DunLaoghaire

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8

BUSINESS .....................18

MOTORS ....................... 20

TRAVEL ......................... 22

ENTERTAINMENT ......... 24

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

INSIDE: €8m for DLR social housing units is announced

by the Tanaiste Page 4

GOING SWIMMINGLY: Soaking up the fun at 174th local regatta See P8-9

Newpark loses out in stimulus packageCouncillor writes to Gilmore about his concerns

A LOCAL councillor has writ-ten to Tanaiste Eamon Gil-more (Lab) to complain that Newpark Comprehensive School in Blackrock is being overlooked in the upcoming stimulus package spending announced last week.

Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind) has expressed his disappointment

that Newpark will not fea-ture among the six secondary schools to avail of the funding.

He said: “Clearly, Newpark is not a top priority, despite continued promises from local politicians and the Depart-ment of Education.”

It was announced in March that work on the school would

be postponed for another four years, and a lobbying group had contacted the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn (Lab) to reverse the postponement.

The Tanaiste said: “I am very aware of how important an early date for the new school build is.”

Full Story on Page 6

Making a splash:Bob honours a talented sailorBOB Geldof was joined by Conor Ryan, An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Tom Joyce (FG) and commodore Liam Owens for a special presentation at the West Pier recently. Geldof’s late father, Bob Senior, a founder member of Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (Dublin Bay Sailing Club), was commemorated with a new Outstanding Junior Sailor award, which Bob presented to Conor for his outstanding performance.

Picture: Geraldine Woods

See Gallery on Page 2

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Sailing: Lynch claims world champs silver medalPage 30

Hurling: Cuala hit top of league but face nervous waitPage 31

2 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 26 July 2012

TRIBUTE Sailing trophy honours Geldof Senior’s passion

Dalkey sailor nets Bob’s awardT

HE late Bob Geldof (Snr), a founding member of Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (Dublin Bay Sail-ing Club, DBSC), was commemorated with a new

Outstanding Junior Sailor award, which was presented by his famous son, Bob, at a ceremony held at the West Pier recently.

Bob congratulated 17-year-old Dalkey native Conor Ryan on his win, saying that Conor richly deserved the award in recognition of his excellence in demanding sail-

ing and racing achievements, and his swift transfer from junior sailing rank to full DBSC racing membership.

The musician and international charity worker paid an amusing, and emotional, tribute to his father, Bob, and his life-long passion for sailing.

His sister, Lynn, also paid tribute to their father’s membership of the club, and joined with Bob in congrat-ulating Conor on receiving the lovely award, which was designed by a collaboration of the Geldof family.

� BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

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IT HAS been announced that former Fianna Fail councillor for Blackrock, Ann Brady, died last week.

Mrs Brady was elected to Dun Laoghaire Bor-ough Council in 1979 and served on Dublin County Council from 1985 until 1991. She was also elected and served as Cathaoirleach Na Buirge from 1987 to 1988.

Paying tribute to her community work, local Blackrock councillor Victor Boyhan (Ind) said: “Ann was an extraordi-nary person in so many ways.

“She had an abundance of energy and artistic tal-ent, and was truly a great contributor to the local community in Booters-town and Blackrock.

“I was so saddened to hear of her sudden pass-ing, as only two weeks

ago I bumped into her.”Mrs Brady was a pro-

fessional architect who brought her skills and interest into urban plan-ning and landscape design during her politi-cal career.

Cllr Boyhan went on to say: “She was of immense assistance to me when I was first elected to repre-sent the Blackrock Elec-toral Area in 1999.

“Her intimate knowl-edge of the history and heritage value of old buildings in the Old Borough assisted me in identifying buildings that needed special protection and listing under heritage protection legislation.”

Mrs Brady voted against the Quarryvale proposal in 1991, and also lobbied against the scale of the Cherrywood project.

She spent nothing on her 1979 campaign, and financed her 1985 and 1991 campaigns out of her own pocket.

FF POLITICIAN: GREAT WORK IS RECALLED

Tribute is paid to late Ann Brady

Bob Geldof; Conor Ryan; An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Tom Joyce (FG) and commodore Liam Owens. Pictures: Geraldine Woods

Jacinta Goran and Bob Geldof

Brian and Rosemary Welsh

Mary and John Taylor with Gearoid Killgallen

Conor Ryan (right) was congratulated by his mother, siblings and Bob Geldof

Councillor Jane Dillon-Byrne (Lab) and

Timothy Magennis

26 July 2012 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 3

Roads off limit due to raceR O A D S i n D u n Laoghaire-Rathdown will be temporarily closed on Monday, August 6, in order to facilitate the DLR Bay 10km road race.

Roads that will close include those on the race route, which extends to Newtownsmith, Windsor Terrace, Queen’s Road, Crofton Road, Harbour Road, Dun Leary Road, Longford Terrace, Sea-point Avenue, Seafield Avenue, Monkstown Road, Carrickbrennan Road, Mounttown Upper, Mounttown Lower, Upper Glenageary Road, Albert Road Upper, Albert Road, St Catherine’s Road, Castle Park Road, Elton Park, Sandycove Road, Glasthule Road, and Link Road.

Newtownsmith, Wind-sor Terrace, Queens Road, Crofton Road and Har-bour Road will be closed from 6am to 12.30pm with the others alternating closing during the race.

CLOSURECOUNCIL Household tax shortage cited for reduction

Local funding to be cut by almost ¤1.5m� SUZANNE BYRNE

L O C A L g o v e r n -ment funding to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is to be cut by close to €1.5 mil-lion to make up for the shortfall in income from the household charge.

Las t week , loca l authority managers were notified by a circular from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government of advised allocations in respect of the local government fund, based on the level of compliance with the household charge pay-ments.

With 79% of house-

holds in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Coun-cil area having paid up, representing the highest rate of compliance in the country, it has the lowest cut in funding at just over 5%.

However, manager Owen Keegan said the cut of €1.374 million was “most unwelcome”, given the area’s “stellar performance” in paying the household charge.

Income from rates and council charges have plummeted in recent years. Earlier this year, the council revealed it was looking at privatis-ing fire and rescue serv-ices. The highly popular Dun Laoghaire Festival

of World Cultures was also cancelled after it was reported to have made a huge loss in 2010.

'Serious effect'Speak ing to the

Gazette, People Before Profit Councillor Hugh Lewis said the cuts would have a serious effect on the area. “I pre-sume [cuts] will be made in services rather than expenses.

“At the very outset, we knew the result of the household charge would be in funds for local gov-ernment. They took the same money out of local government that they intend replacing with the household charge,” he

Local government funding to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is to be cut

by close to €1.5m

said. Councillor Lewis said

he understood the man-ager would bring the report on the funding cuts to the council in September.

Because wages or counci l conference expenses couldn’t be cut, services such as libraries would be the prime tar-get, said Cllr Lewis.

Fianna Fail councillor

Cormac Devlin said that there were a number of projects which could be curtailed and that the management team would meet to present various options to members in September.

“It will either be servic-es or projects that are in the pipeline. [Services] have already been cur-tailed, so I’d prefer that we examine all possibili-

ties and be quite imagi-native come September.”

Environment Min-ister Phil Hogan has said that the funds were being “withdrawn” from rather than “withheld”, and could be regained when the final install-ment of the fund was made in September, if councils were successful in improving compliance rates.


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� BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

DUN Laoghaire TD, Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit), has hit back against alle-gations by Ogra Fianna Fail, who were critical of the Dail expenses claims filed by Dep-uty Boyd Barrett and Deputy Mary Mitchell

O’Connor (FG).Ogra Fianna Fail’s

Dun Laoghaire chair-person, Jim McCann, cr i t ic ised the TDs’ expense claims because of the relative proximity of their constituencies to Leinster House.

Deputy Boyd Barrett contacted The Gazette last week to clarify his

position.He said: “If Ogra

Fianna Fail wants to make accusations about my travel allowances, let them get their facts straight.

“Firstly, I did not claim €11,865, as alleged. I received €10,142 for trav-el allowances in 2011.

“This is a standard

allowance paid to all TDs and, in my case, was spent fully in accordance with the regulations.

“The allowance is based on minimum Dail attendance, and I have far exceeded the attendance necessary to receive this allowance and, as was recently reported, I have con-

tributed to 327 Dail debates – more than any other TD, including the Taoiseach, Tanaiste or Micheal Martin,” said Deputy Boyd Barrett.

“Furthermore, in rela-tion to the Public Rep-resentative Allowance, I voluntarily chose the fully-vouched option for this allowance.

“In my case, this money has been used to establish, for the f i r s t t ime on Dun Laoghaire’s Main Street, a constituency office to serve the people of Dun Laoghaire, from Booter-stown to Bray.

“The cost of establish-ing, furnishing and rent-ing this office exceeded

the Dail allowance for this purpose, and we have had to cover the costs of this from my TD salary.

“As promised in my election manifesto, I only take the average industrial wage for my own use,” he said.

The average industrial wage is €35,947

Boyd Barrett rejects Ogra FF criticism of travel expensesPOLITICS ‘As promised ... I only take the average industrial wage for my own use’

Fun-filled festival to celebrate diversity� BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

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THIS weekend, Dun Laoghaire-Rath-down County Council (DLRCC) is celebrating diversity with the free DLR Fusion event in The People’s Park, Dun Laoghaire.

From 11am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday, July 28 and 29, the park will be filled with a range of activities, includ-ing art workshops and circus workshops teaching stilt walking and juggling, as well as (for young attendees) interactive events with Dublin’s Children’s Museum, Imaginosity, and Street Theatre Ireland.

DLR Fusion aims to promote an ethos of social inclusion, encouraging equality,

diversity, respect and inclusion, and sup-ports the participation of all members of the community.

RehabCare will premiere an original reggae piece, and Southside Travellers, invite people to their Campfire Circle to exchange stories. The sports area will include Buntus and Ultimate Frisbee, as well as a host of interactive games.

There will also be art exhibitions on display in the park from local artists Iris O’Connor, Step Up and the Artisans/St John of God, and a stage programme of African drumming, Brazilian and gospel music, Indian dance, and performances from local groups.

For further information, see the DLR Fusion page at www.dlrevents.ie.

Social housing is set for €8m investment� BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

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THE TANAISTE and Labour TD for Dun Laoghaire, Eamon Gil-more, has welcomed the announcement by Planning Minister, Jan O’Sullivan, that more than €8m is to be invest-ed in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown in the next two-and-a-half years to provide new social hous-ing units, with an empha-sis on those with special housing needs.

Between now and 2014, 101 units will be acquired or constructed in Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown and employment from this will be localised, according to Minister Gilmore.

“Local voluntar y groups will be involved in acquiring and building

many of the units, and I would like to pay tribute to their work in this area. The provision of units for people with a special housing need nationwide is an issue I have worked with Minister O’Sullivan on during recent months.

“This housing initiative will also see investment in construction, especially from 2013 on. This will provide a much-needed boost to the local econo-my.”

Local projects to avail of the funding include St John of God Trust in Loughlinstown, where six units will be provided; Tuath Housing in Dun-drum where there will be two units; Honeypark will get 80 social units which will be managed by Tuath; and Rochestown House, which will get a total of

13 units.The Tanaiste Gilmore

said: “The substantial funds involved will pro-vide long-term, stable homes for the elderly, homeless persons and people with special needs.”

According to Fine Gael TD, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, the funding move represents a great boost for the area in times of economic uncertainty.

“That the green light has been given for these proposals from local authorities, in spite of our economic situation is fantastic. It is crucial that we continue to meet the needs of the most disad-vantaged in society and that those who are capa-ble of living independ-ently are assisted in doing so.”

In related news, Leas Cathaoirleach Stephen Fitzpatrick (Lab) said he had raised with Minister O’Sullivan the issue of outlawing social bedsits to get in line with the private sector, which will phase them out next year.

“In addition to the good news on the investment in social and voluntary hous-ing, Minister O’Sullivan informed me that she would consider my pro-posal on bedsits, which calls for the creation of a specific capital fund pro-viding for the upgrading of all bedsit accommoda-tion nationally, moving towards a phasing out of local authority bedsit accommodation.

“I will be writing to Minister O’Sullivan in the coming weeks to provide her with more detail.”

PLAN: 101 UNITS TO BE ACQUIRED OR BUILT BY 2014

Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore welcomes the investment


Garda appeal for witnessesA MAN was rushed to hospital over the week-end following a serious assault in Sallynoggin in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Gardai say the vic-tim, who is in his fif-ties, was set upon by up to four males on the Sallynoggin Road at around 1.30am.

It ’s understood he received injuries to his hands.

The Gazette under-stands that two mem-bers of the public came to the victim’s aid and raised the alarm before the victim was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for treatment.

Gardai in K i l l O’ The Grange are inves-tigating the incident, and have appealed to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed the assault to contact them at Kill O’ The Grange at 666 5500.

