Clondalkin

Looking back: One-woman show on myopia is a big hitemily, Brendan and Mary Byrne clearly looked like they were enjoying themselves as they attended the Civic Theatre for Sonya Kelly’s acclaimed one-woman show, The Wheelchair on My Face.

Part memoir, part theatre, part stand-up comedy, The Wheel-chair on My Face relates the hilarious and poignant story of Kelly’s myopic childhood.Picture: Cathy Weatherston

See Gallery on Page 6

Plan for burial ground rejected PAUl HOSFORD

A ConTroverSiAl planning application for a cemetery in Calliagh-stown, rathcoole has been rejected by An Bord Pleanala.

local residents had voiced con-cerns and successfully objected to the proposal for the cemetery when plan-ning permission was first sought.

The council upheld the concerns of locals and refused permission for

the project but the developers later appealed their decision to the Bord. local residents again made detailed submissions on the proposal, high-lighting the extent of their apprehen-sion. The Bord took their fears into account and this week refused permis-sion for the cemetery in what Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald has described as “a victory for the people of rathcoole”.

Full Story on Page 4

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................6

DUBLIN LIFE ...................11

OUT&ABOUT ..................17

CLASSIFIEDS ................26

SPORT ...........................27

Month XX, 2012

INSIDE: Local student Jordan just cannot wait to take on the

tallest peak in the Americas P2

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2 CLONDALKIN GAzette 10 January 2013

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Dublin area from Swords to Dun Laoghaire

IT course for jobless available in BallyfermotBALLYFERMOT IT Centre is set to offer a specialised computer training course to people eligible for the Momentum Programme, a new education and training ini-tiative which was launched last month. The centre is offering the course, MCSA Server 2008, as a

free 37-week training programme for those who have been unem-ployed for over 12 months, and have a recognised level of com-puter skills.

Manager of the Ballyfermot IT Centre Dolores James said: “The course offers an opportunity to

train for entry level into the IT industry with Microsoft certifica-tion and practical experience to the levels demanded by industry.

“We believe from our research and discussion with large and small businesses and representa-tive bodies that this programme

has the ability to get trainees into jobs in the IT industry, which is currently finding difficulty in recruiting suitable people.”

Course registration is under way and is limited to only 66 places, and training begins in February.

hiGh lifE next stop Argentina for Jordan

Bear Grylls with Jordan Morris

Man to tackle highest mountain in AmericasA LOCAL s tudent will take on one of the world’s highest moun-tains next month, just weeks after successfully climbing Mount Kili-manjaro.

Jordan Morris climbed the highest point in Afri-ca in October 2012 and will take on the chal-lenge of Mount Acon-cagua in Argentina this February. The 23,000 foot mountain, which will take a total of three weeks to scale, is the tallest mountain outside of Asia in the world and is the second highest of the world’s Seven Sum-mits, the highest moun-tain on each continent.

It will tick off the sec-ond of seven peaks for Jordan, but will also pose a different kind of challenge.

“K i l imanjaro was my first real proper high-altitude climb, but Argentina will be a dif-ferent type of climb. It’s higher and I’ll need to wear clamps to grip the ice,” says Jordan who is studying Leisure Man-

agement in DIT. He adds that his motivation is simple.

“I just love the feeling of climbing, of keeping going. I do it for the rush, but I love heights as well. The views from the tops of mountains can be pretty amazing.”

Jordan raised over €2,000 from his Kili-manjaro climb for the Irish Cancer Society and, shortly after, got a lesson in survival tips from British adven-turer Bear Grylls, when he became one of the inaugural participants in Gr y l l s Sur v ivor Academy. The academy promises to teach “posi-

tivity, resourcefulness… and the skills that really keep people alive” and Jordan learnt quickly that there would be no punches pulled in giving the recruits an authentic glimpse into Grylls’ life.

“It was amazing. It was exactly like an epi-sode of Bear Grylls. We were put in the middle of nowhere and had to find our way back, catch animals and build shel-ters,” said Jordan.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many animals in Sutherland, Scot-land, and the group were forced to resort to rodents.

“After one night, we

were so cold and hun-gry, that we were happy to have caught a rat.

“Everyone says it tastes like chicken; well, it doesn’t!”

Getting to meet Grylls added to the highland adventure, especially given that he helped prepare their rat ty repast.

With the last few months of adventures behind him, Jordan is now looking forward to February, when he will meet up with a group of strangers, all intent on tackling the tallest peak in the Americas.

“I’m a bit nervous, but I can’t wait,” he said.

PAuL [email protected]

10 January 2013 CLONDALKIN GAzette 3

Course on offer for freeTHE Clondalkin, Palm-erstown, Lucan and Newcastle (CPLN) Area Partnership will run a free Planting and Potting by Hand FETAC Level Three course from Tues-day, January 15.

The course will run for 10 weeks, and takes place from 10am to 12pm every Tuesday, and will take place at the Bush Centre at Foxdene Avenue in Bal-gaddy.

The course is aimed at local residents who are unemployed, or for those who have some free time and are interested in becoming involved with the Balgaddy Community Garden or environmental activities.

For more information, contact the CPLN Area Parternship office at 01 450 8478.

gardening

Home tax price fixing fear voicedC O N C E R N S h ave been voiced that prop-erty owners could be exploited by estate agents or pressurised by fellow home own-ers when they attempt to value their homes ahead of the new local property tax.

Local TD Derek Keat-ing (FG) said that there needs to be a fully trans-parent system for valu-ing homes.

“I am concerned that if there is not a straight-forward and transpar-ent system of valuation in place, homeowners may be subjected to pressure by residents on the same street or estate who may get together to deliberately agree

to undervalue their homes.

“I have been made aware of discussions surrounding ‘price-fix-ing’ taking place, and I find this to be extremely worrying. No individual should be put in a posi-tion where they feel obliged to undervalue their property, or mis-lead the Revenue Com-missioners.”

enforcementThe proper ty tax

will come into effect in July, replacing the €100 household charge, and it will be based on homeowners’ valuation of their properties.

The collection of the tax will be handled by

the Revenue Commis-sioners, but Deputy Keating says that home-owners undervaluing their homes will be det-rimental to the country.

The controversial tax was passed in the Dail the week before Christ-mas, with Wicklow Inde-pendent TD Stephen Donnelly asking the Minister for Finance what the Government would do for those who did not have money to feed their children.

“What will he tell those who walk into our constituency offices - and I am sure the Minis-ter’s also - and say they have suicidal thoughts or their children are hungry?” he said.

Keeping record: asthma Society phone app aims to improve carepICtureD At the launch of the Asthma Society of Ireland’s new free app and mobile website, Asthma Coach are TV3 and Spin 103.8 presenter Gordon Hayden and Aobha O’ Brien. Half a million Irish people have asthma, of whom 282,000 do not have their symptoms controlled. The app aims to help these people better manage their symptoms. The app allows users to record and track their asthma symptoms, medication usage and peak flow to help them control their condition. Users can also share their diary and a graph of their asthma activities with their healthcare professional. For more infor-mation, log on to www.asthmasociety.ie.

Keating: call for tranSparent SyStem of property valuation


Club planning workshop at the Round Tower GAA ClubROUND Tower GAA Club will host a club planning workshop and open forum next Wednesday, January 16 in the clubrooms.

The workshop, which is being run in con-junction with Croke Park, and will be hosted by the organisation and planning manager of the GAA, Kieran Leddy. Both members and non-members of the club are welcome to attend.

The workshop comes as the club is undertak-ing a full strategic review of its structures, and this will lead to a comprehensive plan that will map out the future direction of the 129-year-old club.

The review will focus on coaching and games development, finances and fundraising, facili-ties, and communication and PR.

“The purpose of this workshop is to fully engage with our members, parents of young persons playing Gaelic games with our club, all those connected with the club and the wider community in Clondalkin,” said club chairman Tony Delaney.

FastNews

Clondalkin Library open again for 2013CLONDALKIN Library has reopened after the Christmas break last week, and has a jam-packed schedule of upcoming events lined up for the rest of the month.

For children, every Wednesday will see the library continue to host Children’s Storytime from 2pm, while every Saturday will see the children’s chess club run from 2 to 3.45pm.

The junior book club will return on Thursday, January 17 at 5.30pm, and Arts and Crafts with

Imelda returns on Tuesday, January 15 at 3pm for children aged eight to 12. Booking is essential for arts and crafts.

For adults, the adult book club returns on Thursday, January 31, while the Grow It Yourself group meet on Thursday, January 17 at 6.45pm.

Both the Spanish and Irish language classes will begin to run again in the last week of January, on Mondays and Tuesdays respectively. Booking is essential for these classes.

To book places or for more information, contact Clondalkin Library on 459 3315.

hIrOmI mOONey

B A R N A R D O S i s encouraging Clondalkin residents to donate their unwanted Christmas presents to the local Barnardos charity shop, as part of its Unwanted Gifts appeal.

The charity is welcom-ing donations of a wide range of unwanted gifts, such as clothing, house-hold goods, toys and DVDs.

“Each year thousands of us receive gifts from loved ones which will not be put to use. Rather than smile and secretly hide them in the back of the wardrobe, why not put them to a worth-while cause and bring a smile to a child’s face in the New Year,” said Bar-nardos Bernadette Har-rington.

“In the current eco-nomic climate, there has been a significant decrease in donations and at the same time we are seeing more and more families in Ireland in need of our services. Every donation takes us one step further to achieving Barnardos’ goal of making Ireland the best place in the world for children.”

charity: unwanted presents

Locals asked to help appeal

minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald believes the cemetery “would have been very concerning for the area”.

cemetery planning application refused

decision Local concern taken into account

PAuL hOsFOrD

A CONTROVERSIAL planning application for a cemetery to be located in Calliaghstown, Rath-coole, has been rejected by An Bord Pleanala.

Local residents had voiced concerns and suc-cessfully objected to the proposal for the cemetery when planning permis-sion was first sought.

The council upheld the concerns of locals and refused permission for the project, but the developers later appealed their decision to An Bord Pleanala. Locals again made detailed submis-sions on the proposal and highlighted their appre-

hensions locally. Their concerns were

taken into account by An Bord Pleanala, which this week have refused per-mission for the cemetery in what Minister for Chil-dren Frances Fitzgerald (FG) has described as “a victory for the people of Rathcoole”.

“The scenic surrounds of Rathcoole are, unfor-tunately, often the set-ting for inappropriate planning applications. Together with residents in Rathcoole Village and Windmill Hill we are cur-rently fighting plans for a waste processing facility at Behans Quarry, and the people of Calliaghs-town have been fighting

against this proposed cemetery for a number of years,” she said. “A ceme-tery at this location would have been very concern-ing for the area and had the potential to have det-rimental consequences on this water supply. The cemetery was to be situ-ated on a hill above the water supply and in a very strong limestone area. This had the potential for huge consequences on the local water supply.”

Fitzgerald’s party col-league, cllr Tony Delaney, said the decision was the right one for the area.

“The refusal of permis-sion for this development is the right decision for the area.

“The minor roads in the surrounding area are in poor condition and for the most part very nar-row. These roads would be incapable of handling traffic associated with funerals which could pose serious safety hazards.

“There was much con-cern locally also regard-ing potential health risks of the opening up of a cemetery in land near waterbeds,” said Cllr Delaney.

Minis ter F i tzger-ald concluded: “We all believed that this was not in the best interests of either the local environ-ment or residents and I am glad that the Council recognised that.”

PAuL hOsFOrD

SOUTH Dublin County Coun-cil (SDCC) has defended itself after a man in his 70s was not allowed pay the household charge in instalments.

