Rathfarnham Informer May 2010

RathfarnhamInformer 15,000 copies delivered monthly

May 2010 • Unit 38, Northwood Court, Santry, Dublin 9 • Tel: 01 813 8786 • Email: info@informer.ie • Web: www.informer.ie

Rathfarnham • Nutgrove • Churchtown • Ballyboden • knocklyon • Edmonstown

Local business deals with ash cloud fallout

The crisis in Irish aviation reached local businesses as travelers and traders faced delays to services and disruption in travel plans.

Manager of Rathfarnham travel agents, Justsplit.com, Jim Vaughan spoke to the Informer on how the flight disruption has effected business.

“We’ve been particularly busy this week with people coming into us to try making alternative arrangements. The problem is where people have bookings haul with stop overs. In such cases, with all the forward bookings connecting into those flights, there has been difficulty with accommodation. This can involve having to change more than just a single reservation with all reservations along the way having to be altered."

"If the problem were to continue, it would be damaging for inbound tourism as well as outbound. We hope the winds change.”

By Anne Sharkey

Meanwhile, the disruption has had an impact closer to home, with a backlog of postal delivery to the local community.

Public Affairs Officer for An Post, Aonghus Laverty cited how any major delays to post which would effect local business was largely avoided following the first volcanic ash cloud activity.

“Since the last ash episode, we

have been using road and ferry rather than air so there haven’t been major delays from the UK this time. Where the problem does arise then is in relation to longer haul destinations. There was some backlog after the ash incident and there has been some disruption this week.

It shouldn’t effect local business since the UK post has been relatively uninterrupted as a result of our switching to road very quickly.

It was mainly inbound flights that have been heavily delayed by the ash cloud.”

Customers in the Rathfarnham area who are experiencing postal delays can visit www.anpost.ie for updated information on airport closure or could avail of the An Post customer services hotline on 1850 575859 for more detailed information on the effect of airport closure on the postal service.

Heritage is coming... Variety

Care

Kevin Wall Interview Page 12

National Heritage Week is coming to Dublin this August and the message is to log on www.heritageweek.ie and to register your event early.

All events must be registered by the 31st of May for inclusion in the National Heritage Week Event Guide.

Rebecca Reynolds of the Heritage Council says that: “National Heritage Week is a fantastic opportunity for communities to showcase the natural and cultural heritage in their area, attract visitors and raise revenue."

Compulsory Leaving Cert Irish?

Conradh na Gaeilge Vs Brian Hayes - Page 3

2A LAMBS CROSS, SANDYFORD, DUBLIN 18 • Accidents/ Personal Injury/ Medical Negligence* • House Purchases and Sales/ Re-mortgages • Divorce and Family Law • Wills and Probate Contact Mary Flanagan of Flanagan & Co.

01 2063956

E-mail us at: mflanagan@flanaganandco.com *"In Contentious Business a Solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award of settlement."

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The Informer

The Drift The Informer Poll Yes

no

Do you make monthly contributions to any charity?

Do you feel your children are receiving a good standard of education?

Dublin Total

Dublin Total

70%

30%

Santry

Santry

85%

15%

Lucan

80%

Blanchardstown

75%

25%

Blanchardstown

Swords

70%

Rathmines

55%

Rathfarnham

85%

Dún Laoghaire

80%

Dún Laoghaire

20%

80% Dundrum

45%

30%

70%

Sandyford

60%

15%

85%

Dundrum

55%

60%

40%

Rathfarnham

20%

55%

45%

Rathmines

15%

10%

90%

Swords

45%

65%

35% Raheny

90%

30%

50%

50%

Raheny

10%

35%

65%

Lucan

20%

39%

61%

Sandyford

40%

50%

50%

Survey carried out on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th May 2010. This is a “door step” survey. Total number of people interviewed is 200 with 20 residents being interviewed in their homes in each of the areas shown by The NRBI on behalf of Informer Newspapers. Results published do not reflect the views or the opinions of The Informer Newspapers or any of its employees

Quotes of the month

Campaign Dublin

For a just world without poverty 2010 is another busy year for campaigns in Oxfam Ireland, with our main focus on climate change. We will be calling on our Government to ensure that they play their role - in both Europe and globally - to ensure climate justice.

Throughout 2009 we called on our leaders to go to Copenhagen and deliver a global climate change deal that would ensure a

Tragically it is true. So terribly shocking and sad. Life is just too cruel sometimes. RIP. RTE's Miriam O'Callaghan on Twitter revealing the news of the death of Gerry Ryan The support that euro area member states give to Greece will be to the benefit of everyone who uses the euro.

Brian Lenihan on borrowing e1.2 billion to lend to Greece It took five days to organise a conference call Giovanni Bisignani, head of the IATA airline industry body is not impressed with the EU response to the volcanic ash crisis

DublinInformer

Editor: Niall Gormley Unit 38, Northwood Court, Santry, Dublin 9 • info@informer.ie 01 813 8786 • sales@informer.ie • www.informer.ie Sales Director: Declan Keane • Mobile: 087 9145073 For Advertising Enquiries, please contact Gerard Mobile: 086 021 9625 • Email: gerard@informer.ie

Oxfam Ireland

Dublin by Numbers

fair and safe future for all. Our campaign - Climate change destroys lives. Let's face it, was a huge success, with over 10,000 people joining. Most importantly, Oxfam, through our climate hearings programme, put the faces and voices of those already feeling the devastating effects of climate change at the heart of our campaigning work and on the climate change agenda.

Even though the global talks delivered little more than a hollow accord, the campaign continues.

2009 will be remembered as the year that the world woke up to climate change. Our challenge now is to make our voice louder and stronger.

Together, we must ensure that in 2010, our leaders are left in no doubt about what we expect from them: real leadership that will deliver a real climate deal and real support to those communities in the developing world who are already living the devastat-

120

ing impact of climate change.

This year we will be campaigning at music concerts, all the large public festivals, in our Oxfam shops across Ireland and at special events - visit us and get involved!

Oxfam Ireland campaigns to challenge to root causes of poverty, contributing to our vision of a just word without poverty. To learn more or get involved, contact us at campaigns@oxfamireland.org or find and join us on Facebook!

Our vision is a just world without poverty. www.oxfamireland.org

This is the number of people waiting on trollies for treatment in Dublin hospitals on Friday 30th April 2010 according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

The 'according' word is important because the HSE uses a different method of counting and arrives at different (lower) figures according to reports. Oops, there's that 'according' word again.

The Informer

Compulsory Leaving Cert Irish

Yes or No? Yes

Since the early years of the State, Irish has been part of the core curriculum, along with English and Maths, in primary and post-primary education up to and including the Leaving Certificate.

This has ensured that Irish, regarded as dead if not gone at the end of the 19th century, has flowered into the 21st century. We have a national and European responsibility towards one of Europe’s elder languages. Irish was the first written ver-

3

Dialogue & Debate nacular in North Western Europe. To dismiss it from the core curriculum would be an act of cultural and national vandalism.

In recent years, the modern European language requirement at ‘Key Stage 4’ (14-16 years) has been dropped in England. This has led to a disastrous fall in the numbers doing a second language at second level. If Irish were not a core subject, like English and Maths, the pressures of the points’ system here could lead to a similar drop in numbers doing Irish. This ‘core’ requirement ensures a level playing pitch.

The increase in the numbers acquiring exemptions from Irish underlines the pressures of the points system, and suggests a lack of commitment on the part of the Department to ensuring Irish is taught properly. The approach seems to be to facilitate students who seek an exemption from Irish, and allow them do German, etc., to the detriment of competitors in the points race. More than

No As all parents do, I constantly picture what life will be like for my three children. Right now, I have two images in my head.

The first is of my eldest, aged 16, entering class, happy and at ease, chatting with his friends in Irish and relaxed about the lesson ahead. The other is of him stuck in his desk, forced to recite grammar by heart, grinding out tenses and resenting the fact that he is forced to study his national language.

Unfortunately, the way things are going, I am afraid the latter is more likely to occur than the former.

The way we are teaching Irish is just not working. Just two weeks ago statistics were released that show over 1,300 students who are exempt from Leaving Cert Irish are actually studying other languages. Only one in four students taking Irish for the Leaving Cert attempt the honours paper, less than any other language.

