SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

NUACHTÁN SAOR IN AISCE VOL. 21 Issue 02. 24 SEPT 2019

Student Independent News

WINNER: BEST NEWSPAPER AT THE NATIONAL STUDENT MEDIA AWARDS 2019

Galway City Council criticised following passing of busking bye-laws

By Mark Lynch Galway City Council has received enormous backlash after it passed a set of bye-laws regarding busking in the city centre.

Last week, the bye-laws, which were passed by a resounding 12 councillors to 6, detail certain restrictions on buskers.

Among the more controversial elements of these bye-laws, set to come into play in January 2020, is the banning of amplification on the “protected streetscape”, namely Quay Street, High Street, Mainguard Street, Shop Street, Buttermilk Lane, William Street, Middle Street, Williamsgate Street, Abbeygate Street, and from Shop Street junction to Whitehall Close from 9am to 6pm. There is also a restriction on so-called “circle acts”, which attract large audiences that gather around them. Drum kits are now also completely banned, while buskers under the age of 16 must have a guardian present. Meanwhile, acts may not say, sing, perform or do anything that may cause offence to the public and they must only perform for 2 hours at a time in the one spot. There is also a €75 fixed charge for anyone who breaks these bye-laws.

The council has received massive backlash from all angles, including within the student community, for passing these bye-laws.

The Students’ Union President, Clare Austick, has told SIN, “The new bye-laws are extremely restrictive and I fear that they will have a negative impact overall. There are also students who would use performing as an income to support themselves through college. The Executive Committee is not in favour of the bye-laws and will support the campaign to amend them”. Many prominent figures and groups

around the city have also added their opposition to the bye-laws, with a growing feeling that they’re, perhaps, too harsh. Former Mayor of Galway and current councillor, Níall McNelis, voted against the bye-laws last week and defiantly stated, “There was absolutely no need to bring in this type of byelaws to actually tackle what was going wrong with busking on Shop Street. There was an issue with some amplification that could have been addressed by, maybe, talking a bit with the buskers”.

His sentiment is shared by the Galway Busking Community, who feel the bye-laws are disproportionate to their necessity. “Understand that the Galway Buskers Community are not against reasonable and fair regulation of busking. We enacted our own voluntary Code of Conduct in the summer of 2017… If we had city hall to stand behind us and our code, we would have even greater compliance, even faster. We have asked repeatedly for their support and recognition, but we have been ignored every step of the way. The new bye-laws will be significantly less effective than our voluntary code. They have already created an ‘us and them’ environment between our community and the city”.

There is also a palpable sense of betrayal from the buskers, who feel the new bye-laws are an attack on them, despite busking being a key part of the campaign for Galway to become the European Capital of Culture for 2020. Cllr. McNelis was keen to emphasise that aspect of the decision, “Next year, we’re the European Capital of Culture and on Wednesday (September 18th), we’re launching the programme of events, so to bring in these stupid bye-laws (now) just makes no sense. I am (also) annoyed at the business community that love putting up photographs and vid-

eos of the buskers in the street and didn’t come out and support them”.

The Galway Busking Community also questioned the timing of the bye-laws, with Galway 2020 just around the corner, “These bye-laws will also come into effect in January 2020, diminishing a huge and very recognisable, oft-lauded part of Galway’s cultural landscape at the very beginning of the City of Culture year”.

SIN also spoke to several councillors who voted in favour of the bye-laws. Among them is Cllr.

Terry O’Flaherty, who strangely denied from the outset that there is any limit on busking in Galway City. Cllr. Alan Cheevers also voted for the bye-laws and stated,

“It was personally a very difficult decision, but I have to vote with my heart and for what I think is best”. Cllr. Cheevers describes the bye-laws as compromise, claiming, “There’s a misconception that we’re against busking. This is totally untrue. We’re simply asking for compromise”. Outlining the reasoning behind the byelaws, Cllr. Cheevers explained, “We have to think about the people who are working in the businesses and who own them.

Imagine you’re working all day with someone outside playing loud music. Then, with the circle acts, they can restrict access for people with disabilities and people with buggies”.

Cllr. John Connolly was another councillor that formed part of the 12 in favour of the bye-laws.

He played down their impact, expressing his regret at “the scaremongering that some have propagated regarding this issue”.

He continued, “Removing amplification in certain areas creates a more equal arena for those who maintain the traditional acoustic methods of busking. The new regulation should also create an enhanced working environment for working people in the frontline of the retail industry, many of whom have welcomed the introduction of the regulation. The regulations will also make the protected streetscape more accessible

for people with a visual or mobility impairment”.

Both Cllr. O’Flaherty and Cllr.

Connolly maintain that the areas of Eyre Square and Spanish Arch are not covered under the bye-laws and are as free to use as ever. The Galway Busking Community, however, reply to that assertion, “any busker knows that there isn’t enough footfall in either place to make busking workable. There are no shops in Eyre Square or Spanish Arch, no spaces designated for busking in either area, and no plan to designate any before these bye-laws come in”. The buskers say they won’t be silenced, however, the question remains whether the powers that be will listen.

NUI Galway students among All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Final winners

Galway team celebrates after the final with the O’Duffy Cup. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane. Turn to page 32 for more!

2 N E WS & F E AT U R ES

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

INSIDE

NUIG make aviation history as world’s first “Diabetes Drone” takes flight 4 NUI Galway one of two Irish universities to move up in 2020 global rankings 5 NUI Galway hoststhe Global Goals Jam 6 Galway woman shaves head under a ladder on Friday the 13th for sick friend 7 Galway 2020 launches programme of events in extravagant Eyre Square performance 8–9 Homesickness and how to deal with it 10 Mature Student Column 11 Student Diaries 12 In defence of adults who don’t donate to charity 14 Mass Shootings in the U.S 15 Let’s talk about sex, baby 16 Is vaping safer than smoking cigarettes? 17 Styled by the show: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina 18 A weekend in her style: Kendall Jenner 19 Beauty Spotlight: The Top 5 Irish Skincare Brands 20 New York Fashion Week: The Highlights 21 Counting Sheep: How to Get A Good Night’s Sleep This Semester 22 Film Review: IT Chapter 2 will have you floating to the edge of your seat 24 Euphoria Review: Honesty at its core and compassion at its heart 25 What’s on in Galway 26 Brockhampton – Ginger Album Review 27 The limelight and social media: A toxic duo 28 Kleyn inclusion calls fairness of residency rule into question 30 Ireland will have to play ugly to keep Euros dream alive 31 In photos: NUI Galway students among All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Final winners 32–33 Is this Ireland under-21 side the new golden generation? 34 Competition: Win 3 free pizzas all to yourself from Sult 35

EDITOR: Mark Lynch editor.sin@gmail.com LAYOUT: Shannon Reeves

What a pleasure it is to bring you the second issue of SIN for this year.

If you thought Issue 1 was jampacked, you’d be correct, but this issue is even more jam-packed! It’s been a momentous couple of weeks for NUI Galway, between making history with a medicine-carrying drone, climbing in the university rankings and another whopping funding announcement. In the wider world, Galway itself has had quite the momentous fortnight, with the passing of the busking bye-laws dominating much of the talk about town. Its timing has been highlighted even more, due to the launch of the programme of events for Galway’s year as the European Capital of Culture in 2020. Despite concerns about funding, it seems the Galway 2020 team have things right on track, as they showed with an absolutely awe-inspiring event last Wednesday night. The city was united in joy, taking in wonderful music and acrobatics, as well as dazzlingly colourful pyrotechnics. Outside the city, Galway on the majority seems to have hit back at one of its own TD’s, Noel Grealish, after he made some outrageous remarks at a meeting in Oughterard, when talking about the possibility of a direct provision centre coming to the town. While the comments he made were outrageous in their own right, the fact he thought they were relevant at a discussion about direct provision

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in this issue, as we’ve had some fantastic new talent join the team. It’s a very exciting time to be editing SIN, with so many brilliant writers sending in articles on topics they’re passionate about. The sub-editors are also settling into their roles superbly and it’ll be no time at all before it feels like they’ve been doing this their whole lives. Everyone who contributed to this issue deserves a big bualadh bos.

Among the highlights of the issue are Shauna McHugh’s excellent piece on a Galway woman who shaved her head to help her friend in her battle against leukaemia, Paris Diagbonya’s review of the New York Fashion Week and Gary Elbert’s masterfully insightful and eloquent piece, which charts the story of Conor McGregor with socio-economic context against the changing face of UFC. As always, if you have a story to tell, a musing to pen or just an idea that’s worth floating, we are always delighted to hear from you.

Please contact me at editor.sin@ gmail.com, or any of our wonderful sub-editors, for further details or to simply ask any questions you might have. Remember, this is your paper as much as it is ours, so if you’d like to take part, then you shall take part. In the meantime, sit back, relax and keep on reading.

NUI Galway launch new Life Skills Courses for Students

By Caoimhe Killeen

An bhfuil rud éigin le rá agat?

Cur litir chuig an Eagarthóir chuig

is a tad disconcerting.

In more positive news, the women of Galway have done the county proud in the sporting world once again. The Galway Senior Ladies Football team reached the All-Ireland Final, only coming up short against a heavily fancied Dublin team. Believe me, as a Kerryman myself, I know the pain of losing to a heavily fancied Dublin team all too well. While it’s difficult to type through the tears, huge congratulations must go to the Dublin Senior Football team for their 5-in-arow. How I only wish it wasn’t them…

In camogie, the Galway Intermediates also competed in an All-Ireland Final and the Seniors defeated Kilkenny to collect the O’Duffy Cup. On behalf of SIN, congratulations to all involved, particularly to those who are also part of the university here at NUI Galway.

I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who read our first issue and also for picking up our second issue! It feels genuinely great to see people reading something that everyone here at SIN has put so much time and effort into. We do it because we want to, but seeing people pick it up and receiving compliments on it is always nice, so thank you as well for all of the kind words. Our new crossword competition has received a massive response, which is great to see. Unfortunately, there can only be a select number of winners, but you never know, this week might be your lucky week.

You may notice a lot of new names

NUI Galway’s Students’ Union have launched its Life Skills initiative for the current academic year, 2019/20.

These Life Skills courses are aimed at all students who are seeking to improve their chances of employment during and after college. They are also orientated towards students who are looking to boost their CV’s. The new courses on offer include sign language, anti-racism training in association with Galway One World Centre, yoga and barista skills.

Courses available to students include First Aid responder training and cardiac responder training, child

protection training (in partnership with ALIVE and the National Youth Council of Ireland), disclosure training with the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) for self-defence, taught by Benjamin Davis, of Shaolin MMA Galway, and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) training.

NUI Galway’s Students’ Union President, Claire Austick, said: “We are delighted to announce details of our Life Skills courses for the year ahead. Whether it’s learning how to help someone who may be suicidal, or gaining the skills to administer CPR, all of these courses help to provide a well-rounded education for our stu-

dents, whilst also helping them to make their CV’s stand out from the crowd when looking for jobs.”

The new Life Skills courses are the latest addition to a wide range of subsidised programmes, that have been in place since 2009, and are currently available to a student body of 19,000.

Students are advised to book early, as course places are limited. Students wishing to register can do so in the SU Office in Áras na Mac Léinn, beside Sult, from 10 am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Information relating to individual courses, costs and booking, is available by email at studentsunion@nuigalway.ie. or online at www.­sunuigalway.ie.

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NEWS EDITORIAL

By Paddy Henry With the academic year back in full flow once again and Freshers’ Week, along with the worst hangover you’ve had since “Rag Week” out of the way, issue 2 of SIN has no shortage of stories for you all to enjoy. Mark Lynch writes on the passing of the controversial busking bye-laws in Galway city, talking to former Mayor and current Labour Councillor Neil MacNelis on the topic.

Fergus Efe O’Donoghue gives us the lowdown on the news that the University is to receive €13 million for a Graduate Research Training Centre in Genomic Data Science, which is set to provide training in the area to 115 PhD students, while Sadhbh Hendrick brings us the news of the appointment of Caitlín Ní Chualáin as the University’s new Sean Nós singer in residence. Caoimhe Killeen has a report on the launch of the NUI Galway Students’ Union Life Skills Programme for the upcoming academic year, which provides students with valuable opportunities to learn skills, such as sign language and self defence.

Also in this issue is a story on how NUI Galway helped make aviation history last week, with the University assisting in flying the world’s first ‘Diabetes Drone’ to the Aran Islands. We also have a 2-page spread on the launch of programme events for Galway 2020. There are plenty more stories inside, including a piece on the fallout from Noel Grealish TD’s comments on African migrants and a report on the impact of Marine tourism in Ireland, written by NUI Galway Professor Alan Ahearne.

As always, if you are interested in writing for SIN, we would be more than happy to have you join the team. We need as many pairs of eyes and ears around campus to report on all the stories that matter most to you. If you have a story, or are interested in writing for the 2019 Student Newspaper of the Year, please drop me an email at deputy.sined@gmail.com.

FEATURES EDITORIAL

By Shauna McHugh Hello lovely readers, Welcome to Issue 2 of SIN, and our fabulous features section! It’s crazy that a fortnight has already passed since I last wrote to you all in our first issue. Time is absolutely flying by, but perhaps that’s because of the scary ‘real world’ that awaits, once my college life ends in May. Sadhbh Hendrick knows all about that, as she’s got another hilarious instalment of her final year diary for you all.

Jody Moylan is also back with his Mature Student Diary, and we caught up with Fiona Lee over in Canada for her Erasmus Diary.

We also have an exciting sneak peek at what’s to come from this month’s STAND festival at NUI Galway. Don’t miss SIN’s exclusive interview with the festival’s organisers about climate change and the future of our planet!

The planet isn’t the only one whose future is in jeopardy, however, as SIN takes a deeper look into the future of Gaeilge, in the wake of TG4’s severe decline in popularity. I’m very proud to unveil our new ‘Campus Cáirde’ column to you all! From now on, the features section will be starring a new familiar face from around campus each issue, so you readers can get to know them better. Read on to find out who this week’s mystery guest is!

Meanwhile, we have an awe-inspiring interview in this week’s issue, with a brave Galway woman who has shaved all her hair for her dear friend with leukemia. To find out why it’s so important to consider donating your bone marrow, don’t miss her incredible story.

