Blanch by Dublin Gazette

Gazette BLANCH

cinema: The Witch walks a tricky line between

disquieting ambiguity and supernatural horror P20

1916 Rising :

Page 14

Eggs galore:

Many locals got dressed up in green and took advantage of the fine weather.

A selection of luxury, hand-finished eggs for all chocolate lovers Page 19

sport Hurling:

Castleknock share spoils with Setanta Page 31

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Shamrockin’ at blanch’s St patrick’s day parade Thousands of local people celebrated St Patrick’s Day in Blanchardstown as the parade set off, displaying the talents of a large number of different community, charity and sporting groups who marched throughout the village.

There’s plenty of events going on to commemorate Easter rebellion.

Month 24-30, 2016

Amoungst the revellers were the Farrell family, Kevin Farrell, Marian Farrell, Eoin Farrell (snoozing in the pram), Tom Farrell and Mathew Farrell. See also page 8 Picture: Rose Comisky

Tenants at Cruise Park breathe sigh of relief Tyrrelstown residents

 ian begley

will not have to vacate

Fingal County Council has confirmed that it is engaged in negotiations with Property firm Twinlite to buy houses in the Cruise Park estate in Tyrrelstown, where 100 families face eviction.

unless alternative accommodation found

Controversy arose earlier this month when 40 tenants in Cruise Park began receiving letters telling them that their leases will not be renewed once they expire. Following widespread criticism, Rick Larkin, a director of the construction

company, recently stated that the tenants from the Cruise Park estate will not have to vacate their rented properties without having secured alternative accommodation. However, while he said he sympathises with their con-

cerns, Larkin added: “We’re a business, not a charity.” Cllr Paul Donnelly (SF) said that Larkin’s recent assurance “will no doubt be a sigh of relief from the residents facing eviction”. Full Story on Page 2

2 BLANCH Gazette 24 March 2016

Tyrrelstown | ‘We’re a business, not a charity’

Residents assured they wont be evicted  Ian Begley

Cllr Paul Donnelly (SF), pictured meeting with residents, welcomed the news that they will not be put out on the streets when their leases expire

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Property firm Twinlite have assured residents living in the Cruise Park estate, Tyrrelstown, that they will not be put out on the streets when their leases expire. Controversy arose earlier this month when 40 tenants began receiving letters saying that their leases will not be renewed once they expire. A ffected residents later established the Tyrrelstown Tenants Action Group in the hope of raising national attention to their dilemma and calling for the withdrawal of these notices. The recent move by Twinlite came on the back of a deal in which Ulster Bank sold an €89m loan it had on its books to a Goldman Sachs vulture fund. Following widespread criticism, Rick Larkin, a director of the construction company, recently stated that the tenants from the Cruise Park estate will not have to vacate their rented properties without having secured alternative accommodation. However, while he said he sympathises with their concerns, he maintained that the tenants must have known at some point that their homes would be sold as they signed a oneyear lease and renewed it every year, adding: “We’re a business, not a charity.” His comments came as residents prepared to hold a demonstration outside Leinster House. Cllr Paul Donnelly (SF)

said that Larkin’s recent assurance “will no doubt be a sigh of relief from the residents facing eviction”. “I think what Rick Larkin said was very significant. One of the main things we have called for is that people would be allowed to stay in their homes if they can’t find alternative accommodation. “He said that if it comes right down to it and there is nowhere else for the tenants to go then they will keep them in their property until they find somewhere else to go. “I think this issue has helped to highlight what many tenants living in rental accommodation are facing and I feel like we need to push on from here by introducing legislation for tenants and dealing with the homeless crisis,” said Cllr Donnelly. Tyrrelstown Tenants Action Group also recently staged a protest at Davy House which then proceeded to Dail Eireann. Ruth Coppinger (AAA) also raised their concerns in Dail Eireann. She said: “The fact that hundreds of houses were bought in one transaction and that the fate of so many families lies in the hands of one greedy investment fund says it all about how the private market has been allowed dominate housing by successive governments. “A housing emergency rages in Dublin West, as evidenced by a recent report that said 40% of all homeless Dublin families hail from this constituency.”

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FastNews

A Irish Blue Cross vet nurse microchips Gino at the Inchicore Clinic

Get your pooch micro-chipped at mobile clinic at Maxi Zoo On Saturday, April 16 the Irish Blue Cross will be stationed at the Maxi Zoo pet store, Blanchardstown to carry out micro-chipping for your pet. Under new legislation from April 1, all dogs must be micro-chipped or potentially face a hefty fine of up to €5,000 if they are not compliant. Over the coming weeks, the familiar Irish Blue Cross Mobile Clinics will be stationed at a number of sites outside Petworld and Maxi Zoo pet stores across Dublin, especially providing a service to owners on low incomes. A microchip is the essential method of identification and can be easily implanted and scanned by a vet or nurse.

Council announces 2016 Artist’s Support Scheme

Fingal County Council has announced the 2016 Artists’ Support Scheme. This strand of funding allows professional artists to avail of up to €4,000 of an award towards travel/professional development opportunities, a residency, or towards the development of work. The objective of the Artists’ Support Scheme is to support individual professional artists from Fingal to develop their artistic practice. The award seeks to provide artists with the time and resources to think, research, reflect and engage with their artistic practice. The award is open to practising artists at all stages in their professional careers working in music, visual art, drama, literature and dance. To be eligible to apply, applicants must: have been born, have studied, or currently reside in the Fingal administrative area. Speaking about the Award, chief executive, Fingal County Council Paul Reid said: “I am delighted to announce this funding scheme for Fingal artists to develop their professional art practice. In 2015, the council awarded 28 bursaries to artists through this scheme and remains committed to supporting the Arts in Fingal.” The funding is for projects/initiatives which will take place between June 1 and December 31. Closing date for receipt of applications is April 29. For further information and application forms: visit www.fingalarts.ie or www.fingal.ie.

24 March 2016 BLANCH Gazette 3

council | €870,200 pay-out fee for local authority in 2015

meetings

Raise your concerns with gardai

Massive increase in claims paid out  Jodi Waters & Ian Begley THE council has paid more than 77% in compensation compared to 2014 for individuals claiming for trips and falls on footpaths. Fingal revealed to The Gazette that the total sum paid in respect of trips and falls on footpaths for 2015 was €870,000. This is compared to €196,900 paid out by the council in 2014 – a difference of €673,100. Speaking to The Gazette, a spokesperson from Fingal said that this increase does not represent any significant upward trend in the overall cost of claims. “The figure given includes the sum paid

in respect of settlements and associated legal, medical and engineering costs. The figures given represent the sum paid out in these financial years regardless of when the incident occurred. “The sum paid in 2015 is significantly higher than 2014. This is entirely due to a small number of relatively high value claims that were settled in 2015 and related to incidents that occurred between 2011 and 2014. This does not represent any significant upward trend in the overall cost of claims,” said the spokesperson. Cllr David McGuinness (Ind) said that Fingal County Council have recently approved €250,000 for improving

footpaths in 2016, adding that “priorities seem to be very wrong here and I will put questions to the Fingal chief executive Officer”. Although the amount of money paid out for claims regarding trips and falls is based on Fingal as a whole and not on single electoral areas, Cllr McGuiness said “accidents do happen and liabilities always lay with someone, a fourfold increase should raise some serious flags and the public deserve to know the details involved”. Residents who notice path and road defects anywhere in the Fingal area are asked to report t h e m t o w w w. f i x y ourstreet.ie.

The 2016 series of public meetings for the Fingal Joint Policing Committee (JPC) will take place over the four Wednesdays in April, at different locations across the county. The meetings offer an opportunity for members of the public to meet with senior and local Gardai, and council officials and to raise any issues that might be of concern in their neighbourhood. Idea

in the frame for a prize

An artwork by a Castleknock student is amongst entries being presented to adjudicators who will select winners in this year’s 62nd Texaco Children’s Art Competition. Pictured is Valero marketing manager Bronagh Carron admiring a self-portrait entry by seventeen-year-old Eoin Fullstown, a pupil at St Vincent’s Castleknock College. Winners of the competition will be announced in mid-April with prizes being presented in May.

The report from last year’s public meetings is available on www.fingal. ie/FingalJPC and gives a good idea of the type of issues that were raised. The JPC meeting for Dublin 15 will take place on Wednesday, April 20 from 7.30 to 9pm at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

4 BLANCH Gazette 24 March 2016

housing

Council to roll out age friendly initiatives  ian begley

Megan O’Driscoll with Edmond O’Hanlon (Matheson) and Cllr Roderic O’Gorman (GP). Pictures: Paul Sherwood Photography

great debate | Best Speaker in Ireland

Megan makes it to the top of the pile  Ian Begley

Third-year student Megan O’Driscoll from Castleknock Community College has beaten stiff competition from all over the country to be crowned this years Best Speaker in Ireland. Throughout the year nearly 500 students from all over Ireland have competed for a coveted place at the Matheson Junior Debating National Maces’ Finals Day. On Saturday, March 12 the best speakers from all over Ireland travelled to Castleknock Community College to compete. Following a great day of debating, eight students progressed to the grand final chaired by Cllr Roderic O’Gorman. The Final Motion enti-

tled, It is Easter Monday 1916. This House Would Join the Rising, was passionately argued by the finalists representing Colaiste Iosagain, Loreto HS Beaufort, Belvedere College, Colaiste an Spiroid Naoimh. CBC Cork, Castleknock Community College and Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green. Following a very close adjudication, Matheson representative Edmond O’Hanlon announced Megan O’Driscoll of Castleknock Community College victorious and was crowned Best Speaker in Ireland. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 students from 33 schools in Dublin 15 and its surrounding areas took part in the North County Section of the Fingal Athletics League. This is a participation

based event, held three times a year with a finals day in Morton Stadium on April 12. The finals day also includes the Dublin 15 league, which will see approximately 1,800 students of all abilities from all over Fingal to take part in this fun introduction to athletics. Schools can enter a maximum of 50 pupils from 3rd to 6th class,

including both boys and girls who will race separately. Race distances range from 350 to 650 metres depending on the age group. If your school is interested in getting involved or for more information on this or any sports development initiatives in Fingal email niall. mcguirk@fingal.ie or phone 01-8906232.

