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EU CRISIS: Pressure mounting on Ireland to do more to help desperate Syrians P24

School’s premises gets top marks  IAN BEGLEY

ST Andrew’s National School has opened the doors of its new, stateof-the-art building in St Edmundsbury, welcoming 345 students.

After several delays and uncertainty regarding construction, the new school premises boasts modern facilities including a sports hall, 16 classrooms and a computer lab.

Speaking at the school’s welcoming ceremony, Minister Frances Fit-

zgerald said: “We are celebrating this fantastic new building, a wonderful colourful, state-of-the-art home for this school.

“The hard work and determination of the school community has brought this project to fruition.”

Reverend Scott Peoples, chairman of the board of management, said: “The students have settled in very well and I’m sure they’ll be very happy with their new building.”

Full Story on Page 2

Wedding winners: The Gazette makes a Big Day just perfect HAPPY newly weds Louise Curry and Terry Carroll are pictured as they enjoy their wedding reception at Lucan Spa Hotel.

The couple were thrilled with their Big Day, after they won a competition run by the Dublin

Gazette and Lucan Spa Hotel.

They are now on honeymoon in Italy. Guests reported delicious food and great service.

See Full Gallery on Pages 8-9 Picture: Cathy Weatherston

2 LUCAN Gazette 10 September 2015

St Andrew’s NS New premises boasts modern facilities

State-of-the-art school welcomes 345 students  Ian Begley

St Andrew’s National School has opened its doors for the first time to its new, state-ofthe-art building in St Edmundsbury, welcoming 345 students.

A f ter many delays and uncertainty regarding the construction of the school, the new premises boasts modern facilitates, including a sport’s hall, 16 classrooms, special needs

 ian begley ibegley@dublingazette.com

assistants, and a computer lab.

Local Minister Frances Fitzgerald attended the school’s welcoming ceremony on September 2 and was welcomed with a bouquet of flow-

ers by Reverend Scott Peoples, chairman of the board of management, along with several school children.

Speaking at the ceremony, Fitzgerald said: “I am delighted to join with Reverend Peoples, the teachers, staff, parents and most importantly pupils on this joyous celebration.

“We are celebrating this fantastic new building, a wonderful, colourful, state-of-

the-art home for this school. The hard work and determination of the school community has brought this project to fruition.

“I worked with the Department of Education, the state solicitor and the Office of Public Works (OPW) to secure acquisition of the site, which proved to be a complex matter.

“I assisted with a number of legal issues involved in the project and to progress the development of the school to ensure the project progressed in a timely and efficient manner.

“I visited the school’s previously cramped and ageing facilities on a number of occasions and I know that the school community has displayed plenty of patience and perseverance in that time.

“The project was a long road, and saw numerous challenges including the economic situation.

“I want to say well done and keep up the good work to the teachers and staff of this school, led so ably by Julie Chapman (principal).

“I congratulate the children on their performance and I wish the staff and their students the very best in this new school,” she said.

Last year Peoples

Minister Frances Fitzgerald is welcomed by students with a bouquet of flowers

slammed the OPW for lack of communication with school officials regarding delays to constr uct a new school on the lands at St Edmundsbury.

At the time Rev Peoples expressed his frustration to The Gazette, saying that after years of seeking a new school for St Andrew’s, the OPW failed to keep school officials upto-date on its progress.

Now, Rev Peoples said that he was very happy with the progress that has been made and wished the school staff and students the very best into the future.

Speaking to The Gazette, he said: “The school are very happy with the new building, and I’m delighted that it has opened at last.

“We’re very pleased with the new state-ofthe-art building, including the brilliant location that the school is now in.

Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

“The school grounds now span eight acres in total, compared to the old site in Chapel Hill where we had just 0.8 of an acre.

“The students have settled in very well and I’m sure they’ll be very happy with their new building,” said Rev Peoples.

10 September 2015 LUCAN Gazette 3

don’sdublin Fruitful thoughts of a sickly child stoke the fires to create Dracula Abraham “Bram” Stoker was born in 15 Marino Crescent, Fairview, on November 8, 1847, the third of seven children and baptised in the Church of Ireland, Clontarf on December 30.

He was a sickly child and did not attend school until he was seven. As such, he spent much time reading and he noted years later “I was naturally thoughtful, and the leisure of long illness gave opportunity for many thoughts which were fruitful according to their kind in later years.”

He made a full recovery from his early illness and studied mathematics in Trinity College where he graduated with honours. He was a keen sportsman and was awarded Athlete of the Year, as well as being auditor of the Historical Society and president of the Philosophical Society. Oscar Wilde was a contemporary who Stoker proposed for membership of the Philosophical Society.

Years later, after Wilde’s release from Reading Gaol, Stoker visited him in Paris. Coincidently, Wilde had once courted Florence Balcombe who Stoker married in 1878. She was almost the “girl next door” as she lived at 1 Marino Crescent, a few doors from the Stoker household.

Stoker was always interested in theatre and became the Dublin Evening Mail’s (co-owned by the great Gothic writer Sheridan Le Fanu) theatre critic, and respected for his incisive reviews. After seeing Henry Irving, the greatest actor his generation, play Hamlet in the Theatre Royal, the two met for dinner in the Shelbourne Hotel. Irving invited him to London to be his business manager, and he and Florence moved in 1878. He acted for Irving until the actor’s death in 1905.

He travelled extensively with Irving, met many famous people, and all the time kept writing. He produced a dozen books, countless articles and short stories, but it is Dracula (1897) for which he is best remembered. It has been the source of inspiration for writers and was first filmed in 1922. The sickly boy’s “fruitful thoughts” had certainly been realised.

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin. wordpress.com 15 Marino Crescent, Fairview where author Abraham “Bram” Stoker (inset) was born in 1847

dublin bus Recognising the difference they make

Voluntary groups up for awards  Ian Begley

Several local voluntary groups from Dublin Mid-West have successfully made the shortlist for this year’s Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards.

All groups shortlisted are set to receive an award of either €1,000, €2,000 or

€5,000 from unclaimed passenger change.

The local groups s h o r t l i s t e d i n cl u d e Peamount United in Lucan, North Clondalkin Tidy Towns, Ronanstow n Community Childcare, Clondalkin, and Older Vo i c e s f o r C h a n g e , Clondalkin.

On September 23, the 85 recipients will attend a special ceremony in Croke Park which will recognise the difference they make and present them with a much-needed grant so they can improve their services and boost community spirit.

Commenting on the

programme, Ray Coyne, the chief executive of Dublin Bus, said: “Dublin is delighted to provide a programme that allows us to directly help local communities that use our services every day, in order to help raise community spirit and grow new projects.”

Awards patron and

former international footballer Niall Quinn, who will be present on the night, also said: “The Community Spirit Awards began in 2004 and since I gave out those first awards over 10 years ago I have seen the value and importance they have brought to communities.”

4 LUCAN Gazette 10 September 2015

race 28.2km course consists of 10 weirs and 1 portage

Liffey Descent to make major splash  Ian Begley ibegley@dublingazette.com

The 56th International Liffey Descent will take place again this year and is set to be one of the largest events of its kind to date.

The annual descent which will occur on September 26, will see canoeists face surging waters from 10 weirs, along with one set of rapids and a 500m portage around the dam at Leixlip.

Over the years the Liffey Descent’s reputation has grown and attracted paddlers from all over the world to

experience both the event itself and the unique atmosphere of fun and friendship that surrounds it.

The race course is 28.2km and starts at the K Club above Straffan Weir, County Kildare and about 18 miles later finishes at Trinity Rowing Club in Dublin.

Up t o a t h i r d o f entries are in the true racing classes and the remaining places are taken up with “fun” paddlers who are there to enjoy the event no matter how long it takes them to get to the finish line. The challenge is will they make it to the

finish without a swim?

Karl Dunne, chief executive of Canoeing Ireland, told The Gazette that the descent is something that many people will come out to enjoy.

“We have a very large contingent of overseas paddlers this year. This will be the biggest one for a very long time, our numbers are growing and growing. We have over 35 South Africans coming in to race this year.

“Lucan Bridge is a great location to watch it because it’s right by the river and the weir,” he said.

To c o m p l e t e t h e

weekend, there is an after-race party which is included in the price of entry and goes on until very late or very early the next day.

“There will be a mixture of live music and a DJ with many a tale told of the wonderful experiences had during the race and a well-deserved boasting about making it to the finishing line with or without swimming.”

In 1959 Canoeing Ireland started a marathon canoe race on the river Liffey that was destined to become one of the world’s most famous and exciting canoe-

Ties with Tampa agreed the council has signed a Sister Cities Agreement with Tampa, Florida, to build a long and lasting friendship with the city and maintain the goodwill that exists between Ireland and the US. The aim of the agreement is to improve global cooperation, promote cultural understanding, and stimulate economic development.

Mayor Sarah Holland (SF) signed the agreement with a number of delegates from the city, including the Mayor of Tampa, Bob Buckhorn, who travelled to Ireland.

Speaking at the event, Mayor Holland said: “I am convinced this friendship agreement will be of mutual benefit to our communities by exploring the many educational, economic and cultural opportunities, it will provide for the years ahead.”

Karl Dunne, chief executive of Canoeing Ireland: “We have a very large contingent of overseas paddlers this year.”

ing events. The Liffey Descent is run by the Liffey Descent Committee, a subcommit-

tee of Canoe Marathon Ireland - a technical committee of Canoeing Ireland.

For more information on the Liffey Descent visit w w w.canoe.ie/ liffey-descent.

10 September 2015 LUCAN Gazette 5

6 LUCAN Gazette 10 September 2015

FastNews

New special education MaxiZoo helps dog preschool set to open owners in Liffey Valley A new preschool for children diagnosed with autism will soon be opening in Lucan Village.

Nexus is a specialised preschool for children diagnosed with autism and all teachers and assistants are registered with the Teaching Council and are Garda vetted. Opening in late September, the new facility also has a BCBA (Behavior Analyst Certification Board) supervisor to oversee the programme and a speech and language therapist on staff to help with devising each child’s individual education program. For an application form email nexuspreschool@ gmail.com or call Kerrylee on 0864680758. For more information visit the Nexus Preschool Facebook page.

transport: 25c proposal dismissed

Maxi Zoo is helping dog owners in Liffey Valley to comply with new Government legislation making it compulsory for all dogs to be microchipped and registered on an approved database.

