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see pagES 20-21 February 13, 2014

F R EE

castleknock • Blakestown • Hartstown • Tyrrelstown • Laurel Lodge • Corduff • Mulhuddart • Ongar

INSIDE: Audrey Magee’s debut novel expertly explores a German soldier’s perspective of World War 2 Page 19

Castleknock: Looking ahead to 2014’s challenges Page 32

Football:

Healy brace propels the Jackies to win Page 31

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ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES....................... 8 DUBLIN LIFE....................11 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................25 SPORT............................27

just the ticket: ITB students happy with shuttle bus revamp See Page 2

Access issue at station in focus  Natalie Burke

THE number of passengers using Hansfield Train Station could be increased if issues to do with access and destinations were improved, according to Cllr Ruth Coppinger (SP).

She has said if these problems were addressed more members of the community would use the facility.

Cllr Coppinger’s comments follow this week’s announcement by Minis-

ter for Transport Leo Varadkar that more than 10,000 people have used the station since it opened in June 2013.

Cllr Coppinger says big improvements are needed to allow more people to use it.

“There is the problem of no quick access for houses beside the station and it needs a shuttle bus or parkand-ride service for the wider Blanchardstown area,” she said.

Full Story on Page 3

Love is in the air: It’s all about Valentine’s at Blanch Centre

gillian Hughes and daughter Nicole (above) found love was in the air at the Blanchardstown Centre recently.

Visitors enjoyed some fun free Valentine’s celebrations with a DJ and ballroom dancers entertaining the crowd in the central

mall.

There were also some amazing spot prizes up for grabs from some of the centre’s stores which had inspirational ideas on show for that perfect present for your loved one.

Picture: Ronan O’Sullivan

2 DUN laoghaire Gazette 13 February 2014

dublin GAZETTe courts Man is caught forging cheques newspapers i n f o r m at i o n Top Floor, Clarendon House, 39 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publishes six weekly quality free titles, covering the greater Dublin area from Swords to Dun Laoghaire

In April 2011, John Carlos went voluntarily to Blackrock Garda Station and admitted defrauding his employer via dozens of cheques

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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, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

Restaurant defrauded by online poker addict A former schoolteacher who led a “remarkably ordinary life” until he became addicted to online poker in his 60s is to be sentenced later for defrauding an Eddie Rocket’s restaurant of €135,000.

John Carlos (74), who was also a part-time accountant, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to forging signatures on cheques, altering amounts on cheques and stealing money from his former employer, Eddie Rocket’s franchise owner Peter Fortune, on dates between 2005 and 2008.

The court heard that Carlos, with an address a t B o l a n d ’s C o u r t , Gort, Co Galway, had been a highly-respected retired school teacher and accountant in Bray, County Wicklow, until he became a “hopeless and deeply addicted gambler”, leaving his family life and reputation in ruins.

Garda Nevin McCormick told Pieter Le Vert BL, prosecuting, that Carlos had been doing some accountancy work for Eddie Rocket’s fast food chain in the late 1990s.

Peter Fortune, who had been operating a fran-

chise of Eddie Rocket’s, in Stillorgan, decided to hire an accountant and asked Carlos, whom he had known for over 30 years.

Their business relationship began in 1999, when Mr Fortune employed Carlos as his financial controller and later auditor.

Some time in 2001 or 2002, Carlos suggested that he become a cheque signatory, and Mr Fortune agreed as he trusted him. The two were the only signatories on the company’s cheques from Permanent TSB bank.

Carlos was paid €250 a week cash in hand plus the use of a phone and some cash bonuses.

In September 2008, Mr Fortune got a letter from Revenue seeking a tax audit.

He realised something was wrong and asked Carlos if he was a qualified auditor. Carlos replied that he was not.

He was let go from his position.

Mr Fortune hired an external firm of auditors

which discovered that a large amount of suspicious cheques had been signed between 2005 and 2008.

Mr Fortune was shown the cheques and said that some of the signatures purporting to be his were not genuine, while other signatures were his, but the amount on the cheque had been altered.

Carlos’s bank account showed numerous amounts going to the Paddy Power online poker website.

Voluntarily

In April 2011, Carlos called in voluntarily to Blackrock Garda Station and admitted defrauding his employer via dozens of cheques, totalling €135,000.

He told gardai that he had lost about €150,000 gambling and had run into considerable debt.

He said what he had done was appalling but that he could not afford to repay the money.

The court heard that he now survives on a pension of about €220 per week, of which €150

he gives to his wife. He lives on the remaining €70 himself.

Counsel for Carlos, Douglas Gageby SC, said his client was a very popular teacher in Bray until 1991, when he went on to run a number of summer schools.

His gambling has caused substantial fallout in his family and he is now separated from his wife.

His first cousin, Fr Peter Lavelle, testified that Carlos is very upset and remorseful about having betrayed Mr Fortune’s trust and bringing disgrace on his family.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring expressed concern at the fact that Carlos has only done “limited work” to address his gambling addiction, even though she noted he was unlikely to re-offend because of his practical circumstances.

She directed a probation report be prepared to consider some form of restorative justice.

Carlos was remanded on bail for sentencing on June 5 this year.

13 February 2014 BLANCH Gazette 3

ISPCC event

transport: access problems to the facility need to be addressed

Projects sought for awards

Hansfield Station ‘could be improved’  natalie burke

The number of passengers using Hansfield Train Station could be increased if issues with access and station destinations were improved. This is according to local Cllr Ruth Coppinger (SP), who said there are two problems with the station that need to be addressed in order to see more members of the local community availing of the facility.

Cllr Coppinger’s comments come after Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar this week praised the steady increase of passengers using the station since it opened.

He said that more than 10,000 people had passed through its doors since it

opened.

The station was officially opened in June 2013 following a long campaign to secure pedestrian access, car parking and a new access road.

Minister Varadkar said: “I’m pleased to see more and more people now using Hansfield, which can get you into Dublin city centre in just 25 minutes. It’s well worth a trip if you haven’t tried it yet, and is a lot less stressful than sitting in traffic.”

However Cllr Coppinger said there needs to be a “big improvement” in access to allow more people to use it.

“For example, there is the problem of no quick access for the houses beside the station

because the footpath has not been finished,” she said. “People could walk five minutes to the station but instead it takes them 20 minutes.

“Secondly, it needs to allow people in the wider Blanchardstown area to use the station with either a shuttle bus or a park and ride service.”

The other issue contributing to low passenger numbers according to Cllr Coppinger, is the stations serviced by Hansfield.

“They’re not the most convenient,” she said. “It doesn’t go to Connolly Station but it goes to the docklands so people wanting to go to Connolly Station have to get off at the Navan Road Railway Station.”

Hair-raising: Students to get their thinking caps on for SciFest 2014 Kotryna Kozlovskyte from Offaly gets to grips with science with a static-electricity ball, as students nationwide are being called to enter SciFest 2014. SciFest is a series of one-day science fairs held regionally, and showcases students’ science, technology, engineering and maths projects. The winners from each regional science fair will compete at a national final in November. Last year, the national winner was the IT Blanchardstown representative, Paul Clarke from Raheny.

The closing date for entries is Friday, March 7. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.scifest.ie. A SciFest@College event will take place at IT Blanchardstown on May 7. Picture: Peter Houlihan

Transition year students from local schools are being invited to take part in the ISPCC Apprentice Youth Award.

The Apprentice-style competition will see the top three schools in Ireland representing their projects in a boardroom to Celebrity Apprentice judge Caroline Downey, and two other celebrity judges. The project brief is to plan and execute a fundraising event, product or campaign to support both their school and the ISPCC Shield anti-bullying campaign.

Winners will receive a specially commissioned shield award for their school. The closing date for registration is Monday, March 3. For more information, contact shield@ ispcc.ie.

4 BLANCH Gazette 13 February 2014

ceremony 17 organisations set to benefit from funding

GIVE Foundation gives €45,000 to charities  Natalie Burke

Blanchardstownba s e d c o m p a n i e s eBay and Paypal have announced that 17 Irish charities have received funding totalling almost €45,000 from the eBay Inc GIVE Foundation so far this year.

The cheques were presented to the charities at a ceremony in Pay-

Pal’s European centre of excellence in Dublin recently. The presentation was made by Louise Phelan, vice-president of global operations for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), PayPal, and Hazel Mitchell, director at eBay global customer experience, Europe.

Nominated by employees of eBay and

PayPal, at their Blanchardstown and Dundalk offices, the GIVE grants will help fund a number of projects both locally and nationally.

Examples

Some examples of how the grants will be used include the training of transition year students in Blanchardstown and Clondalkin

in lifesaving CPR skills by the Irish Heart Foundation, while other grants will go towards the Blakestow n and Mountainview Neighbourhood Youth Project (NYP) community participation programme, which offers support to struggling families in the Dublin 15 area.

The grants will also include the development of a breast cancer awareness app; the provision of much-needed equipment for a food bank

project at Crosscare, an outreach centre in Blanchardstown; the provision of six months night nursing in the county Louth area through the Irish Hospice Foundation and the development, by the Children’s Medical and Research Foundation, of a playroom in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital’s new cardiac unit.

Both eBay and PayPal have a strong history of engaging with and supporting the communities

within which they operate. Through the GIVE Foundation they seek to make a difference with organisations that have particular meaning for their employees.

Commenting on the recent fundraising, Louise Phelan said that Paypal “pride themselves” on being an organisation that gives back to their local community. “ T h e 17 c h a r i t i e s who are receiving funding were picked on the basis of recommenda-

tions from our employees and I look forward to working with them throughout 2014 as we help to raise further much-needed funds,” she said.

Hazel Mitchell said: “Ireland has an impressive record of giving as a nation and everyday people’s lives are transformed because of that charitable spirit. Our people here are fantastic in so many ways and this is just one more example of that.”

13 February 2014 BLANCH Gazette 5

Scambridge: campaign takes action

ScamBridge activists protest at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown

Youth Guarantee scheme is just ‘free labour’  Natalie Burke nburke@gazettegroup.com

Over 20 people came out in force this week protesting against the introduction of a Youth Guarantee at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown.

The protest took place on Monday, February 10, to coincide with a youth information day being held at the venue by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton and Labour Party MEP Emer Costello.

The protest was organised by the ScamBridge Campaign, a group of people dedicated to exposing the controversial JobBridge initiative as exploitative.

ScamBridge activist Michael O’Brien said the protest helped raise the profile of the ScamBridge campaign.

“I’m happy with how it went; it was about exposing the Youth Guarantee for what it is,” he said.

“It was meant to be a public event but it was held in the middle of the

day and it invited kids along who are still in school. It was a staged event on [Labour’s] part,” he said.

When asked if the protest made an impact, O’Brien said: “It’s an accumulative impact that we make along with the other events we’ve had.”

Since it was first introduced, O’Brien went on to say that people have exposed JobBridge as a form of “free labour”.

Also attending the protest was local resident and election candidate for the Socialist Party Annette Hughes, who said the protest was organised mainly to make a statement to the Labour Party.

“As a mother of four and a member of the Anti Austerity Alliance, I wanted to take a stand at the hypocrisy of Labour holding these talks when they’re pushing people out of the country. They’re cutting their welfare pay and coercing them to take part in JobBridge. I’m very angry about it.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Social Protection defended JobBridge saying that significant progress has been made since it came into operation in 2011.

“Over 25,000 internship placements have commenced to date and over 11,600 companies have participated in the scheme,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that JobBridge is a voluntary scheme and sanctions are not applied if a jobseeker decides not to avail of a JobBridge internship.

“However, under the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan, the department is developing a variant of the JobBridge scheme for the most disadvantaged young people. Under this variant, employers will be asked to make work experience places available for young people aged 18 to 25 with low levels of educational attainment, long periods of unemployment and other social barriers to employment.”