With all this in our paper, it’s safe to say that our wonderful writers have exceeded themselves this issue! I’m so thankful to each and every one of them for helping me put this features section together, and to you readers, for giving them an audience.

See you in Issue 3, Shauna.

OPINION EDITORIAL

By Anastasia Burton Hi, I’m Anastasiya Sytnyk (pronounced sit-nick), but I go by Anastasia Burton for any pieces that I write, and generally, I use it more often than my real name. I am the opinion editor of SIN! I try my best to come up with the best and most interesting opinion pieces for both the writers and readers to enjoy. Trust me, there’s nothing that could bore you quicker than a lengthy 1,000-word opinion piece about something irrelevant, and luckily for the SIN issues, we usually have a limit of 500-800. This makes the pieces nice and simple, you can read and enjoy, as well as become informed on various different topics! Whether it be current affairs, celebrity gossips, controversies of any kind, or just plain old subjects of common interest, you will find yourself catered to in our section. I get weak in the knees when I receive opinion pieces from the public and I love hearing other people’s viewpoints! Our opinions make us unique and in a way they bring us together. If you disagree with someone, you can have a debate, but make sure to call me! I welcome people from all walks of life to contribute to our section and voice your opinion on a reliable and highly-anticipated platform.

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FASHION & LIFESTYLE EDITORIAL

By Catherine Taylor Hello again everyone! It’s been a busy few weeks, as we’ve all tried to get back into the swing of college life. I hope you’ve all settled in and that you enjoyed our first issue back – the uptake of articles for the fashion and lifestyle section has been fantastic so far, so, hopefully, we’ll keep up the good work. As always, if you are in any way inclined to get involved, SIN is looking for volunteers, so drop me an email at lifestyle.sined@gmail.com if you’d like to join the writers team!

This issue is jam-packed with a good mix of fashion, lifestyle and beauty content. To start, our Styled by the Show series continues, with a feature on Netflix’s hit show ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.’ From Sabrina’s signature red coat to her 90’s plaid aesthetic, we have this teen witches’ style down to a T. Elsewhere, we’re still set on helping you ease back into college life, with an essential guide on how to develop a decent sleep routine in college. Helpful, for when all you want to do is watch Netflix until the early hours!

We also have a fabulous report on New York Fashion Week by Paris Diagbonya, where she details all the NYFW highlights, as well as the trends we have to look forward to this Autumn/Winter.

If you’re looking for something that’s closer to home, then check out our list to the top 5 Irish beauty brands worth investing in.

This issue also sees the introduction of two new series to the fashion and lifestyle section. In our Travel Junkie feature, Anastasia Burton takes us through her experience holidaying in Nice, France.

Conversely, if fashion’s more your game, look no further than Amy McMahon’s piece on Kendall Jenner for our new Weekend in her Style feature. Finally, as always, enjoy the issue!

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITORIAL

By Sarah Gill Well, would you look at that, we’re at the end of September already. Once lectures start and the days get shorter, time really starts flying. Now that the first couple of weeks are out of the way, you’re finally starting to settle down to some real study (i.e. slightly less time in the pub). Since you’ve already picked up SIN (round of applause for you), I suggest that you find a cosy corner on campus, or run home between the raindrops to start perusing the second issue

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of the year. While every page is filled with thought-provoking and scintillating pieces on a vast range of topics, we’re here to talk about the Arts and Entertainment section.

Throughout the section, you can expect some fantastic movie and television reviews, from IT: Chapter Two and Euphoria to 13 Reasons Why and The Spectacular Spider-Man. There’s even a great review from Daniel Brennan of the latest Brockhampton album, Ginger, a nice follow on from Daniel’s iridescence review a year previous. There’s plenty of other excellent articles sprinkled throughout the section and I’m so happy to see a number of steady, capable writers lending their talents to the paper.

If you’ve got an idea for an article or even a series of articles, or just want to get involved, please feel free to send me an email on artsentertainment.sined@ gmail.com, a message on Facebook, or just track me down on campus, if you feel like being extra personal.

SPORTS EDITORIAL

By Darren Casserly Hello everyone and welcome to issue number 2 of SIN. It has been quite the fortnight of sport, with the Rugby World Cup, the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship coming to a close and the twist and turns we have come to expect from the Premier League. From a local perspective, the Galway Camogie team were crowned the best in the country, while the ladies fell valiantly to a much-fancied Dublin side in the All-Ireland Ladies Final.

We have a jam-packed sports section for you to look at this week. Darragh Nolan covers the thrilling All-Ireland Final replay, as well as previewing the new season of the NFL. There are some brilliant soccer articles, with Danny Casserly writing about Ireland’s Euro qualifiers and what we need to do to gain qualification and Graham Gillespie gives his thoughts on the always controversial Roy Keane and his row with Johnathan Walters. I look into whether this new Irish under-21 side can be the first to qualify for the under-21 European championship in 16 attempts and become the next golden generation in Irish football From the world of rugby, Darragh Nolan covers the controversial residence rule, which resulted in Jean Kleyn being picked over Devin Toner for the World Cup squad, despite Kleyn only qualifying to play for Ireland earlier this year.

Finally, Gary Elbert goes in-depth, looking into the legacy Conor McGregor has created for himself and his future in MMA. Thanks to everyone for their articles and if you have sports articles or ideas you think could be published, email me at sport.sined@gmail.com.

4 N E WS & F E AT U R ES College given €13m to lead all-Ireland research centre

By Fergus Efe O’Donoghue NUI Galway is set to host an all-Ireland Centre for Research Training in Genomics Data Science on its campus over the course of the next seven years.

The centre is one of six funded by the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the first to have an Ireland wide remit, bringing cross-border collaboration.

Up to 115 PhD students are going to be trained during the course of the project, which is likely going to be initially assigned a room on the Arts/Science Concourse ground floor.

All of the students are going to pass through NUI Galway, but partnerships across the island for the project include Queen’s University Belfast, University College Cork, University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and Royal College of Surgeons Ireland.

“What it brings to NUI Galway really is an opportunity to take leadership, in what is a really important area of science, that has great capacity for economic developments, but also to improve people’s lives, in terms of genomics and its healthcare applications,” said Professor Cathal Seoighe, director of the Centre and Professor of Bioinformatics in NUI Galway.

Bioinformatics, as a field, is simply defined as the analysis and interpretation of biological data and can involve a broad scope of disciplines, such as computer science, biology, and statistics.

“It does offer NUI Galway a chance to step up to the plate and to say ‘look, we can take on a leadership role here, we can try to make sure that genomics gets incorporated appropriately into healthcare…” said Professor Seoighe.

Academic research in Ireland is typically highly cooperative, with most competitors being international.

“They see that (Bioinformatics, ICT) as areas where there will be high-skilled employment in the future. You don’t want a workforce who are trained to do jobs that are no longer relevant… So basically, we’re training data scientists, and data scientists are the hot new thing of the career space.”

Genomics has impacts across a broad range of sectors, including human health, industrial biotechnology, food science and agriculture. In health, genomics is already beginning to be used to diagnose rare genetic disorders.

For example, around 30% of children with early onset epilepsy can now receive a precision diagnosis through genomic sequencing. It can also predict the risk of common, complex disorders, such as obesity and Type II Diabetes, in which lifestyle plays a role, raising the possibility of interventions targeted towards at-risk individuals On the importance of genomic research, Professor Seoighe added: “Cancer is essentially a disease of the genome… We can sequence the human genome and we can now do it fairly cheaply, but because cancer is a disease of the genome, we can also sequence the cancer. We can find: what are the specific mutations that would enable that cancer cell to go rogue? That’s really important, and that guides how you treat that cancer.”

New cancer therapies now target specific genomic mutations found in cancer cells, particularly in the case of lung, colorectal, skin, breast and some blood cancers.

By sequencing the genome of the cancer cells, these treatments can be tailored to individual patients.

Genomic sequencing can also, therefore, be used to help treat illnesses like Multiple Sclerosis (MS), of which Ireland has the highest incidence of occurrence in Europe.

The SFI Centre was officially launched at a conference on the 3rd of September, attended by President of NUI Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, in which the college obtained the funding, initially set aside for ICT in June 2018 - on the grounds that the bioinformatic research would pave the way for clearer insights into artificial intelligence.

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

NUI Galway makes aviation history as world’s first “Diabetes Drone” takes flight

By Paddy Henry NUI Galway and associated partners made history last week, with the completion of the first autonomous Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), Vodafone-connected Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) drone delivery of prescription medication and collection of patient blood sample for diabetes care Supported by the Irish Aviation Authority, who gave the project special dispensation, the drone delivered diabetes prescription medications, such as insulin and glucagon, from Connemara Airport to Inís Mór.

The operation was conducted in between commercial flights and was in contact with aerospace regulators at all times, paving the way for future deliveries of this type on similar flight paths.

The flight from Connemara to Inis Mór covered a distance of 21.7km over and 21.6 km back. The drone spent a total of 32 minutes in the air between the two journeys.

The operation was conducted with the help of NUI Galway’s #DiabetesDrone project and garnered the support of multiple industry leaders, such as Skytango, Survey Drones Ireland, Wingcopte and Vodafone.

Numerous healthcare companies and universities, such as Noro Nordish, the world’s leading supplier of insulin, also got involved in the ground-breaking project, while academic experts such as Professor Derek O’Keeffe of NUI Galway, who led the project, Doctor Kevin Johnson of the University of Limerick and Doctor Spyridoula Maraka from the University of Arkansas, also assisted.

Professor O’Keeffe lauded the innovation as a huge step forward in helping people in remote areas access crucial medicine, stating, “Climate change means that these types of severe weather events are becoming more

prevalent. Individuals and communities in rural locations can become isolated for days after a severe weather event and an emergency may arise where patients can run out of their medicine. Therefore, it is incumbent on us to develop a solution for these emergencies, which addresses the clinical, technical and regulatory issues before a sentinel event occurs. To date, medical drones have demonstrated success, for example, in delivering blood, defibrillators and human organs for transplant. This #DiabetesDrone project represents another milestone in the use of drones to improve patient care”.

The delivery drone, a Wingcopter 178 Heavy Lift, with an insulated parcel delivery box, was supplied by Survey Drones Ireland and can cover 100 kilometres in less than an hour.

A combination of different software programmes were used at Connemara airport in order to ensure a successful outcome to the mission. Skytango, a drone operations management platform, which helps manage the Health & Safety aspects of drone operations across a range of industries, took charge of the pre-flight operations, while Vodafone Ireland’s Internet of Things (IoT) network managed the mission flight.

The drone’s pre-flight path was managed using Q Ground Control software. This allowed the connection of the primary cellular communications and backup satellite communications to be displayed, allowing the Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) pilots on both sites to track the progress of the aircraft. This is very important, as is the need to implement the BVLOS emergency procedures. Once airborne, the whole flight was monitored by the SUA Pilots from Survey Drones Ireland and Wingcopter.

Skytango CEO, Steve Flynn, spoke of the importance of using drones for the benefit of the public, announcing, “It is imperative that we win the hearts and minds of the com-

munities we fly over when it comes to drone operations and connecting stakeholders and tracking compliance is a step toward that.”

The launch team had a live FPV (first-person view) camera feed from the aircraft, to ensure a visual from the drone, once it flew beyond visual line of sight, for safety. The second team on Inis Mór, Aran Islands, had a second ground control station with satellite telecoms so they could monitor the location of the drone to the destination, at the local airfield.

Debbie Power, Internet of Things Country Manager at Vodafone Ireland, hailed the successful operation as an example of the importance of using modern innovation as a means of connecting people from even the most remote of locations, declaring, “Vodafone Ireland are delighted to partner with NUI Galway and other experts for this world-first BVLOS diabetes drone mission. At Vodafone, we are committed to connecting for a better future and in using our technology to improve people’s lives, regardless of where they live.

Our IoT network technology ensured the drone was contactable and connectivity thresholds were met and sustained throughout the flight”.

The rewards of this historic breakthrough will be reaped most by those living on remote, outlying islands, such as Inís Mór. Marion Hernon, a patient with diabetes and resident of Inís Mór, spoke of the impact a drone service would have for similar patients stating, “Insulin is essential for my survival and having a diabetes drone service in an emergency situation would ensure this survival while living on an offshore island.”

Doctors on the island have also praised the technological developments in connecting island communities, with local GP, Doctor Marion Broderick describing the possibilities as ‘’endless’’.

Pictured l-r: Steven Flynn, Skytango, Professor Derek O’Keeffe, NUI Galway, Wayne Floyd, Survey Drone Ireland, Santiago Montenegro UAV Specialist, Wingcopter and Marc Daly, Vodafone Ireland with the world’s first diabetes drone. The drone completed the first autonomous, beyond visible line of sight drone delivery of insulin, connected by Vodafone IoT, from Connemara Airport to Inis Mór on the Aran Islands. The diabetes drone was given special research permission from the Irish Aviation Authority to show the possibility of future deliveries of this kind within planned drone corridors. Photo: Andrew Downes, Xposure

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NUI Galway one of two Irish universities to move up in 2020 global rankings

By Conor Brummell NUI Galway has risen once again in global ranking, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2020. The University has improved significantly in the rankings, having been placed in the 250-300 range band, compared to the 301-350 bracket they were in last year.

This is the Times Higher Education World University Rankings’ sixteenth year judging University rankings and they apply rigorous standards to the competition, using global benchmarks across all University’s key missions based on teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

NUI Galway’s improved status is primarily as a result of its continued focus on research excellence and impact. It is

a testament to all students enrolled and staff currently working at the college.

President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, commented: “This

year, NUI Galway improved its score and its ranking band, which we welcome as a reflection of the continuous effort across this University. We at NUI Galway are

“This week 53 years ago, the then-Minister for Education, Donagh O’Malley, started a revolution at second level education. There is now an opportunity for a revolution for the next generation, now at third level. We look forward to working with Government and our other stakeholders in envisioning and resourcing this shared future.”

determined to be true to our values of respect, excellence, inclusiveness and sustainability and further enhance our distinctive international reputation and reach, serving our students and our hinterland and drawing on the strengths of our people in research, teaching and societal impact.

