Volume 14 Issue 6 by Student Independent News

FREE STUDENT NEWSPAPER

VOL 14, ISSUE 6

26 NOV 2012

Over 2,000 show up for ‘Fed Up? Stand Up’ march By Sean Dunne Over two thousand students from NUI Galway, GMIT and Athlone IT took part in a demonstration in Galway City Centre on the afternoon of Wednesday 14 November. Student protes-

tors gathered in Eyre Square as part of USI’s ‘Fed Up? Stand UP’ campaign. The official stance of the protest was echoed by the Vice President and Education Officer of NUI Galway Students’ Union Conor Stitt, who said; “We hope

to send a strong message to this government, especially the TDs that are taking regressive measures to stop students continuing in education, and have put them in financial jeopardy.” Mr Stitt added; “We are going to oppose them all the

Students bring a coffin to the office of Derek Dolan to mark the death of education. Photo by Kieran Durcan.

way and hopefully we will get Leinster House talking.” Student leaders urged the student population of the three colleges taking part in the demonstration to take out their phones and text local TDs Sean Kyne, Colm Keaveney and Derek Nolan. Paul Curley, Student Union President at NUI Galway urged students to “tell them what you think about not being able to go to college next year.” Mr Curley added; “The students of Galway were promised one thing from the Labour Government. They promised they would protect education, not increase the student contribution charge or cut the grant.” An estimated three thousand students took part in the demonstration aimed at voicing student opinion on proposed increases to education. The protest was organised in conjunction with with the Union of Students Ireland who

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are ruining the nationwide campaign ‘Fed Up? Stand Up’. Speaking about the protest, local TD Derek Nolan said; “I am very aware of the worries and concerns that so many students have

about their education and their futures. I have always felt that public demonstration was an important way for students to make their voices heard.” Continued on page 2…

USI President arrested By Marése O’Sullivan and Órla Ryan The President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), John Logue, was arrested on November 14 in Dáil Éireann for breaching Oireachtas rules by turning his back on Teachtaí Dála (TDs), though he was later released. The 23-year-old had been seated in the public gallery during a debate on a Fianna Fáil Private Members’ Bill on educational support and the grant system. He stood up and turned his back on the Government in protest against the defeat of the bill. This action prompted approximately 100 students from Dublin Institute

of Technology and Trinity College Dublin to follow suit. Logue was the last person to remain standing. When asked to resume his seat by a Dáil steward, he refused and was then arrested by Gardaí. He was taken to Pearse Street Garda Station for questioning at 9.30pm and subsequently released at around 10.45pm. The incident followed a protest in Galway earlier that day on the rise in third-level fees, in which over 1,500 students participated. It was one of a number of marches organised as part of the USI's 'Fed Up? Stand Up' campaign. “[Logue was] arrested by Gardaí for the simple act of standing up and turning his back on [gov-

ernment] TDs […] who had just voted against preserving the grant and freezing fees […] He was removed in handcuffs, to the cheers of the students with whom he was attending proceedings,” stated the USI. His arrest solicited a huge reaction on social media, with the vast majority of students voicing their support for Logue. Conor Stitt, NUI Galway's Vice-President and Education Officer, tweeted that he was "very proud" of the USI President. He also expressed his disappointment with the lack of support shown to students by local TDs Colm Keaveney, Derek Nolan, Ciaran Cannon and Seán Kyne. Continued on page 2…

Approximately 2,000 NUIG, GMIT, and AIT students gathered in Eyre Square for the Fed Up? Stand Up campaign recently.

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Savita Halappananavar dies in hospital after doctors refuse abortion By Cara Cribbon The death of Savita Halappanavar on 28 October has led to nationwide protests which have since extended over to India and other countries. The scandal has questioned Ireland’s abortion laws after it was found that the law can prevent women, like Savita, with life-threatening medical conditions obtaining an abortion in Irish hospitals. Savita, of Hindu origin was 17 weeks pregnant when she began suffering a miscarriage and sought medical help at University Hospital Galway on 21 October. She had asked and pleaded with medical staff

on several occasions to terminate her pregnancy and was met with the alleged response ‘This is a Catholic Country’. The 31 year old Dentist tragically died of septicaemia one week later. Her family are now understood to be taking legal action on the grounds that the foetus should have been removed earlier to save the woman’s life. An Irish Labour Deputy, after Halappananvar’s death, said there was a need for parliament to ‘show responsibility and legislate’ asking his party and Fine Gael to reform the Irish abortion law. Savita’s Husband, Praveen Halappanavar states that his wife would still be alive

today had her wishes been followed through by the medical staff at UHG. Her Husband recalls the agony Savita was in and stated that after she accepted that they could not save the baby she wanted to induce the pregnancy. Praveen said that the hospital told the couple that the foetus was not viable but refused to perform or allow an abortion on the grounds that Ireland was a Catholic country and the foetus’ heart was still beating. On the Tuesday morning while staff and Doctors were doing the rounds the consultant told Savita it was the law and “as long as there is a foetal heartbeat we cannot do anything”. Savita hit back

with the argument; “I am neither Irish or Catholic”. That evening Savita became violently ill and collapsed in the toilet. They started her on antibiotics until they moved her into intensive care. Her Temperature remained high throughout the night. Savita remained stable until 7pm on Saturday when staff told Praveen that her heart, kidneys and liver weren’t functioning. Praveen recalls the night

his wife lost her life to a Catholic country; “she was critically ill. That night we lost her.” The hospital refused to discuss details of the incident but extend their sympathy to Savita’s family. The incident has paved the way for Rallies and Protestors nationwide calling for a change to Ireland’s laws on abortion, which protestors believe directly led to Savita’s death. Indian diplomatics and

officials have requested an official enquiry into the details of Savita’s death. Taoiseach Enda Kenny has since said; “I don’t think we should say anything about this until we are in possession of all the facts.” A seven-member panel is currently investigating the case as directed by the HSE. Savita’s death has highlighted how a ‘Catholic ethos’ prevented responsible and necessary medical treatment of the mother.

Over 2,000 show up for ‘Fed Up? Stand Up’ march Continued from page 1… Dami Adebari, Vice President and Welfare Office at NUI Galway said: “Lots of students have already had to drop out of college … We are the future of tomorrow.” The Welfare officer led a student chant; “No ifs, no buts, no education cuts”, which echoed through Eyre Square. He later urged students to keep the pressure up in the approach to Budget 2013. One member of the public who gathered in Eyre Square to watch the student demonstration said; “They probably have a right; it’s

shocking that the majority haven’t the money to pay for an education. Families are rearing children; they can no longer afford to educate them too.” Students on the NUI Galway campus were given a protest pack which contained a lollipop, a whistle and condoms to promote safer sex. Students then queued up to receive their free protest t-shirts. Students on the campus reiterated the messages being sent by Student leaders around Ireland. Amanda Sara, a student at NUI Galway said; “I am out today in the rain supporting this demonstration because the

grant cuts are affecting me, and without it I will not be able to continue in college.” Other demonstrators had similar stories, with one student saying; “Everyone should have an education and if we leave it up to those who have the most money, it will end up a country with only rich and smart people and where does this leave those others.” The Protest passed off peacefully, although there was a strong Garda Presence on duty. The ‘Fed Up? Stand Up’ Campaigns led by The USI will continue until the upcoming budget.

SU President Paul Curley gives his speech at the march.

Savita full of life in Galway on St. Patrick’s Day 2011. Photo by Christopher Tierney.

USI President Arrested Continued from page 1… The news was first published online by TCD's The University Times. The article received so many hits that it crashed the website in a matter of minutes. Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson, Jonathan O’Brien, called for Mr Logue's immediate release on the night in question. “Instead of being arrested, John and his colleagues in the USI should be commended for their efforts in highlighting the plight of their fellow students, thousands of whom are struggling to remain in college without any financial support,” Deputy O'Brien stated. In relation to the defeated educational support bill, a USI spokesperson said the government's decision to vote it down was further evidence of the Fine Gael Labour coalition failing students. The bill would have preserved the current level of the grant and stopped fee hikes in December's budget.

“[What Mr. Logue did] was a peaceful act of civil disobedience, intended to highlight the issues facing students, especially as [they] face into €3,000 fees, cuts to the grant and a grant system that has only paid out to a minority of students who qualify for it,” the USI added. “Ireland has prided itself on an education sector that produces the best and brightest the world has to offer,” Logue said upon his election to the USI Presidency earlier this year. “However, with increasing pressure on

funding, we are starving ourselves of the chance to live up to this aspiration. Now, more than ever, the Government needs to realise that education is not a luxury, it is an economic imperative.” Logue is an alumnus of University College Dublin, where he studied Law. He was previously the Eastern Area Officer for the USI before becoming President, succeeding Gary Redmond. The USI is the national representative body for students in Ireland. It has over 250,000 members nationwide.

USI President John Logue was arrested for turning his back on TDs in the Dail. Photo courtesy of USI Twitter page.

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Editorial

By Jessica Thompson So here we are at the end of an era… and by ‘era’ I mean ‘semester’. Time really flies when you’re having fun, and here at Sin headquarters, we’ve definitely been having fun. We’ve brought you six great issues overflowing with great content. We’ve especially had fun putting this juicy issue together. A lot has happened since the last issue of Sin. Over 2,000 of us marched to Eyre Square for the ‘Fed Up? Stand Up’ campaign which has received plenty of media coverage, in this paper and others. The tragic death of Savita Halappanavar in University Hospital Galway a couple of weeks ago has shocked the city, the nation, and indeed the world. Candlelit vigils have been held in her honour, and her beautiful face still covers the front page of many papers. Turn to page 11 for an opinion piece on this heart-breaking story. Ruairi Quinn has apologised to the thousands and thousands of students who have been left without their maintenance grants, as if that will help those who are affected by this. An apology

won’t put food on the table though. Before I go deeper into the analysis of this paper, I would like to make a quick correction on something in issue 5. Last issue, we published a piece about the Academic Writing Centre’s writing competition. The article stated that there were over 20 volunteers in the centre, but we have since been corrected. There are, in fact, eight tutors, one manager and one volunteer. Sin would like to apologise to for the mix-up… our bad. Also, in issue two, we spoke of our writing competition. The results of this will be announced after Christmas in issue 7, so watch this space. Speaking of Christmas, we’ve gone crazy for the holiday season in Sin this issue. Yes, it’s still a month away, but it’s time to start getting in the spirit, and what better way to do

this than to read a few Christmassy pieces in your friendly campus newspaper? We kick off our Christmas Special on page 13. For many pages you’ll see articles about Christmas toys (remember Furby? I still have two working ones hidden away in my wardrobe where they can’t make any noise); movies to watch over Christmas (including my personal favourite – A Christmas Carol), and even a student’s letter to Santa. Check out page 21 for our special Christmas-themed Student Speak. On page 27, our Health and Fitness section is geared towards Christmas. Kiri Renssen gives us some useful advice on staying healthy over the Christmas, while John Mulry shares seven ways to avoid that dreaded Christmas bulge. John has also managed to appear on page 13, where

he’s done up a recipe for a delicious Christmas treat. Sin is taking a break until January, but behind the scenes, I’ll still be busy. If you read my editorial in issue one, you’ll remember all my talk about the internet. Newspapers are dying and we’re living in a generation where everything is online. In fact, everything to do with Sin, apart from the physical paper, is done online, from Facebook to Evernote to Dropbox. It’s time for Sin to make the transition properly. If all goes well over the Christmas holidays, sin.ie may just have a swanky new make-over. For now though, I shall bid you Adieu. May you pass all your exams, and have a truly happy Christmas and prosperous new year (perhaps the grants will be sorted by then, eh?). Until January, Jess

Sin Editor, Jessica Thompson, and Sin Head of News Marése O'Sullivan with RTE News Presenter Brian Dobson at the National Media Conference which was held in Trinity College Dublin on 10 November.

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Ruairí Quinn apologises as thousands wait for grants By Ross Cannon Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, has offered an apology to students affected by the severe delays in the processing of third-level education grants. Over 66,000 students have submitted applications to The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) online system with 35,000 to be approved, but – to date – only 3,010 students out of 20,350 fully processed applications have been paid, equating to below 15% of all applicants. Speaking in the Dáil on November 13, Mr. Quinn stated: “I want to apologise formally to those students and their parents for the distress these delays are causing and, ultimately, as The Minister for Education and Skills, I accept responsibility. “It is not acceptable for colleges to prevent students from accessing libraries, email accounts, lecture notes or any resource because their grants have not yet been processed. Let’s fix the problem: give the grants [and] confirmation out to all of the applicants who are eligible. I don’t want to have an inquiry in the middle of trying to solve the problem.” Students waiting on maintenance grants do not have full access to their chosen universities. New students cannot fully enrol into university until the Student Contribution Charge of €2,250 is paid. Students in receipt of maintenance grants have

this paid on their behalf; however, this cannot go ahead until the grant has been fully approved. Mr. Quinn is coming under increasing fire after he went back on a pledge not to increase college fees in early 2011, despite saying he was “hugely conscious” of students who were struggling in very difficult economic times. He aims to have 33,000 grant applications processed by Christmas, with Taoiseach Enda Kenny declaring that the delays were “unacceptable.” SUSI took charge of the management of higher education grants this year, with the goal of accelerating the speed of payment, but has been criticised for having too few staff. Ten additional staff members have been drafted in to help the sixty-seven fulltime workers. President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), John Logue, commented that this introduction of further personnel would not be enough, highlighting the difference in figures between the current SUSI workforce and the hundreds of staff employed in local authorities and Vocational Education Committees (VECs), which had previously been overseeing the grant process. “[It was thought that SUSI] would be more efficient and accessible,” Mr. Logue noted. “Yet now, tens of thousands of students are still waiting for their applications to be processed and many are close to dropping out of college because they can’t afford to pay fees and rent.”

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Professor Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh gives lecture on emigration

NUIG students shocked by incident of theft

By Mandy Shelton

NUIG students were recently rocked by the shocking revelation that several laptops had been stolen from the Orbsen building. This incident occurred approximately two weeks ago. Unfortunately the laptops themselves are deemed not as valuable as the data that is stored on them. When questioned about this incident of theft, security officer of NUI Galway, Gerry Nolan, stated that; “The investigation is still ongoing and I cannot comment on the detail involved. ” However Mr.Nolan did

Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh, Professor Emeritus of History, returned to NUIG on Monday, November 19, to deliver a lecture in the chapel of St. Columbanus. The audience of over 40 people included many of Professor Ó Tuathaigh’s former students and colleagues, as well as current NUIG students and staff. The lecture, titled “Exile and the Irish: Reflections,” was given in honour of the feast day of the chapel’s patron saint, which fell on the following Friday. Last year, Professor Daibhi O'Croinin spoke on the

life of St. Columbanus at the first instalment of the lecture series. Professor Ó Tuathaigh observed that Saint Columbanus, who was born in Leinster in 543 and died in Italy on November 23, 615, was himself an Irish exile. Professor Ó Tuathaigh chose the word exile, or deoraíocht, to serve as a touchstone for his lecture on emigration. In old Irish, he said, the word deoraíocht signifies an outsider, a stranger, or someone without property. As approximately 30,000 people leave Ireland each year, with the 18-35 cohort “probably

disproportionately represented,” the current wave of Irish emigration takes with it a wealth of human capital, Professor Ó Tuathaigh said. His lecture traced the Irish experience of emigration from the “17th century exodus” to today’s “Bondi Skypers,” who Professor Ó Tuathaigh envisions calling home this Christmas morning while barbecuing on an Australian beach. First year arts student Richard Heavey said he learned of the lecture when it was mentioned after Sunday mass in the chapel. “He encompasses an awful lot of informa-

tion,” Mr. Heavey said after the talk. “He did 500 years of history in an hour with a constant flow, which is not easy to do. It just came full circle.” Based on the success of the 2011 and 2012 events, the Columbanus Lecture could become a more frequent occurrence during the academic year. “I was very taken by Gearóid and I really do think that facilitating such lectures should be more a part of what Chaplaincy does,” said Father Diarmuid Hogan. “I do think that we can arrange two a year, one in each semester.”

Ruth-Ann Browne

give advice on how to prevent such an incident from occurring again. He said; “It is always important to close all doors behind you especially when out of hours access is granted. The practice of holding access control doors open with objects compromises the security of a building and gives rise to the opportunity of theft. All staff and students should be conscious of this area of compliance as security is everybody’s duty”. In these recessionary times it would be wise to heed Mr.Nolan’s advice to ensure to safety of not only your own laptop and belongings, but also those of others.

TENI speaks to students about upcoming Gender Recognition Legislation By Clare Killeen Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) board member Ben Power spoke about upcoming Gender Recognition Legislation at a NUIG Amnesty society event on November 7. First promised in 2010, the long-awaited legislation has this month been pushed back by government once again – now promised in 2013. The legislation will allow Trans people to have legal recognition of their preferred gender through the issue of

a new birth certificate. This change will include associated legal rights to marriage and civil partnership. Ireland is obliged to introduce Gender Recognition legislation since it was ruled by the High Court in 2007 that lack of such procedures is a violation of the European Convention of Human Rights. Ireland is one of few EU states which has yet failed to provide a mechanism for gender recognition. Following the dropping of an appeal to courts in 2010, the government of the day cre-

ated the Gender Recognition Advisory Group (GRAG). The group released its suggestions for legislation the following year – including many points which TENI find problematic. Persons in an existing civil partnership or marriage are to be excluded from Gender Recognition. Trans people currently in happy marriages will have to choose between gender recognition and lengthy separation and divorce. To qualify for Gender Recognition a person must have either undergone gen-

der reassignment surgery or be diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder. Many Trans people do not wish to undergo surgery and many oppose the idea of being diagnosed with mental illness. “In the 1980s Homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual's list of sexual disorders and replaced with transsexualism. This is due to be removed from the next edition of the DSM yet it is still proposed as a requirement for any Gender Recognition Legislation

brought in by the Irish Government,” said Ben Power. Persons with an intersex condition are entirely excluded from Gender Recognition because the proposed criteria require GID diagnosis or reassignment surgery. Persons under 18 are to be excluded from the legislation. Power spoke about TENI’s current lobbying campaign; “It is essential that as many people as possible get out and lobby their TDs […] The legislation is a unique chance for Ireland to lead

Europe in this area of human rights and to legislate anything else would be a missed opportunity." On November 20 people around the country marked Transgender Day of Remembrance by releasing hundreds of Chinese lanterns. Transgender Europe has recorded 265 transgender murders in the past year. TENI is a national group which advocates on behalf of Irelands transgender community. For more information on Gender Recognition Legislation and go to www.teni.ie.

