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And welcome to your early-May edition of InTallaght

magazine.

It’s been a hectic fortnight and we’ve been as busy

as always putting together another jam-packed

issue for you.

In this edition we speak to Tallaght’s former X factor

starlet Rebecca Creighton on quitting Belle Amie and

making a go of it on her own. Rebecca has been

working hard on her own material and if her uploads

to Youtube are anything to go by she has a very

bright future ahead of her.

Up-and-coming rapper Lucci Minx also tells us

about her career and her aspirations for the future.

Lucci is a Kilnamanagh girl at heart but could very

well be the next Niki Minaj!

Hi all,

Tallaght band ReSoul tell us about the highs of the

past year and its upcoming tour in the UK while we

head to the cinema to the premier of Aslan’s film

Please Don’t stop. After speaking to the band’s Billy

McGuiness in the last issue of InTallaght it was great

to get the opportunity to take a look back over the

past 30 years as well as hear the band play live in

the Savoy before the curtains went up!

All that and everything you’ve come to expect and

love from your InTallaght magazine.

Enjoy and don’t forget to drop me a line on

editor@genesismedia.ie if you have something to

suggest or say.

Happy fortnight!

Emer Mulvaney - Editor

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Misbehaving puppies will be taught some manners at the next trainingprogramme in the DSPCA – and it’s open to every man and his dog.

On Saturday, May 12th, the King Of Paws training academy will take place inthe shelter on Mount Venus Road in Rathfarnham.

The programme, which includes puppy manners and good dog classesteaches many skills some of which includes socialisation, playtime and gamesas well as focus and attention, loose lead, recall and go to bed.

Alex Petrilli, Head of Training and Rehabilitation said: “I believe there are twostages in owning a dog. The first Stage is the parenting stage where the owneris supporting the social and emotional development of the dog. This is thestage where the owner teaches with kindness and rewards what's right.

“The second Stage is the partnership stage. The relationship between ownerand dog evolves. It looks more like a dance where a leader and a followerconnect. The leader has to give clear signals on what is expected next fromthe followers. If the leader is not clear or there is a missing connection, thefollower would clearly not know what's next, get confused and falter.

He added: “Tango Training is complex, requires exercise and discipline andrelies heavily on improvisation and body language. This is where KingofPawstrainers come in. With our unique training experience we help build and developthe bond needed.

“Every dog is different so there are not set rules, just basic steps. Develop yourpuppy's social skills and start learning how to raise a confident, well-behavedpuppy.”

Alex will also hold a free seminar on Friday, May 11th, at 6.30pm and withjust 30 places available those interested are advised to book their spaceimmediately.

For more information log onto www.dspca.ie

By Emer Mulvaney, Editor By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

One lucky International student is set to receive an attractive reward for theirinteraction with their adopted home of Dublin.

The International Student Award, which was announced by the city’s LordMayor Andrew Montague at a recent reception for international students inthe Mansion House, said that the awarding of the title will take into consider-ation the students interaction on a number of levels.

He said: “Dublin is a great city for studying and we want to build on this toencourage more students to make Dublin their first choice for education.

“This Award recognises the contribution made by International Students toDublin and will be made to the student who best engages with the city whethersocially, economically, culturally, environmentally, through sports or byvolunteering”.

The deadline for colleges wishing to take part in the competition is fastapproaching and a college must send its nomination tointernational.relations@dublincity.ie by Friday, May 11th. The winner will thenbe announced on Monday, May 21st, at 5pm during a reception for allnominated students back in the Mansion House.

The lucky winner will walk away with an iPad or a travel voucher to the valueof 500 euro thanks to sponsor Urbanest.

Those who wish to recommend an international student or a group of studentsshould contact their college as soon as possible.

For further details log onto: www.educationireland.ie/index.php/about-us/news.

Every Dog has his day.....

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montagueannounced an attractive reward for onelucky student

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By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

“Residents are able to monitor the response and interact with their issue onceit has been reported through the system with a commitment that local officialswill respond within two working days.”

‘Fixyourstreet’ is a publicly accessible website with associated mobiletechnologies on which non-emergency issues such as street lighting, drainage,graffiti, illegal dumping, road and footpath maintenance can be reported.

The council, alongside the Local Government Agency, is now currently workingwith a number of other local authorities on the initiative with the aim of aidingthose agencies to implement a similar system.

The reporting of issues to ‘Fixyourstreet’ are accepted via the web site,www.fixyourstreet.ie , through email and on twitter. This will also be possiblevia mobile phone apps, for the most popular mobile platforms, in the nearfuture.

South Dublin County Council’s innovative ‘Fix Your Street’ programme hasscooped three presitgous awards.

The system, which enables residents to report anything from broken streetlamps to potholes in their area - and be guaranteed that the council will comeout to sort the problem within a certain timeframe - was given the thumbs upwhen it was give the e-Government Awards in Dublin Castle recently.

The programme took gold in three categories including Open Source, People’sChoice and the Judges Special Merit. The Ireland eGovernment Awards arethe recognised benchmark for excellence in Irish eGovernment services andstandards. They raise awareness and recognise the innovators, developers,forward thinkers and experts who are pioneering the changes happening inhow the Irish Government delivers services to its citizens.

On receiving the awards Mayor Caitríona Jones said: “I am extremely pleasedand proud to accept these awards on behalf of South Dublin County Council.This project further demonstrates South Dublin County Council’s already proventrack record in collaborative working towards improving our citizens’ quality oflife.

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By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

There were celebrations all round recently when Tallaght’s Black Pantherjuniors won 8 All-Ireland Junior medals on Sunday May, 29th, inCarrickmacross ,Cavan.

The event, which was the Kickboxing Ireland (Formerly AKAI) annualtournament seen some tense bouts but impressive results and the Tallaghtyoungsters came away with their heads held high.

Among the winners was Edward Reilly,13, who took home the bronze in the -57kg category. Kelsey Peyton, 10, -37kg, also picked up a bronze whileMarissa Nechifor picked up a gold in the -42kg category and SamanthaCallaghan, 12, won silver in the 42kg bout.

Norma Kelly, Founder and Trainer at The Black Panthers said: “It was a greatday for all and we are delighted with the results. Ryan Keegan who is 13, andfought in the -42kg category, will now travel to Salvina in September torepresent Ireland.

“Mark McSherry who is 11 got gold in the -28kg category after he met IanTaut from Hurricane Kickboxing in the final. He had an outstanding win againsta talented kickboxer and this is his second time to win that title.”

He added: “At 14 Jessica McCarthy won bronze in the -55kg group and wasnot far of the mark for a win in her fight. All in all they were some commendableresults.”

Michael Caswell age 16 also picked up a gold in the Light Low Kick disciplineat -84kg.

The Black Panther kickboxing and Global Kickboxing Fight Night will be heldin the Red Cow hotel on Saturday, May 12th.

There will be two titles and 12 under card fights taking place. Doors will openat 6.30pm followed by a 7.30pm start.

Log onto www.blackpanther.ie for tickets.

Ryan Keegan (Far Left) Wins Silver

Ian Tuite & Mark McSherry

All-Ireland Under 12

Some of the Black Panther & WestsideBoxing Club on the film set of RipperStreet, a BBC drama; Mark McSherry

(front), Ryan Keegan,John Stacey,Connor Hayden & Patrick Kearns

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The family of a three-year-old boy with Cerebral Palsy havereached the fundraising target which will allow him to travelto the US for a life-changing operation.

Jacob Foley Keenan, from Kilnamanagh, was diagnosed when he was18 months old and his condition has meant that he is unable to takemore than a few steps unaided. So far regular physiotherapy and theaid of a special walking device known as a Kaye chair have meantJacob has been able to move about independently but having heardabout an operation which could help him run around like other childrenthey decided to raise the €50,000 needed to send Jacob to the states.

