The Newspaper with the
BIGGEST circulation in the North County We Deliver We deliver A registered newspaper at the G.P.O.
Your Quality Local Newspaper
18th March 2014 • Volume 21, Issue 10 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Local Man Turns Airport Green Visitors to Dublin Airport, will have been very impressed by the wonderful green lights that have lit up Terminals One, Two and the original building, in the lead up to St Patrick’s Day. But who was responsible for this greening of the airport?. The County Leader can report that it is all the work of Skerries resident, John Colville, who beat off some stiff competition to land the valuable tender. Speaking exclusively with the County Leader, John, a lighting designer by trade, explained how he came to be involved in the project. “Last year, with The Gathering, Dublin Airport were asked to join the ‘Green Initiative’ and they then put in train a process of finding suitable designers and my ideas were the ones that they favoured on the tendering process. We went on from there, working closely with the DAA to create what’s there at the moment.” John, who has wide experience of this kind of work across all the continents, said that this was one of
By Patrick Finnegan the largest projects he has ever undertaken. “The daunting part was the sheer size of the areas that I was asked to cover. That was the hard part of the design, as it involved such large surfaces to make sure we had enough to cover it. I remember being exceptionally nervous before last year’s project for The Gathering, mainly because of the sheer size of the project, but this year was a little more relaxed, where we introduced a video element, instead of just text, with 3D animations, as you approach Terminal 2,” he said. “My brief was to look at what was there at the time. We would have used much of the existing lighting that was there and changed it to green, as well as a lot of the tunnels, which we also turned to green. In Teminal One, there was already some green there, and we just enhanced it. In Terminal Two, we had complete access to do what we needed to. It’s been a real joy to work on,” said John.
Skerries man, John Colville
The whole greening of the airport lasted for a total of 10 days, coming to an end this morning, Tuesday, 18th March. John was full of praise for his employers, who were very supportive of him. “The DAA were wonderful to work with and their level of organisation and support in this project has been incredible. Before last year, they would not have undertaken a project like this, but they put their faith in me, and they were delighted with my work.
Lá Fhéile Pádraig
for families. Swords drew in a huge crowd, as it has done for many years, and the day was a source of terrific joy and happiness for all who attended. As always, Balbriggan, Skerries, Lusk All over the North County, St Patrick’s everyone a chance to come together and Rush also provided wonderful By Jennifer McShane Day was gloriously celebrated by adults and show their pride in their areas. So entertainment and the parades were and children alike. Hundreds from to be commended for all their hard many families were out and about very colourful and full of fun. In Rush, around the locality came out in force to work. The colour, variety and creativity enjoying all the fun and games on the the St Maur’s Pipe Band and the 38th celebrate all things Irish, and the of all the floats was really something day, which was a wonderful sight to Scouts Group led the parade. The community spirit was well and truly else to behold, as they swished down see. Parades and all sorts of other fun entire town came out to participate in evident, as families celebrated this our streets, tall and proud. activities took place in Swords, Rush, the exciting day, It’s always great to joyous day. These parades and community events Skerries, Balbriggan and Lusk, and see the people of Rush come together All our towns were hives of activities on were beloved by so many, as they gave many areas had exciting entertainment and St Patrick’s Day is when you can the day; bunting and flags see the real spirit of the decorated the streets of townspeople, which our area, and as far as the makes all involved feel eye could see, the parade very proud. floats could be seen for The Lusk parade started at miles and the rapturous 1.30pm at the Station delight of the crowds could Road roundabout went all be heard for hours on end. the way through the town. Naturally, green was the A large crowd turned out colour of choice for many to view the festivities, and the favourable and families created a weather lifted many great atmosphere for all to spirits. enjoy. Our local towns really The much anticipated excel and pull out all the Skerries parade was a stops when it comes to the resounding success, with parades. So much work over 45 floats taking part. goes into creating and There was a great turnout designing the fabulous and restaurants and pubs floats that are the focal had their busiest day of point of our exciting the year, as people came parades. Many local from near and far, to enjoy community groups were the wonderful amenities of Pictured reviewing the Swords St. Patrick's Day parade are, new County Manager Paul Reid, with his wife Margaret, Fingal involved in the making of this lovely town. Dublin Chamber President, Siobhan Kinsella and CEO of Fingal Dublin Chamber, Tony Lambert, with his wife Maureen. these, and they really have Continued on page 22
Neil Moran, head of Asset Management at DAA was an absolute gentleman to deal with,” said a proud John. “Because of the nature of the project, there were a number of health and safety issues to be considered, one of which was not to shine bright lights up into the air, for obvious reasons,” said John, who employed 12 people on the job, seven of whom are from the North County area.
Castle Shopping Centre, Swords Tel: 01-8404601
ars in Swords Celebrating 31 Ye
GOLD & SILVER JEWELLERY HALF MARKED PRICE 1/3 OFF DIAMOND JEWELLERY 1/3 OFF ALL OTHER STOCK WATCHES ETC
SALE ENDS 29TH MARCH
We Can Refashion Your Old Gold To New Jewellery
All work carried out Instore • Resizing • Stone Replacement • Rhodium Plating • Jewellery Repairs • Watch Straps & Batteries • Watch Repairs • Pearl Restringing • Engraving
www.landjjewellers.ie