Paddy, a 71-year-old who does not wish to use his full name, went to the Clondalkin Civic Offices with €25 to pay off the charge, which now

stands at €130, including pen-alties.

“I read in The Gazette that the council would lose money from the Local Government Fund if they didn’t get enough people paying the charge by the end of the year and had to laugh.

“I tried to pay the charge in instalments on November 20 and was told in writing that I

couldn’t do that.“I couldn’t believe it, to

be honest. I want to pay the charge, but I can’t afford it [in total].”

SDCC said that the part-payment option ended last March.

“In order to facilitate home-owners who were not in a posi-tion to pay the charge in full, an instalment option of four

instalments of €25 was avail-able by direct debit until the March 1, 2012. After this date the option of paying by instal-ment ceased.

“South Dublin County Council can now only accept full payment of the current €130 charge at either of our headquarters at County Hall, Tallaght, or at the Civic Offices in Clondalkin.”

SDCC defends actions against pensioner


6 clondalkin Gazette 10 January 2013

Girl who wore glasses takes story to the stageTHE one-woman show The Wheelchair On My Face

was recently staged for a week at The Civic Theatre. The play was written by actor and comedian

Sonya Kelly, and in it she recalls and explains her expe-rience of when she had to first start wearing glasses at the age of seven.

In the play, she recalls: “I got my first pair of glasses

when I was seven. A nurse came to the school and tested everyone’s eyes. And so it was discovered why I’d thrown bread to the floating crisp packets in our local pond and walked into lamp posts and said, ‘excuse me’. Until that day the world was a swirl of moving coloured blobs. I thought it was the same for everyone. How wrong I was.”

sharp focus: one-woman show aT civic TheaTreMichelle conlon, ashling egan and emma keaveney. Pictures: Cathy Weatherston

Have you seen yourself in the Gazette? Buy photos online from only €6.99 at www.gazettephotos.comGazetteGaLLeRIeS

Michael and deirdre Regan emily, Brendan and Mary Byrne

John Mahon and theresa doherty

Susie Pink

damian and diane Jackson

10 January 2013 clondalkin Gazette 7

8 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 10 January 2013

Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton

watch as the European flag is raised over Dublin Castle . Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo

Varadkar (inset) will be using the Presidency to promote Ireland as a tourist destination

Key goal to help Ireland and EU out of financial crisis LEO VARADKAR

Minister for Transport,

Tourism and Sport

IRELAND takes over the EU Presidency for the first half of 2013, and Ire-land will be at the heart of European decision-making.

This is a huge oppor-tunity for all of us, and the Government is deter-mined to make the most

of it. We have looked closely at how we can use the Presidency to deliver stability, jobs and growth. For six months, I will be joining the other Irish Government Ministers in chairing EU Council meetings and negotiating agreements.

The theme of the Irish presidency is Jobs, Stabil-ity and Growth.

Our Presidency coin-

cides with the 40th anni-versary of Ireland joining the European Economic Community. In 1973 there were just nine members, which has since grown to a Union of 27.

Hundreds of politicians, dignitaries and officials will visit Ireland between January and June. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I will be inviting them all to

Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton

OPINION ‘EU Presidency is a huge opportunity for us’

return again before the end of the year. I will also be using the Presidency at every opportunity to pro-mote Ireland as a tourist destination on the world stage.

In transport, I will be pushing for better road safety standards across the European Union. In fact, the new Road Safety Strategy will be launched at a European conference being held in Dublin.

The Irish Presidency will be driving measures at European level to help job creation. We will pro-mote new measures to combat unemployment by providing training and skills, particularly for young people. We plan to develop the single mar-ket, and help Irish trade. We will also aim to boost the digital economy and provide the jobs of the future.

We will be arguing for better trade relations with countries around the

world, particularly with the United States, and trying to open up new markets. And in Ireland, we want to improve com-petitiveness for small and medium enterprises.

A large number of major events will be held in Dublin during the presidency. The Euro-pean Union has trans-formed Dublin City and County since Ireland joined the EU in 1973.

It has helped to build the M50, LUAS Red Line, provided more than 100 Dublin buses and helped to upgrade train and DART services.

Funding

EU fund ing has improved water treatment and quality with over €300 million invested in Dublin’s water supply and treatment systems. Dublin has also benefit-ed from the EU-funded scheme to improve broadband access.

EU financial support

has helped to renovate some of Dublin’s liveliest areas, including Dublin Castle, Temple Bar and the Docklands.

Social services in Dub-lin have also received sig-nificant support. Some €150 million was used to increase childcare serv-ices in Dublin city and county between 2002-2008, and Dublin will get a massive share of the €375 million set aside for 2007-2013 to boost employment opportuni-ties, and access to educa-tion and training.

Dublin business will also be able to benefit from the €300 million allocated by the Euro-pean Investment Bank to Irish banks, in order to lend to small and medium size businesses.

Our third level institu-tions will benefit from €600 million in EU funding under the EU Financial Framework for Research and Tech-nological Development,

with UCD, TCD, and DIT already benefiting.

One of our key goals for the Presidency will be to help Ireland, and Europe, out of the finan-cial crisis. The aim is to create a new system to coordinate the economic and budgetary policies of member states. It is com-plex, and we must get it right, but if we do it can help to restore stability and growth.

We must also ensure that Europe has a bank-ing system that is fit for purpose and that we never have to face again a finan-cial crisis like the one we have endured. That is why we will be prioritising new proposals on a banking union.

Over the past 40 years, Ireland has won the reputation for running efficient and impartial presidencies, for focus-ing on results and on the wider European interest. In 2013 we intend to do better again.

LOCALMATTERSS U P P O R T L O C A L B U S I N E S S

A D V E R T I S E W I T H T H E G A Z E T T E C A L L 6 0 1 0 24 0


Over 29m commuters used the Luas last year2012 was the most suc-cessful year to date for the Luas in terms of pas-senger numbers, with over 29 million people using the service last year.

Passenger numbers for 2012 are up by approxi-mately 300,000 on 2011 figures to their highest-ever level as new figures show that 29.4 million passenger journeys were made on Luas in 2012, compared to just over 29 million in 2011.

The record numbers have been achieved despite losing a week’s service due to a major fire adjacent to the Red Line early in the year.

The busiest times of 2012 were at the end of August, during the Tall Ships festival, and during

December when there was an increase in shop-pers and revellers during the festive season.

The Railway Procure-ment Agency (RPA) also said that 2012 was also a very significant year for the future development of Luas.

In August, An Bord Pleanala granted a Rail-way Order for a 5.6km extension to the Luas

Green Line between Saint Stephen’s Green and Broombridge.

The Business Case for the project was brought to Cabinet by the Minis-ter for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar and the project was given permission to commence construction in 2013.

The new line, which will finally see the Red and Green lines linked to form a complete light rail network, is expected to generate an extra 10 million passenger jour-neys in a full year when it goes into operation in 2017.

Welcoming the record passenger numbers and the continued strong performance of Luas, RPA’s chief executive Rory O‘Connor said

that it was satisfying that Luas continued to oper-ate successfully without any public subvention.

“We have worked hard to reduce costs on the one hand and to increase passenger num-bers on the other, and we are delighted with the increase in passen-ger numbers for 2012, which certainly bucks the trend.

“RPA is pleased to report that 2012 has been the most success-ful year to date in terms of Luas passenger num-bers. The past year has been extremely challeng-ing for all sectors of the Irish economy, and the performance of Luas is particularly heartening when seen in that con-text.”

TransporT record numbers in 2012

the Luas

150 years of art historyRUA-Red, the South Dub-lin arts centre, is running a course from Thursday, January 17 which will cover 150 years of art his-tory.

The once-weekly course, led by Brian Dug-gan, will cover all the major movements and ideas leading up to the present day and contem-porary art.

This eight-week pro-gramme is intended as a relaxed introductory guide, and all that is need-ed is an interest in art and a curious mind; no prior specialist education is needed. The course lasts for an hour, between 7.30 and 8.30pm, and costs €90, or €75 for over-55s.

To reserve a place on the course, see www.ruared.ie, or call 01 451 5860.

course

Festival: Launching a major musical eventpICtureD at St Werburgh’s Church in Temple Bar at the launch of the pro-gramme for Temple Bar TradFest 2013, Irelands traditional musical gathering, were (clockwise from top left) members of Lithuanian folk group Lietuviskas Dobilas, Angelina Eidukoniene, Petras Dzimidas, Rita Kundrotaite and Darius Vosylius. Art-ists from around the world will be travel-ling to Ireland to take part in Temple Bar TradFest from Janaury 22 to 27.

10 CLONDALKIN gAzette 10 January 2013

Have you seen yourself in the Gazette? Buy photos online from only €6.99 at www.gazettephotos.comGazetteGaLLeRY

RADIO Nova kicked off the festive sea-son in style last month with a Christ-mas party, which they held especially

for dedicated listeners. All of the Radio Nova DJs and staff joined

the crowds at Cafe en Seine, and they par-tied into the early hours of the next day with

live music from The Shoos, as well as some of the greatest hits played by the station’s own DJs.

All of the staff and listeners who attended the party thoroughly enjoyed letting their hair down for the night and getting into the festive spirit.

Radio Nova partiesCarol Doyle and Lucci Minx dressed up for the Radio Nova Christmas party

Kevin Branigan, elaine Leonard and Jeff O’Brien

Danielle Reilly Susan O’Kelly and eoin McCullagh

10 January 2013 Gazette 11

dublinlifeGa

zett

efestival P14diary P12 asdfsdaf P27business P16

charity: aGe action launches cast-off aPPeal

Transform unwanted gift into much-needed fundsChristmas is a time for giving, so it’s inevi-table that some gifts, for whatever reason, might end up being forgotten about or left gathering dust.

With this in mind, a number of charities are hoping that some of these cast-offs can be donated to their cause so they can go to worthy homes, or help with providing funds for these struggling organisations. as the say-

ing goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

a g e a c t i o n h a s launched an appeal for unwanted Christmas gifts to provide much-needed funds for their work with older people.

age action spokes-man Eamon timmins, said: “Whether it is a jumper or blouse, a piece of jewellery or a DVD, rather than leave it sit-ting in the bottom of the wardrobe for the next 12

months, please consider donating it to an age action shop.

“We can transform an unwanted gift into much-needed funds which will enable us continue our work with some of ireland’s most vulnerable older peo-ple.”

Unwanted gifts are being accepted at age action shops, including the one located at 30/31 Lower Camden street,

Dublin 2, 48 Upper George’s street, Dun Laoghaire.

meanwhile, Gorta, ireland’s longest-estab-lished overseas devel-opment agency, is also appealing to the public to donate their unwant-ed gifts to its charity shops.

items can be deliv-ered to Gorta’s two charity shops located at 136 Capel street and 32 Liffey street, Dublin. Broadcaster George Hook joined age action volunteers for a Christmas Lunch

let dublin Gazette newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week, as well as the latest from our schools

12 Gazette 10 January 2013

dublinlifeGaze

tte

diary

bHP has choosen a charity partnerAdi Roche’s Cherno-byl Children interna-tional (CCi) has been announced as the char-ity partner for the annu-al BHP insurance irish Champion Hurdle event at Leopardstown on Sunday, January 27.

in conjunction with the race, BHP has undertaken to arrange a lunch event each year to be held in the Leopard-stown Pavilion with all profits being donated to CCi.

Adi Roche, chief executive of Chernobyl

Children international says: “We are absolutely delighted to be chosen by BHP as their charity partner for 2013. This exciting event will be a great success and what better way to support the work of our charity, than a day out at the races.”