The procedure, known as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, involves aneurosurgeon removing two of Jacob’s vertebrae and looking at thenerve endings on his spinal cord to find out which are sending thewrong signals. The family applied to St Louis Children's Hospital in Mis-souri where surgeons say they have a 100 per cent success rate.

As the operation is not funded by the HSE, the family has had to raise€50,000 to pay for the procedure and they are also trying to raise anadditional €20,000 to meet the costs of Jacob’s aftercare.

Jacob’s grandmother Marie Keenan told In Tallaght that the family arethrilled to finally have a date for the operation.

She said: “We got an email on Wednesday with the wonderful newsabout Jacob’s operation. He will be having his evaluation on July 2ndand then have his operation on July 5th. He was telling the girls in hiscrèche in Kilnamangh yesterday that he’s got a date!

“We want to really thank everybody, so much, who has raised moneyfor Jacob. We have already raised the €50,000 for the operation butwe need another €20,000 for aftercare which will involve intensephysiotherapy and hydrotherapy.”

“In the last week DIT raised €4,800 from a book sale and €2,800was raised by a sponsored cycle from Achill to Westport.”

She added: “ A big thank you to everyone who took part and sponsoredpeople as well. Alan McQuaid is currently doing a 1,000km cycle fromMizen Head to Malin Head. We are so thankful to everyone.”

Marie said that the family has been hugely encouraged by the progressof Jacobs’ friend Adam who has had a similar operation and who tookhis first steps recently.

She said: “Adam had his operation on November 1st. He had absolutelyno movement whatsoever but he took his first independent steps aboutsix weeks ago. We speak to his mother on a regular basis and she up-dates us on his progress, so we know what they are capable of afterthe operation.”

Anyone who wants to help Jacob can make a donation to Jacob’sJourney, AIB Tallaght, acc no: 56430036, sort code 93 33 17. Thefundraising team can be contacted on jacobs.journey @live.ieFor more details log on to www.help-jacob.com or http://www.face-book.com/jacobs.journey1

By Padraig Conlon

Jacob is one step nearer to beingable to walk again

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She’s got brains, beauty and a voice that would melt your heart– but it still wasn’t enough to carry former X Factor contestantRebecca Creighton - and the band she became a part of -through to super stardom.

Now having left Belle Amie and returning home as a solo artistshe is hoping for her fortune to change and the heady heightsof fame, which have so far alluded her, to finally become her.

This month we speak to Rebecca about where it all went wrongfor Belle Amie and how she plans to make it on her own…

So Rebecca, you’ve left the band – what happened?Yes, I just wasn’t happy. Nothing was really happening for us and it wasgetting frustrating. As you know I entered the X Factor as a soloist butonce I was put into a band I have to say I did give it 120 per cent all ofthe time and I didn’t think again, about going solo, for a long time. Iwas with the girls for two years and I gave my all to the group but itdidn’t work and that was just the way it panned out.

Do you think that the fact that you were on the X Factor of twoyears ago contributed to the struggle?It was a bit of a struggle alright and people were saying ‘oh you wereon X Factor 2010? and looking for last year’s contestants. It just startedto get like that towards the end. Sadly that’s just the way it goes. SinceI’ve been in the group though I am always being approached to gosolo. I have got so many emails from people saying they’d love to workwith me if I was solo but I always ignored them. I never wanted to besly – I was committed. Towards the end though I did get some studiotime on my own and I realized that I’d love to do it that way if I could.

So how did it come about – were the girls shocked?About 8 months ago myself and the girls had a gig in the basketballarena and I know that going back to the X Factor days when Sofia madea comment it led to people thinking we were a bitchy group but wereally weren’t. However at that gig there was a bit of friction. I hadstarted to not love what I was doing anymore and I told them but I saidI would give it another while. It was a big part of my life and I madeevery effort but months on nothing had changed. We had lost our man-agement and the label left us. It just wasn’t the route I wanted to godown anymore. I had been throwing a deaf ear to so many things butwhen I took the time to think about working by myself I knew I had togo with it.

And how did the rest of the band take it?Well I told them about two weeks before I announced it on Twitter butthey still pretended that they were shocked when I did announce it. Wefell out over it and we don’t speak anymore now unfortunately. It wasvery tough, we had already had such a tough time with our manage-ment leaving us through an email and things slowly not working out -then this. It has come between us now and that’s sad.

By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

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So you are planning a solo career – tell us about your newsingle?Yeah I’ve been back in the studio and it’s just really exciting for me. I’verecorded a song with Rob Kelly from Wexford called The Real Thingwhich is a sample of the Toni De Barts favourite from years ago and itwill be released on ITunes on May 14th. It’s up there on YouTube at themoment and it’s doing really well as far as reaction to it goes.

Are you writing your own stuff?Yes I am constantly writing. I’m doing a song too with Gary Deeganfrom The Voice and my sister Nicola, who is really creative, is writingstuff with me all of the time too. I’ve also been using a friend’s studioin Killester so I am getting on with it!

So what’s your style? Were you restricted in Belle Amie or wasthat really you?Ah yeah the 1940’s pin-up look is me – I love that look but I will changeit up a bit too for my solo career.

Is it tough starting again? Have you had much support?I have had huge support from family and friends - which I am verygrateful for. Most people are just saying to me “it’s about time you wentout on your own” to be honest!

Will you stay here or go to the UK?Well I’ve to go to London soon to meet up with some songwriters butwho knows how it will go? I’m home now but I’ll do whatever I have todo to make this work.

How do you feel about the X Factor now - would you adviseyoung hopefuls to go down that route or not?Oh yes I would definitely say go down that route if you want to. That’swhat got me out there for the past two years – I mean if it wasn’t for XFactor you wouldn’t be talking to me now! It has had huge benefits forme and I won’t forget that.

Have a look out for our review of Rebecca’s new single on page xx.

Special Thanks to:Hair: Lauren Doherty & Cathriona FarrellMake Up: Stacey ConlonStylists: Rachel Fallon & Keith CaseyPhotos: Philip Mc Millan

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If there’s one thing that every member of Aslan shares it’s agood sense of humour and if you haven’t seen evidence of itthus far you need to go see the band’s new documentary.

Please Don’t Stop is a celebration of 30 years since Aslan formed andis a heart-warming, genuine and at times touching account of a hugelysuccessful, yet sometimes testing, career.

Premiered at The Savoy on April 19th before the curtains even wentup Christy, Billy, Joe, Alan and Rodney played a recent single Too LateFor Hallelujah before thanking the packed theatre for coming andintroducing the documentary as a “Dunnes or Aldi version of a film.”

Quick-witted Christy also told the story of the band approaching RTE todo the documentary originally where they were given a price tag of€40,000. “There was no way they could spend €40,000,” he laughed“ not when they have to spend it on the likes of The Voice and all that!”Before wrapping up and introducing the film he sang internationalfavourite, Crazy World, which was met with enthusiastic chanting alongby the audience.

The documentary itself is an independent production which charts thepast year in the life of the band but also dips in and out of footage fromthe last three decades and includes nostalgic interviews with eachmember or the band.

No stone is left unturned and no subject left untouched. From Aslan’shumble beginnings to the heady heights of fame, the record signingsand tours to sacking Christy who was heavily embroiled in his drugtaking, trying to carry on under another name and finally reconcilingand carrying it through to the present day – the audience gets fulldisclosure on everything.

It’s an easy watch with many surprises – none more than the fact thatthe band still works out of one of their front rooms but the candidinterviews tell it all.

