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DublinGazette MARCH 29 - APRIL 4, 2018

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THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL AREA

‘Police state’ fury PBP angered as gardai question members after weekly meeting

MARK O’BRIEN PEOPLE Before Profit members in Tallaght say that they were questioned by gardai last week under suspicion of being “members of an unlawful organisation”.

The group held their weekly branch meeting in Fettercairn last Wednesday.

Following the meeting they say they were approached by plain-clothes gardai and subjected to questioning about their activity under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. The gardai took name and addresses of the branch members and were told they were suspected of being “members of an unlawful organisation”.

Cllr Emma Hendrick (PBP), who was in attendance at the meeting, said she was “outraged” by the incident.

She said: “These actions appear like the actions of a totalitarian police state where a group with a political programme that is to the Left of the political centre are harassed by the gardai.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 29 March 2018

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CLONDALKIN: SHOCK AS ‘VITALLY IMPORTANT’ COMMUNITY HUB TO CLOSE

‘Restore funding for multicultural centre’ CALLS have been made to restore funding to the Clondalkin Intercultural Centre after it emerged that the centre was set to close soon.

The centre has been open since March 2008 and supports immigrants in the local community.

It provides services such as English courses, promoting interculturalism and provides volunteer opportunities for members of Irish and immigrant communities to increase their participation in the life of the local community.

Cllr Francis Timmons (Ind) has brought a

 MARK O’BRIEN

mobrien@dublingazette.com

motion before South Dublin County Council calling for the Department of Justice to continue funding the centre.

Cllr Timmons said: “Clondalkin is a very mixed, multicultural and diverse community and the Clondalkin Intercultural centre has played a huge role in working with many different cultures.”

A number of other coun-

cillors have spoken in support of Cllr Timmons’ motion.

Cllr Trevor Gilligan (FF) said: “We should be celebrating what the centre has done for Clondalkin, rather than pulling down the shutters. The centre was opened in March 2008 and is to be shut this month, March 2018.”

Cllr Breeda Bonner (Lab) said: “These centres provide vital services for members of the immigrant communities, most especially the provision of English classes.

“They provide classes in other areas too such as art and craft and gardening.

“Of great importance, these centres provide strangers to our shores the opportunity to socialise with each other and to meet Irish people.

“They are vital to make these immigrants and their children good citizens of the future. Because these people are struggling to find their feet, it is vital that we battle on their behalf.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice told Dublin Gazette that South Dublin County Partnership, which runs the centre, had previously been allocated funding of more than €150,000 in 2017 under two funding programmes.

T h e s p o ke s p e rs o n added that The Office for

the Promotion of Migrant Integration (OPMI) added that the Department of Justice allocates public funding for migrant integration projects on the basis of competitive selection processes.

The spokesperson said: “We do this to make sure that we are allocating the funding in a fair, open and transparent way.

“This is important so that we can comply with the rules on how public money can be spent, and at the same time give a wide range of community and voluntary organisations the opportunity to bid for government funding for projects to support the integration of migrants in our communities.

“In 2017 an open selection process was conducted to allocate funding under the National Integration Funding Programme. All eligible applications received were assessed by OPMI against the published selection criteria.

“South Dublin County Partnership (SDCP) applied for funding within this process to meet the running costs of the Intercultural Centres in Tallaght and Clondalkin, but unfortunately were unsuccessful in what was a highly competitive process.”

SDCP remain eligible to apply for other funding programmes that will be advertised on the Department’s website.

Hospital car park costs in spotlight THE Government are to review car parking charges in hospitals across the country following complaints that charges in some hospitals are too high.

Last week, Dublin Gazette reported that there had been calls to review the charges at Tallaght Hospital.

Deputy John Curran (FF) has said that the Government must establish guidelines to regulate car parking fees in hospitals across the country.

He said: “Patients who are regularly visiting hospitals are faced with an added financial burden by having to fork out for parking fees to attend appointments.

“Should hospitals such as Tallaght adopt these guidelines and reduce their pricing policy for cancer patients, it will no doubt alleviate some of the difficulty with managing a longterm and serious illness.”

29 March 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

FASTNews

ITT had a oui way to help mark French Gastronomy Month IT TALLAGHT students took centre stage in the celebration of French Gastronomy Month by organising and hosting a unique collaborative event at Scholar’s Training Restaurant last week..

The event was organised by students from the International Hospitality and Tourism Management Degree, in collaboration with hospitality and tourism students from Lycee Christian Bourquin who travelled to ITT all the way from Argeles in the South of France.

Students from both countries bridged the language divide by managing both the restaurant and the kitchen under the expert guidance of ITT lecturers Ursula Maguire, Tom Meaney and John Keatley and visiting French lecturers, Florence Meges, Didier Bascoul, Christophe Charlot and Nadia Garcia.

IT Tallaght celebrates 25 years of education provision this year and the Gout de France is just the most recent iteration of many Franco-Irish relationships that the college has built up over the years across a wide variety of areas including research, Erasmus study programmes, and international internships.

It has established links with French universities in places such as Lille, Strasbourg, La Rochelle, Reims and Rennes.

It is envisaged that next year hospitality, tourism and culinary arts students form IT Tallaght will travel to Lycee Christian Bourquin in Argeles to collaborate on a similar event, thus bringing a true sense of Irish hospitality to friends in the South of France.

Ripples of praise as news of fixed swimming pool floor at centre leaks out SOUTH Dublin County Council have fixed the moveable floor in Clondalkin Swimming Pool.

The floor was not working for the past 10 months and has had an impact on various clubs and individual swimmers.

The fixing of this floor will see the area for swimming increased from 17 meters to 25 meters Welcoming the news, Cllr Mark Ward (SF) said: “I am delighted that the movable floor in the swimming pool at Clondalkin Leisure Centre is fixed. This means that the pool is now fully operational.”

Cllr Ward added that clubs

and individuals had been affected while the floor was not working and he was glad to see it fully operational again.

He said: “I really welcome this news. For the pool to be successful it needs to offer a swim programme to suit all community needs.

“Moveable floor systems help to achieve this; by altering the geometry of the pool allowing multiple swimming activities to take place at the same time.

“Varying the depth of the pool then broadens the scope of activities from international competitions to mother-and-baby classes.”

PROTEST: ’WE WILL HIT HIM WHERE IT HURTS – IN HIS POCKET’

Families under threat of homelessness MARK O’BRIEN mobrien@dublingazette.com

THE Campaign for Public Housing held a protest at the Sheldon Park Hotel in Ballyfermot last Sunday to highlight the plight of 20 families under threat of homelessness at Larkfield House, Coldcut Road.

The owner of the Sheldon Park Hotel, Cavvies Ltd, is also the owner of Larkfield House.

Cavvies had received planning permission to build 27 apartments at the site but it emerged that the 45 apartments had been built.

An Bord Pleanala last week confirmed to Dublin Gazette that the appeal to build the additional apartments had been rejected.

The council also recently confirmed that they were to inspect the original apartments due to planning and safety concerns.

The council has suspended pay-

ing Housing Assistance Payments to tenants at Larkfield House until the issues have been resolved.

Families were told last week that they would have to move out of the apartments that had planning permission rejected, meaning that many of them may be facing homelessness.

Speaking at the protest, South Inner City housing activist and campaign spokesperson Damian Farrell said: “Today’s protest was a continuation of the campaign of disruption promised by the Campaign for Public Housing. We are determined to target those who profit from the misery of homelessness.”

Campaign spokesperson Cllr Paul Hand added: “One of the directors of Cavvies Ltd., the company who built and let the Larkfield House apartments on Coldcut Road without planning permis-

The protest at the Sheldon Park Hotel

sion, owns the Sheldon Park Hotel.

“We want his customers to show him that this carry on is not acceptable and will hit him where it hurts – in his pocket.”

Campaign spokesperson and East Wall community activist Joe Mooney said: “The purpose of our campaign is to ensure that those who are causing the housing crisis - government, banks, estate

agents, developers and rouge landlords - are not allowed to continue with ‘business as usual’.

“While thousands of children live in emergency accommodation we will not allow the situation to be normalised.”

We contacted representatives of Cavvies Ltd for comment but had not received a response at the time of going to press.

Public warned to be on alert after a spate of burglaries across area REBECCA RYAN

GARDAI in Rathfarnham are investigating a spate of burglaries in the area in the last week.

A number of houses were broken into between Wednesday, March 21 and Saturday, March 24.

A Garda spokesperson told Dublin Gazette: “No one was injured and no arrests [have been made] at this stage.”

Locals have also been warned about people calling door to door pretending to be raising money, but it is believed they are scoping out houses to potentially target.

Local Facebook page Knocklyon Network post-

ed reports of numerous break-ins around Knocklyon.

The page warned: “One house in Glenvara Park was completely ransacked with everything destroyed inside. There are also reports of suspicious people calling to doors, and saying they are raising money for various clubs/ events “These people are, more than likely, scoping empty houses in your neighbourhood in order to rob them.

Please contact Rathfarnham Garda Station at 01 666 6500 if you notice anything suspicious.”

Meanwhile, Gardai have issued an appeal to motorists to ‘park smart’, as new

figures show that onethird of vehicles broken into in residential areas had been left unlocked by the owner.

Figures from the Garda Analysis Service released this week show that 8,571 vehicles parked at residential locations were broken into between 2015 and 2017.

Of those, 2,824 were reported to be unlocked, and of those 1,245 were in Dublin.

The analysis also shows that the most common location for these thefts was in driveways, and that half of the thefts occurred between midnight and 7am.

On average, more than

€340,000-worth of property was stolen in total from vehicles each year.

Property stolen included cash, laptops, tools, sunglasses, jewellery and sports equipment.

Gardai are appealing for all vehicle owners to make sure they lock their vehicle no matter where it is parked, and not to store valuables in the car, but if you do have to, keep them out of sight.

Sgt Kelvin Courtney from the Garda Crime Prevention National Centre of Excellence said: “Wherever you park your car or van, we would always advise you to take your property with you and ensure the vehicle is locked, alarmed

and parked in a secure, well-lit location.

“Sometimes it is impractical to remove tools and equipment from vehicles.

In these cases, owners should take extra steps to ensure the safety of their property. Additional locking mechanisms to vehicles should be fitted.

“Consider a monitored vehicle alarm and tracking devices for valuable property. Reduce the payoff to the thief by marking and photographing the property and take a record of serial numbers, makes and models.

“Download the household property register for free from the Garda Website for your records.”

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 29 March 2018

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: ‘RAISE CONCERNS’ OVER PROPOSED METROLINK

Move to transfer trams from Red Line slammed  MARK O’BRIEN, REBECCA RYAN & JORDAN UPSHAW

THERE has been criticism of the decision of the National Transport Authority (NTA) to transfer seven trams from the Luas Red Line to the Green Line.

The move was made to provide additional capacity to the Green Line after the new longer trams on the line have had to be put out of service due to technical issues.

Fianna Fail’s John Lahart raised the matter in Dail Eireann last week saying: “There are virtually daily delays to services. Since the launch of Luas Cross City Services last December passenger numbers have risen by almost 30% which is pushing trams to operate at full capacity.

“Luas passengers are deeply frustrated that it was well warned these difficulties would occur but that the only fix offered by authorities has been to remove trams from one line.

Seven trams from the Red Line are being switched to the Green Line

“It is clear that there are problems with the insufficient capacity of Luas trams that require intervention but moving trams from one line to another will not prove to be a long term or sustainable solution.”

A spokesperson for the NTA said: “The transfer of seven trams from the Red Line to the Green Line actually took place last year in a process that began in September.

“It was part of the advance planning for the

rollout of the Luas cross city services and not a response to it. It was certainly not a response to issues that have arisen in recent weeks on the Green Line.

“The impact on service levels on the Red Line of the transfer of these trams, has been minimal.

“In fact there are enough trams in operation on that line to cover what is referred to as ‘Peak Vehicle Requirement’ (PVR). PVR is the number of trams required to operate all peak

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There will be stops in Milltown, Windy Arbour, Dundrum, Balally, Kilmacud, Stillorgan and Sandyford.

Senator Neale Richmond said: “MetroLink will provide faster reliable journey times to and from these key destinations while offering interchange with other rail, DART, light rail and bus services.”

There have been concerns about the project, as more than 100 properties may have to be acquired

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“Transferring trams from one line to the other as needs arise makes sense if there is a tram shortage on one line, and some spare tram capacity on the other.”

Elsewhere, a local senator has welcomed the proposed MetroLink, saying it will benefit business and commuters across Dublin.

The railway service will run for 26km between Swords and Sandyford, connecting key destinations including Dublin Air-

to facilitate construction for the new line, which is due to start in 2021. The intention is to commence passenger services in 2027.

More than €100 million is set to be spent on buying properties, and some affected homeowners have slammed the planners for not giving them enough information. Parks, memorials and playing pitches will be hit by the works that are expected to last up to six years.

Senator Richmond added now is the time to raise any concerns for the project.

“I would encourage all local people to raise any concerns and have their views heard during the public consultation on MetroLink, which will be held in The Clayton Hotel in Leopardstown on Wednesday, April 18 from 2pm - 8pm.

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THE Technological Universities Act 2018 has been passed by the Oireachtas, in a move welcomed by the Technological University Alliance for Dublin.

Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, passed the act, with president Michael D Higgins signing it into law.

Minister Mitchell O’Connor said that the act is a ‘transformative piece of legislation’, and that the creation of technological universities in Ireland provides ‘opportunity’ for regional development.

“The Technological Universities legislation has been a high priority for this Government and will radically change the higher education landscape.

“The legislation will underpin the development of a new type of higher education institution, building on the strengths and mission of institutes of technology to develop world class technological universities,” Minister Mitchell O’Connor said.

“The creation of technological universities provides the opportunity to drive regional development and provide more opportunities for individuals, enterprise and the community.

“These institutions will have significant impact and influence regionally, nationally and internationally,” she said.

Applications for Technological University status can now be submitted to the Higher Education Authority for assessment by an international panel of experts.

POLITICS

PBP blast gardai as members targeted at meeting CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Cllr Hendrick (above) added: “It is absolutely disgraceful that An Garda Siochana approached the members of People Before Profit Tallaght in this way.

“People Before Profit is a legitimate political party with three TDs, one MLA, 12 councillors and a membership that is 32-county [strong] and nationwide.

“As a party, we refute these outrageous allegations by the gardai. This is an attempt at intimidation by the gardai against People Before Profit and we will be writing to the Garda Ombudsman about this.”

Cllr Hendrick questioned whether gardai would question members of other political parties.

