FR EE

Issue 64

May 2011

www.theliberty.ie

NEWS
pg 4

Volunteering Special Dolphins Barn Housing

pg 7

LIGHTS, CAMERA...

Part of the Community since 1998

ARTS

Classic Hollywood Chic Style

pg 16 and 17

Win tickets to Motown

pg 14

FEATURES
Out and About
pg 12 and 13

From left: Kelly Byrne, Aoife Kennedy, Jack Roche and Brenda Fricker - pictured at the launch. Photo: Sarah Reilly

Brenda Fricker was on hand at the opening of a new film production studio at the Computer Clubhouse in the Liberties. Local green grocer Jack Roche roped buddy Brenda in to cut the ribbon. Story on page 3.

Meeting St Pats Ultras

pg 20

SpoRT

Rebecca Moynihan slams Labour over election candidate selection

Jenny Dunne
Rebecca Moynihan has revealed her disappointment at not being chosen as a Labour candidate in the last General election. Emotionally its very, very difficult. Those internal battles are the absolute worst. And the rationale and the reasons that were given to me, frankly I didnt think were good enough, The Labour City Councillor for the South West Inner City said. Moynihan, who grew up in Rialto, has been a regular inclusion on one to watch lists for the past few years, but this enthusiasm hasnt carried over within the Labour party. I sometimes think that people internally dont actually understand why people would vote for somebody like me. They have very much a way of looking at politicians, what they should look like, behave like, what they should be like, she said. Theres very much an idea of the type of people who win seats and theyve been County Councillors for thirty years, and their family background is in politics and so they should be able to walk into it. Labour did not put forward any female candidates for the Dublin South Central constituency in the General Election. Theres a lot of lip service that is paid to trying to get more women in politics, and it is essentially just lip service, Moynihan said. Im sick of hearing that women dont put themselves forward. I put myself forward. And I won the selection convention on first preferences by a very large margin, but everybody clubbed together to not have me on the ticket, she said. When asked about her plans for the future she said Im very much making up my mind about what Im going to do and where Im going to go. I think the worst thing that you can do is want something, and work for something for so many years, that you sacrifice why you wanted it in the first place, she continued. You know how to beat those negative forces that you come up against, but if you use the exact same tactics youve just become essentially the same. Im very conscious of that, and I think as soon

INTERvIEW

Joan Collins TD pg 9

Its going to be hard for the community to hold on to what we have

as I find myself going down that roadthats not the type of politician I want to be. So I am going to have a long think about it.

REGULARS
Local History: St Jamess Graveyard
Welcome to the May issue of The Liberty, the free local community newspaper for the Liberties area. The newspaper is produced by journalism students at Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) in Aungier Street, not far from the heart of the Liberties. We produce around five issues every year, during term time - from January to May and September to December. Our goal is to inform and entertain the community about local issues and events, and only you can judge how well we do this so we welcome all feedback from you.
With the construction work of a new walkway through St Jamess graveyard starting this summer, Fionnuala Holohan explores the fascinating past of this famous resting place AthoLICS AnD Protestants, bishops, earls, scholars, brewers, distillers and the ordinary people of Dublin all lie together in St Jamess graveyard, a testimony to its long and varied history. According to the burial registers which started in 1742 and ended in 1989, more than 30,000 burials have taken place in the graveyard. These do not include medieval or unrecorded interments. henry Rochfort, of the Earls of Belvedere in 1665, Sir Stephen Rise, Baron of the Irish Exchequer in 1714 (despite being a Catholic), James MacDonnell, son of the third Baronet of Mayo, two infant brothers of the political philosopher Edmund Burke, and a volunteer executed for his part in the 1916 rising were all laid to rest in the graveyard. traced back to the late 12th century, St Jamess graveyard is one and a half acres in size and circles the church on three sides. It slopes steepily downward to the north the patch of green can be seen from the north quays, rising above the

2
More than 30,000 burials have taken place in the graveyard
top right hand corner of the Guinness site. Penal laws introduced in the late 17th century meant that Catholics could not maintain cemeteries, so St James became one of the most popular burial grounds for Catholics during penal times. Afterward, in the late 19th century, the tradition became that Catholic paupers were buried Glasnevin and Protestant in St James. A significant Catholic memorial in the graveyard is that of Sir toby Butler, Solicitor General of Ireland, who died in 1721. A lengthy Latin inscription on the tombstone erected by his son James, praised his fathers humour and virtue and acclaim as an expert in law, which, were it not for his religion, [would] have raised him no doubt to [the summit of] fortune. They did not always make for peaceable bedfellows, these Catholics and Protestants - a search in 1867 for an 18th century Catholic doctors grave proved fruitless - the investigator noting that the ruthless hand of the bigot has defaced many inscriptions which have emblems of Catholicity on them. The gravestones of the ordinary people often revealed more about the times with occupations and addresses being listed on many gravestones. There are many indications of the high infant mortality rates in earlier centuries - siblings and parents often being interred with their infant brothers or sisters or children. The graveyard has been the focus of much local and archeological interest for many years. A FS grave and site survey in 1988 discovered a headstone from 1627 and two stones which are likely to have been part of the medieval church. In all the survey mapped 705 tombstones and recorded around 500 inscriptions. After this initial clearing of the dense undergrowth by FS, the graveyard gradually went back to nature. In July 2010, Dublin City Council (DCC) commissioned Bernard Seymour Associates to conduct a feasibility study on the site. This involved two rounds of open public consultation, the careful uncovering all the graves and monuments and rubbish removal in order to investigate the topography, ecology and archeology of the site, and extensive historical research. As the architects and DCC progress the plans arising from the study, one requirement is critical local custodianship of the graveyard and its key, so that it does not fall so far into neglect again. Full story on the pathway project for St James graveyard on page 5

EDITOR

Kevin Donnellan
thelibertyeditor @gmail.com

NEWS

Sarah Reilly
thelibertynewsteam @gmail.com

FEATURES

Cassie Delaney
thelibertyfeaturesteam @gmail.com

ARTS

Lynne Swan Caroline Ewins

thelibertyartsteam

SPORT

Jonny Reynolds
thelibertysportsteam @gmail.com

To get involved with the regeneration project, contact the architects via email at bslarch@gmail.com or info@ bslarch.com
St James graveyard today. Photo: Bernard Seymour Associates

PHOTOS

Blithn Henehan

0 euro. Thats how much you will pay for parking at

Interesting Numbers

PRODUCTION
Aidan Knowles

4021The episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 84 year old Queen Elizabeth will pay her first official
Royal visit to Ireland this Month. The English monarch is rumoured to be paying a visit to the famous Guinness Storehouse on May 17th. vote in the Dublin South Central constituency.

Newmarket Squares flea market which is held on the last Sunday of every month.

1890 was the year that The Iveagh Trust was set up by 40 minutes is how long it took for this years Slane 1742 was the first year in which Saint. Patricks
Sir Edward Cecil Guinness in a bid to provide housing and amenities for the poor of Dublin. tickets to sell out. Dublins own Thin Lizzy will be among the acts that will perform at Slane Castle on May 28th. Cathedral Choir and Christ Church Choir combined to sing Handels oratorio Messiah. Hospitals Neonatal Intensive Care unit with a respiratory support ventilator.

which featured the Liberties own Imelda May. She performed alongside Jeff Beck. The show aired in America on April 7th.

SUbEDITORS Liam Keegan Declan Marron Georgia Dunne Oisn Gregorian Brendan Kelly PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Gillian Stedman Cormac O Connor Martha Gberevbie Cassey Fitzgerald Connor Keanen WEb EDITOR Stephen Bourke WEb STAFF Colin Higgins Jenny Dunne Orla Grehan Orlaith Mc Loughlin Gavin Morris

80,203 is the number of people who were eligible to 300 extra garda will be drafted in to help beef up the 19,135 was the population of the Liberties area at the
euro is the price youll pay for a family ticket (two adults-four children) to visit the Guinness Storehouse. security at the UEFA Cup Final which takes place in the Aviva Stadium on May 18th. time of the 2002 census.

51,000 euro is the cost needed to provide the Coombe 28 euro will buy you a ticket to Katherine Lynchs The 800 full time Post Leaving Certificate places are
Hack of Ya Tour which comes to Vicar Street May 12th-14th. available in Liberties College; there are also 40 adult leaving certificate places and over 500 part time course places.

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1971 was the year that the NCAD (National College of 12

Art and Design) situated on Thomas Street was established by an act of the Oireachtas.

25,000 is the number of books housed in Irelands

oldest library, Marshs Library - situated beside St.Patricks Cathedral.

councillors represent Dublin South Central on Dublin City Council.

NEWS
Sen Duffy

3
NEWS IN BRIEF
Meath street theft
BUSInESSES In the Meath Street area are on high alert after a recent robbery in the area. The next Door off-licence on Meath Street is the busiest in the area, and local residents were shocked to hear of the attempted raid. The incident occurred on 22 March last. The two assailants, a man and a woman, entered the premises at approximately half past eight. A staff member was counting some cash in the store, when the man, armed with a wheel brace, threatened him and instructed him to give him the cash and open the till. The employee accosted the man, and managed to wrestle the assailant to the floor and disarm him. The female assailant used the opportunity to snatch cash from one of the tills. The man jumped to his feet, and fled the scene, but not before swiping a bottle of champagne from the store. The shop assistant was unharmed in the incident.

Brenda Fricker with members of the Computer Clubhouse; Inset: Eamonn Elliot, Senator David Norris and Jade Reilly checking out a project. Photos: Sarah Reilly

Sarah Reilly

Film production studio launch

The showcase consisted of young members of the clubhouse displaying creative pieces which they had been working on for weeks leading up to the event. Presidential candidate David norris was also there and was clearly impressed by the talent and ability of the young Computer Clubhouse members. Laurence oCallaghan (14) from oliver Bond interviewed foreign girls working in Spar for his project to find out if they had ever experienced racism. I was pleased to hear that they felt they were treated no differently to us, he said. Jamie Dalton (11) from Marrowbone Lane built a house for his pet hamster. he said: I saw a big hamster cage in a posh house online and thats where my idea came from. his idea was based on Dublin 8 pets having as good a home as any. Jade osbourne (14) from School Street gave a speech on discrimination and also wished to thank the Computer Clubhouse for being an amazing facility. The Computer Clubhouse is everything that I ever wantedI got to go to America and learnt to play guitar, she said. People discriminate without realising it, added Jade, while presenting her Stop and Think project. Advisory board member Philip Smart credited the childrens fantastic dedication to their projects and linked the showcase slogan back to the opening of the SWICn Computer Clubhouse. Mr. Smart said: the clubhouse started so people in the area would not feel discriminated against. An Intel Scholarship award to the value of 10,000 went to mentor Abdul hassan (20), while the 5,000 InAtomic has been a huge influence and made it clear to me that singing was something I wanted to pursue as a career. We are currently looking for management, so we have been really busy lately doing a lot of promo gigs trying to get our name out there. The band has played The tivolis Christmas panto, Spin roller discos as well as gigs in the Gleneagles hotel in Killarney and at the helix. Influenced by the likes of Michael Buble and the overtones, Darren describes the bands sound as kind of Rockabilly retro with a young fresh mix. We mix the old with the new, putting old twists onto new songs and a new twist onto old songs, there is nobody really out now like us. It has been hard work for the young band this far and Darren had to drop out of his Performing Arts course last november due to on The Edges ever-increasing schedule. tel Scholarship award went to Richard okare. Abdul hassan, who was celebrating his 20th birthday on the day, also took home the Robotics Ireland award. CRESt awards were given to Louise Raymond, nathan hanley, Shannon nolan and David Boxwell. Brenda Fricker took to the stage to present the Adobe Foundation awards to David Boxwell (16) and Rebecca nolan. talented young singer Louise Raymond sang Christina Aguileras Beautiful following the distribution of awards. Friends Leah Graham and Leah Malone, both 11, from James Street created an impressive presentation based on the 1955 Rosa Parks Civil Rights Movement story. Its not nice to be racist or to discriminate, agreed the girls. We are working very hard at the minute rehearsing as often as we can with vocal coaches and trying to get the band as tight as we can. I dont mind all the work as I want to give it one hundred per cent and not to look back in the future and wonder what if. The band are hoping to get into the studio as soon as they can to start recording their first release and with more live shows in the pipeline it looks like it is going to be a busy few months ahead for on The Edge. For all the details on upcoming news and gigs check, out the On the Edges Facebook page.
Actor Ross Finnegan. Photo: M Kennedy

oscaR winneR brenda Fricker was guest of honour at the 3rd annual showcase of the computer clubhouse in Rainsford street on March 6th 2011. Although feeling poorly, Fricker was the belle of the ball. I will come back when Im well and healthyI might even learn to use the computers, she said. The actress was due to go to hospital the following day and confirmed at the time that she would be hospitalised for ten weeks. Run by the South West Inner City Community network (SWICn), the Computer Clubhouse launched the opening of a new film production studio on the day, with Fricker cutting the ribbon. to discriminate is out of date was the slogan of the day and all projects exhibited were based on anti-prejudice towards others.

Cabin fever in D8
Sarah Reilly

Take that! Liberties boyband on the rise

Patrick Gormley
FoRMER MEMBER of Libertiesbased stage school Atomic, Darren Caffrey has from a young age always dreamt of becoming a professional musician and is hoping his band on The Edge will be the platform for making this dream come true. Learning everything from dancing to acting and singing during his time at Atomic, Darren is convinced that what he has learnt at the stage school will be vitally important to him as on The Edge take their first tentative steps along the rocky road to success in the music industry. Darren said the experience with

onE of the young members of local Stage School Atomic was recently cast in the film Cabin for the hallmark channel. Ross Finnegan, aged 10, was selected from a large audition to play one of the lead roles. Cabin will be televised in the summer. The young actor was also chosen alongside another member of Atomic, Ross Clail, to star in the new UPC advert. Director of Atomic, Mark Kennedy, described how many young members of the Stage School have gone on to become involved in television programmes films and many other kinds of acting. Since opening in 2007 students have had great success in being cast for television adverts, films, programmes and Christmas pantos, he said. More news from the Atomic Stage School on page 9

rights are clearly being breached

Special Report
Dolphins Barn Housing

Human

Pictured: On the Edge. Photo: D Gaffney

To see the band in action, log on t h e l i b e r t y. i e

pg 7

Sarah Reilly

2011: the year of the Euro volunteer

forts. It also focuses on empowering new people to volunteer though promotion and facilitation. Celebrations will include a road show tour which will be visiting Dublin from Monday 22 to Sunday 28 August 2011. At the Volunteer Centre there are almost 400 volunteer roles that people can choose from and the variety and diversity of roles out there will often surprise you, said Ms. Dewart. As part of EYV 2011, the Volunteer centre on Thomas Street plans to publish a series of stories from volunteers starting here in The Liberty newspaper. They are also focusing on organisations which involve volunteers and on people whose lives have been enriched by the company of volunteers. We will also be producing Youtube videos on what volunteers are doing in their local communities. In addition to this we are delighted to be taking part in the Liberties Festival and running the Intercultural Event, said Ms Dewart. A key slogan in this years Liberties festival is 'Many Cultures, one Community'. We see volunteering as a great way to achieve deeper integration and a way in which people can connect with their community - whatever walk of life they come from, said Ms. Dewart. As almost 40% of volunteers registering with the volunteer centre are of a non-Irish nationality we see this borne out on a daily basis, she added. The Volunteer centres slogan is 'no one can do everything, but everyone can do something' and it is clearly a principle which the centre firmly believe in.

