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Sep 29 - Oct 5, 2016 Find us on

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Lucan picks its way up Tidy Towns league Village raises its score yet again as west Dublin areas gain great results

 IAN BEGLEY THREE local Tidy Towns groups did extremely well at this year’s National Tidy Towns competition – all increasing their marks from last year.

Lucan went from 294 to 299 points, Griffeen Tidy Towns increased from 233 to 238 points, while Palmerstown Tidy Towns jumped from 240 to 251 points.

In the adjudication report for Lucan Tidy

Towns, it said it was excellent to see that the group initiated a survey of heritage buildings and protected structures around Lucan village.

With just 28 points between them and Skerries,

who were the victors in this year’s competition, Kevin O’Loughlin, chairperson of Lucan Tidy Towns, said they are “catching up” and planning to break into the 300s next year.

Full Story on Page 4

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PROPERTY | CAPITAL’S PRICES TAKE OFF IN CURRENT QUARTER

House prices rocket €25k in three months HOUSE prices in the capital have soared by up to €25,000 in the past three months, with the value of homes in Dublin city experiencing almost twice the growth recorded in the second quarter of 2016.

According to a survey conducted by Real Estate Alliance, house prices in Dublin city have soared to €373,333 since June, with one agent – Ed Dempsey, in Clonskeagh – reporting hikes of €25,000 as buyers chase a scare supply of suitable housing.

The average three-bed semi-detached home in that area jumped by 5.49%, from €455,000 in June to €480,000 in Sep-

tember – a rise of 9.09% year-on-year, he said.

Ror y Crerar, REA Orchard, Rathfarnham said: “The autumn market is stronger that it was in previous years and there is a lot of demand, particularly in the lower and middle market, which is moving fast.”

In South County Dublin, the average threebed semi now comes in at €355,000 – a jump of 1.43% since the last quarter, according to the sur vey, while in North County Dublin, it had jumped 2.97%, to €260,000.

Nationally, the average three-bed semi has risen above €200,000 for the first time since the

The classic three-bed semi is now even less affordable for Dubliners, with the chronic scarcity of stock one of the factors pushing prices ever higher

property crash sent the country went into meltdown, while in North County Dublin, the average house price index reported a jump.

T he REA Average House Price Survey con-

centrates on the actual sale price of Ireland’s typical “stock home” – the three-bed semi – giving an up-to-date picture of the property market in towns and cities to the end of the third quarter,

which ends this week.

The average threebed semi nationally now costs €200,093 – a hike of €4,732, or 2.42%, since the end of June, marking a rise of 6.37% against the same time last year.

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FASTNews 150 events across the country for Jobs Week JOBSEEKERS are being encouraged to attend the many events taking place for Jobs Week, the annual initiative hosted by the Department of Social Protection.

Although Jobs Week finishes this Friday, there is still a chance to avail of the 150 events running all across the country.

These include jobs fairs, career advice workshops, job shadowing initiatives, networking events with employers and briefings for employers on Department services.

Details about Jobs Week, including the Calendar of Events are available at www.welfare. ie/en/Pages/Jobs-Week.aspx.

Muslim group raises over €8k for charity THE Ahmadiyya Muslims Youth Association raised over €8,500 for the Irish Cancer society with a 5K charity walk in Corkagh Park.

Local mayor Guss O’Connell launched the event where over 100 people from all walks of life participated.

Members of the Muslim community from Galway, Cork, Drogheda and many other parts of country made the journey to Dublin, specially to attend the charity walk.

Among them included Imam of Galway mosque, Imam Ibrahim Noonan, President Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, Ireland and a noticeable representation from Lajna Imaillah, Women’s Auxiliary organization of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

A Snapy dresser ROSANNA Davison is pictured at the launch of the Huawei Snapys 2016 contest. This year’s awards ceremony will be held in the Mansion House on November 17, celebrating the best of the city’s Instagrammers, with the overall Snapy winner winning a trip to Shenzhen, China, next January.

To enter, simply upload your Instagram image using the tags #huaweisnapys and #yourcategory.

Picture: Brian McEvoy

Happy Birthday

2U

40 years of U2 The biggest band in the world, Dublin’s U2, celebrated 40 years in music last weekend. The four-piece shared a picture on Facebook (right) to mark the occasion which looked like it was taken by a 40-year-old camera.

It was in 1976 when a young Larry Mullen Jnr posted an ad looking for members to join his band and the rest is history. Frontman Bono has recently confirmed that the group will embark on a world tour next year.

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SUPERVALU TIDY TOWNS | SPRAYING OF WEEDS WAS DESCRIBED AS

Lucan climbs up tidy table  IAN BEGLEY

THREE local Tidy Towns groups did very well at this year’s National SuperValu Tidy Towns competition and have all increased their marks from last year.

Lucan went from 294

to 299, Griffeen Tidy Towns increased from 233 to 238, while Palmerstown Tidy Towns jumped from 240 to 251 points.

In the adjudication report for Lucan Tidy Towns, it said it was excellent to see that the

group initiated a survey of heritage buildings and protected structures around Lucan village.

“T he Presby terian Church looked so well, as does the Methodist Church.

“It was lovely to see ivy and ferns growing

on stone walls in places.

The Church of Ireland is a truly stunning building but it was felt that the signs erected on the gates detracted from it a little.

“The public realm on riverside was very impressive.

“Lucan weir area is a

wonderful amenity for the Lucan Community and the river walks were just gorgeous.”

The only criticism the adjudicator had was the spraying of weeds at the approach road down to Edmonsberry Hospital, which he described as “awful”.

“For such a rural setting there was excessive use of weed killer that looked dire and took away from your good work to raise awareness of pollinating bees in the locality.

“Despite pressures of the nearby city, Lucan still has a wonderful village feel to it.”

Griffeen Tidy Towns, which celebrated its 5th year of entry into the national competition, was also lauded: “No doubt over the five years you have built up a core of good volunteer’s keen to help you with your work.

“You have a strong relationship with Griffeen Educate Together school and have helped them with their school garden and the proposed outdoor classroom space.

“The Griffeen Valley Park Playspace was lovely and thanks to the local residents who engaged with the process – it was good to hear that their

concerns were listened to and monitored.

“You have done great work relating to wildlife and the natural habitats of Griffeen. Well done on your work.”

Palmerstow n Tidy Towns made the biggest increase in points locally.

Its adjudication report stated: “What a delight it was for your adjudicators to kick-start their 2016 adjudication season by visiting Palmerstown.

Before 9 o’clock on a Saturday morning an army of volunteers were out and about throughout the community. Pink ladies (and a pink man) were hard at work pulling their trolleys, sweeping the pavements, lifting litter and removing old posters.

“Even more yellow ladies and men were also noted planting and tidying on Wheatfield Road.

Sincere congratulations are extended to you all for your endeavours.

“There is a great community spirit in Palmerstown which was great to see in a city suburb. You have worked hard. Now you can become more strategic and develop a long-term plan for the community to direct your efforts. Keep up the good work.”

Proposal to reduce speed limit SOUTH Dublin County Council (SDCC) is proposing to reduce the speed limits in residential areas throughout the county and are encouraging the public to have their say.

As part of a new set of guidelines by the Department of Transport, local authorities are being asked to review and update their speed limits

by April 2017.

They’re proposing that the speed limit in local residential areas and housing estates drop from 50km/hr to 30km/hr.

SDCC have expressed their desire to see this new speed limit introduced throughout the county.

“The proposed 30km/h limit will be implemented through slow zone signage which it is intended will be provided at the entrance points to residential and school areas.”

SDCC will also be holding public consultations and inviting residents to share their views on the recommendations.

Bye laws and maps are available to view on Objections/representations to the Draft Speed Limit Bye-Laws 2016 should be submitted online or in writing at any time during the submission period. www.consult. sdublincoco.ie and www. speedlimits.ie

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GazetteGALLERY

With the river swollen with water, onlookers were

| FACING

THE ROARING WATERS OF THE WEIR

treated to some great sights. Pictures: Deirdre Fitzpatrick and Damien O’Keeffe

Oar they go ...

Canoeists are down for the Liffey Descent A

S IF there wasn’t enough water already going over the weir in Lucan village, the heavens opened up throughout last weekend’s Liffey Descent. However, nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of the onlookers and photographers – not to mention the participants – as one of Lucan’s most popular annual events took place.

The scenic spot in the heart of the village played host to some thrilling displays of sportsmanship, with the coursing waters of the weir providing particularly challenging for this year’s competitors. Despite difficult conditions a bit further upstream, the 57th Liffey Descent gave all involved a race to remember.

The 57th Liffey Descent saw competitors in fine form, with the weir really putting their skills to the test

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COUNCIL IS ‘UNABLE’ TO REDUCE WAITING PERIOD

Housing list wait on average 16 weeks  IAN BEGLEY

The search for Best Young Entrepreneurs gathers pace THE Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms Mary Mitchell O’ Connor (centre), together with 2015 National Finalists, Isolde Johnson of The Cool Bean Company in Dublin City and Niall Mimnagh of Mimergy in Longford is encouraging more entrepreneurs from around the country to enter this year’s ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ competition through the Local Enterprise

Offices, before the October 14 deadline. The €2 million competition is an initiative of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland and is organised by all 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities. To enter, young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 can submit their applications through www.ibye.ie. before the October 14 deadline.

IT takes an average of 16 weeks to get an appointment to go on the housing list in South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and local representatives are not happy.

The figure was revealed by SDCC following a question put in by Cllr Madeleine Johansson (PBP) to the September council meeting.

Response In chief executive Daniel Mcloughlin’s response, he stated: “T here are approximately 393 applicants awaiting housing

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assessment.

