SIN Vol. 18 Issue 06

A year of political tumult

Exam Special

Looking at the ramifications of US political upheaval

Top tips for study and stress management this exam season

Pages 10–11

Pages 16–18

Hudson Taylor in the Bailey Allen See SIN's photographer's photos of the gig Page 24

Funding crisis for Institutes of Technology

By Briain Kelly

FREE STUDENT NEWSPAPER | VOL 18, ISSUE 06 | 22 NOV 2016

#ROCKTHEREGISTER NUI Galway Students’ Union register nearly 400 students in voter drive

USI President Annie Hoey Photo: Irish Times

By Sorcha O’Connor With the election of Trump and the matter of Brexit earlier on in 2016, it was good incentive for the NUI Galway Students’ Union (SU) to push for students to register to vote before the next general election.

From 14 – 18 November alone, nearly 400 students had been registered by the SU. This push coincides with a nationwide campaign from the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).

The USI expects to register over 10,000 students to vote before the formation of the next government. They have teamed up with SpunOut.ie and the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) for their #RocktheRegister campaign and said that this is a strategic move to empower students and to get political parties to prioritise funding in third level education.

USI has registered over 80,000 new student voters over the past two years and hoped to register thousands more on 16 November.

“The amount of students USI has registered to vote over the past few years is outstanding,” said USI President Annie Hoey.

“We are encouraging students to register to vote at their local students’ unions and are drilling home the message that their vote is their voice and their vote is what shapes the composition of the next government.

The figures of new registered student voters in the past two years outline the hunger young people have for getting involved in current affairs, politics and issues that directly affect them like educational matters. Students are really energised to vote in this election and to make sure their voice is properly heard. We’ve seen across Twitter and Facebook how many students are

excited to register their vote, and voice, but today is only the beginning of our campaign to #Rocktheregister over the coming months.”

Executive Director of SpunOut.ie Ian Power said that there is a vast amount of issues concerning young people and campaigns such as #RocktheRegister are key to persuading young people to use their voice to get results.

“There are so many pressing issues we’re seeing at the moment that have clear political solutions; whether it be the lack of student housing and affordable rents, the very high cost of education, the difficulty young people still face in finding good quality jobs or any number of other things,” he said.

“The only way any of these problems is going to be fixed is through young people mobilising and having their say in changing this country for the better, just like they did with the Marriage Equality referendum last year.”

Institutes of Technology (IoT) in Ireland are undergoing a crisis in funding according to the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).

The USI was reacting to a report published by the Higher Education Authority which shows, that the cash balances of the IoT sector has declined by nearly a half in the last three years from €218 million in 2013 to €116 million at present.

Further, the report projects that the deterioration will likely continue for the next five years with colleges such as Letterkenny IT, Waterford IT, GMIT, Tralee IT, Dundalk IT, and Cork IT identified as being at particular risk.

USI President Annie Hoey emphasised that these figures were indicative of growing with the infrastructure of the ITs. “While staff and teacher wages take up a huge part of the expenditures for these IoTs, staff numbers have dropped by over 10% while student numbers have continued to increase. We are urging Minister Bruton to allocate appropriate public funding as a solution to the problems outlined in this report,” she said.

The problems facing the IoTs stemmed directly from the government’s lack of investment in third level education, the USI have said.

An immediate increase in base funding by the government is required in order to prevent IoTs from being forced to impose caps on student numbers or close their doors altogether.

What the USI wants to avoid above all else is for the government to resort to the same method of dealing with funding shortfalls in higher level education that were employed throughout the recession, that being: increases in fees.

Hoey also rules out the viability of a student loan scheme; “Income contingent loans abroad in the UK, US, and Australia do not work. Our government must put their money where their mouths are and invest more now without burdening people with debt.”

“We already have the 2nd highest fees in Europe and the 8th highest fees in the world.

Clearly, high student fees do not necessarily lead to a quality system. Over 12,000 students, staff, parents and workers took the streets against any increase in fees. The system is cracking, and our current model does not work.”

An increase in fees would hit students who attend IoTs disproportionately harder than students at Universities.

Hoey pointed out that IoTs have the largest proportion of students in receipt of maintenance grants.

A student loan scheme was speculated on prior to budget 2017 but did not manifest.

Prior to the issuing of the budget, 5,000 students marched through Dublin with the USI demanding proper college funding rather that loans that put a burden on students.

The USI emphasised the role that ITs play in regional industrial development, and warned that under investment would have severe economic consequences down the line.

2 NEWS

Sin Vol. 18 Issue 6

NUI Galway celebrated Diwali festival last week. Photographs by Timothy Cognard.

‘Tis the season! Exam season, that is… Fear not however, as SIN has a great mix of study tips and festive merriment to get you through to the Christmas holidays!

We have our exam time pull out which includes everything from a study playlist to the musthaves for the exam hall.

It’s our last issue for the semester so we have gotten a bit Christmassy ahead of schedule but sure, with all the study who doesn’t need a bit of jolliness and joy in their lives? Check out all our Christmas features – we have everything covered, from the Christmas market to how to get your Christmas

SU President Jimmy McGovern with Welfare Officer Daniel Khan and Education Officer Cathal Sherlock Christmas Day ready

shopping done as efficiently as possible and avoid the Christmas Eve dash. (We’ll leave that to the man in red…)

We have all our usual campus news, we have reaction to Trump being President Elect and we also pay tribute to one of music’s greatest stars Leonard Cohen. The Cohen quote “everything has a crack in it, that’s how the light gets in” could probably do with being remembered with many people highly disappointed with the Trump victory. Maybe we are on the brink of great change, as people are motivated to avoid further Brexit and Trump scenarios, who knows? Come back to read SIN in January and I’m sure we will have all the latest.

In the meantime have an absolutely fantastic Christmas! Enjoy, Sorcha.

Santa’s helpers: volunteers at Christmas Day

NEWS 3

November 22 2016

NEWS EDITORIAL: CATHAL KELLY & CATHY LEE Hello everyone, we have a jam packed issue here this week. It’s crazy to think that this is our last issue of 2016, where has the time gone? The last weeks have been pretty crazy to say the least, but with the media storm of the US presidential election over we can now focus on important issues like exams…

We have a special pull out to look at how to keep both body and mind in good shape over the festive exam period.

There’s a lot of useful info in there, so make sure to take a gander at it. All that’s left for us to say here is merry Christmas and a happy new Year. Let’s hope 2017 TRUMPS 2016 (sorry!)

FEATURES EDITORIAL: DEIRDRE LEONARD The end of the semester is here and that can only mean one thing… it's almost Christmas! We’ve got plenty of festive fun for you in the Features section this issue to keep you going until the big day. Before we can get too carried away with Christmas cheer though, there are those pesky exams to get through. Don't worry though, we’ve got you covered with time management advice, study techniques and tips for taking care of yourself this exam season. So best of luck everyone and have a very merry Christmas!

OPINION EDITORIAL: EOIN MOLLOY Not to be the bearer of bad news, but we here at SIN's opinion section couldn't help but notice that 2016 is coming to a predictably-rotten conclusion. ISIS haven't quite jogged on yet, the Left is more fractured and divided than ever before and there is a wolf in the white house. But do not despair, there is always a silver lining. Trump's election has caused the world's supply of dank Biden memes to rise to an all time high and that is genuinely something to smile about. In this issue, we have tackled the main talking points of today.

Anyways, read up and get SINformed!

Find us online:

www.sin.ie

Editor: Sorcha O’Connor

editor@sin.ie Layout: Shannon Reeves

Have something to say? Send your ­Letter to the Editor to editor@sin.ie.

LIFESTYLE EDITORIAL: KAYLEIGH MCCOY Christmas is a time for giving so in the Lifestyle section this fortnight we discuss how random acts of kindness can go down a treat at this time of year. Christmas is also a time for snow and merriment, so Aisling Bonner gave us the lowdown on the best Winter escapes around Europe to get you in the festive mood after gruelling exams! We also discuss how to keep fit and active during the fine dining this year! Hope you all have a good one!

FASHION EDITORIAL: GEORGIA FEENEY Ah, Christmas – a shopaholic’s favourite time of the year!

However as students, getting yourself kitted out for Christmas parties can be a tad expensive so here at SIN fashion we have rounded up the top party dresses in our 5 under €50 feature. We also have much more so make sure to flick on through SIN to get your fortnightly fashion fix.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITORIAL: AISLING BONNER AND SAOIRSE RAFFERTY Merry Christmas everyone! Entertainment is jampacked this week, we have everything from I’m a Celebrity to the best Christmas TV ads for you to read about. We also pay tribute to Leonard Cohen, we have our last review in SIN book club for 2016 and we have every techies’ dream Christmas wish list from the Galway Gamer. Enjoy!

SPORTS EDITORIAL: TREVOR MURRAY In the sports section this fortnight we have the full rundown on the All Blacks clashes, we discuss all things Liverpool this season, give you the latest on newly appointed Galway United manager Shane Keegan and we also have an Ode to Underdogs - Leicester City and Castlegar Junior A hurlers featuring heavily. Hoping you all have a sporting Christmas and we’ll be back with more extensive sport coverage in the New Year!

INSIDE Member of European Commission visits NUI Galway 4 Chats for Change Tackle Mental Health Stigma 5 USI demand Government action on mental health 5 Diary of a Final Year: Is this a date?

7

Starting your Christmas shopping early

8

New Fáilte Refugees society to launch next semester

9

Grief and violence: the fallout of Trump’s victory

10

What does a Trump Presidency mean for climate change? 11 The real Snapchat story

13

Exam Special – health & wellbeing during exam season 16–18 Winter Wanderlust

20

Importance of keeping fit during winter

21

5 Under ¤50: Party Dresses

22

Fashion comes in all shapes and sizes

23

Hudson Taylor take Bailey Allen!

24

Finding Leonard Cohen

25

The best of Christmas TV

26

5 Best & Worst Christmas Songs

27

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here 2016 series preview 28 Keegan a positive choice as new Galway United boss

30

Ireland match the All Blacks

31

4 NEWS

Sin Vol. 18 Issue 6

NUI Galway equality reforms “window-dressing”, says Micheline Sheehy Skeffington

By Sorcha O’Connor With last Sunday 13 November marking the second anniversary of her victorious Equality Tribunal, retired NUI Galway lecturer Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington has deemed efforts on behalf of the University to rectify gender inequality as “window-dressing”.

Dr Sheehy Skeffington is unsatisfied with the progress made since her landmark victory against NUI Galway, which found she was discriminated against due to gender and was awarded €70,000. The University were ordered to promote her and set up a taskforce to tackle the issue of gender inequality within the college.

While Dr Sheehy Skeffington admits that parts of the report from the taskforce in May 2016 were positive, she believes that the correct attitude is not being expressed by the college.

“Some of it was hard hitting, but being honest I’m not sure how much of it is being implemented because recently I’ve heard [with the appointment of a Vice President of Equality and Diversity] the brief seems to be get the message out that NUI Galway is no worse than any other universities,” she said.

“Well, you don’t get a message out, you actually make some changes – we are the worst … We are clearly bottom, NUI Galway has always been bottom,” she continued.

“We are much worse than the other universities and this message is not what it is about,” she said.

Dr Sheehy Skeffingon believes it would be cheaper to promote fiver lecturers who are at present waiting on a pre-trial in the High Court over alleged discrimination against them in the same promotion round Dr Sheehy Skeffington

was found to be discriminated against, rather than pay the salary of the Vice President of Equality and Diversity.

“It’s about window dressing and making things look good,” claimed Dr Sheehy Skeffington.

“Where is the actual justice, and to start with the five women who have not been promoted.”

Dr Sheehy Skeffington also disagrees with the mandatory gender quotas, which she states are an insult to both women and men.

PROGRESS

The Vice President of Equality and Diversity Professor Anne Scott was unavailable to comment this week. However Head of Equal Opportunities in NUI Galway Aoife Cooke defended the efforts that have been made by the University in the past two years since the Equality Tribunal.

“A huge amount has happened in the meantime,” said Ms Cooke.

“Key recommendations that have already been enacted, gender balance is now university policy … so right across the university in all key committees and working groups a minimum of 40% men and 40% women is now a requirement.”

“The promotions policies have been reviewed … a key feature of this scheme will be a mandatory gender quota, so it will be mandatory that at least 40% women will be successful in that round.”

In response to Dr Sheehy Skeffington’s comment on the efforts as “window dressing” Ms Cooke strongly disagreed.

“I would absolutely say this is not window dressing, these are very sincere and very serious efforts the university are going to,” she said.

She expressed that the recommendations of the task force had been followed or were in the process of being followed, and defended the appointment of the Vice President of Equality and Diversity Professor Anne Scott. “[She] has already made a large amount of this happen and is very committed and driven to ensuring that the transformation takes place,” she said.

“We are seeing it is a requirement to make positive efforts to attract women to the university, to ensure that we retain them and ensure that we remove barriers to their progression,” she said.

“The reality is Micheline is retired and she is retired for two years so she is not here and is unaware of what the university is doing so it is very easy for her to say it is window dressing. In fact it is not.”

Member of European Commission visits NUI Galway NUI Galway home to the

By Cathal Kelly conference interpreters lays with the uni- and trainers from the institutions. Every friendliest café in Ireland The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Interpretation, Florika Fink-Hooijer visited NUI Galway recently where she met with staff and students of the MA/PDip in Conference Interpreting, currently being taught at the University.

Mrs Fink-Hooijer spoke to the multilingual MA class at NUI Galway on issues related to multilingualism in the EU, and future career opportunities in conference interpreting for graduates of the programme.

Emphasising the importance of interpreter training, Mrs Fink-Hooijer said: “The primary responsibility for training

versities of member states. NUI Galway, and in particular Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, is the only Conference Interpreter training course provided on the entire island of Ireland and the only source of Irish language interpreters in the world, so its activities should be nurtured. The solid relationship between NUI Galway and the Directorate General for Interpretation allows us to build up interpreting resources for Irish and indeed English.”

Cooperation with the DirectorateGeneral for Interpretation began in 2008 and they provide regular teaching support from experienced staff interpreters

year students of the MA in Conference Interpreting visit the institutions in Brussels for practical work experience, in real meetings, in a dummy booth.

During her Irish Visit, the DirectorGeneral met with officials of the Irish Government to discuss Irish as a full official and working language of the EU. The EU has always considered cultural and linguistic diversity a richness and a strength and as something to be safeguarded. Reliable interpreting services are essential to the institutions and NUI Galway is committed to providing the requisite skills to their graduates to enable them to avail of these opportunities.

By Sorcha O’Connor SAOL Café at NUI Galway has been awarded the title of Friendliest Café in Ireland by the JCI Friendly Business Awards.

The café was nominated as the Friendliest Café on a regional level in August and went on to the National bout of the competition where 50% of the vote was public based.

500 businesses took part overall and SAOL Café reigned supreme as Friendliest.

Located in the Institute for Lifecourse and Society, the café is also the first community-based social inclusion café in a third level institute in Ireland.

The not-for-profit café aspires to employ and educate those within the community who are traditionally marginalised. Skills learned by employees and the paid employment provided can encourage confidence in workers and help them engage with the community in a working environment.

Annette Hassett, Operations Manager with SCCUL Enterprises said; “The team in Saol Café are delighted with the Award it’s a tremendous accolade for a business that is just one year in operation. We promote inclusive employment and hopefully this Award will encourage other employers to consider hiring staff through supported employment models.”

Local produce is central to the menu in Saol Café, with the café working with local businesses such as Kinvara Smoked Salmon, Lizzy Jams and Chutneys, Galway Goats Cheese, Foods of Athenry, Sheridan’s Cheese, Juicy Lucy and Galway Food Company. Food provenance is paramount for the café, so time is taken to ensure the ingredients are from sustainable and ethical sources.

Saol Café can be found just off the Upper Newcastle Road in Dangan, and it “brings a magical taste of the community into the heart of the ILAS and its welcoming atmosphere” serves up healthy nutritious food catering for all tastes including Coeliac and Vegans.

80% of Saol’s produce is either organic, local or fair trade.

NEWS 5

November 22 2016

Chats for Change tackle Mental Health stigma

By Mark Laherty Mental health organisation See Change and Lyons Tea have launched a ‘Chats for Change’ initiative in several campuses around the country.

The purpose of this initiative is to encourage open discussion of mental health.

“We’re a nation of talkers and tea drinkers, so why keep silent on the mental health problems that we all can go through?” reads the See Change website.

“We’re encouraging students to make time to share a cuppa today and really ask someone how they’re doing.”

The initiative has also been organised in partnership with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services.

See Change is an organisation that aims to, amongst other things, combat stigma surrounding mental health problems. It is currently working in association with over 70 different organisations.

The organisation’s other goals, as listed on its website, include achieving an environment where people can openly discuss mental health.

It also aims to help the population to understand people with mental health problems and make the available services known to everyone.

Through Chats for Change and their other initiatives, See Change is trying to show that mental health problems can affect anyone, not just those with pre-existing mental illnesses.

It also expresses that these problems are “part and parcel of being human,” and that

people with these problems can and do recover from or live with them.

See Change holds that people with mental health problems are entitled to the same human rights as any other person without discrimination. The organisation works to make clear that anyone can help diminish the stigma around mental health regardless of whether it has impacted them personally.

No student is excluded from the initiative, but See Change has specified young males aged 18 to 24 as a key target group. This is based on the findings of their own studies, which show that there is a known connection between toxic masculinity and mental health problems in young men.

Mental health problems are also rife amongst LGBT+ people. According to the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), 27% of LGBT+ Irish people have self-harmed, and 85% of these did so more than once.

18% have attempted suicide, and 85% of these said their attempts were related at least in part to stresses associated with their LGBT identity, such as fear of rejection.

There are a range of services available to anyone suffering mental health problems.

There is the counselling service on the NUI Galway campus on Distillery Road. You can contact your local GP, who can send you to useful HSE services.

There are help lines, such as the Samaritans (116 123) and Aware, a line for depression, BPD, and anxiety (1800 80 48 48).

Other services are listed on the Mental Health Ireland website at mentalhealthireland.ie

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USI demand Government action on mental health

NUI Galway awards business certificate to 370 Junior Certificate students

By Mark Laherty

By Jessica Hannon

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has sent a formal letter to a government minister demanding an increase in funding to mental health services.

This comes in the aftermath of the #IAmAReason campaign which spread across the profile pictures of many social media accounts.

The campaign also organised a demonstration outside Leinster House on April 28.

Galway participated significantly in the campaign. On the same day, an equivalent demonstration was held in Eyre Square with over 100 people participating.

