SIN Vol. 19 Issue 04 by SIN Newspaper University of Galway

NUACHTÁN SAOR IN AISCE VOL.19 Issue 4. 24 OCT 2017

Student Independent News

HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES? By Sorcha O’Connor Are you adventurous at heart? Willing to use only your brain and initiative to achieve your goals? Then Jailbreak 2018 could be for you.

The annual rat-race competition organised by Amnesty International and St Vincent de Paul was launched again last week on 19 October by Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor ahead of its

2018 round of fundraising and excitement. The thrilling competition is open to all third-level students, who will take on the challenge of reaching a mystery location in March next year in under 36 hours

– with no money of their own. Participants must blag their way to the finish line in the fastest time possible, solely using the good will of others, asking them to donate to the charities and for a lift to their destinations.

Jailbreak 2018 is launched in Trinity College Dublin last week.

The fast-paced competition has seen students set off from Dublin to find themselves in many locations dotted around the continent, including San Marino, Krakow, and Lake Bled in Slovenia. Last year’s winners Trinity pair Liam Cronin and Mark Perham reached San Marino before all other teams and were also the top fundraisers of the €57,000 raised last year. Now into its sixth year, Jailbreak has raised a whopping €225,000 so far and is the world’s leading student charity competition. This year, Cumann Gaelach will co-organise the event to promote the Irish language throughout the international event. Speaking at the launch of the competition, co-director of the exciting race across Europe Hugh Fitzgibbon said the competition was “like no other”. “A race across Europe to reach a mystery location with the aim of raising money for St Vincent de Paul and Amnesty Jailbreak truly is a challenge like no other!” he said. He explained the team would be visiting third-level institu-

tions across Ireland over the coming weeks looking for students to apply for the whirlwind experience. “We are very excited for Jailbreak 2018 and will be visiting colleges all over Ireland in the coming weeks with all the information. Get involved!” Minister Mitchell O’Connor said she hoped the competition would heighten engagement with the two worthy causes behind the event. “It is great to see third-level students use their ingenuity, stamina and the power of their collective to help people less fortunate than themselves,” she said. “I am sure the enthusiasm of the 2018 Jailbreak participants will motivate people within our colleges, universities and the wider community to engage with the two charities, St. Vincent de Paul and Amnesty International.” Further information on how to sign-up can be found on www. jailbreakrace.com or on Facebook Jailbreak HQ, Twitter @ JailbreakHQ and Instagram @ Jailbreakhq.

NUI Galway crowned University of the Year By Teodora Bandut Our very own NUI Galway has been named University of the Year by the Sunday Times’ Good University Guide 2018. This is the third time the University has received the accolade, winning the inaugural award in 2002 and later in 2009. The guide assesses key indicators including top degrees awarded, graduate job prospects and course completion rates across the 22 Irish Higher Education Institutes (HEI). This is the country’s only league table to measure the performance of all 22 multi-faculty third-level education institutes. The editor of the Sunday Times Good University Guide Alastair

McCall praised NUI Galway for having the best job prospects in the country with just 3% graduate unemployment rate. The university also boasts figures such as 88% course completion and world-renowned members of academic staff. “In the eight years since NUI Galway last won our University of the Year award it has continued to grow its global reputation as one of the great seats of learning,” he said. “Some of its academics are among the most cited in the world and its reputation spans the arts and the sciences.” On learning the good news, outgoing NUI Galway President Dr Jim Browne explained the Uni-

versity’s vision for the ten years he has been in office. “We try to orient our programmes to support the ambition of our students and the needs of our economy in the longer term. We also try to have an appropriate balance of traditional academic scholarship and work-based learning,” he said. With its strong reputation for research, bringing in €65m of research income last year, NUI Galway awaits investments of €49m from the Science Foundation Ireland over the next six years. The centre helps to link industry with academia and aims to assist NUI Galway in its commitment to do so also.

The university’s openness to alternative means of teaching and learning has also been praised, especially in regards to its celebration and promotion of the Irish language. The university offers classes in the language from beginner to advanced level as well as programmes taught through the medium of Irish. An additional €19m in funding is also expected from the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme. The university is rooted in the Galway community and is “pivotal to the regional economy” and “plays an active role at all levels” according to Alistair McCall. As the city gears up to be 2020’s cultural capital, NUI Galway will be at its heart. Having

recently inaugurated the O’Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance, the importance the campus places on the arts has always been highlighted. NUI Galway continues to climb in international rankings also with recognition from Top 250 of the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2017/2018, as well as the QS World University Rankings 2017/18, which places us in the top 1% of universities worldwide. The university hosts international centres such as Moore Institute, Institute for Life course and Society and The Ryan Institute for Environmental, Marine and Energy. Addition-

ally, NUI Galway has been listed as one of the most beautiful universities in Europe according to Business Insider. Dr Jim Browne stated that the success is due to the contribution of all participatory parties. “Our students and staff are the vital ingredient that make this University truly special and this award acknowledges their creativity, innovation and hard work. The ambition here knows no bounds and I am confident that we are on a path for even greater renown for this institution and the region,” he said. This year’s runner up, for a second consecutive year, was Trinity College.

2 NE WS

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 4

Flirt FM launch new schedule

2017 Conferrings All photo credits: NUI Galway

By Eoghan Holland Our very own Flirt FM has launched its new schedule in the past two weeks, holding on to some of the most established shows while adding a lot of new flavour to the airwaves. Unlike commercial radio, Flirt FM doesn’t play adverts and is highly directed towards wide ranging alternative music and relevant talk. The schedule always takes the same shape but it’s the character of the shows and the specialism which sets it apart. Flirt broadcasts on “nuclearfallout proof” 101.3fm and also can be listened to on your phone via www.flirtfm.ie/listen and the Tunein app. Every day kicks off at 8am with a hand selected music library from a different NUI Galway DJ to get you started in the morning. This is followed by an NUI Galway style “lie-in” show from 9am-11am to get you back into bed. From 12pm to 4pm, a variety of music and chat can be heard through the station’s Radar shows: on Monday you might find Rebecca Mann’s award winning Riot in Wonderland, which looks at current affairs and ethical concerns from a feminist perspective with guests and collaborators from a huge array of backgrounds, or hear John Walsh present his Wireless series where he tracks the development of radio across the globe and into the future. Tuesday brings you hammerhorror radio with Rita Scott, science with Schrodinger’s Chat

presented by Joanne Duffy or depending on the week tune in to hear Claire Stone’s Radio Fairytale tracking all that is Disney, or River Byrne’s Operation: No Control delivering an energetic dose of pop punk. Colaiste Chreagain have also recently joined the roster too. Wednesday is for trad lovers. David Larkin’s Larkin About on Wednesday at midday is a celebration of traditional music. If you prefer your radio a bit more YASSSSSSS QUEEEEEENNNN then catch Steven Sharpe at 2pm to hear his sweet voice talk local music and personal faves on Open Mic Radio. Topical Tropical make for , well, topical tropical radio and David Boland will check in once a month to keep you in tune with city and county music and the arts with his Notions series. Más maith leat do chuid raidió I nGaeilge, tugaigí cluais chuile lá idir an 1 agus 2, nuair a bhíonn seóanna ón Acadamh, Raidió na Life agus An Rock Block beo chuile Deardaoin. Lucy Pollock and Blondie Robinson want to bring you to Lucy’s Special Place at midday on Thursday while Eoghan Murphy aka the Galway Gamer hosts a specialist show on Thursdays with 8-bit classics, gaming news, events, interviews and nostal-

gia. Back from travelling the world this summer, The Kings of Smalltalk Sarah, Sylvia and Eoin fill Thursday’s evening slot. Friday sets you up for the weekend, whether that means work, a commute home or training. Dave Finn, Mikayla Kelly, Paul Shaughnessy and Graham Gillespie preview and review all the weeks sporting events at local, national and global level. Kicking-off at 3pm, Stephen Joyce and Brian Currie have talk shows, and Javier and Matthew Brown provide your Friday evening tunes. From 5-6pm every day the Newsfeed team bring you news from campus to space and back with a focus on emerging events and stories through interviews, interspersed with 100% Irish artists. After a whole day at college Flirt FM’s legendary Happy Hour brings two hours of music, society news and all the chats with a different crew every day. From 8pm, every evening has its own alternative theme – tune in to find out more! If you are having trouble finding a show you like among the above, call in to Flirt FM in Aras na Mac Leinn about volunteering with the station.

And that’s a wrap: Bachelor of Arts Graduates throw their hats to the air in celebration on Tuesday 17 October.

Graduates from the School of Engineering with their certificates on Friday 20 October.

Commerce Graduates keep the rain at bay on Wednesday 18 October.

Storm Ophelia wreaks havoc across the country By Sorcha O’Connor It was a long wait on Sunday evening for prospective NUI Galway graduates as the closure of the university was deliberated ahead of Storm Ophelia on Monday 16 October. The decision was made at 7pm on Sunday to heed the red weather warning, as the university cancelled lectures and Monday’s conferring ceremonies in the interest of safety during the ex-hurricane’s arrival to the west of Ireland.

The ceremonies were rescheduled for Saturday 21 October. The storm left mass destruction in her wake, claiming the lives of three people: Bricklayer Michael Pyke, who was struck by the limb of a tree as he attempted to clear a back road in Tipperary during the storm, new father Fintan Goss, who died when a tree struck his car in Co Louth as he returned home early from work, and nurse Clare O’Neill, who died when a branch crashed through

the windscreen of her car in Waterford and pierced her chest, causing fatal injuries. 100,000 people were left without electricity on Monday and up to €800m in damages were caused by the adverse weather conditions. It is speculated that the full amount of damage caused by the storm will not be known for some weeks. Last weekend 21 October another weather warning was issued as Storm Brian made tracks across the Atlantic towards the country.

Lisa Casserly, a member of Galway WFC, from Ballinderreen, Co. Galway at her graduation on Wednesday 18 October. Lisa was conferred with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree.

NUACHT

October 24 2017 FEATURES EDITORIAL: CONNELL McHUGH

Welcome to Issue Four of SIN this semester. I usually say something about it being a whirlwind two weeks getting the paper together – and this time round, it genuinely was, with the arrival of Storm Ophelia last Monday! As ever, the paper is jampacked with something for everyone, whether you are looking for tips on bagging a bargain for your race day outfit or are intrigued by the on-goings in Catalonia. We have opinions, features, listicles, and tutorials galore, with some frightfully fitting Halloween specials in store too – ‘tis the season after all! As it is midterm, things can get a bit assignment-heavy at this time of year. However, don’t forget to take a break and chill in Smokey’s, reading your favourite, free, oncampus newspaper! If you fancy getting involved in SIN, you can come along to our weekly meetings on Monday at 6pm in the Journalism Suite in the Arts Millenium Building. Hope you all have a great fortnight,

Sorcha.

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

Halloween is upon us folks, so get ready for some scary clowns and punny costumes to be hitting your newsfeeds. The Features section of issue four has a variety of articles to keep you occupied despite the shorter days and the colder weather. Saoirse Rafferty delves into that topic exactly, with tips on how to stay motivated in the last few weeks of the semester. Halloween traditions and their origins are examined by Aoife O’Donoghue, while Amy McMahon gives us some reasons behind NUI Galway’s recent title of the Sunday Times University of the Year 2018 (hint: because duh). Apple are releasing new emojis, so we’ve got you covered there too with a ranking of the best ten!

OPINION EDITORIAL: TEODORA BANDUT Having recently survived climatic turmoil, in this issue we’ll take stock of our values like never before. Our writers ambitiously tackled increasingly contentious matters, starting with this week’s debate on gender quotas: do they make society fairer for all? We also have a take on the obesity epidemic in Ireland, its causes and dangers. We discuss the similarities between Catalonians and Brexiteers, as well as dissecting Eminem’s supposed-lambasting of President Trump. The rap-god’s latest lyrics have divided his loyal fanbase. Was it an impressive take-down of the President or an embarrassing, listless effort from the king of controversy? We also discuss satire in relation to mental health. Looking at the beloved Rubberbandits’s new song, we wonder whether they have gone too far this time. There is all this plus much more. Enjoy - this issue might just blow you away!

FASHION & LIFESTYLE EDITORIAL: AMY McMAHON

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

Hello everybody! Issue four is here and Halloween is upon us. This was such a fun issue to put together and I hope you’ll enjoy it too. Obviously, Halloween was our main focus for this issue with a few pieces dedicated to the holiday, not only in this section but across the paper. Kate O’Neill our resident beauty guru, Kake Me Up, is taking the time to tell us

how to recreate a Halloween makeup look – definitely one to check out! Aside from the spooky side of things we also have our usual fashion, beauty and lifestyle pieces. Michael Glynn writes about what to do in Galway for a fiver or less, ideal for students. Ashyle Cota advises vegetarians where and what to eat after a night out to avoid the temptation of meat. Tarryn McGuire talks us through feminism in the fashion world; are slogan T shirts a passing trend or a political statement here to stay? Skip forward and find out. So, treat yourself to a cup of tea and read on to see what’s instore in this issue!

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITORIAL: MICHAEL GLYNN Hey ho, here we go. It’s your Arts and Entertainment editor Michael Glynn here with another great set of articles for you. We understand after the reckoning that was Hurricane Ophelia you need some cheering up and the easiest way to accomplish this is with doing absolutely nothing, so to help with that we’ve got all the must watch films and tv shows that have been added to Netflix this month in a handy dandy article for you. The Vodafone Comedy Carnival is also upon us and if you were in any way on the fence about getting a ticket to one of these shows, we’ve got a fine list of must-sees to knock you right off that fence and into a fit of laughter. Apart from that we’ve got a film review of The Mountain Between Us to keep you up to date with new film releases.

SPORTS EDITORIAL: GRAHAM GILLESPIE This issue we have the rundown on who we think should reign victorious at this year’s All Stars, read on to see if you agree with our choices. We take a look at Argentina’s reliance on Messi and whether they really deserve a coveted World Cup spot, and also cast an eye over the progress of NUI Galway’s football team in the championship so far. As always, we are interested in gaining a sports writer or two, so be sure to come along to meetings on Monday at 6pm in the Journalism Suite or e-mail sports. sined@gmail.com to find out more! Enjoy your fortnight.