“The average wait is 16 weeks.

“The council is unable to reduce this waiting period at the moment, this is due to the current processing of the Social Housing Needs Assessment and staff availability in the Allocations Section.”

The chief executive added that it is expected that the waiting time will improve once the council’s Housing Needs Assessment is completed.

“It should be noted t h a t a p p r ox i m a t e l y 20% of applicants fail to attend appointment with no forewarning thereby there is not suf-

ficient time to re-schedule others.

“Of those who do attend approximately 20% of those do not bring all necessary documentation and assessment cannot be completed, Allocations Section endeavour to facilitate these applicants to ‘call back’ with the necessary documents, in so far as possible.

Increase “A n i n c r e a s e i n requests for housing assessments has been noted since the introduction of Housing Assessment Payment (HAP) by this council,” he stated.

Cllr Johansson has

expressed anger following this revelation.

She said: “There are currently 393 applicants awaiting housing assessment.

“Some of these people contacted me looking for help to reduce the wait for their appointment.

“Sixteen weeks is a very long time to wait for people who are in need of rent supplement. In order to qualify for rent supplement or the HAP scheme an applicant has to be on the housing list.

“It’s disappointing that the council has no intention of reducing this waiting time, due to lack of staff,” she said.

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Out and About The contestants all had great life stories to reveal to the judges

Niamh reacts with shocked delight

Tipp tops the beauty hunt

Miss Dublin South, Emma Doherty

L

Meet the winner of Miss Ireland 2016 - Miss Tipperary,

Miss Dublin West, Jasmine

Miss Dublin North,

Niamh Kennedy. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Gerhardt

Carolyn Reilly

OVELY girls were out in force for the grand final of Miss Ireland 2016, held at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Santry.

Stylish and smart young ladies from all across the island of Ireland gathered for the glittering event, in the hopes of landing a range of prizes that included a

modelling contract, a professional photoshoot and, of course, the glory of representing Ireland at the upcoming Miss World in Washington DC in December.

Judges tipped their hats to the lovely Niamh Kennedy, from Tipperary, as the new Miss Ireland, and wished her well for December.

29 September 2016 LUCAN GAZETTE 11

Out and About

Thousands march for choice

Some of the crowd at the end of March For Choice as they gathered at the rallying point outside Government Buildings at Merrion Square

T

HE last great faultline remaining in Irish society was to the fore last weekend as the ground trembled lightly from tens of thousands of men and women on the move at the March For Choice, walking through the city centre as they called on the Government to repeal the Eighth Amendment.

The highly-divisive topic was something that the throng came prepared to shout, sing, chant and call about despite the rain, with many sporting home-made signs, posters and banners as they followed the usual marching route for most protestors from the Garden of Remembrance across the river Liffey to Merrion Square.

At the end of their march, the assembled crowd listened to a number of speakers, cheering at the news that ex-pats were holding similar rallies in other major cities around the world.

Minister for Children and Youth affairs Katherine Zappone (centre)

Drawing together a wide variety of groups, the marchers comprised people of all ages and backgrounds, with even Fathers Ted and Dougal used to invoke the marchers’s messages

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DUBLINBUSINESS

EZ Living Furniture scoops a retail award of excellence EZ LIVING Furniture has won the prestigious Award of Excellence in the Retail Excellence Ireland Awards 2016, w it was announced as one of the top 30 stores in the country.

EZ Living Furniture was granted the Award of Excellence for its high-end visual merchandising, customer ser vice skills, large range of quality products, value for money, store presentation, new accessory stores and staff training.

The company uses Irish suppliers where possible, supporting Irish jobs, and provides high-quality classic and innovative designs with the best value.

Since its initial opening in Galway in 1998, the Irish-owned and family-run company has gone from strength-

to-strength, increasing from three stores in 2010 to 10 stores now operating nationwide.

This expansion has led to the creation of many new jobs with the company now employing more than 180 people.

The Retail Excellence Ireland Awards are the largest, most revered and recognised event in the Irish retail industry calendar.

The awards acknowledge and reward retail stores, companies, websites, individuals and suppliers who deliver exceptional standards within the industry.

EZ Living Furniture said they were delighted to have won the Award of Excellence, particularly as this year saw a substantial increase in the number of entries from all across Ireland.

As finalists in the top 100 in 2015, they are thrilled to have now made it to the top 30 in the country.

The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 5 in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway.

For the full range of EZ Living Furniture products, see in store, or alternatively see www. ezlivingfurniture.ie.

START-UPS | APPLY NOW FOR A BIG BOOST

€10,000 to help your business blast off ENTREPRENEUR Bobby Kerr was on hand to help JumpStart 2016 blast off, with the seventh annual competition from the LINC Centre, at the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown, once again looking for a winning business start-up to award a €10,000 cash prize to.

The competition is open to entrepreneurs, giving them a unique opportunity to jumpstart their business, and who wish to base their business in an innovative and supportive environment whilst developing the business.

This year’s judging panel will again be headed up by Bobby, with other judges including Shane

Doyle, vice-president for Manufacturing Ireland, Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc; Oisin Geoghegan, head of local enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Fingal; Declan Lyons, commercialisation manager, Enterprise Ireland and Padraig Challoner, business manager at AIB. The winner will get a cash prize of €10,000, an office space at the LINC, and mentoring supports.

They will also get access to a wide range of facilities, seminars, the institute’s academic expertise, and other such practical, industry-focused supports.

Interested applicants must meet the following criteria – to have been in business for less than two

Entrepreneur Bobby Kerr (right) with Shane Doyle, vice-president for Manufacturing Ireland; Padraig Challoner, business Manager, AIB, and Gemma Conway, business development executive, Fingal Local Enterprise Office. Picture: Andres Poveda Photography

years, demonstrate their intent to export if they are not already exporting, and demonstrate substantial growth to strengthen the economic impact of the business within the region.

Applicants are invited to record a three-minute

pitch and upload it at www.thelinc.ie/jumpstart, by 5pm on Friday, October 14. The shortlist of winners will be announced on Friday, November 11, with the JumpStart 2016 winner to be announced on Tuesday, December 6.

General manager Richard Tilson cuts the ribbon to officially open the showroom. Picture: Stephen Fleming

Hertz motors forward in Phibsborough PHIBSBOROUGH has welcomed the opening of a new dealership, thanks to the arrival of Hertz Car Sales. The new Hertz, which is located at the North Circular Road, marks the first Irish sales and rental dealership for the international brand, which has been operating for almost four decades. The opening of the dealership further underscores the resurging motoring sector in Ireland.

Hertz’s internationally recognised focus on high quality, value and personal focus on what each individual wants is to the fore at Hertz Car Sales, Phibsborough, with general manager Richard Tilson stressing the quality on offer in the dealership’s extensive fleet.

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

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THIS GUY IS SURE TO MAKE A BIG IMPRESSION

THE Gazette has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs.

Our dog of the week is Guy, a gorgeous fiveyear-old, playful male Pit Bull cross.

He just loves to get wrapped up in his duvet and can often be seen in all sorts of hilarious positions in his kennel.

Guy is quite an agile young dog so would love a home with a warm, cosy bed inside and a fully secure garden.

He is really clever and already knows lots of commands that his dedicated carers have taught him.

Guy would love to live with older children of 16 years of age and over.

Please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000 if you can give Guy the home he so deserves.

They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www. dogstrust.ie.

You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_ IE.

Falun Dafa dancers, Mu Mu Cheng and Cora Zhang, helping to announce Ireland’s biggest holistic event – the Mind, Body, Spirit and Wellbeing Festival. Picture: Conor McCabe

WELLNESS: UPCOMING FESTIVAL EXPLORES MANY DIVERSE HEALTH OPTIONS

Fine-tune your body and soul FIND out how Feng Shui can help fix your finances and how you can use smell to change your mind for the better at the upcoming Mind, Body, Spirit and Wellness Festival, which runs at the RDS from October 29-31.

The festival celebrates its 21st birthday this year, with 75 life-enhancing talks from top Irish and international experts in the fields of positive psychology and self-help lined up, along with exhibits by more than 150 complementary and healing practitioners.

Leading US Feng Shui expert Amanda Collins, whose clients include Bloomingdales and Dreamworks film studios, will talk about setting up your home to find financial freedom.

Aromatherapist Sinead Duffy will talk about how we can tap into the amazing action of smell on the unconscious mind. She said: “Smell is the only sense that has a direct connection to our subconscious and we can use that connection to set intentions on what we want to change or manifest in our lives. Fragrance works like pure magic.”

Top New York personal trainer Kaman Ryan will focus on Animal Flow, the latest exercise trend from the US. Psychologist Michaela Avlund, the author of Happiness Skills, will discuss how increased joy and well-being is within everyone’s reach, while nutritional therapist Ola Mazurkiewicz will be giving diet tips to tackle any personal

energy crisis you may have.

Free yoga taster sessions are also being provided at this year’s festival, with 20-minute to one-hour classes available three times a day in a variety of disciplines including laughter yoga, soulful yoga, yin yoga and animal flow yoga.

Festival organiser Louis O’Sullivan said: “The amazing spectrum of holistic and complementary practitioners at Mind Body Spirit makes for a truly stimulating, vibrant and potentially lifechanging experience.

“People will leave the festival with a smile on their face, having enjoyed eyeopening new experiences and meaningful engagement with people and ideas that can benefit them.”

The festival also provides the chance to sample a truly diverse spectrum of holistic therapies.

With over 150 stands, visitors can explore everything from angels and aromatherapy to reiki and reflexology, with sound therapy, massage, meditation, mindfulness, bio-energy healing, crystals, chakra tools, Tibetan bowls and yoga therapy there to be discovered.

