SIN Vol. 19 Issue 02 by SIN Newspaper University of Galway

NUACHTÁN SAOR IN AISCE VOL.19 Issue 2. 26 SEPT 2017

Student Independent News

One in six without accommodation as semester begins By Sorcha O’Connor A survey of NUI Galway students has found that one in six participants had not found accommodation by 4 September this year – the first day of lectures on campus. The survey carried out by NUI Galway Students’ Union to uncover the depth of the accommodation crisis in the city was taken by 1,285 students in the last fortnight. NUI Galway Students’ Union president Lorcán Ó Maoileannaigh told SIN that these new figures give a “real representation” of the issues students are facing in the hunt for college housing. The survey also showed that one in four students payed cash in hand to their landlords. The SU President said this “startling statistic” showed that many landlords in the city were not operating above board. “I think that says a lot, that there are landlords taking advantage of the system, that aren’t abiding by the rules and aren’t abiding the law, and that is something that needs to be stamped out,” he said. “It should be done with banking information, with receipts, registering with the tenancy board. It should be all above board and if you ask for a receipt, there should be no issue. The landlord should be initiating these kinds of things. “The problem is students aged 18 or 19 in the private rental market for the first time just don’t know of these things, so the onus is on the landlord to have the sense to provide these essentials.”

Current student accommodation in Corrib Village Students also indicated in the survey that university obligations such as placement put them at a disadvantage when it came to securing rental accommodation, as the length of lease they required was too short for many landlords. “The big issue we are seeing for medical students, nursing students and health science students is that when they are on placement, because they need a shorter lease, that it is just not available to them because they are competing with professionals who are looking for 12 month lease, which is more agreeable to landlords,” explained Lorcán. “It’s something we hear time and time again, but now we have the figures behind it.” The survey also indicated the rising prices of rent in the Galway market, with one participant highlighting the fact they had to pay €570 a month for somewhere to stay, excluding utilities.

Lorcán said this was an “extortionate” amount to charge a student in a student city. “You can compare the rates of Dublin to Galway, and say it’s not so bad, but we are in Galway, the great attraction of it is that it is a student city and you should expect to be able to find accommodation at a reasonable rate - and that is just not happening at the moment,” he said. According to the survey, 41.9pc of students who took part contributed to or fully paid for their own rent. Lorcán expressed the opinion that this showed how hard students work to “avail of their right to education”. While Lorcán accepted that NUI Galway were making efforts to provide more accommodation for their students, he argued that this issue was an immediate problem in need of a short term solution. “We will be sending these results on to representatives; TDs, city councillors and the

university. I know the university is building over 900 new beds over the next three years but this is to show that the issue is still there, and a short term solution is needed,” he said.

‘Students set to be driving force behind abortion referendum’ says SU Welfare Officer By Sorcha O’Connor Students’ Union Welfare Officer Megan Reilly has said the Students’ Union is confident that the student voice will play a vital role in the abortion referendum next spring. She was speaking to SIN ahead of the ‘March for Choice’ taking place in Dublin on Saturday 30 September. Participants will call for the repeal of the eighth amendment of Bunreacht na hÉireann on the day. “We [the Students’ Union] think students are going to be a major driving force behind this referendum,” she said. “Barely any person of reproductive age has ever had the chance to vote on this amendment, one that would see a woman put in jail for 14 years for seeking an abortion here.” The Students’ Union are organising buses to transport participating NUI Galway students to the march in the capital, with return tickets costing just €2.

While it may be at odds with the opinion of some students’ beliefs, the bus has been organised with the pro-choice mandate voted for by NUI Galway students by democratic vote in mind. “We are sending buses of students to the March for Choice, as we do every year, because of our pro-choice mandate,” explained Megan. “This year we will bring more students than we ever have to what will hopefully be the last March for Choice.” The Welfare Officer said NUI Galway students would be marching “in support of the national campaign for full reproductive rights, which includes a pregnant person’s right to abortion, whether elective or medically necessary”. The bus will leave from the Quad in NUI Galway at 9.30am sharp and will be returning from St Stephen’s Green at 5pm sharp on the day. NUI Galway marchers will gather at the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square from 1.30pm, and set off for Dáil Éireann at 2pm.

NUI Galway students show support for Repeal the 8th. Photo: Jack O'Donovan

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It’s been another exciting two weeks here at SIN towers. To kick things off, we had our first meeting for new contributors last Monday, with a few new faces dropping in to meet the rest of the team. Don’t worry if you weren’t able to make it, regular meetings will take place every Monday at 6pm in the Journalism Suite in the Arts Millennium Building. We were busy bees covering all the latest from Áras na Mac Léinn, with the Students’ Union revealing the results of their accommodation survey last week, as well as announcing their chosen charities for the year. We also spoke to Students’ Union President Lorcán to hear about his upcoming charity appearance in the boxing ring against his GMIT counterpart Mark O’Brien!

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 2

We paid a visit to GUMS rehearsals for a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at this year’s production of The Producers. Check out our Society Spotlight for more on what the “guys and dolls” have in store for the show in February. If you would like to see your society featured on the pages of SIN be sure to e-mail editor.sin@gmail.com. We still have all the usual mix of opinion, fashion advice, and reviews for you to enjoy too, as well as an in-depth analysis of the efforts of the Irish soccer team in their bid to reach the World Cup. Everything is certainly in full swing now, and before long Halloween will creep up on us. We are on the hunt for some new photographers here at SIN which definitely come in handy with so many fun events happening around spooky season. If you have any interest in trying your hand at a role behind the lens please get in touch. That’s it for now, enjoy your fortnight - and happy reading!

Sorcha.

CLICK. FIND. VOLUNTEER. studentvolunteer.ie is a new easy-to-use, one-stop-shop portal connecting higher education students with civil society organisation volunteering opportunities.

r e t s i g e R today!

Over a thousand new voters registered by NUI Galway Students’ Union

By Sorcha O’Connor The Students’ Union announced last week that they registered over 1000 NUI Galway students to vote in the first two weeks of the semester. The Students’ Union team targeted orientation events across campus in a bid to add incoming first year students to the register of electors, resulting in an impressive increase of 1,250 new voters. The successful campaign was led by Education Officer Andrew Forde and Welfare Officer Megan Reilly, with help from “tireless” volunteers Alex Coughlan and Patricia O’Mahony. Students’ Union President Lorcán Ó Maoileannaigh was “delighted” with the result of the campaign, and said they would continue the registration drive throughout the coming academic year. “We are delighted to have registered so many students to vote thus far and we plan on registering many more throughout the year,” he said. He said the bid to help students register was an effective way of ensuring the student voice is heard, particularly with the abortion referendum planned for next spring.

“With a referendum on the horizon and a possible general election soon, it is crucial that the student voice is heard,” he explained. “We want to encourage students to be active participants at all levels of society, and we know how important the student vote is, as was seen in the Marriage Equality referendum.” Meanwhile, Students' Union representatives can be seen dotted around campus registering students for Student Union cards. The card can be used to tot up points in the many Student Union cafés, food outlets and shop, which can be used on a variety of special offers available on campus. Every euro spent in Student Union cafés and SULT results in four points, and two points in the SU Shop. The card allows students to clock up free dinners in SULT, as well as free teas or coffees at The Wall Café, Smokey’s Café, The SU Shop or SULT. All there is to it is purchasing ten carvery dinners in SULT or ten teas or coffees, and receive the eleventh free. This year students can also avail of special drinks offers at the bar when they are a registered SU Card holder.

EDITOR: Sorcha O’Connor editor.sin@gmail.com LAYOUT: Shannon Reeves

FEATURES EDITORIAL: CONNELL McHUGH Now that it is Issue Two, it is safe to say that we are all settling back into the swing of things and the excitement of returning to college is starting to be replaced with the dread of assignments. The features section of this issue takes a look at the reality of commuting by Gráinne Hamill as well putting a spotlight on two NUI Galway societies. Last week, Apple announced the new iPhone iterations that are soon to be released (spare €1300, anyone? Yeah me neither). Amanda Leeson gives us some info on them to see if they’re worth it. Read them and more right now and be sure to pick up the next issue in a fortnight.

OPINION EDITORIAL: TEODORA BANDUT With the semester now well and truly in full swing, we have put our thinking caps on and come up with some very controversial topics for this issue! I hope you’ll enjoy the read and I would love to hear any responses or counter arguments if any of the pieces have sparked some ideas. Here’s your opportunity to reflect on this wild world and show off your writing prowess. This week, we have taken on history and the importance of including it appropriately into the present as well as looking at the dominance of Starbucks in the café sector.

FASHION & LIFESTYLE EDITORIAL: AMY McMAHON Hello everybody! We’re onto issue two already and really can’t believe how quickly the time is flying – it’ll be Christmas before we know it! Too early? Probably. Don’t worry there won’t there won’t be any mentions of the C holiday in this issue just yet, just great content.

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September 26 2017 In the Fashion & Lifestyle section we have some great articles in store. Fashion wise, Amanda Leeson inspires us with a Steal Her Style student look, so make sure to check that out! Aileen O’Leary commemorates the tenth anniversary of Gossip Girl, which I’m really excited for as a huge GG fan. In terms of our Lifestyle section there are many useful tips to help students, from first year to final year. Also, Heather Robinson gives waking up early a go in our Try Diaries. And of course we have beauty blogger and insta-famous Kate O’Neill from Kake Me Up back again for her feature helping all of us out with a step by step tutorial on winged eyeliner. Much needed and brilliantly done! Aside from those three there are loads of other great articles well worth a read, not only in my section of course but across the paper. Even though it is early days and only issue two, I know the content is getting stronger and stronger. Admittedly, I’m already looking forward to issue three! Happy reading!

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITORIAL: MICHAEL GLYNN Hey guys, your faithful Arts and Entertainment editor Michael here, and we’ve got a doozy of an issue coming up for you. Coming up first we’ve got an article in honour of Taylor Swift’s new track ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ and that is the top five ‘shade-throwing’ songs of all time. Netflix is in prominent display this issue - we’ve got Netflix under the microscope with an examination of their new True Crime series about Madeline McCann. Highlighting the wonderful talent on offer in NUI Galway we’ve spoken to GUMS as they prepare for production on their new musical The Producers.

You’ve all been waiting for it and SIN has answered your calls with an in-depth look at our obsession with the Royal Family of another country - are we healthy? As usual we’ve got some great film reviews in the issue, this week we’re taking a look at It and Logan Lucky. We’re pretty sparse in our Creative Corner this week but don’t let that deter anybody, we want to hear from you, send any poems or short stories or anything creative that takes your fancy to artsentertainment. sined@gmail.com. See you all next issue.

SPORTS EDITORIAL: GRAHAM GILLESPIE Hi everybody and welcome to this academic year’s second issue of SIN. I hope you have all got back into the swing of college life in Galway. As the month winds down with some Galwegian hurling fanatics still yet to sober up from their revels, and us poor Mayo folk still yet to recover from another traumatic September sojourn in the capital, this issue’s sport section will hopefully help fill the void that the GAA intercounty season drawing to a close has left. In this issue Mark Lynch critiques the proposed changes in format to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, and accesses the implications of the Premier League putting bringing forward the closing of the transfer window to the start of the season. Mark also checks in on Connacht’s start to Pro 14, while I analyse Ireland’s prospects of still making it to next year’s World Cup. If anybody reading this would like to contribute to SIN’s sport section, please don’t be afraid to get in touch and email sport. sined@gmail.com. We are always looking for new writers, regardless of what sport you would be interested in writing about.

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

INSIDE USI welcomes release of Ibrahim Halawa

NUI Galway schizophrenia study featured on RTE documentary

Fliú na ‘Freshers’, tinneas póite & strus staidéir

Floating student accommodation: a bizarre solution to the student housing crisis?

Anti-racism course & first aid training offered as part of Life Skills courses 8 Societies Spotlight The Wrong Hook: journalism or pontificating?

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Head to Head: debating the removal of statues and monuments 11 Milk, two sugars and a side of corporate control

Homesickness: how to get over the blues

Kake Me Up for SIN: the basic winged eyeliner

Film Reviews (Logan Lucky, IT)

Netflix True Crime: who are the real victims?

How will Europe react to new transfer window?