The new legislation came into force on September 1 and Maxi Zoo is hosting a range of free information and awareness events in store throughout September where customers can learn more about the process and get their pet’s chip checked for free. Dog owners visiting Maxi Zoo in Liffey Valley Retail Park can enjoy a full Check Your Pet Microchip information day on September 12, a meet and greet local animal charity event on September 19 and a Vet and Microchipping day on September 26.

The NTA was not satisfied a requirement existed for the deployment of a complete additional service via the Newcastle Road to the N4

Talks open on Newcastle bus service to city  ian begley

THE National Transport Authority (NTA) has opened talks with Dublin Bus on the possible reintroduction of morning bus departures from Newcastle Road to the city centre.

In an email sent to Lucan’s Cllr William Lavelle (FG) by Anne Graham, the authority’s chief executive, it stated that the the NTA had to consider the possibility and cost options for routing some morning peak services via the Newcaste Road to the N4 and onwards to Dublin City.

Graham also added that the NTA was not satisfied a requirement existed for the deployment of a complete additional service via the Newcastle Road to the N4.

She said: “The introduction of such a service would have an impact on the current routes 25A and 25B and on rail services between Adamstown and Dublin City to the

extent that service frequency might have to be reduced on those services affecting other times of the day and week.”

Commenting on this development, Cllr Lavelle said: “I am disappointed that she dismisses my proposal for a new 25C service.

“However I do offer a guarded welcome to her confirmation that the NTA have commenced discussions with Dublin Bus on the possible reintroduction of morning bus departures from the Newcastle Road area of Lucan to the city accessing the N4 directly at the Newcastle Road interchange.

“I believe the introduction of direct morning services from Newcastle Road would prove very popular and would help take car trips off the road,” he said.

Cllr Lavelle added that he had made clear that any new departures should be in addition to all existing 25A and 25B

services.

“Up to 2010, a number of former 25X services departed access the N4 directly at the Newcastle Road interchange.

“These proved very popular. However, these departures were scrapped and now all 25A and 25B services from Newcastle Road do a full, lengthy loop of the Lucan South area before accessing the N4 at Woodies.

“Traffic congestion is chronic on Newcastle Road.

“I have previously and repeatedly called for the introduction of a new 25C route, linking Adamstown and Newcastle Road to the city via the Newcastle Road interchange.

“Any new departures should be in addition to all existing 25A and 25B services.

“I would oppose any loss of services from routes to Woodies, which includes the Willsbrook stop which is one of the busiest bus stops in West Dublin,” said Cllr Lavelle.

10 September 2015 LUCAN Gazette 7

live register Figures welcomed by Government

Dole queues shorten in Mid West area  Ian Begley ibegley@gazettegroup.com

THE number of people signing on the Live Register in Dublin Mid-West has decreased by 927 in the last year.

The figures for this August show 7,169 people signed on. This amounts to a reduction of 11.4% on the same period last yearwhen there were 8,096 people signing on.

Local Minister Frances Fitzgerald has said that an 11.5% drop indicates the steady growth in the econ-

omy in Lucan, Clondalkin, Saggart, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Brittas and Palmerstown. She said: “Since the Action Plan for Jobs was introduced in 2012, it has been one of the Government’s key instruments to support job creation.

“Each week in 2015 over 1,300 jobs have been added to the economy, showing that the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track is working. All regions have experienced job increases and unemployment decreases in the past year, meaning that the

recovery is spreading to all parts of the country. There is no doubt that more jobs and opportunities are needed here but the Live Register figures are very encouraging,” she said.

Clondalkin TD Robert Dowds (Lab) also welcomed the recent figures.

He told the Gazette: “There is no doubt that things are much better now than they were four years ago and that we’re long past the worst of the economic collapse. It is fantastic to see this being felt in Clondalkin, Lucan,

Cllr Eoin O’Broin (SF): “The Live Register does not measure those in employment,”

Palmerstown, Saggart, Rathcoole, and Newcastle through sharply falling numbers of people who are signing on the dole.”

Cllr Eoin O Broin (SF) said the Live Register did not measure those in work and accused Government of massaging the figures.

He said “Unfortunately the Government refuses to provide data on

the number of people in employment by local area so we simply do not know what the local employment situation is like.

“There are reasons why the Live Register in Dublin Mid-West is falling. Some people are moving into employment and where the jobs are secure and properly paid I welcome that. But many people can

only get insecure badly paid jobs. There are also people emigrating, on low wage employment schemes such as Jobbridge and Gateway as well as those returning to full time education. Up to 80,000 people in labour activation schemes across the country. These people are unemployed but not included in the live register figures.

candidate McNally to contest election The Social Democrats have unveiled that AnnieMarie McNally (35) from Lucan will contest in Dublin Mid-West for the next General Election.

She was selected as the first slate of four other candidates who will contest in the General Election for the party.

McNally said: “Having worked alongside Catherine Murphy TD for the past three-and-half years I have seen first-hand the difference that a committed and passionate politician can make.

“The Social Democrats are offering a vision of an Ireland where an equal society with quality public services is supported by a strong, vibrant economy and I want to help deliver that vision for the people of Dublin Mid-West.”

8 lucan Gazette 10 September 2015

gazetteGALLERIES

Meena Baskarasubramanian, Adamstown Community Group, with Peter Behan and Maria Murphy, Palmerstown Community Council

heritage: sharing insights into how best to commemorate 1916

W

ITH next year’s centenary commemorations of The Rising drawing ever closer, Lucan Library recently played host to a public meeting staged by South Dublin County Council that invited local groups, organisations and individuals to have their say in how they would like to mark the momentous occasion, and to help guide and shape the Ireland 2016 programme.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald was the evening’s guest of honour, and she spoke about the shared political and public vision for next year’s commemorations that west Dublin also has a role in shaping and sharing.

Aidan and Mary Dardis, Clondalkin Tidy Towns Committee

Joe Byrne, chair of the Lucan Festival, and Rose Fitzgerald

The happy couple, Louise Curry and Terry Carroll

Chelsea Young and Melanie Carroll

Aoife Woods and Nicola Corrigan

Liam Roche, from Saggart Heritage Group, with a copy of The Proclamation, which was originally printed on paper milled at Saggart. Pictures: Pearl Phelan Barry Scallon and Ruth O’Connell

Darren Noone, Gary McGirl and Barry Scallon

10 September 2015 lucan Gazette 9

Stephen Harmon and

Mother of the groom Adrienne McAvinue and Ian

Palina Bruyek

Macken

Phil Walsh, Carmel Murray, Lorraine Curry, mother of the bride, and Margaret Mariotti

Wedding joy for all

W

EDDING guests were delighted to welcome Louise Curry and Terry Carroll to the Lucan Spa Hotel for their reception recently, after the happy couple tied the knot.

The happy couple were winners of a competition run in the Dublin Gazette last year

and the wedding reception at The Spa Hotel Lucan was part of their prize. The food was delicious and the service second to none. DJ Oisin from Wise Guys provided the entertainment. Louise Curry and Terry Carroll both hail from James’s Street and are currently on honeymoon in Sorrento, Italy.

Ciara Woods, Jodie Pezilli, Louise Curry, Joanne Grant and Brid McGill

10 Gazette 10 September 2015

gazetteGALLERY

Darren King, Sam Cassidy and Nathan Hill

Esther Woods, Elaine Galvin and Hazel McMahon at the Miss Ireland 2015 final. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Lovely girls give it a go to be Miss Ireland 2015

F

ATHER Ted Crilly would have been delighted to see all the lovely girls in attendance at the Miss Ireland 2015 final held in the Crowne Plaza Northwood recently, where young ladies from all across the island of Ireland had gathered, hoping to claim the crown.

Several household names were also in attendance at the glittering finale, which presented judges with the difficult task of selecting an overall winner to go on to Sanya, China, to compete in Miss World in December.

Ultimately, Miss Antrim Sacha Livingston claimed the title, with the

Belfast portrait artist impressing judges and fellow contenders alike with her natural poise, charm and personality, as well as her beauty, of course.

In addition to the glory of representing Ireland in China, Sacha’s prizes include a full wardrobe of dresses, and make-up and nail care for a year.

Michaela O’Neill and Ryan Andrews

Chanelle O’Dwyer and Elaine Crowley

Emer O’Reilly, Jane Lundon and Mary Lee

Rosalyn Odujete

Kathy Prendeville and Isabelle Collins

10 September 2015 Gazette 11

culture P23

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

a day in the life: Trevor tosses the 9 to 5 life for a more controlled one

what’son

Biting back at the bedbugs  Ian Begley

If you thought your job was bad, then how about trying your luck at exterminating rats and cleaning up after dead bodies for a living?

Well, that’s exactly what Dubliner Trevor Hayden does. Working in IT for years, Hayden decided that the typical 9 to 5 office lifestyle wasn’t for him.

This week The Gazette caught up with Hayden to see what a typical day for him is like as a pest control manager and crime scene cleaner.

“We get a lot of calls from people complaining about rat infestations in their homes. When I’m out on call we set up traps as opposed to poison because if a rat is poisoned you have no control over where it dies and it can begin to smell really badly.

“We have also invented a trap that remotely tells us whenever it has caught a rodent at a specific address.

Recently, I was at a very nice Georgian house where they had a rat that died underneath their floorboards.

Although it smelled very badly I managed to remove it with great effort and clean the area around where it died.

I have bit of OCD when it comes to cleaning and I’m very happy when I do a thorough job.”

Hayden added that on a typical day people would also call him about other types of pest problems, such as cockroaches, flies and bedbugs (a

comedy comes unhinged: A series of stand-up comedy shows are now taking place every Wednesday and Sunday at the Ha’Penny Bridge Inn, Wellington Quay from 9pm.

Unhinged Comedy will see a seasoned line-up of comedians spreading laughter from the stage to the audience and surrounding areas. The show is managed and organised by Connor McDonough-Flynn, a comedian who’s been performing around Ireland and internationally for over five years. Performers will include rising comedian Joe Dowlin who is a regular MC at the Battle of the Axe comedy night in the Ha’Penny Bridge Inn and is also the cofounder of the popular Talla Craic Comedy House, Tallaght.

Edinburgh Fringe fest comedian Diane O’Connor will also be there on the night.

She has performed all over Ireland and the UK. Ticket are priced from €6 to €8 and can be purchased from www.eventbrite.ie.