The live stage will be buzzing with free entertainment as a lively mix of 45 performances will take place over the three-day event, including music, dance, drumming and yoga demonstrations.

Tickets for the Mind, Body, Spirit and Yoga festival at the RDS cost €15, with free admission for children.

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Bright sparks sought for competition IRELAND’S largest schools competition for energy awareness is officially open for entries.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is calling on primary and post primary students to enter One Good Idea competition.

Now in its ninth year, the aim of the One Good Idea is to increase students’ understanding of energy efficiency and climate change by encouraging them to take individual and collective responsibility for tackling these important issues.

Contestants must come up with creative ideas for an energy awareness campaign to change behaviour and improve energy efficien-

cy in their homes, schools and communities.

Open to primary and post primary school students, participants have the chance to win prizes for themselves and their schools.

Entry can be made viaw w w.seai.ie/onegoodidea and the best projects will be showcased at the national finals in Croke Park on the May 16, 2017. Closing date for entries is November 11.

AN IRISH VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY IMRAM – the Irish Language Literature Festival – is set to take place this October.

The festival features an original line up of litera-

ture, music, theatre, poetry, readings, talks, discussions and workshops.

‘Imram’ means a ‘voyage of discovery’ and the organisers’ goal is to invite our audiences on board for another exciting festival that reveals the strength and diversity of modern literature in Irish.

One of the highlights this year is tipped to be the flagship show, Realtnach/Starman, with David Bowie’s lyrics rendered into Irish by poet Gabriel Rosenstock.

O t h e r ke y s h ow s include multi-media shows fusing poetry, music and visuals based on work by major poets such as Caitlin Maude and Eoghan O Tuairisc;

not to mention Game of Thrones in Irish, featuring medieval music performed by Caitriona O’Leary.

Visit imram.ie for full programme and ticket details.

some of the best DJs and parties in the world.

2016 is Sound Atlas’ biggest year to date as it collaborates with DJs all around the world to

bring the most exciting and thriving music scenes to the pubs, clubs and festival fields of Irish music lovers.

Following on from

Paris, Amsterdam is the second global scene on the Sound Atlas radar for this year.

Tickets are available from heinekenmusic.ie

GET SET FOR SOUNDS OF AMSTERDAM AF TER stealing the show at Electric Picnic, Heineken Sound Atlas is bringing the sounds of Amsterdam to Opium Rooms tonight (Thursday, September 29).

Dutch DJ Boris Werner will bring his crowdpleasing house music to Dublin partygoers.

Known for its canals, picture-perfect bridges and windmills, Amsterdam is also home to

At the lauch were Rachel O’Connor, Lilly Nowak, Liam Og O’Connor, Dara McElligott, Ellie O’Connor, Aine Foley. Picture: Chris Bellew / Fennell Photography

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R1

HEALTH | WE FOLLOW UP ON MANY PARENTS’S CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL HPV VACCINE THAT’S BEING GIVEN TO GIRLS AROUND THE COUNTRY CASE STUDY | AMY WARD, PORTMARNOCK

The girl in limbo as her health worsens

Caught off guard

IN Part One of our Gardasil coverage, one mother tells us about her daughter’s health problems after she got the HPV vaccination. We also speak to the HSE for another view of the vaccine, with their experts saying any side effects are coincidental.  EMMA NOLAN SOME 400 young Irish girls have developed serious health problems that they say occurred after receiving the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, in school.

Gardasil is the HPV vaccine to protect against cervical cancer, used in the HSE Schools Immunisation Programme in Ireland since May, 2010. It is understood to have been administered to more than 600,000 girls in Ireland, to date.

A support group, Reactions and Effects of Gardasil Resulting in Extreme Trauma (REGRET), has been set up to get help for the girls, many of whom have been unable to attend school due to the side effects they say they have experienced since the vaccine.

REGRET spokesperson Anna Cannon, whose own daughter has been chronically ill since receiving the vaccine, spoke to The Gazette about the issue, which the group says has “destroyed the lives” of hundreds of young girls in Ireland.

She said: “These chronically ill girls, already in a vulnerable age bracket, are now being confined to their bedrooms, unable to play sports, or be normal teenagers.

“They are not being cared for [by the State], instead they are being referred to as ‘coincidences’ and ‘psychosomatic’ by the Minister for Health and the HSE. Worried

“Parents are getting increasingly worried for their daughters, with many on suicide watch. Several girls have been diagnosed with early menopause, on top of a long range of painful and chronic symptoms. Many of the girls have daily seizures up to six times per day.

“It is only a matter of time before someone loses their life.”

Anna said that the girls have all been examined but have not received any conclusive diagnosis. Their conditions largely consist of extreme chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, seizures, dizzy spells, nausea and muscle spasms.

The symptoms are so severe that many of the girls have had to drop out of school and have been unable to sit

their Junior and Leaving Cert exams recognition for their shared situation a detailed review at an EU level to drome every year.”

Dr Connolly says that he thinks as a result. which has been dismissed by health clarify aspects of the safety profile of Several girls represented by officials who say that their girls’ symp- HPV vaccines, following reports of that “this condition has been out symptoms in young women who had there long before the vaccine was REGRET have been diagnosed with toms are psychological. received HPV vaccines. ovarian failure, on top of a range of introduced”, and that it is “exceedA spokesperson from the HPRA ingly unlikely that there is any causal painful and chronic daily symptoms Stigma The parents of these girls have also told The Gazette that the review ulti- connection” between the girls’ condiincluding severe daily headaches, seizures, neurological symptoms, chest had to compete with the stigma that mately found that the “benefits of tions and Gardasil. pain, paralyses, an onset of auto- has been placed on them, as some HPV vaccines ... outweigh their risks”.

In response to the concerns raised, immune conditions, muscle weak- have been belittled for speaking out Dr Kevin Connolly, from the the HSE have said that they are creatness, joint and leg pain, heart prob- against vaccinations and being lik- National Immunisation Advisory ing a “care pathway” for the girls who lems, systemic inflammation, short- ened to the anti-vaccination move- Committee for the HSE, spoke on are experiencing side effects. ment in the US. Minister of State at the Departterm memory loss and pancreatitis. the TV3 documentary last December Anna said that health officials in Anna believes that in years to come, where he accredited the girls’ symp- ment of Health, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy said: “The HSE is currently Ireland have “adamantly denied” that Gardasil will be revealed as a huge toms to coincidence.

Speaking at the time, he said: “I’m developing a care pathway for young medical scandal, much like the birth Gardasil has caused the side effects.

The HSE issued a statement to The defects that occurred from the Tha- not disputing the fact that in these people who are experiencing these Gazette which says that “an illness lidomide drug for morning sickness girls the symptoms came on after types of symptoms and will be in a they got the vaccine, but we expect in position to facilitate access to specialthat occurs around the time a vac- in the 1950s. cine is given and is already known to In 2015, the Health Products Regu- Ireland that there will be 600 people ist services tailored to the needs of be common in adolescence does not latory Authority (HPRA) carried out who develop Chronic Fatigue Syn- each individual.” imply the vaccine caused the problem”.

“As there is no scientific evidence that the vaccine causes longnormal, and skin information to parents.” term illnesses, the HPV A MAJOR issue which parents have infection at the Anna believes that the vaccine cannot be held continually raised in their attempt to get injection site”.

HSE are withholding responsible for these ill- answers for their daughters surrounds Pharmaceuthe full extent the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) that nesses.” tical company of the possible There has been con- was distributed to schools by the HSE, Merck, which side effects from troversy surrounding along with the consent form. manufactures parents.

The HSE PIL outlines some “mild” side the Gardasil vaccine the vaccine, She said: “Parfollowing a documentary effects, with pain, redness or swelling also states ents are shocked which aired on TV3 in in the arm where the vaccine was given, additional side to learn that the December, 2015. A spate headache, dizziness, nausea and mild effects that information pack of articles in national fever listed. A link to the HSE website are not listed they received from newspapers have been where more side effects are listed is also in the HSE PIL. HSE, including five published, outlining the contained on the PIL. possible, mild ‘on the The additional information provided experiences of individual day’ side effects, did on the website states that “rarer side HSE girls and their families. not include the manuFollowing approxi- effects include an itchy rash or hives. Like Statement facturer’s PIL risk The HSE mately 2,000 reported most vaccines, severe allergic reactions information with more issued a statecases of severe side are extremely rare”. It also notes that than 25 side effects. ment to The Gazette effects from Gardasil in fainting can occur.

Why is this still being However, Sanofi Pasture, which diswhich stated: “There are no known Japan, the country’s offiwithheld from Irish parents? long-term side effects to the vaccine cials withdrew it from the tributes the vaccine in Ireland, have their “To date, no investigation has been Gardasil.” market in 2013. In Den- own Gardasil PIL which lists a much more made into a possible connection between Anna Cannon, of REGRET support mark, a documentary comprehensive list of side effects. the 400 girls [who are] mirroring sympThe Sanofi PIL states that side effects group, provided a letter which was sent was broadcast in March, toms outlined in the manufacturer’s PIL.”

by Dr Kevin Kelleher (assistant national 2015, entitled The Vac- that have been reported during general The statement from the HSE said that cinated Girls – Sick and use include “swollen glands (neck, armpit, director of health and wellbeing - Public their PIL was “approved by the National or groin); muscle weakness, abnormal Health & Child Health, HSE) to school Betrayed.