Tables of 10 cost €1,000 which includes entry to the race meet-ing, race card, wine reception with tips from a panel of experts and a four-course lunch with wine and entertain-

ment. For further details,

email [email protected] or visit chernobyl-internation-al.com, and the Cher-nobyl Children interna-tional Facebook page.

Fun times back at the RDs with FunDeRlanDFun times are back at the RdS, with Funder-land taking centre stage at the city centre venue until January 13.

it’s a tradition for families to brush off the

Pat keogh, chief executive, leopardstown Racecourse, adi Roche, chief executive

chernobyl children international, jockey bryan cooper and mark Phelan,

managing director, bhP insurances. Picture: Brian McEvoy

post-Christmas blues by taking part in some fair-ground fun.

i t opened on St Stephen’s day and has been generating some great entertainment for revellers ever since, but this weekend is its last before it says goodbye for another year.

This year, Funderland has changed slightly, with wristbands being made available allowing access to all of the rides.

For more information, email [email protected] or telephone (01) 283 8188.

Devito set FoR Film FestivalTHe Jameson dub-

lin international Film Festival will welcome acting legend danny deVito to ireland this February.

The actor was con-firmed as a special trib-ute for the event just weeks ago, which will take place in dublin from February 14 until

February 24. it was also revealed

that he will be present-ed with the Volta Career Achievement Award. The award, which was named after ireland’s first cinema – the Volta Picture Theatre on dub-lin’s Mary Street – has previously been won by

actors Al Pacino, daniel day-Lewis and Gabriel Byrne.

Special tickets for the festival are currently available from www.jdiff.com at an early bird rate of €195, giving ticket goers the oppor-tunity to watch the best in irish and internation-al cinema, as well as a chance to walk the red carpet and attend some after-show parties, too.

six-Day tRaD FestivalTHe eighth Temple Bar TradFest, dublin’s biggest festival of irish music and culture, is set to take place this month.

Over 200 free events are organised for this year’s festival, including a children’s club, street performers and a music trail.

Some of the musicians lined up to perform include denis Cahill and Maura O’Connell, and unusual venues such as Christ Church, St Patrick’s Cathedral and the rotunda of City Hall will be included as performance areas.

Temple Bar TradFest takes place from January 22 until 27 in the Cul-tural Quarter, dublin 2. For more information, see www.templebartrad.com.



Scheme to support the artsThe Rehab Group launched a grant scheme last week to support those with disabilities in the arts.The Visual and Perform-ing Arts Fund is a major grant scheme which will give out €150,000 over the next five years to those successful applicants who wish to further their artis-tic study or gain a first foothold in an artistic career.

Those specialising in artistic disciplines such as painting, sculpture, graphic art, film, drama, dance and music can apply for the grant, which is open to anyone over 17 who meets Rehab’s entry criteria. The closing date for applications is the end of February 2013.

Do your bit and recycle your packaging wasteRePAk is encouraging the people of Dublin to do their bit this New Year by recycling their Christ-mas packaging waste, and using their new smart-phones to assist in the process.

Over the festive period, it is believed that Dublin generated approximately 19,758 tonnes of used packaging waste of which Repak is aiming to recycle over half.

According to the organisation, whose aim it is to facilitate and extend packaging recy-cling, Dublin households consumed 12 million Christmas gifts, enough beer bottles to cover the route to Lapland and back over five times and

enough chocolate whose calories converted to kilowatt hours would run 866,255 houses’ electric-ity for Christmas day.

To start their 2013 campaign, Repak aims to fund the collection and recycling of 37,000 tonnes of the Christmas packag-ing used over the holiday period. Meeting their tar-get of packaging recycling could save 46,000 tonnes of carbon – the equivalent of taking 29,900 cars off the road for a year.

With the increase in consumption during Christmas, the demands on recycling facilities and bottle banks has massively increased.

Darrell Crowe, head of sales and market-

ing at Repak said: “Last Christmas, we collectively increased our household packaging recycling rate by over 7% from 2010. With the Christmas fes-tivities, people will have more used packaging to recycle than normal, placing more pressure on recycling collection infra-structure.

“To help people find outlets for this excess used packaging, Repak have developed a Recyclemore smartphone app. This helps users find infor-mation on your nearest recycling facility or alter-nate bottle bank on the Recyclemore app making recycling more conven-ient than ever particularly when out and about.”

First Fortnight festival: Making some noise for mental healthpictured at the launch of the First Fortnight mental health arts festival in front of street art by artist Friz were Michael Pope from Le Galaxie, heathers band members ellie and Louise MacNamara, actor Pat kinevane and Box of Frogs cast members Mary Mcevoy, Dil Wickremasinghe and John Moynes. The First Fortnight festival aims to challenge mental health stigma and will run for 10-days until January 12. Artists taking part include Sopranos actor Joey Panto-liano, Le Galaxie, We Cut Corners and contemporary artist Stuart Semple. See www.firstfortnight.ie.

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16 GAZETTE 10 January 2013

DUBLINLIFEGAZE

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BUSINESS

Q&A

A local success story

A NEW virtual shop-ping centre, launched in December, is renting out “space” to interested retailers who wish to diversify into the online market.

Any business in Ireland or overseas can become part of the online shop-ping centre – Shopping-Centre.ie – by registering at the site.

Jurgita Glodenyte, owner of ShoppingCen-tre.ie, said: “We use a flexible approach and will accommodate every busi-ness. We are offering the first month free for now, and maybe we’ll keep this offer open indefinitely.”

The site was designed to unite large and small retailers, service providers and other sellers on one website where customers can browse the collection of shops and interact with them directly.

The aim of the site, says Jurgita, is to make it simple for customers to browse and buy online.

Customers are able to shop locally, regionally or globally from many shops around Dublin, Ireland and overseas on the site.

Users can choose mul-tiple items from differ-ent stores, put them into one shopping cart and purchase using PayPal. The sellers then send the products directly to the buyer as instructed.

The innovative website is tailor-made to make local shopping easier and plans are afoot to expand the site to incorporate shopping centres in all counties in Ireland.

At present, shopping centres in Blackrock and Swords are involved. There are 21 stores cur-rently live on the site, with 35 lined up to come

CLONDALKIN-based Digital Busi-ness Services are a great success story in local commerce. Originally started in a small basement with one printer in Dublin 2 in 1998, the com-pany moved to its current location in 2001, and has gone from strength to strength ever since.

The brainchild of directors Brendan and Karen Donaghy, gradu-ates of the IT boom in Ireland in the last 20 years, the company provide both large and small format digital print services, as well as a whole range

of products, from banners to business cards. Understanding that continu-ous investment in new technology is essential to meet their customers’ demands, they recently invested in a state-of-the-art GP FB500 printer.

Recently, Digital Business Services were chosen as one of 10 SME win-ners to benefit from the Optimise Fund, a prize fund which enables companies to benefit from consulta-tion, training and e-commerce devel-opment, thus strengthening their on-line presence.

How long have you been in busi-ness?

Digital Business Services Lim-ited (DBSL) has been established since 1998. We are a print and sign company and are 100% Irish-owned. We operate out of a small premises in Centrepoint Business Park, just off the Nangor Road. Our client base ranges, from small-end users, to print brokers and larger organisations.

What makes your business suc-cessful?

I believe our success is due to hard work, dedication and constant inno-vation. We are constantly looking to the future and trying to improve our services for our customers which we have demonstrated by our investment in new equipment. Our new HP FB500 enables us to print onto virtually any surface. It enables us to print faster, but without any compromise on print quality, thus improving workflow. We have also purchased a new Seiko 64” Digital printer for producing outdoor sig-nage, vehicle signage and decals.

What do you offer your clients that differs from your competitors?

We offer exceptional value for money and very competitive prices. We have a very fast turnaround, and will work with the client in relation to their requirements. We do not have a minimum charge and we also accept short runs and one offs. We will also work with the customer in relation to design and customising

their print requirements.

How has the recession impacted your business?

The recession had a big impact, and like everyone, we were hit with bad debts, and clients taking a long time to pay for outstanding jobs, which impacted on cashflow. The margins have shrunk dramatically. Our staff are working harder than ever for less money, but are still very committed to making the business work. We have had our ups and downs, but we are still here and are more determined than ever.

How do you use social media (Face-book, Twitter or Linkedin, etc) to help your business ?

We are quite new to social media, and as we are a small, busy compa-ny, we did not have the time to com-mit to it. However, since becoming a winner in relation to the Optimise Fund, we have embarked on a lot of e-commerce/social media training, and the benefits are there to be seen. You need to invest a lot of time and energy initially, but we are hoping that the work undertaken will pay off as we get more confident in using the various social media which will enable us to get more traffic to our website.

What is the best piece of business advice you ever received?

Never look back in regret. Don’t let a setback be a bad experience, make it a learning curve.

DIGITAL BUSINESS SERVICES, CLONDALKIN

Click your way to a new virtual shopping centre

Jurgita Glodenyte, owner of ShoppingCentre.ie

online in the near future.Jurgita added: “In

these tough times, where footfall – crucial to every ‘bricks and mortar’ retail-er – is declining consist-ently, ‘clickfall’ is grow-ing, and fast becoming the new avenue for every business expansion.

“ShoppingCentre .ie expects massive and immediate growth in online sales in 2013.”

For further information and to avail of the free month’s offer, contact Jur-gita on 087 783 0230, or email her at [email protected].

WEBSITE: RETAILERS INVITED TO RENT SPACE ONLINE

Supported by AIB

Continued from last week

MONEY is a family thing and children should be versed in the basic concepts from as early an age as possible. Your approach and attitude to money will influence your children. Pocket money is a good way of starting that process.

In Ireland today, our children really do not appreci-ate some of the hardship parents went through and are currently experiencing. My one-liner to my own chil-dren was not believed “we were so poor, the first time I saw a butcher’s shop, I thought there was an accident!” In some respects this is a pity because parents’ val-ues are generally so much different to their children’s. Clearly, what you don’t want to do is worry your chil-dren about money unduly. Still, I believe there is a lot to be said for showing them where your income comes from, and what you then do with it.

When your children realise how well you manage money, they can’t fail to be proud of you. Naturally, they will grow up not just wanting to be debt free and rich enough to retire when young – but actually under-standing how this can and could be achieved. What better legacy could you leave?

Adversely, if you have been caught out in the prop-erty crash, your business collapsed or you are unem-ployed, it is equally important to share your losses with your children and let them know and see how you are coping and managing. As our Taoiseach said “it’s not your fault” if you have been caught out. Your children may even be able to help out – turning off lights, shutting doors, the paper round (a blast from the past) etc...

Don’t let them leave home without good money habits and a genuine understanding of how money works.

Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@moneydoc-

tor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fel-

low of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director

of Money Doctor

Teaching kids money


Making sensible resolutions natalie burke

Since the annual christmas splurge has finally come to an end and the over-indulgence in food and drink almost a memory, we are all feeling the effects and hoping to rid ourselves of the fes-tive pounds gained in recent weeks. But along with the new Year comes a list of resolutions that are hugely optimistic but rarely successful.

According to nutritionist and health expert with Wholefoods, ireland’s larg-est supplier of health food, nicola Mur-phy, there is no better time to launch ourselves into a health kick than the early days of January. The most impor-tant thing is to make sensible and attain-able new Year’s resolutions.

“How many years have you made a long list only to have forgotten all of

them in a few weeks? The most impor-tant thing is to build new habits that will last throughout the year. ease into your new Year regime. The most important thing to do initially is to stimulate recov-ery in the body after all the over indul-gence,” she said.

