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2012 R ow l ag h • B aw n o g u e • N e i l stow n • D e a n s r at h • K i n g swo o d Month • Ta lXX, l ag h t INSIDE: TV legend Gay Byrne 300 years of history: Mansion House takes time to talk about a celebrates a major milestone Pages 8-9 typical day in his life P13

€1.5m boost to deal with trafffic  Ian Begley

A total of €1.5m has been allocated for major traffic and cycle lane improvements in Clondalkin, Lucan and Palmerstown.

This National Transport Authority funding to the council is expected to lead to major improvements in traffic and greater options for cyclists and pedestrians. It was announced that €250,000 is being provided for Newcastle Road traffic and safety works,

although the exact nature of works has yet to be decided upon.

Furthermore, an allocation of €150,000 for footpath and cycle path improvement will be provided at Monastery Road, Clondalkin.

Welcoming the news, Minister Frances Fitzgerald said: “I believe this very important national funding provided to the council will greatly enhance the quality of life of local residents and families.”

Full Story on Page 2

Food with attitude: Nando’s fires up the grill in Tallaght the Original Rudeboys and Nando’s restaurant fired up the grills in the latest restaurant in The Square, Tallaght, recently.

The three-piece hip hop band from Dublin were on hand to welcome Nando’s fans to the new restaurant, and serve up peri-peri chicken during the restaurant’s

opening lunchtime shift. The band and restaurant are raising money for charity Walk in My Shoes, which supports vulnerable young adults in Ireland with mental health difficulties. Pictured are Neddy Arkins from the band with Emer Dixon.

Picture: Mark Stedman

2 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5 February 2015

upgrade National Road Authority funding is welcomed

€1.5m set to improve road safety

A total of €1.5m has been allocated for major traffic and cycle lane improvements in Clondalkin, Lucan and Palmerstown.

This National Transport Authority (NTA) funding to South Dublin County Council is expected to lead to major improvements in traffic and greater options for cyclists and pedestrians. €500,000 will go towards the Willsbrook Road, which will include widening of the road to create two formal lanes approaching the Outer

 ian begley ibegley@gazettegroup.com

Ring Road traffic lights. €300,000 will be allocated to complete the Palmerstown cycle paths and €300,000 will go towards the design of improvements at the N4 junctions in Lucan.

It was also announced that €250,000 is being provided for Newcastle

Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Top Floor, Clarendon House, 39 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

Road traffic and safety works, although the exact nature of works has yet to be decided upon by South Dublin County Council.

Furthermore, an allocation of €150,000 for footpath and cycle path improvement will be provided at Monastery Road Clondalkin; and an allocation (amount not yet confirmed) for the Tallaght to Liffey Valley cycle scheme.

We l c o m i n g t h i s announcement, Minister Frances Fitzgerald said: “I believe this very important national funding provided to the council will greatly enhance the quality of life of local residents and families, improving traffic and providing greater options for cyclists and pedestrians alike.

Funding will be used to complete Palmerstown cycle paths among other major improvements

“This welcome news is the result of many months of hard work at local and national level.

“I have been working closely with councillor William Lavelle (FG) who first proposed the widening of the road at Willsbrook.

“As a local TD, I am very aware of the ongoing traffic delays at Willsbrook Road and the Outer Ring Road.

“I am therefore very

pleased to confirm that €300,000 has been allocated for completion of Phase 2 of the Willsbrook Cycle scheme, which is currently under construction.

“Phase 2, when completed, will hopefully result in more children walking and cycling to school, leading to less short-trip car journeys.

“In addition, €200,000 has been allocated for the commencement of Phase 2 of the Willsbrook Cycle scheme, which will include the widening of road to create two formal

lanes approaching outer ring road traffic lights,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

“A total of €600,000 has been provided for the N4 cycle upgrade project.

“I am advised that €300,000 of this is being provided to complete the provision of cycle paths in Palmerstown, with the remaining €300,000 being provided for the design of improvements at N4 junctions in Lucan.

“Part of this involves an examination and preparation of designs to improve the effectiveness

of the Woodies junction.

“I know that many Lucan residents would greatly welcome improvements in this area,” she said.

C l l r L ave l l e a l s o commented on this announcement, saying: “I wish to thank Minister Fitzgerald for her active support in securing funding for Willsbrook Road. “ W h e n a l l wo r k s are completed I hope we will see an overall improvement in terms of both traffic flow and road safety at Willsbrook Road.”

5 February 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 3

finnstown: Guns, computers, cash, furniture and paintings seized

learning New Irish play group for your little ones

Dozens of armed gardai orchestrated a series of raids in west Dublin recently, including the Finnstown Castle Hotel in Lucan and a number of apartments in Citywest.

On January 29, over 200 gardai undertook a massive security operation in which 31 properties were searched as part of an investigation into Ireland’s organised crime world.

Detectives from the Organised Crime Unit were supported by officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau in the operation which was planned for weeks in advance.

T he raids at both business premises and

A new play group for parents and pre-school kids will be starting in Aras Chronain Ionad Cultuir (Irish Cultural Centre), Clondalkin on Saturday, February 7.

An hour session full of playing, singing and storytelling and more will take place every second Saturday morning in the Aras at 11am.

Gardai raid sites in crime probe private dwellings took place in Kildare, Dublin, Cork and Louth.

The raid at Finnstown Castle Hotel and apartments in the Citywest complex commenced at dawn on January 29 and was still ongoing after 12 noon.

Overall, gardai seized two guns, computers, cash, antique furniture, paintings and documentation from their operation.

The morning’s raid at the Finnstown Castle Hotel was the second major security event there in the past nine months.

In May 2014, a large bomb was discovered in the hotel’s parking lot which forced the evacu-

ation of all staff and guests. The bomb which was found in a beer keg was believed to be intended for use against a security force target in Northern Ireland, according to investigating officers.

Gardai have stated that this incident had no link to the morning raid and have approached associates of a notorious Traveller criminal gang, linked to the murder of criminal “Fat Andy” Connors.

Gardai said this investigation has been in train for some time and the Garda press office stated that no significant development or arrests have been made as a result.

Seeing the sites: Local students get a close look at Lidl headquarters st mary’s National School students Larisa Peia, Faye Cunningham, Aimee Edwards and Amy Daly put on their hard hats and high-viz vests for a special visit to Lidl Ireland’s headquarters construction site on Main Street, Tallaght recently.

The girls were joined by other pupils from sixth class who were visiting the construction site as part of Lidl’s integration into the Tallaght community.

Classes

T hese classes are designed for parents who are raising their children through Irish and parents who want to speak more Irish to their little ones.

For more information on these play groups call 086-3927090 or send an email to brian@araschronain.ie.

4 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5 February 2015

clondalkin Volunteers work 40 hours a week to save abandoned, sick animals

Rescue group seeks help to protect horses  Ian Begley

A local horse rescue group is working tirelessly to protect and save abandoned horses from perishing in the Dublin area.

My Lovely Horse Rescue, which was first set up two and a half years ago by likeminded animal lovers, has stated that Clondalkin and

south County Dublin are one of the biggest spots for horse abandonment cases.

This comes shortly after South Dublin County Council revealed that 469 horses were seized in 2014 in the area.

Core member of My Lovely Horse Rescue Tiffany Quinn told The Gazette that the group members voluntarily

work up to 40 hours a week helping horses.

She said: “We have two horse boxes and have our own personal Jeeps. We get calls from the public telling us about abandoned and malnourished horses they find and we then go there to access the situation.

“Some people who own these horses will sign a sur-

render form for us if they are on site, but if there’s no owner to be found we have to get a Garda authorisation to lift them.

“One of our volunteers has a farm in Kilkenny and we bring the horses we take down there for rehabilitation.”

The horses are brought back to health by a trainer

who gets them ready for ownership.

They are then put on the organisation’s Facebook page and website to find homes for them.

“We have a 30-acre farm that we’re working on getting.

Once we get it up and running we hope to set up an education and training centre so the horses can be showcased to

those interested in adopting them,” she said.

My Lovely Horse Rescue is currently looking for donations, bales of hay, people interested in adopting or fostering their horses - or anything they think may help them.

For more information log on to www.facebook.com/ MyLovelyHorseRescue

charges: anti-water meter action

600 take part in protest

 Ian Begley

An average of 600 people took part in the joint Lucan/Clondalkin anti-water meter protest recently, with the main message of the day being that they will not give in to the charges.

On the morning of January 31, local residents against the charges marched from three different points in North Clondalkin, South Clondalkin and Lucan before assembling at Ballyowen Park for a series of speeches. Amongst those speaking on the day were Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan, Clondalkin Cllr Eoin O Broin (SF), Lucan Cllr Ruth Nolan (PB) and a number of local residents.

This planned march was part of the national protest that also took place on the same day in Dublin City.

Lucan and Clondalkin anti-water meter groups both agreed that this march was part of a boycott campaign on Irish Water with the first bills from the utility due to arrive through people’s doors in the first week of April.

Mia Colgan, a

key organiser in the Clondalkin Water Meter Watch group, said that these types of protest groups will not die out until the water charges are abolished.

Asked what she thinks of the speculation that local water protest groups are losing momentum, Colgan said: “I’m sure they’re not. There’s definitely a lot of people who can’t attend the marches but will still boycott the bills even though the media and Government are saying that they’re dying off.”

