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YOUR COMMUNITY YOUR PAPER April 14, 2011 ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ................8, 10 MOTORS ........................ 18 BUSINESS .................... 21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26 FREE GAZETTE GAZETTE Swords Fingallians: Celebrating a successful 2010 season Page 31 Football: Local duo eye Dublin national league success Page 32 RECYCLE THIS COPY. KEEP DUBLIN TIDY. INSIDE: Students getting set to volun- teer in Uganda P4 IN THE MONEY: Fingal CC laughing all the way to the bank: See Page 2 Metro North is put on the back boiler Minister places transport project up for review MIMI MURRAY ANGER and disappoint- ment has been expressed at a decision by the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, not to approve the enabling works for Metro North. Fianna Fail Senator Dar- ragh O’Brien has expressed his anger at the Minis- ter’s decision to include the project in a review of transport projects already planned, delaying critical infrastructure investment and job creation. “Minister Varadkar has simply made the wrong call here. Dublin needs Metro North and it should be built. To facilitate construction certain utilities, pipes and telecommunications run- ning under O’Connell Street need to be moved,” said Sen- ator O’Brien. Those utilities will not now be moved. Full Story on Page 3 All’s well with us: Attending the opening of a new centre CHLOE Tobin and Mary Mont- gomery were clearly enjoying themselves at the recent official opening of Embody College and Wellness Centre in Swords. The centre offers training in complementary/sport therapy and beauty training and with their tutors, who have over 20 years of experience, they are sure to be a huge success in the local area. Full Gallery on Page 8 SPECIAL EASTER SUPPLEMENT Don’t miss your ‘where2shop’ Easter special in next week’s Swords Gazette

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Page 1: Swords Gazette

YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER April 14, 2011

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ................8, 10

MOTORS ........................18

BUSINESS .................... 21

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

ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24

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

FREE GAZETTEGAZETTESwords

Fingallians: Celebrating a successful 2010 seasonPage 31

Football: Local duo eye Dublin national league successPage 32

RECYCLE THIS COPY. KEEP DUBLIN TIDY.

INSIDE: Studentsgetting set to volun-

teer in Uganda P4

IN THE MONEY: Fingal CC laughing all the way to the bank: See Page 2

Metro North is put on the back boilerMinister places transport project up for review

MIMI MURRAY

ANGER and disappoint-ment has been expressed at a decision by the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, not to approve the enabling works for Metro North.

Fianna Fail Senator Dar-ragh O’Brien has expressed

his anger at the Minis-ter’s decision to include the project in a review of transport projects already planned, delaying critical infrastructure investment and job creation.

“Minister Varadkar has simply made the wrong call here. Dublin needs Metro

North and it should be built. To facilitate construction certain utilities, pipes and telecommunications run-ning under O’Connell Street need to be moved,” said Sen-ator O’Brien. Those utilities will not now be moved.

Full Story on Page 3

All’s well with us: Attending the opening of a new centre CHLOE Tobin and Mary Mont-gomery were clearly enjoying themselves at the recent official opening of Embody College and Wellness Centre in Swords. The centre offers training in complementary/sport therapy and beauty training and with their tutors, who have over 20 years of experience, they are sure to be a huge success in the local area.

Full Gallery on Page 8

SPECIAL EASTER SUPPLEMENT

Don’t miss your ‘where2shop’ Easter special in next week’s Swords Gazette

Page 2: Swords Gazette

GOT A STORY?WE WANT TO KNOW! Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or

email [email protected]

2 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 April 2011

Teacher Ms Brooks with teller Anna Kazadoteva. Picture: Peter Doyle

Sarah Fay, Miss Hayes and

Caoimhe Dillon

Vlada Novicka, Kevin Clancy

and Maliha Jyodi

Miss Whelan, David Scott AIB,

and Miss Hayes

Pupils put credit back in banking

MIMI MURRAY

[email protected]

BANKERS may be suffering from negative publicity at the moment, but students from Fingal Community College are showing the positive side with their weekly school bank.

The school bank, An Taisce, recently came first in the AIB Build a Bank north Dublin Regional Finals competition and the team were rewarded with an iPod each for their hard work and efforts, and also won a digit-al camcorder for the school.

CompetitionBank manager, Maliha

Jyoti, explained how the school became involved.

“AIB came up to us and gave us a brief about the competition. We applied for the places and went for inter-view and got the positions we wanted and it all started from there,” she said.

Deputy manager, Kevin Clancy said: “We promoted the bank around the school and, on Wednesdays, myself and Maliha open accounts and Caoimhe Dillon, Sarah Fay, Vlada Novicka and Anna Kazadoteva do all the teller stuff, like lodg-ing cheques and things like that.

“Teachers from the school use it. At the start we had loads of people coming in. People are still coming in but, because students have

their first cards, I think they like to go to the bank. It is more teachers who don’t want to queue. They can lodge, set up phone and internet banking, set up saver accounts. They do good students’ interest as well. I think it a really smart way to get people to join AIB.

“We won overall in north County Dublin and got the highest points in Dublin.

“We are now going to the national finals on May 4 in the RDS and that is against 11 other schools in Ireland. We also had to submit a business plan and, out of 25 points, we got 25.”

Principal Sharon McGrath said she was very proud

of what the students have achieved.

“We wish them every suc-cess but, win lose or draw, we are delighted with them.

“Obviously we hope they bring home the bacon, though. I use it [the bank] all the time, for my own per-sonal banking and for school banking.

“The students love to get involved and they do see it is a service that is essential in the community and the peo-ple who work there are mere-ly doing a job and shouldn’t be tarnished with any of the bad press at the moment.

“They are hugely com-mitted as are the teachers involved who give up their lunch time.”

EVENT School bank wins at AIB Regional Finals

New Minister addresses forum

BUSINESS: MEETING

FINGAL Dublin Chamber CEO, Tony Lambert, met with newly-appointed Min-ister for Small Business, John Perry TD, at a recent meet-ing of Chambers of Com-merce chief executives from throughout the country.

“This was an excellent opportunity to meet with a new Minister and to inform him of the issues faced by small businesses in today’s difficult trading environ-

ment,” Lambert said.The Minister addressed

the CEOs’ forum, giving the commitment of the new Government to support small businesses.

“I will ensure that SMEs have a voice in this adminis-tration and that pro-business policies are followed.

“I look forward to a regu-lar and positive engagement with all Chambers of Com-merce,” said Minister Perry.

Sarah Fay, Miss Hayes and

Mi Wh l D id S tt AIB

Page 3: Swords Gazette

14 April 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 3

Anger at no go for Metro North enabling works

MIMI MURRAY

[email protected]

ANGER and disappoint-ment has been expressed at a decision by the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar not to approve the enabling works for Metro North.

AngerFianna Fail Senator Dar-

ragh O’Brien has expressed his anger at the Minis-ter’s decision to include the project in a review of transport projects already planned, delaying critical infrastructure investment and job creation.

“Minister Varadkar has simply made the wrong call here. Dublin needs Metro North and it should be built. To facilitate construction certain utilities, pipes and telecommunications run-ning under O’Connell Street need to be moved.

“The Minister has said he will not allow these works to

go ahead because he fears the companies bidding to build Metro might pull out.

“He’s missing the point entirely, as a lack of com-mitment and certainty from the new Government to this project could bring that exact scenario about.

“The enabling works for Metro North were due to begin this month and would have created 250 jobs this year.

“Many businesses in north Dublin have expressed their doubts to me about the commitment of Fine Gael and Labour to this impor-tant piece of infrastructure. Now the two parties have thrown the project into seri-ous doubt.

“Far from commiting to it, Metro is ‘under review’. Fianna Fail believes that Metro North is vital and will provide a significant

economic boost once in operation.

“The case for supporting Metro North is sound. It will create up to 6,000 jobs dur-ing the construction phase and will be a catalyst for sig-nificant inward investment along a new ‘Metro North Economic Corridor’ stretch-ing from Ballymun to north of Swords, including Dublin airport.

“An independent report

has already concluded that this economic corridor could generate 37,000 new jobs.

“It is also important to note that this project has the support of the RPA, which commenced commercial and technical negotiations with PPP bidders in 2010 and a commitment of €500m in debt funding from the Euro-pean Investment Bank.

“Fingal is the fastest grow-ing county in Ireland and its population is set to double over the next two decades to almost half a million peo-ple.

“Building Metro North makes sense and Minister Varadkar should be provid-ing certainty around this project and not fuelling doubt and uncertainty,” said Senator O’Brien.

The Department of Trans-port had not responded to Senator O’Brien’s state-ment at the time of going to press.

TRANSPORT: MINISTER CRITICISED FOR PUTTING PROJECT FOR REVIEW

Major opening: Shopping centreMODEL Nadia Forde was at the official open-ing recently of Millfield, Balbriggan, the first major shopping centre to open in Ireland in almost two years. The centre is anchored by a Tesco Extra store, which spans two floors and features some unique departments such as in-store Opticians and Tesco Photoshop along-side clothing, electrical, toys, stationary and fresh food. Other retail-ers include Carphone Warehouse, Gamestop, Eason, Ladbrokes, Holland & Barrett and a food court with BB’s Coffee & Muffins, O’Briens Sandwich Bar and Graham O’Sullivan. A drive-thru McDonalds will open outside of the main part of the centre during the summer.

Golf Classic in aid

of Zambia A GOLF Classic will be held in aid of Zambia in Swords Open Golf Course on Friday, May 27.

Former Sporting Fingal player, Conan Byrne is hosting the fundraiser in aid of his Zambian Mission and a team of four costs €200 and to sponsor a hole will cost €100.

The price includes 18 holes of golf at Swords Open, a goody bag on arrival, food at the 9th hole, finger food in a local bar afterwards and spot prizes throughout the day.

All proceeds will go to the Conan Byrne Zambian Mission.

Anyone who would like to support or take part in this event, can contact Conan at [email protected] or telephone 086603 1389.

Irish conversation

group at Fingallians FINGALLIANS’ GAA club, Swords, will hold an Irish conversation group in the clubhouse each Wednesday at 9pm.

All levels of Irish welcome. The organisers say there will be no pressure to speak and will be fun for all.

Beidh grupa comhra ar siul ag CLG, Fine Ghallainn gach Ceadaoin i dteach na gclub ag 9pm.

Beidh feilte roimh cach agus is cuma linn cen leibheal ata agat.

Ni bheidh aon bru ort, beidh an craic againn agus an rud is fearr: ta se saor in aisce. Tuilleadh eolais o Liam ag 086 3814422.

Looking for Dignam,

Duignan and Dignan Hi all, I am doing a Dig-nam, Duignan and Dignan project on the whole country of Ireland.

Does anyone have rela-tions with the Dignam name from Duleek Gate, Droghe-da, County Louth.

Thomas Dignam was a cattle dealer.

I am also doing a dignam website so, if you know as much history of your fam-ily, please email me [email protected]

Please contact by phone at 087-7437766. Kind Regards, Tom Dignam.

FastNews

The construction of Metro North will create up to 6,000 jobs

Page 4: Swords Gazette

4 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 April 2011

Pupils to volunteer in Uganda project

VISIT Fingal Community College students fundraise for trip

MIMI MURRAY

[email protected]

TEN lucky third-year stu-dents from Fingal Com-munity College will get to experience life in Uganda, whilst also helping pupils to read and write as part of a Uganda Volunteer Project next year.

Science and Math’s teach-er, Clare Scanlon, volunteered with A to Z children’s charity last year and came back with the idea of bringing a group of students this year.

“We built a house and worked in the community. We are the first school to go with A to Z, so they are sorting that out for us,” she said.

Clare described Uganda to the Gazette and explained why it will be an excellent place for student’s to volun-teer in.

“It is really green and not like how you expect. It is one of the more wealthy African countries.

“There is still poverty, but there is malnutrition rather than starvation. Everything grows and there is really fertile soil, but you might only be eating potatoes or tomatoes day in day out. You won’t starve but the life

expectancy is 50. “Malaria and HIV are big

killers, as are other second-ary illnesses. They have safe enough drinking water so the good thing about bring-ing students over is that they are not going to be exposed to anyone dying. It is not a famine-stricken country.