FastNews

‘Distracting’ lights are to be re-aligned

Romeo and Juliet set for Park visitor centre

Flood-lights at Mulhuddart Community Centre are to be re-aligned because they are a dangerous distraction to drivers passing by. At a recent area committee meeting for Mulhuddart/Castleknock, Cllr Mary McCamley asked for the council to arrange to turn the flood-light at the community centre in Mulhuddart towards the pitch as it is currently looking at the road and is “distracting drivers and is dangerous”. A council spokesperson said plans have been made to have this light re-aligned.

The Phoenix Park visitor centre is set to be transformed into Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre with scenes from his most iconic love story taking centre stage this week. Scenes from William Shakespeare’s most tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet, will be performed at the centre on Thursday, February 13 at 6.30pm. The visitor centre is located in the Phoenix Park. This event is being supported by the OPW. For further information email phoenixparkevents@gmail.com or telephone 01-6770095.

6 BLANCH Gazette 13 February 2014

social responsibility Travel insurance firm raises funds and awareness

Programme raises €12k to help local community  Natalie Burke

A local travel insurance company has raised €12,000 for the D15 community.

Blue Insurances, based in Blanchardstown, raised the funds as part of its inaugural corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, which was

introduced in an effort to help local charities and organisations.

The unique annual CSR programme was introduced as a way of encouraging staff in the Blanchardstown office to engage with members of the local community.

To inspire team work, staff

were divided into five groups, with each group then asked to research a different charity or organisation in the local area which they felt deserved a donation. Once they had completed their research, the teams then presented their findings to the company and the staff collectively voted on their pre-

ferred charities or organisations to receive donations. The total sum of donations from the Blue Insurances’ CSR programme was €12,000, which went towards helping a large number of causes including the LauraLynn Foundation, D15 Suicide Awareness and MS Ireland.

Following the recent departure of Blue Insurances’ founding partner and ex-joint managing director Rowan Devereux, the company’s CSR fund has been aptly named Rowan’s Charity Fund.

Speaking about the fundraising, managing director Ciaran Mulligan said that staff

Hungry: Appetite for launch

courts

Illicit car business ordered to move An illicit car business running out of a site earmarked for a mixed use development in Castleknock Village has been declared invalid and ordered to move out by the courts.

Castleknock’s Cllr Mags Murray (FF) asked Fingal management to give a report on all enforcement issues at the Uxbridge site in Castleknock Village, stating the outcome of the High Court hearing between the receiver and the council and to indicate the actions now open to the council.

At a recent area committee meeting for the Mu l h u d d a r t / C a s t l e knock area, a spokesperson for the council said the matter appeared before the High Court on January 13 with the judge declaring the current occupation of the site “invalid” and requiring that the site be vacated no later than March 15, 2014.

“The judge’s orders encompassed the removal of all cars and associated equipment stored onsite.

“In the event that such equipment is not cleared from the site, the receiver has reserved the right to reapply to the court to seek authorisation to remove the equipment themselves.”

at Blue Insurances felt it was very important to give back to the local community.

“We found the process of getting to know the local charities very enjoyable and we look forward to working on more projects with local charities and organisations throughout 2014.”

the Dublin Food Academy Start has recently been launched. This is a new education programme that aims to support and nurture startup food businesses. Pictured are Felix Ogiehor of Chase Foods, Oisin Geoghegan of the Fingal County Enterprise Board, Eddie Kane of SuperValu, Tara McCarthy of Bord Bia, Brian Sexton of SuperValu, Jillian Stout of Jill’s Kitchen, Luke Moriarty of SuperValu Retailer, and Raman Patel of Patel’s Food Company. For more details see www.enterpriseboards. ie. Picture: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

it’s a knockout: 140 students compete for prizes and place in next stage

Hundreds turn out to wish quiz teams the best of luck  Natalie Burke nburke@gazettegroup.com

Hundreds of parents, teachers, friends and family turned out to support local pupils as they battled it out at the first stage of this year’s credit union schools’ quiz.

A total of 140 students from several local schools in Dublin 15 competed for prizes and an esteemed place in the next stage of the nationwide competition.

The first stage of the quiz was held at St Peregrine’s GAA Club on

Blakestown Road, on Monday, February 3.

Pupils from St M o c h t a ’s N a t i o n a l School in Clonsilla were announced as the winning junior team, and pupils from St John Bosco’s Senior Boys School, on the Navan Road, were named as the winning senior team.

The junior and senior runner-up teams were named as St John Bosco’s Junior Boys School and Saint Brigid’s of Castleknock.

The winning teams were presented with cer tificates, plaques

and prizes, while their schools took home plaques and the perpetual schools’ quiz trophies, which they will proudly display for the next 12 months.

The quiz, one of the most popular events of the school calendar, attracts about 25,000 participants from all around the country.

This annual event, now in its 23rd year, is run through the winter months in over 300 venues in towns and communities across the country by volunteers from over 450 ILCU

(Irish League of Credit Unions) affiliated credit unions.

It aims to encourage teamwork among school children under the age of 13, the quiz questions are taken from the primary curriculum and prepared by primary school teachers, covering topics such as geography, history, music, literature and sport.

The quiz consists of two knockout stages at local and regional level and culminates in a national final day in Dublin in early April 2014 with Marty Whe-

lan as quiz master where 100 qualifying teams will compete.

Following the first stage of the competition, community credit union chief executive Aidan O’Brien said it is important for local credit unions to invest in the future of their local communities and with the young members of the public.

“This annual event not only presents a wonderful opportunity for the students to have fun, but also serves to remind parents and teachers of the great benefits of edu-

cating children about finance and money, helping them to develop strong saving habits and teaching them about the value of investing in their future.”

ILCU president Martin Sisk also praised the competition, saying the quiz continues to be a popular annual event.

“We look forward to seeing our young qualifiers in the RDS in April, for what promises to be an exciting final and we wish everyone who takes part in the local and regional qualifiers the very best of luck.”

13 February 2014 BLANCH Gazette 7

draiocht: Chancers comes to town

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Advertise with the Gazette call 60 10 240

Mary Murray who plays brothel madam Janet in RTE’s hugely successful Love Hate

Love Hate star to reprise role in hit comedy

Love Hate’s brothel madam Janet, played by Mary Murray, says she has no clue where season five is going to take us.

She’s hoping that writer Stewart Carolan will have some juicy storylines up his sleeve for her but at this point she says nobody has seen the scripts or been informed of schedules so it’s a case of living in hope.

“We’ve been kept in the dark just as much as the audience’ she says.

“If recent press coverage is anything to go by, however, we’ll be seeing quite a lot of it behind bars.”

Murray is not one to place all her eggs in one basket though. She has plenty to keep her occupied until then.

She is set to return to the stage to reprise her role in the comedy Chancers by Robert Massey following a sellout run in November at The Viking Theatre.

The latest production is coming to Draiocht Blanchardstow n on March 11 and 12 as part an Irish tour.

Recently she performed among a host of well-known personalities in Under My Bed at Smock Alley in January in aid of Barnardos and immediately afterwards started working alongside John Logan on The Penny Dreadfuls.

Logan is creator of blockbusters including Gladiator, Star Trek Nemesis, Hugo, Skyfall and Aviator to name a few and she’s very excited about her upcoming role.

She says: “Considering his achievements and successes to date it would be easy to be a little starstruck but he’s such a lovely sweet d ow n - t o - e a r t h a n d funny individual.

“I’m really looking forward to spending more time in his company.

“The response has

been phenomenal and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to perform the show again for those who couldn’t get tickets the last time around.

“The show is an absolute riot, and it’s such a joy treading the boards alongside such a fabulous cast including Luke Griffin and Andy Murray [no relation].

“Maria McDermott Rowe will not be returning as the run clashes with her performance of Skull In Connemara at The Gaiety Theatre.

“So Anne Brogan will be filling her big nasty boots, but we have every faith in her wonderful talents and we very much look forward to welcoming her into the Chancers family and seeing her interpretation of the role,” Mary added.

For further information on Chancers at Draiocht see: w w w. draiocht.ie

8 blanch gazette 13 February 2014

gazetteGALLERIES

Derek Prendergast, financial broker, with Brian Deane, C- Technology Services

Ian Hunter, Pavilions SC, Siobhan O’Donnell, DAA, and Stephen Peppard, Fingal County Council. Pictures: David O’Shea

Gerry Maguire, Classic Financial Services, Peter O’Dwyer, architect, and Brendan Egan, Quasar Technology Paul Fagan and Fiona McGinn from Business Coaching Vanessa and Michael Place from Toots Road Train

Ireland

connections: fingal chamber relaxes after 6

Networking night is just the business F

Michael Connolly, Rolestown Garden Centre, with Fingal Dublin Chambers president Siobhan Linsella and Duncan McAlpin, Audi North Dublin

ingal Dublin Chamber’s Business After 6 Networking evening took place recently at the Crown Plaza Northwood Santry.

The event was a great opportunity for business people to get together informally with Chamber members to make new business contacts and to socialise in a relaxed setting and catch up on

topical and relevant issues for businesses in the area. The evening also celebrated the inauguration of Siobhan Kinsella as chamber president.

She is director of CPL Learning and Development and is taking over as president from Siobhan O’Donnell, who has served as president for the past three years.

13 February 2014 blanch gazette 9

Have you seen yourself in the Gazette? Buy photos online from only â‚Ź6.99 at www.gazettephotos.com

Brian O’Reilly, Monte Carlow Entertainment, and Tony Lambert, chief executive, Fingal Chamber Vera Lee, Community Matters, Denis McEvoy, Phoenix FM, and Naomi Gargan, Absolute Office

Julie Griffin, Damien Heaney and Eileen Timmons, Crown Plaza Northwood

Siobhan Kinsella, president Fingal Dublin Chamber,

The newly inaugurated president of Fingal Dublin Chamber

and Tony Lambert, chamber chief executive,

addresses the audience

10 BLANCH GAZETTE 13 February 2014

GAZETTEGALLERY

Have you seen yourself in the Gazette? Buy photos online from only €6.99 at www.gazettephotos.com

Michaela Walsh and Daniel Alison Leah Donnelly (above) and Monika Panijanovic

Comedian and actor Nick Frost (centre) with 98FM’s Dermot Whelan and Dave Moore at the Irish movie premiere of Cuban Fury at the Odeon, Point Village. Pictures: Patrick O’Leary

ODEON: CUBAN FURY PREMIERES AT POINT VILLAGE

Picture perfect

Orla Gargan, Aoife Deery and Jennifer Brophy

Niamh Geaney

13 February 2014 Gazette 11

a day in the life P15

asdfsdaf businessP27 P16

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 P12

what’son rejoicing in all things infantile: These

Niamh Sharkey, outgoing Laureate na nOg: the Arts Council’s honorary title is bestowed on an author of children’s literature or illustrator for a two-year period

nominations: outgoing champion of children’s literature is praised

Third Laureate na nOg sought – imagine that!  bairbre ni bhraonain

THE hunt is on to find Ireland’s third Laureate na nOg, in honour of Irish Children’s literature, with nominations now under way.

The Arts Council’s honorary title of Laureate na nOg is bestowed on an author of children’s literature or illustrator for a two-year period.

The next recipient of the title will be following in the footsteps of inaugural Laureate na nOg Siobhan Parkinson and current holder Niamh Sharkey.

Up until now, laureates have acted as ambassadors in countries including the US, Sweden, Austria and Belgium.

Elaina Ryan, director of Children’s Books Ireland, said: “Ireland’s first two laureates have been real champions for children’s literature and illustration, for reading and drawing, and for the importance of books in every child’s life.

“Laureate na nOg is a most prestigious position, which acknowledges the phenomenal talent of our native authors and illustrators.”

