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YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER December 8, 2011

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Let there be light: Festive ceremony

The €25k knockout

MIMI MURRAY

FINGAL County Council’s “refus-al” to furnish Swords Boxing Club with a letter allowing them to access a grant of €25,000 for minor works to improve the quality of the Carnegie Library, where the club is based, has been slammed by Social-ist TD Clare Daly.

Speaking to the Gazette, Deputy Daly said: “It is an absolute dis-grace that council management has turned down a grant that would

have allowed this venue to have had rotting floorboards replaced, new storage heaters installed, and general repair works.

In response FCC said: “Swords Carnegie Library is a protected structure and is wholly unsuitable for its current use.

“In the circumstances, it would not be prudent of Fingal County Council to recommend this appli-cation for funding.”

Full Story on Page 7

Local golf: McKenna makes the topPage 30

SHIV and Elisha Raghoo had a festive meeting with the Sugar Plum fairy when they attended the switching on of the Swords Christmas lights ceremony. And there were plenty of other

colourful characters, with Santa’s elves, polar bears and penguins all helping locals who attended enjoy the festive atmosphere. Full Gallery on Pages 8-9

Football: Fingallians bounce backPage 31

Stunning seafood from the culinary capital

TRAVEL: P22-23

2 SWORDS GAZETTE 8 December 2011

Bostik claims energy award

EVENT: SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AUTHORITY OF IRELAND CEREMONY

BOSTIK Industries Ltd, which is based at New-town in Swords, claimed the Energy Management Award in the Small / Medium User category at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) 2011 Sustainable Energy Awards in Dublin last week.

Bostik Industries imple-mented a new energy management programme at the state-of-the-art manufacturing plant and laboratory. The compa-ny’s team approach led to success with numerous energy projects of varying scale and complexity and achieved 15% energy sav-ings.

The Sustainable Energy Awards reward excellence in energy management by organisations of all sizes and, this year, attracted 105 entries. In total, sav-ings of €23 million were made by organisations entering this year’s Sus-tainable Energy Awards, with a further €13 million in savings projected over the coming years. Hosted by SEAI and sponsored by ESB Electric Ireland, the eighth annual awards saw all business sectors recognised for their efforts in reducing energy use and CO2 emissions.

Congratulating the

2011 winners, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Pat Rabbitte, TD, said: “The economic results we are seeing from the organisations entering the awards are very encour-aging. These translate directly into more cost-competitive businesses and more cost-efficient public services.

“By implementing ener-gy-efficient standards and practices we have seen an average of 13% energy savings across all organi-sations involved in this year’s Sustainable Energy Awards. I congratulate all who took these steps to become more ener-gy efficient and I urge other companies to get involved.”

C o m m e n t i n g o n the awards announce-ment, Professor J Owen Lewis, chief executive, SEAI said: “Businesses around Ireland are real-ly embracing sustainable energy and the results show that every change implemented has made a significant difference. Each year we see more companies, such as Bos-tik Industries, entering with exciting projects that are saving energy and benefiting their bot-tom line.”

A nice Christmas present from Labour and Fine Gael

CLARE DALY

Socialist Party TD

IN the wake of a budget of cruel cuts, the

Government will next week try to ram through the Household Tax leg-islation, just in time to implement the charge from January 1.

However, opposition that has been demon-strated throughout north Dublin and, indeed, around the country, should make the Gov-ernment wary that they may not get away with

this as easily as they would like.

The publication of the Household Tax legisla-tion, on Monday, on the day of the budget, is a cynical manoeuvre to avoid attention, but also is a positioning of them-selves to make sure that they are in a position to start charging peo-ple from January 1, next year.

A nice Happy Christ-mas present from Labour and Fine Gael.

This is the last straw. A major non-payment cam-paign has been initiated

all over the country. In Dublin Nor th

the Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes has held three meetings in Swords, and others in Balbriggan, Skerries, Lusk and Rush, Malahide, Donabate and Kinsealy.

A lot of people have come forward and volun-teered to get involved in the campaign and that is before the bills have even arrived.

With a big enough campaign of people power this charge can quickly become uncol-

lectible, forcing the Gov-ernment back on their plan to raise €1-2 billion within a couple of years, with bills for water and a fully fledged home tax, of over €1,000 per house-hold.

The Non-Principal Pri-vate Residence Tax, has been in place for three years now, and has risen every year.

Bin taxes and water taxes, once they were bedded in, will rise relent-lessly.

History demonstrates that this will be the case. History also shows that

campaigns of mass non-payment are the way that charges such as this can be defeated.

Myself and my col-leagues in the Socialist Party and the United Left Alliance, along with a number of Inde-pendent TDs, will not only vote against the charge when it is dis-cussed in the Dail, but will work tirelessly for the development of a campaign of people power that can protect ordinary peo-ple. Enough is enough.

OPINION: HOUSEHOLD TAX LEGISLATION ‘THE LAST STRAW’

Super result: Local store wins top awardMORIARTY’S SuperValu Balbriggan, recently won the coveted Off-Licence of The Year Award 2011/2012. The competition was very strong this year, with a total of 200 SuperValus across Ireland entering this prestigious event. Well done to Mary Quinlan, Off Licence manager in SuperValu Balbriggan and her team for all their hard work and dedication on, not only getting to the final but winning it, with the high-est score ever achieved by any winner. Mary is a local

lady who has worked in SuperValu Balbriggan for the past 15 years, and, since taking over the off-license she has won this competition on no fewer than two occasions and got to the final every year.

Pictured at the Edward Dillon SuperValu Off License of the Year Awards 2011/2012 are Martin Kelleher, SuperValu, with winners SuperValu Bal-briggan, Luke Moriarty, Mary Quinlan, Brian Carrick and Andy O’Hara, Edward Dillon and Co Ltd.

8 December 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 3

INITIATIVE Fingal Student Enterprise Programme

Students set to run their own business

MIMI MURRAY

A record -break ing number of schools have signed up to take part in the Fingal Student Enterprise Programme this year.

A total of 1,800 stu-dents will be taking part in this year’s programme, which will see them set up and run their own enterprises.

In Fingal, 19 secondary schools and 10 primary schools will be involved in the programme which is co-ordinated by the Fingal County Enterprise

Board.The initiative runs

from September to May every year, encourag-ing students to research and manage their own enterprise, with support from business mentors. County Dublin VEC and Fingal County Coun-cil are once again sup-porting the programme, which is now in its 11th year.

The most innovative enterprises from each participating school will be invited to compete at the County Finals on March 16, 2012, with

Launching the 2011/2012 Fingal Student Enterprise Programme were; Wesleigh O’Hagan, teacher, Donabate

Community College; Martin MacEntee, youth officer, County Dublin VEC; Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Gerry McGuire;

Oisin Geoghegan (CEO, Fingal County Enterprise Board) and Jennifer O’ Dwyer, teacher, Luttrellstown

Community College, with students from Luttrellstown Community College and Donabate Community College

the category winners taking their place at the National Student Enter-prise Awards in Croke Park in April. Last year, over 15,000 students from around the country competed in the National Programme.

The countdown to the Fingal County Final in March 2012 was official-ly launched in Swords by Oisin Geoghegan, CEO of Fingal County Enter-

prise Board, the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Gerry McGuire and Martin MacEntee from County Dublin VEC.

Speaking to the Gazette, Oisin Geoghegan said: “Fingal runs one of the largest student enterprise programmes in Ireland, with a record-breaking number of schools par-ticipating this year.

“ By wo r k i n g i n close partnership with

schools, the local busi-ness community and our sponsors at County Dublin VEC and Fingal County Council, we are creating a long-lasting enterprising culture in classrooms, giving stu-dents a greater under-standing of the small business world.”

Students from two par-ticipating local schools took part in the official countdown last week,

including representatives from Luttrellstown Com-munity College in Dublin 15 and Donabate Com-munity College from the north of the county.

Further information about the Fingal Stu-dent Enterprise Pro-gramme for primary and secondary schools is available by e-mailing [email protected] or by visiting www.studen-tenterprise.ie

New post for Alan FarrellFINE Gael TD for Dublin North, Alan Farrell, has been appointed to the Joint Committee for Jus-tice, Defence and Equal-ity.

“This is a vital commit-tee that has various signif-icant roles when it comes to protecting the individu-al and their rights.

“I see this appointment as a unique opportunity to engage with various elements of our justice system; to affect change in legislation with regard to legal reform and to engage with the defence forces, including An Garda Sio-chana, to discuss matters of public interest.

“This Government is committed to bringing about reform in our jus-tice system and I look for-ward to engaging with the committee and its repre-sentatives over the period of this Government to create a superior, fair and accessible justice system,” Deputy Farrell said.

COMMITTEE


MIMI MURRAY

[email protected]

THE Fingal Volunteer Centre has become the fourth one in the country to obtain the vol-unteer Ireland Quality Stand-ard Award.

Staf f and volunteers received their award at a spe-cial ceremony at the centre earlier this week in recogni-tion of their high standard of service to the volunteers and

volunteer involving organisa-tions in Fingal County.

The presentation was made by Terrie O’Brien, Quality Standards and Training Offic-er of Volunteer Ireland.

December 5 was a busy day at the centre, which was also celebrating International Vol-unteer Day.

Membership

Speaking to the Gazette, Olive Black, from the Fingal

Community and Voluntary Forum (FCVF) said: “We in Fingal see active volunteer-ism, every day, in every com-munity across Fingal and indeed the country. FCVF has over 950 affiliated com-munity non-profit groups across Fingal. We are further strengthened by our mem-bership of the Irish National Community and Voluntary Forum, which has a nation-wide membership of over

23,000 groups. “It’s not just about doing

something for nothing. It gives the volunteer some-thing too. It’s something that can’t be bought in any shop. It gives great personal satis-faction and feel-good factor. You make new friends, learn new skills, points of view and really connect with your soci-ety. Ask anyone who gives up a few hours a week to sit with an elderly neighbour, deliver

for St Vincent De Paul, meals on wheels or help with the local football club, residents association or church. Giving without expecting anything back is rewarding,” she said.

“The Board of FCVF is made up of such volun-teers, who strive to repre-sent the concerns, interests and aspirations of ordinary members of communi-ties and its volunteers. The FCVF have a close work-

ing relationship with Fingal County Council and actively participate and input on all community, planning, envi-ronment, housing SPC and Development Board. We are also represented on Senior Citizens, Drug Task Forces, Leader Partnerships, Child-care committees.

To learn more about Fingal Community and Voluntary Forum phone 01 8905618 or email: [email protected]

MIMI MURRAY

[email protected]

PRESSING ahead with “ludicrous” plans for a €500m waste-water treatment plant in Dub-lin North given the cur-rent economic climate makes no sense, Labour TD Brendan Ryan said this week.

The Dublin North TD made the comment after he was informed by the Minister for the Environ-ment, Phil Hogan, that the proposed wastewater treatment plant is “not expected to cost more than €500 million”.

