NUACHTÁN SAOR IN AISCE VOL.19 Issue 9. 20 FEB 2017
Student Independent News
Six months on: "It was a surprising moment," says Rose of Tralee Jennifer Byrne By Aine Kenny Rose of Tralee Jennifer Byrne has had a whirlwind six months. The former NUI Galway medicine student told SIN her next adventure will take her to Chernobyl with the Adi Roche Foundation – something she said would prove to be a difficult but rewarding journey. “I have watched a few documentaries about Chernobyl, and I have also spoke to previous Roses to prepare myself. “They all said it was incredible but challenging, and that I will think about it a lot afterwards, and the experience stays with you… it makes you appreciate what you have in your own life,” she said. “It will be hard for me to see children who may have deformities caused by the radiation and the lack of resources the hospitals have to deal with, especially
because I’m a doctor. But we have supplies we are bringing over, and I am glad I will be able to give the children some care, love and time, and even just playing games with them will make a difference.” Hailing from Clonaderig, Ballinahown, Co Offaly, Jennifer was crowned winner of the competition in the Dome in Kerry last August. She has since travelled to India with the HOPE Foundation, accepted the Spirit of the Emirates award from the UAE on behalf of the Rose of Tralee Festival, all the while training to become a GP. She said that she always loved the Rose of Tralee growing up, and when her mum saw an ad in the Offaly Independent looking for the county’s next Rose, she thought she would give it a go. However winning outright was a “surprise moment” for the 24-yearold, as the first Offaly Rose to be crowned winner of the competition.
Rose of Tralee Jennifer Byrne Photo: Tralee Today
“I have to say it was a surprise moment,” she laughed. “I wasn’t expecting it at all, you know I was just enjoying the festival down in Tralee and getting to know the other Roses.” “It was just such an exciting experience,” she explained. Since the end of the competition in August, Jennifer has been extraordinarily busy. “I have lots of highlights, my homecoming in Ballinahown was pretty special,” she said. “It was great to celebrate with all my neighbours, family and friends, and Offaly County Council were great too.” “I also got to attend the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore this year, and receiving the Spirit of the Emirates award was a real honour,” said Jennifer.
“The Dubai selection is happening in two weeks and I will be over there… I also got to open the Frankfurt Christmas markets last November, there were also other Roses there, about 120 of us at all together.” “Visiting India was also another amazing experience,” she added. “I was volunteering with the HOPE Foundation and it was just incredible. I was visiting the slums and that was a tough experience, but then I also went to the HOPE hospital and schools, and I saw all the amazing work they do, so that was uplifting.” “It was great to see exactly where the money is going.” When she won the competition, she had two months left in her rotation in the Accident and Emergency Department of UHG. “I like to be kept busy,” Jennifer laughed when asked how she manages her time. “After I finished my rotation in A&E, I moved to Psychiatry,” she explained. “It is difficult to say which I preferred because they are so different. In A&E you are always running around, the day really flew by. In Psychiatry, you really get to know the patients, you get to sit down and have a chat with them, but it has its own challenges as well.” The 2017 Rose studied medicine at NUI Galway for five years before doing an intern year then partaking in the GP training scheme. “I look back on my time in NUI Galway very fondly. I really loved it, I moved away from home to start college and I had a few of my friends with me, but I also made new friends,” she said. “I had a great class, and I ended up living with some people I was in the course with, you become like a family after five years together.” Jennifer is also very passionate about encouraging young women to get involved in sports. “I think we need to encourage women to start taking part in team sports. You don’t necessarily have to focus on the competition part. It is a great way to meet new people, to get a bit of exercise and to have a laugh,” she said. “Colleges have a Clubs day where you can sign up, I remember NUI Galway had one,” she continued “Usually the college has one serious team and then a second team which is more relaxed, so people shouldn’t be afraid to join.”
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SIN Vol. 19 Issue 9
Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington marks centenary of votes for women at Dublin Castle
By Sorcha O’Connor “Smashing the glass ceiling” is a phrase often used today when we speak of women breaking new ground in terms of equality and achievement. However for the granddaughter of Irish suffragette Hanna Sheehy Skeffington Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington, it was a glass window at Dublin Castle that she smashed on Tuesday 6 February,
re-enacting her grandmother’s iconic protest for women’s right to vote in 1912. Dressed in the clothes of the time, Dr Micheline smashed the glass of the window with her left hand holding a wooden stick, left-handedness being something the former NUI Galway lecturer has in common with her rebellious relative. Ahead of the event she told the Journal that this was something she was proud of, as the policemen who
had reprimanded her grandmother had automatically immobilised the woman’s right hand instead. Speaking at the event to press and the large crowd gathered to commemorate the 100 years since women were granted the vote in Ireland, Dr Micheline said that the fight Irish suffragettes put up against the dominance of males in Irish politics is often forgotten. “We forget how much these women put themselves through. The reason they smashed the windows in 1912 was because they were fed up with the way the Irish [Parliamentary] Party would have nothing to do with the suffragettes or votes for women. Home Rule was going through for half the population; it was home rule for men but not for women,” she said. She said that while Hanna would be very proud to see how far women have come, she thought she would be surprised that there were still matters of gender inequality to be dealt with by the modern woman
and called for more to be done to achieve equality between men and women in all sectors of Irish society. “My grandmother might be impressed that we’ve had two female presidents but at the same time have we actually got equality? Things have improved in some ways, we have more representation... but there’s not that much respect in some levels. There is a sea change happening with movements like Waking the Feminists and MeToo but it takes enormous courage to stick with it,” she said. A plaque in memory of Hanna, who spent two months in prison and went on hunger strike, has also been added to the walls of the castle. Dr Micheline rose to prominence when she won a landmark case against her former employer of 34 years NUI Galway in 2014. It was found by the Equality Tribunal that she had been discriminated against on grounds of gender when she went for a promotion to senior lecturer. She was awarded €70,000,
which she donated to the cause of four other female lecturers from NUI Galway also taking a case against the university. The university was told to promote Sheehy Skeffington to senior lecturer from July 2009 and to pay the salary difference. NUI Galway has since adopted equality measures advised by the Equality Tribunal. In a recent inter-
view with SIN, new President of NUI Galway Prof Ciaran Ó hÓgartaigh pointed out that in the last round of promotions to senior lecturer, 58pc of promotions had gone to female staff. He said that the gender quotas now in place in the university were a system which ensured equality for men and women with decisions still being “based on merit”.
CCAFS society on mission to reduce waste on campus By Claire VanValkenburg
DEPARTURES FROM GALWAY COACH STATION DESTINATION DUBL I N A I R POR T E DUBL I N C I TY CENTR CORK EXPRESS L I ME R I C K E X P R E S S C L I F D E N C O MM U T E R L O U G H R E A C O MM U T E R B A L L I N A S L O E C OMMU A T H L O N E I T C OMMU T
NO. DAILY DEPARTURES XPRE SS 15 E EXPRESS 15 5 5 6 8 TER 8 ER 8
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Members of the Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCAFS) society are spreading awareness about consumption and waste through creative initiatives around campus. Every two weeks 1 million coffee cups are thrown into Irish landfills, and washing clothes sends millions of microplastics into the ocean. But with such a largescale problem, is it possible for one person make a difference? According to Annika Henke, Representative for the Community and University Sustainability Project, one person can make a difference. Henke said the Mayor of Galway believes that if there is economic demand to change the way we consume products, then innovative changes will follow. “If there are people who want the difference, there will be a supply. The economy will change, it will change what they [companies] give to you… because you just have to buy it,” Henke said. “Every time you shop something that is an alternative [to singleuse products], you elect the alternative.” The bonus isn’t just for our Earth, consumers and businesses benefit as well.
“It is also cost efficient for the companies when we provide our own stuff because every time they have to buy something single-use, they have to buy it,” Henke said. “In the long run their prices can go down.” Unfortunately, the problem goes farther than what we consume, it is also what we wear. “A lot of our fibers are made from plastics, so when we wash them [clothes] in the washing machine they release a lot of microplastics. So it’s just awful, we can’t win,” CCAFS member Michaela Peters said. Peters is bringing the environment-focused fashion initiative, Nu Wardrobe, to Galway. It is a blogstyle fashion website where users can upload pictures of clothes they are willing to rent or sell to buyers in their area. Dublin-based founder Aisling Byrne was inspired to create the site after experiencing firsthand the negative environmental impact of the fashion industry in India. Only 6 months after the creation of the online marketplace, Nu Wardrobe has ambassadors all over Ireland. The platform reduces some of the harmful effects of fashion on multiple levels by creating a sustainable fashion alternative. “It’s also kind of based around this idea of community, so not only are you dealing with an environ-
mental problem but it’s also trying to build a community and a different kind of economic system as well that’s a bit more just,” Peters said. Peters and other CCAFS members were inspired by a flea-market style clothing swap hosted by Byrne at Trinity College, and are planning their own “Swap Shop” in the upcoming months. At the event, NUI Galway students will be able to shop and exchange clothing for affordable prices, while keeping their environmental impact low. According to CCAFS auditor Theo Lienhardt, making a positive change on the environment starts with changing our daily habits. “If you don’t use plastic you don’t have to worry about recycling,” Lienhardt said. “Trying to cut down plastic in my daily life actually made it [being sustainable] so much easier.” CCAFS has been collecting take-away coffee cups as a part of their most recent initiative, Plastic Free Week. They plan to continue to spread awareness of how much waste NUI Galway students are consuming by displaying the cups they collect in a creative way. Could you live one week singleuse waste free? Visit our Facebook page, Facebook.com/NUIGSIN, to see if one of our reporters succeeded.
N UAC H T
February 20 2017
Welcome to Issue Nine! Can you believe it is already Week Six of Semester Two? Time flies when you’re having fun… By now results from Christmas exams have been uploaded o n B l a c k b o a rd , assignments have been handed out, and college life is in full swing once more. Here at SIN we have kept up to date with everything that has been happening on campus and elsewhere. This fortnight we caught up with Rose of Tralee winner Jennifer Byrne who is marking six months since being crowned winner of the competition this month. A past-student of NUI Galway, the Offaly Rose has just headed off to Chernobyl with the other Roses with the Adi Roche Foundation. She spoke with Aine Kenny to tell her about the last six months and what it felt like to be chosen as the Rose of Tralee 2017.
Meanwhile, Galway teacher Gary Thornton is back on home soil after winning the World Marathon Challenge – seven marathons, in seven days! Graham Gillespie spoke with him to hear how he tackled this enormous challenge to win all seven marathons and the overall competition. It could escape no one’s attention that unofficial RAG week took place during the last fortnight. Connell McHugh asked students if they thought the week brought bad press to the door of the university. President of NUI Galway Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh also gave his opinion on the matter when asked. Read on to find out what he had to say. There are so many other features, fashion advice, debates and sporting reports for you to enjoy this issue. If you fancy seeing your own byline appear in the paper, send an email to editor.sin@gmail.com to find out more about contributing to NUI Galway’s only free student newspaper. That’s all for now, have a great two weeks and we will see you in Week Eight! Be sure to keep an eye on our Facebook page Student Independent News, NUI Galway for any updates before then.
Sorcha.
FEATURES EDITORIAL: CONNELL MCHUGH
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITORIAL: MICHAEL GLYNN
Week six already! Only a few more weeks and we’ll all be hopping on planes and trains to see as much of the world as we can over the summer. Incidentally, travelling on the cheap is one of the articles that is in this week’s features section. Saoirse Rafferty explains how you can travel the world cheaply and still scratch that travel itch we all get. For the first time in history, Facebook saw a decline in its user base in North America, which led Shauna McHugh to wonder if it will be around forever. There’s a new column by Claire VanValkenburg, tips for house hunting for next year by Tarryn McGuire, and Aoife O’Donoghue gives more advice on academic writing. Hope you enjoy it and check back in two weeks for more!
Arts and Entertainment editor Michael Glynn here again to give you the heads up, the 411, the skinny, the low down on all the great articles we have coming up for you in the Arts and Entertainment section this issue. First up is an article on female driven films and tv shows and why some are successful while others flounder. We have an interview with one of the co-founders of Eva’s Echo Theatre Company talking out their latest project The Way it is. Of course, it’s Oscar season so where would we be without some Oscar winner predictions? Following up from that we have a breakdown of all the best Irish musicians, past and present. We also review the latest musical from GUMS, The Producers and the book The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls.4
FASHION & LIFESTYLE EDITORIAL: AMY McMAHON
Despite the Sigerson, Collingwood and Ashbourne Cups already being behind us and the Fitzgibbon Cup drawing to a close this weekend, there’s still plenty of college sport happening with several intervarsites just around the corner. In this issue, Martha Brennan writes about the effect the GAA calendar at this time of year is having on college intercounty players. Paul Shaughnessy meanwhile, looks at whether the Galway footballers can build on their perfect start and make a league final. Also, Gary Elbert speaks to Galway United’s Stephen Walsh ahead of the new season, while Luke Gannon chats Irish international and Galway native Niamh Fahey. Finally, Mark Lynch previews the EFL Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City. If you want to write for SIN don’t hesitate in contacting me via email sport.sined@gmail. com. Hope you enjoy reading this issue.
Issue nine is here and the year is flying! With this semester going faster than ever, why not sit back, relax and read through our Fashion & Lifestyle section? Our team have been working hard on this one bringing you everything you need to know. Joanne Duffy gives her advice on planning for a J1. Connell McHugh shares his witty ways to reach 10,000 steps on your FitBit. Brigid Fox is back with yet another take on Lost Looks. And if that wasn’t enough, she talks us through styling the classic black leather skirt – a fashion must have. There’s these and so much more, so make yourself a cuppa and enjoy!
SPORT EDITORIAL: GRAHAM GILLESPIE
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INSIDE
THROUGH MY EYES: Experiencing NUI Galway as a Transition Year Student
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VOX POP: Does the unofficial RAG week give NUI Galway a bad image?