NUI Galway Students’ Union lobbies TDs at meetings By Mark Kelly NUI Galway Student’s Union lobbied Government TD’s at two youth party meetings on Monday night 18 November. Sean Kyne (Fine Gael) and Derek Nolan (Labour) were both present on campus at Young Fine Gael and Labour Youth meetings respectively. After the Student’s Union Executive meeting, executives and Joe O’Connor (President of GMIT Student’s Union)

went to the rooms were the meetings were happening. The first room was where Derek Nolan was talking to Labour Youth members. He asked for time to talk with his members, and scheluded to meet them at 8pm. Whilst waiting to for Mr. Nolan, the exec headed to the Young Fine Gael meeting, where Sean Kyne was. Mr. Kyne and other members present were each given a copy of

the USI Pre-Budget Submission. Joe O’Connor began to ask Mr. Kyne questions. One such question was whether there was any way to protect student grants and the Student’s Assistance Fund. Mr Kyne replied by stating he was pushing for both of these issues in the Dail. When asked about increases to Student Contributions by NUI Galway SU President Paul Curley, he stated that money had

to be saved from the Education sector somewhere. Mark Kelly, SU Council Chairperson then pointed out that money could be saved by cutting subsidies to Private Schools. Mr. Kyne replied by saying a report was being done on this very issue. Afterwards, the exec headed back to Mr. Nolan, where Joe O’Connor once again asked about saving the student assistance fund and grants. Mr. Nolan said this had been, and still is, a

priority and he brings it up regularly at Party Meetings. Once again the issue of increases in the Student Contribution was raised, to which Mr. Nolan replied “it’s being decided”. Joe O’Connor pointed out there were savings that could be made inside the funding of Private Schools, to which Mr. Nolan replied that a report was being done on it and that it would take a while to make “sizeable savings”. Mr. O’Connor then

talked about how it was the people just above the grant who were being hammered, and a suggestion was made that a “new grant level” be introduced, which would save families just above the grant line getting hit by further increases in fees. The huge cliff that is the difference between the adjacent and non-adjacent rate was also discussed, which Mr. Nolan said he would bring back to the party.

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Taoiseach Enda Kenny has NUI Galway alumni sets up road safety campaign an eventful visit to Galway By Jessica Thompson ble kind of burst, or the bottle Meghann explained that the behind the wheel and you’re LM_Ire_Student_Union_(w)250x(h)161mm.indd 7

Amy Haverty Àn Taoiseach Enda Kenny had a tumultuous visit to Galway, when he attended a number of events in the city last Friday week. The Taoiseach had arranged to visit three events on his visit to the city of the tribes but there was trouble brewing before he even arrived at his first venue. Mr Kenny was asked to open the new Croì Foundation Centre in Newcastle; however, a heavy Gardaí presence was visible as rumours of a protest spread through the city. The event was secured tightly although there was no sign of any protestors around the new Heart and Stroke Centre. Mr Kenny made reference to tragic Savita Halappanavar during the opening of the Croì House. While extending his sympathy to Savita’s husband Praveen and their families he said; “It’s a difficult time for you here in Galway and we’re all shocked by the death of Savita. Now

clearly, the investigation that is to take place, I expect will deal with the issues surrounding her death.” He added that it was important to speak about the “facts” surrounding her death. Àn Taoiseach then visited the SCCUL Entrepreneur of the Year Awards which were held at the Ardilaun Hotel. This too was a fairly sombre affair with most of the attention deservedly being given to the local businessmen and women. However, the Taoiseach’s visit was rounded off by a visit to the rural village of Abbey to open their new Community Centre. He was forced to vacate his vehicle after crowds of protestors blocked the road to the centre. Mr Kenny had been made aware that a group of protestors were awaiting him and made the proposal to meet them privately to discuss the matter. This offer was rejected. Àn Taoiseach was given a Garda escort as he made his way

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A past student of NUI Galway has successfully started a road safety campaign. In March 2005, Meghann Scully lost her only brother Marcus to a car accident. “I always knew I wanted to do something for Marcus, but […] it’s hard to actually do something because grief takes over your whole life and it becomes a part of every day,” she said. Meghann bottled up her grief, but it was only in the past year that she finally came to terms with what happened. “When I did my masters here in NUIG, we had to do a radio documentary, and I decided to do mine on road safety and for Marcus,” she explained. Through the year, “the bubfrom his car to the centre. He was jostled and jeered at while he walked past the protestors. They were protesting the controversial turf cutting ban which was implemented on areas of environmental sensitivity.

overflowed and burst open” and Meghann finally came to terms with her grief. She said; “I thought I was having a breakdown, but in fact I was having a breakthrough, where finally I was kind of accepting what had happened to me and I decided that it was time to move on with my life and do something positive.” Meghann’s radio documentary is called I’m Loving Angels Instead and comprises a number of interviews with people who knew Marcus. While making the documentary, Meghann allowed herself to relive the emotion she felt on the night of her brother’s death, and in the weeks following his funeral. Instead of submitting it to radio stations, Meghann decided to hold onto it and set up The Marcus Scully Road Safety Campaign. “I realised ‘ok, this has to be brought out, I need to share this with the world’ because I’ve dealt with my grief; now I can hopefully help others and prevent these accidents happening,” Meghann said.

Gardaí go to schools and show visuals of accidents which she feels is really hard-hitting and can work, but students tend to forget what they’ve seen soon after. Her intention is to allow students to listen to her emotional radio documentary. “[My campaign] is about the emotional side and the effect that the death can have on the family years later. I’m trying to show young people that passionate side. […] I want to show them that if you do get

speeding, this is what your family will go through if you get killed – simple as that.” Meghann has set up a Facebook page for The Marcus Scully Road Safety Campaign, which she will update regularly so her message will remain in people’s minds. Meghann will be visiting schools all over Ireland to spread the word about road safety. Like her Facebook page to find out where she will be next.

Pictured at the launch of ‘World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims’ were, Meghann Scully whose brother Marcus died in a road crash, Marjorie Flood who lost her son Mark in a road crash, Assistant Commissioner Gerard Phillips, Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid, Garda National Traffic Bureau and Mr Noel Brett, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority.

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Abandoned Darlings book launch By Laura Caffrey and Ruth Quinlan The Abandoned Darlings is a writing collective that emerged from NUI Galway’s MA in Writing 2011-2012. Their debut s e l f - t i t l e d a n t h o l o g y, Abandoned Darlings, which has been guest edited by esteemed poet Moya Cannon, will be launched this December. The collection is dedicated to Eithne Hannigan, an MA in Writing student who sadly passed away at the beginning of the 2011-2012 course, as well as Tom Duddy, a faculty member at NUIG for many years.

Back in August, The Abandoned Darlings held a fundraising event to help finance their anthology and received the support of many local literary figures like Kevin Higgins, Pete Mullineaux, Gerry Hanberry and Nuala Ní Chonchúir – all of whom were guest readers on the night. Subsequently, the group launched a Fund It campaign to help cover the rest of the printing and publicity costs and this was also very successful, coming in at 114% funded with 1,258 euro raised. The use of Facebook and other social media proved to be invaluable in these efforts and again,

contacts within the Galway literary scene helped immensely in spreading the word. The anthology itself is a mixture of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. The diversity of the group’s background is reflected in the writing, ranging from harsh Russian winters, through the Irish midlands and across the Atlantic to North and South America. The anthology has received praise from numerous writers, including Mike McCormack, author of Forensic Songs, who writes; “Spread the word – a terrific primer to a new generation of writers ... pages crackling

with enough wit and imagination to keep you hungry for more …” and Celeste Augé, author of Fireproof and Other Stories; “These stories and poems...hum with the unmistakable tone of words that needed to be written.” The book launch takes place on Wednesday, 19 December, upstairs in Busker Brownes at 6.30pm. It will be opened by celebrated poet Eva Bourke and will feature selected readings from the Abandoned Darlings anthology. Come along and join the Abandoned Darlings for an evening of poetry, prose, mulled wine and Christmas festivities.

A Lecture with Claire Keegan By Eoin King Critically acclaimed author Claire Keegan recently paid a visit to NUI Galway. The author captivated the audience with her ability to weave a tale about her meek and simple upbringing. She places paramount importance on her parents’ gift of tactfulness when talking to anyone, regardless of race, gender or culture. When asked how she felt about the weight of a heavy

literary tradition on her back she brushes it off saying that it “matters very little” as a writer. “The reason why we as a nation have so many writers is because we say so little being a society of tenacious secret keepers,” said Ms Keegan. The author read her beautiful and eloquent short story Foster, and had an ethereal air about her akin to her emotive coming-of-age drama set in rural Ireland. “My parents raised me in

a way that I didn’t have to be broken,” said Ms Keegan. Claire Keegan doesn’t claim this is a sentimental piece and offers sage words to young budding writers; “artists’ personality should flow throughout their writing and to take love wherever we find it.” The author added that we should not rely on our family for love because “they may not like you!” Her writing has been seen as auto-biographical and tragic but she refutes this

claim saying that her writing is instead “realistic” and in a lamentable aphorism her belief that “everybody suffers”; it is this suffering and neglect that crafts and moulds the person we become. Her down-to-earth-manner and ability to engage with the students made it a privilege to listen to one of the many flourishing authors that have emerged from Ireland in recent years, despite the ominous presence of the recession.

Members of NUI Galway’s Medical Society with Galway Mayor, Terry O’Flaherty. The medical society were kindly offering to check the blood pressure of shoppers in Eyre Square Centre last Monday. Information leaflets were also handed out and donations were collected for 3Ts Suicide Prevention.

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RTÉ appoints western correspondent By Marése O’Sullivan Meath native, 37-yearold Pat McGrath, has recently been appointed Western Correspondent for Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). An NUI Galway graduate of Arts, with a Higher Diploma in Applied Communications, he replaces Jim Fahy, who retired earlier this year after 38 years in the job. McGrath first got a taste of broadcasting in 1994 behind Clare FM’s microphone. He joined RTÉ as part of Lyric FM in

1999 and then moved to RTÉ 2FM News in 2002, where he reported for the Newsbeat programme. 2010 saw him tackle a new role as a journalist for Morning Ireland, RTÉ’s radio breakfast news programme. As RTÉ Western Correspondent, McGrath will be based in Galway. “[The job is] going to be challenging and exciting,” he said. “I’m looking forward to meeting people around Mayo and Galway. There’s a great storytelling tradition in these areas and I’d like to develop it.”

There are stories everywhere By Joyce Fahy Kevin Barry recently visited NUI Galway to talk about being a fiction writer. His first short story collection There are Little Kingdoms was awarded the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature upon its release in 2007. This anthology was followed by his debut book City of Bohane in 2011, which won the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award. Earlier this year he published a second compendium of short stories entitled Dark Lies The Island. While on campus, Kevin read Ox Mountain Death Song – a short story from his latest collection. It was recited in a manner that writhed with throbbing emotion, as he delivered the words like an actor in the depths of a performance. The story wound together a tale of reckless drinking, juxtaposed with the frivolous grudges that can last decades in smalltown Ireland. As he read the piece, feelings of frustration infused with boredom came to the surface; “He knew the bog roads... the recesses of the hills, the back ways of town lands, the gardens of priests... The years gave in and the

years gave out and only the trousers changed.” Following his rendition, Kevin spoke of the need for discipline when writing, as it is all too easy to become distracted; “The chief obstacle now for all writers is the iPhone. When you switch it on your brain is immediately into that online fluttery mode,” he stated. He gets to his desk as quickly as possible in the mornings and aims to write as much material as he can. As opposed to authors who write slowly, musing over every word, he chooses to spew out as many words as possible and edit them later. He said if there is one sentence worth keeping, he has succeeded. His philosophy on editing is simple - one must “cut out the boring stuff”. His writing is intriguing; it perfectly captures the small-town lingo of Ireland and brings a gloomy sense of life to its dreary landscapes through the use of dark wit. His style is both original and uncannily familiar. He believes “there is a story in every throwaway line you hear”; all you have to do is “open your ears [and] you will find stories everywhere.”

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W O R L D N ews

Ireland wins seat on UN Human Rights Council By Clare Killeen Ireland was elected to the UN Human Rights Council on November 12th for the first time. Ireland will join the United States and Germany in the ‘Western Europe and Others’ group. Ireland’s place on the council was secured

with 123 votes – only 7 less than the US and 3 less than Germany. The General Assembly takes individual states’ contribution to human rights promotion and protection into account during election. Responding to the election, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said the achieve-

ment was “a very strong endorsement of our reputation internationally”. The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations with special responsibilities for the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide. The council was created in 2006 and

comprises 47 UN member states. Each member serves a three-year term. Membership is based on geographic distribution in an attempt to attain equitable representation. There are five groups: African States (13 seats), Asian States (13 seats), Latin Americana and Caribbean States (8 seats),

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Western European and other States (7 seats), Eastern European States (6 seats). The Council discusses global human rights issues as they arise and may decide to make recommendations on them. Recent statements include resolutions on “the deteriorating human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic.” This council is also responsible for the recent

introduction of the Universal Period Review (UPR) under which individual states human rights record are scrutinised by civil society and other UN members. Ireland was put under review last year. More information on the UN Human Rights Council is available from the website of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (ohchr.org).

Second series of euro bank notes to be introduced by the ECB

By Marése O’Sullivan Czech archaeologists in the Egyptian capital of Cairo were astounded recently by the discovery of a 4,500-year-old tomb containing the Pharaonic princess, Shert Nebti, and her four official guards, of the country’s Fifth Dynasty. The Czech Institute of Egyptology, funded by the Charles University of Prague, led the team of researchers that found the burial chamber. They were directed by

Miroslav Barta, a faculty member at the university. The tomb’s antechamber – dating from approximately 2,500 BC – contains four limestone pillars. Egypt’s Antiquities Minister, Mohammed Ibrahim, stated that these pillars have “hieroglyphic inscriptions giving the princess’s name and her titles”, one of which was ‘the daughter of the King, Men Salbo, and his lover, venerated before God the all-powerful’. Little is known about

#ThePopeTweets By Isabella De Luca Since its launch, Twitter has become the online home of some of our most prominent celebrities. But few would have predicted the latest notable figure planning to join their ranks: none other than Pope Benedict XVI. With already a billion followers in the more traditional sense of the word, his yet-to-

be-disclosed handle is bound to attract attention in the Twitter-sphere. On Thursday, 9 November, Rev. Federico Lombardi announced that the account may be launched as early as the end of this year. “It will be an officially verified channel,” explained the Vatican official. 85 year old Pope Benedict, who is not known for his love of computers and still writes

Nebti’s father and mother, but historians are hopeful they will learn more as the excavations progress. “[This] marks the beginning of a new era in the history of the sepulchres at Abu Sir and Saqqara,” Mr Ibrahim added. “We are very fortunate to have this new window through which we can go back in time, to follow and document […] life and death of several historically important individuals of the great pyramid age era.”

• • • • •

Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Europa banknotes will begin to be issued in May of that year. Notes will be released in ascending order, meaning that the €10 note will follow the €5. Mr. Draghi also stated that it would take “several years” to replace the first series of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500 notes, which began circulation on January 1, 2002. The second series will be very distinguishable from the first, thanks to independent

banknote designer, Reinhold Gerstetter, who was asked to “refresh” the style to “accommodate the enhanced security features.” When the new notes are tilted, the denomination number will change colour from emerald green to deep blue. It is planned that first series’ notes will be slowly withdrawn and eventually no longer be legal tender, though they will be permanently exchangeable at National Central Banks (NCBs).

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most of his speeches by hand, will not, of course, be writing the tweets himself, but will most likely sign off on those sent in his name. The Pope has been in favour of communicating through new technologies for some time. His new website, www.pope2you.net, went live in 2009, offering a Facebook application called “The Pope meets you on Facebook” and another allowing the faithful to access the pontiff's speeches and messages on their iPhones or iPods. He even told priests to start blogging back in 2010. However, the Vatican is still trailing behind other religious figures in online popularity ratings. The Dalai Lama has 4.5 million likes on Facebook compared to Pope Benedict’s 66,000. Perhaps he should consider Google+ next, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu held a Hangout with the Dalai Lama last October.

Egyptian princess tomb unearthed

and the “human touch” that she will bring to the banknotes, according to the ECB. Its President, Mario Draghi, declared on November 8: “Portraits have long been used in banknotes around the world, and research has shown that people tend to remember faces. Is there any better figure than Europa to serve as the new face of the euro?” The design of the Europa €5 note will be unveiled on January 10, 2013, at the Archaeological Museum in

ation

This is an added security measure, with the aim being that a face would be more difficult for forgers to reproduce. The figure of Europa was chosen both because of her “obvious link” to Europe

ard Consu

The European Central Bank (ECB) is to introduce a second series of euro bank notes, which will begin to be circulated next year.

