FREE
October / November 2019
In this issue…
Page 6: Donnybrook’s sacred space Pages 27-28: Autumn gardening Pages 14-15: History – Maeve Casserly Pages 32-33: Halloween features
Page 2 www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
NewsFour Newspaper
windmill still turning out genius
is part of a DEASP (Continued from page 1.) went from being a tram station to being a Bovril factory until some-
Community Employment The vintage, analogue equipment on display in Studio One is some- time in the 1970s and then into a high-end snooker hall, first owned
Programme thing to behold. The speakers in this studio alone, at the time of their by Pat Quinn, of Quinnsworth fame.
purchase, cost more than it would be to buy property in the area. It then became Jason’s Snooker Hall until Windmill Lane set up
NewsFour The mixing console, Aidan tells me “would’ve cost in the region of
£250,000 in the late eighties.”
there. Naomi expands on the importance of this aspect of the tour.
“It’s good for the area, in that we are bringing in the history, right
Keeping analogue alive is something that’s very important to them, back to Cromwell, so we touch on all those things, and the Ris-
Editor with Naomi commenting that “most things are not like this now and ing, and the history of the area and the importance of Ringsend
Beibhinn Byrne have moved on to dig- to the area at the time
ital. It’s really impor- as well, and the evo-
Online Editor tant to persevere with lution of that. We’ve
Kathrin Kobus the history of this kind been in the heart of
of recording as well.” that, really, since the
Journalists Among the artists early 1900s.”
Kathrin Kobus to have performed There really is his-
Eoin Meegan at the desk in Stu- tory in every corner of
Peter McNamara dio One include The the studios. The walls
David Prendeville Rolling Stones and are adorned with pic-
Geneva Pattison Lady Gaga. Many ture after picture of
Dermot Carmody film soundtracks have figures as eclectic as
Joseph Martin been recorded in this Mick Jagger to Garret
studio, including The Fitzgerald. Sleeves of
Talented Mr. Ripley, Grammy award win-
Contributors
The Mask and A River ning records recorded
Felix O’Regan
Runs Through it. The there proudly hang on
Gavan Bergin
studio and console are the walls. The build-
Patrick Gregg
also famous for hav- ing is itself an extraor-
Declan Hayden
ing featured in a scene dinary artefact.
Susan O’Brien
in The Commitments. The way record-
Angie Canavan The Studio One live ing has evolved over
Hélène Giacometti room, which will play time, the immersion
Annie Gribben host to a spectacular in modern record-
projection show to ing techniques and a
Crossword close the tour is also call-back to the tactile
Gemma Byrne particularly notable in pleasures of analogue
that it is, as Aidan ex- also provide a com-
Design and Layout plains, with the excep- prehensive and educa-
Eugene Carolan tion of RTE, the only tional framework for
recording studio that those with even the
Ad Design can hold an orchestra. “It would be one of the biggest live rooms in slightest interest in music and sound recording. It all makes for fasci-
Dara O Riordain the world, it would be able to hold so many musicians. I think the nating stuff, that has a lot of diverse pleasures to offer.
most we’ve had is about 80 or 86 musicians playing at the one time. Tickets must be booked in advance and can be got at https://www.
Photo Pages When you’d hear the likes of Riverdance, you can imagine that every windmilllanerecording.com/tours/visitor-experience/
Gary Burke single channel on that mixing console is being lit up by the micro-
phones in order to create that.” Clockwise from top left: The white wall where signatures, greetings
Sandymount An aspect of the tour that might appeal, particularly to locals, is the and photos are left by performers; one of the studio mixing desks;
Community Services, sense of the history of the building one gets from it. It was originally the wall of mounted photos; the disc for U2’s multi-platinum sales of
13A Fitzwilliam Street, an electricity station for the tramlines which used to run next door. It Achtung Baby presented to the studio in 1991.
Ringsend, Dublin 4.
THE EDITOR’S CORNER dress, minutely, the dysfunctional lag between us and other countries
Telephone: (01)6673317 This issue’s publication coincides on one hand with the traditional on Green thinking, solutions and quality of life. It’s exhausting that
October Government Budget announcement, and on the other, with a the citizens we pay to represent us are so hopelessly out of touch or
week of organised civil disobedience by the new orthodoxy Extinc- worse, create the problems we now have to solve. We have entered a
E-mail:
tion Rebellion and the real life Halloween Parade of Brexit – as it whole new epoch that requires a whole new approach – an era where
newsfour@gmail.com
rumbles on – rebels without a clue. A whole nation being shorted by qualitative decision-making will emerge emphasising co-operation
investors who are betting against the quality of life and harmony of and our common ownership of resources. We have a collective right
Website: society for millions of people. All three have a thread in common, a to functioning communities and quality in our lives. It makes for a
www.newsfour.ie world in trouble, controlled by money and greed and becoming in- productive, creative, socio-economically secure and self-sufficient
creasingly, necessarily, divided between those who will do whatever society The blindness of pure statistics, sums and data and the unequal
Opinions expressed in NewsFour it takes to protect their own interests and those who will do whatever weighing of taking as much as you can while giving as little as possi-
do not necessarily represent it takes to protect all of our interests. Everything is connected; our ble is marked for extinction. Our future requires practical, ambitious,
the views of Sandymount lives, our freedoms and our environment. Gargantuan greed and short holistic thinking that deals in the living, breathing reality of people’s
Community Services. sightedness is destroying it. lives and our environment. A future which, as Greta Thunberg states,
None of this urgency seems to exist in our current Government. ‘is coming whether you like it or not’. We hope you enjoy this issue
Printed by This week’s budget is purely quantitative when we need a qualita- with our Halloween features and many excellent articles on radical
Webprint, tive one, one that broadcasts far-sightedness not fear, one that doubles upheavals in history, ecological writing on gardening, local wildlife
Mahon, Co. Cork down on a radical re-allocation of priorities and the spending required and rivers, community cohesiveness and care in fundraising, events,
for those priorities not copper-fastening the stale status quo. clubs and efforts as well many other interesting and entertaining ar-
There is nothing new in it, let alone visionary. It doesn’t even ad- ticles in arts, culture, sports, local education, science, tech and news.
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 LOCAL NEWS Page 3
Yi Garden in Herbert Park at a standstill My annual trip to Lourdes Ringsend Park’s winning hoops
n Geneva Pattison n Patrick Gregg
Works by Dublin City Council’s (DCC) Parks Services began on the
The planned installation of the Yi Garden in Herbert park has been cur- I have been making the pilgrim-
existing basketball court in Ringsend Park on September 9th are now
rently postponed pending a review. The project had been on the table since age to Lourdes for more than 10 nearing completion. The works involved improvement to the surface
2016, and was set to be undertaken in September of this year. Newsfour years now. I travel over with the drainage, resurfacing of the court and installation of new hoops. The
got in touch with the Senior Executive Parks Superintendent for the DCC, Dublin diocese and I have made project took approximately four weeks to complete and also involved
Michael Noonan, for further information. In correspondence, Mr. Noonan many good friends from these meetings which were held with local basketball coaches and DCC
clarified that “The project is currently being re-evaluated by the new admin- trips over the years. We travel sports coaches, based in Irishtown Sports Stadium, to undertake coach-
istration in Yangzhou City and therefore the garden installation has been over every year in the first week ing and encourage participation in the sport on completion of the work.
delayed until this review has been completed.’’ of September. We stay in a hos- Some tree pruning work has already been completed on the site to fa-
On July the 8th, the South East Area Committee discussed the planned Yi pital in Lourdes which does a cilitate the upgrading and reduce surface shading.
Garden installation during their monthly meeting. The update on the garden great job of catering for our di-
indicated that the structure would be moved from the originally proposed verse needs. While we’re there
placement in the park near the pond and the bandstand. The updated place- we attend mass and a torchlight
ment would see the Yi Garden placed closer to the public amenities and café procession in the grotto. There
on the opposite side of the park. This new positioning would also ensure are many opportunities for taking
visibility of the garden from the adjacent road while remaining close to the photographs. We even manage to
Chinese embassy on Merrion Road. make it out for a pint on one of the
The Yi Garden was first exhibited at Bloom in 2016. It was Bloom’s first evenings. I really look forward to
international garden and drew inspiration from traditional Chinese paint- the trip away every year. I would
ing theory. Stylistic qualities of the garden included a pagoda style shel- like to thank all the doctors, nurs-
ter, a pond and rockery, a waterfall and an integrated harmonious planting es and the many volunteers who
scheme.The literal translation of Yi Garden is “the garden of friendship” make this trip possible every year.
and had been offered as a gift to Ireland from the city of Yangzhou in Ji- Above, left to right: Leon, Cian, Sophie, Shauna, Chloe and Carlie
angsu province in China, to represent the good relationship between the two Above: Patrick Gregg of Ring- collecting their Leaving Certificate results from Ringsend College
countries. Yangzhou city is historically famous for its scenic Slender West send who attends Enable Ireland’s on August 13th. They were looking forward to starting their Third
Lake area and similarly for its scholars, poets, artists. adult services in Lourdes. Level courses and apprenticeships which began in early September.
Page 4 LOCAL www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
Documenting
Donnybrook’s
sacred space
H
n Eoin Meegan something, almost supernatural
aving written about the there.
ancient cemetery in “You get a real feeling of peace
Donnybrook previously in the cemetery, it really is palpa-
in this paper, I was intrigued ble,” Míceál Mc Giobúin muses.
when a new documentary on “That’s why it’s incumbent on us
the cemetery was announced to keep it a sacred ground.” This with people on the tour. “I want the “The first step would be festivals, less than four chemical factories
this summer and went along to theme of a sacredness that can be tour to be a conversation and like it and then approach TV, if we get it on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay at the
a preview showing of the film at felt, was repeated by several con- when people join in,” he says. to a good length.” time, where the family lived, and
The Hive in Herbert Park, Don- tributors, and it’s one which this So what about the future of the In a post-film panel discussion, it is very likely that they all suc-
nybrook. Titled ‘Donnybrook’s writer also experienced. cemetery? Dermot Lacey has pro- Glenda talked about winning a cumbed to the noxious fumes that
Hidden Treasure’, it is described Glenda conveyed to me that she posed that a columbarium be built, prestigious prize for a previous emitted from said factories.
as a film featuring interviews felt it too, and this was largely the that is a wall into which the ciner- film she made. I asked her about All are interred in Donnybrook
and stories about some of the inspiration, or impetus behind the ary urns after cremation are depos- this. “The first documentary I di- cemetery. A telling lesson for us
people buried there. making of the film. “I have lived in ited, something that is becoming rected was ‘Bog Meditation’, a even today, when individual health
The film was made by local his- Donnybrook since 1974 and every increasingly popular in many cem- short film about Dublin artist and and the well-being of the environ-
torian Glenda Cimino, who direct- time I was in the graveyard I felt eteries. poet Christine Broe, and her work ment have, rightfully, become cen-
ed it, with Caroline Brennan and that there was truly a sense of peace As the cemetery is now full, the around sculpting faces out of bog tral issues.
James Martinez as co-editors, and there, and felt it was probably con- last internment was in 1936, this mud, letting them dry out and take ‘Donnybrook’s Hidden Treas-
Mahyar Ghodsi doing the camera nected to the spirit of St Broc and would make Donnybrook grave- on their own expressions. We used ure’ is a film sensitively made
work. It was produced by the Bea- the life her people lived there. More yard a working cemetery again, her poetry from her collection about one of Donnybrook’s lesser
ver Row Historical Society. so than other cemeteries, it seemed the council would most likely be ‘Lifting Light’ as the soundtrack -known attractions. It is an impor-
The film is about 40 minutes to have an atmosphere of its own responsible for its upkeep, and it for the film. It was a nine-minute tant film documenting the history
long and features hauntingly beau- and convey a sense of well-being would become an active part of the long film. I sent it to the Holly- and story of a piece of Donnybrook
tiful shots of the cemetery, as well when you enter it. I tried to convey village once more. Obviously, any wood International Independent that not only gave it its name (St
as interviews with some of those that in the film. Clearly many oth- new work or additions to it would Documentary Awards (HIIDA). Broc) but from which the village
who have a long-standing and ers, such as Míceál experienced have to be done sensitively. We didn’t have high expectations we love today emerged. I think
close connection with it. something mystical too.” Dermot would also like to see a but surprisingly we were accepted Glenda and her team have done a
The interviews are informal and She quotes Freddy de Silva who bench erected to commemorate the into the HIIDA festival and won a splendid job and manage to capture
more like accidental encounters. said: “Sacred sites are repositories late Tony Boyle, a local man who prize in the ‘cultural film’ category. that sacred atmosphere and sense
Among the contributors are David of subtle energies that have a corre- led a team of voluntary workers in I think they found the mist and the of well-being just right.
Neary, who has been conducting sponding effect on people’s state of the restoration of the cemetery in bog mud quite exotic. We shot it David Neary’s tour of the cem-
tours of the cemetery since 2006, consciousness.” This is a statement the mid-1980s. over one day with no budget at all. etery takes place every alternative
groundsman Míceál Mc Giobúin, anyone visiting Donnybrook’s old Not everyone shares this vi- I chose the music from the creative Saturday at 2.00pm. The tour is
local councillor Dermot Lacey, cemetery is likely to resonate with. sion of the future of the cemetery, commons.” free and lasts about an hour. It is
and Alan Parkinson, grandson of David Neary is frequently asked though. There are some who would Danny Parkinson recounts in his not to be missed.