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CLARIFICATIONS: Young love is a game we are playing wrong
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Is it time to say goodbye to Facebook?
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The best ways to combat J1 FOMO
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PEOPLEKIND: the beginning of the end of the social justice movement
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HEAD TO HEAD: Should Nigel Farage be given a platform in Ireland to air his views?
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Return of the ugly UGG
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LOST LOOKS: The 60s “British Invasion” Inspiration 15 What makes skinny tea skinny?
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REVIEW: GUMS The Producers
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Irish musicians taking the world by storm
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Who will win at the Oscars?
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Galway girl Niamh Fahey aims to help Irish Ladies reach first ever World Cup In 2018
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Are the GAA disregarding the pressure faced by their University players?
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EDITOR: Sorcha O’Connor editor.sin@gmail.com LAYOUT: Shannon Reeves
An bhfuil rud éigin le rá agat? Cur litir chuig an Eagarthóir chuig editor@sin.ie.
Find us online: www.sin.ie
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SIN Vol. 19 Issue 9
“MENTALLY I JUST WENT FROM MILE TO MILE”:
Galway teacher wins seven marathons in seven days By Graham Gillespie Galway teacher Gary Thornton has won the World Marathon Challenge, which involves running seven marathons in seven straight days. Not only did Thornton win the challenge outright but he also won each of the seven individual marathons. These races were held across each of the seven continents throughout the world, starting in Antarctica on 30 January and finishing in Miami on 5 February. The Galway City Harriers athlete ran two of his marathons under three hours posting times of 2:58:39 in Antarctica, 3:06:55 in Cape Town, 2:59:55 in Perth, 3:04:29 in Dubai, 3:19:28 in Lisbon, 3:35:31 in Cartagena, Colombia, and finally 3:21:19 in Miami. Thornton and the other 47 competitors – 35 men and 12 women - had to clock up another 48 total hours of air travel to reach each of the starting destinations. The World Marathon Challenge itself also has another link to Galway, with it being a Galway man Richard Donavon who first turned the event into a business in 2015. The event currently costs €36,000 to enter, and it was Donavon who sponsored Thornton covering his costs.
Before the event, Thornton tried to keep his involvement under wraps only telling his wife. “I suppose I just wanted to keep it to myself, and if did tell my family they would probably be concerned. I only told them the week I was going,” he told SIN. Thornton ran a combined total of 294 kilometres to complete the challenge, and has previously run a number of extreme races including events in North and South Pole and the Volcano Marathon in Chile. Speaking to SIN just six days after he completed the challenge, the Claddagh NS teacher said doing these previous races benefited him hugely in the seven days, especially in the Antarctic. “The last time I was in the Antarctic I overheated, which sounds kind of crazy because it was probably minus 20 last time down there, but I had too much gear on and I had the wrong footwear on down there as well,” he explained. “This time I wore just my regular trainers. It definitely helped, because my time was nearly 40 minutes quicker than the last time I was down there”. Thornton also has pedigree in conventional long distance running, having won the 10,000 metres national title twice and being a former cross-country competitor for Ireland in international competition.
In more recent years he has been racing in city marathons, and he stated his training did not differ much from his regular marathon training. “I actually did go to the gym more, because I felt my legs and body were going to be under more strain, but that was the only change I made… I just kind of went with the whole attitude that you can’t really train specifically for something like this because it’s so out there”. Despite emerging victorious, the challenge itself was far from smooth sailing for Thornton as it had numerous tricky elements for him to deal with. “After one marathon in Rotterdam or Berlin or Amsterdam, you’re finished and you can take a few weeks off after training months for it, whereas with this you just come back, and hence that’s why the times are way slower than a single marathon. Add in the flights the jetlag, the lack of food in the system, and your body doesn’t know what’s going on,” he said. Unsurprisingly, the successive days running 26.2 miles took its toll on the 37-year-old’s body running with an injured knee and swollen foot. “When we got into Perth (for the third race), the race was on a Thursday night, and it was about 30k into that race that my right knee started to jar which had never happened to me before, said Thornton.
“In Dubai then, when we started the race my knee was totally wrecked, so I did one loop of the course and when I came back down I had to take some medication to get rid of it [the pain] before that race, and then in Colombia my foot was really expanded, and in Miami all of those things came together.” The recovery period between races was also not ideal for Thornton. “I wasn’t getting much sleep on the flights, but then again I suppose everybody has a different body and you react differently to things,” he said. Thornton returned home on Thursday 8 February before being given a celebratory homecoming by his family, friends and senior infants’ class at the Claddagh N.S. on the Friday. His class has helped him come back down to earth, with their teacher himself hoping he can inspire them to one day chase their own dreams. “It was great fun in school,” he said. “All the kids in the school are really talented in some area, so hopefully if they can just keep going with what they’re doing or pick up something new because of what they seen me doing, that would be great.” Thornton said that in the future he may go back to racing individual city marathons but for now he’s taking a well-earned break with his friends and family for the next few weeks.
THROUGH MY EYES: Experiencing NUI Galway as a Transition Year Student By Eoin Dillon
CLICK. FIND. VOLUNTEER. studentvolunteer.ie is a new easy-to-use, one-stop-shop portal connecting higher education students with civil society organisation volunteering opportunities.
r e t s i g e R today!
As a Transition Year student from St Paul’s Secondary School, Oughterard, Co. Galway, my work experience co-ordinator Ms. Kinnevey informed the class that we had to organise a work placement for one week November 13 - 17. I decided to spend the week in NUI Galway and was under the guidance of Lorraine Tansey from the ALIVE Student Volunteering Programme. I had been in NUI Galway a few times when I was younger at the Youth Academy, so I knew a bit about the campus. The ALIVE office is located in The Hub on campus. The Hub is a seating area in Áras na Mac Léinn with a recently installed kitchen area. It is a cosy place where you can study, chat, play pool, eat or just relax. The new kitchen is a wonderful addition where students can prepare their own food or get a cup of tea, free of charge. I became very comfortable in this social area on campus and spent a lot of time there throughout the week. After a brief orientation with Lorraine on Day One, I headed to on-campus radio station Flirt FM where I spent the morning with the manager and broadcasters of the station and listened to some previously recorded interviews. I was particularly interested in the Engineering building on campus and coming into my work experience, I had an idea that I wanted to attend some of the Engineering lectures. I found the lectures stimulating and particularly enjoyed the one about construction. Other interesting talks I attended were the Finnish Energy Plans, Coastal Geography, UN Peace Keeping, Sociology and Graphic Web Design to name a few. I met with the SIN Newspaper editor Sorcha, and had a sneak preview of the next issue. I
learned about the type of work involved in compiling a paper. During the week I also helped set up stands for a Sustainability event in the O’ Donohue Theatre with the School of Business and Engineering students. Some local organisations came together to discuss sustainability in various contexts. On the Thursday, Lorraine and I helped a group of students set up their ‘Reusable cup’ scheme for the launch of Galway’s Sustainability Programme. This was one of my favourite events, as I enjoyed hearing all of the different views on the project. Throughout the week I was actively involved in the social media output for the University. I was running the NUI Galway Orientation Twitter handle for the week, giving students updates on events which were taking place, as well as giving some information about workshops and classes I attended. I also had to update some of ALIVE’s website. These tasks were very worthwhile experiences, the handling of social media platforms and the responsibility that comes with it cannot be over emphasised. I met so many people doing different jobs during the week. I came into contact with people from all walks of life, entrepreneurs, academics, media people and students from all over the world. There was a great sense of community in the University. I believe that I now feel more confident when working with adults. I am more independent and self assured when meeting new people. Lorraine and her colleagues were encouraging, positive and engaging at all times. I feel very fortunate to have had such a beneficial work experience with her and the ALIVE staff, and I would highly recommend the experience to other Transition Year students.
N UAC H T
February 20 2017
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VOX POP: Does the unofficial RAG week give NUI Galway a bad image? NUI Galway President and students have their say By Connell McHugh and Sorcha O’Connor
Ailish Greene, Arts student
Sharon Kelly, Nursing student
Galway’s unofficial RAG week always attracts online attention. Reading comment sections on Facebook on Donegal Tuesday, opinions on the week were clearly divided. New NUI Galway president Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh weighed in on the debate over the contentious week which ran from Sunday 11 – Friday 16 February. He said that while he “wasn’t conscious enough of any particular issue” arising during the week, ultimately students attending university in Galway should have respect for the city.
“Overall it is important for the university and therefore the students to have a very good relationship with the city, and sometimes that can be damaged not necessarily by our own students but others, and I think we should be conscious of that whenever we are organising things. We should really remember we are part of a community which is Galway city and its hinterland, and we should respect our neighbour,” he told SIN. Meanwhile, students on campus held mixed views on the week with some saying that it was something that simply “gets hyped up”, with others saying that unofficial RAG week gave people an excuse to give out about young people.
David Raleigh, Arts student
I don’t personally think it gives the college a bad image. It has nothing got to do with the college anymore and it’s not like the Students’ Union goes around promoting it. It’s just a student thing at this stage, but its only once a year and most people don’t go around destroying the place and acting stupid.
RAG week isn’t as bad as people think anyway. It gets hyped up but it’s just a week of going out. People miss lectures and some act stupid but sure that happens every other day of the week anyway. Nothing really happens on campus for the college to look bad anyway. GMIT take part in it too and people from all over the country come down for it, so it’s not very fair to say it makes the students of NUI Galway look bad.
Yeah I’d say it does [give NUI Galway a bad image]. It’s unofficial, but it’s always going to be associated with the college no matter what. What went on years ago was a lot worse and it’s definitely calmed down but it still makes us all look like alcoholics. Young people in general are all painted with the same brush and rag week is just another reason for older generations to complain about us.
Darren Finneran, Engineering student
Orla Cleere, Health and Safety Systems student
I can see why people give out about it when there’s queues outside the Hole in the Wall at 9am, but since it went unofficial, I don’t see how it gives the NUI Galway a bad name. Race week in the summer attracts people from all over the country and nothing is ever really said about them, even though what happens then is just as bad. I wouldn’t even call RAG week a ‘bad’ thing, it’s just a way for students to have a bit of fun.
I don’t think it makes the college look bad, but more so makes students in general look bad. The college has tried to clamp down on it but it’s always going to be down to the students behavioural-wise. The only thing that makes us look the worst is Donegal Tuesday when there’s students out at 11 in the morning when other people are trying to go about their normal business.
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What does ‘Ask for Angela’ say about society and sexual assault? By Mark Laherty On February 6, the ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign started working with nightclubs and pubs in Cork city to help people who feel at risk while out socialising. The initiative aims to combat harassment and sexual assault. “With the increase in online dating, we want to help create an extra feeling of security and offer a helping hand to those who may need it,” said Cork Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) secretary Michael O’Donovan to the Irish Examiner. The premise of the initiative is that anyone who feels at risk while enjoying a night out, regardless of gender or sexuality, can discreetly approach staff at participating establishments and ask for ‘Angela.’ This will be understood by the staff, who have been trained to respond accordingly and separate them from the person who made them feel unsafe. They would then accompany the person to a safe location, or get them a taxi, no questions asked. The ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign is a good idea if executed well that will bring necessary help to people who need it. But what does it say about our society that this initiative is necessary? The Rape Crisis Centre says on its website that it had to provide counselling and support to 1384 people in 2015 alone. Writer Jaclyn Friedman said in Time magazine that if there were huge numbers for people getting “carjacked or kidnapped, we’d call it a public crisis”. Some social critics such as Paul Joseph Watson of Infowars.com have argued against the existence of western rape cultures. But for Friedman, “that we accept it as normal, even inevitable, is all the evidence I need.” The Rape Crisis Centre also reports that 12% of their clients in 2015 were men and 81% of those men were subjected to child sexual violence. The 2002 SAVI Report from Liffey Press found that 60% of young men who had experienced child sexual abuse had never told anyone before telling the researcher. This shows that men and boys find it particularly hard to ask for help and abusers continue to get away with their crimes as a result. US navy veteran Peter Musser spoke on the YouTube channel ‘Uplift’ about how gender roles are destructive. Rape culture affects everyone living in the rape culture. No one escapes unscathed. The ‘Ask for Angela’ campaign is an important and hopefully effective effort to protect people in this context. The only way this problem is going to be solved permanently is if we tackle rape culture head-on.
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SIN Vol. 19 Issue 9
How to be a better writer THE WRITING PROCESS: STRUCTURING YOUR ESSAY
By Aoife O’Donoghue This column is here to help the students of NUI Galway with all aspects of academic writing. Writing for academic purposes is an essential student skill, yet for many, it is a daunting task. Run in conjunction with the Academic Writing Centre (AWC) at the James Hardiman Library, the column will focus on a different aspect of the writing process every issue, giving advice, sharing ideas and hopefully easing the burden of assignments. You can find me in the AWC every Tuesday and Thursday from 11-1 for oneto-one tutoring.
Just as a story has a beginning, a middle and an end, an academic essay should have an introduction, main body and conclusion. Having a clear structure to your essay allows you to organise and convey your ideas and arguments coherently, a benefit both to you as the writer and to readers of your paper. To start, take note of the word limit as this will determine how many paragraphs the essay will be comprised of.
INTRODUCTION The introduction to your essay is arguably the most crucial part as it is within the first few sentences that you must gain the interest and attention of the reader. There are several criteria a successful introduction should fulfil. It should introduce the topic of the essay and why it is of interest or importance. It should establish your particular position or
argument relating to the topic, which is also called the thesis statement. To strengthen the thesis statement, the introduction should then present the supporting arguments that will make up the body of the essay. Essentially, the introduction is a guide to the essay as a whole.