She said: “I would ask the gardai if they are going around harassing members of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and Labour in this way?

“I would also ask if the gardai are performing these actions in places like Dublin 4, or is this behaviour reserved for Tallaght?

“Garda scandals are being exposed regularly these days, such as penalty points, the McCabe and whistle-blower situation.

“I would say to the gardai, if they are looking for illegal activity, [they] should perhaps target their investigations closer to home.”

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana confirmed to Dublin Gazette they were in attendance in the Fettercairn area on the evening in question, but they could not add any further comment for operational and security reasons.

29 March 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 29 March 2018

GALLERIES

Sean Cronin

Phil Hennelly and Evelyn Donnelly Deirdre Doherty Ryan

Noeleen O’Callaghan Suin Kelly

Josephine Kelly, Patricia Grace and Eilish Fennelly. Pictures: Simon Peare

Gathering to enjoy dinner and a show Noemi and Peter Kiss

T

HE Spa Hotel Lucan hosted Lucan Drama Club’s Dinner Theatre last week which featured a four course meal and a play for €25.

The play was Remembering Things by Michael Fosbrook and was directed by Adrian Rushe. It starred Siun Kell, Adrian Rush and Sean Cronin.

Catherine Doherty

29 March 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 29 March 2018

COURTS: ROOFER IMPASSIVE AS UNANIMOUS VERDICT IS RETURNED FROM THE JURY

Man convicted of random and violent sex attacks A JURY has convicted a roofer of carrying out three random and violent attacks on women in Dublin in a five year period.

Slawomir Gierlowski (33) of Galtymore Road, Drimnagh had pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment, sexual assault and assault of a woman on September 11, 2011 and to false imprisonment, sexual assault and assault

of a second woman on September 3, 2015.

He also denied falsely imprisoning and assaulting a third woman and having a hunting knife with intent to intimidate on May 16, 2016.

This third attack took place on Knockmeenagh Lane, Clondalkin, not far from the other two attacks and from a house occupied by the family of Gierlows-

ki’s partner. The women cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Shortly after 11am, the jury of eleven men found Gierlowski guilty of carrying out the 2016 attack. The jury had deliberated for a little under five hours in total, having returned guilty verdicts relating to the earlier offences on Thursday afternoon.

All verdicts were unanimous ones. Judge Pauline Codd thanked the jurors for their care in deliberating.

She also praised the “assiduous” work carried out by the gardai investigating the three crimes.

She said the difficult cases were handled with sensitivity.

The judge commended the three complainants for the strength and courage showed by each of them in giving evidence during the trial.

Gierlowski, a Polish national who has lived and worked in Ireland since 2008, sat impassively as the verdicts were delivered.

He has been in custody since his arrest in June 2016 as a suspect for the attack the previous month.

Judge Codd said she will set a future sentence date shortly.

The first attack took place late at night on Sep-

tember 11, 2011.

Gierlowski attacked a woman walking home from a night out, dragging her to the ground and sexually assaulting her.

She managed to get away from him but he caught her and began punching her repeatedly around the face.

On September 3, 2015 a woman was also walking home late at night when Gierlowski came up behind her and put a leather belt around her neck and began pulling backwards.

He pulled her to the ground and then wrapped duct tape around her face and hands before sexually assaulting her.

The third attack was carried out in broad day-

light on the morning of May 16, 2016.

The victim was walking along Knockmeenagh Lane to the nearby Luas stop when Gierlowski, armed with a hunting knife, put his arm around her neck and began to pull her backwards.

This woman told the court that she thought Gierlowski was going to slit her throat and she grabbed the blade to stop that happening, causing the knife to cut tendons in three of her fingers.

She managed to get out from under the knife and began screaming and Gierlowski ran off.

Gierlowski was identified after detectives used CCTV cameras to track

a white VW Crafter van spotted near the scene of the 2016 attack back to Galtymore Road, where Gierlowski lives.

In addition detectives used a wild card search of a partial registration provided by neighbours had seen the van parked in the area to identify the van as one registered to Gierlowski.

After his arrest, gardai took a DNA sample from Gierlowski and found it matched various blood and semen samples taken from the two earlier crime scenes.

Tests on blood traces on a jacket seized by gardai from Gierlowski’s bedroom in June 2016 found it was the third victim’s blood.

Man jailed for fraudulently claiming almost €40,000 in illness benefit A SELF employed man who fraudulently claimed almost €40,000 in illness benefit over a six year period has been jailed for 14 months.

Edward Doherty (65) had been legitimately claiming illness benefit for a number of years but continued to get monthly sick certificates from his doctor for his back pain and submitted them without notifying authorities about his change in circumstances when he became selfemployed.

Doherty, of Belgard Crescent, Belgard Heights, Tallaght, Dublin pleaded guilty that he did, at places unknown within the State, make false declarations for the purpose of gaining illness benefit and steal money property of the Department of Social Protection on dates between 2010 and 2016.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Doherty had entered a repayment plan of €150 per month and had repaid €2,100 over the past 14 months.

Social Welfare Inspectors became aware of the offences after receiving information from the Revenue Commissioners that Doherty was employed and had earned €140,000 over the six year period.

Doherty co-operated with the investigation and made admissions.

Doherty told investigators he regretted the offences. He said he had started a courier business and had needed the additional money from the illness benefit to get by financially.

Seamus Clarke SC, defending, said Doherty had an extensive work history but had been made redundant in

2005. He legitimately claimed illness benefit in relation to his sciatica for five years.

He said Doherty had problems with gambling and drinking during 2005 to 2010. He said his client at the time owed money to the Revenue and in relation to M50 tolls.

Mr Clarke said Doherty then began working in 2010 but continued to send in certificates in relation to his sciatica. He said Doherty genuinely suffered with sciatica and had been tempted by the money coming in.

He said Doherty had got himself into an “almighty mess” and was trying to remedy the situation.

Mr Clarke submitted that Doherty was eventually going to be caught as Revenue were on to him as he was registered as self employed. He handed in a number of testimonials.

29 March 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

SHOP LOCAL | THE GAZETTE FOCUSES ON INDEPENDENT AND FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES

It’s business as usual in Clondalkin Village WITH the spring here, it is important to remember that you needn’t travel long distances for almost anything you could possibly need In these times, it is important, now more than ever, that we support our local economy, with local spending sustaining local jobs. Simply put, shopping locally benefits the local area.

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

The Factory Outlet on Orchard Road specialises in the supply and fitting of tiles, bathrooms, kitchens and wardrobes.

One local business that has also survived the testament of time is Becker Tansey & Co Solicitors, which has been providing legal services in Clondalkin for more than 30 years.

Mill Cabs, based in the Mill Shopping Centre, has been in operation for over 30 years and continues to serve the people of Clondalkin on a daily basis without any stop for rest.

Property Partners O’Brien Swaine, Clondalkin and Dundrum are part of Property Partners real estate group, which is an independentlyowned auctioneering group with more than 25 offices nationwide.

The local company specialises in sales, rentals, property management and valuation of all types of residential and commercial properties across all corners of Dublin City and further afield.

Cash In Rags, based at Watery lane, are now going into their sixth year in business. Donna who runs the company, says that there are a lot of people these days interested in recycling their old clothes with them.

She added: “People like the idea of clearing out their house of old clothes and bringing it in to us in exchange for money.”

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 29 Month 2018

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Feast of fashion

C

OLAISTE Phadraig CBS Lucan held their annual TY Fashion Show at the Spa Hotel last week and the show drew a large crowd, with everyone keen to get in tune with the latest fashion trends.

The event was organised and operated by the Transition Year students themselves.

DJ Mono oversaw proceedings from the decks while Mr Todd and Mr O’ Neill were joint-hosts and both did a wonderful job of putting the models at their ease as well as entertaining the crowd.

The night was an outstanding success, raising important funds for the running costs of the school.

29 Month 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

Sharon O’Brien, Susan Kenna and Susan Brophy. Picture: SIMON PEARE

Easter cake sale tastes of success S coil Aine Naofa Parents Association’s recent Easter Cake Sale and Competition were a great success raising much needed funds for the school.

Visitors were greeted with a fantastic range of baked goods, as well as knitted and crocheted Easter-themed goodies.

Joyous occasion for newly-graduated nurses

N

EWLY graduated nurses, Kellie O’Neill and Aideen Cunningham, pictured during the graduation and presentation of hospital badges and certificates in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin in Higher Diploma in Nursing (Children’s Nursing).

Picture: Robbie Reynolds

Juliet O’Neill

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29 March 2018

LOVE YOUR DUBLIN

DUBLIN MADE EASY T

A LOOK AT SOME OF DUBLIN’S BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUES

HERE’S no doubt that Dublin has a booming music scene. We’ve produced some of the finest acts on the planet, and there’s always some kind of concert taking place in the capital. If you’re looking for a night out away from the typical pub and nightclub scene, the city has a host of different hotspots hosting different musical talents on any given night of the week.

Here are three of our favourite Dublin venues that we believe capture the essence of the city and the vibrancy of our musical culture.

OLYMPIA THEATRE LOCATION: Dame Street, Dublin 2 BEST FEATURE: The sense of history as soon as you pass through the stainedglass arch UPCOMING SHOWS: Dua Lipa, Haim, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats.

ONE of Dublin’s best-known venues, the Olympia Theatre has played host to acts big and small from both at home and abroad, including U2, Hozier, Adele and David Bowie.

It’s been the gem of Dame Street since it was originally built in the 1800s, having undergone a number of renovations since.

Its regal interiors are complimented by a smooth sound system, making it a favourite amongst music fans.

There are also three bars in The Olympia, including Maureen’s Bar, named after the Olympia’s longest serving member of staff, Maureen Grant, who has been working at the theatre since 1949.

WHELAN’S LOCATION: Liffey Street Lower, Dublin 1 BEST FEATURE: Whimsical interior UPCOMING SHOWS: Soccer Mommy, Alex Lahey, Ian Moss, Wild Child

LOCATION: Wicklow Street, Dublin 2 BEST FEATURE: Eclectic mix of people and ages at all shows UPCOMING SHOWS: Fang Club, Tigers Jaw, The Magic Numbers, Delorentos

A HIDDEN gem of sorts, a gig in the Grand Social’s Loft is unlike any other.

With a slightly circus-themed interior perfectly embodying the uniqueness of the venue, it’s small enough to feel intimate, but never cramped.

It’s a great place to visit to discover new acts that you might not come across otherwise, with ticket prices usually below the €20 mark for gigs.

In recent months, they’ve hosted rising UK pop-goth band Pale Waves, US melodic-indie trio LANY and Dublin’s own Little Green Cars.

A STEADFAST of the Dublin music scene, when you think of a gig in Dublin your mind immediately travels to the iconic Whelan’s.

A good spot for a great night out, you would never be far from meeting someone you know at a concert in the legendary Wicklow Street venue.

The venue is a great place to truly embrace the Irish music scene – it is known to play home to festivals celebrating emerging Irish acts, with newer bands from the county on a regular rotation at Whelan’s.

THE LOFT @ THE GRAND SOCIAL

29 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

HOME & STYLE:

DUBLIN

HAS PACIFIC RIM SEQUEL GOT THE MAKE IT MALTA FOR A FUN, RIGHT STUFF? P20 SUNNY FAMILY HOLIDAY P24

to a dash of luxury with some soft furnishings. They may look like a random collection – but together they create a casually curated collection of cosy comfort...

PAGES 26-27



BOHO STYLE: TREAT yourself

MAGAZINE

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NEWS AND EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND COUNTY

THE GIFT OF GAZ | NUDEY BEACH SHOCK!

Ye’d want to nip that oul’ nudity in the bud if ye’re going to Dalkey...

“WOULD you be into the nude bathing at all?” says “Of course I’ll be down on Friday,” he says. “I can’t Davy. wait to have a pint on Good Friday for the sheer nov“The wha’?” I says. elty factor of it.”

“Nude bathing,” he says. “They do it in Dalkey, of “Davy, I’ve seen you in a heap on Good Friday,” I all places.” says.

Sure enough, he’s right. They’re putting signs up on “Do you not remember that time you filled up the a beach in Dalkey letting you know that you let it all electric kettle and put it on the gas ring to boil? hang out when you go swimming there.

“I walked into the kitchen ten “Is it not a bit cold over here for that minutes later to see where you’d I used to enjoy sort of thing?” I says to him. gone and found you standing the craic of stocking there staring at it.

“They reckon it’s good for you,” he says to me. Davy looks like he’s consti- up on beer on Holy “Maureen was going mad pated when he starts thinking, which is Thursday like the because the kettle was leaking ironic given how full of crap he is most apocalypse was for weeks after before we rememcoming of the time. bered what you did.”

“Maybe it is,” I says. “But those cold “Yeah, but that wasn’t in a pub, winds wouldn’t exactly be kind to you, so it doesn’t really count,” he if ye know what I mean.” says.

“Not really,” he says.

I suppose he has a point. I used Irish midfielders from the late 1980s to enjoy the craic of stocking up had less going over their heads than on beer on Holy Thursday like Davy does. Still though, he’s not the the apocalypse was coming, but worst, so I asked him if he’d be down sure we did that with the bread for a pint on Friday seeing as how already this year, so it probably the pubs would be open. wouldn’t be as much fun.

“

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29 March 2018

GAZETTE GALLERY 

End-of-life care marked HOSPITALS across Dublin have been commemorating how they support better end-of-life care for their patients and families.

The celebrations are part of the 10th anniversary of the Irish Hospice Foundation’s (IHF) Hospice Friendly Hospital (HFH) programme, which seeks to ensure that end-of-life, palliative and bereavement care are central to the everyday business of hospitals.

To mark the occasion, the IHF launched the special Hospice Friendly Hospitals 10th Anniversary Grants to celebrate the work and progress achieved across the ever-growing network of hospitals under its remit since being established in 2007.

Grants totalling €10,000 were awarded to hospitals nationwide, with HFH End-of-Life Care coordinators organising

workshops for staff, patients and their families, hosting special awareness days and coffee mornings, publishing new multilingual information leaflets etc.

A ‘Tree of Life’ was officially unveiled last week in the heart of the Mater Miscordiae University Hospital (above) to celebrate its work to improve end-of-life care there.

The giant artwork was lovingly created by more than 300 staff, patients and their families. Each ‘leaf’ is unique, with some people memorialising a family member or friend who had died, while others added handprints or a thumbs-up for good end-of-life care.

Other projects at a number of Irish hospitals have also been completed or are under way, helping to honour the work of the hospitals and staff, as well as focusing on the patients themselves.