NEWS

SInCE thE 1st January this year 418 people have registered their interest in volunteering with the Dublin City South Volunteer Centre on Thomas Street. The highest percentage of these come from the Dublin 8 area, showing people really are active in their communities, said Edwina Dewart, manager of the centre on Thomas Street. With 2011 being the European year of volunteering (EYV), Dublin City South Volunteer Centre wishes to draw public attention to the significance of the very special year. The year celebrates volunteers all over Europe and recognises their ef-

Martha Gberevbie

Dolphins Barn WWII bombing

If youre an organisation that requires volunteers or someone sitting at home thinking of volunteering, phone the centre on 01473 7483 or call into the office on Thomas Street

Meet the volunteers

Its work that I could also commit to while traveling for work. Siel Bleu is a non-profit organisation that began in France in 1997. It provides a range of adapted physical activity-based services aimed at improving the health and well-being of senior citizens. Siel Bleus main aim as an organisation is to add years to life and life to years. Working with older and vulnerable people to improve quality of life and increase independence through preventative care is the main activity. All services are adapted to individuals needs and abilities and take place in community, home and care settings. So, the main task at the moment is raising awareness of Siel Bleu in Ireland. I have written my first article and am hoping to have that published in an appropriate newsletter soon. The people that I am in contact with from Siel Bleu are grateful for any help that I can provide. I am excited about contributing to something that is outside my normal social and work life. to anyone who is thinking about volunteering, I would encourage you to contact the Dublin City South Volunteer Centre at 76 Thomas Street. The support officers are friendly and will help you to find a position that will suit your skills and the time you can commit to volunteering. Good Luck!

Pictured: Volunteer Stephen Quinn Photo courtesy: Edwina Dewart

Pictured: Volunteer Roisn Mc Donagh Photo courtesy: Edwina Dewart

oRIGInALLY FRoM Cork, Ive been living in the Liberties for the last eight years. I have always wanted to volunteer. I heard about the Dublin City South Volunteer Centre through a friend and decided to look into it. This started me on my path as a volunteer. I was then able to look for a suitable position via the internet. Finding a position to suit me wasnt difficult. I travel for work so I could not commit to fixed volunteering hours. I found an organisation recently set up in Ireland called Siel Bleu that was looking for someone to help with writing newsletter articles. This work could be done from home so it suited me perfectly.

Stephen Quinn

At FIRSt, I was too busy with my own life to get involved in volunteering but my sister was involved in different voluntary activities from a very young age and occasionally roped me in. My working life took me into the corporate world of insurance and finance, while my sister continued community work and welcomed each new challenge. I was always fascinated to hear about her work. She suggested to me more than once that I should get involved in volunteering. I always thought yes, Id really love that but not until later when my career is more established and have more time on my hands. on reaching the age of 50, I sold

my business and started to look for different challenges. With the sudden loss of my sister shortly after, everything changed. Checking out the Dublin City South Volunteer Centre (DCSVC) website, I noticed a role which really interested me. I was delighted to be taken on as a volunteer. My job is to make follow-up phone calls to people who registered an interest on the DCSVC website about what area of volunteering they are interested in and put them in contact with the organisations concerned. My role in DCSVC has given me the opportunity to meet with numerous charitable organisations and learn about their work. I have met so many interesting people and am constantly inspired by their commitment and dedication. The satisfaction of working in volunteering is beyond anything I have ever experienced in my corporate life. The really great part is I can fit my work in and around other events in my life. It seems to integrate with all my other activities and has become part of my life. I dont do a great deal really, but thats the wonderful thing about being a volunteer. no matter how little each of us does, the cumulative effect is powerful. Even the smallest input can make a huge difference.

EoIn CRIStIR Bairad, the author of The Bombing of Dolphins Barn, is giving a talk in the Dolphins Barn Library on Wednesday 25 May. In his book, Bairad tells the story of the bombing that rocked the Liberties six months before the north Strand bombing took place. The bombing occurred on 31 May 1941 in Dolphins Barn, a place Bairad describes as a fairly respectable middle class area, and is told from the viewpoint of the Corporation. It was bombed in January 1941, during World War II, by German aircraft, despite the fact that Ireland was officially a neutral state at the time. The area responded very well to the bombings and in the aftermath of the bombings ARP Precautions gave out maps, lists and gasmasks to the residents. The corporation however, didnt know how to deal with compensation claims arising from citizens who were determined to ensure that they received sufficient compensation for their grievances. It is important to highlight that, miraculously, there was no one killed or seriously injured in the Dolphins Barn bombings. Mr Bairad said he also included the bombing of Belfast in the book because no one else seemed to have covered it. he said it helps to establish a historical background because it occurred in between the bombing of the north Strand in Dublin and the bombing of Dolphins Barn. In the course of Mr Bairads studies he had to write either a long essay or a short book for his professor, Professor Gillespie. he chose the latter, on the topic of the Dolphins Barn bombings, because his first house was in the Dolphins Barn area and his daughters were born there. The talk, which is the first of its kind on this topic, will begin at 6:30pm on Wednesday May 25 in the Dolphins Barn Library.

Roisn Mc Donagh

How much are the recent disasters affecting donations to the Liberties children charities? Katriona Quinn investigates.

Disasters hit childrens charities

hIV/AIDS. The organisation works to ensure that the most vulnerable children in the developing world receive the same health care and education as children in the developed world. The charity realises that health care and education are very important and its staff and volunteers work hard to provide these services to Ugandan children. There are health and education projects run by the aid organization which aim to help these children and positively impact their lives. A Library project was set up when the charity saw there was no reading culture in Uganda. over 1.56 tonnes of childrens books were shipped to Uganda for a newly-built library. Since then, six primary schools now use the library and over 20,000 primary school children have access to reading materials.

English teaching
Sarah Reilly
FILtE IStEACh is seeking to establish a branch in the Liberties. The new language project is looking for people to volunteer their time to teach conversational English to new migrants in the community. Liam Carey, head of national Development with Filte Isteach, stresses that a volunteers personal qualities are as vital as any professional experience or qualifications. Were looking for volunteers who are kind, generous with their time, open to meeting new people and have a curiosity about the world around them. Further details are available on the website: www.thirdageireland.ie

RECEnt DISAStERS including the tsunami in Japan and the crisis in Libya have impacted funding for the A-Z Childrens Charity on Thomas Street. A-Z CEo Brian Iredale said, Large scale emergencies such as the earthquake in haiti last year always affect funding for development organisations. There will always be emergencies so development organisations must learn to adapt to this and not take it for granted that there will be a constant flow of funding from any source as nobody knows what is around the corner. Recent fundraising events included a Just Dance competition which

Sinead Cregan teaching an art lesson at Little Diamonds Primary School in Nansana. Photo Courtesy: A-Z Childrens Charity

took place in April. A Four-Peaks Challenge is planned for the June Bank holiday. The A-Z Childrens Charity was officially registered in 2003 and was set up to help orphans and children in Uganda who are infected with

A-Z also organises sponsors for over 200 orphans to provide them with education up to third-level, and give them a step-up in their lives. other work carried out by the charity includes trying to ensure that hIV-infected children get access to life-saving medicine, nutrition and sanitation. A-Z is funded by generous donations and the charity organises many fundraising events to help finance their work. They also benefits from volunteer work and they are looking for enthusiastic and self-motivated people to travel to Uganda with the charity in July or August for a three-week placement. Mr. Iredale said, This year we have over 80 volunteers and that includes three married couples and many volunteers in their fifties.

If you wish to find out more about volunteering for the Filte Isteach programme, contact Johanka Macekova on 01-4536674 or by email to jmacekova@swicn.ie.

St James graveyard gets pathway work

Fionnuala Holohan
WoRK IS due to start in the summer on a public pathway through St James graveyard, the Dublin City Council has announced. The pathway will provide a safe route for relatives and visitors to get around the graveyard. It will be a raised gravel path, 1.2m wide, illuminated with low-level lighting and sitting on the surface so as not to disturb the graveyard. The graveyard key, which has proved to be elusive in the past, will be passed on to local custodians of the church, which stands on Jamess

NEWS

5
The plan included a tree-level walkway through the graveyard trees, looking out over Dublin and a ground level access path. The closed and deconsecrated church is considered a key part of any future development of the site but as it is currently in private hands, it cannot be formally included in the plans. Up until June 2009, the church was the home of the Lighting World shop, which went out of business in June of that year. Many of the meeting attendees and respondents to a survey by the architects from a previous meeting were descendants of those buried in the graveyard. Several had close relations buried there within the last 50 years, having retained the burial rights after the graveyard was officially closed. I remember going over to visit the graveyard after mass in St James, said Monica Cassidy, an attendee at the March consultation. My grandmother, aunt and family are buried there. We had to get it opened specially in 1966 for my grandmother. Margaret hardiman, another exresident, found her fathers newly uncovered grave in the architects photograph catalog - listed as no. 22. her father was killed in an accident on the navan Road in 1989 and was buried in the graveyard, after a difficult hunt for the graveyard key. The passenger in the car that hit him was a priest on his way to give his first blessing, she said. tragically, it was to her father who the priest was to give his first blessing that day. opinion at the public meetings for the plans was overwhelmingly in favour of increased access by the public and its designation as an arts and heritage site. Respondents were firmly against both the removal of graves and of commercial use of the site. The next step for the project, aside from the approved pathway, is to elaborate more fully on the plans in order to develop detailed costs and to secure funding for the different phases. DCC are looking into getting the church listed so that it can be better integrated into the overall plan. The church and the graveyard have also been included in the new eastwest tourism trail announced by Filte Ireland in January 2011. This trail will extend from trinity College in the east to Kilmainham in the west, creating a single coordinated walk along Dame Street, Thomas Street and James Street. tourism is a key factor for the funding of this work and the graveyard plan.

Street near the site of the old Jamess Gate. It is expected that the path will be completed by autumn. This first step in reclaiming the graveyard for visitors is part of a larger plan for the Church of Ireland graveyard and the old church. In the March public meeting, landscape architects Bernard Seymour outlined their proposal for a master plan for the future development of the site as an accessible public amenity which embodies the cultural heritage, ecological and spiritual values of the place.

Reducing crime with mediation

Patrick Gormley
MEDIAtIon SoUthSIDE recently held a public meeting to introduce their service and outline future plans for the Liberties area. SICCDA (South Inner City Community Development Association) used the meeting as a way of clearing the cloud of confusion that may surround the services provided by Mediation Southside. Guest speakers at the meeting included Austin Kenny from the Mediators Institute of Ireland, Patricia hayes, an expert in community mediation in the UK and Ireland, and Sergeant Michael nagle who is part of the Community Garda Service in Kevin Street Garda Station. Sergeant nagle gave a presentation on the restorative justice program currently running in hull, England and the way it has significantly reduced crime in certain areas. Mediation Southside hopes to adapt a similar service in the Liberties area. The next steps for the project are to introduce mediators into primary schools to help combat bullying and to offer family mediation services. The aim of mediation is to help the people involved in a dispute to reach an agreement acceptable to both sides. The free mediation service is available to anyone living in the Liberties.

Dragons Den for D8 teens

Sarah Reilly
thE AWARDS ceremony of the annual norkom challenge is due to take place in Dublins Mansion house on 13 May, 2011. Four local teens, Kelly Byrne (17), Aoife Kennedy (15), Sam oyediran (15) and Eoin Kennedy (16) took part in the Dragons Den/Apprentice-style competition. The four teenagers, who are members of the Liberties Computer Clubhouse, were in with a chance to win great prizes and the opportunity to apply for the norkom College Access Programme. The norkom Challenge 2011 was a 16-week programme, which sought enthusiastic secondary school students from Dublins inner city to take part. The fantastic four had been given Apprentice-esque tasks to do over the last 16 weeks. on Friday 15 April, 2011 they gave a Dragons Den-style presentation with their final projects. All four members of the team met up every fortnight throughout the 16 weeks. We met up every second Monday from five until seven and we learnt things such as sales and marketing, product development and project development, said Aoife Kennedy. Each week, people who were working in each field of expertise came in and did a presentation... We were all also assigned two mentors to help our project run smoothly, she added. This is the third successful year of the norkom Challenge. norkoms Paul o Regan said, The competition forms part of the companys Corporate Social Responsibility and is designed to encourage secondary school students within Dublins inner city to stay in school and pursue a third level education. Following the awards ceremony on 13 May, the teens have the opportunity to apply for a college scholarship. norkoms scholarship fund consists of five 3,000 awards. Besides the scholarship awards, other great prizes are up for grabs for the finalists, including laptops, iPods and mobile phones.

Lucky winners of Dublin 8 is Great project - Kelly Byrne (17) and David Boxwell (16) Photo: Sarah Reilly

Dublin 8 is Great program shortlisted for new award

Orlaith Grehan
KELLY BYRnE (17) and David Boxwell (16) represented the Dublin 8 Is Great project at a Briish launch workshop for the Starbucks Realising Potential Fund. The project, run by members of the South West Inner City network (SWICn) Computer Clubhouse, became the first to win a 2,000 grant from the Irish division of the fund last September. Following a strong Internet campaign, the group organised a Big Clean-Up of the Liberties area on 18 September last. This was followed by a Pop-Up Party, featuring an impressive programme of events, to thank their volunteers. The Irish Youth Foundation (IYF) invited Ms Byrne and Mr Boxwell to travel to the UK capital on 4-5 April, where they spoke to representatives of over ten different cities about this work. Weve finished our project and theyre just starting theirs, so it was just about sharing what we know. We showed them a video of what we had done, and gave them tips about setting up Facebook pages for their projects and getting the media involved in whats going on as well, said Ms Byrne. We were sort of famous for a day, with loads of different people wanting to meet us and all, so it was good fun. We had to stand up in front of over 500 people and make a few speeches. We mainly just talked about what we did, and how we UnESCo Young Environmentalist Awards 2011. As part of the regional finals for the award, Ms Byrne and Mr Boxwell pitched the Dublin 8 Is Great project to a panel of three judges at the Dublin UnESCo centre on 1 April. of the thousands of entries from across the country, the project was subsequently chosen as one of the final eighty-two nominees for the prize. Pauline McAdams, a mentor at the Computer Clubhouse on Rainsford Street said, to be awarded for their work gives them the drive to continue on and to keep on trying with what theyre doing. The IYF has also been impressed by the projects dedication and innovation, with Liam oDwyer, the Chief Executive of the IYF team, particularly supportive of the team. The Dublin 8 Is Great project was established to show the Liberties that young people care about their community, and to give teenagers the means to combat the problems of anti-social behaviour. Recently, President Mary McAleese insisted on delaying her official duties so that she could meet the team and congratulate them.

Talent Competition
Sarah Reilly
CALLInG ALL dancers hip hop, freestyle or others - singers, actors, musicians and artists. Auditions for SICCDA Liberties Festival Childrens talent Competition will be taking place on tuesday 24th May from 6.30pm 8.00pm in SICCDA 90 Meath Street. Ages for auditions are 6 17 years. The final will be taking place on Sunday 12th June in CoRE Thomas Street. All level and ranges of talent welcome.

We were famous for a day, with loads of different people wanting to meet us.
managed it with what we had, added Mr Boxwell. Afterwards, we went to the Churchill Estate to see a project thats going on there, and we helped them out with a bit of gardening, planting flowers and that. The creativity and commitment shown by this young team has also seen them shortlisted for The Peoples Choice Award at the ECo-

For more information please contact Kay King / Liz Duffy 4536098.

NEWS
Liberty Opinion
How do you feel about the Queens visit?
I wont welcome her. I mean she has never done anything for Ireland and she has never even done anything for Britain. I just dont think its right for her to come.

Cormac O Connor

New shops sought for RT retail show

Sarah Reilly
advice to retailers trying to prosper in the current economic climate. The programme is looking to champion independent Irish retailers who represent individuality on the streets of Irelands towns and cities. Emer Dunne from Amino spoke about Feargals passion in helping businesses who are trying to challenge the multi-national corporations: Feargal will help these businesses
Liberty Flowers. Photo: C Delaney

6
The first series was a success in terms of ratings, with the businesses reporting an improvement in both sales and staff morale as a result of their involvement in the programme. The Liberty Florist is booming since taking part in the first series. Florist owner Kim Buckley said the process was enjoyable but hectic and still counts Mr. Quinn as a friend. The series currently being recruited for will be on air at the beginning of 2012 and will be filmed over the next six months.