Colgan added that she does not think that aggressive protesting is a big problem amongst these groups, saying: “I know there was an altercation at Leinster House from spin-off groups on the day of the protest, but the majority of the demonstrators turned their backs on what was going on.”

A spokesperson for Irish Water commented to The Gazette on the protest, saying: “Irish Water fully respects the right of members of the public to peaceful protest, and we facilitate this where possible.”

5 February 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5

6 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 5 February 2015

SHOP LOCAL The Gazette focuses on Clondalkin Village

Supporting local businesses W

ITH spring on the horizon, it is important to remember that you needn’t travel long distances for almost anything you could possibly need.

In these times, it is important, now more than ever, that we support

our local economy, with local spending sustaining local jobs.

Support is the key to a thriving local community, and every member of the public can contribute to this support.

Simply put, shopping locally benefits the local area.

By shopping locally, without any of the difficulties involved in travelling across the city, we can support local business, enterprise and industry – all of which play a far greater role in our quality of life than one might imagine.

On a very basic level, the commercial rates that even the smallest of such local businesses pay go directly to our local council.

Without these rates, the quality of public amenities, from parks to roads, would suffer.

Think Local is an initiative of the South Dublin County Development Board, which intends to create and develop community awareness of the advantages and benefits of supporting local business and community facilities.

The initiative promotes

and helps sustain both economic and community vitality in South Dublin County.

Benefit

The County Development Board believe that if the community who live, work, study and do business in the county rallies around other local businesses, services and community facilities in the county, everyone can benefit.

This initiative helps sustain existing jobs within the county, and encourages the general community to be involved.

If you live or work in South Dublin County, you can pledge your support for the project, switch 10% of your existing expenditure to goods and services provided in South Dublin County, and visit and support your

local community groups and facilities.

For 2014, The Gazette is continuing our support of local businesses, and will continue to work closely with the Clondalkin Chamber of Commerce to promote the local economy.

Thyes Kavanagh, a local businessman, says that he hopes that jobs can be preserved and business can grow if people can be convinced to Shop Local.

He said: “In these difficult times, Clondalkin Chamber of Commerce is calling on people to Shop Local.

“Our message is: Please support local business.

Not only do they offer great value for money but also a personal service “We would also like to thank the Gazette for their Shop Local feature.”

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and calls on the community to ensure the area thrives

8 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 5 February 2015

HERITAGE A home that’s at the heart of Dublin City’s life

At the celebrations of the Mansion House’s 300th birthday on January 31 were Deputy Lord Mayor Larry O’Toole (SF) with Lord Mayor Christy Burke (Ind). The pair were delighted to show guests the splendour and luxury of the official residence. Pictures: Conor McCabe Photography

The Mansion House celebrates its 300th  LAURA WEBB

IT’S had some very interesting guests and has held some of the most important gatherings in Irish history – and, this year, The Mansion House is celebrating 300 years as the residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Last week, the current lord mayor, Christy Burke, hosted a very special evening to mark the event with former lord mayors and their partners gathering for the first time.

In 1715, Dublin Corporation bought Dawson Street and Nassau Street developer Joshua Dawson’s townhouse, built between 1705-1710, for £3,500 – the equivalent of €350,000–€500,000 in today’s money.

Now, it is the only mayoral residence in Ireland, and is older than any similar residence surviving in Britain.

Speaking to The Gazette about its history,

Mary Clarke, Dublin City archivist, said there were some “funny conditions” attached to the sale of house. “ D aw s o n w a n t e d , every Christmas, two fat capons – two large hens that are really fat – and also a loaf of double-refined sugar.

“Luckily, [the condition] said ‘if demanded’, and they [the Dawson family] never have demanded it, but if they did we would have to give it to them!”

Another condition of the deal was that Dawson would build a room for civic receptions – known as the Oak Room, which now contains the coats of arms of all the former Lord Mayors since Daniel O’Connell in 1841.

Two other rooms were also added – the Round Room, built for the visit of George IV in 1821, and the Supper Room, built in the late 19th century for suppers.

The current facade

was added in 1851, with the original brick behind the render.

Famous visitors to the Mansion House include Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco, Pope John Paul II, Queen Victoria, Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela and U2, to name but a few.

The first Lord Mayor to stay in the building was John Stoyte, a Dublin merchant.

Clarke said: “Nowadays, the Lord Mayor is only elected for one year, and most of them choose to live in the apartment upstairs.”

Births A number of births took place at the Mansion House, including Alfie Byrne’s son, Sylvester, in the 1930s, while Lady Mayoress (the title given to spouses) Patsy Mitchell (Jim Mitchell’s widow, who held the office from 1976-1977) gave birth to her second child, Sinead,

in the Mansion House.

Within its 300 years as the residence of the Lord Mayor, there have been 345 Lord Mayors – only seven of whom were female, with the first being Caithlin Bean Ui Chleirigh, in 1939.

Clarke said: “T he house also marked some ver y historic events around the 1916-1921 period, including the first Dail meeting, in the Round Room, on January 21, 1919.”

Sitting in the Lady Mayoress’s Parlour, the current Lord Mayor, Christy Burke (Ind), told The Gazette this room is his favourite part of the house. “There is serenity in this room – a calmness. This room still has 17th century floors; it has a hand-sewn carpet from Connemara, and the design in the carpet matches the design in the ceiling.

“The fireplace is where all the greats – Nelson Mandela, Mother There-

sa, Bill Clinton, all those that received the Freedom of the City – stood for photographs.”

Despite being able to reside in the building, Burke has only ever stayed in the house once, and enjoyed watching the hustle and bustle of city life go by, but once was enough as he likes to “differentiate work and home”.

According to Cllr Burke (Ind), the Mansion House is a great symbol for the people of Dublin, who are in awe of the building every time they enter.

He went on to praise the Trojan work of the staff, who are “the backbone” of the Lord Mayor’s Office.

Dublin City Council is planning to host a number of events to mark the milestone throughout the year. Keep up to date via Twitter @mansionhouseDub, #mansionhouse300, or see www. lordmayorofdublin.ie.

5 February 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 9

10 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5 February 2015

gazetteGALLERIES

Shauna Delaney, Carian Brennan and Adele Clarke

Colm Anderson, Br Brendan Geary, Maurice Hartigan, Laurels manager Damian Long, Johnny Robuck, Denis Kelly, Gemma Carr, Cllr Kenneth Egan (FG) and Michelle Walsh. Pictures: Cathy Weatherston

cheque it out: Egan goes back to school and gives sport a boost

O

lympian and politician Kenneth Egan (FG) recently visited three local schools in Clondalkin recently where he presented a €400 cheque for sports equipment. Cllr Egan showed up at St Joseph’s, Moyle Park (his former school), and Colaiste Bride where he was met by students and staff before presenting the much-needed money which will help give the students a boost in their sporting enjoyment.

RTE Radio 1 presenter John Murray

Louise Ormsby and Liz Brennan

New year? New you

W

aterstown Park in Palmerstown was buzzing with energy recently as crowds gathered for the annual Operation Transformation event, which encouraged locals to take part in a 5km walk to help get fit and get the year off to a healthy start. The hit RTE weight-loss show teamed

up with the Irish Sports Council to organise walks across the country which proved a hit with people of all ages and fitness levels.

They found it a great way to share some family time and engage in the communitysupporting activity of sharing light exercise in the fresh air.

Principal Niall Desmond and Miss Flannery’s sixth-class students accepting the cheque

Damien Long, Kayla Kenna, Gemma Carr and Ethan Hanlon Aoife Sammon, Jennifer McCrea, Ciara Sammon, Liam Monks and Daniel Lester

5 February 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 11

Jenny Dixon, John Murray, Louise Ormsby, Kathryn Thomas and actor John Duggan. Pictures: Simon Jeacle

Participants get a good stretch in before heading off on the annual Operation Transformation walk

Presenter Kathryn Thomas

Helen, Sean, Ella and Zach Everson

12 Gazette 5 February 2015

gazetteGALLERY

Nadja Stigger and Melanie Back, Advantage Australia

Coronation Street actor Mikey North hogs a Harley with Tony Toner and Joe McConville of Celtic Horizon Tours. Pictures: Conor O’Mearain

The world fits into the RDS T

Colm Brereton, from the Irish Military War Museum and Park, with Mary Duff, Boyne Valley Tourism

HE WORLD came to colourful life in the RDS recently when a range of tourism representatives rubbed shoulders with agencies representing all corners of our fair isle for the 2015 Holiday World Show.

Whether you wanted to go hill-walking in the south of the island, discover the North’s many charms, dig into the Far East’s

endless attractions or learn more about the west (of America, that is), there were stalls and experts from travel operators and tourism boards from all around the world to give great advice about some of the best holidays to look out for in 2015. With something to suit all budgets and interests, the holiday show was a hit with visitors and exhibitors alike.

Belinda Shaw and Ursula Duffy, Cobh Tourism

Yamini Kshatriya, Mariana Matran and Julia Villalobos

Lothar Muschketat and Alaska, Eagles Flying, Ballymote

5 February 2015 Gazette 13

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

a day in the life: tv legend brings one-man show around the country

what’son

No such thing as a normal day for Gaybo  laura webb

Gay Byrne’s hallmark status as a TV and radio veteran has made him one of the most prolific and successful media personalities that Ireland has ever known.

