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August 28, 2014

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Month XX, 2012 malahide • Balbriggan • Applewood • boroimhe • Airside • Portmarnock • Kinsealy • clarehall

INSIDE: Gazette talks to Ryan Blair about human limits and our need to challenge them P23

culture vultures: Annual extravaganza will have the city buzzing with events P17

Great Skillz: Having fun at a soccer camp All-Ireland: Flynn set for Donegal test in semi-final Page 32

THESE two girls were very much on the ball when it came to showing their soccer skills at Swords Pavilions recently. The centre’s director, Ian Hunter, looked on as Katie Lovely and Ciana Down demonstrated some headers. The youngsters were among 100 boys and girls who took part in a Street Skillz fun day, held in association with Fingal County Council Sports Office, the FAI and the shopping centre, introducing children to a wide range of football-based skills.

Picture: Orla Murray/Ark Photography

Football:

Fingal Ravens clinch AFL2 title with home win Page 31

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ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES....................... 8 DUBLIN LIFE....................11 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................26 SPORT............................27

Slow down, be safe – Ridgewood residents Safety concerns at estate prompt proposal to help reduce speeding

 keith bellew

TRAFFIC safety concerns among Ridgewood residents have increased in recent weeks. They are now seeking the provision of a new access point to offset construction

traffic in the area and speed ramps to prevent speeding.

Fingal County Council has prepared a scheme for the provision of traffic-calming measures at Ridgewood Avenue, which includes speed ramps and double yel-

low lines.

Many residents are unhappy with the proposal and have made a counter proposal of their own.

Their proposal states: “We object strongly to double yellow lines and any new

crossing point on the avenue. Both would force cars to park in other areas where there is no capacity. What is needed is slower traffic, and a different route for construction traffic.”

Full Story on Page 2

2 swords gazette 28 August 2014

dublin GAZETTe newspapers i n f o r m at i o n Top Floor, Clarendon House, 39 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publishes seven weekly quality free titles, covering the greater Dublin area from the city centre to Dun Laoghaire

community Call for new safety measures

Ridgewood residents’ traffic fears intensify  keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com

c o n ta c t s Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com Editor: Mimi Murray mmurray@dublingazette.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@dublingazette.com Sports Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@dublingazette.com Picture Editor: Hiromi Mooney picturedesk@dublingazette.com Advertising Production: Suzanne Sheehy ssheehy@dublingazette.com Classified Ad Manager: Michael McFadden mmcfadden@dublingazette.com Advertising Sales: 01 - 6010240 sales@dublingazette.com

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www.dublingazette.com Dublin Gazette Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

THE ongoing concerns of Ridgewood residents about traffic measures in their estates have intensified in recent weeks.

The residents have been campaigning for speed ramps to be built in their estates for months now and a recent application for further planning permission at the top of Ridgewood has increased worries.

Fingal County Council has prepared a scheme for the provision of traffic-calming measures at Ridgewood Avenue.

The scheme provides for the construction of seven ramps, the installation of double yellow Lines on the south side of Ridgewood Avenue (along the green and towards the MKN site for the new houses), two solar-powered speed readers on the green for each approach, and the

Residents at Ridgewood have voiced opposition for proposed traffic-calming measures, calling instead for slower speeds and a different route for construction vehicles, so as to prevent a false sense of security for children

installation of a dished kerb and footpath/apron on both sides of Ridgewood Avenue, from the grass verge outside house numbers 21 and 22 to the open space/green area.

The scheme also provides for the provision of appropriate road signage and lining.

The deadline for making a submission regarding this scheme is 4.30pm on Friday, September 5.

Many residents are unhappy with these proposals, saying that traffic-calming measures may help on a temporary basis, but will not solve the problems of Ridgewood.

They believe the solution is a new access point for the houses presently being built and any new development, and the closure to vehicular traffic of the present access.

They have made a proposal which has been signed by 81 of the residents.

The proposal states: “We object strongly to double yellow lines and any new crossing point on the avenue. Both would force cars to park in other areas where there is no capacity.

“On a dangerous road, a crossing which has no power to stop traffic

would give a false sense of security to children.

What is needed is slower traffic, and a different route for construction traffic.”

Residents will be holding a public meeting on September 2 at Peacock’s, River Valley at 8pm to discuss the issue.

Concerned Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) said: “Residents who have contacted me remain concerned that there is only one entrance/exit to Ridgewood, and dangerous parking is an ongoing problem at the entrance roundabout.

“We need to work on solutions for these problems in addition to the proposed traffic-calming measures.”

Cllr Justin Sinnott (Ind) said: “The residents are phenomenally organised – they’ve got out there, and got virtually everyone on the road to sign a petition

“The council has said that it’s going to put in more double yellow lines, but it’s not going to work. They [residents] want their speed bumps, and that’s it. Of all the requests I get, it’s probably the one that comes up most often.”

He has also expressed his concerns about this new application for planning permission.

Cllr Sinnott said that on the one hand, there is a massive housing crisis in Dublin, while on the other, there are existing estates that still lack basic infrastructure.

He said: “We need more houses, but at the same time we cannot ride roughshod over existing residents. That’s going to be a huge challenge for us all over the next five years, because I would say that there is going to be major development in Swords over the next decade, and how we actually manage that is going to be key.”

28 August 2014 swords gazette 3

charity

ceremony: Fingal shortlisted in largest number of categories

Coffee morning chance

Council up for six excellence awards  Keith Bellew

FINGAL County Council has been shortlisted in six categories for the 2014 Excellence in Local Government Awards.

The awards ceremony will take place on November 13. The council has been shortlisted in the Supporting Tourism, Supporting Active Communities, Citizen Engagement, SmarterTravel, Best Library Service and Joint Local Authority Initiative categories.

Deputy Alan Farrell (FG) said the achievement was a testament to the hard work of the council.

He said: “I am delighted that Fingal County Council has been shortlisted in six categories for the

Excellence in Local Government Awards.

“The fact it has been shortlisted in more categories than any other local authority in the country is testament to the hard work undertaken by the council in co-operation with local organisations throughout the area.

“In the supporting tourism category, Fingal County Council has been nominated for the Ireland vs England cricket match, which took place last year.

“I would like to congratulate the council, Malahide Cricket Club officers and members, the ground staff, and the volunteers who were instrumental in making this event such a success.

“It is encouraging to see that the work of our local authority is consistently among the best in Ireland and I am pleased that this is being recognised, despite the ongoing constraints of reduced funding.”

Cllr David McGuinness (FF) said the inclusion was confirmation of the great work of the council.

He said: “The officials at the council are very innovative, committed to their jobs, and they provide an excellent service for the people that they run the local authority for.

“I think this is just confirmation of the hard work that they’re doing and I wish them all the best in terms of going on and winning.”

Tile with style: Talented young local artist brings some colour to council young Swords artist Ian Irwin and his proud parents Louise and Paul met Fingal County Council’s chief executive Paul Reid recently, when Ian was invited to display his art work at the Swords County Hall offices after taking part in an exhibition called All That’s Good In Our Community.

The event saw 50 young people from the area working alongside artist John Duggan to create unique pieces. It was organised by the North Dublin City and County Regional Drugs Task Force. Also in attendance was the deputy mayor of Fingal, Cllr Ted Leddy (FG) who was most impressed with Ian’s colourful piece, which is painted onto a recycled kitchen tile.

THE Meningitis Research Foundation and Baldoyle Family Centre are inviting all local people to take part in a coffee morning on Tuesday, September 30, between 10am and 12.30pm.

The centre is based at Grange Road, Baldoyle.

Hot beverages and snacks will be available.

There is no entry feebut donations are welcome.

All proceeds from the event will be used to fund meningitis awareness campaigns.

For more information on this event, please contact the Baldoyle Resource Centre on (01) 8326115 or Meningitis Research on 01 819 69 31 or by email: info@meningitis-ireland.org

4 swords gazette 28 August 2014

works Temporary measure at Newcourt Mews Estate

Council clarifies fence’s erection Serving 7 thriving communities of suburban Dublin. For up to date news follow us on Twitter @DublinGazette

 Keith Bellew

CONCERNS and confusion of residents of the Newcourt Mews Estate regarding a fence which had been erected on part of the open space there have been allayed.

Fingal County Council has confirmed that the

fencing had been erected, until mid 2015, in order to facilitate the construction of a pipeline for the Swords Waste Treatment Plant.

Residents need not worry about construction traffic, as vehicles will access the area through the treatment plant.

The plant is in the process of being expanded and upgraded to reduce the level of pollutants and allow capacity for the growing population and projected commercial development of the greater Swords area.

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) said: “Following

calls from a number of concerned residents last week, I received the following update from Fingal County Council.

“The fence went up last week, and trees were removed without any prior notice to residents.

When the works have been completed, the fenc-

ing will be removed and the open space will be reinstated to its original condition, including the replanting of trees.”

A spokesperson from Fingal County Council said: “Fingal County Council apologise for any inconvenience to residents in the area.”

Students Brian Lawlor and Avelina Mooney join Vivienne Keavey, Malahide Credit Union manager to launch the new APP. Picture: Gwen Kelly

App-ie: members get Electronic payment service and new app

Malahide first in credit unions’ tech upgrade  Keith Bellew

THOUSANDS of Malahide Credit Union members are benefiting from an investment in the latest technology, including the introduction of a modern electronic payment service and a new cuAnywhere App. Manager of Malahide CU, Vivienne Keavey, said Malahide Credit Union was delighted to be the first credit union in the country to provide the CUSOP electronic payment service to its members.

She said: “As a result, all of our members can

now pay bills electronically and receive funds, salaries, benefits and other payments directly to their credit union account.

“They can also have payments from a bank, employer or social welfare office paid directly into their credit union account by electronic transfer.

“Our members are also managing incoming funds and paying bills in a safe, secure and efficient way that is more cost effective than paper cheque payments and collections.”

Malahide Credit Union is also launching the new

cuAnywhere App to provide members with 24/7 access to their credit union anywhere in the world.

The App gives members access to their credit union online accounts and website as well as email and mobile phone access.

The electronic service has been modernised through CUSOP, a company set up by credit unions and the Irish League of Credit Unions to provide an electronic payment service for credit unions throughout the country.

The CUSOP service

will have the capability, over time, to deliver a wide range of payment services such as direct debits, debit card and full online banking for Malahide Credit Union members.

While Malahide Credit Union is the first to benefit from this new service, it is planned to introduce it to up to 60 other branches around the country by the end of the year.

Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) said the development was great news for the people of Malahide. “Malahide Credit Union provides a magnificent service to

people in the area. It has always been at the forefront of customer service and customer care for the people of Malahide and the surrounding area.

“I think this will further establish the credit union and the important role that it has in the community of Malahide.

“This is great news for customers and potential new customers, as well. I would always encourage people to look towards the credit union in Malahide.”

Members can download the new app at www. malahidecu.ie or at www. cuAnywhere.ie.

28 August 2014 swords gazette 5

sport Confusion over responsibility for facility’s repairs

Volley of complaints about tennis courts  Keith Bellew

TENNIS players in Malahide who use the facilities at Malahide Castle and Gardens have raised concerns about the condition of the courts.

There are five tennis courts on the grounds at Malahide Demesne, all of which have fallen into disrepair.

The issue has been raised by many who frequent the club as they find it difficult to play there due to damaged nets, bad surfaces and poorly lined courts.

Cllr Keith Redmond (FG) said that he has had a number of calls recently from residents

who use the services there, and that they are unhappy with the standard, especially considering that they have to pay for it.

He said: “The tennis cour ts in Malahide Demesne are in a shocking state of repair.

They really are bad, they’re not lined out, and the nets are in bits, and all kinds of things [are wrong].

“W hat I would be hoping is this new company that has taken over the golf and tennis services in Malahide Demesne will invest in the tennis courts, because the tennis courts are in a terrible

state of repair. They’re asking people to pay for them and, really, they are almost unplayable.

“I have had some correspondence with the council, and the council have told me that they expect the new company to invest in improving the service there and getting it up to scratch, so I am hoping that that will happen,” said Cllr Redmond.