Manus has all the write stuff for award Hennessy New Irish Writer of the Year named

DUBLIN-born writer M a n u s B oy l e To b i n (above) has been named the Hennessy New Irish Writer of the Year.

The announcement was made at the 47th annual Hennessy Literary Awards at The Honourable Society of King’s Inns Dublin.

Manus holds a MA in Creative Writing from UCD. In addition to his winning story, The Drizzle on the Windscreen, being published in the Hennessy New Irish Writing page, his work has appeared in The Moth and The Poetry Bus magazines.

His play, Between the Dawns, was staged in Smock Alley Theatre in 2017 as part of The Irish Playback.

Speaking about his story Manus said: “This

story was inspired by glimpses and snapshots of Dublin and its people; by the housing crisis, homelessness and isolation.

“It was inspired by each preceding line that gave way to the next. By the taxi driver who had nowhere to return to when he finished his shift.”

Commenting on the awards, Elaine Cullen, market development manager at Moet Hennessy said: “Hennessy is intrinsically linked to the Irish way of life and has been a strong supporter of Irish culture for many years.

“The Hennessy Literary Awards are always a special evening where we get to honour some of Ireland’s best new writers.”

Since 2003, the awards have celebrated the suc-

cess and achievements of established Irish writers and poets by inducting one eminent nominee each year into the Hennessy Literary Awards Hall of Fame.

This year’s inductee is celebrated novelist Bernard MacLaverty.

Two of Bernard’s (above) early stories appeared in New Irish Writing.

He published his first collection, Secrets, in 1977 and also received immedi-

ate critical acclaim for his 1980 debut novel, Lamb – the tale of a teacher in a remote school for delinquent boys in the West of Ireland who absconds with one of his pupils, hoping to give both of them a better life.

Lamb became a film starring Liam Neeson and Hugh O’Conor, as did his 1983 novel, Cal, dealing with The Troubles, which starred Helen Mirren.

H i s o t h e r n ove l s include Grace Notes, and The Anatomy Class, and last year after a gap of 16 years, Midwinter Break was published.

Arguably his masterpiece, it’s a study of an elderly couple facing up to their past and what’s left of their lives in the course of a weekend away together in Amsterdam.

29 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

PEOPLE ON DUBLIN’S THE RADAR  NOVELIST GETTING DOWN ON THE FARM CARERS, WRITERS,IS DOGS AND DRAGONS

Our dog of Boys excited to welcome a real the week dragon (book, that is) to school DUBLIN Gazette have teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs.

Rocky is a sweet and affectionate six-year-old greyhound that adores company. He is friendly when meeting new people – he sees new people as an opportunity to get extra cuddles! Rocky is very playful and enjoys chasing tennis balls; his favourite are the ones that make noise and squeak.

He will make a wonderful addition to most families as he is a people-orientated dog that will be more than happy living with children at least 10 years old.

Rocky is a typical greyhound that loves nothing more than chilling in his bed beside a loving owner.

If you have room in your heart and on your couch for Rocky, please contact Dogs Trust at 01 879 1000.

They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50.

Map and directions can be found on their website, www.dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/dogstrustirelandonline, or Twitter, @DogsTrust_IE.

MARK O’BRIEN

A NAUGHTY dragon recently paid a visit to a Dublin school, much to the delight of the young pupils.

“Gringer the Whinger” is a naughty dragon, invented by author Jane Landy 22 years ago to distract her four children whenever things got tense or disagreeable.

Jane told Dublin Gazette that the idea for Gringer came while she was living in London and took her then three-yearold daughter Aisling to a dragon-making workshop at a library.

“A magnificent creature of papier mache with long crepe-paper hair was duly created,” she said.

“Inevitably, the artistic endeavour took its toll and on the way home, tiredness set in and a major bout of whinging took place.

“My response of ‘Never mind, we’ll be home soon’ was a complete waste of time and only served to amplify the whinging. I picked up the newly-made dragon and whinged back.

“It was the most annoying kind of whinging but had an instant effect on the grumpy three-year old who fell silent and started to grin.”

She asked the whinging dragon what his name was. ‘Gringer the Whinger’ was his reply.

“Having unwittingly released my inner cantankerous parent via Gringer,

there was no stopping me – and no stopping him.”

Recently, Gringer has come to life again, this time in the form of a picture book written in rhyme by Rathfarnham native Jane, and beauti-

fully illustrated by Corkborn Sheena Dempsey.

The boys of Junior Infants and Senior Infants in St Michael’s gave Jane a warm welcome (above) when she paid them a visit on Wednesday, March 14 to run a little workshop based on the story of Gringer.

The boys revealed their excellent drawing skills and produced their own

magnificent illustrations of Gringer.

Jane then passed around Sheena’s original pencil sketches. One youngster was reluctant to give back a drawing, saying, “I just can’t stop looking at it.”

The session concluded with Jane reading the story to the boys as each one turned the pages of the finished book.

Asked to describe the book in a nutshell, Jane – these days a north Dublin resident – replied “Domestic chaos with a hint of Skerries …”

Suitable for ages 0-6 and available widely from Dublin bookshops and online, see www.gringerthewhinger.com for details of outlets.

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29 March 2018

DUBLIN GAZETTE SOME OF THE BIGGEST, BEST EVENTS AROUND TOWN NEWSPAPERS Go on, go on, get set for a I N F O R M AT I O N top Tedfest extravaganza Heritage House, Dundrum, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publishes four weekly quality free titles, covering the greater Dublin area from the city centre to Dun Laoghaire

DUBLIN’S first ever Tedfest ‘extravaganza’ is set to take place this Easter bank holiday weekend, at The Church Bar on Mary Street.

There will be a number of events across the weekend, including a world record attempt on March 31 for the largest ever gathering of characters from Father Ted. Proceedings will commence at 6pm, with the event being officially recognised.

The same night, there will also be a Lovely Ladies competition, with the competition being opened to both drag

queens and women alike.

Those competing must impress three judges – including local legend Mattress Mick – for the chance to take home a voucher for a Thai meal and a €50 drinks tab. On Saturday and Sunday there will be late-night shenanigans and high-jinks for the adults, before some family fun on Easter Sunday.

There will be a Father Ted Quiz in association with the show’s own Father Damo, better known as actor Joe Rooney.

Tickets are €45 for a group of four.

C O N TA C T S Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com Group Editor: Patrick Finnegan pfinnegan@dublingazette.com Deputy Group Editor: Shane Dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com Group Advertising Manager: Sue Griffith sgriffith@dublingazette.com Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@dublingazette.com Picture Editor: Aisling Conway aconway@dublingazette.com Advertising Sales: 01 - 6010240 sales@dublingazette.com

FIND US ON

www.dublingazette.com Dublin Gazette Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

Got what it takes to escape from the Challenge Rooms?

COORS Light are set to bring a new adventure challenge to Dundrum Town Centre from April 10 to 15.

The Coors Light Challenge Rooms run along the same ve in as an ‘escape room’, designed

as a team-building exercise. Participants will be ‘trapped’ in a room – branded as the Coors Light Thermal Research Facility – and will need to try and find their way out.

Groups will come

together to solve puzzles against the clock to see who can escape first.

Tickets are priced at €8 and include the escape room experience and a Coors Light to finish it off.

Tickets can be purchased at coorslight.ie.

Have a sweet time at Irish Sugarcraft Show IRELAND’S largest sugarcraft show will take place at Citywest Hotel from April 28 to 29. The Irish Sugarcraft Show is a family-friendly event which will have a number of different trade stands selling all you need to create fabulous-looking cakes.

There will also be a live stage, as well as a children’s workshop for kids to get involved in the art of sugarcraft.

A cake decorating competition will also take place as part of the show, with people invited to register to enter now.

Tickets are available from Eventbrite, priced at €10.

Drive-in cinema is LEOPARDSTOWN Racecourse will host a series of drivein movies over this Easter Weekend.

From March 30 until April 1, a number of family friendly films will be screened at the racecourse, where the audience are invited to relax in their own cars to watch a movie. You can grab a number of snacks from vendors and listen to the movie from your car on an FM radio.

Titles being screened include Stand By Me, ET, Jaws and Back to the Future, with tickets available now from retrodrivein.ie. Prices start at €29 for a regularsized five-seater car, and €32 for a seven-seater.

29 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

PADDY’S POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING MESSAGE Palmerstown man Paddy O’Leary has every reason to look cheerful - he was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer in 2015 but is living proof that early detection is key to treating the disease.

Paddy’s urging everyone to look out for the Marie Keating Foundation’s mobile unit at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre this Friday where it will be offering Bowel Screening from 11am to 3pm – and could just save your life.

Photo: Aisling Conway

back for this Easter

TRAVEL, PAGE 24

Make it Malta Find fun in the sun for one (or the whole family)



DIARY

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29 March 2018

GOINGOUTOUT

PICKWEEK OF THE

MARCH 31 (SATURDAY) Sam Smith @ 3 Arena, €46

MARCH 29 (THURSDAY) Niall Horan @ 3 Arena, €49 Gary Numan @ Olympia Theatre, €39 John Smith @ Whelan’s, €20 The Altered Hours @ The Grand Social, €13 Up-and-coming Cork rock band The Altered House are one of the most talked about rising stars of the Irish music scene right now. Catch them while they’re hot!

MARCH 30 (FRIDAY) Sam Smith @ 3 Arena, €46 Bagatelle @ Olympia Theatre, €24 Vulpynes + Roe + Cinema + JYellowL @ Whelan’s, €10 Little Hours @ The Button Factory, €22.90 Cut Called Man @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €8

MARCH 31 (SATURDAY) Sam Smith @ 3 Arena, €46 Keywest @ Olympia Theatre, €22 Big Thief @ Whelan’s, €15 Jess Klein @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €16

APRIL 1 (SUNDAY) Big Thief @ Whelan’s, €15 Lisa Canny @ The Bowery, €5 David Kitt @ Hang Dai Alex Lahey @ The Grand Social, €16.50 Testament @ Vicar Street, €40

APRIL 2 (MONDAY) En Vogue @ Vicar Street, €40 Flight of the Conchords @ 3 Arena, €86 If you don’t already have a ticket for the hilarious New Zealanders, you can forget about a trip to the 3Arena even on a Monday night, but if you do, you’re in for a treat as the comic musicians explore their back catalogue.

John Gibbons @ Olympia Theatre, €21

APRIL 3 (TUESDAY) Macklemore @ 3 Arena, €44 The Ruby Sessions @ Doyles, €6 You don’t know who you’re getting, and you don’t get more than a few songs of them, but this city centre pub’s long-running weekly charity session is invariably worth the price of a Temple Bar pint.

APRIL 4 (WEDNESDAY) Macklemore @ 3 Arena, €44 Toto @ Vicar Street, €55 Dr John Cooper Clarke @ Whelan’s, €30 Gorilla Troubadour @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €5

“We have about 20 new tracks, we just don’t know what we’re going to do with them yet.

“The songs are too good to just throw out,” says Aoife McCann, of Æ Mak.

Rip it up and start again... Æ Mak’s ambitious rebalancing HAILING straight from Dublin’s rock school having departed BIMM as part of their first graduating class in 2015, Æ Mak are all about boisterous electro-pop soundscapes, arty stage presence and putting on a performance.

In 2018, that’s meant all but starting again...

It’s a bold move, but one that looks set to pay off: Æ Mak have, essentially, restarted a locally successful career in a bid for the big time.

With one of the founding members, Ellie McMahon, now departed, Aoife McCann has formally welcomed her former backing band and producer into the fray, setting aside a style that was already grabbing attention to remake herself and her band.

“We were workshopping with Ellie during the summer, and it wasn’t really working out creatively. We

 JAMES HENDICOTT

wanted to bring more of an electronic sound into it,” McCann says of the band’s recent change of direction.

“There were so many different styles coming from everywhere, with everyone working on their part.

“The EP’s a mess, and the single’s a bit of a mess too, I think. I just wanted to streamline the sound.”

The self-critical approach seems indicative of big goals: it’s unusual for a band that have achieved a notable level of local success to almost swat away everything that’s come before, but McCann doesn’t seem to hesitate.

“I don’t know ... in a way

I love it, but I’m not that proud of it. I don’t think it represents the best we can do,” she says of the earlier work.

“It’s a bit messy. You can’t bring everyone into the arrangement, it just doesn’t work. It’s just myself and Dan [McIntyre, producer] doing that now.

It’s so much easier.

“We have about 20 new tracks, we just don’t know what we’re going to do with them yet. The songs are too good to just throw out.

“We’ll be working with Rebalance UK, which is a new thing this year. It’s funded by Festival Republic, and you have to be invited to apply to it. “ I don’t think they realised we were Irish, and I’m not sure it’s really supposed to be for Irish acts, but once they gave it to us, they decided not to take it away when they realised

we’re over here!

“It’s aimed at enhancing the careers of females in the industry and giving them a platform. We get a recording session, and to play at Latitude in the UK, so we’re playing that on the Sunday this year.”

The aim is very much to produce a complete package, and in line with the stream of modern popacts, McCann isn’t afraid to admit it’s not just about the sound she’s producing.

“Image is very important. Equally important to the music, I’d say,” she explains. It all comes from the performance aspect of it, creating this other world. But it’s also a selfindulgence thing for me.

“I have a background in youth theatre. I was very dramatic as a kid, so the costumes and the stage setup and the choreography are a thing [I’m really into].

“Without Ellie, it’ll still be quite theatrical, but it won’t be synchronised swimming. I love a full-on performance, like Sylvan Esso or Perfume Genius.

“It was covers to begin with – Lykke Li, Vampire Weekend, high-energy buzz music. These days, the melody and the lyrics are kind of just for me,” she explains.

“I’m not a brilliant lyricist or anything. Sometimes I write lyrics for how they sound and attach meaning to them after.

“We’re trying to mix pop-dance tunes with that kind of darker electronic side.”

It’ll be some career if Æ Mak can match UK BIMM graduates like Kate Nash and James Bay, but on the back of a UK launch through Rebalance, a musical restart and reenergised songwriting, who’s to stop them?

29 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

WHAT’S BIG IN MUSIC, CINEMA, TV AND BOOKS

ENTERTAINMENT

Strumthing for music lovers in the city’s south DUN Laoghaire’s Pavillion Theatre is the place to be for music lovers looking to get away from the hectic city centre, with several exciting musical events lined up in coming weeks. Here are just two to bookmark ...

Federico Albanese with special guest, Chequerboard Berlin-based Italian composer Federico Albanese returns to the Pavilion Theatre on Friday, April 6 at 8pm with special guest, Chequerboard for an evening of sweeping, cinematic music that transcends genres.