Most damningly, many pupils leave school after 14 years and 1,500 hours of Irish language teaching unable to carry out a simple conversation in our native tongue.

What we are doing is just not working. We need a radically different approach to the teaching of the language.

I want Irish to thrive and I want our young people to enjoy learning it. From primary school all the way up to Leaving Cert, the curriculum needs to be overhauled. Irish as a subject is also about music, dancing and our rich and varied culture. These too should be learnt and enjoyed.

Curriculum emphasis should be on the spoken word, not learning grammar, spellings and essays by heart to gain maximum benefit from the points system.

However, we cannot ignore the elephant in the room. The blunt tool of forcing students to take Leaving Cert Irish is a major part of the problem.

According to the Department of Education, Irish is the only subject all students must take after the Junior Cert. This compulsion is hammering the language.

I firmly believe children and parents alike want Irish to be a core part of the education system. Let’s keep it at the heart of the learning experience but let students choose whether they will learn Irish for the final two years of their education.

Those who decide to will share classes with others who want to be there, learning Irish, rather than those who wish they were somewhere else, learning something else.

As well as being educationally positive and allowing young people to play to their strengths in the final years in school this would also see the standard amongst Leaving Cert students of Irish increase significantly.

We must make the Irish curriculum for the Leaving Certificate enjoyable, relevant and again focused on the spoken word, where results can be achieved without damaging the standard of Irish.

If we do this, I believe students will want to take Irish as an option in the Leaving Cert. And I believe that my image of my son enjoying his national language, chatting with his friends and studying hard will come to pass.

Brian Hayes TD is Fine Gael spokesperson on education and science

half of those who acquire exemptions from Irish because of a learning disability, for example, go on to study another language.

Teaching of Irish as a second language must be improved. Since the demise of 'Buntús' 20 years ago, there has been no properly integrated graded course for the teaching of Irish in English medium national schools. ‘Séideán Sí’, the course available to Irish medium and Gaeltacht schools should be adapted by the Department to the needs of national schools generally without delay, and the Second Level Support Service for Irish further improved.

Likewise, the distinction between professional and academic Irish in primary teacher training should be looked at. Trainees with better Irish increase their contact with it during college years.

Those who take ‘professional’ Irish have least contact with it during training. The result of Departmental indifference is apparent: Irish is now taught ‘through English’ in a third of primary

classrooms, a fact noted in the Draft 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language and in the Inspectors’ ‘Looking at Irish at Junior Cycle’.

Children have a right to be taught the first official language until the age of majority. Not training teachers properly, simply ensures that teachers are paid for not doing their job, and deprives the children of a constitutional and human right.

Politicianshave a responsibility to ensure that the Department improves the teaching of Irish.

To eject Irish from the Leaving Certificate Core Curriculum is to facilitate neglect of Irish by those higher civil servants who are indifferent to our linguistic and cultural values as an historical community. Failure of our political class to control them could, I fear, have even longer term national implications than their failure to control the irresponsibility of our bankers.

Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa, a former primary and secondary teacher, is president of Conradh na Gaeilge

4

The Informer

Health Feature

Shape up in time for the bikini season:

Easy short-cut to a flatter stomach

Your best chance of looking good in your bikini this summer could be a combination of green tea extract and a fatty acid called CLA. Science has documented the effect of this supplement and it has become one of Europe’s best-selling remedies for chiselling away the flab.

Worried about how you will look in your swimsuit this summer? To begin with you can eat less and exercise more, but there is another thing you can include in your daily regimen for a shapelier figure: a combination of green tea extract and a substance called CLA. Studies show that these two compounds make it a lot easier for the body to convert fat into energy instead of storing it the usual places.

Danish researchers have even observed that CLA, which is found naturally in meat and dairy products, targets “belly fat”, the stubborn fat that many of us struggle with. In fact, it

could be your best shot at getting back that flat stomach.

So what is all the fuss about? Isn’t this what they all say? Well, with CLA and green tea there is more to it. A Norwegian study conducted years ago showed that when overweight men and women were supplemented with CLA, it changed their body composition.

Less fat, more lean body mass

They lost 8-9 per cent of their body fat, on average, and there was even a slight increase in lean mass – or muscle tissue. What is worth making a note of here is that these people were not particularly active, so it was the CLA supplement alone that did the job.

Had they combined the supplement with a daily exercise routine, chances are they would have done much better.

Another study which was published some years ago, showed that people who took CLA supplements burned substantially more fat during their sleep. In other words, the stuff even

works at night where you would normally not be able to do much about your figure.

17% more fat burned

The fat-burning effect of CLA is massively supported by green tea extract that contains an active compound called EGCG (or epigallocatechin gallate). EGCG has many different health properties, one of the being to stimulate the burning of fat.

Researchers have shown that it can step up fat-burning by 17%.

There is no such thing as a “free lunch” when it comes to weight loss. What it really boils down is common sense and healthy habits.

Having said that, you can take it one or two steps further with help from a supplement like CLA with green tea. This fat-burning concept is like an extra security that helps you to better results that may not have been accomplished with a proper diet and exercise alone.

Reduce cellulities

Surprisingly many women suffer from “cottage cheese” skin, a harmless yet distressful cosmetic problem that makes their skin bulgy, giving it a texture that resembles, well, cottage cheese. Cellulite tissue, the clinical term for this problem, is caused by subcutaneous fat pushing through the mesh of collagen fibers in the skin. To get a picture of the phenomenon, imagine if you tried to push a tennis racquet down over the fleshiest part of your thigh. The soft tissue would bulge, as it squeezed trough the interlaced strings.

Cellulites are particularly stubborn fat deposits, but a combination of CLA and green tea may be useful for combating the problem. Both CLA and green tea are effective fat-burners that increase the amount of fat burned into energy. In addition, CLA blocks the uptake of fat in fat cells, thereby preventing fat storage.

Some even believe that CLA helps to shrink existing fat stores.

Award-winning slimming concept CLA has become one of the most popular remedies ever for weight management, namely because it targets the problem that annoys most dieters: belly

Stopping the “yo-yo” effect Ever heard of the “yo-yo” effect? It’s when you go on a crash diet, lose weight, and end up gaining what you lost – plus some more.

You refuse to give in and try the same strategy again, but the same happens. When your weight bounces up and down like a yo-yo, you never reach a point of stability. Besides being devastating for your self-esteem, it is not good for your health.

With CLA and green tea, you can prevent this from happening. See, the important thing is to lose fat – not muscle. Dieting makes you lose both. You need muscle mass because

fat. The combination of CLA and green tea, however, has won several awards for its reliable effect and popularity. Both consumers and retailers seem to

it is extremely useful for burning fat. In fact, the more muscle mass you have, the easier it is for you to convert fat into energy. The problem with dieting is that once you lose weight (which you are bound to because of the calorie restriction), you return to a normal diet, but since you have reduced your muscle mass your capacity for converting fat is impaired.

Again, the best thing you can do to preserve (and increase) your muscle mass is to be physically active, but supplementing with CLA and green tea will help you in the process.

have taken to this new concept because of the underlying documentation, the solid effect, and the excellent safety.

The Informer

6

The Informer

Comment & Opinion

Now is the time to build the metro

Luas has revolutionised the way people travel to work, shopping and leisure activities by offering fast, frequent and reliable journeys. Following the conclusion of the planning hearing and the commencement of the final stage of procurement, Metro North is now poised to continue the revolution for the long suffering commuters of north Dublin City and County.

Despite the presence of a quality bus corridor, the journey time for bus commuters from Swords to the city centre in the morning peak averages over an hour, as evidenced by the Dublin Transport Office’s most recent Quality Bus Corridor report.

The same journey by metro will take 25 minutes, and with 15 services an hour at peak times, passengers will not have to wait long for their train.

Metro North is based on the same technology as Luas which allows Metro and Luas to be seamlessly integrated as the network expands.

Not just for the airport

Metro North has on occasion been branded as an Airport Metro. While Metro North is obviously critical to the future expansion of Dublin Airport and the success of the new Terminal 2, its primary purpose is to address a significant deficit in public transport infrastructure in north Dublin city and in Fingal.

Fingal is the fastest growing county in Ireland, with population growing by 26% between the 2002

Right to Reply

The Rail Procurement Agency (RPA) replies to our opinion piece last month and 2006 censuses. This trend is set to continue as Fingal also has the youngest population in Ireland which will drive demand for more and more housing in the area in the coming years.