We look forward to seeing these strengths reflected in future international rankings”.

He added: “There is a clear desire for third level education in this country as a means of advancing opportunities for our students and of reinvigorating our society. Investment in an eco-system that’s appropriate for our students, in meeting that clear demand for a third level system that is internationally competitive, is an imperative, not for us, but for our students and for society”.

“This week 53 years ago, the thenMinister for Education, Donagh

O’Malley, started a revolution at second level education. There is now an opportunity for a revolution for the next generation, now at third level. We look forward to working with Government and our other stakeholders in envisioning and resourcing this shared future.”

The ranking included 1,396 institutions from 92 countries, drawing on data points on over 1,800 of the world’s leading research universities and more than 21,000 academic reputation survey responses. The exercise also analyses 12.8 million research publications and 77.4 million citations over five years, based on bibliometric data from Elsevier.

The full ranking can be seen online at https://www.timeshighereducation. com/world-university-rankings/2020/ world-ranking.

Caitlín Ní Chualáin appointed as Sean-Nós Singer-in-Residence at NUI Galway

By Sadhbh Hendrick NUI Galway’s Centre for Irish Studies has announced the appointment of Caitlín Ní Chualáin as Sean-Nós Singerin-Residence for this year. For readers unfamiliar with the term, ‘sean-nós’ is generally understood to refer to songs in the Irish language. This is a style of singing, hailing from the Gaeltacht regions of Ireland. Singers perform solo, without instrumental accompaniment. Sean-nós singers tell a story through the art of song, combining

vocal techniques such as nasalisation and ornamentation to produce a unique and beautiful style of singing.

From the Gaeltacht area of An Teach Mór Thiar, Indreabhán, Caitlín draws on the rich tradition of sean-nós singers from her locality. Caitlín won Comórtas na mBan at the Oireachtas in the years 2005, 2008 and 2014, and the coveted Corn Uí Riada, the premier competition for sean-nós singing at the Oireachtas festival in 2016.

SIN spoke to Caitlín herself to get her view on this new position: “I just

have to say what a great honour it is for me to be appointed in this role. Not only does it mean a lot to me personally, but it is great to see Sean-nós being recognized by a national University, and particularly a national University that is so close to the Conamara Gaeltacht”.

A major influence on Caitlín’s style is drawn from her late father, Máirtín Pheaits Ó Cualáin, a winner of Comórtas na bhFear at the Oireachtas in 1944 and 2001. This is evident in the fact that the song Loingseach Bhearna, one Caitlín is closely associated with, is one learned from her father. She added, “I am very excited to have the opportunity to share with

others, what I got from my dear father Máirtín Pheaits Ó Cualáin, who passed away in 2013”. Caitlín herself is married with seven children, several of whom are already singers and musicians in their own right. A regular on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Caitlín also works as a journalist, and at concerts and workshops.

Dr Méabh Ní Fhuartháin of the Centre for Irish Studies welcomed the appointment, saying: “We are delighted to have Caitlín Ní Chualáin join us as Sean-Nós Singer-in-Residence this year. Caitlín has a very distinctive voice, which encapsulates the rich tradition that surrounds her. This appointment

represents a fantastic opportunity for our students.”

Caitlín will deliver a series of workshops at NUI Galway and will contribute to the expanding Sean-Nós Archive Collection. The workshops are free and open to the public and will begin on Tuesday, 1 October, at 7pm at the Centre for Irish Studies, NUI Galway. Caitlín encourages all to attend, “I hope people will take the opportunity to come to the classes, and enjoy a rare taste of our Irish heritage”.

This project is funded by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Údarás na Gaeltachta and An Chomhairle Ealaíon, in association with the Centre for Irish Studies at NUI Galway.

ALIVE

Join volunteer teams, design your impact in community and ignite your passion for change!

WELCOME WORKSHOPS ALIVE, Aras Na Mac Leinn | 5pm All welcome to come along to one workshop repeated all week to learn more about volunteering in Galway city community projects.

Monday 23 Sept

Tuesday 24 Sept

alive@nuigalway.ie

Wednesday 25 Sept

Thursday 26 Sept

www.nuigalway.ie/alive

6 NEWS & F E ATU R ES

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

Independent Galway TD under fire for “racist” comments about African migrants

NUI Galway hosts the Global Goals Jam

By Mark Lynch

By Rachel Garvey

Independent Galway TD, Noel Grealish, has come under heavy scrutiny for comments he made regarding African migrants. Speaking at a public meeting in Oughterard about the possibility of a direct provision centre in the town, Mr. Grealish claimed that African migrants are simply “economic migrants”, who are here to “sponge off the system here in Ireland”. He has since received huge backlash for making this claim, both on the university campus here at NUI Galway and further afield.

Students’ Union Vice-President and Welfare and Equality Officer, Brandon Walsh, has told SIN that the Students’ Union “completely condemns the foul, racist comments made by Mr. Grealish”. He continued, “As a Students’ Union, we fully acknowledge the immense diversity of the student body and work to support and advocate for all of those students, regardless of their background”. Mr. Walsh was also keen to emphasise that this is also the case for students who have come to Ireland to flee the danger of their home countries. “We pride our campus on being a safe space for students who are asylum seekers or in direct provision and do our best to support them. We have recently been awarded the status of University of Sanctuary and we also offer scholarships to undergrad and postgrad students who are immigrants/asylum seekers and also members of the travelling community”. Brandon Walsh wants to ensure that “all of our students are safe, happy and supported, so please contact us if you ever need anything!”

NUI Galway also has a student society dedicated to welcoming refugees. Fáilte Refugees Soc added its strong condemnation of the “disgusting, outright racist remarks made by Noel Grealish TD”, adding, “The meeting in Oughterard (regarding a potential direct provision centre) acted as a platform for racist comments, which was expected to an extent, but what was not expected was for an acting TD to hijack the genuine concerns of locals, by inciting racial and religious hatred”. Fáilte Refugees Soc says it’s “very worrying to hear these comments being made by a TD who represents Galway, the most multi-cultural city in the country, not just because they are outright lies, but also because it has absolutely nothing to do with opposing direct provision because of how inhumane it is, and even less so with rural towns not having adequate resources”.

There has been a wave of calls for Noel Grealish to apologise, withdraw his comments and resign, with Fáilte Refugees Soc stating, “We are very upset to see a TD use his influence to fuel hatred and we demand that he revoke his comments and apologise, and we are also calling on his resignation”. This sentiment was echoed by the Galway Anti-Racism Network, who also wants the Independent TD to step down. Almost 2,000 people have signed an online petition calling on Deputy Grealish to apologise, while Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has also requested, first off, that he clarify his comments, before later calling on him to withdraw these remarks. Mr. Grealish has not made any public statements since the meeting in Oughterard.

NUI Galway hosted the Global Goals Jam from Friday September 20th until Sunday September 22nd. The Global Goals Jam is an international event which saw over eighty Jams held around the world, where creative teams worked together on local challenges related to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This year’s themes in the Global Goals Jam focused on water, waste and climate change. The two-day event invited a number of people from all backgrounds, some of whom were Alumni, current students, staff members and others were members of the general public, who brought in their local knowledge.

Visitors who were invited participated in workshops seeking to address local issues, in light of the global development goals. Members of the general public and NUI Galway were able to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals by creating short-term interventions that had long-term impacts.

The Sustainable Development Goals have an important implementation that will help to achieve development plans, reduce future economic, environmental and social costs, strengthen economic competitiveness and reduce poverty.

Volunteers were encouraged to sign up online to take part in the event, with the reward of a free lunch.

The weekend workshops demonstrated and taught people how virtual reality technology works, experimentation with 3D printing and exploring all the MakerSpace resources in the James Hardiman Library in NUI Galway. The Technology and Social entrepreneurship workshops allowed participants to collaborate and launch solutions for long-term impact. The event was organised as a collaboration between NUI Galway’s James Hardiman Library, the volunteering programme ALIVE, an entrepreneurship programme, Launchpad, the campus sustainability team and the non-profit organisation, The Ladder.

Lorraine Tansey, of the volunteering programme, ALIVE, said: “Across the University campus are the tools and resources to connect students, staff and the public at large to the sustainable development goals and make real changes. We are delighted to come together for this event and highlight social entrepreneurship skills. Together, we can work across disciplines, to look at pressing environmental concerns”. The event proved to be a worthwhile visit, as visitors were able to meet new, like-minded people. They also addressed the different social challenges on a global scale, collaborated and learned from local ideas, while volunteers achieved a certificate of recognition and individuals developed start-up social entrepreneurial skills.

STAND FESTIVAL: The climate change activists bringing art to NUI Galway

By Fergus O’Donoghue RockSoc, VegSoc and StyleSoc are all set to team up, as an event, aimed at raising awareness on daily problems we face today, hits up universities and colleges all over Ireland in the coming monthsstarting with NUI Galway.

But what do these three societies have in common, besides having likely enjoyed simultaneous popularity all through the 70s?

In 2014, Suas Educational Development created the 8x8 Festival, with partial funding from Irish Aid. Today, that festival lives on as STAND Festival, run by students and for students. Last year’s STAND Festival focused on gender identity, and in previous years has also dealt with issues such as asylum seeking and the consequences of rising ocean levels on coastal communities.

Lucy Kelly, a 2nd year student of Applied Social Science, is one of four local student coordinators of the event this year. “It’s an outdoor exhibition that will be out at the Concourse from the 23rd -27th of September, and it’s a photography and digital exhibition. It’ll be hard to miss,” said Lucy.

The exhibition will also include works submitted to STAND online, in a competition that ran from Monday September 16th to Friday September 19th, among which a poem, written by another student co-ordinator, will be featured.

“We’re looking at a sustainability talk for students, and how they can be sustainable in daily life- that’s in conjunction with VegSoc, they’ll be doing a vegetarian and vegan potluck on Tuesday. With StyleSoc we’ll be running a fast fashion awareness panel talk on Tuesday or Wednesday as well… And we’re hoping to do an Open Mic with RockSoc on Monday just for people to express what they feel about the environment and climate change.

We didn’t want to overwhelm people with all the doom and gloom of what’s happening [with the environment], so we wanted to make it problem-centred, but also about what you can do as a student to help. The sustainability talk is about what you can do in your everyday life to make your consumption more sustainable, not just in food, but in what you buy every day… For example, it’s completely unsustainable to sell an

outfit for €4, or buy a new outfit for every night out,” Lucy added, referring to what is called ‘fast fashion’.

“We’ll be running events through the week,” she explained. “We’re currently working on three different events. There’s not anything concrete at the moment, but we’re nearly there.”

The festival will facilitate 6-week courses on campus around social issues like migration, mixed markets and upcycling. Though practical details have yet to be ironed out with the SU, the planning phase is complete, with the potential presence of an unannounced speaker of interest.

When asked why she decided to help organise the festival this year, Lucy said: “I would say it’s empowering. It empowers you to take action on stuff that you thought was overwhelming, and you couldn’t do anything about. It gives you the opportunity to learn about what the issue actually is and what you can do about it.”

STAND is also set to appear in GMIT at the start of October. This year the festival will end on the 29th of November in Dublin at the National College of Art and Design.

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Galway woman shaves head under a th ladder on Friday the 13 for sick friend

By Shauna McHugh In January 2019, while in the heart of her studies at GMIT and aged just 25, a former NUI Galway student received the awful news that she had been diagnosed with leukemia. Since that time, the woman’s life has been completely derailed. Now on her fourth round of chemotherapy, the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, has been forced to suspend her studies at GMIT and has been left “incredibly frustrated”, with her life effectively put on hold.

It wasn’t until May of this year that this woman shared the devastating news of her diagnosis with her close friend, Niamh Conroy. Niamh was initially shocked by the news, but immediately began thinking of ways to help. Her months of brainstorming and fundraising culminated in her ‘Shave or Dye’ event in Galway’s House Hotel last Friday, on September 13th.

On the night, Niamh donated a lengthy 17cm of her perfect, glossy black locks to the Little Princess Trust. Once the ponytail had been chopped off, Niamh went the extra mile, and shaved off the rest of her hair, save for a thin layer that she needs in order to look presentable for her working life as a midwife in London. As if this wasn’t all daunting enough, Niamh did it all under a ladder on Friday the 13th!

Niamh’s own friend has lost her hair during the four gruelling rounds of chemo in University Hospital Galway, and sadly, there is no end in sight until her friend finds a suitable bone marrow donor. “When you hear that you could make all this go away for your friend with just this bone marrow, your first thought is ‘Oh, I’ll just

“When you hear that you could make all this go away for your friend with just this bone marrow, your first thought is ‘Oh, I’ll just give them some of mine’, but sadly it doesn’t work like that” Niamh explains. Her friend’s immediate family have all already been tested to see if their bone marrow would be a good match, but so far to no avail. At the moment, Niamh’s friend is desperately waiting for a donor to become available through the national register.

give them some of mine’, but sadly it doesn’t work like that” Niamh explains.

Her friend’s immediate family have all already been tested to see if their bone marrow would be a good match, but so far to no avail. At the moment, Niamh’s friend is desperately waiting for a donor to become available through the national register.

The Shave or Dye event was a beautiful display of support from Niamh to her sick friend, as loved ones gathered in House Hotel to watch Niamh lose her hair willingly for a friend whose own hair and life, as she knew it, was taken abruptly by cancer. The whole idea of the fundraiser came from Niamh herself, in a bid to raise more awareness of her friend’s plight. “I knew I had to do something quite shocking to grab people’s attention” says Niamh “The addition of shaving my head under a ladder on Friday the 13th was also just a bit of humour in all the serious stuff that comes up with cancer. I wanted to do something a bit more lighthearted.”

Not only did she donate her hair to the Little Princess Trust, but the evening was also in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. Collection buckets were being filled throughout the night in aid of the charity, and the raffle proceeds also went directly to the Irish Cancer Society. To date, Niamh has raised nearly €500 for the charity on her Just Giving page.

Even the location of Niamh’s head shave was a thoughtful gesture to her friend. “The House Hotel is somewhere my friend and I came for drinks often when we were in our late teens, so this felt like the right place to do this for her”, Niamh shared.