Albanese’s compositions are airy and cinematic, blending classical music, pop and psychedelia. He studied piano and clarinet as a child before becoming fascinated by rock music, performing in several bands. He is currently putting the finishing touches on his third record, expected this Spring. Tickets are priced €23.

Chamber Philharmonic Europe – Powerful Emotions Tour at Monkstown Church The Chamber Philharmonic Europe bring their Powerful Emotions tour to Dublin with a performance at Monkstown Church on Sunday, April 8 at 8pm.

Their Dublin show (including violinist Michel Gershwin, below) promises an evening of versatile sounds with a prog ra m m e fe a t u ring works from Vivaldi to Bach, Mozart to Nielsen.

Ti c ke t s a re priced €22/20; to book, see paviliontheatre.ie, or phone 01 231 2929.

Caroline Thomas, Hugo Jellett and Fiona Callaghan show some of the artworks on sale at the upcoming Incognito event. Picture: Fennell Photography

Popular annual Incognito fundraiser returns

Have an art – your €50 will help Jack & Jill kids MORE than 1,000 artists have donated a piece of their work for Incognito – an exhibition in aid of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation.

The work goes on sale for €50 each in The Solomon Gallery from April 6-8, giving buyers a chance to purchase a valuable piece, potentially worth thousands

of euro, from a wellknown name.

But there is one catch – they won’t know who the artist is until they buy the artwork!

From this week the public can view the Incognito 2018 collection online at www. incognito.ie and www. jackandjill.ie but, as the name suggests, the art-

ist’s identity is top-secret and won’t be revealed until after the sale.

This year, contributing artists include Tracey Emin, Rhona Byrne, Martin Gale, Dede Gold, John Kelly, Peter Curling, Martin Gale, Mo Kelly, Nick Miller, Ed Miliano, Abigail O’Brien, and Richard Gorman.

Last year, Incognito

raised more than €80,000 to fund home nursing care for the 350 children under Jack & Jill’s wing and it is hoped to repeat this in 2018.

Hugo Jellett, Jack & Jill chief executive, said: “We have been quite overwhelmed by the number of artists donating their talent, their time and their gift to

Jack & Jill.

“The standard of work is simply silencing and unveiling the artworks for Incognito 2018 is a very proud day for Jack & Jill.

“We expect people from all around the country will be queuing outside The Solomon Gallery to purchase their favourite piece.”

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29 March 2018

29 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

ENTERTAINMENT

BIGGER, BRASHER – BUT BETTER?

CINEMA | IS PACIFIC RIM UPRISING A WORTHY SEQUEL TO THE MONSTER HIT?

 SHANE DILLON

sdillon@dublingazette.com

and not so far into either film, the Pacific Rim films

boil down to one simple narrative device: it’s smashy-smashy time, with cities getting trashed by giant monsters.

The monsters (Kaiju) may be beautifully rendered CG creations sharing screen space with beautifully rendered giant robots

CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN! SUDOKU

A beast of a sequel, but ultimately it disappoints HAMLET, it ain’t. That’s the core existential essence – and problem – at the heart of Pacific Rim Uprising (Cert 12A, 111 mins; hereafter referred to as PR2), the sequel to 2013’s well regarded Pacific Rim. At the end of the day,

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EASY

MODERATE

PUZZLES

CODEWORDS in association with

Sad to see that Iceland have only gone for a diplomatic boycott of the World Cup, and not the full boycott like Ireland did. @paddypower Paddy Power on the Russian diplomat situation

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK FOR THE SOLUTIONS TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLES

Fans of Giant Robots fighting Kaiju in cities will be in their element, but Pacific Rim Uprising, while bigger than its predecessor, lacks the same punch

(Jaegars) as they fight through beautifully rendered cities, but ultimately there’s little narrative difference to separate them from a hundred different (and distinctly unbeautifully rendered) Japanese or South Korean monster flicks starring a bloke in a rubber suit kicking his way through cardboard cities.

In this, the Pacific Rim films are trapped in the same orbit as the absolutely turgid Transformers films – sooner or later, it all boils down to smashysmashy time, with PR2 lumbered with the same ticking plot device as its great predecessor.

The first film was a labour of love for director Guillermo del Toro, probably the greatest auteur in monster and beastie flicks at the moment.

Understanding the limitations of working on things boiling down to fightin’ time between kaiju and jaegars, Del Toro introduced a dash of eccentricity to the rest of the film to add some individuality in this somewhat limiting genre.

Alas, PR2 has simply gone for the ‘bigger, better, more’ approach, and comes off the worse for it.

This time round, we pick up the story some years after the

first film, where humanity more or less defeated the kaiju (giant alien sea monsters invading earth through an interdimensional portal at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean) thus spelling an end to devastating attacks on cities.

Cut to John Boyega as the maverick son of an enigmatic hero from the first film, who reluctantly gets drawn into the fight when – and this is hardly a spoiler alert – the kaiju return, presenting a much bigger threat to humanity than before.

That’s the singular difference between the films: bigger, brasher, bolder.

The watery gloominess behind many of the visuals in the first film have been swapped out for dayglo destruction here, with daylight revealing the scale of admittedly spectacular devastation.

In this, PR2 successes beautifully, with

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

some superb setpieces and the best fight scenes destroying Asian cities you’ll see this month, at least.

As the lead this time round, Boyega acquits himself very well, turning in another enjoyably charismatic performance that’s seeing him very quickly become a bona fide star. However, there’s just something empty behind PR2.

Perhaps it’s the overcomplicated plot and character development (guys, seriously – characters don’t need motivations, backstories, or a three-step The Hero’s Journey narrative arc when you’re putting a film together about glorified monsters versus robots), but PR2 underwhelms.

It’s okay, but it’s clear this isn’t going to be the same monster smash as its esteemed predecessor.

Despite its blatantly obvious opening for a sequel, perhaps it’s time to can the kaiju and junk the jaegars...

Verdict: 6/10 John Boyega is a suitably handsome and charismatic lead, but Pacific Rim Uprising isn’t a great star vehicle

I’d hate to be behind Simon Coveney in a deli queue...

WORD SEARCH

@sjanemurf On Minister for Health Simon Coveney’s change of heart on the Repeal issue

HOW TO SOLVE

I can’t believe it’s not the Strategic Communications Unit

Codewords are like crossword puzzles - but have no clues! Instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle.

@ConorFoley32 Sinn Fein member reacting to news that the Comms Unit is to be downsized and renamed

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION FIND THE HIDDEN WORDS

New Snow Patrol song sounds like someone pointed a gun at the lead singer and forced him to do a Springsteen impression under intense duress @Rubberbandits Blindboy may not be a fan of Gary Lightbody and Co

anti

in defiance of

averse

opposed

besiege

outnumbered

corner

pressed

counter

resisting

embattled

surrounded

harrangue

versus

hostile hound

All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number!

To start you off, we reveal the codes for two or three letters.

As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid.

Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29 March 2018

GALLERIES

Comedienne Deirdre O’Kane and John Edward Nolan

Winners of RTE’s Dancing With The Stars, singer Jake Carter and Karen Byrne.

Picture: Kyran O’Brien

A glittering end to TV’s Dancing with the Stars

S

INGER Jake Carter and his dancing partner Karen Byrne won the second season of Dancing with the Stars in a superb final on RTÉ One. They lifted the glitterball trophy after seeing off the challenge of Anna Geary and her partner Kai Widdrington, and Deirdre O’Kane and her partner, John Nolan.

Speaking after picking up the gong, Jake said: “I couldn’t have spent this time with someone better. I’ve had an absolute ball, I’m actually lost for words.”

Deirdre O’Kane and John Edward Nolan

Above and Below: Former Cork Camogie player and broadcaster Anna Geary and Kai Widdrington

29 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

RDC during the final. Picture: Kyran O’Brien

Emma Fitzgrald,Rebecca Allister and Kerri Delaney. Picture: Brian McEvoy Photography

Talented troupe win Ireland’s Got Talent D

UBLIN’S Helix was buzzing with activity for the final of Ireland’s Got Talent last weekend. Cork dance troupe RDC won the competition, taking home a prize of €50,000 and a starring role in their own television show. Two other dance acts, Xquisite and FKFT, were the runners-up in Saturday night’s feelgood final, which was decided solely by the public vote.

Sorcha O’Dwyer and Amber Redmond

Matt Cooper with his wife Aileen and children Harry and Zach

Michelle Gorman and Catherine Hanley

Laura and Katelyn Blake

Ruth Griffin, AJ Quinlan and Alan Quinlan

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29 March 2018

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Switch over to cruise control for a great-value holiday in one of several top US cities ALL ABOARD in 2018 with these fantastic value USA cruise and stay deals from American Holidays that won’t break the bank.

Let the scenery come to you on a magnificent cruise through the Caribbean. You can also combine your trip with a stay in some of America’s most sought-after cities including Las Vegas, Miami and Orlando.

Orlando & Caribbean Cruise Spend two nights at the three-star Rosen Inn International, Orlando followed by a seven-night cruise on-board Oasis of the Seas (above) from only €1,125 per person.

Price includes return flights, nine nights’ accommodation as stated including a seven-night cruise, taxes and charges. (Depart September 14, ref no: 1562291) Las Vegas & Eastern Caribbean Cruise Spend four nights at the four-star Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, one-night at the four-star Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay followed by a seven-night cruise on-board MSC Seaside (right) from only €1,119 per person.

Price includes return flights, 12 nights’ accommodation as stated including a seven-night cruise, internal flights, taxes and charges. (Travel November 19, ref: 1564362).

Cancun, Mexico & Eastern Caribbean Cruise Spend six nights at the four-star Panama Jack Resorts Gran Caribe all-inclusive, one night at the four-star Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay (right) followed by a seven-night cruise on board MSC Seaside from only €1,975 per person. Price includes flights, 14 nights’ accommodation as stated including a seven-night cruise, internal flights, taxes and charges. (Travel September 22, ref: 1564370).

CALL American Holidays to book on 01 673 3804 or call into their office just off Grafton Street, at 1819 Duke Street, where the expert staff will help you plan your holiday of a lifetime. For further information see www.americanholidays.com.

Malta

Make it for your marvellous family holiday

SYLVIA POWNALL

Travel Editor ESCAPE the chill in the air for sunnier climes by visiting the Mediterranean island of Malta this May. It’s the perfect time to explore its charming coast and architecture with a full calendar of events and festivals lined up.

From May 4-6, the Valletta Green Festival will transform Pjazza San Gorg, one of the largest open urban spaces in Valletta, into a huge floral carpet composed of some 80,000 potted plants.

The weekend of familyfriendly activities offers visitors rare glimpses into some of the capital city’s little-known historical treasures, including the 400-year-old gardens of the Archbishop’s Palace and the Convent of St Catherine.

The Malta World Music Festival takes place on May 18 and 19 with a great line up of local b a n d s as well as international w o r l d music acts performing.

C a r enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Valletta Concours d’Elegance on May 20 which will see the city host a selection of the finest vintage and luxury vehicles.

Alternatively, if ‘the three Rs are your thing’ (that’s rest, relaxation and retail therapy), there are no end of top hotels with pools and saunas to choose from.

Modern shopping centres also abound, including the

acclaimed Point Shopping Mall in Tigne Point.

GETTING THERE With Budget Travel you can depart Dublin on May 13 and stay a week at the 3-star Topaz Hotel, Bugibba (room-only basis) for €379 per person, or you can depart May 24 and stay at the 3-star Carlton Hotel, Sliema (room-only basis) for €539 per person. Prices include flights, accom-

modation, transfers and taxes.

With Mercury Holidays, you can depart Dublin on May 14 and stay a week at the 4-star Qawra Palace, Qawra (all-inclusive basis) from €569 per person. Prices includes flights, accommodation, taxes and return transfers in resort.

With Concorde Travel, you can depart Dublin on May 14 or 15 and stay a week at the 4-star Hotel Kennedy Nova, Sliema (B&B basis) from €554 per person, or at the 5-star Le

Meridian Hotel, St Julian’s (B&B basis) from €909 per person.

Prices are for two people sharing and include flights, accommodation, taxes and transfers.

Visit www.maltaireland.com for further information and details of events that will be taking place in Malta this May. Prices correct as of March 21, with limited availability and are also based on Ryanair flights so therefore are subject to change. Prices include flights, accommodation, taxes and transfers.

29 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

A GUIDE TO TEMPTING FOOD AND LOCATIONS

FOOD & TRAVEL

ANOTHER DELICIOUS AND EASY-TO-MAKE RECIPE COURTESY OF SIUCRA AND CATHERINE FULVIO

HSE, UCC COOK UP A BOOK TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR NUTRITION

Brownielicious baking treats DECADENT, rich chocolate brownies topped with honeycomb and a helping of mint ice-cream makes for the perfect treat.

Siucra and Catherine Fulvio together have created the perfect Mint Brownies recipe (with 16 squares) for you to whip up at home.

Brownie ingredients  180g dark chocolate, broken  100g butter  Half tsp vanilla extract  3 drops peppermint extract  180g Siucra soft brown sugar  3 eggs, beaten  120g plain flour  1 tsp baking powder Honeycomb ingredients  220g Siucra caster sugar  2 tsp bicarbonate of soda You’ll also need mint chocolate ice-cream, and mint sprigs, to garnish.

To make the browniess  Preheat the oven to 170C/150C/Gas 3.  Line a baking tray 20cm x 20cm with baking parchment.  Place the broken chocolate, butter and peppermint extract in a bowl over a bain marie and melt.  Allow to cool slightly, then stir in the sugar.

Carefully fold in the beaten eggs.  Sift the flour and the baking powder and gently fold into the mixture.  Pour the mixture into the baking tray and bake for about 20 to 22 minutes or until just set.  Allow to cool in the tin for 15 minutes and then transfer to a rack to cool, then cut into 16 squares To prepare the honeycomb  Line a 20cm x 20cm baking tray with foil and brush with a little oil.

Place the caster sugar into a deep saucepan (it must be a deep saucepan as the honeycomb bubbles up) over a low heat until it turns amber in colour.  Take the saucepan off the heat and add the bicarbonate of soda and quickly stir with a wooden spoon. Be careful the honeycomb will bubble up. Pour the honeycomb into the tin and leave to cool completely.  Leave for 90 minutes until cold before cracking and roughly crushing.

THE HSE and University College Cork (UCC) have published a new cookbook aimed at providing highcalorie, high-protein recipes for the estimated 145,000 people in Ireland who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.

