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Start the New Year in style with a bonnie break away in Glasgow

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Month XX, 2012 CASTLEKNOCK • BLAKESTOWN • HARTSTOWN • COOLMINE • TYRRELSTOWN • DUNBOYNE • CORDUFF • MULHUDDART • ONGAR

THE YEAR IN REVIEW: As Auld Lang Syne rings out, The Gazette look back at 2013’s biggest, most memorable stories Pages 4 - 10

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Local players take part in Dub Stars match Page 32

Review 2013: The sporting highlights of the last year

Support sought to stop bridge  LAURA WEBB

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

LOCALS who objected to plans to close Porterstown level-crossing are being asked to reject proposals to build a footbridge over it. Submissions and observations on plans to close the level-crossing at Porterstown Road ended on December 13. Now those who objected to that plan are being asked to reject proposals to build a pedestrian only bridge over the level crossing before

its January 6 deadline. Cllr Mags Murray (FF) called on people to lodge submissions and said money spent on a footbridge should instead go to conserving the area’s heritage. A spokesman for Irish Rail said the replacement of level crossings, including Porterstown Road: “Will facilitate an increase in the number of train services, as well as the future extension of the DART to the Maynooth line.” Full Story on Page 2

Sleep-out: Students help raise €142,000 for three charities STUDENTS of Belvedere College,

Niall Millar (18) from Castleknock and Patrick Foley (17) from Clontarf, recently took part in the 30th annual Belvedere Charity Sleepout at the GPO on

O’Connell Street. A grand total of €142,000 was raised over the three days for Focus Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust and Home Again. Picture: Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland

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dublin GAZETTe campaign January 6 deadline for submissions council: protected newspapers structures i n f o r m at i o n €140k

boost for local heritage

Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publish eight weekly quality free titles, covering the greater Dublin area from Swords to Dun Laoghaire

 Laura Webb

An artist impression of proposed pedestrian crossing at Porterstown Level Crossing

c o n ta c t s Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com Editor: Mimi Murray mmurray@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@gazettegroup.com Sports Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com Picture Editor: Hiromi Mooney picturedesk@gazettegroup.com Group Advertising Manager: Conor Mahon cmahon@gazettegroup.com Direct Ad Sales Manager: Tatum Rooney trooney@gazettegroup.com Advertising Production: Suzanne Sheehy ssheehy@gazettegroup.com Advertising Sales: 01 - 6010240 sales@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch clynch@gazettegroup.com

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

Residents asked to reject footbridge  Laura Webb

Residents who objected to the closure of Porterstown levelcrossing are also being asked to reject proposals to build a footbridge over it. Locals had until

December 13 to send in submissions and observations on a planning notice to close the levelcrossing at Porterstown Road. Now a Part 8 or public consultation phase for a pedestrian bridge over the level crossing,

which is not accessible to wheelchair users, people with buggies or cyclists, is coming to an end and residents have until January 6 to make their opinions known to the council. In November, a well attended public meeting headed by local resident David Hughes, outlined the main reasons for rejecting the planning notices, with objections including further traffic congestion at St Mochta’s school, creating two cul-de-sacs means more dumping and the fact the pedestrian bridge was not universally accessible. A campaign, Keep Por terstow n Road Open, was set up by local residents and a petition to get locals to make their views known to the council was launched with 420 people signing it.

Speaking to The Gazette, Castleknock councillor Mags Murray (FF) said the money being spent on a pedestrian bridge should instead go to conserving the area’s heritage. “This area has been swallowed up by new development, so I would be highly opposed to anything that is going to take away any part of the community, in the format that we are used to. “[The footbridge] is going to have such limited use. If you are going to take something away, you have to replace it with something at least of the same standard or better, you don’t replace it with something that only a fraction of the community can use. “I would call on people to put in a submission to this [pedestrian bridge] too,” she said.

An allocation of €140,000 has been given to Fingal to assist with repairs and conservation of protected structures. The allocation is part of a new €5 million fund the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme recently announced by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to support a number of projects on protected buildings across the country. There are currently 793 protected structures in Fingal. According to a council spokesperson, the funding will “assist approved applicants with repairs by providing match funding for approved works”. Commenting on the funding, Labour councillor Mary McCamley said such funding is important to help keep local heritage alive. “It is important to look to the future and build for the future, but we also need to remember what went on in the past. “I would like to see something done with the Shackleton Mills. We have wanted to do something with that for some time. “This part of the constituency could be a great tourist attraction because there is so much history here. Also, the school by Porterstown Village, that structure has been sitting there for some time, things like that could be looked at. “This is something we will have to discuss at the next council meeting,” she added.

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papers Aiming for a wider audience

Blanch and Castleknock combine We have now amalgamated our Castleknock and Blanchardstown papers. Castleknock stories will now be covered by the Blanch Plus Gazette

and we will continue to cover many local stories from the Castleknock area. We ask you to continue to send your local good news stories to the Blanch Plus

Gazette. This paper will continue to be stocked in all the usual outlets in Castleknock. We feel we will reach a wider audience with the amalgamation of

these papers and we thank you for your continued support and loyalty and hope that you will continue to enjoy the weekly Gazette, serving your local area.

Savvy: Shopping smart castleknock resident Laura Banks examines a designer handbag as she searches through bargain buys at the Winter Sale at Brown Thomas on Grafton Street on St Stephen’s Day. The Brown Thomas and BT2 Winter Sale began on St Stephens Day at 9am, with up to 60% off women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, accessories, jewellery, shoes, lingerie and home. Picture: Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland

radio: station will be able to employ six staff

Phoenix FM set for State funding boost

 Laura Webb

Communit y radio in Dublin 15 hopes for a secure future with the announcement that 92.5 Phoenix FM will get State funding for staff. The funding is from an extension of the Pobal Community Services Programme grant over three years, from 2014 to 2016. The station will receive €85,000 per year over the next three years to continue to employ six key staff members, which will keep the station broadcasting over the Dublin 15 airwaves. Commenting on the grant allocation, station chairperson Alan Connolly said: “Our board

is very pleased with this news. It’s a great vote of confidence in our work. “It means that we can continue to employ staff to support volunteers in developing knowledge amongst residents and community groups in D15 on how to use media.” Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said: “I admire the work of 92.5 Phoenix FM. “The station has managed to build a forum and platform which gives a voice to all the i m p o r t a n t wo r k o f Dublin 15 community organisations. I welcome the further three years of funding and look forward to working with 92.5 Phoenix FM,

and its listeners, in the future.” 92.5 Phoenix FM broadcasts for 54 hours every week with programmes focusing on the Dublin 15 area. It is made and presented by a team of over 90 local volunteers, while six core staff members and three ancillary staff facilitate production or programming. T he station previously received Pobal funding in 2009 which supported activities up

until now. “This funding will allow us to develop the full potential of the station as a community facility. “It also allows us to specifically focus on a number of target groups such as disadvantaged youth, older people, and people with disabilities, Travellers and other communities and to develop a wider understanding of the potential of community,” Alan said.

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2013

Gazette review of the year that was

Gazette

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TOP STORIES: OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER

Doctors take to streets OCTOBER Junior doctors out on protest In October, junior doctors protested outside Connolly Hospital in solidarity with their colleagues across the country fighting for reduced working hours in the interest of patients and their own safety. The doctors were clear to be seen at the entrance of Connolly at the N3/M50 interchange for the one-day strike action on Tuesday, October 8. Honks of support were heard from cars, trucks

and buses passing the protesters where placards asked the public to support doctors, to protect patients and fight for fair working hours. Speaking at the picket line, junior doctor Orla Flanagan said they were all disappointed that it had to come to strike action. “It’s really unfair working more than 36 hours [in one shift]. We are putting patients and ourselves at risk as well.”

NOVEMBER National Film School launched

The new National Film School at Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) was officially opened by President Michael D Higgins in November. The €7.7m facility was launched at a red-carpet event attended by film industry royalty such as Peter Sheridan and Neil Jordan. The entire opening event was stage-managed and organised by IADT students who also filmed the launch and interviewed attending celebrities. The new National Film School houses many high-tech features, such as a green-screen room

and a HD studio; one of only two in the Republic of Ireland. President of IADT Dr Annie Doona said: “Our graduates using these facilities will have all the skills and tools they need to succeed in a vibrant and growing industry.” Dr Doona said that when Neil Jordan was given a special sneak preview of the facility, he had been “bowled over”.

DECEMBER €4.3m land owners unveiled And in the last month

Martin O’Neill was named new Republic of Ireland football manager with Roy Keane as his assistant coach

of the year, the owners of Luttrellstown Castle and Country Club, John Magnier and JP McManus were revealed as the owners of a plot of land at St Edmundsbury in Liffey Valley. The 274-acre plot went up for auction at the Clarion Hotel in Liffey Valley on September 26 and was sold for €4.3 mil-

lion to a buyer who at the time wished to remain anonymous. In December chief executive of Luttrellstown Castle and Country Club confirmed the owners were in fact Magnier and McManus and said the land, which has a special amenity order protecting it from any land develop-

ment, is currently being used for farming. When asked by The Gazette about the future use of the land, CEO of Luttrelstown Castle and Country Club, Colm Hannon said: “It will be farmed right now. Who knows what the future holds, we don’t really know what the future holds for anyone.”