ASSAULT

Grass cutting in the spotlight� BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

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GRASS cutting in the county has come under the spotlight this sum-mer. Dun Laoghaire-R a t h d ow n C o u n t y Council has had to impose fines on their contractor after their landscape maintenance work was deemed below acceptable standards.

A council spokesper-son said that “a number of factors are used to assess performance, including frequency of grass-cutting, length of grass growth, quality of weed control and extent of litter picking.

“The council is cur-rently in dispute with the appointed contrac-tor, and fiscal penal-ties are being imposed with a view to restoring acceptable landscape

maintenance stand-ards.”

Counci l lor Neale Richmond (FG) said that the council’s find-ings mirrored those of his constituents: “I have been informed by council officials that in recent weeks they reviewed the quality of the contractor’s per-formance which, con-sistent to the represen-tations I have received, was found to be unsat-isfactory. Consequently, the council imposed a financial penalty on the company for lack of compliance.”

Cllr Richmond has now called on the coun-cil to review its choice of contractor follow-ing complaints by local residents.

“I have asked the county manager to review the contract for

grass cutting due to a multitude of complaints from residents primarily in the Ballinteer area.”

He went on to cata-logue a number of issues he felt remained outstanding in terms of the performance of the landscaping contract.

However, Council-lor Lettie McCarthy (Lab) said that she has had very encourag-ing dealings with the Parks Department of the council around the issue of grass cutting in her own ward.

“I’ve contacted them about a few small areas like Aiken village and other places where they didn’t really know they were in their remit and the grass wasn’t being cut. I must say they were fairly quick to act and those areas are now being done regularly.”

MAINTENANCE: COUNCILLOR CALLS FOR REVIEW FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS

Doing their bit: Launching a new community fundraising initiativeDARRAGH O’Kane (age five) from Stillorgan, Jack Kirwan (age five) from Stepaside and Mena Noone, (age six) from Foxrock pictured at the launch of the Irish Cancer Society’s new Run, Walk and Roll fundraising campaign. They are inviting com-munities across Ireland to run, walk and roll in just about any-thing with wheels — scooters, skateboards, wheelchairs, prams, bikes... as long as it doesn’t have an engine. CallSave 1850 60 60 60 to find out how you can get involved.

R1


World eventhuge success

SPORTS: YOUTHS SET SAIL IN DUBLIN BAY

The Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships were held last week in Dublin Bay and saw some 400 com-petitors from 63 countries compete for international honours on the waves in what is regarded as the youth Olympics of sail-ing.

The event, heralded as a huge success by organ-isers and supporters of the sport alike saw local success, with very strong performances by 16-year-old National Yacht Club Dun Laoghaire’s Finn Lynch at the helm of his Laser Radial, racing at his first Youth Sailing World Championship, as well as Dalkey residents Sean and Tadhg Donnelly in the 29er class for boys.

One of the key sponsors of the event was oil com-pany, Emo, which helped ensure smooth sailing for competitors by providing

fuel for around 60 support and safety boats.

In its operation, Emo used pumps located at the Dun Laoghaire marina before distributing the fuel to the various boats.

Donal Cummins, from Emo Commercial, said: “It was an unusual assign-ment for us, and we were delighted to be involved in the first time the cham-pionship has been held in Ireland in its 42-year his-tory.

“The event was an outstanding success and, hopefully, at least some of the competitors will go on to achieve great success like Ben Ainslie, a former Youth Worlds gold med-allist who went on to win Olympic gold medals in 2000, 2004 and 2008.”

In acknowledgement of Emo’s contribution, the championship organisers designated July 18 as Emo Day.

Model medal: Rosanna gets ready for RTE coverage of London 2012DALKEY native Rosanna Davison was on hand last week to pick up gold at the two-week countdown to the Cadbury-sponsored RTE Sport coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

In 2008, Cadbury announced its global sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympic Games and earlier this year was announced as the Official Treat Provider to the Irish Olympic and Paralympic teams in the run up to and during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Photo: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Newpark lose out in stimulus spending

ECONOMY: SCHOOL TO BE EXCLUDED FROM GOVERNMENT PACKAGE

LOCAL councillor Vic-tor Boyhan has written to Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore (Lab), to complain about Blackrock’s Newpark Comprehensive School being excluded from the government’s stimulus package spending.

Former pupil of New-park, Cllr Boyhan said he was disappointed to learn that the school had been left out of the pro-posals contained in the stimulus package, which was outlined last week by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin.

There has been con-troversy surrounding building works due to be carried out at Newpark Comprehensive School since the Government announced in March that the work was to be post-poned for four years.

Principal Derek Lowry and teacher Carl Bread-an sent out letters at the time urging parents and past pupils to lobby local politicians on the deci-sion and demand that the decision to delay the long-awaited extension to the school be reversed.

The lobbying group wrote to the Minister for Education, Ruari Quinn (Lab), urging him to hon-our the original promise to have the extension work done this year.

Cllr Boyhan warned that there are now seri-ous issues of health and safety at Newpark and that the school cannot continue to function for much longer in its cur-rent state.

According to staff and parents, the 70s-built flat-roof school building no longer serves its pur-pose as a viable school

for 850 students. Among the renova-

tion work identified by the campaign group includes the need for roofing, science labo-ratories, a larger water supply, electricity points, ventilation, recreation areas, wheelchair acces-sibility provisions, toilets and flooring.

The exclus ion of Newspark CS from the list of schools to benefit from the stimulus funds caused Cllr Boyhan to write the letter to the Tanaiste last week.

“ I note tha t s ix major school rebuild-ing projects around the country have been iden-tified for funding under the stimulus package announced by Govern-ment this week,” it read.

Speaking on the issue, Cllr Boyhan continued: “Clearly, Newpark is not a top priority, despite continued promises from local politicians and the Department of Educa-tion.

“I will be urging par-ents, teachers, pupils and former pupils of New-park to step up the cam-paign to have politicians deliver on the promise of a new school for New-park.”

When contacted by The Gazette, the Tan-aiste, Eamon Gilmore said: “I have long sup-ported Newpark Com-prehensive School’s request for a new school building.

“I have met with repre-sentatives of the school on numerous occasions in the past year and have walked around the school building, so I am very aware of how important an early date for the new school build is.”

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CHARITY All funds raised are going towards Aware

Dalkey man to cycle across America again� BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

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Dalkey resident Jon O ’K a ne i s c yc l i ng across America in a bid to raise money for the Irish mental health charity, Aware.

Jon will travel the 4,656 km from the east coast of the United States to the west over the course of the next few weeks and hopes people back home will support his mission for the charity.

On June 9, he set out from Sea Bright, New Jersey, with the aim of making the trek across the country to Portland in Oregon in just six

weeks. The trip is a solitary

venture as Jon does not have a support car. He carries all he needs on his bike, including clothes, tools, food, a camera and a phone.

Last year, Jon com-pleted the same cross-country trip without a charity to support and this year, he decided to do it for Aware. He hopes the 2012 trek will be a bit more com-fortable than last year’s which coincided with the greatest heat wave in the US since the 80s.

As the paper was going to press, Jon was in the Rocky Moun-tains, and will go on

to cycle his way down through the Jackson skiing resort, which is 6,500ft above sea level.

H i s fa ther, Enda said: “I am very proud of Jon, and I admire his individuality and stamina.”

Sandra Hogan from Aware Ireland said: “We are delighted that Jon’s journey across America is going so well and look forward to his return home next week. He is a brave man to set off on this epic adventure on his own, and his success just goes to show that with the right prepara-tion, supplies and tools, people can conquer any

Jon O’Kane pictured here with his bike and all of his supplies

journey.“That is important to

remember, especially for anyone who might be going through an experience of depres-sion at the moment, and is finding it a diffi-cult road. We hope peo-ple will get behind Jon, donate to Aware online

at aware.ie, and track him live to his f inal destination at Portland, Oregon.”

Jon carries a Spot sat-ellite on his arm so his progress can be tracked live online at http://tinyurl.com/bv5pyl3.

Aware was set up in 1985 by a group of men-

tal health professionals, patients and relatives with the aim of eradi-cating the stigma asso-ciated with depression in Ireland. Aware also supplies vital therapies to the 450,000 people who are suffering from depression in Ireland at any given time.

Dart car park to be upgradedNOTICE has been given by Dun Laoghaire-Rath-down County Council for the proposed improve-ment of the DART car park and its open space in Shankill.

The existing car park will be upgraded to 145 spaces with six disabled parking bays, four electric charge points, 40 bicycle spaces and will also get CCTV, improved lighting and pay and display facili-ties.

The open space devel-opment will consist of new footpaths, paved entrances, the planting of semi-mature trees and sundry landscaping.

Plans and particulars of the proposed develop-ment can be viewed until August 31 at the County Hall in Dun Laoghaire and Dundrum Office Park, Dundrum.

Two public informa-tion evenings will be held on August 15 and 16 in St Anne’s National School.

SHANKILL


Regatta makes a splash with localsT

HE 174th Dun Laoghaire regatta was held recently at the Royal Saint George Yacht Club,

with organisers estimating that 1,300 people came along to enjoy the fun-filled activities under the

summer sun.Sponsored by Frank Keane BMW

of Blackrock, which have just moved to the Rock Road Blackrock, there were lots of activities laid on both on and off the water, as Frank Keane

BMW celebrated their move, and locals enjoyed all the fun of the regatta. In a break from the gloomy summer, the sun blazed down, help-ing to ensure that the 174th regatta was a great success.

Adrienne and Avril Jermyn with Oisin Byrne. Pictures: Lois Crighton

REGATTA Lots of fun at Dun Laoghaire’s 174th sailing race,

Oliver Green

Sophie Deschars, Anne Kirwan and Alan Claffey

Paul Gough and son, Richard, with James Cresswell

and son, Henry


held at the Royal Saint George Yacht Club under glorious sun

Michael Murray, Frank Burgess and Bryan Maguire Malinid Demery Alex and Saskia South

A band kept events motoring along

Some of the colourful flags at the

regatta

Mark Colbert, Liam O’ Rourke, vice commodore, and Gavin Flood


New pizzas’ launch a tasty treat for allB

UCK’S Townhouse was a suit-ably hot venue for the launch of Domino’s Mexicano range

of pizzas, with a sizzling fiesta party creating a deliciously tasty start for the new line.

Fashionistas and foodies rubbed shoulders at the party, keen to sample

the Mexicano fare, with the venue transformed into a Mexican-themed hacienda, complete with pinata, som-breros and a Mariachi Azteca band.

Margaritas and beers completed the mood, while the guests tucked into the tasty samples. The chicken and beef Mexicano options are com-

bined with chorizo, red and green chillis, tomatoes, onions, 100% moz-zarella and a sour cream drizzle on Domino’s classic crust, while the veg-gie includes a sweetcorn and spinach variation, along with the delicious toppings – all combining to create a real Mexican treat.

Ally Garvey

Manners Oshafi and Emma Waldron

Cathy O’Connor and Corina Gaffey

Sean Montague and Brendan Scully

Conor Pope and Sonia HarrisKady O’Connell Ella Goodwin

FOOD Delicious new Domino’s Mexicano range is launched

26 July 2012 GAZETTE 11

THEATRE Hard work and

Well, the � PAUL HOSFORD

[email protected]

REJECTION is a part of life most people try their best to avoid. Defence mechanisms and ration-alisations for avoiding situations in which it may arise are carefully constructed.

But, for a brave few, rejection becomes a way of life. For actors and actresses, there is a repetitive cycle of rejec-tion from auditions, call backs and reviews.

Rather than be a hos-tage to this cycle, Mala-hide-born actress Suzan-na Geraghty wrote a one-woman play based on her experiences on the New York audition circuit.

The result is Audi-tions, Zoe’s Auditions, an hilarious look at the des-peration and delusion of Zoe, an aspiring actress who dreams of landing an acting job.

Zoe, who is overly enthusiastic and eager to please, is prone to a series of mishaps and misad-ventures that lead cast-ing directors to shout, “Next!”

Her over -the-h i l l agent sends her on an assortment of auditions ranging from Hamlet to Riverdance, to being shot out of a cannon for

a touring circus. Just as she is ready to

give up, she falls asleep at her job working back-stage on a production of A Christmas Carol and is visited by three auda-cious ghosts – of her past, present and future – who have startling wisdom to pass on to her.

The play comes to the Mill Theatre this week, starting on Thursday, July 26, and runs until Saturday, July 28.

The play has already proven to be a huge hit in New York, where it won the audience award at the United Solo Theatre Fes-tival, which celebrates one-person shows from all over the world.

Suzanna is excited to get to perform the piece on home soil, and says that the play’s success comes purely from hav-ing a likeable character.

“Audiences seem to like Zoe and take to her very easily.

“They love her resil-ience. It’s not that she’s willing to put herself up for things time and again, it’s that she gets knocked down time and time again and manages to get back up every single time.