The new notes will portray the image of the Phoenician goddess Europa from Greek mythology, from whose name the European continent is derived, in the watermark and hologram.

By Marése O’Sullivan

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F E AT U R E S

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EXPLORE projects make an impact The EXPLORE Innovation Initiative was launched by the Students’ Union and NUI Galway in January 2012 to support students and staff to bring innovative, new ideas to life on campus. 14 of the initial teams awarded funding have now finished or are nearly finished their projects. These groups have created learning and teaching tools, developed new campus maps and transport strategies, set up collaborative forums, linked students with potential employers, conducted new research on student health, run an art exhibition, delivered a new outreach programme, trained students and staff in video production and much more. Another round of EXPLORE has just kicked off and 20 plus projects have already been funded. Limited funding is still available for projects that can demonstrate student and staff partnership, innovation, sustainability and impact. Find out more and apply at www.su.nuigalway.ie/explore. EXPLORE is supported by the Bright Ideas Initiative and the Student Projects Fund.

Video Lab – A New Tool to Improve 1st Year Science Experience Lead student partner: Alison Hughes Lead staff partner: Dr Peter Crowley

Evaluating Health and Wellbeing of Postgraduate Students in NUI Galway Lead student partner: Richéal Burns Lead staff partner: Prof Ciaran O'Neill

Campus Map App Lead student partner: Liam Krewer Lead staff partner: Dr John Breslin

Words and their Meanings Exhibition Lead student partner: James Simmons Lead staff partner: Dr Irina Ruppo

Video Promoting the LLM to Students and Potential Employers Lead student partner: Katie Cadden Lead staff partner: Dr Ciara Hackett

Galway University Sustainable Transport Options (GUSTO) Lead student partner: Richard Manton Lead staff partner: Dr Eoghan Clifford

The Career and Industry Fair at NUI Galway Energy Night 2012 Lead student partner: Sinéad Burke Lead staff partner: Dr Rory Monaghan

Baile na Coiribe Corrib Village

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Video Podcasts in Mammal Ecology Lead student partner: Jessica Larson Lead staff partner: Dr Colin Lawton

Video Production for the Web Training Course Lead student partner: Micheál O Tháiltigh Lead staff partner: Padraic DeBurca

Campus Tree Map Lead student partner: Paul O'Donnell Lead staff partner: Dr Mike Gormally

The New Businessman / The New Businesswoman Lead student partner: Brian H Fitzsimons Lead staff partner: Dr John Breslin

Cell Explorers Outreach Activity Lead student partner: Veasna Sum Coffey Lead staff partner: Dr Muriel Grenon

EuroScience Open Forum Lead student partner: Lilian Fennell Lead staff partner: Dr Muriel Grenon

GASF: The Galway American Studies Forum Lead student partner: Rosemary Gallagher Lead staff partner: Prof Sean Ryder

For further information about all these projects, see:

www.nuigalway.ie/explore/projects

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OPINION: Social media and cyber-bullying Joyce Fahy Social media brings people from all over the world together, to discuss anything at all. Anyone can sign into a social media website and create an account, enabling them to comment freely and openly. Sounds great, doesn’t it? If only it were that simple. People tend to be more outspoken when they have a strong dislike or like for something. Social media websites convey a sense of popularity, and we judge and are judged by the photos we upload, the comments we post and the number of online friends/ followers and ‘likes’ we

have on these websites. Facebook is not such a good thing for those with low self-esteem. Social media sites clearly feed on people’s egos, making them susceptible to others’ views and comments. On the surface, social media is about staying in touch with people, but on further inspection it is about perfecting one’s image – having a lot of friends, displaying fun-filled photos, attending parties and other social events (which are shown through a Facebook invite). It’s becoming purely narcissistic and egodriven. Cyber-bullying has been a contributor to several teenage deaths in Ireland

in recent months. Thirteen year old Erin Gallagher and fifteen year old Ciara Pugsley both died by suicide, which was strongly related to cyber-bullying. A harrowing aspect of negative communication is that it is rarely in a private message, there are often hundreds or thousands of others who can view the comment and can choose to ‘like’ it. This gives the bully an audience. This audience is both public and private. The people who view it are mostly friends and acquaintances of the receiver. Unlike a physical brawl or a verbal attack in public, passers-by cannot intervene and confront the bully.

When one receives a negative comment from someone in person, there are rarely hundreds of people around listening attentively waiting to give thumbs up or to watch silently. The receiver can walk away and choose to concentrate on a more positive memory. But on a social media site, the comment remains on the site for others to read and comment on. It’s not a question of hearing something incorrectly - it’s on the screen to read and reread. The comment can be deleted by the receiver, but by the stage it is read by him/her, many people have already viewed it. Facebook permanently

asks the question: “What’s on your mind?” but it is not a diary, no one wants to hear you complain and whine, what it really should say is: “Anything funny or interesting to say? If not, don’t say anything.” Teenagers are the most vulnerable in this social media craze. However, children are beginning to use social media too and although parents may think that their online behavior is harmless, they are only just learning the difference between moral and immoral behavior. Without regulation, they may become cyber-bullies, cyber-bullied or watch passively as others are bullied online.

Of course, parents cannot stand over their children every time they are online, but they do need to warn them not to say anything online that they would not say in a room full of people. Children should also be warned that if they use an anonymous name, their username can still be traced back to them, if it needs to be. Teachers also need to address their students on the consequences of misusing the internet and stress that it is not acceptable to insult or offend others online. If they see this happening they should report this behavior to a teacher, parent or older sibling.

OPINION: Spanish resistance to bank bailout By James Falconer On a recent trip to Madrid, I took part in a huge protest on November 14. After participating in anti-austerity protests in Ireland, I quickly noticed significant differences. Firstly, the amount of people on the streets of Madrid was really inspiring. There were large numbers of young demonstrators convincingly representing the 50% unemployment rate in the 18–25 age category – and that's not including the student population. They held banners which read: "They are tak-

ing away our future" and the same slogans hung in the main squares of Madrid as people massed under the watchful eyes of riot police. Brass bands took part in the march creating a carnival atmosphere. The cheer and camaraderie was mixed with an obvious indignation. This ill feeling was channelled towards the government, bankers and the monarch. I spoke to a demonstrator who said that: “We’re paying to keep a King and his family while people are thrown out onto the street. He goes over to Africa and shoots elephants for fun.

We’re sick of this sh*t!” It’s a relief that Michael D. is more interested in writing poetry and supporting the Arts. How did Spain get into its awful mess? Almost identical to Ireland, the Spanish banking crisis did not come out of the blue. During the 1990s, the Spanish government foolishly made huge increases in the amount of land available for development. Developers became very wealthy and the idea that the property prices would always go up, and never down in value, was widely believed. This idea was largely cre-

Former Club Captains of the NUIG/GMIT Sub Aqua Club at the club’s recent 50th Anniversary Gala Ball in the Galway Bay Hotel. Photo by Arun T. Konattu of NUIG Photo Soc.

ated by a corporate media who chiefly espouse the interests of the political elite and their associates in the banking sector. It was mainly German banks that financed Spain's savings and commercial banks, which needed extra funds for high-risk mortgages; does any of this sound familiar? Vast amounts of credit and the greed which it created, led to a false feeling of affluence i.e. boom. That idiotic remark by Bertie Ahern comes to mind: “The boom just got boomier.” However, this has ultimately gone full circle and resulted in huge unemployment, repossessions and evictions resulting in outright disgust from the public. In Madrid, I saw many windows of banks smashed, ATM’s van dalised beyond use and sentiments sprayed on the walls of banks. One might question the logic behind these actions, but it clearly indicates the fury of the public who are fighting back. They’ve had enough of the socialisation of private debt. The most roguish bank called Bankia, is now 90% owned by the Spanish tax payers. The Spanish government and other mainstream political parties, with the exception of the Union,

Progress and Democracy (UPyD) are all opposing an open investigation into how Bankia was run. No doubt this opposition is a reflection of the high level of political involvement and jobs for the lads. Nevertheless, a judge in Madrid accepted independent lawsuits brought against the Director of Spain's Central Bank responsible for regulation, and against several top exexecutives of Bankia and their predecessor savings banks, including Rodrigo Rato (ex-Chairman of Bankia and ex-managing director of the IMF). The UPyD party is also threatening to bring more legal action. Jail the bankers. Prime Minster Rajoy has now committed to in excess of €90bn of austerity in the next two years. It will work only if the economy shrinks by a relatively meagre 0.5% next year: most commentators believe the shrinkage will be triple that. The Spanish budget is set to hit the poorest in Spain hardest: it hits public sector workers, all wage earners, and only avoids hitting pensioners by dipping into a contingency fund that is supposed to cushion them. All over Spain there is outrage at what is seen as economic injustice: hitting

the incomes and services of the poorest while bailing out the banks that have become political playthings for the elite. Where’s the outrage in Ireland? Maybe we need a very tough budget to push us over the edge? In 1931, the Second Republic of Spain was established. It was primarily made up of leftists and centrists. The new republic enacted reforms that broke up the feudal system and reduced the size of the military. These changes along with a number of anticlerical acts created resentment among the former elite, which ultimately led to the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent 40 year dictatorship of General Franco. The flag of the Second Republic can be seen waved around Madrid and other parts of Spain today. The general feeling is that people want change and they are looking to that short epoch of the Republic. Both Ireland and Spain share the same struggle. There’s talk about what it means to be a republic in both countries because the people on lower incomes are paying for the mistakes of the wealthy – the very reason why they aspired to be republics in the first place.

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OPINION: A sobering moment for our nation By Roisin Kelly Savita Halappanavar's death at Galway University hospital caused by septicaemia following a miscarriage has caused international scrutiny at Irish abortion legislation. Savita was in severe pain when she asked for a termination to be carried out on the foetus she was miscarrying, but as doctors could detect a foetal heartbeat they could not carry out this request. A week later she was dead. Various groups have shown no hesitation in holding her up as an example to illustrate their own causes. Certainly her death is a sobering moment for our nation, and a grave examination of our legislature is called for here. For the moment, it should be enough to say that a medical abortion should have been carried out and that there is an urgent need to legislate for this type of incident in the future. However, to use a pregnant woman's death as a means to stick a finger up the collective noses of prolife campaigners is a disgrace. It would seem that too many people are willing to bran-

RESPONSE By Sarah McCarthy of Galway Pro-Choice Galway Pro-Choice were initially contacted by the friends of Savita before they went to the media about the story of her tragic death. They asked us

dish her image in the name of their own agendas, and in this way they are no better than pro-life groups such as Youth Defence, who use sickening images of aborted foetuses to represent their campaign. How can a reasonable middle ground be found between two groups who exploit the images of their nominated martyrs as if they are war standards? This is not to detract from the genuinely moving candlelit vigils that are being held in Savita's name across the country, and indeed it is proper that these vigils should also become a platform for pro-choice campaigners to display their anger and frustration that the vagueness of legislation in this country has led to a woman's death. In effect, they are restoring a voice to Savita, who was fatally silenced after her repeated requests for a termination, and standing in solidarity with her heartbroken husband. Savita's tragedy is not simply that she died, but that she could have been saved, and these vigils are a testament to that fact. But there is a distinct note of something that verges on

triumph in several commentators' responses. For example, some have pointed the finger of blame squarely on the Catholic Church and the moral rigidity it imposes on Irish society. I don't think many people in this day and age could be accused of believing that the Church wields its former influence on today's societal standards, yet to anti-Catholic commentators, among others, Savita

has become the example that proves a point. The tragedy of Savita will become an example in the history of our laws and state. Her tragedy could be the catalyst that saves the lives of other women. For now, however, we should remember that a pregnant woman has lost her life, and a husband has lost his family. Let Savita stand as a woman first, and as a symbol second.

to aid them in making sure that this never happens to any woman ever again. Since the story became public our intention has been only to honour the wishes of her husband, parents, and friends: that people see that her death was the result of archaic laws which need to be immediately changed. Her

husband Praveen has put it more eloquently than I ever could. He said; “I am returning to Galway and will continue to keep the pressure on the Irish government with the support of social groups there to modify the law so that no other woman dies because of a religious law.”

He said that he is not contemplating legal action but wants to make common cause with social activists and organisations. Savita obviously did not ask to be a martyr, for she had no intention of dying. However her family and friends are adamant that her death will not be in vain.

Savita dancing with friends in Galway on St. Patrick's Day 2011. Photo by Christopher Tierney.

Children pay their respects at the candlelight vigil held for Savita in Galway City. Photo by Christopher Tierney.

Walking Alone By Amy Haverty How safe do I feel walking home? It’s a question that most women, if not already, should be asking themselves before they walk anywhere alone. While it may seem incredibly archaic on some levels, your own safety should be one of the most important things to you. Following the news that the remains of Aoife Phelan have been discovered in Portlaoise, it is evident that women in Ireland along with many other countries can no longer walk the streets by themselves after a certain hour. Unfortunately, daylight saving time has been unclenched from our fists and as a result we are now accustomed to the glistening of street lights from as early as four o clock, for a few months at least. For students it can be especially risky as not only are you walking home late in the evening but you’re also probably by yourself. If you have a friend that is walking the same way as you, kill some time around college and wait for each other. Nothing is safer than having somebody walking with you. Until it is dark it is difficult to comprehend how badly lit some of the access roads to college really are.

For example, on the back canal there are no street lights until you reach the road intersections. There are a few gaps of 800 metres each where there is little or no light. I’m sure it’s the same situation for many other people on their walk home from college or work. So maybe it’s time we all started looking after ourselves and stop putting ourselves at risk. If you have no other choice but to walk home yourself there are a few precautions you can take to ensure that it is a safe journey. Most importantly, make sure that your journey home is lit. Walking home in darkness is an extremely dangerous thing to do. Also if you are walking by yourself, let somebody at home know how long you will be or when you expect to be home. Another good tip is to actually call somebody for the journey home; silence can be your own worst enemy. As the nights get longer and the work load gets heavier, chances are most of us will be on campus until well after the street lights are turned on. After a long day in college, all you want to do is get home to a warm house but before you leave, make sure you are safe.

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Interview with an SU Officer: Feidhlim Seoighe By Marese O’Sullivan Labhair muid le Oifigeach Gaeilge, mac léinn fiche bliain d'aois, ina tríú bliain Dlí Sibhialta – Feidhlim Seoighe – ar cén fáth ar lorg sé ag tnúth le Seachtain na Gaeilge, a bhfuil an Ghaeilge na scoláirí saol, agus cad iad na pleananna a dhéanamh sé tar éis na hollscoile? What does your role as Irish Language Officer involve? According to the SU Constitution, my role is to promote the Irish language amongst the university authorities, staff and Students’ Union. I’m also involved in working with Conradh na Gaeilge to promote Irish amongst the Irish societies: the Cumann Craic and the Cumann Drámaíochta. What attracted you to the position? I was asked by the Cumann Craic Society to run for election. Basically, it was a challenge. I studied for the Diploma in Irish last year. I went to an

Irish primary and secondary school – and I was raised with Irish – so I thought it was very important [to engage with the language]. What do you get up to, day-to-day? I deal with casework, as every student has a right to have any complaint or any issue that they have dealt with in Irish. I also attend Executive meetings. During the year I work a lot with the Irish Officer of the Union of USI to promote the language across all the other universities as well. We have a tight-knit group, because we’re all members of Conradh na Gaeilge, so we meet up every two months to discuss how we can help each other. What’s your biggest plan for the year ahead? Seachtain na Gaeilge from the fourth to the fifteenth of March. There’ll be an Oíche Gaelach in one of the nightclubs in town and a “Cabaret Craiceálta” – six or seven Irish perfomers, music, dance, sean-nós singing and dancing, Irish rock, Irish pop. I’d like to

Surviving the dreaded study week By Eoin King November has to be one of the most depressing months of the year with looming exams, essays and presentations to attend to; it puts a halt to even the diehard socialites’ plans and activities. Study week can leave the cool, calm and collected pulling their hair out, pacing up and down “the yellow thing” and adopting a new expression known as “exam face” – severe cases have been seen on the concourse and in the library. Taking these tips should cure some of these symptoms. 1. Always bring your student card to college, getting into the library is a mammoth task without it; the library folk are immune to flattery and flippant excuses. Trying to get into the reading room is the equivalent of getting past the Mexican border: it just won’t happen without your card. 2. Get up early to get a seat in the library. If it looks packed, don’t glance over the swamp of students; go around and scour for a seat. Often one will open up if you wait or frustratingly people may have their books to far over so it is worth asking them if it’s free. If it’s a case that you’re arriving shortly ask a friend to keep one for you, but don’t just plonk your books down and laze in The Bialann for two hours. 3. It is important to have a study timetable so you don’t devote too much time to one thing and not enough to another.