“As part of my on-going work to oppose the

proposed monster waste-water treatment plant planned for north County Dublin, I sought from the Minister of Environment a figure for the overall cost of the project. Given the economic hardship this country is faced with, not to mention the Government’s decision to defer Metro North for economic reasons, I was curious to see why the Government seem willing to press ahead with this very unpopular proposal. The Minister informed me that the plant is ‘not expected to cost more than €500 million’ but firmer estimates will not be available until the pre-

liminary report for the scheme is completed.

“It is my view that the project should be halted at this stage given the potential huge cost of this sewage plant. We cannot plough further time and money into a project con-ceived during the Celtic Tiger era until a proper re-analysis is conducted at Government level.

“There is broad and popular opposit ion against this proposal. We have an opportunity now to halt the process with a view to examining more cost-effective alternatives such as smaller, localised plants. It seems ludicrous to me for the council and

the Department of Envi-ronment to continue with this proposal in the face of such public opposition and fiscal constraints.

Peter O’Reilly, project engineer for the Greater Dublin Drainage project, confirmed that the full cost of the Greater Dub-lin Drainage project will not be known until the location of all three ele-ments of the project are confirmed (the wastewa-ter plant, the marine out-fall and the orbital sewer) along with the technol-ogy that will be used at the wastewater treatment works. “It will be at least another 12 months before they are all decided. What

is known is that the cost is likely to be in the hun-dreds of millions of euros and indeed, is likely to be less than €500 million.”

According to O’Reilly, the proposed new region-al Wastewater Treatment Plant in north Dublin will be only a sixth the size of the Ringsend plant when it opens and, even by 2040, when fully expanded, it will deal with approximately one- third of the wastewater that will be treated at the expanded Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Ringsend currently treats 1.8 million PE = population equivalents

(population equivalent is determined based on current population fig-ures and an equivalent of population that is attributed to the indus-tries that will also send wastewater to the new regional wastewater treatment plant).

When extended to its full extent, the Ringend WWTP will treat waste-water from 2.1 million population equivalents. When the new plant in north Dublin opens, it will treat wastewater from the equivalent of 350,000 PE. By 2040, when oper-ating at full capacity, it will treat wastewater from 700,000PE.

Fingal Volunteer Centre fourth to win top awardCEREMONY Centre’s high standard of service is recognised

Wastewater treatment plant plans are ludicrous – Ryan

PROJECT: LABOUR TD THINKS ¤500M SCHEME SHOULD BE HALTED DUE TO COST

That’s farm fresh: Crop to crispKEOGH’S, the entrepre-neurial Irish farmers who have been growing potatoes in north county Dublin for over 200 years, have launched their newest venture, Keogh’s hand-cooked Irish potato crisps.

Keogh’s are the only “on-farm” producers of hand cooked potato crisps in Ireland, having recently set up a small “crisping house” on their farm, hand-cooking crisps in small batches and turning them from “crop to crisp” on the same day. Pic-tured at the launch are Derek Keogh, Tom Keogh and Ross Keogh.

Stockpile of salt ready for roadsWITH fears that the arc-tic-like conditions that paralysed the country last year could still be on the cards, Fingal County Council has said a mas-sive stockpile of salt has been stored at various points within the county to ensure the safety of national and non-nation-al roads in the county.

According to the coun-cil, a number of steps to prepare for winter weath-er 2011/2012 have been taken. These are mainly under the three Opera-tions Areas, and in Water Services.

“With the establish-ment of localised services in each Operations Area, services are targeted and resources are maximised. There are 2,200 tonnes of salt assigned for use on national roads, supple-mented with an addition-al 3,200 tonnes for use on non-national roads throughout the county. Road salt is stored at a number of facilities at dif-ferent locations around the county to ensure it can be distributed as quickly as possible when required,” the council said.

“The council has a range of vehicles and machinery that allow salt/grit distribution even across difficult to access areas, ie deploy-ment of Parks tractors on steep gradients such as Howth where traditional salt spread vehicles may encounter difficulties moving across compacted snow, ” the council said.


COMMENT Proposed location of Wastewater Treatment Plant

Fianna Fáil Councillor Darragh Butler

‘It’s unjust to continue to burden Fingal’

TO whom it may concern,

I wish to object to the proposed location of a Regional Wastewa-ter Treatment Plant in any of the nine potential land parcels identified, or in any part of Swords, north County Dublin, or Fingal for the following reasons:

1. In the first instance, the size and scope of the proposed Monster Waste-water Treatment Plant is simply too big. The concept of having many smaller facilities across a broader range of areas would seem to be a pref-erable way of sharing the burden of treating sewage across the areas in which it is produced, rather than concentrating it all onto the one area

2. The level of disrup-tion which such a large plant will cause for the local community where this Monster Wastewater Treatment Plant is locat-ed, is completely unac-ceptable. The proposed sites simply do not have the required infrastruc-ture in terms of the road network to tolerate the number of trucks required to carry the sludge gener-ated from the plant away (40 per hour, according to some estimates).

3. North County Dub-lin has some of the most agriculturally productive land in the country, pro-ducing some 60% of the protected crops in Ire-land, and 50% of the total field vegetable crops pro-duced in Ireland. It also produces 16% of pota-toes consumed in Ire-land. It makes no sense for any risks to be taken in relation to the produc-tive capacities of this land and that, as such, the sites proposed for the con-struction of this plant are utterly unsuitable and the plant should clearly be located on land that has much less agricultural value.

4. Fingal has always taken more than its fair share in terms of unpalat-able projects, with items

such as the EirGrid East-West Interconnector, the Ballealy Landfill which has serviced Dublin for the last 40 years, and the proposed Super Dump in Nevitt as some cases in point.

It is simply unjust to continue to burden Fingal with all of these projects, whilst leaving other areas of the Greater Dublin Area untouched.

All nine proposed sites are in Fingal County Council’s administrative area, yet it is called the Greater Dublin Drainage project. Why are Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and South Dublin County Council not being asked to consider sites for this project? They don’t have agricultural land which accounts for half of our country’s supply of field vegetable crops. Why have no locations in North Wicklow, South County Dublin and south Meath been considered, bearing in mind they will use this proposed facil-ity?

5. Fingal has had prior experience of the nega-tive impact of Waste-water Treatment Plants, with residents of Swords having to put up with foul odours, which reduce both the quality of life of residents of the sur-rounding areas and caus-ing significant reductions in the value of homes and premises in the surround-ing area.

6. There are serious con-cerns about the impact this facility will have on marine life, marine farm-ing and our beaches at the outfall point and all along the Fingal coast-line. We believe that this plan poses a very serious threat to our coastal and marine environment.

7. There is a democratic deficit in the process that will foist this project on the people of Fingal. It is abundantly clear from the reaction of the communi-ties where the proposed sites for this project are, that there is massive pub-

lic anger over this project. The fact that this project does not require approval from a full council meet-ing or from elected repre-sentatives is unjust.

8. The people living in the vicinity of the pro-posed locations of this Monster Sewage Treat-ment Plant are, by and large, rural dwellers who already have septic tanks to deal with their own sewage. At a time when the Government are imposing a series of charges on septic tanks, it seems totally unjust to further burden rural com-munities with treating the sewage from the city.

9. There is no major benefit accruing to Fin-gal from this project. It must be ran on a cost break-even basis – which is to say that Fingal will

not obtain a significant benefit from hosting this project, though there will be some community gain provisions. If the people of Fingal are going to be forced to take the risk of having such a project, there should be signifi-cant, long-term financial benefits accruing. There is no logic that says we should accept this project.

10. We have seen Metro North cancelled by the Fine Gael / Labour Gov-ernment, but yet the Gov-ernment has the funding to provide a Monster Wastewater Treatment Plant. North Dublin has taken all the negative infrastructural projects, while the rest of the city, especially the southside, receives the best trans-port infrastructure going.

It is objectionable that the people of north Dub-lin are continually put on and that the one infra-structure project that has full planning permission and is ready to go has been unceremoniously dumped.

To be clear, this sub-mission is not about a Not In My Back Yard approach to the devel-opment of infrastruc-ture.

It is about ensuring fairness and equity in the distribution of infra-structure, both positive and negative across the Greater Dublin Area. Fingal and, in particular, north County Dublin has taken enough of the ecologically damaging projects, it is time that we said no to this one.

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DAWN LOVE

A HOST of leading busi-ness women are set to attend the final event in the 2011 calender for Fin-gal’s Women-in-Business- organisation.

Organ i s e r s have arranged a Christmas Market networking event which will feature over 20 stalls aimed at showcasing the products and services of local female entrepre-neurs. The festive event, will take place on Tues-day, December 13 at the Carnegie Court Hotel in Swords.

The highlight of the evening, will see interna-tionally-renowned trau-ma and stress consultant, Sarah Bird, give a talk to members and guests.

She will also give an insight into how people can change their beliefs, and negative emotions.

She has worked in Ire-land and on the interna-tional front with private individuals, corporate organisations, charities and NGOs.

The manager of the Fin-gal Women in Business Network, Eve Bulman, has also organised open and structured network-ing activities for members and guests, which gets underway at 6.30pm on the 13th.

Oisin Geoghegan, of Fingal County Enterprise Board, said the demand for enterprise services from female would-be entrepreneurs is at an all-time high.

Geoghegan said: “The interest in enterprise and self-employment among women is greater now than ever before.

He added: “The Fingal Women in Business net-work is provided to help these individuals to bring their business ideas to fruition.”

The event is free to members, but guests can also book a place online,.Further information about the event is available by email: [email protected] or www.fingalceb.ie/wib

Sarah Birdto give talk to women

BUSINESS: EVENT

SPORT Local club must find up-to-date venue

Some of the members of Swords Boxing club training in Carnegie Library, where the facilities do not meet current standards

Deputy Daly and council slug it out over boxing club

MIMI MURRAY

FINGAL County Coun-cil’s “refusal” to furnish Swords Boxing Club with a letter allowing them to access a grant of €25,000 for minor works to improve the quality of the Carnegie Library, where the club is based, has been slammed by Socialist TD Clare Daly.

Speak ing to the Gazette, Deputy Daly said: “It is an absolute disgrace that council management has turned down a grant that would have allowed this venue to have had rotting floor-boards replaced, new storage heaters installed,

and general repair works that would have sub-stantially improved the quality of the building for those who use it.

“The monies became available through the Irish Amateur Box-ing Association, who received a block grant for such purposes from the Department of Arts\Her-itage and the Gaeltacht.

“The Swords project was selected, but needed a letter from the coun-cil to say that the works could be done,” said Deputy Daly.

When contacted by the Gazette, Fingal County Council said it could con-firm that Swords Boxing

Club had operated out of the Swords Carnegie Library for a number of years; however, the coun-cil said this was, and is, only intended as an inter-im location until a more suitable home for the boxing club is identified.

“Swords Carnegie Library is a protected structure and is wholly unsuitable for its current use.

“In the circumstances, it would not be prudent of Fingal County Council to recommend this appli-cation for funding.

“At the time Swords Boxing Club began to use these premises, they were fully aware that this was

only a temporary meas-ure, and that the council could not invest in any improvement of facilities at this building.because of its unsuitability.

“This remains the case. The energies of the club and the council would be better directed to identi-fying an alternative loca-tion, and in this respect we intend to continue to work with Swords Boxing Club,” the council said.

