Scouse accent (and steals half the scenes he’s in).

Given the film’s factual basis, there’s a real sense of darkness underpinning everything here, which takes the fore towards the film’s close.

Murder is carried out

with casual instruction; death lists are altered and executions ordered with all the mundanity of a rota’s update announcement.

Iannucci’s deference to the semi-authenticity of his chosen subjects is as clear here as in any other project he’s undertaken.

Indeed, the bewildering nature of Soviet bureaucracy is the perfect fit for the director’s distinctly bitter brand of political satire – on paper, The Death of Stalin shouldn’t really work, but surprisingly, the facts lend themselves well to farce and absurdity.

Iannucci maintains his flawless track record with the year’s best comedy.

Verdict: 10/10

GAZETTE

26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 9 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE TOP TIPS TO REMEMBER

SOME people may ask: “Is Bangkok safe?”, as the city has occasionally popped up in the news for negative reasons.

Thailand – and Bangkok – have a long history of complex, troubled politics, with a number of terrorist incidents in the city in recent years further complicating matters.

However, the well-policed city remains full of tourists of all ages, and considering that every flight to the likes of London and Paris are always full – cities which have seen greater amounts of awful attacks in recent years – one should expect a safe, enjoyable visit to Bangkok too.

ALWAYS tip in Bangkok – always. Given that the Thai economy is pegged at about half the price of everything here – or less – your baht is better in your taxi driver, guide or waiter’s pocket than your own, and will be appreciated.

TRANSPORT in Bangkok can be chaotic, with a seeming who-dares-wins attitude towards traffic junctions and crossings leading to what may seem like bedlam – just getting across a main road in one piece can need nerves of steel while you grab Lady Luck’s hand and run for it, run!

However, be sure to hail a metered taxi when going from A to B. Backpackers grab tuk-tuks (below), and can end up paying random fares to travel in something about as safe as a tin can; locals hop on the back of ubiquitous motorbike taxis and ride pillion everywhere, often as not without a crash helmet – so your best bet is to just hail down a metered taxi, with any longish ride typically Tourists love costing just tuk-tuks, but if between 50 to you’re in a hurry 60 baht, or a regular taxi is only about probably better €3 or €4.

WHILE it’s increasingly controversial in many places, there’s no denying that Airbnb could be brilliant for saving a bundle of baht on your Bangkok holiday. With the vast majority of hotels charging Western prices, Airbnb prices are much more in line with the Thai economy – you’ll find a bog-standard hotel room going for €130-150 a night (or more), whereas with Airbnb you could stay in a one-bedroom apartment in a luxury block for €40 a night, or less. One you notice the difference, it’s hard not to feel a bit fleeced by the hotels.

AT THE time of writing, Thais were paying their last respects to King Bhumibol Adulyadej (right) at the end of a one-year mourning period after his death last October, with the late king revered similarly to a demigod by many Thais.

However, visitors should remember that Thailand has the world’s harshest lese majeste laws, implemented with an iron fist by the ruling junta. As such, to be respectful to the Thai people, and to ensure an enjoyable holiday, no opinion of the royalty is the best opinion of all ...

Enjoy a spectacular elevated view over Bangkok (with sky-high prices to match) at the State Tower’s Sky Bar

Bangkok’s snaking Chao Phraya is a busy working river

Beautiful

An unforgettable  SHANE DILLON

Y O U know that half-frozen feeling we get after battling through another Irish summer?

This year, I resolved to head off somewhere far-flung for a better, longer, hotter dose of that big yellow thing in the sky, and Bangkok

seemed as good a place as any to do so.

Some time later, and I was getting all the heat that someone who breaks out their trusty, moth-eaten shorts at the first sight of 15C could hope for – and then some.

Sun- and heat-lovers will get more than their fill of both in the capital of Thailand, where temperatures hovered around 36C during my week there, as I got moments of blessed relief from anywhere with some working air-con.

It’s a place and culture that knows all about blessed things – the

sun-kissed city

city is rightfully worldfamous for its spectacularly ornate temples and shrines, and the deeply held religious beliefs that many Thais have.

Buddhism and a Buddhist outlook permeates many aspects of modern Thai culture, making it a tangibly real presence in the city’s life.

You can hardly round a corner or traipse down a sun-baked street without seeing yet another ornate, beautiful Buddhist temple, finding a shrine decorated in flowers and offerings, or spotting a monk drifting about in their

bright orange robes.

Such sights provide much to ref lect on, reminding visitors of a very different outlook in this part of the world.

But back to more earthly matters, and to soaring up, up and away to some of the ‘sky bars’ that Bangkok is famous for – and where better than the aptly-named Sky Bar (in the State Tower, off Silom Road) that many tourists know of, not least for its role in The Hangover 2?

High above the streets below, such sky bars provide a picturesque watering-hole haven for

smartly-dressed locals and tourists alike, as well as affording some terrific views across Bangkok’s sprawl, whether at night or, best of all, as sunset sets in.

Speaking of ‘affording’ – alas, Bangkok’s most famous sky bar sent my spirits crashing back to earth within minutes, as the sky-high bill for my small cocktail was as breathtaking as the view.

Back down on terra firma – and terra cheapa – and Bangkok’s sprawl can be intimidating to take in.

There’s a giant and loosely defined city cen-

9 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

Part of the Wat Yannawa complex – one of dozens

of

places to see ancient spires rising over Bangkok

even

GAZETTE

TRAVEL

as newer buildings reach for the skies (right)

A small section of the elaborate Temple of

dizzyingly vertical and Dawn temple site

Even ‘just a doorway’ can look beautiful in old Bangkok

The typically elaborate Buddhist temple, Wat Bangmakok Noek, at the gigantic Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan (Temple of Dawn) complex. Pictures: Shane Dillon

tre here, but the city’s arbitrary transport links (and infamous traffic jams) can make getting around a challenge – and that’s without the wall of heat and humidity keeping pace at every step.

Luckily, most of the main attractions are straightforward to reach, whether by (deep breath) Skytrain, metro, taxi, tuk-tuk, bicycle, scooter, motorbike, ferry, speedboat or your trusty old feet. Phew!

Zipping up and down the wide, rolling river a on speeding boat or rolling ferry is a breeze, and they’re also an effective (and cooling) way of easily getting to some of the city’s famous temples, a s we ll

as enjoying a refreshing waterside view of old and new Bangkok.

However you get to them, the city’s main temples and religious sites are absolute must-visits, as Bangkok’s fabulously ornate complexes are a feast for the eyes, and invigorating for the mind.

Whether taking in their banks of Buddhas or scrutinising the intricate carvings and elaborate designs you’ll invariably find, such spots hold a spiritual appeal that overcomes the ebb a n d f low of any gawping tourists and praying locals passing through.

For those who worship at more modern ‘temples’, you’ll be well catered for in Bangkok, which has ultramodern shopping centres scattered about the city.