Created by dietitians and chefs, Making the Most of Every Bite contains easy to prepare and nourishing recipes, enriched with extra energy and protein to help slow down or prevent weight loss associated with illness.



To decorate and serve  Place chocolate brownie on serving plate with a scoop of mint chocolate ice-cream and spoon crushed honeycomb on top of each brownie, then sprinkle with icing sugar and a mint sprig.

Romain Cools, president of the World Potato Congress with Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Andrew Doyle. Picture: Fennell Photography

Spudtacular gathering to celebrate our tasty tubers THE Irish Potato Federation (IPF), with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, alongside Bord Bia, Failte Ireland and Teagasc, has won the bid to host the World Potato Congress (WPC) in 2021 in Dublin.

Speaking at the launch in the RDS last week, Michael Hoey, president of the IPF, said: “Winning the WPC for Ireland is the culmination of a lot of hard and creative work by a very dedicated committee.

“I know that the 2021 congress will shine a spotlight on the importance of the potato in Ireland and across the globe and become a centerpiece of world-class marketing excellence.”

The president and chief executive of WPC Inc, Romain Cools, chipped in: “Ireland has a very important historical and cultural connection with the potato going back hundreds of years.

“I see the 2021 Congress looking at the important role the potato will play in the future as a sustainable source for

food security across the world.

“The WPC in Dublin will be the perfect follow up to this year’s congress, which will be held in May 2018 in Cuzco, Peru, under the title, Biodiversity, food security and business.

“I will be working closely with the IPF over the coming years and really look forward to visiting Dublin in 2021 for the congress.”

It is envisaged that 1,000 delegates from developing and developed countries across the globe, including growers, researchers, producers, traders, processors and manufacturers, will attend the congress.

The IPF has also secured the simultaneous hosting of the Europatat Congress, which is the annual congress of the European association of the potato trade.

Both events will become a week-long focus on the potato – the third-most important food crop in terms of global consumption.

Serious healthcare issue Dr Sharon Kennelly, registered clinical specialist dietitian and nutrition project lead, said: “Malnutrition is a serious healthcare issue in Ireland today and healthcare professionals working in the community are well-placed to recognise the risk.

“A food-based approach should always be part of the first steps in managing malnutrition and we are delighted to partner with dietetic colleagues in UCC to make this cookbook available to people who can benefit from it.

“We have piloted it with a small number of patients and family members who are supporting loved ones, and the feedback has been very positive.”

The toolkit is available to view at www.hse.ie/nutritionsupports and the cookbook (below) is available to view in the ‘Public’ section.

Remember: it is important to discuss this cookbook with your nurse, doctor or dietitian to check whether it is appropriate for you.

26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29 March 2018

HOME | KEEPING IT COSY WITH SOFT FURNISHINGS…MODERN BOHEMIAN STYLE

Soft and comfy is key to a Boho room  Jessica Maile, Style Editor

PILLOW TALK and blankets too…

Great ideas can be found in the Spring/Summer styles from DFS (top), Monsoon (bottom left) and Penneys (bottom right)

jmaile@dublingazette.com Another important aspect of the modern Bohemian style is soft furnishing. Adding layers of textiles really warms up a room and adds much-needed texture. Think blankets, rugs, pillows and poufs. Here is where you can truly play with colour and pattern.

Mix ikat, stripes, animal prints, tropical motifs and anything fuzzy and fluffy for your own unique look.

Layering is also key whether its blankets, rugs or pillows.

THE SOFT TOUCH | QUICK AND EASY WAY TO SOFTEN UP A ROOM IN MINUTES

Next Two tone ochre basket €38

HomeSense Palm Fringe Cushion Cover €19.99

Michael Murphy Home Furnishings Sheepskin Rug €89

29 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

CLEVER BLURB HERE FOR THIS SECTION

HOME & STYLE

BeautyBITS

• Ladies Hooded Sweater €9.99

• Equestrian Boots €19.99

• Ladies’ Riding Breeches €16.99 Aldi’s ladies’ hybrid jacket €24.99 is wind and water resistant. Your four-legged friends would know you are definitely know you aren’t horsing around...

• Ladies’ Seamless Zip Neck Top €9.99

Horsing around…

Beauty Review

EXPRESSING a unique style is import at work as well as off. It’s also important to have the right gear and a statement style even for those extra-curricular activities, so you feel confident and comfortable. If all things equestrian is your fave, check out Aldi’s new line of clothing just for that very thing. They offer an equstrian look for an affordable price for adults and children, so round up some deals!

On sale in all 130 Aldi stores nationwide • Junior Equestrian Long Sleeved Top €3.99 from April 8.

• Junior Reversible Gilet €12.99

• Junior Reversible Gilet €12.99

 Jessica Maile, Style Editor

A little lid luxury

COMPANY: NYX Professional Makeup PRODUCT: Lid Lingerie Metallic Liquid Eyeshadow PURPOSE: Give those lovely lids a pop of colour TEXTURE:  FRAGRANCE:  PERFORMANCE:  PRICE: € l’ve had NYX Professional Makeup’s Lid Lingerie Metallic Eyeshadow for a few weeks now and it has completely changed my mind on liquid shadows.

I had it in my head that eyeshadow should just

be in a dry, powdered form.

Who wants sticky stuff on their eyelids, right?

But I was wrong, wrong, oh so very wrong! This magical eye lingerie was very smooth and silky and easy to apply. It does have a pearly metallic sheen but it’s not over the top and can be used for day and night looks and you aslo don’t have to be under 21 to wear it.

The colour I tested was 07 Whimsy/Fantaisie.

It’s medium rosy pink that actually gives lids a rosy look not an ‘I’ve been awake all night’ tired

look. A couple of swipes of the wand and my eyes were transformed and made my blue eyes really pop. And the best thing?

In a bind, I dapped a bit on my fingers to use as a lip gloss and a quick blusher! Score!

Available in a range of gorgeous nude hues,from soft baby pink shimmer and bronze to deep taupe shimmer and jewel tones. Available in pharmacies nationwide. RRP 8 euro.

Summer denim with a COS…  Rachel D’Arcy

COS Virgil

WITH the 90’s queen of Double Denim herself, Britney Spears, announcing a brand new denim campaign for Paris’ Kenzo, it’s clear that denim is most certainly on the agenda for SS18. Upscale retailer COS have put together the chicest denim pieces so you can achieve designer denim delight at a high street price. Take a look at some of our favourite pieces from the collection.

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29 March 2018

TECH TIME

MACHINE OF THE WEEK

Facebook data row Polo pushes rumbles on during another intense week on in size and SHANE DILLON

Tech Editor

tance to appear.

There’s great anger on both sides of the Atlantic at how loopholes and exploits seemingly left Facebook user data exposed for third parties to exploit, trawl through and repurpose – with Facebook’s defense that such data mining chinks in user data armor were sealed off some years ago, when discovered, doing little to abate the criticism and political pressure.

Adding fuel to the fire, there’ve also been several widespread media articles over the past week about people requesting to see the data Facebook holds or records about them, and then being shocked by the amount and breadth of data noted, from the major to the minor points of their lives.

As I wrote last week, this is not only the biggest tech story of the year so far, by far, but also one of the biggest news stories of the year, too.

With an entire week doing little to dampen down the flames, I suspect there’s plenty more still to come as the Facebook-Cambridge Analytics row blazes on.

If there’s one good point to emerge from this spectacular row, it’s this: the Facebook row should act as a clarion call for any and all social media users, on any platform, to ask and note what data is being stored about them, and what data they’re providing to the platforms.

To be crystal clear: I’m not saying to delete your Facebook account, or Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, or whatever.

(As a disclaimer, I’m currently mulling over whether or not to also delete my own profile.)

But if, like most of us, you have absolutely no idea what data is being stored about you, now’s a good time to try to find out, and then decide whether or not you’re happy.

Best of luck finding out how much others may know about you – or how little you know they know...

“It’s not a political statement and I didn’t do this because someone dared me to do it. Just don’t like Facebook. Gives me the willies. Sorry.” Billionaire Elon Musk, on rapidly deleting the SpaceX and Tesla Facebook pages

ANOTHER week, and another seven long days of an intense firestorm surrounding Facebook, with allegations and intense interest whirling like harpies around the tech titan.

If anyone thought that last week’s spectacularly explosive revelations about data mining and potential political interference would quietly slip away into the night ... brother, how wrong you were.

If anything, matters have escalated, with all kinds of people and groups deleting their Facebook profiles and accounts in protest, with SpaceX and Tesla billionaire Elon Musk among the highprofile names abandoning Facebook in the past week.

The SpaceX and Tesla Facebook pages disappeared mere minutes after Musk tweeted: “It’s not a political statement and I didn’t do this because someone dared me to do it. Just don’t like Facebook. Gives me the willies. Sorry.”

When you’re a billionaire tech titan yourself, it’s easy to decide to abruptly sever your companies’ Facebook presence, but in this Musk wasn’t alone – lots of people have jumped on board the #DeleteFacebook boycott movement, in protest at the data of more than 50 million Facebook users being data mined by an external company, potentially exponentially giving access to many more people, and used for political purposes.

Cross-Atlantic anger hasn’t abated, with watchdogs and politicians practically brandishing pitchforks, chair legs and burning torches at the mere mention of Facebook with, at the time of writing, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg prompting intense criticism from British politicians.

With the Cambridge Analytics data harvesting row gaining legs, as they say, sending Facebook’s value tumbling, Zuckerberg has agreed to appear before US Congress to testify

– but has declined to appear before members of parliament in Britain, with his stance blasted as “absolutely astonishing” by an irate committee chair there, who had some sharp words about Zuckerberg’s reluc-

there’s “oneIfgood point

to emerge, it’s this: the Facebook row should act as a clarion call for any and all social media users, on any platform, to ask and note what data is being stored about them

safety features VOLKSWAGEN has more than revamped the Polo as the popular supermini in its range has grown bigger and more spacious and now comes with a host more safety features, Michael Moroney found out during his recent test drive.

VOLKSWAGEN’S new Polo celebrates more than its sixth generation; it’s a celebration that the new small car in the supermini segment has grown in size, style and comfort.

When Volkswagen launched the new Polo last autumn in preparation for 2018 deliveries, it was difficult to appreciate just how much the car had changed.

Spend some time behind the wheel and you can experience the difference.

This car is grown in stature in almost every respect. It’s bigger on the inside as well as being longer and wider than the car that it replaces. In some senses this Polo is almost as spacious as the original Golf.

Everything about the new Polo is different; the design changes are more radical than usual from Volkswagen, while it’s the size and space that are especially appealing.

Volkswagen Polo 1.0 Engine Engine power 0 – 100km/hr Economy Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Euro NCAP Rating Warranty Entry Price This Polo benefits from Volkswagen’s new technology in every respect from the electronic dials to the large infotainment screen on the Comfortline models, to new levels of safety equipment.

There’s a bigger boot, which has grown in capacity from 280 to 351 litres, making it the most spacious boot in the supermini segment.

The car feels roomier in every sense and you’ll notice that after some time behind the wheel.

1.0 litre 65hp 15.5 seconds 21km/litre (4.7/100km or 60mpg) 40 litres 108g/km A3 €190 20,000km/12 months 5 star (2017) 3 years €16,795 There’s also a solid feel to the Polo. Even with the entry level 1.0 litre 3 cylinder engine under the bonnet, and its light overall weight, the car retains the solid feel that we have come to accept from Volkswagen cars.

This improved 1.0 petrol engine is one of the smoothest three-cylinder petrol engine cars that I’ve driven. Volkswagen has engineered the motor and its mounting system to give smooth power delivery, even if the entry

Brakes on self-driving technology THE development of self-driving car technology took a setback last week following the death of a woman in the US struck by a self-driving car with no human control.

This is the first fatality involving a fully autonomous vehicle, which in this case was an Uber controlled Volvo XC90.

The crash is reported to have involved an XC90 in autonomous mode with an operator behind the wheel. It has prompted Uber and Toyota to suspend all testing

of self-driving cars in the US. Motor industry experts believe that Europe’s slower, more regulated testing of autonomous vehicles may reduce the likelihood of accidents similar to the US one.

European rules are stricter around the testing of autonomous cars as many countries have been slow to allow car companies to test automated vehicles on European streets other than on private streets and at low speeds.

29 March 2018 DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

TECH & MOTORS

Ford’s new sleeker Mustang FORD has launched a sleeker, faster and more technologically-advanced Ford Mustang that claims to deliver more athletic styling, sophisticated engine and suspension enhancements. The car comes with advanced driver assistance features and more customisation options.

This Mustang is available in fastback and convertible body styles, the recognisable, powerful Mustang profile now claims to feature more refined aerodynamics. The styling is enhanced with LED lighting technology, and a choice of 11 exterior colours and new alloy wheel options.

The Mustang’s 5.0-litre Ford V8 engine now delivers 450bhp and is able to sprint from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.3 seconds when combined with Ford’s new 10-speed automatic gearbox.

The new Volkswagen Polo is a bigger and marginally longer car than in the past

level power is relatively low at 65bhp.

Out on the road, there is no power deficiency; the car has an impressive acceleration rating of 15.5 seconds in a 0 to 100km/hr race, although the relatively low engine torque will be noticeable on steep hilly inclines.

This is a modern engine that comes with a stop-start system and a regenerative braking mode, all designed to deliver a rated fuel efficiency figure of 21km/ l i t re ( 4 . 7 / 1 0 0 k m o r 60mpg).

I found that this economy figure was difficult

to achieve. My 600km test drive returned an economy rating that was about 20% lower, which is a usual performance relative to the quoted economy figure.

On the inside there is a more digital feel to the new Polo.

Volkswagen claims that this is the first car in its class to be offered with the optional Active Info Display. This replaces the traditional analogue speedometer and driver cluster with a very impressive hi-res 10.25inch digital display, similar to what’s offered in the Golf.

OPEL claims that the new Corsa GSi, due here in Ireland in September, comes with sports chassis fine-tuned on the Nordschleife of the Nurburgring.

The exterior design of the Corsa GSi leaves no doubts and continues in the long GSi tradition.

True to the Corsa GSi concept, the three-door small car claims to impress with large air intakes, sculptured bonnet, prominent rear spoiler and precisely modelled side sills.

From the front, the Opel GSi fascia with large honeycomb grille and the central Opel Blitz supported by two wings, along with the exterior rear view mirror housings in carbon racing-look become visible.

You’ll be impressed with the car’s infotainment systems of up to 8-inches in size available and digital interfaces for smartphones. This allows users access to their apps and various online services on board and Bluetooth set up for multiple phones is easy to do.