However, Deputy Daly said she was “sickened by the council’s refusal to engage on this matter”.

“Their excuse was that the building is a listed one, and its use by the Boxing Club is not suit-

able, that instead their job was to help the club relocate.

“This is total nonsense. For years the council has talked about the club relocating, and the club themselves would be happy to do so, as the existing building is far from ideal.

However, no alterna-tive building has been identified and the club will continue to operate from that building over the next while.

“How could €25,000 which would improve the venue for uses that are not boxing-specific, but would benefit the building even after the

club has gone, and which have nothing to do with the structure itself, be a bad thing?

“I am shocked at the council’s intransigence and believe it is an insult to the boxers and their trainers who have greatly assisted in protecting this important building.

“Over the last number of years the building would have benefited, the club would have benefit-ed, and now the oppor-tunity has been lost for some other club to benefit from. It is a real betrayal of a sport which does so much to assist disadvan-taged young people,” she said.

www.gazette group.comwww.gazette group.comAll of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away


Ceremony

Christmas is here at lastC

HRISTMAS officially got underway in Swords village on Thursday, December 1, when the town’s Christmas lights were switched on by Fingal Mayor, Gerry Maguire.

The Mayor turned on the lights on the town’s Christmas tree outside County Hall and along Main Street. Everyone was invited to enjoy the special occasion and large numbers of locals turned up to soak up the festive atmosphere.

As well as switching on the lights, there was also plenty of sea-sonal entertainment to entertain everyone. The event was organ-ised by Swords Le Cheile.

Siobhan Moore, Tom Kelleher, Fingal Mayor Gerry Maguire with Joe Harford, David O’Connor and Tony Lambert at the turning on of the Christmas lights in Swords

Luke Raftery with the Sugar Plum fairyShiv and Elisha Raghoo with the Sugar Plum fairy

EVENT Fingal Mayor, Gerry Maguire, is on hand to switch

Rory McFeely with Mayor Maguire

Grace Cooney with the

Mayor Maguire at the turning on of the

Christmas lights


Mayor Maguire turns on the Christmas

lights

Niamh and Lasairiona Duffy

Orla O’Donnell with Mayor

Maguire

on Swords Christmas Lights and kick off festive season

Santa’s elves enjoy some festive fun

Sugar Plum fairy. Pictures: Fintan Clarke


FASHION Test your colouring skills to win a €100 voucher!

Don’t miss out on a special Geox eventTHIS weekend will see an action-packed children’s event at Arnotts in Dublin’s city centre.

Captain Geox himself will be in attendance, ready to meet his young fans!

Captain Geox will be encourag-ing kids to take part in an exciting colouring competition, the winner of which will take home a €100 prize.

There will be face-painting and

watches with every purchase of children’s shoes and clothing on the day.

Printed on this page is an outline of a Geox kid for aspiring young urban artists to colour in and enter into the Geox competition.

On the day of the event, Geox helpers will have copies of the out-line to hand out.

The closing date will be this Saturday, December 10, 2011 and

the winner will be notified by tel-ephone or email.

The 1st prize will be a voucher €100 to spend in the Geox Chil-dren’s Department in Arnotts’ Department Store on shoes or clothes.

The voucher must be redeemed by the December 24, 2011 and excludes sales or promotion. There will also be 10 runner-up prizes of a Geox watch.

8 December 2011 GAZETTE 11

THEATRE Sister Act comes to the Grand Canal

Get ready to dance your socks off

LAURA WEBB

GET ready to stand up and dance your socks of with the cast of Broad-way’s Sister Act when they take centre stage this Christmas at the Grand Canal Theatre.

The hit film, which starred Whoopi Goldberg, has been transformed into a lively and funny produc-tion for theatre-goers and, after a hit run in Britain, is coming to Dublin this December.

The story of disco diva Deloris Van Cartier (played by rising new star Cynthia Erivo) turned nun in hiding has been brilliantly adapted.

The show, produced by

Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment, has played to over a million people at the London Palladium during its West End run and is currently a huge hit on Broadway.

Playing Mother Supe-rior, who helps to keep Deloris in hiding at the nunnery after she wit-nesses a murder, is Denise Black. Best known for her role as siren hairdresser, Denise Osbourne, in Cor-onation Street, Denise is having a ball at the show.

“The film is fantastic, but I have to see we do it proud, and I think we do it even better,” she laughs.

“What people might not expect is that for the musical it has all new

songs. The music is writ-ten by Alan Menken [eight-time Oscar win-ner], he is Mr Broadway, he has won loads of Tony Awards, the lyrics are absolutely brilliant and the songs are a mixed bag, with ones that just get up and dancing in your seats, very funny songs and wonderful dancing – it’s just brilliant.”

The cast have been touring Britain for the past number of weeks and are well in tune with their characters at this stage: “Dublin is our fifth city, so we are well rehearsed,” says Denise.

Denise is relishing her role as Sr Clarence, saying: “The Broadway director

A scene from Sister Act

reworked the book very much to the better, better plot driven and also - for my pleasure - built up the Mother Superior part. I have brilliant songs to sing and wonderful funny one-liners. I really enjoy playing this character. I have always enjoyed making people laugh and it’s even better now I get to sing and dance.”

A lady of many hats, Denise performs across Britain with her band, The

Loose Screw, and says she will be bringing her guitar-ist and co-writer with her to Dublin.

“For the first week in Dublin he will be play-ing in the pit. We have 12 musicians in the pit, all the horns, trombones, trum-pets, saxophones, guitars, bassists – I just love that. They make a huge noise, it adds so much to the show.

“I absolutely love Dub-lin you have the best audi-

ences, and I am so look-ing forward to spending Christmas and the New Year here. I am import-ing my entire family over from England for it. My husband loves the show and I know Dublin will too,” Denise said.

Sister Act is at the Grand Canal Theatre from December 20 until January 7. Tickets from €20 are on sale now, for more see www.grandcan-altheatre.ie

FreeYour Business Day clinicsTHE Science Gallery, on Pearse Street in the city centre, will become an enterprise hub for the day on December 9 for Your Business Day 2011.

A day-long programme of free business semi-nars, business mentoring clinics and exhibition displays, in addition to expert advice and infor-mation, is on offer at the Science Gallery that day, from 9am to 5pm.

The enterprise initia-tive, which is the brain-child of Dublin City Enterprise Board, is aimed at anyone think-ing of setting up a busi-ness in Dublin, those already running their own business and anyone considering a move from unemployment into self-employment in the city.

Enterprise Ireland, Plato, The Small Firms Association and New Communities Partner-ship are just a few organi-sations exhibiting on the day.

INITIATIVE

12 GAZETTE 8 December 2011



GazettePETSPETSBrought to you by Miriam Kerins of

the DSPCA

THE FACTS: HOLIDAY FOOD AND DECORATIONS CAN BE DANGEROUS TO ALL ANIMALS

Keeping your pets during Christmas THE CHRISTMAS countdown commenced last weekend when poor hubby was sent to the attic crawl space to retrieve tangled giant sparkly, glittery fairy lights.

And yep, I’m listen-ing to Christmas FM as I write and I wish I had a mug of marshmallow laden, hot chocolate sit-ting on my desk also.

You got it, I love Christmas. So, if, like me you’re busy decking the halls for the run-up to festivities-and let’s face it we need all the glad tidings we can get nowadays-

Then read on, because I’m going to give you a few helpful tips for mak-ing sure your pets also benefit from Santa’s visit by staying safe and happy during the holi-day period. Warning Signs

Keep an eye on the Christmas tree; dogs don’t differentiate, so a tree in your living room looks the same as a tree in the park. Familiarise him first.

If you have a real tree, sweep up fallen needles as these can get stuck in your pet’s paws or throat. If possible, fence off the

tree from your pet. Presents

Dogs love colourful boxes, so don’t put gifts of food or treats under the tree until it’s time to open them. Pets can’t read gift tags but they can smell a box of choc-olates, (highly toxic to them), at 20 paces and may decide to open that interesting, treat and have their own, private, but potentially, deadly party. Decorations

Christmas decora-tions: We all enjoy look-ing at beautiful lights and

adorning trees, fire plac-es, and so do our pets;

Only they see them as chew toys. Stray cables and wires may be tempt-ing for your pet to nibble on also.

To remove the risk of electrocution, ensure all cables are out of reach of pets.

Cats love knocking baubles from the tree so try to use unbreakable decorations. Tinsel, rib-bon, cling film and tin- foil should be avoided, or at least confined to the higher branches.

Toxic treats

It can be tough and Keep your pet safe and happy during the holiday period


you’ll need eyes in the back of your head when it comes to guarding the leftovers. Don’t leave the turkey or ham on top of the worktops; instead put them into the fridge.

Many a pet parent has spent a fortune on a vet’s out-of -hours emergency visits to their home fol-lowing the dog’s mid-night feast of turkey bones.

Pets can choke and/or experience internal damage from snacking on bones, even cooked ones can prove fatal.Pets and guests

When you have guests, secure your pet in a safe place. The more people you add to the equation, the more you place your pet in danger.

Small breeds like York-ies are often accidentally stood on; especially if you get distracted by compa-ny and lose track of your pet’s whereabouts.

When it comes to vis-iting my home, I make sure my guests know my house rules.

My pets are not to be treated as novelty toys and are kept out of harm’s way-no exceptions!

Never leave cups/glass-es where pets can drink from them, especially if they contain alcohol. Toys

Don’t forget about the little toys you get in Christmas crackers! They’re choking hazards, mistletoe causes vomiting, laboured breathing, shock, and even death from car-diovascular collapse if ingested. Seek immedi-ate veterinary treatment if you think your pet may have ingested parts of any of these plants.

For more info log onto www.dspca.ie or email me at [email protected]

www.gazette group.comwww.gazette group.com

All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away

safe time

GazetteMUSICMUSIC

Dee sees key to the super Nova success

Portmarnock’s Dee Woods is thrilled at the reception Radio Nova has received

ROB HEIGH

PORTMARNOCK native Dee Woods has found out in the last year that everywhere Radio Nova reaches, the people want to rock. The station has been on air for over 12 months now, and their listenership is increasing every week, exceeding their own expectations and bringing a new and under-represented niche to Irish radio.

Dee covers the evening slot and Radio Nova has become her permanent home after having cut her teeth in stations around the city.

“I did journalism at DIT, and always had loved music. It was always around the house; my parents were into Sinat-ra and classical music, and my sisters were into everything from U2 to Michael Jackson. But I never really thought it could pay the bills. In my last year, we had a radio course, and I caught the bug — radio was where I wanted to be.”

From East Coast Radio in Bray to 98FM, Dee has had quite a progression through the ranks, even-tually ending up on a Fri-day night talk and music show, Friday Night Live,

which was where she found her voice.

“I had great experience in the newsrooms, but I found that I was most comfortable when I was in music presentation.”

After returning from a year in Australia, Dee heard about Radio Nova, and it was an opportunity she jumped at.

“It was great to be somewhere from the beginning and watch it grow — and still grow-ing! — and it’s special to be a part of because we’re playing music people want to hear, that no-one else is playing. Peo-ple are delighted to hear

INTERVIEW: DUBLIN’S RADIO REVOLUTION

their kind of music on the radio.