Anna Fowler

WIth thE second series of Fergal Quinns Retail Therapy due to air early this summer on Rt one, Amino television are already looking for shops in Dublin for series three. Amino tV and Rt are looking for independent retailers for the third series of the popular retail advice programme, which will air in 2012. This is a six part series in which retail innovator Feargal Quinn offers

to eradicate their weaknesses, exploit their strengths and identify a unique selling point which will make them stand out from the competition to attract customers to their door, she said.

Any business owners who are interested should get in contact by emailing retailtherapy@animo.ie or calling by Emer on 01 6468240

I welcome the visit. I think the time is right. However I read somewhere this morning that she may be visiting Croke Park and I think that is pushing it due to Bloody Sunday

Joe Connolly

Drug recovery program facing 20% cuts to service

Some of the work created by particpants of the RADE project. Photo: Patrick Gormley

Well I wont go out to see her but I have no problem with her coming, its just like any other head of state visiting. I mean I will also welcome President Obama so why not the Queen.

Patrick Gormley reports on the RADE project and the difficulties with cutbacks it has faced recently.

Lauren O Reilly

thE RADE project has, since 2004, been helping those affected by drug dependency in the Dublin 8 region. however with recent cutbacks to their budget, up to 20% in some areas, it is becoming harder for the group to keep up their good work. RADE (Recovery through Art Drama & Education) helps twenty one participants stabilise their lives by getting involved in art, film and drama. With the possibility of staying on the programme for a maximum of three years, RADE has found that most leave after two years having achieved the goal of being stable in their lives. The project is the brainchild of current director Michael Egan, who has worked on many similar projects in the Liberties for a number of years. Speaking about the work they do, Michael said The point of it was that people involved in drug use,

particularly those from a deprived background, dont really see many opportunities out there for themselves, so the idea of getting educated or finding employment can sometimes seem like an alien concept. This of course is not true and we believe that art and drama is a way for them to find that they can contribute to society. he continued We have found over the last six years that this can be done and we hope we have undermined all the typical clichs about drug users by coming through with our productions every time and on time. The project has felt the impact of the current economic downturn, losing 20% of its counselling services, a key element in the programme and a general 1% across its other range of services. In all, this amounts to an 11% cut on last year. A book of creative writing by the projects participants which has been released every year for the last six years has also had to be scrapped because of funding issues. Mr. Egan, obviously disappointed

We have undermined all the typical clichs about drug users by coming through with our productions every time and on time
with the cuts to funding stated We meet a lot of the political players at our film screenings and art exhibitions and they have nothing but praise for what we are doing, so when our funding takes a hammering like it has we all feel really let down. hopefully we can get the

new government more enthused and interested in what we are trying to do. Referring to the plans to scrap this years book release he added The group is so determined to release this years edition of the book that even if we have to print it on our photocopiers we will, that is how strongly and passionately we feel about it. So if anyone can help us with this it would be greatly appreciated. The centre is also hoping that a one of a kind event to be held in May will help raise public awareness of the work they carry out: open Day will take place in the RADE space at the oLV Building on Cathedral View Court, Dublin 8 on the 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th of May. Going through their back catalogue of drama and exhibiting current art pieces the event will also showcase the projects two films which received a great reception at the recent Belfast Film festival. The group is currently writing a brand new show to mark the event.

NEWS
This issue - Andrew Nally exposes the apalling living conditions experienced by residents of the Dolphin House complex.
thE hUMAn rights of the residents of one of the largest local authority estates in the State are clearly being breached, the President of the Irish human Rights Commission has said. Maurice Manning was responding to a survey carried out in the Dolphin house complex in south inner-city Dublin, which found 45% of adults and 42% of children living there had respiratory problems.

7
Special Report
on so much school because of the dampness here, she said. Local tD Catherine Byrne who met with residents last november said I was hoping to meet with the residents sooner rather than later. The inadequacy of provision of outdoor play and leisure facilities for the approximately 1,300 children and young people in Rialto is another area that concerns the local residents. Research carried out by Rialto Rights in Action found that there is no outdoor play or leisure facilities and traffic is a major problem.

Unsuitable for children

The research also found that in Dolphin house there is only one playground to meet the need of hundreds of children. The playground has a broken swing, a broken slide, burnt out play parts and the football pitch is unusable for young children.

Persistent damp
Some 90% of the adults surveyed by a community organisation Rialto Rights in Action, were worried about their health because of the persistence of damp and sewage in their homes. As well as conducting the survey, key indicators have been monitored by residents and samples of mould and mildew gathered for examination. Analysis carried out by nUI Maynooths biology department, has shown the presence of aspergillus fumigatus, a fungus which can cause pulmonary disease in humans, most notably asthma and bronchitis. The housing conditions in Dolphin house appear to be having a very negative impact on the health of the residents and there is an alarming amount of parents and children suffering from recurring chest infections, skin conditions and asthma. The Rialto Rights in Action group plan to collect further evidence to show the link between

An example of the damp conditions in the Dolphin House residential complex. Photo: Andrew nally

LIVING IN FILTH
economy.

Anti-social behaviour
The play areas are affected by antisocial behaviour, have broken glass, no lighting and are neither accessible nor safe. The committee believes the conditions of play facilities and the lack of involvement in children and young people in decision making around this issue is a contravention of the United nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said that there is a depot out at Dolphin house for those who need to either make a complaint or talk about possible repairs to their property. however the spokesperson added that the Department of Environment is in charge of funding and at the moment there is no money allocated for Rialto or Dolphins Barn.

poor health and the housing conditions in Dolphin house, said Edel Reilly, Community health Co-ordinator. of those surveyed, three-quarters of residents are living with damp, 64% report mould and 84% report that sewerage comes up through their sinks and baths. Dolphin house is one of the biggest and most dilapidated local authority housing projects with 425 apartments. It was to be the subject of regeneration plans to be completed after St Michaels Estate in Inchicore was complete, but plans have been put on hold because of the state of the

Respiratory problems
Among those affected by the state of Dolphin house is mother-oftwo Sinead Martin (29). She says she, her partner Paul Dempsey (32) and their two children noel (8) and Aaron (4) have all been suffering from respiratory problems since they moved into their two bedroom apartment in Dolphin house three and a half years ago. Im on two inhalers, my kids are on one each and my partner needs a nasal spray, she said. Im terrified that my eldest fellow is missing out

84% of residents report sewage comes up through the bath and the sink

YOuR NEW COuNCILLORS

Micheal O Sullivan Pat Dunne Sheila Howe

Dubliners get taste of Forbidden Fruits

Orlaith Grehan
LoCAL MUSIC lovers and enthusiasts won't have to travel far to get their fill of tunes this summer, with the arrival of the inaugural Forbidden Fruits Festival in June. The grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) in Kilmainham just a stones throw from the Liberties will play host to the festival over the coming June bank holiday weekend. organisers PoD have teamed up with their sponsor, Bulmers, to bring the city its first multi-stage festival, which they hope will be a collaborative fusion of music, art and fashion. Shaping up to be a summer highlight already, ticket-holders can expect to be wowed by a diverse line-up of international acts, including The Flaming Lips, Wild Beasts, Aphex twin and Caribou. Those preferring a more homegrown variety won't be left disappointed either. ham Sandwich, Fade Street stars Kid Karate, and Jape, fronted by Crumlins Richie Egan, has also been confirmed to play. In an unusual move, the festival site will be designed in the shape of an apple, with four dedicated entertainment areas scattered across the IMMA grounds, hosting everything from bands, DJs, clothes stalls and art collections. With one open-air Bulmers stage and three smaller music tents, festival-goers can look forward to a range of activities and one-off events. The all-important Core Bar will be located in the very centre of the site, providing refreshments. Their will also be numerous food stalls spread across the grounds. other high-profile acts are due to perform as well as Irish bands Solar Bear and Bipolar Empire. new Zealanders, The Phoenix Foundation are set to make their Irish debut on Saturday afternoon. tickets to Forbidden Fruit cost 49.50 per day or 90 for a weekend pass, and are available from the usual outlets. Early-bird tickets have already sold-out.

Labour
Cllr. Michael oSullivan was selected to replace Deputy Eric Byrne on Dublin City Council in March 2011, representing the Crumlin-Kimmage ward. originally from Walkinstown, Michael lives in Drimnagh with his wife Brenda, who teaches in a local primary school, and their two daughters. Michael has a strong interest in education and justice issues. having previously worked as a residential social worker in the inner city, he currently works in the area of education and campaigning around concerns relating to global justice and the environment.

People before Profit

originally from Kimmage Pat worked in administration for a community facilities office and now lives in Walkinstown with his grown up family for over 26 years. he supported the anti-bin charges campaign and organised the campaign against Water Charges in the 90s. he and his colleagues in People Before Profit are opposed to the imposition of service charges on the family home. Pats involvement includes Community Games, Residents Associations, Community networking, Sport and Local Resource Centres.

Labour
Following the election of Ballyfermot based Councillor Michael Conaghan to the Dil, Shelia howe was co-opted onto Dublin City Council for the Labour party. Living and working within the Ballyfermot community her main interests lie within the progression of the local community and surrounding areas. She has lived in the Ballyfermot area for over 35 years and is widowed with five children. having been a youth leader for many years with the Ballyfermot youth club, she is a volunteer and fundraiser in the local Day care

More information about the festival can be found at www.forbiddenfruit.ie.

FEATURES Low rent brings fresh faces to Francis Street

I
Oisn Gregorian
n a cosy two-bedroom apartment just off Francis Street, Dylan Smith makes a cup of tea. his roommate, Pablo, has just come home from an eight hour shift and has crashed on the couch. Across the road, one man is busy cleaning the windows of oSullivans antiques and another is desperately trying to get his car to start. Dylan originally hails from Stockport, Greater Manchester, while Pablo is a Catalan from Barcelona. Both men have lived in Dublin for a number of years but only moved into the Liberties in the last year. When I finished college, I wanted to move and go and live some place different, said Dylan, Dublin is certainly close to home and I feel very comfortable living here. Pablo said I was like Dylan too. I wanted to travel. My parents are both proud Catalans and wanted me to stay with my roots but they also understood my reasons for leaving. Upon being asked whether or not he was as proud a Catalan as his parents, he answered, one day I will go back and live there for good. I will always be in love with Barcelona. of course Francis Street isnt the first place of rent for either of the two men. Dylan has had previous stays in the south Dublin areas of Rathmines and Ranelagh while Pablo has lived in Smithfield. The two met while working in the same job on Grafton Street and agreed, with increasing rents in both Ranelagh and Smithfield respectively, to find a cheaper place of accommodation. naturally we wanted someplace reasonable yet liveable, explained Dylan,but I think we got a bargain living on Francis Street. Everywhere in town is within walking distance and the rent is nearly 100 cheaper! he was right. Fifteen minutes walk and you were on Grafton Street and a further five you found yourself right in the middle of the city centre. Before I had to take the bus to work. now I save so much from living here and walking to work; its incredible, says Pablo from under a pillow. Though life in the Liberties seemed to be going well for the two I couldnt help but ask them was it any better than living in their hometown. Dylan remarked: its about the same, if not better. There is something that appeals to me about The two do all their shopping two minutes away on Thomas Street, which has recently opened up a new Lidl along with the existing tesco Express. With those two shops were pretty much sorted. Adding to the cheaper rent I am sitting prettier than I was a year ago. I am really grateful considering the current economic situation, said Pablo. Literally a few feet away from their apartment is a row of antiques shops. When asked whether or not the two have ventured into any of the shops Pablo said I have bought a few small decorations and have brought them home to my mother. She loves them and wants to come and see the shops for herself . here, smell this, says Dylan as he opens the window. on sticking my head out there was only one smell, the Guinness Brewery to my left. Its that unique smell that the Liberties is famous for. I like my Spanish beer but Guinness is definitely my favourite, which is funny because I hated it a first. Dylan agreed saying I love the idea of living near the brewery of something as famous as Guinness and also to get that smell most days of the week is great. Some of my friends hate it but I disagree. If anything it makes me want a pint even more! on asked whether or not the two plan to stay in the Liberties for the long-haul Dylan said, If the cost of living and this apartment stay the same then I cant see why not. Pablo was less sure. As I said before, I love to travel so I wouldnt be surprised if I leave if an opportunity comes. Its just the way I am. once the tea and chocolate fingers were finished it was time to make tracks. The man across the road must have managed to get his car started while outside oSullivans my friend was still tending to his windows. Fifteen minutes walk later I was at the Quays waiting for my bus ride home.

Interesting finds in the Liberties

Mooli
1.99
According to green grocer Jack Roche this vegetable which looks like an overgrown parsnip is the new white turnip. Mooli is of Asian origin is actually a relative of the radish. Mr.Roche claims that it is delicious when diced up in an Irish stew. Priced at 1.99 theyre great value for money.

One of a kind

Hersheys Kisses

These popular chocolate treats are made in America and are hard to find on these shores. however the Molly Malone Market stocks them, and at the price of two bags for a euro, this reporter couldnt resist. Sinfully delicious!

We got a bargain living on Francis Street. Everyhwere in town is within walking distance and the rent is nearly 100 cheaper
Dublin and particularly the inner city. I just love the real Dubliners. I find them much more interesting than Mancunians. Despite his continued love with his home suburb in Barcelona and its customs, Pablo enjoys living in Dublin, saying Ive lived in southern England and Wales and Dublin beats them both. to me its not Barcelona and never will be but I do like the people and the way everything is so close together and easy to get to.

Baby Shoes

A stroll through the popular Liberties market revealed many treats, but one that catches the eye is Kathleen o Briens stall. She stocks hand knitted baby boots as well as machine knit cardigans and hats. Made from soft wool and available in variety of beautiful colours, theyre a bargain at 4 each.

Snow Cakes

1.25

It is impossible to walk by Catherines Bakery and Deli without noticing the vivid pink cakes in the window display. Snow cakes are sponge cake topped with jam and pink icing. normally priced at 1.25 each this reporter nabbed a bargain deal of three for 2. Yes they are as delicious as they look. (As demonstrated by Ava-see picture)

Sheepskin Rugs

50

Dunnes Butchers on Meath Street had an unusual item for sale. Perched on the windowsill were some sheepskin rugs. The butcher informed me that Irish model Vogue Williams was recently photographed for The Mirror with one of their rugs. Priced at 50 they are a quirky addition to any home.

Bargain Hunting: Flea Market to eMarket

Stephen Bourke Blithn Henehan
thEY SAY you can make a fortune buying from garage sales and flea markets and selling your treasure. My extensive research in advance of the Libertys eBay challenge (watching half an episode of Antiques Roadshow) told me that buying antiques to make money needed expert knowledge that I just didnt have. I decided to pick up something fun that would sell well on the internet the kind of mad oddity that made eBay famous. I knew from early on I would be fighting an uphill battle. We had a spending limit of a fiver, not enough for the Vintage Laptop a Windows 95 Thinkpad; or one of the various bikes on offer. What I could afford included battered paperbacks, comics and seashells. Then I saw it. The Drinking Chess Set, read the tatty cardboard box on the shelf of bric-a-brac. I had Euro signs in my eyes; it had a fancy glass board and thirty-two shot glasses. Alcohol and chess? This would sell. Well, I was looking for thirty euro originally, but Ill let you have it for just twenty. Sorry man, all I have is a fiver. Im wasting your time. But I wasnt. okay, ten and its yours, he said.Id feel bad taking it for a so little when you were looking for thirty earlier. Ill leave you alone. All right, you can have it for five. Suddenly, I had made a purchase. Long story short, my eBay auction went just as well for me as the original transaction did for him. After being listed for 99 cent to draw in the punters, it received a total of three bids to finish at the underwhelming sum of 3.25. Ah well, at least I had fun.
Market steal - unique yellow lemon teapot. Photo: Blithn Henehan

Chess set come drinking game. Photo: Stephen Bourke

I tRAWLED the Dublin flea market one Sunday in search of a bargain and I found a very special one. I bought the cutest little yellow teapot shaped like a lemon, from a man whose daughter was moving to America. The family were selling most of her old things but I

had my eye on the teapot Initially he wanted five euro for my lemonpot (as I have affectionately named her) but I skilfully bargained him down to a mere three euro. I was delighted even though I would have to sell my beloved lemon-pot on eBay for this bargain hunting challenge.I put her up for a minimum of 99cent thinking she would fetch way more than that. Little did I know that people have no value for novelty teapots or lemon shaped crockery. My teapot received barely any attention and only one bid, from me. I paid three euro for my teapot and then I bid exactly one euro for her, so my total was up to four euro not including postage and packaging. Some might say I failed my bargain hunting challenge. But my little lemon-pot looks so cute in my kitchen that I dont have the heart to try and sell her again. I think Ill just have to keep her, so for me the Dublin Flea market was a success. Anyone for a nice cup of tea?

