SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01 by SIN Newspaper University of Galway

NUACHTÁN SAOR IN AISCE VOL.20 Issue 01. 11 SEPT 2018

Student Independent News

Morgan, BA WITH FILM STUDIES DrVicePatPresident for the Student REGISTRATION FIASCO: Experience, Retires

“I don’t understand why we are being punished.” By Graham Gillespie Final year Arts with Film Studies students were prevented from registering for the 2018/19 academic year on time, SIN has learned. Those affected could not register on Wednesday 22 August at 10am like other Arts students. Some in the class were eventually allowed to register that day, but others had to wait as much as two days. As a result, many of the students missed out on their preferred modules in their other two Arts subjects. In total, ten students were affected by this problem. It is understood that the students were denied access to registration due to an issue relating to the processing of grades from the previous year. Students in the class also said they believe this happened in previous years, having spoken to past students. The course coordinator Dr Tony Tracy, who was contacted via email correspondence, claimed that in relation to the Erasmus students, a technical glitch was responsible for the issue. However, all students in the class still faced registration delays regardless of whether they were on Erasmus or on placement. Several of the students also faced communication problems with the relevant departments as they tried to the fix the issue. One student in the class, who wishes to remain anonymous, explained that they were initially told they would have no registration issues. “We were told we were going to be preregistered, so that we would have no trouble logging on and then picking our subjects, and then when our final grades came through it would just be a confirmation to go through to final year,” they said. “We were not aware of the problems that were going to arise when we tried to register,” they added. Once students realised they couldn’t register online, none of the departments involved took responsibility for the mishap. The student was also critical of the speed of response from the relevant departments within the university; “I understand that there’s a lot of students and they (the university) are not going to drop everything, but when it was a whole class affected I thought they should have got things going a lot quicker than they did.” This student also said they hoped other students

in the future will not have to face these sorts of problems. “From my perspective, I don’t want anyone punished or anyone being blamed for anything. The only thing I want is that students in my shoes next year will not have to go through what I and the rest of my class had to go through.” The student continued; “It’s your final year, and it’s tough enough without losing modules that you had your heart set on.” Another student, who also wishes to remain anonymous, missed out on their first-choice modules after waiting a day and a half before being able to register. The student said they loved film studies and the course, but they have been left feeling disillusioned. “Half of me almost wanted to defer because I really didn’t want to do a whole year of studying stuff I’m not interested in. I’m paying for college and I just really wanted do stuff I’m passionate about, or stuff I will have a future in, not stuff that was there to just finish my degree,” they said. “I don’t understand why we are being punished and aren’t able to get our first choices due to a mistake which was not our fault.” This second student also criticised the quality of communication within the course. “They (the film studies department) were emailed by several students and only about half of us got a (personal) response. The other half got a general email sent to everyone… it was like almost we were troubling them with our issues.” The student did, however, point out that lecturers in their other arts subjects were helpful. “They were actually very responsive and helpful. They were honest that they couldn’t do anything, and it was out of their jurisdiction,” they said. The unnamed student feared that organisational issues such as this will turn people away from the course in the future. They also said that these negative issues detract from the positive aspects of the course. “It ruins what makes the course so good. It’s hard to enjoy it when stuff like this leaves such a negative taste in your mouth. It’s sad, I could have been way more passionate about this year.” Course coordinator Dr Tony Tracy said they were aware of the registration issue. “There was a problem with registration on our program and a number of students got in touch

as they were very anxious about their module choices. As soon as I heard about the problem, on the morning of 22 August, we set about immediately responding to the issue,” he said. “I invited anyone who was anxious to get in touch and immediately wrote on behalf of three specific students to the relevant disciplines. By the end of the day we had most students processed through the system, and cleared to register everyone within two days total. You can be assured that this was distressing to us too, as our students and their welfare are our first priority at all times.” He also provided an explanation as to why Erasmus students were delayed. “As I understand it’s primarily a technical issue resulting from our Erasmus structures which hit a glitch this year due to the registration system not being capable of accepting ‘exceptions’ to nonreturned grades. We have to wait for Erasmus grades from a number of European universities and these don’t arrive until September.” “We understood - having previously checked that this would not be a problem but it obviously was and we’re deeply sorry for the distress caused. We’ll be making sure it won’t happen again.” Yvonne O’Connor, the College of Arts Executive Assistant, said that a registration issue arose when students were studying abroad for one semester, as opposed to studying abroad for a full year. “Students who are registered for course instances requiring that they must spend the entirety of third year abroad on a study exchange or placement have been granted permission by the University to be rolled forward to pre-registered status for Final Year, while the University awaits the submission of results from the host Institution.” “On behalf of the Dean, College Office is attempting to have a similar arrangement set in place for students registered for CONNECT programmes as soon as possible. However, as this arrangement requires a derogation to University rules, there is a process involved where the request must be approved by a Meeting of the Academic Regulations Committee, in advance of a forthcoming Meeting of Academic Council Standing Committee.” “We greatly regret any inconvenience caused to our students,” she concluded. SIN contacted the NUI Galway registration office for comment but received no response.

“Every one of the roles I held was so rewarding and I have worked with such wonderful, committed and gifted people,” Dr Pat Morgan begun when she discussed her long career with SIN this week. A central figure to NUI Galway for many years, Dr Morgan announced her retirement from her post as Vice President for the Student Experience last month. SIN caught up with her to discuss retirement, women in leadership and how students have shaped her life. Before she was appointed as Vice-President for the Student Experience in November 2011, Dr Morgan served as Dean of Graduate Studies, Dean of the College of Science, lecturer in Biochemistry, and she was also critically involved in the development of the B.Sc. in Biotechnology. She has also been an elected member of the University’s Governing Authority since 1998 and the NUI Senate since 2002. In 2008, Dr Morgan was presented with a Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence. An alumna of NUI Galway, having graduated with B.Sc. and PhD degrees, Dr Morgan said that the college has always been close to her heart. “The University has been central to my life, from my B.Sc. in 1976, PhD in 1982, and the various roles I have held since I returned from the USA in 1987,” she says. “Perhaps two roles stand out as I was there from the very beginning and shaped them – Director of the BSc Biotechnology and Dean of Graduate Studies.” Her role in student’s lives as the Vice President of the Student Experience over the past seven years has been crucial - even though most students would have been unaware of what was going on in the background. Continues on page 2

2 NEWS & F E AT U R ES

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01

INSIDE Accommodation crisis has reached “peak” according to SU President 4 NUI Galway refunds fees to students after complaints over course quality upheld 6 Accommodation? It’s like gold dust 7 How to become a top blogger according to NUI Galway alumnus Cinnamon Soul 8 Dear Pope Francis, Ireland has grown up 9 Out of Hours health services pertaining to students 10 “PROFIT BEFORE PEOPLE” —Ireland’s student accommodation crisis 13 Are students who work at a disadvantage to those who don’t? 14 Was the Pope’s visit worth €32 million? 15 LIVING HER BEST LIFE: Selena Gomez 16 How to start living a more sustainable lifestyle 17 The Autumn/Winter 2018 trend forecast 18 Five beauty hacks to help you hide your hangover 21 The rise of Irish hip hop through the eyes of Tebi Rex

Soundtrack to sobriety with Shampain

Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children trilogy review

What’s on in Galway

GUMS announce Pippin as their 2019 musical

CLUB SPOTLIGHT: NUI Galway Muay Thai

New streaming services changing the game in battle for sports rights 30 A REVIEW OF THE SYSTEM: intense scheduling just one issue in new hurling format

EDITOR: Áine Kenny editor.sin@gmail.com LAYOUT: Shannon Reeves

Find us online:

www.sin.ie

An bhfuil rud éigin le rá agat? Cur litir chuig an Eagarthóir chuig editor@sin.ie.

@NuigSin

Photo: Joanna Kavanagh By Áine Kenny Hello everyone, welcome to the first issue of SIN. My name is Áine Kenny and I am the new editor. I am in final year of the BA with Journalism, and my two Arts subjects are English and Sociology and Political Science. As the new academic year arrives, some of you might be looking to get more involved with campus life. SIN is a great way to do this. We are always open to pitches and ideas, and we love it when new people join the team. Please don’t be shy! My sub editors and I will help you develop your writing skills and are on hand to give you advice. If you want to get involved, or have a story that needs to be told, please email me at editor.sin@gmail.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Speaking of sub editors, I have a great team this year. I have no doubt they will fill their respective sections with brilliant content that we can all relate to. I want to extend my sincere

thanks to them as I couldn’t have put this issue together without them! I also want to thank everyone who contributed to this issue, you all filed articles that you can be proud of. It takes courage to write something and to put it out there, especially into a world that is so often filled with criticism. I especially want to thank all of the new people who asked to join the SIN team, who I subsequently threw into the deep end by giving them news articles to complete by a tight deadline. You all really proved yourselves! I cannot forget to mention Shannon, our graphic designer. He is the one who makes the paper look so beautiful, and without his guidance and patience this issue would not be as good as it is. Over the past two years, there has been some debate about whether the media needs to change, or whether most journalism is just “fake news.” Here at SIN, we are committed to giving students a voice. If something unfair is happening on campus, or there is an ongoing issue that has not been resolved, please use SIN as your megaphone. Student issues are not irrelevant. Your voice deserves to be heard. The story about the NUI Galway Journalism students getting their fees refunded garnered national attention, and it was two SIN writers who broke that story in the Irish Independent. People do care about what goes on around campus, and you are not shouting into the void. Until we stand up and speak out, nothing will change. Writing for your student newspaper, or even coming to us and saying “listen, I have a story for you” is a way to ensure the student experience only gets better.

Dr. Pat Morgan, Vice President for the Student Experience, Retires Continued from page 1 From the responsibility of directing the university activities that students experience outside the classroom, to helping students navigate college life, the role of Vice President for the Student Experience can be demanding. “The Student Experience encompasses everything that students encounter in University,” Dr Morgan explains. “Each day this diversity was obvious in the issues students raised with me, the complexity of the problems and the fact that I was often the last hope for a resolution.” “Without my background in academia and the other roles I held, I would not have been able to navigate such choppy waters. Sometimes it was not possible to resolve an issue and that was the toughest part of the job.”

“In 2014 the volume of work and its complexity resulted in me taking sick leave on the basis of stress. I would have thought that I was resilient, but I couldn’t cope. That experience gave me such insights into mental health and how we must all work actively to preserve it.” Dr Morgan told SIN that besides the everyday stresses of trying to help students, her gender also threw obstacles into her career - which saw her becoming one of the first female Biochemistry academics and the first female Dean of the College of Science. “There have always been challenges facing the advancement of women,” she says. “There are few women in senior leadership posts or female professors in the university. At meetings, I often was the only woman in a room of men and my opinions were not always understood or even welcomed by some.”

This issue is packed with amazing content that our writers have worked very hard on. I am especially proud of our front - page story, written by Graham Gillespie. This story details the students in the BA with Film Studies’ registration nightmare. It is an excellent piece of student reporting with great contributions from the anonymous sources. We seriously appreciate you taking the time to talk to SIN. Don’t worry, it isn’t all doom and gloom! We also have good news, from NUI Galway researcher’s breakthrough in treating breast cancer, to interviews with Irish hip - hop artists. It is a diverse issue where there is something for everyone, I hope. We also have lots of columnists this year who will be delivering regular features. Amy Mc Mahon, former lifestyle and fashion editor, will be gracing us with her “Living her best life” column, where she will show you how to emulate your favourite celebrity’s life, while on a budget. Cóilí Collins, resident DJ in Electric, will be giving us an insight into the music world, recommending the best albums for us to listen to. Aileen O’Leary will be writing her final year diaries which I know I will relate to. Finally, Anne Rieger is our Erasmus columnist, and she will be documenting the cultural complexities of Ireland after moving here from Germany. Finally, I would not have the privilege of being editor without my predecessor’s help. Sorcha really helped me improve my standard of journalism, as well as boosting my confidence with her words of encouragement. As soon as I got this job, she checked in with me, making sure I was on the right track. I have a lot to live up to following in her footsteps, so hopefully I won’t let her down! But enough of me talking, it is time for you to get reading! I hope you enjoy this issue, and if you have any tips/ suggestions, I am only an email away.

“However, the recent achievement of Athena Swan bronze status (which recognises equality in the University) is a welcome step in the right direction.” Dr Morgan says that all of these challenges that she faced were outweighed in the end. “I am always happiest on graduation days. I can witness the fulfilment of dreams. Seeing students who have overcome near impossible obstacles to achieve their goals, when dropping out would have seemed the only option.” Besides watching students succeed, Dr Morgan says that the thing she will miss most about her job is the people she worked with every day - from her fellow staff members to students and the SU Executive. And even though she won’t be continuing to work with NUI Galway in any formal capacity, Dr Morgan won’t be disappearing any time soon. “I have been involved in staff mentoring and I am particularly interested in supporting the advancement of women, so I will continue to contribute to that.” “I won’t be present on campus, but NUI Galway is embedded in me!”

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September 11 2018

DEPUTY AND NEWS EDITORIAL By Martha Brennan Hello everyone and welcome to this year’s first issue of SIN! I am delighted to begin work as this year’s Deputy and News editor. After a busy summer for the University, and with work beginning for our new SU executive, we have a lot of news to share with all of you. Due to a family loss right before deadline, I had a pretty hectic time trying to get my section together and I want to take this opportunity to thank my fellow editors and writers for helping me out and writing some amazing articles for this issue. I especially want to thank our editor Áine for helping me so much during a particularly crazy time. Those especially worth a read for this issue are Áine’s insightful piece about sexual hostility in Irish universities, Graham’s interview with our new SU President Megan Reilly about the student accommodation crisis and our feature with Dr Pat Morgan following her retirement. I am so excited to work with the new SIN team for the year, and to see how we can push the bar in the student news world even further. I hope you guys enjoy this issue, and after experiencing being a part of the SIN team for the last number of years, I would highly urge anyone interested to please join us! For now, enjoy all the following pieces by our amazing writers and editors, and as for the rest of the year: watch this space.

FEATURES EDITORIAL By Olivia Hanna Welcome to college everyone! Whether you’re returning for final year, just starting first year, or somewhere in between, this section will have something for you all year. I am a final year student studying journalism with philosophy and sociology and political science. I’m from Boston, Massachusetts, but Galway has quickly become a home away from home. I am so excited to work with all of the amazing new and returning SIN contributors. For this issue we have the first installment of Aileen O’Leary’s Final Year Diaries, Sarah Canavan’s take on the Pope’s recent visit to Ireland, an introduction to our new SU President by Rachel Garvey, and loads more, so read on! Lastly, I want to encourage every student to contribute to the features section. You don’t have to be a journalism or English student to get involved. As long as you have a story, please share it with us. If you’re nervous don’t be afraid to ask for guidance, we will all be happy to help.

OPINION EDITORIAL By Tarryn McGuire Hi everyone, and welcome to our first issue of the year! My name is Tarryn McGuire and I am so delighted to be this year’s opinion editor. I am a final year arts student studying psychology and history here in our very own NUI Galway. I am honoured to provide you, as aspiring writers, with a platform for which you can express yourself and deliver your views and ideas. I hope to enable you to construct your articles with delicate passion and to reinforce them with iron fact. As a reader, I hope you find yourself excited and challenged, enraged and inspired, but most of all, open minded and tolerant, as you pour over provoking rants and thrilling head-to-heads. We all have our own opinions and ideas, so don’t bottle them up, let SIN act as your campus megaphone. No matter what you want to write about, there will always be space for it in this paper. The editorial team this year are incredibly talented and hard working and are just dying to share their ideas with all of you! Happy reading everyone!

GNÉ -ALTANNA

student and I will be this year’s arts and entertainment editor. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. The arts and entertainment section is a hub of creativity, music, movies and culture. We aim to provide in - depth reviews, interviews and a commentary on what’s going on in today’s entertainment industry. We have a ‘What’s on in Galway’ feature, which will run in every issue and aims to highlight the very best gigs and events taking place in our capital of culture. I am so excited to be editing this section as I get to write and read about the very things I am most interested in. If you would like to submit an article, short story, review or poem please do, it really is such a thrill to write something and know that people will sit down and read your words! Alas, go forth and read the rest of this wonderful paper. It’s going to be a great year – I can feel it in my bones.

SPORTS EDITORIAL By Graham Gillespie

FASHION AND LIFESTYLE EDITORIAL

Welcome to students to both old and new to the first issue of SIN for the new academic year.

By Molly Fitzpatrick I’m Molly, the fashion and lifestyle editor of SIN. With a new season upon us, chances are you’re ready to ditch your old wardrobe and start afresh. However, after the summer you may be counting your pennies. In this issue, we bring you a student’s perspective on how to get the most from Galway’s charity shops. Be inspired by our campus streetstyle page, each week we send out a different writer to snap who they think is the most stylish on campus and find out what inspired those students. New semester, new me, so why not make a few lifestyle changes that will benefit our planet? Our student’s guide to leading a more sustainable life looks at the small steps us students can make to live and buy greener. Back to college also means more nights out. If you suffer from killer hangovers you may want to turn to our beauty hacks to hide your hangover feature which will have you looking fresh for those pesky 9am lectures. As you can see I couldn’t be more excited about this issue, and this is only the tip of the iceberg. With lots more exciting content to come over the year ahead, be sure to pick up your copy of SIN.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITORIAL By Sarah Gill Hello everyone! My name is Sarah Gill, I am a third year Journalism and Arts

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After an incredible summer of sport, which featured the highs of the World Cup and the All-Ireland Hurling Championship, we all now must get back to regular college life. However, there will still be plenty of sport for us at SIN to write about and for you to read about. Issue one’s sports section has lots for you to get stuck into if you can find a spare minute amidst the franticness of freshers’ week. Martha Brennan analyses how the Hurling Championship can be even further improved, whilst Danny Keown takes a stab at fixing Gaelic Football. Also, Mark Lynch takes a satirical look at the soccer’s future and I write about the changing dynamics in the battle for sports broadcasting rights. Owen Kennedy, meanwhile, looks at the dangers of overtraining following the tragic death of college football player Jordan McNair. Finally, the college sport season may not have started up yet, but I spoke to the NUI Galway Muay Thai club for a spotlight feature. If anybody reading this would like to contribute to SIN’s sports section, don’t be afraid to get in touch and email sport. sined@gmail.com. We are always looking for new writers.