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

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diary P14

what’son dublin airport sees 660,000 over festive season:

This German Steiff bear (1905-10) is just one of the many furry-faced friends you could meet. Picture: Victoria and Albert Museum

the ark: a stunning exhibit of teddy bears from around the world

Celebrating a toy that lots of us love to bits  Laura Webb

Whether you are three or 33, a teddy bear can be a friend for life and showcasing the story of the teddy bear is children’s centre The Ark. For the first time, The Ark in Temple Bar will work with the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood (UK) to exhibit, Teddy Bear Story, with a stunning collection of teddy bears from around the world. Not only can teddy enthusiasts get to see the fine collection, there are also

bear-themed workshops and special events to delight children and adults of all ages. The V&A is the world’s greatest museum of art and design and its Museum of Childhood is home to one of the world’s finest collections of children’s toys, dolls’ houses, games and costumes. The Ark has commissioned bespoke workshops and events to enhance and complement the exhibition, getting visitors more involved. This will be the only venue in Ireland to host Teddy

Bear Story in 2014 This special exhibition of well-loved furry faces celebrates the success of one of the world’s favourite toys. From the original German Steiff bears through to Were Bears and Care Bears, it includes very old specimens, some very rare bears and even some very famous bears for all the family to meet. Irish bears are represented within the exhibition with a collection of Irish made teddy bears on loan from The Dolls’ Store Hospital and Museum. The exhibition will also feature pho-

tographic portraits from photographer Mark Nixon’s Much Loved book. The portraits include teddy bears belonging to Gerry Ryan, Miriam O’Callaghan, and Rowan Atkinson’s teddy bear from the Mr Bean television series. As well as meeting bears, visitors are encouraged to bring their own teddy bears with them. The exhibition is on for a limited time only from February 8 until April 6. For full details of workshops and what you can expect see www.ark.ie

Dublin Airport was one of the most popular places to be this Christmas, after it was estimated that around 660,000 passengers travelled through the airport during the festive season. The airport was full of emotional reunions and the huge number of people passing through were recorded during the period between Friday, December 20 and Thursday, January 2. The Friday before Christmas was the busiest day before Christmas, with more than 70,000 passengers arriving and departing for Christmas, while Friday, December 27 was the busiest day after Christmas with passengers heading to skiing destinations. Welcoming passengers, Dublin Airport was decorated with 88,000 led lights, 102 Christmas trees, 780 snowflakes and five Santas. More than 800 carol singers from local schools and choirs performed in both terminals, bringing a true Cead Mile Failte to those coming home for Christmas.

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diary dublinlife Snow White a wonderful show! DUE to popular demand before Christmas, six extra shows have been added to the run of this year’s Gaiety panto, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. The show had huge success in the run-up to Christmas and the demand for extra shows came as good news for the stars of the show. Minnie Melange, who plays Bangles, one of the seven dwarfs, said: “We are delighted so far with how the show has been received by audiences and the feedback has been brilliant. “We are having the time of our lives, and so adding another six shows means we get to continue having fun with our audience, young and old!”

The extra shows will be performed on Thursday, January 16; Friday, January 17; Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19 at 6.30pm. Matinee shows will also be held at 1.30pm on the Saturday, and at 1pm on the Sunday. Tickets start from €19.50. For further information, see www. gaietytheatre.com.

ninth tradfest in temple bar FROM Paul Brady and Bagatelle, to flamenco dance classes and banjo workshops, this year’s Temple Bar TradFest has plenty to offer everyone interested in traditional music. This year marks the ninth year for the festival,

which runs in several venues around Dublin over five days and nights. There are more than 200 free events lined up, many of which are familythemed. Artists from Ireland, England, Scotland, Spain and Latvia will entertain the public with their music while face painters and mobile pet farms will keep children amused. Other famous acts due to appear at this year’s festival include Frances Black, Eleanor McEvoy, Stockton’s Wing and De Dannan. Since it began in 2005, Temple Bar TradFest has gained a reputation as the one of the biggest and best traditional Irish music and culture festivals in Ireland.

Snow White leads the Seven Dwarfs out for a photocall at the Gaiety Theatre. The eight panto stars announced details of a further six performances being added to the popular show.

The festival starts on January 22 and continues until January 26. For further information, see www. templebartrad.com.

chernobyl kids arrive to say thanks, dublin Over 50 children from

Chernobyl in Belarus flew into Dublin last week to thank the Irish people who donated €40,000 to fund the rebuilding of their specially-built home which was destroyed by a freak lightning strike recently. Since the story of the

destruction of the children’s €250,000 independent living home was aired on RTE Radio, €40,000 in donations have been received by Chernobyl Children International (CCI) to rebuild the respite centre. The 50 children who

come from some of the areas worst affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident, and who have serious physical and intellectual disabilities arrived into Dublin Airport on December 19 and were met by CCI chief executive Adi Roche. Among them were children who were rescued from the burning home. Roche said: “The people of Ireland, without hesitation, took the plight of the boys to their hearts and responded so generously to the appeal to help rebuild their home and give them back their dignity, independence and freedom.”

maxi zoo kit out animal rescue dogs PET store Maxi Zoo gave a present of free winter coats to 120 dogs, with a donation to Leinster Animal Rescue to ensure that animals in its care are protected from the wet and chilly weather. Maxi Zoo made the donation as part of a nationwide project to provide 2,000 dog coats worth approximately €160,000 to charities throughout the country. Alice Cross, executive director of Maxi Zoo Ireland, said: “A lot of dog breeds are originally from warmer climates and need protection in cold seasons, so it made perfect sense for us to donate dog coats.”

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GAZETTE

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DUBLINLIFE

BUSINESS

PERSONAL WEALTH: MONEY DOCTOR JOHN LOWE ON HOW PLANNING A BUDGET CAN BE PROFITABLE

In the red? Get into the black! A FOOL and his money, as the old saying goes, are soon parted (although I prefer James Van Den Bosch’s quip that “a fool and his money are some party”), but fools aren’t the only ones afflicted this way. Many highly-intelligent people find themselves with financial problems, too. This is because your IQ has absolutely nothing to do with how well you manage your money. What is considerably more relevant is your attitude to the stuff and your timing. If you want to survive (and prosper) during the current economic recession, you need to focus on your personal finances. If you shudder at the thought, remember, as I have said before, that the only boring thing about money is not having enough of it. One other point before we consider how to transform your finances in 10 easy steps – if you run a business, what holds true for your personal finances, holds for your corporate finances, too.

Step one: Get a plan, Stan (apologies to Paul Simon) If you want to transform your finances, the first thing you need is a sound financial plan. Set short-, medium- and long-term goals. These might be such things as “pay off all my debts”, or “sort out my retirement”. You can’t go forward until you know what you want to achieve. Step two: Stop digging You can’t get out of a hole if you keep digging.

If you have a financial problem – such as debt – then stop doing anything that might be making it worse.

Step three: Be patient It is difficult to get rich quick, but very easy to do if you take it slowly. By the same token, you won’t solve any financial problem by being in a hurry. Step four: Work out a budget Budgeting has nothing to do with self-denial – it is simply about making a plan for how you will spend your money over a specific period. Start by working out your current position. Calculate your income and expenditure over a typical year (breaking it down, month by month). Then, draw up a list of your assets and liabilities. Step five: Waste will seriously damage your wealth For years, my children would roll their eyes when I went round the house switching off lights, or complained when they were talking on the telephone for too long. Eventually, they were persuaded that what I was doing was worthwhile when I offered them a percentage of any utility bill savings we could make as a family. I reinforced the message by pointing out that everyone in the world – even Bill Gates – only ever has a finite amount of income, and that, once you’ve spent it, you can’t get it back. Now, more than ever, you need to cut out all waste. Step six: Shop well

Although there’s surely money to be made – and lost – playing the stock market, some prudence and common sense is key to improving your financial lot in 2014

No financial ill can befall anyone who shops carefully. “Value for money” means more than just the lowest price, but can incorporate convenience, service, quality and speed of delivery. Don’t be afraid to negotiate, and rejoice in the fact that the silver lining to our country’s woes is that there are some great deals to be had.

Step seven: Cut the cost of your borrowing There is a simple but effective formula for dealing with debt. If you can, consolidate all your debt into a single, less expensive loan and then pay it off as quickly as possible. If you can’t, hustle all your lenders until they give you a better rate, and always pay the most expensive debt off first. The rate of interest you pay makes a huge difference. Don’t be complacent – remember,

income is your numberone asset.