“The Ugandans are really positive people, smiling and friendly. The soil is dusty red but the kids keep uniforms spotless, and when they play games they mind that they don’t get dirt on them,” Clare says.

Principal Sharon McGrath says it is a great opportunity for students.

“There will be four teach-ers and they are doing all of the fundraising, and all third-years are fundraising for the final ten. The stu-dents will be in fifth year by

the time they go. They don’t know who will be picked yet so there are many students hoping to get the opportu-nity, but they will have to be interviewed and selected.

“They will be involved in building part of a school but also will be involved in working with the teachers as classroom assistants.

“They will go in February, 2012, and around €25,000 is needed, so there are a lot of projects going on to raise that money.

“We had a stay-awake with a local scout club where students stayed awake for 24 hours over a Friday night; they had a non-uniform day and they have gone to local businesses and got prizes to raffle,” she said.

Tickets are available for the current draw, with the top prize of an Apple iPad at the moment. Science and Math’s teacher, Clare Scanlon

Butler welcomes move to maintain pitchesPROPERTY group MKN has recently engaged landscap-ing contractors to maintain pitches at Ridgewood, Fian-na Fail councillor Darragh Butler said this week.

WorkThey will carry out the

work during the bedding down phase that allows the pitches to grow and mature before they are used for sporting activities.

“They expect Fingal Coun-ty Council to take the pitch-es in charge in the autumn after the spring and summer growing season. However, I am following up with Fin-gal County Council to see if there is any chance that the full-size GAA pitch will become available for St Fin-ian’s any earlier that this.

“I am also eager to ensure that the four mini pitches are also made available as soon as possible for St Finian’s GAA and River Valley Rang-ers FC,” Cllr Butler said.

RIDGEWOOD: LANDSCAPE CONTRACT

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‘There is still poverty, but there is malnutrition rather than starvation. Everything grows and there is really fertile soil, but you might only be eating potatoes or tomatoes day in day out. You won’t starve but the life expectancy is 50’- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Page 5: Swords Gazette

14 April 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 5

Location sought for waste water plant

MIMI MURRAY

[email protected]

THE search for the best location for a waste water treatment plant (WWTP) has begun in Fingal, it was revealed at a Fingal County Council meeting this week.

Ringsend WWTP current-ly treats most of the greater Dublin area’s waste water, including 70% of Fingal’s. However, it is almost at capacity.

The outcome of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study (GDSDS) showed that a new regional wastewater treatment plant is needed in the northern greater Dublin area.

It stated that Ringsend would also need to expand to its ultimate capacity of 2.1m, which is due for com-pletion by 2015.

However, this will need to be augmented by 2020.

Labour Councillor Peter Coyle said the location of the WWTP was going to form the main part of the debate.

“I have spoken to experts about the placing of WWTP’s at coastal locations and it is not appropriate.

“In London, for example, they advise not to have it near the population and they have it near Heathrow.”

Project engineer, Peter O’Reilly, said that rigor-ous site assessment would take place and that about six potential sites would be looked at.

He said councillors and the public would be given options but it was not a council deci-sion as it is a strategic infra-structure development which will go to An Bord Pleanala for approval.

The issue of tertiary treat-ment is one that the council should take very seriously, Labour’s Ciaran Byrne said.

Engineer O’Reilly said the council could not say what

level of treatment will be put in place.

He added that tertiary treatment is very expen-sive and may not add to the quality of the water. He said there is a need for a single treatment plant, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA).

The overall time frame for the completion of the plant, from planning to construc-tion, will take nine years.

Consultants have been appointed for preparation of the preliminary report and Environmental Impact State-ment (EIS) which will take the

council up until 2013. Site selection will take

place in 2012 while the sub-mission of the EIS to An Bord Pleanala should hap-pen in 2013.

Jacob Tobin has been appointed as technical con-sultants while RPS is head-ing up Project Communica-tions.

During the planning stage, it will take 24 months to complete the EIS and there will be some public consul-tation on sites and routes before identifying the pre-ferred site and pipeline route.

COUNCIL: STUDY SHOWS NEED FOR TREATMENT FACILITY

A Fingal County Council meeting heard that the search for a site for a waste water treatment

plant has begun

Aiming to help: Raising fundsREDBARN Airsoft and Main Irish Airsoft have come together for a char-ity fundraising day in aid of Daniel Maher who has been battling cancer for some time now. Daniel’s family discovered a doc-tor in Germany who could offer treatment, so to help Daniel and his family in this emotional and finan-cial time, the groups came together for this fantastic fundraisng event with a whole host of great prizes to be won. The event raised a fantastic €3,450.

COMPETITION: FINALISTS

Scott Murphy of Swords

Scott’s top skillsIT was celebrations all the way at the 54th annual DIT Nation-al Skills Competition for Scott Murphy of Swords, when he was named one of the top five finalists in the Painting and Decorating category of this prestigious competition, spon-sored by Crown Paints.

The awards were held in The Mansion House on April 8, following an inten-sive three-day event where finalists competed in 12 dif-ferent skill categories, which, alongside Painting and Dec-orating, included aircraft maintenance, bricklaying, heavy vehicle mechanics, cookery, plumbing, restau-

rant service and sheet-metal work.

Scott was presented his award for the Painting and Decorating category by John Conroy, senior brand man-ager, Crown Paints.

“Crown Paints is delighted to continue supporting the National Skills Competi-tion and the individuals who portray such an exceptional level of skill and aptitude in their chosen fields.

“We believe it is impor-tant to nurture home-grown talent and congratulate all entrants on their outstand-ing achievements,” Mr Con-roy said.

Page 6: Swords Gazette

6 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 April 2011

EVENT: KIDSZONE SWORDS

A large tarantula is among the many attractions at the store

A chance to see some exotic pets

MIMI MURRAY

[email protected]

LOTS of exotic and interest-ing animals can be seen at Kidzone Swords this upcom-ing Good Friday, when they run an Easter party in con-junction with Kinsealy Pet Store.

Running from 12pm to 2pm, there will be plenty for kids to do culminating in an Easter Egg Hunt.

Eric Crowley, who runs the pet store in Kinsealy, says it will be a great day out for all the family.

“All the animals will be there. We’ll bring along snakes, meerkats, parrots, macaws, tortoises, rabbits and many more.

“We do a lot of events like this. We do an awful lot for St Joseph’s school for the blind. We give them a lot of animals to feel and touch and anything that schools want; we bring along the animals and teach them free of charge. We do this all the time and we could be out twice a week. We do birth-day parties as well,” Eric says.

The most popular animals are meerkats and chinchillas, but the kids like all of the ani-mals. More often than not it

is the parents who are more frightened. Looking at a large tarantula, one can see why.

“My son has about 30 tarantulas in his bedroom and my wife hates them but she puts up with them for him,” Eric says.

Lots of the animals in store are the owner’s pets, includ-ing the meerkats, a toucan and parrots.

“We wouldn’t sell them. You don’t get attached to them too much anymore but I am attached to Lucky the parrot,” he says.

Eric promises the day will be good fun and informative for kids.

“Kids can hold them and get photos. There will be a treasure hunt on the day as well, and there will be Easter eggs given to the kids when they are leaving. There’ll be spot prizes, and we are going to donate a rabbit and hutch for a colouring competition.”

Kidzone has just been refur-bished and Eric says it is nice that they can help them out.

For anyone who is inter-ested in taking part in the colouring competition, forms can be picked up in Kin-sealy Pet Store or Kidzone, Swords.

Eugene Coppinger

Eugene Coppinger co-opted to FCC

MIMI MURRAY

[email protected]

THE brother of Mulhuddart Socialist councillor, Ruth Coppinger, has been co-opt-ed to Fingal County Council in the Swords ward.

Deputy Clare Daly’s seat was filled by Eugene Cop-pinger at a recent county council meeting.

The Rivervalley man says he only joined the party four years ago but has always supported the Socialists and has campaigned for his sis-ter, Ruth, for years.

Asked if he was concerned that the charge of nepotism or cronyism that might be thrown in his and his sister’s direction, he says: “I did see it on a couple of forms, nep-otism in the far left. There are a lot of position changes within the party and Swords is a small branch.

“It wasn’t a case of Ruth having any hand, act or part in me being co-opted, it was purely down to Clare Daly. It’s about whether you are the right person or not.

“Clare is a hard act to fol-low and I’ll try to follow in the work Clare is doing. She is still the TD and we will probably work together on a lot of things. I will be to the fore against the water charg-

POLITICS Clare Daly’s seat is filled at meeting

es and things like that. “I will be taking as hard a

line and will organise meet-ings in the community and will leave it up to the peo-ple.

Race

“People are realising that what Joe Higgins or Clare said eight years ago was, maybe correct. It’s a race to the bottom.”

Cllr Coppinger has worked voluntarily with the Dublin Marathon for the last 20 years and coaches Clonliffe Harriers.

“I had too many hands in the fire between coaching, football and the marathon so I never really had time to get involved in politics but was always interested.

“Having said that, I can-vassed for Ruth years ago when she was going up for the council elections. Other than that I would never have had dealings with Ruth.

“When Clare asked me would I put my name forward for co-option I said, ‘You are joking, aren’t you’? I thought about it and knew it would require a fair bit of commit-

ment. I knew I would have to see out this term and then put my name forward for next term, so it is an eight-year commitment. I had to think about it and drop a few things to take this on.”

When asked why the Socialists, he says: “Without even putting a name on the politics, when people go into hospital there is a two-tier system and there is a two-tier system in schools. Once everyone gets a fair crack of the whip, and if the system is fair and equal, then it is not wrong.”

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‘It wasn’t a case of Ruth having any hand, act or part in me being co-opted, it was purely down to Clare Daly. It’s about whether you are the right person or not’- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Call your local sales person,

Louise Fitzgerald now on

01 6516206 or

085 8018734

TALK TO YOUR LOCAL MARKET ADVERTISE WITH YOUR LOCAL SWORDS GAZETTE

Page 7: Swords Gazette

14 April 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 7

Twice as nice: Creative Day’s Pre-School wins awards at IPPA ceremonyMAGARET McLoughlin, Rachel Oglesby and Thamzen Byrne, of Creative Day’s Pre-School, proudly show off their two awards they won at the IPPA awards ceremony in Kilmainham Hospital recently. The trio were delighted to win Innovation in Pre-School Practise 2011 presented by Early Child-hood Ireland, and Learning Stories Award, presented by the Irish Pre-School Playgroup Association.

Council delegation will travel to China

CITIES WEEK: MEMBERS EXPRESS CONCERN

MIMI MURRAY

[email protected]

A DELEGATION of up to five people from Fingal County Council will travel to China for the 2011 Chengdu International Sister Cities Week, it was decided at a County Council meeting this week.

A contentious vote was held among the elected mem-bers in order to decide if the delegation would go ahead, after several of the council-lors expressed concern about China’s human rights record as well as the cost of the trip to the council.

A d e l e g a t i o n f r o m Chengdu in the Sichuan province of China was wel-comed by the Mayor of Fin-gal, Ken Farrell to County Hall in Swords on March 21.

The delegat ion com-prised representatives from Chengdu’s business com-munity and local adminis-tration structure.

Chengdu, which is home

to 11 million people, is one of the most important eco-nomic, transportation and communication hubs in south west China and is at the centre of higher educa-tion and scientific research in the country.

Fingal now hopes a for-mal strategic partnership can take place with the city, which has several other sister cities throughout the world.

However, a serious shad-ow was cast over the trip by Socialist councillor, Mat-thew Waine, who said the delegation from Chengdu was a “who’s who of big business” and, with a seri-ous clampdown of pro-democracy demonstrations in China, it would be remiss to attend this.

Labour councillor, Ciaran Byrne said that Cllr Waine raised some important issues and that he did not think anyone would be “casual abut the growth of democra-cy” but added that if Fingal decides they are not going

to do business with China, then “we wouldn’t be doing big business with half the countries in the world”.

He said he felt it would be more beneficial to develop cultural and business ties with the city.

Labour Cllr Peter Coyle questioned the cost of the trip and if it was necessary to send five delegates.