Credited with being a catalyst in the transformation of Irish society since the 1960s, The Gazette jumped at the chance of finding out what Gaybo’s day-today life entails.

“Nowadays I get out of bed quite early at around 7am with my wife, but unfortunately no day is the same as the other.

“We normally have our breakfast as soon as we get up which consists of porridge, fruit and maybe a cup of coffee or tea – nothing extraordinary.

“Normally I try and get a walk in most days and would probably do

a six-mile circuit around my a r e a i n S a n d y mount.

“When we lived in Howth I used to walk along the cliffs which was really beautiful because you had the sea on one side and the heather and wildlife on the other.

“I also sometimes ride my bike and would do about 20 or 25 miles doddering around the place, but like I said no week is the same as the other.”

By rne went on to say that he is currently travelling around the country to do his very well-received and entertaining one-man show with the help of his wife, Kathleen.

“This week we’ll be doing our one-man show in Omagh and Enniskillen, which means that we will have to leave very early on Wednes-

day, drive there, book ourselves into a hotel, do the shows and return home again on Friday.

“The show consists of me standing there and talking all about my life and about the people I have met, and then Kathleen does about 15 minutes of poetry – nice little funny poems and amusing stuff, which goes down very well.”

Asked if he’s into any mainstream entertainment like watching movies on Netflix or surfing the web, Byrne said: “No, I don’t do any of that. I’m very bad at networking and I’m very bad at iPads and iPods and doing things on the internet such as googling and that sort of stuff.

“Luckily, I have two daughters and two sonsin-law and if I need anything done like that they do it for me.

“I stay up reasonably



escape the mayhem 15

Breaking Dad back in the gaiety: Ross

One of the most prolific and successful media personalities that Ireland has ever known, Gay Byrne

late and do a bit of reading or watch Vincent Brown before I throw my hat up at about 11.30 and go to bed.”

Byrne presents Sun-

day with Gay Byrne on Lyric FM every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm, presenting the very best in traditional jazz, big band and swing mixed

with great chat.

The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne has also returned once again and appears on Sundays on RTE 1 at 10.30pm.

O’Carroll Kelly’s highly acclaimed comedy Breaking Dad will return to the Gaiety this month for two weeks only due to popular demand.

Having received rave reviews all around, sell-out crowds and standing ovations, the highly popular show will return from Monday, February 16 to Saturday, February 28. Set in the year 2022, Breaking Dad sees Ireland in the midst of an unexpected economic boom. The country’s debts have been repaid in full and all the frivolity of the Celtic Tiger era is back. Life is good for the hero of the story Ross, until his teenage daughter arrives home one night with the captain of the Blackrock College senior rugby team whom Ross suspects is his illegitimate love child. Breaking Dad is the third Ross O’Carroll-Kelly stage play, following the hugely successful The Last Days of the Celtic Tiger (2007) and Between Foxrock and a Hard Place (2010).

For more information visit: www.gaietytheatre.ie

GAZETTE

14 GAZETTE 5 February 2015

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Irish singing sensation Cathy Davey who will play with Ham Sandwich in Temple Bar

Cathy’s concert a labour of love

IRISH singing sensation Cathy Davey is showing Dublin the love this Valentine’s by playing a free acoustic gig in the city centre.

On February 14, Davey will join band Ham Sandwich for a free event at Meetinghouse Square in Temple Bar. The gig, run by Dublin City Council, is part of a number of events taking place across the city for Valentine’s Day. This concert will take place at 9pm on February 14 and is open to those over the age of 18, no tickets required.

For further information check out twitter @ events_dcc #dublinbemyvalentine or see: www. dublincity.ie .

famous.

Upon arrival, guests will be invited by courtiers and courtesans to enjoy a “bubbly” reception moving from the outdoor spectacle of fire performers to The Atrium in the main hotel. Guests will be treated to a four-course dinner accompanied by live music, classical ball room dance sets and various other delights throughout the evening.

Guests are asked to appear in a festive or formal costume, wearing a mask or face paint to conceal their identity. For more information visit www.idiroball.com.

HAVE A HEART FOR A VALENTINE’S BALL

WE were not left waiting long for the first bizarre Dail incident of the year, which occurred recently.

And like many such incidents last year, this one was caused by TD and TV3’s celebrity chef Alan Shatter.

Opposition TDs stormed out of the Dail in protest, because a debate would not go ahead on the Commission of Inquiry

THE St Valentine’s Venetian Masquerade Charity Ball in aid of Dogs Trust and Liquid Therapy takes place on Saturday February 14 at Thomas Prior Hall, Bewley’s Hotel, Ballsbridge.

The event will feature all the authentic charms of the balls for which the romantic city of Venice is

DEBATE DEBACLE PRODUCES AN ODD COUPLE

into the findings of the Guerin Report. Legal reasons were cited.

After some opposition prodding and Fine Gael fumbling it emerged that the solicitors of Alan Shatter, who is involved in litigation over certain parts of the report, sent a letter to the Taoiseach’s office.

This led to some amusing outbursts from around the chamber: Independent TD Clare Daly said: “Aha, now we get it.”, while Mattie McGrath bellowed: “That man again.”

This was followed by what sounded like schoolchildren vying for kudos FF leader Micheal Martin said: “I asked about that five or 10 minutes ago”, “I asked it too.” SF leaader Gerry Adams chimed in.

“I asked yesterday.” shouted Mick Wallace, followed by Clare Daly’s correction: “We asked yesterday.”

The coup de gras of the episode was Micheal Martin and Gerry Adams walking out together and standing shoulder to shoulder in solidarity on the plinth.

5 February 2015 Gazette 15

escape the mayhem: Catherine Fulvio on her hectic work life

An Italian way of life does the job for chef

 Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

One of Ireland’s most popular and bubbly TV chefs and food writers Catherine Fulvio spoke to The Gazette about how she escapes the mayhem of her hectic work life.

“My schedule means that I do schoolruns during the week and run my business [Ballyknocken House and Cooker y School] and teach at weekends. So for me trying to escape the mayhem is really kind of a snapshot or micro-escape.

“I’m very fortunate that I have a family farm in Wicklow, so I can escape quite easily by going out and helping my sister and Dad on the sheep farm.

“Also, we back onto a beautiful forest and mountain; so, I take the dog and head off up there.

“I try to drag the children with me, which may not necessarily be escaping the mayhem, but that’s what I do to escape.

“I’m also a keen reader and would always keep up-to-date with the news, so I do escape by reading as well.

“Now, if I have a bit of a longer time at all, I would

pack up and head off to Italy because my husband is from Palermo in Sicily.

“We absolutely adore it and a lot of my cookery school relates to it as well and we’re always going for research as well.

“We explore quite a bit in Italy, in Sorrento and Tuscany, but Sicily would be our main port-of-call.

“That’s where my husband’s family lives and it really is so different to Ireland.

“It has everything: it has the sunshine, it has the coast, it has the sense of history and the friendliness amongst the people and it has the cooking.

“It gives me a sense of release because not only is it a total change of scenery but because there’s a sense of comfort.

“I do like to travel and visit new places and explore new things but when you just need to totally unwind, I find you’re better off going to a place you’re familiar with.

“If you really want a bit of a break and to catch up on some sleep and get your energy levels back up again, sometimes going to a place you’re welcomed in really helps.”

TV chef and food writer Catherine Fulvio. Picture: Marc O’Sullivan

Gazette

ESCAPE THE MAYHEM

Three charities benefit from daa fundraising efforts Three charities have benefited from €210,000 generated through fundraising efforts by daa (Dublin Airport Authority) employees, the company and members of the public.

The company’s three charities of the year 2014, Special Olympics Ireland, Jack & Jill Foundation and Cystic Fibrosis, were presented with a cheque for €70,000 each.

The fundraising efforts during 2014 mean daa staff have donated more than €1.5m to 12 Irish charities over the past nine years. daa chief executive Kevin Toland said the money raised will make a real difference to people’s lives. “I am immensely proud of the continuing support and passion of daa staff in raising this massive sum of money for charity.

“This truly is a phenomenal sum of money doing a lot of good for Irish charities,” he said.

Speaking at the cheque presentation Jonathan Irwin, founder and chief executive of Jack & Jill, said: “The €70,000 raised for Jack & Jill will generate 4,375 hours of home nursing care for our families nationwide.”

Special Olympics Ireland chief executive Matt English said: “The vital funds raised helps Special Olympics to deliver on our promise to offer sporting and other development opportunities to so many people in Ireland with an intellectual disability. “ Philip Watt, Cystic Fibrosis chief executive, said: “The money raised will be put to good use to support people with CF who need a double lung transplant. The financial strain on families can be enormous and this will help ease the burden for some of those families.”

The amount of money raised is helped by the coin donations made by visitors to Dublin Airport using charity coin boxes throughout Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

This year, three more Irish charities, the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland, Temple Street and the Diabetes Unit in Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin, will get a slice of the fundraising pot from activities organised by daa staff in 2015.

Gazette

16 Gazette 5 February 2015

dublinlife

business

Q&A: Anthony Madden, vape world c0-owner

Bringing the benefits of vaping to the market Anthony Madden is a co owner of Vape World, an Irish-owned vaping business that offers high quality vapourisers and e-liquids. This is his second year running the business having taken a year off to take a BESS business degree course in Trinity college.

He has always had an interest in sales and has worked in some form of sales all his life. Madden says running your own business can be challenging but rewarding. Most weeks he does 12 to 14 hours at least six days either in store or doing accounts, promotions and everything else that goes with the job.