Step eight: Aim for high returns and minimal risk There are plenty of ways to make a high return on your investments without taking undue risk. The first secret is not to consider what the market is doing, and the second is not to chop and change your mind. Over the medium- to longterm period, the stock market has always (and I mean always) produced greater profits than anything else. Investors who split their money between shares and bonds and achieve average returns do better than almost everyone else. Check out exchange traded funds (ETFs) as the low-cost way to invest, or the plethora of managed funds on offer with their easy to understand risk categories.

Don’t, by the way, waste money on unnecessary management fees.

Step nine: Get protected at the right price Review all your insurance. Have you got the cover you actually need? Could you switch providers and save? It is possible to make huge savings by reviewing your insurance (and other financial products) on a regular basis. For instance, do you realise if you have quit smoking over 12 months, you could be entitled to a 50% reduction in your life cover premiums? Step ten: You should be optimistic The economy is cyclical. Everyone is talking gloom, gloom, gloom now, but in due course it will become boom, boom, boom again, and when it does, the canny will make a fortune. If you are entrepre-

John Lowe’s new book, The Money Doctor 2014, published by Gill & Macmillan, is available now, RRP €10.99 (as ever, shop around for prices)

neurial, the recession is your friend. The costs of starting and running a business are lower in real terms than they have been for more than a decade. Suppliers, desperate for sales, are offering great deals and if you are

happy to buy secondhand equipment, there are amazing bargains to be had. Rents are down, professional advisers are charging less and – crucially – there are plenty of skilled employees looking for work.

 You can contact John with your money questions by emailing

jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor. ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor

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

comedy: tiernan’s new show takes in exotic swords, blanchardstown ...

PETS

Tommy’s all set to brave the suburbs

 laura webb

COMEDIAN Tommy Tiernan is to embark on a mysterious journey outside the city walls, and take on a new culture – the suburbs of Dublin – for his World Tour of Dublin. In the comedy scene for more than two decades, he has travelled the length and breadth of the country, but for some reason has never taken time out to see the scenic routes of Blanchardstown, Tallaght, Citywest, Killiney and the many suburban towns he is listed to tour this New Year. Asked why he chose the city surroundings rather than the city itself, he said it was simply out of “curiosity” about the county. He said: “Any time we are in Dublin, it is usually in Vicar Street. We do every other county, and we have never done the suburbs of Dublin, so I thought it would be interesting.” A lot of the venues are in hotels – a setting Tommy believes is perfect for his stand-up. “Hotels suit what I do better. The rooms that we will be in, people will have had 21st [parties], weddings there ... they are not in any way intimidated

let beau jest and play with a lovely home

by the space. “That is what suits stand-up best – that kind of loose, energetic, boozy room. I love it! It’s all chat, chat, chat; laugh, laugh, laugh.” A few of the hotels have a connection with him, including The Spa Hotel in Lucan, where his mother once took the family to get away from his father until he “copped himself on”.

‘Exotic places’ “I spent most of my teenage years in Navan, so I would have heard of these exotic places like ‘Swords’ and ‘Blanchardstown’, so I am very excited about going there.” His World Tour of Dublin material comes from stories that have developed from touring. “You pick up stories from every county and, because I am on stage so much, you run through ideas. The stuff is a halfway house between stuff that has happened and fantasy. “It is all just talking – I love talking! I could have been a speaking clock or a taxi driver, but stand-up suits me.” Entering into a New Year, after a hectic Christmas with six children, Tommy said 2013 was “a great year”.

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Having survived not only 2012 and 2013, comic Tommy Tiernan is ready for a new challenge – like exploring some of the deepest, darkest reaches of Dublin city

“It was fantastic, my favourite year ever – because I survived it. I was so happy to get 2012 out of the way, and now 2013 – I am like a fella making it to the end of a swimming pool after doing a length, gasping for air.” Not only is he busy touring Ireland and then on to Europe, he is also writing a sitcom. “It’s a sitcom for people who don’t like

sitcoms. I don’t watch much TV, mainly sport and movies, so I am intrigued by the challenge of writing something that would be the kind of thing that I would like to see. Something ... different.” Tickets for his World Tour of Dublin are on sale now from www.ticketmaster. ie, and the venues. For a full list of venues, see www.aikenpromotions.com, or www.tommytiernan.com.

The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week is Beau, a two-year-old Staffie cross. This is a beautiful dog with a big heart. He needs his confidence built, as he can be quite a worried animal when meeting new friends, but once he gets to know you he will shower you with love. This handsome hound would prefer canine company rather than cats or children, but would probably love a home where he is the centre of someone’s world. He would love a big garden where he could run around off lead playing fetch, or getting out and about for a walk. If you think you could give Beau a perfect home, please contact Dogs Trust at 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50, and directions can be found on www. dogstrust.ie You can also find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustireland or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE

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OUT&ABOUT

HEALTH

New Year, new you!  LAURA WEBB style@gazettegroup.com

Take a holiday from festive indulgence

IF YOU’RE feeling slightly guilty about the overindulgence that inevitably comes with the festive season, don’t feel too bad. Chances are we’re all in the same boat! The start of 2014, however, is the perfect time to get kick-started on all those resolutions you’re already worried about not keeping. It’s a brand new year, full of optimism and hope, so why not make it a brand new you to match? We’ve got the diet and fitness tips to get you feeling and looking your best for the optimistic year ahead... Healthy exercise and a sensible and realilstic approch to dieting will deliver the results you’re looking for

Get in Shape It’s usually number one on all of our resolution lists, but it’s often hard to get motivated. According to ISI sports nutritionist and personal trainer Eoin Lacey, we need determination when it comes to losing weight in the New Year. “New Year’s resolutions are a wonderful idea, however a lot of people don’t surround themselves with the correct environment to positively assist them on their new found road of health and well-being.”

Coming to the rescue, Eoin shares his top five tips on improving our resolution success. 1. Set a clear, concise goal The key here is to be realistic. You didn’t gain weight in a month, so don’t expect to lose it in the course of an unrealistic time frame. On average, you can expect to lose 1 to 2lbs per week, which is safe but most importantly, easier to sustain over time.

2. Surround yourself in a healthier world Get rid of all the boxes of chocolates that have accumulated over Christmas. Don’t have treats in the house as these temptations will test your willpower during this new phase. 3. Nobody’s the same You don’t have the same fingerprint as anyone else, and this genetic variation is also true with exercise and dietary response. Don’t follow celebrity fitness videos or celebrity

diets. It’s true they work for some people but not everyone. Suit your changes to your lifestyle, occupation, fitness ability and injury history. 4. Time for change In order to increase your metabolic rate and enhance sleep, it’s recommended you consume the majority of your food before 7pm. Eating a huge dinner will increase fat tissue, interfere with sleep and will cause you to age faster.

5. No TV dinners People consume food more quickly and tend to overeat when eating in front of the TV. When you’re watching TV, you only stop eating when the food is gone, not when you’re feeling full. Have you ever eaten a biscuit watching TV, then realise the pack is empty?

THIS WEEK we’re all feeling the effects of a lazy Christmas – sluggish and a few pounds heavier! Coming to our rescue, wholefoods nutritionist Nicola Murphy says that even before we make those New Year’s resolutions, we should be stimulating the recovery of our bodies after the festive over-indulgence. According to Nicola, the average person eats at least 6,000 calories on Christmas Day alone, putting our digestive system under tremendous stress. “It is time to cut out the processed junk food. Introduce plenty of fruit and vegetables into the diet and aim to drink 1.5 litres of water per day,” Nicola advises. “After all that mulled wine and bubbly, your liver will feel a bit battle-worn,” she added. “Try drinking the juice of half a lemon in a glass of warm water first thing every morning. This can gently aid the liver detoxing process as well as reducing acidity in the body.” When it comes to losing the extra pounds, Nicola highlights the importance of incorporating natural foods into the diet and banishing junk food. “Allow yourself the odd treat. Balancing blood sugar levels is key to controlling cravings. Try eating protein with each meal as it slows glucose release from carbohydrates.

Eoin Lacey is the coowner of ISI, Ireland’s leading personal training centres (www.isipersonaltraining.com)

Three must-haves to help kick-start your healthy year resolutions Back Emotional Eating Kit (€12.95) IF YOU’RE eating because you’re stressed, tired or sad, you might just benefit from the help of flower essences. This kit contains essences of chestnut bud, crab apple and cherry plum and can help deal with emotional or comfort eating, helping to prevent you from repeating past mistakes!

Chia Seeds (€9.99 for 400g) LONG lauded by health conscious celebs, chances are you’ve heard of chia seeds. A natural, gluten-free food source, the seeds contain essential amino acids and are ideal for a healthy heart, boosting energy levels, improved memory and balancing blood-sugar levels. www.chiabia.com.

MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil (€17.99) RECENTLY launched in Ireland, MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil provides an optimal combination of Omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids and powerful antioxidant astaxanthin to support your heart health as you work on that new you for the new year.