Connacht’s aimless start is worrying, but certainly recoverable 27

Find us online: www.sin.ie

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SIN Vol. 19 Issue 2

USI welcomes acquittal of Ibrahim Halawa By Sorcha O’Connor The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) have welcomed the acquittal of all charges against Ibrahim Halawa in Egypt on 18 September. Mr Halawa was acquitted in an Egyptian court of charges relating to mass protests against the ousting of then president Mohammed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo in 2013. The 21-year-old from Firhouse Freedom: Ibrahim Halawa is set to return home to Ireland Co Dublin waited behind bars for four years for a mass trial which was delayed 28 times. The USI are now calling for his immediate release back to Ireland, something that is not likely due to implications of Egyptian law. Deputy President of the USI Síona Cahill said that while they were celebrating Mr Halawa’s release, the student movement were also calling for procedures to be put in place so no other student could find themselves in a similar situation. “Students across Ireland have been behind the campaign to Student activists call for the release of Ibrahim Halawa 20:53 Page 1 CityLink-QPG-128x170-Student-Map.qxp_Layout 1 20/09/2017 release Ibrahim Halawa along-

CONNECTING IRELAND'S STUDENT CITIES

side his sisters Somaia, Fatima and Omaima. We celebrated his birthday, we cried out every time his trial was delayed, but today we celebrate his freedom after a hard fought campaign driven by students and his family,” she said. “Although our Government took steps to release Ibrahim,

the fact that this has taken over 4 years should be acknowledged. USI demands procedures and plans are put in place so tomorrow we don’t wake up to another Irish student stranded abroad, starving in a cell in another country as their mental health crumbles.”

Three of Mr Halawa’s sisters were also arrested at the time of the protests but were later released on bail and returned to Ireland. All three were named as defendants in the same mass trial as their brother and, tried in absentia, were also acquitted of all charges.

The gloves are off: NUI Galway to take on rivals GMIT in charity boxing event By Sorcha O’Connor Forget McGregor and Mayweather, the showdown of the season is set to take place at the end of this semester when NUI Galway students step into the ring with GMIT for charity. There will be 15 fights in total, with Student Union President Lorcán Ó Maoileannaigh also taking on his GMIT counterpart Mark O’Brien on the night held in the Radisson Blu Hotel. Lorcán told SIN he was more than ready to battle it out with his rival, promising that the 22 November bout was not to be missed. “The plan is for myself and Mark O’Brien the Student Union President in GMIT to go head to head,” said Lorcán.

With the prospect of two rigorous training sessions a week over a six week period for all boxers, Lorcán told SIN he was more than ready to perfect his right hook over the coming weeks. “It’s being taken very seriously,” he laughed. The SU President is hopeful that this event can build on the altruistic efforts made by the Cancer Society last semester, and raise some much needed funds for a good cause. “We’ll have people coming together from all walks of life in the university to fight for multiple great causes,” said Lorcán. Participating students of the two Corribside colleges will be fighting for their Student

Unions’ chosen charities as well as Cancer Society’s chosen charities for this year. NUI Galway Students’ Union have chosen to support Amach! LGBT and Domestic Violence Response, while the Cancer Society will be raising funds for the Galway Hospice, Hand in Hand and the Milford Hospice. Training for any wannabe Michael Conlans will commence next week, and all fighters must raise a minimum of €200 in sponsorship. All funds will be split three ways between the universities and Cancer Society. To sign up head over to the NUI Galway Students’ Union page on Facebook to fill in an application form.

Lucky science student winner of free rent from Students’ Union By Sorcha O’Connor

Clifden

It was good news for one NUI Galway student last week as the winner of the Students’ Union competition run in conjunction with their accommodation survey was announced. Third Year science student Fionnuala Harkin was one of

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Fionnuala Harkin wins free rent from NUI Galway Students' Union

1,285 participants in the Students’ Union study on the depth of the housing crisis in Galway city for students, and was randomly selected as the winner of the one month’s rent up for grabs for all respondents. The Donegal girl told SIN she was “over the moon” to have won the money which will go towards the cost of her accommodation. “I am absolutely over the moon to have won this prize and so delighted to have this fund to put towards my accommodation,” she said. As is the case for many new third level students, Fionnuala has experienced first-hand the competitive nature of the rental market here in Galway. After opening her CAO offer to attend NUI Galway three years ago, Fionnuala had difficulty in finding somewhere to live for her first year in university. She had little knowledge of the rental market and didn’t know where to begin her search.

“Finding accommodation in first year was quite difficult as I didn’t have many contacts or know of any land lords,” she explained. Luckily for Fionnuala, friends came across accommodation available in town for her to apply for. “I heard from friends about accommodation near Eyre square so I applied through applications and was accepted,” she said. Thankfully for Fionnuala her first year was the only year she was under pressure to find accommodation, as she has been able to secure the same accommodation for the remainder of her years at university. “I now have first refusal of accommodation when reapplying,” she said. The survey highlighted the many issues experienced by NUI Galway house hunters, with one in four participants indicating they paid their landlords cash in hand, and one in six had not found accommodation by 4 September this year.

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Students’ Union to support Amach! and Domestic Life Skills Violence Response Galway SU

SEOMRA CÓTAÍ AN CHOMHALTAIS

NUI Galway Students’ Union have selected LGBT charity Amach! and Domestic Violence Response Galway as their chosen charities this year. The Students’ Union will donate much needed funds to the two groups with money being raised through the many charity events organised by the team throughout the year. These events include the legendary Christmas Day held in Sult, and upcoming charity boxing bouts between NUI Galway students and GMIT in the Radisson Blu Hotel on 22 November. The charities were decided after much deliberation by the Students’ Union executive last Wednesday 20 September. Chairperson of Amach! LGBT Galway Maria Molloy told SIN the decision would help maintain the LGBT+ resource centre in the city. “All at Amach! are thrilled and honoured to be selected as one of the NUI Galway SU’s charity fund. This means that Teach Solais, LGBT+ resource centre will continue to be a hub of health promotion and a safe space for social activities,” she said.

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She said the decision would hopefully give further positive exposure of the services provided by the charity for the LGBT+ community. “It will also provide a valuable platform to enhance awareness to the student body that this service is there to be utilised by the LGBT+ and wider community,” she said. Co-ordinator of Domestic Violence Response Elizabeth Power said they were also “delighted” to have been named as a chosen charity, with money raised set to go towards counselling services and educational programmes. “The money raised will be used to provide telephone support, counselling support and information and accompaniment service to the courts and Gardaí as well as educational support programmes for the general public and clients,” she said. “NUI Galway students will be making a direct positive impact on the lives of women of all ages and backgrounds in Galway City and County as our service provides a lifeline for women and children who struggle to cope with abuse in their lives.” She said more information on the work done by DVR could be found on www.domesticviolenceresponse.com.

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By Sorcha O’Connor

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Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn • SignSaoil Language Second Hand BOOKSTORE • Occupational First Aid

Cláraigh anois do na cúrsaí seo a leanas ar phraghas laghdaithe in Oifig an Chomhaltais:

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• Oiliúint sa Chosaint Leanaí

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• Oiliúint i Scileanna Feidhmeacha Idirghabhála i dtaca le Féinmharú

• Mixed Martial Arts for Self Defence • Anti-Racism

• Ealaíona Comhraic Measctha i gcomhair Féinchosanta

• Disclosure Training

• Frithchiníochas

• Irish

• An Ghaeilge

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More information at www.su.nuigalway.ie or email studentsunion@nuigalway.ie

Tuilleadh eolais le fáil ag www.su.nuigalway.ie nó seol ríomhphost chuig studentsunion@nuigalway.ie

SIOPA LE ATHLÁ

NUI Galway schizophrenia study featured on RTE documentary By Sorcha O’Connor An on-going study on the development of schizophrenia by NUI Galway researchers was featured on an RTE documentary The Voices in My Head last week. Co-ordinator of the iRelate study in NUI Galway Dr Maria Dauvermann told SIN RTE journalist Aoife Kavanagh contacted chief investigator Professor and Established Chair of Psychology in NUI Galway Gary Donohoe to involve the study in the documentary. Dr Dauvermann explained the study carried out in conjunction with Trinity College Dublin aimed to clarify the relationship of environment and genes with the functions and formation of the brain, with a focus on how schizophrenia may develop. “Our study is a study of patients with schizophrenia and schizo-effective disorder and healthy participants,” she said. “We are very interested in seeing the relationships between immune response, early life, childhood, relationships, genetic markers and brain function, and if any of these different relationships help us understand how schizophrenia may develop or not.” Dr Dauvermann said that while the documentary had been aired last Tuesday 19 September it was not too late for people to become involved with the study. “We are still recruiting for the study, for both patients and healthy participants. We are including any healthy participants and patients from the ages of 18 – 65,” she said. However she explained that not everyone who applies may be eligible to partake. “We have a screening process because of the blood samples we will be taking and the MRI scan. We have eligibility criteria just to make sure it is safe for people to participate.” Volunteering consists of two assessment visits, with the first visit involving cognitive assessment

in University Hospital Galway. The second step includes an MRI scan, which lasts around two hours, in St James’ Hospital, Dublin. Travel costs will be reimbursed. For more information email iRelate@nuigalway.ie.

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Showers of fun with volunteering! Pictured at the Annual NUI Galway Volunteering Fair Tuesday are students connecting with local charities through ALIVE a dedicated programme to bring the community and campus closer together. Organisations are welcome to post their volunteer roles for students online at www.nuigalway.ie/alive . Front: Lorraine Tansey - NUI Galway ALIVE programme manager; Cllr. Pierce Flannery - Mayor of Galway City. Back: NUI Galway students Charlotte Lucas, Ronald Saraswat, Maeve Charles, Dominic Courtney.

an Chom

6 F E AT UR E S Fliú na ‘Freshers’, tinneas póite & strus staidéir

3 leideanna chun féinchúram a chleachtadh ar gcampas Le Rebecca Fisher De réir mar a shroicheann mé deireadh mo cheithre bhlian san ollscoil, ba maith liom smaoineamh go bhfuil eolas domhain agam ar an mbealach is fearr chun maireachtáil mar mhac léinn. Tá taithe agam ar; tinneas póite uafásacha, galair pianmhar agus mo scair chothrom d’imthosca strusacha, ach tar éis sin uile, mhair mé agus d’fhoghlaim mé go leor ceachtanna luachmhara. Inniu, tá mé chun na ceachtanna sin a roinnt leatsa, sa dóchas nach ndéanann tú na botúin chéanna a rinne mise is mé ag tosú amach i OÉ Gaillimh.

Déan iarracht do chóras imdhíonachta a neartú: Tá an chéad dhá sheachtain de seimeastar a haon lán le daoine suimiúila, imeachtaí spraíúil agus a lán seans cairde nua a dhéanamh. Bionn thar a bheith go leor idirghníomhaíocht agat le grupaí mora mac léinn agus go nádúrtha chomh maith leis sin...frídíní. Tá sé thar a bheith gnáth slághdan a fháil i rith seachtaine na ‘freshers’, ach is féidir leat é a sheachaint chomh maith. Ól a lán uisce, tógáil multivitamins, nigh do lámha go rialta agus dean iarracht a dhóthain codladh a fháil (más féidir.) Trí dheimhin a dhéanamh go bhfuil tú sláintiúil, is féidir leat an fhliú uafásach a sheachaint agus taitneamh a bhaint as do chuid seachtain.

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 2

FLOATING STUDENT ACCOMMODATION: a bizarre solution to the student housing crisis? By Áine Kenny Winters Property Management and Bibby Maritime are discussing the option of bringing two barges into Galway harbour to house up to 400 students, according to Galway Bay FM. This rather unusual form of housing could prove very effective in trying to combat the shortage of accommodation for students. While unorthodox from an Irish perspective, barges such as these are commonplace across Europe, especially in crowded cities. The barges could arrive within three weeks which is a quicker solution than building more purpose-built student accommodation on campus. The Bibby Stockholm barge features a restaurant, a gym and ensuite bathrooms, which is more than what is currently being offered in private rented houses. However, is this really a viable alternative? Galway students in the past have had a tragic relationship with water, especially the fast-flowing river Corrib. Are floating barges really safe? We have to remember that a lot of students walk home after nights out, and even during broad daylight, accidents can happen when water is involved. Bibby usually provide for corporate events, meaning that guests would not be staying for extended periods of time. In order to provide for student needs, a redesign will hopefully be proffered. It is

important to remember that all you get is a bedroom with an en suite, not a kitchen or living room. Is this ‘solution’ just a glorified, floating hostel? SIN headed out on campus to get students’ reactions, and were met with some mixed feelings on the matter. Third-year Earth and Ocean Science student Shane McQuillan was of the opinion that “it is an amazing idea... anyone who thinks otherwise hasn’t looked at it properly or just can’t swim”. Other students were warier about the new accommodation. “I think the floating barges are good as we are utilising the space on the water, especially with the lack of accommodation in Galway as it is, with lots of students still having nowhere to live,” explained Third Year Arts student Aisling McCauley. “But on the other hand, would it be safe for students who have gone out to house parties or clubs and consumed alcohol to be living so close to water? “Or maybe they can put the right institutions in place to provide a safe and normal living environment.” Third Year Jane Finn who is studying Human Rights also saw pros and cons with the project. “It is definitely an innovative approach to the housing crisis, but it remains to be seen if it will tick all the boxes,” she said. “With the right safety precautions put i t

Lorg cabhair más gá: Is féidir leis an Ollscoil a bheith ina áit strusmhar agus scanrúil. Le imní airgeadais, acadúla agus sóisialta uilig ag teacht le chéile in aon áit amháin, tá sé intuigthe a bheith faoi léigear ag amanna. Tá a fhios agam go raibh laethanta ann nuair a bhí mé ag iarraidh é uilig a thabhairt suas, ach mar gheall ar an tacaíocht atá ar fáil i OÉG, lean mé orm. Má tá tú ag mothú síos, nó faoi strus, déan teagmháil le do léachtóir, leis an aontas mac léinn nó leis an aonad sláinte. Tuigfidh gach duine a luaitear an meid atá tú ag dul tríd agus an bealach is fearr chun cabhrú leat. Tá sé i ndáiríre chomh simplí sin agus níl aon náire i ag lorg cabhair.