Aslan could have been even bigger, they were huge for a while but theycould have stayed huge, and it hasn’t slipped anyone’s notice that theyare still on the local circuit despite platinum selling albums and a recentnumber one. Today they play everywhere and anywhere, they rehearsein a living room and they manage themselves.

But if they are to be believed, and on a whole I think they are, this isexactly where they want to be. This is their path. They’re not shy aboutslagging each other off and some of their stories are slightly conflictingbut there is no blame in the band – and that’s because they aregenuinely happy.

Please Don’t Stop is a fine depiction of Aslan, the band members andtheir path since its inception. It’s full of funny anecdotes, swearing andhonesty – something Aslan prides itself on. It’s also most likely the rea-son for the standing ovation at the end of the film and the deafeninground of applause. Applause that really did say - please don’t stop.

By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

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Kilnamanagh girl Lucci Minx is one talented girl. Not only is amodel, she’s also a dab hand at writing, singing and rappingand in a world where Niki Minaj-style music is dominating thecharts Lucci has every chance at being the next big thing.Taking time out from her busy schedule Lucci spoke to InTal-lallaght about her unique style the musical path she’s takenher to this point – launching her solo career.

So Lucci how did a girl from Tallaght get involved in rap?Growing up I always loved music and started writing songs from theage of 12. Hip-hop struck me because I liked the attitude, how cheekyyou could be. I liked the way you could express yourself and say whatyou wanted to. I started out listening to Ice Cube, Salt n Pepa, Tupac,people like that. I’ve been writing ever since.

Have you always been a solo artist?No I started out in an Irish all girl R n B group called D- Vine. After thatI was in another all girl group called Minx Mafia. I was the rapper. Wewent on tour with an American R n B group called Jodeci. We playedWembley, Manchester, Amsterdam and literally the day after the tourended the group split up!

So now you’re back for more?Yeah [laughs] Well I’ve never done it by myself before. I’ve beenperforming as a solo artist for about a year now. It’s very differentobviously to being in a group where you have the support of 4 or 5other band members but it’s cool. There isn’t the same issue with lotsof different opinions; I just have to focus on myself.

Where did you get the name Lucci Minx?When I was in Minx Mafia, Mr Dalvin from Jodeci named all the girls,we all had Minx as our last name. My real name is Luiza but he toldme it was like an old ladies name! I needed to come up with somethingso I just shortened it to Lucci.

Have you been playing many gigs since going solo?Yes I’ve played a few gigs in the Wright Venue and a few random placesaround Ireland. I’ve also done a few showcases in London. I’ll be doinga lot more gigging once I get more material together.

What is the Hip Hop scene in Ireland like?There’s always been a Hip Hop scene in Ireland. Before it was morerecognized as an American thing but not anymore, right now it’s reallytaking off. Irish people definitely love Hip Hop music. When you look atthe charts and what’s played in the clubs and you go to urban nightsyou can see how much Irish people love Hip-Hop.

What would you say is the main difference between Irish andAmerican Hip Hop?Irish Hip Hop is more about social problems than about bling, it’s grittier,it’s what American Hip Hop was like 20 years ago.

By Padraig Conlon

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Are there many other Irish female rappers?Yes there a few of us!

Any you would like to start a feud with?No, I’m not into any of that at all. I’m not trying to be street, I’m moreinto pop rap than street rap.

What current Hip Hop artists do you like?Timbaland, Labyrinth, I love Nikki Minaj. I preferred her earlierunderground stuff to her latest stuff but I really respect her.

Who would you compare yourself to?The only people I’d really compare myself to are Fergie or Betty Boo.

You write all your own songs tell us about that?I have to have music playing when I’m writing, I always have to have abeat. I find it hard to write without a beat. I used to play piano so I canread music. I love writing, I find it so therapeutic. I try and make thelyrics fit the music.

What are you working on at the moment?I’m working on a mix tape and a single that’s due out hopefully in thesummer. I’m working with Ryan Sheridan and Brian Whitehead.Ultimately I’m hoping to go back to LA to record some more songs.

Do you like LA?Yes I do, I like being here at the moment but eventually I would like toend up living and working in LA. It’s tough though as everyone from allover the planet is there, but there’s a lot more opportunity, for promotion,to make money so it’s where I’d like to be.

What musicians inspire you?My inspiration comes from many talented artists, such as MichealJackson, Madonna ,Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Nikki Minaj, Ludacris, JenniferLopez, 2Pac, Aaliyah, Beyonce, Prince ,Cher,and Betty Boo just to namea few . I admire and respect their determination, their drive and theirability to keep it real. They’re not just artists but entertainers. I see myselfas an all-round entertainer, I rap, dance, sing and write.

Away from rap/hip hop what other types of music do you liketo listen to?I love all kinds of music, Queen, Tina Turner everything, old school,modern music, rock n roll, UB40, so many types of music.

Where do you hope to be in five years time?I’ll want to have achieved my goals in music. I do work very hard at it.I do everything from writing the songs to the videos. Hopefully my hardwork will lead me to where I want to be.

Away from music what do you like to do?I like swimming, working out, chilling out with my friends, going fordrinks, going to a nice quiet restaurant, things like that.

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Why do you rap in an accent?I never had a strong Dublin accent, some people say, “Oh what’s withthe American accent?” I’m not just focused on working only here so Ineed to be understood!

You’ve also done other work apart from music?Yes I was a dancer and also a model. I danced in Spirit and at musicfestivals. I love dancing; it’s a great way of expressing yourself so to doit as a job was cool. When I lived in LA I was a dancer/host on aMexican TV show ' a Que no Puedes' , which was great fun.

Do you enjoy modeling?Yes I do, I got to work at P Diddy's famous White Party a few years ago.He usually holds it in the Hamptons every year but this time he decidedto have it in LA and myself and a bunch of other models were invitedto go along and basically just stand around as eye-candy looking pretty.I got paid to sit on a swing over a pool!

We were just there in a room full of famous people. Little Kim was there,Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore and Lindsey Lohan. Unfortunately as I wasworking, I had to be really professional and couldn't run over to themand get a picture or an autograph.

Any advice for any aspiring rappers?Be original, be who you are, build up your contacts and get your songstogether. It’s gotten so much easier to do this nowadays with the tech-nology that’s available.

So where can people hear your music? They can check out my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/luc-ciminxmusic. My latest video is also on You Tube, go check it out!

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It’s a band which prides itself in taking its influence from musiciansof the 60’s right up to present day but Resoul’s biggest achievementso far is the fact that it can’t be compared to any one act – it’s in aleague of its own.

Now the five-piece, which recently rocked The Workman’s Club, areset to take the UK by storm and all just one year after getting together.Lead man and founder Deco Fitzsimons spoke to InTallaght about thehighs of the past year and just how much Resoul would love to sup-port The Stone Roses in the Phoenix Park.

So Deco how did the band get together – it was yourself and yourbrother wasn’t it?Yeah it was myself and Kilo. I had been basically doing my own demos andstuff and I had never had my own band to complete the circle but Kilo had afriend, Mark, whose band was splitting up. We went down to see them thelast night they played and afterwards we had a drink and a chat with him. Igave him some demos I had and about a week later we had a jamming sessionand right from the off we just seemed to fit.

Your influences are musicians from the 60s through to the 90s – whowould you most compare yourselves to?I don’t know because you kind of don’t see yourself that way when you’re ina band. That’s actually the good thing about our music – a lot of people havetold us that we can’t be compared to anyone. A lot of the time people do seethe hair and the clothes and they tell us we look like an Oasis clone band orjust a Brit pop group but we don’t conform to that sort of thing. They alwaystell us after they’ve heard us that we have our own sound which is fantasticand even though, yes, our influences go back to the 60s we look up to all thegreats but it doesn’t mean we are just like them. People can see that andthat’s the greatest complement of all.