2 January 2014 Gazette 19

GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 2 January 2014

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

Noah and his wife, Naameh (Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly), face God’s wrath in Noah; DiCaprio leads the pack in The Wolf of Wall Street, and Chiwetel Ejiofor has a moving role in 12 Years a Slave

PREVIEW: THE YEAR AHEAD FEATURES DIRECTORS PRESENTING A DIVERSE RANGE OF MOVIES

2014 could see more thoughtful films 2013 was a year of big action, with Iron Man 3, Man of Steel, and Fast and Furious 6 grossing incredible figures. However, 2014 promises some films that would seem to change the pace from the franchise-driven box office successes of last year. Released a year on from Tarantino’s Django, Steve McQueen revisits pre-civil war slavery in 12 Years a Slave, due out this month. M c Qu e e n ’s 2 00 8 film Hunger, and 2011’s Shame, were incredibly powerful, haunting stories and this latest looks set to follow the pattern – telling the true story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free man abducted and sold into slavery. The director’s collaborator Michael Fassbender appears again, but in a smaller role than in McQueen’s earlier films. Another long-running creative par tnership showcasing its fr uit before the Oscars is The Wolf of Wall Street , directed by Mar tin

 DAVE PHILLIPS

Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Another film based on a true story, this focuses on the garish excesses of Jordan Belford, a Wall Street stockbroker with a massive appetite for drink, drugs, and money. Meanwhile, religious epics look to be making a comeback in 2014, with Darren Aronofsky’s Noah, due out in spring. Retelling The Flood narrative with Russell Crowe as Noah may be a hard sell next to the latest Marvel instalments, but, with 2010’s Black Swan, and 2008’s The Wrestler under his belt, Aronofsky has proved he can consistently make impressive and accessible films with off-kilter themes. Ridley Scott is moving on from 2013’s disappointing The Counsellor by filming Exodus,

a retelling of the Moses narrative starring Christian Bale. Currently shooting, the film looks set for release at the end of 2014 – it’s too early to say, but the presence of Steven Zaillian (screenwriter for Schindler’s List, American Gangster, and Gangs of New York) is definitely promising. Christopher Nolan, who has worked with Bale for the past decade on the latest incarnation of the Batman films, is busy working on Interstellar, which promises to be a visually stunning sci-fi epic set for release towards the end of 2014. Famously keeping things under wraps, Nolan hasn’t divulged much information on the story, but given that it involves travelling through wormholes, fans of Nolan’s more mindbending works, such as Inception, should be in for a treat. Another related cerebral project that looks promising is Trans c e n d e n c e , s t a rring Johnny Depp and directed by Christopher

Nolan’s long-time collaborator, Wally Pfister. The film, set for release around April, tells the story of a pioneering researcher who explores the boundaries between human consciousness and artificial intelligence to mark out a new evolutionary path for humankind. Moving on, and if 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes taught us anything, it is that things are bound to get messy in Man Vs Monkeys. Now, in a welcome sequel, Andy Serkis returns as Caesar – the simian who has declared war on humanity. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is due out in July, but with a new director and writing team, it remains to be seen whether it will strike the balance between action and dramatic thrills that made the first film a success. With many of the most promising releases due before the Oscars in March, the next couple of months should see us spoiled with high-quality films.

2 January 2014 Gazette 21

Gazette

ARTS theatre: a desperate yet sometimes comic look at a key historical event

Theatre

Marking the sacrifice of workers in the Lockout  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

THE Abbey is running a new adaptation of James Plunkett’s play, The Risen People, until February. Like his opus, Strumpet City, The Risen People charts the impact on Dublin workers of the 1913 Lockout. This play is an adaptation of a version by Jim Sheridan and features Dublin actors such as Hilda Fay, Ian Lloyd Anderson, Simon Boyle, Kate Brennan and Phelim Drew, among others. The Risen People premiered in The Abbey this month, seeing characters in the play convincingly re-inhabit the world of 1913 Dublin at the time of the infamous Lockout. Not only is the casting superbly authentic, but the era is depicted in all its colourful glory through speech and song. Ballads and music play as much a part in this production as the actors, and the humour is set beside tragedy to make a handsome pairing. Director Jimmy Fay’s competent direction is well complemented by Colin Dunne’s direction

of movement, and Conor Linehan’s musical compositions. The show features a host of new songs and music composed especially for the play, blending the sounds of music hall and ballad very imaginatively with a band complete with flute, tin whistle, spoons, Cajun box, guitar, fiddle and bodhran. --------------------------

‘My character never worked a day in his life, and lives off the charity of his neighbours, but as they strike he goes from rags to more rags’ --------------------------

Phelim Drew

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

The story is set in a tenement neighbourhood, and follows the life of the inhabitants of one house in particular. The main character, Fitz, played by Ian Lloyd Anderson (Dean in Love/ Hate) is an idealistic

young foreman who goes out on strike in sympathy with fellow workers. The stress put on his marriage as the months crawl by and funds dwindle brings it close to breaking point. Another familiar face is Joe Hanley (of Fair City, Adam and Paul) who plays the famous Rashers Tierney – a character kept on by Plunkett in his subsequent Strumpet City. Mr and Mrs Hennessy are a match made in heaven, as the shiftless ne’er-do-well Hennessy is bullied and castigated by his avaricious wife, played by Hilda Fay, with Hennessy played by Phelim Drew, the son of the late Ronnie. Phelim spoke to The Gazette about the play and his part in it. He said: “The play was originally commissioned by The Abbey. It then became a radio play, and then a successful production was done by the Sheridan brothers at the Project Theatre in the 1970s. “Jimmy Fay has now put on this version, with the idea to combine the drama with movement and music, so it’s not

THE pavilioN THEATRE 01 231 2929

Dirk Powell, Michael McGoldrick, Brendan Gleeson and Francis Gaffney AN EARLY musical treat for the new year sees actor Brendan Gleeson join acclaimed banjo player Dirk Powell and friends for an eclectic evening, with an exploration of American Old Time, Cajun and traditional Irish music. Hear the five-piece on Sunday, January 12 at 8pm; tickets priced €18/€16.

mill theatre 01 296 9340

Trouble in the Kingdom of Enchantasia TIME’S almost up to take a trip to Enchantasia, where Prince Archibald has plopped himself on the throne. But what has happened to the rightful ruler, the Crown Princess? This fun production ends on January 5, with admission for the 2.30pm shows costing €12.50 for adults, €10 for children, or €50 for a family of five.

Mr and Mrs Hennessy – Hilda Fay and Phelim Drew – create a memorable and dysfunctional duo in the play, adding to the richness of the ensemble cast

draiocht 01 885 2622 Cinderella

strictly a ‘straight’ play or a musical, but has a lovely balance of movement, drama and music. “The songs are all relevant to the 1913 Lockout and its effects on ordinary people. Some of the songs were taken from the original script, and others worked into Fergus Lenihan’s composition, so there are a lot of different styles of music. “I sing in the play, both on my own and accompanied by the other cast members. I’m one of 10 people in the company, and we all sing in the show. It’s a very ensemble piece. “The story starts in September 1913 when William Martin Murphy, a huge businessman – the equivalent of Rupert Murdoch, today – locked his workers out for refusing to sign a consent form not to

join Larkin’s ITGWU. “There was great division among employees at the time and replacement working teams, ‘scabs’, took over the trams, and in Jacob’s biscuit factory. “There’s a scene in the play that depicts a terrible baton charge [on the strikers] by the Dublin Metropolitan Police, and it’s done in an impressionistic way,” said Phelim “In the play, Fitzpatrick is a foreman who is also locked out, and he and the other workers have been receiving strike pay from the TUC in England, in solidarity, but as the months wear on, the money gets smaller and smaller, and by the end of January people are starving. “It’s quite emotional, as we see the characters’ journey until they agree to return to work in January.

“A lot of strikers refused to return to work, and went on to fight in World War One and were killed. So, there is a very international aspect to the whole play, too. “My character, Hennessy, lives in the same tenement building as Fitzpatrick and is a lazy layabout with eight kids. He never worked a day in his life, and lives off the charity of his neighbours, but as they strike he goes from rags to more rags. “[He’s] a comical character too, like Rashers! The play, although full of drama and turmoil, also has a lot of humour in it,” he said. The Risen People, by James Plunkett, runs at The Abbey until February 1, and tickets, available from www.abbeytheatre. ie, range in price from €13 to €45.

ADDING to the wideranging roster of pantos in Dublin this Christmas, Draiocht presents weekend showings of Cinderella, until January 19. The Ugly Sisters are just one (or two?) of the many highlights of this entertaining family show, with many showings almost sold out. To check times and availability, see www.draiocht.ie; tickets priced €20/€16 conc.

civic 01 462 7460

Bring on the Apocalypse FOR those who fear “the average bloke” is an endangered species, Tom O’Mahony (AKA Tarquin from RTE’s Damo & Ivor) presents his singular vision of the challenges facing real Irish blokes today, with everything from tight trousers to male cosmetics in his sights. Catch up with Tom at 8.15pm on Saturday, January 11, with tickets priced €15/€12 conc.