MAIN BODY The main body of the essay is comprised of paragraphs. Each paragraph should deal with a new idea or argument relating to the overall thesis statement of the essay. Paragraphs themselves also require a certain level of structure. For example, when I was in first year Sociology and Politics, my tutor encouraged us to use what is called a dialectic method. Dialectic has origins in philosophical thought such as Hegelianism, which explains the method as thesis, antithesis and synthesis. My tutor’s explanation was to make a point, say something positive about it, say something
WHAT YOU SEE IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
negative about it and then come to a decision on it. A more comprehensive explanation is that you should make a point or argument relating to your thesis statement and then engage with the literature relating to this point to explore it from opposing points of view. Having done so, you can then come to your own informed conclusion on the argument. It’s a hugely valuable tool for academic writing. Even if you do not choose to use this method, it’s still impor-
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CONCLUSION The conclusion of an essay is a part that sometimes gets rushed and lets the rest of the paper down. It’s important to take your time with each section of the essay, so that the level of writing is consistent.
The conclusion is effectively a summary of the content and arguments of the essay. No new information should be introduced. Some say the conclusion is a reworking of the introduction – instead of presenting what you are going to argue, you are now definitively stating what you have argued and now proved. The language should be definitive rather than tentative; a confident rounding off of a well-structured and well-argued paper.
CLARIFICATIONS: Young love is a game we are playing wrong By Claire VanValkenburg Clarifications is a column featuring raw, unapologetic commentary on all things gender. From women’s rights, to dating culture, enjoy as Claire VanValkenburg discusses the topics everyone is afraid to talk about. Wet shoes traipse over the sticky night club floor. Drink is spilt as they slip past each other, bumping shoulders and cups. They exchange chin-dipped, eyelashflicked glances. But not too long, or they’re desperate. And not too short, or they’re hard to get. How peculiar it is that night after night they play the same game. She straps on her heels, pounds on foundation and traverses the cobbled streets like a badass gazelle. He sings poorly to Eminem as he strolls confidently around the bar with his perfected smolder and high and tight buzz cut. This broken culture where music is an elusive binary of beats that rock your chest, yet everyone is lurking static and immobile. This broken culture where the rules of the game go hushed and hidden under rotten layers, like an onion far past its expiration date. First, they take a lap to scout out the cute specimens. Then they position themselves with their best angles in front of the desired. Maybe they catch his eyes and giggle, and each one picks her poison. God forbid they pick the same one. If all goes well, in about an hour they’ll all be dancing to trap
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tant to have a basic structure: make a point relating to your overall argument, engage with the literature around that issue and then come to a conclusion that supports your thesis.
music and perhaps be kissing under an aura of smoke and sweat. Gross. But I’m no outsider. I’ve laced up my sassy shoes, done up my face like a birthday cake, and worn clothes two sizes too small. I’ve stepped through the beersloshed floors and waited exactly 24 hours to Snap him. Yet still, I haven’t mastered all the rules. I haven’t decided if I want to. Dating culture is an inside-out origami fortune teller made of tissue paper. It is easily ripped and if someone cries it melts into watercolor puddles. It’s littered with non-descript, confusing messages for us to decipher. The rulebook says first we shift, then we sit cordially across from each other and chat over coffee. First we shout into each other’s ears pretending to follow the conversation over undulating sonic booms, then we have in-depth conversations about your dreams. It would be easy for me to condone nightlife and modern dating culture, but that is not what I think the problem is. Going to the pubs, meeting new people and dancing are all important facets to being young, dumb and broke. I believe where we are broken is in our expectations for great things to come out of trashy nights. We are wrong in our thinking to believe that playing the same game of hunter versus hunted while under the influence at late bars night after night will lead us to a healthy relationship of love and support. Just like how Tinderella is a rarity harder to
find than someone without a nose piercing at the Roisín, finding true love from playing the drunk and ditzy game at pubs is simply not a reliable reality. Now, I don’t have a solution. But I can offer you this: what if we transferred some of the energy we spend dressing up and dropping it low to being amicable, open and intentional in situations where the sun is still up. Join societies where people with similar interests will gather, and devote yourself to learning about the characters you meet there. Ask that person who sits in front of you for a pen, and don’t be shy when he asks you to grab coffee at Smokey’s. This game of trial and error is too much of a broken record. Love is rarely found falling off barstools at 2am. If we want to have the same the deep connections we see in our grandparents’ relationships we must open our hearts with intention and meaning to finding connections in alternative situations.
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8 NE WS & F E AT U R ES
SIN Vol. 19 Issue 9
Is it time to say goodbye to Facebook? By Shauna McHugh In 2004, Mark Zuckerberg released his new website ‘Facebook’ to his fellow students at Harvard University. It quickly spread like wildfire among other American colleges, and eventually made i t s w ay i nt o high schools as well. By 2006, anyone across the world could open a Facebook account. And just like that, life and communication as we knew it was changed. I set up my own Facebook account when I was a 13-year-old. Like so many others, I have grown up with Facebook. The site was a critical aspect of my teenage life, and that of my peers. I remember the thrill my friends and I received if we got that coveted friend request from the guys we were interested in. It was a definitive sign that things were getting pretty serious, while making your new relationship Facebook official was the most intense act of commitment imaginable.
We figured that these milestones in life would always be shared and immortalised on Facebook forever, or at least for many generations to come. We thought we would one day be sharing pictures of our wedding day or even our children on our Facebook t i m e l i n e . Ye t now I rarely post a single thing on the site, and with it losing roughly 2.8 billion users under 25 last year, it’s hard to imagine that future generations would be interested in such an outdated social media platform. It’s not that Facebook has gotten worse. To Zuckerberg’s credit, there have been many improvements welcomed to Facebook. The updating of the like button, which allowed users to shock, love, sad or angry react rather than leave a simple like, was a hugely popular move. However, other social media apps have been making even greater improvements, and at this point Facebook is sadly lagging behind. Snapchat was first released in 2011. It had all the benefits of Facebook, allowing you to control
who sees your content by letting you accept or deny friend requests just like on Facebook. Users could also message friends privately just like on Facebook messenger. You could even share the more public stuff to all of your friends with a Snapchat story, just like a Facebook timeline. However, it had a unique benefit which Facebook didn’t. All snaps you sent would disappear within ten seconds, and your story only lasted 24 hours. Sure it was possible for people to screenshot them and keep them forever, but Snapchat always notified users of this. Meanwhile, to this day, users have no idea who is screenshotting their Facebook messages or pictures from their timeline. With these new features, Snapchat soared in popularity. While parents and even grandparents slowly became more social media savvy and created Facebook accounts to leave embarrassing comments on their children’s posts, the younger generation jumped ship to the much cooler, youthful Snapchat. Facebook has no doubt noticed this
rivalry and has made rather pitiful attempts to emulate Snapchat’s success. A camera feature was released on Facebook messenger, allowing users to send pictures or video chat. The camera comes complete with glittery filters, much like the ones that were done first by Snapchat. They also allowed users to upload ‘stories’ to their Facebook account, again a blatant copy of Snapchat’s features. Instagram has also become trendier and more up to date than Facebook. There has been a dramatic drop in the number of people using Facebook in North America between the third and fourth quarters of 2017, a first in the company’s history. Perhaps Zuckerberg just needs to find a way to improve and modernise the site, and hopefully it will be more successful than the most recent contentious Snapchat update. Or, sadly, perhaps it is time for Facebook to face the music and admit that it has passed its sell by date.
Kylie Jenner gives the world a lesson in minding their own business By Aileen O’Leary The possibility of Kylie Jenner being pregnant was one of the most discussed topics of 2017. For months the youngest Jenner had the world in the dark over her pregnancy. Taking to social media on Sunday February 4, she revealed that her social media blackout was to allow herself time and space to enjoy her pregnancy without being caught in the camera flashes of the media and paparazzi. Fans are divided when it comes to Jenner’s explanation as to why she kept her pregnancy to herself and her family. However, it’s easy to speculate as to why Jenner stayed mum about the whole process. She is just 20-yearsold after all, just recently in a new relationship and is part of one of the biggest brands in the world, as well as the creator of her own cosmetic range. That’s a lot to handle for one person, without any added attention or drama. Ultimately though the whole situation raises an interesting question about privacy. When the only reason you’re famous is because cameras follow you and your family around, was it naïve for Kylie to expect privacy? Her sisters were very open about their pregnancies; every conversation from their cravings to the potential baby names were aired on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, as well as social media platforms. However, if we reflect back on the phone hacking scandal of 2011, which saw the News of the World get shut down, precedent would show that celebrities really can expect privacy. Over 3,000
famous people’s phones were hacked, with several appearing in court and winning. Editor of industry paper Media Week Jeremy King says that although celebrities are in the public eye, it does not necessarily make them “fair game”, although he thinks putting yourself into the public sphere comes with its consequences. “If you court the media in the first place and don’t like it when they say something nasty, then unfortunately once you push the toothpaste out of the tube it’s hard to get it back in,” he explains. “If you use the media, you can’t complain too much when the media uses you.” Of course, privacy is one thing Jenner couldn’t buy with her fame. From her preteen years on Keeping up with the Kardashians to her own spinoff series Life of Kylie, the whole world has watched her grow up in front of a camera – so the whole world expects her to share every last intimate detail of her life and for someone who’s just figuring out who they are, that has to be daunting. With pregnancy being such an intimate part of life and a personal matter at that, dealing with all of that on top of a media frenzy and reporters trying to get snaps of you at your biggest size would be enough to break the strongest of people. However, Kylie managed to hide her entire pregnancy and tell the world three days after her daughter was born, and she did it in style, with a tribute video to her new born. Maybe she has figured it out. Maybe the best way to avoid the limelight was simply to let the world keep guessing.
N UAC H T
February 20 2017
7
GNÉ -ALTANNA
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The best ways to combat J1 FOMO By Saoirse Rafferty We are nearly half way through our final semester, and summer already seems so close. People have their holidays planned out with half of the university going on a J1 and the remainder jetting off to Canada. Is all this talk starting to make your summer job at home in Ireland sound even more miserable than it already is? Well don’t give up hope just yet because there are plenty of cheap weekend breaks that won’t break your bank and will make your summer of 2018 memorable. Inter-railing has grown more and more popular over the years. It appears to be a cheap way of rushing around Europe to see as many countries as you can in two weeks. However, all of the travelling can leave you tired and feeling frantic, trying to see all you
can in a limited amount of time. Rather than stressing out, try jetting off on a cheap flight to one place in Europe for a few days. It’s possible to get cheap flights when booked in advance and you could find yourself in Italy, France, Germany or wherever you have been dreaming of going to. You can also easily avoid over-crowded tourist spots and have an authentic, cultural experience as Ryanair fly to 33 different locations. Airbnb gives you a home away from home and works out really cheap if you’re travelling with others. Staying in Ireland all summer can sometimes seem daunting especially when it’s lashing rain 24/7 but we often take for granted the beautiful scenery surrounding us that tourists come from all over the world to embrace. Kerry is a county full of breath-taking landscapes. Whether you opt to see the famous Skellig Michael or take a
House-hunting 101 By Tarryn McGuire Every year students across Galway embark on the tedious, stressful and all-consuming task of finding a place to live for the semester. While summer is supposed to be stress-free and fun, a number of students are set to spend the three months scrolling through the likes of daft.ie and rent.ie and checking newspaper advertisements daily, all in the hope of finding some sort of accommodation. And let’s face it, us students would take anything; we won’t even get started on how terrible the housing situation is in Galway. However here are some ideas and tips that might help you find a new humble abode next semester. The first step is deciding if you want to stay in student accommodation, digs or find your own house/apartment to share with other students. Currently there are a few student accommodation options around Galway such as Dunáras, Gort na Coiribe, Cuirt na Coiribe, and Corrib Village (the online accommodation aimed at first year and international students). The university is also hoping to have 429 new beds on offer in new accommodation on the northside of the campus for the 2018/2019 academic year. If you do decide to go for one of these options be prepared to pay a lumpsum each semester rather than every month. This can be difficult for students that don’t have that amount of money put away for accommodation. If you receive the SUSI grant, finding a house or apartment with monthly rent payments might be the best option for you. When searching for a house or apartment to share in Galway, you must decide who you want to share with. You may have friends that have decided to share a place already or maybe you’re searching for people. Check out the Facebook page ‘Galway-Rent, Let, House Hunting (For sound people)’ to meet people that are in the same situation as you, and this page also has ads for houses/apartments up for rent. Daft.ie and rent.ie are also two other great sites for house hunting, while nuigstudentpad. ie is another brilliant option. The rule of thumb is to phone as many people as you can and make arrangements for as many viewings as possible. Always go and see the house; never assume that the pictures you see advertised are real. Ask any student and I’m sure they’ll know of a horror
story of how someone was scammed or showed up to a viewing only to find that it looked nothing like the pictures. To protect yourself from being scammed or tricked here are some tips to keep in mind:
visit to Dingle you won’t be bored here, especially on a lovely summer’s day. Take a scenic drive around the Ring of Kerry and you’ll be blown away.
Half of the university are going on a J1 and the remainder jetting off to Canada. Is all this talk starting to make your summer job at home in Ireland sound even more miserable than it already is? Instead of doing a road trip, travel by boat to somewhere exotic and embrace the Irish culture like never before. Go to Connemara and get a boat across to the Aran Islands where the Irish language and culture is truly alive. Each of the islands are truly unique; you can spend the day by the beach, hiking or relaxing on a horse and carriage. Simply sitting in a pub and practicing your Gaeilge will be a true summer adventure. And if you’re brave enough you can pitch a tent for a bit of “glamping” on Inis Mór. Ireland also has a wide range of festivals on all summer long. Popular music festivals
1. Always phone and speak to the landlord directly before seeing the house. 2. Travel to the viewing with a friend/ family member or future housemate. 3. If possible, talk to current residents in the house. 4. Don’t hand over any money until you have viewed the house, read the contract and know that you can get a receipt. 5. Don’t be afraid to ask whatever questions you want at the viewing. Better safe than sorry. Once you have decided on a house and are totally sure about it but find that there’s some competition as to who will get it for the year, the best thing you can do to have a chance of securing the house for yourself is to:
1. Meet the landlord face to face, after all it is a lot harder to say no to someone in person. If you leave all the arranging to texts or phone calls, there’s a very slim chance that you’ll get the house. 2. Have a personal reference explaining that you are a good tenant. Try to get a reference from a previous landlord or from an employer - preferably not your mom. 3. Be prepared to pay the deposit on the day, the last thing the landlord wants to hear is ‘I can pay half now’ or ‘Oh, I can get it to you next week when I get paid’.
