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Festivedelightforsportsstrs

CHRISTMAS arrived early for a number of

local sports stars, teams and clubs at

2010 Amateur Sports Awards Night in

The Louis Fitzgerald Hotel on Thursday.

Run in conjunction with The South Dublin

County Sports Partnership (SDCSP), the

competition saw 3 awards presented on the

night, including accolades to all 24 Sports

Star and Team of the Year nominees.

Near to 300 people saw Irish Tarmac Rally

champion Gareth MacHale from Rathcoole

declared Sports Star of the Year

with Crumlin United scooping the Club of

the Year title.

The night got even better for the Pearse

Park club after their intermediate soccer

outfit was declared the 2010 Team of the Year

by guest speaker and Chief Executive Officer

of the Irish Sports Council, Olympic silver

medalist John Treacy.

This year marked the launch of the new

Sports Hall of Fame with Thomas

Davis GAA clubman Gerry O’Toole along

with former Olympian and Irish and

European record-breaking cyclist Ollie Kelly

the first to be inducted.

Also announced on the night were the

winners of the Club Development of the

Year, Sports Volunteer of the Year and Coach

of the Year titles.

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‘Christmsislost

withoutendy’

Two young children left

without their mother after

dr owning tr agedy in canal

THE family of a young mother of two

who drowned with her boyfriend in a

frozen canal last weekend say

“Christmas is gone forever” following

her tragic death.

The bodies of Wendy Atkinson (30)

and Robert Sneddon (2) were found

in the Grand Canal at Suir Bridge in

Inchicore on Saturday afternoon.

It is believed one of them fell into

the icy waters and the other tried to

rescue their partner – but both

tragically drowned in the attempt.

Wendy, from Tymon North, had a

12-year-old son and an eight-year-old

daughter – who have been left

devastated by her death, according to

her older sister Jenny.

“We are burying Wendy on the day

that she should have been here with

her family celebrating Christmas

Eve,” Jenny told .

“We are all in bits and her children

are going to miss her terribly and so

will my mam Catherine, dad Damian

TRAGIC Wendy Atkinson

THREE WISE GIRLS Grace McHugh-Baker, Leah Hayes and Orla Dunne came bearing gifts at the

Nativity play in St Kevins, Kilnamanagh on Friday.

Photo by Joe McCartney

and brother Darren.

“Christmas is gone forever for this

family.”

See page

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A OUNG family has been left without water

for the past five days – and with water in the

council’s portable tankers frozen, is preparing

itself for a dry Christmas.

Mother-of-two Lee Martin has been unable to

access drinking water, flush toilets, wash clothes

or baths her two children, aged three and nine

months, since the weekend.

Speaking to , Lee claimed that South

Dublin County Council has done “little” to help

her family and neighbours who are struggling

without water.

“I rang the council’s emergency number on

Saturday and since then I have spoken with five

different people – none of whom can offer me

any assistance,” she said.

“I understand that the weather is out of the

council’s control but I would really like to know

why some of the residents in Raheen have water

and some haven’t.

“I have 14 people coming to my home for

Christmas Day and I’m at my wits’ end – in this

day and age there has to be something the

council can do to help people.”

Sinn Fein councillor Sean Crowe, who is a

resident of Raheen, has raised the issue with

council officials.

“The council has sent up inspectors to check

out the situation however, they have been short

on solutions,” Cllr Crowe said.

“At this stage, excuses are not good enough

for the families living without water – it’s been a

very stressful time for them.”

Cllr Crowe explained that the council does

have access to emergency portable water

tankers.

But unfortunately the water contained in these

tanks has also frozen.

tmess

SNOWWTERRaheenhasshortage

cullsof

“I really can’t understand how the water in

these tankers has been left to freeze,” Cllr Crowe

continued.

“Since the tankers are now not an option, I’ve

asked the council to install a temporary tap in

the area – which I would take responsibility for.”

A spokeswoman for the council said that

inspectors have been out around estates in the

locality and monitoring the ongoing situation.

She stressed that no home should be without

water for a long period of time – and if so, it is

probably down to an issue with the individual

water tank or pipes within the boundaries of the

house.

Residents have been encouraged to visit

www.sdcc.ie, where advice and updates on burst

water pipes is posted.

itsnurses

Hospital post s will be cut in New ear

A NEL-QUALIFIED nurse

who is based in St James’s

Hospital has said she is

“devastated” that she and 41

colleagues will be axed on

January 9.

