The College Press —————Friday, 8th February 2013 Issue 3 Volume 8—————
The
Issue Les Misérables Review
Combating Post-December
Disorder Top 10 Rom Coms
1
College Press Editorial Team Editors: Sorcha Lavelle-Walsh Ciara Maher Student Contributors: Sam Burke Caroline Kane Jessie Hui Paddy Morrin Elizabeth MacBride Bronagh Nugent CrĂa Dowling Lydia O'Neill Katherine Murphy Kate Brophy
Special Thanks To:
Mr. Doyle Ms. Mitchell Ms. D Murphy
2
Editorial Hi Everyone, We’re all in love... be it with someone else, or the majority of us, with ourselves. So whether you’re splurging on your bf/gf or spending the lonely nights with your dog (shout out to T.J. The lab who celebrated his 12th birthday this week!) eat some chocolate, watch some rom-coms and spoil that special someone (yourself included!) Until next term, Sorcha and Ciara :)
3
Did you know? All around the globe, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the 14th day in February. Did you know that Valentine's Day has been celebrated since the 17th century? By the middle of the 18th, it was not uncommon for friends and couples to exchange gifts or handwritten notes and by 1900, printed cards started to take the place of hand written letters thanks to advances in commercial printing.
4
Top 10 Rom Coms If you’re stuck for cash and not sure how to spend your Valentine’s Evening, here are some movies you can snuggle up in front of the T.V. that should get you in the romantic mood......
1. Pretty Woman 2. Knocked Up
3. How to lose a guy in 10 days 4. The Wedding Singer (Musical
2009)
5. Bridget Jones Diary 6. Notting Hill
7. Four weddings and a funeral 8. The Proposal
9. Clueless 10.
Anything starring Jennifer Aniston 5
Les Misérables Of all the ‘play-to-movie’ transitions, “Les Misérables”, I can safely say, is one of the best. The film is directed by Tom Hooper, known for his work on 2010’s “The King’s Speech”, and stars Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. The story takes place in the 19th century, in Paris during the French Revolution and revolves around a man named Jean Valjean, who was convicted of stealing from a bakery and running from the law. He is released from prison and sets off to start a new life. On the way, he meets a dying woman named Fantine, played by Anne Hathaway. She asks him to find her daughter and take care of her. Valjean is also being chased by a solider named Javert who is out to put him back in prison. The story isn’t much on the surface but it does make up for it with some pretty good action scenes, stunning visual effects and amazing music. One aspect that could either make or break the movie for you is that there is no talking in this movie. All the dialogue is done through song, but honestly, all the actors and actresses in this film have great singing voices so it shouldn’t bother you too much. The songs are all different, for the most part. You have your heart filled song, your comic relief song, but then you have the opening songs “Look down” and “I dreamed a dream”. These songs do exactly what songs in a musical are supposed to do: tell you how the person is feeling in musical form. The orchestra they brought in is amazing, it makes everything seem huge. 6
And speaking of size, the film is giant! Paris and Notre Dame look amazing. The opening scene starts with Valjean and a group of prisoners dragging a huge caravel into the docks, the C.G.I on the boat looks incredible, as does the backdrop of Paris. When I went to see this movie I was expecting to fall asleep, but my jaw hit the ground at the opening scene and it kept my attention for the whole two and a half hours. Yes it’s long, but it never becomes boring. If you want to take yourself out of your comfort zone, I highly recommend this movie! You may surprise yourself with what you find! By Sam Burke
7
Variety Show It’s that time of year again, love is in the air for most and love of chocolate is in the air for others, a great time of year! But for some this is the sad time of year when you break your New Year’s resolutions or lose that Christmas cheer, well fear not, the annual Newbridge College Variety Show is here!!! I spoke to Ms Smith for what we can be expecting in this years show: As for teachers, the specific ones have yet to be clarified, but we will definitely see a few familiar faces! Auditions are going to be held after mid-term, but there will hopefully be around 20 acts participating in this years show! If you want talent, look no further! This show will include singing, dancing, even rapping!! and lots, lots more! So that’s the story with the Annual Variety Show! It’s guaranteed to be a great night! Come along on the 21st of March 2013, don’t miss out! By Caroline Kane
8