Decision However, a spokesperson from Morgan Sports Solutions, the company in charge of maintaining the services, said that it was the decision of Fingal

County Council whether or not to go ahead with a refurbishment of the courts.

He added: “As far as I am aware, there is money in place to repair the courts in the near future.”

Cllr Eoghan O’Brien (FF) also raised this issue earlier in the year with the council, and based on the council’s response, believes that the refurbishment will be carried out.

He said: “I previously set down a motion about getting the tennis courts resurfaced, and the answer came back that it would be done.

I am waiting for con-

Malahide Demesne, where tennis courts on the grounds have fallen into disrepair

firmation of when that work would be done.

“They [the council] had given assurances that there would be funding put in place to do it. Because they [the council] came back with a positive response to

the motion, I do expect that it will be done. “[Playing tennis there] is popular, and I believe that since the new operator has moved in, the membership has increased, so it will be important that

the facilities are up to standard,” he said.

Fingal County Council had not responded by the time of going to press to a request for confirmation on whether or not these repairs will go ahead.

6 swords gazette 28 August 2014

malahide Catherine Lawlor School of Art’s 12th Annual Exhibition on the way

Students display their best work for children’s charity  keith bellew

The Catherine Lawlor School of Art’s 12th Annual Exhibition, will take place on Saturday, September 13 and Sunday 14 at Malahide Tennis Club. The exhibition launch will take place September 12 at Malahide Tennis

Club at 7pm.

Students will have a wonderful opportunity to display the art they have worked on over the past year.

The team at Catherine Lawlor School of Art said: “At our exhibition this year, we will have a huge variety of paintings ranging from figurative

and still life to local scenes and many more. We have approximately 130 professionally framed oil, watercolour, acrylic and mixed media paintings.

“Over the year, we have worked with many techniques including impasto in the style of Yeats, oils in the style of

watercolours (inspired by Turner), and traditional methods.

“We have also had lots of encouragement and instruction at our artist demonstration days by local artists Una Sealy and Richard Hearns.”

All are welcome and the proceeds will go to this year’s

chosen charity – ChildVision, Drumcondra.

ChildVision is the only place in Ireland totally dedicated to blind and severely disabled children. Children with vision impairment (some with additional multiple disabilities) can attend ChildVision from as young as newborn all

the way through to 22 years of age, as residential or day students. All children attend ChildVision free of charge.

School time at ChildVision teaches children about life and living.

For more information about ChildVision, please go to our website www.childvision.ie

Donabate artist fuelled up for a one-year residency Aspiring Donabate artist Kerry Guinan has won a one-year residency at creative art studio Block T and will have a Solo Exhibition in 2015.

The award has been granted by Block T and Fingal County Council Arts Office as part of Block T’s Visual Arts Programme, Fuel, which is dedicated to the support and professional development of recent graduates.

The residency is offered to one graduate as part of a series of initiatives to promote and support the professional practice of emerging artists. The award was based on an open submission for

under and post graduate students graduating in 2014.

Guinan recently graduated from the National College of Art and Design where she achieved a frist class honours in fine art media and visual culture. She has exhibited nationally and internationally at 126, Foundation 13, the Lab, Pit Groningen and Supafast.

Her residency in Block T begins in September.

During her residency in Block T, Guinan will be researching – through writing and practice – the economic precarity of the visual arts in Ireland.

Neha Thethi, CodorDojo mentor (centre) at Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB), with Conor Brady, Akhil Voorakkara, Karl Cronin and Luke Debtuch. CoderDojo classes are also taught to young people at St Sylvester’s GAA Club in Malahide. Picture: Andres Poveda

education: volunteers teach digital skills

Department can’t help fund project

 Keith bellew

THE Department of Education has said it is not in a position to provide financial support for the CoderDojo project.

CoderDojo has branches at the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown and St Sylvester’s GAA Club in Malahide.

It runs free not-forprofit coding clubs for young people to learn how to write software code and develop websites, apps, programs and games.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue (FF) is calling on Minister for Education

and Skills Jan O’Sullivan to explore what options are in place to support the project.

He said: “Children who attend these free Saturday Dojos are equipping themselves with knowledge and experience that will open up a whole range of opportunities for them.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Education said: “The Department of Education and Skills has helped to raise public awareness of its work by hosting, in 2012, a symbolic CoderDojo class in Leinster House, which was attended by

the Taoiseach. However, the department is not currently in a position to provide financial support for CoderDojo.”

Larry O’Brien at CoderDojo ITB said the Blanchardstown branch was seeking volunteer members: “In terms of expansion, we are supporting over 80-plus kids on a weekly basis across five classrooms, and expansion is not something we can really consider without more mentors and volunteer support.

“CoderDojo is completely volunteer run, so it’s more about the people than the money.”

Anton Shihoff of CoderDojo Malahide expressed the same views, saying: “Mentor retention is always a problem as it is volunteering and you need people who know how to code.

“We have been running since 2012 and we have certainly been through a number of mentors, but generally we do OK with replacing them (we have 17 on the books at the moment, about half of which are regularly active).”

Further information is available at www.cdordojod15.com or www. coderrdojomalahide.

28 August 2014 swords gazette 7

8 swords gazette 28 August 2014

gazetteGALLERIES

Demonstrating a state-of-the-art Oculus Rift virtual reality headset

launch: HARVEY NORMAN SWORDS BOASTS A RENOVATED SHOWROOM

H

ARVEY Norman Swords recently officially launched its newly renovated technology showroom in Airside Retail Park. The store says the state-of-the art showroom is designed to heighten the customer shopping experience. There were product demonstrations during the launch, including an Electrolux cooking demonstration by a Michelin Star chef. The Oculus Rift virtual reality headset garnered much attention.

Amy Finnegan, Jen Savage, Donna Fogarty and Chloe Joyce collect their results at Fingal Community College.

Jenny Adamson of Harvey Norman and Simon Andreucetti of DoneDeal

Chief executive of Harvey Norman in

Ronan Harrington, Ciaran Flood, Christian Burke and Clifford Mututsn

Ireland Blaine Callard

Michelin Star chef Simon Hulstone demonstrates his cooking skills

Ghisliane Butler of Canon

Dylan Kirwan and Sarah Ennis with Fingal Community College principal Sharon McGrath

Niamh Lawless and Aoife Daly

28 August 2014 swords gazette 9

Chloe Farren, Lauren Hanlon, Zoe Johnston and Shannon Lowndes

Ciara Richardson and Aisling Fowler

leaving cert: CLASS OF 2014 COLLECT THEIR RESULTS

Closing the door of the classroom

T Pictures: David O’Shea, and St Mary’s Secondary School Baldoyle

Aine Mullen

HESE local students offically bid farewell to their secondary school recently as they collected their Leaving Certificate results.

Pictured celebrating are Fingal Community College students (left), and St Mary’s Secondary School Baldoyle (above).

Echoing the sentiment of principals and teachers at schools around the country, the deputy principal of St Mary’s Secondary School, John Moore, said: “Congratulations to everyone. It was great to see so many parents accompanying their daughters. We wish them the very best for the future.”

10 swords gazette 28 August 2014

concerns Arson attack and increase in graffiti, vandalism at Sandford Wood

Anti-social behaviour ‘a blight on community’  Keith bellew

THE growing trend of graffiti and vandalism is continuing in Swords, with many walls in the Sandford Wood estate being tagged recently by graffiti artists, while a coach in the area was burnt out.

The bus was burnt out in Sandford Woods on Monday night, and anyone with infor-

mation is asked to contact Swords Garda Station at 01 666 4700, or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.

Cllr Duncan Smith (Lab) said this issue of anti-social behaviour has come up a lot in the past few weeks, and a lot of concerned residents have contacted him about it.

He said: “In my area of north Swords, there has been an

increasing problem with graffiti and vandalism. We’ve had massive graffiti along many public walls along the Sandford Wood estate, which we got cleaned off relatively quickly.

“Flower boxes in the Glen Ellen estate, which were bought and paid for by the residents’ association after a long fundraising campaign, were also vandalised.

“There has been a definite increase in recent weeks. It’s an absolute blight on our community. In north-west Swords, we are a new and emerging community, and to have people vandalise flower boxes, estate signs and very public walls brings the whole tone of our neighbourhood community down.

“I would call on all residents

to be vigilant and to report any graffiti as soon as they see it to Fingal County Council, and to report any vandalism to Swords Garda Station’s community division,” he said.

Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) said: “Unfortunately, anti-social behaviour becomes a big issue this time of the year in many parts of Fingal with the good weather and bright eve-

nings. Open spaces become a popular gathering point for drinking and outdoor parties, which ultimately leads to unacceptable anti-social behaviour such as vandalism.”

At the time of going to print, gardai were unable to confirm whether or not any special initiatives would be taken to combat this rise in anti-social behaviour.

charity: duo’s fundraising feat

Stephanie’s four-mile swim for Pieta House  Keith bellew

TWELVE-year-old Stephanie O’Connor from Skerries recently completed a four-mile pool swim that raised €2,500 in aid of Pieta House, the centre for the prevention of self-harm and suicide.

The young swimmer, who is a member of Skerries Swimming Club, was joined on the swimming challenge by her father, George, the managing director of Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Ireland.

The swim, one of a number of events organised by Enterprise to support Pieta House, meant that Stephanie had to swim more than 400 laps of the ALSAA pool at Dublin Airport.

Many suppor ters watched and cheered on father and daughter for more than two and a half hours.

O’Connor said: “I’m very proud of Stephanie, and we’re both delighted to be able to support the services of Pieta House, which is a really wonderful charity.

“Pieta House does excellent work, and this money will go some way

Stephanie O’Connor with her father, George, who also completed the four-mile swim

towards helping more vulnerable people avail of its treatment programmes. We all know that Ireland needs quality services like this, now more than ever.”

The money raised will help more people to access Pieta House’s nationwide network of services.

It specialises in the provision of one-to-one counselling for people who are suicidal, those who have already tried to take their life, and those who self-harm.

This vital service is heavily reliant on the support of volunteers

and the generosity of the public.

With 90% of its income coming from fundraising events, donations like this are extremely important, according to Pieta House.

Commenting on the swimming achievement, Pieta House’s founder, chief executive and director, Joan Freeman, said: “Efforts like this from Stephanie are essential for Pieta House.

“There are so many people who need our services, so we are very grateful to the O’Connors and all their supporters for this donation.”

28 August 2014 Gazette 11

diary P14

asdfsdaf feature P27 P15

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

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brewing P12

what’son Help to shoot our national monuments

Actor and writer John Rogers will stage his non-stop 24-hour one man show as part of this year’s Tiger Dublin Fringe. Picture: Matt Burke

a day in the life: actor and writer gives us a glimpse of what makes him tick

Routine is the key to work  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

A non-stop 24-hour one man show called Artist, Scientist, Priest by actor and writer John Rogers will be staged as part of this year’s Tiger Dublin Fringe.

The Gazette asked Rogers to take us through an average day in his own life ahead of his upcoming 24-hour challenge.

“The average day depends on whether I’m working on a piece or not.

Right now I’m working on this show.

I try to keep to a Monday to Friday, nine to five routine as much as possible because you need that when you’re working from home. I get up around 8am or 8.30am.

I’ll head downstairs then and make coffee. I don’t know where I’d be without a shower and a coffee. If I’m lucky there’s homemade granola which my wife makes, which is absolutely delicious.

“Normally my wife and I will have breakfast together. She also works for the theatre. I used to be a man for Morning Ireland over breakfast but she thankfully got me out of that habit and now there’s no radio, reading, Twitter or Facebook and we just chat. We take our time over breakfast and never miss it.

“I go up to my desk around 10am.

On an ideal day I keep all the production and administration stuff for after

lunch and the morning is spent doing creative work. This is not always easy because I use the computer and might see an email pop up and it’s easy to get distracted. So it takes a little bit of discipline to ignore that until after lunch.

“Around 11am I’ll have a second breakfast; another cup of coffee and a boiled egg. Then I’ll go back up and continue with what I was doing.

“When I’m in the middle of something I find it hard to stop so I have an alarm on my phone set to go off at 1pm or else I’d forget to have lunch. I’ll take the hour for that and at 2pm will do the admin stuff until 5pm.