The biggest of these

– Central World – makes our own giant shopping centres look like corner shops by comparison, with shoppers there treated to a dizzying range of all the biggest Western brands alongside the biggest Thai and Eastern brands, too.

While temples, sightseeing and shopping are just some of the things that Bangkok is famous for, foodies have also been drawn to her busy streets for centuries – not for nothing is the city famed for its street vendors, in particular.

Change is afoot, with the Thai authorities beginning to crack down on the vendors and stalls in key areas, apparently seeking to mimic a little of Singapore’s tightly controlled (but sterile, fun-free) street environments.

However, wherever you roam, you won’t be too far from someone sizzling something under the sun.

If there’s an element of pot luck as to whether

Part of the Jim Thompson House site, home to the One of Wat Pho’s many Buddhas – but its enormous

enigmatic man’s collection of antiques, as well as an

gold Reclining Buddha has to be seen to be believed

oasis of calm in the middle of the bustling city

you’ve struck culinary gold or McAverage fare, well, that’s half the fun of reaching out and tucking in on your travels!

As you’d expect, Bangkok is a melting pot of dining delights, presenting a fusion of the best of a wide range of Eastern cuisine – not just Thai – alongside Western staples, with several excellent restaurants all over the city alongside the multitude of small places frequented by locals, as well as the roadside vendors.

Alternatively, you could also tuck in or relax with a cooling drink beside a pool full of orange and

big exporter of them, and then one day went for a walk in the jungle – And that’s the last anyone knows about Jim, as he was never seen or found again. (Sorry, Jim.) Today, decades later, his stunning house and its small but carefully managed grounds are a haven from the surrounding city, with its smart, upmarket gift shop also the perfect place to get a beautiful, authentic Thai silk scarf or purse for yourself (or for the mammy back home).

For those looking to orient themselves with the Orient, Bangkok may be a great introduction.

golden carp over at Jim Thompson House, which again offers diners a great mix of Eastern and Western fare.

JTH is one of Bangkok’s top tourist attractions, and it’s not hard to see why, as the antiquefilled house and setting provides an unexpected oasis of calm in the heart of the city.

Jim was a gentleman who fell in love with Thai culture and heritage, assembled his own western-style house by fusing traditional Thai wooden houses together, helped make beautiful Thai silks famous and became a

She’s a city of contrasts and extremes, but there’s something invigorating and refreshing about a place that’s looking to the future, yet continues to honour her past.

The heat and humidity are a challenge, but I’d challenge you to find somewhere that doesn’t make such a powerful first impression, and to inspire you to look at life a little differently ...

WHEN TO VISIT December to January are the ‘coolest’ months – and thus high tourist season – but they’ll still be more than hot enough for any Western visitors.

GAZETTE

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 9 November 2017

DUBLINLIFE

Egypt’s diverse environments already look great in Origins – but its top-notch lighting, dust and other atmospheric effects push it into the elite tanks of the best-looking games on current-gen platforms

ASSASSIN’S CREED ORIGINS: ANCIENT EGYPT PROVES A DELIGHT

So pharaoh, so good for prequel WITH the end of the year fast approaching, some of the biggest games of the year are getting released into the wild – and they don’t come much bigger, or wilder, than Assassin’s Creed: Origins (PS4, XBO, PC, Cert 18, c. €60).

It’s a huge game – so huge, this review has to sprawl across two pages – that’s not only one of the biggest games of the year, but also one of the biggest games ever.

Almost entirely set thousands of years ago in the dusty hills and plains of ancient Egypt, it’s a game that presents a complex, brilliantly realised look at some long gone civilisations, with uncertain times ahead as fad-

 SHANE DILLON sdillon@dublingazette.com

ing empires make way for newer upstarts.

From the legacy of Egypt’s mighty but fading rule to the slow but steady encroachment of Rome, its a gaming world that’s rich in history, lore, and above all, some of the best visuals I’ve ever seen.

Taking in the sights and exploring the almost incomprehensively big world brings players through a set of starkly realised landscapes.

W h e t h e r w a n d e ring through noisy cities, splashing through river deltas, strolling through f lowering meadows, clambering through cobwebbed tombs or pushing through blinding sandstorms out in the harsh desert, the team behind Origins have created a vast, diverse landscape that’s teeming with life in some places, yet bleak and inhospitable in others – much like modern Egypt.

Origins marks by far the biggest game made by the Creed team yet, with its makers – generally used to releasing a new franchise game per year – taking a couple of years or so to get this one together, and the extra time and polish

shows in most places.

At heart, Origins is a story of revenge, with a main storyline seeing a father, Bayek, tracking down – and killing – the people responsible for his young son’s death, while some (mercifully brief) modern-day sections have echoes of this ancient past.

The main story is something of a McGuffin – while there’s a big overall plot to follow, gamers will ignore it to pursue lots of side quests and optional activities, potentially adding dozens and dozens of extra hours to their runthrough as they goof off.

Just exploring and finding new places is almost a game in itself, let alone

all of the other activities to engage in, from tomb raiding to chariot racing, defeating enemy strongholds to finding lost treasures, helping villagers or even fighting elephants, and all the while trying to level up the character to be able to fight ever stronger, tougher bad guys.

There’s no getting away from it – there’s a lot of violence in Origins, which doesn’t shy away from the assassin aspect of the popular franchise.

For all of the relaxing wandering past flocks of flamingos, or taking in the sights of tumbled, sun-bleached columns at some unmarked desert ruin, or eavesdropping on handmaidens in a cool

The vast open world setting is full of detail, with everything mountains and lush farmlands to find, while dusty secrets

marble palace hall, gamers will spend an awful lot of time fighting, killing and looting people as they roam around.

From assassinating key figures to attacking groups of soldiers, or even just defending themselves

from mercenaries, the threat of sudden, bloody violence is never far away, with sprays of blood constantly soaking the sands and temples as glistening, gleaming blades flash and slice through the air.

Still, it’s a remarkable

9 November 2017 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

GAMING

Even the world’s most powerful tweeter is at the mercy of IT staff just doing their job professionally

Trump silenced for 11 minutes  SHANE DILLON

IT’S safe to say that I’m not a fan of US president Donald Trump, in what could pass for my entry in the Understatement of the Year contest.

Still, as much as I usually welcome any pause in his stream-ofconsciousness Tweets, the news that a ‘rogue’ Twitter employee briefly disabled Trump’s Twitter account as they left their job isn’t something I’d celebrate.

Their action gave the world a whole 11 minutes of Trump-free boasting, bragging and bullying comments – but even so, their strike against Trump’s tweets can’t be condoned.

Instead, it raises the question about who has access to the social media accounts of some

Don’t try this at home, kids ... Like many top games, Origins comes with a good Photo Mode, letting you pause the action, then mess about with the virtual camera settings to get a shot you want, like these... Screengrabs: Shane Dillon

“What, no sequel?”