Combating Post December Disorder Let me give some advice to everyone out there who are combating, what I call “Post December Disorder (P.D.D). It’s common and has serious side effects for those who need to be treated immediately. Proceed the following 5 steps with caution. The first step is always the hardest; to admit that you have a problem. Once you’ve mentally prepared yourself for the next task, the rest is easy, I promise. Second step, spring clean! Take your Santa jumpers and carefully place them away for next year. Wearing them in February is a clear and obvious sign of P.D.D. Remember you’ll always wear them again next year. Third step, just accept that some songs are made to be sung ONLY during Christmas time. Mariah Carey will understand. Fourth step, don’t get into the habit of leaving cookies and a carrot out for Santa and Rudolf, it’s only for one night and you don’t want them to get fat. Final step, please put down your Christmas tree. We live in Ireland, we see enough of them. Well those are the five steps to become sane from P.D.D! I’ll see everyone again for our next appointment. 9
Dr. Jessie Hui
Playing sports leads to better am results
ex-
Newbridge College offers a wide variety of different sports from golf to hockey, basketball to athletics, to even a few rugby players. Just before important exams such as the Leaving and Junior Certs, students may feel they should commit all their time to studying. (Well‌ try to!) Activities such as sports can often be neglected and substituted for snacking, doodling and napping. This is where the misconception lies‌ In actual fact, those who participate in sports, do better in exams. Specifically, those who maintain sports while in their final year of school,
10
achieve an average of 25.4 points more in their Leaving Cert, a new study by UCC has discovered. This study has also found similar characteristics between high achievers academically and those who highly value sport, including, selfdiscipline, conscientiousness and perseverance. It makes sense though, doesn’t it? It’s ‘A busy person will get the job done quicker’ kind of scenario. Organising your time to fit in training sessions whilst maintaining decent grades is a tough task in itself. Students, who successfully and diligently keep up both, may appear more stressed out and find themselves asking if it’s even worth it… Well hang in there, because it will be!
11 11
Miscellany Points to Ponder If you could fit the entire population of the world into a village consisting of 100 people, maintaining the proportions of all the people living on Earth, that village would consist of 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 American (North, Central & South) and 8 Africans. There would be: 52 women and 48 men 30 caucasians 70 non-caucasions 30 christian and 70 non-christian 89 heterosexuals and 11 homosexuals. Six people would possess 59% of the wealth and they would all come from the USA. 80 would live in poverty. 70 would be illiterate. 50 would suffer from hunger and malnutrition. 1 would be dying. 1 would be being born. 1 would own a computer. (Yes, only one) 1 would have a university degree. (Ditto) If we look at the world in this way the need for acceptance and understanding would be obvious. But consider the following: If you woke this morning in good health, you have more luck than 1 million people, who won’t live through the week. If you never experienced the the horror of war, the solitude of prison, the pain of torture, were not close to death from starvation, then you are better off than 500 million people. If you can go to your place of worship without fear that someone 12
If you can go to your place of worship without fear that someone will assault or kill you, then you are luckier than 3 billion people. If you have a full fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, a place to sleep, then you are wealthier than 75% of the world’s population. If you currently have money in the bank, in your wallet or a few coins in your purse, you are one of eight of the privilaged few amongst the 100 people in the world. If your parents are still alive and still married you’re a rare individual. If you are reading this you’re extremely lucky because you don’t comprise one of those 2 billion people who can’t read. AND SO? Work like you don’t need the money. Love like nobody has ever hurt you. Dance like nobody is watching. Sing like nobody is listening Live like this is paradise on Earth. And finally, have a nice day. BE THANKFUL (AuthorUnknown) …that you don’t have everything you desire. If you did, what would be there to look forward to? …when you don’t know something for it gives you the opportunity to learn. … for the difficult times for it is during those times you grow. …for your limitations because they give you opportunities for improvement. …for each new challenge because it will build your strength and character. …for your mistakes they will teach you valuable lessons. …when you’re tired and weary because it means you’ve made a difference. It is easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfilment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they can become your blessing.