How long have you been in business?

This is my second year out on my own, but I’ve been working in the vaping industry for three years. It’s an exciting time

of growth and innovation.

What makes your business successful?

Our primary focus is on the customer. We offer

the best value for money and we have a product that people are searching for that delivers numerous tangible benefits.

Which tobacco smoker doesn’t want to save money and improve their health?

What do you offer your clients that differs from your competitors?

Value and service.

We’ve got the lowestpriced vaporiser e-liquids on the market, all top quality from Irish, European and American suppliers. Our staff are trained to help people make the transition to vaping. We also try to make the Vape World a

fun experience for our customers.

How has the recession affected your business?

It’s been a great benefit. Many tobacco smokers can no longer afford their tobacco habit so we’re offering a way to genuinely save thousands of euros every year. Vaping is a completely new technology which just happened to coincide with this seemingly endless recession.

What have you changed about your business to combat the effects of the recession?

Our marketing message now clearly focuses on the financial benefits that switching to vaping can deliver. We offer free samples to prospective customers so tobacco smokers have nothing to lose in coming to Vape

Anthony Madden

World to try out our products. The recession has also given us the opportunity to expand into a growing market.

What is your ambition for the business?

It’s in our mission statement that we want Vape World to be Ireland’s leading brand in vaping and e-cigarettes and to be the first port of call for anyone who wants to quit smoking.

We want to retain our customer focus, our dedication to value and our sense of humour. We also want to develop a strong

online offering.

What is the best piece of business advice you ever received?

Peter F Drucker said that the purpose of business is to create and keep customers. It doesn’t get much better than that.

We use surveys to find out about what matters to our customers and we love hearing from our customers on what we do well and what we can improve on. In making the Vape World shopping experience a pleasurable one and keeping our eye on value at all times, we

are very successful at holding onto our customers.

What is your favourite thing about doing business in your local area?

Thomas Street and the Liberties are at the heart of Dublin’s history and culture. We’re just across the road from the iconic St John’s Church so we’re in the middle of the buzz. We love the locals and their sense of humour. We also have lots of tourists calling in to us and the students from NCAD add some colour.

tourism: latest statistics show sharp increase

Overseas visitors rise by 8.9% in 2014 – CSO

OVERSEAS visits to Ireland increased by 8.9% in 2014 compared to 2013, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The figures show there were 7,604,400 visits made to Ireland in 2014, amounting to an increase of 618,500 people in 2014 compared to the previous year.

West Cork Deputy Michael McCarthy (Lab) welcomed the figures, saying: “[These] figures clearly demonstrate that overseas holiday makers continue to rate Ireland as a superb holiday destination and the people, the scenery and the culture remain Ireland’s strong-

est assets.

“All of our main markets are showing impressive growth levels, particularly North America and mainland Europe.

“The Government’s policy of providing tourists with great activities, combined with key economic measures such as the 9% tourism VAT rate, seems to be working and Ireland is now seen as a value-for-money destination.

“As these positive figures continue, we must resist the temptation to fall back into bad habits that were practised during the boom. It’s imperative that we maintain our good value and warm

welcome to ensure the continued growth of this valuable sector.

“The tourism sector supports almost 140,000 jobs in the accommodation and food sector alone, and overall employment in tourism is estimated to be in the region of 200,000 [people].

“We need to further build on these gains and we have a very ambitious plan to attract approximately 10 million visitors to Ireland by 2025, generating €5bn for the economy, helping to sustain 250,000 jobs.

“I am confident that we can achieve this projected growth,” said Deputy

McCarthy.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe said: “Tourism action plans, the first of which will be published in 2015, will see 10 million overseas visits to Ireland by 2025.

“Plans to rebrand Dublin so we can grow the city’s international appeal and compete better with other European cities in attracting visitors, together with the further development of the Wild Atlantic Way and an exciting new tourism initiative for the south, east and midlands, will also help us to build on recent success in growing visitor numbers.”

5 February 2015 Gazette 17

style P22

asdfsdaf P27 cinema P25

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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Pets poor little bruno has had a sad life lately

Glenn Carter (centre) stars in Jesus Christ Superstar, which is running at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre until February 14. Picture: Pamela Raith Photography

theatre: glenn carter talks about the rock opera that keeps on keeping on

Super cast in super musical  laura webb

It first exploded onto the musical scene back in 1971. Since then Jesus Christ Superstar has been enjoying success after success on stage and now it is breaking ground in Dublin’s Bord Gais Energy Theatre.

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera, which tells the story of Jesus’s last seven days on earth through the eyes of Judas Iscariot, is running until February 14 at Bord Gais Energy Theatre.

Speaking to The Gazette about returning to the role of Jesus, a role he played in the Westend, Broadway and on film, Glenn Carter says there is one

song that keeps him coming back.

“I really do think the song, Gethsemane, which is Jesus’s main number for the end of closing act one, I wouldn’t say it is possibly, or arguably, I think it is the best song every written for a leading man to sing. Not only vocally is it really difficult, but it is also lyrically emotional and the questions that it asks are so fantastic. I have been in the profession for 34 years and it is the only song that really does that. There is something particularly special about this song,” he said.

Joining him on Tour is X-Factor runner-up Rhydian Roberts, Australian star Tim Rogers and X-Factor finalist Rachel Adedeji, a cast which Carter says is enjoying every minute of the tour. “We

have a great cast. It’s not rare that people get on but large groups of people travelling together, living out of each others pockets, working with each other, having family issues and work issues along the way. You become a family. They can row, fall out and make up, laugh and cry but this has been so much fun so far. It’s a great deal of fun.”

Remembering the first time he saw Jesus Christ Superstar, Carter said he was about seven years old and had fallen asleep watching half of the film, the next time he saw the show was on stage where his understudy had taken on the part he was due to play that night but had missed curtain call because of traffic. “I actually sat in and watched the

show that my understudy was doing. I had never seen it on stage before that.

“He was fantastic, anybody who can start, get through and finish is fantastic as far as I am concerned because it can be quite harrowing,” he said Visiting Ireland for the first time, he said he is looking forward to visiting Dublin and seeing places his parents, who were big fans of Ireland, had seen.

Not wanting to spoil the show, he said most audience members do know the end but they can expect a great night of entertainment with some well-known songs.

Jesus Christ Superstar runs until February 14. For ticket details, see www. bordgaisenergytheatre.ie

the Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs.

Our Dog of the Week this week is Bruno, a seven-year-old crossbreed.

Poor Bruno has had a horrific time of late. His devoted owner passed away and he stayed by his side for days before anyone came to find them.

He is a scared little dog, understandably, and we would just love to find him a loving, devoted home, because that’s all he is used to.

Bruno gets on fine with other dogs, but would need to go to an adult-only home.

If you think you can offer Bruno the home he deserves, then please call Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000 or pop into the centre. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.

Gazette

18 Gazette 5 February 2015

OUT&ABOUT

WEDDINGS

| wedding venues |

Tailor-made plans for your big day The four-star Westgrove Hotel is inviting people to attend a very special wedding afternoon on Sunday, February 8 from 2pm to 5pm.

The Westgrove Hotel is one of Kildare’s premier wedding venues and offers exceptional service, mouth-watering food and excellent value.

With a choice of inclusive packages starting from €40 per person the team understand that no two weddings are the same and are more than happy to tailor-make a wedding package to suit your exact needs.

Testament to this is that the Westgrove Hotel has just been shortlisted for Bash Wedding Magazine Awards in the category of Best for Planning Ease.

On February 8 upon

arrival, couples will enjoy a glass of prosecco and canapes and be treated to a delicious array of desserts specially prepared by our head chef, John Carolan.

Wedding coordinator Nicola and the wedding team will be on hand throughout the afternoon to meet couples and offer a showaround of the hotel and of course answer any questions that you having about planning your wedding day.

Wedding garden

On the day, view the banquet suites, civil ceremony suites, the chic Cigar Bar which opens onto the rooftop terrace and links to the wedding garden while enjoying the sounds of the resident pianist, Ray Phelan.

There will be a range of top wedding suppliers exhibiting during the afternoon such as wedding decor companies, florists, stationery, menswear, wedding entertainment, beauticians and hairdressers and many more. The therapists from Spa Haven the hotels Elemis Spa will also be on hand for any skincare and beauty tips you maybe looking for.

It promises to be a great afternoon and don’t forget to enter the competition to win a fabulous night stay at the Westgrove with dinner for two in the Assaggio Restaurant.

For further information, email nicolaflynn@ westgrovehotel.com or visit www.westgrovehotel.com.

The Westgrove Hotel in Kildare offer tailored and all-inclusive wedding packages to suite any couple wedding wishes and (below) the Alexandra Suite

Dublin venues make the One Fab Day list of idyllic wedding spots  laura webb

Wedding specialist One Fab Day has put together a list of the best

Ireland 2015 is available to down-

Shelbourne Hotel and even Smock

load now at www.OneFabDay.com.

Alley Theatre.

According to One Fab Day,

The guide is curated by the editorial team at One Fab Day

wedding venues in Ireland for

this year’s wishlist of venues

magazine and every budget, style,

2015.

is all about location and luxury

and size is represented with a

for Irish weddings in 2015. Since

wealth of venue diversity included.