For more information visit www.conmcflynn.com or see the Unhinged Comedy Club Facebook page.

personal fear of his).

“We get a good few calls about bedbugs during the summer months or when people accidentally take them home when they return from their holidays. We deal with them a lot, but the thoughts of bringing one of them home just freaks me out.”

His experience in the pest control business eventually led to another field altogether - cleaning up after human remains have been removed from a scene.

Deaths “Now and again I would get a call to clean up the area of a place where someone has died. Most of the jobs we are called out to are unattended deaths. If someone has died and no one has found them for a number of months we then would have to clean whatever has been left behind.

“When we’re cleaning a scene we have to be 100% thorough. You could wipe a surface down and it may look clean but it could be full of germs and bacteria so that’s why we have to be extremely careful about not overlooking anything.”

Asked if this type of work carries any emotional burdens after he returns home after a long day of work, Hayden said: “The very first job I did played havoc with my mind with all sorts of stuff running through my head while in bed. Now I don’t even think about it.”

feature P24



Gazette

diary P12

Trevor Hayden talks about a typical day as a pest control manager

12 Gazette 10 September 2015

Gazette

dublinlife Kevin finds it in his Hart to come to Dublin on tour

US comedian and actor Kevin Hart will be visiting Irish shores in January 2016 and tickets will go on sale for his international comedy show this week.

T he funny man is famous for roles in movies including The Wedding Ringer which took in over $80m (€72m) internationally and Get

Hard where he starred alongside Will Ferrell.

He has announced a massive world tour after a hugely successful domestic comedy tour in the US earlier this year.

He will be visiting Dublin’s 3Arena on Friday, January 22, 2016 to perform in his international comedy show

What Now? Tour and tickets go on sale on September 10, 2015.

Hart’s international comedy tour will see him visiting Ireland, Australia, Belgium, Germany and South Africa for the first time.

Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster. ie and for more information on tour dates log

diary

onto www.aikenpromotions.com.

calling all budding young artists Sighttsavers is calling on budding young artists in Dublin to enter the 2015 Junior Painter of the Year Awards.

Open to primary school students of all ages, thousands of children are expected to enter the competition this year featuring the new theme, Imagine 2030.

A lot can change in 15 years so Sighstavers is inviting primary school students to be inspired and create an artwork that shows how they want the world they live in to look in the year 2030.

Student artists have a chance to win appropriately arty prizes not just for themselves but for their classmates too, and substantial cash prizes of €200, €300 and €1,000 for their schools with thanks to the Irish Times.

Fifteen regional winners will be selected and will have the opportunity to see their work displayed at a special awards day in February 2016 where three overall national winners will be announced.

Submissions for this competition must be completed by November 27. For more information visit www.sightsavers.ie/juniorpainter.

US comedian Kevin Hart, who will be playing to Dublin audiences next January

start talking about mental health A campaign to get people involved in the conversation of suicide was launched recently and people from all around Dublin are invited to take part.

Suicide or Sur vive (SOS) is running its annual High Tea and Talk campaign in an attempt to raise aware-

ness about mental health.

World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on September 10 and SOS are encouraging people to take time out with a loved one or a friend to have a cup of tea and a chat as this is a great way to get people to talk about any problems they might be experiencing.

The campaign is ask-

ing people to host a tea morning with friends, in the workplace, or within a local community group to raise awareness of mental health.

To get involved contact Jacqui at SOS on jacqui@suicideorsurvive.ie or call 1890 577 577 and the charity will send an information pack.

Alternatively you can donate €4 by texting SOS4 to 50300.

Bride Groom SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

Let The Gazette help make your wedding day extra special and guarantee you have happy memories to share with friends and family in the years to come

ď ´

GAZETTE

10 September 2015 GAZETTE I

WHAT TO WEAR:

Divine gowns and accessories for the Mother of the Bride Page III

THE LOOK:

Top tips from make-up artist Marc Sinclair Page VII

Beauty Wedding

Beautiful in Bloom headpiece by Glitzy Secrets online boutique, www.glitzysecrets.com, a vintage-inspired soft white organza hair flower set upon a trailing floral headpiece encrusted with sparkling Austrian crystals

In search of the perfect dress?

From lace to ruffles, we give you a sneak peek at what styles are popular this season SEE PAGE VI

TRULY GIFTED:

Thoughtful presents that will be cherished Page VI

OH HONEY!

Find the perfect place to relax and unwind Page VIII

GAZETTE

II GAZETTE 10 September 2015

Bride Groom

An ideal hidden gem of a venue that’s steeped in history and full of charm KILRONAN Castle located on the shores

and that is to deliver excellence and

of Lough Meelough, Ballyfarnon, Co

a memorable experience for you and

Roscommon is one of Ireland’s hidden

your guests. Kilronan Castle offers an

gems. One of Ireland’s most luxurious

unparalleled Irish castle wedding expe-

castle hotels, Kilronan Castle is the

rience and first class services.

ancestral home of the Tenison family

The castle has 84 superbly appointed

and the legendary Colonel King Tenison.

bedrooms, fully equipped with contem-

It is one of a few Irish castle estates

porary comforts. These rooms fuse

that can trace its history back to royal

modern luxury with a touch of old-style

families. This 200-year-old castle is

glamour.

steeped in history, full of character and

Jillian

The Dungeon Bar is an ideal private

old world charm… the perfect setting

setting for your drinks reception. In the

for your wedding.

summer, your guests will gather on the

Kilronan Castle nestles amongst

| WEDDING STYLE |

patio sipping on pink champagne whilst

acres of woodland, open lawns and path

overlooking the scenic Lough Meelagh

ways leading you to a truly breathtak-

and, alternatively for a winter wed-

ing estate. From intimate to extrava-

ding, the roaring open fires make the

gant, traditional to bespoke their

surroundings comfortable and homely,

expert team offer a comprehensive

the candle lit wine cellar just adds to

service ensuring your wedding will be

the mystical atmosphere.

uniquely yours. Kilronan Castle want

Catering for smaller intimate num-

the planning of your day to be effort-

bers of 150 guests to numbers exceed-

less and most enjoyable. Once you have

ing 350 in our grand ballroom, Kilronan

met with their experienced wedding

Castle is the perfect venue for your

coordinators, they only have one focus,

wedding day celebrations.

Rory

Jillian

Drew, availabe at Bridal Boutique in Fairview

The Dress!

IT’S probably the most special, extravagant not to

She also says that full ball gowns are becoming popular

mention expensive dress you will ever wear, so every

again and who doesn’t want to look like Cinderella on

bride wants to get her wedding dress just right.

her wedding day? Tina says that structured bodices

From bustier to sweetheart, corseted to draped,

there is so much choice right now, you could be a little daunted by the range of dresses available.

Tina at the Bridal Boutique in Fairview has picked some of the highlights for next season.

She says that lace never goes out of fashion and who can forget Kate Middleton’s stunning wedding dress?

are also popular and that, hold the bouquet, ruffles are popular again.

Whatever you choose, make sure that you are comfortable, or as comfortable as you can be, so you can

strut your stuff on the dancefloor when the formalities are over!

Have a look at our favourites.

10 September 2015 Gazette III

Mother of the bride After the bride, the second most important person

ferent. How about a glamorous trouser suit or a floor

in the room, is of course, the mother of the bride. As

length frock - it doesn’t have to be the domain of the

such, getting the right outfit is of the utmost impor-

bridesmaid only.

tance. Most Irish mother’s of the bride do tend to

Here at Gazette style we have picked some of our

follow a certain formula and that’s fine as it works.

favourites that will help your mum feel the like special

But there are plenty of mum of bride outfits for that

lady that she is and second most beautiful woman in

mammy who wants to be that little bit quirkier or dif-

the room!

Brown Thomas Paule Ka Cropped Rose Trim Jacket €550 and Pleated Midi Skirt €490

House of Fraser Untold Kitty Outline Edge Fascinator €65

Brown Th omas Ken neth Jay Lane Pearl Drop Earrin gs €100

Co Cov ast V er i Up enna €1 10

House of Fraser Linea Penelope lace dress €195

Brown Thomas Stuart Weitzman Reckless Heeled Sandals €430 Coast Cassia lace dress €150

GAZETTE

IV GAZETTE 10 September 2015

Bride Groom The perfect

Alternative venues  IAN BEGLEY

If you’re on the prowl for an alternative wedding venue that is a hundred miles away from the type of wedding your grandparents had, then you will be pleased to know that Ireland has a huge range of unconventional wedding venues on offer.

From castles, barns, theatres, sport’s stadiums and the Zoo, there are plenty of unique and eccentric wedding venues to suit all tastes.

If your heart is set on a Dublin city wedding, but you’re looking for a large space to celebrate, then Smock Alley Theatre might be the perfect venue for your big day. With exposed brick walls, ornate plasterwork ceiling, and stained glass windows, this venue is certainly a sight to behold.

Another great alternative venue is at Mount Druid in Westmeath. The building and its surroundings are made up from a converted barn, an unconsecrated tin chapel, 20 traditional Mongolian yurts, three shep-

herd’s huts, a charmingly cosy gate lodge, a three-bed school master’s house, an 1820s Georgian house, several BBQ areas, a walled garden, a summer house and three lakes.

Why not choose to say “I Do” at the zoo? Dublin Zoo is a unique alternative to the traditional wedding venue and provides a magical backdrop for your special day. Haughton House, a restored historical building with magnificent views of the zoo, is available seven days a week for all types of wedding ceremonies including civil ceremonies, civil partnerships and blessings.

With weddings at Croke Park, GAA fans can marry their love of the game with the love of their life.

Whether you are interested in a large traditional reception, a small intimate celebration or something in between, they can offer you the perfect alternative venue.

For information on these wedding venues visit www.alternativewed dings.ie and www.hitched.ie.

| SELECTING THE VENUE |

 IAN BEGLEY

FINDING the perfect wedding venue for your big day can be a very challenging and expensive feat, but thanks to a large range of deals on offer, you can rest assured that the picture-perfect wedding of your dreams is just around the corner.

The Bracken Court Hotel The Bracken Court Hotel, Balbriggan is a well-established four-star luxury hotel, exceptional in design and character.

From the moment you step onto the red carpet, you will experience a friendly and professional wedding team with a single focus in mind – the success of the most memorable day in your life.