This new Polo has more standard safety features than its predecessor, including Front Assist with Pedestrian Monitoring and City Emergency Braking.

The Polo now has more airbags than ever before, with the addition of a

The large chrome-ringed design elements that are visually connected in a horizontal line via black crosspieces running across the front, along with the black traverse cleat on the bonnet support the impression of roadclinging athlete.

The rear spoiler on the edge of the roof creates additional downforce, the sporty chrome tailpipe is framed by the vibrant design of the rear apron in body colour.

The GSi driver sits on the optional Recaro performance seat and grips the sports steering wheel.

The car comes with a leather gearshift knob and aluminium sport pedals.

Opel claims that the sport chassis known from the OPC

curtain airbag system for front and rear passengers which is designed to protect the driver’s and passengers’ heads in the event of an accident.

Not surprisingly this new Polo has recently come through the Euro NCAP crash test safety system with a five star rating.

There is good rear seat access to the two Iso-Fix child seat couplings as the doors open wide.

Entry prices start at €16,795 for the base Trendline model, which is competitive, while the Comfortline models give more in terms of features

and accessories.

The standard equipment includes Bluetooth connectivity, 6.5-inch Co m p o s i t i o n Co l o u r radio system with four speakers, a multi-function display and Forward collision warning Front Assist with autonomous emergency braking.

Volkswagen has lots of specification options around the new Polo, so there is plenty of choice available to build around what is an impressively spacious supermini.

This Polo has grown in size, capacity and comfort with an impressive safety system included.

New Corsa GSi continues sports star tradition

There is the option of the more fuel-efficient 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine delivers 290 PS and 440 Nm of torque alongside 9.0 l/100km (31.4 mpg) and 199 g/km CO2, when combined with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Mustang’s six-speed manual transmission now features rev-matching technology that delivers smoother, faster downshifts accompanied by a “blip” of the powerful engine.

A contemporary, upscale interior features softtouch materials and a 12-inch all-digital instrument cluster for a superior occupant experience.

Gearing up for electric future THE Volkswagen Group is claimed to be moving to electric vehicle e-mobility as Matthias Muller, CEO of Volkswagen AG reported that 16 Volkswagen Group locations around the globe are to produce battery powered vehicles by the end of 2022.

The Group currently produces electric vehicles at three locations with a further nine factories scheduled to be equipped for this purpose. The Group has agreed partnerships with battery manufacturers to ensure adequate battery capacity for this massive expansion of environmentally-friendly electric mobility.

Volkswagen presented a number of e-mobility innovations at the recent Geneva International Motor Show, among them the Audi e-tron, the Porsche Mission E and the ID Vizzion, another member of the new Volkswagen ID family. From 2019, there will be a new electric vehicle “virtually every month”, Müller said. The Volkswagen Group intends to offer the largest fleet of electric vehicles in the world, across all brands and regions, in just a few years, he said.

The ID Vizzion

version and the brakes with red callipers ensure precise athleticism, handling and short braking distances also when combined with the optional 18-inch light alloy wheels.

Corsa GSi occupants can also enjoy connectivity with the optional IntelliLink infotainment system and bring the world of Apple iOS and Android smartphones into the car.

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 29 March 2018

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32 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 22 March 2018

FEATURES FAITH | CHOIR’S MEMBERS DELIGHTED TO HELP CREATE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC – FOR 10 YEARS

Heavenly sounds evoke real pride

QUINN KANNER

BALLYMUN Road-based Our Lady of Victories (OLV) Gospel Choir is set to perform a concert at The Button Factory in Temple Bar to celebrate 10 years of music, with musical director Ciaran Coll saying: “There’s a real sense of pride to have got here, to get 10 years out of this.

“There aren’t many choirs which last that long because it’s very hard to sustain a group and to keep motivation, and to do what we do in the world that we live in is even harder.”

The choir was started in September, 2007

“

There isn’t another choir like this in the whole of the diocese that sing every single Sunday alongside the creation of a 6:30pm Sunday Mass aimed specifically for people aged 18–35.

The choir was started

by Kevin Kelly, who also started the Gardner Street Choir.

Ciaran said: “We met here in this room. It was probably six members [at the time] – me on piano, and Kevin starting with two songs, trying to get people to sing.”

In those 10 years, the number of singers has

Left reeling by the craic at a real ceili

grown from 6 to 36, and while the rehearsal room remains the same, its walls have gained certificates from competitions that the choir has won down the years, and photo collages of the choir’s adventures.

Ciaran took over leading the choir in September 2010. He said: “At the stage when Kevin left, we were up to 15-20 people in the choir, with a band.”

According to Ciaran, the OLV choir’s band is

At their upcoming 10-year anniversary concert at The Button Factory, the choir is releasing a special 14-track album, One Love, to commemorate the milestone event

one of the things that makes them unique, since most choirs only have a pianist or a backing track as opposed to a four-piece band that plays with them all the time.

Ciaran said: “You can see the choir lift [the mood], and you can see the crowd’s energy lift when the band starts up.”

JORDAN UPSHAW

LAST Friday night, I piled into a bus with well over 20 other American college students and travelled to Monkstown to learn about traditional Irish Ceili Dancing.

As an American student studying in Dublin, I’m eager to learn more about different aspects of Irish culture, and I’d been told that I couldn’t put a foot wrong if I wanted to learn about ceilis. (As it turned out, I could – but more on that later...)

Another reason I tagged along because my roommate told me it would be fun – or “great craic”, as everyone in Ireland seems to say.

We arrived at Comhaltas CeoltoIri Eireann and quickly visited the bar for a pint, as being both Americans and college students, we weren’t prepared to dance in public without a dash of Dutch courage first.

Since it’s 2018, not 1818, I’ve sadly had very few opportunities to go folk dancing back home, and I wasn’t entirely sure what to

Another thing that makes the OLV choir unique is that they sing at the 6:30 Mass every Sunday. Ciaran said: “There isn’t another choir like this in the whole of the diocese that sing every single Sunday.”

In addition to performing at Sunday Mass, the choir also has travelled to perform at events and

competitions.

Since 2009, they’ve won prizes at competitions in Sligo, New Ross and Navan, most recently winning the Popular Music and Gospel Choir categories at the Navan Choral Festival in 2017, and coming in second place for the National Choir of the Year award.

Ciaran added: “We’re

expect over here at the ceili.

Once we were sufficiently ready, we made our way to the auditorium where a live band was warming up. There were musicians playing out near the bar, as well so even when we took a break from the dancing we were never far from music.

My classmates comprised the bulk of the group but there were a fair number of Irish people in attendance as well. The auditorium was full and nearly everyone was under 30.

Two lovely older ladies served as the callers, so we partnered up and proceeded to follow their instructions – very badly.

As it turns out, ceili dancing seems to involve quite a bit of hopping and spinning, and if, like us, you don’t know what you’re doing you’re mostly colliding with each other.

The callers did their best for us, but we were a fairly hopeless bunch!

The professor had told us to wear gym clothes but I chose a dress for its twirling capabilities. I maintain this was exactly the

not a gospel choir that does corporate events and goes from one corporate gig to another. We’re a choir whose bread and butter is here every Sunday.”

Tickets for OLV Gospel Choir’s 10-year-anniversary concert at 7.30pm on Saturday, April 7, are available on eventbrite. ie for €15.

right decision.

While gulping down water between songs, I wondered how young Irish people in the past managed to dance and sweat so much while wearing corsets and heavy clothing before the invention of air conditioning.

My classmates and I were well aware how perfectly dreadful our dancing was, but we didn’t let that slow us down. I must say, I do sympathise with our patient instructors.

The entire setup felt a bit like a movie, and I was very much the starry-eyed girl at her first dance.

Even though none of us knew what we were doing, we threw ourselves into the ceili, sstumbling and laughing as we swung and twirled each other around the room, trying not to mow down the callers.

As another step deeper into Irish culture, I may have put a foot or three wrong, but I had so much fun and gained an insight into the popularity of this truly unique Irish experience, making it a dizzy delight.

29 March 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 33

BLACKROCK TAKE HOME JUNIOR CUP TITLE P36

GAZETTE

DUBLIN TEAMS FIND BASKETBALL SUCCESS P37

WOMEN’S LEAGUE:

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

KILKENNY DEFEATED AT THE HANDS OF DUBLIN’S PEAMOUNT UNITED: Newcastle based Peamount United showed what they were made of last week as they managed to score a 4-0 victory over their Kilkenny rivals. With two Ireland internationals scoring hat tricks on the day, they proved their worth and solidified their status at the top of the table.

PAGE 36

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS HOCKEY | SANDYMOUNT CLUB WIN IRISH JUNIOR CUP CROWN

Railway’s experience proves key  STEPHEN FINDLATER

sfindlater@dublingazette.com

RAILWAY Union’s experience prevailed as their combinaton of decorated senior players and talented young guns proved too strong for UCD in the women’s Irish Junior Cup final, retaining the crown for a second successive season.

Cecelia Joyce and Kate Dillon got the key goals either side of half-time with Kate McKenna the creator each time with incisions from the right baseline.

All three have won everything in the game at senior level but have stepped down a little from the top level.

And their know-how was vital alongside a wealth of underage internationals in the top competition for second teams.

In the first half, it was a swift bat-

tle from end to end with numerous chances at each end. UCD had two big shouts for penalty strokes waved away.

Three corners were also repelled with Riona Norton making a series of good saves while her defensive team got the crucial deflections to powerful Freya McDermott slap shots.

Railway, though, had an excellent forward line, packed with experience with plenty of senior medals to their name.

And they got their first goal in the 28th minute when two of them combined, McKenna making the inroads from the right flank, squaring for Joyce to tap in at the back post.

The Sandymount club went on to boss the early stage of the second half with UCD keeper Laura Gunning making a couple of key saves while Kate Orr had a couple of drag-

Railway Union duo Cecelia Joyce and Kate McKenna celebrate combining for their first goal against UCD last Sunday. Picture: Adrian Boehm

flicks charged down.

The second goal was coming, though, and it arrived in the 44th minute.

Again McKenna – an All-Ireland senior football champion with Dublin – was the creator as she weaved in between three players before laying off to Kate Dillon who swept in

on her backhand for 2-0.

UCD were roused after that with Jane O’Brien crashing a shot into the outside of the goal following Camila Arbulo’s interception.

McDermott hooked another corner shot wide in their late bursts forward but Railway stayed firm to see out the result with a decent buffer.

SPORT CONTACT INFO SPORTS EDITOR: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@dublingazette.com Phone: 01 601 0240

34 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 29 March 2017

CLUB NOTES FINGALLIANS GAA Adult Leagues: Our Division 2 footballers had a league win away to O’Tooles & our Division 6 squad were beaten away to Crumlin. (Championship fixtures to follow next week) Adult Football & Hurling Championship Groups: Senior Football: Group 2 – St Pats, Palmerstown, Round Towers, Clondalkin & Fingal Ravens.

Junior A Football: Group 1 – St Brigids, Ballymun & Ballyboden.

Junior 4 Football: Ballymun, Rounds Towers Clondalkin & Lucan.

Intermediate Hurling: Group 1 – St Sylvesters, Erins Isle, St Judes, St Vincents & Scoil Ui Chonaill.

Junior F Hurling: Group 1 – Civil Service, Beann Eadair, Na Gaeil Oga, Erin Go Bragh, Kilmacud Crokes & Realt Dearg.

Academy Update: There will be no academy on Easter Saturday (31st March). The academy will resume on the 7th April.

U16 Girls: On Sunday they had a great league win v Whitehall Colmcille.

Leinster Minor Ladies Football Championship: Dublin 2-19 Laois 2-11 and our Laura Dempsey played with Emma McCormack on panel. Next round, is next weekend versus Kildare or Westmeath.

Leinster U14 Championship:Dublin 2-10 Kildare 2-8. Managed by Shay O’Reilly & Sandra O’Brien.

On the field we were represented by Molly O’Brien & Niamh Crowley.

2018 Leaving Cert Irish Oral: Exams take place between 9th and 13th April. Practise sessions in the club each Tuesday at 8. Free of charge.

Race Day: Saturday 7th July – Bellewstown Races our most important fundraiser in 2018.

Further information on tables & sponsorship from teresacollins9@gmail.com Na hUimhreacha Buaiteach Lotó: 22, 23, 28, 34 & 36. We had no winner. The Jackpot this Tuesday evening will be €3768.

GAELIC FOOTBALL: LEAGUE KICKS OFF TO A FLYING START

Round Tower keep up winning campaign Clondalkin’s Round Tower GAA club beat a resilient O’Dwyers GAA from Balbriggan in a match that ensures they aim to maintain their current steadfast league campaign throughout the coming season  MICHAEL MCGLYNN

sport@dublingazette.com

ROUND TOWER’S Junior A footballers overcame O’Dwyers in a tough, dogged encounter to maintain their winning start to the league campaign. Tempers became frayed in the second half but it was the Round Tower lads who kept the ir heads to edge the encounter by the minimum against a resilient visiting side.

Both sides were on an even keel throughout the opening quarter. Jason Mockler registered inside a minute but a long strike that Dean Alford required every inch to palm over the bar brought the teams

level.

Paul Clifford found Niall Lanigan sprinting into space and he offloaded to Dermot Milton. Crowded out, he slipped to Adam Clarke who kicked over.

O’Dwyers edged two clear but Fergus Callaly released the pacy Conor Byrne from the half backs and he provided the assist to Lanigan to register his first. But a significant setback arrived on the 18 minute mark when the northsiders won a kick-out and a pacy attack up the right led to a low strike to the corner of Alford’s net.

B u t To w e r s r e s p o n d e d superbly. Clarke kicked a point from the next play. Lanigan won in the inside forwards and

Milton curled over with the right. Both combined again in the inside forwards and Milton finished with aplomb, striking across the ball to curl it over from a tight angle.

An excellent team move started in the full back line with Dan Gregg dispossessing.

He was supported by David Chapman and it was worked upfield where Clarke, Milton and Davy McCarthy combined to enable Michael Cleary, a t t a c k i n g f ro m m i d f i e l d , kicked from just inside the 40 to equalise. It was an excellent turnaround and was completed before the break when Lanigan was tripped on the 40 and Milton kicked the placed ball to

ST BRIGIDS St Brigids Easter GAA Camp for 5 to 13 year old boys and girls takes place from March 26th to 29th from 10am-2pm daily. Lots of fun and activity for all.

No Nursery on 31st March. Nursery resumes on 7th from 9.30 to 11.00, all 4 to 7 year olds are welcome.