The 22-year-old from Lucan,

who did not wish to be named,

said there was no warning for

herself and her classmates who

graduated two weeks ago.

She said: “On Saturday I got

a letter in the door to say we’re

finishing in January. I love

working in St James’s and on the

ward I’m on, it is just

heartbreaking to know we’re

done after Christmas.”

She said that with 42 young

nurses from Lucan, Clondalkin,

Celbridge and Palmerstown and

across the country being let go,

the hospital is going to be

severely understaffed.

The young girl, who finished

training in September, will now

be forced to look to other

countries for work.

She said: “All of the different

colleges have ties to hospitals.

All of the other hospitals have

already allocated their jobs and

it looks like now that there is

nothing here for us all – we will

have to go abroad.”

The thought of working in

another country is not something

they had previously considered.

She said: “e are absolutely

devastated the whole lot of us –

we thought we were being kept

on the wards.

“I know some of the nurses

are in long-term relationships

and the thought of moving away

is very hard for them.”

A spokesman for St James’s

Hospital confirmed that the

young nurses would be finishing

up on January 9 and said the

decision was “very regrettable”.

He said: “Effectively it is

about offering people nursing

posts and the posts are not

available.

“It is very regrettable from our

point of view, for anyone to end

up finishing up in a profession

and being unable to get a job,

but it is not specific to St

James’s.”

And the cuts could have a

massive effect on frontline

services and patient care, Fine

Gael’ Cllr Derek Keating said.

He explained: “The Fianna

Fail/Green Party policies in

attacking frontline services will

not only have a serious affect on

sick people in our hospitals, but

will also be the cause of even

greater unemployment levels

and mass emigration of many

young people, including our

nurses.”

A spokesperson for the Irish

Nurses and Midwifes

Organisation said: “Normally

these newly-qualified nurses

would have been offered work in

the hospital, but due to the

government recruitment ban and

the expected reduction in St

James’s budget for 2011, the

hospital has notified these nurses

that they will be let go.”

The spokesperson said the

INMO has called for an urgent

meeting with St James’s

management to discuss this

situation, adding that the

organisation will be asking

hospital bosses to extend the

contracts of the 42 nurses.

ronsarnbackonmen

BETEEN 25 and 30 new jobs have been

created in Citywest after Browns Barn restaurant

and bar was reopened earlier this month.

Silken Thomas at Browns Barn opened on

Saturday, December 4 after a 15-month closure.

Susan Sugrue, who manages the new facility

with Stewart O’Connor, explained that the team

is “delighted” to be working at Citywest.

She said: “e are delighted to get in, it hasn’t

been the best of conditions to start in with the

snow but there has been great interest from

people locally.”

The restaurant has been changed and

refurbished with a carvery lunch menu and a

snack menu at lunchtime Monday to Friday and

on Sundays.

There is also a full a la carte menu each day

from 3pm.

The owner of the Silken Thomas in Kildare

Town and the new branch at Citywest, Brian

Flanagan, is heavily involved in the set up of the

new restaurant.

Susan explained that while the official

opening is yet to take place it has been pencilled

in for the new year.

She said: “The official opening hasn’t

happened yet but it will some time in 2011.”

In addition to this the upstairs restaurant at the

facility will be opened in the Springtime.

To make a reservation for Silken Thomas at

Browns Barn contact the restaurant on 4640999

or email info@brownsbarn.net.

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CRUELCUTSStamessospitalhastoldnewlqualifiednursesthehavenojobs

hrsdaeceber232010

echie

Celebside manner

Spirits lifted at children’s hospital as some of Ireland’s best-loved stars pay visit

YOUNGSTERS at the

National Children’s

Hospital in Tallaght got an

early Christmas present

yesterday when X Factor

stars Mary Byrne and Louis

Walsh, presenters Ryan

Tubridy and Glenda Gilson

and rugby hero Rob

Kearney dropped by.

The surprise was

organised by Garda Peter

Egan of Tallaght Garda

Station, who believed that

patients and staff at the

facility deserved a treat.

Speaking to

after the visit, Mary Byrne

said: “It was absolutely

amazing to meet all of

the children, they were

so excited to see us.

“It’s great that I’m

now in a position to

help others, I’ve always

wanted a voice to help

others and now I have

that.

“All of the kids were

brilliant, they’d make

you realise that there’s

more to life than

worrying about money

and materialistic

things.”