INSIDE Vox Pop: Should the voting age be lowered from 18 to 16? 4 Christmas is saved: Market’s Ferris wheel will return this year

Staying motivated in the final few weeks of the semester 6 NUI Galway named University of the Year 2018, of course 9 Breast-feeding women and hedgehogs join the emoji keyboard

Our collective cognitive dissonance on seceding states 12 Head to head: Gender quotas make society fairer for all 13 Separating the artist from the abuser: a moral dilemma 14 Off to the races: 5 looks for under €50

Three last minute Halloween costumes

Kake Me Up for SIN: It Clown tutorial

Late night food for veggies in Galway

Movie review: The Mountain Between Us

Who’s who at the Vodafone Comedy Carnival 21 A ten team League of Ireland should not be the way forward

SIN’s All-Star team and moments of the year

Find us online: www.sin.ie

4 NE WS

I’ve got a Golden Ticket:

Science Ball 2017 has a Willy Wonka twist By Orla Carty This year the Science Ball is taking a slightly different angle than usual. Instead of a science-oriented theme, the Salthill Hotel will be swapping some of their luxurious decor for sweets, transforming into Willy Wonka’s Factory for Wednesday 8 November. Open to all students, the ball promises to be a great evening, with pick-n-mix sweets, a chocolate fountain, a photo-booth, and cans of red bull, which are all complimentary. Full tickets will cost €55 and include a champagne reception, and a rendition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s soundtrack by Orchestra Soc at 7PM. A threecourse dinner will be served at 8PM. Afters tickets are a reasonable €25 with doors opening at 10PM. The night will feature performances from Galway’s local band Habits, up and coming festival favourite Le Boom, and an NUI Galway ball veteran Daithi. With a mixture of pop, techno, classical, with each act playing their own live instruments, everyone’s taste is sure to be catered for. All ball attendees will also gain free entry into Electric the following night before 11.30PM, which will also allow them entry to their event that night with Camelphat. A raffle will take place during the ball with all proceeds going directly to the Galway Hospice Foundation. Prizes include food, meal vouchers, hampers and more. The Physics Society will be selling tickets for the superbly sweet ball in the weeks leading up to it in Smokey’s Cafe. There will also be a limited amount available from Socs Box. A maximum of two tickets may be bought per student card, and all must note that this is an over eighteen’s event. Those without proof of age will be refused entry at the door. Several hotel rooms will also be available for the night, at the discounted price of one hundred euro for ball attendees. This will include bed and breakfast with access to both gym and pool facilities the following day. This year’s ball is shaping up to be one sugary spectacle. With some quirky extras up their sleeves, and great live performers, the society have worked hard to bring everyone the best night they can. If anyone would like to see more information visit thier Facebook page, watch their promo video created with the talented Aerborn Media, or join the event on Facebook. What better way to start November?

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 4

‘Reform the education system first’

VOX POP: Should the voting age be lowered from 18 to 16? By Sorcha O’Connor

Mateus Imolesi, Drama, Theatre and Performance

While the focus of late has certainly been on the recent announcement that a referendum on the Eighth Amendment will be taking place next summer, the government are also planning a referendum on lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 in June 2019. SIN hit campus to hear what NUI Galway students thought about the possibility of a younger voting age, and whether they thought citizens who had not yet reached legal adulthood were adequately informed to become part of the electorate. Although some students thought it was a definite no-no, others thought that it might be a good idea, especially if efforts were made in schools to encourage pupils to engage with politics.

Michael Moore, MA in Writing

Connor Laffey, Final Year Chemistry

It may have some flaws but mostly it is a good idea because I think that even if you are a little younger than 18 you might want to have some control of your own life, you might want to add your opinion to certain things, and you might feel like you are contributing more to society if the age for voting is lowered a bit. There are those who may have a position or ability to vote and have that taken away from them – there are those who are more mature and who may have some ideas for the betterment of society, and they could do good. The majority might be too immature, but I think people should be given the choice of whether to vote or not.

Jack Looby, MA in Drama and Theatre Studies

I definitely think it is a good idea for the political model because having younger people vote gives them more of a say on their future. However, we also have to question are the government introducing this to attract more young people to support their opinions? At the moment, looking at democracy, everybody has a vote as a citizen but not everyone shows up to vote … While I agree, that young people should be able to vote the system of voting needs to be looked at in the long run.

new raft of people into the electorate, you may as well reform the education system so they are an informed band of the electorate.

It could be a good idea but if they were to do it, they should follow it up with an alteration of the CSPE curriculum so students are more informed on current affairs and politics, as opposed to just lowering it without any information. It’s hard to say [if young people are engaged] but it couldn’t hurt to put more information out there. If you are going to lower the voting age to bring in a whole

Personally when I was underage I didn’t know too much about the political scheme and I wouldn’t want my vote going to something I didn’t really believe or know about. I think it should stay at 18, you’re an adult when you’re 18. All the other laws are around 18, that’s what you’re supposed to do and I think it should stay that way.

Eimear Kelly, First Year Commerce with French

I think the age is fine as it is, for me anyways I had no idea about politics until now – and I still don’t really, to be honest. It depends, I think some people are [engaged], but the majority don’t know that much about it, if they’re any way like me! I think 18 is fine, you only become an adult at 18. I suppose it is different for everyone and when they engage with politics.

NUACHT

October 24 2017

CHRISTMAS IS SAVED: Market’s Ferris wheel will return this year By Sorcha O’Connor The Galway Christmas Market will commence with its iconic Ferris wheel on 17 November despite initial fears that the seasonal spectacle would not be present at the market this year. A dispute between local taxi drivers and the organisers of the

market was settled on Thursday evening 19 October at a special mediation held at City Hall, with the decision made to extend the taxi rank at Forster Street to allow for the Ferris wheel. The taxi men initially argued that they suffered a loss of livelihood due to the presence of the Ferris wheel at the fair, which

blocks access to the taxi rank outside Supermacs. Organisers of the festive event argued the big wheel was a massive attraction for families. The compromise allows the seasonal activities to kick off as planned in just over three weeks, which will carry on till 22 December.

Photo: Galway Market Facebook page

Find out how you can increase your earning power The NUI Galway Postgraduate Open Day takes place on Tuesday 7 November from 12–3pm in the Bailey Allen Hall. SPEAKING ON THE VALUE of a postgraduate qualification, Valerie Leahy, Postgraduate Recruitment Officer, explains why students should seriously consider their options after their degree: “A postgraduate qualification can increase your earning potential. Research has shown that your earning power and career progression greatly increases after you obtain a postgraduate qualification. Furthermore it can enhance your employability. Statistics from the Careers Service Graduate Destinations Report indicate that 56% of NUI Galway undergraduates are in employment nine months after graduation. This rises to 82% for postgraduates.” Affordability of postgraduate courses is always a consideration for students, and a range of scholarships and grants are available. For example, NUI Galway offers

a generous Taught Masters Scholarship Scheme for all students obtaining First Class Honours. SUSI grants may also be available for postgraduates, including limited maintenance grants, which were reintroduced in 2017. The programmes are generally of a short duration. Most run for nine months, meaning students can upgrade their undergraduate qualification and learn new skills in a very short time. NUI Galway also facilitates payment of fees in instalments, to help students budget. Staying in Galway is an exciting prospect for many students and the University is in the top 1% of universities in the world. The recent announcement that NUI Galway as the Sunday Times University of the Year 2018 is a reflection on the quality of its teaching and research. With over 170 programmes, students can explore the wide range of award-winning taught courses (including conversion, part-time, online, and blended learning options) and research programmes. Postgraduate Open Day is the best opportunity to meet programme directors and current students to find out about the range of options available.

Tuesday 7th November 12–3pm

BOOK NOW :

www.nuigalway.ie/postgraduate-open-day

6 F E AT UR E S Leideanna taistil: don lucht siúil scaipthe Le Rebecca Fisher Chun an fhírinne a insint, is féidir liom a bheith an-scaipthe ag amanna, caillim mo chuid rudaí, déanaim dearmad ar mo chuid rudaí agus ní féidir liom treoracha a leanúint chun mo shaol a shábháil. Ar ndóigh, d’fhéadfadh sé seo a bheith ina mhíbhuntáiste nuair a bhíom ag taistil, ach thar na blianta d’fhorbair mé leideanna agus cleasanna chun a chinntiú go ritheann mo thuras go réidh.

Coinnigh cóipeanna i gcónaí: Ní féidir liom brath ar láimh amháin an méid ama a chaill mé mo thicéid eitleáin, ticéid bus, ticéid traenach agus cáipéisí tábhachtacha eile. Is féidir leis a bheith an-bhearránach agus moill gan ghá a chur ar do thuras. Chun é seo a stopadh, coinním cóip de mo chuid doiciméid thábhachtacha uile sna apps iBooks agus Wallet ar mo iPhone, chomh maith le cóip chlóite i mo bhagáiste láimhe. Ar an mbealach seo táim ullmhaithe i gcónaí don chás is measa.

Málaí ar Málaí ar Málaí: Is mise an duine is measa as dearmad a dhéanamh ar míreanna tábhachtacha agus mé ag phacáil, agus rudaí a fhágáil taobh thiar dom in óstáin. Ó go leor botúin a dhéanamh, d’fhoghlaim mé an bealach is fearr chun é seo a sheachaint. Tá málaí beaga agam taobh istigh de mo chás, a chuirim míreanna ar leith isteach iontu, chun a chinntiú nach féidir liom iad a chailleadh. Tá mála agam le haghaidh; earraí maisíochta, fo-éadaí, seodra, míreanna leictreonacha, srl. Ar an mbealach seo, tá áit ag gach rud agus ní féidir é a chailliúint.

Tá seicliostaí mar do chara is fear: Mura scríobhaim rud éigin síos ní dhéanfaidh mé cuimhneamh air riamh, mar sin tá seicliostaí tar éis mo shaol a shábháil níos mó ná uair amháin agus mé ag taisteal. An oíche sula bhfágann mé, scríobhaim sios gach rud a gcaithfidh mé a dhéanamh, is cuma cé chomh simplí is atá sé. Nuair atá mé cinnte go bhfuil gach rud scríofa sios agam, déanfaidh mé an liosta mar mo spárálaíscáileáin ar mo ghuthán, mar sin caithfidh mé breathnú air ar feadh an maidin ar fad.

Tá uainiú tábhachtach: Ní féidir liom a rá leat cé mhéad uair a bhí orm a reáchtáil trí shlándáil aerfoirt chun eitleán a ghabháil, nó cé mhéad uair a rug mé air bus mar a bhí sé ag fágáil an stáisiúin. Tá an tráthúlacht an-tábhachtach nuair a bhíonn tú ag taisteal, agus ní mór duit a chinntiú go bhfágann tú go leor ama le haghaidh éigeandálaí ar do thuras. Ná bí ag caitheamh seodra nó criosanna is tú ag dul tríd shlándáil aerfoirt, déan cinnte go bhfuil do chuid doiciméid go léir réidh le dul agat agus fágáil am le haghaidh moilleanna. Ghabháil tú buíochas leat féin níos déanaí. Tá súil agam go gcuideoidh na leideanna seo leat ar do chéad turas eile, agus déan cinnte nach bhfaighidh tú gafa i aerfort Stansted don oíche ar fad mar a rinne mise an deireadh seachtaine seo. Geallaim, is fearr a bheith ullmhaithe.

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 4

Erasmus Diary: one month anniversary abroad By Brigid Fox I’m pleased to announce my one month anniversary with Spain. It was tough but we did it. There were moments when I wasn’t sure if we would ever happen but here we are, still together and with many wonderful months ahead of us. To mark this momentous occasion, I wish to share with you all a quick selection of my best and worst moments from my time in Spain so far. Thankfully the best times greatly outweighed the worst, and all of them together create an honest portrayal of my Erasmus journey so far. Best bits: I’ve always loved meeting new people and getting to know other ways of living especially through different cultures and customs. Being on an Erasmus I have been introduced to a wide spectrum of people whose homes can be found all around the world. Whether they were from Belgium, Britain, France, Thailand, America, or New Zealand, everyone had a story to tell. Going to Erasmus events like Tapas Tuesday and karaoke nights with these new friends has to be included in my best moments. Singing karaoke, drinking calimocho while playing very complicated Spanish drinking games and as cringe-worthy as it sounds, creating strong friendships is truly the sign of a good Erasmus. Exploring and being exposed to the landscape and nature of another country is priceless. Whether alone or in a group, wandering around unknown places is one of my favourite pastimes. Recently I visited the lakes of Covadonga in Asturias, the

north of Spain. I have never seen anything so beautiful. As I and two friends travelled high into the mountains and by “high” I mean “I-never-thoughtI’d-die-on-mountain-and-so-young-too-high”, it was astonishing to see such a natural creation in person Travelling up the mountains, the shallow road was barely existent and falling off seemed as likely as staying on, yet it was one of the most serene sights. As the North of Spain is a beloved secret and has yet to be exposed to the colossal quantity of tourism in comparison to other cities in Spain, it’s attractions seem untainted. It was unmarked by swarms of people on their holidays. It didn’t cost forty euro to visit, and up on the mountains had little evidence of human life at all. The only sound that could be heard was the faint noise of swaying bells located on the necks of semi-wild, friendly cows surrounding the mountains and lake. It was an experience like no other and I’m so grateful I got to see it. Worst bits: Fortunately, the worst moments were always overshadowed by the best. However regardless of location, lifestyle and college, everyone has bad days and that didn’t change just because I was in Spain. The first couple of nights were strange as I lived alone and had to adjust to the new sounds and creaks of my apartment – and coming from a family of ten the eerie silence was something uncommon to me. Now, admittedly, I love the silence and having a place I can call my own. It gives me endless amounts of personal free-

dom and space. I can get up at 3am and make tea without worrying about disturbing my housemates or watch Netflix in the living room all day. If this isn’t living the dream I don’t know what is. My most frustrating problem I’ve experienced is in reference to registering for college which has become the bane of my Erasmus life. Alternating between subjects, filling out numerous application forms, hunting down professors for signatures – it’s been tough. What is more distressing is the build up of assignments and essays especially when access to student websites have been denied because of these issues. Overall, Spain and Oviedo have been great to me. I expect exciting things to follow in my future here. With just a little over three months to experience Spain I am determined to make that time count. It has been a very humbling experience and I am grateful for this rare opportunity. As I plan on travelling home for a quick visit, pick up the next issue of SIN when I will explore the top ten things I miss about Ireland (cue the corny flashbacks!). You can also follow my journey on my blog and Instagram “Fox in Thought” for regular updates.

Staying motivated in the final few weeks of the semester By Saoirse Rafferty We are over half way through the first semester already, and now college has started to seem a bit more serious. As deadlines approach and presentations commence, the library is filling up and lecturers are already talking about exams. And that is not to mention the pressure from family and friends as they politely remind you how you have no idea what you are doing after you finish that arts degree. It’s no wonder the easiest option is normally to crawl up under the duvet and listen to the rain as you dream back to freshers’ week. After a good solid first few weeks, the excitement of being ‘back to college’ has started to fade. You’ve begun losing pens, missing lectures, and the house is always a mess. Here is some advice on how to stay motivated through this often messy cycle called college.

