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Drug addicts shoot up in front of shocked tourists City’s visitors confronted with grim sights of rising addiction

 emma nolan

“I DON’T even want to repeat some of the sights I’ve seen.”

Those are the words of a local resident in the Christ Church area of Dublin 8, who says that the drug prob-

lem in the area has reached “epidemic” levels.

All around Christ Church Cathedral, one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, is a hive of drug-related activity. Addicts line the streets and the sight of used syringes is “far too common”

in an area that sees a massive daily influx of tourists.

A local resident told The Gazette that they witness addicts “shooting up” at the car park of their apartment complex on a regular basis.

“I’ve seen drug addicts shooting up while tourists

recoil in horror – and this is happening all the time. What must they tell people when they go home?”

There is a daily throng of addicts who use the HSE addiction services in the vicinity.

Full Story on Pages 4-5

2 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 14 July 2016

crisis | housing figure slammed

City centre has 372 empty homes

clonee | motorists targeted

FastNews

 emma nolan

THERE are currently 372 vacant housing units in Dublin city centre, while the council’s housing list has risen to 28,000 people.

T h e f i g u r e s we r e released following a freedom of information request to each local authority by spokesman for housing, planning and government, Deputy Barry Cowen (FF).

Deputy Cowen said: “These figures make it apparent just how completely inadequate the refurbishment funding allocated to local authorities has been.

“It’s unacceptable that there are still such a high number of vacant housing units owned by local

Council adds to growing calls for Halawa’s release

Dublin City Council now has 28,000 on its housing list – while 372 housing units are currently vacant

Orla Skehill posted pictures on Facebook of the shocking damage a rock did to her car in one of a number of attacks at a slip road off the main M3 Cavan-Dublin Road

authorities which are not in use.”

Cllr Daithi Doolan (SF), chair of Dublin City Council’s housing committee, said that the figures are “unprecedented”.

He added: “More families are homeless than ever before.”

A spokesperson from the Dublin Central branch of the Irish Housing Network, told The Gazette said they their organisation “has enough people” to refurbish

the vacant houses. She said: “They shouldn’t be empty. Those units need to be refurbished so that they can go towards housing the families that have become homeless.”

Aoife in involved with a weekly support group every Tuesday for people who are facing difficulties and issues surrounding homelessness. The group is run by the Irish Housing Network at the Hardwicke Street Community Centre.

Terror on the road as cars hit with rocks  Ian Begley A number of motorists had their cars damaged by vandals throwing rocks on the Clonee slip road, with one young, autistic passenger left notably shaken by the incident.

During last weekend, there was three reported incidents of this nature off the main N3 CavanDublin road, but according to one local councillor this has been an ongoing problem for several years.

Teens have reportedly been seen climbing on top of steel containers in a park overlooking the slip road and carrying out this criminal activity.

Barbara Kelly told The Gazette she was with her two children when she heard a very large object hit the side of her car.

“I knew instantly what had happened and nearly went straight into the car in front of me. I slammed on my breaks and had to swerve to prevent myself from crashing.

“I was very shaken and could see three or four teenagers by the trees on a nearby green where several containers are located.

“My son (aged 13) who has autism got such

a fright and became very scared at what just happened. I wanted to get out of the car and look for the kids responsible, but Daniel is very afraid of confrontation so I decided it was for the best to leave the scene.

“My son couldn’t sleep for the entire night because he was so frightened and even when we took a trip to Rossclare he was very nervous. He kept thinking that the breaks were going to fail.

“I rang the guards to report the incident, but they told me no one was available to come down right away. The kids responsible need to be caught red handed and be made aware of the repercussions of their actions,” she said.

Another person whose car’s windowwas smashed on this road took to Facebook to describe what happened.

Rachel Murphy said: “I was just driving home with Bobbi (her baby daughter) in the car and someone threw a huge rock at my car.

“My whole window is shattered and there is glass all over the inside of the car. Bobbi was balling

and got the fright of her life. Cars driving 100km per hour and getting smacked with bricks could kill someone. Luckily I froze with shock instead of swerving Parents of young teens around Clonee please show this to them and explain that someone could have been killed.”

Local Cllr Tania Doyle said that there is no evidence that any persons connected to the local sports clubs are involved in this anti-social behaviour, She said: “Regardless of the underlying situations our young men and women find themselves in, there is no excuse for behaviour of the type which negatively impacts on the lives of others.

“These recent incidents of stone throwing give us all serious concern. The drivers and passengers of the vehicles concerned were lucky to escape as they did, due to their quick thinking and cool response.

Gardai at Blanchardstown are investigating one incident of stonethrowing which was originally reported to Dunboyne Garda Station.

SOUTH Dublin County Council has added its voice to the growing calls for the release of Ibrahim Halawa from prison in Cairo.

The council passed a motion on Monday evening urging authorities to apply for a presidential decree that would allow the Tallaght-raised student to continue his detention here.

Such a decree can be issued by the Egyptian president and allows foreign prisoners to continue their detention in their home country.

Hawala has now been held for a total of 1,069 days without trial after he was arrested during a demonstration in Cairo in support of the Muslim Brotherhood, which had been ousted from power by the Egyptian military after winning both parliamentary and presidential elections.

16 arrested at a mass brawl SOME 16 youths were arrested in Ballinteer following a massive pre-arranged brawl between up to 100 people. They were later released without charge.

Two gangs arranged to fight on social media at the intersection of Ballinteer Avenue and Brehonfield Road.

Flares, fireworks and smoke bombs were used as projectiles during the incident, which saw males aged between 16 and 19 arrested as pedestrians fled to a nearby petrol station to escape.

14 July 2016 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 3

R1

Gazettegallery

| City Spectacular hits town

John Eicke as Woody Woodman

Enjoying an exciting line-up of talent

Seb Whipits

The face-painting section was a big hit with many of those attending

M

Erik Sprague aka The Lizardman meets Bosco. Picture: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

errion Square in Dublin played host to Ireland’s biggest free summer festival last weekend. More than 150,000 people descended on the area to witness acrobats, contortionists, mad scientist and many, many more colourful characters.

4 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 14 July 2016

Extension to St Michael’s Special National School St Michael’s House, Special National School in Glasnevin, is set to receive an extension that is worth over €820,000.

Planning permission was recently granted for the new extension to the school building which will see the demolition of the existing prefabricated units, boiler house and storage out building.

As part of the new build there will be three new single storey extensions built on to separate areas of the existing school building.

There will also be additional ramps, car parking spaces and a resurfacing of the existing traffic circulatory route.

Drug problem is an  Emma Nolan “I don’t even want to repeat some of the sights I’ve seen.”

Those are the words of a local resident in the Christ Church area of Dublin 8, who says that the drug problem in the area has reached “epidemic” levels.

All around Christ Church Cathedral, one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, is a hive of drug related activity.

Addicts line the streets and the sight of used syringes is “far too common” in an area that sees a massive daily influx of tourists for not only Christ Church, but also St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin Castle, Dublinia, the Guinness Storehouse and the

Teelings Distillery.

As well as the many bars, restaurants and shops in the area.

Along with the influx of tourists there is a daily influx of addicts who use the HSE addiction ser vices in the vicinity.

There are three HSE run clinics with addiction services all in close proximity in the area.

T hey are the Castle Street Addiction Centre, the Bride Street Treatment Service and the Merchant’s Quay Homeless and Dr ug Services.

Nearby is also the Coolmine dr ug and alcohol treatment centre on Lord Edward Street.

“It’s an epidemic,” says a resident who witnesses addicts “shoot-

ing up” at the car park of their apartment complex on a regular basis.

“I’ve seen them get out of taxis to attend the local clinics so there’s no shortage of money – this isn’t a homeless issue, it’s a drug issue.”

The resident believes that many drug dealers work in the area to sell to the addicts who frequent the methadone clinics there.

“It’s killing tourism – I’ve seen tourists being shocked at the behaviour, seeing people shooting up, vomiting, urinating, defecating right in front of them,” they said.

A spokesperson for Failte Ireland said: “By and large our visitors tell us that they find Ireland to be a safe place.

“We also support the Irish Tourist Assistant Service which provides immediate support and assistance to visitors to the country who become victims of crime.”

Speaking to The Gazette on the issue, Australian tourist Susan Curtis said that while she loves Dublin she has noticed that “open drug use” and “inebriated individuals” are a common sight in the city centre.

Syringes and other drug paraphernalia have been found on Werburgh Street

“It’s easy to find used syringes and other drug paraphernalia just left on the street here,” she added.

“Werburgh Street, just off Lord Edward Street is a particularly bad spot.”

Just a few feet from

where tourists and locals are queuing on the street for “Dublin’s Oldest Chipper” Leo Burdock’s on Werburgh Street, used syringes and needle tops line the footpath and individuals can be seen using drugs out in the open.

Dublin City Council told The Gazette that they are “aware of the ongoing drug issues in Dublin

City” and that their “Waste Management Division continues to remove drug paraphernalia around the Christ Church Place area”.

Locals however believe that this is not enough.

“Everyone is turning a blind eye,” one said.

“I’ve never seen it so bad, even in the 80s it wasn’t as bad as this.”

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14 July 2016 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 5

‘epidemic’

Used syringes are “far too common” in the area

Homeless man struggling for life after overdose  Aisling Kennedy A homeless man was found at the entrance of St Stephen’s Green struggling for life after taking a drugs overdose on Thursday evening last.

The man, known as J, was found unconscious by tourists and Luas commuters at 6.30pm on Thursday evening.

He was lying on the ground up against the Luas construction railings on the main road.

He had been seen earlier that day asleep outside the railings of St Stephen’s Green.

One tourist, who was witnessed by the Gazette looking visibly worried

about the man, rang an ambulance while another woman tried to give the man some water.

Another passerby ran to the Simon Community Mobile Health Unit that parks at the side of St Stephen’s Green every Thursday evening to perform health checks on homeless people and a member of staff ran down to assist the man.

The woman managed to sit the man up and brought him in and out of consciousness while anxious members of the public crowded around the man.

Dublin Fire Brigade and an ambulance attended the scene at

Dublin Fire Brigade and an ambulance attend the scene

approximately 6.45pm and took the man to hospital.

One witness in the area at the time said: “I was shocked to see this man so ill lying on the ground.

This is such a busy area and he really didn’t look well.

“The homeless situation is everywhere in Dublin now, it seems nothing is being done to help these people. I really hope the man is going to be ok.”

This latest incident comes 11 weeks after The Gazette reported on another homeless man who was found dead in St Stephen’s Green in April.