13
ons to ti a l u t a r g n Co ie m a J l i p u p t pas s new i h n o p i l s Hea n of i a t p a c s a role m! a e t h s i r I e th
e Well done to th rugby JCT on und o r t x e n e h t o t getting up! of the Junior C
the o e t n o on l d T C Wel J to ey k g c n f Ho ssi nal o e r g i pro emi-f s e! lat the p the
14
the o t s rat Cong team f l o g r Senio the o t g ttin e g n o their f o l fina tion ti e p com
Well
done
to th e y SC T on winn ing t heir first roun d of the S enior Cup! rugb
15
olumn C g n i c a The R
orrin Paddy M
King George IV Chase Redemption for the Waley-Cohens The centrepiece of the festive racing season is the King George. The only other race to surpass this centrepiece in prestige is the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. The Favourite for this festive treat is the frustrating Long Run at 2-1. Long Run badly needed to re-establish his reputation at the top of the tree of staying chasers. This year’s renewal of the winter season climax is the most open in years with a selection of horses fancied to topple Long Run. This significant and promising race has the credentials to be a classic with second favourite Riverside Theatre well fancied at 11-2 and third choice of the punters was Cue Card who was ultra-impressive at Exeter last time out but it would be a unexposed horse that would put it up to Long Run in the shape of Captain Chris. Thirty one favourites have won this prestigious event in Sixty One running’s. This appetizing race was an extreme test of stamina as the conditions were horrific. With the ground nearly unraceable they went a very sensible pace at the start with Champion Court and Junior out in front with the fancied runners 16
held up at the back of the field. Cue Card made a mess of the first but seemed to be alright although had a awkward head carriage. The early stages were uneventful and as they went by the winning post with a circuit to go the running order wasn’t disrupted. With six to jump this great race started to heat up with Long Run taking it up. Would the change of tactics prove significant? At the Fifth from home Long Run very nearly catapulted Sam Waley –Cohen out of the saddle with a horrible mistake that would have capsized many a great horse at Kempton. With the finish line in sight Long Run seemed to have seized the initiative but once again Long Run handed it back and this time it was to Captain Chris and the determined Richard Johnson. As they came to the last another mistake by the favourite gave Captain Chris another few valuable lengths. The final straight seemed to be an eternity as Long Run galvanised by Waley-Cohen gave one last effort to try and collar Captain Chris. It was a titanic struggle to line but Long Run last gasp surge to the line would prove crucial as he won by a neck to the devastated Captain Chris and jockey Richard Johnson who so very nearly won this coveted prize. This intestinal fortitude showed by Long Run and his jockey in the final embers of the iconic race is the embodiment of National Hunt racing. Redemption for Long Run and his connections who re-establish himself back on the pantheon of greats who have won this prestigious event. Long Run will now be aimed at another tilt at the Gold Cup which he so dearly craves. He is 7-1 for the Gold Cup which states that he doesn’t have a lot of support but nevertheless a quiet astonishing and heartwarming event. 17
The Lexus Chase at Leopardstown What an Extraordinary race! This epic was deemed to be the crowning moment for Flemenstar but it would tell a very different story. Flemenstar was 5-4 favourite for this grade one. The punter second choice was the Willie Mullins trained Sir Des Champs who was beaten by the favourite in the John Durkan Memorial Chase. Third favourite was the veteran Tidal Bay who was second behind Bobs Worth in the Hennesy Gold Cup at Newbury. This race started at a typical even pace with Hidden Cyclone taking it up early with Flemenstar prominent early on. The uneventful start was littered with magnificent jumps by Flemenstar. The race heated up immensely as they hit the third last with Flemenstar taking it up. Tidal Bay was once again idling at the back of the field and Walsh niggling at him. Sir Des Champs made a dreadful mistake at the second last and it