The 2015 guide features several

Naoise McNally, co-founder and

new idyllic spots including two

the OPW opened up some of its

private members clubs, a rural

locations for weddings in 2014

editor of One Fab Day, said: “Each

restaurant, country house hotels,

many theatres, museums and

year the locations Irish people

exclusive estates, artisan cot-

even lighthouses are now opening

choose for their weddings become

tages and theatres.

their doors for ceremonies and

more diverse and non-traditional.

celebrations.

However, in 2015 weddings are set

Among Dublin venues that made the list are The National Gallery

Christ Church Cathedral is a popular choice for a wedding venue

Oliveto at The Kingston Hotel, The

Although rustic barns are still

for a return to luxury.”

The guide is categorised by

which comes in at number five,

a hot choice for couples, luxury

Ormond Quay is ranked 10th best,

and glamour are making a serious

province and broken down by

Fitzwilliam Place is placed 25th.

comeback as nuptial venues with

specific style of venue, from

Other popular venues with a touch

stately homes complete with

exclusive hire venues to country

of class are Christ Church Cathe-

tables decked with crystal and

house hotels, boutique hotels,

dral, The Cliff Townhouse, Locks

silverware being huge favourites.

restaurants to the more unusual

Brasserie, Luttrellstown Castle,

The 100 Best Wedding Venues in

or eclectic venues.

5 February 2015 Gazette 19

books: the girl on the train delivers an accomplished read

Make tracks for this solid if predictable tale  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

PAU L A H a w k i n s ’ s The Girl on the Train is a thriller and whodunnit that has been causing quite a stir in America, where it has already been optioned

by Dreamworks Studios for a film.

The book is being hailed as potentially the next Gone Girl, with master of suspense Steven King tweeting: “Really great suspense

novel. Kept me up most of the night. The alcoholic narrator is dead perfect.”

Those who enjoy a traditional thriller which adheres to expectations as secret upon secret unfolds will love this novel. It is the ideal companion to kill a few hours by the beach or on the way into work.

Hawkins’s heroine Rachel takes the train to work every day and from her seat at the window

watches the inhabitants of a suburban house and imagines what their lives might be like.

We g e t t o k n ow Rachel fairly swiftly and discover that she is something of an emotional train-wreck. She is an alcoholic whose life seems to have fallen asunder with the demise of her marriage and she is drowning in self-pity.

The book is written from the perspective of three women and

switches in and out of the consciousness of each character, chapter by chapter.

It is a simple and wellworn literary conceit, but it wears a bit thin as the novel progresses. This is because as the plot thickens and a mystery ripens, the reader is left hanging for a while at the end of each chapter.

Perspectives Shifting perspectives is a clever way to highlight how each character’s viewpoint lacks fundamental information essential to having the full story about a person’s life, and shows that none of us ever has the full story about someone else.

Rachel is obsessed with her ex-husband, his new wife and their baby girl, and this leads her to also focus her imagination on a neighbouring couple she sees from the train.

She even christens this couple Jess and Jason, and gives them backstories which are so real to her that when she actually meets one of them and learns the truth about their lives, she is somewhat disorientated.

A mystery ensues as Jess – who is really called Megan – goes missing.

This leads to all manner of speculation and interference by Rachel as she elbows her way into the mysterious plot and lies to Jason (actually, Scott) about having known his wife.

This is further complicated by Rachel’s alcoholism, which hampers her powers of recollection and ability to sepa-

rate fact from fiction.

The Girl on the Train is a solid, predictable thriller with a twist in the tale as the narrator seems so unstable, she should not be given this responsibility. Published by Doubleday, the book is out now, priced €15.99.

The book is available now, priced €15.99

Gazette

ARTS

Gazette

20 gazette 5 February 2015

OUT&ABOUT

TRAVEL

FastTravel

Head for the slopes for a fun family skiing holiday Swap the daily school run and rush hour traffic jams for the slopes and make for a family-friendly adventure with Highlife Ski and Snowboard this Easter.

Book a break for a fun-filled and action packed week of sensational spring skiing, guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face.

With departures on March 29 and April 5, Highlife Ski and Snowboard have carefully created a range of family Easter breaks to coincide with school holidays, ticking that all too familiar box of how to entertain the little ones during the holidays.

Easter breaks with Highlife Ski and Snowboard start from €910 per adult and €742 for children under the age of 12.

Prices include; minibus transfers to and from your chalet which is home to a wide range of facilities including saunas, hot tubs and log fires, delicious food, good wines and a complimentary bar, Highlife Ski Discovery Tours, and an excellent level of service.

Check out www. highlife.ie for full details on Highlife’s range of ski chalet holidays in France.

The tropical paradise of Mauritius is a totally unspoilt holiday destination

once in a lifetime trips: an unforgettable start to your new life

Heavenly honeymoons

 Ian Begley

Honeymoons are a once in a lifetime experience and are an unforgettable start to your new life with your new husband or wife.

What better way of celebrating your love for one another by travelling to a dream destination from the wide range of honeymoon packages on offer.

Irish travel agency Sunway are offering trips to the Algarve throughout the year at the five-star Grand Real Santa Eulalia Resort and Hotel Spa for seven nights from €1,458 per couple.

Famous for its sandy beaches, the Portuguese town of Algarve is certainly a destination that’s worth visiting.

For seven nights from €2,190 per couple, honeymooners can stay at the four-star Fair House Beach Resort in the tropical destination of Thailand. Set amongst

lush tropical gardens and coconut groves on Chaweng Noi Beach, the Fair House Beach Resort and Hotel is the perfect place to enjoy your honeymoon in Koh Samui.

Sunway are also offering couples a chance to stay in the Italian town of Sorrento at the 5 Star Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa for seven nights from €2,669 per couple.

Nestled on 23 acres of lush tropical landscaped gardens on the palm fringed beachfront of beautiful Nusa Dua, the stylish and informal Nusa Dua Beach Hotel resort features all the elegance of a Balinese palace, offering rich Balinese traditions and culture combined with every modern amenity and convenience, for a luxurious getaway and an unforgettable holiday experience.

Abbey Travel are also offering couples unforgettable deals in some of the most sought after destina-

tions in the world.

In the month of May spend seven nights at the five-star Long Beach hotel in the tropical paradise of Mauritius for €1,434pp.

Mauritius is a totally unspoilt holiday destination. It represents definitive luxury, an upmarket destination that offers a unique blend of African, Indian, Oriental and European influences that can be seen throughout its culture, religion and sampled in its simply delicious cuisine.

During your stay at this tropical paradise, you will experience the untold luxury of some of the finest hotels and a level of service second to none whilst surrounded by coral sand beaches and turquoise seas.

You can also spend an all-inclusive 10-night stay in the Cuban destinations of Havana and Varadero from €1,619pp in May. This offer includes

a 10-night stay at the Parque Central and Royal Hicacos resort.

Cuba has a way of going against the grain. It’s all part of its historical makeup, part of its dynamism, part of its intrinsic beauty and a place that must be visited sooner rather than later.

From €2,249pp honeymooners have the opportunity to travel to Maldives and Dubai for 10 nights in May. Combine a relaxing week at the Medhufushi Island Resort on the Maldives with a short stay in the Mall of Emirates Hotel in Dubai.

The Maldives offers some of the finest beaches and crystal clear waters you will find and boasts some of the best diving opportunities in the world while Dubai has something to offer everybody from the bustle of the souks to the desert dunes and for the more active anything from golfing to

Koh Samui is an island of natural beauty and charm

skiing and snowboarding.

For those newlyweds looking for something out of the ordinary Abbey Travel are also offering honeymooners a Caribbean cruise from €1,749pp. With flights travelling on April 25, this holiday in the Caribbean gives you the chance to experience powder-sand beaches, dazzling blue waters and palm trees in Jamaica, explore spectacular Mayan ruins in

Cozumel, and visit to the exclusive pleasures of Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private destination.

Couples will also have the chance to extend their holiday by adding a land based stay in Florida so your holiday doesn’t have to end when you step off the ship.

For more information and to book these honeymoon packages visit www.abbeytravel.ie and www.sunway.ie.

5 February 2015 gazette 21

Gazette

music Americana: bringing passion and deep knowledge

Get ready to fall in love with Rhiannon Giddens

 rob heigh

You may not know the name Rhiannon Giddens right now, but over the next few months, you certainly will.

As well as being a founding member of the American trad/folk act the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rhiannon was an integral part of the recent New Basement Tapes project that created music to accompany a tranche of unrecorded lyrics from the one and only Bob Dylan.

Her first solo album, Tomorrow Is My Time,

recorded with legendary producer T-Bone Burnett at the controls, is a beautiful collection of covers by some legendary women artists. She was in Dublin recently and spoke to GazetteMusic about the release.

The solo record came about through her appearance at the Another Day, Another Time concert, celebrating the roots of the music that inspired the Coen Brothers movie, Inside Llewyn Davis, in New York in 2013 where she simply stole the show with a performance of Waterboy, made famous

by iconic American singer and civil rights activist Odetta.

“I kind of made a big impression there, and a few weeks later I got the call that T-Bone wanted to do a record with me. I was focused on the next Chocolate Drops album, and it came a bit out of the blue, but when T-Bone comes calling, you don’t tell him you’ll get back to him!”

When Burnett did call, he asked Rhiannon what songs she would like to include on her dream album, and it proved a timely question.

