Swords Local V6I1-MAR 2021

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Stay home and still enjoy St Patricks Day! Its a strange time, the pubs, restaurants and hotels closed on Paddy’s Day and no real sign of a let up in the restrictions that have governed our lives for the past 12 months. However all of these restrictions have been imposed in a loving way by our Government to try and keep us safe and healthy. To try and keep our loved ones safe and healthy and to try and safeguard our elderly and our future generations. This St Patrick’s Day will once again be one like no other any of us have ever experienced. The traditional parades will be virtual as will our messages of greetings to our relatives and friends throughout the world. However that does not mean that we cannot show love to those who mean the most to us. Unlike any other period on history we have the means to stay in touch and communicate without meeting in person, whether that be through a mobile phone call or Facetime or Zoom or whatever technology we have at hand. The worldwide communications structure is so vast now that we need never feel alone and can send messages of love and support to those we care most about. At this stage we do not have a choice we must all obey the Government rules and continue to flatten the Covid 19 curve again. We must shop locally and ensure the local jobs of our neighbours and friends. We must wear face coverings, regularly wash our hands thoroughly and keep our distance when meeting others. We at ‘Locals ‘ magazines feel the pain as do all of you. We hate not meeting our friends or loved ones, we hate not being able to go for a meal or a pint down the local or a drive in the country, But we as a nation can show the world on St Patrick’s Day that we are the best wee country in the world by flattening the curve and safe guarding each other. So please, obey the rules, stay safe, lets pull together and keep supporting our HSE workers, our local shopping outlets and most of all our families and those we love.

Swords Local Disclaimer

Every effort is made by Swords Local Magazine to ensure that the information is correct and will not be held responsible for any advertisement or editorial errors.

Swords Local reserves the right to decline, suspend or omit any advertisement or article submitted. No liability can be accepted by Swords Local for any printing errors in advertisements or otherwise.

STRICT DEADLINE FOR APRIL EDITION: 15th March for inclusion in our April edition.

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Local News

ANCA commences assessment of aircraft noise at Dublin Airport The Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) will commence an assessment of the noise situation at Dublin Airport following a planning application (Planning reference F20A/0668) recently made by the Dublin Airport Authority to Fingal County Council’s Planning Department.The application from the Dublin Airport Authority is to alter planning conditions associated with a previous planning permission relating to operating restrictions at Dublin Airport.

ANCA is responsible for ensuring that noise generated by aircraft activity at Dublin Airport is assessed in accordance with EU and Irish legislation. In its assessment of the noise situation at Dublin Airport, ANCA will ensure that the ICAO Balanced Approach to Aircraft Noise Management is adopted.

As part of its assessment, ANCA will hold a 14-week public consultation after publishing a draft regulatory decision. All feedback provided will be considered by ANCA prior to the making of a final regulatory decision.

Further information on the public consultation will be announced following the initial stage of ANCA’s assessment process.The Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 designated Fingal County Council as the competent authority for aircraft noise regulation at Dublin Airport. The Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) was established by Fingal County Council in 2019.

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Local News

“The Cove” at Maydenhayes Are you looking for more space for your family to live in? Would a top floor working space in your home make your life more productive?Would you love a better quality of life, living 5minutes from beautiful Mornington Bay Beach and its beautiful environs?If this has tweaked your interest, then prepare to be wowed by an exquisite new house in Maydenhayes Cove, Mornington, County Meath, a private enclave of 6 gorgeous new family homes at a very affordable/reasonable price. These new large 5-bedroom detached houses are laid out over 3 levels, maximising space for comfortable living; with a bespoke comfortable airy space at the top-floor level presenting the opportunity for a fantastic space to work from home.

Other features in these spacious A-rated homes include five comfortably sized bedrooms and family bathroom, generous ensuites, walk in wardrobes, an unusually spacious landing at first floor level, underfloor heating and high-quality sanitary fittings. On approach to the house, the stained glass in the front door sets the tone for a chique new house that manages to combine the cosy feeling of home with being comfortable, modern and on trend. The front door opens into a charming and stylish entrance hallway filled with a happy and homely personality that permeates the whole house.