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4 NEWS & F E ATU R ES

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01

Accommodation crisis has reached “peak” according to SU President By Graham Gillespie NUI Galway Students’ Union president, Megan Reilly, told SIN this week that the student accommodation crisis has reached “peak point.” The comments come ahead of the union’s upcoming ‘Crisis Campout’ protest, which is being planned in conjunction with Galway Mayo Institute of Technology’s Students’ Union and the One Galway initiative. The event is set to take place on Tuesday 11 September in Eyre Square and will see protesters sleeping out overnight in tents to try to draw the government’s attention to the national accommodation crisis. NUI Galway and GMIT’s Student Unions’ released a joint statement earlier this month, where they announced the over-

night campout and condemned the “extortionate rent prices of €250 a week” that some Galway students are paying. Reilly stated that the issue is one of the biggest problems currently facing students. “I think the capitation (student contribution) fee of €3000, coupled with the rising rent prices, is the biggest barrier to education that we are facing at the moment,” she says. The SU President believes that the costs are deterring potential students from pursuing third level education. “I think education is becoming more and more inaccessible to larger numbers of people. The SUSI grant hasn’t increased in six years and it hasn’t been restored since it was slashed previously.” “I would say there are defi-

nitely people out there who are wondering whether or not they can afford college, or whether they have to take a year out and work. This should not be the case.” The campout organisers will be asking people to sign a petition on the night which calls for more affordable student accommodation to be built. The Unions are planning to demand that rent caps be put in place to prevent price hikes, like this year’s highly contested 18 percent rent increase by Galway’s Cúirt na Coiribe student accommodation. The petition will also call for inspections to take place in Galway rental properties and for tighter regulations around Air BnB lettings. Following the campout, a public seminar regarding

the crisis will take place on Wednesday 12 September in Monroe’s from 12pm to 3pm. The seminar will seek to provide practical information to the public. Reilly explained that the Unions’ are trying to take a “holistic” approach to address the housing crisis. “There is a focus on student accommodation here (for the campout), but we are not limiting it to just that.” “We would like anyone who has been affected by the accommodation crisis to feel a part of this as well. It’s not just one group that is suffering.” Making a united stand with GMIT on this issue was hugely important in Reilly’s opinion. “We’re all in the exact same boat, student accommodation is a crisis across the board and

there’s more weight behind it if we work together.” Due to the crisis, the NUI Galway accommodation office is very busy at this time of the year, according to the SU President. “Particularly international students will sometimes struggle. The people behind the services are doing their best, it’s just sometimes there isn’t enough accommodation out there.” For the campout, tents will be set up throughout Eyre Square by organisers and buskers will be on hand to provide entertainment. All students are urged to attend. “We will be encouraging people to make and bring their own signs,” Reilly adds. Galway City mayor, Niall McNelis, will be present at

the event and several councillors will also be in attendance. Reilly hopes other advocacy groups will also get involved. “It’s not just us (who are protesting). It’s more the whole community,” Reilly concludes.

NUI Galway study shows worrying statistics about students and consent

Entry points go up for many courses as NUI Galway continues to grow in popularity

A recent NUI Galway survey revealed that 70 per cent of female students and 40 per cent of male students experienced “sexual hostility or crude gender harassment” by the time they were finishing college. Sex education at second level was also deemed unsatisfactory by 63 per cent of the male and 71 per cent of the female respondents. 75 per cent of LGBTQ respondents disagreed with the idea that sexual health education at school covered the topics they were interested in. Alcohol and consent were also studied, with students being asked to examine a fictional sexual scenario between “Neil” and “Carol” after a night out. 67 per cent of students did not agree that Carol was too drunk to give consent, and 70 per cent of students did not think Neil too drunk to give consent, despite the fact they both drank 28 standard units of alcohol in the scenario. This means over two thirds of students believe that consuming double the weekly limit of alcohol in one night does not impair the person’s ability to give sexual consent.

With nearly 3500 people anticipated to enrol as first year undergraduates this September, NUI Galway continues to grow in popularity as indicated by first round CAO points rising across the board. As not all students have registered yet, it is too early to give an exact figure for first year enrolments. However, a representative from the admissions office estimates an increase of 150 students. Based on figures from the Registar’s website, which lists roughly 3346 first years for 2017/18, this would put this year’s total at 3496 students. Students showed a strong interest in Engineering and Informatics, Medicine, Science, Business and Law, with points going up or staying steady in almost all subject areas. Civil Law, Engineering and Commerce courses saw increases of over 20 points compared to last year. Of these, programmes with international placements and languagelearning opportunities saw high competition for places, including Commerce with Accounting

By Áine Kenny

Clare Austick, NUI Galway’s Students’ Union Welfare and Equality Officer, says the Students’ Union are taking steps to educate students about consent. “NUI Galway Students’ Union are running Smart Consent Workshops for first year students starting in September for the first time ever. We had the highest number of applicants, both staff and students, but mainly students, applying to become Consent Ambassadors to facilitate these workshops.” “These will run for the first three weeks in the common room of Corrib Village and Goldcrest, which is newly opening in September, not including orientation week. For anyone interested, they can contact the SU.” Clare believes that consent education is important for students. “I think consent education is extremely important and beneficial to students, as there appears to be a lack of education around the topic and sexual health in secondary schools. The information students are provided with at second level isn’t good enough. Students need to learn and realise what consent means and become aware of their own boundaries and those of others.”

“Sadly, sexual violence and harassment are still very prevalent in today’s world. Someone who goes through a non-consensual act can suffer very harmful consequences. It’s important to identify and address these issues. Consent isn’t a black and white, straightforward subject… it is a very complex topic, whereby a lack of consent given could potentially ruin lives. Consent is crucial to any part of human interaction and needs to be addressed,” she says. The Students’ Union Vice President adds that universities in particular should take a strong lead in implementing consent workshops and providing information. “The aim of these consent workshops is to create a dialogue between students around consent, to empower the individual to communicate what they do or do not want, as well as setting and acknowledging their own boundaries.” There were over 60 applicants initially to become Consent Ambassadors. “Which is a powerful statement in itself,” says Clare. “It shows how strongly staff and students feel about this topic and how willing they are to bring about positive and impactful change. These workshops help students identify, amplify and initiate change for the better.”

By Marie Coady

and Commerce with Global Experience, the latter flying up to 509 points. Arts subjects were generally unfaltering, although competition for some programmes dipped significantly such as Cumarsáid agus Gaeilge which dropped by 39 points. Additionally, the seven new Arts programmes introduced for 2018 proved popular with incoming students. Film, Music, Digital Arts, Data Science, Global Languages and the International BA averaged 419 points compared to 356 points for pre-existing Arts offerings. The BSc in Environmental Health and Safety experienced the greatest jump in points, from 311 in 2017 to 367 in 2018. The highest points requirements were seen in the five to six-year Medicine course at 725 points. The lowest were for the general Arts course at 300 points. Both remained unchanged from 2017. When SIN asked incoming students why they chose NUI Galway, the college’s good reputation both at home and abroad was a driving factor. “I’m actually from Canada

and for me personally, it’s cheaper to come to school overseas than it is to stay in Canada,” said first year Erica Cowen who is studying Arts. “And the History course in Galway is much more exemplary than other universities in Ireland, so that’s why I ended up choosing here.” Business Information Systems student Nicolas Oloinu told SIN; “I just thought it was a really good college. I looked it up and it was in the one percent of the world (in university rankings) and had a wide variety of courses so I thought, ‘why not?’.” “Also, it’s known to have a decent social life and that…” he added. Other students had more humble reasons for their choice. “Well my brother and sister came here,” said Computer Science student Evan. “From their experiences, I decided that I should come here.” His classmate Brian also has siblings who attended NUI Galway. “I kind of already knew the city and it’s a nice city. A few of my friends were going as well, so I know it’s a good college.”

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6 N E WS & F E AT U R ES

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01

NUI Galway refunds fees to students after complaints over course quality upheld By Áine Kenny NUI Galway have refunded an entire year worth of tuition fees to current third and fourth year students on the BA Connect with Journalism course after students’ complaints about the organisation of the course during the third year of the programme were upheld. The refund was confirmed to students on Monday last week 23 July, after a Student Complaints Board met in June and found that students’ complaints in relation to their thirdyear experience were valid and ruled in favour of a full payment of fees to the students. As part of the third year of the course, students are required to find a six to eight-week placement. However, students were left dissatisfied with the level of assistance they received in finding a placement and were unhappy with the overall management of the course. Current third years lodged an official complaint in relation to the third year of the programme, while the fourth-year group who will graduate in October placed a complaint in relation to their overall experience but especially the third-year experience. The board heard responses to these complaints from staff members, who

acknowledged shortcomings in course organisation and administration, according to a report issued to students, seen by the Irish Independent. The board made the decision to uphold the complaints in relation to the third-year experience in both instances and students have been told by the University that they will receive a full refund. In the report issued to students from the board, the board held that “it is clear that there were significant shortcomings in the management of the third-year placement which had a detrimental impact on the student experience for the third year of programme.” NUI Galway told the Irish Independent that the BA Connect was being restructured and will now be under the steerage of Mr Tom Felle, who was appointed after a review of the MA Journalism programme last year. “Following a review in 2017, the MA Journalism programme was revised and will relaunch in September. The programme did not run this academic year. The ambitions of the relaunched programme are to produce graduates with up to date skills and specialisations suited to the contemporary world of journalism. Following the review, NUI Galway has appointed a senior academic,

New award available for students of Applied Microbiology By William Chambers The staff of NUI Galway’s Microbiology department, along with Complete Laboratory Solutions’ (CLS) Director of Analysts on Contract Colin O’Toole, recently unveiled their new CLS MedPharma Student Excellence Award for those completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Microbiology. The award, which will be issued to one student during the conferring ceremony in October, will be based solely on the student’s performance in the analytical microbiology and laboratory quality management modules of the course. Mr Colin O’Toole spoke about the mutualistic relationship between graduates of Microbiology at NUI Galway and the work carried out at CLS MedPharma. “We have been working with NUI Galway since CLS MedPharma was first established here in Galway city in 2008, and likewise at our first facility in Ros Muc in Connemara since 1994.” “In the intervening years, over 40 NUI Galway graduates have been recruited at CLS. The Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Microbiology equips graduates with the practical techniques and skills required for a career in science, and this is down to

the exceptional work of Dr Cyril Carroll and Dr Gerard Fleming, Directors of the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Microbiology,” he added. With CLS MedPharma celebrating a decade since establishing its new branch in Galway city, Mr O’Toole felt the time was right to recognise the talent graduating from the NUI Galway Applied Microbiology course: “Supporting the next generation of microbiologists is very important to us and I am excited to celebrate our tenth year at CLS MedPharma by recognising talented students this year.” The introduction of this new award was welcomed warmly by Dr Cyril Carroll. He praised those at CLS for recognising graduates of Applied Microbiology in NUI Galway for their contribution and involvement. “I believe that the close contact with our graduates and CLS MedPharma over the past number of years reflects the contribution of the course to the supply of highly qualified microbiologists to the Industry. It addresses an important need that continues to be relevant to the West of Ireland: priorities in Quality Control, R&D and Science and Technology,” Dr Carroll concluded.

Tom Felle, to lead the development of its journalism, media and communications programmes in the coming years,” said a spokesperson. “The journalism programmes at NUI Galway have been reorganised and a new MA in Journalism will launch in September, with a new focus on digital skills such as verification, social media, analytics and data journalism. A new MA in Sports Journalism will launch in 2019. The BA Journalism programme is being reformed and a new joint honours BA Journalism will replace the current structure.” As it stands the course saw students take on two Arts subjects with Journalism modules. Now students will take on one Arts subject with Journalism. According to Mr Felle, the course offered will be “more robust”. “The programme will be much more robust in content and in terms of learning practical skills. Students will still have the opportunity to take one Arts subject with Journalism, which is important as they will learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills,” he said. “We will also be adding in a stronger digital element to the course. Search engine optimisation, analytics and verification journalism will be taught. Verification journalism (fact checking) is very

important, and currently those skills are not being taught in Ireland. NUI Galway will be the first university in the country to teach this.” “We will be offering a very exciting, interactive Arts experience with the new course. Students will also get the

In the report issued to students from the board, the board held that “it is clear that there were significant shortcomings in the management of the third-year placement which had a detrimental impact on the student experience for the third year of programme”.

opportunity to go on an established work placement or Erasmus in third year.” In addition to the repayment of fees, the board have recommended that: the Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies initiates a College-led review of the structure and resourcing of the third year of the BA Connect programmes, as a matter of urgency, to ensure the student experience offered in the third year meets the required standards; that student feedback and communications with students should be significantly enhanced under Mr Felle’s leadership ahead of the next academic year; that adequate resourcing and administrative support be provided by the College to support Mr Felle as he takes over the running of the BA and Masters in Journalism programmes; that a review of promotional material for the BA with Journalism and the information provided to prospective students about the BA Connect programmes in general takes place ahead of the new recruitment cycle to ensure the promotional material accurately reflects the content of the course. Students in receipt of SUSI will not receive the refund. Originally written for the Irish Independent by SIN reporters Sorcha O’Connor and Áine Kenny

NUI Galway researchers discover new breast cancer treatment strategy By Martha Brennan A group of NUI Galway based researchers have made another huge breakthrough in breast cancer research. The scientists, based in the university’s Apoptosis Research Centre, have identified why there is such a high relapse rate after chemotherapy in women who have triple negative breast cancer - the most aggressive form of breast cancer. They found that targeting a certain stress response pathway, called IRE1, can improve the response to chemotherapy and reduce the high relapse rates. The group was led by Prof Afshin Samali, director of the Apoptosis Research Centre. “We have shown for the first time that IRE1 - which is a cellular stress sensor that normally acts to alleviate short-term stresses within cells - is a central driver of treatment-related relapse,” Prof Samali explains. In simpler terms, the team dis-

covered that chemotherapy can activate the IRE1 stress response. This leads to the production of survival signals which are pumped out of the cell, these signals then support the growth of new cancer cells. Using Triple Negative Breast Cancer cells treated with chemotherapy from over 595 tumors, the research team found that blocking IRE1 activity reduced the production of the survival signals, and this in turn reduced the growth of new cancer cells by 50 per cent. Unlike other forms of breast cancer, there are no targeted therapies available for triple negative breast cancer, which accounts for up to 15 percent of Irish breast cancer diagnoses. This type of cancer is most common among younger women. The recent breakthrough from NUI Galway has now enabled the development of a new targeted drug for the disease. The drug, called MCK8866, will hopefully not only improve the effectiveness of initial chemotherapy treatment, but also reduce the relapse rates

among women with this form of cancer. “We are delighted to lead the way in identifying a new therapeutic strategy for triple negative breast cancer patients who are most in need of better treatment options,” Prof Samali says. “Furthermore, this strategy may benefit many other cancer patients whose cancer cells rely on activated cell stress responses to survive.” Dr Susan Logue, first author of the study, says that further research is still needed but this was a major success: “This work is a great example of how curiosity-driven basic research can lead to translational outcomes with real potential to impact on patient treatment.” The study was funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the Irish Cancer Society and Horizon 2020, with initial funding from Breast Cancer Now. The findings were published in the renowned scientific journal Nature Communications last month.