Sarah Bannan, the Arts Council’s head of literature, said: “Laureate na nOg is Ireland’s highest honour for a writer or illustrator of children’s books, and was established by the Arts Council in order to celebrate the extraordinary talents of our writers and illustrators.

“Through this appointment and the Arts Council’s wider strategy for children’s literature, we are working to broaden and enrich young people’s imaginative worlds and to highlight the importance of Irish children’s literature, writers and illustrators in our society.”

Ireland was one of the first countries to establish such an honour in the field of children’s literature.

Irish children’s literature and illustration is recognised worldwide, and there is a huge appetite for children’s and young adult books at home.

Now that the time has come for Ireland to choose its next Laureate na nOg, for the first time, people of all ages will have the opportunity to help with that decision by making their own nominations online at www.childrenslaureate. ie before February 15.

days there is no shortage of festivals, it seems every week offers a celebration on one theme or another. The Babytalk Festival, however, is a new phenomenon rejoicing in all things infantile. The festival is for babies and their families as well as expectant parents or anyone contemplating starting or adding to their family. Over 60 exhibitors will greet an expected 5,000 visitors over the twoday event which is on in the UCD Campus in Belfield this month.

There will be talks from expert speakers including psychologist David Carey, nutritionist Genevieve Becker, breastfeeding expert Sue Jameson and more.

Music and comedy will also be included with entertainers such as Irish Mammies author and comedian Colm O’Regan. The Babytalk Festival will be on February 22 and 23 from 10am until 5pm in O’Reilly Hall, UCD Campus, Belfield, Dublin 4.

Festival tickets, available at www.babytalkfestival.ie, cost €10 for one day and €15 for both days.

Gazette

12 Gazette 13 February 2014

dublinlife

You can be in the Noel with

THERE’S a new man about town, thanks to Dublin Bus, and if you’ve noticed a stick walking around with a football on its head, you probably know what we’re talking about.

Network Noel is the

brand-new mascot for Dublin Bus, and while we remain ever so slightly perplexed about his appearance, there will be less confusion when it comes to choosing our routes.

He’s the latest mascot

to appear on our television screens and the Dublin Bus website and aims to help customers get to know their bus service better.

According to Dublin Bus, Noel wants to interact with customers

and will be the face of a new campaign to encourage greater interaction between Dublin Bus and its customers.

That’s all well and good, but we’re still confused about his appearance. We’re thinking his colourful hair represents the “28 high-frequency core” roots – erm, we mean routes.

He even has his own Facebook and Instagram profiles – just search for “Network Noel”.

forget croker – bono’s up for the intimate O2

Meet Network Noel - Dublin Bus’s new mascot

U2 FRONTMAN Bono revealed this week that the band will not be following in Garth Brook’s

footsteps by performing in Croke Park during their next tour, but would prefer to play in smaller, more intimate venues.

We believe you, Bono – it’s the laid-back, unplugged vibe you prefer, and nothing to do with the daunting task of stepping into Brooks’s cowboy boots and selling out so many concerts in the iconic GAA grounds!

Until Garth announced a planned fourth show at the 82,300 capacity stadium this summer, U2 held the record for most consecutive gigs at Croker.

That said, it is not exactly Vicar Street that Bono has in mind as a possible intimate venue, but the roomier 02 Arena

(which holds 14,500 people).

We look forward to some intimate dates, Mr Hewson!

so, what’s the scoop on dog waste removal?

IT’S a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it – and that’s exactly why we will be calling on Poop Scooper Ireland to give us a helping hand in cleaning up our act. (Our dog’s act, to be exact.)

Poop Scooper Ireland is a new professional dog waste removal service that has been set up to help dog owners keep their gardens clean, without having to do any

of the dirty work.

The business offers a weekly or twice-weekly service to clean your garden from any dog waste, meaning you never have to clean up dog poop again.

The service will ensure your garden looks squeaky clean and you will minimise germs brought into your home.

Areas currently serviced by the company include north County Dublin, east Meath and north city Dublin.

For further details, or to enquire about services in your area, email info@poopscooperireland.com, or call 089 483 2086.

13 February 2014 Gazette 13

Gazette

diary

Dublin Bus’s new mascot pupils asked to help celebrate irish products

GUARANTEED Irish is asking primary school pupils in Ireland to paint or draw a picture by March 18 on the theme of St Patrick and to write a short passage on why it is important to buy Irish products and services.

Those who enter could be in with the chance of winning one of three fantastic prizes for their class.

For those who are in first- and second-class, the winner (and their class, plus teacher) will win a trip to the Butlers Chocolate Experience – the home of Butlers Chocolates in Dublin.

For those in third- and fourth-class the winner (and again, with their class and teacher) will win an amazing day of fun at Titanic Belfast.

The winner for the fifth- and sixth-class category will receive a twonight family stay at the Tower Hotel and Leisure Centre in Waterford.

All winners will be announced on March 21, and for further information, see www.guaranteedirish.ie.

defence forces fly in with a stunning shot WHEN the Irish Defence Forces aren’t busy out defending the Irish nation, it seems

A colourful pre-dawn shot of sleeping Dublin’s port side, taken by the Irish Defence Forces last week

they’re getting in touch with their creative side instead.

The Twitter account for the Irish Defence Forces (@defenceforces) last week posted a

snap they took of Dublin at dawn, leaving us more than impressed with their photography skills!

The picture was taken by the Air Corps during

a routine security check while we all slept soundly in our beds.

The Tweet read: “Nice view #Dublin this am frm [sic] #AirCorps routine security escort

as the city awoke, what a difference 12 hrs makes.”

Within the space of a couple of hours, the picture was retweeted a total of 99 times!

With a shot like this, if the whole Defence Force thing doesn’t work out, perhaps they could nab themselves a photography job with The Gazette instead ...

Gazette

14 Gazette 13 February 2014

dublinlife

Become mindful of a new way of thinking It’s the buzz word these days: “mindful”.

Like a lot of things that gain currency in popular expression, it has assumed a mystery value now in the media.

It’s written about as some kind of esoteric quality to which only the initiated and the select few are privy.

But that’s not true.

Mindfulness is like philosophy; everybody has it, and everybody’s doing it.

We all just do it differently. And, sometimes, the way we do it is good for us, and sometimes it isn’t.

Mindfulness is another way of saying “aware-

ness”.

This action brings us into the realm of the immediate moment.

It gently and forcefully excludes what we don’t want in our heads and allows us to think, focus, concentrate, amplify, a moment, an act, a situation, anything. That’s all.

But – and here’s the significant “but” – using the word “mindful” is so much more seductive than telling yourself to focus, to concentrate, to pay attention. Isn’t it?

We ’r e p r e s e n t i n g some chore of concentration to ourselves in a more agreeable way.

We actually want

to become mindful, and have the associated benefits of serenity, calm, insight, objectivity, detachment and control, all of which allow us feel good about whatever it is we’re being mindful of, and to function more effectively too – and that’s a huge advantage, isn’t it?

And the wonderful news is that there’s a very simple way to do this. I’ll tell you how in the next missive.

Stay well.  David Hegarty

Hegarty has been in the wellness industry for over 50 years www.dynamichealth.ie

Dee Cannon, acting coach: “One of my clients was Sinead O’Connor. She was definitely talented.”

people: top coach on working with film, theatre stars

Cannon takes aim at acting myths  bairbre ni bhraonain

ACTING coach to the stars Dee Cannon is coming to Ireland to give an acting masterclass in Trim, Co Meath.

Dee is one of the world’s most sought-after acting coaches and spent 17 years as senior teacher at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London.

She has a wealth of experience, having worked with a wide array of stars, including Jon Voight and Tom Hiddleston.

Now working as a freelance acting coach, Dee is very much in demand, running masterclasses all around the world.

She has also written a highly-acclaimed book, entitled In Depth Acting, which Pierce Brosnan described as “a book for those who are just starting out on the path with a burning passion, and for those like me, who have come down the road so

far and still need direction”.

The Gazette spoke to Dee ahead of her upcoming masterclass in Meath.

She said: “I was contacted by the Spirit of Folk organisation to give a masterclass because of my book.

“I don’t call what I do ‘method acting’, as that has too many connotations, many of which are not positive. I’m not a big fan of [focusing only on] the emotional side of the work – that doesn’t show the full breadth of acting.

“One of my clients was Sinead O’Connor.

She had the makings of a good actress, but had other things going on and never completed the training. She was definitely talented.

“I also taught Natalie Imbruglia, and The Saturdays, Leona Lewis and Billie Piper – a lot of performers who were making the crossover to drama.

“I give one-on-one pri-

vate coaching for roles, or I am invited to work on set when an actor is struggling with a role. Producers call me in and I coach them.

“I’m about to be hired for a big comedy series but I can’t say anything about it yet,” she said.

When asked if good actors are born or made, Dee said: “I think you can have innate talent, so in some ways you are born with it. The rest has to be developed in you with training.

“We all have imagination, but it’s useless unless we use it and find a platform to develop it.

“Some things can be developed, but you can’t teach someone to be charming. You can also learn to trust your instinct more, [but] I don’t think that just anyone can be an actor,” she said.

“I taught many actors at RADA who went on to do very well, such as Alexandra Roach. It’s very sat-

isfying to see.

“I almost can’t turn on the TV without seeing my former students! In the series, Mr Selfridge, at least six of my students were on screen.

“My advice to aspiring actors is to find the truth in what you’re doing. You might always want to play the comedy [up] or to demonstrate or indicate too much and play to clichés, but acting is all about the truth and being real.

“My three day masterclass will have lots of fun as well as technique, improvisation and character and text work,” she said.

Dee Cannon will host a residential weekend masterclass at Dunderry Park, Navan from May 16 to 18.

The weekend costs €250 for tuition, accommodation and all meals.

For further information, contact natasha@spiritoffolk.com.

13 February 2014 Gazette 15

Gazette

FEATURE a day in the life: Chocoholic who’s in love with her job

‘You can’t go wrong with chocolate ...’  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

There are worse places to work around Valentine’s season than in a high-end chocolate shop.

At this most romantic time of the year, The Gazette wanted to find out what a day in the life of a manager of a highend chocolate brand was like.

Working in Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Eileen Dunne has worked in the business for the last eight years but is in no danger of getting tired of being surrounded by

chocolate treats.

“I love it here, with chocolate you can’t go wrong. I get up at around 7am and am in around 8.30am. My little girl Isabella, who’s three, is looked after by my mam so I don’t have to drop her off anywhere.

“I usually get a lift in, in the morning, with my husband. I do all of the paperwork that needs my attention first thing and then I check the window displays and make sure the store prices are correct.

“Then I open the shop

at 9.30am – the mornings are generally quiet but business picks up by lunchtime.

“This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday, which hasn’t happened in years so it’s hard to gauge what it will be like but I think we’ll be busy on the Saturday as well with people who forgot to buy something on Friday and are in a bit of trouble!” she laughs.

“I am on the shop floor all day dealing with customers but we’re not pushy here.

“I’ll read the signals and

decide if someone needs a bit of help or not before approaching them.

“When a customer comes in I’ll offer them a chocolate smile circle to sample. Then I’ll find out from them all about their partner’s preferences and any allergies.

“We’re doing a lot of ice-able chocolate products this year which means people can have their messages personalized with pet names or whatever they want as long as it’s acceptable of course.

“We’ve had some

Eileen is in no danger of getting tired of being surrounded by chocolate treats

strange requests in the past I can tell you. The best messages though are the proposals we are sometimes asked to ice and we’ve had a fair few of them.

“We can all ice here in the shop and do it on the spot in around 30 seconds.

“Men shop much quicker than women and work on instinct. They

basically just grab something and go whereas women choose more personalised, thoughtful gifts.

“I think chocolate is still so popular as it has a nostalgic link to Valentine’s Day and it’s luxurious and a real treat.

“At around 6pm I lock up before heading home on the bus.