Who writes your stuff?I do all of the writing so usually what happens is I’ll demo it at home and thenbring it to the lads and we give it a go.

So where do you take your influence from when writing? Is it theusual stuff like love and life or where do you look to for inspiration?Well it’s the usual stuff I suppose. Sitting around strumming away and tryingthings out. John Lennon once said that he used to read the newspaper whenhe was writing and he’d be flicking through it and zone in on one headlineand that’s what the start of the song would come from. I prefer to leave the TVon or itunes when I’m writing and I can sometimes get ideas from that. Onesong I wrote “My Friend The Strike” came from sitting with the TV on and lis-tening to news of a pre-empted strike in the Sudan. You can actually just sitdown and try to think but that can be useless. You might write three songsone day and none for days then – it just depends.

So Ain’t No Love and Serpico were both released with videos onYoutube – how were they received?It was good because Ain’t No Love In The City was one of those songs thatcame fast and that’s always a good sign. All the lads recognised from the start

By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

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that it was good and that’s exactly what we needed – a good song. Serpico isthe other end of the spectrum it’s a fast and pumping tune and has gone downequally as well but now the challenge, for the tracks we are laying down atthe moment, is to find a happy medium. The next one is the big one – the lastthing we want to be branded is one trick ponies.

And you’re in the studio now – is it the album you are working on?Yes we have six songs we are recording. Three which we had before but putoff set for a while, we only played them at a few gigs, and three new ones.

The band is only a year old and you’ve played in quite a fewsignificant spots already – where is your favourite place to gig/what’s been your best gig so far?The very first gig in Captain America’s was a great one – it was the usualbaptism of fire. The stage was tiny and the sound was terrible but it was agreat gig. It was mostly friends and family but it was definitely a great night.We also played in Belfast and that was good but the recent gig in The GrandSocial – which was a showcase – is the first one we’ve done ourselves. Every-thing from the stage to the lights and we really felt like we put our stamp on itso The Grand Social is definitely our favourite gig so far.

Do you get nervous before a gig?We don’t get nervous – we are constantly running late so there’s no time tobe nervous!

Tell me about the UK tour this year?It’s in August and we’re going to Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham thenwe come back to Belfast. There’s still room for another gig so dates will beadded.

Are you supporting someone or are they all your gigs?Some we are headlining and others supporting. We had supported TheUniversal before and that’s where the idea to tour the UK came from so we’reback with them too.

You were to play The Cavern too – the birthplace of your heroes TheBeatles – what happened there?Ah that’s a catch 22, yeah we were meant to and we were all so excited butthe booking got so big we had to move venue so we are gutted but delightedwith the numbers at the same time!

Which band or musician, dead or alive, would you dream ofsupporting?That’s a tough one but I’d have to say to support The Stone Roses in ThePhoenix Park this year would be the dream. Playing with Small Faces too andNeil Young would be excellent but yeah definitely the dream would be TheStone Roses.

What one word would you use to describe each of your bandmates?Oooh [pauses] Well I’m the thinker, Kilo is the wittiest, Mark is optimistic, Andyis the character and Chris is the smiley face – he’s the most laid back alongwith Andy.

Chris is a temporary member of the band at the moment – is thatright and if so does that mean that you looking for a drummer then?Yeah we discussed it with him – he is absolutely brilliant so ideally we wouldlike to hang on to him but he has a lot on with other bands etc and so yes weare actively looking for a drummer!

Where can fans catch you soon?Just look us up on Twitter, Myspace and Facebook and we’ll keep you up-dated!!

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One of the most anticipated Superhero movies of all time has finally arrived,with Buffy’s Joss Whedon at the helm. Get ready for action!

Excitement started building toward this movie in2008, when both ‘Iron Man’ and ‘The IncredibleHulk’ appeared on the big screen. Both films are setwithin the Marvel Cinematic Universe and were fol-lowed by ‘Iron Man 2’ in 2010, and ‘Thor’ and ‘Capt-ian America: The First Avenger last year. Superherobuffs will have already spotted subtle hints relatingto ‘The Avengers’ in these previous films.

The wonderful thing about the Marvel Universe isthe ease with which the superheroes can appear ineach other’s storylines and this film is a perfect ex-ample. Robert Downey Jr stars as Iron Man, ChrisEvans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor,Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk, Jeremy Renner as Hawk-eye and Scarlet Johannsson as Black Widow.

When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatensglobal safety and security, Nick Fury - played bySamuel L. Jackson, director of the international

peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., findshimself in need of a team to pull the world back fromthe brink of disaster.

The resulting agency is a who's who of Marvel SuperHeroes, with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor,Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. Whenglobal security is threatened by Loki and his cohorts,Nick Fury and his team will need all their powers tosave the world from disaster.

Joss Whedon, a well-known comic book fan, wroteand directed the film and had this to say about it: “Itgoes back to the very first incarnation of TheAvengers, it goes to The Ultimates, it goes to every-thing about it. It makes no sense, it's ridiculous.There's a thunder god, there's a green "id" giantrage monster, there's Captain America from the 40s,there's Tony Stark who definitely doesn't get alongwith anybody. Ultimately these people don't belong

together and the whole movie is about finding your-self from community. And finding that you not onlybelong together but you need each other, very much.Obviously this will be expressed through punchingbut it will be the heart of the film."

Release Date: Out NowDirector: Joss WhedonStarring: Robert Downey Jr.

Chris EvansScarlett Johansson

Genre: Action/Adventure

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‘Jeff, Who Lives at Home’ seemed just thekind of quirky indie comedy that I usuallylove and this film was no disappointment.

I was well primed to like the movie because I already really likedits two lead actors. Jason Segel, who first came to our attentionin ‘Knocked Up’, gained more fans in the bromance ‘I Love You,Man’, and more recently melted even more hearts, playing Garyin ‘The Muppets’ is very good at playing the lovable loser. His char-acter in this film seems familiar but at the same time is a deepertake on his usual stoner persona. Jeff is lost, desperately lookingfor signs in everyday life. He is 30, living at home in his mother’sbasement and seems the opposite of his brother Pat, played byEd Helms.

Helms is perhaps less well-known than Segel, at least by name.Mention ‘the dentist from The Hangover’ films and people soonbring him to mind. I am more familiar with Helms as ‘Andy’ in theAmerican version of ‘The Office’ and he in fact plays a very similarcharacter in this film. Helms’ Pat is the kind of person who hasgot the middle management job and is living in an apartment withhis pretty wife but craves more excitement in his life. His firstscene in the film sees him making her a special breakfast ‘justbecause’. How sweet, you think, until he announces that he’s justbought a Porsche without consulting her. He didn’t consult herbecause he knew she’d say no, because there’s no way they canafford a Porshce. Pat’s marriage is on shaky ground and he’smaking a mess of the things.

While there is a love story involved, this film is not specificallyabout that. It’s more about three members of the same family andwhere they are in their lives. Susan Sarandon plays the men’slong suffering mother. She is frustrated by Jeff and his lack ofdrive, ringing him from work to demand that he get off the couchand go and run an errand for her or else he should find a newplace to live. The plot also follows her day in work, where she re-ceives some attention from a ‘secret admirer’.

The camera work feels quite handheld and made me feel a littlequeasy at times. It also zooms in very close to the characters’faces for a lot of the movie as thematically it examines their feel-ings and motivations closely. The music, a recurring refrain of xy-lophone, frequently sets the tone adding a bouncy lightness andfrivolity to otherwise mundane scenes.

I don’t want to give away too much about what happens but thereis a surprisingly poignant moment toward the end which had myeyes misting up, and not in a cheesy way either.

While I did laugh out loud several times, it’s not a rip roaring com-edy, but then it’s not trying to be. I really liked this film and I thinkmaybe you might too.