The hall leads into a wonderful airy, spacious, and light-filled living/dining/ kitchen area featuring high ceilings at this level. Patio doors lead out into a generous garden with its favourable south westerly aspect to the rear.

The house also comprises a good-sized boot/laundry room kitted out with plenty of storage for buckets and spades… and also features a smart guest cloakroom.A visit to the show house is strongly recommended if only to see how efficient living and working in a spacious, tranquil and beautiful setting could be. The Maydenhayes Cove show house is on view each Saturday and Sunday between 2pm and 4pm and on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 12pm and 4pm, or by private appointment – prospective purchasers can feel free to call to make an appointment and/or to get help with any questions.

Enquiries to: Pivotal Construction Limited (01) 4732473 Knight Frank New Homes (01) 6342466 or Sherry Properties (041) 9841149

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CODE Lockdownblues

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The National Framework for Living with COVID-19

Safe Reopening of Schools & Childcare Thanks to continued adherence to public health restrictions, we can now plan for reopening of schools and childcare on a phased basis.

Phased Reopening is planned as follows:

1

8

15

29

12

Special Schools at 100% capacity

Early Childhood Care and Education

3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th class at Primary Level

Early Learning & Care, and School-age Childcare

1st to 4th years post-primary

March

March

Junior & Senior Infants First and Second Class

March

March

5th year post-primary

April

Final Year Leaving Certificate Classes

COVID-19 is still a threat. A careful, gradual reopening of our society will protect our communities while we await supplies of COVID-19 vaccines.

In the meantime, financial supports for individuals and businesses will continue up to the end of June. Wellbeing and mental health supports also continue.

Current Level 5 restrictions will continue unchanged until Monday 5th April.

The following key factors will be reviewed weekly and will guide the lifting of restrictions after 5th April:

Controlling the Virus We must continue to reduce infection rates in our homes and communities.

Decreasing Hospitalisations We must continue to reduce the pressure on our health system and front line workers.

Securing Vaccine Supply Vaccine supplies are organised on an equitable, EU-wide basis. Once supplied, vaccines are delivered swiftly in accordance with a carefully planned schedule.

Managing New Variants New variants can have an impact on the course of the disease.

Surveillance and monitoring of emerging variants will continue during phased reopening.

We must continue to reduce the pressure on our health system and front line workers.

Remember, we are still at Level 5 which requires that we stay at home, with limited exceptions.

Clean your hands often. Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub.

More detailed information is available at gov.ie/COVID19 If you need to talk, free text HELLO to 50808 to start a conversation

Wear a face-covering in indoor spaces, on public transport and outdoors wherever you see people gathered. Ensure that your facecovering is clean.

Always keep a distance of 2 metres from others.

Feature

Move your body and move it often With our fitness Guru Ciaran Russell Being physically active is important. Not only does being active have physical benefits for your body but also has positive mental health benefits.People that are more physically active tend to have fewer illnesses, get sick less, have more energy, feel better about themselves and others, and contribute more to their community. But with such a range of positive benefits, why do so many people stay inactive or sedentary? Simple, because it’s easier! It’s easier to jump in the car to go to the shop. It’s easier to sit on the sofa instead of going for a walk. It’s easier to take the lift instead of the stairs. It’s easier drop the kids to school instead of walking, cycling or scooting.

But it’s different for me; I’m tired, I don’t have the energy, I had a tough day or week. Sound familiar? If this was your response ask yourself why. So then ask yourself who would you be without

that story, or those excuses.To be an active person you don’t have to go running the roads every day of the week, you don’t even need a gym membership or be a member of a sports club.The best part? You get to decide how you become more active, you get to figure out what you love to do to be a healthy person. It’s your choice.Maybe you love walking at sunrise listening to your favourite podcast. Maybe you really enjoy doing yoga when the kids are gone to bed.However you like to stay active, do that!

Physical activity isn’t just about taking part in organised sport or exercise. It’s about being an active person as often as you can.

Organise a walk with a friend.

Take the stairs. Park further away.

Walk to the shop. Clean the house.Every time you choose to move your body is a positive step towards becoming more active.

Your health is important so why not start prioritising it today while you have the choice before it becomes necessary to prioritise it later in life.