Taking place in April and May this year, #IAmAReason saw participants give their personal accounts of the shortcomings of the country’s mental health services.

The criticisms raised by the campaign included the lack of 24/7 crisis intervention services. There is little infrastructure in place to help homeless people access services. Staffing of mental health services across the board were 21% below recommended levels, with staffing of youth services in particular falling 48% below.

The letter was co-signed by Mental Health Reform (MHR), represented by its Director

Shari McDaid, along with USI President Annie Hoey. It was addressed to Helen McEntee, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People.

The issue of contention is the lack of funds that will be released to the HSE for 2017.

Though the government allocated €35 million on 11 October to development funding of national mental health services, only €15 million of that will be available in the coming year.

The USI expressed in the letter their position that this funding is inadequate. It accounts for only 1.8% of the government’s overall 2016 budget. The most generous estimates, including the €9.7 million announced for increased wages in mental health services, comes to 3% of the budget.

This figure contrasts with the 7.4% increase in spending for the total health budget.

“This Government’s allocation will do little to redress the decades of neglect of Ireland’s mental health services,” the letter reads, “let alone put in place the foundations of a modern mental health system.”

The #IAmAReason campaign originally arose when the Minister for Health at the time, Leo Varadkar, admitted a €12 million underspend in mental health services.

Wednesday 2 November saw bright stars from across Connacht who received A’s in their Junior Certificate honours Business Studies class presented with Certificates of Achievement from the College of Business, Public Policy and Law at NUI Galway.

Prestigious awards, the presentations were made at a special ceremony at the university, in which students were accompanied by teachers and parents on the celebratory evening.

This year’s presentations, in association with the Business Studies Teachers Association of Ireland (BSTAI), saw the seventh year of consecutive awards ceremonies for Business in NUI Galway.

This year saw the certificates of achievement awarded to a record number of 370 second level students. These students from 66 individual were from schools throughout the counties of Leitrim, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.

Dean of the College of Business Public Policy and Law, NUI Galway, Professor John McHale, presented each individual student with his or her prestigious award.

He congratulated each student on their achievements and spoke of the importance of the award for future prospective students: “Recipients of this award place amongst the top 9.2% of students who sat this examination, an achievement to

be most definitely proud of. NUI Galway believes that it is important to recognise the achievements of our potential future business leaders”.

He added that he hopes “to have the pleasure of meeting many of these students again in NUI Galway as students of our programmes in the future.”

The awards ceremonies are on their seventh year running and Seamus Robinson, former President, BSTAI spoke of his delight saying “The BSTAI is delighted to continue its partnership with NUI Galway in recognising students who have achieved excellence.”

He concluded claiming that “The recipients of these awards hold the visionary seeds of the future and I am confident many of today’s award recipients will build successful careers in the business world.”

The NUI Galway Business presentations are an incentive, a push in the right direction to students of business studies who may wish to consider NUI Galway when applying for the CAO in the near future.

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FEATURES 7

November 22 2016

Confessions of a Provisional Driver

By Aisling Bonner My provisional licence turned six months old last weekend and panic stations set in. What the hell have I been arsing around at on the roads this entire time?

The six month birthday of my little plastic rectangle means that I can now sit a driving test. It means that I should be well able to pass that driving test since, you know, it has been six months. Meanwhile in the Driving Academy of Aisling, I have yet to go over 70 kilometres an hour, know no hand signals or vehicle mechanisms, have never used a petrol pump, and haven’t reversed the car... at all?

The reality hit me like an air bag. My goal of having a licence

by Christmas (granted I’ve set that goal for the past three Christmases) has dwindled significantly.

My mother is quick to remind me of the ice. “You won’t be driving when it gets icy, Aisling. You’ll be getting very little practice in from

now on. You should have done more in the summer….” Blah de blah de blah. I’m beginning to think Bob Marlay was correct when he said “no woman no cry”.

But Bob forgot about brothers.

As if the accumulation of licence birthdays, the impending Ice Age and my motherly reminders isn’t bad enough, my brother has entered the mix recently and is vying for the title of First Child Driving. I’m being dramatic, you say? I might alert you to the fact that my brother is three years younger than me, did his theory test a year after me, started lessons three months after me, and is now only two lessons behind me.

Also toss in the fact that he lives seven days-a-week with Mammy, Daddy and car, versus me, blowing in from Galway every weekend and struggling to start the bloody thing, and I think you’ll find my response rather reasonable.

Last weekend my eyes were opened. My brother is now a threat. With minimal opportunities to drive at the weekend as it is, I look forward to my leisurely drive home from work on a Friday night as I boast to my mother how wonderful the third year of a BA Connect is - it’s bliss, you should try it sometime. You can imagine my disgust when I see my brother occupying the driver seat, my mother to his

left signalling me into the back.

Unprecedented, would be the word I would use to describe my reaction. Unprecedented by me, unprecedented by them. Just a general shock to the system.

My tantrum does me no favours and I’m confined to the back seats where I grunt a few responses to questions about college and money and work. What’s worse? My brother doesn’t put a foot wrong. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t half hoping he’d swerve into a ditch, or skim the odd wing mirror en route home, but no.

“Isn’t he great, Aisling?” “I feel so comfortable and relaxed when he’s driving”, is on loop in the passenger seat.

I’m getting increasingly irritated in the back, the literal picture of jealousy. As he glides down my little country lane as if sailing on the back of a cloud, I plot my revenge.

Upon his reversal into the driveway (yes, he’s even reversing) I play a muffled sound bite of a squealing cat from my phone. Panic. Stations.

All hell breaks loose as everyone scrambles out of the car, expecting to find our beloved Patsy either wailing, limping or squashed. My tinge of guilt is no match for my absolute triumph as I regain my title as least provisional driver.

Alas, happiness is fleeting and as my panicked family retreat inside after a search of the garden they are greeted by a purring Patsy who squints up at me with a passive aggression so fierce that I’m certain she knows what I’ve done.

Diary of a GAA man

By Michael Burke As us country folk come to learn, the weekend pilgrimage home from college can range from a thing of beauty to a dark, repetitive passage we’d prefer to forget. Last weekend, however, the mind set of heading back to the same place I had lived in for 18 years was replaced by a tourist’s appreciation of the unique, picturesque landscape.

I was happily en route home, knowing in full faith that the hurling season had ended, and joyfully knowing that the weather, at this exact moment, was taking its bitterness out on that poor jogger I spotted as I was leaving Galway.

All was fine and well approaching my stop, with my spirits levitating off the seat, as I spotted Dad waiting for me across the road as he turned the car for home. We weren’t in the car for long before the dark seemed to drop like a curtain as it always does, and being the imaginative type, I took it as a cue to form my earlier thoughts into a movie in the hope of some entertainment for the journey.

‘Reflections on youth: GAA trauma, episode 1’ would be the title. In a disappointing opening few minutes, it transpired the traumatised figure was not actually me but our old under-10’s club manager, apparently heartbroken, wondering if there was a hurler waiting to break out of some young lad… (No idea who).

Jumping from my daydream, I noticed Dad had been talking to me this entire time.

“Will we call in so,” he says.

“Ah, yeah go on,” I mumble, hoping he doesn’t realise I haven’t

been replying for the last 20 minutes. Starting to laugh, he pulls in on the outskirts of the village, just outside the pub and says he’ll buy me one. Meanwhile, I’m thinking at this point that I may as well permanently pursue the whole absent minded thing as a career because I’d pretty be good at it if I did.

Inside, a few of the older GAA lads were sipping pints and I figured they may have gotten the wrong impression of me over the last few years with regards hurling. Let’s just say my interest in attending training wasn’t exactly as high up the list as sipping a long neck by the beach in west Clare. I’m only human after all. But I’m thinking here, this night might be a nice way to rebuild our relationship.

It’s off-season so I figure I can make a few promises here or there, talk a load of pint-induced crap, whatever. “Anything that will make us mates” is my philosophy for the night and from what I remember it was absolutely fantastic ….or terrible. My memory is a bit hazy. I woke up on the couch in the typical state expected after a long nightout, except, this time, there were repercussions.

So when I received an unknown text Saturday afternoon saying: “Burke, come to pitch Friday, eight bells” a part of me is thinking the night went great - they even want me to help out with the young lads.

Yet, at the same time I’m thinking, they could very well just be waiting to confront me over whatever it was I said, and possibly kill me. I might as well just bite the bullet and reply: “I’d love to man, but I’m staying in Galway next weekend.” Is being a city slicker any easier?

Diary of a Final Year: Is this a date?

By Caoimhe Tully The thing is, I’m the kind of person who tends to run away from the task at hand. When I have a Philosophy essay due, I paint my nails and write for fun. When my nail varnish chips and I actually have an article due, I bake cookies and go on dates.

That’s right, in the midst of all this Christmas exam/Donald Trump angst, in the classic style of Tull-Meister, I have found a distraction, a new focus: the dating scene.

Although, let’s be real, it’s not actually “the dating scene”.

It’s just hanging out. Only a coffee. A quick spin to the prom. A quiet drink. It could even be just

a work thing. Very casual. And you must not cross these casual lines by trying to figure out what it really is. Don’t be daft! The 72 hours prior to your meeting must be consumed with wonder. What is this? What do I wear? Who am I? Embrace this anguish, don’t give into it. Don’t request that the other person signs a contract stating they are someway romantically interested in you, and that they can offer a money back guarantee… (trust me).

If you happen to do this, and your date falls through, don’t panic, the Tull-Meister is here to offer you tips on how to bag another. It’s pretty simple, all you need to do is find somebody you have something in common with.

For example, my most recent date had ears, just like me. I broke the ice by asking him could he wiggle them. (He could, so I should have known from the outset that he was much too intricate for me).

Just like the time I went for “just a drink” with the guy who knew all about wine. His knowledge seemed attractive at first, but trying to keep up with him was too complicated. At one stage he handed me a glass of red, I sniffed long and hard and feeling like a pro I told him I could smell “blackberries and spices” “That’s just the candle.”

He pointed at the candle between us. I nodded, swallowing the blackberry and spice much too quickly.

Which brings me to my next tip about the dating scene. Now, it might sound like Mammy–ish advice, but let’s face it, Mammies are usually right: Don’t get drunk!

It’s not cool, and it puts you in a vulnerable position. I mean, what is the best way to tell if your date is a crazy person? That’s right, there is none. So stay safe out there, and make sure to let a friend know where you are.

If ear wiggling and wine tasting isn’t up your street, suggest to your date that you do something else that seems slightly bearable to you. But do not, under any circumstance, suggest that you partake in an activity you enjoy.

For instance, I enjoy wearing a onesie and covering my face with

sudocreme while I read women’s fiction. Apparently, the date I had last Thursday night, does not. A key tip is to keep it boring.

If your first date is sufficiently boring, and a second date is agreed upon, you must be prepared. That is why, for the first date, I would suggest investing in a notebook. That way, you can take note of the other person’s likes, dislikes, qualities and mannerisms, and memorize them. I mean, dates are basically interviews, so it only makes sense to do this.

If a second date doesn’t seem to be in the pipeline, don’t panic.

Take a seat. Laugh at the wiggling ears. Drink the wine. Enjoy the interview process.

8 FEATURES

Sin Vol. 18 Issue 6

Galway Christmas market This will be the sixth year of Ireland’s largest Christmas market

Starting your Christmas shopping early

By Orla Carty

Throwing it back to… 1994 Do you remember this?

Happy 32nd birthday Scarlett Johansson

Acted in Home Alone 3 “These tabloid magazines - I think they’re hideous and the downfall of society.”

Dido born on Christmas day

All I want for ChristmasMariah Carey released

A song written and produced

by Mariah Carey. It’s seen as one of the ‘most iconic critically acclaimed Christmas songs of all time’. The track has had global sales of over 14 million copies. It’s still topping the charts after all these years.

1994 Christmas Movies

“It’s great to go on your own and discover new things just for yourself, to meet new people and all that. If you’re all on your own, then there is nobody there to guide you and you have to make all the decisions for yourself.

It’s quite liberating in a way.”

1994 Christmas Toys

The Santa Clause 189.8 milion Box Office Hit Miracle on 34th street “This guy ain’t dangerous. He may be off his rails a bit, but he ain’t nothing. And if he wants to call himself Santa Claus, then God bless him.”

I can already hear you cynics groaning as you see this article title, the distant flick as you thumb past this page. I’m aware that some of you detest people like me who, in September, have already got a secret bag in the wardrobe full of future gifts.

But, without disrespect, I would like to firstly make you all very aware that we are a different creature to those who listen to Christmas music over summer. We too do not appreciate the stockings and reindeer pictures that peek out from behind pumpkins in October supermarkets. The point is not to extend Christmas beyond natural life length, it’s to be smart.

The bottom line is that Christmas is expensive. We often don’t have enough to even get a decent gift, never mind spoil someone we wish we could. If it’s possible to cut corners early on, why not? I stand by it myself. It may not suit unorganized folk, but anyone who can make a to-do list and manage to tick half of it off, can tackle early shopping.

I tend to start every year around the time when we return to college.

Just as the evenings start to get darker, signifying a different time of year, I turn my attention to town and keep an eye on the shops. When a sale pops up, don’t hesitate. Grab a few things and put them away for later on. Even regular prices will be

All in one band

Song ‘Rock and Roll Kids’ by male duo Paul Harrington and Charlie Mc Gettigan Held in Dublin at the point The Celtic Tiger Years began

Beanie Babies REFERENCES

imgur.com; neogaf.com; didomusic.com; rte.ie; etonline.com; imdb.com; milestoneinventive.com

you can glide through with ease.

That extra time can be spent with friends and family, which is what we’d all rather be doing anyway.

If shops really aren’t your thing, and you avoid them until the last minute possible, thereby ending up in the Christmas Eve shopping rut, there’s other options. Online is the way forward.

Websites like Boohoo and ASOS are ideal for buying clothes, particularly if you subscribe to them and receive constant discounts (they go into a special promotions folder if you’re on Gmail, and dislike anything nearing spam). Both have free Irish returns so don’t worry too much about things not looking great in person, your eye gets better over time at predicting anyway.

If you have a bookworm you need to please, Easons and Kennys.ie are both great. Easons has a great website layout where you can search any title you want with the click of a button, while Kennys have amazing prices. Delivery in Ireland for all websites mentioned above is either free in general, or else once you pass a spending limit which you’ll likely do when bulk buying your presents.

That means saving on car petrol/bus money!

It isn’t too late to get started now.

I may be an extreme early-bird, but mid-November still gives you plenty of time to get ahead. Happy shopping troopers.

Galway Christmas market makes a return

By Amanda Leeson

Ireland wins Eurovision song contest third year in a row

cheaper, before everything either goes up due to insane demand, or becomes part of a ridiculously expensive gift set that’s main cost is its packaging.

The main thing to be successful in early Christmas endeavours is to make sure to keep track of what you’re actually buying, and who for.

It would kind of defeat the purpose to end up with two twenty euro gifts for one person when you would normally spend thirty last-minute.

There’s a lot of places to check in with. TK Max gets designer shipments constantly and sells them at a severely discounted price. These understandably get swept up in middle to late December, but there’s plenty to nab before that. There’s different stock in there every week, so go have a look whenever you can and pick up a bargain.

Boots is another place to keep watch of. Their three for two and buy one get one half price offers are always placed on different brands.

Starting early means more time, which means more products for the offers to be switched between.

Wait until they land on the ones you want and pick them up!

Another benefit of shopping early is that as well as getting better gifts for cheaper prices is that you beat the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve. Rather than forcing your way through shops that are jampacked and squelching with bodies,

With Christmas so close the last thing you want to think about is exams, but sadly it’s something we all have to do. If you are an extreme worrier and need to get out in the fresh air to relax or even if you just want an excuse to avoid studying, well we’ve got the place for you.

The Galway Continental Christmas market is now in its sixth year and offers plenty of festive fun to escape the exam stress. The market makes its return on Friday 18 November from 6pm in the evening and will be open seven days a week until Thursday 22 December. The market will be located in Eyre Square and even spreads to the Spanish Arch.

The market is home to over 50 wooden chalets on Eyre Square with many festive delights including cafés and Christmas gift shops. As you would expect, Santa’s Grotto is a big art of the market and if you’re

lucky you might even get to meet the man himself. The German Bier Keller will also have an array of delights over the four week period.

The market offers lots of entertainment with music performers, puppet shows, storytelling and even choir singing to get you in the festive spirit before heading home for Christmas. Santa’s Grotto will be run by local charity volunteers, while the Bier Keller will host numerous events.

If you are a food lover you definitely haven’t been left out, with a selection of pastries, confectionary, crepes and waffles to choose from. If you are a beer fan you can take the opportunity to sample traditional German beer.

If you’re not a beer fan, the market also offers apple cider, mulled wine and hot chocolate. All these treats are perfect for keeping you warm as you explore what the market has to offer. The market will feature artisan food if you want to try something a bit more high end.

If excitement is more your thing, the market will feature vintage amusements and even a carousel - the perfect way to unleash your inner child and forget about exams.

If you decide to make a day of it and explore all of what Galway has to offer you can jump on the Santa Express train as a fun and unusual way of exploring the city.

The market is an excellent way to get away from the stress of the exam period. Whether you choose to spend an hour or four hours looking at the festivities, there is plenty for you to do. If you are using the time to get a bit of shopping in, the market will have Christmas gift ideas from both local and European crafts makers. Take this opportunity to get out in the crisp winter air and explore all that Galway has to offer!

MARKET OPENING HOURS:

Monday – Wednesday: 12 noon – 8pm Thursday – Sunday: 10am – 10pm

FEATURES 9

November 22 2016

A word from the recovered

By Jennifer O’Connor When I was mentally unwell, I considered those who were recovered to be members of a secret club, perhaps with bi - weekly meetings and a password to gain entry. At the time, which involved too many reckless trains of thought, recovery was a foreign concept full of difficult steps that would I undoubtedly be too weak take. You see, I equated weakness with mental instability. That was my first mistake.

Please know my aim in writing this, is not to preach at you, nor is it to assure you that you are not alone, or that your mental health problems are not your fault. Whilst I agree with both those things, more importantly I want to tell you that life will not only get better, but indeed, it will be far better than anything you ever had before.

Not that many years ago, I sat underneath my desk, in the dark. Shivering, I held my knees and

scratched my arms incessantly. Heart pounding, stomach heaving, I tried to cry but I couldn’t find the tears. I can’t quite remember what triggered this specific panic attack. What I do remember is the five hours I spent, unable to talk, cry or rationalise what exactly was wrong with me. It seemed as though the edges of my very existence were shaking and it was with too pale, too small hands that I was struggling to hold myself in one position. I wanted to be stagnant and for my life to stay still, for once.