By Gwen Taylour

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‘New Year's Eve’ celebrates love, hope, forgiveness,second chances and fresh starts, in intertwining sto-ries told amidst the pulse and promise of New YorkCity on the most dazzling night of the year. With asparkling ensemble cast, if you enjoyed ‘Valentine’sDay’, give ‘New Year’s Eve’ a try.

On New Year's Eve, Claire Morgan (Hilary Swank) ismaking the final arrangements for the ball drop withthe help of her friend Brandon (Chris "Ludacris"Bridges). Meanwhile, after being nearly run over bya car and denied a vacation, Ahern Records secretaryIngrid (Michelle Pfeiffer) quits her job and offers thedeliveryman Paul (Zac Efron) tickets for the AhernRecords Masquerade Ball if Paul helps her completea series of New Year's resolutions before midnight,which he accepts.

Paul’s sister Kim (Sarah Jessica Parker) is havingtrouble with her teenage daughter Hailey (AbigailBreslin) who wants to spend New Year’s Eve withher friends and her boyfriend Seth (Jake T. Austin)in Times Square. Paul’s friend, comic book illustratorRandy (Ashton Kutcher), who hates New Year’s Eveafter his girlfriend left him on a date, gets stuck in

an elevator with Elise (Lea Michele), an aspiringsinger who will be providing back-up for musicianJensen (Jon Bon Jovi) in his show at the AhernRecords ball, where he runs into his ex-girlfriend,Laura (Katherine Heigl).

At a nearby hospital, Stan Harris (Robert De Niro), aman in the final stages of cancer who refuseschemotherapy and who only wishes to see the balldrop one last time, is kept company by Nurse Aimee(Halle Berry) and Nurse Mindy (Alyssa Milano) afterhis doctor (Cary Elwes) reveals he will not last muchlonger. In the same hospital, a young couple, Griffin(Seth Meyers) and Tess (Jessica Biel), about to havetheir first child, compete with another couple, James(Til Schweiger) and Grace (Sarah Paulson), for abonus offered for the family of the first child born inthe new year.

Release Date: 8 May 2012Director: Garry MarshallStarring: Sarah Jessica Parker

Jessica BielAshton Kutcher

Genre: Comedy/Romance

From the Director of Pretty Woman and Valentine's Day,"Let love be your resolution".

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I rarely dance while sitting in my chair – in fact I’m not sure I ever do but if ever there was an albumto have a secret-chair boogey to, it’s Rizzle Kicks’ Stereo Typical.

By now we’ve all heard chart toppers Mama Do The Hump and Down With The Trumpets so you’dbe forgiven for assuming that these two are the best on the album – they’re not.

Stereo Typical is a pleasant surprise all round. With tracks that combine seriously down to earthlyrics with funky backing tracks, the Rizzle duo, which is made up of best pals Jordan Stephensand Harley Alexander-Sule, cleverly chase each other through every tune rapping real life scenarioswhich will no doubt ring true with many a listener.

From When I Was a Youngster where they cry “Back when I was younger I wanted to be everythingon the planet – now that I’m older that ambition has vanished” to the song Prophet in whichthey rap “I’m watching In Your Pocket – Better Watch It,” there’s a quirky vibe and an elementto the music which no other artist is bringing at the moment.

It’s not just the lyrics and tunes that will get you though – on first glance at that CD case in theshop or on downloads the song names will have you intrigued: There’s Demolition Man, MissCigarette and Trouble - these three alone would make for a very interesting meet.

Give this one a go – you know you want to.

Reviewed by Emer Mulvaney, Editor

Since she first walked into the 2010 auditions of X Factor and blew the judges - including pop superstar Katy Perry - away,Tallaght has loved her. We loved her on her own and we loved her in Belle Amie – now she’s back to where she started, flying

solo, and it’s clear that the sky is finally the limit.

On May 14th Rebecca will release her fist single on iTunes with Wexford’s Rob Kelly. The Real thing is a sample of the Toni deBarts track and Rebecca is without a doubt the highlight of it. There are some slick lyrics from Kelly but it’s her take on the

previous hit that shines through. That, coupled with a half decent video provodes every reason to take a look.

On further investigation of her solo work there’s also an upload on Youtube called Titanium/Wild One a truly beautifulcover of the David Guetta ft Sia smash hit. It is, without doubt, one of those rare covers which will leave you wondering

whether you love it more than the original – this is a must for release.

Rebecca Creighton, quite frankly, is on fire and with the right direction and management she will be huge.

Reviewed by Emer Mulvaney, Editor

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Just as everyone was getting sick of thegeneric 'shooter' genre that was hugelypopularised by the 'Call of Duty' series.

Crysis 2 re-vamp the stale shooter seriesmakes you think about how to attack your tar-gets, instead of just running in and shootingeverything you see. If you did this without someform of a plan you'd quickly be torn to piecesby the enemy troops.

Now, a year after Crysis 2 was released, devel-oper Crytek and publisher Electronic Arts hasannounced Crysis 3 - a sequel.

The third game sees the player return asProphet from Crysis 1. He goes to New York,only to discover the city’s been encased in agiant Nanodome created by the corrupt CellCorporation.

The New York City Liberty Dome is a uniqueurban rainforest teeming with overgrown trees,damp swamplands and raging rivers within theLiberty Dome which is mde up of seven distinct

and treacherous environments, that have be-come known as the Seven Wonders.

Set in 2047, 24 years after the events of Crysis2, Prophet is said to be on a "revenge mission"after uncovering the truth behind Cell's motivesfor building the quarantined Nanodomes.

The citizens were told that the giant citywidestructures were resurrected to protect the pop-ulation and to cleanse these metropolises of theremnants of Ceph forces but unknown to thepopulation, the Nanodomes are Cell's covert at-tempt at a land and technology grab in theirmission for global domination.

The cover features Prophet standing atop theStatue of Liberty, but she is now covered in jun-gle vines. In the background New York buildingsare destroyed and covered in jungle growth.Prophet is also using a high-powered bow,which is completely new to the series.

He's also equipped with an enhanced Nanosuitand is using Alien Tech to be “The deadliest

hunter on the planet”, according to EA.

EA has also announced that there will be a'Hunter' edition if you pre-order Crysis 3. Thiswill include early access to the new signaturebow and its attachments, plus the HunterNanosuit with additional power and functionalityto the nanosuit. Pre-order customers also re-ceive bonus XP, boosting the gamer's multi-player character up to level 5, a unique bow skinand three exclusive dog tags to hunt in style.

Crysis 3 is expected to be released in Spring2013 for PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and theWii U.

Release Date: Spring 2013Publisher: Electronic ArtsGenre: First-person shooterAvailable On: PS3, PC, XBox 360, Wii Ucrysis.ea.com for more information

Last year Crysis 2 blasted onto our screens and blew everyone away in this unique shooter...

By Keith Cashin

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BIN ITYOUR WAY

S L A M D U N KT H E G U M

STEP AWAY FROM A €150 LITTER FINEwww.gumlittertaskforce.ie

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PatiosDissolve washing soda crystals in hot water andbrush over paths and patios to remove green algae.It is cheaper than chemicals off the garden centreshelf. Spray full-strength household vinegar onweeds, repeat daily as needed. It is good indriveways, walkways, the greenhouse floor, patios,etc.

Mint, not just for fresh breathI have found that a strong mixture of mint leaves inboiling water, will help deter most insects (chewingand sucking) from feeding on your plants. Allow tocool, strain out leaves and spray on plants, Thisshould be applied often.

Boil rhubarb leaves in water for about 30 minutes,and then use cold as a spray for aphids. Works wellon roses, although you will have to re-apply often.