looked like he was out of the proceedings. As they came to the last Lynch asked Flemenstar to take another stupendous leap but it wasn’t there and he only fiddled through it which is unlike the Peter Casey’s horse. The agonising final straight was unfortunately too much for the favourite as he weakened in the titanic struggle to the line. First Lieutenant then took up the gauntlet and it looked like he was going to be the victor but out of nowhere the majestic Walsh produced Tidal Bay between Flemenstar and First Lieutenant to collar both of them on the line. It was an extraordinary feat of horsemanship by Ruby Walsh to keep conjoling Tidal Bay to 18
spring an exceptional surprise. Sir Des Champs ran on remarkably well to take fourth position. It was so close in the end a blanket would have covered the four of them. This was one of the greatest steeplechases ever held had this amazing amphitheatre. The crescendo of noise heard in the dying strides of this epic was never before heard at Leopardstown. It was a privilege to bear witness on this epic. After this truly astonishing race the connections of Tidal Bay were teary eyed after the race. It was Graham Wylie third grade one at the Foxrock track. Tidal Bay trainer Paul Nicholls said “He was magnificent and Ruby was magnificent, He will be aimed at the World Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Grand National”. Now that’s not a concoction you associate with a horse after winning the Lexus Chase. Peter Casey trainer of Flemenstar said after the “He will still be aimed at the Gold Cup and the Hennessey Gold Cup back here in Feburary”.
n s Colum t r o p S e Th
orrin Paddy M
Newbridge College vs. Kings Hospital- first round of Senior Cup D'arcy brace seals the deal in Maynooth hurricane As another eagerly anticipated senior cup resumes, Newbridge were faced with a potential banana skin match against the proud school of Kings Hospital. Newbridge were favourites but it would prove to be tough and tension filled cup match. Newbridge had the wind in the first half and they used it to good affect with Sutton 19
kicking deep into the Kings Hospital 22 on numerous occasions but Kings Hospital weren’t going to fall apart as their fly half pounced on a lose pass and he galloped into the ‘Bridge 22, but then Kings Hospital ill-discipline kicked in and never really went away for the whole match. The Newbridge scrum faced a considerable test but they stood up manfully to the beasts of Kings Hospital. Newbridge early pressure told as they were awarded a penalty on 8 minutes. Healy missed narrowly from the resulting penalty. As Newbridge began to gain a foot-hold in the Kings Hospital 22 they unfortunately butchered many opportunities due to poor handling and not using their overlaps to good effect. But on 19 minutes the ‘Bridge superiority told, the line out in the corner was secured by Tom Treacy and with JP setting up the platform with a galloping run towards the line it was simple hands across the pitch with the unselfish Healy shipping the ball to D’arcy in the corner. Healy bisected the posts with a superb conversion. 7-0. As Newbridge took the foot off the gas after the try, Kings Hospital gained territory in the Newbridge half. As the storm descended on Maynooth the Kings Hospital pack had numerous charges towards the line, but the siege was lifted on 27 minutes when Kings Hospital knocked on when it looked like they would breach the Newbridge line. The knock on was forced by tremendous last line defence from Newbridge. After this staunch defence Newbridge had another overlap, with D’arcy electing to keep the ball when he should have popped it to the fury of the free Howlett. At half time (7-0) the burning question was is 20