FEATURES
Interview Joan Collins
Having recently taken her seat as one of a number of new left wing TDs in Dail Eireann, Joan Collins spoke to Sean Duffy about her new role as a national politician, the challenges ahead and her infamous spat with Bertie Ahern.
sD: So what was your first day in Leinster house like? Jc : It was a great day. I was really proud. All the members of the United Left Alliance marched up to the Dail together. It was brilliant getting the peoples tDs in there. My mam was over the moon. I felt a little bit of trepidation and obviously responsibility. I was proud and humbled. I wasnt intimidated, but when you get elected, people expect a lot from you. Its a huge responsibility. You dont want to let people down. And we wont. sD: When did you finally decide to run for the Dail? before the election Labour and Fianna Gael both voted with the government. That bailout should have been a referendum decided by the people. sD: You clashed with Bertie Ahern in the run up to the election. What do you think of him as an individual and the government he led? Jc: I dont know him as an individual so its not a personal attack. I think what he did to the country was absolutely despicable. he claims that he didnt know what was happening in the banks. As leader of the country he should have known what was going on. It was great to see that a lot of people were delighted that I actually tackled him. In a sense it cut across any chance he had of running for president, which was great. sD: how do you make the transition from grassroots politics to the national agenda?
La Caterdral artist studios, Thomas Street. Photo: Martha Gberevbie

Inside La Caterdral:

Jc: Thats Jc: I ran in 2007. something I We were very have to adapt much the face to. What Im of Crumlin, doing is using Walkinstown, the time that but we hadnt Im not in got the broad the Dail to support across get down the inner city. into the I had about communities 2,400 first in the preferences. constituency. Pictured: Joan Collins, TD for Between me and If people are Dublin SC. the other People calling with before Profit queries were candidate we knew getting back to we had good support. them and calling out We ran a brilliant to them. You have to keep campaign this time. We got a that connection. So were still brilliant response from the people. going to be very much active in the community. sD: Did you feel there was an appetite out there for a shift to the left? Jc: Yes. People can feel whats happening. They know the richest peoples lives havent changed. And the ordinary person on the street has had their life changed dramatically. sD: Would you see anything positive in the performance of the new government? Jc: If they put through the political reform it would be good. Weve yet to see it. Theyve accepted the economic restrictions from the EU/ IMF. Every speech that they make, thats what they are saying. That we havent got the money and our hospitals and our services are going to be restricted. If you close your eyes you would think you were listening to Fianna Fail and the Greens from eight weeks ago unfortunately. I think its a process. I think people are very disappointed. sD: But surely they have been hamstrung by the terms of the bailout? Jc: I knew they were going to be hamstrung before the election. But they claimed they wouldnt, so they were making empty promises. They went to the people and said the opposite. The terrible thing about it was that two weeks sD: What do you see as the major challenges for your constituency and specifically The Liberties area? Jc: There are huge challenges for people to try and hold the communities together. Particularly from the point of view of younger people, where they are thinking Theres no work. Were also starting to see the legacy of the drugs and the feud. You have young kids being used as mules bringing stuff around the area. I think thats the biggest challenge for the community. Theres loads of potential in the area. People are very community minded. But if you start pulling out and cut back the services in the community, which were thin on the ground anyway, its going to be hard for the community to hold on to what we have and to protect families. SD: Would you ever think of merging with Sinn Fein? JC: Sinn Fein and ourselves would probably agree nine times out of ten. I am not a republican though. I couldnt support the idea of them supporting cuts in the north and then being opposed to them in the south. There has to be consistency. We have people running now in the north. It would be a big breakthrough for us if one or two of them got elected.the north.

Martha Gberevbie

A painters playground
at different stages of their careers, some self taught and others well established. Students from the national College of Art and Design (nCAD), Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design (IADt) and Dublin Institute of technology (DIt) also attend La Catedral. I was introduced to many different artists and I was in awe of their art. one such artist hugh Frazier, a part-time oil painter of mainly urban scenes, has been working at the studios for nearly three years. he said the Liberties is a nice area, for an artist, with lots of nice little cafs. he paints rooftops and buildings so the Liberties are a source of inspiration for him. he displays his paintings at the Doorway gallery on South Frederick Street. Painting for pleasure he says, It is very hard to make a living out of painting. Ken Mahon draws comics and showcases his work online to the global audience. he has been drawing comics for two years but he only took the next step of hiring a space in the studios just a month ago. Joe Burke and Cian hanlon are the newest additions to the studios, having just moved in just a couple of weeks ago. They are comedy video makers and they plan to use their room in the studios for writing and filming videos. While at the studios I decided to make the most of my time there and viewed the work of David Folan, a sculptor, whose vulture and chicken sculptors have been featured in the Irish times. . For more information on La Catedral Studios email lacatedralstudios@yahoo.com or visit www.lacatedralstudios. org

n Augustine Street, just off the top of Thomas Street lies a little hidden gem known as La Catedral. It is a complex of 24 studios for mixed media artists and includes the Back Loft, which is a multi-purpose space. The studios are an artists paradise as they provides a place for the artist to completely lose themselves in their work and shut out, if they so wish, the outside world. The manager and founder of the studios, Antonella Scanu, welcomed me and spoke for her love of her work. I love working in an environment where there is a sense of community, a vibrant atmosphere and cross-fertilisation of ideas she said. I meet new people, its a customised work and Ive chosen this as a lifestyle. The studios are home to artists from all walks of life. They are all

Atomic stage school sparkles

schools from around Ireland and Director of Atomic Mark Kennedy confirmed his pride and delight. our students performed amazingly and also had a great day, he said. over 140 stuic dents, including the Atom f embers o ool parents of the : Young m Atomic Stage Sch Pictured hoto: Atomic troupe School. P Stage travelled to Killarney on March 11th for the All Ireland Variety Competition A performance school for and took home the Production and people of all ages, Sarah Musicality award, as well as coming Reilly has a look at the runners up in some of their other wonderful little group that is categories. the Atomic stage school. Its been a busy year so far for the talented group and in early March on Sunday March 27 2011 local talent troupe Atomic took part in 2010, Atomic took over 30 students Dance Masters at the oReilly The- to Los Angeles to represent Ireland in the Dance Excellence festival atre in Belvedere College. It was a showcase of many stage where kids got the chance to perform at Disneyland and compete against schools from around the world. In taking home two awards from the trip, the group were more than thrilled with their efforts. Established in July 2007, Atomic Stage School began running classes from the oLV hall off Clanbrassil St. In 2009, the school moved classes to St Catherines Community Centre on Marrowbone Lane. Stage school classes run on Saturdays and include singing, drama and many styles of dance. During the week, hip hop classes run on tuesdays. With adults variety classes taking place on Fridays, there is something for everyone. Atomic have seven teachers and 140 students from the ages of 3 to 20 in the stage school and the adults variety class has participants of 18 years and older. Since opening in 2007 students have had great success in been cast in television adverts, films and programmes. They have also taken part in Christmas Pantos at the olympia, Gaiety and tivoli Theatres.

Purveyor of traditionally crafted meats for over fifty years, Dan Cochrane paid a visit to the Larkin butchers of Meath Street.

The taste of tradition

Paul Larkin. Photo: D Cochrane

FEATURES
Dublin that actually butcher their own meat instead of just selling prepacked products bought from main stream companies. Back in the early 1970s, Sean bought land in Meath to farm their cattle and sheep to. This is why both the brothers and locals can trust what is displayed in the window. Paul believes that now the Celtic tiger is over people will be going back to the traditional way. There is no need in changing something that is working, he said. Paul still finds it funny that youths are so surprised that the shop doesnt sell sausages or rashers. The business was also a home to the Larkins. The brothers spent their childhood above the shop and attended St Brigids School down the road. Meath Street businesses were owned by families who lived above

In thE middle of Meath Street, across the road from The Lark pub, sits a small butcher shop run by brothers Paul and Declan Larkin. Upon entry one word springs to mind, simplicity. Although the shop isnt particularly big, it is spacious. A board is on the far wall displaying a list of products accompanied by their prices. A pound of sirloin steak can be bought for just 6.10 and its only 5.39 by the kilogramme of rib steak. A Foundation Award is beside it congratulating the shop on its outstanding commitment to the

One woman makes the journey from Maynooth every few weeks just to buy meat from the brothers

traditions of the craft. The business was founded by their father, Sean Larkin, back in the 1950s and they still abide by his tradition. Larkin Bros are one of the last few remaining butchers in

them or in the houses situated close by, which at the time was common. Regulars are what keep the business afloat but the occasional shoppers that appear on Fridays and Saturdays also bring in the bacon. First time shoppers are often surprised that only lamb and beef are sold. A lot of families moved out of the Liberties around the Celtic tiger. But many of those still travel to town to shop on Meath Street. one woman makes the journey from Maynooth every few weeks just to buy meat from the brothers. So the methods that were used back in the 1950s still work today. Customers are still greeted with the same level of banter and given advice on how best to cook the meat. All you need is a knife, a good chopper, a saw and of course the skill.

David Hogan

Old is the new new

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nEW VIntAGE shop Eco Chic puts the other more central vintage shops to shame. Like its location on Bond St behind the Guinness Storehouse, Eco Chic is a big space full of character. It is like a mini flea market; spread sparsely over a number of rooms and a world away from vintage shops in temple Bar that are crammed with clothes that nobody wants. Items in Eco Chic feel handpicked, and nearly every one served a purpose: unique, quirky and fashionable. The prices make sense too. Coats for 12, belts for 10, and designer dresses for 80; youd be hard-pressed to find these items in other shops. The best part of the Eco Chic experience is wandering around the shop not knowing what you might find. There are the usual rails of vintage dresses, shirts and jeans mostly for women, and a smaller section for men. Theres also a great choice of refurbished furniture such as chairs and tables that would add character to any room.

Dublin City and its silent streets

W
Liam Keegan
hat was once one of the thriving commercial centres of Dublin and at the heart of the citys culture has now become a black spot for closed businesses and derelict buildings. With the combination of the economic downturn and negligence of the Liberties, this area encapsulates the manner in which Ireland misspent its fortunes to become the debt-ridden country it is today. At eleven oclock on a Wednesday morning, Dame St is as vibrant and busy as usual, with heavy vehicle traffic and with shops and restaurants, large and small, open for business. A swift turn left up Georges Street South and the traffic may not change dramatically, but the vibrancy most certainly does. Closed shutters of closed businesses and to let signs are visible from the foot of the street, and this view only becomes less promising as you continue up this road. There are ten closed down businesses on Georges Street alone, including a large building formerly a Dunnes Stores clothing store, with a sign stating, We have relocated to our flagship store at St Stephens Green. We hope to see you there. Why there, and not here? Quiznos Subs, a similar business to the popular deli-style restaurant Subway, are another business to have recently moved away from this area to St Stephens Green. Just across from this vacant office is a huge derelict building that was once The outlet Store. not only is the large shop itself shut, but the three storeys above appear to have been neglected for a considerable period, judging by the poor state of the upper storey windows. If Georges St painted a bleak picture, the canvas doesnt get any smoother crossing onto Aungier St. By the time you get to DIt Aungier Street, you will have already passed twenty two closed down businesses and neglected buildings, and this is all in a five minute walk. Some sense of vibrancy has been restored beyond Aungier Street, on I know DIt Aungier St may be going in a few years time, but there are other colleges in the area. If Im still here in a few years, I may have to consider relocating. Well have to see, Pavel concluded. Singh, owner of Sim Sim Mobile, a small shop on Aungier St that specialises in mobile phones and accessories, has ran his business here for over ten years and is seeing the effect the recession is having on this once-thriving area. Up to three years ago, these streets were very busy, but since the recession, the streets are practically empty, said Singh. Even though these streets are filled with thousands of college students during the week, spending mentalities have receded among students, along with the economy. Business is at its worst now; people are spending less, they arent upgrading or buying mobiles as often as they used to, added Singh. Although the recession has caused the decline of business worldwide, there are clearly other factors contributing to the lack of prosperity in this particular area of the city. not only are customers spending less, but so is the Government, and in turn Dublin City Council. Some effort needs to be made to improve this part of town; its run down... In the UK the Government spend to rebuild run down parts of cities. This needs to be done here too, concluded Singh. The current Government allowed the growth of a huge property bubble, which inevitably burst with dire consequences for the countrys economic future, but why were old flowers such as the Liberties laid to wither for so long? With the current bail-out and the Irish nation glooming, Aungier Street, Georges Street and Camden Street would all be perfectly apt settings for the scenes that will depict the struggle Ireland is faced with in the coming years, unless the next Government can find it in their hearts and pockets, a way to restore this once-prospering part of the city.

An example of boarded up businesses on Aungier Street. Photo: ?

Camden Street, with the presence of popular spots such as Whelans, Solas, Ryans Bar and the Bank of Ireland. however, prosperity and sustainability on this street havent. Include Camden Street Lower in your walk and youve walked by a staggering thirty seven closed businesses and neglected buildings, some of these fenced off to prevent trespassing. What was once a commercial centre similar to Grafton Street up until the 1970s, the street has been left to decline and decay long before the whispers of the word recession. In need of urban renewal is an understatement. This part of the city needs to be rescued and revitalised, and the recent recession has only hindered any hope of this

happening. The presence of three third-level institutions such as DIt, Dublin Business School and the Royal College of Surgeons has accommodated for certain kinds of business such as coffee shops, restaurants, pubs and computer stores, but the businesses these thousands of students may provide is clearly not enough to keep these few streets alive. Pavel, owner of Vitamin Shop on Aungier Street, said that a rejuvenation of this area wouldnt make any big difference to business, as most of the shops target market in the area were the students in the nearby colleges. But this reliance on students also poses problems for business owners such as Pavel.

Things are going ok, he said, I rely mostly on students for business, but because of this my shop is fairly quiet when the colleges are closed. Pavels shop specialises in fitness products and protein supplements, products that are mostly popular among young men. I dont think improving these streets would make much difference to business, as its the problems of the whole country and not just this street that have a caused a slowdown in business, he added. The approval of the Grangegorman site to amalgamate all the DIt colleges together on one campus, will mean the removal of thousands of students and their spending money in the area.