Nettle Tea; take 1kg of fresh nettle, (preferably be-fore flowering), and add to a bucket 2 litres of hot(not boiling) water. Leave to steep for between 24hrs and 48hrs. Use as a spray.

Summer BeddingPlease do not be tempted to buy your summerbedding yet, unless you have a greenhouse,

conservatory or cold frame that you can store themin. A late April / early May frost is not uncommon.

Purchase annuals without flowers so that you canenjoy the blooms longer. Choose shorter bushyplants because the larger ones are more establishedalready and may not transplant as well. A dark greencolour is generally a good indicator of a stronghealthy plant. (Make sure that they are not lightcoloured or yellowing, nor should they have brownpatches)

When planting your annuals if you loosen up theroots a bit before planting it will help stimulatestronger growth.

BulbsFor a better bloom next year, do not cut back yourdaffodils until they have almost completely diedback.

Plant lily and gladioli bulbs in 4in (10cm) deep holes.Cover with soil or compost and gently firm down thesoil to make sure that there are no air pockets asthis can cause the bulbs to rot.

Late FrostMake sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast.

Cover shrubs that are likely to be damaged by frostwith garden fleece, sacking or an old light blanketand remove next morning.

After a frost try to stay off the grass, walking on thelawn in frosty conditions can damage the grass.

Lift and divide early flowers such as primrose orsnowdrops. Prune spring flowering shrubs afterflowering, especially if they have grown too large fortheir space, Prune spring-flowering shrubs such asforsythia, lilac, and quince, as soon as the bloom isfinished. Remove older stems, damaged, dead, oroverlapping branches.

MilkSpray plants with a mixture comprised of 10 per centmilk and 90 per cent water to rid plants of mildew.It is best to do this home remedy twice a week.

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I read this book on my boyfriend’s recommendationand it was with slight trepidation that I startedreading. There have been a few times our taste inbooks has not been compatible in the past. Ishouldn’t have worried. It’s not for nothing that it hasbeen called ‘the best spy novel of all-time”.

‘The Spy Who Came In From The Cold’ is a tensespy thriller which is set during the Cold War. Theprotagonist, Alec Leamas is a middle-aged alcoholicon the verge of retirement from the spy game;burned out, embittered, and about to be cashieredfor a string of failures while running England's spynetwork in Cold War Berlin.

The plot is convoluted and keeps you guessing (anda bit confused) for most of the book. I did worry thatit was just me being slow, but the boyfriendconfirmed that he felt the same way while readingit. It is supposed to be unclear, as the author feedsus clues and second guesses our assumptions allthe way through.

The reader is given the feel of what it is like to be anagent who only has some of the pieces of the puzzleof what is happening. It offers glimpses of the difficultprocess of trying to determine which intelligence isaccurate and which is not as the scenario develops.

It was short, perfectly edited, but manages to packmore plot into it's 212 pages than any other bookI’ve ever read. It totally immerses you in the tenseatmosphere of fear and mistrust that pervades allstories set at this time in history.

This was the breakthrough novel of John Le Carré,who went on to write the novel “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier,Spy”, which inspired the film of the same name thatwe featured in the DVD Releases section inFebruary. During the 1950s and the 1960s, theauthor actually worked for the British intelligenceservices MI5 and MI6, which gave him an invaluableinsight into the world he was writing about.

Time magazine, while including The Spy Who Camein From the Cold in its top 100 novels list, stated thenovel was "a sad, sympathetic portrait of a man whohas lived by lies and subterfuge for so long, he'sforgotten how to tell the truth."

I really enjoyed this book and am delighted to fndthat it is part of a series. I’ll be seeking out anotherof le Carré’s spy novels soon.

About The AuthorJohn le Carré is the pseudenom of British authorDavid John Moore Cornwell. His third novel ‘The SpyWho Came in from the Cold’ became aninternational best-seller and remains one of his bestknown works. Following the novel’s success, he leftMI6 to become a full-time author.

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I Told You So

I told you so! What did I tell you?I told you not to!

I thought this was the way things were,I thought this was life.

Would you like a hug?What did you say, love?

Then I thought the world was different.Then I thought it was right.

Is this the way the world was when I was nine?Or is it just mine?

June Culligan

About ‘Connections’‘Connections’ is designed for people who have suffered a serious medicalsetback. This creative writing workshop is facilitated by Anotnia Hart in theNational Learning Network on the Broomhill Road. These poems were writtenduring the workshop.

For more information about National Learning Network go to www.nln.ie

This month’s Writer’s Corner showcases more poems from ‘Connections’,a group in the National Learning Network.

I am From

I am from: the thought.I am from: the love thought.

I am from: the place.I am from: the love place.

I am from: the seed.I am from: the love seed.

I am from: the love.I am from: the loving love.

June Culligan

Little Angel

Beautiful child, sweet little angel,A family euphoric at her arrival.

With hearts full of joy they plan for her future;But the world can be cruel, and plans must be altered.

So with minds refocused, an army assembles:With hearts full of kindnessThey’ll fight for this angel.

Dave Molloy

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Starting to PlanIt has taken you years to get to where you are nowin life. It may also take years to get to where youwant to be in the future. The question is, will it bethe future you want or the one you end up with, bydefault?

Financial Planning is not about investments, pen-sions, savings, life insurance policies, and other suchproducts. It is about what you want out of your lifeand where you want your family to be in the future.It is about achieving what is important to you andyour family. Time, leisure, children, holidays, educa-tion, more time off and retiring when you want –these are the things that help us to live our life. Thethings we all hope for in our lives.

Financial Planning is about balancing your availableresources. The money you have right now, the in-come you’re earning, or the income and assets youhope to have in the future. Along with the thingsthat you will inherit.

It’s about knowing what your lifestyle costs today.Each one of us can say what the big ticket items arethat make the dent in our income each month, theutility bills, rent or mortgage, but what about the

other stuff? The small stuff that goes under the radarunnoticed. This makes up the deficit between whatcame in and what you’ve got left. If you don’t knowwhat that is, or where it’s going, how can you makedecisions about how you would like to spend it?Perhaps it is already going where it should, or maybethere is room for a decision to be made on whereyou spend it.

For some people going through this process it is rel-atively easy. They look at things and see where theywant to take action. For others, they will prefer totake independent advice to be sure that they aremaking the right choices for their life. So, where canyou get this independent advice? Who should youtalk to? There are independent financial advisorsavailable, but which one is the right one for you?

Choosing a financial advisor can be a daunting task.Here are a couple of things to take into consideration.

• What is it that you want them to do for you?

• How should you pay for this advice?

• Can you be sure that they are going to deliverwhat you want, in the way that you want it?

If the first person you approach doesn’t feel right, orcannot deliver what you want, don’t be afraid to keeplooking until you find someone who makes you com-fortable. Someone who understands what you wantand can help you to deliver your plan for your family.

Like most things in this world, independent advicecomes at a price. If necessary, you should be pre-pared to pay for it. There are different paymentmethods in operation across the industry at present.Again, it comes down to choice – your choice. It mayhelp to remember, that if you aren’t paying for theindependent advice, somewhere along the supplychain someone will be paying for it and in this situ-ation, they may be calling the tune for you.

It has taken a long time to get to where you are atthis point in your life. Remember to implement thechange that you desire and to get what you want itis going to take time and commitment. Every journeybegins with the first step, and every mountain getsmoved with the first shovel.

So, take the first step today, ask yourself, ‘What do Iwant for my family and I?’

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Independent Financial Planners & Investment AdvisorsFinancial planning is not a one-off event but an on going process to help You plan for the life You want for You and those closest to you.