Wake up early If your lectures are early in the morning, you really have no excuse for not waking up early. Getting up is often the hardest part of the day, but if you try to get a good sleeping pattern there’s no doubt you’ll be more focused and motivated. Normally seven or eight hours of sleep each night is recommended and sometimes oversleeping can be worse for you, so maintaining a set cycle is the best way to keep your body fresh. You will feel so much more productive if you get all of the hard work done early in the day and then leave the evenings for relaxing.

Exercise Sometimes exercise seems like the last thing you want to do after rolling out of bed, especially with a long day of lectures ahead but I promise you it will be worth it. Exercising helps wake the mind up and the best time to go is when you really don’t feel motivated to go. Exercise releases happy hormones in the body which will make your day much brighter and better. Lace up your runners early in the day because as the day drags on it gets easier to come up with excuses. Quit complaining and just make time to for a walk or run, your head will be much clearer.

Rain jackets and good winter gear As college students jetted off on their summer J1s or holidays away, they surely reminisced on sunny days by the Spanish Arch. However in the first week back in Galway, many found themselves running to Penneys in search of a decent umbrella after the familiar rain had returned. As the short weeks go by and the continuous bad weather accompanies them, it can easily dampen people’s motivation to leave the house. Don’t let the weather get you down. Investing in warm clothes, a good umbrella, and a raincoat will be worth it. Walking to classes won’t be so tough if you are realistic and prepared for the weather. Staying around college all day normally helps rather than walking back and forth in between classes. Make sure to bring a packed lunch and wear lots of warm layers.

Plan your week In the college semester it’s easy to lose track of time, and after looking at your calendar and realising Octo-

ber is nearly over, you might find yourself in a panic. It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed with the overload of information on Blackboard, and sometimes deciding where or what to start with is the hardest step. Something as small as making a daily study plan can be so effective and helpful. Start out with prioritising assignments, and then try give each subject some sort of attention and effort each week. Even if this means just going to all of your lectures or reading over your notes for ten minutes. Find what works for you and remember every little bit helps.

Eat healthy Doing a food shop at the start of the week and making healthy lunches will make you feel more organised. Drinking water and eating healthily will help you stay focused and give you the necessary energy. Even though a takeaway might seem like an easier option, in the long run good eating habits will motivate you to make better decisions and pick up positive habits.

Go to your lectures Even though there is always the familiar ‘I’ll get more work done at home’ excuse, 50 minutes in a lecture hall won’t take over your day too much; you’ll normally regret not going anyway because you’ll never know what you might have missed. I guarantee that there’s no better motivation than actually attending your lectures and listening to your lecturers. Even if you don’t think you’re learning, you never know how helpful it might be and it will definitely motivate you to do even better, especially when you’ve made the effort to attend in the first place!

An tSeachtain um Fheasacht agus Threoir ar an tSláinte Ghnéis 2017

It’s coming . . .are you?

SHAG WEEK Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance

Monday 23rd of October/Dé Luain, an 23 Deireadh Fómhair 5pm-7pm 6pm-7pm

FREE STI Clinic by appointment only. Make your appointment in the Student Health Unit or phone 091 492 604. Queer Sex Ed with GiG Soc, in the Art Room, Áras na Mac Léinn.

Tuesday 24th of October/Dé Máirt, an 24 Deireadh Fómhair 5pm-7pm 6pm-8pm 8pm

FREE STI Clinic by appointment only. Make your appointment in the Student Health Unit or phone 091 492604. Let’s Talk About Sex (Toys) - In conversation with Shawna Scott of Sex Siopa in AC202. Sex Toy Bingo at Sult

Wednesday 25th of October/ Dé Céadaoin, an 25 Deireadh Fómhair 11am-2pm 1pm-3pm 5pm-7pm

Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) Stand in Smokey’s Café ‘Asking for it’ Consent workshop with FREE pizza in The View, Áras na Mac Léinn FREE STI Clinic by appointment only. Make your appointment in the Student Health Unit or phone 091 492 604.

Thursday 26th of October/Déardaoin, an 26 Deireadh Fómhair 4pm-6pm 5pm-7pm

All Week

Menstural Health Workshop in The Cube. FREE STI Clinic by appointment only. Make your appointment in the Student Health Unit or phone 091 492 604.

Guess correctly how many condoms are in the jar and you could win them all! Entry €1 which goes to the SU Charities Domestic Violence Response and AMACH! SHAG Packs will be available all week from the SU Ofﬁce, the SU Engineering Desk and the Welfare Crew around Campus. Beidh pacáistí SHAG ar fáil ó thús deireadh na seachtaine ó Oiﬁg an Chomhaltais, ó Dheasc Innealtóireachta an Chomhaltais agus ón gCriú Leasa ar fud an champais.

More information from su.welfare@nuigalway.ie Tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ó su.welfare@nuigalway.ie www.su.nuigalway.ie www.

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU

8 FE AT UR E S

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 4

HALLOWEEN: the ancient origins of our divilish fun By Aoife O Donoghue Halloween is among a student’s favourite time of year, providing a well-deserved midterm excuse to dress up, go to parties and get up to general divilment. It’s the one night of the year where you can cover yourself in fake blood, glitter or green body paint and no one will look twice because, hey, they look ridiculous too. Like many widely celebrated holidays, Halloween has become increasingly

RED Witch

Cocktail €5.95

Pernod, Blackcurrant Cordial topped with Orchard Thieves Available from 5pm

2 for €10 le Cárta cint CM iris

commercialised, but the spooky skeletons and mild mischief actually have their origins in ancient festivities. The ancient pagan Celtic festival of Samhain was celebrated on 1 November, marking the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter. With winter came death and Celts believed that on the night before Samhain, the veil between worlds of the living and the dead became thinner and allowed the dead to pass through in the form of “púca” or ghosts and spirits. It was believed that these ghosts would wreak havoc by destroying crops from the harvest unless they were appeased with offerings of food and wine. Sacred bonfires were also lit by the Celtic Druids to ward off the ghosts and burn offerings to them. People would often cover their faces with masks or ashes from the sacred bonfires to disguise themselves from the ghosts. Other aspects of the holiday have more Roman roots, specifically the worship of the Pomona, the goddess of fruit and trees, whose symbol was an apple. The pagan holiday was eventually Christianised with the introduction of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day on 1 and 2 November. Also called ‘All Hallows’, the Christian celebrations blended with the pagan tradition in the form

of ‘All Hallows Evening’ or Halloween. New traditions also began around this time, such as ‘souling’, where the poor begged for small soul cakes and offered prayers for the dead in return, and ‘guising’, where children went door to door in costume asking for food in return for the performance of a song or poem. Many of these ancient traditions are still alive and well today, but have evolved and developed, taking on aspects of other cultures over the years. The vampire, witch and zombie costumes that are so popular today are all variations of the same Celtic idea of dressing up as the dead to disguise and protect yourself, but are influenced by German and Haitian folklore. Of course, nowadays any costume goes and you’re as likely to see a cute bunny as a bloody corpse! Nearly everyone will remember going trick-or-treating as a child, a new tradition formed from the old belief in mischievous púca and the old practice of guising. We can see the old offerings of food and wine mirrored in the giving of sweets, chocolates and nuts. Many of the other symbols and rituals remain too; bonfires are lit annually and serve as a gathering place of the celebration, and children bob for apples or eat ones covered in sticky toffee, in line with the symbol of the goddess Pomona. Pumpkin carving also has an interesting origin story. Some stories say that lights were used to guide the wandering spirits along their way, while others claim that the ancient Celts carved grotesque faces out of turnips and lit them with a candle to scare the spirits away. However, the most enduring tale is of a young Irish man named Jack who thwarted the devil with a sign of the cross, so his soul could never be taken to hell. Yet, when Jack died, his life of sinful ways meant he was also barred from heaven. The story goes that the devil threw a burning coal at Jack in anger and that Jack placed the coal in a hollowedout turnip to provide some light while he was doomed to roam the hills of Ireland forever. The name of Jack O’ Lanterns was inspired by his tale. While our Halloween may have changed over the centuries and our Halloween priorities may have changed since we were children, it’s still fun to celebrate and honour our ancient customs and traditions with friends and family, even if we chose to do so dressed as a slice of pizza or Donald Trump. Hey, at least one of them is still a scary thought.

GNÉ -ALTANNA

October 24 2017

NUI Galway named University of the Year 2018... of course 1. Smokey’s Café Most universities have a Starbucks, but that’s so cliché. We are a university that encourages diversity, individuality and originality and our coffee shops are no different. Instead of the same old commercial Starbucks we have Smokey’s. Not only is it much cheaper, but we have our very own mascot: Smokey’s Pigeon. You wouldn’t get that in UCD.

2. The Big Yellow Thing No one knows why it’s there. No one knows what it’s for. No one knows why it’s yellow,

int le Cárta C Photo: William Murphy on Flickr

isc

By Damilola Arosomade

ML i

SU CARD

Pitcher of Foster’s OFFER & Margherita or Pepperoni Pizza

€15.00 ai

SU CARD O FFER

g n i r a C s i g Sharin le Cárta cint CM ri is a

The aspect of Cell Explorers that initially caught my interest was the fact that they are giving something back to the community whilst educating kids about science, and this is something that I wanted to be a part of. I believe that many people my age shy away from volunteering because they l e C á r to be gained, however believe that there ta c i n t isn’t much s i that wasr not the case with CellC Explorers. Giving presentations at the different schools and also during the summer camp enabled me to improve my communication and listening skills. I also got to improve my social skills as the camp involved a lot of teamwork. Another thing that I really enjoyed was that I got the opportunity to be involved in a short video that was displayed 2017. As a r at the Europe Engage Conference s c in the video, I gott atoCattend the Conferresult ofibeing i t lsuch r e Caná amazing ence for free. Itnwas experience and it made me feel like I was playing a role in something that was really big. Overall my experience with the Cell Explorers team is one that I will never forget and I highly encourage students to get involved. I will be continuing my work with Cell Explorers as the coordinator of the lab prep team and I am very excited about this. It is your turn to take the chance to join the programme, make new friends, learn new skills and gain your ALIVE certificated or CELL EXPLORERS badges. Cell EXPLORERS is recruiting again this semester for the Fantastic DNA roadshow and the science Festival exhibition day. This year the work of Students interested in contributing on a regular basis can also contribute towards the earning of a Gaisce award. If you are interested in volunteering with CELL EXPLORERS, e-mail the team at cellexplorers@nuigalway.ie. You can follow and support Cell EXPLORERS on social media @cellexplorers on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

SU CARD OFFER

OFFER

Aside from the sensational students, the Quad is the pride and joy of our university. Most commonly known as NUI Galway’s poster child, it can be seen on every single promotional video, leaflet and even the symbol for the university itself. Giving major Hogwarts vibes, students and staff members alike revel in the beauty of this building. Although it’s not listed officially, rumours are spreading that universities with the oldest ivy-covered buildings on campus are given major brownie points in the competition. Sources say the Quad really boosted us towards the top of the list this year.

SU CARD

My name is Damilola Arosomade and I am in my final year studying Biochemistry here at NUIG Galway. During the summer, I spent two months working with the Cell Explorers team. The main aim of Cell Explorers is to create ideas and projects that help communicate Science to kids. My duties consisted of helping with the organisation of the BioExplorer’s summer C 2017 and I also participated in the summer c camp t a The BioExplorer’s camp i n t asl ea demonstrator. r camp á C is a weeklong science summer camp for primary school kids. I also got the opportunity to present at l e CRoadshow. some schools during the Fantastic ár n t DNA aC s c i involves thet team The Fantastic DNA roadshow i r going out to some schools, giving the kids a short presentation on DNA and then performing a DNA extraction experiment with them. It usually takes place during the first semester, but some visits can happen later in the year and in June, we visited six schools in Connemara that were too far to travel to during the Galway Science and Technology festival. r C When I decided to joini the s c Cell Explorers team, ta i r n á the response that I received wast very C and l e warm reassuring. All I had to was email Muriel Grenon and she arranged for me to meet her in her office. I was briefed about their different projects and was then introduced to the other team members.

int le Cárta

This fortnight Cell Explorer volunteer Damilola Arosomade shares her experience of volunteering on campus with the group, shedding light on the wonderful research e C á rand learning opportunities available t l Galway nNUI i ta for students outside of the lecture hall. c s

How does a university ban Raise and Give (RAG) week and still end up having one of the best (unofficial) RAG weeks throughout the country? Surely it’s not possible, but here at NUI Galway we go above and beyond expectations and put 110% into everything we do. One of the best parts of RAG week is how the university truly tries to celebrate all cultures and ethnic backgrounds during the week. Particularly, the population of Donegal that solider through that six-hour journey just to

4. The Quadrangle

int le Cárta

isc

U VOLUNTEERING CARD OFFER SU CARD OFFER SPOTLIGHT: My time working with the Cell Explorers team

3. Unofficial RAG Week

study here. In honour of that, RAG week dedicates a whole day to the county called ‘Donegal Tuesday’. What better way to spend a Tuesday than queuing for hours to get into the Hole in the Wall pub, wearing your favourite Donegal jersey to have a pint or two with your friends? Surely his legendary day has to be one of the reasons why we were named University of the Year 2018!

ris

sc iri

Aside from the continued research and new findings carried out, we have a lot to be proud of here at NUI Galway. So much so, here is a list of the top things about NUI á r t aobviously helped Galway c i n t l e Cthat s i C the number ri us to be named one university in Ireland.

The Sunday Times recently named NUI Galway ‘University of the Year’ for the third time since 2002. Is it any surprise our university has been given this prestigious title once again along with the bragging rights? With 17,000 students studying at NUI Galway each and every year, it’s common knowledge that our university is one to watch.

but we love it. The Big Yellow Thing is the bold, bright, beautiful sculpture outside the Concourse. Without it we wouldn’t know where to meet our friends. The courtyard would be filled with students scurrying from side to side frantically searching for their mates between lectures. Not a pretty sight… Thank God we have our beloved Big Yellow Thing! When weighing up the other 21 third level institutions in the running, we are certain the Big Yellow Thing really nudged our university forward to win the title.