seven points enough? The answer was an emphatic” yes” when Sutton (recovering well from a late challenge by the KH centre)gathered a high ball and passed to D’arcy who arced his way around the ponderous KH back line and scorched them for pace for a reliving try(12-0). Then from the kick off Newbridge gave KH a life line,from a sloppy retake the KH pack were awarded a penalty and elected to go for touch. From the line out a classic one-two between prop and hooker resulted in a push over try in the far corner. ( reminiscent of the 2007 Heineken cup Final between London Wasps and Leicester when Payne received a line out and popped it back to Ibanez who ran in for try). 12-5. With line outs a lottery and back moves few and far between it was impossible for a free flowing game which frustrated Newbridge because they couldn’t deploy their back moves. Newbridge needed to change their game plan from slick moves in the backs to more agricultural moves up front to suit the conditions, and so they did with both sub Ed Wynne and Hugh O’Donnell making the hard yards up front and the pack following through. As the game neared its end it was becoming apparent that Newbridge weren’t going to relinquish their lead. Howlett smashed his opposite number into touch (getting concussed in the process!) and when McKnight won his side a key penalty in the dying embers of this dour, tension filled cup match it was all over. 12-5. Newbridge, had averted the potential banana skin match with a hard fought,but convincing victory. 21
will a are ssault luck or k i i If y ou h er than ll you, th av 3 on y our e a ful billion en you head l b p , a p ack, a r fridge, eople. c o lace l o to s f over othes leep you , th e r n yo u
Don’t be wary of dairy and go with milk! It’s udderly amazing! As part of our TY English class, we were all required to participate in the Milk It Advertising Awards Competition. The Milk It competition was started because teenagers aren’t consuming enough dairy and because our age group don’t know enough about milk and dairy nutrition. We were lucky enough to get chosen to move on to the next round and represent Newbridge College in this nationwide competition. Our team is called Cocoa’s Crew, and our aim is to make sure that we highlight the importance of milk/dairy for teenagers. We’ve got loads of ideas, and can’t wait to get started, but we need your help! We’ve made a Twitter (@CocoaTheCow – we follow back!) and a Facebook page (Just search for Cocoa The Cow). It’s really hard to get enough likes and follows – and it would help us out so much if you just took the time to check out our pages! We want to raise as much awareness as we possibly can, and we are counting on your support. Log on and follow us – it will be utterly amazing! A total of 319 school teams from all 26 counties initially registered for the 2013 NDC Milk It Awards. Cocoa’s Crew are one of the 100 teams from 20 counties who have been chosen to go through to the next phase of the competition. We need your support – a way to prove that social media is a good thing for us teens. Did you know that our bones are storing calcium now, so our skeleton will be strong in later life? If you don’t eat or drink enough dairy, your body will take calcium from the only source that has it - and that’s our bones. You mightn’t be aware of this while it’s happening, but this 22
can lead to brittle or broken bones in later life or even worse - osteoporosis. You might think that osteoporosis is something that you only get when you’re old, but in fact osteoporosis affects all ages and genders, even teenagers. People seem to be wary of dairy as they think foods such as milk, yoghurt and cheese are fattening. But did you know that calcium also aids in weight loss? It’s been proven that people who eat or drink the recommended amount of dairy products every day lose up to 38% more weight than people who don’t. It’s reported that children and teenagers between the ages of 9-18 should aim for 1,300 milligrams of calcium per day, which is about 5 servings of dairy foods or drinks. f you are currently not getting the daily requirements - it’s so easy to add more dairy into your diet! Why not try creating mini-pizzas by topping bagels with pizza sauce and low-fat mozzarella or soy cheese as an afternoon treat? Even having a glass of ice-cold milk with a couple of cookies or crackers counts as a serving of your recommended daily dairy intake – and who doesn’t like that! We’ll be posting handy dairy recipes that will kick start you into getting the most out of your diet on our Twitter and Facebook, and the odd random fact or two as well. Keep your eye out for upcoming competitions/prizes and dairy offers that we’re planning on having in the very near future. So go now and check out the Facebook or Twitter page for our mascot: Cocoa The Cow, @CocoaTheCow.