But, no – my life and everyone in it continued to shift and form into adults, with degrees and careers, like comically terrifying demons from a horror movie. I was coming undone at the very seams of my core and like a chain - reaction, it felt explosive, unstoppable, but more so, unsustainable. Every hour of every day, I wondered how I could live like this. How could I go into the Bialann and pretend

New Fáilte Refugees society to launch next semester

By Aidan Harte As a response to the ongoing global refugee crisis, students at NUI Galway are currently initiating the Galway branch of the nascent ‘Fáilte Refugees’ Campaign.

The nationwide campaign aims to increase public awareness regarding the current global refugee crisis, and to empower Irish students to become successful agents of change within their communities. It also hopes to lobby the Irish Government to uphold its promise of accepting at least 4,000 refugees, along with making every effort to restrict the devastating international arms trade.

Ultimately, the campaign wishes to welcome refugees in to every Irish community with dignity, and to support their successful integration in to Irish society.

The Fáilte Refugees Society plans to launch on Societies Day in January, and to host USI campaign training workshops later that month.

Guest speaker events will be held throughout semester two, and these will serve to inform volunteers about significant issues, along with providing an opportunity to share ideas. Through effective planning, learning and organising, volunteers will become effective agents of change. The society will then proceed to broaden our efforts to incorporate the wider community in Galway. This will involve engaging with the local population, as well as liaising with local NGO’s, charities, schools, and other relevant stakeholders, to disseminate our findings.

You can get involved by contacting the campaign via email: failterefugeesgalway@gmail.com.

According to the UNHCR report of 2016, this unprecedented refugee crisis has witnessed the greatest level of human displacement on record.

Sixty five million people around the world have been forced from their homes, and twenty one million of these have escaped their countries of origin to become refugees, their suffering continuing. Even more disturbing is the fact that over half of those fleeing are under the age of 18.

A national campaign of this nature is crucial for holding our government to account, as it will highlight Ireland’s solidarity with those who are forced to flee their homes due to warfare, famine, sexual violence, or other human rights violations. 40% of refugees within Europe are children, and this fact alone should provide a real sense of urgency. Ireland has historically

been viewed as the country of the Céad Míle Fáilte, and this crisis is an appropriate opportunity to express our compassion as a nation by inviting people in.

The Fáilte Refugees Campaign hopes to ensure that the Irish Government meets its current international obligations to increase its refugee intake as soon as possible. The widely-criticised system of Direct Provision also needs reform, as it has remained largely unchanged since its inception sixteen years ago. Refugees, once placed within this system, are left in a virtual hiatus for up to seven years, awaiting a decision on whether they can remain in Ireland or be sent back to their country of origin. They are housed in whichever random facility the system allocates to them, facilities which are disproportionately operated by private businesses. They are prevented from obtaining employment, while a weekly allowance of €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child is allocated to them. According to the Irish Reception & Integration Agency, one quarter of the 4,252 residents in Direct Provision in Ireland are under the age of 18.

Niall O’Tuathail of the Social Democrats, recently spoke in NUI Galway about Ireland’s role in the current refugee crisis. He asserted that each asylum seeker should have the right ‘to work, study and participate in and contribute to society while they are waiting on an asylum decision’. He believes, however, that the established parties will not pursue such reforms as there simply aren’t any votes in such policies. He cited other European integration policies as ‘successfully welcoming and integrating’, and stated that our Government wouldn’t have to ‘reinvent the wheel’ to undertake such reforms.

The global arms trade is responsible for much inhumane suffering and death, nobody can deny this, and a high percentage of arms used in many Middle Eastern conflict zones are manufactured in European states. These arms are subsequently sold to countries shipping their destructive cargo to Syria and, again, private industries are making obscene profits from the suffering of innocent civilians. We must remember that over seven million refugees are fleeing Syria and Afghanistan, as a direct result of military ‘interventions’ led by Western nations.

The people of Ireland have to stand up and hold our Government to account for their actions, taken in our name. Always remember, refugees have no choice - but we do!

I cared enough about my education to be there?

How could I laugh with my friends when I wanted to claw my own skin more than to be with them?

Now, is not the paragraph to describe my current life, despite the dramatic contrast that would create.

Instead, it is important for you to know how I got better. I am sure that someone has told you to talk to someone about your problems. Not your friends, or even your parents – a professional.

Though it seemed annoying at the time, they were unequivocally right. Websites and help pages will paint a picture for you of how that conversation might look, which is generally accurate. However, I feel that it is important for you to know that it is perfectly okay if, within that conversation, you begin to come undone. They are strangers now, but so were your friends once too.

When I had that conversation, I held my composure for approximately two minutes, which consisted of a shoddy explanation of what was truly going on inside my head. After that two minutes, I cried so much that I lost the ability to breathe and apologise at the same time. The doctor – at the NUIG Health Unit – did not reject me nor did he belittle me. Though, I’ll admit he had to let me sleep in their spare beds for an hour or so to calm down.

I had a choice that day to take the hand of help – the hand of recovery – that he was offering me.

And yes, I hesitated. I wondered if I was perhaps, beyond saving. However, what I found exceptionally comforting was to recognise how wrong I had been about absolutely everything involving my mental illness. I felt that I was unable to be saved, unlov-

able and indeed, outside the empathy of a medical professional who couldn’t possibly deem me important. Right until the moment I chose to throw myself head first towards happiness, I was wrong.

Today, before writing this, I walked to the farmer’s market, alone. I sat by the river, alone and I was palpably happy, alone. Happiness is an inevitable product of recovery. In truth, it is better than the happiness you had previously. This brand of happy is more solid. More so, it is sewn into your skin into the beautifully intricate pattern that is more permanent than a tattoo.

You have taken the time to learn the complex workings of your mind, which you now know as well as every freckle you own. You own a map to what you once saw as unmappable. You are no longer at the whim of others. You answer to yourself. When a bad day arises and perhaps the edges of you begin to shake and shimmer once more, you know that it is just a day. And, really, what is a day to a someone who has weathered such storms as you have?

All I can offer you is the sanctity of experience.

Get help. Cry until you can’t breathe and let them put you to bed.I promise you, when you wake up, the world will be a kinder place. Do it soon, because whilst the fear of the task is temporary, the happiness you gain afterwards, is not. I will leave you with something I wrote in my journal the day after getting help, when the days were still tough, but seemingly less so each minute; “Each day dawns brightly. That much I always know to be true.”

Really, that’s the only password you need.

TREAT YOURSELF Sult NUI Galway

HOT CHOCOLATE • TEA • MUFFINS • COFFEES • HOT WHISKEY • GOURMET SANDWICHES • HOT MEALS • PASTRIES • MINCE PIES

10 OPINION

Sin Vol. 18 Issue 6

EOIN DRONES:

By Eoin Molloy I have said it before and I will say it again: Bernie was our last hope as a species. As Roosevelt famously said: ‘the seeds of fascism are sown in misery and want’. America has been on a downward trajectory since Bush usurped Al Gore in 2000, so it stands to reason that a protest candidate would eventually capitalise on the misery and want created by a presidential tenure

as disastrously bad as that of Bush. But, across the pond, we are all thinking the same thing: Did it have to be him?

Following the result in the US Presidential election, block-layers from all corners of America have begun to assemble on the fringes of the border with Mexico, trowels grasped in eager anticipation. While the victory of the wall-building Trump may have been music to the ears of the bricks-andmortar of the construction sector, the rest of the world was decidedly less enthused.

2016 has been an insanely tumultuous year.

Even still, Trump’s election seemed outlandish right up until it happened. The Orange One’s rapid ascension from reality TV star to the most high-powered public office in the world would have been fascinating to observe

A NOTE ON A were the signs of the impending destruction of the human race not so ominous.

How did such a man get elected? He blows hot and cold with the same velocity as his wispy hair whips in the wind – do Americans really want a man so ruled by his passions to have access to nuclear codes?

From the outside looking in (and believe me, I am quite content to observe this debacle from the outside), it appears as though Trump gave voice to the concerns of working people better than his incredibly impersonal and distant rival, Clinton. Seemingly, it mattered not to the electorate that he also carries with him extremely objectionable personal views.

You can be sure that Debbie WassermanSchultz is going to be in hot water for her apparent rigging of the Democratic nomi-

nation. In attempting to pour favour over HRC, the Democrats side-lined a genuinelyelectable candidate in Bernie Sanders.

The American presidential election, if nothing else, has heralded a re-visitation of one of the most contentious debates in modern democracy: Does majority decision making always reach the most desirable outcome?

Simple majority rules voting eliminates minority views, races are boiled down to the lowest common denominator. With all of the personal name-sullying, the abusive Tweeting and the rest of the outright contempt displayed between HRC and Trump, this duel has essentially been a race to the bottom that resembled a playground slagging match more so than the most significant democratic contest in living memory.

Grief and violence: the fallout of Trump’s victory

By Mark Laherty 26 years ago, before most of the people reading this were old enough to understand, the Irish people elected Mary Robinson as President of Ireland.

It would be false to say that this country has an uncontroversial record on women’s rights.

All the same, even all those years ago, we were in a place where we could make that happen.

The women of that time felt it was proven to them that if they worked hard and believed in themselves, they could do anything.

Now look to the late hours of November 8, 2016, in the United States. More citizens of the US voted for Hillary Clinton than Donald Trump in their presidential race, but that race is decided by Electoral College votes, and Donald Trump won more of them, so it transpires he is the President-Elect.

Some of the young people of today have internalised particular messages as a result.

They have seen that a man can be misogynistic and racist and still convince about 47% of the country to vote for him.

They have also seen Clinton, a woman with, admittedly, an alleged series of skeletons in her closet, but also with great qualifications and intelligence. This woman has been ridiculed, mocked, and ultimately passed aside.

The reaction across the States to the result is unlike the aftermath of any other US election. First, there has been a stunningly grievous response from Clinton’s base, from black people, from Muslims, from LGBT+ people, and from all the other groups Trump has attacked on the grounds of who they are.

Disappointment in the face of a major political defeat is normal and to be expected.

What is not normal is a nationwide response that bears more in common to grieving, to the shock felt after a close, personal loss.

For example, when George W. Bush won, there wasn’t a significant spike in suicide hotlines. According to CNN, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline received 660 calls between 1AM and 2AM post-election; this is more than double the average.

Popular author Rainbow Rowell tweeted the day after: “For young people wondering if this is always what if feels like when your candidate loses — no. Nothing about this election is normal.”

Further, there has been a significant rise in racially motivated hate crimes in the days following Trump’s victory.

According to CNN, these include racist graffiti supporting Trump and the KKK inside high schools. It also includes a hijab-wearing

female college student being robbed by men talking about Trump and Muslims.

Amongst the wave of people offering their takes on the situation was Ireland’s Louise O’Neill, author of Asking for It and Only Ever Yours. Writing for The Irish Times, she concluded: “We need to keep fighting. Until we are all equal, none of us are.”

Similarly, New York Times bestselling author John Green, famous for The Fault in our Stars, uploaded a video, ‘My Post-Election Thoughts,’ to his long-running collaborative YouTube channel Vlogbrothers. The video accumulated over a million views in two days, an uncommon high for the channel.

He ended the video by quoting a stanza of one of Emily Dickinson’s best-known poems: “Hope is the thing with feathers / that perches in the soul / and sings the tune without the words / and never stops at all.”

OPINION 11

November 22 2016

YEAR OF POLITICAL TUMULT Speaking of poor democratically-reached decisions, does anyone remember Brexit?

Well in the midst of all of the Trump hype the British High Court ruled that a British secession from the European Union cannot be carried out without the assent of the House of Commons, a majority of whom supported the ‘remain’ campaign.

This decision prompted an outburst from the usually quiet and reserved UKIP politician, Nigel Farage, who lambasted the decision as being contrary to democracy.

Indeed, there are accusations of usurpation of power any time the judiciary begin to throw their weight around in the political arena. The High Court judge in this case maintained that it was a ‘pure question of law’ and not a decision that was led by a

consideration of the merits of EU membership.

The British government have appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, who will be very conscious of the PR consequences of stepping on the toes of the democratic will of the people, as it were.

Theresa May has indicated that Article 50 will be triggered as planned, and the UK will go ahead with their plan to row off into the sunset alone. Whatever the case may be, the UK doesn’t have a traditional written constitution so Westminster could still technically treat the result of the referendum as merely advisory. Therefore, England may actually be able to circumvent a democratically-reached decision to protect the best interests of its people, if that makes any sense at all.

As it now stands, the UK is at an impasse much like Ireland was in 1922. We had just forcefully extracted ourselves from a domineering foreign influence, yet we chose to retain close ties with our former oppressors.

In 1922, the Irish Free State retained the right to free trade with the UK and our Commonwealth colleagues, and we retained our right of appeal to the British Supreme Court.

These rights were akin to bicycle stabilisers that helped our fledgling state get off the ground. Hopefully Britain can obtain a similarly-favourable deal, because our commercial interests are still intrinsically linked with those of our former colonial masters.

The rapidly-tumbling value of sterling has affected the price of Irish exports, thereby proving that England’s difficulty is Ireland’s

opportunity no more – we share a common problem in Brexit.

It seems as though the UK will have another chance at getting Brexit right, irrespective of the consequences of outrightly disregarding the will of the people.

In the case of Trump, all we can hope for is that the Republicans in the House and Senate obstruct him at every turn as they did Obama. While he may be a Republican, Trump is far from an Establishment candidate and hasn’t really enjoyed the support of much of the old guard within the Grand Old Party. Here’s hoping that despite all of his pomp-and-pouting, The Donald ends up exactly like every other politician in the history of the world - with a heap of frustrated and unfulfilled election promises.

What does a Trump Presidency mean for climate change?

By Deirdre Leonard Somehow it’s happened - Donald Trump has been elected as the 45th President of the United States and the world has been left reeling from the news this morning. There is of course the very human and very local impact of this result for America. Not only has the country emerged deeply divided this morning, there is a growing and valid fear among minorities that if Trump follows through on any of his election trail threats, the diverse face of America is about to change forever.

But what does a Trump Presidency mean for the world? Aside from the obvious emigration, trade and international security issues that were brought up again and again throughout the debates, there is one very big topic that has been largely undiscussed by Trump and his team - climate change.

While the issue of climate change was mostly ignored in the three presidential debates, the candidates submitted an answer on their views on climate change to a written debate conducted by ScienceDebate.Org. Here, Clinton vowed to keep America on track with their current climate targets and promoted the idea of making America one of the leading superpowers in renewable, clean energy. This policy kept very much in line with the Obama Administration’s current plan, one which would keep the U.S on a slow but steady track towards reducing carbon emissions.

Trump however, had no concrete policy to present, as has been the case across the majority of his platforms throughout the campaign. Largely ignoring the question, his stance was that “there is still much that needs to be investigated in the field of ‘climate change’” and proposed that money was better spent elsewhere. This lack of a concrete plan is alarming to the scientific community and this fear is only affirmed by Trump’s own personal beliefs - or lack thereof - regarding the ongoing environmental crisis.

Trump has been very vocal in the past regarding his feelings towards climate change.

From tweets in 2012 claiming that ‘the concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive’ to calling global warming ‘fictional’ and ‘an expensive hoax’ in 2014, Trump has had a clear public stance on the matter for the last few years, well before his bid for The White House began.

Adding to the growing fears of the scientific community, the newly elected President has kept this stance throughout his campaign.

In fact, Trump has promised to pull out of the landmark Paris Agreement within his first 100 days in office. Signed by 193 countries, this was the world’s first comprehensive, globally negotiated climate plan. While there are criticisms of the plan’s targets, with fears that it may not do enough fast enough to reduce global temperature rise, it was undoubtedly a huge step in the right direction to combat the very present threat of global warming.

So what is the world to do if one of the dominant Western superpowers pulls out of this agreement? What does it signify to less developed countries? To those who rely on selling wood and land from deforestation, who rely on widespread palm oil plantations to keep agriculture stable or to those who sell fossil fuels for much needed income?

It tells them that it’s okay to quit. That if the ‘West’ can break promises and disregard the threat of climate change and all that it entails, they shouldn’t have to stick to the same agreement. It

sets an incredibly irresponsible and dangerous precedent that could have crippling effects on the Agreement and the future.

“But surely we can just make another one, without the U.S?” Unfortunately, it seems impossible to negotiate a realistic plan to combat change without one of the world’s most powerful countries. The U.S. is one of leading countries in greenhouse gas emissions, has one of the largest global carbon footprints and has, undoubtedly, played an enormous role in the rising global temperatures of the past century. They cannot be ignored or factored out when it comes to answering the question of climate change, nor will they be immune from the consequences of it in future.

Speaking to Climate Home last month, the U.N’s top climate official Patricia Espinosa trusted the ‘incredible amount of legitimacy’ that the Agreement has but advises they will

be ‘vigilant and attentive’ in the case of a Trump Presidency, that there was ‘no plan B’ if this Agreement doesn’t work out.

In the time it would take to arrange and negotiate another global agreement, it may be too late to make a real change. As it is, we are teetering on the edge of a precipice. If we work now, together, we have a chance to stabilise rising temperatures and keep the world from suffering from immense consequences like rise in sea level, increased storm activity, areas of intense drought and the socio-economic problems that will stem from these issues.

Many people believe the next four years are bleak with Trump at the helm. The dust is still settling and we are sure to find out very soon what the tone of this presidency will be.

But one thing is for sure, four years will come and go but the effects of the decisions made and the time wasted during those years, have the potential to last lifetimes.

12 OPINION

Sin Vol. 18 Issue 6

HEAD to head

Discussing the arguments for and against indutrial action.

An argument against redundant strike action

A defence for industrial action

By Conor Owens

By Sorcha O’Connor

Much to the disgust of headphone-wearing tweens across the country, the ASTI prematurely called off their much-maligned strike and accepted an offer made by the government to return to the negotiating table. Thankfully, there will be no more disruption to services and exam classes can return to preparing for their Junior and Leaving Certificates.

The primary bones of contention that teachers have are the suspension of pay for supervision and substitution duties, as well as the lower pay-scale that exists for teachers qualified after 2011.

These cuts were merely part of a long list of public spending ‘luxuries’ that were jettisoned with abandon after the Great Recession with the Croke Park and Landsdowne Road agreements.

These cuts can even be viewed as part of a longer process of the erosion of workers’ rights that has been ongoing since the Jarrow March in England. Unions have been broken up around the world. Advancements in transport have facilitated the relocation of good manufacturing jobs to low-wage, third-world hellholes.