FEATURES

Green finger gardening

U
Fionnuala Holohan
rban gardening, which includes allotments, community gardens and window boxes - is making a comeback. A map of gardens in Dublin shows the predominance of residential community gardens that are mostly independent of the council but may receive funding or support from them.Council-provided allotments are in keen demand but there are fewer of them. According to noel McEvoy of the Dublin City Council (DCC) Park Authority, they have a waiting list of 500 and climbing, of people desiring allotments. When the council brought St Annes in Raheny on stream the list dropped to 300, but it has risen again. however, there are other options that communities can consider.over in the DCC Department of Community and Development, the Council is helping communities who want to make use of the disused and neglected areas within their local area and create community gardens. In a post-Celtic tiger world, where levelled or undeveloped building sites are unlikely to find tenants in the next 15 to 20 years, there is a huge opportunity to reclaim this land for community use. The South Circular Road community garden is a shining example of this (see Map). The Dublin Community Forum (DCF), a network of community forums in Dublin, produced a booklet in 2010 which provides all the information needed to create a garden - from finance and location to gardening tips and sustainable living. DCF say that gardens enhance a communitys quality of life, through new friendships, purposeful activity and through the creation of more green areas within the inner city. Mr McEvoy is delighted with the growing interest, and credits it to a combination of reasons; a renewed interest in where food comes from, the popularity of cooking and cooking programs promoting homegrown produce, the organic food movement and counter culture, and the fact that there are more people, for example the unemployed, with time on their hands now. The green movement in general is also contrib-

11

uting to the renewed interest. Were really dependent on people coming to us, said Anne oBrien, DCCs Play Development officer, who works with interested community groups to make urban spaces more child-friendly and interesting. At a commercial level, Dublin Coop near St Patricks Street in newmarket currently source their produce from various growers around outer Dublin, but there is ongoing discussion about whether to also source from more local gardens, according to Fintan Molloy from the Co-op. however, most community garden growers are mainly interested in growing for themselves and their neighbours in the community, rather than making money from the activity.

For further information on the project, telephone 012223259 or email community.forum@ dublincity.ie

South Circular Road garden open day. Photo: southcirculargarden.blogspot.com

MAp LEgENd
Residential community gardens. Although independent of local authorities, some receive local authority funding. Dublin City Council sheltered accommodation community garden. Public access is restricted. Allotments within Dublin City Council catchment area. Dublin City Council backed community gardening initiatives. Available to the public, but access maybe restricted within some housing complexes. Educational gardens within Dublin City Council catchment area.

Garden 5
A RECENT example of a community pushing successfully for their own food garden is the South Circular Road (SCR) or Dolphins Barn community garden group. They started in 2005 as food-growing squatters on some land behind the White Heather factory, on the banks of the Grand Canal, but were evicted in 2006. In 2007, the group set up on land beside Sallys Bridge on a unused green field behind Dublin Mosque and were again asked to leave as they were trespassing.

Later that year, they finally secured legal use of an abandoned car park on the SCR, on a site on loan from ST Salvage Company, across the road from the original factory site, and they have been there ever since. The group is also the subject of a short documentary premiering in Barcelona in April this year. In it they talk about how they got to where they are now, and the joys of community gardening. For more information, visit: http://southcirculargarden. blogspot.com/
Map of Dublin gardens. Photo courtesy: Robert Moss (Dublin Community Forum)

Garden 35
ST ANDREWS Gardening Club is a club for the unemployed men of the area to learn and practice the art of gardening. Every Wednesday from 11am to 1pm, the men tend the garden with the help of an onsite qualified gardener. The garden is cultivated all year round - producing flowers and vegetables for the houses and tables of these amateur gardeners. DCC come around once or twice a year with seedlings and advice for the garden. For more information, contact Brendan at St Andrews Garden on 01 453 0744.

Garden 2
THE ROBERT Emmet Community Development project in Island Street has a thriving local community garden. It started in May 1998 and has been growing since, according to Mirn Cuirein, the project coordinator. Lots of people are out and about in this weather, said

Mirn, were actually full now. The land for the garden was provided by DCC and is used to grow vegetables, some bulbs and soft fruit, which the local residents make use of themselves. The group also has an area for playing football and cricket, amongst other sports. For more information, contact Mirn at 01 670 8880.

Community garden growers are interested in growing for themselves and their neighbours in the community, rather than making money

Flowers in St Andrews Garden. Photo: Fionnuala Holohan

View over the urban garden in Island Street. Photo courtesy: Robert Emmet Community Development project

ARTS

Featured Local Artist

Mrs Browns Boys

They have played to thousands in Ireland and abroad. The TV show attracted huge rating on RTE and BBC. The DVD has sold in big numbers. And they have just sold out 18 nights in the Olympia. All while getting a pasting from the critics. Kevin Donnellan examines the story behind Brendan O Carrolls Mrs Browns Boys.

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Summer Meadow by Jerry Marjoram; Inset: Jerry Marjoram at work. Photo courtesy: Combridge Fine Arts Gallery

This issues featured artist - Jerry Marjoram - was born in the Liberties in 1936 and is considered to be one of the most popular landscape painters in Ireland.

errys interest in art originally sprung from his fascination with paintings on display in the windows along Grafton Street in the 1950s. These paintings in the Combridge Fine Arts Gallery were works by well established painters. As Jerry walked home from school he would gaze in the windows at the works of a diverse range of painters and run home to try and produce similar paintings. When he was 13 Jerry got his first job and saved his money at the time to buy the good paints that all the professionals used, as he described them. At the age of 16 Jerry started studying in The College of Art in Dublin under the tutorship of Maurice McGonical and Sean Keating. Jerry attended an evening Art course at the college. Around ten years later Jerry had his very own paintings displayed in the gallery windows on Grafton Street. It wasnt long before Jerrys

hobby became his passion. In 1970 he gave up his job and began to paint full time. Since then he has had many solo exhibitions around the country, mainly in Dublin and Galway. Jerry is said to have been the very first visual artist from the Liberties to have a one Man Show in Dublin. Jerry paints everyday from 9am to 2pm, if not more. Speaking about his love of Art Jerry described painting as a compulsion. his brother tom, who Jerry describes as like his twin joked about his brother saying he never stops painting. Jerry is known for his realistic art work. he tends to paint natural landscapes, especially of the West of Ireland and the rural countryside. Connemara is a place which regularly features in his work. Jerry often likes to explore the west and look for new ideas and vistas. When I asked Jerry why he paints he responded with a simple answer, I just love it, he said. Jerry is very involved in fundraising and very much believes that you should use your talents to do good, as he said himself. As well as generously donating many of his paintings for various charities and organisations Jerry has done

numerous art demonstrations over the years to raise money for organisations such as Aware. Jerry said he enjoys helping people through painting. Along with various other galleries across the country Jerry has been showing his paintings in Combridges in Dublin since 1968. If you want to see more of Jerrys work and other local artists works you can visit the gallery which is now located on South Williams Street. You can also take a look at the website which is www.cfa.ie Jerrys work is displayed both at home and abroad. Some of his work can be seen in the Abbeyglen hotel in Clifden, the Executive Suite of Dublins Berkley Court hotel, the Four Seasons hotel, Ballsbridge and the Irish Embassy in Prague, where one of his largest paintings now hangs. Jerrys paintings are very popular with visitors to Ireland as they are often true to life and capture the beauty of our rural landscapes. now at seventy four years of age, Jerry has never lost his appetite to paint; constantly searching for new material and experimenting with new techniques.

- Gillian Stedman

Paddy houlihan, who plays Dermot Brown in the show, has been involved with the production since 2002. Danny [oCarroll, Brendans son] was my best friend and I was fresh out of school working for tipperary Water, he explains. [Brendan] wasnt even do it there and show me, it was youll be able to do it, I know you will. After learning the ropes backstage his first show was in front of 39 people in Mullingar before playing to a packed house in Liverpool. Playing to full houses abroad is a regular occurance now. But for a show that draws heavily on Dublin humour there must be some stuff that gets lost in translation? There was one scene with a big truck crash noise, so Dannys character Buster said there goes my noclaims bonus we did it in Derry and it was huge, he says. Then we did it in toronto, and I dont know what kind of insurance they have in toronto, but there was pure silence. But playing abroad brings benefits and new experiences as well. You have people coming from rural spots in Canada, and somehow they watch it on Youtube or someone tells them about it and theyre loving it, says Paddy. People would be driving 18 hours back after the show. So youd almost want to ask was it worth it? youre afraid to nearly ask. Preparation for shows is generally fairly relaxed. Brendan never lets us rehearse it, he likes us to keep it loose. For one play I was asking, where will I go? he said Ill tell you, wherever feels right for me to put you so I went out onstage in front of the audience and Brendan would say sit down there, not there, there no there. And it was all because he forgot his line! just be like where do I recognise you from?! and wed be like oh I dunno! L: Did you ever pop down to the Liberties markets at all? LJ: no, never actually. Ill give it a check sometime though! L: have you heard anything about the show getting picked up for a second season yet? LJ: The producers are in talks at the moment with Rt but I dont think well be hearing anything for a few weeks. And I suppose when I do find out Ill have to wait a while before I can say anything. L: Do you have anything recorded for the second season? or would you have to start the filming process all over again? LJ: no not at all, we just finished up there in late november and that

The recently aired tV show has given the Mrs Brown franchise a new audience where the first series attracted and audience of up to 890,000 for RtE before reaching 3.1 million on BBC. The tV experience has been challenging but enjoyable. Id just start hopping around the place. The camermen were saying Jaysus stay still. We couldnt be trusted to do what we were doing in rehearsal all week, wed forget everything we learnt. The director would be like do you remember anything from rehearsals this week? Why are you standing there? the Ashbourne man says. There was a bit of fun on set too. There was one cameraman kept getting caught out, he was crashing into walls, into windows, Paddy laughs. And part of that was because Brendan and the director was trying to trip the cameraman up, they were having their own little game. Throughout the success the group have never enjoyed any critical acclaim, quite the opposite in fact. Paddy is sanguine about the critics Brendan always says its the punters that pay for the tickets. But he does have a problem with the tone of some of the reviews. nearly every single time theyll mention that the audinece were rolling around laughing but that they didnt find it funny which is fine, but then you get something like these northside Dubliners howling like dogs and youre thinking, that was in the olympia, it was sold out, and youre criticising, not us, but the guys who are buying the tickets, he says. Like if they dont like you they dont like you. But our fans, I dont think they read it, theyre going to come anyway. But, critics aside, things are going well. A second tV series has been commisioned by BBC, there are more shows to come at home and abroad, and a DVD may be released for Christmas. The latest show may be called Good Mourning Mrs Brown but were far from the end of this particular Dublin succes story. Good Mourning Mrs Brown continues in the Olympia Theatre until Saturday May 14th.

Interview Louise Johnston

Louise Johnston first came into (some) of our lives after her life was broadcast on RTE2. Lynne Swan talks to her about life on and after Fade Street.
my meals cooked for me by my mum any more. The apartment didnt actually have a lift and theres six flights of stairs up to it. After a few nights out youd actually wake up the next morning and be like; how did I make it up the stairs in my heels?! I dont know if Id ever live in an apartment that didnt have a lift again though (laughs).

was everything we had. L: Will it be in the same apartment on Fade Street? LJ: I actually dont know, because I know it was up for rent and I actually dont know if anyones living there at the moment. It just became a part of our lives and then when it stopped, it stopped and we just carried on with our own lives so I dont really think I had time to look back and get upset about anything. L: So where are you living at the moment? LJ: Im living at home. I have two loans to pay off at the moment so I actually cant afford to be moving out. Im not too bothered really though as its handy being at home and Id miss my mum too much if I moved out right now. But, at the same time, I dont feel as though Ive the same freedom as I did at in town.

L: having lived on Fade Street whilst filming the show, what would you say are the main benefits L: So, what would you do when of living in that particular area? you werent being tailed by the cameras? LJ: Its so central and its in that kind of D2 area which is very cosmopolitan and in general just a very active area.

L: And youre originally from Clonskeagh in South Dublin. how did life on Fade Street differ? LJ: I suppose there were a few differences. obviously I didnt have

LJ: Well, usually on a Friday night myself, Cici and Dani would be just so bored sitting in the apartment so wed be like what will we do; so wed stroll down to McDonalds in our tracksuits and wed sit there for like two or three hours laughing at all the drunk people coming in!

Fade Street star Louise Johnston Photo courtesy: Louise Johnston

L: Why didnt they record that?! That sounds like amazing tV! LJ: I know, I know but they had certain times that they filmed it. But, we never actually filmed past 2am anyway but that wouldve been so funny. Wed see people would

ARTS
Jenny Dunne

Bouncers at the Tivoli

The key characters, as youve probably guessed from the title, are four bouncers played by Luke hayden, Michael Bates, Paul Connaughton and Cormac McDonagh. The play focuses on the bouncers working the door of Sloopys nightclub - a place anyone who was socialising in Dublin at the time will remember. As well as the bouncers, the four actors also play a group of girls going out to celebrate a 21st birthday, four young men going out on the tear, and a huge assortment of other minor, but hilarious, characters. The speed and effortlessness that the actors switch between characters is astonishing. With no costume changes or props to help them out, the actors go from macho bouncers to giggling girls dancing around with their handbags in the blink of an eye. As someone who wasnt really benefitting from the nostalgia factor of the play, I still thought it was hilarious. I cant remember the last time I saw something that made me laugh as frequently or as hard as Bouncers did. As youd expect in a play about a nightclub, the humour is pure smut. Sex and alcohol provide most of the punchlines, and its certainly not one for the easily offended. The one critiscism I have of Bouncers is that there werent as many songs as I was expecting. Musical hits from the 80s is splashed across the posters, and I expected it to be full of songs to hum along to, but the music was the least memorable aspect of the performance.

Review

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It was a trip back to the time of Larry Gogan, Marathon bars and perms; Bouncers wasnt what I was expecting, but wow was it funny. The play, which was written by John Godber and originally set in England, was adapted by director Graham Watts for an Irish audience. Bouncers tells the story of a typical night out in Dublin in the early 80s. now, I have a confession to make. I wasnt even born in 1981, much less going to nightclubs. however, the woman sitting next to me was nudging her daughter and whispering thats what it used to be like! an awful lot, so it seems as though Bouncers does a good job in recreating the era.
re

The Bouncer

s at the Tivol

i Theatre. Ph

oto courtesy

: Tivoli Theat

In the run up to Bouncers in the Tivoli theatre, we sent our reporter Jenny Dunne backstage where she talked to producers and actors about chips and politics to see if the theatre really is just all about sequins and silly noises

t is the opening night of a show and the tivoli is eerily empty. The aroma of fish and chips is overwhelming. Director Graham Watts will later inform me that this is the calm before the storm. I sit in the office and chat with hannah Crouch and Isabelle Leclerq while they take advantage of this moment of calm to eat their chips from the new Borza's shop on Thomas St. As I'm leaving I'm introduced to Becky Gardiner, the stage manager, who lets me know that everyone is really hyper before running home to get changed for the show. 5.10pm I go and talk to director Graham Watts in the empty theatre. he tells me how Bouncers, the play currently in the tivoli, was rehearsed in St. nicolas's church on Francis St. The 'lovely ladies' there made the cast lunch every day. he's had a busy week of rehearsals and previews. now that it is finally the opening night of the play things are starting to slow down. This is his seventh play at the tivoli. It's a gorgeous theatre. It's very unusual how wide it is, it's much wider than the Gate or the Abbey. The stage is so adaptable, you can move it around, close it in. I love it here. he's living on Thomas St while he's in Dublin and says If I look out my window, the amount of characters on the street is just fantastic. I really love the area. 5.30pm Philip hayes, the sound engineer, is in what used to be the projection booth when the tivoli was a cinema. This is his second show in the tivoli, having worked on their production of Dracula last year. he says he loves the buzz of working in a live medium. There's a different audience every night. And obviously, there's a huge potential for failure, so that creates some excitement, he tells me. he runs off to 'blast out some cheesy eighties hits' to test the speakers.