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with big line ups that won’t disappoint include Indiependence in Cork, Electric Picnic in Laois, or Sea Sessions in Donegal. If you’re looking for something different and cheaper than your typical summer festival, head over to the home of traditional music in Co Clare. In the first week of July, the annual Willie Clancy festival will be in full swing in Miltown Malbay with people from all over Ireland pitching tents by the beach. This is a beautiful rural area with many beaches nearby including Spanish Point and Lahinch. You can enjoy the music at night and drive to famous landscapes during the day including the famous Cliffs of Moher or Loop head. Whether you stay in Galway all summer, head north to the hills of Donegal or east to the lively city of Dublin, there is so much happening around Ireland all summer long. If you want a trip abroad, book a cheap flight in advance and enjoy a few days away for a much cheaper cost than a J1. With a bit of planning, you won’t feel like you’re missing out by not sitting on that swing in San Fran for the ‘gram!
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EQUALITY WEEK
Seachtain Chomhionannais Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh 2018
Monday 19th February/Dé Luain an 19 Feabhra 6pm 7pm 9pm
6pm GiGSoc Book Club Discussing “But I’m a Cheerleader” in the Art Room, Áras na Mac Léinn Law Society & Fáilte Refugees Society Direct Provision and the Right to Work Panel Discussion in the AC201. Late & Live for SU Equality Week with Comedy Soc. FREE Comedy, Music, pints and pizza in the Bank of Ireland Theatre (beside Sult)
Monday 16th October/Dé Luain an 16 Deireadh Fómhair
11am-2pm “Creating Inclusion” the official launch event for Social Inclusion Week in Tribeton, Merchants Road, Galway Tuesday 20th February/Dé an in20 Feabhra 12pm-2pm Look out for the Máirt EqualiTeam green t-shirts handing out rainbow badges all around campus to show support to the LGBT+ community. 1.30pm-2.30pm Universal Design for Learning with Disability Support Services. discussion and group work Ireland for lecturers and students on how 8:15pm-9:15pm Talk on Marriage Equality in the NorthNUIG in AC202. Discussion about issues Panel faced by people living in Northern alongside brainstorming to how makewelearning on can help.materials more accessible to all students. Venue THB-G010 Moore Institute. Sandwiches, tea & coffee provided. 7pm Fáilte Refugees Society Table Quiz aimed at overcoming myths around refugees and asylum seekers. €5 with reduced Silent entry included. Tuesday 17th October/Dé Máirt anDisco 17 Deireadh Fómhair 12pm-2pm Equality Week disability information stand at Smokey’s Café. Call up for a chat. 7pm-9pm Soc/Fem SocCéadaoin collaborationan in the Theatre. Rewrite/personalise your favourite stories to bring a little more diversity to Wednesday 21stWriter’s February/Dé 21Dillon Feabhra today’s popular fiction! Take your favourite stories andNoremake characters be more inclusive. 6pm-9pm IMPACTE Society Movie Night “See No Evil, Hear Evil” inthethe SiobhantoMcKenna Theatre with free pizza, tea and coffee. 6pm-9pm
Fáilte Refugees Society “A Taste of Home” Clothes Collection in Teach Solais LGBT Resource Centre.
1pm-5pm 9.30pm
‘’Step outside your defining box’’ to see beyond the ‘’labels’’ and celebrate everyone’s diversity. Meeting point at Galway Yellow, outside the GiGSoc and Drama Soc Lip Sync Battle in the Bailey Allen Hall. Arts/Science concourse. Then, we will paint our hands in different colours and print them on a sheet. Messages of welcome to refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and international students can be written on the handprints.
Wednesday 18thGiGSoc October/Dé Céadaoin an 18 Deireadh Fómhair 7pm-9pm Dance, dress up and drag event in IT202 with free pizza and drinks. Thursday 22nd February/Déardaoin an 22 Feabhra
12pm-1pm 19th October/Déardaoin Official University of Sanctuary launch in the Siobhan McKenna Theatre. The University of Sanctuary Campaign is an Thursday an 19Campaign Deireadh Fómhair 12pm-2pm 5pm 3.30pm-6pm 7pm-till late
All Week
initiative encourage andincelebrate the who goodwill practice of Universities refugees,badges. asylumStop seekers other migrants Look out fortothe EqualiTeam green t-shirts be handing out Repealwelcoming the 8th Amendment us to and ask any questions. into their communities. The Campaign fosters a culture of welcome and inclusion for all those seeking sanctuary. Choice Soc will have speakers talking about why they are pro-choice and what repealing the 8th Amendment means to them. Cultural Food Fair in The View and Meeting Rooms 1 & 2 Áras na Mac Léinn All are welcome in AC201. A Stevening with Steven Sharpe & Steve Bennett at Sult. FREE Admission, songs, comedy, games, guests and surprises. Tompax (Time of the Month packs) available at the SU office & the SU Engineering desk throughout the week. More information from su.equality@nuigalway.ie Tuilleadh eolas ar fáil ó su.equality@nuigalway.ie
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TUAIRIM
February 20 2017
11
PEOPLEKIND: the beginning of the end of the social justice movement By Eoin Molloy
T
he word man, or any derivative thereof that is even slightly reflective of masculinity as a concept, has now become so toxic in everyday parlance that its very utterance can cause world leaders to squirm in their fancy socks. Or at least the above holds true in the case of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who during a town hall meeting in Edmonton in the province of Alberta, interrupted a young woman while she was speaking about the paramountcy of maternal love in society. Commendable though her point may have been, the young woman’s argument was invalidated when she committed the cardinal sin of referring to humanity as ‘mankind’. She was quickly reprimanded by Trudeau, who retorted: ‘we like to say peoplekind, not necessarily mankind, it’s more inclusive.’ In attempting to bend over backwards to ingratiate himself with woke feminists the world over, Trudeau himself acted in a sexist way by failing to properly engage with her point and mansplained to her about the phrases she can and cannot employ. As the red line underneath the world peoplekind on my laptop
screen would seem to indicate, Trudeau was simply making up nonsensical words in a vain attempt to virtue-signal his way back into the hearts of the people of Edmonton. Up until the gaffe, the men and women of Edmonton had been scrutinising their Prime Minister for his administration’s decision to spend millions re-integrating ISIL fighters into Canadian society whilst simultaneously fighting Canadian veteran’s groups in the court system for ‘asking for more than we can afford to give right now’. Trudeau later walked his statement back, referring to his statement as a ‘stupid joke’. While this may indeed have been the case, those familiar with the life and work of the substitute drama teacher-turned sock-modelling Prime Minister know this is most likely an attempt at damage limitation. All said, peoplekind-gate can be viewed as a pivotal flashpoint in the ever-raging culture war between the virtue-signalling neoliberals and well, everyone else. Trudeau’s decision to interrupt the young girl belies an air of superiority that is commonly-held amongst those who can’t help but correct the language-choices of their peers. In attempting to satisfy his sense of moral superiority, Trudeau side-stepped the meritorious sentiment of this girl’s suggestion.
Modern news is now consumed in snippets, and therefore the modern politician is far more concerned with pleasing soundbites that may go viral as opposed to you know, tangible solutions to real problems. In choosing to ignore the girl’s ideas, Trudeau has shown that the modern neoliberal is not concerned with the substance of any point, but rather more with how something is packaged. Those of us who have waged war with identity-driven politics over the past few years ought to be grateful for scenarios like this – in one short video Trudeau has highlighted the idiocy of political correctness far more effectively than I could in a lifetime of columns by equating the quality of the girl’s point with the perceived societal acceptability of the language she chose to use.
I
n a similar vein, the now-infamous interview of Dr Jordan Peterson by Channel 4’s Cathy Newman is another example of the turning tide against political correctness and identitarianism. For the uninitiated, Dr Peterson is a clinical psychologist and lecturer at Toronto University who champions personal responsibility and individualism – coming to fame in recent years as somewhat of a thought leader for disenfranchised and isolated young men.
The Good Friday Drinking Ban has been lifted for obvious economic reasons By Garbhan Moriarty Minister of State David Stanton lifted the Good Friday alcohol ban on 25 January due to the effect it had on tourism and the increasing diversity in Ireland. Since 1927, the ban made it illegal to sell alcohol in Public Houses and Off-Licences due to the religious significance of the date. Now people no longer have to pre-stock alcohol, go to greyhound races or get on a train in order to have a drink on the sacred day. Easter holidays are a busy time for tourism in Ireland, and to arrive in the capital of a country famed for black beer and streams of whiskey to find that the doors of all the pubs are locked would undoubtedly come as a shock to most travellers. The lifting of this ban also shows that Ireland is becoming increasingly secular, or “diverse” as Stanton put it. This law exists because Irish politics was so heavily influenced by the Catholic Church in the past, but there is an argument that Good Friday was a positive thing for the nation regardless of the religious significance of the prohibition.
A day with no drink in a country known for its love of a pint in theory is a good way of ensuring everyone has a break from the stuff. However, the human reaction to the ban generally didn’t back up that theory. Friday is the most popular day for a drink with the end of the working week and nightclubs and bars having large events to cater for the crowds. When we take a step back, it was only the one day when people had to abstain from purchasing alcohol during the year, bar Christmas Day, and it doesn’t sound like it should have caused much of a backlash. It may even be laughable to many that the Good Friday ban has had such an effect on the tourism sector. Drink is serious business in Ireland however, and according to the Central Statistics Office for Ireland 81% of the population aged over 15 consume alcohol, not to mention the amount of tourists who are coming into the country specifically to consume large quantities of alcohol all across the country, primarily in Dublin. Ultimately though it isn’t a decision that is based on Ireland’s consumption of alcohol, it’s a decision based on the fact that Ireland’s economy relies heavily on alcohol,
and the simple argument that if a man or woman decided they wanted a pint, regardless of how much they drink regularly, they shouldn’t be prevented to do so by a law so distinctly based on religion. Ireland is no longer a country of practising Catholics, despite 78.3% identifying as Catholic in the last Census. The NUI Galway campus voice seems to support the decision to lift the ban. Darragh Gillen, a second year in Engineering said: “I think it’s the right thing to do, I think that law is clearly based on old religious traditions and that nowadays there’s more diversity in the country. I don’t see the point in banning alcohol on Good Friday, but bear in mind that’s coming from someone who doesn’t practise as a Catholic.” Another student who preferred not to be named compared the shift in social views to the legalisation of gay marriage. It may well be the case that a changing society simply called for a change in policy. Whatever your thoughts are on the subject, if you want to mull it over in the corner of a pub this Good Friday, you can.
TOGHCHAIN
Amongst a myriad of other her position. ‘’Well why wouldn’t super-cool socks and holier-thanworthwhile topics, Dr Peterson often you?’’ came her interviewee’s charthou attitude can no longer obscure explores the dangerous notion that acteristically realistic response. the fact that he wilfully sells arms biological differences between men The comments section of course to the brutal and totalitarian Saudi and women may in fact lead to differcame out overwhelmingly in favour Arabian regime. ent career choices, as opposed to the of Dr Peterson, praising his steadfast By the same token, journalcommonly-espoused explanation of resolution in the face of abject misists like Ms Newman can no longer tyrannical patriarchal oppression. representation. Like Trudeau and wilfully exploit their positions to the young woman in Edmonton, flagrantly mis-represent the life For having the gall to suggest that young men were not in fact Ms Newman displayed an absolute work of well-intentioned and quite oppressing women and minorities by unwillingness to engage with Dr frankly, brilliant cultural figures like occupying well-paying positions, Ms Peterson’s actual positions on issues Dr Peterson without being exposed Newman immediately sought to paint but was rather more concerned by the for so doing. Moreover, the estabDr Peterson as somewhat of an altfact that he does not choose to cloak lishment media are no longer the right poster-boy, mischaracterising his biologically-deterministic theogate-keepers of information. In the his views for the entirety of the thirtyries in more self-effacing language. age of social media anyone with an What we are witnessing here is a minute interview by reference to the internet connection and the will to refrain – ‘’so you’re saying that…’’ rapid paradigm shift towards the cendig can uncover the truth. At one point, she implied that tre, a return to normalcy if you will. Jonathan Swift once stated that AN extra RACH HfewTdecades, Ú S Athe N stifling I O M A‘falsehood Í O C Hflies T ?and the truth comes Dr Peterson advocates placing ForA theI D past barriers in the way of women who of free speech on campuses and in the limping after it’. At present, the would seek to gain promotion at the media has cultivated a hive-minded incontrovertibility of truth is enjoyworkplace. Visibly shook by this, Dr atmosphere that can be at times hosing a moment in the sun. We really Peterson retorted by pointing out that tile to freedom of expression. do owe it to ourselves to converse and his interviewer is herself a woman With every passing day, more and debate as freely as possible, allowing who occupies quite an important and more people are waking up to the the truth to remain unobscured by well-paying position. Ms Newman of blatant hypocrisy that has become a politically correct euphemisms – course responded by stating that she feature of western neoliberalism. In after all free speech is for the good of all peoplekind. has worked extremely hard to occupy the age of free information, Trudeau’s
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12 OPI NI O N
SIN Vol. 19 Issue 9
HEAD to head
Nigel Farage should be given a platform in Ireland to air his views. He recently visited the country to speak about an “Irexit” from the EU and was also invited to speak in Trinity.