Danny Parkinson, whose book if he ever felt a presence in the like to see what is now termed as book that over 7,000 people are
‘Donnybrook Graveyard’ is an im- graveyard. His reply is “the only the ‘re-wilding’ of the cemetery; buried in Donnybrook cemetery. Above, left to right: Lar Kelly,
portant record of the graveyard, its presence I feel in it is one of be- that is letting it fall into natural de- The film touches on one tragic James Martinez, Cllr Dermot Lac-
history and place in the village. nevolence and peace.” A Waterford cay, not cutting the grass or restor- family. In 1867, aged only 33, John ey, David Neary, Glenda Cimino,
What particularly struck me man originally, David tells us how, ing headstones which had fallen Blythe and his two children, a son and Mahyar Ghodsi.
about these people was their genu- after some initial apprehension over, in other words, allowing na- and daughter both under six years, Photo by Eoin Meegan.
ine love for this ancient graveyard, when he was cast unexpectedly ture take its course. all died. His wife Hannah, who Below: David Neary.
their passion to have it preserved, into the role of tour guide, he grew While I understand this senti- came from Ringsend, tragically Photo by Teresa Beausang.
and in many cases how they were to love it. What gives him particu- ment I think it would be a pity to followed them only five years later. Bottom left image courtesy of
struck by a feeling of awe and lar satisfaction is the interaction let the graveyard fall into complete It transpired that there were no Google Images.
ruin, and some upkeep is neces-
sary, without spoiling its inherent
structure as an old cemetery.
Returning to the documentary,
Glenda says she doesn’t think the
film is quite finished yet and would
like to include material on the re-
burial of the victims of the Seav-
iew Terrace massacre (see feature
on page 16) in the final cut. “I want
to go through it again, make some
corrections, cut some of it out and
add in more about St Broc.”
I probed her on when the public
at large would get to see the film.
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 Page 7
Page 8 SCIENCE www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
male. It’s only when a new queen She believes that the way we
has to mate that the male drone treat bees is a reflection of us as
is required. Apart from that func- a culture, which is why she com-
tion drones are, as Niamh says, “a bined beekeeping and her passion
waste of space.” for the idea of human space travel
This can cause problems if the in her last theatre show, Diary Of
hive loses its queen. If that hap- A Martian Beekeeper.
pens, she explains, “the other bees In all her work Niamh is mo-
panic and they start to lay eggs and tivated by the importance of in-
all the eggs that hatch are drones, forming people about technology,
they’re all male bees. And drones what it can do and the issues for
don’t do anything, Drones just us regarding what we think we
hang out, chill , eat, do nothing so should do. “I want people to ask
they’re a waste of space, like all about asteroid mining and coloni-
Dr Niamh Shaw
men are!” sation of Mars,” she says, because
Honey bees of the type used to “the sooner we get laws and poli-
produce honey commercially are cies in place to protect the impact
talks bees
only a small part of our bee popu- of us as a species who are essen-
lation. There are around a hundred tially a parasite on one planet af-
different species of bee in Ireland fecting another planet, the better.”
including the native Irish bee, Although she’s optimistic
and space
apis millifera millifera, which is a about technology and our future,
black bee, and all the various soli- Niamh’s mission is partly to give
tary bees and bumblebees. others an informed perspective of
Different species are attracted humans in the universe, because,
to different plants, so the diversity as she says “whether we exist or
D
n Dermot Carmody beekeeper and then on Wednes- to soothe the narky insects, so they of the bee population and the plant not, our planet continues to re-
r Niamh Shaw will give day night I was at an event and my tried again and “within a few days population are inextricably linked. volve around its axis and contin-
a “talk for grown ups” on friend who’s an engineer and her the whole hive calmed down. It’s Niamh stresses the importance of ues to orbit the sun, it doesn’t give
beekeeping and bees’ im- husband, who’s also an engineer incredible!” preserving the hedgerows in Ire- a damn whether we know or not.”
portance in the ecosystem at The ends up being a beekeeper. It’s like Niamh is fascinated by the way land as they are the environment Niamh Shaw’s talk on bees
Ark in Eustace Street on Novem- there’s a whole beekeeping under- a beehive acts as a mini society, where this biodiversity can flour- and beekeeping is at The Ark in
ber 17th. The event is part of Sci- world of Ireland!” with the queen at the centre dictat- ish. 11A Eustace St, Temple Bar, at
ence Week, which runs from the Until recently Niamh’s father ing the mood and activity of the Honey bees act as pollinators for 6pm on November 14th.
10th-17th of November, and this kept his beehives in his back gar- rest with her pheromones. Howev- many fruit trees, something which More information and book-
year, will focus on “climate action, den, with Niamh travelling home er that’s not always good news for has led farmers to become aware ing details are online at https://
seeking to help people understand to Louth to help out whenever her the apian monarch. If the queen’s of the importance of the bee popu- ark.ie/events/view/beekeeping
climate change, how science and hectic schedule allowed. Then her pheromones weaken, then the hive lation, and to seek to make use of Find out more about Niamh
technology can help us create a father retired as secretary of FIB- will decide it’s time to get shot of them to increase their yield. at her website http://www.
positive climate future and the im- KA and found that back trouble her and start again. One beekeeper friend of niamhshaw.ie
pact we as individuals can have on made lifting the hives difficult, so As Niamh explains, “when they Niamh’s was approached by an
climate change.” they decided to move their bees to know the queen is dying, they’ll apple farmer to introduce his bees Above: Niamh Shaw pictured on
NewsFour sat down for a con- the Louth Beekeepers’ apiary. just build up a new queen.” The to the farmer’s orchard. There was simulated Mars mission at the
versation with Niamh about life, Niamh takes up a story of bee bees will then literally push the old a 20% improvement in the fruit Mars Desert Research Station in
bees and space. She’s the very discontent, which illustrates the queen out to bring about regime yield as a result in this instance. Utah in 2015”.
definition of a renaissance woman, way that the whole hive acts out change in the hive. And there’s not However, the artificial intro- Photo:www.niamhshaw.ie
holding two degrees in engineer- the mood of its queen. “Within much for her to look forward to duction of bee populations to Below: A bee hard at work in
ing and a Phd in science, boasting a matter of days,” she says, “the in retirement as Niamh explains: certain areas to improve yields is Dublin 4.
a wealth of experience in theatre bees got really aggressive. At this “They’ve fattened her up and she not without problems, as Niamh Photo: Dermot Carmody.
and live speaking and holding the stage the bees would know dad can’t actually move all that much explains. “In America,” she says,
serious ambition to travel in space well enough that he doesn’t need because she eats royal jelly. She’s for example, “almond trees need
as a citizen and an artist. to wear gloves and he doesn’t wear a prisoner!” to be pollinated so they hire bee-
And of course she has experi- boots or anything.” Although this seems a lit- keepers from Montana, Cali-
ence as a beekeeper, something Niamh and her dad took the tle rough on the deposed queen, fornia, Carolina and so on. The
she has learned from her father, lid off their hive and almost im- Niamh is an enthusiastic admirer problem with that is that if there’s
who has been very involved in mediately the bees started to at- of what she calls a “perfect socie- a plague in Montana, now it’s go-
beekeeping for many years and tack them. “This was really scary ty” and its extraordinary organisa- ing to be transferred to Carolina
who only recently retired as Secre- – they were going crazy,” Niamh tion and self-regulation. There’s an so you’ve got a serious problem
tary of the Federation of Irish Bee- recalls. “And we walked away and organised structure of roles within of cross-contamination. There are
keepers Associations (FIBKA). they followed us and it took them the hive and each bee once she different types of pests that bees
“I’m only three years keeping about twenty minutes to give up.” hatches will go through a sequence have and so you’re exacerbating
bees and most of the people in- Her father, stung, retreated to the of those roles. the problem for them. When you
volved in beekeeping are in their safety of his car. Luckily Niamh Newly-hatched bees start keep- aggressively farm something like
70s plus, thats the average age,” was fully suited up and managed ing the floor of the hive clean as that as well it’s not good for na-
says Niamh. She’s noticed that to get the angry beehive back in sweepers, others take care of the ture.”
since she has become more in- order. But the next time they re- eggs and some fan air through the She also points out that there’s
volved with the bees herself, sud- turned to the hive the bees were hive from the entrance with their an ethical concern in the way we
denly she meets beekeepers all really aggressive again. wings to keep it ventilated. The fi- treat bees. Moving them hundreds
the time. “I’ve met two beekeep- Eventually, a beekeeping col- nal job in the sequence is that of of miles in lorries must be stress-
ers this week alone. One, I was in league told them they needed to re- the foragers, the bees who fly out ful for them, she thinks, going so
Belfast and I was working with place the queen to solve the prob- to search for food. far as to describe it as a type of
scientists and one of them was a lem. A first attempt to do this failed All these working bees are fe- slavery.
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 Page 9
Page 10 HEALTH www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
Ó Beauty Botanicals
mra Beauty is a family- of each product to provide intense
run business, trading in and natural properties.
the Merrion Centre for Made for Life Organics is an
F
n Eoin Meegan
ancy a challenge to help
beat breast cancer? Well,
the Great Pink Run is
Pretty in Pink: is very much on the fun aspect.
You don’t have to be an athlete
to take part, you can walk or jog
or bring your stroller.
back on October 19th next in Join the Great Pink Run and beat cancer The organisers encourage peo-
the Phoenix Park. You have a ple to wear pink, the vast major-
choice of a 10k or a 5k run or ity of those taking part in previ-
walk, which kicks off at 10 am ous years did. And to encourage
and 11 am respectively, with you, there will be a prize for the
the 10k event doing two laps of ‘best dressed in pink’. So give it
the route. a go.
Interested? First up, you must The event is organised by
register online if you want to Breast Cancer Ireland, and
take part in the event. The cost sponsored by Avonmore Slim-
is €25 for adults, only €15 for line Milk. If you can’t make the
under 18s, and those ten years Phoenix Park for some reason,
or less can go for a fiver. You or if you’re in the Kilkenny area,
can register online until October into breast cancer research and cancer in their lifetime. Over day and keeping healthy at the the race happens again the fol-
12th, but on registration day it awareness and the sponsors are 3,000 cases are diagnosed every same time. lowing day (20th) in Kilkenny
will be cash only. covering all the costs. year and sadly 706 women die This is the ninth year of the Castle Park.
You collect your race number The starting point is the junc- from it. The condition is more Great Pink Run event, with This is your chance to do
and your t-shirt (which you get tion of Furze Road and Chester- common in women over 50, but more than 35,000 people having something really worthwhile
free once you register) either field Avenue. If you are travel- it affects younger women too. crossed the finishing line since and the organisers would like to
on the day or the previous day ling to the event, be mindful that On the positive side, survival the event began in 2011. Over thank their sponsors and all those
at a location to be announced. there is limited parking in the rates are on the increase thanks 8,000 completed the run in the who will participate. You can
Children are encouraged to take Phoenix Park and the surround- to early detection, and the re- Phoenix Park last year, raising have a truck-load of fun while
part. Upon registering, each par- ing areas. So maybe taking the search work being carried out in excess of €500,000, and this still raising money for a really
ticipant will automatically cre- bus or Luas is a better option. worldwide. That is why your year, the planners are hoping to worthwhile cause.
ate an online fundraising page Breast cancer is the second participation is so vitally im- do even better.
with EverydayHero which al- most common cause of cancer in portant. Cancer research needs The event isn’t solely aimed at See you all in the Phoenix
lows you to share with friends Ireland in women, and worrying- funds, and your participation on women, the organisers want men Park. To register go to https://
and family who can all donate. ly the cases are on the increase. October the 19th will make a dif- to participate in it too. While it www.greatpinkrun.ie/
Everyone receives a medal at the Statistics show that one in 11 ference. You can contribute to is a serious fundraising event,
end. All funds raised go directly women are diagnosed with breast this great work by having a fun and an actual race, the emphasis Image: GPR Logo.
Page 12 ENVIRONMENT www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
The Dodder:
A haven of biodiversity
raine, a bat-lover, explains that
August is the best month to see
Daubenton’s bats on the river,
though they will still be seen
through to October until the
temperature drops. “In Novem-
ber they’ll actually go into long-
er sleeps,” she explains, “and
then they build that up before
they go into hibernation.”
Lorraine has had an affin-
ity with waterways since going
fishing in canals and rivers with
her father in London, where she
spent her childhood. Her mother
A
n Dermot Carmody birds but mammals. The chance hails from Dublin and Lorraine
s part of the recent Her- to see bats is the reason why the moved here in the late 90s.
itage Week 2019, Dub- time and location of the walk Her background is in the arts,
lin City Council organ- were chosen. Lorraine made use but she went to college here as
ised guided walks highlighting of a handheld bat detector which a mature student and studied
Rivers As Havens. NewsFour detects the clicking noises made Zoology and since then she’s
went along to the walk along by the bats to locate the insects worked on a number of conser-
the Dodder under the expert they catch and eat on the wing. vation projects, including the der is The Little Egret, formerly important contribution, as do in-
guidance of DCC Biodiversity The device converts and am- Wildlife Trust and the Whale a migratory visitor from Africa dividuals who change what they
officer Lorraine Bull and later plifies the clicking so it can be and Dolphin Group in Ireland. here, but then, as Lorraine says, do in their own garden.
chatted with her about her work. heard by the human ear. It can Since April this year she has “just a few years ago they de- Not only is Lorraine enthu-
Our group, some forty strong, also be tuned to detect the dif- been working as DCC’s Biodi- cided to stay. They’re seen as siastic about the efforts of in-
met for the guided walk with ferent specific range of frequen- versity Officer. Why is biologi- an indicator species for climate dividuals and local community
Lorraine, where the third long- cies of the noises made by dif- cal diversity important? Well, change.” Our milder winters groups, but she insists it can
est Dublin river flows by Bushy ferent species. as Lorraine describes it, it’s our coupled with possibly hotter make a difference, despite the
Park. It was just before dusk for Our group crammed on to a “life support system on Earth. It summers in Africa have made daunting prospect of climate
reasons which were to become small footbridge and Lorraine’s provides us with fresh drinking this bird, which looks like a change, which she agrees people
apparent. bat detector burst into life, indi- water, air and food. Without the small white heron, a permanent may find overwhelming. “We
Lorraine led us along the cating the hunting activities of little macroinvertebrates in the resident. think ‘Oh, God, it doesn’t mat-
bank of the river in search of Daubenton’s bat. Often called river, without the trees provid- Lorraine is keen on doing ter what we do! This is all really
evidence of its abundant fauna. the water bat, Daubenton’s bats ing oxygen and all the plants more walks such as the one bad!’” she says, “but actually a
We peered unsuccessfully under fly just a few centimeters above and animals providing food, we along the Dodder. Liaising with lot of local groups working to-
a bridge where a flat concrete the surface of the river hunting wouldn’t be able to survive.” local community groups like gether on a small scale actually
ridge provides an ideal place for caddisflies, mayflies and She describes the richness the Dodder Action Group is an has a big impact.”
to spot dippers. Smaller than a midges. It can even pluck prey and diversity of a river like the important part of her work as a
blackbird with reddish-brown from the surface with its feet. Dodder, which like all rivers has DCC Biodiversity Officer as it’s Clockwise from top left:
plumage and white bib, dippers The bats fly up and down the several different areas provid- not just the actions of official Daubenton’s Bat.
can be seen on flat rocks in the water between the bridges and ing different habitats for plants bodies, for example, the Parks Photo by Gilles San Martin
river, their characteristic bob- we can see them clearly as and animals. “You’ve got fish Department of DCC, that can (Creative Commons)
bing motion giving rise to their our eyes adjust to the twilight. spawning grounds, you’ve got contribute to biodiversity. Little Egret.
name. The bat detector tells Lorraine faster-flowing stretches of river The Dublin parks have greatly Photo by Bishnu Sarangi from
Less frequently spotted is the there’s another species on the and then areas where it will nat- improved the environment for Pixabay
most spectacular bird found wing nearby: the smaller pip- urally slow down,” she explains. pollinators with planting policy Swans on the Dodder at Fitzwil-
along the Dodder, the brilliantly istrelle bats, who flit about in Still ponds like the one we en- and made changes to the way liam Quay and Exploring the
coloured kingfisher. a different niche at hedgerow countered on our walking tour invasive plants like Japanese River Dodder.