No box office killing for this 2016 turkey CONTINUING the time-honoured tradition of Hollywood making pretty awful films based on hit games, 2016 saw a film released based on the broad

Latest iPhone off to X-cellent start

Assassin’s Creed setting.

Star Michael Fassbender took a fair stab at it, but Assassin’s Creed died a thousand deaths at the box office.

Critics thought it was a mess, gamers were turned off by the film being mostly from marble palaces

to bleak

lie scattered in forgotten tombs

game that presents a still largely unique world, with ancient Egypt still a largely untapped and elusive setting for most games (bar endless strategy titles).

The game borrows aspects from many of

centred on “all the boring bits”, and audiences stayed away in droves.

its peers – for example, Bayek’s eagle, Senu, acts like a player-controlled drone to scout the terrain and mark enemies and assets – an imaginative repurposing of modern tech in the game’s setting.

Origins has lived up to

the hope for a new direction for the series, which had grown stale – but choosing an ancient land has given the series a fresh energy and life again.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I still have a couple of chariot races to win...

of the world’s top figures – and what if their intentions were malicious?

Let’s say that the currently unknow n employee had decided to do more than momentarily muzzle Trump, but had hacked in to his profile, and left a malicious post like, say, “Just sent an armed SEAL team to teach Rocket Man a lesson.

MAGA!” It’s not hard to imagine how bad the potential fall-out from such a malicious post could be.

If the most powerful man in the world can be silencecd by an employee’s random act on their way out the door, it raises some uncomfortable issues to consider in a world where social media posts continue getting more and more importance.

Despite being a hit series, the Assassin’s Creed games have also been rather divisive for gamers; happily, this latest iteration addresses a number of constant criticisms, making it more accessible – and fun – to play

APPLE fans slightly surprised analysts by snapping up the new iPhone X on day one, with cities around the world reporting sold-out stock following its release at the end of last week.

A sold-out new Apple phone isn’t exactly news, but many tech watchers had paused, given its eyewatering price point (starting at a wallet-busting $999). However, despite the market uncertainty, massive queues were reported at cities around the world, with more than 55 countries now open to Apple’s latest assault on the mobile phone market.

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 9 November 2017

DUBLINGAZETTECLASSIFIEDS  WEST BUILDING SERVICES

INSULATION

ROOFING

ABC CERTIFIED 52,958 COPIES EACH WEEK (ABC: Group MFD, Jan- Dec 2015).

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 01 60 10 240

DANCING

INSURANCE CLAIMS

DVDS

SERVING ALL DUBLIN CITY AND COUNTY FOR OVER 20 YEARS HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Irish Owned | 100% Irish materials 20 year written guarantee on all work PAINTING

www.roofingandguttering.ie Northside: 01 806 1137

Southside: 01 2020026

GUTTERS CLEANED AND SEALED JUST €49

FOLLOW US TODAY ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORK Visit: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ DublinGazetteNewspapers Twitter: @DublinGazette

Mobile: 0857154581

Email: athacliathroofing@gmail.com Specialists in all types of:  Roofing repair and replacement  Ridge tile Repairing and replacement  All Flat Roofing  All Lead Valleys  Chimney Rebuilding

PERSONALS

LOCALMATTERS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZETTE CALL 60 10 240

9 November 2017 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 31

WEST  DUBLINGAZETTECLASSIFIEDS TAXES/ACCOUNTING

WINDOWS

32 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 9 November 2017

9 November 2017 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 33

WEST  DUBLINGAZETTERECRUITMENT RECRUITMENT

WE’RE ON

Visit: Facebook: www.facebook.com/DublinGazetteNewspapers Twitter: @DublinGazette

GAZETTE

34 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 9 November 2017

SPORT

FastSport CLEIRIGH BUTTNER ON AWARD LIST: DSDAC’S Siofra Cleirigh Buttner has been named on the shortlist for the Athletics Ireland Under-23 athlete year alongside UCD’s Alanna Lally and Crusaders’ Matthew Behan.

Cleirigh Buttner excelled for Villanova University in the US as a junior middledistance runner, being named the Mid-Atlantic Athlete of the Year, running her fastest 800 metre time at the NCAA championships en route to selection in the Irish team for August’s World Championships in London.

Raheny’s Mick Clohisey is up for the endurance athlete of the year award while Clonliffe’s Brian Gregan and UCD’s Mark English will be in the mix for the track and field athlete of the year.

The awards will be announced on December 6.

BASKETBALL: DUBLIN CLUBS BOLSTER THEIR SUPERLEAGUE POSITIONS

DCU show no Mercy to UCC as Killester see of Wildcats

 sport@dublingazette.com

DCU Mercy stomped out a massive win over Ambassador UCC Glanmire in the Women’s Super League on Sunday afternoon, running out 20-point winners in the end.

Mark Ingle’s charges asserted their dominance over the game from the off, with top scoring from Tiffany Corselli and Sarah Woods edging them beyond reach of the Cork side.

“We’re very happy,” said Ingle afterwards. “It’s always been a great battle between us and Glanmire over the last ten years or so, there’s never been much between the teams.

We’re still trying to find out what type of team we are.

“We did a good job today defensively I thought in the first half. We scored 50 points which is not often when you’re playing Glanmire.”

In the other game of the weekend, Pyrobel Killester picked up their third win in a closely contested match against Maxol WIT Wildcats on Saturday evening.

With nothing separating the sides, it was Killester’s Aisling McCann who dug deep

Chantell Alford scored 15 points for Pyrobel Killester. Picture: Martin Doherty

at the end of the third quarter to produce a much-needed three pointer to put her side up 52-50 going into the last, and the home team pushed on from there to win out 72-65.

In the Men’s Super League, UCD Marian bounded their way to the top of the table, leap frogging the challenge of

Garvey’s Tralee Warriors in style down in Kerry.

A superb display from UCD’s Mike Garrow and Mike Nedulskis sent the visitors into a 10-point lead at the end of the first, and it was one they wouldn’t relinquish throughout the game, with Barry Drumm and Dan James lead-

ing the team well from the top of the key. Despite a huge third quarter from Tralee, UCD’s sharp shooting just proved to be too much in the last, as they outscored the homeside 23-5 in the fourth quarter to win out 92-63.

“We are delighted to get the win,” said UCD’s Conor

Meany.

“Tralee has the best set up in the country, so to come down and win here is great.”

UCC Demons meanwhile travelled to Colaiste Éanna on Saturday evening, and despite a third quarter run from the home team, Demons looked comfortable throughout to take the win.

“It’s five weeks in a row that we are on the road now - it’s not fun doing it every week so it’s nice to come away with a final victory before we head home next week,” reflected Demons coach, Colin O’Reilly.

Meanwhile, Pyrobel Killester ran out winners over Maree in Clontarf, while DCU Saints clocked another victory with a win over KUBS. Belfast Star just lost out to Black Amber Templeogue at the death, while Moycullen and Griffith College Swords Thunder closed out the weekend.