Adult Literacy Agency so that it can be principals in January, 2016, which outThe Gazette spoke sensations, tingling in the arms, legs and easily understood by all”. lines the school vaccination programme to a number of Dublin upper body, or confusion (Guillain-Barre They continue to recommend the vacfor 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. mothers who say that Syndrome, acute disseminated encephacine to all parents to “make sure their The letter states: “Please only distheir daughters’ lives lomyelitis); dizziness, vomiting, joint pain, daughters get the lifesaving HPV vaccine tribute these HSE information materials have been ruined since aching muscles, unusual tiredness or to protect them from developing cervical about the vaccination programme and do they received the vaccine weakness, chills, generally feeling unwell, cancer in the future”. not forward any other non HSE vaccine and their struggle to gain bleeding or bruising more easily than

AMY Ward received the Gardasil vaccine in September, 2013, and by November she was experiencing fainting, blackouts, seizures and vision loss.

“It was horrendous,” said Amy’s mum, Audrey, who told The Gazette that her daughter has not been the same since and was unable to sit her Junior Cert in June, having missed all of third year due to her painful symptoms.

Amy spent two weeks in hospital coming up to Christmas that year, where she was put on anti-depressants.

Audrey said: “Amy doesn’t remember Christmas that year. They were [doctors] saying, ‘Ah, it’s all in her head, it’s a teenage thing, she’s making it up,’ but it’s over 400 girls suffering, and they’re saying it’s all in their heads?

“That was said to us in the hospital, and we were absolutely livid. That’s bulls***.”

WHAT THE SCHOOL LEAFLET SAYS

Amy Ward at the family home in Portmarnock, under the watchful gaze of her brother, Jack (8), and her mother, Audrey. She talked extensively to The Gazette about Amy’s medical problems, which she attributes directly to the Gardasil vaccine.

Picture: Alison O’Hanlon

IN PART TWO NEXT WEEK: We hear from an expert on why the vaccine is necessary

Symptoms The 15-year-old still suffers from non-epileptic seizures, twitches, chest pains, muscle weakness, shortness of breath, memory loss, periods that last up to 12 days at a time, headaches and blackouts on a regular basis. Numerous tests, including blood tests and MRSIs for these symptoms, have all come back clear.

Audrey added: “She could black out anywhere – she’s banged her head off the fireplace and the bathroom sink that often that it’s just ridiculous.”

She said Amy’s tiredness is “unbelievable”, but that her headaches are the worst.

“The headache is constantly there; it never goes but it gets worse. There are days when she is literally banging her head off the wall.”

With Amy having been referred to a psychologist, Audrey said she was shocked when the doctor immediately prescribed her anti-depressants again.

She said: “He wanted to put her on them without checking anything. He didn’t check her weight, her blood pressure or anything – he just said, ‘Take this prescription’, which I refused.”

The strain on Amy and her family is

clear as the financial toll on Amy’s medical needs do not come cheap, yet they feel they are being “fobbed off” every time they go into hospital.

Audrey said: “We’re in limbo; we reached out to Leo Varadkar when he was Minister for Health and he refused to see us.

“James Reilly [former Minister for Health] knocked on the door campaigning and he nearly had a heart attack when I started going on at him, and he wouldn’t talk to me.

“He’s a doctor by trade and I asked him if it was his daughter, ‘Would you get the vaccine for her’, and he wouldn’t answer me, so that says it all, really.”

Amy is mainly confined to the house and only ever leaves with her parents.

Audrey said: “She’s 15 – she should be out doing things that she shouldn’t be doing, not bedridden.”

She said that she has been accused of being an “anti-vax conspiracist” for blaming Gardasil for Amy’s illness, but she signed the consent form for Amy to receive the vaccine.

“My children have had all their vaccines, so we’re not anti-vaccination.”

Audrey now has a great distrust for pharmaceutical companies who she says “only care about money”.

‘The headache is constantly there, it never goes but it gets worse. There are days when she is literally banging her head off the wall.’

GAZETTE

18 GAZETTE 29 September 2016

DUBLINLIFE

BEAUTYbits

3 2 Javier Simorra B&W jacket €329

A new Ribbon Rouge at Merrion Centre FOLLOWING a successful 10 years in business in Navan, owner of Ribbon Rouge boutique has just opened a new store in the Merrion Centre.

Joanne Mallon’s store is going from strength to strength in their new home, with their selection of casual, work and party wear for the “fashion conscious career female to the apprehensive mother of the bride”.

Autumn collections have arrived in store. Pop into Ribbon Rouge in the Merrion Centre in Dublin 4 to see what’s in stock.

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29 September 2016 GAZETTE 19

JOANNA

HYNES

STYLE

Renowned fashion designer Joanne Hynes shows off her first collection for Dunnes Stores. Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

UNVEILED

Pictures: Amy Gwatkin

 EMMA NOLAN Style Editor

RENOWNED Irish fashion designer Joanne Hynes has just launched her first collection for Dunnes Stores.

The exclusive collection includes over 100 pieces, which have all been delicately crafted in the modern design style that Hynes is known for.

It will be limited to just six Dunnes across the country and online at dunnesstores.com.

Speaking on the collection, Joanne said that she grew up wearing clothes from Dunnes.

“Good fashion design feeds off memories and experiences. As a child we were raised wearing Dunnes Stores - what else!

“Dunnes is going through a major transformation currently, embracing newness and innovation so it is perfect timing for me as a designer to be welcomed into the company and to be given the autonomy to bring the quintessential Joanne Hynes look and DNA to the store and to the customer.

“This is a true Joanne Hynes collection, and I am immensely proud of it.”

Inherent to the collection is the signature clashing of elements, such as structured neoprenes in strong blocked colours with pops of antique moss yellow; a nylon bomber jacket and a studded sleeve parka, all receiving the Joanne Hynes treatment in oversized shapes with perspex and crystal embellishments.

Structured, well cut skirts and dresses take inspiration from the mod era of dressing. A navy gathered velvet bomber with a regal high neck will be a key l piece for September; alongside a reversible muddy pink shearling coat with a star applique design on each elbow.

Leather and crystal rabbit neckpieces have been developed into limited edition accessories, including a new take on the celebrated Joanne Hynes crystal collar with matching hairbands in embellished leather and velvets.

Joanne Hynes at Dunnes Stores will be available to buy in the following Dunnes Stores – Grafton Street, Stephen’s Green, Cornelscourt, Liffey Valley, Patrick Street, Eyre Square and online.

GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 29 September 2016

DUBLINLIFE

BACK TO school

WINNER

WINNER

€50

€50

M&S voucher

Pennys voucher

Little Bella wishes her big brother Tadgh good

WINNER

€50

M&S voucher

Super sisters Tina and Emma Zhang settle in to St Catheri ne’s, Cabra

Kate’s as proud as punch that her little sister Lucy is

luck as he heads off to start Second Class at

joining her in St Sylvester’s NS, Malahide

the Divine Word, Rathfarnham

Thanks to everyone for entering!

WE HAD a terrific response to our Back to School

which really made us smile! We’ve chosen our win-

photo competition, with lots (and lots) of our read-

ners and are sharing their fantastic pictures above.

ers only too happy to share some precious memo-

The prizes include a €150 gift card for Life Style

ries of their children, grandchildren, nieces and

Sports, €50 vouchers for M&S, Penneys and Dealz,

nephews on their very first day at school, or their

a hamper from Flying Tiger, every kid’s favourite

first day back at school after summer.

variety store, AND a €100 voucher for the Base –

They’re all winners, in our eyes – sadly, we can’t

Ireland’s Number 1 entertainment centre. And don’t

give prizes to everyone, but we’re delighted to share

forget Life Style sports for your year-round school

some of the many wonderful photos you sent in,

essentials!

IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

29 September 2016 GAZETTE 21

GAZETTE

winners WINNER

€150

Life Style Sports Voucher

WINNER WINNER

€50

€50

Dealz voucher

Pennys voucher Learning is exciting for Mason Anderson at St Lorcan’s BNS, Palmerstown

Little Leo Byrne is ready for anything school

The Kildee-Doolans troop out ... Siofra, Loreto College, Crumlin Road; Paddy, Central Model Senior School, and Ciaran and Fiach, both Central Model Infants’ School

life throws at him in St Helens, Portmarnock

WINNER Flying Tiger hamper

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€100

Base voucher

Audrey Buttner sent in this great pic of her three children. She said they had a great summer and were delighted to be heading back to school...”or at least one of them was”!

Kai O’Neill is a bit upset that big brothers Rhys and Ethan are going off to Eiscir Riada , and Colaiste Cois Life

GAZETTE

22 LUCAN GAZETTE 29 September 2016

DUBLINLIFE

TasdVEL FEATURE TRAVEL

Savvy student saving tips GOING to college is exciting. With so many new costs and financial products to consider it can however be hard to manage your cash.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has some helpful hints to get you started.

Don’t be dazzled by freebies when choosing a current account.

What you really need to look at are the fees and charges.

Mo s t b a n k s o f f e r fee-free banking to students, but this doesn’t cover overdraft or late payment fees, which can be expensive.

Save on interest by comparing student current accounts, credit cards and loans using the student financial product comparisons

Don’t be tempted to eat out all the time

on the Competition and Consumer Protection’s consumer website www. consumerhelp.ie Using a budget means you are in control of your money.

List your income and expenses - income could be money from a student loan or grant,

savings you built up if you were working during the summer or your parents may be giving you a regular allowance to meet your day-to-day expenses.

For expenses include items that you spend your money on.

If you are living away from home, you will have additional expenses such as rent, food, heating and electricity to think about.

Check out the spending calculator on www.

consumerhelp.ie to keep track of what you your spending.

Watch out for rental property scams.

One of the most common ones is where the scammer copies listings of actual available rentals and re-advertises them with their own email or phone number.

Often they will refuse to show you the house, but may send you photos and fake documents or keys in the hope of

getting you to pay rent or a deposit.

Often the victims do not realise they have been scammed until they show up at “their” property to find someone else living in it.