“I get home at around

7.30pm and play with Isabella for a while before putting her to bed and reading her a story.

“Then I like to read to unwind, I prefer it to TV. Other evenings I go to a yoga class, but my job is not a bit stressful at all because people are always happy around chocolate. We never have any returns or any complaints.”

Gazette

16 Gazette 13 February 2014

dublinlife

PAYE: long list of tax reliefs is still available

Q&A

Workers of Ireland, claim your refunds

Marty warnock, harvey norman

Computing how best to help the customer MARTY Warnock, who works in the computers department in Harvey Norman, Blanchardstown, talked to The Gazette about working at the busy store.

How long have you worked for Harvey Norman?

I have been working in Harvey Norman for almost a year now, and I am really enjoying it so far.

Can you describe your average day?

My day starts with merchandising the stock, followed by a computer department team meeting, and then we are straight into sales and looking after customers. The day can be pretty full-on, and we are always kept busy, so the day just flies by.

Tell us about the culture in Harvey Norman?

We love a good haggle in here in Harvey Norman, and it’s all about doing a great deal for our customers.

Whether that is being able to offer a discount or creating a bundle deal for customers – where possible, we

will do our best to look after them.

What is the best thing about your job?

There is a great atmosphere in the company. I have worked in retail for almost 10 years and this is by far the best place that I have worked in! We have a big team here in Blanchardstown, and there is a great dynamic between departments.

What does good customer service mean to you?

Good customer service is having the customer leaving the shop happy that they got everything that they needed. It’s about asking the right questions to find out what the customer is looking for, and providing advice where possible. I have repeat customers that come in to the store and ask for me by name; it’s a great feeling.

What do you do to switch off in the evenings?

As soon as I go home, I spend some time feeding my dogs and then it’s time to relax with my girlfriend, a good movie and maybe a glass of wine.

S e r v i n g 6 t h r i v i n g c o mm u n i t i e s of suburban Dublin.

FOR U P TO DATE NEWs f o l l o w u s : w w w. fac e b o o k .c o m / D u b l i n G a z e t t e N e w sp a p e r s @DublinGazette

business

Experts atTaxback.com are urging PAYE workers to submit their tax refund applications since most people would’ve received their P60s by now. The tax professionals say that their current average tax refund is €880 for a PAYE worker but that as the Government has gnawed away at various tax reliefs over the last few years they expect that average to drop as the years go on.

According to Christine Keily of www.taxback. com: “With the austerity budgets over the last few years, it’s obvious that people are paying more tax than they were five years ago. This should really bring it home to people that they absolutely should claim back their entitlements.”

Taxback.com say that although there have been a variety of cuts to tax reliefs in recent years many people are unaware of the fact that you can still reclaim tax as far back as 2010 when the tax reliefs were perhaps more generous.

Keily continued: “There is still a long list of tax reliefs available to people that could result in savings of hundreds of euro, but many of these go unclaimed every year either due to a lack of awareness or apathy.

“A lot of people still find applying for a tax refund confusing or complicated, resulting in them paying more tax than is necessary and losing out on entitlements. Revenue has made attempts to educate taxpayers as to their entitlements regarding tax credits and reliefs.

However, despite this, we believe there are still

Taxback.com: Many people are unaware that they can still reclaim tax as far back as 2010 when the tax reliefs were perhaps more generous

millions of euro going unclaimed each year.”

Now, more than ever, people need this money.

The following are some of the tax credits still available: Medical / dental expenses: While the rate at which tax relief can be claimed on medical expenses has been slashed from 41% to 20%, back in 2008 the relief is still available and can be claimed on most medical expenses incurred and on qualifying non-routine dental expenses.

Tuition fees: The tax credit for tuition fees is still available. For the years 2009 to 2010 the max tax credit available was €1,000. A change was introduced in the 2011 tax year where the relief does not apply to the first €2,000 of qualifying fee or if less, the full amount. Similarly, for part time courses the first €1,000 was disregarded in respect of each claim.

These amounts were

increased to €2,250 and €1,250 respectively for 2012-13 academic year.

The maximum limit on qualifying fees remains capped at €7,000 so the maximum credit available has been effectively reduced from €1,000 to €950.

Rent: The rent credit has been reduced to €200 for a single person in the year 2013 and the tax credit is set to be phased out by the end of 2017.

Taxpayers still have an opportunity to claim the rent credit back to 2010 (for 2011 and subsequent years the relief will only apply if you were in rented accommodation on 07/12/2010) and should take advantage of this.

Keily went on to say: “Obviously, not everyone is entitled to the same tax credits and reliefs so it is up to the individual themselves to ensure they know their entitlements.

For example people should ensure that they have claimed the home

carer credit if they are entitled to it.

“Overpaying tax is also an area which results in many people receiving much welcomed refunds from the Revenue. Individuals should look back on their income levy and USC payments to ensure that they have not overpaid such payments in prior years and should claim a refund before it’s too late. “ Mo s t e m p l o y e r s should’ve issued P60s by now. If people aren’t sure how to review them, we can help them.”

Other tax reliefs and incentives which have remained available are: • Rent a room relief • Exemption on income earned from caring for children in your own home • Employment and investment incentive (EII) scheme • Film relief is still available • Capital losses are still allowable

13 Febraury 2014 Gazette 17

food&drink P22

asdfsdaf P27 motors P23

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

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travel P18

PETS

help loving fender to find his true home

Bronagh Gallagher and Simon Delaney star in the romantic comedy The Food Guide to Love which is set in contemporary Dublin

film fest: food guide to love offers feast of home talent for cinema buffs

Food of love and love of food  laura webb

Film buffs get ready, the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is back and to give you a snippet of movie screenings The Gazette caught up with the directors of The Food Guide to Love.

Set in contemporary Dublin this film showcases home-grown talent including Simon Delaney and Bronagh Gallagher.

The romantic comedy about relationships with love and food was written and directed by husband and wife team Teresa Pelegri from Barcelona and Dominic Harari from London, with an additional writing credit for Irish playwright Eugene O’Brien.

Filmed two years ago in Dublin,

Pelegri and Harari explained how they managed to bring their story to the fair city. “The inspiration for the project was from a quote by Bernard Shaw: ‘There is no love sincerer than the love of food’.

“Off the back of that we worked on a script, which wasn’t specific to Dublin.

What happened was our producer, who is a Spanish producer, had worked with Parallel Film and suggested we could do it as a Spanish/Irish production and set the film in Dublin.

“We were interested in that and thought it was important to get an Irish writer to work with to really adapt the script and we found Eugene O’Brien who we share an agent with.

We met him and really hit it off. With help from the Irish Film Board, we

collaborated on adapting the story to Dublin.

“It fitted really well. One of the important elements of the film is the childhood trauma of the protagonist around a food he was forced to eat as a child which he hated and we discovered coddle – that fitted perfectly, it was almost as if the film had found its home in Dublin.

“We tried it and I really like it. Our son was on the shoot and also finished the plate but there were people in the crew that shared the trauma of the character,” Dominic said.

Living and working as husband and wife can be a testing time for most relationships but for these two, it was easy to manage after they left their director egos behind.

“We share the same tastes and the same sense of humour. It was a learning curve for us, we learned to listen to each other. At the beginning when you start working, every writer and director has a large ego so it was about throwing that ego out the window and reminding each other that this is about good work... It’s not about whether it is my idea or his idea, [it’s about what] works,” Theresa said.

Excited to see their film at the Jameson Dublin Film Festival, they are looking forward to revisiting the film’s locations again.

The Irish premiere of A Food Guide to Love takes place on February 17 in Cineworld at 8pm. For further information on the festival and a synopsis of the film, see www.jdiff.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 Fender, a three-year-old crossbreed.

Fender is super intelligent and while he has been here at the centre, has learned a variety of tricks including high five!

He would definitely enjoy training classes as he enjoys learning so much!

Fender would need to go to an adult-only home, which would be calm and allow him time to settle in at his own pace. If you think this sounds like you, and you’d like to offer Fender a nurturing home, please contact Dogs Trust on 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.

Gazette

18 Gazette 13 February 2014

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL Visit two or more places on your trip It’s the only place in the world where you can see the skylines of New York, the cityscape of Paris, and the canals of Venice in one go, so it’s no surprise that Las Vegas is such a popular destination.

American Holidays offers the chance to pair Las Vegas with another destination in one of their multicentre packages.

Visit Las Vegas and Mexico spending four nights at the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, before spending six nights at the Wyndham Viva Maya all-inclusive from €1,379pp (travel in June 2014).

Or spend four nights at the Excalibur Hotel, Las Vegas, and three nights at the Lorraine Hotel in Miami, from €1,079pp (travel in March 2014).

Or, spend four nights at the Good Hotel, San Francisco, and three nights at the Excalibur Hotel, Las Vegas, from €896pp (travel in March 2014). Prices are based on two people sharing and include return flights from Dublin, internal flights, taxes and charges.

Call American Holidays on 01 673 3804.

TRAVEL

the Marble City: head south and enjoy some old-world charm

Escape to Kilkenny, a city that has it all  natalie burke

Kilkenny is fast becoming one of my favourite cities in Ireland, which is saying a lot coming from someone who was born and raised in Dublin.

But over the past few years I’ve found myself wandering around the Marble City on more than a few occasions, and I’m discovering something new on every visit.

It’s a city that has consistently been considered a trendy tourist hub, with historical features to be found every few yards, enough eateries to entertain a foodie fiend for a fortnight and activity trails for lovers of the outdoors, not to mention the city being a creativity and craft hub – a culture vulture’s delight.

Even its nightlife has become synonymous for a memorable hen or stag weekend away.

Whatever your interest might be, chances are Kilkenny will cater for it.

The Pembroke Hotel on Patrick Street is classy and contemporary and right smack bang in the centre of town, making

it the ideal spot to set up camp for the weekend.

It’s Kilkenny’s only four-star boutique hotel and is just a two-minute walk from the busy streets, bars and the medieval Kilkenny Castle.

The hotel manages to capture the charm of the city itself; the ideal mix--------------------------

‘Whatever your interest might be, chances are Kilkenny will cater for it’ --------------------------

ture of old fashioned city chic and contemporary taste.

This theme runs right through the hotel to the bedrooms, bar and restaurant.

The rooms which are decorated with dark woods and bright colour blocks are cosy and comfortable, and if you’re lucky you might land a room with a castle view.

Parking and WiFi are both complimentary at the hotel, meaning you can easily explore the city on foot for the weekend.

If your plans include

a spot of shopping, Kilkenny’s full of spending opportunities.

Independent retailers, chic boutiques and of course, the high street shopping favourites, are located on both the city’s main and side streets with High Street being one of the main shopping districts.

Only across the road from the hotel is the trendy vintage store Shutterbug – I couldn’t resist a little mooch around – which was convenient for a pitstop back at the Pembroke for dropping bags.

Dinner in the Pembroke Hotel’s Stathams Restaurant was really enjoyable, preluded by the obligatory glass of pinot grigio in the hotel’s cosy bar.

The bar has a full wine list and its own cocktail menu, and has plenty of cosy alcoves to sit back and enjoy a drink, or two.

Never one to miss an opportunity to indulge in good food, I thoroughly enjoyed a goat’s cheese bruschetta dish for starters, with vine tomatoes and carmelised red onion marmalade.

The Pembroke Hotel is right smack bang in the centre of town, making it the ideal spot to set up camp for the weekend

W hile my par tner delved into a delicious sirloin steak for main course, I opted instead for the roast vegetable mille feuille.

It was something I had never tried before and the tasty French pastry dish came with a creamy brie cheese and roast beetroot coulis. It’s always a satisfying feeling when you know you’ve made good food choices!

The next morning, a

stroll through the lively city centre was a must.

The rain eased off just in time for us to walk through the grounds of the 12th century Kilkenny Castle (if you’ve time, take a daily tour of the castle) before stopping for lunch at one of Ireland’s oldest inns, Kyteler’s.