Flat Photo Exhibition

Fionnuala Holohan

St Teresas Gardens. Photographer: Willem Heefer. Photo courtesy: IAA

The exterior of the Tivoli Theatre. Photo courtesy: Flickr

Backstage at Tivoli
5.40pm 5.50pm

Drama student Bill Collins shows up to watch the rehearsal. hes been helping out with the play, and even though he can't stay for the performance he wants to watch the rehearsal. Bill has lived on Thomas St for a couple of years and says he really likes the area. Cast member Cormac McDonagh shows up with the news that the banks will need another 24bn. Graham, Bill and Cormac discuss the banking crisis, FAS scandals and obama's upcoming visit to Ireland. Apparently theatre isn't all sequins and making silly noises with your mouth. 6.00pm I go back to talk to Isabelle Leclerq. She's just moved to Ireland from France to take over as the tivoli's marketing manager. She believes the public need to be reminded about the tivoli. She plans to have a lot more going on in the tivoli in future. There's going to be lots more plays this year, and we want to start having gigs in the downstairs again, she says. 6.15pm Luke hayden, Paul Connaughton and Michael Bates appear onstage

Its a gorgeous theatre. Its very unusual how wide it is, much wider than the Gate or the Abbey.
and begin to warm up. Cormac is nowhere to be found. Theyre only stretching and running through little bits of the play, but their energy and enthusiasm is obvious. Luke tells me he has a good feeling about tonight's performance. We've had two good runs, and it feels tight. 6.20pm Cormac arrives and I watch the actors quickly run through a few of the songs for tonight. Their rendition of Thriller is particularly hilarious. Cormac and Michael disappear backstage. Paul and Luke stay and do warm up exercises. Maybe theatre is a bit about making silly noises after all.

6.30pm I go backstage to talk to the actors. I find Cormac McDonagh in his dressing room, which is filled with the sound of disco music. This is his first time performing in the tivoli but he tells me he has always loved the Liberties area. The people here are really warm and without pretense. There's so much real Dublin humour everywhere. I love all the small business on Thomas St and Meath St, they're really unique. I love working in the area, long may it last. 6.50pm I go outside to size up the crowd arriving to see the play. A man in a tuxedo leans over and asks if I'm going to the show tonight. I realise it is Luke hayden, one of the actors I was just talking to. I tell him I'm going. 'Doesn't he remember me?' I think. Then he says Well, no throwing bottles at the stage alright?. 7.00pm I go into the bar. It's slowly filling up with excited punters, drinking and buying programmes. The energy in the room is electric. 7.20pm People start drifting towards the theatre. I take my drink and settle in for a laugh.

thIS CoLLECtIon of photographs of Dublin council housing reveals the unexpected architectural and stylistic beauty of the flat complexes of the last century. The exhibition from Willem heeffer captures the flats as they are in decline pre-demolition - their occupants have either all moved out or are in the process of doing so. The flats are captured head-on and in their entirety, filling the frame from left to right. This gives them the appearance of 'mansions', according to William Laffan, an art historian, who compares the setting to those of Irelands fading Georgian mansions. "heeffer extracts a similar beauty from the desolate remains of Dublin flats, says Mr Laffan. An eight-by-seven grid of identikit living room interiors from the Chamber Court flats in Dublin 8 are enlivened by the variation in the decoration within - no two grids are the same. The occupants made these flats their own. The housing complexes included in the exhibition are St teresa's Gardens, Dublin 8; o'Devaney Gardens, Dublin 7; Chamber Court, Dublin 8; Cromcastle Court, Dublin 5; Killarney Court, Dublin 1; Weaver Court, Dublin 8; St Michael's Estate, Dublin 8 and Ballymun, Dublin 9. Simon Lincoln, the exhibition officer, says he has been pleasantly surprised by the considerable level of interest - with 20 visitors a day. The exhibition runs in the Irish Architectural Archive Gallery, 45 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, from 10 March to 20 May 2011. It is open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm, tuesdays to Fridays and is free. More information: http://archiseek. com/2011/dublin-social-housingphotographic-exhibition-at-iaa/

12

OUT AND
The Clock
Shane ONeill, Mike Griffin, Tom Malone, Liamo Lynch

Fal

Joe Pigeon, Margaret Quilty, Rachel Quilty, and Amy ONeill (top left) Kelly Lynch and Stephen Lynch (top right) Christy Dignan, Willy Green and Cathy Gaffney (bottom left) Noel Alwright, Noel Grady, Sean Monks and Mark Judge enjoying a night out (bottom right)

Arthurs

Shane Horgan, John Lynn, Donal O OReilly (top) Etain Barry (above l Nick Farrell (above right) Billy Jo Tim Nolan all enjoying the night in

Peter Graham, Gloria Graham Mary Graham (Ma Baker) Marie (top left) Mick Mahady enjoying a pint (top right) Colm G Keane, Anne Hegarty, Susan Humbust and Deirdre Brown (bottom left) Sharon Maguire and Rob McEdgar (above right)

D ABOUT
Kate McCauleys on Malpas street Ryans and Hannons
Annie OBrien and Mary Walsh Mike Griffin

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John OReilly and Mary OGorman

llons

The Hill Top

OBrien, Stephen Doherty, Donal left) Pat Ruane, Tina Rocks and ordan, Tim Walsh, Pat Hinley and n Fallons (bottom centre)

Miura Cleary, Rita pluck and Margaret Walsh (top centre) Sandra Marriman and Nora Proudfoot (above left) Derek Marhall Graham Mooney (above right)

Photographers: Blithn Henehan, Caroline Ewins

Got an event coming up? Want to see it here? E-mail theliberty featuresteam@

ARTS

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ds oo lyw ol H en old G ts en om M
D
rawing from the sophisticated styles of the classic Hollywood period, stylist Caroline Ewins - using clothing found in local second hand shops - brings a little movie magic to the Liberties.
styling and coordination: caroline ewins Photographer: cassie Delaney Model: Jenny Mc Govern

The shoot was inspired by some of the timeless classics such as Breakfast at Tiffanys, Rear Window and the iconic Marilyn Monroe moment in the Seven Year Itch.

Model wears: Jacket from St.Vincent De Paul ; skirt and waist belt from Mrs Quins Charity Shop

ARTS
M ress from l wears: D Mode hop Charity S rs Quins

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Model wears: Skirt and top from Mrs Quins Charity Shop

Model wears: Dress from Mrs Quins Charity Shop

FEATURES
Garda Documentary
Kevin Donnellan
ShootInG IS to begin shortly on a documentary about the Dublin Garda Lugs Brannigan. opinions are heavily divided on the methods used by Mr Brannigan during his 40 years on the force. But his time

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as the head of a mobile riot squad unit, officially called the Prevention and Detection of Street nuisances Unit, is the source of many stories of old-school methods of law enforcement.

scun scan Productions is keen to hear from anyone who thinks they have a good interesting story to tell about this legendary Dublin Garda figure. info@scunscan.ie

Flea Market Treasures

Conor Keaney
thE DUBLIn Flea Market takes place on the last Sunday of every month in the newmarket Co-op; its an Aladdins Cave full of rarities and bargains to haggle over. Whether you are looking for jewellery, ceramics, media or clothing there is something for everyone to be found if you have the time and inclination to look. Aisling Rogerson is one of the Fleas founders and organisers. She started the Flea two and a half years ago with two of her friends Luca and Sharon who shared her passion for flea markets when travelling. They were inspired by the Flea Market run in the Bernard Shaw pub and thought this is great lets do that on a bigger scale. We were just coming into a recession and it was a perfect time for a second hand market says Aisling, who was keen to point out the importance of the internet and sites like facebook for spreading the word, Communications wise they are magic, its very difficult to set up an event without using facebook or twitter. For the first flea they managed to get 25 stalls and from there it just grew and grew. There is no typical stall holder it seems; Aisling says one of the great things about the flea is that for people who have online shops the flea is like having an actual shop for the day and people know that they will be there which is great for making sales and being noticed. Its also a great opportunity for people who have business ideas but are not so sure how to go about testing out their ideas and improving what they do. Then there is the whole other spectrum of people who just want to clear out their houses and its a place for them to do that. Fiona Donnellan is a regular stallholder at the Flea, she runs her own handmade jewellery business Cute As A.... I started doing the markets about a year and a half ago. she says . I was between jobs at the time; I decided Id use my initiative and a bit of creativity. People were going crazy for vintage stuff and I thought there was a niche for vintage or recycled jewellery. The best way to sell and see if people liked what I was doing was through the flea markets. People really responded to it, it was a platform for me to start getting it stocked in shops. There is a lot of camaraderie between the sellers, Its a community, everyone knows each other, the customers are only a nice little added bonus because were having so much fun anyway, says Fiona. You might find a childhood memory or a perfect gift, or you might come home with several things you dont really need, either way the flea makes for an inexpensive outing suitable for families and people of all ages.

Dublins Oldest Public Library

inside Marshs Library; inset: The exterior of the library. Photo courtesy: Flickr

Cassie Delaney
she hopes to remain. Dr. McCarthy relays the history of the library from memory. Even though, I suspect that she has had to do this on numerous occasions she shows no signs of tiring of rehashing the story of the remarkable library and details of its collections. The most important collection is the library of Edward Stillingfleet who was Bishop of Worcester. In 1705 narcissus Marsh paid 2,500 for his library of nearly 10,000 books. Stillingfleets library was regarded as the finest private library in England in the later part of the 17th century. Archbishop Marsh left all his books to the library. he was particularly interested in science, mathematics and music, and many of his John Stearne, Bishop of Clogher, bequeathed his books to Marshs in 1745. These are similar to the other collections, but among them is the oldest and one of the most beautiful books in the Library, Ciceros Letters to his Friends printed in Milan in 1472. In addition to these four collections there are about three hundred manuscripts in the Library. The most important is a volume of the Lives of the Irish Saints, dating from about 1400, and written in Latin In the library two cleaners wear dust masks as they clean the volumes. Philip informs me that this is a process that takes a full year to complete. Largely due to the delicacy of the ancient books, this only occurs once every 20 years. The use for Marshs library has long expired. now it is mainly an attraction for tourists and school groups. Few scholars frequent its chambers and its original purpose has been long lost to modern technology. It is now a protected historical element to the city. Still, there is a sense that there is more than history contained in these walls. Dr. McCarthy, Philip and all those who work here are preserving passion. They are preserving tradition. They are maintaining an older way of living and an appreciation for fine hand crafted books. I ask Philip how long he thinks Dr. Muriel McCarthy will remain The Keeper for and he smiles and says probably til death do them part. I thank Philip for showing me around the library. It is quieter now, just Philip, myself and the cleaners remain. Each time he says goodbye he remembers another quaint fact about the library. I thank him for the last time and insist I have to go. he laughs and says yes, yes, before finishing with his original fact In Ulysses Jame Joyce called them the stagnant bays static shelves of Marshs library. he chuckles to himself and shakes my hand before concluding the conversation with; yes, the stagnant bays of Marshs Library and we endeavour to keep them that way.

n Ulysses, James Joyce wrote about the stagnant bays of Marshs Library. he was talking about the librarys static shelves, filled with unchanging volumes of medical texts, travel, navigation, science and theology. Philip, the modest elderly security guard informs me of this as I enter the main chamber of Marshs Library. The Library is a treasure, hidden behind Kevin Street Garda Station. Built in 1701 by Archbishop narcissus Marsh, the library was the first in Ireland that was accessible to the public. It was designed by Sir William Robinson the Surveyor General of Ireland, and is one of the very few 18th century buildings left in Dublin that is still being used for its original purpose. Many of the collections in the library are still kept on the shelves allocated to them by Marsh and by Elias Bouhrea; the first Keeper of the library. The inside of the library is a testament to the intricacies of 18th Century architecture. Finely constructed oak book cases adorn the walls. Each case is ornamented by a solid gold rail. When the library originated, each book was chained to the rail to minimise theft. Though the library was accessible to the public, books were strictly contained to the library. For those who wished to make notes, the library provided reading cages 5ft squared cages where readers were locked in with books for hours, permitting them to copy text from the expensive volumes by hand. Dr. Muriel McCarthy sits at the end of the librarys main chamber. She is surrounded by piles upon piles of books, catalogues and indexes. her desk is positioned in front of a large sash window. Behind her, light pours in and basks the dark oak shelves. Dust catches in the beams of sunlight, but this isnt the only indication that the office, and the majority of its content, has remained unchanged for over 300 years. Dr. McCarthy is the current Keeper of the library. She prefers not to disclose how long she has held this position for or for how long more

We were just coming into a recession and it was the perfect time for a second hand market

When the library orginated, each book was chained to the rail to minimise theft
mathematical books are extensively annotated by him. Marsh was also interested in oriental languages and rabbinical and medieval writers. he collected books in hebrew, Arabic, turkish and Russian and his collection of Latin Judaica is particularly important. Dr. Elias Bouhreau, a huguenot refugee who fled from France in 1695, became the first librarian. his books, which he left to the Library, relate to France and to the Revocation of the Edict of nantes and its aftermath and the religious controversies of the 17th century. Dr Bouhreaus collection constitutes a unique source for the study of Calvinism in 17th century France. his medical books are also of great interest.

shoppers shift through items at the busy Dublin Flea Market.Photo: B henehan

ARTS
y Ma th -14 3rd Santa Ponsa or Bust

Events

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8th h-2 John Boyd Exhibition 5t ay M

This uproariously funny comedy show follows the fortunes of two hapless Cork couples and their mad families from Corks North side to Benalmadena Prison and back. For more information on tickets contact the Tivoli Theatre.

The Cross Gallery will be hosting painter John Boyds most recent exhibition from the 5th of May until the 28th of May. Boyd has been described as a playful artist and his paintings interpreted as original. It can be seen within his paintings that Boyd enjoys playing with hidden faces and meanings, and the viewers understanding and misunderstanding of the messages which he sends out.

Masamba Drumming at the st Patricks Day parade. Photo courtesy: Sean Dwyer

MaSamba drumming rocks the community

Tessa Flemming
MaSamba drumming is a Brazilian form of drumming that has extended its way over to the heart of Dublin life in the Liberties. In true Dub groove, MaSamba recruits will take on the challenge of gigging on Grafton Street in memory of rock legend Phil Lynott on 20 August 2011. With exuberant costumes being made especially for the day, embodied with peacocked feathered tails, the gig is surely one to be remembered! Practice pounding of the drums behind the closed industrial doors can be heard from the streets, and one can only imagine that all of Brazil is behind the walls of Unit12F in the Liberties Enterprise Centre. over the last number of years, MaSamba has grown in popularity. According to Simeon Smith, founder of the Liberties MaSamba drumming, In any given year, we do 300 to 400 workshops, and in a couple of weeks we may be playing for the Brazilian Ambassador. In 2008, over 160 people took part in the Liberties MaSamba school for the St. Patricks day parade, with all costume and other expenses amounting to almost 70,000. Smiths passion for the drums is obvious, and his love for MaSamba has resulted in lively and passionate festival gigs at home and abroad and has also earned the Liberties MaSamba group well-deserved respect even in the home of the music Brazil. Although it has been faced with financial challenges, it had continued to thrive and survive and remains the only MaSamba school in Dublin. The school is run through a lot of funding, and Smith shares the groups funding difficulties. Everything in community arts is a compromise. You always start out with this idea and then you have to start taking things away. Its my job to decide what the deal breakers are, what we cant afford to compromise on and where we can say right we can let the section go. The skill and the sheer musical abilities of the MaSamba drummers has captivated the emotions not only of Irish parade goers, but also of the Brazilians themselves and have achieved a respected status among the crowded streets of Rio. Though Smith admits funding worries of the small arts organisation, it really is one of the Liberties hidden gems. Its not a great place to be financially but youve got to love what youre doing, he said.

ay M

7th

The High Kings

Platinum album selling Celtic quartet The High Kings will be performing Live at Vicar Street. In 2010 the band were voted Best Folk Band in Irelands Music Awards. The High Kings released there second album Memory Lane in February 2010 where it maintained its top 5 chart status for 10 weeks and later achieved platinum status. Tickets cost 33.60

y Ma

th -14 9thGood Mourning Mrs Brown

Due to phenomenal demand an extra week of Brendan O Carrolls show Good Mourning Mrs Brown has been added at the Olympia theatre. The comedy show is now runs until the 14th of May. The storyline of Good Mourning Mrs Brown is based on the TV series Mrs Browns Boys which has aired on both RTE and BBC television. Tickets from 30

th 16 Manic Street Preaches ay M

Manic Street Preachers, an alternative rock band from Wales have added a much anticipated Dublin date to their previously announced Olympia shows. Tickets from 39.20