Speaking exclusively

to , Mary said that

she is still “up to her

eyeballs” with work and

appearances, adding: “I am

really just looking forward

to relaxing over the next

few days.”

She also revealed that

she will be officially

opening the Arnott’s sale on

St Stephen’s Day as did

2009 X Factor success act

Jedward last year.

And the Ballyfermot

diva confirmed that she

will be recording an album

which she hopes will be in

the shops for Mother’s Day.

Meanwhile, the visiting

celebrities were given a

tour of the 70-bed

children’s hospital.

Ciara O’Grady, of the

hospital’s fundraising

department, said that the

visit really lifted spirits.

“Honestly, it was such a

lift for the kids especially in

the week that’s in it –I

really don’t have the words

to describe how great it

was,” Ms O’Grady said.

Garda Egan said he has

been trying to

organise a visit to

the hospital for

some time.

Thanking

Caroline Downey of

MCD for organising

the visit and the

goody bags, he said:

“Everybody goes to

Our Lady’s in

Crumlin and

Temple Street –

which is great – but

as the National

Children’s Hospital,

Tallaght deserves a

few surprises.”

sURPRisEVisitORsLouisWalsh,Rantubrid,Marrne,GlendaGilsonandRobKearne

droppedintoseepatientsandstaffoftheNationalhildrensHospital,tallaght,onWednesda

XsttiMarandoungfan

‘e’re Best Amies’

performances at t ary’s

ST MARY’S National School celebrated their cultural

mix of students with a variety of Christmas

performances last week.

All students at the Greenhills Road school were

involved in the days events, from senior infants to sixth

class.

Principal Pat Egan told that it was a hugely

successful day, explaining: “The whole theme of the

day was really a celebration of the children’s talents.

“We have a multicultural mix of students here and it

was a total inclusion day, with everyone taking part.

“There was a tremendous turnout from parents and

we had to borrow seats from the Tallaght Band in order

to ensure people could enjoy the show. The resource

staff provided all the costumes and instruments.”

All types of Christmas-related events were

performed including carol singing, plays such as Oliver

and Scrooge, while the day culminated in an Irish

music piece by fifth and sixth-class students.

Angela Byrne was one of the many family members

in attendance. The former Bancroft resident went along

to see her grandson in Oliver and she loved every

minute of it.

She said: “I thought it was great. I came over

especially from Rathfarnham to see my grandson Rory

Byrne, who is in second class. He played Tiny Tim’s

BELLE Amie singer

Rebecca Creighton has

quashed reports that the

band has split.

After rumours that the

group had split, Tallaght

girl Rebecca revealed that

the group have big plans

for the future starting

with a gig in Tallaght’s

Playhouse Nightclub on

December 29.

The talented Tymon

singer told : “We

haven’t broken up at all,

we’re really busy, Belle

Amie are here to stay.”

Wednesday night’s gig

in The Playhouse will be

a proper homecoming for

the 21-year-old who is

very familiar with the

venue.

She said: “It’s so close

to me, I used to go out

there and have a drink

and go dancing there. It

will be great to do a gig at

home.”

She will be joined by

the other three girls from

UNitEDLocalstarRebecca(secondleft)said

XFactorgirlbandellemieisstilltogether

LOOKiNGtHEPRtbbie Williamson,

JodieHaesandKatierock-Orien

the band on December 29

but they will fly out the

next morning as they

have another gig

scheduled for Manchester

on December 30.

Rebecca is looking

forward to spending

Christmas with her

boyfriend Glen and

family members after

only just making it home

to Dublin on Wednesday.

She said: “You

wouldn’t believe the

nightmare I had to get

home.

“I had to fly into

Belfast and get the train

up to Dublin.”

Rebecca and Belle

Amie will perform at The

Playhouse on Wednesday,

December 29.

For ticket information

contact the venue.

father and it was a fantastic play.”

“It would really make you laugh and cry the way

they performed and I have to say that the teachers were

absolutely brilliant in making sure the whole event

went well.”

For more photos turn to pages 72 and 73.

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handlingofbigchill

Social site used to issue traffic updates for roads across county

uthorities

happith

saltsuppl

THERE will be sufficient

salt to get the area through

the coming days, says South

Dublin County Council.

And with the thaw set at

the weekend, the situation

will improve even further.

A council spokesman told

“We took in two

deliveries of salt last week.

The salt is sourced from

North Africa via the

National Roads Authority

who procured it through

tender.