Kate Maher (Convenor) Shane Tully, Megan O’Driscoll and Bronwyn Boyle

Fingal County Council has outlined a wide range of initiatives it carries out to address issues facing older people. This matter was tabled at the March council meeting, where Cllr JP Browne (FG) asked the council if they could provide a detailed report on what steps are being taken to fulfil Fingal’s obligation to provide safe and secure housing for older people living within the county. In its reply, the chief executive stated: “The age friendly website, www. agefriendlyfingal.ie offers advice to older people about how to maximise their safety and security at home. “The scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people, provides grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of monitored personal alarms to enable older persons without sufficient means to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Grant support can be accessed through community and voluntary groups registered with the department. All applications for grant support must be submitted through these groups. The website provides helpful information in relation to contacting local gardai and numbers to contact if you are a council tenant experiencing anti-social behaviour.” “The council also operates grant schemes for older people experiencing health and mobility problems whereby they can have adaptation works carried out on their property to make it possible for them to remain living at home.”

24 March 2016 BLANCH Gazette 5

dublin 15 | over 60 local community groups cheered on by crowds

Thousands enjoy St Patrick’s parade

 Ian Begley

ibegley@dublingazette.com

More than 6,000 people attended the Dublin 15 parade, where a festive mix of green, white and orange was on view as the area held its second ever St Patrick’s Day festival. Proceedings kicked off at 2.30pm with over 60 community groups taking part including sports, cultural, and ethnic groups representing the different nationalities living in the area. The crowds lined the streets along the entire route from The Bell pub to Blanchardsotwn shopping centre.

According to Cllr Paul Donnelly (SF) , this year’s parade was “extremely good” and saw a big increase in spectators compared to last year. He said: “Blanc h a r d s t ow n v i l l a g e was absolutely packed with onlookers and the shopping centre itself was jammed as well. “The multi-story car park was even full of people looking down at the parade. “A lot of people I spoke to on the day loved the fact that they didn’t have to deal with the hassle of going into the city centre and getting up early to get a

good spot.” This year’s theme was the 1916/2016 commemorations and saw the Corduff Women’s Group and the Dublin 15 1916 committee dress up in period costumes and march along the streets. Cllr Donnelly added that many local businesses benefited significantly from the increased number of people who came to Dublin West that day. “When you think about it we had more than 60 groups take part in the parade and thousands more watching it so of course it would have been great

for businesses in the area. “All of the restaurants and pubs in the centre were literally full to capacity all day round, which was brilliant. “We’ve been calling for a parade in Blanchardstown for about four years and it’s fantastic to see that we’ve finally got one. We have a population of more than 100,000 people so I think it’s only right that we have an annual parade here. “For me, I definitely think one of the highlights were the A frican and Indian groups that took part – the music and colour they

Castleknock Lions Club take part in the parade

brought was just fantastic. The effort that the 1916 groups went to by putting their period costumes together was also great. “I think the overall high point of the parade for me was the

fact that there were so many young people and kids taking part. The local Forogie group had helium balloons of the tricolour flag and when they got to the podium they released them with each one carr ying a

message of their hopes for 2016 – it was a great spectacle to see. “Next year, I’m sure the numbers of people taking part and showing up for the parade will be even bigger,” said Cllr Donnelly.

6 BLANCH Gazette 24 March 2016

Mulhuddart

Maxol station to pump out 50 jobs FIFTY new jobs are to be created in Mulhuddart later this year following the completion of the biggest Maxol station in Ireland. Weslin Construction has been engaged by the fuel company to build the outlet on a prominent location on the busy N3 primary route. Situated on 2.5 acres, the development, with an investment of over €4m, will see the creation of 50 jobs by March 31 and provide a variety of services to the local community in Blanchardstown. It will offer the latest in forecourt design, a fully equipped truck stop, parking for more than 80 vehicles, and a Moreish cafe that will include new premium Irish food franchises. Weslin is also building another station in Donabate village that will create a further 25 jobs. These will be the third and fourth Maxol stations that have been completed by Weslin with previous projects in Templeogue village and an unmanned filling station on the Dublin Road in Sutton. Aidan Boyle, managing director, Weslin Construction, said: “These two sites show our continued commitment to helping Maxol expand their business across Ireland. “The sites will not only create jobs, they will also provide two state-of-theart stations that will service some of the busiest routes in Dublin.” Brian Donaldson, Maxol’s Group general manager and CEO in-waiting, said: “We are extremely proud to announce the opening dates of our new facilities at Mulhuddart and Donabate, both of which represent a significant investment and achievement for Maxol.”

Salmovir Spes was awarded €153,000 by the High Court after he injured his back picking up trays of yogurt

courts | lack of training and unreasonable targets claim

Worker awarded €153k after he injured back A worker at a distribution centre for a supermarket chain has been awarded €153,000 by the High Court after he injured his back picking up trays of yogurt. Salmovir Spes (47), a Slovakian who came here to live and work in 2005, sued Windcanton Ireland, Northwest Business Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin. Mr Spes was a “picker” at the centre which supplied 24 Superquinn (now Supervalu) supermarkets . His job involved lift-

ing goods destined for the different stores from pallets and placing them on trolleys known as combi cages for onward transport. On October 29, 2012, he was lifting five trays of yogurt from a pallet to a cage and had squatted down on his hunkers. He pulled the trays towards him and lifted them but as he turned to put them into the cage, which was about a meter away, he experienced a sharp pain in his back and had to go home early.

He claimed the injury was caused due to his employer’s failure to adequately train him in the correct technique when twisting or turning while carr ying a heavy load. He also claimed an unreasonably high “pick rate” of 1,200 picks per seven-and-a-half hour shift was imposed on him. He also alleged he was required to carry out an unreasonable amount of heavy lifting. T he claims were

denied. Windcanton said he received training in safe handling when he joined the company and also underwent refresher courses. It denied there was an unreasonably high pick rate required or that he was treated unfairly in any way in relation to heavy lifting duties. It also alleged there was contributory negligence. Mr Justice Anthony Barr was satisfied Mr Spes’ injury arose due to a combination of lack

of adequate training, an excessive pick rate and that workers were forced to take shortcuts when lifting in order to achieve their targets. He did not accept it had been established that he was singled out for more heavy duties or that there was any discrimination or unfair treatment against him as compared to other workers. He declined to make any finding of contributory negligence. Mr Spes was out sick from the company due

to his injury until he was made redundant in 2014. Ta k i n g a l l o f t h e medical evidence into account, the judge was satisfied he suffered a significant injury to his lower back which has rendered him “permanently disabled in the work aspects of his life”. He also accepted he continued to have back pain on a frequent basis. He was entitled to judgment against the defendant for €153,150.

24 March 2016 BLANCH Gazette 7

charity race | People of all abilities are being encouraged to sign-up

Have some fun and run a 5k for Foroige  ian begley The Coca-Cola HBC Campus 5k run will take place in the National Sports Campus on Sunday, May 6 to raise vital funds for Foroige and the young people of Dublin 15. The run will begin at 12noon with a Family 1k Fun Run beginning at 11.30am. There will also be entertainment and activities for all throughout the morning and afternoon. With something for everyone on the day, people of all abilities are being encouraged to signup for a run, jog or stroll around the 5k route at the

National Sports Campus. This unique 5k run takes in all the major developments and facilities at the National Sports Campus, including the new GAA National Centre of Excellence, the FAI National Training Centre, The Irish Institute of Sport and the National Horse Sport Arena. The run, which is open to male and female runners, joggers and walkers, will be chip-timed with €600 in cash prizes to be won, and much more besides. There is also a team entry option available with five runners per team and corporate groups are encouraged to get involved as the ideal

team building activity. Foroige’s Sara Ennis said: “This event was a great success last year, raising considerable funds for our youth projects. Thanks to the invaluable support we enjoy from our partners Coca-Cola HBC and the National Sports Campus, all funds raised will go directly towards the provision of a comprehensive range of youth work services, enabling communities to respond effectively to the needs of the young people in the area. “We urge everyone to sign up today, and put their best foot forward for the young people of

Dublin 15. As part of its range of community investment initiatives, the event is supported by Coca-Cola HBC Ireland, a locallybased organisation that employs almost 300 people nearby in Ballycoolin, and almost 1,000 across the island of Ireland. David Conway, campus director also commented, saying: “We’re delighted to be hosting the Campus Run for a fourth year, and to be supporting the important work that Foroige does in the local area. We are also very pleased to open our campus up to general public so that participants can get an insight

Neil Macaraeg, from Fortlawn, Carl Maguire, from Corduff, and Shane Beasley, from Blakestown

into the work that we’re doing here at the National Sports Campus, and a glimpse of some of worldclass sporting facilities we host on the site along the

5k route.” Registration for the 5k race is €20, with a special early bird registration rate of €15 available until Friday, April 22. Young

people from the age of 13 to 17 can avail of an entry cost of €10. Register for the event now at www.ItsYourRace. com.

8 BLANCH Gazette 24 March 2016

blanch Gazettegallery | st patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day party in the streets

Kym Kinsella and Amiee Culligan

A furry onlooker

Carousel Enterprises

Luksz Lachowski, Dominika Lachowska, Andrew Gugula, Agnas Romak and Wiki Lachowska. Pictures: Philip Murray Photography.

Event and Party Hire

See more pictures next week

Blanch goes green, white and orange

Mark Marcimiak, Agata Bizuk and Olek Marcimiak

Coolmine Rugby Club

24 March 2016 BLANCH Gazette 9

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dublin city Gazettegallery | Spring Summer 2016 preview

Daragh and Sarah Keany with their Jennie Dennehy and Ethan

Alison Canavan, Siobhan O’Connor and Karen Kostner. Pictures: Patrick O’Leary

Sadhbh Devlin and Lucy

Rosie Connolly

Tracey Quinn and Kelly

New collection goes on show

O’Conor

David and Charlotte Gillick

daughter, Mia

TV3’s Anna Daly

Kearney

Yasmin O’Connor

othercare Ireland recently held its Spring Summer 2016 preview at The Casting Couch. The event featured a collection of newborn, children’s and maternity fashion, as well as Jools Oliver’s latest Little Bird range. Guests could explore the world of new nursery furniture, home and travel before playtime with the best toys from the new Early Learning Centre collection.

