SIN Volume 22 Issue 4

NUACHTÁN SAOR IN AISCE VOL. 22 Issue 04. 17 NOV 2020

Student Independent News

WINNER: BEST NEWSPAPER AT THE NATIONAL STUDENT MEDIA AWARDS 2019

INSIDE

NUIG student Conor Nolan talks about his new book which tackles the stigma of mental health, page 14.

Demand for study space at NUI Galway sees Bailey Allen re-open for students:

By Alice O’Donnell The James Hardiman Library have announced that additional study spaces in the Bailey Allen Hall will be provided to students in order to deal with soaring demand for study spaces on campus.

The library is currently dealing with the issue of being fully booked, but due to students booking places and not turning up, many of these booked seats are left empty. The Students’ Union and

Library staff are asking students to only book library seats if they are certain they will use them, or to cancel ahead of time if not.

To allow students safely back in, the library has had to implement some precautions considering Covid-19, such as limiting seating availability, and introducing a facility where students can pre-book seats.

As a result, there are far fewer seats available as study spaces, which in turn massively increases the demand for each seat.

The library building currently holds a capacity of 149 seats, including PC Suites, available all week between 8.30am and 10pm on weekdays, 8.30am-5.30pm on Saturdays and 10am to 5.30pm on Sundays The booking system implemented by the library is powered by a platform called LibCal, the same program used in Pre-Covid-19 times to book out group study rooms.

The library booking system itself is relatively new, having been implemented by the company

in early July in response to demand from libraries around the world.

Speaking to SIN, Library Digital Experience Developer Eileen Kennedy, who oversees setting up and administrating the seat booking system at the library said that only half of pre booked seats are being taken up by students.

“There are very few seats that we can safely make available and so many needy students. In Continues on page 2

2 N E WS & F E AT U R ES

SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

INSIDE

SU Council proposes Levy reform 4 Students encouraged to download Safety App 5 NUI Galway postpone winter graduations until summer 2021 6 Approval granted for massive Cúirt expansion 7 Mental Health Support for Students in Lockdown 8 NUI Galway American Students talk US Election 9 STAND FESTIVAL: Volunteer reports highlight global injustices 10–11 SAVITA HALAPPANAVAR: Eight Years On 12 Student Diaries 13 ‘EVERYONE IS FIGHTING A BATTLE THAT THE OUTSIDE WORLD KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT’: NUIG student Conor Nolan talks about his new book which tackles the stigma of mental health. 14 Local Galway student to star in RTÉ documentary 15 Fall in Lourve with Netflix’s ‘Emily in Paris’ 16 Series review: Ratched 17 Gothic literature through the ages 18 2020’s Best Online Fashion Stores 20 Something I have learned about myself during lockdown; Flying Solo 21 Level Up Your Veggies 22 THE ORDINARY SKINCARE: The Top 5 Must-Have Products for Combination, Acne-Prone Skin 23 America says Bi-den to Trump 24 How American politics affect Ireland 25 Poland protest for abortion rights 26 How has the Pandemic Affected Our Drinking Habits? 27 Galway Utd ‘s promotion hopes crushed at UCD Bowl 28 NUIG launch online fitness classes as part of November exercise initiative 29 TEN YEARS ON: NUI Galway’s tenth Sigerson Cup revisited. 31

EDITOR: Paddy Henry editor.sin@gmail.com LAYOUT: Shannon Reeves An bhfuil rud éigin le rá agat?

Cur litir chuig an Eagarthóir chuig editor.sin@gmail.com

Find us online:

www.sin.ie

Hello again everybody, welcome back to SIN, I can’t believe we’re into issue 4 already, a third of the way through for the year. it really has flown by. This is the time of year where the deadlines begin to pile up and the all-nighter becomes the student’s saving grace.

Fear not though, within a fortnight or so it will all have passed, we will be into December, Level 5 will hopefully be dead in the water and an air of festivity will be felt across the country. Whether you love it or hate it I think it’s fair to say that the Yule-

With the burden of exams, assignments and the November lockdown hitting everybody hard at the moment, it is important that we don’t let ourselves get too bogged down by the misery of it all.

tide festivities will be much needed this year, never before has the taste of dry turkey, or goose, some of us have notions, been so eagerly craved.

Speaking of a goose being cooked, the US Presidential Election has been front and centre of almost everyone’s minds for the last few weeks. My CNN detox began early last week; however I’m still running off Eastern Standard Time in my head, a solid excuse for submitting an essay five hours late if you needed one! If there’s one thing the Americans have given us over the last fortnight, it’s the mother of all geography lessons. Honorary son of Doonloughan John King has the precise locations of Allegheny County, Bucks County and Maricopa County drilled into my head, stored away in the back of my mind in the hope it comes up in a post-Covid table quiz, Our little island on the edge of Europe looks like it is set to benefit from a Biden Presidency. A man who can trace his roots back to Ballina with a long-held fondness for Heaney and Yeats is only going to bode well for this country. A Mayo man in the White House might bring with it a bit of culture shock, but as a Roscommon man I’d much rather see a Mayo man climbing the steps of the Grand Staircase than the Hogan Stand! Biden’s election also means there is now as much representation from the West in the Oval Office as there is in our own cabinet!

Back to more important issues now, SIN has another excellent issue

in store for you, once again, I can’t thank our writers enough for their contributions over the past few weeks, particularly with dreaded mid-terms coming thick and fast. The paper wouldn’t be able to run without your contributions and I can’t thank you all enough.

As always if you’re interested in writing for the paper please get in touch, we are only delighted to see new writers contributing. If you feel like you have something to say or a story to tell drop me a line at editor. sin@gmail.com or get in touch with one of our really sound sub-editors.

With the burden of exams, assignments and the November lockdown hitting everybody hard at the moment, it is important that we don’t let ourselves get too bogged down by the misery of it all. But alas all things come to an end and a light at the end of the tunnel is firmly in sight. So, in the words of a certain individual from Scranton, Pennsylvania, “Keep the Faith!”

Demand for study space at NUI Galway sees Bailey Allen re-open for students: Continued from front page general, only about half of all bookings are being taken up. Many users do cancel in advance when they realise they no longer need a seat, but many others just do not turn up.”

She emphasised how the library staff understand that “this is a really difficult and stressful semester for so many students and that things genuinely do happen that prevent users from arriving through no fault of their own.”

The amount of cancellations and no-shows the library receives each day is illustrated by the percentage they overbook their capacity. Since the first week of October, the library has booked up their capacity to between 104% - 128%.

Despite this high level of booking, the library is finding that each day it is only between 55% - 69% occupied.

SIN further discussed the matter with Kris Meen, Marketing & Engagement at

the NUI Galway Library. He explained the steps taken by the library to remedy the issue, including “communication over social media as well as adjusting the messaging that takes place as part of the booking process.”

He spoke about the impact that this campaign is having on the library, including an increase of between 75% and 91% in booked seats occupancy, depending on the hour of the day.

Pádraic Toomey, President of the NUI Galway Students’ Union, has also praised the effect of the social media campaign in reducing the number of seats booked but not taken. However, he also emphasised the value of study space, saying “the speed of which [the library seats] is getting booked out, which is usually within minutes of midnight, highlights the need for the spaces, “This demand for space has seen the Bailey Allen Hall opening as study space, adding an extra 50 seats that are

bookable. Seats are available in single pods; however, the space is designed to be that of an interactive learning space. Students will be able to have their CÉIM or Zoom calls in this new study space.

“The need for library seats is clear, with an additional 9300 hours booked between the second week of September and the last week of November. The amount of the bookings occurring in each week has increased massively, from 437 during the third week of September to the most recent figure of 2997 bookings during the last week of October.”

Eileen Kennedy summarises the library’s ask of students succinctly: “The key thing that we ask is that students only book a seat in the library if they really need it and if they really do plan to attend their booking. If they need to cancel, we ask they do that as soon as possible so another student can use the seat.”

N UAC HT

November 17 2020

NEWS EDITORIAL

By Conor Brummell Alright, alright, alright- it is week eight and we’re feeling fine. In reality, it’s week eight and we’re not feeling fine. Where has the time gone? The past few months have been a rollercoaster, and since college started back at the start of October, it’s been pretty much a race against time to get assignments finished. I feel like we’re on a freight train barrelling towards Christmas now that the nights are dark, and the Christmas Ads have started to creep onto the airwaves. My personal favourite is the Disney advert- I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried when I first saw it.

Maybe it was the midterm stress, or maybe it’s the lockdown feelings coming to the surface, but it’s been a rough couple of months. I hope you’re all keeping safe and well, and that you take a few moments to yourself this week to chill out.

It’s deserved.

SIN is back once again, with issue four this week and we have a packed issue again. Some stellar reporting going on from Caoimhe Killeen who tells us about how NUI Galway has received funding from the EU to create an online course to enhance the digital skills for those working in housing, property, real estate and other areas in Europe.

Alice O’Donnell has a piece on library occupancy, and how there is now new spaces in the Bailey Allen Hall for students to study. I reported on the Students’ Union releasing their famous Yellow Thing Charity socks, which are aiming to raise funds for the SU charities. As well as this, NUI Galway have postponed their online winter graduations until summer 2021.

Paddy Henry reports on a major new development in Cúirt na Coiribe and the proposed reduction of the student levy, which looks set to go to a referendum next year, while Mary Raftery gives us the lowdown on the Galway Safe App. Scríobh Eimear Nig Oireachtaigh faoi Ciara Ní É ina colún Mol na Meáin sa seachtain seo. Is file agus scríbhneoir í Ciara agus tá sí an-speisiúil mar duine!

As always, if you want to get in touch or get involved with the news section in SIN, you can do so by emailing deputy.sined@gmail.com.

ARTS AND ENTS EDITORIAL

By Alice O’Donnell Hello everyone, and welcome to Issue 4. Where has the time gone? it seems like only last week we were getting ready for Issue 1! This is an absolutely jammed packed issue, so massive thanks to everyone who contributed to the arts and entertainment section, making it such a great read.

If you’re still not ready to move away from the spooky season and embrace Christmas, fear not, you’ll find refuge within these pages. Sophia Hadef has written a great article detailing the history of gothic fiction, and which books to read to get your teeth into the genre. If you’re not in the mood for books right now, Anastasia Burton has written a fab review on ‘Ratche’, the new TV show sure to give you the goosebumps.

Maureen Breslin takes a fascinating look at the impact celebrities have on elections, such as the recent American election. Also, in celebrity news, Jade Tierney examines the trend of holographic gifts, such as Kim Kardashian’s recent birthday gift of a holographic message of her deceased father from her husband Kanye West. Cute or creepy we wonder…

Of course, the month of November is especially noted for its highlighting of mental health. Mental health is such an important issue, and it’s always worth remembering that a problem shared is a problem halved. Conor Nolan’s new book ‘NORMAL’ describes his relationship with his own mental health throughout the years as well as discussing the idea of being ‘normal’ in modern society. He has written an article for this issue summarising some issues young people may have, as well as the how important it is to talk to someone if you are struggling with your mental health.

If you have any interest writing for SIN, the arts and entertainment section are always accepting creative writing, reviews - basically anything to do with entertainment! If this sounds like something you’d be interested in getting involved with, for sure shoot me an email at artsentertainment.sined@gmail.com.

FASHION & LIFESTYLE EDITORIAL

By Anastasia Burton

FEATURES EDITORIAL

By Saoirse Higgins Hi everyone and welcome back for another issue! Midterms are upon us and everyone’s kept busy with their eyes glued to their laptop screens. Hopefully SIN can offer a break between exams or get your brain started for your essay.

In Features this week, our columnists return with some anecdotes for you to relate to with Aine Fogarty detailing the first-year experience and Tom Molloy delving into his US election binging.

Then we have writers exploring abortion rights from the Polish protests by Anastasia Burton to Savita Halapannavar’s 8th year anniversary by Laura Quinn. We then have American NUIG student’s take on the US election by Ilka Denker along with her rundown of mental health services in the college. We also have a piece on Coldvember by Ellen O’Regan giving us a taste of what’s happening on Blackrock pier.

This and much more in this issue of SIN, dig in and enjoy! Also don’t be afraid to contact me with any ideas or questions to features.sined@ gmail.com

Hello guys! Welcome back and I hope you haven’t dropped dead from the workload yet. It’s midterm season and although all you lovely people were busy with your own stuff you still made time to write for SIN and we love you for it! For those who aren’t writing for SIN... why aren’t you? For those that don’t know I’m the beloved hedgehog mama Burton or just Anastasia Burton and I am the Fashion and lifestyle editor! I have to admit this issue was particularly hard for me and my writers since midterms do hit different, and most of us are drowning in a workload that’s just crazy. I really feel for those who are struggling extra hard with work and college combined, stay strong!

It was my dream to really make this section my own this year and I feel that with the introduction of the “cheap and easy recipes”, “beauty bag reviews”, “mental health Column”, and the “budgeting advice”, we have an ongoing theme where people can really jump in and pick up something fun to write about. I like to shift focus to mental health and useful advice for students who may struggle on living alone and need some advice about how to spend and save their money and cook their meals.

I encourage people to write articles for SIN not only because it’s good on your CV but it’s also good for your mental health, look at it as a public diary where you don’t have hold back your frustration!

Now, go on and enjoy the issue, Hugs and kisses Anastasia

7

GNÉ -ALTANNA

OPINION EDITORIAL

3

SPORTS EDITORIAL

By Darren Casserly

By Oisín Bradley

Hello once again everyone and welcome to Issue four of SIN. It has been quite the start to the year here in NUI Galway, but the paper has remained at the highest quality as always. The opinion section has a huge range of topics for you to enjoy.

The US election has occupied many peoples minds for the past few weeks, and we have articles from Aaron Deering, Maureen Breslin and Alice O’Donnell giving us their opinions on the election. Aaron gives us his breakdown of how the election turned out and how Joe Biden clinched the Presidency. Maureen tells us about the election from the American point of view and Alice looks into the reason why the Irish are so interested in US politics.

Niamh Casey questions if the Irish government is doing enough to support the Arts sector during this pandemic. This is extra important from a Galway point of view with the arts festival and Galway 2020 both taking a major hit thanks to the pandemic.

Anastasia Bruton writes about the problem of student parties during the pandemic and if some people have just stopped caring about other people, and why these people are the problem when it comes to trying get back to normal life.

We have these articles and a lot more to look forward to in this issue, with articles from myself and one of our promising new writers, Diarmaid Hehir who writes about the danger of celebrity in this current age.

Finally, I just want to thank all of our writers for making this paper what it is and if you or anyone you know has any interest in writing for the paper or if you have any questions you can email me at opinion. sined@gmail.com.

Hello once again one and all, and welcome to Issue four of SIN. We hope everyone is coping well with lockdown, and managing to come to grips with online learning as we enter peak ‘mid-term’ assignment season. As always, it has been a busy few weeks on the sporting front, with plenty to get your teeth sunk into, so let’s begin.

We saw the climax of the League of Ireland Premier Division season, as both Longford Town and Galway United headed to the UCD Bowl to do battle in their quests for promotion to the top flight of Irish football, and Niamh McGee was on hand to capture the game as it unfolded.

Also, the men from Eamonn Deacy Park have recently penned a new deal with Irish based kit manufacturers O’Neills, with their partnership with Puma ending in 2021.

Included in the back pages is an interview with Maeve Kavanagh, a personal trainer from Limerick who is running Zoom fitness classes as part of the college’s ‘Get Moving in November campaign.

Personally, I would recommend reading this and taking the chance to get involved in some sort of physical activity the college are running to keep your mind and body in good shape during these trying times.

We’ve also been keeping tabs on Galway’s prospects in the Premier League and Championship and casting the magnifying glass over their seasons thus far, as well as looking at the upcoming NUIG webinar on the relationship between film and sport.

Enjoy the read!

Connecting Ireland’s student cities and towns

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Dublin Airport

Galway

Dublin

Limerick

Cork Cork Airport

Book online at www.citylink.ie or call 091 564164

4 N E WS & F E AT U R ES

SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

SU Council proposes Levy reform Paddy Henry

NUI Galway Students’ Union Charity Socks are back!

By Conor Brummell Yes, you heard that right- the Students’ Union are releasing a range of charity socks again this year, just in time for Christmas. They will once again feature a tribute to the “Galway Yellow” sculpture (aka The Big Yellow Thing) on campus. The socks, a collaboration with Galway company Irish Socksciety, are on sale now for €9 a pair with all proceeds going to the SU charities, such as the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, Galway Autism Partnership and Helplink Mental Health.

The “Galway Yellow” sculpture outside the NUIG Library was created by artist Brian King in 1976 and has been a landmark and meeting point for UCG/NUIG students since then. It goes by a few nicknames most commonly “The Big Yellow Thing” but also “The Squiggle” and “Archimedes Balls”. The socks are on sale now from the SU website www.su.nuigalway.ie and the SU Shop at NUI Galway.

Students’ Union President Pádraic Toomey said: “We are delighted to relaunch our socks just in time for Christmas.

They are a great Irish made gift, and will support the work of three very worthy local charities: Galway Rape Crisis Centre, Galway Autism Partnership and Helplink Mental Health. We hope past and present staff and students will love the socks as much as we do. We look forward to seeing them on cosy feet everywhere!”

The Charity Socks are among some of the charity fundraisers kickstarted by NUI Galway’s Students’ Union this year. During the month of November, students have been challenged to commit to completing several different kilometre goals each day throughout the month. The Kilometre Challenge as it has been dubbed aims to raise money for the SU charities and is one of the six charity challenges that the SU is hoping to run this year.

So far 185 staff and students have signed up take part in the challenge which runs until the 30th of November.

Participants are encouraged to walk, run, or cycle, all within their 5km radiuses. The challenges will allow students to stay active and connected whilst also raising money for the local charities listed above.

Students’ Union Welfare and Equality Officer Róisín Nic Lochlainn stated that, “It’s great to see students and staff coming together as a community for a project like this even if we are apart. Turning exercise into a regular habit can transform your health, body, and mind. This year more than ever our charities need as much help fundraising as possible to keep providing their vital services.”

The NUI Galway Student Council have passed a motion to reduce the Student Levy.

A motion was taken at a meeting of the Council to reduce the levy from its current total of €224 per annum for every full-time student, to €140.

The NUIG student levy is the second highest student levy in the country, dwarfed only by UCD’s €250 levy per student.

In the previous issue of SIN, we provided a full breakdown of the student levy., which sees students pay €25.14 to the Student’s Union, €19.28 towards Societies, €19.28 towards clubs, €17.23 for the upkeep of Áras na mac Léinn, €18.46 for the running of the Health Unit, €4.92 for the running of Flirt FM, €19.69 towards the Student Projects Fund and €100 in the shape of the University Sports Centre levy.

Any change to the levy will have to be put to the student body via a referendum, which SIN understand will take place in April.

The new proposal would see an eradication of the payment of the €100 Sports Centre Levy, which was agreed to by students via referendum in 2003 and implemented in 2007.

Other changes to the current levy put forward at council were an increase in funding of the Student’s Union to €40, as well as increases in funding for Clubs and Societies bringing their funding to €25 per student respectively.

CÉIM, the Student Health Unit and FlirtFM will also see their funding increased under the new plans, while the Áras na mac Léinn Fund and the Student Project Fund will be significantly reduced, A €3 contribution towards the promotion of the Irish language will also be incorporated into the new levy.

NUI Galway Students’ Union President Pádraic Toomey told SIN that he is hopeful that voters would approve the proposal when it goes to Referendum “It’s finally doing what students have asked for over the last couple of years which is reduce the levy. Students feel hard done by especially for the Sports Centre part of it. Which is a building that a lot of them won’t use. We could get into the logistics of why the €100 is there and why there is disagreement over why students should or shouldn’t pay it. But the real reason is if students feel like they shouldn’t be paying this large sum of money that they didn’t personally agree to, then we need to make it fairer, acknowledging that sports is impor-

Student Levy: Timeline €220

€7 increase in line with inflation plus €100 Sports Centre Levy.

€200 €180

tant, but so is not being overcharged for things that we shouldn’t be.

Toomey also highlighted the benefits that the new levy will have on the likes of Flirt FM, Clubs and Societies “Parts of college that we probably appreciate the most and we find are of the most benefit to students are being increased because they deserve to flourish and improve. We have over 220 societies and I think it’s important to nourish them all as they are where students make friends and gain the experiences that make college worthwhile.

The President defended the process behind the make up of the new levy claiming that it has incorporated the work of three SU Presidents.

“It actually has taken the work of three Presidents. Megan Reilly would have started this a few years ago with focus groups and Clare Austick carried them on too. We did surveys on it and found that €140 was nearly the magic number. It kind of became a thing that we found that we had to do a lot of juggling to find the perfect figure that we could get each group to slowly agree to.

“It’s taken a while, but I feel like this year we will finally get it through. The students need to get on board and realise how good this will be, we are reducing the levy, while also increasing the important parts.”

Breakdown of the levy, current and proposed. €40

Levy remains unchanged at €224 since 2010-2011

€35

€30

€25

€20

€15

€10

€5

Increases in line with inflation

Societies

€160

Clubs

€140 €120 €100 €80 €60

0

Students’ Union

Áras na Mac Léinn Levy: IR£30 (€38). IR£10 equally spilt to supplement Student’s Union, Clubs, and Societies.

Remainder pay fit out College Bar. Funds after fit-out for capital developments of student services nature.

Proposed new level of levy: €140

Áras na Mac Léinn Health Unit

€4 increase in line with inflation plus €40 apportioned to the Students’ Union, Clubs, Societies and the Student Health Unit.

Flirt FM

€40

€6 increase in line with inflation Increases in line with inflation plus €5 for USI affliation fees. €20 1997 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 2020

Student Projects Fund Current Proposed

CÉIM Sports Centre

€100

€90

€85

€80

€75

€70

€65

€60

€55

€50

€45

€40

€35

€30

€25

€20

€15

€10

€5

0

N UAC HT

November 17 2020

7

GNÉ -ALTANNA

5

Don’t forget Mental Health Week: 16–20 November!

Students encouraged to download Safety App Mary Raftery When we head on a night out into town with friends, we look out for each other and hope we can depend on one another. However, our friends are not always equipped to be able to help when we get into difficulty.

The Galway Safe App facilitates this, aiming to prevent tragedies from happening late at night in areas close to the water in the city.

Launched in 2017, The Galway Safe App is funded by Galway City Council and The Western Region Drug and Alcohol Task Force and can be downloaded for free. It takes a matter of seconds to set up. You add three in case of emergency contacts, and then you forget about it! It is not an app that will be frequently sending you notifications or constantly tracking your movements. So, don’t worry, Mam or Dad won’t have access to where you are all of the time!

The app connects to beacons along the river, one at The Wolfe Tone Bridge and the other at The Spanish Arch. Even when mobile data is turned off, the app will be able to check in as it uses GPS.