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September 11 2018

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Accommodation? It’s like gold dust ERASMUS By William Chambers

As we begin a new academic year in NUI Galway I am forced to consider those out there who are still scrounging for a house to live in. At this critical point in the year it is inevitable that flocks of students lacking accommodation will be bowled over by the stress they feel at the realisation of looming homelessness, and indeed I along with countless others know that feeling all too well. With accommodation now becoming an almost precious and rare student commodity, I will trace the journey of my hunt for a house to illustrate the problem and see what, if anything, is being done to tackle this ever-worsening issue. My search for a place began way back in February of this year when the staff at Gort na Coiribe opened their online booking system to allow applications for student accommodation. Having acquired Corrib Village by the skin of my teeth for first year I knew that there would be huge demand for student villages again. The website crashing multiple times only reinforced this notion, and indeed a disappointing email some days later informing me of my unsuccessful application set it in stone. This would be the first on a long list of many failed and tedious attempts at finding accommodation. Even in the bitterness of not securing a room in Gort some sweetness was found in the fact that none of my other roommates from Corrib last year were initially accepted either. To ensure homelessness was kept at bay for the 2018/19 academic year we decided to contact landlords around the area in the hopes of securing a house. The one problem however was the fact that we were four lads. Landlords don’t like letting houses to lads. Once they discovered the genders of those contacting them replies quickly ceased. It was now April and the next obstacle for me came when my roommates were given their golden tickets for accommodation in the form of Gort re-emerging to offer each of them twin rooms. “Just my luck,” was my initial thought now knowing that firstly: my chances of getting Gort had all but vanished and secondly: I would have to find a

different group to stand some chance of getting a house around the city with. Contacting each of my lecture friends along with people I knew from home studying in NUI Galway proved fruitless as each had already alarmingly managed to secure a place on campus. With assignment deadlines closing in and exams advancing rapidly, the stress over accommodation began to bubble. Hope for easily accessible accommodation was once again on the cards in May when Cúirt na Coiribe boldly began releasing details of its prices and opening dates in the middle of exam season. Unless you were living under a rock earlier this year, you are no doubt aware of the notorious issue regarding Cúirt’s shockingly steep price raise for rooms. Though the student complex still managed to fill up each vacancy (albeit at a snail’s pace in comparison to other years) my chances of securing a place were crushed a few days after applying. A letter arrived, returning my deposit with an accompanying apathetic side note summarising a worthless waiting list for those still willing to pay an arm and a leg for a room. After completing my exams and assignments which took secondary positions throughout this search for accommodation (and no doubt suffered as a result) I learned that two of my friends from Corrib, Ellie and Lydia, were stuck in a similar houseless situation as myself. As a last resort we decided to look for a house together from mid-May onwards. After one month and 27 (yes, 27!) enquiries to different landlords on daft.ie we finally struck gold when Lydia discovered a home owner who had mutual connections with her. With a four-bedroom house we now had the task of finding another tenant which brought us to the depths of a popular Facebook group, which for most people leads to nothing more than a chasm of house hunting dead ends. Galway – Rent, Let, House Hunting (For sound people), functions exactly as its name would suggest but only for the select few who are lucky enough to be selected from their state of houseless

limbo by those with accommodation. Within 12 hours of putting an ad up for our room and selecting our final roommate, we received over 40 enquiries, and the plethora of comments on the posts of others revealed the vast number of those still uncertain about where they will be living for the year. Taking almost five months to fully secure accommodation was a truly fretful experience and though it is evident that homelessness is still a reality for many students beginning a new term in Galway, action is being taken in attempts to alleviate the crisis. NUI Galway Students’ Union Welfare and Equality Officer Clare Austick says that the Students’ Union are trying to ensure finding affordable housing is not a barrier to education: “Last year when Cúirt na Coirbe decided to implement an 18 percent rent increase, the SU acted immediately, mobilising students to protest the rise. The momentum grew when NUI Galway Students’ Union took Cúirt to court on behalf of an individual student.” “We are coordinating a Crisis Camp Out with GMIT Students’ Union and the trade unions under the One Galway Initiative on 11 September in Eyre Square. This is to inform students and the wider public of their rights and to draw attention to the plight of those trying to set up home in this crisis. USI’s National campaign, which has always focused on publicly funded education, has switched focus to accommodation this year. This action highlights the significance of the crisis and how it affects people all over Ireland. The National Demo on 3 October is calling on students to show their support for this critical issue.” When the opportunity of housing finally arrives for homeless students, Clare concluded with this primal piece of advice: “I would advise students to be cautious when signing agreements. It’s important to see a lease in place and not to feel pressurised into making hasty decisions or accepting substandard living conditions.” Students still lacking accommodation may seek advice from their university at www. nuigalway.ie/student-life/accommodation.

Photo: John Moeses Bauan on Unsplash

DIARIES By Anne Rieger

Hi there. I am Anne, just your average weird German girl. I am 20 years old and I’m in second year of English and Celtic studies, so basically Ireland with a little side of Irish and Irish as a dessert. I applied for the Erasmus programme a while back, right after I started at my home university of Bonn in Germany. I am pretty sure that everybody thought I was insane, because I just came back from a six month stay in Ireland and I already wanted to go back. But there are several good reasons for that. (Besides the obvious reasons, like having a boyfriend here, and Ireland just being the most scenic country that ever existed). First of all, Ireland and especially Galway makes everyone feel at home. I never hear of anybody complaining about being homesick in Ireland… well, I bet there are some strange people who do that! But the most important reason why I will always come back to Ireland are the people. And no, I’m still not talking about my boyfriend! I am talking about the fact that you are able to go out on the street by yourself and make friends in a minute. Just try it, it works like a charm. The thing that apparently is not so easy to achieve in Ireland is getting a place to live. Coming from Germany, where I lived in my family home, it really shocked me when I started looking into places in Ireland. The housing crisis has taken over the country and especially Galway. The worst thing is that as long as the law enforcement and government don’t weed out online scams and discrimination against tenants, whether they are students or otherwise, this crisis will persist. I could explain to you why the prices here are so expensive and why you are not able to find anything, but that wouldn’t help anyone. I could also give you some quality advice on how to find a place, but I’m going be homeless too, so if you have advice, don’t hesitate to send it to me. The only thing I can say is that you are not alone. Allegedly, 30 students camped in Eyre square last year and there will be more this year. I’m not trying to freak you guys out, what I want to say is that there is always an option, even if it is a tent. Try connecting with people on social media that are in a similar position. You’ll realise it is a nice way to meet people and it will make you feel a lot safer about your situation. The moral of this story is... don’t give up. You will find a place to live. And to everyone who found accommodation already: think back to when you were looking and support others, so nobody has to sleep on the street. A sofa is still nicer than a tent.

8 N E WS & F E ATU R ES

Diary of a Final Year: Introductions By Aileen O’Leary Hi, I’m Aileen, I’m a fourth year here in NUI Galway and these are my final year diaries. I’m not a big fan of formal introductions so in the spirit of fresher’s here are a few facts about me: • I’m 20. • I’m a Scorpio. • I spent last year working as a communications intern for Cycling Ireland. • I’m a dog person. • I love binge watching bad reality shows. • I love food, my favourite spots in Galway are Biteclub, Dough Bros, and Tribeton. • I’m obsessed with Polaroids; I bring my camera everywhere with me. • My playlist can include anything from Sinatra to Kanye to Oasis and more. • I’m not a morning person. • I watch way too many crime series on Netflix. Now that we’ve gotten to know each other a little better, welcome to the first (of many) final year diaries! Throughout this year I will be documenting my experience of final year here in NUI Galway. Written from my perspective, in every issue of SIN I will be filling you in on all the highs and lows of college life. I’ll also be talking about life after graduating and looking into what options are available to you once you leave these hallowed halls. I will be giving you a heads up about events like career days, how to get help with your C.V., interview preparation, and other services that are on campus. I’ll also be looking back at my time in NUI Galway and what would I tell myself as a fresher; any advice I have I will give you. Any final years out there consider these diaries a sure sign that we’re all in the same boat. These diaries will be candid. For my fellow final years these next few months will be tough, in the space of a year you will be facing final year projects, some of you will be applying for Masters, others will be applying for jobs, and some will be getting visas to go abroad. There will also be the bitter sweet moment when you’ve finished your exams but also finished your days as a student. So grab some tissues, brace yourself, because this is it, this is the final countdown. A year from now we will all be graduating, and we all know that what you do in final year has a huge role to play in your overall degree. So enjoy it but don’t forget why you’re here. College flies by and won’t slow down for anyone so a bit of advice from a final year, try to show up to as much as you can but don’t beat yourself up if you miss a lecture or a tutorial here and there. Whatever you do, don’t use sitting at home watching ‘Tipping Point’ as an excuse for why you weren’t in college, try to show up. That’s it for this week but check back for our next final year diaries entry. Enjoy fresher’s and let us know what your thoughts on final year are, you can tweet us at @NuigSin.

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01

How to become a top blogger according to NUI Galway alumnus Cinnamon Soul By Marie Coady Blogging has morphed from a hobby you’d use to flesh out your C.V. into a genuine career path. You can’t walk into Easons without coming across a cookbook or essay collection written by someone who made their name through Tumblr, Wordpress, Instagram or YouTube. Internet personalities are more likely than ever to be seen on talk shows or on the pages of glossy magazines. Irish bloggers are so influential that their dodgier antics (thanks, Bloggers Unveiled) make national newspapers. While blogging is clearly becoming more lucrative, it’s getting harder and harder to stand out from the crowd. Even in a small country like Ireland, the term “influencer” is becoming diluted as people jump on the bandwagon. Having said that, a few names stand out for their talent, drive and passion. One of those names is 26-year-old Niamh O’Sullivan, also known as Cinnamon Soul. Currently based in Naas, the NUI Galway graduate blogs about fashion, fitness, lifestyle and everything in between. Global influencer network SERMO Communications recently named her as “one to watch” on a list of Ireland’s top influencers alongside heavy hitters like So Sue Me and Rozanna Purcell. She has a combined following of over 27,000 people on her various social media platforms. Niamh shared some advice with SIN about how she established her brand and how you too can carve out your own space in the blogosphere.

1. Think of yourself as a brand: When that blank box shows up asking you to choose a blog name, it’s worth taking time to mull it over. “Pick something that won’t make you cringe in five years’ time,” says Niamh, who is currently porting

her accounts over to her given name after three years as Cinnamon Soul. “Sponsored content isn’t the be-all and end-all of blogging; for some of you it will be the last thing on your mind,” reveals Niamh. However, your overall brand is very important if you would like to get the attention of corporate sponsors (read: freebies) in the future. This includes everything from your writing style to your fashion sense. “When you’re trying to get noticed, try and put yourself in a brand’s shoes… is the image you’re creating going to catch their eye? Will they be able to repurpose it across their channels? These are things you need to keep in mind,” says Niamh.

2. Be willing to experiment: Just because a lot of people blog about fashion, fitness, entertainment or politics doesn’t mean that standing out is an impossibility, but you’ll have a better chance of doing so if you find a distinctive selling point that keeps people coming back. This could include a unique perspective on the world, a memorable writing style or striking imagery. “I think testing different topics that you are passionate about with your audience to see what resonates with them is key,” says Niamh. “There’s no point creating content around subjects that people don’t care about. You need to figure out how to get people to come back to your page or site.” Does this mean you need to post every day? Not necessarily, she says: “Striking a balance between frequency and quality is key. Testing the waters with the amount you post on social media and your blog is important to find the sweet spot that keeps your reach and impressions steady and rising.” She cites a unique tone of voice, consistency, quality content and topicality as some of the qualities of the most successful bloggers.

Photo: Niamh O’Sullivan

Even if you think your blog subject doesn’t lend itself that well to the likes of Instagram, YouTube or Snapchat, setting up a Facebook fan page or Twitter account is a great way to get exposure and keep your readers updated, even if your only reader is Auntie Patricia.

3. Don’t neglect social media: Niamh believes that today, people’s eyes are on social media rather than traditional blogs. She estimates that she spends about 75 to 80 percent of her time on social media. Even if you think your blog subject doesn’t lend itself that well to the likes of Instagram, YouTube or Snapchat, setting up a Facebook fan page or Twitter account is a great way to get exposure and keep your readers updated, even if your only reader is Auntie Patricia.

4. Think beyond words: No matter how great you think your opinions are, readers will be turned off if your website looks like a dog’s dinner and the quality of your images is akin to JPEGs restored from a floppy disc in 1998. Choosing a nice theme that is easy to read and looks sophisticated rather than distracting is important. It wouldn’t go amiss to learn a bit of CSS to make your own custom themes – that’s the language that determines how webpages look. As for photos, Niamh says not to worry about investing in an expensive camera at the beginning – she herself uses her phone for about 90 percent of her pictures.

5. Be patient: So, you’ve been posting for a few weeks, have plastered your Instagram with your best snaps and spent hours tweaking your blog’s look. When do the freebies start rolling in? We hate to burst your bubble, but you’ll have to keep plugging away until you’ve established an audience. “The perks are great, now… emphasis on now! I saw basically zero return on my time and monetary investment for the first two/two-and-a-half years,” says Niamh. “It takes so long to get to that point where the perks are good.”

6. Be willing to make sacrifices: Blogging, as with any occupation that has its roots online, is looked upon as an easy gig. But Niamh admits it has a few disadvantages. “I find it difficult to switch off and not be thinking of my next photo or trying to reply to work-related emails all the time. I could never imagine myself going on a holiday and not spending a good chunk of time worrying about taking nice pictures, which isn’t ideal!” “I like being able to work at my own pace and to my own schedule, but it does get lonely sometimes too. I worked in a nine to five for over three years so I do miss the office environment and having people to chat to each day.” There is no typical working day for a blogger, which Niamh has a love/hate relationship with. But overall, she loves what she does. She tries to spend at least three days a week working on her laptop from home. “Another day might be at events or meetings, which I try to schedule on the same day where possible,” she says. “Another day will usually be spent shooting loads of different photos and outfits for the blog and my Instagram. I love it!” You can check out Niamh’s blog at cinnamon-soul. com and follow her Instagram: @niamh_osullivan

By Sarah Canavan Unless you have being living under a rock for the past few weeks, you’ll know that Pope Francis visited Ireland from 26 – 27 August. The Ireland that greeted him was worlds apart from the Ireland that greeted Pope John Paul II in 1979. The visit made worldwide headlines, and the Papal Mass in Phoenix Park was broadcast in 139 countries. All of the media attention focused on Ireland’s status as a “Catholic country.” But does Ireland still hold its status as a Catholic country? Mass attendance has plummeted. We have voted to liberalize our laws regarding divorce, same sex marriage, and most recently abortion. We now have an openly gay Taoiseach. However, the distinct lack of interest in the Papal visit is the biggest indictor of Ireland losing its Catholic status. Less than five per cent of the population went to the Papal Mass in Phoenix Park compared to one third of the population in 1979. 690,000 people tuned into RTE for the 2018 Eurovision, compared to 535,000 for the Papal Mass. In fact, the Papal Mass wouldn’t have enough viewership to even break into the top 20 most watched programmes of 2017 on RTE. These figures shouldn’t surprise anyone because Catholic Church abuses have dominated headlines in Ireland over the past decade. These range from Magdalene Laundries, mother and baby homes, ille-

N E D L GO K E T TIC one Admit

gal adoptions and clerical sexual abuse. The public have become more informed and have grown angry and powerful. The Papal visit has proved that the Irish public are prepared to fight even if the opponent is the most powerful Catholic on the planet. On the weekend of the Papal visit, thousands of people from all over Ireland took a stand looking for truth. The Stand4Truth event took place at the Garden of Remembrance to show solidarity with victims of institutional abuse. Another 1000 people gathered for a silent vigil in Tuam to remember the victims of the mother and baby home there. Campaigners called for accountability in relation to clerical abuse, the ordination of women, and the inclusion of LGBT Catholics in the Church at a rainbow umbrella demonstration on Dublin’s Ha’penny Bridge. Pope Francis did acknowledge and ask for forgiveness for the abuses, but that is not an apology. Survivors deserve more. They deserve for their abusers and for those who covered it up to be punished. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar did bring this issue up at Dublin Castle, saying; “There is much to be done to bring justice and healing for survivors of clerical abuse.” He also called for the Church to act on their words of condemnation of clerical child sexual abuse. During the visit we learned that we are no longer the good quiet Catholic country that the world expects us to be. Within just 39 years, we have evolved into a diverse and accepting country that will scream from the roof tops for what is right. We have grown up.

NUS DRIN K BO F

M RO

Dear Pope Francis, Ireland has grown up

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N UAC HT

September 11 2018

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SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01

Out of Hours health What to expect when you’re services pertaining moving away from home to students By Conor Brummell

By Olivia Hanna On Friday 30 August at 12:30pm, I was in pain and discomfort, upset, confused, and in desperate need of a doctor. This wasn’t the first time I’ve been in that position, so I knew what was wrong with me. I had a urinary tract infection that could be remedied with a simple course of antibiotics. Since I was in pain and needed to be seen as soon as possible, I couldn’t wait for the Student Health Unit to open. Even if I could, they were still exclusively seeing postgraduates, and I am an undergraduate. I called WestDoc with the hopes that they would be able to see me swiftly and give me the treatment I needed so I could get some rest that night. When I called WestDoc, they referred me to the out of hours emergency number listed on the website for the Student Health Unit. Calling this number was a great disappointment. The doctor on the other end of the line was short and sounded inconvenienced by my call, to say the least. I explained my situation to him, even though he didn’t care to ask the reason for my late night call, to which he responded; “well it’s a bit too late for that love.” He refused to talk to me, and didn’t even make a suggestion as to what I could do to ease my pain. Close to tears I called WestDoc a second time, to which they told me to follow the other doctor’s advice. I told them he hadn’t given me any. When I asked again if they could see me they said they don’t see students at all. I felt crushed and pleaded with them to let me come in. I would pay what they needed; I just had to have antibiotics. Again they said they simply don’t treat students. I only had one option left, one that I had been avoiding due to previous experiences. I had to go to A&E. When I made the decision to go I already knew what my night would look like; my bloods were taken and I provided a urine sample, I had a needle in my arm for 6 restless hours, and when I was finally seen by a very kind doctor I was told what I already knew. I left A&E tired, still uncomfortable, with my prescription and a hospital bill of €200.

While I eventually got what I needed, I felt unsettled by the experience and there were a few questions I wanted answers to. Why wouldn’t WestDoc see me, are students second-class citizens? Was my concern a true emergency warranting a call? Is this the type of out of hours care we should expect to receive? I decided to investigate this myself, to ease my mind and to help other students who someday may be in a similar position. I first called WestDoc to understand their policy against providing care to students. “We are funded by the HSE to take care of patients of our member doctors,” explained the WestDoc representative. “It’s a co-operative so the doctors have to buy in to become members. We have been assured that all the students at the colleges are best served by their own doctors.” Next I turned to the services facilitated by NUI Galway. I called the Student Health Unit and learned that they pay to be serviced by local GPs, though I couldn’t get the names of any of the doctors. I decided to go the health unit and speak to Medical Director of the Student Health Unit Fionnguala Lysaght. I explained my situation and she reassured me that I did everything correctly, and that the GP who took my call should not have responded the way he did, since the pain I was in did warrant medical attention. She apologized profusely for my experience and proceeded to check up on me to make sure I was okay. While I can’t re-do the night I had in A&E, I feel better knowing that my experience wasn’t average, and that someone was willing to apologize to me and inquire about my health. In situations such as this one, I believe that it is important to seek help and to demand the medical attention you need. Health is so important, whether or not you are ‘simply a student’, and no one should refuse to give you the help you need. However, I am put at ease knowing that people like Dr Lysaght truly care about the wellbeing of every student.

