Sin Newspaper Volume 17 Issue 6

GiGSoc Takeover

Ring Christmas Bells:

Time for a Change?

Trans* Week and Pink Training hosted by GiGSoc and the SU. Page 4

Get into the festive spirit with our Christmas pull-out.

Page 13–20

Robbie Henshaw considers his next career step.

Page29

NUI Galway to put a cap on maximum pass mark for repeat exams

By Jenna Hodgins

FREE STUDENT NEWSPAPER | VOL 17, ISSUE 06 | 24 NOV 2015

Joan Burton TD launches New Institute for Lifecourse and Society at NUI Galway New institute is dedicated to making a positive difference to people’s lives

By Neil Slevin On Wednesday 11 November, The Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD conducted the official launch of the Institute for Lifecourse and Society (ILAS) at NUI Galway.

Representing a nine million euro investment consisting of significant philanthropic contributions from The Atlantic Philanthropies and Galway University Foundation, the ILAS centre is a rare example of an interdisciplinary research hub designed to examine and reimagine important social issues, especially for vulnerable populations.

The ILAS centre, under the directorship of Professor Pat Dolan, provides a newly designated research institute for the applied social sciences at NUI Galway, the largest of its kind in Europe.

Speaking during the official opening ceremony, An Tánaiste Joan Burton T.D. said; “The goal of the institute is to achieve international excellence in social policy and practice development through the pursuit of interdisciplinary research in the social sciences. This will be done by creatively integrating the rich and diverse intellectual resources from within the university and beyond.

“I believe the institute will become both a pioneering research institute for the applied social sciences and a flagship of the university.

I look forward to reading the Institute’s work in the coming years – and to that work helping to guide and shape national policy.”

The ILAS centre supports applied research that informs policy development and practice, and brings together existing work in relation to targeted populations – such as children and families, persons with disabilities and older persons – into one domain of research, teaching and policy. Its core function is the pursuit of interdisciplinary research in the social sciences by creatively integrating the rich and diverse intellectual resources from within the university and beyond.

Amongst its members are nationally and internationally recognised authorities from the fields of children and families, and disabled and older persons; and the institute already has a strong record in influencing domestic, regional and international policy and practice affecting these populations.

Pictured at the official opening of the new Institute for Lifecourse and Society at NUI Galway today were (l-r): Mary Sutton, Atlantic Philanthropies; Prof Pat Dolan, UNESCO Chair and Institute Director; An Tánaiste Joan Burton TD; President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne; and John McNamara, Chair, Galway University Foundation Also speaking to open the ILAS centre, President of NUI Galway Dr Jim Browne said; “Today is a milestone in the development of the social sciences at NUI Galway. With the establishment of this Institute our university marks a concerted commitment to the application of knowledge in the social sciences in order to share knowledge and create positive social change.

The real benefit of the Institute for Lifecourse and Society is to future generations of citizens who will benefit from new approaches on how to improve lives of families, young people, older persons and those who live with disabilities.

The knowledge generated by those working in this Institute will help to shape advocacy, policy and interventions to improve the lives of so many citizens – right across the lifecourse.

The support of our philanthropic partners has been absolutely vital to this project. I would like to thank The Atlantic Philanthropies and Galway University Foundation most sincerely for their vision

and their investment in this research facility.”

Director of the Institute Professor Pat Dolan said; “Essentially the focus of the institute is to bring together researchers and communities to develop new blueprints for social change, practice and policy.

“The ‘lifecourse’ side of things is a relatively new approach aimed at zooming out from the silos of academic disciplines and stages of life to look for solutions, patterns and strategies that provide for people and societies over the course of a life and over generations. Few such research institutes in this field aim for this kind of deep and far-reaching impact.”

Following the official opening ceremony, and the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the occasion, Professor Robert J Chaskin of University of Chicago (and Chair of the International Advisory Board at the ILAS centre) gave a keynote address entitled ‘Social Policy and Community Action for Children, Youth, and Families’.

In the course of his lecture, Professor Chaskin

There have been emails sent about it, infographics on the televised notice boards around campus, yet many students are not aware of the latest capping policy at NUI Galway.

The university has introduced a capping policy on repeat examination results for this Academic Year 2015/16. This means that when students repeat their exams or assessments, their results will be capped to the maximum pass mark for their modules, in most cases this is 40 percent. However the maximum mark of 50 percent will apply to the MB, BCh, BAO and BSc (Occupational Therapy, Podiatry, and Speech and Language) as this is the pass mark for modules on those programmes.

The policy has been introduced in alignment with other universities in Ireland and the UK, including the likes of University College Dublin, and Trinity College. All first year undergraduates are exempt from the capping policy.

This year’s final year students will also be exempted as the university further develops its latest grading policy.

Furthermore if you are in the third year of your undergraduate degree and are on Erasmus, year abroad or other related programmes, the capping policy does not apply to you in the Academic Year 2016/17.

From the Academic Year 2017/18 onwards, the capping policy will apply to all students except first year undergraduates.

It is important that all students are made aware of this new policy, as it will have a significant impact on repeat examination results, as well as their overall degree grade. As it stands, the results of your Pre-Final year exams and assessments are accountable for 30 percent of your overall degree mark, with the exception of Medicine where your degree will be based on 50 percent of your mark in Fourth Year and 50 percent of you marks in Final Year.

“I think it’s incredibly unfair to limit the result of someone is capable of getting in their degree due to one bad exam,” said Final Year Arts student, Liam Maye.

Capping will be applied to all repeat examinations otherwise, unless a deferral has been granted.

For more information on capping, please contact the Examinations Office or visit: http:// www.nuigalway.ie/exams/capping.html. identified and evidenced an innovative model for community-led research which makes services and professionals more relevant in how and what they do with and for families that experience serious adversity.

Following on from its official opening, the next event staged by the ILAS centre will take place on Monday 30 November at 6pm, when President Michael D Higgins will give the centre’s inaugural lecture.

For more information on this event, please email ilas@nuigalway.ie.

2 NEWS

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

NUI Galway students and graduates awarded National University of Ireland prizes At a ceremony on 10 November in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Chancellor of the National University of Ireland Dr Maurice Manning presented fellowships, scholarships and other valued at in excess of €850,000 to graduates and students of NUI. NUI honoured scholars of distinction at every stage of their academic studies, from undergraduates to senior scholars well established in their fields of expertise. Over 30 students and graduates of NUI Galway were awarded prizes.

NUI Galway graduates received a number of awards, including an outstanding Five Travelling Studentships – one in the Humanities and four in the Sciences. The Dr Mary Thornton Scholarship in Education was shared by two winners, both connected to NUI Galway. These awards will support post-graduate and doctoral research in a variety of subjects, from human rights in Uganda to bioprosthetic heart valves.

NUI Galway graduate Dr Ciaran O’Neill was awarded a Special Commendation in connection with the Publication Prize in Irish History 2015,

Pictured are award winners from NUI Galway with Professor Paul Gallagher, RCSI; Professor Jim Walsh, Maynooth University; Dr Michael Murphy, President of UCC; NUI Chancellor Dr Maurice Manning; Professor Bairbre Redmond, UCD; Dr Pat Morgan, NUI Galway; and NUI Registrar Dr Attracta Halpin. for his new work Catholics of Consequence: Transnational Education, Social Mobility and the Irish Catholic Elite, 1850

– 1900 (Oxford University Press, 2014).

NUI Galway undergraduates were equally successful.

Students received the Mansion House Fund Scholarship in Irish History, the Mansion House Fund Prize in Irish, two medals in the Dr H H Stewart Literary Scholarship competitions, and twenty-one medals in the Dr H H Stewart Medical Scholarship competitions, including nine first prizes.

President Jim Browne, said on the success of NUI Galway students and graduates: “This clearly highlights the high calibre of students studying on NUI Galway programmes and follows previous successes in these annual awards.

“I congratulate the Awardees on their achievements and encourage them in the future endeavours. In commending the

Award recipients, I’d also like to pay tribute to their teachers for their work in supporting these students and in helping them to achieve such high standards.”

Speaking at the event, Dr Manning congratulated the award recipients, commending their scholarly distinction and “outstanding academic achievement”. He highlighted the importance of promoting scholars and scholarship as a core aim of NUI, and stated that the University is “very pleased to be able to offer this level of support for academic achievement and through its awards to provide opportunities for able students to engage in further studies”.

Details on NUI Awards to be offered in 2016 will be available from January at www. nui.ie/awards.

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Pictured at the official opening of the new Institute for Lifecourse and Society at NUI Galway today were (l-r): Prof Pat Dolan, UNESCO Chair and Institute Director; An Tánaiste Joan Burton TD; Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Frank Fahy; and President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne

NEWS 3

November 24 2015

What was your favourite Christmas present?

Niamh Cullen, News Editor:

Santa is real He’s just not what you expected…

By Jessica Thompson It’s amazing how fast time flies when you’re having fun. We’re on our Christmas issue already and about to head off for our Christmas holidays (aside from the exams and assignments and whatever else students do in November/December).

Christmas was always my favourite time of year when I was a child. My dad went to a lot of trouble to make sure my siblings and I believed in Santa Claus for as long as possible.

There was one year I asked Santa for a Furby. I saw one on The Late Late Toy Show and that was it. I wanted one of my own. I was so excited and fully believed that Santa would bring me one.

They were the most wanted toy that Christmas, so they were sold out everywhere. But my dad got a tip-off that a select few were coming into stock in Argos in Tullamore or somewhere like that. So off he went at five o’clock in the morning to queue outside that particular store.

If you’ve ever seen Jingle All the Way, then you’ll have an idea of what it was like, because my dad described it as a Jingle-All-the-Way situation. He was waiting for the store to open, and he could see another man waiting.

They eyed each other up, each knowing that the other was after a furby for his own daughter; each knowing that they had to get one before the other. Up went the metal shutter, slowly but surely; as soon as it was up far enough, the two men dashed for it, rolling under the shutter and sprinting in different directions.

Argos was new at the time and not many people knew the system they had in place.

But my dad knew. While his opponent dashed to the collections point and gasped “I need a furby!” at the poor person standing there, my dad ran straight to the till and paid for said furby, before collecting it, and walking smugly out of the store with his prize – his daughter’s belief in Santa Claus still intact.

Yes, Christmas was a magical time; we would write our letters and either put them in the fire to be magically delivered to the North Pole, or stick them in the post box in town. I think Christmas would be such a fun time in a post office. Employees must have such fun reading all the letters to Santa.

Back in my day, they would often send out post cards from Santa, thanking us for the letter and passing on Rudolf’s love and the

regards of all the other reindeer, elves and Mrs Claus.

That was such a nice thing for them to do. When Christmas Eve came, we’d lay out mince pies and Christmas cake, all ready for Santa’s arrival. There would be a bowl of water and a carrot for Rudolf, who would probably be so tired after flying around the world (but so sick of carrots I’d imagine).

We’d hang up our stockings and then scurry off to bed. But my dad would always wait up as long as possible, waiting for his old pal, Santa, so they could have a few mince pies and a catch up.

Sometimes he’d tell us about the chats himself and the fat man in red would have, and other times he’d express his disappointment that he didn’t quite manage to stay up late enough (after all, we’d get suspicious if he saw Santa every year).

Still, the mince pies and cake were always eaten. The drink was drunk, the water was gone and the carrots were nibbled, so ‘Santy’, as we called him, had definitely been there.

One year, we walked into the sitting room, and gasped – not at the mountain of presents under the tree, but at the fireplace – where on earth had Rudolf ’s water bowl gone?!

Yes. The cake was eaten; the mince pies were gone; the carrot was nibbled right down to the stump. But the bowl was gone. Later that day, my dad went up onto the roof and wouldn’t you know it, the bowl was there!

Oh Santa. You didn’t steal our bowl. You must have just forgotten to take it back down the chimney when the reindeer were finished with it!

“Phew!” is probably what my dad thought.

“That was a close one!”

As kids, we all loved a fat, bearded man dressed in red, who drove a sleigh and delivered toys to millions of kids around the world.

But isn’t the reality more magical? A loving parent going out of his way to make sure his child believed in the magic of Christmas.

Santa is real alright. He’s just not what we expected. He doesn’t fly around the world in a sleigh. He doesn’t get elves to make toys and use reindeer to deliver them.

In fact, he lives in every parent that sneaks through the house to fill stockings and wrap presents. He exists in every tired face that is awoken by a child at the crack of dawn. He is alive in every tale of magic that is told to awe-struck children.

He doesn’t care about every child in the world. He cares about you. Now doesn’t that make you feel more special?

Merry Christmas, Jess @jessicadotie

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What a tough one… it’s a tie between books, stationery and CDs! My mother always harps back to when I was two and ignored all my trinkets for brightly coloured books.

Once I had assimilated books, the obsession with stationery became very real around age five or six. On par with a collection of work

by Roald Dahl was my twelfth Christmas, when I got my mitts on a Walkman and everything from Alanis Morissette to David Gray.

Of course I self-combusted when that same year, I received Now That’s What I Call Music! 53. What a time to be alive!

Jenna Hodgins, Features Editor: The best Christmas present I ever got was a door handle. Yes, a door handle.

Okay, so context: I was surprisingly a little bit of a computer whizz when I was younger.

Now, this was back in the day when Pets, The Sims and MS Paint was the height of tech savvy-ness. I don’t think we even had a dialup connection to the internet then!

Anyway, my aunt had a classic desktop computer and I was obsessed. I’d spent hours just playing around on trusty old Windows 98, and accidently fixed a few bugs here and there.

One year Santa left me a little box, and inside it was a door handle. My mam absolutely drilled manners and politeness into us as children, so of course I pretended this was the best thing ever to the amusement of my parents.

My sister had just moved out, and I moved straight into her much bigger room – her bed was probably still warm! My parents led me on to believe they were redecorating my old room to be the new guest bedroom, and in the process took the door handle off so I couldn’t mess up the new wallpaper – as I was led to believe.

Turns out, the door handle Santa brought me was for the new spare room, and I had the privilege of attaching the new handle in the door.

Here’s me thinking “oh wow... em... thanks”.

But when we installed the new handle, and opened the door, there was my real present. A second-hand bulky tower computer from the Sunday market my dad and his brother fixed up for me.

I was never happier to get a new door handle in my entire life!

Neil Slevin, Entertainment Editor: For Christmas 1994, I received a games table, Lego set, teddy bear (I was five), and a baby brother, Oisín.

Thankfully, though, Santa didn’t leave him wrapped under our tree.

On Christmas Eve, blissfully unaware that my mother had gone into labour, I stayed with my grandparents, sleeping on a camp bed in their bedroom much to my grandfather’s polite frustration (“He even talks in his sleep!”).

On Christmas morning, my bright-eyed but dishevelled father arrived back

from the hospital, and brought me home to unwrap the presents I’d been worried that Santa wouldn’t deliver as I’d been AWOL! Presents opened, Dad and I spent the day together while Mum and Oisín rested up in Cavan General, feasting on our alternative Christmas dinner of scrambled eggs and toast…

That night we went to visit Mum, and I met Oisín for the first time.

This Christmas he turns 21; if he reads this I may not live to see that!

Sorcha O’Connor, Lifestyle Editor: Christmas was and still is my favourite time of year because I was one of those lucky ducks who had a birthday and a Christmas within a week of each other – double the attention and presents!

When Jess asked me to pick my favourite Christmas present, I quickly found myself reminiscing over the numerous Barbies and Polly Pockets I received over the years – and the Groovy Chick rollerblades I got one year too!

But the present to beat them all was a trip to Lapland when I was nine or ten. I was shortly after a big house move from Dublin to the country, still a little babyish and this trip was definitely a big deal for me!

I remember it as clear as day and had an amazing time meeting the real Santa and his elves. It wasn’t a present I received on Christmas morning but it was definitely the best I ever had.

Kieran Kilkelly, Online Sports Editor: The best Christmas present I ever got as a child was a PS One, which was a more compact version of the Playstation. I was about five or six and it was unexpected and came with my own portable TV, so I wasn’t taking over the family TV. I got a few games with it but I think Spyro was the one that had me hooked and I think I only stopped playing it to go eat the Christmas dinner and that was it for the day.

Editor: Jessica Thompson editor@sin.ie Layout: Shannon Reeves | contact via Ed. NEWS

Niamh Cullen | localnews.sined@gmail.com FEATURES

Jenna Hodgins | features.sined@gmail.com LIFESTYLE Sorcha O’Connor | fashion.sined@gmail.com ENTERTAINMENT

Neil Slevin | artsentertainment.sined@gmail.com SPORT Aonghus Ó’Maicín | sport.sined@gmail.com

4 NEWS

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

NUI Galway hosts first annual Trans* Week

By Cathal ‘MadeGráTheLaw’ Sherlock The first ever annual Trans* Week was held in NUI Galway last week (16 to 20 November), hosted by NUI Galway’s LGBT*Q Society, GiGSoc, in collaboration with the Students’ Union.

After weeks of lobbying the college with the SU and many emails to Pat Morgan, the first ever Trans* flag was raised outside Áras na Mac Léinn, with NUI Galway becoming one of the first campuses in Ireland to do so.

Last year, a pride flag was raised for the referendum on Marriage Equality which became law on Monday 16 November at 2.15pm.

Monday’s panel kicked off with Sam Blanckensee (from Irish Trans* Students Alliances (ITSA), Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI)) and Toryn Glavin (from ITSA and DIT LGBT Soc) having a discussion with our Trans* Officer, Cameron Keighron. The panel dealt with issues from coming out as a Trans* person to being a Trans* Ally.

On Tuesday, GiGSoc worked with ChoiceSoc and Amnesty Soc. This event dealt with the Repeal the 8th amendment; this issue effects people with uterus and this may be Women or Trans* Men. On the Wednesday, GiGSoc and the Students’ Union held a Trans* remembrance

free from acts of bias and to live our lives with dignity. I’ll leave you with this; there is nothing in this world more precious than an ally. If you want to show a Trans* person you like them, be the best damned ally you can be.”

Cameron followed up with some statistics: “46 Trans* people have been murdered, so far this year, worldwide.”

Afterwards, there was a Trans* 101 workshop held by Cameron. He gave an amazing workshop on the The Trans* remembrance ceremony Trans* community. The highlight to being held in the Cube by GiGSoc take away from the workshop was and the Students’ Union pronouns. If you ever meet someone from the Trans* community ceremony in memory of those who have been and they tell you their pronouns, don’t only murdered or have taken their own lives as a agree to use them, believe them and let the result of transphobia and to bring to light the person become them. continued violence and hatred endured by Writers Soc helped wrap up the week by the transgender community. This would usu- coming in and doing a workshop on exploring ally happen on 20 November for Transgender gender identity and expression – the imporDay of Remembrance. This was held inside in the Cube, as the weather was so bad.

Jessica Watts, Auditor of GiGSoc spoke at the Trans* remembrance ceremony, saying; “We are one movement commonly seeking the liberty to be our true and full selves, to be NUI Galway hosts national

tance of respecting people’s gender identity and using writing to express this.

Cameron Keighron wrapped up Trans* week by saying; “Trans* week was about showing solidarity with the trans* community in Ireland and abroad. Through awareness and education, positive change can happen, equality for all can be achieved.

“This week trans* people and allies stood together hand in hand as equals to be beacons of hope for a time when trans* people are safe and respected for who they are.

Through this activism we can lead the way for love and acceptance irrespective of gender identity.”

If you would like to learn more about Trans* rights and issues Trans* people deal with, a good reference would be Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI); they can be found on Facebook, Twitter and at their website TENI.ie.

Cameron Keighron can also be contacted at C.Keighron1@nuigalway.ie if any Trans* students on campus would like to contact him.

On 13 – 15 November, NUI Galway Students’ Union and GiG Soc NUIG (NUI Galway’s LGBTQA society) hosted Pink Training which is the national Union of Students in Ireland’s largest training event aimed to raise awareness for the LGBTQ community and to give workshops ranging from being a good ally right down to Sexual Health and beyond.

The event saw over 350 students attend from across the country. This year was particularly a highlight given the recent passing of the Marriage Equality referendum on 22 May as well as the recent change in legislation for gender recognition in Ireland. Ireland has become one of the most progressive countries in the world with the recent changes in the country’s laws around the LGBTQ community.

NUI Galway Students’ Union President Phelim Kelly said: “We were delighted to be chosen to host Pink Training this year. Pink training is the largest known LGBTQ training event in Europe (that we know of) and it was an absolute pleasure to have everyone come to NUIG for the weekend.

“Something in particular I took from the weekend was that we are not by any means fully inclusive of the LGBTQ community despite the massive developments that have happened in the last year. There is much more that needs to be done. That said, the training event was absolutely incredible and saw some of the most amazing people collectively working together and building a support network for LGBTQ students across the country.”

Auditor of GiG Soc NUI Galway Jessica Watts added: “It was just an amazing weekend, we were delighted to host the event this year. We got so much from the weekend and can’t wait to bring everything we learned to NUIG. It is incredible to see the sense of belonging that so many students simply do not have in many of their colleges, this

weekend seen an embrace for the LGBTQA community which we are particularly proud of.

