The NCP by ger doyle

MUSIC & LITERATURE OCTOBER 2 O 1 9//ISSUE 1 ; VOLUME 15

. S T N E D U T S Y B / / S T N E D U T S R O F

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Hi, this is the new NCP! Alex and I have been just appointed as Editors, and we are so happy to be bringing the student body a new, modern publication that surpasses the labels of 'school newspaper'. We want to bring the outside world into our school, and ensure that only quality journalism gets published. We call all creative souls to join us in this journey to get our voices out there. If your passion lies in music, fashion, art, science. food or sports we want you to get in touch with us! We also would like to ask if any teachers or other staff would like to write for us as we know that you all want to be heard too, and everyone has something valuable to bring to us. You don't have to write an essay, we accept open letters, thoughts, photographs or anything you would like. The new NCP has been upgraded to a digital platform to keep in with sustainability which is incredibly important to our contributors and us. The October issue of NCP has been great to make, and to read all of your entries. We hope you enjoy our new design. Our contributors have worked so hard to bring you the best articles possible, and quality is a priority. As I'm sitting writing this, I can't help but think about what's next for NCP. We want to shake things up and modernize things in the school, and we have the power. We are For the Students, By the Students, and we want to become a collective for showcasing underground creativity. We hope that you enjoy this issue, and that it sparks some creativity in you too. Ciara Munnelly - Editor of The NCP.

. S T N E D U T S Y B / / S T N E D U T S R O F

A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

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How do we look? As you've probably already noticed, we've changed quite a bit! This academic year, myself and Ciara have been appointed to the role of Editors of the "College Press." We are so excited about what is to come. Our vision is to broadcast the creativity of every single student in Newbridge College. We want to give students a means to express themselves and to share anything that they feel passionate about. If you haven't been living under a rock for the last while, you may of heard of the whole climate change scene. The general consensus is that we all have 18 months to change our ways before the effects of carbon emissions are irreversible. It is for this reason that we at NCP have decided to go digital! In previous years, issues were printed and as you could imagine, the amount of paper and energy used to do this was huge! Now I'm no Greta Thunberg but that doesn't sound great for the environment. This year, NCP will focus on many aspects relating to the environment and how we as students can take active steps to reduce our carbon footprint. The NCP is a magazine for students and indeed, by students. It goes without saying that there are brilliantly creative minds in our school. Be it in the classroom, on the sport's pitch or on stage, this school, our school, is bursting with talent. The NCP strives to showcase this talent and to create an issue of the NCP that we can all be proud of. That's enough from me for the moment! We hope you enjoy the October issue of NCP, we would like to thank everybody who has dedicated their time and effort into this issue and we look forward to creating the next one. Have a great mid-term and we'll see you soon! Alex Byrne – Editor of The NCP.

. S T N E D U T S Y B / / S T N E D U T S R O F

A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

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LATEST PERSPECTIVE; VIEWS OF OUR COLLEGE THE PLANET'S PLEA BY DOIREANN HALPIN "HUSTLERS," FILM REVIEW BY ROWENA BREEN "CRUSH 40" ALBUM REVIEW BY JACK CAFFREY NETFLIX & MUSIC BY CIARA MUNNELLY A VERY DOMINICAN PILGRIMAGE BY ALEX BYRNE INTERVIEWS BY AISLING MULLINS & ELLA COLE THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN BY LUCY HARKIN A CAPTAIN'S INTERVIEW BY SARAH MURNANE FITTING INTO A NEW SCHOOL BY OLAJUMOKE AYODEJI HALLOWEEN READS BY ALYSON MORBIN

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PERSPECTIVE Perspective is a photography campaign that captures the many unique views of our school. Reflection is this month's theme for Perspective. We now find ourselves ready for mid-term break, a chance to recharge the batteries and a chance to pause and reflect. We feel as though these photos capture the quiet moments where we can reflect on what has been.

