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GRAND CANAL DOCK IS BUZZING!
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By Joan Mitchell new outdoor adventure activity is about to be introduced into the heart of Dublin 4. Wakedock, a company based in the Grand Canal Dock, have recently launched Ireland’s first cable wakeboard park. Similar to water skiing, instead of being pulled behind a speed boat you are connected to a zip wire which allows you to do amazing jumps and turns on the water at top speed. Wakeboard have built a two tower cable wakeboard system in the Grand Canal Dock which replaces the need for a motorboat, making wakeboarding more accessible and less expensive. I spoke with company director Colin Harris on a sunny March afternoon at the Dock who said, “Wakedock will provide an exciting sporting experience in a unique location that will put Ireland on the map for cable wakeboarding as the latest adventure sport. Waterways Ireland, have been very supportive from the start of this project and we are delighted that they have made it possible. We believe the cable is a great attraction for tourists and residents alike.” The company will create up to six jobs in its first year and offer wakeboarding tuition, ride passes, private group sessions for adults and children as well as programmes for schools and youth groups. You can follow Wakedock’s activities on their website www.wakedock.ie or call 01–6643883. On the same sunny March morning, I also met up with Fiona Tiernan, who set up Plurabelle Paddlers in 2010. They are a group of women who have survived breast cancer and who have found that exercise involving paddling reduces lymphatic swelling which can cause pain after breast surgery. Fiona began with only two people and no boat, they now have two boats ‘Anna’ and ‘Livia’ and over 60 members. Fiona showed me around their very own new clubhouse/boathouse right on the Grand Canal Dock. They managed to secure the premises rent-free and got a number of donations including a complete new kitchen, new tables and chairs. Fiona said, “One of our members who used to be a landscape gardener is making plans for our back garden which is our next project.” They have also been talking to Orla Kaminski, a local artist, who has agreed to do a ceramic mural on the outside of their new building. A year ago, they were operating out of two container lorries and now they have an amazing premises with the finishing touches near completion. The Plurabelle Paddlers are taking part in the Mini Marathon again this year, they see it as an integral part of their fundraising, so if you want to mix with a positive, inspirational group of can-do women, speak to Fiona at 087-2806048. Above: the Plurabelle Paddlers. Right: Children’s wakeboard lessons.
NEWSFOUR APRIL / MAY 2013
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By Liam Cahill elsey Reynolds (late 20s) from Ringsend and Tara Kelly (early 30s) from Donnybrook got the chance to participate in one of O2’s ‘Bring on the Green’ campaigns during Ireland’s bid to win the Six Nations. Reynolds and Kelly became official jersey guardians during the Ireland and England game in the Aviva Stadium, where Ireland were defeated by their old rivals. “We had to meet in the Shelbourne Hotel at 8:15am where we were given the jerseys,” said Tara, who was randomly selected after registering with 02’s website. The guardians were greeted at the Aviva Stadium by rugby officials, given access to the Irish team dressing room where they got to hang jerseys at each player’s individual area. “We were brought back to the team hotel and had breakfast with Paul O’Connell and then had a few drinks after the match,” Tara says. “I love the idea of jersey guardians,” said Ireland and Munster player Paul O’Connell. “Every year O2 come up with something new and different for supporters to engage with the team.”