“Last week GiG Soc organised a Trans* week with the Students’ Union for NUIG which we simply could not have done were it not for the amazing training we received from Pink Training. Watch this space for many of the events to come throughout the year on Gig Socs Calendar.”

The event was organised by Annie Hoey the Deputy President and Vice-President for Equality and Citizenship in USI which is the national Union of Students in Ireland.

Speaking to Sin, Annie explained what the weekend is all about: “Pink Training provides us with a number of unique opportunities. It offers us the chance to go to workshops and learn about issues we had never even considered before. It lets us learn about our rights, our identities and about the world we live in. It allows us to celebrate the wonderful diversity on all our campuses. It challenges us to take the knowledge we gain over the weekend back to our campuses, where we can use it to further promote diversity and inclusion. And it allows us the opportunity to understand that we are deserving of dignity and respect our relationships, jobs and gender identity.”

Closing the event Annie Hoey gave a passionate speech on how far the LGBTQ community have come and how much more there is to do.

Most notable was how the speech empowered everyone to take what they learned from the weekend to make their campuses a better place for everyone and to not label diversity but to embrace it with open arms.

Always remember no matter who you identify as, You is Smart.

You is Kind.

You is Important.

Pink Training a huge success in Galway LGBT*Q training event

NEWS 5

November 24 2015

Got an empty parking space outside your house?

Pay for your weekly food bill or nights out with money from your parking space Two NUI Galway graduates have devised an ingenious app for use on iPhones and Android platforms that’s free to download and could allow students of NUI Galway to earn considerable amounts of income from the unused parking space outside their front doors.

Jack Stenson, from Salthill and Gar Walsh from Baile na hAbhann, Connemara, who met while attending NUI Galway have recently launched ParkShark in Ireland and are focusing on Galway for the initial launch.

The app will soon be available worldwide, with further launches planned for London and San Francisco.

“A driveway or a space where a car can be parked is an asset that’s literally sitting there when you could be making money from it,” Jack Stenson told Sin. “Any students who are renting a house or apartment with a free space or driveway can list it as being available for others to use, charging whatever fee they want. The space can be advertised for whatever period the owner wants, from a few hours a week to 24/7 and can be set to be available for a limited window to the length of their lease. The advertised times can be changed, as can the price, at any stage.

Listing your space on ParkShark is free and the owner of the space keeps 90% of the revenue earned. Those with a space to rent can set their own hourly, weekly and monthly rate and the money arrives without you ever having to lift a finger, as long as the driver has access to the space at the times they have booked.

Jack and Gar recommend that students set spaces as being available until the end of their leases and they can always extend that date if they stay in the house.

“For staff who drive to work at NUI Galway, you’re leaving your space free while you’re

away, you can make money for that period. If you live near a sporting venue or other offices you can rent a space for the few hours around occasions when the venue is being used,” Jack explained.

“If students have a space free near the hospitals and NUI Galway – why just let it sit there, doing nothing? There’s terrible parking around these pockets of town and people will pay to have a nearby space that’s guaranteed to be theirs every day.”

Motorists get a great deal, too. By simply opening the free ParkShark app and checking the area to which they are going, they can easily see what spaces nearby are available and at what price. Then it’s a matter of clicking on the space that suits you best and reserving it for whatever hours you need. Payment is automatic.

“It’s free for everyone to register, too.

There’s no set charge or recurring fee. The driver only pays for the hours a space is reserved, not a cent more. Think of all the time you’ve spent driving around in circles looking for a parking space,” Gar explained, touching on the age-old problem students and staff experience in NUI Galway.

“People can rent out their driveways to help pay the bills and also fix the parking problems near places like NUI Galway.

Meanwhile drivers can get guarantee places to park in advance and save money as well.

It’s a win-win solution.”

Jack, now living in London and Gar, who has taken up residence in San Francisco have been working on ParkShark for the last year developing the app and “hunting down the faults and bugs that will pop up in unexpected places” as Gar puts it.

“It’s been fun, but sometimes very tiring, holding down fulltime jobs while holding online conference calls across time zones stretching from Sydney to Mumbai, where some of the software was developed, and London to San Francisco. There was never a time of day when it was normal working – or even waking – hours for all concerned! But it was worth it.”

Find out more or get started with ParkShark at www.getParkShark.com.

ISCL Conference 2016 Call for papers

By Siobhán Mulvey The Irish Society of Comparative Law (ISCL) will hold their annual conference in Galway on 23 and 24 May 2016. The announcement was made by The Irish Society of Comparative Law, NUI Galway’s School of Law, and Irish Centre for Human Rights, and will be the annual event’s seventh year.

The keynote speaker is Professor Mark Tushnet of Harvard Law School, while the conference’s committee includes Dr Ekaterina Yahyaoui Krivenko, Ms Denise Gormley and Dr Ioanna Tourkochoriti.

The theme next year focuses on the prevalence of comparative law, and how it has

evolved over time in an increasingly interconnected global community. Proposals will look at the effectiveness of comparative law, and how it affects law-making, and all related topics are open to discussion.

The deadline for proposals is Monday 29 February 2016. Submissions are open to members and non-members of ISCL, and to professional academics and graduates also.

Proposals are a maximum of 500 words. A submission fee of €60 applies to members and €120 to non-members. Membership fee of ISCL is €60; student membership is free of charge.

Further information on the conference can be founded at www.irishsocietyofcomparativelaw.ie.

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6 NEWS

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

Survey finds that over a third (36%) This Changes Everything: EcoSoc will host event in lead up to climate change talks of students feel down every day

By Tomás M. Creamer According to a survey released on 6 November by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), around 36% of students feel down every day. Nearly a quarter (23.5%) of students surveyed said that they would turn to eating chocolate, cakes, crisps or other ‘treat’ foods when in low spirits.

In response to the survey’s finding that 83% of students said talking to someone helped combat dejectedness, the USI launched its ‘Chats for Change’ campaign with St Patrick’s Mental Health Services. As part of the movement, they also initiated See Change’s Please Talk, urging third level students to talk about mental health with others over a cup of tea.

The ‘Chats for Change’ Campus Road show ran from 10am to 3pm from 9 to 13 November in campuses across Ireland such as Dublin Institute Technology, Maynooth University, Athlone IT, Cork IT and University College Cork. Thousands of tea packs were distributed across college campuses nationwide, which included tips on how to start conversations about mental health and useful support service contacts.

“More than a third of students regularly feeling down is an alarming percentage. It shows the fragility of the mind when it’s faced with multiple strains such as exam and financial stresses,” said

USI President Kevin Donoghue.

“We are urging students to talk about their problems, anxieties or strains to someone. People should be conscious of how they react to their friends’ mental health, because belittling the problem is extremely damaging to those suffering from anxiety or depression, as the statistics show.”

Another survey finding reveals what students feel are the worst things that can be said to them when suffering poor mental health. A fifth of students reported that “man up!” was the most difficult phrase to hear with 18.3% of students deeming “cheer up!” a difficult comment to take in.

When asked what the most damaging thing someone could do when they are feeling down, three in five participants reported not being there for them, followed by one in five who said that not addressing the problem was the most damaging.

On reflection to what was the worst aspect of feeling down, almost a half (42.6%) of surveyors agreed it to be the feeling of isolation, hopelessness and low self-esteem. Just over a fifth (22.6%) said that feeling anxious, sad or bored was the worst aspect.

“393 young people under the age of 30 committed suicide last year. We want to change these feelings. The Chats for Change campaign aims to change the stigma around mental health and encourage anyone feeling down to get into the habit of talking about it,” said Mr Donoghue.

By Jenna Hodgins This Thursday, 26 November, EcoSoc at NUI Galway will be screening the movie This Changes Everything based on Naomi Klein’s eponymous best-selling book.

This Changes Everything was filmed over the course of 211 days in four years, and takes place in nine countries across all five continents. Directed by Avi Lewis, This Changes Everything attempts to reimagine climate change, and the real inconvenient truth: climate change isn’t about carbon – it’s about capitalism.

The screening will be held in the D’Arcy Thompson Theatre on the Arts Concourse, starting at 7pm.

Entry is free.

The event is being held in partnership with the Irish Centre for Human Rights, CCAFS Soc, Amnesty Soc and Transition Galway.

EcoSoc are hosting the event in the lead up to the Paris Climate Change Conferences, a series of global climate talks to be held in Paris on 30 November wherein world leaders will gather to negotiate the next global climate deal.

The film screening will also serve to promote another event to be held in Galway that week. Tran-

sition Galway are organising the ‘Galway Carnival for the Climate’ as a part of the Avaaz People’s Climate March that Sunday 29 November at 1pm.

The event description reads: “Absolutely everybody is welcome! We want this event to be fun and lively like a carnival so we invite all street performers, drummers, musicians and singers to come along so we can make as big an impact as possible.”

People will gather at Eyre Square at approximately 1pm and continue down Shop Street towards the Spanish Arch.

These events are to be held in tangent with the Global Climate March, where people across the globe will take to the streets in an attempt to push these world leaders to fully commit to clean energy.

Stalls will be set up on Shop Street with information on how people can reduce their carbon footprint as well as details about the Climate March on 29 November.

You can sign up to the event via the avaaz.org page, a link to the RSVP is available on the Facebook event page. Simply type ‘Galway Carnival for the Climate’ into the search bar on Facebook, and look for the link in the description box.

Four USI universities host this year’s #ChatsForChange Campaign

By Niamh Cullen USI’s More Talk, More Action Campus Tour visited four host colleges in promoting mental health awareness among the student population earlier this month.

Maynooth Students’ Union (MSU), Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Athlone IT (AIT) and Cork IT and Univeristy College Cork (UCC) have spoken of their pride in hosting this year’s The campaign, in partnership with USI, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services and Please Talk ran from Monday 9 November to Friday 13 November and was launched by DJ and Radio presenter Aidan Power. Its message was simple: to promote discussion of mental health amongst third level students, their peers and their wider communities.

A variety of events were held each day to kick off the week. Students on Maynooth’s campus enjoyed free breakfast with the Welfare Crew, free lunch with the Chaplaincy, acoustic sessions.

On the CIT and UCC campus, ‘Write a Letter to Yourself’ stands were manned by Welfare team members, while free hugs, therapeutic knitting and even a ‘Speed Friending’ evening were all held by the southwestern colleges.

Athlone IT enjoyed discussions with Irish musician Bressie alongside free lunches, information sessions and live music, while Dublin IT launched a mental health campaign, ‘Body and Soul’, to continue the conversation into the following week.

All Unions also held a photo booth to promote the use of a #SnapsForChats hashtag across social media websites, and free information and tea packs to get the conversation started were distributed to all. Students flooded Students’ Union rooms and offices to share quotes and phrases written over a board depicting an “elephant in the room”.

Fictitious character, Dumbledore’s quote “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light”, of the famous Harry Potter series, proved to be the

most popular of quotes as it was circulated widely online. Official cards for the campaign stating “I am here when you need to talk” circulated the thirteen USI-affiliated campuses across the country.

“More than a third of students regularly feeling down is an alarming percentage. People should be conscious of how they react to their friends’ mental health, because belittling the problem is extremely damaging to those suffering from anxiety or depression, as the statistics show,” said USI President Kevin Donoghue.

His comments, and the campaign’s launch, come following information launched by the USI stating that four in five students said talking to someone helped when they felt down. St Patrick’s Mental Health services offered one-to-one consultations as part of the campaign’s campus tour.

Sarah Surgenor, Communications Manager at St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services said; “Mental health issues are experienced by every family in Ireland. It’s something we all know about. ‘Chats for Change’ encourages students to begin this conversation and we’re delighted to be on hand to give mental health advice to students at various colleges throughout the country this week.”

In addition to the consultations, the Chats for Change campus tour included interactive information stands and expert advice from Please Talk, Jigsaw, Spun Out and the Health Service Executive.

“The campaign is incredibly effective due in part to its bursting social media presence complimented with articles online, where on Tuesday #ChatsForChange hashtag on Twitter was brought trending up to third in Ireland,” said Maynooth Students’ Union Vice President for Welfare Síona Cahill.

“The message is simple: chat for change.

Change how you and others see conversations that start with ‘how are you?’ Chat to your friends.

Your family. The people in your life. Conversations can be easy or hard, but they need to be had. This campaign wants to shape a student population of talkers and listeners – it’s the little things.”

NEWS 7

November 24 2015

NUI Galway hosts successful Journalism Society introduces Diwali Festival of Lights new NUI Galway TV channel

By Dean Buckley The Indian Cultural and Sports Community (ICSC) Galway celebrated Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, in the Bailey Allen Hall, NUI Galway on Saturday 14 November, in association with NUI Galway’s India Soc. This is first time this event was co-hosted by the ICSC and NUI Galway, in cooperation with the Indian communities in Loughrea, Ennis and Tuam. Over 400 people took part.

Diwali is one of the most colourful and significant festivals in Indian culture taking place in family homes and temples of worship.

Speaking at the event, Professor Brian Hughes, the Dean of International Affairs, said NUI Galway was “very proud of being Ireland’s most internationally vibrant university”. He expressed delight that Diwali is “firmly established as one of the highlights of our university’s social calendar, and is embraced by the entire campus community”.

Other guests of this year’s festivities included Cllr.

Niall McNelis, Deputy Mayor of Galway City, Derek Nolan, Labour T.D. for Galway West, Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, NUI Galway Registrar and Deputy President and Professor Lokesh Joshi, NUI Galway’s Vice-President for Research, with Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD, Minister of State for New Communities, Culture and Equality, as the guest of honour.

The festival honours Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity, through the lighting of oil diyas (clay lamps) around the house and sharing traditional foods and sweets among family and friends.

In addition to paying tribute to Savita Halappanavar, who was heavily involved in organising Galway’s annual Diwali celebrations before her death in 2012, Mr Ó Ríordáin spoke of the timely importance of the festival’s message of “light overcoming darkness” in the aftermath of the attacks on Paris the previous day.

NUI Galway India Soc Vice-Auditor Srinivasan Arumugam thanked the International Affairs Office, Socs Box, Students’ Union and “all the organizers and volunteers of India Soc and ICSC Galway who have worked day and night for making it a grand success”.

Further Diwali celebrations were held the following Saturday 21 November by the Galway Indian Community at the Presentation Primary School, Newcastle Road.

Memorial Concert to be held on AIDS West World AIDS Day World AIDS Day, to be celebrated on Tuesday 1 December 2015, is a day people all over the world come together to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, encourage progress in prevention, treatment and care, and break down the stigma and discrimination still surrounding this condition.

AIDS West are hosting their annual World AIDS Day Memorial Concert in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway on Tuesday 1 December 2015 at 7pm. We are delighted to announce that keynote speaker will be Redemptorist Priest and Writer Father Tony Flannery. We are fortunate once again that Bel Canto and Cois Cladaigh will also perform on the evening. For many in Galway it heralds in the Christmas season in a true spirit of joy and goodwill.

AIDS West is a West of Ireland-based charity working in the area of HIV and Sexual Health.

Our offices are located in Galway. Our primary function is to provide support for HIV+ people; however we also deliver extensive education programmes and information in relation to HIV and Sexual Health.

Our aim is to encourage the development of openness and honesty around HIV and sexual health issues in Ireland. AIDS West is known as a centre for reliable, informed up-to-date information regarding all aspects of HIV and sexual health.

We offer evidence-based skills training and support for people with issues about HIV and sexuality and relationships. Through our education programmes we endeavour to limit future transmission of the HIV virus and reduce

the impact of the negative consequences of sexual activity such as the transmission of STIs (Sexual Transmitted Infections) and potential unplanned pregnancies.

Sadly, the latest figures on HIV infection rates for 2015 continue to rise with an increase of over 20% new diagnoses on the corresponding period for 2014. Alarmingly, this is against a backdrop of the figures for 2014 which already indicated an 11% rise in new diagnoses over the figures for 2013. As such, the demand for our services continues to grow annually.

Joe McDonagh, Manager of AIDS West stresses that regular testing for STIs is essential; “Undiagnosed infection is widely recognised as a key factor driving the HIV epidemic, as someone who remains undiagnosed is much more likely to pass the virus on unwittingly than someone who has tested and is on treatment. Indeed the World Health Organisation state that a third of the people currently living with HIV are not aware that they are positive – this is a real concern.”

AIDS West Staff and Volunteers will be out on the streets of Galway for World AIDS Day on 1 December encouraging the people of Galway to wear a red ribbon to increase awareness around HIV. This is an open invitation to the people of Galway and the West of Ireland to come to this free concert on Tuesday 1st December at 7:00pm and show their solidarity with those living with HIV and help challenge the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV. For more info contact t: 091 566266, www. aidswest.ie or e: info@aidswest.ie.

Galway Student News taking the university by storm

By Tomás M. Creamer Since 9 September, NUI Galway’s Journalism Society has collaborated with various societies, in order to produce the newest Student Media outlet on campus – a news webcast that goes by the name of Galway Student News (or GSN for short).

Partially inspired by the now defunct STV and the various online podcasts which have been gaining popularity in recent times, the Journalism Society decided to set up a video-based news series, with the aim of covering important campus and student news stories.

The Journalism

Society hopes that GSN will be a mutually-beneficial project for all involved by providing broadcasting and news-reading experience to its members, while also providing other Society and University organisations an opportunity to gain publicity for themselves and the events that they host.

GSN has so far posted news videos, covering various topics from the talk given by “Assigned Male” author, Sophie Labelle (which was hosted by Shoutout), to the Literary and Debating Society’s Gender Discussion Panel, which was attended by Dr Micheline Sheehy-Skeffington.

If you wish to tune in to GSN, either “like” or “follow” the NUI Galway Journalism Society Facebook or Twitter pages, or alternatively, subscribe to the YouTube channel, ‘GalwayStudentNews’.

If you wish to get into contact with the Journalism Society, either to gain experience working with GSN, or else if you wish to enquire about having GSN reporting on your events, you can contact the Journalism Society at its email address, journalism@socs.nuigalway.ie.

8 NEWS

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

Policing, Accountability and the State: School of Law hosts panel to discuss reform of An Garda Síochána

By Lauren Norton On Friday 13 November, just hours after a video was widely circulated showing clashes between Gardaí and protesters at a NAMA auction in Gorey, the LLM program in Public Law held a seminar entitled ‘Policing, Accountability and the State’.

In the opening address, Head of School Donncha O’Connell noted how Ireland had been “too forgiving” of police controversies in the past, particularly in the 70s and 80s due to political violence and terrorism.

O’Connell urged students in attendance to be “adventurous and probing” in their questioning of the panelists, which brought together academics from NUI Galway and DCU, as well as the current chair of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), Judge Mary Ellen Ring.

Despite being just nine weeks into her tenure at GSOC, the independent body created to provide “efficient, fair and independent oversight of policing in Ireland”, Judge Ring was ready to offer criticism of the manner in which public complaints are dealt with by GSOC. Using the analogy of the customer who is mistreated by a staff member in a store and seeks recompense from the store manager, Judge Ring highlighted not only the public’s dissatisfaction with individual Gardaí, but the “failure of senior Gardaí to act appropriately, and a general dissatisfaction with

the structures of Garda Síochána”.

She added that there was “societal confusion” about what was expected from the Gardaí, and that the support for the “local guard” was not matched by the public’s willingness to cooperate with appeals for witnesses.

Mr Tom O’Malley, member of the Irish Law Reform Commission, barrister, and senior lecturer at NUI Galway School of Law also considered the relationship between police enforcement and “law abiders” in his paper.

Noting that An Garda Síochána is the only 24 hour service agency available to respond to people in need, O’Malley said that the most valuable police work that happens in Ireland is “invisible and unquantifiable”.

He suggested that reforms made by GSOC could threaten the valuable social function performed by the guards to create a “very formal and bureaucratic system where people on the ground could be viewed as irrelevant or a nuisance”.

As an alternative method of effectively reforming An Garda Siochana, O’Malley looked to the judicial decisions made in the 1960s, which he acknowledged have been described as “pro-defence and anti-policing”.

Mr O’Malley turned this notion on its head, arguing that there is a positive side to these decisions for the police, despite the difficulties it has created in terms of raising the bar for evidence-gathering and arrest-making.

Citing an American academic, Mr O’Malley out-

lined the link between compliance to the law and the perceived legitimacy of the police: “Having demanding standards on policing is a good thing. If the general public believe the police follow the rules and do not abuse their power, they are far more likely to cooperate.”

Dr Vicky Conway offered the most excoriating picture of abuse within the guards, opening with Rosin McConnell’s testimony to the Morris Tribunal. Miss McConnell was unlawfully detained and interrogated

by Gardaí in Donegal in 1996, when her husband was a suspect in a murder case.

The experience of being verbally abused, harassed, and threatened by police led to Miss McConnell seeking psychiatric care and she eventually underwent Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for her injuries.

Dr Conway noted that Roisin McConnell could be considered one of the “lucky ones” in that the wrongdoing she suffered was acknowledged by official discourse and she did receive an apology from the Garda Commissioner in 2008.

In her research Dr Conway highlighted how the “exceptionally high” levels of confidence expressed in the police in the 90s and noughties could have silenced a victim like McConnell, saying: “even ten years ago, criticisms of the Gardaí were considered unhelpful, even unpatriotic.”