September 2018 has just begun, and with it, we’ve seen another round of Leaving Cert results and CAO offers being distributed and accepted. This has brought forward new challenges for young people around the country: heading to college, working full - time/ part - time and quite possibly moving away from home. Gone are the days of school and homework where your life was planned out for you and regimented, wherein there was one goal and one goal only - complete the Leaving Cert and finish school. You no longer have the security of teachers or parents telling you what to do, and you’re one step further up the ladder to adulthood. This can be a daunting and terrifying task to tackle, but can also be a wonderful new adventure for all who choose to do it.

mundane things you’ve never given a second thought to, because it’s always either been there or gotten for you by your parents. Then comes moving day and it’s all well and good until your Mam and Dad drive off, and you realise you forgot the toilet paper in the boot of the car. Living on your own gives you a sense of independence and freedom you’ve probably never experienced before, but with that also comes the dreaded ‘R’ word: responsibility. No longer anyone there to make sure you cook and clean, suddenly you’ve got to become pretty responsible to make sure you survive. Grocery shopping, going to college and making sure you get your coursework done become pretty high on the list of important things you have to do, but that doesn’t necessarily mean life is all work and no play. As my old guidance counsel-

Who’s going to do your laundry now?! Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash Moving away from home for the first time can be a stressful ordeal, and I remember it well (I say that as if it wasn’t exactly a year ago, give or take a few days). No matter how prepared you think you are there will always be that last - minute rush for everything you need for living on your own; pillows, duvets, sauce pans, a toothbrush, the list goes on. Ordinary

lor once said, “You can party all night if you want, as long as you make your 9 o’clock the next morning!” True to her word, making a 9am lecture in general is the definition of responsibility. College life is a completely surreal and different experience from living at home, but while it can be stressful, it can also be rewarding. Friendships

are made with people and after a while it can feel like those people have been in your life for as long as your friends from home have been. On top of this, the judgmental hierarchy of secondary school is abolished and you can fully be yourself without anyone else judging (as long as you aren’t hurting anyone in the process of course). Moving to college from a rural town can feel like you’ve been the big fish in a small pond, to suddenly being a small fish stranded out of water. From protesting to partying, the hustle and bustle of city life can be as exhilarating as it is terrifying for those not used to it. All in all, flying the nest for the first time is a process that gets perfected over time and I can guarantee nobody gets it right just off the bat. Despite it being an everyday necessity, I can’t even count the amount

Despite it being an everyday necessity, I can’t even count the amount of times I forgot a towel on a Sunday evening coming back to Galway, and the amount of times I’ve had to buy a new one from Penny’s on a Monday morning. of times I forgot a towel on a Sunday evening coming back to Galway, and the amount of times I’ve had to buy a new one from Penny’s on a Monday morning. It just goes to show that everything’s a learning curve, and I for one am excited to see what another year living away from home will bring, as I am sure those doing it for the first time will be too.

Society Spotlight: St Vincent de Paul Society By Áine Kenny The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) was founded in Ireland in 1844 and is the largest voluntary charitable organisation in the country. Members of SVP work together to fight poverty and social exclusion by offering a hand of friendship to those who need it most. SVP has many committees across Ireland, including here in NUI Galway.

Shane Molamphy, auditor of NUI Galway’s SVP Society, explains that the aim of their society is based off the St Vincent de Paul mission statement. “This means working for social justice through fundraising and organising events under the SVP name. We also help other charitable organisations that work with the local community, which has included Ability West and the Irish Guide Dogs Association in the past,” says Shane. “Our committee members come from

a whole variety of courses in NUI Galway. Our committee members along with the rest of the society strive to help all stretches of society by offering support and friendship to anyone and everyone where possible. There are a few positions on the committee to be filled, so we are encouraging current and new students that are motivated and want to help out to come along to our AGM and apply themselves,” he adds. “New volunteers can join by com-

ing along to Socs Day on Wednesday 12 September in the Bailey Allen. If volunteers can’t attend this event, they can message the society Facebook page and we will give info about events and our weekly meetings there,” says Shane. “I feel our society is different as it is not solely focused on the work of Saint Vincent de Paul, but we will help others that come to us for assistance. Since

we are a society at the end of the day though, we have social nights throughout the year, so members can have a bit of fun while also helping fulfil the needs of others,” Shane concluded.

N UAC HT

September 11 2018

GNÉ -ALTANNA

Meet SU President Megan Reilly By Rachel Garvey Megan started off just like us, a student in NUI Galway who studied Commerce with Accounting, and before that she started off in Arts. To quote her: “college isn’t one size that fits all”, which means she believes that having options opened more doors. Take it from Megan, she knows what she’s talking about. She explained to me that every registered student is a part of the Student’s Union (a lot don’t know that), and if you consider yourself a leader you can put yourself forward for class representative. You can also volunteer for charities and events, or even just pop into the Student’ Union for a chat, the door is always open to anyone. While talking with Megan I knew 100% that I made the right choice in voting for her. Her goals are simple; better policies on alco-

hol, mental health, social space (meaning NUI Galway will provide more places to sit), and to make sure everything runs well and smoothly in the Student’s Union. Her general goal is to hold NUI Galway accountable if an unfair matter was to arise. That itself is a big goal because it shows how responsible Megan is if there was a predicament. To the new first year students reading this, she has a few words of advice for you. “Getting involved in sports, clubs and societies is a great opportunity as it will make you feel part of the community, it will help you to settle in quicker and you’ll make new friends too. Also, we (the Student’s Union) is always welcoming towards students who engage with us so don’t be shy.” Before Megan announced to the students of the University that she would be running for President,

it was always something that she had felt passionate about. She says she felt she had a lot more to give to the union. “I am passionate about representing people and wanted to be the leader who brought about change.” You may think Megan’s time is completely taken over by being the Student Union President, but in her spare time, and when she does have spare time, she’s like any other person. She enjoys meeting friends, taking walks by the sea (she really loves the sea), spending time with family, and trying to read whenever she can. After two months of settling into her role of being the Student’s Union President, Megan is really enjoying the role so far. Megan is just like us and was once in the same place as we were in college, so don’t hesitate to talk to her. Her door is always open and she’s really lovely, I swear!

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TUAIRIM

September 11 2018

“PROFIT BEFORE PEOPLE”

—Ireland’s student accommodation crisis By Callum McGuire As prospective freshers flock from exam halls, accelerated by the excitement of the opportunities that await them in their chosen Universities, the air of anticipation is tainted by the issues festering in student accommodation. Already a daunting financial strain, 2018 witnessed a growth in the rent crisis. In Galway alone, the cost of student accommodation has risen on average by €1000, as reported by RTÉ. Naturally, students were not well informed of such a planned hike in prices, which was dropped on the unsuspecting scholars in the middle of exam time, during a Bank Holiday weekend in May. Such inopportune timing clearly reveals the lack of regard held for students by some landlords. They look upon Ireland’s youth not as the country’s future, but instead through the lenses of supply and demand, wherein students become a lucrative finical opportunity, a stream of Euro signs, flowing into their boardrooms. The price increases are not the only demon lurking in our student halls however, and the Irish Times reports a shortfall of approximately

25,000 student bed spaces when compared to the demand. Rubbing salt in the figurative wound, Galway East TD, Anne Rabbitte, claims to know of 22 Galway students who slept rough in Eyre Square during the last academic year, and told the Irish Independent that such a number would rise to 50 students come this September. The concept of students left stranded on the streets raises the issue of poverty, and begs the question; will the rising accommodation prices result in a cruel transfiguration of college from an equal opportunity to one dived by class? Those who can afford the cost of student housing can pursue their preferred courses further down the country, while those who cannot are forced to accept their less prioritized degrees, just so that they can live at home and commute the distance. Student grants such as SUSI should in theory counteract this, but I ask you; how long will governments’ generosity last as the number of applicants grows in accordance with accommodation prices? So how is the issue to be tackled? Unfortunately, in a depressingly unsurprising way. The student accommodation crisis has been reflective of Ireland’s larger housing crisis, with government

The price increases are not the only demon lurking in our student halls however, and the Irish Times reports a shortfall of approximately 25,000 student bed spaces when compared to the demand. response being slow and characteristically indecisive. A quick search on CitizensInformation.ie will swiftly inform students that the maximum rent increase allowed in a 24-month period is 4%. However, the enforcement of such a Rent Cap hardly seems efficiently coercive, given the horrific hikes already in action. Furthermore, the

Why the half-hearted “sugar tax” leaves a bitter taste By Marie Coady The government’s tax on sugar-sweetened drinks is bringing in a lot of the sweet stuff. According to the Irish Independent, the tax made €4.7 million for the Exchequer in the months of May and June after its introduction earlier this year, over €2 million a month. It is of course impossible at such an early stage to say if the tax has been successful or not in terms of reducing soft drink consumption, but it doesn’t seem to be getting off to a great start. Remember that the supposed original aim was to combat spiralling obesity rates. Irish consumers don’t seem to have been dissuaded from swigging the sweet nectar, even if they now pay up to 60 cent more per litre. It was a flimsy plan in that regard in the first place, as it only affects non-alcoholic drinks with added sugar. Sure, drinking too much Fanta will add to your waistline and damage your teeth, but so will drinking lots of cocktails and natural sugarbased juices and smoothies. It’s one thing to tax a fizzy drink that everyone knows is unhealthy, but why not tax sugar filled products like yoghurts, sauces and cereals that parents often give their children without realising how unhealthy they are? The fact that many Irish people unironically refer to regular Coke as “full fat” shows how woeful our nutritional knowledge is. Well-intentioned ignorance is the sort of thing we should be targeting with the funds from the tax. €2 million a month would go a long way towards funding up-to-date nutritional education, as well as improving school dinners, running awareness campaigns, offering healthy cooking classes and giving more money to sports clubs. Unfortunately, according to the Irish Independent’s report, the government has not ringfenced the proceeds from the sugar tax for health services, meaning they will go towards general funds instead.

This is baffling considering how the United Kingdom, which introduced a sugar tax around the same time, is using the extra money to improve physical education and sports facilities in primary schools. Clinical dietitian and NUI Galway PhD scholar Claire Kerins has called the government’s promises of tackling obesity into question. She spoke to SIN about where the government are going wrong: “While the introduction of the sugar-sweetened drinks tax is an important step towards tackling obesity levels in Ireland, research shows no single intervention is the ‘silver bullet’.” “Instead, a suite of obesity-prevention strategies is required in order to address this epidemic. This suite of interventions will require dedicated funding in order to implement and roll-out nationally,” she concluded. But even if it’s only a small step, the tax could have been a great way to dissuade manufacturers from packing foods with unnecessary sugar. The actual result is that brands like Lucozade are altering their products to have less sugar in order to dodge the tax… meaning diabetics must be extra cautious when treating low blood sugar, as these changes aren’t always advertised. Oops. Everyone knows that Coca-Cola has twelve cubes of sugar in it and can clean dirty pennies – that’s the main selling point! Well ok, not the coin cleaning part. But you buy these brands expecting a certain taste and spend extra money for that. Have you tried Lucozade recently? It tastes like someone has actually been rinsing their change in it. This “sugar tax” is more of a mild annoyance than a public health service, and pocketing the extra income shows how insincere the government is about tackling obesity. I’m no bookkeeper, but surely tweaking the budget would be a great PR exercise? Load the accountants up on a few cans of Red Bull if you have to. The sugar-free variety, of course.

increases in Galway will undoubtably ignite a predictable strain of accommodation price rises throughout the country, as private landlords are motivated by the dependence of students on such spaces, tipping the economic scales in their continual advantage. If the property moguls and landlords are to view us as some new resource to exploit, a horse to be whipped until death and then whipped again, while the Government stands idly by, twiddling their forever useless thumbs, then it falls to the student body to become the catalyst of change. Such times call for solidarity, not in one campus itself, but across the country. Student Unions should seek to contact and organise with each other, protesters should claim the streets not only in Galway, as they so fiercely did in May of this year, but in Cork, Dublin, Limerick, and every other University throughout Ireland. Students in areas yet unaffected by the rent increases should not distance themselves from the issue, but should stand up for their fellow students, struggling to remain in their academic positions, and crush the head of the serpent before it can slither into their own houses.

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14 O PI N IO N

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01

Are students who work at a disadvantage to those who don’t? By Gary Elbert In an ideal world, every student attending NUI Galway would be housed in affordable and well-maintained accommodation, where tenant rights are respectfully adhered to by dignified and regulated landlords. In this fantasy setting, no student is left scrambling desperately for the most rudimentary and unhygienic lodgings days before semester one begins. In this parallel universe, students can focus solely on their academic ambitions, free of stress and worry about precarious accommodation. The option to work a part time job allows a student to gain some real-world experience, while covering essential bills and rent. For many students this option does not exist. They must work evenings, weekends, and unsocial hours in low wage jobs to fund their educational and living requirements. The notion of students being allowed to focus solely on their studies seems almost absurdly idealistic in the current political and economic climate. Students have traditionally been exploited in Irish society. Only the truly wealthy and upper middle class can afford to bankroll their offspring’s educational needs free from the distraction of work, worry, and unkempt hovels. Drunken student misdemeanours repeatedly help to damage an overarching and consolidated activist approach towards students’ current plight.

Most students will work in the hospitality and service industry primarily due to the suitability of the time frames available. Many students have no choice but to miss lectures to ensure a roof is over their head and their fridge is stocked. The precarious unsocial nature of the work most students undertake combined with the exploitative accommodation leads to the question: How much of an impact does this situation have on student outcomes and levels of educational attainment? Are those working twenty to thirty hours a week at risk of diluting their educational potential, leading to unsatisfactory and underwhelming exam results? Studies in the USA concerned with academic performance and employment during higher education have delivered mixed and contradictory reviews. However, the negative consequences of combining work and study can lead to an “overload of commitment, increased psychological stress, and anxiety related to academic failure,” according to a researcher investigating stress levels of students. Another study proposed that a failure to fully identify with the student role is another marker of employment interfering with academic achievement. A lack of identification with student life negates realisation of the full student experience. The student who works may not have enough time to fully integrate with the diverse opportunities available on campus. He or she is less likely to form

strong communication lines with lecturers and professors. The social aspect of student life may also be reduced due to external pressures around employment and financial needs. The concept of imposter syndrome can thus be amplified by those students struggling to enjoy the extracurricular pursuits and opportunity for personal development outside the lecture and tutorial rooms. Mature students and those entering the system from deprived social backgrounds often report feelings of imposter syndrome plaguing their academic endeavours and thus the added caveat of working outside the sheltered campus bubble may only reinforce those outsider emotions. Naturally an opposite view can be taken. Students who juggle work and study time may learn the importance of time management, as well as developing their personal, social and employability skills, thus improving their desire to ascend the income ladder. Both standpoints may or may not be true depending on the student, their personal circumstances, their psychological make up and most importantly the nature of the work being undertaken while striving to academic excellence. Another significant variable is the avenue of study being pursued, underscored by the competence and diligence of lecturers and teachers themselves. Is a 1.1 more difficult in certain areas such as computational degrees, thus requiring enhanced commitment to study, as

opposed to certain humanity and social science curriculums where we know the attrition rate is decreased? Many variables exist when it comes to studying the effects of employment on study, including social background, ability to self-motivate, and the composition of work environments. However, it is difficult to argue against the case that precarious employment is on the rise, with employers in a much more powerful position to hire, fire, and ignore minimum legal working practices. I believe this is due to the ongoing, post bail - out neo liberalist economic policies being pursued by the current centre right administration. That trend is evident in universities themselves, where many students are taking classes lectured by academics who themselves are struggling under the weight of precarious work arrangements. A study of Italian undergraduates found that a distinction is made between those working “low intensity hours” (under 15 hours per week) and those working “high intensity hours” (15 - 34) with the obvious consequence that the more hours work a student undertook, the more likely his or her’s academic potential would be stifled. An Irish longitudinal study of this question would be most welcome. For now, students must segregate work-related stress and demands from effective academic performance. This can be done through diligent time management, consistent leisure time, and perhaps most

importantly of all, retaining self-respect and dignity in work environments. Last semester this writer learned of a woman with three children who worked at minimum four shifts a week at a medical device plant in Parkmore, achieved an undergraduate degree, a masters, and who progressed onto a PHD. Nothing is impossible provided a student organises his or her time effectively. The main problem of interference centres on landlord and employers’ unregulated greed and lack of respect for tenant and worker’s basic rights. These issues can affect even the most diligent and organised student and it is these issues - systemic and worseningthat our political and legal institutions need to resolve. Another factor in the work study paradigm is evidence from American social psychologists that younger generations of students are more likely to lack resilience and experience mental health difficulties – a postmodern phenomenon. Ultimately, achievement centres around personal responsibility. As soon as attitudes synthesise around what is wrong with the world and the myriad of failures possible due to systemic deficiencies, then personal responsibility becomes diluted, thus maximising the potential of underachievement. Students must resolve to manage and overcome many obstacles. The state must work harder at minimizing those barriers to actualized potential.