“Then I might go for a stroll or get

out on the bike and listen to the radio to catch up on the news.

“At dinner time my wife and I cook together, then with no phones on and a glass of wine, we catch up on each other’s day.

“Later we might head out if there’s something on in town or else watch something on the laptop or read. I’m the luckiest man alive. I try to hit the hay by midnight otherwise I’d stay up for hours as I’m naturally a night owl.”

Artist, Scientist, Priest is on from 8am on September 13 to 8am, September 14 at the Centre for Creative Practices, 15 Pembroke Street, D 2 and tickets, available at the door, cost €14/€12.

THE world’s biggest photography competition, Wiki Loves Monuments, is taking place in Dublin, and runs until September 30.

It was officially launched recently by the Wikimedia Ireland Community and Minister of State for Finance, Simon Harris. Organised by Wikimedia, the movement behind free encyclopaedia Wikipedia, the competition aims to raise awareness of Ireland’s national monuments and create a crowd-sourced bank of quality photos that will be free to use for education.

Amateur and professional photographers are being invited to photograph the national monuments in their locality and upload their photos to www.wikilovesmonuments.ie.

Entries will be judged by a four-person expert panel, and the winners will be announced on October 31.

The project is being supported by The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, National Heritage Week, The Heritage Council of Ireland, The Office of Public Works, Open Knowledge Ireland and Dimension Data.

Gazette

12 Gazette 28 August 2014

dublinlife

features

drinks: nearly 60 small, independent producers to attend

Refreshing festival of craft beers hits RDS

 richard hubbell

It’s no secret – Irish brewing is booming. There are twice as many breweries as there were in 2011, spreading from Donegal to Wexford, with dozens more planned. In fact, the only place to miss out so far has been Dublin.

Scarce real estate and high costs meant new breweries skipped the capital until now.

That’s changed since last autumn, though, with the launch of three new ventures: Four Provinces, Stone Barrel and Rascal’s. Look for them

among the nearly 60 small, independent producers of beer at the Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival at the RDS next month.

To Feargal Chambers and Andrew Murphy, there was never a question of setting up Four Provinces Brewing Co someplace cheaper.

“We’re not in it for the money,” says Chambers, “We don’t want to drive to Navan every day. We’re a Dublin-based brewery.”

Four Provinces have plans for a new brewhouse in Kimmage. Their first beer is called The Hurler to

reflect their mutual love of GAA. It’s an easy-sipping copper ale with enough character to hold your attention. “We intentionally brewed it to 4.2%, a sessionable beer,” says Murphy, “We went for something different.”

When Niall Fitzgerald returned from travelling, he found his friend Kevin McKinney excited to share his new hobby – homebrewing.

Fast forward three years and that hobby is Stone Barrel Brewing Company, based in Ballymount. Their passion is clear in Boom, a pale ale

made with citrusy American hops. McKinney believes tastes are changing, saying: “Now there are regular people who mightn’t have drunk craft two years ago who are into hoppy beers.” But he isn’t getting precious about it, adding: “At the end of the day, beer is beer.”

Emma Devlin and Cathal O’Donoghue have a bit of a Hollywood to their story – fall in love in New Zealand, create an award-winning beer with their creamy Ginger Porter, and open a brewery.

The reality of Rascal’s Brewing Co is bit less

Four Provinces Brewing Company’s Feargal Chambers and Andrew Murphy

glamorous. “A brew took 10 hours to start but we’re down to seven now,” says O’Donoghue.

“Us having time to make sales has been the hardest part.” The upside is having their own kit in Rathcoole, close to all their customers. “We haven’t really pursued other markets,” says Devlin, “We want to grow our

roots here.”

For all three, having the city on their doorstep is a definite advantage.

Distribution is easier but almost as important is the personal touch. “A big part is talking to people, convincing them you’re not going to be gone in five years,” says Four Provinces’ Chambers.

Stone Barrel’s Fit-

zgerald echoes that sentiment: “We’ll always know every barman in Dublin ourselves. We’re Dubs. It will always be our spiritual home.”

The festival runs September 4-7 at the RDS. Get tickets online or at selected pubs and offlicences. See www.irishcraftbeerfestival.ie or @ irishbeerfest for details.

28 August 2014 Gazette 13

Gazette

14 Gazette 28 August 2014

dublinlife

diary

Ice, ice baby!

Gogarty goes all out for a good cause Dublin councillor and musician Paul Gogarty (Ind) recently joined the online fad for dumping a bucket of iced water over himself for IMNDA research.

The former Green Party TD who made a series of “unparliamentary” music videos while taking a break from his political life did the Ice Bucket Challenge in his garden in Lucan and made a donation to the not-for-profit organisation.

The video is significantly less cringeworthy and a lot more creative than you would imagine from a man who once said F#*k you to Deputy Emmet Stagg during a live Dail debate.

Gogarty even manages

to throw a dig in at Irish Water while he’s at it.

Hats off though to the only councillor in the country to bring the challenge into the Irish political sphere and for nominating some interesting personalities to follow suit, including billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien, Ryanair ’s Michael O’Leary and Wexford TD Mick Wallace.

Taekwondo Club kick up a storm Members of the Ballymun Taekwando Club kicked up a storm recently to become runners up in Three’s Power Your Network campaign.

In celebration of Three Networks continued rollout of 4G across Ireland,

people from across the country were invited to show the strength of their network for a chance to win a cash prize of €2,500.

The Ballymun Taekwando Club finished as one of the finalists and bagged a €300 cash prize by finishing as a runner up. They managed to get 333 likes in the 24-hour voting period.

The winner, Limerick’s St Colm’s Basketball Club, took home the grand prize after achieving 888 likes.

Elaine Carey, chief commercial officer of Three, said: “We’re committed to facilitating the connections that are integral to networks like the Ballymun Taekwondo Club so we’re delighted to be able to contribute to their continued growth. We’d like to thank all the amazing groups that entered the competition.”

Check out the winners of PowerYour Network @ Facebook.com/3Ireland.

one city, three barrytown books Roddy Doyle’s The Barrytown Trilogy has been announced as the Dublin: One City One Book Choice for 2015.

The Barrytown Trilogy brings Roddy Doyle’s three acclaimed novels

Cllr Paul Gogarty (Ind) has an ice experience ... His initial encounter with ice water – courtesy of a small glass – was soon followed by a substantial drubbing. However, nothing could dampen his enthusiasm to support the cause.

featuring the Rabbitte family (The Commitments, The Snapper and The Van) together in one volume.

The Dublin: One City One Book Festival, running since 2006, encourages everyone to read a book connected with Dublin during the month of April. The initiative is led by Dublin City Council’s Public Library Service as part of its UNESCO City of Literature.

Dublin City librarian Margaret Hayes says: “Dublin: One City One Book is about bringing Dublin’s literature to a wider audience. Dublin City Public Libraries will produce an imaginative festival programme which will animate the book through music, film and public readings.”

Roddy Doyle said: “Twenty-eight years after I started writing the novels that make up the trilogy, I’m delighted - and proud - that it will be the Dublin: One City, One Book choice for 2015.”

photo exhibition comes to Dublin The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, is coming to Dublin this month.

This is the first year the show has been brought to Ireland and is an ideal opportunity to see some of the world’s best wildlife photography displayed in the chq building at IFSC Dublin Docklands.

The exhibition will appeal to photographers, nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts and is also a great family event with a quiz for children.

This is the 49th year of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition which is organised by the Natural History Museum in London and BBC Worldwide.

The 100 award-winning photos on display, by both amateur and professional photographers chosen from 96 countries and 43,000 entries.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition runs at Dublin’s Docklands until August 31 and the cost of admittance is €6.50 for adults and €3.50 for children.

dublin gets set for fashion fest Dublin is getting absolutely fabulous this September as it gets ready for Dublin Fashion Festival 2014.

Taking place September 4 - 8 at various locations in Dublin City Centre, the event aims to put the fun and theatre back into shopping and socialising within the city.

It brings fashion and beauty retailers together

while offering a mix of special offers, live fashion events and in-store activities that are unmissable.

A number of street fashion shows will be held in Henry Street and Grafton Street.

These shows are free to the public and will provide a glimpse of the latest autumn/winter trends coming to Dublin this year.

Young designers from across Ireland will have the chance to showcase their vision for fashion, and compete for the title of Young Designer of the Year at 8pm at Dame Street on September 4.

A full list of events can be viewed at www.dff.ie.

28 August 2014 Gazette 15

Gazette

feature

ESCAPE THE MAYHEM: minister Kevin Humphreys on how he takes the air to clear the cobwebs

Quiet break from a busy schedule  keith bellew

Minister of State with special responsibility for Employment, Community and Social Support Kevin Humphreys (Lab) has a hectic schedule with numerous meetings and trips around the country to view various employment and community service schemes.

T his week Deputy Humphreys spoke to the Gazette about what he does in his free time to escape the mayhem of his political responsibilities.

He said: ”One of the great pleasures I have is walking out to the lighthouse at the South Great

Wall. It’s about an hour walk, and when you get out to the red lighthouse and look back over the city, it certainly blows all the cobwebs from the head and if you do it in the evening when dusk is settling in, you can look back and see the lights coming on in the city. I always find that a great recharger of the batteries.

“When I have less time, I like to walk along Sandymount Strand, especially since the new exercise equipment came in. I’ve started to use the exercise equipment along the beachfront to try and get myself a little bit more fit. You get a

good brisk walk and a bit of exercise in at the same time.

“I used to do a bit of running and that but time just doesn’t allow it any longer, but I find a good stiff walk great for clearing the head.

Adventurous

“The other thing which I always enjoy doing is cooking. I like a glass of wine and to cook a nice steak and potatoes.

Or sometimes I’m a bit more adventurous with a cookbook and do curries.

“I probably shouldn’t say this or I’ll end up in the divorce court, but my wife isn’t a very enthusi-

astic chef, so I find myself doing a lot of cooking!

But I enjoy it and she does the hard part. She does the washing up and I do the cooking.”

He likes to get away for two weeks a year, one week at a time, but his hectic schedule doesn’t allow for advance planning.

“I’m going on holiday next week, and it’s a bit like the CIE Mystery Tours, we have absolutely nothing planned as of yet. I have a history of coming back to work in the middle of holidays if an emergency comes up, so my wife likes to get me off the island of Ireland.”

“I like a glass of wine and to cook a nice steak and potatoes,” says Minister of State Kevin Humphreys (Lab)

Gazette

16 Gazette 28 August 2014

dublinlife

Q&A

business Major rise in days lost to industrial action  keith bellew

THERE has been a significant rise in the number of working days lost due to industrial action in the second quarter of 2014, compared with the same period last year.

These figures, which

have been compiled by the Central Statistics Office, show that there were 8,014 days lost to industrial disputes during the second quarter of 2014, compared to 3,417 for the same period last year.

T here were seven

industrial disputes in progress in the second quarter of 2014, six of which began in the second quarter and one of which carried over from the first.

These disputes involved 1,681 workers and seven firms.

T here were three disputes for the same period last year, involving 2,408 workers. The industry sector had the most instances of industrial action in the second quarter of 2014, as it accounted for 89% of total days lost.

helen guest, owner, hair quarters

Developing sharp skills to beat the recession AS OWNER of Hair Quarters Rockfield at Balally Luas station, Dundrum, Helen Guest has worked in the hairdressing industry for 32 years.

Drawing on her extensive experience and having been an awardwinning manager, Helen knows a thing or two about running a top

notch salon, leading to her venturing out on her own by opening her own salon in July.

She says that she likes nothing more than a challenge, and has assembled a dynamic team of colourists and stylists, with Hair Quarters Rockfield ready to be a cut above the competition.

How long have you been in business?

What makes your business successful?

Hair Quarters is in its infancy stage, as the doors have just opened.

However, the team have more than 70 years’ experience between them, and are looking forward to meeting our new and old clients to join us on our venture.

What is your favourite thing about working in your local area?

I love where we are situated right on the Balally Luas stop, which has amazing footfall, and also ample underground parking and easy access from all surrounding areas.

As I have worked in the area for so long, it’s great to welcome clients to my new salon. Rockfield has a great community feel about it; the retailers have made us feel very welcome, and I feel I have come home.