The recent cuts to teachers’ pay are merely symptomatic of this wider process, yet you didn’t see teachers complaining when factory and industrial jobs were being shipped out of western countries for Bangladesh, or when Dell left for Poland. Nay, we care only when we ourselves are affected.

Why is there so little pity for teachers amongst the public? At first glance, it appears to be a question of perception. Even amongst the public-sphere jobs, teachers are seen as still being significantly better off than say, newlyqualified nurses, Gardai or army recruits – and infinitely better off than private sector workers where unpaid internships have become the norm.

According to the Irish Times, student nurses were being paid between 6.49 and 7.79 an hour up until recently, and forgive me for saying that the conditions of working as a teacher are vastly preferable to nursing in a high-octane emergency room where there is genuine life-or-death responsibility on your hands.

The same can be said for newly-qualified Gardai, who are wholly justified in striking for better pay and conditions. They work long hours, often overnight. They deal with abuse from the very people they are employed to protect on a daily basis and worst of all, they live and work with a genuine threat of death hanging over them.

Forgive me for being a tad reductionist, but the qualms of teachers pale in comparison to

these actual concerns. Teachers will never have a foot to stand on when it comes to issues of working conditions thanks to the massivelyfavourable condition of having the summer off.

Reduced pay for public sector employees is a reality of modern Ireland. As much as we might like to, we can no longer afford to pay high-end corporate salaries to administrative officials, teachers and Gardai.

To any teacher who still has gripes about reduced pay, there is always the possibility of working the damn summer months like every other person on the planet. There is nothing stopping a secondary school teacher from taking up a second job, or agreeing to correct exams scripts for extra dosh.

Moreover, in the case of teachers, striking to me seems absolutely redundant. It only affects school-going children who are more than happy to stay home Instagramming the day away. This contrasts starkly with something like a Gardai strike, which could have brought the country to a standstill and initiated a Purge-like state of anarchy.

The main problem here is that the teachers are misdirecting their anger. They are aiming their angst up towards the government for failing to restore their pay, when really they should be holding their union’s negotiating team to account for failing to pursue an express promise from the government based on substantive evidence that when things objectively picked up, there would be a restoration of pay. They could even have called it a restoration clause and it would have sounded quite snappy.

Alas, that wouldn’t be public enough for the traditionally-outspoken sect of radially socialist teachers we have in this country. The ASTI’s current actions are akin to someone spilling their own milk, or better yet hiring a union to negotiate how best to spill their own milk, and then later becoming incensed at the government for the lack of milk when it comes time for the tea.

Ask any private sector employee and they will tell you that their pay and conditions have taken a massive hit as well since the Great Recession, this is not something that is specific to public employees. If anything, the latter faction enjoys far more protection.

In an ideal world, we would all be paid according to our worth and expertise, but we simply aren’t. Our world is not an egalitarian utopia, it is one of profound inequality where indebted graduates work in coffee shops, bars and restaurants. And if we were to go about creating such a nirvana of workers’ rights, we probably would not start with the crowd who get paid to sit home and read books during the summer months.

This summer Billy Elliot, the Musical graced the stage of the Bord Gáis Theatre in Dublin.

It was my second time seeing the show, and the film version a personal favourite. Billy Elliot tells the tale of a young Geordie boy who finds himself spending the 50p his Da gives him for boxing on ballet lessons with Mrs Wilkinson.

And for a history enthusiast like myself, it more importantly is set against the backdrop of the Miners’ Strike of 1984/85.

The show depicts the harsh realities of the picket line as Margaret Thatcher waged war against long-standing union tradition in Britain. The divisions in families and communities caused by the strike are key to the plot of Billy Elliot, when crossing the picket line seems the only way forward; striking no longer seems to be getting anyone anywhere but in the direction of utmost poverty. This seemingly suggests the argument that industrial action is a hindrance, the cause of strife, frustration and despair for workers. However, if we take the issue with wider scope, the opposite is true.

First of all, let us look at the main reason for industrial action: to challenge. The Miners’ strike, while for them was to protect their jobs and family, can be looked upon as a direct challenge to neo-liberalism, the political model Thatcherism was influenced by. Thatcher’s neo-liberal policies notoriously favoured the rich, and as The Guardian’s Seumas Milne puts it “failed to deliver for the majority, generated inequality and insecurity on a huge scale.” The strikes were massive news at the time, a major movement against Thatcher. And they’re still remembered decades later as a landmark event during the formidable Prime Ministerial reign of Thatcher.

The miners called into question the backbone of Thatcher’s Britain – and challenging the backbone of any government is something citizens should certainly strive to do. History has shown us how easy it is for governmental figures to mould a nation – name a dictator of choice – and don’t even get me started on the Trump debacle, a dubious businessman who will have his behind firmly plonked behind the desk in the Oval Office come 20 January.

Industrial action is a sure-fire way of challenging the treatment of workers – workers who make the country tick. Yes, I’m talking about the ASTI – a union that represents 17,500 of our nation’s secondary school teachers.

Where would I be if it weren’t for a raft of excellent teachers in secondary school, who encouraged and inspired me to pursue a college degree? Words of encouragement from an English teacher in Transition Year put me on

the path towards a career in journalism. This was a teacher in his early thirties – so not in service for twenty years and so certainly not earning the highest wage available to teachers on the pay scale. Not a chance was he any worse of a teacher simply for a lack of experience – he was one of the best I ever had.

The strikes held by the ASTI to stand in solidarity with younger teachers was a move I wholeheartedly agree with. As it stands, young teachers will never reach the salary of older teachers, who are given increments each year.

This is an unfair system and the ASTI were right to recognise this.

Furthermore, why should someone be expected to work below the minimum wage for a duty they have had to carry out a college degree for? That was the situation for all teachers when it came to the supervision of students; €3 an hour. You can’t really escape supervising students as their primary caregiver between 9am – 4pm. And teachers who have a vocation certainly see no issue with supervising – we just shouldn’t expect them to carry it out for so little, when it takes up so much of their working day.

Extra-curricular activities such as football or organising trips away are also all done freely by teachers – and are not accepted as part of the Croke Park hours they agreed to carry out in the hopes of an eventual improvement in their wages.

Striking is a move that had to be made; industrial action is a civil right and a right that should be utilised as necessary – and it was 100% necessary in this instance.

An Garda Síochána also recently threatened to strike and caused quite the furore: no one could ignore a Garda strike, especially seeing as it is (rather frighteningly) a right they are denied to. In essence, we saw even the threat of a strike gets things moving and although little progress has been made, it is certain their discontent is something a dog on the street is aware of.

Industrial action should be seen as a catalyst. The help it brings is not traditionally meteoric or noticeable instantaneously – but that does not mean it does not exist. Taking the Jarrow March in the 30s as an example, the marchers who protested the closure of local shipyards originally deemed their efforts a failure. Today, the Jarrow March is looked upon as a talismanic moment for workers and it set an example for all aggrieved workers to follow: miners, teachers and our very own police force.

Industrial action lends itself to workers’ voices being heard and that is the least they deserve. Ní saoirse go saoirse na lucht oibre.

OPINION 13

November 22 2016

The real Snapchat story

By Grace Kieran Social media is an infinite scroll of humblebrags, naïve politics and insufferable sunset snaps taken somewhere better than wherever you’re reading this from. It is a source of entertainment, envy and enlightenment but is there a point when social media becomes dangerous?

Facebook is The Procrastination Station when it comes to student life. It is irritating at the best of times but otherwise mundane.

So why do we keep going back for more?

The urge to check your news feed again comes from this idea of live updates. If you only check your Facebook once a day you might only stumble upon your immediate friend’s actions. But if you scroll further, you’ll see that your friend’s cousin’s boyfriend shared a meme about Donald Trump that has gone viral. By tomorrow, this will be old news.

Therefore as soon as you pass your driving test, it is practically illegal not to pose with your papers and enter your accomplishment, an ‘achievement unlocked’ in the race towards death. It is a competition of milestones and if it’s not on Facebook, it’s not real. Does that mean my mum doesn’t exist?

Snapchat plays with this idea of capturing the immediacy of life and documenting it instantaneously. They take advantage of our obsession to stay up to date with everything by introducing snapstreaks, keeping track of how many consecutive days we use the app to contact our friends. I have personally seen friendships being tested by the ‘loss’ of a streak and I think that truly conveys how much pressure is on young people to stay online and relevant twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

Secondly, Snapchat especially emphasises the notion that one must appear desirable every second of the day. I cannot count the occasions I have been caught off - guard at a party and begged a friend “No please, take that down! I look awful, I didn’t even know you were filming!”. So, every time I see a phone with a camera (constantly) I must be conscious of how I look, what I’m wearing, what I say, who I’m with… the list goes on.

There is genuinely concerning element to this situation because who does the footage belong to? If the subject of the photo/ video has not given their explicit permission, then is it moral to post it for everyone to see? The dangers of social media have a worrying link with the question of consent

which is beautifully addressed in Louise O’Neill’s Asking For It, which I reviewed in this issue of SIN. Instagram is another perpetrator in this pressure all young people are submitted to.

It shows life through a picturesque filter and no, I’m not talking about XX-Pro or Valencia.

It is difficult to think that you could lose your job with one hundred and forty characters’ worth of text. But oh boy, you can.

Twitter is a war zone of politics, celebrities and free speech which has gotten out of hand. Increasingly, employers turn to your social media accounts to see who you “really” are.

The trouble is, once a comment is launched into the mysterious twittersphere, there is no going back. Twitter is particularly risky as sometimes the character limit restricts your room to explain that this statement is meant in a satirical sense and a potential employer might read something you wrote five years ago and decide on this basis not to hire you.

You may delete it straight away but it can be retweeted, favourited and reach the other end of the earth in a matter of milliseconds.

It is out of your hands. This instant nature social media is both what draws us in and what could destroy our future.

I have personally seen friendships being tested by the ‘loss’ of a snapstreak and I think that truly conveys how much pressure is on young people to stay online and relevant twenty - four hours a day, seven days a week.

This is a filter that hides muffin - tops and double - chins and illuminates feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. It forces you to compare yourself with skinnier, more photoshopped models and can be a dangerous route to eating disorders and depression.

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16

EXAM SPECIAL

How to make the most out of study week

By Kayleigh McCoy Study week is a hard concept to grapple with; on one hand, it’s your first full week off from college since the start of the semester, and you’re inclined to think of it as a ‘break’, while on the other, it’s a week you’re expected to devote to exam preparation. So how is it possible to make sense of a week off from college that you’re most likely going to spend in the library or some other quiet place studying?

Here are a few tips on how best to deal with study week.

Make a timetable...

I know this is an obvious first point, but it really cannot be stressed how important it is to have a set schedule for the week, otherwise it just becomes too easy to drift in and out of random chapters with no set purpose. The best thing to do is sit down for a solid period of time and go through each of the exams you have coming up. Look at which sections will most likely come up in each exam, how many topics you’ll need to cover in order to be fully covered and what you can afford to leave out. For example, if you have to compare two books for an English exam, and you’ve read five, consider focusing on the three you enjoyed most in detail, and have one more you’re confident on. This will save time and effort later on.

...and stick to it!

Once you’ve done this, allocate how much time you will spend on each topic per day. Not all topics will get the same amount of attention, though, and you should consider

giving more time to areas you struggled with during the semester, while you may be able to reduce revision hours on things you found easier.

Don’t overestimate how much you can get done in one day, be realistic and set achievable goals.

Remember to take breaks Depending on how many exams you have, study week can be pretty intense, so it’s important to remember to take regular breaks. This doesn’t mean going and watching three episodes of the latest Netflix series after an hour of study. The best thing to do is, after revising each topic, taking a short break that will allow you to clear your head. Go for a quick walk, enjoy a cup of tea or listen to some music.

Try to avoid doing something that will make going back to study hard, like starting an hour long TV show; these short breaks should act as a refreshment period, not a chance to snuggle up on the couch for a quick movie and a snooze.

Find out what works for you, and don’t worry about anyone else It has been scientifically proven that there is three different primary types of ‘learners’: auditory learners, who learn by listening, visual learners who learn by seeing and kinetic learners who learn by doing. Most people will have a good idea what kind of learner they are after sitting the leaving cert, but if you haven’t found out what technique works best for yourself yet don’t worry. Some people are a mixture of all three, while

others are completely resigned to one way of learning. If you find the way you study at the moment isn’t working for you, don’t be afraid to change up how you study. There are loads of tests online which help you work out what study method works best for you, and once you find out what’s right for you, studying becomes a lot easier!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help At the start of the year, lecturers and tutors always give out their contact details, yet when study week hits, everyone seems to forget this. If you are really struggling with a certain section of the course, don’t be afraid to get in contact with your lecturer and ask them for some guidance.

This will never look bad on your part, and on the contrary, most lectures will be impressed you were smart enough to ask for help. To this day, I have never asked a tutor or lecturer for help who hasn’t been more than happy to help! At the end of the day, that is what they are there for and they want you to do well too.

Make the most of what you’ve got Although it might not be the most appealing option for some students, consider staying up in Galway for study week. Yes, you might miss out on Mammy’s home cooking for a whole week, but you also might escape your annoying siblings and all the home comforts that might distract you from studying. It could be really advantageous for some students to make use of the NUI Galway library during study week, especially if they don’t have a quiet

place at home to study. Similarly, the library offers you an endless supply of resources to help with your exams that are super handy to have waiting there for you. Staying in Galway also means that if you do decide you need help from a lecturer, they aren’t that far away and you’ll have the opportunity to talk to them in person about your problem, rather than relying on an email.

Don’t forget, it is okay to stop studying at the end of the day...

This tip acts as a reminder for those people who get super stressed during study week, and go overboard, refusing to do anything that will drag them away from the books.

These exams are important, but you’ll stop yourself doing your absolute best in them if you burn yourself out during study week. It’s healthy to allow yourself to close the books for a while and forget about exams. Going to the cinema, meeting up with friends for food or even just planning a relaxing night in are all great ways to take a step back and give your brain a rest.

...but try avoid going on a major sesh!

However, it’s best to avoid going out as a way of taking a break and rewarding yourself for studying all day. Going out doesn’t give you a chance to relax or unwind, and usually ends up costing you the next day, be it through a hangover or from fatigue due to being out late. This will eat into the next day of study, and will mess up your timetable, causing more unnecessary stress.

Watch what you eat It sounds odd, but it’s really important to be aware of what you are eating during study week. Just like during your actual exams, you are going to want to eat full meals that supply a lot of slow release energy. Starting off your day with porridge and some fruit is a brilliant way to begin a day of study.

Snacks like tuna, nuts and even dark chocolate are prefect fuel too. When it comes to dinner, try include a nice amount of carbohydrates, be that through rice, pasta or sweet potato and lots of veggies too. However, don’t look at study week as a time when you can’t eat junk food or indulge yourself. By all means, order a pizza one of the nights and buy a ton of sweets a different night; you’ve been working hard and definitely deserve it! Just try to avoid these foods while you’re studying, and wait till you’re done with the books for the night before ordering that take away!

Keep calm and carry on At the end of the day, it is important that you remember to keep calm. These are just exams, and no matter how important they are, all you can do is your best. Once you put the work in and really give it your all, there is no reason you should be disappointed come results time. Of course things happen sometimes that are out of your control, but you should always take refuge in giving it your best shot; once you do that you should be extremely proud of yourself.

Study skills to beat the slump

By Aoife O’Donoghue Apologies in advance if I burst a few bubbles here, but the harsh reality is that exams are just around the corner. Deep breaths, don’t panic.

Whether this is your first time facing into college exams, or whether you’re a seasoned pro, everyone could benefit from a little shake up in how they study.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of endlessly reading and rewriting reams of notes, highlighting what you think is important while you go.

While this may work well for some people, it’s not exactly the most exciting task in the world and you can find yourself quickly losing concentration. Not everyone learns the same way, so trying a few different

methods of revising can make your study time more varied, interesting and productive.

Mind Maps An oldie but a goodie, a mind map can be a really useful study aid. By laying out a core topic or issue in the centre and then branching out from there with what you know about the topic, you may find that you actually remember a lot more than you think. Certain words, phrases or ideas may lead you to remember something else and you will soon find yourself finding connections and relationships between aspects of your study.

A mind map also helps to organise and categorise your thoughts, with each branch covering a differ-

ent aspect of the topic at hand. As well as using mind maps for study, they’re also helpful to use in an exam itself. On a rough sheet of paper or in the corner of a page, take a minute to jot down a mind map relating to your essay question. Again, this will help you organise your thoughts, jog your memory and prepare you better for answering the question.

It may help to use a colour coding system, with different coloured cards for different modules or subjects. The cards can then be used to study and to test yourself; look at the question or the topic first, try to remember the answers without looking at the other side and then flip over to see if you were right.

Flash Cards

Some people learn best through words, others through sound, sight or touch. If you can figure out what mode suits you best, you can adapt your study methods accordingly. For example, if you learn best through sound, why not try recording yourself speaking your notes and then listen back to them? This is a very flexible way to study too,

Another good way to study and test yourself as you go is to use flash cards. You can buy a big pack of them for a reasonable price in the SU shop or PrintThat. On one side of the card, write down a question or a topic. On the other side, write down the answer to the question, or a number of points about the topic.

Sounds & Visuals

as you can listen to your notes as you walk to college or on the bus or train.

If you like to visualise what you’re studying, try making charts and tables, or the mind maps described above and use colours and pictures in your work. Watching videos on the topics you’re studying can be helpful in these instances too.

Whatever way you choose to study for your exams, best of luck with them all! While the thought of all this study may seem daunting, steadily putting the work in now will make it all worth it in the end.

Remember to take study breaks, eat healthily and most importantly, don’t get too stressed; we’re all in this together.

EXAM SPECIAL

17

Supporting our mental health and wellbeing 4 Places to

By Dervla Fahy

My name is Dervla Fahy and I am a Support Worker at Jigsaw Galway, and also a student of NUI Galway. Jigsaw Galway is a free, confidential and non-judgemental service which supports the mental health and well-being of young people (aged 15 - 25) in Galway City & County.

One in three young people in Ireland experience mental health distress (My World Survey, 2012). We all experience distress at different times in our lives and can all relate to dealing with it in one way or another. Knowing how to cope is essential to overall wellbeing as we negotiate challenges and difficult experiences in life. As you can see from the illustration there are a number of important elements and activities that ensure active coping. In this article, I am going to briefly discuss five key coping strategies for supporting our mental health and wellbeing.