Are women using wine to cope with life’s pressures? By Áine Kenny The recent ‘Global Burden of Disease’ study in The Lancet medical journal has shown that Irish women aged in their 50s are out-drinking their younger counterparts. Overall, Irish women rank 7th in the world when it comes to daily alcohol consumption. This same study also claims that that there is no safe level of alcohol to drink. Should we be worried about Mná na hÉireann’s fondness of alcohol? It is no secret that Ireland has a binge-drinking culture. It is considered completely normal, if not mildly amusing, when a person drinks too much and makes a complete fool of themselves on a night out. Waking up with “the fear” is also common, for drinkers of all ages. According to Alcohol Action Ireland, alcohol consumption in Ireland almost trebled over four decades between 1960 and 2001. Clearly, this problem is not going away, but more importantly, are women being disproportionately affected by it? I think it is safe to say that women face certain societal pressures that men don’t. Raising a family while having a

stellar, high-powered career certainly gives the impression that women can “have it all.” This really is something that a lot of modern women are using alcohol to cope with. The aforemen-

while chopping up vegetables for dinner after a long stressful day. Many of the women who seem to live the perfect life face serious substance abuse issues, in an attempt to keep their perfectly-

According to Alcohol Action Ireland, alcohol consumption in Ireland almost trebled over four decades between 1960 and 2001. Clearly, this problem is not going away, but more importantly, are women being disproportionately affected by it? tioned study cites that these women problem drinkers are more likely to drink wine after they come home from work, in order to unwind after a stressful day. Ann Dowsett Johnston in The Atlantic writes a personal article about how she used alcohol as “an escape from perfectionism”, sipping her Pinot Grigio

manicured lifestyle intact. When the gender division of labour is considered, women usually come home from work to do more work. Women are often expected to do the bulk of the household chores and cooking, as well as being the primary caregiver. According to Statistics Canada, in 2015 women spent an average of 3.9 hours per day on unpaid

work, which is 1.5 more hours than men. I believe this is a serious factor in women falling prey to wine o’clock culture. Women and alcohol have also featured prominently in pop culture in recent years, both on screen and off screen. Chrissy Teigen gave an honest interview to Cosmopolitan last year, admitting that she was drinking too much. She also claims that drinking during the day was completely normalised, with boozy brunches being a regular feature in her week. Anyone else noticed how you can now add a bottle of prosecco to afternoon tea? Since when do we need bubbly in order to enjoy scones? This quote from Chrissy sums up wine o’clock culture perfectly: “Nobody really brought it up to me… they just assumed that it was okay because I always felt okay the next morning. I knew in my heart it wasn’t right.” Bree from Desperate Housewives is another pop culture icon who struggled with alcohol abuse. What started out as one too many glasses of wine, it quickly gets dark with her passing out in a changing room in a clothing store. Later on, she wakes up on her front lawn

after an alcohol-filled night, with no idea of how she got there. Cue Andrew turning on the sprinklers to wake her up to her serious problem. This raises the question, what can be done about women and problem drinking? For starters, we need to educate ourselves on what constitutes as one unit of alcohol. Most people don’t realise that a full glass of wine is closer to two or three units, not one. Society also needs to stop putting women under so much pressure. No one can have it all: the perfect husband, kids, career and house, so we need to stop trying and accept imperfection. In addition, men need to step up with the emotional labour. The statistics speak for themselves. I also think there needs to be more social activities for women that don’t revolve around drinking. Nearly everything has been infiltrated by alcohol, I once saw an advertisement for prosecco yoga. Why on earth do we need to add alcohol to everything we do? We don’t. Take away the wine from the book clubs and brunches and replace it with a nice strong cup of tea. Your head and your health will thank you for it.

TUAIRIM

September 11 2018

Are education and productivity apps a complete waste of time? By Anastasia Burton

With our world changing rapidly each day, it’s no surprise that many schools, colleges, and work places have turned away from mass printing information and handing it to individuals and progressed onto posting their information on apps. According to the Apple App store, there are over one million apps available, and as many as 60 thousand apps are added per month. Google have even more on offer, with 3.8 million apps available for Android users, with an average of 6140 apps released through the Google Play Store every day. A large portion of the app store consists of games and social apps, but another rising star happens to be educationbased applications. But are these productivity and education apps really worth our time and money?

I strongly believe that if you download apps with a genuine interest in learning and developing your skills, it will never be a waste of time. You don’t have to use the app every hour of the day, you don’t even have to use it daily or weekly. Apps are there to use when you are inspired to do something with your time, it’s the exact same as artists developing their new masterpieces or students just trying to study. I p e r s o n a l l y sw e a r by Duolingo, the language learning app. It has helped me through many of my language exams and helps you develop a knowledge of a completely foreign language from scratch. The app keeps track of your progress. It also gives you the option of joining other people in interactive games, such as “describe this picture” in the language that you

are both trying to learn. I believe this app should get more credit since it is a fantastic tool, it can help you with essay writing and grammar checks as well as pronunciation. Most importantly of all, it is free. Another handy tool is Evernote, which is for notetaking, organizing and archiving. The app allows users to create notes, which can be a piece of formatted text, a Web page or Web page excerpt, a photograph, a voice memo, or a handwritten “ink” note. I think these are all very useful for keeping track of work and tasks to complete for classes, and can even be helpful for organising your personal life. Evernote is cross-platform, including support for iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows and macOS. Evernote is also free to use with monthly usage limits, and offers paid plans for

Was the Pope’s visit worth €32 million? By Stevie Buckley As most of you probably know, the Pope visited Ireland on the 25 and 26 August this year. The visit put a strain on the most important services in Ireland. This begs the question – was it worth it? In my opinion it certainly wasn’t. The cost of the Pope’s 32-hour visit is estimated to have been in the region of €32 million. This computes at around a million euro an hour, which I think could have been put to much better use. This €32 million does not include the €6 million that the Pope’s visit cost Dublin businesses. The Office of Public Works (OPW) reportedly requested €924,000 to alter the Phoenix Park in Dublin before and after the Pope’s mass. All of the gates at the entrances were removed to improve the flow of foot traffic. There are plenty of other Dublin attractions that could have used this money for improvements and renovations. Garda costs for this event totalled around €5 million. We have been reassured that this money didn’t come out of regional policing funds, however it does raise the question that surely the regional policing

funds could have benefitted a lot more from this €5 million rather than it being spent on protection for just one man for 32 hours. The Swiss Guards and the Pontifical Police also accompanied the pope on his visit to the Emerald Isle, this shows that there was in fact adequate security and that the €5 million spent on Garda protection may have been somewhat elaborate. More than a thousand doctors, nurses and paramedics were stationed on all routes to the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Park, meaning this event withheld vital funds from the HSE. If money from the Papal visit was put into the HSE, services would be greatly improved. For example, it could reduce the impact of overcrowding in University Hospital Galway or pay for an early intervention team consisting of a psychologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech and language therapist and social worker for up to 71 years. I recently saw a post on Facebook detailing what that €32 million could buy. Those things included 4.5 million menstrual hygiene products, eight million meals on wheels, 37,125 rounds of chemotherapy, 22,857 months

of rent in Dublin, ten homeless hubs or one single Papal visit. There are much better uses of money than paying for the leader of the world’s richest institution to visit us. TheJournal.ie created a poll on the 18th of August asking; “Thousands will flock to Dublin from Tuesday as the World Meeting of Families gets underway. This evening we’re asking: will you be attending any of the events?”. Out of 9825 respondents, only seven percent of people voted yes. The Papal mass in the Phoenix Park attracted an estimated 130,000 people, just over a quarter of the tickets allocated for the event. These figures just emphasise the lack of interest for this religious visit. I believe that the money spent on the Pope’s visit could have been better spent. That €32 million could have gone into an exhumation of the mass graves at the Tuam Mother and Baby Home, in order for the remains to be properly identified and to give the families closure. The Catholic Church has committed many atrocities and they should be repaying us for these crimes, we shouldn’t be paying our government to host their leader.

expansion. Many students and workplaces around the world swear by this app, so it is certainly not a waste of time. There are also many great apps to help children learn in a new and fun way that they might not experience in a classroom. There is an app called YouTube Kids, most of you already know YouTube but many aren’t aware that there is now a version of the app which has only kid - friendly content. YouTube Kids offers educational videos and entertainment content to inspire and enhance young minds. It’s one of the best learning apps for kids out there, as it offers them an easy way to explore anything that captures their imagination. This app is available for free, it is simple to handle, and offers kids a learning experience oriented towards them specifically. Many apps can be helpful in

many different fields, and if they continue being of use to your academic development in some way, they are never a waste of time or storage space. Taking

into consideration that many of the academic apps are free for all to install, this is a huge benefit to the average student, who otherwise couldn’t afford tutoring.

Image: Kārlis Dambrāns via Flickr

16 FA SH IO N & L I F EST Y L E

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01

LIVING HER BEST LIFE By Amy McMahon

Recreating your favourite stars’ boojie lifestyle on a budget! Starting with Selena Gomez, the Instagram sensation with 141 million followers and counting. This child star turned music mogul is a force to be reckoned with and inspires women everywhere. At only 26 years of age she embodies positivity, compassion and drive. If you want to kickstart your semester the right way, keep reading for my top tips on how to emulate her. I hope you’re a big fan of ginger and pickles! Gomez is known for her interesting snack choices and claims to start each day with a shot of ginger. Although it might not be the shot students are used to, there are many health benefits linked to ginger juice in the morning such as boosting your immune system, aiding weight loss and stimulating your metabolism for the day. If that isn’t your cup of tea, Gomez loves to eat mangos, lemons and pickles as snacks throughout the day. Coffee and red bull are her drinks of choice and says chocolate is a “staple” food on tour. In her 73 Questions with Vogue video, she said her last meal on earth would be

Mexican food, which means there’s a Boojum for everyone in the audience! Coming into the colder months, I picked an outfit which is perfect for day-to-day campus style. The look comprises of a cute cream button-up cardigan available from Topshop (€50), an ASOS turtle neck bodysuit (€16.59) and cropped straight leg jeans from New Look (€32.99). To finish it all off, Nasty Gal have identical hoop earrings on their site (€6), similar round sunglasses are available from Zara (€15.95) and lastly loafers from ASOS (€34.56). PSA: don’t forget to use your student discount online and in store.

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Gomez opted for her own bag, created in her Coach x Selena collection, to complete her look. Unfortunately, this beauty is well out of a student budget, generally retailing for €325 in Brown Thomas. As a Puma brand ambassador, Gomez is always wearing their athleisure clothing as well and is a much more affordable option than Coach. Selena Gomez’s makeup artist, Hung Vanngo, frequently uses Marc Jacobs makeup on the star. Admittedly the products are quite pricey but not far off the usual MAC or Benefit prices. Vanngo only ever uses the Marc Jacobs Genius Gel foundation and Selena’s skin is always flawless, so it must be worth it. For the full Gomez effect, Instagram must be your social media priority. Somehow through the fame and fortune, she remains grounded and manages to post the most chilled out photos that get millions of likes. I’ve noticed she uses the app Huji to create retro looking photos and luckily for us, it’s free. Exercise is a key part of any celebrity’s lifestyle. Gomez finds time in her busy schedule for pilates as her main source of exercise. The Kingfisher regularly hold pilates classes, so I’m sure we can all find the time this Freshers to fit in a class. Final words of advice, be confident in yourself. Her music mantra is to love yourself and treat others with kindness. If you follow that mindset you are living life as Selena Gomez intended.

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September 11 2018

FAIS EAN

GETTING

THRIFT Y

By Sara Chudzik

At the start of the academic year everyone wants to look their best. However, after spending all our money on festivals and holidays throughout the summer most of us are broke. So, when you enter any clothes shop, you leave with your head hung low after checking price tags. Spending money on the latest trends would mean no food or no social life. What’s a poor student to do? If you find yourself in this predicament we have the answer; second hand shops. A new world opens before you. It doesn’t have to be like this. You too can dress to impress, feed yourself and afford a night out with friends. Good times lie ahead. So what do you need to know if you’re a charity shop virgin? Galway has many. Merchant’s Road is a goldmine with St. Vincent de Paul’s Curiosity Shop, Irish Cancer Society

Shop and Retro Revival- a vintage shop. Nearby on St. Augustine St (also known as the road to Charlie Byrne’s) there’s COPE Galway Charity Shop. These are full of funky shirts and skirts, woolly jumpers and statement coats. You’ll be able to find good brands for a good price. Most pieces are around five euros or less. Vintage shops are also great for warm and fashionable knitwear. As well as Retro Revival in Galway City there’s Public Romance and Nine Crows. However, these ones tend to be more expensive than charity shops. But don’t fret, every now and again the Student Union organise a vintage kilo sale where you can buy clothes for cheaper still. Also, in the past the Galway Feminist Collective has organised a charity clothes swap, giving you the chance to clean out your wardrobe, get new clothes and support a great cause.

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There are a few things to keep in mind before you embark on this adventure. Sometimes it’s hard to spot something, so you’ll need both patience and imagination. Remember to keep your mind open! Charity shops are great for finding statement pieces. A good tip for girls is to venture out into the men’s section, especially in vintage shops. Finally, charity shopping will get you those ethical brownie points. You are supporting local charities that so many people depend on, and you are saving the planet by reusing the clothes. So, there you go, dress well and save money - all with a clean conscience.

Photo: Izabele Pukelyte

How to start living a more sustainable lifestyle By Olivia Hanna It’s no secret that pollution and climate change are some of the biggest problems our generation has to face. Disposable, single use plastics are ingrained in our lifestyles. We have become a culture that prioritizes convenience over the care of our environment. There’s no way we can repair the damage we’ve already done, but everyone can make changes that can reduce pollution and save our environment from further destruction. These changes don’t need to be drastic, like having zero waste or switching to a vegan diet, but there are simple ways to change our habits on a daily basis. One of the ways we produce a lot of our waste is at the grocery store. Most of us remember to bring our reusable bags to the store in order to save a few cents, despite this there are still so many plastics we pick up during a shop. Buying cotton produce bags is a great step to saving loads of plastics from ending up in the ocean or landfills. Get unwrapped produce to fill the cotton bags and skip the pre - cut fruit

Photo: MissMessie via Flickr

and veg. Better yet, buy your fruit and veg at the weekend markets in Galway City. Once you get the food in the kitchen, storage can use up a lot of cling film and plastic bags. Buy or DIY some cute beeswax wraps and use them to cover over bowls. Coffeewerk and Press on Shop Street has some fun options. Hygiene is one of the other big areas of our lives where plastic bottles and packaging take over. Try switching to sleek bamboo toothbrushes and compostable cotton buds. Shampoo and conditioner are also available in bars which can save multiple bottles each month. All of these items are available at Evergreen stores.

Ladies also use a lot of plastic during menstrual cycles, not to mention that it costs a lot of money to buy tampons and pads. Consider investing in a menstrual cup, like the Diva Cup or the Lunette. Not only will it avoid plastic use, but it can reduce the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome. If a cup isn’t the thing for you, switch to tampons with cardboard applicators. Another way to spare plastic around the house is to use Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap for body wash as well as a household cleaner. Castile soap is highly concentrated so a small bottle will last a long time. Plastic straws have been making headlines lately as re s t au ra nt s , a n d even cities, have placed bans on the

toxic little tubes. Invest in your own reusable straws; there are so many options from bamboo, metal, glass, even pasta, or ditch them altogether. Try to avoid plastic water bottles as well in favour of a durable glass or hard plastic

bottle. These changes will not only save the environment, but they can reduce clutter and look really great as well. What’s cuter than a rose gold straw?

18 FA SH I O N & L I F EST Y L E

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01

THE AUTUMN/WINTER 2018

trend forecast

By Catherine Taylor It’s that time of year again. Autumn/ Winter is here, bringing sweater weather and pumpkin spiced lattes back with a vengeance. This year’s trend forecast is proving to be even more fabulous than the last, with key trends such as power dressing and preppy prints emerging victorious in 2018. Also inescapable is animal print, the ‘it’ pattern that’s basically become synonymous with ‘neutral’ in our closets. Extra points for fierceness if you show your stripes in red and black. We’ll be checking out Penneys fabulous new Autumn/Winter collection in order to nail this one. Speaking of prints, 90’s babies can rejoice because check is back in a big way. Channel everyone’s favourite ‘Clueless’ icon Cher Horowitz with the check co-ordinate in pretty purple and yellow hues. Looking for a more understated take on the trend? Check pieces are more versatile in monochromatic shades; think grey check culottes teamed with your favourite trainers or a neutral check coat. These investment pieces will see you into 2019 in style and can be paired with just about everything in your wardrobe.

For a more formal setting, both the leather dress and the tuxedo dress are viable alternatives to your everyday LBD. ASOS, always the sartorial saviour, is currently offering a fabulous selection of leather mini dresses sure to turn heads at any Christmas party. Alternatively, fashion it-girl of the moment Meghan Markle was recently seen out an about in a black above-the-knee tuxedo dress. Pretty Little Thing is our go-to for this trend, proving that power dressing can be fabulous and affordable on a student budget. Elsewhere, the ever-present, student-friendly sports luxe trend isn’t going anywhere for Autumn/

Leopard print shirt, €17.99 at H&M

Winter 2018. Logos are back, adorning everything from t-shirts and sweaters to ‘ugly trainers.’ This sometimes questionable shoe trend, birthed by high-end designer Balenciaga, dominated the style stakes through Spring/Summer 2018 and shows no signs of slowing down in the coming months, with affordable alternatives available throughout the high-street.

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect Winter outerwear to ward off the Galway chill, look no further than the Borg and Teddy jackets currently infiltrating the high-street. These jacket styles are both cosy and versatile. They can be dressed up with a pleated midi skirt and strappy sandals for a night out or dressed down with jeans and trainers when you’re running late for a lecture.