Before you leave, stop for a coffee at Cafe Mocha on High Street.

While the coffee shop’s narrow entrance is easy

to miss, it’s a cafe full of charm and character with a ribbon boutique and china tea cup shop inside!

City breaks at the Pembroke Hotel start from just €99 per night.

For further details or to book, visit www.pembrokekilkenny.com or call 056 7783500.

For more information on things to do and see in Kilkenny, see www. visitkilkenny.ie.

13 February 2014 GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

ARTS BOOK REVIEW: DEBUT NOVEL TICKS ALL THE HISTORICAL BOXES

Precise, economical tale of war  BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

AUDREY Magee’s debut novel, The Undertaking, is a second World War story written from the perspective of the Germans. The plot centres specifically on a couple who marry without having seen or met each other. At the wedding ceremony, a picture stands in for the soldier’s prospective wife.

Peter Faber is a private in the German army who is posted to the front and ends up in the ill-fated Eastern front march into Russia in winter.

As the soldiers in Faber’s unit set out on their harrowing trek towards Russia, passing through peasant villages, they por-

tray all of the cockiness you would imagine German soldiers to possess.

The Nazis’ lebensraum policy aimed to clear a land mass the size of Russia for German use, primarily to grow wheat and other provisions.

The soldiers seem like any others in such circumstances as they indulge in camaraderie, banter and mutual teasing en route; but as they come in contact with the peasants they encounter, we see a strange matter of fact cruelty and a selfish and insular air of entitlement that is shared by all of them.

For example, when they arrive at a farmhouse, cold and hungry,

they immediately evict an old lady and her daughter, then shoot them both and eat up every last morsel available, like a plaque of locusts leaving nothing behind. At no time do they show any sign of selfawareness or reflection.

The situation changes as they progress further east into the heartland of Russia. The unit becomes cut off from all contact with their superiors and the soldiers are left to the mercy of Russian snipers and shelling.

At home, Faber’s wife Katharina and her new baby live in a requisitioned apartment they would never have been able to afford under normal circumstances. It was

taken from Jews.

She writes to her new husband Peter from the isolation of her ivory tower where her mother and father bicker about the decision to send their son, Katharina’s brother, Johannes, back to the front though he was suffering from severe post traumatic stress disorder.

Magee was a journalist for 12 years and it shows, in the best possible way.

Her prose is very clean and throws the story into stunning relief with absolute impartiality.

She uses language very economically and with superb precision. One of the most memorable descriptions is of the shell-shocked Johannes

standing unsteadily on a railway platform. The author explained his bewilderment in a very physical way and localised his teetering stance with the phrase “his feet stumbling”.

This may seem a small detail but to pinpoint the area of the stumbling to the feet rather than the whole person is unique and very moving.

There are many such examples of unusual precision throughout the novel and rather than feeling abandoned by the author, her hard neutrality is greatly reassuring to the reader.

Magee has achieved a most uncommon thing with this book in both lit-

Author Audrey Magee, and the cover of her new book, The Undertaking

erary style and theme.

She shows us, in her beautifully factual way, that it was not only the invaded peoples who suffered during the war but also those who perpe-

trated the violence against them.

The Undertaking is published by Atlantic Books and available in all good bookstores for €14.99

Gazette

20 Gazette 13 February 2014

OUT&ABOUT Guess Bag available at Kilkenny €60

Tickled pink!

Studd Detail Court available at Heatons €25

PINK OF all shades is a hot topic in the fashion world when it comes to spring/summer collections and this year is no different.

This week Gazette Style takes a little look at all things pink to see what tickles the fashion taste-buds, from lippy to dresses and jackets to tops, there is a pink shade to suit everyone!

Rocha John Rocha rose shift dress available at Debenhams €88

Preen Edition pink biker jacket available at Debenhams €119

Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Cool Radiance Highlighter €32

Definitions Soft Tailored Blazer, at Littlewoods Ireland €50

13 February 2014 GAZETTE 21

GAZETTE

STYLE

Master classes on the perfect complexion Blush tassel boot available at Heatons €25

Havren flared dress available in Kilkenny €229.95

 LAURA WEBB

IF IT’S Lancome products you like, than make a note in your diary to see Lancome’s Elite make-up artist, Laura Pye. She will pay an exclusive Irish visit to Boots stores in Blanchardstown, Liffey Valley and Dundrum Town Centre this month.

Here she will host a number of master classes and one-to-one exclusive appointments at the Boots Lancome counters.

Laura’s visit coincides with the launch of Lancome’s new foundation, Miracle Air de Teint, and she will be offering advice on how to achieve the perfect complexion for all skin types.

The most beautiful skin emanates a singular kind of light, a vital radiance that illuminates the complexion. With Miracle Air de Teint, and the awardwinning Teint Miracle, Lancome presents its first ever made-to-measure nude ritual, catering to all women’s needs and desires.

Here are some industry tips and tricks from Laura on how to achieve

the perfect complexion this spring: • If you’re looking for a new foundation, you should really look at the key features of the foundation, that is are you looking for a foundation with good coverage or are you looking for one with sheer coverage? Maybe you have oily skin but you still want a healthy glow, or maybe you want to fight the signs of ageing? All these key features are something to think about before you chose the right foundation for your skin.

• The main thing to think about when foundation shopping, is to remember that a foundation shouldn’t cover or mask the skin, it should only balance, correct and enhance the complexion. Your face should still look like it’s you and it should be as natural as possible, this is why coverage and shade are so important.

• When applying foundation, take the product out onto the back of your hand and use that as a palette when applying with a brush.

• Be sure to keep your make-up looking clean

Lancome’s new foundation Miracle Air de Teint and (inset) Lancome’s Elite make-up artist, Laura Pye

and well blended – take a little more extra care when applying foundation, you’ll see the difference.

• Smile, and then sweep Lancome’s Blush Subtil across the apples of the cheek in a teardrop shape. This will add an instant pop of subtle colour.

• To fur ther sculpt your complexion, apply a light-reflecting highlighter across the tops of the cheekbones.

This will also lift the complexion.

If you would like to receive expert skincare and make-up advice specifically tailored to suit

you from Laura, she will be available for bookings on the Tuesday, February 25 in Boots Blanchardstown, Wednesday, February 26 in Boots Liffey Valley, and Friday, February 28 in Boots Dundrum.

Get the perfect bronze with eco-friendly TanOrganic

YSL Gloss Volupte N°49 €25

BRUSH up on tanning while staying eco-friendly with TanOrganic and its new bronzing powder duo. The first thing you notice about this product is its packaging – a smooth wood finish is not something you see everyday on a make-up self and we must admit we do like it.

As for the product itself, it is made with completely natural ingredients making it ecocertified. This bronzing powder is split in two with warm chocolate on one side and golden caramel hues on the other, which is blendable to get a tone that suits your skin. It can be used to contour, colour and condition skin.

A great way to kick-start the spring, this bronzing powder duo will help bring back some brightness to our weary winter skin.

Go from a healthy day glow, which can be achieved by swirling the duo bronzer on to the apples of the cheeks, to a show-stopping evening look - a simple contour of the temples, cheekbones, nose and chin.

TanOrganic Duo Bronzer retails at €29.99 and is available from www.tanorganic.com or the following pharmacies Boots, Bradleys, Lloyds, Hickeys, Sam McCauleys and McCabes in Dublin.

Gazette

22 Gazette 13 February 2014

OUT&ABOUT

FOOD&DRINK

BITESIZEDNEWS

Coisbo Brewery from Denmark .

Picture: Mark Desmond Photography

Coisbo’s cup floweth over at craft brew fair COISBO was crowned the winner of the Dublin Craft Beer Cup at the second annual Alltech International Craft Brews and Food Fair last weekend.

The Danish family-run craft brewery faced stiff competition, beating 275 other entries for the winning title. Last year, Hilden Brewing Company – Twisted Hop took the winning title of the competition.

The fair took place at the Convention Centre on Friday and Saturday, February 7 and 8, and saw over 6,000 people attend to sample various craft beers and artisan food.

There was a range of trade, distributors, breweries, distillers and food companies exhibiting, including the Armagh Cider Company, the Irish Whiskey Museum, Mountain Man, Trouble Brewing, Ballymaloe Relish, Cashel Blue, Keogh’s Crisps and Wright’s of Howth.

According to head judge Dr Inge Russell, editor of the Journal of the Institute of Brewing: “Coisbo’s Russian Imperial Stout deserved to win due to the marvellously balanced aroma, full body and its rich taste.”

As well as the beer cup and exhibitors, Paddy Casey performed on stage on the Friday night, while on Saturday the Ireland V Wales Six Nations rugby was featured live on the big 14ft screen, which saw Ireland’s victorious score of 26-3.

Singer-songwriter Paddy Casey

Blue Orchard Thai restaurant

Ballinteer The penang chicken curry Thai basil, lime leaf and

A SUNDAY night takeaway is a common treat for us Irish. The most popular delivery options are still an Indian or Chinese takeaway, or pizza, with Thai food proving less popular.

However, on a recent ferociously chilly and blustery night, I accepted a friend’s invitation to dinner at Blue Orchid in Ballinteer – one of three Thai restaurants (the others are in Stepaside and Blackrock).

All the restaurants offer genuine Thai food and profess to be specialists in their field, priding themselves on distinctive Thai flavours using recognisable spices, fresh herbs, crunchily-textured vegetables and zingy citrus tang flavours.

The Ballinteer outlet didn’t disappoint, and the food we ate was delicious.

We arrived to a quiet restaurant with a quintessential suburban East Asian feel, which could have done with a little liv-

had a wonderfully fragrant and rich coconut sauce that was slightly sweet, and sang with coriander, salty fish sauce

The Picky Eater ening up.

Still, the staff were welcoming, friendly and attentive, without being overbearing, and our drinks were always topped up and water flowed constantly.

My two companions and I decided to order three different starters and mains from across the menu, which was the standard fare for Thai food in Ireland, with nothing being overly eyegrabbing or unusual.

Starters are Thai flavoured soup, various tempura dishes, dumplings and yuk sung, while mains are a variety of stir-fried fish or meats with sauces, and the usual range of curries, from Thai green to penang.

We opted for prawn tempura, chicken dumpling and the pork yuk sung. The dumplings were perfectly crisp with a spicy, rich chicken stuffing, and sweet sticky dipping sauce, and were quickly devoured.

The tempura prawns

were the best of the three, with well-cooked soft prawns that tasted fresh from the sea, and feathery light crisp batter.

The yuk sung was meaty, with punchy ginger and a dense pork flavour, which was lovely, and enveloped in fresh, crisp lettuce.

For mains I ordered a sizzling selection of seafood in a lemon butter sauce, and my fellow diners opted for seafood in an oyster sauce and a penang chicken curry.

My dish arrived piping hot with plenty of prawns, scallops, salmon and sea bass. The seafood was beautifully cooked, and was deliciously complemented by the buttery and lemony tart sauce with crunchy vegetables.

The curry had a wonderfully fragrant and rich coconut sauce that was slightly sweet, and sang with coriander, Thai basil, lime leaf and salty fish sauce – yum!

These two dishes were certainly my favourite

A tasty selection of ribs, teriyaki spring rolls, chicken satay and chicken wontons

over the fish selection in oyster sauce; however, this was cooked to perfection, too, and full of sweet and sour notes.

Too stuffed from the generous portions, we decided to skip dessert – the menu consisted of an unappetising range of bought-in options.

Prices range from

€5-€8 for starters, and €17-€24 for the main courses. Still, with flavours as authentic and fresh as this, Blue Orchid is well worth a visit if you find yourself longing for a taste of Thailand. Three starters, three mains along with two bottles of wine came to a reasonable €139 before service.