276 River Forest, Leixlip, Co. Kildare.Telephone: 624 2450 Mobile: 087 249 1873 Fax: 624 7197Email:breffnimay@eircom.net

Web: www.mayfinancialplanning.ie

1. Skin and trim cod. Cut into portions of 3oz.

2. Making the batter – sieve flour, separateeggs and then whip the egg whites. Add allthe other ingredients to the flour. Whisklightly, making sure all liquids are freezingcold. Fold egg white into batter. Place infridge for 20 minutes, to keep really chilled.This is important as you need it really cold,going into the hot oil. This will make the codreally crispy on the outside. Place cod ontoskewers.

3. Place the cod into seasoned flour. Dip in bat-ter and place on a plate to drain excess.Place into really hot oil. Cook for 5-6 mins.

4. Spicy Chips – Cut large potatoes into chunkychips. Boil until slightly soft. Strain and drypotato. Cook in hot oil until golden. Place ona tray and sprinkle with Cajun spices andsalt and pepper

Fish� 9oz Fresh Cod

Batter� Flour 4oz� 2 eggs� Salt

� Pepper� 1 2 cup Beer� Sesame Seeds� 4oz Milk� Fresh Herbs

(chopped fine)� Skewers

Spicy Chips� 2 large potatoes� Cajun Spices� Salt� Pepper

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What are Kettlebells? Kettlebells have been around for ages. Made out ofcast iron, they’re cannonball-shaped weights with asingle handle on top. Although they look reallydifferent from the free weights and machines thatoccupy most gyms, they are one of the best andmost efficient fitness tools you can use.

What are the benefits of Kettlebells? The purported benefits of kettlebells appeal to peopleof all fitness levels, ages and genders. Somewherealong the way, the fitness industry lost the realdefinition of ‘fit’ and replaced traditional full-bodyexercises with isolation exercises. Lately though, thiscosmetic type of training is being replaced withmovement-based training, which some call

functional fitness training. That’s what kettlebellsprovide, and individuals who want a more practicaland traditional style of training are turning tokettlebells.

Proponents of kettlebells, say that the benefits ofkettlebell training are many.

Kettlebells offer:- Full-body conditioning. The body learns to work as

one synergistic unit linked strongly together

- Big results by spending less time in the gym.Because kettlebell training involves multiple musclegroups and energy systems at once.

- Increased resistance to injury.- The ability to work aerobically and anaerobically

simultaneously.- Improved mobility and range of motion.- Increased strength without.- Increase of mass. Kettlebell exercisers are lean and

toned, not bulky – a benefit that appeals to womenand men alike.

- Enhanced performance in athletics and everydayfunctioning.

- Major calorie burning, in a recent study conductedby the highly respected American Council onExercise, participants burned approximately 20calories per minute – that's 1,200 calories perhour.

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Volkswagen’s Golf GTI has always been a tough act to follow. That’s why thefour-wheel drive, V6-engined Golf R32 never quite established itself as a con-vincing flagship of the MkV range.

But could the MkVI version change that? VW has ditched the naturally aspiratedV6, and instead extracted more power from the GTI’s lighter, more efficient2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo. The result is an all-new model: the Golf R.

Fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, twin central-exit exhaust pipes and strikingmetallic blue paint, the R certainly looks the part. Indeed, if you’re a hot hatchpurist, you’ll prefer it to its flashier cousin, the Scirocco R.

Under the bonnet, there’s a highly-tuned version of the powerplant from theMkV GTI, rather than the newer MkVI motor. The block is reinforced and thecylinder head replaced, while special pistons, conrods, high-pressure fuel in-jectors, a new turbo and a more effective intercooler are used. The resultsare impressive: 265bhp and 345Nm of torque make it the most potent Golfyet. That’s a major step up from the 200bhp GTI, not to mention the old R32.It sounds brilliant, too.

Crucially, the turbo engine is much cleaner and more fuel efficient than theV6-engined R32. Emissions drop from 257g/km for the MkV to 199g/km for

the Golf R. Fuel economy is up around 4mpg to 33.2mpg on the combinedcycle for a manual model. Fitting the optional twin-clutch DSG transmissionbumps that figure up to 33.6mpg.

The Golf R is a seriously quick car – it’s a clear league above the GTI, and sig-nificantly livelier than the R32 it replaces. It’s not as rabid or unruly as the FordFocus RS, but that means you can extract more of the hatch’s performancemore of the time.

Much of this is due to the new 4MOTION all-wheel drive transmission, whichcan send as much as 100 per cent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheelsif it senses the front tyres are struggling. And with new springs and dampers,revised anti-roll bars and specially tuned power-steering, it’s no wonder the Rhas a sharper and more direct feel than the GTI.

The set-up is great when you override the automatic modes and use the but-ton-style paddles, but there are times when you would rather let the gearboxdo the work – which seems a shame in a car this driver focused. It does atleast suit the Golf’s no-fuss nature. Even on demanding roads, you never senseanything unsettling going on beneath you. All you get is a level of assuranceand ability that makes the R’s front-wheel-drive rivals feel a little ragged.

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With just one team at under 12 level, playing in the Celtic Youth ClubLeague, the club’s original home ground was Bushy Park. Slowly theclub grew to five teams and secured a pitch in between the newlybuilt Carrigwood and Woodlawn Park estates. Founders Aiden andBrendan were joined here by names such as Brendan Wynn, LillyMurray and Terry Corcoran. Pat (Chalkey) White and Denis Keily (acurrent committee member) helped out in those pre-Italia ’90 years.After Italia ’90 the Club mushroomed beyond recognition, addingthree teams every year, leveling off at the 15 teams currently fieldedtoday.

One of the original under 12 players from ’74, Paul Nolan, returned to becomeChairman through those growing years and put in place the foundationsneeded to cater for nearly 300 members and the fine changing facilities theclub has today.

Today the objectives of the club are to provide football for all children withinthe community regardless of ability, to foster the game of Association Footballamong all children, to promote a social spirit and to provide facilities towardsachieving the forgoing aims.

The club currently fields 15 teams from under 8 to under 18 along with avibrant academy for those under the age of 7. In total, nearly 300 membersfrom every ethnic background, irrespective of ability, wear the blue and yellowof Firhouse Carmel each week.

Based at Firhouse Community and Leisure Centre, where the club has a firstclass, purpose-built changing and meeting facility, Firhouse Carmel boastsfour full size football pitches as well as two 7 and 9-aside pitches. The clubaims to build its membership by encouraging more girls and boys throughprogrammes such as Soccer Sisters and Futsal.

The clubhouse facility has wheelchair access which enables disabled membersto use all facilities within it - this is manned by a caretaker. Within the playingmembers there are those with disabilities, A.D.H.D. and behavioural problemswhom the club liaison officer works closely with the coaches who are workingwith them. A past playing member of the club Brian Mc Gillivary, who playswith the Ireland Cerebral Palsy Team, works closely with some of the younggoalkeepers.

By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

Supporting the managers and coaches that take charge of teams each week,Firhouse Carmel FC has a dedicated team of Club Coaches overseeing teamcoaching as well as organising kickstart 1, 2 and goal keeping courses heldwithin the club.

In addition, the club has an active committee which looks after such vital areasas administration, pitch and building maintenance, child protection and firstaid seminars along with fundraising as well as the weekly lotto.

The Football Committee oversees league placing, disciplinary issues and playergrading, ensuring each player is placed in a team of equal ability. The gradingsystem within enables each girl or boy to play competitive football weekly, nomatter how strong or weak the player might be. The qualified coaches striveto bring the best out of the players by encouraging and helping each player toachieve their potential.

The aim is to show Racism the Red Card. Most of Firhouse Carmel FC’s teamsboast at least 2-3 different nationalities. The club has zero tolerance for racismshown by any of our members towards other members or opposing teams.