Swords fell to a 84-74 loss to the Galway side at the Jes despite Isaac Westbrooks, Alex Dolenko and Travis Black all hitting double figures. They trailed 44-34 at half-time and could never quite reel in the deficit.

O’Hanlon belatedly named Irish marathon champion  sport@dublingazette.com

Gary O’Hanlon, left, was initially denied the Irish marathon title last week by Raheny’s Freddie Sittuk.

FOLLOWING a meeting of the Competition Committee of Athletics Ireland, Gary O’Hanlon was declared Irish National Marathon champion three days after he had seen the title seemingly denied him by Raheny Shamrock AC’s Freddie Sittuk.

This follows the receipt of information from Raheny on October 31 that the declared winner of the race, had failed to meet the required criteria for eligibility under the residency rule.

Sittuk was confirmed as eligible by his club prior to the event when, in fact, he had not met all the necessary criteria.

Under the rule agreed by the delegates at the 2016 Athletics Ireland Congress, an athlete with an unbroken six months residency in Ireland immediately prior to the championship, is eligible to compete for the National Championships title and medal positions.

Commenting on the situation, Athletics Ireland’s Competition, Athletics Ireland Committee Chairman John Cronin

said: “the information initially received by the Association indicated that Freddy Sittuk was eligible and therefore he was deemed champion on Sunday.

“Once we received information from the club stating that the athlete had, in fact, not met the criteria, the committee met to discuss the situation and Gary O’Hanlon has been deemed National Marathon Champion,” he added.

“The process for confirming residency eligibility for National Championships has, up to this

event, worked well but the fact that Gary was not awarded this title and his gold medal on Sunday is very regrettable,” Cronin said.

“We do, however, look forward to presenting Gary with his championship title and medal shortly,” he added.

O’Hanlon had crossed the line in 2.18.52 and was initially convinced he was the first Irish runner home but was subsequently told Sittuk - who has run for Raheny for six years - was the champion and took gold on the podium.

9 November 2017 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 35

GAZETTE

FASTSport

Swaine inspires Terenure second half comeback TERENURE College bounced back from last week’s defeat at Clontarf to see off the challenge of 14-man Buccaneers, emerging as 27-21 winners of Saturday’s Ulster Bank League Division 1A tie at Lakelands Park.

Basement side Buccs built a 15-5 half-time lead in pursuit of their first win of the season. However, a Kevin O’Neill try kicked Terenure back into gear and they were able to claim their fifth victory of the season.

The Pirates broke the deadlock after kicking a penalty to touch in the seventh minute with out-half Jack Carty was there to score in clinical fashion. He missed the conversion before Nure increased their attacking threat as the first half developed.

Former Leinster Academy star Sam Coghlan Murray was stopped short at the end of a promising 24th minute move. Nonetheless, with the ball worked into a more central position, hooker and captain Robbie Smyth was in the right place to drive over and make it five points apiece.

The Athlone side, though, rallied before the interval and produced 10 points. A sweeping move across the back-line ended with winger Rory O’Connor sprinting over for a try which was converted by Carty, and the Connacht number 10 also landed an expertly-struck penalty for a 15-5 advantage.

Terenure resumed in better fettle, with replacement Conor Weakliam adding considerable spark to the back-three.

After several phases inside the Buccs 22, it was ‘Nure scrum half O’Neill who squeezed over for a much-needed try, converted by Jake Swaine. Into the final quarter, O’Neill’s half-back partner James Thornton was heavily involved in the build-up to another incisive passage of play which saw lively winger Swaine touch down out on the right.

And when Buccs replacement Eoghan Maher was given a straight red card 13 minutes from the end, Terenure sensed an opportunity to push on.

Their bonus point try arrived just moments later through Maher’s opposite number, Adam Clarkin, and a terrific Swaine kick stretched the lead to nine points.

Swaine and Carty exchanged penalties as Buccs battled to nick a losing bonus point with the latter landing a kick in the closing stages.

McKinley’s sight fully focused on Italy debut Following a glittering youth career with St Columba’s and Leinster, Ian McKinley is finally getting his chance on the international stage after the loss of an eye and retirement  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

IAN MCKINLEY, a former Leinster rugby player who was forced to temporarily retire from the sport in 2012, has found a new lease of life with Benetton Treviso after returning to the sport in 2014.

And in the most unlikely of turnarounds, finds himself called up to the Italian national squad.

McK inley attended St Columba’s College in Rathfarnham, starring in the schools team before making half a dozen appearances for Leinster.

His early retirement came due to taking a boot in the eyeball in 2010, an injury that took time to have an impact.

In the long term – due to repetitive tackle impacts – it would cost him the sight in his left eye. McKinley has returned to the sport wearing eyewear designed

to protect him, and plays at Pro-14 level despite being totally blind in his left eye.

His return to regular Pro-14 action (he’s made nearly 30 appearance for Benetton Treviso) and the fringes of the Italian squad is nothing less than astonishing.

Talking to ESPN this week, McKinley recalled his period of forced retirement.

“A lot of sports people want to stop on their own merits,” he explained. “If you look at Bjorn Borg, he wanted to stop at 26 and then you have people like Brad Thorn who stop at 41. But at least they get to determine when they stopped. I didn’t want to stop at 21.

“From a professional point of view, it was probably the worst thing that could’ve happened to me. In the general aspect of the world it is not the

worst thing to happen to anyone. I still have vision in my other eye, I still have two functional legs, arms and a brain. I count myself very lucky that I haven’t had other injuries.”

There were certainly painful moments for McKinney when it came to watching his former Leinster team mates go on to achieve great things, especially in the early days, shortly after then Leinster boss Joe Schmidt had praised his character on retirement.

“When you are talking about the darker period [it was when] my brother was over visiting me,” he recalled.

“There was a particular Leinster game where they walloped Wasps in the Challenge Cup. I just remember loads of my mates were playing that day. “ I n e ve r a c t u a l l y watched rugby when I

Ian McKinley during his school days with St Columba’s. Picture: GazetteSport

stopped playing. I didn’t watch anything but I would read reports. I just remember reading the report and seeing all the names of the guys I played with and it hit me really, really hard.

“I am always happy to

initially to get away from home and coach in a new environment before getting his new lease of life on the field.

“I am humbled. But the thing I am most happy with is that it is not a sympathy pick. I wanted to be

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

‘At least other got to determine when they stopped. I didn’t want to stop at 21’- Ian McKinley

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

see my mates who I grew up with do well, but it was really difficult when I wasn’t playing. From a selfish point of view, looking at them and their successes, it was quite difficult for me to take. They are doing unbelievably well, with Leinster or Ireland, but I wanted that.”

Life in Italy has worked out well, though, moving

picked on merit. I think people are progressively getting away from that image of Ian as the guy with the goggles.

“Now it is just Ian McKinley. That has been a big challenge for me but I think people are starting to say that which is good.