The first step nicola advises people to take is to reduce the burden on your digestive system.

“it has been under tremendous stress coping with copious amounts of food over the festive season. imagine: it is estimated that the average person eats at least 6000 calories on christmas Day alone! is it any wonder that bloating and constipation result? it is time to cut out the processed junk food. introduce plenty of fruit and vegetables into the diet. Aim to drink 1.5 litres of water per day,” she said.

The next step is to “rescue your liver”, which nicola says can be achieved by ridding your body of toxins.

“After all that mulled wine and bub-bly, your liver will feel a bit battle-worn. Try drinking the juice of half a lemon in a glass of warm water first thing every morning. This can gently aid the liver detoxing process as well as reducing acidity in the body.

“Many people take to the gym with gusto in January but often enthusiasm burns out after a few weeks,” nicola continued. “Try taking gentle steps by getting out walking or cycling first. The cold and darkness of January can result in far from optimal energy levels so it may be a good time to boost your reserves of energy essential nutrients.

“Terra nova Life drink contains highly absorbable vegetable proteins,

supergreens such as wheatgrass and broccoli sprouts, a huge selection of ber-ries, mushrooms, essential fatty acids, digestive enzymes and probiotics. This perfectly balanced superfood blend pro-vides a fantastic array of beneficial nutri-ents. This should certainly give you the get up and go to get your body moving.”

According to the nutritionist, the most popular of new Year resolutions is, unsurprisingly, to lose weight.

“new Year provides the ideal time to start afresh! Of course working on incorporating natural fresh foods into the diet and banishing the junk foods almost entirely from the diet is essential. Allow yourself the odd treat. Balancing blood sugar levels is key to controlling cravings. Try eating some protein with each meal as it slows glucose release from carbohydrates,” she said.

Health expert and nutritionist nicola Murphy: there is no better time to launch ourselves into a health kick than the early days of January

OUT&ABOUTcinema P20style P18 asdfsdaf P27

Never be out of the loop on what’s happening in Dublin! Let Out&About be your guide to all that is stylish, cultural and essential across the city and beyond this weekG

azet

te

a new year: sheddinG those excess Pounds left over after the holiday season

Theatrecan you Give dan a home? DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust, Ireland’s largest dog welfare charity, to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs.

Our Dog of the Week is Dan, a two-year-old male crossbreed. Dan is both big in size and heart and is willing to shower his friends with loads of love and affection.

This clever boy likes to keep busy so would appreciate an active home with big kids 10+. He finds being left alone quite worrying so would need company and a patient adopter who has experience with large dogs and a willingness to help with his training and socialisation.

Dashing Dan is a huge favourite in Dogs Trust and would make a really great addition to the right family.

If you think you can give Dan all the love he deserves then give the Dogs Trust reception a call on 01-879 1000 or pop in to their rehoming centre based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie.

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STYLE

COLOUR, monopop and abstract clothing are just some of the many new items that are being stocked at shop stores now, or will be in the coming weeks.

this week, Gazette Style chose a few

gems that will have you feeling spring ready, whether following the awear monopop top (above) or any of the other great looks featured here in this welcome trend.

Great looks for spring

BeAUTy news

Laura Webb

Put a spring in your step next season and take a pop at some fresh, bold colours in your make-up routine.

taking a look at what’s to come this spring, the one thing we can see, and wouldn’t expect any less, is colour, colour and more colour.

Lancome’s new Love collection is bringing back bright pop pink.

their shades are drawn from street-art murals mixed with natural sur-roundings; neon from city signs, and pastel tones from balcony flowers – just some of the inspira-tions this make-up giant has brought to this col-

lection. Yves Saint Laurent’s

new 2013 spring/summer collection is inspired by precious stones such as pink quartz and ame-thyst. It celebrates dusty hues in pink and natural blues.

Whether a bold, bright colour on the eyelids, or placed on the lips, think colour this season to brighten up your day.

Accentuate your 2013 look with colour, colour, colour

Y Facettes Palette eyes €57

Lancome’s In Love Sugar rose

Dunnes Stores Abstract Dress €50

Penneys Skull Top €11

Littlewoods Ireland South Dip Dye €19

Awear Monopop top €30

Awear Blazer €65

Penneys Printed Trousers €17


three you may have missed: Big KRIt (main picture), monsters of rock Baroness (top) and New York dolls, Hospitality

RoB HeIGH

IT’S SIMPLY impossible to keep track of every-thing going on in music at all times, try as I might. It turns out that the gift that keeps on giving during the festive season and beyond are the end of year lists that magazines, websites and bloggers post, reveal-ing hidden gem upon hid-den gem. To the extent that even these lists are a curse — so many lists, so little time...

As a result, I’ve limited myself to only four lists and decided to pick the pick of the picks...

First out of the gates, in more senses than one, are New York four-piece, Hospitality. They released their self-titled debut at

the start of 2012, and that it’s remained off my radar until now is a sin.

They have an indie summer shimmer like classic nineties guitar pop and the occasional reveal of angularity that feels like the Velvet Underground and Liz Phair.

Like my other top indie pick of the year, Allo Dar-ling, there’s something bigger than the sum of its parts here, a melodic thread that makes the discordant break downs

more surprising and wel-come.

From one extreme to another, now, and let me introduce Baroness. Hail-ing from Savannah, Geor-gia, REM they ain’t.

They rock. They rock hard. Pitched somewhere between Deftones and Smashing Pumpkins, Baroness have been ply-ing their trade on stages across the world for the last few years, and released Yellow And Green, a dou-ble album, in early sum-mer last year

The revelation of their 2012 power and glory recalls the moment when Metallica dropped ...And Justice For All. It looks, feels and sounds like metal, but there’s some-thing far more going on.

From the first bars of opener Take My Bones Away, Baroness exude all of the traits of every great metal act; in particular, they have songs, and damn good ones at that.

Hopefully, the serious bus crash in England that ended their touring ambi-tions for the year will not diminish their ambition, and they will come back stronger, and to the size of an audience that they undoubtedly deserve.

Last, and by no means least, we stay in the South and hail hip hop hero, Big KRIT, currently dropping some of the most impres-sive rhymes and produc-tions on the scene.

Having built an impres-sive and rich back cata-logue of mixtapes, guest

appearances on tracks by some of the biggest names in the business and pro-duction credits over the course of the last eight years, KRIT released two full-length sets in 2012: the official album, Live From The Underground, and the arguably superior mixtape, 4evaNaDay.

4eva features some of the freshest production since Kanye’s College Dropout, which KRIT clearly took as an influ-ence here, but there is a unique flow at work, a blend of tough hip hop and smooth soul-influ-enced instrumentation that would put Outkast to shame.

So many songs, so lit-tle time - but these three gems will keep shining.

Simple Minds and (above) zz top return to Irish

stages this summer

Gazette

FASTtunesMUSIC

with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods

HAPPY New Year! 2013 is the Chinese year of the snake, but

it’s got to be year of the sound for the Irish. If your new year’s resolution is to eat

healthily or if you’re hungry for a decent live gig, then feed your soul with one (or all!) of the massive concerts coming to our shores this year. If it’s big names you’re into, then you don’t have to go too far to see a superstar.

Eric Clapton is celebrating 50 years as a professional musician with a show at The O2 on May 9, a month before Neil Young and Crazy Horse play the RDS. The 67-year-old is touring with his 35th album, Psychedelic Pill, and will play the Donnybrook venue on June 15 — the same day Bon Jovi are set to rock Slane Castle.

Two weeks later Rod Stewart will take to the stage at the RDS, on June 29, two days after ZZ Top rock The Marquee in Cork (June 27).

Told you there were superstars coming our way this year!

And that’s not to mention Slash, Blondie and Simple Minds all set to play dates at The Olympia in the first half of this year, with the second half of 2013 bringing with it the magnificent fusion of rock and theatre in the form of Roger Waters’ The Wall Live at The Aviva on September 15.

And of course there’s Bruce Springsteen with his hat trick of gigs in Cork, Limerick and Belfast in July which sold out quicker than you can say “Wrecking Ball”.

And these are just the gigs that have been announced! It’s still early days for 2013, with tour dates from The Rolling Stones expected soon and who knows who else?

2013 is most definitely the year of the sound! Sounds sound to me!

ReVIeW: the next bIG thInGs you may haVe mIssed In 2012

Rear view mirror RoB [email protected]


OUT&ABOUT Gaze

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CINEMA

TheatretHe pavilioN tHeatRe 01 231 2929Snow WhiteFOR their 10th annual panto at Pavilion Theatre, Arclight bring you their twist on the classic tale of Snow White. The wicked Queen is jealous of Snow White’s beauty and sends her off to be murdered by the Horrible Hairy Huntsmen. January 22-26, tickets are priced at €16/€12.

DRaiocHt 01 885 2622aladdinIN the town of Soo Chow lives Widow Twanky, a washerwoman, and her sons Aladdin and Wishee Washee. January 4-6, 10-13 and 17-20, tickets are priced at €20/€16.

civic tHeatRe 01 462 7477tenderfootIn September 2012, 42 transition year students from eight schools in South County Dublin signed on for their first day of Tenderfoot, the Civic Theatre’s apprentice theatre programme. Transition year is all about new experiences and new ways of learning. Tenderfoot is funded by The Civic Theatre, South Dublin County Arts Office and The Arts Council’s Young Ensemble Scheme. Running for two shows on Thursday, January 24 and Friday, January 25, tickets are priced at €10 with €5 concessions.

AFTER quite a good 2012, 2013 has a bit to live up to. I mean, how could the highs of Battleship be topped?

I kid, Battleship is terri-ble and everyone involved (bar Liam Neeson and the three lads from Fri-day Night Lights) should never be allowed make a film again.

However, based on this evidence, 2013 is off to a flier.

With Lincoln, the world’s most iconic direc-tor (Steven Spielberg) teams with the world’s best actor (Daniel Day-Lewis) and drags in an all-star cast, a revered book and the writer of Spielberg’s best film of the last decade, Munich.

Eschewing the early years, the log cabin and the start of the American Civil War, Spielberg’s film instead focuses on the final four months of the life of the 16th President of the United States.

Bogged down in his attempts to get the 13th Amendment to the Con-stitution passed, the film tells the story of the Lin-coln that time has forgot-ten; the skilled politician, the savvy negotiator.

In the rush to annoint him Honest Abe, the caricature of a wide-eyed idealist, a man of unim-peachable morals and guidance emerged.

What that portrayal has lost and what this film, along with its source material (the frankly excellent Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by historian Doris Kearns Goodwin) regain is a

sense of a man willing to use the machine to achieve his aims.

Here, he is aided by his one-time rival for the Republican presiden-tial candidacy William Seward, played brilliantly by David Strathairn.

Strathairn is a fine actor and his portrayal of Edward R Murrow counts as an all-time favourite of this writer, but this a career best.

That the man who played Deep Throat, Hal Holbrook, is in Lincoln is fitting because this is more All The President’s Men than it is Schindler’s

An honest classic

List. The politicking and

lobbying is done in pri-vate, cigar-smoked rooms at a pace best described as leisurely.

At two and a half hours long, Lincoln is not a quick romp, but it does tackle one of the singular most important figures in Western history in less time than Peter Jackson took to tell a third of a 297-page book, so it’s not that long.

Nor is it boring, as bril-liant performance follows brilliant performance with one Englishman standing head and shoul-

ders above the rest.That Daniel Day-Lewis

should dominate a star-studded cast should sur-prise absolutely nobody.