Bíodh fhios agat ar do theorainneacha: Tá sé fíor, is breá liom oíche mhaith amach ar an mbaile. Is maith liom ól agus damhsa agus spraoi a bheith agam le mo chairde, ach thar mo chuid ama sa choláiste, d’fhoghlaim mé conas é seo a dhéanamh go sábháilte. Ná ól ar bholg folamh, níl tú ach ag cuir fáilte roimh oíche de urlacan a dhéanamh. Ól a lán uisce sula dtéann tú a chodladh, gabháil tú buíochas leat féin nuair a dtiocfaidh an maidin. Déan cinnte go bhfuil cairde maithe timpeall ort a gheobhaidh tú abhaile go sábháilte má théann rudaí mícheart. Agus an rud is tábhachtaí fós, bíodh fhios agat ar do theorainneacha nuair a thagann sé le halcól, mar ca bhfuil an spraoi in ag fáil bháis sa chlub? Tá súil agam go mbeidh na blianta a chaitheann tú sa choláiste lán le taithí spraíúil agus dúshlánach nach dheanfaidh tú dearmad ar riamh, ach go gcoinníonn tú sábháilte agus cinntí cliste a dhéanamh, mar a thosaíonn tú ar an gcaibidil nua seo i do shaol.

The Bibby Stockholm barge. Image: bibbymaritime.com

in place, it could be a helpful addition to student housing across the city - but mixing alcohol and water never has happy endings in Ireland, and not to label all students, but caution has to be taken to see if this project is even plausible.”

The Bibby Stockholm barge features a restaurant, a gym and ensuite bathrooms, which is more than what is currently being offered in private rented houses. Some students thought the accommodation barges were a definite no. Maggie Cumiskey is a First Year Arts student who really struggled to find accommodation this year. “I was lucky to get into Corrib Village, I was on the waiting list and only found out I had a place the week before I started,” she said. However, she wouldn’t be keen on living on a barge. “I personally wouldn’t want to live there as I am scared of water,” she laughed. NUI Galway Students’ Union Welfare Officer Megan Reilly said the idea was “unconventional” but could be beneficial if safety procedures were a priority. “It’s a very unconventional solution to a longterm problem here in Galway,” she said. “Obviously more student purpose built accommodation is on the way, but until then a lot of people are stuck. We do welcome the barges, though only as long as student safety is a top priority, and that all measures are put in place to ensure that.”

Erasmus Diary: A Fox’s first day By Brig Fox

elcome back to my Erasmus adventures! If you’re only joining me now, I will give a brief introduction to what this is all about. I am a Third Year Journalism and Spanish student who is spending the first semester in a university in the north of Spain. On arriving I had no friends, no family and no support system with me, and was completely unfamiliar with the country, culture and lifestyle. In my last diary, I painted a somewhat bleak canvas of my what I expected before my journey, and now I’m here to tell you all about my first couple of days in my new home. The first days here have been a surreal blur. Wandering the beautiful streets, full of colour, character and glorious fountains, I can’t wrap my head around the fact that this is now home to me, for a while at least. After organising permanent accommodation and moving everything in, reality soon sunk in and it wasn’t pretty. The hopeless feeling that this is my present was genuinely terrifying, especially at night. Having no housemates now and for the foreseeable future, attending university meetings and appointments completely alone has been both exhilarating and exhausting. I would like to make the point, a point I feel is not mention enough to many going on an Erasmus or travelling in general: going places is exhaust-

ing. Visiting new places is exhausting. Being completely honest with myself, half of the time this first week I just wanted to nap for fourteen hours. I feel the emotion and physical experience of going on an Erasmus is completely overlooked beforehand. But in saying that, I’ve slowly begun to settle in. My first glimpse of my university future was with an appointment in the international office which I hoped would shine a light on what I’m meant to be doing here. With no emails, no timetable, no information, I was eager to find out everything I could. On arrival, it was a lot more crowded than I expected. After spending over an hour in a large queue, I began chatting to complete strangers who ended up being people I can now call friends. From that moment on, I knew I was going to be fine. Unfortunately, after waiting such a long period of time I became concerned that my name had not been called out. As I began asking questions, the answer became clear. It turned out I had mixed up the dates and was a whole day early! Yes, I just spent over an hour in a queue that I wasn’t meant to be a part of and made a complete fool of myself. However, I saw it as nothing short of a success. I made a handful of friends and even got word of a “Tapas Tuesday” event that was taking place that night. When talking to others about their first couple of days here, I realised I wasn’t alone in, well,

being here alone. Countless people were in the same boat as I was and were just as eager to meet people like me which was extremely comforting. As far as the communication goes, I really didn’t need to speak as much Spanish in the first couple of days as I thought I would. The majority of Erasmus students are from mainland Europe with impeccable English and many organisers or co-ordinators in regards to the university spoke a mixture of both languages to accommodate everyone in the beginning of this journey. The more days that pass by, the more comfortable I begin to feel with my present surroundings while anticipating great - and maybe sometimes difficult - times ahead.

8 FE AT UR E S

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 2

Anti-racism course and first aid training offered as part of Life Skills courses By Roisin McManus Now that we are firmly back in the swing of college life, there’s no time like the present for picking up a new skill along the way. In comes the Students’ Union to facilitate you to do so. Each year, they organise a range of “Life Skills” courses with options such as an anti-racism course and cardiac firstresponder. All of these you can sign up to in the SU office upstairs in Áras na Mac Léinn. For further information on any of the courses listed below head to the SU website, su.nuigalway.ie.

Anti-racism course The aim of this course is to help students understand where racism comes from, how it works and how we can all work together to develop a more equal society. Anyone who takes part in the course has the opportunity to

‘build their skills of analysis, vocabulary and understanding of the roots of poverty.’ The course will take place on Wednesday 25 October from 10:15am to 1:30pm in the Space in Áras na Mac Léinn and costs €5. Anyone who takes part will receive a certificate of completion. For more information, you can go online to www.galwayowc.org

Cardiac first responder course This course is ‘the first rung on the ladder of pre-hospital emergency care’ and teaches all the life support skills for victims of stroke, cardiac arrest, heart attacks and choking along with the relevant legal issues and administration of aspirin. The course is recognised by the pre-hospital emergency care unit at responder level one. Participants will be required to complete a set of multi-

ple choice questions, 20 for responder level and 25 for practitioner and pass at a level of 80%. The course takes place from 9am to 1:30pm in the Space on Thursday 2 November and will cost €40.

Child protection training This course covers topics relevant to workers and volunteers who work in an environment with young people. It covers policy, legislation, attitudes and values, definitions and signs of abuse, safe recruitment, code of behaviour and scenarios. Participants will receive a certificate for completing the course that is recognised by the National Youth Council of Ireland. You can sign up in the SU office or pay by card by phoning 091 493570. The course will cost €15 and takes place in the Space from 1pm to 5pm, Friday 24 November or THB GO11 Seminar room,

James Hardiman library 9:30am – 1:30pm Saturday 25 November.

Disclosure training with Galway Rape Crisis Centre This course provides students with the skills and knowledge to appropriately deal with a disclosure of sexual violence. It also serves as a prerequisite for anyone who wishes to go on and volunteer with the centre. Participants will receive a certificate of completion when finishing the course. It takes place in the Space from 10am to 1:30pm on Tuesday 7 November and you can sign up in the SU office at a cost of a €10 refundable deposit.

Occupational first aid training This course aims to provide participants with the skills and knowledge needed to provide emergency first aid

in the workplace and home. It is also a good introduction for people who have an interest in emergency care. The course takes place over three days at a cost of €100. The course is recognised at FETAC level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications. This certification lasts for two years. Anyone interested can sign up in the SU office and the course takes place over the three days in the Space from 9am to 5:30pm on Friday 3 November, 10 November and 17 November.

Occupational first aid refresher course This a one-day refresher course which covers topics including first aid in the workplace, cardiac first response, burns, scalds, chemicals and electric shock. The cost is €80 and the course takes place in the Space from 9am to 5:30pm on Friday 4 November.

An honest account of commuting as a student By Gráinne Hamill Imagine, getting up at six in the morning for a ten o’clock lecture. Having to sit in a stuffy, claustrophobic bus for over two hours, if not more. Then having a six-hour gap between that lecture and the next, while having nowhere to go but An Bhialann, or the Hub. An hour of your time is spent catching up with an old friend. You decide to go for lunch together, making your way to Boojum. Of course, it is typical Irish weather. The rain pelts down, and your few layers of clothing do little to keep you dry. You end up eating that Boojum, soaked to the bone, unhappy and miserable. Then you make the walk back, having

another two or three hours to play of the waiting game. The hours finally roll by and your last lecture of the day has come to an end. However, your day is not yet over. There will be no drinking, no casual smokes, just another tedious bus journey home for you. A year ago, that was my life. I remember sitting on that dark and dreary bus, listening to Midwest playing through the bus’ half-broken speakers. Praying that by the next academic year I would be living next door to the university. Hoping that I could gain the freedom and independence I had always expected to come hand in hand with the university life. However, little did I know back then, just how hard it

was to really live away from home. The search for a room, never mind a house is the hardest part of trying to move away from home. The Irish Times recently reported on the “surge in commuters taking an hour or more to get to work, school or college”. It was said that almost three million people travel to and from their place of work or study. This showed a 9.3% rise in commuters since the 2011 census. Despite this large increase, it comes with little shock or horror. We as a nation are currently in a housing crisis, and sadly it is not only students that are being affected by this crisis. Nonetheless, when you find that room, or house, it brings you joy. But with it comes much more. You must

learn to be responsible for yourself, and your own actions. There is no longer the option to run home to Mammy and Daddy when the going gets tough, instead you must stick it out. Money suddenly means much more than what it was five months ago, every penny now counts. Your childhood friends don’t live next door anymore, and when you start to feel that loneliness creep up on you, there is no one to call to beg to come over. Sadly, this is all part of growing up. It is part of us learning how to cope on our own, and learning how to socialise with all different types of people. Commuting will always have its pros. There are days when coming home feels like the best thing in the world. When

having dinner waiting on the table, makes you feel comforted and happy. When having a hot shower and a comfy night in by the fire with your family, does you the world of good. But, commuting has its cons, and it has many of them. Commuting is boring and time consuming. It takes you away from the best part of college: the social aspects. You are left to run for the last bus back home instead of relaxing in your own living room with a few friends and your housemates, preparing for a night filled with fun. You are left to ask others if you can stay at theirs that one Thursday night you know everyone is going to be hitting the town. But worst of all, you can feel out of touch and lonely.

Not suitable for students: Apple reveals new products By Amanda Leeson On Tuesday 12 September tech-giant Apple held a key note to unveil their upcoming products. The event showcased the soon-to-be-launched, highly anticipated new iPhone and also confirmed rumours of a completely redesigned model. One thing is for sure: these are not student friendly products with prices set at around a couple of months’ rent…

iPhone 8 and 8 Plus This announcement saw Apple step away from its usual format and skipped over the 7S. Instead the company has created a device that is not dissimilar to the 6 and the 6 Plus. The phone will still come in the same sizes with the iPhone 8 coming in at 4.7 inches and iPhone 8 Plus at 5.5 inches.

Both products will feature an all glass front and back. This eliminates the aluminium backing. The iPhone 4 and 4s boasted a glass front and back panel, but users claimed it broke far too easily. However, this is not just a ploy from Apple to sell more phones as the glass back supports wireless charging. This will see Apple link with third party suppliers like Belkin to produce chargers. Apple will also be releasing their own wireless charger which will charge multiple Apple devices at once. This is due to be released in 2018. The phone will host updated tech specs that will set it apart from the previous model. The introduction of “true tone” technology will be a first for iPhone. Retina AD display will also feature on this phone. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus will still boast Touch ID for privacy and making purchases on the App Store.