“Italy has given me a new lease of life. It has given me my professional career back. They were the first nation to sign up for the goggles [allowing use on the field]. I can only ever be grateful because they have given me so much.”

His adopted nation might yet give McKinley a World Cup appearance.

“It would be amazing to be part of a World Cup because that would be a full 10-years circle on being with the Irish Under20s at the World Cup, but again it is such a long way away.” He concludes: “This experience has taught me not to think too far ahead.”

GAZETTE

36 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 9 November 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

SOCCER: MAYNOOTH SWEPT ASIDE WITH BRILLIANT EARLY SHOW

Glenanne maintain top spot in national league ROWLAND Rixon-Fuller’s 68th minute goal maintained Glenanne’s lead at the top of the men’s EY Hockey League table, scoring the only goal of the tie at St Andrew’s against a battling Annadale.

It was a tie with plenty of chances but often the final ball went awry, meaning the result was in the balance right the way to the end.

Dale caused a few scares via Peter Caruth’s crash ball and Adam McAllister being left open a couple of times, requiring smart work from Iain Walker. For the Glens, the final touch escaped Adam Clayton from their first main chance of the opening quarter.

Johnny Moore blocked the first Glenanne corner while a triple chance from another set piece was also repelled. David Tremlett was the next Dale man to be let free in the circle but his push was saved by Walker. A swift move through Gary Shaw, Neil Byrne and Richard Couse should have led to an opening goal but only a third corner and a saved drag from Shane O’Donoghue accrued.

In the second half, Walker made a brilliant diving intervention as Caruth broke through and tried to square to McAllister, blocking the near post deflection. Connor Roberts won Annadale’s first corner but Ben Wallace’s shot went into the stratosphere and off target. Another corner was saved by Walker and a third could have yielded more when O’Donoghue was sent to the halfway but the drag went over as Sam O’Connor sat out a yellow card offence.

Glenanne came back strong for the closing spell. Rixon-Fuller fired tamely at goal from a big chance but made amends soon after with a tasty behind the back touch to finally get the only goal of the game with two minutes to go. Dale had a corner soon after but a miscommunicated switch let the hosts off the hook.

The Tallaght club’s women, on the flip side, saw their frustrations continue in Leinster women’s Division One when they fell 1-0 to North Kildare. Rachel Neary scored the only goal of game, coming in the 25th minute.

It condemned the Glens to a fifth successive loss by a single goal despite the defensive work of Serena Rushe and chances for Hannah Morrin and Hannah Delaney.

The Firhouse Clover Sunday Senior team

Firhouse in the Clover LSL METROPOLITAN CUP Firhouse Clover Maynooth Town  sport@dublingazette.com

5 1

IT WAS a bittersweet weekend for Firhouse Clover in cup competitions last weekend as the Sunday side progressed in the Metropolitan Cup but the Saturday outfit crashed out of the Leinster Junior Cup. T he LSL Sunday Senior team have had a mixed start to the season but had Maynooth University Town dead and buried within the first 20 minutes by taking a 4-0 lead at IT Tallaght on Sunday morning. Maynooth did manage to pull

a goal back but Firhouse had the last say to book their place in the third round draw of the Metro Cup. Clover were well up for this game and flew out of the traps to take the lead through Darren Forsyth before the former Shelbourne and Bray Wanderers hitman added a second.

Strike partner Carl Wynne then added his team’s third from the penalty spot before he produced a clinical finish to have the game well wrapped up by the 19th minute.

Maynooth did grab a consolation goal, but Rory O’Connor then got

CROSS COUNTRY Harriers heroines win big at Santry Demesne LUCAN HARRIERS anjoyed another great day with their juvenile athletes shining at the Dublin uneven age cross-country championships in Santry Demesne.

Every athlete didthe club proud, winning numerous individual medalists and two Dublin champions.

The club had three teams winning team medals with Harriers’ Under-11 and Under13 girls taking silver and the Under-9 girls crowned Dublin champions.

his name on the score sheet by rounding off an excellent team move by nonchalantly chipping over the keeper and into the top corner.

Clover sit seventh in the league with five wins from their first nine games but have secured some good results of late and will be hoping to climb up what is a very competitive division.

T he Saturday side have enjoyed a decent start to the season following relegation to the LSL Major 1 Saturday last season. They have won five of their first eight league games but couldn’t bring that form into cup competition as

they lost 3-0 to Booth Road Celtic in the third round of the Leinster Junior Cup. Booth Road took the lead early on through prolific front man Phillip Sheppard after he expertly controlled Matthew Holland’s ball over the top before finishing past Ryan O’Callaghan in fine fashion.

Clover were struggling to get a foothold in the game with the visiting team dominating.

O’Callaghan was doing his best to keep his side in the game by denying Sheppard twice from one-on-one situations.

There remained just the one goal in it going

into the break but Clover almost levelled things at the start of the second half.

The home side were much more in the game in the second period but it was Booth Road who came closest to finding the net next when Sheppard struck the post with a volley.

Mikey Collins then m i s s e d a g i l t- e d g e d chance from six yards before Sheppard finally added to his tally after rounding O’Callaghan.

Nathan O’Callaghan then got his first goal for the club, despite playing there since underage level, when he scored from James Kelly’s pass.

9 November 2017 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 37

GAZETTE

SOCCER: WEXFORD YOUTHS WIN WNL TITLE DECIDER

The Peamount United senior side that finished runners up in the women’s National League

Peas title hopes cut short at final hurdle CONTINENTAL TYRES WNL Wexford Youths Peamount United  sport@dublingazette.com

2 0

PEAMOUNT United suffered heartbreak on the final day of the season as their titles hopes were dashed in a 2-0 loss to Wexford Youths WFC in the Continental Tyres Women’s National League at Ferrycarrig Park last weekend.

The league was finely balanced going into the game with Peamount, sitting one point ahead of their opponents, knowing that a draw would be enough to see them lift the title for the first time since the 2011/12 season.

Wexford had other ideas, however, as they secured the victory they needed through goals from Emma Hansberry and Rianna Jarrett to secure the title for the third time in their history.

A tight first half looked like entering the halftime break scoreless until Hansberry popped up to score in injury time.

Most players were probably mentally already in

the dressing room, but not Hansberry as the midfielder picked up the ball on the left hand side of the pitch and lobbed Naoisha McAloon from distance.

Wexford came out in the second half looking to add to their lead and almost succeeded when a ball into the box found the head of Jarrett. The Republic of Ireland international did well to get her effort on target but McAloon was on hand to grasp the ball from the air.

Amber Barrett was finding chances hard to come by in the game but she did go close when played in

by Heather Payne. The league’s top scorer, on 15 strikes, left the Wexford

defence trailing in her wake but she spurned the opportunity to add to her tally by putting her shot high over the bar.

Wexford then should h ave d o u b l e d t h e i r advantage when Jarrett pounced on a loose ball but finished straight at the onrushing McAloon.