The management said the cost of accommodation and food would be covered by the Chinese but Fingal would incur the cost of flights, at a price tag of around €1,000 per flight.

Mayor of Fingal, Ken Far-rell said he would not travel to China with the delega-tion but recommended that the five best people should be sent in order to secure employment in Fingal.

The programme for Sister Cities week centres on the three strands of education, culture and commerce.

It is expected that over 50 countries will participate/attend the event.

Page 8: Swords Gazette

8 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 April 2011

Taking care of a business openingF

INGAL Mayor Councillor Ken Farrell (Lab) was on hand to officially open Embody College and Wellness Centre in Swords recently. The

centre operates as a teaching college for all types of massage, including reflexology, aromatherapy, sports massage and infant massage. The centre is

proving very popular with 40 massage students already signed up. Managing director, Mary Tobin says she hopes to have 30 people employed in the next six months to a year.

Mary says she takes on about 12 to 15 students per course so she can provide individual attention.

Caitrina Maher and Ollie Delaney

Mary with Alan Farrell, and Fingal Mayor Ken Farrell

Chloe Tobin with Mary Montgomery

Kathrine Browne and Sandra Murphy

Mary and husband RayMary Tobin poses with friends at the official opening

EVENT Mayor officially opens Embody and Wellness centre

Page 9: Swords Gazette

14 April 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 9

Page 10: Swords Gazette

10 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 April 2011

Recognising those who help so muchT

HE Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Ken Farrell, was on hand at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre recently to launch a new Fingal Managing Volun-

teers Award, part of the Fingal Volunteer Centre and Fingal County Council’s activities to celebrate Euro-pean Year of Volunteering 2011.

Mayor Farrell was joined by several voluntary groups for the launch, providing a first-hand opportunity for locals to learn more about the invaluable works car-

ried out by a wide range of volunteer groups within the community.

The award scheme is intended to acknowledge groups who, through their commitment to voluntary and community activities, have played a significant role in enhancing the quality of life of their communities across Fingal. For further information on the award scheme, and to download an application pack, please see www.fingalcoco.ie or www.volunteerfingal.ie.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s Elaine Johnson and Jan McLaughlin

Noreen Colgan and Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Ken Farrell. Pictures: Peter Doyle

Fingal Volunteer Centre’s Stuart Garland, Gynis Dunne,

Michelle Gurdis, Louis Colley and Leah Carroll

Care Local’s Elena Arcenni and Bebhinn Hare

Irish Heart Foundation’s Ciara Mealy and Dermot Desmond

Mayor Ken Farrell

Lots of people were interested

in the scope of the event

COMMUNITY At the launch of a new Fingal awards scheme

Page 11: Swords Gazette

14 April 2011 GAZETTE 11

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12 GAZETTE 14 April 2011

GazettGazetteePetsPets Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of

the DSPCA

THE FACTS: DIFFERENT TYPES OF BARKING JUST A DOG’S WAY OF COMMUNICATING

Woof, why do dogs bark?

Dogs bark because barking is their way of communicating and they don’t bark to annoy you or to

spite you or just because they can

IT never ceases to amaze me, the number of queries I receive concerning nuisance

barking. People often ask me: “Why

does my dog bark?” The answer is straightforward and not difficult to understand – dogs bark because barking is their way of communicating. They don’t bark to annoy you or to spite you, or just because they can – although it may appear that way if it’s driving your neighbours mad!

However, there are differ-ent types of barking, and you, as the pet parent, must famil-iarise yourself with them. For example:

The Alert

This is the normal, expected barking to alert you there’s an intruder in the house. It’s perfectly natural for your dog to bark if he senses there’s a threat to his family or his ter-ritory. This is usually a loud, sharp bark and, if you hone in on this natural canine instinct with proper training, you can help your dog protect your home and your family.

Barking at other dogs

A dog down the road barks and before you know it your own pet, along with every other dog within earshot is involved in a dawn chorus. Very annoying.

Playful, excited barking

More common in puppies who bark when playing. My own dogs bark excitedly when they know a car trip and a walk

is imminent. This type of bark normally sounds upbeat.

Nuisance barking

Then there’s the biggie – the behavioural problem or nui-sance barking. This usually signals boredom, loneliness or miscommunication between owner and pet. If this type of barking is a problem, you need to recognise the triggers!

• When does it occur?• Is the dog left alone for

long periods of time?• Is he getting enough exer-

cise?• Is he anxious about some-

thing he hears or sees? (neigh-bour has a new lawn mower and the noise is scaring him, neighbour’s child is torment-ing him, etc.)

In order to address this, you will require plenty of patience and training with a specialist dog trainer for both you and your dog. This will help you understand “doggy” language, and then you can correctly express what it is you wish to communicate to your pet.

Many training techniques are based upon the dog receiv-ing a reward for the desired action. In this case, for exam-ple, the desired action would be “stop barking”.

When your dog barks and you wish to make him stop, hold his muzzle gently or squirt him, again gently, with a child’s toy water gun filled only with clean water – this will momentarily startle him and make him stop barking. When he stops, use the word “quiet”.

Immediately after saying “quiet” if the dog remains quiet, reward him. When he starts barking again, repeat the process. Eventually he will learn to associate “quiet” with a reward. Eventually, your dog will stop barking without the need for the water gun and only the use of the word “quiet” will be sufficient.

It sounds easy enough. I mean once you determine the cause of your dog’s excessive barking, you can try to remove any potential reasons and you can begin to control his behav-iour. Also, it helps if you give your dog better things to do to prevent and distract him from nuisance barking.

Some of the things you

should never do:

Never comfort, feed or pet your dog when they bark for attention or out of anxiety; this is simply rewarding his behaviour.

Never shout – this will only cause him to bark more and louder.

Never allow your dog to bark constantly outside, regardless of the reason – this is the best way to make enemies of your neighbours.

Never use a shock collar they are inhumane, painful and unkind to your dog.

Never allow your dog to become lonely or bored, and never leave him to his own devices for long periods of time.

So, it’s up to you. Develop that “barking ear”, and find out exactly what your dog is saying when he “woofs”, “howls” and “growls”.

And yes, it requires a lot of time and patience, but it’s well worth it because if you train man’s (and woman’s) best friend properly, you’re embark-ing on a lifetime’s investment for you and your pet.

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

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14 April 2011 GAZETTE 13

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14 GAZETTE 14 April 2011

Hopping CECILIA FOURIE

LINDT is hopping into action again this year in aid of Tem-ple Street. Lindt is unleash-ing their Gold Bunny Team for their Make Easter Sweet for Temple Street. The Gold Bunny Team will be selling small Lindt bunnies for €1 at their nationwide road shows, with every cent made going straight to Temple Street.

They will be hitting the road and heading to Blan-chardstown Shopping Centre on Thursday, April 21. The trail will continue on to the Pavilion Shopping Centre on Friday, April 22, with their last stop being Dundrum Shop-ping Centre on Saturday, April 23.

Adding a bit of fun and games to this year, the team are selling Gold Bunny Hunt Packs for €15. The pack includes everything you need to host your very own bunny hunt. Not only will the entire €15 be donated to a good cause, but you will also be

entered into a competition to win one of two amazing fam-ily holidays to the luxurious Fota Island Resort and Fota Wildlife Park in Cork worth €1,500 each!

Thrilled

“We are thrilled to be help-ing such a worthwhile cause. The team at Temple Street do an amazing job and the children they care for deserve

CECILIA FOURIE

ARE you an owner of a small business or thinking of start-ing one? Then head down to the Central Library in the Ilac Shopping Centre for the 2011 spring and autumn lectures.

There will be a series of six free lectures to assist new and existing small business owners and managers.

The series of lectures was announced by Dublin Librar-ies in association with Dub-lin City Enterprise Board. The lectures are aimed at those who are contemplating self-employment. This year’s theme is Innovation for Start-ups.

The spring series of cecture will kick of on April 21 and the autumn series will start on September 15.

Places must be reserved. For more information, and a complete timetable, visit www.dublincitypubliclibraries.ie or contact the Ilac Library at 01 873 3996 or email them at [email protected]

Lectures for small businesses

LIBRARY

RTE presenter Lucy Kennedy and the Golden Bunnies are helping to Make Easter Sweet for

Temple Street

CHARITY Lindt is unleashing their Gold Bunny Team

LOCALMATTERSSUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

NEED A LOCAL BUILDER? TURN TO OUR CLASSIFIEDS ON PAGE 26 TO FIND YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

TO ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZETTE CALL 60 10 240

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

‘We are thrilled to be helping such a worthwhile cause. The team at Temple Street do an amazing job, and the children they care for deserve the best facilities possible’- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Grainne Galvin, marketing

manager for Lindt- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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14 April 2011 GAZETTE 15

into action for kidsA CAST of great actors, includ-ing Dave Duffy from Fair City, star in Spanish poet Lorca’s Blood Wedding, showing in the Project Arts Centre this April.

Set in1928 in the Spanish province of Almeria, a young bride abandons her husband-to-be on the morning of her wedding to elope with her childhood sweetheart. With the town up in arms, the young lovers are hunted down with terrifying consequences.

Direc ted by Ronnie McCann, this is a true story set to an original score with a cast of over 20 actors, includ-ing Derek Murphy, Liam Hal-ley, Laura Brennan and Noella Brennan. McCann has been a successful actor and director for 20 years.

Running from April 18-30, Blood Wedding is a meaty story of love, betrayal, mar-riage, affairs, murder and plenty of action.

It is showing in the Project Arts Centre and tickets are €15. Phone 01 8819613 for tickets.

True story of love and loss

THEATRE

the best facilities possible. This year we hope to raise as much money as possible for such a fantastic charity,” said Grainne Galvin, marketing manager for Lindt.

This year it is Lindt’s fourth Make Easter Sweet for Temple Street, and the Lindt commit-tee has vowed to make this year sweeter than any other!

To celebrate the campaigns birthday they are hosting their very first Gold Bunny Hunt on Sunday, April 17 at Bewleys Hotel, in the heart of Ballsbridge.

Fun day out

This family fun day out will see Gold Bunny fans hopping from one activity to the next

with Gold Bunny Hunts, face-painting, bouncy-castle and Hamleys toy demonstrations.

If you’d like to come along just simply make a donation of €5 per person at the gate and every cent will go to Tem-ple Street. The hunt will take place from 12–6 and no reser-vations are necessary.

The 2011 campaign will

focus on raising funds to build a dedicated isolation inpatient room at Temple Street.

This facility will enable children and babies with very low immune systems, or those who may be extra suscepti-ble to infection, to be safely treated in a protective envi-ronment.

“We are delighted to be

working with the Lindt team again this year. We value their support and enthusiasm, and we would like to thank the team and those who support the Lindt Make Easter Sweet Campaign, you really are mak-ing a difference,” said Angela McNulty, special events man-ager, The Fundraising Office, Temple Street.

for their Make Easter Sweet for Temple Street

Lucy with Temple Street patients, five-year-old Ciara Gill from Dublin and four-year-old Anthony Iannucci from Sallynoggin

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16 GAZETTE 14 April 2011

Grape escape: Vintage win for OliveTHE lucky winners of this month’s Marlay Wine Shop competition collected their prizes in the shop on the Grange Road in Rathfarnham last week.

The first prize in the competition, a case of wine worth €150, went to Sean McGovern.

Pictured here is enthu-siastic Gazette reader and talented local photogrpaher, Olive Galbraith, picking up her prize, a case of wine worth €75.

Also pictured is Donal Tuomey, the owner of Marlay Wine Shop and kind sponsor of the competition. Local wine lovers should make a point of visiting Marlay Wines to see the impres-sive selection available.

SNAPSHOT The stories of the day

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14 April 2011 GAZETTE 17

GazetteContactsBlock 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan

Tel: 01 6010240 Fax: 01 6010251

Managing Director: Liam Hollandemail: [email protected]

Editor: Cormac Curtisemail: [email protected]

News Editor: Dawn Loveemail: [email protected]

Financial Controller: Carly Lynchemail: [email protected]

General Manager: Michael McGovernemail: [email protected]

Production Editor: Jessica Maileemail: [email protected]

Sports Editor: Rob Heighemail: [email protected]

Advertising Production: Anita Wardemail: [email protected]

Advertising Sales: 01 6010240email: [email protected]

Gazette Group Newspapers Ltd.

Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements

Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its

publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series

of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for

any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertise-

ment. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department

immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect

insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks

after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it

after the fi rst week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser

undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising

out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the

Blanchardstown Gazette, Castleknock Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun

Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette, Malahide Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an

order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

HOME Instead Senior Care has just published its third annual Irish Pensioner’s Handbook, a resource for seniors, their families and car-egivers.

The handbook provides practical information and advice on issues such as home care and allowances and entitlements. It also boasts a directory of older person’s organisations and other use-ful contacts.

Speaking about the publi-cation of the new handbook, Ed Murphy, chief executive of Home Instead Senior Care said: “The Irish Pensioner’s Handbook is an essential resource for senior citizens in Ireland. It is a valuable and easy-to-read guide specifically designed for older people and those caring for ageing loved ones.”

To order a copy of the Irish Pensioner’s Handbook, call 1890 930 013 or download a copy on www.homeinstead.ie or stop in to any Home Instead Senior Care franchise office.

A new book for seniors

PENSIONERS

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18 GAZETTE 14 April 2011

MOTORINGM50M50

THE new Ford Focus takes the Focus design along an evolutionary route that’s modern

and distinctive, but not too different from the past. The car’s design is sharper and more defined, giving it a more modern look on the outside.

In the day following its recent launch, I took the entry 95bhp version fitted with a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine for a drive down the Wick-low coast. It was a pleasant day and the mix of motorway driving, with the opportunity to savour the delights of the Garden County through the minor roads, provided a good test for Ford’s new entry.

Ford has boosted the power

from this compact diesel engine. The output at 95bhp is now 5bhp more than the outgoing car that it replaces. The engine torque also gets a boost and that brings with it a marginal improvement in acceleration to give a faster feeling car.

The acceleration pace of

the new Focus compares well with the competition. While the bigger engine Volkswa-gen Golf can outpace it from a standing start and Toyota’s smaller engine Auris diesel is marginally faster, it can still hold its own in that respect-able competition.

Ford now fits a new six- speed gearbox to this entry- level car, up from the five speed in the previous model. During my morning test drive, I found the sixth gear useful on the motorway areas and it helped to keep the car eco-nomical to drive.

The overall economy emphasis for the new Focus is noticeable – this car is mar-ginally better in km to the

litre compared with the older model. You should get an extra kilometre for every litre of diesel with this new Focus.

That puts the new Focus as among the most economical cars in its class, with a rating of 23.8 kilometres per litre (4.2l/100km on the brochure). That’s a better performance than BMW’s 116d with Effi-cientDynamics, putting the new Focus at the top of the class in terms of meeting the needs for lower running costs.

Add to that a CO2 emission level of just 109g/km and you get a low €104 annual road tax cost for a car that’s mod-ern, sure to be reliable and hold its value. The Ford Focus deal is good. At €21,325, for

the entry-level model – this is about €300 cheaper than the car that it replaces.

There’s a lot more in the deal, including little change in price. The entry-level Focus features comes with Stability Protection (ESP) with traction assist, Ford Intelligent Pro-tection System, body colour bumpers, mirrors and spoiler for the five-door model, elec-tric front windows, power door mirrors, remote central locking with flip key, stereo radio/CD with USB connec-tivity and capless refuelling.

This new Focus will sell well and hold its value well. Ford has retained the great driving feel of the Focus with even better economy.

New styling for FocusFord’s new Focus is more stylish and modern with big economy improvements for the diesel models. Extras like Bluetooth add to the price, which starts at €21,325

before delivery charges.

WINDSOR Motors claims to have carried out their own stress test on new car prices and the results are now out. Their prices have passed the test and have now hit rock bottom. Prices on new cars, 2011 scrappage prices and 2010 low-mileage models have all been reduced.

Windsor is offering over €7,000

off the price of a new Qashqai Plus 2 seven-seater and over €5,000 off the price of a 2011 Nissan Tiida with scrappage.

Scheme

The scrappage scheme will finish shortly, so Windsor advises new car buyers not to miss the chance to avail

of the great scrappage discounts now available across the range.

And as scrappage is available on models within tax band A and B, it also means you will qualify for low road tax. Windsor Motors branches have car finance packages available and have very high approval rates and deal with a number of banks.

According to Windsor CEO, Gabriel Keane: “At Windsor Motors the customer is our focus and, with this stress test, we can now offer even greater savings to our customers. Our stress test proves that our prices have passed the test and I invite customers to visit our showrooms to take a look for themselves.”

Windsor Motors carry out stress test on prices

BMW PRODUCES FASTEST PICK-UP: BMW has produced the world’s first high-per-formance pick-up at its Munich-based develop-ment centre. The BMW M3 Pick-up will fire the imaginations of all motor-ists with its top perform-ance matched by a keen practical bent.

The M3 pick-up packs 420bhp from the V8 engine under the bonnet. That was enough to allow it to top 300km/hr in a race testing run.

The practical features of the BMW M3 Pick-up are impressive. It has a rear-axle load capacity of up to 450 kilos. The load bed of the BMW M3 Pick-up is clad in high-grade structured aluminium sheeting and provides the biggest cargo capacity ever offered on a BMW M vehicle.

RoadRoadSignsSigns

MICHAEL MORONEY took the entry-level diesel model of the new Ford Focus into Wicklow and found the car smooth and efficient

SPECS: FORD FOCUS 1.6TDCI

Top speed: 170km/hr 0 – 100km/hr: 12.5 sec Economy: Economy

23.8 km/litre (4.2l/100km) CO2 emissions: 109g/km Road Tax Band: A (€104) Scrappage Eligible: Yes Warranty: 2 years Entry Price: €21,325

The BMW M3 Pick-up

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14 April 2011 GAZETTE 19

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20 GAZETTE 14 April 2011

M50M50PROPERTY

Herberton residences great value for buyers

There are a range of properties at reduced prices on offer at Herberton

A NEW phase of houses and apartments has just been released for sale at Herber-ton at St. James’s Walk, just off South Circular Road and close to St James’s Hospital.

The development has been meticulously planned and designed to attract dis-cerning owner-occupiers seeking stylish, contempo-rary homes.

A new phase of four houses and 11 apartments has been launched onto the market at substantially reduced prices, with reduc-tions of up to 60% per unit from peak prices.

The one bedroom apart-ments (485-580sq ft) are priced from €105,000 and the two-bedroom apart-ments (690-800sq ft) are from €149,950. The three-b e d r o o m a p a r t m e n t s (1,000-1,150sq ft) are from €210,000, while the three-bedroom houses (1,050sq ft) are €199,950.

Herberton comprises a rich mix of uses, including residential, shopping and leisure facilities. It offers discerning homebuyers something innovative in

ST JAMES’ WALK: APARTMENTS AND HOUSES REDUCED

Dublin city, having all the best that a self-contained village has to offer.

Apartments have been designed and orientated to take advantage of the views across the city in many instances and generous bal-conies are included to max-imise these superb vistas.

Many of the apartments a lso incorporate large glazed areas to living spaces

in order to give a sense of light and spaciousness not commonly found in similar developments.

Attention to detail has been given throughout all of the apartments where only the most modern fittings and appliances are used in the kitchen and bathroom suites. There are high stand-ards of finish throughout with handcrafted wardrobes

and other fittings.The joint selling agents,

Hooke & MacDonald and Coldwell Banker, have released for sale 15 apart-ments from the new show units on site.

They are on view by appointment with either of the joint selling agents (Coldwell Banker tel. 01-411 0012 or Hooke & MacDon-ald tel. 01-631 8402).

GUNNE Residential is bringind to the market No 28 Davitt Park, a three-bed-room end-of-terrace home extending to 820 sq ft, pre-sented in pristine decorative order with a bright interior.

The property boasts a large secluded wraparound garden with obvious potential to extend subject to planning permission.

The accommodation com-prises entrance hall with solid oak floor, living room to the front of the house with open fireplace, and double doors to the kitchen, which features a range of floor and

wall units, tiled floor and which has double doors opening onto the large, secluded rear garden.

The bedrooms feature built-in wardrobes and tel-evision points, and the bath-room has tiled walls and floor, a Mira Elite electric shower over bath with tel-ephone shower and a heated towel rail.

Outside the property, a side access leads to the large wraparound, secluded rear garden which is mainly lawned and bordered by attractive, well-stocked flow-er beds.

There is also a block-built, plumbed utility shed with fitted shelves that provides extra storage and a shed.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Gunne Residential on 01 280 1719.

Ideal choice for Park lifeBALLYBRACK: THREE-BED LIVING FOR €258,000

Number 28, Davitt Park, Ballybrack

Sellers should be assured their houses will sell PEOPLE who are keen to put their houses on the market but who are put off by concerns about the current environment should not be afraid to press on with their inten-tions, according to a new report from Lisney.

In the report, they state that a family house, priced correctly, will gen-erally sell.

They report that activ-ity in the second-hand homes market increased in the last weeks of 2010 and in the open-ing months of 2011 as a direct result of the sweep-ing changes to stamp duty rates in December’s budget, citing numerous transactions being com-pleted and more at con-tract stage as a result.

“Indeed, since Christ-mas,” said a Lisney rep-

resentative, “we have experienced an increase in the number of parties viewing property and making offers.

“In some cases, we are witnessing competition amongst buyers to secure the purchase.

“This is particularly the case for realisti-cally priced, good family homes for which there is strong demand.”

However, they also state that agreeing a sale on a property and get-ting contracts signed has become increasingly difficult: “Whilst we are seeing more purchasers who are in the market to purchase, lending prac-tises by banks have not improved and, in some cases, securing credit has become even more diffi-cult.”

Sherry Fitzgerald

seek new staffSHERRY FitzGerald are currently recruiting two positions in their Terenure and Dalkey branches.They are looking for customer service/administrative assistants to work in their busy offices.

The role in Terenure is for a part-time adminstrative assistant to work from 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, while the role in the Dalkey branch is a job-sharing branch administrator, five days on, five days off, working from 9am to 6pm.

For more information, contact them directly on 01 237 6316.

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14 April 2011 GAZETTE 21

SANDRA Dunne is the general manager of energie fitness club in Rathfarnham. The outlet is part of Ireland’s leading fitness club group, with nine clubs in Leinster offering swimming and gym facilities and a unique “six week’s results guaranteed” programme.

The fitness chain launched in Ireland in October, 2010, bringing a wide range of health and fitness expertise gained from their experience in more than 100 clubs in Britain, Latvia, Qatar and Egypt.

Unfortunately, says Sandra, obesity is on the rise in Ireland, with recent statis-tics indicating that one-in-four adults are obese, and one-in-four Irish children are overweight, with obesity rates increasing by 40% in Ireland in the past 10 years.

There is no quick or easy solution. However, she says the chain’s step-by-step six-week programme can help peo-ple to set achievable goals, and support

Interview: Sandra Dunne, general manager, energie f itness, Rathfarnham

Q&A

A healthy outlook on helping clients

Sandra Dunne

Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?A: I always thought I would

be a teacher but, by the time

I left secondary school, I

knew I would work with

sport somehow.

Q: What was your first job?A: I did lots of caddying and

babysitting as a teenager, but

my first full-time job was a

leisure attendant in a local

swimming pool.

Q: And your first pay cheque?A: I can’t remember, but I

recall being chuffed to bits!

Q: When did you start your present job?A: I started with energie on

January 4, 2011.

Q: What is the best thing about your job?A: The members; they’re

great, and they make the

club.

Q: What part of your work-

ing day do you ‘delegate’?A: I am lucky enough to

have some great managers

working with me and, if it’s

their area, I generally del-

egate responsibility for it.

Q: What sport do you fol-low?A: I love watching tennis and

golf – I was rooting for Rory

(McIlroy) in the Masters.

Q: What sport can you play?A: I loved sport as a teenager

and I played golf, tennis,

hockey and badminton, so

all of those, though I’m a bit

rusty at the moment.

Q: What is your guilty mu-sic/TV or movie pleasure?A: “Chicago” for music,

“Come dine with me” for TV,

and “Officer and a Gentle-

man” for a movie.

Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Nor-ris or Jedward?A: Neither!

Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/iPad?A: Cold Play, Take That,

Travis, Snow Patrol and a bit

of Chicago.

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?A: Des Bishop.

Q: What was your last Tweet/status update?A: That I am delighted to be

doing the next Niall Mellon

Township Trust Build this

November.

Q: Describe your dream meal?A: Great food served in a

lovely restaurant, in great

company and accompanied

by a lovely red wine.

Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna?A: Dame Edna; she’s hilari-

ous.

Q: Where do you enjoy

spending money frivolously?A: Kildare Shopping Village;

I also love the coffee shop

in Wicklow town for its fab

berry scones!

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?A: At least 30, but I probably

only wear five. I have a fetish

for expensive running shoes.

Q: What was your worst holiday experience?A: Camping in Cornwall; I

nearly set fire to the camp-

site trying to cook sausages!

Q: Describe your dream holiday?A: New Zealand.

Q: What would be your dream job?A: To own and manage my

own gym.

Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?A: Play lots of golf and

bridge, and have some fabu-

lous holidays.

A MUM’S HOME GIFTED OR SWAPPEDQ - My widowed mother lives in a four-bed detached

house valued at c.€400,000 and I live with my husband

and two young daughters in a two-bed townhouse. I am

an only child, and my mother has suggested we swap

houses, as her home is too big for her. What are the tax

and inheritance implications ? Laura - Milltown

A - This depends on whether your mother wants to perma-

nently gift you her home, or if it is just a straight swap and

no legal contract is required. As regards inheritance, as

a daughter, you are eligible to receive tax-free from your

mother €332,084, over which you pay 25% tax – called Capital

Acquisition Tax (CAT). This means, if your mum gifts you her

home, either before or after she dies, you would have to pay

€16,979 CAT. You would also have to pay stamp duty if the prop-

erty were to be put in your name – 1% which would be another

€4,000, plus legal costs. One option that could save you money

would be to move into your mother’s home, letting her remain,

and keeping the home in her name. When she passes on, as

long as you have been living in the home with her for at least

three years, and you have no other property at the time of

your mum’s passing – you would have to sell the townhouse

– your mother’s home would not be included in her estate for

tax purposes. You would also have to continue living in your

mother’s home for another six years after she passes on; oth-

erwise, there would be a clawback. Stamp duty would still be

payable at that point. Make sure you air all these issues before

deciding to do anything, and take professional advice.

REDUNDANCY LUMP SUMQ – I was made redundant and have €42,000 to put on

deposit. I have nothing planned at this moment, but may

use the money in about six months to start my own busi-

ness. Where is the safest place for it, and best rates at

the moment? Peter – Churchtown

A - The National Treasury Management Agency manage all the

range of State savings products, and all Irish deposit takers

are guaranteed to June of this year for any amount by the

Eligible Liabilities Guarantee Scheme; underpinning this is the

Deposit Protection Scheme, which guarantees up to €100,000

per customer [while British and other such “deposit takers”

financial institutions are – generally – similarly guaranteed].

As for the best rates , all the State saving products are nearly

ALL at least 1% better than the best bank or building society

deposit offerings. If you are prepared to wait the FULL 10 years

on the National Solidarity Bond, this has the best return of all

– a gross 5.41% would have to be offered by a DIRT-deducting

deposit taker (DIRT was recently increased to 27%, so for

every €1 earned in interest, the Government takes 27c).

Outside of our State savings products, Bank of Ireland’s online

15-month fixed deposit account, at 3.58%, is the best; you still

pay 27% DIRT on this, leaving a net 2.6134%. However, as you

may wish to start your own business, the best demand depos-

it account over €20,000 is Nationwide UK’s at 3.15% (but you

can only make six withdrawals a year to maintain this rate).

Anglo Irish Bank offer 3.1% on demand – both can be accessed

online, and fund transfer requests back to your bank account

can be facilitated on a same-day basis with both. Best of luck!

Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@

moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoc-

tor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is

founder and managing director of Money Doctor

ANSWERS TO YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE QUESTIONS

BUSINESSM50M50 Supported by AIB

them with in-house expertise in fitness and positive nutrition.

At energie, Sandra says staff want to empower people to transform their lives, be active, tone up, lose weight, and to try new activities, from swimming to a wide range of classes, and above all, to have fun.

She says that energie Rathfarnham teach swimming competence and water safety for both children and adults, with large swimming pools that are the per-fect place to train or relax after a busy day.

She adds: “At energie fitness, we like to have fun. We foster clubs within our club

with coffee mornings, charity initiatives, members’ social evenings and, with the good weather, we’ll be bringing our club outdoors more with running and walk-ing clubs.”

To find out more about energie fitness, whether to arrange a tour or find out about classes, see www.energiefitness.ie.

Page 22: Swords Gazette

22 GAZETTE 14 April 2011

Six Nations weekend a triumph at Ice House

CORMAC CURTIS

THE STAR rating is quickly becoming a less-than-reliable gauge for deciding on a hotel.

Let’s face it, there was a time when people said: “Let’s take a break in Donegal, where can we stay?”

These days, people are far more likely to ask: “What good hotels have you heard of lately, I’d love to get away!”

The destination has become less important than the accommodation - as busy, working couples and families try to find the perfect mix of dining, comfort, ambience, activities and, perhaps most importantly, value for money.

Unfortunately, different hotels, with wildly dissimilar levels of service, can share the same star rating.

This is why people really like to know more about where they are planning to stay.

Out west, those looking for luxurious accommodation, sensational food, and a ter-rific spa, need look no further than the Ice House, a hotel to which star ratings really are meaningless.

After becoming one of the fastest ever entrants in to Ire-land’s Blue Book, the bible of quality hotels and restaurants in Ireland, the Ice House has become a firm favourite for those taking a break from it all.

Perched on the edge of the River Moy estuary at The Quay in Ballina, Co Mayo, the Ice House is a simple and beautiful mix of crisp, clean, modern architectural devices

melded effortlessly with the original, iconic building that has stood on the site since the mid-1800s.

The hotel takes its name from its original function as a source of ice. The ice was used to preserve not only the vast amounts of fish that were caught in and exported from the area; it also provided ice for two local breweries.

Contemporary styling and historic significance aside, it is the ease and genuinely wel-coming nature of the manage-ment team of Dara Cruise and Claire O’Sullivan, ably assisted by their staff, that lifts this hotel to its deserved place in not only the Blue Book, but also in the hearts of its guests.

I have been lucky enough to visit the Ice House on two occasions, most recently dur-ing the Six Nations’ rugby championship.

It’s important to plan a trip to the Ice House properly.

You will want to enjoy a meal in their stunning Pier Restaurant, but not immedi-ately following two hours of screaming at the Irish rugby team on the big screen in one of the many charming pubs in Ballina.

So, if you can, get there the day before, and arrive early

to enjoy a spa treatment, as my wife did, leaving plenty of time for a stroll along the river before dinner.

I must admit, the bathrooms here are luxurious enough for yours truly to skip the whole spa routine – a long soak in the really deep bath in the beautifully appointed, mod-ern bathroom for a good half an hour or so sees me right as rain.

Having said that, after a facial and a head, neck and shoulder massage at the expert hands of a therapist at the Chill Spa, my better half came back truly transformed, with stress nothing more than a distant memory.

After a little time relax-

ing with a little music in the incredibly comfortable Nug-get suite and a quick stroll, and we were ready for dinner in the Pier Restaurant.

And what an experience the food here is.

I decided some Dunmore East crab, served with Granny Smith apple, coriander and organic leaf salad, vanilla may-onnaise and avocado cream was too good to pass up.

My good lady wife was of the opinion that a bowl of creamed celeriac and parme-san soup with sautéed lamb’s

kidney, apple and balsamic was the way forward.

We were both right. Stun-ning starters with a very rea-sonably priced, and delicious, sauvignon blanc, and we were two for two.

Our mains were flawless, mine being a dish of seared rabbit loin served with fricas-see of autumn mushrooms, ballotine of rabbit leg and black pudding with pom-mery mustard and tarragon. A triumph of local produce that I could have taken home and married if the law only allowed it.

The other side of the beauti-fully laid table was in a fishy mood, and opted for pan-seared fillets of sea bass with curry spices, parsnip puree, shallots and red wine jus.

A divine creation that I hope to return for at some point, for a full helping.

After our meal, we set our-selves up by the bar to watch a little of the Wales v England match, and sampled some of the unusual vodkas on offer –

The stunning view from the Chill

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

‘You will want to enjoy a meal in the stunning Pier Restaurant, but not immediately following two hours of screaming at the Irish rugby team’- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

GazetteTravelTravel

Second year in a row as London tops poll as the city break of choice for Irish LONDON has topped the list as the most popular over-seas destination for Irish holidaymakers for the second year in a row, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI®). The latest report shows that London was the most visited city by Irish holidaymakers in 2010, beating off stiff competition from popular cities such as New York and Barcelona.

With fares starting from as little as €28 one-way, includ-ing taxes and a free 20kg baggage allowance, bmi, British Midland International, fly up to four times daily direct from Dublin to London Heathrow so there are no excuses not to hop across the water and see what this action-packed city has on offer for you.

The Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI®) is a survey of hotel prices in major city destinations across the world.

For more information on bmi, visit www.flybmi.com or contact your local travel agent.

Crystal Summer offering big discounts for the early-bird holiday bookers

PLAN ahead and make sure everything is perfect for your 2011 summer holiday. Receive €50 off per person for all holidays to Austria, Germany, Italy and Slovenia when you book with Crystal Summer.

Crystal Summer offer the perfect locations to unwind and soak up some awe-inspiring scenery at picturesque lakeside locations. Whether it’s cycling through the Aus-trian Alps or spending long days relaxing by Lake Garda, Crystal Summer has the perfect holiday option for you.

Offer is valid for all new bookings to all resorts in Aus-tria, Germany and Italy and selected resorts in Slovenia.

Slovenian resorts include Kranjska Gora, Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj when travelling via Salzburg.

Limited availability. Terms and conditions apply. Offer is valid for seven-night bookings with flights and accom-modation for travel May or June only and is not applicable on flight or accommodation only. Offer not applicable in conjunction with any other offer.

Call Crystal Summer on 014331080, call into Crystal’s shop on Duke Street, just off Grafton Street in the centre of Dublin or contact your local travel agent.

FastTravel

Page 23: Swords Gazette

14 April 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 23

ask the bartender when you’re there, you won’t be disap-pointed.

We retired to our suite for the night and enjoyed a sleep that I won’t soon forget.

Despite the fact that the rooms at the Ice House boast floor-to-ceiling, panoramic windows, the black-out cur-tains ensure a room as dark as

pitch until you decide it’s time to get up – bliss.

A short drive to Enniscrone Beach is a must. On certain weekends the local equestrian club sets up jumps and bring the horses to the beach at low tide.

It is a stunning setting where you can get close to the action as the local riders pitch them-

selves against each other.After this, we enjoyed a

quick bowl of the sensational seafood chowder at the Ice House before spending a day sampling the hospitality of the many charming pubs in Ballina.

For a really good local Chi-nese restaurant – might I rec-ommend Love Lee’s, just ask

anyone in the town and they’ll tell you how to get there.

We put our feet up and enjoyed some of the impres-sive digital entertainment back in our room to finish off the night, before one more good night’s sleep, as thoughts start-ed to drift back towards home, children, work… and planning a return trip to Ballina!

Spa at the Ice House, where guests can enjoy every kind of treatment imaginable for a thoroughly de-stressing experience

Irish Tour Operator Sunway accepts honour from Lanzarote Tourism Board THE good friendship between the Sunway travel company and Lanzarote was celebrated recently when the Lanzar-ote Tourism Board and the Fariones Hotel Group paid special tribute to the tour operator for its loyalty to the island, and especially to the Puerto del Carmen area.Sunway’s founder, Jim Furlong, and his daughter, Tanya Airey, the firm’s managing director, were present for the occasion.