The camera is similar to the already available iPhone but features an updated 12-megapixel camera. This also features auto focus in low light and the addition of 4K video recording. The 8 Plus however, does feature a new portrait lighting mode, allowing the portrait to stand out from the background giving a professional looking photo from your phone. The updated A11 bionic chip allows faster use of the device. The phone is water resistant so will survive any spillage or shallow falls into the sink or a slip into the toilet. Apple have decided to ditch their rose gold colour in favour of a new gold shade. The iPhone 8 has a starting price of €829 and the iPhone 8 Plus starts at €939. However, contract deals are available from network providers. Both phones are available to pre-or-

der from Friday 15 September and will be shipped out on 22 September

iPhone X This is Apple’s new product in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the release of the first iPhone. It features a complete re-design that shows Apple taking step into the future of technology. The removal of the previous iconic home button in favour for an all new face recognition technology is a step into the future. It also features an edge to edge sense, which shows very little lining around the phone in favour of a more useable screen. The improved screen shows a bigger surface area of 5.8 inches. The new iPhone again features the same A11 chip and glass back as we’ve seen with the iPhone 8, meaning it is

compatible with wireless charging. It is important to note that Apple have confirmed this is a more durable glass that is said not to break as easily. The extravagant phone again features an improved camera and a range of futuristic tricks such as “Animoji”. The front facing camera is improved to 7-megapixels and is more powerful thanks to the addition of a light sensor. Apple have again taken an over the top approach making the phone HDR ready – the first for the company. This phone is by no way on the same price range as its other models. The phone comes with a four-figure price tag. With a starting price of €1,179 it’s enough to make your eyes water. It is available to pre-order from 27 October. Apple also revealed new additions to their product ranges such as an updated Apple Watch and 4K Apple TV.

GNÉ -ALTANNA

September 26 2017

Interested in making a more generous citizen of yourself? Eager to feel more involved within the college community? Fret no more, you’ve come to the right place! For those of you who don’t know, Seas Suas is a programme designed by the NUI Galway Chaplaincy that targets people of all ages around Galway city, aiming to promote health and well-being among those who volunteer as well as the wider community. The programme addresses issues of paramount importance in modern society such as sexual consent, substance abuse, and more serious issues like depression and suicide. The course spans over the space of just four weeks, so if your schedule is tight and you’re looking for something less time-consuming, this course is ideal for you. The chaplaincy also provides a hearty meal at the end of the evening, as well as hot drinks and chocolatey treats, making it all worth the while! Seas Suas is a fantastic programme that renders volunteers more equipped to deal with the challenges each and every one of us may face from day to day. Problems such as these arise in numerous situations as we go about our daily lives - problems that are so often dismissed or deemed unimportant within modern society. The purpose of Seas Suas is to highlight these issues and to subsequently come up with solutions that will make them easier to deal with.

If you’re looking to get involved with GUMS during the year it is recommended to message the committee members through Facebook and they will do their best to help any musical fanatics to sign up online for regular updates on the upcoming events t le Cárta throughout the year. scin

Various guest speakers from a range of charity organisations attend the meetings who provide useful tips and advice with regard to their respective subjects. For instance, a spokesperson for Samaritans, an organisation that provides a helpline for people going through hardships or personal struggles, gave an inspiring talk last year on the importance of mental health and the difficulties many people may encounter in the face of it. As we all know, mental health is a growing epidemic in our world today- something that deserves to be addressed and reinforced among people of all ages. Seas Suas is also an ideal opportunity to socialize and even make a few like-minded friends along the way. The lecture theatres were packed to the gills with people of all shapes and sizes, each and every one of them with the same goal- to literally “stand up” and make a change. It takes a lot to convince people to give up their precious evenings to spend some time giving back, but once you do, rest assured you won’t regret it. Volunteering is the best possible way to make something of yourself and to reap the rewards by seeing the changes take place right before your eyes, and even better- on the completion of the programme, the chaplaincy provides all volunteers with an ALIVE certificate, an award that not only looks great on your bedroom wall, but is also a fantastic addition to your CV! For more information, contact the NUI Galway chaplaincy. Ornagh is a SIN writer and took part in the Seas Suas programme last year.

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There’s so much to do and be a part of on campus at NUI Galway, it’s nearly impossible to keep track of it all. One of the many, many talented societies on campus GUMS, the university’s musical society, held auditions recently for their production of The Producers in February. SIN got a glimpse of all the action when we headed to the society’s first singing rehearsals last week to check out NUI Galway’s aspiring Judy Garlands and Gene Kellys. The excitement was palpable, the committee thrilled by the prospect of working with new members joining this year. Although auditions for the cast and chorus took place on 10 September, Sally Cahill the New Members Liaison Officer stressed there was “still time to get involved with other things”, mentioning upcoming open-mic nights and the new members showcase in Week 8 of the college year. Cadhla Boyle is Head of Sets this year and explained to SIN that The Producers was set to be a “demanding show” with loads of work to do backstage, exclaiming she needed as many helpers as she could find. Megan Jane Devlin is in charge of costumes for the show and said if people want to help out they are on the hunt for some makeup artists to give a hand. The Assistant Musical Director Oisín Fealy “couldn’t wait to get started”, boasting how fun a musical it really is. And then the woman behind the madness, Aisling Bonner. A Final Year student, Aisling is this year’s auditor. With enough energy to rival a Duracell bunny, Aisling’s get up

By Ornagh O’Reilly

and go attitude is set to have her cast and crew singing and dancing their way to another successful GUMS production. She told SIN that this year was shaping up be one of the most exciting for the society yet. “GUMS has gotten off to a great start this year,” she said. “Auditions for our February musical, The Producers, kept the production team and I up until the wee hours debating over the 190 auditionees we saw on the day. “We somehow narrowed it down to the nine leads who were introduced to the rest of our chorus at our Meet and Greet which attracted an 80-strong crowd of drama and free-pizza loving students,” she laughed. Aisling said students could look forward to many musically oriented events over the coming year, with a great variety of shows and performances in store. “This semester alone we will be hosting a Miscast Open Mic, a Freshers Showcase, our One Week Musical Challenge and our collaborative musical with Dramsoc, Our House, which takes place in week 11,” she said. “Our House and The Producers are two very different shows with different challenges, but we can’t wait to see them come to life! We’re lucky to have such talented, enthusiastic members that make projects like this seem easy,” she said.

SOCIETIES SPOTLIGHT

By Amy McMahon

Seas Suas

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Meeting the guys and dolls of GUMS

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10 OPI NI O N

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 2

THE WRONG HOOK:

journalism or pontificating?

Celebrities & scandals: guys get away with murder!

By Teodora Bandut

By Amy McMahon

dit has carved out a role for himself as a straight-shooter, no-nonsense megaphone for the frustrated masses. He shouts loudly what others don’t dare to whisper and this time, though it would certainly not be the first, he has gone too far.

The recent controversy emerging from George Hook’s offensive comments concerning rape victims has once again illuminated several contentious issues in Irish society. The radio pun-

His defenders, self-proclaimed defendants of free speech, are outraged at the prospect of Hook’s sacking. What I have trouble with is his longstanding, previously unchallenged career thus far. His appeal comprises a flair for

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the controversial, and often simply for the sake of it. The man’s voice alone is grating never mind having to hear it spouting obscene opinions. More importantly however, one wonders if his prominence on the airwaves can be categorised as journalism. Hook seems to have gotten the old adage that journalism should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted a bit backwards. With tangential soliloquies as the norm on his shows, should we have stopped to wonder who this ill-mannered boor was and why his ideas were enjoying such an abundance of air-time a little bit earlier? One thing is for certain, George Hook is no Vincent Browne. With his deeply comical demeanour of someone who stumbled onto the real anchor’s empty seat just as the broadcast begun, Vincent’s real focus were the guests’ intentions and never himself. Note the difference. As the sardonic and all-knowing smirk appeared on our screens, the wacky-haired newsman accomplished, without pontificating, the task Hook is clearly under the wrong impression he is undertaking. Returning to the question of free speech, this is as uncomplicated as “political correctness” cases go. George Hook, a representative of a respectable media outlet should not be the propagator of an indubitably disrespectful, to put it charitably, point of view. This is not a case of the “intolerant left” against sexual conservatives or any other politicised variation. In my view, Hook’s remit is understandably limited and his status as a prominent Irish journalist is, though undeniable, rather scandalous. The man should stick to rugby. The Hook situation is symptomatic of a wider shift towards the globalised takedown of the media elite. We want to listen to men and women we relate to and shun the ones who intimidate us. As a consequence, we have stepped out into the muddy waters to create our own media landscape. George Hook has offered us a slice of the existing ignorance among us. So, bring in the next “relatable man” who will help Irish society continue to belittle our rape victims – perhaps this could be the new role of our so-called journalists in future!

The media has persistently targeted celebrities struggling to cope with their lives, the fame and everything that comes with that as a knock on result. With more statistics coming out annually revealing one in every four people will experience a mental health problem throughout their life at least once, can you imagine how celebrities even exist with extraordinary pressure on their shoulders daily? With that in mind, how can we justify scrutinizing any celebrity going through a rough patch under the limelight just for the sake of a headline? Sadly this isn’t a new phenomenon in the media. There is a known history of headline after headline attacking famous folk for doing anything out of the ordinary. This is especially evident in the lives of child stars that have made the transition into fame in their adult life. Of course, the first example that comes to mind is Britney Spears. Ten years ago the OopsI-Did-It-Again hitmaker was splashed across magazines and tabloids having shaved off all her hair in an apparent breakdown. Everyone knew about it, everyone remembers it and everyone still talks about it. Yet who recalls that, around the same time Dougie Poynter from one of the biggest bands of the time, McFly, who struggled with an alcohol and drug addiction for several years, ended up in rehab until 2011? Simple: women in the limelight are judged much more than their male counterparts. For some unknown reason it is far more scandalous and unbelievable when a woman does something than a man. In the past couple of years both Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber have tried long and hard to redeem themselves. After facing tabloid backlash time and time again the stars have finally cleaned up their act. Both are child stars that faced fame from the tender age of about twelve, and both took to drugs as a coping mechanism with both openly speaking on their struggles with cannabis. However their roads to redemption have been received differently. Justin Bieber went off the rails and it has taken a lot to try to get this train back on course. Abusing and assaulting the paparazzi, cancelling shows and a constant

battle with drug abuse has led to the fall of this rising star. At the 2016 VMAs Bieber bravely took to the stage with new songs and a new attitude. At the end of his poignant performance the singer broke down in tears. All was forgiven. He was granted a clean sleet and no one brought up his rocky patch again. Now look at Miley Cyrus, who performed at the VMAs this year for the first time since her controversial showcase at the VMAs in 2015. She performed professionally – no sledgehammer or foam finger. She changed her sound, influenced by her country roots and yet people are still talking about her infamous performance with Robin Thicke. She has changed her life around, so why is she still slated for her actions in the past? It’s unfair to punish someone still when others in a similar situation have gotten away scot-free. Taylor Swift has been scrutinized and slated for changing her sound and for using her music as a form of retaliation. The country singer turned pop princess has had to shake off a lot of judgement and backlash for her latest songs Look What You Made Me Do and Are You Ready for It? After a seven year feud (that is still ongoing) with Kayne West and a few other frenemies such as Apple Music, Katy Perry and the media in general, Swift composed a song to tell the world she is going to be a smarter and harder in future when it comes to herself and her brand. Taylor Swift has always expressed herself through her music and her inspirations come from her own life experiences, so why should album number six be any different? One of Swift’s A-list exes has been doing the very same thing on his own album without anyone suspecting ulterior motives or dissecting his new, ahem, direction. Yes, a certain Harry Styles has changed his sound and inspiration according to the stage of his life but why are his reviews so positive compared to Taylor’s? After the success of the manufactured pop package also known as the band One Direction, Styles changed his style to a classic rock influenced new sound. Very different to 1D, yet very little backlash. It seems the world we live is continuing to keep a closer eye on women in an attempt to pressurise them to live up to a perfect, unrealistic standard.

TUAIRIM

September 26 2017

HEAD to head

This week, SIN contributors debate the controversial removal of statues and monuments from our civic spaces.

History cannot and Our civic spaces should not be erased should reflect our civic values By Aoife O Donoghue

This past August, I had the incredible experience of interrailing across Europe with friends. For three weeks, I found myself travelling through and exploring countries whose present-day cultures and societies have been profoundly shaped by some of the most controversial periods of recent history. The Nazi era of World War II, the Holocaust and the subsequent Cold War legacy of Soviet rule are times that produced painful memories for countless people across Europe. However, these are also times that have made the people of Europe who they are today, affecting geography, demography, culture and morals, with the result that a very new Europe was born. For that very reason, these people do not, nor should they, shy away from their divided past. With historical events come historical monuments, whether in the form of statues, plaques, buildings or other structures. Very often, these monuments serve as testaments of times of great suffering and loss. Perhaps it is logical to some to suggest that these reminders should be removed, in an effort to lessen the pain they represent; I, however, do not agree. To tear down all reminders of a painful and divisive period of history is to try to erase history itself, an attempt to make up for the mistakes of the past by pretending that they never came to pass. History is more than what we read about in books. It is a physical thing that can be seen and touched, it is a lived experience which contains the lives of many. To be able to see the tangible primary sources of history’s course is crucial to the understanding of that history and is something I highly valued on my travels. “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” This is the message that greets visitors as they enter the first of the museum buildings at Auschwitz-Birkenau, housed in a former prison block of the concentration camp.