You can find readymade timetables online all you have to do is slot in the subject. 4. When you’re studying, the biggest distraction you will face is the book. It will take huge discipline but it is well worth it to try and wean yourself off it slowly setting time limits and checking it only every hour or so, as it has been proven that it’s better to study in these short bursts and take a small break. The same thing applies for Twitter and other social- networking sites. 5. Sleep is essential to retain knowledge during the day; countless studies have shown that the facts we have learned earlier are embedded through the process of sleep.

have a major Irish act performing in college as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge, but I can’t confirm anything yet. NUI Galway is a bilingual university, but what place do you think the Irish language really has in the lives of students? Irish is integral to not only the university, but to ourselves as Irish people. Every student spends roughly fourteen years studying Irish, mostly with a negative [outlook on it], but I can see that changing, particularly with [the help of] TG4. Irish is very visible on campus. Ba mhaith liom a chur i bhfeidhm Scéim maireachtála na hÉireann, a thugann deontas do dhaoine

To do: Prague By Darren McDonagh Five must-dos should you ever grace this amazing city with your presence: 1. Travel the Old Town: Prague is split into the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town Square is a site to behold. It includes two beautiful churches, a confusing but interesting astronomical clock and a number of over-priced, yet tempting cafes. Another highlight is the world famous Charles Bridge; it's always lined with vendors and artists. A personal highlight is ‘The Bridge Band’ who face the elements every day to bring a unique jazz-style entertainment.

atá toilteanach an Ghaeilge a labhairt ina saol laethúil. Tá mé ag obair ar dhréachtú suas le polasaí chun é. Chun leas a bhaint na scéime, gur mhaith leat chun suí ar agallamh agus a bheith sásta go bhfuil leibhéal rannpháirtíochta láidir i ngníomhaíochtaí na hÉireann OÉ Gaillimh. Beidh mé ar aird ag an Aontas na Mac Léinn Comhairle agus a fheiceáil conas a théann sé ó ann. What do you hope to do after you finish college? I’d love to take a year travelling, but I have a strong interest in Intellectual Property Law, so I might do a Masters in that. My main goal would be King’s Inns within a few years. I’d love to be a barrister. a local delicacy that one can enjoy in a bowl made of bread. Pretty much everything else is pork – from pig knuckle to knee. Beer is served with most meals. 4. Czech History: If you’re interested in history, Prague will certainly keep you entertained. It has a rich background that includes lesser known religious reformers, an interesting royal family, and, of course, involvement in World War II and the subsequent Communist regime which is still visible today. Terezin concentration camp is located less than an hour from the city.

2. Prague Castle: Once you’ve crossed the bridge it’s well worth your while climbing the many steps up to the castle (or just take the tram). It's is the biggest castle complex in the world and is home to a Gothic-style cathedral and the radiant Royal Gardens. There’s also a few of those guards that aren’t allowed to move, which is always fun.

5. Nightlife: It’s probably what Prague is best known for and justifiably so. Being the biggest beer drinkers in the world, the Czechs treat their locally brewed beer as a national treasure. All of the pubs have a unique atmosphere, but it must be noted that the smoking ban is not yet in place here. A unique aspect of Prague clubbing is the feeling of anarchy that could only be found in a place with virtually no safety regulations or political correctness. My personal favourite is Cross Club – an artsy, laid-back establishment decorated with car parts. Yes, it’s just as cool as it sounds.

3. Czech cuisine: So Czech food isn’t exactly world-renowned but it can be surprisingly enjoyable. Beef goulash is

So there you have it; five things to do in Prague. In a city so rich in culture, history and nightlife there’s never a dull moment.

6. Positivity will help you cope with stress coming up to exams. Surround yourself with positive people who are good “craic”and have inherent devilment – you know the types who don’t let the stress pervade their entire existence. Try and block out the Moaning Myrtles’ in your life – even if it means avoiding them for a week or so, and reassure yourself that you will do well as you are putting in the time and effort. 7. And finally just a few general pointers that are obvious but essential in getting that coveted post-exam pint. A good diet consisting of fruit, veg and protein as well as water help the process of information storing. Exercise is essential in order to relieve stress and learn new information.

Cian McFadden (Diving Officer) and Christie O’Toole (Captain) of the NUIG/GMIT Sub Aqua Club presenting Joe Fegan and Thomas Moore of the Galway Sub Aqua Club a cheque for €750 towards the Search and Recovery Unit of GSAC. In total €1500 was raised during the club’s annual 30 Hour Dive in the Atlantaquarium. The remaining €750 was donated towards the Galway R.N.L.I. Photo by Christina Quinn.

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Merry Christmas! We had simple Christmases, but good Christmases

The toys of our childhood

By Jessica Thompson

Before we all grew up and Christmas became synonymous with overindulgence and laziness, toys were where it was it. Our days of demanding BMX bikes and Lego from our parents may be over but, for old times' sake, let's reminisce: Furby: Released in 1998 this creepy robotic owl/hamster hybrid was the most wanted toy of the year. Even though they sounded a bit like ET, and had a tendency to frighten very small children, these little creatures sold out of every shop in a matter of minutes. Those who had them revelled in the fact they could teach them dirty words and loved that they needed attention. However, after a couple of months the inevitable Furby-induced nightmares kicked in, followed by a general hatred for the little guys.

Christmas has come early again. The holiday has been commercialised to the extent that many are bored of it by December. Remember the old days? Those magical Christmas moments: flicking through toy catalogues; writing Santa letters; hanging stockings on Christmas Eve; queuing for ages to visit strange, bearded frauds dressed in red. Those were the days. Christmas, when the Celtic Tiger was still alive, was magical. We’ve reached the stage of depression, where stores try to push the expenses of Christmas on us from the first of November, or earlier. This wasn’t the case in previous generations. To get an idea of what Christmas was like in the 60s and 70s, I asked my dad what the holiday meant to his family when they were children. Born into a family of seven kids, Christmases for him were far from the expensive affairs that define Christmases of today. “We used to look in the shop windows at the toys, dreaming that maybe Santy would bring us that,” my father reminisced. “Little did we know, our mother would go down to the shop and ask for toys to be put aside for us, if she could afford them.” The shops displayed a variety of traditional toys – “stuff you’d see in antique shops today” – including dinky toys, corgi rockets, clockwork trains, and more. “We used to get small presents,” my father continued, “cowboy hats, toy guns, books, jigsaws. We always got a Christmas annual – the Dandy, the Beano, Batman, or Superman. I got a spinning top one time – all very basic toys.

“The presents were wrapped in brown paper and hidden under our beds. We had stockings too with something small – money sometimes, or fruit. I got a rubber monkey in mine one year.” These were toys that the children of today – so used to video games and electronic toys – would find boring. This wasn’t so back in the day. Toys were appreciated and loved, and never taken for granted. “We played with our presents all year long,” he informed me, “even though they were very basic toys. I always seemed to get a gun at Christmas. I loved playing cowboys. “Another year I got a Santa Fe Train, which was battery operated, but on Christmas day I had no batteries for it so I couldn’t use it until the next day. Denis [his older brother] got a black train like a Cannonball Express – a slightly better train than mine. It must have been a prosperous year that year. These toys would cost about five pounds, which was a lot of money back then.” The conversation soon moved on to Christmas decorations and how elaborate they are in the present time. Back in the 60s and 70s, shops were decorated, but this certainly wasn’t on the first day of November, as was the case this year. Homes were decorated simply. “We had paper decorations hung from the ceiling,” my father said, “and a paper, fold-out star that fitted over the light in the hall. We had a real Christmas tree every year up until the 1970s when my mother bought an artificial tree because the real ones left needles all over the floor. The fire in the sitting

room was lit at Christmas too.” One thing that my dad said that sticks in my mind is: “We had simple Christmases, but good Christmases. We always looked forward to it.” I can’t help but feel that the chance to ‘look forward’ to Christmas has been robbed from us. Gone are the days where families could hardly wait to get the dusty old tree down from the attic on the eight of December. Dead are the days of ‘looking forward’ to Christmas. Unfortunately, we’ve reached an era where Christmas sneaks up on us unexpectedly, whilst out for a morning stroll. It has almost become a chore. There’s no way of escaping it. We can only embrace it, and try to enjoy the two months for which it will last.

By Jane Kearns

Recipe: Snow-capped Christmas chocolate cheesecake bowl By John Mulry If you’ve read any of my articles or follow me online you will know that I’m a big believer of achieving your goals while still getting to eat delicious foods. I’ve even put together a delicious Clean Cheating Cookbook that proves you can do exactly that. So with that being said, instead of overloading on sugary-filled treats this Christmas, and deserts that will only add to your waistline, why not try this super simple and delicious recipe for my snow-capped Christmas chocolate cheesecake bowl? If you like cheesecake (in fairness who doesn’t?) you’ll love this. The best thing about this treat is you won’t even realise how healthy it is. It’s loaded with healthy fats (from the 85% dark chocolate, coconut and nuts) and protein. The main ingredient is quark. Quark is a fat free soft cheese and is very high in protein. Not just any protein however – this delightful bowl of Christmas cheer specifically is high in casein protein. Casein protein is a slow digesting protein that releases amino acids into your body at a constant pace for up to 8 hours. This means it will keep you fuller longer and if this snack is taken late at night it will help with recovery while you sleep.

Ty Beanie Babies: If you were a child in the '90s or early '00s, you probably had quite a formidable collection of these adorable plush toys. They came in a variety of colours, breeds and species, and – just like Pokemon stickers – proved to be highly addictive. Today, the cute little animals are very collectable. Makes you wish you hadn’t pulled their tags off, doesn’t it? Gameboy Colour and PS2: When it came to gaming as a kid, there was nothing more coveted than the Gameboy Colour. Bursting onto the scene the same year as the Furby, the new Gameboy was the be-all-and-end-all of electronics. Its reign ended in 2000 when the most popular games console ever was released: the PS2. With better games and graphics than the original PlayStation, the PS2 wasted many hours (if

not years) of our childhoods. Games like Crash Bandicoot, Spiro and SSX helped us rot away our eyes and brains while our parents quietly sighed in the background. Tamagotchi: What was it with our generation and wanting to take care of weird and annoying toys? Was creeping ourselves out with the Furby just not enough for us? Obviously not, considering the popularity of these egg-like key rings. Tamagotchis weren’t quite as unnerving as Furbies, but they were twice as demanding. The little electronic blobs needed food, love and attention in order to survive – but, being children and all, many of us left ours to starve and sleep in their own waste, resulting in a sad and often dead Tamagotchi. Our parents are probably glad they didn’t get us that puppy, after all.

Ingredients: • 1 tub of Golden Acre Quark • 4 Squares of 85% Dark Chocolate (I recommend Divine) • 25g of Desiccated Coconut • 25g of Mixed Nuts Method Melt the dark chocolate over a saucepan of boiling water or in the microwave. While waiting for the dark chocolate to melt, finely chop the mixed nuts. You want to leave some chunky bits as the nuts will serve as the crunchy element of the cheesecake. When the chocolate has melted mix it through with the quark. Once the chocolate and quark has blended together (this mixture alone is delicious), add in the nuts and stir once again. Top it off with the desiccated coconut and enjoy. For more delicious recipes like this or for details on my Clean Cheating Cookbook contact me at mulryjohn@expectsuccessfitness.com or visit www.ExpectSuccessFitness.com

Here’s one we prepared earlier…

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How the pinch stole Christmas By Alan Keane 80s Ireland. Boatloads and busloads take the return journey home for Christmas. From Dublin, from London, from New York City, they return to the fold. Press photographers gather in airport arrivals halls, both hopeful and confident of snapping some tearful reunions. Some do not return home. Some cannot afford to, either financially or legally, as many are in America as illegal immigrants and leaving will mean never coming back. Some don’t see Ireland as their country anymore. Politicians have failed them, their friends have emigrated too, and their parents leave them feeling nothing but a vague guilt for deserting them. But for those who do return, two weeks over the festive season leave them feeling like they will never leave home again. They start to feel once more that they belong in Ireland. This emotional attachment is at its most potent as the lights come on in a club, and people stagger to attention for the national anthem; “Sinne Fianna Fáil, atá faoi gheall na hÉireann...” Soldiers are we, whose lives we pledge to Ireland. But they are not soldiers; they are young Irish people living in the harshness of the 1980s. They may pledge their hearts to Ireland, but perhaps never again their lives, because their livelihoods lie elsewhere. In the cold light of January, bags full of their mother’s cooking, jacket pockets lined with surreptitious tenners from their oul fella, they return to be swallowed up in the anonymity of the foreign metropolis’ where they have found jobs, if not an identity. No photographers turn up at the airports in January. There is a significant difference between tearful reunions and tearful goodbyes. We do not live in the 80s anymore, but we do live in a recession that has swallowed up this country’s youth once more and spat them in all corners of the globe. Like their predecessors a generation ago, many will make the trek home for turkey

this December, and like their predecessors a generation ago, many will not. But in this age of constant communication, is the physical absence of someone felt as keenly as it was 30 years ago? Families across this country can sit down this Christmas Day in front of their turkey and sprouts, and wave happily to their child/ sibling as they don surf shorts and a Santa hat on Bondi Beach. Skype, Facebook, and Google+ have made this world a smaller place, and lend a hand to

l essening the impact of loved ones not being around the house this Christmas. But no amount of technology can ever make up for having everyone around the dinner table Christmas day. A full house may mean that – as sure as brussel sprouts will be sneakily discarded – there will be arguments, fights and fireworks. But a house full of the noise of arguments is infinitely more prefera-

ble to one where the only sound is the ticking clock, a constant reminder of time spent apart. There are reasons why people don’t come home this Christmas that are far removed from the reasons of the 80s. To many the recession is not a hindrance, but an opportunity to broaden their horizons and take in foreign lands before they tie themselves down in a job. The fact

that there may be no job to tie them down is not something which concerns some of them unduly as of yet. We are in recession much in the same way we were a generation ago. But there are key differences. Ireland back then was never all that prosperous to begin with, and the 80’s recession was akin to jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Now however, there is the feeling that for the Celtic Tiger Cubs it is out of the cotton wool and into the harsh

realities of a decimated e c o n o m y. W h y would recently graduated Irish university students stay in this country to become government artists, drawing the dole, when they are offered the opportunities to utilise their degrees in far flung locations like Korea, Japan and Australia. The latter has always been a go-to place for the Irish in times of turmoil, the two Far Eastern countries the recent recipients of an Irish Diaspora

simply because they require native English speakers who will teach them the language in return for decent wages. For many it is a no-brainer to leave this island for pastures new. And why would they endure the long trek home to be reminded of the harsh realities they have left behind? Closer to home, there are Irish people all over the United Kingdom who cannot make the short hop across the Irish Sea because they have to work over Christmas. The UK is in the grips of a recession also, and if keeping your job means having to work Christmas Eve and St Stephen’s Day, then perhaps a Christmas spent alone in a British bedsit is a necessary evil. Even those who stay behind may soon find that their reason for doing so will be yanked from under their feet. Many Irish graduates undertake further study, in order to stave off the inevitable fruitless job search and to make themselves more employable to surviving businesses. Yet the cuts to postgraduate grants mean what the government will save in money it will lose in talent, as some of the brightest young minds of this country will have no choice but to shine elsewhere. This Christmas spare a thought for those who will not be home. Spare a thought for those who will be also. For while two weeks will pass as though they have never left these shores, they will nevertheless pass quickly and then it will be back across oceans and continents for our youth. Mothers will weep, fathers will proffer a stoic handshake, then the plane will take off and take Ireland’s youth with it. This is not the country we envisaged a decade ago, but it is the hand we were dealt by those in power and those with power. All we can do is welcome back with open arms those who will emerge through the arrival doors in airports like contestants on Stars in Their Eyes, and keep in our hearts those who can’t.

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OPINION: Christmas madness

Driving/flying home for Christmas

By James Falconer

By Roisin Peddle

Here we go again. Christmas – tis the season to be jolly. Sure what’s wrong with a bit of Christmas cheer? Santa is great, and he comes every year! Christmas is just awful; so much expense and waste. People sending cards that say nothing other than: "I don't really care about you" because this card came out of a box of twenty identical Christmas cards. What a waste of paper – please recycle your X-mas cards. Many next door neighbours actually drop cards in each other’s letterboxes rather than knocking on the door, expressing their sentiments with a smile and a handshake. What about e-cards? I don’t know if they’re better or worse. They don’t waste paper, but there’s something insulting about being on a list of ‘send to many’! Be warned – if anyone emails me a snowball again this year – no matter how long, how far, I will find you! You might ask, sure what’s wrong with a bit of Christmas cheer? There’s nothing wrong with it, but why do so many people think that Christmas is a time when you have to be happy? The idea of Christmas being, to quote Andy Williams, ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, doesn’t necessarily have to be believed. What’s the point in celebrating something that means nothing to you? Although, maybe it does – have you have accepted Jesus Christ as your saviour? Have you? How many times a year do you go to mass? Just the once is it? All these questions might be making you uncomfortable with your celebration of Christ’s birthday. Or else, you are very comfortable with the belief that Christmas is just a good holiday, a bit of craic, time to see family and friends and go on the lash? Sure what’s it got to do with that fella Christ? If Christ was/is the Son of God, he might well be up there sitting on a cloud looking down at us cele-