What makes Hair Quarters different from its competitors?

I feel that our interior design stands out from competitors, with our less conventional furnishings opting for a more bespoke style. The welcome and warm atmosphere that is offered to our clients at Hair Quarters, as well as high-end hair services with a personal touch, makes our experience stand out.

Our prices are very competitive, while keeping our services at a very high standard, as well as using top quality products. Our diverse team specialise in colour, bridal hair, hair taming systems and fashion-forward hair styling.

As our doors have only opened, we have been growing week by week, meeting old and new clients in the area. We are situated at a busy Luas line, in a great area and in a lovely community where the retailers have made us very welcome.

Our passion for hairdressing and innovation will keep us ahead of our competitors, and building good professional relationships with clients and going that extra mile, as well as having an excellent team, are the strengths to a successful business.

How has the recession impacted your business?

As I have just opened the doors, hopefully, at the tail end of the recession it’s a different [economic] climate. I have managed a business in the recession very successfully, and I feel customer service is paramount.

What is your ambition for the business?

My ambition for Hair Quality is for the salon and team to grow to become successful and an awardwinning salon. I feel the team have the drive, ambition and skills to make this happen.

Already, we are furthering our knowledge on new hair techniques and products, as education is key in this fast-moving fashionable industry. At Hair Quarters, we already have award-winning stylists and we hope to continue this with our team.

Tesco’s click and collect point at Clarehall, where shoppers can collect groceries ordered a day in advance

retail: tesco launch online ‘drive-thru’ service

Every little helps to save time shopping  laura webb

SHOPPING has never been easier, thanks to the latest service by Tesco Ireland that allows you to do your shopping no matter where you are – all you have to do is click and collect.

Recently launched in its Blanchardstown store in Roselawn, the click and collect service is basically a new “drive-thru supermarket service”.

It is aimed at those who may have limited time to shop or to wait for a delivery. The Gazette gave it a road test this week.

The first thing I would advise is to write out your shopping list; be clear what you want, as you

can find yourself trawling through everything unless you know exactly what you are looking for, so having the list helps cut browsing time.

Then, head to www. tesco.ie/clickandcollect, where you will be asked which of the eight Tesco stores you want to collect your groceries from.

You then choose a twohour collection window to pick up your shopping from the drive-thru collection point.

It should be noted that you must order at least one day before your collection time slot. Then, you can get started shopping online.

One nifty thing about this service is that you

know how much you are spending, so if you are going over your budget, you can quickly remove the item before checking out. Proceed to payment and voila, your groceries have been ordered.

Customers receive a confirmation email with a reminder of their collection time slot. About a half hour before collecting the groceries, the customer also gets a phone call from a Tesco staff member to remind you to bring bags, as bags are not provided.

A Tesco truck, which has a freezer, fridge and cupboard features in it, waits at the collection point – in this case, the car park of the Blanchard-

stown store. It is here that you collect your groceries.

According to the Tesco staff member working the service in Blanchardstown on the day of collection, the service is growing every day and has become a life-saver for many parents who find supermarket shopping a struggle with youngsters, or for the busy worker who just hops off the train with their bags to collect a few bits and pieces.

This service definitely gets the thumbs up for ease and efficency.

This service is available in Naas, Newbridge, Maynooth, Bray, Greystones, Wilton, Clarehall and now Blanchardstown.

28 August 2014 Gazette 17

cinema P21

asdfsdaf P27 health P23

OUT&ABOUT Never be out of the loop on what’s happening in Dublin! Let Out&About be your guide to all that is stylish, cultural and essential across the city and beyond this week



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Pets

clever jill is learning new skills in irish

En garde ... Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys joined dashing blades Mike Prendergast and Frank O’Gorman, from The Society for Creative Anachronism, at St Patrick’s Cathedral to officially launch the upcoming Culture Night 2014, which promises to be another smash hit. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

culture night: hugely-popular annual event is almost upon us

The city’s greatest night

 ian begley

DUBLIN will be buzzing with events and live performances as the nation’s most popular cultural extravaganza returns for another year – Culture Night.

The ninth annual Culture Night begins on Friday, September 19, and will feature a diverse mix of free events with something to suit every age and interest, from live music to interactive tours in more than 900 venues participating around the country, with each county showcasing the very best of its cultural talents and creativity.

Dublin will boast more than 40 new participating venues for Culture Night.

The night includes guided tours of the official residence of the President of Ireland, Aras an Uachtarain, as well as tours

and talks in Ireland’s largest urban farm and food experience, Airfield Dundrum, while also featuring the largest outdoor programme for the capital, to date.

As a special attraction, visitors will be able to discover a half-hidden aspect of Georgian Dublin. Merrion Square will come alive for the night with “Downstairs Dublin” – an event that is lighting up the outside of basements with a series of talks, installations, projections, music and pop-up events.

Over at The Complex in Smithfield Square, an exciting night of drive-in movies is planned with The Mission, and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? on the big screen.

Commenting on this year’s programme for Culture Night, the Minister for Arts, Heather Humphreys, said:

“Culture Night is a superb opportunity for Ireland to showcase the very best of its cultural offering, and it’s a fantastic chance for members of the public to enjoy unique performances and catch a glimpse inside some of our most beautiful buildings and cultural institutions.

“Culture Night has grown year on year, thanks to the huge commitment from local authorities, cultural organisations and participants throughout the country, and I fully expect this year to be bigger and better than ever before,” she said.

Other events throughout the night include a special performance from the RTE Concert Orchestra in Meeting House Square. Beginning with a performance by the children’s choir, RTE Cor na nOg, in St Stephen’s Green, a

Hansel and Gretel music trail can then be followed down Grafton Street and over to Meeting House Square, arriving just in time for Arena, RTE Radio’s flagship culture programme.

Meanwhile, Dublin Bus is getting on board by providing free bus routes across the city so that people can get to and from a number of different cultural venues. Dublin Bus will also schedule a bespoke programme of performances on their buses, including music and spoken word.

Irish Rail and DART will be offering 100 free family passes for travel on Culture Night, as well as some exciting musical performances aboard select routes.

The full national programme for Culture Night is available at www.culturenight.ie.

The Gazette Newspaper Group has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs. This week’s feature dog is Jill, a six-year-old female German shepherd.

This gorgeous dog likes to be the centre of attention, and loves taking trips in the car, cuddles and TLC. As a result of negative training in her past, Jill does not respond well to basic training cues, so her canine carer Donna is teaching her Irish!

Jill is picking up her new language very well, and already knows “suigh sios” (sit), and “leaba” (bed) – what a clever dog! She would love her new owner to continue on with positive reinforcement training, to help her develop all of her potential.

If you think that sounds like you, of for further infotmation about Jill, or calling to the Dogs Trust centre, please call 01 879 1000 and speak to the Rehoming Team. You can also follow the work of Dogs Trust on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustireland, or on Twitter, @dogstrust_ie

OUT&ABOUT

shou Ireland One

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Debutante Be a stunning

 laura webb

THE Leaving Cert results are out and, with college places filling up fast, that can mean only one thing: the Debutante Ball is just

around the corner.

It’s the night most schoolgoers dream of, and for many teens out there, it’s the night they look to shine on, hoping to look their polished best as

they say goodbye to school days.

This week, Gazette Style looks at some dresses that are bound to transform the school leaver into the belle of the ball.

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RESEARCH by Clean & Clear shows teens are looking for a spotbusting solution that is strong enough to tackle the problem of spots, but gentle enough for sensitive skin.

The face wash gurus have come up with a solution, thanks to its new Clean & Clear advantage range, which includes a daily scrub and a daily foam wash.

This range combines tough salicylic acid (which works to get rid of dead cells found inside clogged pores, helping them to open and keep clean). and aloe vera, making it an ideal formula to fight spots while soothing to give a clean and healthy-looking complexion.

The Clean & Soothe facial wash and daily scrub cost €6.49 each.

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STYLE

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Gazette

18 Gazette 28 August 2014

River Island Floral gemstone clutch bag €47

Debenhams Diamante loop sandals €39

28 August 2014 Gazette 19

mayo: you’ll see food you can’t resist

Wonderful Westport  mimi murray

WESTPORT is Ireland’s capital for stag and hen parties – or so it seems, as the town is sometimes heaving with young men and women, out for a last hurrah before they take the plunge.

Still, there is plenty of space for people who truly want to experience the charm of Westport and all it has to offer.

Whilst on a recent weekend visit, we stayed at the Westport Coast Hotel, which was a great base. Set just outside the town, its location makes it a slightly quieter option than the more centrally located hotels.

Escape from the new term to Mauritius AS THE new school year begins, Mauritius offers the ultimate halfterm break.

There is an abundance of excellent seasonal offers available.

As just one example, The Residence Mauritius is offering guests a seven-night stay on a half-board basis, from £6,765 (€8,500) per family of four.

The offer includes international flights with Emirates from London (departing between October 25 to November 1), with full details available at www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk.

For further information on Mauritius, see www.tourism-mauritius.mu.

Majestic Mauritius

The hotel overlooks Clew Bay and sits in the shadow of Croagh Patrick. Westport House is right next to it as well, so it really is a good spot with kids. The hotel also has a pool and smaller toddlers’ pool, which we took full advantage with our two-year-old.

Staff in the hotel are great, proving really accommodating and child-friendly. The hotel restaurant had a couple of hen parties dining there when we ate there, and I can’t lie – they were a little bit raucous, but very well behaved.

This suited us, as it drowned out the noise of our son banging away

at plates and shouting for nom-noms!

The food in the Westport Coast is very good, with a nice emphasis on seafood; not surprising, being right next to the Atlantic.

The prawns were from Dublin Bay, however, and were spectacular. Seabass on a ratatouille bed was also nicely cooked.

Their stand-out dish though is the crab claws (only available in the bar), cooked in garlic butter. These were the fat, succulent variety, and we couldn’t resist having them on both days for lunch.

The hotel also has a small spa, offering

Ayurvedic treatments, and I indulged in a heavenly facial, finished off with an Indian head massage.

If staying in Westport, I highly recommend a cycle along the Wild Atlantic Way, which runs from Westport to Achill.

We chose the section that sounded the most scenic, from Mulranny to Achill.

With our boy in the toddler trailer, my heart soared listening to his squeals of delight as we took off, down a beaten track, and peddling like crazy, eager to keep up the excitement for him!

With the sun on our backs and the wind in our hair, we thought: “Does life get any better?”

Gazette

TRAVEL fast

TRAVEL Fine art Form at Ballymaloe

The Westport Coast Hotel is a comfortable spot with great seafood, as well as being an ideal base to explore the region’s attractions, including The Atlantic Way

Although it is a long enough drive from Dublin, it’s well worth it once you get there, and the kids will adore all that Westport has to offer.

So, a few wails of “Are we there yet?” is a small price to pay.

For further information, see www.westportcoasthotel.ie.

THE Form exhibition on the grounds of Ballymaloe Farm is the sleeper hit of the summer, with 80 pieces of sculpture sited on the grounds.

Works in stone, bronze and mild steel are revealed as you come up the leafy drive; organic and geometric forms alike harmonising with the living backdrop of trees, fields and flowers.

For further information on the diverse works by 24 Irish, British, German and Dutch artists., see www.artisticalliance.eu.

Gazette

20 Gazette 28 August 2014

OUT&ABOUT

BITESIZEDNEWS FortyOne claims top titles at food awards

RESTAURANT FortyOne (right) has been crowned Best Restaurant in Dublin, while Graham Neville was awarded Best Chef in Dublin and the overall Best Chef of the Year at the recent Food & Wine Magazine Restaurant of the Year awards.

The awards, held in Dublin’s Four Seasons Hotel, are considered one of the most prestigious awards in the Irish hospitality calendar. Diners across the country nominated their favourite restaurants and chefs, with the top entries going forward to be considered by a national culinary panel of judges comprising industry experts and national food critics.

All of the regional and national winners were announced at the awards ceremony, with awards presented for Best Sommelier, Best Service, Best World Cuisine and Best Wine Experience, along with the Best Chef and Best Restaurant categories.