New programme for Fingal HomeFit Yoga Fingal County Council Sports Office will be adding to the Fingal HomeFit live series by facilitating a free yoga programme. Erica from Yoga Sanctuary will be teaching a 4-week online yoga course aimed at beginners, but all are welcome.

She will guide you through a 1-hour class each week aimed at introducing you to the benefits of yoga through breathwork, yoga postures and relaxation. If you are interested in starting something new for yourself or would like to join in to stretch out and feel good in your body, then join Erica from Wednesday, March 3rd at 6 pm.The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David Healy said: “Another excellent online programme from Fingal County Council Sports Office. The Fingal HomeFit programme has been an important exercise option for many people during the current government restrictions. The inclusion of a 4-week Yoga programme is fantastic news and will give people an extra activity to participate in the evenings.” Margaret Geraghty, Director of Housing and Community Development for Fingal County Council said: “The Fingal Sports Office HomeFit live sessions have been a great success. Adding a new class to the already popular programme will give participants the chance to try a new physical activity from the comfort of their home.” For more information contact Noel McManus, Fingal County Council Community Sports Development Officer 8

SWORDS LOCAL-MARCH 2021

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Local News

Fingal receives €14 million funding for Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Fingal County Council is delighted to have received almost €15 million in funding from the National Transport Authority for sustainable transport projects announced this week. As part of a total of €240 million investment for all local authorities across the country, this funding will support many projects in development. There are a mix of continuing, new and older projects in the list to support sustainable transport projects across the county €14,870,000 provided from the NTA will help progress 23 projects over the county such as the Royal Canal Cycle Route, Harry Reynolds Road Cycle Track, Donabate Estuary walking and cycling route and the Broadmeadow Way. These projects are part of a wider sustainable transport infrastructure programme to tackle climate change. Providing safe and sustainable infrastructure will undoubtedly assist the growing numbers of cyclists who are now using the roads in towns and villages across Fingal over the past years. As part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to Climate Action, these projects are to help promote Active Travel in the county with the objective to build active travel into everyday life as part of normal daily routines.The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David Healy welcomed the announcement: “This is wonderful news. We are seeing many more people in Fingal walking and cycling due to the pandemic, so it is crucial that we develop quality routes for walking and cycling to allow greater movement within our communities. These projects will improve safety for people walking and cycling through the provision of segregated facilities either onroad or off-road. The walking and cycling projects that will benefit from this funding will help Fingal to achieve our Climate Action targets. However, the biggest benefit will be to public health from the combination of reduced air pollution exposure and increased physical activity.” AnnMarie Farrelly,

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council said: “Fingal County Council welcomes this announcement from the National Transport Authority.

This funding will allow us to continue many projects that will showcase our commitment to providing excellent walking and cycling infrastructure across the county. We want to improve connectivity between our towns and villages, for pedestrians and cyclists while providing sustainable modes of transport as part of our actions against climate change.”David Storey, Director of Environment, Climate Action and Active Travel Department in Fingal County Council, said: “The announcement today from the National Transport Authority of additional funding being provided is a welcomed one. This additional funding will allow the Council to build on the actions we have taken to provide safe and clean travel options as well as supporting active travel in the county.” The projects in this general area which are set to receive funding are: Swords Cycle Network which receives €100,000 and Swords Estuary to Rathbeale Road bicycle parking which receives €100,000 funding and Malahide (Main St) to Swords (Brackenstown Road) Safe to Schools Programme Infrastructure which receives €100,000 and Forest Road to Swords Main St 2020 Stimulus Programme which receives €100,000.

Fingal Couch to 3K – Walk to Jog Programme Fingal County Council Sports Office is delighted to launch the Fingal Couch to 3K – Walk to Jog Programme which started 22nd of February. As part of the FCC sports strategy to get more people active, the Sports Office is offering people the opportunity to take part in this free 6-week virtual programme.Whether you have never jogged before or if you just want to get more active, Couch to 3K is an easy way of getting more energy and feeling healthier. This programme is aimed at beginners who would like to get from walking to jogging but might be a little unsure of how to get started.The Mayor of Fingal County, Cllr David Healy said: “It’s very important to give people as many options as possible to participate in physical activity especially while sport and exercise facilities are closed. This is another fantastic online programme facilitated by Fingal County Council Sports Office. This programme will help people improve their fitness and as we’ve all learned during the COVID-19 pandemic contributes greatly to positive mental health.”Margaret Geraghty, Director of Housing and Community Development for Fingal County Council said: “Another excellent virtual programme on offer from our Sports Office. In a time when being active could not be more important this Couch to 3K programme will give people the support they need to get up, get out and get active.”For more information contact Noel McManus, Fingal County Council Community Sports Development Officer.