As well as serving the town of Swords and the Airport, Metro North will serve key destinations such as Ballymun, Dublin City University, Croke Park and the Mater Hospital Campus, home of the planned National Paediatric Hospital. All this means that Metro North is forecast to carry over 50 million passengers every year.

Investment and jobs

The ‘infrastructure gap’, and its negative impact on economic growth and job creation has been recognised for many years. Across Europe, the need to improve infrastructure, particularly in the transport sector, is seen as a necessary condition to successful economic growth. Metro North will help generate significant inward investment and development in the corridor it serves. Indecon International Economic Consultants forecast that the Metro North Economic Corridor will generate 37,000 additional jobs and more than double the existing level of economic activity and employment in the area.

Economic stimulus

Metro North will also provide a huge boost to the economy in the short term by providing a significant stimulus to construction activity. The project is expected to create 4,000 direct construction jobs and many more indirect jobs. The consortium that will be selected to build Metro North will include both Irish and international contractors and much of the work will involve local contractors, professional service firms and workers. Other sectors of the regional economy will also benefit such as those in the construction material supplying industry, and the accommodation and catering sectors who will benefit from the expenditure of wages in the local economy by the construction workforce.

The right time to build

Despite the recession, now is the time to invest in infrastructure. As Metro North is a public private partnership project, the private sector predominantly finances the construction of the project and this is then is repaid by a service charge by the RPA over a 25 year period from when passenger services commence. PPPs are particularly suited to the current economic environment in Ireland where the government may not want to increase its direct levels of borrowing to fund infrastructure development. PPPs make projects affordable. Building now will also mean that Metro North benefits from more competitive construction prices.

The issue of cost

The cost estimate for Metro North remains commercially sensitive while the tendering for the project is on-going. RPA are thus not at liberty to comment on numbers quoted by others, which most often are well wide of the mark. The actual cost of the project will be determined through the competitive tendering process in order to ensure value for money for the taxpayers of Ireland.

Tom Manning is Public Relations Manager of the RPA

7

The Informer

Why not travel the world and get paid to do it?

Teach English as a Foreign Language and get PAID to travel!

• No degree required • No previous experience necessary • English speaking? You’re 80% qualified…

• Internationally recognized TEFL certificate • i-to-i places over 1,400 students every year!

Brian Barry, a former Cork resident, found his dream job with help from TEFL spending twelve months in Iksan, South Korea. “South Korea is a great jumping off point for travelling around Asia and the wages are good in comparison to the cost of living. You can live quite comfortably on the wage here and still afford to go on two or three trips around Asia.”

Courses offered by i-to-i will make you more employable and qualified to teach English overseas. The courses mix an action-packed classroom course with intensive online training. They are designed to provide TEFL teachers with the skills and knowledge required for travelling and teaching abroad. All our TEFL courses are internationally recognized, it could lead you to Ecuador, Czech Republic, China, Japan, or one of many other locations abroad. Brian expressed, “that's one of the great things about TEFL is you have so many options, you can teach nearly anywhere in the world!”

Both the ODLQC (Open and Distance Learning Quality Council) and the SQMS (Scottish Quality Management Systems) have recognized the quality of our courses and we monitor our

l Brian Barry explored Korea courses carefully to ensure they meet the high standards that these supervisory bodies demand. i-to-i’s job placement service assures the best!

Brian revealed, “They were very helpful and informative. We got everything we were looking for in our contracts here and there were no surprises. They were straight up about everything and always very quick to reply to any questions we had. I'd recommend them to anyone looking to do a TEFL course or looking for a TEFL job placement.”

8

Green Scene

No Dublin base for Seal Sanctuary

After years of working to develop and build a Marine Conservation and Education Centre in Fingal and hundreds of thousands of euro of tax payers’ money invested in finding a site, and obtaining planning permission the Irish Seal Sanctuary has been forced to move its base of operations to Gorey Forest Park in Courtown, Co Wexford.

The Informer

The decision of Fingal County Council to reverse its previous support for the Centre left the ISS dangerously short of funds and its team of skilled international volunteers came close to not knowing where the next meal was coming from last winter.

Only the dedication of the Seal Sanctuary’s hard working support-

ers kept things up and running so that this year’s abandoned and sick seal pups could be cared for.

Fortunately the move from a Garristown back garden to Courtown will mean that many more of the general public will be able to see these delightful animals being brought back to health and freedom through the work of the Centre.

Opportunity for an artist ECO-UNESCO are looking for an artist to provide inspiring illustrations for their ‘Peer Education for Sustainable Development’ resource pack. There is no pay available but the illustrator will receive full accreditation in all print and online editions of the resource pack and a work reference from ECOUNESCO. The resource pack will celebrate and promote peer education as an important pathway to personal development and youth empowerment. It will be used by young people who want to become peer educators and also by the adults who support them to build a more just, sustainable communities and will be full of activities, action ideas, case studies and practical advice on how to become a peer educator for sustainable development.

The pack has to be useful and appealing to young people aged 15-18, youth workers and other support workers.

By Kathy Marsh, Sonairte

Biodiversity Blitz The opening event for Biodiversity Week 2010 is a giant biodiversity blitz. The National Biodiversity Data Centre, in conjunction with National Parks and Wildlife Service and Fingal County Council is organising Ireland’s first BioBlitz event on 21 & 22 May 2010. For those in the Dublin area the local event will be at Newbridge Demesne in Donabate. The BioBlitz will start at 17.00hrs on Friday 21st May and end precisely 24 hours later at 17.00hrs the next day.

BioBlitz is a race against time to see how many species can be recorded in 24 hours and the venues will compete against each other to see how many species can be recorded. Be introduced to the wonderful diversity of species all around us. A ‘Base Camp’ will be established at each venue which will serve as the hub for the BioBlitz at each site. This is where recorders and volunteers will tally all the species records. The winning site will be announced by the National Biodiversity Data Centre at 18.00hrs on the day.

The rules are simple. No creature is too small to escape scrutiny! The public can take part for the second day. Lists of species recorded can be submitted by anyone, but surveyors should register at Base Camp in advance. Records should be submitted on the official BioBlitz recording sheets available at Base Camp on the day.

Blitz and Beyond at Sonairte Sonairte, the National Ecology Centre, in Laytown Co Meath kicks off a whole year of recording on Biodiversity Day. The centre has developed recording sheets for the many different habitats that are part of the centre and visitors can tick off species as they see them, monitoring the changes of the seasons.

The recording sheets are free on Biodiversity Day but there will be a small charge to cover costs for the rest of the year.

But this is only the beginning as the centre builds on last year’s successful 'Community Management of Biodiversity' course to enable schools and community groups to record the plants and wildlife of their own areas in a professional way that can be inputted to the National Biodiversity database.

Other Biodiversity Day events at Sonairte will include a treasure hunt, tours of the centre habitats and the organic garden, biodiversity Snakes and Ladders and a reange of exhibits including rare species, invasive species and other events to be announced on the website www.sonairte.ie.

The website also has details of summer camps for children from 5 – 14 where activities will include bushcraft, outdoor (and indoor) art, music, organic gardening and cookery, and other green activities.

Hearing or hearing well?

The most common statements made to me are: "I am not deaf; I just miss some of the words," and "I am not deaf. I can understand the newscaster who speaks dearly, but 1 get muddled when I go to see plays or when I'm in a group of people."

These complaints demonstrate one of the most common yet misunderstood of hearing conditions. Loud sounds may be heard all too well whilst other, unwanted sounds, such as background noise, drown out some of the important elements of speech which we need to hear if we are to understand the words.

Conversation across a room containing three or four people may become very difficult to hear, and hearing in large groups or meetings may be impossible.

People suffering from this problem will be under constant strain, often without realising it, and may come to feel that taking part in some social situations is simply too much trouble. They are afraid of not hearing a question properly and guessing the answer incorrectly.

Because the ear favours some voices over others it is possible to be accused of "choice deafness", or hearing only when you want to. An obvious solution like turning up the television or radio isn't the answer because it won't increase the clarity of sound, which is what you really need, and neither will it do much for your popularity with others in the room, who may find the volume intolerable. All in all, this sort of hearing problem can, and does, affect the qual- ity of life of not only the person affected, but also

family and friends.