Through Niamh’s selfless acts to help her dear friend, it’s clear how close they are. The pair have been friends for over ten years, and in that time, Niamh’s friend briefly studied Arts in NUI Galway throughout 2012. As a result of this, Niamh is particularly hopeful that the NUI Galway community can gain something from her friend’s tragic situation.

“I would love to see more donation drives across colleges”, Niamh enthuses, “In my friend’s case, all the money in the world we could raise is useless. All she needs is the bone marrow. And it’s a very simple process to become a donor.”

The bone marrow itself is extracted from the pelvis in a very minor operation, and most people recover from the surgery within a week. This is a small sacrifice to make to save somebody’s life.

A whole head of hair, however, seems a huge sacrifice to make, yet Niamh doesn’t see it that way; “Hair grows back, and it grows quicker than friendships” she solemnly tells SIN. To find out how you can become a bone marrow donor, to help Niamh’s friend and thousands like her, head to www.giveblood.ie/bone-marrow.

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SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

Galway 2020 launches programme of events in extravagant Eyre Square performance

By Mark Lynch Eyre Square was full of colour, energy and happy and astounded faces, as the programme of events for Galway’s year as the European Capital of Culture was launched last Wednesday night.

Despite starting around 40 minutes late, in typical Galway fashion, the performance that followed more than made up for any tardiness. Arthur Lappin, Chairperson of Galway 2020, was first up to the podium, first to apologise for the delay and then to begin the launch, “Tonight, it is genuinely thrilling to launch our programme of events for 2020”. He continued about the importance of being the Capital of Culture, announcing, “The eyes of the world will

be on Galway in 2020”, before noting how the city itself can benefit from it, as it represents an opportunity to “rejoice in our diversity and excite our imaginations”. Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, then thanked all of the volunteers and added how this was “an unprecedented opportunity for both city and county to have a global spotlight on its creative talents”. She continued, “2020 offers a platform to celebrate our shared understanding and diversity of cultures within Europe. Galway is Ireland’s most multicultural city”.

Arthur Lappin once again graced the stage, this time to introduce the performers. Anna Mullarkey would perform an original piece, inspired

by the Celtic seasons. She was accompanied by French performance company, Gratte Ciel, who amazed and enthralled the thousands that descended upon Eyre Square. The stunning vocals and piano by Ms. Mullarkey were complimented by the wondrous acrobatics of the 4 men who flew, hung and swung overhead.

After an explosion of fireworks and confetti, the crowd’s attention turned

once again to the stage with the big screen behind it, where Michael D. Higgins made a speech, outlining the importance of the year to come.

Speaking to SIN at the event, Mayor of Galway, Cllr. Mike Cubbard, was eager to praise the performance. “Galway, being such a diverse city and full of culture, full of vibrancy, full of colour, I don’t think we could have had a better opening act to show that”. Regarding

The amazing Anna Mullarkey, who sang and played an original piece as part of the performance.

Eyre Square was filled with colour, with confetti shot down from above.

the actual programme of events that were launched, he added, “I was just reading through the book and even the book doesn’t do it justice, almost 2,000 events. This is only one flavour of what’s going to happen. Look around here now in Eyre Square, everyone’s just having fun, everyone’s smiling and this is the start of what’s going to be a massive year for Galway City and Galway County. I can’t wait for it”.

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NUI Galway students jump to join the WaveMaker Volunteer Programme!

Students have the opportunity to join the Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture volunteering programme. NUI Galway students Adrianna Szmaglinska (yellow), Sabrina Cunnane (green), Ilaria Belletti (Red), Brandon Walsh (blue), Elena Toniato, Volunteer Programme Development Manager Galway 2020, Lorraine Tansey (Orange), NUI Galway’s ALIVE Community Volunteering Programme Coordinator

Thousands gathered in Eyre Square for last Wednesday’s launch.

Chairperson of Galway 2020, Arthur Lappin, addresses the crowd in Eyre Square.

The outstanding French performance group, Gratte Ciel, during the show last Wednesday evening in Eyre Square.

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Campus Cáirde: Paula Healy

By Anastasia Burton In this issue of ‘Campus Cáirde’ SIN has interviewed our favourite station manager Paula Healy at Flirt FM. Paula looks after the radio station and trains new volunteers each year. Paula is also responsible for social media and communication with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, “I make sure that everybody keeps doing shows”, as she simply puts it.

It’s almost Flirt FM’s 24th birthday, on the 20th of September! The station was established in 1995. Flirt FM was moved to its current location in 2009, which was also opened by Michael D. Higgins. The station is now on air 24 hours a day, which is a big development from what it used to be.

Every year, for Fáilte Fest and Freshers Fair, Paula and other Flirt FM employees play music and encourage people to join Flirt FM as volunteers. “This year we noticed that a lot of people, as soon as they found out they’re coming to NUI Galway, already applied online”, which is great news for the station. “Last year we had a record number of 170 (volunteers), and we were pushed to our very limit with that number of people. So, I think that we are better off with 150 so we can give everybody one on one time.” Of course, one must keep in mind that Flirt FM has two amazing studios, however, with 170 people volunteering to do shows, it is difficult to try and squeeze everybody in.

“A lot of first years come in... But then you find a lot of people who had always wanted to volunteer, but have realized in final year that “Oh no, if not now, then I’ll never do it”. We also get some masters and PHD students in, and occasionally a staff member or two, as well as TY students”. This makes the Flirt FM volunteers more diverse and unique, Paula explains. Once the shows begin airing and people are paired with other co-hosts, you might find that you are paired with a PHD student and a final year student. At first it might seem daunting, like it was for me when I first started working at Flirt FM. But trust me, it is an ocean of fun when people, who usually wouldn’t find themselves together, work together and have a great harmony. Diverse shows keep the listeners and presenters entertained for the duration of the day!

“I feel like first years and masters approach the radio station in very different ways. A lot of the first years can come in very excited, which is great. Then they do very straight forward chat shows. While masters have very specific ideas for what their shows will be about, usually about their area of study. So, they’re two different types.

I wouldn’t want someone talking about their thesis for 2 hours on a breakfast show, but I’d also like some specialist shows that really drill about what’s going on in education in third level”.

Many people are afraid to volunteer on the radio due to not knowing how to speak on air or what to say. This is completely normal! Therefore, Paula (and I) would strongly encourage you to sign up to do a show like the Happy Hour or the Breakfast shows, where you will be paired up with people who might be similar to you. Or, they could be completely opposite, which would mean you don’t have to do a full 2 hours talking to yourself. Instead, you will be a team. One of you could talk about sports, while the other talks about art and current affairs.

So, Paula’s message is don’t be afraid to volunteer just because none of your friends are volunteering.

You will make friends in no time and Paula and her staff are always there to help and answer any of your questions and concerns! Also, if you are not interested in doing shows, but want to use the station to record your own stuff for personal use, you can book the studio on the Flirt FM website or through Socs Box.

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

Homesickness and how to deal with it

By Aoife Burke

Homesickness is defined as the stress of being away from home. Home is a reminder of attachment objects, such as your old bedroom. I’m a second time undergraduate, as I went to college before, but I can still remember the painful memories of being away from home for the first time as a 19 year old.

There are little things you can do to overcome homesickness, but remember, it is unlikely you will be on your own for long. When I was in college, I lived in digs for the first time (we were served dog hair dinners!) and by the time second year rolled around, I had a nice group of friends from my course. We cooked for each other, shared washing powder, studied together and, of course, drank together. There was one local nightclub we would go to that had sticky floors and watered down vodka. I count myself lucky, as I was able to experience the student lifestyle at that age and, although the course was hard, we all graduated.

So what can you do? There is the housing

crisis and increased competition for college places. As you have made it to college, congratulations! Now where to meet people? I strongly discourage certain local meet up groups off the internet. Maybe it’s just my experience of living in Dublin for 6 years, but these people can attract dodgy types.

Try clubs and societies with NUI Galway.

Join a WhatsApp group for your course so you guys can help each other out. I would consider NUI Galway’s campus to be a safe campus and it is okay to strike up a conversation anywhere, even in Smokies, my new favourite haunt. You will find your places and people in college, it just takes a little time.

A favourite pastime of mine is to watch YouTube videos of student hauls on the internet, where you can pick up tips on how to make your student accommodation more homely with simple things like fairy lights and fluffy cushions. The change your scenery may ease your longing for your actual home.

You need to remember that homesickness is very normal and the answer is not always to turn to drink. Alcohol is a depres-

sant and will make you feel worse, as well as eat at your pocket. You don’t need to go through this alone. There is a counselling service and medical centre on campus. You should also have a student mentor on your programme, which is where a more senior student meets up with you to make sure you have no problems.

People are in college from all walks of life and you will meet all sorts. Make college a priority above all else. Your people will find you. I also think that if you are sporty, you can meet all sorts of people there. I love to write, so I want to join Writers Soc. It’s so important not to suffer alone. There is a saying that, “life will teach you what you need to know”.

When things go wrong, you need other people to lean on. No man (or woman) is an island! If you are struggling, talk to your student mentor about applying for the financial assistance fund. College can be expensive, depending on your situation, and it’s important to have enough money to meet your costs. Finally, enjoy college, as it passes so fast! Best of luck everybody!

TG4 Suffer Yet Another Ratings Drop

By Sadhbh Hendrick Is fearr Gaeilge briste or nó?

Apparently nó, as it was revealed this week that Irish broadcaster TG4 has seen a massive decrease in its ratings over the past year. The publicly-funded Irish language channel has said it’s “extremely disappointed” in a drop in viewing figures.

Its annual report showed its average all-day share fell by 5.9% to just 1.76%.

Meanwhile, its weekly reach dropped by 9% to 30%. This ratings failure comes despite the fact that the company saw a 2.6% increase in funding last year, up to almost €34million.

What does this signify for the future of the Irish language? It is no secret that the future of the Irish language is a hot topic in Ireland today. Is this dropping a further nail in the coffin of Irish, or is it simply a sign of the times of television? With questions over the future of Irish education and its falling numbers of speakers, figures like the ones above are serious cause for concern for those of us passionate about keeping Gaeilge alive.

(Tír gan teanga…)

Television itself is going through a period of reform and change, due to the introduction of various other platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV etc. The TV viewer is changing, tastes and opinions are tailored for more than ever as we are all falling under the spell of “Suggested for You” algorithms and the programmes that offer the best Instagram memes thereafter (Love Island). So are we not tuning in to

Ros na Rún because Gaeilge is on the way out, or are we just more interested in binge watching Gossip Girl? It is evident that the change in viewer profiles and choices will negatively impact all traditional television channels. We cannot, however, ignore the decrease in ratings for TG4 relative to other stations.

Why are so few people engaging with Irish language content? It poses the question as to whether or not the station has the ability to keep up with viewer demands and ever-changing tastes. In a

lies in the language of the station and perhaps consider that this may be another of the many struggles Gaeilge has to endure in its survival attempt. As the Irish language hits headlines over proposals to remove it as a compulsory language, the lack of viewership in TG4 does in fact provide a case study for the dwindling interest. Is the language too dated and seemingly redundant to survive in the lightning-speed of society today? When we consider the most popular reality TV shows, they simply do not translate

So, are we not tuning in to Ros na Rún because Gaeilge is on the way out, or are we just more interested in binge watching Gossip Girl? It is evident that the change in viewer profiles and choices will negatively impact all traditional television channels.

We cannot, however, ignore the decrease in ratings for TG4 relative to other stations. world where consumers are more spoilt than ever before, it is hard to attract and retain loyal viewers. Perhaps the most popular programme types are not feasible in such a station, or is the problem more deeply rooted than that?

We question whether or not the issue

(pardon the pun) into the same addictive viewing through the medium of Gaeilge.

Or is that, in fact, where TG4 are going wrong? We consider whether some more modern content draw in the viewers and boost the profile of Irish today. Love Island on Inishmore anyone?

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Mature Student Column 2

Jody Moylan While most undergraduates today will look back on the 2010s as the decade they came of age, ‘my decade’ was the 1990s. I remember those years like it was yesterday, though it’s just vivid fragments I remember now; small snatches of time, many of which are not particular to anything. A view of a street, standing for a school photograph, walking into my grandmother’s rose garden.

Her blue dress. Soap operas from England. All odd interventions that flash up like an old film reel. Not unwelcome, but never invited either. Bigger moments, too, are isolated with single memories.

In 1990, I remember standing over the toilet at home in Roscommon, almost sick, as England led Ireland by a single goal to nil at the World Cup in Italy. It really mattered then — playing England

— like it was second only to war, and I knew it even at the age of ten.

Along with changes in how we dress, what music we listen to, our quality of life, that England thing can be tracked over decades too. It was particularly pronounced in the late 80s and early 90s.

I can’t remember Bobby Sands. I was alive alright, but not yet two when he died on hunger strike in 1981. He was part of an explosion of feeling that led to the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1985 — a failure — but it offered up something to the white noise newly discernible to me in our little country living room. Voices crackling from a radio that was also a record player, and from a television that was two tonne weight.

Becoming more conscious, I remember 1988, a single day in June, standing outside in the sun and walking in to see Ray Houghton score a famous goal in Stuttgart. A floating header that seemed to take forever. All the serious stuff was on RTE 1. The murder and the politics at least. But then, as before it, we had two separate relationships with England, where one half of us seemed to be cheating on the other. We enjoyed its music, magazines and newspapers, its comedies and dramas, much the same as we do today. In every sense, though,

the conflict was ongoing back then, and there must have been a pang of guilt, too, by the older generation who knew how badly some of their own had been treated, on all the streets, the building sites, and tenements of England.

But that conflict of cultural and social/political life had gone on for generations. I was reading recently about Ernie O’Malley; that famed and iconic Irish revolutionary who was both an intellect and a man of the gun. Much has been made about the conflict of his mind; of his simultaneous ‘Anglocentrism’ and ‘Anglophobia’. That somehow the two could not co-exist. For he was both a fan and an enemy ‘of things English’. He read Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante and Milton, while, at the same time, was a leading guerrilla with, he stated ‘an inborn hate of things English, which I expect all Irishmen inherit’.