Let the man speak By Gary Elbert Chances are that if you are a humanities undergraduate student in the Republic of Ireland or Britain you probably do not like Nigel Farage. Right-wing hate monger, you may think. A closet racist stirring up anti-immigrant sentiment. An exploiter of fear and loathing. An Eton twit brimming with bourgeois entitlement and privilege. An anti-EU anti-multiculturalism harbinger of division and doom, a modern Gestapo foot soldier. You probably do not want Farage to be given the platform to air his views on an IRE-exit given the disdain in which you hold his views. You want Nigel Farage banned, gagged and silenced. And that attitude is exactly why careerist opportunistic political chameleons like Farage can not only sustain a high profile political career but record a historic and seismic electoral result that significantly alters the British, European and Irish economic and social landscape for decades to come. Brexit was a gargantuan upset led by Farage and his ‘Breaking Point’ campaigns. An unprecedented act of political guerrilla warfare where neo-liberalisms inherent inadequacies were tossed aside, Middle England voting in defiance and in the hope of preventing another Rotherham abuse scandal. Farage operates from the same basic template as other savvy but superficial dilettantes of politics identify weakness, repackage your message, promise hope and change, and blame the Asian man who works in the local chip shop. It’s an old tactic: blame the “outsiders”. “Farage should not be allowed spread his bile,” we are told. The assumption here is that thousands, if not millions of impressionable minds exist, zombies of the underclass, intellectually supressed muppets unable to resist the charms and messages posh boy pigeons like Farage deliver. A typically Marxist concept. Most people are stupid, enslaved, oppressed. Labouring under false consciousness. Passive victims of complex social political and economic forces. We must protect the poor from themselves. We must ban those who peddle alternative viewpoints to our own in the desperate hope that those millions of people are not brainwashed again… Intrinsic in this call to gag Farage is an intellectual arrogance. If you ban a book, gag a voice or supress a view not of your own you merely attach a notoriety and a gravitas to mundanity. This is why Farage, Trump and Brexit happen. The postmodern version of liberalism and neoMarxist types are so far removed from engagement with the working class, however loosely defined that grouping now is, that they believe simply censoring right wing chancers like Farage is a fair and acceptable action. Farage is an elected representative, a savvy veteran politician, wily and cynical. He presents a formidable foe to the wide eyed 19-year-old college socialist who thinks the world is one big system of oppression.
I think that Farage must be allowed speak and his words must be dissected. His demeanour and methods of persuasion carefully monitored. Ask a criminal psychologist which of the two options is more beneficial: execution or analysing and rehabiltating the criminal to learn more about their actions? The second option is preferred. We don’t get to choose who we listen to sometimes. Instead of censoring Farage, why not try to outdebate him, why not try to learn from his cynical approach and ultimately formulate a superior rational approach that outshines his tired schtick? It’s ironic that the only group involved in the outcry for Farage to be silenced mainly consist of middle class 18 – 24-year-olds going through the stereotypical Marxist phase. Whether self-styled left activists like it or not a considerable proportion of the population hold conservative views on the economy, on immigration and sit in the centre of the political spectrum. Instead of engaging with them with a superiority complex or worse, trying to gag them, it is imperative that the battle of ideas which is reaching a curious intergenerational fork in the road is won with rational argument not emotional displays featuring impassioned teenagers playing at disruption. Farage utilises the issue of immigration as an electoral toll, and maybe he has questionable beliefs. However the main flaw on the left is the attempt to shut down all debate on immigration as if even questioning the wisdom of mass immigration is inherently racist. British commentator Douglas Murray has long argued against the lunacy (as he perceives it) of current European immigration policies, as is his right to do so. And while Farage is certainly much more crude than Murray it’s the left who need to climb down off their self-appointed high horse and realise that current immigration policy is causing hazardous conflicts. When you argue for censorship, you have already lost the debate. Democracy is not selective with an on-off button every time an opinion contrary to yours is aired. To paraphrase Vo l t a i re , “I may not agree with you, but I will defend your right to say it”.
Farage can be a racist on his own time By Joanne Duffy “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”, goes the quote by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, in an attempt to defend Voltaire’s ideas about free speech. Nigel Farage made an appearance at Trinity College Dublin’s Historical Society, to a packed room (of mostly men) on Friday 2 February. For those of you unacquainted with Nigel Farage, he is the former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, who led the campaign calling for Brexit from the European Union. Let’s take a look at just a small, but rich collection of shall we say unsavoury quotes attributable to Mr Farage. On Romanian Vs German children: “I was asked if a group of Romanian men moved in next to you, would you be concerned? And if you lived in London, I think you would be.” When a follow up question asked if he would feel the same were German children to move in next to him, he responded “you know the difference.” On breastfeeding: “I think given that some people feel very embarrassed by it, it isn’t too difficult to breastfeed a baby in a way that’s not openly ostentatious. Or perhaps sit in the corner, or whatever it might be.” Now back to that Evelyn Beatrice Hall quote. Should Nigel Farage be given a platform to speak to students at a
university? The opposition would cry “Censorship!” “PC gone mad!” “You’re denying the right to free speech!”. They would also like to make out that people, such as myself, who believe that Farage should not have been offered the platform to speak, are simply intolerant of views which contradict my own. This is not the case. Free speech simply means the government cannot censor your expression by making it illegal for you to say certain things, or publish materials containing those views and ideas. They can’t legally prevent you from publishing a book, or indeed a political manifesto, about white people being a superior race. If you write a book with a steamy sex scene, the Catholic church can no longer, via the State, have that book banned. If you make a comment which incites violence or hatred against another person, you cannot be physically prevented from saying those words, but you can be subjected to consequences as a result of what you have said. There is a difference between these two things, and it is not complicated. The auditor of Trinity’s Historical Society defended the decision to offer Farage a platform by saying that the society has a mandate to “further public discourse and facilitate debate”. Great stuff. Admirable causes. But are you really able to justify allowing him to have a platform on which he can be a big ol’ racist by claiming that it is a genuine contribution to knowledge? Probably not. The auditor went on to say that hosting individuals with divergent views was “the nature of free enquiry in a democratic society”. But that’s where he’s wrong. The views themselves cannot be censored, but that does not mean that they are required to be offered a platform. That’s a false dichotomy. Not being offered a public stage on which to be a racist is not the same thing as the government banning your expression of those ideas. If you head down to Nigel Farage’s local for a pint, he’ll still be there spouting racist views, spoiling your pint. If you go to your local gym and overhear a racist conversation in the sauna, those blokes will still go home and be racists, and no one is waterboarding them or preventing them from saying those words out loud. They are not being censored. That does not mean we feel obligated to offer them a public platform like Trinity’s Hist, or a column in a national newspaper, or their own radio show. It’s bad enough that these people are racists in pubs and saunas, why on earth would we elevate and encourage their racism further? We would do well as a society not to censor expression, and we don’t, but it does not mean that we are supposed to allow Nigel Farage and his ilk a place to openly discuss hateful, intolerant and often simply incorrect ideas. He’ll do that in his own time.
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14 FA SH I ON & L I F E ST Y L E
SIN Vol. 19 Issue 9
Return of the ugly UGG boot By Áine Kenny UGG boots are back with a bang, or a slouch rather. The infamous snug boot from our childhood has once again made its way back into the fashion world. I have to confess, in my ignorant youth I donned a pair of black (fake) UGGs. I paid around €12 for them. I
now realise this is far too much money for a glorified slipper. It’s no secret that UGG boots are bad for your feet. UGGs offers no arch support, according to foot blog healingfeet.com, which is ran by the New York based Centre for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine. “UGGs are a vague shape that allows your feet
Umbro x Missguided By Amy McMahon Athleisure is everywhere. Stars such as Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner and Demi Lovato are constantly promoting fitness and fashion. Zendaya even wore a red tracksuit trench coat combo to New York Fashion Week. Luckily for us, Missguided have just dropped a new line in collaboration with umbro. This new line might remind you of the previous Jordan Dunn x Missguided collab that sported athletic looks with a stylish twist. So if you liked that, you’ll love this! With prices starting at €22, you can get everything from dresses to crop tops. Sizes include XS to XL. There really aren’t any excuses anymore, you can go straight from training to the town.
STARTS THURSDAY 22nd MARCH • 8PM
to flop around inside of them. That means that somewhat like flip flops, your feet, especially your toes, have to clench and grab with each step you take, otherwise your feet would just slide… there’s no stability or support, especially for your arches.” Why would I want to pay €150 for the genuine article to destroy my feet? UGG boots are an affront to the eyes. I cannot believe people will pay good money for an ugly slipper, which comes in vague, muddy shades. They might have been made popular in the early noughties by Paris Hilton and MaryKate and Ashley Olsen, but lest we forget: crimped hair and sticky pink lip gloss was also considered cool back then. Some things
a better left in the past. Not to mention that UGGs are the furthest thing from waterproof, not very practical in the Galway climate. For me, wearing UGG boots is the same ballpark as wearing pyjamas outside. That being said, Vogue recently did an article with their editorial team on whether UGGs were acceptable or not. To my surprise, many of the staff still wore UGGs, albeit on chill days where they weren’t going out in public much. At the end of the day, it’s a personal choice whether to wear UGGs. Just don’t come crying to me when that Galway wind and rain leaves you with soggy, crumpled UGGs and a pair of soppy socks.
WARDROBE MUST-HAVE: The Leather Skirt By Brigid Fox A faux leather skirt is (or at least should be) a staple item for college goers and fashion icons alike. Its common popularity can often make it feel benign amongst fashion looks but with the right styling and shoes its easy to revamp this look into something fabulous. Whether its grabbing a coffee in Smokeys before a lecture or hitting the town for the night, the versatility and styles of this item are endless. This faux leather skirt can be found on the Missguided website for the reasonable price of €27 and comes in an array of colours for all your leather look needs!
Day Look: Red Ribbed Frill Edge T-shirt, New Look, €9.99 Dark Grey Chenille Cardigan, New Look, €34.99 O- Ring Cylinder Heel Boots, Boohoo, €51 NYX Professional Makeup Butter Lipstick, Afternoon Heat, €3.84
Night Look: Black wrap crop top, Missguided, €27 Grey collared faux fur coat, Missguided, €88 Block two part heels, Boohoo, €40 Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick, Shade T14, €8.99
le Cárta cint CM ris ai
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3 BOTTLES OF ORCHARD THIEVES €12
VODKA PINT OF PIZZA’S & DASH FOSTER’S UNTIL 10pm €3.50 €3
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LOST LOOKS: The 60s “British Invasion” Inspiration By Brigid Fox The title of “The British Invasion” is given to the specific genre of music in the sixties that influenced the British and American culture both socially and creatively. With the arrival of British pop bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones into America at the beginning of this decade, their musical influence grew faster and wider than ever anticipated. Taking inspiration from late-fifties style and music like
Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly, the British Invasion genre aimed to go even further with its influence. With social revolution and war being a prime focus for this generation, it had major effects on music and fashion. With the death of President John F Kennedy, the Civil Rights movement, and America’s involvement in the Vietnam war, all of these struggles were reflected in the music of the time. Reflecting on sixties music allows the current generations to gain an insight into the mindsets of the people during these movements: honest, passionate and uncensored. Music is also a way to show the style and fashion at any given time and the sixties were no exception. One of the biggest influencers in this genre is undisputedly The Beatles. Beatlemania hit America on 7 February 1964 and changed the culture of both the USA and Britain from that point onwards. Although their extensive compilation of music gained them mainstream popularity, The Beatles also became icons of sixties fashion. The “mop-top” haircut sported by the members of this British band became an iconic look for the young generation of the time. During the psychedelic era of 1967/68, the height of Beatlemania, much of their vibrant coloured outfits, matching suits and floral patterns were popularised. “Beatle boots” which were ankle height with a pointed toe became a key staple in many
young people’s wardrobe. In the Los Angeles Daily News article 10 ways the Beatles changed American Culture, their style was considered a main inspiration for the 70’s glam rock era, a look discussed in the previous issue of this newspaper. The Rolling Stones were also big contenders in the music and fashion world and considered big influencers of glam rock. Linked with psychedelic rock, this British band were forever pushing the boundaries of style and music. In 1964 The Rolling Stones had their first American tour and began their success across seas. Mick Jagger the band’s lead singer expressed his understanding of the link between fashion and music and made reference to that in an article by Alex Williams in The New York Times. The Rolling Stones took inspiration from gender blurring looks fashioned by the Irish poet Oscar Wilde. The band also portrayed a wilder style to the suits and matching looks common to the time. Talking about style, Mick Jagger stated that the band were “not just five blokes in blue jeans going on with a lot of amps, you know what I mean?” His awareness of fashion indicates why The Rolling Stones are such an important aspect of fashion and music today. Their work and style can be linked to inspire later musicians like David Bowie and Iggy Pop. Alternative bands like The Kinks and The Who made their own impact both musically and within
Styled by the Stars: PISCES By Amy McMahon It’s your time to shine, Pisces. You breeze through life. Always chill and easy going, your style should be no exception. Try these comfy, casual polka dot tapered leg trousers. They’re available from Pretty Little Thing for just €11.20. You’re a gentle soul
that needs a perfect pair of shoes to match. These white flatform slip-ons might be the perfect fit, €36 from Topshop to step out in style. Complete the look with this red bardot top from ASOS costing €16.22, to show your passionate side. Get ready to take on the day with this laid-back look – on trend, and so you!
the fashion world. In reference to The Kinks guitarist David Davies, he expressed distaste for the commercial and stereotypical styles of the sixties as did majority of the band members. This disassociation is evident in their satirical song “Dedicated Follower of Fashion”. However, The Kinks still took centre stage when it came to creating vintage looks for their performances. The British band went against the “mod style” at the time and delved into a “dandified” look, a similar style to the Victorian era. Interestingly, Davies can be seen wearing double breasted shirts and victorian style attire in many of their performances becoming a reluctant style icon of this time. The two looks we have created are inspired by separate style elements of this genre. The first is more stereotypically known as a sixties style and a lot more hippy oriented. The blue jeans, floral top and colourful shirt all scream “Age of Aquarius”. The collaboration of bright colours is inspired by looks from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. The vibrant and eccentric colours are also believed to correlate with the social uptake in drug use at the time. This alternative look, although maybe not the stereotypical Swingin’ Sixties get-up, was quite a strong theme amongst British bands. Matching clothes and suits were also go-to looks for many of these bands including the Hermans Hermits and the Kinks. With that in mind, the skirt and checkered jacket paired in this second look represent this form of fashion. The presence of the black Chelsea boots also make a link to the “Beatle boots”. Matching suits and outfits are one of the biggest elements for inspiration from these numerous bands and unmistakably is a pretty great look! The sixties were a time of social change and pushing boundaries both socially and creatively, as reflected in its music and fashion. Once again the connection between the two is undeniable. The two fashion looks utilised key elements of this genre to create inspired and modernised outfits. It is clear that through music and fashion we can get an honest insight into the past and how it can effect the world creatively today.