He did it in 2002 for Gangs of New York and again in 2007 for There Will Be Blood and here, his Lincoln is breathtak-ing.

A wise leader, an ambi-tious man and a flawed husband, Day-Lewis hits all the right notes.

Spielberg’s attraction to the project is obvious but his past in biopics is limited, with only Schin-dler’s List and, maybe Catch Me If You Can falling into the category.

Here, his propensity for myth and legend is tempered by the brilliant script from Tony Kushn-er, who holds the film to an almost documentary like fidelity to the source material.

L i n c o l n w i l l b e released in Ireland on January 25.

Lincoln is beautifully shot by long-time Spielberg collaborator Janusz Kasminski

RevieW: aN ameRicaN icoN’S take oN aN ameRicaN icoN’S life

OUR VeRDICt:A SWEEPING, glorious classic. Spielberg is not the only man who could have turned in a telling of the life of Honest Abe, but he is undoubtedly the best. His sentiment, his vision and his ability to capture the feeling of even the biggest situations are all to the fore here. He is aided by brilliant performances all round and, while Day-Lewis and Field will take the plaudits, Straithairn is brilliant.

Director: Steven SpielbergStarring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon Levitt, James Spader

Film OF The Week: lincolnh h h h h (12) 150 mins

PaUL [email protected]


CINEMA

GazetteGAMING

shane dillon

BEFORE I get stuck into this year’s new games and the tech news, Christmas delivered a bumper crop of fascinating tech news and developments about one giant tech firm that I really can’t let pass with-out mentioning.

For anyone with even a passing interest in tech-nology, and tech com-panies, the past couple of weeks saw a flood of Facebook-related news stories that are worth nodding at.

The tech giant could barely keep out of the papers across the past couple of weeks, with one Christmas cracker of a story after another get-ting pulled open in the press – and here’re just three ...

Firstly, there was the global interest in Face-book’s new T&C for users of Instagram, the highly popular – and free, and free from advertising – photo-sharing service that it acquired for an eyebrow-raising $1 bil-lion, not too long ago.

Its new T&C sparked an open revolt among users when it was noticed that the service seemed to be giving Facebook the right to sell users’ images to

advertisers without their knowledge, or payment (and that use of Insta-gram after a cut-off point, this January, amounted to the user’s consent for same).

As I was one of those browsing through the new T&C at the time, that segment caught my eye instantly, and I screen-grabbed it (right, and I’ve also colour-highlighted the contentious text).

While Facebook is, understandably, under pressure to monetise Instagram and recoup the eye-watering $1 billion it paid for it, the mass anger immediately voiced by users, whether Joe Schmo like you and me, or slight-ly more influential figures with millions of followers, like Pink – not to mention international media inter-est – prompted a sharp turnaround on the T&C, with an apology issued over its “confusing” ter-minology.

As such, new-new T&C have yet to be revealed ...

tax returnsHowever, at the same

time, Facebook also attracted a great deal of interest over its interna-tional tax returns, with its HQ based here in Dublin popping up in business

Facebook angered many

instagram users when

new t&C were briefly

rolled-out that seemed

to suggest the company

would sell their images

to advertisers – without

paying them (right).

after the subsequent

widespread and highly-

vocal complaints, the

company apologised and

said that it would not be

proceeding with the new

t&C, due to its “confusing”

language.

stories around the world.The profits generated

by the firm, and its subse-quent tax returns on same – in an entirely legal and fully compliant manner with the relevant author-ities, it must be stressed – sparked a great deal of interest.

For example, as the influential Huffington Post in America reported, to pick out just one such story: “In 2011, Facebook Ireland paid just $4.7 mil-lion in taxes on its entire non-U.S. profits of $1.4 billion.”

Of course, Facebook is just one company avail-ing of Ireland’s flexible corporate tax system, that sees profits pass through a variety of Dublin-based headquarters to a number of entities in other tax-

friendly locations.Near the end of 2012,

Westminster’s Public Accounts Committee in London was seen with its fearsome chair, Margaret Hodge, tearing strips off the likes of Starbucks in Britain, for its tax returns there.

Here, it will be inter-esting to see if, in 2013, political and public will in Ireland may seek to see our corporate tax systems reformed, thus generating substantially greater tax returns from Facebook, and similar international firms based here.

In the meantime, the Government has no intention of unfriending Facebook, which remains a key player and employer in our notable tech sector, and which, again, is com-

pletely compliant in every way with our available tax laws.

Finally, from outraged users to fascinated mon-eymen to ... Randi Zuck-erberg, older sister of Facebook founder, Mark.

ComplainedRandi sparked lots of

wry headlines when she bitterly complained after a private family photo she’d uploaded ended up being seen by the wrong people (and from there, it “escaped into the wild”, online).

When even the sister of Facebook’s founder muddles up her privacy settings – which seem to change every other week – a certain amount of confusion seems under-standable!

media: christmas saw a sustained focus on firm

Facebook slips up a little with Instagram

evolutionary dead ends reachednetbooks to join dodos, as Playstation 2 is retiredREMEMBER netbooks? You know, the mini-me versions of laptops, once seen as the next step for computers just five or so years ago. Well, the last remaining main netbook makers, Asus and Acer, have decided to send the largely dead-in-the-water platform the way of the dodo, given the evolutionary rise of smartphones and tablets (of the computing kind, that is, rather than headache pills).

However, something that will get many gamers weeping into their hankies is the news that Japan has finally – yes, finally – ceased production of the PlayStation 2. (Yes, I said the PlayStation 2, not the PlayStation 3.)

Sony has now decided to retire its venerable gaming console, which, it has to be said, shifted a staggering amount of consoles across its 13 years, and did an awful lot to establish games consoles in homes. So, sayanara and arigato to one hell of a great Sony gaming platform ...

BYTES&PIECES


OUT&ABOUT Gaze

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MOTORS

Best-selling car of 2012 is Volkswagenn CormaC Curtis

Volkswagen was the best-sell ing car brand in Ireland in 2012, the first time that the brand has achieved this in its history in Ire-land.

The group finished in first place ahead of Toy-ota in second place and Ford in third place.

according to figures from the society of the Irish Motor Industry (sIMI) Volkswagen reg-istered 10,073 new cars in 2012 (12.67% market share) ahead of Toyota’s 9,998 (12.58% market share) and Ford with 8,592 (10.81% market share).

“we are delighted

to be now, officially, the number one car brand in Ireland,” said Volkswagen passen-ger cars deputy brand director John Donegan.

“This is an outstand-ing result in what were tough market condi-tions in 2012.

“given that this result was achieved even before the new golf had arrived, it shows that Irish customers are navigating to the Vo lk swagen r ange for its quality, strong residual values and our strong retail offers.”

This was a sentiment echoed by Volkswagen group Ireland manag-ing director simon elli-ott.

“we are very proud to be the best-selling car brand for 2012 and it is an indication of just how shrewd the Irish buyer is when it comes to choosing cars that they are increasingly putting their trust in Volkswagen.”

Volkswagen has also just released its all-new golf on to Irish forecourts, starting at €19,995 and there is an array of offers available to Volkswagen custom-ers for 2013.

Customers who order their new Volkswagen before the end of Janu-ary 2013 will benefit from a whole host of extras on their new car.

There will be three

years of free servicing, so you don’t need to worry about the cost of keeping your Volkswa-gen in tip-top condi-tion.

There is the security of three years of road-side assistance to keep you moving in the event of a mishap and with 3,000km of free fuel, with the superb fuel economy on offer in the Volkswagen range, it could be months before you put your hand in your pocket for that either.

with the added assur-ance of a three-year warranty, Volkswagen ownership in 2013 is going to be as pain-free as one could wish for.

acqui r ing a new Volkswagen has also been ma d e ea s i e r thanks to the competi-tive finance rates from Vo lkswagen Bank , which has lent over €120m to Irish custom-ers and is very much open for business.

with a 3.9% aPR available on hire pur-chase as well as PCP (personal contact plan) rates available from just €119 per month, it is easier than ever to get into a new Volkswagen.

Volkswagen open week is now on in all Volkswagen retailers. Customers are invited to see the entire Volkswa-gen range, including the new golf.

Volkswagen registered 10,073 new cars in 2012

Centre earns miChelin award lIke the Michelin star awards that restaurants value so highly, the granting of Michelin Certi-fied Centre status on Discount Tyres on the Rosemount Business Park has put the outlet on the Michelin map of europe’s top tyre fitters. Pic-tured at a seminar where their appointment was announced are Robert Ferguson of Discount Tyres with Michelin’s Tom Dennigan (left). one of 11 outlets in Ireland to be granted Michelin Certified Centre status and have their level of service recog-nised by the world leading tyre maker, Discount Tyres was established in 2005, and has a staff of 10. Motorists can access their entry by visiting the dealer section on Michelin’s website www.miche-lin.co.uk/tyres/dealer-locator

Toyota rolls out a number of upgradesToyoTa Ireland has announced a number of product upgrades across the aygo, yaris, Verso-s, Corolla, and avensis ranges.

This year, the Toyota aygo will have reduced Co2 emissions of just 99g giving the model a very competitive road tax. This figure has been achieved by adopting low rolling resistance tyres, along with altered gear ratios to optimise Co2 performance.

The aygo aura and strata versions have also been upgraded, with the aura having 14’’ alloy wheels fitted as standard. aygo prices start from €10,325.

Toyota is introducing a new grade in their class-leading yaris range for 2013 called yaris sport. This new grade will feature 15” alloys, front fog lights as well as colour door handle and exterior mirrors. yaris sport prices start from €15,930.

The Verso-s luna grade will enjoy an increased level of specification. keeping in line with the Verso-s versatility and comfort Toyota is adding a range of features to the luna grade including skyview panoramic roof and rear privacy glass, cruise control and grey stitching on the steering wheel as well as the gear lever as standard.

The Verso-s luna will also have a name change to luna skyView, starting at just €21,595.

Toyota is enhancing the Corolla interior styling by introducing a beige colour interior on luna grade which will add further choice for customers to the already popular model.For further information, visit www.toyota.ie.

simi: first time brand has hit the top spot

NOISEroad

10 January 2013 CLONDALKIN gAzette 23

MOTORS

GazetteHOMESresearch: tinkerinG with home and Garden has become european pastime

How good are we at the DIY?We’re always compar-ing in Ireland, usually with our neighbours, and the latest news on the do-it-yourself front is no different.

According to the lat-est european home research by Kingfisher, owners of B&Q, Ger-mans are the most capable, the Turkish are the least confident and the French are the champions at spending on DIY.

We in Ireland, on the other hand, are the keenest gardeners.

O u r c o n t i n e n t a l neighbours are discov-ering the joys of “do-it- yourself” and, at home or in the garden, are going at it hammer and nail, thus feeding chang-es across the eurozone in home improvement.

Modern europeans

are, at last, following in our footsteps, where tinkering with home and garden has become a leisure activity.

But as with every market, each country has its strengths and styles when it comes to home improvement.

81% of people in Ire-land say they would be happy to take on gar-dening jobs, while the Polish are confident DIY plumbers (21%). Apart from painting and decorating (53%) and small ad-hoc repairs (49%), the Spanish are very confident at elec-trical tasks (23%).

Not being content with building the best cars and producing some of the best foot-bal l players in the world, Germany tops the home improvement

confidence table with assured skill levels in every category, includ-ing complex jobs such as electrical projects (29%) and structural work (21%).

Improve, don’t move’ seems to be the mantra across europe though, with 60% of the UK respondents expressing an interest in making improvements simply to refresh the home and 37% of russian con-sumers favouring more opulent Heritage styles of decor over the con-temporary looks.