If you are lingering around these hotspots between 10pm-6am, the app will send you a notification to check in and ask if you are ‘ok’ and if you would like to talk to any of your contacts. It will also allow you to get in touch with Samaritans or the emergency services.

A convenient feature of the app is that it can capture the exact location details of the person in need or of a friend if they have decided to make contact.

It will communicate this to the emergency contacts or emergency services as the app can pinpoint the location to about half a yard. This means that emergency services can get to the scene quicker.

NUI Galway Students’ Union President, Pádraic Toomey, spoke about how the River Corrib poses some danger and that the app can help us stay safe stating, “The app is a great initiative to keep people safe when around Galway with its waterways. Galway has the fastest river running through a European city and with that comes some danger. It is a good way to stay safe for all our students.”

SIN spoke to Neil Wilson of the Western Drug and Alcohol Task Force, who highlighted that this is

NUI Galway Awarded EU Funding to Develop European Online Course for Housing and Property Professionals

By Caoimhe Killeen NUI Galway’s Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy (CHLRP) has successfully bid for an EU Erasmus+ funding award of €500,000 to develop and create an international online course for housing and property professionals in both public and private sectors.

The course will be developed over three years, meaning likely completion by 2023. Its aims are to improve and enhance digital skills for those working in housing, property, real estate, and other related areas across Europe.

It is expected that learning will be carried out on a mobile micro-platform. Tools like PROPTECH will be used to achieve this, a term which is used for any technology that makes it easier to buy and sell property. It also facilitates easier online transactions for housing and real estate management. Some modules on the course are planned to be tailored towards specific types of housing, such as tools for professionals who manage apartment buildings or condos. It is expected that learning will be carried out on a mobile micro-platform.

Erasmus+ not only provides grants, but also facilitates research, networking, and debates on EU policy as well as providing opportunities for third-level students to study abroad. NUI Galway are partnered with various universities and organisations across Europe in this project such as Spain’s UNESCO Housing Chair and Poland’s University of Silesia.

“This award recognises the European perspective of our work at NUI Galway and makes our expertise and knowledge of housing and property issues available to an EU-wide audience” said Dr Padraic Kenna, Director of the Centre for Housing Law, Rights and Policy at NUI Galway.

“Our European and Irish housing and property law expertise at NUI Galway was integral to the successful €500,000 bid. The project will develop state of the art online learning tools to enhance learner engagement, motivation, and participation.

The ultimate training will be available for professionals involved in the housing, property and real estate fields, as well as policymakers.”

The CHLRP’s aim is to create a space ‘for a free and open discussion, combining research, resource development, advocacy and publications on housing law, rights and policy in Ireland, and internationally’ and has international links such as the European Network of Housing Researchers.

CHLRP have also been campaigning for housing rights to be incorporated into the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, especially during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in a series of Briefing Papers released by Dr Kenna this past March. As he puts it, housing is considered to be “a fundamental right and need, on which so many other rights depend, such as health, safety, privacy as home life as Covid-19 has so clearly shown. Access to adequate and affordable housing, for all, is becoming a key test of the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the Union.”

a simplistic but potentially life-saving technology, “You bung it on your phone and you completely forget about it. It just sits there in the background and takes up virtually nothing. The one time, (hopefully never), through college that it might be useful, is when it gives you that prompt to connect in and see how you are. This could save your life.”

A third hotspot is currently being added in Galway City, and there are hopes to have more in the future extending up to the university.

With NUI Galway’s Mental Health Week currently ongoing organisers have stressed the importance of checking in on friends. Getting those close to you to download The Galway Safe App is one way of doing this, If you or a close friend may find yourselves in a troubling situation near the waterside as a result of an overwhelming amount of stress due to relation-

ships, college, substance abuse or other reasons, remember the following support services are available 24 hours a day: Samaritans 116 123 or Pieta House 1800 247 247

Mental Health Week

Monday 16th November

Thursday19th November

10:00

Mindfulness Workshop

10:00

Virtual Coffee Morning

18:00

Self-Care during Covid-19 Panel Discussion

12:00

Panel Discussion - Mental Health in the Traveller Community

13:00 18:30

Yoga Class with Sports Unit

Strength & Conditioning Class

11:00

15:30 17:00 19:00

Tuesday 17th November 8:15

Mindfulness Workshop

18.00

“Diet or Disorder?”

– Eating Disorder Awareness Talk

11:00

Yoga Class with Sports Unit

Fitness Class with Sports Unit

Changing Colours Workshop Yoga Class with Yoga Soc

Movie Watch Along Party

Friday 20th November 08.15 19:00

Mindfulness Class

Big Weekend Table Quiz

Wednesday 18th November 13:00

Yoga Class with Sports Unit

18.30

Strength & Conditioning Class

16:00 19.30

NUI Galway on Drugs Panel Discussion Hump Day Hoolie

All events are FREE!

More information from su.welfare@nuigalway.ie

NUIGalwayStudentsUnion www.su.nuigalway.ie

@nuigsu

6 NEWS & F E ATU R ES

SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

Neylon to take step back from Údarás role Paddy Henry Editor Graduate panel member of NUI Galway’s governing authority Eoin Neylon has confirmed that he will not seek re-election to the position when his four-year tenure comes to an end.

Neylon, an engineering graduate has been a member of the body since 2016 confirmed that he took the decision to step back to allow for a more diverse panel.

Speaking to SIN, Neylon highlighted his commitment to having young female voices heard at an administrative level and said that the lack of diversity on the Údarás panel, pointing out that Students’ Union Education Officer Emma Sweeney is the sole young woman currently sitting on the panel.

“There isn’t a great divergence there.”, he said.

“Obviously it has gotten a lot better, there are a good lot of women on it, but there aren’t an awful lot of young women on it and I think that’s something in particular that needs to be addressed and the graduate panel of electives, I think would be the perfect way to address that imbalance at the moment.

“I know that Emma Sweeney, the Students’ Union Education Officer is the sole young woman on the panel and that is something that needs to be addressed, she’s there carrying the flag on her own at the moment. There are a number of fantastic women on it, but it is still predominantly male. When you look at the graduate panel and the four names on it, there’s a John, a Conor, a Ger and an Eoin and I think that that is a big problem in itself. You have myself and Conor who were in the University around the same time, and even though we are in our mid to late thirties we are still among the younger members of the Údarás at this stage. There is definitely a representation issue there and I just feel myself that rather than being part of that problem that I’d rather be part of the solution and move aside and to promote some alternative younger female candidates.”

Added to his commitment toward greater youth and female representation on the panel Neylon also cited being based in Dublin and work commitments as other reasons behind his decision.

During his time in the Údarás the Clare native has been a vocal supporter of student issues particularly with regard to accommodation. Last year, Neylon threatened to resign his seat on the panel in protest of the Universty’s decision to impose a 4% rental hike on some Corrib Village residencies, a decision that was eventually overturned.

Neylon credited his close relationship and eagerness to work with elected Students’ Union Officers over his tenure on the panel.

“I wouldn’t put my hand up and say that I went on any great solo runs, but any time I did bring up a point or a policy I did find that there was a cohort within the Údarás to back that push forward and I do think that my work with the various Students’ Union officers down through the four years has been a highlight.”, he said.

“They have all been fantastic representatives of the Student Body and I’m definitely happy that over the four years I have managed to stay In contact with them and listening to their issues and supporting the Students’ Union as much as I possibly could and I think that is the thing I am possibly most proud of myself.”, added Neylon.

The former local-election candidate for Ballyfermot Drimmnagh claimed that there was already lots of interest in the soon to be vacant seat, describing the calibre of those who expressed interest as “phenomenal”, an claimed that a competitive pool of candidates will only be of benefit to the University.

While crediting the progress the University has made over recent years in the areas of building development and management structures, Neylon argues that there is still room for improvement, particularly in the area of women’s representation on campus.

“There is room for almost every aspect of improvement, the governing authority itself, the

staff and the management are all aware of that and are always striving to achieve that.

“I think that the Building Programme is very ambitious across the University. The upgrade of the actual physical university itself has shown that there is great ambition there and I’m looking forward to seeing the results of that. But even within the make up of the actual management structure as well there are some good policies in tow for better streamlining of management.

But I would like to see more senior roles within the University being held by women. I’m happy to

say that I think there is movement in that direction, particularly with the Athena Swan programme which the University are accredited with to actively promote women within academia. I’m delighted to see that things are going in the right direction, but as I say we are at the start of a road and it will be something of a medium to long road, but it is going in the right direction.”, he finished.

Nominations for election to the next Údarás na hÓllscoile will remain open until November 30th.

A new 4-year term of office for the University’s Governing Authority begins in February 2021.

Photo: @EoinNeylon on Twitter

NUI Galway postpone winter graduations until summer 2021

By Conor Brummell NUI Galway President Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh has written to students due to graduate at the end of November, to inform them that winter conferrings have been postponed until summer 2021.

In the email seen by SIN, Ó hÓgartaigh states that the college “asked students [in October] to share their input on how we could make this virtual conferring a meaningful one in the context of the restrictions on normal life caused by Covid-19.”

The email continued to say that many students

expressed disappointment about not being able to graduate in person, and that “many students shared ideas around using photographs, Zoom calls and robe hire to add to the occasion.”

“One message came through particularly strongly from our students, and which we heard: your disappointment at not being able to share this important occasion in life’s journey with friends and family. Because of the Level 5 measures, many of you would not be able to travel home to be with family to enjoy the virtual conferring together,” the email states. Ó hÓgartaigh adds that the college was keen to mark these important occasions virtually to officially award students with their degrees and allow them to celebrate the milestone that is graduating from university. However, he states that the University must “respond to your feedback and the challenges of this time. Therefore, based on public health advice in particular with regard to congregating, we have made the decision to postpone the Winter Conferring ceremonies to the summer of 2021.”

“The virtual ceremonies originally scheduled from 30 November to 9 December will now not take place, nor will honorary degrees be awarded at this time. We hope, by the summer of 2021, that we may be able to host a celebratory event on campus for

our 2020 graduates instead, reliant on – and in adherence with – the public health guidance at the time.”

What does this mean for graduands? Graduates require proof of graduation to pursue employment or further education opportunities and Ó hÓgartaigh states, “For this reason, all graduands will shortly receive their degree parchment through the mail. This will be posted to your home address.

It is an important document, so make sure to keep it safe.”

As well as this, the future ceremonies will be streamed online for people who cannot make the physical ceremony for whatever reason. There will also be scheduled meet-ups planned for graduands who received their degrees in the spring and summer to allow them to celebrate in person.

For students who have already hired graduation robes, refunds are available upon request from Phelan Conlon, who can be contacted via email at info@phelanconlan.com. Alternatively, students due to graduate can keep their booking active until next summer at no extra cost.

Professor Ó hÓgartaigh concluded the email by stating, “We know that this will come as a disappointment to some of our graduands and as a relief to others. Know that we have made this decision based on our students’ preference and welfare.”

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Approval granted for massive Cúirt expansion Expansion for Terryland complex rubber stamped by An Bord Pleanála Paddy Henry Plans for a major expansion of Cúirt na Coiribe have been given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanála

The proposals which were put forward by the accommodation complexes’ parent company Exeter Ireland Property Limited in June and were formally approved by the planning authority last month.

Cuirt na Coiribe granted permission for major restructure. Photo: cuirtnacoiribe.com

Laptop loan scheme proves popular with students Paddy Henry An initiative by NUI Galway to provide laptops on lease to students from low income households has proven to be successful, with over 600 students having their applications accepted, The scheme, which opened in September is run through NUI Galway’s Access Centre and is part of the package of Covid-19 supports for higher and further education institutions, with funding provided by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to support disadvantaged students in the higher education sector in accessing ICT devices.

The scheme was open to all undergraduate, postgraduate and part-time students in NUI Galway.

Those who reached the eligibility criteria received a device on a long-term loan for the duration of their studies.

Distribution of the laptops, complicated by Covid19 restrictions, was carried out by the Chaplaincy team and James Hardiman Library at NUI Galway.

Eligibility for the innovative scheme was prioritised on a needs basis. Students from low income households and the identified target groups who demonstrated that they or their family do not have the means to purchase such a device themselves qualified to apply for the scheme.

One student who was successful in their application spoke of the importance of the scheme to students from low income backgrounds, telling SIN “It was really great to have my application accepted, I was struggling to get my college work

The plans will see the capacity of the complex double to 920 bed spaces and will see the building of a new café and restaurant on site.

It also includes plans for the construction of a gym, games room, lounge facility and study spaces for residents Under the plans Cúirt will undergo a major cosmetic change with the current two block complex giving way to a single building consisting of nine linked blocks ranging from two to six stories in height.

This will see the existing services building and the attic level of the main block demolished and the main building extended Availability of bicycle spaces will increase from 200 to 656, while car parking spaces will decrease substantially from 150 to just 59.

Some local residents opposed the initial plans noting the new build would increase noise pollution and footfall in the surrounding residential

areas. Other submissions called into question the need for an increase in bed spaces on account of the move to online learning due to Covid-19.

Senior Planning Inspector Karen Kelly had recommended that the Board reject the proposal citing the scale of the development and concerns that it would impact negatively on the urban character of the area.

However, An Bord Pleanála were satisfied with the accommodation provider’s proposal and approved the development under the condition that it abide by twenty one conditions, including the incorporation of electric car charging facilities and a guarantee that the complex be used strictly as student accommodation.

Students’ Union President Pádraic Toomey welcome the planned development, but stated the importance of the prices being reduced as a result, telling SIN, “If Cúirt na Coiribe are reducing the number of accommodation spaces in the city, you would be hopeful that as accommodation spaces increase the price will go down because there will be less demand.

“We just hope that we don’t continue to see massive luxury accommodation that’s costing too much. We just hope that for students and for their families that the prices go down with the likes of this development.”

STUDENTS’ UNION

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1000’s OF PRODUCTS Office • Home • School • College done on a tablet before this and it was really stressful for me. This will make my life a whole lot easier and will really alleviate the burden on me for the remainder of my degree. Schemes like this really help those from less fortunate backgrounds like myself, and are a really invaluable asset.”

Imelda Byrne, Head of the Access Centre at NUI Galway reiterated the student’s sentiments and credited the initiative for “easing the burden” on students, “This scheme is of huge benefit to our most disadvantaged students. This year in particular, when it has been necessary to move learning online, the purchasing of laptops could potentially be a major stumbling block for those in low income households, this scheme is easing that burden for many students. So many of the students were overjoyed when collecting their laptops.”, she said.

The scheme is now into its second phase which began at the beginning of the month. Information on the scheme itself, the criteria, and the application process is available on the NUI Galway website.

https://nuig.stationerysuperstore.ie/

8 F E AT U R E S

SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

Will you take the plunge for Coldvember?

NUIG students are braving a sea swim every day this month as part of Coldvember, a fundraising challenge in aid of Galway based mental health charity Helplink.

By Ellen O’Regan Coldvember began in 2018 as a small group of NUIG students teaming up for a daily dip as part of Movember. Last year, hundreds of students took to the water at Blackrock Diving Tower, raising over €10,000 for NUIG’s counselling services, and inspiring a similar event in UCD.

In light of Covid-19, this year’s challenge has taken a change of direction from the large group swims of previous years. Organisers are encouraging those taking part to swim in their own time and in line with social distancing guidelines, and tag the Coldvember page in social media posts.

One organiser of the event, Rhona Pierce, says that while it’s been a bit of a different year, there has been a really positive response, with social media tags and donations “flooding in”.

“Coronavirus is very isolating in a lot of ways, and although we can’t come together in the way we’d like, people are coming together in any way they can, and that’s great to see” says Rhona.

Only a few days in, and Coldvember’s donation page is already a third of the way towards its fundraising target of €10,000.

Local businesses are also get-

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Bí í d’Ionadaí Ranga! Le tuilleadh eolas a fháil, dean teagmháil le su.education@nuigalway.ie @nuigsu

NUIGalwayStudentsUnion www.su.nuigalway.ie

ting involved, with The Creamery Café of Salthill offering to donate €1 from every coffee bought by a Coldvember swimmer or supporter to the cause.

Coldvember continues to have a keen focus on mental health, both in its chosen cause and the positive benefits for swimmers.

“This year especially with coronavirus, people’s mental health is really being put to the test” says Rhona. “Sea swimming is like a tonic… you forget everything once you hit the water, it’s just a restart button really”.

Helplink has promised that all the funds gathered during Coldvember will go straight to the

provision of free and low cost mental health services for children, young people and adults alike.

“The support these students and the people that are supporting them in their challenges are providing for Helplink and its clients is just amazing” says CEO of Helplink, Lochlann Scott. “We cannot thank the Coldvember crew enough for braving the cold waters off our coasts in aid of our clients” All donations are welcome at www.idonate.ie/ coldvembernuig.

Swimmers and supporters can follow along on Instagram @coldvember_nuig, or on their Facebook page “Coldvember NUIG”.

Mental Health Support for Students in Lockdown

By Ilka Denker A couple of years ago my aunt gave me a bracelet which had a quote engraved on it. It read: “The question is not what you look at, but what you see”.

When it comes to mental health there is often a lot of stigma connected to the term and even though we are at a stage where the talk around mental health is being normalised. A lot of people feel ashamed about dealing with mental health issues. For a person who is suffering with mental health issues, it might still be difficult to see the normality of it.

Especially with the second lockdown, the long nights and rainy days we are facing, it is important to know that NUI Galway offers a lot of online services, free of charge, to help students with any mental health issues they might be experiencing.

Counselling is still available and has moved online. All appointments can be booked by emailing counselling@nuigalway.ie. No records will be taken of you availing of these services and seeing that everything is online further ensures your anonymity.

If attending a one-on-one session seems too dauting to you (let’s face it, we probably won’t all end up with a “Good Will Hunting” story) there are also three online self-help services offered on the student support section of NUI Galway’s website.

‘SilverCloud’ is a platform designed to address any underlying problems that cause mental health issues. You have the option to take a quick quiz to give you a general “wellbeing score”. The quiz provides you with a few options of programmes to chose from tailored to your answers. Examples of areas the programmes focus on are “a space for”: resilience, stress, depression, sleep, anxiety and positive body image. Each programme consists of different modules running over a couple weeks and you get to do them in your own time. The modules contain materials such as videos, interactive activities, text and audio clips. You will need to sign up to a programme using your NUI Galway email address.

‘Participate’ is another programme designed to help you fight social anxiety, something you might have struggled with in the past and that has gotten worse through the pandemic and the lack of social interaction. There are different modules that target understanding how social anxiety develops and how to overcome it. When we finally get to go back to our “true social life” (and we will!) maybe you will feel a bit more confident and be ready

to fully “participate” in the wonderful activities NUI Galway has to offer on and off campus. This programme also requires you to sign up with your student details.

Thirdly, NUI Galway also offers a link to an online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workshop. The website design could be from a 2003 nostalgia board, but the course does seem very beneficial! The programme aims to reduce stress, anxiety and depression by becoming more mindful and present in the moment. It is structured to run over eight weeks and is to be done in your own time.

Each week you will get videos and readings to fit themes focusing on awareness, dealing with your thoughts, your approach to a stressful situation and becoming more mindful. You will also get daily activities to complete including yoga, breathing and meditation. You do not need to register or provide any personal information to take part in this programme.

These services might seem like they require loads of time and are structured a bit like all those lectures we are trying to get away from. However, this is for you.

For most of our lives, we are surrounded by people and events and it can be overwhelming to keep up with social engagements and college work.

Maybe lockdown is a good opportunity to focus all this energy and time on yourself. If there are things you are struggling with, now is the time to tackle your problems and worries head on.

Take it slow. Maybe read up on what the self-help services have to offer or simply send an inquiry to the counselling office. No harm done, no commitments made. Maybe you will find something that sparks your interest and end up registering and gaining so much from these services. I know I have signed up to all of them, just because I can resonate on some level and simply feel curious about what I might learn about myself.

“The question is not what you look at, but what you see”. I think we should all look at mental health a bit more, but what we see should change. When I look at mental health now, feeling depressed, anxious or overwhelmed, I do not see shame anymore.

I see a part of what makes all of us human and I see that it is okay to feel that way. I see that there are so many ways in which I can deal with any mental health issues and make sure that when I get to live my life again in all the ways I want to, I will have made sure that I am okay first and foremost.

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November 17 2020

NUI Galway American Students talk US Election

By Ilka Denker The US Presidential Election has received a lot of media coverage and attention over the last couple of weeks. While it might seem like a topic that our neighbours across the Atlantic have to deal with, there are students in NUI Galway’s community who will be affected more directly by the outcome of the 2020 US presidential elections.

Erin Moore and Courtney Dwyer are both from the USA and are currently studying Medicine in NUI Galway. To both of them, the presidential elections were “a hot mess” but “hectic as (they) expected”.

Erin believes that the elections have shown how “politically divided” the USA is. She explains that “it is not like most of the people are divided as in one is all Democrat, one is all Republican. That is a small minority. Most people lie in the middle kind of range where there are some things they believe in on either side”.

Erin believes, “that the political influencers that represent them are the two extremes and that causes animosity towards each other”.

“The two-party system is so broken”, agrees Courtney, “everything in politics is now extreme, there’s no middle ground which is what we need, because that’s where most people are”. She goes as far as saying that the presidential candidates are “caricatures of the extreme”.

Erin believes that when Americans go out to vote, “they just pick the better poison”.

The contemporary topic of inequalities in the United States and the Black Lives Matter movement were prevalent in this year’s elections.

Courtney voices, “For America being the power-

ful country that it is, we are still very segregated in ways. There is still so much racism, so much sexism and a gender inequality gap.”

She says that “there are still these inequalities and the Presidential Election kind of highlights that, because look at our candidates” Erin adds that “you’ll see that with all American leaders, depending on what the current situation is, they will play by that to get as many votes as they can. They only care about all these things once it’s time for election day”.

Erin says that the problem with US Presidents is that they only focus on one aspect of the country and ignore the rest during their presidential term and “in Trump’s case it was the economy”.

“With racism in the last summer, it has been horrible with the protests and buildings being demolished because it has built up to a point thatPresidents ignore it or sweep it under the rug, hoping that the next person will deal with it and they don’t truly address the issue at hand”.

The two Medicine students do not see the racial inequality issue being resolved by the next President of the USA. Courtney explains this by saying, “We had our first black president, Obama, for two terms and although most people were pretty much secretly racist back then it brought the people who were wildly racist to the surface, because they were anti-black President. When Trump got elected that further let anyone that was secretly racist become vocally racist”.

She therefore believes that the next President would “have to reverse 12 years of these racial tensions that have been building”.

Erin says racial inequalities will not be resolved

as fast as the USA wants them to, because these have been going on for centuries and racism is ingrained in many people’s mindset.