Conclusion THE setting could do with a little livening up – but who cares, given how delicious the food was. Blue Orchard in Ballinteer tickled our taste buds and then delivered in style, presenting generally excellent (and authentic) Thai dishes at a fair price.

13 February 2014 Gazette 23

Cash-strapped motorists get a dig out from Renault

Even though cars are getting more efficient – and motor tax on newer cars is getting more affordable, the purchase price is still something that puts people off buying a new model.

As a result, available finance is a key decider for many people when looking at a new car, with the PCP (personal contract plan) becoming more and more popular with the Irish motorist.

Renault’s own bank Renault Finance, in the country just over two years, has lent over €100m in retail financing in Ireland to its 6,000 customers.

I n 2 013 , R e n a u l t Finance saw approximately one-in-four customers take Renault ReFlex, Renault’s PCP product, which reduces a monthly payment versus a personal loan or traditional hire purchase.

Customers can save up to 30% less with the same finance amount over the same period with a PCP. Early indicators in 2014 show that 40% of Renault

road

Gazette

options: popularity of personal contract plans on the rise

MOTORING

NOISE Opel Astra OPC Extreme

Opel goes the extreme with the latest Astra

Renault Finance has lent over €100m in retail financing to its 6,000 Irish customers in just over two years

and Dacia customers will take a Renault ReFlex product (PCP). ReFlex customers are guaranteed the value of their car in two to three years’ time and Renault or Dacia will guarantee a minimum amount at the end of their finance term.

They also have the possibility of driving a new car every two to three years and if the customer doesn’t wish to keep the car after the

Up to a challenge: Cheque handover some might think it a dubious hon-

our, but pictured receiving his winning €1,000 cheque from Seat Ireland’s Cian O’Brien is Radio Nova’s Conor Irwin, officially Ireland’s fastest DJ. Conor took part in the Seat Leon Mondello Challenge recently, which was held in Dublin’s famous Mondello race track, and saw 20 national DJs race in the spruced-up Seat Leon for the fastest track time, all in aid of a charity of their choice. Conor won with an impressive time of 1:15.47 and named the ISPCC as his selected charity.

term, they don’t have to.

Another reason why PCPs are increasing in popularity is that the deposit required is low, usually 10% between deposit and trade in.

With the market up 45%, Renault Finance has seen an increase of 100% in finance applications for the same period last year.

A new maximum twohour decision time has also been introduced on all finance applications.

Tips for Motor Finance

• Compare the monthly payments of a personal loan, hire purchase and personal contract plan option over the same term and with the same finance amount • Compare interest rates, check the interest rate you are paying and always review the cost to borrow the money over the term • Hire purchase is a form of secured lending.

Secured loans will typically have a lower interest rate than an unsecured loan.

Hire purchase agreements always have a fixed interest rate. This means your rate will not fluctuate, so your monthly payments will remain the same throughout the term of the agreement • Your trade-in can be used as a down payment on your finance agreement.

It is one of those cars that just doesn’t seem to belong on public roads, yet it’s there.

When Opel released the current version of its “hot hatch”Astra, the motoring press took a sharp intake of breath – this was a car that actually looked like the concept that had been released before launch.

Menacing windows, big wheels, tinted glass and positively evil headlights and grille – this was a car for the fan boy.

Now, Opel have released the first official image of one of its new Geneva show stars, the Astra OPC Extreme, which will be the basis for a future lowvolume production run.

It has petrol heads like me positively salivating.

Derived from the last year’s Astra Cup race car that competed in the Nürburgring Endurance Championship, the Extreme is the street-legal race sibling to the current Astra OPC, which in standard form already produces 280PS and 400Nm of torque.

But shorn of weight, thanks to liberal use of highquality carbon components, the Extreme’s natural environment will be the race track. An integrated safety structure, racing seats and six-point safety belts drive home the point still further.

The Extreme’s timing couldn’t be better, either, since 2014 marks 10 years since the OPC brand was launched in 2004. The Astra OPC is now the bestselling OPC.

Easy to hit three million This week motoring specialist, Easytrip, celebrated its 3,000,000th transaction at the DAA taxi management system at Dublin Airport.

Easytrip’s automated vehicle management technology at Dublin Airport has helped improve the management of taxi journeys through the airport by monitoring and controlling taxi flow.

The new system was introduced in 2011 following the opening of Terminal 2 and has provided a more effective management system for the DAA ensuring timely allocation of taxis at taxi stands for customers at arrivals.

Out of an approximate 1,500 taxis permitted to work at Dublin Airport, taxi driver Gerard Rooney became the driver to mark the 3,000,000th transaction in his Lexus.

To celebrate the milestone, Gerard Rooney was presented with a weekend away as part of the Easytrip Escapes offering.

Gazette

24 gazette 13 February 2014

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

ReelReviews

robocop  aileen donegan

A REBOOT of 1987’s Robocop has been in the pipeline for a long time.

And what could have been a woeful, watereddown version of the original is a surprisingly fast-tempo, relevant and modern retelling for younger audiences.

Here, national security in the United States is in transition in 2028.

With rising violence on home turf and abroad, technological masterminds are creating the ultimate security weapon for profit - the Robocop.

This reimagining of the grim and gory 1987 classic sees family man and dedicated street cop Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) fatally injured in the line of duty.

OmniCorp, a powerful high-tech robot manufacturer, is looking to make a perfect robot – one of warmth, which the public could embrace – and Murphy is the prototype ...

Directed by Jose Padilha, this sleek, modern and rated PG13 version (the original is adult-rated) shouldn’t work, but does.

The original Robocop was played out in a futuristic, dystopian Detroit, but this Robocop could be America in the next 10 years.

Still, it’s not all politics and doom – the film evens things out with plenty of lighter moments.

With enough action sequences to suit even a Die Hard fan, don’t be put off by the new suit – it’s still Robocop, just an updated version.

They’ll need to box clever with their plans ... In the second World War, Stokes (George Clooney) and Granger (Matt Damon) are in a race against time to help rescue art treasures from being destroyed. The catch? That they’ll have to do so from deep within Nazi territory, in this rip-roaring tale that’s based on a true story.

the monuments men: a valiant effort that is a good story badly told

Good guys thwart a Nazi plan The Monuments Men is based on one of the most fascinating stories of the second World War, a real-life underdog tale that has been begging to be told on screen.

In 1944 Allied forces discover that Hitler is looting and amassing huge quantities of paintings and sculptures from museums and private collections across Europe – including works by Rembrandt, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo.

There are rumours of his intentions to create a massive complex to display the art in Austria.

The Allied plan of action involves gathering an unlikely ensemble of museum curators and art historians who are given the task

 Dave phillips

of going behind enemy lines to locate, identify, and safely return the stolen pieces of art.

Starring Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jean Dujardin, Bill Murray, and John Goodman, The Monuments Men boasts an incredible array of talent.

Clooney is to the fore both on- and off-screen, taking on the roles of director and writer in a recipe that bred success in 2005’s Good Night and Good Luck and 2011’s The Ides of March – but this film sees Clooney shift away

from the slower paced political intricacies of his earlier films. The Monuments Men is a film that is focused on action.

Or at least it tries to be, as the shift in pace is not as smooth as might have been hoped for.

At first glance, Clooney’s theatre of war has none of the muddy, b l o o d y, b l e a k r e a l ism that we’ve become accustomed to.

Instead it is a throwback to a time before Saving Private Ryan to a Saturday matinee, moustachioed version of the second World War complete with all the colour ful kitsch you might expect to see emblazoning the cover of a Warlord comic.

It’s against this backdrop that The Monuments Men works best, leaning heavily on com-

edy and action, and it’s where Murray, Goodman and Dujardin are allowed to shine.

While the large all-star cast is attractive, it also brings problems as it seems that Clooney struggles in an attempt to grant everyone equal screen time.

As the characters are based in several locations in Europe, the end result is a plot stitched together from too many formulaic episodes that fail to provide any character growth or depth.

There’s an inherent tension when the film then tries to capture a historical reality that jars with the more cartoonish elements, and the emotional chords that the film endeavours to strike are too easily drowned out by the fanfare and marching drums.

R u n ning at a lengthy of two hours, you cannot help but feel that things could have been much improved with a tighter edit.

W hile it is a valiant effort to bring an important part of history to light, ultimately The Monuments Men is a good story badly told.

It does ask us some interesting questions how much value do we place on artistic expression?

And can cultural artefacts be more valuable than human lives? But unfortunately these are likely to go unheard.

While the real life Monuments Men had a clear reason for being, the film seems confused about what it hopes to achieve and, despite great source material and a wonderful cast, it fails to be inspiring.

Verdict: 5/10

The Monuments Woman ... Kate Blanchett’s character adds a dash of class to the Boys’ Own adventure

13 February 2014 GAZETTE 25

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William & Evelyn Byrne are applying for planning permission for a single storey kitchen extension to the side and rear and all associated site and drainage works to existing detached house at 13 Haydens Park Dale, Lucan, Co. Dublin. This planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of South Dublin County Council during its public opening hours of 9am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4pm, Mon-Fri, and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to South Dublin County Council in writing and on payment of the prescribed fee (â&#x201A;Ź20.00) within the period of five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by South Dublin County Council of the application.

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26 gazette 13 February 2014

13 February 2014 Gazette 27

rugby sevens P29

asdfsdaf gaelic games P27 P31

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



Gazette

badminton P28

FastSport Strydom gets call from MCC:

Dan Abrahams, inset, was instrumental in the turnaround of Anthony Stokes’ SPL journey when he was struggling during his time at Hibernian

sports psychology: internationally renowned trainer coming to dublin

A coaching masterclass to bring out the best in players An unique opportunity to learn from one of the foremost sports psychologist in the world is being presented to Dublin coaches early next month when Dan Abrahams comes to the North Dublin Schoolboy League Development Centre on Saturday, March 8, at 3.30pm to deliver a workshop on improving performance through psychological methods.

Abrahams has worked with some of the leading players, teams, coaches and sporting organisations in the world, and has assisted Clondalkin player

Anthony Stokes in his journey in the SPL, as well as assisting West Ham’s Carlton Cole and Derby County captain Richard Keogh achieve their potential.

He is known for his passion and ability to demystify sport psychology, as well as his talent for creating easy-to-understand and simple-to-use techniques and performance philosophies.

Abrahams works in all sport but specialises in soccer and golf. He is lead psychologist for England Golf and he

works with players from leading amateur through to Tour players. In soccer psychology, he is regarded as a leader in the field.

He has delivered his expertise in the past to many organisations, including the British and Scottish FAs, and is sought-after by managers across Europe.

His passion is to demystify football psychology for footballers at every level of the game. His workshops aim to be fun, positive, upbeat and to help all footballers develop their mindsets

no matter their ability.

“My mission is to demistify sports psychology for footballers in this instance, and sports people in general. I feel that sports psychology is not good enough at taking the academic research simplify the language, and delivering applicable, simple to understand and use tools and techniques that sports people can use in the moment,” said Abrahams.

Tickets for the event are on sale via thecoachdiary.com for an early booker rate of €18.

FINGAL cricket regional development officer Reinhardt Strydom has been selected in the MCC squad to tour Singapore and Malaysia this month.

Strydom, who is also part of the Sussex Academy, joins a squad of 13 which will be led by Bob Baxter and captained by exLancashire batsman Mark Chilton.

The current party departed for Kuala Lumpur on Saturday morning and will play five games in an action-packed tour, starting with a 50-over match against Malaysia Cricket Association at the Kinrara Oval.

They will also play a five-game round-robin tournament between MCC, Malaysia Cricket Association and Singapore Cricket Association.