According to the fur-ther research contained in the report, people in Ireland have made changes to cater for more home-based entertaining (31%) and leisure activi-ties (34%), while 26% of those surveyed say they

Research has proven the DIY-ers in Ireland are the keenest at gardening

HOMeWAre retailer Harvey Norman are following up their investment in their stores in Ire-land with an equivalent commit-ment to Irish designers and pro-ducers.

Having recently opened up their extensive new store in Blanchardstown retail Park, they have deployed their Irish design team to create room set-tings which show off their new

products at their best.Harvey Norman are very sup-

portive of local Irish brands and have recently added Foxford Throws, Fragrance Boutique can-dles, Hampton And Brown can-dles, Irish Iron art, The Irish Clock Company, as well as Irish made goose feather and down ultimate luxury duvets to their offering.

There are also many stylish new ranges to choose from, from

handmade silk cushions in the most stunning vibrant shades to exclusive wallpapers from Van-ity Fair and now a stunning new collection of Harlequin, Sheridan and The Linen room’s ultimate luxury bed linen.

Comfortable

rachel McCann, linen buyer, Harvey Norman says that the linen, as well as other products

stocked in Harvey Norman stores helps to provide what might be the perfect night’s sleep: “A very comfortable mattress (I just love my King Koil ‘Millenium’ bed) dressed in beautiful, crisp, high thread count bed linen and, of course Sheridan, silk pillowcases for wrinkle free skin.”

Adding another layer of sophistication and star quality to the range is the addition of

Kylie Minogue’s new collection of “show-stopping” bed linen instore.

“Just like Kylie herself, all her pieces are just adorable. From lace to pearls, vintage beads and sumptuous velvets, nothing cap-tures old style grace and glamour quite like it!”

Customers can visit their local store, and can now buy online on www.harveynorman.ie

have started growing vegetables.

More home improv-ers in the Ireland plan to tackle internal (56%) and external (15%) painting and decorat-ing than in any other country. In fact, we are the kings and queens of painting and decorating without any expert help

(82%). DIY-ers here are also

the most likely to do their own tiling (38%), and insulation (22%) projects.

e u r o p e i s a l s o embracing energy effi-ciency and eco-friendly homes, with more than half (54%) of consum-ers in Turkey placing

the highest interest in living in an eco-friendly home.

While Poland 37%, russia 36% and Ger-many 28%, find eco-friendliness in the home very important too.

ebru Sayilan, com-mercial director at B&Q, says: “Today’s economy has contrib-

uted its part to the expansion of the do-it-yourself movement, as more people turn to it as a way to save money. However, this research shows that we like our houses to work harder and smarter, and that’s why we spend time and money maintaining and improving their value.”

Harvey Norman show off the work of Irish designers and producers

24 CLONDALKIN gAzette 10 January 2013

OUT&ABOUT Gaze

tte

National treasures, brand new comfort rOb heIgh

The opporTuniTy to pack up the car and take advantage of a few well-earned days off in the West is one that is far too good to pass up, so when the chance to take a trip to Mayo with the family came about, there was only dust where we had stood only moments before...

A relat ively long road trip, broken up by squeals of delight when it was realised that we were passing through the hometown of one

Direction’s niall horan, led us to the doors of the four-star McWilliam park hotel in Claremor-ris.

The hotel is located just outside the thriving market town of Clare-morris in the heart of the West, halfway between Galway and Sligo.

Welcomed by the friendly staff and settling into our well-appointed and comfortable room at our leisure, there was only one activity likely to remove the aches and stresses of the long drive, and so within, oh, about

three minutes of arriv-ing, bathing costumes were donned and towels located and we were off to the hotel’s swimming pool, where we were to find ourselves ensconced for at least an hour every day as my travelling com-panions took full advan-tage of the warm and perfectly-sized pool to improve their swimming skills while the tempera-tures dropped outside.

Claremorris itself is barely half an hour from the Atlantic coastline, and the beautiful sur-roundings of the local

the stunning surroundings of turlough Park house, where the National Museum of Ireland’s Museum of Country Life is located

eSCAPe the WINter ChILL At LISbON’S COAStWiTh the festive season fading quickly into the recent past, The Travel Depart-ment are already setting their sights on destinations for 2013.

From just €499, including tax, why not take an extended break away to esto-ril and the Lisbon Coast?

Departing on Feb-ruary 20 from Dublin

to Lisbon with Aer Lingus, spend five nights at the three-star hotel Londres in estoril on a half-board basis.

enjoy a full-day guided excursion of Lisbon, and a full-day excursion to obidos, Alcobaca and nazare, with lunch included as well as a half-day excursion to Sintra.

For further informa-tion, see www.the-traveldepartment.ie, or call 01 637 1600.

An over-55s break in an idyllic settingWhiLe most irish breaks are aimed at all ages, sometimes one comes along that treats the young at heart to a particularly special getaway.

The four-star Glenview hotel and Leisure Club, located in Co Wicklow, have created an over-55s package for those looking for a relaxing escape this new year.

Situated in the breathtaking surroundings of the Glen of the Downs – and just a 30-minute drive from Dublin – it’s the ideal destination to get away from it all.

The hotel boasts an award-winning leisure centre and swimming pool, as well as several championship golf courses nearby and the scenic Killruddery Gardens on its doorstep.

The young At heart package offers two nights’ B&B with one evening meal at the Woodland’s restaurant as well as afternoon tea, a map of the Glenview Woodland’s walk, and complimentary upgrade to rooms with spectacular views for €89.99 per person sharing.

For further information on this, and other deals, see www.glenviewhotel.com.

the lovely woodland views are just part of the

appeal of a break at the glenview hotel

review: a trip across the country and back in time to a Great museumTRAVEL NEWS

fast

area include plains, riv-ers and lakes, and with the imposing figure of Croagh patrick staring down, the landscape is one that is both rugged and rustic.

A robust and hearty cooked breakfast in the hotel’s comfortable and relaxed restaurant to ward off the chill was fol-lowed by a walk through the town, and we were lucky to have been there while a pre-Christmas craft fair went on in the main street - luckily, this was a tented affair, meaning that the biting wind was kept at bay.

The next order of busi-ness for the day was to take in some of the sur-rounding area and pick one of the many local attractions to visit.

We finally arrived at the national Museum of ireland’s Museum of Country Life, located in the stunning surround-ings of the Turlough park

house, with its grounds, lake and art installations adding to the experi-ence.

The museum, whose exhibition space extends over four f loors in a state-of-the-art modern building sympatheti-cally incorporated into the grounds of Turlough park, is an impressive and thoughtfully curat-ed collection of artefacts from an age not so long ago, giving visitors an opportunity to see how the people of ireland lived in the hundred years between the Great Famine and the end of the 1950s.

There are interac-tive displays and instal-lations that bring you closer to the history on display, with hand-crafted harvest knots, wickerwork, spinning wheels and boats, cloth-ing and artefacts from the islands and hand operated machinery our the cosy, relaxed and spacious atmosphere in the McWilliam Park hotel

10 January 2013 CLONDALKIN gAzette 25

Travel

WHETHER it is the country’s white sandy beach-es or its soaring mountains, Turkey is a destination that proves to be very popular, year after year.

WingsAbroad, the Turkish holiday specialists, are offering massive New Year savings for 2013 with holiday packages to Kusadasi, on the west coast, and Gumbet, a lively beach resort.

Travel from Dublin on April 28 and stay at the three-star Carina Hotel in Kusadasi for seven nights on a B&B basis from only €319 per per-son, or travel on May 12, and stay at the Melissa Apartments, Kusadasi, for seven nights, with fam-ily prices starting from €915 (based on two adults and two children).

Travel to Gumbet on May 19 and stay at the two-star Kaseria Hotel for seven nights, also on a B&B basis, from €329 per person, or stay at the three-star Sami Beach Hotel for seven nights’ B&B from only 379 per person. Prices include return flights, seven nights’ accommodation, as well as airport transfers and taxes, and are based on two adults sharing, unless otherwise stated.

For further information or to make a booking, see www.wingsabroad.ie or call 01 871 9444.

the stunning surroundings of turlough Park House, where the National Museum of Ireland’s Museum of Country Life is located

grandparents used giving an insight into the lives of our recent ancestors.

Turlough Park House itself is an impressive pile and the cafe and visitor centre are integrated into the grounds. It proved to be a grand day out, and an educational one at that.

Back at the McWil-liam Park Hotel as the sun dropped below the horizon, we settled in for an evening in the res-taurant with my hungry and demanding compan-ions.

Starters comprised a delicious chicken liver mousse, an impressive vegetable soup and a melon platter that satis-fied the initial pangs.

I enjoyed a fantasti-cally tasty roast sirloin with dauphinoise pota-toes and fresh vegeta-bles. Unfortunately, the standard of the fare on offer for the younger members of the clan

the facilities on offer include a gym, swimming pool,

sauna and kids’ club area

was far from as good, and the disappointment of an underwhelming and undercooked (store bought?) pizza for two of the team was only relieved by the delivered-upon promise of warm chocolate brownies with ice cream.

It was a shame, but underlines the fairly poor attitude to kids’ cuisine in many places - they might be younger, but they know shabby fare when they get it. A little more thought and effort, of the same level that clearly goes into the grown-up’s menu, is clearly in order to ensure everyone at the

table gets the same level of culinary satisfaction and the sense that the young ones are being short-changed.

That aside, the stay proved very satisfactory for all the family, even without taking advan-tage of the hotel’s kids club facilities, which cater for kids from four to 12, offering a range of activities such as painting, arts and crafts, DVDs and games.

A weary band led their way back East, realising that the West is closer than it seems, and a return visit very much in the minds of all.

mcwilliam park hotel, claremorris the four-star McWilliam Park Hotel, Mayo,

offers 101 single, twin and family bedrooms as

well as two suites.

the hotel incorporates Jg’s Restaurant,

which has recently launched a new a la carte

menu.

there is also a leisure centre with 18m pool,

a separate childrens pool, gym facilities and

kids’ club.

For more information, contact 094 93 78000,

e-mail [email protected], or go online to

www.mcwilliampark.ie

Gazette

TRAVEL NEWSfast

Turkish delights to tempt all visitors

R1

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dublinsport let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your communityGa

zett

e

tennis: malahide man holds nerve to win decisive tiebreaker in riverview

ROveRs beGIN tItLe DefeNCe IN styLe: THREE Rock Rovers picked up a 6-2 win over Glenanne before landing an 8-0 tri-umph over Clontarf to ease into the playoffs of the National Indoor Hockey Trophy as they seek their fifth title in six years.

South African duo Jethro Eustice and Jody Hosking were both on the mark twice in the former game while Garry Ringwood ran up a hat trick in the win over Clontarf.

They now face Clontarf again on Saturday morning in Gormanston before meeting last season’s finalists NICS in their second playoff game.

Should the Rath-farnham side negoti-ate those ties, they will play in a semi-final on Sunday.

o’brien produces stunning run to claim indoor title epicMALAHIDE man Colin O’Brien showed he still has plenty to offer despite quitting the professional circuit in January 2011 as he scooped the Wil-son national indoor championships in Riverview last week.

He claimed an epic win over Black-rock man John Morrissey as their men’s singles final went the distance, eventu-ally being decided by a third set tie-breaker.

The initial two sets were shared 6-3, 1-6 before the final set saw the duo go shot for shot, eventually locked at six

games each.The first four games of that final set

went against serve while Morrissey had the best chance to forge the advantage but could not convert a break point at 4-4.