If you come across a scam If you have transferred money online and think you have been scammed, the first thing you should do is to contact your bank or credit card company, as they might be able to help by cancelling your credit or debit card or stopping a transaction from going through your account.

You should then contact your local Garda station immediately.

Look for student discounts Many shops offer discounts for students with a valid student card, so it’s worth asking.

Check with any service provider that you use if they have any offers available to students.

Tr y to buy online, you’ll often find better deals on clothes, music, books etc.

Sign up to group discounts sites for deals on everything from meals to hairdressing.

Don’t be tempted to eat out all the time Even if your college canteen is subsidised, you could end up overspending on food.

Bringing in a packed lunch or simply bringing in your own tea and coffee can help you cut back on unnecessary costs. Have a look on safefood.ie for some interesting recipes that you can use for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Save on your utility bills Make sure you’re getting the best deal for TV, internet and phone contracts. Comparing options with different companies can take a bit of effort, but can pay off big time! Don’t be afraid to switch and pay your bills on time to avoid penalties or late fees.

The CCPC is responsible for enforcing competition and consumer protection laws across the economy.

To h e l p c o n s u m e r s m a ke i n f o r m e d decisions it also gives independent, unbiased information about consumer rights and personal finance products and ser vice through its consumer helpline 1890 432 432 and on www.consumerhelp.ie

GAZETTE

29 September 2016 LUCAN GAZETTE 23

DUBLINLIFE

Some old favorites back on the menu

FOOD TRAVEL

Cafe set for a tasty new Leeson Street lunch spot

FAVORITE amongst many Dubliners, Milano, is bringing some of its old classics back to the menu.

Their new seasonal specials, inspired by old favorites are currently available to order.

Returning this autumn due to customer demand, the Rustichella Romana is a Milano favorite, featuring pancetta, mozzarella and tomato finished with rocket, shaved Gran Milano cheese, roasted tomatoes and Caesar dressing.

Another Milano classic which customers have begged to be returned to the menu is the vegetarian Al Forno Cannelloni.

Soft pasta is freshly filled with spinach and ricotta, baked with passata, bechamel, mozzarella, garlic oil and Gran Milano cheese.

Juices are fresh and unpasteurised

HEALTHY eating cafe, Alchemy Juice Co, is opening a second bistro in Dublin to the delight of fans of their signature juices and salads.

“Eat Better, Feel Better, Be Better” is a mantra Alchemy Juice Co lives by and now they have made it even easier for people to follow as they open their second location on Dublin’s Lesson Street this September.

Many know it as the oasis of calm at BT2 on Grafton Street, and the juice company will remain there until January 2017, and come the new year their company’s main focus will be their Lesson Street location.

Co-owners Domini and Peaches Kemp said they are continuing on their “nutritional road of discovery” with the new cafe.

“New menus, new ideas and new information will be incorporated into everything we do, so that our food, juices and smoothies are up to the minute,” they said.

“We hope you will enjoy this journey of great nutrition with us.

“We are not on a crusade, but rather trying to offer something for those who want more from their food.”

Leeson Street once conjured up images of late nights, club scenes and debauchery, but with Alchemy Juice Co in residence it will shape a new generation of health-conscious Dubliners, with their small batches of fresh, raw, unpasteurised juices that are packed with big flavour and essential nutrients.

Penne with tomatoes, chorizo and cream Ingredients l 450g/1lb penne pasta l 25g/1oz butter l 1 tsp finely chopped rosemary l 700g/1½ lb fresh ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced l salt and freshly ground pepper l sugar, pinch of l 175-225g/6-8oz chorizo or kabanossi sausage l pinch crushed chilies l 125-175ml/4-6 fl oz cream l 3 tbsp finely chopped flatleaf parsley l 4 tbsp freshly grated parmesan Preparation Melt the butter in a sauce pan, add chopped rosemary and diced tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and sugar. Cook until the tomatoes have just begun to soften into a sauce, which takes about five minutes. Slice the sausage into 5mm rounds and add to the pan with the crushed chilies. Add the cream and two tablespoons of chopped flatleaf parsley, and allow to bubble for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until the cream has reduced by half. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside. Cook the pasta until it is ‘al dente’, drain and stir into the sauce with the grated parmesan. Sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

Beef Crack Kale Salad

KALE CRACK SALAD

Canned craft beer should go down Well GOOD news for craft beer fans who can now enjoy the range of Franciscan Well Craft Beer in cans.

The Irish Craft brewer is well known for its Rebel Red red ale. Other favorites include the Friar Weisse Chieftain IPA and they are now available in a 330ml can for the first time in retailers and offlicences across Ireland, with selected bars also stocking the products.

Company founder Shane Long (not the footballer) said that the move to cans is an “excitement development” for the brand.

“Taste and quality are among our

core beliefs and we always prioritise ways to ensure that these core traits are present in the beer we create.

“The decision to move to a canned format reflects the growing trend internationally, whereby more and more craft beers are sold in 330ml can format.

“This is something that has been prevalent in the US and has proven extremely popular. We are confident this will be the case as we roll out craft in a can for beer-lovers here in Ireland.”

The can range is now available in offlicences and stores nationwide.

GAZETTE

24 LUCAN GAZETTE 29 September 2016

DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA ReelReviews

BLAIR WITCH

A return to terror IF YOU go down to the woods today – and you’re the sister of a missing film maker – you’re in for a big surprise in Blair Witch (Cert 16, 89mins), the unexpected canon sequel to the cult film. Ignoring Blair Witch’s truly terrible sequel, this decent film picks up the first film’s story some time later, as a group set off to discover the truth behind the legend – things go horribly wrong ...

The children can’t wait to meet you ... The ‘peculiar’ characters at the heart of the film, which unfortunately is another kookily-mediocre film from director Tim Burton

MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN: IT’S NOT AS GOOD AS THE TITLE

Gothic tale is rather lifeless

ATTEMPTING to capture some of the twisted magic that once served him so well, Tim Burton revisits familiar territory with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Cert 12A, 127 mins).

Unfortunately, while this outsider tale is full of the director’s trademark gothic quirk, it is devoid of the life that characterised his early classics.

Opening in a kind of pristine beachside community that does indeed the evoke the postcard suburbia of Edward Scissorhands, Ms Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is the story of socially inept teen, Jake (Asa Butterfield).

When his grandfather, Abe (Terence Stamp), dies he leaves Jake clues to the existence of a magical place – the titular

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

school.

Here, “peculiar” children with amazing powers, looked after by Ms Peregrine (Eva Green), relive the same day in 1943 over and over again as a way of hiding from their terrifying enemies.

As he grows more attached to “the peculiars”, Jake learns that he too may have a special power with which to protect them.

Based on the book of the same name by Ransom Riggs, Ms Peregrine’s School for Peculiar Children is often a wonder to look at.

The character design is typical Burton, but after some of the director’s blander recent work, it’s an admittedly welcome return to the weird.

The creature design, more twisted in parts than anything the director has done, is often genuinely creepy.

Our first glimpse of the supernatural evil that threatens the children is surprisingly unnerving and there’re some unexpected moments of nasty horror that really make one question its 12A rating.

Accordingly, it makes you wonder who this film is really for. Ms Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will be a little too disturbing for kids, yet does little to engage older audiences.

While there’s plenty on show here to enter-

tain the more gothicallyinclined teens, Burton relies too heavily on a fantastical but convoluted set-up and fails to develop a compelling narrative.

The story is certainly fascinating in its early stages as we explore the world of these peculiar children, but as Ms Peregrine’s villainous elements are introduced, it gets hard to maintain interest.

While the theme and aesthetic is a perfect fit for Burton, the narrative itself certainly isn’t.

Showcasing a team of gifted children fighting evil forces, this

is essentially a superhero story (and Burton’s Batmans were never particularly good to begin with).

Unfor tunately, the heroes here are given very little time to show off just how “super” they are: the film falls flat in its climactic battle, hampered by an overabundance of lifeless CGI. This is lamentable, given the brief appearance of some delightfully creepy stop-motion effects earlier in the film.

As noted, the film is lovely to look at. When

not relying on CGI, this is Burton where he’s most comfortable, creating worlds of gothic wonder for social outsiders to inhabit.

Livened up with an endearingly oddball performance from Eva Green, and an often bewitching bit of worldbuilding, Ms Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is best in its opening acts.

Unfortunately, this early promise is let down by a predictable plot and a third-act overstuffed with lifeless action.

Though there is plenty of his trademark visual charm, this isn’t the return to form that many

As ever, Eva Green is a magnetic presence on screen – yet the film fails to make the most of her singularly gothic presence

BRIDGET JONES 3

Three-quel is years late COMING along years after the previous film, Bridget Jones’s Baby (Cert 15A, 123mins) falls a bit flat.

Now in her 40s, a pregnant Bridget (Renee Zellweger) isn’t exactly sure who the father is, but with a couple of choices she’s determined to work it out.

With a plot and music score that’s about as subtle as a sledgehammer, it’s a likeable film, but just not quite classic Bridget.

HELL OR HIGH WATER Shot with plenty of style

TAKING a great shot at the modern western genre, Hell or High Water (Cert 15A, 102 mins) takes viewers deep into America’s sleepy heartlands, where a pair of serial bank robbers (Chris Pine, Ben Foster) try to stay ahead of two rangers (Jeff Bridges, Gil Birmingham) doggedly staying on their trail. This slow moving but impressive character-driven film is well worth catching.