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

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6230 or 01 651 6205

Gazette

28 Gazette 13 February 2014

SPORT Evans aids Dundrum’s new stars

FastSport

badminton: olympian returns to dublin to help out local club

bEAUFORT INTO SCHOOLS CUP SEMI-FINAL:

NIAMH Lyons struck the Loreto Beaufort winner against King’s Hospital, scoring the odd goal in five after a very evenly matched Leinster schoolgirls hockey Senior Cup quarter-final.

Early on, Niamh McLoughlin put her side in front. King’s, though, pressed hard for an equaliser which duly came via a great strike from a short corner from Jessica O’Leary, tying things up at 1-1.

Parity was shortlived as Beaufort fought back with a brilliant strike from Irish Under-18 captain Jessica McGirr who restored the advantage at halftime, 2-1.

King’s came out battling in the second half when Sally Farrell finished off great build-up play to make it level for a second time. But Beaufort got back in front, this time when McGirr and Sarah Nagle turned over possession in midfield to set up Lyons for the winning goal.w

 sport@gazettegroup.com

Olympic b a d m i n ton star Scott Evans returned to Ireland last week ahead of the Irish National Championships to visit Taney Parish Centre, home of the Dundrum Badminton Club, to pass on some of his knowledge and experience to the club’s members in a special training session.

Unable to compete in the championships due to a foot injury, Evans was able to commit time to the local club whose membership has been flourishing since last year.

The injury prevented Evans from competing last weekend, and may take up to six weeks to heal completely, but his training schedule

and preparation ahead of this year’s European championships in April will not be hindered, and his focus remains on the contest which takes place this year in Amiens, France.

T he invitation for Scott to visit the club came from club member Hazel Quigley, who reached out to the Denmark-based player, who was more than happy to convey some of his skills.

“Growing the sport at grassroots level has been on the up in the last few years, and it is very important to help nurture those roots,” said Evans.

“Hazel mentioned t h e cl u b ’s n u m b e r s had dropped, but had started to pick up again, and invited me to come

along and give some tips and get some more people interested in the sport. The idea is always to get as many people playing badminton as possible.”

Quigley was obviously delighted that Evans had managed to take the time to come along to the club.

“It’s very exciting to meet him, and we are hoping to get some tips and listen to what he has to say about how he trains.

“Badminton is such a great sport, but a lot of people would not really think of it as being an Olympic sport, so Scott being involved brings a lot more of a profile to it.

“He is a good ambassador for the sport and the local area.”

Local badminton star Scott Evans returns to his roots to give back some of his expertise to players James Dolan, Elaine McGuinness, Jana Cox and Liam Cowley

Quigley says the future is bright for the club.

“We are keen to keep progressing with our leagues and cup matches, improve our coaching and move up the divisions. We are getting a bit more competitive as a club, but we are still sociable and fun.”

Evans is in preparation for the European team championships which take place in Switzerland shor tly, and is keen to be ready to line out for Ireland, as well as focusing on his own preparation for

the German Open at the end of February and the European individual championships.

“I have focused on training exclusively in January to build a level of strength for April, but I need to get some tournament time in as my world ranking has gone down as a result of not taking part in competition. But I will take most of March off to do a lot more training.

“It’s great to have this plan in place, spending time in the gym and not having to travel so

much. To be in Denmark and have that routine of training and concentration has been great.

“It’s the right attitude to have. If I’m going to do better, I need to do better every day, and not just be happy with doing a good training session. This is the way it should be and I need to work extremely hard every single day.”

If you are interested in finding out more about the Dundrum Badminton Club, contact dundrum_badminton@hotmail.com.

Ryan returns to world number one position in pursuit  sport@gazettegroup.com

St Oliver Plunkett’s NS fifth year team celebrate their success at the recent Fingal cricket blitz

Local world cycling sensation Caroline Ryan has received a boost ahead of her appearance at the 2014 World Track Championships in Columbia at the end of this month with the announcement that she had retained her world number one ranking in the 3km individual pursuit.

Ryan had lost the pole position to rival Australian rider Rebecca Wisiak for a brief time.

But her performance in the second round of the 2014 World

Cup season in Aguascalientes, Mexico, saw her claim the bronze medal - the first time an Irish woman had ever claimed a medal at a World Cup event - as well as the requisite points to propel her back to the top of the individual pursuit rankings, and by a considerable margin from the rider in second place, Eugenia Bujak from Poland.

Wisiak is now back in third place, equal on points with Cuban cyclist Yudelmis Dominguez.

Speaking to GazetteSport when she attained her world

number one ranking back in July 2013, Ryan was thrilled to be the world’s finest women’s individual pursuit rider.

“It’s brilliant really, and confirmation that we are heading in the right direction. It has taken three or four years of hard work to get here, and there is a lot to do yet.”

At the upcoming world championships in Cali, Ryan will ride in the pursuit and points race, in which she is ranked 29th in the world in the latest rankings.

Ireland’s reigning world

scratch race champion, Martyn Irvine remains fourth in the world rankings in that event and has slipped one place to fourth in the pursuit. He had been world number one in both last year but was hit by a series of crashes in 2013 that interrupted his racing for most of the year.

Despite those difficulties he still won an omnium bronze medal at the European Track Championships in the summer and took UCI World Cup gold in the scratch race in Manchester in November.

13 February 2014 Gazette 29

Gazette

Sevens heaven the ultimate rugby goal While the Irish women’s XV attempt to retain their 6 Nations crown, the Sevens side have flown out to Atlanta to compete in the World Series with a place at Rio 2016 the long-term dream Last weekend saw the second 6 Nations success for Ireland’s women’s rugby team when they defeated Wales, having demolished Scotland in their previous weekend’s encounter, but as the ladies in green prepared to take to the field in Ashbourne, their compatriots were flying to the United States for the next phase of the World Seven Series in Atlanta.

The Irish women’s Sevens side are involved in the international tournament over the course of the next year, with the intention being to remain in the top eight places in the competition for the next two years, at the end of which the ultimate goal is qualification for the

2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where women’s Sevens will feature for the first time.

Sevens is a very different beast to the XV version of the oval ball game, having been invented in the Scottish borders town of Melrose. It is played with seven players, over the course of two sevenminute halves, separated by a one-minute interval.

It is high-intensity, highspeed and potentially high-scoring.

With the women’s XV focused on retaining their 6 Nations crown and the World Cup in August this year, the Sevens side have had to cast their net widely to draw in players available to line out.

As a result, players in

the Ireland team travelling to Atlanta have come from diverse backgrounds, from Gaelic football, hockey and athletics, as well as rugby.

Speaking to GazetteSport before the team flew out, Gillian McDarby, the Ireland women’s Sevens team manager explained the ethos behind the talent identification programme.

“We have a new squad, with a lot of raw talent there, and we are building on that. We are knocking on the doors of a lot of other sports where talent might be. That’s where Aisling Naughton came from, from the world of hockey, and Laura Walsh from Gaelic football. We have taken the best ath-

Members of the women’s rugby Sevens side before they flew out to Dubai for round one of the World Series last November

letes we can get out to Atlanta so we can achieve the dream.”

With an increased interest in the women’s game since the Grand Slam success of the XV side last year, Sevens is seen as an ideal way for people to take part in the sport, although people

next weekend for the next round of the World Series.

Then after a short rest, the team will fly out again, to Hong Kong and China for the next round of the competition out there.

McDarby acknowledged the intensity of the round-the-world nature of the endeavour for her

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

‘We’ve taken the best athletes we can get out to Atlanta so we can achieve the dream’ - Gillian McDarby --------------------------------------------------------

may not be familiar with the form.

“There is no culture of Sevens in Ireland, so it’s about getting people introduced to what it is about,” said McDarby.

“While everyone knows what XVs is, and there are a lot of people keeping an eye on the XVs success and hopefully their continued success in this 6 Nations campaign, it’s about getting the public to follow our dream now.

It’s an Olympic sport, and Sevens is a worldwide, international sport, and very dynamic in comparison to the larger team game.”

The Irish are up against some of the most recognisable teams in world rugby, New Zealand, as well as Holland, in their group stage in Atlanta.

Not only will that be a tough test, they will fly on to Sao Paulo on Brazil

team.

“It will be an intense 17 days. The pressure will be on constantly, and it will be difficult in Atlanta. We have the Kiwis, England and the Dutch in our pool, strong Sevens nations, so it will be tough from the get-go.”

However, there will be an opportunity for players currently appearing in the 6 Nations to be involved in the Sevens side’s progress.

“There is a number of the XV squad who have helped put us in the place we are in now, but their focus is on the 6 Nations and the World Cup this August.

“After those competitions are complete, there will be a hope that a number of the XV will come back across and help us to get to the qualification position we need to reach.”

FastSport

Great Ireland Run 2014 set to grace Phoenix Park THE 2014 Spar Great Ireland Run, which will take place on Sunday, April 6 in the Phoenix Park, was launched last week by running fanatics Paula Lane who plays Kylie Platt in Coronation Street and Ryan Andrews from Fair City, pictured above.

The run takes place in the heart of Dublin in one of Europe’s largest city parks over a 10k course that challenges runners of all abilities and ambitions.

The day, which includes the junior and mini Great Ireland Run, is an opportunity to escape from the roads and pavements and into the grassland and tree-lined curves that the 1,750-acre space has to offer.

Fast-paced club runners and first-timers will all converge on the start line shortly after 9am, when they can look forward to being led around the The Phoenix Park course by some of the world’s finest athletes.

Last year, Kenenisa Bekele comfortably won in a time of 27:49 and then went on to a dramatic victory over reigning double-Olympic champion Mo Farah at the Bupa Great North Run in Newcastle Gateshead, UK. Returning after its debut in 2013 will also be the elite men’s mile race, the discipline which began as a vehicle for gambling in the 1900s is now the only imperial distance that the IAAF recognise with a world record. It was Irishman Paul Robinson who fell short of that record, but came home first in 4:14 in the spring.

The event is also a family affair with the popular mini and junior events featuring a 1.6k course for three- to eight-year-olds and a 2.5k stretch for the older nine- to 15-yearolds.

A main attractions on the day, which is also broadcast live on RTE 2, is the All Ireland County Challenge, where you can have the chance to race for your home county. To sign up to run in the Great Ireland and for information, log on to www.greatirelandrun.org/.

It costs €29 to take part and this fee includes a medal, T-shirt and finisher’s pack.

Gazette

30 BLANCH gazette 13 February 2014

SPORT

FastSport

athletics: club to host second national championship

New generation of handball at St Brigid’s Last week saw the first phase of the Dublin 15 Schools Handball League take place in St Brigid’s GAA Club.

The tournament, played on all four indoor courts in the club, saw over 40 pupils from fifth and sixth classes in schools from the Dublin 15 area including St Brigid’s Castleknock, Scoil Bhride Castleknock Educate Together National School, St Francis Xavier and St Patrick’s Diswellstown, and proved a great success.

The initiative is the brainchild of Paul O’Brien and John O’Loughlin, the games promotions officers at St Brigid’s, who last year decided to put together the tournament for the schools in the local area to use St Brigid’s handball facilities and help to create a new generation of players.

“We saw it as a way of getting kids who didn’t play foorball or hurling to come down and see the facilities and experience to sport for themselves,” said O’Loughlin when he spoke to GazetteSport about the league schools event last week.

“We wanted to introduce young people in the schools to the game and maybe get some new players for the handball section.”

O’Loughlin was delighted with the reaction the league has had so far, and sees potential for the development of the sport at the club as a result of initiatives like these.

“St Brigid’s is a very big handball club, as well as hurling and football, and we want to capitalise on that and make the most of the facilities that are there. We want people to be exposed to all the games available at the club.

“There were some lads who played handball before, and some who had never played before, but you could quickly see they were getting better and better. It’s like everything else, if they keep at it, they will be future handball players.”

The remaining dates are February 14, February 28, with the finals day on March 7 (all Fridays from 3 to 4pm).

For more information about the league and handball at St Brigid’s, contact John O’Loughlin on 087 7801 067, or log on to the club’s website, www.stbrigids.com.