While the general public now accepts that wrongdoing occurs in the police force, Dr Conway said there was an unwillingness on the part of public figures to criticise police activity, citing the recent killing of Garda Tony Golden and the serious injuring of Siobhán Phillips by Adrian Mackin as an example.

“The discussions that emerged in the aftermath of that took on a particular focus: Mr Mackin’s subversive connections; the issue of bail; delays in the special criminal court; issues of manpower around the border,” she said.

“What I haven’t heard is public questioning of Garda response to domestic violence issues, which is what this was, I’ve not heard anyone asking about the training that guards received, whether they were sufficiently resourced to respond to this dangerous domestic situation, and whether proper risk assessments were carried out before the response occurred.”

Dr Conway noted these were controversial questions to ask; “I’m not saying that the Garda did wrong; I don’t know, I couldn’t know, but I do think these are valid questions to ask, particularly in light of the Garda inspectorate report last year which tells us there are serious problems in how the Gardaí respond to crimes like domestic violence.

“It should be perfectly valid to ask these questions where there are internal failings which may have played a role. If we don’t ask, how can we prevent that kind of stuff from recurring?”

After the panellists delivered their papers, students and faculty of the School of Law participated in a Q and A session about various approaches to reforming An Garda Siochána, including the use of social media to combat negative PR. LLB student Emily Keilty said the conference introduced constructive criticism that will be helpful in “protecting police and citizens rather than just condemning the actions of a few bad apples”.

Shannon College of Hotel Management merges with NUI Galway

By Dean Buckley

€250 NUI Galway

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On Monday 9 November 2015, Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan marked the official incorporation of Shannon College of Hotel Management into NUI Galway.

The merger is unprecedented in Ireland and marks for the first time an Irish college dedicated to the tourism sector within a university, as a subset of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law. In addition to standardising all academic and administrative systems across both the Galway and Shannon campuses, the university intends to increase the number of courses offered. This is to include a particular focus on postgraduate courses, both taught and research.

The mergers have already secured funding from Fáilte Ireland to support research which aims to examine the economic impact of the west coast’s Wild Atlantic Way. The tourist route was established in 2012 by the National Tourism Development Authority, who wish to see further study in its fiscal impact.

Shannon College of Hotel Management is internationally renowned as a producer of industry leaders and innovators, accounts for almost half (42%) of all students entering Level 8 hotel, tourism and hospitality programmes in Ireland. It also boasts a 100% graduate employment rate.

The college was founded in 1951 by Dr Brendan O’Regan, the man who spearheaded the development of Shannon Airport into the international travel hub it is today.

The finalisation of the move to NUI Galway cements a 20 year relationship between the two institutions. The primary connection includes a BComm degree specialising in hotel management, whereby students study for three years in Shannon, then transfer to NUI Galway for their final year.

Minister O’Sullivan said the merger “illustrates

Pictured at the official incorporation of Shannon College of Hotel Management into NUI Galway is Minister for Education and Skills Jan O Sullivan TD with students Neil Xiang Yiu Yu and Alina Sile. the benefits of greater cohesion across the third level sector nationally and in providing a greater return from available resources”.

Both Ms O’Sullivan and Shannon Group Chairperson Rose Hynes congratulated the College on its integration into NUI Galway, with the latter saying the college has been “a brilliant bearer of the Shannon name”. She additionally expressed her delight that the college will maintain its Shannon location.

NEWS 9

November 24 2015

#IBackGalway Cause to celebrate as Galway shortlisted for next stage of European Capital of Culture On Friday 13 November 2015, Galway was shortlisted to host the European Capital of Culture 2020.

A panel of independent experts announced on Friday that Galway has been shortlisted, along with Limerick and a joint bid by the ‘Three Sisters’ (Waterford, Kilkenny and Wexford), for the coveted title. Dublin had also submitted an application.

Galway has now moved one step closer to becoming the European Capital of Culture in 2020. It follows on from a presentation of the Galway 2020 bid book in Dublin Castle led by project manager Patricia Philbin and ten of her colleagues on Thursday. This presentation was made to the European Capital of Culture selection and adjudication panel of ten judges.

“The European Capital of Culture initiative is the most prestigious European cultural event and the spotlight is now on Ireland, having been chosen as a host country for this opportunity in 2020,” said the Galway 2020 team.

“The winning region is designated by the European Commission during which it organises an intense and innovative one year programme of cultural events with strong Euro-

pean connections, a mantle Galway is ready to embrace with pride, energy and vigour.”

Galway City Council CEO Brendan Mc Grath said, “On behalf of the Galway 2020 Bid and on behalf of Galway City Council, I am delighted that the European Capital of Culture jury has shortlisted the Making Waves Bid. “By recognising the quality and intention of our bid, the jury has set us on the way to preparing a final bid by next summer with the ultimate designation of Galway as European Capital of Culture 2020. I would like to commend the elected members, the business sector, the cultural community and all those who participated and contributed to our successful initial bid.

“I would like to particularly pay tribute today the Galway 2020 bid team led by Patricia Philbin who have motivated and inspired a swell of enthusiasm and pride in our city and county to get behind the bid. We now look forward to the challenge set for us today for the final bid submission.”

Following Friday’s shortlist announcement, Galway and the other shortlisted applicants will be asked to submit more detailed applications.

The panel will then meet to assess the final applications and recommend one city per host country for the title. The recommended city will then be formally designated as European Capital of Culture, with the announcement expected in July 2016.

Support Galway 2020 on @galway2020, on Facebook Galway 2020 and www.galway2020.ie.

Heads Up: Flirt FM’s Mental Health Programme

By Niamh Cullen Last year, Flirt FM’s production manager Alan Meaney and Counsellor Mary Owens came together to discuss an idea rooted in a radio mental health show.

From their seeds grew Heads Up, a series of ten half hour radio programmes on student mental health. Made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s Sound and Vision funding, and financed by television licence fees, the production began during NUI Galway’s Mental Health Week on 7 October and will continue to run every Wednesday at 2pm until 9 December.

No stone is unturned throughout the series, as everything ranging from sex, the body, emotions, anger, intimacy, social anxiety and a variety of topics touching on mental health is explored. Each show ends with an artistic wind-down, be it a musical performance, poem recital or a discussion on mental wellbeing. In addition to producers Alan Meaney and Mary Owens, who is also a presenter, the crew consists of Eoghan Holland (presenter and researcher), Blue Hanley and Paul Corcoran (student vox-pop reporters).

“The team has worked really well together and we couldn’t have picked a better crew. I have been really happy with the series so far.

We wanted to focus on the student experience and to talk about positive mental health, and

I have been proud to be part of a project that gets to the bottom of some important issues for students and hopefully gives them some guidance on sometimes difficult subjects,” Mr Meaney explained.

In addition to highlighting a variety of areas surrounding mental health, the programme is also acclaimed for mentioning and making students aware of a variety of mental health services available on campus. These include student counselling, wellbeing workshops, Student Union Life Skills, #LittleThingsCampaign, Student Health Unit, Chaplaincy Student Support Scheme and much more.

“I talked Trish Burke of the Mature Student’s Office and Fr Barry Horan from the Chaplaincy about the Student Hardship Fund. I was learning about mental health supports around me by doing it, and I think it’s great that other students are getting a similar experience from it,” said Paul Corcoran.

“I’ve covered sober nights out, opinions of porn, and cooking on a budget. I think the variety of content is really impressive and admirable. I like to think it has lead to some discussion and consideration in light of the topics discussed,” explained Blue Hanley.

Heads Up runs every Wednesday at 2pm on Flirt FM 101.3. You can listen live on www.flirtfm.ie/listen, or you can catch up on episodes every Thursday at https://www.mixcloud.com/flirtfm/playlists/heads-up/.

EU Grant helps DCU lead the way in Dexlife diabetes research

By Padraic Ward Dublin City University (DCU) is at the forefront of European research that aims to develop new methods of detecting the early stages of diabetes. The Dexlife project which has secured grant funding to the tune of €5.5 million, is investigating ways to detect and prevent type 2 diabetes in real-life settings. The research is made up of a consortium of nine EU partners including three Irish partners-DCU, VHI and Pintail Ltd. According to Dexlife, approximately 330 million people live with the condition worldwide, and this figures is set to double over the next 20 years. Given the increased prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes and the rising costs of treatment, this research has the potential to have wide ranging health and financial benefits.

One of the problems identified in previous research into the detection and prevention of type 2 diabetes is that people destined to develop the condition spend many years in a state of so-called ‘pre-diabetes’. This means that patients display abnormal blood sugar levels before they seek medical advice.

Previous research has indicated that regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle can prevent the development of the disease in high-risk individuals. This research shows that the ear-

lier pre-diabetes can be accurately diagnosed, the better it can be managed and the lower the resulting economic impact of diabetes itself.

Dr Donal O’Gorman, Director of Preventative Medicine at DCU is leading the Irish consortium involved with the Dexlife project. The research will study the progression of the condition from pre-diabetes to type 2 diabetes by tracking volunteers’ physiological improvements.

The project hopes to come up with new ways of determining whether an individual is vulnerable to diabetes before the symptoms appear.

“The current ways we have of identifying diabetes, other than with a blood glucose level, are really coarse. We need better, more precise, ways of detecting it. Even before blood glucose levels start to rise, we need to have markers that better predict if a person is going to go on and develop diabetes,” said Dr O’Gorman.

The research has the potential to have long-lasting health benefits, not only to individuals with the potential of developing type 2 diabetes but to the Irish healthcare system more generally with its potential to predict the onset of the condition at an earlier stage. The insights coming out of the Dexlife project in the Irish setting will be compared and analysed together with partners studying similar clinical cohorts in the UK, Finland, US, Spain, and Denmark.

10 FEATURES Asylroom is new to Galway, having opened its doors in September. Its founders Arek and Oskar opened the business in an old building on Dominick Street and Jess, Jenna, Niamh and Neil couldn’t wait to try it out.

There are two rooms at the moment – the Holmesthemed ‘Sherlocked’ and the spooky ‘Se7en Sins’ (for over-18s only). The Sin team, strangely enough, weren’t quite ready to try out the ‘Sin’ room, but what they found in the Sherlock-themed study was enough to have them looking forward to more.

Students can avail of the ‘Student Mondays’ deal of ¤40 for a room that holds up to six people.

So if you’re looking for a way to celebrate the end of exam season, why not go put the brains to good use and enjoy an hour of solving the most intricatelydesigned mysteries Galway has to offer.

For more information, visit www.asylroom.com.

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

THE ESCAPE FROM

ASYLROOM

Representatives of the Sin editorial team try out one of Galway’s newest attractions as a form of team-building.

Here’s how they got on…

REVIEW: Intricately-designed Get together to get away! escape room a credit to its founders

Nothing brings you closer than a small room and a locked door…

Defeated Indiana Jones-wannabe finds no solace in ‘it’s the taking part that counts’ mantra

By Neil Slevin If you’re an ardent fan of The Big Bang Theory, when you read about Galway city’s very own escape room for the first time, your mind will flash back to that Series 8 episode scene where Leonard, Amy, Raj, and Emily race through solving all the clues and puzzles between them and escape – despite the escape room’s resident zombie pleading with them to slow down – and finding their key to freedom in a record six minutes.

Just like mine did.

But Asylroom – Escape the Room, Galway is an entirely different proposition.

Entering ‘Sherlocked’, I thought mistakenly that we had 28 minutes to make our escape; that turned out to be its record time escape time to date. In fact, we had a full hour to find a way out, and – spoiler alert! – no matter how hard we tried, we just couldn’t do it…

However, despite the failure still galling me as I type, I’ve never endured such a personal disappointment over 60 minutes in such realistic and salubrious surround-

ings: from the Sherlock soundtrack to its timely decoration, thoughtful props to intricately-designed clues, the ‘Sherlocked’ room is a credit to its owners and designers, and has something to offer each and every person who decides to visit Asylroom and embrace its unique challenge.

Opening with a letter from Moriarty, ‘Sherlocked’ poses its willing prisoners a series of clues, puzzles, and riddles that will challenge and excite anyone who faces them in equal measure, testing various skills such as communication, logic, and teamwork.

Also, if (like us) following Moriarty’s cryptic trail leaves you somewhat befuddled, the Asylroom team will be at hand to offer you and your group helpful hints to aid your escape at different points throughout the hour, compounding the excitement and thrill of your bid for freedom as your 60 minutes tick away.

Even as our time ran out, the strains of the Sherlock soundtrack became more and more sinister, and our desperation levels peaked, we were still enjoying our experience; and, when our hour came to

a close, the Asylroom team were kind enough to free us (personally I would have left us in there until we found our way out!), and show us where we went wrong.

Reflecting on our experience now, and still mulling over our various shoulda-woulda-couldas, my advice for any prospective Asylroom inmate is this: 1. Take your time, and go through each clue carefully as part of your group; 2. Work with your team; try to avoid having anyone going off and doing their own thing (this is what I did!); 3. Pursue each clue on its own before moving to the next; 4. Trust your instincts – if something looks suspicious, then it probably is…

Overall, regardless of whether you manage to escape within the time limit or not, Asylroom – Escape the Room, Galway is an amazing experience, one ideal for an alternative night out with a group of friends or for a work/college/sports clubbased team-building experience.

Be sure to try it out.

By Niamh Cullen

Any good group will know the importance of bonding. It espouses not only a closeness amongst peers and mates, but also encourages confidence, the ability to work alone or together, problem-solving skills, and promotes fantastic interaction.

Whether you’re a committee of a society or club here at NUI Galway, a team of staff members in a department or just a group of friends, you’ll know just how important bonding is. The traditional approaches of ice breakers in the office and a sociable evening out are all very well and good in this manner, but they can get a bit samey.

Here at Sin, however, we’ve found a local solution to break that mould.

Asylroom, Galway’s answer to the craze

that is the escape room concept, is the perfect alternative bonding experience.

Groups of up to six can choose between two interactive rooms to challenge their problem-solving skills and attitude to working as a team.

Whip out your magnifying glass in ‘Sherlocked’, a study strewn with clues, and battle against the clock to find the key that unlocks the door before Sherlock’s kidnappers arrive. Or enter the blood spattered space that is ‘Se7en Sins’, where you must work out the ploys of a murderer and his sins in order to escape the trap that might capture you forever…

A life-sized game where you are the player, the concept of an escape room gives new light into assessing how people perform manual tasks and work as part of a team. In the midst of the gripping fun that is working out incredibly challenging yet solvable clues, group members immerse themselves in conditions similar to that of work-based situations. You’re presented with an analysis of your own mental processing for solving tasks under the duress of time, and with the need to balance individual and team-based work.

When this was put into practice, us editors felt relatively confident in the knowledge that we all got on like a house on fire, and we knew well that we could implement skills of independent and group work. I glanced at the timer, which noted we had an hour in a relatively small room, and figured we had enough – perhaps even

FEATURES 11

November 24 2015

ESCAPING THE ROOM: How hard can it be?

The masterminds behind Asylroom

By Jenna Hodgins What inspired you to start up an escape room in Galway?

First of all, we are fans of criminal and detective stories, movies, and adventure games. We read almost all of the Sherlock Holmes books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, watched couple of movies and television series, as well as (whenever we have free time) we play video adventure games.

Some time ago we went accidentally to one of the escape rooms in Poland. It was so much fun, time was flying, and to some extent it was a real adrenaline rush. “Come on,” we said, “the room isn’t big we are not that stupid not to be able to leave it within 60 minutes!” Well it wasn’t easy!

Anyway when we came to Galway we started looking for one like [the escape room in Poland] and surprisingly there was nothing like this here! We found a few in Dublin, Belfast, Cork but come on how come in such a lively and vibrant city there was nothing like the escape the too much time – to complete our tasks.

The reality was that we had not enough time. What started with an obvious clue in the form of a note on a desk transformed into the discovery of riddles, keys and objects with which we had no idea what to do. In a book, on a map, in ornaments and in framed photos would be a clear evidence of the significance of Kenya, but working it out proved impossible without independent searching and group consultation with one another after.

Increasingly, as the clues became more ambiguous and intricate, we started to realise the importance of communication in translating these mental tasks into a puzzled picture that made sense. No matter how confident or worried you may be in your abilities to work with a team, the escape room experience at Asylroom provides the perfect level playing ground from which individuals can transform into well-equipped teams.

Removing teams from what can be the sometimes laborious office or workspace and placing them in an immersive space with which they can take with them transferable skills in the form of a real life game is fun beyond words. As a newspaper team that was already close, we left that little bit closer and wiser.

Having delved into ‘Sherlocked’, we’re determined to return and try our hand at the ‘Se7en Sins’! No doubt we’ll be better equipped to deal with the challenges, and with all certainty we’ll come rolling out exasperated, laughing with our minds racing and our creative buzz flowing – and of course, our bonds will have grown even stronger. A must try for all societies, clubs, workplaces and friends!

room game? So we started to investigate even more and nothing!

That was quick decision. Let’s do it.

This city deserves to have escape game!

It took us few good weeks to find a place which is amazing. And another three months to renovate it, but finally we opened Asylroom in late September.

A lot of things that have happened were just very lucky coincidences: accidentally we found an escape room in Poland, then incidentally Galway didn’t have one, then the building that we are in – we were very lucky that we got it. Now I’m starting to understand what Luck of the Irish means!

How have Galway people reacted to it so far?

Galway people, as well as all other visitors are amazing! The have a big smile after the experience (especially when they were able to escape) and this is a massive reward for us, as well as motivation to work on other rooms (we would like to have five rooms by summer 2016).

However a lot of them we are still learning as this is new to them. But once they try, they almost immediately want to go to another room. Until now we had only few people who did that before (in Dubai, Greece, Prague, Dublin,) and they said that compared to the rooms they’ve been to before, in some cases Asylroom is better in the others, if not at least equal but for sure it’s not worse than those that

they have already visited.

We have a lot of inquiries from corporations for team buildings, Christmas parties – we had already Hewlett Packard Galway team, Pascal Coffee Shop team, and a few other companies are pre-booked for December, so there’s a lot of happening around and we hardly even started.

What is very positive is that businesses are approaching us saying, “We have very positive feedback about your place – can we do something there?” It’s very motivating!

Tell us a bit about the building you’re in.

We are in West Galway which is a real medieval part of Galway – especially the street that Asylroom is located, Dominick Street Lower, right behind the river. It was one of the first streets built in Galway.

The building itself is approximately 250 years old, but even the owners aren’t sure. There are three levels with a small narrow entrance and a window, but when you are on the first floor you start to realise that there is actually a lot of space. Our reception as well as studio (Oskar, one of the Aslyroom’s founding fathers, is a wellknown photographer in Galway) and the ‘Sherlocked’ room is on the first floor.

Then you have this amazing old wooden staircase with creepy stairs which lead you to the second floor (the attic).

And this part of the building is real Gem in the Crown. It wasn’t touched in at least 50 years, so imagine all the timber, floors, walls – it looks just like a scene

from horror movies or even Pirates of the Caribbean!

leave in general but we can’t have people too frustrated at the same time because as we all know, word of mouth is the best marketing. Once they’re unhappy they will not share the good word. That is why it is such a big challenge to create the room properly – not too easy but not too difficult either.

Also observing how people behave, act, and work in the room give us a lot of inspiration for the future.

To summarise: to build the room it doesn’t take a lot of time, but to come up with all the clues it is a never-ending challenge as we will be changing the clues/solutions without changing the room physically every two to three months.

How did you come up with all the clues?

We can say that this is the most fun to do, as well as the hardest part of the job.

We can’t really say exactly what, but that is a combination of movies, books and computer games as well as our own creativity. But believe me, before the room is ready we need to get things from many different sources, items, equipment; a lot of things we simply need to build or somehow create, and then the rooms need to be properly tested.

But even then after test groups, we find out that there are still things missing or not working as we would like them to.

Honestly speaking, based on the ‘Sherlocked’ room, I can say that after having at least 15 groups we really can say that now everything works like it should.

Our goal is that the room is at the same time simple and hard. Imagine there are six people in a not-so-big room, and they are looking for the key and they have 60 minutes. Come on, how hard can it be?

People can’t just leave in 10 or 20 minutes because it will be too easy and not worth the money, if so then they should

Do you have any deals or discounts for students?

For students we would like to offer Students Mondays which is actually €40 per group (6 people maximum) which is less than 7 euro per head. This promotion will last till the end of the year. In general we have couple more ideas for the future but we can’t tell you anything for now!

Photographs are courtesy of Oskar Boral see: www.oscarboralphotography.com

Agatha Christie.

2008 saw the development of ‘Real Escape Game’ (REG) in Kyoto, Japan. By 2011, Singapore was on top of the trend, and there are now over 50 games in Singapore. In 2015, there are over 2,800 escape rooms worldwide.

Now escape rooms have become popular tourist attractions, team-building activities, and the perfect start to a staff or class Christmas party. We should know.

We went in there expecting to be the best of friends or the worst of enemies by the time we escaped… or didn’t.

What makes these games so exciting is not only the players solving the mindboggling puzzles as they follow a trail of clues to the key that will release them from their prison, but also the makers who pour creativity into every little detail.

Oskar and Arek of Asylroom, for example, put so much effort into their work, drawing their inspiration from their favourite Sherlock Holmes stories and

other crime and mystery novels as well as numerous video games.