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SWORDS LOCAL-MARCH 2021

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Local News

Puppy raising for Irish Guide Dogs My name is Anne Mulligan and I am

Yarrow, a golden Lab/Retriever who arrived

a Puppy Raiser for Irish Guide Dogs for

late November 2019 when he was 8 weeks

the Blind. I also volunteer with the local

old. My role has been to help Yarrow become

Balbriggan/North Co Dublin branch. I’ve

well-mannered and socialised. The early

been a Puppy Raiser since March 2011 and

training team from Cork provided support

have taken care of a number of puppies. In

throughout the time Yarrow has been with

no particular order I have looked after Zack,

me. All veterinary fees and feeding costs are

Cinders, Gabby, Oscar, William, Genna,

covered by IGDB. Now at 14 months old

Zabbie and Coby. All were Labradors except

Yarrow will shortly go to Cork for his formal

Oscar who was a Retriever. Zabbie was part

training where he will hopefully become a

of the breeding programme and Mother to

Guide Dog or Assistance Dog. I will miss

the “G” litter. All pups born are named using

Yarrow but I know that he has the potential

a letter from the alphabet. Cinders, Gabby,

to change the life of a person who is visually

Oscar and Genna all qualified as Assistance

impaired or the life of a family of a child with

Dogs. Unfortunately, not all pups make

autism. I will follow Yarrow’s progress in Cork

the grade required to become a Guide Dog

with interest.I have something to look forward

or Assistance Dog. In such cases they can

to in 2021 as I am on the waiting list for

become a Companion Dog or an Ambassador

another puppy once Yarrow leaves. If you are

Dog or sometimes be rehomed as a pet. Zack,

interested in becoming a puppy raiser Contact

William and Coby are all happily settled

us by text or phone 085 7663107. Email

in home environments.My current pup is

GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com

Yarrow and Anne Mulligan

New All-weather Sports Pitch Ward River Valley Park Fingal County Council are please to announce that enabling works are due to start in coming days on the new all-weather sports pitch at Ward River Valley Regional Park in Swords. The new third generation synthetic all-weather pitch will be a full sized GAA & Soccer pitch, similar to the facility at Bremore Regional Park in Balbriggan. The new floodlight facility will be accompanied by car, coach and bicycle parking to service the needs of the pitch users and to improve access to the park.The first phase of works will see contractors carrying out limited removal of some screen tree planting (as indicated on the accompanying plan) to facilitate works and create space for the pitch. Following consultation with the public, care was taken with the layout of the pitch to ensure that the landmark mature tree on site could be retained.

Approximately 330m2 of screen planting will be removed and the works will be completed by the end of February. To replace these trees, 1580m2 of new native woodland and 179m of hedgerow will be planted adjacent to the new facility. In addition, further planting associated with the proposed car park will take place as part of the overall project. The pitch construction works are scheduled to start later this year and will become a valuable sporting amenity for the people of Swords and wider area.

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SWORDS LOCAL-MARCH 2021

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Finance

Women are still being undervalued in society

By Dave Kavanagh I wrote a piece a couple of years ago following a series of interactive talks I had given to a number of groups. I had broken each group into small working groups and set them a task, to work out ap-propriate levels of life cover for a 35 year old couple with 2 young children, where “John” was in full time employment and “Mary” was a homemaker with no source of income. I gave a few basic details such as income, mortgage balance, loans and savings etc. and although there were varying levels of cover suggested (ranging from €150,000 to €2,000,000 life cover) in the vast majority of cases, the groups suggested that John needs approximately double the level of cover that Mary does, being the sole income earner. Cover should be based on the financial loss that would be suffered, so once I explained that although John passing away would remove his income, if Mary passed away, John would have to either give up work (also removing his income) or have very high costs for the minding of 2 young children, as well as additional, potential costs associated with running the house, the groups then realised that the appropriate levels of cover should be about the same. So is that the reality for most couples?Obviously, there are many different family unit dynamics, one or both in paid employment, more or no children, one or both with pension and death benefits etc., and