Child care centres across Dublin set to receive a funding boost Fifty-seven child care centres across Dublin city are set to receive Government funding of €333,000 over the next few months.

In total, each child care centre ear-marked for the funding will receive an estimated €5,800. The funding is to allow pre-school services to start taking in children from the age of

three under the Government’s free child care scheme from September.

This new move is expected to see 60,000 extra children across Dublin availing of child care services.

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone said the move will allow parents to avail of over

60 weeks of free child care up from the current 38 weeks.

According to Minister Zappone, the funding being made available is specifically for pre-school providers – both community/not-for-profit and private providers – who want to expand their services to cater for more children from September 2016.

6 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 14 July 2016

Gazettegallery | dubliners spoilt for choice with top performers in town

Dublin rocks M

usic fans were spoilt for choice last weekend as superstar singer Beyonce brought her Formation world tour to Croke Park where she delivered an epic performance to the 75,000-strong crowd. While on the other side of the city in Marlay Park, Kodaline played the biggest gig of their lives and the legendary Stone Roses delighted fans with a show bursting at the seams with classic hits.

Charlene Masterson, Robyn Dunne and Kim Beyonce and her dancers on stage

Doran

Fiona Glennon and Ciara Moroney

Sinead Donheny and Martin Johnston

Beyonce on the big screen at her Croke Park gig

Clodagh Greene and Lorraine Murphy

Beyonce on stage

Crowds enjoy The Stone Roses

Walking On Cars perform. Photo by Ciaran O’Brien (theobblog.com)

Louise Casciani and Aisling Kennedy

Kodaline wow the crowd

14 July 2016 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 7

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8 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 14 July 2016

Docklands | 30m project is planned to be in place by 2020

Bridge at Poolbeg to be ‘fast-tracked’  Emma Nolan A bridge is to be built connecting Poolbeg peninsula with the rest of the docklands.

Plans for the €30m bridge, which is expected to be in place by 2020, have been fast tracked as a new “urban quarter” for the area is in the works.

Thorncastle Street in Ringsend will be linked to Sir John Rogerson Quay, across the mouth of the Dodder where it flows into the Liffey, when the build is completed.

Although the Tom C l a r ke B r i d g e ( f o r-

merly known as the East Link Bridge) is already in place in this area, the new bridge will be “essential” for developing the former Irish Glass Bottle site, according to Jim Keoghan of Dublin City Council.

It will also provide direct access to newly built residential and commercial docklands area.

The decision to fast track the plans were made as proposals for a different pedestrian bridge over the Liffey were put on hold.

That bridge was to run from the proposed

The bridge will connect the peninsula lands to the rest of the docklands

Dart Underground station at the north docks to Forbes Street on the south side, however that has been put on hold following a request from the NTA to allow for a review of Dart Under-

ground plans.

Speaking on the plans for the bridge, Keoghan said: “The Dodder bridge will unlock the potential of the lands designated for development in Poolbeg

and forms part of the council’s commitment to ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place to provide access to the docklands area north and south of the river.”

Horticulture student had cannabis growhouse A horticulture student has avoided a jail term after gardai discovered a cannabis grow house in his garage.

Gavan Murphy (31) of St Aidan’s Park, Marino, pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis plants at St Aidan’s Park on August 12, 2015.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that gardai went to Murphy’s house after receiving a tip off. During a search of the house they found his garage had been converted into a grow house, Garda Trevor Bolger told Eilis Brennan BL, prosecuting. The garage was kitted out with grow tents, a heating system and tin foil. The garage contained twelve mature plants, and another 33 medium and small sized plants.

Gardai also found three jars containing cannabis buds and seeds in the bedroom of the house.

Gda Bolger said that the estimated street value of the plants was €44,000, on the basis that all 55 plants would come to fruition and yield buds and seeds. Murphy told gardai that he was growing the cannabis plants for personal use to avoid buying the drug from a dealer. He said that of the 55 plants, half of them would die in a week.

He said he got all the tents second hand on eBay. Murphy, who was studying horticulture at the time, has no other convictions.

Gda Bolger told Sarah Jane O’Callaghan BL, defending, that it was very unlikely Murphy would re-offend.

Judge Melanie Greally suspended a sentence of three years on condition that Murphy remain drug free.

Hats quite a headpiece Grace Hats off to model Grace O’Mahony who looked stunning in a bespoke headpiece by Valerie Patterson from Cowboys and Angels in Dublin.

Grace got dolled up to launch Great Lengths’ sponsorship of the “Most Creative Hat” category on Ladies Day at the Dublin Horse Show (Thurs-

day, July 21). The winner of the Most Creative Hat competition will walk away with €1,000 worth of Great Lengths hair extensions, expertly applied by one of the country’s leading hair stylists, plus a €1,000 voucher for the five-star Europe Hotel in Killarney, Co Kerry. Picture: Leon Farrell/ Photocall Ireland

14 July 2016 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 9

society | bill seeks to halve wait

A purrfectly good cause to support

Deputy calls to reduce the waiting period for divorce  Aisling Kennedy

THE length of time couples have to be separated before they can go through divorce proceedings needs to be reduced, according to Deputy Josepha Madigan (FG).

Deputy Madigan introduced her first Private Members’ Bill at the Dail last week, seeking to reduce the separation period for a divorce from four years to two years.

She told The Gazette: “Having worked as a mediator and family lawyer for two decades, it has long been my view that the separation period for a divorce needs to be reduced.

South Dublin Fine Gael Deputy Josepha Madigan

“Currently, the Family Law (Divorce) Act, 1996 and the Constitution state that separating couples have to be living separate and apart for four years to apply for a divorce.

“My Bill seeks to halve this time to two years.

This would require a referendum.”

Deputy Madigan added that the 2011 Census showed that 246,000 people have experienced marital breakdown, while 100,000 people have been divorced since 1997.

She said: “Protracted matrimonial litigation has dire consequences on the family unit as a whole, particularly on children.

“We have a duty to treat separated couples more humanely, less judgementally and with compassion.

“The purpose of this Bill is simple – it seeks to strike a balance between affording marriage the protection it deserves, and showing fairness to separating couples.”

 aisling kennedy

In safe hands with Emma POPULAR blogger and women’s advocate Emma Murphy is the new ambassador for InHealth.ie. The single mum of two from Finglas, who will be focusing on the online health store’s new websites – www.babysafety.ie, and www.pregnancyandbaby.ie – said she was delighted to have been approached.

She told The Gazette: “I’m proud to represent InHealth and delighted to have been approached. What’s most important for me is to be able to reach out to young women in Ireland who need help, especially young mothers and women who are recovering from unhealthy relationships.”

PHIBSBORO Cat Rescue (PCR) is campaigning to raise money to fund a complete refurbishment of their Hidden Haven premises for homeless and feral cats.

To achieve this, PCR has set up a crowd funding page to raise €10,000.

Last weekend, they opened up their premises to the public for the first time to host a jumble sale.

PCR’s crowd funding campaign’s target of €10,000 will cover the rent for a year (€5,000) and give PCR €5,000 to begin to refurbish the two buildings and shed on the site.

To donate, see https:// chuffed.org/project/ phibsboro-cat-rescuenew-home

10 Gazette 14 July 2016

Diary of an Irish fan in France

Me, Tiernan and Niamh with Swedes the day of Sweden match outside O’Sullivans, Paris

 Peter Reilly IT ONLY hit home on Friday last, when I strolled down to Rathmines to get some food — no one was smiling at me, no one wanted to take a photo, and there were certainly not major singalongs all along the street.

It struck me then that France had probably been the best two weeks of my life. Five nights in Paris; five in Bordeaux; and three in Lille, all of which had been completely different, but equally enjoyable.

We arrived in Paris fresh faced and raring to go; Tiernan, Sinead, Kian, Trish and myself.

The next three days were simply mental!

Balls went up on balconies, Irishmen went up on trucks, and the songs didn’t stop for two and half days. And then, it was business time.

As it transpired, a poor closing 25 minutes or so cost us two points against Sweden, but our adventure was only beginning.

Next up, the Belgians - and so south we went to Bordeaux, an absolutely magnificent city. On our train down, we met some Swedish fans who had nothing but positive things to say about the craic they had had in Paris with the Irish, a mutual feeling it must be said.

Over the next couple of days, our group swelled in size, with the addition of Martin, Farrow and Leanne. On Friday night we ended up outside the Connemara Irish bar, where what seemed like 20,000+ Irish people had congregated there to sing.

And then suddenly, after what felt like weeks, it was match day again. 1-3. Enough said! Heads down, we began the mammoth 500-mile drive to Lille in our rented Renault.

We certainly weren’t the only ones making that journey, and it seemed that every 10th car was either a camper van with Irish flags, or a car plastered green, white and orange.

We arrived at the Stade Metropole three hours early to soak up the atmosphere. With the roof closed, the noise (and heat) was incredible. We started brightly, but as time went on, those doubts began to creep in. Wes’ chance came and went, and that seemed to be it. But it wasn’t the case, and mere minutes later, Robbie Brady went from saint to deity.

The place went truly wild and we partied in Lille ‘til the early hours and then the scramble for possible routes to Lyon commenced. No such luck for me as I had a wedding to attend back home.

We’ll all remember our French adventure for the rest of our lives. On our last night, almost every local wanted to speak to us, with some of them even saying they hope we beat France so we’d stay Patricia O’Donoghue and around! If only…

Stepehen O’Sullivan

2016 Homeless World Cup in glasgow | event proves to be

Playing a role meaningful  Sylvia Pownall THIS weekend 38-yearold John Farrell flies back from Glasgow having played in a World Cup for the first, and final, time.

But this Sunday, July 18 marks an even more significant milestone for the Ballyfermot man known as “mad goalie John” – he will be five years clean of drugs.

John is joined by Jamie Geoghegan, 20, from Clondalkin and team veteran, 40-year-old Jason Martyn from Dominick Street on the north inner city on the Ireland team at the Homeless World Cup. T he trio qualified through nationwide trials in the Irish Street league and join a small squad who beat Lithuania on penalties with Jamie scoring the winning peno and goalie John named man of the match. Bulgaria were up next and they won again 13-4.

John spoke to The Gazette just before he headed off to join the rest of the team at the airport Maldron Hotel last Friday and told how he’d turned his life around.

“I’m really excited and nervous,” he said.

“It’s a big opportunity, the last one I’ll ever have to play for my country.

Coming from where I’ve come from it just doesn’t seem real.

He revealed: “I come from a background of drug and alcohol abuse.

I started doing gas and petrol at the age of 12 or

13 and it just progressed from there.