Sorcha Bennett and Amy Murray

24 March 2016 Gazette 11

12 Gazette 24 March 2016

Gazette

dublinlife Opportunity for designers to create new One4all Gift Card Up and coming designers and artists from Dublin have the opportunity to have their designs sold across Ireland with One4all’s annual Design A Gift Card competition. Now entering its fourth year, the competition allows budding designers and artistic innovators in Dublin the chance to create a unique gift card and carrier design under the theme of ‘Happiness’. The winning design will be sold throughout the nationwide Post Office network and online at one4all.ie in 2017 and the winner will also receive a MacBook Pro. Five runners-up will also receive a €100 One4all Gift Card each and their designs will also be sold online at One4all. ie The 2016 judging panel includes esteemed fashion designer Helen Steele, who counts Saoirse Ronan and Cara Delevingne as fans, fashion illustrator Holly Shortall, whose work has featured on Kim Kardashian’s Instagram, CEO of Tweak. com Jerry Kennelly and Aoife Davey, Group Marketing Manager at One4all.

Last year’s ‘Design a Gift Card’ competition winner was Jacek Murzyn, a Visual Communications student at Limerick Institute of Art and Design. His ‘Love Birds’ design was chosen from over 120 entries and was inspired by old Japanese culture and origami art. Closing date for entries is Friday April 29. Enter on one4all.ie/design.

get animated for unique convention Anime Dublin, a unique, one day anime convention held in the centre of Dublin city is taking place on April 2 from 10am – 10pm at the O’Callaghan Alexander Hotel, Fenian Street. Anime, is simply, the term for animations made in Japan. Famous for bright colours, spiky style, and stylised approach, Anime has also come to be known as a genre of animation practised and enjoyed around the world. It has been described as a new orientalism, and is reflective of Japan’s current creative culture. If you love your Studio Ghibli films or find yourself often engrossed in Japanese graphic nov-

els, you’ll be able to meet up with other enthusiasts and share in your passion for anime at Anime Dublin. Dress up in your finest costume alongside fellow anime fans. There’ll be quizzes, events and lots of entertainment for those who know their Facebook poke from their Pokemon. Tickets for this event are €11. For more information, visit the Anime Dublin 2016 Facebook page.

annie brings out the sunshine The sun will come out this April as the iconic musical Annie comes to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at mean Miss Hannigan’s dreary orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, Annie’s luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. But the spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a

DIARY

Jacek Murzyn pictured with last years winning card which was inspired by his love of birds.

plan to spoil little Annie’s search… With its award-winning book and score, this stunning new production includes some of the best songs of the musical genre including the infectious Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and of course, Tomorrow. Ideal for little ones and big ones who are young at heart, Annie is a mustsee. Tickets for this show are €17.50 - €52.50 and can be purchased at www. bordgaisenergytheatre.ie.

dance theatre presents the blue boy The Blue Boy is a piece of dance theatre by the award-winning Bro kentalkers Theatre Company. This project will take place 39 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin from 8 April to 9 April 2016. Multi-award-winning Dublin-based Brokentalkers have built a reputation as one of Ireland’s most innovative and creative theatre companies. The company are worldwide acclaimed

and well known to audiences around the world with work such as Have I No Mouth, The Blue Boy, Silver Stars and In Real Time. The Blue Boy deals with the experiences of men and women who were incarcerated as children in Catholic residential care institutions in Ireland. Combining a highly physical live performance with recorded testimony from former residents of institutions, The Blue Boy gives a fresh theatrical voice to recently revealed stories of child abuse in Ireland. The Blue Boy will tour nationally in April and May 2016, produced by Project Arts Centre and with the generous support of the Arts Council. Tickets are available €20/€18 at www.projectartscentre.ie .

Skellig Michael gets in the picture The National Botanical Gardens in Drumcondra will host an exhibition of photographs by Mark O’Callaghan offering new perspectives on the unique UNESCO World

Heritage Site of Skellig Michael, 12km southwest off Valentia Island, County Kerry. For centuries, the Skellig rocks have represented the ends of the earth and the extremes of human settlement and endurance. Though today the monastic cells and lighthouses stand empty, the rocks are teeming with bird and plant life amidst the ruins and isolation, and remain a magnetic presence on the horizon. While living and working as a guide on Skellig during the summer of 2014, Mark availed of the opportunity to capture many rarely seen sights, magnificent sunsets and early morning shots in this amazing site. The Skellig’s recently came to the attention of the cinematic world after appearing in the recent StarWars film: “The Force Awakens”. The exhibition runs from the March 17 to April 3..

sean o’casey plays at Abbey theatre The Plough and the Stars by Sean O’Casey is currently playing at The

Abbey Theatre as part of the theatre’s centenary programme, Waking the Nation. The play revolves around characters who are trade unionists and members of the Irish Citizen Army and focuses on socialist communities in Dublin at the time. Set amid the tumult of the Easter Rising, The Plough and the Stars is the story of ordinary lives ripped apart by the idealism of the time. Sean O’Casey was born in 1880 in Dublin and is regarded as one of Ireland’s finest writers. This Easter, 100 years almost to the day of the 1916 Rising, become a fly on the wall of the tenement house in which the action of The Plough and the Stars unfolds. OlivierAward-winning director Sean Holmes will bring a new perspective to Sean O’Casey’s absorbing play. The play runs from March 9 until April 23. There is also a sign language interpreted performance on Thursday, April 14 at 7.30pm and an audio-described and captioned performance on Saturday April 16 at 2pm.

24 March 2016 GAZETTE 13

Gazette

14 Gazette 24 March 2016

dublinlife

events: great mix of events to commemorate 2016

Series of events to commorate the 1916 Rising There will be a series of events taking place across the capital to mark the commemoration of the 1916 Rising. As well as

ceremonial state events, a number of lectures and performances will be on offer to the public to mark the occasion.

Easter Saturday, March 26 The Garden of Remembrance will host a ceremony for all those who

died during the events of 1916. Music and poetry will be heard throughout the day and President Michael D. Higgins will be in attendance. A state event will take place at the RDS for the relatives of those involved in the Rising in the afternoon.

Easter Sunday, March 27 T h e E a s t e r S u n d ay wreath-laying ceremony at Kilmainham Gaol will take place at 10.30 am. Another wreath-laying ceremony will take place in Glasnevin cemetery. A reading of the 1916 proclamation will take place at the GPO at 11.30 am. A wreath will be laid by President Higgins, followed by a minute’s silence in memory of all who perished. The national f lag will be raised and the national anthem will be played. The Defence Forces will lead a parade from St. Stephen’s Green to Parnell Square. A state reception will take place in Dublin Castle with guests invited by the Taoiseach. The National Gallery will host a lecture entitled: “Ireland’s War and the Easter Rising in a European Context”. The talk will be given by Dr. Jérôme van de Wiel of University College Cork at 3 pm. Admission is free. March 28 On Easter Monday in The Abbey Theatre, a lecture

The Garden of Remembrance will host a ceremony for those who died during the events of 1916

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‘Music and poetry will be heard throughout the day in The Garden of Remembrance and President Michael D Higgins will be attending

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entitled: “The Abbey Theatre and Easter 1916” will be given by Dr. Fearghal McGarry from Queen’s University Belfast. The lecture covers the role of the Abbey Rebels and the wider impact of Easter Week on the Abbey Theatre. The event is free but ticketed, and begins at 12pm. The same venue will also host a talk by author Nell Regan. She will talk about her new book: “Helena Moloney, A Radical Life, which is the first substantive biography on the actress and activist during the Rising. It begins at 3 pm on the Abbey stage. Admission is free but ticketed. Finally, The Abbey Theatre will host the premier of the play “An Filleadh” by Alan Titley. A new play for children, commissioned as part of Féile na Físe by Seachtain na Gaeilge, explores the fate of a family caught up in the history of the preRising period. This play will be produced and performed by the students of Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh, a newly founded All-Irish

coeducational second level school in Rathfarnham, Dublin. The event will begin at 4 pm. It is free to attend but a ticket is required.

March 29 The National Gallery of Ireland will host a lecture by Professor John Turpin of the Royal Hibernian Academy, entitled: “The story of the Academy in 1916” which begins at 10.30 am. No booking required and admission is free. There will be a State ceremony at Liberty Hall, Dublin, to commemorate the role of the Irish Citizen Army and James Connolly. March 30 Collins Barracks of the National History Museum will host an exhibition by Brenda Malone entitled: “Proclaiming a Republic: the 1916 Rising”. It will be a guided gallery talk about objects and the stories they tell. Booking required and the event begins at 2 pm. March 31 The National Concert

Hall will be holding a concer t: “Imagining Home: On Revolution” at 8 pm with tickets available at the box office or online. An evening of word and music exploring revolutionar y ideals and their impact with an international gathering of writers and commentators from Ireland, Egypt, Libya and Europe. The concert includes the world première of a new commission by Colm Tóibín and acclaimed composer Donnacha Dennehy. The evening will be interspersed with musical pieces, opening with Berlioz’s Elégie en prose (for Rober t Emmet) performed by Robin Adams (baritone) and Michael McHale (piano) and Frederic Rzewski’s Excerpts from A People United Will Never Be Defeated. The Vanbrugh Quartet perform Philip Glass’ String Quartet No. 3 ‘Mishima’ (movements I, V and VI) and Beethoven’s Quartet in E minor, Op. 59, No.2 (movement I). The acclaimed Irish author Colm Tóibín and composer Donnacha Dennehy come together to present a new commission for baritone and bass and the Crash Ensemble, entitled The Dark Places.

24 March 2016 Gazette 15

FEATURES care: emotional support for cancer patients

Counselling needed as ongoing support

 ian begley

A report on the Irish Cancer Society’s Counselling Service shows that many families impacted by a cancer diagnosis require emotional support in the months and years after a cancer diagnosis. While 48% of those accessing the service did so within the same year of learning they had cancer, 20% of clients attended for counselling within two years of diagnosis. A further 20 per cent of clients used the service

between 3-10 years after a cancer diagnosis. “Counselling provides emotional and practical support to cancer survivors and their families” said Dorothy Thomas, Community Suppor t Network Coordinator at the Irish Cancer Society. “Coping with cancer can be difficult and families may experience many emotions such as anxiety, fear and sadness. It can be valuable to speak to a counsellor who can provide support in adapting to life after cancer and in finding a new ‘normal’.