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Check skirt, €44 at Topshop

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FAIS EAN

September 11 2018

NÓS MAIRE ACHTÁLA

Five beauty hacks to help you hide your hangover By Tarryn Mc Guire Your 9am tutorial begins in 20 minutes and you’ve already missed two this semester, you cannot afford to miss this one. However, you only got home at 3am last night and aren’t feeling so fresh this morning. I won’t bother giving you the usual lecture about drinking water, removing your makeup and brushing your teeth before you go to bed because it’s probably far too late for that now. Instead I have five hangover beauty cures to share with you. First things first, let’s tackle the hair! If you backcombed your hair the night before, odds are you’re going to be

looking a bit worse for wear this morning, and 10 minutes in the morning is not enough time to wash it. Grab a brush, some dry shampoo (Batiste is my go - to) and detangling spray and give that hair 30 seconds of love. Now let’s get some colour into you. Pale, hungover and tired is not exactly the first impression you were dying to make when you returned to college. Take two minutes to whip out some subtle peachy blush and a bit of tinted lip balm to add some much-needed colour to your face. I’m currently loving the Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm

that totally rehydrates your lips while giving them a healthy pink shine at the same time. This next tip is going to sound a bit strange, but I would 100 per cent recommend pressing a cold spoon under your eyes to reduce puffiness, and to cover up your haven’tslept-a-wink dark circles. This trick works with anything that’s cold, so if you want to go for the more bougie option feel free to used sliced cucumber, but let’s be honest, what college student has cucumber in their fridge? My personal favourite trick; concealer, concealer, concealer.

Don’t worry about spending valuable time doing a full face of make-up, just apply some brightening concealer under your eyes and around the t-zone area to brighten up your face and give yourself a bit of a glow. It works wonders, trust me. I would highly recommend the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer as it is super cheap and gives great coverage. Finally, you probably guessed it, aspirin. Obviously, you’ve already thought to take this for your pounding headache, but did you know that aspirin will also work to reduce the inflammation of your skin? Another little trick (if you have the time) is to make an easy DIY aspirin facemask to reduce acne and redness.

CAMPUS STREETSTYLE By Rachel Garvey NAME: Alex Richards COURSE: BA with Creative Writing Alex’s fashion inspiration comes from Victorian style. He chose his outfit because it has a very classy look to it, yet it took zero effort to put together. “When you wear all black it looks a lot more put together than thrown together.”

Sean Niland

NAME: Senan O’Reilly COURSE: BA with Law

Information Technology Sean’s fashion inspiration comes from the famous Bruno Mars, merely because Sean thinks he can pull off

and Economics Senan’s fashion inspiration comes from the movies. “I take inspiration from the stereotype of that one stoner dude who sits on the couch at parties who looks a bit rugged and dirty but still handsome.” Senan chose this outfit today because in college he’s usually dressed in worn out trainers, hoodies and sweatpants. “It’s nice to dress up nice now and then.”

Senan O’Reilly

Vicky Mannion

NAME: Sean Niland COURSE: BA with Law and

Alex Richards

any style of clothing. He likes to wear his clothes in a way that the colours all match, and he does a pretty good job at this as you can see.

NAME: Vicky Mannion COURSE: BA with Sociology and Political Science and Psychology Vicky feels that she doesn’t need to look to someone else for fashion inspiration. “The inspiration comes from me on how I want to look, not how I’m supposed to look.” Vicky chose to wear this outfit because it’s an outfit she would wear on a daily basis.

NAME: Shannon Barron COURSE: Bachelor of Science Shannon’s fashion inspiration comes from the well-known Ruby Rose. “I go for this look because it expresses who I am, and I feel comfortable in this outfit going about my everyday routine.”

Shannon Barron

22 A RT S & E NT E RTAIN M EN T

Post, you’re not alone By Sarah Gill “If anyone is having a tough time keep rocking guys. Never let anybody tell you sh*t. You are awesome.” These are Post Malone’s words of positivity after receiving an onslaught of online abuse. People even went so far as to wish death on him after his flight experienced some difficulties and was forced into an emergency landing. This begs the question; do people realise that celebrities are people too? Let’s paint a picture in our minds. Post Malone, the American rapper we have all come to know and love, is sitting at home scrolling through comments on his latest Instagram post. Does he just let the hatred, abuse and death wishes roll off his back because he’s famous? In reality, I’m sure Post Malone doesn’t care what Sandra from Laois thinks of his hair, but every nasty comment builds up over time until it really starts to hurt. According to a recent Tweet from Post Malone, two different publications have called him a “walking STD” and “a human snot bubble”. Post was forced to delete Safari so he would not be tempted to Google himself again. This just proves that fame does not shield celebrities from the pain caused by online bullying.

It’s not just innocent heckling or “only having the craic, sure they don’t know me” when it comes to cyber bullying. There is no invisible barrier around famous people that ensure words and hate bounce back off them. The pain lands and hurts as much as it would if it was your neighbour. I have seen a lot of people talking about the monstrosity that is cyber bullying but the “if you haven’t got anything nice to say, say nothing at all” mentality only seems to stretch so far. In the same breath these are the very people who say Kim Kardashian is trash and Kylie Jenner is fat. Where is the line drawn? Is it based on how many followers a person has? Once they reach 100k they’re fair game to throw abuse at? I believe that in the year of 2018, our society should really have grasped the concept that bullying is bad by now. Yet there are still droves of people whittling away at celebrities’ mental health through nasty comments here and there. The scary question is; what has to happen for people to realise this? Basically, it’s nice to be nice and if you can’t be nice just be quiet. You should have enough power in your thumbs to stop yourself typing abuse and sending it out to celebrities who are just trying to do their best.

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01

The rise of Irish hip hop through the eyes of Tebi Rex By Sarah Gill Tebi Rex, Chasing Abbey, Hare Squead, Rejji Snow, the list goes on. Irish hip hop artists are increasingly breaking into the mainstream music charts, while appearing more and more at music festivals around the country. Does this signal a shift in focus from the acoustic indie rock groups we are used to seeing? SIN got in touch with Matt O’Baoill, one half of the Kildare duo Tebi Rex, to get his thoughts on the matter and to discuss the group’s success. Matt believes that hip hop has come to the fore of popular music and is pushing rock bands out a little bit, but he doesn’t see hip hop taking the spotlight completely. When you look at Irish acts that have really ‘made it’, the numbers still lie with bands. From Kodaline to Picture This to The Coronas, there are countless successful rock groups securely fastened in the public’s gaze. However, Matt thinks a change is on the horizon. “We will see a massive influx of Irish hip hop artists cracking the UK and other places outside of Ireland very soon. There is a strong sense that something big is happening, and happening fast.” Tebi Rex have played at Electric Picnic, Longitude and Indiependance festival this summer, and have been putting in an immense amount of work to achieve their well-deserved success and recognition. The boys have nicknamed this summer “Robbin’ Season” for a reason. “Simply put; if you aren’t putting in the work, we will gladly take your spot.” Matt is acutely aware of the potential damage a minor slip can have on their progression and is grateful for every bit of recognition they receive. Their charisma and motivation to improve sets these boys apart. They strive to be the best they can be, taking inspiration from Chance the

Rapper’s “cadences, verse structure, personality, lyricism, and the honesty in his topics of choice.” The boys have a deep appreciation for their work and it is clear from talking with Matt that he has a passion for his art form.

Image: Tebi Rex

The Peggy’s Bus singer has proffered some advice for up-and-coming hip hop groups; “Just make the sound you like. If you make a song and you love listening back to it on repeat, that’s a hit. It’s just that the right people haven’t heard it yet; your people. If you make a sound for someone else’s crowd, you’ll never win anyone over, and you probably won’t even enjoy making it.” With the boys in the midst of making some of their “best music yet”, 2019 is set to be their year. With some “cheeky collaborations, more shows and more Kate Nash fangirling” en route I, for one, cannot wait to see more from Tebi Rex. Follow Tebi Rex on Twitter @TebiRex

Podcast recommendations

Freshers’ Fair

2018

Aonach Lucht na Chéad Bhliana

Üdvözöljük Tervetuloa Bienvenido Welcome Willkommen Witamy Bienvenue Fáilte Velkominn

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Giant Inﬂatable Games • Freebies Giveaways • Competitions and Food!

Cluichí Inséidte Ollmhóra • Aiscíní Duaiseanna • Comórtais agus Bia!

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by Mícheál Ó Fearraigh I am and have been for some time an avid podcast listener, but for some years the only one I listened to was The Weekly Planet, an Australian podcast all about comic movies and related subjects (and the other podcasts that the hosts were on). However, over the last few years I have started varying my taste in podcasts, that being said they remained within the comedy and pop culture genre. Without further ado, here are my recommendations:

PUNCH UP THE JAM Do you ever find yourself thinking that certain ideas or metaphors in songs just don’t add up or that the concept behind the song itself may be suspect? I certainly do, and to my rescue came Punch Up the Jam. Former Vine stars Demi Adejuyigbe (The Good Place writer) and Miel Bredouw go beyond just critiquing songs, they attempt to fix them. Whether or not they improve on them is up for debate but the hilarity that ensues is undeniable. This is a new show, so chances are that it will keep getting better and better.

DREAMGUN FILM READS This is another newbie to the podcast game and I only stumbled upon its majesty by virtue of volunteering at the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival in Kilkenny. There I witnessed the Dreamgun cast at their finest. They took the script of Back to the

Future and in their own words “pumped it full of jokes and nonsense”, if you like to joke about the inconsistencies of films or just like silly (and sometimes out-there) jokes, then this homegrown hit is the podcast for you.

THE FLOP HOUSE (MAXIMUM FUN) Now this one is a long-runner, a heavy-hitter. The Flop House, from what I understand, is the first podcast to attempt to replicate what MST3K did all those years ago but without the visuals. For those wondering what I am rambling on about, The Flop House is a vehicle for The Daily Show writers Dan McCoy and Elliot Kalan, as well as Stuart Wellington (possibly the best voiced podcaster I’ve ever heard) to comically eviscerate Hollywood’s critical and commercial failures. This sometimes descends into madness. It is not so much a review show as it is an opportunity for good friends to hang out and make nonsense jokes at one another, and it never gets old.

THE GOOD PLACE PODCAST (NBC) This one requires very little selling: the people who brought you the hit show The Good Place, as if they weren’t doing enough in just that, went and made a podcast where they discuss the behind the scenes. You also get to discover how we became so lucky as for such a wonderful show to exist. It is presented by the wonderful Marc Evan Jackson who plays Shawn on the show. Be warned: full of spoilers.

C U LT ÚR

September 11 2018

SIAMSAÍOCHT

Soundtrack to sobriety with Shampain By Cóilí Collins Cóilí/Shampain is a resident DJ in Electric nightclub, former electronic music editor of District Magazine, contributor to District and Four Four magazines, former resident DJ of Hangar, and has written for Mixmag and worked on Rinse France. As it has for the last 21 years of my existence on this earth, music really came through for me over the past three months when I spent the summer in France across Montpellier and Paris almost entirely on my own, bar of course some friends I made over the pond. With so much time to myself I obviously filled the gaps by looking for new music, something I found plenty of over those 90 days, and something that helped me cope with not having anyone familiar to talk to for such a long period of time. With that waffle out of the way, here are my 5 picks of the summer, some being EPs, some being albums but all entirely well rounded and ‘must listen’ collections of music.

Leon Vynehall - Nothing is Still [Ninja Tune] (15/7/18) Having previously been known for a much more club orientated house sound, one that spawned the classic ‘It’s Just (House Of Dupree)’, it was surprising to see the UK native take on such a different approach to his most recent album. Inspired by his grandparents’ move to the US during the 1900s, he revisited their old apartment in New York after being gifted by a box of old photos and documents by his late grandmother. From there he utilises the album as a vessel to document their lives in a sonic format, rather than using his normal batch of kickdrums, hi hats and whatever else he could get his hands on. He turns to more orchestral and classical arrangements to bring us through the storied lives of his ancestors. Massive strings and dusty trip hop tracks really make this a stand out collection that brings one through a whirlwind of feelings and emotions. Vynehall also penned a book to accompany the vinyl copy of the album which goes through what each element of each track represents. A 10/10 project that really goes out of its way to push the boundaries of electronic and instrumental music.

Given the success of previous UK vocalists such as Emeli Sande and Craig David that both had similar lead ups to their debut works, the pressure was on. She certainly delivers with an album that is dotted with already successful singles and ballads that are instant classics from the moment you press play. Despite her lack of a big city upbringing, many of the instrumentals manage to play off her voice in a way that really brings on a sense of classic grandeur one would usually associate with the chicer quarters of Paris and London. ‘On Your Own’ stands out as the dark horse in an album littered with catchy but melancholic ballads.

Photo: Maely Lim

Bambounou - PARAMETR PERKUSJA [DISK] (22/6/18)

Hi & Saberhägen - Light On Leaves [Intergraded] (9/3/18)

Much like the previous two electronic contributions to the list, Bambounou’s first release in four years was rather longform despite its three track make up. Having already released two albums on nowdefunct German imprint 50WEAPONS, seeing him dive into more experimental/not for the club sounds is no surprise. However, seeing him cover so much ground on such a restricted EP format is particularly impressive. While no track necessarily stands out given that they’re all so unique, the back and forth, almost topsy - turvy nature of ‘Kosovo Hardcore’ and its use of an inverted drum pattern meshes perfectly with the tribal elements that have made the Parisian the star he is today, across both house and techno. Having already said to me in our interview for Four Four Magazine that he no longer wants to release albums but still continue to push album - like sounds, this is a very solid step in the right direction.

Midland’s Graded label is one of the most well-respected imprints in a landscape that is diluted with DJ-owned labels. With that in mind, his Intergraded sub label has carried on that heritage by selecting some of the most under the radar acts and giving them a platform to show the underground community what they’re all about. Having already played host to Peach’s magnificent nostalgic house track ‘Silky’, Intergraded brought us Scottish and Irish house duo Hi & Saberhägen. Like Peach, they also impressed in their Boiler Room debut this year. The four - track journey kicks off with ‘Loveless’, an almost nine minute, down tempo masterpiece that features muddy drums and a tremendously pensive lo-fi aesthetic that weaves everything together with the touching vocals that appear about halfway through the track. Following on from that, we have another 14 minutes of slow moving house magic that caps off another successful release from one of the most trustworthy labels on the go at the moment. Once again, Midland solidifies itself as one of the most elite curators in the game.

Tommy Holohan - Ros Eo [Civil Disobedience] (14/7/18) Dublin’s most mercurial producer finally made his solo EP debut this summer and it didn’t disappoint his eager bunch of fans either. Having initially released via his own label Rave Selekts alongside fellow Irishman Casper Hasting last year, Tommy’s most recent four track offering, which was brought to us by UK imprint Civil Disobedience, went about as far as a techno EP can in terms of covering all bases. Similar to some degree as the above mentioned Vynehall, Ros Eo too is a concept release, focusing on the different aspects of Holohan’s youth spent in Rush. His upbringing was something he went into detail about in our interview for District Magazine in June. The EP kicks off with the obscure and ambient ‘Martello’ and then kicks right into gear with the mazey four to floor stomper ‘Seamos Gaf’, which wraps up with an audio clip from one of Rush’s infamous afterparties. The second half of the EP is where it really kicks into gear with the DJ Mag-premiered ‘South Beach Burnin Bins’ taking Altern8-like rave stabs and recycling them through the tried and tested Holohan kick drums that have gotten him to where he is today. That, accompanied by the masterpiece that is the wistful and emotive vintage jungleinfused breakbeat finale ‘Remaining Rogerstown’, showcases Tommy’s ability to really tell a story, even in four tracks. It also cements his place as the best producer on an island where many have their heads firmly planted within the shallow sand of clubland.

Jorja Smith - Lost & Found [FAAM] (8/6/18) Despite being one of the biggest pop albums of the year, the Walsall product’s debut extended play really manages to lose nothing in substance. This is despite the overwhelming hype surrounding the release after previous co-signs from Drake and many within the burgeoning UK scene.

“Adventure Tours” is Fahy Travel’s dedicated touring and adventure department. We are specialists in worldwide tours for every age, from 18 to 80. In association with G Adventures, Fahy Travel is pleased to announce we are hosting an “Adventure Evening” on Wednesday the 26th of September, at 5pm in “The View” in NUIG. On the day we will have a presentation from the Sales Manager of G Adventures Ireland, John Grehan. Having recently returned from a South American expedition, focusing on the Galapagos’ Islands, John’s has first-hand knowledge and experience of the adventure tour market. We will also be promoting our exclusive Fahy Travel Adventure Trip to “Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand” next May. All details will be available on the day. John and the dedicated Fahy Travel Adventure Team will be on hand to answer any of your Adventure Tour Questions. We look forward to welcoming you on the day.

24 A RT S & E NT E RTAIN M EN T

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01

Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar OH BOTHER! Children trilogy review Another film review By Stevie Buckley Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children is a trilogy of books by the American author Ransom Riggs. The story of this trilogy follows Jacob Portman who, following his grandfather Abraham’s mysterious death, tries to unravel family mysteries and get in contact with his grandfather’s childhood friends. Along the way he meets children with special talents and the people who are trying to protect them from danger. This book uses photographs to add to the story, and they add a lot of intrigue and mystery. These photographs can include anything from a child with a hole in her abdomen to a floating child to a dog wearing a monocle. The people who collected these photographs, including the author himself, claim that the photographs are as they were found, with no photoshop or editing. They add as much to the story as the words the author wrote. There is a plot twist around every corner of this series. When you think you can predict where the story is going, the story goes somewhere else completely. It is virtually impossible to predict anything that is going to happen in

this series, from the first page to the very end. The character development in this series is some of the best I’ve ever read. You learn more and more about every character as they become involved in the story. You learn about their past and what they were like before the story began, as well as learning along with them as they find out new things about themselves. The author writes the children in this book very well. The traits and personalities of the children are displayed well and the words the children say seem like they would come out of a child’s mouth, not that of an adult trying to imitate a child. The children are of different ages and you see the stages of development from blissful ignorance of everything, to cunning and initiative when stuck in a bad situation. These books get better as the series progresses. When I read the first book, I thought it was fantastic and rated it five out of five. However, as I read the second and third books I realised that the series did get better, but I hadn’t left any higher ratings for them. Based on that, I rated this series a perfect five stars.