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PERSPECTIVE

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THE PLANET'S PLEA

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock for quite some time now, you’ll be aware that theworld is, quite literally, on fire. We (young people) must step up and act for our futures. Thetime to sit back and wait for the ‘adults’ to make changes for us has passed. The time todivert the blame and say ‘well, we didn’t start the fire’ (looking at you, Billy Joel) has alsopassed. We all need to make changes. At this point, most people have either made changesalready in their daily lives, or want to and don’t know where to start. Start simple. Everystep makes a difference. Here are a few ways that we can all make changes and make the community in Newbridge College one that is sustainable. Plastic bottles…didn’t think I had to write this one down for you but here we go. We have all seen the pretty harrowing images of bottle caps and bottles being extracted from the stomach of a dead whale or any other animal living at sea, however it is not just animals that suffer, it is the ocean, the atmosphere and of course, us. Plastic bottles and their production have harmful effects on ALL of these living beings. And remember, when you pay money for bottled water, you are supporting a business that makes plastic, not water. So please go out and get yourself a reusable bottle/hydro flask, you’ll save money in the long run! We CAN make Newbridge College single-use plastic water bottle free by 2020! Recycling: This is a simple one but can make a massive difference, this year the school has introduced recycling bins, they are currently on Freyne’s and Vincent’s corridors withmore to come soon. They are easily distinguishable from the other bins (blue with a recycling logo). So please sort your rubbish and make sure you are aware on whatgoes into each bin. Being involved in campaigns: If any of you TY’s are twiddling your thumbswondering what to do next, I would highly recommend researching upcoming climateevents and strikes that are taking place this year. I attended the global climate strikea couple of weeks ago and while there was guilt for missing double maths (sorrySir) it was very worthwhile. They can be a great way to educate yourself about thesituation and also, if you are feeling stressed about climate change, they can help toreassure people that awareness is growing dramatically and action is being taken. (Continued)

THE PLANET'S PLEA

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Encouraging your Parents: Make some suggestions at home, talk to your parents about considering the bigger changes that are out of your power. For example, making the switch to some form of greener energy/heating i.e solar panels or geothermal. Or if your parents are considering changing their cars, push them towards an electric, low emissions car. Meat Free Monday: Nobody is expecting every person to go vegetarian overnight, but even reducing the amount of meat in our diets can make a big difference. Having one dinner a week that excludes meat is a great place to start! Meat production accounts for a massive amount of greenhouse gases emitted (especially in Ireland) and for this reason among many others it needs to be reduced. Alternative Toiletries: There have been so many new businesses that have emerged recently with new alternatives which can help us to eliminate or reduce plastic in our bathrooms. Ideas include bamboo toothbrushes and razors (bamboo is extremely quick to grow, releases more oxygen than other plants and takes in more carbon dioxide making it a wonderful solution), and reverting back to bar soaps and shampoos. If you search for a website called The Bamboo Toothbrush, you can subscribe to be sent a new bamboo toothbrush every three or four months for under 20 Euro a year. All of the above are small things we can all do to kickstart changes in our daily lives. Other steps we can take include taking shorter showers, avoiding unnecessary energy use at home (lights in particular), car-pooling as much as possible, and only buying as much food as will certainly be eaten. Another HUGE issue is fast fashion, we have to try and avoid unsustainable clothes sites and stores. Charity shops, depop, borrowing from friends, re-wearing and buying from sustainable brands(there is a whole range of eco brands on ASOS) are all sustainable ways of avoiding fast fashion which has a massive impact on the planet. Together, we can take steps each day to tread lightly on the planet and safeguard our futures. It is not too late and it is not impossible. Making our school greener can be the first step. And remember, Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re All In This Together (shameless musical plug). Written & Submitted by Doireann Halpin.