Peamount weren’t as lucky the next time they offered up a chance to Jarrett, however, when she beat McAloon to the ball to head home a cross from Linda Douglas.

Jarrett got the reward of an early bath soon after her strike, while McAloon was back in action once again to deny Edel Kennedy with an excellent diving save.

Peamount worked hard to try and get themselves back into the game but Wexford were simply too good on the day and battled just as hard to hold onto their two-goal lead.

Wild celebrations followed the final whistle by the referee but unfortunately they were from the home side.

Peamount have come close to winning a league title on a couple of occasions since 2012 but after a few seasons struggling, fans will be happy to have seen their team build on last season.

The experience of this season should stand to a young squad that could well go all the way next year.

FASTSoccer

Esker Under-11 and 12s flying high ESKER Celtic’s Under-11 Sunday A1 side, pictured above, have been in flying form lately, picking up from last week’s draw away to Greystones.

The visitors to Hermitage Park last weekend were Terenure Rangers with Esker coming out on top with a 4-0 win.

Elsewhere, Esker’s Under-12 Division 2 side travelled to Maynooth Town on Sunday morning for an 11-a-side friendly.

Playing on a full-size pitch for the first game, Esker started the much brighter of the two sides. Lining up in a 1-4-5-1 formation, the visitors were unlucky to not take a first half lead striking the post twice in the first period. 0-0 at the break.

Switching to a 1-4-4-2 saw Esker take control and camp out in the Maynooth half for the majority of the second half with the visitors winning a series of corners.

Esker finally took the lead through Peter Dike Junior, heading home into the bottom corner to put the Lucan side up, staying alert for the second ball after the in-swinging corner was initially blocked.

The decisive second goal for Esker came in the last 10 minutes. A shot from distance from Euan Rock caught the keeper of his line to put Esker in cruise control. Another clean sheet saw the game finish 2-0.

Bus Metro route cancelled

by Tolka after extra time DUBLIN Bus’s defence of the Metropolitan Cup came to an end at the hands of Tolka Rovers as they fell 3-1 after extra time at Frank Cooke Park.

Tolka took the lead midway through the first half and things got worse for Bus when Andrew Cleary received a straight red card.

Despite the setback, it was Bus who took control of the tie, con-

trolling most of the ball with just the final ball being the problem.

A deserved equaliser came when a grateful cross from Ciaran Bisset was volleyed by Paul McMahon at the back post which was initially saved from the keeper but Aaron McGuirk was there to tap home from close range.

Extra time came and the Bus, who were out on their feet, conceded on the counter after a good cross was tapped in at the back post. Tolka made it 3-1 late on with a long ball over the top and a good finish when one-on-one.



GOT A STORY? WE WANT TO KNOW!

Call our SPORT TEAM on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 3 Wexford Youths celebrate their league success. Picture: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

or email sport@dublingazette.com

GAZETTE

38 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 9 November 2017

SPORT

HURLING: DOMINANT SECOND HALF SEES KILMACUD SUCCEED

FASTGAA

Lucan’s Super Sars LUCAN Sarsfields Under-15 rounded off an exceptional year by claiming the Division 1 camogie championship thanks to a superb win over Kilmacud Crokes.

It added to the ladies football title they won a week before against St Finian’s, making it an A championship double, backing up the pair of Feile titles they won in 2016.

Gleeson treble puts Na Fianna out of sight LUCAN were denied the Dublin minor A hurling championship title in a high-scoring battle last Sunday at Parnell Park by Na Fianna, coming

undone 5-15 to 3-9 at O’Toole Park.

Paddy Gleeson’s first half hat trick was the defining influence with all the goals coming in a devastating six minute spell.

It built a 3-11 to 1-6 half-time lead which Lucan were never able to come close to reeling in.

Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyboden St Enda’s in action last Saturday. Picture: Steven Dagg

Crokes finally overhaul Boden UNDER-16 AHC FINAL Kilmacud Crokes Ballyboden St Enda’s  sport@dublingazette.com

1-11 1-9

PHADRAIC Linehan’s sharp shooting and Joe Kelly’s goal proved absolutely critical as Kilmacud Crokes shaded their titanic battle with Ballyboden St Enda’s to win the Dublin Under-16A hurling championship title last Saturday in Blakestown.

It was quite the battle between the two best teams born in 2000, a repeat of the 2015 final at Under-15 level, clubs who have to meet again on November 25 to settle the league title after both ended locked at the top of the table.

Boden had held the balance of power since their All-Ireland Feile win in 2015 but Crokes took an early lead via Kelly’s

goal, building a 1-3 to 0-2 lead.

The Firhouse Road club stormed back in the closing stages of the first half to lead 1-8 to 1-4 with Dara Kenny netting off the back of Conor Lowe’s gut-busting run out of defence.

It came after a previously scoreless 17-minute spell while they had the wind in their favour and this would ultimately have

a bearing on the outcome, The goal did come amid a brilliant spell of 1-4 in five minutes to give them the edge with Malachy Codd knocking over a couple of key scores.

The second half was a tight affair with a lot of activity around the middle third of the pitch. Kilmacud were able to grind their way back into the tie with Linehan chipping away while Under-15 star

Dara Purcell landed a couple of points with only a Codd point coming in return.

Crokes had all of the play and it laid the base to first draw level before P urcell and Linehan cleared the bar with the final two scores building up to a much cherished victory.

The rematch already looks one to savour in two weeks time.

CLUB NOTICEBOARD BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S

WELL done to our U-15 footballers who got through to the shield C final after a good win over Kilmacud Crokes.

Hard luck to our U-16A hurlers on their two point championship final defeat to Crokes and to the U-15A in their championship semifinal loss to Castleknock The Annual Mass for deceased members will take place on Saturday, November 11 at 6.30pm in the club hall. All are welcome.

Last chance to book into the upcoming First Aid course. The course takes place next Saturday, November 11 from 12pm to 5pm in the clubhouse. Course cost of €10 will be collected on the day.

GARDA/ WESTMANSTOWN THE minors are the only adult team left with games still to play, starting with a championship shield final at

home in Westmanstown next Sunday morning against St Pat’s, Palmerstown; throw in at 11am.

Lots of juvenile activity last weekend with the U-15 boys losing by a single point to St Peters in their championship semi-final in Westmanstown on Sunday morning; final score 3-10 to 2-12; disappointing to lose by such a narrow margin but the boys will learn from this defeat.

Well done to all on an excellent season.

The U-14 boys beat Erin go Bragh, the U-12 boys hosted neighbours Castleknock, the U-11 boys travelled to Naomh Barrog, the U-8 boys hosted Crumlin, the U-9 girls hosted a blitz with Lucan Sarsfields and Raheny and the U-11 girls welcomed St Vincent’s and Templeogue.

The club AGM takes place on Monday, November 20 in Westmanstown at 8pm; all club members are asked to attend as this is your opportunity to have your say in how the club is run and electing the officers to do it-bi ann

gan teip.