22 Gazette 2 January 2014

Gazette

FOOD&DRINK OUT&ABOUT BITESIZEDNEWS Crafty hops to brew up your taste buds fair: a chance to try artisan beverages and foods

 Hiromi Mooney

Brian McDermott’s healthy and hearty chicken casserole

A salt-free solution to tasty and healthy food after Christmas No Salt Chef Brian McDermott is the resident chef on RTE’s Today Show, as well as having his own weekly cookery slot on BBC radio. Known for his healthier option recipes, Brian cooks great tasting, accessible and affordable food without the extra addition of salt. With the arrival of January, Brian’s shared a healthy and hearty meal perfect for the whole family on the cold – and probably rainy – January evenings.

Healthy Hearty Chicken Casserole 400g chicken thighs 2 sprigs thyme 20g flour 2 bay leafs 25ml Donegal rapeseed oil 1 onion, peeled and diced Half leek, chopped finely 3 carrots, peeled and diced 3 parsnips, peeled and diced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced ½ litre chicken stock 25ml white wine Fresh ground black pepper Freshly chopped parsley Method Heat frying pan and add rapeseed oil. Coat chicken thighs in flour and add to pan. Colour on all sides season with black pepper and transfer to casserole dish. In same frying pan add and sweat the chopped onion, garlic, carrots, parsnips and leeks. Sweat for a few minutes then add thyme and white wine. Reduce the wine slightly, then add the bay leaf and warm stock. Add the diced sweet potatoes. Pour over the chicken in casserole and transfer to hot oven at 160 degrees for one hour. Add creme fraiche and freshly chopped parsley before serving.

THE craft beer industry has been thriving in Ireland in recent years, and now there’s a bigger choice to suit every palate. With the festive season in full swing, what better time to start experimenting the pairing up of different beers with different food. I certainly got a taste for this at the launch of the Alltech International Craft Brews and Food Fair, which took place recently at Ely Gastro Bar at the Grand Canal Square. The fair is due to take place at the National Convention Centre in Dublin from February 6 to 8, 2014. Following the inaugural fair in July, the next one will see a large gathering of trade exhibitors, up to 50 breweries, food pairing experts, world renowned beer judges and international trade professionals come together for three days of learning, networking and entertainment. The line-up of events includes educational talks and demonstrations about craft brewing and distilling, and restaurateurs can also learn about pairing their dishes with craft beers and spirits. The fair will be open to trade on February 6 and 7, and it will welcome the public to attend and sample the craft beverages and artisan foods from 5pm on February 7 and from 12pm on February 8. Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and Distill-

ing Company has been brewing award-winning beers since 2000. Its founder, Dr Pearse Lyons, says: “The Alltech International Craft Brews and Food Fair is designed to gather brewers and distillers from all levels across the world, in Dublin, to hone their craft and network with each other. It has always been a dream of mine to host an international meet up of brewers and distillers and where better to host such an event than in Dublin, Ireland.” G e t t i n g t h e p a i ring right is essential for enhancing the taste of the food and beer, as well as for creating the complementary infusions of flavours. Alltech’s Kentucky Ale family of brews – which include the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and Kentucky IPA – has scooped numerous medals, including the 2012 US Open Beer Championships, the 2012 North American Brewers Association Beer Fest and the 2010 World Beer Cup. The Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is a nutty, malty beer with sweet caramel notes, and this complements beef, steak or other strong red meats. Meanwhile, the Kentucky IPA is a bright, citrus-styled beer that complements spices, and it goes down a treat with tiger prawns cooked in garlic and chilli on crusty bread. For more information about the upcoming fair, visit www.alltechbrewsandfood.com.

Alltech’s Kentucky Ale family include the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and Kentucky IPA

Gwen Buckley and Gavin McDonald pictured at the launch. Picture: Finbarr O’Rourke

2 January 2014 Gazette 23

Gazette

MOTORS road

NOISE

Volkswagen Golf is Best Car of 2014

The DS3 Cabrio comes with a price tag of €25,045

Citroen: The DS3 Cabrio hits the mark on so many levels

An impressive come back for the French  cormac curtis

Citroen really outdid themselves in recent years when they released their DS range of cars. I can’t help but compare this spike in their design flair to that of the French teams competing in the Heineken Cup – from one year to the next they seem to be lost in a haze of garlic, cheese and wine, showing little interest in competing and even less ambition in taking home any silverware. Then, out of the blue when the cup final is actually being held in our own Lansdowne Road – we end up with two French teams in the final. It may sound like a stretch, but hear me out. Think about it… when was the last time Citroen made an enormously desirable car? You might just be able to think of one. But ask yourself this; when did they last make an iconic and beautiful soft-top?

Exactly. You’d have to look all the way back to the iconic 2CV to even begin that conversation. But what’s that? The French have come back with a stunning little coupe boasting all the unique looks and appeal of the DS range? And the rest. T he Citroen DS3 Cabrio is a little stunner. It hits the mark on so many levels it’s almost embarrassing trying to do it justice in a newspaper review. For a start, there’s the genuinely clever, yet retro approach the designers have taken to the soft-top part of the car. Instead of putting the soft roof on a completely foldaway frame with freestanding windows, Citroen have maintained most of the vertical supports to keep the cabin well-protected even though the roof retreats right back. All the fun of open-top driving yet retaining an awful lot of rigidity which,

in turn, keeps down the drag so it doesn’t end up being heavy on fuel like most convertibles. Apart from the clever roof – the car has all the appeal a little cabrio should have. In fact, it’s everything a hot hatch should be… and then some. The exaggerated front grille, the deep black paint, the high-set headlights and vertically set LED lights along with the stylish side skirts and rear light clusters; all of it adds up to a true head-turner that will no doubt stand the test of time. Is this an exercise in style over substance? In its ear it is. I could not have been happier driving this car – what a stonking drive. With the wheels set at the very extreme edges of the car, you are set for a grippy, tight and precise drive; add that to the short wheelbase, coupled with a very different kind of automatic gearbox and

It has been a favourite of the Irish driving public for years, and now it seems the experts from The Sunday Times newspaper agree, as they have named the Volkswagen Golf the Best Car of 2014. Chosen by top motoring journalists from both The Sunday Times and Irish website CompleteCar.ie, the Golf was named as Best Hatchback but also named as the overall winner of the paper’s Car of the Year Title - Best Car of 2014. The team responsible for choosing the winners commented on the Golf: “There was unanimous agreement that it had to be the Volkswagen Golf, the leading hatch, and one that will add both of its accolades here to a long list of others.” The writers went on to add, “…there is a Golf for nearly everyone and all are great to drive.”

asdfeasfasd The Golf BlueMotion will be released in January along with the Golf R

Audi hosts its inaugural National quattro Event:

diesel engine with 90 bhp, and you are left with everything you need to put a huge smile on your face. For a little motor, there is so much car here it’s difficult to touch all the bases – but the interior needs a big shout out. What I wasn’t expecting was such a quiet cabin – the makers say it’s barely louder than the hatchback model. Not only that, the upholstery and seats are top-notch, the dash is beautiful with brush-steel chrome effects that match the stainless-steel pedals

and gearstick. Nothing in the interior felt second-best, it was a far more solid and bullet-proof build than I was expecting, so when you’re driving the car around twisty roads and really putting it through its paces the interior adds a real sense of security to the whole experience. After a week in the DS3 Cabrio, I simply didn’t want to give it back – which, let me tell you, is high praise indeed, as I’m always looking forward to the next car to test.

Audi Ireland hosted an exciting national Audi quattro test drive event recently in Weston airport to showcase the heritage and benefits of their permanent all-wheel drive technology system. The event invited Audi customers, dealers, myAudi competition winners and members of the motoring media. Guests experienced the Audi quattro technology in three tailored test drive workshops. The test driving experience provided guests with the opportunity to understand the quattro permanent allwheel system and the benefits it has to offer,

thanks to the impressive driving dynamics, traction and increased safety. The Audi RS6 quattro performance assessment gave drivers the opportunity to witness former Austrian rally champion Stefan Eichhorner put Audi’s most powerful car to the test. This was followed by a quattro grip surface workshop which featured the Audi S3, Q3 and A6 quattro vehicles. Finally the safety test allowed drivers trial the Audi A4 quattro on simulated ice which demonstrated how quattro technology intuitively responds when you need better traction in tricky icy conditions or extra grip on wet slippery roads in comparison to a front wheel drive A4.