VOLUNTEERING & LIFE LESSONS To many, the word ‘Hospice’ may evoke the idea of sadness and suffering, but what I’ve learned from volunteering in one proves otherwise. When I embarked on my TY journey, I chose “Our Lady's Hospice Harold’s Cross” as my place of work experience. I didn’t quite know what to expect being honest. Would I be surrounded by loss and suffering? What would I do all day? I was soon to find out. The mornings were early, very early, for me anyway. There is nothing more soul destroying than the awful beeping of your alarm clock at 6am (God love me I know what you’re thinking but I’m not a morning person!) My Friday mornings started with a train to Heuston, the Luas to Jervis, a walk to D’Olier street and the 9 out to La Vere Terrace, Harolds Cross. I was indeed one of the commuters, trying my best to not stick out in my civvies in crowds of business people on the platforms of Heuston, hurling myself onto the luas and forgetting to tap my leap card. I remember being so anxious on my first morning before going into the hospice, it was a fresh morning with a sky blue. I sat on a bench for a few minutes, taking in the hospice that I’d briefly known back when my grandfather passed here. The minute I stepped foot into the building, my whole perception on the word “Hospice” completely changed. This was not a place for dying but rather a place for living. In the hustle and bustle of friendly workers, healthcare professionals and residents, I found my way around. Over the next few weeks, I’d really get to love this place. My days consisted of conversing with residents sometimes young and old, bringing them to mass or appointments and finally having dinner at the end of the day with some residents. We’d talk about everything and anything! Sometimes, I’d join in on ‘SONAS.’ (a programme designed to stimulate residents living with dementia) I’d pretend I knew the words to the Johnny Cash or Joe Dolan songs during these SONAS sessions. My days were always filled with such a profound happiness and joy. Not many people can say that they’re friends with somebody who’s 101 years old, I still think that’s quite cool and so is my 101 year old friend. She sits in the window bathing in the sun wearing her huge sunglasses and likes a cup of tea with no sugar of course because as she says “she’s already sweet enough.” (CONTINUED...)

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VOLUNTEERING & LIFE LESSONS I won’t lie and say that one wouldn’t witness sad things. You may have built a relationship with a resident over a number of weeks only to realise that one day, they might not be here anymore. This is difficult to comprehend regardless of how black and white it sounds. Life is precious, relish in your time here while you can. Be thankful. The aim of this article is to not gloat about my work in a hospice but simply to encourage people of my age to get involved with this nature of work. With this work, you must do it honestly and without the expectation of praise. You should do it for the benefit of others and not for your own. The older residents get such a lift from seeing young people coming in to talk with them. I view the residents as teachers in hindsight, they taught me so many lessons about life and indeed about myself. If you have some spare time, get involved with a hospice. Give a few hours out of your free time. I promise you that it will be such an incredible and unforgettable experience, throw yourself into the deep end and volunteer. (Pictured Below: Coffee Morning for Hospice.)

Written & Submitted by Alex Byrne.

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HUSTLERS - A FILM REVIEW

Hustlers (2019) is a drama/thriller directed by Lorene Scafaria. It follows the true story of a woman being interviewed about her time as an exotic dancer as she tries to make ends meet during the economic crash of 2008. She then gets involved in a scheme to make money by scamming her wall street clients. For the most part of the film it’s a feel-good thriller that truly has viewers on the edge of their seats. Viewers develop a real emotional connection with the protagonists, and it undoubtedly keeps the audience guessing. The character of Ramona (played by Jennifer Lopez) is commanding and ruthless, yet she manages to be funny, beguiling and warm all at once. Lopez does an excellent job of demanding the audience's attention and stealing any scene she is in. Another noticeably great element to Hustlers was the soundtrack and costume design. As the film progresses through the early two thousands, the music and costume go hand in hand and perfectly capture the essence of the time. My only qualm with Hustlers is that it may have got slightly too caught up in its style and look, and possibly at times lacks in the overall acting and writing quality. The story is amazing, and yet at times I felt some of the scenes were slightly lackluster. This is a dangerous and yet common trap for films with such a high budget to fall into and can often result in the film becoming inevitably forgettable. Overall, I thought Hustlers was a feel-good film with a truly impressive story that looked and sounded beautiful. It’s the perfect film to see with friends and I would almost recommend seeing it just to spread the remarkable true story of Roselyn Keo and Samantha Barbash.

7/10 Written & Submitted by Rowena Breen

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NETFLIX PICKS

The Politician

Ryan Murphy, the creator of shows like Glee, American Horror Story and American Crime Story, has returned in 2019 to stun us with his new project. The Politician follows a driven high-school privileged white boy, Payton Hobart (Ben Platt), who wants nothing more but to become President of the United States, and his campaign to become student body president. The show has an incredible cast, with amazing representation. We have Gwyneth Paltrow playing Payton's mom, with other superstars such as Zoey Deutch and Jessica Lange. The Politician takes on a colour scheme of pastels and prep, followed by backstabbing, heartbreak and ruthless campaigning. Murphy's dramatic nature shines through the shock and humour of the show. You will watch this show and beg for more. Written & Submitted by Ciara Munnelly.