By Amy McMahon

cin

t le C á rt a

10 F EAT U R E S

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 4

The winners of the Nobel Prizes 2017 By Roisín McManus The 2017 Nobel prize winners have recently been announced, so what better time for SIN to consider the recipients and their achievements. For those of you who are interested, the ceremony itself will be taking place on December 9 this year. There were three winners each for the categories of Chemistry, physics, and physiology and medicine, with one winner for the categories of literature, the Peace Prize, and economic sciences. ICAN stands for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear weapons and is a coalition of non-governmental organisations in 100 countries who won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. It is fitting that they won the prize with two certain major leaders in the world fighting back and forth over the last few weeks using the threat of nuclear war, as the group won for their role in achieving the UN Nuclear Ban Treaty. The three winners in the category of Chemistry were Joachim Frank, Richard Henderson, and Jacques Dubochet. They won the prize together for developing cryo-electron microscopy

for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution. In simpler terms, this will simplify and improve the imaging of biomolecules. This new microscopy changes the blank spots that biochemical maps have always been filled with as the technology wasn’t strong enough to recognise them and therefore, they have advanced this field greatly. The physics winners were Kip Thorne, Rainer Weiss, and Barry Barish. It was awarded to Weiss and Barish in one half and the other half awarded to Thorne for ‘decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves’. These waves were first predicted by Albert Einstein one hundred years ago and they occurred on 14 September 2015 due to a collision between two black holes. These waves are the best new way to observe space’s most violent events. The Nobel prize in literature was awarded to Kazuo Ishiguro ‘who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world’. Ishiguro believes that the Nobel prize ‘reminds us of how inter-

national the world is, and [how] we all have to contribute things from our different corners of the world’. The Nobel economic prize was awarded to Richard Thaler, ‘an economist who recognises that human behaviour is not always strictly rational’. Thaler helped show people how human reasoning can differ from the idealistically rational ‘homo economicus’. Thaler has spent years examining oddities in human behaviour. He set out to explore why people feel their losses more than their gains and in doing so he helped discover the endowment effect, a phenomenon which shows people tend to value something more if they own it themselves. The final category of physiology and medicine was awarded to Michael W. Young, Michael Rosbash, and Jeffrey C. Hall ‘for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm’. The trio delved into the workings of our biological clock that helps us anticipate day to day living. They discovered that humans, animals, and plants adapt their clocks to Earth’s revolutions. In their experiment, they used fruit flies

IT'S MY

By Connell McHugh Emoji (emojis?) are everywhere. Everybody loves them. They add a little something to text conversations and snaps to friends that just could not be achieved by the humble emoticon – RIP ;P, gone but not forgotten. The crying/laughing face has been used over 14 billion times online, the Emoji movie was released over the summer, and 17 July has even been dubbed World Emoji Day. They are everywhere. Apple announced at the start of October that it would be releasing 56 new emoji in late October/early November. Here’s a ranking of the top ten additions to the family. 10. DINOSAUR . We all have that tall friend that sticks out like a sore thumb when you’re out with them. Emojis are all the same size so it’s hard to have one dedicated to that friend. Well now we’ve got a dinosaur to solve that problem. Forget their name and just use this emoji from now on. They won’t even mind, swear.

By Owen Kennedy

LANIDFITE'S

S OOOOO

CUTE!

IT'S YOUR

species. Their achievements may even provide you with some motivation to hit the library for the remaining weeks of the semester. It could be you getting a Nobel prize someday, so try to keep on top of that attendance, okay?

bled upon a hedgehog. There he was, just crossing the road like a hedgehog does. I got a video of it for Snapchat, scrolled through the emojis and realised there wasn’t even one for the little guy. Equal representation for hedgehogs, I say. 8. VOMIT FACE. Because sometimes that green, sickly face emoji is not enough to show how much you are dying of that hangover from the night before.

4. BREAST FEEDING EMOJI. A nurse actually proposed this one to Apple and they took it on board. In her proposal, she said that the lack of one showed a lack of emoji standards given the prevalence of breast-feeding throughout the world and history. The situations it can be used in may be limited, but anything that helps with reducing stigma surrounding the topic is positive.

7. MIND BLOWN. Did you know that you can’t hum while holding your nose? Or that an octopus has three hearts? Or that if you say ‘Jesus’ backwards it sounds like ‘sausage’? Well now you do, and now you need this emoji.

3. CHINESE TAKEAWAY BOX. Now when you’re so tired and you’re head is pounding after last night and your friend asks what you want for dinner, all you have to do is send them this emoji. Simple.

6. WIZARD. There is finally an emoji for all Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings fans. While he doesn’t exactly look like Harry or Gandalf, it will come in different genders and skin tones.

2. SWEARING FACE. Angriness has never been so easy. Your attitude towards that essay you have to write or the lack of plugs available in the library can now be summed up in one emoji.

5. DUMPLING. The pile of poo emoji is a personal favourite. It can describe situations, food, and of course, people. While this dumpling does not have the face that its brown counterpart does, it will certainly provide a kinder alternative to use.

1. HIJAB. A fifteen-year old German girl created a petition to finally get an emoji that represents her. Really, it’s surprising that it took this long for it to come to Apple products, but better late than never.

Dove’s advertisement controversy: blown out of proportion?

CHOICE

TRAVEL JOURNEY NOW

While a lot of these prizes may seem to go over the heads of most of the population, it is important to remember that these recipients are paving the way for better technology, medicine and general understanding of ourselves as a

Breast-feeding women and hedgehogs join the emoji keyboard

9. HEDGEHOG. You might think that this emoji will never be used. You’re wrong. While walking home from my late shift at work two weeks ago, at 2:30am, I stum-

IT'S MY

STUDENT

as a model organism and isolated a gene that controls this clock. In doing so, they found that this gene has a protein within it which builds up in the cell during the night and breaks down during the day.

20 FREET € TRAVEL STUDEN

dent visit buseireann.ie/stu

Recently, world renowned personal care brand Dove came under fire for releasing a three second Facebook advertisement on Friday 6 October. The ad showed a black woman in a dark shirt who took her top off to reveal a white woman in a light shirt. Multiple people were outraged calling this offensive and racist. Some even said this harkened back to overtly racist soap advertising, essentially showing black people as dirty and then by using a bar of soap you’re suddenly white and clean. After all the outrage Dove removed the ad and issued this statement: “Dove is committed to representing the beauty of diversity. In an image we posted this week, we missed the mark in thoughtfully representing women of colour and we deeply regret the offense that it has caused. The feedback that has been shared is important

to us and we’ll use it to guide us in the future.” As the situation has been described, it does look pretty damning for Dove, or at the very least it seems incredibly tonedeaf. That being said, it should also be noted that there is more in the equation here. Dove claimed that this small ad was meant to show that “Dove Body Wash is for every woman”. The full ad featured three women, not just two. The white woman pulls off her shirt to reveal an Asian woman in a shirt matching her skin tone too. Ultimately, it is evident to see why people are offended by this ad, especially when the way the story has been vastly presented is “black woman turns into white woman, thanks Dove”. However when you look at the ad in its entirety it is possible see what they were going for. Ultimately it was a poor ad, but the reaction was blown out of proportion. Many people have been point-

ing back to a previous promotion Dove did in the past where they show, from left to right, a black woman, a Latino woman and a white woman with the word ‘before’ behind the black woman and the word ‘after’ behind the white woman. Once again this becomes a comparable situation to what has unfolded with their recent advertisement, as you can understand how some people can interpret it as racist. However, when you look at the picture you see that it does show a variety of women in front of two posters with ‘before’ and ‘after’ on them but the ‘before’ shows cracked, dry skin and the ‘after’ shows skin in the opposite condition. You can look at these advertisements and understand why people may find them offensive, but at the end of the day it seems that Dove have just been making poor decisions with their advertising. Maybe it would be beneficial if they hired a new marketing team.

NÍL ACH AN CHUID IS LÚ DEN SCÉAL AR EOLAS AGAT

Hepatitis Chancroid Trichomoniasis HIV A Human Papillomaviru Genital Warts Herpe Gonorrhea Chlamydi Hepatitis Chancroid Trichomoniasis Huma Papillomavirus Genit FAIGH AN SCÉAL IOMLÁN, FAIGH AN TÁSTÁIL Beidh Clinic STI faoi rún á reáchtáil SAOR IN AISCE san Aonad Sláinte Mic Léinn, Áras na Mac Léinn

An Mháirt, 5 - 7 i.n. • An Chéadaoin, 5 - 7 i.n. www.su.nuigalway.ie twitter.com/NUIGSU Déan teagmháil leisfacebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion an Aonad Sláinte Mic Léinn le coinne a dhéanamh Arna chistiú ag Ciste na dTionscadal Mic Léinn www.su.nuigalway.ie

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU

12 OPI NI O N

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 4

Our collective cognitive dissonance on seceding states By Eoin Molloy

On Sunday 1 October, Catalonia voted in favour of secession from Spain by a staggering margin. ‘Hands Off Catalonia’ Facebook profile picture filters spread quickly across our timelines bearing the familiar red-and-yellow stripes, online news sources shared images of riot police indiscriminately beating down on peaceful protestors, and Europe’s leaders struggled to find a quick and easy talking point to rally around. Quickly dubbed the Catalonian independence referendum, the vote received fawning coverage from most media sources. This author would argue that such coverage was surely merited, especially when considered in light of the violent crackdown by Spanish police

against those who voted. Around 450 people were injured. That being said, this positive coverage serves to expose our collective double-think on the issue of seceding states in modern Europe. It is hard to imagine an illegitimate Brexit vote being framed as favourably as its Catalonian counterpart, to name just one example. The reasons put forward for Catalonian Independence usually centre around the region’s shared culture, and how this is being increasingly jeopardised by a centralised Spanish government that does not have the best interests of Catalonians at heart. It is often acknowledged as a matter of course that Catalonia, being possessed of its own language, culture, food, and way of life, is automatically entitled to preserve

and safeguard that culture from the Spanish state by way of devolved power and increased autonomy. On 10 October, Galway City Council passed a motion of solidarity to recognise the plight of the oppressed Catalonians. The arbitrary nature of such a motion aside, is it not striking that we have such divergent reactions to statements of sovereignty? No solidarity vote was forthcoming for Brexiteers, even though the UK’s relationship with the European establishment is equally exploitative. Moreover, anyone who dares to whisper the disgusting notion that Britain too might have an indigenous culture that is worth safeguarding from globalisation is shouted down with painful reminders of Britain’s darkest historical moments.

SU LOCKERS NUI Galway Students’ Union

Seomra Cótaí SAOR IN AISCE Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn

The case of Brexit is strange in this respect. Any article covering the notion of British secession from Europe always made sure to include a paragraph about the xenophobic and bigoted nature of British people, so as to erode any shred of legitimate concerns grounded in economic factors. Like Catalonia, Britain contributes disproportionately to the budget of its overseer state. Moreover, Britain’s citizens are vastly under-represented in the EU institutions compared with those of smaller states. It is strange to have to tease this idea out, but Catalonian concerns are every bit as valid as those of their British counterparts. The idea that Catalonians have more of a right to be worried about the destination of their hard-earned tax money than Britons is as patently absurd as Eurofederalism itself. Let us talk for a moment in pure economic terms. Catalonia contributes disproportionately to Spain’s national coffers. The small northwest region welcomes around 18% of Spain’s tourists every year, and her total economic output constitutes 20% of the national budget, all the while making up just over 14% of the population. By way of comparison, Britain makes up just 12% of Europe’s overall population yet generates 16% of total European GDP. A disparity exists in both cases. Why is it valid for Catalonians to make arguments grounded in economic gain, while Britons are derided as racist for voting within their own economic interests? As MEP Daniel Hannan speculated, the British economy could potentially sky-rocket when freed from the regulatory burden of Brussels. At present, there are no bi-lateral trade deals between any of the former Commonwealth trading bloc as a result of European red tape. Britain were ludicrously prevented from negotiating a trade deal with Australia because of a dispute over the pricing of Italian tomatoes. This is what Brexiteers were trying to rid themselves of. Our perception of world events is much more influenced by the prevailing modes of communication than we can comfortably admit. In Catalonia, the world’s media turned their lenses to the violent crackdown, as opposed to the illegitimacy of the vote itself. In the case of Britain, the focus was

We should have heard the obese canary singing By Caroline Allen It’s the health crisis we should have seen coming. It has been revealed by the World Health Organisation that the rate of obesity in Ireland among children has increased exponentially - in 1975, one in every 100 Irish children was obese and now this statistic has increased to one in 10. Our slowly but steadily creeping waistlines and all the associated damage to our health should have sounded alarm bells years ago and it seems that obesity is the epidemic that shows no sign of slowing down. Currently one in four children are overweight or obese and six in 10 adults are in the same position. For years now, a plethora of new theories and books have abounded, each claiming to know the evil ingredient we should cut from our diets: in the 80s it was fat, in the 90s it was cholesterol and salt, and today it seems the new villain is sugar in all its myriad forms. Not just jam and cake and all that obvious stuff but also pasta sauces, ketchup, cereal, and white bread. Sugar has become so vilified - particularly white, refined sugar - that the government has decided to put a tax on sugary drinks in the 2018 budget. We will have to wait to see how much of a difference that will make. Make no mistake that, as the rate of it is set to rise in this country, obesity might one day cripple an already overburdened healthcare system. The effects of obesity are depressing to list: severely obese people die eight to 10 years earlier on average than those of a normal weight, and being obese can affect earnings, self-esteem and job prospects. And there is no country in the world that has worked out the best way of dealing with the consequences. So how did we get here? And, more importantly, what are we going to do about it? Nobody is sure why exactly the rate of obesity has

become so high, particularly in this country, but most believe it’s a mixture of factors, from the widening availability of fat, sugar and salt-laden processed foods and our increasingly sedentary lifestyle that is to say the amount of time we spend sitting down, inactive, for both work and play. The trouble is that most people want- more or less, most of the time- to eat healthily but find it difficult to do that. Either it’s too expensive or too much hassle, or else we believe that the food we’re eating is better for us than it is. Everything around us has become bigger and bigger, from airplane seats to clothes sizes, and so what we think is a normal weight is actually overweight. The harsh truth is if we’re not that active, we don’t need that much food (and believe me, it’s as hard for me to hear this as anyone). The food we do eat has to be nutritious and provide us with everything we need to live the fullest lives we can. As part of the Healthy Ireland initiative, the Department of Health has put forward an action plan to reduce the rate of obesity, as just 40% of Irish people currently have a “healthy weight”. The question is will the initiative go far enough? We need to integrate change into every aspect of our lives to have any kind of lasting impact. We need to prioritize children if we want to turn this around. Why not introduce lessons on cooking and nutrition to all schoolchildren from a young age, so they can gain an understanding of what foods our bodies need? Why not offer the necessary talking therapy to people who feel that their relationship with food is destructive? Why not make exercise cheaper, more fun and accessible? Nobody predicted the impact that the ready availability of cheap, processed food would have on us but now it’s up to us to forget the blame game and start reimagining a brave new world.

continually placed on the alleged xenophobic attitudes of Brexiteers who, like the Catalans, were simply fed up of contributing extortionate amounts of public taxes to a cabal of unelected bureaucrats who do not have the best interests of the citizenry at heart. To the outside observer, it seems as if two factions are struggling for the heart of Europe. On one hand we have the sycophantically-Europhile Macronites who want to foster a deeper sense of integration to create a so-called federal Europe and gawp lovingly at their beautiful blue-and-gold offspring, referred to dotingly as the European Project. On the other there is a clearly-observable groundswell of public opinion mounting against Europe’s

ever-mounting heap of restrictive Council Directives, an abject lack of transparent democratic practices, and a lack of respect for member state sovereignty. To deny that a grassroots movement of Euroscepticism exists is to be wilfully blind. To imply that anyone who has misgivings about the intentions of an increasingly-undemocratic European Union is inherently bigoted is tantamount to sciolism. Just a century ago, Irish men and women fought to rid ourselves of the shackles of an overbearing power that extorted and degraded us for centuries. We cannot deem the Catalonian secessionists vindicated in their struggle against statist domination while simultaneously ridiculing Brexiteers for doing precisely the same thing.