Daniel O’Connell — our great nationalist ‘Liberator’ — got caught up in the soapopera-like wanderings of Nell Trent, a fictional character from the Englishman Charles Dickens’ Old Curiosity Shop, which was serialised in the magazine Master Humphrey’s Clock between 1841 and 1842. When Nell was ‘killed off’, Dan threw away the magazine ‘with a gesture of angry impatience’. Whatever about

Dan’s petulance, what Dickens was doing in works like Curiosity Shop and Oliver Twist (which O’Connell also loved) was telling the story of the harsh reality of the world in which they all lived, and under the system which they all lived.

The written culture was a critique of the political and social culture. Shakespeare, for O’Malley, should only have been someone who summed up the banality of monarchs, rather than being a cultural influence to feel guilty

about. I remember after leaving the bathroom that night in 1990, Ireland got an equaliser. And that’s the way it stayed. We proved we were just as good as them, but no better than them either.

And we continued watching their soapoperas, as we do today, with all the little comedies and dramas of normal people trying to get by. Because, for all their bad governance, prime ministers and pointless monarchs, most of them, when it comes down to it, are just the same as us.

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12 NEWS & F E AT U R ES

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

First year student diary Hi everybody, my name is Aoife Burke. I am a first year Journalism student studying English and Law. I’m very happy to be talking about my experience of college, although it is my first week of proper lectures. I found the start of first year to be a little stressful, with sorting out my student card, locker, fees and back to education allowance. I am also a mature student, but I want to write about my experience as a fresher first and foremost.

There is SO much reading to do in English, though I love studying poetry. I’m glad to say that I usually get what is going on in the English lectures but it’s an incredibly popular lecture, so I have to arrive 20 minutes early if I want to get a seat! Not many people know this but I was an award winning poet at the age of 15 and the newspaper clipping is in the digital archives for the west of Ireland. Not giving details on location however!

My new favourite place to hang out is Smokeys where I can chill with a caffeine drink and a good poetry book. (Extra brownie points there!)

I find I do a lot of studying off my phone as I can’t always get to the library. Everyone has been so lovely and helpful and although I was so nervous the first couple of weeks, I’m beginning to think the course work is manageable. I’m also making time for my writing. I sometimes submit short stories to Womans Way so my next piece of writing is out in January. Anyone who knows me knows I love pink.

Anywhere and everywhere though, I draw the line at Turnitin assignments. I’m quite an extrovert when you get to know me and I worked on a show on Friday afternoons called Trivia Matters on Flirt FM, for about 18 months, which helped me get my foot in the door of journalism.

Final Year Diary

By Sadhbh Hendrick

I graduated from AIT with a higher cert in social studies 5 years ago which I am very proud of, as it was not easy to get.

I did find the MSAP entrance exam tough enough but I was happy with my result. I am the only mature student in NUIG’s journalism programme but the mature students from other courses have been great and we have rallied around each other. First years are so funny, I love going to lectures and hearing other peoples’ perspective. I am a little shy about speaking up in lectures but in time... that girl down the back wearing pink with her hand up? Yep, that will be me!

I’ve done a bit of acting in the past. I was in a Coronas’ music video in 2010 (“Won’t Leave You Alone Tonight”, wearing a mask, sitting on the stairs) and more recently cast as an extra in an “Irish Crime Story” tv show which was filmed in Galway last November. Brilliant experience, we were treated like film stars. It will be broadcast in Germany this year.

I haven’t really started assignments yet, as we are two days into the first week, but I was more nervous about the crowds in the hallway. It’s not really that bad! I’m getting streetwise about bringing in my own lunches and making sure I know the location of the nearest water fountain.

Everyone has been so lovely so far, although I’m still trying to find a part-time job. Not so easy at the moment. My family is very happy I am at university though, and so am I. Until next week guys!

Aoife. X

Erasmus Diary

BY FIONA LEE Hello everyone! I hope everyone’s classes aren’t feeling dire and that you’re all adjusting to the new college year. Fresher’s week in NUIG looked fun from what I’ve seen online, but the FOMO hasn’t been felt too much!

I’m getting more and more settled over here in Canada every day. More homely routines are starting to develop again and it’s feeling less and less like a holiday (which isn’t a bad thing). Even though I spouted the saying that exchange students ‘are all in the same boat’ in regards to meeting people and making friends, I still feel incredibly lucky with the group I have met here. People make a place after all, and my highlights so far have been simple things, like going for a ‘gals brunch’, throwing a frisbee, football games, fun gym sessions, Netflix/pizza evenings and nights out with friends, who I feel like I’ve had for a lot longer than I have.

So, guess who survived Week 1? It was just as daunting and simultaneously fantastic as you would expect. There’s the usual stickler of having a module so complex, you have to Google what the title means (just me?) and more 9ams than should be legal, however, we got there.

The Quincentennial also provided its week’s entertainment as I forgot just how windy that bridge is, even on a nice day (Think Actimel Ad vibes). Still got there though, and hey, it’s good for the steps.

Went for a quick bop around my final Clubs and Socs days (did I mention I’m in final year?) and, goodness me, do NUIG provide something for everyone. It always inspires a sense of pride and “Aw fair playness” seeing students so passionate about their interest of choice and so successfully promoting and participating on campus. I signed up to any I didn’t remember getting emails from last year (because hey, who doesn’t love a little scroll through Outlook Mail?) and collected all the pens and Haribo that came with it. As may be slightly obvious, my aim for this year, in terms of extra-curricular activities, is to regularly contribute to SIN. Of course that’s not to everyone’s taste, but why not try something out for yourself ?

It wouldn’t be Fresher’s Week without dabbling in the infamous nightlife Gaillimh has to offer. As the crowds seem younger and younger, and I feel oh so old, it appears to be necessary to figure out where the best spots now are for first years and consequently avoid them like the plague (no offence guys).

Considered kitting myself out for a nursing home, when I found myself wondering how ‘they’ manage to go out without coats on,

like, do you want to catch your death? All part and parcel of growing up/ old as they say.

This week, the wheels of our Final Year Project were set in motion. Worried? Yes. Manageable? Sure (!!!!!!) Hotel? Trivago.

As a 10 Credit Cry-Fest requirement, this project will be a large source of purpose for the semester ahead and as my classmates and I await confirmation of our topics/themes (with baited breath no doubt), on the academic side of things, it all got very serious very quickly. Hardly surprising given the shortness of the semester, nevertheless, slightly nauseating. To sponsor a Final Year student struggling with the thoughts of their FYP, text LIGHTACANDLE to 087UGOTDIS today.

Of course the week wouldn’t have been complete without solving Brexit and beef prices over Bialann tea and scones and a quick Smokey’s debut. The familiar faces (and pastry baskets) softened the blow of any hiccups the week provided and ultimately left me really looking forward to the year ahead. So I hope you all had a fantastic Fresher’s week too (Even you first years sans coats) and I’ll be back in the next issue with the next instalment of Sadhbh’s Declassified Final Year Survival Guide.

GRMA, Sadhbh x

People make a place after all, and my highlights so far have been simple things, like going for a ‘gals brunch’, throwing a frisbee, football

I must also admit that the Irish accent has helped in starting conversations sometimes. It turns out people really are fond of us abroad!

I haven’t missed the other half of studying abroad though, classes have officially begun. Other students I have met have mandatory lectures that they must do well in, as it counts towards their degree, in the same way it would if they were at home, so I feel very lucky that I only have to pass my subjects to get through. I won’t dance on the line though! Since this is my ‘journalism-focused year’, I am required by NUIG to take a few journalism related modules, but other than that, I can take whatever I please. With that in mind, I really do feel a motivation to try slightly random subjects that I’ve never taken before,

games, fun gym sessions, Netflix/pizza evenings and nights out with friends, who I feel like I’ve had for a lot longer than I have. I must also admit that the Irish accent has helped in starting conversations sometimes. It turns out people really are fond of us abroad! and to truly appreciate the opportunity to do so while I’m here. This may just be the usual motivation we all get in the first few weeks of college, which tends to fall into a spiral just in time for midterms, but I have a feeling this will be different (hopefully).

Seeing friends settle back into college in Ireland is a strange thing when I’m away from it all, but I can’t help but remember I’m only here for four months. That’s what I remind myself of whenever I feel a bit homesick or missing certain people, and I flash back into reality

fairly quickly. I’m very excited for all the little adventures we have planned for the next while, and experiencing Halloween in another country is going to be particularly interesting for me too. Halloween is a serious thing in my ‘Early Celtic Literature’ class, so my lecturer is going to spend that day’s class talking about the history and myth that surrounds it, and has also invited us all to dress up for it. I hope my classmates are a bit of craic and will actually do it! That’s all from Canada for now, until Issue 3! X

14 O PI N IO N

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

In defence of adults who don’t donate to charity

by Shauna Mc Hugh An Offaly schoolgirl made national headlines recently for her astounding fundraising efforts. Ten-year-old Lexie Delaney has raised over €3,000 to help the homeless, with the help of her family and classmates. As well as organizing several fundraisers, the selfless child has even donated some of her own communion money to the cause.

While such generosity is remarkable at any age, would it be more surprising if an adult were to do the same thing? In post-recession Ireland, where we’ve all had to make sacrifices just to make ends meet and get ourselves by, have us ‘adults’ become all too familiar with turning a blind eye to those less fortunate than ourselves?

As children, we are blissfully unaware of all the financial pressures that lie ahead in later life. Our parents often took care of everything for us, and never let on if, or when, there were money problems at home.

When you have a good upbringing and want for nothing,

it’s easy to believe, as a child, that you have an endless supply of money.

Once you move out and make the unwelcome discovery of how expensive adult life is, from crippling rent prices to petrol costs and weekly grocery shops, reality quickly kicks in. When you barely have enough funds to finance your own life, how can you possibly help someone else to pay for theirs, no matter how desperately you want to?

As well as being preoccupied with our own financial woes, adults are also less naïve than young children.

We’ve all read enough stories about charity scams and hoaxes to make us think twice about donating to so-called good causes. In 2016, The Journal revealed that many of Ireland’s top charities had CEOs earning extravagant six-figure annual salaries. These charities included Barnardo’s, The Irish Cancer Society, Focus Ireland, and the ISPCA, to name just a few.

Meanwhile, in local news, a Galway man was recently discovered to be holding bogus charity collec-

tions. Brian Ward from Tuam received a prison sentence of two months, after Gardai approached him during a collection for Focus Ireland on Galway’s Shop Street and he failed to produce any authorization from the charity.

Therefore, it’s not as simple as adults being less generous than children, but rather that they’re more cautious with their money. Why would we put hard-earned money into a bucket, only to later read headlines that make us question who the donation actually goes to? Even when donating to a legitimate charity, there are issues we can’t ignore. Surely there’s a problem when the general public feels ashamed that they can’t afford to make a meaningful donation to the very same organizations powered by bosses earning salaries that most of us can only dream of?

With all this being said, I sincerely hope that Lexie doesn’t lose her generous nature as she grows up. I do believe that the majority of us adults remain as caring and generous as we were in childhood, it’s just that our best wishes to help others often come into conflict with our need to look out for ourselves first and foremost,

now that we’re less reliant on our parents to do so for us.

In an ideal world, we would all go our whole lives with Lexie’s child-like optimism, that our acts of goodwill can make a difference to those who need it most, ignorant of the stories of corrupt charity schemes.

Sometimes, though, adult life is just so difficult to steer in the right direction that it’s impossible to think of bettering a stranger’s life as well.

Adults don’t have less generosity than children, we just don’t have the same blind faith that children do in charity, and we have learned the value of money, through tough life experiences that children, like Lexie, haven’t been exposed to yet.

I, personally, would love to have achieved as much as Lexie has for the homeless community, but as a struggling student surrounded by many others in the same sinking boat, I don’t think any fundraiser we could put together would be very effective. It’s not because we don’t want to help the disadvantaged, it’s just that we’re only a SUSI payment away from becoming charity cases ourselves…

BREXIT CRISIS: Johnson’s week from hell

By Aaron Deering It’s been a dramatic couple of weeks in the topsy-turvy world of Brexit. For those of us, like

myself, that are political junkies, it’s been brilliant entertainment. Westminster has become a reality TV soap opera, with Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Ian Blackford, Jo Swinson and

John Bercow all playing the lead roles. You’d almost forget how serious the situation is and what is at stake. Boris Johnson was supposed to be the Prime Minister to deliver Brexit and bring the country together, but instead he’s only further divided the country, united the opposition against him and suffered setback after setback. Johnson’s first mistake was to hire Dominic Cummings as a special advisor to the government, as, between the two of them, their Brexit strategy has been calamitous.

They completely underestimated the resolve of the ‘Remainers’ within the Tory party and, instead of working with them, they only further alienated them and forced them to rebel, by stripping them of the party whip. This led to the Prime Minister’s first and second setbacks as he lost, not only his first vote in the House of Commons as Prime Minister, but also 21 Tory MPs, who have become known as the ‘rebel MPs’. The 21 MPs included some long-standing Tory stalwarts, such as 2 former Chancellors, Ken Clarke and Philp Hammond, and Sir Nicholas Soames, the grandson of Winston Churchill, who, ironically, is Boris Johnson’s political hero.

With the help now of the 21 rebel MPs, the opposition were able to seize control of parliament, as the government lost its majority.

Johnson would go on to lose a total of 6 votes in 6 days, in comparison to Thatcher, who lost 4 in 11 years, or Cameron, who lost 10 in 6 years.

How Johnson and Cummings thought they could simply bully the likes of Ken Clarke, who has served 49 years as an MP, was ridiculous, especially considering many of the rebel MPs had nothing to lose by voting against the government, since many are not standing in the next general election. Just when Johnson thought it couldn’t get any worse, he suffered another setback and, in my view, the most significant, as his own brother Jo Johnson quit his cabinet and announced that he is not standing in the next general election, due to his brother’s strategy on Brexit and treatment of the 21 rebel MPs. How can the Prime Minister expect the opposition or the public to trust him when not even his own brother does? Then came Amber Rudd’s resignation as Minister for Women and Equalities, just to add insult to injury.