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What makes skinny tea skinny? By Joanne Duffy You may find it hard to stick to your guns with your New Year’s resolutions now that it is late February, keeping away from the cakes and Domino’s deals all week. Every week is tough going. Even if a balanced diet does leave you with more energy, nothing beats a tub of ice cream all for me, myself and I. You might be tempted to think that you can just take a multivitamin and pop some spirulina in your morning smoothie to make up for the damage
caused by excessive sugar, saturated fat and alcohol intake, but you should be wary of any quick fixes sold by bloggers. Spirulina is a type of algae that being heavily marketed at the moment. You’ll see a bunch of bloggers chucking this one into juice mixes, smoothies, soups, yoghurts and the like. The trouble is, there’s really not much scientific evidence that spirulina has any dramatic health benefits over eating other plants. Not only that, but some research carried out at NUI Galway found that samples of algal-based superfoods contained faecal organisms. Salmonella and E.
coli were both found in the products when they were analysed. You don’t tend to cook with these products, they’re mostly added to cold, raw foods like juices and smoothies, so there’s no chance for you to kill off these organisms, and that can mean bad news. A whole host of celebs are also in sponsored partnerships with companies claiming to sell you a tea which will make you lose dramatic amounts of weight. The ads are often accompanied by before and after pictures in which the “after” model has a svelte physique, an athletic body and somehow, a perfectly even and tanned skin tone. Lots of these teas simply produce a
Unconventional ways to reach 10,000 steps a day By Connell McHugh Since the rise of activity trackers such as the eye-roll inducing Fitbit, there seems to be a general air among people that we have to reach that elusive 10,000 steps a day to have made that day worthwhile. While studies show that most people only reach half of that goal (oh, the shame), the health benefits of 10,000 steps have been proven; weight loss, less risk of strokes, and counteraction of the ill-effects of too much sitting. While we should all strive for that five-digit number, sometimes it’s just not doable. Here are three unconventional ways to reach 10,000 steps a day easily:
1. Park your car farther from your destination It’s Friday morning and you’re wrecked after a late
night in the Reading Room. Deliveroo would simply take too long to deliver a revitalising burrito so you decide to drive to Boojum instead. You could take the easy way out and park at the multi-storey car park on Merchant’s Road, but dedicated Fitbitters would not do that. The cathedral or the Black Box car parks are far more lucrative for them. It may be a bit of a trek to get to a humble burrito, but at least you’re working off the calories before you even consume them.
2. Do the cleaning your housemate was supposed to do a fortnight ago It may go against every grain in your body, but at this stage there’s more chance of the dishes cleaning themselves than your housemate doing it. Weetabix may be stuck to a few bowls and there might be some-
Prep and plan for your J1 By Joanne Duffy Exams are looming, the midsemester melt-down is starting to hit, and you find yourself looking at any flight under €50 that Ryanair are willing to offer. But what if you did something bigger, and got away from it all for the J1 visa summer of a lifetime? Here are some top tips and info based on my J1 experience in Connecticut last summer.
Start early! Look up companies offering visas and jobs plans now. Compare the prices, see what’s included, and look at the requirements. I started planning mine in late April last year, and while everything came together on time for June, I really wish I had started early as I would have saved a lot of time and money. I went with Camp Leaders Ireland, who offer packages which cover everything except flights and the cost of the visa appointment, and they recruit you out to summer camps all across the United States.
Make a check list! Have you got a passport which is in date, and will still be several months in date by the end of your J1 visa? Do you have your forms filled out? Have you got
proof you’ll be returning to Ireland after your visa ends? Your agency will guide you through all of the documentation needed and they’ll make it difficult for you to slip up, but make sure you get yourself a folder and keep everything together in one place.
Start saving now! J1s are a brilliant, life-changing experience, but they’re also incredibly expensive. By the time I had signed up to an agency, gotten a job, paid for the visa and my flights, I was up at the €1200 mark. It’s more manageable to break down that cost if you start paying for it early, but it takes lots of planning. Make sure you have money in your account when you’re flying too and keep an emergency buffer fund in a “Do Not Touch” account.
Don’t be afraid to go solo! You might be planning to head off with friends or family, but if that falls through, don’t be afraid to head out alone. The US is a crazy place, and if you work at a summer camp you’ll find lots of American staff and lots of international staff too. You’ll make friends from all over the world, and the change of scenery will be an invaluable experience.
Take safety seriously! If your visa plan offers insurance, take it. If they offer separate private health insurance, pay for it. Make sure you inform your bank that you’re heading to the US as your cards may be cancelled if they suspect suspicious activity, and always have your money in a mix of cash and cards. Having all your cash in one place is a bad idea. Insurance may seem like it’s a cost not worth paying, but I can attest to its value! I unfortunately became very ill and had to cut my J1 a couple of weeks short. My insurance covered all of my medical care, and I had to pay just €200 to change my flights. I was on a plane the next day, and everything was looked after. My buffer fund and insurance really saved my bacon!
Put your phone down while you’re there! It can be tempting to Instagram every single cheeseburger, the 4th of July fireworks and the tour of Harvard on your day off, but put your phone down. My best memories of the US are camping under the stars with new best friends, canoeing through a lake in 30 degree weather, and walking around the Yale campus feeling like a Rory Gilmore wannabe. Pictures are great to have, but experiences will stay in your memory if you look around, soak up the moment and enjoy yourself.
thing growing at the bottom of the bin which doesn’t even have a bag in it, but it’ll all be worth it in the end. Put in your earphones and hoover every corner of the apartment. Your heart rate will rise to meteoric levels and you’ll sweat out the calories. You’ll also have a clean house to match your clean body.
3. Go on a night out It may sound counter-productive, but it’s really not when you think about it. There’s a great workout to be had from ‘cutting shapes’ on the dancefloor. The dabs and pathetic attempts at the worm will help raise that step count in ways that staying in and watching Netflix never could. As stated above, these are all rather unconventional*. *Also untested.
laxative effect, which is dangerous. You’ll certainly lose weight if your body is not getting a chance to absorb nutrients from your food - but it’s not a good way to go. When it comes to vitamin supplements, scientifically speaking you really don’t need to take a multivitamin unless you’ve had a blood test which has shown that you are deficient in a particular vitamin. Some vitamins are water-soluble, and some are fat-soluble. Water soluble vitamins are absorbed and any excess is excreted in your urine. Lots of processed foods are fortified with vitamins and minerals; take a look at a Coco Pops box next time you’re in a supermarket and you’ll find you’re getting a lot of your recommended daily allowance of Iron even from sugary cereals. The modern western diet makes it reasonably hard to become deficient in any vitamins, even if you don’t eat much fresh fruit or veg. One might say multivitamins are a great way to produce very expensive urine. Somewhere along the way, people misinterpreted Otto Warburg’s research about acidity and cancer. Warburg was a Nobel Laureate who discovered that cancerous cells switch from something called aerobic respiration to anaerobic respiration. Health-coach-blogger types will tell you that acidity leads to cancer, and that to counterbalance this, you should have a water alkyliser installed on your taps at home at a cost of hundreds. Health food shops will sell you little bags of “alkyliser boost” powder. But remember, the first place all of these alkaline things go when you consume them is your stomach, which has a pH of 2 and is incredibly acidic. You need this acid to survive, and it doesn’t cause cancer. Maybe leave the gimmicks on the shelf for now.
18 A RT S & E NT E RTAIN M EN T BOOK REVIEW: The Asylum for Wayward Victorian girls By Stevie Buckley The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls is the first and only book by Emilie Autumn, who is best known for being a singer-songwriter and violinist. This book revolves around two characters, Emilie, who is a young woman with bipolar disorder who was admitted into a mental ward after attempting to take her own life, as well as Emily (who likes to be known as “Emily with a ‘y’”, who is a patient in a Victorian asylum. Emilie was told that she would be in the hospital for a couple of days, but in fact, it’s a much longer stay than that. During the time she’s in the psychiatric ward, Emilie starts receiving mystery letters from Emily in the form of loose sheets stuffed into Emilie’s notebook, which Emilie is allowed to have during the day. These letters detail Emily’s life. They tell Emilie (and the reader) about Emily, from her starts as a young violinist in the suburbs in London, to what caused her to be admitted into the asylum, to what she got up to during her stay there. Emilie quickly becomes engrossed in Emily’s story, which serves as a release for her, getting her away from the surroundings of the mental ward. Emilie has to deal with an infatuated, and frankly creepy, doctor and mental ward staff which are trying to diagnose her with things that she doesn’t have and never had. Emily and her fellow inmates have to deal with the rough and strong ward staff as well as Madam Mournington, who owns the asylum, Dr Stockill, the head doctor in the asylum, as well as other doctors who do everything from leeching to forced hysterectomies. We see the attempts of the asylum inmates to overthrow the staff and the staff knuckling down more to keep the inmates under control. Of course, throughout the book we realise that Emilie and Emily have some similarities. They are both musicians, specifically violinists. They are both in a mental institution for a mental illness or an apparent mental illness. As well as that, they both have a particular disliking towards the staff of their respective institutions. The author of this book conveys the emotions of the book perfectly. You love the characters that the author wants you to love and you absolutely hate the characters that the author wants you to dislike. There were some very upsetting moments throughout the book and when these come along you can’t help but cry. Overall, I thought this book was great, although it definitely deals with very sensitive topics that may not be for everyone. I would definitely give this book five stars because of its raw, emotive content and well written characters. 5/5
SIN Vol. 19 Issue 9
PREVIEW: The Way It Is By Ashyle-Claire Cota
Among the budding talent to be found at this year’s NUI Galway Theatre Week will be an incisive one - hour play, aptly entitled The Way It Is. Written by American playwright Donna Hoke and staged through Eva’s Echo Theatre Company, who won Galway Fringe Festival’s 2017 ‘Best Emerging Artist’ award, it promises to deliver a complex, many - layered exploration of the problems in a couple’s relationship that can come to light after a break - up. It will be held on the Thursday 22 February at 8.00 pm in the O’Donoghue Theatre, University Road. Tickets are priced at €8/€10 and can be purchased at the SocsBox or on their website evasecho.wordpress.com. Director and co-founder of Eva’s Echo Theatre Company Rena Bryson told SIN that out of nearly
“The play focuses on the relationship between two characters, Yasmine and Cane, and they’ve been together for eight years, they’ve been engaged for four and Cane leaves Yasmine and then has to go back to the house they both shared together to collect the rest of his things,” Rena told SIN. “The drama kind of ensues from there and in real time we get to explore the issues that were in relationship and really kind of look at issues through that, like the pressure on women to, you know, have the career and the ring and everything by thirty and that there’s that kind of ticking clock thing. “We get to look a lot at domestic abuse towards men, verbal and physical and sexual abuse towards men,” she said. “What I’ve been kind of looking at through the lens of is a lot of media, especially sitcoms and television, and the stereotype of the nagging girl-
Yasmine and Cane 100 submissions, The Way It Is stood out as a meaty script, chosen for its compelling emotional drama which fits in with the overall themes the company tries to address, namely the challenges present in modern Irish culture today. The performance strives to “express the modern soul of Ireland” as well as help other emerging artists, always crediting and paying everyone committedly.
friend or the nagging wife and where that can go from a stereotype, a fun comedy character into something that people think is okay to do because it’s a woman doing it. “I do feel that those issues do speak to that age group, like, student age group and that people of this generation are looking at those kind of things that were never looked at before. We’ve been in contact with Amen and with the Galway
Rape Crises Centre so we’ll have that kind of information there on the night in case anyone’s affected by anything they’ve seen in the play,” she added. The Way It Is will feature Michael Reed as Cane. He has been a professional actor for 13 years and the voice behind Mickey Mouse, Spiderman, and Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon in his native Croatia. You may have seen his face in Houston We Have A Problem, shown at the Tribeca Film Festival, or Writing Home at the Galway Film Fleadh. He’s written a few things too and is expected to appear in the new Irish film Black 47 and Red Rock. It will also star the company’s second founder, Hazel Doolan as Yasmine. She is very much influenced by the works of Shakespearean drama in her acting. She featured in The Big Wall with Bob Kelly and Pygmalion. The Rena and Hazel graduated from IT Sligo
“The play focuses on the relationship between two characters, Yasmine and Cane, and they’ve been together for eight years, they’ve been engaged for four and Cane leaves Yasmine and then has to go back to the house they both shared together to collect the rest of his things.” where they studied Performing Arts before coming to Galway and setting up Eva’s Echo. Rena is now a student in NUI Galway and started the MA programme in Drama & Theatre last September. She has nothing but praise for the quality of theatre coming out of NUI Galway. In particular she’s looking forward to the Jerome Hayes one act plays as well as Dead Set by NUI Galway student Cathal Ryan.