It is important to understand what causes this "mishearing". When conducting a hearing test on people with this complaint, it is usual to find some loss of hearing in what we call our "speech frequencies". Words are made up of a combination of sounds which range from low frequency to high frequency. Vowels and background noise are made up of low frequency sounds, whilst consonants such as p, t, th, s and f are high frequency sounds. If the ear is failing to pick up consonants, words may be difficult to understand and may become confused with other likesounding words, especially when there is background noise.

This condition is usually the result of a very gradual hearing loss which is often noticed by family and friends before the sufferer himself. It is impossible for someone to appreciate the difference between good hearing and clear hearing without undergoing a hearing test and experiencing the difference when using clarifiers with background noise suppressors.

Hearing tests are usually offered free of charge by qualified hearing aid dispensers and I cannot overstate the importance of everyone over 55 being tested every year. Most hearing loss is gradual and ears, like eyes and teeth, should be checked regularly.

Ask yourself - are you just hearing, or are you hearing well?

Alan Mantell is the Managing Director of Digital Hearing Direct. Tel 01-2351636 and is available for free consulatations.

Latest Channel Free Bernaflow Aids are here now Many people having paid for a private hearing aid find that although their lives have improved for the better they are not happy with the overall performance of the instruments and their expectations have not been realised. There could be several explanations for this.

Alan Mantell, managing director of Digital Hearing Direct says: “Quality digital hearing aids are incredibly good and can change to suit the patients needs and lifestyle.

“Often an inexpensive instrument correctly fitted will do the job. Because we are totally independent of any manufacturer our staff are trained to program most makes of hearing aids.

“We are equipped with some of the world's latest technology which allows us to be very accurate on the fitting and fine tuning on the necessary follow up home visits.

“It is time consuming but makes for a very high satisfaction rate and an extremely happy client. Also if we do not get it right we refund all money in full.”

As Rosalind Squires RHAD, FISHAA, FSHAA, our senior hearing aid audiologist often says: “Where you buy your hearing aid is as important as the price you pay. We get it right”.

• • • •

Free Discounts available to over 55s - Call us now Home Visits Allowance on your old aids (any condition) Extended manufacturer's warranty free of charge Ongoing service and routine maintenance

Phone us today 01-235 1636 Alan Mantell RHAD, FISHAA, FSHAA and Rosalind Squires RHAD, FISHAA, FSHAA

10

A place in the city The most striking fact about Malahide Castle is that it was owned by the same family, the Talbots, for 800 years. They enjoyed great adventures - from playing a key role in the development of southern Canada to having a part of Tasmania virtually named in their honour.

Colonel Thomas Talbot was one of the best known of the family. He was born in Malahide in 1771 and because he wasn't an immediate heir to the Malahide lands, he decided to head overseas and make his fortune elsewhere. He ended up in Canada and in the early part of the 1800s, he agreed a significant deal with the British government where they would give him 5,000 acres in Canada if he could populate it with settlers from Britain.

The success of the deal becomes apparent when one learns that he would eventually gross 500,000 acres in Southern Ontario. Talbot died in 1853, and his wonderful story was told in the first colour film ever made in the country, entitled Talbot of Canada.

William Talbot sought his fortune in Tasmania, securing his vast homestead in 1822, and calling it Malahide - in an area called Fingal! In the 1970s it became home to Lady Rose

All About Dublin (1)

The Informer

Malahide Castle

Talbot after the death, in 1973, of Lord Milo Talbot, the last Lord Talbot to live in the castle.

Numerous other tales surround the castle from Puck, the friendly ghost, to the haunting story of the morning of the Battle of the Boyne when a number of the Talbot men enjoyed breakfast together before heading out into battle.

Malahide Abbey at the rear of the Castle houses the grave of Maud Plunkett. She was a 15th century woman who lost her husband on her wedding day and her story is told in the poem The Bridal of Malahide, by Limerick poet Gerald Griffin. An

ancient Sheela na Gig image can also be seen on the wall of the abbey.

Fingal County Council now looks after the demesne, and the castle and grounds continue to be a diamond for the tourism industry in Fingal.

An excerpt from "From the Danes to the Delvin", with text by Hubert Murphy, and paintings by Hugh F. Ryan. Published by Cottage Publications, Price e24.95.

This page was researched with the help of

Eucharistic Congress, 1932; An aerial photograph taken by the Army Aer Corps, shows a Procession from the Phoenix Park to the city centre. Note the elaborate arch which replaced the original plain gates.

Keeping your eyes for life Children are taught to look after their teeth because parents want them to have healthy teeth into adulthood and even old age. Like tooth decay, eye damage from the sun is usually irreversible. Damage throughout life from childhood has a cumulative effect resulting in serious eye disease and even blindness later in life.

Midi 4 c.y. was e165 Std 6 c.y. was e210 Maxi 8 c.y. was e230 20 tON RORO was e400

NOW e145 NOW e170 NOW e190 NOW e380

SuMMeR Special

We all know that exposure to the sun may result in painful sunburn and even skin cancers.

Harmful UVA and UVB invisible radiation is the main culprit in bringing about these effects.

Most of us are now careful to protect our skin with lotions and by covering up. As with tooth decay, we train our children to protect their skin.

However we rarely consider that our eyes can suffer many of the same effects that the sun causes on our skin. The most serious of these effects are usually irreversible and have a very significant impact on our eyesight. The membranes in our eyes are very delicate compared to the skin and it has been established that a lifetime exposure to these harmful rays is one of the major causes of conditions such as macular degeneration not to mention some forms of cancer.

So how do we protect ourselves and our eyesight?

The first thing we must understand is when and how we are subject to the ultraviolet rays from the sun. This is not as obvious as it may seem! Joseph O’Connor of O’Connor Opticians Dun Laoghaire explains: “Whilst the midday sun is the strongest in terms of heat and radia-

tion, as far as our eyes are concerned morning and evening can be the worst times. This is because the sun is low on the horizon and its rays are more directly targeted into our eyes.

Also, on cloudy days, while the heat from the sun may be lower, light and UV rays are still reaching us through the clouds – how else would we have daylight!?”.

There is no such thing as sun lotion for our eyes! We must shield our eyes from the harmful radiation throughout our lifetimes. If you already wear corrective lenses (spectacles or contact lenses) you may already have UV protection. Contact lenses with a UV filter are one of the most effective methods of affording protection because they cover the front surface of the eye.

Spectacles and sunglasses can be very effective provided they are 100% UVA and UVB protective. But radiation comes at us from all directions and will enter the eyes from the sides of the lenses if these are not blocked off. Wide side-arms on the sunglasses or better still wrap-around sunglasses can afford good protection. Wide brimmed and peaked hats can also give useful additional protection.

See opposite page for special offer on 100% UV protective sunglasses in the latest styles from O'Connor Opticians Dun Laoghaire.

12

Lesser known Dubs George Barret, born in Dublin around 1730, was a popular Irish landscape artist and one of the founders of the London Royal Academy.

Born to a Dublin 'clothier' (someone who makes or sells clothing), he was originally destined for a similar career, being

All About Dublin (2) George Barret apprenticed to a corset-maker.

Later, he studied drawing and painting at the Royal Dublin Society School in George's Lane, winning one of their annual prizes at the age of 15.

While at art school, he earned money by colouring prints for a print-seller in Nicholas Street and

after graduating he worked as an art teacher in a Dublin school.

It was during his early twenties that Barret was noticed by Edmund Burke, who later became one of his patrons. Burke persuaded Barret to visit and paint in County Wicklow - he spent several years depicting the Powerscourt waterfall.

In 1763, due to lack of interest in his landscape painting, he left Dublin to seek his fortune in London. His romantic mountainous landscapes soon attracted a number of patrons, and commissions poured in.

By 1782 he was earning the princely sum of £2,000 a year, but spending even more. His old friend Edmund Burke rescued him from bankruptcy by securing him the lucrative position of Master Painter to Chelsea Hospital. For his last two years, though suffering from asthma and ill-health, Barret continued to paint, producing some of his best work. He died in 1784.

In 2009 one of his paintings 'Dolbarden Castle, Llanberis with early morning mists dispersing', sold at auction for e103,278.