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th

LOL for Temple Street

The crme de la crme of Irish comedic talent will play Vicar Street. Temple Street and 98fm invite you to join them for a giggle at their comedy gig that will literally make you Laugh Out Loud. All proceeds from the night will go to the Neurosurgery Appeal at the hospital which will help children with various illnesses. Tickets cost 28

CoMPEtItIon!
Coming to Dublins Olympia Theatre for on Friday 27 May. And featuring all the classic hits from the much-loved Motown period of music history. The show will see performances from female trio, The Jewelettes and male quartet, The Detroits. The Liberty has one pair of tickets to give away. Just answer the following question to be in with a chance of winning. Name one of the original members of the Supremes. Answers to thelibertyeditor@gmail.com

The Story of Motown

One book, one Liberties

The upcoming One Book One Liberties initiative is a community reading project which will be based in a number of primary and secondary schools in the Liberties area. Jenny Mc Govern looks at the project.
BASED on the popular one Book, one Community project which has swept through Ireland in the past couple of years, the initiative brings together schools, libraries and authors who all work together to inspire a love of reading in children. The project, which will begin this September, aims to get as many people as possible reading and discussing the same book. Several sixth class primary and first year secondary school pupils will be reading the book 17 Martin Street which is written by Marilyn taylor. The initiative also invites parents to become involved by reading the book and discussing it with their children. There will also be a link up with libraries in the Dublin 8 area as well as after school clubs, book clubs and homework clubs. 17 Martin Street is set in Portobello, Dublin during The Emergency. It deals with the darkest period of European history- World War two. It follows the story of Ben Byrne and hetty Golden who despite religious problems between their families (Catholic and Jewish) set out to rescue a teenage Jewish refugee who is on the run from immigration authorities. It is an engaging,
Marilyn Taylors book 17 Martin street will be used in the project. Photo courtesy:

historically accurate tale which is set only a few streets away from the Liberties. home school liasion officer of Presentation Secondary School Warrenmount, terry Keogh is working hard behind the scenes to organise this fantastic project. he informed The Liberty that 17 Mar-

tin Street was chosen for a number of reasons. Marilyn taylors book is perfect for the one Book one Liberties project, because we are aiming to bring the community together through the joy of reading, explained terry. This book is appealing to both children and adults which is important because we hope that parents will take the time to enjoy the book with their children. We believe that the setting of the book will also be of interest to the community as there are place names mentioned which the readers will be able to identify with, he added. 17 Martin Street has also been very successful in the one Book one Inchicore project which was launched last year. The author Marilyn taylor is delighted to be a part of our Liberties initiative. The book will be read over a six week period beginning in early September and finishing up by the halloween break. An event will be held each week which focuses on a specific aspect of the book. Events in the pipeline include a historical walking tour of the old Jewish area, a trip to the Jewish museum, a musi-

cal event based on songs mentioned in the book and a food tasting event based on foods mentioned in the book. These events aim to bring the community closer together and are a wonderful method of engaging the children and parents with the history which surrounds the book. In March, author Marilyntaylor paid a visit to Presentation Secondary School Warrenmount to speak with the pupils who will be reading her book. terry Keogh said the author is overjoyed to have her book chosen for this project. The schools involved are Presentation Warrenmount Secondary and Primary Schools, Scoil treasa naofa, St.Brigids, Francis St. CBS, Synge Street Secondary and Primary School, St.Audeons, St.Endas, Mater Dei and James St.

If you would like more information or would like to get involved with the project, contact Terry Keogh. Phone: 087-7996995 Email: toirleach@yahoo.com

SPORT Street soccer Inside looks to Paris the SEIS

David Hogan
PLAYERS FRoM the Street Soccer League at St. Catherines Community Sports Centre will be hoping they impressed scouts and international coaches at the Irish 2011 Street Soccer League Final in tallaght. An Irish team will be selected to play in the 2011 homeless World Cup in Paris. The Irish Street League caters to people staying in hostels, people recovering from addiction, asylum seekers, long term, unemployed and so on said Ken Brady, the Irish Street League organiser at St. Catherines. The league started from St. Catherines with help from the Football Association of Ireland, which Brady says still helps the league out. They lend us training gear if we need it, theyll always give a hand if were stuck. The Irish Street League put on three leagues a year in St. Catherines.on a good day we might get 80 people turn out said Brady. Brady said players chosen for the Irish squad face a tough training schedule but its a great opportunity and they have the honor of representing their country. But its a great thing to do. The Irish teams always do well in the World Cup, finishing in about the top ten in the past five years. Last year the Irish team finished sixth at the World Cup, an extremely impressive accomplishment. Funding has dried up in recent years, so the league has been fundraising.Brady added Were linked with Ballyfermot College of Further Education, a lot of our players go on to do computer courses, jobs, some even get degrees out of it.

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Declan Marron

School soccer blitz

Colin Higgins
thE SChooL soccer blitz has become one of the most popular events at The Liberties Festival over the last number of years. This year will be the fifth occasion the tournament has been held at the festival. The tournament will be played at the newly built Cabbage Patch on Kevin Street, behind the Iveagh trust. The new Cabbage Patch pitch is being partly funded by UEFA as part of their Community & Games Inactive. The UEFA Europa League Final will be played in Dublin in May and UEFA see it as an opportunity to invest money into under-developed areas around the city. The blitz tournament will be run over two separate days during the festival,. It will see 5th and 6th class students compete in an Under 12s tournament. There will be six schools from the Dublin 8 area competing in the blitz, Warrenmount, Francis Street, St. Brigids, Synge Street, St.Audeons and Scoil treasa naofa. There is a midnight league for older kids organised by Liam that takes place during the summer time, and in February and March there is an indoor league, held in St. Catherines Community Centre.

Meeting St Pats own Captain Fantastic

VEtERAn FootBALLER Dave Mulcahy recently celebrated 100 appearances for St Pats and capped this superb achievement by netting the winning goal against Dundalk. he has been an inspirational presence at Richmond Park since arriving back in 2006. Mulcahy has already had a glittering career behind him with spells at Kilkenny, Waterford, Cork City and Bray Wanderers, stretching back to 2000. Achieving 100 caps is a huge honour for any player, yet Mulcahy doesnt seem fazed by this achievement. he is modest but outspoken, underlining the teams priorities ahead of his own personal feat. The 33-year-old Kilkenny man has been in tantalising form this season, and deservedly crowned his 100th cap with a goal against Dundalk. What made the win so spectacular for the home side was that they recovered from two goals down, and Mulcahys last-minute strike earned them all three points. his goal wouldnt win too many beauty awards either, slotting in from three yards. Ive scored better goals, but I kept trying to get a position to get at it, and it just opened up for me so I tucked it away. We dug in well - abIve played centre half for years. Im quite comfortable playing centre half even though I prefer playing

hE ShED End Invincibles (SEI) is a football supporters group for Saint Patricks Athletic and Irelands second oldest football ultras group, just behind Shamrock Rovers Football Club Ultras. The Dublin based groups aim is to bring colour and atmosphere to every home and away game. They used choreographed displays in last years Setanta Cup Final. Although the term ultras has different meanings all over the world, the SEI are not involved in any sort of violence nor do they condone any that appears in Irish Football. They prefer to act as the teams 12th man, encouraging the team as much as possible. Founded in november 2001, the Shed End Invincibles took their name after originally being located in Shed End of the ground to create an atmosphere. But nearly ten years on and the group are now located in their new position in the West Stand of Richmond Park. The change has been beneficial however as the group continues to illustrate their support but with a rapidly growing amount of members, which now stand between 250-300 people. one of the groups organisers, Philip Moran, spoke to the Liberty concerning the groups development over the last 10 years. According to Moran the group is run by 20 core members, who actively take part in organization on a regular basis. The group has developed greatly since its foundation and for Moran the group currently view themselves as

St Pats supporters adding some colour to match preceedings. Photo courtesy: SEI

This year will be our biggest. We are growing and getting better all the time.
one of the top and most respected supporters groups around the country because of how active they are and the quality of their work. Moran also pointed out that the running of the club was not easy. It can be a difficult task at times especially with college and work for most of us but its vital to have displays decided on about two weeks before a big game and have back up plans. on match nights to say its stressful is an understatement, we tend to be down at the ground around three to four hours before the game to get things set up and make sure there are no problems. Even so the members are happy to

dedicate as much time as possible to the group. They feel that the SEI is integral to the clubs culture. Without the SEI the club would have no core singing section and a lack of colour that is needed at every club. We regularly take part in volunteer work around the club and help the club in any possible way said Moran. he recalls one of the groups best moments when playing Bohemians away last year, the SEI produced a banner saying The new Shels with the t,n and S all in bold which made the papers the next day . The story behind this was that Bohs at the time were recently beaten by Welsh side tnS in the Champions League which is a bit of an embarrassment. And the reference to Shelbourne F.C is that Bohs have had money problems just like Shels. Rumours were gathering that Bohs were going to be relegated just like Shels(hence the banner) but it hasnt happened yet. In november, the SEI will proudly celebrate their ten year anniversary of its creation, but the group are currently organizing big plans for celebrations all the way through the season. We plan to celebrate through-

out the season and certain dates will stand out, said Moran. The season ahead is certainly one to look ahead to for the SEI, as they are hoping it will be a steady season for St. Pats , with the possibilities of European football silverware still in sight. But with the group in mind, Moran feels for the SEI this year will be our biggest, we are growing and getting better all the time. There are big things ahead. A fellow member of Morans, Thomas Foy (18), said Its going to be a huge season but the best is yet to come from us in 2011. SEI is always looking to add members and build on the current stature. For Foy the appeal is showing true passion for your team and standing alongside the SEI, singing all the songs is what makes people want to be more involved. Moran, who has been part of the SEI for three years, is also keen to add more support. he feels The passion that you witness is like nothing you will ever see. All the heartbreak makes the great moments feel better. For the love not the Glory as the SEI motto goes.

Im delighted to get the winner, especially on my 100th cap. Fabulous, absolutely delighted.
midfield because youre involved in the play a lot more, but if the manager asks you to play there, its no problem, he adds. Mulcahy is still in convincing form, with two goals from five games. Judging by the statistics, he doesnt look like hanging up his boots any time soon either. A hundred appearances and counting, his journey continues to be a thriving one.

Footballer Dave Mulcahy. Photo courtesy: Pat Mc Cabe

solutely delighted the way we turned things around. Its a new team, we havent played with each other for long. Im really looking forward to the next game against Bohs (they drew 0-0), Mulcahy added. Mulcahy was a revelation in mid-

field last season. Yet, the managers new tactics employ him sweeping up the loose ball at centre half. he continues to look cohesive going forward and can adapt to any position, weighing in with a goal or two in the process.

SPORT
Liam Keegan recalls the ghost teams of yester year and documents their trials and tribulations.
SoME oF the most successful Liberties football clubs ever to grace the League of Ireland disappeared over 70 years ago. The top tiers of Irish league football had a healthy batch of dominant clubs rooted in the Liberties between the 1920s and 1930s with high calibre Irish internationals among them - only for these teams to disappear within that same decade. The most notable of these ghost teams was Dolphin FC. The Dolphins, based in the Dolphins Barn suburb, were immensely successful considering their short lifespan of just seven years. Formed in 1930, the Dolphins quickly scaled up the leagues to reach the FAI Cup Final in 1932 and 1933, only to lose both matches to Shamrock Rovers. They were one of several teams that played their home games in tolka Park. The height of their success came in the 1934-35 season, when they claimed the League title and the Dublin City Cup, as well as reaching the FAI Cup semi-final. During their meteoric rise, one Dolphins starlet went on to become full Irish international player, and was soon signed up by Scottish football giants Glasgow Rangers before signing for Everton, where he went on to become a goal-scoring legend.

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the Dolphins, along with Irish international Jeremiah Robinson. Kendrick, who played for the first Irish international team, the Irish Free State, as well as the FAI XI, was also part of another Liberties ghost story, Brooklyn FC. Brooklyn FC played in the top flight for two seasons from 1924 to 1926, where they came eighth in their second and final season, then vanished from the League of Ireland. Liberties team St James Gate FC, one of the oldest clubs in Irish history, are a more recent ghost in League of Ireland terms. Formed in the Guinness Brewerys social club, they were one of the founding members of the League and won the first ever League in 1921. Despite their wonderful start, this Liberties team had a long and turbulent history. Their biggest blow came in 1996 when they pulled out of the League of Ireland in 1996 due to financial difficulties and re-emerged as a Lenister Senior League. They were replaced by another team founded in the Liberties, St Francis FC. St Francis lasted five years in the Premier Division before repeating the destiny of St James Gate and dropping into the Leinster Senior League. St Patricks Athletic are currently the only team representing the Libertie in the Airtricity League. They continue to remain a force, reaching the final of the Setanta Sports Cup last season.

This starlet was none other than legend Alex Stevenson. Making his full Irish debut in 1932 at the age of 19, Stevenson was snatched from the Dolphins by Rangers, who recognised him as a talent. only a year and a half later, having scored seven goals in as little as 12 appearances, Stevenson was prised from Rangers grasp by English dynamos Everton. Like Dolphins,

Liberties Legends
Rangers couldnt hold Stevenson back from his destiny. At Everton the former star of the Liberties made his mark. he was renowned as a highly intelligent player and a provider of goals, as well a clinical finisher. he made 255 appearances for the toffees, scoring 82 goals over 15 years to become one of the top scorers in the clubs history. By the end of Stevensons glittering Everton career in the late 1940s, his

first club Dolphin FC were already extinct twelve years. After such a meteoric rise to Irish football, and despite coming second in their penultimate season, Dolphins disbanded and disappeared in 1937 after seven years of success. The reasons for their demise are unknown. During the seasons leading to their mysterious disappearance, former Everton player and Irish international Joe Kendrick led

Local Youth Sporting Talent

thE LIBERtIES is currently suffering from a dry patch in young talented footballers. Since 2008, only one player from the area has been enrolled into the FAIs Emerging talent Programme. Dan Cochrane met with the man whose job it is to find talent in the area to find out what he has been up to. FAI Regional Development officer David Rake began his work in the emerging talent programme five years ago.

emerging Talent Programme

The Emerging talent Programme (EtP) is designed to find young talent in Ireland. Potential members will be scouted when they are 10 or 11 years old. The programme will then keep an eye on these hopefuls and recruit them into the programme when they are fourteen to sixteen years old. These periods are extremely important in any young athletes career. negative coaching, too much pressure and the wrong attitude from a family can lead them to failure. A lot of Irish teenagers tend to join football academies in England for about three years. Many of them completely sacrifice their education to focus all efforts on football. If they fail to progress to the next level and return home, the teenager returns with no qualifications and often feel they are too good to play for their old club. athletes strengths and encouraging them to get past their weaknesses. Part of Davids work involves organising a late night league in Inchicore. Participants are aged between 13-21 years old and are usually split into groups of 13-15 and 16+ in Inchicore. A recent survey showed that 90% of the 16 to 21-year-olds would otherwise be, hanging around, drinking or getting into trouble had it not been for the league. While 89% of the 13-15 year olds said the same. With 79% of players are unemployed the importance of the league in these communities is immense.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council and Young Peoples Facilities and Service Fund. It was set up back in 2008 and has doubled in size since.