Sunway was founded as a travel agency in 1966 and became a tour operator in 1992. Mr.Furlong emphasised the welcome the people of Lanzarote had given to the Irish, a welcome which has been repaid by the Irish Travel Agents Association’s selection of Lanzarote for nine con-secutive years as the favourite sun destination for Irish holidaymakers.

He said he much preferred the Lanzarote of today to that of 15 or 16 years ago, citing the improvements to plac-es like Puerto del Carmen, whose main avenue and streets have been renovated, though he remarked that some of the business premises needed a facelift to fit in with the new surroundings. He added that Lanzarote sells itself to the Irish, because it is so well-known.

The manager of the tourism council said the Irish mar-ket was very important for Lanzarote. He was hopeful of an improvement in the Irish economy following the intervention of the EU and the IMF, and said that Lanzar-ote would continue its joint marketing agreements with airlines and tour operators. Managing director, Tanya, said the company planned to continue its winter and summer packages this year

All ashore as 100,000 passengers on 84 cruise ships set to visit Dublin this yearA TOTAL of 84 cruise ships will call to Dublin this year, bringing almost 100,000 passengers and 40,000 crew to the city.

The first cruise call to Dublin took place on, Saturday, April 9, when Boudicca, a Fred Olsen Cruise Liner, sailed in to Dublin Port.

Representatives from Dublin Tourism, the Regional Tourism Authority for Dublin, will board each cruise ship calling to Dublin this season, providing expert tourism information and advice to passengers. A dedicated cruise map, created in conjunction with Dublin Tourism partners will be distributed to cruise passengers.

Paul Hayden, acting chief executive of Dublin Tourism said: “The cruise market is a very important market to all of us involved in the tourism industry in Dublin. The influx of passengers and crew has a very real impact on retailers, visitor attractions and tours in the capital.”

TravelBriefs

SPECIAL EASTER OFFERSThis Easter, why not indulge yourself at the Ice

House Hotel?

Enjoy Dinner for two in the Award Winning 2

AA Rosette Pier Restaurant from their Spring

A La Carte Menu.

Slow down with three nights luxurious accom-

modation and de-stress with unlimited time in

their thermal suite.

Relax over a glass of bubbles and chocolate-

dipped strawberries on arrival, a lazy breakfast

in bed and soak up the view.

And not forgetting the Easter-themed ameni-

ties for all guests over the Easter period.

Packages available from April 22 until April 25

This offer is for two adults sharing a deluxe

room and costs €320 per adult for three

nights.

Page 24: Swords Gazette

24 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 April 2011

It’s a big howler ...Kate thinks it’s a beastly affair, but undemanding teens will probably wolf down this Twilight-ish tale

KATE CROWLEY

NORMALLY, I have a huge weakness for bad films and cli-ched television, finding myself glued to the television if I spy the opening credits of Murder She Wrote (where younger readers may notice my old friend, Jessica Fletcher, using a great, great, great cave-dwell-ing ancestor of an iPad to bash out her latest meisterwerk).

Unfortunately, this same tolerance for guilty-pleasure trash-tv does not extend to moronic movies, where, as Einstein might have put it, a mere minute can seem like a very long time indeed, rela-tively speaking. Quite.

And, one thing’s for sure – there weren’t no Einsteins toiling over the script to Red Riding Hood. Do I still have to review this fairytale folly? (“Yes.” – Ed.) Sigh. Okay.

Somewhere, some high-fiv-ing Hollywood execs decided that “Twilight” + an old fairy tale = sackfuls of dosh, which is, presumably, how this tosh made it to our screens.

Gigantic-eyed Valerie

Film of the Week:

Red Riding Hood (12A) 99 mins

OUR VERDICT:SILVER bullets! Holy water! Garlic! What, exactly, does Kate need to finish off a string of these trite monster movies? Red Riding Hood certainly leaves her seeing red ...

Director: Catherine HardwickeStarring: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Julie Christie, Lukas Haas

(Amanda Seyfried, or “Red”, as I’m calling her from now on) lives in a typical Ye Olde Village, full of wrinkled old women (aged over 30), comely lassies, hunky suitors, oddly inappropriate traditional village dances, and strange local customs that see regular, monthly animal sacrifices to appease a nearby beast.

So far, so normal, and this wouldn’t sound so out of place in dear old Donegal, where wee Kate spent many a happy summer as a lass with Granny, sans any werewolf problems.

However, interfering with Red’s plans to go and chop some wood with Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), her parents have

bethrothed her to another.While Red and Peter work

out what they’re going to do about this, a werewolf attack sees her sister slain, and the vil-lage put on high alert, as this move by the nearby werewolf is but the prelude to other, deadlier attacks.

Jumping along a little and, after a little Rentamob action, the villagers have caught and killed a wolf. Hurrah! Their ordeal is over! Of course not.

Cue the arrival of Gary Oldm- whoops, Father Solo-mon (Gary Oldman, in his usual scenery-chewing mode, and never so far from his understated performance as decent Jim Gordon in the recent Batman films), who declares that The Wolf! Is! One of YOU!

At this point, I admit that my attention began to drift off a little, as I started trying to weigh up Oldman’s good films versus his many, many bad ones, and (“Get on with it, Crowley.” – Ed.) Sigh.

Yes, indeedy, the big, bad werewolf is one of the villag-ers, but whoooo? Could it be

Grandma, out in the woods (oh, Julie Christie ...)? Peter, the woodcutter? Bobby Ewing?

There’s only one way to find out – Red better traipse off out to Grandma’s, and find out who the wolf (which she has a special connection with) is...

It’s often been argued that there are only seven basic sto-ries to tell, whether in publish-ing or through cinema, yet this one seems to be derivative of only one – the aforementioned Twilight series.

Sure, there are some nice shots here and there, and even some pretty cinematography to admire – albeit in a point-lessly over-stylised way, like a 1980s French pop video.

However, a hopeless script, Oldman’s mugging and Chris-tie’s slumming, lashings and lashings of angst, an over-wrought plot and – oh, great, I’m almost finished! Yay!

Folks, if you’re really inter-ested in a time-honoured fairy-tale, stick with your old books. They may be a little Grimm, but the shaggiest old tale is still worthier of your consideration than this beastly film ...

GazetteGazette ENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENT

Look behind you ... Perhaps Amanda Seyfried (AKA Valerie, AKA Red Riding Hood) senses a middle-aged cinema reviewer on the

rampage in the woods, as Kate prepares to pounce on a film that’s made her see red – and without even a full moon in sight

GoingOUTPAVILION 01 231 2929Dance Celebration

Irish National Youth Ballet celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Company. It promises to be a true reflection on how much this young company has grown artistically.April 15, (12:00, 20:00) and April 16 (15:00, 20:00). Prices free to €18.

SEAMUS ENNIS CULTURAL CENTRE 01 802 0898 The Wiyos American roots music sensations, The Wiyos, made a huge impact following their BBC TV debut with Seasick Steve, filmed at The Barbican’s big Folk America extravaganza.In 2009, they went out (by personal invitation) on a 27-date run of US baseball stadiums with Bob Dylan, and last year they wowed a capacity crowd at Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow and were then invited back over the Atlantic for Shetland Folk Festival.Saturday, April 16 at 8:30pm. Admission: €16.

THE HELIX 01 700 7000Back to The 80s Back to the 80s is a fun-filled musical packed with classic songs of the era that make this show burst off the stage.Wednesday to Friday, April 13 to 15 at 8pm, 3pm Matinee, Thursday 14Tickets: €20/Conc: €15.

The Coronas Ireland has been home to some of the most influential artists ever to grace the world stage. The Coronas are no exception and they are bringing their frantic, high-energy live show to The Helix this April. Don’t miss your opportunity to catch this intimate performance as you can be sure they are destined for the top.Wednesday, April 20 at 8.30pm. Tickets €14.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 An Inspector Calls Sandyford Little Theatre presents this famous play written by English dramatist J B Priestley, An upper-crust English family dinner is interrupted by a police inspector who brings news that a girl known to everyone present has died in suspicious circumstances. April 12 to 16 at 8pm. Admission: €18/€15

Boolabus Youth Theatre Boolabus Youth Theatre present an evening of one-act plays, to include new writing, devised and classical pieces.April 19 to 21 at 8pm. Admission: €10/€5

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622Spreacha 2011

Draiocht’s annual week-long international arts festival for children is guaranteed to spark all our imaginations for a full eight days in April. Spreacha shows are perfect for school groups and families with events programmed in and out of school time.April 13 to 20. See www.draiocht.ie/spreacha/

CIVIC THEATRE 01 4627477 Noctu The subject of the soon-to-air RTE series, Dance Off, Noctu is a new departure for the Irish Dance show genre. It strives to tell the story of Irish Dance from the viewpoint of the dancer.April 18 to 23. Check www.civictheatre.ie for times and prices.

Up and Over It As seen on the Late Late Show International Irish Dance superstars Suzanne Cleary and Peter Harding present their electro-pop inspired, alternative Irish Dance show. It’s out with the old velvet-clad, tin-whistle-blowing, diddly-idleness and in with a high-octane, multimedia leap into 2011. This is Irish Dance for the post-pop generation.April 19 to 23. Check www.civictheatre.ie for times and prices.

The Bad Arm – Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer Written and performed by Máire Clerkin, The Bad Arm – Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer is an uproarious, yet poignant, one-woman play.April 18 to 23. Check www.civictheatre.ie for times and prices.

Page 25: Swords Gazette

14 April 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 25

ENTERTAINMENT ADAM MAGUIRE

WHEN a potentially lethal snake went missing in New York Zoo, the cobra became known across the world almost instantly. It also got its own Twitter account.

Called @BronxZoosCobra, this account is the latest in a long line of spoofs that have appeared on Twitter.com.

This is where parody ver-sions of people, things and even places are created to poke fun and raise a few smiles.

Other exam-ples in recent t i m e s include one that claimed to be the account of one of the trapped Chilean miners but, like the missing snake’s account, it was restricted to a short lifespan.

So, here are a few of the funniest spoof accounts that have been up and running

for some time, and that show no signs of stopping any time soon ...

@DarthVaderThe legendary vil-lain from the Star

Wars series i s a l s o a keen T w i t -

t e r e r , i t appears.Be it com-

mentary on news events, information

about the Empire, or even a look into Vader’s softer side, this account has plenty worth reading.

@FakeAPstylebookThe Associated Press

Stylebook is a well-known resource for writers looking to hone their craft.

The Fake version of it, available on Twitter amongst other places, is quite the opposite.

Some of the best writing advice includes: “Remem-ber what happens when you assume. Frankly, you save yourself a lot of work” and “Do not be afraid to use exclamation points in your writing. They can sense fear.”

@ChuckNorris_What would the internet be

without Chuck Norris jokes? A much more boring place, that is for sure.

So it was inevitable some-one would set up a Twitter account claiming to be Chuck Norris, or at least warning you about his lethal nature.

Just in case you were in any doubt about Norris’ skills, the account assures us that he can do a wheelie on a unicy-cle and slam a revolving door. Impressive.

Apple iPad 2The long-awaited update to

Apple’s game-changing tablet

is a device well worth having, though only if you do not own an iPad already.

When the iPad launched last year, it changed things.

Tablets already existed, of course, but none had the instant appeal and allure that Apple was able to offer.

Since then, a number of rival devices have come to the market, and many have been good.

However, none has been great.

The iPad 2 can be consid-ered a baby step forward for Apple – taking that great device from last year, and making a few minor adjust-ments to keep it competitive.

The device now sports a slimmer, lighter body, a fast-er processor, and a couple of cameras. But, beyond that, it is much the same as what came before.

However, that is far from an insult, as the original iPad really was a truly superb machine.

For anyone who has used an iPhone or an iPod Touch, this device will feel very famil-iar. The software is much the same, albeit on a bigger screen, and the way you inter-act with apps is identical.

What makes the iPad 2 so great really is its software too, which is so easy to use and logical that even a small child would feel at home with it.

The device is always-on,

so there is no need to boot it up and wait, and its intui-tive design makes it easy to use for so many things, from e-mailing to watching videos or playing games.

There are plenty of apps – free and premium – that you can download, meaning you can customise the device as you like, and even replace a lot of what you currently do on a PC with it.