Then, on to Johnson’s election campaign press conference, where he used police cadets to stand behind him for the duration of the confer-

ence. One poor police officer nearly fainted, just to cap off an embarrassing and damaging week for the Prime Minister. One thing Johnson has succeeded in is rejuvenating Jeremy Corbyn into a competent leader of the opposition again. Like many, I’ve been so disappointed with Jeremy Corbyn in the last two years, after he showed so much promise in the 2017 general election, but, recently, he looks like the old Jeremy Corbyn, who’s got his mojo back. The main reason for this rejuvenation is down to Johnson’s incompetence and recent poor performances, both in Westminster and in public, which makes Corbyn more statesman-like. The prorogation of parliament for 5 weeks by Johnson has only given further ammunition to the opposition and highlights his reluctance to be scrutinised by parliament, as we tick down to the 31 st of October. The seven days from the 2nd – 9th of September could well go down as a defining moment in what is the Brexit saga, where Boris Johnson could well be the shortest ever Prime Minister after this week from hell. One thing that I can confidently say for certain is, even with all this confusion surrounding Brexit, when the British Parliament returns on the 14th of October for the Queen’s Speech, it will be entertaining and only add another episode to what is an ever-growing soap opera, that’s called Brexit, that all us political junkies love.

TUAIRIM

September 24 2019

15

You can still try again later

by Rachel Garvey I miss NUI Galway, there’s no doubt about that. I envy the students who get to attend their lectures every day, who get to experience the taste of college life; the anxious feeling you get when looking for a seat in the library and then that feeling of pure relief when you come across a vacant space, walking through the concourse and trying to move amongst the current of students trying to go the opposite direction, that pigeon in Smokeys who is probably still there. You may be asking how I know all this? The answer is clear and simple, I was a student there recently. I dropped out back in February, due to a number of reasons. I was a 2nd year BA student studying English and Law and going to college every day made me feel like I belonged somewhere. I’ve heard of students dropping out shortly after Orientation Week and I can

empathize with them - the decision to drop out is not an easy one. Please don’t judge those who drop out, there are many reasons behind the decision and some are hard to discuss with your peers and lecturers in the college.

One reason can be financial difficulty. College comes with a list of expenses, with books, tuition fees, trips, repeat exams and so much more.

A lot of students rely on the grant because, at least then, the tuition fee is one less headache to worry about. I was on a grant myself, as neither of my parent’s worked and it got me through, but the reason for my decision to leave NUI Galway was indeed due to financial difficulty.

I failed two Law exams at Christmas and the grant money I was receiving every month went towards materials I needed for college, as well as trying to support the family. The fee of €295 was constantly weighing on my mind and my

Mass Shootings in the U.S

by Varun Dua The US gun lobby, particularly the National Rifle Association (NRA), has been standing in the way of Congressional gun-control reforms, even in the wake of strong emotional backlash, following multiple mass shootings in schools and malls in the US recently. It is appalling to see how miserably the American legislators have failed to uphold the framework of the constitution, which is supposed to “ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”

Apart from the Western and Southern states, the majority of the state leans in favour of heavier control over guns, however, the make-up of the senate, with a skewed ratio to mid-Western and Southern states, doesn’t reflect the true position of the majority. The gun-advocacy groups have taken backing from the non-sensical interpretation of the second amendment, which states “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”. The context of the amendment is lost to them, as it was meant for the protection of former colonies from standing armies.

Witnessing shootings — be it in schools or in their communities – can have a devastating impact. Children exposed to violence, crime, and abuse are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol; suffer from depression, anxiety, fail or have difficulties in school, and engage in criminal activity. The traumatic effects of the actual shootings notwithstanding, the schools have started conducting lockdown drills, meant to give students experience over such situations. Most of these drills are done in an intense fashion and are themselves having traumatizing effects on students and parents alike.

The last major gun control law was passed in 1994, in which assault weapons were completely banned, and evidence suggests it reduced the occurrences of mass shootings during that period.

However, with a sunset clause requiring explicit renewal after 10 years, the ban ceased to exist in 2004.

But is only some powerful lobbying responsible for this mess? Or the apathetic politicians? A local American website claims to have data, tracked over six years, showing a high proportion of stu-

dents of colour on campuses where these shootings take place. This mirrors the wider problem of gun violence in America and points to increasing violence related to white supremacy. Compare this situation to how the American government reacts to protests for “Black Lives Matter”. People participating are termed as “Black identity extremists” and are probably subject to more background checks than to someone buying an assault rifle. Or maybe we could look at the way the “war on drugs” was fought during the crack epidemic, and how black people were demonised and brought to justice (or not!). There are loads of other examples where the government reacted (or overreacted) to situations, like when AIDS was thought to be a gay disease and the government clamped down on gay clubs and homosexual sex, to how illegal (and sometimes legal) immigrants are being rounded up and being deported by the department of ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Although stricter gun laws and background checks on people buying them would be a step in the right direction, a more directed approach in addressing the growing problem of white supremacy and anti-color sentiment should be the panacea for the longer term. And this would not be possible if the legislators do not intend to accept it as a problem, which seems to be a little difficult at this point in time, given that they have a majority white voter base.

The American government can also take a leaf from the measures taken by other governments around the world to reduce gun violence.

Australia had a buy-back programme, through which they destroyed weapons with a one-time tax to cover the expense in the late 90s. The UK approached the problem with a multipronged policy of bans, registration and buy-back programmes. Japan has programmes where people have to undergo tests and mental health evaluations to own a gun. Norway has a very unique way to deal with gun problems. They have trust-building mechanisms between police and the public at large through programmes like community policing. This has not only reduced gun violence, but crime in general. These tried and tested methodologies could be reviewed/ adopted, keeping in mind the sensibilities of American people. However, again, this is subject to whether the American legislators would like to wake up to the truth and act accordingly.

family. I didn’t want anyone scraping together money just so I could repeat.

A second reason could be related to family matters. A lot of students have to move away from home to attend college. Of course, students visit their families on the weekends and during college holidays, but there is still the anxiety and stress of living away from home, living away from everything that looks and feels familiar and it is a big change. Students can become homesick, no matter what age or gender they are. We are all human and there’s no shame in wanting to see your Mum, Dad or siblings.

The last two reasons can be tied together into one, a big knot that I wasn’t able to undo; personal issues and loss of passion. A lot of students deal with mental health problems and that can lead to them losing their passion to continue on with their course. Take me, for example, I deal with anxiety, I failed the exams and my anxiety sky-rocketed about whether I could really continue with college or not, was I worthy enough? I lost the battle and, after speaking to numerous supports throughout the college, I arrived at the decision to leave NUI Galway. After the process of dropping out, I felt lost in the world, I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere and I definitely felt disconnected from people.

Now is a different story though. I have a job and will be attending a creative writing course in GTI soon and I’ve got a more relaxed view of what the future holds. College isn’t for everyone and that’s okay. There is no need to feel ashamed if it doesn’t work out in the end. Take some time for yourself and figure out what you would like to do with your life, there is honestly no rush. College didn’t work out for me the first time, but under no circumstances does that mean I’ve swept the idea of returning back someday under the rug. I plan on returning to NUI Galway someday as a mature student and enrolling in a Creative Writing course, perhaps a Journalism course. You may have failed this time around, but try again later. As my Nan used to tell me, “You may not succeed now, but you can try again later” and try I will. I’m still very grateful to be a part of SIN though, there’s still that small connection to NUI Galway right there.

If you are thinking of dropping out, then please talk to someone. NUI Galway has so many supports; your lecturers, the Students’ Union, your class reps, or even just a friend. Don’t suffer in silence. Yes, dropping out can be a painful process and make you feel so many overwhelming emotions, but just remember: now may not be your time and that’s okay, you can always try again later when you are ready.

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16 OPI NIO N

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

IRISH MUSIC FESTIVALS:

Overrated or Important?

by Robyn Kilroy FROM AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER, I always wanted to attend a music festival. Growing up, I remember hearing about the infamous Oxegen festival from my older family members. Even though the news of tent-burnings was indeed concerning and rather terrifying, the idea of standing in a field in your wellies, screaming along to your favorite acts, was too fun to ignore.

Of course, much to my disappointment back then, Oxegen eventually ran out of breath and closed down in 2013. However, Oxegen Festival walked so other festivals could run.

Many smaller festivals, like Electric Picnic and Body and Soul, stepped out from its shadow and became the most popular summer events in Ireland. Nowadays, your Instagram feed is bombarded with people in tents, drinking cans and smiling (even though it’s definitely cold and their clothes are DEFINITELY soaked). However, with every festival season comes the backlash and trouble; concerns about attendee’s safety, event management, and the pricing and rip-offs. While these concerns are justified, I believe that Irish music festivals provide an important role in the Irish music and culture scene, and I will continue to defend them to anyone listening.

Photo by Krists Luhaers on Unsplash

Undoubtedly the most important aspect of Irish music festivals, both big and small, is the platform they provide for up-and-coming Irish musicians and acts. While at this year’s All Together Now in Waterford, I found my highlight to be The West Cork Ukulele Orchestra’s one hour set on one of the smaller stages, rather than seeing some of the bigger acts at the main stage. There’s something special about coming across an Irish act that you may have never heard of before. If an Irish act is playing at a local club or bar, I find myself less eager to go and see them unless I already know who they are. But when I’m at a music festival and I’m wandering around the various stages, I’m more inclined to stop by a random stage and listen to a set. Along with big names, Irish music festivals do make a point of including local acts, such as Irish underground DJ Cáit at this year’s Electric Picnic, or Amy Montgomery at Knockanstockan. Ultimately, Irish music festivals give smaller Irish acts the opportunity to play for people outside of their fan group, essentially aiding them in extending their music to a wider audience.

It’s not just music that Irish music festivals provide, they also play host to wonderful art installations that let your imagination run wild, in-between the tent seshes and mosh pits. Electric Picnic’s Art Trail gives artists the chance to show off their immersive and innovative pieces, be they striking sculptures or calming light installations. There’s also a place for activism at Irish Music festivals, with Extinction Rebellion setting up a stall at All Together Now this year, in order to reach out to festival-goers about their climate change-fighting organization.

And while festivals all over the world have been scrutinized for the severe amount of litter that is left behind each year, Irish music festivals are attempting to challenge this, such as Electric Picnic running cup and deposit return stations. At the end of the day, it’s not the festival organiser’s fault that you’re too lazy to not bring your tent home with you.

While Irish music festivals can be magical places where you can see your favorite acts and have a laugh with your mates, there are, of course, dangerous aspects to them. Drug culture and music fes-

tivals do tend to go hand-in-hand and, unfortunately, this has led to tragic situations that can’t go ignored. However, you can’t fight this by increasing security (that’s never stopped anyone) or writing off music festivals together (people will take drugs in a field, whether there’s music or not). The only reasonable solution is for there to be access to a safe and non-judgemental service, where attendees can test what they’re taking to ensure it’s safe. Along with this, festivals need to provide information about different drugs, their effects and what to do if they have a bad effect on you.

Unfortunately, Ireland isn’t quite there on its cultural and legal treatment of both recreational and abusive drug-taking, and this is to the detriment of many young people’s safety.

Then, there are the prices. Now, I’m not going to defend the prices of many of the Irish music festivals, as, often, they can be extortionate.

And there was the controversy this year at Electric Picnic, when it was revealed that the Salty Dog stage had been moved to the main arena.

The Salty Dog was a fan-favorite stage where you could have a few

cans with your friends and listen to some music before heading into the main arena. Because of the move, attendees who wanted to go to this stage could not bring their own alcohol, as you’re not allowed to bring it into the main arena. With the over-expensive drink prices at all music festivals, this was seen (and rightly) as just another way to make more money.

The only defence I can make for the expense is that, with the growth of the music festival industry in Ireland, event organizers have to keep being competitive with how much they pay artists in order to book them. The more money you pay artists and performers, the more expensive the tickets are going to be.

While there are issues with music festivals and the culture surrounding them, I do think that they are integral to the Irish culture scene. As a festival-goer, whether the sun is shining or it’s pouring rain, you find yourself able to step into an alternate world and forget about reality for the weekend. And, without Irish music festivals, the tent industry of Ireland would probably die, so there’s that too.

LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX, BABY

by Rachel Garvey What is sexual health? What is sexual awareness? If we conducted a small experiment of our own and interviewed a random selection of teens throughout Ireland, and asked them those two questions, would you expect them to know the answer? The sad truth is, there are some young individuals out there who will stare at you blankly, as they have no words to reply back to you. And why is it that they have no response? It’s because they aren’t taught enough about the subject in their schools because, apparently, it’s an embarrassing subject for students and teachers to talk about.

I can imagine that with mixed schools there’s the fear of speaking out in class and being ridiculed by your peers for having an opinion that they don’t agree with. Fair enough, we’ve all sat through a biology class at some point in our lives, we’ve been shown the simple diagrams

of a male and female reproductive system and have been talked through what the different functions are for a specific part. We’ve blushed bright red and kept eye contact with the teacher to a minimum when he or she dives slowly into the reproductive side of things. I always laugh when I have to write about things related to sex because that song

by Cheat Codes, “Lets Talk About Sex, Baby” always replays in my head and just when the song ends, it replays again.

Fair enough, the teachers do explain the whole reproductive process, but what we don’t hear is the health and awareness that is supposed to be taught to teens who are becoming sexually active.

The difference between sexual health and sexual awareness is that the health side is based around protecting yourself from STI’s by the use of condoms, not having unprotected sex and, if that does happen, then there are numerous supports out there, as well as various forms

of contraception that can be taken the morning after. The sexual awareness side of things brings us on to our social skills, our boundaries, and our expectations. They are two vital topics that need to be discussed in detail in schools around Ireland. Google it and see for yourself, that the majority of teenagers and teachers in schools find it embarrassing to discuss such topics, which is why these vital pieces of knowledge are pushed behind the curtain. There is simply no point in sugar-coating the fact that teenagers today are a lot different than previous generations and a lot of them don’t possess any knowledge based around sexual health and awareness.

They often find themselves in situations where they don’t know what to do, they simply “go along with it”. I’ll give you a sterling example of how important it is for a teenager to know their boundaries, to know how to be safe and to know what to expect.