The Informer

First hand History News from 1796 1796: Ireland.- The Pigeon-house, at the entrance of Dublin harbour, was struck with lightning, on the night of January the 20th, and completely demolished.

Lately, in Dublin, John Frayne, a bankrupt, under the statute for not making a full disclosure of his effects, and secreting part of the same, to the value of £106. 11s. 9d. with an intent to defraud his creditors, was found guilty, and received sentence of death.

The Royal Irish Academy have offered £50 to the writer of the best essay on the following subject: "To what manufactures are the national interests of Ireland best suited, and what are the best modes of improving such manufactures "

Dublin, Feb. 13. Thursday night a horrid murder was committed at Luttrelstown: two brothers of the name of McCormick, who were bound to give evidence against a principal defender, had been lodged by Lord Carhampton in a mill-house, at the corner of his lordship's domain, in order to prevent them from being seduced from giving their testimony. At the hour of midnight, two men, armed and dressed in brown clothes, proceeded to the room in which these unfortunate brothers lay, the youngest of whom (a lad about 14 years old) they shot through the heart, and the elder through difterent parts of his body. The unhappy victims

died before morning. The privy-council of Ireland have offered rewards of £200 and £100. for the discovery of the murderers.

On March 3, James Weldon, for high, treason, was executed in Dublin. The body, having been suspended ten minutes, was taken down, and the executioner proceeded to decapitate the same, which, from terror, he did not perform until after several ineffectual strokes.

The works of the redoubt, or powder magazine, in the Phoenix Park, at Dublin, have been lately strengthened: cannon is now mounted on the semi-bastions, and a strong additional guard does duty without and within the fort.

A singular cafe in surgery occurred lately at the county of Meath hospital. A woman, who had been pregnant two years and two months, had a full-grown infant extracted from her, by the Caesarean operation;- the woman was discharged perfectly well. (And, from the following issue:"It was not in the county of Meath Hospital, that the Caesarean operation, noticed in our last, was performed; but in the Meath Hospital, or county of Dublin Infirmary.)

June - As two boys in Dublin were lately playing with bows and arrows, one had his eye entirely shot out, and otherwise remains in a dangerous condition.

(Excerpts from: The Monthly Magazine, or British Register, 1796.)

Take some time out to review your finances It is important that we are regularly reviewing our personal financial needs to ensure they remain fit for purpose and value for money.

There are three main areas we believe individuals should consider reviewing to ensure they are comprehensively insured against the unexpected and are planning for life after retirement.

Life Assurance Life Assurance is relatively in-expensive when you are young. Life Assurance has come down significantly in recent years due to competition in the market. Life Assurance in the amount of e300,000 cost approximately e29 per month*.

Whether you are just reviewing your existing cover relating to your mortgage or require additional life cover due to a change in circumstances (arrival of children, new borrowings) it is worthwhile taking some time out to consider your options.

Income Protection It is important that you protect your income in the event you lose your capacity to earn due to illness or injury. For approx e44 per month (after tax relief) an individual can protect e35,000 of their income up to age 65.

Pensions Many individuals have not made sufficient provision for their retirement. If you start young (in this example 35) you can build up a good sized pension fund by retirement age. By saving e175 of your after tax income per month you can

accumulate a fund of e540,000 by retirement*.

It is important that charges and entry/ exit fees are examined in detail and that proper advice is obtained prior to setting up the pension. For those who have existing pensions schemes it is also important to review your charging structure. Annual charges of 7-8% per annum are not uncommon.

In the above example the monthly outgoing from an individual’s net pay is less than e250 per month to provide protection should the unthinkable happen as well as planning for your future.

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Why not call us today on 01 685 3813 or go online to www.smartquotes.ie for further details. * All above based on individual aged 35 with cover to retirement at aged 65. Income Protection is for Class 1 employee and a deferred period of 26 weeks. Pension Growth is assumed at 5.5% with premiums increasing at 5% per annum. In all cases tax relief is assumed at 49% Paddy Mahony of SmartQuotes.ie Email: paddymahony@smartquotes.ie Ph: 01 6853813 • Mob: 085 7653134 Fax: + 353 (0) 1 6853388

14

The Informer

Informer Interview

With help from the Variety Club Kevin Wall is the Chief Barker (President) of the Variety Club of Ireland. He spoke to Kevin O'Brien about the work of the club and its plans for the future.

Name Kevin Wall Chief Barker (President) Are you married / any children?

Married to Betty, past Chief Barker – three adult children History of the Variety Club of Ireland?

A long story but if you go to www.varietyireland. org/history, scroll down and play video of The Variety Story you'll find out more.

What does Variety Club Ireland do?

Raise funds to better the lives of sick and disadvantaged children Are you linked to the other Variety clubs?

Variety Club of Ireland is an equal branch to our other branchs around the World and is like a family member keeping in touch and exchanging ideas weekly. All monies raised in each club is spent in

the country where it was raised.

Do you think the Variety Club benefited financially during the economic boom?

Money was more plentiful and we had less trouble selling tickets to events, shows and luncheons, Auctions were successful. We could have benefited more by corporate sponsorship but found it difficult as they had committed to other organizations for lengthy periods. We depended on just the same few loyal friends.

How many people are involved in the Club?

Variety Club have 52 members of which 20 are active, subscriptions are €50 per year. We also have a group of people (friends of Variety) who support our various functions.

How does The Variety Club differ from other charities, do you get government funding?

Variety get no help from Government funding or grants. All our work is carried out by a small group of voluntary workers Is it expensive to operate the Variety Club?

Our overheads are minimal, no paid staff (which has to change) printing, postage and occasional entertaining involving coffee meetings and set ups etc., are a small expense paid from membership fees. All administration is run from the Chief Barker’s home.

fun shows if they are free on the night. We depend on each one and say thank you for their continued support.

Are the government doing enough to help Irish charities during the current climate?

Never having being funded by Government or received any grants and so we're not affected. But having spoken to various other organizations the cutbacks have been very severe and staff have had to take reductions in salaries. In Variety we are fighting to hold our own and continue our work.

Someday we might be told ‘it could be you’.

Female Taxi Drivers

Female Taxi Drivers

The best fundraising event you have done?

Humanitarian Ball honouring Caroline Desmond.

Michael Flatley Ball, entertainer of the Decade, both a big success

Future plans for the Variety Club?

Our aim as always is help as many requests as possible i.e. coaches, Liberty Swings, Equipment for Struggling to raise funds in the downturn?

Yes, funds are tight regarding tables for Balls, smaller Schools, etc., Increase our membership, Directory Drivers our web site Get Young Variety up and volunteers and helpers. luncheons are aSee struggle and shows orofsmall events on are a hard sell. running. We badly need some new helpers maybe with IT experience. Get some sponsors on board.

Get young celebs into the charity (it seems most of Most recent fundraiser theCall Clubour have Drivers done?

Direct!

The Pete St. John luncheon in the Grand Hotel them are heading other charities themselves).

Malahide. 265 people attended and a concert was held after the luncheon featuring Pete and his song- If someone donated €1m euro to you in the book backed by well known stars. It was a fun day morning, what would you spend it on? and it was a financial success and partly funded a It would go into our Mobility programmes which would allow us fulfill request for 11, Liberty Liberty Swing.

Swings, and 12 Sunshine Coaches at a cost of Any celebrities involved? €645,000 euro. That would help us reduce our We have a loyal group of celebrities who give their backlog of requests. Also supply badly needed services to us when asked, and join our fundraising equipment to the Children’s Hospital (Temple street). Employ a Chief Executive to bring modern views and ideas to the organization, in return I would expect this person to bring in excess of €600K in the first year and increase in each following year.

www.angelcabs.ie

See Directory of Drivers on our web site

www.angelcabs.ie Call our Drivers Direct!

l The Variety Club at work

How can people donate or help?

Through the donate button on our website www. varietyireland.org which goes through www. mycharity.ie directly to Variety account.

Who says Informer advertising works?

enyInformer delivered monthly to 15,000

homes

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ter • kilBarrack • edenm • dollymount • artane • killes

king up to ce failing wa ian dempsey s im ct vi e nc rs being released unreformed

even in the case of predetermined sentences. is only to hold life sentences, the practice

By Niall Gormley years. The problem people for a number of liberty to o carry out further offences. is that people are given of previous con- with this Gerald Barry had a litany in the killing offend again. he served victions including involvement In the case of Simon McGinley, he was blindthe 1996, in Galway of Colm Phelan in for the 'C' case rape and a robbery and a seven years for sex ing of a pensioner during to have received treatment supposed his original offence sexual assault on his ex-partner. in of the offending in prison.