Thank you to our great Lotto Committee for all their fundraising for the club. There was no winner of the Lotto Jackpot in last week’s draw, the next draw is in Russell Park on the 29th March. The Jackpot will be €2,800. Make sure to have your envelopes entered into the draw, you can also buy online via our website.

Club membership fees are now due – they can be paid online from our website. All players need to have paid or commenced payment of their club membership by 31st March.

Month’s mind mass for Patsy Phelan will take place in Corduff on Easter Sunday at 11.30.

Fit15 have a 3 day Peak Performance Program running from Tuesday 3rd April - Thursday 5th April from 10am - 1pm each day with the amazing Oisin Lynch for 12 to 16 year olds.

To book use the Fit15 app or email fit15.fifteen@gmail.com AFL10 play on Tuesday evening in Russell Park. Well done amongst others to AFL3 on a good win at the weekend and to our U14 Ladies football representatives who played their first Intercounty match on Saturday recording a 2 point win over Kildare.

Round Tower’s Junior A footballers taking on O’Dwyers. Picture:Round Towers

edge us 0-8 v 1-4 ahead.

O’Dwyers regained momentum and were a point ahead before substitute Nicky Killan dinked a point. A midfield win

by Cleary released the supporting Tom Curran to carry into the forwards. The move ended with a foul on Milton and he picked himself off the ground to edge us a point clear.

O’Dwyers equalised from a tight angle before McCarthy’s long-range effort was tipped over by the keeper. Matters became frayed in the dying minutes and the visitors were reduced to 14 men. But our lads kept their composure and were controlled in possession to see it out for two points.

29 March 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 35

LEAGUE OF IRELAND: CORCORAN SCORES 91ST MIN GOAL

LEAGUE OF IRELAND Victory for Rovers Shamrock Rovers under-17s kicked off their season with a resounding 5-1 victory over Cork City at Roadstone. Danila Bogdanovic scored a first-half hat-trick, before Jack Kelly and substitute Dean McMenamey rounded off the comprehensive win. Damien Duff’s under-15s were also handsome 4-0 winners in their tie with Bray Wanderers/St Joseph’s Boys, with Evan Caffrey, Roland Banya, Oisin Hand and Adam Wells on target.

ST PATS MOVE TO TOP OF DIVISION TABLE

Firhouse facing off against Letterkenny Rovers last sunday. Picture: Stephen Doherty

All tied up: Firhouse to face Letterkenny again  DAVE DONNELLY

FIRHOUSE Clover will have to do it all again in Tallaght after their FAI Intermediate Cup semi-final against Letterkenny Rovers finished all-square in Donegal on Sunday afternoon.

Clover travelled up on Saturday and stayed the night before the game in Derry as they sought to give themselves the best chance of overcoming the 2015/16 semifinalists.

However injuries to star s tr ike r Ror y O’Connor early in the game, and his replacement Nika Arevadze also picking up an injury, meant Clover were glad to get the tie back to Dublin.

Both teams were reduced to ten men late on as Letterkenny’s Pajo Rafferty and Firhouse

captain Darren Forysth saw red in separate incidents as they were shown second yellow cards.

The home side began the game the stronger and controlled play for the first quarter, and it was Rafferty who had the game’s first chance as he forced a good save from ex-Leeds keeper Ian Molloy.

Just before the halfhour, Firhouse had an excellent chance to hit the front when Paddy Brophy connected with Carl Forsyth’s free-kick but Rory Kelly pulled off a great save.

After half-time, a longrange effort form Conor Doyle forced another fine stop from Kelly as the visitors edged in front, before Rafferty went close himself with a volleyed effort just wide.

The final stages

became more tense as Rafferty was dismissed for dissent immediately after being booked for a tackle, before Forsyth was harshly dismissed deep into injury time.

“When the draw came out, we didn’t want to be travelling down to Letterkenny,” Firhouse manager Keith Baker told the Dublin Gazette.

“We beat Crumlin in the previous round, who everybody would have made the favourites to win it, so we just have to turn up. In fairness to Letterkenny, they’re a very good side and it won’t be easy.

“We’ve home advantage – we’ve been solid at home this year and we haven’t conceded a goal in the tournament itself.

Ian [Molloy] and the back four have been solid.

“These are the best team we’ve played in

the competition. It was a great game up there and I think the same will happen in Ta l l a g h t o n S u n d ay week.”

Regardless of the

result when the sides meet again on Sunday, A p r i l 8 t h a t I T Ta l laght, Firhouse have already booked the ir place in the first round of the FAI Senior Cup.

St Patrick’s Athletic moved into the top half of the Premier Division table thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Limerick at Richmond Park on Friday night.

Captain Ian Bermingham scored the game’s only goal ten minutes into the second half as Liam Buckley’s side wrapped up their third win of the season.

Bermingham rose high above the Blues defenders to connect with Conan Byrne’s corner in what was

a deceptively comfortable win. Buckley opted to start with Jake Keegan up front instead of regular striker Christy Fagan, while there was a first league start for local boy James Doona, and both had opportunities to extend the home side’s lead in the latter stages.

Doona was particularly culpable as he skied a close-range effort over the bar, but the Saints easily held out for a vital three points.

Picture: Martin Doherty

O’Sullivan hero for Shelbourne last week David O’Sullivan was the hero for Shelbourne as the striker followed up last week’s hat-trick against Longford Town with the only goal against Cobh Ramblers at Tolka Park.

O’Sullivan has been in scintillating form for the Reds since making the move from Longford over the winter break, and Friday’s was his fifth goal in four league games.

It wasn’t one of the striker’s more accomplished efforts as he got a slight touch on Dylan Grimes’ ball into the box and beat Paul Hunt in the Cobh goal. Monday night saw Shels seal an EA Sports Cup second-round place with a comfortable 3-0 win over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.

The Reds led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from last season’s top scorer James English and Gavin Boyne, before English rounded off the victory with his second of the game just past the hour. Owen Heary’s side will face Drogheda United or St Mochta’s in the next

Firhouse Clover will have to do it all over again in Tallaght next week. Picture: Stephen Doherty

round.

36 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 29 March 2018

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

2

BALLYBODEN ST ENDAS The 48th Annual General meeting of Ballyboden St. Endas GAA, Camogie and Ladies Football Club will take place on Monday, April 23rd 2018 at 8.30 p.m. in the club hall. All full members are cordially invited to attend this meeting, and are asked to attend promptly at 8.30pm so that a quorum would be formed and the meeting start on time.

Hard luck to our Boden representatives on the Dublin hurling and football teams in their league games this weekend.

Congratulations to Cuala GAA on their All Ireland Club Hurling Final win over Na Piarsaigh.

Well done to our Under 16a Footballers and our under 16 ladies footballers on their win over Fingallians and Beann Eadair.

ST PATRICK’S A Special General Meeting will be held in the Clubhouse on Wednesday 28th March at 8pm.

We would also ask everyone to complete the Club survey circulated to in the last few days.

Membership for 2018 was due to be paid by the end of February. If you still have not done so, the easiest way is to pay on-line at https://www. stpatricksgaa.ie/onlinememberships The Easter Camps will be on Tuesday 3rd to Friday 6th April. Further details are available on www.stpatricksgaa.ie and can be booked on-line.

Well done to our senior football team on their one point win over Na Fianna.

Hard luck to our junior footballers who lost out to Naomh Olaf.

Our juvenile teams were very busy over the weekend. Well done to our ladies, particularly our U12s and player of the match, Kayleigh Gargan, and our U14 camógie who put in

some great performances on Saturday.

We had over twenty U11 girls playing football in Glenaulin on Sunday morning. Congratulations to our two girls of the game – Lauren Haugh and Darci Moran.

Hard luck to our U16s who lost out to Na Fianna despite some fine individual performances.

Well done also to our minor players Evan Walshe and Mark Dietz who played with Lucan CBS in the All Ireland semi-final on Saturday.

Unfortunately, it was not to be on this occasion but nonetheless a great achievement to get so far.

Best wishes to all our members in Lucan CBS who are on their school tour to Germany this week. Hope you have a great time.

Our Lotto numbers this week were 3, 5, 12 and 24.

There was no winner. There were two Match 3 winners – Eva Christie and Tommy Connolly.

ST MARK’S GAA Ladies Football: The Ladies Minor Footballers are recruiting players – new and past players all welcome training Monday nights from 7-8pm.

Anyone interested can contact Pauline Russell on 087-4127889.

The 2018 St Marks Boys U10’s are currently seeking new players for both Gaelic Football and Hurling for the upcoming season. Boys must be born after January 1st 2008. If interested and for further details please call or text Ashley Pitts at 085 1599219. All Juvenile section training has returned to date, contact the relevant mentors for info. The Adult section has returned to training, Tuesday and Thursdays.

Please continue to support the club lotto. Jackpot €5,700 – not won. Numbers drawn - 3, 12, 16, 29.

JUNIOR RUGBY FINAL: BLACKROCK COME OUT VICTORIOUS IN

St Mary’s lose out in Junior Cup final to Blackrock

BL ACKROCK College emerged victorious from a Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Junior Cup final of swinging fortunes at Donnybrook, on Wednesday.

They set the tone from the kick-off, their lock Rory McGuire bounding forward through arm tackles for 30 metres.

Left wing Michael Nealon twice threatened down the touchline where he was met by St Mary’s College scrumhalf Seanán Devereux the first time and centre Rob Nolan the second.

McGuire was yellow carded for a high tackle to allow St Mary’s an access point at the lineout.

It was Nolan with the tackle on number eight Sean Dempsey and into

hooker Milo Byrnes, the latter leaving the field on the advice of touch judge Susan Carty.

St Mary’s probed from an attacking lineout, centre Barra O’Loughlin making the biggest dent ahead of captain Adam Mulvihill’s dive to the line for full-back Max Svejdar to convert for 7-0 in the 11th minute.

This was just the tonic they needed to fuel their confidence, moving the ball until McGuire and prop Scott Barron countered at the ruck.

The counter ruck came in handy again on foot of Brownlee’s thunderous tackle on O’Loughlin. ‘ Ro c k w i n g H a r r y Whelan testing out Svejdar’s tackle technique, the ball brought back to

GOOD ‘LUCAN’ OUT Lucan lads head out of Sarfields to NFL game SOME Lucan Sarsfields U-11 footballers represented their team and club on Sunday at half time in the Dublin v Monaghan NFL Division 1 game. They were delighted with the chance to play in Croke Park and also in front of the large crowd and they played some brilliant football.

Team: Darragh Walsh, Evan Flynn, Eoghan Clarke, Conor Healy, Adam McMahon, Oscar Brennan, Phelim Dunne, Michael O’Brien, Ciaran Maloney, Michael Casey, Killian Brooks.I

the left for centre Tom Henderson to squeeze in at the posts, out-half Michael Moloney converting in the 19th minute.

This did not turn the tide as St Mary’s returned to attack, preferring the hard driving of their forwards to the men further out.

St Mary’s switched it up by spreading the play wide where ‘Rock lock Naoise Golden got in on the ball for a penalty turnover.

B l a c k ro c k h a d a n advantage in speed on the outside and Nealon

had to be shunted into touch by Ross Moore.

S t M a r y ’s b r a v e defence keeping McGuire and prop Scott Barron held up off the f loor before Brownlee just about got downward pressure for Moloney to make it 14-7 at the break.

Blackrock were a different proposition when they came back out, mixing power and pace to draw a penalty for Moloney to make it 17-7 in the 33rd minute.

Left wing Nealon went close to their third from a kick ahead, Sve-

jdar covering quickly to win the footrace.

St Mary’s refused to break, playing their best rugby of the competition in adversity to drive the ball and move it cleanly.

Blackrock soaked up the carriers until St Mary’s lock Daniel Leane spun out of a tackle for a try, converted by Svejdar in the 45th minute.

Replacement hooker Max Patterson was the tail gunner of a ‘Rock maul that made it all the way for Moloney to convert in the 56th minute and secure the Cup.

29 March 2017 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 37

JUNIOR CUP FACE-OFF Blackrock College raise the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools cup last week Picture:Paul Lundy

BASKETBALL: DUBLIN NARROWLY MISS OUT ON TOP TITLES

Disappointment for Dublin in Waterford  DAVE DONNELLY

FLAG FOOTBALL

NFL Star coaches Dublin schoolkids Earl Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks at the Dublin Indoor Football venue in Santry, where he helped coach Peter Collins and over 100 other school pupils taking part in a special flag football tournament – held as part of an NFL UK Live roadshow.

The pupils at the event – who came from Our Lady of Lourdes and John Scottus Primary Schools – were given an introduction to one of the fastest growing sports in Ireland before taking part in the flag football tournament.

THERE was triple disappointment for Dublin sides at the Basketball Ireland National League finals as Black Amber Templeogue, Courtyard Liffey Celtics and Dublin Lions all tasted defeat at the WIT Arena in Waterford on Saturday.

Black Amber Templeogue fell to a 73-61 defeat against Tralee Warriors in the Men’s Super League Champions Trophy final in a repeat of last year’s final.

In the Women’s Super League final, Liffey Celtics were bested 76-63 by UCC Glanmire in another meeting between the two sides who duked out last year’s final.

And Dublin Lions missed out on the opportunity to be crowned Men’s Division One League Cup champions as they lost by an 88-72 scoreline to Carlow IT. The first game of the day saw Black Amber look to take revenge over Tralee Warriors in a game that, 12 months ago, had gone all the way to the wire with the Kerry side taking a 74-73 overtime win.

It was a more comfortable win for the Munster side this time out, with Paul Dick and Trae Pemberton spearheading a prolific attack.

Templeogue led following the end of a fiercely-contested first quarter thanks to baskets from Jason Killeen and Lorcan Murphy edging them into a 17-14 lead.

Tralee took charge from there and led by nine points, 54-45, going into the final quarter and, despite an impressive 22-point haul for Killeen, they maintained an eightpoint margin at the finish.

Liffey Celtics fell just short against Glanmire for the second time in a year in a game that was much closer than the final scoreline suggests.

Celtics held a five-point lead going in after the first quarter, with Aine O’Connor lively in attack as a high-scoring opening

Dublin Lions were defeated at the hands of Carlow IT last weekend. Picture: Rockmountain Studios

ended 20-15.

A decisive second quarter saw Glanmire run into a ten-point lead, which they maintained until the end of the third quarter.

O’Connor and Devon Brookshire fronted a massive effort by Liffeys in the final quarter and they managed to make it a

three-point game with a minute remaining, before Glanmire closed it out.