You have a fourteen-year-old at an unsupervised house party, the parents are away and there is a large amount of alcohol present. The majority of the house’s population is intoxicated, but this certain fourteen-year-old has decided to stay sober. A fifteen-yearold boy approaches her, he is slightly tipsy, but he seems to be getting along with her fine. Fast forward to where he brings her upstairs to a vacant bedroom. There is one thing on his mind and she knows that too. Neither of them has a condom (rightly so, because they are too young), but he keeps pushing himself on her, wanting to take it further. Fast forward a bit more and we find out they’ve had sex with no protection. That recipe for disaster was put together the second they ascended that stairs to the bedrooms. Neither of them took into account their sexual health; unprotected sex was the end result.

Neither of them took into account their

sexual awareness; both of them didn’t know what to expect and there were no boundaries established, it simply “just happened”.

It’s a cruel world, a world where scenarios like this happen. Teenagers who aren’t taught about consent and boundaries and their sexual health & awareness in school have to deal with the implications when difficult situations like this arise, they don’t know any better. That is why it is so important that topics like this need to be discussed more in schools. Knowing about sexual health and awareness can make a big difference to a person, no matter if it’s us or someone we know. A bit of knowledge can go a long way. It’s better to sit through an embarrassing talk in the classroom and learn something from the lesson, rather than never learn about the topic at all and come face to face with a difficult scenario and having to deal with any implications afterward.

TUAIRIM

September 24 2019

Is vaping safer than smoking cigarettes?

by Paris Ediagbonya A question with an easy answer only a few months ago, but in recent times, we haven’t been quite so sure. The credibility behind the claims that e-cigarettes or vapes are safer than smoking cigarettes has always been vague, and we’ve taken it at face value.

user’s health. However, it’s fair to say that headlines about the short-term effects of vapes are not at all good. In the US, many of the harmful effects of using e-cigarettes have been brought to light this week, with reports of over 5 deaths and 450 cases of lung injuries as a result of vaping.

On top of this, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration in the US) recently claimed

As e-cigarette smoking is a relatively new trend and little more than a decade old itself, we have yet to learn of its long-term threats to a user’s health.

However, it’s fair to say that headlines about the short-term effects of vapes are not at all good Vapes have been widely promoted as a healthier alternative to smoking, or even an aid to eventually quit smoking altogether.

However, there is no proof that vaping is, in fact, safer than smoking cigarettes. I think we find it easier to believe that traditional cigarettes are worse, because we have such extensive knowledge of them and their harmful effects. On the other hand, we don’t know much about what vaping does to our health and therefore, it can be seen as the lesser of the two evils - and perhaps not evil at all.

E-cigarettes are known for being ‘tobaccofree’, unlike cigarettes, but they can still contain nicotine, an addictive chemical that comes from tobacco. Likewise, e-cigarettes can contain other carcinogens that are similarly found in cigarettes, such as acrolein, which is directly linked with DNA damage, leading to cancer.

As e-cigarette smoking is a relatively new trend and little more than a decade old itself, we have yet to learn of its long-term threats to a

that ‘Juul’, an e-cigarette company founded in America, has been illegally marketing their products. They have reportedly misled the public, with false statements that their products are “99% safer than cigarettes” and a “safer alternative than smoking cigarettes”. In light of the casualties and illnesses arisen from the use of this very product

or similar brands, this scale of false advertisement is considerably alarming.

So what are the health risks that arise from continued vaping? Well, with new research, certain health defects have been reported with links to the usage of e-cigarettes. For example, an increase in the heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to a greater risk of future heart attacks. Vaping can also contribute to various heart diseases, stiffness in arteries and platelets and oral cancers. These discoveries have led scientists to warn Irish health administrations about the potentially serious dangers involving vaping, advising them to stop recommending it as a safer alternative to cigarettes.

Vaping in Ireland is definitely on the rise, with almost 200,000 users of e-cigarettes, most of whom are ex-cigarette smokers. As the advantages surrounding e-cigarettes have been put under more and more reasonable doubt, this will surely open up a demand for more research and answers in the future. In the meantime, it is crucial that we rethink vaping as a reliable safer substitute for cigarette smoking.

I believe, in hopes to prevent serious illness, or even casualty, we must moderate or prevent the use of e-cigarettes, at least until we are given more comprehensive information Photo by Spencer on its contents Davis on Unsplash and effect.

Puppy farm failure

By Stevie Buckley This article is very personal to me, with challenging topics that I struggle to comprehend, but that need to be talked about. I have included a story that’s close to my heart and that I hope can make you understand the gravity of the situation.

The truth of the matter is that puppy farming is currently legal to some extent in Ireland, with it being backed by government policy since 2009. There is a law that states that any premises with six or more breeding females needs to register with their local authority, but for every registered puppy farm, there may be many more operating illegally.

As of 2016, there were 73 registered puppy farms in Ireland. In that year, those farms churned out at least 30,000 puppies, and they’re only the ones that we know about, many more may have slipped under the radar.

The ISPCA has little to no power under current dog breeding establishments legislation to intervene in these farms. This is

obvious by the blatant and rampant mistreating of dogs in these establishments.

Many breeding dogs on puppy farms are born, raised, and currently living in squalid conditions. This needs to be stopped but the government are taking little action on this barbaric practice and the ISPCA can’t legally intervene.

Now, for the story; I got a dog in sixth class of primary school and there is a possibility, based on his life with me, that he was farmed.

I chose him myself. I chose a miniature Jack Russell terrier and called him Biscuit. Soon after we got him, we brought him to the vet because he wouldn’t react to any sounds we made. The vet broke the news to us that our puppy was, in fact, deaf. He couldn’t eat ordinary dog food, it had to be expensive sensitivity control food. He had dry eye, which led to recurrent eye infections and, ultimately, the eye being removed.

He is still alive and kicking now though.

He had a lump removed a few months ago, when we also found out that he had liver problems. A few weeks later he went downhill very quickly and two vet visits in one

day resulted in us learning that he had pancreatitis and that meant a vet visit every day for a week when he was released from the vet. This was because he wouldn’t take his medication. He’s on low-fat food now and needs a liver supplement, but that can be mixed in with a spoonful or two of lowfat dog food.

Had I known he was farmed, that wouldn’t have made me love him any less, but I probably would have cried. Since coming to the realisation that he may have been farmed, I have tried even harder than I did before to give him the best life possible. At the time I got him, I wouldn’t have understood how bad it would have been for him and if I had known, I would have been inconsolable. It really isn’t fair on an animal who can’t defend itself or change its life from that of a creature stuck in a cage with no life.

Puppy farming should be abolished, and strict penalties put in place for those that break the law. Please, for all the Biscuits and other dogs out there, try not to buy from puppy farms and educate those who don’t know how bad puppy farms actually are.

17

Is it best to avoid relationships in college?

By Aoife Burke When it comes to relationships, there are always two sides to every story. I’m sure those that are in relationships would have a different mindset than myself on certain issues regarding being in a relationship. I am going to write this from a single person’s perspective.

Yes, I do believe relationships in college work, as I have seen it happen. However, it is often also true that many relationships that start in college do not last. I think avoid is a strong word. I believe, instead, you should seek out relationships with people that are healthy and worthwhile and with people who share your interests. A relationship based on constant drinking is not a relationship, but the conditions of that association are between the two people. As a single person, I can’t see myself committing right now. College tends to take up most of my time; between lectures, writing, and studying, I simply don’t have the time.

A long-term relationship is worth saving, but it requires leeway from both people. It requires the attention of a 9-5 job. So how does one handle a relationship in college?

–– Live close to each other, or at least, live in the same country. I have seen relationships where phone contact is frequent and I think that is lovely when it works.

–– Cheating just because your partner is away is unacceptable. Just because you are not getting the attention you want all the time, does not mean it is okay to go behind your partners back. If you want to see other people, it is important to communicate with your partner and possibly establish an agreement with having an open-relationship, or end it altogether.

–– A change in lifestyle. Limited money, dodgy accommodation, can make or break a relationship.

Many come to college to get a degree, however, I have been told college changes you. You start hanging around new people and think differently.

You are officially middle class and its okay to drift away and start a new social circle.

This, however, needs to be a balanced piece of writing.

Having an on-campus partner is a source of support.

Some people choose to hook-up, while others look for long-term relationships. For those who choose a longterm relationship, it does steady the mind, similar to getting married. However, it can be stressful and eat into your study time. Emotional stress can be exhausting, for example, if you have a fight with your partner. I would suggest getting to know a person before jumping into anything. It is possible to combine study with dating.

After all, there is nothing worse than the jungle of singletons. You’re out there faced with weeding out the good from the bad and dodging the undateables, such as the Lotharios that nobody wants.

How can you recognize an unhealthy relationship? For example, if you feel controlled, frequently humiliated, you have to walk on eggshells, struggle to maintain boundaries and don’t trust each other. You should be happy with your partner - not constantly worrying. If you are happy and there is no financial abuse or any kind of abuse going on (this includes emotional abuse), stick it out. Ultimately, it is your decision. Don’t compromise your degree for the sake of something temporary. If they are right for you, you will know. Education is always worth it. I do believe in having common ground somewhere that can be the glue that holds you together.

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

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

STYLED BY THE SHOW:

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

By Shauna Mc Hugh

mind-blowing magical powers, there are bound to be plenty of gripping elements to look out for.

Chilling Adventures of One of the most bewitching aspects of Chilling Sabrina is an Ameri- Adventures of Sabrina, however, is the fashion on can supernatural TV the show. series, first released Sure, Sabrina Spellman may be a teenage girl on Netflix in October who’s trying to deal with a complicated family, 2018. The show fol- an overwhelming love triangle, and lows the struggles of being a literal witch, but none of that for anyone, but especially for us NUI half-human,half-witch stops her from looking her best at Galway students, who regularly Sabrina Spellman, as all times! Sabrina, portrayed by trek to campus in pouring rain she’s torn between Kiernan Shipka, nails a different and gale-force winds. If you her regular life in eye-grabbing look each and every want to look as on trend as her Baxter High episode. Honestly, she looks so Sabrina in the chillier winSchool and her great, that it’s little wonder that ter months, fear not! You secret mystical two of the dreamy male characcan bag a very similar red adventures at the ters, Harvey and Nick, are both coat from H&M for a reaAcademy of the obsessed with her. sonable €50!

Unseen Arts.

One of Sabrina’s most common The girls of the show In a show clothing items on the show is her have a distinctively Red dress from Tartan skirt, available about teenage iconic red coat. A fashionable winedgy, gothic style, in ASOS, only €25 from Boohoo for just €15 witches with ter coat is a wardrobe essential keeping with the dark and sinister vibe of the series. The most obvious examples of this are the vampy red lipstick and pale makeup looks, favoured by Sabrina in particular. They also wear plenty of black, as well as old fashioned lace-detailed pieces.

The dresses that Sabrina and the ‘Weird Sisters’ gang of witches wear are perfect for all seasons.

These cute dresses can easily be worn on their own with a pair of wedges in the warmer months, or with a pair of thick tights and a cardigan in the winter. You can pick up an almost exact copy of Sabrina’s red dress with lace collar from ASOS for only €25.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is loosely based on the popular 90’s Nickelodeon show Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and, while Sabrina’s wardrobe is massively updated in this newer version, the show still pays homage to some of the classic Apply online at 90’s fashion trends. For example, Sabwww.studentleapcard.ie rina often wears cute plaid skirts on the show and, somehow, manages to look timeless in them!

For a student-budget friendly option, you can opt for a tartan skirt from Boohoo, for a bargain Take note of your order number price of €15!

Red jacket, available from H&M for €49.99

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With these cute pieces, you’ll look like you’ve just walked off the set of the show! It is expected that new episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will be released on Netflix later this year. Tune in for all your future gothic-style inspiration from Sabrina and co!

September 24 2019

FAIS EAN

7

NÓ S MAIRE ACHTÁLA

A weekend in her style:

Kendall Jenner

By Amy McMahon

look together with a mesh insert top, see Pretty Little Thing, €9; a pair of knee-high boots a la Topshop, €170, and a stunning studded clutch, check out this River Island offering, €55.

Struggling for style inspiration? Look no further - Kendall Jenner is here to help. Despite not walking in any New York Fashion Week shows, the model still delivered look after look. From street style to glamorous events, we’re here for it all.

The Friday & Chill

We all need a chill day to fully unwind at the weekend, one where we pop on our comfiest clothes and spend the evening re-watching Gossip Girl. In a recent campaign, Kendall Jenner gave us the perfect outfit for those chill Fridays. Although high-end brand Aritzia’s ‘The Super Puff’ jacket is out of most student budgets at $225, bag a bargain and buy a similar style for just €49.99 from New Look. Finish off the look with these cheap and cheerful jeans from Penneys, €13, and a Missguided graphic tee, €11.99.

The Sunday Brunch

The Saturday Night

Attending DKNY’s 30th birthday event in Brooklyn, Jenner took on the blazer trend and made it her own.

Insta icon Lissy Roddy brought out a similar sultry blazer dress in her collection with Public Desire – now on sale for €23.99! Back in black, the model tied the

The Friday and Chill Look

Studded clutch, €55 from River Island

The Saturday Night Look

In true off-duty model style, Kendall Jenner slays an effortlessly cool LBD. To recreate the look, pair a loose fit shirt dress, like this one from Boohoo via ASOS, €27.65, with a kickass pair of kneehigh boots, see Nasty Gal, €45 and sleek sunnies, also from Nasty Gal, €5.50. Don’t forget your must-have mini bag. This gem is from ASOS Mini-bag from and is a spot-on dupe for only ASOS, available €20.74. Lastly, brave the cold for €20.74 and show off your pins!

The Sunday Brunch Look

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19

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

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

September Beauty Buys of the Month

By Anastasia Burton

Bourjois concealer from Cloud 10 Beauty, €9.95

At the beginning of this month, I went on a mini beauty spree and purchased some essential beauty products that were recommended to me by friends and family. Many of the items I bought worked surprisingly well, so I decided that I’d share some of those items with our readers!