However, she is hopeful for the future: “It is hard to change people who have this mentality and mindset since they were a little kid. With the generations getting older and the newer generations that are coming together and realising this issue, hopefully it can get better. Voting and protesting in a non-violent way, making a voice out there; that is what we can do to promote this so that eventually there will be a time where we can look back at this in a text book and be like, ‘Oh, I am so glad we are not there anymore.”

Many people eagerly awaited the results of the election earlier this month. Erin compares this to a football match with the rest of the world excitedly cheering, “who is gonna win”?

Both students agree that “to an American it is kind of terrifying, because it can actually change our lives”.

Erin explains that “right now I feel like I am watching it from a distance, but it still has its circle of effects”.

“I rely on my family for economical support and I rely on the government for financial support, so I depend on how much that plays a role for the next president”.

She adds that ““I won’t be experiencing the social implications of it, like social rights. I know people who will and that is what I am most concerned about”.

Courtney concludes that “you always have the promises of the candidates that you hope they will hold true”. Ultimately, that is all any voter in any country has.

American students in NUIG see America as a more divided place than ever.

9

The Sakharov Prize Aoife Burke What is the Sakharov Prize?

The Sakharov prize is awarded each year to worthy recipients. It is for people and organisations that are outstanding in their fights for human rights and freedom and equality.

It is not just public figures who can win this, it is people from all backgrounds and ages.

It is widely reported on in European media such as “Euronews” and the winner of the prize is publicly named in the media.

In 2019 the award was given to “Ilham Tohti”, who was an economist from Uyghur, a place in the North West of China. They are considered to be one of China’s 55 ethnic minorities. Uyghur is an official language of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, along with Standard Chinese.

It was first awarded in 1988 to Nelson Mandela, a former President of South Africa who died in 2013 and Anatoli Marchenko who was a Russian author who died in 1986.

The highest tribute made by the European Union is the “Sakharov prize for freedom of thought” award. The purpose behind this is for the EU to assist laureates who are supported and empowered to defend their causes.

The 2020 nominees are: The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by the co-ordination council; Najeeb Moussa Michaeel the Archbishop of Mosul, Iraq; Guapinol activists and Berta Caceres in Honduras; The democratic opposition in Belarus, represented by Sviatlana Tskikhanouska; Polish LGBTI activists Jakub Gawron, Paulina Pajak, Pawel Preneta and Kamil Maczuga, founders of the website Atlas of Hate.

So how are these recipients chosen? There is a formal sitting in Strasbourg at the end of the year. It is awarded by the European Parliament and each of the political groups can nominate candidates. Each candidate requires the support of at least 40 MEP’s.

The nominees are introduced at a joint meeting of the foreign affairs committee, the development committee and the human rights subcommittee. So there is a well rounded group of experts who can act on the judging panel. The members of the full committees vote on a shortlist of 3 candidates.

The conference of presidents chooses the winner or winners of the Sakharov prize. They are a European Parliament body led by the President. They are all European members of parliament making the decision of the winner.

It is a difficult decision to make as there are so many worthy contenders.

The prize can be awarded to anybody who shows that they are fighting for human rights and freedom. It includes huge diversity and the prize is €50,000 . Some of these laureates, which also include Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai, went on to win Nobel Peace prizes as well.

In conclusion it is a highly honourable award to win. It is internationally recognized and prestigious. Year on year it continues to be a highly sought after award, however to have been nominated is also a high achievement in itself. Best of luck to all those nominated and for further information please see the website for the Sakharov prize. https://europarl.europa.eu/ireland/en/ news-press/sakharov-prize-­competition-callfor-contributions-from-students

10 F EATU R E S

SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

STAND Festival

Volunteer reports highlight global injustices Volunteers reporters from schools and Universities across Ireland give their findings to SIN on some of the world’s most pressing issues

Why is it So Hard to do the Right Thing?

A re-examination of the Fairtrade dream Luke Rabbitte It’s easy to take Fairtrade for granted. Ethically sourced flowers, tea, cocoa, and other produce along with a Fairtrade Premium directed towards community initiatives like irrigation schemes and educational funds - everybody wins, right?

This, however, wasn’t always the case. In the 1970s a Ghanaian cocoa farmer could expect to receive a mere 10c for every $1 their beans earned on the commodities market. The imbalance in global trade is a problem as old as humanity itself.

In our modern world however, even as we recoil in horror from the vestiges of colonialism, we tend to gloss over uncomfortable questions - did colonialism merely pass the baton to capitalism? Can we really leave companies to their own devices and expect them to do the right thing?

Fairtrade began as a movement to step in and correct the course of unchallenged capitalism, assuming corporations would not act ethically unless guided by a central governing body. The

background mechanisms tying corporations and farming cooperatives were to be arbitrated by the Fairtrade organisation and, to the consumer, these processes would trickle down into a simple choice between verified and un-verified goods.

The movement started with independent, smallscale projects dotted around major European cities in the late 1980s. Certain businesses began establishing direct trade links with producers, cutting out the proverbial middle man and offering fair and steady streams of income to the most impoverished of communities. Increasing awareness of the legacy of unfair colonial trade coupled with a rise in climate consciousness accelerated these independent movements until, in 1997, the flagship Fairtrade International was formed. The Fairtrade label as we know it today followed suit in 2002.

Fairtrade is primarily concerned with price.

Simply put, when farmers are offered a reliably higher price for their goods, their entire livelihood can begin to change for the better. Farmers can begin to hire more experienced workers, avoiding

the need for child labour. Farmers can choose to send their children to school. They can upgrade their machinery and use better fertilisers, vastly improving their yield. In the supermarket environment, these price differences are relatively trivial, but to communities of growers they can be lifechanging.

In an absolute sense, the Fairtrade scheme covers only a small slice of global agricultural trade, with around 1.7 million participating farmers. It has nevertheless invited the wider public to participate in the questioning of ethical consumption, and it has generated impressive figures, with global Fairtrade sales surpassing €8 billion in 2017.

In the last few years, however, Fairtrade’s position as global ethical arbitrator has become threatened.

Nestlé, through their use of Fairtrade cocoa and cane sugar for their KitKat brand in Ireland and the UK, had been one of the key participants in the movement, providing steady income to the farming communities of Cote d’Ivoire, Fiji, and Malawi

through the Fairtrade Premium and minimum price arrangements. Yet, amidst the uncertainty of the global Covid-19 pandemic, the corporation has decided to withdraw from the arrangement and move to the Rainforest Alliance Certification, which already appears on the labels of many of their other products.

With the Rainforest Alliance, Nestlé will continue to fund farming communities, only now with added layers of bureaucracy and potentially slackened accountability. Crucially, Nestlé will cease in paying the Fairtrade Premium. Over the last decade Nestlé’s Premium contributions had provided an annual lifeline of €1.95 million to these communities and with no equivalent provided by the Cocoa Life Scheme, this line of funding is set to evaporate. What’s more, the firm plans to move its sugar sourcing operations away from the tropics towards European beet-sugar plantations as part of its global strategy plan over the years to come.

With UN projections anticipating a decrease in agricultural output in the tropical regions as the

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November 17 2020

planet continues to warm, such moves may indeed be understood through the cold lens of business sense.

The major problem lies in the implications of these decisions in a changing climate. As drought, blight, and extreme weather continue to ravage landscapes along the equator, small-scale farms will find their harvests dwindling even as the process of achieving a fair deal become more convoluted.

With the average age of a coffee farmer now set at 56 years old, it is becoming evident that young people in equatorial farming communities are seriously questioning the viability of entering this line of work. The work is simply too labour intensive and the income too unstable to make it an attractive option for most.

Growing crops in our changing climate demands more ingenuity and skills than ever before and the challenges are simply not worth tackling for some.

Worryingly for Fairtrade, and perhaps for agriculture at large, Nestlé’s decision is consistent with the trend picked up among large retailers in recent years. The trend was characterised by Sainsbury’s ‘Fairly Traded’ controversy in 2017, in which Sainsbury’s announced its tea products would no longer be Fairtrade certified. As tea-growing communities in countries like Rwanda and Kenya processed the sudden blow to their livelihoods, executives launched the Fairly Traded labelling standard,

overseen internally by Sainsbury’s themselves.

Despite significant protest, open letters, and widespread criticism, the decision appeared to be final.

Although only a section of the wide range of produce offered by the retailer was pulled from the scheme, the move presented an existential threat to the very idea of Fairtrade. Although Fairtrade as an umbrella organisation has faced criticism, having a single, transparent label governing all the ethical options in major supermarkets is essential; the rise of internal pseudo-Fairtrade labels could be a harbinger for a slow creep away from corporate responsibility at a time when the affected communities demand it the most.

From the perspective of food juggernauts like Mondelez, who operate the Cocoa Life standard, moving away from Fairtrade does not strictly imply moving away from accountability and ethical trade agreements. What internal solutions lack are universally-agreed regulations. While Cocoa Life offers ‘action plans’ to aid communities, doled out as an internal board sees fit, it doesn’t offer a minimum price on commodities in the same way Fairtrade does.

Fairtrade, to reiterate, depends entirely on price. Without offering a higher price for farmers’ goods, the concept falls apart. This is another area in which the increase of ethical rubber-stamps and the growing phenomenon of ‘label fatigue’ they

contribute to directly challenges Fairtrade.

It’s easy for discrepancies in ethical standards to get washed out amid the din. Corporations have begun to question the practice of paying higher prices for Fairtrade labels when a significant portion of the general public is too dazzled to care about or even notice the difference between verification marks on products.

Simply put, if a company can create the sort of aura of goodwill and integrity previously associated only with Fairtrade, only now without being subject to any impartial, external governance, why would they bother paying more for Fairtrade? If it becomes too hard to tell the difference between the carefully organised, community focused, and independently audited certification and the flimsy, cynical, Fairtrade-knockoff one, are we not simply back at square one again?

From its very inception, Fairtrade sought to make it easier for corporations and consumers alike to do the right thing. It represented an attractive shorthand for sound business practice, one that people could rally behind. Today, it finds itself at a critical juncture. The market is crying out for a return to simple ethical choices.

For Fairtrade and the ideas underpinning it to survive, we must move towards a world where the lazy choice and the ethical choice don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

How the White Saviour complex is damaging the environment Slaine McKenna Be it Skeeter from ‘The Help’, Alan Ward from ‘Mississippi Burning’ or Leigh Anne from ‘The Blind Side’ you’ve probably come across the White Saviour at some point, the privileged character that helps someone from an oppressed group in a patronising and often historical inaccurate manner. Unfortunately, this arc type is not relegated to the screen. It is just as prevalent in the environmental movement. A white saviour, with regards to environmentalism, refers to people or volunteers who do not respect the communities they are attempting to help and believe they are saving them.

Be it by hindering the development of the community, only offering conditional assistance, treating natives as naïve or incompetent, or disrespecting native tradition and practices. This can have a detrimental impact on the communities involved, tarnishing their economic development, having negative effects on the mental wellbeing of native communities and of course damaging their local environment.

When speaking about the impact of climate change it is a well-known fact, that countries in the developing world are at greater risk. With climate change‑related drought in Botswana, the loss of glaciers in Tajikistan and flooding in East Africa, the impact of climate change on these communities cannot be denied. And even within the Western world native communities from colonised nations are often at a higher risk than their counterparts, as is the situation in Newtok, Alaska. When hearing of these situations, it is natural to want to help. However, helping is not as simple as volunteering organisations would have one believe.

A report by Andrew J. Schneller found that 66% of participants in a Costa Rican environmental volunteering project were unfamiliar with the environmental and community issues of Costa Rica. This is not an isolated case as there are many examples of volunteers being uneducated with regards to the issues at hand and ill-equipped to adequately perform their tasks. As Kayley Gould explains in her 2019 TED Talk “the problem arises from the volun-

teers’ preparation and mind-set, they go into the country thinking that they know best, that it is their job to save the country, they think ‘if I don’t do it who will?’ An attitude such as this one will often lead to the voices of the local community being ignored.

This can be detrimental to the environment and ecosystem of the area as the indigenous community is obviously going to have a better understanding of the ecology and would know which systems would be best to implement. As award-winning author Emma Dabiri explained during the STAND 2020 festival, “people are realising the importance of indigenous practice, they play an important role, its not just a nice thing, it can have a lot of benefits.”

The importance of indigenous practice has become evident due to the catastrophic events that have occurred, when they are ignored, most recently seen during the wildfires in Klamath National Forest, California. Members of the indigenous Karuk Tribe had

been urging local authorities to employ traditional burning methods to prevent major blazes, but to no avail. It is only now after the recent outbreak, this methods are being taken seriously. A similar situation occurred in Australia, during the beginning of 2020, when wildfires ravaged parts of the country. Indigenous communities are now working with Australian officials to share their knowledge of cultural burns.

These situations highlight the need for greater inclusion of indigenous knowledge within environmentalism.

Of course wanting to help and prevent climate change is perfectly normal and a good thing. It is simply important that in doing so, we do not disrespect native communities. And so the next time you are analysing the behaviour of a white saviour be it Skeeter from ‘The Help’, Alan Ward from ‘Mississippi Burning’ or Leigh Anne from ‘The Blind Side’, try analysing yourself and your action within the environmental movement.

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Stand With Climate Migrants

By Ciara Norman This year’s STAND Student Festival ran from 12-24th October. An initiative of Suas Educational Development supported by Irish Aid, the festival boasted an impressive programme of events. The festival’s theme was Climate Migration and the issue was really brought to life through the wide variety of events on offer including workshops hosted by Fairtrade, movie screenings and art exhibitions. As part of the UCC works programme, I am volunteering with STAND, a great opportunity, and it has been a fun and educational experience.

About 2 billion people experienced food insecurity in 2019 and the numbers could be set to increase. Climate change is causing an increase in diseases that affect crops and as crop yields decrease many small farmers are being forced to migrate as they cannot survive on the income generated from a dramatically reduced harvest. And pathogens are on the move too, migrating around the world following favourable conditions.

Climate change causes an increase in pathogens and pests that infect plants in a number of ways, and changing weather makes it harder to predict when and where pathogens will hit and therefore when to introduce timely preventative measures. Regulation of diseases by their natural enemies is also interfered with. Many crops are being affected including bananas, coffee and the most important calorie crops, rice, wheat, sugarcane, maize, soybean and potatoes.

Between 30-40% of crops worldwide are lost to disease each year, a truly staggering amount.

Tens of thousands of small farms across Central and South America became infected with coffee rust in the new millennium and this directly resulted in the internal migration of 2 million people between 2012 and 2017.

This is only part of the picture. In 2017 alone, 68.5 million people were displaced worldwide and it is estimated that at least a third of them were climate migrants, displaced due to crop failure, rising sea levels, drought and extreme weather events. Today there are an estimated 258 million international migrants worldwide.

Where are all these people to go? Climate migrants are not covered by the 1951 Refugee Convention and are not recognised as refugees under international law. In the 2019 movies ‘The Climate Limbo’ the powerful voice of Queen, a migrant from Nigeria brings home the message of what it is like to be ‘stuck in a limbo’, unable to build a life where she is from because of oil related environmental damage and unable to build a new life somewhere else as she does not have refugee status.

And the problem is set to increase. As extreme weather events become more frequent, more and more people are being displaced from their homes. There will be an estimated 250 million to 1 billion climate migrants by 2050. Essam El-Hinnawi from the UN Environmental Programme first defined climate refugees in 1985. 35 years later and climate migrants are still ‘stuck in a limbo’.

The world needs to wake up to the reality of climate change, accept that we are causing it through our actions and open our eyes to the devastating impact it already has had and will continue to have on millions upon millions of people worldwide. And we need to open our hearts to climate migrants acknowledging that they deserve the same rights and protections as other people displaced from their homes.

Climate migrants urgently need to be afforded refugee status.

12 F E ATU R E S Mol na Meáin: Ciara Ní É Le Eímear Nig Oireachtaigh Má tá aon suim agat i bhfilíocht nua-aimseartha na hÉireann, táim cinnte go bhfuil rudaí maithe cloiste agat faoin mbean seo. Scríobhann Ciara Ní É dánta suimiúla, agus pléann sí gach rud ó na rudaí beaga a bhaineann sí taitneamh as sa saol, go dtí an grá atá aici dár dteanga féin.

Ach ní hé sin an t-aon rud amháin a dhéanann sí. Tá sí ag obair mar scríbhneoir cónaithe i DCU i mbliana, post atá an-cháil air! Chomh maith leis sin, eagraíonn sí an oíche fhilíochta ó bhéal ilteangacha ‘REIC’, agus thosaigh sí á dhéanamh sin le linn a céim máistreacht. Tugann an oíche sin deis do dhaoine a bhfilíocht a chur in iúl i gcibé teanga gur mhian leo – rud nach bhfuil ann rómhinic ag oíche fhilíochta ó bhéal. Ar ndóigh, níl siad ag dul ar aghaidh faoi láthair, ach tá siad ag tnúth go mór leo a chuir ar siúl arís nuair is féidir leo.

Thosaigh ‘REIC’ mar oíche amháin don ‘Five Lamps Arts Festival’, ach mar a dúirt Ciara “bhí

SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

SAVITA HALAPPANAVAR: Eight Years On

By Laura Quinn It has been eight years since the tragic passing of Savita Halappanavar, and her memory still lives on in the hearts of her family, friends and the thousands of Irish women who refuse to let her story be forgotten. Her’s is the story of a young expectant mother whose life was stolen by medical misadventure as a consequence of our country’s (then) antiquated abortion laws.

Savita’s Story On the 21st of October 2012, 17 weeks into her pregnancy, Savita was admitted into University Hospital Galway; presenting with lower back pain that were later diagnosed as an ongoing miscarriage. Later that day, a scan detected that there was still a foetal heartbeat present. Although at this stage the loss of the pregnancy was inevitable, and Savita’s condition was deteriorating rapidly, she and her husband were refused access to a medically induced termination due to stipulations in Irish constitutional law regarding abortion and foetal abnormalities . As a result of the doctors ‘hands being tied’, Savita was not given the proper medical care that she deserved and suffered septic shock which ultimately caused her death.

Abolishing the Eighth Amendment

an-tóir air, agus ba léir go raibh spéis ag daoine freastail air, so mar sin chuir mé é ar siúl arís agus arís eile.” Cosúil le go leor daoine i saol na Gaeilge, chonaic sí nach raibh aon rud cosúil le hoíche mar sin ar fáil, agus tapaigh sí an deis chun é a chur ar fáil.

Agus mura leor sin, déanann sí sraith ar YouTube darbh ainm ‘What the Focal’. Tá sé an-úsáideach d’fhoghlaimeoirí ach ceapaim go bhfuil sé an-spéisiúil freisin! Labhraíonn sí as Béarla faoin nGaeilge – bhí an ceann faoi chomhfhocal iontach suimiúil, agus mhínigh sí é i slí dheas shimplí.

Ar ndóigh, tá an Ghaeilge lárnach ina saol, agus ní stopann sé sin nuair atá a lá oibre críochnaithe aici. Má chuireann tú a saol gairmiúil ar leataobh, tá an Ghaeilge lánthábhachtach ina saol pearsanta freisin.

“Tá neacht bheag agam agus bím ag labhairt Gaeilge léi. Níl sí ag labhairt fós ach tá súil agam nuair a thosaíonn sí ag labhairt go mbeidh sí dátheangach.” Ceapaim go bhfuil sin iontach!

Níl aon rud níos fearr ná an teanga a spreagadh sa chéad ghlúin eile.

Mar atá soiléir as an alt seo, tá go leor rudaí le moladh faoi Ciara. Tá ‘What the Focal’ an ceann is éasca do gach duine- ní chaithfidh go bhfuil aon suim agat in aon rud (seachas an Ghaeilge, ar ndóigh!) chun a bheith ag breathnú air. Ach má thaitníonn filíocht leat, molaim a cuid dánta go mór mór. Tá sé soiléir go bhfuil sí paiseanta fúthu nuair a chuireann sí iad ar an ‘stáitse’ (sa chás seo, is é YouTube an stáitse). Níl siad feicthe agam ach ar a cainéal YouTube, ach is dócha go mbeidh sé sin fíor san fhíorshaol freisin!

Savita’s life should not have been sacrificed, but the galvanizing force that her story had on our nation has ensured that other women on the island of Ireland are not doomed to share in the same fate.

Her death caused outrage nationwide, with the #repealthe8th movement gaining traction on Twitter in 2012. The Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC) was founded in the same year, led by a coalition of pro-choice groups including the

Association for Improvements in Maternity Services Ireland, Doctors for Choice, Sinn Féin and the Green Party.

Before the 2016 general election the ARC published model legislation to replace the Eighth Amendment, and in June 2016 Simon Harris, then Minister for Health, gave his support for a referendum on the Eighth Amendment. By July, a Citizens’ Assembly had been formed by the government which recommended the matter for referendum. Two years later, the Thirty-Sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018 was passed with a staggering 66.4% of the population voting in favour of legalising abortion.

Problem Areas Although ‘free, safe, and legal’, Ireland’s new legislation is only so by the skin of its teeth. Abortion here is neither fully accessible nor fully inclusive.

Unlike our UK counterparts, where abortion is freely available up until the 24th week of pregnancy, termination in Ireland is prohibited after the 12th week, unless under extenuating circumstances.

In addition to the significantly smaller window of time, Irish law also requires the person to acquire GP ‘certification’ before having an abortion, after which there is an additional three-day wait until the procedure can be undertaken. The stringent time limits mean that many people still have to travel abroad, or illegally import abortion pills, the very thing the legislation was meant to combat.

Moreover, ‘legislation for fatal foetal abnormality and risks to the health of the pregnant person is still very grey’ and ‘ignites fear of criminalisation for medical professionals’, according to Jamie Canavan of the Galway Pro-Choice organisation. ‘There’s nothing stopping it from happening to somebody else’.

Although a fact often disregarded in the discord surrounding her death; Savita was a person of colour, and there is still a disparity of treatment

for people of colour in the medical field. The Migrants and Ethnic-Minorities for Reproductive Justice (MERJ) group took to Facebook on the anniversary of Savita’s passing to highlight this racial injustice: “Though the 8th amendment was repealed, migrants and ethnic minorities are still being left behind under the current legislation and the broader regime. 40% of maternal deaths in Ireland are migrant and ethnic minority women despite making up 17% of the population”.

“Savita did everything the right way by white settled Irish standards: she was a middle class, Indian migrant, a dentist, spoke English, had no pre-existing health problems prior to her pregnancy. All of these factors can insulate and protect one from harm, yet none of it was enough to save her from state sanctioned racism and sexism.”

The three-day waiting period and harsh term limit particularly affects those ‘who travelled here seeking asylum, who are stuck in rural areas without transport, and those financially constricted’, said Jamie Canavan. The failure to provide easily accessible reproductive healthcare to marginalized groups is perhaps an oversight on the state’s part, but this does not excuse the fact that it is having dire consequences on the migrant women of Ireland.