Our hour began well, as we read a note on the desk and started to follow the clues in a sequential manner. One of us started tearing the room apart soon after, finding random things that did or didn’t turn out to be useful to us later on.

Another one of us became obsessed with a certain shape that appeared in a few different parts of the room... a shape that proved useless to us as it was merely an accidental mark and not a clue. I personally became obsessed with a specific playing card – the significance of which I still haven’t figured out.

By the end of the hour we had the room well and truly torn apart and we didn’t manage to escape (though we were so close to solving it we almost screamed when we realised what tiny step we needed to take to get out), but we felt like a team, and that’s something we can’t escape from… at least not until the end of the academic year!

The Origins of Escape Rooms The great escape game that’s taking the world by storm

By Jessica Thompson Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, even Wilkie Collins and Edgar Allen Poe are well-known for their mystery novels and short stories. The clues, the suspicions and the utterly frustrating confusion that ensues a murder, a kidnapping or another mysterious incident is now something we can all experience for an hour or so – longer if you count the adrenaline rush you feel for a long time after.

As the door closes and you hear the key twist in the lock, there’s only one thing

on your mind as you start to channel your inner Houdini: ‘how quickly can I get out of here?’

The walls are adorned with photos, there are drawers and dressers aplenty, and – depending on the type of room – bookcases, shelves and random memorabilia, that you’ll later learn isn’t so random after all.

Escape rooms have been springing up all over the world over the last ten years, and their popularity has been growing ever since the earliest-known escape room, ‘Origin’, was created in 2007. ‘Origin’ was set up in Silicon Valley by a group of system programmers and was inspired by the works of the ever-popular crime-writer

NUI Galway Students’ Union Christmas Exam Buses 2015 with City Direct Bus Company

Busanna Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn do Scrúduithe na Nollag i gcomhar le City Direct

City Direct

€2 PER JOURNEY Non-Stop Direct Service to Salthill Exam Venues (Leisureland/Galway Bay Hotel)

Seirbhís dhíreach gan stad chuig na hionaid scrúduithe i mBóthar na Trá (Leisureland/Óstán Chuan na Gaillimhe)

Monday 7th December – Friday 18th December Dé Luain, an 7 Nollaig – Dé hAoine, an 18 Nollaig

Leaving University Road:

Leaving Salthill (Leisureland):

Ag fágáil ó Bhóthar na hOllscoile:

Ag fágáil ó Bhóthar na Trá (Leisureland):

08.40 ----------- 12.10 -----------15:40

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www.su.nuigalway.ie

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Homemade Gifts:

Driving home for Christmas:

Christmas Top 10s:

Get out your scissors and glue and make something special.

Page 15

Dealing with family abroad or the journey home this holiday season.

Check our top songs, ads and movies this Christmas

Galway Continental Christmas Market gets bells ringing

By Rachel Brownlow

CHRISTMASSY STUDENT NEWSPAPER!

Christmas comes early for SU chosen charities

Students’ Union Christmas Day raises over €10,000 for charity

By Jessica Thompson Christmas songs, Christmas jumpers and Christmas hats could be seen wandering the NUI Galway campus last Thursday, 19 November, as students excitedly made their way to the college bar to celebrate the annual Students’ Union Christmas Day event.

Student volunteers were called on to assist with the fundraising between 9am and 3pm on the day and collection buckets and the sale of €5 wristbands for the after party raised over €10,000 for the SU chosen charities.

This year, the chosen charities are the Galway Rape Crisis Centre and the Irish Cancer Society – both of which will benefit from the proceeds.

The NUI Galway Students’ Union Christmas Day event is the biggest SU event of the semester and last week’s event saw traditional Christmas carols, cheesy Christmas tunes with the very popular DJ Byrno, and plenty of prizes for the best and worst Christmas jumpers.

The official after party was held in Electric Garden and Theatre and Four/Four that evening, where Yuletide celebrations continued well into the night.

This may have been the biggest SU event of the year, but it’s certainly not the last – the SU has one more event to come. The Big Fat Study

Break will take place on Wednesday 2 December, with a massive cake sale and a visit from Wooly Wards Farm, including Kuzco the Llama who proved himself to be quite the celebrity last year.

For now though, the Students’ Union can sleep easy on Christmas Eve, knowing they’re definitely on Santa’s ‘nice’ list.

The pinnacle of Christmas in Galway will be, as always, the Continental Christmas market.

As soon as November arrives, full of rain and college stress, the countdown begins. Anticipations are met when locals greet its opening, 20 November, with open arms.

Over the last few years, the market has spread throughout the heart of Galway, transforming Eyre Square into a haven of lights and grottos scented with cinnamon, spices and hot chocolate. Last year alone it attracted almost half a million visitors who roamed among the 50 wooden chalets.

The appeal is undeniable – this is a place in which you cannot help but be endowed with Christmas cheer. Visit the famous beer tent to drink enormous pints, Bailey’s hot chocolates and spiced apple whiskeys.

There are stands laden with every kind of Christmas treat imaginable including the hugely popular chimney cake which always leaves a long snaking queue for their warm cinnamon scattered pastry. Artisan stalls are full of unique, high quality hand-crafted items to make the ideal Christmas presents for when you’re looking for something a little bit different this year.

Santa’s Grotto sits amongst the cabins, a favourite for the children and young families.

The carousel always arouses the most excitement with both the young and old bursting with anticipation to soar aboard the beautifully crafted horses. It’s an otherworldly experience, the Christmas market transforming Galway from the damp, cold of winter into something magical.

This year the charm of the market is spreading with the event being said to include various venues throughout the city, such as St. Nicholas’ Market and Woodquay for an all-encompassing celebration.

Eyre Square will be made into a Christmas wonderland and the Spanish Arch will feature plenty of Christmas delights. The Christmas cheer in Galway is in full force this year and there are no excuses not be swept up in the magic.

14 Merry Christmas!

"You're here for a good time, not a long time"

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

BAH HUMBUG

Why I Hate Christmas

By Jessica Hannon

PLANNING A CLASS OR SOCIETY NIGHT OUT? CHECK OUT GALWAY'S HOTTEST NEW VENUE!

So now that Christmas is firmly upon us and we approach decorating season, it’s time to pull out those mothballed cringy Christmas jumpers, Santa hats and those red Rudolph noses and get stuck in to Christmas and all its second helpings.

But what for all the poor souls who don’t actually like Christmas? What’s to be said for those of us who just don’t enjoy partaking in the festive activities as much as the next person? Who would rather celebrate the holiday in our own quiet way and not feel pressured to have a great time and socialise every night.

What about those who would rather curl up and watch ‘Friends’ back to back instead of feeling like you’re missing out if you’re not playing charades with the neighbours and every other family relative. Sometimes it feels we rare creatures are not really considered come Christmas at all, save those who partake in all the mainstream activities that come with the Christmas package. But look no further readers, you are not alone, I myself don’t enjoy Christmas and all the social pressures that come with the festive season and here are a couple of reasons why I’d prefer winter without the hassle that the holiday brings.

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Is it just me or is there not an innate pressure to feel happy at all times over the Christmas season? It’s like if you’re not ecstatic 24/7 over the month of December than you are certainly missing out on something. It can make many feel like they’re not ‘Christmassing’ right. In addition the feeling that you should socialise more over Christmas than any other time of year can be exhausting, not to mention the fact that many people might just not want to join in on all the festive banter and yet feel pressurised into posting many happy Christmas pictures on social media platforms. Hell, lets even have a Christmas album to show everyone how well we celebrated Christmas, even if you didn’t. It’s all a bit condescending isn’t it?

What’s to be said for another engagement?

I’d like to consider myself a romantic.

However come Christmas cupid is just doing

the rounds isn’t he? I’m all for romance and honestly its adorable if you get engaged, and even more adorable if you get engaged over Christmas. But it really feels like everyone who’s planning on popping the question literally saves themselves for Christmas. For us singletons who are already feeling we’ll be forever alone, it’s all a bit sickening.

Money never sleeps Over the festive season it’s probably impossible to have a satisfyingly heavy wallet. It seems like every little cent you earn in the run up to Christmas is already spent because you know it won’t all be going to pay the looming bills, never mind buying something for yourself over Christmas. In addition the pressure to buy the perfect present for all your loved ones is immense. God forbid if you forget what your sister pined for over the summer months. Just another reason why Christmas is the most unnecessarily hassle filled time of the year.

Planes, Trains and automobiles If these reasons aren’t enough to make you realise why Scrooge was right all along then let us consider the complimentary travel chaos that comes with the Christmas package. I honestly do not envy you if you have a lot of travel to do over the holiday period. I think the only thing that can possibly make the travel aspect of Christmas marginally better is the cheesy Christmas songs that go with it. Given the radio stations don’t do what they always do anyway and over play the worst possible tunes.

Merry Christmas! 15

November 24 2015

Cheap and cheerful: Christmas Why making Christmas gifts presents for the student pocket is better than

By Niamh Cullen Getting awesome presents doesn’t mean investing in overpriced commodities.

The drill is known by heart and the panic starts for the majority of us who forget to start purchasing before the winter season commences. What do we get, where, how, and with what money? Will Aunt Josephine that we met maybe once at a wedding get offended when we present her empty handed at the dinner table? Will Santa get such an abundance of presents that our financial woes and inferior gifts were masked by his great load? Will we all crumble into an existential crisis of “what am I worth”?

Not this year! Being strapped for cash doesn’t have to equate to compromise when it comes to getting that ideal present. Save yourself the grief of worry and get your mitts on gifts that are bound to delight while on the cheap!

WHAT TO BUY: There are certain things that never fail to impress and don’t cost an absolute bank load. Here’s just a few gifts so great you’ll want to get them for yourself!

Decals Perhaps the greatest understatement of the century, decals ca n ma ke a b ig impression at a tiny price. Never heard of them? Simply put, they’re a design prepared on an adhesive material (usually vinyl) that you can stick onto just about anything. Easy to apply and remove, they make great decorations for walls, windows, laptops and so much more. Sizes come from as small as a coin to as big as a house, depending on what you’re looking for. You can make it personal by investing in a themed decal (Mario Bros. or Spirited Away, anyone?).

Expect to pay about 10-15 euro for a wall sized print!

Personalised Calendars It may sound a little clichéd, but you can never beat them.

Round up the cringiest, funniest, most memorable photos you can think of to create a calendar that

will have your nearest and dearest oohing and awh-ing each month. Don’t just limit it to photos- why not include any drawings, notes, poetry or anything else that will complement the personal touch. If you shop around online, many sites will ask for no more than a tenner, including post and packaging- just make sure you can upload any photos or content you’d like to use!

Cookie Holder Mugs Okay, so perhaps the mug is a crutch gift we all fall back on.

You can never beat a new mug, nor can you have too many.

But thankfully, some genius completely revolutionised the idea of the humble cup to bring us the Cookie Holder Mug! A myth turned magical reality, you can give your loved ones the gift of not having their second hand free when carrying a piping cuppa into the sitting room, all the while banishing the worry of having to wash a plate needlessly.

Double win! 3-5 euro should cover you for this gem of a gift.

Knit Your Own Beanie Kit A personal favourite, this gift offers the introduction of a new hobby combined with the comfort of creating your own super warm beanie. All the cool kids are knitting and wearing beanies these days, as are the cool older generations so it’s a gift to cover all bases!

This crafty kit will set you back ten euro, not too bad!

WHERE TO SHOP: Shopping in the right spots can make a massive difference when it comes to quality of presents and how much change you’ve left in your pockets. Here’s a few spots where you can’t go wrong!

Tiger Arguably the Danish mother of all gift stores, there’s little chance you’ll pay any more than fifteen euro for something that will feel so simple and homely, yet very impressive.

We’re talking nineties propeller hats, fake moustaches, onesies, art materials, mandala colouring books, board games, notebooks

and so much more. Tiger stores are dotted all over the country, and Galway’s spot is tucked away upstairs at the back of Eyre Square shopping centre.

Penneys It’s the place we all dash in last minute bids to get that something you’re mother/ brother/significant other has been eyeing up while casually window shopping. Again, you’re rarely going to fork out more than twenty quid for a gift or item of clothing here. Perhaps the greatest benefit going in Penneys is their stock of official merchandise that comes at surprisingly cheap rates.

Whether it’s Batman, The Avengers, Harry Potter, The Simpsons or The Beatles, you’ll find a great range of tees, tops, shower kits, slippers, wallets and so much more! Not to mention, those one euro candles that smell like dreams come true and a handful of ropey bracelets for two euro are always a fantastic grab.

TK Maxx The best spot for random gems and impressive labels at discount prices, TK Maxx is perfect for those into their branded lotions, potions, homeware and clothing. You’ll sometimes come across once-off wonders- this season’s stock includes notepads designed by Quentin Blake, ten inch heels

by Alexander McQueen and Bramble House confectionary gift sets. Even at a quick browse, you won’t be lost on a present for the most specific of folk!

GET CREATIVE If you really want to pinch pennies while adding a unique feel to your gift, then getting creative is the way to go. Hit your local euro shop for some arts and crafts bits and bobs, or simply have a rustle around home. Jars make fab containers for sweets and candles, or you can fill it up with cute notes or date ideas! Got a Scrabble board lying around? Arrange the pieces to make a note, take a photo of it, print it off and frame- voilá, you’ve saved yourself tens of euro on Scrabble picture print! Hampers are relatively easy to make with a box or wicker basket, ribbon and shredded tissue paper.

You can fill it with sweets, candles, toys, other DIY gifts and pretty much anything you can think of?

Still unsure of what to get? The good ‘aul euro scratch card in an envelope is a must – sure who wouldn’t say no to the chance of winning their college fees paid off (maybe times ten)?

buying them

By Heather Robinson

So you left gift-buying to the last minute. And yes, your mam loved the bath set from Dunnes you got her the year before… and the one from every year before that too. Oh you got her a candle once? You’re a hero.

Choosing a present for someone shouldn’t leave you feeling guilty. Bottom line, that’s not what Christmas is about. It becomes an even harder task when you’re bombarded with gift sets and window displays and ads on TV telling you what to buy ‘your special someone’ this Christmas. But what do your parents and friends and partners actually want from you for Christmas?

The problem with all of these repetitive gifts is that while you can give someone extravagance in a bottle, it can become impersonal. We all know that material things don’t bring happiness. But the way you can make another person feel leaves a lasting memory. Making your best friend a Christmas present can be as daft and as special as you like. It could become a trip down memory lane. Give your loved ones something to smile about.

Think of the possibilities that await you when giving someone a gift no longer means a can of Lynx and a selection box. Your Christmas present to somebody is now undefinable. Taking someone to their favourite restaurant and surprising them with a funny photo collage will give you two a lot more to laugh about.

Making the time to actually do something together is one of the greatest gifts you can give.

Surprise someone with a night out somewhere or a day-trip. And yes, I know your mam really does appreciate the bath bombs and hand lotions – even when they’re forgotten and just sit in their box, ready to be re-gifted in an emergency. But you won’t see your touching poem or personalised video being handed off to someone else.

Giving a meaningful gift is a moment that will always be remembered. And when they look at the mug, photo frame, or lop-sided candle they’ll recall how special it is to them. Importantly, they’ll think of how special you are to them.

Another positive outcome when making gifts is that you could develop some new skills. There could be a hidden talent for knitting or painting locked away within you. It might be a case of you cracking open a recipe book to discover that you’re a culinary genius. Whatever type of gift you choose to make, it doesn’t need to be complicated.

Tutorials are rampant online so you’ll always find a way to do things. Sites like Etsy.com are perfect outlets for you to create and sell your crafty projects later on if you’re ever stuck for cash. A New Year’s Resolution maybe? Most of the time, you’ll already find the materials you need are lying around at home. How great is that?

Sincere and cost effective, you say? I wonder why we even started buying presents in the first place!

16 Merry Christmas!

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

John Lewis Christmas advert raises awareness about loneliness

By Laura McGettigan Christmas isn’t Christmas without our favourite festive advertisements, as the sound of the adorable little girl whisper ‘ho ho ho’ as she finds Santa digging into his bowl of Cornflakes, or the lyrics ‘the holidays are coming’ chime through our sitting rooms, the sense of joy and nostalgia brings Christmas magic to life through our very TV screens.

With Christmas fast approaching, we prepare ourselves for a siege of these magical Christmas advertisements celebrating togetherness, community, and gifts and giving. However, this year’s John Lewis included a strong message of charity and kindness, putting a different spin on the traditional Christmas ad. Already reaching over 13 million views, this Christmas’ John Lewis advertisement is set to have be one of the most effective advertisements yet.

As we follow the story of nine year-old Lily, we see her peer through the telescope from the comfort of her own happy home to discover the sad reality of an old man, isolated and lonely over a million miles away, on the moon.

The man on the moon falls short of the typical magic Christmas scene that we as consumers are accustomed to seeing. To

the sound of an acoustic rendition of Oasis’s ‘Half the World Away’ Lily sets about finding a way of spreading joy so far as the old man, trying several unsuccessful methods of communication. Yet on Christmas day, in true Christmas miracle fashion, a group of colourful helium balloons bring a gift to the old man as he sheds a tear of happiness followed by the message ‘Show someone they’re loved this Christmas’.

As John Lewis’ advertisements are undoubtedly one of the most famous ads in marketing, this advertisement has definitely drew international attention to the upsetting reality that many elderly face at this time of year. As John Lewis has teamed with Age Action UK to encourage people to donate and volunteer, as well as selling items where proceeds with go to the charity, it will also encourage thousands around the world to think on the many elderly in our own countries and towns who face Christmas alone this year.

The story of Cork man, John Gray, caught worldwide attention in 2013 when the 85 year-old placed an ad in the Irish Post looking for some company for the first time in nine Christmases. Gray stated in an earlier interview that, “I could have just stayed in on my own and put a chicken in the oven,

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though I have something wrong with my fingers.”

After Gray received hundreds of Christmas dinner invitations and over a thousand Christmas cards to his London home, it was clear to see that many are eager to close the gap between the elderly at a time of year that taps into the kindness of us all.

As many Irish charities such as Alone, Age Action Ireland and Friends of the Elderly do amazing work all year round in helping to combat loneliness, as well as enforcing crime prevention measures and promoting positive ageing and better policies, the attention to the suffering of the elderly which the advertisement has brought has been very much welcomed.

Amid the marketing ploys and messages of consumerism, the John Lewis ad helps us to remember the true spirit of Christmas as a time of giving and spreading love. This Christmas maybe we can all remember to close the gap between the elderly who feel isolated not only at Christmas but year-round and help them remember that although it may feel like it, they are not really ‘Half the World Away’.

Homelessness this Christmas

By Laura McGettigan With an all-time record of 4,999 people including 1,571 children declared homeless in October of this year, and a further 45 families having lost their homes in the last month in Dublin alone, it is safe to say that there is an emergency crisis of homelessness in Ireland this Christmas.

As Focus Ireland scrutinize the governments lack of consideration, and appeal for charity and donations this Christmas, the charity draws attention to the critical situation on our door step.

In the wake of the heart-breaking death of Jonathon Corrie, a forty year-old homeless man who died on the streets of Dublin near the Dáil last December, the nation could only hope that the death would highlight the dismal situation of homelessness in Ireland, and the crisis would gain the funding it needed for the situation to improve.

However, that does not seem to have been the case this year. Although funding for 271 extra beds was provided, the number of homeless people has risen a staggering 72 percent since January, as well as an 81 percent increase in the number of homeless children. Where there were 865 children last January as opposed to 1,571 in October this year, homelessness has undoubtedly spiralled out of control in these harsh economic times.

“The government has voiced concern on the issue but the simple truth is it could stop more families and single people losing their homes tomorrow with the single stroke of a pen by raising rent supplement to match current market rents” Focus Ireland President and Founder Sr. Stanilaus Kennedy said in a previous report, “the government have taken some action which is welcome but not enough is being done at all”.

Demand for Focus Ireland’s lifeline sources grew by 25 percent last year and the number of people seeking support is only set to rise. As a nation we must recognize the damage that homelessness has on a person’s physical, as well as mental health. Many families are placed in unsafe and unsanitary environments with no choice other than to

accept it, or be forced to sleep on the streets.

As families often lose vast majorities of their personal belongings, and children’s education suffering immensely, it is no surprise that the mental health of those involved including children is at a severe risk. In a recent study, 70 percent of the homeless people who were questioned stated that they had been officially diagnosed with mental health problems, with depression being the main diagnosis. Homelessness often leaves those effected prone to feelings of isolation, loneliness and a lack of confidence and self-esteem.

Those affected by homelessness also face numerous physical health issues such as hypothermia, malnutrition, respiratory disorders, poor dental hygiene as well as much higher rates of HIV and TB and a high risk of premature death.

In a recent report on homelessness in Ireland a single mother tells of the horrors of the temporary accommodation where her and her children were placed, where bullying and aggression was rife and they witnessed screaming and distressing arguments, loud music played late at night, children being taken into care and even people dying on the premises.

On the other hand, the report highlighted that there was great work done by the people of Ireland this year who opened their hearts even though they were in difficult situations themselves.