But the airborne stars of the level. provides the perfect environ- knotweed are dealt with. But Both photos by Dermot Car-
show on this evening are not In conversation later, Lor- ment for frogs to spawn. Near local groups have also made an mody.
that pond, Lorraine pointed out
a flattened pathway through the
growth on the bank into the wa-
ter, which turned out to be an
otter slide. Otters are found all
the way along the Dodder, right
down to where it enters the sea,
where they’ve been spotted near
St. Patrick’s Rowing Club in
Ringsend.
Another interesting inhabitant
of the lower reaches of the Dod-
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 Page 13
Five reasons to consider Dental Implants candidate. Treatment takes from six tion like your own teeth, they allow you ments. Northumberland Dental Care is
weeks to six months, so it is important to eat your favourite foods as normal. part of the Dental Care Ireland group.
to discuss the process in detail with your Dr Jennifer Collins (pictured left) is
dentist.” 4: Natural speech lead general dentist at Northumberland
Missing teeth can often alter a per- Dental Care in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
Five Reasons to Consider Dental Im- son’s speech. Similarly, with poor-fit- She qualified in dentistry at University
plants: ting dentures, teeth can slip within the of Wales in 2004 and has been working
mouth, causing a person to mumble or in private practice for over ten years.
1: Enhanced appearance slur their words. Dental implants allow Dr Collins has a special interest in cos-
Dental implants are designed to look, you to speak naturally, without the wor- metic, restorative and implant dentistry
feel, and function like natural teeth. ry that teeth might slip. and is fully trained in facial aesthetics.
With dental implants in place, patients
find that they can smile with confidence 5: Better oral health For further tips and advice on look-
M
again, improving self-esteem and often Dental implants preserve natural tooth ing after your oral health, visit www.
issing teeth can have a huge providing a new lease of life. tissue by avoiding the need to cut down nidm.ie
impact on a person’s appear- adjacent teeth, as with a conventional
ance and self-esteem, as well 2: Durability and comfort bridge. Since the nearby teeth are not Below: Northumberland Dental Care.
as mouth function and oral hygiene. With proper care and maintenance, altered to support the implant, more of
With more and more solutions available implants can last as long as conven- your own teeth are left intact, improving
to patients, Dr Jennifer Collins, lead tional restorations on teeth. They are ex- long-term oral health. Individual im-
general dentist at Northumberland Den- tremely durable, and many implants will plants also allow easier access between
tal Care in Dublin 4, shares some useful last a lifetime. As the implant is fused teeth, resulting in better oral hygiene.
tips on the benefits of dental implants. with the bone, it becomes a permanent
As Dr Collins explains: “Dental im- fixture, eliminating the discomfort and Northumberland Dental Care, for-
plants are artificial roots that can pro- inconvenience of removable dentures. merly The Northumberland Institute of
vide a permanent solution to missing Dental Medicine (NIDM), was estab-
teeth. The implants are embedded in the 3: Improved eating lished over 25 years ago in Ballsbridge,
jaw, so they create a false tooth that both Replacing missing teeth with implants Dublin 4. Led by a multi-disciplinary
looks and feels real. As long as a patient allows a person to chew their food more team of experts, the state-of-the-art
is in good overall health, with heathy easily. Sliding dentures can make chew- practice offers a full range of general,
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Page 14 HISTORY www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
T
n Dermot Carmody
he role of Dublin during the War
of Independence (1919-1921), and
the experiences of her ordinary cit-
Goodbye Dublin: Black and Tan uniform along with typical
equipment is on display in the exhibition.
Later came the Auxiliaries, a militia
who were the brainchild of one Winston
izens during that conflict, are the subject
of an exhibition at the Dublin City Library
The War of Churchill and who were recruited from
the ranks of ex-army officers. Both groups
and Archive in Pearse Street. The exhibi-
tion’s curators have used contemporary Independence in the City were feared and loathed for their drunken,
brutish and violent behaviour. The IRA
photographs, newspapers and film to chart used photographs, such as the one in the
the background to the war and to docu- exhibition of a group of Auxiliaries who
ment the main protagonists and incidents were stationed at Beggars Bush, to iden-
in the capital where over 300 people lost tify members of these forces as targets
their lives in the violence. for assassination. Curry tells us that as
NewsFour attended a guided tour of dangerous as it was to be in such a pho-
the exhibition where James Curry, one of tograph, it was also dangerous to be the
Dublin City Council’s Historians in Resi- photographer, as one ran the risk of being
dence, walked a group of us through the identified as part of the IRA intelligence
exhibition. We began at the eye-catching effort.
centerpiece in the middle of the exhibi- Probably the biggest event in the mem-
tion, a representation on Nelson’s Pillar, ory of the War of Independence in Dublin
the monument which once stood on the is Bloody Sunday, 21st November 1920.
site of the Spire in O’Connell Street (pre- There are photographs and other docu-
viously named Sackville Street). ments related to that in the exhibition as
This symbol of empire and military well as a large military map which docu-
power survived both the 1916 Rising and ments many of the events of that day and
the War of Independence of course, to be lists the casualties of its culmination when
eventually destroyed by a bomb in 1966. British forces opened fire on civilians at
As James pointed out, those visiting the an exhibition match in Croke Park.
exhibition can still see Nelson’s head up- The day had begun with a number of
stairs in the main reading room of the li- IRA assassinations and attempted assassi-
brary. nations, the location of which are marked
The exhibition gives the visitor a context on the map. This allows the visitor to con-
to the War of Independence with a brief nect personally with the events by seek-
guide to political events leading up to it, ing out places familiar to them where they
from the abolition of the parliament in Ire- occurred. As Curry says, there was a sig-
land in 1800 following the Act of Union. nificant incident in 1921 virtually on the
A long political struggle to achieve Home doorstep of Pearse Street Library in which
Rule, (independence for Ireland whilst re- six people, including two civilians lost
maining within the British Empire) ensued their lives.
under the leadership of men like Isaac Butt The exhibition affords an opportunity
and then Charles Stewart Parnell and the take their seats at Westminster, but instead the wrong car in a motorcade transport- for the contemporary Dubliner to connect
Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP). formed the first Dáil, meeting in the round ing French from Ashtown railway station, with the experience of their predecessors
However, as Home Rule was due to room at the Mansion House. where he had alighted on the way back during the war. There are photographs of
be enacted in 1914, the First World War There’s an iconic photograph of the from his Roscommon country dwelling to familiar places like Mountjoy Prison with
broke out, which, as James Curry points first Dáil in the exhibition, but many in Dublin. The ambushers had waited in Kel- protestors outside, while IRA prisoners
out “put a bit of a dampener on things.” the crowd there are journalists rather than ly’s pub (now The Halfway House). One went on hunger strike inside, or of ordi-
Critically the leader of the IPP, John Red- elected Sinn Féin members. Two thirds of of them, Martin Savage, was killed during nary people walking around dead bodies
mond urged Irish men to enlist to fight for those elected were still in jail or in exile, the incident and there is a memorial to him in the streets of Dublin.
the British cause in the War. Ultimately, Curry points out. at Ashtown roundabout today. It is a window on a Dublin where a cur-
around 200,000 Irish people fought in the On the same day as the first Dáil sat, two As the violence escalated, the compli- few killed all entertainment, where chil-
War and around 35,000 were killed. With police officers were killed in Tipperary in cated policing situation in Ireland was dren were killed and the Auxiliaries and
the failure of Home Rule to materialise an ambush. Because of the occurrence of exposed. From the start, when two mem- the Black and Tans were a fearsome law
and casualties mounting, support for the these two events on that day, it is regarded bers of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) unto themselves. It succeeds in helping us
IPP dropped and increased for more radi- as the start of the War of Independence. were killed at the Soloheadbeg ambush, to connect with a traumatic but important
cal groups like Sinn Féin. There are a number of photographs of the RIC and – in Dublin – the Dublin Met- time in our city’s past.
Although there was limited popular sup- Michael Collins in the exhibition, includ- ropolitan Police, were a target for the IRA.
port for the 1916 rising at the time, this ing a rare one of him looking relaxed as Apart from being in danger of being killed Goodbye Dublin: The War of Inde-
spread and became entrenched because of he throws the ball in for a GAA match. As by IRA ambushes and raids on barracks, pendence in the City is at Dublin City
the British response – arrests, executions, well as being Minister for Finance, Col- members of both forces were ostracised Library and Archive, 138-144 Pearse
and deportations – so that by the time the lins was of course the IRA’s director of and recruitment dried up. To provide rein- Street, Dublin 2 until October 31st
war ended and there was a general election intelligence, with its headquarters being in forcements, ex-army men were recruited, (Mon-Thurs 10am – 8pm; Fri/Sat 10am
in 1918 Sinn Féin won a landslide victory. Mespil Road. Curry describes Collins and some in Dublin, but most came from Brit- – 5pm). Admission is free. Guided tours
Curry makes the point, as he shows us others as “the driving force” of the War of ain, to form an armed police force to cope are available and are free but booking
some heavily-censored Sinn Féin elec- Independence, who were determined to with the actions of the IRA in Ireland. is required. Book online at eventbrite.ie
toral material from 1918, that although fight on their terms, essentially by waging These were the notorious Black and (Search “Goodbye Dublin”)
they played a relatively small part in the a guerilla war. Tans. when the first of them arrived in Ire-
Rising, Sinn Féin’s victory capitalised en- Towards the end of 1919 an incident in land there were no uniforms for them and Above, left and right:
tirely on the growth in sympathy after the Dublin contributed to the escalation of they wore a mixture of army khaki and Black and Tan uniform on display at the
fact for the rebels of 1916. the war when the IRA made an attempt to black RIC trousers, giving rise to the nick- exhibition
Sinn Féin had fought the election on kill the Viceroy of Ireland, Lord French, name – also the name by which a pack of Nelson’s Column representation at the
an abstentionist policy, so that in January at Ashtown. In the event, Curry explains, similarly mottled foxhounds on the Lim- centre of the exhibition.
of 1919 the successful candidates did not they failed in their efforts having targeted erick / Tipperary border were known. A Both photos by Dermot Carmody.
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 HISTORY Page 15
T An act of remembrance:
n Eoin Meegan fashion industry down the centu-
he 2019 Dublin Festival ries.
of History is upon us and Marking the 30th anniversary
throughout the month of of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the
October a diverse range of cul-
tural, historical and interactive
The Dublin Festival of History 2019 Goethe Institute are showing three
important films as part of their se-
events recalling how we see and ries on the Berlin Wall in German
interpret the past will take place Cinema: Wolfgang Becker’s 2003
right across the city. classic, ‘Good Bye, Lenin!’, Jür-
The Printworks in Dublin Castle gen Böttcher’s documentary ‘The
is the venue for a number of dis- Wall/Die Mauer’, and ‘November
cussions around areas of signifi- Days – Voices and Choices’, de-
cance in the 20th century. Among scribed as a kaleidoscope of enter-
them is ‘Six Months that Changed tainment images and news footage
the World: the Paris Peace Confer- of the time, all get a viewing.
ence of 1919’. The festival is an annual event
Exactly one hundred years ago brought to you by Dublin City
with the ending of the First World Council. All events are free, but
War, the Paris Peace Conference some require advanced booking
was established. Between Janu- due to the demands of space, while
ary and July 1919 Paris became others operate on a first come ba-
almost the centre of world govern- sis.
ment where new states and nations To see a full list of events and
were carved up. licence should always take prec- the City’, a mixture of archival Street is the venue for ‘Fabric and discover what needs to be pre-
Margaret MacMillan and Robert edence over portrayal of the facts sources and film footage detailing Fashion: From Silk Weaving to booked download the festival
Gerwarth tease out the nuances of in big screen adaptation of histori- the impact on the everyday lives of Singer’. This intriguing half-day programme at festivalofhistory@
an event that promised so much cal events, such as Mary Queen of Dubliners during the War of Inde- seminar casts an inquisitive eye dublincity.ie And enjoy the festival
but delivered so little, refusing to Scots. pendence runs until the end of Oc- on such diverse topics as weaving that celebrates your city.
recognise the new Irish State, as In the Central Library, ILAC tober in Dublin City Library and in the Liberties, the Huguenots’
well as being unable to prevent a Centre, Mary Muldowney looks at Archive (Pearse Street library). influence on the weaving trade, Clockwise from top left:
second war. employment opportunities which A number of walking tours are how women’s fashion became The Paris Peace Conference of
Also in 1919, in April, one of the the Second World War created lined up, including ‘Ballads, Beats more dour due to clothes rationing 1919; the Soong sisters; Caelainn
worst atrocities against innocent for women, in ‘Wartime, Women and Beatles: A Musical History of throughout the war years, and the Hogan and Maeve Casserly.
civilians was committed in what and Work’, examining the impact Dublin’ which covers everything highs and lows of the textile and Images courtesy of Google.
came to be known as the Amritsar women had on the economy, and from Handel’s Messiah to Séamus
massacre. In ‘The Patient Assas- the social position they played in Ennis to rap. There’s also a walk-
sin’ Anita Anand will discuss what Ireland and elsewhere at the time. ing tour of Herbert Park, one of
must be the darkest hour of the Meanwhile, in Kevin Street, Dublin’s nicest parks, with histo-
Raj, and how one survivor, Udham Clodagh Finn takes a look at rian Maeve Casserly.