Late November 2009. The lights were up all over town, and the decorations glinted in the early morning sun. Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time, and all those other hoary old tunes you love to hate, were tinkling out of every store, and the message was buy, buy, buy. Pictures of Santa and his reindeer soaring happily over snow-covered chimneys were plastered behind the chocolate counter of the supermarket. The one concession to the location was the toy Santa driving a 4X4 pulled by kangaroos. It was roughly 38°C. I was busy failing to adjust to this bizarre vista. Christmas should be cold. It should involve scarves and mittens, your breath fogging in the air and your teeth chattering. Amid the banksia plants and the arid grass of Western Australia, the sun crackling my skin, I sat in my suburban house and watched a Guinness ad on YouTube. I’m not ashamed to admit I cried. I got home in time for Christmas. On the flight to Kuala Lumpur I sat beside an elderly Australian lady who was flying to visit her son in London. She was at least five generations in Australia – an ancestor had been a Kerry convict. She had never been to Europe. But she was looking forward to Christ-

brating his birthday. He w o u l d , no doubt, be very happy with the great enthusiasm we display on this His . . . how old would he be now? Anyway, surely he’d be celebrating up there Himself? Seeing as it’s His big day. I imagine it’d be one wild party considering some of the guests he’d have: Elvis, Hitler, John Lennon, Jim Morrison, Dermot Morgan, Bob Marley, Stalin, Jimi Hendrix, and Richard Harris, to name a few. Either way, do not focus too much on these theological questions because you might ruin your fun, just eat and drink more to repress such thoughts. That’s the spirit of Christmas! We all know that a lot of people consume vast amounts of food and alcohol at Christmas. Many people can also be observed spending, rushing, pushing, stressing, and cursing while in search of the perfect gift. Essentially, Christmas is spending money you don't have on stuff no one really needs, often for people you don't like and relatives you don't talk to. They say: It's the thought that counts! “Oh Uncle Jim, I thought about giving you a gift, I didn't buy it, I thought about it, does that count?” When we exchange gifts, we often feel bad if the gift we give is much cheaper than the one we receive. A student may buy a family member a pair of socks due to increased fees and cuts in

grants and in return, you get a snazzy DVD player because they feel for you and your economic hardship. Moreover, we also feel bad if it is the other way round – we don’t want the socks! Christmas breeds resentment. What about romance and relationships at Christmas? This can present its difficulties for both parties. That Christmas song ‘All I want for Christmas is you’ comes to mind. Your girlfriend might say something like; "You don't have to get me anything as long as we can spend Christmas together.” If you believe and act on that, you are doomed, and will be single by New Year’s Eve. Then there’s the problem of Santa Claus, where I feel parents lose the trust of their children. In December, many parents take their children to shopping centres to sit on the lap of a total stranger dressed in a red suit, wearing a fake beard (which is technically a disguise) and encourage their child to tell this total stranger what he/ she wants for Christmas. In December, this is called ‘going to see Santa Claus’ and in June it’s referred to ‘paedophilia’? “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, he’s know when you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.” Is this a good way to raise our children? I enjoy Christmas dinner with my family and relaxing by the fire. But the whole present malarkey and commercial nature irritates me. Peace and love to you all this Christmas…

mas in wintry England. “A real Christmas” she called it. Being so far away from home that year made me think about Christmas differently. I had never had to travel further than twenty miles to get home before. It was impossible to feel the Christmas spirit in the heat. Sure the decorations were up, but just like Halloween before it, there seemed to be little or no difference in the mood of the general population. No-one wished each other ‘Merry Christmas’ as they parted. No-one seemed to feel very festive. And of course noone asked “Are you ready for the Christmas?” When I landed back in Heathrow things were completely different. It was only ten days to the big day itself and you could tell. Many of my co-passengers were returning home for Christmas – a family smothered a young English man was smothered with kisses, before he disentangled himself with an embarrassed “Hi Mum.” The staff was greeting each other with surprising jollity for 6 am, and most of them were wearing Christmas ribbons on their lapels. It wasn’t far off that scene at the start of Love Actually. Coming home for Christmas is a staple of our culture. Advertisers know that depicting emigrants returning home for Christmas is guar-

anteed to tug at heart and purse strings. As far back as the eighties the ESB did it with a very young Alan Hughes returning to his Irish mammy to the soundtrack of Dusty Springfield’s Goin’ Back. Mastercard did it on two separate occasions. There is of course that beautiful Guinness ad that made me cry- you know the one; “Even at the home of the black stuff, they dream of a white one.” Christmas simply doesn’t mean as much to Americans or Australians as it does to us. America has Thanksgiving, a real family holiday minus the commercialism and present-giving that Christmas entails. As I found out it’s damn near impossible to feel festive in 40 degree heat. Christmas is a summer holiday for the Australians, and there’s a reason why us Northern Europeans moved Jesus’ birthday from March to the dead of winter. We need something to keep us going through these grim and gloomy months. Christmas is the time we revert to childhood, even for the briefest period on Christmas Day when we scrabble with a sibling for the last Caramel Barrel. Those six months in 2009 were the first time I had been away from Ireland for longer than two weeks. Coming home was something special. It probably won’t be my last time being away from home given the current mess Ireland is in. Coming home for Christmas will never get old. Landing in Ireland with the fields dark and lights on in the window will nearly be worth going away in the first place.

S E G A P THE SU É Gaillimh O n in é L c a M a n s a lt a h Com ion NUI Galway Students' Un

www.su.nuigalway.ie

“The mission of the Union shall be to represent its members and promote, defend and vindicate the rights of its members at all levels of society.” — Constitution of the Students’ Union

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Christmas at what cost? By Amy Haverty Christmas should be a time of goodwill, but unfortunately somewhere along the line we lost the real meaning. It is now about how much money you can spend and the best presents you can get. The pressure that is placed on families to impress is immense; it’s no wonder the Christmas drink tastes sweeter than any other time of the year. Although people are not spending as much on Christmas as they were a few years ago, the cost is still way too high. It is believed that the total amount spent per person

has fallen by around €200 from the high of over €700 only two years ago. However, in the midst of a recession, how are people still expected to spend this much on one holiday? Parents put pressure on themselves to get exactly what their children want for Christmas but at what cost? The pressure to please your children on Christmas Day was exactly the same when I was a child but then again toys were cheaper and for the most part, we expected less. It was the magic of Christmas that really caught our imagination, sure we were excited to see

Christmas brings excitement and fuzzy/shameful feelings alongside many dilemmas – whether it’s funds, presents or the patience required for annoying relatives. The number one dilemma, however, often seems to be dressing in a manner that is presentable enough for your Nan but doesn't leave you looking like a nun. We all want to be the belle of the ball (or Carbon, whatever) but not all of us have a fairy godmother and ensemble of talking mice to make this happen. So, here it is: the survival guide to festive fashion. With the party season looming, most of us are on the look-out for the ultimate party dress. I recommend charity shops. Laugh if you will, but the art of ‘thrifting’ is trendier than sequins this season. It's basically scouring second-hand shops for a good bargain and, as a student, ‘bargain’ is my favourite word. So before opting for the high street, pop in to Enable Ireland, the Simon Shop and St Vincent de Paul for some ‘vintage’ couture for a fraction of the cost. Another advantage is that you're helping a good cause. If nothing cheap and chic catches your eye here, to the high street shops you must go! They tend to bunk up the prices around party season so prepare yourself. A maxi dress is the definition of the word ‘investment’. Bang-on trend, it will see you through any Christmas party, family do or just the usual ‘classy’ moments. Teamed with a conservative bun and sensible shoes, this outfit can also be deemed modest enough for Granny.

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Christmas, I do believe that this is a better alternative to getting caught up with loan sharks. Most parents will tell you that Christmas is the one time of the year they allow themselves to spoil their children and while I think that it is their choice, I don’t think they should be putting so much pressure on themselves to buy products which may be left on the shelf after only a few weeks. We seem to have forgotten that Christmas is

a religious holiday where we are supposed to celebrate new life and the joy of giving to others. This is clearly an aspect of Christmas that has been overlooked for a number of years. However, with people now beginning to realise that we became too obsessed with the commercial side of Christmas and all the gluttony that goes with it, is it possible that we may be returning to a more simple way of life and as a result a more simple Christmas?

My Letter to Santa By Áine O Donnell.

Dear Santa, I know this letter is probably very unexpected given I last wrote to you when I was 12. Mum and Dad told me you weren’t real back then and they had been buying my Christmas presents all along. I now realise that they are not to be trusted. It has been just one lie after Later, a quick change another with those two. First, it was the tooth fairy, then you and given I still can’t see in the into risqué wedges dark after 20 years of carrot-eating, they must have been lying about that too. Santa, I know they have not been the most credible of sources so I thought I would write to you one last time. and some smoky I realise I have not been well-behaved this year. My college attendance has been lacklustre, eye make-up will complete your nightmy money has been squandered on new clothes and my drunken antics are like something time look. Who off Geordie Shore. I also realise that I have not exactly learned from my mistakes from previous needs mistletoe? letters as I am still mean to my siblings, but Santa, sometimes they just deserve it. I know that Penneys has hit my name is probably top of the naughty list but I will understand if you have to give me coal. the nail on the head Given my behaviour has been terrible could I have a full bag? Santa, you must understand this season – keepthat one needs to be thrifty in these tough times. ing it cheap, cheerful, If you kindly oversee my misgivings, there are a few things which I really need/want. but above all chic. Firstly, could you please give me the winning lottery numbers? I think this is quite a reasonIf the dress is breakable request because I could have asked for the Euromillions numbers but I am much more ing your budget, then humble than that. I just feel that with a few million in the account, I could solve so many Penneys should have a of my other problems. My attendance would improve because I could employ several slave number for you, with boys to carry me to college while keeping me dry with umbrellas. I would be less embarrassed after a night out as I could pay off anyone who threatened my reputation. I also like the idea dresses that suit all figof rolling around in five euro notes but that is beside the point. ures, extenuating the waist and covering up any I would really love to be a size eight and have tonnes of amazing clothes. I know shedding post-selection-box bumpy the pounds which hundreds of chicken rolls have put on would be a Christmas miracle but bits. Combine with a pair Santa you are magic. of tights and a faux fur gilet I would like for you to give me a first class honours for my degree because sitting in the (also available at Penneys) library all day is very boring and I am not getting enough sleep because my assignments keep to complete the Gran-worme up late at night. I just think the assurance of success would leave me with more time for thy look. For a party, swap the important things like watching animal videos on YouTube and creeping on Facebook. I the tights for some of Sally don’t think any of these requests are too demanding and I would really appreciate it Santa. Hansen's finest et voila; this Love Áine. outfit screams ‘fashionista’ for half the price. PS: I don’t mean to bring up the past but I never got my ballerina Barbie. You would think that I Remember to look out for would be over this but I was just so disappointed in you. Hopefully, you now have realised the hurt sparkles, sequins and baroque you have caused and rectify it this Christmas. but, at all costs, avoid the knicker-level cut off point for PPS: As penance for your Barbie mistake of 1999, I would like to shift Ryan Gosling. Make it dresses – it’s cold outside and happen Santa. Nan would never approve. A good coat and gloves are always useful, too. Now you’re all set, you have the outfit and the k n o w - h o w. Above all, be confident and glamour will surely follow.

Festive Fashion By Jenna Hodgins

what Santa brought us but it was the simple joys of listening for his footsteps on the roof and having a day with your family that really instilled the true meaning of Christmas in us. In the craziness that is Christmas, people spend money they don’t have, using credit cards and borrowing money that they won’t be able to make the interest pay-

ments on. It is a scary fact that money lenders are becoming an accepted part of society and it is only becoming more real in the run up to Christmas. In one initiative brought about by a Credit Union branch in Letterkenny, they are now offering a new ‘seasonal loan offer’ of borrowing up to €1,000 with the knowledge that you would only have to pay it back with €20 interest. While I don’t believe that families should have to take out loans for

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Home for Christmas… By Rosemarie Reyes It’s been over four months since I left my hometown of New York City and it will be another thirty days before I am home again for the holiday break. Yes, I’m counting the days! Homesick much? M y N e w Yo r k ; t h e crowds, the stores, things to do, places to see. My family and friends seem frozen in time to me. It’s as if I fully expect them to be still sitting out on their stoop in front of their house with shorts and flip flops on, wondering what free outdoor concert they might go to. I miss them the most but the best part of going home next month? It’s Christmas time in New York! Not only is it the best time to be in New York, but as a bonus, you get the best of people during that time too. Even cops are smiling as you bustle past them on the street. Some will be riding their police-issue horses sporting winter blankets with jingle bells on the trim. From Chinatown to Times Square, street vendors line the streets with their wares, offering everything from counterfeit YSL and Chanel handbags to $5 Pashmina silk scarves. (By the way, that’s a steal!) Christmas in New York begins at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on the last Thursday of November when Santa Claus rolls down Broadway on the last parade

float. In my mind’s eye, I walk down Broadway to W.34th Street to see Macy’s Department store windows all dressed up in a theme for the holidays. The windows along W.34th Street are always dedicated to scenes from the vintage film, “Miracle on ThirtyFourth Street” while the windows on the Broadway front feature more modern fare from a recent movie or event. Wandering up through Times Square, I’ll take in the smell of roasted chestnuts (on an open fire, just like in Nat King Cole’s “Christmas Song”), the vendors squawking, “Nuts!” at the top of their lungs. There will be Christmas lights strung on most of the trees as I climb up Broadway; I’ll peak through the throngs of people down each side street to see all the theatre marquis’ as I pass by. For me the sound track of New York at this time will always include the incessant ringing of the Salvation Army bells. A hearty volunteer will brave the chill for hours and ring that bell, inviting you to donate to their red charity bucket. Scattered throughout the c i t y, some will even

wear a Santa suit – bet it keeps them warmer too! When I cross W.50th Street toward Radio City Music Hall, the buzz in the air is palpable. Families spill out of the exits after taking in a matinee of the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. When I was a kid, we never missed a Rockettes performance. Now, smiles and souvenirs in hand, they all file through to the next block. They’re going to see what I can’t wait to feast my eyes on. I can feel the excitement of… The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree! It’s always massive in height and bulk, towering some 85 plus feet in the air. 30,000 multicolored lights twinkle throughout as the wind gently rustles its branches. This international symbol of the holidays is visited by tens of thousands in the six weeks it’s up, and is the perfect back drop for ice skaters in the rink below it. I stand in front of the tree and look through the plaza with its heralding angel statues tooting their horns. The best welcome home I can ever wish for!

During Christmas certain things are, unfortunately, inevitable. You know that you will eat too much, drink too much, spend too much and ultimately vomit at some point. With all this going on, it's virtually impossible to focus on the real meaning of the most festive of all seasons. It's hard to decipher what exactly that is but, being so knowledgeable and all, I've got some inside information. I don't like to brag but I saw a television once. *Gasps of excitement* Now that you've regrouped, I'm going to drop some wisdom grenades. This particular incident of TV voyeurism just so happened to take place in mid-August so, naturally, there was a Christmas advertisement being shown. From what I gather, 25 December has something to do with a bearded fat man and a donkey – I think it originally represented the national holiday for petting zoos. That, or Rolf Harris' birthday. I was never much good at reading in between the lines. It could be argued that contemporary Christmas is little more than an extensive marketing ploy that

leads you to eat too much, drink too much, spend too much and ultimately vomit at some point. Can you see a pattern forming? I wasn't always this bitter, though. I suppose my untainted Christmas joy began to fade when I was about eight years old and a certain member of third class decided to inform her less street-smart peers of a few Santa-related home truths. It was one of the first "Oh God, life is actually a big ball of crap" moments I've ever experienced. Did this mean there was no God, and, more importantly, who the hell kept putting money under my pillow when my teeth fell out? Existence as I knew it was forever altered. I don't think I've ever looked at my parents quite the same way again. Some time has passed since then (I'm now ten) and, thanks to extensive therapy sessions, I have partially moved on with my life. I'm making such great progress that I can now reminisce about Christmases of old. Don't worry, I'm not going to go all Christmas Carol on your ass and start discussing ghosts. I used to have ghosts of Christmas past, present and future but government funding cuts meant my organisation had to scale back on paying superfluous or "dead" members of staff. God damn bureaucracy. Before I reached double digits, December was my absolute favourite time of the year. The sheer, unadulterated excitement a child experiences in the immediate run up to Christmas morning is arguably the greatest feeling in the world. I remember the joy I felt at receiving my Forever Friends play house when I was four. I believe epic is the word. It was orange (when I was four, everything had to

be orange). I essentially lived there for about a week until the novelty wore off and one of the load-bearing plastic poles gave way. Good times. I still intend to use its layout as a blueprint for building my own house when I reach the age where I think it's fun to build houses. I reckon I'll be able to realise this particular dream when I'm in or around 72 years old. When I was seven, I accumulated one of my most successful Christmas collections: a Father Ted box set, a bright blue Adidas shell suit (with the obligatory three stripes down the side) and the most amazing purple bike you've ever seen. I was one cool kid. I briefly queried how good old Saint Nick managed to successfully manoeuvre our modest chimney with four bikes for my sisters and myself, but didn't feel the need to dwell on this. Santa is magic and that's all I needed to know. In contrast, recent Christmas days seem somewhat dull. I no longer want to get up at five o'clock in the morning to inspect my presents as an annual pyjama haul pales in comparison to the heady youthful days of the 1990s. Money seems to be the default gift now. Don't get me wrong, cash is useful – I buy things like stickers and cheese all the time. One thing's for sure, though: building a house out of bank notes is neither easy nor wise. If only the government had come to me for advice before the property boom – I'd have set them straight: plastic toy houses are where it's at. In an attempt to bridge the gap between Christmases old and new, I plan to spend the day itself eating a selection box for breakfast, watching The Santa Clause trilogy in one sitting and pumping out the Cliff Richard. And remember, if you find yourself at a loss of what to do this year: eat too much, drink too much, spend too much and ultimately vomit at some point.