SU LOCKERS

grinds REGISTER SU

SU CLOAKROOM

FREELife Skills OPEN

Thursday & Fridays

09:00-18:00 Only

Ar Oscailt Déardaoin agus Aoine 09:00-18:00 Amháin

www.su.nuigalway.ie

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU

www.su.nuigalway.ie

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU

TUAIRIM

October 24 2017

HEAD to head

Gender quotas make society fairer for all.

A gender quota is not a fair system By Fergus O’Donoghue Quotas are the societal design of a generation. In the past if you were to mention a quota, you would probably be talking about unions and factories, industry and finance. Today, if you use the word “quota”, you’re probably talking about employment; the imposition or presence of a quota demanding a certain number of women or minorities take up a certain position. But why is this seen as a good thing? Stories of particularly unusual quotas have hit headlines in the past few years, for instance, quotas for women in some police and firefighting departments in places across the USA. Rebecca Wax, 33 at the time, was allowed to graduate New York City’s Fire Academy and join its firefighting force in 2015 despite having failed her fitness test. This sparked anger and controversy both outside and within the force. Understandably people outside the force would fear for their safety when they hear a woman who is not up to scratch is tasked with protecting them merely because she’s a woman. Within the force it wasn’t just the men complaining. While out of 10,500 firefighters only 44 were female, insiders from the NYC Fire Department revealed that women in the field were upset by this development, as it undermined their efforts and cast them in the same light as Ms Wax, the benefactor of a gender quota who was not fully qualified to serve. However, the incident involving Rebecca Wax is but a small anecdote in the grand saga of employment quotas. The justification of being against quotas for sex or race is twofold. Is it not dangerous to decide that what you’re born with is more important than efficiency, skill and meritocracy when running an organisation, and is it not in fact sexist or racist? Many in defence of gender quotas will explain their position as such: in today’s world women, and minority groups such as black people in the West, need quotas to help them defeat the obstacles of institutionalised racism and sexism which has hampered them from birth. For those who push for employment quotas, it is the antidote to racism, not a potential cause of it. However consider now the outdated act of a man holding the door open for a woman. Not the everyday kindness of perhaps holding open the door for a stranger, but specifically because this person is a woman. Today in Ireland, this would be seen as mildly patronising by most, if the self-employed bellboy is lucky. Isn’t that action considered sexist and condescending? She can do it herself; unless you hold open doors for everyone, there’s no need. It is likewise patronising and sexist to have gender quotas. In all levels of Western society,

if we truly believe women and men to be equal in their worth and abilities, why should we privilege one group over another under the assumption that they can’t take care of themselves? If a woman can’t do a job, she’ll either learn or look to another job. That said, most women already have their personal abilities and perseverance to get what they want, just as most men do. Just because there aren’t many women in, say, the police force, or the parliament, doesn’t mean it’s because they can’t get there and need help. It’s because they mostly want to do other things.

Gender quotas make society a fairer place for everyone By Sarah Cavanan Gender quotas are taking off. From politics to company boards, they are all around the world. Quotas are opening doors that were previously shut to women and men. Although public opinion on the matter is still split, I for one believe fair gender representation at the top levels of society makes society a fairer place for everyone.

Leo Varadkar got into hot water this summer for his male-dominated cabinet. Why aren’t there many men in the fashion industry, or caretaking? Is it because men can’t apply makeup as well as women, or dress a model, or look after an old lady? No, it’s because they generally prefer other things. By the reasoning of gender quotas, fashion industries should utilise employment quotas for men. Men and women, generally, want different things. We like different things. We are good at different things. This isn’t controversial, our anatomies and the wiring of our brain proves this, as a general rule, although biology doesn’t always conform to what we expect it to. You could argue whether this is natural or something that’s been socially developed in our minds over generations but either way, the facts remain largely the same. Though the two sexes have generally different needs, desires, preferences and skills, this is not to say any of us are restricted to the stereotypes of our society. But it also doesn’t mean we should force each other to work with possibly less capable individuals in our fields of expertise only because he or she born a way you weren’t.

In order to have a functioning democracy, you need to have a fair representation of the society it represents. To have a functioning business you need to have a fair representation of all the employees. Gender quotas just make sure that this happens. They create gender equality which has a powerful potential to improve the economy, security and the overall well-being of a population. If the world closed the gender gap in workforce participation, global GDP would increase by $28 trillion by 2025. That’s about a quarter of the world’s current GDP, and almost half of the world’s current debt. Gender quotas will lead to a more diverse workforce, more creative ideas and better problem-solving, as well as a larger pool of potential employees allowing employers to pick better candidates for a job. And with a smaller gender gap in the workforce, families will have more options for earning money, sharing household duties and discarding gender roles. It also takes away the pressure on men to be the only breadwinner for the entire family and allows both genders to choose whatever career or family role that best suits their personality and skills.

Last year NUI Galway brought in mandatory gender quotas after the recommendations of the Gender Equality Taskforce in the wake of the Equality Tribunal involving Dr Micheline Sheehy-Skeffington and NUI Galway. The tribunal found that she had been discriminated against on grounds of gender when she went for a position at the university in 2009. The only words that came to mind when I read the report were “discriminative” and “unfair”. The report contained 23 evidence-based recommendations in order to address gender inequality at the university, among them the introduction of quotas. NUI Galway has since taken steps to address gender equality issues with the appointment of Dr Anne Scott as Vice President for Equality and Diversity, the first appointment of its kind in an Irish University. We can see gender quotas make the university a more equal employer and fairer workplace for all its employees and it will make sure that what happened to Dr Micheline Sheehy-Skeffington will not happened to anyone else. Another side effect of gender discrimination is that it demotivates young people. Imagine, when you were in your early teens and your inspiration or role model got shut down just because of their gender, even though they had merits and experience. Imagine, believing that if you studied and worked as hard as you could, you still wouldn’t be able to reach your full potentially or dreams because of your gender. Personally speaking, it would be soul destroying and I’d probably have given up on my dreams years ago. The fact that this will not happen due to gender quotas is one of the biggest positives associated with the system. We need young people to follow their dreams as they are our future. However, there is a word that keeps popping up in the media and that is “tokenism”. It seems that some people don’t understand the meaning of a quota and its purpose. A quota will not put a minority into a position just to fill a seat or just to make up numbers. It does not mean that unqualified individuals will be given jobs for which they are completely unsuitable. The purpose of a quota is simply to correct existing discrimination and to ensure that jobs are given based on merit, experience, and qualifications. Studies show employers will favour male candidates for a job even if a female candidate has identical qualifications and skills. This is the purpose of a quota, to make sure that women are put into positions of seniority based on their knowledge and are not continually overlooked. In conclusion, gender quotas are a must for a fairer society and we will hopefully look back in 20 years’ time with disbelief that there was ever a need for such drastic measures.

14 OPI NI O N

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 4

Separating the artist from the abuser:

A MORAL DILEMMA By Áine Kenny

Is it right to separate the art from the artist? Why is it that artists seem to get off the hook for the most heinous of crimes? From Chris Brown to Harvey Weinstein, there is a long list of people who have a lot of questions to answer regarding their abusive behaviour. Should we not boycott these artists for their dispicable actions towards women? Or should we just enjoy their music or films for what they are? While Chris Brown makes undeniably catchy R&B music, his behaviour is unacceptable. The music industry is happy to turn a blind eye to their actions. I think the idea of separating the art from the artists is morally wrong. Chris Brown was violent towards his then-girlfriend Rihanna and suffered no repercussions: he got

community service and was welcomed with open arms back into the industry to churn out more hits. Considering the extent of the violence, this is horrifying. What is even worse is that the man has not changed. His ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran also claimed he domestically abused her and she was granted a five-year restraining order against him. He also has destroyed private property in fits of rage. Yet society still continues to support this monster, because “Forever” is a banger when it comes on in the club. By continuing to support such artists we are saying that violence against women is okay. This systematic sexism is not only present in the music industry. Hollywood has also come under a lot of scrutiny recently, which was welldeserved yet far too late.

The Harvey Weinstein scandal shows the lengths to which people are willing to separate the artist from the abuse. For decades, it seems that Weinstein has been abusing his position of power to try and coerce younger and vulnerable actresses into having sexual relations with him. These include many extremely powerful women, such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie. Weinstein has also been accused of three counts of rape, according to the New York Times. Rose McGowan said on Twitter that Weinstein raped her and Amazon bosses did nothing about it when she informed them. It is also rumoured that Matt Damon and Russel Crowe killed a 2004 New York Times story about Weinstein’s sexual abuse, which Damon denies.

I find it hard to believe that no one knew about these allegations. The sheer amount of women Weinstein harassed made it impossible to cover up. It was an in-joke in Hollywood, even referenced on a red-carpet awards stage by Seth MacFarlane in 2013. He now claims the joke was an angry jab at Weinstein. Thanks, Seth. You’re a real feminist. This is nearly as empowering as the time you made fun of bulimia. If Seth was really disgusted about the sexual harassment of these women, why didn’t he give a serious, candid interview after the awards show? Separating the art from the artist only leads to the perpetuation of sexism, racism and homophobia. Take Pewdiepie, Youtube’s most profitable content creator. Anyone with a brain can ascertain the man is harbouring some serious racist sentiments. He

Harvey Weinstein once paid someone over the internet to hold up a sign saying “death to all Jews”. He claims it was to showcase how easy it is to get anything done on the internet. More recently, during a gaming livestream, he called another gamer a bleeping n-word. He laughed it off and said he “didn’t mean it in a bad way”. I am pretty sure there is no way anyone can use the n-word in a good way. Pewdiepie, like his fellow counterparts in the music and film industry, has emerged relatively unscathed.

I think it is time for society to wake up and realise that compartmentalising all the problematic things about an artist is wrong and has to stop. It sickens me that something as serious as sexism and racism isn’t considered a major character flaw, a mark of a sick individual. It is considered something we should just ignore. By ignoring these issues, we silence the victims and sustain the abuse. It is time we boycott these artist who have a proven track record of violence, sexism, or racism.

Eminem DESTROYS Donald Trump in blistering freestyle By Eoin Molloy

FOR THOSE OF YOU who have understandably tuned out of the media’s hourly Donald Trump updates, you may not have heard that rapper Eminem attempted to claw his way back into relevance over the weekend by recording himself in a carpark hurling awkward and mistimed insults at the former real estate mogul. In a segment aired during BET’s annual hip-hop awards, the 44-year-old rhymer reeled off an oddly-intense five-minute freestyle that was uncharacteristically terrible by the standards of this once-stellar lyricist. He decided to open with this profusely-confusing line: ‘That’s an awfully-hot coffee pot. Should I drop it on Donald Trump? Probably not.’ Objectively speaking, merit cannot be found in this bland and uninspired statement from a lyrical nor political point of view. Like the mouthpiece uttering it, the opener is purposeless. With lines

Eminem like this on display throughout the freestyle, one could be forgiven for siding with the YouTube conspiracy theorists who believe Eminem was murdered and replaced with a clone during his mid-noughties meltdown. As an ardent Eminem fan who has purchased a physical copy of every release since I was nineyears old, it really pains me to see him miss the mark here with what really is a low-hanging fruit. At present, Donald Trump presents somewhat of an easy target for

artists and social commentators, many of whom have been making hay over the past year with each passing gaffe. Could Eminem not have conjured up a more original joke than the already-dated and over-worn orange hair circle-jerk? It also goes without saying that a self-professed horrorcore rapper who has cashed in on records where he fantasises about killing his mother and ex-girlfriend cannot hope to somehow claim moral superiority over a former TV show host who once professed to grab-

bing consenting women by the genital area. As anyone who follows contemporary rap will surely attest, post-2005 Eminem has been a listless shadow of his former punchy and provocative self. Gone are the shamelessly-playful caricatures of Hollywood’s endless vapidity; only to be replaced by verballydexterous, morally-repugnant, yet ultimately pointless songs which are largely concerned with murdering and maiming innocents. This Eminem purist would argue that the Detroit MC reached his zenith in 2004 with the anti-Bush anthem, Mosh, a song peppered with unrelenting angst. In what could be construed as anti-establishment patriotism, Eminem raps: ‘No more blood for oil, we’ve got our own battles to fight on our own soil’. In this enthralling section of the song, Eminem is advocating bringing US troops home from Iraq as a means of dealing with indigenous American issues, most probably social inequity and lingering racism.

While this should go without saying, I must state unequivocally that I do not think rappers criticising politicians is a bad thing. They should however have a valid point when so doing and not just spout off oddly-disjointed sentences about coffee pots and Colin Kaepernick. Perhaps 2004 Eminem, who believed in dealing with America’s problems on her own soil, is not as ideologically removed from the Trumpian conception of economic nationalism, where America First is the modus operandi, as he would have you believe. What is most striking to Eminem fans about this freestyle is the abject lack of passion with which it is delivered. This could of course be indicative of a lack of conviction on his part. Alas, I doubt that the President of the United States will lose very much sleep over this, but if he does we will undoubtedly hear about it on Twitter! Strangely enough, the world of hip-hop was always quite cosy with Donald Trump until he decided to

run for the Presidency. Seen as being somewhat emblematic of the wealth of Manhattan, Trump’s name formed part of the rap lexicon for decades and was used as a by-word for ostentatiousness by a myriad of artists, from Puff Daddy through to Mac Miller. Nowadays however, anyone who does not fall into line by openly deriding the POTUS is ostracised from the celebrity community, just as Kanye West found out to his detriment when he ill-advisedly stood for a picture with Trump in 2016. For all the would-be satirists and anti-Trump commentators of the world, please know that there is so much more to criticise about this presidency than just orange hair or teeny hands. In a brazen display of nepotism that would make a Clinton balk, Trump has installed his daughter in a range of quasi-governmental roles. Please at least be original from now on and these ‘viral Trump takedowns’ can become a lot less painful for those of us observing.