“This great work was possible because many men, women and children in every town nationwide still have hearts big enough to think of others despite times being tough for all and they donated what they could to support our work” Sr. Stanilaus continued.

“We really need people to give what they can so Focus Ireland can be there to support the people who need it the most this Christmas and all through the year.”

As Focus Ireland, the Simon community, COPE Galway and many other charities continue their amazing work this Christmas, it is important that we also recognize these problems on our doorstep and open our hearts to helping those less fortunate where we can this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas! 17

November 24 2015

Drawing pictures of turkeys Going home for Christmas

By Eoghan Holland Over my own years at college and to the present day, there has almost always been one family member abroad for Christmas.

A few times it’s been myself, though more often my adventurous sisters, and more recently, my parents.

Over the years we’ve worked out a number of ways of ‘doing the Christmas’ while being on different landmasses. Maybe the most educational of these was the year I spent in Minneapolis. I’m pretty sure with the buzz around thanksgiving I forgot Christmas existed, leaving myself in a position where my festive celebrations would end up in a quick payphone (a large, ungainly, almost extinct breed of mobile phone) call home and spending a day working my way

through an absent housemate’s vinyl collection. Festive.

When I found out the following year that little sis was exposing herself to her first Christmas abroad, we got a little more proactive. Since that year, Christmas has fallen sometime in midNovember in our house. Within the four walls, for all purposes we act out our entire Christmas ritual as if it was 25 December: the meal, the presents, the liberal consumption, the movies.

Hand in hand with this, cyber-Christmas has evolved magnificently and there are a lot more ways to include the geographically-challenged siblings in proceedings. There was the year we set a place for a laptop at the dinner table and had little sis having skype dinner with us.

Wifi should be the name of an honorary 13th reindeer by now.

We’ve done little private YouTube messages. Cards are a must.

I’ve no idea why a piece of paper with glitter on it coming through the letterbox makes any difference, but this gesture will make sure that there is at least one Christmasthemed item in a person who is away from home’s abode. Also the virtues of watching movies in sync, and heckling them via messaging apps, is not to be ignored.

I suppose what I picked up that year in Minneapolis was that if you are doing Christmas away from home, plan it; don’t leave yourself off the list. Hook up with some friends, or stockpile your must-see Christmas movie list – make sure you know what you are going to be up to for the day.

Figure how and when you are going to contact home. Draw a nice picture of a turkey and place it next to the toast.

Christmas Apparel ‘It’s Christmastime. There’s no need to be afraid…’

By Aisling Bonner Sorry, Band Aid. Unfortunately there is a need. For although Christmastime brings with it sequins, fluffy socks, new PJs, and oversized scarfs, it has its fair share of faux pas’ to match.

Basically, for every ‘Ho Ho Ho’ there’s a ‘no no no’.

On a jolly note, it’s finally socially acceptable to drench yourself in glitter, sparkles and bling again. Twist some tinsel around your pony tail (or lads, your ‘man bun’) and you’re good to go. Nothing is too glitzy and, better still, nothing is glitzy enough. It’s also a perfect substitute for a reflector jacket if you plan on walking home after a Christmas party. Now you’ve just saved money on a taxi, you’re welcome.

Next comes fluff, and lots of it. Fluffy pyjamas, fluffy socks, fluffy slippers, and whatever your opinion on big fluffy beards is, throw them in too.

December comes, and Penney’s becomes almost like Santa’s grotto; a haven for all things warm and snuggly. The aim of the game is to make everyone jealous at how cosy you look and more importantly, how much that fluff enhances your rear (cue ‘Anaconda’ sung by a children’s choir with background sleigh bells).

But before you get too comfortable, it’s also the time to strangle yourself in a massive, print scarf. The bigger the better, and if it trails the ground as you walk, you’ve won a selection box!

However, all this delusional Christmas cheer does present problems, one of which is the bad present fiasco. In the midst of beautiful, heart-warming gifts, it’s not Christmas without the scary-looking, soft parcel from Auntie Mary. You know it’s clothes, don’t even bother trying to pretend it’s not.

Those frilly blouses and flared jeans you wore when you were 11 don’t seem so cool now. Has her eyesight really gotten that bad? You put on a brave face, but at the end of the day, “Wow, Mary! I’ve been looking for a pair of Christmas crocs for ages!” – was said by no one. Ever.

But the next calamity cannot be blamed on poor Auntie Mary. It is of course, the Santa suit – by which I mean Mean Girls-inspired. Yes, Cady Heron wore army pants and flip flops so you bought army pants and flip flops, but let’s leave it there, shall we? Ditch the tight red mini skirt, it’s not Halloween, there’s no excuse this time.

So in case you think I’ve forgotten, I haven’t: the Christmas Jumper. From tear-inducing colour combinations, to unflat-

tering necklines, the Christmas jumper is something we should all clearly stay away from. But we don’t.

Wince-inducing captions such as ‘Let’s get naughty and save Santa a trip’ are obligatory along with lights, bells and a built-in sound system playing ‘Jingle Bells’ all night long. If you don’t do it all, don’t bother.

You’ll end up looking ridiculous – now that’s irony.

By Niamh Cullen

to take fellow locals home in exchange for a bit of petrol money, and the company is always appreciated on a long journey! You can all get into the swing of it and belt out “Driving Home for Christmas” until your lungs ache.

Ah, it’s that time of year again.

The gifts are yet to be bought, the exams are just around the corner and let’s not get started on getting home for Christmas. It’s all well and good if you’ve a set of a wheels to just about get you from A to B but this time of year, public transport can be a nightmare. This is especially the case if you’ve a part-time job working away from home leading up to the two crucial days- Christmas Eve and Stephens’ Day. Or wholly the case if you’re an international student. But fear not, where there’s a will there’s a way, and the Christmas cheer will be upheld with some fine tips to get you through the travel tidings!

Public Transport So some of us will have to face the dreaded buses and trains. Most services are actually very considerate when it comes to getting home for Christmas, so keep the faith! Limited services do run on Bus Éireann on both Christmas Eve and Stephens’ Day, while Irish Rail cancel all operations on Stephens’ Day. Check the websites well in advance, ring your local stations and where possible and plan to book off work if necessary.

Carpooling This is probably your best bet around the dodgy timetables, booked-out seats and impenetrable crowds at the bus and train stations. Don’t be afraid to make a suggestion to your class on social media sites, or pop up a few notes on the message boards dotted around campus. You’d be surprised to find a few friendly faces that are in fact, from that tiny rural town a few hundred kilometres away. Strapped for cash students will more than likely be more than willing

Flights Thankfully, flights never stop, even on Christmas Day. However, it does make good sense to book in advance to avoid sky high prices (no pun intended) and massive queues. Even if you do end up amongst the masses at airport terminals, flight staff tend to make the journey home pretty memorable.

And if you’re people watch-

ing at arrivals, you’ll be sure to shed a tear of joy at those running into the arms of their loved ones.

Can’t make it home?

If it’s a case that you simply can’t get home be it money or distance holding you back, don’t fret! You’d be surprised how many people are in the same boat as you, and there are plenty of different ways to celebrate in a home away from home.

International students often bunch together to make plans, and can be incredibly accommodating to those who have also discovered they’ll be staying put for the holidays.

And likewise, many students may be in the same situation where they’re not too sure on plans so put it out there on Facebook, Twitter, noticeboards or by email. Hotels also provide wonderful receptions on Christmas Day, with dinner and drinks included.

Another lifesaver can be Skype or Facetime, for chatting with family and friends long distance.

No matter how you go about it, there’s festive cheer waiting for you after the exams, and whether you’re getting home for Christmas, or home away from home, tidings and goodwill are all just around the corner!

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18 Merry Christmas!

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

What to do to deal with those exam-based pre-Christmas blues?

A preview of what to do in Galway, and where to do it, in the lead-up to 25 December

By Frank Roddy Christmas is not far away now, but before the holidays come we have to deal with exam season.

Fear not, Galway won’t let it dampen your spirits: the city is chocked full of potential study breaks and opportunities to celebrate the end of your exams, and we’re here to recommend some choice ways to bookend this trying time.

If you’ve made it to the point where you don’t know whether to laugh or cry about your exam prospects, then head to the Róisín Dubh on 4 December to be helped in the right direction by the Steve Bennet-hosted Róisín Dubh Comedy Club.

At just eight euro entry, it’s a great opportunity to break that exam tension as the musical

Laois man will be on hosting duties before introducing Totally Wired: another musical comedy act, Totally Wired are Ireland’s oldest and least successful boyband. Do not arrive expecting Westlife-style key changes.

Prefer your music without the punchlines?

Then the ever-versatile Róisín Dubh has you covered twice over; and that’s just before the exams.

Gaz Coombes takes to their stage on 3 December to kick off the Irish portion of his latest tour.

The former Supergrass frontman will be playing hits from his critically-acclaimed second solo album, Matador.

At €18 in, it’s a great opportunity to see just how much things have changed since his days playing ‘Be Alright’. His side-

burns haven’t budged, though.

The following Saturday, 5 December, Wyvern Lingo will also perform at the Róisín Dubh.

The Bray-based trio have supported Hozier in the past, and two of their members are former members of his touring band.

Wyvern Lingo have been said to combine music varying from folk to pop to soul; the only thing that their critics seem to agree on is that the future is bright for these young women.

Get yourself a €12.50 ticket to see for yourself just what all the fuss is about, and be able to say “Yeah, I saw them before they were cool” – just like everyone says they did with Hozier.

Then, once the exams have started for real, you’re going to need something to look forward to. Some might say that Christ-

mas should do that job for you, but Northern Irish rockers Ash come much sooner to Galway.

Coming to the end of a year that saw the support them support Foo Fighters at Slane Castle and release their first album in eight years, the trio plays the Róisín Dubh on 17 December.

Expect a high-octane show with songs from the days of ‘Burn Baby Burn’ right up to their hits from this summer, including ‘Cocoon’ from their new album Kablammo. It should be well-worth its €20 ticket price.

But perhaps you’ll be too tired following your exams for a mosh pit. Maybe you would rather just sit back and have a laugh?

In that case, head to Leisureland, where English comedian Jimmy Carr will regale all present with his trademark deadpan dark humour on 19 December.

This one is a must for fans of 8 Out of 10 Cats and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. It will also be the perfect warm-up for this year’s inevitable Big Fat Quiz of the Year. Tickets are €35.50.

And then, if after all that you need to relax and recuperate, why not enjoy a pleasant swim on Christmas morning?

The annual COPE Galway swim takes place in Blackrock at 10am. It’s only ten euro to register and by doing so you’ll be helping COPE Galway to continue to provide services like homelessness hostels and meals on wheels for the elderly in the wider Galway area.

If nothing else, signing up will distract you from the worries of your exams when you know you have a very cold dip on the horizon…

Finally, should nothing here interest you, there is the small matter of movie coming out on 17 December. There’s not been much talk about it, but I think it could be the breakout hit of the season.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens reunites the stars of the original trilogy as well as a host of new characters, including Ireland’s very own Domhnall Gleeson.

I don’t think that many people will have to be sold on this one; even the sceptics should know that it can’t be as bad as the prequels.

Student accommodation Christmas decorating

By Jessica Hannon As Christmas approaches and the festivities truly begin, we draw nearer to the date we take the time out to really celebrate the festive season and start putting up the decorations. Usually at home it’s the mammy or dad, grandparents and relatives who take charge of this momentous annual task and we can sit back and take it all in while untangling a fairy light or two. However in the big world of college living it’s not that easy. We have to get truly stuck in this time.

I found that since I’ve started college I’m so excited for Christmas; the whole idea of spending the run up to Christmas with new friends would warm the cockles of your heart. And of course decorating your student accommodation or wherever you’re living is an integral part of college Christmas living. So let’s get down to it.

Lights, lights and more lights: Festive lighting really adds to any room come Christmas.

Fairy lights are a lovely option for decorating bedrooms and small living areas because when the lights are dimmed they really add that festive feel. Small lights can be bought cheaply in Penney’s and run off batteries - a nice alternative to buying Christmas tree lights!

Just be sure to realise the fire hazard that fairy lights pose and don’t leave them on for long near bedclothes. In addition, some student accommodations may not allow decorative lights due to this hazard so be sure to check the Terms and Conditions you signed.

Christmas trinkets: Shops are full of small Christmas decorations such as small decorative Santas, snowmen and angels. These can make a lovely addition to any room come Christmas and really give the Christmas home feel.

Again these small decorations can be picked up in literally any shop such as Penney’s, Dunnes Stores and Dealz and generally don’t cost a lot at all.

If you’re buying decorations as part of a house, plan first and then make sure everyone who wants to take part chips

in. Expensive decorations may not be worth your while either as they can easily get broken in student accommodation with people coming and going.

Pool resources: When it comes to Christmas decorating, a Christmas tree is quite an integral part of decorating. However trees can be expensive so like I said before, ensure all house members are on board with purchasing a tree. If you live in an apartment complex perhaps talk to the other apartment owners near you to see if they would be interested in communally buying a tree to save on spending.

Plus it can be great fun decorating with more than just your house mates. If a big tree isn’t feasible Argos usually sell small decorative trees with lights included. Also I’m sure many families at home have tree baubles that never get used each year, so look into picking some older ones up at home and putting them to good use.

An Advent calendar: Nothing says Christmas more than the countdown to Christmas and nothing says countdown like an Advent calendar full of chocolate. These can be picked up so handily in stores such as Heatons. The trick with these is not to eat all the chocolate at once! One or two around the house would be a great festive addition in the run up to Christmas.

Mistletoe: No Christmas decorating list would be complete without the inclusion of Mistletoe. A few sprigs of mistletoe around your apartment/house will surely get people in the festive spirit, especially if there is a Christmas party. Not only are they a good source of decoration but Mistletoe looks very pretty hanging on the wall/ ceiling. In addition, tinsel is a very cheap method of decoration and can also double up as a very festive costume! Perfect for hanging around the house when you’re in need of decoration inspiration.

Merry Christmas! 19

November 24 2015

TOP TEN Christmas films

By Sinead O’Callaghan

10. White Christmas (1954)

Bing Crosby crooning that forever-classic song in a beautiful snowy ski resort; what’s not to love?

9. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Jim Carey stealing Christmas and the Whos’ happiness with Dr Seuss’s effortless rhyming skills. Where are you, Christmas? Right here, in this movie; that’s where.

8. Love Actually (2003)

5. Home Alone (1990)

To this day, I wonder why it takes so long for Kevin’s parents to realise that they have forgotten their youngest son. Booby traps and snow shovels galore, Home Alone never fails to evoke holiday mischief and joy alike.

4. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

A lawyer tries to prove Santa is real, whilst Santa tries to convince a little girl that he exists, too. Richard Attenborough shines in this remake of a Christmas classic.

3. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

TV’S TOP TEN Christmas adverts

By Sinead O’Callaghan

10. An Post (2005)

What would Christmas be without Peter Auty’s angelic tones singing ‘Walking in the Air’ and the snowing scenery, coupled with a snowman flying through the air with promises of post making it to your loved ones by Christmas? No answer? I haven’t got one either.

5. Apple (2013)

Just a little kid with his iPhone. Pan in on snowy scenes and a compilation video made by him for his family. Accompany this with ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ and a grandmother’s tears, and what do you have? Christmas gold.

And your viewers’ inherent need to tell their families that they love them. Why? It’s Christmas – that’s why!

4. Guinness (2005)

“Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport…” Various love stories strewn across the Christmas period involving Hugh Grant et al. Rom-Com Christmas gold.

After George Bailey wishes he had never been born, an angel is sent to Earth to make his wish come true. But after realising how many lives he has changed and impacted, George learns just how many people’s lives would be different if he hadn’t been there. A feel-good favourite.

9. Boots (2014)

This is one for all you medical and nursing students out there, and for anyone whose mum or dad works the day shift on Christmas Day. They are the real heroes and Boots manages to hit you right in the feels.

“Even at the home of the black stuff, they dream of a white one.” Pair this with images of Ireland covered in snow and you’re on to a winner.

Even if the whole country comes to a complete standstill when it does actually happen.

7. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

2. The Santa Clause (1994)

8. John Lewis (2013)

Soldiers sitting in their trenches singing ‘Silent Night’. The English supermarket chain teamed up with the royal British legion to depict one of the greatest Christmas stories of all time.

When the war stopped, just for a moment, to celebrate Christmas Day. Keep it together, ok?

7. Coca Cola (1990)

“Ho, ho, ho.” Hitting you right in the warm and fuzzies, this classic fills you with excitement that Santa might just come, and you might be there to see it if you can just stay awake long enough.

Because what classic Christmas tale doesn’t need Kermit, the gang and a bit of tiny Tim thrown in to make it even more compelling? Everyone needs to de-Scrooge at ­Christmas…

Tim Allen stars as a man who puts on Santa’s suit and gets all the baggage that comes with it. Disney shine in this great feel-good film that makes you feel like you are never too old for Christmas.

6. The Polar Express (2004)

“First we’ll make snow angels for two hours, then we’ll go ice skating, then we’ll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie dough as fast as we can, and then we’ll snuggle.” I can’t say much else on the matter. Watch it and enjoy. It never gets old.

As a train conductor, Tom Hanks helps a doubting young boy travel to the North Pole and see the wonders that await those who still believe.

1. Elf (2003)

TOP TEN Christmas songs

By Jessica Hannon Now that the winter season is firmly upon us and the real countdown to Christmas begins, it’s time to start listening out for those all-toofamiliar Christmas songs.

Whether you’re coming home from your lectures or work, driving home at the weekend, or simply listening to the radio wherever you are, it’s hard to mistake the familiar festive jingle of bells and the heart-warming melodies of your favourite Christmas tunes.

So, we at Sin have decided to compile our own list of the top ten Christmas songs for the 2015 holiday season, and here it is:

10. ‘8 Days of Christmas’ – Destiny’s Child

We couldn’t possibly compile a definitive Christmas song list without including a cheesy Christmas song in which Santa costumes and all that goes with them are way too over-done. Nevertheless, I can’t help but find myself boogieing to this catchy Christmas song at least once over the festive season… And that’s the only cheesy tune I’ll admit to!

9. ‘Stay Another Day’ – East 17

The black and white colour scale of the music video provides the backdrop for a mushy love song depicting each singer’s torment at knowing his lover is leaving for Christmas (or possibly forever). The white

snowsuits donned by the singers and the jingle of church bells give the music video a festive feel, even if the lyrics don’t reference Christmas very much. ‘Stay Another Day’ is a catchy Christmas song that you’re sure to hear over and over again this festive season.

8. ‘Walking in the Air’ – Peter Auty

Another Christmas is ‘Walking in the Air’, which written for the animated film The Snowman. The song, sung by St. Paul’s Cathedral choirboy Peter Auty, was released in 1982. ‘Walking In The Air’ is one that provided the soundtrack to my Christmas childhood.

7. ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ – Shakin’ Stevens

Another truly festive Christmas song, ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ was a tune that filled my childhood memories while unwrapping Christmas presents on Christmas afternoon, even if it was a bit before my time, having been released in 1985!

6. ‘The Power of Love’ – Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Released in 1984, the video portrays the religious side of Christmas, providing a nice alternative to the typically more festive Christmas tunes. In December 2012, Gabrielle Aplin released her cover of this timeless Christmas classic to great acclaim.

A bear and a hare. Unlikely friends but the best of ones: only a true friend would make sure you wake up from hibernation to receive your presents on Christmas Day. Another one that will cause your eyes to well up – it’s the onions, ok?

“Holidays are comin’, holidays are comin’…”

The chanting begins and you get excited, because they basically tell you to! It isn’t really Christmas until this gem makes it onto our TV screens.

6. John Lewis (2015)

The man on the moon, a girl and her telescope. All coupled with the endless joy giving can bring accompanied with a beautiful cover of an Oasis classic. You think you’re safe from tears until the end. But believe me, you’ll need tissues for it.

5. ‘Last Christmas’ – Wham

This heartfelt ballad pays homage to a love lost between the narrator of its lyrics and a mysterious lover. Nevertheless, the icecapped mountain of the ski resort and the colourful winter wear in the music video cement ‘Last Christmas’ as a firm Christmas classic.

4. ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’ – Band Aid (1984)

One of the most famous Christmas songs in the last 35 years, the charity super-group, Band Aid, was founded by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for anti-poverty efforts in Ethiopia. In total, the song raised over 24 million US Dollars in proceeds. With its numerous references to Christmas and its thought-provoking lyrics, ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’ is one you’ll be sure to hear every year; and where would we be without it?

3. ‘Pipes of Peace’ – Paul McCartney

Perhaps it is the timely reference to World War One and the soldiers’ famous break in fighting on Christmas Day that attracts an eager History student to this song and the message behind it.

3. Sainsbury’s (2014)

2. Kellogg’s Cornflakes (1990)

1. John Lewis (2014)

Penguins. I can’t say anymore really. Because there is nothing quite as beautiful as a boy’s imaginary friend finding his own loved one for Christmas. I’m not crying; you are!

Bonus: Irn-Bru (2006)

The Snowman, but with a twist. YouTube it.

You won’t be disappointed.

2. ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ – Mariah Carey

I think the twinkling bells at the beginning of this song are almost enough to get our number one spot when it comes to Christmas – and may have stolen the top spot but for our Irish bias. In addition, Mariah’s snowsuit in the video for this iconic song is inspiration for all you young, energetic college students to go build snowmen when the white fluff-show finally arrives. This song was definitely one I was looking out for at NUI Galway’s Charity Christmas day.

1. ‘Fairy Tale of New York’ – The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl

Although many listeners may find this timeless classic Christmas song grating by now due to its overplay each and every Christmas, there is no denying its truly Irish feel. Thanks to Shane McGowan’s deep singing and (sometimes) crude yet heartfelt lyrics, coupled with the tragic Kirsty MacColl’s iconic voice, ‘Fairytale’ is our number one Christmas song which definitely gives us that warm, fuzzy feeling inside!

20 Merry Christmas!

By Dean Buckley ‘Twas a fortnight before Christmas, when all through the gaff, not a student was smiling, no craic and no laugh. Except for one. Eloisa Scranton had three exams left before she was free of college for just a few blissful weeks, so, naturally, she was playing Bulletstorm.

Nothing prepared you for labour law like impaling mutated rich people on cactuses. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t her own study she was avoiding, but the mature student she gave grinds to every Tuesday evening, Tadhg Sprocket.

He’d asked for some bonus Christmas grinds, on a Friday, and she’d agreed at first, out of politeness, but the time and effort she’d had to set aside for the grinds the previous two weeks had eaten too deeply into her own study time.

As today approached, she’d had to admit to herself that she was tired, she needed a break, and so she told Tadhg she couldn’t afford to give him bonus Christmas grinds after all. He’d brought up his son Tadgh Beag when she told him, trying to guilt her into helping him out because his son was sick, even though it was just a seasonal cold.

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

A Students’ Christmas Carol

Honestly, she hardly had the energy for playing this game, and that was supposed to be her break from study and work. She dropkicked a soldier into an overloaded junction box, watched him burst into electric flames, and turned off the Xbox.

Eloisa lay in the dark of the night and waited for sleep to find her. She woke to the ethereal glow of a Skype call on her phone; her ex-girlfriend, Marley.

She picked up.

“Why are you calling me this late?”

“What do you mean this late? It’s not even ten o’clock.”

“Oh my god, seriously? I didn’t even check when I lay down.”

“See, this is why I called.

Bad enough one of us had to drop out. You need to stop pushing yourself so hard. I can tell you from experience that burnout is not fun.”

“I’m fine, Marley.”

“Apparently. You’d better be, because you’ll be stuck in hell with me if you don’t change your ways.”

“Carlow isn’t that bad.”

“Bite your tongue, it’s worse.”

“Maybe so. I’m gonna try and get back to sleep, otherwise I’ll be up all night.”

Back in the darkness, but she couldn’t sleep, whether she lay on her left or right, back or front, pillow or not, foot outside blanket or no blanket at all. She thought about Christmas and all the work she was going to get done over the break until pale light hit the wall opposite her. She rolled her eyes and turned over to the reject the call, then stopped as she saw the ghostly figure floating above her bed.

“What the f–?”

“Language! Young people these days always cursing, I don’t know where ye learn it from!”

“Our parents?”

“Did I ask you? Always talking back. Anyway, I’m the Ghost of Christmas Past.

Come on now you and we can get this over with.”

The phantom grabbed her by the hand and suddenly Eloisa found herself flying over the city and out across the country.

“Where are we going?!”

“Carlow, December 25, 2002.”

They landed with what should have been a thump by what Eloisa quickly recognised was her first childhood home, in Carolan Park. She peered in the window, and sure enough, there was herself at eight years old,

playing with a toy jumbo jet.

“Why did you bring me here? I don’t need to be reminded how great Christmas was when I was a child.

I think about it all the time.” “ Typical millennial, spend all your time on nostalgia and children’s cartoons, never dealing with the real world. Need everything handed to you on a plate.”

“I’m working my way through uni–“ “Hush! Didn’t I tell you not to talk back to your elders? No respect for their elders, this generation. I didn’t bring you here to show you wonderful Christmas was for you as a child.

No, I came to show you this.”

The ghost jumped and immediately they were in the kitchen. Eloisa watched her father on his rickety kitchen chair writing in his ledger, balancing his books, and not balancing them very well.

“Why are you showing me this?”

“So you’ll realise that your Christmases were only as good as they were because your father and mother worked very hard and made financial sacrifices to give you nice things at least once a year. Teach you some respect.”

“I already knew that. I’m

an adult, I know how money works.”

“And what appreciation do you show them for it?”

“I’m paying my way through university with a job so they don’t have to take out a loan?”

“Ugh, why must your generation end every sentence like a question?”

The ghost snapped its fingers and they were back in Eloisa’s room.

“We’ll see what Present can do with you. You obviously have no interest in listening to me. Typical millennial.”

The ghost disappeared, and through the empty space where it had floated just seconds before, Eloisa saw a new figure, huge and hulking, bent over her desk and scribbling furiously into some sort of book by the faint streetlight.

“Um. Hello?”

“Yeah, hello to you too, I’m the Ghost of Christmas Present, but, to be honest, I don’t really have the time to show you the light or whatever. I have ghost exams coming up.”

“Want to give me the cliff notes version?”

“Fine, yeah. Keep on top of your schoolwork. Don’t let yourself get lazy over the holidays.”

“I wasn’t planning on it.”

“Sure, and that was such an in-depth look at the world of workers’ rights when you were playing video games earlier, right?”

“I’m from the generation that works the hardest for the least return, I’m allowed to have a break now and then.”

“Whatever you say.” He snapped his fingers and he too was gone.

Eloisa sat alone in the darkness and fumed.

“What a pair of jerks.”

“Tell me about it.”

Eloisa jumped at the disembodied voice ringing out of the shadows.

“Sorry, sorry. I forgot you probably can’t see me in the dark. I’m the Ghost of Christmas Future. They made me come to you as a hooded figure all in black to represent the bleakness of your future holidays if you continue on your current path.”

“Wait, what? What’s gonna happen to my Christmases?”

“Honestly? You’re gonna be just fine as long as you work a little harder at taking care of yourself and relaxing and such. Some of your Christmases might be a little lacklustre, but that’s due to irresistible economic forces over which you exercise no control and for which you hold no moral culpability.”

“Um, okay. So why are you here? And the Ghosts of Christmas Past and Present?”

“Once we helped an old miser to change his ways, and now the great powers of the universe keep sending us to help people repair their moral dispositions.

Except Christmas Past is a crotchety old buffoon and just rehashes the popular complaints about whatever generation we’re visiting, and Christmas Present is too busy prepping for the guardian angel aptitude tests to come up with any worthwhile things to teach.”

“And you?”

“Well, I just try to mitigate whatever damage the other two do, and maybe point out some bad habits. For example, you could stand to eat more regularly. But you don’t have some grand moral flaw that governs your actions so interminably as to put you on some sort of dark path toward an ignonimous death. Most people don’t.”

“Oh, cool. Well, thanks.

I’ll try to set an alarm on my phone to eat better or something.”

“Sounds good. I hope you have a good Christmas.”

“And I hope you are one.”

Eloisa opened her eyes and felt daylight wash over her. She sat up and checked the date. Still thirteen days until Christmas. She opened a window to let in some air and called Tadhg.

“Hey, Eloisa, what’s up?” “ He y , Ta d hg. I ju st wanted to let you know that I’m not giving you any more grinds after you tried to guilt me over your kid’s cold. So, in the words of Tiny Tim, god bless us, everyone, and go fuck yourself.”

She hung up and knew she’d be fine. After all, Christmas was coming.

FEATURES 21

November 24 2015

What if your favourite TV shows were set in Galway?

By Dean Buckley There is not much chance of a major TV show set in Galway hitting the screens any time soon, so it’s nice to sometimes think about what some of our favourite TV shows would be like if they were set in the City of Tribes.

Breaking Bad: The easy joke is about free

healthcare and all that, but honestly the HSE isn’t that great, so it’s probably mostly the same but with heroin.

Orange is the New Black: Conditions in the prison are moderately better. There’s not enough of any one ethnic minority for them to have their own racially-coded neighbourhoods, so, instead, they just use the name of Irish towns that are too long. Watergrasshill, Borris-in-Ossory, Newtownmountkennedy, Clonsheerevagh and Castletownbere.

House of Cards: Instead of a menacing south-

ern drawl, Frank just sounds like he’s trying to give you a really good deal on your car insurance. But those prices can’t be real, can they?

Tune in and find out.

Vikings: Everything is just flipped to the other Gilmore Girls: Mostly the same but with a

generally much lower quality of high-octane banter-rific pop culture references. I’m talking Ballykissangel references once an episode, and a whole running gag based around the second half of season three of Raw, of all things.

Glee: The story fizzles out when people stop

showing up to practice because they weren’t really that interested in the first place, they just wanted to see if it was something they could put on their CV. Hews more closely to the original tone of the show.

side of the screen.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: They mainAmerican Horror Story: The first season is set

on a ghost estate in Kilkelly. The second season is set in the Library Sub-Basement. The third season is set in a shuttered convent on Nun’s Island. Cancelled during season four, American Horror Story: Macnas.

tain the joke about the title saying it’s always sunny when, in reality, the show is set in a locale well-known for its typically overcast weather. All the characters are just as horrible, but there’s no satirical element. They’re just awful.

Grey’s Anatomy: Everyone is just as unreasonably

The Walking Dead: Everyone just calls them

beautiful, but half of the cast are killed in season four by a serial killer motivated by missing out on medicine by five points in her Leaving Cert.

zombies. No made-up names for no reason. No walkers or roamers or whatever. Just zombies.

Game of Thrones: Everyone with a conscience

supports the Galway Democratic Republic for the Iron, even if the clever imp Michaeldy of House Higgins is the breakout character.

Firefly: Cancelled before it even aired. No

one even knows if it was ever real. After

JANE’S WORDS:

Getting through the exams Tips on how to ‘Get Through Your Exams’ can include; having a planned end time for study, coinciding this with something you enjoy, saving time by cutting out non-essential daily tasks and always eating breakfast.

Personally, I did not find these tips useful with respect to increasing productivity levels during exam preparation times; although, I did find them useful in determining what daily tasks are in fact essential or not.

Peeling potatoes; not an essential task if you like a gritty texture. Brushing your hair; not essential and you can save 23 seconds a day. Home and Away; while I did suggest to Orla that this, especially the second viewing of the day, may not be an essential task – she confirmed that it was.

Similarly, for the purposes of productivity, planning the end of your study to coincide with a positive event such as the time Lidl or Aldi bring out their first batch of fresh bread can leave you with a lot of spare time and only two hours of study completed. Instead I’ve adapted this to an event which is not as satisfying but allows me a full day of study and slightly stale bread for only 10c.

One study tip I do comply with is to have one designated study area, ensuring my books, papers and other materials are ‘contained and do not occupy my physical and mental space’. This means; I do not have books located in all the rooms of my house. The difficulty with following this advice tip is that it does not provide secondary recommendations for the final two weeks of the semester.

This is a time period when students decide to occupy more seats in the library and among them, your individual designated study space.

In this situation, it can be hard to know how to adapt. Telling the individual who is sitting in your seat, that this is in fact your ‘designated space’ and it’s important that you sit here to ensure your positive well-being, can result in a facial expression I’ve seen once before.

all, why would Joss Whedon write a show set in Galway? I dunno, why would he fire Charisma Carpenter from Angel for getting pregnant?

This was when I asked a vegan, if I was considering changing to veganism, would I also have to become an animal welfare activist? While I do see the value of animal welfare-ism, my main reason for considering the change was purely for digestive reasons, for which I provided some extra details.

The learning point for me has been that during exam times, student behaviour changes. There are increased numbers frequenting lectures, with fewer frequenting the college bar; conversation topics in Smokey’s change from ‘the best ways to wear fur, even if you don’t like it’, to ‘the likely questions to arise on the political science exam’.

I see that I am now among the norm as I have also made changes. Even though I have consistently sat in that same seat every Monday and Tuesday between 9am and 2pm, and each Wednesday and Thursday from 1pm – 5pm, I can now adapt my behaviour and am open to having up to 3 designated study areas.

Study tips are guidelines and not rigid entities. One final point to remember is, if you find yourself thinking; I’m sure just one time will be ok, lots of other people do it, I really don’t think it will be that bad, it will definitely help me to study until at least 1am and even though I may be exposed to intolerable smells, to maintain positive well-being; never ever attempt to study in the reading room.

Parks and Recreation: There’s a whole season arc How I Met Your Mother: There was a whole

season where Ted just explains his family’s background in the Irish Civil War for no apparent reason. They were Anti-Treaty.

about the fact that no one calls John F Kennedy Memorial Park (the green in Eyre Square) by its official name, and everyone is just generally lacking in any kind of robust sense of civic duty. Similar levels of marrying in the office.

Hannibal: The episode titles were a little lack-

lustre. “Bacon and Cabbage”, “Colcannon”, “Lamb Stew”, “A Fry”. But it turns out Mads Mikkelsen does a lovely Moycullen accent, whatever a Moycullen accent is, really.

Skins: Basically identical, except all the charac-

ters are really awful craic, but think they’re the best craic in the world. You know, the kind of people who attend nightclubs on a weekly basis.

22 FEATURES

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

Jack Stenson Year of graduation: 2009 Course at NUI Galway: BA Economics & IT, MBS Corporate Strategy & People Management Current Occupation: Management Consultant working in London and Founder of the app ParkShark

What is your fondest memory of NUI Galway?

I should probably say meeting my fiancé but I think it has to be when FilmSoc won Best Society of Ireland at the BICS National Society Awards. It was the first time that I had ever led a big team so I gave it everything, and it was such a validation of all the effort myself and everyone else put in. The trophy is sitting proudly in my sitting room.

Has NUI Galway changed since you were here?

It’s amazing how developed the campus has become. The investment that’s been going into NUI Galway has been phenomenal.

Besides the great research and spin-off companies coming from the university, I think this investment is a major reason why NUI Galway has been going up in international rankings. The only criticism might be that a lot of these new buildings have come at the expense of parking spaces… If only there

was an app to help with that, and a lot of students living nearby who wanted to make some money!

How did attending NUI Galway develop you as a person?

I really think that NUI Galway is great for having something for everyone, allowing each person to grow in their own way. Friends of mine organised fashion shows, debates, sports events etc., and somewhere along the way they found out who they were. This newfound responsibility develops you from the person that sat the Leaving Cert six or 18 months earlier. I was a business-minded student interested in film so I followed that route, and at some point I realised I had become an adult!

How did studying your course of study prepare you for your career?

I really loved the different concepts my courses exposed me to. Economics and IT gave me a great understanding of the mechanics of the business and IT worlds, while the Strategy masters developed my critical and analytical skills. Altogether, I think it was a great academic path for someone who ended up doing strategy consulting in the digital age. Only time will tell!

Did you partake in any societies, sports clubs or volunteering at NUI Galway?

I was auditor of FilmSoc in my second year.

With a great team of enthusiastic students, I established the NUIG Student Cinema and annual film screening audience numbers went up to 5,000 from 250 the year before.

As a result, I won Best Individual at the NUIG Society Awards that year. I often look back on this, and think that I wouldn’t be where I am today without having had the chance to prove myself through FilmSoc. I also coached the swim team that year… we didn’t win as many awards but let’s gloss over that!

Do you ever miss NUI Galway?

I miss those years quite a lot. It’s easy to think that the best memories of NUI Galway are behind me as a lot of my closest friendships were formed there and these people now live all over the world. Lucky for me though, I’m getting married in NUI Galway next summer so it’ll be an amazing reunion!

What advice would you give to current NUI Galway students?

Nowadays just going through college isn’t enough. Almost everyone has a degree and you need to find some way to stand out in the job market. While I was living in Dublin,

one thing I heard from numerous recruiters was that graduates from NUI Galway were considered some of the sharpest.

However, in order to get in the door and demonstrate this in an interview, you need to prove yourself through running something in a society, volunteering for a good cause, organising an event, etc.

These extras show initiative and help your CV to shine!

If you could go back and do it all again, what would you do differently?

One piece of advice I heard years ago that I find useful is to ask yourself when making a decision “would I be happy with this decision five years from now”. I hate the idea of regret and this pause for thought usually helps, and certainly pushed me to be more involved in things. That being said, with only 24 hours in the day I didn’t get as involved with the people in my courses as much as I wanted to. If I was to go back and do it again, I’d try to spend more time getting to know them as we were all in the same boat.

Everyone loves nurses!

By ­Feidhlim Seoighe

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To a n e state- wly enhan ced c of-the a and e xcitin art buildin mpus with g new gs, w for 20 or 15-20 resea rch p ld class fa 16 rogra mme cilities s

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r their wide fo d rl g o w i in fundin lumn Galway ts To our a I U N r c n fo jor proje ambitio ese ma th f o y man pus on cam

stay

connected With the Alumni Association and support NUI Galway’s vision for the future For more information on priority projects, events & activities contact Galway University Foundation.

Visit us @ www.guf.ie l www.nuigalway.ie/alumni l T: 091 493536 Find us on Facebook and join National University of Ireland Galway on LinkedIn

Nurses are the backbone of the health system. They are the consistent anchors in the tumultuous waters of hospitals. The sacrifices that student nurses make to achieve their qualification are nothing short of extraordinary. Long placement hours, assignments, and the other struggles of being a student all play their part during the course of a nurse’s time in college.

Everyone has a story about how an amazing nurse helped them, or a relative, during their time in hospital. Nurses try to make every patient’s time in a hospital as comfortable as possible, while also needing to look after upwards of eight other patients at the same time. Nurses are a pillar of the health system in Ireland, but the Government doesn’t seem to recognise the service they provide, which increases the risk of us deporting some of our most valuable medical skills.

The prospect of working abroad may seem attractive because it means easier working hours, less pressure and a decent wage in England, Canada, and Australia.

These countries understand the value of Irish nurses, and are only too happy to provide a good working environment for the skills that Irish nurses bring with them.

Between now and the end of the year, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) will be conducting information events, and discussions with nursing and midwifery students. It is no secret that the conditions and work that student nurses must endure to fulfil their nursing placement is extremely strenuous.

Over the past month, the USI has surveyed over 600 student nurses on their working conditions, and experiences working in hospitals across the country. The results do not make for easy reading but they will be the foundation of USI’s upcoming Nurses campaign, due to launch in early December.

Over all, it was problems with being underpaid (students nurses only receive €6.49 per hour, although they have the same hours and responsibilities to patients as qualified nurses), mental health issues, stress (being placed in situations where they had not been trained to deal with, and working absurdly long hours), and bullying came to the forefront as issues for student nurses.

This needs to change.

The USI will be hosting an event for student nurses in NUI Galway, in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on the NUI Galway Students’ Union, and the USI Facebook pages for updates.

LIFESTYLE 23

November 24 2015 Sin Ad.pdf 1 11/19/2015 3:17:07 PM

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants The giant I would be lost without…

By John Mulry “Remember, remember!

The fifth of November, The Gunpowder treason and plot; I know of no reason.

Why the Gunpowder treason, Should ever be forgot!”

In case you don’t know, that’s a famous line from the acclaimed movie V for Vendetta starring Nathalie Portman.

The movie and poem however has no relevance to my column today because for me, the fifth of November isn’t the day I’ll always remember, the first is.

Having someone no matter if they are a loved one, a family member, a true friend (not a random Facebook friend who creepily scrolls your Facebook and likes photos from 7 years ago) that will have your back and support you no matter what will be your saving grace.

Why? I hear you ask as you sit in Smokey’s eating crisps and passing the odd crumb to smokies pigeon. The first of November is the anniversary of when myself and my biggest giant, Jessica Thompson’s relationship began.

Like I mentioned in a previous issue, it was listening, taking advice (and acting on it) from another giant Dan Kennedy that led me to meeting Jess in the first place.

And doing so led me to changing forever more. Jess is the one giant I would be lost without. She is my rock, my reason why, and my everything.

When we first met, I instantly knew she was special and we connected immediately and without boring you with all the romantic lovey-dovey details, meeting Jess, and subsequently falling head over heels in love with her has been one of the defining moments of my life.

Don’t worry; this isn’t just some romantic tale where I’m going to get all mushy

and lovey-dovey with no meaning and relevance to you, the reader. It has a strong meaning and one you would be wise to pay lot of attention to. And if you pay attention to nothing else I say, or nothing else you read in this newspaper, pay attention to this…

There’s nothing better, stronger, more powerful than having someone in your corner when the sh*t hits the fan, because trust me no matter what you do in life, no matter the path you choose, places you go and people you meet, the sh*t will hit the fan (more than once) and trying to deal with it on your own is a colossal task.

Personally I’ve had to deal with an awful lot over the last few years from my dad passing away, losing friends, getting burned in business, making mistakes, dealing with (relative) success, keeping grounded, to battling with massive lows, failures and even problems with alcohol.

Overcoming these challenges on my own would have been a major battle and I’m not sure I would have been able to deal with everything if it were not for Jess.

Having someone no matter if they are a loved one, a family member, a true friend (not a random Facebook friend who creepily scrolls your Facebook and likes photos from 7 years ago) that will have your back and support you no matter what will be your saving grace.