2021 marks the three-year anniversary of the abortion referendum, and it will also mark the first review of the new legislation.

“We need to fight for better legislation. We are at risk of it being rolled back even worse and we cannot let this happen”, according to Jamie Canavan. “We at Galway Pro-Choice are begging more GPs to offer abortion services and more hospitals to in invest in up-to-date abortion technology, as Ireland’s technology is currently severely behind in the medical world”.

Savita’s story is one in a long history of female suffering as a result of the patriarchal institutions that dominated our country for so many years. We must never forget her, and we must continue to be grateful for the change she has brought about for millions of women in Ireland today, and for years to come.

GNÉ -ALTANNA

November 17 2020

Mature Students Diary Gary Elbert Journalism Psychology Sociology and Politics Student It’s that time of the week. You are given the task of producing 500 words of wisdom under the guise of a Mature Students Diary. As you mull over what to discuss it strikes you; When you set down to write there is an overwhelming urge to start complaining. I could do so now. The lack of technological acumen of some lecturers-yes that could be a lively

Final Year Diary

by Tom Molloy.

Welcome back to another edition of my final year diary. It seems you can’t move for talk of this Presidential election over in the States.

Pretty scary how many people will actively vote for fascism if it means their taxes won’t go up but, at least the non-fascist won this time, which honestly seems like a pretty low bar from which to judge an election result.

To be fair though, John King and his “magic wall” were the perfect excuse to procrastinate while the mid-term essays lay there, unfinished and neglected. I’m sorry I missed the due date but I’d rather die than miss one CNN “Key Race Alert”. What will happen in Nebraska’s Second Congressional District? How will these 1,200 votes from DeKalb County be divided? If I was half as industrious as the folks counting votes in DeKalb my essays would’ve been finished weeks ago. Anyway, fair play to Joe and hopefully his victory is a symbol of things returning back to normality.

First Year Diary

By Aine Fogarty Welcome back to my first year diary!

I hope you’re all doing okay during this lockdown and aren’t too stressed out. I hope you all enjoyed your Hallowe’en and stayed safe. I spent mine playing Among Us and eating my body weight in sweets. That game is really addictive and has seriously improved my poker face.

I have officially completed and submitted my first college assignment. It was tough to try and get the hang of referencing and I am still confused to say the least but I did it. The relief of having submitted it was quickly replaced with the fear of my plagiarism percentage and the two other essays looming in the background.

For the most part I’m keeping up with all the work, but my weekends seem to be my dedicated assignment time at the moment. I spend my Saturday staring at my computer screen trying to figure out APA and MLA referencing. I know I’m not the only one struggling and the first year group chats have comforted me that I’m not the only one at a loss as to what I’m at.

500-word moan fest based on genuine concern.

In one of my modules they barely bother disguising their lack of passion for the subject. They upload a batch of narrated slides where the reader literally reads every single word on the slide while desperately trying to infuse the pronunciation of some words with meaning.

Narrated slides, pre-recorded.

I could write about how lazy that is, how utterly cynical and soulless that is, how it debases what education and learning could be. It’s only magnified because other lectures do try to do their jobs commensurate with the salaries they earn. And those lecturers show genuine interest and work on stimulating engagement. Basic competence seems almost heroic when the general standard of others is so low.

So yes, the blank page does seem to coax that instinct to moan, to give out, to complain. I remember 90’s journalism characterised by passionate and outspoken opinion pieces, the more outrageous the better. This was an Ireland emerging from the cloak of silence and hidden abuse. Eamonn Dunphy led Speaking of lads who’ve been in hiding for four years only to arrive back on to the scene in a blaze of glory, it was a pleasant surprise to see Demba Ba turn up and terrorize Man Utd in the Champions League.

Nemanja Matić looking like Donald Trump as he watched the space between himself and his opponent get wider by the second. Also, the All-Ireland Championships are amongst us once again. Tyrone and Kerry have fallen by the wayside as early as *check notes* November? Will 2020 finally be Mayo’s year? The winter weather should suit them. There’s finally going to be a Mayo man in the White House so maybe they’ll take over an empty Croke Park as well. The hurling is going as expected. Limerick and Galway setting the pace so don’t be surprised to see them face off on All-Ireland final day as we tuck into the mince pies.

Lockdown 2.0 is going quite well by the way.

Myself and herself invested in a desk from the fine people at IKEA. You’d be surprised how much something like that can change your mindset about online learning. It actually feels like we have somewhere to go to do college work rather than just tipping away at it while watching TV. That’s something to think about for anyone struggling with this new way of studying.

So, even if the days are getting short, the future is bright. Best of luck going into the second half of semester one. Stay safe and I’ll talk to you soon.

Spooky season is over, and now it’s on to Christmas! Since non-essential shops are closed. I’ve looked to the internet for my Christmas shopping (and usually end up with a few things thrown in for myself). Being the broke college student that I am, student discount codes have been a life saver.

My family enjoys reaping the rewards of me being a student too and the Fastway delivery driver is a regular at my house. I have made use of these discounts and have stocked up on all my comfy, warm clothes for the winter even though I rarely leave my house. Make use of UNiDAYS and Student Beans while you can lads!!

Since I am a creative writing student, you can probably take a wild guess and say I’m a book worm. I haven’t had much time to read for fun lately because of the work load but also because Wuthering Heights has taken over my life. I can usually finish a book within a day or two but this book has taken me three weeks and I’m barely halfway through. I don’t know if it’s because I have to read it for English and not because I choose to or because of how much I despise Heathcliff and Cathy, but I’m struggling. To finish the book or not is the question. Do I persevere or try to complete my essay with my limited knowledge and some summaries on YouTube? I’ll let you know how it goes.

Once again, I hope you’re all doing okay and staying safe. You’ll hear from me again in the next issue.

the charge. Greats such as Vincent Browne also stood up while readers of the Sunday World could luxuriate in the bucolic prose of the legend himself Con Houlihan.

The written word medium retained its power then, its centrality. Now however all has changed, changed utterly. I yawn at the opinion pieces churned out in general. Stifled by ideological tribalism once you read one you have read them all. I struggle to think of a writer now who makes me rush to buy the paper like I once did. Maybe now those anger and fire fuelled opinion pieces no longer resonate anymore.

I recall the first time I decided to no longer buy a daily newspaper. That decision came with some of the articles written by sneering horse racing columnists and GAA critics lobbing their over egged melodramatic words on the world of Conor McGregor and MMA. I knew then that mainstream Irish media outlets were no longer worth investing in. It was the ignorance, the bitterness, the confusion between straight up resentment and

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intellectual perception. I still see it in the media every week including this one. Moaning under the guise of critical thinking.

I tried not to moan today upon resting my eyes on a blank page. I think of Con Houlihan’s writing.

Back then it always stood out. His love for life, his love for Ireland shone through yet he was also a realist.

Author Colum McCann wrote fondly of the Kerry man “He was a legend in... every paper he worked for... He sat at the sports desk; the big blue anorak draped over his chair. No typewriter. No notebook.

He... wrote in huge letters on a sheet of paper – sometimes he would only fit a single sentence on the page.

“There was something of the bear about him, but if you approached, he showed his huge shyness.

He spoke with his hand across his mouth. His pale eyes darted about. He had a deep Kerry accent: you could hear the turf in it.”

RIP Robert Fisk and Con Houlihan.

14 A RT S & E NT E RTAIN M EN T

SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

‘Everyone is fighting a battle that the outside world knows nothing about’ NUIG student Conor Nolan talks about his new book which tackles the stigma of mental health.

‘NORMAL’ is an open and honest book that I wrote aiming to tackle the negative stigma surrounding mental health in Ireland. Its title relates to society’s idea of what being “normal” entails. I started writing in 2019 and was lucky enough to have the final product published last September.

In offering my own experiences with mental health, I want to help others who find themselves in similar situations. Through personal anecdotes and life lessons between the ages of ten and twenty, I want to assure my readers that they are not alone.

Two years ago, I found myself in a deep depression and I was in a very bad place. I was really struggling. Growing up in rural Ireland, I had always believed that mental health was a hush hush topic. It was something we didn’t talk about and that’s the way it was.

However, I began to turn to friends of mine in a time of need and I soon noticed a pattern. It was like a domino effect – when I started to talk, somebody else would open up too. I realised that we all have our problems and that we all struggle with our mental health from time to time. This happens to everyone and it is okay to talk about it. We have to talk about it.

I am a big believer that inspiration can come from anywhere and my journey in becoming an author began in quite an unusual fashion. I was in Carbon Nightclub around Christmas time, almost two years ago now, having a heartfelt conversation with a good friend of mine. He told me some things from his past that really resonated with me.

It hit me then; we all bottle things up, particularly young men and we often take our problems to the grave. I knew that I would love to have a similar conversation with a million people. Of course, I knew this would be impossible. I did, however, realise that I could write about it instead.

That was where it all began. A double vodka in hand, I decided, ‘I’m going to write a book.’

The book is set in the casual atmosphere of a

house party with myself deep in conversation with a character whom I refer to as The Stranger. I meet this character who sits and listens to my story. He has no physical description and therefore, it is left up to the reader’s imagination. I call him The Stranger to give him a sense of open - minded anonymity.

I believe that help can come out of anywhere.

You never know who will be there for you. Likewise, you never know when you might be there to help someone else. In this case, The Stranger helped me with my mental health struggles.

Throughout the book, I recollect my harrowing battle with anorexia and the impact it had on my life from the mere age of twelve. I got thrown in at the deep end with a mental health battle at such a young age. I speak about the counselling process and the mental toll it took on all aspects of my life.

My journey to recovery at thirteen and fourteen sets a tone for the book going forward.

I also explore the concept of ‘being normal’, discussing the delicate nature of being yourself in an Irish society that pressures us to do the opposite. I had often heard this term called ‘the norm’.

I quickly learned that rural Ireland in particular has a sort of teenage mould; you have to walk like this, talk like this and act like this. Straying away from these guidelines puts you in the crosshairs of judgement. I have learned of the difficulties of following your own goals and the art of ignoring people along the way in order to stay true to yourself. I am of the opinion that being yourself is the best investment anyone can make in themselves.

I associate every memory I’ve made over the last 21 years with a life lesson. I think I have gained some bit of wisdom along the way. My story goes

beyond mental health. I discuss many elements of young life; bullying, academic pressure, the transition to college, break-ups, you name it. I talk about everything. Even if I can help one person, that’s enough. If I can put my whole life on paper, then hopefully someone else can open up to a friend, a relative, or a stranger as I did. I hope my book will encourage people not to bottle things up and recognise that talking about how you’re feeling can really help.

My book ‘NORMAL’ is available on Amazon in both eBook and paperback.

I would really appreciate support from my fellow NUI Galway students in sharing my story to help others in the fighting the stigma of mental health.

pet. A sheer depiction set out by money hungry giants. I can only imagine how emotionally taxing it is seeing a passed loved one exploited like this.

Again, these are real people, not Disney characters designed for theme parks.

Going back to the Kardashians. This was a gift, if you have the financial means to pull something

like this off, then what’s the harm? You can’t judge how other people decide to grieve. It wasn’t used as a money racket. This is what brought comfort to them, and other than the distasteful ‘I heart Kanye’ moment, who’s it really hurting? It was a moment shared between the family and their closest friends (and maybe Kim’s 191 million followers).

A Gift from Heaven?

By Jade Tierney They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so a hologram, well... it’s worth the length of the bible and a dictionary combined. I’m sure the whole 191 million of you saw the Kardashian/Jenner clan celebrate Kim K’s 40th birthday last weekend. If a private plane, island, and celeb guest list doesn’t do it for you, maybe a hologram of the late Robert Kardashian will?

In true Kanye fashion, the rapper gifted his wife with a message from the afterlife. In the hologram, Kim’s father addresses her directly. He reminisces over her childhood, successes and the family that she has built.

Although the reality star praised her husband, taking to social media to thank him, saying, ‘’Thank you so much Kanye for this memory that will last a lifetime’’, many found it kind of creepy.

I’ll be honest, I was more so leaning on the creepy side. I find holograms of the dead a bit puppet like.

We all know Kanye likes to be in control, (a bit of a puppeteer) and writing a script that included self - praise from a deceased person, didn’t sit well with me. The hologram glorifies Kanye, say-

ing that he is ‘’the most, most, most genius man in the world’’. Although there is a part of me that thought it was extremely heart-warming and caring, all the sentiment was cut short when Kanye narcissistically inflated his own ego. It reminded me of the Kanye mic grab back in ‘09, when the Yeezy owner stormed on stage and grabbed the mic from Taylor Swift. Except this time, it was from a hologram of his wife’s deceased father. Eliminate that aspect of the speech, I do believe Kanye’s main thought was to create this special moment for his wife and her family.

This does raise the question of whether holograms are right or wrong. Creating a hologram of a dead performer, with the sole purpose of profiting, is tacky and immoral. We all get nostalgic but I’m sure true fans can appreciate an artist’s legacy; enjoy the art they’ve given you and just let them be. My main objection is the fact that they can’t consent. Musicians like, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson and Tupac are among the stars that have been brought back to life for theatrical purposes.

The person being projected is designed like a pup-

C U LT ÚR

November 17 2020

SIAMSAÍO CHT

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Local Galway student to star in RTÉ documentary

By Alice O’Donnell NUI Galway student Róisín Farragher is partaking in an RTÉ documentary ‘My Uni Life.’

The RTÉ show is a five-part series following seven students’ experiences in different Irish universities.

Each student comes from a varied background, and the show documents their challenges, with emphasis on living with a disability, enrolling in college at a later stage of life, or dealing with the stereotypes linked with socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

Although each story is different, the drive and determination to study at universities shines through each student, and the show is uplifting and thought provoking.

The series was filmed over the duration of a year, and as such shows not only typical university life, but also the impact Covid-19 has had on university life, and

the personal challenges it poses as well as the trials of virtual learning.

Róisín represents the approximate 1000 students who enter NUI Galway from underrepresented groups each year.

Speaking on her experience, Róisín, a doctoral student said, “I hope that people watching the documentary will feel motivated. I hope that when they watch it, they see me, but do not pity me. Rather they think about pushing themselves further and challenging themselves. I hope people take every opportunity offered to them and never let a horrible or tough childhood or any other challenges stand in their way. I hope they see that they have a right to everything good that comes to them and so they take those opportunities and be grateful.”

Councillor Imelda Bryne, Head of the Access Centre at NUI Galway commenting on the impact the access

NUI Galway professor publishes book on migration

By Erika Sassone

‘Haven: The Mediterranean Crisis and Human Security.’

“What security could look like in migration?

I’m so tired of hearing about bombs dropped for some sort of international security. This book is about investing in something else”-Dr John Morrissey.

Dr John Morrissey is a senior lecturer in Geography and an Associate Director of the Moore Institute for Humanities at NUI Galway. He recently published his fifth book, ‘Haven: The Mediterranean Crisis and Human Security’ which I could not read yet, but he was very kind in giving an interview for SIN. In a nutshell, this book is about the concept of ‘human security’ around the Mediterranean refugee crisis that has hit our continent years ago and has caused countless changes in our society.

Dr Morrissey revealed that he chose to start the book for two main reasons: first, he was affected by all the photographs of young children being washed up in Turkish and Greek beaches. Those pictures impacted the whole international community, especially the picture of Alan Kurdi, which became immediately famous all around the world, you probably saw it.

Secondly, he realised people and the media tend to deal with crises in a superficial way, without thinking about the underlying structure: there is this popular belief that breaking international human rights laws for what is called ‘security purpose’ is okay, but the reality is way more complicated than that.

Therefore, Dr Morrissey’s aim was to speak about human security in a different, deeper way. First of all, he claimed that countries should work together cooperatively, because otherwise all their actions will be counterproductive. We can see it for every kind of security, it has happened for the migration crisis and it’s happening in the Covid-19 crisis.

Moreover, instead of continuously investing our resources in conflicts and military violence, govern-

ments could invest in security in a more effective way, which is in everybody’s interests. In fact, the author pointed out that all we have to do is invest in different types of programmes: We need initiative, we need to rebuild what we have destroyed, because bombing is not the winning strategy and history proved that.

Finding new aspects of security was challenging, Dr Morrissey revealed: “It’s about building consensus around new ideas that work.” he said, but the problem is that we have shifted “from a humanitarian crisis to a security and border crisis.”

According to the author, to succeed in changing the way we talk about security we should first criticise the countries’ response to the crisis and ultimately, we should create legally binding conventions, which is the real challenge.

This book not only gives ideas of how to improve security in the future, but also helps to clarify some misconceptions about the refugee crisis: according to the lecturer, there are three common errors we should focus on.

Firstly, he points out the historical precedents in migration: for example, Irish people have a long history with migration, during those periods they have been discriminated against by other ethnic groups and we should not forget it, but learn from those experiences.

Secondly, security is a word that can be seen in multiples ways, anything could be categorized as a security issue and, “we have to start thinking about opening up that concept, we can’t just leave it to the military planners of this world, because if we do we’ll have a very deeply fascistic state” he said.

Thirdly, we cannot speak about migration in negative economic terms only: the rhetoric statement “migrants are stealing our jobs” is completely false and, on the contrary, it is historically proven that migration is a vital cog for the world economy.

These are essential aspects to understand the migration crisis we are living through: this book is strongly recommended for all students who want to think outside the box about the migration issue, because, as the author stated this crisis will not end, at least not soon, and we should face it properly, having an eye on the most marginalized; indeed, as Dr Morrissey said, “this book is about seeing a different future”.

schemes have had on the university, stating: “Our belief is that Access is more than a student’s initial pathway into higher education. For those from traditionally under-represented groups, we believe Access means students having the supports to successfully participate and remain in higher education, to achieve graduation and the opportunity thereafter to progress in their chosen career or to further postgraduate study.”

She elaborated on NUI Galway’s stance on diversity, saying: “As a University we remain committed to diversity and equality of opportunity, to combating educational disadvantage in our region and beyond, and to ensuring university education is for everyone.

This documentary shows that NUI Galway supports all students from all backgrounds [to] succeed, irrespective of their circumstances of birth.”

On a wider, national level, Jim Miley, Director General of the Irish Universities Association expanded on the impact Irish universities play, stating: “Irish universities play a crucial and growing role in fostering and enabling social inclusion and mobility. The many access routes the universities support are key to building a long-term inclusive society in Ireland. As a result of the work done by the Access and Disability programmes

run by Irish Universities the student body is becoming a more and more diverse group. It is incredibly positive to see that in the 2017/18 academic year 15% of entrants were from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, while almost 10% of new entrants had some form of disability and 6.6% were mature students. But, we have much more to do. It is paramount that we do everything possible to support increased access for all students who need it.”

The first episode of ‘My Uni Life’ aired on RTÉ One on Friday 6 November at 7.30pm, and will run for five weeks. The students involved are: Róisín Farragher from Galway and studying at NUI Galway; Adam Freegrove from Dublin studying at UCD; Cathal Blake from Meath studying at DCU; Alpha Ike from Cavan studying at MU; Courtney McGrath from Cavan studying at TCD; Chrisdina O’Neill from Cork studying at UCC; and Shaun Fogarty from Tipperary studying at UL.

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16 A RT S & E N T E RTAIN M EN T

SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

REVIEWS Fall in Lourve with Netflix’s ‘Emily in Paris’

By Valerie McHugh At a time where jetting off on a weekend ‘city break’ is the subject of our wildest dreams, this series provides a much needed holiday from reality. From the creator of ‘Sex in the City’ (1998) and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ (1990), this comedy - drama follows a young American, Emily Cooper, as she moves from Chicago to Paris to work as a Social Media Strategist at the French Marketing Firm, Savoir.

From homesick struggles to lovesick shenanigans, Emily learns about the ways of the world in a place outside of The Windy City and faces numerous challenges, from hostile co - workers to cumbrous friendships.

Before watching anything, I like to take a look at the critical response to the show on my favourite website – Rotten Tomatoes. This show scored respectively on the tomatometer, reaching 65% on average, with an audience

score of 62%. However the French newspaper 20 Minutes slammed the show for being too “cliché.” That may be the case, but let’s be honest here.

Every TV show known to man will have

its haters, and although the show does cast light on everything from bérets to baguettes, the addictive and entertaining storyline speaks for itself.

The series brings some lesser known European actors to Netflix’s forefront, and performances from Philippine Leroy - Beaulie, Camille Razat and Lucas Bravo were memorable to new viewers. Lucas Bravo, who plays the charming and chivalrous chef Gabriel, has grown in popularity on Instagram since its release, with his following now standing at 1.2 million. Also, anyone who has seen any Lily Collins movie… ever…will know that the 2017 Golden Globe Nominee certainly does not disappoint and portrayed the part of tenacious Emily Cooper perfectly.

It was the fashionable and trés chic outfits that stood out to me the most while watching this series. I haven’t seen this much high street fashion since the ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ (2006) and ‘Gossip Girl’ (2007) era, and it was eve-

rything I didn’t know I needed in my life. Lily Collins strutted the streets of Paris in every type of pencil skirt, vibrant colour and mesmerising pattern possible, making her character something of a style icon. The proof lies in the recent spooky season which saw multiple people dress up as the fashionista for Hallowe’en. Sure, we didn’t go trick or treating this year, but getting a chance to give some of our favourite frocks a spin out of the closet was enough of a treat itself.

Emily Cooper’s fashion sense mirrors her feisty and charismatic character, and just like her fashion sense, her peers seem to either ‘love’ her or ‘hate’ her. This series highlights many of Emily’s relationships as she tries to settle into a new city. It looks at friendship, the classic frenemy bond, and the lustful connection between a girl and the boy next door. However, it is Emily’s relationship with her boss Sylvie that amuses me the most, over-

whelming me with plenty of ‘Miranda Priestly’ vibes. Emily can’t do enough for Sylvie, and never seems to impress her as much as she would like to despite having creative and innovative ideas.

Their bond is something that I watched eagerly throughout the show, and it will not disappoint viewers who love the underdog in any scenario.

Speaking of underdogs, in some ways this show has proven to be underestimated in its popularity. Due to some critical response from French journalists, some people have been reluctant to give the series a chance. But that did not stop ‘Emily in Paris’ from remaining the fifth most popular TV show in Ireland during the week of the 2nd of November, exactly one month after its release. So, why not give it a chance?

This show will appeal to many audiences, from the hopeless romantics to those they make watch it with them.

Give this show a chance, consider this review a Seine.

The Heart’s Invisible Furies, an unforgettable five-star

By Niamh Feeney If you’re looking for an emotional rollercoaster of a read look no further!

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll die of second-hand embarrassment, but what more could you ask for in a good book?

Some of you may only know John Boyne for his heart wrenching masterpiece, ‘The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas’, but what if I was to tell you that his career didn’t end there? If you’re not familiar with ‘The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas’, then let this be the book you remember Boyne for.