“The report shows that cancer patients who attended for counselling make up 58% of clients, 14% were children, siblings or friends and 12% were a partner or spouse, with a further 16% requiring support following the death of a loved one. This further demonstrates the true impact of a cancer diagnosis on all of the family.” The Irish Cancer Society granted €299,520 to support centres across the country in 2014 to provide a counselling service, free of charge to

cancer patients and their families. Over 1,000 cancer patients, survivors and their families, accessed the service availing of 6,086 individual counselling sessions. This counselling service fills a support gap for cancer patients who often report that while they are undergoing cancer treatment, the focus is on the treatment plan with support from the hospital team and other patients. It is only after the treatment is complete that they realise how much cancer has changed their

Counselling can offer great emotional and practical support to all effected by cancer

lives. The emotional effects of cancer may not be felt until weeks, months or years after the initial diagnosis. The majority of those attending the service were between the ages of 45-64 (52%) while 25% of clients were between the ages of 18 and 44 with this age group experienc-

ing significant issues such as relationships, fertility and careers, all impacted on a cancer journey. Women were much more likely to attend for counselling with 76% of clients female and 24% male, in line with the uptake of counselling generally. Clients under 18 made up 5% of cli-

ents, almost all of these children were struggling with the diagnosis of a sibling or a significant adult in their life. Anyone who is concerned about cancer or is interested in accessing the counselling service, can Freephone 1800 200 700 or visit www.cancer. ie/support/counselling.

Gazette

16 Gazette 24 March 2016

dublinlife

FEATURE

heritage: camera lens captures lost images

New book offers panoramic view of lost heritage  EMMA NOLAN

A new book that offers a panoramic view of Ireland’s forgotten heritage has been released. Written by William Derham, curator and guide at Dublin Castle, Lost Ireland: 1860-1960, transports the reader back in time with more than 500 evocative photographs from all over Dublin and Ireland. The book presents a panoramic sweep of Ireland’s sometimes forgotten heritage, following the country through its buildings and architecture via a camera lens, from war and insurrection, to prosperity and development. Lost Ireland: 1860 – 1960 documents the changes created by the various events and what

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‘It will hopefully encourage us to be more aware of what has survived, and to think twice before we let it, too, disappear.’ --------------------------------------------------------

those changes have meant to our buildings from the past, some of which no longer survive, revealing a fascinating and nostalgic layer of Irish history, not just in its ‘bricks and mortar’ but also in the events and the people who inhabited it. Derham has compiled collection of photographs that gives the reader a sample of the built heritage that was lost to the inevitable transformations the country endured over a hundred year period – “the humble mud

huts of the transient labourer, the ‘thatched mansions’ of the prosperous farmer, the edifices of industrial innovation and technology, and the grand homes of the well-to-do, including the infamous ‘big house’”. Snapshots

“This book provides a snapshot of some of the buildings from Ireland’s past that haven’t made it to the 21st century, and a couple that have - just about!” said Derham. “It will hopefully

encourage us to be more aware of what has survived, and to think twice before we let it, too, disappear.” Colum O’Riordan of the Irish Architectural Archive has written the foreword to the book: “It is an architectural fact of life that buildings, like people, come and go… Sometimes the death of a building is sudden and unexpected, whether through accident or malice. Sometimes it comes through the creeping decay of old age, and sometimes buildings are euthanised, pulled down unceremoniously in their prime to make way for something new… “As with portraits of people, a certain character of each building resonates from the

Essex Bridge – this view shows the wonderful buildings of Upper Ormond Quay on the River Liffey. The Church was demolished in 1969, and much of the quay’s houses have been replaced with apartment blocks with unconvincing Georgian elevations facing the river.

Upper O’Connell Street – this view shows how it looked from the top of Nelson’s Pillar before the damage of the 1916 Rising and the Civil War.

photographs; some we might regard as curious, some we might wish to have known better, some we might even be

No 1. High Street, Christchurch – this image captures the organised chaos of commercial life in previous centuries. Shops are neat and orderly, but covered with a riot of advertisement. Sadly, much of High Street was demolished in a road-widening scheme in the 1970s.

glad we never met.” Lost Ireland: 1860 – 1960 is available in all good bookstores including Easons for €50.

Dublin Castle is currently hosting an exhibit of some of the photography from the book in The Coach House.

OUT&ABOUT



Gazette

24 March 2016 Gazette 17

theatre: 10.5 million have seen the musical

The acclaimed Billy Elliot is coming to Dublin Billy Elliot the Musical will play Bord Gáis Energ y T heatre this July. Eric Fellner (Pro ducer) said: “Having recently celebrated ten extraordinary years of Billy Elliot the Musical in London, we are delighted to have the opportunity to bring a new touring production of this inspiring show to fans across the UK and Ireland and the chance to delight new audiences along the way.” Based on the highly successful film, the show is set in a northern mining town against the background of the 1984/’85 miners’ strike a n d f o l l ow s B i l l y ’s journey from boxing to ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his

life forever. Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, Billy Elliot the Musical has now been seen by over 10.5 million people across five continents and is the recipient of over 80 awards internationally, including ten Tony Awards and five Olivier Awards. In 2006, Liam Mower, James Lomas and George Maguire, the first three boys to play the title role, became the youngest performers ever to have won the Olivier Award for Best Actor, with the show also picking up the Best Musical prize. In total, 89 boys have now played the iconic title role on stage worldwide. Billy Elliot the Musical is brought to life by the multiple award-winning creative team behind the film including writer Lee

Hall (book and lyrics), director Stephen Daldry and choreographer, Peter Darling, joined by Elton John who composed the show’s score. The production features scenic design by Ian MacNeil, the associate director is Julian Webber, costume design is by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch. The play has previously been staged on Broadway, in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Toronto and Seoul, South Korea. Further international productions are planned including the first Japanese production in 2017. The musical will run from Tuesday July 26 Saturday September 3, 2016. Tickets from €25.00 are on sale now.

In total eighty nine boys have played the iconic title role on stage worldwide

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Dublin Gazette Newspapers for the role of Editor

EXPERIENCE

· The successful candidate must have at least 3 years’ experience editing either a daily or weekly publication. · They must have a proven track record of managing a team in fast paced busy newsroom. · They must have the ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines. · A clear understanding of media/libel laws.

DUTIES/KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

·Must be able to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. ·Must be able to manage one’s own time and the time of others. ·Imposing strict deadlines and sticking to those within the best of your ability. ·Plan the contents of publications according to the publication’s style and editorial policy. ·Meet frequently with staff to discuss issues and resolve problems. ·Organise pictures, galleries, stand alones for all papers, at least a week in advance. ·Be responsible for all HR duties including holidays/sick days/staff grievances. ·Supervise and coordinate work of reporters and other editors. All elements of this role will be discussed in detail during the interview process

Please send cover letter & CV to mmcgovern@dublingazette.com

18 Gazette 24 March 2016

OUT&ABOUT

STYLE GO n MAN tter t pa Frui €39.95 s dres

PARFOIS Bird Flower hat €19.99

Nivea Creme Care Facial Cleansing Wipes

MAN sof GO t top deni €39 m .95

At least take off the mascara love …  emma nolan

Let’s face it, sometimes the all-important task of removing makeup before bed gets neglected. Whether it’s due to tiredness, laziness, forgetfulness or drunkenness, this crucial aspect of skincare often gets overlooked and sleeping in makeup is not good for your skin, or your pillows. While there may not always be time to do a full skincare regime before bed, keeping some cleansing wipes and miceller water beside the bed can prevent you from waking up with mascara-glued eyes and clogged pores. Simple have introduced two new “beauty superheroes” that gently and effectively cleanse the skin. The Simple micellar Cleansing Water is a non-rinse cleanser, so you can do it when you’re already lying down. The triplepurified water attracts and lifts out impurities and is gentle enough to use for easily removing eye make-make up. The Micellar Cleansing Wipes are an even easier one-step makeup removal method that leaves skin fresh and hydrated. Simple dermatologist Sarah Lowe said the Micellar Water and Wipes are “perfect

Simple Kind To Skin Micellat Cleansing Water

for all skin types and contain skin loving ingredients”. Nivea have also introduced a new facial cleansing range that promises to deliver “complete cleansing with no compromise”. Daily exposure to hard weather, makeup and touching the face can cause a dull complexion. The Creme Care Facial range features products that “cleanse the face thoroughly yet mildly, protecting the skin’s natural moisture balance and preventing it drying out”. The experts at Nivea have unveiled the cleansing lotion, cream wash and wipes. So while it can be easy to forget to remove your make-up after a long day, having a few handy products close to the bed can ensure that, at the very least, you manage to get the mascara off.

Festival fever

Festival season is almost upon us and it’s worth building up the summer wardrobe now rather than having to splurge when it’s time to hit the fields. Ireland is an absolute mecca for festi-

vals (if the weather behaves that is) and there are so many great festivals to choose from on the continent. So whether you’re hitting up Electric Picnic, Body and Soul, Life, Longitude,

d Islan River crop yellow 55 top €

PARFOIS Joker handbag €24.99

River Islan d Patte rned pink jacke t €55

Knockanstackan or Forbidden Fruit at home or venturing abroad for Primavera, Melt, Glastonbury or Sziget, check out some top festival picks to get your wardrobe festival ready.

24 March 2016 GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

FOOD&DRINK RECIPECORNER ROAST LAMB WITH MINT SAUCE

THIS week, we have a delicious recipe for Roast Lamb with Mint Sauce, courtesy of top chef Neven Maguire. Ingredients 100ml olive oil 4 sprigs of rosemary leaves, chopped 4 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tbsp wholegrain mustard 1.5kg leg or shoulder of lamb For The Mint Cream Sauce: 2 tsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 180ml white wine 1 chicken stock cube 400ml Avonmore Cooking Cream A small handful of fresh mint, chopped coarsely M&S Coffee Lovers Egg €11.99

Butlers Chocolates - Extra Large Wrapped Milk Chocolate Egg 640g €22.95

Eggs galore EASTER Sunday memories of getting up early and indulging in chocolate for breakfast don’t have to stay a memory as the selection of ‘grown up’ Easter Eggs available this year are more than just a simple shell and a bar of milk chocolate. The Lir collection from M&S is the ultimate chocoholic fantasy. The Coffee Lovers Egg is a delightful Easter morning pick me up and the bejewelled Fruit and Nut Lattice Egg and the Butlers Chocolates -Assorted Chocolate Egg Stick 125g €5.50

Gold and Velvet Sculptured Egg are almost too pretty to eat… almost. M&S also carry a charming range for children (and anyone with taste buds) with the Percy Pig and Alfie Bunny eggs and the half dozen of Cheeky Chick eggs are a novel way to enjoy ‘eggs’ for breakfast for the day that’s in it. Irish favourite, Butlers Chocolates Easter specialties are always a welcome treat. Their Ber tie Bunny has

become synonymous with the brand at this time of year as well as their plentiful offering of pastel wrapped eggs, mini eggs and variety boxes. Character eggs are always a popular choice for children and Dealz have them all for €1.49 each. Frozen, comic book characters, Minions and even Star Wars Easter Eggs are available as well as the old classics like Dairy Milk and Milky Bar.