Rubberbandits’ new release gives mental health stigma a shock By Tarryn McGuire Most of us know the Rubberbandits as complete messers. In fact, the Irish comedy hip-hop duo may be more passionate about certain issues than we expected. The band released their new single “Sonny” on 11 October, right in the middle of mental health week. This was no coincidence as this song examines the complexity of suicide, while dismissing the notion that there is only one particular reason to cause it. The Limerick pair, Blindboy Boatclub and Mr Chrome, were not afraid to tackle the subject they feel

so strongly about. The duo have previously spoken out about suicide in the past and even made their own ‘Guide to Mental Health’ where they did their best to reduce the stigma attached to talking about the issue of mental health. A recent study in 2017 showed that Ireland’s teen suicide rate is the fourth highest in the EU. With a rate as high as this, the band wanted to shock people into reality. The chorus, although catchy, is extremely harsh and direct. The lyrics in this song were written to outline the general dismissal that we encounter around the issue of mental health. The song is filled with powerful

lines such as “what he has is a problem, not a f*cking disease”, clearly stating they think that people are not taking mental health problems seriously in Ireland. The Rubberbandits wanted to address the kind of talk that goes on surrounding people who suffer from mental health problems. They aim to show that falsely sympathetic chatter of unaware bystanders can ultimately be what causes a person to take their own life. Sonny takes these careless dismissals and shows the impact they can have. Not only did the band release the single, they also released a

music video with it. The Daily Edge described the video as “a tough but vital watch”. The video features a cast of male and female characters dancing on chairs and stools or simply staring straight at the camera and mouthing the lyrics. With the video currently having over 260,000 views at the time of writing, it has received plenty of support online for its honest and direct lyrics. Some famous influential figures such as 2fm DJ Eoghan McDermott and Limerick singer-songwriter Emma Langford have praised the song, with the latter describing it as a “sensational piece of art”.

Unfortunately, The Rubberbandits were forced to disable the comment section on the video due to unfavourable comments where anonymous commenters had been encouraging people to commit suicide. In tragically ironic fashion, this behaviour highlights the point that the duo are trying make in this video. However, the majority of responses online have been positive with tweets such as “This is powerful, compassionate and as angry as we should all be”, and another saying “This is scary powerful stuff. Disturbing, in an ultimately good way”.

Blindboy Boatclub told Today FM that their powerful new song “addresses the complexity of the conversation around suicide from multiple perspectives”. Personally, I have nothing against the Rubberbandits as a fun novelty act. I was never a huge fan but they have managed to earn my respect by using their particular brand of humour to highlight topics such as mental health. Although many people found the song and video to be quite distressing, I believe that the shock factor was necessary to get through to people who still hold a prejudice towards mental illness.

Lá Reathaíochta Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh

RUNDAY

Run, Jog, Walk or Crawl a Charity 5k.

NUI Galway 10am Sunday 12th of November OÉ Gaillimh, 10 r.n., Dé Domhnaigh, an 12 Samhain

All proceeds go to Domestic Violence Response & AMACH! Early Bird Online Registration €5 student/€10 non-student until 31st of October www.su.nuigalway.ie facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion www.su.nuigalway.ie

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU

16 FA SHI O N & L I F E ST Y L E

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 4

OFF TO THE RACES:

Victoria’s Secret takes Grafton Street

5 looks for under €50

By Kate Farrell Race day looms before us, a light at the end of the assignment filled tunnel of mid-term. If you’ve used all your time and energy on mountains of college work and haven’t yet found the perfect dress, don’t worry. Here are five gorgeous looks to get your heart racing, all within a student budget. First up is the old, reliable LBD. It will look amazing both at the races and later

in the evening, for the inevitable trip to Carbon. This dress is part of the stunning collaboration between Pretty Little Thing and style queen Olivia Culpo. If it’s good enough for Olivia, it’s good enough for us mere mortals too. Pick it up at Prettylittlething.com, for only €37.80. The second dress is an amazing Zara find. After Fashion Month, the colour everyone is going crazy for is navy. Apparently navy is the new black, so get on top of the trend with this adorable

wrap dress. A charming combination of velvet and lace, how could you resist? And as an added bonus, it will only set you back €39.95. Another colour that is cropping up everywhere these days is green. This shade reminds me of that divine Saoirse Ronan look at the 2017 Oscars. The long sleeves on this dress will certainly come in handy during the inevitable rain shower. Grab it as quickly as you can, as it’s just €20 in the River Island sale.

By Amanda Leeson If you’ve been on social media the past few months, you may have seen many people posting that a Victoria’s Secret is set to open on Dublin’s Grafton Street. Well, people get your bank accounts ready, as it has finally been confirmed that the Irish flagship store will open in December. That’s just in time for you to pick up some Christmas presents for your girlfriend, friends or even just a treat for yourself! There is one other Victoria’s Secret in Ireland that’s based in Dublin Airport, but unless you’re planning on jetting off to the sun or on a cheeky weekend getaway, then you won’t be able to grab yourself something. However, from December onwards a quick trip into Dublin’s most famous street will allow you to stock up on all of Kendall Jenner’s favourite bits. The American fashion chain is most famous for its loungewear, pyjamas and of course lingerie. The brand is very girly and feminine. It’s sister sporting clothes brand “Pink” will also be stocked in the store, so you can look really cute when you’re pretending to be hitting the gym (or is that just us?).

Next up is another Pretty Little Thing bargain. Red is always a good bet for the races - you’ll be both sophisticated and easy to spot. If red isn’t your thing, it comes in black and white too. At €20.25, we’ll take one in every colour, please! Last, but not least, is this sophisticated mini dress. It’s pink, it’s satin and it’s a wrap dress – all this season’s must-have trends in one dress. The brand is Club L, but find it on ASOS for €33.78.

Style spot at the vintage fair NAME: Cadhla Boyle COURSE & YEAR: Drama, Theatre and Performance with English, Second Year STYLE INSPIRATION: I don’t really follow trends, I just go to a shop and see what’s there and what I like FAVOURITE SHOPS: Penneys and the sales everywhere else AT THE VINTAGE FAIR TO PICK UP: funky shirts

NAME: Laura Enright COURSE & YEAR: Creative Writing, Final Year STYLE INSPIRATION: See what other people wear, even around the college FAVOURITE SHOPS: Public Romance and Nine Crows AT THE VINTAGE FAIR TO PICK UP: jumpers and mom jeans

NAME: Inesa Petrosyan YEAR: Second Year STYLE INSPIRATION: Whatever I want to wear myself FAVOURITE SHOPS: River Island, Topshop and Zara AT THE VINTAGE FAIR TO PICK UP: another fur jacket, I love fur!

NAME: Aimee McDermott COURSE & YEAR: Arts English and Irish, Final Year STYLE INSPIRATION: Fairs like the Vintage Fair to see what everyone else is wearing and how they style pieces FAVOURITE SHOPS: Public Romance and Nine Crows AT THE VINTAGE FAIR TO PICK UP: shirts and things that shouldn’t work but do

By Amy McMahon & Róisín McManus

NAME: Sorcha Henrehan COURSE & YEAR: Health and Safety, Second Year STYLE INSPIRATION: Not sure, I usually go for whatever is comfortable FAVOURITE SHOPS: Charity shops AT THE VINTAGE FAIR TO PICK UP: something that catches me eye!

FAIS EAN

October 24 2017

NÓS MAIRE ACHTÁLA

Three last minute Halloween costumes

Halloween mocktail: Blood Orange Martini By Amy McMahon As a student we like things to be straight forward, simple and affordable and this mocktail is no exception. Perfect for any Halloween themed house parties, this recipe was found on a site called Culinary Orange and it only has three ingredients!

By Michael Glynn

The Black Bin Bag

We’ve all been there: you’re stressing about midterms and life just keeps getting in the way, next thing you know Halloween has come around and you’ve completely forgotten to get a costume. The horror. Fear not dear reader, I’ve got your back with three last minute Halloween costumes you can make with stuff lying around the house.

Now here is the classic Irish “Mam forgot to get me a costume” get up. A generic mask would be found and on the bin bag went, with two arm holes and a head hole and you were suddenly… that kid in the bag. It’s impossible to tell if this was supposed to be a scary costume or what but guaranteed, if you wear a bin bag on Halloween night in college, you will be praised. We’re in the Age of the Hipster, people, retro is in.

The Toilet Paper Mummy

The Ninja

Oh yes, a classic. The thing is you never see somebody go as a mummy for Halloween, so why don’t you bring it back? Just make sure to leave yourself a mouth hole, little gaps near the ears as well so that you won’t constantly be screaming ‘what?’ all night. The best part of this costume is that it can be used to clean up inevitably spilled drinks. Just be kind to yourself, use three-ply.

Everybody owns a black t-shirt, everybody, and a ninja mask is the simplest thing to make using that same black t-shirt. Simply frame the head hole around your face, tie the arms behind your head and flip up the bottom of the head hole to cover your nose, boom, you’re a badass ninja. A pair of black pants and another t-shirt to cover the chest and you’re complete. Also, drinks coasters make for badass shuriken.

Kake Me Up for SIN: It Clown tutorial 1

INGREDIENTS: • Black gel frosting • 230ml of juice from 4 medium oranges, or for the lazy option skip the squeezing and buy a carton • 14ml of orange syrup from can of mandarin oranges 1. Draw a spider web on the inside of your glasses of choice and freeze for 30 minutes, for the aesthetics. 2. Fill a martini shaker with ice. 3. Add the all the ingredients and shake for a few seconds. 4. Strain into your glasses and boo appétit!

I started the look with a basic red s m o k e y e ye ; you can do this however you normally would! I also popped on some lashes. Here I’m wearing my faves, Lilly Lashes in Miami.

2 2

NOTE: turning this mocktail back to a cocktail couldn’t be easier, just add your drink of choice and you’re done. I’d recommend pink gin because it’ll add to the colour of the drink.

To begin the clown look I sketched two triangles above and below my brows with black shadow and a pencil brush. Once I was happy with the shape I grabbed a fluffy blending brush and some red shadow and really smoked out the edges. You can be as messy as you want!

Next I took more black shadow on a pencil brush again and sketched out two more triangles under my eyes. I continued the point of the triangle down to the corners on my mouth, ke e p i n g t h e l i n e slightly curved out. Again like the previous step, I grabbed my fluffy brush and red shadow and smoked out the edges of the lines.

I went over the lines with m o re b l a c k shadow and a thin liner brush, just to add some definition! Now for lips, I used some red lip liner from NYX to crease that characteristic Pennywise smile! You want the corners of your lips to curve upwards and into the lines. To match the rest of the look, I took more black shadow and the pencil brush and outlined my lips while blending it into the red. This creates a cool ombre effect!

Now for the nose, taking the black again I used a thin liner brush to sketch a circle around my nose, and a bigger brush to fill it in with the red.

To create a 3D effect, I grabbed my black again and my pencil brush to deepen up the outline, blending it into the red.

And there you go! I hope you all enjoyed my little take on the famous Pennywise clown. I’d love to see some recreations! Tag me on my Instagram kakemeup or send it to me on my snapchat- Kakemeup8. I hope everyone has a great Halloween no matter what you go as! Till next time, xoxo Kake

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

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 4

Feminist slogan t-shirts: Late night food for political or fashion statement? veggies in Galway By Tarryn McGuire As some of you may recall we recently saw Demi Lovato sporting a cropped top bearing the word ‘Feminist’ in the October issue of Notion Magazine. Not only this but she was also spotted at LAX airport showing off her ‘We Should All Be Feminists’ Dior t-shirt. Demi also revealed that amid battling drug addictions and mental illnesses, she found herself to be an inspiring role model. So, has this role model influenced our feminist side or has she only appealed to our fashion sense?

If you remember, Natalie Portman wore the same Dior shirt during her speech at the 2017 Women’s March. Jennifer Lawrence also donned the tee as well in her recent ad campaign for Dior’s Fall 2017 collection. This t-shirt has since been worn by Rihanna, Camille Hurel and McKenna Hellam. So, is this just a fashion trend or is it a bigger statement? Fashion, of course, has always served as a form of selfexpression but this season, in the midst of political upheaval and social unrest, people wanted more. Slogan t-shirts

are essentially a billboard for your chest, so if there is something you want to express, this is the way to do it. Although this may seem like just a fashion trend to some, others believe than this feminist fashion sense was sparked by the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. This is all due to his defeat of Hillary Clinton, the first woman who might have been president, as well as his incendiary comments about women and his divisive policies on reproductive rights. Natalie Portman even took the stage at the 2017 Women’s March in Los Angeles and told the crowd, “I want to thank our new president, you just started a revolution.” Trump’s comments and opinions on women have ignited a fire in the hearts of many females and fashion designers alike. So, what may have started as a political statement has nonetheless turned into a fashion trend. Although the majority of us will not be spending $500 on a Dior t-shirt, we can however purchase one of the many feminist slogan tops flooding into Penney’s, H&M and Topshop. Whether it’s a statement or a fashion craze, there’s no harm in letting your feminist side out. We could all use a little girl power!

Student Ball Package Gel refills €35 Shellac hands €25 Party lashes €15

Make up €30 Spray Tan €30

Level 3 Corbett Court

By Ashlye Cota According to a marketing survey in the UK, one in three vegetarians eat meat while drunk. While intoxicated, these ‘flexitarians’ unintentionally reached for burgers as their most craved meat treat on a night out, which were closely followed by kebabs, bacon and chicken wings. With both veganism and vegetarianism becoming as popular in Ireland as it is elsewhere in Europe, there are more options than ever in Galway for tasty meatfree alternatives that anyone would willingly sink their teeth into. Still, it can be hard enough to find something late at night when joints like Café Temple, The Light House Café, The Kitchen or TGO Falafel Bar have closed up for the evening. Whether you’re doing it for your own health, for the planet or for the animals, here’s a list of places that provide satisfying grub so you can keep temptation at bay and wake up with a clean conscience.

Open till midnight with good customer service and value for money, they offer a vegetable burger for €3.50 or a burger meal for €6.00, as well as falafel in pitta bread with salad and sauce for €6.90. You can also order hummus, salad, pitta and fries combos, onion rings and vegetable rice. Or just some good ol’ chilli cheese chips, curry or garlic fries. They are located at Cross Street Lower and 3 Prospect Hill.

The Burgatory Their Veggie Burger consists of fried haloumi cheese, pickle, onion, French’s mustard and ketchup. They also serve a selection of gelato and local craft beer, so while they may close a little early for night owls at 10pm, you could get a feed in before hitting the dancefloor and try out their Buckfast milkshakes while you’re at it.