REVIEW: GUMS The Producers By Mícheál Óg Ó Fearraigh DIRECTOR: Claudia Glavey CAST: John Rice, Shane McCormick, Davin McGowan, Una Valaine, Conor Duggan, Kevin Murphy I am sad to say that The Producers will be the only GUMS (Galway University Musical Society) musical I will have seen during my time here at NUI Galway, because if any of them were half as good as The Producers then I would have been in for a treat. The Producers is based on the 2001 musical starring Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane and follows a nervy accountant and a sketchy Broadway producer as they attempt to produce the worst Broadway musical ever for financial gain.
The first thing one must mention is the cast - all of them were fantastic. Stand-out performances for this reviewer were the over-the-top supporting turns by Davin McGowan as an unapologetic and cowardly Nazi, and Kevin Murphy as a ridiculously camp theatre director, as well as some smaller players: Patrick Conneely, as an actor in the play, and Amie Donnellan, as a pervy old woman only referred to as “Hold me, touch me”. They were all simply hilarious and would have stolen the show were it not for the stellar performances of John Rice and Shane McCormick. John Rice’s performance in the “I Wanna be a Producer” scene called to mind Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 3. Meanwhile, Shane McCormick really got into the part of Max Bialystock and avoided impersonating Nathan Lane, a brave route to take which I thought paid off.
Massive kudos must be paid to joint choreography directors Cian Elwood and Jess Harkin as well as director Claudia Glavey for organising 55 dancers and actors in some sequences; it was an unbelievable spectacle. Musical director Eoin Corcoran also did a fantastic job conducting an impressive orchestra, getting a deserved round of applause at the end of the night. Everything from the set to the costumes to the lights were well above what one might have expected from a student production. Congratulations are certainly in order for Society Auditor Aisling Bonner and her co-pilot Orla Kiely after the show’s successful run in the Blackbox Theatre. 5/5
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February 20 2017
What makes a successful female-led show? By Áine Kenny
Derry Girls has taken the small screen by storm. Written and produced by Lisa McGee, a Derry native, the show has received rave reviews from viewers and critics alike. But what is it about this female-led show that is a success? There have been many tv shows and films headed by women that have fallen far short of our expectations. Most notably, the Ghostbusters remake received fierce criticism from online trolls, with the trailer being the most-disliked in YouTube history. The critics had a mixed reaction. You would think that with a stellar comedy cast such as Melissa McCartney, Kate McKinnon, Kristen
soundtracks, production and plot lines. The show dealt with serious issues, such as mental health, teenage relationships and how difficult it is to be a young woman. Sharon Rooney gave a brilliant performance as Rae Earl, and it won her a BAFTA nomination. The show was based on a book by Rae Earl, and she was a writer on some of the episodes. The show isn’t afraid to show the nasty side of femininity, teenage friendships and relationships. Creating threedimensional female characters is how to make women-driven shows more successful. Derry Girls has an all-female lead cast, and the show is a roaring success because of Lisa McGee’s
successful show. Another small screen success is Gilmore Girls, which managed to get a Netflix revival after several successful seasons. The quips and rapid back-and-forth between mother and daughter Lorelai and Rory added to the show’s quirky feel. Gilmore Girls proved an incredibly femalecentric show can be successful. Also, Rory’s romances were not the focus point, the writers always ensured they explored her education, career and female friendships in equal measure. Leading ladies can also succeed on the big screen, and Judd Apatow’s Bridesmaids proves this. A stellar comedy cast made audiences laugh out loud, and the jokes
Wiig and Leslie Jones, the film would have been a success. Why wasn’t it? The problem lies in the script and plotlines. You can have the most brilliant cast, but if they have nothing to work with, they can’t do much. The jokes have to be hitting the mark every time and the plot has to be captivating. Audiences won’t tolerate mediocrity, especially when most people consider going to the cinema expensive. Ghostbusters fell flat because the plot didn’t draw the viewer in. That being said, there are some incredibly successful femaleled TV shows. My Mad Fat Diary, produced by Channel Four, had brilliant actors,
brilliant writing. She is depicting her own experience of growing up in Derry during the Troubles. This setting pulls people who aren’t interested in the inner-workings of a 16-year-old girl’s life into the story. The Troubles are presented in a refreshing way, with the characters in the show viewing a bomb on the bridge as an inconvenience. The juxtaposition of the girls chasing a dog around Derry in their uniforms and the armed British soldiers searching cars and patrolling the area is so effective at getting across the everyday reality of living in a conflict zone. Combine this with sharp, witty Irish humour and you have a
were just jokes - not necessarily feminine jokes. The scene when the bridesmaids all get food poisoning might seem unladylike to some, but would never have been deemed out of place in a male comedy. The film also deals with the intensity of female friendships in a comedic way, rather than in a catty, dramatic way. This was quite a novel concept, especially for Apatow who is most known for male-driven comedies like The 40 Year Old Virgin. For female-led projects to succeed, we need well-rounded, well-written female characters who have dynamic relationships and exciting plots. Not too much to ask, surely?
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Irish musicians taking the world by storm By Roisin McManus Ah Ireland, we’re not a bad little island. We have produced some of the greats in terms of the arts with talents including Saoirse Ronan, who was most recently nominated for an Oscar for her role in the upcoming Lady Bird, the famous Gleeson family, and of course, Colin Farrell. Side by side with these acting professionals are the musical greats that our little island has bred for us to enjoy. The likes of U2, the Corrs, Snow Patrol, and the Script have been great representatives for the Irish music scene on an international level. The latest stars include the likes of Picture This and Niall Horan who have been selling out stadiums left, right, and centre in recent times. According to billboard.com, U2 are the top Irish musicians of all time, followed by Sinead O’Connor in third place, Snow Patrol in fifth, The Script at number seven. Coming in at number eight are The Cranberries whose beloved singer Dolores O’Riordan died in January of this year. The shockwaves that her premature death at the age of 46 sent across the globe is a perfect example of the status of Irish music on a global level. The group’s hit single ‘Linger’ saw the dawning of their international careers. Today, they are well known for their other songs, ‘Zombie’ and ‘Dreams’. Rounding off the list at number ten are Thin Lizzy. As mentioned above, Picture This are the latest phenomenon to grace Irish and international music. The pair Ryan Hennessy, 21, and Jimmy Rainsford, 23 both hail from Athy, Co Kildare. For them to have achieved what they have since 2015 when the pair formed the band is a serious achievement; their first gig set to take place in the Grand Social was later relocated to the Academy after the tickets sold out in a halfhour. This made them the first band to ever sell out the Academy for their first gig. The Academic are another new band who are taking the Irish music scene by storm; the Mullingar lads recently signed with Global Publishing and are now set
for world domination. Students of NUI Galway were lucky enough to catch the lads when they recently played at the NUI Galway Arts Ball. The foursome came into the picture with the release of their massive hit ‘Bear Claws’. They most recently hit No 1 in Ireland with the release of their album ‘Tales from the Backseat’. The Celtic inspired singer Lyra is from Rochestown in Co Cork and she began to get recognition after her music was played on the popular American series Teen Wolf and again when she performed live on RTE’s Dancing with The Stars. Her most famous song is entitled ‘Emerald’ and this is the track that saw the start of her success. In an interview with the Irish Examiner, the Cork singer expressed her shock and gratitude at the song being played during a major scene in Teen Wolf; she initially presumed that it would only be played for a short time. She further stated that after that had happened, she began to receive many emails asking her if she would be going to America. Quite an accomplishment for the 24-year-old Corkonian. Her voice and the privacy around her personal life is akin to American chart-topper Sia but Lyra’s style is ever so uniquely Irish what with the twang of Cork coming through her in singing. American born but raised in Co Wicklow, vocalist Bonzai is best known for her hits with close friend Mura Masa ‘What If I Go?’ and ‘Lovesick’ featuring ASAP Rocky. This is a girl who is sure to strike big worldwide. At only 20-years-old she proves that hard work is what you need to succeed in this industry, and of course the talent to make that work worthwhile. Her most recent hit ‘I Feel Alright’ has been dubbed the best of her music so far by music journalism heroes NME. Without doubt, we have astounding talent here on this island. There are so many more incredible musicians in Ireland such as Walking on Cars, Keywest, All Tvvins, Le Boom, Kodaline, Bell X1, Van Morrison, Aslan, Beoga and many more, all enjoying success on the world stage.
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SIN Vol. 19 Issue 9
Who will win at the Oscars? By Mark Laherty
The Academy Awards are the one night of the year when Hollywood’s big-wigs set aside competitive concerns of business and box office to find out what movies some old out-of-touch insiders would like social media to talk about. There are a few reasons this year’s Oscars are likely to be interesting. It’s the first show of the Trump era so we can expect lots of jokes about that followed by immediate pithy responses from people on Twitter who should have something better to do. There’s also the righteous spirit of the #MeToo movement. Everyone is wondering if any nominees or presenters will speak on the topic or if further scandal will come to light on the night. So the stage is set - let’s do some predictions.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS is usually given to older actors who have been working in the industry for several decades to recognise their careers overall. The conventional best fit here is a respected character actress giving a serious and showy performance as the angsty mother to an up - and - coming starlet protagonist. Allison Janney fits the bill here, nominated for her role in ‘I,Tonya’. Her role as CJ Cregg on The West Wing is remembered to this day and anyone who appeared on that show is considered a secular saint in Hollywood.
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Best Supporting Actor nominee Sam Rockwell alongside Best Actress nominee Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri
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most likely to go to Sam Rockwell for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. He’s served as an underrated but well-liked actor for thirty years now. It feels like his peers have been waiting for him to take an even slightly Oscar - bait role so they could give him one. If you read Graham Gillespie’s review of the movie in the last issue of SIN then you’ll know that the film has come under fire for the arguably clumsy way it deals with issues of race and Rockwell’s racist cop character is a big part of that problem. What’s not part of the problem is Rockwell himself as his performance has been widely praised.
BEST DIRECTOR is a tough one with a lot of great talent up against each other. It comes down to Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water and Jordan Peele for Get Out. Peele is a hair more likely to take this one home because he’s a first-time director who blew everyone’s minds with his debut.
Best Animated Film will surely be Coco. It’s an excellent movie made by Academy favourites Pixar. It’s also about reuniting a Mexican family, so they might choose it to take a jab at you-know-who. Now for the big ones, Best Actor and Best Actress.
BEST ACTOR seems almost certain for Gary Oldman. The only other nominee here who competes with Oldman as one of the best actors of their generation is Daniel Day-Lewis. It’s true that Oldman has put in better performances than he did in the film he is nominated for, Darkest Hour, and he’s burned some bridges in the industry so it’s possible that Timothée Chalamet will snatch up the statue since so many in the industry are buzzed about him after Call Me by Your Name. But Oldman has such a storied career behind him that he’s the safe bet. BEST ACTRESS leads us back to Three Billboards. Audiences and industry insiders alike loved McDormand so much in that movie that they thought the whole movie was amazing. Every other nominee is also excellent – including our own Saoirse Ronan - but McDormand probably has this one in the bag. However it is not likely Three Billboards will nab BEST PICTURE. That comes down to Get Out and The Shape of Water just like Best Director. Both are excellent movies and big hits which use sci-fi allegories about hot social issues. The thing about Get Out is that it doesn’t just attack the racism of 1950s conservatives like the villains of The Shape of Water. It also goes after the cosy liberal centrist version of racism. An elderly gentleman proudly says that he would have voted for Obama a third time if he could. And then the movie slowly and confidently spells out how people like this can also be horrifyingly racist. It’s quite possible that this will rub the Academy the wrong way because they might cotton on that they’re the target. Ultimately, the adversaries of Peele’s horror are rich white folks with mainstream egalitarian sensibilities. All will be revealed on Sunday 4 March. We’ll see how it plays out.