“I had a list of songs that were not fitting into the Drops’ repertoire, and they happened to be all by women or definitively interpreted by women, and not just any woman, but specifically by women who were in Americana and at a specific time period and who had inspired me a lot.”

Those inspirational women include Odetta, Nina Simone, Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton, a wide palette that reflects Rhiannon’s passion and deep knowledge of the sources of the music that she creates.

Rhiannon Giddens has just released her first solo album, Tomorrow Is My Time

“American music is a mixture of black music, white music, native music, European music, African, it’s all a mixture, and jazz and country and blues all come from a common well, so it made sense to me to pick these songs.”

One thing that marks out Rhiannon is her live

appearances, and touring Tomorrow Is My Time is something she says she is “super stoked” about.

“We want to tour here, the UK and Europe. I’ve put together a fantastic band, which includes the other Chocolate Drops, and added a drummer and bass player. The shows will

feature Chololate Drops stuff, solo stuff, Basement Tapes stuff, and I can’t wait to bring it over.”

Tomorrow Is My Time is out on Nonesuch on February 6. For more, log on to rhiannongiddens. com. For the full interview, log on to theaapnetwork.libsyn.com.

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Gazette

22 Gazette 5 February 2015

But

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LOVE is in the air with Cupid sharpening his bow and arrow in

anticipation of his busiest day of the year, while oodles of gifts are already being wrapped for that special someone.

Whether you are in a relationship, are admiring someone from afar, or are going to treat yourself to a gift, Gazette Style has a few gift ideas to offer this February 14.

Chocoholics will melt at the

just as much as you.

And, if it’s for yourself – well, you know what you like, so make it good!

sight of Butler’s tasty assortment treats, while the sweet smell of candy will flutter through perfumes like Si, by Giorgio Armani.

A piece of jewellery for him or her is also a perfect way to tell someone how much you care.

Whatever the present, make sure it’s something they will love

M&S Message in a bottle €4

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5 February 2015 Gazette 23

Gazette

STYLE

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Gazette

24 Gazette 5 February 2015

OUT&ABOUT

HEALTH research: survey underscores scale of hurried breakfasts

With a range of flavours, belVita Breakfast biscuits could be a tasty way to help have a good breakfast

Never rush your brekkie RESEARCH into breakfast habits by belVita Breakfast Biscuits and Eumom has revealed that 60% of mothers nationwide list breakfast as the most important meal of the day.

Three quarters (72%) of those surveyed said they enjoyed a tasty breakfast every day.

Further research found that finding time to sit down and eat breakfast is often tricky for Irish mothers because of their hectic mornings, with 80% eating their first meal of the day in just 10 minutes or less, while 26% wolf it down in under five minutes.

Finding the time to eat breakfast with their families every day is a challenge for 30% of the mothers, with one in five (21%) managing to enjoy a leisurely breakfast with their clan only at the

weekend.

According to the belVita research, which surveyed almost 4,000 women across Ireland, many mothers are looking for new breakfast ideas, with 49% in search --------------------------

‘According to the belVita research, finding time to sit down and eat breakfast is often tricky for Irish mothers’

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

of alternative breakfast options to try.

One in three respondents (32%) would opt for breakfast biscuits as part of a convenient breakfast on the go, or to be enjoyed at their desk in

work (15%).

Cereal (63%) and toast (50%) come out top of the menu when it comes to an everyday breakfast, with fruit (23%) and eggs (18%) also proving popular choices.

Belinda Quick – nutrition communications manager at Mondelez, which makes belVita Breakfast biscuits – said its biscuits are: “The only breakfast biscuits proven to slowly release carbohydrates over four hours, when eaten as part of a balanced breakfast [such as a pack of belVita breakfast biscuits, a portion of fruit, a serving of dairy and a tea or coffee]”.

She added: “Rich in cereals, a source of fibre and made with at least five wholegrains, belVita offers a good option to fit within breakfast, whether at home with the family or on the go.”

‘I dropped five stone in a year’ HELENA Flynn is delighted to talk about the success of her weight-loss efforts with Slimming World. The dramatic change in her appearance after joining a Swords club is self evident from these before and after shots.

The wife and mother of one returned to live in Ireland from the US in 2013, but was unhappy with her weight, and how it was affecting life with her young son.

She decided to join Slimming World after hearing of a neighbour’s positive experiences. And, despite some people’s struggles to eat well and lose weight, Flynn praises the Slimming World system, saying: “I can eat potatoes, rice and pasta – all the things I love. I even get to have my chocolate bar every day if I like.”

By adhering to the Slimming World programme with her local group,

Flynn swears by the results. She was so moved by her experiences with other mothers and locals, and by the programme’s success, that she has started her own Slimming World group on Wednesdays in Swords.

For further information, call 086 206 8100.

5 February 2015 Gazette 25

Gazette

CINEMA inherent vice: a densely-packed detective story

This flawed diamond sparkles in places  dave phillips

PAUL Thomas Anderson takes the audience on a bizarre and foggy trip to the death of the 1960s in Inherent Vice – an enjoyably convoluted detective story that is bound to leave audiences dazed and confused.

Based on the dense Thomas Pynchon novel of the same name, the story follows the mumbling protagonist, Doc Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix).

More “T he Dude” Lebowski than Philip Marlowe, Sportello is an eternally high private investigator with a heart of gold and a disdain for authority figures.

When an old flame drops a case unexpectedly on his lap, Sportello begins to unwind the clue that draws him deep into the labyrinthine world of drugs in California in 1970.

A throwback to the good old days, Phoenix is all wolverine locks and

unbuttoned flannel as he blunders through the smoke-filled haze in pursuit of the actual plot.

True to its source material, Inherent Vice throws a bewildering amount of information at the viewer, who may swiftly find themselves mirroring Phoenix’s perennially creased brow.

You get the sense that perhaps it is not getting to the bottom of things that matters, it is the journey along the way – but it is difficult to shake the

persistent niggle that vast swathes of this film are passing just out of reach overhead.

Purposefully entangled plot aside, there is a definite joy to watching this. As in Boogie Nights, or There Will Be Blood, Anderson is masterful at capturing a colourful age on the cusp of change.

Phoenix excels as Sportello, full of charm and intensity, and physically very funny throughout – and supported by a quality ensemble cast.

Benicio Del Toro and Joaquin Phoenix share some memorable screen time in a film that’s packed with a dizzying amount of characters and plot

It helps that things rumble smoothly along to an amazing soundtrack (scored by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood), but as the film plays out over two and a half hours there are moments where the chaos and confusion overtake the enjoyment.

This is a tough film to

score, as despite it featuring this immediately immersive world, an incredible set of characters, and some very brilliant performances, it may not scratch the itch for most cinema goers.

While we ultimately get a safe landing, it feels like sitting through a wonder-

fully scenic but excessively turbulent flight. But then, there is that rare and unshakable sense that you know you’re witnessing something great.

Inherent Vice is a bit of a flawed diamond, and perhaps that is where it’s true beauty lies.

Verdict: 8/10

26 clondalkin gazette 5 February 2015

clondalkinCLASSIFIEDS

auto

ROOFING

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5 February 2015 Gazette 27

rugby 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

na gaeil oga P28

FastSport dublin clubs apart in senior cup draw:

Action from the Men’s National Cup final between UCD Marian and C&S UCC Demons at the National Arena recently. Picture: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE

basketball: sino-european championship sees Ireland back on world stage

International return for All Stars with July trip to China UCD Marian captain Conor Meany is warmly welcoming the move closer to a return of international men’s basketball of a kind for the first time since 2009 as a Premier League All-Star team will jet off to Kunshan in July this year.

The side will compete in the SinoEuropean Men’s Basketball Championship against teams from Italy, Slovenia and the host nation Team China.

The four team round-robin tournament will take place from July 10 to 20 in Kunshan, Jaingsu Province near Shanghai.

It had been revealed last week that All-Stars would be selected from the

National League for the very first time in 2015.

Meany led his side to this year’s Men’s National Cup final and sees it as a significant boost to players for the business end of the season.

“It’s great to have that added incentive for players to push on with such an amazing reward for the 2015 All-Stars.

It’s also fantastic to see another step towards men’s international basketball for players to aspire to.”

July’s trip to China won’t be the first global venture for Irish players since the Senior International Programme was stood down in 2010. An Irish Premier

League select team beat their English counterparts at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham in 2013 and 2014.

Jason Killeen hit the game winner in 2013. “Whichever players make the cut and whatever jersey they wear, it’s all about doing what you can to represent the high standard of basketball we have here,” he said. “The 2015 All-Stars will show how far this country has come.”

The opportunity arose through Bernard O’Byrne’s status within FIBA Europe - the Basketball Ireland chief executive currently sits on the organisation’s finance committee. The trip was

pro-actively supported by board chair Jackie Dunne and Basketball Ireland president Gerry Kelly, who expressed their delight with the development.

All-Stars are to be chosen for the Men’s Premier League, Women’s Premier League, Men’s First Division and Women’s First Division for 2015. The awards will be voted on by team coaches and all licensed players in the National League.

In June, meanwhile, a squad of four Irish women will join Katie Taylor and a host of other Irish Olympians to compete in the first European Games in Baku.

THE two Dublin clubs have been kept apart in the men’s draw of hockey’s Irish Senior Cup with outsiders Railway Union being drawn to play Cork C of I while Pembroke will meet Banbridge.