It necessitated the tiebreaker in which the left-handed O’Brien duly raced into the lead and scarcely looked back, claiming the decisive breaker 7-2.

For O’Brien, it was a big win after he fell at the hands of current Irish number one James McGee in his prior appear-ance in the indoor final.

He had been limited in how much he could play since then, though, as an arm injury saw him step away from the ITF Futures and Challenger circuits during a career that also saw him play numerous times in the Irish Davis Cup team.

Morrissey, meanwhile, was impres-sive throughout the week as the current Stanford University scholar defeated top seed Ciaran Fitzgerald in the semi-final en route to the decider.

On the women’s side of the draw, former Mount Anville student Jane

Fennelly, still only 18, overcame Holly Monahan from the Carrickmines club on a 6-2 7-6 (7/2) margin.

In the semi-finals, Fennelly avenged her defeat to Romanian-born Karola Bejenaru in the girls’ singles final of the 2012 National Championship.

Irish attention now switches to the Davis Cup and a date with Estonia on February 1-3 in Riverview. McGee and Swords’ doubles specialist James Clus-key are likely to be involved with the latter currently in Germany, trying to hit form at the right time.

former Davis Cup play Colin O’brien went the distance against John Morrissey in the Irish indoor open final

sport review p28-29local stars p30 asdfsdaf p27

Fastsport

c o n ta c t sActing sports

editor: stephen findlater

[email protected]

for more information or to send in news

and photos: [email protected]

Phone: 01 651 6205

Gaelic Games p31


Blackrock College’s Leo Cullen led

Leinster to their third Heineken Cup

success in four years in May

DSDAC’s Joseph Sweeney helped

Dublin claim the men’s Woodies’ DIY

intercounty cross-county title

St Sylvester’s intermediate hurlers celebrated championship success in September

when they overcame Round tower, rising to the senior ranks for the first time

Colaiste Phadraig CBS had an amazing

year, winning Dublin, Leinster and All-

Ireland soccer titles

Castleknock’s Ciaran Kilkenny had a

lively year, helping the club to the JFC,

Dublin to All-Ireland U-21 glory before

departing to play Aussie Rules

Peamount United club member Katie taylor confirmed her place as Ireland’s premier

sports star when she won Olympic gold in London in August

JanuaryAVA Hutchinson and David Burrows got Olym-pic year off to a flying start as they qualified for the Games in the marathon and sailing events, respec-tively.

St Kevin’s Community School, Clondalkin land-ed the Leinster FAI Paul Murphy Cup in emphatic style, beating St Kilian’s DSD 5-0.

Castleknock GAA, meanwhile, began what would prove to be an epic year as they claimed their first Dublin U-21 champi-onship. Swords judo club claimed an incredible nine All-Ireland titles, too.

FebruaryDun Laoghaire tennis

star Lesley O’Halloran came back with four med-als from the ITF Senior World Championships in San Diego, helping Ireland win their first ever team title in the process.

Westmanstown Gaels were celebrating their first ever Dublin representative when Rebecca McDon-nell was called up to an underage panel.

On the team front, Three Rock Rovers over-came a string of obsta-cles to land the National

Indoor Hockey Trophy and then achieved pro-motion in Europe. Bally-boden St Enda’s claimed their fourth U-21 hurling championship in five years with an epic win over Kilmacud Crokes.

MarchKarl Burdis returned to

the Irish swimming scene in style, qualifying for the European champion-ships with a string of top performances. St Joseph’s Boy’s towering central defender Dan Casey cap-tained the Republic of Ireland’s U-15 soccer side, scoring against Belgium in the process.

Coolmine RFC claimed Leinster seconds league division 1A as well as the Spencer Cup in a memo-rable couple of weeks while Meteors basketball club were champions at U-14, U-15 and U-16 level and runners up at both U-17 and U-18.

Colaiste Phadraig picked up the Leinster first year soccer cup crown, fol-lowing up soon after with a league success.

AprilGarda cycling sen-

sation Caroline Ryan claimed Ireland’s first elite

world track medal since Harry Reynolds back in 1897 when she claimed a bronze in Melbourne.

Sean Mari landed Whitechurch boxing club’s first ever male All-Ireland title when he won the 27kg category after a string of impressive per-formances.

Foxrock Cabinteely’s girls won the Dublin ladies football Feile title in some style in Parnell Park while Collinstown Park.

MayBlackrock College man

Leo Cullen led Leinster to their third Heineken Cup title in four years to cement the province’s place among the panthe-on of greats in the com-petition. Eoin Rheinisch sealed his place at the Olympics with a top class performance at the Euro-pean kayaking champi-onships while Malahide CS and The Island golfer Gavin Moynihan added to his stunning spring with victory at the Irish amateur open champion-ship at Royal Dublin.

St Brigid’s young stars meanwhile claimed both the Dublin football and hurling Feile titles en route to All-Ireland glory in both codes, the rarest

Glory abounds for local clubs and their stars shine in 2012

of feats. Ger Owens and Scott

Flanigan qualified their 470 boat for the Olym-pic Games, too, as they starred at the world cham-pionships in Barcelona.

JuneCoolmine pro cyclist

Phil Lavery enjoyed a bumper month as he won the Stephen Roche GP along with the national U-23 road race crown in Clonmel.

Portmarnock golfer Adrian Morrow annexed the Irish senior amateur golf title, leading from pillar to post in Athenry

while St Brigid’s Eoin Kennedy shook off a nine-month lay-off to finish second at hand-ball’s 60x30 open doubles championship.

Fingallians’ sister act Sarah and Rachel Murray and Bronwyn and Megan Keogh were national jun-ior athletics champion-ships 4x100m winners.

Peamount United pro-vided five players to the MGL Gaynor Cup win-ning team, sharing 27 goals between them.

JulyNational Yacht Club’s

Finn Lynch produced

an immaculate late show to take silver at the world youth sailing champion-ships in the laser radial class, the best ever Irish result at this level.

St Sylvester’s Nicole Owens provided the star turn for the Dublin ladies football B team, scoring a hat trick in their All-Ire-land Aisling McGing final win over Kerry.

Gerry and Rob Moran beat over 500 competitors to win the Castle golf club Father and Son All-Ire-land event on home turf.

AugustKatie Taylor provided

one of the highlights of the Olympic Games, fulfilling her destiny by claiming gold to add to her wealth of world and European titles in some style in the Excel Arena.

Rathfarnham’s Annal-ise Murphy went close to bringing another medal home, finishing fourth in the Weymouth waves in the sailing competi-tion.

Domestically, Foxrock Cabinteely reached the pinnacle of the Dublin ladies football scene, winning their first sen-ior championship title just nine years since the club’s formation.

looking back: the year in sport

gaze

tte

gazette review of the year that was2012

10 January 2013 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 29

Castle golf club’s Gerry and Rob Moran beat their way

through a field of over 500 entrants to win the All-

Ireland Father and Son title

St Brigid’s U-14 footballers and hurlers produced the

rarest of feats, winning both codes’ All-Ireland Feile

competitions during the summer

National YC’s Finn Lynch produced

Ireland’s best ever performance at a

world youth sailing championship as

he finished second overall

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni

visited a number of local clubs throughout the year

including Portmarnock AFC, above, and Swords Celtic

Swords woman Catherine Walsh, left,

working in tandem with Fran Meehan

landed two Paralympic medals in

London in September

Peamount United club member Katie Taylor confirmed her place as Ireland’s premier

sports star when she won Olympic gold in London in August

SeptemberSwords woman Cather-

ine Walsh claimed a pair of medals at the Paralym-pic Games, working in tandem with pilot Fran Meehan at the London cycling events, succeeding on both the track and the road in an epic showing.

The Dublin minor foot-ballers claimed the All-Ireland championship, a feat which produced a number of memorable story lines. The side was captained by Naomh Olaf’s David Byrne while Naomh Peregrine’s Eric Lowndes finally got a winner’s medal after three

prior All-Ireland finals.Castle golf club ended

a 99-year wait but finally won back amateur golf’s biggest prize, the Irish Senior Cup.

OctoberKilmacud Crokes

bridged a 27-year wait to claim the Dublin senior hurling championship while near neighbours Cuala, after two painful final defeats, finally won the Dublin intermediate football championship title, beating Fingallians in the final.

Round Tower also made big strides, gaining

promotion from AFL5 and AFL9.

NovemberALSA A swimmer

Barry Murphy ended the season in triumphant form, breaking a string of national records, first of all at the European short course championships in Chartres, France and then at the world cham-pionships in Istanbul.

Castleknock’s adult footballers continued their monumental jour-ney through to the Lein-ster junior title as they thumped St Fintan’s in Parnell Park and they

now have an All-Ireland semi-final to look for-ward to in the New Year.

Swords Celtic ran up an eighth successive league win move close to the brink of intermediate soccer, heading up the LSL Sunday Major divi-sion.

December A f ter some tough

times, Ballinteer bad-minton star Scott Evans cut an emotional figure as he finally landed a European level tourna-ment, claiming the Irish Open after a number of final setbacks.

‘Self-sacrifice, commitment, respect, perserverance and hard work. These are things I have always believed in.’

- New Dublin senior football manager JIM GAVIN outlines to the Gazette the tenets that will guide his tenure

QUOTABLE QUOTES

‘A few of my mates were at the game and saw me warm-up and were wondering “what’s going on there?”’

- Leinster scrum-half JOHN COONEY on being a surprise late call-up, coming off the bench to make his Heineken Cup debut in May’s final victory over Ulster

‘I’m passed it. There’s no doubt about that, but so is Roy and I’d have no problem coming out of retirement to fight him.’

- STEVE COLLINS, the 48-year-old former world boxing champion, responds to suggestions he could finally show down with Roy Jones Junior

‘‘

The Republic of Ire-land U-15s were packed with local players from clubs like Lucan Unit-ed, Corduff and Mala-hide United as they ran up an impressive 3-0 win over Juventus with

Zachary Elbouzedi and Jean Yves Poame on the mark.

On the rugby front, O l d We s l e y a n d Clondalkin’s J2 sides landed silverware to end the year in style.

GAZETTE

30 clondalkin Gazette 10 January 2013

SPORTGaze

tte

boxinG: tims and ormond set for cork date

Shona Byrne runs in a try for clondalkin as they

swept past arklow last weekend Picture: Sharon Flanagan

leinSTeR diviSiOn 3clondalkin 31

arklow 0 [email protected]

CLONDALKIN’S women booked their place in the play-offs of the league after a success-ful campaign that saw them fin-ish second in the regular season behind Railway Union.

In a one-sided affair, Gail Stowe opened up the scoring when she converted a penalty and Sara Phelan helped the Clondalkin effort with two tries which were also converted by

Stowe, to finish off the half with an impressive lead of 17-0.

When the play resumed, Eugene Noble’s side came out with a purpose and didn’t let their game slip to guarantee their passage to the playoffs.

Shona Byrne added another try to the side’s tally before the in-form Stowe effortlessly stroked over another conversion.

The tenacious play of Phelan was highlighted again before the final whistle when she crossed for another five-pointer and Stowe completed a spectacular day of kicking with another con-

version. Although the 31-0 win helped

their cause, Noble is convinced his side will get a good measure to how they will get on in the playoffs when they play Railway Union in the final game of the season.

“Playing the table toppers will be a fantastic measure to how we’ll do, it should be a good level of intensity to test our resolve and I have no doubt that it will be a terrific game next Saturday.

“We are very optimistic that we can win the playoffs, but we really need to continue recruit-

ing for the team so we can stay competitive at a high level.”