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NEW MUSIC - OCT '19 LIGHTS UP - HARRY STYLES After two years of tirelessly teasing his fans for the arrival of 'HS2', Harry Styles has finally dropped a single. In 2017 Styles came out with his debut self-titled album, which received critical acclaim. 'Lights Up' is a fresh, upbeat but sombre addition to his discography. He sings to his fans: 'Do You Know Who You Are?', which had become the main phrase of interest around the internet in the week that he released the song. Styles' song is incomparable to anything I've ever heard before, you could say it resembles the work of Joji. In the week that Styles released the song, a website was set up called doyouknowwhoyouare.com , which gave fans an opportunity to get a unique message from 'H'. Harry Styles teases his fans constantly with the possibility of new music but this time he really came through, and we are keeping our eyes open for the album to come. Written & Submitted by Ciara Munnelly.

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A PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK On the 13th of October, students from Newbridge College went on a pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, County Mayo along with Fr.Jesse OP & Fr.Eoin OP. As I had never visited Knock before, I was quite apprehensive as to what the day would involve. I had envisioned Knock as a place where your Nana would go before your exams to “light a candle” for the grandkids. How wrong was I. We started the day off right with a 3 hour bus journey, making a stop off in Costa Del Athlone for a quick breakfast before continuing on to Knock Shrine. Father Jesse told stories of his relationship with God and the many miracles in which many have witnessed in recent years. We spoke of the strained relationship that Saint Joseph had with God around the time of the Immaculate Conception and how we as Catholics today can establish a relatability with St.Joseph. Often, we may find ourselves in situations where we may feel angry with God. What I’ve learned from Father Jesse’s preaching, is that this anger is okay, but you should always try to ask St.Joseph for guidance. How do I strengthen my relationship with God in a time where I feel as though he’s against me? God has his plan for you, God will act on your prayers in his own time, be patient. Father Jesse then sang and made us all question whether he was a professional singer or not (although he likes to be modest on the matter). We arrived at Knock after a surprisingly quick bus journey. We were greeted by a sea of kindness and mutuality. I was expecting the crowds to be of a particular age but this expectation was completely false. We conversed with people of all ages and visited many landmarks on the site. It is not often that you enter such a warm and inviting atmosphere, Knock was a breath of fresh air. The news often portrays the world as a place where violence and hate is rampant in society, this can be somewhat damaging to one’s faith in humanity. The people at Knock Shrine restored my faith in the world we all live in. We visited various shops in the vicinity of the Shrine. These shops mainly sold rosary beads and icons. The minute I stepped foot into the shop, the impulse buying began. I bought rosary beads for just about every granny in the country along with about five litres (yes five litres, I’m not exaggerating) of Holy Water. The vat of Holy Water is sitting on the mantelpiece at home. What exactly I’ll do with it is still unknown but it’s there nevertheless.

A PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK The time was 2:30 and after a quick confession it was time for mass. A sea of people filled the basilica along with the sounds of organs and choirs. Dominican priests from all over Ireland were also in attendance. The mass lasted for over an hour and I think we stood up and sat down a good 300 times however it was such a unique and enjoyable experience. Our experience at Knock was about to draw to a close and we bid farewell to those we had met along the way before heading home.Â In all, the pilgrimage to Knock was a day in which I have quite fond memories of. All students wore their uniforms and blazers on the day. It was interesting to see the sheer amount of people who recognised the name of the school or the uniform itself. It was great to go on this pilgrimage and on behalf of the students who attended, I would like to thank all of the priests who organised the day, in particular to Fr.Eoin OP & Fr.Jesse OP who made the day so memorable. Written & Submitted by Alex Byrne.