“She’s so full of hope and she genuinely can’t see why people who

have so much, so much that she would love to have, don’t appreciate it more.”

Having spent a number of years on the New York theatre circuit herself, Suzanna says that the character is not fully autobiographical, but that it came from a natu-ral place.

“The character reso-nates with me. I spent 16 years as an impoverished actress in New York.

“The actors’ union, Actors’ Equity, have ensured that shows must audition actors for shows, regardless of whether or not the roles are filled.

“So, you get to the 46th Street office at 5.30am and line up in queue that goes around the block to be among the 230 people who get two minutes’ audition time.

“It was there that the character of Zoe came about. I would do audi-tions of scenes from Zoe and make up a writer of the play.

“My friends loved the character and urged me to write a play for her, but I always felt that was something I couldn’t do.”

Suzanna’s hesitance to write the play came not from a fear of failure or rejection, but from

12 GAZETTE 26 July 2012

Suzanna Geraghty

EVERYONE needs advice during their pregnancy, and nobody is more qualified to offer guidance than your Consultant, who will be with you from your first scan to the eventual birth of your son or daughter.

Your pregnancy might be perfectly routine, or it may be incident-filled, but whatever course it takes, Consultants at Rotunda Private Clinics will be there to make the path as smooth as possible for you and your baby.

Dr Ronan Gleeson, Consultant The modern, comfortable scan room used by Consultants

Personal pregnancy care at

the Rotunda Private Clinics

Commercial Feature

“Every day brings something different, and no

two days are the same,” said Dr Ronan Gleeson, an

obstetrician and gynaecologist at Rotunda Private

Clinics. “One day we might be holding clinics;

another day we might be in the labour ward or

operating in theatre. It really can be that varied.”

A percentage of Dr Gleeson’s work involves

scheduled appointments and private clinics for

expectant mothers – which is sometimes the first

contact that a soon-to-be mother will have with a

healthcare professional regarding her pregnancy.

“Some women are more nervous than others,”

said Dr Gleeson. “But most women who come into

my Private Clinic have a fair idea of what to expect,

from reading books and the internet, and from

talking to friends and family who I have been in the

Private Clinics before.”

These private visits generally involve scans

and appropriate blood tests, and they can be

an anxious time for mothers - until they see the

results of the tests.

“They see the baby’s heartbeat, and they see

that it is moving well is surrounded by a good

pool of water,” said Dr Gleeson.”It can be a very

reassuring experience for the mother.”

Of course, if the scan does highlight anything

that needs to be addressed, the mother and baby

are in exactly the right place, and any issue can

be managed immediately, even up to immediate

delivery of the baby should this be necessary.

“We’re there all the time, and our special baby

care unit really is the best in the country,” said Dr

Gleeson.

Generally, however, scans will indicate a

relatively smooth pregnancy – with the biggest

shock occasionally being the news of multiple

births.

“We do see a lot of twins, triplets, occasionally

even quads!” said Dr Gleeson. “It can be quite a

shock – but in most cases, it’s a pleasant one.”

For further information or to book an

appointment, phone: 01 874 2115

Zombies wanted for a walk� LAURA WEBB

[email protected]

BEWARE – zombies are set to take over the streets of Dublin at this year’s Zombie Walk, which takes place on Saturday, August 4, at St Stephen’s Green’s Leeson Street entrance.

Gathering times will be announced closer to the date, and zombies of all ages are allowed to take part. All “zombies” or people – are asked to do is have fun and dress up while walking, shuffling and moaning through the streets while raising money for charities.

Last year’s Zombie Walk attracted hundreds of wannabe undead, with some people simply paint-ing their faces white, while many others used pros-thetics to create a frightful and very realistic look.

For further information, see www.dublinzombie-walk.com.

CHARITY perseverance pay off for this actress turned writer

show must go on...Suzanna’s own struggles with dyslexia, a condi-tion she was diagnosed with one year before sit-ting her Leaving Cert.

“I always thought that I just wasn’t that bright, but that I’d work harder than everyone to get by.

“Then, when I was diagnosed, it was like some teachers had just given up on me. I was told not to apply for col-lege, as I wouldn’t be accepted.”

Undeterred, Suzanna applied and was accepted to Bard College in New York. There, she received Deans List honours, never telling anyone of her learning difficulties and using her acting and sporting talents to over-come her dyslexia.

“Being an actress helped. The words I used were muscular and char-acters say and do things. That stops words being

just characters on a page. It took the scariness away from it all.”

For now, Suzanna is based in New York, where she will return to be part of the encore showings of the play at the United Solo Thea-tre Festival, a section reserved for the biggest hits of the festival, but she does say she would like to come home.

“I’m trying to base myself here, but nobody knows who I am!

“I’m very entrepre-neurial and want to do my own work.

“I never expected any of this, but Zoe is getting a great reaction.

“I have a fantastic team that I have worked with who are unbelievably brilliant. I’m extremely grateful to have gotten this far.

“I just could’ve done without the poverty!”


Geraghty performing as Zoe whom she came up with while working as an actress in New York

Aine Lawlor, RTE Morning Ireland presenter and breast cancer survivor meets two young Florence Nightingales – aka four-year-olds Annika

Morris and Lucy O’Neill – at the launch of Boots’ partnership with the Irish Cancer Society as the company’s chosen Charity of the Year

Dublin’s Boots steps up to support cancerRTE Morning Ireland presenter, and breast cancer survivor, Aine Lawlor, was on hand to support the launch of Boots’ partner-ship with the Irish Cancer Society as the company’s chosen Charity of the Year for 2012/13.

The partnership will support people liv-ing with cancer in Ireland, and aims to help increase awareness, promote prevention, and raise vital funds to support the Irish Cancer Society’s nursing services.

To mark the launch of the partnership, Boots’ employees and customers from their 24 Dublin stores are participating in a series of Boots Night Walks for Night Nurses, which are taking place across the country on Wednesday, August 29.

All money raised will be invested in the Night Nurse service that is provided free of charge by the Irish Cancer Society to patients in their home.

For further information about the Irish Cancer Society, Boots Ireland’s Charity of the Year partnership, and the upcoming Boots Night Walks for Night Nurses event, visit your local Boots store or see www.irishcancer.ie.

Your chance to see Jimi Hendrix shotsWILD things should be flocking in a purple haze to the Ebow Gallery on Castle Street, Christchurch in the coming weeks, after it secured an exclusive exhibition of Jimi Hen-drix photographs by legendary snapper, Gered Mankowitz.

In the exhibition, which is entitled Experi-ence Hendrix, Mankowitz captures the pow-erful image of the legendary ’60s guitarist in many different but always striking ways.

Not only enthusiasts can go along and wit-ness the genius of Mankowitz’s art, but they can also buy a number of limited edition piec-es which are available for collectors to snap up. Experience Hendrix opened last week and continues until Sunday, August 12.

The Ebow Gallery is open from 12pm to 5pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Satur-day, and from 12pm until 8pm on Thursday.

It is closed on Mondays.For further information, call 01 478 9090.

Motor on over to a taxi’s booking app DUBLIN taxi company Global Taxis have launched the first and only taxi booking app for smartphones.

The free Click A Taxi app uses your GPS location and a user-friendly interface to enable people in Dublin to book a taxi on the go.

Working through partnerships with local taxi providers, the app is a way for local peo-ple to book a taxi, as well as providing holi-daymakers and business people an easy way to arrange their travel around Dublin.

Once the Click A Taxi app is download-ed, users can book a taxi in any area of the country, throughout Britain and, by the end of the year, in most of Western Europe and the United States.

The app is available to download via www.clickataxi.com, and at the Android and iPhone app stores.

DIARY

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Calling all gospel choirsORGANISERS are call-ing on Dublin gospel choirs to get involved in the first-ever Kilkenny International Gospel Choir Festival, which will take place from August 30 to September 2.

Festival founder and Kilkenny Gospel Choir director Fr Willie Purcell, wants gospel choirs to sign up and sing with hun-dreds of others during the weekend of music.

The choirs will par-take in three days of musical activities, with concerts and perform-ances planned for vari-ous venues. The festival’s grand finale at Kilkenny Castle is set to see more than 1,000 voices come together.

For further information, see www.kilkennygospel-choirfestival.com.

MUSICOLYMPICS An interesting talk on days gone by

Fingal Mayor Cian O’Callaghan (Lab), 1948 Olympian Harry Boland, and archivist

Colm McQuinn

Irish Olympian discusses basketball way back when� STEPHEN FINDLATER

[email protected]

RECALLING the leg-endary feats of some of his peers, former Irish Olympian Harry Boland gave a fasci-nating insight into the way athletes prepared for the Games in days gone by when he spoke at the official launch of the Irish Competitors at the Stockholm Olym-pics 1912 exhibition in Swords last week.

A century ago, with Ireland not yet an inde-pendent state, it could not send its own Olym-pic team, but this did not prevent a number of Irish-born athletes com-peting.

The exhibition, curat-ed by Colm McQuinn, details how nine indi-vidual sportsmen and one cycling team found a way to take part, rep-resenting the US, Great Britain and South Afri-ca, and going on to win three gold and one silver medal.

1912 was the first time the Games took place in London, before it returned to the English capital in 1948.

A basketball interna-tional, Boland is among 11 surviving members of the Irish contingent from those later Lon-don Games, and his talk gave a fascinating snap-shot into how the Games have changed.

Recalling the story of Pat O’Callaghan, a two-time hammer gold med-allist, he said:“He used to do his day’s work, cycle to a meet; throw the hammer, win [the event], of course, dance all night and then cycle home the next morn-ing.

“That was his training for the Olympics. When you consider the way training is done nowa-days, it’s a totally differ-ent story.”

For Boland, he mod-estly suggests he and the Irish basketball team he represented went to the games more by accident

than design. An impressive hurler,

winning a Dublin senior club championship with UCD, he was coaxed to play basketball by Father Horan at Belfield and duly got noticed enough

to answer a call to take part in the Games.

Beset by the after-math of World War II, London was not the glamorous proposition that greets the athletes this week.

“I became one of the only civilians on the Irish team which went straight to the 1948 Olympics in London.

“If there had been any qualifying competition before you entered like


there is now, I don’t think we’d have got there.

“We were selected at the last moment. When I consider all the prepa-rations now and all the competition that goes into selecting a team, ours was an extraordi-nary situation.

Boland ended up being one of just two non-mili-tary men to be selected, a connection that ensured that Ireland managed to get a full set of equip-ment for the trip.

“That was the kind of scene that prevailed. We had no outfits so the army loaned us shorts which we had to give back again.”

He freely admits his

side were “completely outclassed” but is quick to add “we had a great time of it; saw a lot of the other events.

“It was a wonderful time. I can’t consider myself an Olympic hero but the fact remains, I was there!”

The Irish Competitors at the Stockholm Olym-pics 1912 exhibition is available to view in the Fingal Local Studies and Archive in Clon-mel House, Forster Way, Swords over the next few weeks.

It is also on display in the County Council of fices on the Grove Road in Coolmine and in Swords.

GazetteMUSICMUSIC

Keeping the Gaslight shining strong and true

The Gaslight Anthem, with guitarist Alex Rosamilia pictured far right

� PAUL HOSFORD

“YOU KNOW it’s funny, I actually don’t own a single record by any one of those bands.”

Bruce Springsteen, The Replacements , Tom Petty – Alex Rosa-milia, the guitarist from The Gaslight Anthem, has heard the compari-sons innumerable times before, but they are hard to avoid.

The New Brunswick, New Jersey band have just released their fourth album, Handwritten, and the comparisons with another New Jersey rock hero has become an all too familiar fallback for the music media.

But, Rosamilia is a neophyte when it comes to The Boss, and doesn’t even own a Replace-ments CD, preferring “stargaze-y Britpop” in the vein of The Cure and The Smiths. The much-vaunted Jersey sound, Rosamilia says, is a media creation.

“There is no ‘Jersey rock’ sound. That’s not a thing that we set out to achieve, and it’s some-thing that the media has come up with, I think.

“We don’t try too hard to sound like any one thing. We play and what comes out is what we sound like.”

The album, a follow up to 2010’s American Slang, sees the band return to the more raw feel of their 2008 break-through, The ’59 Sound, and Alex says that get-ting the album out feels good.

“It’s great to get it out, but the fact that people listen to our band is a huge perk.

“When we started, we were playing to three people and, last night, we played to around 5,000. That in itself is huge for us.”

The genesis of the album saw the band head

EXCLUSIVE: SAVIOURS OF ROCK N ROLL, GASLIGHT ANTHEM

to Nashville and work at the legendary Blackbird studios, with even more legendary producer, Brendan O’Brien. Off the road for more than half a year, Alex says he didn’t miss playing live any more than he would

the studio, but that being on the road for so long does take its toll.

“I like them both, I’m a straight down the mid-dle man. It’s like which do you prefer, apples or oranges? They’re both awesome for completely different reasons.