Few places in the world represent pain, suffering and the horrifying capacity for evil in humankind as profoundly as Auschwitz-Birkenau. As you walk through the camp, between each identical, intimidating building, you inevitably find yourself wondering why they chose to preserve this place. It contains papers, documenting the horrors that took place, belongings of the Jews, gypsies, homosexuals and political prisoners that perished there. There is a room full of hair, still in the plaits that had been forcibly cut from the women’s heads. The walls of the dismantled gas chambers are still covered in scratches, from the dying clawing at them. You leave, and you realise why they chose to preserve it; for the feeling you have right at that moment - the realisation that you have entered and safely left a place where hundreds and thousands of people entered and never left, the determination to live your life fully and be a little kinder to people along the way, and the hope that people will indeed remember the past and strive to never repeat it. Testaments of times past are also paths to a new future, helping people to move on from the pain they denote. In Berlin, the relics of its divided recent history are incorporated into the life of the city, with remaining portions of the Berlin Wall transformed into a wall of murals called the East Side Gallery. Colourful art, political messages and visitor graffiti adorn the wall in a collective memorial to freedom, shattering the idea of oppression that it used to represent. Just across the city, the Holocaust memorial stands just a short distance from the Brandenburg Gate. It is a huge structure, made up of over 2000 concrete blocks of different heights across a sloping field. Some blocks are waist high, some tower above you and as you go further into the memo-

rial, the sense of being in maze becomes apparent. It is abstract, open to interpretation and very powerful, but for me, the most poignant part was the children who laughed and played catch through the rows, their happiness juxtaposed with what their surroundings represented. Strangely, it felt right. History can be remembered, can be commemorated and can be represented through monuments without having to be glorified. If we begin to remove all relics of a painful and divided past or confine them to a museum, we will soon realise that half the world is tainted by some hard part of history or another. For the history of the world is comprised of many stories of conflict, violence and loss. It equally, however, consists of stories of hope, regeneration and human resilience. Monuments may serve as reminders of painful pasts, but more importantly, they remind us of where we have come from, what we have overcome and where we strive to be.

By Tomás M. Creamer

of many British-associated monuments and utilities in Irish There seems to be an assump- towns and cities, shortly after tion that monuments and statues independence was attained from that currently exist in our public Britain. spaces should serve the purpose If a museum failed at the task of representing history in an of proving contextualised and undiscriminating manner. To acceptable portrayals of eras in question the necessity and value history, that would be a massive of existing monuments seem- failing. But our streets and pubingly amounts to advocating lics spaces are not a museum. replacements designed to delibIndeed, concerns about erately usher in a dark age of a whether monuments accusociety with a heavily skewed rately depict the nuances and knowledge of history. complexities of an area’s hisExamples of this type of tory would be a relatively recent behaviour would include those development. Note the sparsewho see the confederacy statues ness of monuments that depict in the US as monuments to the resistance against slavery Southern patriotism, and in the US, despite the obvious those who laugh at the centrality of the experience to supposed pettiness of the ancestors of a huge section the removal of the population in the country. As opposed to the many, many statues that depict the leaders and soldiers of the Confederacy, a separatist government set up with the intention of maintaining and entrenching slavery, by actively undermining the unity of the US. Sure, museums often offer adequate explanation as to the impact slavery had on the many millions of people affected. But what does it say about our society, and the type of civic values we hold dear, if white supremacists or prominent figures of imperialism were to have monuments of prominence in communities where their world views and actions are considered abhorrent, with relatively little recognition given to their victims? Statues often serve as tourist attractions in cities across the world, because of their ability to influence the character and outlook of the landscapes where they are located. They The controversial statue of Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Virginia. not only help to make a

place look distinctive, but they are an expression of a story about the communities that decided to install them. This story ought to be in tune with their social and cultural identities, which may or may not follow from what is defined by the historical accounts that are available to us. Imagine a Galway city where, instead of having statues to Liam Mellows and Oscar Wilde, you had statues of Martin Morris, the first and only Unionist MP to represent the town. This would present a very different set of cultural values to the world in general, values that would indisputably be in tension with the character of the city today. Petitions to remove individual monuments should be considered on a case-by-case basis, evaluated on their unique merits while taking the specific social, cultural or political history of the area in question into account. As we’ve seen with Northern Ireland, the definition of what attitudes, traits, and character defines a community is up for debate. Some might see that as enough reason to opt against caving in to demands to remove statues, for fear that such petitions could amount to one group imposing its worldview onto others. However, given that this situation has existed since the concept of “monuments” and “public spaces” were invented, and that the current landscape created by pre-existing monuments that are not in themselves “neutral” in statements and intentions, it seems odd to draw the line at this point in the twenty-first century. It would mean running away from confronting the fundamental questions of how we define ourselves and our civic communities.

12 OPI NI O N

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 2

Milk, two sugars and a side of corporate control By Amy McMahon

he days of a good aul cup of tea are coming to an end with specialised coffees becoming more and more popular in Ireland. So long to the much heated Irish debate of Lyons or Barry’s, pumpkin spiced lattes are taking over. And with cof-

I can’t pinpoint exactly when this shift in Irish culture occurred. However, I can tell you that my grandparents still stand in disbelief when my dad asks for an americano in a restaurant, because requesting a simple ‘coffee’ is unheard of nowadays. My grandparents remember coffee shops a different way to how we experience them now.

in their tea. With yet another Starbucks opening in Dublin, coming to a grand total of 51 Starbucks shops in the capital now, local businesses gave away free coffee in protest. I have to agree that surely there comes a point when we have enough commercial coffee shops within a few mile radius of each other?

Every time you order a coffee in Starbucks you have to participate in the agonising game of Guess Who. “What’s your name?” – which they ALWAYS get wrong. I have an easy enough name, Amy. Three letters, simple. Yet somehow my coffee cup reads ‘Eevee’, ‘Annie’ and once ‘Amily’ which is totally out there and much harder than Amy. fee companies such as Starbucks and Costa cropping up across the country demanding your business, there is no escaping the dominance of the branded coffee cup in Ireland.

They went to the independent shops dotted around towns and cities. There wasn’t a commercial hype like there is now. The most adventurous beverage they ever got was sugar

Admittedly I am one of those annoying customers that regularly orders a decaf hazelnut latte with skim milk from Costa. But that does not mean I am oblivious to the lack of personality

with this kind of chain stores. I wish there was a more personal connection between customers and staff. Years ago people like my grandparents actually knew the staff in coffee shops. They would chat to them about their daily lives. Now if you go to Starbucks you queue, pick what you want, pay and go. That’s it. It’s all well and good if you’re busy and hurrying to the office, but as a social experience there’s nothing exciting about going to a coffee shop, because they’re all the same in every single city. Worse again these empire companies make a terrible attempt to replicate actually getting to know the customers. Every time you order a coffee in Starbucks you have to participate in the agonising game of Guess Who. No genuine connection and conversation, only a mere “What’s your name?” - which they ALWAYS get wrong. I have an easy enough name, Amy. Three letters, simple. Yet somehow my coffee cup reads ‘Eevee’, ‘Annie’ and once ‘Amily’

which is totally out there and much harder than Amy. I read an article a few months ago that if we keep up our caffeine habits continues into next year there will be a demand for a thousand new baristas in Ireland. A thousand! I’ve no idea where they’re all going to fit? Surely we have enough. If not, where and when do we stop? One hundred Starbucks in Dublin? What happens to the independent businesses that are already struggling? Tommy Tiernan talks a lot about how we tried things in the boom that didn’t suit us as a nation, but we gave it a shot because the rest of the world was doing it. This coffee craze is just another example. We don’t have the space or the population to continue supporting this nonsense. How long will it be until Starbucks gets a monopoly on coffee? The prices are already astronomical as it stands. And I will tell you this for nothing I will not spend a fiver on an itsy bitsy espresso!

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14 FA SH I ON & L I F E ST Y L E

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 2

HOMESICKNESS: Steal Her Style:

how to get over the blues Olivia Palermo By Arinham Halder

Moving away from home is never easy especially for international students who travel thousands of miles away from home with no hope of banishing homesickness by travelling back home. The experience is definitely thrilling and acts as a big eye opener, but it can be quite a challenge to come to grips of a life in terms of learning to cope with a new culture. The feeling of independence when moving into college can very easily give way to feelings of loneliness due to being cutoff from the usual support system and difficulties in adjusting to a new life. The problem with homesickness is well, there is no cause which can be attributed as an trigger. And that is the reason why there is no treatment for the same other than wanting to call home, calling friends or simply being grumpy & critical of everything around you. But despite no apparent treatment one can avoid being homesick by following some simple tips. The first thing you should do once in a new city is to act like a tourist. Visit the most popular places and you will be surprised how much you will end up learning

about the culture. Also while exploring the hotspots you will bump into people who will become lifelong friends. The second thing you should do is attend the Socs Day and join as many clubs and societies which are of interest. The sports clubs will keep you busy most evenings and at the same time help you in shrugging off the homesickness. Hone your skills at a sport and make new friends. Joining one of the many societies is again advised and if possible volunteer for positions in the committees. Not only you will have a great time volunteering for events but you will learn a lot about organizing events, importance of team work and some lifelong memories. Involvement in various societies and clubs will expose you to a wide spectrum of people not only from your home country but from different nations. You will learn a lot about different cultures and have some good evenings discovering new friends. The third thing you can do is to eat the local food and learn to cook. Try out as many restaurants as possible. You will find some wonderful hidden gems in Galway to enjoy a good meal without burning your pocket and at

the same time discovering all nook and crannies of the city. Learning to cook never hurt anyone and will keep you busy on those lonely evenings when nobody wants to party. Buy a cookbook and learn to cook different cuisines or rather hone your baking skills. The fourth aspect to tick off is to call over a few friends and plan a trip across the country. There are many weekends and too many experiences to miss in this country. Drive down to the cliffs to experience some truly great views of the Atlantic. Or, go to Northern Ireland and visit all the shoot locations from the TV series Game of Thrones. The key to warding off homesickness is to think positively. After all, homesickness is similar to anxiety, and makes you prone to negative thinking. Make a diary and write down all the positive things you have done in a day and read them when you are sad. Talk to others when you are feeling down, a little conversation never hurt anybody. And finally just make your new home a home. Make a routine and recreate things which you had back at your own home. Nothing better than a whiff of nostalgia to cheer up some dreary minds.

The Try Diaries: early mornings By Heather Robinson I’m not one for sleeping in until noon but I often wake up with only ten minutes to get up, dressed, fed and out the door. Usually I just about manage the getting dressed part and I go to college or my part-time job with my hair unbrushed and not a coffee or a breakfast to be seen. This week when I took on SIN’s Try Diaries challenge I decided to face my poorly organised and haphazard mornings once and for all. The beginning was tough. The sound of the alarm at 7.30am when I knew I didn’t have to go into college until 9am was difficult to justify. But once I wake up that’s it and I was forced to get out of bed. Very quickly I realised that rising early is one of the best times in the whole entire day. The mornings are quiet

and peaceful and there’s no-one else around. Even the weather is usually nicer at this time as the sun is fully rising and it’s so bright and cheerful outside. I can hear the birds chirping outside and I like being awake and snugly in my bed while knowing I don’t have to rush off anywhere. I start my mornings with a coffee in bed as I scroll through various news headlines and my Instagram feed, hearting beautifully staged photographs of cappuccinos and granola pots. This is my favourite time because you’re not expected to achieve anything at 7.30 in the morning, it’s not technically procrastinating if there’s nothing you should be doing instead. Usually the water is heating up for a shower or I’m cooking some breakfast after this. Yep that’s right, I don’t starve until lunch time, I

actually cook breakfast. I play music or the radio if I want to and I take my time drying my hair rather than my previous routine which was to get up five minutes earlier than my norm to just about get my hair washed. My new morning routine is pleasant and laidback. I haven’t gone to any of my first lectures with a zombie brain or a bad attitude. Getting up early has really changed the outcome of my day. There’s another side to getting up early though and it’s going to sleep earlier too. Going to bed at midnight and waking up at eight is not the same as going to bed at ten and waking up at seven. Making sure I get to bed at a good time hasn’t been a huge sacrifice though when I consider how great my mornings are now. In final year getting a good night’s sleep is half the battle really.