The Bracken Court Hotel has a range of wedding packages to suit all tastes and budgets. With warm hospitality and impeccable service, combined with experience and passion for weddings, the hotel aims to ensure that your day will be truly unforgettable. A grand affair, an intimate reception, the style of your wedding is entirely

up to you.

Their wedding offers provide an array of packages to choose from, starting from €39.95 per person.

The hotel is also hosting their Autumn Wedding Showcase on Sunday, September 27 from 2 to 6pm, with the hotel’s reception suites and civil ceremony room will be dressed for the occasion.

Contact events@courtyard.ie to make a personal appointment to view the hotel’s wedding venue and discuss your specific requirements.

The Court Yard Hotel Built on the original site where Arthur Guinness created his brewing empire, Bespoke Wedding Venue in Kildare offers old world charm, beautiful original stone work with contemporary design in a setting that is as picturesque as a pint settling. From its humble beginnings back in 1756, the Court Yard Hotel has become a popular choice with a unique space for weddings and events since opening its doors in 2005.

A graceful renovation

The elegant decor of the Glenlo Abbey Hotel in Galway

and rejuvenation of historic buildings, the Court Yard Hotel is unique in character and design with beautiful exposed brick walls, huge windows and vaulted and beamed ceilings. Renowned for their ability to capture the true essence of the day, the Court Yard Hotel believes that each wedding should truly reflect the bride and groom’s own personal style.

The Court Yard Hotel has a wide range of choices to offer for your wedding event. Ideal for intimate gatherings, celebrate with up to 100 cherished family and friends in their RiverBank reception room, which has beautiful views of the River Liffey and Leixlip Castle Boat House. The RiverBank room offers its own private terrace for pre-drinks reception and evening party room with an exclusive piano bar.

Their packages provide an array of enhancements to choose from, starting from €39.95 per person.

Glenlo Abbey Hotel On October 4, from 2pm to 5pm, brides and grooms are invited to the Glenlo Abbey Hotel’s styl-

ish wedding fair in Galway. Enjoy a selection of afternoon tea delicacies from the hotel’s Afternoon Tea Menu, followed by a fashion show featuring top bridal boutiques and advice on the day.

From the moment you drive through the cast iron gates, you will be captivated by the beauty of this enchanting lake side estate overlooking Lough Corrib. Tastefully restored and truly elegant, this country estate is “a hidden gem” in the west of Ireland, a mere five minutes’ drive from Galway City Centre.

The wedding team at Glenlo Abbey Hotel will be on hand on the day with, along with a selection of expert wedding suppliers catering for all aspects of your wedding.

From the Victorianinspired decor of the graceful French Room to the fairytale setting of the beautiful stone-cut restored abbey, ideal for intimate civil ceremonies, to the elegant surrounds of our Corrib Suite, with its panoramic views over Lough Corrib, one cannot feel but overwhelmed by the beauty and grandeur of this magnificent

10 September 2015 Gazette V

place for saying ‘I do’ property.

Glenlo Abbey Hotel is truly a destination wedding venue, attracting couples from all over Ireland and abroad to celebrate their special day.

For further details, call +353 91 519669 or visit www.glenloabbeyhotel. ie.

Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel The Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel in Stillorgan are also opening its doors for a Wedding Open Day on September 27 from 2pm to 6pm.

Visitors can tour the historic 18th-century

mansion’s rich and intimate surroundings – ideal for a traditional wedding, civil ceremony or garden blessing celebrations.

Each private room will be set up to your liking on your special day, where you will enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbly on arrival, and sample a selection of canape.

Elegant architectural details and furnishings perfectly complement the lush, natural garden settings of the hotel, which provide countless backdrops for stunning photographs.

The hotel’s wedding package includes: a dedi-

cated wedding consultant from the moment of booking; a red carpet welcome; use of the hotel’s formal gardens for photographs; champagne on arrival for the bride and groom; fresh flowers for all tables; personalised menus; place cards and table plan; deluxe accommodation at a special rate for guests; complimentary car parking for all guests; champagne breakfast in bed for the newlyweds; and deluxe accommodation in a balcony suite for the bride and groom.

Three dining suites are available at the hotel and can seat anywhere from

Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel is also a beautiful venue

The Court Yard Hotel offers unique spaces to hold

for civil ceremonies

wedding day celebrations

10 to 200 guests. Menus can be customised to the preferences of event planners. With its private bar facilities, dance floor and band space, the Pembroke Suite is the perfect

choice for large, traditional wedding parties. A chic location for a drinks and canapes reception, The Le Panto Suite opens onto a private terrace that overlooks the hotel’s park-like

surroundings and can host up to 70 guests. The Seamount Suite is ideal for intimate, seated dinners for about 50 guests.

Its balcony area offers vistas of the gardens, Dublin

Bay and Howth Head.

For further enquiries and more information on the Wedding Open Day contact 01 218 6054 or visit www.radissonblu.ie/ sthelenshotel-dublin

GAZETTE

VI GAZETTE 10 September 2015

Bride Groom

| GIFT GUIDE | Kelly

Hop

pen

dotcomgiftshop Japanese dinner plate sunflowers €14.95

pott er’s

bow l €70

Next Copper Triply pans €20-€57

Penneys three-wick tin candle in Cotton Lily €4

Hou M&S Arabella cushion €27

se o f Fra prin ser blu ted e vase leaf €30

Debenham’s Nespresso red Lattissima touch+ €420

Argos Offset bookcase by Foley €276.49

10 September 2015 Gazette VII

| wedding make-up |

Bringing your entire look together  aisling kennedy

Wedding make-up is one of the three essential ingredients that bring a bride’s wedding look together along with her hair and, of course, her bridal dress.

If a bride doesn’t achieve the perfect look for her wedding day, the memories of her day and indeed the photographs of the day may always be something of a regret in her mind.

To prevent that from happening the Gazette spoke to renow ned make-up artist Marc Sinclair from Lancome Elite Make-Up who gave his expert tips on how to

achieve the perfect bridal look.

“A bride should always feel confident and as comfortable as she can. You want the bride to look fabulous in the photos and you want her to look back on her photos in 20 years and say ‘Wow, I looked good that day and I felt good that day.’”

Sinclair first advises brides to make sure that they look for an experienced make-up artist in the run up to their big day.

“It’s all about someone who has experience with regards to photography and photoshoots as well as bridal experience.

You want someone who

knows how to bring out the natural beauty of a bride and make her look good in the photos.”

Sinclair explains that it is essential for all brides to partake in a make-up trial at least three months in advance of the big day.

“All brides should work on that basis of three months in advance, minimum. The reason for this is just in case the bride has any skin conditions, dehydration or redness that a make-up artist could help to clear up. It gives the make-up artist enough time to be able to work on that beforehand but also in case the bride doesn’t like the make-up artist, it then gives her

time to be able to find someone else.”

In advance of the wedding, Sinclair advises all brides to step up their skin care regime and says that at least eight weeks in advance of the big day, brides should invest in a good skin care products and treat themselves to facials and drink plenty of water.

Sinclair also has a word of warning to any brides thinking of going for a red lip on their big day saying: “It’s a lot of maintenance on the day so unless you don’t mind touching up your make-up all night, I would advise against it. Also brides should remember that red lip-

Make-up artist Marc Sinclair from Lancome Elite Make-Up

stick is not timeless. For me, make-up should be timeless, you should be able to look at it in years to come and it should still look like modern makeup. The red lip is really a

bit of a trend so you might look back in 20 years and think ‘Oh god, why did I do that?’”

On the topic of fake lashes, Sinclair says he personally likes the more

natural looking fake lashes and adds: “I think they really accentuate the eyes in photos. I would say definitely go for it, just once it’s nothing too dramatic.”

GAZETTE

VIII GAZETTE 10 September 2015

Bride Groom

Choosing wedding favours that fit your style and your budget PLANNING a wedding obviously takes a lot of thought, and every last detail must be thoroughly threshed out. In the midst of all the planning about venue, dresses, tuxes, honeymoon etc, don’t forget to thank your guests for sharing in your big day with the gift of wedding favours.

| TRAVELLING FOR TWO |

Celebrating your new life together  IAN BEGLEY

Wedding favours are a simple and effective way for the bride and groom to show their appreciation to their guests for helping to celebrate their union. When selecting wedding favours, one must always take three things into consideration: budget, the number of guests, and the shelf life of the item.

If a large gathering is expected wedding favours can be a huge drain on the budget. As modern weddings are often about adding a personal touch and a sense of originality and personality to the big day, you can kill two birds with one stone by providing homemade personally themed wedding favours. By doing this you can not only reduce the cost, but give your wedding an extra personal touch at the same time.

HONEYMOONS are a once in a lifetime experience and are an unforgettable way to kick start to your life with your new husband or wife. For the extra special occasion there’s no better way of celebrating than by travelling to a dream destination from the wide range of honeymoon packages on offer.

With GoHop.ie, you can spend 14 nights in Kerala in five different

resorts from €2,280pp from October to April.

Unwind and allow all of your wedding nerves float away in this destination, which boasts postcardperfect beaches, shady coconut groves and lush paddy fields. Spend two nights in the Old Harbour Hotel in Kochi, two nights in the Windermere Estate in Munnar, two nights in Cardamom County in Kerala, two nights in Backwater Ripples in Kumarakom, one night in Lakes and Lagoons in Alappuzha, and five nights in The Leela Kovalam in Kovalam.

Highlights on this tour include soaking up in the picturesque port town of Kochi, exploring the tea plantations and pristine valleys of Munnar, gliding along the Kumarakom backwaters and relaxing on the golden beaches of idyllic Kovalam.

If you have your heart set on a honeymoon with a difference, look no further than Malta. This hidden gem of the Mediterranean has everything you need to celebrate your love for one another.

The islands of Malta and Gozo have such a wide variety of venues for you to choose from when it comes to selecting the perfect locations for your ceremony and reception.

What’s more, with romantic and intimate getaways located all over the islands, Malta and Gozo offer the ideal setting for a honeymoon neither of you will ever forget.

From farmhouses to five-star resorts, quaint rural churches to lush gardens in the heart of the capital city of Valletta, Malta has something to

San Francisco is a vibrant city and the home of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge

Picture perfect: Kerala

cover all tastes and budgets.

If you choose Malta for your honeymoon, you don’t need to spend precious time worrying about the Irish weather. Instead you can relax safe in the knowledge that even in the middle of winter Malta gets an average of five to six hours of sunshine per day.