Singh, waited twenty years before women written out of the history Seminars are another feature.
exacting a strange revenge. books, in ‘On the Trail of Forgot- On 12th October from 9 to 1.00pm
Closer to the present time is ten Women in Irish History’. ‘The Viking Age: Dynasties, Digs
‘Republic of Shame: Stories from Do you remember the hare on and Discoveries’ takes place at
Ireland’s Institutions for “Fallen the thrupeny piece, the deer on the Wood Quay. Such diverse topics
Women”’. Caelainn Hogan, au- shilling, or the sow on the old half- as Viking period female graves,
thor of the book of the same title, penny? If so, this is your chance brooches of Irish origin, and kings
pulls back the curtain on Ireland’s to once more touch, and hear the of Dublin in the 9th and 10th cen-
decades of shame, the Magdalene story of those old coins issued by turies come under scrutiny.
laundries, and Mother and Baby the Free State in 1928 which last- Elsewhere on the same topic,
Homes. Caelainn talks to survi- ed until the Euro came into being Tom Birkett looks at the retell-
vors of Tuam, where the discovery in 2002, with Maeve Casserly at ing of myths and legends of
of a mass infant grave with almost Ringsend library. A chance not to medieval Scandinavia, where he
800 bodies some years ago justifi- be missed. will consider ‘points of connec-
ably rocked the world. However, the festival is not only tion, and fracture, that a popular
‘Big Sister, Little Sister, Red about talks. Running throughout retelling rests upon’, and asks
Sister: Three Women at the Heart the festival is an exhibition in Dr. what is it exactly that makes the
of Twentieth-Century China’ is the Steevens’ Hospital called ‘Surgery Vikings and Norse gods so fas-
intriguing title of a talk by Jung at the Edward Worth Library’, cinating to us today? Check out
Chang on the fascinating lives where a fascinating display of rare ‘Stories for our Times? Retelling
of the Soong sisters, Ailing, Qin- medical books preserved since the the Norse Myths’ in the Royal
gling and Meiling. These amazing 1730s will be on show. Irish Academy.
women from Shanghai exerted The exhibition ‘Goodbye Dub- If fashion is your thing, the City
influence before, during, and after lin: The War of Independence in Assembly House in South William
the Revolution in one of the most
phallocentric states in the world.
Don’t miss their story.
If cinema is your thing you
won’t want to miss ‘Does His-
torical Accuracy in Film Really
Matter?’ Cecile Gordon, Hannah
Greig and Tom Holland discuss
the ethical issue of whether artistic
Page 16 HISTORY www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
T
n Eoin Meegan Hellier Baily, paleontologist with ing conclusions limited. Either Taking into consideration that Legend has it that the ghost of
his is the season for the the Royal Geographical Survey. the warrior was inserted into a after 800 A D personal objects Trollope haunts the avenue, and
macabre, when on dark What puzzled the authorities pre-existing Christian cemetery, were no longer interred with re- can frequently be seen on dark
Halloween nights families at the time was that there had a view championed by Irish ar- mains in accordance with Chris- wintery nights. Or might there be
gather round the fireside to lis- been no record of a burial site on chaeologist Elizabeth O’Brien, tian practice in Ireland, and another explanation? Perhaps the
ten to tales of fiendish deeds and this particular spot. There was or, as Hall believes, the mas- matching the artifacts found in spectre people claimed to have
spooky goings-on. And they don’t no mention of the site in the an- sacre was a revenge attack on a the Seaview Terrace grave to seen was that of an ancient Dane
get any more eerie than this, the nals of Dublin, or in any other native settlement carried out by similar ones found at Lagore looking for his home and long-
true story of a strange unearth- historical record. The Ordinance Vikings for the killing of one of crannog in Co Meath, and other dead comrades.
ing in a quiet Donnybrook suburb Survey records of the 1830s and their own. locations between the 7th and Whatever the facts, a site that
some 140 years ago. 40s show no account of this land- The Viking warrior was then 9th centuries, the burial has duly once unearthed a shocking and
For our story we have to go mark, then known as Mount Er- buried by his comrades in Scan- been dated to sometime in the unsettling discovery all those
back to 1879 when some work- roll, or that it had once been the dinavian fashion, complete with 8th century. years ago has, thankfully, re-
men digging a drain in what is site of a burial ground. two sacrificial victims, and the The Scandinavian sword was turned to a place of tranquillity
now Danesfield, just off Seaview Initially, it was proposed to villagers in a mass grave beside acquired by Nottingham Castle and peace.
Terrace, came upon what looked seal the mound up, but instead him. Museum in the mid 20th century. Sources:
like the gruesome contents of an the decision was made to clear Hall writes “several factors No one knows what happened to Hall, R. A. ‘A Viking-age
unknown cemetery. the site completely. All the re- combine to indicate that all the it in the interim. The hilt, inlaid Grave at Donnybrook, Co. Dub-
In a circular mound, about one mains were then reinterred in the occupants of the Donnybrook with intricate engravings sur- lin’. Journal of Medieval Archae-
hundred feet in circumference, nearby cemetery at Donnybrook. mound were laid to rest at the vives in two pieces with the grip ology, Vol. 22. 1978.
was a vast interment containing So what exactly happened at same time, and under Scandina- missing, and 54cm of blade still O’Brien, E. ‘A Re-assessment
the remains of between 600-700 this site? Dr. William Frazer, the vian supervision.” intact. of the ‘Great Sepulchral Mound’
bodies, many bearing the marks leading expert on antiquity at the Firstly, is the evidence of the The authenticity of the sword containing a Viking burial at
of head injuries that seemed to time, in a paper to the Royal Irish consistency of the clay that Fras- was verified by Dr. Hall who Donnybrook, Dublin’. Society of
speak of a violent death, spread Academy in 1880 concluded that er noted. Secondly, that the mass notes “The Donnybrook sword Medieval Archaeology, Vol. 36.
out in three layers deep. the massacre resulted from an at- grave is contained in a mound ranks amongst the finest prod- 1992.
The centre piece of this eldritch tack on an unsuspecting village suggests a non-Christian intern- ucts of Viking-age weaponry yet
find was the body of a Scandina- by pirate Vikings. The village ment. And lastly, charcoal depos- discovered in the British Isles.” Clockwise from top left:
vian warrior. He lay supine, with was wiped out and the pirates its and mixed animal bones found In 1885 the site was listed in An ancient Irish bone spindle
a hole in his skull, and at his feet fled leaving one of their dead be- indicate some kind of funerary Thom’s Directory as Danesfield, whorl similar to the one found
were two other bodies, female, hind. He argued the mass grave pyre, which, combined with the probably because of the Viking at the Donnybrook site. Image:
believed to be sacrificial victims. and Viking internment were con- lack of any coffin remains point connection. Prior to that it had Courtesy Google.
The remains of the others were temporary because the clay type to it being Viking. been known as Mount Erroll. Seaview Terrace today. Photo
spread out in a kind of mass matched in both. O’Brien, however, argues that Seaview Terrace itself had only by Eoin Meegan.
grave. A sword lay to one side of Because of his stature in the ar- the fact that many of the remains been in existence some 40 years Ancient sword found at Don-
the warrior, and a spearhead on chaeological world Frazer’s find- on the bottom layer face east- earlier, when John Semple built nybrook. Image courtesy of
the other. Also three iron arrow- ings went unquestioned at the ward, a Christian tradition, along six Georgian-style houses there Google.
heads, which have not survived, time. Recent research, however, with the general orderliness of in the 1830s. The name was ap- Typical scene of battle between
were found in close proximity. has cast doubt on some of his some internments in the mass propriate then because you could the Irish and Vikings. Pinterest.
Among the items unearthed conclusions. Dr. Richard Hall, grave, suggests otherwise. Her (just about) catch a glimpse of
in the mass grave were a spin- one of the leading archaeologists conclusions are that the site was the sea.
an ancient Christian cemetery Today Danesfield, the spot
into which a Viking burial was where the ghoulish find came to
later inserted. So mystery still light, is the home of the German
surrounds the find and its origins. Ambassador’s residence, and
Scholars tend to agree that the Seaview Terrace is a quiet resi-
two bodies found at the feet of dential area off Ailesbury Road.
the warrior were probably his It has been home to many well-
wives, or persons of a lower so- known people down the years,
cial ranking, who were ritually including the Jameson family,
murdered, a practice which, as famous whiskey makers. Sena-
evidenced by sites at Oseberg, tor Maurice Moore, brother of
Birka, and the Isle of Man, was George Moore, lived in no 5, and
not uncommon in the Viking novelist Anthony Trollope resid-
world. ed at no 6 from 1855 until 1859.
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 Page 17
Page 18 CULTURE / FILM www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
T
n David Prendeville the technology in motion in the trailer
he summer is over and we’re was far from convincing.
facing into those long, cold A new Martin Scorsese film, how-
nights again. One source of ref- ever, is always an event for cinephiles
uge from the misery, however, is the and not least one that has as fitting a
cinema. cast as this. Locals will have the oppor- will likely be one of the biggest earners
Traditionally, the winter was a time tunity to catch the film early, with the of the year, is due on November 22nd.
for more serious and awards-friendly Lighthouse Cinema showing a special Kristen Stewart leads a new version of
films to emerge, after the block-buster preview direct from the European Pre- Charlie’s Angels to be released the fol-
fuelled summer. The cinematic seasons miere at the London Film Festival on lowing week on November 29th.
have become a bit more unpredictable the 13th of October. One of the biggest occasions in the
in recent times. hardly screams prestige. The film has Other highlights over the coming Irish cinematic calendar also returns in
The continued over-saturation of received mostly strong reviews. months include The Babadook direc- November with The Cork Film Festival.
comic-book films has led to a situation Martin Scorsese also returns to our tor Jennifer Kent’s controversial, ac- The programme is yet to be announced,
where we now have a film like Joker screens as director in November with claimed western The Nightingale, but film fans will know they are in for
(set for release here on October 4th), his long-gestating crime epic The Irish- which stars Irish actress Aisling Fran- a treat if it manages to be a fraction as
which is a comic-book film but also man. The film which stars Robert De- coisi. That will be released by local good as last year’s stellar line-up.
an apparent serious awards contender, Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci and Harvey company Wildcard Distribution on the Acclaimed Cannes films such as The
having somewhat inconceivably won Keitel, recently had its world premiere 29th of November. Lighthouse, starring Willem Dafoe and
the Best Film prize at the prestigious at the New York Film Festival. Earlier than that, satirical genius Robert Pattinson and the Palme D’Or
Venice Film Festival in September. The film probably ranks as the most Chris Morris makes a long-overdue re- winner itself Parasite, would be good
The film is undoubtedly helped by high-profile Netflix production to date, turn to our screens with Their Day Will bets to screen at the esteemed festival.
having the peerless Joaquin Phoenix as as they seem to be the only ones willing Come on October 8th. There is also no
the eponymous villain. The name of the to stump the rumoured $150 million- dearth of big releases or franchise films Top left: Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker.
film’s director, however, Todd Philips, plus budget. The film will likely play with Terminator: Dark Fate set for re- Picture of Martin Scorsese courtesy of
most notable for The Hangover films, in a few select theatres here in early lease on October 23rd. Frozen 2, which Wiki Commons.
ACROSS:
T
n David Prendeville Fresh from screening out of out the weekend include Oscar
he annual Horrorthon competition at the Cannes Film winner Helen Hunt in domes-
returns to the newly-re- Festival, Won-Tae Lee’s The tic chiller I See You (Saturday
furbished IFI this month, Gangster, The Cop, The Devil at 15.00); Travis Stevens’s Girl
running from Thursday, October sees a criminal team with the po- on the Third Floor (Thursday
24th to Monday, October 28th. lice to track down a serial killer. at 21.10), which premiered to
This year’s festival will open on This South Korean production is strong reviews at SXSW earlier
Thursday 24th with the Irish pre- one of many international offer- this year; Ping Lumpraploeng’s
miere of Abe Forsythe’s zom- ings at this year’s festival, which tense creature thriller The Pool
com Little Monsters starring includes films from Venezuela, (Monday at 18.45); and three
Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o. Russia, Israel, Thailand, Den- anthology films: Deathcember
The opening event will include mark and Kazakhstan. (Friday at 22.45), A Night of
a screening of James Quinn’s Irish talent is represented Horror: Nightmare Radio (Sun-
new short, Daughter of Dismay, within the programme with day at 22.50) and Immortal
screening in 70mm. Paddy Murphy’s The Perished (Monday at 13.00).