By Rachel Garvey

As a child, Winnie the Pooh was the best friend I never met, an animated character that taught me all the honey in the world wouldn’t fill my tummy. The Christopher Robin movie is one that will bring back your childhood as if it had never left or – more frankly – as if you had never grown up. Nostalgia is back to pay a visit so welcome it in with open arms, as you would if Pooh were standing in front of you. Describing the film as good is an understatement. Christopher Robin starts off by reuniting us with beloved characters like Tigger, Rabbit, Rating: 5/5 Piglet, Eeyore and of course Pooh. The inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood are in the middle of preparing a going away party for their dear friend, Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) as he departs the Hundred Acre Wood to attend boarding school. Pooh is anxious that Robin will forget about him, but Robin assures him that he would never forget his dear friends. Time passes by and Robin is now busy with his career, his marriage and his family but his career seems to be taking all his time away from them. As the movie progresses we learn that Pooh is unable to find his friends and stumbles upon Christopher Robin’s tree, which he passes through and comes out the other side into a small London park. Tears were brimming in the cinema when I saw that Christopher Robin has grown up, and is torn between helping Pooh find everybody and making it back for an important meeting at

work. You will give a huge sigh of relief when he sets out on a journey to find everybody, and he proves that he is the real Christopher Robin by fighting invisible Heffalumps. This is the scene where reality sets itself upon everyone, when we see Robin smiling we know that having fun is the one thing Robin hasn’t had in his life for quite a while.

The movie teaches us to not let go of our happy childhood memories and despite growing up, having a family and working on your career, it is important to never let your inner child slip away and be forgotten. The movie is magical and so heart-warming. There was a huge smile on my face when I heard Tigger singing his Tigger song and his “why isn’t everyone bouncing like me?” will make you shake your head and laugh. You will have the urge to just pick Eeyore and Piglet up in your arms and assure them that everything will be alright. The sound of Pooh’s voice saying “What to do? What to do indeed?” will make your heart almost melt with love because the second you hear that voice, you are a little kid all over again. That is what makes Christopher Robin a great movie. Rating 5/5

Almost Famous (2000) Review By Sarah Gill “It’s all happening.” This single refrain running throughout the film epitomises the exuberant, nostalgic world the director, Cameron Crowe, has created. The ambling pace, the vintage soundtrack and the aura of potential combine to create this epic story of coming of age, love, and the seduction of rock and roll. Crowe drew closely from his own former experiences to conceive this story, which is centred around 15-year-old journalist William Miller (Patrick Fuqit) who follows the 70’s rock band Stillwater on a quest to draft an interview for Rolling Stone magazine. The legendary rock critic Lester Bangs is enlisted as Miller’s confidante, guiding him through the perils of essentially eloping with a group of roadies and musicians. Miller’s life is composed of two juxtaposing facets; the intoxicatingly exciting, if not somewhat

decadent, lifestyle of touring with a rock band, and his contrastingly sheltered, overbearing home life. Among all the chaos Miller meets Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), an enigmatic band aid who pulls him out of his comfort zone and into this world which she regards as make believe. Throughout the course of the film we experience a tirade of various emotions as our hungry eyes are met with unrequited love, the allure of the rock and roll lifestyle, acid trips gone wrong and the earth-shattering rejection that often accompanies journalism. The pivotal moment of the film comes in the form of a turbulent airplane journey, the inkling of death prompting a surge of truth in each of the characters. At 162 minutes, the flow of the movie is never coerced or forced but simply drifts along at a steady pace inciting a nostalgic love for the life and music of times gone by. Almost Famous is a journey of self-discovery and should be regarded as a cinematic classic.

C U LT ÚR

September 11 2018

George Ezra’s Staying at Tamara’s review By Javier Ruiz It doesn’t feel like that long ago when George Ezra released his first studio album Wanted on Voyage, topping the charts with the single ‘Budapest’. Last March, almost four years later, Ezra released his second studio album, Staying at Tamara’s. During the summer we have all heard some of his songs on the radio, such as ‘Pretty Shining People’, ‘Paradise’ and ‘Shotgun’. There was no escaping them. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter has made his way to the top of the charts again with his catchy tunes. However, if we actually stop to listen to the songs and pay attention to the lyrics, we will find that they are of lazy composition. Take, for example, ‘Shotgun’. This is the song that has given Ezra his first number one on the UK Singles chart, but it is quite undeserving due to its lyrics. The song starts with “home grown alligator see you later, gotta hit the road, gotta hit the road.” There is no way good lyricism can come out of these two

verses if you are using a childish saying and can’t even find a different word to rhyme with road. But, in fairness, he deserves some credit for making the two lines fit together in the same context. This cannot be said about the following three verses; “Something changed in the atmosphere, architecture unfamiliar, I could get used to this.” For starters, there is a lack of linking words between sentences which creates sloppiness and its quite a desperate attempt to make the lines rhyme. The crème de la crème is in the chorus, where he goes on to sing; “I’ll be riding shotgun, underneath the hot sun, feeling like a someone.” Again, we find he chooses the easiest rhymes “shotgun” and “hot sun”, and then out of the blue he continues with “feeling like a someone” as if it had some meaning, or even some relation, to the song as a whole. These lyrics could be considered postmodernist but I would just consider them beyond any literary movement. When it comes to the instrumentation of the songs the album

is full of catchy tunes which could brighten your day for a whole three minutes. One example is ‘Get Away’, the third song on the album, which includes brass instruments. There is even a brief moment resembling a virtuoso brass band after the first chorus. Going back to ‘Shotgun’, the tune of this song has a pronounced beat which Ezra uses to his advantage for rhyming and it will make you bob your head while listening to it. As a genre, his songs fit perfectly within commercialism, although, I have to admit, he has created something original at the same time, which is hard to find nowadays. In all, Ezra has composed fairly good songs with catchy upbeat tunes but when it comes to lyrics he is as good as Rebecca Black. I would recommend him to hire a professional songwriter capable of telling a story. Nonetheless, as most people hear music rather than listen to it, I do recommend playing his entire album, regardless of the lyrics. Rating: 3/5

Family doesn’t always come first in HBO’s Succession By Graham Gillespie Family relationships can be messy at the best of times, but to call the dynamics within the Roy family on HBO’s Succession merely dysfunctional would be an understatement. Succession is the brainchild of Peep Show creator Jesse Armstrong, who has also previously written for the BBC’s The Thick of It and its American equivalent Veep. It follows the Roy family who control an international media conglomerate called Waystar Royco. The head of both the family and the business is prickly Scottish patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox). Logan has four children: recovering drug addict Kendall (Jeremy Strong), the doomsday prepping Conor (Alan Ruck), the manipulative political spin-doctor Siobhan (Sarah Snook) and Roman (Kieran Culkin) who as his brother Kendall says in one episode, “is not a serious person.” Logan is also on his second wife, Marcia, who is played by Hiam Abbass. Also in this stellar ensemble cast is Siobhan’s partner and head of the theme parks division at Waystar, Tom (Matthew

MacFadyen), who adds some Minnesota niceness to proceedings, but is also in equal parts a sycophant and a bully. Finally, the pleasantly naïve Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) is only just arriving into this world of sociopaths having gotten a new job through nepotism. Episode one begins with Logan planning to hand over the company to his son Kendall, but when things start to go awry the familial infighting begins. Jesse Armstrong has previously written an unproduced film script about the Murdochs and many believe the Roys may be loosely based on them. However, Armstrong in an interview with The Guardian said that American families such as the CBS owning Redstones or the Roberts, who own Comcast, were greater inspirations for him. Either way, just as The Thick of It commented on politics through satire, there is a large amount of predominantly unkind commentary on America’s mega-rich and powerful in Succession. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that none of the characters (bar maybe Cousin Greg) in Succession are likeable or indeed good

people, but this is precisely why the show is so enjoyable. Every character is overcome by greed and their own selfish motives, to the point that they would happily stab those closest to them in the back. Succession is mostly a drama, but comedy is also used to make a mockery of this scheming family. Perhaps the central relationship in Succession is the severely damaged father-son bond between Logan and Kendall. Kendall wants to modernise his father’s company, moving away from cable TV towards more techy areas. He also wants to take full control of Waystar. Logan is often callous to his son in an effort to keep his company. Jeremy Strong’s performance as Kendall is probably the standout in a show full of excellent acting. Method actor Strong said to Variety on July 12 he “tended to keep a distance and felt quite remote” on set, and that certainly comes across in his portrayal of Kendall. In crude terms, Succession is essentially a show about a family of snakes, but it so entertaining to watch them slither. Rating: 9/10

SIAMSAÍO CHT

What’s on in Galway By Sarah Gill That time of year is upon us once again. September. The start of the academic year. Students from all over Ireland have descended on Galway in search of fun, friendship and – well – the college experience. Freshers may look no further as this is the definitive list of where they will find maximum craic in Galway.

Silent Disco at the Róisín Dubh A staple in any Galwegian’s itinerary. Every Tuesday, with entry only €5, switch between two DJ stations on your headphones while you belt out songs you love and songs you love to hate. Nothing beats the amusement you feel when you take off

your headphones to have your ears greeted by a tirade of people singing into a silent room.

Bounce Club Night

dip in and out of a wide range of genres. A great night is to be expected in one of Galway’s best nightclubs.

That’s Life presents a club night for young people with intellectual disabilities in the Róisín Dubh. This will be a monthly occurrence and entry is €5. The club night creates a safe place for those with intellectual disabilities to experience some ceol agus craic in a club environment.

Bongo Steve in SULT

Deep Discoteca at the Electric Garden

Alas, I will leave it at that. It would be a shame if none of the Galway freshers could afford their bus home from their first week in college! Drink responsibly, look after each other and – most importantly – make amazing memories.

Mitch Presents, Gills and Nitetales return to the Garden in Electric on Thursday 13 September. Deep house and soulful techno are the boys’ specialties, but they tend to

Fresh out of Electric Picnic, Steve is going to grace the college bar with his Irish Electronic presence. Kicking off at 9pm on Wednesday 12 September, this is an event not to be missed. SULT will also be brimming with their usual deals so I’m sure the place will be full of freshers.

Richard Hughes O

BAck to college 2 for 1 contact lens offer Buy one box of Alcon lenses and receive a complimentary box 37 Corner House, Woodquay, Galway. H91 FW10 Tel: 091 563 107 Seacrest S.C, Knocknacarra, Galway. H91 VPX2 Tel: 091 590 010

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2018-2019

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Vice President / Education Ofﬁcer Leas Uachtarán / Oiﬁgeach Oideachais

Louis Courtney

President / Uachtarán

Vice-President / Welfare and Equality Ofﬁcer Leas-Uachtarán / Oifigeach Leasa agus Comhionannais

su.president@nuigalway.ie 086 385 5502

su.welfare@nuigalway.ie 086 385 3659

Megan Reilly

su.education@nuigalway.ie 086 385 3658

Clare Austick

Oiﬁgeach na Gaeilge

Mature Students’ Ofﬁcer Oiﬁgeach na Mac Léinn Lánfhásta

Postgraduate Taught Ofﬁcer Oiﬁgeach na nIarchéimithe Teagasctha

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SU Council Chairperson / Cathaoirleach na Comhairle do Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn

Convenor of the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies / Tionólaí Choláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sóisialta & an Léinn Cheiltigh

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Election in September

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C U LT ÚR

September 11 2018

NUI Galway’s Testostertones are National Champions At this year’s Cork International Choral Festival, NUI Galway’s very own Testostertones won the National Male Choir Competition title. As no other college-based choir have ever won this title, it is an extreme honour. This win comes at the end of a very successful year, during which the group won competitions at every major Irish choral festival. The choir beat the returning victors – the Portadown Male Voice Choir – who were hoping to receive their fifth successive title. The Testostertones performed music from the Renaissance along with some complex music from the composer Andy Schonberg to earn the second highest score overall. The choir was formed in 2003 by Peter Mannion, with the aim of giving male singers an opportunity to enhance their skills by

performing a mix of acapella and barbershop music. Over time the ensemble has become one of the most innovative choral groups in Ireland. The group currently consists of students, alumni and staff members. The group are in their 15th year and will therefore “do some special things for this upcoming year to mark the occasion, including going into the recording studio to record some acapella arrangements,” says Peter Mannion, the group’s founder. The Cork International Choral Festival, founded in 1954, is one of Europe’s premier choral festivals. The annual competition boasts high standards, an eclectic and wide-ranging programme and an incredibly welcoming attitude. Gala concerts, school concerts and world-class performances have all been welcomed in Cork to bring the city to life in a celebration of the many forms of choral music. The festival

attracts 5000 participants and has ensured that choral music, representative of many historical and cultural traditions, is brought to the people of Cork. The Testostertones have high hopes for 2019. They will be returning to Cork’s Choral Festival in the hopes of claiming the title of Choir of the Year, where they will be the first male choir to compete in this prestigious competition. The ensemble

GUMS are on Facebook at GUMS / Galway University Musical Society

Desperation By Michelle Mitchell

Watching them walk towards me in that hurried way Eyes downcast - Why won’t they look up? ‘It’s not going to work’ they say ‘There’s no time they say’ and walk away Stop! I scream silently as I put my hand out, but they’re gone Too busy to notice … too wrapped up in the next thing… At the window now - not seeing the sunrise My clothes stick to me… Oh God, help me please! Looking for answers, still they don’t answer – Knowing he has to die so I can live.

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Auditions will be held Thursday 13 September from 10am to 4pm in Áras na Mac Léinn. GUMS welcome all students with varying levels of talent and experience. There will be auditions for singing, dancing and acting. Once you have tried out, you will be automatically part of the chorus. In terms of preparation, GUMS would like auditionees to prepare one verse and a chorus from any song which best demonstrates your singing abilities. The most important thing in the eyes of the society is to come full of enthusiasm and excitement. Orchestra auditions will also take place in the coming weeks, so people are encouraged to keep a watchful eye on the GUMS Facebook page. GUMS’ dedication to its members knows no bounds. With 1400 members currently registered, the society do their best to involve every participant. As well as Pippin, the group will also have a collaborative musical with Dramsoc, an Intervarsities competition, and many other events throughout the year in order to include as many people as possible, especially if they cannot participate in the big show in February. GUMS are very excited to see some new faces at the auditions. Break a leg!

le Cárta cint CM ris ai

Image: Oisín Doyle

and significance in his life, using the premise of a performance dance troupe. Thriving on the success of last year’s production of The Producers – which was the first ever GUMS show to make a profit by selling out almost every night – the group are rife with excitement for what is to come.

CREATIVE

hopes to perform at the Eisteddfod in Wales and will compete in Northern Ireland’s biggest choral festival in October. The group are constantly on the lookout for fresh new talent. If you would like become part of the Testostertones – and subsequently, a part of NUI Galway history – get in contact by emailing nuigttones@gmail.com or check them out at the Societies Day on campus.

GUMS announce Pippin as their 2019 musical Galway University Musical Society have announced Pippin as their upcoming musical. Pippin was selected as it encompasses everything GUMS look for in a musical; it is full of life, jam packed with amazing music and will captivate an audience. Pippin tells the story of a young prince on a quest to find meaning

SIAMSAÍOCHT

CORNER

By Sarah Gill

SU CARD

28 SPORT

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01

What rule changes should be made to Gaelic Football? By Danny Keown Gaelic football is fast becoming the poor relation of the GAA. As the hurling championship continues to set the world alight, the Super Eight’s in the football championship is proving to be even more turgid and disappointing than the majority of the fare that went on earlier in the summer. There appears to be no appetite amongst the County Boards to introduce a second-tier football championship, but something has to be done and a major overhaul of the game needs to happen before it dies lying down. The crowds going to football games are getting smaller and smaller. No one wants to endure some of the utter tripe that has been forced upon us this summer. Unless something happens quickly the allure of Gaelic football is going to slip down the pecking order of the young boys and girls of this country. There are several rule changes and alternative approaches that

could be made that, and while they may appear drastic, they would undoubtedly improve Gaelic football beyond all recognition. Of course, most of these rule changes might be more difficult to apply at the lower levels of the club game. However, if we don’t do something quickly to improve the inter-county game there will be no club game.

mum risk is suffocating the game.

RULE ONE: A minimum of three attacking players must always remain inside the opposition’s 45 – metre line. Keeping at least three players in attack would cut back on the blanket defence strategy that has been the biggest blight on the game of Gaelic football in years.

RULE FOUR: Mic up referees.

RULE TWO: Limit handpasses to a maximum of five in succession. It’s about time we got back to the basics of Gaelic football. The catch and kick era saw the best of the game, but the incessant overuse of the handpass to retain possession and carefully extract a way out of trouble with mini-

RULE THREE: All kickouts must go at least 45 – metres. Just like the handpass and the blanket defence, the short kickout has become a scourge. This obsession with retaining possession at all costs with minimum risk is killing the high fielding skill element while slowing down the game.

Make referees accountable for their decisions and by mic’ing up the referees. We will also hear the levels of abuse they have to listen to from players and the management. Such abuse should be treated with zero tolerance, a yellow card for the first time you open your mouth to complain and a red card for the second time would quieten a lot of lads very quickly. The rugby model, while based on a game with very defined rules which are more straightforward to apply, is a perfect example of how players should respect referees.