the important factor when arranging cover is to calculate the potential financial loss that could occur for your own specific circumstances. But I still see many examples that are still placing too low a value on a homemaker by not considering the financial loss that would occur in the event of that homemaker passing away. Have a look at your own levels of cover and see if this is something you need to review.

wellbeing, positivity and motivation.

As heard on RTE 2FM and TV3.

Dave Kavanagh QFA has been advising people financially for over 25 years. For quotes or information (with no cost or obligation) he can be contacted by emailing info@financialcompanion. ie or use the contact form on www. financialcompanion.ie or phone 0876414570, or @Davekav_advice on Twitter and Instagram. Combined with his previous role of gym/ nutrition adviser, he regularly gives talks and workshops at seminars and events for groups, companies and government departments on financial

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Feature

A different kind of Mother’s Day- try the web!

by Siobhán O’Neill White Whether you live with her, haven’t seen her in a while due to lockdown or if she has sadly passed away, March is a time for remembering and thanking our wonderful Mammies for everything they have done for us.When we asked the Mammies on mams.ie what gift they would like this year, the most suggested was hampers! Between homeschooling, keeping the family fed and safe - with all the cooking and cleaning that entails, Mammies just want a break! Whether it’s skincare, bath products, yummy food, sparkly drinks – hampers are a fabulous way to treat your Mammy this Mother’s day and here are some of our favourites. The breakfast hamper from GiftsandTreats. ie is a super treat. Fresh bread, zesty orange juice, scones, tea, coffee, cake, chocolate and flowers. The perfect breakfast in bed! There are also lots of great websites yuu should check out. The Love = Love hamper from the GreenGrocersDaughters website comes with chocolates, cheese, wine, prosecco, onion jam, candles and beautiful bunting, which can be hung up after all the wine and chocolates are devoured! The ‘Days Out’ hamper from the hampersandco website is perfect for a picnic! Set out a blanket and enjoy some outdoor family time with yummy food! The website YourSurprise. has clever gifting ideas, from champagne glasses to teddybears. We love their personalised Toberlones! The website GreenAngel make beautiful skincare gift sets. These Irish made products feel gorgeous and smell amazing! On a budget? Check out the sweetliving website for luxury chocolate bars, which can be personalised. But as any Irish Mammy will tell you, we don’t care about the cost of the gift. You could make a hamper with budget items from your local supermarket. Or simply do something nice, like vacuum the house and run her a bath to ensure she has a relaxing day. One of my favourite Mother’s day gifts was a salad sandwich my children made me for breakfast in bed. The butter was an inch thick, the tomato slices huge and the bread tasted of ‘hands’ (parents of young children will understand!) It was inedible but so thoughtful and is a treasured Mother’s day memory. If you would like to enter some competitions to try and win something fabulous for your Mammy or you want more gifting ideas, go to mams.ie.

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Home Cook Recipes

Healt

hy

Easy Peasy Dark Chocolatey Bark Some of you may have given up sweet foods for lent. Some of you may be trying to cut back on sweet foods as part of healthy eating plans or goals or new year’s resolutions.Or some of you may just like trying out new food ideas and recipes!!! This recipe is super quick, easy and you can tailor it to your taste preferences or to whatever is in your kitchen cupboards!! I love the crunch that the dried edamame beans or nuts provide in this recipe and the richness of the dark chocolate. It is also very satisfying and filling. Edamame Beans are green soya beans which have become very popular due to their nutritious properties including high levels of protein and fibre which can help to keep us fuller for longer.

Edamame Beans also contain vitamins A, K and folate, and are good sources of calcium, manganese and iron. If you don’t have or like edamame beans, you could use nuts or seeds or dried fruit instead in this recipe!

Ingredients: • •

200g Dried Edamame Beans OR nuts OR seeds OR a combination with some dried fruit!!!

