NEED A TAXI?
The Newspaper with the
“My Parents know I’ll get home safe”
BIGGEST circulation in the North County
We Deliver We deliver A registered newspaper at the G.P.O.
Your Quality Local Newspaper
17th September 2013 • Volume 20, Issue 35 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Life Changer For Swords Woman A
Swords woman is set to become a household name in the area, when she appears in a reality TV series called ‘Get Off The Couch.’ As the name suggests, it is to encourage people to get out and get fit and to leave their comfort zones. Karen Bowers, from Jugback Close in Swords told the County Leader about how the opportunity came about. “I work as a mobile beauty therapist and one of my clients is paralympic cyclist, Catherine Walsh. It was a chance remark to Catherine that set the whole process in train. Athena Media did a feature on paralympians called “Beyond Limits’ which featured Catherine, and when she saw that they were going to make the new programme on their facebook ad, she immediately suggested me.”
By Patrick Finnegan “At this stage, my job as a mobile beauty therapist meant that I was neglecting myself and not eating properly. My work commitments meant that I was grabbing quick meals, with little enough nourishment, so when the opportunity to take part in the series came about, I was delighted.” The series is similar to the popular ‘Operation Transformation’ and concentrates on testing people to their limits, both mentally and physically. The six part weekly series took six months to film. Karen said that the experi-
constantly for the six weeks of filming and camera crews were in the house and following her about during that time. “We did triathlons, for which we received intensive training from coaches, open sea swims and we even climbed Carrantuohill, Ireland’s highest mountain.” Karen described this as a life changing moment. “The climb involved a nine hour trek and when I reached the top, I burst out crying with emotion. It was then that I knew i could accomplish anything I set my mind to do. This, along with completing triathlons have changed my life forever. I am now planning to join the local athletic club and I also go to Malahide to participate Pictured is Swords resident, Karen Bowers, who took part in the TV series, 'Get Off The Couch', in open sea swims, such which is due to air in October. is my level of confidence. ence has had a profound affect on her Karen competes in the triathlon. These are things that would never have enter life and she now believes that everything is possible. The series has given her the my horizon before I went on the show. Now, everything is possible,” a delighted Karen belief in herself that was missing up to then. Karen was under the microscope almost concluded.
Rosie Gives Something Back Former contestant in the Dublin Rose festival, Rosie Nixon from Rush is once again taking on an exciting challenge this October. Rosie and a group of fellow Rose volunteers are heading back to Chernobyl on the 30th of October in conjunction with Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International. Rosie, who was a Dublin Rose candidate in 2012, along with a group of around 10 volunteers are going to spend a few days working at the Vesnova Children’s Mental Rosie Nixon Asylum. Conditions in the home are less than perfect with basic supplies such
By Jennifer McShane as nappies regularly running out. As a result of this, the girls have set themselves a group fundraising target of €20,000. Every little bit of money they can raise is going to have a major impact on the lives of the children who reside in the home. “This was one of the aspects of my Rose involvement that I was most looking forward to,” she explained to the County Leader. “I was there for the first time last year, and it represented such a huge challenge for me, and
Millfield Proud Sponsors of Summerfest 10k Run St Finian's Community College student, Ciara Rogers demonstrates how the new school app works to Minister for Education and Science, Ruairi Quinn, on his visit to the school on Friday last, 13th September. See story on page 3
Taking Place 22/09/13 - See Details Inside
The Heart Of Shopping In Balbriggan
a real chance to get involved with something that really would make a fantastic difference.” As part of her fundraising efforts, Rosie is holding a table quiz in the Strand Bar, Rush on Friday, 20th of September at 8pm, and would be so appreciative of the support from the local community. “It’s for such a fantastic cause,” Rosie explained. “It’s €40 per team, for a maximum of four and there’ll be a raffle on the night featuring a weekend away, a Kindle Fire and a George Foreman grill, plus many more spot prizes on the night. I am paying for the cost of the trip myself so all money that is donated goes directly to the charity, so I’d love as much support as possible.” Speaking about her upcoming trip, Rosie said: “As a former contestant in the Dublin Rose of Tralee, I got the opportunity to travel to Vesnova Children’s Mental Asylum in southern Belarus and spend a few days there volunteering.” “I was there for the first time last year and it really was a life changing experience. I remember being so nervous before heading off last year, but then when I got there, I found it was totally worth it and decided I definitely wanted to go again, so I’m heading off in October and trying to get all the funds together now. It takes quite a bit of effort, but I know myself that it’s all going to be worth it.” Rosie said that she originally got involved in the Rose festival to have a fun experience, and take on things she might not have had the nerve to do otherwise: “Chernobyl is definitely