29 September 2016 LUCAN GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

TECH

Illustration: Shane Dillon

As the driven founder of an underwater city where things went terribly, terribly wrong, Andrew Ryan has an unforgettable presence throughout Bioshock

 SHANE DILLON

Tech Editor

NINTENDO has finally upped its game. Although the gaming titan has been desperately slow to react to how people game today, it has finally stirred – and created quite a stir, with the recent news of the upcoming IOS release (in December) of Super Mario Run. Yes, that’s right – Mario and pals are coming to mobile phones, with Nintendo making a big foray into comtemporary gaming by bringing out the big guns – or Italian plumbers – to fire a volley in the never-ending battle for consumers’ loyalty (and their revenue streams).

It’s a move that analysts and market watchers were waiting on for quite some time – the day that Nintendo stepped into battle on a gaming front that it has largely ignored.

This move to mobile gaming on a platform that doesn’t use Nintendo’s own hardware marks a seismic change for the company, as it finally adapts to modern gaming trends.

After all, while the company has had enviable financial and cultural success with one handheld device after another down the years, the rise and rise of mobile gaming via phones (and to a lesser degree, tablets) was something that has almost completely

bypassed it.

Instead, Nintendo has largely concentrated on pushing its own hardware – but while its Wii U console still has a strong base in Japan, its fortunes have waned significantly in Western markets.

Nintendo’s console is almost staring into obsolesence, while the company’s old rivals, Sony and Microsoft, have long since moved ahead in the console wars.

From what has been revealed so far, Super Mario Run looks like a decent addition to the “infinirunner” genre – players run along unlocking power-ups to race ever further, and generating higher scores, with various ways to monetise

their gameplay.

In a sense, it was almost irrelevant what game Nintendo promoted as such an exploratory launch title – sorry, Mario – as it’s of much greater interest that Nintendo now seem to have committed to mobile gaming than the fact everyone’s favourite plumber should soon be running across a hundred million phones, or whatever.

Given Nintendo’s vast library of franchises and characters to draw upon, and a dizzying range of titles to repurpose for the mobile gaming sector, this significant move could soon see Nintendo jumping into lucrative new fields very soon indeed ...

Old favourites can still be a Bioshock to the system  SHANE DILLON

JUST as it didn’t take too long for film studios and directors to realise that digitally restored or polished versions of films were a sure-fire way to make some money – oh, and to reach new audiences, of course – the same “HD polish” outlook has really taken off over the past 18 months in gaming.

And, when it comes to a masterpiece getting a new lease of life, they don’t come much bigger – or more critically acclaimed – than Bioshock (Cert 18; c. €50); re-released for PC, PS4, XBO as the opening game in Bioshock: The Collection.

First released in 2007, Bioshock was a genre-busting first-person-shooter set in one of gaming’s most startlingly realised worlds: Rapture, an opulent, abandoned, flooding city deep under the sea, now home to a range of monsters of the literal and human kind.

Drawing on all kinds of classic and thoughtful literary works, Bioshock presented a world which, then as now, is unique; a place dripping in atmosphere as much as in seawater and symbolism, with critics lauding its gorgeous Art Deco stylings, and memorable plot, while admiring its marriage of standard run-n-gun mechanics with unusual in-game powers.

With such a seminal, influential title under its soggy belt, the developers went As a character at the heart of much of the story in Bioshock Infinite, Elizabeth Comstock has a courageous streak that sets her apart from

Super Mario Run isn’t even out yet, but its December release marks a huge sea change in Nintendo’s philosophy

her 1912 peers

on to create an inevitable sequel – a slightly underwhelming Bioshock 2, which saw a return to Rapture’s fallen city. However, of much more note was what would prove to be a bold third title in the series: Bioshock Infinite.

Set in the early 20th Century, the player swapped the depths of the sea for the freedom of the skies as they explored a sun-kissed and spacious yet equally dangerous city: Columbia.

This fantastical, flying city was full to the brim of turn-of-the-century wonders – and horrors, too, drawing on then popular themes of racial tensions and superiority, eugenics, cultural separatism under a patriarchal demagogue’s watch, and other such unusual themes rarely explored in any game, or general contemporary media.

Ultimately, as the earliest title in the series, Bioshock has gained the most from this rerelease, with its graphics getting much more of an obvious boost and polish than its sequels. It also has plenty of behind-the-scenes information to uncover, with great care lavished on this truly landmark title.

So, would you kindly make your way over to Rapture, and explore this superb game again ...

26 LUCAN GAZETTE 29 September 2016

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SPORT McGrath’s football education

FastSport

SOCCER: ST PAT’S MAN HAILS THIRD LEVEL COMPETITION IN AIDING HIS RISE

NINE DUBS ON U-21 SHORTLIST:

NINE Dubliners have been named on the shortlist for the 2016 Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year following the Under-21 All-Ireland hurling championship.

Goalkeeper Jonathan Treacy, corner back James Madden, full back Eoghan O’Donnell, half-backs Cian MacGabhann and Shane Barrett, midfielder Jake Malone, half-forward Sean Treacy and fullforwards AJ Murphy and Chris Bennett were all on the shortlist for their respective positions.

Just two players who were named on the 2015 Team of the Year are again in contention to be honoured. Limerick’s Richie English who was named at full-back last year could retain his position. Galway’s Brian Molloy, who won an award last year at corner forward, is nominated for the centreforward berth.

Go to http://www. newstalk.com/BGE to nominate your favourites.

THIRD LEVEL LAUNCH  sport@dublingazette.com

A LARGE section of SSE Airtricity League talent are set to return to third level education at the start of the new 2016/17 season.

In fact, 86 players currently attached to SSE Airtricity League clubs in both the Premier and First Division, will return to their College and University sides for the start of a new campaign.

One of the outstanding talents in the league who are mixing top level football with further education is Jamie McGrath, who scored for St Patrick’s Athletic in the EA SPORTS Cup Final victory over Limerick last week, and he said it was

a great day for him.

The Pat’s man said of the occasion: “To win such a big trophy such as the EA SPORTS Cup and it was a great feeling to play in front of such a big crowd.

“I had a decent run last year in the first-term and I’d hoped to continue it this season. With a few injuries in the squad, it gave me a chance so I took it and it’s gone really well.

“We’ve got a few games in hand so we’ll be looking to catch that fourthplace and we’re also one game away from the Aviva Stadium in the FAI Cup which would be some experience.”

McGrath is on a scholarship programme between the SSE Airtric-

ity League club and Maynooth University where he can complete his further education.

The 20-year old believes the education and the scholarship programme offered in the SSE Airtricity League with Colleges and Universities is a huge plus for any player.

He continued: “I really enjoy playing college football so it’s really good to be back for a new season.

“A lot of young players go to England from Ireland but there isn’t sufficient education for those players. I think it’s important to get both done because if football doesn’t work out, you can fall back on your degree or vice-versa.

Representatives from the third level teams at the launch of the new season in Abbotstown this week. Picture: David Maher/Sportsfile

“It’s a great scholarship programme Maynooth University have with Pats and I’m very lucky to be on that.”

Another player who has performed well in the SSE Airtricity League this season is Jack Watson who plays for First Division side UCD. Enrolled at Dublin City University studying athletic therapy, Watson admits the balance of education and football has made these years the most enjoyable of his life.

Watson said: “Education is very important to me. I’m at DCU doing

athletic therapy so I’m involved in sports in that way as well as playing football.

“I know it will really help me going forward.

I’m on placement this year with the football team doing athletic therapy so it will help me see the other side of the game as well.

“Being involved with both has made these years the most enjoyable of my life so far and I think we’re lucky to be able to mix top level football with further education in this country.”

T hey were speak-

ing at the launch of the third level football season which will see 108 teams from 50 third level institutions compete across five divisions in the CUFL and three divisions in the WSCAI. Speaking at the launch, Mark Scanlon, FAI National Co-ordinator for Schools and Third Level football, said: “We’re looking forward to another great season with the quality increasing all the time. Last year, we had 2811 registered players in third level football across the various different divisions.”

Swords strike down Killester with thunderous force  sport@dublingazette.com

Swords Thunder’s Isaac Westbrooks on the attack.

Picture: Martin Doherty

PYROBEL Killester left themselves with too much to do against an impressive looking Griffith Swords Thunder losing out 91-86 at the IWA in Clontarf. Brian O’Malley’s side were 20 points in arrears at half time before storming back into the game to set up a frenetic final quarter.

Thunder eventually pulled through with some late freethrows and 14 points apiece from debutants Justin Goldsborough, Jose Maria and Charlie

Coombes.

Ireland International Lorcan Murphy scored 30 points as Templeogue beat DCU Saints in St Vincent’s and a last gasp three-pointer from Conor Johnson helped Belfast Star to a narrow win at home to UL Eagles.

UCD put up the biggest score of the weekend with 99 points away to Commercial.ie Eanna.

There was an even spread of scorers for the students to offset 20 points from Australian big man Nathaniel Musters for the hosts.

There were defeats for both

top tier newcomers as KUBS lost 89-73 at home to SSE Airtricity Moycullen in Mark Ingle’s first game as Head Coach while Irish TV Tralee Warriors couldn’t prevent UCC Demons from opening the defence of their title with a 92-77 win.

Demons debutant Jacob Lawson got his time at the club off to a high quality start with 23 points and Kyle Hosford shook off an injury to hit 17.

Kieran Donaghy scored 15 points on his return to Super League basketball and his Warriors Head Coach says they

learned a lot from the experience.

“We’ll be a lot better in about four or five games,” said Mark Bernsen.

“We weren’t as sharp mentally in the second half as we were in the first half and that’s something we have to work on.”

Kerry footballer Donaghy stayed on the floor until the 38th minute of action.

Dylan Cunningham was one of four Irish players to score 20 points or more this weekend in Moycullen’s come-back win at KUBS.