The Franner boys. Photo courtesy: Connor Doyle

From the street to the top

Sean Duffy
AFtER A stunning season Francis Street CBS soccer coach Conor Doyle had nothing but praise for the enthusiasm his team have shown this year. The Franner boys have had a good season, the highlight being an 8 0 win in the Pegasus Cup, and their coach was keen to praise the effort and commitment shown by the boys throughout the campaign. The team also put in good performances against oatlands CBS, Drimnagh and Crumlin. Mr Doyle said The lads have shown great enthusiasm and discipline this year. We train once a week after school and the attitude that the lads are bringing to the sport is great to see. Doyle was keen to stress the importance of discipline, both on and off the pitch. We try to teach the lads how to win properly and to lose properly. Its very important that they learn the skills of how to play fair. That is very important in our school. The sixth class teacher also stated that the boys involvement in sport could play a key role, as they develop into young adults. We see a huge benefit for the lads that get involved with sport. They learn so much from it. It is great to see them developing their skills, depending on each other, and looking out for one another. They also have to respect their opponents. All these things will be important as they get older, said Doyle. The students at Francis Street will be eagerly awaiting the forthcoming award of sportsman of the year. The award is given every year to the standout player of the season. The award also takes into account the players respect for his teammates, opposition players, teachers and coaches. The award is the most sought after in the school. The trophy is named after former teacher ollie Quinlan, who served 38 years as a teacher and is responsible for bringing hurling to Francis Street.

social, health and development

The three main aspects David wants to work on are social, health and development. he has coached in schools and has been shocked by the level of obesity in schools. he is right when stating that if kids are always active then they cant get away with eating nothing but junk food. It would lead to them feeling tired and unwell most of the time. The programme also helps kids to become more positively social. Getting actively involved boosts both fitness and confidence. hanging around with friends causing trouble doesnt. David insists that there is nothing wrong with the young athletes from the Liberties area; even if only one player from the area has joined the FAIs Emerging talent Programme in the last five years.

sponsors
An Garda Sochna referee and help organise the matches. This is how they get to know the locals lads on a personal level and can have banter with them which creates a positive atmosphere between the children and authorities on a regular basis. The League is run by the other regional development officers in conjunction with Dublin City Council,

work ethic
one of the main problems with coaching is that many tend to only focus on the negative aspects in their squads or individual players performance. The EtP encourages a more positive method as the key to coaching is focusing on young

SPORT
The lifeblood of the club is our youth
The club has become one of the foremost Leinster clubs in developing junior and underage rugby. The lifeblood of the club is our youth said Eddie. The clubs senior team was narrowly beaten in the division three final this year. The club secretary claims that it is hard to hold on to senior players as neighboring clubs like St.Marys snatch them up. Eddie is no way bitter that players leave and he sees it as a step up in their career. Some players who leave are not always successful in their new clubs and their clubs policy is to welcome them back The club has teams in leagues ranging from under 20s down to under 10. Eddie explained that children in the younger age groups who join the club would be eased into the game gradually and that matches do not involve heavy physical contact. It is not full on contact at this level, he said. There is no lifting in the line out so it is a sterile environment for them to get into rugby before they get into the full on scrums and line outs. Membership for anyone under the age of 16 is free and young members who join up also have access to other facilities at the Iveagh Sports Grounds, including the soccer club, the GAA club, bowls, snooker and pitch and putt. Eddie pointed out that many of the younger members come from areas such as Crumlin, tallaght, Ballyfermot as well as the Liberties, areas that are not traditionally associated with rugby.

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Liberty Saints u13s going places

The Liberty Saints rugby team. Photo courtesy: Graham Jones

Andy Nally
LIBERtY SAIntS RFC was formerly established in 2008 by volunteers from St Catherines Church (CoRE) and with the assistance of a local Dublin City Council Sports Development officer. The goal is to get the young men from the Liberties playing rugby, a game they might never have played before. Currently the club has an U13 team at the rugby club which is affiliated with the Leinster Branch of the IRFU. Graham Jones is involved with the team and says: While all the lads coming along to train or play have different expectations, we want everyone to feel involved and know that theyre part of something exciting going on in Dublins Liberties.

Guinness Rugby Club

t
Andy Nally
called St James Gate RFC, and they played their home games in fields across from the Crumlin Road, where the Iveagh Grounds are now situated. Their first match report alludes to a cow being the sole spectator at the first home game. A solitary man and his dog was a slight improvement according later reports. The original colours of this early team were reported to be horihE GUInnESS Brewery has been at the heart of the Liberties community for over 250 years, so its unsurprising that the roots of its namesake rugby club are firmly planted in the area. Guinness Rugby Club was established in 1943, located in the Guinness Athletic Union located in the Iveagh Grounds, in Crumlin, Dublin 12. Guinness RFC, as it is now known, became affiliated to the Leinster Branch shortly after its founding. But long before that, in 1926 a rugby section was formed in Guinnesss Brewery by Freddie Parkinson, Eddie Potts, Bill toner and other brewery personnel. They were not affiliated with the IRFU or the Leinster Branch as they

Action from Iveagh grounds. Photo courtesy of Rose Bebbington

The boys and the black stuff

and had acquired the use of the front pitch and pavilion at Iveagh Grounds. Eddie tyrell is the current club secretary and also a former employee of Guinness brewery. he remembers when the club was comprised only of workers of the brewery. however, redundancies in the brewery in the early seventies saw a decline in members and it was decided to

We want everyone to feel involved and know that theyre part of something exciting going on in Dublins Liberties
The U13s rugby teams continue to train on the mini pitch in St. Catherines Sport Centre, Marrowbone lane on Wednesday nights. In February the team travelled to Arklow RFC on two Saturdays for a joint training session and a friendly match. The U13 team traveled to Clongowes Wood College in March. The Liberty Saints is also part of the Solas Project which was originally set up in 2007 as Solas AfterSchools Project and is now made up of Solas Education and Solas Sport. They all currently work in the Dublin 8 area (mainly the Liberties). Solas Sport uses sports such as rugby where coaches are mentors, to create and sustain environments that will test and build the physical, emotional and spiritual capacities of children. Solas Sport focuses their work on children at risk of involvement in crime and/or educational disadvantage.

More action from the team. Photo courtesy of Rose Bebbington

Most people think we get the drink cheaper from Guinnesss but unfortunately this is not the case!
did not have a recognized playing field or pavilion. This was even before the Iveagh Grounds were developed. The Rugby Club was originally

The Guiness RC team. Photo courtesy of Rose Bebbington

zontal green and red stripes. The club was known to have survived until the mid 1930s, but there is no mention of them beyond that and they are believed to have disbanded. In 1942 another group of young brewery men who included Paddy Keenan, Jim hudson and Larry Farrell decided to form Guinness RFC

open up membership to the general public. Eddie is proud to talk about past and present players who have gone on to play with Leinster including his own two sons who have represented the province at underage level. There is a role of honour on display in the Guinness storehouse, honouring past players.

Like all other clubs and organisations around the country, the Guinness RFC is feeling the pinch at the moment with the clubs bar and fabulous function room is finding it hard to break even at the moment. Most people think we get the drink cheaper from Guinnesss but unfortunately this is not the case said Eddie. The Iveagh house was one of the first grounds in Ireland to play Rugby, Soccer and Gaelic on the same pitch. Every Easter the club hosts a number of matches which involve teams coming over from the UK to take on local opposition.

if you are interested in joining, contact eddie Tyrell on 0872272761

The Liberty Saints go in for a scrum. Photo courtesy: Graham Jones

Young divers reach dive-ine heights

Patrick Gormley
A hIGh board diving team made up of young people from The Liberties Club made a big splash at a recent competition held at the national Aquatic Centre in Abbotstown. The competition for boys and girls ranging between 12 and 17 was run by Dublin Diving Club with judges marking on different dives, from poolside dives to one metre, three metre and higher board dives. The Liberties Club claimed victory in the team event, beating Cabra Youth. The club was also well-placed in the individual events with oyame Mkhwanazi and Ross Carroll finishing second and third respectively in the boys section. The high board diving club has been up and running for the last 18 months with around 20 young people training at the Guinness pool on Watling Street. Coordinator of the project for the last three years Rebecca Gallagher said of the teams performance: It was a real success for The Liberties Club and all the hard work they have

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There has been a huge progression in their abilities and in their interest, which is fantastic to see. I am really proud of them
put into training really paid off. on the back of this success the club is hoping to run another competition and hold a day out in August. The Liberties Club is a Garda Youth Diversion project funded through the Department of Justice. It works with young people in Dublin 8 on issues relating to offending behaviour and anti-social behaviour.

Young divers take the plunge. Phot

ographer: Rebecca Gallagher

New body pump workout welcomed at Liberty gym

Tessa Fleming SuMMER IS nearly upon us and fingers are crossed we will all be enjoying long sunny days, barbeques and holidays abroad. But its also a time when its essential to look slimmer, fitter and healthier. If you want to tone up for the months ahead, an exercise programme new to the Liberties could be just the thing for you. Body Pump is an intense 60-minute workout that can burn up to 600 calories per class. Ricky Ward, a Body Pump instructor at St Catherines Sports Centre, describes it as a brilliant way to tone up, keep fit and lose weight. The workout programme first hit the scene in New Zealand in 1991, created by international fitness guru Philip Mills. The intense drill consists of barbell exercises such as squats, presses, lifts and curls, all done using a step platform, with pumping music to keep you pushing for the hour. The fast tempo of the music playlist is a key factor in what keeps people going and determined to give it their all, reckons Ward. The workout aims to build core strength and hits all the main muscle groups of the body legs, chest, back, shoulders and abdominals. It is also thought to improve bone strength and increase endurance. And it burns off fat fast. St. Catherines, on Marrowbone Lane, Dublin 8, provides body pump classes for all age groups. Since starting in September, the programme has proven very popular. Classes are open to everyone at 5 per session and free for members, and take place Monday and Wednesday, 1-2pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7-8pm.

Youth sports club just says No

Casey Fitzgerald
St. CAthERInES Community Sports Centre on Marrowbone Lane provides a recreational centre for youths in the Liberties area. Any arrangement which gathers teens together in one place has the potential to attract problems, but this isnt the case here. Michelle Long,general manager,says the centre has a no tolerance policy to drugs and alcohol. The teens that attend the club submit a consent form signed by their parents; therefore should a problem arise it ensures parents can be contacted immediately. The evenings are supervised by workers from St. Catherines or Danone Avenue Youth Centre which sends along supervisors and works alongside the youth centre. Many who attend the club are regulars and Long has noticed a real change in them: You do see a big difference in the kids, when they first came in they would be causing trouble the second they walked through the doors. now their volunteering themselves. This is a major improvement. The center also contributes in bringing teens in the area closer together. The residents of the streets in the surrounding areas are patriotic towards the streets they live on. The centre itself has really become part of the fabric of the Liberties community. owned by the Dublin City Council it has been operating successfully for the past six years.Its a benefit to teens and kids, entertaining them with events and activities every week. The club takes in two age groups (8-11 and 11-16) every tuesday and Thursday and provides the young teens with access to free internet, pool tables, television, air hockey and punch bags. Sharon Leehy is the sports development manager and she arranges outdoor projects and activities for each group.

Want to get your school or club sports news here?

thelibertysportsteam @gmail.com School success with the sliotar
Colin Higgins
thE CoRn Dolphin hurling and Camogie tournament is now its fifth year, and according to tournament organiser Paul McManus, the interest has grown, and the standard has improved tremendously. Paul has worked with Kevins hurling Club in Donore Avenue, to create an alternative hurling and Camogie tournament to Cumann na mBunscoil. The teams from the area werent strong enough for Cumann na mBunscoil, so we came up with this competition says Paul. The tournament includes school children aged between nine and thirteen, from fourth to sixth class. The schools taking part include Francis Street, Synge Street, St.Clares of harolds Cross and Scoil Iosagain. The tournament runs throughout the school year, with each team playing each other in a series of matches, before being graded off into four finals, the cup, the plaque, the shield and the plate. It is a good format as every school gets to a final at the end of the year. The finals will take place in mid June this year. Scoil Iosagain has achieved great success in the tournament, with Paul insisting they have shone since day one; they have been in nearly every final. Francis Street is making big strides, and so is Griffith Barracks and St.Clares, he added. The tournament is backed mainly by Kevins hurling and Camogie club as well as a few donations from local tasks forces. Kevins aim is to improve the standard and increase participation in hurling and camogie in the area.

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They have shone since day one; they have been in nearly every final

Fitness fans doing their body pump workouts. Photographer: Tessa Fleming

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St. Pats Diving football success at supporters competition

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Young boxer Sean Haynes (11) at St Catherines boxing club; Inset: Other members of the club. Photo: oisn Gregorian

KNOCK EM OuT

pg 21

Liberties Legends

Young Sport Talent

pg 21

INTERvIEW

David Mulcahy pg 20

Im comfortable playing centre half, but I prefer midfield

Oisn Gregorian
UsUaLLy when a fight breaks out in a pub the bouncers move in to throw the combatants out. But this night in April scrapping was actually encouraged as the Liberities own St Catherines boxing club took on their opponents in the Submarine bar in Crumlin. The local lads were joined by Monkstown, Baldoyle, Whitechurch and Phibsboro boxing clubs in the Friday fight night fundraiser. They were hoping to raise enough funds for materials to improve a building recently lent out to them for training. The back of the Submarine was transformed into a temporary boxing ring, where local clubs were to showcase their talents. Some whove fought in these temporary rings have gone on to considerable success, such as Catherines noel oBrain who had his first pro fight and victory against Ashen Vasilev of Bulgaria. A packed pub of supporters were in fine voice as the St Catherines academy of boxers took to the ring. These children only train once a week and this night was their first proper taste of action. Three 30-second rounds decided the ties and afterwards the delighted boys received their medals and a photo. Those who impressed on their first showing were Roland Braciska, who fought back after a slow start to salvage a draw. Anthony nolan, despite being floored early in the first, picked himself up with a barrage of blows to his opponent Carmon Brennan. Faustas Bartkus, despite a height disadvantage, landed an impressive uppercut to Bobby Flood and was agile and quick with jabs. Fans were not disappointed with the opening two 70kg and heavyweight fights. Catherines Sean hunt fought back against Cillian Riordan of Monkstown even though he found himself up against the ropes early in the first round. But a better showing in the second and third, as he landed punches with both hands, swung the tie in his favour. The biggest cheer of the night came for Thomas Mazari, who unanimously beat opponent Mick Moran of Monkstown. Mazari used his superior reach and slight height advantage for some excellent, clean blows to Morans face. next was the turn of the smaller fighters in the 36kg division. Catherines Sean hynes produced a hattrick of wins for the Liberties club with a majority decision. But the run was soon to end by the impressive showing of Baldoyles Brian Walsh, who floored Keith oBrien in the 3rd round of their 64kg bout. Solid defence from Walsh allowed oBrien to be opened up and forced him to be cornered too often. Catherines 46kg Dwayne Freeman was stopped in the second round by the impressive Darren Coleman of Palmerstown. Coleman was incredibly quick and agile, landing twice as many body blows, stunning the unlucky Freeman before the fight was called off. The final and main bout of the night was the 75kg collision of Andy Jennings and northside boxing club, Corinthians sole boxer on the night, tom oDonnell. Jennings was floored in the first by a punch that reverberated across the pub. But that only seemed to fire him up as he got to his feet and forced his opponent on the ropes, trapping him in the corner. A majority win for Jennings was the perfect ending to a successful night for Catherines. if you are interested in joining, contact st. catherines on 012227541

Platini coming to the Liberties

UEFA PRESIDEnt Michel Platini is set to visit the Liberties latter this month. The french man will be in Dublin for the Europa League Final between the two Portuguese sides S.C. Braga and F.C. Porto. As part of Uefas policy of investing in grassroots in a country or city where a major tournament or european final is being held a sports field in the Liberties is being redeveloped and Michel Platini and other Uefa officials look set to open the pitch. The Cabbage Patch close to St. Patricks Cathedral is currently being re-developed as part of a joint

Jonathan Reynolds

venture between the FAI, UEFA and Dublin City Council. They aim to have the work completed by Wednesday May 18, the day of the Europa League Final in the Aviva Stadium. Platini, who was one of the best footballers of his generation, playing for nancy, Sant-Etienne, Juventus and France. he won the European Cup in 1985 with Juventus. in 1984 he lead France to the European Championships. he also twice helped his country to the semi-finals of a World Cup. he has been Uefa president since 2006.

Next Issue October 2011