BRINGING ON THE GREEN
Previously, O2 launched the ‘Be the Difference’ campaign which won the European Sponsorship Association’s (ESA) Business to Consumer sponsorship award in 2010. In 2011 they had ‘make the roar be the difference campaign’ where supporters could upload the best roars and upload them to the O2 website. A few were picked and shown on the Aviva’s big screen. “The experience of them getting into the team dressing room is so special; I’m really enjoying playing a part in it” says O’Connell. The jersey guardians competition has been a key feature of O2’s
G REAT GAA
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By Jimmy Purdy own through the years, Ringsend has produced many sporting personalities of all kinds; soccer, hurling, yachtsmen, skiff rowers, greyhound racers and boxers. People marched in marching bands and Irish danced. The group I want to highlight are a GAA team. I became aware of them back in St Patrick’s BNS in Ringsend when our master Seamus Kavanagh told us a story from three to four every Friday afternoon. He brought GAA to the school, winning the Miller Shield in their first year and on one Friday he told us about the famous Isles of the Sea team or Inse Na Mara as Gaeilge. The team all came from the Ringsend, Irishtown and Sandymount areas. They most likely had their premises in the area as well. It would appear they were competing in the 1890s, becoming Dublin champions in 1890. They beat Young Ireland’s 0-5 to 0-3. The winning team was captained by Charlie Thompson. Dan Holland, Tommy Dunne, M. Downes, Fran and Bartle North are names that might ring a bell for Ringsenders. The Norths had pubs on Bridge Street and Thorncastle Street. A son had a betting shop on the back street (Fitzwilliam Street), where the Regal Cinema was and the building is
GAMES
still standing there. In 1895 Isles of the Sea won the Dublin Championship again with Tommy Dunne as the captain before winning it six years later in 1901 with Captain Dan Holland, when they beat Ballymun Kickhams in the final. Having won three championships, Isles of the Sea now qualified for the All Ireland Final against London Hibernians, winning 0-14 to 0-2 points. J. Darcy, Paddy ‘Cocker’ Daly and Val Harris who played soccer for Shelbourne played best for Isles. Captain of the opposing London Hibernians was Sam Maguire, for whom the All Ireland trophy would later be named. No doubt this was an exciting time in Ringsend’s history. Isles of the Sea were again in the final in 1914 but lost to Bulfin 3-2 to 2-2. All three teams are listed below. Does anybody recognise grandfathers or great grandfathers amongst them? It would be great to hear any stories or see any photographs that some of you might have during this great time for Gaelic football in the area. It’s a long time ago but Ringsend left their mark on Gaelic Games. We respect you, Isles of the Sea. I believe there is a cup in storage in
‘Bring on the Green’ campaign, which coincided with the kick off of the Six Nations. O2 also gave 23 other rugby supporters a chance to deliver the green jerseys when Ireland took on France last month. The jersey guardians competition is a key feature of O2’s rugby supporters’ campaign that has used online advertising and social media as a way to garner attention. Most of you will be aware of O2 TV advertisements showing former Irish player Jonathan Sexton kicking a rugby ball in the middle of a field, or videos showing Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell going door to door to request a rugby game. For more information on how to ‘Bring on the Green’ and support the team log on to www.O2.ie/rugby via your mobile device.
Above: Jonathan Sexton with Antoinette Thunder from Balbriggan. Collins Barracks museum that Inse Na Mara won outright. C’mon the Paddy, C’mon the Stella. 1890: Charlie Thompson (Captain), Tommy Dunne, J.Joey, Fran North, Bartle North, Peter North, F. Rourke, T. Whelan, Kevin Dunne, J. Reid, K. Fitzgerald, William ‘Punch’ Connolly, Phil McGrath, K.Byrne, J. Hennesey, M. Kearns, R. Lalor, Peter Hoare, D. Kennedy, M. Downes. 1895: Tommy Dunne (Captain), Denny Adams, M.Ward, Bartle North, J. Dunne, F. Wall, J. Whelan, J. Beehan, P. Rourke, J. Hoey, Charles Dunne, T. Knott, Peter Hoare, G. Murphy, M. Brien, William Connolly, K. Lawlor, P.Walsh. 1901: Dan Holland (Captain), J. Gaffney, Edwards, Gale, M. Whelan, John Whelan, T. Whelan, James Whelan, William Boland, J. Fitzpatrick, C. Kelly, Peter Byrne, Thomas Lawless, Dan Dunne, B. Connor. Below: St Patrick’s Boys’ School, Ringsend, winners Inse na Mara/ Miller Shield 1943–1944.