“We’re not tied down to playlists, and there is more room for personal-ity. Music is the key at the end of the day, and we’re playing what people want to hear.”

One of the highlights for Dee was the recent one-year anniversary party that saw fans and present-ers mingle and share their enthusiasm for the station, as well as celebrating the great listenership figures the station has attained since its launch.

“People are really lov-ing what we are doing at the moment, and it was great to talk to people and get their feedback in per-son. People are sick of bad news, and we are proving a kind of switch-off from their problems, reminding them of better times.

“The music we play has so much more meaning for people, it goes beyond the music and the lyrics.”

Dee is finding that being a part of Nova is also developing her tastes and knowledge of music, especially being in the enviable position of play-ing a classic album from start to finish every week-night on Radio Nova.

“Having the opportu-nity to be able to play a full album, it’s something you don’t get a chance to do anywhere else. It’s a chance to go a bit deeper, Listeners contact us to say they will be going out to buy that record the next day, and appreciating how good it sounds.

“Nova can do that, and, hopefully, we will be growing more and more every year - people keep asking if we are going to go national, but it’s baby steps and keep on going in the direction we’re going. We have a lot of people lis-tening around the country and the world, and it can only increase.”



GazetteMOTORSMOTORS

THIS week marks the opening of Rathfarnham Ford on Whitechurch Road, which sees the return of the blue oval to the Rathfarnham area, and brings with it employment for 20 peo-ple. The outlet is being headed up by Aidan Kane, a well-known fig-ure to Ford customers in the locality, with almost 20 years of car retailing under his belt.

Rathfarnham Ford is located on the site of the previous South Dublin Ford Centre on White-church Road. With a modern showroom and dedicated service area, the full-service dealer-ship will cater for new

and used car and com-mercial vehicle sales, as well as providing a com-plete service offering and a full range of parts for Ford and other makes.

Rathfarnham Ford is part of the Fort Motor Group, which celebrated 50 years in business in 2009.

“The greater Rathfarn-ham area has long been a strong one for Ford and I’m sure the local customers will welcome the return of a dealership in their area,” said Paul Molloy, of the Fort Motor Group. “With more than half a century of experi-ence behind us in the Group, these customers can be assured of the

very best of service from the team on Whitechurch Road.”

Alan Nolan, chief executive of the Society of the Irish Motor Indus-try, said: “It goes without saying that news of a new dealership opening is especially welcome in the current climate, not least for the jobs it promises. I want to wish the team at Rathfarnham Ford every success in the New Year market and beyond.”

The opening coincides with Ford’s Open Event promotion, which offers a range of special packages for customers who order their 2012 Ford within a limited period.

Ford opens in Rathfarnham


Aidan Kane of Rathfarnham Ford

These include free extended warranty, serv-icing and roadside assist-ance for up to 4-years in the case of the Mondeo, C-MAX, S-MAX and Galaxy, or an ultra-low

2.9 per cent APR loan rate for prospective Fies-ta and Focus customers. The 2.9 per cent rate is currently the lowest APR rate of the top four car brands on the Irish

market and is provided by Ford’s own finance house, FordCredit.

The sale and service teams at Rathfarnham Ford can be contacted at (01) 495 4445.

Ten new mercs on the wayOVER the next four years, Mercedes-Benz is to undertake an ambitious new model development programme, the aim being to broaden its appeal and extend its reach into seg-ments of the market in which it is not currently represented.

A total of 10 com-pletely new models are being introduced, none of which will have any direct predecessor. Mer-cedes-Benz groups them under five broad headings – compact, mid-sized, full-sized, large-sized and large SUV.

In the compact segment, the most significant devel-opment will see the intro-duction of a completely new A-Class - a completely new model which, other than name, will bear no resemblance whatsoever to the outgoing model.

The Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class Coupe

Described as a “the pulse of a new generation”, it will be built on an entirely new platform with front-wheel-drive and a new range of engines.

The new A-Class is aggressively sporty in its design and interior appointments with fea-tures that echo some of

its senior stable-mates in the Mercedes-Benz range. It will go into pro-duction in the latter half of 2012 with first models scheduled to arrive here in early 2013.

Derived from the new A-Class will be two addi-tional new models, both constructed on the same

platform. Carrying the model designation BLS, the first of these will be a four-door coupe with body styling inspired by the larg-er CLS version. The third new model based on the A-Class platform will be a 4-wheel drive premium compact SUV version expected in 2014.

SEAT AND SHAMROCK ROVERS ARE GOING PLACES WITH NEW DEAL: SEAT Ireland and Shamrock Rovers FC have announce that SEAT will be the title sponsor of the club for the 2012 season.

The deal reflects the brand’s global soccer plat-form and SEAT, who already work with Sham-rock Rovers’ midfielder Stephen Rice as a brand ambassador, are delighted to extend its support to the full squad. Woodies DIY will continue its support of the club and will work together with Shamrock Rovers and SEAT to ensure the club’s continued success.


RoadRoadSignsSignsIn the mid-size cat-

egory, two new models are planned, while, in the full-size segment, one new model will be introduced alongside the popular E-Class range.

Three additional mod-els will take their place alongside the S-Class within the large-size segment while one addi-tional model will join the M-Class in the large SUV segment.

Taken as a whole, this new model offensive is seen by Mercedes-Benz as underlining their plan to grow market share and broaden their appeal beyond their traditional customer base. As one insider commented, Mer-cedes-Benz is “taking the stiffeners out of their col-lar” by designing cars that will attract a more youth-ful clientele.

Room to extend at Lindenvale home

Number 5, Lindenvale is on the market for €725,000

DNG in are bringing No. 5 Lindenvale, a detached family home off Proby Square in the heart of Blackrock, to the market for and asking price of €725,000.

Offering beautifully maintained accommo-dation of c153 sq m, this home offers a fine loca-tion coupled with an exclusive address.

The accommodation comprises entrance hall with timber floors and stairs to the first floor. There is a front-facing reception room and a large, open plan living area and dining room overlooking the front gar-den with French doors leading to the rear garden. This area also benefits from solid timber floors and a marble fireplace.

The ki tchen and breakfast room features tongue-and-groove tim-ber floors and recessed

lighting, with a selection of floor- and eye-level fit-ted units, tiled splashback and a door leading to the utility room, which has provisions for a washing machine and dryer.

Upstairs, the property has a spacious landing with hotpress and storage cupboards. Access to the attic is via a pull-down ladder.

There are four double bedrooms, the master of which is en suite, with a power-shower and WC and WHB. Most feature fitted wardrobes. The main bathroom, which was recently upgraded, has a jacuzzi bath with shower connection over, WC and WHB, fully tiled walls and floors and a storage with a vanity unit with recessed lighting and a heated towel rail.

The garden, which sur-rounds this home, is larger than most others in the

BLACKROCK: DETACHED FOUR-BEDROOM HOME FOR €725,000

MCDONALD Brothers in Lucan are bringing No. 3 Mount Andrew Close, Lucan, an excel-lent 4-bedroom fam-ily house extending to almost 1,600sq ft in an attractive cul-de-sac location, to the market with a guide price of €325,000

The property, located in a popular residential estate within St. Mary’s Parish, convenient to the N4 and M50 roads, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, and Lucan Village, has double glazed uPVC win-dows throughout and an attractive open-plan lay-out. It benefits from a new boiler system which was recently installed and under-floor heating

Magnificent offer at Mt AndrewLUCAN: FOUR-BEDROOM FAMILY HOME WITH GUIDE OF €325,000

in its sun room.The accommodation

comprises entrance hall with uPVC hall door, stairs and an under-stairs store as well as a tiled floor. The living room features a solid wooden f loor, bay window, a

cast-iron open fireplace, and an open arch to the dining room, which also has a wooden floor and access to the rear of the property.

The kitchen has a t i le-ef fect laminate floor, fitted units, and

Number 3, Mount Andrew Close, Lucan is on the market for €325,000

GazettePROPERTYPROPERTY

timber-panel ceiling with sunken spotlights. There is a Velux window, a Whirlpool American-style fridge/freezer, and a Belling double oven and gas hob.

The property also ben-efits from a family room

and a sun room, which features a tiled floor and French doors to the rear.

Upstairs are four bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, of which the master bedroom is en suite, with a tiled floor, WC, WHB and a shower cubicle.

The main bathroom has a jacuzzi bath and a Triton electric shower.

Outside, the rear gar-den has a large decking area, and there is a con-crete shed for storage.

V i ew ing can be arranged by appointment with Barry McDonald of McDonald Brothers Real Estate Alliance at The Mall, Lucan, on 01 6280625.

neighbourhood due to its location in the corner of this small enclave, enjoy-ing privacy and seclusion. The front garden has a long driveway which is bound by sculptured hedging and provides parking for three or more cars. A gated entrance on either side of the prop-erty leads to a rear garden which is mostly lawns and

has a raised deck, a paved patio area and a storage shed.

The extra benefit this home has to offer is the scope that comes from its large rear garden. Full planning permission has been granted (Ref: D07B/1020) for an exten-sion of almost 50 sq m to comprise a large kitchen / family area extension

to the rear at ground floor level, a living room extension, along with an extension to the rear double bedroom at first floor level, extending the accommodation to c 198 sq m.

To arrange a viewing of this property, contact Brian Dempsey at DNG on 01 283 2700, or email [email protected]

Time for last release at BelarmineCastlethorn Construction is releasing the final apartments at “close-out” prices at Belarmine Hall, Stepaside. This phase comprises one-, two- and three-bed apartments that offer good value for money.

One-bedroom apartments are priced from €119,950, (approx. 452 – 502 sq ft), two-bed-room apartments from €159,000 (636 – 700 sq ft) and three-bedroom apartments from €189,000 to €199,000 (775 – 968 sq ft).

All units are completed and ready for occu-pation.

Over 650 homes are already occupied in Belarmine, creating a thriving community with a number of on-site facilities. Belarmine Plaza has a retail centre which includes a pharmacy, dry cleaners, a cafe and The Market conven-ience store with in-house bakery, butcher, fishmonger and off-licence. Giraffe Childcare runs the on-site creche. A new primary school, Gaelscoil Thaobh Na Coille, opened in Sep-tember 2009. There are approx. ten acres of parkland with mature trees at the front of the development fronting Enniskerry Road.

Located at the foothills of the Dublin moun-tains Belarmine has easy access to all the major transport links, including the M50 and the N11.

Locally Stepaside has become a well estab-lished village with a choice of pubs, restaurants, shops, golf courses and football grounds. Leop-ardstown racecourse and Dundrum Shopping Centre are also close by.

For more information, contact Geraldine Ruane of Sherry Fitzgerald Ballsbridge on 01 6671888 or email: [email protected].

STEPASIDE: VARIOUS APARTMENTS ON OFFER

The features of the Belarmine apartments


PAUL O’Brien and David Swaine have over 19 years experience between them at the highest level in the Dublin property market, and have both successfully managed offices for some of Dublin’s leading auctioneering firms before opening Property Partners, O’Brien Swaine, in 2008.