By Amanda Leeson Regardless of whether you couldn’t wait to get back, or were absolutely dreading it – there is no denying that college is well and truly underway for the year. Even though we have been back for less than a month, we are left with no doubt that summer is officially over. Freezing cold morning, bursts of sunshine and spontaneous rain showers make it extremely hard to know what to wear. Fear not, we have taken some style inspiration from the queen of casual Olivia Palermo. From her effortlessly chic street style we have picked an outfit that will perfect suit the unpredictable weather. This outfit is perfect for whatever the day throws at you. Super casual and comfy yet has an overall put together look. So easy to pop on before you leg it out the door. You could also mix it up by wearing the same jeans as a base and swapping the shoes and tops around. A versatile outfit that is a staple for your wardrobe.

OUTFIT DETAILS: Grey knitted jumper – New Look €27 Distressed denim jeans – River Island €50 Red checked shirt – Missguided €30 Black trainers – Nike €160 “Barbados” oversized sunglasses – Aluxe.ie €15

FAIS EAN

September 26 2017

Kake Me Up for SIN: the basic winged eyeliner

What you’ll need is an angle brush (I’d

recommend the Inglot 31T), gel liner, concealer and a flat concealer brush. Now there are a lot of great gel liners out there, but you’ll probably already know that the Inglot 77 gel liner

is the king of all gel liners. It’s super black, super creamy and just really nice to work with!

As always, we’re starting with a blank canvas by priming the lid with concealer and setting it with translucent powder. A crucial step for any eye look!

Once you’re happy with the angle and length of your flick, place the brush about 2/3 of the way up the flick and smoothly drag it back towards the lash line.

A really important thing to remember when you’re doing liner is you want it to be the thickest at the wing and gradually get thinner towards the inner corner. The next step is to line the inner corner to meet the line coming from the wing. Make sure your brush is super flat for this part to ensure a really thin line!

and sharpen it up. You want that wing to cut anyone who looks at you…

Next I just popped a bit of highlighter in the inner corner and brow bone and added some big fluffy lashes. Here I’m wearing Huda Beauty lashes in Farah.

NÓS MAIRE ACHTÁLA

GOSSIP GIRL: style that has survived a decade later By Aileen O’Leary You’ve heard the theme by now ‘XOXO Gossip Girl’, the familiar ping of the very 2000 blackberry, and of course the style on this show that is to die for. A decade later we are celebrating the style evolution of one of the most scandalous shows to hit airwaves this millennium, you’ve guessed it today we’re taking a look back at the stylish lives of the upper east siders also known as Serena Van Der Woodsen, Blair Waldorf, and a few more familiar faces. Let’s take a look back at some of the most iconic looks on the show:

1.CONSTANCE PREP: Perhaps one of the most iconic look from the show centred around the home of gossip girl, Constance. Not to be beaten at their own game, the young private schoolers made heads turn in their take on uniform. Throughout the series Blair and her minions can be spotted in custom headbands, killer shoes and a designer bag on their arm. How has this influenced today’s students? Headbands, pearls and customising have come full circle since 2007, the bright colours may have gone out of trend and the burkins but the prep look is back.

2.BROOKLYN BOHO CHIC:

Grab your liner brush and a tiny bit of gel liner. You always want to start off with a little bit of product and build gradually- this way you’ll have more control. I always dip into the liner really lightly and then press the brush into the lid on both sides to

Now the easiest part- fill it in! You can grab as much product as you like here as we’re not trying to be too precise, just be careful not to go outside the lines!

I hope you enjoyed this week’s tutorial. I know it might not have been the most exciting but now in future when I do looks with winged liner I won’t have to spend too much time on the liner part! If you have any ideas for looks you’d like to see definitely let me know on my social media, and give me a follow while you’re there! InstagramKakemeup, Snap- Kakemeup8.

Till next time! Xoxo Kake

Gossip Girl’s very own Brooklyn beauty, her style has been echoed by fans and continues to do so a decade later. From her laid back locks, to her on point accessorizing, Vanessa was the girl next door, the sweetheart. She wasn’t OTT or dressed to the nines, her style was accessible, trendy and eccentric but a head turner for sure. Fans have adored her simple but chic look and continue to follow her style ques years on.

3.ELEGANT IN ELIE SAAB: The shot gun wedding, the impending arrest, the scandal and that dress. Fans swooned when they finally got a Blair and Chuck wedding, with our very own Waldorf sporting a one of a kind gown courtesy of Elie Saab. The dress was stunning and fans have since taken note and styled everything from Debs dresses to wedding dresses alike after the stunning gown. It was elegant, sophisticated with a touch of glamour.

4.SUAVE AND SUITED: We can’t discuss gossip girl without giving props to the men of the show, the oh so dapper Dan Humphrey and god’s gift aka Nathaniel Archibald. Always dressed in a killer suit, the men of the show set the bar high, from Hugo Boss to Calvin Klein the list of designers to grace the shows wardrobe is stellar. Fans have since sported the clean shaven, slick look. Business formal is making a comeback and so are tailored suits. A decade later the men of gossip girl still have us swooning.

5.GOOD GIRL GONE BAD: She was the IT girl gone rogue, yes little Jenny Humphrey rounds off our list of best looks. Her transformation during the series was one that left fans gobsmacked. From Constance prep to Brooklyn bad ass little J has really been a show stopper. Taylor Momsen’s transformation inspired fans to push boundaries with their style and their wardrobe, sporting killer heels, a designer bag and leather jacket. The teenage dream was the first of a wave of young stars to pull a 180 on their style as the 2000s came to a close. Taylor we salute you!

TREND SPOTTER

Red, the colour of the season By Aoife O Donoghue

make it really flat and sharp. Now, the angle of your wing is really important. You don’t want it flicking up too high just like you don’t want it too straight. A good guideline is following your lower lash line and extending it out. As you create your flick, take the pressure off just at the end so it gradually becomes thinner.

This part is optional but if you feel your wing could be sharper or you made a little mistake somewhere don’t fear. Grab your flat concealer brush and a small bit of concealer and drag it out just underneath your wing to really clean

Red is everywhere this A/W season, dominating the runways of Fashion Week and popping up in every high street store. From deep wines and burgundies to orange tones and fire-engine reds, it is definitely the colour of the season. Many of the big designer brands are working the colour into a sleek and sharp tailored look, with pant suits and trench coats featuring heavily. Dip into this trend with a classic red blazer or a pair of redhued cigarette trousers.

If the tailored look isn’t for you, why not marry together two Autumn-Winter trends and go for chunky red knitwear. Oversized jumpers, cardigans and dresses are A/W staples that can be livened up with a pop of red. If you’re more into accessorising adding a red bag, a pair of burgundy boots or even your favourite red lippy is the way to go. In any case, there are so many ways to get on board this trend and be the Lady in Red.

WHAT YOU SEE IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG

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

Logan Lucky review By Mícheál Óg Ó Fearraigh

teven Soderbergh has come out of retirement. The director of The Ocean’s Trilogy, Haywire, Magic Mike, and Sex, Lies, and the Videotape is back with a new heist movie which is very different to his previous work. The movie follows Jimmy Logan (Channing Tatum), a former college football player from North Carolina, who has been let go from his job at a construction site. He, along with his brother Clyde (Adam Driver), an amputee and Iraq war veteran, come up with a plan to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway, so that Tatum won’t lose custody of his daughter Sadie (Farrah Mackenzie). To do it they put together a motley crew consisting of their sister (Riley Keogh), convict Joe Bang (Daniel Craig) and his two brothers (Brian Gleeson and Jack Quaid). There are also many tangents in the film which concern fun characters played by Seth MacFarlane, Dwight Yoakam, Katherine Waterson, Sebastion Stan, and Hilary Swank, and they all give very amusing performances in their slight roles (even if MacFarlane’s character is a little bit hammy). The main cast of the story are all on great form, Channing Tatum seems to get better in every movie, while Adam Driver and Daniel Craig give standout performances. It would

be remiss if I didn’t mention Farrah Mackenzie’s performance as Sadie Logan. I would put it up there with Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine and Angourie Rice in The Nice Guys, in terms of child actor performances. I’m not entirely convinced if the heist in the film adds up but I enjoyed the quirky world of the film and I generally enjoy a heist film regardless of how much sense it makes. The folksy nature of the story and its characters is a delight and calls to mind Welcome to Collinwood and the work of the Coen brothers. Everyone is charming in a countryside sort of way and a lot of the humour, like in the Coens’ Fargo, just comes from the way the people of this area behave. My only complaint with the film is that it didn’t revel in the weirdness of the world that it constructed. I have noticed that some critics believe that the film has some commentary on Trump or on the state of affairs in countryside America today but I personally think that the film is just supposed to an entertaining romp rather than a satire or a fable. It’s great to have you back Mr Soderbergh, it’s been too long. Conclusion: Great to see Steven Soderbergh out of retirement and making more fun heist films. Once again, he’s assembled a terrific cast to pull not only a great heist but a great film.

8/10

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 2

It (2017) review By Mícheál Óg Ó Fearraigh After eight years of development and five different attempts at the script It finally reaches the big screen and what’s more it’s very good. Directed by Andy Muschietti, the story revolves around the first portion of the novel and concerns the Losers’ club, a bunch of preteens who are dealing with various problems at home on top of being tormented by a demonic clown (Bill Skarsgård). Our main protagonist is Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher) who cannot accept the death of a family member and is convinced that he can find them. He and his friends: the fat bookworm Ben (Taylor), the abused girl Beverly (Lillis), the mouthy Richie (Wolfhard), the Jewish Stan (Oleff), the black orphan Mike (Jacobs), and the hypochondriac Eddie (Grazer) attempt to look in the sewers and uncover why so many children go missing in their town while simultaneously trying to avoid bully Henry Bowers (Hamilton) and his gang. The movie almost feels like two movies that don’t altogether work in tandem at times, for the first portion it is like a coming-of-age tale in the vein of Stand by Me or The Goonies, and then

it gets stuck into the horror. For the most part this works but some of the humour, most of which comes from the fantastic Finn Wolfhard from Netflix’s Stranger Things, and the reallife struggles that the characters go through undercut how scary the monster is. Whether intentional or not, the most terrifying presences in the film are Henry Bowers and Beverly’s father. Despite all of Its jump scares and transformations, he is never as unsettling as those two. It himself, though, does still deliver quite a few shocks on his own, particularly at the start of the movie and in sequences involving TVs and Skarsgard is a truly creepy presence throughout. My biggest issue with the film would probably be the imbalance of screen-time given to the Losers’ club and some of them get subplots that do not resolve themselves. Conclusion: Though probably not the scariest film you will see all year, It works. It’s like watching Stand By Me but you see more dead bodies.

7/10

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From Kate’s new pregnancy to Prince Harry’s latest girlfriend, the world can’t seem to get enough scandal from the United Kingdom’s royal family. It’s probably not possible for any of us to forget Kate and William’s wedding (particularly Pippa’s bum), or on a more sombre note, forget the tragic death of Princess Diana in 1997. For some reason these figures, who are remnant of a bygone era, remain fully intact and central in the public eye. Why do we continue to be fascinated by a custom so outdated? The UK’s political proceedings have essentially migrated to the Prime Minister, yet this lineage continues to plaster our news headlines. Once upon a time in a Kingdom far away, the Royal family flourished and thrived…. and still do today, and a likely reason that they entice us so much is that they are a real-life fairy tale. Princes and princesses really do live in a castle, dress up in gowns and command legions. Every child enjoys hearing about these make-believe fables, so why would we now, as adults, not secretly celebrate to have a “grownup” reality? Kate Middleton was our Cinderella, a mere mortal plucked from obscurity to bathe in riches and fame with her one true love. We, her adoring public, watch on with pride as her new life unfolds.

Perhaps it’s that they remind us of the past more so than our childhood imagination. Epic fantasies like ‘Game of Thrones’ and dramas like ‘The Crown’ and ‘The Tudors’ have thrived in recent years. Even the young adult market has been converged with ‘Reign’. We, as a society, are obsessed with royalty. The inner workings and manipulation of court, combined with the regal customs and beautiful clothing, are an alluring concept. It’s no wonder that the real-life monarchs have gained such a following. Any devilment that Prince Harry engages in is blown out of proportion and publicized for weeks. Conspiracy theories are always rampant, with some of us desperate to discover some darker secrets. This idea of a secret throngs the fascination with the Royal family. A family so old, with so many tyrants attached to their history, must surely have some skeletons to be unearthed. Those former dramatic genes can be traced exactly to our current residents of Buckingham Palace. Can genetics really fade that severely over time? A recent television series on E! has focused entirely on this idea, albeit a bit more along the seductive line. The aptly named ‘Royals’ follows a fictional British royal family, but the characters heavily resemble those that really do

exist. One rebel child battles drug and alcohol addiction, while the older struggles to accept his future responsibility as king. Of course, Queen Elizabeth Hurley does not remotely resemble her real life comparison, but the overall idea of scandal and secrets crawling away from the public eye holds the intrigue. Some of you might be raising an eyebrow at the minute. My gran definitely doesn’t love the idea of sex and scandal, so then why does she have a Royal Wedding plate hanging in her kitchen? The older generation are arguably more attached than any other. Why? Likely, it has something to do with patriotism. The United Kingdom has an insanely strong past as an imperial power. That pride may filter slightly over generations, but it is still certainly intact. The Royal Family encapsulate this pride. They’re a human symbol of Britain. So why bother have an emblem when you can have a whole family represent? Sure, individually, many of us may have little to no interest in royal proceedings, and being Irish you would think we would care less. Overall, however, we cannot deny the influence that these monarchs have. It’s still very much alive, and I for one cannot see it subsiding any time soon.