“I noticed from a young age there were a couple of us that while others were okay doing it at the weekend we had to do it seven days a week. We got lost in it, it wasn’t a nice place, it was like our escape from ourselves and our home lives.”

John progressed from gas canisters to alcohol, downing countless cans of beer a week just to function.

He said: “I was an alcoholic at 15. I was going to school and I had to get winos to go to the shop and get me my cans or I had the shakes. Then I switched from alcohol to hash with massive codependency issues.

“I couldn’t go to sleep without it, couldn’t wake up without it, couldn’t go to school, couldn’t work,

Jamie and John at the airport Maldron Hotel just before heading off

just couldn’t function without it.”

John was taking up to 4oz of cannabis a week and though he knew he had a problem he couldn’t stop himself. Hash gave way to acid and he was introduced to heroin at

the age of 20.

He revealed: “When I found heroin it was kind of like I’d come home. It was the drug that suited me the best. It made me relax, made me feel like me.”

John managed to func-

The opening ceremony of the Homeless World Cup in Glasgow

tion on booze and drugs for a surprisingly long time. He did a stone mason’s apprenticeship and got married at 25.

But when his wife and child left him and he lost his job things started to spiral out of control.

14 July 2016 Gazette 11

a crucial tool in helping men to re-integrate back into mainstream society

in bringing about and lasting change “I was at breaking point,” he said.

“I was doing ecstasy nearly every day, I went on benders and kept trying to kill myself walking in front of cars. At this point in my life I didn’t want to live, I wanted to die.

“My life spiralled out of control but I didn’t realise it was spiralling out of control. I was out of me banana on heroin.”

John was on a methadone programme but eventually decided to come off it and started going to Narcotics Anonymous for support.

He joined the Matt Talbot Community Trust and started playing with St Catherine’s in Ballyfermot four years ago and hasn’t looked back since.

“This is the experience of a lifetime, no doubt about it,” said dad-ofthree John, whose wife Hayley and brother are in Glasgow to cheer him on.

“I’ll never get this chance again.”

John is joined by

An early start for the team

Jamie Geoghegan from Shancastle in Clondalkin who is also taking this opportunity seriously.

Football nut Jamie hopes one of the many scouts at the tournament will pick him out and give him a trial overseas.

Jamie, who plays with St Michael’s in Inchicore, will play outfield and his girlfriend and two sisters will be there for moral support.

Jamie was just 18 when he was sentenced to eight months in Wheatfield Prison for burglary.

“I got in with the wrong crowd,” he said.

“It was tough, it was my first time in jail and my girlfriend was pregnant.”

Man United fan Jamie’s little boy is now two years old and his dad has turned his back on crime to focus on a career in football.

He said: “When I was inside I was playing football and going to school.

I had time to sort myself out. This year we will win.

You only get to go once.

This is my only chance.

My case is packed this last week.

“Football is all I ever wanted to do so hopefully I can make something of this.”

Big Issue editor Sean Kavanagh, also from Clondalkin, established the Street League and Ireland’s first Homeless

World Cup team ten years ago.

The inspiring event plays a major role in changing the lives of those marginalised by homelessness, addiction, poverty and long-term unemployment.

Another Clondalkin native, Thomas Morgan, takes charge of coaching for the second year in a row. He is a former Ireland international and Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers.

Ireland, who are seeded eighth, finished tenth of 48 teams in Amsterdam last year. This year 52 countries will compete.

Sean Kavanagh said: “There is so much skill out there. We had nearly 300 lads playing this year, so choosing the final team out of all that talent wasn’t easy.”

Coach Tommy Morgan, who played for Blackburn Rovers at the age of sixteen, is also optimistic.

“This is a good team, he said.

“We’ve a few young lads, a few older lads

John Farrell receives his man of the match The Irish Team

award from referee Harry Milas

with experience and a good goalie, a real shotstopper. We are hopeful. They are good lads so if we can keep them focused, we’ll be grand.

We’re going over there to do well; I’ll be pushing these guys to do as well

as they can.”

Ireland play Lithuania, Bulgaria, Greece, Sweden and USA in the group stages.

Sean said: “Our lads have overcome many obstacles in their lives.

They have the skills,

they’ll be playing for their country with pride and passion, there’ll be no bonuses to be shared around, no entourages, or luxury hotels. They don’t need incentives, they’re playing for Ireland.”

The team pictured at the opening ceremony in Glasgow

Aiming for a better future Street Leagues was set up officially as an independent entity in 2005.

Its origins go back to 2003 when Big Issue editor Sean Kavanagh brought a team of homeless lads to the inaugural Homeless World Cup in Austria.

Seeing at first hand the benefits gained from participation in sport he decided that rather than build the lads up for a one-off tournament once a year it would be of greater benefit to have something that they could participate in all year round.

Together with Dublin City Council, a pilot project was set up in 2004 in the inner city. This proved very successful and as a result, in

2005 the league was expanded to cover the greater Dublin area and the league became affiliated to the Football Association of Ireland in its Football For All category. At present there are 13 leagues established across the country.

The target group are the homeless, anyone in rehab for drug or alcohol addiction, ex-offenders, long-term unemployed with learning disabilities, refugee and asylum seekers and those living in hostels/accommodation centres.

The goals are to build self-esteem, self-confidence and self-discipline; to develop communication skills, provide access to education, training and employment; to foster a sense of self-worth.

Gazette

12 Gazette 14 July 2016

dublinBUSINESS

partnership

Virgin Media staff take steps to help Dublin Simon’s work

Parents to check out Tesco help for school book costs

VIRGIN Media staff took to the streets of the city recently for a special night run, which this year saw the Dublin Simon Community selected as their charity partner.

More than 7,000 people took part in the 10k Docklands run, which took in a wide range of landmarks around the business and residential area. The Virgin Media staff efforts saw them raise €15,000 for the Simon charity.

Pictured at the cheque presentation at Virgin Media HQ were Carol Grennan, Virgin Media (VM); Sam McGuinness, Dublin Simon Community (DSC); Karen O’Connor, VM; Justyna Drogomirecka and John Sansome, both DSC.

 emma nolan

TESCO is to help parents get more “bang for their books” thanks to the launch of a new partnership with Schoolbooks.ie.

The back to school offer, which goes live on July 25, will give shoppers the option to double their Tesco Clubcard vouchers through Clubcard Boost, meaning that for every €2.50, €5, €7.50 or more received in vouchers, shoppers can get €5, €10, €15 and more off their purchases at Schoolbooks.ie.

To further help with back-to-school expenses, Schoolbooks.ie is offering customers the option of choosing a further 12.5% discount on their total order, or free covers for their school books.

Survey A recent survey by Tesco Ireland of more than 1,000 parents revealed that more than 20% felt that buying schoolbooks was one the most stressful parts of back to school time, while almost a quarter of those surveyed wished they had saved more in advance of their bulk book buying.

The Tesco and Schoolbooks.ie offer aims to help parents with these costs during one of the most stressful times of the year.

John Cunningham, of Schoolbooks.ie said: “We are delighted to partner with Tesco Ireland to deliver the best possible value to parents.

“This partnership with Tesco is the most significant cost-saving measure available to help ease the burden of the cost of school books.”

Picture: Conor McCabe Photography

Firming up a business model for the future  patricia rooney

HEALTH & Fitness Together recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary, so The Gazette decided to call to the studio at No 8, Appian Way, Ranelagh to ask owner Carl Cautley the secret of his success.

He said: “I came from an advertising and marketing background but always wanted to open my own fitness business, so I studied fitness at University of Limerick and received my NCEF qualification.

“With that under my belt, I researched the sector and felt that a private personal training situation would appeal to the type of client I wanted to attract.”

Originally an American franchise, Fitness Together opened its doors in April, 2006, and offered one-to-one personal training in separate training suites – a unique idea which appealed to

the large number of clients who did not want to train in a gym, and who required privacy and discretion.

Carl said that one of the most appealing factors to clients was the fact that they could relax and work out in the knowledge that they would be training in the best possible way for their ability, and there would be no errors in the way they were using the various machines and weights, thus ensuring the optimum use of their time.

I asked Carl how the recession had affected Health & Fitness Together’s operations, and he outlined what he did to counteract its effects.

“As with all businesses, the recession obviously impacted us, in that we had to pare back our business model to the minimum, cutting our costs without harming the exclusive nature of the Health & Fitness Together experience.”

It is a testament to the appeal Health & Fitness Together holds with its clients that it managed to survive and actually come out at the end a better experience, now offering even more diversity in personal training sessions.

As time went on, and having built up a lot of goodwill and trust with clients, Carl decided to break away from the franchise operation in America.

Expansion “We found that the original premises in Rathmines had become too small to enable any form of expansion so, with that in mind, I set about looking for a bigger premises.”

Now based at Appian Way, Ranelagh has been its home for the past three years ago and the business has since gone from strength-to-strength, with three separate training suites and a wider variety of options for its clients.

I asked Carl to outline the way in which Health & Fitness Together has changed from the original model.

He said: “Initially, we offered one-to-one personal training sessions in two dedicated suites, but now we have a lot more options.

“One-to-one personal training is still our core business, and we have three separate training suites, but we also offer much more variety – twoto-one personal training, small group training, sports massage and physical therapy, nutrition advice and food intolerance testing.”

I couldn’t finish talking to Carl without asking about his future plans for Health & Fitness Together.

Carl replied: “It goes without saying that I always tried to source the best possible trainers who would give clients the utmost quality experience, and help them

Pictured at the Appian Way premises celebrating Health & Fitness Together’s ten-year anniversary is Carl Cautley, owner and manager

to achieve their fitness and well-being goals – to this day, that has not changed.

“I would like to ensure Health & Fitness Together’s continued growth by helping people as successfully over the next ten years as we have over the

past ten years. It has been such a great business experience.”

I left the Health & Fitness Together building feeling very optimistic, and with the firm intention of making an appointment for myself in the very near future.

14 July 2016 Gazette 13

food P18

asdfsdaf P27 travel P20

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

music: ex-boyzone star and actor talks candidly about boyzlife

Hey buddy – heard all about Keith’s new tour?  ian begley

BOYZONE legend Keith Duffy is set to reveal the thrilling, untold story of his life in a new supergroup tour alongside ex-Westlife star Brian McFadden.

Speaking to The Gazette this week, Keith said the nationwide tour, Boyzlife, will give fans the opportunity to hear what really went on behind the headlines during their meteoric rise to fame, thanks to an intimate evening of stories, laughter and music.

He said: “It’s all really exciting and there’s a huge amount of preparation going into this. We’re travelling to the likes of the UK, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg, Sweden, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

“Boyzlife is an autobiographical show that will feature a two-hour performance of stories, laughter and music. It’s about Brian’s trials and tribulations in Westlife, his personal life, family life, and marriage break-ups.