If you already own an iPad, you are not going to miss out on a whole lot by not getting the iPad 2, unless you really want a camera.

However, if you are thinking of getting a device like this, there is still nothing better than what Apple have to offer.

The iPad 2 is available from store.apple.com/ie, from €479 upwards.

Visit teic.ie for the latest tech news, reviews and

views.

Some tweet machine favouritesTECHNOLOGY Links to entertainingly far-fetched Tweeters

Page 26: Swords Gazette

DENTAL

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26 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 April 2011

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Page 27: Swords Gazette

14 April 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 27

GazetteGazetteSPORTSPORT

WOMEN’S DIVISION 1Hermes 2

UCD 4

STEPHEN FINDLATER

[email protected]

HERMES lost the battle but won the war when their exploits earlier this season were enough to see them over the line and win the Leinster women’s division one hockey league last Sat-urday at Belfield.

The Booterstown club fell 4-2 on Saturday to UCD, leaving them wondering if Loreto could pull off an improbable nine-goal win against Railway Union in the final game of the season.

But it did not accrue as Loreto could only move out as far as 3-0 before being reeled back in, leaving them level on points with Hermes but with an inferior goal tally.

A sleepy first half was briefly enlivened by Caitri-ona McGilp’s goal and Gil-lian Pinder’s autopass score from a five-metre free.

But the second half was rip-roaring and end-to-end. Anna O’Flanagan banged home from close range from the second phase of a pen-alty corner to establish a Hermes lead.

Jenny Burke and Deirdre Duke had a gilt-edge chance

to strengthen that lead but Stella Davis did well to snuff out the two strikers closing in on her goal.

Chloe Watkins, mean-while, clipped the outside of the post with a diving, reverse sweep after stealing the ball from Emma Gray.

The students were level fol lowing a r ight-wing attack, which McGilp swept in at the near post to register a brace against her former club.

And her side hit the front from a top move. Brenda Flannery found Emily Men-zies deep on the left-wing and she did well to get a cross for the waiting Jess

McMickan on the back post to tap in.

Flannery’s straight strike made it 4 -2 while Lisa Jacob’s top reverse drew an equally high-quality save from Davis. In the end, it

proved immaterial but the second half was a joy to behold in all its carefree glory.

Loreto ended the season equal on 44 points but they will rue draws against UCD

and Old Alex late in the season, especially against the students, having led 3-0 before being pegged back when the title race was firmly in the hands of the Beaufort side.

HOCKEY: DEFEAT IN FINAL GAME IRRELEVANT AS BOOTERSTOWN SIDE TAKE CROWN

Hermes’ Audrey O’Flynn, Gillian Pender and Anna O’Flanagan celebrate

Hermes celebrate Leinster league title

RUN FOR THE SUN: RUN FOR THE SUN: Great Ireland Run Great Ireland Run another huge success another huge success in Phoenix Park: in Phoenix Park: Page 29Page 29

Page 28: Swords Gazette

28 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 April 2011

GazetteSportSport

PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUPNewbridge RFC 28

Swords RFC 19

[email protected]

SWORDS first XV’s trip to Newbridge last weekend ended in disappointment when they were denied progress into the quarter-finals of the Provincial Towns Seconds’ Cup, a result which ended an unbeaten run of 11 matches that start-ed back in November.

Swords started strongly and dominated for the first 15 minutes and, after a well- worked set-play, number 8 Shane Mulligan crashed over the line bringing the score to 5-0.

The home side upped their game then and retained almost constant possession for the rest of the half, which resulted in a 30th-minute penalty they converted,

thanks to the excellent kick-ing of their number 10.

Newbridge were awarded another penalty five minutes later due to Swords holding on to the ball in the break-down and, again, came away with the three points.

The home side finally broke through Swords’ defence after some great attacking rugby from their backs, and touched down in the corner for a try, which went unconverted.

Still within striking dis-tance as half-time came around, at 11-5, Swords were well within range and set about trying to reverse the trends of the first half.

Home from homeHowever, the second half

started as the first had fin-ished, with Newbridge dom-inating possession and, with 44 minutes on the clock, the

home side crossed the line again, this time converting the try.

Newbridge were tena-cious in their drive to keep possession and, in the 62nd minute, added a another three points from a penalty, widening the gap between the sides and bringing the score to 21-5.

Swords counter attacked with some brilliant forward pressure that resulted in back row Larry Faifua crash-ing through the defence to touch down to the right of the posts in the 26th minute, which was easily convert-ed to give Swords some momentum in the tie.

With confidence back in the side, Swords crossed the Newbridge try line again in the 30th minute when centre Ben Moriarty intercepted a loose ball to run almost the length of the pitch to touch

down under the posts, which again was converted with ease.

With two points in the difference and only ten min-utes to go, the atmosphere was tense, with both teams throwing everything into the fray to try to confirm their place in the cup’s next round.

However, it was not to be for Swords, with New-bridge crossing the Swords’ line with the last play of the game, tacking on the conversion for a nine-point advantage to the home side in the final reckoning.

Swords’ next game is this coming Sunday at 3pm in a promotion play-off against Railway Union, with the venue to be Malahide’s home for what is bound to be a thrilling and tenacious-ly battled encounter with the southside opponents.

Just a ’Bridge too far

RUGBY: FIRST TEAM BOW OUT OF SECONDS’ CUP TILT

Swords RFC’s Larry Faifua was an influential figure in bringing his side close to turning over Newbridge’s advantage

RugbyRugby

Seconds progress in Michael Dunne Cup SWORDS’ second XV travelled to Navan on Friday night for the first round of the provincial J4 Michael Dunne Cup and progressed to the next round, defeating their Royal County opponents, 10-6.

Swords started the first half well, with some strong run-ning from the back row of Shane Walsh, Karl McDonagh and Wojciech Sieczkowski, which in the first 10 minutes resulted in McDonagh crashing over the line in the corner, only to be held up.

The pressure was kept on and the home side finally crossed the line when Sieczkowski hit the centre and broke the defence, before number 10 Aiden Forkan added the two points.

Forkan added another three points in the 30th minute. The second half kicked off with a few tactical substitu-

tions on the Navan team to strengthen their faltering scrum. This resulted in the home side being awarded two kickable penalties in a ten-minute period, which were to be the only scores of the second half.

Swords play in the quarter final against Dundalk at home this coming weekend.

FastRugby

Swords call on

support for sidesSwords are calling on their faithful supporters to come out this weekend and next week when their teams face vital matches in respective competi-tions.

The first XV are in a promotion play-off against Railway Union

at Malahide on April 20, and they will be looking to reverse the outcomes of two previous promo-tion deciders against the same opposition. The match kicks off at 7.30pm.

The seconds are at ALSAA this Friday against Dundalk in the Dunne Cup quarter-final. The match kicks off at 8pm.

Page 29: Swords Gazette

14 April 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 29

in association with

FastSport

Trap and Marco help to launch penalty contestAS PART of their fundraising efforts in aid of the Irish Homeless World Cup team, the national penalty shoot-out competition, sponsored by Continental Tyres, is set to take place in AUL, Clonshaugh, and Astro Park, Greenhills Road, Tallaght on Good Friday, April 22 at 10am, and there is still time for teams to enter the Dublin leg of the competition.

At the event’s recent launch, Ireland manager Gio-vanni Trapattoni and coach Marco Tardelli urged soccer fans to get behind the venture, in which the regional winners will receive €1,000 of Umbro kit, while the overall winners will receive six tickets for the Europa Cup Final and two nights accommodation in a Dublin 4 hotel.

Details and entry forms can be obtained from wwwirishstreetleague.com, or by calling Mick Pender on 087 127 3258 or Sean Kavanagh on 087 223 8108.

OVER 11,000 people took to the tarmac for the SPAR Great Ireland Run and SPAR Junior Great Ireland Run in beautiful sunshine in the Phoenix Park last week-end.

In a carnival atmosphere, 1,000 children raced in the Junior Run over 2.5 km, which was started by Eddie

Hobbs, patron of the Jack & Jill Foundation, and Sonia O’Sullivan.

Dundrum South Dublin star Cassie Murphy won the girls’ race in a time of 10.45.

The children were fol-lowed by their adult coun-terparts, some 10,000 run-ners, joggers and walkers, who included Sean Gal-

lagher from Dragons’ Den, Evanne Ni Chuilinn from RTE Sport, former Ireland and Leinster hooker Shane Byrne (whose twin daugh-ters ran the Junior Run) Maclean Burke from Fair City, Gillian Quinn, Lisa Fitzpatrick and many, many others.

British teenager, Charlotte Purdue, again showed her vast potential for the future when she was the runaway winner of the women’s race against much more experi-enced opponents.

The men’s title went to former European 5,000 metres gold-medallist, Jesus Espana of Spain, who broke clear with 1,200 metres to go. Defending champion, Martin Fagan of Ireland, was third.

The race doubles as the Athletics Ireland Irish 10k

Championships, and in that respect, there was plenty of local interest, with Joe Sweeney of DSD coming second in the Irish chal-lenge, in a time of 30:42, and Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham AC was fifth in 31:19. Mean-while, in the women’s race, Ava Hutchinson was third in the women’s race in a time of 34:43.

The Run is the only event in Ireland recognised by the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) at Bronze Label level. As a result of the quality of this year’s event, the organisers will be submitting an appli-cation to the IAAF for Sil-ver Label status for the 2012 SPAR Great Ireland Run, as they believe that all the required criteria may have been achieved to upgrade from bronze.

Great runnersOver 11,000 runners shone in the sunshine at the 2011 SPAR Great Ireland Run last weekend with local interest at a premium in all events

Catriona Lindsay Russell, from Blanchardstown

Francis holding

local events ST FRANCIS football club will holding a fund-raiser in the Dean Swift, Dublin 8, on Friday, May 27 in aid of one of their former players, Terry Hillard, who died recent-ly, at an early age.

Club members are asked to please try and support this worthy cause for one of the legends of the club.

Meanwhile, the club will host their Easter Soccer Camp from April 25 to 29 in John Hyland Park.

The camp will run from 10.30am to 2pm every day for all kids aged five to 12, and it promises to be a great week of fun with qualified coaches in a safe environment.

The cost is €50 per child.

NAC to be venue

for Fingal SprintTHE National Aquatic Centre will be the venue for the sixth annual Fin-gal Sprint triathlon on May 15, and organiser 3D Triathlon are calling on newcomers to triathlon and local youths to par-ticipate in the event.

3D Triathlon have also been invited by Triathlon Ireland to host the 2011 Inaugural National Youth Triathlon Champion-ships, which will take the form of three races – the Fingal Sprint (age 18 and over), 2011 National Youth Championship (age 16-19) and Fingal Junior Aquathlon (ages 8-15).

If you are interested in taking part, registration details are available at www.fingalsprint.3dtri.com

Cassie Murphy on her way to winning the Junior Girls’ race

Niamh Sheridan and Lorraine Morgan celebrate their 10k

Jannett Keane does the hard work as Chloe enjoys the park

Page 30: Swords Gazette

30 SWORDS GAZETTE 14 April 2011

FastSport

PREMIER UNDER-10 CUP Swords Celtic 3

Balbriggan 2

[email protected]

IT WAS a case of third time lucky when Swords Celtic finally got the better of Bal-briggan FC to claim a spot in the Premier Cup quarter final in Balheary Reservoir last Saturday.

Having suffered defeat against the visitors in the league, and drawing with them in the Cup over the previous two weekends, Swords finally triumphed in an exciting quarter-final replay.

The O’Neill’s Cup final-ists and NSDL Premier League leaders are now just one win away from reaching

the decider, and remain on course for a unprecedented treble.

Celtic got off to a decent start against the only side to beat them this season with Reality Osucha prodding an effort just wide of the post and Cian Moore directing a header slightly off target.

Swords were on top and their dominance was finally reflected on the score board when Jamie Condon’s in- swinging corner was only prevented from crossing the line by the arm of a Balbrig-gan defender.

Karl Stanley stepped up for the hosts and finished from 12 yards to make it 1-0.

One soon became two as Stanley doubled his, and his sides tally. The midfielder

benefited from neat Osucha and Arron Duffy play before finishing impressively.