Former festival guest Rich- debuting on Sunday night. The Finally, the festival’s Short
ard Stanley’s long-awaited di- film recently had its world pre- Film Showcase (Sunday at
rectorial follow-up to 1992’s miere at the prestigious London 13.00) brings the best of new
Dust Devil, Color Out of Space, FrightFest. tures Irish actor Michael Smiley On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Re- filmmaking talent to the Hor-
which featured in the Midnight Zoe Kavanagh, whose feature alongside Elijah Wood and Mar- venge became part of the LG- rorthon audience, while the fes-
Madness section of this year’s Demon Hunter screened at Hor- tin Donovan. BTQ+ film canon, and the effect tival’s perennial hot ticket, the
Toronto International Film Fes- rorthon 2016, will return with As with recent years, the fes- this had on the career of its star, Horrorthon Surprise Film will
tival, will screen on Saturday the short Meat Cute, written by tival will include some fasci- Mark Patton. occupy its trademark Sunday
26th. Starring Nicolas Cage and Tara Brady. The festival’s clos- nating documentaries about the Blood and Flesh: The Reel evening slot. See www.ifi.ie for
adapted from a H.P. Lovecraft ing film on Monday 28th, Ant world of horror filmmaking. Life and Grizzly Death of Al Ad- more.
short story, this film centres on Timpson’s Come To Daddy, Scream, Queen! My Nightmare amson (Thursday 23.00) looks at
a small town dealing with the af- was shot by Irish-born cinema- on Elm Street (Saturday 26th at the cult figure and B-movie mav- Picture of Nicolas Cage cour-
ter-effects of a meteorite strike. tographer Daniel Katz and fea- 13.00) details how A Nightmare erick, while The Magnificent tesy of Wiki Commons.
Page 20 PHOTO DIARY www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 PHOTO DIARY Page 21
Page 22 BOOKS & RECORDS www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
M
Giacometti elling from as far as Kildare and French Classes were shortlisted
imi’s French Class- Meath to attend the classes. for the Léargas European Lan-
es are bringing fun “The Irish have always had a guage Label Award in 2016.
and engaging French great love for the French language If you would like more infor-
classes for babies and toddlers to and culture, and with so many mation, please contact us at mim-
Sandymount on Tuesday morn- Irish families going on holidays isfrenchclass@gmail.com
ings. Running successfully in every year to France it’s great www.mimisfrench.com
Dun Laoghaire for the past five for the kids to have some French https://www.facebook.com/
years, Mimi’s have expanded to make new friends at the kids’ mimisfrench
their classes to their hometown of clubs on the campsites” com-
Sandymount. ments Mimi’s co-founder Angie Angie and Hélène
Mimi’s French Classes make Canavan. Hélène Giacometti grew
learning French an exciting and Mimi’s French Classes were up bilingual in English
creative experience. The language founded by qualified teachers and French. She is an ex-
is taught through songs, puppets, Hélène Giacometti and Angie Ca- perienced Primary School
story-telling, arts and crafts, you expose them to a new lan- the easier it is for them to become navan in 2014 to bring entertain- teacher with a specialism in
games, and other play-based and guage the better! Babies from six proficient. There are many bene- ing language classes to children. teaching foreign languages.
hands-on activities. months will love our lively songs, fits to learning a second language. “It’s been an amazing five years She also studied a degree in
The classes provide learning daily routines, toys and puppets These include improved problem building up Mimi’s French Class- French at Trinity College.
relevant to the children’s every- and will have lots of fun through solving, flexible thinking, com- es. The children are fantastic and
day lives, and provide ideas of French. More than just a French munication skills and an ability to watching children and their par- Angie Canavan lived
songs, activities and learning for class, there are also lots of music connect with other cultures. ents get so much enjoyment from in Paris for several years
parents and carers to continue en- and sensory activities that babies Mimi’s French Classes have learning French is so rewarding” where she obtained a degree
joying French at home. and toddlers find exciting and en- grown steadily over the last enthuses Canavan. from the Sorbonne Uni-
gaging. Parents and minders will five years and offer a variety of Bonne chance, Mimi! versity. She qualified as a
Babies and toddlers: truly enjoy learning French along classes in Sandymount and Dun teacher from Exeter Univer-
Babies are the best language with their little ones. Laoghaire. It is a testimony that Come and say Bonjour at sity and has over 16 years’
learners of all, and are recep- Studies show that the earlier a their fresh approach is working, one of our classes for Babies & experience teaching in Ire-
tive to new sounds. The younger child learns a second language with quite a number of children toddlers, Pre-schoolers (3-5’s) land, England and France.
Page 24 POLITICS www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
DCC Notes
ing have the best experience possible.
Dublin is being promoted as a walk-
ing city, with spectators being encour-
for SEAC meeting, aged to walk to the stadium, some-
thing facilitated by the Aviva Stadium
September 2019 being unusually close to the city cen-
Compiled by Dermot Carmody tre. Councillors broadly welcomed the
A
plans and the opportunity for the city.
busy South East Area Com- Cllr Chris Andrews (SF) noted the
mittee (SEAC) meeting on huge tradition of football in Ringsend,
September 9th featured four and asked whether the Irishtown Sta-
presentations given to councillors on dium would be used during the event.
various matters. These were on the Mr. Daly responded that Ringsend
Poddle Flood Alleviation Scheme, the Stadium would be used as a volunteer
planning application for a replacement he described as “a pure and absolute “we have a government hell-bent on centre and for bike parking.
development on the site of Jefferson sewer.” Mr. O’Connell responded that overriding the development plan.” In answer to Cllr Kevin Donoghue
House at the end of Eglington Road in work had been done to avoid block- She also expressed concern about (Lab), who expressed concern about
Donnybrook, arrangements for UEFA ages, including doubling of screens the possibility of flooding in the pro- the condition of some of the pathways
2020 in Dublin and an update on the and the addition of level monitors. He posed basement car park, as the site on the route between the City Centre
Neighbourhood Transport Scheme. said there hasn’t been a problem with is adjacent to the Dodder. Answering and the stadium in Lansdowne Road,
Mr. David Grant, the project man- screens on the Poddle since 2011. these points, Ms Sullivan said that the Mr. Daly said he was still working
ager of the Poddle Flood Alleviation height restrictions in the Development with the Traffic Department, the Gar-
Scheme (FAS) gave the context for the High Rise Development in Donny- Plan have been superseded by govern- dai and other stakeholders on the par-
scheme in terms of historical flooding brook ment guidelines on height and apart- ticulars of the walking routes.
events related to the Poddle, the most Ms. Elaine Sullivan, Area Planner ment sizes. She said a flood impact
recent being in 2011. for the South East Area, gave a pres- statement for the building has been Neighbourhood Transport Scheme
Mr. Grant outlined the challenges entation to councillors on the current submitted and will be assessed by the Update
to the FAS scheme including access planning application for an 11-storey Drainage Department. DCC Neighbourhood Transport En-
to works, the large number of stake- over basement apartment block on the Ms. Sullivan also responded to Cllr gineer Andrew Duff presented an up-
holders, 25 different groups in all and site of the current Jefferson House Danny Byrne (FG), who had suggested date on the scheme. He explained the
the high level of public interest in the office building on the south corner that 64 apartments would require, by criteria for the prioritising of response
wake of the severe flooding in some of Eglington Road and Donnybrook his reckoning, some 100 parking spac- to the high volume of requests for
areas in 2011. He also highlighted Road. The proposed development in- es rather than the 20 proposed. Ms. traffic calming measures around the
the benefits of the scheme; including cludes 62 apartments. The existing Sullivan noted that ministerial guide- city using Multiple Criteria Analysis.
flood protection for 800 homes, im- basement carpark will be expanded to lines do not require there to be a park- He assured councillors with concerns
proved water quality and biodiversity provide 20 car parking spaces and 72 ing space for every apartment and that about measures being sought in specif-
benefits. bike parking spaces. There would be the developer has proposed car clubs ic locations that he would now begin
Mr. Grant reported that draft Envi- a further 22 bike spaces at the ground and car sharing in the scheme. immediately the process of getting in
ronmental Impact Assessment Report level. Cllr Flynn’s motion recommending touch with all councillors individually.
and Draft Planning Drawings were A number of councillors commented rejection of the proposed develop-
submitted in June and that the Part adversely on the height of the pro- ment was adopted, despite an objec- Racially Motivated Abuse Con-
10 planning application (required as posed new development. Cllr Hazel tion from Cllr Geoghan, who suggest- demned
the scheme is over 2 km long) will be Chu (GP) pointed out that there is an ed alternative wording simply noting The meeting concluded by unani-
submitted in Q3 of 2019. The start of eight-story building proposed on the the opinion of councillors. He criti- mously supporting a motion to con-
construction is estimated for mid-2020 north corner of Eglington Road and cised the motion as being “just poli- demn “in the strongest terms all
and the 18-24 month project will cost Donnybrook Road opposite the Jeffer- tics.” However, Cllr Dermot Lacey forms of ethnic and racially motivated
in the region of €7 million. son House site and suggested the tall (LAB) in the chair, pointed out that abuse.” The motion was signed by
Councillors raised a number of relat- buildings would lead to an undesirable although he agreed such a motion has Councillors James Geoghegan, Claire
ed points, including Cllr Mary Freehill “valley effect”. no legal standing in the planning pro- Byrne, Hazel Chu and Patrick Cos-
(LAB), who pointed out that residents Little love was in evidence for the cess, said that it was consistent with a tello and was a response to the recent
in Harold’s Cross affected by previous existing building, with Cllr James long-standing practice of the SEAC, attacks made on Cllr Chu (GP), par-
flooding still cannot get home insur- Geoghan (FG) saying its demolition albeit that this has not been the case ticularly on social media, which made
ance, She suggested letters of com- “should be unanimously welcomed recently. reference to her ethnicity.
fort regarding the works of the FAS by anyone with eyes, because it’s the Proposing the motion, Cllr Geoghan
in progress might help in this regard. ugliest building in the whole of Don- UEFA Euro 2020 in Dublin said that “when a politician is attacked
However, Cllr Paddy McCartan (FG) nybrook.” However, Cllr Geoghan Mr. Don Daly, DCC Euro 2020 Pro- on racial or ethnic grounds it should be
pointed out that, in the case of resi- was also concerned at the height of ject Manager gave a presentation on noted and condemned. Cllr Pat Dunne
dents affected by flooding in the Sand- the proposed new building, which he the city’s plans for a “festival of foot- (United Left), who was in part respon-
ymount and Ballsbridge areas, such said would represent a “significant ball” based around the four matches sible for instigating the motion said
letters had little impact on their ability change to the Donnybrook landscape.” in the UEFA Euro 2020 Finals being that such abuse was “an attempt to
to get insurance. “I wouldn’t hold your Cllr Mannix Flynn (Ind) agreed that hosted in the Aviva Stadium in June try and isolate public representatives
breath on that one,” he advised. Mr. the building would destroy the neigh- next year. based on their background and is done
Gerard O’Connell, DCC Flood Protec- bourhood. Expressing his personal Over 120,000 overseas visitors are in a way to stir up racial hatred in this
tion Project Leader told Cllr Freehill affection for the village, Cllr Flynn expected in Dublin for the matches, city.” Cllr Dunne said we have to stand
that letters of comfort would be issued opined that “you might as well stick and a benefit of over €100 million to up against such attempts in every fo-
when the works were completed. a car bomb in here and blow it up.” the local economy is anticipated. DCC rum at every opportunity.
Cllr Mannix Flynn (IND) claimed He urged councillors to object to the will be organising events around the
that a lot of flooding was as a result planning. city and will be responsible for ‘Fan- Above: Image of the proposed Avestus
of no maintenance having been carried Cllr Mary Freehill (Lab) pointed out zones’ where those without tickets can apartment development from Donny-
out and made a general point about that the height of the proposed build- gather to enjoy the matches as well as brook Bridge. Image: Newenham Mul-
the level of contaminants flowing ing is greater than that envisaged in the promotion of the event to the wider ligan & Associates architects / Dublin
from all sources into the Liffey, which the Development Plan but noted that community and ensuring those attend- City Council Planning Department.
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 Page 25
Page 26 event / mental health www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
‘T
n Eoin Meegan today. The conference aims on of Depression?’ Mental Health Services: ‘Why 9.30 to 4.30. Tickets cost
he Future of Depres- ‘concentrating on novel ap- Dr Olivia O’Leary, Depart- do Clinicians Struggle to Di- €80.22 and you can register
sion and Bipolar proaches, further development ment of Anatomy and Neu- agnose Late Life Depression?’ at https://www.awareconfer-
Disorder’ is a special in existing therapies and addi- roscience, UCC: ‘Emerging Dr Mark Rowe, Medical ence.com
conference hosted by Aware tional means of understanding Roles of the Gut-Brain Axis Doctor, author, speaker, edu-
on World Mental Health Day, depression, bipolar disorder and Psychobiotics in Depres- cator and expert in lifestyle Image: Aware logo.
October 12 next. and mental health.’ sion’. medicine: ‘Living with Vital- All others courtesy of Google.
It will feature talks and panel Aware’s Chief Executive Professor John Sheehan,
discussions by leading experts Dominic Layden will open Associate Clinical Profes-
in the field of education, psy- the proceedings, followed sor, UCD, Consultant in Liai-
chology and psychiatry on cut- by Professor Chris Williams, son and Perinatal Psychiatry:
ting edge research and devel- Emeritus Professor of Psycho- ‘Managing Depression and
opment into this very important social Psychiatry, University Bipolar Disorder in Pregnancy
topic that is affecting so many of Glasgow, on ‘Living Life to and the Postpartum Period’.