The a drink and drugs binge.

Simon McGinley was convicted during occurred and case in the 'C' drink and drugs rape of a 13-year-old girl latest offence occurred during of the jail. sentenced to 12 years in it not make sense that one Would binge. for convictions never Noel Cawley had previous his freedom is that he can damage and conditions for Wouldn't such again? drugs theft, burglary, larceny, malicious and take drink test attempted rape. be legitimate, say, a blood about violent monitoring Much of the debate in Ireland week? been characterised every reform Trust, crime and sentencing has According to the Irish Prison 'hard' or 'soft' on in jail as between those who are e100,000 to keep a prisoner formula 'hard on it costs impriscrime. Tony Blair's famous In 2008, 276 people were of crime' was an each year. of a civil crime and hard on the causes in relation to the non-payment between those who oned offenders are attempt to bridge the gap Meanwhile, serial violent debt. irredeemable of inadeform prison, with completely see violent crime as a as the outcome released from of release, evil and those who see crime quate supervision and conditions of personal and social factors. to rape and kill. system asks 'did free to decide these men won't At the moment our justice There is no guarantee that 'why did you do it?'. you do it?' It doesn't ask are given offend again.

As a consequence the convicted

and the students go head to

r August

head page 4

interview pages 10-11

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"We have found when comparing all forms of advertising we use or have used, that the Informer gives us the best return on our money.

"We would have no problem recommending the Informer to any business especially during these difficult times.

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Max Colmer, DC Networks "After being in business for five years now, we have found the Informer to be over and above the best print media for our business.

"The only verification we need is when the phone starts ringing every month on the day distribution begins. This paper is delivered door to door by The leaflet Company ensuring delivery actually does take place.

"They are by far the best value for money in advertising today, costing up to 1/3 of the competition and I am now even able to reduce my Google advertising costs thanks to the Informer.

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Call us on 01-4601670 to see what we can do for your business www.informer.ie

16

The Informer

Family Focus Is TV bad for young kids? Cool for summer...

No parent, no matter how hard they try can spend every second of every day playing with their child, and yet are we being bad parents if we let our young children watch TV? Dr Aric Sigman is a psychologist and biologist based in the

UK is the author of Remotely Controlled: How Television is Damaging Our Lives (Vermilion).

He says, “There are growing medical concerns about children under three watching TV as this is the time in their lives when they are experiencing most brain

development, and what they are exposed to affects the shape, size and function of their brains.”

Dr Sigman says the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of two watch no TV at all and that a new study says that watching TV too young impairs language acquisition, even though the effects don’t show up for many years.

“I would say children under three should not watch TV,” says Dr Sigman. “At the age of three about half an hour a day is acceptable and as children get older they can be allowed to watch TV for longer.”

Dr Gillian Moore-Groarke, a Consultant Child Psychologist based in Cork says, “It’s important to limit TV viewing for young children to one programme of around 30 minutes a day.”

So what exactly is it about watching TV that is harmful to children? “The thing that is doing the damage is the movement on screen,” says Dr Sigman.

“Damage occurs irrespective of

whether children are watching educational programmes or tacky advertising – it’s the medium rather than the message, although the message can cause other problems like a child who wants to eat the fast food he sees advertised.

“Editing speeds are faster than when I was a child – there are now more zooms, pans, singing, dancing, colour, movement and novelty in children’s TV programmes,” says Dr Sigman. “TV hands over ready-made images so that the brain doesn’t have to work to paint pictures with words, and this prevents children from developing an imagination.

“Parents should see TV as something to be rationed and controlled. They should think about how much time watching TV is acceptable and not let it happen benignly in the background. All parents know that they don’t always meet their goals, but it’s important to have a yardstick. My children watch TV but I don’t kid myself that it’s good for them.”

We love this sunsafe summer gear for kids from Mini Mode in selected Boots. Girls striped Sunsafe suit 50+ UPF e16, Boys striped Sunsafe suit 50+ UPF e16, Turquise sunglasses 100% UV protection e7.

History and character at the Royal Marine 28th June – 3rd July 2010 Sarah Jayne Dunn from Hollyoaks & Rupert Hill (Coronation Street) The Grand Canal Theatre yet again announces another West End production to Ireland, this time with the classic, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, which debuts in Dublin on the 28th June 2010 through to the 3rd July 2010.

This new production stars Sarah Jayne Dunn as Sally who you will regonise as her roll as Mandy Richardson in Hollyoaks, and Rupert Hill as Harry who played Jamie Baldwin in Coronation Street.

WHEN HARRY MET SALLY is adapted by Marcy Kahan from the film script by Nora Ephron, directed by Michael Gyngell (The Play What I Wrote, Summer Holiday), designed by Tim McQuillenWright (Spring Awakening), with lighting by Ben Cracknell (Jolson & Co).

Tickets are reasonably priced starting at €20.00 – €39.50 and it opens on Monday June 28th and runs to Sunday July 3rd.

For more details on booking tickets visit the Grand Canal Theatre on line at www.grandcanaltheatre.ie or visit any Ticketmaster outlet across the country or check out www. ticketmaster.ie. Tel: 0818 719 377 For the Grand Canal Theatre Circle Club and Hospitality Bookings you can call Tel 01 674 2407

WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND COMPETITION Winner: Margaret Green, Clondalkin Thanks to everyone who entered

Upcoming Gigs at GCT

•••• June 2 - June 5 ONE NIGHT IN ISTANBUL €25.00, €30.00 & €35.00 •••• Saturday 12th June Brendan Cole LIVE and UNJUDGED €33, €35, €39.50 •••• 16, 18 & 19 June La bohème €45, €75, €99.50, €125 •••• 22 June Marianne Faithful €39.20, €41.20 •••• 24, 25,26 June Marilyn €34.90 - €37.90

Since 1828, a Dublin hotel has occupied the site now occupied by the Dun Laoghaire Royal Marine Hotel. Originally known as Hayes Royal Hotel and designed by John McCurdy who also designed many other buildings and churches of significance in Ireland during this time.

William Dargan, builder of the Kingstown Railway, bought out the Royal Hotel in 1863 and built the Royal Marine Hotel & Spa. The old Hayes Royal Hotel was incorporated into the design, but later demolished in the 1960’s.

The newly developed Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire in South Dublin first opened its doors for business in 1865 and has been a Dublin institution ever since.

The Royal Marine Hotel is regarded as one of the finest 4 star Hotels in Dublin and has hosted many Heads of State, Kings, Queens and celebrities including old blues eyes Frank Sinatra who made full use of the hotel’s bar, Laurel & Hardy who’s stay in 1953 was considerably long as they stayed for thirty three nights between 9th September & 13th October who’s stay was rounded off by just a one night charity performance at the Olympia Theatre on 11th October and Charlie Chaplin.

Queen Victoria had a 16 course breakfast when she arrived off the boat at Dun Laoghaire and even Michael Collins is believed to have hidden out in Room 210 with Kitty Kiernan.

The first line wireless report on a sports event was made in July 1899 when Marconi transmitted a commentary on the Kingstown (Dun Laoghaire) Regatta from abroad & Steamboat to the Irish Daily Express in Dublin on 14th August 1923. Marconi’s wireless company made the first radio broadcast from the Royal Marine Hotel.

The Royal Marine closed for business in 2004 to undergo a huge e70 million development project and was re opened with new owners on 22nd June 2007. Those who have visited the Royal Marine Hotel will agree the refurbishment has added to the splendor of this magnificent ‘listed’ building. It is a stunning vision of ‘old and new’.

With high ceiling, wide corridors, intricate detail on the cornicing, Victorian staircases, large sash windows welcoming the natural light of the bay, the Royal Marine Hotel truly stands above its peers in the Hotel industry. There is a tremendous sense of history and character found in all the nooks and crannies of this Victorian building.

On 22nd June 2010 the Royal Marine hotel is delighted to celebrate its 3rd Birthday and continues to remain successful in its historic character.