“My story will focus on me being in Boyzone, having a son at a very young age, maintaining my family as my career went on, having a daughter with special needs, and how my life moved on to Coronation Street.”

Keith added that he first came up with the concept of Boyzlife two years ago and believes that people would find the show a lot more interesting compared to writing a book about his life.

He added: “I don’t think anything

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

‘I don’t think anything else like this has ever been done before. Brian and I are both from the north side of Dublin, but we were in two completely different bands that were massive all over the world’ ----------------------------------------

Keith Duffy on collaborating with Brian McFadden in Boyzlife

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

else like this has ever been done before.

Brian and I are both from the north side of Dublin, but we were in two completely different bands that were massive all over the world.

“So I thought bringing a part of Westlife and Boyzone together for one show was very interesting.”

However, it’s not all stage shows and glamour for the former Boyzone star – Keith also recently took part in a whopping 800km cycle through France as part of the Limerick to Lourdes Cycle 2016, in aid of Cliona’s Foundation, to raise much needed funds for critically ill children.

Looking back on it, he said: “I don’t know how I did it, but I managed to put on about five pounds after I cycled



Gazette

diary P14

mighty max will melt your heart OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Max, a five-year-old male Labrador cross.

He would like an adultonly home with someone who’s home most of the day to keep him company.

Max’s new family will need to commit to multiple visits to the centre to get to know him.

If you can afford time, love and care, then Max will give it all back a thousand times over.

If you can be Heidi’s #SpecialSomeone*, then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website, www.dogstrust. ie. You can also find them on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @ DogsTrust_IE. *Dogs Trust has launched their new TV ad; the #SpecialSomeone campaign aims to bring to life just how important a new owner is to the dogs they rehome.

See our Dogs Trust feature on P16-17 the 800k. We were cycling for miles and miles each day, but still managed to go out at night and enjoy ourselves.

“There was a great feeling of achievement when I crossed over the line on the last day. My heart and soul was

really into this journey, and when we got into Lourdes, we all got a little teary-eyed.

“I’ve never been there before, but I thought it was a very special, magical place.”

Gazette

14 Gazette 14 July 2016

dublinlife

DIARY

Be a star this summer Dublin City Public Libraries are calling on families to get involved in Be a Summer Star, the National Summer Reading Programme.

The programme runs until August 31, in all local libraries and is free of charge.

To participate, children should request a reading card at their local library and read any six books over the summer holidays. At various stages boys and girls will receive rewards to encourage them to keep reading.

Those who take part in the challenge will be invited to an event in their local library in September to celebrate participation.

They will receive a Certificate of Achievement and goodie pack.

Launching the event with help from pupils from St Joseph’s G.N.S in Finglas, Dublin City Librarian Margaret Hayes said there were plenty of engaging books available for children of all ages, including the popular BFG by Roald Dahl and The Secret of Kells by Irish writer Eithne Massey.

She added: “Obviously, reading is at the heart of the library programme but there are also plenty of activities to be enjoyed at your local library along the way.

“Children will have a chance to go on adven-

tures with the click of a magic stick, hear about the fourth little pig, make a dream box, do some samba drumming and see the ever popular No Strings puppet show,”said Margaret Hayes, Dublin City Librarian.

Dublin City Council’s Arts Office also brings some wonderful programmes to libraries throughout the year.

From early years to teens, children’s imaginations will be busy as they are encouraged to draw, move, make music and write stories.

All library events are free but some need to be booked early to secure a place. Keep informed and up to date by regularly checking your Library Events page at www.dublincitypubliclibraries.ie

looking for the top mum of 2016 The Woman’s Way Mum of the Year Awards 2016 are celebrating their 13th year and are looking nationwide for nominations to crown the 2016 winner.

T h e aw a r d s g i ve spouses, children, relatives, friends and community groups the opportunity to recognise and reward the fantastic work mums do for their families and friends.

Open to mums throughout Ireland, finalists will be chosen

to attend a special event at the Festival of Women (September 16-18) at the RDS, Dublin.

The overall winner of the Woman’s Way Mum of the Year 2016 will win €2,000 in cash courtesy of Woman’s Way plus a selection of luxury treats to the same value. Each of the finalists will walk away with luxury gifts worth €500.

On the Awards, Aine Toner, editor of Woman’s Way says: “It may be 13 years into our search for Ireland’s No1 mums, but it’s going to be another lucky year for our finalists and overall winner.

Given the volume and nominations we’ve received since the awards began, it’s clear that our original goal – to give local heroes a chance to shine – remains paramount. If you want to nominate your mum or a mum you know, I urge you to do so.”

If you know a mum who deserves recognition, complete the nomination form in the current issue of Woman’s Way or log onto www.womansway. ie. The closing date for entries is August 5, 2016.

get a bird’s-eye view of the city The Etihad Skyline tour at Croke Park is giving visitors the chance to see Dublin from the sky this summer.

Dublin as 80 tourism workers across the city and county have stepped up to become “Dublin Champions” and are now fully trained to unlock some of Dublin’s hidden stories and experiences for visitors.

The Dublin Champions Programme is Failte Ireland’s latest initiative to fully open up the potential of Dublin to be one of Europe’s most exciting and compelling destinations.

things are getting a little icy in dublin

Dublin City Public Libraries are inviting all children and families to get involved in Be a Summer Star, the National Summer Reading Programme which runs until August 31

The tour offers visitors unparalleled panoramic city views and insights into Dublin’s celebrated landmarks from 17 storeys high, combined with the thrill of walking on top of one of Europe’s largest stadiums.

The tour guides, from all walks of life, help visi-

tors to learn about Dublin’s history in a unique setting, and tell the story of the capital, with the famous stands of Croke Park providing the narrative framework.

The final stop on the tour gives visitors the chance to discover more about modern Dublin

and includes information on the Dublin Docklands, the Poolbeg Chimneys, the Poolbeg Lighthouse and the IFSC. For booking information, visit crokepark.ie.

unlocking dublin’s hidden stories The local Failte is about to get even warmer in

Ireland’s first ever ice cave is coming to Dublin this summer.

The pop-up adventure, which is brought by Coors Light, will be chilling out in George’s Dock in the heart of the IFSC for seven days only.

Guests will be provided with special thermal capes to fend off the chills while they grab a Coors Light and dance the cold away to live DJs. Revellers also have the chance to record their best moves and share them instantly on the GIF wall.

Admission to the Coors Light Ice Cave is free from noon until 10pm ever y day but guests are advised to pre-book their tickets at coorslight.ie.

14 July 2016 Gazette 15

don’s dublin There’s so much Moore to learn about our ‘national bard’ KNOWN as Ireland’s national bard, Thomas Moore was born on May 28, 1779 at Number 12, Aungier Street, Dublin, above his father’s grocery shop.

He had two younger sisters, and was interested in acting and music from an early age.

Moore went to Whyte’s Academy at Grafton Street (now the site of Bewley’s Cafe) before studying law at Trinity College. This was at the time of the 1798 Rebellion, and he knew students who had been killed in the fighting.

One of his most famous poems/songs – The Minstrel Boy – is considered to have written in remembrance of these young men.

The following year, Moore moved to London to continue his legal studies and began to make a name for himself as a poet, translator and singer – so much so that he met the Prince of Wales on several occasions, and enjoyed the patronage of Lord Moira, a rich and famous military man and politician.

In 1803, he travelled to Bermuda to act as the registrar to the admiralty, but left for America after only three months. There, he met President Jefferson and was particularly well received in Philadelphia.

In Canada, Moore was rowed down the St Lawrence River, and he was inspired to pen The Canadian Boat Song in 1804. Back in London, and after a series of scathing criticisms by Francis Jeffrey, Moore challenged him to a duel. They met in Chalk Farm, in north London, but the authorities arrived and prevented it from going ahead.

The suggestion that his rival’s gun was empty led to more stinging abuse that plagued him for years.

From 1808 to 1834, Moore published many a selection of Irish melodies, but a single collection was not compiled until after his death. He was a prodigious writer and performer until late in life when he suffered a stroke. He died on February 26, 1852 at his home in Bromham, Wiltshire and is buried in a vault in nearby St Nicholas’s churchyard.

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin.wordpress.com

The multi-talented writer, poet, musician – and would-be duellist – Thomas Moore

Gazette

FEATURE

14 July 2016 Gazette 17

dublinlife

FEATURES

Gazette

Gazette

16 Gazette 14 July 2016

Angel The Gazette visited the Dogs Trust state-of-the-art rehoming centre in Finglas

Peter loves to chase a tennis ball

Claude is a right little poser

Beau

fighting for man’s best friend  emma nolan

“Our mission is to bring about the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.”

That’s the mantra of Dogs Trust who have been working to rehome dogs that would otherwise be put down.

Ciara McGowan, press and communications officer for the organisation, brought The Gazette on a tour of the facility where she explained the role that Dogs Trust is playing in contributing to the reduction in the number of dogs that are destroyed each year.

We visited the Dogs Trust state-of-the-art rehoming centre in Finglas to learn the extent of the work that goes into

ensuring dogs at the facility are looked after and prepared for when they are adopted to their “forever homes”.

The facility is adapted to suit the needs of all dogs, from the friendly happy ones to ones who suffer with stress and anxiety who are overwhelmed in the kennel environment, to the purpose built puppy wing, which allows them to rescue an additional 500 puppies each year, along with their mothers. Three members of staff also live on the premises to ensure that someone is always

there for any situation.

Educating future generations on the importance of responsible dog ownership is a major part of Dogs Trust’s mission and to date they have reached over 196,000 school children with their free curriculum based workshops.

“Education is a huge thing for us,” Ciara says.

“We want to reach out to the next generation of dog owners and kids love the workshops. It’s great when they bring what they’ve learned home and tell their family and friends and it’s those little things that plant the seed to make people more aware going forward.”

Another key aspect of the organisation is their subsidised neutering and microchipping campaign for the dogs of people on

social welfare and they have spent almost €9m since 2005 neutering dogs all over Ireland.

“You can almost see a direct correlation between the drop in the number of the dogs in pounds — we like to relate some of it back to ourselves but there’s a lot of rescue groups doing

Julius

the best they can as well — and the neutering campaigns.

“When the centre first opened in 2009, there was about 40,000 dogs going into the pounds each year but only 13,051 went in 2015 and only 1,824 of them were destroyed – a 37% decrease on 2014.”

Statistics released by

the Department of the Environment revealed that 13, 051 dogs entered Irish Pounds during 2015; this represents a 10% reduction since 2014.