Miriam Atkins, editor of Food & Wine Magazine, said: “This year, we are very excited to recognise emerging chefs and restaurateurs who have been striving for excellence over the past year and are now getting the accolades they deserve.”

Restaurant FortyOne on St Stephen’s Green won Best Restaurant in Dublin at last year’s event, with chef Graham Neville also winning last year’s Best Chef in Dublin award. However, winning overall Best Chef of the Year is a fantastic achievement for the chef.

Neville said: “Winning ‘Best Restaurant in Dublin’ is great for all the team at Restaurant FortyOne as it is the hard work and dedication of every single staff member that goes to make our restaurant a success, and I’m so pleased the whole team is recognised.”

FOOD&DRINK

review: a fine indian restaurant in dublin 2

Spice up your night

 mimi murray

SPICE of India on South William Street is tucked in among several restaurants and pubs. I have walked by it on many occasions but hadn’t ventured in. Offering standard Indian fare, this place is one that will keep you coming back time and again.

If you want your indian food to be tasty, and consistently good then look no further.

On a Friday night, it was busy when we got there at 8.30pm but by 10pm was completely empty. So an after-work crowd obviously makes up the bulk of their regular diners and I’m sure they do a good trade after the pubs close too, staying open till midnight.

The interior is quite sparsely decorated but the food more than makes up for this.

A taster of mint, mango chutney and tomato and onion condiments with

Foodies can enjoy the red carpet treatment at Spice of India which marries taste with delicious food

poppadum is a regular on most Indian restaurant menus now but these were very good, fresh and tangy.

A seikh kebab, made with very tender succulent spiced lamb and a chilli prawn dish for starters more than hit the spot.

We decided on tried and tested curries, a

lamb chilli masala for h i m a n d a c h i c ke n tikka masala for me.

These were accompanied with garlic and coriander naan and pilau rice. Both curries had hearty chunks of meat. The lamb chilli masala had a delicious kick to it and some raita, although tasty, was not really needed

and almost killed off the dish’s flavours. The tikka masala had plenty of cream and butter and lots of tomato flavours coming through.

A bottle of Wakefield Riesling was a perfect accompaniment to a curry. Going for a curry is going for a curry my husband said, so desserts were by-passed,

but Spice of India maintain they are one of the only restaurants to make their indian desserts from scratch. So they might be worth a look next time.

SPICE Of INDIA Indian restaurant and take-away 6 South William St, D2 Ph: 016776873

28 August 2014 Gazette 21

Gazette

CINEMA

ReelReviews

into the storm

You could give it a whirl AS IF this summer wasn’t bad enough, here comes some more awful weather – this time, courtesy of an unlikely storm that trashes a small American town. Full of blowhard characters and occasionally wishy-washy dialogue, it’s a passable film that won’t quite blow you away, but is substantially less entertaining than the TV film, Sharknado 2 (featuring sharks inside – well, you can work it out).

Although she begins the film as a bit of an airhead living overseas in Taipei, it isn’t long before Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) is much more dangerous than any mere human, thanks to the impact of experimental drugs – implanted into her as an unwilling drugs mule – leaking into her body, with unforseen consequences ...

lucy: Scarlett adds another diamond role to her action Repertoire

Fun brain-bending silliness IF THERE was an award granted for the most emotionless, yet stylish killer on screen, then Scarlett Johansson would be running high in contention this year.

Following on from her role as the assassin Black Widow in the Marvel franchise films, and more recently as the ice-cold alien protagonist in Under The Skin, Luc Besson’s Lucy is the current high point of Johannson’s detached, homicidal trend.

Based around the idea that human beings only use around 10% of our brain’s capacity, Lucy is a fast-paced, gun-laden exploration of what would happen if we could unlock more.

A trailer touting the 10% line caused some

 Dave phillips

mild ruff ling when released earlier in the year for perpetuating what is essentially an urban legend about how our brains work, but Besson makes it clear within the opening minutes that Lucy takes place in the world of science fiction, not fact.

We meet Lucy as an exchange student in Taiwan, where she unwittingly falls in with the wrong crowd – cue Choi Min-Sik (of Oldboy fame) as Mr Jang, the diabolical leader of

a Korean drug gang who forces Lucy to become a drugs mule.

However, the bag of the new narcotic she is smuggling within her body bursts and triggers increasingly potent superpowers as she tries to figure out the purpose of the universe, while taking out hordes of dapper gangsters in a globe-trotting trip that is punctuated by routine communication from Morgan Freeman as a sage professor who offers the only hope of understanding what will happen to her.

The fact that Lucy rarely pauses to clarify or justify its own logic means it barrels along at a relentless pace – a journey from imprisonment to omnipotence in

less than 90 minutes is a mean feat by any standards.

Besson’s quirkier side is on full display here too, with continued juxtaposition of stock footage that cuts into the action, playing on universal themes of suffering and death.

As Lucy is waiting to meet with Mr Jang for the first time, we cut to a furtive glance of a gazelle, then we momentarily glimpse the smooth stalk of a cheetah as Jang approaches.

Alongside the stock footage, we get some far-out cos-

mic visuals – lending a slight Koyaanisqatsi (1983, directed by Godfrey Reggio) feel to the proceedings.

Lucy is a fantastically odd kind of film that doesn’t take itself seriously, and manages to be thought-provoking.That Besson sidesteps the gravity that can be associated with this type of thoughtexperiment narrative will

divide audiences.

You’ll have people whose experience will be scuppered by the logical loopholes inherent in Lucy; but you’ll also have people who value the act of walking impassively away from an explosion above all other life experiences.

It is the latter group that will get the most from this, as once you wrap your head around the comic book-style world that Lucy operates in, it is a whole lot of fun – watch it with your brain set at around 1%.

Verdict: 8/10 Johansson’s occasionally vamp-like stylings in recent films once again come to the fore, as Lucy changes her appearance

dawn of apes

Lots of monkeying about DAWN of the Planet of the Apes is still building on the success of its predecessor, as leading chimp Caesar (once again memorably mo-capped by the ubiquitous Andy Serkis) attempts to lead intelligent apes to peaceful co-existence in a decimated world where humanity is but a banana skin away from extinction. However, ape-man relations don’t exactly go swingingly ...

the nut job

300’s unwanted sequel SQUIRRELS must learn to work together with other park animals to pull off the ultimate heist – a plot that’s mirrored by the bumbling human crooks in this family film, which sees the animal and human world echo each other in a bid to purloin some very different treasures ... Able voiceover work by the likes of Liam Neeson and Katherine Heigl make it worth branching out to – just.

Gazette

22 Gazette 28 August 2014

OUT&ABOUT

Theatre

Win tickets to see The Borstal Boy LOVE/HATE actor Peter Coonan is to headline as Brendan Behan in the Gaiety Theatre’s upcoming production of the hilarious Borstal Boy. The critically acclaimed marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Brendan Behan and tells the story of the legendary Irish author.

The play will run from September 11 and tickets from €24.50 are now on sale from Ticketmaster and The Gaiety Theatre box office.

The Gazette is offering readers the chance to win tickets to see Borstal Boy. All you have to do is visit our Facebook page for full details on how you could win.

ARTS

theatre: the abbey presents a dark comedy, set in heartbreak house

Three hours of a family’s shenanigans

 Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

AUDIENCES are being afforded a unique insight into the decline of the English upper classes in the years immediately before World War 1, thanks to The Abbey Theatre’s current production of George Bernard Shaw’s dark comedy, Heartbreak House.

The play lasts around three hours, and it is a testament not only to Shaw’s witty dialogue but also to the stellar cast’s strong performances that those hours seem to fly in.

The piece is very much an ensemble, with actors such as Nick Dunning, Kathy Kiera Clarke and Don Wycherley presenting a solid and committed

front in their depiction of an eccentric, spoiled family divorced from the horrors of a war raging around them, too concerned are they with their own petty problems.

T he audience was entranced from the off as they were introduced to a family whose father, Captain Shotover, steered the ship most cavalierly through the several dilemmas confronting them.

As Shotover, Mark Lambert is – like all the cast – superbly cast as the brusque and often shocking patriarch who spends the play going in and out of doors making outrageous pronouncements without a care for the feelings of others.

Shotover has not seen his youngest daughterAriadne (Aislin McGuckin) for 23 years, and does not recognise her when she shows up at the house as one of a group of people visiting for the weekend.

When Ariadne tries to insist that she is indeed his daughter, Shotover tells her: “You cannot be Ariadne – you’re a middle-aged woman!”

Lambert plays the blustering privileged father with comic aplomb and has the audience laughing in the aisles at his unapologetic relationship with what he calls

Marcus Lamb and Aislin McGuckin in character as Randall Utterword and Lady Ariadne Utterword in the Abbey Theatre’s new production of Heartbreak House,

by George Bernard Shaw. Pictures: Ros Kavanagh

his “wretched children”.

The other daughter, Hesione Hushabye, is married to a beautiful peacock in the form of Nick Dunning’s Hector Hushabye, who swans about the stage charming and seducing any woman he encounters.

Hesione, rather than becoming jealous, is quite at home with Hector’s philandering and also indulges in various flirtations to kill the boredom of married life.

Crossfire This alliance seems to suit the couple well, although others, however briefly, get caught in the crossfire of their romantic game-playing.

The most impressive cast members are the three female protagonists, Ariadne, Hesione and a family friend, the young and innocent Ellie Dunn

who is due to marry a business associate of her father’s (Mangan, played

by Don Wycherley).

Wycherley does not disappoint as the bloated capitalist, whose bulging belly and hunched stance make the character as unlikeable as he should be.

However, Wycherley is very funny in the role and as he is exposed, and as it becomes more and more evident that he is out of his depth, he wins the audience’s sympathy.

Ellie (Lisa Dw yer Hogg) is transformed over the course of the play, and although it seems impossible that such an utter transformation of character could happen in so short a time, the audience is more than willing to suspend all disbelief, thanks to Hogg’s performance.

The imposed limita-

tions of womanhood in the early part of the 20th century are fronted by the three female characters on stage, who are manipulating everything and every man around them.

The actresses in Heartbreak House at times work together for their common goals.

Continuing the theme of strong women pulling the strings from behind the scenes, this new production of Heartbreak House is also directed by a woman, Roisin McBrinn, who makes her directorial debut at The Abbey.

Hear tbreak House continues its run at The Abbey until September 13, and tickets ranging from €13 to €45 are available from the box office at www.abbeytheatre.ie, or by calling 01 878 7222.

28 August 2014 gazette 23

interview: the ethos of body by vi products

A new challenge to support weight loss  suzanne sheehy

Gazette Group advertising production manager, and award-winning athlete

WITH health and fitness as my background, I see many products coming onto the market that claim to be the solution to all your problems when it comes to losing weight and getting in shape.

The faster the weight loss, the more appealing it becomes – but are these products safe and effective?

The latest one which has now been launched in Ireland is, “The Body

By Vi Challenge”, created by Visalus Sciences.

Ryan Blair is the cofounder and chief executive of ViSalus Sciences and, although he was once an LA gang member, Blair is now a multimillionaire entrepreneur and author.

Talking with Blair, he told me what sets Body

By Vi apart from all the other weight loss products and what makes it work.

He said: “Body By Vi started in 2010, and now we take to market what’s called ‘The Project 10

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

‘The Project 10 Challenge really focuses on the person’s first 10lbs, which is what our primary market message is’ --------------------------

Ryan Blair, Body By Vi

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

Challenge’.

“So, we have a Body

By Vi 90-day challenge, which is setting goals and achieving them over 90 days using our products to support people in their goals.

“The Project 10 Challenge really focuses on the person’s first 10lbs, which is what our primary market message is,” he said.

T here are various challenge kits to fit every goal, such as the Transformation kit, Shape kit and Balance kit.

It is clear that Blair is passionate about Body

By Vi, and he relates to the consumer in their quest to be healthier and fitter.

He said: “I was con-

stantly struggling with my weight, and when we first started, we didn’t have any weight loss products. “ My c o - f o u n d e r s wanted to create products that I would take as a consumer, and [we] created a challenge that would hold me accountable and that was sociable, and I would tell my friends about it.”