Club Secretary Grainne O’Donnell said: “At Firhouse Carmel F.C. we are veryproud of our community and great emphasis is placed on strengthening theties we have between schools, college, community centres, churches and localbusiness as well as Senior Football Clubs such as Firhouse Clover and FirhouseColmcilles – both of which avail of our first class facilities.

“In addition, our Club actively encourages participation in other codes and alarge percentage of our members have achieved honors in Rugby, GAA andAthletics both at club and school level. “Participation, rather that exclusivity, isthe key to inclusion,” she added.

When it comes to highlights of the year Geraldine says that there have beentwo of prominence. “Our Presentation Day and our Mini World Cup are definitelythe main highlights,” she said.

“Our Presentation Day takes place in the closed season and celebrates Cupand League triumphs, however the emphasis is placed on honoring eachteam’s Player of the Year & most improved Player of the Year as well asrecognising the improvements made by teams at all age levels as well assportsmanship and fair play.

Firhouse Carmel Schoolboy Football Club was founded in 1974 to cater for schoolboys and girls in the local area.

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Projects already undertaken:• Futsal Programmes

• Soccer Sisters Programmes

• Cerebral Palsy Training Sessions

• Special Olympic Training Session

• Kick Start Coaching Courses

• Fundraising Workshops

• Child Liaison Programme with Managers

• First Aid Course

Future Projects to be undertaken:• FAI Development programmes

• Kick Start Coaching Courses

• Football for All Programmes

• Mini World Cup

• School Programmes (Sports Day)

• Fundraising Events (Golf Classics and Table Quiz’s)

• 11 a-side Astro Turf pitch.

“The Presentation Day is also our chance to celebrate the CommunitySpirit that exists in Firhouse and the many unsung heroes who give theirtime freely throughout the year.”

The Club’s Mini World Cup is for players aged from five to 11 and takesplace on the club’s Carrigwood playing fields. The event attracts upwardsof 400 children from the area and is a tournament which runs for a fullweek. Geraldine said: “As the population of Firhouse has increasedmassively in recent years our Mini World Cup is seen as the ideal wayfor new families to the area to introduce their children not just to footballbut to new friends.

“It provides many local children’s first experience of team sports and in-troduces them to Firhouse Carmel. Children travel from miles around tobe involved in the largest tournament of its type in the area and we en-courage local children of all abilities to get involved in a spirit of commu-nity.”

With our Club House now built the ambition now is to provide all-weatherfacilities for players, facilitating winter training to improve standards whilefurther including the Community’s schools and clubs.

On the playing side, surpassing the excellent standard we have achievedgoes without saying, however it is vital we stay close to our aim to providefootball for every schoolboy and schoolgirl within Firhouse.

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Shamrock Rovers had a 100 per cent home league record up until the last two games at TallaghtStadium. However, that record came to an end when first, at the end of April, Derry City managedto get a 1-1 draw in Tallaght and then UCD scrambled a 2-2 draw in the following game. In bothmatches the visitors came from behind with two points dropped by Rovers against the Studentsonly due to UCD’s injury time equaliser.

Derry were lucky to escape with a draw as Rovers probably played some of their best football of the seasonbut couldn’t add to Gary Twigg’s early second half goal. The following week in the league, UCD struck ininjury time to grab a 2-2 draw with the Hoops squandering a 2-0 half time lead following goals by BillyDennehy and Daryl Kavanagh.

Rovers travelled to the Brandywell in late April for the second leg of the Setanta Sports Cup semi-final trailing3-0 from the first leg. Manager Stephen Kenny deployed an attacking 3-5-2 system that paid dividends onthe night as Rovers won 2-0. However, the Hoops lost their All-Ireland crown as they couldn’t score thatvital third goal to take the tie to extra time.

Gary Twigg has been in spectacular scoring form for the Hoops this season. His goals have been crucial inkeeping Rovers in contention for retaining their league title. Entering the start of May, the Scotsman hadscored ten goals in just ten games. Twigg’s goals this season have pushed him into the top 10 all-timeleague goalscorers for Shamrock Rovers. He has leapfrogged St. Patrick’s Athletic manager and formerRovers manager and player Liam Buckley into eight place on the list. With 69 goals at the start of May,Twigg is still some way off the overall record held by Rovers legend Paddy Ambrose who scored 109 leaguegoals for the Hoops.

By Macdara Ferris

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Earlier this month, Shamrock Rovers fans were delighted to hear that 24 year-old Ronan Finn had extended his contract with the Hoops until the end of 2014.

Finn, who made the second highest number of appearances for Rovers lastseason playing 51 times, has been in superb form this year. Up until the recent2-2 home draw with UCD, Finn had started every league game for Roversbefore injury forced him out of the team. His creativity in midfield had helpedRovers to be top scorers in the League at the start of the month and he himselfhad bagged two league goals.

“Playing for Shamrock Rovers is an honour,” said Finn speaking last week, “soto know I’ll be doing it for another two years is great. When you come hereyou realise how big the club is and once you’ve played here, you don’t wantto leave.”

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www.shamrockrovers.ieinfo@shamrockrovers.ieClub Store: Monday-Saturday 10am-6pmMatch days until 10.15pm

FIXTURES 2012League Fri 9th Mar. 8.00 SRFC v. Monaghan Utd. League Fri 23rd Mar. 8.00 SRFC v. Shelbourne Mon 26th Mar. EA Sports Cup 1st RoundLeague Fri 30th Mar. 8.00 SRFC v. Bohemians TBC EA Sports Cup 2nd RoundLeague Fri 13th Apr. 8.00 SRFC v. DundalkLeague Fri 27th Apr. 8.00 SRFC v. Derry CityLeague Fri 4th May 8.00 SRFC v. U.C.D.League Fri 18th May 8.00 SRFC v. Drogheda Utd. w/e Sun 27th May FAI Cup 2nd RoundLeague Fri 1st June 8.00 SRFC v. Cork City TBC EA Sports Cup Quarter FinalsLeague Fri 6th July 8.00 SRFC v. St. Patrick’s AthleticLeague Fri 20th July 8.00 SRFC v. Bray Wanderers Mon 6th Aug. EA Sports Cup Semi FinalsLeague Fri 10th Aug. 8.00 SRFC v. Sligo RoversLeague Mon 20th Aug. 8.00 SRFC v. Monaghan Utd. w/e Sun 26th Aug. FAI Cup 3rd RoundLeague Fri 7th Sept. 8.00 SRFC v. ShelbourneLeague Mon 10th Sept. 8.00 SRFC v. Bohemians w/e Sun 16th Sept. FAI Cup Quarter Finals Sat 22nd Sept. EA Sports Cup FinalLeague Fri 28th Sept. 8.00 SRFC v. Dundalk w/e Sun 7th Oct. FAI Cup Semi FinalsLeague Sat 13th Oct. TBC SRFC v. Derry CityLeague Fri 19th Oct. 8.00 SRFC v. U.C.D. Sun 4th Nov. FAI Cup FinalFixtures subject to change, check www.shamrockrovers.ie for more.

You’re always welcomeat Shamrock Rovers!I hope to see you soonin Tallaght Stadium!

SHAMROCK ROVERS F.C. – TALLAGHT STADIUM

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2012

For just 710 per season, you can get these fantastic benefits:• An exclusive Junior Hoops member's gift each year!

• A Birthday Card signed by your favourite Rovers player!• Admission to Junior Hoops Parties with the 1st team squad!

• Vote in our very own Junior Hoops’ Player of the Year!• Competitions that money just cannot buy!

Are you between the ages of 5 & 14 and mad aboutthe Hoops? If so, then we have the club for you!

Phone 01-4605948 / www.shamrockrovers.ie/junior-hoops

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