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RULE FIVE: Stringent penalty for opposition slowing down a free. In order to prevent opposing teams slowing down a free, a harsher penalty than 13 yards should be brought in to counteract it. As much as a 30-yard penalty could be introduced and would put an end to cynical fouling such as was seen in the last few minutes of the 2017 All-Ireland final when Dublin went a point up.

RULE SIX: A “back – court” rule like basketball. If a team moves into the opposition half of the field, the ball shouldn’t be permitted to move back out. This would allow the defending team to push up and put aggressive pressure on the ball, leading to more turnovers and excitement. RULE SEVEN: Allow players to lift the ball directly off the ground.

Being forced to put your toe under the ball symbolizes the absolute pinnacle of pointlessness. It doesn’t take any skill and it only serves to frustrate players, referees and spectators when the line between what is within the rules and what isn’t. These rules won’t solve all the problems that are widespread in the Gaelic football, but something has to be done to prevent its demographic from being swallowed up by other sports.

Club spotlight: NUI Galway Muay Thai By Graham Gillespie Since being founded in 2004, NUI Galway’s Muay Thai club has flourished in the college. Muay Thai is a martial art from Thailand which is often described as the science of eight limbs. It is called this as the sport incorporates not only punches and kicks but also elbows and knees. Some variation of the sport has existed for over one thousand years, as explained by NUI Galway Muay Thai founder and coach Dave Joyce. “It originally evolved from the battlefield. And in times when there were no wars, they couldn’t fight with weapons, so they developed an empty-handed system of training and that eventually evolved into the modern sport,” says Joyce. Joyce himself was originally involved in the now defunct NUI Galway Kung Fu club but then he took up Muay Thai (or Thai boxing as it is also known). “I had to make a choice between the two,” he remembers. Joyce chose Muay Thai but the Kung Fu club that was in the college since the early nineties kept going. However, the Kung Fu club would slowly morph into the Muay Thai club. “When I chose to keep doing Muay Thai, I told the lads to keep the Kung Fu going. The first year they managed fine, but with people drifting out they were finding it difficult to maintain interest and to get people to teach,” he said. “It would have been crazy to let it go because people wanted

to train in martial arts. So, I said I would do one night a week of Thai boxing and we could do one night a week of Kung Fu. That lasted for two or three years but the Kung Fu was waning while the Muay Thai was growing, so they just said ‘will you take this over and run it as a Muay Thai club?’.” The Muay Thai club is now hugely popular in NUI Galway. The first few weeks of training usually attract over 100 people, but these numbers naturally fall. Joyce estimates that the club has a committed cohort of about 50 people each year. “We would have two groups at the start (beginners and more advanced), then after about a month we’d bring them together and have them doing the same thing more or less,” he says. The club is also very multicultural according to Joyce. “One of the great things about our club is that it is really diverse. We get a wide range of ethnicities and nationalities from both sexes.” He was also keen to stress that the club is welcoming to newcomers. “People in the club are very friendly. They offer a lot of advice, not just on Muay Thai but on how to assimilate into college and stuff like that.” On a national collegiate level, Muay Thai has no intervarsity competition. This has been something that NUI Galway Muay Thai club have been striving to change. However, fighters do still get the chance to step into the ring with events being run by the Irish Muay Thai Council.

“We run amateur shows on a fairly regular basis so if people are up to an acceptable level, they can compete in those, which would be open events involving all clubs,” Joyce explains. One of the top fighters in the club, Toby Olokesusi, was even set to compete in the IFMA European Championships last October only to fracture his arm in the build-up. Of course, most people who train in Muay Thai in NUI Galway do so recreationally, with only about 20 percent wanting to fight competitively, according to Joyce. The social dimension of the club is also strong, and every year they organise a charity kickathon in aid of the temple of the Golden Horse in northern Thailand, which is an orphanage. “Last year we raised just over a thousand euros with the money going straight to the orphanage, which is in a very destitute area. It’s between Myanmar and Thailand and the people there are not recognised by the Myanmar or Thai governments, so they’re very poor. It’s also in the Golden Triangle which is rife with drugs, so this money does a lot of good,” adds Joyce. Going forward, NUI Galway Muay Thai now wants to realise its ambition of setting up an intervarsity tournament, whilst growing the club and continuing their charity work. NUI Galway Muay Thai can be contacted on their Facebook: NUIG Muay Thai

30 SPORT

SIN Vol. 20 Issue 01

New streaming services changing the game in battle for sports rights By Graham Gillespie Since the dawn of the Premier League era, football fans have had to stump up borderline extortionate prices to watch their team play on subscription channels. For example, as of August 14, it would cost someone €62.25 a month to have Sky Sports and BT Sports, i.e. the two channels who have all the Premier League rights. It must also be noted this sum is factoring in a half-price sale Sky are currently having so the normal full price would be a staggering €97. When one considers this price, it is no surprise that Sky subscription numbers are down as reported by the Financial Times. The fact that streaming football matches illegally online is easier than ever has not been helping Sky’s cause either. However, if a person wanted to watch their favourite sports and abide by the law they have had few options until now. The arrival of the Eleven Sports into the battle for broadcasting rights though has now transformed this situation.

Eleven Sports are different from Sky and BT as they are a streaming service, think Netflix for sports. They already caused quite a stir when they secured rights to the US PGA Championship for UK and Ireland, which for the first time ever was not be available on traditional TV. Instead, the first two days of golf’s fourth major was shown on Facebook for free whilst the weekend play was exclusively broadcasted on Eleven’s streaming service. Eleven Sports will also use a similar model for Serie A and La Liga games which they also have the rights to for the forthcoming season. For these games, their plan is to show one Serie A and La Liga game on Facebook every weekend. This is following in the footsteps of Major League Baseball who struck a deal to show 25 of their games exclusively on Facebook. Eleven’s thinking on using Facebook may be that they want to give potential customers a taste of their product so that they will be enticed to subscribe, but it’s a risky business plan to offer some of their content for free. However, at just

€7 a month, a paltry amount compared to Sky and BT, many may be willing to take the plunge and get a subscription. Of course, what is happening to sports channels is just part of a wider trend of what’s happening to TV stations in general. Traditional stations are starting to face a battle for survival as streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime continue to prosper. As a result, “cord cutting” in the US is becoming more prevalent as people begin to turn their backs on cable TV. A July Hollywood Reporter article even reported that cord cutting is happening faster than anticipated. The article quoted a survey by eMarketer which suggests that the number of traditional pay-TV subscribers in America will have fallen to 169.7 million in 2022 compared to 205.4 million in 2015. With nearly every TV show available online, Sport, mostly due to its live nature, has become one of the last things that people have had to switch on their TV to watch. Streaming services were slow to get involved in the battle

for sports rights. Now though it is not just Eleven Sports who have thrown their hat into the ring but also Amazon Prime. The Jeff Bezos’ owned company are showing two full Premier League matchdays (including the St Stephen’s Day games) from 2019 for three years. Amazon’s interest in the Premier League will be worth keeping an eye on as they are one of the few companies who could hypothetically outbid Sky and BT for the major rights packages. They have already paid millions to air the US Open tennis and Thursday Night NFL games. If they see a value in it, there’s no reason why the corporate behemoth wouldn’t outbid Sky and BT’s combined £5.13 billion for the Premier League rights next time around. This competition could be good news for the Premier League and other leagues globally as interest from the likes of Amazon could create a bidding war and drive up the price of rights. However, paying multiple subscriptions is far from ideal for fans.

On a positive note, the new services might help allow customers to pick and choose what sports they would like to pay for which could help reduce costs for subscribers. Last year, Sky responded to this by splitting up their channels via sport in the UK into Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports Cricket etc allowing subscribers to pick the sports they want. It remains to be seen if this will help stop falling subscription numbers. Nobody knows how all this will ultimately shake out, but one thing that is for certain is that people still want to watch sport. It is the how and where they will do this that is the multibilliondollar question.

FALLOUT FROM TRAGEDY: is overtraining a serious health risk? By Owen Kennedy On 29 May 2018, University of Maryland defensive lineman Jordan McNair was participating in a pre-season workout with his teammates. According to reports, the workout was described as “light” by the conditioning staff and began at 4pm. The team were in the middle of sprints and according to eyewitnesses, McNair could barely stand up after his 10th sprint and two players had to hold him up. At that point head athletic trainer Wes Robinson reportedly told players to “drag his ass across the field”. After this, things suddenly took a dark turn. At 5pm McNair had a seizure due to the sprint drills and according to ESPN no one called 911 until 5:58pm. McNair’s condition was described as “hyperven-

tilating after exercising and unable to control his breath”. McNair was moved to a shock trauma centre in Baltimore but unfortunately passed away on 13 June. McNair’s death led to ESPN questioning current and former players for Maryland football, as well as people close to the program, which found evidence of a toxic culture instilled by the coaching staff led by head coach D.J. Durkin and strength and conditioning coach Rick Court. Many of the individuals interviewed described the coaches carrying out questionable behaviours such as belittling and humiliating certain players, including forcing an overweight player to eat candy bars and watch his teammates work out. Fear and intimidation tactics were also employed, such as

tossing weights at players and excessive verbal abuse for players who failed to complete workouts, including one who passed out. The coaches also allegedly endorsed unhealthy eating habits, such as forcing underweight players to binge eat to gain weight. In the wake of these allegations, the University has placed several athletic staffers including Court on administrative leave as it commissions an external investigation by Walters Inc., a South Carolina-based sports medicine consulting firm. In a letter sent to parents of Maryland players before the ESPN report’s publication, Durkin stated that he was aware of it and that he is fully cooperating with the investigation efforts. Beginning on 11 August 2018, Durkin was also placed on adminis-

trative leave, while Matt Canada will be serving as the head coach until the investigation is completed. Punishments for individuals associated with this scandal and coaching positions will be determined upon the investigation’s conclusion. The tragic death of Jordan McNair has left sporting communities across America and in other areas around the world questioning if overtraining a lethality for their players. It’s easy to look to the case of McNair and call it a “once-off”, a “onein-a-million”. However, the facts behind studies on athletes who have overtrained before show that the practice is detrimental in the long term. Overtraining essentially means that you’re giving your body more work than it can physically recover from and it will break itself down (lose muscle) rather than build itself up. Overtraining can easily kill any progress you’re making in your training and even set you back. Everyone is different as to how much training they can do before overtraining. Some people, who are known as “hardgainers” cannot tolerate much before slipping into overtraining. Hardgainers must be especially aware of the signs of overtraining. Some people can tolerate huge volumes of training and still get great results.

Many of the individuals interviewed described

the coaches carrying out questionable behaviours such as belittling and humiliating certain

players, including forcing an overweight player to

eat candy bars and watch his teammates work out. Photo: Ben White on Unsplash

You will know if you are overtraining if you have one of more of the following symptoms: 1. Rapid resting heart rate (about ten beats per minute over your usual resting heart rate). Check this first thing in the morning after you wake up to get an accurate comparison. 2. Elevated blood pressure 3. Decreased desire to train 4. Decreased strength 5. Impaired immune system function (repeated or lasting illness) 6. General tiredness 7. Decreased sex drive 8. Loss of appetite 9. Susceptibility to injuries

Factors that influence whether you may be experiencing overtraining include: 1. How much sleep you’re getting 2. Quality and quantity of nutrition (including supplements)

3. Quantity and intensity of training 4. Training level 5. Stress levels To recover from overtraining, the best thing you can do is cut back on your training. You can also cease training for a while, taking a layoff, just be sure you don’t give up exercising completely, as can easily happen when you lose motivation. Do about half of what you were doing before, and reduce the intensity of the training that you are doing. Some people are so overtrained that they must reduce or stop their training for several or more weeks. If you have one or more of the above symptoms, do yourself a favour and reduce your load or take a short layoff. Your body will thank you for it.

SPÓIRT

September 11 2018

The future of soccer looks bright, or perhaps that’s the shine off of this crystal ball By Mark Lynch The year is 2028. Another season of the SkyBet Premier League sponsored by Betfair is just days away from beginning. Manchester United manager Wayne Rooney yesterday gave his first press conference since being unveiled as the boss at the Ladbrokes Old Trafford stadium, during which he broke the world record for most number of “ehm”s in a 15 minute period. Sitting beside him in said press conference, was veteran midfielder Paul Pogba, who had just been resigned by the club for a sixth time. Sky Sports News in association with William Hill had been running a Twitter poll about what hairstyle and hair colour Pogba would turn up with. It was black with pink polka dots. This then scrolled across the screen for the rest of the day as their main breaking news story.

Across the city, their rivals Manchester City also unveiled a new manager. Enigmatic Jose Mourinho has just taken the gig there, overseeing a squad of the minimum eight English players plus 17 Qatari nationals who saw their stock rise immensely after the 2022 World Cup, which they won convincingly. There was mild controversy over the standard of refereeing, but when contacted for an interview the referee from the final, Michael Oliver, said; “Excuse me, I can’t hear you over all of my money, I’ll have to call you back”. Unfortunately, he never did call us back. The Irish contingent in the English top flight has dwindled since the glory days of Jack Charlton in the late 1980’s and 1990’s. Robbie Keane, now in his fourth managerial gig in as many years, signed two young Irish lads at Derby County. Unfortunately, as

products of the academy system at the FAI, they had never actually been taught to pass the ball on the ground to a teammate. They’ve since become the main midfield pairing for Sunderland, under the guidance of Sam Allardyce. Keane declared; “It was always my dream to manage Derby County, so I’m sure it was also these lads’ dream to play here. That made it so much more difficult to let them go. I’m sure they’ll thrive under Big Sam”. The Irish national team has just narrowly missed out on qualification for the 2030 World Cup, sponsored by Paddy Power before qualifying has even begun. The tournament is to be held across three different continents but when questioned about travel expenses for fans and fatigue of players, FIFA released a statement which read; “if you don’t like it, make your own World Cup”.

The English FA attempted out of pure pride but just them and Wales turned up. Wales won 3-1 on penalties in the final. Regarding the actual Irish team selection, it’s mainly made up of League 1 players. Glenn Whelan captains the side, by now boasting a yellow card per game ratio of 1.3. On the wider international front, Lionel Messi has become the Argentina manager meaning he’ll stay on in his role picking the team. In European soccer, Gianluigi Buffon has announced he’s staying on for one more season at PSG in an attempt to finally win the Champions League, sponsored by Bet365. The 68-year-old told the press; “I swear if we don’t win it this year, I’m going to break Neymar’s puny little feet and set Gennaro Gattuso on him” before trailing off in a series of inaudible Italian swears.

Photo: Ian C via Flickr After hearing this, the Brazilian forward told the club he wanted to leave, before they once again made him the world’s highest paid player on €20 million per week, overtaking Jamie Vardy who has been seeing out his career in China alongside Mario Balotelli for €10 million a week. The Guangzhou Evergrande pair have been serving consecutive disciplinary bans since they signed

three years ago and haven’t yet played for a single minute. 43-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo has stepped away from his sporting career and now has his sights set on running for US President in the elections this Autumn. His main difficulties will be not being American or even running a campaign, but experts say if he puts up an Instagram post declaring his candidacy, he’ll emerge as the clear favourite.

A review of the system: intense scheduling just one issue in new hurling format By Martha Brennan 2018’s senior hurling championship was a source of anxiety for both players and fans as the summer approached. The roll-out of the new structure was highly anticipated and the round-robin format was criticized as soon as the vote went through last autumn. But even with all the talk leading up to the championship, no-one was prepared for the level of hurling that Ireland saw this year. It will be a season talked about for years to come, with enthralling clashes that will go down in GAA history as some of the best in recent times. The game dominated the Irish sporting consciousness all summer, despite fears that the elimination of sudden death would curtail attendance levels at matches. This was especially true of the provincial championships, where home games proved a lot more electric than games held in neutral arenas. The condensed schedule offered more hurling at a faster pace which the fans, and most of the players, are always asking for. However, the new system is still far from perfect. One stand - out flaw is the intense schedule with four teams playing four

matches in just 21 days. Of the 12 games where a county was playing on their third or fourth consecutive weekend, only on one occasion were those teams victorious. It became clear as the season went on that certain panels were suffering, particularly during fatigued second halves of matches where larger panels had the advantage. A prime example of this was evident in the Cork and Limerick semi-final where the Rebels lost their momentum toward the end of the game and could barely keep moving during the extra time. Many critics think that for next year replays should be introduced into the semi-finals, instead of so much extra time. President of the GAA John Horan has stated that they will look into addressing this for next year. The scheduling of the Leinster and Munster finals on the same day will also need to be addressed if the GAA want to keep fans happy. Relegation has also been a highly discussed issue in reviews of the new structure, and it’s hard to argue against the fact that it is skewed in the Munster counties’ favour. Offaly, who played four games in a row, have been relegated because

they finished last in Leinster, yet Waterford were bottom of the pile in Munster and were immune from the same fate. One of the highest points of contention this year, besides relegation and an intense schedule, has been fixture problems between club and county games. There are talks of plans to introduce a policy which would free up inter - county players to play with their clubs more often, and to try to bring back the importance of club games into players consciousness. With few big club games played in April, the day where there are two different seasons – a club season and a county season – is hastening. Along with these plans, there are also intentions to address the growing threat of creeping professionalism in the sport, with more and more players being given sponsorship deals and certain perks. This will be particularly interesting to keep an eye on, and to see how the Association plans to identify what is and isn’t acceptable within the amateur code. However even with these few kinks, there is no denying that 2018 was a year of hurling to remember: fans are already holding on to their seats in anticipation of what is to come next year.

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