Butlers Bertie Bunny Large €9.95 Medium €6.00 M&S Alfie Bunny €8.99

Dealz Mini Eggs Nest €1.49

Baby Bunny €3.25

Preparation • Combine the oil, rosemary, garlic and mustard in a large shallow dish. Spread over the lamb and refrigerate for at least one hour, or overnight if possible. • Preheat the oven to 200˚C/180˚C fan/gas mark 6. Remove the lamb from the marinade and place in a roasting tin. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. • Remove the foil and cook for another 50-60 minutes until cooked to your liking, basting occasionally with the marinade. • Meanwhile, heat the oil for the sauce in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 5-7 minutes until soft. • Add the wine and simmer, uncovered, until reduced by about half. Add the stock cube and Avonmore Cooking Cream. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. • Remove from the heat and stir in the mint. Serve the lamb with the sauce poured over.

Gazette

20 Gazette 24 March 2016

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

ReelReviews

eddie the eagle

Wings it with the facts BRITAIN’S worst (but highly popular) athlete, “Eddie the Eagle” (Cert 12A, 106 mins) gets an affectionate big-screen treatment that plays a little hard and fast with the facts, but nonetheless delivers a warm-hearted underdog tale. Forever famous as a rather hopeless but very, very determined ski jumper at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, Eddie Edward’s story is pleasantly told.

Kung Fu Panda 3

Makes impressive moves PO IS back with his latest outing, as Kung Fu Panda 3 (Cert PG, 95 mins) once again sees the very unlikely martial arts expert team up to stop a very bad guy. This time round, Po has a very unlikely group of would-be martial experts to train up – an entire tribe of pandas. It’s largely more of the same for the franchise, but when it looks this good and has such spirited performances, that’s okay.

london has fallen Bangs for your bucks

AS THE sequel to Olympus Has Fallen, London (Cert 15A, 99 mins) offers more of the same – where the first film saw the US president in mortal danger, this time several world leaders are spectacularly bumped off in London. But did the bad guys think that the American president would be so easy to kill? It’s silly stuff that won’t trouble your braincells much, but is passable enough.

Tense and atmospheric only begins to describe the overall effect of this unusual film

the witch: this is a very different style of horror, the tension is high

Get ready to feel the fear

An age old fable of what is and what should be, The Witch is a haunting debut from American director Robert Eggers. And since it was revealed on the festival circuit late last year, it has been hard to avoid the buzz that the film has been generating. In a way, it seems an injustice to classify The Witch as a horror film – with all the jumpscares and staid predictability that the label can sometimes imply. This is a very different kind of animal. Set in New England in the 1630s, the film follows a Puritan family as they try to set up their own farm after being exiled from the local community. We are not privy to the exact set of circumstances that led

 Dave phillips

to them becoming pariahs – save to say that in theological melting pot of the New World, some interpretations of the gospels are more contentious than others. Game of Thrones’ Ralph Ineson is the formidable patriarch of the group, William. Taut, gravelly, and perennially chopping wood, Ineson’s character is built of equal parts Yorkshire swagger and Protestant zeal, as he leads his family into the depths of the New England wilderness to estab-

lish their new home. Filmed in one of the most remote parts of Ontario, The Witch plays out against a stunning natural backdrop, and cinematographer Jarin Blaschke is able to capture an untouched Eden that is brimming with menace. The tangled woods, the slowswelling brooks, the mud-brown farmyards, and the ashen skies make Van Gogh’s snow covered fields look colourful in comparison. The Witch is a film that wants to explore shades of grey in as many ways as possible. Tragedy strikes the family when their new born infant mysteriously disappears. Katherine, the distraught mother (Kate Dickie, another

familiar face from the Game of Thrones cast) is resistant to the grim resignation that husband advocates. Cowled in despair, she prays fervently for the return of her child, and grows deeply suspicious of her eldest daughter, Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), under whose watch the child disappeared. It is the outstanding performance of greenhorn actor Taylor-Joy on which much of the brilliance of The Witch hangs. Thomasin’s coming of age - and the change in the family structure that her journey into adulthood brings - is a threat that looms as large as the dank woods and their supernatural secrets. In the bleak Puritan landscape, natural human

desires boil and bubble until the cauldron lid falls aside. In an atmosphere heavy with grief and mounting paranoia, Thomasin remains the one character on screen that we feel we can relate to as the story builds and the family’s struggles continue. It is a small but extremely strong cast, and while Taylor-Joy and Ineson provide much of the drive, there is also an incredible performance from young actor Harvey Shrimshaw, who provides one of the most memorable scenes in the film; and great support from the even younger actors Lucas Dawson and Ellie Grainger, who play a pair of increasingly creepy fraternal twins.

There is plenty to be horrified about, but here’s where the horror label can fail – because over the course of the film, there are very few moments that will make you jump. Rather, from the opening sequence, The Witch conjures up a feeling of dread and discomfort that persists right up until its close 92 minutes later. At its heart, this is a film about the war between the chaos of nature and the order of human morality. William may continually chop wood, but he can never fell the forest. An enlightening, chilling, and memorable film, Robert Eggers has created something genuinely spellbinding with The Witch. Verdict: 9/10

24 March 2016 Gazette 21

luxury: one of ireland’s finest country house hotels

Gazette

Travel fast

TRAVEL NEWS

Sun, rich culture and stunning scenery

Castle Durrow recently named one of the Top 10 Castle hotels in the world by Tripadvisor

Warm 18th century feel in beautiful Castle Durrow  Ian Begley

I recently enjoyed a one night stay at Castle Durrow, Laois – one of Ireland’s finest Irish country house hotels. Also celebrating its 300th anniversary this year, Castle Durrow was originally built by Capt. William Flower (later to become Viscount Ashbrook) in 1716 as his family home in the Midlands of Ireland. Peter and Shelly Stokes bought the castle in 1998 and transformed it into the luxurious Castle Hotel it is today. Upon arriving, my expectations were high as the Blue Book hotel recently named the castle as one of the Top 10 Castle hotels in the world by Tripadvisor and that its rose garden is the only Irish garden to feature in the David Austin Catalogue. The castle’s interior was like stepping into

The stunning Castle Durrow Restaurant

the manor of a Jane Austin novel, bearing a very genuine 18th century feel to it. I later found out that most of the castle’s artefacts and furniture were authentic dating as far back to the 1700s. My guest and I stayed in the Lady Hannah Master bedroom and were blown away with the magnificent four poster bed and stunning view of the courtyard. The room was very spacious and lavish and equipped with modern appliances such as a television and aptly

positioned lighting. Building up a hearty appetite we ate dinner at Castle Durrow’s restaurant in the main dining room, which overlooked its charming gardens. The decor is bright and comfortable with a mix of Modern and Classical styles and can accommodate up to 50 guests. For starters, I had the Hoi Braised Belly of Port with Pan Seared Scallop, cauliflower and an orange puree. It was honestly nothing short of perfection as the belly of

pork was one of the most tender cuts of meat I have ever eaten. As recommended by the daughter of Peter and Shelley Stokes I ordered the Chargrilled 7oz Fillet of Irish Beef as my main, which came alongside of Garlic & Thyme Fondant Potato, Red Onion and Balsamic Marmalade with Honey Glazed Root Vegetables and Red Wine Jus. I was anything but disappointed with my choice as I found my meal to be full of flavour and very appetising. For dessert I had the Meringue with fruit and vanilla ice-cream, which I ate in its entirety before retiring to the bar for some post-dinner cocktails. Our waiters’ attentiveness and friendliness also cannot be overlooked as their fine service complemented our overall dining experience. Up bright and early the next day, my guest

and I enjoyed a full Irish breakfast before touring the fertile grounds of Castle Durrow, relishing in the very first warm day of the year. Along the way we were greeted by two horses, the family cat Malcolm and a Jack Russel who was happy to lead us to the castle’s ornate gardens. Overall, I had a very nice experience at Castle Durrow. With just over an hour’s drive away from Dublin it is certainly a must for anyone looking for a relaxing break away from the big smoke. To mark its 300th anniversary Castle Durrow will be hosting a series of events throughout the year, including a lavish garden party to kick off the summer, and a 300th birthday masquerade ball in the autumn. For more information about this hotel and to book your stay visit www. castledurrow.com.

Are you looking for a last-minute holiday that combines sun, rich culture and stunning scenery? Then look no further than seven nights in the beautiful Lake Garda with Travel Department’s SuperSaver Holiday offering a choice of two departure dates in March. T he Lake Garda region offers a huge variety of activities for holiday makers – the narrow northern corridor is a Mecca for boating activities and the surrounding Dolomites are a perfect getaway for hill walkers and nature lovers as well as those simply wishing

to relax in beautiful surroundings. Your base for the week will be the 3 Star Hotel Lago di Garda, which enjoys an enviable position in one of the most picturesque squares in the centre of Malcesine and provides the most up-to-date facilities combined with a very romantic atmosphere. Prices start from €479pp including flights, transfers and seven nights B&B accommodation with flights departing Dublin on March 29 and March 31. To book, visit www. traveldepartment.ie.

Magnificent Malta on the Mediterranean Why not make 2016 a year to remember by visiting the Mediterranean island of Malta? With year round suns h i n e , e ve n t s a n d activities to suit all ages Malta is an ideal holiday destination for those looking for an escape. Lowcostholidays is offering seven nights departing on April 30 at the 4 Star Hotel Paradise Bay (B&B) from €562pp. Alternatively you can depart on May 14 and

stay at the 5 Star Excelsior Grand Hotel (B&B) from €652pp. With Budget Travel you can depart on April 30 and stay at the 3 Star Topaz Hotel Apt, Bugibba (room only) for €523pp. Alternatively, you can depart on the May 19 and stay at the 4 Star Canifor Hotel, Qawra (B&B) for €369pp. Visit www.visitmalta. com for further information and details of events that will be taking place in Malta.

Gazette

22 Gazette 24 March 2016

OUT&ABOUT

MOTORING

Competition

Skoda is searching for nine lucky couples Ahead of the anniversary of the Marriage Equality referendum, Skoda are undertaking a nationwide search to find soon-to-be-married couples from Dublin and across the country, who deserve to arrive to their weddings in style in complimentary chauffeurdriven Skoda wedding cars. The campaign was launched with the help of Skoda Ambassador and model Roz Purcell and will see nine lucky couples and their wedding parties making an extra special entrance on their big day in a pair of luxurious Skoda Superb Laurin and Klement (L&K) edition cars worth a combined value of €90,000.