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 AUTUMN GARDENING Page 27
A
n Geneva Pattison an apple tree is best done dur- point. The great thing about the existing shoots and stems by Geneva Pattison.
utumn is a peaceful ing the dormant period when the blackberries in particular is that by one third. Below left: Orchard apples.
affair. We’re wind- leaves have all fallen off. they grow wild in many areas Trimming rosemary isn’t Photo courtesy Pixabay.
ing down from a jam- Another harvest favourite that around Ireland.
packed Summer and having a should be primed and ready If you do go wild blackberry
break before the Winter fes- for the picking is pumpkin and picking make sure to identify
tivities and exciting Christmas squash. All of these kinds of the fruit completely, as there
rush. cultivars from the squash family are many poisonous berries that
However, Autumn could have similar needs – good ferti- grow in similar conditions. Al-
be considered the gardener’s lisation, warm days and consist- ternatively, if you grow them
Christmas with the amount of ently well watered moist soil, in your garden, once you’ve
gifts it produces. If you were without getting the leaves wet! picked all the fruit, cut back the
hard at work planting seeds as If you planted the seeds in fruiting branches all the way to
far back as April and May, now late Spring, you should have the base of the plant.
is the time to collect your boun- enough squash and pumpkin to It takes two years for fruiting
ty. start your own jack-o-lantern branches to produce anything,
Apples will be ripe for the business by now – or maybe a but once they do fruit, they nev-
picking, perfect for making pies pumpkin spice latte stand? er will again. Hopefully you’ll
and tarts. Be sure to prune any Late-fruiting berries like have enough to make a nice
diseased or dead branches as blackberries and raspberries blackberry crumble as a reward
you see them but hard pruning will be in abundance at this for your fruit growing prowess.
Page 28 AUTUMN GARDENING www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
Autumnal preparations
in the garden
I
n Susan O’Brien ceous performers, Anemones, Dahlias, functional, it will gradually break down, three “D”s. Cut out any weak, twiggy
n local parks and along our neigh- and Salvias, can easily be encouraged to enriching the soil and improving struc- growth and any rubbing stems, which
bourhood streets, the green leaf tones continue flowering, with regular snips. ture. If you have a plot that has just been create access points for disease. Reduce
of summer are slowly giving way to Once finished, there is no great rush to cropped, apply well-rotted manure or in size or remove entirely, a few ill-
lime tree yellows and orange tones of the cut everything back. The stiffening stems compost. placed stems, avoiding excessive cutting.
chestnut. All around, there is a sense of a and shapely seedheads will create a tran- All frost-hardy vegetable varieties will Take a step back and look at the plant be-
rising swell as flowers, fruits, and seed- sitional structural interest, to carry the survive well over winter, especially with fore proceeding.
heads surge towards a concert-like cre- space forward. The above-ground mass a cover of protective fleece, kale, chard, Deciduous shrubs that bloom after
scendo, in one final display. will also help to protect the plant base perpetual spinach and sprouting broccoli. mid-summer and into autumn like Bud-
As the days become cooler and the and insulate the root zone, on colder Similarly, a winter selection of cabbage, dleja davidii, are pruned in early to mid-
evenings draw closer, most late season nights. peas, and broad bean plants can all be spring. This allows time for the new
specimens will fade gracefully into the So too will a thick cover or ‘top dress’ transplanted now. The mighty garlic can stems to grow, mature and flower in the
winter months. of organic mulch, spread over the soil be planted too. same year. Deciduous shrubs that bloom
If buds are still developing, herba- surface. Both decorative and highly Choose ‘certified’ disease-free bulbs in late winter, spring and early summer
of soft or hard necked varieties. Orien- like Jasminum nudiflorum, Forsythia or
tal leaves do well at the beginning and Philadelphus are pruned immediately af-
end of the main growing season. Store ter flowering.
surplus seeds in their packets, in a sealed Whilst the calendar provides a general
container. Add rice grains as a desiccant. guide, nature is a more accurate indica-
Place in the fridge or a cool, dry dark tor!
space. If readers are looking for addition-
As ground conditions become wetter, al gardening guidance or tips please
harvest remaining courgettes and mar- email gardennewsfour@gmail.com.
rows before the slugs do it for you. Lift
ripening squash or pumpkins directly off Clockwise from top left:
the soil surface to prevent rot. Place a Pumpkins basking in the autumn sun;
slate underneath. Remove excess leaves Beehive Composting Bin; Waiting for
to increase ripening. Once ready, harvest Halloween? and Autumn Plot Harvest.
the fruit with several inches of the stem Photos courtesy Susan O’Brien.
attached to maintain quality.
Before winds begin to pick up, now is
a good time to check wire supports on
walls, tie in new growth on climbers and
ensure tree ties around trees are loosely
secure. Tall stems on shrub roses can be
roughly cut back to prevent catching in
the wind and rocking the roots. More
precise pruning can take place in the new
year, before bud break.
Although not entirely necessary, an
annual pruning of deciduous flowering
shrubs will encourage strong, healthy
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 Page 29
I
n David Prendeville Gerard has a big follow- tion for Gerard to paint plein-
n August, Gerard Byrne, ing in Dublin 4, having spent air during his trip within the
one of Ireland’s lead- many hours painting the coast Gardens by the Bay, the world His unique blend, near kalei- they can follow Gerard on ins-
ing contemporary art- of south Dublin; Sandymount, famous nature park in Singa- doscope, of style and subject tagram @gerard_byrne_artist
ists, whose studio is based in Sandycove and Dalkey, to pore spanning 101 hectares of explain his emergence as an or visit www.gerardbyrneart-
Ranelagh, became Artist-in- name but a few locations. He reclaimed land with its spec- established force in Irish art ist.com
Residence at the Singapore also had a solo exhibition in tacular ‘Supertrees’ and the and increasing internationally.
Botanic Gardens. Gallery Four in 2007. largest glass greenhouse in If readers wish to follow Pictures of paintings courtesy
As part of the commemora- Following from last year’s the world. Gerard’s journey and to get of the Gerard Byrne Studio.
tive celebration of the Gar- ‘Inside Outside & Beyond’, Gardens by the Bay is part an insight of his residency in Picture of Gerard Byrne cour-
dens’ 160 years in existence, a successful exhibition cel- of the nation’s plans to trans- Singapore Botanic Gardens, tesy of Leon Farrell.
Gerard was invited by Patrick ebrating thirty years of paint- form its ‘Garden City’ to a
Bourne, Irish Ambassador to ing the National Botanic ‘City in a Garden’, with the
Singapore and Dr Nigel Tay- Gardens of Ireland, Gerard aim of raising the quality of
lor, Director of Singapore Bo- continues to explore and de- life by enhancing greenery
tanic Gardens to reside at the velop his passion for paint- and flora in the city.
Gardens for one month. ing exotic plants and nature The versatility of Gerard’s
work has led him to many
commissions, both in private
and corporate sectors, his
most recent being of Sarah
Eberle’s Main Avenue Gar-
den, ‘The Resilience Garden’,
sponsored by The Forestry
Commission at this year’s
Chelsea Flower Show in Lon-
don.
Gerard’s work has also been
featured in the publication of
Patricia Butler’s ‘Irish Bo-
tanical Illustrations & Flower
Painters’ (2000) and was se-
lected out of 1,000 artists to
participate in the Landscape
Artist of the Year, SKY Arts
programme in 2017.
Gerard paints both from re-
ality and imagination, creat-
ing exuberant images which
hover on the verge of abstract.
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 ART Page 31
Bauhaus at 100
T
n Geneva Pattison “degenerate artists”. To keep the
his year marks the cen- Bauhaus school of art alive, all in-
tenary of Bauhaus, a volved eventually scattered to the
movement within the Art four winds to ensure their spirit of
and Architecture humanities. To freedom survived.
mark the occasion, the National Artists on show in the exhibi-
Museum has acquired four port- tion include Wassily Kandinsky,
folios, comprising 52 woodcuts Max Pechstein, Umberto Boccioni
prints, lithographs, lino cuts and Natalia Goncharova amongst
and etchings on loan from the others. Walking into the exhibition
Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart. space, I was immediately drawn to
This groundbreaking movement a monochrome woodcut print on
was established after Germany the back wall of the first room.
was defeated in WW1 and the new “Creation I” by Franz Marc is an
Weimar Republic era began. The elegant abstract masterpiece. Marc
newly-established and more lib- was drawn to nature, and animals
eral Weimar Republic enabled art- were the subject of most of his ma-
ists the freedom to express them- ture artworks. He felt that animals
selves through more experimental represented innocence and had a to fight back in difficult circum- telling and the design incorporat- be showing until December 1st
forms of art. spiritual connection to the world, stances. ing the forward-looking principles and will interest lovers of design,
The Bauhaus school was estab- more so than men. Although he is Marc’s style ranges from Cub- of the Bauhaus. art and history alike.
lished by Walter Gropius in 1919, primarily known for his explora- ist to German Expressionism and In 1920, Walter Gropius gave To find out more about the
driven by the desire to remove elit- tion of colours as emotion through if you ever come across his other Klee a key position in the Bauhaus history of Bauhaus visit the of-
ism from among the art commu- cubist-esque paintings, his black colourful paintings you can see school. He was beloved by many ficial centenary website.
nity and his wish to reinforce that and white prints are just as beauti- elements of Futurism in his use of the students, with some of them https://www.bauhaus100.com/
there was “no essential difference fully nuanced in composition. of colours and form. Although going as far as dedicating their
between the artist and the crafts- Upon first glance, the naturalis- Franz Marc died tragically young works of art to him. Above, from left:
man”. The school championed all tic, inky black curves of the piece in 1916, before the advent of the Bauhaus paved the way for Franz Marc, Creation I, 1914,
principles of good design, with an seem to envelope most of the print. Bauhaus, he played a pivotal role modern graphic design to thrive woodcut.
emphasis on clean lines and eye- However, these are offset by an in influencing it by enriching the as it does today. The free exhibi- Paul Klee, Hoffmanesque Scene,
catching elements. undercurrent of harsh lines which artistic landscape of Germany dur- tion in the National Gallery will 1921, colour lithograph.
As the years progressed, Eu- run throughout. These stark lines ing WW1.
rope saw tensions increase dur- present a sense of hidden danger. Another print that stood out
ing the lead-up to WW2. The ex- Perhaps a representation of man’s was “Hoffmannesque scene” by
treme right’s popularity grew in ability to take over or remove the Bauhaus master Paul Klee. From
Germany and the Bauhaus artists organic shapes of nature or maybe a young age Klee had a palpable
found themselves condemned as a representation of nature’s ability talent for drawing, and eventually
Klee studied for a degree in fine
art. Early in his college career he
found out that he didn’t have a
great grasp of colour in the tradi-
tional sense, which played a part
in his development as an experi-
mental artist.
NewsFour Many of his early etchings ex-
hibited child-like exaggerations
E
n Geneva Pattison of his fear of the dark, which it the musician comes with him to One day, the Prince’s young son giant hot metal wall that surround-
very year around this time, did not. While being educated in play for his lord. is delivered a somewhat cryptic ed the archway which seemed to
we are reminded of one England, a teenage Hearn lost all He agrees to perform and the message in a dream… “why do go on forever in either direction.
of our most hallowed and sight in one eye after an accident, blind Hoichi is led by the warrior you come here, dear child; for Trapped souls? Walls? Sounds dis-
terrifying literary exports, Bram leaving him feeling haunted by a to meet the wealthy court. I don’t none but the dead come here”. It turbingly familiar if you ask me.
Stoker’s “Dracula”. Over a centu- sense of deformity for the rest of want to give away the entire story is a foreboding tale of premonition “Bending to Earth” is edited
ry later, the man behind the fangs his days. but at some point poor Hoichi… and that which is unseen, drawing by Maria Giakaniki and Brian J.
seems to have punctured every The effect of these unfurling loses his ears. Despite this, the heavily from Irish religious folk- Showers and showcases twelve
facet of pop-culture. life events meant whatever ven- story ultimately has a happy end- lore and mysticism. short stories by Irish women. Each
We have seen vampires in mov- ture Hearn pursued later in life, he ing, but eeriness, superstition and Well-known dramatist, folklor- of the authors included in the an-
ies, art, 21st century literature and always seemed to skirt the edges a curse precedes it. ist and co-founder of the Abbey thology was not primarily known
even bleeding over into the realm of the unfamiliar, the unknown Originally, “Kwaidan” was Theatre, Lady Augusta Gregory for their writing on phantasmago-
of fashion and makeup. Stoker’s and the simply unheard of in the published in 1904, but since then utilises eye-witness accounts from rical topics, but each of them has
seminal work may be our most 1800’s. He found comfort in the edited and curated compilations all across Ireland to incite terror ventured into the realm of the mys-
prominent example of Gothic lit- strange and his work began to echo of Hearn’s work have been pub- from the reader. “The Unquiet tical, exploring a world where oth-
erature, however it’s certainly not this. In the 1880’s his writings tra- lished. Penguin Classics have one Dead” is a collection of folk tales ers dare not tread.
our only one. versed into the domain of ghosts, such compilation edited by Paul about ghouls, maledictions and If you’re feeling brave this Hal-
Patrick Lafcadio Hearn is a cautionary spectres and that of the Murray which includes an essay, things that go bump in the night loween season, the books men-
sometimes forgotten Irish writer uncanny. “Nightmare Touch”, written by from the Aran Islands to Kildare. tioned above have a whole host
of horror, possibly because his Hearn moved to Japan in 1890 Hearn on the subject of fear itself. One such unearthly tale comes of frightful delights for fans of
main topic of interest was Japa- and fell in love with the country In the essay, Hearn asks “What from a woman named Mrs. Ca- the supernatural and they make
nese folklore. He was born in 1850 and its strong heritage. He started is the fear of ghosts among those sey. She recounts the story of two for a welcome departure from the
in Greece to Irish Officer Charles a family and began to write on all who believe in ghosts?” He argues young girls who took a rest by a usual scary novels we see time and
Hearn and Greek native Rosa Cas- aspects of Japan, including its folk that all fear is the result of expe- bush one day, while out gather- again. However, be aware that any
simati, who moved to Dublin in legends, to try and relay his love of rience. What do you think? Have ing supplies. The girls heard a chills felt during your reading may
1852. the then-mysterious country to the you seen a ghost? voice moan from under the ground not be the result of the Autumnal
His early life was quite bleak, Western world. where they rested. They ran home weather alone…
one might say the tale of his up- His book “Kwaidan: Stories and The Female Gothic Legacy in and returned with a man who, sure
bringing was his first foray into Studies of Strange Things” was Ireland enough, heard the same sad moan- Above: Lady Augusta Gregory.
From the 19th century onwards, ing. Left: Lafcadio Hearn and his wife.