His side dropped down a tier this year and Noble is anxious Clon will not be forced into such a situation again,

“Rugby clubs are very commu-nity oriented and we really want 2013 to bring a lot of new faces to the club. The team was only started four years ago and there was probably a lack of experi-ence on our part.

“We know now that we need to constantly recruit new players and we won’t let the same thing happen again if we go up.”

Arklow win puts Clon women into playoffs

HSTARof the

MONTH

2012 dublin sports awards december winners

dublinGazettenewspapers

[email protected]

AFTER a late postpone-ment to December’s Rebel Rising fight card, which was due to take place in Cork’s Neptune Stadium, a new date has finally been confirmed by the promoters with Clondalkin’s Ian Tims and Stephen Ormond due to make appear-ances in the squared circle on March 2.

The second date was originally set to take place in the last week

of February. The March date was arranged due to a clash with Katie Tay lo r ’s European championship defence being confirmed for the weekend of February 23. with Ireland’s gold-en girl sure to attract a bigger crowd despite Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan being set to defend his title.

Tims was initially set to trade leather with Moses Matovu and was taking a big risk accord-ing to coach Paschal

Collins who claimed the big-punching pugilist was in need of surgery which was due to take place two days after the original December card.

PotentialNow, with the elbow

surgery completed, Tims will be reinvigorated and will look to begin a winning streak that could potentially see him fight for a national title by the end of 2013.

Stephen Ormond, one

of the biggest prospects coming out of Dublin, is certainly looking for big things for 2013 and coach Collins believes he too could be in the run for a title this year, claiming in December: “Stephen is well able to fight [world champion] Ricky Burns, I just don’t think Ricky wants to risk himself.

“We’ll get a few fights early in the year and work towards a fight with Burns at the end of the year.”

local duo ready for rebel rising

ian tims is looking forward to getting back into the ring after elbow surgery

HTEAMof the

MONTHmalahide rfceiGht successive league wins, includ-ing a crucial success over previous table-toppers kilkenny, has seen malahide move to the top of leinster league division 2a. they are now in prime position to claim promotion in the new Year

scott evansthe ballinteer badminton star final-ly landed a european level title after a number of final setbacks, winning the irish open in baldoyle. it was an emotional moment for evans in his home event, laying a few demons to rest

10 January 2013 clondalkin Gazette 31

Club NotiCeboard

Gazette

dubs too strong for Carlow challengeo’byrne cupCarlow 1-12

dublin 3-13

stephen findlater [email protected]

JIM Gavin’s first com-petitive outing in charge of the Dublin senior side proved a reasonably fruit-ful affair as his mixed bag of a selection played in expansive fashion to oust Carlow in their O’Byrne Cup opener last Sunday in Dr Cullen Park.

With many of the Round Tower man’s big guns unavailable due to college commitments and injury, it gave him the opportunity to try

out some of the maybes on his list for the 2013 panel. To that end, he fielded Eric Lowndes and David Byrne who step straight up from the Dublin minor All-Ireland winning panel of last.

The former was partic-ularly impressive in the half-backs, creating the first goal for Diarmuid Connolly while also linking the play neatly between the backs and the forwards.

The tie was also nota-ble for the return of Gary Sweeney late in the piece after a lengthy time out due to a broken leg.

Dublin kicked five

points in the open-ing 10 minutes without response and the hosts never truly got back in range.

Robert McCarthy’s pair of points, combined with fine scores from Connolly and Bernard Brogan saw the sky blues race ahead before Con-nolly’s superb fetch, turn and shot supplied an immaculate goal.

It helped push the lead out to seven points in the 22nd minute. A couple of soft frees reeled in the margin to four points as Brian Murphy and Dar-ragh Foley helped make it 1-9 to 0-8 at the break.

But McCarthy’s close range effort and Paddy Quinn’s blasted goal opened the second half in style, extending the lead out to 10 points before the contest fizzled out to some extent with Dublin adding just three more points in the clos-ing 23 minutes.

That was despite some high octane incursions from Jack McCaffrey and Sweeney while Car-low did get a goal back through Daniel St Ledg-er, slapping home in the 65th minute but, for a first outing in Gavin’s tenure, there were plenty of positives to build on.

Ballyboden st enda’s and kilmacud crokes will renew rivalries in the minor hurling championship semi-final

[email protected]

JIM Gavin was pleased with certain elements of Dublin’s opening com-petitive performances while, understandably, there are plenty of ele-ments to work on.

The first half of last Sunday’s win over Car-low saw the Dubs play at a high tempo with

half-back Eric Lowndes and Cian O’Sullivan regularly making key incursions forward.

And it is something the new boss is keen to pursue. Speaking after-wards, he said: “We’re trying various systems of play. For the defence, they set themselves up very solidly. There were some consistent per-

formances and lots of areas for improvement.

“We like to use the foot-pass, we like to push the ball along but it is just one of many game plans we will have during the season, something we tried out today.

“It is great to get the guys on the park. It is week one of the year

and to get a very com-petitive game like this against a very good Carlow side was worth-while.

“We got the result. It was probably an incon-sistent performance on our behalf but a result nonetheless. It gives us lots of areas to work on, which is good for this time of year.”

Gavin keen on Dubs’ attacking system

football: dubs eNtertaiN iN lively opeNiNG wiN

HAPPY new year to all our members,

patrons and sponsors.

The online system for membership

for 2013 on Lucan Sarsfields website

(http://www.lucansarsfields.ie) is up

and running. Please note that the club

levy which was introduced at the end

of 2012 has been added on to the cost

of the yearly membership as agreed

at AGM.

If an individual/family paid their

levy in 2012, it will be refunded to

them as a separate transaction. The

online system provides various pay-

ment options including an instalment

option. Membership forms can be

downloaded from the website and are

available at the club bar.

Lucan Sarsfields’ 12th Lock FIght

Night will take place on Saturday,

March 9, 2013 in the big top tent in

the club. Standard tickets are €25.

The first 100 online standard ticket

sales cost €20 while ringside tickets

are €30.

A full bar and hot food are available

as well as a DJ, raffle and auction will

take place on the night.

The adult awards night will be held

on Saturday, January 26. Nomina-

tions for club person of the year 2012

should be emailed to the secretary

at [email protected] or

placed in the secretary’s box in the

bar before Thursday, January 24.

Nominees cannot be a current

member of the executive commit-

tee or have served on the executive

committee in the past three years.

The winner will be announced at the

awards night.

The 25-card drive continues every

Friday night in the clubhouse, €5 entry

with a first prize of €50. All welcome.

Unislim Lucan meets every Monday

evening at 7-8pm in the function room

at Lucan Sarsfields GAA club. Contact

your leaders Susan on 086 8884235 or

Fiona on 086 3585192.

No counting points or calories just a

fantastic plan you will love. Everyone

welcome.

This week’s lotto numbers were 1, 8,

21 and 28. There was no winner. Next

week’s jackpot is €10,000. Colette

Condon’s team will be in charge next

Sunday night when our sponsor will

be Matt Reilly Autoparts Ltd.

st pat’s, palmerstowN

st mary’s saGGart

luCaN sarsfields

ALL-Ireland champion Roisin Brady

will be defending her Leinster title on

Saturday 12th in Erin’s Isle GAA club,

Finglas. Proceedings start at 3pm.

Support for her would be most wel-

come.

The club express sincere sympathy

to Jimmy, Sandra, Ciara, Brian and

Aoife Gilbert on the sad loss of Jimmy’s

Dad, Jimmy Senior, who passed away-

unexpectedly last Saturday night. Ar

dheis Dé go raibh a hAnam dílís.

Reminder that mouthguards are

now compulsory for all juvenile and

minor football training and matches.

Only mouthguards with a CE kite mark

may be worn.

The lotto first draw numbers were

6, 21, 28 and 30; there was no winner.

The second draw numbers were 2, 5,

10 and 26; there was no winner. Any

three numbers winners were Joey D

Lips, Tommy Connolly, A and K Fagan.

The next draw is on Sunday, January

13. The first draw jackpot is €10,000 and

the second draw jackpot is €5,600.

THE executive committee would like

to take this opportunity to wish all

our members and friends a very

happy and prosperous New Year.

Our members’ night and player of

the year awards will take place on

Saturday, January 19 in the club-

house. We would like to extend the

invitation to the event to all mem-

bers to come along and enjoy the

evening. There is a happy hour from

8pm to 9.30pm.

Player presentations will take

place from 9.30pm and this will be

followed by music until close. Please

come along and support.

Training for the senior and junior

panels commenced on Tuesday at

7.30pm. Any players who wish to be

regraded for 2013, please see Pat

Farrelly in the club on Thursday night

after training.

Watch next week’s notes for infor-

mation on our juvenile training

schedule.

The club is seeking lotto sellers

for the Forest Hills and Broadfield

Estates in Rathcoole. If there are

any members interested in helping

out, please contact Cathal Kelly on

086 258 4335. We are also looking for

a number of members who can sell in

the Rathcoole pubs at the weekends.

Again, Cathal is the contact.

There was no winner of last week’s

lotto draw.

all of your clondalkin sports coverage from page 27-31 january 10, 2013

PLayoff bound: Clondalkin storm past Arklow to reach the last phase of the division three season P30

GazetteSPORT

the victorious st francis team celebrate with the dB sports tours cup in oriel park last weekend

peter carroll

[email protected]

SAINT Francis Football Club’s U-13s won the inaugural DB Sports Tours Champions Cup last Saturday in Oriel Park, a competi-tion which pits the winner of each SFAI Cup against the winner of the equivalent from Northern Ireland.

Although Francis didn’t claim the coveted All Ireland trophy last year, a dominant win in the Coca Cola Cup during the summer and the disbanding of last year’s SFAI cup winners, Crumlin United, saw the promoters give Mark Connolly’s men the nod to take on Belfast’s Oliver Plunkett’s side.

In a twist of fortune it was Mark Kelly who scored the only goal of the game for the Clondalkin side. He won the SFAI Cup as a part of the Crumlin United Cup last year after a great move that started in the Francis’ back-line.

Mitchell Byrne, from centre-half, fed the play to Ryan Murphy at left full who then zipped the ball up the left hand side to winger Brandon Kavanagh before he found Jack Con-nolly in the middle of the park. The playmaker then hit a perfectly weighted pass to Kelly who rounded four players before converting the move five minutes into the second half.

With Plunkett’s on the back foot for much of the game and their keeper playing a stormer,

their efforts were more pointed toward keep-ing the Dublin side out rather than creating their own goal scoring chances.

With the Saints men set for last 32 action in the SFAI tournament in the coming weeks, it was just preparation they needed according to Connolly.

“Plunkett’s battled very well throughout the game,” said the manager. “They certainly didn’t make it easy for us but it was good in a way because it reminded the lads of the dif-ferent styles of football they will see in the All Ireland competition.

“Their keeper was their outstanding player on the day and I’m sure the lads could’ve got a few more goals had it not been for his per-

formance. “That’s one All-Ireland trophy in the bag for

us and I certainly hope it will give us the impe-tus to push for another when we meet Salthill Devon from Galway towards the end of the month.

“The lads have had a great season this year, we’re top of the league and we’re still in the All Ireland. We are unbeaten in all but one game. That was in the league cup but if I was going to go out of any tournament, it would have been that one.

“It was a great win on the road and if we want to be in the running for the SFAI Cup, those type of victories will be the important ones.”

francis own the islandSaints take the first-ever DB Sports Tours Cup, seeing off the champions of Northern Ireland with striker Mark Kelly on target

The BIg RevIew Of The yeAR: All the highlights from an epic year of sport in Dublin P28-29

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