The Dough Bros Wood Fired Pizza Although like Boojum and the

Burgatory they close by 10pm, being rated in the Irish Times top 100 best places to eat in Ireland means it’s worth your while to get in there early for a bite. Their Classic Neapolitan, Buffalo Soldier, Hey Pesto and Margherita pizzas can all be ordered without meat.

McDonalds Their soy-based vegan burger is currently being trialled only in Finland, but McDonalds still have some viable options. Their Spicy Vegetable Wrap contains chickpeas, coriander and cumin served with lettuce, cucumber, sweet chilli and mayo. Their apple pie is also surprisingly vegan-friendly.

Supermacs Supermac’s have long had a vegetable pate burger on their menus too. The place to be after a night of dancing and socialising, why not give it a go as you wait for your dillydallying housemates to make their way from the club?

Fun for a fiver or less By Michael Glynn We’re more than halfway through the semester. I know, right? If

Choose any 3 treatments for €60

(Upstairs beside Hickeys)

Tel: 091 539738

The Charcoal Grill

STUDENTS

10% off daily

Freshers Week didn’t already take all your money then the few weeks after definitely did. But hey, that’s ok, you don’t need to have money to enjoy yourself in Galway - where are we, Dublin? All you need to do is heed my advice and try the following places:

admission is free. Located right behind the Spanish Arch, it’s close enough to everything it could possibly be. Containing many exhibitions and objects of cultural heritage related to Galway City there really isn’t a reason why you would not poke your head in.

Planet Bowling

Follow the Prom

Everybody loves a bit of bowling. Nobody is good at it but it’s still fun and a game of bowling in the Planet on Headford Road can be yours for only five euro with a valid student ID. They also run a promotion on Monday and Tuesday nights when you can get a free game of bowling if you buy a drink per person, double the fun.

We’re gifted with a gorgeous view of the Atlantic Ocean and a lovely prom that’s perfect for an evening stroll, get out there. Bring your swimming togs, take a leap off Blackrock, go down to the beach, the water is already wet anyway, who needs good weather to take a dip.

Eye Cinema Steer clear from the IMC and stretch the legs down towards Lough Atalia to avail of the Eye Cinema’s Ruby Tuesday offer: any 2-D film ticket is five euro when producing a student card. There’s also discounted popcorn and drinks for students Tuesday nights as well.

Galway City Museum Get yourself some culture with a visit tpo the Galway City Museum. It is open every week from Tuesday to Saturday and

Catch some music on the pub scene In Galway, no matter what day of the week, or time of day it is, you can go listen to some live music. During the day all it takes is a stroll down Shop Street to catch some of the best buskers around. At night all you have to do is take your pick of the pubs, there’s live trad music in the Crane bar every night, and in the Róisín Dubh it’s a rare thing that there isn’t a band playing. The Quays, King’s Head, Front Door, or Busker Browne’s are all popular locations for a live band as well.

NUI GALWAY STUDENTS’ UNION PRESENTS / CUIREANN COMHALTAS NA MAC LÉINN

CHRIS KENT STEVE BENNETT

SU LOCKERS

SU CLOAKROOM

grind REGISTER SU

Life Skills

Students’ Union

8pm Monday 20th November 2017 8 i.n., Dé Luain, An 20 Samhain i dtéatar Uí Fhlaithearta

ENTS

Tickets €5 from the SU Office and the SU Engineering Desk €5 An ticéad, le fail ó Oifig an Chomhaltais agus ó dheasc Innealtóireachta an Chomhaltas www.su.nuigalway.ie

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU

www.su.nuigalway.ie

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU

Sec

BOO

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

SIN Vol. 19 Issue 4

MOVIE REVIEW: The Mountain Between Us By Orla Carty What happens when Rose Bukater meets Nelson Mandela? They decide to take an extremely risky flight mid-storm from a lone pilot of course! The Mountain Between Us may start with a bit of an eye-roll, as surgeon Ben (Idris Elba) and journalist Alex (Kate Winslet) decide to forego storm warnings in order to get home quickly. Alex has to make it to her wedding (because she wanted to show everyone she could go on a work-trip and still make it back in time. Spoiler – she can’t), while Ben needs to perform a life-saving operation for a little boy in the morning. Of course, neither make their appointments. When their pilot has a stroke, they end up marooned with his dog in the High Uitnas Wilderness instead. The slightly incredulous beginning is surpassed by a plot with a lot more integrity as the movie goes on. The crash is realistic. In most survival films the characters immediately set out on some brave mission that we all know we wouldn’t do in those circumstances. The film starts in a much more logical manner, with Ben initially trying to create a den in the remains of the plane, so that they can wait for a rescue team to find them. Alex has hit her head during the crash and is unconscious, so he bundles her up and waits for a few days until she wakes up. Once she does we’re granted with the token stubborn character, who demands to get moving.

At first she seems impatient and silly, but as time goes on, it appears that she’s right. Help clearly isn’t coming, and they won’t last much longer with the supplies that they have. The cinematography from this point on is really beautiful, filmed on location at the Canadian border. It’s full of gorgeous landscape shots. They fall down cliff edges and through ice-lakes, lie beneath tree branches and in caves. It’s the kind of film that makes you shiver and feel like the air you’re breathing in the cinema has suddenly dropped below freezing. There are some great scenes in the film. My favourite character was certainly the dog that the pilot left behind, who is simply referred to as “the dog”. With every new moment my mind immediately jumped to him, wondering his whereabouts. In a great scene where a wild mountain lion finds Alex in the plane wreckage, I was far more worried about the dog than her. To be quite honest, I was also petrified throughout that they would get really desperate and eat him. The fact that they never even considered it made me happier than it probably should have, giving me a weird kind of hope in humanity. It was around this point, where they were struggling to trek their way out, that another plot line surfaced. I mean, obviously a romance was intended from the start, judging by the title. But Ben and Alex’s relationship started off so platonic that I didn’t really see it going in that direction. Once it did, it felt a bit off-key. Their blossoming

d o o F

romance becomes the focal point of the whole thing, emphasising the way that they need one another to survive. Although this wasn’t exactly my preferred route for the story to go down, it still made for a great film. Unfortunately, the end of the movie really cancelled out the power of the rest of it. In a complete switch, the survival story became a flimsy romcom. Without spoiling the ending, it’s very sugary, and almost like a skit. The last ten minutes feel

What’s new to Netflix? By Amy McMahon

With Netflix constantly adding more movies, TV series and their own original content it can be hard to pick what to watch among all the options. Following the idea of the categories on Netflix, here are the top five shows and films to watch tailored for students.

The Binge

Classic 1/4 Pounder with Fries €6.95 The Works 1/4 Pounder with Fries €7.95 The Hatch Hot Buffalo Wings €3.50 (5) €5.00 (8) The Hatch Hot Buffalo Wings €3.50 (5) €5.00 (8) Half Rack of BBQ Glazed Ribs with French Fries €4.50

Loaded “Dirty” Fries €3.95 Chicken Goujons & Chips €5.95 Chilli Cheese Fries €3.95 Handcut French Fries €2.00 Sweet Potato Fries €2.00

like something completely unrelated, and make the whole thing laughable. It really is a shame, as the story had so much potential. The choice to include it really was a big mistake, mismatching genres and tone completely. Overall the movie was a good watch, but not one I would be hurrying back to re-watch. I would give it a two and a half stars out of five.

One word: Riverdale. It’s back, we’re thrilled, we’re ready to binge. Season two has just started and the cast and crew have stepped up their game. Prepare for more drama, more surprises and a possible Sabrina the Teenage Witch cross over! Yes, children of the 90s be excited. If you haven’t already seen season one this is your official invitation to watch episode after episode of one of the most binge-worthy shows of all time.

The Night-in Money Saver

It’s a Monday night, you’ve decided to be sensible (for some unknown reason) and instead of watching everyone’s stories Snapchat and Instagram you have turned to Netflix. For nights like these I’d recommend watching either a romcom like the Notebook and Pitch Perfect 1 and 2, which have just been added to the site. Fool-proof and guaranteed to make for a great night in. Alternatively, you could opt for a few comedies such as the new season of the Big Bang Theory or Jack

Whitehall’s hilarious documentary-style series Travels with my Father, where he essentially takes a gap year experiencing all that Asia has to offer with his father. Bold, but brilliant and oh-so-funny.

The Procrastinator

It’s that time of year when the work load is piling up, yet students still make time to avoid it all and ignore everything that must be done. When procrastination is taking over two new series come to mind: Girlboss and The Good Place. Girlboss tells the story of the creator of an online clothing shop Nasty Gal and her story to success. The Good Place, starring Kristen Bell, conquers the question of what happens after we die in the most bizarre, funniest way ever. Both are funny, clever and well worth a watch.

The 2 am Post Assignment Pick Me Up

You’ve done it, that dreaded assignment is finally out of your mind but you’re still wired from all the coffee. There is only one thing to do: Netflix. In this moment you don’t want to watch something that will keep up all night, glued to a full two-hour movie or starting a new series. Instead pick one of the many documentaries available on Netflix, including Long Shot, Being Canadian and Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown. One of the newest additions is GAGA: Five Foot Two, following Lady Gaga as she prepares for her showstopper Super Bowl performance in 2016, writes her latest album and her daily life in between it all. Ideal to cosy up to before bed with a cup of decaf tea.

C U LT Ú R

October 24 2017

SIAMSAÍO CHT

Who’s who at the Vodafone Comedy Carnival By Mícheál Óg Ó Fearraigh If you’re looking for a laugh, the Vodafone Comedy Carnival running from Tuesday 24 October – Monday 30 October is the place to be. Here at SIN we have the run down on who the unmissable comedians hitting the City of the Tribes this week.

KEVIN BRIDGES

The excellent Glaswegian comedian is gracing us with his presence this go around of the Carnival. Bridges has hosted Live at the Apollo and was featured on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow. He revels in deadpan humour and has outsold fellow Glaswegian comedians Billy Connolly and Frankie Boyle, so if you get a chance do not miss this fantastic comedian.

FOIL ARMS & HOG

Ireland’s premier sketch comedy group will be bringing their new show Oink! to Galway. This show will feature both sketches from their YouTube channel as well as original material. If you like surreal humour as well as comedy relating to everyday Irish life, these three Dublin lads are the guys for you.

TOMMY TIERNAN

Honorary Galwegian Tommy Tiernan is back once again at the comedy festival. In case you have been living in a cave and are unfamiliar with Tiernan, he likes to push the boundaries of comedy in every way he can. He recently had a chat show on RTÉ where he didn’t know who the guests were, so if experimental comedy sounds like something you would like Ireland’s most well-known is the guy for you.

JON RICHARDSON

8 Out of 10 Cats’ team captain is bringing his new set to Galway. Richardson has been diagnosed with OCD and a lot of his comedy stems from how this impacts his life, as well as this his years of being on a panel show have made him incredibly witty.

DAVID O’DOHERTY

I have seen David O’Doherty five times in my life and he never disappoints. He combines general stand-uppery as well as singing some hilarious songs, which range from about how life isn’t so bad to the Colombian popstar Shakira.

BERNARD O’SHEA

The host of 2fm’s Breakfast Republic is also a double threat, playing guitar as well as performing stand-up. O’Shea was the stand out of last year’s Comedy Carnival in my opinion and I cannot recommend him enough.

PHIL JUPITUS

This English comedian of Never Mind the Buzzcocks fame is doing a whole host work this time around in Galway, he is doing his stand-up, doing free sketch comedy (comedy involving sketches as opposed to the comedy of Monty Python except for the Terry Gilliam, I guess), working with the Stephen Frost All Star Improv Group, and doing some DJing in Massimo’s.

Foil Arms & Hog

REGINALD D HUNTER

Coming from Georgia but living in the UK for the last number of years, Hunter is a panel show veteran on the likes of QI, 8 out of 10 Cats, and Mock the Week. Of all the stand-ups that I have ever seen Reginald D Hunter did the best set I’ve ever seen in Letterkenny a couple of years ago.

Bernard O'Shea

Thailand Full Moon Party – 9 days Picture this: you’re dancing on a beach in the middle of the night with your newest friends, surrounded by some of the world’s most incredibly lush landscapes. This is what you’ve been waiting for. An all-out, all-night dance party that takes place each month on this picturesque beach in Thailand. The Full Moon Party draws thousands of people each year to celebrate while exploring one of the most beautiful places on Earth. So why not join them? Start/Finish:

Bangkok to Koh Phangan

What’s Included:

Street food crawl. Lake Cheow Lan excursion. Full Moon Party. Bottle Beach full-day excursion. Beach time on Koh Phangan. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Meals Included: Transport: Accommodation: Staﬀ & experts:

2 breakfasts, 2 lunches (Allow USD90-120 for meals not included.) Train, local bus, air-con bus, boat, tuk tuk, songthaew, taxi, ferry. Simple hotels (twin-share) or hostels (multi-share) (6 nights), sleeper trains (1 night). Chief Experience Oﬃcer (CEO) throughout

Prices from:

€699 per person (plus ﬂights from €650 per person)

with

Fahy Travel Worldchoice 2 Bridge Street, Galway Email: info@fahytravel.ie Adventure Line: 091-594747 www.fahytravel.ie

WHAT YOU SEE IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG

Hepatitis Chancroid Trichomoniasis HIV A Human Papillomavir Genital Warts Herpe Gonorrhea Chlamyd Hepatitis Chancroid Trichomoniasis Hum Papillomavirus Geni CHECK WHAT’S GOING ON BELOW, GET TESTED FREE Conﬁdential STI Clinic at the Student Health Unit, Áras na Mac Léinn

Tuesday 5-7pm • Wednesday 5-7pm www.su.nuigalway.ie twitter.com/NUIGSU Contact the Studentfacebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion Health Unit to make your appointment Funded by the Student Projects Fund www.su.nuigalway.ie

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU

NUIG GMIT VS

T H FIG t h g i N

8pm Wednesday 22nd November 2017 8i.n. Dé Céadaoin, an 22 Samhain 2017 The Radisson Blu Hotel Galway Tickets €15 Students/€25 Non Students Spot Prizes on the Night Tickets on sale from NUI Galway Students’ Union Ofﬁce

All Proceeds To Charity

SPÓ IRT

October 24 2017

A ten team League of Ireland should not be the way forward By Graham Gillespie Just like this year’s All Ireland Football and Hurling Championships, this year’s League of Ireland will be the last edition of the league before a major format change in 2018. This format involves changing from a 12 team Premier Division and eight team First Division to two ten team divisions and will see three sides being relegated next month, with only the champions of the first division, Waterford, earning promotion. The declared reason for this change is a bigger potential share of gate receipts for the bigger clubs, although it seems likely that the restructuring will do more harm than good for the league. Indeed, there is even a precedence that suggests that this idea will fail with the same structure being scrapped six years ago. One of the main flaws with the new structure is the monotony in terms of fixtures it is likely to bring to the Premier Division, with each team having to play each other four times instead of the three games under the current format. The same games over and over again in quick succession could make the league less attractive as a product. Add in possible cup games and some teams

will face each other six times next season, with this level of repetition it will not be surprising if fans become fatigued which could negate any of the benefits secured from a larger share in gate receipts. It could be argued that the First Division already has these problems and changing the format may well benefit that division as a couple of big name clubs could possibly drive up attendances. However, this should not be done if it is to the detriment of what is meant to be Ireland’s flagship football league in the Premier Division. Also, the last ten team Premier Division in 2011 saw only one team face relegation and even then they had the safety net of a relegation/ promotion playoff. If the 2018 format involves only one team making it out of the first division then this could make the majority of first division teams’ season irrelevant from fairly early on. As a result, clubs that are growing will have their development stifled if there is no realistic chance of promotion. This problem is also symptomatic of an underlying issue within the

League of Ireland teams league which is that many of the smaller clubs’ views are being ignored, and their needs neglected. In reality, the reduction from twelve to ten will just mean that two more teams will become less financially stable. Saying that staying in the Premier Division can be crucial for the mid to small sized clubs such as Galway United and Finn Harps may be stating the obvious but it’s true. The money got through gate receipts when the big clubs come to town can make the difference between being able to pay your bills or the club going under. There is no need to deprive two extra clubs of the financial gains that these big fixture in top division provide.