29 September 2016 LUCAN GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

Rowe ghost-point row denies Dublin a replay

In front of a record crowd for a ladies football final, Greg McGonigle’s side were left to rue profligate shooting as well as a hugely contentious disallowed point for Carla Rowe ALL-IRELAND FINAL Cork 1-7 Dublin 1-6  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN fell at the final hurdle for the third year running in the All Ireland ladies football senior championship on Sunday.

While Cork revel in an astonishing sixth consecutive victory and eleventh title in 12 years, the discussion around their victory centred almost entirely on a straightforward looking first half play.

In front of a ladies’ record crowd of 34,445 at Croke Park, Cork’s single point winning margin lent the game substantial controversy. In the 23rd minute, a Carla Rowe effort – that replays clearly show passed between the posts – was waved away as a wide.

Dublin, truthfully, need

to examine their worryingly inaccurate shooting over the course of the final – they hit over double as many wides as points – but a poor decision and the absence of HawkEye unquestionably robbed them of a key score and a potential replay.

No such drama was to punctuate the early stages. In chronic conditions, Lyndsey Davey conceded an early free in chasing back to enable Orla Finn to put Cork ahead.

Orlagh Farmer doubled the lead but not before Niamh McEvoy had dropped a decent chance short and into Cork keeper Martina O’Brien’s hands.

True to form, Cork built their game on defence, with numbers behind the ball. Sinead Aherne almost got on the end of a tempting through ball in front of the Cork goal, before Rowe got crowded

out six yards out as Dublin enjoyed a spell of possession.

Noelle Healy steadied the nerves as got Dublin on the scoreboard, with Finn quickly responding. McEvoy closed the gap to a single point, while Nicole Owens fired an effort from distance straight down O’Brien’s throat in a frantic but scrappy early encounter.

Then came the key moment. Rowe broke down the left and struck a point from close in that flew barely two metres over the Cork bar and between the sticks, only to see the umpires arms opened wide. Half-time replays around Croke Park left those in attendance in little doubt a point had been scored.

Still, the Dubs were increasingly in charge, and a mistake in the Cork defence offered Lauren Magee Dublin’s third serious glimpse at

Carla Rowe of Dublin has her shot blocked down by Marie Ambrose and Shauna Kelly.

Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

goal, the midfielder firing just wide of the left post.

Davey was soon to have them level, before McEvoy gave the Dubs their first lead with an angled point from a pacey break.

Dublin led 0-4 to 0-3 as the hooter sounded in a game heavily impacted by conditions, but – Rowe’s ghost point aside – really should have clocked up

a powerful Niamh Collins run came to nothing as Aherne was crowded out in a Dublin counter. Finn took control, almost passive in finding the space and accuracy to edge Cork two in front, and then three, and then four.

With the game going away from Dublin and only 10 minutes left on the clock, the capital

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‘Fundamentally, I believe the Ladies Association have let us down’ - Greg McGonigle

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more.

While only fractionally ahead in what was becoming a soggy war, Dublin’s late-half dominance might have led to slight disappointment in the sky blue camp with the improved second half conditions. Two early wides from Cork suggested a slight swing, but a McEvoy free after a foul on a breaking Aherne was to mark Dublin’s last lead.

Cork substitute Rhona Ni Bhuachalla hit back hard, clinically striking under Ciara Trant from close range in a crowded box to finish off a sharp rebels break, taking Cork 1-3 to 0-5 ahead, before McEvoy squared things up from a scrappy Dublin attack.

Cork, as has long been their habit, found form at the right time. Doireann O’Sullivan edged the Rebelettes in front, while

side’s composure briefly deserted them as a series of ambitious wides that wasted precious seconds.

Cork, meanwhile, played for possession, stifling the game in its critical moments with the grit that’s become their trademark.

With Dublin unable to make inroads, Aherne’s last-gasp penalty left the post-match verdict in doubt. Won in the dying seconds it hit the net with the hooter poised, and while Aherne struck firmly past O’Brien, the damage had been done.

Cork were crowned All Ireland champions, winning 1-7 to 1-6. While there’s no questioning the Rebelettes class, this particular win comes with a hefty asterisk alongside it that leaves a bitter taste in Dublin mouths: but for an error that’s genuinely hard to comprehend, the teams finished dead level.

FASTSport

Sinead Goldrick consoles Niam Collins

McGonigle fumes at HawkEye final fiasco DUBLIN manager Gregory McGonigle gave a fuming post-match verdict on the umpiring mistake that ultimately decided Sunday’s All Ireland football final, suggesting that ladies’ football isn’t being taken seriously enough.

A Carla Rowe point mistakenly signalled wide was the difference between Dublin and Cork as the Leesiders took their sixth consecutive ladies’ All Ireland by a margin of 1-7 to 1-6, and McGonigle laid the blame for the incorrect call firmly at the feet of the Ladies’ Football Association.

“We preach all year about having equality and standards. If this happened next Saturday [in the men’s final], we would be going to HawkEye,” McGonigle argued after the game.

“Fundamentally, I believe our ladies association have let us down,” he continued. “We just sort of talked about it inside there as a management. I think I saw something last year that it was too much money, and if that’s what it comes down to, I don’t think we’re definitely skint.

“Put it on the flipside. 45 or maybe 60 officials spent a week in San Diego in the earlier part of the year. What do you think would be more important?

“We were shocked,” he explained. “I actually shouted onto the field for [full forward] Lyndsey Davey to challenge [referee] Brendan Rice, and he came over and it was more or less ‘no’.

“Then we challenged it at half-time when we were going in the tunnel to go to it and more or less what we got from our association was a shrug of the shoulders.”

As a separate body to the GAA, the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association made a decision earlier this year not to use HawkEye. Since the game, they’ve cited the system’s absence at other venues as a reason for not adopting the system at Croke Park and denied that a cost factor in adapting the system to the smaller ladies’ ball was key to the decision.

Dublin have since put out a statement congratulating Cork and made it clear they don’t intend to appeal the result, but urged the LGFA to ensure that such a scenario cannot arise again.

GAZETTE

30 LUCAN GAZETTE 29 September 2016

SPORT

FASTSport

ROWING: HEAVEY AND CROWLEY POWER IRELAND

Happy Harriers shine on all fronts THIRTY Lucan athletes travelled to the Phoenix Park last Saturday to contest the final race in the SSE Airtriciy Dublin Marathon Race Series, the Dublin Half Marathon.

First home for Lucan was Rory Thompson who finished in 94th in a personal best of 1.28.32. On the women’s side, the first Lucan Harrier home was Myra Nolan in 1.44.09. Eileen O’Brien was third in her age cateogy in 1.55.32 and Ursula Murphy was fifth in hers in 1.56.43.

Three of the fit4life athletes – Rachel Smith, Anita Hughes and Edel Fogarty – completed their first half marathons. Closer to home, Lucan’s Daniel McCann led home the field at Griffeen park run coming home in a great time of 19.50 in his 60th park run on Saturday.

The Irish Over-55s rowing team that won the European title in Copenhagen

Lucan duo land Euro title in Copenhagen

 JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

IRELAND maintained their over 55’s European rowing 8s title in Copenhagen earlier this month, with an All-Ireland squad including Lucan rowers Mick Heavey and Denis Crowley – both of Commercial Rowing club – and Leixlip man Gerry Mur phy of Neptune Rowing Club forming part of the formidable eight.

The three men’s clubs are located along the Liffey at Islandbridge.

Crowley put in a particularly outstanding performance as well as the eights, he came back the very next day to win the over 50s single skulls, too.

The Irish eight had caused an upset last year when they edged out a traditionally dominant Russian side

in the final few metres, and they seem to have an impact, with that Russia squad opting to take on new members and go down an age division rather than face the Irish again.

This year, then, was to be less of a close run affair, despite the Irish fielding the same line up, bringing their key metric - average age up to 56 as opposed to last year’s on-the-money 55.

“T he race is over 1,000 metres,” Heavey told GazetteSport.

“We got off to a really good start and pulled out a bit of a lead over the first 300 metres, going at 42 strokes per minute. By 500 metres a strong German crew had almost pulled level.

“R owin g’s a huge sport in Germany,” he continued.

“So they’re always a threat. Our plan had

always been to take off at 500 metres, and when we did we pulled out to over a length inside 20 strokes. It’s unusual for an Irish crew to win something like this, as teams like Germany and Russia are typically dominant.

It’s fantastic to see.”

Heavey comes from a rugby background.

H av i n g r owe d a s a teenager, he found professional commitments too much to maintain the stamina training necessary to row seriously, and played as a prop forward instead.

Having semi-retired from his business, however, he moved back to rowing.

“It’s possible for me to spend time on it now,” he explained.

“There are a lot of older men who do, and you really need to commit to training properly.

“Not preparing prop-

erly for an event like this puts your heart and lungs at risk; it’s really not something you can do without full commitment. You won’t be successful, but it’s also not safe.

“As I teenager, when I first started in the sport, I was inspired

by Sean Drea, who just missed out on a medal at the Montreal Olympics in 1976,” Heavey explained.

“T he hope is that the boys from Skibbereen in Rio will have the same impact on the sport now. They’ll always be a few people that’ll turn up for a couple of sessions and disappear.

“With a bit of luck, they’ll be someone coming through in the future who watched those boys [the O’Donovans], and be inspired into the sport too.”

29 September 2016 LUCAN GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

Moran magic propels Lucan into quarters  sport@dublingazette.com

JOE Moran’s stunning four-goal salvo saw Lucan Sarsfields sign off their round-robin group games in style as they smashed Setanta 6-19 to 2-9 at O’Toole Park last Saturday.

Lucan will now face St Jude’s in their quarter-final on Sunday at

O’Toole Park at 3.45pm and certainly got plenty of target practice in against the Ballymun lads.