“I’m getting older, so things are starting to hurt a little bit more! But we’re not real par-tiers and I think that’s where a lot of the pain comes from; not treating your body right during the day.

“We go through way more water and seltzer than beer.”

The early standout

from Handwritten is the closer, National Anthem. A personal, raw show-stopper.

“Brian wrote National Anthem in Nashville, in the house we were stay-ing in, and came down-stairs, we were all in the

living room area. He played it for us and asked did we want to work on it and we were like ‘no, that song is done.’

“He thought that we would work on it, but it was done the way it was.”

Bringing O’Brien on board was an easy deci-sion for the band, with the legendary producer having worked with such stars as Bruce Spring-steen, Bob Dylan and Pearl Jam.

“He has been sub-consciously producing us for 20 years. He has worked with so many of the bands and records that we grew up with.

“If you look at a band like Mastodon, who I love, they had the same producer until they got on a major label. And when they did, they went for Brendan.

“If it’s cool for Masto-don, it’s cool for us!”

As for personal adora-tion, it’s not something the modest guitarist actively courts.

“It’s weird. I don’t understand why peo-ple like me that much. I don’t like me that much!

“I don’t understand the idol worship of musi-cians. I do understand the respect as musicians, but I don’t see why you should become a demi-god. It’s a mental state that I’ve never been a part of. I’m flattered by it, but I’ve never been part of that mindset.”

As for how the band are doing in terms of the band’s stated goal of reclaiming rock and roll, Rosamilia is content.

“I’m sitting on a bus in America, talking to you in Ireland about my band. I think we’re doing pretty well.”


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“There is no Jersey Rock sound. We don’t try too hard to sound like any one thing. We play what we sound like”- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Deep Purple’s Jon Lord, who passed away last week

THE 2012 Olympic Games kick off in Lon-don this Friday (July 27) and all the competi-tiveness in the air is making me think about the rockers who run rings around manufac-tured artists and reality TV bands.

In fact, if rock had an Olympic Games, there are many deserving candidates: just don’t test for any illegal substances! The Roll-ing Stones should be given gold for going the distance, and overcoming a few hurdles along the way, as they celebrate an historic 50 years in music this month.

Another medal needs to go to musical heavyweight Bruce Springsteen who shook the capital last week with two nights of tire-less rocking out at the RDS. The Boss didn’t disappoint with both sets at well over three hours and, unlike his London gig the previ-ous weekend, no one pulled the plug.

In fact, Springsteen had his own “power switch” on stage to make sure that didn’t happen, not to mention the “British bobby” who mockingly tried to shut the gig down. Actually, give Bruce bonus points for having the craic.

Also at these fantasy games, a posthu-mous medal must be awarded to Jon Lord for his contribution to music. The keyboard-ist passed away after a long battle with pan-creatic cancer last week at the age of 71. He was a founding member of Deep Purple and co-wrote many of their songs. He also played with Whitesnake as well as cropping up to play with other well-known bands such as The Kinks on their massive hit, You Really Got Me.

And if the sporting aspect of the Olym-pic Games doesn’t float your boat, the good organisers of the games are putting on star-studded concerts as part of the opening and closing ceremonies, with another medal-wor-thy candidate: Paul McCartney last on stage at this week’s opener.

Now as we know in all Olympic Games there are winners...and there are losers. The Spice Girls are set to reunite for a perform-ance at the Games’ closing ceremony. Anyone who sits through that deserves a medal.

FastTunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods


GazetteBEAUTYBEAUTY Edited by

Laura Webb

Want to look

like Dita Von

Teese?

Victoria spices up autumn with her latest collection

asdf sdaf sdaf asdf asd

SHE first appeared in the public eye as one-fifth of a girl band who would go on to break chart records, but now Victoria Beck-ham is showing her own girl power in the fashion world as she launches her seventh season at Brown Thomas.

Her 12-month-old daughter, Harper, may have stolen the spotlight around the world, when she was pictured making her first steps in public at the BT event, but the designer mum certainly held her own looking chic and relaxed in black with a tousled upstyle.

Last week was the first time the style icon visited Brown Thomas in Grafton Street to promote her two womenswear collections

– Victoria Beckham and Victoria, Victoria Beck-ham.

Arriving at her show-room at the flagship store, Victoria was met by a

crowd of fans who she was happy to chat and pose with. Being a mother of four, it wasn’t surprising to see her going down to a child’s level, kneeling to chat to one of her little fashionista fans.

Brown Thomas was one of the first stores to stock her collection and sales

of her clothing line have continued to impress the designer.

“It’s doing really well. Brown Thomas has been one of my retail partners

right since the beginning, so to be here and support them, and just meet people – I’m quite overwhelmed. The turn-out is absolute-ly incredible,” she told reporters at the event.

The designer said she feels blessed with her life, having a great family while also being able to work at

something she loves – fashion design.

The fashionista went on to praise Irish women for their sense of style saying “women here really do understand fashion” and are “fashion forward”.

Commenting on her stunning collection, Vic-toria told reporters that she moved away from the strong military influ-ence her collection had last year but continues to remain respectful to her image and brand by giv-ing a “very strong fashion message” each season.

Her new line is just as svelte and chic as the designer herself and has some amazing figure hug-ging dresses. See the col-lection at Brown Thomas now.

Victoria Beckham launches her seventh season at

Brown Thomas

EVER wanted to mir-ror Dita Von Teese’s signature look? Then head down to Deben-hams in Blanchards-town on Friday, July 27 where celebrity make-up artist, Derrick Car-berry, will be recreating that classic look. Dita Von Teese has joined forces with make-up brand ARTDECO for her new collection Art Couture Dita Von Teese Classics. Having a big influence on the collection, the prod-ucts include her signa-ture red lipstick, black gel liner and fluttering lashes. Derrick Carber-ry will in Debenhams Blanchardstown on Friday 27 from 3pm until 5pm.

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Being a mother of four, it wasn’t surprising to see her going down to a child’s level, kneeling to chat to one of her little fashionista fans- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

R1

GazetteBUSINESSBUSINESS

IT ALWAYS seems that space is at a premium in every home, no matter how much or how little of a hoarder you might be.

Prompted by the growing shoe crisis in their own home, the idea of creating a storage solution that banished bursting drawers and crammed cup-boards was developed by husband and wife team, Paul and Clodagh Jacob.

The couple, who are both engineers, initially developed an understairs storage unit when their two young daughters began to follow in their moth-er’s footsteps and develop an interest in footwear.

Paul needed to devise an easy way to store the growing “shoe mountain”.

Smartstorage.ie’s units provide storage for shoes, school bags, ironing boards and other household appliances.

Smart Storage units can be installed in just a cou-ple of hours so minimum fuss for a busy family.

Paul recently appeared on RTE Dragons’ Den and had the dragons fighting to invest in Smart Storage, and eventually accepted publisher Norah Casey’s offer to invest in the business.

For more information on how Smart Storage might help with your own press-ing problems, log onto their website, www.smartstorage.ie.

Interview: Paul Jacob, Smart Storage on making space out of nothing at all

Q&A

Solving press-ing problems at home

Paul Jacob, Smart Storage, shows off an example of his products

Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?A: Archaeologist

Q: What was your first job?A: Packing potatoes into bags

in the back of my aunt’s shop

in Waterford

Q: And your first pay cheque?A: £5 for a week’s work of

packing potatoes!

Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed?A: Never

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

2010

Q: What is the best thing about your job?A: That we are bringing a solu-

tion to a problem everyone

has – lack of storage space

Q: What part of your working day do you delegate?A: I delegate the stocktaking to

my wife, Clodagh

Q: Have you achieved anything

that you once thought you could not pull off?A: Turning Smart Storage into

a vibrant, standalone business

Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be?A: This questionnaire

Q: Is there anything about yourself that you would like to set the record straight on?A: I’m taller than I appear on

TV and my teeth are all my

own

Q: What habits would you like to lose?A: I sometimes have a short

fuse

Q: What sport do you follow?A: I’m a big Munster Rugby fan

Q: What sport can you play?A: Unfortunately, I am too old

to play contact rugby, but I

love playing tag rugby in Grey-

stones Rugby Club

Q: What is your guilty music/TV or movie pleasure?A: My guilty pleasure is playing

the electric guitar – due to

respect for my neighbours, I

play with headphones on

Q: Who best represents mod-ern Ireland – David Norris or Jedward?A: Got to be Jedward

Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/iPad?A: Bruce Springsteen, all the

way

Q: Who do you follow on Twit-ter/Facebook?A: TheJournal.ie, and other

business sites

Q: At the moment, what are you looking forward to?A: My holiday with my family

– it’s been a really busy year

Q: Describe your dream meal?A: BBQ with family and

friends

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

Q: Where do you enjoy spend-ing money frivolously?A: Back to that electric guitar

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?A: Four pairs – one black, one

brown, a pair of flip flops and

a pair of runners; my wife and

daughters have enough to fill

two Smart Storage units

Q: What was your worst holi-day experience?A: A week in Menorca with

two sick children in 2004

Q: Describe your dream holiday?A: The Whitsunday Islands off

the coast the Australia

Q: What would be your dream job?A: Skipper on a boat off the

Whitsunday Islands

Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?A: Like my dad, I don’t think

I will ever fully retire, as I’m

always on the go

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS 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

LOCALMATTERS

Supported by AIB

LENDERS BECOME REALISTS

Q – I HAVE a tracker mortgage but cannot pay the capital element. The likelihood is that I will not be able to ever pay this capital back. Is my lender going to allow me pay an interest-only amount indefinitely, or am I just kicking the can down the road? Michael – Mount Merrion

A - LENDERS are slowly becoming realists. “You

can’t get blood from a stone”, and it is more debt

reality than debt forgiveness.

With the launch last month of the Personal Insol-

vency Bill, together with the already implemented

Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process with all lend-

ers, mechanisms are now in place to give closure to

those who, as you state, may never be able to pay

the amount they borrowed.

Time is the key. You have a tracker and, with the

ECB rate at an historical low of 0.75%, your monthly

interest payments are probably affordable. Your

partner may have lost their job, you may have lost

your job, or your business may have collapsed.

The lender has to give you time (and dignity)

to see whether your income can turn around, or

eventually you stop kicking that can – whatever

that takes.

Either way, you will be required to complete a

Standard Financial Statement, a 12-page form

outlining your financial circumstances and expec-

tations.

If you need help with the evaluation process,

completing this form or even require representa-

tion to your lender or the courts, call 01 278 5555, or

email [email protected] for details of

our advisory services.

ARE SAVINGS BONDS SAFE?

Q – WILL my three-year An Post savings bond be safe if the euro fails and we go back to the punt? Will I get my money back? Sorcha – Tem-pleogue

A - An Post’s Saving Bond is part of the State Sav-

ings managed by the National Treasury Manage-

ment Agency– they also manage the National

Pension Reserve, NAMA and are a Government-

appointed body), and are a direct, unconditional

obligation of the Government and are considered

sovereign debt, and are ranked equally with all

other sovereign debt. There is no expiry to this

protection, and the only limitations are the ones

imposed by the investment [worth]:

- Savings bonds and savings certificates –

€120,000 per person;

- National solidarity bonds (four-year and 10-

year) – €250,000 per person;

- Prize bonds – no limits.

Remember also that you may withdraw on all

investments (bar prize bonds – a little longer) with

only seven days’ notice without penalty.

You will, however, miss on the interest that you

would have earned.

The punt was exchanged at a rate of 0.787564

to the euro back in 2001. Personally, I do not think

the euro will fail but, if by a long stretch of the

imagination it did, you can be sure of an equitable

exchange rate being employed. As Bobby McFerrin

once sang: “Don’t worry, be happy”!

� Contact John with your money questions at [email protected] or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor


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Four-bedroom finesse at Glenlyon ParkPROPERTY Partners O’Brien Swaine are bringing to the market 9 Glenlyon Park, Knock-lyon, a large style four-bedroom, three bath-room detached fam-ily home which comes to the market in fine condition throughout, for the asking price of €389,000.

This attractive home has undergone exten-sive refurbishment in recent years and boasts marble flooring, a large integrated kitchen, two reception rooms, a util-ity room, four bedrooms, the master of which is en

suite, and a family bath-room. There is also a guest WC, and a private landscaped rear garden.

The accommodation comprises an entrance hallway with laminate wooden flooring, a TV room, a living room with laminate wooden floor-ing, marble feature fire-place with a timber sur-round, bay window, TV point, and double doors leading to the kitchen and dining room.

The space contains a modern fully-fitted kitchen with a good range of wall and floor units and marble floor-

ing, as well as an inte-grated fridge freezer, dishwasher, stainless steel oven, hob and microwave. The room also contains sliding doors to the rear of the property.

The utility room also features marble floor-ing, and has a worktop, storage presses, and is plumbed for a washing machine and tumble dryer.