Kia’s new 1-litre C’eed GT line promises to deliver a measure of practical performance and personality in a nifty hatchback package

motors: the kia’s c’eed nifty hatchback delivers on style both inside and out

Mighty Personality  dave philips

Luxurious

Speaking about the new offer, Ray Leddy, head of marketing and Product at Skoda Ireland, said: “The Laurin and Klement edition of the Skoda Superb is extremely luxurious, so perfectly suited to special occasions – and what occasion could be more special than a wedding? This offer is open to any brides and / or grooms in Dublin and around Ireland with a we d d i n g p l a n n e d b e t we e n A p r i l a n d December 2016. To be in with a chance to win, simply visit www.superbweddings.ie and enter your details before Friday, April 15.

Attempting to shift balance back towards petrol engines, Kia’s new 1-litre C’eed GT line promises to deliver a measure of practical performance and personality in a nifty hatchback package. It’s personality is evident from first glance – very distinctive ice-cube LEDs and a set of clean 17” alloys give a far more aggressive look to the GT line when placed next to the regular (already fairly beefy) C’eed. A set of twin oval exhausts at the rear add to that sense of muscular sturdiness. Some extra bits of exterior dazzle – like the kerbside lights that come on underneath the mirrors

as you unlock with the fob – may provide more psychological than practical benefit, but that’s no complaint. It just adds to the fact that the C’eed GT is something you look forward to getting into. While the C’eed GT looks well from the outside, the interior really shines – and quite literally too. Alloy pedals, and a chrome trim along the dash, doors, and gearstick surround sets a nice tone against the matt black and muted greys of the upholstery. A heavy grey stitch along the wheel and seats adds to the overall sporty feel. There are some great touches in here, like the angled dash, that sets all of the instrument panels

and audio controls to subtly face toward the driver. Aside from that mildly annoying Kia trait of having the volume and phone controls on the left side of the wheel, this has to be one of the Korean manufacturer’s classiest cabins. W hat really earns the tidy GT Line badge on the rear is Kia’s new Ecoboost 1 litre engine. The three cylinder petrol engine provides a surprising amount of power, while keeping emissions (and road tax) relatively low. There has been a move over the past year back to 1 litre turbo engines, with the Focus and Corsa both showing how they can be used effectively. Here, Kia adds more weight

to the argument – proving that the small petrol engine can provide plenty of power for most road users. It works well coupled with Kia’s nicely tuned gearbox – there is the sense that there’s always enough for an extra push, so you’ll rarely need to shift down gears to overtake. Even cruising along

the motorway with a full load, in sixth gear, the C’eed GT feels like it still has plenty to give. With an ample amount of boot space, and plenty of room in the back seats, the C’eed GT can easily undertake most of the day to day chores you’d expect a hatchback to handle. While the C’eed was never the strongest

branch of the Kia tree in terms of sales, there is certainly a niche for this new GT line. Starting at around €22,000, and offering a solid blend of good looks and effective performance, the C’eed GT might make sense for young families who are looking for a very dependable, yet stylish and fun, solution.

24 March 2016 Gazette 23

Gazette

health

mental health: we need to get a balance between physical and mental health

Time to take care of our mental health and tackle the feelings The Irish Rugby Union Players’ Association (IRUPA) in partnership with Zurich today launched Tackle Your Feelings, a new mental wellbeing campaign that will see national and international rugby stars come forward to tell their own personal story of the issues they have faced off the pitch. The first players to tell their personal stories are Ireland and Leinster front-row Jack McGrath who speaks emotively about how he coped with the death of his brother by suicide in 2010 and Irish women’s player, Hannah Tyrrell, who talks about how she overcame her struggles with self-harm and bulimia. Their videos are hosted on the new websitewww.tackleyourfeelings.com. Research conducted by IRUPA demonstrated that although 95% of Irish adults think it’s important for them to be proactive in taking care

of their mental wellbeing, almost 1 in 4 (22%) are unaware or have low levels of awareness of the ways they deal with stress or life challenges. Additionally, 71% feel that they would be treated differently if they had a mental health issue and other people knew about it. There is still a large proportion of us who do not tackle our feelings on a regular basis. 1 in 2 (53%) Irish adults have gone through a challenging life event and didn’t discuss their feelings with anyone. This is significant because 1 in 4 Irish adults will experience mental illness at some point in our lives[1]. Tackle Your Feelings seeks to emphasise the importance of preventative measures in maintaining good mental wellbeing. By asking people to be honest with themselves about how they are feeling and to take appropriate action,

the campaign aims to encourage people to resolve emotional challenges before they escalate into a crisis. The campaign website, www.tackleyourfeelings. com, will host a number of practical resources to help people develop their emotional self-awareness and proactively work on their mental and emotional wellbeing. Jack speaks of the anger and anxiety he felt and how he kept his feelings bottled up at first, “It was like a gas valve releasing when I started to speak about how I felt. It can be the smallest thing that you say to somebody that can make you feel better. The longer you keep it bottled up, the worse it’s going to get. Nobody is going to slag you for feeling a certain way. It’s human nature. After what happened to my brother I think it’s really important to be open about mental health.”

Jack McGrath speaks emotively about how he coped with the death of his brother by suicide. The video is hosted on the new website www.tackleyourfeelings.com

In her video Hannah Tyrrell talks about how she overcame her struggles with self-harm and bulimia. The video is hosted on the new website www.tackleyourfeelings.com

Hannah is hoping that her story will give other people the strength to positively deal with their struggles, “I got involved in the tackle your feelings campaign because I have struggled with my mental health in the past. I want people to realise that they are not alone, and that things can and will get better. I wanted to share my story in order to help make it easier for others who are struggling to reach out and ask for help and if even one person does so as a result of this then it will have all been worthwhile.” Speaking at the launch, Omar Hassanein, CEO, IRUPA said, “Our campaign is intended to be disruptive in challenging people to tackle their feelings on a daily basis. Professional rugby players are seen as strong, robust and are known for how they protect and manage

their physical health but rugby, like everything in life, requires both physical and mental strength. We want to show people that vulnerability doesn’t need to be considered a weakness. Rugby players need to work on their mental wellbeing just like everybody else. We hope that Ireland’s rugby players, through the Tackle Your Feelings campaign, can play a role in encouraging people in Ireland to be more proactive and comfortable in looking after their mental wellbeing given it is such a key component in the health of an individual. I’d ask everyone to visit www.tackleyourfeelings.com to watch Jack McGrath’s and Hannah Tyrrell’s video. They both have been so courageous in speaking publicly about their own struggles and I hope that

others will take strength from them to tackle their own feelings as a result.” Dr Eddie Murphy, Clinical Psychologist and Tackle Your Feelings advisor said, “Tackle Your Feelings is a really important campaign as it challenges us to consider how we are feeling on a daily basis so as to prevent a more serious mental health issue from developing. Just like physical fitness, mental fitness can also be enhanced through practical training. The resources available at tackleyourfeelings.com can help you do this. I’m sure that Jack McGrath’s story will resonate with lots of people in the country as the death by suicide rate in Ireland is the fourth highest in the EU.” Elaine Hayes, Corporate Responsibility spokesperson at Zurich,

commented, “Zurich prides itself on a commitment to making a difference in the local communities in which we operate, and we are delighted to be partnering with IRUPA, with the support of the Zurich Foundation, to encourage greater debate and awareness of mental wellbeing in Ireland. As an issue which affects such a large proportion of Irish people, mental health is something that needs to be discussed more openly and honestly; be it on the pitch, in the office, or in general day to day life. The individual player stories which feature in the Tackle Your Feelings campaign should inspire a national conversation amongst both rugby supporters and non-rugby supporters alike and keep mental wellbeing top of mind.”

24 BLANCH Gazette 17 March 2016

blanchGazettegallery | International Women’s day

Highlighting domestic violence and abuse T

o mark International Women’s Day, i-Smile recently hosted a workshop in Avondale Park, Mulhuddart, to highlight the issue of domestic violence and abuse experienced by women and children in Ireland today. The focus of the workshop was to highlight the additional issues experienced by migrant women and their children. Speaking to The Gazette, Adaku Ezeudo, founder of i-Smile International, said: “We wanted to do something for International Women’s day and decided to hold this event for women in the community who may be in abusive relationships.”

Mary Henihan and Jonathan Duffy

Nkem Dike, Toyin Ojuade, Adefunke Fajinini, Sandra Ajuondma and Edith Samambwa. Pictures: Ronan O’Sullivan Miss D and Adaku Ezuedo

Photography

Michelle Ezeudo, Tobie Lateef, Nicole Ezeudo and Gabrielle Ezuedo

Adaku Ezuedo, Michelle Licciardi and Teresa Doherty

DJ Accessible

Sinn Fein councillor Natalie Treacy, Adaku Ezuedo and Rose Adaku Ezuedo and Margaret Martin (Women’s Aid)

Emma Blount

Abigail Heeney

Emmett

17 March 2016 BLANCH Gazette 25

blanchGazettegallery | giving support to our young people

Trevor Higgins, Jason Crowley, Avril Clarke, John Owens and Aoife Clerkin

Colaiste Pobail Setanta students Jamie Flood, Amy Woods, Holly Brennan, Amy O’Carroll and Sean Dillon. Pictures: Ronan O’Sullivan

Hartstown Community School students Killian Hilliard, Brandon Ade-Orojobi, Kim Keogh, Anna Isayeva, Jaime Cowen, Daniel Whooley and guidance counsellor/ mentor Anthony Kean

A very proud day for graduates T

wenty-five dedicated young people from five local secondary schools graduated from the Jigsaw Dublin 15 Peer Education Programme at a ceremony in Draiocht recently. Over the course of several weeks, the peer educators were training the students to deliver their It’s Time To Start Talking peer education programme to students in their schools. Jigsaw Dublin 15 aims to make sure that young peoples’ voices are heard and they get the right support, where and when they need it.