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Cuairt ar Dhaidí na Nollag By Ian MacCarlúis Chuala mé le déanaí go gcaitheann muid tuilleadh airgid ag an Nollaig ná aon thír eile san Eoraip. €1,000 an duine agus níos mó ná 50% de sin caite ar bhronntanais. Nach seafóideach an rud é sin nuair atá cúlú eacnamaíochta ‘is ganntanas airgid sa tír. Dár ndóigh, níl mé ag rá gur muidne atá i gceist leis an gcaiteachas seo; go háirithe agus muid i bponc faoi bhagairt na dtáillí agus easpa deontais ar fáil. Nach mbeadh sé go deas an Nollaig seo, airgead a thabhairt do charthanachta (ar nós Naomh Uinsionn de Pól, nó a leithid) nó fiú cuidiú le daoine atá i gcruachás. Is ó Dhaidí na Nollag a fuair mé an comhairle is fearr. Ba é an chéad uair riamh gur bhuail mé le Daidí na Nollag. Bhí fostóirí mo dhaid ag íoc as lá spraoi

do na páistí. Bhí an cóisir seo ar siúl san áit atá Planet Leisure anois ar Bhóthar Áth Chinn anseo i nGaillimh. Is cuimhin liom go raibh mé neirbhíseach ach bhí sceitimíní áthais orm ag an am céanna. Bhí mise mé féin, leaid óg as Ghaillimh, ar tí bualadh leis an bhfear is cáiliúla ar dhomhan! Sin an fear mistéireach seo a thugann bronntanais do pháistí ar fud an domhain in aon oíche amháin. Bhí lá na cinniúna tagtha – Ian ag caint le Santaí go pearsanta. Ní raibh mé i ann don strus ach lean mé orm. Ag coimeád greim láimhe docht ar mo dhaid, shúil mé tri dhoras na háite agus d’fhéach mé thart thimpeall orm. Is ansin a chonaic mé é, ní raibh dabht ar bith faoi ach go raibh Daidí na Nollag os mo chomhair amach. Bhí sé gléasta mar a cheap mé, bhí éadaí dearga agus

bána le caipín beag ar a chloigeann aige agus buataisí móra dubha ar a chosa. Bhí sé ramhar go leor le leicne dearga agus féasóg fhada liath. Bhí na lucharacháin ag rith timpeall na háite agus bhí Santaí ina shuí ag barr an tseomra, áit a bhí leagtha amach mar theach Santaí. Bhí scuaine mhóra fhada ann agus sheas mé ag deireadh an líne go foighneach le daid in aice liom. Faoi dheireadh shroich mé barr an líne agus bhí sé in am dom suí ar chos Dhaidí na Nollag. D’inis mé m’ainm dó agus lean mé orm ag liostáil amach na rudaí a bhí uaim; idir mountain bike agus Sega Mega Drive. Is ansin do chur mé an cheist shuntasach seo air: ‘A Shantaí, le fannacht glan ar liosta na mbuachaillí dána i mbliana, céard ba cheart dom a dhéanamh?’ D’fhreagair sé mar seo

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NUI Galway’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul were out singing Christmas carols last week. The weather was cold, with gale-force winds. Surprisingly, they all kept their hats. mé, ‘Bhuel, a mhac, tá comhairle beag agam duit don Nollaig seo agus do do shaolsa ar fad. Bí go deas le chuile dhuine agus bí ag faire amach dóibh, is cuma má tá siad óg nó aosta, álainn nó gránna, santach nó cineálta.’ Tuigim anois, a chairde, níorbh é Santaí a bhí ann

ach gnáth-fhear. É sin ráite, chuaigh na focail sin go mór i bhfeidhm orm. Sea, is rudaí bunúsacha iad ach is féidir linn go léir dearmad a dhéanamh orthu ó am go chéile. Mar sin, tá mé chun glacadh leis an gcomhairle sin an Nollaig seo, is féidir libhse freisin. Ná tabhair droch

www.karma.ie

ainm ar Éirinn mar gheall ar chaiteachas airgid ach tabhair ainm mhaith ar an tír seo mar thír ina cuirfear fáilte roimh dhaoine inti. Mar fhocal scoir, Nollaig shona daoibh go léir agus bliain nua faoi mhaise. Tá súil agam go dtiocfaidh Dadaí na Nollag chugaibh ar fad!

Tel: 091 563 173 Email: gareth@karma.ie

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Student Speak

Aisling Stephenso n Arts “Getting up early for the presents.”

By Sean Dunne & Orla Ryan

This week we asked you, the students, about your best and worst Christmas Memories.

Kerri Plant t Erasmus Studen s, ma st “I like every Chri lot we always have a d an , of family over ed ll de before we remo uld our house we co ee tr s see the Christma , from my room and one year in particular I was sure I saw Santa’s shadow.”

Shane Gorey “Spending it with yo ur family an d stuff and the presents from Santa.” lon Brian Fal Science w “Thick Sno on the Ground.”

Simon O’ Donnell “Best present I ever got was my .” pool table

Catherin e G M.A Jour affeny nalism “One Chr istmas I g ot a Dear Diary fro m Santa a s a surpr but my ne ise igh that Santa bour claimed got the h ouses mixed up and so I handed over Dea r Diary be ing total innocent. ly Needless to say Santa had not got th e houses m ixed up a n d I had to se nd my Dad dy to reclaim the diary. ” Daw n M Arts onagh

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an “Wel l M mem y wors t o pro ry was babl y s silen t nig inging the ht a lo at h t ome cal chu , wh r ch en I got a fit of the hi need ccups, l to s ess ay th hicc e up won s .”

Melanie Hughes “The dinner and lots of stuffing.”

Pierce Butler Arts “Snowsledging is the best on a broken skate board.”

Deirdre n Coughla ii w a t o g “I console last year.”

Rachel Walsh Arts “Spending Christmas at my grandparents’ house.”

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Skyfall: “You know his name”

A Christmas Carol By Jane Kearns Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is one of the most popular and loved Christmas stories ever written, we all know the tale of how Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts that change his life forever, but how many of us have actually read the classic novella? Chances are a lot of us came to know and love the story through one of its many modern adaptations, whether it’s a comedy or a cartoon, the timeless tale has been reimagined countless times, here is a review of two of the most popular and original modern adaptations of A Christmas Carol: Scrooged and The Muppets Christmas Carol. Released in 1988, the black comedy, Scrooged, pokes fun at Dickens’ original story with many farcical scenes and jaded characters. Centring on a New York TV executive (Bill Murray) who has to produce a live broadcast of the original A Christmas Carol in order to boost ratings. The story is hilarious, dark and somehow heart-warming. Aside from the modern setting, the story follows the original quite closely; the Scrooge is the same mean-spirited man you’d expect but, thanks to Murray, the character is more funny than frightening. The ghosts are perfectly adapted for modern times; we get a plaid-wearing, whiskey-drinking dead boss of Murray’s, a loudmouth,

chain-smoking taxi driver and an unhinged fairy who all try to teach him the meaning of Christmas. If you’re looking for something funny to watch this Christmas, this is a must see. If you’re looking for a way to reminisce this Christmas, dig up your old video of The Muppets Christmas Carol. Released 20 years ago, this all-singing, all-dancing adaptation is synonymous with childhood and Christmas. Unlike Scrooged, The Muppets Christmas Carol takes place in 19th century London, and is led by Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. The story stays true to the original with some musical numbers added to give it the classic Muppets stamp. Almost all of the supporting roles are played by our favourite Muppet characters and the

film ends on a high like all good Muppet stories do. Characters like Gonzo, Dr. Honeyduke and Beaker add a comedic element to the much loved movie and as always Kermit plays the likeable character down on his luck, this time in the form of Bob Cratchit. Christmas stories don’t get much better than A Christmas Carol, and the numerous adaptations mean you can enjoy it again and again, but if you do run out of things to watch over the festive season, read the story, it’s at least as good as the movies!

By Kenneth Glennon Fifty years of 007 are celebrated in great style by Skyfall, the 23rd official outing in the James Bond franchise. Helmed by Oscar winning director Sam Mendes, Skyfall resurrects Bond in style after the dire Quantum of Solace. Harkening back to the more successful Casino Royale, Mendes opens with a typically grandiose chase sequence that features a rooftop motorcycle chase and Bond operating a forklift on top of a train whilst in pursuit of a man who

Christmas Day took place in NUI Galway’s College Bar on Tuesday 20 November.

has stolen a disk containing the identities of every undercover MI6 agent across the globe. Culminating with fellow MI6 agent Eve (Naomi Harris) accidentally shooting Bond, the list is lost and a great deal of scrutiny is brought upon Dame Judi Dench’s M as talk of transition from the old ways to a new technology-driven fight against terrorism begins to filter into Skyfall. Likewise Bond’s age is the subject of more than one serious talk as Mendes hints at the first signs of burnout in Craig’s superspy. Returning from the dead following his shooting at the film’s opening 007 is tasked with finding the stolen disk now in the hands of a brilliant terrorist named Silva, played sublimely by Spanish Oscar winner Javier Bardem. Skyfall delivers something more than pop-Bond entertainment. Dame Judi Dench is given all but colead status. Her maternal relationship with Bond, and indeed Silva, isn’t a key element of the picture so much as the picture itself. At 77, Dench dominates every scene she’s in and remains the toughest and most elegant figure on screen amidst Silva and Bond’s respective killing machines. Invaluably her scenes with Craig culminate in something moving and, surprisingly in the fantastical spy world of James

Bond, oddly real. This is not to take credit away from Craig who gives his best performance in the lead role. Hugely effective in presenting a slightly run-down Bond who can still convincingly kill anyone in the room whilst quietly giving both the requisite dry humour and emotional vulnerability in his scenes with Silva and M respectively Craig is terrific. Likewise Bardem who dishes out appropriate theatricality and villainous charm in equal measure (he has a particularly sexually charged introduction to Bond which is both priceless and dramatically effective). Taking the Judi Dench role in Skyfall as the epitome of everything that’s right with the film, Mendes and his multi-award winning trio of writers have crafted a Bond film that pays tribute to the past (vodka martinis, Aston Martins, grand villains), whilst paving pastures new. There’s a delightful extended cameo by Ben Whishaw as a young Q and even time for Ralph Fiennes (as a likable bureaucrat of all things) to drop in as a potential successor at the top of MI6. Heartfelt, intelligent and above all else a thoroughly enjoyable piece of entertainment Skyfall leaves Bond in excellent shape for the next half century. Roll on Bond 24.

mal nature, recruit many of their vampire cousins from around the world to help them as witnesses for Renesmee. The plot focuses strongly on each vampire’s individual power and how they can use them should the Volturi choose to be unreasonable. The establishment format has without a doubt changed for this instalment and has made it more entertaining for those who were tired of the same romanticised scenes of Edward and Bella’s ‘endless love’. The film is more than capable of filling in the gaps of the story for uninitiated audi-

ences mostly by employing flashbacks that tell stories of the immortal children, the Volturi and Jacob’s reason for ‘imprinting’ on a toddler. Watching Bella experience life as a powerful vampire compared to her awkward human days is humorous; however, the scene that stole the show was undoubtedly the twist on the battlefield in the closing moments. Part 2 should provide a gratifying conclusion for ‘Twihards’. Just try and ignore the cringe worthy attempts the Cullen’s stereotypically ‘Irish’ cousins make at our accent.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 By Cara Cribbon Breaking Dawn Part 2, the concluding instalment of the movie franchise based on Stephanie Mayer’s Twi-

light saga hit screens this month. The saga has always been met with cynical criticism by anyone other than it’s legions of diehard fans for leaning too heavily on

the plot of the supernatural romance between Edward and Head-over-heels Bella. With this being the fifth and final tale in the franchise, Director Bill Condon worked particularly well under the pressure of the ‘Twihards’ and the cautious critics. Breaking Dawn Part 1 was met with unenthusiastic reviews from the get go in the fear it would hinder the worth of the film adaptation. I think it’s time people keep an open mind for this one; part 2 delivers a fiery ‘war’ story with a fun new cast that come together for

the finale that ends with impact. Part 2 begins with Bella waking from her post transformation into the vampire world where she meets her half-human, half-vampire daughter. The Volturi (the ruthless vampire law-holders) play a bigger role in part 2, threatening to rip Bella’s new perfect life apart. A scorned cousin of the Cullen’s gives the Volturi false information that Edward and Bella’s daughter Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy) is an immortal child which results in their interference. The Cullen’s, knowing the Volturi’s nor-

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Societies and Hamsandwich make first University Ball a hit By Isabella De Luca The first NUI Galway University Ball took place on 13 November in Áras na MacLéinn, and was hailed a success by all those involved. With the help of a number of societies, the building was transformed into a lively festival venue for the night. Five dedicated spaces brought together the best entertainment, food, atmosphere and music our college has to offer. Meatballs were on the menu in the Cube, or ‘La Casa De Jazz’, as it was renamed by Italian Soc. Cotton Ball Three entertained diners with a tailored setlist. Setting off the chilled atmosphere nicely, they were followed by a jazz duo on piano and trumpet, and the Notions, whose mixture of blues and roots completed the room’s entertainment with style. It would have been easy to forget you were still in rainy Galway, and not

a jazz bar in the classy quarter of an Italian city. DJ Soc were given free reign in the View, pumping out their tunes of choice, while Cumann Farraige turned the Meeting Rooms into a mesmerizing underwater retreat. The Hub should be permanently renamed ‘The Room of Reclinement’ after its magical makeover by Potter and Astronomy Soc. Visitors were also invited to the Space to view a gallery of artwork and photographs on display by Art and Photo Soc, all to the relaxed backdrop of some classical and flamenco guitar. The Bailey Allen was the focal point of the Ball’s performances. Conor Ward and Rofi James, familiar faces to anyone who enjoys the Acoustic Heats at Witless, were the first to take to the stage, accompanied by performers from Juggling Soc. The Rusty Fixtures, another Witless success story, then

warmed up the platform for the act that everyone was waiting for. Fresh from their success at Electric Picnic, Hamsandwich headlined the evening with an energetic show that had everyone up and dancing. DJ Soc closed the night and ball-goers proceeded to the Bentley for the official after-party. Bands and singers were sourced by Rock Soc, and the whole event was naturally recorded by Photo Soc and S|TV. Lily McGarry, Societies Events and PR Manager, commended the efforts of everyone involved in the organisation of the Ball: “The University Ball was a great success and on behalf on me and my colleagues I would like to thank the following; the societies who got involved, they created such diverse and appropriate atmospheres in their themed rooms, the volunteers and staff for their hard work, security and buildings, Riona

Hughes and all the staff in the Socs Box for their fantastic support. Hamsandwich were no doubt the highlight of the night. They put on a great show, showed great energy and interacted fantastically with the crowd.” Riona Hughes, Societies Officer, also wished to

extend her gratitude: “Thanks to the hard work and creativity of the societies Áras na Mac Léinn was transformed into a magical world of surprises. Thanks also to SU catering, the Buildings Office, security, Seagh MacSiurdain for helping with the lights, everyone in the

Socs Box and of course the amazing teamwork of Lily McGarry, Thor McVeigh and Bryan Rabbitt, for their tireless work in making the event such a fabulous success. I look forward to future transformations of the student centre with more, big, student-led events.”

The University Ball provided various kinds of entertainment including juggling and hula-hooping. Photo by Kieran Durcan.

The best thing since sliced bread: Hamsandwich More wit to be return to Galway for the University Ball witnessed at Witless By Isabella De Luca Johnny Moore and Podge McNamee first announced the formation of the band that would become Hamsandwich back in 2003, nearly nine years ago. However, in an exclusive interview after the University Ball on Tuesday, November 13, Hamsandwich told Sin that the band didn’t really kick start until 2007, when they hit the Irish music scene with a string of appearances at festivals, and featured on a number of radio and television shows across the country.

Although the original line-up has been changed over the years, including founding member Moore’s resignation in 2010, vocalist Niamh Farrell believes that “the band as it is now is the real band”. The others agree that there is something special about the way they click together musically. No one person takes the credit for anything. They see writing as a combined effort; individuals add their own instrumentals and ideas along the development course. The band have “immense respect” for the

Hamsandwich rocking out on the stage of the Bailey Allen Hall at the University Ball. Photo by Kieran Durcan.

song writing process, which builds the blocks for live shows that act as a release gauge for all their hard work. Podge, guitar and vocals, went into detail about the influence that the album Alligator by The National had on his appreciation of music, while Niamh cited Kate Bush as one of her huge musical influences. She is a particular fan of Kate’s early work, which she says displayed an amazing song writing ability that only grew and flourished with time. The band spoke enthusiastically about new techniques being developed by modern artists, but they all agreed that it is the music you have always loved that really inspires your own. Since the release of their critically-acclaimed second album, White Fox, Hamsandwich have reached new levels of popularity nationwide. In February 2012, they sold out their first headline show at the Academy Dublin two weeks in advance, and they are on the way to packing out the venue for the second time on 15 December. However, the success has

far from gone to their heads; “I know it might sound cliché, but you’re only as big as your last gig,” says Podge. Within the space of two nights, the band can go from playing to a huge crowd shouting their names to an uninterested few locals at a pub in the country side. “You need a few kicks every so often,” Podge continues. When himself and Ollie Murphy, drummer, heavily commended tracks that Niamh has been working on for the new album, she seemed humbled and honoured by their praise. But the tracks sound like they will be worth waiting for, without a doubt. In any case, the band can’t imagine themselves doing anything else but making music. With their third studio album in production and plans to break into England, we can expect great things from them in the coming years. And after their killer performance at the University Ball, everyone at NUIG is hoping Hamsandwich remember to return to Galway when they make it big.

By Vincent Hughes The last few months have been pretty busy for the people behind Witless 2013. Other than organizing and staging the five heats of the competition, they recently recorded a Christmas single in aid of the worthy charity Ability West, featuring Witless finalists The Rusty Fixtures and NUI Galway’s own Choral Society. They covered the Christmas classic ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’. Looking beyond Christmas, 2013 shall see the semi-final on 22 January with alternative rockers Ignition Kid, Prospect Avenue, The Metrognomes, acoustic performers Amber Lights and Go Go Gecko all battling it out for their place in the final which takes place on 5 February. It’s shaping up to be something truly spectacular, bringing together a variety of Witless veterans and fresh-faced recruits, including Anomaly, Cotton Ball Three, The Rusty Fixtures, and Super7aiyan. Anomaly came together

in November 2011 and made it to the finals of Witless 2012, covering both classics and modern hits and they’re set to do the same again this year. Cotton Ball Three are a pretty diverse group, starting out in 2011 with acoustic pop-parodies, but recently taking to the stage at the University Ball as a jazz trio. Making a return from last year’s finals are The Rusty Fixtures, a group that formed in 2010, drawing from a variety of influences, including folk, soul, funk and pop. Formed mid-summer, Super7aiyan may be the youngest group in the final, playing together for just over two months before taking their instrumental brand of alternative/indie to the stage for the first time to enter the competition. Lastly, Rofi James is an acoustic pop-rock duo formed in 2011 who fought their way through the acoustic heat to make it into the final. Witless 2013 is shaping up to be something truly fantastic.