The main bedroom features built-in ward-robes, and has an en suite which contains a WC with wash-hand basin and a step-in

9 Glenlyon Park in Knocklyon is brought to the market for €389,000

shower.The other bedrooms

also feature built-in wardrobes.

The main bathroom features a bath with a Mira shower, partly-tiled walls and floor, a wash-hand basin and WC.

To the front of the

property is off-street parking for two cars, a lawn, and side entrances to the rear of the house, which features a private landscaped rear garden which is not overlooked, a large patio area, raised flower beds and a Barna shed.

Ideally located just a

stone’s throw away from a host of local amenities such as shops, schools and public transport. Also just a short trip away are SuperQuinn Knocklyon, Rathfarn-ham, Templeogue and Dundrum. There are also transport links such as the 15, 49 and

75 bus routes and easy access to the M50 road network.

Viewing of 9 Glen-lyon Park is highly rec-ommended and can be arranged by contact-ing Nichola O’ Connor at Property Partners O’Brien Swaine on 01 457 8909.


Zafira Tourer offers some serious space and comfort � CORMAC CURTIS

IF I had any strength left I would fight the urge to write about the weather, but I just don’t have that strength.

It has finally got the better of me, and I am admitting defeat in the face of a wet and dull foe, the likes of which, with luck, we will never have to face again.

This rain is just relent-less.

Earlier in the year, as the cold snap eased and the gas bills began to drop a little, I had visions of sitting in the garden with my laptop, typing away under a parasol as the kids mucked about in the sun.

But no, our summer has forsaken us, the only hope of blue skies and sandy beaches lie across

the channel on mainland Europe.

There is good news for those fortunate enough to get there, as Opel’s new Zafira Tourer offers some serious comfort for cruising down to San Tropez or Nice with a pack of kids and a load of luggage.

I have sung Opel’s praises on a number of occasions this year, as they have made some very sound decisions in their fleet development and pricing.

What Opel are prov-ing with the Zafira Tour-er is that they are care-fully gearing their model range to very specific segments.

The pricing of the Zafira Tourer alone (starting at €28,495) is an indication that it is not intended as a family

van all-rounder. This car packs a lot

more punch than that – and besides, as I said a few weeks back, the new Meriva already offers everything a family could want, so why cover old ground.

No, the Zafira Tourer, as its name suggests, has farther horizons in mind for its driver and passen-gers.

Let’s start with space.In terms of pure vol-

ume there is a total of

1,860 litres of storage space available with the rear seats collapsed, this is 40 litres more than the previous model.

This car really starts to shine when you examine the thought and engi-neering that has gone in to how all this space is used.

With the Zaf i ra , Opel were determined to achieve maximum flexibility without seat removal, they claim it is the car’s underlying principle – and it’s easy to believe them.

They have extensively re-designed their Flex7 seating system, giving second-row passengers the chance to enjoy first-class feeling

While the third row seats can still be folded down f lush with the floor of the luggage com-partment, the second row has been completely re-designed.

There are now three individual seats that can be folded flat creating an even load floor.

More importantly, the passengers in the sec-ond row can enjoy the optional lounge seating system.

This is a simple and smart move by Opel that provides generous seat-ing space and comfort like in an upper-class saloon.

Using a clever folding mechanism, the back of

the middle seat in the sec-ond row folds down and rotates to offer comfort-able armrests for the pas-sengers in the outer seats.

The outer seats also slide 50mm towards the centre of the cabin and thus create more shoul-der room, I’m not aware of any other car in this segment offering such flexibility.

What all this trans-lates into is a vehicle that offers not just room, but very generous comfort levels for people who expect better-than-usual levels of luxury – for long and short journeys.

This car will take adults and kids on a long-distance journey across Europe, but, it will also operate just as easily as a corporate limousine-style transport.

I’ve mentioned it in previous articles, but I must talk about Opel’s nifty FlexRail.

Opel’s new Zafira Tourer

Opel’s FlexRail offers storage spaces exactly where needed

RoadRoadSignsSignsC-MAX to get EcoBoost engine FORD are set to offer its C-MAX and Grand C-MAX with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine starting in October this year.

The combination of the award-winning engine and the popular multi-activity vehicle is expected to deliver best-in-class fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions.

Ford customers will have the option of purchasing a C-MAX and Grand C-MAX with either the 100 PS or the 125 PS versions of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost, which was recently named the 2012 “International Engine of the Year”.

The Ford C-MAX 1.0-litre EcoBoost is expected to deliver 5.1 l/100 km (55.4 mpg) and 117 g/km CO2 across both power outputs, while the Grand C-MAX should achieve 5.2 l/100 km (54.3 mpg) and 119 g/km CO2.

Ford has sold more than 200,000 C-MAX and Grand C-MAX cars in Europe since the latest versions were introduced in 2010; with the two models this year claiming Ford’s largest share of the compact multi-activity vehicle segment since the original C-MAX went on sale in 2003.

The three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine uses turbocharging, direct fuel injection and variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust to deliver the power of a larger engine with the fuel efficiency of a smaller unit. It is built in Ford’s engine plants in Cologne, Germany, and Craiova, Romania.

More than 4,700 customers across Europe have ordered a Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost in its first full month on sale, accounting for about one quarter of the model’s sales in Ford’s 19 traditional European markets.

Ford predicts that by 2015 more than half of vehicles it produces in Europe for the continent will be powered by EcoBoost engines – also available in 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre displacement.

Updated C-MAX and Grand C-MAX will offer in-car connectivity system SYNC with emergency assistance; and advanced driver assistance technologies active city stop, lane keeping aid, lane departure warning, auto high beam, driver alert and traffic sign recognition.

Customers will also be able to specify Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and Power Tailgate options and the stylish new Burnished Glow colour.

Ford’s popular C-MAX

GazetteMOTORSMOTORS

� Top speed: 193km/hour� CO2 emissions: 119 g/km� Road Tax Band: A – Road Tax €160� Entry Price: €30,495excl options

SPECS: ZAFIRA TOURER


Front seat passengers enjoy a storage system that provides highly versatile, modular multi-level storage occupying the deep space between the two front seats.

In plain English – there is a clever set of storage drawers that can each be easily moved forwards and backwards on a clever rail system

depending on what kind of storage you require.

The SE model that I tested featured attrac-tive polished aluminium rails, reaching from the front centre console back to the rear footwell, plus a practical sliding tray/cup holder.

As you would expect from a premium model, the car comes with plen-

ty of features as stand-ard, including, CD/MP3 player with stereo radio featuring an Aux-in sock-et and very easy-to-use USB connectivity. The steering wheel features audio controls.

Cruise control fea-tures, as does very useful front and rear parking distance sensors.

The model I drove also

featured a mobile phone system with Bluetooth, which is a €357 option.

The engine range on offer for the Zafira Tourer consists of efficient diesel and petrol engines with output from 81 kW/110 hp to 121 kW/165 hp. An especial ly low-consumption ecoFLEX model with a 2.0 CDTI common-rail turbo die-

sel and standard Start/Stop technology is also on offer.

The Zafira Tourer 2.0 CDTI ecoFLEX, boasts one of the values in the compact monocab class with just 119 g/km CO2. And this comes with spirited performance of 96 kW/130 hp and maximum torque of 300 Newton metres.

offers 1,860 litres of storage space

Edited by

Cormac Curtis

RoadRoadSignsSigns

Mazda MX-5 goes on sale in autumn APART from a glorious week back in March when I reviewed the wonderful VW Golf Cabriolet, we haven’t exactly been blessed with open-top driving weather.

So, it makes sense to start planning for next year, and fans of the legendary Mazda MX-5 will be buzzing with the news that there is an all-new model on the way for 2013.

The newly-upgraded version of the world’s most popular open-top sports car is now rolling off the assembly line in Hiroshima and will go on sale in Europe this autumn.

It has enhanced safety and driving attributes, along with exterior and interior upgrades to make its two models – the retractable hardtop coupe and the classic soft-top – even more attractive.

The upgraded MX-5 has a new front bumper design that makes the roadster more aggressive looking and contributes to optimal aerodynamic performance. Irish drivers will also have a beautiful new grey exterior colour available, as the former Metropolitan Grey is replaced with Dolphin Grey. And on the inside, panel decor and matching steering wheel spokes have been upgraded for a touch of refinement.

The MX-5 has always provided one of the world’s most intimate and enjoyable drives, and the upgraded version is now even more responsive to driver input. Throttle movement, and the degree to which the gas pedal is pushed, are now controlled separately. This increases the feeling of linear acceleration, and gives the driver even more control when accelerating from a reduced speed, which is key for driving on windy Irish country roads.

This is combined with revised vacuum brake-booster characteristics that optimise brake return control, which is especially beneficial when the driver brakes upon entering a curve.

New acceleration control then kicks in when the driver lets off the brake and steps on the gas pedal again.

Taken together, these two new upgrades make braking more controllable, acceleration after braking smoother and makes it easier for the driver to reach the desired vehicle speed after braking.

The upgraded Mazda MX-5 will go on sale across Europe in autumn 2012.

The upgraded Mazda MX-5

Northern Ireland – a golfer’s paradise� STEPHEN FINDLATER

THE story goes that Strandhill in Sligo was once pencilled in to host the world surfing cham-pionships.

It seems the turna-round came with the realisation that exposure to the wider world, and the deluge of visitors that would ensue, would leave the village creak-ing under the increased strain with scant waves to go around.

For Northern Ireland – and the Causeway Coast in particular – the inverse expectations had long been lying latent; a breathtaking golfing region all dressed up but waiting for a party to attend.

Revealing itself to the world, the Euro-pean Tour’s arrival to Royal Portrush’s Dun-luce course proved their moment as the Irish Open came to town with much fanfare.

Fans arrived in their droves, the highest aggre-gate attendance for the tour flanking the fairways, braving the North Sea’s most rogue and change-able elements.

Indeed, the appetite was such that over 15,000 took in the Pro-Am, a previously unheard of

number, while sold out signs appeared at the gates for the first time in tour history.

But with the tented village now dismantled and the chain of flags lining each street from Bushmills to the course ravelled up, the North-ern Irish Tourist Board (NITB) are hoping that the memorable week will create a lasting legacy for visitors.

With good reason: a chip and a putt from the Giant’s Causeway, the oldest Irish distillery and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, the top of Antrim offers an idyllic base for an extended golfing trip.

Indeed, the rooms on the sea side of the Cause-way Hotel perched atop one of the cliffs overlook the “stones” themselves and the walkway which leads to the UNESCO world heritage site.

A new £18.5m visi-tor centre at the venue opened this month and is expected to accommo-date over 600,000 visitors a year.

What that volume creates is a high quality of hotel and restaurant. Most to avail of those traditionally seem to be day-trippers.

But there is majesty to entertain those with a

longer term view, travers-ing the route between Cushendall and Castle-rock golf clubs.

Those two way-points provide hidden gems. The former, nestled at the foot of Glenballyeamon, offers a perfect easing into a four-day stint as the Red Bay waves lead into the River Dall, which meanders its way through the course.

Under 5,000 yards, the attraction lies in the trick-ery held within, especial-ly on the closing pair of holes, both with the Mull of Kintyre lurking in the eyeline.

Breathtaking

Rolling around the cor-ner of the A2, Ballycastle, with Rathlin Island the feature vista, could pro-vide the next stop but a further 20-minute spin along the breathtak-ing coast road opens up more bounty.

A chain of four courses dotted around the ruin of Dunluce Castle conclude this ride.

Portstewart’s strand course provides the championship standard challenge, while the old and riverside provide more leisurely fare. All are set in classic links country, the contrast of pinky yellow dunes pro-

viding towering banks to counteract the deep brown brush.

Castlerock is but a few minutes down the Derry road and has a fifth hole described by David Jones as “the most scenic” in Irish golf.

The jewel in the region’s crown, though, is undoubtedly Royal Portrush. The course, redesigned in 1951, has the elevation to provide clear views of Scotland and, to the west, the Don-egal mountains with cliff, sea and island relaxing the eye.

The dunes once again play their part, lending themselves to some of the most devastating bunkers. Green-side, they fall like crevasses while Keegan Bradley – the 2011 PGA rookies of the year – described the fair-way-side sand-trap on 17 as being bigger than the house he grew up in.

Since he grew up in leafy, well-to-do Vermont, it is an up close perspec-tive that needs to be seen to be truly appreciated.

Calamity corner – the circuit around holes 13, 14 and 15 – sits on the precipice between cliff and sea. The 14th is a true test of nerve with any drift to the right liable to leave you 50 feet below in

a deep ravine.The New York Times’

writer Charles McGrath described it as the “hard-est par three I’ve ever seen” before the closing holes eased him back to reality, away from a chas-tening sea breeze.

That combination of difficulty and scenic delight has seen Portrush regularly named among the top 20 golf courses in the world by numerous magazines.

And now, introduced to the wider world by last month’s Irish Open, it is very much at large in any self-respecting itinerary of Northern Ireland.