Why not check out the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire and see for yourself…

For more details visit www.royalmarine.ie or contact reservations on 01 230 0030 or by email reservations@royalmarine.ie

18

The Informer

Health & Beauty

Nail polish that lasts up to a month?

Manicures and pedicures aren’t known for being everlasting. They chip. They smudge.

Sometimes a nail is ruined even

before you get home from the salon. Usually just a few days after a manicure, your polish doesn’t have that high gloss shine

Get the Perfect Nails for Summer

Gel Nails €40 The 'SHELLAC' (as seen on Xpose) Manicure or Pedicure €30

any more. Now you can say good-bye to chips, smudges, and dry time and say hello to Shellac™ Hybrid Nail Color!

This innovative nail polish is described as a 'Hybrid Nail Colour'. It goes 'On Like Polish.

Wears Like Gel. Off In Minutes.'

Once applied, you get 2-3 weeks of high gloss shine with no chipping and looking like you just left the salon!

Soak-off gels look like polish but last much longer, because they are cured onto the nail with an ultraviolet lamp. The colors are hypo-allergenic, and "3-Free" - no formaldehyde, toluene or DBP. The polish must be applied and removed by a professional manicurist. It goes on with a base coat, two colour coats, and then a top coat. But after each coat your nails will go under a special ultraviolet lamp which will also leave your nails dry as soon as you're done. Goodbye to flipflops in the snow post pedicure.

Michelle Mismas, who writes a

nail-focused blog called alllacqueredup.com, describes the indestructibility of a recent manicure. “When I was wearing it, I

beat my hands up, and I couldn’t get a scratch,” she said in a phone interview. “I was banging into things on purpose to see if I could

trash it.” Two weeks out, her dark raisin hue was the same shiny perfection. How? She was wearing Shellac.

Removing the polish takes about 10 to 25 minutes as each nail needs a special, wraparound sleeve placed over it and worn for several minutes.

A predecessor product, hard gels, took too long to remove and involved filing, which damaged nails.

However, the new gel polishes won't work for everyone. If your nails are dry, or there’s flaking of the natural nail, the polish will crack or chip where those peelings are.

So for all those women out there who are not coming to the salon for a manicure right now, they are going to be coming for Shellac, and they are going to be blown away.

Linda, Senior Therapist, Rathgar Laser & Beauty Clinic www.rathgarlaserandbeauty.ie

The Informer

Beauty Ideas

Health & Beauty With Linda Mullen

of Oceana Health & Beauty Phone: 01-8283901

Acne for adults

Is acne a prevalent pang of adolescence, or a life-long skin health challenge? Turns out it can be both.

While acne is associated with teenage years filled with raging hormones and the struggle for social acceptance, many adults are finding themselves caught in the middle of an acne epidemic. Skin care professionals and dermatologists alike are also reporting adult acne is on the rise.

Balancing personal and professional responsibilities makes this generation of adults the most time-compressed generation in history, which contributes to chronic stress: the constant, continued and heightened level of stress that throws our adrenal glands into overdrive, which in turn can boost sebum production, setting the stage for acne development.

You may have heard of comedogenic ingredients that cause or promote comedones in skin. You may not be as familiar with acnegenic ingredients – those that cause or exacerbate acne. These common ingredients can be hiding within acne treatment products, causing ineffective treatment of your breakouts. Here’s what to look for: Lanolin: Derived from the words "lana" for wool and "oleum" for oil, Lanolin is a fatty substance obtained from the sheep’s wool.

While it’s a known emollient with moisturizing properties, it can have skin-clogging capabilities, triggering the cycle of breakouts.

Fragrance: Artificial fragrances can increase acne infection, skin sensitization and photosensitivity.

D & C red pigments: Some of these dyes, which are coal tar derivatives, have exhibited highly comedogenic and acnegenic properties.

Mineral Oil: Mineral Oil is an occlusive (something that physically blocks water loss in the Stratum corneum). It’s used in many products, however, has been shown to cause and exacerbate acne.

Adult cases of acne are often more persistent and more inflammatory than teenage cases. Adult acne is also often accompanied by skin sensitization, or a combination of skin conditions, which makes treatment more challenging. To successfully treat, clear and prevent acne, the cascade of events leading to acne development must be controlled; but don’t turn to popular teen-centric treatments that may be too harsh and irritating.

My pick – Dermalogica’s Medibac range or try 3-8 sessions of Microdermabrasion – you will see amazing results in clearing up Adult Acne. Call Oceana at 01 828 3901 for our special on Microdermabraion this month!!

For any beauty and product info email linda@oceana-spa.com and I will get back to you with what to do and where to buy!!!

No problem too big or too small!!

20

The Informer

Garden Growing

Here comes the sun!

What a difference a little sunshine makes! At last the garden has started to explode into life albeit a little slower than normal due to the severe winter. May is

without doubt my favourite time of the year. The longer evenings mean we gardeners have lots of time to spend outside.

The veg plot is well under way.

The potatoes have appeared and will soon need to be ‘EarthedUp’. This means drawing a little soil up to cover the emerging shoots.

This not only protects them from late frosts and yes, frost can still appear in some areas, but also encourages the development of roots further up the stems, thereby increasing the yield.

Keep earthing up at intervals as it covers any developing potatoes in the soil, preventing them from turning green, as green spuds are poisonous.

You say...

Tomatoes will now need to be staked and remember to take off any side shoots which form at the leaf axis, where the leaf stalk joins the main stem. You will also need to feed the tomatoes on a weekly basis with a high potash fertiliser. Thin out the likes of carrots, parsnips and any other veg that look overcrowded. It's

not easy when seeding to get the amount of seed right hence thinning out.

Strawberries will need to be protected with straw to prevent the fruits from rotting. This should be done at the end of May as the fruits emerge.

My favourite lettuce is Rocket and to enjoy it all summer keep sowing new seeds every three weeks or so. This also applies to the Cut and Come again varieties.

This pond life

If you have a pond the fish will need regular feeding. Get into a routine with the feeding, a small amount every second or third day

Tip of the month

When sowing seed in drills, wet the earth first as the soil will be dry. This really helps the seeds to germinate.

is best. Thin out excessive growth on any aquatic plants or they will take over the pond. Ponds should ideally to topped up with rain water as tap water contains chlorine which is harmful to fish.

Keep a very close eye on plants in containers as now is the time of year for the dreaded Vine Weevil. These tiny monsters will devour your plants starting at the roots so its impossible to see them.

As a precaution at this time of year, I always use a biological nematode which is a microscopic living creature to control any weevils that may be lurking. This is available from good garden centres such as Mr. Middleton in Mary Street.

Climbers will need to be tied as May is the time for vigorous growth. Don’t tie the stems to tightly as this will cause damage, always leave a little room for the branch or stem to develop.

With

Gerry Norton Finally folks, if you need any information on gardening or if you have any tips or suggestions which I can pass on, please send them to me at livinglandescapes@eircom.net.

I would be delighted to quote for any/all of your garden requirements from set-up organic vegetable plots to restoration of neglected gardens, design, planting and maintenance. No charge for initial visit and I will travel within reason.

Gerry Norton, Living Landescapes, 97 Church Avenue, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 Tel: 087-2462724 or email

livinglandescapes@eircom.net

22

The Informer

Dublin GAA

Dublin crowned All Ireland U21 football champions The Dublin Under 21 footballers were crowned All-Ireland Champions after a dramatic finale to their encounter with Donegal in Kingspan Breffni Park. With the game in added time and with Dublin winning by two points, Donegal were awarded a penalty kick. Up stepped Donegal captain Michael Murphy but fortune was on Dublin’s side as his shot rebounded off the crossbar and the Dubs survived to take the title on a scoreline of 1-10 to 1-8.

It would have been a travesty for this Dublin team as they had played the better football throughout the game. Michael Murphy came into the game with a big reputation but Dublin full back Rory O’Carroll gave a man of the match display in curbing the talented forward’s impact.

Dublin began the game well and after 20 minutes they led by four points 0-6 to 0-2 but Donegal finished the half stronger. They clawed their way back to reduce Dublin’s lead and in injury time substitute Cillian Morrison worked a one two with Leo Mc Loone to shoot into an empty Dublin net giving the Ulster side a one point lead at the break 1-4 to 0-6.