Talking about the firm’s approach to customers, David says: “Our proven track record, experience and knowledge of the

market will ensure that our clients receive the very highest levels of customer service and care whether buying, selling or letting your property.

“We pride ourselves on offering a profes-sional service to vendors, purchasers, land-lords and tenants alike. Our reputation as one of Dublin’s leading estate agents - IAVI (Irish Auctioneers and Valuers Institute) has been earned over many years by our

results.“We offer an all-round property service

which includes residential sales, residential lettings, property management, professional valuations and free and independent mort-gage advice.

“If you are considering selling or letting your property, then call an agent who will be entirely focused on your move, allowing you a stress-free transaction.”

Interview: David Swaine of Property Partners, O’Brien Swaine

Q&A

Knowledge of the property market

Paul O’Brien and David Swaine, of Property Partners, O’Brien Swaine

Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?A: A businessman like my

father

Q: What was your first job?A: Working in my dads

garage.

Q: And your first pay cheque?A: Not very much

Q: When did you start your present job?A: I started auctioneering in

2002, but I’ve been here with

Property Partners since 2008

Q: What is the best thing about your job?A: The joy on your owner’s

face when you’ve just sold

his house and seeing buyers

come in to pick up the keys

to their new homes

Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’?A: I like to get in early,

around 8.30am, and get a lot

of those little jobs done be-

fore the phone starts ringing

Q: What sport do you follow?A: Rugby and football

Q: What sport can you play?A: Rugby

Q: What is your guilty mu-sic/TV or movie pleasure?A: Coronation street

Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Nor-ris or Jedward?A: Jedward (hee hee hee)

Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/iPad?

A: Bruce Springsteen

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?A: Property Partners, OBrien

Swaine on facebook

Q: What was your last Tweet/status update?A: We offered anybody who

recommended a friend to us

that had a property to rent

€50 cash and €100 cash if

they have a house to sell

Q: Describe your dream meal?A: Steak and chips

Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna?A: Enda Kenny

Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?

A: I don’t really, to be honest

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?A: Four or five

Q: What was your worst holiday experience?

A: When we were kids we

went to Wales in the middle

of Hurricane Charlie

Q: Describe your dream holiday?A: My honeymoon in South

Africa

Q: What would be your dream job?A: Coach to the Leinster

Rugby Team

Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?A: Relax and spend time with

my family

GazetteBUSINESSBUSINESS Supported by AIB


PUBLIC Transport Min-ister, Alan Kelly, has announced a major step forward to integrated transport ticketing for the people of Dublin.

The National Transport Authority has enlisted the support of over 500 cus-tomers to use the system – which will be known as Leap Card – in advance of full public launch.

The customers signed up to take part in the test on a dedicated website, www.integratedticketing.ie earlier in November. They are currently using their Leap Card to pay for travel on Dublin Bus, Luas, DART and Com-muter Rail services.

The Leap Card is going to make paying for travel-ling around Dublin much easier for commuters, as well as less frequent users of public transport.

Customers will top up their Leap Card with travel credit at shops, Luas stops, or online. Then, their card can then be used to pay for travel by holding it against an electronic reader. The readers are located on board buses, on Luas platforms, and in DART

and commuter rail sta-tions in Dublin’s short hop zone. The card will be durable and reusable so customers will be able to repeat the cycle of topping up and using as often as they like.

The full-scale roll-out will take place on a phased basis. The first stage is scheduled to take place later this month, once the final phase of customer testing is com-plete.

It will allow customers to pay-as-you-go on the participating transport operators. Once the sys-tem is up and running, additional complemen-tary services will be made available during 2012. These include the capac-ity to top up the Leap Card with integrated period tickets, as well as a facility that can automati-cally top up a user’s card when it starts to run low on travel credit.

Gerry Murphy, CEO, National Transport Authority

and Alan Kelly TD, Public Transport Minister

One step closer to integrated ticketing

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The full-scale roll-out will take place on a phased basis- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Stunning seafood from theculinary capital

WEST Cork is constantly in the headlines, and for good reason.

It is up there as the culi-nary capital of Ireland, with several stunning restaurants and bars as well as some amazing scenery.

East Cork is often seen as the poor relation and one of the main towns, Youghal, is one of those places that is definitely in need of a bit of a revival.

The beach is lovely but the town is showing signs of faded grandeur and the building of a Tesco store just outside of it has affected local businesses.

Unfortunately, this is the case country-wide and it is such a shame because some of the classical old buildings and shop fronts are stunning and, with a lick of paint, an instant facelift could be given.

There is plenty to do and see close by and if you cross the border into Waterford, don’t tell the locals. We did, and went on a visit to Lismore Heritage village with its

stunning castle. We also stopped off in Dungarvan, another pretty little town with a lovely marina. Another option would be the short trip west, further into county Cork to Mid-dleton, and the home of Jameson.

We stayed in Aherne’s in Youghal, a lovely little

townhouse with a fish restaurant and bar under-neath.

The owner said that on a visit to Padstow years ago and seeing what Rick Stein had done with his place, he decided he had to add bedrooms above the restaurant.

Our room had lots of old-world charm and, after a long day sightsee-ing, we decided to read and take a little nap.

The restaurant itself is very nice and cavernous

with lots of lovely little nooks and crannies. We were given a great table away from a large party celebrating a 70th birth-day, which added to the atmosphere of the place, but, not in an intrusive way.

We did not realise the fish fest we were about

to embark on but, being on the coast, you would expect the seafood to be good and we were not disappointed. I started with the tastiest, fresh-est prawns in a delicious garlic butter whilst my husband had Galway Bay Oysters served natu-rally with just a squeeze of lemon and Tabasco. Yum. For my main I went for the Black Sole which, again, was cooked the best way - simply- on the bone with lemon, oil and

Aherne’s in Youghal was

IF you’re looking for a snowy break that won’t break the bank, then look no further than Scotland. Offering great value and surprises around every corner, Scotland is the perfect desti-nation for an action-packed winter getaway. Thanks to its close proxim-ity to Ireland, Scotland is ideal for a weekend break. For a longer holiday there is an array of surprising winter sports available from snowshoeing in the Western Highlands to whiz-zing through the Cairngorms in a dog sled.

Here are some of the best things to do in Scotland this winter.

Grab a gondola at Nevis Range

Offering a mix of runs for expert and novice skiers, the breathtaking Nevis Range ski area near Fort Wil-liam offers something for everyone.

Visitors can grab a gondola up to the north face of Aonach Mor, the eighth highest mountain in Britain where they can enjoy spectacular views of the Highlands.

As well as skiing there is a host of exciting and novel activities, including snowshoeing which involves wear-ing special snowshoes and trekking through the Scottish wilderness.

Enjoy a husky ride through the Highlands.

Many might think that dog-sledding is something that only takes place in distant winter destinations but the Cairngorm Sled dog Centre is home to 30 sled dogs from all over the world. For those looking for an adventure in the snow, a visit here is a must.

Visitors can experience the awe-some thrill of being led through a Highland landscape by a pack of world-class sled dogs currently in training for European events and mountain expeditions.

The centre allows participants to interact with the dogs before sit-ting in comfort on a sled-dog buggy and enjoying unrivalled views of the Cairngorms. For something really

unusual visitors can travel at night by floodlight, possibly spotting herds of red deer roaming in the wild.

Eat at Scotland’s highest restaurant

As Scotland’s most renowned ski destination, Cairngorm Mountain ski area offers surprises around every cor-ner. With more than 30km of ski runs, a snowboard park, a sledging park and cross-country ski, it also features acres of alpine scenery that will appeal to avid walkers and families keen on out-door pursuits.

Visitors can scale the heights of Cairngorm Mountain without too much exertion, as it features Scot-land’s only funicular railway. This relaxing traverse up the mountain transports passengers to The Ptar-migan, Britain’s highest restaurant. From here unprecedented views of the mountains can be enjoyed whilst receiving some Highland hospitality.

Take a magic carpet ride in The

Lecht

Sitting high in the eastern Cairn-gorms some 2,000ft above sea level is the Lecht ski area. Although it is the smallest and most compact of the Scot-tish ski centres, surprisingly it offers some of the most consistent snow in Scotland. Here you will find five beau-tiful green-graded runs, including the Magic Carpet, a conveyer-belt style lift which is ideal for stepping out onto the snow for the first time.

Beginners can also try out the unusual sport of snow tubing, which involves sliding down purpose-built slopes on an inflatable tyre tube.

Travelling from Ireland to

Scotland:

There are some excellent discounts to be had on ferries from Belfast and flights throughout Ireland, making Scotland even more accessible. Keep your eyes peeled for deals coming your way on www.visitscotland.com/sur-prise

WinterTravel

GazetteTTRAVELRAVEL22 GAZETTE 8 December 2011

butter. Again, it was one of the freshest pieces of fish and was so delicate and light that I am still dream-ing about it.

Brian had a trio of fish, prawns, scallops and monkfish cooked in a moreish sauce made from the scallop roe. Heavenly. For dessert I had a coffee meringue, which wasn’t to my taste but my husband liked it, and finished off most of that as well as his own rhubarb parfait. The meal was a triumph and I will definitely return to east Cork for Aherne’s fish alone.

Breakfast was also a winner with more fish on the menu. Brian had pan-fried cod and had to ask the chef for the recipe, it was so good.

I went for scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. Lots of juice and coffee set us up for the long drive home. See their website at www.ahernes.net

See what Scotland has to offer for the perfect

action-packed winter getaway destination

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‘Again, it was one of the freshest pieces of fish and was so delicate and light that I am still dreaming about it’- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

MIMI MURRAY enjoys a trip to the south-west

the perfect venue for a weekend trip

The fish restaurant offered fresh ingredients and some of the very best seafood

Banish the post-festive January blues witha selection of winter sun destinations

TravelBriefs

Edited by

Mimi Murray


Lanzarote is proving as popular as ever with Irish holidaymakers

FOR those looking to get away from the post-festive gloom in January, Direct Holidays have a selection of winter sun offers, with prices start-ing at €359.

Proving their enduring popularity with the Irish holidaymakers this year are the destinations of Lanzar-ote, Egypt and Gran Canaria, each with average temperatures reach-ing 20 degrees during the winter months.

With year round sunshine, the island of Lanzarote promises clear blue skies and long, wide beaches to relax on. Stay at the two-star Los Hibiscos in Puerto Del Carmen on a self-catering basis for seven nights from €409 based on two sharing, or from €359 for three sharing, depart-ing January 15. Upgrade to the four-star Hotel San Antonio, in Puerto Del Carmen on a half-board basis for seven nights from €589 per person

sharing, departing January 22.Direct Holidays are also featuring

deals in Egypt, where seven nights in the four-star Joleville Maritim, in the popular resort of Naama Bay, is available from €559 per person departing January 5 on a bed and breakfast basis. The three-star St George Resort in Hadaba is avail-able for €539 per person all inclu-sive, departing January 12.

A seven-night stay in Gran Canaria at the three-star IFA Inter-club in the relaxed resort of San Agustin starts from €599 per person on an all inclusive basis, for January 21 departure, or for three sharing from €569.

To book, or for more details on any of the discounts on offer call (01) 514 03 41 or log on to www.directholidays.ie. Offers subject to availability, prices correct at time of issue.