• Green fees for Royal Portrush are £125-140 in summer and £60 in win-ter.

� For more information on the Causeway Hotel, go to http://www.giants-causeway-hotel.com/.

The beautiful Giant’s

Thomas Cook is offering exclusive match breaks to Barclays Premier League’s biggest games

WITH football season approaching and fixtures for the Barclays Premier League now announced, Thomas Cook Sport is offering some exclusive match breaks to the biggest games of the 2012-13 campaign, as the only official ticket supplier in Ireland for the biggest teams across the water.

Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Everton and Liverpool FC filled the top eight places in last year’s league, and Thomas Cook Sport is providing packages to see all these teams, as well as being Official Travel Partner to Celtic in Scotland.

Manchester City start their campaign to retain the title on August 18, playing host to newly promoted Southampton. A one-night package, including guaranteed match ticket, is from just €126 per person (flight extra).

Manchester United kick off at Old Trafford against Fulham on August 25, and the Thomas Cook package for €228 includes match ticket, four-star city centre accommodation, match programme, stadium tour, and discount vouch-ers for both the hotel’s bar and lounge and the United Megastore. The key fixture against Spurs on September 29, also at Old Trafford, is available for €240.

“Euro 2012 will have whetted fans’ appetite for what should be a very competitive Barclays League campaign starting next month,” says John Grehan of Thomas Cook Sport Ireland. “Our packages ensure Irish fans will have the very best opportunity to follow their favourites across the water.”

With over 150 Premier League match breaks on offer, Thomas Cook Sport Ireland enjoys greater access to tickets than other operators in Ireland. Many of its Premier League breaks include free stadium tours, club museum tours, match programmes and discount vouchers for club stores.

All packages include match ticket and accom-modation based on two people sharing. Flights are not included. For more information, contact Thomas Cook Sport Ireland on 01 514 0405.

FastTravel

GazetteTTRAVELRAVEL22 GAZETTE 26 July 2012

Thomas Cook Sport is offering deals on match

breaks to top cities like Manchester

Causeway is a great reason to extend your stay when in Northen Ireland for a golfing trip

The annual Grand Prix of India is a highlight in the Formula 1 calendar this OctoberTHE annual Grand Prix of India ranks as one of the highlights in the annual Formula 1 calendar, providing a race-going experi-ence like no other. The 2012 F1 Airtel Indian Grand Prix takes place from October 26 – 28 at the Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida, and Gohop.ie has an exclusive offer for racing fans this season.

Racing packages from Gohop.ie start from €749 per person, with views of turns 14 and 15 at the Classic Stand West Zone, €819 per person with views from the Star Stand East Zone (the critical point sharp turn) or €949 per person for views of the largest circular bend of the circuit.

Travelling on October 26, packages include three nights in the five-star Metropolitan Hotel, Delhi on a B&B basis, a Grand Prix Season pass for all three race days, includ-ing practice and qualifying sessions as well as transfers from and to Delhi Airport and transfers to the Buddh circuit.

Popular

Racing packages also offer you the chance to take in a Golden Triangle Escorted Tour from only €470 per person, taking in a three- night excursion to some of India’s most popular destinations. Witness a guided tour to see the surreal views of the magnificent Taj Mahal sparkling in the rays of the Indian sun in Agra, visit the pink capital city of Rajasthan and the beautiful blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture of Fatehpur Sikri. Explore the many facets of Jaipur and its crafts before visiting City Palace, the archi-tectural masterpiece and must-see destina-tion in Jaipur.

The price of the Golden Triangle Tour includes a chauffeur-driven air-conditioned vehicle for the journey, a local English speak-ing guide for the sightseeing tour in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Jaipur, as well as an Ele-phant ride at Amber Fort in Jaipur.

For more information or to book, visit www.gohop.ie.

TravelBriefs

Edited by

Natalie Burke


The Royal Portrush Golf Club which hosted last month’s Irish Open. Picture: Mark

Alexander

Royal Portrush Golf Club. Picture: Mark Alexander

The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge near Ballintoy.

Picture: Stephen Findlater


A dark moon risesNeither man was happy with the outcome of this round of spin the bottle

GoingOUT

GazetteENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENT

As massive in scale as the seemingly insurmountable hype that was built up for it in the lead up to its release

�

� NIALL BERMINGHAM

MAGIC Mike is a film about male strippers. As the characters strip away their clothes, the director (Steven Soderbergh) does his best to strip away our prejudices and replace them with empathy for these men.

Channing Tatum does his best to portray this so-called Magic Mike… I’m sorry. I just can’t go on with this. This is a film about men taking their clothes off; I’m going to go see Batman instead. At least Batman always leaves his clothes on.

So this is it, the big one: The Dark Knight Rises. Seven years after Nolan’s first foray into Gotham City here we are at the end point. The third film in Christopher Nolan’s tril-ogy and it has been quite the adventure.

Starting with Bat-man Begins in 2005, the success of which was a tremendous shock to

the system of many film goers, The Dark Knight followed after in 2008, a film many remember for the astounding perform-ance of Heath Ledger as the Joker, we now find ourselves at the conclu-sion with Rises.

The hype and expecta-tions leading up to this film were on par with any other film in recent his-tory and, while it is a sub-ject for debate, in my mind Rises was well worth the wait.

Set eight years after the end of The Dark Knight we find Gotham a city changed. Gone are the criminal underworld and

the corrupt politicians and all down to the Dent Act.

Harvey Dent aka Two Face has been written as the hero after his death and Batman, the villain. Because of this Batman (Christian Bale) has retired and Bruce Wayne has gone into hiding, never leaving his estate.

The opening half an hour or so is spent intro-ducing all the old and new characters and setting up all the twists and turns.

We meet Bane (Tom Hardy) in a magnificent opening scene and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman/ Selina Kyle steals her

opening scene while also stealing some pearls from a very frail Bruce Wayne. John Blake, an idealis-tic young member of the GPD, is played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt with Mar-ion Cotillard playing a Wayne Enterprises board member.

All the old faces (Caine, Oldman and Freeman) show up here as well and give spectacular perform-ances.

Then of course there’s Bale as Batman/ Bruce Wayne. It’s been said that Batman is the least inter-esting character of the series and is supported by all the others. I’m not so sure that’s the case this time around.

In Batman Begins we saw a person trying to get a grip on his new role as city protector and in The Dark Knight someone who had found his place and was trying his best to survive the anarchy his city was plunging into. However he was a charac-

ter who was always sure of himself and knew where he was headed.

This time around we get a character out of place. His city doesn’t need or want him anymore. Por-trayed as the murderer of the city’s “real” hero Bat-man has, as I said earlier, retired and Wayne locks himself away not daring to face the world.

This take on Batman is nothing new, the comics have been doing it for dec-ades, but it’s certainly not the Batman you would expect in a film. Bale is brilliant as this wounded (both emotionally and physically) version of the beloved character.

The soundtrack is brought to you by Hans Zimmer and is superb. It never lets up and takes your emotions on an unforgettable journey.

All in all this is a fantas-tic film despite some very minor plot holes. Unfor-tunately it is, for now, the last one in the series.

FILM OF THE WEEK: The Dark Knight Rises�� (12A) 165 mins

OUR VERDICT:A suitable end to perhaps the best super hero series ever. Excellent performances from all involved and a brilliant job by Christopher Nolan as both director and writer. This is a film for fans of the series but also for the newcomers out there who never saw the first two. I assure you, they do exist.

Director: Christopher NolanStarring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard

THE PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929Pavilion Theatre Music Weekender

FOR one weekend, the Pavilion Theatre will play host to three of the hottest acts on the Irish music scene. On Thursday, Sam Amidon will bring his electrifying live show to theatre; on Friday, David Kitt will be performing his debut album Small Moments in its entirety and, on Saturday, following the successful release of their third album Little Sparks, Delorentos are set to perform a seldom seen intimate acoustic set Taking place over the weekend of July 26-28 at 8pm, tickets are priced at €17/16.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Auditions, Zoe’s Auditions

AN HILARIOUSLY touching tale of lovable Zoe, an aspiring actress who dreams of landing an acting job. Her over-the-hill agent sends her on an assortment of auditions ranging from Hamlet to being shot out of a cannon for a touring circus. Wildly enthusiastic and eager to please, Zoe is prone to a series of mishaps and misadventures that lead casting directors to shout “NEXT!!” Just as she is ready to give up, Zoe falls asleep at her job working backstage on a production of A Christmas Carol. She is visited by three audacious ghosts with startling wisdom for her. July 26-28 at 8pm. Admission: €18/15.

CIVIC THEATRE 01 462 7477Much Ado About Nothing

AFTER the success of last year’s production of Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, AC Productions return with another one of Shakespeare’s classic comedies, transposed to 1960s Italy where wit is as sharp as the fashion. Cupid has his work cut out for him as reluctant lovers, Beatrice and Benedict, exchange words. In the Bard’s tale of barbed words and sparkling wit, the path of true love certainly doesn’t run smoothly. The show runs for two nights, on August 10 and 11 at 8.15pm. Admission €10.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622The Connect Club 2012

THIS July, Draíocht is delighted to be back working with the Daughters of Charity’s Summer Camp, the Connect Club in Laurel Lodge. The summer camp is filled with social and recreational activities catering for young people with varying degrees of intellectual disability, with the aim of providing an outlet that is fun and focused on the individual’s likes and interests. For more, see www.draiocht.ie

his best to strip aprejudices and them with empthese men.

Channing Tatuhis best to portso-called MagicI’m sorry. I just on with this. Thisabout men takil th ff I’

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GazetteGAMINGGAMINGBytesandpieces

TAP. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Sound like fun yet? Well, imagine repeating that for about, ooh, another 59,999,993 times.

After all, it will “only” take 60 million taps until the mystery of Curios-ity is revealed – the forthcoming (August) app from the inimitable Peter Molyneaux, devel-oper of lots of very crea-tive games, and serial

promiser of incredible gaming experiences that, err, never quite match his spiel, when delivered.

However, Curiosity is making many people, well, curious, as details become clearer ahead of its forthcoming launch.

Curiosity features a giant black cube floating in a clinically clean, sim-ple space, with the cube composed of 60,000,000 different shapes.

Players will tap away at the cube, piece by piece, to get to the cube’s centre, where the player who lands the final tap/blow will learn what the cube holds and, claims Peter, “a life-changing experience”.

So, if you’ve ever wanted to tap away at a giant virtual cube to win, say, a butter-dispensing torch, Curiosity could be for you ...

Curious to tap 60,000,000 times to reveal a secret?


New CEO takes over at Yahoo!FINALLY, some good news for Yahoo! – it’s got a new CEO, and an extremely capable one at that.

Jumping ship from Google, highly-experienced Marissa Mayer has taken over at Yahoo!, following the media feeding frenzy earlier this year regard-ing the then CEO Scott Thompson’s misleading college degree, while Ross Levinson stepped in as interim CEO following Thompson’s resignation.

Mayer has quite a task on her hand – Yahoo!’s earnings dropped by 4% in the three months to June, earning $227 million in the quarter. Not exactly a small chunk of change, but, in the same period, more than $130 million was set aside for layoffs, as the company cut 1,500 people from the payroll.

Of course, such figures and percentages can be viewed one way or another, depending on the angle you look at them, but one thing remains clear – the company is now trailing behind arch online rivals which have markedly different platforms for users to engage with, but have a global reach in a way that Yahoo! currently does not.

On a positive note, Mayer has some terrific cre-dentials, having accomplished a lot since becom-ing Google’s 20th employee (yes, 20th) in 1999. As pure speculation goes, no doubt the company’s investors had reason to shout “Yahoo!” when they learned of her appointment ...

� SHANE DILLON

THE thing about zombies – in terms of how often they pop up in modern culture – is that they have a habit of coming back to life, again and again.

We see this time and again, with waves of zom-bies periodically sham-bling, staggering, shuf-fling and otherwise mak-ing their way onto the big (and small) screen.

For example, despite the TV industry’s initial reluctance to bring it to life, The Walking Dead

has turned into a world-wide TV hit.

Meanwhile, editing (and reshoots) are quietly continuing on the big-screen version of World War Z, starring Brad Pitt, which has now been delayed to next June.

Bearing in mind this kind of enduring zombie popularity, it’s clear that they have a certain role in pop culture – something which is even more rel-evant in computer games, as zombies have long been a stalwart of gaming.

The reason I’ve dug

up zombies again (sorry) is that I, and a number of industry bigwigs, note the infectious popularity of PC title DayZ, which has leapt up almost out of nowhere, grabbing 140,000 extra players in just five days (at the time of writing)to take the title past the 640,000 mark.

That’s an impressive number when you con-sider that DayZ is not actually a standalone, professionally-created and released game, but just a mod. A what?