Donegal were still in the ascendancy on the three-quarter mark but this Dublin team’s championship campaign has been built on a will to win and a never say die attitude. In a sweeping move Cian Mullins found David Quinn with a clever pass, Ouinn laid off the ball to Gary Sweeney

who held his composure to fire to the Donegal net and regain the lead with 13 minutes remaining.

Donegal equalised from a free but Dublin recorded two further points from Ciaran Dorney and Dean Rock before the penalty dramatics unfolded. Sometimes you need a bit of luck to win championships and Murphy could have broken the Dubs hearts had he goaled but the spirit in this team has been in abundance since the championship began and they fully deserved their victory.

In all twenty eight players were used by manager Jim Gavin during the campaign. Jim and his backroom team deserve great credit for the manner in which they prepared the squad both physically and mentally. From their first outing against Louth to the All-Ireland final win over Donegal, they have had to dig deep in every game to win through to the next round in this knock out championship. It was a tough campaign but when Dublin captain Jonny Cooper lifted the Clarke Cup, all the toil, sweat and hard work was rewarded.

This is only the second time Dublin have won the Under 21 All-Ireland football championship trophy and it was our pleasure on GAA Sportsdesk to welcome Jim Gavin (Manager), Jonny Cooper (Captain) and Tony Boylan (Kit Man) into the l Left to Right David O’Grady (Dublin City fm), Tony Boylan ( Kit Man), Mick Hanley (Dublin City studio to discuss and celebrate their fine win. fm), Jonny Cooper (Captain) and Jim Gavin (Manager) with the Friends of Carlow cup, The Leinster Here’s looking to even greater things in 2010. and All-Ireland trophies.

Thinking of doing this year's Flora Mini Marathon On June 7th?

Why not choose Teen-line Ireland as your charity?

Teen-Line Ireland is a free-phone help-line for young people who may be feeling alone worried or distressed.

The help-line provides a confidential secure and non-judgmental listening service to young people.

For sponsorship cards and T-shirts Contact Carmel on 085-1046702 or 01-4622124

Open your gates with your mobile phone!

With a GSM Gate Controller - you just dial to open.

AutoGate Ireland offer a number of solutions to open gates, doors, shutters and barriers by a simple phone call. Just dial a number to open your gates. When your call is received the system recognises your number and will send a signal to open.

There is no need to scroll through your phone book, all you need to do is set up a speed dial on your phones keypad to open.

How do they work?

The unit is fitted with a SIM Card. When access is required, a call is made to the phone number of the SIM Card. The unit allows to call to ring once, to acknowledge the call and to allow the unit to read the number calling it - Caller ID If the unit is set to allow any caller, or to use Caller ID access, it looks for a match of phone numbers in its database and if found activates the on-board relay. If there is no match the call is simply ignored.

As the call is immediatly disconnected and a

connection is never made, there is no charge for the call.

If a match is found a signal is sent to unlock or open the equipment it is connected to. If a match is not found, the caller is ignored Benefits: • No expensive key-fobs to loose, wash or damage, your mobile phone is the key-fob • Numbers can be deleted immediatly as easily as sending a text or making a call • No call charge to operate as the call is never answered • Remote operation from anywhere AutoGate Ireland Install, repair and service all types of automated gates.

Visit out web site at www.AutoGateIreland.com or contact Adrian on 086-8560063 or 01-8864086

The Informer

Dublin Distractions

Crossword 1

2

3

The solution to this crossword will appear in the next issue.

4

8

5

6

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9 10

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23

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Across

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Across

20 - Taxis (4)

5 - Spoke sneeringly (5)

1 - Watching over (8)

21 - Bitumen (3)

6 - Liquid containers (7)

6 - Decorative ribbons (4)

22 - Hidden or secret (6)

Long grasses (5) 73 -- Tired (5)

8 - Toffees Toffees (6) (6)

23 - Season (6)

4 - -Lacking in taste 14 Borrowings (7)(7)

9 -- Give Give away away(6) (6) 9

24 - Sums together (4)

15 Entrysneeringly (7) 5 - -Spoke (5)

1 - Watching over (8)

6 - Decorative ribbons (4)

10 - Solid water (3)

10 - Solid water (3)

25 - Pirate telescope (8)

11 - Jokes (4)

2 - Relaxed (7)

16 - Symbols (7)

6 - Liquid containers (7)

18 - Employed (5)

11 - Jokes (4)

12 - Holds up (6)

Down

7 - Tired (5) 19 - Plant supports (5)

12 (6) 13 -- Holds Lovedup greatly (6)

2 - Relaxed (7)

14 - Man-made Borrowings (7) 20

15 -- Loved Piecesgreatly of crockery (6) 13 (6)

3 - Long grasses (5)

15 - Entry water(7) way (5)

17 - Objects (6)

15 - Pieces of crockery (6)

4 - Lacking in taste (7)

16 - Symbols (7)

17 - Objects (6)

18 - Employed (5)

20 - Taxis (4)

19 - Plant supports (5)

21 - Bitumen (3)

20 - Man-made waterway (5)

22 - Hidden or secret (6) 23 - Season (6) 24 - Sums together (4) 25 - Pirate telescope (8)

B e n c h m a r k e d by neg

It started with a big explosion in Iceland

A lot of our people are back on the boat

And the next thing we're on the deck

And the queues at the counters is growing

A lot of the high fliers were grounded

What will we do if there's a bigger eruption?

And we ended up with empty buildings out of town

Put the whole bloody country into NAMA!

ety re

Wall ew

12

24

The Informer

The End

By Anne Sharkey

Ballyroan Youth Centre reopens Bealtaine 2010 - Celebrating Creativity in Older Age Ballyroan Community and Youth Centre re-opened its doors in late March comprising a sports hall, montessori area plus a number of meeting/activity room together with a fully equipped catering kitchen.

The new facility will be able to cater for a larger volume of groups than it had accommodated before. There will also be a variety of new activities available to the public now.

Although there has been no official opening as yet of the Community Centre, it has been open to the public since March. After a year undergoing renovation, the centre remains a big attraction for the local community.

Groups who previously made use of the

group before it closed for renovation in 2008 have returned once again to the facility and are delighted with the facilities they have access to now in comparison to before.The centre can also be used as a meeting place as it has a coffee shop available which caters for people who use the facilities there.

Local Fine Gael councillor Cait Keane, has welcomed the opening of the Centre. “All in all it is a fantastic asset to the commuity. It is now fully functioning and being managed by a voluntary local community group. While the old community centre was much appreciated, this is really the icing on the cake when you look at it and see the high quality facilities that exist there now."

Bealtaine is the Irish national arts festival celebrating creativity in older age. It takes place each May countrywide and involves thousands of participants in events in every art form.

Taking its name from the ancient Celtic festival celebrating springtime, Bealtaine celebrates renewal, creativity and growth in ageing. Bealtaine is coordinated by Age & Opportunity.

This year the Dublin City Councils Arts Office, Dublin City Public Libraries and Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane have created an impressive and exciting programme of events which builds on the success of previous years from a citywide dance project, to exhibitions, gallery

talks, poetry readings, music events, film screenings, theatre and workshops.

This year’s festival has grown considerably through partnerships with arts organisations and groups such as Poetry Ireland, CoisCéim Dance Theatre, The National Concert Hall, The Macushla Dance Club, Axis Arts Centre, Ballymun, Graphic Studio Dublin, Access>Cinema and the Irish Film Institute, along with collaborations with local community groups.

There really is something for everyone with a range of opportunities to get into the creative summer spirit.

Find out more at your local library.

Awareness Day for iron overload disorder

The Irish Haemochromatosis Association is having its first ever Awareness Day on June 3rd.

Haemochromatosis (HH) is an iron overload disorder which is hereditary and is more common in Ireland than anywhere else in the world. One in 83 Irish people are genetically predisposed to iron overload If undiagnosed and untreated severe organ damage is caused and even death. If diagnosed in time and treated then the person will have a normal life expectancy. The web-site is www.haemochromatosis-ir.com.

The Dublin venues are St Steven's Green SC, Frascati SC, Ilac SC, Swan SC in Rathmines, Superquinn SC in Sutton, Ashleaf SC Crumlin, Nutgrove SC, Dublin city offices in Wood Quay.

Have you got news for us?

Have you got a local news story you would like covered? Email the newsdesk:

news@informer.ie