Acceptance of self: The most important

Self-care: Self-care is one of the most

relationship we will ever have in our lives is the relationship we have with ourselves. The relationship we have with ourselves is the relationship most-likely neglected but the one most fruitful in life. It is a lifelong endeavour.

Accept yourself; perfection is not realistic nor does it exist. Recognise your strengths as a

important elements for supporting our mental health and wellbeing. Sleep, diet and exercise play a fundamental role in mental and physical wellbeing. During stressful times in college it can be tempting to not give priority to self-care. It is important to remain focused on the benefits of balancing self-care with study and exam preparation.

Care is needed with caffeine, energy drinks and sugar loaded items which can make us feel lethargic after an initial boost. Exercising for 20/30 minutes can release endorphins which promotes a positive feeling in the body (WebMD, 2016).

Self-care also means saying no and protecting ourselves and our time. Protecting our time whether it is to study, to go to bed early or to go for a walk is extremely important. Allowing external factors to impede on this time can cause stress. Self-care needs to be prioritised to ensure overall positive mental and physical health.

Managing negative thoughts: Negative Automatic

Thoughts are present throughout our daily lives. Unconsciously, our thoughts can become catastrophic where we think the worst possible outcome is going to happen without any evidence to back it up.

Grounding our thoughts by putting things in perspective helps with the management of negative thoughts.

Ask yourself is the thought a fact or an opinion? Try to engage with fact-based thoughts and look for evidence for opinions rather than accepting them. It is important not to compare yourself to other people, and minimise the use of self-critical thoughts. Thoughts can become overly negative and distorted when mental health issues are present so it can help to talk to someone who can help and support you. Search for ‘Dove Real Beauty Sketches’ in YouTube for an illustration of how we perceive ourselves versus how others perceive us.

person but also your weaknesses. Being able to confront your weaknesses rather than trying to hide them helps with self-acceptance.

Try not to compare yourself to others – you will never be anyone else. Develop your own selfworth internally and do not look for it from other people. Forgive yourself, rather than berating yourself, for the mistakes you have made. Mistakes are where the most of the richest learning happens. Make a list of your positive qualities and give examples of these qualities. Search for the ‘Power of Vulnerability’ on YouTube. Rene Brown illustrates how vulnerability can help us on our search towards self-acceptance and the freedom that provides.

Emotional Awareness: Being in tune with our emotions is very important for supporting our mental health and wellbeing. It is important that we do not try to block out negative emotions. Acknowledging negative emotions and accepting them as a normal response to a situation is a crucial step in coping with them. Using alcohol or drugs to cope with negative emotions further compounds the emotion once the substance has worn off and it can also damage our health. It is important to notice the thoughts, emotions and behaviours we experience when feeling overwhelmed. Identifying what it is that makes us react with strong emotions allows us to recognise what is in our control to change and more importantly what is not.

Talk about it: People who share their

problems enjoy better mental health (My World Survey, 2012). Talk to a friend, family member or person you feel most comfortable with. It can be difficult sometimes to reach out and speak to someone about your mental health. Start small and build up trust. Some people find it easier to talk to someone outside daily life and may want to link in with the services available to you, like the ones listed below. You can also talk to your GP about your mental health and wellbeing.

Useful numbers and websites:

NUIG Counselling Service: 091 492 484 www.nuigalway.ie/counsellors/ NUIG Student Health Service: 091 492 604 www.nuigalway.ie/health_unit/ Jigsaw Galway: 091 549252 www.jigsaw.ie/jigsaw_galway/ Samaritans: 116 123 www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-helpyou/contact-us For more information on Mental Health and Wellbeing: http://ie.reachout.com/

study when the library is full

By Brigid Fox

The closer we get to exams the more difficult it seems to find a nice quiet place to get some study done- typical! More than ever the Hardiman library is full to the brim with students eager to work – or at least to pass. As we’ve noticed these sorts of study problems can really effect how we work and wasting time looking for another place to study is not an ideal. In researching alternate places to study in Galway, here are four locations to get some work done when there’s nowhere to run!

THE GALWAY CITY LIBRARY: With a centralised located on Augustine Street near Eyre Square this is a perfect place away from the college campus to get some quiet time to study with reasonable opening hours Monday to Saturday. It also has a wide range of books and newspapers to aid your studying if possible. (Plus for study breaks indulging in some shopping is right at your doorstep to beat those exams time blues- but do try not to spend too much!)

THE READING ROOM: Although technically linked to the library, the reading room is a separate location that you can work efficiently in. Found just off the Bialann it is a convenient spot for late workers as it is open until 2:30 am. Like many study services in the college it can get busy quickly so it’s important to be there early to get a spot.

WESTSIDE LIBRARY: As many students live in or around the Westside of Galway city this library is a very close and convenient place to work. With opening hours of 11:00am- 5:00/8:00pm depending on the day, it’s an ideal location for some peace and quiet if the library is overflowing with students.

SOCIETY QUIET ROOMS: If writing is an important part of your study and course, societies like the Writer’s Soc often have a writing “quiet zone” during the week in Aras Mac Léinn where students can go and have some time to work on their literature or essays. If that is something that interests you, there is much more information about these meet ups on the Writers Soc page online which would be recommended if deciding to attend.

18

EXAM SPECIAL

SIN study Finding the time for time management playlist

By Cathy Lee

By Shelly Hannigan We have all heard that classical music is brilliant for study and some swear by it, but if, like me, you have no idea what classical music to listen to enhance study or just need music with lyrics then I have put together the playlist for you.

• Birdy – Wings • Alt-J Breezeblocks (original

or Spotify Sessions version)

• Twin Bandit – Stolen Dance • Run River North – Mr • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Brightside Sam Tsui – Bad Blood ( a cappella) Imagine Dragons – Blank Space/Stand By Me Ben Howard – Only Love Jayme Dee – Rules Disturbed – The Sound of Silence (Live on ‘Conan’ is the best version – can be found on YouTube) La Rocca – Non-Believer Lady Antebellum – I Run to You Paolo Nutini – Jenny Don’t be Hasty Jack Johnson – Sitting, Waiting, Wishiing Shawn Mendes – A Little Too Much Sam Smith – Lay Me Down Calum Scott – Dancing on my Own Macklemore – Same Love Vance Joy – Mess is Mine Chase & Status – All Goes Wrong (acoustic) The Lumineers – Ophelia Dagny – Backbeat (acoustic) Alessia Cara – Here (2:00 AM Version) Skylar Grey – Love the Way You Lie Part iii James Arthur Say You Won’t Let Go American Authors – Best Day of my Life Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

If you search ‘Sin Study Playlist’ on Spotify or type in the link https://open.spotify. com/user/1197793166/ playlist/2N0zzZXvIJPrflhrGZo9 you will be directed to this playlist!

What’s the most valuable thing in the world? Power, money or love you might say? I think not, the most valuable thing in the world anyone can have is time. Whether it’s time to make money, spend with the one you love or else time to plan how you get powerful – that’s all up to you. Regardless of whether you feel you have a load of time or very little, time management is the only way to get the most out of the time we have. I don’t think anybody has invented a fully functional time machine yet and if they have, please let a pal know.

In college, we are constantly given deadlines in order to put a bit of pressure on getting our work done in good time. The best way to tackle this, as I know it can all be challenging, is to set yourself your own deadlines.

Although deadlines are given to everyone, only you can know yourself what you’re going to manage and the time-frame you need to do that in.

Of course prior planning comes into it here but really set a deadline that you’re going to accomplish a certain task in or part of an essay or project on a certain day by a certain time.

This gradual approach of getting your work done in parts makes the workload look like less of a mountain and you can trick yourself into thinking you’ve more time.

To do this in an organised way, you should definitely use technology to the max. We have so many technical outlets on which we can set alarms, reminders, buzzers or even a voice message from someone important to you telling you to get on with something. These are so easy to do but possibly hard to stick to. Think back to the many times you’ve ignored your alarm on an average morning. But really, these alarms bring forth feelings of guilt - and good guilt I think. Looking down to a phone and it telling you what you’re currently ignoring, it can be good to have that type of point of pressure in place.

Of course when the pressure is on it’s so important to set reasonable breaks. This will help you manage your time and work more efficiently as you’re training your mind that good work deserves something good to follow. Wouldn’t we all agree that good work usually gets good grades? It’s the same mentality.

Your break doesn’t have to be the same every time.

I’ve found that even a walk around in fresh air helps, you don’t have to filter your body with coffee or get a sugary snack – although you can if you want.

I think an apple and cuppa, maybe a quick chat with a friend between library hours. Even to check in with a classmate working on the same thing as you, that reassurance that you aren’t alone nor doing badly is a great way to spend a break.

Another important part of this is learning how to limit yourself to then reward yourself. If you can force yourself to stop watching that Netflix documentary or series and make the promise to yourself to go back to it when your work is done, it may even make you work faster.

The promise of something better at the end of a tough work session is a really good motivator. I know we spend our student lives looking for motivators but at the end of the day, we’re doing a degree and we want that to come about smoothly rather than with difficulty. This takes some sacrifice, sometimes at the worst of times, for example when friends are planning a night out but you know yourself, you’ve work to do at that particular time.

With this, it’s essential to know when to say no and to prioritise yourself even if it’s a tough decision. Sometimes you have to be selfish and put yourself and the workload first. I’m not saying become a bad friend or housemate, but it’s okay to turn off your phone, shut down Facebook and go off the radar until the work is complete. A friend of mine always does that and although we miss him, we know he’s doing what he needs to do and he’ll always come back for us to fill him in on what he’s missed.

It’s not the end of the world and it won’t last forever. This prioritising can come in forms of declining invites from someone starting a break when you’re finishing one.

Trust me, if there’s one thing I’ve learned about time is that it can easily get away from you.

Always remember, there’s no time like the present. Chip away at the mountain and the mountain becomes smaller (…are there any mountains in Galway? Easy distraction is definitely my fall down.) Time management is all about understanding yourself so that you can get a bit of a routine together. But keep in mind: self-deadlines, prioritising, rewards and breaks. I hope this will help you as much as possible and the very best of luck with your exams.

Minding yourself this exam season

By Ciara O’Neill It’s that time of year again. We’ve spent the last 10 weeks getting back into studying and socialising and as the excitement for the Christmas holidays comes around, it is counteracted with the ever-looming presence of exams – adding stress to many of us students.

As the semester comes to close, some begin to panic and realize that there isn’t long to go until we sit in the cold hall of the Kingfisher hoping to write all we know on what we’ve studied. A lot of people forget that first and foremost, we need to look after ourselves and with that, I’ve put together a few tips for beating the stress of exams so we can focus on the exciting times that Christmas brings.

Know you have time: With

still a few of weeks to go before the semester comes to close, remember that you still have time to turn the semester around.

For the next couple of weeks, make a short plan of what you will need to know for each class

you are taking. Once study week rolls around, you will have time saved by already having a plan made out. Outline what marks you already have – whether it be from continuous assessment or attendance. Every mark helps and knowing what you have before you go into an exam can be really helpful with de-stressing. Know that there is still time to get where you need to be and by making a plan, it will lift the burden of exams significantly.

Have a break: It is so easy to

become incredibly stressed with exams and studying, but spending nights cramming in the library running yourself into the ground won’t do yourself, nor your marks, any good. If you have had a full day of lectures, take an hour or two off before you jump into study.

The same goes for the weekends, if you have a part-time job and are trying to do homework and study for exams, it is easy to forget about making time to relax. Whether it be taking an hour to cook yourself a decent breakfast in the morning or just

some downtime binge watching the Gilmore Girls revival on Netflix (it can’t come quick enough!), don’t forget about looking after your body and mind. When you feel rested and refreshed, you will be in a much better headspace when you sit down to study.

Talk to your lecturers/tutors/ classmates: Very rarely will you

be alone in feeling stressed during this time, and I guarantee that there are people in your class who are also feeling the stress surrounding exams and deadlines.

That’s the beauty of college, there are so many of us in the same boat.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, reach out to your lecturer or tutor and maybe they can point you in the right direction when it comes to studying for the exam or researching for an assignment. At the end of the day, they are there to help you learn and grow in your field of study – not hold you back.

As well as that, your classmates are there too and we all know that two heads are better than one, so perhaps suggesting a study session with a group from

your class can help lighten the workload and you’ll meet some new people with similar interests along the way.

TLC: Winter often brings colds

and flus, with a lot of us wrapping up in scarves and woolly hats in a bid to keep ourselves comfortable and warm. When you do feel a sore throat or cold coming along, you take the correct measures to try and cure them, the same goes for the stress that this period brings on our mental health.

It is so important to look after both your body and mind all the time, but in particular this time of the year, when a lot of things start piling on top of each other.

Exams are important, but mental health is much more important and neglecting your mental health is much worse than not acing that exam. Your health is your wealth and no amount of studying or cramming will change that. Exams and assignments will come and go but looking after yourself will always be the most important thing.

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20 LIFESTYLE

Sin Vol. 18 Issue 6

Winter Wanderlust

Poland

By Aisling Bonner With the stress of exams looming, many students are faced with two options: accept a fate of libo-cops, library baes and the blinding low sun of Hardiman’s second floor; or run a mile. Without condoning the second option, there are ways you can make the most of your desertion, meaning you can get it all out of your system and maybe come back sometime. A couple of days escape from the country will refresh you far more than a week of Mammy’s slow-cooked stew. Here are our favourite student escapes this winter that will be kind to the mind and pocket.

Edinburgh

Holyrood Park, at the foot 1of Arthur's Seat.

Click Indo Spec Advert.pdf 14/11/2016 16:17 Photo: placestoseeinyourlifetime.com

Less than an hour’s flight away, you’ll make it to Edinburgh faster than you can leave in an exam. Start your trip with a free and freezing hill walk up to Arthur’s Seat where you’ll get incredible views of the city. Before converting a single euro, you can check out the Scottish Market on George’s Street along with the Street of Light which begins 21 November and sees 60,000 bulbs light nightly to the sound of choirs, bands and orchestras. All that without even mentioning battered Mars bars and shortbread.

Ice skating in Warsaw's Old Town Square.

Photo: warsawcitybreak.com

Snow-seekers take note, Poland is your winter wonderland. With food and drink prices to bring you to tears, Poland is every student’s dream. Krakow with its many parks, provides ample opportunity for free snowy frolicking. For history lovers, Auschwitz is a 4 euro bus away, free to visit and something you’ll never regret. Krakow’s salt mines are also a real treat and provide some respite from the snow. Heading further North, the country’s capital, Warsaw, is home to the beautiful Old Town that is sure to get the bells jingling.

With ice-skating for less than a fiver situated in the Old Town Square, you’ll be left humming Let It Go for weeks.

Strasbourg For the authentic types, Strasbourg is the home of Europe’s oldest Christmas market, Christkindelsmarik. With a bunch of Erasmus students out there, you wouldn’t be hard pushed to find a fellow Irish student who might have room for you at the inn for a night or two. The market which was first held in 1570 has over 300 stalls spread across the city. A wide range of live music and cultural events also take over the city. Throw in four Advent Concerts and a Living Nativity for good measure and you’re sure to feel safely hidden from the memories of Hardiman and co.

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Strasbourg's Chrsitmas market. Photo: travelzoo.com

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The Scandinavians, a great bunch of lads. They know how to do Christmas they do. Get the earmuffs on and head to the city’s Vinterpark, the largest ski resort in the Oslo area. Without forking out the big dollars for a week long skiing extravaganza, at Oslo you can waltz in and out in a day whether you’re a beginner or a pro. With the only superpipe in Europe open to the public, it’s all snowboards at the ready.

Say no to the snow? The Oslo Christmas Theatre and Oslo Markets will fill you with so much culture you’ll never need to leave Ireland again.

Air time on the Vinterpark's Superpipe.

Photo: oslovinterpark.no

LIFESTYLE 21

November 22 2016

Importance of keeping fit during winter

By Saoirse Rafferty Alas, the evenings have begun to grow shorter and Ned Stark’s words can be heard echoing throughout the halls of NUI Galway. Winter is coming, and you can be sure that it will be just as tough to avoid those Christmas puddings and stay fit, like many winters before.

Well, first of all I have some good news. You don’t have to avoid the Christmas puddings or any of your favourite annual dinner for that matter; trying to convince yourself you will is just a distraction from the real ‘challenge’: staying active. This means feeling good about your-self and exercising regularly to do so.

When many people hear exercise they automatically think gym. When we think gym, we sometimes see it as a chore. It’s fantastic if you can

ways to keep fit. Going for a walk or a run can be just as effective physically and most important – mentally. Exercising outdoors is more exciting and refreshing than on a treadmill.

During the winter, mornings are darker and it can be tough to move from the bed. Once you If you are like me and the thought actually get up, it will be worth it. Try and develop a healthy sleeping of the gym can sometimes be a pattern (although going to bed early and waking bit daunting, just don’t do it. up early can be tough in There are so many other ways college, I know). Even if you could try and get to keep fit. Going for a walk or your recommended 7 or 8 hours of sleep every night, it will make getting a run can be just as effective up in the mornings a lot physically and most important easier. Avoid sleeping too much or too little. Once – mentally. Exercising outdoors we start being active, it will get easier to move is more exciting and refreshing from the bed and doing work won’t seem like a task. than on a treadmill.

get into a routine of doing at least forty minutes in the gym for two days a week; this will help those happy hormones bring a smile to your face. But, if you are like me and the thought of the gym can sometimes be a bit daunting, just don’t do it. There are so many other

Random acts of kindness: a little goes a long way

By Saoirse Rafferty “Wow that girl’s cardigan is so nice… maybe I should tell her, or maybe she’d think I’m strange. Screw it, I’m going to tell her.” That was an insight into my mind before I complimented a random girl on her lovely cardigan.

The only reason I remember that episode, is because I remember the big smile on her face after I said it. This made the effortless act of complimenting worth it.

You might find it hard to remember the last time you complimented someone or were kind to someone, because sometimes we do it naturally and it means a greater deal to the other person than to us. But, I bet you can recall certain times someone was super nice to you and it made you feel really good about yourself and humanity in general. Okay, so I’m not Mother Teresa, and not here to preach about being a good human as if I’m Miss Perfect - but I really do believe a little act of kindness goes a really long way.

Whether it’s smiling at someone you know on the street, saying thanks, or giving a compliment; you will truly feel so much better afterwards!

So, what does doing a little act of kindness mean?

This could mean anything. For starters, remembering your manners are really important. Saying please and thank you shows gratitude and appreciation. Little things like this

that sometimes we forget about, can mean a lot in making a waiters day.