I have only recently discovered this deeply-moving novel, ‘The Heart’s Invisible Furies’, and it has shot right to the top of my Five-Star Recommendations list! ‘The Heart’s invisible Furies’ is about love, loss, betrayal, oppression, and redemption. I was hooked from the get-go, captivated and mesmerized by the opening sentence:

“Long before we discovered that he had fathered two children by two different women, one in Drimoleague and one in Clonakility, Father James Monroe stood on the altar of the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, in the parish of Goleen, west Cork, and denounced my mother as a whore”.

Sixteen years old, pregnant, and unwed, Catherine Goggin gets a one-way ticket to Dublin in hope for a better life, and so begins the story of Cyril Avery.

This coming-of-age novel is structured in seven-year intervals. The first chapter begins in post-war Ireland in 1945, where shame and judgement are everywhere. Boyne perfectly captures the oppression by the Catholic Church, the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community, the violence of The Troubles, and the AIDS Crisis in the 7 decades of Cyril’s life. It is told in a comedic style rather than a tragedy, which, truth be told, is what Cyril’s life really is.

Throughout the novel we see Cyril trying, and failing, to fit into an Irish society that will not accept him for who he is, a gay man. This repression and loneliness is heartbreaking and it will have you weeping. We see Cyril enter into relationships with women (the hilarious Mary - Margaret Muffet, and the unlucky Alice Woodbead) in order to hide his true sexual identity. Ashamed to express who he is, Cyril not only struggles with the fact that homosexuality is illegal in Ireland, but he is also constantly reminded, by his adoptive family, that he is “not really an Avery”. So, who is Cyril then? A character who is forced to conceal his true identity.

He is constantly betrayed, abandoned, and deceived by those around him.

I thoroughly enjoyed Boyne’s skilful writing; creating the perfect balance of lightheartedness mixed in with the genuine misery Cyril faces. From his over-the-top coincidences and dramatic scenes, to the accurate representation

of Irishness portrayed in his characters, Boyne has it all. He writes hilarious dialogues using typical Irish slangs that will have you in stitches.

How can you not laugh at some of the absolute nonsense we speak? Boyne’s

skilful storytelling makes you laugh at all the wrong moments, and cry at the right.

You can’t help but root for Cyril, especially towards the end of the novel, when after so many years of concealing desires and emotions he is finally liberated. Cyril’s story begins to wind down in 2015, fitting as it was the year the samesex marriage referendum was passed in Ireland. Boyne conveys to us through his characters just how far Ireland has progressed with equality, and he offers an important message: that even the most unlikely change is never unachievable.

Full of tears, anger, and lols, I was devastated when I finished reading this book. I really wish it was longer!

This book took me just a few days to read, it was that addicting. Don’t let the fact that it’s 700 pages deter you! If you loved this book as much as I did, you should check out John Boyne’s other novel, ‘The History of Loneliness’.

Film Review: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

By Anastasia Burton Where do we start with Borat? The name rings a distant bell in everyone’s mind, and everyone remembers the hilariously idiotic journalist from Kazakhstan and his adventures in the USA with a dream of meeting Pamela Anderson. The original film came out in 2006 and caused massive waves with its offensive and cringe moments which made us go “he did not just say that”. We were given some years to recover from our initial shock from the first Borat movie, but now the second part is out, and once again causing waves across the globe!

If you thought the first movie was bad, this one is worse, and by bad we don’t mean

that it’s a bad movie, it’s just very offensive. Now, remember how in the first movie the themes of sexism, slight racism, and inability to adjust to a more progressive country were what made Borat so horrible but amazing at the same time? Well, multiple it by five and you’ve got Borat 2.

The sexism is tripled with Borat using his daughter (who lives in a cage) to become a gift to one of Donald Trump’s wing men.

The film focused on Borat’s daughter Tutar and her discovery that women can drive and that her vagina does not have teeth.

Throughout the film Borat goes to Trump rallies where one of the supporters uses a Nazi salute. His face of course covered... but does that change the fact that these people were not paid actors, they were actual cit-

izens of America who were singing along with a song that was meant to provoke racism, sexism and homophobia? That scene must be one of the worst scenes in Borat and one that will definitely make you uncomfortable upon your next visit to the United States of America.

Another memorable moment worth mentioning was when Tutar invited Rudy Giuliani for an interview. He is the former Mayor of New York City and an attorney who has a close friendship with Trump.

Towards the end of the film Borat comes to the realization that Tutar does not have to sell herself to a rich American politician to be somebody and goes to rescue her from Rudy. The funny thing is that Mr. Giuliani was not in on the show nor was he

aware that Tutar was not a real journalist.

Towards the end of their interview Tutar invited Rudy to the bedroom of the hotel room to take off the recording equipment.

During this scene Rudy is seen with his hands down his pants as though expecting something further to happen, when suddenly Borat dashes in and announces that Tutar is too old for him and that Borat himself has a very tight... backside.

All in all, the film is an 11/10 must watch, the sheer offensiveness of the show and the iconic character back for another round is delightful... not to mention there is a huge twist at the end. You are sure to cringe, laugh, think “he did not just do that” and lots more. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions you’re sure to miss when it’s over!

C U LT ÚR

November 17 2020

7

SIAMSAÍO CHT

CREATIVE CORNER

Series review: Ratched

By Anastasia Burton If you loved ‘American Horror Story Season Two: Asylum’ you will definitely love ‘Ratched’. Not to mention many of those who are involved in ‘American Horror Story’ were featured in this series, familiar faces are always a plus. Nurse Ratched is played by the talented and charming Sarah Paulson who can probably pull off any character she puts her mind to. But let’s not forget Finn Wittrock the very guy who played the psycho rich kid in season four of ‘AHS Freak Show’. With the main roles given to actors we know are capable of pulling off strong and slightly psychotic characters you will feel confident in watching this series from beginning to end!

Nurse Ratched is a highly stylish nurse who is clouded by mystery and confidence and is very driven. The entire series revolves around the topic of mental illness, betrayal and murder which is bound to keep to on the edge of your seat. The series opening gives viewers a gruesome and vio-

lent murder of priests, by Wittrock’s character Edmund. The series focuses on the fact that he had been arrested and placed in psychiatric care before his death sentence. We seem to get the impression that Nurse Ratched and Edmund may have some sort of connection from the way she desperately tries to get hired in the very institution he will be placed in.

The series blessed us with a great plot, amazing cast, and an atmosphere to die for. The inhumane treatment of the patients and the brutal murder of people who got in their way, the characters of ‘Ratched’ are bound to make you fall in love, hate them, love them again, and then grieve for them.

The series deals with topics of discovering and accepting one’s sexuality in the early/late 40s-50s and how trauma and abuse leads to more abuse in an endless cycle of violence.

Throughout the eight episodes we follow Nurse Ratched at her new workplace where she makes sure to get close with the head of the institution to make him trust and listen to her. It is impos-

17

Quarantine

By Anastasia Burton

sible not to love her. Her charm, charisma and intelligence makes her one of the best characters in the show and one that you want to succeed and do well.

The ending of the series will leave you wanting more, and don’t worry season two is confirmed, so more Nurse Ratched to come! It’s curious to think about what else they could possibly add to the series and what the future of the series will hold.

Judging from its popularity on Netflix I have reason to believe we will see a second season during spring or summer time of 2021.

Sitting by a window, coffee gripped in my hand, I can’t help but think back to all the good times I’ve had, Watching the rain beat against my window reminds of the seasons that’ve passed, Where did our summer go?

Pumpkins and ghosts look lonely swaying on childless paths, Trick or treat or merry Christmas?

I can’t remember anymore, Seasons blended into one who might notice the fall?

Sitting by a window, coffee gripped in my hand, I have felt the passing of time, Quarantine has left me terrified of human contact, So I sit here by a window, cup of coffee in my hand, Staring at the empty streets I leave behind.

Sean Connery was the quintessential Bond but his legacy extends far beyond 007

By Darragh Nolan The passing of Sir Sean Connery at age 90 is one of those uncommon Hollywood tragedies. Such is the nature of celebrity in 2020 that a “celebrity death” is becoming more commonplace as more and more people reach the once loftier status of fame. Even still it is a rare moment of sadness to lose an icon as towering as Connery.

Something often not mentioned of Sean Connery’s life is his upbringing. His early life was spent splitting meals between himself, his parents and

younger brother Neil. About as far from the bright lights of cinema as one could be, his formative years were spent delivering milk in Edinburgh.

An early life that took him from the milk round to the Navy and, eventually, to a fledgling acting career, goes to show just how remarkable Connery’s rise to fame was. From the moment he entered the frame in 1962’s ‘Dr. No’, the name Bond became ingrained in cinematic and cultural history.

The opening few minutes of Connery’s first turn as 007 capture so perfectly everything the character is meant to be. Opposite Eunice Gayson’s ravishing Sylvia Trench, seen gambling at a casino and calmly collecting his winnings after a near impossible display of luck. In an instant, James Bond became the archetypal leading man.

“Bond… James Bond”. Connery, in one scene, in just three words, put his stamp on a character that has now spanned seven actors, 27 films and over 60 years. He was cool, rakishly good-looking, suave. Six others have had their crack at the role to varying degrees of success, but none have brought the same indescribable it - factor of Connery’s portrayal.

ROPES Literary Journal Submission Call The 29th Edition of the ROPES Literary Journal is now open for submissions!

ROPES is an annual publication by the MA in Literature and Publishing students in NUIG. Every year there is a chosen charity to whom all proceeds are donated. This year we have decided to fundraise for COPE Galway. COPE is an amazing charity that offers support to those experiencing homelessness and domestic abuse.

They also offer senior support services.

We accept both written and visual submissions including; fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoirs, essays, short stories, photography, comics, illustrations etc. This year we are focusing on creating a platform for emerging creatives. This does not mean however, that

you are not eligible to submit if you have been previously published.

Deadline for written submissions is December 31st and the deadline for visual submissions is February 14th. We ask that written submissions be kept to a maximum of 3,000 words and any visual submissions must be at least 300ppi. Each applicant can submit a maximum of 3 submissions.

All submissions are subject to an editorial process prior to acceptance and all submissions must be previously unpublished.

Send all submissions to ropeslitmag.­submissions­ @gmail.com. Please include your name along with the title of your submission in the subject line.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @ROPESLitJournal to keep up with us!

As ‘From Russia With Love’ (1963), ‘Goldfinger’ (1964), ‘Thunderball’ (1965) and ‘You Only Live Twice’ (1967) followed, he commanded the role even more which each entry. Sean Connery created the Bond blueprint. He drank the first martini, shaken, not stirred. He was the first to get behind the wheel of an Aston Martin, the first to outsmart the villain, break out all the gadgets and get the Bond girl.

As much as Connery’s influential career extends far beyond the secret agent, that part of his legacy alone is massive. The acting pedigree he brought in his own Bond films makes them so rewatchable even now. His performances laid the foundation for a movie empire that will continue long into the future.

After two more Bond flicks, the post - 007 Sean Connery catalogue demonstrated his true range as an actor. He was the older figure guiding a leading man in ‘Highlander’, the mystery solving friar in ‘The Name of the Rose’.

The greatest moment was perhaps his Academy Award winning performance opposite Kevin Cost-

ner in ‘The Untouchables’. Witty and authoritative as ever, Connery’s Jim Malone stole the show in the period piece detailing the downfall of Al Capone.

Connery’s creative influence shone through on the set of ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’.

As Indy’s estranged father, his improv and suggestions for the script made it into the beloved classic and his dynamic duo turn alongside Harrison Ford brought the franchise back to its best, reintroducing the sharpness and fun that made it so beloved.

More blockbusters such as ‘The Hunt for Red October’ followed as what would prove to be the nightcap to Sir Sean Connery’s remarkable career.

Over the course of nearly 50 years, he brought one of cinema’s most iconic leading men to life, rounded off his filmography with a host of excellent films and left an indelible influence on the movie world.

Scotland’s own Hollywood giant, he was the greatest to ever call himself 007, but his legacy stretches well beyond the confines of the tuxedo and the Aston Martin. Sir Sean Connery was a legend of the silver screen who will be dearly missed.

18 A RT S & E N T E RTAIN M EN T

SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

Gothic literature through the ages

By Sophia Hadef It is November, and it is cold, so what is better than some Gothic literature to accompany us on a dark and rainy day? There is nothing more charming than a melancholy ambience, a mystery and suspense atmosphere to give you chills (chills of pleasure when you’re a Goth), a powerful and meaningful love story and a subtle supernatural touch. Gothic fiction brings you dark forests and haunted places enlightened by the moon and at the same time philosophy and fascination for the afterlife.

That gloomy genre started in 1764 with the publication of ‘The Castle of Otranto’ by Horace Walpole.

A dark castle in a foreign place, and a young woman trying to escape from an evil and dangerous man.

It discusses the morality, the religion and temptations and has strong metaphors like the battle of humanity against evil and supernatural forces. It shows you at the same time a certain attraction for the darkness and its characters. Mixing horror and romance, they are the core of a Gothic novel.

In 1794, the ‘female Gothic’ started with ‘The Mysteries of Udolpho’ by Ann Radcliffe. In that novel, Ann explained the irrational with a sublime scenery. Full of paranormal thrills, the dark romance hypnotises the reader. Soon after, Matthew Lewis published ‘The Monk ‘– the story of the diabolical decline of a capuchin who succumbs to lots of temp-

tations made by the devil himself. Sensationalist, moralistic and with a psychological insight, Lewis made a Gothic masterpiece. It was the book of the month in October for the Gothic literature Club that I created on Instagram - #GothLitClub.

In 1816, the vampire made its entrance in the English Gothic horror fiction with ‘The Vampyre’ written by Lord Byron. An attractive and dangerous stranger suffering from a strong melancholy and desolation - the novel was a success. The same year, the talented Mary Shelley wrote ‘Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus’. She gave a scientific view of the genre with the creation of a monstrous creature. In 1818, Jane Austen did an excellent parody of the genre when she wrote ‘Northanger Abbey’ – its main character is a young girl totally obsessed with gothic stories. In 1824, James Hogg published ‘The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner’, the story of a man haunted by his doppelganger.

Doubles are an essential element of Gothic literature. (It has to be and stay spooky and that’s what we love). And when we talk about gothic, we can not forget Edgar Allan Poe’s collection of short stories: ‘The Essential Tales and Poems’. With the famous ‘The Black Cat or The Murders in the Rue Morgue’, and the beautiful poems haunted with love and losssuch as ‘The Raven’ which is one of my favourites.

GET INVOLVED Ways to get involved with your SU this year Bealaí le páirt a ghlacadh i do Chomhaltas i mbliana



Take the Charity Challenge Glac páirt sa Dúshlán Carthanachta Join the Welfare Crew Glac páirt sa Chriú Leasa



Run for Election Seas sa Toghchán

♥

 

Become a Class Rep Bí i d’Ionadaí Ranga

Join the Event Crew Glac páirt sa Chriú Siamsaíochta

ay.ie

n@nuiil

Contact studentsunion@nuigalway.ie for more info Déan teagmháil le studentsunion@nuigalway.ie le tuilleadh eolais a fháil

@nuigsu

NUIGalwayStudentsUnion www.su.nuigalway.ie

In 1847, Emily Brönte wrote ‘Wuthering Heights’, a very soft and not horrific gothic novel. Emily took the gloomy elements of the gothic while staying very poetic. Emily’s sister Charlotte wrote a masterpiece, my favourite book ever: ‘Jane Eyre’. It’s the most feminist and gothic story you can find.

Dark secrets and mysteries are the core of the novel.

“I do not think, sir, you have any right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience.”

Powerful.

In 1859, Wilkie Collins wrote ‘Woman in White’, always with a creepy atmosphere – it questions identity and insanity. One of my other favourites is ‘Carmilla’ by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (a fantastic Irish writer who wrote many gothic stories), Carmilla is a beautiful woman who bewitches a young girl in a castle – an explicit lesbian story in a Victorian time.

In 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson published ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’, a success during the Victorian era, the story talks about the double theme and the distinction between the good and the evil.

To finish with those treasures of the past, ‘Dracula’ by Bram Stoker. A fantastic and chilling masterpiece with all the famous elements of Gothic

Photo: Sophia Hadef

literature. It’s the tale of the supernatural and evil Transylvanian count obsessed by the woman he loved in the past.

If you are looking for modern Gothic stories, ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ by Ira Levin is an excellent one about a dark cult and ‘Pet Sematary’ by Stephen King is a great creepy folk Gothic story.

Earlier this year, I created my publishing house company: Dubh Publishing, a company specializing in Gothic literature. If you are a gothic writer, you can send me your work on dubhpublishing@gmail. com for a possible publication in 2021.

Our culture is for rent

By David O’Connor Full disclosure: I subscribe monthly to Netflix and Spotify. So I’m not some false Messiah coming with a warning and leaving without a solution.

I subscribe to them for the same reasons as you: the instant gratification. I get what I want, when I want it.

Thus far, I’ve been happy in my constant state of contentment, watching my favourite shows on repeat. Every time I have breakfast or dinner, I stick on a 20 minute show for myself. It’s a habit I really want to break. Which has pulled my mind towards the negative effects of subscriptions.

It happened when I saw my uncle’s collection of DVDs. He had a large bookshelf solely containing DVDs. He had no Netflix account to watch movies on, just a DVD player. While flicking through his collection he remarked, “At least if the world goes to the dogs, I’ll still have my collection.”

It made me realise that if the world did in fact, “go to the dogs”, I would own nothing in relation to movies. The world doesn’t even have to fall into chaos for that to be the case, Netflix just has to go defunct.

We don’t own the content we use anymore, we rent it. The moment the price of the subscription goes too high and we stop paying, the moment the website goes down, we lose all access to culture.

The same goes for music (Spotify) and books as well (Kindle Unlimited). My uncle will be laughing with his ‘Mean Girls’ DVD while I have no evidence of all the time and money I spent on the rented content.

So I began to think more about the possibility that subscriptions aren’t the way forward. Even if you look at the basic reason for subscriptions, which was to provide a cheaper alternative to cable TV, that argument no longer stands due to the amount of entities getting involved with streaming and offering exclusive content. If you add all the streaming sites up, you’ll find you’re paying far more than the standard cable TV price.

Then there is the fact that a lot of the material on Netflix, for example, is transient. It is here today and gone tomorrow. You can find out what shows will be discontinued at the end of the month, giving you a deadline. Which creates a pressure on the consumer to constantly engage, to never stray too far and find something else to take up their time and income. Taking advantage on the consumer anxiety.

Another aspect is the unfair notion of exclusivity in today’s watercooler world. There is pressure placed on people to pay the fees and keep up to date.

If the world did in fact, “go to the dogs”, I would own nothing in relation to movies.

For example, when did you last say to someone “What are you watching on Netflix tonight?” or “Any suggestions for Netflix?”

Believe it or not, going to the cinema used to be a communal experience that brought people together.

One could go along and become part of a greater being, one that is experiencing a similar emotion to everyone else in the room at the exact same time. This has been destroyed. Cinemas come in second place now. One dares not discuss movies in person for fears of spoilers.

Finally, the subscriptions imply you are pledging your allegiance to a singular corporate entity. In the past, you watched whatever was on TV and whatever was in cinema. Now, you sign up monthly to Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, etc., and you get their sole content. All in competition with each other, all vying for your loyalty.

Again, I must stress that there are plenty of positives to this new lifestyle of ours too. However, I wanted to share what has been on my mind recently, and hope to start a conversation on it and perhaps not just to accept blindly whatever is thrown our way.

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Budgeting advice with Anastasia Burton

By Anastasia Burton We’ve all been tempted in the past by the Festive and Black Friday sales, which are once again only around the corner. And I’m here to tell you that no, you do not need to buy a basket full of items you really don’t need. With Christmas fast approaching everyone is trying to save money for gifts and festive dinners, but how does one save?

Firstly, saving money is never easy, especially when you have rent and bills to pay on top of whatever other mandatory expenses you may have! I have to admit I only send large sums of money to my savings account when I have gathered a significant amount, so I completely get how hard it can be.

You need to figure out how much you can afford to save each week, month, or every couple of months. If your wages are low and you have large sums to pay for your necessities, then try out with maybe putting aside â‚Ź20 a week, maybe even 10.

You may think that 10 or 20 euro is nothing, but if you save it every week for a couple of months it will add up, trust me. Let’s say you want to save for some Christmas gifts, do not buy anything before a large sale. Always keep an eye on websites that you want to buy from and subscribe to their newsletters

to never miss out on hot deals! Save money where you can, whenever you can, because paying full price? Can’t relate.

You need to know when treating yourself is appropriate. Treating yourself every day of the week is not really treating yourself, and buying things you really don’t need is not responsible. You need to make a list of the things you need and don’t need. If you’re finding a lot of items you never wear or use, put them up for sale on Depop or Facebook, get rid of clutter! You can also donate items to charity. Treating yourself is important, nobody is denying that, but treating yourself needs to come in different ways.

Retail therapy is great and the perfect way to do it is to buy something small for yourself each week.

Let yourself get a donut or enjoy a coffee from a coffee shop rather than home. Maybe buy yourself a new mask or cute shoes you’ve wanted forever.

Make sure that you treating yourself isn’t resulting in you hating yourself!

Saving during the festive season is very important, now more than ever. With many of us out of jobs we can’t afford as much as we used to. So try to put away as little or as much as you can and slowly but surely you will feel more secure and have the means to buy the gifts you want without eating unseasoned 10 cent noodles for months on end!

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SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

2020’s Best Online Fashion Stores

By Saoirse Higgins Navigating different fashion shops and websites during lockdown can be difficult. No more trying on different sizes in the dressing room, or browsing the aisles of your local Penneys to get a top for your next night out.

So, SIN has some fashion options for you to check out to get your cute Christmas outfit ready.

Of course, the big thing most people need to take into account when buying clothes is the negative effect we are having on the environment and social conditions. According to the World Economic Forum, fashion production makes up 10% of carbon emissions across the world and 85% of all textiles end up at the dump. Along with the terrible labour conditions most fast fashion brands are home to as well, with some people working for half of the minimum wage. With all this in mind, we must try, where we can, to shop sustainably. However, it can be difficult when on a budget and trying to source the right style.

So, here is a mix of vintage, small businesses and Depop shops with price ranges to suit every student.

Here are my favourite shops, from Depop to Vintage, so strap in;

Jolly’s Shop (@jojomojo355 on Depop) This user sells handmade skirts and dresses for an amazing price. I myself, have bought two lovely skirts, one leather skirt and one black with golden detailing, and I have loved them all. Each skirt is tailored by the woman in question. You look at the page and see which skirts are for sale. You then message her with your measurements, and she tailors it to fit your size! This means everybody is included and because she works off measurements you don’t have to worry about it fitting on your waist but not your hips or vice versa.

Her price depends on the skirt but usually range between â‚Ź15 to â‚Ź25, and shipping is always free.