Gazette

24 gazette 2 January 2014

OUT&ABOUT

city break: a place that’s been busy carving out a unique identity

Glasgow’s got it in the bag for shopping

 natalie burke

Kilts, bagpipes and tar tan may play an important role in the trademark of the highlands, but after a recent visit to Glasgow, it seems that Scotland’s largest city has been busy carving out a unique identity for itself. Suddenly being described as cutting edge, trendy and fashionable, Glasgow is one

city that has found itself in recent years. It’s unique and worldly and yet there’s no fear it will lose any of its strong Scottish identity Of course the kilts and bagpipes are still a very regular occurrence and tartan is widely being embraced by the entire fashion world, but it’s these signature elements that are sending this particular city into a bit of a whirlwind.

It’s also making its mark on the world’s calendar for next year. Glasgow is set to host t h e C o m m o nwe a l t h Games in 2014 and was announced only recently as the city that will be hosting the 20th MTV Europe Music Awards, at its brand new Hydro Arena.

Shopping in style With over 1,500 shops to choose from, ranging

The Grasshoppers Hotel is a trendy boutique hotel in the heart of the city centre

The Grill Room restaurant offers a menu filled with locally sourced produce

from vintage shops to well-known high street brands, it comes as no surprise to learn that Glasgow has previously been voted as the top place to shop in the UK – outside London’s West End. This may be one of

the reasons why many fashion designers are setting their roots in the city. Since my recent trip coincided with the Scottish Style Awards, it was the perfect excuse to visit some of Glasgow’s finest design studios. Our first stop was Timorous Beasties (www.timorousbeasties.com), a design studio noted for its surreal and provocative textiles and wallpapers. It was set up by design duo Alistair McAuley and Paul Simmons, who met while studying textile design at Glasgow School of Art. The price tags reflect the talented work of each unique design but are sure to provide you with some lust-worthy pieces when it comes to interior design. Next was a visit to milliner William Chamb e r s ’ s h ow r o o m o n Bath Street (www.wil-

liamchambers.co.uk). H i s b e s p o ke h a t s and headpieces have a p p e a r e d o n m a ny a catwalk, as well as shoots in Vogue and Elle magazine, and have been worn by a number of celebrities including Kelis and fashion icon Roisin Murphy. Whether you’re looking for something for the races, the wedding of the year, or just some stand-out street style, William Chambers creates bespoke designs to suit all tastes. While both William and Timorous Beasties were first established in the heart of Glasgow, one designer to adopt the city as her new home is Italian designer, Silvia Pellegrino (www.chouchoucouture.com). From her studio in trendy Finnieston – Glasgow’s answer to London’s Shoreditch – Silvia designs and hand-makes limited

edition luxury hoods and veils. Discovering talented accessor y designers is the order of the day when it comes to soaking up the fashionable culture of Glasgow, as the next visit on our list was with luxury jewellery designer Georgia Wiseman (www.georgiawiseman.com). She’s another graduate from the Glasgow School of Art and has won several awards for her designs; her jewellery being inspired by geometric patterns and handmade in her Glasgow studio. If it’s fine jewellery you’re after however, pay a quick visit to The Thrill Room at Rox. R ox i s S c o t l a n d ’s fashion forward diamond and watch specialist featuring stunning engagement rings, diamond jewellery and watches, but its hidden gem is upstairs in The

2 January 2014 gazette 25

Gazette

Travel

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

Head east and take in the splendours of India

Relax at the Moet & Chandon Champagne bar at The Thrill Room at Rox

Thrill Room where you can relax at the Moet & Chandon Champagne bar (and think about your purchase!). Last on our must see list was a visit with the designers behind Obscure Couture (www. obscure-couture.com). T he philosophy behind this unusual clothes brand is to “make your other clothes jealous” and it certainly takes a stance against your everyday fashion. Handmade from their Glasgow studio, the stand-out outfits have graced the pages of French Vogue as well as being worn by celebrities and fashion icons across the UK.

Where to eat Stopping for a bite to eat, we took a break from the bustling streets and hid ourselves away at 29 Private Members Club (www.29glasgow.

com) at Royal Exchange Square. The Grill Room restaurant offers views of Exchange Square and features a menu filled with locally sourced produce. For a more casual spot, pay a visit to The Gannet (www.thegannetgla.com), an exciting new restaurant in the up-and-coming Finnieston. Located in a 108-yearold tenant building, it’s fine dining “without the faff” and features some signature Scottish dishes.

Where to stay At the end of the day, we checked into the Grasshoppers Hotel (www.grasshopp e r s g l a s g ow. c o m ) a trendy boutique hotel on Union Street in the heart of the city centre. Minutes away from the city’s main shopping streets, its penthouse

With the arrival of the New Year, you’re inevitably thinking about your holiday for 2014 already. With the help of Travel Department, why not head east and take in the splendours of India? The cities Delhi, Agra and Jaipur boast some of India’s most famed landmarks and architectural marvels. Along your journey you’ll visit awe-inspiring palaces and monuments, proud fortresses, mosques and ancient cities. Take a rickshaw ride in Old Delhi’s bustling streets and feast your senses on a spicy kaleidoscope of colour and sound in its buzzing markets. In Agra, you’ll gaze in wonder at the legendary Taj Mahal, the Monument to Love, while The Amber Fort in the Pink City of Jaipur will surely take your breath away. Travel on April 10 or 26, or May 6 or 10, and spend ten nights at a five-star hotel on a half board basis. For more information, or to book, contact Travel Department (01 6371600, www. traveldepartment.ie)



Got a story?

The Gannet is an exciting new restaurant in the up-and-coming Finnieston

location is on the top floor of the Caledonian Chambers offering some great views over Glasgow city. With a self-service kitchen and Scandinavian influenced design, the hotel is stylish, modern and compact. Perfect for some downtime at the end of a busy day!

Getting there You can fly with Aer Lingus Regional, which is operated by Aer Arann (www.aerlingus. com) into Glasgow Airport. For further information on booking your trip to Glasgow you can visit the website www. peoplemakeglasgow. com

websites www.williamchambers.co.uk www.chouchoucouture.com www.georgiawiseman. com www.29glasgow.com www.thegannetgla. com www.aerlingus.com

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2013sport 

Another fantastic year of all the best local sporting action has just begun, so let’s cast an eye back over the achievements and successes of the last 12 months...



Gazette

  happynew year... d

Sport shows the way for the future The stories that we tell every week, from the local team’s league success to the international honours achieved as the result of years of dedication to a discipline convey a story that repeats time and again, week after week and year after year. Your ability to break through and crack the ceiling of your sport to taste greatness resides inside of all of us, at whatever level we participate, whether it be on the sidelines or in the middle of the fray. Self-belief and commitment are phrases that are returned to time and again by the people we have been fortunate enough to speak to and report on throughout 2013, whether they be Olympic or Paralympic medallists, world champions, provincial victors or county title holders. And even those who have not won the top honours have shown their mettle and sporting spirit, wearing them as well in defeat as in victory. Inspiration comes from a number of sources every year, and this year no more so than seeing the likes of Dublin’s senior footballers’ All-Ireland victory at Croke Park as much as Naomh Olaf’s and Castleknock’s runs to respective Leinster finals. That inspiration will see participants in all sports take to the field with the belief that if they give their all, success is only a step away. It’s once again been a privilege to be able to bring you what is the very best in local sport in all of our editions over the last year. Please keep on telling us your stories, and we will continue to talk to Dublin every week. Here’s to another wonderful 12 months, and we wish you a prosperous and healthy sporting new year.

Some of the great images of the best in Dublin sport that have lit up this year of success on the field and beyond

Rob heigh Sport Editor

28 Gazette 2 January 2014

Gazette

SPORT2013 Beginnings, ends and progression across board

review of the year

looking back: january to june

Clondalkin RFC in action in the match against Cill Dara that put them into the top flight in Leinster rugby

January

February

JIM Gavin’s first game in charge of the Dublin senior footballers wound up successfully at Blakestown on New Year’s day when a late spurt from Paul Hudson saw his side overcome the Dub Stars in the annual opener to the year’s GAA calendar as the sky blues showed their edge down the final stretch. After nearly 20 years of inactivity, Shankill GAA club got ready for a comeback in January when former coach and player Mick Killeen campaigned for its return when the GAA’s Blue Wave document indicated that the area was one that needed a club. Lucan soccer stars Sean W helan, Brandon Payne and Conor Masterson played a key role for the Republic of Ireland’s Under-15 side when they completed their tour of Qatar with a thrilling comeback to draw 3-3 against the Aspire Academy. Ireland coach Niall Harrison, said the tour was an excellent start to the young players’ international careers.

North County resident Martyn Irvine put himself into the history books this month at the World Track Championships in Minsk, becoming the first Irishman to medal in the championships for over 100 years, claiming silver and gold respectively in the 4km individual pursuit and the 15km tactical bunch race. Febr uar y also saw the end of an era when 2008 Beijing Games silver medallist and one of the most decorated Irish boxers of all time with 10 national titles, Kenny Egan announced his retirement at the National Stadium. Another historic bridge was crossed when Wesley College won the Leinster School’s Vinny Murray Cup final after extra time in Anglesea Road, when Andrew Scanlon’s conver ted penalty claimed Wesley’s first cup win in 115 years against St Gerard’s College from Bray.