NUI Galway Students’ Union Presents / Cuireann Comhaltas na Mac Léinn

Neil Delamere

Gearoid Farrelly

8pm Monday 9th October 2017 8 i.n., Dé Luain, An 9 Deireadh Fómhar i dtéatar Uí Fhlaithearta SU LOCKERS

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20 A RT S & E N T E RTAIN M EN T

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 2

Netflix True Crime: who are the real victims? By Shauna McHugh Netflix viewers received some good news this month, with the announcement that a new eight part crime series is set to be released on the streaming site. The series will be part of Netflix’s very popular True Crime selection, and will focus on the now infamous disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Madeleine was just three years old when she disappeared on 3 May 2007 while on holiday in Portugal. In the decade since she vanished, the case has continued to attract vast media attention and controversy. Some people believe that Madeleine’s own parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, were somehow involved in her disappearance, while others believe that she was abducted as part of a sordid European child sex trafficking ring. With so many different theories out there, it will be intriguing to see which angle the new series will take on this case.

Netflix has had success across the board with its original series, such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. However, it is arguably their True Crime documentaries for which the site has garnered most attention. Making a Murderer became something of a worldwide phenomenon when it was first released by Netflix in 2015. The Keepers, released this year, has also gained much media attention. With these true crime series becoming huge hits with viewers, it’s clearer than ever that we all still love a good “who dunnit” storyline. However, when this classic trope is no longer being played out in fictional TV series, and is instead the focus of a factual documentary about real people, do we have the right to be as interested? Is it fair to have real, everyday people’s tragedies turned into a piece of money-making entertainment? One of the main issues with

Making a Murderer, for example, is that while it certainly victimises Steven Avery as an unlucky man wrongfully convicted for rape, it barely acknowledges the tragic loss of Teresa Halbach. While the show features real footage of the Halbach family, they are merely used as a plot device to create tension with Avery, rather than to show any mark of respect to the late Teresa. Amanda Knox delivers a similar moral dilemma for viewers. The Guardian described the documentary as “intriguing but flawed”. Told almost entirely from Knox’s point of view, we get a sense that being a main suspect in the high profile murder of Meredith Kercher was very harrowing for Knox. Knox portrays herself as a young, frightened woman who did no wrong and it’s hard for any viewer to watch it and not feel any sympathy for her. However, much like Avery, Netflix treats Knox as the victim of the case. The show is literally named after her, it focuses on her. Surely sympathy should

be evoked for Meredith Kercher, who was brutally murdered, rather than Knox, the main suspect? With this morally grey treatment of high profile murders of adults, it will be interesting to see if Netflix handles Madeleine McCann’s abduction case any differently as she is a child. The as of yet untitled series also has no release date announced. However, even with so little information about the series, it is already being discussed all over social media. Many people will undoubtedly binge watch the series whenever it does come to Netflix. There’s little else more captivating than a conspiracy theory, so I’m sure that debate about the McCanns’ innocence will hit headlines again if it’s addressed in the series. Or perhaps they will also be portrayed as the victims and not Madeleine. It could also be suggested that Netflix’s new series will surely create a lot of profit and social media buzz, and not any sympathy for Madeleine - and maybe that is the true crime story here.

From left: The Keepers Making a Murderer, Amanda Knox and Who Took Johnny?

Throwing more shade than Rihanna’s new Fenty Beauty range By Grace Kieran Celebs are known for throwing the odd dig at each other, whether it’s interrupting acceptance speeches or slagging off their rivals in song lyrics. In short, as the young ones say on the internet: they know how to throw shade. In light of this apparent trend among the world’s biggest stars, here is a list of the top five shade throwing tracks of all time.

Taylor Swift Look What You Made Me Do “All I think about is karma… I got mine, but you’ll all get yours.” This is the latest track in a long feud deepening the divide between Swift and California Girl Katy Perry after a misunderstanding over backup dancers. Swift bites back, unearthing and trampling on every girl-next-door role she has played in the past. In the video, she rises from a grave for Taylor Swift’s Reputation, proving that she has nothing to lose and everything to gain just in time for the rise of her album, Reputation.

Katy Perry & Nicki Minaj — Swish Swish Bish “And karma’s not a liar, she keeps receipts” This track falls between Swifts Bad Blood and Look What You Made Me Do, and has cryptic references to Taylor throughout. The ‘karma’ in question is reasonably linked to Kim Kardashian exposing Swift who claimed not to have given permission for Kanye’s lyrics in Famous (see below). Kim had recorded a phone call in which she appears to be

doing just that. Kim published the recording, or, ‘receipts’ online, and Taylor lost the public’s favour.

Kanye West Famous “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex. Why? I made that b**** famous” The b**** in question is the aforementioned Taylor, who West claims to have made famous due to his outburst at the 2009 VMAs, where he interrupted Swift’s speech. Following this scandal, Swift gained public sympathy and her albums did considerably better than in the past. Kanye is indicating that he put her in the spotlight.

Ed Sheeran Don’t “And I never saw him as a threat / Until you disappeared with him to have sex of course” The ginger heart-throb admitted the track was written about Ellie Goulding, following her relations with Ireland’s own Niall Horan. It is rumoured that Goulding’s single On My Mind was written as a response, released the following year. Goulding has denied this.

Carly Simon You’re So Vain “You’re so vain / I’ll bet you think this song is about you” Simon is very secretive about the song’s subject but has revealed it addresses three men, one of whom is Warren Beatty. The other two remain a mystery and are the spotlight of one of the most famous diss-tracks of the century.

Problems?. . . . . . . Speak with a Counsellor.

SilverCloud Supported Online Programme FOR...

Student Counselling Drop In: ssary! Free, No appointment nece

Every weekday between 2pm and 4pm 5 distillery Road counselling@nuigalway.ie Tel: 091 492484

Anxie ty pression s De St res Brought to you by Student Counselling Service SilverCloud offers secure, immediate access to online supported CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) programmes, tailored to your specific needs. The programmes have demonstrated high improvement rates for depression, anxiety and stress. It’s flexible – access it anywhere 24/7 on your computer, tablet or mobile phone. It is very easy to use employing interactive tools and activities to make the experience interesting and motivational.

Join us for a FREE lunch and hear how other undergraduate and postgraduate students have successfully achieved their goals. They will give you key tips about the supports that helped them to succeed and enjoy their time in NUI Galway. The 'Student Voices' seminar and FREE lunch will take place at the following venues: Monday 25th Sept

12.30-1.30

Aras Moyola Ground Floor Room 123

Tuesday 26th Sept

12.30-1.30

Aras Na MacLeinn Room 2

Wednesday 27th Sept

12.30-1.30

The View Aras na MacLeinn

Call down to the Student Common Room, the Hub, in Aras na Mac Leinn for the chat about volunteering.

Open 2-5 Monday – Friday

The Community Connector works collaboratively with students in a friendly and relaxed way to support them in making new social connections, pursuing social interests, as well as organising student-focused social gatherings. Find out more: www.nuigalway.ie/communityconnector nuigcommunityconnector@gmail.com

The Chaplains are available to listen and to help if you have any troubles or difficulties. We offer an Open Door Policy and are available to support all students in the University. We offer counselling and spiritual support to help you successfully manage whatever difficulties you experience. We can be contacted at the Chaplaincy Office, located at No 6 Distillery Road, between the AIB bank on Newcastle Rd and the NUI Galway Security Office. For further information email chaplains@nuigalway.ie or phone 091 49 5055. You are also welcome to use the Chaplaincy Centre which has free kitchen facilities, study rooms, a common room and a beautiful Chapel which is a sacred place where all denominations are welcome to worship.

Aras Moyola Room 3

ALIVE – NUI Galway’s Volunteering Programme

Community Connector

Chaplaincy - Offering Kindness, Support and Encouragement to All

Brought to you by the Access Centre and Chaplaincy

12.30-1.30

Introducing the

TO BEGIN GO TO

https://nuigstudentcounselling.silvercloudhe alth.com/signup

Student Voices -Tips for Success

Thursday 28th Sept

Could you - or someone you know do with some help settling in?

The Chaplaincy Centre is where healing and hope take place and where new beginnings are always possible.

Disability Support Service

SU open office hours in Smokeys! Brought to you by NUIG Students’ Union

Are you concerned that your disability, We mean it when we say our doors are always long-term physical or mental health condition, open, to chat about issues or how we can help you. or specific learning difficulty might impact on We’re making it even easier by bringing your studies? Register with us to ensure our offices to Smokeys on supports can be put in place to enable you to Wednesday the 27th September fulfil your academic potential. To find out more, including how to register for support visit

www.nuigalway.ie/disability/ Chat with the Mature Students Officer Mature Students come and have a nice cup of tea and chat with me and see how you are settling in. Share any concerns or positive things happening since you started college. Monday 25th Sept

10.30am

Smokies Café Concourse

Tuesday 26th Sept

12.00pm

Friars Café

Wednesday 27th Sept

8.30am

Kingfisher Café

Arrange an appointment at: maturestudents@nuigalway.ie

We’ll be handing out FREE STUFF then too, so make sure you stop by and say hello.

Participate online programme for shyness and social anxiety Brought to you by Student Counselling Service Anxious about public speaking or meeting people? - Participate is a FREE online programme proven to help your confidence. You can visit the site, test your social anxiety, and see how the programme works via

https://nuig.participateonline.net

d o Fo

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24 SPORT

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 2

Limiting participation in hurling championship goes against GAA ethos By Mark Lynch Tier two counties in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship look to be the biggest losers out of proposals regarding a championship re-structuring which are set to be voted on at a special Congress in Croke Park at the end of the month. As things stand currently, the provincial system in Munster, Leinster and Ulster consist of a quarter-final, semi-final, final basis, with the Leinster Championship playing host to a round robin series involving tier two counties with the winner joining the quarter-final line-up the same year. The Ulster Championship lives as its own entity, with the rest of the counties competing in tiered competitions: The Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups respectively. The proposed revamp would put an end to the cup format of the provincial championships as well as the other tiered competitions and would instead mean a league format round-robin style tournament, with the winners moving onto the All-Ireland semi-finals and the second and third placed teams facing each other in the quarters. “Great,” say the neutrals. “More games between the best teams.” The neutrals are right, but it comes with a kick in the teeth for the counties outside the top echelon of the sport. The round-robin style provincial competitions are to be contested by

five teams in each, and entry to the top tier has become much more difficult. In 2017, Westmeath topped the preliminary Leinster Championship round-robin group. Their reward was a game against Offaly in the quarter-finals before losing that game and giving Tipperary a right good game in the qualifiers in Thurles. In the new format, Westmeath’s season would end with their round-robin victory, while they’d have to play the lowest-placed Leinster team in a play-off to even gain promotion to the Liam McCarthy Cup. In a particularly confusing and frustrating move Kerry, were they to top the tier two group, would have to face the lowest-placed Munster team in their play-off. Geographically it makes sense, but after being so competitive last year in Leinster, it comes as a blow to Fintan O’ Connor’s men who have seen their hopeful passage to the Liam MacCarthy Cup filled with roadblocks and geographical nonsense. The changes make sense to an extent as the provincial round-robin series, especially in Munster, will make for huge excitement and will generate a huge amount of revenue for the GAA in ticket sales and TV deals. That said, it’s difficult not to smell the elitism when it’s being wafted in your county’s face time and time again. Only this year was a team finally allowed progress from Division 2A to Division 1B without having to play the bottom-placed 1B side.

Ironically Kerry, who for so long found themselves trapped in limbo between the two divisions, could have actually benefitted from having a backup play-off against Antrim. Nonetheless, it was a move in the right direction to get rid of that playoff, a move which encouraged development of weaker counties by enhancing their competitive experience. It’s also a move which seems to be contradicted by this latest proposal. There’s a chance this proposal will be blocked at the special Congress on the 30 September in Croke Park. Several counties, including Westmeath (who stand to be cheated out of a position at the top table), have publicly stated their opposition to the changes and one would expect more to follow. However, revenue has its own voice in the GAA and it wouldn’t be surprising to see that as a major factor in the decision made by counties. Leaving the revamp just at the round-robin provincial championships would likely have passed without a mere breath of disagreement, however just a couple of simple tweaks have left a sour taste in the mouths of those tier two counties who are ever so hungry to compete in the best cup in the sport. The GAA is about entertainment to supporters up to a point, but it should never be about exclusion. The Liam MacCarthy Cup being restricted to just ten teams does not scream “inclusion” to many disgruntled hurling fans around the country this month.