For those who cannot decide between a tropical island or a city honeymoon in the USA, then why not combine the two in a San Francisco and Hawaii honeymoon package from €3,690pp.

For 17 nights, this honeymoon combo is the perfect way to celebrate life as newlyweds. You will experience diverse cultures, great dining, some of the best shopping in the US and, of course,

Ideal weather: Malta

sandy beaches, coral reefs and verdant islands.

San Francisco’s vibrant city’s attractions include Union Square, home to many of the city’s hotels, the former prison-island of Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park or the seafood restaurants on Fisherman’s Wharf. Hawaii is an ideal destination to travel all year around as the weather is always good. GoHop.ie suggests that you avoid July and August as they can be particularly hot.

If you are planning a well-deserved and unique honeymoon, then why not head to the diverse and beautiful country of Singapore. Spend five nights in the Mandarin Orchard Hotel from €1,369pp from February, 2016 with travelmood.ie Singapore is a place

that melds Chinese, Indian, Muslim and Western cultures into an exotic combination and is a great choice for a honeymoon that will inspire jealousy in all your friends.

Get great views of the city on the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel, and then learn about its cultural history at the Asian Civilisations Museum.

You can make your way to the MacRitchie Nature Trail where you can stroll in the rainforest canopy with the TreeTop Walk, catch a live performance at Esplanade or hike along The Southern Ridges and be rewarded with stunning views.

For more information on these honeymoon deals, visit abbey tevael.ie, gohop.ie and travelmood. ie

10 September 2015 Gazette 21

Gazette

dublinlife Prefab housing ‘should only be for short term’

feature

homelessness: Councils to view possible solution

 Keith Bellew

MAYORS, chief executives, senior housing staff and heads of local authority strategic policy committees on housing will have a chance to see how modular or prefab housing works when the Dublin Region Homeless Executive gives a demonstration on September 15 at East Wall Road.

As many as 250 of these units could be built on 20 vacant sites in Dublin as a shortterm measure to accommodate homeless families currently living in hotels.

Prefab components can be placed side-byside, end-to -end, or stacked, allowing a wide variety of configurations and styles in the building layout.

The houses can be assembled on-site in a matter of days and could be available to families within the next three to six months. At last count 361 families with 768 dependants were staying in hotels and 195 families with 417 dependants were staying in various other types of homeless accommodation.

The demonstration project will be situated on the site for a period of two to four weeks, after which the units will be removed and the site will be returned to its established use.

It is planned that the demonstration area will display a fully fitted modular housing unit from each participating provider and will primarily include two-bedroom units.

A spokesperson from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive said the primary objective of the demonstration project was to contribute to the debate on the viability of modular housing, as a temporary form of quality accommodation provision for the increasing numbers of households in emergency homeless accommodation.

“The concept of modular housing available on a temporary basis is being considered against the backdrop of ensuring that the longterm housing options for each household can be progressed by the local authority, as housing supply becomes available in line with the Social Housing Strategy 2020.

“The key advantages of modular construction methods include factory-assembled components allow for greater accuracy, quality assurance and consistency, the construction and delivery process is speeded up, and site works are minimised to simple foundation systems and the provision of access roads, services

and landscaping,” said the spokesperson.

Speaking to The Gazette, chair of the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown housing committee, Cllr John Bailey (FG) believes modular housing to be a far better alternative for families than hotel rooms.

He says many families living in hotels are being treated in an undignified manner, being made to use back entrances and being completely segregated from the rest of the guests.

He believes this needs to end and he says he is willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Cllr Ken Duffy (Lab) chair of the Fingal housing committee said the project was one of high quality housing for a medium term solution, which will “fast-track the plight of those who are living in hotels”.

Before Fingal locks into the scheme, he said, they would have to clarify how long families will be living in these units.

Following the demonstration, the issue will be discussed at the housing committee and full council meetings before any decision being made.

Cllr Cathal King (SF), chair of South Dublin County Council’s housing committee, was less enthusiastic about the proposals.

He said that he would reserve judgement until he had seen the demonstration.

He added that should the proposals gain traction and get the goahead it must only be a short-term measure.

Families should not be left living in these developments for extended periods of time he said.

Cllr Daithi Doolan (SF), chair of Dublin City Council’s housing committee, took a more positive view of the proposal saying families being housed in hotels and B&Bs was unacceptable and put children at serious risk of exploitation and abuse.

“That has got to stop.

We want a solution, and if the housing comes up to standard and it meets what we need, and meets the peoples’ needs I don’t see it being a big problem as long as it meets international standards and best practice.

“We’d hope that there will be a number of sites across the four local authorities, and no more than 10 or so units will be put on each site,” he said.

It should only be used as a short-term measure, he said.

The units wouild be in areas close to services, and councillors would argue that they should be near public transport, schools and shops, he concluded.

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive will give a demonstration on how modular or prefab housing works

Gazette

22 Gazette 10 September 2015

dublinlife

escape the mayhem: tv3’s lone male xpose presenter, peter o’riordan, on how he unwinds

Family wins over fashion in his time off  aisling kennedy

PETER O’Riordan has his hands full at the moment as the only male face on TV3’s weekday entertainment show, Xpose, and with a new baby boy recently added

to the mix, he appreciates his downtime now more than ever.

O’Riordan took time out this week to tell The Gazette how he unwinds during his days off.

“My family and my house are my sanctu-

ary, to be honest. Myself and my wife, Stephanie, recently moved into a new house so we have the rarity of having a back garden now.

“We also have a playground literally out the back of the house on the

banks of the Dodder, too, so that’s brilliant for our little boy, Olivier.”

O’Riordan said that in his previous job as assignment editor at TMZ in LA, he would enjoy spending his weekends partying with his wife and living for the weekend.

Weekends “Now, our son is our real enjoyment, and I love going to Imaginosity and the Panda Play Cafe on the weekends with him. That’s what I look forward to – just spending time with my wife and my son no matter what the capacity is. I enjoy that quality time,” he said.

O’Riordan does like to treat himself and his wife to the odd childfree night, however, and he said that they are big foodies and enjoy trying out new restaurants around Dublin city centre.

“My wife doesn’t eat meat at all; she’s almost

Peter O’Riordan: “Now that we have our son, we practically turn into pumpkins if we stay out later than midnight. Our priorities have changed now that we’re parents.”

vegan, apart from the fact that she eats cheese. She can’t give up the cheese!

“It’s fun for us to find new really cool restaurants that have vegetarian options for her. We’ve found some really great places in town, so we love to go out and have a glass of wine and good food.”

Top of O’Riordan’s recommendations for restaurants in the city centre are Dylan McGrath’s Fade Street Social and the newly opened Sue-

sey Street in Fitzwilliam Place, run by head chef Lumir Tousek, formerly of L’Ecrivain.

“We love Fade Street Social, there’s just a great mixture of food there and it’s delicious. Everyone should check out Suesey Street too, it’s got that real Manhattan low-key, cool vibe feel to it and they have gorgeous vegetarian food and amazing cocktails.”

O’Riordan said that the days of staying out partying until 3am are over for

himself and his wife now, and they always ensure they are home around midnight so that they get some sleep.

“Now that we have our son, we practically turn into pumpkins if we stay out later than midnight. Our priorities have changed now that we’re parents, but it’s great. It’s lovely to have that time to spend with my family and relax.”

Catch Peter O’Riordan on Xpose every week day on TV3.

Drive away to find a debate with Vincent Vincent Browne announced last week that he will allow members of the public who wish to air their views on a debate topic to drive out to the TV3 studios in Ballymount to take part in his panel programme each week night.

This new way of bringing panellists onto his show will mean

that politicians will take part in live debates with members of the public.

The change in the line-up is not a replacement for The People’s Debate with Vincent Browne, but it is a way of freshening things up in the studio.

At the launch of the T V3

autumn schedule last week, Browne said: “We needed to change it and we thought this was a better idea.

“That’s an important part of what we’re about in the media – that the agenda shouldn’t be set by a few people who are usually of the same mind.”

10 September 2015 Gazette 23

Gazette

features 10th birthday: family friendly events open to all

A top night on the cultural calendar  Keith Bellew

Museums, galleries, libraries, theatres, parks and Government buildings in Dublin will be open to the public on Friday, September 18 as Culture Night celebrates its tenth birthday.

A series of free tours, workshops, readings, performances and demonstrations for all the family will be held across the city as part of this year’s celebration, the theme of which is Revolves Around You.

Having grown in Dublin from 40,000 attendees to 145,000 in 10 years, it is now a citywide cultural movement and the programme is a showcase of the capital’s diverse and vibrant arts and creative scene.

It will include hundreds of participants from all genres including photographers, illustrators, designers, composers, visual artists, dancers, aerialists, researchers, and script writers, along with conductors, projection mappers, graffiti art-

ists, authors, singers and musicians.

This year will see the return of Downstairs Dublin in which the outside basements of Merrion Square’s Georgian mansions come alive with a programme of talks, installations, projections, music and more.

Also returning this year are the highly popular guided tours of Aras an Uachtarain.

Rediscover the capital with culture night tours by foot, bike or horse and carriage giving Dubliners

a chance to rediscover their hometown and outsiders the chance to discover it. These tours include a U2 Music Tour, a Lost In Fashion History tour and special quarter tours both in English and international languages. The Liffey will be the course for nautical races in native Irish currach boats organised by Oireachtas na Gaeilge as part of a full waterways and language programme. There will also be a performance by the inspirational High Hopes

Explore the hidden history of Temple Bar from its origins to the 1990s

Choir, Ireland’s first choir for homeless people set up by David Brophy, former conductor of the RTE Concert Orchestra in Focus Ireland, Temple Bar. Getting to and from the various events will be a cultural experience itself as Dublin Bus will provide free buses every 20 minutes starting on Bachelor’s Walk, Aston

Quay, Trinity College and Parkgate Street bringing visitors to and from their favourite cultural quarters. These free buses will be fully programmed with on-bus entertainment. Meanwhile, DART will offer 100 free family passes for travel on culture night also.

Dublin City Council arts officer Ray Yeates said Dublin City Council

was delighted to be supporting Culture Night.

“Culture Night offers something for all ages and every member of the family. To those who haven’t experienced the marvel and surprise before I encourage you to get out and experience Culture Night as it revolves around you.”