Irish female writers have been Bending down to the ground Both images: Wiki Commons.
producing Gothic literature to to listen closer, he heard a voice
evoke feelings of the uncanny and say… “Let someone shave me and
beguile curious readers. Many of get me out of this, for I was never
these stories would elicit fear from shaved before dying”. The man
the most rigid of skeptics – you returned the third day with soap
have been warned. and a razor, to find a body lying on
The anthology, “Bending to top of the grass where he had been
Earth: Strange Stories by Irish listening. He shaved the dead man
Women” is comprised of other- and when he was done he saw it
worldly tales as crafted by the au- ascend to the sky.
thors, reflecting both continental The retellings are mostly to do
and exotic frights but with even with wayward spirits and ghosts
scarier terrors closer to home. trapped on earth, however there
Lady Jane Wilde born in 1821, is an unusual story at the end of
poet, writer and mother to Os- the collection delivered by an old
car Wilde features early on in the army man about the time he had a
book with her tale “The Child’s vision of hell.
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 FEATURES / HALLOWEEN Page 33
Dear Valerie,
We acknowledge with sincere thanks your very kind and generous
Lions cook up a storm for Haddington Road School
S
donation (receipt given) towards our Appeal Fund, being proceeds of n Annie Gribbin
you Fundraising Coffee Morning in aid of The Friends of St Luke’s ummer is over for another
Cancer Care, Research and Cure. year, but one of the most
Please convey our gratitude to: Pauline Memery, Orla Murphy, Sean successful and memora-
Murphy, Gura’s Grand-children, Gura’s Great Grand-son, Stephen ble events of this August was
O’Connor, Brian Learmouth and Colleagues, Clare Cummins, Anna the Ballsbridge Lions Club
Richardson and the wonderful residence of Pearse House. Tell them
first BBQ, which was held in
how much their support means to the hospital.
the Bishop’s Garden St Mary’s
In 2019 with your help The Friends are continuing to fund a number
Road.
or very important projects across the network which include:
Over 300 people attended and
• Child and Adolescent play area for our paediatric service. St Luke’s
were well entertained by live
is the only centre that provides Paediatric Radiation Therapy. The
performances from the School
Friends are funding a dedicated space for both children and their fami-
of Rock and Murphy’s Law.
lies. The space will serve as a waiting room, counselling room and a
The new Miss Universe Ireland, also Addiction Recovery Ireland. ter! So watch this space and fol-
quiet are for the recovery from anaesthetics. It will provide a much
Fionnghuala O’Reilly, arrived to The goal of the Lions Club is to low us on Facebook! Better again
needed separate facility for teenage patients, who obviously don’t want
showcase her crown and have her strengthen the community spirit why not join the club and become
to be with children or adults and need the latest technology available.
picture taken with John Gavigan, which is particularly relevant in a member of this huge growing
• 50 Electronic Beds for patients at St. Luke’s Rathgar which are
the new incoming President of the the Ballsbridge/Ringsend area, international charity worldwide
helpful with blood flow, are more comfortable for the patients and safer
Club. where the daily local way of life serving its own community.
for the healthcare staff.
This was her first charity fund- is under threat from the influx of You can do so at http://www.
• The Friends will continue to support Oaklands Lodge our ‘home
raising event of her year and she large corporates. lionsclubs.ie/join-the-lions or
from home’ for patients who travel long distances for treatment. Oak-
enjoyed it so much she stayed the We welcome new members and contact John Gavigan at 086
lands Lodge has some accommodation which provides for a family
whole evening and mingled with stress that there is no obligation to 2460125
member or friend to stay also, which is a great comfort during a pos-
everyone. The summer barbecue become actively involved except Annie Gribbin (below) is the
sibly stressful time. It is a wonderful facility and has been completely
was in aid of St Christopher’s to attend a meeting once a month. voluntary PR for the Ballsbridge
funded by our supporters and fundraisers.
new school on Haddington Road, There is great social interaction Lions Club.
It is only with the help of people like you, that we can continue to
which after costs amounted to between the members and regular
fundraise for St Luke’s to ensure the full range of services continue to
€10,000 and was very well spon- fun get-togethers.
be available to all of the patients who attend the St Luke’s Radiation
sored by the local business com-
Oncology Network. Our aim is to support our patients in whatever way
possible, as they go through their cancer journey and to create a warm
munity whom we would sincerely So What Next?
like to thank for their support for Already there are plans for a de-
and welcoming environment.
getting on board with supplying fibrillator training course for the
Many thanks again for your support and interest in our work. It is
drink and amazing food. community, a golf outing, some
deeply appreciated by all who benefit.
The Lions Club is celebrating concerts in the church hall and a
its first year in existence and has trip to the south of France! Due to
Kind regards,
raised funds for several local char- the great success of the BBQ this
Geraldine Watt (Mrs)
ities like The Linen Guild which year we will no doubt do it again
EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR
supports Hollis Street Hospital, next year, only bigger and bet-
T
n Eoin Meegan While entry is free, the organis- harmony. And if that’s not enough, wines.
he Dublin Mind Body Ex- ers advise pre-registering as they Maria B. Burke will be along with So if you’re tired of football,
perience makes a welcome are expecting a big crowd and the 321 Focus 30 Day Challenge rugby or the usual pub scene this
return to the RDS this au- space will be limited. A queuing that promises to change your life. sounds like a delightfully alterna-
tumn after a few years’ absence, system will be in operation for all Then if crystals are your thing tive way to spend a weekend. Why
featuring many old favourites talks and workshops with those Rocky Road Minerals have rare not come along to the RDS and let
along with a sprinkling of new pre-registered getting priority. tumbled stones, and semi-precious them pamper your body, open your
ones in the field of holistic health So what exactly is on offer? stone jewellery on offer, as well mind, and raise your energy to a
and medicine. It kicks off with an Well, you can browse the many as doing a line in crystal magic new level. The event is organised
evening opening on November stalls in the main hall or delve wands, should you want to spend by Freddy Roberts and his partner
8th, from 4.00pm till 8.00, and deeper if you feel the pull. time in the Potterverse. Aura spiritual needs, while Dervish Ho- Lorraine who have been organis-
then gets underway in earnest the Shamanism, said to be the oldest Soma, whose motto is ‘you are the listics have a wide range of higher ing spiritual and holistic fairs in
next two days from 10.00 to 7.00 healing systems on the planet has colours you choose’ offer coloured consciousness books and cds on Dublin, Cork and Galway for the
in Hall 4 (that’s the Anglesea Road been growing in popularity among bottles and scents, while TianDe offer. And not forgetting our four- past eleven years. Their aim is to
entrance). The event boasts 190 adherents of personal develop- have a wide range of beauty and legged friends, Holistic Pet Prod- create larger holistic events, make
exhibitors, complemented by talks ment. At the RDS event, Shining health products that can help with ucts will cater to all their needs. them accessible and affordable
and workshops, along with yoga Soul will have all your shamanic eczema, psoriasis, and other ail- Today everyone wants to be to everyone, and help promote a
and meditation classes spread over accessories, including handmade ments. Herbs of Grace are among healthier, and Coconutty provide more conscious and healthy life-
the three days. shamanic rattles and smudge feath- a number of groups dealing with vegan and gluten free snacks. style. Sounds like a plan.
The event brings together a wide ers. Often shrouded in mystery, the the healing power of herbs. And if While Eating Freely is not another I’ve only given a small sample
range of exhibitors, practition- enigmatic world of Tantra will be you want to avail of Alpaca cloth- diet regime but a system to help of what’s on offer over the week-
ers, and speakers from the world unveiled by Vesco Stefanov. Else- ing, which is supposedly softer break the link between our emo- end, so for a full programme and
of holistic health and well-being, where you can share a Sound Bath than sheep’s wool and keeps you tional states and eating habits. You to register go to
many providing mini treatments with Fiona McDonagh, or tickle warm in winter and cool in sum- can sample some delicious honey https://www.dublinmindbody-
and demonstrating a diverse range your ears with something called mer, then Gifts of Nature is the from Galtee Honey Farm who experience.ie/pre-register
of healing modalities, such as Bio Solfeggio Healing Tones - appar- stall to head for. The delightfully boast an amazing 170 beehives on
energy, Reiki, and Pranic Healing, ently they act like a tuning fork on named Pachamama is a new ho- their farm, including the Native Photo courtesy of Freddy Rob-
among others. the energy system bringing it into listic gift shop that supply all your Irish Black Honey bee, apparently erts and Mind Body Experience.
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 TRANSPORT Page 35
BusConnects:
A September saga
there will be two bus lanes,
but only one-way traffic for
private cars with cycling path
and footpath as before. This
proposal will definitely in-
volve residents’ property and
increase the amount of traf-
fic going through, which is
something residents are op-
posed to.
Easier to accept is the
planned straightening out of
the current island junction
between Herbert Road, Pem-
broke Road and Shelbourne
Road (third from top right).
This would become a plain
square crossing. Elgin Road
B
n Kathrin Kobus CEO of the NTA answered would no longer be accessible
usConnects is back on questions during the second but trees would be planted.
the agenda after the round of community forums It had been a bit quieter at
summer. Four months at the Clayton Hotel with the the meeting the previous week
have passed since the first aim “to review pedestrian ar- at the Gibson Hotel forum re-
round of consultations were rangements, to review overall garding the route/corridor No.
completed, and residents had cycling route, to undertake 16, which will lead in a loop
the chance to contact the environmental assessments from Talbot Memorial Bridge
planners with their submis- [and] to review traffic move- up to Tom Clark Bridge/East
sions and suggestions. ments and traffic impacts.” as link and cross the Liffey on a
Three community forums was pointed out at the open- new, as yet, to be built bridge
were conducted by the Na- ing of the revised presenta- at the mouth of the Dodder
tional Transport Authority tion. near St Pats Rowing club (top FC Clubhouse and connect of consultations for the corri-
(NTA) throughout September. Nutley Lane, especially, has left) and then run back west- directly to Sean Moore Road, dors is scheduled. The formal
One segment of the corridor/ become a focal point of the wards along Sir John Roger- instead of continuing towards planning application to An
route project stood out amidst discussion. The NTA received son’s quay. the Irishtown stadium. Bord Pleanála will be made
the number of submissions signed petition letters includ- This bridge will only be This was the second round by the middle of next year.
after the first round of discus- ing a letter from the Nutley open for public transport, tax- of proposals only regarding The proposals can be ac-
sions held between February Avenue Residents Group with is and will have separate pe- the corridors. There will be cessed via: https://www.bus-
and May. 65 numbered signatures and destrian and cycle lanes. The other meetings in the follow- connects.ie/initiatives/com-
Nearly 760 submissions had a letter from the Clyde Lane planners received 19 submis- ing weeks concerning the ac- munity-forum/
been logged with the NTA by Residents with 26 numbered sions from 17 parties focused tual spines, that’s the lettered Freephone 1800 303 653
the end of May from residents signatures. on 11 issues. routes which are to replace
who are affected in one way There are now two propos- Some key issues sprang up, the current bus routes 1, 4, 7 Photographs: Gary Burke.
or another by the proposals als and / or amendments up including the cycling route and the issue of the no 47 still Maps: Busconnects, courtesy
for the No.14; the corridor for discussion regarding the and the heavy traffic leading disappearing. The third round of NTA brochure.
between UCD, Ballsbridge disputed suggestions. The regularly to congestion along
and the city centre. first (top right) centres around York Road and Pigeon House
Of these submissions nearly proposing bus and private car Road, including the green
half (358) were concerned lanes in both directions and space and the granite former
with the entire scheme. On the footpath along the houses seawall (bottom left).
September 18th Aidan Gal- and cycling path on the oppo- The cycle path (bottom
lagher senior project manager site site. The second option is right marked in dotted line)
and Hugh Creegan Deputy (second from top right) that is planned from the Northern
corner of Ringsend Park then
would continue on towards
Sean Moore Park via Bath
Street.
In addition to that, another
cycle path is suggested along
the western side, via the gates
at Cambridge Park. Sugges-
tions came from Chris An-
drews, councillor for Sinn
Féin to change the cycle route
straight on past the Cambridge
Page 36 SPORT www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
Campaign
three fixtures of their Euro cultured midfielder Conor Cov-
2020 qualifying group, after entry. There seems to be a lot of
snatching a 1-1 draw with Swit- talent coming through for the
zerland in the Aviva last month. first time in a long while.
They’re sitting on top of the I’ve been critical of McCarthy
table, two points ahead of Den- not picking youth previously
mark and three ahead of Swit- and I stand by that, but criticism
zerland, albeit the Swiss have a of him not drafting up some of
game less played. the U-21 squad for the friendly
It has to be said, though, that against Bulgaria that followed
Ireland’s remaining three fix- the Switzerland game is mis-
tures look extremely tough. First guided in this instance. This is
they face Georgia away on the considering the U-21s were in
12th of October. Ireland, while
playing some decent stuff on
the night, were only able to beat
the Georgians 1-0 at the Aviva.
Denmark also recently slipped
up in Tbilisi, only managing a
0-0 draw. This has the makings
of an extremely tricky away tie been at their best of late. course, be all the more disap-
for Ireland. There has been plenty of pointing considering some of the
The boys in green then travel praise for Ireland’s recent ex- Euro 2020 games will be held in
to the Stade de Genève to face ploits and obviously being top the Aviva. Pundits seemed in
the Swiss on October 15th. We of the table with three games general pleased with the recent
conclude the group at home to to go can’t be said to be a bad draw against Switzerland and I
Denmark in the Aviva on the thing. However, one can’t shake can’t help wonder if this is just
18th of November. Bearing in the feeling that Ireland are still down to Mick McCarthy saying
mind how our last game against big underdogs to get through, he’d be happy with a draw be-
them in the Aviva turned out, we based on the fixtures they have fore the game.
know how difficult that game remaining. Switzerland’s team are un-
will be, albeit the Danes haven’t Failure to qualify would, of doubtedly superior to Ireland,
but realistically, I can’t see
how, if we want to qualify from
the group, we could’ve aimed
for anything other than a win
against them at home, when we
still have to play them away.