At the cutting edge for centuries At one time, a student of Trinity College Dublin had a legal right to demand a glass of wine, during examinations, provided he was wearing his sword. While this law was never actually repealed, our students have gone on to display cutting edge abilities in other ways, from winning the Nobel Prize for literature, to splitting the atom and beyond. You will have the chance to cross swords with great minds in Science, Technology, Arts and Humanities at our Postgraduate Open Day. Please join us in the Public Theatre, from 4 to 7pm, on Thursday, January 24th, 2013. Look sharp when you come to Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edgiest university.

Visit www.tcd.ie/graduate_studies to see what you could become.

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Annual student journal Ignition Kid and ‘The to publish its 21st issue NUIG Song’ By Emma Murtagh

ROPES is a literature and art review produced annually by the students of the MA in Literature and Publishing. This year, it is celebrating its 21st anniversary. Since its first publication, ROPES has become an institution at NUI G a l w a y, e s t a b l i s h i n g itself as a platform for students with an interest in writing to publish their work. It has also featured a number of well known authors, including Seamus Heaney and John Waters. All proceeds from ROPES 2013 will be donated to Jigsaw, an Irish charity dedicated to promoting good mental health and well-being in young people. In honour of Jigsaw, the theme of this year’s ROPES is ‘Coming of Age’. This theme is intended to produce content that creatively interprets how

growth and development affects the way in which people engage with life in the 21st century through poetry, fiction and nonfiction. Students are invited to submit pieces for publication. A maximum of 2000 words of prose or three pages of poetry is in place. Submissions can be sent via ROPES. submittable.com before the deadline of Monday 14 January 2013. NUI Galway has a proud tradition of charitable contributions. The recession has left many local charities struggling and university fundraising is now more important than ever in maintaining organisations like Jigsaw. The students working on ROPES 2013 hope to make this issue the most successful yet in order to help support Jigsaw and the invaluable services it provides to the Galway community.

The call of the Hawley By Austin Maloney Perhaps the most notable thing about Sheffield troubadour Richard Hawley is his longevity. He first rose to prominence with the Longpigs in the 90s as part of the Britpop wave of guitar bands. While never one of Britpop’s big names, The Longpig’s had two UK top twenty singles (‘On and On’ and ‘She Says’, both reaching number 16) and toured with Radiohead, Echo & the Bunnymen and U2. However, like many Britpop bands, the Longpigs faded and split in 2000. After the break-up of the Longpigs, Hawley went on to play guitar for Pulp for their live shows. Encouraged by Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker and Steve Mackey, he decided to embark on a solo career. He released his first solo album, Late Night Final, in 2001 and has gone on to release six more, the most recent being Standing on the Sky’s Edge, released

this July. Unlike most of his Britpop colleagues, Hawley has retained his relevance into the new millennium. He was nominated for the Mercury Music prize in 2006 and 2012, losing out to Arctic Monkeys and Alt-J respectively. He was also nominated for Best British Male Performer in the 2008 Brit Awards. Had Arctic Monkeys themselves decided the destination of that 2006 Mercury Prize, Hawley may well have won it. Confirmed fans, the Arctics have recruited Hawley to provide vocals for their B-sides on two occasions, ‘Bad Woman’ in 2007 and ‘You And I’ in 2012. The two acts have common ground in their shared hometown Sheffield. Hawley, in particular, is proud of his city, and frequently references Sheffield geography in his album titles. Standing at the Sky’s Edge refers to Skye Edge, a hillside area that provides a

By Kevin O’Connor You may or may not have heard of ‘The NUIG Song’ (Lazin’ Around). If you have, and would like to know how it all began, then this short article should explain a few things. Ignition Kid is a 4-piece alternative-rock and acoustic band formed in 2010. The band is composed of singer Kevin O’Connor, lead guitarist David Kelly, bassist Brendan Cafferky, and drummer Kevin Clesham. The two Kevin’s are present students at NUIG. The four lads are good friends from home and attended secondary school together. ‘The NUIG Song’ was of course written to expose that ever-exciting Galway nightlife we all know and love. Having lived in student accommodation in Galway, a song “simply had to be written” claimed songwriter Kevin, and so he and David decided to put pen to paper. The idea was to expose in the lyrics and tempo the lead up to a night on the town, and the resulting aftermaths of chasing ladies and the inability to get out of bed the following morning. Lazing around. We’ve all been there! The YouTube video of the song grabs amateur view over the city centre. So what does Hawley actually sound like? Hawley’s music is very heavily focussed on guitar, with bass and drums taking a back seat. He combines heavy riffs with screeching feedback to create a dark, psychedelic backdrop for his lyrics. As a lyricist, Hawley prefers to create images and scenes for the listener, and his songs feature characters who are “sliding down the razor’s edge” and who “move like a dog”. To top it all off, Hawley sings these words in a rasping, Tom Waits-like croak. Hawley plays the Black Box on Wednesday 5 December and is well worth checking out. Thousands of fans, two Mercury panels, and four Monkeys can’t all be wrong.

footage from around the college and city, showing most of NUIG hotspots and social landmarks that create a foundation for a full social life at NUIG. ‘The NUIG Song’ and 5 other demos were recorded in Autumn 2011 following success in collaborating with students of Berklee’s College of music in Boston, which is largely associated with music greats such as Bob Reynolds and John Mayer. Another song, the abstract ‘Goldfly’, written by Kevin in 2008 was produced by student Garrett Eaton in Boston while Kevin was on a J1. Kevin played it at a house party one night and from there ideas to collaborate began. The track can be found on Ignition Kid’s YouTube Channel with other tracks. A second duet version was also recorded. The duet version includes Berklee student Kelly Hafner on female vocals. The original version has yet to be released. If you feel like you want to get to know Ignition Kid a little better, don’t forget to check them out on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube! They are also set to play in the Witless semi-final in January so you’ll have the opportunity to skip over to the college bar to see them.

A song is a weapon By Gillian Keating Indie-pop band, Stars are shooting into Galway on December 1, following the release of their album The North. The Montreal 5-piece has gathered international acclaim, nominated for two Polaris Music Awards in Canada, and the prestigious Canadian Juno award for best Alternative Album. Stars released their debut album Nightsongs in 2001with tracks focusing on themes of love and turmoil. These themes continued to feature on their subsequent albums with a little dose of nostalgia. The romantic theme also features predominantly in The North and is immediately evident in their opening track, ‘The Theory of Relativity’. The melodic notes of Chris Seligman’s keyboards accompany Campbell’s nostalgic lyrics of past friends. Emotions continue to run-high on ‘Do You Want to Die Together?’ featuring an evocative duet between band members Campbell and Amy Millan. The two singers’ trade promises of eternal devotion, but everything changes drastically in the chorus. The guitar chords become distorted and the loved up couple agree to end it all to preserve their relationship. ‘Do You Want to Die Together?’ sends the listener on an

emotional rollercoaster. Stars do move away from away from their dramatic love theme during ‘A Song Is a Weapon’, which is angrier than the other tracks on The North. ‘A Song Is a Weapon’ is more politically inclined. The indignation in Campbell’s vocals embodies the feeling of being betrayed by someone you once trusted. It contrasts greatly with ‘Hold on When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It’ where Campbell sings a much softer tone. The title of this track has also been confirmed by Campbell as being his personal mantra for relationships. This acts as a reminder that conflict isn’t just a way of keeping romance integral, but a means of staying alive. Stars music is undeniably evocative and emotionally high powered. When Pat McGee was interviewed for The Dublin Event Guide he had this to say on the themes that appear throughout Stars music: "We love the fact that our music is beautiful and gentle, with a searing darkness. The Smiths are my favourite band of all time and others think that they are depressing, but I think they are uplifting and wonderful and I think they are political too and talk about the state of nations, but state of people - we try and do the same."

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Alt-J: this year’s mercury prize winning album

Who’s The Man? – A refreshing response to straight Irish questions

By Joyce Fahy

By Clare Kileen

An Awesome Wave by English band Alt-J was released this year. Is Alt-j (∆) another ‘alternative’ indie band that claims it has created innovative sounds and unique lyrics, all told through the beauty of a highly distinctive and fragile voice? (But in reality sounds like a boring raucous of embarrassingly obvious words and drab sounds?) I feared Alt-j would not awaken my ears to fresh music. In spite of these pessimistic thoughts I decided to give another indie album a listen. Within minutes I had jumped right on the imaginary band wagon that celebrates Alt-j, just days before the album won the Mercury prize - an annual

music prize awarded for the best album from the UK and Ireland. The band, to my relief, is not just another mundane indie pop quartet. Its indie style is combined with a mixture of trip-hop, electronic heavy synth riffs, and at times even sounds folky. Each song seems to start slow then builds up solidly to create a reverberation of texturing sounds. In my opinion, a good album and a good smell are very similar. A smell that overpowers quickly becomes sickening and distasteful, but a more subtle scent – one that resonates and grows – is like music that is not immediately pleasing, but becomes more satisfying with time and repetition. The lead vocalist adds

to the emotional intimacy of the songs, combining strong statements with abstract lyrics to the atmospheric music. Ultimately, the album is chilled out, fusing minimalist sounds with dense beats and unique vocals. “Something Good” “Breezeblocks” and “Fitzpleasure” are typical examples of songs that begin slowly, but build up to a powerful chorus only to slip back into discreet, tranquil sounds. The final track “HandMade” is a humble piece with harmonizing vocals and passionate guitar picking. This album is well worth multiple plays, if you are looking for some chilled out, stimulating music. Alt-J (∆) plays The Olympia, Dublin on Friday May 3.

Who’s the Man? A Series of Random Questions comes to the Town Hall Theatre on the Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 December. The one-man show, written and performed by musician Steven Sharpe, presents a very personal experience of growing up gay in Ireland. Through music, song and heartfelt monologues, the show deals with how being gay affects a person’s personality and the people around him. This original and refreshing material was inspired by questions the artist was asked by straight friends and relatives over the years. The show presents answers without always providing the question, leaving it to the audience to come up with their own interpretation. It promises to be a unique experience – a must see for all. Sharpe says he has never minded people’s genuine curiosity and found over time that often the best way to communicate is through humour. However, this musical examination of modern Ireland can’t be defined as comedy. Never one to shy away from controversy or emotion in his music, Sharpe’s show promises to have the

audience moving between bouts of laughter and reflection – something Sharpe feels is sorely needed. He believes that the show covers a lot of what gay people will be familiar with, but perhaps some which others won’t. “There’s a lot of diversity in gay culture that doesn’t get represented.” The show combines a constant live music gig feel with theatrical sets. Atmospheric lighting, projector and audio clips help to create an immersive environment. This is not just a collection of pub performances, Who’s the Man? tells a story through four central characters: Sharpe himself, his parents and - of course - the ex. These characters change as the show progresses and Sharpe hopes the audience will find themselves or some of their

What is funny? By Connor McDonough-Flynn Jokes are to comedians what a .44 Magnum was to Dirty Harry: “Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?” I badmouth my jokes all the time; self-deprecation is a crucial ingredient in a comedians spice rack. But what is funny? This question rattles around in my head like a 1cent coin in a charity bucket. I know it sounds strange but jokes are personal, it’s not just writing funny, it’s taking a topic or idea from the cellblocks of my cerebral and putting my own crafty spin on it. I have a plethora of jokes that I find hilarious, but some jokes don’t translate well on stage, or they’re simply not funny. This is a harsh realization that smacks me in the

face as I tragically broadcast a disaster of a joke to an audience’s silent confusion. My worst joke was about the cinema popcorn trick: the age-old date trick where the male cuts a hole in the bottom of the tub of popcorn and inserts a surprise for his date to discover at a, hopefully, opportune moment during the film. This joke went through the whole ordeal, and after rambling for about ten minutes, I realized the audience had not only stopped laughing but had begun to pity me. I am a constant work in progress, because jokes have a shelf life. One of the hardest tasks is to lay a joke to bed; a well-constructed joke always gets a laugh, which makes it easy to hide behind. I have a joke about Lassie and his utter contempt for Timmy, the numskull

preconceptions changed as well. This will be the first full performance of the show, but Sharpe is feeling confident. He has received a lot of support from the Galway music scene and there’s already a great buzz about the show. Sharpe credits his Sunday night open mic performances at the Róisin Dubh with supporting his music career. The positive reception he received there for songs like ‘All Men are Bastards’ encouraged him to go about creating a show. “I've spent the last year writing it and feel it ready to be performed it’s in entirety.” The show starts at 8.30pm both nights. Tickets are available from the Town Hall Theatre, costing €8 for students and €10 regular price. For more information visit: http://tht.ie/1550/WhosThe-Man.

in the show who continually injured himself. I then distressfully suggest to the audience; “will somebody please put a helmet on this kid!” Lassie has been getting laughs for almost two years, but now I am coming to the realisation that it might be time to put Lassie to sleep. This is tough, because Lassie is one of my favorite bits, but like Dirty Harry, I have to continually build my arsenal and push my luck. But the question still remains… “What is funny?” I turn the question to you the reader. I would be interested to hear your take. Is Lassie funny? Farts? Walking into a door? E-mail your ideas to: unhingedcomedyclub@ hotmail.com. Connor McDonoughFlynn has recently set up the “Unhinged Comedy Club” downstairs in The Cellar Bar, which will run every Thursday at 9pm.

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health & F itness

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7 tips to avoid the Christmas and health dreaded 'holiday bulge' By Kiri Renssen

By John Mulry www.ExpectSuccessFitness.com Remember that episode of Friends where Ross says he's carrying some extra holiday weight that he'd prefer not to talk about? It's actually a major problem that we face year after year. Studies have shown that the month or so around Christmas and New Year’s is the cause of many embarrassing stories similar to Ross's. Christmas is a time for joy, giving and receiving; it’s also a time of overindulgence. What with all the Christmas parties, nights out, 12 pubs shenanigans combined with the never-ending nibbling on sweets, treats and all things sugary (I particularly like Ferero Roche myself) – an extra few pounds of 'holiday weight' is inevitable right? The thing is, if you follow that train of thought you're setting yourself up for failure before Santa even thinks about stopping over with the unwanted present that nearly everyone gets – the Christmas bulge. To help you battle the bulge over this holiday season I've put together 7 tips that'll help you stay nice and lean through the holidays and who knows you might even come out the other side of Christmas looking and feeling better than ever. 1. Hydrate first thing in the morning. We are generally dehydrated when we wake up and we often confuse this with hunger. First thing you should do when you wake up in the morning is drink a large glass of water as well as a cup of hot water and lemon. Don’t forget to brush your teeth and look pretty too. 2. Don't go anywhere hungry. If you're going to a dinner party or get together – fill up on a healthy nutritious fibre rich meal beforehand. You'll be less likely to indulge if you're already full – sounds simple and it works. 3. Stay active. Make sure to stay active over the Christmas and New Year’s season. The excuse that the gym or health club is closed is non-starter; you can easily workout at home with minimal or no equipment. You can even get outdoors and participate in many of the festive charity walks or runs. There really is no excuse. 4. Split deserts with someone. We all like our indulgences and trust me I'm no different. If you're at a Christmas party or get together and really want some desert, have some and split it with someone else. This way you get to satisfy your craving while halving the calorie count. Better still, bring along your own desert – check out my recipe for a healthy cheesecake on page 13 of this issue.

5. Avoid watching TV and eating. This may be the biggest one. Habitually we all associate eating with watching TV and vice versa. Make it a rule that all meals must be eaten together at the table and not while watching the Only Fools and Horses Christmas special. 6. Stick to the 80/20 rule. If you eat super clean 80% of the time there is absolutely no reason why you cannot enjoy your favourite foods the other 20% of the time. A little bit of planning goes a long way. Would you rather get fat over Christmas or do a small bit of planning and still be able to enjoy whatever you want? 7. Make the decision. A lot of what we do is decided well before we ever do it. This Christmas, instead of settling that weight gain is a foregone conclusion, make a conscious decision to come out the other side of the holiday season looking and feeling better. Make a promise to yourself and stick to it, then reward yourself when you succeed with some new clothes in the January Sales. I love Christmas and I'm especially excited about this one, you just can't beat turkey, ham and all the trimmings. My Christmas feasts are going to be guilt free this year; yours can be too. Follow these simple tips and you can enjoy all that this holiday season has to give without having to spend your Christmas vouchers on buying clothes a dress or pants size bigger. Happy holidays from Expect Success Fitness.

December 8 heralds the official beginning of the silly season. We lose ourselves in festive preparations and revelry and find ourselves doing things that we wouldn’t consider particularly healthy (or rational) during the rest of the year. Take the Christmas tree. Everyone indulges their inner Mrs. Bucket and endeavours to “bring the outdoors indoors” by hefting a big ol’ conifer into their sitting rooms. Then we decorate it in baubles and lights that have been gathering dust in the shadowy depths of our attics since last January. Personally, I love this wacky tradition, however some of you who suffer from allergies or asthma may not be as keen; “Many people are unaware that cypress and pine trees produce high amounts of pollen,” says Kristine Whorlow, CEO of the National Asthma Council in Australia, “pollen can trigger hay fever symptoms and asthma, especially when the trees are displayed indoors.” Dust can have similar effects. To reduce these symptoms, the Asthma Council recommends vacuuming and wiping down artificial trees and decorations when you take them out of storage and to unpack them outside if possible. While Christmas tree fires are uncommon, when they happen they tend to be serious according to figures by the National Fire Protection Association in the US. The majority of fires occur between Christmas Eve and January 2. Make sure the brandy on the pudding is the only thing that goes up in flames this year and keep potential heat sources away from the tree.