However, this still means that five dogs a day were put to sleep in pounds last year and 37 entered a pound every day.

When a stray dog is brought to the pound, they have five days to be claimed by their owner before being put down.

Dogs Trust actively work to ensure that as few dogs get put down as possible by bringing as many unclaimed dogs as they can back to the facility where they can be rehomed.

The majority (80%) of the dogs who end up in Dogs Trust come from

local authority pounds all over the country. Another 10% are emergency surrenders and the last 10% are born there.

Staff from the facility visit the pounds and take as many dogs as they can back to the centre.

Ciara says that if, for whatever reason, someone brings their dog to the pound, they can be put to sleep straight away because the pound would not have any obligation to hold onto the dog because no one will be coming looking for them.

This happened 3,437 times in Ireland last year.

“It’s awful because it’s not the dog’s fault and we get frustrated at times.

“There are factors that cause people to surrender their dogs to the pound – people’s lives change and

that’s inevitable but we ask people before they get a dog, to make a conscious decision whether or not they will be able to be responsible dog owners.”

Rehoming Ciara says that when people are considering getting a dog, they should take into account what kind of breed will suit their lifestyle.

“If you’re not a really active person, then dogs like collies, springers, pointers, who are all high energy breeds who need a lot of exercise, wouldn’t be for you,” she said.

All potential owners wishing to adopt, first have to fill out a rehoming questionnaire to help decide what kind of dog will suit their lifestyle.

Dogs Trust then work to match a potential owner’s profile with a dog’s profile.

The canine carers then go through the questionnaire and try to establish if there are any issues that need to be addressed before taking a walk down the main rehoming corridor.

Ciara explained: “Generally if a family comes in with young kids, we recommend they take a puppy because we know their history, with the older dogs, we don’t know their histories and what their life experience has been to date.”

Each dog is rehomed on a case-by-case basis.

Once a person expresses their interest in a dog, they are reserved and Dogs Trust carry out a

home visit.

“It’s to make sure that of you have a garden, it’s secure, if you’re in an apartment that you might live near a park. If they have another dog, we’ll organise for them to do a dog meet just make sure they get on,” Ciara added.

“The same goes for cats, chickens and rabbits just to make sure that everybody is going to live in harmony.”

An adoption fee of €130 is charged and that covers the cost of neutering, vaccinating and micro-chipping the dog. As well as a collar, a lead, a bag of food, six week’s free pet insurance and a lifetime of behavioural support.

Dogs Trust receives no government funding.

The organisation runs on publicly raised funds and donations.

A play and training area

Pluto

Amber

Gazette

18 Gazette 14 July 2016

OUT&ABOUT

FOOD&DRINK

The Cliff Townhouse Modern Irish cuisine

22 St Stephen’s Green Make the Cliff Townhouse

Roz’s Power Pancakes will fill two right up ...

Ingredients l 1 Uncle Bens express pack -Whole grain rice l 4 eggs l 2 small bananas l 4 tbsp ground almond l 1 tbsp honey l Garnish – Greek yogurt and berries Preparation l Place all the pancake ingredients into a nutribullet and blend until smooth. l Prepare a non stick frying pan with a little coconut oil and add two tbsp of batter to make each pancake. l Cook on both sides for two to three minutes until golden brown. l Serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt and fresh berries.

Roz designed these recipes as part of Uncle Ben’s ‘Make a Healthier Plate with Ben’ campaign inspiring people to make a healthy meal fast. For more recipe ideas and inspiration visit https://www.facebook.com/unclebensireland/

restaurant and cocktail bar your next perfect place to unwind after a long day at work

The Picky Eater S i t ua t e d o n S t Stephen’s Green, The Cliff Townhouse is a restaurant that most Dublin commuters walk by on a daily basis.

If, however, you have never ventured in there before, it is quite simply a must try.

On entering the premises you are met with elegant and sophisticated decor with high ceilings and two tall sash windows that allow the summer light to stream through.

A special mention must go to the service we received from the staff here too, it certainly matched the ambience perfectly.

Our waiter was helpful, knowledgeable and attentive.

On my arrival a lovely lady who was at the reception desk in the foyer showed me to the bar where my other half was waiting for me.

Once seated at the bar, we were permitted to peruse the wine menu

at our leisure and we happily chatted while taking in the oyster bar in front of us and all if its amazing contents.

The Cliff Townhouse is renowned for its Oyster and Champagne Bar, a must-try for anyone who fancies indulging in some of the best fresh fish Dublin has to offer.

The waiter showed us to our seats when we were ready and we were lucky enough to be seated at a window overlooking St Stephen’s Green.

It was a lovely way to unwind and take in the views after a long day in work.

The lovely thing about The Cliff Townhouse is that even though it is situated in the heart of the city, the minute you step inside you feel like you are in a private and secluded environment.

We visited it on a Monday evening and choose from the Pre Theatre Menu which runs from 5.15pm to

6.15pm, Monday to Saturday.

We ordered three courses for €30 each and we had high expectations particularly because the restaurant is overseen by The Cliff Collection’s executive chef Martijn Kajuiter who holds a Michelin Star at the restaurant’s sister property The Cliff House Hotel in Co Waterford.

For our starters, we decided to go for the McGrath’s spiced beef, with rocket, cheddar, and hazelnuts and the chicken liver parfait, with madeira jelly, vanilla puree, and brioche.

The spiced beef had a beautiful texture, it wasn’t too overpowering and it was a great way to start the meal.

T he chicken liver parfait was beautifully smooth and the vanilla puree brought the whole dish together.

For our mains we choose the Haddock fish and chips, mushy

peas, tartar sauce and lemon and the braised beef, with potato, bourguignon garnish, glazed carrot, and red wine sauce.

The batter for the fish was crisp but still light which kept the fish delicately cooked.

The braised beef was as good as any braised beef should be — tender, rich — melts in your mouth.

Saving the best for last, as I do enjoy indulging my sweet tooth, I went for the divine warm chocolate fondant with mousse, sea salt, and white coffee ice cream.

To say I was in a chocolate dream would be an understatement – it was quite simply mouth

watering.

It was rich, smooth and perfectly crafted.

My other half went for the jelly and ice-cream which was a beautiful combination of rhubarb jelly and vanilla ice cream.

It was a great twist on a classic and it was well executed.

We washed it all down with a beautiful bottle of sauvignon blanc.

We t h o r o u g h l y enjoyed our meal at The Cliff Townhouse.

The service was impeccable, the food was cooked to a high standard and with a three course meal costing only €30 per person it is extremely well priced.

Conclusion The Cliff Townhouse combines fantastic food and elegant surroundings in a beautiful Georgian building on the edge of St. Stephen’s Green. Staff and service are top notch also. 22 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 Phone: (01) 638 3939

14 July 2016 Gazette 19

Merrion Fertility Clinic Call us today WR ½QG RXW about our First Step Fertility Check

at the National Maternity Hospital

Delivering excellence in Reproductive Healthcare • Evidence based fertility treatments • Gynaecological surgery • Ante-natal care • Support and advice • Exceptional success rates • Not for profit

Tel: 01 6635000 • info@merrionfertility.ie • www.merrionfertility.ie

Gazette

20 Gazette 14 July 2016

OUT&ABOUT

family break: It’s all about the kiddies this autumn

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

Fido will need a few travel items too, so you should proceed with caution in case you forget something

Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa is offering the perfect family break packages with special activities for kids to enjoy

A getaway that will cater to all family members  Ian Begley

It’s all about the kiddies this autumn at Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa. Located just a quick drive from Dublin city, the 4-star hotel is offering the perfect family break packages with special activities for the little ones to enjoy.

To start things right, the youngsters will check in with their very own special “Dunboyne passport”, a must-have for all serious travellers.

To make sure the kids get some fresh air during the day, you can opt for a day pass to explore either Dublin Zoo or nearby Tayto Park.

A special kids’ dinner menu has also been designed with a variety

of healthy meal options that will surely please even the pickiest of eaters and keep those tummies full.

The kids can choose from home-made soup, fruit salad, juicy beef burgers, pasta with tomato sauce, salmon fillet, and of course, some sweet treats, ranging from ice cream to Eton mess.

But that’s not all, as the hotel’s exclusive guests, kids receive a fun activity pack with colouring books and colours to keep those creative juices flowing when they’re not exploring the Zoo’s wildlife or enjoying Tayto’s attractions.

While the kids are up and about, parents can enjoy a delicious

lunch at the wonderful Ivy restaurant, unwind with an afternoon tea or relax at the luxurious Seoid Spa. Family packages are available throughout the summer. Choose from an overnight stay starting from €229 or opt for an extra night for €150 bed and breakfast.

Ideally nestled in the Meath countr yside, The Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa is the perfect choice for your home away from home this autumn, offering a beautiful getaway that will cater to all family members.

For more information or to make a booking, email info@dunboynecastlehotel.com or visit www.dunboynecastlehotel.com.

Tayto Park’s many attractions are close by

Prepare for your pet when packing for your holidays The Pet Experts at Maxi Zoo have prep a r e d a c h e c k- l i s t for local pet parents to consider when it comes to packing for family stay-cations and foreign holidays with their pet.

T he first item to pack if you’re travelling abroad with your pet is its European Pet Passport which includes your vet’s records of vaccinations.

Yo u r p e t s h o u l d also be microchipped, says Esther Ring, Maxi Zoo’s livestock manager She said: “Pets are part of the family and it is important to prepare for their needs when it comes to taking them with you on your summer holidays.

“A small bit of planning can make the holiday all the more enjoyable for your pet during travel, as it gets used to a new environment and surroundings and in the event of it become injured, ill or lost.”

The pet store also advises packing a medicine bag for your pet including a pair of tick pliers as “basic holiday hardware,” an ointment for cuts, a diarrhoeic medicine, a small set of gauze bandages, sterile plasters and adhesive plasters.

Parasites Pet parents should also ensure that their pets are treated for parasites ever y six weeks in order to protect them against lyme disease, fleas and other parasites.

Maxi Zoo’s pet experts also suggest that you take your pet’s favourite bed and to bring toys, including squeaky balls or aqua toys, so that you can enjoy play-time with your pet at your destination, including local rambles and beach walks.

Pet ow ners can download the checklist for their next holiday by visiting www. maxizoo.ie/holidaychecklist

14 July 2016 Gazette 21

Classic Collection Holidays has tailor-made dream holidays in a wide variety of popular destinations, including sun-kissed favourites such as Mallorca, Tenerife, Crete, Italy and many more

launch: operator specialises in luxury breaks

Classic Collection Holiday touches down in Ireland

AWARD-winning Classic Collection Holidays has arrived in Ireland.