Switzerland were also missing
Xherdan Shaqiri, their most po-
tent attacking threat for the trip games and into the European action in a competitive game.
to the Aviva. It remains to be Championships in 2020 remains By drafting them into the senior
seen if he’ll be present for the to be seen. I have my doubts, but squad, he would have been de-
reverse fixture, as it seems there I hope I am proven wrong. nying Stephen Kenny some of
are some behind-the-scenes is- An area in which there has his biggest players and hindered
sues surrounding his absence. been real excitement for Irish his team’s chances of qualify-
Ireland’s performance in that football recently has been at un- ing.
game was admirable in its grit der 21 level, where we recently In other Irish football news
and determination. David Mc- saw off Armenia and Swe- Niall Quinn turned down the op-
Goldrick has had a fine start to den impressively in qualifiers. portunity to be considered for a
life with Sheffield United in the Spurs’ Troy Parrott continues to place on the board of the FAI, as
Premier League this season and make the headlines scoring the reported in the Irish Times, due
it was great to see him get his winner in Dublin against Arme- to him being unsatisfied with
first international goal. Likewise nia and then grabbing two after the levels of reform that have
his team-mate for both club he came off the bench in Swe- taken place within the board.
and country Callum Robinson den. That sorry story seems to have
brought his recent good form Elsewhere Brighton’s Aaron no end in sight and it remains to
into the game and looked lively. Connolly also caught the eye. be seen how many new lows it
It would also have been easy The 19-year-old Galway man can sink to.
for the players to let their heads recently made his first senior In better, local news, it was
drop after going behind to Fa- start for the Brighton first team also revealed last month, as re-
bian Schar’s superb opener. and scored in their Carling Cup ported in Dublin Live, that Mer-
Instead, they showed excel- win over Crawley Town. rion Square was set to become a
lent spirit and everyone was The U-21 squad in general month-long football village for
certainly in no doubt that they looks to have plenty of excit- UEFA’s Euro 2020 plans.
gave everything for the cause. ing prospects running through
Whether spirit alone will be it, from the highly-rated Lee Photos of the Aviva Stadium and
enough to power this Ireland O’Connor, who recently moved Fabian Schar courtesy of Wiki
team through these next three from Manchester United to Commons.
www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019 SPORTING HISTORY Page 37
B Billy Farrell:
n Gavan Bergin October 1927, when he lined up
illy ‘Juicy’ Farrell was against his old team, the Bray
born in Bray, Co Wick- Unknowns. He scored against
low in 1902 and when he Bray too. But that was his last
was a young boy he played foot-
ball for Bray Swifts. When was supreme Goalscorer ever goal in his last ever game
for Shamrock Rovers. He didn’t
eleven years old Billy scored play again during the ‘27/’28
76 goals and two of those goals season.
earned his team their victory in The following season, Billy
the 1912 Junior Combination signed again to play for Bray
Final. Unknowns, but it didn’t work
Billy joined Bray Unknowns out and he retired as a player that
Football Club and stayed with September.
them for years, rising from the After his retirement the Book
lower leagues to the top lev- of Irish Goalscorers noted that
els of Irish football. Unknowns Billy was “a great loss to Irish
made it into the Leinster Senior Football, for as a forward he
League for the 1920/21 season, had few equals. A scorer with
and in 1923 they won it. both feet, he had speed and good
In 1923/24 he began play- control – his dribbling skills be-
ing for Shamrock Rovers in the ing a particular delight. He was
League of Ireland. In his second also dangerous with his head,
season with Rovers, Billy scored especially from corner kicks
25 league goals, the team won and he showed his bravery and
the 1924/25 championship and resourcefulness in standing up
the FAI Cup and the League of to the buffeting centre-forwards
Ireland Shield. earn him selection for the Re- his ball control was perfect and match of the season, in which he take from their opponents.”
In 1925/26, Billy scored public of Ireland team. Before his advances against the Ulster scored two goals for the Leinster But, though Billy’s time in
24 league goals. He was the that, in March 1926 he was se- defenders were splendidly ma- FA team in their 3-2 win against football ended prematurely, it
league’s top striker for the sec- lected to play for the FAI team noeuvred. He set a hot pace from Paris Athletic at Dalymount wasn’t the only sport that he
ond year in a row. in a match between the southern- the outset and was relentless in Park on May 22nd 1926. could play to a high standard.
A total of 49 goals in two sea- based League of Ireland and the attack thereafter… just like the So Billy ended the ‘25/’26 sea- As the profile recorded, he was
sons was a seriously impressive northern-based Irish League. rest of the home team he played son in good form, and he went an all-round sportsman, good
scoring record, but the numbers This match was not going to be football that made the methods into the summer as a player with enough to play inter-provincial
alone don’t tell what kind of taken lightly by anyone. of the Northerners look crude.” much promise for the future. At cricket for Leinster, become the
player he was. As the Evening Herald news- the age of 25 he was entering the billiards champion of County
The legendary League of Ire- paper reported, “a record crowd prime years of his life as a foot- Wicklow, and play hockey and
land defender William ‘Sacky’ is expected at Dalymount today, baller. Gaelic football to a commend-
Glen, who played with Billy March 13th 1926, including a But, within a month of the sea- able standard with the teams of
in the ‘20s and ‘30s was inter- big contingent of away support- son’s end one day in June 1926, his native Bray.”
viewed in the 1970s and when ers who travelled down on the Billy crashed his motorbike in It seems Billy did have a good
he was asked who was the best train from Belfast along with the Kilmacanogue, County Wick- retirement, too. On October 28th
player he’d ever seen he said, Irish League players.” low. He broke his thigh bone 1964, the Irish Independent re-
“Oh, that’s easy. Billy Farrell. The gates opened at 1.30 and and badly damaged his leg mus- ported that “Billy Farrell, one
He was a great forward. He had from then on a steady stream of cles. He was in hospital for six of the most famous forwards to
more ways of getting goals than people poured into the ground. months until November 1926, play for Shamrock Rovers, is
anyone else, he’d beat you on a By the time kick-off arrived, and he ended up missing the en- still hale and hearty out by the
penny with the ball, he had great there was a record crowd of tire 1926/27 football season. Dargle in Bray.”
body-swerves, which would 20,000 present – and they made After the accident and all that The final line of that article
send you the wrong way every plenty of noise, giving an ova- time out of the game, it certainly said: “Many old-timers rate
time. He was good every way. tion as the teams came out onto That game took place only a looked like Billy was done for Billy Farrell the greatest of all
I saw him score seven in Cork the pitch: the Northerners in week before the Republic of Ire- as a footballer, but on the 4th of the Shamrock Rovers centre-
against their great goalkeeper, green shirts, the home side wear- land’s first ever full international September 1927, Billy was back forwards.”
O’Hagen, and before the game ing white. match, against Italy in Turin on in action for Shamrock Rovers.
Billy had said to him: ‘you’ll Billy’s first half performance March 21st 1926. With his great He did the business that day; he Clockwise from top to centre:
be bending your back today’… was praised in the Evening Her- display in the inter-league match scored a goal and made it look 1926 Pathé Footage showing
which he was! The final score ald report that stated: “Farrell Billy had put himself right in like nothing had changed for him League of Ireland XI lining out.
was 7-0. Billy Farrell scored the made a series of good attempts contention to play for his coun- as a player, but he had to deal League of Ireland XI in action
whole seven.” and was predominant in the play try against the Italians. Then, with serious pain after the game. in 1926.
During the 1925/26 season for his side’s goal. Later on, he the day before the Ireland team It was three weeks before he Billy ‘Juicy’ Farrell played for
there was speculation that his was fouled in the box but the ref- was to be picked, Billy scored a could manage another game, Shamrock Rovers.
fine form with Rovers would eree denied him the penalty kick hat trick for Rovers and got in- in which he scored, but then he A vintage Shamrock Rovers
his efforts warranted.” jured in the process. He was not wasn’t able to play again until poster.
Billy kept up the good play af- selected in the Irish team that
ter half-time. The final score was played Italy.
3-1, which hardly reflected the Disappointing as it must have
dominance of the home team. been for Billy to miss out on
The Freeman’s Journal match playing for Ireland, he didn’t let
report said that the FAI team it affect his play on the pitch.
“thoroughly outplayed their op- He recovered from his injury
ponents, Billy Farrell was a clev- quickly enough and kept play-
er raider throughout the match, ing well right through to his last
Page 38 SPORT www.newsfour.ie October / November 2019
T
Minors make history of losing, but still they were made
ogether with some men- to work hard. Some great free tak-
tors and parents, members ing from Patrick Hogan which pro-
of our minor squad trav- duced two cracking goals as well
elled recently to Belgium to link as a bevy of points was the key
up with Fontenoy to make a pres- highlight of the game. Des Duggan
entation to the town from which and Sean Rimmer were also among
our club takes its name. those who chipped in with some
Fontenoy was the scene of a fine points, while Austin Dodd pro-
battle on the 11th May 1745 and duced a solid performance around
was part of the War of the Austrian the midfield area. Victory was
Succession between the French on achieved on a score line of 2-16 to
the one hand and the British and 2-7.
Dutch on the other. The latter were Goals also featured aplenty for
assured of victory, or so it seemed, Clanns in their game a week earlier
until the Irish Brigade – fighting against Realt Dearg from the Drim-
for the French – made one last nagh area. This time it was Sean
charge. To the cry of ‘Remember Rimmer who hit the net twice. Karl
Limerick’ – a reference to the long Morgan, Des Duggan and Patrick
defence of Limerick from the Wil- Hogan were among those who con-
liamites – the Irish Brigade, led by tributed some fine points in what
Lord Clare, Charles O’Brien, rout- turned out to be a particularly high-
ed the British and Dutch forces scoring game that finished 3-18 to
and won the day. 2-12 for Clanns. Down the other
The Celtic Cross Memorial, end of the pitch, Dean Fitzpatrick
erected at Fontenoy by national- brought off some great saves in goal
ists, was unveiled there by the Lord at critical times.
Mayor of Dublin on 25th August
1907. It’s reported that the Irish Bri- Clockwise from top: Clanna Gael
gade comprised a good many from footballers winning promotion from guaranteed promotion to Division Kerry in this year’s final. A former Fontenoy group on a trip to Belgium
our club’s hinterland, so when the Division Four with a fine win in Three, much to the delight of play- successful inter-county footballer and the town of Fontenoy, from
first meeting took place at 20 Bath Sean Moore Park against St Moni- ers as well as the management/ with both Leitrim and Dublin, De- whence the club takes its name.
Avenue on 7th October 1887, the cas from Edenmore. backroom team of Michael Fitzger- clan has combined his management Junior hurlers in action against
name Fontenoy was proposed for Although the two teams occupied ald, Des Markey, John Diveney and of the Clanns U16 girls and U12 St Finians.
the new club and adopted. opposite ends of the league table, the John Dodd. boys’ teams with his Dublin duties. Intermediate football promotion
The final formation of the club as game was well contested through- Team Manager, Michael Fitzger- Congratulations, Declan. winners, back left to right: Seamie
we know it today took place in 1968 out the opening stages. But Clanns ald, professed to be delighted and Kyne (Physio), Howard Long, Ste-
with the amalgamation of Fontenoy corner forward, Ricky Joyce, soon relieved to have achieved promo- Junior hurlers vie for promotion ven Walsh, Adam Doran(Coach), JP
(hurling) and Clanna Gael (football) demonstrated the difference in class tion. “They are a fantastic group of After a season’s 11 games which Pugh, Sean Rimmer, David Lyons,
which had been founded in 1929. with some fine scores, bringing his players and well deserved their suc- saw them win seven, draw two and Joe Hennessey, Fergal McNamara,
From the town of Fontenoy, it tally to eight points in the first half cess. They have worked really hard lose just two, our junior hurlers pre- Kenneth Lyons, Eoin O’Mahony,
was onward to Ypres for an insight alone – a major contribution to their over the past two seasons and now pare for a promotion play-off match Danny O’Malley, Conor Hennes-
into the history of World War 1. The half-time lead of 0-11 to 0-5. all credit should go to them as they against Ballyboden St Endas. Win sey, Ciaran Diveney.
trip also saw the group get a guid- Any notion the visitors had of have gone about their business in a that and they’ll be playing in Divi- Front left to right: David Meenan
ed tour of the Belgian Parliament, getting back into the game in any very professional manner night after sion Four next season. Lose it and (Captain), Bernard McCarthy,
make a visit to Autoworld for a his- meaningful way were dispelled night in training. They now have a they can still feel rightly proud of Mark Stafford, Cormac Eastwood,
tory of the automobile and enjoy a early in the second half by a scin- platform to build on for further fu- reaching that position in a league Pauric Moylett, Ricky Joyce, Ni-
puck around with members of the tillating goal from Evan Caulfield. ture success.” that presented some really tough all Lavery, Austin Dodd, Ed
Craobh Rua Brussels GAA Club in Sean Rimmer, Kenneth Lyons and opposition – as can their coaching O’Sullivan, Kerry Mulvihille, Colm
Parc Cinqantenaire. David Meehan also contributed Darcy delivers five-in-a-row and management team of Colly O’Connell and Evan Caulfield.
nicely to the Clanns scoring, while Clanns man and Dublin selector, Reynolds, Ciarán Murphy, Ronan Clanns man and Dublin selector,
Intermediate footballers win pro- Eoin O’Mahony and Fergal McNa- Declan Darcy, made history in help- Murphy and Jimmy Barnes. Declan Darcy, with Jim Gavin when
motion mara were especially impressive in ing Dublin senior footballers to a The game that clinched the play- the Dublin manager visited the club.
Key among the highs of the sum- the central defensive roles. historical five All-Ireland titles in a off spot was played against St Fin- Photos courtesy of Pat Duffy,
mer season was our Intermediate The Clanns 1-18 to 1-8 win row with a well-earned victory over ians of Swords in Ringsend Park. John Dodd, Felix O’Regan.
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REMEMBRANCES
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