Blair himself has completed nine Body By Vi 90-day challenges – a testament to his belief in the product.

He focuses on one impor tant fact: “We don’t see ourselves as a diet – we see ourselves as a lifestyle change.”

Rather than skip breakfast, which is considered the most impor-

tant meal of the day, Blair appreciates that consumers don’t have the time in their busy schedule, and believes that Body By Vi is the answer.

“It’s very difficult to get a healthy, nutritious breakfast, and to spend the time procuring that for your family takes knowledge, education and planning.

“In this day and age, people don’t have this type of time – that’s why fast food does so well. We’re [Body By Vi] healthy fast food.”

I asked Blair for one of his favourite quotes, as he posts quotes on a regular basis and it is no surprise that he came back with this: “Challenge your limits – don’t limit your challenges.”

PRICES start at €59 for the Body by Vi Balance Kit (which includes enough for 30 shakes and also includes samples of the Shape-Up Mix-Ins).

Prices then rise to €299 for the full Transformation Kit (right), which includes two shakes a day to shape your body (60 meals), two boxes of NutraCookies (chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin), samples of Shape-Up Flavour Mix-Ins, 30 sachets of Vi Trim, 30 tablets of Vi Metab-Awake, and 60 capsules of Vi Omega Essentials.

For further information,see www.ie.vi.com, or free-call 00800 3639 2984.

‘How the plan helped me drop 14 lbs’ DUBLIN woman Evelyn Mullen is happy to endorse the Body by Vi Challenge – by following the programme, she lost 14 lbs and 19 inches on her first 90-day challenge.

She says: “I will never forget my excitement.

My health improved and my energy levels soared.

I felt great!”

On Body by Vi’s

unique approach, she says: “No one wants a diet that you have to fit your life around.

“T he shakes were easy, taste great, and they slotted easily into my hectic life.

“Plus, the company stresses the importance of eating a healthy meal a day so I never felt I was going without or craving foods.”

Evelyn went from a size 18 (left) to a size 12, with an overall loss of more than 19 inches

Ryan Blair, chief executive, Body By Vi

Gazette

HEALTH

GAZETTE

24 GAZETTE 28 August 2014

OUT&ABOUT

FESTIVALwatch Prepare for an out of this world Spirit of Folk fest SPIRITS were high in Whelan’s of Wexford Street last Saturday night for the launch of the Spirit of Folk festival, which is set to illuminate Dunderry in Co Meath in September.

The launch night, themed around inspirational astronomer Carl Sagan’s quote: “We are made of star stuff”, gave people a taste of what the full weekend festival has in store next month, with talks on the cosmos and creativity, as well as poetry readings, and some out-of-this-world music.

Intimate sets were played by Sligo native Stephen James; Dublin-based electro-folk duo, Carriages; Limerick’s Leading Armies; and the night was closed off with an appropriately stellar set by Kildare-based musicians Bunoscionn, who performed a trad version of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.

The launch party raised more than €1,500 for the Red Cross Gaza Appeal, while also highlighting some of the talent that will appear as the festival next month.

On top of the stargazing, spoken word, and music, the fourth year of Spirit of Folk promises interactive archaeology exhibitions, storytelling, shadow puppet shows – and Vikings.

The festival takes place in the wooded groves of Dunderry Park, Co Meath, and is set to run from September 19 to 21. Tickets cost from €35.

For further information and the full line-up, see www.spiritoffolk.com.

The stars above have partly inspired Spirit of Folk

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or email news@gazettegroup.com

COMEDY

ANNIVERSARY: A NIGHT OF SPECIAL GUEST AND MANY, MANY LAUGHS

Ha’penny a hotbed of comedic entertainment  ROB HEIGH rheigh@dublingazette.com

IN THESE days of false economies, the one thing that still holds currency is comedy, and the art of laughter is a constant element of Dublin nightlife, with clubs entertaining hundreds of people every week with all its different forms on display on any given night.

Among those clubs is The Ha’penny Inn – a hotbed of comedy since the mid-1990s, and their improvisational comedy troupe has been a proving ground for some of the most acclaimed comedy performers to come out of the capital in recent years, including Eleanor Tiernan, Neil Delamere, Danny Kehoe and Emmet Quinn.

The Ha’penny is this week celebrating the 19th anniversary of its improv comedy troupe with a special night on August 28 that will feature some of its famous alumni returning to their original stomping ground to celebrate almost two decades of tight-rope spontaneity and hilarity.

Inspired by an encounter with Second City, the world-renowned improv club from Chicago (which produced talents such as Bill Murray, Mike Myers and Tina Fey), the original company first hit the stage back in 1995, with Brian McMahon, Tony Ferns, Colman Higgins, Grainne McEntee and Richard Moloney form-

Mark Hanratty and Conor Doyle in a comic moment at The Ha’penny Inn (inset)

ing the core group in its early years.

When Brian went on to focus on stand-up comedy, his brother Ciaran came into the troupe, and he says that his involvement in comedy has been a literally life-changing experience, and one that he recommends getting involved in for anyone who even has a slight interest in the craft.

He said: “I still think comedy is one of the best things I’ve ever done.

Improv is a gateway drug to mainstream insanity, and it’s an addiction I can’t shake!

“It has completely changed my life, sent me in different directions and [has been the cause

of my] doing things I would never have thought I would have done at all.

The skills I’ve learned are transferrable to any kind of public speaking and communications environment anywhere in any career.”

Future As for the future of the Ha’penny Improv troupe, Ciaran said that he would be delighted to see a new breed of comedians coming through the ranks and taking to the stage.

He said: “I would like to see another incarnation coming through.

It’s almost like a football team, building the perfect team. We have all been the captain, and it’s

time for a new team to come out of the dressing room.”

The 19th anniversary event will be a special one, and Ciaran discussed what people can expect from the night.

He said: “It’s going to be a lot like the old days – we will be doing a full two-hour show, with three halves, which is only possible in an Irish pub.

“It begins at 9.30pm and runs to 11.30pm.

You’ll see people who haven’t been on the stage for a while, and some who are still hopping and bouncing around, and there’ll be a great crosssection of some of the craziest people you’ll see on a stage.

“There are some special guests we are waiting for confirmation from, but they will be there. I’m really looking forward to it – I would expect there to be stories made and hearts broken!”

For further information on the anniversary event and other comedy events at the Ha’penny Bridge Inn, including the iconic open mic night – Battle Of The Axe – see www. battleoftheaxe.com.

For a longer discussion of the history of the Ha’penny and improv in Dublin with Ciaran McMahon, Colman Higgins and Danny Kehoe, check out the latest podcast from theaapnetwork. libsyn.com.

28 August 2014 GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

MOTORING road

NOISE

Selfies while driving?

A dangerous distraction!

SsangYong have introduced an upgraded option on their already popular crossover SUV, the Korando

SSANGYONG: PLENTY OF ROOM FOR FAMILY AND STUFF IN STYLISH SUV

Korando crossover gets upgrade option  CORMAC CURTIS

KOREAN car brand SsangYong have only been in this market for 18 months, yet they are treating their new customers to an upgraded option on their already popular crossover SUV, the Korando.

The SUV segment – compact, crossover or otherwise – is a popular one in this country, and any model that has more room than a saloon and retains a good-looking exterior is certain to pick up a few extra customers.

Gone are the days when all the family’s worldly possessions were stuffed into the boot of a big estate car to go on

holiday once a year; leaving the kids to roam free during the rest of their summer holidays. Nowadays there seems to be no end of supervised activities and camps to keep them entertained – all of which requires no end of stuff to go with them – not to mention the obligatory car seat for every child.

As a father of two such school-going children, and a fan of a few outdoor pursuits myself, testing a car that offers plenty of space is always a bonus.

To be fair, I couldn’t quite test the family dynamic of the Korando passenger option as I tested the commercial model instead; but let

me say it acquitted itself exceptionally well during a long weekend of windsurfing last month – with the kids safely strapped into the support vehicle.

If there is one thing that can make a five-hour journey feel like a 10-hour journey, it’s the sound of something tied to the roof vibrating – and the various parts of a windsurfing rig have a habit of making the most violent of vibration sounds.

But for me, on this weekend at least, that wasn’t going to be a problem – everything but the board fitted neatly into the back of the Korando – with bags of room to spare.

The car is still powered by the same 2.0-litre

engine as the last incarnation, and it is more than up to the job. It is however, a smoother ride.

The company are very proud of this new, more comfortable drive in the new Korando, and rightly so. They have significantly improved what they call the NVH – noise, vibration and harshness – levels that effect the cabin.

And even the commercial version was a pleasure to drive for upwards of five hours at a time.

This car was already easy on the eye, and the upgraded looks add to it in a big way. It’s sportier and far more streamlined than its predecessor.

Its looks benefit from the new mesh radiator grille and an eye-catch-

ing lower level air intake.

The headlights are now a combination of projection lamps and LED daytime running lights. The black and aluminium surrounds give the front end a nice lift.

The rear lights also now feature LED lights for improved visibility and style.

Every new brand of car faces a tough audience with Irish motorists, as we tend to be a fiercely loyal bunch. But the SsangYong range is well worth checking out, with the Korando being a great place to start, and with prices starting at €25,995, they have a competitive edge against some of the more established brands.

ACCORDING to the survey, British drivers are the most likely to snap a “selfie” on the move (33%, ahead of their counterparts in Germany (28%), France (28%), Romania (27%), Italy (26%), Spain (18%), and Belgium (17%).

Germans drivers are the most likely to use social media apps or websites (35%) ahead of those from the UK (32%), Belgium (26%), Romania (25%), France (23%), Italy (21%), and Spain (8%).

Ford has found that snapping a “selfie” at the wheel can distract a driver for 14 seconds, and checking social media channels can distract for 20 seconds – long enough for a car travelling at 100 km/h (62 mph) to cover the length of five football pitches.

According to research carried out in North America by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), adjusting hair using a rear-view mirror can distract for four seconds, anddialling a hand-held phone can distract for seven seconds.

Ford Driving Skills for Life was launched in the US 10 years ago and has provided hands-on training to more than 100,000 young drivers around the world.

Classic car buffs gear up for Goodwood Revival THIS year’s Goodwood Revival, which takes place September 12-14, promises to attract a bumper attendance of classic car enthusiasts with a programme that includes extensive displays of classic cars and motorbikes and a series of classic car races.

Among the commercial exhibits will be an authentic 1950s-period style tyre fitting centre hosted by Michelin in which a pristine early-1950s Bristol 401 will be displayed.

Highlighting their contribution to motoring heritage, visitors can trip down memory lane and view some of Michelin’s heritage products, including reproduction maps of World War II battlefields. Expert demonstrations and advice on classic tyre fitting techniques (pictured below) will also be provided.

A classic tyre fitting demonstration

26 GAZETTE 28 August 2014

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28 August 2014 Gazette 27

paul flynn P29

asdfsdaf gaelic games P27 P31

dublinsport Let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your community



Gazette

sports awards P28

FastSport fai salute for barber: THE

The Irish T20 senior women’s side celebrate their victory in the ICC Europe T20 championship in Rugby following a set of impressive wins

cricket: youth and women’s national team progress signals ireland’s future

Test status the target for Ireland after Euro success IRELAND’S domination of European cricket has seen recent tournament victories for the women and Under15 boys, which followed wins for both the Under-17 and -19 boys in the ICC Europe Challenge Series. In addition, the Under-17 girls beat Scotland in a three-game T20 competition earlier this summer.

Cricket Ireland performance director Richard Holdsworth, as a former ICC European regional manager, knows the importance of success at these tournaments if Ireland is to achieve its quest for Test status by 2020.

“In the first instance, I’m enormously proud of all the players and coaches for this terrific achievement.

There has been a tremendous amount

of planning and hard work behind the scenes in preparing all of our players for this year’s European Championships at youth level and the women’s seniors.

“It’s enormously gratifying to see our pathway programme improving through better support services for the athletes, more and better coaching and training opportunities, while more fixtures have led to some excellent performances by these players.

However, Holdsworth was clear to stress that no one should rest on their laurels and that the real work was just beginning. “Under our national academy, we have supported players in our system better than ever before, and our youth programmes have been improved tremendously with some

outstanding coaching.