How will Europe react to new transfer window? By Mark Lynch Premier League clubs have decided to band together and form a new transfer window policy whereby no club can now buy any new players once the new season begins in mid-August. This move came about despite backlash from the two Manchester clubs and will mean no Premier League clubs will be able to make any additions to their squads after the Thursday before the start of the season beginning next year. The move is somewhat unexpected and as of yet, hasn’t been implemented by any other major leagues across Europe. Premier League clubs will still be allowed to sell players after the start of the season, meaning there are likely going to be many situations similar to the ones we saw with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez and Liverpool’s Phillipe Coutinho last month. Both of the South American talents tried to force through transfers however neither came to fruition, seemingly because it would have been nigh impossible for either team to replace their star players. Unless endorsed by other European leagues, we will most likely see a scenario next summer whereby from mid - August to the end of the month, English clubs will have their star players pursued by big - spending European clubs with no chance to find a replacement. But, should other leagues follow suit? If we apply next year’s rule to the transfer window just passed, in terms of the biggest transfers not a whole pile changes. In recent years, we’ve seen a shift in policy from the heavyweight European clubs including those in England, when it came to their key signings. The change being that they get these signings done before they have to panic. The latest transfer window was arguably the most bizarre and unpredictable

in decades, certainly the fees have now risen up to extortionate rates adjusting to soccer’s weird economic inflation. The world-record transfer of Neymar from Barcelona to PSG smashed the previous transfer record and brought all transfers after it up in price at a rate nobody would have expected. This is one reason why clubs try to get deals done as early as possible. Take Manchester United and Manchester City for example. United’s major signings, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic, were both pre-Neymar’s adjusted transfer market and so, looking back, both were shrewd pieces of business especially Matic. Manchester City made all of their transfers before Neymar’s move too, although the prices they paid were already fairly steep for the players involved. Still, they’re not steep compared to what they would have been at the end of August. Barcelona were probably the biggest victims in the saga as not only did they lose a star player, but they received so much money for him that other clubs could afford to hold them to ransom on other players to replace the Brazillian. Prices increase as supply goes down and demand goes up, that’s simple. Manchester United used to thrive on deadline day, having signed Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov on the last day of the window in 2004 and 2008 respectively. In the last few years, clubs have been reluctant to do much business late on in the window, as it left them with no time to find replacement. The once much-awaited day culminated this year in Danny Drinkwater’s move to Chelsea being the most exciting, hardly a patch on 31 January 2011, with Torres going to the Bridge and Carroll and Suarez heading to Merseyside to replace him. The point I’m getting at is that the end of the window just isn’t what it used to be, espe-

cially after the bloated values of players due to the big bucks shelled out by PSG this summer. Look at the aforementioned cases of Sanchez and Coutinho. Both clubs were entitled to sell and buy replacements, but both declined because there is so much work that goes into a transfer that it’s very hard to get one organised and put through hastily, particularly with the growing influence of agents. Squad building is a challenging process and isn’t made any easier by losing your best player without sufficient time to replenish the team. Managers now seem to dismiss the idea of aiming to have their squads ready for the end of August, as they’re already a couple of games into the season at that stage. They might not get much more time to actually get the team playing together. Take Frank de Boer for example, he lasted just four games. Managers now are under such huge pressure to win straight from the get-go that they need to have everything in order going into pre-season, never mind going into September. The new policy makes sense from that point of view. But other leagues have no reason to follow suit. It might make their Premier League targets off-limits, but they still have their own leagues and the rest of Europe to shop around in for two more weeks. Let’s not forget the Premier League starts back earlier than Italy, Spain and Germany’s top leagues, so the likes of Real, Barca, Juventus and Bayern all have more time to get their act together. It makes sense for them to give themselves that time. It seems that our friends across the water have made their own decision to depart from something the rest of Europe is going to continue taking part in. Now, where have we heard that before?

University Sport Clubs lead the way in an Intramural Sports and Recreation programme

THE

CUP

PRESIDENT'S

Represent your school or college in a grand prix series of recreational events “clash of the classes”

It’s new, it’s unique, it’s great craic and there’s a fabulous prize for the school that comes out on top.

You choose your team for each event from your class. Individuals may register an entire team or register as a free agent to be matched with other free agents to form a team. Everyone who enters gets a point, and more points means more of a chance of winning the President’s Cup. More teams, more points! We want multiple team entries from your school! These events are designed to encourage everyone – to try and support their school, and for essential bragging rights. NUIG SPORT will provide the venue, team leaders and lots of goodies: collegebranded water bottles, hoodies for each winning team per event and spot prizes for fair play and camaraderie. You need to get your team together, turn up, grab the points and have the craic. The intramural events will be scheduled during semester one and two. The events will include: • Frisbee • Tag Rugby • Indoor Soccer • Futsal • Indoor Cricket • Glow in the Dark Dodge Ball • a Fun Walk or Run Our final event will be in Dangan on our athletics track. We launch the programme officially in the next two weeks. Look out for our team leaders, school posters in all the buildings and SIN newspaper with all the details. In the meantime chat with, strategize and recruit your recreational teams. A maximum of ten players – staff or students – will be needed for each team. Each school or college can enter as many teams as they wish – in fact the more the merrier. First event of the President’s Cup will be Indoor Cricket, Monday 16 October 12-2pm. Never played cricket? It doesn’t matter, work with our NUIG Cricket team, Intervarsity winners 2017, and best team of the year 2017. This team will be representing their academic school and college not the Cricket Club! Recruit their members for your team. More news to follow in next edition of SIN Newspaper on 10 October. Any queries please contact kathy. hynes@nuigalway.ie, Sports Officer for Clubs and Participation. The Sports Unit would like to acknowledge the very kind and greatly appreciated support of this unique recreational programme to be named by the President of NUI Galway Prof Jim Browne.

SPÓ IRT

September 26 2017

Ireland hopes still alive but have they already squandered their chance? By Graham Gillespie Last November, when James McClean got onto the end of a silky Wes Hoolahan through ball and slid it past the Austrian goalkeeper Ramazan Özcan to secure a crucial 1 - 0 victory, everything felt so positive. The nation was still bathing in the warm afterglow of Martin O’Neil’s side fairly successful Euros in France, and after the win in Vienna they found themselves top of their World Cup qualifying group looking in prime position to book

their ticket to Russia next year. Flash forward ten months and the mood of the nation could not be more different. Ireland now languish in third in group D behind Serbia and Wales with them now needing to go to Cardiff at the start of October and win just to get a play - off place. Even if they do leave Cardiff City stadium with all three points, there’s a decent chance that Ireland may find themselves in the unfortunate position of being the worst second placed team and miss out on a playoff altogether.

So in this sense Ireland have gone from being masters of their own destiny to having qualification taken out of their hands, and they only have themselves to blame. Since the win against Austria including friendlies, the boys in green have won only one game in their last eight matches and that victory was a meaningless end of season home friendly against a second string Uruguay. Draws at home to Austria and away to Georgia followed that friendly before the most recent 1

Connacht’s aimless start is worrying, but certainly recoverable By Mark Lynch Standing in third place in Conference A of the newly-formed Pro 14 at the time of writing this, Connacht having played one extra game more than everyone else in their conference, should be relatively pleased with their position in the table. That said, one win and two losses is a poor return and is only flattered by their bonus points in the previous two games. Connacht are a difficult side to gauge this year with expectations lying somewhere between mediocre mid - table and challenging for honours. Two seasons ago, they blew everyone out of the water with a sensational first victory while last year was seen as a come-down of sorts, finishing a disappointing eighth. However, with the unpredictability of this side and the loss of their Messiah: Pat Lam, coupled with a new format and two new teams thrown into the mix, it’s unsurprising that the Westerners have been somewhat inconsistent this season, albeit with just three games played. Is that all we should expect from them though? So what have we seen of Kieran Keane’s men? One minute and forty-five seconds into the new season, out-half Jack Carty kicked the opening points of the campaign, a penalty against the Glasgow Warriors. It was a promising start, but it wasn’t built on. Glasgow ran out winners 18 - 12 on the kind of wet and windy day that forced the Warriors to employ a spare teammate to hold the ball to the tee for kicks at goal. It was a frustrating first day

out, but it was a game dominated by the wild weather which disrupted any rhythm or attacking flow that might have otherwise been present. Furthermore, this is a Glasgow side who have come on leaps and bounds in the last couple of years and that was, by no means, going to be an expected victory for Connacht. What about the second day out? This seemed a vast improvement, a bonus point victory for the 2015/16 champions over the newly introduced Southern Kings who have been having a tough time of it in the division to say the least. An early sin-bin for the South African outfit gave Connacht a dream start and this time, they built on it. They led 24 - 5 at half-time and finished out the second half in solid fashion. After another disheartening loss in the most recent outing, against the Dragons, it begs the question, were Connacht actually that good, or were the Kings just that bad? Given their other result was a 52 - 10 loss against the Scarlets, perhaps the Westerners have papered over the cracks with the bonus point win. The Dragons went over for the first try in just the second minute and by the time 40 minutes were up, they were 21 - 3 ahead. Despite some good signs in the second half, that lead was too much to recover from and Connacht must lick their wounds. Looking at the layout of this year’s tournament, Connacht can do reasonably well and still make the play-off phase at the end of Spring. Finishing third out of seven in their conference will be enough to make a quarter-final

spot, which should be the minimum aim for this year’s Pro 14 campaign. Finishing in the top three or the best placed fourth team is enough for a Champions Cup place. They should almost guarantee to finish ahead of Zebre and the Cheetahs, unless the latter find their feet quickly or are formidable at home. After that, they should be capable of getting ahead of Cardiff and then it becomes a battle between Ospreys, Glasgow, Munster and Connacht for those top three places. Kieran Keane and his troops need to push on and start winning those tight games and they can’t afford to give away anymore head-starts such as the one in Wales. They’re losing games too easily at this stage of the season. Their European campaign starts in just a few weeks and although they’ve been handed a decent group from which to progress, getting into a spiral of losing 50/50 games won’t bode well once the games start coming thick and fast. It’s going to be a difficult task to turn 30/40 minutes of good rugby into regular match-winning, but if they manage it there is ample opportunity for Connacht to discard last season as an exception and get back into the Champions Cup, as well as challenge the big guns for some silverware. It’s about taking baby steps though, and the first step is to tackle this forthcoming Welsh double-header against Cardiff and Scarlets (the first of which will have already been played by the time this issue is out), and get a minimum five points.

- 0 loss to table-toppers Serbia at the Aviva leaving Ireland mired in the position they are in now. However the pivotal moment in the group came before these games, when back in March captain Seamus Coleman suffered stomach - churning leg break in a 0 - 0 draw against Wales. How significant this loss has been cannot be stated enough. Apart from his obvious ability being one of Ireland’s most talented players, we also lost the team’s most important leader. Just how badly Coleman was missed became clear in the second half of the Serbia clash when the visitors were down to ten men for the last half hour. Instead of showing patience and belief in their ability to break down Serbia’s rigid defence and score an equaliser, Ireland appeared to succumb to the pressure of the occasion with several players including James McClean and Cyrus Christie resorting to long

range shots out of desperation. It was in these moments when Coleman was missed the most, as if he was on the pitch there would have been a chance that he could have calmed down his teammates and kept them doing the simple things. However, the loss of Coleman should not give Ireland a free pass for their performances since that game. In international football at the moment it is not difficult for any team to make massive strides simply through being well coached and having solid structures in place, with the successes of Northern Ireland and Iceland being a testament to this. In reality, none of the teams Ireland have played in their group can really be considered a class above them. With this in mind, it is probably fair to say that Martin O’Neill and his side have perhaps been too fearful of their opponents, showing them too much respect. The most painful example of this was the Georgia draw in Tbilisi which saw Ireland get completely

outclassed by a team currently ranked 103rd in the world. Ireland tend to often struggle against weaker teams because they don’t often know how to take the initiative in these games. Of course this also has a lot to do with the personnel selected, when Brady and Hoolahan were both on the pitch against Serbia Ireland played some exciting attacking football but O’Neill, like Trapattoni before him, still seems to lack trust in our flair players, often reverting back to the likes of the trusted but much (perhaps unfairly) maligned Glenn Whelan. It’s a clichéd argument at this point, but this inbuilt pessimism which stems from an all-encompassing fear of losing is doing Ireland far more harm than good. Nevertheless Ireland, if they play at their best, could certainly still win their last two group games and a play-off to qualify for Russia, but for that to be possible they will have to cast off some of their inhibitions.

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