Dublin Lions put in a huge final quarter against Carlow IT as they attempted to rein in a 19-point deficit but, despite Tiernan Howe high-scoring with 19, they couldn’t quite close the gap.

Paracycling duo finish near the top

KATIE-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal finished seventh in the Women’s B Tandem 1km Time Trial at the UCI 2018 Para-cycling Track World Championships with a time of 1.12.509. The Great Britain bike of Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott won in a phenomenal time of 1.05.079.

Earlier today Ronan Grimes was eighth in the Men’s C4 4km Individual Pursuit with 4.55.538.

The Galway born rider has made a solid mark for himself in his world championship debut this week.

The Individual Pursuit was won by

Jozef Metelka from Slovakia.

In the Men’s B Tandem 1km Time Trial, Martin Gordon and Eamonn Byrne kicked off their own worlds campaign, finishing 14th with a time of 1.05.507, just ahead of Peter Ryan and Sean Hahessy who were 16th with 1.06.426. Great Britain were dominant again, with Neil Fachie and Matthew Rotherham in a time of 59.686.

Dunlevy and McCrystal won a bronze medal in the Women’s B Tandem 3km Individual Pursuit, and today they switched focus to the sprint focused 1km Time Trial.

Their time was just 0.2 seconds off their personal best.

Speaking after the event McCrystal said “We have to be happy with that! It’s not our favoured event, so to come away with that time is a good ride for us. We are in a good place for the season ahead.”

In the Men’s B Tandem 1km Time Trials Ryan and Hahessy were one of the early starters but were forced to restart later after a mishap off the start. The pairing of Gordon and Byrne raced well to finish 14th. This

is their second year competing at the Track World Championships.

The UCI 2018 Para-cycling Track World Championships take place in the Velódromo do Rio, Brazil from the 22nd – 25th March.

38 DUBLIN GAZETTE  WEST 29 March 2018

CLUB NOTES

CUALA DEFEND ALL IRELAND TITLE IN HISTORIC GAA WIN

LUCAN SARFIELDS

We are looking for volunteers to give a hand for an hour or two on Good Friday, in particular Electricians, Carpenters & Painters. However we also need volunteers to do a general clean up. We hope to start at 10am.

As the BAR will be open that evening and to show our appreciation, we would like to invite all of the day’s volunteers, family and friends to the club at 5pm for some live music, craic and complimentary food.

Well done to the U13A footballers who played two games in 24hrs winning both and securing Div1 football for the year ahead. Full juvenile football report below.

Lots of good wins in the Ladies Football section well done to all and special mention to the U8s who started their Lucan careers vs Judes over the weekend. Also the budding U9s got the year started vs Ballyboden.

Well done to the Inter footballers who picked up a win and went top of the table, Snrs snuck a draw away to Castleknock, with both Jnr teams unfortunately recording losses.

We wish Chris Crummey well and for a speedy recovery, hopefully the news isn’t too bad. Congratulations to Johnny McCaffrey and PaulaJean who got married over the weekend.

Some of the U-11 footballers represented their team and club with distinction on Sunday at half time in the Dublin v Monaghan NFL Division 1 game. They were delighted with the chance to play in Croke Park and also in front of the large crowd and they played some brilliant football.

A special thanks to those other players and parents from the U-11 group who came to support their team mates and to Parnells for such a sporting game.

The U13A footballers travelled to Alfie Byrne Road on Friday evening last to take on St Pat’s Donabate. Half back Dara Walsh was top scorer on the night with 2-01 and Daragh Lyons chipped in with 3 points from midfield. Sean Langton, Oisin O’Connor and Dan Kane manned the fullback line superbly. Adam Banim also had a fine hour at centre forward. The final score in favour of Lucan was 6-11 to 1-07.

The U13 B’s lost their final grading game on a score of 6-4 to 2-6 to St Anne’s in Bohernabreena. After a poor first half by their own standards the team were down by 5-3 to 0-1 at half time but rallied strongly in the second half to outscore St Anne’s 2-5 to 1-1. Dillon Ryan was outstanding at centre back.

The U-13C team lost out to a strong Erin Go Bragh side on Saturday.

Lucan U14A travelled to Loreto Park to take on Ballinteer St. John’s.

Lucan hit the ground running and scored 1-03 before Ballinteer registered a score, which turned out to be their only score of a dominant first half display. The second half started off with “minding the house” couple with excellent counter attacking football as Lucan piled on a further 3-03 to run out winners by a score of 4-12 - 1-06. Thanks also to Conor and Niall from our B team who stayed on and played with us to keep up the numbers.

The U-15A had a good win v Maurs 3-15 to 4-6 with some great team scorers and quick movement with ball on show.

Lucan Sarsfields U15B team played another outstanding game against St. Vincents on Sunday showing some real team football and some excellent passing and lead after the first half of the game. Lucan settled the game down and played out the game for a great win.

The U16A footballers lost a keenly contested Division 1 League match by three points to Kilmacud Crokes on Saturday on AGP3. Lucan fought extremely hard in the second half and came from nine points down at half time to draw level with Kilmacud with fifteen minutes to go. Top scorer was Charlie Keher followed by Oisin Ryan. Mark Gormley, Cian Duffy and Paul Tuite Final score Lucan Sarsfields 3-10 Kilmacud Crokes 3-13 Well done to all the teams competing at the weekend.

Hurling action resumed after the break due to weather with both minor teams in league action. The Minor A’s had a good win over Kilmacud Crokes B at the 12th Lock. MHL2 Lucan Sarsfields 3-22 Kilmacud Crokes 0-6.

Lucan’s second team lost out to Naomh Olaf in a MHL3 South contest.

The Lucan lads battled hard throughout but struggled to compete with Olafs first team and were beaten on a score of 6-18 to 3-2.

Our seniors play Crumlin in O’Toole Park at 2.15pm on Sunday 8th.

The Junior As travel to St Maurs the previous evening (Sat 7th) for a 6pm throw in, while the Junior Bs are away to St Pats Donabate at 3pm on Sunday 8th. These are key games for all three teams and support would be greatly appreciated.

Mark Doyle from AIB, presents Seán Moran of Cuala with the Man of the Match award for his outstanding performance in the AIB Senior Hurling Club Championship Final Replay against Na Piarsaigh. Picture: André Corvin / Sportsfile

Cuala hold on to the title for a second year ALL IRELAND CLUB HURLING TITLE Cuala 2-17 Na Piarsaigh 1-17  JAMES HENDICOTT

sport@dublingazette.com

ECSTATIC Dalkey Club Cuala took the All Ireland Club Hurling Title for the second consecutive year on Saturday, after a late-late show saw off the phenomenal challenge of Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh.

Cuala twice saved themselves in the dying seconds the first time around on St Patrick’s Day, in a contest that truly looked lost at the end of normal time. A deflected free from Sean Moran nestled in the back of the Limerick club’s net to force extra time that day, and David Treacy snatched a replay with a final second point at the death.

It was two second half Cuala goals that had looked key this time around. Instead, Na Piarsaigh briefly pulled themselves back in front of the holders with two minutes to go, but Cuala hold their nerve.

The Limerick club were the

early pacesetters in Portlaoise, grabbing a two point lead, before Cuala hit four in a row to lead by the same margin.

Treacy’s set-piece play was again critical in the early period, as Cuala drew plenty of frees from the opposition, and he added five first half placed points to the twelve he hit first time around. Adrian Breen was looking dangerous at the other end, however, and Na Piarsaigh narrowed the gap slightly at half time, with Cuala going in with the tightest of 0-10 to 0-9 leads.

Few would have bet against a second replay at half time, then. The game was very much about snatched opportunities and fiercely contested all over the pitch, with the scoring only reaching as high as it did due to the consistent finishing at both ends.

There wasn’t the same edginess to Cuala as a week earlier, however, and while their control was never close to complete, they always looked the slightly more likely of the two.

Cuala captain Paul Schutte had to be withdrawn injured over half time, however, and

while Shane Stapleton proved an able replacement, Schutte’s loss could easily have been critical in the battle to repel Breen, who’d proven particularly effective for the Limerick club.

Critically, the Dalkey side had a perfect two minutes in them, eight minutes into the second half. A Nicky Kenny interception in the Na Piarsaigh defence saw him take maximum advant a g e , w i t h Schutte adding a second almost s t ra i g h t afterwards, after he finished a winding solo run from c l o s e r a n g e to h a n d Cuala an extremely promising looking 2-11 to 0-11 lead.

Pe r h a p s i n ev i t a b l y, Na Piarsaigh hit back with their strongest period of play. A

“

smartly taken goal from David Breen and a period of sustained possession and sharp shooting had the Limerick club back in an unlikely single-point lead with a couple of minutes left on the clock.

Cuala had that vital final kick, and were not to be denied.

Con O’Callaghan, a pair of David Treacy frees and a Mark Schutte point deep into stoppage time came from a period of criticallytimed dominance, and finally put this final to bed, with the men in red running out 2-17 to 1-17 victors.

After one of the strongest and most compelling finales to the club championship in years, Cuala become only the eighth club side in GAA history to defend an All Ireland title, and the first in hurling since 2009.

They have a break of just three weeks before stepping into Dublin Championship action once again.

The game was very much about snatched opportunities and fiercely contested all over the pitch

29 March 2018 WEST  DUBLIN GAZETTE 39

PEAMOUNT TOP OF THE TABLE HEADING INTO NEXT WEEK’S QUARTER FINALS

Peamount pip Kilkenny to post  DAVE DONNELLY

PEAMOUNT United made it two wins from two in the Women’s National League with a 4-0 victory over bottom side Kilkenny United in Greenogue on Saturday.

Ireland striker Amber Barrett scored a hattrick, while fellow international Áine O’Gorman scored her third of the season, as last year’s runners-up ground down their resolute visitors.

The result leaves the Peas top of the table following Cork City’s defeat

by UCD Waves on Sunday and ideally-placed

going into the quarterfinals of the Shield next week.

Peamount took the lead after 17 minutes through O’Gorman, who headed home after Lucy McCartan’s long-range effort had rebounded off the bar.

T h e s a m e p l aye rs were involved again as the Peas doubled their lead on the half-hour, O’Gorman taking on McCartan’s pass before playing in Barrett to finish smartly.

Goal number three arrived seven minutes into the second half and it was a superb individ-

ual effort from Barrett, who picked the ball up wide on the right and drove inside before finishing left-footed.

McCartan, who was named under-19 international player of the year at last week’s FAI Awards, hit the bar again with a speculative effort as the clock ticked down.

B a r re t t s e a l e d h e r hat-trick eleven minu te s f ro m t i m e, t h e Donegal native keeping a calm head after being slipped through

by Eleanor Ryan Doyle, and the woodwork denied her a fourth in injury time.

“We had lots of possession but Kilkenny made us really work hard for the goals we scored,” Peamount manager James O’Callaghan told the Dublin Gazette.

“They sat back and d e fe n d e d ve r y we l l .

T h ey we re c o m p a c t and their keeper had a very good game, Niamh Coombes, an ex-Peamount player.

“After Kilkenny lost to Limerick, people were probably expecting it to be a handy game for Peamount but it was far from it.”

O’Callaghan revealed the squad are now train-

Colleen Rickards of Kilkenny United in action against Lucy McCartan, left, and Lauren Kealy, right, of Peamount United. Picture: Barry Cregg / Sportsfile

ing three nights a week – as often as many League of Ireland sides – in an effort to take things to the next level.

“We’re doing extra

sessions, to keep developing. The girls keep working hard trying to get better and better at what we’re doing. “ T h e r e ’s l o a d s o f

room for improvement.

It’s a long season and we ’re go i n g to n e e d a big squad because players are going to get injured.”

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Determined Dublin are focused on a final win

 DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

JOHN Small says the Dublin footballers have already put last weekend’s surprise defeat to Monaghan behind them as they prepare for the National League final against Galway on Sunday.

Monaghan beat Dublin at Croke Park for the first time ever thanks to Fintan Kelly’s late point to ensure the Dubs finished their regular season on a loss.

It had no bearing on t h e f i n a l s t a n d i n g s, however, as Jim Gavin’s side had already booked a Croke Park showdown with the Tribesmen this Sunday.

And Ballymun Kickhams clubman – who saw his clubmate Philly McMahon dismissed for a second yellow – says they’ve taken lessons where required and are fully focused on the final.

“It was a very competitive game, two good teams going at it,” Small said.

“Obviously we were d i s a p p o i n te d to l o se but Monaghan did well.

It was a tough physical game.

“Probably from our perspective our passing was a bit off and it gives us something to work on, looking ahead to the final.

“We go out every day to try to do our best, represent the group as best we can and we probably didn’t perform to how we

Dublin will face Galway in Croke Park this Sunday. Picture: Seb Daly / Sportsfile

“We’ll try to stick to our philosophies and principals“ - Ballymun Kickhams and Dublin

player John Small ahead of their bout on Sunday

wanted to last Sunday.

“We don’t dwell on it.

We just prepare for the next time. We review and then we move on and we prepare for the next game.”

“It’s the same for every game, you’re trying to go out and prepare as best you can.

“Fellas are fighting for a chance and opportunity to represent the group.

You can’t be thinking like that.”

Coach Gavin concurred,

adding that they can’t afford to make the same mistakes two weeks in a row against top-tier opposition.

He said: “We just didn’t perform well enough. We had plenty of opportunities in the game, gave away a lot of it to Monaghan.

“If you do that to a quality side like Monaghan, they’re going to punish you. We’ll look at what we did well and try to replicate that next week.

“ O u r k i c k- p a s s i n g, hand-passing - we g ave aw ay a l o t o f possession which w o u l d n’t b e t o o u r standards. If we have a repeat performance n e x t we e ke n d , we ’ l l make life difficult for ourselves.”

Defender Small said he’s ready for the challenge Galway will present – the sort of physical contest relished by a ny d e fe n c e - m i n d e d player.

T h e i r m o s t re c e n t meeting at Pearse Park saw Eoghan O ’G a r a s e n t o f f a n d coach Jason Sherlock involved in a scuff le that saw him handed an eight-week ban.

S m a l l s a i d : “ T h ey play a physical game and we are happy to take it whatever way it comes, whether it’s open or physical, we’ll play it and try to stick to our philosophies and principles.

“It was a tough physical game in Salthill, like all the games are, s o I e x p e c t i t to b e physical on Sunday. “ T h e y ’v e a l o t o f ve r y go o d p l aye rs.

There’s a lot of expectation on them and they’ve justified that in the Allianz League so far.

“They’ve only conceded one goal in the whole league so it’ll be a very difficult game.”