Specialising in luxury tailor-made holidays to all your favourite destinations, they feature hot spots such as Spain, Portugal, The Canary Islands, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Madeira and Greece .

The firm’s glossy 228page brochure showcases almost 200 hotels, which will appeal to families and couples alike.

Established in 1988, the luxury operator offers a range of hand-picked 4and 5-star hotels.

What distinguishes Classic from other operators is the flexibility they provide, offering holidays from any Irish airport on

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‘All of the hotels featured

by Classic are carefully chosen by their experienced staff’

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any day for any duration.

Just pick the date you want to travel, the airport you want to travel from, and the length of your stay and leave the rest to their experienced staff.

Private transfers are also included in all Classic holidays, so no more waiting on that last person to get on the transfer

coach – you will be met by resort staff and transferred immediately to your hotel.

Added to that, all of the hotels featured by Classic are carefully chosen by their experienced staff, and their direct relationship with their hotel partners ensures you are booking the holiday you dreamed of.

To celebrate their launch in Ireland, Classic are also including free access to the Executive Lounge at Dublin Airport for all their passengers – the ideal start to your luxury break.

Many of the hotels featured by Classic are wellknown to the seasoned Irish holidaymaker, and

the range includes specialist accommodation such as Adult Only, Family-Friendly, Golf and Spa breaks and Villas.

Classic Collection in Ireland is headed up by Niall McDonnell, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the Irish holiday market, and is confident that the unique offering from Classic and the quality of hotels on offer will make them the brand of choice for the discerning holidaymaker.

For more information about the vast array of luxury on offer, contact your local travel agent, or Classic Collection Holidays at 01 541 3000, or see www.classic-collection.ie.

Gazette

TRAVEL

Gazette

22 Gazette 14 July 2016

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

Pavol Ponik

GHOSTBUSTERS were out in force in the city centre ahead of the opening of the highly-anticipated reimagining of the classic film of the same name, which opened on Monday.

Hannah Corcoran and Niamh Dunne certainly looked the part outside the Savoy cinema at O’Connell Street.

Jenny McCarthy

Rugby Players Mike McCarthy, Conor O’Loughlin and Naoise Delbero and Ciara Delbero

Michael Swift. Pictures: Leon Farrell/

Pictures: Leon Farrell/ Photocall Ireland.

Ghostbustin’ Jessica Prendergast, Emily Hart and Grace Coughlan

Alison Canavan with her son, James

Swinging around to catch Tarzan

Gail Kaneswaran

W

HILE an iconic Ghostbusters figure took centre stage at the front of the Savoy Cinema earlier this week, inside, another classic silver screen character was

Norah Casey

Shane Morgan and Marie Boyle

also the focus of attention, with the latest film about Tarzan drawing plenty of fans to the Irish premiere.

Several well-known faces swung by the cinema to take

in the latest big-budget treatment about the jungle-raised legend, which stars Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Samuel L Jackson and Jim Broadbent.

14 July 2016 Gazette 23

Gazette

MOTORING interview: Chris Foyle, Windsor Airside Nissan, Swords

At the fore of a new market  ian begley

AS THE Irish economy improves, car dealerships are seeing a significant number of people buying new cars and according to Chris Foyle, sales manager of Windsor Airside Nissan in Swords, the electric car market is growing at an impressive rate.

Speaking to The Gazette, Foyle said that their January-June sales are up 25% compared to the same period in 2015.

He said: “We’re very happy to see this growth, which we hope will continue into the rest of the year. The number of people buying vans has also

increased a lot, which is a clear sign of the economy improving.

“During the recession, plumbers and carpenters etc held on to their vans, but now that things are getting better, they have a greater need and ability to buy a new vehicle for their business.”

Asked how Nissan’s electric car – the Leaf – is doing, Foyle said: “The Leaf is actually doing quite well – it’s a rising market.

“The car is the topselling electric car in the marketplace and it’s only going to get better, and I think more electric cars in general are going to be sold.

“The ESB are working on their infrastructure and the [amount of] charging points are growing, so it’s eventually going to get a lot easier to buy an electric car in Ireland.

Incentives “While the Government give a grant for people driving them, I still think there should be other incentives, like they have in countries such as Norway.”

When questioned about what he thinks about Google’s self-driving car, Foyle admitted that he doesn’t know an awful lot about them, but he believes that

The stylishly modern exterior of Windsor Airside Nissan, Swords

WIN

Tickets to the Leinster SFC final this Sunday!

THE GAZETTE is giving away three pairs of tickets for the Leinster Senior Football Final at Croke Park this Sunday.

To be in with a chance to see reigning champs Dublin take on Westmeath, simply Like the Dublin Gazette’s Facebook page and share our Dubs competition post. Winners will be announced on our Facebook page at noon on Saturday, July 16.

Alternatively, you can also enter by emailing competitions@dublingazette.com – just put “Up the Dubs” in the subject field, and be sure to include your phone number in the email.

Good luck!

we’re still a long way off until they become widely used.

“In the near future, I think electric cars will be more to the liking of people than these selfdriving vehicles, because I think we’re still a long way away from the days of someone hopping into a car and letting it drive by itself.”

Asked if he thinks the Brexit result has led to fears in the industry, Foyle said: “Not at the moment, but I think, in fairness, it’s going to take a bit of time to see what’s going to happen.”

Foyle said that out of the many different

vehicles that they have at Windsor Airside Nissan, he generally likes to drive a Nissan X-Trail.

He added: “I really like the feel and look of this car, but my dream car would have to be the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo Convertible – in reality, I don’t think that will ever happen!”

Asked if he had any pet hates with perspective buyers, Foyle wisely replied: “I love all my perspective buyers, and can’t say that I have any pet hates about any of them.

We try to welcome them with open arms, and love everything that they say to us, no doubt.”

Windsor Airside Nis-

Chris Foyle, sales manager of Windsor Airside Nissan in Swords

san employes 32 people at its motor park in Airside Retail Park, Swords and expects to sell 1,600 units this year.

For further information about the motor group, see www.windsor.ie/nissan, or call 01 870 8700.

Gazette

24 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 14 July 2016

OUT&ABOUT Shirt €46; Jeans €57; Trainers €32

Jacket €89; Dress €57; Tights €10

M&S produces pretty pastel sets for summer  emma nolan

M&S have introduced a range of pastels for their summer beauty offering.

The limited edition Pastel Pop range consists of nail polishes, lip colours and eyeshadow to bring some brightness to summer make-up, whether you’re bound for a muddy festival or sundrenched shores.

T h e Beach H u t

nail set (€11, below) includes four polishes – in lilac, turquoise, English rose and ultraviolet – while the Lip Lacquer comes in sorbet, chiffon and antique gold.

Meanwhile, the Eye Candy palette (top) contains six shades and a double-ended applicator.

Pastel Pop is available from Marks & Spencer stores, or online at marksandspencer. ie.

A three-in-one way to protect, prime, brighten  emma nolan

MAKE Up Forever’s UV Prime SPF30 is a threein-one product that protects, primes and brightens.

The product is a colour-corrective primer with an active protective SPF30 shield.

For protection, the SPF guards against sun damage, preserving it from hyper-pigmentation and premature ageing.

The primer aspect comes from the silicone extract which develops a homogenous film on the skin to preserve make-up hold, and aid application. The vegetal extracts combine to reduce melanine production, thus brightening the complexion.

The UV Prime SPF30 is available for €30 from Make Up Forever at Clarendon Street.

Bomber €70; Top €44; Jeans €60; Socks €5; Boots €57; Belt €20

Scarf €13; Dress €40; Tights €10

Blazer €100; Shirt €50; Trousers €57; Boots €150

Coat €130; Top €29; Jeans €55; Trainers €32

Jacket €68; Top €29; Trousers €52; Trousers €77

Topshop transitions  emma nolan Style Editor

UNDERSTATED, cool and effortless are the three words that come to mind when browsing through Topshop’s Autumn/Winter offering.

A muted palette of denims, greys, camels and khakis underpin the aesthetic, allowing for some brief openings of dark winter floral, blush hues and leopard.

The collection signals a departure

from summer, but is very much made for early autumn – a shearling trim denim jacket alongside some velvets, a sweatshirt, a parka and a polo neck are introduced with a long white sundress, marking the peak of transitional dressing.

However, while the colours are subdued, texture play is very much alive here as velvet makes a return.

Favourites are set to be the long camel duster and ripped jeans in every shade of denim.

14 July 2016 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 25

Gazette

STYLE

Dress €60

Get up close and personal with legendary Marilyn Monroe’s inimitable style  emma nolan

Hoodie €40; Shorts €50; Socks €5; Trainers €36

THE greatest collection of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia in the world has been unveiled at the Newbridge Silverware Museum of Style Icons.

Running until July 25, the exhibition features film costumes, personal gowns, jewellery, personal writings and sketches belonging to the screen icon.

Organisers have billed it as a rare opportunity for the public to view this prolific collection before it goes under the hammer in LA in November.

Newbridge is the second and last European stop before the exhibition goes to the US on tour.

The collection includes Marilyn Monroe property from the collection of David Gainsborough-Roberts, Monroe property from the estate of Lee Strasberg, and items from the Monroe estate.

Regarded as the original sex symbol, Mon-

roe was known for her style both on and off screen.

Highlights of the e x h i b i t i o n i n cl u d e items such as the sheer beaded and sequinned dress Monroe wore as she sang “I’m Through With Love” in Some Like it Hot. Other items of note include the cream fulllength gown of satin with sheer overlay embellished with faux pearls worn by Marilyn in The Prince and The Showgirl, in which she starred alongside Laurence Olivier.

Famous Other costumes include the green satin one-piece with black sequins and gold fringe Monroe wore as she sang That Old Black Magic in Bus Stop, while the famous “wiggle dress” she wore for the 1953 thriller, Niagara, will also be on display.

Tours can be booked at newbridgesilverware. com.

26 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 14 July 2016

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Gazette

28 dublin city gazette 14 July 2016

SPORT Lasering in on world level event

FastSport

sailing: organiser roy says dun laoghaire event truly top class

Pembroke cc quartet in irish u-15s:

PEMBROKE quartet Hannah and Louise Little, Orla Prendergast and Cliona Tucker along with Clontarf’s Anna Kirk, Merrion’s Sadhbh Breslin and Emma Paul along with Malahide’s Lara Maritz have all been named in the Irish Under-15 girls’ cricket squad.

They will play at the Malvern Festival next month where they will have three matches, facing Surrey, The Netherlands and Gloucestershire.