Anna Dineen, Caroline Freeman and Aisling Kirwan

From Blakestown Community School: Najma Ali, Alania Manuel, Salwa Ameen and guidance councellor/mentor Jigsaw founder Dr Tony Bates with Blakestown Community School grads

Anna Dineen

26 BLANCH GAZETTE 24 March 2016

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28 blanch gazette 24 March 2016

SPORT KUBS win maiden cup crown

FastSport

basketball: raheny side shine on rough weekend for dublin clubs

fanning steps away from blues set-up:

ST MARY’S winger Darragh Fanning will be released from his contract with Leinster rugby at the end of the month to allow him to concentrate on other opportunities away from the rugby field. Speaking about the decision, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said: “Darragh has made a significant contribution during his time here with Leinster and obviously his contribution to the PRO12 win in 2014 and in helping us reach a Champions Cup semi-final last season will not be forgotten. “Darragh came from St Mary’s on trial as a 27-year-old and has grabbed that chance with both hands. He has though found an interest outside of rugby that he wishes to now pursue with all his energy and we respect those wishes.” Fanning has played 34 times for Leinster and scored seven tries, making his debut in September 2013.

div one league cup KUBS Maree  sport@dublingazette.com

89 79

KUBS prevented a clean sweep of men’s Division One trophies by Maree as they claimed the League Cup with an 89-79 win at the Water-

shed, K ilkenny last weekend. The Raheny side had finished runners’ up in their maiden Division One campaign but a solid weekend at the league finals gave them their first trophy. Maree had six players on the score sheet in the opening quarter

but KUBS had their eye in from the perimeter and Conor James, Kevin Foley, Jonathan Riles and Sean Ingle all registered three-pointers to go 28-13 clear. T h e G a l w ay s i d e rallied with an 11-0 run either side of the first break. The KUBS offence had hit a glitch

KUBS celebrate their Division One League Cup success

Killester’s Paul Dick in action in the Champions Trophy Final

and it took a strong drive from Eoin Chubb to get them going in again. They led 44-41 at the half with freethrows pushing them clear af ter Maree equalised through Eoin Rockall’s 62.5% accuracy and Kenneth Hansberry’s first half double-double. Both sides led by six or more in an undulating third quarter. Cathal Finn stepped up completing his double-double as Maree enjoyed their biggest lead of the game but KUBS were 66-61 to the good by the end of the period. Eoin Chubb was the game-changer with eight points in a row and an MVP performa n c e t h a t i n cl u d e d

seven assists. Conor James’ sixth triple of the afternoon came just when Maree threatened to draw level for the fifth time. The shooting guard finished with a game high 28 points while Player Coach Kevin Foley helped make sure of the win in taking his tally to 21 down the stretch. It was the brightest performance of the weekend on one which generally did not go the way of the Dublin sides involved. Te a m Mo n t e n o t t e Hotel fought off DCU Mercy to win 72-69 and secure the 2016 women’s Premier League playoffs. In doing so, t h e G l a n m i r e cl u b moved to the top of the

all-time list with seven wins. C&S UCC Demons claimed their fourth successive Champions Trophy to round out the Men’s Premier League season with an 82-77 win over Pyrobel Killester. It was a 19-point swing in the middle quarters as the League Champions came from eight points down to take control through Kyle Hosford and Lehmon Colbert. Colin O’Reilly was pleased with two trophies out of three at the end of a tough campaign: “It’s been a very long season but we always had two or three guys who had the energy to keep pushing the tempo.”

Pembroke expose gap in class to win Mills Cup title  sport@dublingazette.com

Ronan Flannery lifts the Leinster senior Mills Cup on behalf of Pembroke. Picture: Adrian Boehm

THE difference in level between the EY Hockey League and the top of Leinster Division One was ruthlessly exposed as Pembroke eased to the Mills Cup title with a comfortable 4-1 win over provincial champions Corinthian at Grange Road. A rare David Quinn goal along with efforts from Nick Burns and Harry Spain had the Ballsbridge side flying high with a 3-0 lead at the break. Corinthian rallied late on with Glenn Holmes pulling one back in the last ten minutes

but Andrew Shekleton’s clever finish completed the win. The reds did start well with Mark Ingram forced into a good stop from Stephen Reid but Pembroke soon found their fluidity with Ronan Flannery pushing forward. He delivered into the middle where Quinn stole a march on his marker, getting in front and shooting early with a first time sweep that gave Ross Murray no time to settle. In a game of middling quality at times, it was a very smart piece of work from one of the after-

noon’s strongest performers. Two minutes later, Burns drag banged the base of the backboard for 2-0 as Pembroke, despite some scrappy touches, asserted their dominance. Corinthian were living on the break and almost had their opening when David Howard cut loose but Ingram raced off his line to clean up the danger. But another corner in the minutes leading up to half-time all but killed off the game, Spain’s low push an identical to Burns’ earlier effort. It could have been worse in the second half but for

Murray who saved several good chances with Kirk Shimmins twice blocked at close quarters while Eric Foy had a reverse repelled. Holmes gave his side a lifeline when he picked up the pieces after Ingram had stopped Howard’s initial corner shot. But any thoughts of a comeback were dashed in the closing minutes when Flannery again raced down the right and while his offload was not the cleanest, Shekleton spun well and potted on the reverse as Pembroke ran up their 21st Mills Cup victory.

24 March 2016 blanch gazette 29

Gazette

Boden in dreamland after first half blitz Firhouse Road club produce performance of a lifetime to win their first All-Ireland club senior football championship with a 13-point demolition of Mayo’s Castlebar Mitchels all-ireland final Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-14 Castlebar Mitchels 0-7  james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

B A L LY B O D E N S T ENDA’S emphatically won their first All-Ireland senior football club title with a stunning performance on St Patrick’s Day, overrunning Castlebar Mitchels in a pulsing opening, and eventually running out 2-14 to 0-7 winners. With both sides going for their first All-Ireland club title – and the Mayo side having suffered the heartache of final defeat just two years ago – Boden had to do without the experience of midfield man Declan O’Mahony for their big day after he failed in a late bid to have his ban for a semi-final red card overturned. It didn’t show, though,

with Boden’s very first attack seeing Michael Darragh MacAuley work the ball to Colm Basquel on the edge of the box, leaving the forward to calmly slot into the Mitchels net with less than two minutes on the clock. Despite having much of the early possession, the Mayo club were caught cold, as Boden’s rhythmic hand passing had them chasing shadows. A shaky pass back from Shane Clayton forced Paul Durcan into a frantic clearance as the Mitchels forwards closed him down on seven minutes while Andrew Kerin also saw himself through at the other end, only to take too many steps whilst trying to round Mitchels’ keeper Rory Byrne. MacAuley was next in on goal, breaking down the left from another swift handpassing move

Ballyboden St Enda’s celebrate their All-Ireland glory

to fist over from the left corner of the box. When Boden were awarded a penalty on 15 minutes for a desperate lunge on Aran Waters – which Kerin swiftly dispatched into the bottom left – the Dubs had 2-3 on the board with the Mayo club yet to point. Wild shooting from the Mayo side didn’t help matters while Durcan was proving a thorn in their side, too, with the goalkeeper pulling off a sharp save to deny Neil Lydon at close range, before Mitchels finally got on the scoreboard from the resulting 45. The Rathfarnham side struck the post themselves seconds later through Darren O’Reilly’s fisted effort. Bob Dwan and O’Connor kept the clock ticking over, with Boden going in at half time in

dreamland, holding a 2-5 to 0-3 lead, one that if anything understated their dominance. The space Boden found in midfield first half fed numerous goal opportunities with MacAuley and O’Reilly the chief protagonists as energetic defence restricted Mitchels down

number six shirt in blood during the first half – lifted the trophy for Boden, saying: “it’s all come to fruition today. We weren’t going to be beaten. We were down an awful lot on the way here, but we’ve managed to put out a fire on every occasion.” It’s indeed been a rocky

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

‘We were down an awful lot but we’ve managed to put a fire on every occasion’ Daragh Nelson

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

the other end. Dublin star MacAuley was withdrawn five minutes into the second half after a scrappy start which suited Boden as an imposing Dwan, Keaney and Durkin stretched the lead while Mitchels floundered up top, missing a series of presentable opportunities. A brief rally saw the Castlebar club close the gap to nine points but the sharper Dublin club never looked under serious pressure, with a half volley chance from full forward Keaney the closest effort of the closing stages. Classy Kerin’s points took Boden away and the Dublin side had the luxury of giving their bench a run out. Captain Darragh Nelson – wearing number 39, after soaking his normal

road all the way to Croke Park for Ballyboden, with a much-discussed lastminute equaliser followed by an extra time win in a semi final against Clonmel Commercials and a single point win over reigning champions St Vincent’s in the Dublin final just two edgy moments. There will be a certain amount of sympathy for Mitchels, who saw a second All-Ireland shot in three years slip through their fingers in a lightning first few minutes from the Dublin side. The loss leaves Mayo clubs an astonishing five for 34 in senior finals since 1986. In truth, though, Boden never looked likely to lose their grip, as they emphatically blasted their way to a glorious first victory in 47 years of trying.

FastSport

Nelson and McEntee hail anatomy of SFC victory DARRAGH NELSON, Ballyboden St Enda’s captain, has described the feeling as “unbelievable” and “a huge honour” after leading the Rathfarnham side to a first ever All Ireland title at Croke Park on Saturday. Boden overcame to lift the Andy Merrigan cup with a powerful first half display, blowing away opposition who were appearing in their second All-Ireland final in three years. “With respect to Castlebar, we didn’t think it would be so easy,” Nelson told GazetteSport. “To do it in Croke Park on Paddy’s Day is just a great feeling, and we felt we had something to prove after the Clonmel game. I think we’ve learnt a lot. “To win the way we did just shows that the games we’ve come through have stood to us. I think Castlebar were fairly strong favourites going into this game, and we knew that. It kind of suits us.” Manager Andy McEntee, meanwhile, hit out at the GAA’s decision not to allow midfielder Declan O’Mahony to play in the final, after the Ballyboden man saw red in the closing stages of the semi, also calling the absence of the player a “motivating factor” in the performance. “We tried to make it a positive, but I did expect him to get off,” McEntee said. “We looked at the video evidence, and we even had a statement from the player he tackled. “Club players are treated differently to county players. We felt he should have been playing. It’s sad to see. “We did put two halves together, which is something we’ve struggled to do all season,” McEntee added after the game. “I wouldn’t say we expected to shut them out to seven points.” Speaking of Ballyboden’s current status as fourth or fifth favourites to win the Dublin title for a second time this year, McEntee also added “We’re probably sixth favourites after this. Every game we win, we seem to drift!” McEntee’s side return to action in the AFL1 on April 2, with a match against fellow Dublin giants St Vincent’s.