Sometimes little acts of kindness could mean listening to someone and being attentive. There’s nothing worse than being in a conversation with people who are looking at their phones and leave you feeling as if you are talking to yourself. Open your ears and eyes. Little things like this really do matter in the world, sometimes you need to empathise and think about how you would feel if you were sitting on the other side of the table.

Smile. Spread a smile and it will be so contagious. We are all sad sometimes and get caught up in a world of our own, that we forget about the world around us. We forget how much of an impact a smile can have.

A smile will make you and the people around you feel good.

Coming up to Christmas, kindness is such a wonderful thing to see.

Whether it’s phoning a person you haven’t talked to in a while to say Happy Christmas, spending time with your family, or even volunteering for a charity, there are so many charitable and lovely opportunities we can get involved in. There are always shoebox appeals, and opportunities to help out in your community. Christmas is a time for giving, and by giving a small bit of kindness out to the world you will feel so much better for seeing how much of a difference something small can make.

Happy Christmas everyone!

Our diet can vary during the winter months. One minute we have healthy eating habits, the next we are eating a selection box for breakfast. Having a healthy diet is important to keep ourselves feeling good, as ‘we are what we eat’. Keeping fit during the winter will help you escape your Christmas bubble of doing nothing and eating everything, it will help for the ‘January Blues’; having you feeling better about yourself and not needing to worry about the consequences of binge eating.

Regardless of how much we eat or exercise at Christmas, we will all probably feel a bit guilty and find ourselves complaining in the New Year. Instead of waiting for 2017, and wasting your time complaining, do some exercise regularly, not to make you ‘feel okay’ about eating lots, but to just be able to ‘feel okay’. Being healthy mentally is the most important thing, it affects our mood and happiness.

If we exercise, no matter how much of a chore we perceive it to be, we will feel a lot better afterwards. So, make sure to walk a little more this Christmas and remember to keep healthy and happy.

22 FASHION

Sin Vol. 18 Issue 6

5 Under ¤50: Party Dresses

By Amy McMahon With the Christmas party season just around the corner, I think it’s definitely justifiable to buy a new dress for the festivities. SIN fashion is here to help on your hunt. Searching the internet far and wide, these are the top five party looks. The best part, they’re all under¤50. At a price like that, it would be rude not to snap one up.

The Cape Shift Dress

The Sequin Midi

The Velvet Dress

The Slip Dress

The One Shoulder Dress

One of the very first dresses I set my sights on was this cute cape shift dress from Missguided. At the cost of €49, this stylish number is perfect for any night out. With a killer plunging neck line it balances the caped back, making for a gorgeous addition to any wardrobe. Paired with a body chain or a bold choker for added glam factor. Keep it simple with delicate simple heels such as the ones pictured, so as not to overload the entire look and keep the focus on the dress.

Sequins and sparkles are a must this season. This stunning dress from New Look will meet all of your glitzy needs for just €44.99. To make it even better this great find comes in three colours; burgundy, black and bronze. This dress would suit any occasion over the holidays as the midi length adds elegance to any outfit, making it possible to wear this dress to both a night club and a family Christmas party. Let’s face it, on a college budget we all welcome multipurpose dresses with open arms.

Velvet is the ideal fabric for winter.

It will keep you warm on a night out and you will look festive without trying. I found a low back long sleeved velvet dress from Missguided in burgundy that should be a staple party piece in any winter wardrobe. This dress costs €28, I repeat only €28. I adore this dress so much; it is definitely one of my favourites on the list.

Slip dresses have become more and more popular lately and this one from River Island is no exception.

It’s available online for just €37 in the plus size range. Personally, I feel like a slip dress is the best option for a night out on the town. It’s a fun and flirty dress that always looks amazing with knee high boots and a black leather jacket. Even though it is further down the line, this is a great dress for New Year’s Eve.

Saving the best for last, I found this gem from H&M for only €37.

I love this dress so much, I think I might just have to pick it up myself!

Although the photo may not clearly show it, the dress itself is sparkling so beautifully. The one shoulder style brings something different to the basic glittery dress. The one shoulder actually elongates your body, always a plus for the short gals and gives a very slimming appearance. I really believe this dress can be worn time and time again and for such a low price, it is the ultimate party dress.

MAC’s nutcracker

sweet collection

By Christina O’Reilly MAC’s new 2016 holiday collection entitled ‘Nutcracker sweet’ is by far their most adorable Christmas collection to date. This limited edition collection is the make-up of any beauty lover’s dreams. The gorgeous fuchsia, plum, bronze and gold themed packaging and intricate detail means it isn’t even necessary to gift-wrap these little gems when gifting them this Christmas.

The collection includes glitters, highlighters, eyeshadows and lipsticks. Each product comes in pink and gold packaging with sparkling gold embroidery on the case. The products are dressed in a pink and plum candy cane finish, perfect for the holiday season.

Here at SIN Fashion, we’re especially lusting after the highlight and blush duet that are debossed with the aiguillette of a nutcracker uniform. The collection consists of seven pots of gorgeous eyeshadow, three kohl eyeliners, as well as two tubes of glitter pigment,

two highlighters and five lipsticks. The range of shades go from soft pink to rich jewel tones.

This limited edition line features bespoke kits in addition to the main releases. These consists of a stunning array of eyeshadow palettes, face palettes, brush kits, two sets of mini lipsticks, lip glosses, metallic pigment kits and last but certainly not least two unique patent polish lip kits. These products all consists of MAC’s usual unbeatable formulations, making them makeup must-haves for this time of year.

If all that wasn’t enough MAC has also released six starry makeup pouches complete with detailed full looks. They include everything you need to create the perfect subtle pink and nude glow, that dramatic Vampy lip, or that plum smoky eye that’s reminiscent of the mystical setting of the nutcracker ballet.

The ideal present to gift a good friend or an even better one to hint at to a boyfriend. This collection can now be found in Brown Thomas stores nationwide. But hurry, it’s selling out fast!

FASHION 23

November 22 2016

Fashion comes in all shapes and sizes

By Mark Laherty BuzzFeed staff took mainstream fashion advertisements and created alternate versions with plus size women. There aim being to show that it doesn’t take one size to sell.

The aim of this project was to criticise the fashion industry’s idea of female beauty and society’s discrimination against women not of a U.S size 0-2. The article was uploaded on October 31.

The shoot was organised by Sheridan Watson, Jazzmyne Roberts, Macey Foronda, and Charlotte Gomez.

“In an industry where beauty standards seem so limited, we decided to break the mold and insert ourselves into the world of fashion,” the article reads.

The first image presented was Tommy Hilfiger’s fall 2016 ad with American fashion model, Gigi Hadid who has taken the fashion industry by storm over the last couple of years. Hadid has become a role model to many young girls who aim to be her.

BuzzFeed’s Senior Editor Kristin Chirico posed for the shoot.

“I’ve heard so many times that my body isn’t really capable of doing beautiful fashion things,” she wrote. “Seeing myself actually do it felt like a mistake.”

On November 10, the original model Hadid defended Tommy Hilfiger in another fat-shaming controversy. Previously, Hilfiger had her walk in a large leather poncho because she wasn’t “quite as thin” as other models.

The next image was the Agent Provocateur fall 2016 ad with Abbey Lee, an Australian fashion model, actress, and musician.

BuzzFeed’s replacement model, Kelsey Rose, said that once she was “all glammed up and finally got on set with the couch, I felt sexy and I felt empowered.”

Abbey Lee was interviewed by W Magazine in June about her role in the Danish thriller Neon Demon. During the interview, she talked about her emotionally and physically trying experiences in the fashion industry.

“When you’re a high fashion model in the show circuit, by Paris [the last stop of the major fashion weeks] you are completely debilitated,” Lee said.

“It was not humane what they do to girls during that period.”

Another image was based on the Kate Spade spring 2016 ad with Jourdan Dunn, an English fashion model.

The stand-in model at BuzzFeed, who gave the name Danica, said that the shoot made her realise she shouldn’t care “what others think… we all should be able to do whatever we think is beautiful as long as you love yourself first.”

In an interview with Refinery 29, one of the models in the project, BuzzFeed associate editor Sheridan Watson, said that she was “obsessed with the fashion industry, but never felt like there was a place for women like me: women who are of a certain size and [are] actually happy to be that size.

“I’m a girl’s girl – I think that every body is beautiful no matter if you’re a size 0 or a size thirty. As long as you’re happy and healthy, that’s all that matters. That’s what we wanted to show. We’re a group of happy, funny, strong women who are also beautiful.”

The company has been struggling over the past two years. They have had to lay off many of their staff and they have been sued several times by former employees. The company has also experienced a change in management as Amuroso stepped down to executive chairwoman during this time. Furthermore, they have been accused of copyrighting designs of several big brands, including Alexander Wang, Celine, and Givenchy.

Sophia Amuroso created her online American shop NastyGal when she was 22.

It began as a vintage shop on eBay but had since then transformed into a huge online retail success with a large global audience.

Following the launch of the website in 2006, Amuroso published a book entitled ‘#GirlBoss on May 6 2014, which has also since become a huge success.

Despite both her book and shop having a large following and audience, the company has reportedly filed for bank-

By Amanda Leeson Rosie Huntington Whitely is best known as Victoria Secret model. Her “off duty” style is chic and effortless and one which every fashion lover wishes to steal.

While most of us lack the style icon’s budget to buy the exact pieces, SIN fashion has got you covered to recreate this look on a student friendly budget.

This casual look is simple yet stylish. It can be easily re-created with pieces you probably already have in your wardrobe. You can easily dress the look up to suit your style and tailor it to exactly how you want it. You’ll be looking like a Victoria Secret Model in no time.

The key bit to keep in mind when re-creating the model’s go-to outfit is simplicity.

Rosie prefers a less fuss, easy to through on and run out the door type of outfit. We totally get her what with us all running out the door at 08:45 for that 9am lecture.

CLOCKWISE

NASTY GAL SCANDAL: the multimillion dollar company has applied for bankruptcy

By Roisín McManus

STYLE STEAL: Rosie Huntington Whitely

ruptcy protection. This means that the company is attempting to reorganise their business to keep it alive. In other shocking news to fans, Amuroso has decided to resign from her position as executive chairwoman.

Speaking to www.dazeddigital.com, the company’s newest CEO since Amuroso, Sheree Waterson, says that what they will essentially be doing is initiating a “court – supervised restructuring” which will allow them to sort out their liquidity problems and fix their balance sheet before returning to business.

“We expect to maintain our high level of customer service and emerge stronger and even better able to deliver the product and experience that our customers expect and that we take pride in bringing to market,” said Waterson.

This quote by their CEO further proves their determination and strong will-power to not give into this downfall and to not let this issue stop the company in their tracks of success.

As avid fans of the business itself, here at SIN Fashion we would be very disappointed to see the company cease operations.

However, I will say that I have heard and read a lot about Amuroso’s life and couldn’t agree more with the quote that she is “the most successful misfit you know” which was said by the website www.success.com in their article of the same name.

Talking to www.bbc.com in an article named ‘Nasty Gal’s Sophia Amuroso: Shoplifting saved my life’, she claims that she had always hated school growing up and left her home when she was only 17 years old. While living alone, she wished to lead a life where she lived for free in Olympia, Washington.

Part of her plan of living for free included that she shoplifted whenever she needed.

“I learned the hard way that taking shortcuts and living for free is not really living free.”

This she brutally realised after being one day caught for shoplifting. Amuroso claims that all her earlier mishaps were essential in her decision to begin her original eBay store, originally called Nasty Gal Vintage.

• Leather Jacket: ASOS by J.D.Y €47.13 • Striped black and white bodysuit: New Look €6.95 online • Black skinny jeans: River Island €50.00 • Black ankle boots: River Island €65.00 • Black floral embroidered choker: New Look €7.99

24 ENTERTAINMENT

Sin Vol. 18 Issue 6

Hudson Taylor take Bailey Allen!

Photos by Timothy Cognard

ENTERTAINMENT 25

November 22 2016

Finding Leonard Cohen

By Eoghan Holland I don’t think it matters if it is a vinyl, a CD, a tape or an Mp3 or a stream – but sometimes when you hear music for the first time, the memory stays with you forever. As a teen I spent evenings in my sister’s bedroom where the record player lived and worked my way through the vinyl collection my father had amassed in his time in America. Songs from a Room, which I’d admit isn’t my favourite Cohen album with its stark cover art and plain orange label, took me awhile to get to amongst the Who, Horslips and Rolling Stones records. It does however introduce you to Cohen’s stark, stripped back and candid delivery that people grew to love.

Cohen was a poet and a writer first, and I guess maybe he saw music as another way of working with words.

I was taken by it anyways, though I thought it was too uncool for the punk and metal scene that was buzzing out of tape machines at the time.

A few years later, a friend introduced me to a movie called Pump Up the Volume and immediately the soundtrack got me with that familiar crooning, comically cynical voice.

Down to the record store with me to find the soundtrack (this time on CD)

and low and behold – this time we’d Cohen in his 80s phase. The guitar was gone and crappy sounding keyboards and drum machines were somehow dark and groovy. The album I’m Your Man became a desert island disk for me. In today’s musical climate, I’m not sure where a man with a suit on eating a banana would fit, but that album still tends to make a lot of Best of 80s lists so I guess people will find a way around the zeitgeist when they want to.

A few years down the line, and a man who was on the brink of going global had a sleeper hit with his iconic Grace album. Jeff Buckley worked his way via live shows and bootlegging across the student scene, and the towering track on that release was ‘Hallelujah’. Another Cohen song, and one that’s worked its way into the fabric of life for a lot of people. One of the starker statements about love you’ll hear, I’d challenge anyone who thinks they’ve got a heart of stone to tell me they can’t relate to it. Even Shrek gets Cohen.

I suppose the point I’m trying to get across is that Cohen is a guy who just keeps meeting you throughout your life. You probably don’t need to look for him, he’ll probably find you, and when he does he usually knows the right thing to say. I thought

I’d be recommending an album or eulogizing the simple finger styled guitar or something, but no, I’m pretty sure that Cohen will find you in his own time.

On Friday last as the news trickled in that at a very impressive 82 years Cohen had left this world, it was almost automatic that me and few friends would meet and have a few hours to listen to our favourite Cohen records and talk them out. With the backdrop of the results of the American election – and while we focused a lot on the newly released You Want it Darker with its deepened voice and towering, pensive and yet not lofty lyrics which in many ways Cohen is pretty clearly signing off on, it was 1992’s The Future album that met us this time - 24 years after its release, with the aptly titled ‘Democracy’ - it’s easier I leave you at this point with Cohen’s words than mine: I’m sentimental, if you know what I mean I love the country but I can’t stand the scene.

And I’m neither left or right I’m just staying home tonight, getting lost in that hopeless little screen.

But I’m stubborn as those garbage bags that Time cannot decay, I’m junk but I’m still holding up this little wild bouquet: Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

REVIEW: Asking For It by Louise O’Neill

By Grace Kieran Please read this book.

Every woman and every man whether you think you understand consent or not should give it a try. Louise O’Neill painstakingly conveys the culture of victim-blaming, social media and the stigma surrounding sexual assault.

The novel follows an eighteen-yearold girl who is raped, pictures of which are published online spurring on disgust and a “She was asking for it” attitude by those she considered friends. The whole town of Ballinatoon isolates her and her family, support the three attackers, offer their condolences and even sport T-Shirts adorned with hashtags promoting their story. The book sees the victim go crazy with guilt and the town go crazy with ignorance.

The plot is of little importance, though. The main device in this novel is the moral context it is in and how we need to change it. The main character Emma is a jealous, ungrateful, shallow,

selfish woman who steals from her best friend but she does not deserve what happens to her. Nobody does. She dresses promiscuously, gets drunk, takes illicit drugs and cannot remember how she ended up on her front porch the next morning. She is still not responsible for what happened. The rapists are.

In my preview, I expressed how intrigued I was by authors who tackle flaws in the justice system and society.

O’Neill is blunt about the lack of awareness about rape and even the word rape is stigmatised by the main characters “You can’t just go throwing that word around…”, “He’s a good guy...”, “I was just asking if it was like rape rape?”

The story is told fluidly with statistics cropping up during the story like little placards urging readers to become aware of the injustice. Less than 1% of victims of sexual crimes in Ireland get justice.

That is a serious statistic but when you think of all the unreported cases on top of that, this becomes harrowing.

Obviously, this is not the type of book one looks forward to reading. It is uncomfortable and political. This, I believe, is more reason to read it. Yes, it would be easier to settle with your cup of tea and a cheesy chick-lit but we cannot become Ballinatoon, supporting the accused because “They’re good boys really, it just got out of hand.” And if you think rape is not an issue in this country right now, you especially need to get a copy of this book.

The world has changed a lot in the past fortnight and I find it poignant, ironic even, that I finished just in time to receive the US election result. A candidate with at least twenty-four convictions of inappropriate sexual behaviour (including accusations of rape and misconduct involving children) has been chosen to run the most powerful country on the planet. Trump is innocent until proven guilty and these women are, to quote Louise O’Neill, “liar(s) until proven honest.”

So, louder for the people in the back: please read this book.

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26 ENTERTAINMENT

Sin Vol. 18 Issue 6

The Galway Gamer: Christmas Wish-List

By Eoghan Murphy Christmas is coming and everybody seems alarmingly comfortable with commenting loudly on the goose’s weight. What the true spirit of Christmas really means seems to change from person to person, and indeed from TV Christmas special to TV Christmas special. One thing is for sure though, since the NES made a splash back in the 1980s, video game fans hope to bag themselves one of the year’s hottest winter releases during the festive season. However, with the release date for Nintendo’s upcoming console, Switch, being near the end of 2017’s first quarter, this particular machine won’t be appearing under anybody’s tree this year, regardless of how naughty or nice they may have been. Luckily though, there are still some amazing choices currently on the market.

One colossal franchise that finds itself a place on almost every adult’s Santa list on an annual basis is Call of Duty. The long running series sees a new title being added to its catalogue each winter, and 2016 is no exception. In fact, it could be argued that this year sees two CoD games hit the shelves. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare takes the war based franchise in a bold new direction, based

around a more sci-fi like concept. In this game you can take to the skies, leaving earth far behind, and engage in interstellar battles.

The addition of a zip-line style weapon has more in common with People Can Fly’s classic first person shooter, BulletStorm, than it does Call of Duty, meaning that this particular title is worlds apart from the franchise’s original World War II aesthetic.

However, the real draw towards Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare for many players isn’t the brand new game itself. Instead, it’s the fact that the game allows access to a remastered edition of 2007’s classic Modern Warfare; a game that is widely regarded as one of the best FPS titles ever created. Infinite Warfare is available now for Playstation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows.