23
WORDSEARCH D A I
R Y
A O E
N Q D E
I
P
R Y
E
R B W P L
O A P
S
A R N E
O E
E
N A P
Q O E
S
P
B P
O E
A N M B E P
A L
R R S
X
O V
E
E
T
H C F
X
L
E
B W
S
T
X
O O R O B E
C
L
S
D C
H C O X E
Q P
R K W P
M P
T
X
Y
R P
C H E
X
O S
O M P
J
Y
C O C O A N T
N A E
A L
L
S
T
N X W R C T
C M A Q O D Q O P W S
N G S
A R B A P
D N Y
S
R S
D B O F
W T E
Y
A L
T
H Y
O X M Y
X
T
X T
W X X O E
E
R L
A O W E
S
E
E
R E
L
X X H Y
N O S
K
O R O G Y
S
O S
A E
I
O Y
O W H C O N C S
O E
T
E
B I
D C T
X O O A
G B L
I
Y
K L
A N M S
K O S
R W X
B H Q K
E
C E
W C D E
S
W I E
F
F
T
E
L
O P
D S
O E
Y
S
T
A G N E
H T
D C N O O W E
M I
L
K
M R Y
G M O G M T
E
G O W L
E
Y
E
J
K N H U E
I
S
M T
N M O F
F
J
I
A H M E
O I
N C G E
H F
M M C Y
B E
O F
R E
G N L
I
G B Y
S
I
M S
Y
W M G E
S
R O R I
E
U K
M R O G A O E
T
S
E
R B M A N E
T
E
S
O O T
C E
A B O W B U T M G R E
A O R W W P P E
I
E
T
T
Y
E
B X I
T
Y
L
Q I
E
X
E
W L
V
W N
H C A W A N G E W I
M N D
M E
O X
L
A U M K K Q S
O
E
S
I
Q I
W W G
H U B E
N E
M L
O P
N D Q
O H N G A G S
T
E
S
E
A M C P
W C I
E
R E
P
Q M E
O N A Q M A N B
Y
I
I
T
Y
C U L
T
U R E
O N M Y
R I
N E
E
M X
R A S
M T
A X T P
A O E
So don’t be wary of dairy and go with milk! It’s udderly amazing! 24
C N S
T
G
C R E
O O P
A G R I
A O B Q I
I
O I
B M E
O W Y
R I
G E
N E
P
T
P
X O U O R O Y E
E
N R Y
E
S
P
O
Q W N E M L
M O
If you drop this finished word search into Miss Murphy with your name and class, you could be in with a chance to win an “udderly amazing” mystery prize in our raffle! Elizabeth MacBride, Bronagh Nugent, Cría Dowling, Lydia O'Neill!!!
DAIRY COW HEALTHY OSTEOPOROSIS MILK BUTTER CALCIUM CHEESE CHOCOLATE COCOA
BONES TEETH FACTORY AGRICULTURE GOLDEN VALE FARM CREAM YOGURT ICECREAM
25
Grá – cad a chiallaíonn sé i ndáiríre? Nuair a chonaic mé ábhar na haiste seo, chuir sé mé ag smaoineamh. Is ábhar casta é an grá. Rith sé liom go bhfuil sé deacair sainmhíniú a thabhairt ar an ngrá mar is mothúchán láidir é. Tá mistéir ag baint leis, agus bíonn sé i gcónaí ina ábhar amhráin agus ina ábhar cainte. Ach cad a chiallaíonn sé i ndáiríre? Is iomaí sort grá atá le feiceáil sa lá atá inniu ann, mar shampla grá pósta, grá románsúil, grá buan, grá Dé, grá na gcomharsan, grá platónach, grá ábharaíoch, srl. Cloistear faoin áthas a bhíonn ar dhaoine atá i ngrá lena chéile agus tugaimid faoi deara go bhfuil an grá in achan ghné den saol. Is é nádúr an duine titim i ngrá. Uaireanta, deirtear go bhfuil an grá románsúil imithe as saol an lae inniu. Tá ráta an cholscartha ag méadú lá ina ndiaidh lae, agus cloisimid faoi scéalta úafásacha, mar shampla fir ag déanamh falcaireachta ar a mná céile, lánúin ag maslú a chéile, foréigean baile, srl. Ach, ar an taobh eile den scéal, feicimid éileamh