And it goes both ways, when someone else depends on you for support, guidance and strength you as a person become stronger, more accomplished, and confident. Do not underestimate the power of knowing that a person or people have your back and that you have theirs.

It gives you a sense of calm, a sense of knowing that no matter what happens you will get through things.

At the time of writing, I’ve a number of challenges I’m dealing with (like we all do) but knowing I have Jess by my side, makes me realise what’s truly important and that any problem is an opportunity to find a solution.

If you are going through any crap now no matter how big or small, take a second to think about your own biggest giant, I guarantee when you have them pictured in your mind, any worry, pressures or torment you’re going through on the inside will be alleviated, even if it’s just a little.

Find your main giant in life, and do whatever you can to protect them, because they’ll do whatever they can to protect you, and when you have that, anything else is a massive bonus.

C

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24 LIFESTYLE

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

Ways to wear fur

By Orla Carty The season is here, folks! Crisp air, red Starbucks cups, the debate between whether it’s too early or not for Christmas songs and wrapping up in lots of fashionable layers…

Swapping the oranges and ambers for patterned scarves is automatic but there’s a more complicated wardrobe dilemma this time of year. How do you incorporate fur?

It’s a signature winter piece but often ends up looking tacky. Well never fear, I’m here to outline the fur dos and don’ts.

Rule number one I barley need to mention - wear fake fur. Now, moving on.

A trend that rocketed last year (and I predict will maintain its glory) is the Russian fur hat. Perfect for keeping your head toasty on the detrimental walk across the bridge, they can be found in basically any high street shop in multiple colours. You can opt for deep midnight blue, or easy-to-pair-with brown shades. If hats aren’t really your thing, they come in headband form too.

Another fur item featured in high street places right now is the fur-collared leather jacket. Perfecting that blend of classy and edgy, these are ideal for throwing over that LBD on a night out, or some jeans to college, as well as a very cool way to incorporate that fur piece into your wardrobe.

Of course, while we’re on jackets, there’s always the option of going full-blown fur coat.

Somewhat tricky, there’s a balance to strike between timeless and hipster. Keep it as simple as possible to avoid swaying toward tacky. You don’t want the ‘Pevensies via wardrobe to Narnia’ look. Keep it well-cut. If you want a print, like leopard, avoid lighter shades. For a playful twist, choose a dark green, cream or burgundy.

Super handy for balls and fancy dinners.

Now, if you’re quite a reserved dresser there’s always subtle ways to feature fur. Think trimming on leather gloves, earmuffs, snoods or shoulder patches on a jumper. The fur vest always comes in this time of year but I find it difficult to find one of proper quality and fit that doesn’t make me look like a yeti. The best alternative is to go for the current fur accessory that’s all over Penney’s and New Look. Not quite scarves, they’re cut delicately to hang over your top and can substitute that vest without any bulk.

To go to the opposite end, those of you more daring might be interested in something a bit more adventurous. Check out some of the second-hand and vintage shops in town. You might find a fur dress, bag or some other statement to rock with mostly plain colours and cuts.

One of the most amazing things about fur is that sense of cosiness. If this is what

Photo via Flickr: Jeromy Shepherd you’re interested in, a fur dressing gown or hot water bottle might be for you. Think fireside, Christmas movies and your tootsies all furry-slippered up.

Staying with accessories, boots, pencilcases, even hair ties can all be snazzed up with that bit of fur. If you want to update something you’re sick of, buy a swatch from Hickeys and sew it on yourself!

Now boys, it’s true you don’t have quite as many options fur-fashion-wise but they aren’t non-existent. If the dressing gown didn’t grab

The Ultimate Destination for Occasion Wear Rentals & New Purchases For Debs, Weddings & Special Events facebook.com/F.A.B U Liz Call Liz on 091 456 218 41 Newcastle Road, Galway Opening Hours Monday–Saturday 9am to 5pm

you there’s always denim jackets with sheep wool collars, or fur-lined hoodies. Keep an open mind and you won’t miss out on fur season.

Spicing your winter wardrobe up with fur is oh-so-doable. If none of these ideas are right for you, get that piece of material, whip out your sewing box and use your imagination!

Fur keeps you warm and on-trend, but make sure to limit how much you wear together and what you match it with. Although, if it’s raining beware of the wet-dog look!

ENTERTAINMENT 25

November 24 2015

NUI Galway hosts another Galway students to appear successful TULCA on TG4 dating show Do Irish men care more about their cars than relationships?

Festival of Visual Arts

By Neil Slevin Galway’s annual festival of visual arts, TULCA, began on Friday 13 November and runs until Sunday 29 November.

This year’s festival, curated by Mary Cremin, sees NUI Galway playing host to a number of events, with many of its staff participating in the festival’s activities.

Entitled Seachange, the festival seeks to explore issues of climate change and our place in a changing landscape: through a combination of the real and the imaginary, its exhibiting artists create a collective call for a sea change – literally – in our current climate policies.

In addition to the visual art exhibitions and film screenings on offer, there will be a series of talks and discussions entitled Hy-Brasil Dialogues held in the Aula Maxima (the quadrangle) at NUI Galway. The first session took place on Saturday 14 November, but the concluding one will be on Saturday 28 November from 12-5pm.

Throughout Saturday’s session, geographers, geologists, marine researchers, architects, linguists, and artists will explore the complexity of our current environment, both locally and globally, and from their perspective of geological time, the present and future projections.

Among the contributors to the Hy-Brasil Dialogues are NUI Galway’s geologist Dr Alessandra Costanzo, Director of the Geofluids Research Laboratory, geographers Dr Alexan-

dra Revez, Post-Doctoral Researcher with the 3 Cities Project, Dr Eugene Farrell, Lecturer in Geography, and writer and sean-nós singer Dr Lillis O’Laoire, Senior Lecturer in Irish. This session is free to attend, but booking is essential as places are limited. Reserve your place via http://goo.gl/ZJIrlk.

On Sunday 15 November, Dr Lillis O’Laoire also featured in Island Sessions: Stories and Songs of Sea and Shore, a lunchtime event of live performances being held in the TULCA Festival Gallery at the Connacht Tribune Print Works on Market Street, performing a combination of folk tales, legends and songscapes of the west coast of Ireland, which encompassed magic, transformations, love, loss and pride of place, alongside local storyteller Seosamh Ó Guairim.

Meanwhile, NUI Galway’s The James Mitchell Geology Museum is a focal point for this year’s TULCA. The fossils and the specimens exhibited in the museum speak of a geological time that is beyond our comprehension; artist Barbara Knezevic’s piece Conglomerations, Constellations draws on the geological samples from the museum, and one of her artworks is sited within the museum itself.

For further information about all remaining TULCA exhibitions, screenings and events, please access www.tulcafestival.com.

If you have any queries about NUI Galway’s role in TULCA, please contact Ann Lyons of the Community Knowledge Initiative by email.

Email Ann via ann.lyons@nuigalway.ie

Pioc Do Ride is an outrageous new dating show on TG4 which aims to find the answer to this question. The lighthearted and first of its kind series aims to find love for some of Ireland’s loneliest drivers with often hilarious and farcical results. Expect boy racers, theory tests, L-plates and hill starts, and of course a few bumps and scrapes along the way.

Each episode of Pioc do Ride sees one singleton get the chance to pick from three potential partners for the date of a lifetime. However the lucky bachelor or bachelorette will not get to meet the three suitors before making a decision and will only be introduced to their cars. By kicking the tyres and rummaging through the boot, the contestant will try to glean insights into the owners personality to decide which of them might be the perfect date.

Once the choice is made, the couple will finally be introduced. Will they drive off into

Get your ink and paper out for the Galway Rape Crisis Centre Third annual writing competition is open to students The Galway Rape Crisis Centre is delighted to announce its third annual writing competition. The competition will have three categories to which written work can be submitted: poetry, flash fiction and short stories.

Winners in each category will receive a €100 cash prize, publication in Sin newspaper and a chance to read at the prize-giving event, which will take place at NUI Galway in February.

The judges for the competition include Alan McMonagle, Celest Augé and Sarah Clancy. Entries are €7 each, with a €5 concession for students. Multiple entries are allowed.

Sarah Clancy is a page and performance poet from Galway. She has two previous collections to her name, Stacey and the Mechanical Bull (Lapwing Press, Belfast, 2011) and Thanks for Nothing, Hippies (Salmon Poetry, 2012). Her latest collection is called The Truth and other Stories (Salmon Poetry 2014).

Alan McMonagle is a writer living in Galway, Ireland. Liar Liar, his first collection of stories published by Wordsonthestreet appeared in 2008 and was nominated for the 2009 Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. His second collection Psychotic Episodes (Arlen House) appeared in 2013. He has just signed a two-book deal with Picador.

Celeste Augé is the author of The Essential Guide to Flight (Salmon Poetry, 2009) and the collection of short stories Fireproof and Other Stories (Doire Press, 2012). Her latest poetry collection is called Skip Diving (Salmon Poetry 2014) The maximum number of lines for any one poem is 50; flash entries should be no more than 500 words and short stories have an 1800-word limit.

Entry fees can be paid by idonate through the link at www.galwayrcc.org. Entries can then be sent by email or post, quoting the transaction reference. The closing date for entries is 7 January 2016.

the sunset? ...Not quite yet. In a final twist, the chosen contestant will be the one in the driving seat. They will choose between accepting €250 for the date or instead spending that €250 euro on their beloved vehicle at Advance Pitstop. Which will they choose? Can a special person come between the driver and their car?

Pioc Do Ride made headlines around the world when, in the first episode, Liam Antaine O Cathasaigh chose the cheque over a date with Corey Hannah and the clip went viral online.

In episode 10 of Pioc do Ride, which will be broadcast on Thursday 26 November we take a trip to The Match Maker Festival in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare. Lisdoonvarna is famous for helping people find love but what will happen when Pioc do Ride comes to town? Will Dubliner Anna Miles be impressed by this week’s men and their cars?

Our lads Colm Cafferkey and Oisín O’Heartáin from Galway, and Shane Martin from Dublin have their work cut out as it is not only their cars that will do the talking; they will also have to show off their dancing skills in true Match Maker style.

Pioc do Ride is a 13-part series, broadcast on TG4 every Thursday at 10pm and repeated every Monday at 11.30pm. The first episode aired on 24 September. Contestants for Pioc do Ride were sourced through various channels including people who swiped right on the Pioc Do Ride Tinder profile. Prospective contestants can apply to appear on the show online at www.piocdoride.ie.

The series is presented by Dubliner Áine Goggins who, when she is not helping drivers find love, is in her final year of studying medicine at Queens University, Belfast. Áine previously presented Ó Tholg go Tolg also on TG4.

Pioc Do Ride was conceived and produced

by El Zorrero Films, a Dublin based production company.

Galway writer lands two-book deal with Picador

By Kieran O’Brien NUI Galway alumnus Alan McMonagle has signed a deal with Picador, the UK-based publisher of award-winning literary fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, for two novels.

Mr McMonagle, who holds an MA in Writing from NUI Galway, has already published two collections of short stories: Liar Liar (Wordsonthestreet, 2008), and Psychotic Episodes (Arlen House, 2013).

Having transitioned to the longer genre, Mr McMonagle’s first novel, Ithica, has received rave reviews from several contemporary Irish authors, with Kevin Barry, winner of this year’s Goldsmiths Prize for his novel Beatlebone, describing it as being “full of feeling and savage humour and all kinds of tenderness”.

Similarly, Donal Ryan, whose novel The Spinning Heart won the European Union

Prize for Literature this year, commented on the book’s “flawless prose, and razor dialogue” that is “mesmerising” and “unforgettable”.

Ithica, pencilled in for release in spring 2017, is set in summer 2009, after the crash of the Irish economy, and follows the life of 11-year-old Jason Lowry, and his friendship with a girl he meets at the Swamp.

Elaborating on their decision to offer Mr McMonagle a two-book deal, Picador publisher Paul Baggaley said; “Not since Pat McCabe’s The Butcher Boy have I fallen so in love with such a distinctly unreliable and hilariously imaginative child narrator.”

So, for all those of you who enjoyed studying, are enjoying studying, or just loved reading The Butcher Boy regardless of your motivation, Ithica may well be the novel you need to read in 2017.

26 ENTERTAINMENT

Resonate Edited by Neil Slevin Resonate is Sin’s culture section seeking NUI Galway-based students’ creative work to showcase and share with our readers in each edition.

We welcome submissions in all genres of writing and/or visual art, and each week select the work that we think will reach out to and ‘resonate’ most with our student readership.

This edition of ‘Resonate’ has a Christmas – or at least winter-esque – theme running through its spine.

With that in mind, I’ve seen fit to bring you a selection box of writing from three very different writers; I hope it’s to your taste.

If you are interested in having your work featured in 2016 issues of ‘Resonate’ – or if you have requests for further work by any of our selected contributors – please contact Neil at ArtsEntertainment.

SinEd@gmail.com I look forward to receiving your work next year!

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

Is it Christmas yet, Mammy?

The Thing About November

By Aine Ni Mhaoileoin

By Mark Laherty

Storm St Nicholas looms. Well-placed adverts jingle young imaginations. Questions are raised.

“How will he find us, Mammy?”

It’s magical is the answer, unlike the savings tin which reveals no gold, no frankincense, no myrrh.

“Do we have to eat turkey, Mammy?”

Yes, it’s tradition is the reply, though the feast may yet contain some omissions.

“Will the snow swirl, Mammy?”

Wait and see is the response as fingers twirl paper strings and homemade things to decorate the recession tree.

“Will Daddy be here, Mammy?”

Time for bed is the reaction as scissors are used to cut coupons ingeniously supplied by moneyed giants.

Remember: Some philosophers say that everything is a social construct, including ideas of right and wrong, so you could even go as far as burning down a building, and still retain your peace of mind (a disclaimer: don’t) .

Mind you, philosophers also say that we’re part of the environment, which I can’t quite believe, since keeping in tune with nature feels like a wonky Skype call.

Basically, you can find a philosopher to say anything, so we may as well burn down the Department of Philosophy (a second disclaimer: don’t).

However, regardless of your philosophy, what has become a very real and frightening thing is that people are now determined to turn November into December. It barely has an identity of its own.

It’s like bisexuality. People think that there’s no middle ground between Halloween and Christmas, and that 1 November is the first day of Christmas. That’s not true. There’s a Kinsey Scale running from 1 November all the way up to the Late Late Toy Show. We have to smash that festive binary.

If not-Christmas has made any sort of cultural impact, it has done so through facial hair.

Movember sees hundreds, maybe even thousands, of guys rocking ill-advised moustaches; possibly for charity, but probably not.

Last Movember, I noticed some backlash, to which I rolled my eyes. “People will argue about anything,” I scoffed.

But now I’m annoyed about it myself. Why all the hyper-manly marketing about being a bro when it’s not even raising funds for cancer?

Movember also aids men’s mental health, yet it preys on that same toxic masculinity that causes most of men’s mental health problems in the first place.

And that leads us to the real issue of the hour: should women be allowed to take part in Movember?

Bank Holiday, Sierras CA

By Lauren Cole Norton there was snow mountains of it clefts where creeks broke through auger holes for fishing poles a pack of dogs pulling a sleigh trees for punctuation lakes freezing from centre to shore like enormous dinner plates of ice and stalactites hung roof to porch Tuesday looms like the failure of another world.

The argument for the motion runs thus: ‘Yes.’ That’s it. That’s the whole thing. Go home.

No amount of leg fuzz can look nearly as bad as your scuzzy sideburns.

Perhaps my deepest spiritual conflict at present is what to do with my facial hair. Even if I do pay someone to sculpt it into something aesthetically pleasing, it acts as a brambled barrier to protect me from ever being kissed.

Last Movember, I would have looked up from reading my #SinBeards column and scoffed again. “Don’t you know me from the future? A finely-groomed beard emanates a universally-appealing form of charismatic masculinity.”

To which I would offer my past self a third disclaimer: “No, please God, no; for the love of everything, just stop.”

Even if you have no time for beards, I suspect you, as a reader of this cultural column, may have some interest in writing.

If so, you ought to know of November’s status as National Novel Writing Month, its premise being that a participant will write 1,667 words per day and end the month with a 50,000-word novel.

Of course, this all goes wrong when you discover that 1,667 words is actually rather a lot of words to be writing on top of all those other words you need to read and write for college: before the first week is out, you’ll be hiding under your table so as not to look at the little window on your laptop showing the word count.

But cheer up, because you’re a writer anyway, and you probably do that every day.

Between facial hair, literary panic attacks, and premature Christmas celebration, it turns out November has left quite the indelible footprint on our culture. It just happens to be almost exclusively terrible.

And it’s because of all of this that NUI Galway’s eleventh hour is spent under an even more magnificent blanket of cloud than it’s used to; but this is preferable to Thanksgiving happening at all – ever.

Let us give thanks that Thanksgiving has stayed in the United States. And let us give thanks that Black Friday isn’t too much of a thing.

Because the mere prospect of that is terrifying.

Call for submissions to ROPES 2016 Annual publication seeks Independence-themed submissions

By Samantha Kelly It is that time of year again: when NUI Galway’s MA in Literature and Publishing (MALP) students begin their search for talented writers and artists to contribute to their annual literary journal, ROPES. ROPES (Review Of Postgraduate English Studies) is a publication that seeks and encourages submissions from each and every artist who wishes to have their work published in the MALP course’s literary journal.

The theme for ROPES 2016 is ‘Independence’; next year will mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising – and surely there is no better way to commemorate that anniversary than by creating work based on all things independent.

Submissions do not have to relate explicitly to the Easter Rising, but they should incorporate the idea of ‘independence’ in some way.

Furthermore, unlike the majority of literary journals, ROPES is open to all forms of creative work: its team are interested in receiving a wide range of writing and/or

visual art – from short stories (1700 words max), poetry, flash fiction, and memoir, to illustrations, photography, graphic strips, and page decoration.

Also, as part of the publication, each year the MA in Literature and Publishing students behind ROPES decide on a charity to support, with all of the proceeds from ROPES’ sales donated to that charity. This year, these students have chosen to support the Simon Community (in light of the fact that the rate of homelessness in Ireland continues to rise dramatically), a charity working to help the homeless both in Galway and nationwide.

All submissions to ROPES should be received by its submissions team by Friday 18 December; to have your work considered for the 2016 edition, please email it to ROPES2016.submissions@gmail.com on or before that date.

Now in production for its 24th edition, ROPES 2016 is a wonderful opportunity for talented writers and artists: it is a fantastic way to get your work published before you leave college, and something to add to that CV, bio or portfolio of work you are building up; don’t overlook it.

28 SPORT

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

CLUB UPDATES SURFING NEWS Thanks to the high quality equipment of the surf club, coupled with the brilliant surf conditions present on west coast over the past two

months, we have seen a recordbreaking number of events in the first two months of the semester with a record-breaking amount of uptake to said events.

FRISBEE NEWS This year, the Ladies Indoor Intervarsities in Ultimate Frisbee were held in Galway. 14 teams from universities all over Ireland came to our lovely city, and we were proud to field two wom-

en’s teams ourselves for the first time ever in this competition. Ultimate Frisbee is a growing sport globally and nationally, which reflects in our own club as well: the women’s team especially has seen an outstanding

growth in numbers and strength.

Our first team came fourth in this tournament, an incredible improvement over last year’s seventh place. The second team, consisting almost exclusively of beginner players, remarkably finished 11th.

Although NUIG therefore missed out on playing in the final (which UCC won to defend their title), we managed to establish ourselves as a force to be reckoned with in lady’s Irish college Ultimate, and thereby created a promising basis for future success.

ARCHERY NEWS

Recipients of Sports Scholarships treated to address by rugby hero and student Robbie Henshaw

KAYAKING NEWS Congratulations to Aoife Hanrahan, Kayaker, who has been invited to be on Team Jackson Ireland. She is the

first Irish female kayaker ever to be on their team as well as being one of the two people on Team Ireland.

NUI Galway award 30 new sports scholarships

By Padraic Ward The NUI Galway student sports scholarships for 2015 were presented at a special ceremony at the university on Friday 13 November 2015. A total of 30 outstanding athletes were presented with their awards this year by Vice President for the Student Experience Dr Pat Morgan.

The Performance Points Sports Scholarship was also awarded to eight outstanding athletes in 2015. The scheme provides 40 additional points to those earned in the Leaving Certificate for elite athletes who secure academic courses over 350 entry points. All scholarships were awarded across 13 different sports.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Dr Pat Morgan said; “I would like to congratulate the recipients of this year’s awards and remind them of the honour of representing the University. We hope they will aspire to even greater successes such as those achieved by the recent scholarship holders in hurling, camogie, rowing, rugby and swimming who have reached the pinnacle of their sports.”

The award winners were treated to a special address by Irish international rugby player and current NUI Galway student Robbie Henshaw. With the disappointment of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup experience fresh in his mind, Henshaw spoke to the scholarship recipients and their parents about his own experiences of balancing the demands of academic study with that of world class elite sport.