A rout looked on the cards when, right on the stroke of half-time, Jamie Condron fired home a brilliant free kick to make it 3-0 at the turn.

Celtic continued to domi-nate the early exchanges in the second period and could have extended their advan-tage with Osucha going close.

Balbriggan, who equalised in the last minute of the first quarter final, have come-back form and possess a fighting spirit, but relied on none of the latter to get back into the tie.

Indeed a gust of wind saw an attempted Swords clear-

ance fly the wrong way and bounce awkwardly into the home net.

The visitors were spurred on by the goal and regis-tered another, this time of their own making, to set up a tense finale, but Celtic held on and progressed to the last four of the competition.

Meanwh i l e , Swords ’ Under-17 side registered the win of the weekend beating the Under-18 Premier league leaders in the Carlton Cup.

Celtic registered an amaz-ing 6-2 reverse over Santos 15 to progress to the semi-final of the tournament.

Elsewhere, two goals within 70 seconds of kick-off was enough to keep Swords’ Under-14s on the top of their league.

Swords Premier pass

SOCCER: CELTIC MOVE INTO LAST FOUR OF CUP COMPETITION

Swords Celtic’s U-10s registered their first win against Balbriggan in their previous three meetings in the Premier Cup

Swords Rovers

host FAI Summer

School in AugustSWORDS Rovers will host an FAI Summer Soccer School from July 4 to 8 while Swords Celtic will run their camp from August 15 to 19 this year.

The camps are open to boys and girls between six and 14 years of all ability levels and experience. If you are a new player - have fun and learn the key skills. If you already play then improve your overall game and maximise your technical skills.

The camp will be run by friendly and high-quality coaches with exciting games, drills and activities to designed to test and improve skills.

For more information

on these camps, go to www.summerschools.ie.

Cluskey and McGee

pick up best win of

year in FranceSWORDS tennis player James Cluskey picked off what he called “the best doubles win of the year” as he and Castleknock man James McGee reached the quarter-finals of the France F6 Futures.

They knocked out Kenny de Scheeper and Albano Olivetti – the former with a singles ranking inside the world’s top 300.

They emerged on a 7-5, 6-4 scoreline to set up a final eight tie with another home pairing, Joffrey de Scheeper and Alexandre Penaud, at the tournament in Angers.

GazetteSportSportConan B on a mission: Zambia golf fundraiserFORMER Sporting Fingal star Conan Byrne has announced a golf fundraiser to help the disabled children of the poverty stricken area of Mongu.

The planned golf classic will take place on Friday, May 27, at Swords Open Golf Course, with a target of €100,000 set to fund the trip as well as provide a donation to the project.

For further information, please contact Conan (086 603 1389) or John Fallon (087-2730435).

NORTH Dublin Eagles’ quarter Joe Taylor, Cian Erraught, Peter Carr and Neal O’Keeffe were included in the Irish Students’ side who played in Widnes last week in the Rugby League Regionals, with Taylor named as captain.

Ireland led at half-time of their game against North-West England but were unable to build on that score and eventually ended up on the wrong end of a 14 - 12 deficit, thanks to a Ross Shepard double for North-West.

After both losing their first matches, Ireland were set to face Wales. Tries from Chris McNamara, Lewis Warner, Alex James and a brace from centre Patrick Evans saw Wales stroll to a 28-0 win over Ireland. Scott Amber scored four out of his five conversion attempts.

Eagles’ quartet picked for

Irish Students’ touring side

Page 31: Swords Gazette

14 April 2011 SWORDS GAZETTE 31

STEPHEN FINDLATER

[email protected]

FINGALLIANS toasted the 2010 season in style at their adult awards night, held in the clubhouse at Lawless Memorial Park.

Derry Murphy was hon-oured for his sterling work over the past four years as club chairman, and he was inducted into the Fins’ Hall of Fame for his brilliant service at the helm of the club during that time.

In a year of ground-break-

ing strides for the club’s hurlers, Mick Kennedy from that code’s fraternity, picked up the Club Person of the Year title.

The junior side went all the way through the Dub-lin championship and on to claim the Leinster Special Junior championship earlier this year, following a lengthy wait between the semi-final and final, to pick up their biggest title since introduc-ing hurling to the club some years ago.

From that team, John-

Matthew Sheridan was named as Hurler of the Year while from the second string – introduced to AHL9 for 2010 – Dan Davern picked up the Junior Hurler of the Year gong.

David Killeen was named footballer of the year in a consolidatory year for the Fingallians’ AFL2 side as they look to build on a plat-form and feed a string of young players into the first team from two successful minor generations.

Aoife O’Reilly, a recently

named sports scholar at NUI Maynnoth, picked up the Ladies Footballer of the Year as she continues to rise through the ranks having played for the past two years in the Jackies minor side and stepped into the Fins’ senior team.

Among the other award winners were Conor Corri-gan (minor footballer), Niall Fagan (inter footballer), Joe McGlynn (junior footballer), Suzie Manton (junior ladies’ footballer) and Eoin Collins (U-21 footballer).

FINGALLIANS: SALUTE TO THE HEROES AND HEROINES OF 2010

Fins celebrate a superb GAA season

Club Noticeboard

FINGALLIANSTHE senior footballers continued their good run with a league win against St Pat’s on Saturday evening. The U-13A hurlers drew in Cuala, and the U-13B hurlers beat Na Fianna at home. The U-16 girls added another win to make it five wins and a draw so far.

Easter Camp Dates: April 18 to 21 for kids aged four to 13 years. Application forms and further details are available on www.fin-gallians.ie.

Fingallians GAA club will hold an Irish conversation group in the clubhouse each Wednesday at 9pm. All levels of Irish welcome. No pressure, bit of fun and all free.

Allianz League Final at Croke Park, Sunday, April 24. Closing Date to order tickets is Friday, April 15 from the club bar. Prices - Stand €25, Hill 16 €15, Child €5 (Cusack and Davin Stand only)

Club golf classic: In aid of the adult ladies’ and gents’ section, will be held on May 6 at Donabate Golf Club. The tee is booked from 6.30am to 4.30pm. A timesheet will be available in the club from St Patrick’s Day at 1pm. Further details to follow.

The club are organis-ing fundraising clothing recycling drive, up to and including Saturday, April 19. Please donate all your clean unwanted clothes, bed linen, towels, textiles including shoes, bags, belts and soft toys. Mobile phones will be accepted but please keep separate from clothes and textiles. No household bric-a-brac. Bags can be dropped off on Saturdays from 10am to 12 noon, and weekdays from 7 to 9pm (club bar).

The first society golf out-ing will be held on April 29 in Roganstown.

The latest lotto numbers are 14, 18, 27, 31 and 36.

FINGAL RAVENSSCRAP Saturday: This weekend, April 15, 16 and 17, delivery point is North-lands Farm, an opportunity to get rid of all your house-hold or farm/business unwanted scrap metal and also to recycle any unwant-ed clothes. For more infor-mation, call Mick Foley 086-8148464.

Good win for our Div 5 team at home on Sunday morning against Ballinteer St John’s.

Ladies’ team kept to their winning ways last Wednes-day away to O’Dwyers in the league; well done all. Next up is Templeogue Synge Street away in the cup this week.

U-12 girls had a superb win over Ballyboden St Enda’s on Sunday to retain their unbeaten run in the league. Well done, girls.

Club membership for 2011 is now overdue, play-ers will not be covered by insurance and all manag-ers have been instructed that they are not permitted to play anyone who has not paid their membership yet.

We would like to send our sympathies to Michelle McCullagh and her family on their recent loss.

We would also like to send our sympathies to the Jordan family on the death of Helen.

2011 Provincial Predic-tions Forms are now out, please support, only €5 per entry, please get these back to a committee member by Saturday, April 30.

Our juvenile section are holding a table quiz on Thursday, April 21 (Holy Thursday) in the lounge of Kettle’s Hotel, please sup-port.

ST FINIAN’STHE adult hurlers play local rivals Fingallians next week-end. The Intermediate foot-ballers lost away at St Moni-ca’s in the league at the week-end and the second team lost out to Ballyfermot de la Salle.

Gaelic4Mothers continues every Thursday night in the Community Centre at 9pm. New members welcome. Come along and learn the skills of the game, get fit and meet new friends.

Our Tea Party is taking place in the Community Cen-tre next Saturday, April 16. This is always a great social occasion with great food and a disco to follow. Join up with a few friends and host a table. The idea behind the tea party is that food is shared at the table. Each person brings part of the meal e.g. starter, main course or dessert. Some of our teams have parents who have come from abroad. Why not cook your national dish and bring it along? Above all, it’s a social night and only costs €10. We hope that every team will host a table, particularly the parents of the underage

teams. We would like every-one in their seats by 8.30pm. There will be a bar and danc-ing after the meal. Further information available from club office.

Easter is fast approaching and that means camps. The kids love them and they are great for skills improvement. Booking your place early really helps those planning the camps so register early if possible but come on the day in any case.

The coffee shop is now open on Thursday mornings at 10.30. It’s still open on Sat-urday as usual. Drop in.

Lotto: Numbers drawn-were 1, 13, 14 and 23. There was no winner of the jackpot worth €3,900.

The €50 winners were John Tierney and The Five Pups(Justin Dervin’s grand-children).

Next week, the jackpot will be €4,100.

Derry Murphy receives his Hall of Fame award

in association with

Come on Down: Ravens host Northern sideFINGAL Ravens recently host-ed Naomh Eoin Bosco from Co Down when the Northern side travelled to Dublin to take in the match between the respec-tive counties in the National Football League in Croke Park.

The clubs enjoyed a great day out and Fingal Ravens are looking forward to making the return trip some time in the future.

Junior ladies’ footballer of the year, Suzie Manton

Page 32: Swords Gazette

ALL OF YOUR SWORDS SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31 APRIL 14, 2011

HONOURS SHARED: Fingallians award

stars and salute 2010 achievements: Page 31

STEPHEN FINDLATER

[email protected]

FINGALLIANS county stars Paul Flynn and Amy McGuinness will be target-ing significant Easter treats when their respective Dub-lin senior football outfits line up tilts at league glory.

Their tasks are very differ-ent, though. For the ladies, getting back into the NFL division one is the task that continues on Saturday in Ardee when the Jackies take on Cavan in the semi-final of their Division Two cam-paign.

Flynn, meanwhile, has rounded off a league cam-paign which saw him as one of very few ever-presents in Pat Gilroy’s team selection.

Indeed, in a side that has chopped and changed throughout the spring, the Fins’ star has only missed the O’Byrne Cup first-round tie against Westmeath back in darkest January in the 2011

calendar year, and he has made a significant impact on the scoring stakes, too.

In the league, he notched 1-4 while maintaining his customary ferocious work-rate. Against Galway last weekend – Dublin’s sole blip from a perfect regular NFL Division One season as they drew 2-9 to 0-15 – he played an instrumental role in Alan Brogan’s goal, stealing the ball from Owen Concan-non’s loose hand-pass for a fine goal.

It means he has a national final to look forward to in Sky-Blue colours on Easter weekend in Croke Park, somewhat of a rarity in recent times and one which former Dublin talisman Ciaran Whelan says has a lot of significance going into the summer months.

“Dublin have closed the gap incredibly over a short period of time and, if they could turn Cork over in a national final, it would give

them great confidence going into the championship.

“They have great confi-dence and momentum at the moment and you don’t want it to be a setback. You look at Mayo last year - they lost the league final to Cork and never recovered.”

For the ladies, facing Cavan on Saturday in the semi-final of the Bord Gáis Energy NFL Div 2 is a far cry from the All-Ireland winning antics of 2010.

But it will be a huge tester as Cavan are the only team to have beaten the Dubs in the league this year, so Tommy Brown’s charges will be hoping to reverse the result and book their place in the final, which is pencil-led in for May 8.

McGuinness has been a huge part of that run so far, scoring 1-16 in six games to date, including a 1-3 haul against Saturday’s opposi-tion, making her a key play-er. Fingallians’ Paul Flynn in action for the Dublin footballers

GazetteSPORTFins’ duo look to Dub ties

INSIDE: Local stars shine in the Great Ireland Run: P29