V i s i t : w w w. c u l turenight.ie/

GAZETTE

24 GAZETTE 10 September 2015

DUBLINLIFE

FEATURES

EU CRISIS: PRESSURE MOUNTING ON IRELAND TO STEP UP ITS HELP FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE

Make your voice clear: we must help Syrians  AISLING KENNEDY

OVER the past week, pressure has been mounting on the Government and Irish people to make a stand and open our borders to the millions of Syrian refugees who are in desperate need of help.

The most significant catalyst of late was the publication of the harrowing images of threeyear-old Aylan Kurdi, the little Syrian boy who was found dead on the shore of a beach near the Turkish resort of Bodrum after he drowned while trying to flee his war-torn country.

Pressure has been steadily mounting on Ireland to acknowledge and step in to help the millions of Syrian people who are desperately seeking safety.

A o i f e Mu r p hy, a spokesperson for the Migrants Right Centre Ireland (MRCI), told The Gazette that she noticed that people were reaching a level of shock prior to the image of Aylan because nothing had been done yet by the Government, and that there had been no real response to the migrant crisis.

She said: “In particular, since Germany stepped up and said that they will take 800,000 people, we suddenly started to ask what are we doing.”

Prior to the publication of the image of Aylan, Ireland had originally pledged to take in 600

refugees over two years.

Due to increased pressure on the Government, however, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, spoke on RTE radio last week and gave a figure of 1,800, saying: “If the figure of 150,000 [which is the current number that Europe has agreed to], for example, is put on the table, that will effectively mean a trebling of what we have committed to already.

“So if that figure is agreed at a European level, that brings us to a figure of 1,800 people, and clearly then we would have to see what extra initiatives we can make in terms of contributing aid, in terms of the naval search and rescue [ongoing mission].”

Following this statement by Minister Fitzgerald, the Department of Public Expenditure and the Office of Public Works announced this week that they were working on a draft report in an effort to establish any available buildings which could be suitable for refugee families.

This draft document, which has no clear spending limit, may need to be altered depending on how many people Ireland is asked to accept in an initial EU countryby-country proposal later this week.

An initial figure of 5,000 people was given by the Tanaiste, Joan Burton, this week.

Artwork by Islam Gawish showing three-year-old Syrian child Aylan Kurdi, who drowned last week with his five-year-old brother, Galib (both right) and their mother, Rehana, as they attempted to reach the Greek island of Kos from Turkey

She said: “It could be 5,000, it could be more.

I wouldn’t like to put an upper limit on it. They will go into accommodation, but they won’t be in the same category as those in direct provision.”

The EU continent-wide initiative will be discussed at a meeting of justice and home affairs ministers on September 14, which will be attended by Minister Fitzgerald.

While these steps to help Syrian refugees are all steps in the right direction, Murphy said that the MRCI thinks that the Government should be saying Ireland will take thousands of people.

She said: “We have

the capacity to take tens of thousands of people – that’s what we could be doing.”

Murphy compared the situation in Syria to World War II, and said that this was the greatest refugee crisis since that time.

“This is a humanitarian crisis. It is an exceptional moment in history, and we have to do something because we cannot look back on this in 20 years’ time and say: ‘What were we doing?’

“We didn’t do enough during World War II, and we know we could have saved more people. We all know the six million amount of people who perished [then], and we

could have saved some of them.

“We turned away refugee boats then, we cannot do the same thing now.

We have to learn the lessons of the past.”

As it stands currently, there are more than 12.2m Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance, according to UN statistics.

It is estimated that 5.6m of these are children, putting an entire generation of children at risk.

Murphy said that the best way Irish people can help is by contacting their local TDs to tell them that we need to take in more refugees.

She said: “It is vital that we all contact our local TDs. Right now, that is the most practical thing people can do, along with donating to aid agencies.

“The voices that will dominate at the moment are people who think we shouldn’t be letting anyone in, and these people

are very determined. They are the people that will write to the TDs. “We need to make sure that our voices are being heard too, so get on to your TD, tell them that you think we should be the ‘island of a thousand welcomes’ that we like to think we are.”

To sign a petition by Uplift, an independent volunteer group, to allow more refugees into Ireland, see https://uplift.ie/ refugee-crisis/.

10 September 2015 Gazette 25

ReelReviews

no escape

An Owen goal for Wilson OWEN Wilson takes a curious misstep into action man territory with No Escape (Cert 15A, 103 mins). Set in an unidentified Asian country, a contractor and his young family find themselves stranded when there’s a violent coup, and – guess what? They can’t escape! Raising eyebrows with critics around the world over its tone, it’s a competent actioner, but worth escaping from.

Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone have some life lessons to learn as they cross paths at college, with an unlikely murder plan leading to some comic irrationality

irrational man: woody’s latest offering is typically entertaining

Allen all, a breezy comedy SWALLOWS are fluttering across the sea on their long migration as an amber hue creeps along the peripheries of the leaves.

Just as in the natural world there are certain signs to show that we have completed another revolution of the sun, so too there are signs in the world of cinema.

Another year means another Woody Allen film – in this case, Irrational Man – and even if you are not a fan of Allen’s work, you have to admire the poultry-like regularity with which he produces films.

And while the news of another Woody Allen release is unlikely to rouse much audience attention (Allen himself has stated in interviews that he has no inclina-

 Dave phillips

tion to make great films, saying that he would rather go home and have dinner than spend time working late into the night), it would be a mistake to gloss over his latest offering.

Granted, there is a strong shadow of familiarity overhanging the film. Emma Stone is back from last year’s Allen offering – this time, playing Jill, the philosophy undergraduate who is on the fence between maintaining a vanilla relationship with parent-approved fel-

low student Roy (Jamie Blackley), or ditching that in pursuit of a spectacular but inevitably illfated love affair with her self-destructive lecturer, Abe (Joaquin Phoenix).

A new and exotic addition to the philosophy department, existentialist Abe is an intellectual peacock who is on the hill, but not quite over it.

Abe’s reputation for controversial opinions, heav y drinking and illicit student affairs act as an attractive tail feather for Jill, and also for his more age-appropriate love interest, Rita (Parker Posey).

Set mainly amid the leaf y, collegiate surrounds, you might expect this to be another plodding drama from Allen that wryly pon-

ders relationship dilemmas. And you’d be right – but it has a bit more to offer.

An act of chance eavesdropping by Abe brings the theoretical moral quandaries that he has mastered dissecting in the classroom into a real flesh and blood scenario, as he focuses his intellectual prowess on how to commit the perfect murder.

Had Irrational Man been made 30-odd years ago, no doubt we would have seen Woody Allen step into the lead role – romantic, misanthropic, and hopelessly self-absorbed, Abe is the kind of character that Allen would have had a lot of fun with, but so much of what the film has going for it rests on Joaquin Phoenix’s acting.

Building on the wonderful mumbling and bumbling performance he gave in Inherent Vice, Abe comes across as simultaneously reprehensible and endearing.

Parker Posey brings a lot to the story with Rita, the settled chemistry lecturer who throws herself at Abe in an attempt to escape the mundanity of her marriage.

All the while, we are never sure just how far Emma Stone’s Jill will go to in pursuit of her wide-eyed fantasy.

If you’re looking for riveting twists and turns, then look elsewhere – there are no real surprises once the plot gets going.

Comically contrasting narratives from the three main characters gives us

a privileged view of the whole affair, so the fun lies in watching Allen cram the pot full of interesting ingredients, turn up the heat, and wait for the unavoidable mess to be made.

And what a mess!

What results is the usual Woody Allen fare – every bit as meandering, wordy, and glib as you might expect.

But there’s an undeniably captivating and fun performance by Phoenix, and a delightfully macabre undertone that makes the whole thing reminiscent of Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected.

At 79, Allen may be getting long in the tooth, but here is the proof he can still bite.

Verdict: 7/10

the transporter Still vroom to improve

BACK for a reboot without franchise star Jason Statham, The Transporter: Refuelled (Cert 15A, 96 mins) sees Ed Skrein slide into the driving seat as an impossibly talented driver of a pretty indestructible car. With a plot that goes all the way from A to B – something to do with driving fast to save his dad and stop Russians – the reboot is a flash-looking vehicle that soon runs out of steam.

hitman: agent 47 Misses the target

GAMERS’ favourite bald assassin is soon to depart our cinema screens, with his film – Hitman: Agent 47 (Cert 15A, 96 mins) having just missed the mark. As 47, Rupert Friend does a great job, but an inept plot, muddled editing and some shoddy effects turn in a film that’s less believable than a game. When will Hollywood learn? Better luck with your next shot at the big screen, 47!

26 LUCAN GAZETTE 10 September 2015

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Gazette

28 gazette 10 September 2015

SPORT Large step up for Wes in league

FastSport

rugby: old wesley looking forward to elevated status after long wait

Smith takes podium place in rockingham:

DUBLINER Aron Smith took a podium finish in the British Touring Car Championship last weekend at Rockingham in round 22 of the British Touring Car Championship.

Smith brought his VW Passat CC home in third place behind Ford drive Matt Jackson and Honda’s Gordon Shedden.

In race 2 of the meeting, Smith managed to take 11th place after a testing race but he was back on form in race 3 with the Team BMR RCIB Insurance Passat scything through the field to take a fine sixth overall.

Smith’s Rockingham results leave him 11th in the points table on a total of 143 points. The series is led by Scotland’s Gordon Shedden on 278 points.

Elsewhere, Robin Lyons won the first two rounds of Irish National Autotest Championship in Ballyvourney, Co Cork, triumphing after 12 tests.

 nathan kelly sport@dublingazette.com

A RETURN to Division 1B brings big names, big games and big nights for Old Wesley and it starts next Saturday at 2.30pm with a trip to Thomond

Park to take on UL Bohemians.

It is the first time the Donnybrook side have reached such heights since the turn of the millennium and clubman Alan Large revealed his and the rest of the first-

team excitement for the coming season.

“There’s great excitement around the whole club,” he said. “A lot of the teams in this division we haven’t faced in a long time. This is my 11th year here and there are clubs

JC Greyling has received a call-up to the Namibia World Cup panel

Old Wesley celebrating their league success last spring. Picture: Deryck Vincent

like UL Bohemians and St Mary’s that I’ve never faced at all so it will be a big challenge but one we’re looking forward to.”

Indeed, Saturday’s meeting in Limerick will be the first time in 15 years the sides have met before Old Wesley welcome Buccaneers to Dublin 4 in a game that already has an interesting back story, which Large revealed.