200g GOOD Quality dark chocolate (Please Note: When I state good quality dark chocolate, it does not need

to be expensive. Most supermarkets have good quality dark chocolate at reasonable prices. The difference is how the chocolate melts and reforms. Good quality dark chocolate will melt smoothly and reform into a smooth bark. The not so good quality chocolate may turn lumpy and crumbled!)

Tip: I love the bright green colour of the dried edamame beans which makes them stand out against the dark chocolate but for a variety of colours, use a mixture of different coloured dried fruits, nuts, seeds etc.

You could even do an Irish flag theme for St Patrick’s Day with green pistachios or pumpkin seeds, orange apricots and white coconut chips or flakes!

Method: 1. Spread out a sheet of greaseproof paper on a baking tray or lunchbox.

2. Melt the dark chocolate either: in a heatproof bowl over a pot of gently simmering water and stir intermittently until just about all the chocolate is melted, OR in the microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each one.

Please stand by the chocolate whichever way you melt it, have patience, don’t forget to stir and be careful not to overdo it!

3. Pour the melted dark chocolate onto the pre-lined tray/lunchbox and spread it into a rectangle. Do not let any condensation or water droplets fall onto the melted dark chocolate as they do not mix well!

4. Scatter over the dried edamame beans OR nuts OR seeds or fruit. Allow it to cool and set at room temperature for a few hours. 5. When hardened, break up the bark into pieces or use a sharp knife to cut it neatly into squares, triangles or however you like!!

Store within an airtight container and use within 2 weeks. Bain sult as (=Enjoy)!!!!

Please follow ‘Biabites’ on Facebook for other food ideas especially in the ‘Fun food’ and ‘Recipes’ albums. Please follow @BiaBites on twitter. For nutrition talks/workshops at events or in schools/workplaces/community groups= please email: niamh@biabites.net Niamh Arthurs BSc, Msc Registered Dietitian and Researcher.

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WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!!

This is easy… we are offering you the chance to win €50. All you have to do is correctly fill in the crossword and discover the name of an area in Fingal spelt out in the coloured squares. Then send the completed crossword and your answer by email, with your name, address and telephone number to communitylocals@ gmail.com before 5pm on March 16. The first correct entry to be drawnwill win €50..Good luck

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SWORDS LOCAL-MARCH 2021

Down

1. An acknowledgement of appreciation. (6) 5. Not feeling secure, anxious. (6) 10. The metered Greek goddess of fertility. (7) 11. Leaning like a damaged ship. (7) 12. A person known for taking advantage of others. (4) 13. Device for finding aircraft. (5) 15. The lowest female singing voice.

(4) 17. Skedaddle hides a parent! (3) 19. Takes samples of several dishes.

(6) 21. A down-market violin. (6) 22. Seaside places. (7) 23. Rectangle with four equal sides.

(6) 25. A period of ten years. (6) 28. Essential for writing. (3) 30. Smell like Magillicuddy.. (4) 31. One of God’s attendants. (5) 32. A mark made by dirt. (4) 35. Sharply exact and accurate. (7) 36. Part of a cake. (7) 37. The upward route on a mountain.

(6) 38. Stand up against someone or something. (6)

2. Small villages straight out of Shakespeare. (7) 3. Military alliance of some European states. (4) 4. Drapes hide a sandwich filler. (6) 5. Put your material on the Internet.

(6) 6. Primary compass direction. (4) 7. There’s no point in crying over this milk. (7) 8. Alter equipment for accuracy and effectiveness. (6) 9. Refuse to notice. (6) 14. Getting involved with the music.

(7) 16. It’s a black and white animal. (5) 18. Gets annoyed like Tim Finnegan.

(5) 20. Perceive the bishop’s seat. (3) 21. Provided food. (3) 23. Leather bands for binding things together. (6) 24. Of no help whatsoever. (7) 26. Puts into service. (7) 27. Stretch out and forward, like a limb. (6) 28. Very small creature. (6) 29. Someone in charge of a building, grounds or animals. (6) 33. Alcoholic beverage. (4) 34. Popular subject at UCD. (4)

SUDOKU ANSWERS

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