Dunboyne athletic club will run the national development cross-country championship event on February 23

Dunboyne to run the park  sport@gazettegroup.com

Dunboyne AC will take another step up on the national stage later this month when the club host the 2014 Athletics Ireland national intermediate, masters and juvenile development cross-country championships at the Cow Park, Loughsallagh, on Sunday, February 23.

After successfully hosting recent Meath and Leinster events, Dunboyne is taking on the task of running a national championship for the second time.

Club and county teams will compete at the meet for national honours,

and the intermediate and juvenile development categories draw on all but the very top runners in the country, with the masters category bringing together top athletes over the age of 35 from the four provinces, featuring ex-national champions and those who have represented Ireland at international level.

Underage athletes from Under-11 to Under-17 will compete over various distances according to their age group, before the intermediate men’s category compete over an 8km course and the intermediate women over 5km.

just rewards Peregrine’s camogie honoured by AIB sponsors of the GAA and Camogie

Club Championship, AIB, recently presented training equipment to representatives of the 2013 Dublin county championship winning teams in football, hurling and camogie. Representing St Peregrine’s junior camogie team were Jimmy O’Connor, Bridget Coleman and Miriam Murtagh, pictured here with John Cotter, Finbar Byrnes and Caroline Forde (AIB) of AIB. Picture: Patrick Bolger

The men’s and women’s masters races conclude the day’s events, with athletes competing over the slightly shorter distances of 7km and 4km respectively.

The venue itself, the Cow Park, is located between Dunboyne and Clonee, an area of 28 acres of commonage acquired by local sporting organisations and managed by the Cow Park Trust.

The park is well suited to cross-country running, with athletes running on a well-surfaced one-mile loop around the perimeter of the two fields.

Planning for the event began over six months

ago when Dunboyne AC applied to host the event.

When granted, the club set about making preparations for the day, a huge logistical operation with the involvement and support of over 80 club members as well as assistance from members of the Athletics Ireland competitions committee and other bodies such as local schools and community centre.

The club’s own athletes will look to build on their own successes over recent years at the national level, particularly their juvenile section who have had a good season to date in cross-country. From the

intermediates, runners Loughlin Campion and Rory Kavanagh have performed well through the winter and are expected to be in the mix come the end of their race, while Claire Ni Fhaircheallaigh will lead the charge for Dunboyne AC’s women’s Intermediate team.

Races will commence at 11am and a full schedule will be posted on the Athletics Ireland website in the run-up to the weekend of the races.

For more information about the club, log on to www.dunboyneac.com or find the club on Facebook at www.facebook. com/DunboyneAC.

13 February 2014 BLANCH gazette 31

Gazette

Local duo named in 2014’s Under-14 panel  sport@gazettegroup.com

NAOMH Peregrine’s Rachel Brennan and Castleknock’s Ciara Murray have both been named in Fearghall Brennan’s finalised Dublin Under-14 panel for the 2014 championship campaign.

The Dublin management team had a huge

job to arrive at a final number of 30 players as over 218 girls had been nominated to attend trials by clubs throughout the county.

The trials process began back on December 8 and finally concluded last Sunday with two training sessions last Sunday at Ballyboden’s Sancta Maria grounds.

Players from 18 clubs represented on the panel with Foxrock Cabinteely leading the way with five players followed by Kilmacud Crokes with three.

Clanna Gael Fontenoy, Clontarf, Fingallians and St Monica’s have two representatives each. Ballyboden St Enda’s, Castleknock,

Craobh Chiarain, Cuala, Erin’s Isle, Na Fianna, Naomh Mearnog, Naomh Olaf, St Peregrine’s, O’Dwyer’s, Parnell’s and Scoil Ui Chonaill each have a player represented.

The team will begin their Leinster campaign on Saturday, March 1 with an away fixture against Westmeath.

Club Noticeboard st brigid’s Lots of important events coming up

train or play in 2014 until these pay-

over the next few weeks.

ments are brought fully up to date.

Adult football leagues start this

Any member with issues regarding

Sunday (February 16, fixtures on

membership can contact our club

website), while our club open day is on

treasurer Trish O’Reilly in private at

February 23.

086 602 6229 or 8reillyp@ie.ibm.com.

The annual club race-night is on February 28 and we want every member to join in the fun.

Saturday, April 12 is the club dinner dance.

football: locals shine in dublin ladies’ first tie

Annual club membership for 2014

Membership must be paid by March 31.

Grass pitches in Russell Park are closed to repair goalmouths. Please use all-weather or our pitches in Beech Park, Coolmine or Collegefort.

is now due. Membership can be paid

There was no winner of last Thurs-

online or in the club. Membership runs

day’s lotto jackpot. The jackpot now

on a calendar year basis from January

rises to €9,200 and the draw will be in

to December. Any member who has

the Vineyard on Thursday, February

arrears from 2013 will not be allowed

13.

castleknock

St Brigid’s Noelle Healy in action for Dublin ladies in their match against Kerry. Picture: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

The club are delighted to announce

team footballers take part in the

the appointment of Humphrey Kel-

first-ever senior league game against

liher as the new manager for the

Fingallians. Throw-in is at 10.30am.

first-team hurlers. Humphrey is a

The second team then play Skerries,

former manager for the Dublin sen-

and the third team play Pavee.

ior hurlers. We wish him and everyone

The race night will take place on

involved in the team the best of luck

February 28 in Kavanagh’s. Betting

for the new year ahead of the first

will take place during the night, but

league game on March 2.

there is also an opportunity to buy a

The adult football season is kicking

horse in one of the 10 races. Horses

off this Sunday with a feast of football

are €20 to buy; contact Gerry Kelly at

in Somerton. It all starts with a his-

086 020 1709, or Pearse Toland at 086

toric match for the club, as the first-

247 8961.

Jackies storm to opening NFL victory

st peregrine’s

nfl division 1

now open and a list of outings is in the

Dublin Kerry  sport@gazettegroup.com

3-9 0-7

ST BRIGID’S Noelle Healy fired two goals to help Dublin get their 2014 TESCO Homegrown NFL campaign off to a winning start last Sunday with an impressive 11-point win over Kerry in Chanel.

Dublin played with the aid of the strong wind for the first half with the Dubs using the ball intelligently and speedily when moving it out of their defensive line.

Defenders Sinead

Goldrick, Siobhan McGrath and Rachel Ruddy were in outstanding form for the metropolitans giving the Kerry attackers no time on the ball thus causing the ball to be turned over on numerous occasions.

Up front, the forward line was also moving well and notched scores via Niamh McEvoy, Lyndsey Davey, and Sinead Aherne before Healy popped up to claim her side’s first goal.

Soon after, Healy was on the score sheet again.

The St Brigid’s star saw her initial shot stopped well on the line by Kerry

keeper Amanda Brosnan but the blocked ball rebounded at the feet of Healy who duly despatched it into the net.

Carla Rowe added further to Kerry’s woes when she too raised the green flag for Dublin to give the home side a 3-3 to nil lead with 19 minutes gone.

Further points from the returning Sorcha Furlong, Healy, Siobhan Woods and Aherne helped extend the Jackies lead further to 3-7 to 0-2 at the interval with Kerry’s two points coming from Sarah Houlihan and veteran corner

forward Patrice Dennehy.

On the restart Kerry battled hard and challenged Dublin in the physical stakes with some crunching tackles but despite the efforts of Dennehy, Louise Galvin and Sarah Jane Joy the damage had been done in the first half.

In a low scoring second half, Houlihan, Joy and Dennehy tagged on five points for the visitors while Rowe and Aherne popped over a point a piece for the Dub’s.

Up next for the Sky Blues is an away game to Cora Staunton’s Mayo.

THERE was no winner of this week’s lotto. Numbers drawn this week were 1, 5, 19 and 28. Next week’s jackpot is €6,000. Direct debit forms are available from the office.

Memberships are now due and must be paid before the beginning of the new season.

Membership for the golf society is bar.

The club race day to Punchestown is coming up soon; contact Paul Finn

erin go bragh

for details.

Bingo jackpot on Wednesday night is €500.

The bubble football tournament on the astro was a great success and well done to Lorraine for organising.

Live music on Saturday night from The Mutts. DJ Vinny is back on Sunday night with play your cards right.

Anybody that has anything for inclusion in club notes or newsletter, email pro.naomhperegrine@gmail. com.

Pat Keenan has been named as the

We are fielding teams from nursery

club’s new president. He takes over

to U-15. We are always looking for new

from Eilis Poynton. We would like to

players and contact details for our

wish Pat all the best in his new role.

underage mentors can be found in the

Keith Edgely is organising another fundraising parachute jump. Cur-

juvenile section of our website, eringobraghgaa.ie.

rently there are four volunteers reg-

Our nursery (four to seven years)

istered. If anyone is willing to jump out

continues on Tuesdays from 6 to 7pm

of a plane to raise funds for the club

and Saturdays from 10 to 11am.

text Keith on 086 889 1551.

We are fielding ladies’ football and

Only one juvenile fixture survived

camogie teams at U-8, -10, -12, -13 and

the weekend weather. Hard luck to

-16 and are always looking for new

our U-12s who lost to Naomh Mearnog

players. Mentor’s contact details are

on Saturday.

in the ladies section of website.

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

noelle’s goals: St Brigid’s star fires brace to help Dublin to opening league win in NFL1 P31

february 13, 2014

magnificent sevens: Ireland’s women head out on World Series campaign P29

The Leinster special junior hurling title was only one of the successes for Castleknock in 2013, a trend that the club and chairman Niall Tutty is keen to see followed this year

Castleknock on the rise Somerton club set to field team in senior football for first time and in intermediate hurling for first time after unparalleled 2013 successes

 rob heigh

sport@gazettegroup.com

Castleknock are looking forward to the 2014 season in all codes after their meteoric rise in Dublin GAA sees them compete at the highest levels they have ever attained in football and hurling.

The club will field eight adult teams this year between the football, hurling and camogie codes, with their footballers starting their first-ever campaign at senior level after gaining promotion from AFL 3 and the Dublin junior crown in 2013, while the hurlers take on the challenge of AFL 3 having secured their elevation to intermediate level as well as the Leinster special junior hurling crown.

Despite this unprecedented run of success, club chairman at Castleknock Niall Tutty, does not underestimate the task at hand for any of the club’s teams in 2014.

“It’s going to be a tough, exciting year,” said Tutty when he spoke to GazetteSport last week.

“We’re really looking forward to the season ahead, and we’re really looking forward to our first senior football match against Fingallians at Somerton on Sunday at 10.30am. Every team in the division is their club’s first team except for Kilmacud Crokes, who have a team in both divisions.

“Every match is going to be like a championship game. The guys have had a good pre-season with the management, and we are well up for the

matches ahead.”

The footballers under Enda Murphy will also benefit from pre-season preparation, a luxury they were not afforded last year with their involvement in the All-Ireland junior championship series.

“They will have more time, but they will need more time to prepare as the standard is going to be higher,” said Tutty.

“The difference between the divisions will be the physicality and the speed of the football, which we experienced playing against the stronger teams in Division 3 last year. Hopefully we will be able to cope with it and do ourselves justice at the higher level.”

As for the hurlers, the club announced last week the appointment of former Dublin hurling

boss Humphrey Kelleher as their manager for this season, with Tutty putting important goals forward as the priority for the team this year.

“We will be hoping they follow the progress of the footballers last year and make it into senior status by the end of the year, that will be their goal.

“There is a shortage of senior hurling mentors suitable to take on senior teams in Dublin and we were lucky to connect with Humphrey.

We’re delighted he agreed to take on the team for the year.

“The ideal for any club is to have their teams playing at senior level and that is what we will be striving for. We don’t expect to win everything this year, but we will continue being an ambitious club, trying to get to the top.”