FITTING INTO A NEW SCHOOL For all of the years that I’ve lived in Newbridge, I barely paid attention to the looming stone building just a few minutes away. When I came to acknowledge its existence it seemed to be a world of its own with, what I assumed were, students with the posh accents, with old strict teachers with glasses and black robes who worked in an old building on private land home to deer and rabbits. I quickly came to understand I had a mis-guided perception. I underestimated the size of the school, it was like its own island. I noticed that the map (whose sole function is to direct) would not help me navigate my way through this uncharted territory. The corridor names were exceptionally confusing, I thought they would be numbered. I constantly arrive late. It got to the stage where I’d have all my books in my bag (in case I realised I was in maths and not religion.) But really how did we get the name for them - Alberts and Armstrongs? I had trouble learning my teacher’s names and opening my locker was like looking at a lion in the eyes wearing deer antlers covered in meat. One of the first things I noticed was the wide range of extra-curricular activities available at the school. From badminton to the newspaper to philosophy club. I was so surprised to see how everyone seemed to not only be actively engaging in these activities but how dedicated they were to them. I was a bit intimidated by the seriousness but it was very inspiring to see people my own age take part. It would’ve been very difficult adjusting had I not been blessed with peers who were looking out for me. The 5th years made me feel really welcome and asked me questions to get me involved in conversation. I even suspected they were merely trying to make me feel better, so I grew scared that I was imposing but their friendly smiles made me feel more at peace. I really appreciated this as this new environment was fairly different to the environment I was used to. The uniform, the building and teaching seemed so formal and academic. But through the help and support of teachers and friendly classmates as well as the priests and staff, I’m beginning to look forward to my school days. I think I’m going to really enjoy it here. Written & Submitted by Olajumoke Ayodeji.

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HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2019

This year, the students of Newbridge College proudly present “High School Musical.” A musical about a teenage couple Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez, who fall for eachother at a karaoke party. They exchange numbers when they meet and by chance, end up in the same school weeks later. When they both audition for the lead roles in the school musical, the pair are reminded of their commitments to the basketball team and academic decathlon. They contest with the jealous and feisty “Sharpay Evans” as she tries to destroy their chances of being cast the lead roles of the musical! The rest is for you to see! The time for the curtain to rise is approaching quickly and the cast and chorus are hard at work after school every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday! All of the artists in TY are hard at work painting the set, which will be transformed into an american highschool. Ms. O’Brien, Ms. Moran, Niamh Conlan and Katie Conlan are also hard at work co-ordinating the musical along with all students involved. We look forward to welcoming you to our production of “High School Musical” in November!

The Principals:

Troy Bolton - Alex Byrne Gabriella Montez - Ceola Donlon Sharpay Evans - Clodagh Kavanagh Ryan Evans - David Quirke Chad Danforth - Harry Younge Zeke Baylor - David Heffernan Taylor McKessie - Betha Mahon Martha Cox - Philippa Ryan Kelsi Neilson - Anna Leavy Jack Scott - Oscair Murphy Ms. Darbus - Caoimhe Stopes Coach Bolton - John Egan

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NC SPORT

Huge congratulations to Caoimhe Byrne and Roisin Sexton who have been announced as the Leinster U-18 and Leinster U-16 Captains for the upcoming Interpros in Cork. What an amazing achievement and honour for two of our hockey players! Best of luck to them both

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CRUSH 40 - ALBUM REVIEW

Artist: Crush 40 Genre: Rock Tracks: 17 Available: Now on all digital platforms and CD In A Word: Outstanding If you are unaware of Johnny Gioeli, Jun Senoue and their amazing band Crush 40, then you’ve just missed out on one of the greatest rock groups in history, so if you happened to have missed out, then it might be best to start with their new compilation album, Driving Through Forever! Crush 40 was formed in 1998 by Senoue as a musical project for him and Gioeli to write and perform songs for the Sonic The Hedgehog and Nascar Racing games, they later became a band with their own bass player Takeshi Tandea and ACT joining in at a later date, and practically every song they’ve made has been absolutely amazing! This compilation proves that notion starting with their latest hit, “Green Light Ride”. Originally named Midnight Ride, it’s got simple melodies but it’s very catchy and fun to listen to, it even changes key when the chorus hits in! But there is some other good songs, my third favourite song on the album is “Free”, and it’s about breaking out and being free from the pain you may have. Perfect for school holidays! “What I’m Made Of” is my second favourite track on the album, it’s got great singing from Johnny, amazing guitar solos from Jun and it has a brilliant melody to go with this amazing song! it nearly tops my favourite song on the album. My favourite is “Knight of the Wind”. I think this is almost a perfect song as it blends violins and orchestrated music into the Crush 40 sound. But there’s some other good tracks like “Sonic Boom” which is a collaboration with a group you might know named Cash Cash, the collaboration is mainly Crush 40 focused but you do hear Cash Cash in the chorus! (Continued...)