In the immediate term, the restructure has at least made this season’s relegation battle cutthroat and exciting. At time of writing, there is just one point between Galway, Sligo Rovers and St. Patrick’s Athletic, who are all battling to not be in that final relegation spot. Drogheda United are already relegated and it might to be too late for Finn Harps to avoid the drop also.

BURGERNIGHT

F R E S H

R NI G

Maurice Sheridan’s side cruise to victory

idea if a twelve team Premier Division is maintained, as it adds excitement and gives First Division sides the opportunity to develop. The new proposed format meanwhile adds neither of these things. With a mid-season split one of many things that has been suggested to be part of the new structure, it is difficult to see all these proposed plans as anything other than window-dressing from the FAI. This new format pushed by the Premier Clubs Alliance (PCA), could have disastrous consequences for the league’s smaller teams, which will be detrimental for the league as a whole, meaning there will likely be few benefits for the likes of Shamrock Rovers and Cork City either. It is likely none of these changes will have any major positive impact and this gimmicky re-altering does little to grow the league throughout the country which, of course, should always be the main aim of the FAI in relation to the League of Ireland.

WEDNESDAYS 5pm - 10pm @

T A S T Y

Three teams going down this season could also have a serious impact on the geographical make-up of the league. For example, if Sligo and Finn Harps are all relegated then there will be no Premier Division team in the entire North West of the country and that could be disastrous for football in that region On the other hand, St. Pats were to find themselves in the bottom three at the end of the season, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians would be the only two representatives of a city that makes up over a quarter of the country’s population. Neither of these hypothetical situations are ideal, but a three team relegation system (with maybe the third from bottom side entering a relegation/promotion playoff) is not necessarily a bad

& FR

scin

t le Cárta

C Ta

SU CARD OFFER

iri

scin

t le Cárta

C ML

iri

SU CARD OFFER ir

isc

THE SULT CLASSIC ¼ POUNDER WITH FRIES €5.95 C

nt le Cárta Served with Lettuce, Tomato, Irish Cheddar & a Side ofc i Fries

THE WORKS BURGER WITH FRIES ri

sci

nt le Cárta

sci

nt le Cárta

€6.95

le C

int le Cárta

le Cárta cint CM ris ai

OFFER

Grilled 1/4 Pounder with Sautéed Mushrooms & Onions, Grilled Bacon, SU CARD SU CARD OFFER Irish Cheddar, Tomato, Lettuce & a Side of Fries

int le Cárta

& FR

NUI Galway have sent out a warning this year as they cruised to a comprehensive victory over Maynooth in a windy Dangan on Thursday. The management team from Galway will be delighted to get the victory and will be boosted by the return of Eoin Finnerty, Michael Daly and Kieran Molloy, who were out of action due to the Galway county final this weekend. The home side got off to a blistering start nailing the first five points through Sean Kelly, Adam Gallagher, Enda Tierney and Peter Cooke. The Kildare side did keep within touching distance but the home side began to take control with some superb running from deep off the shoulder with Damien Comer riffling the ball into the Maynooth net. Maurice Sheridan’s side added further points from Owen Gallagher, Peter Cooke, John Maher and the accurate Adam Gal-

opponents with their electrifying pace, and have some real talent in this team. Having faced IT Sligo on 18 October, the college play Athlone IT today on 24 October in their last league game as hope to qualify for the final. NUI GALWAY: Tadgh O’Malley, Colm Kelly, Sean Mulkernin, Stephen Brennan, Sean Kelly, Gerard O Kelly Lynch, Ryan Forde, John Maher, Enda Tierney, Damien Comer, Peter Cooke, Adam Gallagher, Rory Greene, Owen Gallagher, Brian Donovan. SUBS USED: Evan Flaherty, Gerry Canavan, Cein Darcy, Cillian Gallagher, Alan Dignam, Kevin Quinn. NUI GALWAY SCORERS: Damien Comer (2-03, 1-0 pen), Adam Gallagher (0-5, 4 frees), Owen Gallagher (1-02), Gerard O Kelly Lynch (1-0), Peter Cooke (0-4, 1 45, 1 free), Gerry Canvan, Brian Donovan, Sean Kelly, Enda Tierney and John Maher (0-1 each).

lagher making no mistake from the placed ball to have the 2002/03 Sigerson Cup winners leading 1-12 – 0-7 at the interval. NUI Galway showed no sign of complacency after the break with Peter Cooke and Damien Comer floating over two spectacular points. The visitors’ county players Daniel Flynn and Keith Cribbin tried their best to get their side back into the game. The victors added three late goals in the second half with Gerard O Kelly Lynch, Damien Comer from the penalty spot and Owen Gallagher slotting goals home to have the floodgates opening but Damien Comer, Gerry Canvan and Brian Donovan kept the scoreboard ticking to in a comfortable 17-point victory. The Corribsiders showed a ruthlessness edge and look dangerous a side wanting to go a step further than last year. They play a free flowing game but like to drop numbers back and punish the

By Paul Shaughnessy

NUI Galway 4-19 — 0-14 Maynooth University

SU CARD

OFFER

SPÓ IRT

October 24 2017

Messi hat-trick merely papers over cracks in Argentinean wall By Mark Lynch As Lionel Messi finished off his hat-trick against the gallant Ecuador earlier this month, he simultaneously finished off any fears of him and his Argentina team not making it to next year’s World Cup. In the end, it was Copa America holders Chile that lost out, but for a period it appeared very possible that arguably the greatest player of all time (undoubtedly the best in many people’s eyes) would indeed not make the biggest global competition in football. In the days leading up to the last round of both European and South American qualifying, there were many a clickbait article about how the trio of Messi, Ronaldo and Bale were going to be absent in Russia next summer. In reality, it was in their hands, except for Bale who was

injured for their game against the Republic of Ireland, ultimately leading to their hopes being crushed and ours being ignited. For Ronaldo and Messi, the task was clear, win and you go through, don’t and it becomes complicated. Ronaldo played a passive role in Portugal’s 2-0 win over Switzerland, sending them straight to Russia and sending their opposition to the landmines that are the play-offs. Over to you, Lionel. The bearded genius delivered and sealed their path to the group stages of next year’s tournament with a hat-trick that showed the world just how determined he was to qualify for Russia 2018. However, the runners-up in the last World Cup, runners-up in the 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas not even qualifying for this tournament seems absurd. It is indeed absurd. At

full strength, they have to be one of the most feared teams in international football. What’s most baffling about their situation is that they’re never decimated by injury or suspensions, it’s the manager’s selection that’s hurting his team. Gonzalo Higuain, one of the most talented forwards in Serie A, possibly in the entirety of Europe, was left out of the squad, and Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi were named on the bench. Their starting XI against Ecuador in the all-important decider included one man upfront, Dario Benedetto, whose record with Boca Juniors this season, five goals in five games, is admirable but should perhaps be taken with a pinch of salt. Obviously, Messi also started, but to class him as a striker does a disservice to everything else he contributes all over the field.

So why were three of the Italian league’s best marksmen left out in favour of a man who most had to Google when the starting lineups were announced? Manager Jorge Sampaoli has divulged reasoning for his seemingly baffling decision. Icardi had apparently taken a knock so his absence wasn’t tactical, but Higuain was apparently not quick enough to suit their playing style of pressing defenders, while Dybala was apparently too similar to Messi to start alongside him. We must also bear in mind that Sergio Aguero was ruled out with injury, so that’s another absence. However, his reasoning hasn’t been holding its own on the field, as Argentina have been discovering. They scored just two goals in their first four games of qualifying and by the end had scored only 19 goals in 18 games. For

a team that could potentially include Messi, Aguero, Dybala, Higuain, Icardi and Angel di Maria, or at least three of that group, that’s an undoubtedly woeful record. Their struggles in front of goal have been the main reason they had such trouble qualifying in the first place. For comparison, their defensive record was the second best in South American qualifying. This isn’t the first period that the Argentinean international team have disappointed on the big stage. For the last decade (and probably longer) they’ve boasted a squad that should be winning any tournament they enter, yet they’ve flattered to deceive occasion after occasion, with those aforementioned runners-up finishes the best they’ve managed in the last few decades in major tournaments. It’s likely the issues run deeper than surface

level, because given the quality at their disposal, they should have a manager who’s able to solve their attacking enigma and they should be in the final on July 15th in Moscow next summer. Thus far they’ve relied on the apparently eternally dependable Lionel Messi. But for how long can they expect him to deliver? If they get their act together, there’s a serious shout for them to be World Cup winners and Messi to claim a remarkable sixth Ballon d’Or for 2018. What follows now is what’s important for them. They’ve stumbled and staggered their way to the stage, but the show must go on. With Messi in the lead role, all he needs is some support to cement his and Argentina’s place in history. Over to you Mr. Sampaoli, a nation, and most of the rest of the world, awaits. It’s time to deliver.

SIN’s All-Star team and moments of the year By Paul Shaughnessy 2017. The year Galway claimed the Liam McCarthy for the first time in 29 years, and the Dubs nabbed three in a row to claim the Sam Maguire once again. We had a competitive hurling championship with Cork winning Munster, Wexford defeating Kilkenny in Leinster and Waterford getting over their losing streak against the Cats. In the football we saw all the favourites retaining their provincial title, although Roscommon were the surprise package in Connacht. Most supporters thought Dublin were miles ahead of the rest, but Mayo once again were a kick of the ball away from getting the better of them this September. Here at SIN we have had a look back over the championships and picked our favourite moments, our favourite players, and who we think deserved an All-Star title.

FOOTBALL: In a year where Dublin claimed three in a row in football we must take a look-back on our moments of the year. One of these moments has to be Daniel Flynn’s outrageous point against Dublin in the Leinster Final under the Hogan stand. Another

was Jamie Clarke showing his skill against Tipperary to slot the ball to the back of the net. During Mayo vs Galway, Johnny Heaney denied Mayo the victory with a double save on the line. Con O’Callaghan finished two terrific goals in the All Ireland final and semi-final. All these moments were remarkable, although one big disappointment has to be the Ulster championship, which never really came to life with Tyrone coasting their way to lifting the Anglo-Celt Cup.

Predicted All-Star team: Stephen Cluxton, Michael Fitzsimons, Cian O’Sullivan, Chris Barrett, Paul Murphy, Padraig Hampsey, Jack McCaffrey, James McCarthy, Tom Parsons, Kevin McLoughlin, Aidan O’ Shea, Con O’Callaghan, Paul Mannion, Paul Geaney, Andy Moran.

Footballer of the Year nominees: David Clarke, Stephen Cluxton, James McCarthy, Andy Moran. Verdict: James McCarthy.

Young footballer of the year nominees: Michael Daly, Sean Powter, Con O’Callaghan. Verdict- Con O’Callaghan.

HURLING: In a year where one of the game’s most iconic centre backs Tony Keady passed away, the Galway

seniors payed tribute to the legend by bringing Liam McCarthy westside once more. Let’s look back on the highlights of the year in hurling. One of the highlights has to be Michael Cahalane’s goal against Tipperary sealing the win after he was previously told that he would not play hurling again with a heart condition. Another stand out moment was from young Mark Coleman with the skilful side-line-cuts he produced, and another unforgettable contribution to proceedings came from Austin Glesson, sliding on the deck and firing the sliotar over the bar. Joe Canning’s winner against Tipperary under the Cusack stand is also a standout moment.

Predicted Hurling All-star team: Anthony Nash, Adrian

091 569 336

Galway Shopping Centre, Headford Rd, Galway

www.planethealth.ie MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP ONLY

Full range of classes

€29

PER MONTH (n o contract) Free personalised programs Sauna & Steam-room Huge free weights & cardio areas Ample free parking

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP ONLY

179

€

JOIN ON-LINE ANYTIME

Hurler of the Year nominees: Jamie Barron, Kevin

Young Hurler of the Year nominees: Mark Coleman, Conor Glesson, Conor Whelan. Verdict: Conor Whelan.

.ie

www.planethealth

Touhy, Daithi Burke, Noel Connors, Padraig Mannion, Gearoid McInerney, Mark Coleman, Jamie Barron, David Burke, Kevin Moran, Joe Canning, Joseph Cooney, Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney, Patrick Horgan.

Moran, Joe Canning. Verdict: Jamie Barron.

EXPIRES 31 MAY 2018

GALWAY’S LOW COST SUPER GYM INCLUDES MASSIVE FREE WEIGHTS, FUNCTIONAL TRAINING AND POWER LIFTING AREAS

An tSeachtain um Fheasacht agus Threoir ar an tSláinte Ghnéis 2017

It’s coming . . .are you?

SHAG WEEK Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance

Tuesday 24th of October/Dé Máirt, an 24 Deireadh Fómhair

Let’s Talk About Sex (toys!) In conversation with Shawna Scott of Sex Siopa FREE event in AC202 from 6-8pm

Sex Toy Bingo

Not your granny’s kind of bingo! FREE at SULT from 8pm onwards

More information from su.welfare@nuigalway.ie Tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ó su.welfare@nuigalway.ie www.su.nuigalway.ie www.

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU m/NUIGSU