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College Press Editorial Team Editor: Sam Burke
Student Contributors: Fionn O' Sullivan Caroline Kane Heather Dignam Roisin King
Special Thanks To: Mr. Doyle
Ms. O’Callaghan
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Editorial
What do you mean I spelled the title wrong? I have no idea what you're talking about. (Wink) Seriously though, it's that time of year again, when couples are allowed to get away with a lot more in public and sales for tacky heart shaped cards go through the roof. Maybe some of you have dates, maybe you don't, whatever your social activities may be you'll be sure to find plenty of worthwhile, love related, articles in this terms issue. So whether you'll be out on the town on Valentine's night, jetting off to France for a few days or spending your evening with two guys call “Ben and Jerry�, I hope you all have a great mid-term.
All the best, Sam Burke. ^_^ 3
Spending Valentine’s Day alone is heartbreakingly difficult when all your friends are spending the most romantic day of the year with their significant other, so here are some easy Do’s and Don’ts of spending a Valentine’s day alone.
DON’TS when you're alone on Valentines Day 1. Don’t look at any social media for 24hrs. All you will see is happy couples and romantic dates, which is not productive to spending a successful Valentine’s Day flying solo. Trust me; you’re better off not knowing.
2. Don’t go out partying. The only ones at clubs on Valentine’s Day are people who think there are only two people in the world. Maybe go out for a refreshing walk instead, far away from people who believe the lie that Valentine’s Day is a genuine holiday and not just part of a marketing plan for card companies. Fools.
3. Don’t go on any detoxes/cleanses/diets. Remember, when it comes to cookies, fat free = flavour free.
4. Don’t spend Valentine’s Night crying about being single and wishing you had someone special to share it with. Valentine’s Day isn’t all it’s hyped up to be, so just treat it like a normal night, ok?
5. Don't third wheel on a friend’s date. Your friend will not thank you for it and you will just feel miserable about being so miserable that a friend picked up on your misery and invited you along on their date so that you would stop being so miserable. Have some self-respect I beg you.
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Do’s when you’re alone on Valentine’s Day DO: Binge watch a Netflix series. Netflix is your friend. Netflix will never break your heart. And there is no shame in watching an entire season in 1 day.
DO: Delve yourself into a fictional romance, Nicholas Sparks will remind you it’s better to have no partner then to have a dead/dying partner.
DO: Eat ice-cream, chocolate, chocolate ice-cream, cookie dough, white chocolate, dark chocolate. Valentine’s day is not the time for your diet.
DO: Hang out with your friends! Spending the day mourning with food is much more fun with your partners in crime.
DO: AVOID SOCIAL INTERACTION. This includes social media, unless you want to be bombarded with “rub my love in everyone else’s face” commercial franchise that is Valentine’s day.
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Excitement is building as on March 15th, twenty five students and five teachers will embark on a two week long missionary trip of a lifetime to Trinidad and Tobago. We will be working closely with The Living Water Community. In a world where the illiterate, hungry, homeless and destitute spill on to our streets every day, we see the need for basic care, nourishment and self development programs managed in an efficient manner. On our Mission, our aim is to make a difference in these people’s lives for ‘Together we Aspire, Together we Achieve’. Thank you to the whole school and student body for supporting us over the last year!
Top Trini Facts:
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Top 10 Most Romantic Songs By Heather Dignam
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to start planning the perfect playlist for the perfect night. Here’s a list of the top 10 most romantic songs to get you started! 1. How Long Will I Love You- Ellie Goulding 2. Photograph- Ed Sheeran 3. Love-song- Adele 4. Thinking Out loud- Ed Sheeran 5. All I Do Is Dream Of You- Michael Buble 6. Wake Me Up- Ed Sheeran 7. I Have Nothing- Whitney Houston 8. Love Story- Taylor Swift 9. I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You- Elvis Presley 10. Saving All My Love For You- Whitney Houston
Happy Birthday Clare x
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Miscellany It is with heavy hearts that we here at the College Press publish our last Miscellany. This has always been the contribution of a “Phantom” writer. Many of you may not know but for years and years this section of the College Press that dealt with puns, language and little known facts was written by the school’s very own Eddie Dillon. With his recent passing we would like to offer our sincere condolences to Eddie’s family and friends. His contribution to the school and his many years as study supervisor will never be forgotten. So in his honour, we publish a selection of his many Valentine’s issue musings from years gone by. May he rest in peace.
Well, here’s to whoever makes you swoon or your knees wobble!! Have
a lovely
Valentine’s Day and enjoy your mid-term break. - Eddie Dillon
A man named Valentinus was martyred on February 14 late in the third century A.D. — this much we know. But when it comes to details about the life of St. Valentine, legend often supersedes fact. The St. Valentine who inspired the holiday may have been two different men officially recognized by the Catholic Church! A touch of logorrhoea That’s a posh word for “verbal diarrhoea”, and just to prove the point that it is not all Greek to any of us, here are some examples of everyday words with Greek roots.
Biology: bios (life) logia (study) Catastrophe: kata (down)strophe (turning). Democracy: demos (people) kratos (rule) 8
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.