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CRUSH 40 - ALBUM REVIEW There’s also “His World” you might have heard of this as the opening was sampled by Drake for his song “KMT”, “His World” is a masterpiece which is great to sing. The Eleventh track, “Never Turn Back” starts off as if it’ll be slow, but it builds up in speed and turns into a great life lesson song! And there’s the classic Crush 40 songs, “Live & Learn” “Open Your Heart” “Watch Me Fly” “I Am… All Of Me” and “Sonic Heroes” These songs are well known and respected so saying you never listened to any of these is like saying you never heard of the song “Go Go Power Rangers” or saying you didn’t know who Madonna or ABBA is, or, I’ll say it, saying you never heard of Johnny Logan! The album ends off with “Call Me Crazy”, a new song with a synth keyboard as the lead, this has never been done by the band before but it works so well and made me choke a little when hearing it (in a good way though!) My only problem with the compilation is that I think it’s not a very diverse selection of Crush 40 songs, very few of the songs come from Nascar Arcade, which is where a ton of their songs are from, and very few are slow ballads, which are some of the greatest Crush 40 songs. But does that take away from the already great songs there is on the album? No. If you’ve never been a Crush 40 freak like me, you wouldn’t notice, so I think it’s a very good album, definitely check it out, there’s a Crush 40 song for everyone! And if you get the CD Release, you get bonus live footage from Crush 40’s “2 Nights 2 Remember” show in Tokyo, which is great to see on your TV! Written & Submitted by Jack Caffrey.

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SEEING DOUBLE

This year sees a unique occurrence here in Newbridge College, with six sets of twins starting their secondary school journey together. It is a fabulous picture of the six sets, taken after the ‘Start of school year mass’ here in Newbridge College. The six sets are as follows: Charlie and Sam O’ Loughlin, Eoin and Mark Connolly, Rory and Anna Taylor, Robert and Thomas Flynn, Laura and Kate Halford and Amy and Leah Tyrell.

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A CAPTAIN'S INTERVIEW Interviewees - James Sexton, Aoibhinn Collins & Kanna Kodama Q) So how has sixth year been so far for you guys? A) Em, hard at the start to adjust but not now that we’re getting into the flow of stuff! K) I think we’ve been here for long enough to like get back into the routine of it, so not too bad, not too bad J) I think it’s definitely tough, and from day one you kind of know what's in store for you? Kind of? Q) The long nights of study are tough but it gets to a point...where you just break? A) Yeah it does! J) I think once you get to April or May, you’ll kind of just know and you’ll be fine! Q) Obviously you guys are all captains of some description, what made you guys want to apply? J) Seeing the other captains, they’re very inspirational for me, I think it's a good role and to be that's role model for the other students, and make changes K) 'Cause we’ve been here so long and gotten so much out of the school, like to build that same platform for the younger years to have the same opportunities and to make memories. Keep the same school spirit. A) It’s a platform to make a bit of change, which we would hope to do a little bit. (Continued...)

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A CAPTAIN'S INTERVIEW Q) If you could change something at Newbridge College what would you change? A) A big one is changing the schools attitude towards the environment, like our impact as a school on the environment. The balloons for graduation has been a big, controversial one, and changing the cutlery in the ref. Also that everyone is kind to each other and more awareness for diversity. Q) If you could give advice to next year's captains, what would you say? K) I’d say not to just go from your own opinion but think about everyone else in the schools opinion, not just your year group but everyone. A) Be really organised! You also have to trust the other people that you’re with. Q) Do you guys have any plans for after school? A) Something science-y? K) Bio-Chemistry for me J) Suppose I'm looking at science or economics or something along those lines? Q) What's been your favourite memory of Newbridge College? K) I’d say for me it’s definitely the musical. J) All along there’s different moments, Lourdes was a big one for me though. A) First year trips were fun as well and the ski trip. Written & Submitted by Sarah Murnane

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THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN

Halloween is a holiday that is celebrated annuallyonOctober 31st, which this year ison a Thursday.Many people celebrate Halloween,with North Americaand Canada being the countries that this holiday is most popular in. But considering the popularity of Halloween many people don’t know its origins. Where does the holiday of Halloween come from? Halloween originates from the Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts lived 2,000 years ago in what now is Ireland, the United Kingdom and Northern France. The Celts celebrated their new year on November the first and they believed that on the day before the new year (Halloween) the boundary between the world of the dead and the living faded. The evening of this day was called All Hallows Eve and so Halloween was born. We have many different traditions that we partake in on Halloween, but do you know why we do these certain things on Halloween? Costumes: Dressing up and putting on a costume is one of the most important aspects of Halloween. From witches to zombies, people love to dress up, but where did this spooky tradition come from? During Samhain, the Celtic people believed that ghosts roamed the earth therefore they put on disguises in hope thatloose spirits would mistake them as other ghosts. Trick-or-Treating There is a lot of debate around the origins oftrick-or-treating, but here are two theories that I have found. Firstly,one theory proposes that during Samhain, Celtic people would leave out food to please the ghosts and spirits on earth that night, in hope that their offerings would ease them. Eventually, people began dressing up as ghosts and spirits so that they too would receive similar offerings. Some argue that trick-or-treating comes from belsnickling, a tradition in German-American communities where children would dress up in costumes and then ask their neighbours to see if they could guess the identities of the disguised guests. In one version of this, the children were rewarded with food or other treats if no one could identify who they were. (Continued.. )

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THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN

Lighting Candles: On or around the time of Halloween we tend to light candles around our houses, but do you know why we do this? It stems from when on Halloween open flames were essential to guide souls looking for the afterlife. Sweets: Probably one of the most enticing aspects of Halloween arethe sweets and chocolate we receive going door to door. While this has been a tradition for a very long time, it was only since the middle of the 20th century that children trick-or-treating expected to receive candy. Kids could expect toys, coins, fruit and nuts when going out on Halloween night. It was only with the rise in popularity of trick-or-treating in the 1950’s that companies started selling more and more small-wrapped sweets to entice people shopping for Halloween. Finally, in the 1970’s sweets had taken over the Halloween market as an irrational fear of unwrapped sweets spread across parents. JackO’Lanterns: Jack-O'-Lanterns originated in Ireland using turnips instead of pumpkins. They are supposedly based on a legend about a man named Stingy Jack who repeatedly trapped the Devil and only let him go on the condition that Jack would never go to Hell. But when he died, he learned that Heavendidn’twanthissouleither,sohewasforcedtowanderEarthas a ghostforall eternity. The Devi l gave Jack a lump of burning coal in a carved-out turnip to light his way. Eventually, thelocalsbegancarving frightening facesintotheirown fruitsandvegetables toscareoffevil spirits. We may not have thought of origins of many of the traditions that we take part in on Halloween,butthey all haveastory. Written & Submitted by Lucy Harkin.

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INTERVIEWS WITH FIRST YEARS Saidbh Howard & Tom Nester - First Year Interviewees Q) What if your favourite thing about Newbridge College? T) The food in the Ref! S) The atmosphere! Q) What is your favourite subject? T) Business. S) PE. Q) What is the biggest change from Primary School? T) The grading system. S) The freedom and better facilities. Q) What's the best thing about being in first year? T) Getting out ten minutes early for lunch! S) Making new friends Q) What is the best time of the school day? T) When we get out for rugby. S) When we get out for hockey. Q) Any advice for future first years? T) Watch out for the second years!Â S) Meet with as many new people as you can! Written & Submitted by Aisling Mullins.

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INTERVIEWS WITH FIRST YEARS WhatÂ is your favourite thing about Newbridge College? 1) The facilities 2) All of the different activities and clubs. Favourite Subjects? 1) Woodwork, English & French 2) Art, Tech Graph & Home Ec What's the biggest change from Primary School? 1) The number of students 2) Going from class to class What's the best thing about being in first year? 1) Getting to try every subject 2) Meeting lots of new people. FavouriteÂ time of the school day? 1) Lunch time in the Ref 2) Playing hockey after school Any Advice for future first years? 1) Try something new, you might like it more than you expect! 2) Don't tell other people your locker combination! Written & Submitted by Ella Cole

THE NCP