mór ar bhláthanna agus ar chártaí Lá Fhéile Vailintín. Deirtear gur chaith na Meiricánaigh $14 billiún ar Lá Fhéile Vailintín sa bhliain 2010! Léiríonn sé seo go bhfuil an grá romansúil linn fós. Bíonn cailíní óga ag brionglóideach faoi ridire geal ar chapall bán, agus faoi ghrá ag an gcéad amharc. Ní féidir linn súil a dhúnadh ar chéadshearc dhaoine óga, an goile maolaithe agus an croí ag preabarnach nuair a fheictear an leannán. Tá grá de chineál éigin i gceist nuair a phósann daoine a chéile. Ba choir do lánúin siúil amach le chéile ar feadh blianta sula bpósann siad, chun aithne mhaith a fháil orthu féin. Caitheann siad am i gcomhluadar a chéile, agus de ghnáth cónaíonn siad le chéile chomh maith. Ar an lá pósta, cinneann an bheirt a saol a chaitheamh le chéile. Geallann siad a bheith tiomanta dá chéile, agus a bheith cineálta agus grámhar dá chéile i gcónaí. Tugann siad cuireadh dá gcairde agus dá gclann an lá speisialta seo a roinnt leo, agus tá meas again go léir ar an lá sin. Nascann siad a saol le chéile agus déanann siad comhréiteach. Is léir go bhfuil tábhacht ag baint le bainis ar fud an domhain – d’fhéach níos mó ná dhá bhilliúin duine ar phósadh William agus Kate ar an teilifís, rud a léiríonn cum26
hacht agus mealltacht an ghrá agus an phósadh. Ceapaim féin go dtaispeánann an pósadh an grá sa mhodh is fearr sa saol atá inniu ann. Seasann an lánúin le chéile os comhair a gcairde, a gclann agus Dia, agus léiríonn siad an grá atá acu dá bhfear/mbean chéile nua dúinn go léir. Is léir gur ábhar casta, álainn, mistéireach é an grá, ach tá taithí againn go léir air. Níl teorainn ar bith leis, agus bímid cinnte go mbeidh rómánsaíocht againn sa saol go deo. Katherine Murphy
Grá - Cad a chiallaíonn sé i ndáirire? Is mothúchán é. Is eispéireas é. Is rud deacair é. Is rud iontach é. Uaireanta fágann sé tú le croí briste. Is iomaí gné a bhaineann leis. Is mistéir é agus tá sé deacair sainmhíniú a thabhairt air. Is iomaí grá atá ann mar shampla féinghrá, grá an tsaoil, grá posta, grá dilís, grá Dé agus grá buan. Imríonn grá ról mór i saol an duine. Nuair a dhúisíonn muid gach maidin agus feicimid an ghrian ag taitneamh agus na héin ag canadh, mothaíonn muid grá don saol. Nuair a shiúlann muid síos an staighre agus feicimid ár dtuismitheoirí ag caint, feicimd grá postá. Nuair atá muid ag dul ar scoil sa charr agus tá amhrán grá Adele nó Ed Sheeran ar an raidió, cloisimid faoi ghrá rómánsúil . Nuair a bhuaileann muid lenár gcairde, feicimid grá na gcomharsan. Ar scoil, feicimid grá an léinn. Nuair a atá muid ag rá ár bpaidreacha ag deireadh an lae, tá grá Dé i gceist. Tá an grá timpeall orainn an t-am ar fad, i ngach gné dár saol – is iontach an rud é! Kate Brophy 27
28