“Buccaneers are Robbie Henshaw’s club and now we’ve got three of his cousins on our squad so that will add even more to our first home game of the season,” said the out-half.

“I’m sure a lot of the family will be there and there’ll be a cracking

atmosphere. The great thing about being in the same league as all these good sides is that we have them home and away this year. If we take the points in Limerick on Saturday then UL will come to Donnybrook later seeking revenge and the same goes for Buccaneers and everyone else.”

One man who Old Wesley will be without for quite a while at the start of the season is JC Greyling, who will represent Namibia at this year’s Rugby World Cup which gets under way next week in England. His club mate said it is something they’ve prepared for but couldn’t provide an exact date on when he will pull on a Wesley shirt again.

“Even from this time

last year, we would have guessed he’d be a part of the Namibia squad for the world cup and the coaches have prepared for that,” said Large. “He’ll obviously be gone for as long as Namibia stay in it and will then get a break on top of that. Hopefully we can get him back around the end of November or thereabouts.”

Finally, the former Large revealed the targets the side have set themselves for their return to this level. “We haven’t set our sights on a particular final position or anything,” he said.

“What we tend to do is target blocks of games, and target points from say our first four. Then after that, we assess it again.”

St MacDara’s set to benefit from Bowe’s expertise  sport@dublingazette.com

Irish rugby international Tommy Bowe

ST MAC DARA’S Community College in Templeogue has been chosen as the Leinster winner of the Subway stores #TrainwithTommy competition.

The lucky ladies will benefit from a training session with Tommy Bowe at St MacDara’s Community College later this year.

A nutritionist will also be on hand to provide advice and tips to help with the team’s training and perform-

ance.

The team will then share a sub with Bowe, with lunch courtesy of their local Subway store in Applegreen on Knocklyon Road.

St Mac Dara’s Community College Girls will also receive €1,000 worth of rugby gear to kick start the rugby season, and they’ll get a team picture with the Ulster winger to remember the day.

Hundreds of entries were received for the competition which called on rugby, tag teams and schools to upload a

picture or video of their team and explain in 250 words why they needed a training session with Tommy Bowe.

St Mac Dara’s girls claimed the top prize in Leinster for their gutsy entr y daring Tommy Bowe to train with them for a day.

A game “So Tommy, if you’re up for a tough session that you will definitely never forget, give us a shout. Just bring your A game Tommy. You’ll need it.”

Sharon Brady, who submit-

ted the entry on behalf of the school commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the chance to Train with Tommy!

“The girls from St Mac Dara’s Community College have been playing for four years now.

“They love the game and love cheering on the men and the women in green.

“Most of all they love playing though, rain or sunshine.

“We are really excited about Tommy coming to the school.”

10 September 2015 gazette 29

Gazette

St Tiernan’s star in Race Around Ireland Dundrum cycling club produce record-breaking time at the first attempt as they complete 2,150km race in just over three days; Daragh O’Toole tells STEPHEN FINDLATER about it DUNDRUM cycling club St Tiernan’s won the eightperson relay 2,150km Race Around Ireland last week in a record-time of 73 hours and 59 minutes.

In doing so, the team of Daragh O’Toole, Orna O’Toole, Kirsty Smith, David Bramley, David Corr, Rodney Joyce, Damien Heffernan and Ciaran Ruane maintained an average speed of over 29km/h.

Their performance saw them finish around seven hours before secondplaced Average Josies, an all-female team, and only a couple of hours behind the second team home overall, the four-person Average Joes.

Indeed, their average speed of 29.68kmh was the second fastest for an eight-person team ever and the quickest for a mixed team.

It is a far cry from the initial conception of

the idea to take part as O’Toole explained to GazetteSport.

“We’ve been thinking about doing it for a while and, six months ago, I suggested it to a bunch of club members. Eventually, we got a team together – five from the club and three from Yorkshire.

“It was hard to get people – they thought this was all a bit crazy but the more we thought about it, the more we thought this is doable.”

Indeed, O’Toole added that “it was a complete step into the unknown” for a club primarily based around road-racing with little experience of endurance challenges of this nature.

“All of us are racers; most of us are in our 40s and cycling is huge amongst our demo graphic. Racing, though, is a whole different thing in terms of training and

The St Tiernan’s team and support crew

focus.

“This kind of thing is a huge challenge – it’s not just physical, the logistics are huge. To get eight people in a relay around Ireland with all the support crew. Once you roll out of Trim, you don’t stop until you get back.”

From that start point in Trim, the race rolls north to the Causeway coast and then around the circumference of Ireland before returning to Trim.

To this end, the Tiernan’s crew divided into two sub teams of four with one person on the road at all-times with a follow-car with a driver and a navigator.

Their other car had three other racers. They would cycle in 15km spells and then swap over with the other rider being on the road and ready to go to keep up a high pace.

Each group did an

eight-hour stint before the other team took over.

During the down time, the other team would drive up the road, eat and sleep in preparation for their next spell in the saddle.

Those best laid plans, though, were disrupted by the sheer pace of the team.

a different class of people – whatever about doing it in a team, doing it solo you have to be made of iron, it is madness. Some were doing 15 hours on, three hours off!”

Despite the hard graft, O’Toole says that the plans are already in place to improve on their per-

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

‘At the top of a mountain in Kerry at 2am, a marshall popped out from behind a rock to check our bikes’ Daragh O’Toole

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

“As it turned out, we went faster than we thought we would go which meant we slept less than we anticipated.

I think I had five hours’ sleep over the course of the whole thing.”

And all the while, the team had to adhere to the competition’s rules to conduct the relay without skipping a metre.

“There are really strict marshalls who appear at random. Literally, at the top of a mountain in Kerry at 2am, a guy popped out from behind a rock to inspect our bikes and what we were doing. They check for fatigue, putting people off the road if you are too tired to cycle.

“We didn’t really have that problem because of having the eight-person team but it does happen to the solo riders. They are

formance for next year.

“The longest spin I might have done would be about 230km before – Galway to Dublin in a group. The scale of this was completely new and a real eye-opener.

“We learned a lot on the road and it is one of those things you have to do to know how to do it better and we are certainly looking forward to doing it again next year. We hope to put a four-man team in next year; there’s huge interest in the club and, if I asked people to sign up today, we would get three teams.

“Real life can get in the way and it is quite expensive with entry fees, paying for the support stuff and taking time off work but it’s well worth it and we’re really chuffed with how well it went.”

FastSport

Rush CC win National Cup thanks to Conway’s role CRICKET’S National Cup came back to Rush last Sunday when they just got the better of a thrilling battle with North West side Drummond at Strabane Park in the final.

In the end, it was a man-of-the-match winning knock of 43 from Eoghan Conway that proved to be decisive. Conway and Allan Eastwood with a 73-run stand that helped the Leinster side recover from a precarious 69 for 6 in reply to Drummond’s 171.

Drummond skipper Steve Moore opted to bat first on winning the toss and after losing Andy Christie early - bowled by former Irish international Allan Eastwood - a 40-run partnership between Chris Moore (20) and Kyle Morrow (16) got the Roe Valley team back on an even keel.

That pair and Richard McDaid were to fall in quick succession however as Lynal Jansen (3-14) led the fightback and Drummond struggled to score once Jansen and Shahid Iqbal (0-23 from 9) turned the screw.

To their credit the North West team kept going and a 69-run partnership between skipper Moore (35) and Adam McDaid (34) put them right back in it before Dean Brogan came into the attack as fifth change and ended proceedings very abruptly.

Brogan finished with 4-26 as the last six wickets fell for the addition of just 32 runs - Drummond dismissed for 171 - boosted by the concession of 32 extras.

Stephen Doheny and overseas man Jansen posted 41 for the first wicket as the southerners began the reply in good style before Neal Stewart and his captain, Moore, again put Drummond in the driving seat.

Stewart (3-21) was the pick of the attack numerically but Moore (3-36) claimed the key wickets of Jansen, Iqbal and Sadat Gull to give his side real hope.

It was nt to last however, Conway and Eastwood having the final say while Niall Mullen’s 18 not out nursed Rush home with just those two wickets in hand.

Drummond, as the winners did in the first innings, contributed to their own plight by sending down 29 wides, which was to prove crucial in the final analysis.

Gazette

30 lucan gazette 10 September 2015

SPORT

FastSport

Soccer: greenogue club off to a flying start in lsl senior 1

McCann’s Peas in a pod with stellar early run  nathan kelly sport@dublingazette.com

Mahon wins national U-16 pitch and putt title LUCAN Pitch and Putt’s Aoife Mahon produced a superb performance to become the first Dublin girl since 2011 to win pitch and putt’s national Under-16 strokeplay final in Tipperary Hills.

Despite a very poor forecast, the girls, with an early start, had completed their 36 holes before the rain started to fall. Spread over several acres, Tipperary Hills is a very challenging course, with a number of very testing holes with several hazards.

The reigning Dublin and Leinster girls’ champion was in second place after the first round and, determined to improve on her previous third place position in 2013, played some fine pitch and putt to run out a convincing winner with an 11-shot winning margin.

This is the first time since 2011 that the title has been won by a Dublin girl, and a first national girls Juvenile title for Lucan Pitch and Putt Club.

Aoife’s sister Sarah, pictured above, in her first year participating in competitions, finished in fourth place.

Glenville get LSL reality check two setbacks GLENVILLE fell to a second defeat of the fledgling LSL Sunday Senior season as they were undone 5-0 by Firhouse Clover in their first away tie of the campaign.

It followed a narrow 1-0 midweek setback against perennial title challengers Crumlin United to leave Glenville with

four points from four games in their first season in the top tier of intermediate football in Leinster.

It leaves them in seventh place in the division at this early stage having opened the campaign with a 2-0 win over Glebe North and then drawing with fellow promoted side St Mochta’s in their second tie.

Crumlin lead the way with three wins from three to start the season.

WITH a new league, a new manager, plenty of new players, a short pre-season and being forced to play their first five league fixtures in 16 days, many could have f o r g i ve n P e a m o u n t United for a slow start to the season this time.

But Maxi McCann’s side have started life in Senior Division 1A with four wins from those five games and sit top of the third tier of the LSL after the opening two weeks.

The former Lourdes Celtic, Cherry Orchard and Dublin Bus coach is taking nothing for granted at his new Greenogue home however.

“It’s a good start, but it is just a start and you win nothing with those,” he said when speaking to us after his side’s most recent win over Lucan United.