This is an affordable price for beautiful handmade pieces. Definitely worth your time.

Lil Bits (@susiechal on Depop) This is another small business that focuses on handmade products. This time though it’s cute comfy fleeces. Although up to recently she worked off Instagram to sell her products, this business has moved

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How can anyone talk vintage in Ireland without mentioning the acclaimed Spice Vintage. Originally based in Limerick City, this shop has fully moved online over the course of the pandemic and has been more successful than ever. Beautiful handpicked vintage

pieces, that owner Gracie gets abroad, there are pieces for every type of style to enjoy. From fleeces to designer pants, to amazing vintage two pieces, there is so much to choose from. However, buying from Spice is no easy task. She has a stock drop every Friday at 6pm and most pieces sell out within five minutes. You have to be fast and ready.

Along with the speed, Spice Vintage can be pricey, from anywhere of ₏25 to over a ₏100, depending on what you’re getting. Generally, it is reasonable for the type of piece you are purchasing, but can be out of budget for most people, including myself. However, if you do treat yourself to a lovely vintage piece, you won’t regret it.

Lemon Queen Vintage (Instagram) The vintage and handmade retailer works off Instagram to deliver its products. This seller has lovely vintage and handmade pieces to add to your wardrobe for a reasonable price. From cosy cardigans to patterned skirts you can get your vintage necessities here.

The price depends on the piece, but generally, I have found her prices extremely affordable especially for vintage pieces. So if you’re looking for vintage clothing, but can’t afford the prices of Spice, I would check this page out on Instagram.

Nine Crows Vintage (Depop)

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to Depop to make it more efficient for her customers.

She sells custom-made fleeces. After you click buy on one of her pieces, you message to say the colours and size that you’d like. These fleeces have grown in popularity over recent weeks, so if you want to grab one on the day of the sale you’re going to have to be quick!

Price-wise, they can be a bit steep to someone on a budget at ₏40 a fleece. However, considering the cosy material and care gone into them it’s certainly reasonable. As a treat to yourself or as a Christmas present, these wardrobe necessities should be on your mind!

This vintage store is based in Dublin, however, it has a popular Depop page. Here they sell a range of different vintage pieces, all of good quality. If you’re looking for warm jackets for winter or some cute flannels to wear during your study, Nine Crows is the place for you.

Nine Crows is also very reasonably priced.

Again, price depends on the piece, but generally good jumpers and jackets are between â‚Ź30 to â‚Ź50.

These are all small businesses and vintage stores that I enjoy, and with the economy suffering during the pandemic it is now more important than ever to support your small businesses. However, don’t ever feel pressured to buy vintage or small business. This is a stressful time, and if shopping small or vintage isn’t viable at the moment then there is no pressure to do so. Shop where is comfortable and accessible to you, and enjoy your fashionable Christmas!

FAIS EAN

November 17 2020

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Something I have learned about myself during lockdown; Flying Solo

By Neasa Gorrell I think we can all recall where we were on that fateful day in March when the panic ensued and the whole country shut down because of the Coronavirus.

We were not wholly aware yet of the severity of the situation, but we knew it wasn’t going to be good.

Looking back at spring, nobody could have predicted that the country would be still under high restrictions even now in winter.

I was working in a restaurant in Galway City and only made it three hours into my eight-hour shift before being told to go home, and that the restaurant would be closing. At this stage, the University had already closed, and many of my friends had headed back to their home counties, abandoning the student life altogether. I knew it was time to ring my mam and ask her to come and collect me, but what I didn’t realise was that it would be months before I was back to Galway.

So, like every other student in the country, I went back home where I stayed for months on end, well into the summer. The majority of that time was spent at home or

walking my dogs three or four times a day, or even out kayaking on the bay with my family. We grew very close during the first few months of lockdown; we even baked banana bread together!

Then during summer, we learned that the pubs were supposed to be reopening on the 20th of July. Knowing that my friends would be asking me to join them for nights out again, I thought of it as a risk I couldn’t chance as two of my family members had severe asthma and I didn’t want to endanger their safety. However, being fed up of sitting at home for months on end, I got to thinking.

I decided I would move to Spain entirely on my own for the rest of the summer. I chose this for many reasons.

Before the pandemic, I had experienced some significant changes in my life, and for the first time, I felt free to be myself, to experience new things and discover who I was. I knew I could experience this coming-of-age type growth better on my own, instead of surrounded by my family.

I could focus on becoming the girl I knew I was, and I could hopefully get better at speaking Spanish because my grades weren’t great in college.

So as any spontaneous, young, first-time solo traveller does – I gathered my savings, hopped on Ryanair’s website, looked at Airbnb, and decided on a destination – Fuengirola, El Costa Del Sol, Spain. On the 20th of July, unlike anyone else in the country, I kissed my family and my dogs goodbye and headed to a foreign country, entirely on my own, without a return flight or date, during a global pandemic. Ludicrous, my parents thought.

I know what you’re also probably thinking right now. Perhaps that maybe wasn’t the smartest thing to do? Yet, I have to disagree.

For the first time in my life, I was utterly alone in a new place, so I wasn’t socialising and therefore wasn’t at a higher risk of catching the virus or even spreading it.

For mental and physical health, my personal development, and myself, it was a dream come true. I was free to be independent, free to reinvent myself, free to focus on my hobbies and career without any distractions.

I left behind the dull Irish summer and lavished in the sun by the beach every day that I was in Spain. I woke up and focused on my creative writing for hours each morning, writing as I ate a fruit salad or

pastry on my balcony. I learned more about the Spanish language and culture to help with my academics, but most importantly, I learned about myself.

For the first time in years, I knew that I would be ok on my own. I realised that I could let go of my fear of being alone, that I was strong enough to create my own happiness, and I didn’t need the company of others to feel comfortable in this world. I felt courageous, empowered, determined, but most of all – I was content on my own.

For me, this was an important lesson in life, one that I think we will all have to encounter and overcome – learning that we will be ok, we can be happy in this world – even on our own.

As students, this in-between stage of life can be a strange and scary place, and I do think we all fear being alone at some stage of the journey. But, I now understand how we can all benefit from putting ourselves out there, into the unknown and having enough determination and belief within ourselves to ensure that we will do just fine.

So, preferably not during a global pandemic, but, if you feel up for a solo adventure of self-discovery, maybe, just maybe, take a leaf out of my book.

How soon is too soon to say the magic words “I love you” in your new relationship?

By Neasa Gorrell Today I will be telling you about how I look at the idea of saying “I love you” in a new relationship, and reflect on my own experience, discussing how the notion of love and being in love affected my ability to leave a relationship once it had become toxic.

Everyone has a dream to meet

someone magical, fall in love and live happily ever after, just like all the fairy tales. But, for most young people as they navigate the early years of adulthood, exploring intimacy and relationships for the first time, it’s hard not to get caught up in that fairy-tale notion of love, especially when it comes to your first real relationship.

As we move through secondary school

and enter college, seeing many of our friends’ pair off with their partners and starting relationships, often we can’t help but feel envious and wish the same for ourselves. So, when we do eventually find someone that has a genuine interest and connection with us, especially for the first time, it is likely that we will fall-head-over-heels for them.

This makes navigating a new relationship a tricky thing. You will try to figure out what pace to move at, talk endlessly as you try to learn all about each other, and arrange dates to spark the romance between you and your new lover. I have found that receiving attention as such, especially for the first time, causes two different reactions within us.

Firstly, it makes us feel cared for, happy and excited, knowing that there is someone who truly has romantic feelings for us. But at the same time, this whole mix of emotions often blinds us from the red flags we need to be watching out for, which is far from good.

It is for this reason, I believe, that you should hold off on saying “I love you” in your new relationship until you have at least moved past the honeymoon phase, and preferably, until almost a year into the relationship. As saying it prematurely, may only lead to you getting hurt in the long run.

When you say the three magic words “I love you” too soon, there is no way of taking back what you have said without causing hurt. This complicates things further within your relationship as you are now so consumed by the idea of being in love with someone and being loved by someone, that you neglect to pay appropriate attention to the early warning signs about your relationship.

In fact, once you have said the words “I love you” to your partner and them to you, you are more than likely to make excuses for the toxic things that may happen in your relationship.

My ex-partner and I fell victim to this idea of love prematurely into our relationship and, because of this, overstayed the expiry date of this ‘love’.

Looking back, I know my relationship soured and should have ended after a year and a half of dating. Our feelings for each other were no longer as they were, and we had matured differently, wanting completely different things in life, and viewing the world entirely differently from one another.

Yet, because we believed we loved each other from saying it so early on into dating, we stayed within the confines of this unhappy and toxic relationship for three long and cold years. Overstaying this relationship caused it to breakdown

slowly, but very evidently, over time.

The people around you will notice when things are not working, when things seem toxic, and they will point it out to you, but you will always make excuses, for yourself or your partner’s behaviour, because of love.

There is no one person to blame in this situation, or at least for the sake of this article, there is not, as I won’t go too personal for obvious reasons. But, that is the danger of saying “I love you” in a new relationship too early. Once it is said, it cannot be unsaid without causing hurt in the immediate frame of time. Yet having said it too soon, it can cause hurt later on in the relationship.

You need to remember when entering a new relationship, that you need to first love yourself before loving someone else.

In waiting to say those three magic words, the big “I love you”, you get to know more about your partner without being blinded to any negative behaviours because of this idea of love. True love will become apparent naturally, and doesn’t need to be rushed through vocalisation.

Love can be a wonderful and blossoming thing. We will look for true love in all avenues of life, but the one certainty we have is that eventually, we will find it and hold onto it forever.

22 FA SH I O N & L I F EST Y L E

SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

A love letter to the Père Lachaise

By Sophia Hadef Have you ever been to Paris? Paris is a beautiful city to visit with its history, its architecture, and its romantic streets. But have you ever been to the Père Lachaise?

The famous cemetery with centuries of history.

I’m going to tell you about my love for this special place. It all started when I was a toddler and visited it for the first time. It is a very blurry memory, but I could never forget it. I remember being in

a pram with my parents and grandparents by my side. I remember the grey alleys, the giant graves and the crowds of people enjoying a nice afternoon walk. I remember a guy with a beard who my parents gave a coin to, and I remember the sound of the ravens, the grey sky and the smell of the trees.

I even remember the shop we went to after visiting the cemetery. (And I got confirmation from my parents when I told them I was in fact correct in my recollection.) They were surprised that it

Going to the Père Lachaise (even now when I can go there during my trips to Paris), I always have the feeling as though I am charging my batteries, like a deep meditation that rejuvenates my soul.

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stuck with me that much. I grew up in my mom’s apartment in Paris, just next to the Père Lachaise.

I can see its trees from my mom’s terrace. I started going there by myself and with my friends when I was a teenager.

At around 13 years old, I would say It became my special place. I could walk and sit on a bench for hours – alone or not. The Père Lachaise is like a museum, a giant and old one. Situated on some 43 hectares, with more than 5000 trees, it is the largest park and cemetery in Paris. The number of people they say are buried there vary, some say 600,000 others say 1,000,000.

The cemetery is a famous tourist attraction renowned for its many celebrity graves. Among the famous people buried there are Molière, Eugène Delacroix, Georges Bizet, Frédéric Chopin, Honoré de Balzac, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, Sarah Bernhardt, Isadora Duncan, Gertrude Stein, Colette, Edith Piaf, Marcel Marceau, Richard Wright, Yves Montand, Alain Bashung and Jim Morrison. No wonder it is the most visited cemetery in the world. The oldest remains buried in the Père Lachaise are those of Abelard and Héloïse (who died in 1142 and 1164).

Its hills make you feel as if you were in an enchanted and ancient city. That’s also why we call it the city of the dead. But let’s go back to the unique bond I have with that place.

I used to be a depressed and gothic teenager, listening to some dark stoner rock and grunge. I was also a huge fan of the Doors, and particularly Jim

Level Up Your Veggies

By Ethne Tierney

minutes the sauce should start to thicken.

6. Turn off the stove and add the broccoli and We all know we should be eating more vegetables.

They are packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals.

But it can be hard to get your five a day if your go-to’s are steamed carrots and a salad. There is so many ways to cook vegetables to make them delicious yet nutritious. SIN has two recipes that you can try. We promise you will be looking forward to eating your veggies!

Creamy white sauce for broccoli If you like creamy and cheesy textures, you may want to try this recipe. It’s surprisingly easy and quick to make, but it will make you feel like you are eating something you may find in a fancy restaurant. Forget about the boring steamed broccoli that has little to no taste, white sauce broccoli is so much tastier!

INGREDIENTS • 50 g of butter • 50 g of flour • 500 ml of milk • A pinch of pepper • A pinch of salt • Onion powder • Garlic Powder • One broccoli head

METHOD 1. Cut the broccoli into bite-size pieces and bring some water to boil in a pan at high heat.

2. Carefully put the broccoli into the pan and let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes.

3. Drain the broccoli in the sink, while you put a pan at medium heat.

4. Melt the butter in the pan. Once it’s all melted, add sultnuigalway

Morrison. I used to stay in front of his grave, listening to my favourite songs of his, and hoping to have a happier life. Going to the Père Lachaise (even now when I can go there during my trips to Paris), I always have the feeling as though I am charging my batteries, like a deep meditation that rejuvenates my soul. Do you know that weird feeling when you go to a church? A simple peace invades your body. That’s how I feel in that cemetery. I often brought books with me, and I know some exceptional places to sit and have an extraordinary view on top of its hills while reading. Being surrounded by those people who left the world we live in makes me think back on my life, my emotions and my pains. All those deceased who lived already, who felt what you’re going through is the most comforting feeling to be able to heal, to live better and fuller. I brought so many friends there, some of them who at first didn’t really enjoy the idea of walking between graves. They loved it, and they are going there by themselves sometimes even to this day. I’m a proud Parisian, and this part of Paris is definitely in my heart forever. I recommend that you go and visit it if you go to Paris one day. You will never forget it. The Père Lachaise is beautiful any time of the year, but I advise you to go between September to November. The thousands of burgundy and orange leaves will leave you speechless. Go there as a trip for your mood, as a free and healthy medicine for your spirit. A precious moment to press pause, a unique instant to be able to go back to the city of the living full of philosophy and wisdom, a gift for your life.

the flour and mix them together until you get a thick paste and let it cook for about two minutes.

5. Add the milk, salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder. Stir consistently, and after a couple of

grated cheese to the pan. Stir well to make sure all the broccoli pieces are covered in white sauce.

7. Wait to serve until the cheese is melted. And voila! Enjoy it.

Wine Carrots If you haven’t tried this recipe, you don’t know how tasty carrots can be. This recipe is easy, but it takes a little longer than usual to make it. Therefore, we recommend making it on a special occasion. The wine will absorb into the carrots giving a sweet taste that is nearly addictive. Don’t worry, the recipe is alcohol free as the alcohol from the wine will evaporate completely while cooking.

INGREDIENTS • 500 g of carrots • 5 tbs of olive oil • ½ a bottle of white wine • A pinch of salt

METHOD 1. Cover your pan in your olive oil and peel and chop your carrots while you wait for the pan to heat up.

2. Put the chopped carrots in the pan at high heat. Add the salt and let them cook for 10 to 12 minutes.

3. Lower the heat to a medium to low temperature and add the wine. Then put a lid on and let the wine simmer for roughly an hour. Check the carrots every now and then to make sure they don’t burn.

4. You know they are ready when the carrots get a shiny golden coloured look. They should be slightly crispy. If they are too soft, add another splash of oil and fry them until you get the desired texture.

5. Enjoy them accompanied by your favourite foods.

FAIS EAN

November 17 2020

7

NÓ S MAIRE ACHTÁLA

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THE ORDINARY SKINCARE: The Top 5 MustHave Products for Combination, Acne-Prone Skin

By Neasa Gorrell Today we will be ranking the top five musthave products from The Ordinary Skincare range when combatting acne, and advise on how to use and apply each one.

Having struggled with acne from the age of twelve, I have tried many different skincare products over the years that promise to support the skin and prevent acne breakouts. The vast majority of these didn’t help, and I ended up turning to medication until I found The Ordinary. I have used a range of The Ordinary products to treat my combination skin for almost a year now, and some have become a crucial part of my skincare routine in trying to prevent acne flare-ups.

I use these products as well as medications, as a way to support the maintenance of my complexion. Here I will name the top five products I have used from The Ordinary which help keep my combination, acneprone skin clear.

Hyaluronic Acid – The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 This product helps to retain moisture in the skin, which is essential when treating acne. If you are continually applying harsh acids or drying solutions to the skin, it is

vital not to overdo it as this can cause the healthy moisture barrier to breakdown, making your skin look very dull and dry.

This is where Hyaluronic Acid comes in, as the step before applying your moisturiser, as it helps retain the moisture within the skin and enable it to penetrate deeper, giving a glowing complexion as it hydrates the skin from the inside.

multi-technology peptide complex, as well as healthy Amino Acids for the rejuvenation of the skin. It actively prevents skin ageing, which is necessary when fighting acne. I would use this in the morning and at night after cleansing, to help boost the texture of my skin.

Squalene Cleanser – The Ordinary Squalene Cleanser

This masque is ideal for fighting acne breakouts while giving a glowing after effect to the complexion of the skin. Salicylic acid actively cleanses pores and prevents clogging and has become a staple to my skincare routine. The mask is dark charcoal in colour so it is easy to apply to all of the areas where you may need it most, which for myself is often the T-Zone area. However, I would be careful not to over-use the masque, or any salicylic acid product, as it is tough on your skin and overuse of it may do more harm than good.

The product is a soothing and gentle cleanser, which is perfect to use to help soothe irritated and angry skin. Recently I had a very angry and sore breakout around the lower half of my face, and I was recommended this cleanser to use during the day, after wearing a facemask, to refresh the skin and prevent pores from clogging. It is a lovely cleanser to use, as it melts in your palms and forms a cleansing oil on your skin. I would use this cleanser during the day before using a CeraVe Foaming cleanser at night, and the two work well together.

Peptide Serum – The Ordinary “Buffet” Peptide Serum This product also helps to soothe the complexion of the skin, as it boasts a

Salicylic Acid – The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque

AHA and BHA – The Ordinary 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution This is a hard-hitting and deep cleansing skin peel solution, which lifts dead skin cells, deeply exfoliates to soothe

hyperpigmentation, and decongest the appearance of the skin. As my skin is sensitive, I only apply it when I know my healthy skin moisture barriers are strong enough for its use. I recommend washing your face, then applying it with clean fingers to all areas of the skin, except for around your eyes and mouth. It is only recommended to use once a week, but even for myself, I would use it once every ten days. It is a rich solution and works wonders for making the skin appear brighter and smoother, which is ideal when combatting acne.

Aside from The Ordinary, there are a few other products I use to complete my skincare routine. I use a Niacinamide Acid solution on pimples to help dry them out and balance sebum production to these areas of skin. I also use a CeraVe foaming cleanser before bed with a few droplets of Salicylic acid mixed in, to prevent acne breakouts overnight. A toner I love to use after cleansing is the PIXI Glow Toner, as it has active Glycolic Acid, which exfoliates the skin also. All of the products listed above are incredibly affordable and won’t have you out of pocket, which is another excellent bonus.

As someone who has suffered from acne throughout my teenage and early adult years, I would recommend to anyone, those who feel self-conscious or don’t feel beautiful because of having acne-prone skin, to seek help. Whatever you do, don’t let acne prevent you from enjoying your life!

November Beauty Bag

By Anastasia Burton

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Hello, my darlings and we are back to the beauty bag review! Last issue we spoke about my end of the month review of the items I used throughout the month of October. Here I talk about the items I think I will use throughout the month, what I think about the products, and how close I am to hitting pan. Hitting pan is part of my makeup decluttering process, where I use a certain make-up item to where I am happy with the usage and can move on to the next products. It’s a great way to get through your collection and actually get your money’s worth and avoid getting an item that you never end up using to the point where the product ends up expiring!

You will see items here that we have mentioned before since I have yet to finish them!

1. Essence Fresh & Fit awake primers This primer is a replacement for my Maybelline baby skin primer which I used up in October. So far, I have only used this primer a total of five times and have to admit I’m not a huge fan.

Usually, I would go through a primer in three months, but I think I will have to pass this one on to a friend.

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture palette

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Exciting news! I have now hit pan on three shades “cube”, “dawn”, and “electric”. I am confident that I am on the

verge of hitting pan on “mercury”, “new wave”, “adorn”. The rest of the shades will take some more work, but I am confident that by March of 2021 I will have hit pan on each shade in the palette.

3. SoSu complete contour palette I have hit deeper into the shade 3 and 6 of this palette and am making progress on shade 2. Shade 1 is completely used up and I am very proud of myself. It’s a wonderful palette but I really dislike shade 5, the highlight shade, and shade 4 because it’s too light for my skin.

4. Illamasqua precision ink eyeliner I have used this eyeliner a couple of more times since the October beauty bag review, but I still dislike it. It bleeds super easy and the wand makes It super difficult to do anything creative or elegant with my liner. I will probably end up binning it.

5. Balm Beach long wearing blush Since I don’t use blush that often I’m not surprised it’s taking so long to hit pan on this product. I feel like maybe by the end of this month or next we will get a peek at pan.

6. Topshop highlightmother of pearl This is a beautiful product, but I’ve always struggled with hitting pan on

a highlighter, I don’t know how people do it. I feel like it will take me at the very least three more months to see pan.

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7. Essence #insta perfect foundation This foundation is very lovely on the skin and gives full coverage, definitely better than the Flormar foundation. I think I will use up this product by the middle of January!

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8. Essence camouflage matt concealer I can’t recommend this enough; it covers up the darkest circles and gives a flawless finish. I will finish this tube by the end of December if not sooner.

9. Essence Lash princess mascara I feel like the mascara still has lots of life in it, but I can’t get over how much I hate the hand. It is terribly uncomfortable to use and if you apply more than one layer your lashes tend to end up looking lumpy.

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10. Freedom professional London eyebrow pomade Slowly but surely, I am getting through this product. I feel like in the next two months I will either have to use it up or bin it since it is quite old!

That’s all for the November beauty bag! Why not start your own?

10

24 OPI NIO N

SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

America says Bi-den to Trump

By Aaron Deering The US election took place on the 3rd of November 2020 and after five long days filled with anxiety and high emotions, we learnt that Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. would become US President Elect and the 46th President of the United States of America.

For each of those five long days I was glued to CNN and I must give them a special mention for their fantastic election coverage and analysis. A particular shoutout must go to John King of CNN and his ‘magic wall’. Having watched the three previous US elections on CNN it was great to see him get the appreciation he deserved for his fantastic breakdown

of how each state is voting through the use of his ‘magic wall’. This US election was like no other because as Biden had stated throughout his election campaign that the ‘soul of the nation was at stake’.

This was pretty evident over the last few months as America looked increasingly divided.