“It is always good to benchmark ourselves alongside our European colleagues, but we must continue to challenge our players and ensure they are ready to compete on the world stage and be even better. We start preparations for an Under-19 World Cup campaign this winter and that will be a key focus for many of our top young players over the next 18 months.”

Ireland’s most recent success came at the weekend with six wins out of six for Ireland Women as they dominated the ICC Europe T20 Championships.

During their emphatic 117 run win against traditional rivals Scotland last week, Merrion’s Cecelia Joyce became the second Irish woman to score an international T20 century, and was

clearly delighted at passing the personal landmark.

“It was my first century for Ireland, so a very special day and I couldn’t be happier than to do it with Trent [Johnston] still here. I think he will have seen during this competition more than ever before how much we have moved on under him as coach.”

Johnston was quick to pay tribute to his squad who dominated the tournament. “I can’t praise the squad and management enough. We played fantastic cricket for the week and to finish with Cecelia Joyce getting a century, sharing that 160 stand with Kate McKenna was truly outstanding. This tournament has been great preparation for the South Africa series next month.”

Football Association of Ireland paid tribute to former international footballer Eric Barber who passed away last week. The Dubliner, aged 72, won two caps against Spain and Belgium in 1965.

Barber was best known for his career in the League of Ireland with Shelbourne FC where he was a prolific goal-scorer and indeed is the club’s record scorer with 126 league goals.

He had three spells with the Reds from 1958 to 1966, 1971–75 and 1978–80. He also managed Shels during the 1979–80 season.

He was part of Shels FAI Youth Cupwinning side in 1959 and also starred in the League of Ireland championship winning team of 1962, and the FAI Cup in 1960 and 1963, beating Cork Hibernians 2–0 in both games.

c o n ta c t s Sports Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@dublingazette.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@dublingazette.com Phone: 01 651 6230

Gazette

28 Gazette 28 August 2014

SPORT

DublinGazetteNewspapers 2014 dublin sports awards august nominees

WITH summer now officially over (except for that week of insane heat and sunshine coming in September), we can settle back and enjoy the start of the new seasons for some sports and the coming to an end of other campaigns.

And it’s with that transition in mind that we present this month’s Dublin Sports Awards nominees. It seems as though we’ve only just announced last month’s winners, but here we are, back again with another set of diverse and deserving participants who have shone in their respective disciplines and are worthy of a salute for their efforts.

As always, we’re delighted to hear your stories of sporting achievement, so contact us with your news at sport@dublingazette.com and we’ll tell the rest of Dublin!

H STARof the MONTH

fiona coghlan

james scully

rowan lester

FIONA Coghlan retired from international rugby in an emotional fashion this month following Ireland’s 25-18 loss to Women’s World Cup hosts France. The skipper is stepping down after a sparkling 11-year career in green.

NAC swimmer James Scully brought home a brace of bronze medals this month when he shone in the pool at the Paralympic Swimming European Championships in Eindhoven, coming in third place in the 200m freestyle final and the 100m freetsyle event.

HERMITAGE Golf Club’s Rowan Lester joined rarefied company last week as he reached the final of the British Boys Amateur final at Prestwick. In so doing, he became just the second Leinster golfer to reach the final of the event in its 93-year history.

raheny united

dsdac women’s team

peamount united u-14s

RAHENY United’s senior women’s soccer side made it through to the last 32 of the UEFA Women’s Champions League last week, having topped their qualifying group in Romania, finishing off their international mission with a 2-1 win over Malta’s Hibernians.

DUNDRUM South Dublin AC’s women’s track and field team once again reigned supreme in Tullamore this month when they won the GloHealth National League final, qualifying for the European club championships for the fourth year in a row in the process.

Peamount United’s Under-14 girls won the FAI Cup title this month when they defeated reigning holders Shelbourne at Frank Cooke Park after a determined performance protecting their lead and deserving their honours.

TEAMof the MONTH H

Transplant heroes return to Dublin with medal haul  sport@gazettegroup.com

Transplant Team Ireland return to Dublin Airport

TIRED yet victorious, 34 inspirational athletes returned home from Poland last weekend after their outstanding performance at the 8th European Transplant and Dialysis Sports Championships in Krakow.

With an impressive medals tally of 18 gold, 18 silver and 31 bronze medals, Transplant Team Ireland was ranked in the top three on the medals table, just behind Hungary which took first place and the host country Poland in second.

The team featured Dubliners Ron Grainger (Castleknock), Harry Ward (Baldoyle), Paul Prendergast (Santry), Chikoyo White (Balbriggan), Peter Heffernan (Skerries), James Reynolds (Tallaght), Michael Dwyer (Cabinteely) and Deirdre Faul (Dalkey).

They received a rapturous welcome home at Dublin airport from family and supporters festooned with flags and banners.

Transplant Team Ireland manager Colin White, newly elected secretary of the Presidential Committee of the European

Transplant and Dialysis Sports Federation, said: “It’s fantastic to be placed in the top three on the medals table out of 24 countries. The championships were very well organised by the Polish hosts.

“Each and every member of Transplant Team Ireland proved to be great ambassadors for organ donation both on and off the competitive field and each of them wore their Irish kit with pride and honour.

“The 10 newcomers to Transplant Team Ireland this year are tremendous additions and we

are delighted to now have them in our ‘extended’ family. Each team member worked hard in their sports events.

“The team enjoyed reuniting with old friends from previous Games and made new friends with people who have shared similar life experiences.”

This year, Transplant Team Ireland comprised 34 athletes including 25 men and nine women ranging in age from 16 to 76 years with 29 transplant recipients, as well as five people who are receiving dialysis treatment.

28 August 2014 Gazette 29

Gazette

Fired by community and commitment Fingallians and Dublin star Paul Flynn is set to take on Donegal in the All-Ireland quarter -final, but never forgets his roots or the supporters who follow the Dubs

PAUL Flynn is anticipating Dublin’s toughest battle to date this summer when they take on Donegal in the AllIreland senior football championship semi-final on Sunday in Croke Park.

It is a repeat of the gritty 2011 showdown at the same stage en route to finally breaking a championship hoodoo that stretched back to 1995. A 0-8 to 0-6 outcome provided little in the way of freeflowing football, making for tough viewing.

Since then, Dublin have emerged from their shell markedly embracing a dynamic attacking style, liberated by

 stephen findlater sport@gazettegroup.com

manager Jim Gavin’s forward-thinking philosophy.

The O’Connell county, though, is widely seen as the one side that can derail those attacking intentions and the Fingallians’ man says it is a battle that he will relish.

“We’re playing a proposition that we haven’t faced yet [this year] in Donegal so it will be very difficult for us.

“They play a very tight

system and are very good at it, trying to reduce the amount of scores the opposition get and are very efficient at it.”

It comes in a poignant week for the Dublin senior footballers.

Last Saturday evening, the county’s supporters gathered en masse in the Gibson Hotel to raise funds for Balbriggan’s Molly McNally.

The six-year-old is one of the team’s youngest but most fervent supporters and her battle with cancer has been providing a source of inspiration to Jim Gavin’s side since they were introduced to her earlier this year.

Last Saturday, county

Paul Flynn is prepared for a repeat of the 2011 match against Donegal in this weekend’s All-Ireland semi-final

panellists Dean Rock and James McCarthy along with legends Ciaran Whelan and Senan Connell were among the star-studded crowd at the event to raise funds for Molly’s ongoing medical procedures.

For Flynn, the connec-

operations and continues to need to be observed.

“She just built a bond with the team and the lads will try and support her in any way they can.”

Indeed, giving back is central to Flynn’s remit and he is keen to do any-

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

‘When you see a little girl like that, you realise the happiness it brings people for what you do in the Dublin jersey’ - Paul Flynn --------------------------------------------------------

tion that Dublin have with their fans like this gives an extra weight of importance to their performances.

“When you see a little girl like that, it brings it all back home,” said Flynn.

“You realise the happiness it brings to people for what you do in the Dublin jersey, it makes you feel proud but also that you have a responsibility to fulfil your duties and give back to people like this who are sick. I think this Dublin team is good at giving their time to important causes.

“Molly was introduced to us through the Dublin team; myself and a couple of the lads went out to her house with the cups a couple of months back.

“She is obviously a very sick girl and needs a number of different

thing he can to help his home club.

“This includes playing a central role in his club’s recent summer camps, encouraging a wealth of his county team mates – including Michael Darragh Macauley, Ger Brennan and Johnny Cooper – to help out with training before signing autographs and posing for photos with the participants.

“I never forget where I came from. Fingallians did a lot for me and my development. I wouldn’t be who I am without them so I want to give back,” said Flynn, who has recently become brand ambassador for local business, You and Us Insurance.

“If I can pass any of my knowledge on to the up and coming stars at Fingallians, I am glad to do that.”

FastSport

Moynihan named in Irish team for world amateurs THE ISLAND’S Gavin Moynihan has been named in the Irish team to play in the World Amateur Team Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy at Karuizawa Golf Club in Japan from September 10 to 13.

He played a pivotal role in Ireland’s first victory in the Home Internationals for six years in Wales last week while Moynihan, who is in his second season at the University of Alabama, won the Scottish Amateur Strokeplay title.

He is included in the team alongside Paul Dunne and Gary Hurley and will continue his build-up for the competition in Alabama where he returned last week after summering in Europe and representing Ireland.

At the Home Nations, Ireland closed out their win with a huge 9.5 to 5.5 victory over England.

Ireland went ahead 3-2 in the foursomes and Moynihan duly led the side in the singles, winning on the 14th in a stunning display to start the ball rolling.

Disability course for coaches open for booking South Dublin County Sports Partnership in conjunction with the CARA National APA Centre and Coaching Ireland are calling on coaches, volunteers and anyone interested or involved in the provision of sport and physical activity for people with disabilities to book a place at their upcoming disability inclusion training course at Tallaght Leisure Centre on October 4.

On completion of the course all participants will receive a Coaching Ireland/ CARA APA Centre award and a course resource pack.

Participation in the course costs €25, with South Dublin County Sports Partnership part-funding the course as part of their Health and Wellbeing Week in October.

Booking is open now and if you are interested in taking part, log on to http:// goo.gl/DjOHBI. For more information about the course, contact CARA on 066 714 5647 or email apa@ ittralee.ie.

Gazette

30 SWORDS gazette 28 August 2014

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: life proving tough for promoted swords side

The Hills secure Irish Senior Cup title again THE Hills won the RSA Irish Senior Cup last Saturday afternoon for the second time in three years when they beat the holders Clontarf by just nine runs in a thrilling contest at a packed and sun-drenched Castle Avenue.

In a match which ebbed and flowed throughout, the experience of Hills skipper Nazeer Shaukat (3-40) and Irish international Max Sorensen (3-50) proved crucial in a nail-biting finale.

Chasing 240 for victory, Clontarf lost the early wickets of Mark Collier and Colin Currie with just 18 on the board, but a solid third wicket stand of 77 between Andrew Poynter (41) and Bill Coghlan (40) brought their team right back into contention.

Both fell within the space of three balls, but Eoghan Delany (41) and Adrian D’Arcy (51) added 95 in 16 overs in an entertaining 5th wicket partnership, combining excellent running with the occasional lusty blow.

With 45 needed from 40 balls, Clontarf were once again favourites, but they kept losing wickets at crucial intervals, and three batsmen perished attempting to clear the ropes as the tension grew.

The Hills innings was dominated by a third wicket stand of 105 between Man of the Match Cormac McLoughlin (75) and the impressive Mike Baumgart (62) building on Nicholaas Pretorious’s 30.

At 207 for 3 with six overs remaining, they looked on course to post 260 plus, but magnificent death bowling by Zander van der Merwe (4-30) saw them lose their last seven wicket for just 32 runs.

Joe Morrissey closed the innings with his second wicket of the innings in the final over of the allotted 50, the final four wickets falling for five runs, finishing on 239 all out.

The narrow loss denied Clontarf a second title of the season having already annexed the Leinster Senior Cup earlier in August.

It is part of a huge week for The Hills who are still hoping to escape the drop from Division 1 of the league with two rounds of games to be played with Merrion on Thursday and YMCA on Saturday afternoon.