March Ireland’s women’s r ugby team captain

Fiona Coghlan became only the third player to lead Ireland to Grand Slam success - after Karl Mullen and Brian O’Driscoll - when the women claimed the holy grail of the sport in the Northern Hemisphere with victory over Italy this month. The women also recorded their first ever win over England, as well as their first Triple Crown. Castleknock Community College achieved an unprecedented junior and senior camogie double in the Second Level Schools League, just one year after the Dublin 15 school began competing in the sport, when they defeated Colaiste Cois Life of Lucan. M e a n w h i l e , Clondalkin rugby club celebrated their 40th year with promotion to Leinster League Division 1A, the highest level of competition they have ever contested, when they beat Cill Dara. The victory earned them their third promotion via the playoffs in five years in front of a fervent support that vastly out-numbered their hosts’ fans.

Jenny Egan (centre) in action at the European Kayak Championships which were held in Portugal

Metro St Brigid’s athlete John

Republic of Ireland international Conor

Coghlan crosses the line first in the

Sammon at Gannon Park with Donal

Run Dublin @ Night race

Hughes and Don Butler of Malahide United

Fingal’s hurlers celebrate their promotion to National Hurling League Division 2B

Action from the first

when they claimed their first NHL title against Donegal

Dubs Stars side at

April F ingal h u r l e r s attained a long overdue promotion to National Hurling League Division 2B this month when they defeated Donegal 1-9 to 1-5 in Breffni Park. St Peregrine’s Colm Foley, Erin Go Bragh’s Kevin Larkin and St Brigid’s Dave Smyth helped the club their first NHL title. A Rosemount legends XI took on a glittering array of Manchester United legends this month at TEK United’s Stradbrook home as

par t of a fundraiser for Diabetes Ireland. Ray Wilkins, Clayton Blackmore, Dion Dublin, Frank Stapleton and Bryan Robson all took part in the special occasion. Swim Ireland’s 2013 annual award ceremony honoured Paralympic gold medallist and head of Paralympic swimming in Ireland David Malone with the Hall Of Fame award at the Galway Bay Hotel this month. Malone, a verteran of four Paralympic games throughout the years, has also established himself as a for-

midable coach over the years at the National Aquatic Centre, with the culmination of that reputation so far coming at the London Paralympic games, with two medallists and nine finalists in the Irish team. Round Towe r Clondalkin were shaping up for one of the biggest evenings in the club’s history when they welcomed the Dublin and Galway senior footballers to their brand new Monastery Road official opening ceremony. The two sides played a challenge match at the new ven-

ue’s top-class facilities, just the second time in the club’s history that they will have hosted an intercounty tussle.

May BARRY Banahan’s superb hat-trick powered Dundrum to Special Olympics National Cup glory at Gannon Park when they saw off Sporting Fingal 4-2 to claim the title. FAI chief executive John Delaney was on hand to welcome the sides in the pre-match ceremony as part of the organisation’s commitment to

GAZETTE

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2 January 2014 GAZETTE 29

‘‘

QUOTABLE

QUOTES

‘Whatever your goal is, you should just go for it. If you have the ambition and passion to do it, you can do anything’

- Paralympic Ireland’s women’s rugby team celebrate their Triple Crown success in Edinburgh on their road to the Six Nations Grand Slam title in Italy in March

North county Dublin cyclist Martyn Irvine with the two medals he won at the world championships in Minsk in February

smiles as she claimed gold in repeated

St Peregrine’s Blakestown base

regattas

promoting the game. Rathfarnham sailor Annalise Mur phy claimed her second successive gold medal at the Eurosaf series in Medemblik, Netherlands, which saw her overtake London 2012 Olympics silver medallist Marit Bouwemester in the medal race, while Olympic gold medallist Lijia Xu had to settle for sixth place. Westmanstown Gaels toasted another landmark moment in their club’s fledgling history when their Under-14 boys footballers followed in their female

c o u n t e r p a r t s ’ f o o tsteps by landing their first ever Feile title this month, edging out Craobh Chiarain 3-3 to 2-5 in Blakestown. Elsewhere, a f lawless penalty shoot-out performance against St Joseph’s Boys saw St Francis claim their second All-Ireland title in the space of five months when they added the SFAI Troy Cup Under13 title to the DB Sports Tours all-island title they won in January.

June HOLY Family National

School in Swords was celebrating after their boys’ team claimed the Division 2 title of the Fingal Schools League for junior division teams at Parnell Park. That final burst saw Holy Family adding the league title to the Junior Boys’ Cumann na mBunscoil, the Senior Girls’ Cumann na mBunscoil and Senior Girls’ Fingal League titles. Minister for Sport Leo Varadkar said that the GAA’s confirmation of plans for a national GAA training centre in Blanchardstown in June was a major step forward for the National Sports Campus.

The GAA announced plans to build four full size pitches, including a replica of the Croke Park playing surface. Other plans include an allweather training facility, a state-of-the-art pavilion, physiotherapy and gym facilities. Sixty participants from Malahide took part in the Dublin finals of the community games in both track and field events, with the village coming away with 24 medals in total, making Malahide the second best performer at the games with only Navan Road coming out ahead in the final count.

‘I am really overwhelmed by the way that children respond when they realise that me and other Olympic champions, we are not supermen, we’re people just like them’

- 800m gold medalist WILFRED BUNGEI on the reaction to his visits to Dublin schools

Star sailor Annalise Murphy is all major GAA match of the Dublin calendar when Dublin defeated the

cyclist and Gazette Sport star of the year CATHERINE WALSH on her philosophy for all sports people

Wesley College celebrate their breaking of a 115-year hoodoo by winning the Vinny Murray Cup

Nikki Symmons became the first Irish woman in any team sport to amass 200 caps when the national hockey team took on Canada as preparations continue for August’s European championships. The 30-year-old Dundrum native – who is also a senior cricket international – was named in the Irish panel to line out at Belfield,marking

another huge stepping stone in a career that dates back to 2001 when she was brought off the bench for a 15-minute stint as a teenager against Wales. Lucan’s Jenny Egan produced her best ever performance when she finished fifth in the 5,000m women’s final at the European Kayak Championships held in Montemor, Portugal.

‘I am completely honoured by every cap I get. It’s amazing to be the first Irish female athlete to get 200 caps in any sport. Sometimes I forget how much I have done’

- NYKKI SIMMONS on achieving an historic sporting milestone in international hockey

30 Gazette 2 January 2014

Gazette

SPORT2013 Dublin sport glory goes all around the world

review of the year

look back: august to december

Foxrock Cabinteely claimed the ladies football All-Ireland Feile in stunning fashion in Derry

July NICOLAS Roche ended up on the podium in Paris when he helped the Saxo Tinkoff team to the team title at the centenary edition of the Tour de France, after a gruelling three weeks working for team leader Alberto Contador and his number two Roman Kreuziger, before he picked up the biggest win of his career when he landed the second stage of the Vuelta a Espana proving the strongest rider on the 178km stage from Pontevedra to Baiona. St Brigid’s Noelle Healy kicked five points as Dublin’s ladies footballers secured their ninth provincial title win at Dr Cullen Park this month with a 14-point victory over Royal rivals, Meath. Ballyboden St Enda’s captured the All-Ireland Division 1 Feile title in Limerick for the second time in their history and the first since 1992 when a storming second-half performance saw them claim a 10-point victory over Douglas from Cork. All 23 players celebrated a famous victory at the final whistle, and a large crowd welcomed the squad back to the club-

with the Christy Ring trophy to complete a memorable weekend for the team. Malahide LTC completed the perfect season last weekend at the Dublin Lawn Tennis Council’s Summer League Premier final when they swept past Donnybrook in the final in Templeogue, benefiting from the skills of Colin O’Brien and James Cluskey, while former Davis Cup player Stephen Nugent completed the win in emotional fashion.

August Gazette county golfers Rowan Lester from Hermitage, Paul McBride from The Island, Alec Myles fromNewlands, Jack Walsh from Castle and David Carey from Carton House were all integral parts of the Ireland team who claimed the 2013 Boys’ Home Internationals championship title at Forest Pines Golf Club in England this month. N AC p a r a l y m p i c swimmer James Scully showed his promise on the Road to Rio in 2016 with a sterling set of performances in the pool at

the Paralympic Swimming World Championships in Montreal, appearing in a total of four finals and claiming a well-deserved bronze medal in the 200m freestyle, his first-ever world medal. Garda Cycling Club member Caroline Ryan reached another pinnacle in her burgeoning career after it was announced that she had become the world number one individual pursuit rider in the International Cycling Union (UCI) rankings. Esker Celtic were celebrating as well this month after they were named the Aviva Club of the Year last weekend at the FAI Festival of Football in Wicklow. The Lucan-based club received the accolade after an extremely competitive day-long assessment of the eight monthly winners of the competition from across the country, and with it secured a cheque for €5,000.