“This supply should

enable us to deal with the

forecasted situation over the

next few days and hopefully

the warmer weather forecast

for the weekend will arrive

to relieve the situation.”

The Roads Department is

monitoring the ever-

changing weather situation

on a daily basis and has been

keeping a close eye on -

hour forecasts.

While it is hoped that the

thaw will have set in by St

Stephen’s Day, the Council

is on standby to cope with

the challenge if the weather

turns colder again.

The North African salt is a

naturally-occurring product

which forms when sea water

dries in specially-created

wells under the sun’s rays.

The pure salt is best for

dealing with icy roads and is

particularly effective when

mixed with grit. From time

to time, the Council also

uses from rock salt which is

mined in Carrickfergus in

Co Antrim.

owsalt

workson

icyroads

MOST of the salt that is

used on our roads in

winter is a naturally-

occurring product that is

produced industrially in

warmer countries in

evaporation ponds.

The salt used on Irish

roads tends to come from

North frica, mostly

Morocco, although it has

been sourced from a mine

in Co ntrim in the past.

pproximately 1 per

cent of the global output

of salt is used by colder

countries to de-ice roads

in winter.

Calcium Chloride

(CaCl2) is preferred over

Sodium Chloride (NaCl),

as this compound releases

energy upon forming a

solution with water

heating any ice or snow it

comes in contact with.

It also lowers the

freezing point, depending

on the concentration.

hile sodium chloride

does not release heat upon

solution, it does lower the

freezing point.

Calcium chloride is

thought to be more

environmentally-friendly

than sodium chloride

when used to de-ice roads.

However it tends to

corrode vehicles more so

than sodium chloride.

SOCIAL networking technology

has proven a massive success in

South Dublin County Council

during the recent cold snap.

Council officials have been

using Twitter to keep road users

up to date on which areas have

been gritted, those that are badly

affected by snow and which

roads are closed.

Philip Murphy of the

Council’s Roads Department

explained “It is another

additional resort to get the word

out. The Traffic Management

Centre is live on Twitter and

before people start their journey

they can check it out.

“We also have people visiting

the website to look at the

cameras to see what it is like in

the area and they can plan their

journey around that.”

Mr Murphy explained that

“valuable” technology even

allows people to keep up-to-date

by mobile phone.

He said “Twitter is so instant

that it does help considerably to

get the information to people as

quickly as possible.

“It has been quite beneficial

and the number of followers we

have has soared recently and we

have been getting messages

thanking us for the information

we are putting out.”

The facility has been

particularly helpful with

informing people about “trouble

spots” such as the Naas Road

and Newlands Cross.

Mr Murphy said “There have

been a few trouble spots but they

only really cause trouble when it

is actually snowing.

“One of the main issues has

been articulated trucks and box

vans that have no weight on

them – the lack of weight causes

the wheels to spin and if you’re

on an incline you start to slide.”

He explained that some place

on the continent issue a request

to all articulated vehicles to

“park up” in snowy conditions,

but south Dublin is still “not

near that stage yet”.

Overall, Mr Murphy said that

the Council has coped “pretty

well” with the poor conditions.

TRUE GRIT The updates have told users what roads in the county have been treated

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SOUTH Dublin County

Council has urged residents to

keep their dogs on leads while

in public parks – after a puppy

fell through a frozen lake last

week and drowned.

According to staff in the

Council’s Parks Department,

the puppy fell through a frozen

lake in Tallaght after chasing a

swan out on to the ice.

The young dog was unable to

escape the freezing waters and

his distraught owners could not

venture out on to the lake to

rescue him.

In light of the tragedy, a

spokeswoman for the parks

department is now urging all

dog-owners to keep their pets

on leads.

“The bye-laws state that dogs

should be on leads in parks but

a lot of people let their dogs

run free,” she said.

“We would ask people,

especially in this weather, to

keep their pets on a lead and to

stay away from frozen ponds

and lakes. They pose a real

threat as there is a possibility

that the ice will break.”

She also encouraged

residents to avoid steep hills

and watch out for roadways.

And Waterways Ireland has

warned people to be careful

near the Grand Canal – where

a young couple drowned last

weekend in Inchicore.

WI spokesman Charles Lawn

said “Snowbound harbours

and ice-covered jetties, in

particular, are dangerous to

walk on or near because of the

risk of slipping, tripping or

falling near to the water’s

edge.”

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