Picture: Barry Chambers

Swords Celtic’s Barry Caulfield battles down the touchline in the local side’s LSL match against TEK United last weekend

Celtic struggle away to United lsl sunday senior 1a TEK United 3 Swords Celtic 0  stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com

DAVID McDonald’s pair inside the first 16 minutes saw TEK United ease to their third win of the embryonic LSL Sunday Senior 1A season to lead the way as they inflicted a first loss of the campaign on newly promoted Swords Celtic.

Celtic, though, could have had a route back into the game in the 38th minute but Robbie Farrell’s penalty miss preluded a killer third goal by

a minute as Adam Dunne looped in a header.

From there, Swords had a couple of decent chances with Shane “Mario” Dolan going close on a number of occasions but found home goalkeeper Ian McHugh in strong form to keep a deserved clean sheet.

The surrounding white walls tight to the Stradbrook pitch always create a frenetic pace to games with the ball spending a lot more time in play than most other games.

And, after a suitably fast and furious start, TEK’s Pearse McLaughlin laid on a great through ball to

Fiona on form Good European games showing for Doyle portmarnock’s Fiona Doyle finished seventh in the 50m breaststroke final on the last day of competition at the European Swimming Championships in Berlin, Germany.

She was ranked sixth going into the final in a time of 31.30 seconds. However, the University of Calgary student was unable to match the time, touching in 31.37 and seventh overall.

Picture: Brian Lawless/SPORTSFILE

McDonald who spun out of one tackle before poking home from the game’s first clear chance.

And he was quickly in again when Johnner Kavanagh arced a ball forward which McDonald took down at the right edge of the box while the Swords defence dived in.

Creating space for himself, the striker duly got beyond the clutches of Stephen Trimble and shot home on his left peg.

TEK were bossing matters with Dunne and Jamie O’Riordan dragging efforts across the face of goal.

Swords, though, finally

got motoring after the half hour with former Shelbourne man Dolan the catalyst. His attempted chip over McHugh skimmed inches wide after a brave defensive leg from Thomas Kelly while the striker hit the base of the post after Paul Currivan tempted the home goalkeeper off his line to set up a sharp chance.

Dolan was bundled over for the all-important penalty but Robbie Farrell’s low effort from the spot was smothered by McHugh. He quickly fired the ball forward, setting Dean McLaughlin through and he stood up

a perfect ball for Dunne to head in for a 3-0 halftime lead.

The second half saw Swords creating the bulk of the chances but they could not find a way to unpick the TEK defence as Dolan and Barry Caulfield tried their luck.

The latter drew the pick of the saves from McHugh with 12 minutes to go, sticking out a sharp hand to deny an attempted volley.

He also got a strong hand to Currivan’s low effort which Kavanagh cleared off the line to keep the three goal margin intact.

28 August 2014 SWORDS gazette 31

Gazette

football: skerries bested to put fingal back up

Club Noticeboard fingallians THE club held an U-12 hurling festival

forgot items of clothing at any of the

on Saturday with teams from Wex-

camps, the lost property bag is behind

ford, Kilkenny, Kildare, Laois, Carlow,

the club bar and will be there for the

Meath and Dublin. The management

next three weeks.

would like to thank the U-12 parents

Well done to Sinead Finnegan, Emer Ní

and our sponsor Dermot O’Malley &

Eafa and Niamh Rickard and the Dublin

Co on a very successful day. Check out

senior ladies football team who beat

our Facebook page for a picture diary

Kerry on Saturday to secure their

of the day.

place in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final.

A club maintenance day will be held

They will now face Galway on Saturday,

on next Saturday, September 6 from

August 30 to decide who progresses to

noon to 4pm. If you can lend us a few

the All-Ireland final.

hours please text Liam at 086 381 4422 or email lcceltd@eircom.net.

Fingal Ravens were presented with the league trophy from clubman and Dublin chairman Andy Kettle

Ravens back to top flight after thriller afl division 2 Skerries Harps 3-6 Fingal Ravens 2-10  stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com

ATTHE back end of 2013, Fingal Ravens survived a relegation play-off against near neighbours St Finian’s to retain their place in AFL Division 2.

Last Saturday, they confirmed they are moving out of the division, but in vastly different circumstances after their dramatic one-point win over Skerries Harps confirmed they will win the league, moving back up to the top tier of football in Dublin with two games to spare.

It is a remarkable turnaround, Ravens winning their first 11 games in succession this time around.

That left Colm Nally’s team needing just one win from their final three games which they duly achieved in Skerries, albeit having to come back from a mammoth six-point deficit inside the final 10 minutes.

Last-gasp scores from Cian O’Scanaill and Niall Tormey saw Ravens land

the AFL2 title in the most dramatic fashion.

With a sizeable Ravens’ crowd making the trip to the seaside, their party looked set to be spoiled by the hosts who had their own play-off ambitions to chase.

But the Rolestown men converted the last 1-4 in the final 10 minutes without reply — and despite missing a 51st minute penalty — to claw their way back to win.

It was a struggle early on as Harry Dawson’s low-driven goal in the sixth minute put Ravens on the back foot. Indeed, it took 20 minutes before they broke their duck. But the hoops finished the half the stronger. Tormey kicked 1-2, including a stylish goal, to end the first half at 1-3 each.

Skerries restored their lead via Tommy Ryan’s 37th minute goal, but keeper David Mitchell kept his nerve under a volley of high balls to limit the damage.

He was unfortunate that his excellent save from Donnacha Reilly fell invitingly to Graham Cullen, who converted a

sharp rebound.

Reilly’s artful point from the left channel boosted the lead to 3-6 to 1-6 at the 50 minute mark, and it looked like Ravens’ party plans were very much on ice.

That feeling was accentuated when Tormey thudded the bottom of the post from the penalty line after Ciaran Norton was hauled down.

Tormey atoned in brilliant style with a low-slung cross that O’Flaherty bravely palmed in to set up a grandstand finish. Luke Griffin landed a point to build the momentum before sub O’Scannaill and Tormey cleared the bar to raptured sideline celebrations. And the former sealed the deal in the 62nd minute with a suitably dramatic high, looping effort that took an age to come down and confirm the title laurels with two games to spare.

Speaking afterwards, manager Nally admitted to GazetteSport his side “don’t make it easy” on themselves, but the depth of the panel helped them realise a memorable occasion.

“We went down twice and made quite a few changes, bringing on O’Scannaill in the middle, scoring two points when we were losing our grip which turned the key.

“It’s a panel game and we had 17 or 18 players there that got us over the line.”

It was one of a number of games in which Ravens dug out a result from an unlikely situation. Against Castleknock, the Rolestown club grabbed victory despite being reduced to 13 men, while they also had close encounters with St Anne’s and St Peregrine’s.

“T he thing about Ravens is, we’re a small club. Most of these lads would have played together growing up so they have a great team spirit. The last few years, they lost their fight but we got it back this year.

“Games like Castleknock just showed they have great heart and a lot of the work on the training ground came through, getting men behind the ball and moving it quickly.

So we’re just delighted to get over the line.”

Unfortunate loss for our G4M (Gaelic 4 Mothers) team in their final game on

The last camp of the summer took

Thursday against St Maur’s, 1-3 to 1-7

place during the week. Thank you to

in torrential rain. The Mammies now

all those who supported the Kellogg’s

start training for the All-Ireland blitz

Cul Camp during the week. Up to 240

in October.

children attended the combined hurl-

All-Ireland semi-final tickets for next

ing and football camp. Thank you to

Sunday can be collected from the club

the club members who coached at the

bar from 8pm on Thursday evening.

camp and helped out at the previous

The club would like to wish Paul and the

summer camps. For anyone who lost/

Dublin squad the very best.

st Sylvester’s There was a terrific win by the club’s

SHC B quarter-final and the juniors

junior footballers in the B champion-

play Raheny on Sunday in their quar-

ship semi-final over Robert Emmet’s

ter-final. Please show your support.

on Sunday to reach the decider, but

Well done to Dublin ladies and to

some heartache for the other junior

our own Sinead Aherne who got a

team in losing out after extra-time to

deserved player of the match acco-

Plunkett’s in the D semi-final.

lade in contributing eight points, and

The senior men – refreshed from

Niamh McEvoy, who scored a won-

their ice bucket challenge, catch it

derful goal, in defeating Kerry in the

on YouTube – return to AFL1 league

All-Ireland semi-final and best wishes

duty against Parnell’s on Tuesday

in Saturday’s semi-final against Gal-

night and there are big championship

way.

quarter-final games for the club’s

This week’s Malahide lotto is up to

adult hurlers this weekend: the sen-

€6,550 and can be played online at

iors face Setanta on Saturday in the

www.stsylvesters.ie

st finian’s Our adult footballers restarted

a heavy defeat on Saturday night.

their campaigns after the summer

However, the junior team reversed

break this weekend.

the result on Sunday morning with a

Coincidentally, both our intermediate and junior teams had games away from home against Noamh Olaf.

Unfortunately, our Intermediate team came out the wrong side of

fine victory.

The second of our summer camps took place last week. The highlight of the week was an appearance by Dublin senior footballer Eoghan O’Gara.

fingal ravens Well done to all involved with the first

ners Michelle Dehane, Richard Dehane,

team on winning the Division 2 league

Eoghan O Donnell and Andrew Hoar.

title at the weekend. Huge effort from

Big congratulations to Alan Manning

all involved during the year and will be

and Sean Griffin who have officially

great to see Ravens back in Division 1.

made the Dublin U-17 panel. Well done,

A big thanks to everyone who played, sponsored teams and tee boxes, bought tickets or helped in any way

lads.

Best of luck to Darren Daly in the AllIreland semi-final next weekend.

with our very successful fund rais-

No lotto results at time of writing,

ing golf classic in Swords Open at the

They will be available on the club’s

weekend. Congratulations to our win-

Facebook page over the coming days.

GazetteSPORT all of your swords sports coverage from page 27-31

August 28, 2014

ravens at the peak: Fingal secure AFL 2 title after superb season with home win over Skerries P31

Green glory on the wicket: Ireland’s cricketers target supremacy in Europe P27

Flynn fired up for Donegal challenge  stephen findlater

sport@dublingazette.com

PAUL Flynn believes that Dublin will come up against a much further evolved version of Donegal’s defensive system this weekend when the counties meet in Croke Park in the All-Ireland senior football championship semi-final at 3.30pm Their style had been likened to that of Monaghan who Dublin dismissed in the last round with a first half blitz that all but killed off the game.

The Fingallians’ man says that the Farney did not hit full stride and adds that James McGuinness’s Donegal side are a completely different

prospect, especially in comparison to their last championship meeting in 2011.

Since that 2011 semi-final tie – which the Dubs won in a 0-8 to 0-6 slugfest – en route to the All-Ireland title, there has been plenty of bad blood between the sides in the national league meetings.

Dublin have opened up markedly since then with Jim Gavin instilling a fast-paced, attacking style that saw them run up an aggregate 7-66 in just three Leinster championships games, averaging over 17-point winning margins.

The 2-22 to 0-11 win over Monaghan showed their ruthless streak in devastating fashion with Flynn part

of an exceptional forward unit but he says they will be pushed all the way by the finest purveyors of the blanket defence.

“Monaghan are a better team than what we witnessed and didn’t play as well as they can,” Flynn told GazetteSport.

“But Donegal are more mature in their system and have developed it.

Two good teams but I would say it will be a very different challenge.

“It will be tough for us to break down but we have a team of guys with a great mental resolve and belief in the way we play that, if we play for the entirety of the game, we can break down a system like that.”

As two of the sides to innovate

and excel in their respective styles, Flynn adds that both sides are raising the level of the sport, something he says is widespread and not solely confined to Dublin’s borders as many contend.

“With any squad I have been involved with in the last seven years, there’s always been quite a professional approach. All the county teams have adapted to similar setups.

“I would know a bit about other teams from my time in college; there didn’t seem much difference in regard to the set-up of backroom teams. It might be becoming more professional but it is only making the game a better spectacle.”

Paul Flynn speaks exclusively to GazetteSport on Page 29