You know your Irish when........ If you can relate to at least five of these you are as Irish as the soil beneath you. You know your Irish when... You have no idea how to make a long story short. The person you insult the most is probably your best friend. You don’t know the words to a song but it doesn’t stop you from singing. You can’t wait for the other person to stop talking so you can start talking. For the “craic” is the best reason to do anything. Saying “I will yeah” means I definitely won’t. You have a gift for swearing. You’re scared of the wooden spoon. You can’t go a day without saying “Jesus” Drinking tae is a perfectly normal pastime. People ask you how you’re doing but don’t stay around for the reply. You feel sick and so open a can of 7up, leave it for an hour and it has magically turned into a medicine. Sing Amhrán na bhfiann but don’t exactly know what it is your singing. You’re someone who uses the line a little birdy told me when they know something about you. All your phone call ends by “right bye bye bye bye bye” You know at least ten Mary’s. You complain about how awful the weather is all the time. You love to complain about Ireland to a foreigner but if they too complain about Ireland you get offended. You use sarcasm to reply to everything.
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Top Ten most romantic movies 1. The Notebook This is #1 in my list of sappy cliché romantic movies that will rip your soul into a million pieces. After all, what is better to cuddle up to then the ultimate romance with the gorgeous Ryan Gosling and the fabulous Rachel McAdams? 2. Titanic The ultimate tear-jerker, NEVER LET GO. Who doesn’t adore Kate and Leo reminding you of how single you are? While also learning about the most famous ship sinking in history. 3. The Fault in our Stars A new author has come into our lives, and his name is John Greene. This is by far his best book and movie (in my opinion). If it doesn’t make you feel like you’ve lost a part of your heart, it will make you appreciate the awesome little things in life. 4. Love Actually Yes, yes I know this is a Christmas movie, but still have you seen it? Its 12 stories WITHIN a story!! All equally beautiful and equally heart-warming <3 5. He’s just not that into you If you haven’t seen this, I highly recommend it. Like Love Actually, its little stories that all connect to make one big story. Except it doesn’t have quite as much of a happy ending, after all, sometimes he’s just not that into you. 6. Mamma Mia Ok so basically if you know me, you know I’m gonna have to put a musical in here somewhere! And what better romantic musical then Mamma Mia? I mean 3 men fighting over Meryl Streep on a Greek island with a bunch of Abba songs thrown in? It’s the ultimate mood booster. 7. Any Classic Disney Movie So when I say classic Disney, I mean Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast, The Little Mermaid etc. none of this Frozen, or new Disney melark. 8. Four Weddings and a Funeral Ah the 90s classic starring Hugh Grant and Andie McDowell, if you like rom-coms this is the one to watch. 9. Bridget Jones Diary A hilarious comedy about a woman who I think, lives in all of us. This is movie about how she feigns after two ‘heart-throbs’ and all the adventure that goes along with it. 10. The Amazing Spider-man I don’t care what anyone says this is a romantic movie! Combining the classic sarcastic superhero and Andrew Garfield’s and Emma Stones chemistry? What a perfect mixture for a romantic movie? 10
'Newbridge College - Cycle Against Suicide Congress' On the 14th of January 2016, a group of 25 fifth-year students along with two teachers attended the Student Leaders' Congress in the RDS Dublin. It was a truly inspirational day where 4088 students from 144 schools across all 32 counties came together to spread the message to the 6.4 million people in Ireland; that it's okay not to be okay, and it's absolutely okay to ask for help. The main theme of the day was that together we are stronger, and that we should enjoy every minute of life. Louise McSharry opening the event and Maria Walsh (the 2014 Rose of Tralee) soon took over as MC to begin the Congress. Throughout the day, we were introduced to a variety of strong, resilient people who have all been affected by troubles of their own. Firstly, the founder of Cycle Against Suicide Jim Breen came on and talked to us about the foundation of the organisation, that 'It's okay not to be okay, and it's absolutely okay to ask for help'. He travelled around the room, getting everyone involved and thinking about his message, and soon brought on one of the first guests who got involved with Cycle Against Suicide, Colm Hayes. One of Hayes' favourite sayings was that 'life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, life is about learning to dance in the rain'. His unique insights were effectively communicated through a series of jokes and interactive activities that got everyone laughing 11
and loving! Next we were introduced to Gerry Fish, who took us by surprise with his loud personality, getting us all up and dancing and having a great time. In between the different speakers, the schools' videos they had been made during the year were shown, and many of these schools were interviewed by the Student Leaders. It was great to hear what everyone else had been doing, as then we came up with many new ideas for projects that our school could undertake in the coming years. A few other faces that appeared throughout the day were Mark Pollock, Katie Cullinan, Niamh Briggs, Jessica Smith and Alan Hayes, who all shared their inspiring stories with us. All attendees of the congress were in absolute awe of their strength and resilience. Both Katie and Jessica performed beautiful songs for us, and we also got to hear an original song from a student of one of the schools which was truly exceptional. These people relayed their past difficulties to us and encouraged everyone to overcome any challenges they may have in their lives. Overall the day was extremely motivating, heartening and stimulating as every single student and staff member left the RDS with lots of new ideas to promote positive mental health.
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