Gazette

30 BLANCH gazette 17 March 2016

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: mochta’s scoreless draw dents their push for title

Saints in LSL hunt sport@dublingazette.com

Corduff on the double OSASERE Ogiehor put in a man of the match performance in Corduff’s Under-14 Premier side’s 4-2 home win against Malahide United AFC in the second round of the Brendan McKenna Premier/A Cup competition. In a good day for the club, Mustaf Hassan was the star man for the Under-14As against Dublin Athletic FC in the same competition, winning 3-2 after extra time, to put them into the quarter-finals, too.

ST MOCHTA’S played out a scoreless draw last Sunday in their latest LSL senior division tie with Home Farm in a game of few chances in Porterstown. Indeed, a draw was probably a fair result even though the visitors hit the crossbar with a header in the first half. Lee Dixon missed the Saints best chance in the second half while Mark O’Neill was dismissed on

82 minutes. Both sides searched for a winner but neither could break the deadlock. The result leaves the Saints in fifth place in the division but still just about in touch with the leaders as the season gets ready for its busy spell. Mochta’s are seven points off leaders Malahide United but have three games in hand on the Gannon Park outfit. They have played a game more than the other three sides ahead of them,

St Mochta’s LSL Sunday Senior side drew 0-0 with Home Farm

namely Firhouse Clover and the vastly experienced Bluebell United and Crumlin United at this stage in the competition. Bluebell recorded a hugely important win over Firhouse on St Patrick’s Day, edging their rivals 2-0 with Sean Byrne’s early penalty get-

ting the Red Cow club on the board. And Ger Rowe completed the win late in the game to ensure they keep up their push for the league. Malahide, meanwhile, recorded a thrilling 3-2 win over Killester Unied to move back to the top of the rankings.

Darren Craven’s double gave United a halftime lead, counteracting a goal from Alan Talbot for the Haddon Park men. Karl Moody equalised midway through the second half with what looked likely to be the final goal but Stephen Chambers’ snatched a late winner.

17 March 2016 BLANCH gazette 31

Gazette

all star tour

Furlong and Healy play their part in San Diego

Club Noticeboard st brigid’s

st brigid’s Sorcha Furlong and Noelle

Healy both enjoyed playing their part during the TG4 Ladies Football All-Star Tour. They were both part of the 2015 All-Stars team that took in the trip that concluded with a match against the 2014 All-Stars at the University of San Diego. They were among six Dubliners including Lyndsey Davey, Sinead Aherne, Sinead Finnegan and Sinead Goldrick.

CONGRATULATIONS to Ciaran McCal-

finalised by this date. Full details and

lan on winning a silver medal in the All-

online payment are available on the

Ireland handball masters B singles on

club website.

Friday night.

€15,000 for this week’s lotto draw. The

chardstown Credit Union, will take

reserve jackpot rises to €13,800. Make

place in St Brigid’s on Saturday, April

sure to have your tickets in the draw

2. Tickets are €20 and are available

or you can purchase on-line via our

now from all contestants and from

website: www.stbrigidsgaa.com.

the club bar. Further information is on our website.

hurling: somerton side escape with a point

The lotto jackpot carries over at

The Kube, in association with Blan-

The deadline for St Brigid’s club registrations is March 31. All memberships must be registered and

The St Brigid’s nursery is taking an Easter break this weekend and will return on Saturday, April 2. Wishing all our members a very Happy Easter.

castleknock SINCERE thanks to all who supported

Great win for our minor A football-

our 2016 Feile fundraising table quiz on

ers away to Plunkett’s and they keep

Friday in The Carpenter pub. A great

their unbeaten run going. Our second

night was had by all.

minor team drew away to Plunkett’s

Well done to all the Castleknock Crew

which was again a great result. Con-

who participated in the St Patrick’s

grats to Rob Shaw and the Dublin

Day Parade in Blanchardstown and

minors who won the Leinter football

who distributed the 2016 Castleknock

league on Saturday.

Proclamation.

Castle’s 14-men grind out draw

Castleknock and Setanta shared a lively draw last Sunday. Picture: Niall O’Connell

ahl division two Setanta 1-17 Castleknock 3-11  sport@dublingazette.com

FOURTEEN-man Castleknock battled to a 1-17 to 3-11 draw in Poppintree Park, showing great character in a huge AHL Division 2 tussle with Setanta last Sunday morning. Setanta, having recently been promoted, always provide tough and skilful opposition and so it proved again on Sunday. The Ballymun side got the better of the opening exchanges but

it was Castleknock who took the lead through an opportunistic goal from Kieran Duggan after great work from Colin Lynch. Setanta, however, played the better hurling to lead at half time by a single point, etching out a 0-8 to 1-4 advantage. The game really came to life in 2nd half. Setanta continued to rack up the scores but two quick goals from Niall O’Callaghan and Lynch put Castleknock back ahead. Then, unfortunately for Castleknock, they were reduced to 14 men when Conal P urcell

received a red card for a late tackle. It spurred the hosts on and Setanta came storming back, making the extra man count to take the lead again and were then awarded a penalty. The Castleknock g o a l ke e p e r i n i t i a l l y saved the effort but the referee insisted it be taken again as players had encroached in the area before the shot was taken. Setanta made no mistake with the re-take and lead by three at this stage. But the 14-men of Castleknock were not

beaten yet and showed great spirit and determination, led by captain Conor Prunty. T hey immediately added two points and then pushed ahead as the game approached injury time. It wasn’t to be, though, as Setanta scored their equaliser in injury time to secure a share of the points. Nonetheless, the Somerton side can draw on the character they showed to snatch a draw in adversity which they hope will springboard them onto better performances throughout the season.

Our nursery, thanks to Tiger Child-

Hard fought draw for our adult Divi-

care, takes place on Saturday, start-

sion 2 hurlers away to Setanta; never

ing at 10am. We look forward to wel-

an easy place to get a result so well

coming all our young nursery boys

done lads. Our Division 6 team had a

and girls for some sport agus spraoi,

good win over Civil Service.

fun and encouragement. New nursery

Great play from all of our ladies

members are always very welcome,

under-age teams over the weekend.

just turn up at Tir na nOg (beside CCC)

Well done to Caitlin Coffey and Ciara

and introduce yourself to one of the

Murray who represented Castleknock

many friendly mentors.

on Dublin development teams against

Best wishes to all attending the

Kildare last Saturday at U-14 and U-16

Castleknock GAA Easter camp this

level respectively.

week.

Naomh Peregrine WELL done to our U-15 ladies foot-

club and non-club members; €20 per

ballers with a strong win over Kilma-

child. For more information, contact

cud Crokes on Saturday in Pairc De

Gordan Ward on 087 996

Burca. The entire team pulled out all the stops and played an immense game to win 1-5 to 5-7. Keep up the good work girls.

Don’t miss a great night in the bar this Easter Sunday with Black Jack Mary with live music from 8pm. There is car boot sale on Sunday, April 10 from 10am to 4pm. Sell new

Once again, Conor Hynes put some

or used goods to make a bit of extra

numbers up on the scoreboard as

cash for the Summer. To book a table,

the Dublin minors took on Laois in the

please contact Michelle Kavanagh on

league final and scoring three points

086 159 1459.

for the Boys in Blue; we are proud to

Thank you to all who supported

have him as a Penguin. Final score:

Fantasy Cheltenham 2016 in aid of our

Dublin 1-15 to Laois 0-9. Congratula-

senior hurlers. First prize of €500 to

tions lads.

Declan Cody; €200 to Angela Kavanagh

Thank you to all players, mentors

and €100 to Darren Ennis.

and supporters who represented St

Winners of the highest priced odds

Peregrine’s GAA club. New players are

will be contacted this week if not

always welcome by all teams please

already contacted.

check club website www.cnp.ie for

St Patrick’s Day in the club was once

training times and mentors contact

again a success this year. The stand

details if interested.

was full of kids and parents kitted out

The Easter camp for U-8 to U-12s is on March 29 to April 1 and is open to

in green, white and orange as the sun stayed shinning for the day.

GazetteSPORT all of your blanch sports coverage from page 28-31

setanta stung: Castleknock emerge with useful draw despite going down to 14 players in AHL2 tie P31

march 24-30, 2016

Boden’s glorious day: Nelson lifts Merrigan Trophy as Castlebar swept aside P29

Niamh Farrelly and Naoisha McAloon, pictured celebrating, are among a quintet of Peamount United players shining for Ireland. Picture: Eoin Noonan/Sportsfile

Peas in a pod for Ireland Former Castleknock Celtic goalkeeper Naoisha McAloon hoping to play her part as Republic’s Under-17s one win away from Euro finals

 sport@dublingazette.com

FORMER Castleknock Celtic goalkeeper Naoisha McAloon is one game away from helping the Republic of Ireland Under-17 girls to the UEFA European Championships finals. Her side got off to a winning start in France with a 2-1 win over Hungary in the elite phase qualifiers last weekend before falling to a last ditch goal to the Czech Republic 1-0. Nonetheless, a win over the hosts France would see them guaranteed a top two finish in their group and give them a great chance of claiming a trip to the finals,

McAloon starred for Castleknock as a youngster before making the move to Peamount United. She is one of five Peas’ players involved in the competition along with Niamh Farrelly, Lauren O’Callaghan, Lauren Kelly and Tiegan Ruddy Speaking about the tournament, Ruddy reckons that they have a great chance of progression due to their team cohesion. “We just seem to click on the pitch. I think our style of play suits the players that we have and everyone knows each other’s game, so it works really well for us,” explained Ruddy. “I think our closeness off the pitch definitely helps. We keep saying it, but we really are

like a family. And that goes for the staff too because they give us so much inspiration. “It’s amazing to work with the coaches, especially Dave [Bell] because of how good he is as a coach. We have a winning mentality now because of him and it’s something that we want to maintain.” Second-half goals from Saoirse Noonan and Peamount’s Kelly helped Ireland pick up the three points last Saturday, but it required a fight back after seeing Hungary take the lead. “We were frustrated going in at half-time, but Dave told us that we had 40 minutes to get ourselves back into it if we really wanted to make it to the finals,” said Ruddy.

“We have belief in ourselves, we just had to keep working hard. So we rolled our sleeves up and proved that we were the better side by getting two goals and picking up the three points.” Ruddy feels that they have simply overcome the first obstacle in the race to reach the finals and she is quick to acknowledge that there are two more still to come. “We achieved what we set out to do in our first game by winning it. “To qualify for the finals would be a dream, but we are only focusing on our next game. We have always just taken it game by game and that is what we’re going to do in this group.”