SPÓ IRT
February 20 2017
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Galway girl Niamh Fahey aims to help Irish Ladies reach first ever World Cup In 2018 By Luke Gannon Irish International Niamh Fahey from Killannin is hopeful Ireland can continue their good run of form in the World Cup Qualifiers. The side are unbeaten thus far having recorded consecutive 2-0 victories over Slovakia and Northern Ireland as well as holding group leaders Holland to a goalless draw. Fahey’s defensive attributes have contributed to three clean sheets for Colin Bell’s side, and goal difference is all that separates Ireland from the Dutch. The World Cup will be held in France in 2019. On meeting with Niamh Fahey in the Lakes Hotel, Oughterard, she apologised for being late stating that she had been running and simply lost track of time. This exemplifies Fahey’s commitment to the cause of World Cup qualification, a commitment that led to her wearing the captain’s armband in Ireland’s 2015 Istrian cup encounter with Slovakia. Fahey’s underage career began with Moycullen Boys. When I asked her if she was the best player in the squad, she stated simply that she wasn’t. She did acknowledge that she was part of a strong team in which she felt she held her own with the likes of Vinny Faherty who would later go on to play for Galway United. Fahey meanwhile went on to join the Salthill Devon women’s team where she began to make a name for herself. In due course, she broke into the Irish U-17 and U-19 teams. In 2007, she won the WFAI
Senior Cup with Galway beating Raheny Rovers in the final. That same year, she also made her debut with the Irish Senior side in a 1-1 draw with Portugal in the Algarve cup. Having won the Brendan Martin Cup with Galway in 2004, Fahey was now required to commit to either Gaelic football or soccer. The 2005 All-Star chose the latter as she felt she had more room for improvement therein. There was also the opportunity to represent her country, an opportunity she grabbed with both hands. In 2007, Fahey was granted an unexpected opportunity. The UEFA Women’s Cup champions, Arsenal, would face off against the Irish Senior Women’s team as part of their celebratory tour. Having impressed the Arsenal management with her display at centre-back in the 1-1 draw, Fahey and boxing world champion and Olympic Gold medallist Katie Taylor were given the chance to play for the North Londoners where fellow Irish internationals Yvonne Tracy and Emma Byrne were already plying their trade. As we now know, Taylor’s fate lay elsewhere but for Fahey, it was the break she had been dreaming for as long as she could remember. She duly transferred to Hertfordshire University to complete her studies in pharmacology and put pen to paper in August 2008. In her debut season she made 18 appearances and helped the Gunners win a domestic treble. Arsenal went on to win three consecutive league titles and four FA cups in Fahey’s six year spell at the club but
a coveted UEFA Champions League winners medal was destined to elude her. Defeats were inflicted by Eintreacht Frankfurt at the semi-final stage as well as by Europe’s most dominant force Olympique Lyon. In December 2014, Fahey made her dream of becoming a professional soccer player a reality by heading south of the river Thames to sign for Chelsea football club. In her first season, her central defensive partnership alongside Gilly Flaherty leaked just 10 goals in Chelsea’s first ever League and FA Cup double, her fourth league title and fifth FA cup title in all. The Blues were the only side to be managed by a female. Manager Emma Hayes alluded to Niamh and Gilly’s defensive attributes as being a “key factor” to the club’s most successful season to date. Unfortunately, Fahey would lose her place in the starting line-up due to a series of on and off injuries. After contemplating numerous options, Fahey chose a change of scenery in Bordeaux. Despite the language barrier, Fahey is enjoying life in the French league and is full of admiration for the technical abilities of French league players. She feels that their style of play suits her as she enjoys the creative part of the game as well as the more tactical elements. As a youngster Fahey’s main role models were Sonia O Sullivan, Peter Canavan and Robbie Fowler just to name a few. When I quizzed her on what advice she would give to young aspiring athletes
looking to become professional, Fahey said that she would encourage them to “train really hard”. “There’s nothing you can’t achieve when you just really focus on it,” she said. Fahey believes that application is the key to unlocking one’s true potential. Having suffered an ACL injury in 2013, Fahey states that she learned the importance of being grateful to play every game as it came, win or lose. She said the injury put everything else into perspective. “At the end of the day, it’s just a game,” she concluded. 2018 is an exciting year for the three time international player of the season and WSL team of the year member. Despite admitting that she would one day love a return to LGFA with her local club, Killannin, she will continue to pursue her career in soccer as long as her body will allow her. Her number one goal for the season ahead is to help Ireland fight to make it to their first ever World Cup. In the wider scheme of things, a lot of inspiration can be taken from Niamh’s incredible journey. She has proven that despite living in a rural region like Connemara, one can go from playing in the blue of Killannin to the blue of Chelsea in front of over 30,000 people at the first WFA Cup Final ever to be held at Wembley, the highlight of her soccer career and second only to Galway’s championship triumph in 2004. Fahey is living proof that if you “train really hard” there is “nothing you can’t achieve”.
GALWAY UNITED SEASON PREVIEW: Stephen Walsh speaks ahead of the new campaign Feb 20th
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It’s been a topsy-turvy period for Galway United Football Club in recent years. From stadium redevelopment to actual non-existence to amalgamation and reinstatement, life at Eamonn Deacy Park has had more drama and plot-twists than back to back episodes of EastEnders. One man who has experienced the highs and lows of life at Galway is uncompromising Ballinfoyle man Stephen Walsh who has recently resigned with the club after a season spent elsewhere. The tough tackling defender with a cultured left foot is ideally positioned to assess the club’s current situation. New manager Shane Keegan has attempted to bolster the squad, and was rapid in re-signing the versatile Walsh who has played all over the park for the club, even offering his services as a striker in past campaigns. Walsh holds no bitterness regarding his shock release from the club last season, a move which angered many of the season ticket holders. “That’s football, I’m delighted to be back in Galway, home is where the heart is, and I am strictly focused on achieving things this year,” Walsh told SIN in an exclusive interview. This philosophical approach is unrecognisable from the terrier like aggression of Walsh on the pitch, a fan favourite for his all action, style and the passion he brings to the cause.
Keegan has made several new signings in preparation for life in First Division with the return of veteran Alan Murphy from junior football a surprise addition. Walsh claims he is excited with the fresh additions. “The squad is looking really well with a nice mixture of youth and experience,” he said. And as for his own favoured position, the local favourite announced his intention to play centre back. “It’s my preferred position, I’ve played there since I was a kid,” he said. On the topic of who will be United’s rivals in the promotional stakes, he was adamant that all the teams were ready for the season. “They are all looking strong and seem to have signed well so we are expecting a tough challenge in every game,” he said. In a league featuring fallen giants such as Shelbourne and more familiar names such as Finn Harps, UCD, and Athlone Town there is nothing to fear for this exciting Galway Utd side. With ac i n tstrong United home support there le Cárt t le Cárta aC s scin C iri iri is simply no reason why this side cannot bounce straight to theSUbig league SUback CARDup OFFER CARD OFFERand maybe spearhead a resuscitation of soccer’s fortunes ir ir is C isc aC árt int le Cárta t l e CIreland. in the Westc i nof “We are focused on getting back to the Premier Division game at a time,” said Walsh. le Cár int le Cár ta cint Seasonr i s cticketst a Cfor third-levelr i sstudents are set at C €95. Another interesting chapter awaits. SU CARD SU CARD OFFER Ta
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NUI Galway in the Sigerson Cup Final After a victory in Mullingar against the Dublin Institute of Technology, NUI Galway advances to the Sigerson Cup for the first time in 15 years. The score in the semi-final was NUIG 2-12 : 0-15 DIT.
President’s Cup continuing to make waves The third event in the EXCITING Grand Prix President’s Cup series was a great success, with the Rowing Club leading the recruitment for this event. Participants had a chance to race each other on ERGs or indoor rowing machines.
NUI Galway’s Sean Mulkerrin celebrates at the fulltime whistle
President’s Cup: Your College needs you It isn’t too late to join the event that continues to grow. The next event is Glow in the Dark Dodgeball - Face paint included 21st February 12-2pm Kingfisher Sports Hall. Just turn-up, register on the day or drop in your team’s registration to the Sports Unit for Kathy Hynes, Sports Officer, at Kathy. Hynes@nuigaleway.ie.
Participants race for the win on the ERGs
We will put you in a team if you do not have one, or you can get your own team with a minimum of 5 people. There are refreshments for all active participants after the event. Remember these events are all about participation and representing your College! The sport or activity is just the recruitment vehicle.
Scoreboard after round three 1st Place – College of Science with 34 points 2nd Place – College of Engineering with 30 points 3rd Place – College of Arts & College of Business each have 26 points 4th Place – College of Medicine with 17 points
Participants enjoy pizza after a great afternoon
24 SPORT
SIN Vol. 19 Issue 9
“You wouldn’t do it to a greyhound” Are the GAA disregarding the pressure faced by their University players? By Martha Brennan After Kerry footballer David Clifford limped off the pitch in Castlebar with a hamstring injury last week, debates have been sparked over whether or not student GAA players with county profiles are exerting themselves by trying to keep up with January’s hectic GAA calendar. Over the past week sporting commentators have rebuked the scheduling conflicts for young athletes and intercounty managers are being criticized for pushing their players too hard for the time of year. Ultimately two worlds are colliding at the moment for inter-county players who are also playing at third level, with the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon cup finals looming as inter-county teams are trying to consolidate their position early in the year with pre-season matches. Clifford, who is the most highly regarded GAA prodigy since Joe Canning, culminated a hectic week in injury
after playing three games in just seven days. The 19-year-old IT Tralee student started his week in Donegal making his senior competitive debut with his county and travelled the five hour journey from Tralee to Belfast the next day with his college. By Saturday, the young athlete was on another bus to play Mayo - where he injured himself in his 105th minute of play in just three days. Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice has been criticized for not letting the young player rest after such a hectic week but defended the decision to play Clifford. “There were open lines of communication and we both knew what was going on. There was no problem from my point of view or from Eamonn Fitzgerald [IT Tralee GAA officer]’s point of view,” he said. After Clifford missed IT Tralee’s quarter-final against DIT, ITT football manager Liam Brosnan highlighted the issue stating that a line needed to be drawn. Dublin football manager
Jim Gavin also spoke out against the scheduling conflicts, explaining that “it’s the cumulative effect of the load, not just the next day but the impact it has over time”. Clifford certainly isn’t alone in his busy timetable. Sean O’Shea and Jason Foley both played multiple matches the same week for Kerry and UCC and Jack Kennedy the same for Tipperary and UCC. Limerick’s Gearoid Hegarty played five games in 12 days between playing for the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon cup games, on top of inter-county pre-season. “You wouldn’t do it to a greyhound,” Jim Gavin added. Joe Bradley spoke on the GAA podcast ‘The Throw In’ about Clifford’s injury. “What Eamonn Fitzmaurice should be doing is saying ‘look he got his debut out of the way…but this kid has got a heavy schedule. We are going to let you play your university football now and then there is ample time to come back”.
Tomás Ó Sé also weighed in on the podcast: “These young guys are playing more football in January than they’ll play for the rest of the year, it’s ridiculous.” So, should inter-county managers be paying more respect and attention to the pressure their young players are facing? The problem lies in that these players want to play for both teams. Their passion is driving their desire to constantly play. But then you have those who are being invested in by their universities with scholarships, thus they are expected to play for their university team. It is a tough balancing act but it is down to the managers to look at the situation and prioritize player welfare. Fitzmaurice has defended his decisions this week. “We have this debate every year with regard to the scheduling of the National League and the Sigerson Cup on at the same time,” he said. “It places big demands on young players. It was one of the reasons we did not play in the McGrath Cup this year.”
Fitzmaurice added that Kerry were closely tracking the workload on their college players in recent weeks and are monitoring the players closely. There is no easy solution to the problem and it has been an issue for a very long time. If university competitions were moved before Christmas then it would interfere with exam time and if it was moved any later in the college year then it would be in direct interference with inter-county play. After the recent events some are voting to scrap pre-season games altogether and to dedicate the early year to the third level competitions, which comes with even more issues. Maurice Brosnan of Balls.ie wrote about the dilemma recently and summarized the outcome that will snowball if a viable solution isn’t presented for this problem stating that “eventually, the cycle will beat the affection out of them. It’ll become a chore, and the game lesser for it”.
NUI Galway edged out by a point as UCD redeem 2017 Sigerson failure SIGERSON CUP FINAL: NUI GALWAY 2 – 09 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN 1 – 13 By Graham Gillespie University College Dublin, spurred on by the magnificent Conor McCarthy, outlasted NUI Galway in a gripping
Sigerson Cup final in Santry on Saturday 17 January. The Belfield college won the clash by just one point thanks to a couple of crucial late scores by Tipperary half-forward Liam Casey. NUI Galway got off to a flying start racing into a 0 – 05 to 0 – 01 lead with Galway intercounty captain Damien
Comer proving a handful for the UCD backline. Maurice Sheridan’s side could have found themselves even further ahead in the 19th minute, but when Comer got his hand on the end of Owen Gallagher’s lateral fist pass he could only hit the crossbar. This would prove to be a turning
Best of luck to NUI Galway Camogie team in the final of the Purcell Cup today Tuesday 20 February
point as seconds later Monaghan’s Conor McCarthy would blast a left-footed strike past Tadhg O’Malley into the NUI Galway goal. McCarthy and his forward partners Eoin Lowry and Evan O’Carroll started to take control of the first half after this goal, but scores late in the half from Comer and Enda Tierney for the Galway college meant the scores were level at half-time, 0 – 08 to 1 – 05. The Corribsiders began the second half as well as they started the first, when Sean Kelly pounced on a rebounded Comer shot to snatch his team’s first goal of the game. However, at the other end McCarthy kept up the pressure by grabbing two more scores to tie the game up 1 – 08 each. This stalemate would be short lived though as Mayo’s Adam Gallagher got the underdog’s second goal of the half to make it 2 – 09 to 1 – 09 in the Galway university’s favour with 12 minutes to go. As they game neared its climax, many must have been questioning whether UCD would have the stamina to keep with NUI Galway, after needing 40 minutes of extra time to squeak by Ulster University Jordanstown last Wednesday evening. It turned out the opposite was the case with John Divilly’s outfit coming into their own in the dying moments, with a great display from Liam Casey. Corofin’s Kieran Molloy, who got a Garda escort from Portlaoise after helping his club reach an All-Ireland Final an hour previously to play the match, nearly got what would have been a vital
point for NUI Galway only to hit the post. Adam Gallagher did nab one more score for the Connacht university but it wasn’t enough to prevent the South Dublin college sealing their 33rd Sigerson victory. NUI Galway will have to wait at least one more year to replicate their 2003 success. NUI GALWAY: Tadhg O'Malley (Galway), Kevin McDonnell (Sligo), Sean Mulkerrin (Galway), Stephen Brennan (Mayo), Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch (Sligo), Ruairi Greene (Galway), Colm Kelly (Donegal), Cein D'Arcy (Galway), Peter Cooke (Galway), Enda Tierney (Galway) (0-03, 0-01f), Owen Gallagher (Antrim), Adam Gallagher (Mayo) (1-03, 0-03f), Sean Kelly (Galway) (1-00), Damien Comer (Galway) (0-03), Brian Donovan (Limerick). SUBS: Ronan O'Toole (Westmeath) for Kelly (34), Kieran Molloy (Galway) for Greene (39), Eoin Finnerty (Galway) for Owen Gallagher (44), Ryan Forde (Galway) for Donovan (46). UCD: Charlie Manton (Tipperary); Peter Healy (Antroim), Cillian O'Shea (Dublin), Conor Mullally (Dublin); Luke Fortune (Cavan), Jimmy Feehan (Tipperary), Stephen Coen (Mayo), Barry O'Sullivan (Kerry), Jack Barry (Kerry), Liam Casey (Tipperary) (0-03), Conor McCarthy (Monaghan) (1-06, 0-03f), Brian Byrne (Kildare), Eoin Lowry (Laois) (0-02), Evan O'Carroll (Laois) (0-01), Con O'Callaghan (Dublin) (0-01). SUBS: Brian O'Seanachain (Kerry) for Fortune (h/t), Tom Hayes for O'Carroll (58).