“The players deserve an awful lot of credit, we were dealt a tough hand being issued five fixtures in such a short

space of time at the start of the season, but we’ve dealt with it as well as possible.”

Dealt with it they sure have, with McCann already using 21 different players in this early stage of the season due to holidays, work and other issues.

Only Ballymun and Pegasus have played a s m a ny g a m e s a s Peamount although the Clondalkin outfit are idle this weekend due to the side’s golf classic which should bring a well-earned break.

Sunday’s win over nearby Lucan United saw the Peas go ahead within a couple of seconds. Ian Cowzer ’s opener after 20 seconds came so quick that his new manager was jotting down some early notes when the ball went in.

Lucan then equalised before Peamount went ahead again through and it was 2-1 at the break.

Peamount scored early after the restart and led 3-1 for much of the half. Lucan did

special olympics Elm Eagles golf season gets up and running ELM Eagles, the Special Olympics Golf Club that play their golf at Elmgreen Golf Club, hosted their first golfing session last Saturday.

The new format of the days will see their golfers being coached in the skills of the game for one hour before playing off the first tee on Saturday afternoons, from around 2.30pm. If you know someone who would like to join, contact Rita McNally 086 824 7252 or Peter Carroll 087 666 0931.

Peamount United’s LSL Sunday Senior 1 panel from last season

pull one back late on through a long ball but it only proved to be a consolation.

Their strong star t, which other than the Lucan game has seen wins come against Maynooth, Newtown and Ballymun as well as a defeat to Newbridge, becomes even more impressive when McCann revealed details about their preparation for this season.

“When I got the job I was actually in Spain, around the start of July,” he said.

“I didn’t get back for around two weeks so by then we only really had a couple of weeks together before the season got under way.

“Even by then, a lot of players from last year I’d never even met had moved in so I had to bring a good few in myself.”

Peamount were relegated from Senior Sunday 1 last season, but McCann feels everything is in place for this side to return to the second tier and go even further, even if there

are some false notions about the club by some players.

“I get the feeling a lot of people think Peamount is miles away, almost in the country,” he said.

“People around the likes of Clondalkin often think clubs like Crumlin are more local to them, but Peamount is here, it has outstanding facilities, great people across the whole club, a good atmosphere, and hopefully this team can continue the strong start we’ve had.”

10 September 2015 LUCAN gazette 31

Gazette

championship draw

Boden and Lucan draw in Under-16 thriller

Club Noticeboard ST pat’s palmerstown

ballyboden St Enda’s and Lucan Sars-

fields Under-16A hurlers played out a battling draw last Sunday morning, sending their championship tie to a replay.

Boden had built a 0-6 to 0-3 half-time lead only for Lucan to eke out a narrow advantage with two goals, the second just a couple of minutes from the final whistle.

Shane Kennedy, though, slotted a free at the death to nab the draw.

MASSIVE win for our U-15 camogie

To enter a team or to sponsor a

team versus Naomh Olaf at home in

hole for €50 (also includes a free

their Division 2 championship game

add on our website), please con-

with a scoreline of 9-14 to 2-4.

tact Robbie on 087 169 8166 or Paul

The U-12 camogie side played St

on 087 661 3104 or email secretary.

Anne’s at home; great team effort.

stpatrickspalmerstown.dublin@

The U-11 camogie side were in action

gaa.ie.

Entry to our Decades Disco in the

against St Jude’s away, a massive effort from all the girls.

football: palmerstown side cause big upset

Palmerstown to non-golfers is €10;

Great game of hurling from our

this includes disco and barbecue.

U-16 team against Ballinteer St

There will also be a raffle on the

Johns; super performance.

night.

The U-15 hurlers played away in

This is a ticket only event so to

Clanna Gael in the championship

purchase a ticket, contact Suzy

quarter final; super effort but hard

on 086 079 7438 or any member of

luck lads.

the executive or email secretary.

The U-9 team pla yed at home

stpatrickspalmerstown.dublin@

a gainst Good Counsel. St Pat’s

gaa.ie. Should be a great night so

scored a well-deserved win in a

don’t miss out and get your tickets

hard-fought game. Well done.

early.

Our golf classic is on September

The lotto numbers for this week

12 in Slade Valley Golf Club; €240 for

were 12, 15, 26 and 28; there was no

a team of four, includes dinner in

winner so next week’s jackpot will

Slade Valley and entry to Decades

be €4,000.

Disco in the Palmerstown House

Draw takes place in the Palmer-

with barbecue and presentation

stown House every Sunday night at

for the winners.

10pm and tickets cost €2.

Round tower, clondalkin CONGRATULATIONS to Jim and Frank.

intermediate camogie final this Sun-

A great achievement and we send our

day, September 13 in Croke Park.

Thank you to all who assisted with

best wishes as you prepare for the

Round Tower collection last weekend.

final.

The St Pat’s Palmerstown senior footballers prior to their tie with St Sylvester’s

Pat’s down Division 1 side in SFC opener

dublin sfc first rd St Pat’s, Palmerstown St Sylvester’s  nathan kelly

4-6 2-8

sport@dublingazette.com

ST PAT’S Palmerstown booked their place in the second round of the Dublin senior football championship with an impressive 4-6 to 2-8 win over St Sylvester’s on Monday night.

The game was moved to Garristown in a late venue change from St Margaret’s but the extra 17km travelling north Dublin on a Monday evening didn’t trouble a Palmerstown side who finished with a

scoring flurry.

Pat’s led 1-2 to 0-4 at the break with Shane Stapleton’s goal proving the difference but Syl’s hit back after the restart when Alan Foy and Michael McCarthy both netted just four minutes into the second half. Goals win games however and Syl’s failed to add anymore while Stapleton got a second before Jim Kelly and Garvan Gallagher also raised green flags late on which was enough to secure Pat’s passage to the second round.

Pat’s boss Niall Graham was in joyous mood after the game but insisted

he didn’t feel it was as big a scalp that many might think. “I’d say, first things first, it was a great game of football,” he said.

“People who weren’t at the game might see the result and think it was shock but I’m experienced enough to know that there’s not much difference between the bottom sides in Division 1 and the bottom sides in Division 2 and I was sure to point that out.”

Pat’s attention will return to league action for a couple of weeks now as they await to discover their opponents for round two of the championship,

which will be the winners of Lucan versus Castleknock.

“Our next championship game should be absolute dinger, no matter who wins between those two,” Graham said. “There was nothing between ourselves and Lucan earlier in the season; Castleknock beat us comfortably already but that was on the first day of the league.

“But look, we’ve had a good win here but it’s just one win. We’ve a big league game against Clontarf up next and we’ll just try to continue the good form we’ve been on.”

Round Tower Family Fun Day is tak-

The junior B Footballers beat St

ing place this coming Sunday, Sep-

Francis Gaels in the league to main-

tember 13. Please spread the word.

tain their unbeaten run. The minor

A host of family related games and

hurlers were defeated in the champi-

entertainment are being hosted at

onship by Setanta.

Monastery Road in Clondalkin village.

The mini leagues will run from Mon-

This will include an inflatable pitch,

day , September 14 to Thursday, Sep-

games, stalls, music, barbecue, and

tember 17 from 6 to 7.30pm at Mon-

tasty treats for all. Admission is free

astery Road. U-7 to U-12 football and

and all are welcome. The day will run

hurling leagues will take place.

The Round Tower lotto draw for

1pm – 5pm.

This coming Saturday at 4pm, our senior hurlers are in senior B cham-

August 31: numbers drawn were 13, 18, 27 and 29; the bonus ball was 5.

There was no winner of the €9,100

pionship semi-final action against St

jackpot or bonus ball winner; three

Oliver Plunkett’s.

The game will be played at Parnell Park. Best of luck to the lads and all

€100 winners: John McDaid, Fergus Cummins, Lenny Grant.

Thanks to all who supported and

support welcome.

All the best to our very own Jenny Byrne who will referee the All-Ireland

play Lotto online at www.roundtower. ie.



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GazetteSPORT all of your lucan sports coverage from page 28-31

sfc surprise: St Pat’s Palmerstown get the best of Division 1 side St Sylvester’s to advance P31

september 10-16, 2015

Wesley living it large: Ulster Bank league season brings new targets P28

Captain Tom Keown gaining great yards with his strength against Nenagh Ormond RFC in last year’s Ulster Bank League Division 2A encounter

Blue Bulls on the march MU Barnhall looking forward to Division 2B campaign with new name and new coaching set-up as they bid to bounce back up the league structure

 stephen findlater

sport@dublingazette.com

MU BARNHALL are looking forward to the Ulster Bank League Division 2B’s opening game against City of Derry at Parsonstown with a number of major changes to their setup both on the field and off it.

Maynooth University, the college which the Blue Bulls have a strategic alliance with, have rebranded from NUIM to MU which means the club changes along with it.

Beyond that name change, though, Barnhall welcome a new head coach in Dean Hakaraia who has come in to the Senior team over the summer after a very good start

to his MU Barnhall RFC career, starting with the second team last year.

With Dennis Bowes stepping down to concentrate on the University scholarship program, Hakaraia has really put down his mark.

He has put together a strong coaching staff with some former Blue Bull greats like new forwards coach Jim Nolan and former captain and specialist backs coach Eoin Burke on board.

They join other senior coaches John Sweeney and new defence coach Len Ethell who hails from New Zealand.

Tom McKeown goes into his second year as club captain and will lead the Blue Bulls

onto the park this Saturday against City Derry at 2.30pm.

The league has also, once again, changed format with the side aiming to go straight back up to Division 2A. Indeed, it will be an even longer season this year with the addition of an extra division to the All-Ireland League structure, making five in total, enabling teams to play each opposing team home and away for a total of 18 games per season.

With new promotion and relegation play offs taking place in each division, it really is gearing up to be a tightly fought league going forward.

To pursue their targets, the Blue Bulls have

had a couple of new signings this season with the likes of Michael Russell, a fantastic scrum half coming in from west Dublin outfit Clondalkin RFC, joining the club and second row juggernaut Conor McDermott coming back from a year out with a long-term injury.

They join homegrown talent like prop Peter Courtney and Gareth Murray leading the pack, making for a hungry and revitalised Barnhall side this season.

Last season, the side narrowly defeated Saturday’s opponents 29-22 at the same venue but ultimately both sides were relegated amid the realignment of the divisions for this season.