However, if shooting seemingly endless streams of space soldiers isn’t your idea of a merry Christmas, Nintendo’s got you covered.

Their mighty little handheld system is set to release the latest versions of its flagship series, Pokémon. Continuing the celebrations for the franchise’s 20th anniversary, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon take players to an entirely new region, displayed in beautiful and colourful 3D graphics, to explore caves and long grass in search of adorable little elementally charged monsters.

Sun and Moon act as two sides of the same coin, each with their own exclusive Pokémon to catch and do battle with. This concept encourages trade through the game’s online trading system or via local wireless in order to discover all the 700+ creatures available.

These Pokémon can then be used to form teams and do battle, allowing for countless combinations and strategies. Pokémon Sun and Moon will be available from November 23rd, but are exclusive to Nintendo 3DS. With these titles looking like strong contenders for people’s Christmas lists, coupled with other standout releases, there will be no shortage of great videogames on offer this season. Whether you’d rather while away the

hours alone immersed in huge worlds with Skyrim: Special Edition and Final Fantasy XV or spend time with friends competing frantic multiplayer action with Gears of War 4 or Titanfall 2; console and PC have a bright array on sale to suit your Christmassy needs.

Eoghan Murphy is a Galway City based music and gaming journalist. Born and raised on 1980s thrash metal, this ex-vocalist also enjoys a touch of hard rock and hip hop. When not banging his head to extreme music, he can usually be found knee deep in piles of video games, competing at tournaments and writing for www.Hit-Start-Now.com or spinning chiptunes on Flirt FM at 2pm each Thursday as the Galway Gamer

The best of Christmas TV

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We all have our Christmas rituals; the big dinner, the presents, Midnight mass at, er, 8pm. Every family probably has a different variation of events, a different recipe for the turkey and ham, and a different favourite box of chocolates for the house to enjoy. Christmas squabbles over the TV however, I’m pretty sure, are something we all have in common.

You know, when you no longer can move after that 10th helping of Christmas pudding so you simply resign to vegetating in front of the telly box, with a roaring fire and the tree twinkling in the corner - but it is near impossible for anyone to agree on what to watch?

Well, here at SIN we’ve pre-empted this festive fiasco and made a list of some shoe-in family favourites to work into your Christmas viewing and hopefully keep everyone happy!

CHRISTMAS CLASSICS: From It’s a Wonderful Life to The Santa Clause, why not treat the family to some good ol’ fashioned Christmas films? They’re only allowed at this one time of year after all, so indulge in them while you can.

ALL THINGS HUGH GRANT: there’s nothing too festive about him other than Love Actually when he plays a rather dishy Prime Minister, but About a Boy, Notting Hill, Four Weddings & a Funeral and of course Bridget Jones are all guaranteed to have the household smiling and satisfied after a long day of dinner, visitors and pulling crackers.

DOWNTON ABBEY: I for one am very disheartened that I will not be seeing those opening credits with Isis the Labrador’s golden behind trotting towards the Abbey and hearing the familiar chords chime out this Christmas

Day on ITV – but I have come up with a solution to my woes and intend on asking Santa for the boxsets and watching them all Christmas long. Downton is an easy watch and you can either laugh at the pomp and slag the British Upper Class to your heart’s content, or get swept away in the romantic notions of it all.

Something for everyone.

STRICTLY COME DANCING, CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: who doesn’t love a cheeky cha-chacha or a show-stopping American Smooth?

And if you don’t, seriously what is wrong with you?! The Christmas Special sees former champs and contestants of the Strictly dancefloor return to battle it out to be crowned Christmas champions. It’s glitz and it’s glam, and you could even have a bit of fun judging their footwork yourself and emanate the judges with family scoring. Yes, I did just suggest that.

QUIZ SHOWS: keeping in a competitive spirit, although quiz shows are often on nearer New Year’s Eve, I still think they deserved to be heralded on the list. There are always plenty of quizzes to test your knowledge around Christmas such as Big Fat Quiz of the Year on Channel 4 and Pointless Celebrities on BBC 1.

LORD OF THE RINGS V HARRY POTTER: It is quite plausible that your family are either more a fan of one or the other. It’s hard to love both equally – although I’m sure there are people who do. Regardless, there are enough LOTR and HP films to beat the band so if you can’t find anything else, stick on one of these and you’ll be laughing (or crying when Dobby dies, again.)

SHERLOCK: Hold on to your seats, it’s back on New Year’s Day BBC 1 so you can certainly refresh yourself on last season on Christmas Day in preparation for the next instalment.

ENTERTAINMENT 27

November 22 2016

5 BEST 5 WORST CELEBRITY Christmas Songs Christmas Songs CHRISTMAS SONGS:

By Amy McMahon

By Brigid Fox

Trying to pick the top five Christmas songs is a lot harder than it may seem. Maybe I just love every Christmas song too much! I finally whittled it down to this list of what I consider to be the ultimate Christmas song classics that we all love (and sometimes hate) to listen to on repeat during the lead up to Christmas.

November strikes a chord in everyone’s minds as the time the shops, radios and your Christmas-obsessed friends feel it’s appropriate to play festive songs on a loop everywhere. As a lover of Christmas, there are of course some songs I’m dying to hear. I mean, Wham’s Last Christmas never gets old. Unfortunately, after all the years of celebrating Christmas we humans have created some downright terrible Christmas songs that cannot be forgotten. Here is a list of the five worst X-mas songs of all time to dampen your Christmas spirit - sorry in advance!

Fairytale of New York by The Pogues Fairytale of New York is the ultimate Christmas classic. Nationwide, it is the first Christmas song people religiously listen to - I’m almost certain Michael D. Higgins has passed a law on it. I secretly always loved singing the cheeky lyrics as a child, knowing I would get away with it every single time.

All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey What would Christmas be without Mariah Carey? I think All I Want for Christmas is You is everyone’s guilty pleasure. Christmas is the perfect time to listen to cheesy pop Christmas songs and what better song than this one? Raise your hand if you try to copy Mariah Carey’s singing skills even though we are all more than likely butchering this iconic song. Also, this song always reminds me of the film Love Actually and the little sweetheart Sam’s crush on Joanna.

Last Christmas by Wham!

Wham! released this cracker of a song decades ago, yet it still remains as one of the best Christmas songs ever because it is so relatable and catchy.

The music video definitely adds to the Christmas vibes, with the snow and fun with friends and family. Dear Santa, I want to go on a skiing holiday with my friends too, but maybe leave the ex out of it – cheers!

Do They Know It’s Christmas? by Band Aid This Christmas song just had to be on my list. Personally, I like this song so much because it is has been done for such great causes each and every time. From artists like Boy George to One Direction, the list of celebrities that have featured on this song seems endless, but I feel like we all can appreciate at least one version of the Band Aid hit throughout the generations.

Stay Another Day by East 17 Stay Another Day by East 17 is undeniably the greatest boy-band Christmas ballad ever. This is my all-time favourite Christmas song for so many reasons, including the cheesiest of cheesy music videos. After all, nothing screams Christmas cheer more than fur hoods, falling snow and typical boyband air grabs.

Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt/Madonna Starting the list is the unsettling classic predominantly remembered being performed by Madonna, Santa Baby.

When an uncomfortable story about a woman’s attempt to persuade Santa that she has been a “good girl” becomes a ritual Christmas song you know things are bad. Instinctive shudders of discomfort creep down my spine just thinking about this song and it’s degrading, unnerving lyrics.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by Jimmy Boyd How traumatising on a scale of one to ten is this song before your understanding of the lyrics came into play? I’d say a strong 9.7 prior to the knowledge that “Santa” is actually the father dressed up as it insinuates that both the mother and Santa committed adultery. In reality of course it’s meant to be a cute song of childish innocence but unfortunately it ends up being a distressing tale of ignorance with a monotonous melody.

Christmas Don’t be Late/ The Chipmunk’s Song by the Washington Squares Sang by an array of artists and most commonly known by its alternative name The Chipmunk’s song. With its irksome combination of awkward vocals, poor lyrics and lack of festive fun it has everything it needs to get a spot on this list of the worst Christmas songs of all time.

All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth by Donald Yetter Gardner An obscure concept about childhood wishes and a fear of the dentist makes a bad mix for a lovable Christmas song. With a childish, repetitive melody and a message with very little heart it’s no surprise that this song could drive you crazy by the third listen. Far from the entertaining Christmas songs we know and love, this piece is a mediocre listen at best.

Christmas Tree by Lady Gaga As a somewhat recent (and thankfully forgettable) Christmas song by Lady Gaga, it is not a surprise that this has a spot on the naughty list. For most of us, Christmas is a time of giving, spent with family and friends along with the excitement of presents and Santa. Clearly Lady Gaga’s Christmas mustn’t have happened like that or her crude melody full of sexual innuendos of a Christmas tree might not have existed. I must say a thank you to Lady Gaga for ruining many of my Christmas childhood memories and for how I now view my Christmas tree, cheers!

Festive or just a money-grab?

By Mark Laherty

It’s not Christmas yet. But since this semester ends in early December, NUI Galway is semi-justified in celebrating Novembermas. This raises two questions. Firstly, is it called Novembermas? Is that a thing? Answer: it is a thing because the established journalistic source SIN said so.

Just now.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, here’s our second question: what’s the deal with celebrity covers of Christmas songs?

Let’s take Anna Kendrick’s cover of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. She’s an excellent singer, and I’m sure it’s a good fan service to all the people who want to be her BFF. That’s not to dis them; they have good taste in dream BFFs. Their taste in Christmas songs, however, is garbage.

Why does this need to exist? Does anyone think that Anna Kendrick made this cover to express herself artistically, or make some deeper point, or even enjoy herself much? It entirely exists to make money.

But then you’re cracking open a can of worms the size of the Yellowstone volcano - very big, that is, although without the risk of everyone dying. The point is this: does Christmas mostly exist for corporations to make money through nonsense like celebrity songs? If we can get to the root of that in the next 300 words, we can save Anna Kendrick’s soul.

When people complain about celebrity Christmas songs, they’re complaining that Christmas isn’t being done right; that it should be done a different way, or maybe not happen at all. A lot of folks like the religious aspect, or seeing family, or giving gifts, but feel that things like celebrity culture and extending the holiday across two months reflect everything wrong with Western consumerism.

Culture is like light. It’s all around us and it’s what we live in, but you can’t see light. You can only see what light hits.

A holiday such as Christmas is a prism that takes culture and turns it into something tangible that can be more easily criticised. It’s easier to look at Christmas and say, “I don’t like celebrity covers of Jingle Bells” than it is to form a worthwhile attack on a whole social and economic system.

You have to respect people with different worldviews.

The main reason that someone would dislike Anna Kendrick’s song is that the blatant consumerism doesn’t quite jive with their worldview. But for other people, those cheesy songs are what Christmas is. You’re not going to change their minds by calling them idiots.

At the same time, consumerism is objectively pretty bad. And that’s why Christmas, in a roundabout way, is an exciting opportunity. Just as light bends when you manipulate a prism, culture can be changed by how we engage with holidays.

Just bear in mind that probably the best and most useful way to change the world is to get out there and actually do something. Make gifts for your friends by hand, by the sweat of your own brow. Maybe even make charitable donations instead of giving gifts, since it’s the same basic premise.

The point is this: yes, it makes sense to be annoyed by celebrity Christmas songs, but if you have a problem, you should get out there and do something about it. And let it be something more useful than whining about other people’s beliefs in the student paper (whoops).

28 ENTERTAINMENT

Sin Vol. 18 Issue 6

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here 2016 series preview

By Stephen James Ah, November. It’s safe to say it hasn’t been the best. ‘Trump Trauma’ has firmly set in with the announcement that he has become the 45th President of the USA (what the hell happened there?). The BREXIT saga is still rolling on and on. Assignment deadlines and exam stress are starting to rear their ugly heads.

We can’t even enjoy a decent bit of Toblerone anymore, now that the makers have shrank the iconic bar. And if all that wasn’t enough to leave you feeling blue, the cold winter weather surely will, as it has returned with a vengeance.

But never fear, as November also means the return of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here. And let’s face it, is there a better way to

cheer yourself up than watching a group of pampered C–list celebs roughing it and facing their fears in an Australian jungle? I think not.

Once again, TV royalty Ant & Dec return to present the show, which this year celebrates an incredible 16th series. The line-up of celebs getting ready to endure a Bushtucker Trial or two is the same as in previous years in that it is comprised of a few familiar faces, and a few that are sure to leave you scratching your head and asking, “Who?” By the time you sit down to read this issue, the show will be in full swing. But let’s take a look at some of the celebs who are sure to cause a stir and grab the headlines.

CAROL VORDEMAN

ITV are rumoured to have forked out a whopping £200,000 for the TV star to appear on the show. Vordeman is most

famous for her stint presenting Channel 4’s Countdown, where her brains and beauty made her an instant hit with the public so fans could be expected to tune in to see her in the jungle. Given that she is the oldest female campmate this year, Vordeman will almost certainly take the mother role in camp. Whether she will be up for the challenge of the food trials or prone to a diva strop remains to be seen.

WAYNE BRIDGE

After Vordeman, Wayne Bridge is thought to be on the most money, having secured a £150,000 contract with the show. Soccer fans will know him from his time playing for many English clubs, most notably Chelsea, and also for his country. People will also remember him from the media frenzy surrounding his feud with former teammate John Terry, who slept with his ex-partner, so producers will be hoping that he reveals some juicy details about that. Bridge has admitted he has a phobia of practically everything the

jungle has to offer and is “bricking it”. So if that’s true, it’s a fair bet that he will be nominated for a lot of the challenges, and we will get to see some of his hilarious, terrified reactions.

SCARLETT MOFFATT

A breakout star of the Channel 4 hit series Gogglebox, Scarlett Moffatt is reportedly being paid £70,000 to appear on the show, which is a nice pay packet for someone essentially famous for watching a bit of telly. She is famous for her hilarious one liners on Gogglebox, so producers have no doubt booked her in the hope that that will translate to the jungle. She has established herself as the quintessential girl next door that viewers can relate to. If she plays her cards right, my money is on her to take the crown, much in the same way previous winner Vicky Pattinson did.

ADAM THOMAS

Viewers will be happy this year, as Emmerdale star Adam Thomas will be taking the role of camp hunk.

He is also said to have landed a big bucks deal to appear on the

show, securing a not too shabby £100,000. That’s sure to justify a break from Emmerdale anyway, if nothing else. The fact that he is on TV screens across Britain and Ireland most nights of the week on a popular soap like Emmerdale should count in his favour when it comes to the public vote. Unless he does something drastic to turn the public against him, I can see him sailing to the final two along with Scarlett.

LARRY LAMB

The second of the soap stars appearing this year, Lamb will be most familiar to EastEnders viewers as the villainous Archie Mitchell. At 69, he is the oldest campmate this year, and he will undoubtedly fall into the role of father in the camp, imparting advice to the younger contestants.

No doubt he will be quite popular, but he won’t win.

Model Lisa Snowdon, dancers Ola Jordan and Jordan Banjo and actor/comedian Joel Dommett round out the cast, but I’d be surprised if any of them make a huge impact. For now, my money is on Scarlett Moffett to take the crown.

Enjoy the series, and have a great Christmas!

Top 5 Christmas ads ever to give you the warm and fuzzies for the festive season

By Georgia Feeney Christmas is like no other holiday.

It’s your birthday mixed with Halloween all wrapped up into one two week long vacation. Now (I hope I’m not killing any dreams) we all know the Santa years were the best for Christmas celebration and excitement, but while we may know the truth about the magic of the man in the red suit, there’s still plenty of joy to get from the holiday even as adults: The Christmas ads.

These are the signifiers that the festive season has well and truly begun. Until you see these on your television and Smartphone screens it’s not Christmas yet.

Here, in my opinion, are those special ones we all look forward counting down to the best most treasured ad of all, can you guess which one?

5. JOHN LEWIS CHRISTMAS AD 2013:

This is the one with the woodland

animals. It focuses mainly on the bear and the hare. This seems to have been the beginning of the great expectation of the John Lewis Christmas ads, where the bar was set. The message of this ad was to ‘give someone an unforgettable Christmas’. Who doesn’t love animals anyway? This will always add to the adorable, swoon level.

I’ll give this ad number 5 but let’s not even get into the big let-down that was this year’s ad. I mean, seriously John Lewis, you basically ruined Christmas for children by revealing there is no Santa Claus and it is actually just parent’s who get the presents; the magic quite literally taken from children.

Buster the dog, however, it has to be admitted was quite funny and cute.

4. TESCO’S CHRISTMAS TV ADVERT 2016:

This features different children writing and reading aloud their letters to a special someone, usually a relative. Guys, this one’s a

tear jerker. The cuteness level is overwhelming with Irish kiddies expressing their gratitude for their grannies. They give thanks for the “big hugs” and for the “little bits of rasher she gives with the Brussels’ sprouts” - now that’s love for you. Tesco’s aim of these ads is to ‘thank the hosts’ this Christmas.

Not only is this a genuinely sweet ad, it also makes you think of your own families and how lucky some of us are to have people to spend the holiday with (told you this was an emotional one).

3. O2 CHRISTMAS AD 2011:

Now we can no longer look forward to another ad by this company since they were bought by 3, but you can still watch this ad on YouTube. This ad is called ‘Christmas with Love’. It features a young guy walking through a housing estate, looking around and taking it all in. There’s a couple making snow angels (not likely to ever happen in Ireland but this ad makes us dream), two friends

reuniting (typical girls, screaming and running up to each other for a big hug) and a little girl sitting at a window looking out. The ad concludes with this little girl seeing someone outside, then running downstairs and out of the door to greet her big brother. I really love this ad because when it came out it was the first year in a long time that a lot of Irish, especially young Irish people, had to emigrate and some were returning home for the first time since. With the song Is Love Alive? this ad is quite special and really makes you appreciate who you spend Christmas with.

Again, another tear-jerker - have the tissues ready guys.

2. THE CORNFLAKES AD ‘WAITING FOR SANTA’ 1990

You knew it was coming. How could this ad not be included in the list? Cornflakes decided to emulate every child at Christmas with this story of three siblings setting up a picnic for Santa Claus, before hiding to await his arrival.

One of the siblings, the youngest, was lucky enough to wake up and meet the man himself. While we love this idea, it was years of envy most of us were reminded of when we saw it. While it is an oldie, it’s a classic and one that’s always favoured. It was certainly a toughie deciding whether this got first or second place.

1. THE COCO-COLA ADVERT 1990

Who would have thought this year would make two of the most popular Christmas adverts ever?