Kathy Hynes, Acting Head of Sport and Scholarship Scheme Manager said she was delighted to welcome Henshaw back to NUI Galway; “It is important for our students to have role models such as Robbie who is competing at the highest level but continue to maintain their academic pathway” she said.

“Robbie is an athlete who embodies all that is positive in sporting excellence and academic achievement. It is very rewarding to support athletes from a range of sports in their academic and athletic endeavour to achieve in both areas the best they can be.”

Robbie Henshaw, NUI Galway student and Ireland and Connacht Rugby player who gave a special address at the NUI Galway Sports Scholarship Awards. Photo Aengus McMahon.

We had a good first outing of the year at the UL Intervarsity last weekend (14 November). Two of our beginners shot and impressive and have now progressed to a more difficult target; 40cm faces. We placed second in Intermediate Male Recurve, second in both Male and Female Compound, first, second and third Advanced Female Barebow, first Advanced Male Barebow, second in Barebow Team, first in Compound Team and first in Mixed Team. We will be competing in Dundalk this weekend with a full complement of archers to hopefully bring home some more titles.

MOUNTAINEERING NEWS

This year’s scholarship recipients represent some of the finest young talent in Irish sport today including Irish international hockey player Naomi Carroll and track and field athlete Jamie Fallon, who has already represented his country on three occasions. The sport of soccer attracted the highest number of scholarships with five – three for ladies soccer.

The success of the NUI Galway rowing club was acknowledged with the awarding of four scholarships. Daniel Buckley and Jack Bennett were part of the winning Men’s Intermediate Four.

Katie McEneff is a member of both the club and intermediate crews that took national titles at this season’s championship, with the Intermediate Four setting a new national record time, while Ailbhe Ní Ghríofa was part of the successful women’s club eight and four teams in 2014.

Rugby scholarships were presented to Roy Stanley, Connacht U20’s, Mark Dolan, Ireland schools and U20’s, John Moloney, Ireland U19’s and Shannen Lane, a member of the Irish 7’s Development Squad. Individual scholarships were awarded in camogie (Chloe Morey), golf (Cathal Nolan) and ladies football (Emer Gallagher).

Gaelic games within NUI Galway continue to attract high profile players and future talent including the Galway

Darren Carter mens C 40X20 All ireland intervarsity winner.

Even with the disastrous weather, our Sunday hikes still prevail. With only one cancelled hike our intrepid mountain folk make their way up the hills despite the wind rain and early mornings. As for climbing, four members competed in the national bouldering competition G-Force. They performed exceptionally well surpassing their previous skill level although sadly so podium places. Last weekend (14 November) saw a revamp of the Kingfisher climbing wall with our advanced members setting new routes for all skill levels to try out.

Also we will be having our annual beginners’ bouldering competition on Tuesday 24 November. Anyone can enter so long as they have been climbing for less than a year. There will be prizes for male and female categories.

CRICKET NEWS

Seamus Conneely mens A 40X20 All ireland intervarsity runner up. duo of All-Star hurling winner Cathal Mannon and nominee Conor Whelan.

Scholarships were also awarded to Kerry hurler Darragh Shanahan, Sligo footballer Kevin McDonnell, Roscommon footballer David Murray and Mayo’s Adam Gallagher.

NUI Galway Cricket Club won the AllIreland Annual Movember Charity Cricket Tournament for the second year running. Also in the process we managed to raise almost €250 for the Movember foundation which is a charity that promotes awareness for prostate cancer in men. At the time of writing, the cricket club were looking forward to their next major match which was scheduled against IT Sligo last weekend.

SPORT 29

November 24 2015

For Christmas, Robbie wants to know where his rugby future lies Ireland star Robbie Henshaw speaks about the possibility of his leaving Connacht RFC at the end of this season to further his career

tract in 2013, Henshaw has dealt with speculation over his future on a regular basis since then, and has known this decision was coming.

His father Tony, who represents him, is likely to have heard from IRFU performance director David Nucifora by the time you read this; he may even have decided by then.

So, what are Robbie’s options, and where would offer him the greatest odds of success in the future?

By Neil Slevin

1) STAY IN CONNACHT

Eagle-eyed Connacht fans will know already that the 22-yearold’s contract with the province expires at this season’s end; that Henshaw is set to earn his first centralised contract from the IRFU after impressing for Ireland in the Six Nations and Rugby World Cup; but who he will be playing for next September remains somewhat of a mystery.

Typically a centre, the Athlone native made his first appearance of the season for Connacht on Saturday 6 November at full-back, scoring a second-half try, as they defeated Treviso to move top of the Pro12 league table.

Speaking to the Irish Independent two days later, Henshaw said the decision regarding where he plays next year is his to make: “It is my choice. The IRFU can try and encourage me and open up with a couple of options, but at the end of the day I am out of contract at the end of the year. It is up in the air, it is wherever I want to go, it is my option.”

Robbie Henshaw made his debut for Connacht in 2012 and hopes to have his future plans finalised by Christmas; “I said to everyone that I wanted to leave it off until after the World Cup. To be perfectly honest, it hasn’t started yet. I am still waiting on the IRFU to approach me, so I presume it will be happening soon enough.”

As much as he’d like time and space for these decisions, Henshaw is now a major figure in Irish rugby, one on which so many hopes for future success rely.

Soon he will be forced to choose between staying with his home province and remaining a cornerstone of their steady development under Pat Lam, at a time when they are top of the Pro12 (the Irish, Scottish, and Welsh professional club rugby league), and spreading his wings in search of higher-quality rugby, the prospect of silverware, and greater financial reward for his undoubted ability.

Despite signing a two-year con-

Henshaw’s remaining with Pat Lam’s side seems the unlikeliest of the options available to the best player to emerge from Connacht’s academy and, to many ardent fans of the province, that is incredibly disappointing.

Obviously Connacht are progressing, but their failure to make the Champions Cup this year leaves them behind their provincial rivals for yet another season – particularly in the eyes of a player ready for the big time.

For all their improvement, Connacht remain the Irish rugby family’s poor relation; Henshaw’s only fellow Connacht player at the World Cup was 34-year-old New Zealand-born Nathan White.

However, Irish fans and the IRFU may want to think again before pushing the 22-year-old from the club credited by many with fostering his impressive development into a fully-fledged international.

If the IRFU are serious about having four provinces competing equally, and backing Connacht’s grassroots to green shirts campaign, then they

need to keep Henshaw in Galway.

Fitness and form-permitting, the first-ever Connacht Lion looks very like being Henshaw, but it is unlikely that he will still be lining out in Connacht’s green come 2017 – unless Lam convinces him, and Nucifora, that the West is still the best place for him.

2) A LINK-UP WITH LEINSTER

Naturally it would be an emotional upheaval to leave his home province, but Henshaw must be selfish as he considers his options.

Ever since he emerged as the bright, young, Eric Elwood-heralded full-back in 2012, Robbie Henshaw has been linked with Leinster, and their former coach Matt O’Connor made his admiration for the player abundantly clear in 2014.

However, Henshaw and Nucifora must assess whether the eastern seaboard is the best place for the prodigious centre: against Argentina, Luke Fitzgerald has hinted at his own real promise at inside centre, while Noel Reid was part of the extended international squad, and Ian Madigan also operates at number 12.

Meanwhile, Ben Te’o’s Leinster future is insecure, and he is being linked with a return to rugby league in Australia, but Garry Ringrose is already touted as an internationalin-waiting.

Therefore, Leinster are already well-stocked in the backs department, but they do have a proven track record in further developing proven internationals; and the opportunity for Henshaw to work

outside Johnny Sexton on a much more regular basis must be attractive prospect to the IRFU as they look to rebuild towards 2019.

3) A MOVE TO MUNSTER

When Henshaw’s contract was last up for negotiation, Rob Penney tried to lure him southwards, and the Reds are likely to be knocking on Nucifora’s again this time in an effort to secure the centre’s signature.

If he were to make the move to Thomond Park, Henshaw would immediately become one of Munster’s key leaders; and with Keith Earls, Tyler Bleyendaal, Denis Hurley and Francis Saili already present in the Limerick and Cork-based setup, there is lots of potential for an effective centre partnership and for back rotation.

Munster appear to need Henshaw more than Leinster do, while Ulster’s stocks are full at centre with their academy producing Sammy Arnold and Stuart McCloskey to challenge Stuart Olding, Luke Marshall, Darren Cave and Jared Payne in recent years.

A move to Munster – who are prepared to make the centre one of their marquee names – makes a lot of sense for a province seeking impetus in the post-Paul O’Connell era and the IRFU, who are looking to spread their options.

Add in the notion that it would probably be much easier for Henshaw to adapt to life in Munster, having been based in nearby Galway for so long, it is perhaps now only up to Anthony Foley to convince the player that life down south

NUI Galway student Robbie Henshaw of Ireland and Connacht Rugby Teams pictured at an NUI Galway launch in 2014.

right would ensure Henshaw’s career develops as it has the potential to.

4) MOVE ABROAD (I.E. PLAY IN FRANCE OR ENGLAND)

Henshaw himself has admitted that he has already received a number of offers from outside Ireland, and his World Cup displays are likely to have brought him to the attention of various big-spending French giants, and the Premiership clubs looking for the prototype modern centre.

JJ Hanrahan’s move to Northampton Saints already proves that the IRFU can’t rest on their laurels, but it appears unlikely that an Ireland starter of such high regard would be allowed to leave these shores at Henshaw’s age.

If he were to sign a three or even a four-year deal, he would likely have his pick of European clubs when his contract next comes up, and it appears the least likely option of all that Henshaw would move abroad, at least right now.

Speaking on the prospect of rugby in France, Henshaw seems keen to learn from the path already taken by his international teammate Johnny Sexton: “Johnny said that if you want to play for Ireland he wouldn’t advise that you go to France because they demand so much of you. It is just, such a tough season.”

Conclusion Having weighed up all the options I foresee, my heart and head choose Munster for Henshaw.

Regardless of Connacht’s future development as a club, Henshaw needs to continue to develop his phenomenal talent right now, for his own sake and that of Irish rugby; if he were to move abroad, he could be lost to Irish rugby in the manner that so many budding Irish internationals were before – even Johnny Sexton struggled to make an impact in France.

It really boils down to a toss-up between Leinster and Munster.

Right now, Munster are marginally better-placed to be successful in European rugby than Leinster and, arguably, their back section needs Henshaw that little bit more.

As I have already written in relation to his performance for Ireland against France, Henshaw is a player who responds well to being needed, and to adversity.

Assuming he doesn’t decide to stay in Galway for the foreseeable future, I hope-think Robbie Henshaw will turn red, and venture down south to ‘the land of the brave and the faithful’.

He’s made of the right stuff to fit in there.

30 SPORT

Sin Vol. 17 Issue 06

Carter’s book hits the shelves Anthony Cunningham Resigns as Galway Hurling Manager

By Aonghus Ó Maicín

On the 31st October, we witnessed a fantastic spectacle at Twickenham with New Zealand winning their first World Cup final on away soil. However, we also witnessed one of the greats wave goodbye to the international game.

Dan Carter has lit up international rugby pitches with the All Blacks for over a decade. He broke onto the scene back in 2003 scoring 20 points against Wales and hasn’t looked back since. Although, he has left the national team set-up, New Zealand’s loss is Europe’s gain as he prepares to set the Top 14 alight – all happening under the watchful eye of yet another legendary fly-half in Ronan O’Gara at Racing Metro 92, now known as Racing 92.

He is currently promoting his new autobiography My Story and in the process, he is giving us detailed insights of what it was like playing at the top level successfully for such a long period.

An insight that has come to the fore in recent times is the revelation that he had contemplated many other possibilities well before deciding to joining Racing Metro 92. He was approached by Superbowl champions, the New England Patriots back in 2013. It is hard to predict whether or not Carter, who turns 34 next year, would survive or indeed excel in an NFL environment.

Carter, being the ultimate professional that he is, might well have succeeded as he was already a hardcore American football fan. However, those of

you who are familiar with the American game will know there are different elements to kicking in the NFL, as kickers are not afforded the luxury of time as they are in rugby union.

The global ambassador for Adidas also revealed that he almost moved to Ireland and pulled on a green jersey before opportunities came knocking in his own native land. Unknown to many, Carter has some Irish roots going back through the generations and who knows what would have happened back in the last decade had Carter and O’Gara being battling head to head for the number 10 jersey.

One of the most startling facts that the autobiography treats us to is the fact that he almost missed the climax of this year’s Rugby World Cup. The book reveals that the New Zealander suffered from a medial collateral ligament injury the week before the semi final. Carter famously missed out on the crucial stages of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and for a short while, it looked like the nightmare was about to repeat itself.

“Throughout that time I was fighting to avoid thinking the worst... that I’d miss out on the big games again,” the rugby star claimed in his new book.

The book which is available in shops now promises to be a thrilling page-turner and will undoubtedly prove to be one of Christmas’ best sellers. Thankfully for rugby fans, the journey is not over yet as the magic may very well continue in the Paris suburbs over the next few months.

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By Padraic Ward Anthony Cunningham resigned as Galway hurling manager following a county board meeting held on Monday 16 November. His resignation brings to an end a long saga between management and players that remained unresolved despite the best efforts of an independent mediator in the process.

As early as last May players had voted ‘no confidence’ in the management but the problems were addressed at the time. News that there had been another vote of dissatisfaction came just after Cunningham had been reappointed and although it was maintained that the manager knew of this when accepting re-appointment, it was strenuously denied. It was also reported that when he had offered his resignation to the players before his ratification took place, that offer had not been accepted.

However, matters came to a head last week once the mediation process failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion. In a statement following a county board meeting on 11 November county secretary John Hynes declared; “The mediation process has concluded and the independent mediator has determined that despite best efforts, there was little, if no possibility of the parties reaching common agreement on the substantive issue”.

Cunningham tended his resignation just two hours before a county committee meeting and a vote on his future were due to take place. He obviously felt that there was nowhere to turn given the conviction of the players in their opposition to him staying at the helm. As expected in such a fraught and fractious course of events, the end was not without acrimony.

In his parting shot to the Galway players Cunningham in his statement described the players as “misguided” for not taking “the view of the county on board” considering the events as “a kangaroo court decision, led by a core group of players orchestrated with the help of others outside Galway, motivated by a desire to unjustly extend their lifespan as inter-county players, placing personal agendas above the greater good of Galway hurling”.

His position had become even more difficult the day before the county committee meeting (Sunday) when the players met and voted 26-6 in expressing no confidence in his management.

In a supplementary vote on whether to play for him, were he to be re-endorsed as manager at the county committee meeting the following night they voted 23-9 against the motion. A two-third majority would have been needed to oust Cunningham from the position of manager at the committee meeting following his re-endorsement last September. Cunningham, in his wisdom however, decided to jump ship before the vote took place.

Galway are due to take on Dublin in the experimental Super 11’s tournament at Fenway Park in Boston on Sunday 22 November.

It remains unclear who will take charge of the team for the game. There first competitive game takes place on the 14 February next year with a home game in the Allianz National Hurling League against Cork.

Among those who may head the list of potential replacements are Michael Donoghue, manager of the Clarinbridge team that won the 2011 All-Ireland club hurling title, Cunningham’s former selector Mattie Kenny who sought the job last year and has guided Dublin’s Cuala to a Leinster final, former Portumna All-Ireland-winning manager Johnny Kelly and 2015 All-Ireland-winning minor manager Jeff Lynskey.

The following is Cunningham’s statement in full: “I, Anthony Cunningham incumbent Senior Hurling Manager since 2012, hereby confirm the following:“Despite the fact that I was unanimously ratified and supported by the Galway GAA Clubs, the County Hurling and Galway County Committees and having reviewed the current impasse in detail over the past month, it is with great sadness tonight that I and my Management Team announce our resignation from our positions. I do so with the best interests of Galway Hurling in mind and with the priority of best assisting Galway hurling to build on the achievement of 2015.

“As a Management team we have exhausted all avenues with support from the clubs, their delegates, the hurling fraternity and County Committees in the past month to bring this impasse to a conclusion and protect Galway Hurling. Despite extensive attempts at genuine dialogue including Independent Arbitration, there were no reasonable explanations offered or given as to the issues that players felt they had. I believe that the players are misguided in that they are not taking the views of their county on board.

“They, through their actions, have shown scant respect for, and loyalty to the goodwill shown them by supporters, clubs and County GAA Committees and Management. I contend it is unreasonable to express a lack of confidence in management – how else could we have reached a winning position in an All-Ireland Final last September?

“I consider this a kangaroo court decision, led by a core group of players orchestrated with the help of others outside Galway, motivated by a desire to unjustly extend their lifespan as inter-county players placing personal agendas above the greater good of Galway Hurling. This goes to the very core of what our Association stands for - there is a national danger now that the democratic and voluntary ethos of the GAA is being overrun by groups of players that wish to indulge in the selection and termination of management.

“Galway Hurling is bigger than any one individual and given that this current impasse shows no immediate sign of abating, I reluctantly conclude that it best that I now step aside.

I hold a deep conviction that the current Galway management team is the one best positioned to deliver Galway hurling to the next level and bring All-Ireland Senior success to our county. I thank my family, my management team colleagues and their families for their support and I am very sensitive the hurt they have endured in the very recent past. I salute the county officials and officers and numerous volunteers who have given me magnificent support over the last five years.”

Back Page Banter

Your biweekly page of satire, humour and random entertainment.

SIN WANTS YOU!

Diary of the SMOKEY’S PIGEON a long way to go just to get some air.

I love Christmas almost as much as I love Halloween and exam time. There’s even more goodies to drop on the floor; Secret Santa treats galore; Christmas parties; those big boxes of Taytos; the muffins in Smokey’s; Rocky Road.

My stomach is growling at the thought of it.

2. A whole pack of Taytos to myself – Cheese and Onion flavour.

This year I would like the following from Santa:

4. Gingerbread… lots of it.

1. The return of the automatic doors beside Smokey’s. I’m a pigeon for God’s sake, I haven’t the strength to push them open, and they always slam closed too fast when others open them… and the automatic doors at the main entrance are

5. Maybe a new lady pigeon to warm my nest on the vending machines.

Humans of NUI Galway

By Grace McKeever

3. A mince pie.

If I can get all that, Santa’s a great man.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

SATIRE: How to Respond To Your Ex’s Merry Christmas Text

By Mark Laherty You know the one. The text that sends you into a tailspin of “WHAT DOES THIS MEAN” and “Does he want to try again?

Do I want to try again?” Here’s how to cast away the Ghost of Mistakes Past:

Are you a dedicated writer hoping to pursue a career in Journalism? Are you happy to interview whoever it takes, dig up information and write whatever you have to just to take a leap forward in your career?

We’re looking for talented writers to join our team next semester. As part of the Sin team you will: • Collaborate with the editorial team on stories.

• Cover news events happening around campus.

• Develop relationships with societies, clubs, the Students’ Union and other campus organisations.

• Attend events and take photographs for the newspaper.

• Write interesting, factual and engaging new stories and features.

• Interview local musicians, artists, writers and other people of interest.

TO FIT INTO THE TEAM YOU MUST BE • Dedicated to improving Sin newspaper.

• Interested in writing about more than just your own interests.

• One of those people with a nose for news – especially campus news.

If you think you’re a good fit for our team, drop an email to editor@sin.ie with a cover letter explaining why you’re a good fit, where your interests lie, and what you think you could do for Sin. We look forward to working with you next semester!

“U up?”

A phrase that has never in human history lead to good sex.

“I’m pregnant! :)” If your ex is sending you a not-sosubtle booty call text on the holiest of days, this is the most efficient way to teach him a lesson.

Paul “Sheriff” Egan, 2nd year arts “I’m trying to sell pizza, but everyone just wants a slice of me.”

“Have you ever considered going to therapy?”

He will be panicked about what kind of signals he’s sending out, but also terrified of actually talking about mental health for five seconds.

If you send Merry Christmas texts to your exes (or feel you’re not over him/her), know that help is always available.

Email counselling@­nuigalway.ie or call 091 492 484

GOT A STORY? We’re always looking for great student-related content, so if you’ve heard some news, contact us on editor@sin.ie and we’ll cover the story for you!

Or, if you’d like to try your hand at writing, send us your article and we’ll review it for publication.

That’s all folks!

Sin is finished for the semester and will return in early January with more great content to make your time at college even more enjoyable.

Have a merry Christmas and see you in the New Year!

NUI Galway Students’ Union Christmas Exam Buses 2015 with City Direct Bus Company

Busanna Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn do Scrúduithe na Nollag i gcomhar le City Direct

City Direct

€2 PER JOURNEY Non-Stop Direct Service to Salthill Exam Venues (Leisureland/Galway Bay Hotel)

Seirbhís dhíreach gan stad chuig na hionaid scrúduithe i mBóthar na Trá (Leisureland/Óstán Chuan na Gaillimhe)

Monday 7th December – Friday 18th December Dé Luain, an 7 Nollaig – Dé hAoine, an 18 Nollaig

Leaving University Road:

Leaving Salthill (Leisureland):

Ag fágáil ó Bhóthar na hOllscoile:

Ag fágáil ó Bhóthar na Trá (Leisureland):

08.40 ----------- 12.10 -----------15:40

11:40-------------- 15:10 ---------------18:40

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