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Hugo’ll and see itLonely Parisian orphan, Hugo (Butterfield) and his new friend, Isabelle (Moretz) are keen to uncover what his late father’s automaton may

reveal, once all its parts are restored and replaced – but will it be the write mystery that he’s looking to have answered?

GoingOUT

GazetteENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENT

This film for children has much to offer older viewers, as it’s also almost a loving tribute to the beauty of cinema

KATE CROWLEY

SPEAKING of horrors – well, I was, in last week’s review, which is a lazy way to link something together, but I’m sure I can rely on my dear and loyal readers (yes, both of you), not to let the cat out of the bag – even a hardened reviewer like, ahem, myself hasn’t quite the stomach for the recently released Happy Feet Two.

You see, the thought of seeing even more singin’, dancin’, wisecrackin’ CG penguins is a little upset-tin’ to yours truly.

I mean, of course I love penguins, but I couldn’t eat a whole one – or, rather, I just can’t quite stomach this CG sequel to the not-exactly-brilliant earlier film.

And so, splashing away from that okay-ish chil-dren’s film, I’m making a beeline straight towards, um, another children’s film instead, which doesn’t smell quite as

fishy. (Ah ha! See what I did there?)

In an interesting career move, Martin Scorcese has made his first chil-dren’s film, Hugo, and created it with his typi-cally masterful style.

His train of thought appears to have taken him right back to the very roots of cinema, and to many themes that have endured throughout cin-ema for the past century.

Hugo (Butterfield) is a lonely orphan, living in a vast Parisian railway station at the start of the 1930s, where he ekes out a living amongst its great

clocks, surrounded by the station’s oddball charac-ters.

(As a random aside, I quietly thrill to any film starring the legendary 287-year-old Christopher Lee, who seems to be about twice the age of Mr Crowley, yet twice as awe-some. But I digress.)

Hugo’s clock-winding ways are partly to do with his obsession – an old curio belonged to his late father (Law); one of those curious writing automa-tons that Le Rich People used to amuse themselves with, once upon a time.

However, the automa-

ton (which Hugo is con-vinced can reveal some secret of his late father’s) doesn’t work. Alas!

In fact, through Hugo’s, ahem, “liberation” of clockwork parts from around the station (to the chagrin of its shopkeep-ers and oddball charac-ters), the automaton has been fully restored – all save the final part that’s needed to make it work, and to reveal whatever secret it may “know”: a heart-shaped key.

Now, you don’t suppose that Isabelle (Moretz), the daughter of a fed-up toy shop owner, might be able to help Hugo find this key, do you, and thus reveal what it may, or may not, be pro-grammed to reveal from dear old dad?

Hugo isn’t the kind of routine children’s film that we’re used to, and that’s because it’s almost like two films jostling for attention, which makes me magnaminously

bestow upon it a two-grade system, depending on who’s going to see it. (And good luck to the production boys back at Gazette Towers on work-ing out how to show what I mean.)

As a children’s film, it’s more thoughtful, and not quite as “commercial”, as most children’s films are these days, as it’s defi-nitely more intellectually loaded than most. This can make it a little ... slow, I suspect; undoubtedly entertaining for kids, but not always rivetting.

However, many adults will probably be thrilled at this homage to cinema itself, as Hugo is jammed with all kinds of nods at cinema itself, with the film absolutely packed in visual symbolism that mirror a lot of cinema’s “greatest hits”.

An okay film for kids, Hugo is a visual delight for any cinema fan, mak-ing it a film well worth making tracks for.

FILM OF THE WEEK:

Hugo / (PG) 125 mins

OUR VERDICT:BASED on a best-selling book, Hugo is a visual delight from a director back on top of his game – despite this being his first children’s film. Perhaps it may be a little too thoughtful for children to fully warm to – Parisian orphan boy versus the appeal of singing chipmunks, anyone? – but it’s also a richly-detailed tribute to the power and emotion of cinema, making it also a film about film ...

Director: Martin ScorceseStarring: Jude Law, Christopher Lee, Asa Butterfi eld, Chloe Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Ray Winstone, Frances de la Tour

PAVILION 01 231 2929The Nutcracker Suite and The Snow Queen

THIRTY-SEVEN of Ireland’s most talented young dancers will perform this Season in Celebration of its 15th Anniversary. They will delight and dazzle everyone from the youngest to the most seasoned theatergoers. Snowflakes, flowers and sweets, Snow Queen, Ice Maidens and Doves all wrapped up in Tchaikovsky’s and Stravinsky’s glorious music scores. Catch the show at 8pm on December 9, and 3pm and 8pm on December 10.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 A Christmas Carol

DIRECTED by Geoffrey O’Keeffe, this is a heartwarming tale of transformation and joy. It is one of the best loved and most quoted stories of the “Man who invented Christmas” - English writer Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol debuted in 1843 and has touched millions of hearts since. The show opens with the townspeople milling about, singing Christmas carols and enjoying each other’s company. This show runs until December 20 at 7.30pm. Admission:€18/€15 Family of 5:€55

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622Scheherazade and 1001 Arabian Nights

BETRAYED by his former wife, King Shahriyar vows to marry, love and then behead a new bride each night, never to be betrayed again. Having murdered thousands of women, he encounters the beautiful and wise Scheherazade, who pleads to tell a story before her impending execution. For 1001 nights, he postpones her execution enthralled, as he awaits her next tale of love, lust, hilarity or sorrow. Catch the show on Saturday, December 10 at 8pm. Tickets €20/€15 conc/€12 (under 16s)


SHANE DILLON

AT THE time of going to press, ripples were spreading out across the gaming press at the news surrounding a little-known (to the greater gaming public) but greatly-respected (to the gaming press and crit-ics) figure, and the news of his reported decision to leave Sony, where he’s been responsible for some outstanding titles.

Fumito Ueda is one of a number of Japanese games figures who has had a big impact – with critics, and devoted fans – despite only leading his team to create a meagre body of work. But what work!

The Japanese games’ developer has overseen a small canon of titles, but such was the unique vision and high quality of his previous games – the legendary PlayStation 2 titles, Ico, and Shadow of the Colossus (both avail-able in a HD-remastered compilation for the PS3,

as I’ve written about pre-viously) – that his latest, long-delayed project for the PlayStation 3 has kept an awful lot of peo-ple around the world maintaining a determined vigil.

However, his delayed current project, The Last Guardian, has missed one release deadline after another, and keeps slipping back in terms of when it may be released – 2012 is still a likely date, but, as fans know with an Euda-san title, that’s not guaranteed.

With his reputation as a focused visionary, and

as something of an auteur, it’s not quite a huge sur-prise that there would be great speculation about how long he would stay making games for Sony, or, indeed, how long Sony might want to continue that partnership.

After all, where some key titles can come out every year or 18 months, Ueda-san’s games can take three, four or five years to appear, and, while they’ve been lauded by critics, and raved about by some gamers, they’ve not exactly set the sales counters on fire.

Why should the news of a Japanese games’ design-er’s purported – yet, at the time of going to press, not fully authenticated – deci-sion to leave Sony matter to Dublin gamers, even if he is, apparently, to con-tinue to bring this latest project to fruition in a freelance capacity?

It matters because, despite all the razzma-tazz that surrounds all the major games titles and series on all the plat-

forms, “maverick” design-ers creating singularly unique titles are just as important, doing much to craft the art, passion and thoughtfulness that gaming can feature at its very best.

Away from all of the fast cars and big guns that dominate much, if not most, of the gaming coverage in almost every mainstream paper, titles such as those that Ueda-san has been responsible for have done much to add to the critical kudos of the platform they appear on.

For all of the block-buster titles that all gam-ing platforms promote – and should, perfectly understandably – the “quieter” titles that don’t sell anywhere near as many copies at retail, but which impress critics more than the triple-A titles, as well as making a lasting impression on fans, are just as impor-tant, and generally bring a memorable quality to their titles that their big-

budget brothers often lack.

For example, I’d strug-gle to recall and describe a single Call of Duty mis-sion from just two years ago, but I could ramble on for hours about Ryo Hazuki’s wanderings around Yokosuka Har-bour in Shenmue, which came out on Sega’s fond-ly-recalled Dreamcast back in 1999.

Of course, even if Ueda-san does leave Sony, I’ve no doubt that his (poten-tial) swansong title will be something really unique for the PS3, and if he remains, but moves to another division, that he’ll continue to strengthen the console’s appeal.

For now, it seems that the speculation will con-tinue to mount as to whether or not The Last Guardian will be a last work of gaming genius from an almost obscure (but highly-influential) gaming guru, or just the next step to something even greater for Sony, and for cool titles.

GazetteGAMINGGAMINGWhen visionaries look to move on ...

While fans and industry figures wait to see what

Fumito Ueda may move on to next – if he indeed moves

on from Sony – in the meantime, the wait continues

for his next PS3 title, The Last Guardian (inset)

HERE at The Gazette Group, we’ve teamed up with XBox to offer readers a great prize.

Following on from the recent launch of Kinect Sports 2 for Kinect for Xbox 360, five lucky readers can be in with a chance to win a copy of the games, Kinect Sports 1 and Kinect Sports 2.

Kinect Sports 2 expands on the Kinect Sports experience, using the Kinect sensor for the XBox 360, and its rare and big park games include six of the most popular and exciting sports: tennis, baseball, darts, golf, football and skiing.

To be in with a chance to win your copies, simply email The Gazette with the answer

to the following question:

Which of the following sports can you play on Kinect Sports 2?

A. DartsB. RugbyC. Water Polo

Email your answer to [email protected], with the subject line “Kinect”, before Friday, December 16.

All correct entries will be entered into a draw, and five winners will be selected at random to win one of the prizes, which will be posted out. For more information on Kinect Sports, see www.face-book.com/xboxie. Five readers can win a copy of Kinect Sports 2, for the XBox 360

Get Kinect-ed to this great competition prize

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‘Quieter’ titles in stores are just as important as all of the triple-A titles that get all the biggest headlines- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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SEWING CLASSES/ CURTAIN MAKINGBeginners and Improvers Sewing Classes on Curtain and Roman Blind Making and ‘Crafts & Patchwork’ starting in November. Half Day Workshops on ‘Getting to Know Your Machine’ and Curtain and Roman Blind Making. We also reline and re-pleat all curtains and offer a Curtain and Roman Blind making service at competitive prices, full selection of Poles and Rails available. Contact us at www.sewgreat.ie or www.pressxpress.ie. Call 01 8227650 or email us [email protected]

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THE vocal talents of members of several clubs from Gazette country have been gracing the screens of TG4 in recent weeks, and will shortly be available to buy just ahead of Christmas in aid of good causes.

The Pitch Perfect choir, selected from local GAA clubs and parishes all over Ire-land, were followed by the documentary crew

as they came together to realise their dream of performing at Croke Park, singing in front of a crowd of over 82,000 people on the day of the All-Ireland football final on September 3 this year.