All Lucan’s goals came in the opening half and by the break they led by 22 points with Moran hitting their first four goals.

Former Dublin senior, Kevin O’Reilly, who finished with a personal

tally of 1-8, and Paul Crummey grabbed their other goals.

St Pat’s, Palmerstown finished bottom of their group after a 1-20 to 0-14 defeat to Crumlin. Alex Quinn, his twin Ben and Adam McGreal were the shooting stars for Crumlin with this trio amassing a combined tally of 1-13, ball bar one point from

play.

Crumlin led 0-12 to 0-8 at the interval but upped their game in the second period to run out convincing nine-point victors.

Alex Quinn struck four points from play in the opening half with brother Ben adding a brace to lead them to a third win of the group stages.

CLUB NOTICEBOARD LUCAN SARSFIELDS ROCK the Lock is a three-day music

ballers who won Division 1. The split pot

festival taking place at the 12th Lock

draw was won by Trevor Lawless, who

over the October Bank Holiday week-

promptly used the proceeds for spice

end. Special Offer on €50 weekend

bags for the boys.

passes or individual nights at €30 for

The family fun day was held on Sat-

Friday/Saturday and €40 for Satur-

urday last and, despite the weather,

day. See the website for more details.

was a superb day. Our thanks to all the

The senior hurlers had an emphatic

volunteers who helped make it such a

win over Setanta in the championship and face St Jude’s in the quarter finals.

LADIES FOOTBALL: WESTPORT HOLDS OFF BRAVE LUCAN

That game is in O’Toole Park on October 2 at 3.45pm.

The senior 1 camogie side drew their championship semi-final with Na Fian-

 sport@dublingazette.com

LUCAN Sarsfields Under-14 ladies footballers made another significant mark on what has been a great year so far when they reached the All-Ireland 7s final in Kilmacud last Saturday.

With the Division 1 league and county Feile titles already secured, this was another marquee performance in spite of a drenched day at Silverpark.

First up, they took on Naomh Mhuire of Galway. After a slow start, Lucan settled into the rhythm of seven-a-side

Mayo the opposition.

The first half proved a ding-dong affair and Lucan just could not get the crucial scores while Westport did, going in six points ahead of the break.

Lucan needed to start the second half strong but it was Westport who got the early scores.

Sarsfields never gave up and netted a couple of goals but Westport stayed clear to land the title.

Nonetheless, this was a brilliant all round performance by all of the Lucan girl with a nonstop work rate and never say die spirit.

with registration from 8am.

this time. The senior 2 camogie side

Day has been rescheduled to Satur-

beat off Good Counsel to book a place

day, October 8 in Lisheen Springs GC.

in the shield final.

To book golf and/or dinner, please text Shane at 087 635669 no later than Sunday, October 2.

The Cupla Focal club is back in action on Monday nights 8pm.

Memorial tournament held in Confey

Set Dancing is back on Wednesday

GAA Club. The “Mama Mias” taught

nights while the bingo continues every

some other junior teams a lesson or

Wednesday evening at 8.30pm with

two, while the “Old Team Mates” (of Liz

free tea/coffee.

Balfe) performed well, but the stars

The club shop is newly stocked and

of the show were Lucan’s junior team

back in action and is open on Thurs-

who brought home the silverware.

days from 7-9pm and on Saturdays

Congratulations to the U-15 foot-

tough game, and despite a late penalty to Brigid’s at the very death, it was the Lucan girls who stayed in the competition with a three-point win.

It concluded their stay at Silverpark, making the short hop up the N11 to Glenalbyn to face Claregalway in the final four with the rain still not letting up.

Nonetheless, the side put the head down and ground out a hard fought four-point win to secure a place in the final.

With the rain finally deciding to take a break, the final kicked off at 6pm with Westport of

back. Entry is €30, rollout is at 9am Due to the All-Ireland final replay,

teams participating in the Liz Balfe

football and ran out worthy winners.

O’Hanrahans of Carlow and Carryduff of Down quickly followed and, with the girls building on their opening performance, they clocked up three wins from three in their opening group games.

It put them through to the knock-out stages with Killucan of Westmeath in the last 16.

This was a tough physical match but Sarsfields hung on for a welldeserved win.

County rivals St Brigid’s were next up in the quarter finals. This was always going to be a

heading to Newbridge Sarsfields and

the Golf Society Captain Liam Carton’s

On Saturday last, Lucan had three

ALL-IRELAND SEVENS

sees cyclists depart Lucan Sarsfields

Sunday at 11am with home advantage

onship outing is on Friday, October 7.

Sars star Under-14s in All-Ireland 7s final

Tour de Sarsfields is a special cycling event to be held on October 8. It

na and have to do it all over again next

The senior footballers next champi-

The Lucan Sarsfields 7-a-side panel

success.

from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

NA GAEIL OGA BHI mi-adh ar an Foireann Camoigi-

in aghaidh Cumann Muire na Dea i

ochta i gcoinne Naomh Barrog san

Bothar Galtymore De Sathairn ag

craobh. Cailleadar 5-12 go 0-2.

a 10. Ta treanail na bpaisti ar ais ar

Rachfaidh siad anois isteach san

siul i nGaelscoil Naomh Padraig ag a 10

Shield, go n-eiri leo! Bhi cailiunt frei-

gach Sathairn. Freisin ta treanail do

sin ag an Foireann Iomanaiochta i

bhuachailli a rugadh i ‘09 ar siul gach

gcoinne Naomh Barrog sa bhaile, 1-10

Mairt i nGaelscoil Naomh Padraig ag

go 2-16.

a 5 agus

Ta cluiche amhain fos fagtha acu

treanail do chailini a rugadh i ‘09

san sraith le caolseans na cluichi

agus ‘10 gach Deardaoin ag a 5. Nios

cailithe a sroicheadh.

mo eolas ar fail uaidh Eoin ag 086

Beidh an Foireann Peile F8 ag imirt

0545293.

GARDA/WESTMANSTOWN ENJOYABLE club visit to Belfast last

tinued on their winning ways with

Friday for the annual match against

another championship win over Ball-

our colleagues in the PSNI GAA club for

inteer St John’s, finishing on a 6-18 to

the McCarthy Cup. The game played at

1-3 scoreline.

Queen’s University Grounds was very

The next and final group fixture at

competitive and played in a robust but

home to St Pat’s, Donabate, on Sun-

sporting manner.

day, October 9 in St Catherine’s Park

The Garda team, comprising a mix-

at 11am; put this fixture in your diaries!

ture of our younger members and

The U-14 boys beat Na Fianna by a

some veterans, came out on top on a

point in a vital away fixture on Satur-

scoreline of 1-13 to 1-10 courtesy of a

day picking up two vital league points.

last minute goal from Davy Cryan.

The next and final league game in two

The intermediate B championship tie is this Sunday, October 2 against Lucan Sarsfields; throw in at 3pm.

Our minors, St Catherine’s, con-

weeks’ time is against Thomas Davis.

The U-12 hurlers lost away to Parnell’s by 2-5 to 0-4 and the U-10 hurlers were away to Cuala on Sunday.

GAZETTESPORT ALL OF YOUR LUCAN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

SEVENS STARS: Lucan Sarsfields Under-14s add to their hugely impressive year will All-Ireland run P31

SEPT 29 - OCT 5, 2016

DUBLIN’S FINAL AGONY: Rowe point controversy leaves bad taste P29

Peter Egan and Mads Brandt Pedersen go over the Lucan weir en route to Liffey Descent victory

Egan’s Descent delight Salmon Leap’s Peter links up with Danish rising star to claim K2 victory as the annual canoe marathon along the 28.2km course from Straffan

 KARL GRAHAM

sport@dublingazette.com

IT WAS a family affair at this year’s Liffey Descent as Lucan siblings Jenny and Peter Egan both won their respective class in the annual kayaking spectacular.

The race, which is strewn with overhanging trees and “fun” paddlers, starts at the K Club and ends about 28.2 kilometres later at Trinity Rowing Club.

Peter has now won three K2 senior double crowns, each with a different partner. This time, Dane Mads Brandt Pedersen was the engine behind Egan’s lead as they beat British duo Nicky Cresser and Jonathan Boyton

across the line in a time of 1.48.08.

Egan spoke to GazetteSport about his delight at the win and teaming up with Pedersen for the first time.

“It was a great line-up in the race; there were some super international athletes and crews there.

“It was a battle from start to finish and relentless over the last three kilometres with the British crew of Cresser and Boyton.

“We just led over the last weir and made about 30 to 40 metres on them but they came back to us and challenged us the whole way down.”

Egan met Pedersen, who won silver at the Under-23 World Marathon Championships

just a week ago, when he shared a house with him and some of other members of the Danish team while training in Florida. “I was showing them videos of the race on Youtube and he said it would be really nice to come and do it.

“It was his first ever wild water down river race and he paddled tremendously because I know when he woke up on Saturday morning and saw the water rushing over Straffan Weir, he wasn’t too impressed.

“We communicated really well in the boat on the way down; I had to give him a few pointers about what he should expect around the next corner.

“He suffered a small bit with a dead leg for

much of the race because the seat was pinching the back of his leg and stopping the blood flow from reaching his toes.”

Jenny, competing in the K1 senior for the first time in the Liffey Descent, won after coming home in a new record time of 2.04.14 – over 11 seconds ahead of South African Beatrice Beavitt in second place.

“Absolutely, she did fantastic. That was her first time racing K1 and a clean shoot for her all the way down, so she proved she can do it in K1 and K2. She also beat the record that has stood since 1994 by three minutes.”

Peter and Jenny will both be back in action this Sunday at another ICF Classic event in North Italy.