This is it guys, the top Christmas ad. I don’t think it’s possible to feel the Christmas season has begun until you’ve heard the lyrics ‘Holidays are coming’. Every year it goes in the same category as the Cornflakes ad, with us millenials getting the warm and fuzzies watching this ad and reminiscing on our childhood days at Christmas and our memories of meeting the actual Coco-Cola truck each year.

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30 SPORT

Sin Vol. 18 Issue 6

Keegan a positive choice as new Galway United boss

By Trevor Murray There may have been some controversy in the manner of his arrival from the now relegated Wexford Youths, but it’s easy to see why Shane Keegan will quickly move past all that as he aims to get his Galway United troops geared up for the 2017 League of Ireland season.

The 34-year-old arrives on Corribside with a tricky assignment ahead of him, but the signs are there that he has what it takes to keep pushing the club towards improvement and success. After all, he performed miracles with Youths over the course of his five-year stay, hauling them up from the basement of Ireland’s second tier before ultimately guiding them to First Division glory against all the odds, after only a few seasons in charge.

SIN attended his first press conference as new Galway manager in the bowels of Eamonn Deacy Park in early November, and it was clear from the open-

ing bars of his media address that he’s relishing the challenge to come.

“I’m just really, really excited, can’t wait to get into it,” the Laois native said.

A proactive coach who likes to get his teams playing technical football, he’s rarely been afraid of taking on a challenge and having faith in his philosophy of getting the ball down and producing quality to entice the fans. So, there is great anticipation around the City of Tribes to see if Keegan will be successful with that same style moving forward.

The fans are also curious as to whether he’ll incorporate any of the club’s stand-out U19 stars into his plans, and while his response to that query didn’t give too much away, it highlighted how clued-in he is to the underage set-up at Galway and it was as level-headed an answer as one could expect.

“Everybody wants to develop their own, and there’s a huge buzz for supporters when they

see somebody who’s come through the Academy structure breaking into the first team and nailing a regular position,” he remarked.

“You’ve just went and competed at a national cup final at U19s level [against UCD] and, obviously, the likes of Conor [Melody] and Jesse [Devers], and Kevin [Horgan] in goal, all doing well already – there’s fantastic potential with the young players that are here.”

Cleary, there is immense promise for this side to do well.

After some great results early in the 2016 campaign, hopes of European football began to kindle around the Dyke Road venue, and although they were extinguished long before the season was over, Keegan has the credentials to spark the imagination once again.

After all, he has plenty of experience of how to get the best out of an underperforming group from his time at Wexford, and he’s relishing the adventure to come.

“I think it’s a huge advantage that you’re away from Dublin, you’re a one-club city. I think that if we could start to string a few results together and obviously have as many locals as possible trying to break into the first team, we could get an overall threat going but we certainly don’t want to jump the gun,” he commented.

“It is exciting to think of the possibilities,” he added.

There has been speculation that several of United’s players are headed for the exit door with many of the bigger capital-based clubs keen to exploit the changing of the managerial guard, but it’s important to remember that these next few months should provide Keegan with ample time to stamp his mark on proceedings.

He has almost four months to get a system in place, to convince key squad members to stay and also to scout out both divisions for suitably talented individuals who will fit his approach.

“Trying to tie down the big players and the guys who’ve played a

big part in what has been achieved here over the last two years is a big priority. It’s not always possible, but it is the number one priority.

If I can get those main men tied down along with a few more and then maybe bring in a couple of fresh faces.

“Look, I wouldn’t be sitting here unless I said that I wanted us to finish ideally a good few places higher than where Galway finished this year – we’re not going to change the world overnight – the top half of the table is something we really should be looking at as being very, very achievable,” Keegan said.

It’s rarely been a straightforward journey for fans who follow the Tribesmen, but following two successive campaigns in the top level of domestic Irish football there is hope for something more.

Having solidified their place as a team good enough to mix it with the best on their day and as a club who have silverware ambitions, it’s quite possible that Keegan can help transform those dreams into reality.

Will this finally be Liverpool’s year?

By Darragh Berry

decided after a handful of games.

However, they have faced and beaten some tough opposition so far. Nail-biting away wins to Arsenal and Chelsea put the Liverpool show on the road this year, and this was coupled with thrashings of Hull City and current champions Leicester City. The way they

rivals. I wouldn’t be surprised if that happened again, to set down a I stumbled across a meme on marker. That trip to Goodison Park would be followed by a hosting of Facebook after Liverpool’s 6-1 win over Watford to propel them Manchester City at Anfield on New to the top of the Premier League Year’s Eve. If they can come out of table. It read ‘Liverpool being top these two battles with at least one of the table is like a gorilla climbwin, it will have been a successful, ing a branch, you don’t know how busy festive period. it got there, but you While Liverpool know it won’t last To think that Liverpool have just built are going about very long’. It was their business in accompanied by on the team from two years ago would November and December, the cats a picture of said gorilla climbing a be foolish. Klopp came out recently and will be put amongst the pigeons with branch, and as a Manchester United said “This is not the team of two years the other contendfan it was a welcome ing teams. Chelsea break from the news ago. This is a new forceful group.” p l ay To tt e n ha m of Liverpool’s hamHotspur and Manmering of Walter Mazzarri’s men are playing, it is hard to see them chester City in the space of a week. to reach the summit. losing too many points between While the Reds worry about their I faced a similar situation now and Christmas. noisy neighbours, the Citizens and two years ago in the 2013/14 seaIt is highly likely they could Arsenal will come to blows the day son. Being the only Red Devils achieve 12 points or more from before. supporter among a sea of my Reds- these games, facing bottom of So, while all these tight-knit supporting friends, the phrase the table Sunderland while the games take place, Liverpool will be “We’re gonna win the league” other four opponents are linger- slowly chipping away at their easier was roared into my ear on several ing in the mid to lower sections route to Christmas in the hope of occasions from March onward. of the table. pushing out the gap at the top week Thankfully, Steven Gerrard slipped Their next big challenge is the by week, even if it only stretches and so did Liverpool’s title hopes, Merseyside derby on Monday, one point at a time. Furthermore, but this year they knock hard on December 19. Jurgen Klopp is ruth- they don’t have the headache of the door once again. Is it time to less in his footballing approach. He Europe, at all. This means Klopp finally believe, Liverpool fans? Can set up his side to blitzkrieg Everton can fire out the same starting XI at they do it? in their last derby. They attacked will each week, a scary prospect.

The short answer is, it’s too early the Toffees from the off and pretty To think that Liverpool have just to tell; the title has never been much embarrassed their town built on the team from two years

ago would be foolish. Klopp came out recently and said “This is not the team of two years ago. This is a new forceful group.” They reached 30 goals before anyone else, but that is slightly tainted by their relatively big goals conceded stat.

However, that blemish might not be a problem and it compliments their style of play. Indeed, it’s reminiscent of Sir Alex Ferguson’s last year in charge with United, where they had the mentality of outscoring the opposition.

The five-time European Cup winners have not prioritised clean sheets, but does it really matter that much if you annihilate your opponent but fail to avoid shipping a strike in the process? It’s obvious that this Liverpool team is built on attack. The plantation of James Milner at left back early in November just goes to show that the manager is not worried about his best back four.

However, their attacking prowess has been lethal thus far with Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane all enjoying a tremendous season. We’re not even halfway through the season, but Coutinho and Firmino have already chalked up half of what they scored for Liverpool in the entire of last season. The fact that Daniel Sturridge has now become, at best, an impact substitute for

Liverpool just shows the strength of their “new forceful group”.

In previous years, there has been an onus on Liverpool to win the league for Gerrard or Jamie Carragher and to be fair, if anyone deserved a medal, they did. This time, there are no club legends.

They aren’t striving to win because Gerrard or Carragher need to add a league medal to their mantelpieces to prove their worth amongst the greats. No, this time, they are playing as a team who want to win the Premier League for the first time and their 19th English league title overall.

In 1985, Manchester United were unbeaten and 10 points ahead of the pack going into their 16th game of the season. A tabloid paper led with the back-page headline ‘Give it to them now.’ Like Liverpool, at the time, they were going through a league title drought and wanted nothing more than to win it. The very same afternoon the headline was published, United lost their first game of the season and eventually finished fourth, 12 points behind eventual winners Liverpool.

The message to Liverpool fans, then, is don’t jinx it. No league was ever won in November. The fans should hold off any “gonna win the league” talk for now, but if they keep playing the way they have been, they might just do it.

SPORT 31

November 22 2016

Ireland match the All Blacks

By Anthony O’Connor Chicago? Eir Sport? Why there? Why wasn’t it on TV – well mainstream TV? Did anyone in the USA in the midst of election fever and the World Series even know it was on? Did many people in Ireland know it was on?

Anyway, for a variety of commercial reasons Ireland faced the New Zealand All Blacks in Chicago on 5th November in the first of two Autumn International Test matches against them this year. This was to be the first match between the teams since the epic encounter in Dublin in November 2013, when Irish hearts were broken by a devastating 3 minutes and 32 seconds of sustained All Black attack at the very end of the game resulting in a try and conversion to seal a late, late victory.

Was Chicago 2015 going to be Ireland’s revenge for 2013? Or would it just go down as yet another New Zealand victory in the 111-year history of 29 matches between the two countries?

Having picked a fairly inexperienced team and introduced some new young players to the international scene during Ireland’s summer tour to South Africa, there was an expectation that Joe Schmidt might make some changes to his tried and trusted favourites for this match. But Joe, in his wisdom, reverted to type and stuck with his preferred experienced heads. There was the usual

outrage from the provincial fans and keyboard warriors as they shouted out from their blogs and discussion forums; “Kearney is past it”, “Zebo can’t defend”, “Jordi Murphy?” “Not enough Ulstermen”, “Where are all the Connacht stars?” But Joe knew what he was doing, even to the point of finishing every training session with an extra 3 minutes and 32 seconds of full-on high intensity, no holds barred match practice.

The game in the unusual setting of Soldier Field, home of the Chigaco Bears, turned out to be one of Ireland’s greatest ever performances, perhaps surpassing the Grand Slams, Triple Crowns and the European glory of the provinces over recent years. For the first time ever Ireland beat New Zealand, by 40 points to 29. No team in living memory had put 40 points on the mighty All Blacks. In this seasons Rugby Championship South Africa, Australia and Argentina had between them scored a total of six tries over six matches against them. In Chicago Ireland scored five!

Rob Kearney played his best game for his country in years, dominating the aerial exchanges and setting up a try. Conor Murray was outstanding in a display that marked him out as perhaps the best scrum-half in the world, scoring a try and even kicking a penalty in the process. Jordi Murphy justified his selection with an excellent try scoring first half before being

desperately unlucky to sustain a knee injury that will keep him out of action for the rest of the season. CJ Stander, Jamie Heaslip, captain Rory Best – to pick out a few others – were all excellent, taking the game to the mighty All Blacks and never backing down from the physical confrontation. The world champions were rocked in a fantastic first half by Ireland but in typical All Black fashion they fought back to within four points in the second half and we all thought “oh no, here we go again…” But victory for the men in green was sealed in the 75th minute by a wonderful try in a preplanned move off a 5-metre scrum,

by Robbie Henshaw, cementing his place in the history books as the successor to BOD! Indeed, this team had now achieved something the famous triumvirate of BOD, POC & ROG had never managed to accomplish in their illustrious careers.

The celebrations were on a scale to be expected with the Irish in America more than happy to jump on this particular band wagon. The New Zealanders were magnanimous in defeat to be fair, Ireland thoroughly deserved their victory and the rugby world rightly acknowledged it.

So, to two weeks later and the rematch, this time in the more familiar settings of Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4 and with RTE providing coverage so everyone could see it this time.

In the intervening week-end Ireland

NUI Galway well beaten by Limerick IT

By Michael Burke NUI GALWAY 0-16 LIMERICK IT 3-21

Fitzgibbon League Quarter Final Three goals inside 10 minutes for Davy Fitzgerald’s men put this quarter final to bed before half time against a weakened Galway side that struggled to match Limerick IT over the hour.

Fielding a team with only three starters from last year’s championship win against University Limerick, NUI Galway were always going to struggle against an in-form LIT outfit that arrived in Dangan with a team near full strength.

LIT’s Jason McCarthy struck the game into life after 13 minutes with a fine score after a tense opening period which saw both sides trade points from placed balls, leaving the game 0-5, 0-4 in favour of the visitors. Unfortunately for the home team this would be the closest they’d remain to their opponents as minutes later Clare Senior Peter Duggan caught a high ball on the edge of the square and buried to the back of the Galway net.

A minute later, Duggan teamed up with his fellow county man, McCarthy, who made no mistake in securing LIT’s second goal, giving his side a six-point cushion on the 20th minute which Galway wouldn’t retrieve for the remainder of the game.

Niall Mitchell, Oisin Donnellan and Conor Cleary attempted to salvage the afternoon for the hosts but each score was quickly replied to through LIT’s marksman, Jamie Shanahan, and just a minute before half time McCarthy sliced through the Galway defence to grab his side’s third goal of the half, leaving the visitors up by nine at half time.

NUI Galway came out fighting in the 2nd half with good scores from Mitchell and Gearoid Loughnane but their continued fouling of the Limerick forward line gave Shanahan easy opportunities to reply.

Fifteen minutes in, however, a smart turn by Mitchell saw him fouled inside the box but his powerful penalty was struck straight at Eibhear Quilligan whose quick reactions allowed him to deflect it out for a 65. Further scores from Shanahan and replies from Cleary saw LIT go through the motions and coast to a 14-point win.

Speaking to SIN after the game, NUI Galway manager Tony Ward remains confident about the upcoming season.

“It’s a disappointing result and our first game lost this year, we know after this result we’ve a lot of work to do before Fitzgibbon championship next year,” he said.

Last year, NUI Galway were unlucky to miss out on a place in the last eight of the Fitzgibbon Championship as an inferior scoring difference to Mary Immaculate College knocked them out, while Mary I went on to win the competition.

Last week, the university was told they would host the competition in 2017 for the first time since 2010 which was also the last time they lifted it. With history on their side and further quality to come into the team, they can dare to dream but must improve considerably to do so.

NUI GALWAY: C. Devine, C. Ryan, B.

Fitzpatrick, C. Cosgrove, S. Moloney, C. Cleary, M. Coneely, I. Fox, C. Hanbury, G. Loughnane, O. Donnellon, C. Smyth, P. McCrann, N. Mitchell, C. O’Halloran LIMERICK IT: E. Quilligan, C. Nolan, K, Bennett, K, Herlihy, B. O’Gorman, B. O’Connell, C. Cooney, D, Reidy, W. Connors, A. Molumby, P. Killeen, J. McCarthy, J. Shanahan, P. Duggan, D. Dempsey REFEREE: James Judge (Mayo) VENUE: Dangan

sent out the “B” team against Canada and New Zealand played Italy – both easy victories, but much need match practice for some returning stars on both teams, notably Sean O’Brien for Ireland who would take over from the unlucky Jordi Murphy.

This time the All Blacks were ready, they were not going to be beaten a second time. In a display of sheer brutality, it was “win at all costs” rugby.

They started at a ferocious pace and scored an early try through genuine skill but then a combination of cheap shots, dirty play, blatant cynicism and incompetent officiating by the referee and his TMO ultimately resulted in a 21-9 win for New Zealand; three tries to none.

Ireland fought bravely and were more than a match for the All Blacks but lost Robbie Henshaw and CJ Stander to head injuries in the first half, both which should have seen yellow cards for the aggressors, but didn’t. Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier took their places and were both superb, but a hamstring injury to Jonny Sexton further disrupted the team’s balance. Paddy Jackson came off the bench and highlighted

his value to the squad with a performance to a high standard yet again.

The All Blacks actually did get two yellow cards in the game, one for deliberate offside and another for an attempted decapitation of Zebo, which should have been red. Two of the three tries were very dubious – an inconclusive touchdown and a forward pass – but Jaco Peyper the South African referee and his Welsh TMO were out of their depth in a match of such intensity and ferocity.

New Zealand have a long history of intimidating and influencing match officials and this game was another clear example of it. They probably deserved their win but the manner in which it was achieved leaves a bad taste and is certainly not a good advert for the game of rugby.

At the end of the series, Ireland can hold their heads up high. They have drawn the series 1-1 and have matched the undisputed best team in the world, some would say the best team ever! This current crop of talented Irish players have nothing to fear from any team in the world and the future is bright – the future is green.

An ode to teams that never give up

By Eoin Molloy The world is on its head. Leicester City are dominating the UEFA Champions League, Ireland have finally beaten New Zealand in the rugby and a walking, talking, wall-building satsuma is now the president of the United States of America.

There is a lot to be said for heaping praise on under-dogs, we all love a good ‘against the odds’ tale. In Ireland’s case, it took us 39 attempts to beat the most formidable and intimidating rugby nation, a colossal achievement, about that there can be no doubts, irrespective of the competitiveness of the match’s context.

There is a time-honoured tradition in sport of teams knocking on the door of success for years before finally breaking through. In Mayo’s case, they have been waiting an eternity. Sooner or later, they are bound to surmount whatever psychological barrier they have about winning an All-Ireland. They will eventually get their hands on the Sam Maguire Cup, it is just a matter of application.

And now to discuss some real heroes: The Castlegar Junior A team. For those of you unacquainted with the rip-roaring teams of lower-grade hurling in Galway, Castlegar have been in either the quarter or semi-finals of the Junior A championship for five years in a row, never once reaching a final.

We always knew that talent-wise, no team in the division could compete with us on our day. We would sail through the

group each year, indeed topping it on every occasion bar one, only to crumble in the knockout stages. It was the Arsenal effect transposed onto the muddied fields of Ballinasloe and Athenry.

We had some sort of mental block about knockout games. It was a question of work ethic – when the going got tough in the latter half of the year we were second to every ball. When things didn’t go our way we blamed the weather, the referee, you name it.

Lo and behold, all was to change in 2016. We sailed through the knockout stages and handily dispatched opponents in the semis and the final, never going behind once in either game. Our mentality was different, we had a couple of new hard workers on the field who had been benched in previous years. Hard work was shown to trump talent, especially when talent doesn’t work hard.

This was definitely true in the case of Castlegar.

So what about teams across other sports currently knocking at the door?

In my opinion, Arsenal would be a shoein to win the league this year were it not for the rejuvenations at Chelsea and Liverpool. They have the talent, blooded together with a few harder workers in the likes of Mohamed Elneny and Shkodran Mustafi. Mayo need to keep their heads down, and maybe one day they will be as successful as us over at Castlegar hurling club.

And I seriously hope you got that that was intended to be read in jest.

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