T h e c h o i r i s t e r s come from all over the country, and include the local talents of Gemma Moody from Clondalkin’s Round Towers, Oliver Plun-ketts/Eoghan Ruadh

clubman Terry Bushe, Kilamcud Crokes stal-wart Matt Cahill, Sheila Pollock from Lucan Sarsfields, Kieran Kil-bride and Eibhlís Organ from Churchtown.

Two mentors, interna-tional soprano Niamh Murray and composer and former musical director with River-dance, Colm O’Foghlu, weeded out their selec-tion of altos, sopranos, basses and tenors and trained the 30 voices

GAELIC GAMES: TG4 DOCUMENTARY SHOWS DUBLIN CLUB MEMBERS IN ACTION

The members of TG4’s Pitch Perfect choir

Local vocals fire the Choir for charity sessions

over an eight-week peri-od and moulded them into a choir representing clubs from all corners of Ireland.

Pitch Perfect also provides an insight into how top county teams

work and train to reach their ultimate football-ing stage, Croke Park, with the GAA backdrop being offered by the voices of such notable former GAA playing stars as Coman Goggins

of Dublin.Filming took place

at locations from May-nooth College to the Gaiety Theatre to the National Concert Hall.

The recording of some of the songs from

the programme, Songs of Shelter, are being released next week, and proceeds from the sale of the record will go to the charity, Focus.

For more information, see www.tg4.ie.

GazetteSPORT8 December 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 27

GOING FOR GOAL: GOING FOR GOAL: Eamonn Coghlan Eamonn Coghlan launches Christmas launches Christmas Mile appeal Mile appeal Page 29Page 29

GazetteSportSport


LEINSTER LEAGUE DIV 2BRailway Union 29

Swords 13

[email protected]

SWORDS travel led to Railway Union last weekend to attempt to avenge their opening day defeat against their opponents, but lost out to the Park Avenue men in a blustery and bruis-ing match.

As a result, Railway put themselves right back into contention in the Leinster League, moving into second place, something clearly in mind as they took to the field and in the open-ing encounters.

Playing into the wind, Railway struggled to find their rhythm as Swords kept it tight and looked to attack around the rucks. This early pres-sure eventually yielded

a penalty, which Swords dispatched to take a three-nil lead.

But Railway grew into the game and, with Paul Ainscough running directly at the heart of the Swords defence.

Rai lway managed to drive their way into the Swords 22. Once they established their field position, they went through the phases before sending the ball out wide, where John Fitzgerald was on the end of a string of passes to dive over the white-wash in the corner for the opening score.

Railway looked com-posed and settled and it wasn’t long before they worked their way back into the Swords 22. Another patient build-up, with a combination of forwards and backs carrying hard, resulted

in the Swords’ defen-sive line being stretched, and Ian Flynn took full advantage darting through a gap to finish under the posts.

The second half began with Railway taking up where they left off and, when they kicked a penalty into the Swords corner, they had a great opportunity to open the half with a try, although it took some time, with Swords infringing repeatedly.

From a lineout, the pack began a driving maul which was heading directly over the try line.

However, when a Swords’ forward inter-vened and collapsed the maul illegally, the referee immediately awarded Railway a penalty try under the posts.

Railway were on their way to victory, but to

their credit, Swords were not about to give up.

They worked hard and were rewarded when they scored a try after a series of close-range pick and drives. They added a penalty soon after and suddenly they were back in striking distance.

Railway had to tighten up their defence in order to keep the recharged Swords side at bay but when Tim Townend managed to land a long range drop goal to put more than a converted try between the sides it

seemed to take the wind out of Swords sails.

The remainder of the game was played out in between the two 22s.

Railway showed a new steel, however, as they searched for a fourth try that would give them an invaluable bonus point.

With time almost up, out-half Paddy Reidy, who was excel lent throughout, produced something special to slide through a gap and race 30 yards to score Railway’s crucial bonus- point try.

Swords run off track

RUGBY: LEINSTER LEAGUE REVERSE AS RAILWAY ROLL ONWARD

Swords RFC failed to reverse their defeat at home on the opening day of the season against Railway Union

FastSport

Thompson ends season

on high at Nippon testGARY Thompson capped his 2011 season per-fectly this week with a successful maiden test in premier Asian single-seater series Formula Nip-pon.

The 19-year-old has spent this year compet-ing in Japanese F3 for the SGC by KCMG team, recording a breakthrough win and scooping an additional five podium finishes. He remained with the squad for his first taste of Formula Nip-pon, enjoying two days of running at the Fuji International Speedway on Monday and Tuesday (November 28/29).

Although at the controls of a significantly fast-er machine than he is used to, Thompson quickly settled down to business in the 3.4-litre Toyota V8-powered car, delivering competitive times within a few laps of hitting the circuit. Growing in confidence throughout, he was able to outpace his experienced team-mate by a considerable margin whilst also putting a clutch of series regu-lars and a former DTM and GP2 campaigner in the shade.

Formula Nippon is notoriously tough for rook-ies to get to grips with, thanks to the technical nature of its Swift FN09 chassis and the presence of several world-class drivers amongst its ranks.

Despite this Thompson made a strong impres-sion on his team, who handed him extra time behind the wheel after his impressive perform-ance on Monday. This level of trust bodes well for the Irishman as he seeks to take the next step up the motor racing ladder.

Thompson said: “I’d like to thank Toyota, KCMG and SG Changi for giving me the chance to take part in this test. Their support has been invaluable and I’m truly grateful for it.”

Gary Thompson

in association with


FastSportMALAHIDE’S Scott Flanigan and Booterstown’s Ger Owens’ beginning to their Olympic 470 sailing qualifying campaign got off to a tough start as the pair’s rigging, ropes and spares were lost en route to Perth.

They are currently in Australia aiming to secure a place inside the top 20 nations at the world championships to hand Ireland a berth at the London Olympics.

Flanigan, the youngest member of the Irish team at the competi-tion carried the flag at last Friday’s opening ceremony while Owens is aiming to create a bit of unique history by becoming the first Irish 470 sailor to compete in the three Games.

Rathfarnham’s Annalise Mur-phy claimed victory in her second race of the laser radial regatta to get off to a superb start. Competi-tion continues for the next week.

Ireland trio

make the team

of World Cup ’11LEINSTER ‘S Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell were the Ireland players who made the official Rugby World Cup dream team, voted for by international fans of the New Zealand celebration of the sport’s Facebook page.

Ireland captain O’Driscoll took nearly 50% of the votes to make the Dream Team. A

consistent performer for Ireland, O’Driscoll added to his impressive tally of international tries with a well-taken try in the pool match against Italy.

Based on suggestions from the online community, a shortlist of names per position was created each day and put to the vote, with over 160,000 votes being cast along the way.

The other players in the XV were made up of players from the semi-finalists, Wales, New Zealand and France.

Sailing duo start at disadvantage in Perth

Phoenix members Barry Dunne, Isabel Collins, Adam Lynch, Anne McAdam, Bernard O’Sullivan and John Fortune

Phoenix chilling ahead of Riga trip

[email protected]

MEMBERS o f the Phoenix Swim Club in Clondalkin will be trav-elling to Riga, Latvia, to swim in the World Winter Swimming Champion-ships in January.

The nine members of the team are in for quite a challenge as they will be swimming in a 25-metre outdoor pool cut into the ice on a frozen lake, and they will take part in the 25m breaststroke and front crawl, 50m breast-stroke and front crawl, and a 450-metre endur-ance swim.

In preparation for this, they are swimming at the

40ft in Sandycove every Sunday morning.

The club, formed in 1999, has over 50 mem-bers and they normally train in the Clondalkin Leisure Centre. It boasts several members who hold and have held national record holders in Masters competitions, travelling to Casablanca Morocco, Belgium, Aus-tria, Czech Republic, as well as in national com-petitions.

Phoenix Swimming Club compete each year in the Leinster Open Sea Races along the coast of Dublin. The two most prestigious races in the summer are the Dublin

City Liffey Swim and the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Swim. Valerie Spollen won the Liffey Swim, while John Fortune, Anne McAdam and Anne Marie Kendrick have won the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Race.

Phoenix has a tradition of going to the sea at least once a week, summer or winter. Hardy swimmers are known to walk across snow or ice to take their weekly plunge, and in Jan-uary 2012, nine of these swimmers are planning to go to Riga, Latvia and participate in the World Winter Championships.

The competition will take place where the river

and the Baltic Sea meet, where the air temperature can be below -20 degrees. The pool is cut out of thick ice with a chainsaw. A motor keeps the water moving in order to stop it from freezing over. The first race involves swim-ming 25m breaststroke with head up, diving is not permitted nor is tum-ble turning. The swim-mer is permitted to wear a swim cap or, if they wish, a woolly hat and a normal swimsuit. No wetsuits are allowed. After that, swim-mers can compete in a 450m swim.

For more information, contact AnneMarie Ken-drick on 087 282 1175.

SWIMMING: LOCAL CLUB HEADING FOR TEST ABROAD

U C D A F C h a v e announced recently that they will host two friend-ly matches at the Belfield Bowl against Scotland’s St Johnstone FC on July 10, and Spain’s Villarreal CF on July 16.

St Johnstone finished eighth in the SLP last season, and have a long tradition in Scottish football. Former players include Sir Alex Ferguson and Ally McCoist.

Villarreal finished fourth in last seasons La Liga and so are qualifiers for next season’s Cham-pions League. As well as this, they have a wide range of talented foot-ballers at their disposal with Barcelona target and former Manchester United player, Giuseppe Rossi, on the top of the list.

GazetteSport and UCD are giving lucky

readers the chance to win pairs of tickets to these matches.

Simply answer the fol-lowing question:

Where was Villarreal striker Guiseppe Rossi born?

Send your answer, together with your name, address and mobile phone number, to [email protected], with “UCD Friendlies” in the subject line of the mail.

Win tickets to see UCD in friendlies

UCD’s Robbie Benson

Leaping for charity: Eamon launches MileMETRO St Brigi’d legend Eamonn Coghlan prepares to hurdle a fence at Leopardstown race-course, the new venue for this year’s flagship GOAL Mile. The Mile will be held at Leopardstown on Christmas morning from 10am to 12 noon. More than 100 GOAL miles will be held throughout Ire-land over the festive period. Visit www.goal.ie for more details.

GazetteSportSport


[email protected]

SWORDS Celtic were celebrat-ing this weekend when their top Premier league clubs recorded impressive victories against a range of opponents at Balheary.

Last Sunday saw the arrival of visitors from Boyne, Drogheda and Mullingar, and the home teams made sure that they all left disappointed.

The Under-17 Premiers played Drogheda Town and continued their impressive season and run of form with a stonking 9-0 win. Brian Finnegan and Sean

Maguire both scored hat-tricks, while Andy Dunne scored twice to put the team into the next round of the Mary Farrell Cup.

Drogheda also suffered anoth-er reverse at the hands of Celtic when their Under-12 Premiers were decisively routed 9-1 in the second round of the Kevin Moran Cup

In the Under-18/19 Youth Cup, Portmarnock Under-19s came looking for a way to progress in the competition, and left with a 4-1 reverse from a strong Celtic Under-18 Premier side. Gavin Purcell scored a hat-trick for

Swords, and Jamie Hoare scored the fourth to wrap up a deserved victory, which puts Celtic into the last eight of the cup.