A “mod”, or modifica-

Showing a rare moment of peaceful player cooperation (and DayZ’s slightly clumsy animation), this player is greeted by a group of heavily-

armed zombie apocalypse survivors in the depths of fictional post-Soviet state, Chernarus. Whether or not they then played the game in

the way that many gamers are following – and gunned him down a moment later to scavenge his meagre supplies – is anybody’s guess ...

Horribly entertainingtion, generally sees dedi-cated gamers tinkering around with a game’s source code to create a new version of the game, sometimes using their own graphics and models, or otherwise completely restructuring the original title.

In this way, mods can breathe new life into an existing title or, as in the case of DayZ, bringing a pretty-dead title back to (undead) life – making it a hit with gamers in the process.

You see, DayZ is actu-ally a mod for a 2009 PC title, ARMA II, which, as news of DayZ spreads, is suddenly flying off the shelves again – not for gamers interested in ARMA II, but for those looking to use it to play the DayZ mod, instead – a remarkable feat, con-sidering that the mod isn’t even finished yet, and has much left to be ironed out.

In DayZ, players roam around a fictional post-Soviet state, which has been overrun by zombies

(and is now attracting a large number of zombie-survivalist gamers).

The player is forced to constantly scavenge for supplies, while tending to their own needs, all the time remaining wary of zombies – and wary of other human players, who could prove to be much more dangerous.

After all, the three humans spotted over the crest of the next hill could be helpful survivors, or they could gun down your character and loot the corpse, stripping it of hard-won items.

In DayZ’s harsh world, death has consequences.

It’s an interesting con-cept, mixing conven-tional gaming tropes with unpredictable (and, con-sequently, pretty “real”) human behaviour, adding levels of suspicion and consequence to the title in ways that a convention-ally produced game can’t quite match.

Whatever about con-ventional zombies, DayZ’s undead pedigree grows healthier by the day ...

GAZE

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DUN LAOGHAIRE/RATHDOWN

COUNTY COUNCIL Permission is sought for a single storey extension and alterations to the side of an existing dwell-inghouse and associated site development works atNo. 26, Highthorn Park, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dub-lin by Ms. Breda McMa-hon. The planning appli-cation may be inspected or purchased during office hours 10.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Fri-day at the offices of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, County Hall, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on pay-ment of the prescribed fee of €20 within the period of five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the County Coun-cil of the application.

PLANNING NOTICE

16118

HOUSE MAINTENANCE

ELECTRICAL

HANDYMAN

DRIVING

DUN LAOGHAIRE/RATHDOWN

COUNTY COUNCIL

Permission is sought for proposed separation of existing bungalow dwell-ing into two semi detached bungalows with conver-sion and dormer extension to roof space. Also separa-tion of site with new wid-ened vehicular entrance and all other associated site works at 94A Ballyo-gan Road Carrickmines Dublin 18 by Terence Lin-nie. The planning appli-cation may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority, county hall, Dun Laoghaire during its public opening hours. A submission / observation may be made on payment of €20 within a period of 5 weeks from the date the application is received by the planning authority.

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FastSport

Thompson breaks

new ground in JapanDONABATE man Gary Thompson took posi-tive steps forward in his current campaign in the Japanese Formula Three Championship at Fuji Speedway last week.

He secured a podium in race one of the week-end, whilst also making history in the cham-pionship by becoming the first ever driver to qualify a national class car in overall pole posi-tion for the second race of the weekend.

Starting from third position in race one, the young Irishman overcame semi-wet conditions to take the chequered flag where he had started, and in doing so, earning SGC by KCMG’s first podium of the season at the renowned circuit.

Lining up in pole position in race two of the weekend, 20-year-old Thompson got off the line well to lead the overall race in its early stages, until Takamoto Katsuta hit Thompson whilst tussling for the lead, ending the ambitous driver’s chances of securing victory in a cham-pionship renowned for propelling the careers of Pedro De La Rosa and Adrien Sutil.

Overcome by his team’s performance this weekend, Thompson remains confident that SGC by KCMG can provide a competitive package to enable him to challenge for outright victory as the season progresses.

“We had a difficult start to the weekend, struggling a small bit for pace in Friday testing,” explained Thompson. “Even though it was rain-ing during both qualifying sessions, we managed to take third position for race one and an overall pole for race two.

“This was a great result and a big thank you to the whole team. I’m very happy to have been able to secure our first podium for this season. Also, to start from pole position in race two was quite major for me. I am looking forward to the next race in Motegi and hopefully we’ll be on top of the podium celebrating victory.”

� STEPHEN FINDLATER

[email protected]

AS THE second fastest woman to achieve the qualifying time for the Olympic marathon, Rath-farnham AC’s Caitriona Jennings admitted it was an uncomfortable wait to see if she had made the thee-person team to take the line on August 5 in London.

Her run in Rotterdam created a dilemma for Athletics Ireland, join-ing DSDAC runners Linda Byrne and Ava Hutchinson and former Dundrum runner Maria McCambridge to beat the two hour and 37 minute target.

With time not included in the criteria, it meant that none of the runners could feel comfortable that they had assured a ticket to the Games.

“Even when I finished,

I knew I was the fourth qualifier and it wasn’t nailed on I would get the selection but I had done all I could do,” she told GazetteSport last week.

“I had no indications whether I was going to be selected and, to be hon-est, even though I had the second fastest time, it didn’t give me an awful lot of comfort.

“Linda was the nation-al champion and would recognise she had to be selected. If you looked at the qualifying criteria, time wasn’t one of those listed so it was really a matter of the waiting game.”

In the end, she got the green light with Maria McCambridge, a runner with whom she regularly trains and has virtually swapped places. McCam-bridge, a former Rathfarn-ham resident, now resides in Donegal, Jennings’

home county.It brought an extra

layer of compassion to the big decision: “I did feel for Maria as I could only imagine how horren-dous it was for her. Doing everything you can do to be selected and then miss out. It’s so unusual in Irish athletics. At the end of the day, someone was going to miss out and it was going to be devastating.”

Nonetheless, Jennings says she is “counting down the days” as the excitement builds to the biggest sports show on earth.

London will represent just her third marathon having originally build her appetite for endur-ance events in triathlons before linking up with the Marathon Mission group in late 2009 following a national half-marathon victory.

They provided a sup-

port structure which has seen Irish marathon standards bounce back in style, filling an Olym-pic team from just a ‘B’ standard qualifier four years ago.

The Dublin marathon was her first target. Some-what perversely, a night-mare preparation served to show her that qualifica-tion was very much within reach

“I got injured in the ten weeks before Dublin and couldn’t run at all. I was only allowed to start run-ning again for 30 minutes every second day just two weeks before the mara-thon so I had very little miles in my legs.

“But I really wanted to do it and experience what it was like to run a mara-thon so the next time it came around, I would have gained the experi-ence. I knew I wasn’t going to be anywhere

near the qualifying time but I wanted to run about 2.43 and I did it.

“It was success for me in that, when I got to the line; I knew that I had a really good shout at the qualifying time having run that time with essen-tially no running training.

It left her in great shape in Rotterdam in April this year to get the time required.

“Initially, the pace was slower than I thought it would be so, at the 5k mark, I had to make a decision. I felt I needed to push on. Because I start-ed slower than I needed, I was never in a group, always playing catch-up with runners going at a slower pace. It was good psychologically to be passing people all the way.”

And it proved enough to earn a once in a life-time ticket to London.

Caitriona on a mission

ATHLETICS: JENNINGS SHOWS TRUE GRIT AHEAD OF LONDON GAMES

Rathfarnaham AC’s Caitriona Jennings endured a dramatic battle to earn her place in the Irish Olympic women’s marathon team


�STARof the

MONTHDAVID FLYNN

COOLMINE athlete David Flynn

claimed the national senior

steeplechase title, the first

time a Clonliffe man has won

the event in over 40 years

NICOLE OWENS

THE St Sylvester’s for-

ward struck a hat-trick

of goals for Dublin in their

All-Ireland Aisling McGing

final win over Kerry

FINN LYNCH

THE National Yacht Club

member took silver at the

world youth sailing champi-

onships in the laser radial,

Ireland’s best-ever result

�TEAMof the

MONTH

2012 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS - JULY NOMINEES

FINGAL RAVENS

AFTER a winless first four

months to the season, the

Rolestown club bounced

back with four successive

AFL1 wins in July

GERRY AND ROB MORAN

THE duo beat over 500

competitors to win Castle

GC’s annual Father and

Son All-Ireland event on

home turf this month

LUCAN CAMOGIE

LUCAN’S U-14 community

games claimed Leinster lau-

rels for a third successive

year with a brilliant win

over Thomastown

FastSport

GIOVANNI Trapattoni named six local foot-ballers in his 23-man squad to face Serbia in an international friendly on August 15 in Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia.

St Joseph’s Boy’s graduate Andy Keogh, now with Millwall, was among a number of players recalled as the deck was shuffled to allow some of the more senior members of the Irish panel rest in the wake of the Euro-pean championships.

Former Clonkeen College man Darren O’Dea, though, will hope to use the tie against Serbia as an opportunity to impress as he seeks a new club for the 2012-13 sea-son.

Portmarnock’s Stephen Ward retains his place in the panel as does Paul McShane – another from the Joey’s alumni – and Clondalkin man Glenn Whelan while Dar-ren Randolph returns to the panel to take one of the goalkeeping slots as Shay Given takes a break.

Making the announcement at the FAI’s agm Festival of Football in Ballybofey, Co Donegal, manager Trappatoni said: “This friendly offers us a great opportunity to try out younger players ahead of our World Cup qualifying campaign.

“As a result, I have decided to leave some of our senior players out of the squad for this fixture. Serbia are a very good team with a great football heritage, and will provide us with a great test before our game against Kazakhstan in September.

“I am looking forward to working with each of these players next month. As we prepare for a new journey for this team, it is important that we remember our last cam-paign as we build for a brighter future.”

Former Leicester Celtic man Damien Duff is one a string of experienced players left out of the panel with Given, Robbie Keane, and Richard Dunne, with 420 caps between them, not required for the Serbia tie.

Youth gets its head for Ireland’s Serbia date

Croker’s new funzone: Davin Stand initiative unveiled last weekendCLONDALKIN youngsters, Ryan Gillane, age five, left, and Dean Murray, age seven, were among the first to enjoy the GAA Croke Park Family Funzone at Croke Park last Sunday before wit-nessing Dublin’s 2-13 to 1-13 Leinster final win over Meath.The funzone took over the entire Davin Stand

car park from 12-3.30pm on the same day that the Dublin and Meath heroes of 1991 were guests of honour at Croke Park.The funzone, which is to become a permanent

installation at Croke Park for the remainder of the football and hurling championship cam-paigns, will include the Leinster Council’s inflat-able playing pitch and other interactive games and activities for young players.

DublinGazetteNewspapers


GazetteSportSport

� SUZANNE BYRNE

[email protected]

A WEEK of high winds, torrential rain and reduced visibility were not enough to sink the hopes of Blessington teen Finn Lynch, 16, who managed to bag a silver medal in the Laser Radial class on the final day of the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth (under-19) world championships in Dun Laoghaire.

Lynch’s performance over the week and his reward on Friday served up Ireland’s best ever result in the 41-year his-tory of the competition - known as the Olympics of youth sailing - and the

first Irish medal in 16 years.

Speaking after he was carried from the water shoulder high in his boat by friends, Finn who sails for the National Yacht Club said: “It feels great. Simple as that.

“I have trained so hard for this since February, including a month in Europe with the [Irish Sailing] Academy.

“ That was great for my sailing. I have trained con-stantly this year. I want to qualify again for this for next year and maybe go one better, but then after that it’s the Olympics,” he added.

Competing for the first

time in the competition, Finn began the day in third place, with Norway’s Hermann Tomasgaard just one point adrift as a place in the medal table hung tantalisingly in the balance of the final race outcome.

After an early post-ponement, the 58-boat fleet finally set sail only to be abandoned when an ominous cloud settled in above proceedings.

It was Aussie Mark Spearman who eventually took the gold after demol-ishing the week-long over-all class lead.

That had been held by American Mitchell Kiss who, in the end, missed

out on a place on the podium.

An over whelmed James O’Callaghan, the Irish Sailing Association’s performance director, said: “To be honest, we are slightly stunned. We have long since realised that Finn is a talent, but to achieve this in his first year at Youth Worlds is incredible.

“He is a great kid, very mature for his years”

In the Laser Radial Girls class Ireland’s Sophie Murphy, the most experienced team mem-ber at the grand old age of 18, secured 13th overall, in the top third of the fleet.

Patrick Crosbie and

Grattan Roberts, the 15-year-old Cork pairing, in the 420 Boys class also did well in Friday’s rela-tively light winds finish-ing their competition on a high note, with a third place securing them 13th overall.

In the SL16 catamaran Ireland’s Alexander Rum-ball and Rory McStay fin-ish 10th overall while in the 29er skiff class broth-ers Sean and Tadhg Don-nelly also finished 10th.