“The introduction of a national Under-15s team, and entry to the Malvern Festival, will give these girls an opportunity to challenge themselves against strong opposition,” said head coach Rob O’Connor when announcing the squad.

“It’s a very exciting time for girls’ cricket at the moment with playing numbers increasing, and a consequence the standard has improved across the country.”

 james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

PROUD International Race Officer Jack Roy has told GazetteSport of his excitement ahead of the KBC Laser Radial World Championships in Dun Laoghaire, saying that when it comes to attracting world class sailing events, the harbour is “boxing way above it is weight”.

T he Laser Radials arrives in Dun Laoghaire for the week of the July 23 to 30 with Roy – formerly a race officer at the London Olympic regatta in Weymouth – proclaiming the event “in some senses bigger than the Olympics”.

With the popular solodinghy regatta expected

to attract more than 300 competitors, far more than compete in a single Olympic class, with larger numbers active in any single race, too, Roy will have his work cut out.

Explaining his role, he said: “Imagine I’m setting up the pitch.

“But my pitch has to change orientation and size depending on the wind and I have to communicate how I change it to the field of racers using hand signals.

“I need around 20 people for each course to help me move the marks around. You can probably imagine it gets quite complicated.”

Lessons on accuracy and preparation in particular have been bought

back from Weymouth, and enabled the Irish organising committee to progress the standard of events here.

For all the preparation, though, “of course, you’re seriously dependent on the wind,” Roy laughs. “That’s one thing we can’t control. We just have to pray for a steady breeze.”

Roy and his colleagues will be operating two separate courses for the event.

With space restricted by the Dublin port entrance, they will be based in spectatorfriendly areas close to Seapoint and the harbour mouth, and the town is expected to be buzzing with competitors joined by support

Dun Laoghaire is set to host the KBC Laser Radial World Championships

teams from all over the world in Dun Laoghaire for the week.

Roy sees distinct advantages for local competitors, however, explaining the benefits of the radial as a relatively affordable entry into the sport, as well as access benefits for local up and comers.

“One of the main things is that local sail-

ors have an opportunity to compete against some of the best in the world.

“T hat’s something they definitely wouldn’t have if they needed to travel, and it really helps the sport locally,” he explains.

“It’s difficult to get the best international events to Ireland,” Roy admits, “because every-

one wants them. We’re hoping to bring the 515 World Championships in 2018. “ I t ’s b e e n q u i c k progress, and ever y event makes us more attractive and gives a better case that Dun Laoghaire is a truly world class option.”

Next week’s events, then, might just be the beginning.

Hermitage’s Hayes captains Leinster to interpro glory  sport@dublingazette.com

Leinster celebrate their interprovincial success at Slieve Russell. Picture: Ronan Lang

LEINSTER’S girls, captained by Hermitage GC’s Suzie Hayes, claimed the girls interprovincial championships last week as they edged out Munster by half a point after three days of competition at Slieve Russell.

The side featured a series of Dubliners in the selection, including Georgia Carr (Milltown), Elisa Corcoran (Grange), Anna Foster (Elm Park) and Ellen O’Gorman (Milltown) along with Eleanor Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown), Clodagh Walsh

(Castlewarden) and Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden).

They opened up with a 5-3 win over Connacht on day one of the competition, coming back from 2-1 down after the morning foursomes to win four out of five singles in the afternoon to sweep to victory.

Indeed, some of the successes were particularly comprehensive, Walsh winning 5&4 against Chloe O’Connor while Foster had a massive 9&8 win over Amy Monaghan to give the side the perfect start.

They followed up with what

was a crucial 5½ to 2½ win over Munster, the eventual runners-up on the second day of the competition. Again, the foursomes were incredibly close with Corcoran and O’Gorman halving their match with Lisa O’Shea and Aine Donegan at the top of the roster.

The next two pairs were shared to leave things all to play for in the afternoon singles. Leinster, though, held the edge. Corcoran nicked a 1up win over O’Shea and Walsh won 2&1 against Ciara Leonard. Sara Byrne got a point back for Munster but Foster and Carr both nabbed 1up wins a

piece to win the singles 4-1.

It meant Leinster needed a draw to be assured of the title and they put themselves in good shape with a 2-1 lead after the foursomes but Ulster swung the tie their way in the singles.

Emma Forbes and Beth Coulter both picked up wins while a Kate Dwyer half with Lauren Walsh had the northern province a point up.

Georgia Carr, however, got an all-important 3&1 win in the last pairing while Ellen O’Gorman halved with Maeve Cummins to tie the overall match

14 July 2016 dublin city gazette 29

Gazette

Women’s snooker breaking the mold Sexism, in-fighting and a lack of resources all obstacles for women’s snooker in Ireland but Dan Carroll tells JAMES HENDICOTT that things are now changing for the better DAN CARROLL – chairman of the Republic of Ireland Ladies’ Snooker Association (RILSA) – has spent three decades promoting what’s no longer quite such a sporting fringe, slowly bringing Irish women’s snooker back from the brink.

At the head of a group that took on the women’s game in Ireland at its lowest ebb 30 years ago, Carroll has transformed the game from an insignificant sporting aside featuring no more than a dozen players. Now, as a 400 member-strong, youthfocused organisation, RILSA boast 115 tables, 300 schools and national championships for primary schools, under-21 and special needs players alongside their main events.

With the annual main event – an International Ladies Irish Open that takes place in August at Joey’s in Harmonstown – just around the corner,

Carroll recalls the journey that has helped revive women’s roles in a game that he suggests still suffers from substantial difficulties with sexism, both globally and in Ireland.

Youth Reach Ireland have just joined RILSA adding another 107 centres to its ever increasing membership.

“Things really dwindled around 2003 or 2004,” Carroll tells GazetteSport.

“We decided to go into schools. It was a tough journey at first because people tend to associate snooker with smoky rooms and betting, and that can put schools off.

The dynamic has changed over the last few years though, particularly with the property prices.

“Snooker halls used to be huge rooms. Now they’re mostly small; most of the big clubs have closed as the buildings became too expensive to justify the use. We just adapted.

“It started with a guy selling a table on Donedeal. I watched the price fall from €1,000 to a few hundred over a few months and eventually I got in touch and suggested he might like to donate it to a school. Now we’re running 115 tables around Ireland that give our members real opportunities for table time.”

Money, though, remains a key problem. Carroll explains that women’s snooker peaked in 1993, when a single tournament offered an unprecedented £40,000 prize fund. The tournament had an Indian sponsor and the surreal stipulation that, having been played largely in the UK, the sharp end then relocated to Delhi. There has been nothing in the same ballpark since.

“There’s very little backing for women players in Ireland,” Carroll explains. “RILSA’s revival has sparked the women’s sport as a change in cul-

Members of RILSA along with Irish snooker legend Fergal O’Brien.

ture is in progress through the schools. Eleven-time world champion Reanne Evans received £1,200 this year for winning the women’s championship while Mark Selby took £350,000 in the men’s Championship.

“The WLBS in the UK have now joined forces

ers,” Carroll explains.

“Snooker’s traditions link closely with pubs and nights on the beer. Ability links closely with how much time you spend at the table. Sadly, while women have made the knockout stages of the men’s world championships, often they don’t

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‘RILSA’s revival has sparked the women’s sport with a change in culture in progress’ - Dan Carroll

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with the WPBSA and some progress is being made with the introduction of a ladies event at the Paul Hunter Classic in Germany at the end of August with a prize fund of £10,000 and TV exposure. We hope that this will continue and grow.”

While RILSA is a recognised governing body for the sport in Ireland, they receive no government funding. Carroll describes the standard as “strong amateur,” but points to sexist difficulties such as Swiss women’s star Claudia Weber being charged more than the men in a local club because of a “risk she might rip the table”.

Some difficulties are more practical. “For social reasons, most women don’t get to the level of the more serious male play-

have that table time.

“We lose a lot of players to pool,” Carroll adds.

“There’s simply more money in it so who can blame them. If you can pot a snooker ball, you can pot a pool ball and the tour has professional money and a professional set up.”

Women’s snooker, meanwhile, suffers from in-fighting, a lack of resources and the sport’s dwindling facilities. Slowly, people like Carroll and RILSA are starting to put that right. ** If you’d like to learn to play snooker, make use of RILSA’s 26 Dublin-based tables or sign up as a member for a €1 fee, contact the organisation via 147starsacademy.com, or go directly to Dan at dancarroll147@gmail.com

FastSport

Walker Cup star wins Father and Son title MILLTOWN’S Jody and Harry Fanagan saw off Foxrock’s Peter and Graham O’Connor as the annual Castle Golf Club Father and Son All-Ireland competition reached its final stage last Sunday.

This year, almost 500 golfers representing nearly 100 different golf clubs participated in the qualifying rounds of this prestigious tournament.

On the first qualifying weekend, the Butlers of Dunmurry Springs/Naas led the qualifiers with a net score of 68. Simon and Peter Murray were the leading Castle pair on 71. The leading gross score of the qualifiers was 74 by the O’Connors of Foxrock.

Sixty-four pairs qualified for the matchplay stages of the event which commenced on Monday and ran every evening during the week.

Former Walker Cup player Fanagan reached his first All-Ireland Father and Son final along with his son Harry. Peter and Graham O’Connor of Foxrock had the best gross score in the qualifiers and their fine golf continued all the way through the matchplay stages to the final.

Both pairs treated spectators to fine golf right throughout the week and a large crowd were treated to a fantastic final played in the spirit that this competition is renowned for.

In the final, held on the afternoon of Sunday, July 10, Jody and Harry Fanagan defeated Peter and Graham O’Connor 4&3 in a hard fought final.

This event is renowned for its friendly atmosphere and this was evident from the qualifying rounds and right through all the matchplay stages.

Paul Carroll, of tournament sponsors CPL, said that he and his company were delighted to be part of this great tournament that builds and nourishes future talent, relationships and values which is are also core to the business of CPL resources.

The tournament is the biggest amateur open event on the Irish golfing calendar. All the results and news related to the event can be found on the Castle website at www.castlegc.ie.

Gazette

30 dublin city gazette 14 July 2016

SPORT

FastSport

athletics: mageean among top irish stars in amsterdam

Team Ireland name 44 athletes for Paralympics PARALYMPICS Ireland has announced a team of 44 athletes to represent the country at the Paralympic Games in Rio this September.

The athletes have been selected from nine different principles but they hope to increase the number of participants after the cut-off point for the Paratriathlon later this month.

Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop are the most recognised members of a team that is a mixture of experience of youth.