The club annual gala and awards night is on Friday, December 1 at Westmanstown Sports Centre.

Tickets are €35 and selling fast; make sure you get yours in good time from Janet Mitten and her organising team.

Deadline for club notes is Sunday evening at 8pm. Results, team news, fundraising etc to PRO Eugene O Sullivan at 086 3791359 or eugosullivan@eircom.net.

LUCAN SARSFIELDS MAYBE it was the full moon, maybe it was just bad luck but Lucan teams’ tail of woe in championship finals continued with minor hurling and minor ladies football both falling at the final hurdle.

Nonetheless, there was success for U-16 A and B hurling, U-13A football, U-14B football, and minor B camogie.

The senior hurlers bid for Division 1 promotion with a playoff game on Sunday at 11am at home against either Ballinteer or

Raheny.

Live music continues in the bar on Saturday night.

AGM 2017 will take place on Thursday, November 23 at 9pm in the club.

Annual Mass for Deceased will take place on Thursday, November 16 at 8pm in the club. All club members are welcome as we remember the lives of those we lost this year.

25 Card Drive continues every Friday 9pm. Caters for all levels, beginners welcome.

The Cupla Focal club is on Mondays from 8-9pm.

Bingo is on Wednesday at 8.30pm where the jackpot is growing and attracting a lot more players.

The club shop scheduled to open on Thursdays from 7.30-8.30pm and Saturdays from 10.30am to 1pm.

Lucan District Credit Union Academy is on Saturday, 9.30am for girls and 10am for boys (5+).

Last week, there was no winner of the €13,400 lotto where the

numbers were 8, 15, 18 and 25.

This week’s €13,800 lotto draw will be managed by Josephine Donoghue and is sponsored by Matt Reilly Autoparts. Tickets can be purchased online, at the club, in Carey’s Newsagents, in Vesey Arms or Kenny’s Bar.

NA GAEIL OGA

MORDHINNEAR Na Gaeil Óga 2017: Tá an oíche is mó sa bhliain ag druidim linn agus táimid ar fad ag súil leis.

Beimid ar ais in Óstán an Spencer ar an Satharn, 25 Samhain. Bhí an-bhliain againn agus tá go leor le ceiliúradh againn!

Bronnfar gradaim eagsúla ar na foirne ar fad; Imreoir na Bliana san áireamh, príomhghradam na h-oíche; Gradam Sheáin Uí Laighin agus bronnfar na boinn sraithe agus craoibhe ar ár bhfoireann A na bhfear agus ar ár bhfoireann iomána.

Caithfear ticéid a shocrú roimh ré agus is é an 22ú Samhain an lá deireanach do dhíolacháin. Ní

cheadófar íoc as ticéid ar an oíche, déan cinnte go bhfaigheann tú do thicéad in am, bí linn!

ROUND TOWER, CLONDALKIN

OUR U-21 footballers defeated Whitehall Colmcille to progress in championship and our U-15 footballers are preparing for a championship final after overcoming O’Tooles in their semifinal encounter.

Round Tower AGM 2017 will take place in the clubhouse on Saturday, November 25, commencing 5pm.

Motions, recommendations and nominations can be submitted to the club secretary in a secure box behind the bar or by email – secretary. roundtowersclondalkin.dublin@ gaa.ie.

Only members who paid their membership on or before the GAA registration deadline of March 31 are entitled to vote. Details are

9 November 2017 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 39

GAZETTE

FOOTBALL: WHITEHALL COLMCILLES DISMISSED

Towers 21s shine U-21C FOOTBALL Whitehall Colmcille Round Tower, Clondalkin  MICK MCGLYNN

1-10 2-9

sport@dublingazette.com

A SEAN Casey goal eight minutes from time gave Round Towers Under-21s the impetus to claim the scalp of Whitehall Colmcille and progress to the next round of the C football championship.

Two years previously, it was Whitehall who ended Towers involvement in Monastery Road at this stage but on this occasion the Clondalkin side raided Cloghran for the win.

It was a tight affair throughout with Towers two to the good, 1-9 to 1-7, when Casey struck going into the closing stages.

Aaron Soady, coming forward from half-back, combined well with Kevin McGibney and struck low across the Whitehall square. Casey scooped the drive and swivelled sharply to create the space to strike low to the net.

It was an essential score forTowers, being their final one of the game. Whitehall rallied, kicking four additional points but the goal they required was denied by two excellent saves by stand-in keeper Liam O’Connor, tipping two goalbound efforts over.

Towers led by the minimum at the break, 1-3 to 0-7, but had been aided by the strong wind. They started the brighter in the second half, registering two wides before Thomas Galvin struck the opener.

Whitehall responded with two points to level it before Towers netted their first. Eoin Halpin, Casey and Chris Berry supporting from half-back combined to work the ball inside to McGibney and he struck low and true.

Whitehall kicked a free before Darren Gilligan’s foot-pass released Casey and the tug on his jersey allowed Galvin kick the free to edge three clear.

Some fine defending laid the platform and Casey’s

defining score settled the day.

Earlier, Whitehall registered the first point on the 11 minute mark after a tetchy opening. Darren Gilligan replied off his right while Galvin cancelled out Whitehall’s second point.

The Whitehall goal then arrived. A strike for a point hit the post but Whitehall’s half-forward reacted quickest to catch the rebound and struck to the bottom corner.

McGibney, Stephen Bracken and Galvin combined in the inside for-

wards and a foul enabled Galvin put two between the sides – 1-2 to 0-3.

Soady won the subsequent kick-out and powered forward to leave one between the teams. Casey then struck the post following an excellent flickpass by McGibney and Galvin pointed a followon free.

Whitehall pointed again but two frees before the break allowed Galvin edge Towers a point clear. Grit and resilience were a hallmark of the second period for Towers, with the two goals proving vital.

GLITTERING CAREER

Dotsy calls time on 15-years in Blue DAVID “Dotsy” O’Callaghan announced his retirement from the Dublin senior hurling team on Monday afternoon, ending a lengthy spell of service for the county.

After a number of years with minor Dublin teams, the then St Mark’s man – he would later play with Ballyboden St Enda’s – made his senior inter-county debut in the Walsh cup nearly 15 years ago, and even enjoyed a stint as a dual-star for Dublin in the mid 2000s, before focusing on hurling from 2008.

During that time, he enjoyed great success with Dublin, winning the National Hurling League in 2011 and the Leinster championship in 2013.

Speaking about the decision to step back, he said: “It’s been a great honour and dream come true for me to represent Dublin over the last 15 years. I would simply like to thank and pay tribute to all my teachers, everyone in St Mark’s GAA club, the Dublin supporters, Dublin development squad mentors right up to the senior management, backroom and medical teams for all their help and encouragement and to all the great players past and present I’ve been lucky to soldier alongside.