September MAN of the match Bernard Brogan produced the goods when it mattered most as his 2-3 – with 2-2 coming from

Corduff Football Club’s Jean Yves

Ireland cricket star Ed Joyce in action

Poame signs his terms with Premier

with the bat for the national side who

League side Sunderland AFC with club

enjoyed a fine season of success, with a

Relief and joy abound as

secretary John Boothman

trio of international titles

All-Ireland title with a

Castleknock’s hurlers were celebrating when they won the Dublin

Dundrum cyclist Nicolas Roche had one

junior hurling champiohsip final against Lucan Sarsfields to add to

of his best years in the sport with a team

a roll call of success at the club this year

medal in the Tour De France

play – proved a decisive factor for Dublin as they landed their second All-Ireland title in three years. The St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh man made the defining impact in a 2-12 to 1-14 win over Mayo at Croke Park. Ballyroan Karate Academy were celebrating landing a string of medals representing Ireland in Tokyo, Japan at the WSKF World Shotokan Championships. Five club members of the club brought home honours from the far east, benefiting from the work of Sensei Brendan Perry over the past number of

years. Malahide’s prodi gal son Eoin Morgan hailed this month’s first one-day international at cricket’s new headquarters as an “incredible day for Irish cricket” as over 10,000 fans thronged the village to see Ireland take on England, his final six providing an emphatic end to a devastating innings, scoring 124 off just 106 balls, in a record-breaking fifth wicket partnership with Ravi Bopara of 226. Malahide United broke new ground for Irish football when their Under- 13 side finished fourth at the Danone

Nations Cup in London. As All-Ireland and allisland champions in the previous nine months, Malahide were representing the Republic of Ireland in the world’s biggest Under-13 football competition and produced a string of great results against Germany, Belgium, Spain, Holland and Brazil.

October Peamount United manager Eileen Gleeson said that Stephanie Roche’s wonder goal for the team against Wexford Youths was the perfect advertisement

for the club, the Women’s National League and women’s football in general, a sentiment borne out by the million views in four days that a YouTube clip of the goal received. Corduff Football Club announced that their impressive young player, Jean Yves Poame, had agreed terms with Premier League side Sunderland AFC, and will leave the Dublin 15 club at the end of this season to join the Black Cats. Erin Go Bragh achieved a massive leap for ward when their league win against Castleknock delivered

GAZETTE

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2 January 2014 GAZETTE 31

‘‘

QUOTABLE

QUOTES ‘I didn’t really understand how much it meant to the people. I do now - it’s life and death for them’

Paralympic swimmer James Scully celebrates success in the pool in Montreal when he claimed bronze in the world championships

man-of-the-match Bernard Brogan lifts the Sam Maguire trophy at Croke Park after Dublin sealed the hard-fought win against Mayo in September

- Shamrock Rovers’ EAMON ZAYED on playing soccer in Iran and scoring the goals that made him an overnight hero in Tehran

‘The support out there was unbelievable. It was all green walking out there. Green flags everywhere, leprechauns jumping around’

- MMA sensation

Viral sensation Stephanie

MMA star Conor McGregor on his way to the octagon

Sarah Edge and Chloe Moore in the ring at Esker Boxing Club’s historic all-female

Roche celebrates a

in Boston, where he made a huge impression on the

championship which ran over three months toward the end of the year

million YouTube hits

UFC world in his debut for the franchise

the Division 9 title and promotion to Division 8 for next season. Established in 2007, it is the first time that the team have been promoted out of the lowest division, and not only does their progress mark a historic moment for the club, it is the culmination of years of hard work.

get back in the winning enclosure this year, a factor referenced by Conal Keaney in his trophy acceptance speech.

event. A fine year for Irish cricket came to an end when the Ireland team claimed an historic treble of trophies in 2013 when they won their fourth Intercontinental Cup against Afghanistan in Dubai, with the team containing an array of local talent. St Brigid’s co-managers Mark Byrne and Gerry McEntee ended their tenure in perfect style, winning AFL division one with a 2-10 to 0-12 victory over St Sylvester’s in Balgriffin. It capped a memorable four-year tenure for the duo, one which

November LUCA N S a r s f i e l d s ’ camogie section celebrated one of the most successful years in its history after the club’s minor side topped off a huge season in the women’s game by recording

their fourth minor A county championship victory in a row, with a three-point win against St Vincent’s. Sarsfields’ camogie stars won the Under-14A, Under-15B and Under-16A championships, as well as the Under-13A and B shield and the senior camogie side celebrated a superb end to 2013 with the Leinster league title. Adamstown’s Autumn Collins got a taste of the professional life when she was selected to ride for Team Sky’s Future Stars team at the Revolution series at Manchester Velodrome. Collins lined up alongside Grace Gar-

ner on Team Sky in the star-studded event, which featured British Olympians Laura Trott and Jason Kenny in front of a capacity crowd. Ballyboden St Enda’s boss Jonny Kenny said that his side’s 0-13 to 0-10 victory over Lucan Sarsfields in the Dublin senior hurling championship “means everything” after a lifelong link with the Firhouse Road club. The victory provided an incredible sixth title in seven years but the concession of the title in 2012 after a five-year reign at the group stages heightened the hunger to

December AER LINGUS swimmer Barry Murphy has crowned his 2013 experience with another bronze medal in the pool, this time in the 50m breaststroke at the European short-course swimming championships in Herning, Denmark, following his remarkable and Irish-record setting swim in Eindhoven which saw him claim a world cup medal in the same

began in the aftermath of the side’s relegation to AFL2. It was second timeunlucky for Naomh Olafat Parnell Park this month as this year’s Dublin intermediate football champions crashed to a four-point defeat in the replay of the AIB Leinster Club IFC final. Seven days earlier, theSandyford side had led deep into injury time and then extra time during the first meeting of the sides in Drogheda only to be pinned back on both occasions by late levellers from Louth county panellist Jim McEneaney.

CONOR MCGREGOR on the reception he received in Boston when he made a huge mark on the sport with a dramatic UFC debut

‘O’Neill and Keane will be positive, tell the players to believe in themselves. I think it’s a change for the better in every respect’

- Pundit, author and soccer guru EAMON DUNPHY on the appointment of Martin and Roy to the Republic of Ireland managerial role

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

a champion year: World titles, European champions, All-Ireland success and more P27-31

january 2, 2014

number one in dublin: Quotes of the year from the stars of 2013 P29, 31

Captains Elaine O’Meara (Na Fianna) and Louise O’Hara (Erin’s Isle) with match referee Jenny Byrne (Round Tower) and inset, the teams who contested the Dub Stars match

Locals shine for Stars

Peregrine’s, Naomh Brid and Plunkett’s players line out in annual celebration of Dublin camogie at Pairc Ui Murchu to kick-start 2014  sport@gazettegroup.com

ST PEREGRINE’S Bridget Coleman, Naomh Brid’s Grainne Quinn and St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh’s Aoife Bugler were all honoured just before Christmas as camogie Dub Stars following sterling seasons for their respective clubs. Quinn lined out in the half-back line while Bugler started at full-forward for the Stars when they took on a Dublin senior selection last Saturday in Pairc ui Murchu. The Stars won out 5-8 to 3-12 in the annual game between the best club performers from the year gone by. The narrow two-point victory was played

out in front of a good crowd with the Dublin team wearing their new AIG sponsored jersey for the first time. Siobhan Kehoe proved the day’s outstanding performer, scoring 1-5 for the Dub Stars and was rightly named player of the match. Dublin started the better and had two points on the board – frees from Mari Moynihan – after four minutes. But the Dub Stars settled into the game with increased confidence and replied with two goals from Bugler. A hand-passed effort from McGrath and points from Kehoe and Bugler give them a five-point lead midway through the half. From there, Dublin took over for the rest of the first half, scoring 1-3 without reply –

the goal came from a long range free from Moynihan. A point from Kehoe, though, meant the Stars went in at half time just three-points down, 2-3 to 2-6. Immediately after the resumption, Dublin’s Miriam Twomey tapped over a sweet point. Orla Beagan replied when she had the ball in the net for the Stars to leave them trailing by a point And another strike from the Lucan woman along with 1-1 from Kehoe sent them into a five-point lead with 10 minutes remaining. Would the Dublin Seniors capitulate? Definitely not. They rallied strongly in the last 10 minutes with unanswered points from Aine Fanning (0-2) Ciara Berkeley

(0-2) and Louise O’Hara to leave them just one behind. But, fittingly, Kehoe secured victory with a sweetly struck point to give her side some insurance, getting over the line by two points.

Naomh Brid Elsewhere, Naomh Brid’s camogie year gets under way in earnest on January 11 in intriguing style as they take on Edinburgh University shinty club in Russell Park. It is part of a double-header at the club with that game throwing in at 1pm before the club’s male counterparts take on the same opposition at 2pm in a hurling tie.