Of the 44 athletes named so far, nine of them hail from Dublin. Orla Comerford from Howth and Greta Streimikyte from Swords will represent Ireland on the track. Phibsoboro doctor Austin O’Carroll will take to the water in the Sonar sailing event, while Clontarf’s Ellen Keane and Ailbhe Kelly from Castleknock will also be getting wet as the team swimmers. The squad’s football team is made up of four Dubs including captain Luke Evans from Artane, Firhouse native Brian McGillivary, Carl McKee from Swords, and Dillon Sheridan from Ballyfermot.

Remarkably, Keane will be attending her third Paralympic Games despite being just 21 yearsold.

Speaking at the team announcement, which took place at City Hall, Irish Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Patrick O’Donovan said: “I would like to congratulate all of the athletes on their selection for the 2016 Paralympic Games.

It is a tremendous honour for each of the 44 athletes who have been selected to represent Ireland at the Rio Games and they can all be very proud of that achievement.

The Minister also managed to do something that an Irish politician is rarely ever able to do, inject some humour into the occasion. “When I was growing up in school I was always the one left out aw sir do we really have to take Patrick in our team, and I suppose what I would say to them now is I’m on my way to Rio next month.

“For me it is very important that accessibility entry points into sport are available to everybody and this is a celebration for people who have achieved individual conquests,” O’Donovan said.

Paralympian hero Dave Malone is now the team’s Performance Director, set the team a target of eight medals at the Games and believes it is more than achievable.

Ciara Mageean came within a couple of metres of silver at the European championships. Picture: David Maher/Sportsfile

UCD’s Ciara earns Euro bronze  sport@dublingazette.com

UCD athlete Ciara Mageean was the star of the show from an Irish perspective at the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam last weekend as she claimed a bronze medal in the 1,500m.

She moved out from a congested inside lane to produce a lung busting run over the final 50 metres to finish in a time of 4.33.78, just two hundredths of a second behind second place.

A slow pace produced little excitement over the first three laps but it soon

exploded into life and when Norwegian athlete Ingvil Makestad Bovim boxed in Mageean in the closing straight, the 24-year-old was forced to move sideways to the centre of the track if she was going to challenge for a medal.

Mageean likely would have secured at least silver if she wasn’t boxed in but while slightly disappointed, she was delighted to have a medal around her neck - Ireland’s 14th at the European Championships.

“I’m slightly disappointed I didn’t get silver,” she said afterwards. “It

dublin city triathlon Sonia makes a splash at Phoenix Park launch sonia O’Sullivan was on hand to launch the Dublin City Triathlon this week in her role as the competition’s ambassador.

Based around the Phoenix Park, over 1,000 participants will take to the start line on Sunday, August 28th beginning with a fast swim in the River Liffey before transitioning into Phoenix Park for a smooth and fast bike and run course. She is pictured with Vodafone’s Paul Foley, CEO Anne O’Leary and Sarah-Jane McGibney.

Picture: Naoise Culhane

was a very, very slow race at the start. I was told the splits but I didn’t look at the clock. I’m out there to run for medals, not for times.

“Obviously the tempo upped, and everybody started running fast. It got a little messy, getting boxed in.”

Her club mate Karl Griffin finished eighth in his heat of the men’s 800m after clocking a season’s best of 1.49.38 – enough to win the heat that contained the eventual winner Poland’s Adam Kszczot.

Clonliffe Harriers had four athletes in action

at the championships.

Brian Gregan was part of the men’s 4x400m relay team that finished fifth in their final.

In an agonising final for the team, they were seven hundredths of a second off the qualifying time for Rio. The result left them in 17th position in Europe – the top 16 teams qualify for Rio – but there may be hope as Japan have reportedly failed to submit a team as of yet.

Gregan also competed in the 400m but was eliminated at the semi-final stage after finishing seventh in a time of 46.37.

Declan Murray exited

the men’s 800m when he finished fifth in his heat with a time of 1.50.10.

Sergiu Ciobanu and Gary Murray both competed in the half marathon, with Ciobanu finishing 57th in a time of 1.07.46, and Murray failing to finish.

Raheny Shamrock man Mick Clohisey also competed in the half marathon and finished 32nd with a time of 1.06.00.

Catherine McManus from Celtic DCH was part of the women’s 4x100m relay team who finished seventh in their semi-finals in a season’s best time of 44.29.

14 July 2016 DUBLIN CITY gazette 31

Gazette

All-ireland semi

FastGAA

Leahy thieves goal in Orchard devastation scoil Ui Chonaill’s Hannah Leahy, pic-

tured, scored Dublin Under-16s’ second goal as the side powered through to the All-Ireland championship final with a 4-15 to 1-7 win over Armagh last weekend in Drogheda.

Her goal made it 2-11 to 0-4 at the halftime break and the side scarcely looked back in a devastating display.

Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

ladies football: owens and davey on top form

Murray powers Pat’s afl division 2 St Pat’s, Palmerstown Erin’s Isle  james hendicott

1-14 0-13

sport@dublingazette.com

Dublin celebrate their fifth Leinster senior football championship title in a row. Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

Five-star sky blues outclass Westmeath

tg4 leinster final Dublin 4-23 Westmeath 0-7  sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN showed a relentless streak as they cruised to a fifth successive TG4 Leinster ladies senior football championship crown, demolishing Westmeath by 26 points in a surprisingly one sided provincial decider at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.

They had beaten the Lake County earlier in the group stages of the competition on a dirty day where handling errors and free-flowing football

was at a premium.

But such mistakes were at a minimum in the rematch in Sunday’s final as the sky blues built a strong half-time lead and then pulled clear with a glut of second half scores.

T he opening half, though, did not overly suggest that it would be quite such a dramatic final scoreline. Dublin led by nine points at the break – 1-11 to 0-5 – in a wind-swept counter.

Indeed, Westmeath led briefly thanks to points from Leona Archibold and Maud Anne Foley.

But Sinead Aherne

equalised quickly and Noelle Healy turned over ball to score a fine point to retake the advantage. Sinead Goldrick scored the only goal of the first half for Dublin from a swift move and it appeared to deflate Westmeath.

Nicole Owens, later named player of the match, had four points on the board for Dublin by the interval, as Goldrick added a point to her goal.

Lyndsey Davey collected two first-half points while Carla Rowe and Sinead Aherne were also on the scoresheet.

The floodgates opened in the second half, however, as Dublin stepped on the gas to outclass Westmeath. Owens finished with six points while Davey was the leading scorer for Dublin as she registered 1-4.

Rowe and Aherne also netted second half goals for Dublin - who have now booked a safe passage to the All-Ireland quarter-finals along with Ulster champions Monaghan and Connacht winners Mayo. Munster completed the list of provincial champions with a win over Kerry in Killarney.

A DOGGED Erin’s Isle were unable to reign in the fluid forward play of St Patrick’s Palmerstown on Saturday evening as the draw specialists lost a game that puts them on the precipice of a relegation battle at Glenauline Park.

Brian Carson’s sharp finishing was the key in a tight first half, with the Pat’s forward playing off some surging forward runs from attacking half-backs Dave O’Hanlon and Shane Stapleton, pictured, as the pacey home side went about their task with gusto.

Carson hit five of Pat’s seven first half points, but they went in with the narrowest of leads, Erin’s Isle retaliating with a period of mid-half dominance propelled largely by the creativity of Paul Murray and Luke Sweetman’s domineering presence in the half-forward line.

Going in 0-8 to 0-7 in front, a Pat’s side that were clearly prioritising the game as a chance to lift their season were vocally frustrated by the narrow margin.

The second half continued in much the same vein: Pat’s the more creative side but Erin’s Isle better able to hold onto possession and clinical with their chances.

The key moment came midway through the second period. Pat’s forward Donal Murray sprung to life, collecting a series of key points.

Most importantly, he made space down the left flank to find the net past the helpless Erin’s Isle goalkeeper, Graham Bedford, giving the home side what proved to be the decisive advantage.

It became scrappy from then on with Erin’s Isle unable to break them down St Pat’s as the sides exchanged points and pot shots. Both had chances fashioned from scrappy breaks with Donal Murray’s chance for a second goal – blasted over for a point from close range – the best of them.

Niall Crossan found himself frustrated as defenders hounded him out and he was unable to get a shot away at the other end.

Wrapping up at 1-14 to 0-13 victory for their fourth win of the season, Pat’s can now take comfort in mid-table.

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Dublin senior footballers Michael Fitzsimons, Paul Mannion and Ciaran Kilkenny with young fans at a meet and greet organised at the Gibson Hotel. Picture: Brian McEvoy

Gavin’s consistent target Dublin manager says his side has another hear and does need to make improvements ahead of the Leinster senior football championship final  karl graham

sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN will not be taking anything for granted as they chase their sixth successive provincial title against Westmeath on Sunday in Croke Park at 4pm according to manager Jim Gavin.

Gavin’s side have been criticised in some parts for taking their foot off the gas in games instead of developing a ruthless streak but the Round Tower’s club man Gavin insists they have been more inconsistent than too comfortable.

“I thought against Meath, particularly in the opening quarter, we created a lot of chances.

They played with nearly 13 men behind the ball,” he said in the lead-up to the event in the Gibson Hotel.

“But we still created scoring opportunities.

That’s what we’ve been working on, on the training park over the last while. So if we can tighten up that end of it, I think the performances will improve.”

Gavin also tried to hammer home his point by insisting that retaining the Delaney Cup means just as much to the Dublin team as it does to the travelling supporters from the midlands.

“These boys are passionate about the Leinster championship. They want to retain the Delaney Cup. It’s something that they’ve spo-

ken about. It means a lot to them.

“And I’m sure it means a lot to people in Athlone, Moate, Mullingar – they will be travelling to Dublin to see their boys go home with the cup so it means as much to us as it does Westmeath,” said Gavin.

Concerns about the fitness of star forward Eoghan O’Gara were also put to rest by Gavin at the press conference. O’Gara was out of action for over a year after suffering a cruciate ligament injury but returned to the Dublin line-up in their championship win over Laois.

He came off the bench in the second half of that game but played no part in the semi-final victory over Meath after a leg strain while playing for his club.

However, the 30-year-old took full part in training with the squad last week and Gavin confirmed the good news about his return.

“Eoghan is good. He trained a full session two nights ago so, yeah, he’s back on track.

He did a bit of training with the club as well recently so, yeah, he’s 100 percent fit,” said Gavin One man who did play against Meath following an injury of his own, and who will offer competition to O’Gara is St Brigid’s star Paddy Andrews.

Andrews missed the game against Laois but managed to put in 15 minutes against Meath, leaving Gavin with no more injury worries going into the business end of the season.