“A special mention to my family for putting up with my mood swings before big games! To all the staff in Parnell Park and the GPA I also thank you for all your assistance throughout. Finally, I would like to wish Pat Gilroy, his management team and all the players the best of luck for 2018 in what are exciting times for Dublin hurling.”

Round Tower and Whitehall lock horns.

CLUB NOTICEBOARD

available from our website: roundtower.ie.

Round Tower lotto (October 30): jackpot €3,200. Numbers drawn: 4, 14, 16 and 23; the bonus ball was 25.

No overall winner and no bonus ball winner. Three €100 winners: Ken Martin, Gemma and Philip, F Sherwin. Play lotto online via roundtower. ie. Thanks to all who support the club lotto.

Line dancing continues every Thursday and newcomers are welcome to participate.

The beginners class runs from 7.30pm and improvers class from 8pm.

Contact Linda at 086 8306740 for further information.

Bingo every Tuesday night in the club from 8.30pm. This week’s jackpot is €1,000 for a full house if checked within 47 numbers.

Otherwise €20 for a full

house.

All in €2 to buy in with a game usually being €90 to €150. All welcome.

ST PAT’S PALMERSTOWN

A GREAT weekend for sport with the bright skies and dry but colder weather.

75 local players attended an advanced training camp held over two days during the recent bank holiday weekend at St Patrick’s GAA club.

The intensive training program, run in conjunction with the Dublin County Board, was developed by Dublin’s County Development Manager and was delivered by a mixture of current Inter County footballers and hurlers and GPOs. Among those coaching were Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin football), Eoghan O’Donnell (Dublin hurling) and John

O’Donnell (Laois football).

Many thanks to all those from the club who helped out over the two days and especially to all the mentors who provided balls and equipment.

Well done to the U-9 boys in their final football match of the season against Kevin/ Killians. In a tough encounter, Jamie and Joel (our newest recruit) won man of the match this weekend, congratulations to all the team.

Huge congratulations to our U-13 football team who won their football league with only one loss all year, great achievement for all the boys and the mentors, well done everybody.

The U-14s had a good win v Na Dubh Gall 3-10 to 2-9 in a tough but well contested game.

This is the first time they have managed to beat this opposition since they

started. Great support from all parents as this team go from strength to strength.

Well done to our U-15 football team on reaching the championship final after a very strong performance and super win Sunday morning in Glenaulin, well done to all the lads and mentors.

Thanks to all who came out to watch them, great to see all the support on the sideline, roll on the final.

In camogie, our new amalgamated minor team with Round Towers has been entered for the minor camogie championship. Best of luck to the players and managers in same.

Our Mass to remember the deceased members and friends of St Patrick’s GAA club takes place on Sunday, November 12 at 10.30am in the Assembly Hall of St Lorcan’s BNS. Palmerstown.

All members and former

members and all our friends welcome to attend as we remember our loved ones.

St Patrick’s GAA Club AGM for our members takes place at 8pm on November 15 at our clubhouse .

All members welcome to attend.

Our lotto numbers for this week were 5, 9, 27 and 30.

There was no winner .

Next week’s jackpot is €5,600.

Thanks to all our sellers and lotto team for there commitment each week.

Tickets are available from Supervalu, Palmerstown House ,Manor Hair Studios, Chapelizod Post office and Mullingar House.

THOMAS DAVIS

CONGRATULATIONS to the U-16 hurling team who won the championship on Saturday against Clontarf.

The lads played absolutely

superbly and were a credit to the club and management.

Well done to all the players and mentors who kept the team going all year with the support of our U-15 players and mentors.

Well done to our minor hurlers who beat Ballinteer in the semi-final of the championship to become our third minor team to reach championship finals this season.

The minor A football team play their championship final this Sunday at 12pm in O Toole Park against Na Fianna, all support would be greatly appreciated.

Best of luck to all the players and mentors. The intermediate hurlers were beaten in the Leinster championship on Saturday, it was a brave display from the hurlers who on Wednesday beat Raheny after extra time.

Well done to all the players

and mentors for all their achievements this season, winning the intermediate Championship.

The U-14 footballers beat Vincents to finish the league season unbeaten.

In ladies football, the U-8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 teams all participated in blitz games this weekend with brilliant performances.

Well done to all the players and mentors involved.

The lotto numbers were 6, 7, 16 and 19. It was not won; next week’s jackpot is €1,250.

Academy is on Saturday at 10am until 11 am for children born in the years 2010, 11, 12 and 13, all are welcome and please arrive early.

The 2017 club players night will be held in the club on Friday December 1, details to follow.

Thomas Davis GAA club would like to offer condolences to Joe Fadian on the death mother Mary.

GAZETTESPORT

ALL OF YOUR WEST DUBLIN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 34-39

NOVEMBER 9-15, 2017

PAIN FOR PEAS: WNL title proves just out of reach for Greenogue club after final day Wexford showdown P37

CLASSIC ENCOUNTER: Boden and Kilmacud Crokes hurlers meet yet again P38

Egan’s glorious 2017 continues in China  sport@dublingazette.com

SALMON Leap Canoe Club’s Jenny Egan added to her incredible 2017 medal collection with a pair of podium finishes at the International Canoe Marathon World Cup in Shaoxing and Shanghai, China over six days of intense racing last week.

It lifts her tally to five major international medals over this year’s racing season which started back in May. Along with club mate Barry Watkins, she was invited by the International Canoe Federation and the Chinese Canoe Federation who sponsored both athletes

to race.

The first success came in Shaoxing in the first World Cup race over a 26.2km course of 7 laps and 6 portages with a high quality field.

The race was going to be a keenly contested affair and a group immediately formed and broke away who battled together for six of the seven laps.

On the sixth portage, this group was whittled down to four boats: Egan, Czech Republic’s Adamova Koziskova, GB’s Lizzie Broughton and Serbia’s Kristina Bedec, making it all to play for over the last 1,000m.

Into the last turn, Bedec was

dropped, so it was left to three paddlers to fight it out for who was going to win gold, silver and bronze.

Egan and Koziskova pulled away from Broughton and in the final sprint to the line with Egan eventually second by the narrowest of margins after a fantastic race over the marathon course.

Egan said afterwards: “I am delighted to win a silver medal here at the first marathon World Cup to be held in China. I have had a tummy bug for the last couple days and I wasn’t sure if I would finish the race so I am over the moon with this result.”

Egan also commented on the

atmosphere created by a sizeable crowd: “It was amazing to compete in front of such a huge number of spectators and how friendly the Chinese people are.”

All of the competitors travelled to Shanghai a few days later for a race over the shorter distance of 3.4kms with two portages.

Again, a group of athletes broke away which included Bedec, Broughton, Belgium’s Lise Broekx of Belgium and Egan.

Bedec broke away and stayed on to win gold.

It left Broughton to hold out for silver with Egan taking bronze from Broekx by one tenth of a second.

Jenny Egan shows off one of her medals in China