Donald Trump the soon to be former President, and his campaign have refused to accept that the election is over, but the truth is his campaign has been over for a long time, ever since Covid-19 hit. As the projection of Joe Biden being announced as President Elect came in, Trump was off playing a round of golf. The latest round of golf summed up his Presidency perfectly, below par

and floundering in the water on the back nine. Trump has insisted that the election has been stolen from him and has mounted various legal challenges in the states of Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia and Arizona claiming that only legal votes should be counted and not illegal ones. The fact is none of these legal challenges will change the outcome of this election. I won’t entertain any of his claims of voter fraud in this article because they’re simply baseless and aren’t supported by any evidence. The fact is Trump lost this election through his own stupidity and I’ve no problem saying that. It was Trump who told his voters not to vote through mail-in ballots, it was Trump who mishandled the pandemic

Mr President, instead you signed your own political death warrant.

Now accept your defeat graciously and move on.

Celebrity political apprentice

By Maureen Breslin Hollywood is infamous for being very left-wing. The stars are known for using their Oscar acceptance speeches to voice concerns about political issues, tweeting their statements on policy and now, giving endorsements on social media for candidates. Most of which are Democrats. This type of influence has often faced criticism, especially among those on the right.

People usually say that celebrities should stick to singing or acting, and that they don’t know anything about politics. To a degree, this holds a shred of truth, however, of note it has been the right who have elected celebrities to positions of significant political power.

Ronald Reagan was a famous Hollywood actor before becoming a Republican president, and along with Arnold Schwarzenegger became a Republican governor for the State of California, and of course most notably of late Donald Trump - the 45th President of the United States. So, despite the celebrities’ overwhelming support for Democrats, it seems that the most prevalent examples of celebrities as legitimate elected officials, who would

hold the most political influence, stems from the Republican party.

In the 2020 Presidential Election, many celebrities spoke out, primarily in support of Joe Biden. Billie Eilish spoke virtually at the Democratic National Convention, Brad Pitt voiced a commercial for Biden, Jennifer Lopez has advocated for the Latino vote for Biden, Taylor Swift baked Biden cookies and allowed her song to be used in a Biden campaign ad, and John Legend sang a song that he posted to Twitter to encourage Georgian Democratic voters. And these are just a few examples of celebrities using their voices during the 2020 election.

In previous elections, it has been shown to be impactful. In 2018, Taylor Swift broke her political silence and spoke out in support of the Democratic candidate, Phil Bredesen in the Tennessee Senate election against Republican candidate, Marsha Blackburn. Though Blackburn ultimately won the race, Swift was shown to have a significant bearing on youth voter turnout in a usually - low participation rate election. This influence, in and of itself, is a powerful tool that celebrities have in their hands, espe-

cially superstars such as Miss Swift.

Many people begrudge celebrities for not sticking to the script and keeping to entertainment. They see them as unqualified to speak on the matter and alienating their bases. However, especially with the recent presidential election, many celebrities see it as their moral duty to speak up and endorse liberal politicians. When a personal moral dilemma is in play, or there is something that a person finds to be a true threat to democracy or human rights, they should speak out. It is, of course, their right to do so, just as it is the right of some to disagree with it and be annoyed by it.

It doesn’t seem fair to ask celebrities to keep their views to themselves.

The world is at a time where it feels like we are at a crossroads. Parts of the planet are literally on fire, and to not speak out can be seen by many as having dire consequences. Just as someone’s uncle on Facebook likes to re - share things regarding politics, a celebrity’s large sphere of influence shouldn’t prevent them from being encouraged to stand up for what they believe in and speak their mind for the sake of what they see as democratic justice.

that has led to 230,000 people in the US losing their lives and it was Trump’s disgraceful comments on what happened in Charlottesville that led to Joe Biden coming out of retirement to beat Trump in this US election. This election wasn’t stolen by the Democrats or the system Mr President, instead you signed your own political death warrant. Now accept your defeat graciously and move on.

It is was great to see Americans in various cities across the country celebrate Biden’s win, but I also thought it was ironic because it was like a scene we had seen before in a far off country were a dictator had fallen, with relieved citizens flock to the streets to rejoice in their new found freedom. For so long we have associated America with ending dictatorships in various countries, and seeing the joyous scenes play out on our tv screens but this time it was happening in America. I was deeply moved

by Van Jones’s reaction to Biden’s projection as President Elect. Jones who is a political commentator with CNN became highly emotional as he took the news in “it’s easier to be a parent this morning, it’s easier to be a dad, it’s easier to tell your kids character matters, telling the truth matters, being a good person matters and it’s easier for a whole lot of people if you’re Muslim in this country you don’t have to worry if the President doesn’t want you here, if you’re an immigrant you don’t have to worry if the President is going to be happier having babies snatched away or send dreamers back for no reason.

This is vindication for a lot of people who have really suffered. It’s a good day for this country. I’m sorry for the people that have lost for them it’s not a good day but for a whole lot of people it’s a good day”. This was the reality for some people living under Trump for the last four years especially those of colour.

As Van had pointed out for some Americans Biden’s election isn’t good news but one thing I take away from Donald Trump and his presidency is that maybe he gave the system the kick it so desperately needed. Trump was elected back in 2016 for a whole bunch of reasons but one was definitely people’s dissatisfaction with the system and how they were left behind that’s why one of his popular slogans from his 2016 campaign was that he was going to ‘drain the swamp’ was so successful. I hope that Trump has given the system the wakeup call that it needed and that it now listens to the ordinary working class voter that felt they were left behind after the last economic crash. This has never been more important than now for those people as the economic hardships of Covid-19 hits them even harder. Joe Biden will be that President that brings the nation of America together again

and restore its status a major player on the world stage a status it had lost over the years during the Trump presidency.

It is unclear yet whether the senate will remain in Republican hands or switch to the Democrats but even if it remains in Republican hands Biden’s experience in US politics stretching back 47 years now will stand to him.

As a senator and Vice-President, Biden was able to work across the aisle and work with Republicans and this experience will come crucial in making sure that the country can heal over the next four years. Biden’s journey to the White House has been one filled with success and tragedy. The loss of his daughter Naomi and his first wife Neilia when he first became a senator back in 1972 and the loss of his son Beau Biden in 2015 were enough to beat any man but one thing Joe Biden has shown throughout his career is his willingness to persevere despite the challenges he faced. This is one characteristic that we can definitely expect from a Joe Biden presidency.

One thing that may have been overlooked in the battle that took place between Biden and Trump for the White House was the importance of Kamala Harris who now becomes the first ever female Vice President Elect.

She will not only be the first woman Vice President, but she will also be the first Vice President of colour and of Indian heritage. A lot of firsts for the incoming Vice President. Harris has now become a symbol of how far the women’s effort for equality has come. Giving hope to millions of girls around the world that anything is possible. Harris claimed in her victory speech that she won’t be the last woman in the White House and I for one agree and Harris herself may go one step further in 2024 and become the first ever female President of America.

Although this election has come to an end and some sort of normalcy will return to the top of US politics, we see that Donald Trump certainly gave the broken system the kick it needed, but Joe Biden, I believe will be the one to fix it.

TUAIRIM

November 17 2020

25

How American politics affect Ireland

By Alice O’Donnell 3 November. US Election Day. I had the day meticulously planned out.

Late to bed the night before, then late to rise, classwork followed by a nap between midnight to 3am, and then awake for the results that would inevitably fly in. Bed at 6am, and up for my 10am class. Easy-peasy.

Naturally, planning a day always goes more smoothly than the actual execution, and as I lay in a darkened room trying to force myself into an early nap, I found I had a lot of thinking time on my hands.

As my thoughts roamed the possibilities of the election outcome, I found myself wondering why did the American presidential race feel so important?

Sure, it was an election, but aren’t all elections important? Why was it that this particular result felt so crucial to me, a very definite non-American citizen?

I wouldn’t be on the receiving end of any of the results. I wouldn’t gain from Biden’s expansion of healthcare; I wouldn’t benefit from Trump’s promises to fix student loans.

And yet, there was a definite feeling that the results of this election would hugely impact the wider world, Ireland very much included.

But why?

Sadly, there is no alternative America where Donald Trump did not win, so it is difficult to judge how much his presidency has influenced trends across the world, or vice versa, how trends across the world have influenced Trump’s presidency. However, there is no doubt that wild conspiracy claims have ran rampant throughout America during Trump’s presidency.

Donald Trump’s fostering of conspiracy theories has filtered not just through America, but through the world. In a 2017 interview with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Donald Trump said “I think one of the greatest of all terms I’ve come up with is ‘fake’.

Of course, he didn’t create the word fake, but he created the culture of it. Fake news, Fake polls, Fake stories, even fake hair.

Even he himself has been a victim of the pandemic of ‘fake news’; earlier last month

Trump retweeted a headline “Twitter Shuts Down Entire Network To Slow Spread Of Negative Biden News”. His observation that this “has never been done before in history” was indeed correct, as the story was completely falsified, and had been created by a Twitter page called Babylon Bee, a satirical site whose motto is “Fake news you can trust”.

‘Fake news’, an otherwise unheard of phrase pre-2016 has become common lexicon across the world. In 2017, Fianna Fáil, in what seemed to be a reaction to US politics, proposed to the Dáil to make the promotion of ‘fake news’ a punishment of either five years’ imprisonment or up to a €10,000 fine.

Trump’s utter disregard for fact was perhaps most visible during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. From his attempt to defund the Centres for Disease Control in 2017, to retweeting a message that claimed the coronavirus was a hoax to repeatedly downplaying the virus itself, his distrust and suspicion of facts speaks volumes.

Anti-mask protests are prime examples of this.

While it’s impossible to say whether or not such protests would’ve still occurred in major Irish cities such as Cork, Dublin and even Galway with a Clinton victory way back in 2016, Trump’s views on masks, such as retweeting a message that he believed they stood for “social control… [and a] culture of silence, slavery, and social death” in May certainly did not lessen the anti-mask sentiment found throughout the world. From refusing to wear masks, to mocking his opponent Biden for wearing one, Trump has seemingly been dragged kicking and screaming to accepting masks.

Ireland has found herself sandwiched between two very uncertain countries; the United Kingdom as it navigates Brexit, and America as it navigates a polarized country of extremes. The effect of balancing stability between two unpredictable countries was clear at the most recent Irish election. For better or for worse, parties and politicians who distanced themselves from the established Irish politics arguably swept the election, such as the Green Party, Social Democrats and Sinn Féin, the latter of which nearly doubled their first preference votes from 13.8% in 2016 to 24.5% in 2020.

While discourse and change within politics is a healthy and a good thing in moderation, the extreme anti-establishment nature of Trump’s administration is destabilising America, as seen in the numerous riots and protests occurring throughout the last four years. Even in very recent news, Trump’s constant efforts to undermine the election process and his refusal to accept its results speaks of unknown dangers for other countries. By doing so, he is placing himself above democracy, inviting other leaders to question their country’s voting system if they’re not getting the result they want.

Of course, I haven’t even touched on the wider impacts of this American election in terms of cli-

mate change, a very real influence on Ireland and the world. One of Biden’s main campaign promises is committing $2 trillion funding clean energy, a policy which would not just abate climate change but would stimulate the economy. In comparison America, under Trump leadership, officially withdrew from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement the day after the election.

This US election, while obviously focused on America, will create a ripple effect that will be felt throughout the world for the next four years, Ireland being no exception.

And with that thought I finally managed to get to sleep.

An American’s perspective on the US election

By Maureen Breslin It’s hard to believe the US election was only a few weeks ago. I feel as though I have aged three lifetimes in the point it has gone by. Starting on Tuesday, November 3rd, I hardly slept a wink. As an American, and a Journalism postgraduate student, the election had held my attention entirely captive from Tuesday to Saturday. I was glued to live-streams of news broadcasts and hitting the refresh button on the map of the United States every other minute, waiting for an update on the electoral college.

Finally, on Saturday, news broke. In my home state and home city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, enough votes had been counted to call the race for President-Elect Joe Biden. The news came to a relief to many as my phone ignited in a bombardment of notifications from my news apps and friends alike.

It was as if we had all been holding our breath, and

could finally exhale with the relief of some sort of answer, a winner.

Though, with that winner, there seemed to be a loser, though a reluctant one. The count was a long and arduous process, due to the unprecedented amount of mail-in ballots because of the Covid-19 pandemic and record voter turnout. Despite this, Americans should have been able to at least sleep knowing that they had closure and finalization, either disappointed or delighted.

The current president then threw gas onto that match of a notion, igniting it all in flames. For the first time in American history, the sitting president was refusing to concede.

Donald Trump, without evidence, alleged that there was fraud in the election process. He threw baseless allegation after baseless allegation forward, which was dismissed in many states.

However, this seed he had been planting since his 2016 Presidential bid, had already been sprung.

His base had heard President Trump speak, and that was all that was needed to get the fire burning. The entire integrity of the election and its process have now been thrown into question. It didn’t matter if there was evidence, or if news outlets were saying there was none. It could all be accredited to the lies of the establishment, the radical left, or the fake news of the mainstream media. Even when Fox News, a conservative leaning cable news outlet, came forward to state that the President’s accusations were unfounded, many Trump supporters cried that Fox had become, too, a part of the liberal machine.

It was a flurry of absolute chaos to keep up with, but with it, there was a sense of hope for many.

There was dancing in the streets of New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. There were people crying in relief and feeling free for the first time. There was a sense from PresidentElect Joe Biden that we could move forward as a

nation, somehow. He claimed that it did not matter if Trump planned to concede or not. On January 20th, Joe Biden would be inaugurated and would become the 46th President of the United States.

Democracy would come out on top, whether Donald Trump conceded or not.

Watching my Irish peers bear witness to all this and ask for my perspective has been interesting. It seems that the general consensus among most Irish people is that Joe Biden was the favoured candidate.

In the US, at home, things are far more polarized.

They are more divisive than ever, and unless you know your friends agree with you, it’s asking for a fight or bad blood to broach any political topic.

Before Donald Trump ran for office, there were high tensions, but never as cutthroat as things in the US feel now. Hopefully, though it will not be easy, some return to calm policymaking can return to American politics and hopefully things can only go up from here.

26 OPI NIO N

SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

Out of danger and out of touch Poland protest for abortion rights

By Diarmaid Hehir

By Anastasia Burton If you haven’t heard, Poland is currently experiencing a national outburst from the public in relation to the Polish government’s plan on banning abortion.

Going as far as banning ultrasounds and tests to avoid the mothers finding out if their babies have certain disabilities or illnesses. This is of course is a huge deal and a violation to women’s rights and their right to choose. The ban would not only prohibit abortion as a way to save the mother’s life or give her the option of terminating her pregnancy before a certain date. The government had also planned to ban abortion in cases of rape and incest also.

This decision had led to a national women’s strike where not only Polish women, but Polish men protested on the streets and rebelled against their government. Many countries have expressed their support for Polish women. Ireland also joined in in a show of solidarity with Polish women by organizing a protest on Tuesday October 3rd in Dublin city outside the Polish Embassy. The decision to criminalize abortion in Poland follows from the religious influence on political decisions.

The protest lasted 14 days and was organized by the grassroots women’s movement Ogólnopolski Strajk Kobiet (OSK, or All-Polish Women’s Strike).

When asked about what her feelings were about the ongoings in her home country of Poland in relation to the abortion ban, an NUI Galway student commented “It’s quite upsetting. In my hometown there was an incident where the priest flipped off a young woman because she told him that “if you don’t have a uterus you shouldn’t have a say about this”. In a way she is right, it should absolutely be a woman’s choice, although she said it aggressively the priest definitely overreacted especially considering the fact that he is a public figure and very well known in her town. Not to mention he was wearing his vestments which made him easily identifiable. It’s all anger filled, and the religious aspect isn’t as separated from the state as it is here in Ireland. I personally think abortion should be legal and most Polish citizens seem to agree that in some cases abortion should be legal, especially if it is affecting the health and wellbeing of the mother.

Ever since the 14-day protest the Polish government have placed the abortion ban on hold indefinitely. For now the situation seems to have eased0, but it is still unknown whether the Polish government will change their mind about the abortion ban or whether they are letting the situation cool down before they implement the changes anyway.

As you’ve no doubt been told in a thousand different ways by a thousand different people, 2020 is far from a normal year. It’s probably not as apocalyptic as some on the internet would have us believe, but its still a pretty crazy year.

There’s a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a wild American election brimming with anger and emotion and the ever-present pandemic that has disrupted the world like none in living memory. Everyone has been affected in their own way with some being hit harder than others. Yet in a world of darkness, there are still supposed rays of hope. Kim Kardashian-West is the source of one such ray. The 40-yearold queen of social media and reality TV hasn’t let 2020 get in the way of her birthday celebrations.

In a post on social media Kim K announced that she had surprised her friends and family with a trip to a private island where they would be able to “pretend things were normal”. This was met with widely mixed reactions.

Many of the closest fans of her TV show were delighted to see she was having a nice time, while others criticised her insensitivity for flaunting her wealth so much at a time when many are struggling just to get by. I’ve found the whole debacle more thought provoking than infuriating and it has really reinforced the idea that most celebrities are completely out of touch with the populace that they entertain.

Kim of all people is particularly relevant to the notion that celebrities are disconnected with reality. She has a stronger connection than most celebrities to the recent crises of our times. Her own family is of Armenian ancestry, and she has raised money and publicity for the Armenian side in the still-ongoing war. As for the election, her husband Kanye was a candidate on the ballot in many states. He has also previously voiced his support for President Trump.

Kanye is very much politically active, although in his own cracked way. The surprising and bizarre thing to me is how little these things seem to affect Kim herself. Seeing her along with her glamorous family and friends enjoying their little island getaway has an almost absurd feeling to it. It feels like they are living in another world entirely. While the rest of us are inundated with news about lockdowns and elections, they’re off in their own secluded comfortable universe reminiscing over her earlier days in showbiz.

I flip between wondering if this is the problem with reality TV and celebrities more generally. I wonder if this is their intended purpose, if they even have one. Is it a problem that those who we are entertained by are so profoundly alien to us? How are we supposed to relate to these people that seemingly share none of our problems and worries? On the other hand, isn’t that the whole reason why people like Kim are so popular? Escapism is why people tune in and watch people live these lives they

have nothing in common with. Is it for the best that the Kardashians are continuing their gossipy lives as if it were any other time?

I think that the fact that celebrities are so disconnected from us, and us from them, is helpful in some ways, and harmful in others. Sometimes you need a break from the constant doom and gloom, and reality TV does the job there just as well as anything else. But on the other hand, it begs the question, is our constant focus on these people we have nothing in common with a good idea?

This is just the most recent case of celebrities being completely out of touch this year. Some are quite obnoxious, like Vanessa Hudgens, who went on an expletive laden rant criticising lockdowns and stating that people dying was just inevitable. Others are darkly hilarious. A huge squad of actors including Gal Gadot and Will Ferrell teaming up to sing John Lennon’s undoubtedly preachy song “Imagine” is probably the best amazingly ironic example. Nobody took a minute to consider that “Imagine there’s no heaven” might not be what people want to hear right now.

Maybe we should be listening less to what TV stars and influencers have to say on important issues. Maybe we should just leave them to do their job, entertaining people, and leave the big problems to others. Maybe the best thing to do would be to stop giving them loads of attention for everything they do. Not writing articles about them could possibly be a start.

Is the government supporting the arts sector during this pandemic?

By Niamh Casey

Protest against abortion restriction in Kraków, October 2020 . Photo: Silar, Wikimedia Commons

Where to draw the line between what is deemed essential and nonessential is a big topic of debate these days. Especially since level five has been initiated again. I think we can all agree that a few shops have remained open that have left people raising their eyebrows at how “essential” they are. Though it’s no doubt that this is a desperate time for struggling businesses who were just finding their feet again after the first lockdown. The mindset of these owners can be understood; ‘find a loophole and if at all possible, stay open’. When you look at it from a certain perspective, it’s very fortunate to be able to qualify your business as essential enough to remain open. However this is not a possibility at all for the arts sector. Even since the first lockdown, anything to do with arts or entertainment has been deemed the least essential service. The arts sector was undoubtedly overlooked, especially in the first lockdown. Back in June and July when people were wondering how we were going to go about opening back up the country, emphasis was put on reopening the culinary and retail sectors. Meanwhile the arts sec-

tor was still being told that they were not essential.

Though it is easy to understand that the arts sector is not essential for life in the way that grocery shops and the health sector are, one must wonder how the arts differ from any other service.

Over the summer the arts were placed at the bottom of the list of priorities by the Irish government, which is usually the peak season for the industry. People were understandably in uproar about the mistreatment of the entertainment sector. Many pointed out that it was products of the arts that kept people entertained and motivated during the national quarantine. Everybody that took up a new hobby, played an instrument or even just watched Netflix during the period of the lockdown can say that the arts is what made the isolation tolerable. So for it to be so openly deemed least essential by the government was a blatant show of ignorance.

However, the government might have actually listened to the public’s outcry, as they are reported to allocate quite the sum to the sector in the upcoming budget. In his budget speech, Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath pledged €50 million to help live enter-

tainment businesses, along with an extra €50 million for the Arts Council, which next year will get €130 million from the exchequer. This will be the highest level of state backing ever for the Irish arts sector. Minister McGrath said that “Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on arts, cultural and sporting activities.

The spaces that brought us together, often in celebration of some of our most talented people, for now, lie empty and silent,”. If this is to come into fruition, it could mean a whole lot of new opportunities for the countless artists of all types that are currently out of work.

If past trends are anything to go by, then we have a lot to look forward to after the pandemic is over. Time and time again, culture, arts and creativity has flourished after global disasters.

After World War I you had the roaring 20s, after World War II you had the golden age for Hollywood and films.

Countless creative works have arisen post catastrophes. There is a lot to be said for shared harsh experiences as they so often tend to give rise to creative and cultural boosts. So if history is anything to go by, you can count on the arts and entertainment section really flourishing over the next decade.

TUAIRIM

November 17 2020

What is essential?

By Darren Casserly Opinion Editor What exactly is essential? This is a question that a lot of people have asked over the last few weeks, with seemingly no reason as to why some shops have remained open and why others have closed. It really demonstrates the Irish government’s response to the pandemic. Their introduction of the five stage living with Covid-19 plan came months ago, yet there have always been exceptions to what the level says.

This has followed through to the level 5 lockdown we are currently living through, with some things such as construction and electrical stores being allowed to continue operating, while clothes shops are forced to close. By anybody’s definition clothes shops are essential, people need clothes far more than they need a new TV or smartwatch but, why could both of these stores not have remained open? Neither of these kinds of stores are spreaders for the virus if they are operated correctly. They are reasonably safe places to go and both sell pretty important goods.