The Under-16 Premier game was delayed for an hour due to an unfortunate injury to Jason Lynch, the young striker suf-fering a broken leg early in the match. When the game finally restarted, Jack O’Grady scored one of two goals, which gave the home side another victory in the 16 Premier League.

The Under-13B were also vic-torious in the league when they defeated Boyne Rovers.

Swords’ Premier sides reign at home

Under-16 Premier Jack O’Grady

[email protected]

DONABATE Golf Club’s Mary McKenna has been appointed Presi-dent Elect of the ILGU, with her presidential term of office starting in January 2013.

The appointment is well-merited, following a long and successful career, both as player and more recently as administrator.

She made her inter-national debut in 1968 and won her first Irish Championship a year later.

It took her little time to establish herself among the elite golf-

ers of the time and, by 1975, the consensus that Mary was to take over the mantle of the r e t i r ed Ph i lomena Garvey was realised.

In an unbroken 22- years’ of taking part in challenge competitions from 1968 to 1989, she reached 12 finals, win-ning eight, seven of which were secured in a purple patch between 1969 and 1982, when it seemed as if she might seriously establish a base to threaten the seemingly unassailable total of Garvey’s 15.

W h i l e M c K e n n a wo u l d g r a c i o u s l y acknowledge that the

great Garvey was “posi-tively worshiped” by the golfing youth of her day, the supremacy enjoyed by the Donabate woman in the Irish Champion-ships afforded her simi-lar status and respect.

Power and length with the club were her twin characteristic assets that gave her a first-tee psychological edge over her opponents.

RepresentingS h e r e p r e s e n t e d

Great Britain and Ire-land on nine successive Curtis Cup teams from 1970, and ten Vagliano Trophy teams from 1969.

During this time she collected many district titles, including numer-ous 36-hole Scratch Cups, and contributed significantly to Lein-ster’s domination of the highly-competitive Ladies’ Interprovin-cial scene for over an impressive 20 years.

More recently, McK-enna took her place as the captain of the Irish Ladies team for two years from 2002, and later the Girls’ Jun-ior European team in 2006.

She was honoured with the captaincy of the British and Irish Curtis Cup teams in

2008 and 2010, and the Vagliano teams of 1995, 2007 and 2009.

She currently sits on the ILGU’s High Per-formance Committee, supporting the develop-ment of the game at all levels and is never short of an encouraging word for her fellow competi-tors and, in particular, talented juniors at the start of their careers in the game.

Mary takes up the presidential reins in January 2013 when the current ILGU Presi-dent, Marjorie McCor-duck from Roscrea, completes her two-year term.

McKenna is president-elect

GOLF: LOCAL LADY REACHES TOP FLIGHT IN LADIES’ GAME

Donabate Golf Club woman, Mary McKenna, pictured here on the right, will take up the presidfency of the ILGU in early 2013

FastSport

Fingal make the grade against the StudentsFINGAL produced their best performance of the men’s Leinster league season to date when they beat UCD 2-1, as the airport side conceived of a tactical formula to out-think the students.

UCD had been flying high a day earlier as they inflicted a stunning 6-4 win over league leaders Pembroke, their first loss of the sea-son.

But Fingal’s work-rate and defensive rigidity saw the twin threats of Shane O’Donoghue and Nick Burns quietened with chances at an absolute premium until Fingal were reduced at one stage to eight players late in the game.

The ALSAA men hit the front when Glen Shekleton – particularly industrious down the right flank –put in an overhead past the UCD backline to Simon McKeever whose shot was partially saved and Adrian Sweeney won the race to finish off the next phase.

A sweetly worked Eamon Bane corner move boosted the lead to 2-0 just before half-time.

It preceded an ugly second half in which UCD had lots of possession but did not force goalkeeper Nigel Grothier into a meaningful touch.

Fingal were compact and had a gilt-edged chance to seal the win when Tom Manning pulled back for Shekleton but his push was taken off the line by Ben Dobson.

Numerous flash-points ensued as Derek O’Gorman was binned for taking out O’Donoghue haring down the right channel.

Nick Burns and Bane followed for an alter-cation in the circle which saw the majority of the players wade in and Ken Treacy soon followed for kicking out.

Amid the melee, David Watkins hit the post with six minutes to go while Patrick Shanahan tipped in from close range as Sam O’Leary arrowed a fine reverse across goal but it was too late to nab a draw.

It lifts Fingal off the bottom of the table, three points clear of Clontarf.

in association with


CLUB NOTICEBOARD

A MEMORABLE double victory on Sun-

day morning: The minor footballers

finished the season with a win and a

league title and the senior footballers

put in the team performance of the

year beating a much fancied Cuala

in Swords to qualify for the Division

2 league play-off final next week v

O’Toole’s (further details to follow).

Well done also to the U-14 players

and mentors as our U-14 hurlers fin-

ished second in the league and will

now be hurling in Division 1 next year.

Club Car Draw: Tickets are now

available and members are asked to

sell a ticket each and get the money

in as soon as possible. If anyone

requires further information please

ring the club on 01-8400125 or email

[email protected].

Congratulations to Sarah McCarthy

who won gold representing Ireland

in the multi-events international in

Glasgow (third Shot Putt 9.09M, first

Hurdles 9.04, first Long Jump 5.72M,

first High Jump 1.68M and fourth in

the 800m)

Applications are invited for the

position of Junior Football Manager

(third team) for 2012. Please apply in

writing to Dan Davern or email dan-

[email protected]

Next Saturday, December 10, the

juvenile Christmas party for children

aged four to 11 years will take place.

Due to the large number of juvenile

players within the club, children aged

four to eight will visit Santa in his

Grotto 11.30am to 1.30pm and nine to

11 will visit Santa 2.30 to 4.30pm.

ST FINIAN’STHE AGM of the camogie section

took place on Monday, December

5, in the club house, and we wish to

thank Eve Talbot, Camogie Devel-

opment Officer from the County

Board, who spoke at the meeting.

Clothing collection on Saturday,

December 10. Please donate all your

clean unwanted clothes, bed linen,

duvets, pillows, towels, also bags,

belts and soft toys. Please drop

bags off to clubhouse at following

times: December 6 to 9 from 7.30 to

9pm, December 10 from 10.30am to

12.30pm. All bags will be collected

at 1pm. This has the potential of

being a big fundraiser with mini-

mum input.

Our Christmas Fair is also taking

place on Saturday, December 10,

from 11am to 3pm in the clubhouse.

Attractions include Coffee Shop,

Cake Stall, Book Stall, Christmas

Cards, Craft Stalls, Jewellery and,

of course, Santa’s Grotto.

Come and support your club and

get into the Christmas spirit. A raf-

fle will also take place with some

great Christmas fare, including a

Christmas cake and pudding baked

by our own Rose Curran. Donations

of cakes, etc, can be left at the Club

office from 10am on Saturday.

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 5, 7,

17 and 19. There was no winner; the

€50 winners were Aimee Pender and

Fara Scott. Next week’s jackpot will

be €2,700.

Tickets, priced €10, are on sale for

the Christmas draw, with €1,000

first prize.

They are available from the club

office and sellers.

The draw will take place on the

men tor s’ n ig h t on Thur sda y,

December 15 in Peacock’s.

FINGALLIANS

FINGAL RAVENSWELL done to our minor team who

won their championship final on

Sunday against Castleknock in

Somerton, fantastic display by

the team, well done to Malachy and

all the lads on this great achieve-

ment.

Best of luck to our U-21s in their

semi-f inal of their champion-

ship next Saturday, December 10,

against Thomas Davis.

Our children’s Christmas party

will take place next Sunday, Decem-

ber 11, from 3pm to 5pm in Kettles

Hotel, come along and meet Santa.

Anyone looking for club gear for

Christmas, please contact Tony

Byrne ASAP 087 266 7866.

Congratulations to Ian Kavanagh

and Ciara McGrane on the birth of

their daughter, Charleigh Jade.

Copies of A Rare Auld Season are

available to purchase for only €18,

contact Desy on 087 995 7429; they

would make a great Christmas

present.

We would like to send our condo-

lences to the Joyce family on the

death of Mick (Snr).

We will be holding a Christmas

raffle on Saturday, December 17,

with some excellent prizes of tur-

key, hampers, spirits, wine and lots

more, see any committee member

for tickets.

If anyone has any prizes to donate

please also see any committee

member.

AFL2 PLAY-OFF S/FINALFingallians 0-11

Cuala 0-6

[email protected]

F I N G A L L I A N S bounced back in stun-ning fashion from last week’s crushing senior championship defeat to St Mark’s to keep alive their hopes of moving up to AFL1.

They got the better of a highly-fancied Cuala in Lawless Park, the southside team having previously been inter-mediate championship finalists and, as recent county U-21 champions, were being touted as one of the rising forces in the county’s football-ing circles.

Bu t l a s t Sunday morning belonged to the Swords’ side, who lined out in perfect conditions for winter football with dry, crisp weather and only the large local support feel-ing the five degrees in their bones.

Fins’ captain, Donal Farrell, won the toss and elected to play up the hill into a slight breeze in the first half.

The decision proved to be the correct one, and the Fins’ manage-ment got the tactics spot-on from the start, deploying experienced corner forward David Markey in a deep role, and he was responsible for killing the Cuala attack and still being effective on the score-sheet from long range.

Dave Killeen was all action in the first 15 minutes, kicking two points and putting his body on the line with some heavy challenges, before going over the top and earning a cau-tion from the referee.

Meanwhile, Cuala, with the presence of Dublin hurler Paul Schutte very much to the fore, along with fel-low dual-code player, John Sheanon, kept the scoreboard ticking over

themselves with three quick points.

The big difference early on was the Fingal-lians’ midfield, where Danny Campion was winning ball in the air but also kicking impor-tant scores.

All-WhiteFingallians, playing in

white, had a half-back line combination of Ray McMenamin, Gary Donnelly and Donal Keane, all of whom con-tinually turned defence into attack.

The half-time score was five points to three in favour of the home team, a fair reflection of the play, with Fins winning nearly all the breaking ball from kick-outs at both ends, with both teams kicking their share of wides.

The half-time team talk gave a kick-start to Ciaran McLoughlin, and he kicked a point after 30 seconds and contributed with a free

and an assist for Louth-man Barry Clarke.

The Swords men were slowly killing off the Cuala challenge, and when Cuala did get into scoring positions, Brian Gilsenan at full-back was blocking their every kick to keep the Lawless Park men in front.

Donal Clarke put in another great 60 minutes before Cuala subbed their battered corner-forward, Keane, before an unusually quiet Martin Hanley put the nail in the Cuala coffin, leading Fingal-lians to finish winners 11 – 6.

There was praise for Alan Hanrahan, the Fins’ manager as, tacti-cally, he got the better of Derek Dunne and Dessie Cahill in the Cuala dugout.

Fingallians will now play O’Toole’s in the promotion final this Sunday, December 11, in Swords.

FOOTBALL: PLAY-OFF SEMI SUCCESS FOR FINS

Fingallians AFL2 side have moved within a game of getting back into the top league

Fingallians look to salvage the season


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