The two ties will be played on March 28 in Belfield with the winners playing again a day later in the final. The favourites will more than likely come from the latter tie as Leinster’s second placed team meet the current leaders in the Ulster Premier League.

On the women’s side, Hermes must travel to Cork to play their semi-finals, taking on Harlequins, while Railway Union are also on the road to Ulster Elks. Their semi-finals take place on February 21.

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

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

Gazette

28 Gazette 5 February 2015

SPORT

FastSport

Evans and McGee to lead Ireland for international DOUBLE Olympian Scott Evans will lead the Irish team at badminton’s 2015 European mixed team championships in Belgium next week.

The competition pits the top 12 teams against each other for the title of best in Europe. Ireland face host nation Belgium in their opening game of the tournament on February 11 and England on February 12.

The team secured their place after beating Norway, Slovakia and Bulgaria in the qualification stages of group 6 held in Baldoyle, Dublin last November. Evans comes off a fantastic year which saw him achieve the best results of his career to date.

The Ballinteer man secured his highest ever world ranking after reaching the finals of the $120,000 Bitburger Open and winning the Brazil Grand Prix.

Chloe Magee, another double Olympian, joins Evans on the team after a similarly top notch 2014 in which she reached the quarter finals of the French Super Series and the last 16 of the All England Premier Super Series.

Bowtell to lead Ireland in Tallinn Federation tie AMY Bowtell will lead the Irish team into this weekend’s Federation Cup BNP Paribas Euro/Africa Zone group II event which takes place in Tallinn.

The former St Andrew’s student will be joined in the team

by Donnybrook’s Rachael Dillon, Monkstown’s Julie Byrne and Mount Anville’s Lauren Deegan for the event which will take place in the Tere Tennis Centre.

The group, a

round-robin style tournament, will have two pools of four teams. Other nations involved are Bosnia/Herzegovina, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Luxembourg, Slovenia and South Africa.

The winner of each pool will play against the number two teams in the other pool to determine which two nations will advance to the Europe Africa Zone Group I in 2016.

Ireland defeated Malta and Iceland in the Euro/Africa Zone Group III roundrobin phase in 2014 to progress into the promotion play-offs by topping the pool.

The future is bright for Na Gaeil Oga Dublin’s only Irish language GAA club have prospered since its foundation in 2010. With an endorsement from Liam O’Neill, they are looking forward with an eye on a permanent home

 rob heigh sport@gazettegroup.com

Dublin’s only Irish language GA A club Na Gaeil Oga received a considerable boost in their development recently when GA A president Liam O’Neill endorsed their growing membership and recently established juvenile section.

The visit of the GAA’s most senior figure to their Saturday morning academy training is another fillip for the club and their plan is to increase their membership across all codes and all levels, as well as establishing a permanent base of operations.

The club, founded in 2010, has grown year on year, with the club now boasting two men’s

senior football sides, a senior hurling side and a ladies football team. The club launched its first camogie side last week with a training session in Phoenix Park, while an underage academy section, nicknamed Na Gaeil Oga Oga, began last September. Now, more than of 50 children aged five and upwards are taking part in the grounds of Lucan’s Gaelscoil Naomh Padraig.

That was the location for the visit of GAA president O’Neill recently after the club sent out an invitation to the head of the association to come along and see the progress taking place and the close links that the club has both to its commitment to the Irish language and the local

community.

“I had heard so much about the development and growth of Na Gaeil Oga,” said O’Neill at Naomh Padraig. “I didn’t realise so many children were involved with the club at such an early age. As a supporter of the Irish language, I support the work going on here as the GAA is committed to playing a role in promoting our language.”

O’Neill is no stranger to promoting the Irish language having overseen the transition of his own primary school in County Laois, Gaelscoil Thromaire, from moving from an English-speaking school to an all-Irish run school.

“It’s great to see the great energy here in a club which has a strong

GAA president Liam O’Neill with members of the Na Gaeil Oga executive at Gaeilscoil Naomh Padraig recently

interest in helping young people. The great thing about the structures of this club is that the language is being promoted with children, but then parents can go back into the classroom setting and look to improve their levels of the language.”

ing somewhere they can definitely call home.

“We have played a lot of matches out of the Phoenix Park, but a lot of our matches and functions are running out of Lucan at the moment.

“We are hoping to be situated in the Lucan area. We have a link up

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

‘A lot of things are happening this year to push the club forward’ – PRO Colman Hanley

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

Following the visit of O’Neill, Na Gaeil Oga club PRO Colman Hanley spoke to GazetteSport about their ethos and vision for the future.

“There had been clubs in Dublin previously who were run through Irish, but they had fallen by the wayside. We are into our fifth year now, and there are hopefully a lot of things happening in this year to push the club further forward.”

Looking at the experience of the likes of Castleknock GAA, who have established themselves in their Somerton home and have built a solid foundation for the future with good underage structures from their birth over 10 years ago, there is an opportunity for Na Gaeil Oga to repeat that model of success. But Hanley knows there is still a lot of work to do, not only in secur-

with the local Gaelscoil there, which makes sense from our end of things, and we are playing in St Catherine’s Park, and that is where a lot of our activity will happen.

“A lot of clubs are clustered in certain areas, like Cuala and Kilmacud Crokes in Dun Laoghaire and they manage to do it. And Lucan is a massive area, and I think it is very much accepted that there is a big enough market for another GAA club. We wouldn’t be moving in on Lucan Sarsfields’ territory.

“We have a mixed membership from all different kinds of places across the country who are living in Dublin and speaking Irish. There is a strong link with the community, with the all-Irish schools in the locality, and we hope we could become a part of the local environment.”

5 February 2015 Gazette 29

Gazette

FastSport

The fans of St Mary’s and St Michael’s added to the atmosphere at Donnybrook as the sides met in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup

Michael’s and Mary’s shine at Donnybrook T

RIES from James Ryan, Gavin Barrett and David Duggan saw St Michael’s College over the line and into the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final against St Mary’s at Donnybrook last week, 19-14.

In front of a packed house of vocal and colourful fans, St Michael’s left it late and Duggan got the vital yards to cross the whitewash and snatch back

the lead in the 67th minute from a committed St Mary’s side who had contributed to an enthralling and intense encounter. Barry Fitzpatrick and Harry Byrne added the extras for St Michael’s, while sub Max O’Shea made a try-saving tackle toward the end.

St Mary’s scorers were centre David Matthews and scrum-half Derry O’Connor, who added a penalty and conversions for the losing side.

Gavin Croke and his St Michael’s team mates before kick-off second half

St Michael’s captain James Ryan at the line out

Break by St Michael’s Michael Heaney

St Mary’s supporters Trish McEniff, Siobhan Mathews, Pam Cassidy, Nicola St Mary’s put in a big tackle

Bradley King and Rachel Colley

High School soar to title in Leinster Senior League HIGH School produced an ice cool series of penalties to land their first Leinster Schoolgirls Senior League title, storming back from two goals down to deny St Gerard’s at Grange Road, played out into a bumper crowd of over a 1,000.

It came at the end of a pulsating final that saw the pendulum of momentum swing hugely between the teams as Gerard’s dominated early on before High School roared back into contention to carry the day.

Lena Tice – an Irish cricket international – and Sadbhbh McCarthy had given Gerard’s a well-deserved 2-0 lead in the opening 18 minutes. Tice’s distribution from the back, allied to the jinking runs of Susie Cannon and Sarah O’Loughlin were features throughout.

For the most part, they kept High School at bay well outside their 22 with Tice, Deanna Kissane and McCarthy making some big tackles. Ruby Neville fired one across the face of goal, too, which went close to adding another.

But Camille Christle nicked a close range goal for High School from a rare break-out to give them a lifeline before half-time, battling through a couple of soft tackles before poking home to reduce the gap to 2-1 at the break.

From there, though, the Rathgar side went on to boss the second half. Player of the match Ailish Long, employed at centre forward, and Mia Jennings down the right, used their pace to terrorise the Gerard’s defence.

They ran up a massive penalty corner count but it looked like the result might escape them as 11 set pieces were spurned with Saoirse O’Donoghue whizzing a couple of shots inches wide while Lucy Ashmore produced a couple of excellent saves amid some serious scramble-defence.

From the 12th, though, Emma Canning’s shot from the left of the circle took a wicked deflection from Long past Ashmore’s right arm to nab an equaliser with six minutes of normal time to go, a perfectly timed redirection which left the goalkeeper no chance.

They continued to push on for the remainder of the tie as well as the two periods of silver goal extra time but nothing further accrued.

High School did keep the momentum going into the shoot-out with Saoirse O’Donoghue, Long and Jennings all nailing their efforts, while Gerard’s stumbled, to become the seventh different winner of the Premier League in the past 12 years.

Gazette

30 CLONDALKIN gazette 5 February 2015

SPORT

FastSport

rugby: kingswood men up to second in metro division 11

Peamount United fourth after victory over Galway PEAMOUNT United picked up their third victory of the season coming from behind to pick up all three points away to Galway WFC. Ruth Fahy gave the Tribeswomen the lead after 15 minutes - knocking home her sixth goal of the season - before teenager Eleanor Ryan Doyle equalised just four minutes later.

Former Galway striker Sinead Taylor came back to haunt her old club when she went on to find the net for the first time in Peamount colours.