Eat, drink and be merry. Many of us take Christmas as carte blanche to stuff ourselves. People expect to put on weight over Christmas and many go on crash diets in advance, particularly women. If overweight, losing weight is beneficial but they are called crash diets for a reason. First, you wallop your body with whatever dubious method the latest knowit-all is spouting and then when you fail, and statistically you will, you can spend the holidays berating yourself and nursing your shattered self-esteem. If you want to lose weight, do it healthily. Visit a doctor or dietician for advice and of course, exercise. Food is an integral part of the season with the traditional turkey taking pride of place in the festive meal. The most severe consequence of Christmas dinner is indigestion. However if you don’t prepare that turkey properly you could end up looking as green as Kermit in “The Muppets Christmas Carol". According to the HSE, Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning in Ireland. Campylobacter bacteria are found in poultry, unpasteurised milk

and untreated water. Dr David McCleery, chief specialist microbiologist for Safefood recommends cooking the stuffing separately because Campylobacter live in the bird’s intestines. This is why it is important to make sure that there is plenty of hot air circulating through the body cavity. This is hampered if you stuff the turkey. Simply washing the turkey under the tap isn’t enough. In fact, by washing the turkey there is a good chance that you will spread Campylobacter and other bacteria like Salmonella from the raw meat around the kitchen on to worktops, utensils, dishes and exposed food. Essentially, make sure the bird is well-roasted and clean your hands and countertops and utensils straight away after preparing it. On the first day of Christmas my true love came with me to accident and emergency! Several studies published in the journals “Circulation”, the Oxford “Quarterly Journal of medicine” and the “Journal of the American College of Cardiology” have found that heart attacks occur more often in winter, particularly around Christmastime. Some suggest that this might be due to people putting off doctor visits over the holiday period, over-indulging, extra salt or alcohol intake or the stress caused by your cantankerous great-aunt Mildred visiting. Typical symptoms include chest pain or discomfort which can radiate to the left arm, jaw, shoulders as well as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and anxiety. For many, Christmas is a poignant time that can stir emotive memories from the past. It’s recognized that the season can bring people down and make them feel lonely. If you know of such a person, give them a call; casually invite them over. Christmas is about celebrating the birth of a vulnerable baby and so it’s fitting for us now to look out for the vulnerable amongst us today. Have a very happy (and healthy) Christmas!

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NUIG Hockey achieves highest ranking ever at Intervarsities Tournament By Hannah Jenkenson The intervarsity hockey tournament held in UCC in October proved the most successful ever for the NUI Galway hockey team, as they reached their highest-ever ranking. The team started off their tournament with a 3-2 win over Cork side CIT. The team were winning 3-1 with only five minutes to go and then a minor slip by the NUIG side meant CIT converted their final goal to finish the game 3-2. Nevertheless it was a win for NUIG, three points on the board and a fantastic boost for their

next and most challenging match against last year’s winner, UCD. Unfortunately the Dublin side got an early lead and NUI Galway found it difficult to come back and the final score showed a loss of 6-0. It was a very disappointing loss for the team and meant it would be more difficult for them to reach the semi-finals. The following day held some of NUI Galway’s best hockey in their match against UCC Seconds. With a fantastic score line of 5-0, the team proved that they had not let the UCD match knock them and that they were determined to do the best they

possibly could in the tournament. This success continued in their final match for the fifth and sixth play-off. NUIG would be taking on DCU to finish the tournament on a high and make the weekend an absolute success. The final score was 3-1 to NUI Galway, affirming their fifth place in the tournament and also meaning that for next year’s Intervarsities they would be among the top six colleges in the country competing in the new system for the Cup. The success of the tournament continued as this weekend both the

PROFILE: NUI Galway Ladies Basketball By Mike Murray The NUIG ladies basketball started back this season with a new team and new development programme. After being crowned division 2 Varsity champions last year, the base was there to develop the basketball programme. With the help of Kathy Hynes and Gary Ryan, Varsity coach Mike Murray put forward the plan of

amalgamating the Foireann Na Gaillimhe Division 1 team of season 2011 with NUIG and calling it the NUIG Mystics. The team is made up of players from all the clubs in Galway and also has added victory scholar Gretchen Gaskin from Chicago, USA to the team roster. The team will compete for the division one national league title this season and is made up of the following players: Co-captains Michelle Canavan and Meabh Malone, Neasa O’Keeffe, Gretchen Gaskin, Lauren Murray, Aileen Crowley, Hannah Coen, Ailish O’Reilly, Meadbh Campbell,

Roisin Nihill, Marie Deegan, Roisin Higgins and Leah Cunningham. The coaching staff includes head coach Joe Shields, assistant coach Mike Murray and manager Joanne Cullen. At this stage in the season the team’s record is two wins against Donegal and St. Mary’s, Castleisland and one loss against Portlaoise Panthers, which places them 2nd in the league. The varsity team is competing in div 1 this season and started the season with a big win against UCC. Their second game was against last years D1 finalists UL and unfortunately came up short on the day against a very strong UL side. You can follow the team’s progress on our Facebook page www.facebook. com/nuigmystics and we would appreciate all of your support at our games.

firsts and seconds teams secured wins in their league matches. The firsts defeated Galway 2 with a 3-0 win and the seconds overcame Athlone

2 with a brilliant 5-0 win. The club is in great spirits and will strive to continue with their success thus far this year.

NUI Galway Kayakers visit Donegal By Katie Finnegan The weekend before last, 85 NUI Galway Students descended on the quiet down of Bundoran for one of the most popular trips on the college calendar. Following two months of beginner sessions, the students got the chance to run the Bunduff river. The group left fisheries field on Friday afternoon, equipped with 30 kilos of food, 85 t-shirts, 45 kayaks, 45 sets of paddles, one trailer, eight committee members and over 50 excited first years. Captain David Higgins said that the river trip was a great success; “The river level was good and the weather stayed dry as everyone got into gear.”

Saturday night was fancy dress night, and the theme – as voted by the members of the club was: “What I wanted to be when I was 5.” Fairies, monkies, cowboys, Tellitubbies, Indians, Superheroes, Raft Guides, footballers and one very entertaining Mr Penguin all turned out in style to make it an extremely memorable night. While the Donegal trip for 2012 might be over, there is still plenty coming up on the kayaking calendar in the next few weeks. Sessions are still running on Wednesdays from 1pm – 3.30pm; Friday from 2pm – 4pm and Saturday from 2pm – 4pm. These sessions will be used to train for the upcoming level 2 assessments currently being run by the club, and many trips down the Lower Corrib. In other kayak club news, two members of NUIG Kayak Club have been chosen to represent Ireland at the Kayaking World Championships next September in North Carolina, USA. NUI Galway graduates Andrew Regan (23) and Barry Loughnane (22) competed at the trials, which took place in Nottingham, England on November 3. For more information about getting involved in kayaking, or to check out the calendar – visit www.nuigkc.com.

nd thanks for a g a s a m reat s i rom the Sports Unit f r eme ! h — hav C e a s y afe a r nd ha ppy holiday! M Good luck with exams... keep focused and don’t forget to s! de- ress aft exam ailable Corrib Cages are av the for hire thoroughout exam p iod.

5-ASIDE SYNTHETIC PITCHES Cages for hire – Students & Staff

€20 PEr Hour

Located at Corrib Village

PArk AND rIDE

For further info: contact Kevin Cassidy Email: nuigcages@kingfisherclub.com Text Kevin: 0861772589 Or visit www.otc.nuigalway.ie Kevin Cassidy is the facilitator for all your recreational soccer. Most capped player for Galway United, Manager/Coach with Galway District League.

Commences to Dangan at 5.45pm. Last bus from the Pavilion at 9.15pm

Mon – Wed 5.45pm – 9.15pm Thursday 5.45pm – 8.15pm

Bus will start at the Orbsen Building and complete its usual pickups. You can hop on and off as usual but this bus goes all the way to Dangan Pavillion!

5.45 | 6.15 | 6.45 | 7.15 | 7.45 | 8.15 | 8.45 | 9.15

to Dangan Sports Pavillion: now operating!

Service Operates:

Monday – Wednesday

Service operates from January 14th after the Christmas break

Departing from Orbsen Building:

(final bus from Dangan Pavillion)

Thursday

Departing from Orbsen Building:

5.45 | 6.15 | 6.45 | 7.15 | 7.45 | 8.15 (final bus from Dangan Pavillion)

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CLUB PROFILE: NUI Galway’s Fencing Club The Kingfisher Fitness Clubs win prestigious awards By Michelle Miniter NUI Galway’s Fencing Club have had a number of achievements so far this semester. In mid-October (the 27th and 28th), the club held a successful West of Ireland Open Competition at which Club Captain Fiadhnait McDonough won a silver medal in the Women’s Sabre, and founding club member Mark Loughnane won a silver medal

in Men’s Épée. Many of our older and novice members attended Schull in Cork; a competition run by UCC for Foil, and Fiadhnait claimed Gold, while Ciara Flannery won Silver. Timothy O'Callaghan got to the Quarterfinal matches, while John Masterson also fought well on the day but unfortunately didn't make it to the quarterfinal stages. Training for the semester is now over

(as of issue 6 of Sin), but will resume to the regular timetable following Clubs Day of second semester. That being, beginner (and all levels) training Tuesdays 6-7.30 in Hall 1 of the Kingfisher; all levels coached lessons Thursdays 6-8 in Hall 3 (with some slots for private lessons being available – to be confirmed in January); and fitness and footwork training Fridays 3-4, also in Hall 3. An advanced session is also run on Sundays from 2 – 4pm in the racquetball court.

New Swim Centre launched at the Kingfisher By Eileen Cameron The Kingfisher Club at NUI Galway was the venue for the launch of Swim Ireland’s new Connacht Swimming Performance Centre last Wednesday 14 November. In attendance at the launch were swimmers and coaches from Connacht clubs and representatives from Swim Ireland, the Irish Sports Council, the Kingfisher Club and NUI Galway. The Centre opened in September 2012, and offers training time and sports science services to around 25 of the best young swimmers in the province. Programmes are available both full and part-time under the direction of coach Pearse McGuigan and Peter Banks the National Performance Director of Swim Ireland. “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Kingfisher Club and NUI Galway to develop swimming in Connacht,” stated Peter Banks. He added; “The new centre will help

us to raise the level of training opportunities for Irish swimmers at home, and will also provide the structure and programmes to enable swimmers who are based in Connacht to achieve success at European, World, and ultimately Olympic level. We are grateful for the support of the Irish Sports Council, Kingfisher Club, NUI Galway and other partners in this regard.” The Irish Swimming Association, the Irish Water Polo Association and Swimming Teachers and Coaches in Ireland all come under the remit of Swim Ireland with over 13,000 members and 150 affiliated clubs. The Connacht centre is the third training venue for swimmers to be established in Ireland. Limerick University opened the first such facility in 2006, followed by the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin in 2010. A further Performance Centre is planned for next year in Bangor, Co. Down. Managing Director of the Kingfisher,

Joe Cosgrove, said, “The Kingfisher Fitness Club are honoured to be chosen as Connacht’s Premier Performance Centre. Through our partnership we strive to help the young talent steadily emerging throughout Connacht and allow them develop their skills to propel them towards successfully performing at international standard. We fully believe that we can support the new generation of Irish swimmers with better training facilities and opportunities. By setting ourselves high standards and living and working by these standards we cannot but see results.” The Kingfisher Club at NUI Galway is part of one of the largest health and fitness providers in Ireland, with over 12,500 members. The Kingfisher group is one of the largest health and fitness providers in Ireland with clubs in Renmore, Galway, Tuam, Ballinasloe and Waterford. They are the largest provider of swimming tuition in the West of Ireland through their Swim Academy.

By Sinead L. Healy Following this year’s 2012 White Flag Excellence Awards all of the Kingfisher Fitness Clubs and Spas achieved Gold and Silver Standard awards in recognition of the high standard throughout all of their facilities. This year’s awards were held on The Elite Sports Development Officer at NUI Galway, Gary Ryan, said, “This is an exciting development for Sport in the region. NUI Galway has a long history of supporting excellence in sport and this Performance Centre is an important venture for swimming in Ireland. We hope that this will not only help the development of young sporting talent but encourage more students to study at NUI Galway and progress their sporting performance to the highest levels.”

At the Swim Ireland Launch of the new Connacht Performance Centre are (l-r): Keena Walsh and Ruth Keogh; Tony Farrell, Swim Ireland President; Dr Jim Browne, NUI Galway President; and Joe Cosgrove, Managing Director of the Kingfisher Club.

18 October in the Kilenard Golf and Spa Resort. Barry Welsh, President of ILAM (Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management), presented these awards at a special awards ceremony as an indication of excellence in the operation of the Fitness and Leisure industry. ILAM is a professional body which represents the Irish Leisure Industry and sets the standards to be met by all associated with it in the fitness and Leisure Industry. Out of almost 700 fitness facilities in Ireland, 200 are associated with ILAM. 91 of these facilities were entered for this year’s examining process but only 86 of these where awarded with the White Flag Excellence. The White Flag Award is the only comprehensive Quality Award for Leisure facilities in Ireland. The standards set for the awards are classified under a number of categories: facility interior, exterior and grounds, staff training and qualifications, disability access and provision, swimming pool hygiene, operations, environmental management, water quality and treatment, and education information. Each leisure facility must ensure safe and easy access, qualified and trained staff, good health and safety procedures and follow industry codes of practice. These are all vital necessities for the White Flag. Throughout the year the Fitness and Leisure facilities are subject to unannounced surveillance audit(s). This is to ensure that standards are being met at all times. When choosing a Fitness and Leisure Facility, always look out for a facility which displays the White Flag Excellence Symbol ensuring you quality service. For further information on the White Flag Excellence go to www. ilam.ie

Pictured at the White Flag Gala Awards Dinner held in the Killenard Golf and Spa Resort on 18 October is Barry Walsh President of ILAM and Anthony Mc Grath of The Kingfisher Club, NUI Galway.

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NUI Galway Memes

Holden Frankl Serpico: Lads playing pool in the Hub, Áras Na Mac Léinn: 1st guy: What time does Tesco close at? 2nd guy: ... The 24hr Tesco?

Easy Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad

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Overheard in NUI Galway

by Conor Stitt

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3 3 6 1 6 7 4 7 3 4 9by KrazyDad 2 1 2 Intermediate 5 Sudoku Puzzles 9 8 2 5 2 5 9 8 Sudoku #6 4 6 3 8 7 3 s that need the kind of man he is... 8 9 4 4 6 3 9 Sudoku #8 9 7 1 7 9 4 5 9 2 6 3

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Donal Hanley: People walk in late to lecture: Lecturer: You just missed the best bit of the class. Virtual sex!

Conor Hickey: "How do you even make mash, do you just squish the potatoes?"

Maud Gibbons: “I think I’ve hit my educational peak; some people hit it in their twenties but I hit it at about 15...”

Bronwyn Massey: Two girls sitting next to me in the Bialann: ''Meath is in Westmeath, I'm like 100% sure Meath is in Westmeath, you know that feeling that you just know you’re going to get the ride, I just know Meath is in Westmeath''

Lorna Tompkins: A class rep waiting in tower 2 for a seminar: “I AM GOING TO BURN DOWN THE BARBERS AND NEVER SHAVE AGAIN!!!!!” Cue all awkward stares. He comes out with: “This probably isn’t a good first impression, is it?”

CloakRumours ULA & FEE organise the 12 Protests of Christmas. Former Occupy Galway members occupy the first venue and don’t make it to the other 11. FEE break out in rashes from their fair trade Christmas jumpers. After the success of Christmas Day the College Bar announces plans for Mayan end of the world party on the 21st of December: “Apocalypse, now? With DJ Byrno.” As competition for study space intensifies the guy living in the tent buys a massive gazebo filled with inflatable armchairs and rents out space to fellow students in his Alternative Reading Room. Boyfriend disappointed 6 days a week as girlfriend will only have sex with him on Condom Wednesdays.

Boyfriend heard to remark “Damn that Dami guy – he is such a cockblocker”. Inspired by Gangnam Style flash mob, University senior management announce plans to produce their own version of Spice Girls hit Wannabe. President Jim Browne insists on playing Baby Spice. Following failed Gangnam Style Flash Mob in Arts Millennium Postgraduate Research Room on-edge philosophy student produces Samurai Sword from locker and cuts some fools up. Carolers attempt to spread some Christmas cheer in Corrib Village: thwarted by security. Disaffected Corrib Carolers attempt access by water: thwarted by Kayak Club. On the twelfth day

of Christmas the Corrib Carolers eventually gain access, sing beautifully at first house: decide to stay for a bit of a party. Kayak Club and Security join in, in addition to twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lads a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight men-a-mucking-about, seven Choral Soc a-singing, six SU Exec a-laying, five golden rings, four dirt birds, three French Erasmus students, two turtle doves, and Jimmy Browne in a pear tree! College Bar outdoes itself this year by hosting Christmas day even before Christmas lights are up in Eyre Square, HMV starts playing Christmas music, or Home Alone ads appear on the telly. SU Hack pulls Project X

Cavan style prank on SU Hack Housemate, invites all SU Hacks from 2005 present to Thanksgiving. Except Curley. Jimmy Browne spends SU Protest Day on couch watching How I Met Your Mother Re-Runs: hires Bob Saget to narrate his life. Tent man walks in to College Bar on Christmas Day, sees cute Erasmus student in sexy-santa costume: pitches tent. SU organises buses to Christmas exams but administrative error sends 100 first year students on mystery tour to Termonfeckin instead of Leisureland. Red bull overdose by SU President sees him jump off the new bridge screaming “I can fly, I’ve got wiiiiiiiiiiiings” in just a Santa hat.

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