The weeklong event came to a dramatic close on Friday, July 20, with a spectacular fireworks display and an onstage medal ceremony at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Lynch on top of the worldNational Yacht Club’s Finn Lynch celebrates his silver medal win in Dun Laoghaire harbour last Friday

SAILING: NATIONAL YACHT CLUB YOUTH TAKES WORLD SILVER

Dublin U-18s girls are through to All-IrelandFOXROCK Cabinteely’s Emma McDonagh captained the Dublin U-18s girls to a stun-ning 7-10 to 5-8 win over Cork in their All-Ireland semi-final and will now play Tyrone in the final on the August bank holiday weekend.

McDonagh is pictured with referee Shaun Duane and Cork Captain Elaine Scully.

The final has been confirmed to take place in Birr, Offaly on August 6 at 4.30pm and will be shown live on TG4.

Elsewhere, Cuala’s Michael Fitzsimons, along with Rory O’Carroll, Kevin Nolan, Cian O’Sullivan and Craig Dias of Kilma-cud Crokes all took home Leinster Champi-onship medals on Sunday, after they saw off provincial rivals Meath in the final at Croke Park.

Fitzsimons had a very active game from corner back while Rory O’Carroll, Kevin Nolan and Cian O’Sullivan did very well in defending the lead of the Dubs in the last five minutes when Meath got the wind back in their sails.

Craig Diaz, in a breakthrough season, made an appearance in the half forward line for Paul Flynn in the last ten minutes to see through a hard fought win, 2-13 to 1-13.

Cuala’s Conor Mulally and Martin Cahil-lan collected their own Leinster medals along with Ross McGowan, David Campbell and Conor Ferris of Kilmacud Crokes for their contributions to the Dublin minor side that saw off their own Meath challenge in very convincing fashion in the minor final.

Cormac Costello of Whitehall Colmcille’s scored a hat trick to help the minors to vic-tory, but on the day Dublin bossed the pos-session and the scores, with the score line finishing at an amazing 3-17 to 1-11.

The minor side will now go on to face Monaghan in the quarter final of the All-Ireland, while the seniors must wait for the qualification fixtures to finish before they will know who they face in All-Ireland quar-ter final action.

The two wins on Sunday made for a tre-ble in the space of a week for Dublin panels against Meath in Leinster competitions with the ladies claiming their respective title the week before, a feat that is sure to live long in the memories of Dublin and Meath fans alike.

FastSport

Monkstown hosts Battle of Big Hitters� [email protected]

THIS Friday, a Leinster rugby side will take on an Ireland cricket eleven in a Charity 20-20 cricket match in Pembroke Cricket Club (Monkstown FC), Sandymount, 4 with proceeds set to go to Spinal Injuries Ireland.

This inaugural mid summer festival is a major event in the fund-raising calendar of Spinal Injuries Ireland. The initiative which is fully endorsed and sup-ported by both cricket Ireland and Leinster Rugby is aimed at encouraging children in the Lein-

ster community to get healthy, get active, to get outdoors and play cricket and rugby.

Spinal Injuries Ireland aims to use this event to raise funds for the charity whilst simultane-ously showcasing and promoting the development of cricket and rugby for children throughout Leinster. Commenting on the event, Phillip Quinlan, chief fundraiser for Spinal Injuries Ireland said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have the support of both Leinster Rugby and Cricket Ireland for this unique sporting event. The monies raised from

the event will go towards build-ing a transitional living unit for patients who have no suitable accommodation to go to on discharge from the National Rehabilitation Hospital. So this is a vital and much needed fund-raiser for us.”

The main event will see Lein-ster rugby take on Ireland’s cricket team – with both teams fielding their senior players.

Leinster Rugby are bringing the Heineken Cup, while their development officers together with key players will be showing everyone why they are the kings

of Europe with master classes of place kicking, tackling and pass-ing.

If cricket is your thing, Cricket Ireland will be on hand for mas-ter classes of bowling, fielding and batting.

With bouncy castles, face-painting, entertainment, master-classes, and of course the oppor-tunity to witness this unique sporting event, the Battle of the Big Hitters is sure to be the ulti-mate day out for any family.

Tickets for families are avail-able for €30, adults cost €15 and children get in for €5.


CLUB NOTICEBOARD

WELL done to Claire King, Maria McGrath

and Aoife O’Brien on helping the Dublin

footballers to a great win over Cork in

the minor All-Ireland semi final.

The senior A hurlers gave David

Sweeney a rousing send-off on his final

game for the club – for the time being –

with a good win over St Vincent’s. The

game completes the team’s league pro-

gramme.

The game was sponsored by John

Miller (medals and trophies).

The senior B hurlers draw with Kilma-

cud Crokes; the junior A hurlers were

beaten by Fingallians and the junior C

hurlers won over Na Fianna.

The annual golf classic is on Friday,

September 14 in Edmondstown Golf

club.

Teams of four include dinner and priz-

es of €400. Green sponsorship (exclu-

sive) is €250.

Tee sponsorship is (including entry to

the draw for two All-Ireland premium

tickets and chauffeur to and from

Croke Park) is €100. Enquiries to Liam

Deane 087 6471121 or e-mail Ldeane2@

eircom.net.

Next Saturday’s walk is the Circuit of

Kilbride. See website for more.

NAOMH OLAFCONGRATULATIONS to Olaf’s David

Byrne who captained the Dublin

minors in a decisive win over Meath

on Sunday in the Leinster final with a

final score, Dublin 3-17 to Meath 1-11,

a gap of 12 points.

This decisive win augurs well for

David’s team who will next face

beaten Ulster finalists Monaghan in

the quarter-final.

It was a mixed week for adult

hurling with the intermediate team

securing a valuable three league

points but the juniors losing out on

two occasions.

The junior hurlers were narrowly

beaten away to Civil Service mid-

week and, despite putting up an

excellent performance against Sker-

ries Harps, on Sunday morning came

out in the end on the wrong side of

the scoreline.

There were a lot of positives

including the introduction of some

new young talent.

The intermediate hurlers were

away to St Sylvester’s midweek and,

despite being six points in arrears at

the interval.

They dug in for the second half

and came away with a share of the

points on a score of Olaf’s 1-13 to

0-16 for Sylvester’s.

Olafs again put up a very spirited

performance to win by 2-10 t0 1-10 at

home to St Jude’s on Saturday.

There is a break now in competi-

tive hurling until mid-August when

leagues and championship resume.

Lotto numbers were 2, 18 and 30.

There was no jackpot winner; the

jackpot is now €1,800

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S

THERE was no winner of Thursday,

June 12 lotto draw of €1,200. Next

week’s draw will be for €1,400.

Tickets are available online at

www.bal l inteerst johns.com or

from the usual outlets.

Wednesday night, a great night of

traditional music, no cover charge.

Why not come up and join in or enjoy

a night of music and craic? Spread

the word to your friends, family and

neighbours. Sing-a-long in the bar

on Tuesdays, singers and musicians

welcome.

Great win for senior hurlers in

the league against Faugh’s during

the week.

Sympathies to the Reynolds family

on the passing on Norry’s nephew

Dean.

BALLINTEER ST JOHN’S

AHL DIVISION ONESt Brigid’s 3-15

Cuala 1-10

� [email protected]

CUALA brought an end to their regular season AHL1 campaign leav-ing the Hyde Park side on top of the table.

However, with other teams still vying for places in the league final, the Dalkey club’s hurlers will be bank-ing on some top teams dropping points to see themselves in the top two after all the back matches have been played.

A meeting with St Brigid’s of Blanchard-stown began the final week of Cuala’s league campaign when they met the north side sta-ble on Wednesday, and an injury to Dublin star Paul Schutte in the pre match warm up proved to be fatal to their chances of grabbing two points in the game which was played out in

Russell Park. The game wasn’t even

five minutes old when the home team took a lead of 2-2 over the high flying Cuala who were struggling with the slip-pery Navan Road sur-face.

Brigid’s, who really came out with the bit in their teeth, were enjoy-ing early spells of pres-sure coming from the long puck outs of Alan Nolan who constantly dropped the sliotar on to Cuala’s half-back line, really forcing their rivals to work for pos-session.

Soon enough, the Hyde Road side found their place with hard work from Scott O’Brien and Bobby Browne leading to some scoring opportunities.

O’Brien took a goal for Cuala when the ball broke to him after Sean Treacy deflected a long, rangy pass that found its way to the Brigid’s back line, putting pep in his

side’s step. T h e m o m e n t u m

shifted to Cuala toward the end of the half, and points from Barry Con-nolly put them back on track before a goal line save from a Brian Fitzgerald shot still left Brigid’s with some breathing space with the scores at 2-9 to 1-6 at the whistle.

With the introduction of Shane Stapleton and Rob Reid at the half time break, Cuala looked reinvigorated, but the Brigid’s men were up to the task and despite Connolly’s attempts to

merge the gap, the red and white of Blanchard-stown took advantage of their opponent’s over commitments, winning the game 3-15 to 1-10.

Saturday saw Cuala rise to the occasion in a must-win game against league final hopefuls, O’Toole’s, which was played out in Shankill.

The win, 1-14 to 0-11, saw Cuala placed at the top of the AHL 1 table and they will now look on in anticipation as the last few back games are played out to see if they have a chance to claim league glory.

FOOTBALL: YOUNG GUNS FIRE CUALA TO VICTORY

Cuala’s Adam Hudson and Sean Barron, below, were part of the Cuala side that went top of AHL1 last weekend

Cracking comeback capped by Keating

Follow GazetteSport on Facebook and Twitter and online at www.gazettegroup.com

STARS OF ERINTHE adult men’s team are play-

ing away to Oliver Plunkett Eoghan

Ruadh on Tuesday in Martin Savage

Park and, on Sunday, they take on

Fingallians in Glencullen at 11am.

The Ladies team have their final

game in the league on Wednesday

night in Glencullen.

The summer camp was a great hit

this year in Glencullen, Thanks to all

who took part including the children

and coaches.

There was no winner of the weekly

lotto. The numbers drawn were 13,

16 and 24. The three bonus prize

winners were first: Sammy, Ange

and Aideen; second: Sandra Roe and

Gabriel Roe. Next week’s jackpot is

€800. Thanks to all the club members

who sell the lotto each week.

ALL OF YOUR DUN LAOGHAIRE SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31 JULY 26, 2012

ON STANDBY: Cuala forced to wait

and see on AHL1 final playoff place P31 GazetteSPORTGazetteSPORT

� PETER CARROLL

[email protected]

ANNALISE Murphy, member of the National Yacht Club, and Ger Owens, of Royal St George Yacht club will be taking the plunge at this year’s Olympic Games participating in the sail-ing events.

Ger Owens is a veteran of two Olympic cam-paigns, 2004 in Athens and 2008 in Beijing, and he will take to the water this time with teenager Shane Flanigan, compet-ing in the 470 event.

Owens gained qualifi-cation along with Flani-gan at this year’s 470 World Championships, doing enough on the opening two days, finish-ing tenth and 13th, to be put amongst the gold fleet

going into the last phase of the tournament, guar-anteeing Ireland a place at the London Games.

Annalise Murphy is one of Ireland’s medal hopes outside the heavily-touted Katie Taylor, and at just 22 years old, she is ranked at 14th in the world on the way into the Games.

A solo sailor, Murphy competes in the Radial Laser class after start-ing her sailing career at the age of ten when she began sailing optimists, before moving on to laser 4.7s, mirrors, toppers and finally to her home with the laser radial class.

Murphy is of good sporting stock – her mother, Cathy, represent-ed Ireland in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and her father, Con, is the cur-rent national holder of

the Round Ireland speed record.

The talented young sailor is sure to be com-fortable in her surround-ing at the London Games, with the sailing events to be held in Weymouth and Portland, a location that she has taken bronze at in international competition, at the ISAF World Cup.

In 2009, Murphy came eighth in her first world championships, which were held in Perth, before she became the first woman to ever win the Irish National Champi-onships in her class in 2009. From there, the Rathfarnham talent took tenth at Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta in 2010.

Last year, Murphy’s sixth place finish at the world championships in Australia qualified her for

the Olympics and turned a lot of heads in doing so, cementing her place as one of the elite in her group.

The National Yacht Club member will begin her Olympic adventure on the Monday, July 30, and in her event she will have to race twice a day for five days, and one more day if she is in with a chance of bringing us home a medal, with that race taking place on Monday, August 6.

The team of teenager Flanigan and the experi-enced Owens will begin their adventure a few days before when they take a plunge in Weymouth and Portland on Thursday, August 2, where they will compete in the 470 class having to race six times if they want to come out with a medal.

Local sailors Ger Owens, pictured left, and Annalise

Murphy begin their Olympic campaigns this week

Olympics calling for local duo

MARATHON MISSION:Jennings looking forward to London Olympic Games P29

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