When we hopefully come out of full lockdown in a few weeks and non-essential stores reopen, I would love to know what effect they have had on Covid cases, not a lot I would say. But then again I’m not a scientist or any kind of expert, but neither is this Government who seem unphased by cherry picking what they deem essential. If it was to follow the strict wording of ‘essential’ all that would be left open would be supermarkets, but that is too narrow

and the subsequent random selection of stores has really made people question does this government know what they are doing, or are they making it up as they go along? The way they have handled this pandemic would suggest that is the case. From speeding up the reopening plan early in August to the five levels becoming a jumbled mess of exceptions and surprise inclusions, one could only wish this country was handled like New Zealand which looks like a comparative paradise right now.

They have now set the hope for ‘saving’ Christmas which almost certainly will end up with further restrictions being put in place in January and the 5-level system doing an awful lot of bending in the rules department. Getting back to the main point of the question what is essential, anyone would argue what has been deemed essential.

What is essential to one person is not important to another and is unclear in this regard.

The argument that could be made to close everything except supermarkets is that if you need anything else you could just get it online, but one of the major problems with this from an Irish point of view is that the majority of these online stores are not Irish and it’s not good for the economy. But, no matter what you say even declaring that only essential stores can stay open because it just does not mean anything.

A better way they could have done it was just list all the different types of stores that can stay open on each level instead of this vague term that no one can pin down the actual meaning of.

How Has the Pandemic Affected Our Drinking Habits?

by Tom Molloy Imagine waking up at 9am on a Sunday during a global pandemic. Someone is rattling some dishes in the kitchen downstairs, a lawnmower gently whirrs in the distance, your throat is ticklish, and your head is pounding. You’ve definitely got Covid.

Nothing to do with the eleven bottles of Peroni you drank throughout the course of your Zoom meeting last night.

They say every cloud has a silver lining so perhaps we could try to learn a thing or two during this most unprecedented of unprecedented times. For a country famous for drinking, we really have a woefully unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Every occasion warrants a drink, birthdays, weddings, funerals, christenings, the local GAA team winning, the local GAA team losing, your brother-in-law getting a new job, your brother-in-law getting fired from his new job, your brother-in-law getting initiated into a cult, the list goes on. Before 2020, the pub was the heartbeat of the community. Nothing can happen without

it being dissected and analysed by the town elders.

When the Taoiseach announced we were going into lockdown back in March the question on the lips of many was “what about the pub?”

The off licenses must be profiting massively from this pandemic and that’s only considering the business they’ve taken from the pub. They’re doing even better if people are in fact drinking more because we’re in a pandemic. That’s the real question. thejournal.ie published research done by the Global Drugs Survey back in September that found that over half of people were drinking more frequently since the onset of the pandemic. Perhaps more worryingly, there has also been an increase in the number of people drinking alone since March and, yes, drinking whilst on a Zoom call is still drinking alone.

So, what can we as a society learn from this pandemic that might help us in the future? Perhaps that we should re-evaluate our relationship with alcohol. Start by learning better coping skills. Wasting away the days by drinking a bottle of wine every evening won’t make Covid go away. It’s a very stupid, yet very human, thing to do to make yourself unhealthier whilst in the middle of a pandemic. Also, when things return to normal, participate in more non-alcohol-centric social events. Is this pandemic making anyone else really miss simple things like the cinema?

So where will we all be the night after this pandemic is declared over? That’s right, the pub. But the night after that? I don’t know, powerwalking or something.

27

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SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04

SSE Airtricity League Premier First Division Galway Utd ‘s promotion hopes crushed at UCD Bowl Galway United 1-2 Longford Town

By Niamh McGee John Caulfield’s Galway United’s promotion dreams were shattered, as the Terryland outfit fell to a First Division play-off final defeat to Longford Town in the UCD Bowl on Friday 6th of November. The winner would advance to a promotion/relegation play-off against Shelbourne, with a tempting chance to play in the Premier Division next season.

These teams last met in an entertaining tussle on October 3rd, with Galway taking a fantastic lead as the result finished Galway 6-2 Longford Town.

Galway have been on an incredible run of form since Caulfield took the reins midway through the season, while Longford finished two points ahead of the Tribesmen during the regular season. During this shortened season of 18 matches, both teams had netted the same number of goals. Thus, this was bound to be an interesting and tense match.

From the opening minutes, Longford dominated the play, having a very close attempt on target struck

by Aaron McNally in the 7th minute. The first serious chance was given to Longford in the 15th minute.

Michael McDonnell played a clever ball into Dylan Grimes, who struck the ball from 35 yards.

Grimes’ speculative effort swept past Galway ‘keeper Michael Schlingermann, only to deflect off the angle between crossbar and post, with nobody in the box for the rebound.

As the second half approached, Longford continued to find open space, allowing easy passing among the midfielders. The deadlock was broken

by Longford in the 43rd minute.

Rob Manley worked the ball from out wide into McNally, whose strike took a deflection off the post, causing Schlingermann to fumble the ball through his hands. Schlingermann’s error give midfielder

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Karl Chambers a simple close tap-in to the back of the net, which he duly converted on the cusp of half-time.

As the second half opened, Galway captain Shane Duggan was given a yellow card for a rough tackle on Karl Chambers, who had a complaint of a thigh injury earlier during the game. Things began to look briefly positive for Galway as the second half commenced, creating a chance in the 51st minute, when Mikey Place set up substitute Conor Barry, who kicked his 22-yard shot wide.

Longford created the next opportunity on the 56th minute, when Manley weaved the ball past three Galway defenders before playing the ball across to McNally, whose strike went well over the Galway bar.

As Galway struggled to up the tempo, midfielder Sam Warde had a pop from distance on 73 minutes that narrowly cleared the Longford crossbar. Longford then doubled the Galway deficit and seemed to seal their victory with a second goal in the 81st minute.

Grimes played a pass through the legs of the Galway defence into the path of Aodh Dervin who from 30 yards struck the ball low and hard into the bottom left corner of the net. Dervin was awarded Man of the Match for this feat and his performance.

Although the game seemed finished during these last remaining minutes, the ending was heart stopping. Galway got a goal back in the 88th minute when the Longford goalkeeper Steacy punched Duggan’s diagonal ball into the box, leaving an empty space for Galway substitute Vinny Faherty to head the ball into the net.

However, it was too little too late for John Caulfield’s side as the game ended after 94mins, Galway 1-2 Longford Town to send Galway back home empty-handed. Longford will now play Shelbourne with a win giving them a ticket to the Premier Division.

Longford Town (3-4-2-1): Lee Steacy, Mick McDonnell, Joe Gorman, Joe Manley, Shane Elworthy, Dean Zambra, Aodh Dervin, Aaron McNally(Niall Barnes 86’), Dylan Grimes(Dylan Hand 86’), Karl Chambers(Matthew O’Brien 73’), Rob Manley.

Galway Utd: (4-3-3): Michael Schlingermann, Jack Lynch, Maurice Nugent, Killian Brouder, Marc Ludden, Sam Warde(Vinny Faherty 88’), Timmy Molloy(Conor Barry HT), Shane Duggan, Mikey Plaice(Carlton Ubaezuonu 54’), Enda Curran(Wilson Waweru HT), Shane Doherty(Francely Lomboto 79’).

Referee: Mark Moynihan.

Galway United secure new kit deal Oisín Bradley Sports Editor Irish sportswear giants O’Neills have signed a deal to supply kits to Galway United FC from 2021 onwards.

The Tribesmen, who play home games at Eamonn Deacy Park, appointed John Caulfield as their new first-team manager earlier this year. Caulfield previously enjoyed a hugely successful spell managing Cork City and Galway United fans will be hoping he can revitalise their fortunes in a similar way as they aim to work their way back to the Premier Division.

Caulfield has been a meteoric success since arriving in Terryland, and will be looking for a repeat of the last period in which the club donned Irish-owned brand O’Neills, a period in which they secured promotion from the league of Ireland First Division in 1992-93 before finishing the following season in third place.

Cormac Farrell, Marketing Manager at O’Neills, said: “As Ireland’s largest sportswear manufacturer, we are excited to be involved with the new impetus in soccer in the western capital. Galway United are a highly professional club and under the guidance of a top-class League of Ireland manager, John Caulfield, as well as the backing of the Comer Group, we

are partnering with the club at an exciting phase of their development.

“We look forward to further enhancing the club product offering with our innovative and industryleading playing and leisurewear. We wish Galway United every success in their pursuit of promotion to the Premier Division,” he added.

Jonathan Corbett, who is the head of commercial activity at the club, expressed excitement about the new deal: “We are thrilled to be partnering with O’Neills who are without a doubt the most iconic Irish sports brand around. Their level of professionalism and experience is incomparable in the field of sports clothing and they’ve been a pleasure to deal with from the first point of contact.

“While O’Neills may not have been traditionally a League of Ireland kit supplier, the work that they have done with a number of other clubs in the League has been fantastic, innovative and thoroughly unique.

“We are excited about the designs and techniques O’Neills are going to showcase in the ranges which have been planned for the Galway United kit for the upcoming season. We are confident our supporters and players alike will love the quality and styling of the gear and look forward to a longstanding and fruitful relationship between Galway United FC and O’Neills.”

SPÓIRT

November 17 2020

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NUIG launch online fitness classes as part of November exercise initiative

By Oisín Bradley NUI Galway have been working hard to try and find new ways of engaging their students due to the lack of on-campus activities this semester, with many students confined to their bedrooms and desks.

One of these methods has been the ‘Move this November’ campaign in a bid to get both staff and students of the University up and active this November, engaging in physical activity and taking part in new fitness initiatives.

Each day during the month, the sports department has been delivering objectives on all of their social media channels for students to complete. For example, on Monday 2nd the objective was to complete 7,000

steps. The next day: complete 40 squats, 40 lunges, 40 push ups and 40 crunches.

Alongside this, there are yoga and workout sessions to get you out of your chair and away from your desk.

One of the instructors is Maeve Kavanagh, a personal trainer from Limerick, who provides classes on Zoom every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

Kavanagh spoke to SIN on how she got involved in the initiative, and why she believes it is a great idea to stimulate students.

“I was approached by the college to do two Zoom sessions a week for the college’s students and staff. The college have been trying to get everyone moving during their ‘Move this November’ campaign, which I think is a fantastic health initiative.”

Galway’s Premier League and Championship review

By Oisín Bradley The English football seasons are well and truly back underway, with the league tables starting to take shape and most teams and players starting to settle into the rhythm and groove as they eye up trophies and promotions, or try to stave off relegation from their respective leagues.

There are a handful of Galwegians who are looking to make their mark on the beautiful game, and we will be casting our eye over their trials and tribulations as they try and make their presence felt across the Irish Sea

Aaron Connolly – Brighton and Hove Albion: It hasn’t been the easiest of starts for the youthful Connolly, as he has found it difficult to maximise any gametime afforded him by Graham Potter at the Amex stadium thus far.

The ex-Mervue United wonderkid was named in the starting XI for Brighton as they fell to 2-3 and 4-2 defeats to Manchester United and Everton respectfully, however couldn’t manage to get himself on the scoresheet on either occasion. Connolly did manage to make an impact in a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace in recent weeks however, assisting Alexis McCallister as the game ticked into injury time to rescue a point.

Both Aaron Connolly and Brighton and Hove Albion will be looking to put some daylight between themselves and the trap door into the Championship after he recovers from his hamstring injury.

Brighton sit three points above the relegation zone.

Daryl Horgan - Wycombe Wanderers: Daryl Horgan is fast becoming a regular for this side as they look to make the difficult step up from the third to the second tier of English football this season.

The ex-Hibernian man has settled into the dressing room and starting XI at Adams Park well, and

whilst his side have struggled to find a sense of form this season, it is not entirely an indictment on Horgan’s performances.

Horgan received acclaim for his performance in a 1-1 draw against last season’s relegated Premier League side Watford a few weeks back, and has played 90 minutes five times this season. Horgan and Wycombe sit a point inside the relegation zone, and will be hoping to hit the ground running after he returns from international duty.

“NUI Galway wanted to get people up and active again, and they approached me to try and facilitate some way of getting students to exercise for some time.

They understand that people might not have the time to devote an hour or two at the moment, so what I’ve been offering is something closer to 15-minute HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) classes.”

As a former student of University of Limerick, Kavanagh is aware of how drastically the lives of students, as well as everyone in wider society, have been altered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We’re all in a different and alien position now, we’re are all at home, be it working or studying. Studies have shown that everyone is just sitting at their desks more and not moving as much as they were.

“In normal times as a student, you’d be in college and on-campus; you’d be able to meet up with your friends.

You would be able to go to the gym with them or go on a run with them. You’d be able to play your sport.

That’s all been taken away from everyone and your routines have changed. People are finding themselves trapped at home.”

PT Kavanagh also acknowledges that it may be daunting for some to get involves in fitness classes who have a lack of experience, however she has always moved to reassure that whether you be beginner or seasoned professional, the virtual door is always open to her classes.

“It’s great because it caters to people of all shapes and sizes with different levels of experiences. I’ll show the ones who attend the different variations of the exercises and moves, and there’s an easy way and a hard way. It’s a warm-up, a 15-minute session and it’s done.”

In the coming weeks as the country gets to grips with lockdown and being restricted once more, Kavanagh sees it as imperative that we take breaks from our desks and laptops for both our mental and physical health.

“How I see it is that it’s a way for students and staff alike to get away from their desks and take the time to yourself for a session. Prolonged sitting is not good for anybody, whether they be young or old. It might seem like you’re invincible when you’re young, but the neck pains and back pains and tight hip flexors all lead to issues.

“Living in these scenarios in the times we live in can be particularly isolating, and you need all of the outlets you get. We know it can be hard to motivate yourself at the moment, and I think that getting up and active is the best way to do that.”

NUI Galway will be running Zoom fitness classes as part of their ‘Move this November’ campaign every week until the end of November. Classes are as follows, follow @NUIGSport on Instagram for more information: • Yoga – Monday and Wedneday @1pm • Workout – Tuesday and Thursday @11am.

Greg Cunningham – Cardiff City: Cunningham is enduring a difficult spell in Wales at the moment, and it seems that breaking into the side at the Cardiff City stadium is a tall ask. Ex-Mervue United man Cunningham was starting to find his groove and make himself a regular for the Bluebirds, and started in their 1-0 victory over Preston North End. However, a hamstring injury saw him forced out of the side once more, having only returned from cruciate damage during his time on loan at Blackburn Rovers. 29-year-old Cunningham is hoping to be back in manager Neil Harris’ squad before the end of the month.

Cardiff City currently sit fifteenth in the Sky Bet Championship table.

faster The fastest just got

Ryan Manning – Swansea City Cunningham’s former neighbour Ryan Manning has struggled to make an impact, since his move to the Liberty Stadium. The fleet-footed youngster has only managed to get onto the pitch once, starting and playing 74 minutes in a 2-0 victory over Stoke City.

Manning has been called into Stephen Kenny’s Republic of Ireland squad to replace fellow Galway man Aaron Connolly, and will be hoping for an upturn in club fortunes after the international break as the Swans continue in their hunt for promotion back to the Premier League.

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November 17 2020

GAA – Fitzgibbon Cup Final TEN YEARS ON: NUI Galway’s tenth Sigerson Cup revisited.

NUI Galway 1-17 Waterford IT 1-16 (AET)

By Oisín Bradley It may have taken thirty years, five lost finals, and many, many instances of heartbreak and disappointment, but after a nail-biting finale, it would be NUIG who were popping the champagne in Pearse Stadium to celebrate their crown as 2010’s Fitzgibbon Cup champions.

They may have left it late in the day after a period of extra-time which looked like it was going all the way, however at the moment when tension seemed at its peak, Clare’s Under-21 talent John Conlon stepped up to the plate to arc over in the 82nd minute and ensure the illustrious trophy would be making the short trip from Salthill to Dangan.

It took the men from the West some time to spark into life in Pearse Stadium, although this could certainly be contributed to their epic 1-24 to 1-23 triumph over Limerick IT in extra time only a day earlier.

Timmy Hammersley’s 3-pointer looked like it had the Déise well on their way to victory in a low-scoring opening half, however a rallying Act Two performance breathed life into the encounter and ensured it would go all the way to extra time.

The Tribesmen dragged themselves back into contention in some style after the changeover, with Patrick Kelly and Seamus Hennessy to the fore for the hosts.

Caimin Morey’s goal midway through the half was a catalyst for change for NUIG, and the game looked like it was slowly slipping away in the dying echelons of regular time, and it took Hennessy’s lastgasp efforts to give the men from Dangan a second shot at redemption.

The denouement of the clash was nip-and-tuck, and neither side was able to gain any significant advantage over the other as the pendulum of momentum swung from one side to the other.

Substitute James O’Gorman levelled as the clock ticked into the red once more, before Conlon scored the golden point to ensure that the maroon ribbons would be being tied to the Fitzgibbon Cup, a feat that a whole decade later still lives fresh in the memory.

GALWAY: D Tuohy (Clare); D Nash (Clare), J Lee (Galway), D Connolly (Galway); P Gordon (Galway), S Hennessy (Tipperary – 0-3, 2f), P Kelly (Clare); B Daly (Galway - 0-1), D O’Donovan (Clare); J Conlon (Clare – 0-2), K Keehan (Galway), C O’Donovan (Clare); G Kelly (Galway), C Morey (Clare – 1-1), F Coone(Galway – 0-9, 6f, 1 65).Subs: JP O’Connell (Galway) for C O’Donovan (HT), S Quinlan(Tipperary) for Keehan (HT), J O’Gorman (Offaly - 0-1) for Conlon (56’),Conlon for G Kelly (60’).

WAT E R F O R D I T : A P o w e r (Waterford); B Kenny (Galway), R McCarthy(Limerick), N Connors (Waterford); W Hutchinson (Waterford), S Fives(Waterford), PJ Rowe (Kilkenny); E Barrett (Clare), M Molloy (Wexford);F O’Leary (Cork), R McLoughney (Tipperary – 0-2), R Good (Cork); T Hammersley(Tipperary – 1-11, 9f), B O’Meara (Tipperary – 0-2), K Grehan (Kilkenny).

Subs: K Reade (Tipperary) for Good (44’), S Power (Waterford) for Grehan(54’), W O’Dwyer (Tipperary) for Molloy (56’), H Vaughan (Clare - 0-1) for Power(60’).

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork).

Global seminar on sport and film in NUIG

By Oisín Bradley The Moore Institute are shining a light on how sport is brought to life on the silver screen in a webinar examining the relations between sport, film and national relations this Thursday(November 19th) at 4pm.

The event has been created in order to launch a new volume of content on this subject by the University’s own Dr Sean Crosson, who is part of the NUI Galway’s Huston School of Film and Digital Media and leader of the Sport and Exercise Research Group in the Moore Institute.

In a statement from the University, NUI Galway have talked of the global interaction with the event, with representatives from universities in London, Barcelona, Ohio, Milan and further afield all coming together to take part in the webinar, which is being chaired by Dr Crosson.

NUIG also affirmed the global significance of the research, garnering information and attention from all four corners of the world and how the world of sports has a critical role in creating the relationship between sport and national cultures across the globe.

“Sport and film have historically been key components of national cultures and

societies,” the University stated in an e-mail earlier in the month. “The Irish experience is particularly instructive in this respect, evident in the close and enduring association between Gaelic games and Irish identity, and its popular depiction in cinema.

“As the centenary of Bloody Sunday approaches, Irish cinema has provided one of the most memorable and unsettling depictions – in Neil Jordan’s ‘Michael Collins’ (1996) – of the horrific events of that day when British forces fired upon players and supporters at a Gaelic football match.”

Dr. Crosson expressed his joy at the buy-in from leaders in the field from all around the globe to contribute to what he hopes shall be a memorable webinar which many can learn from.

“This is the first collection dedicated to examining the intersection of sport, film and national culture,” he relayed. “We are delighted to bring together such a distinguished range of speakers to contribute to our launch webinar, including participants from six countries and addressing seven distinct national contexts.

“While responding to the distinctive features evident in each context consid-

ered, these contributors individually and collectively speak to the ongoing significance of the relationship between sport cinema and national culture and identity.”

Director of NUI Galway’s Moore Institute, Professor Daniel Carey, said: “This is a fascinating volume that addresses issues of race, gender, and politics in the filmic representation of sport. Attention to differing national contexts across several continents creates important avenues for understanding the cultural meaning of sporting activity, ranging from football to cricket, boxing, American football and baseball, and beyond.”

Covering films of all types, from Hollywood blockbusters to regional documentaries and newsreels, Dr Crosson’s new book, ‘Sport, Film and National Culture’ considers how filmic depictions of sport have configured and informed a wide range of distinctive national cultures, societies and identities. Featuring case studies from eleven national contexts across six continents – including North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania – it reveals the common and contrasting approaches that have emerged within sport cinema in differing national contexts.

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Enhance your career prospects with a postgraduate qualification Research shows that a postgraduate course can increase your earning potential and that your career progression greatly increases after you obtain a postgrad qualification. Statistics from the Careers Service Graduate Destinations Report indicate that 94% of NUI Galway postgraduates are in employment or further education/research six months after graduation. Visit our upcoming VIRTUAL Postgrad Open Day to find out what we offer at postgraduate level that can enhance your prospects.

The Virtual Postgraduate Open Day (Tuesday 24 November) will feature live presentations representing all our postgrad courses, where you can talk to programme directors and students about these programmes. General talks will also take place covering employability, application questions, funding and scholarships, research, and more.

Pre-register for the event at www.nuigalway.ie/postgraduateopenday

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2020 -2021

Vice-President / Welfare and Equality Officer Leas-Uachtarán / Oifigeach Leasa agus Comhionannais

President / Uachtarán

Emma Sweeney

Pádraic Toomey

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su.president@nuigalway.ie 086 385 5502

Oifigeach na Gaeilge Irish Language Officer

Mature Students’ Officer Oifigeach Mic Léinn Lánfhásta

Róisín Nic Lochlainn

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Gender and LGBT+ Rights Officer Oifigeach um Chearta Inscne agus LADT+

Disability Rights Officer Oifigeach um Chearta Míchumais

Erin Mac An tSaoir

Michelle Mitchell

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Kirsty Moran

087 781 0130 su.pgtaught@nuigalway.ie

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085 882 4797 su.clubs@nuigalway.ie

Convenor of the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies / Tionólaí Choláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sóisialta & an Léinn Cheiltigh

Convenor of the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences / Tionólaí Choláiste an Leighis, an Altranais & na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte

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Claire McHale 091 493 570 su.arts@nuigalway.ie

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Postgraduate Research Officer Oifigeach na nIarchéimithe i mbun Taighde

Evan O’Flaherty 091 493 570 su.medicine@nuigalway.ie

Aoife Buckley

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Positions to be filled next semester/Poist le líonadh an chéad seimeastar eile: Societies Chairperson • SU Council Chairperson • Convenor of the College of Business Public Policy & Law • International Students Officer • Ethnic Minorities Officer

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