Claire Kinsella sealed the victory for the Peas with 15 minutes of normal time remaining leaving Peamount in fourth position overall with 16 points.

Collinstown win to progress in Junior Cup COLLINSTOWN got the better of Rivervalley Rangers last Friday in the Leinster Junior Cup, running up a 3-0 win to put an end to the Swords’ side’s impressive run of late that has seen them go further in the FAI Junior Cup than ever before.

A late flourish eventually saw the Premier A side prevail against a side riding high three divisions below.

Rangers performed well in the first half but were reduced to 10 men in the second half.

Shane Murphy broke the deadlock, Anto McCormack made it 2-0 with a first time finish from close range before Murphy completed the win in injury time.

Clondalkin RFC’s Tom Duffy and Ciaran Collins in action against Kilkenny Normans at Gordon Park last weekend. Picture: Sharon Flanagan

Clon conquer Normans leinster metro div 11 Clondalkin RFC Kilkenny Normans  sport@dublingazette.com

24 12

Clondalkin RFC’s fourth XV side continued their steady rise up the Leinster Division 11 table with a hard-fought home win against Kilkenny Normans firsts in a match held in freezing conditions last weekend.

Looking to avenge a loss from the return fixture in Kilkenny in November, Clon set out with a strategy of spinning the ball wide to outflank the Kilkenny men.

Coincidentally, it transpired that the Normans arrived up to Dublin with this exact same gameplan in mind, a prospect which promised some attrac-

tive running rugby for the few hardy spectators who could bear the cold.

Nevertheless, possession for most of the first half was shared equally between both teams but no breakthrough was possible due to robust tacking in particular from both sets of centres.

However, the penalty count against Normans began to add up and it was from an infringement on the 10m line that Steve Cunningham stepped up to put the first points on the board with a successful kick.

With the wind in their favour, Clon were comfortable in defending their slender lead, until a Normans’ Garryowen led to a mix up in the home defence and the visiting

scrum half capitalised to run home unopposed to score a converted try under the posts.

Clondalkin increased the pressure from the restart and forced the Kilkenny men into the concession of further penalties, two of which were converted by Cunningham to reclaim the lead and close out the first 40 minutes, 9-7 ahead.

Half-time brought a rethink in Clon’s tactics with Philly Byrne going to scrum-half and David Shirley moving to partner captain Brendan Ward in a powerful new second row partnership to anchor the uncontested scrums.

Ciaran Collins also joined the fray to increase the combined front row experience to well over

the century mark.

Now playing to their strengths, Clon kept the ball tight and made inroads into the Normans’ half with a series of pick and drives.

Cunningham, Eamonn Stapleton, Chris Murray and Alan Hickey were all held up short of the line before Philly Byrne made the breakthrough, nipping over from the back of a mall to score Clon’s first try. The conversion was missed but the home team’s lead was extended to 16 points to seven.

Normans returned the pressure immediately and playing the ball wide, found the only defensive hole that existed in Clondalkin’s backline all afternoon to touch down for a second try, which

also went unconverted.

The match could have gone either way at this point with only 12 minutes remaining and four points the difference but a tackling masterclass, in particular from flanker Stephen Kenny, kept the Normans away from the danger zone.

By rne once again proved that there is no man more deadly from 2 yards out as he scored his second try, this time under the posts after a series of rucks close to the line had taken their toll on the Kilkenny team.

The conversion was added and five minutes from time, Cunningham added a final penalty to deny the Normans hope of a losing bonus point, the game finishing 24-12.

5 February 2015 CLONDALKIN gazette 31

Gazette

football: galway next test for dublin ladies

Club Noticeboard round tower, clondalkin

Dublin’s Lyndsey Davey in action against Grainne McNally of Monaghan. Pictures: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE

Jackies start with impressive NFL win nfl Division 1 Dublin 0-12 Monaghan 0-3  sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN got their 2015 NFL campaign off to a decent start with a ninepoint win over Monaghan in front of a large crowd at the DCU sports complex.

Muireann Ni Scanaill, from St Margaret’s, was a late replacement for the injured Rachel Ruddy, meaning only five players who started last year’s AllIreland final against Cork appeared in the Jackies 15.

Carla Rowe got the Dubs on the scoreboard with a free in the opening minute but Monaghan settled well, enjoying the opening exchanges and holding plenty of possession. Catriona McConnell converted a free in the seventh minute but this would turn out to be the Farney Army’s only score of the opening 30 minutes.

Dublin replied well to McConnell’s free with

Clontarf midfielder Sarah McCaffrey popping over a beautiful long range point.

Senior debutant Eabha Rutledge, three minutes later, followed McCaffrey up with a well-taken point of her own, much to the delight of the home support. Lucy Collins converted a Dublin free in the 19th minute to push the Dubs three points ahead of Monaghan.

Niamh McEvoy, who was impressive on the edge of the square, raised the white flag in the 20th minute while Rowe added her second score five minutes later to move the Dubs further ahead.

Newly appointed captain Lyndsey Davey finished her side’s first half scoring in the 31st minute giving the Dubs a six-point cushion at the interval.

The second half was keenly contested with both sets of defenders in commanding form with scores at a premium.

Olwen Carey, Ni Scanaill along with Lucy Collins were enjoying frustrating Monaghan sharp shoot-

ers Caoimhe Mohan, Ciara McAnespie and the aforementioned McConnell.

McConnell registered her team’s first point from play in the 39th minute of the second half. Dublin reacted with scores from McCaffrey while Collins extended Dublin’s lead with another converted free again off her left foot.

L a u r a M cE n a n e y tapped over Monaghan’s third and final score in the 51st minute as Dublin finished out the second half with two further Rowe frees with the impressive McCaffrey finishing the game with her third point

from play.

Dublin manager Gregory McGonigle will be happy with his team’s overall performance especially pleasing will be the displays of newcomers, Carey, Ni Scanaill and Rutledge.

The comeback kids Amy Connolly and Kim Flood worked tirelessly for Dublin throughout the contest while seasoned veterans Sinead Goldrick, Sinead Finnegan and Davey were in superb form for the Sky Blues.

Next Sunday, Dublin head west to face Galway in a rematch of last summer’s All-Ireland semifinal.

THE club dinner dance will take place

Membership is now due for renewal

on Friday, February 13 at the Red

and new members are welcome for

Cow Moran Hotel. Members are now

year 2015. It’s easy to register online

encouraged to make their purchas-

and takes just a few moments - visit

es. Tickets will be available from the

www.roundtower.ie. Alternatively

club this coming Thursday and Fri-

you can pay membership in the club.

day night, from 7.30 to 8.30pm. Alter-

Thank you to people who are choos-

natively you can buy online at www.

ing to register their juveniles online,

roundtower.ie. Tickets are priced at

but please be advised you are still

€45 and this includes a four-course

required to complete a registration

meal and live music from Night

form. Forms are available from the

Shift. Tickets also available from Ed

club and can be completed in just a

O’Malley 087 807 3391; Phil O’Connor

few moments.

087 232 3521; Jessica O’Malley 087 280

Congratulations to our senior

6273; Cathal O’Donoghue 087 283 4150

camogie team who were honoured

(from Frames Etc, Convent Road);

for their championship success at

Annette Harrington 087 282 7631 and

the Dublin Camogie annual awards

Michael McGlynn 087 908 2970.

night.

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

norman conquest: Clondalkin go second in Leinster Metro after victory over Kilkenny side P31

february 5-11, 2015

a New generation: O’Neill visits Dublin’s only all-Irish club, Na Gaeil Oga P28

Warrior Ormond targets Wolves win  stephen findlater

sport@dublingazette.com

STEPHEN Ormond is looking forward to finally getting back into the ring to defend his WBO European title defence on Valentine’s Day when he meets Terry Flanagan in the Civic Hotel in Wolverhampton.

The Clondalkin lightweight has been waiting since April in 2014 for this second defence after last December’s bout with Flanagan was called off at late notice due to a virus.

Flanagan brings with him a perfect 26-fight record, making this a big outing for both fighters

as they look to move a step closer to a WBO world title shot.

“It’s a big opportunity for me and I am going to grab it with both hands. The gym is buzzing for it now,” Ormond says of the upcoming contest.

“This is the kind of fight I need. I need a good test and I believe it’s going to be a good fight and a good opportunity for both of us.”

Asked whether he was concerned that it was another away day, fighting outside of Ireland once again – he has only had four of his 18 contests here – he says that the timing has never been quite right but he is “well

used to travelling over”.

“There have been a lot of shows that could have happened over here but that’s just the way things go. Everything happens for a reason and, after this fight, more big doors will open for me in Dublin and beyond,” said Ormond.

“It would be a dream to fight for a world title in Dublin but I wouldn’t mind going to America for a world title! I would go anywhere.”

To win the WBO European strap, Ormond defeated Derry Mathews, a man who is now preparing to box for the WBA world title after two big wins in 2014.

Asked whether he felt Mathews had skipped the queue in some respects, Ormond said it was not something that overly affected his outlook.

“Well done to him. He fought for the belt, fair is fair, won the WBA international belt and so fair play to him. I hope all goes well for them.

“Opportunities didn’t come after that fight for me; it’s just the way things happen, the fights weren’t there for me. I got one fight in April and haven’t been in the ring since. I am in the gym every day but I need to get the rounds in, so that’s what I am doing.”

Stephen Ormond will defend his WBO European title in Wolverhampton