The first item on my list is a bit pricey but, in my opinion, was very much worth the money. That star product is the Vichy Laboratories Aqualia Thermal. This is a night spa cream/gel, which claims to be replenishing and radiance-enhancing. I have only good things to say about this product; I apply it to my t-zone mainly, however, if I feel like my skin needs that extra bit of moisture, I also blend onto my cheeks and neck. The gel is quite cold and soothing, which is exactly what your skin needs after a long day in the harsh September winds. This product left my skin feeling fresh and nourished after the first use, which I was quite impressed by. Hopefully you will be impressed too!

The next item is a more affordable product, so, don’t worry, you can still look good on a budget! The P.S. Nude Addiction 9 Shades eye-shadow palette is another essential product to add to your beauty arsenal. I will be completely honest and admit that this palette might be a Penneys “Huda Beauty” dupe, but don’t worry, that’s the only negative! This palette is only €3.50, bargain! It has everyday-wearable matte and shimmer shades, to add that extra pop to your eye looks.

I was skeptical when I first got this palette since Penneys was never my go-to make-up stock up spot, but I must say, I have found myself quite addicted to the product! The shades blend well and the kick back is minimal. Unfortunately, this palette has no mirror, but it’s a small enough palette to fit into your purse, making it an amazing product for travel and convenience.

Third on our list is the Catrice Strobing Effect Baked Highlighter. This product is a great body and face highlight, but its downfall must be the fact that it is very glittery. If you are not a fan of finding glitter all over your face and body for days after using it, then this product might not be for you. It easily transfers and might look chunky if not blended well, but, other than that, it’s a very pretty highlight product.

The fourth and penultimate item on this list is a concealer from Bourjois, Radiance Reveal. This small concealer is handy for travel or quick touch ups. I can’t complain about creasing or cracking in the under-eye area with this product. It does not dry out the skin and isn’t hard to blend, since the consistency is quite smooth. I don’t usually set my concealer with powder, so I can’t comment on how it would work with powder

on top, I’m afraid! The only downfall would be the fact that the concealer is quite small, and it’s difficult to scoop up the product with the applicator.

The final product is an affordable mascara, which I have been using side by side with the cult Benefit Roller Lash mascara. This mascara is bargain-brand Essence’s Multi-Action Volume Mascara. It separates the lashes easily, due to its thin wand, which helps to elongate the lashes, as well as make them darker. I must say, I prefer this mascara to Benefit’s Roller Lash, due to it being a lot easier to handle and the fact that it makes my lashes look almost doll-like. This product is undoubtedly the best of all my September beauty buys and I would strongly recommend it.

I hope you enjoyed this list and wish you all the luck in finding your go to beauty products this Autumn!

Catrice highlight from Penneys, €5.50

Vichy cream, €29.99 from Boots

BEAUTY SPOTLIGHT: The Top 5 Irish Skincare Brands

By Slaine McKenna Put simply; the skincare industry is booming. In fact, experts predict the industry’s revenue to grow to $45 billion in the next four years. With predictions like this, it’s unsurprising that big companies, such as Penneys, Amazon and even Kylie Cosmetics, are trying to break in to the lucrative industry.

With so many new skincare brands appearing on the market, it may be difficult to know which one is worth your money. Therefore, it may be time to consider some local Irish-based skincare brands. Not only would you be helping small Irish companies, you’d also be treating yourself and your skin to a little TLC. Here are 5 of our favourite Irish skincare brands for you to choose from:

Voya

Kinvara

Voya skincare hails from Sligo and takes inspiration from the county’s long history of seaweed baths.

They incorporate many different sea minerals into their products to help nourish the skin. Voya has won several different accolades, such as a Beauty Bible Award in 2019 and an Image Beauty Award, showing just how beloved this brand is.

Kinvara skincare is based, unsurprisingly, in Kinvara, right here in Galway. Founded by Joanne Reilly, she founded the brand because she was unable to find skincare products that worked for her. Kinvara now has a large range of products, meaning you’re guaranteed to find the right one for your skin type.

Holos Holos comes to us from Co. Wexford and specialises in plant-based aromatherapy skincare. Catering for both men and women, young and old, you’ll find some treat for your skin. Not only is Holos Irishbased, but, as an added bonus, all of their products are hand-made and cruelty-free.

Pestle and Mortar Founder Sonia Deasy named the company after the tools that herself, and generations of men in her family, used while practising medicine. This can tell you a lot about the company. While there is a serious focus on the science of skincare, much emphasis is placed on the medicinal traditions that have been passed down through family generations. This Co. Kildare company is doing well for itself, having won a 2016 Cosmopolitan Beauty Award.

Bia Beauty

Serum from P&M, €43

Kinvara hand cream, available for €15.95

Finally, this Cork-based company focuses purely on healthy ingredients, with founder Tracy Ryan claiming to use edible ingredients in Bia Beauty’s products. Hence the name Bia Beauty, with bia being the Irish word for food.

Body oil from Voya, £35

September 24 2019

FAIS EAN

7

NÓS MAIRE ACHTÁLA

21

New York Fashion Week: The Highlights

By Paris Diagbonya On September 4th, the second bi-annual NYFW began, and, no doubt, it has been one of the loudest yet! With stunning colours mixed in with political statements, high profile participants and innovative venues, this week certainly had it all, and we’re here to appraise the highlights.

Where else to start, but with Kerby JeanRaymond of Pyer Moss? His collection, displayed in Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre, was not only impressive in its expression of colour and reference, but also important in what it represents. His collection, which he refers to as an “art project,” features designs that are influenced by African-American and African culture. This included Missy Elliot-inspired cropped bomber jackets paired over stylised tracksuits, 70’s and 80’s glamourous colour-block pieces and references to musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe, with guitar shapes seen on blazer lapels.

His work was exhibited on an all-black cast of models and, although this decision was poignant, the aim behind this collection is deeper than having black models represented in high fashion.

The point of his show was to shed light on the stories of African American lives and their creative influencers, who have been erased in the past. Jean-Raymond sought to take steps to rectify this erasure through his designs, which were served on the lively framework of a choral group named the Tabernacle Drip Choir.

They performed an expert amalgamation of trap, opera, rap, soul and R&B, which proved an effective medium to perpetuate this movement.

NYFW did not shy from its political statements this season and Prabal Gurung was definitely pivotal in this sentiment. The NepaleseAmerican celebrated the 10-year anniversary of

his brand by channelling his activism into his line, entitled “Who gets to be American?”. He was inspired to design this collection when he was told that he did not look American, in efforts to redefine what people consider to be American. He executed this theme boldly, his collection consisting of predominately red, white and blue ensembles, finished off with a pageant-like sash reading “Who gets to be American?”. Although it is in no way subtle, given America’s current political climate, daring activism and expression is appreciated and indeed makes this one of the most memorable walks of the week.

Next, we have the highly anticipated last leg of the collaboration between Tommy Hilfiger and “Euphoria” star Zendaya. The event was situated in the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, in the format of a 70’s inspired block party. The presentation surrounding this line was among the most energetic and joyous, with brass instruments played by a live band, retro convertibles and models dancing down the runway. The line consisted of statement trench coats, snake prints, plenty of leather, wide brimmed hats and accents of a warm plum colour throughout many of the looks. Zendaya herself was clothed head to toe in a leather snake-print pantsuit, complete with fitted blazer and high-waisted trousers.

This “see now, buy now” collection was shown on a notably diverse selection of models, including transgender and plussized models. The line is geared toward millennials and demonstrates a fashion aesthetic many of us may relate to, especially in the upcoming fall season.

Tory Burch channelled the fashion icon Princess Diana, using her powerful image and aesthetics to produce a regal but impactful fashion line. Held in the middle of the week in the Brooklyn Museum, Burch showcased her diverse range of designs.

She flirted with endless types of fabric, from leather to chiffon to tweed, which resulted in the formation of bold looks reminiscent of those Princess Diana was known to experiment with. Tory Burch elevated Princess Diana’s

experimental spirit with unique details, such as the use of ropes and chains on the designs. This line no doubt embodied the empowering essence of a strong woman, a sentiment that is typically a focal point of her work.

Held in an abandoned subway platform in the Lower East Side of New York, Tom Ford hands down had the most innovative backdrop for his 2020 Spring fashion line. High profile models such as Gigi Hadid and Lineisy Montero modelled this underground collection, making it one of the more popular shows among celebrity audiences. His looks featured many contrasts between colour which ranged from pale blush shades to hot pinks, neon greens and galactic shades of purple. The contrasts didn’t end there. His use of flowy satin garments, paired with moulded tops made from glossy plastic materials, added further statement and generated a significant amount of public interest.

Its undeniable that there were many noteworthy shows this New York Fashion Week, with multiple scopes of diversity and artistic brilliance to be seen from all angles of the runway. Now that you’re caught up, keep a lookout for London Fashion Week!

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22 FA SH I O N & L I F EST Y L E Counting Sheep: How to Get A Good Night’s Sleep This Semester

By Megan Frei Starting a new semester means less sleeping-in and more late-night coffee runs. Juggling work, study, and socializing in college is not an easy task, but your quality of sleep doesn’t have to suffer. Try integrating a few sleep-positive habits in your day-to-day student life, so you can reap all the important benefits of catching some much-needed z’s.

EXPERIMENT WITH AROMATHERAPY For a peaceful sleep routine, try using a diffuser! If you want recreate the soothing aromatic effects of a candle while you rest, without the risk of burning down your apartment, a diffuser is a cosy alternative. Most diffusers have a light setting, which adds a warm ambience to your bedside table. Put a few drops of an essential oil, which you can find at any local health food store, into a diffuser and feel yourself dozing off. Test out a few scents you enjoy or try lavender, clary sage, or valerian oil for sleep.

CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO THIRTY SCREEN-FREE MINUTES AT NIGHT Save for the occasional all-nighter, most days it’s helpful to have a nighttime ritual, which includes shutting down electronics thirty minutes before sleep. Although it’s recommended to turn off electronics one to two hours before bed, a more realistic goal for a busy student life is to aim for thirty screen-free minutes, pre-sleep. As students, we do everything on our devices, but try finding another bedtime activity that you find joyful. Shut off your devices and opt for a reading a book, enjoy a cup of herbal chamomile tea, pack your next day’s lunch, or listen to music. Replacing screen time with an activity you enjoy, helps you to wind down before bed without the stimulation of blue light.

CURB COFFEE CRAVINGS The next tip goes without saying; limit your caffeine intake. Published studies have suggested that eating two dates as a snack provides us with a serious energy boost. Instead of a caffeine high to cure your 4pm slump, the sugar from a few dates helps to give you an instant lift and a generous helping of fibre. Cutting off caffeine by around 3PM is a good rule of thumb. Instead, pack a few dates for when your afternoon coffee craving hits.

SWITCH-UP DESSERT Another snack-related tip for sleep is switching your sugary evening dessert for a more wholesome and filling option. If you like to have an evening snack or crave a dessert after dinner, try eating something like nut butter with an apple. Treating yourself to a combination of protein and fat after dinner both satiates and helps keep your blood sugar stable throughout the night, which is important in preventing broken sleep.

CREATE A ROUTINE A crucial aspect of sleep is a regular bedtime. Although we all know we should, most of us don’t keep a regular bedtime.

In reading a book and turning on a soothing diffuser, we are helping our bodies to relax and settle into a routine. If you need more assistance decompressing, consider a supplement or two. Melatonin is a really popular sleep aid, but long-term use can result in melatonin dependence. An alternative prosleep supplement is magnesium. Magnesium helps calm the brain and the nervous system. If you feel anxious at night and have trouble winding down for sleep, consider magnesium.

No two bodies are alike, but a few small positive changes could help with the difficult transition back to college. If you find habits that work for you, you’ll be more likely to stick to them. Challenge yourself to one week of a sleep routine and see if you notice any positive changes; I bet you will. Now, go to bed, sleepy head!

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

Influencing vs. Journalism: what it’s like as a young journalist in Ireland

By Conor Brummell Social media influencing has been a raging trend in Irish media for the past few years. For those of you who don’t know, social influencing is a marketing term that describes an individual’s ability to be able to affect people’s thinking in a social online community. The more popular a person is online, the more attractive they are to companies, who want them to sell their products. This has resulted in a lot of influencers online receiving free products and business deals, due to their online gathering. However, due to their prominence in the media, social media influencers, such as James Kavanagh and Niamh Cullen, have often secured access to events within the press as they will create a bigger buzz around the film, product or book release through the likes of their Instagram and Snapchat. The most recent of which is Limerick native Greg O’Shea, winner of Love Island 2019, who was given a place on the RTÉ 2FM Breakfast Show alongside Doireann Garrihy whilst Eoghan McDermott is absent for work in Australia (doing voiceover for the Australian Love Island series).

Now, before I start, I want it on record that I don’t begrudge Greg O’Shea for getting a spot on the RTÉ 2FM Breakfast Show.

It makes perfect sense that they would give the spot to a Love Island winner, whilst one of their breakfast show hosts is away doing Love Island Australia. He’s there for a reason: to try and boost ratings and drag in an audience who were infatuated with him during summer of 2019. However, I do lay problem with the fact that RTÉ 2FM chose a social media influencer over copious amounts of trained journalists who are already working

for RTÉ. They could have also picked a freshfaced, bright and unknown young journalist that would have killed for an opportunity to work with a top-tier radio station. Spots in the broadcasting industry in Ireland are hard enough to come by, and it’s incredibly frustrating for young journalists, who are struggling to get through degrees, to see someone who has no experience get a job over them. However,

Spots in the broadcasting industry in Ireland are hard enough to come by, and it’s incredibly frustrating for young journalists, who are struggling to get through degrees, to see someone who has no experience get a job over them. However, unfortunately, that’s the standard for young journalists and media graduates in Ireland.

unfortunately, that’s the standard for young journalists and media graduates in Ireland.

We’re shown from the start of our degrees that, in order to get experience in the industry, we must volunteer for organisations and give our time and hard work for little experience in return. Where this experience is entirely valuable and gives us something to place on our CV, it doesn’t pay our rent or bills. Most of us will still have to have part-time jobs whilst on placement in college, meaning a seven-day work week. The very idea is unsustainable, yet it is expected. I voiced this outrage on my personal twitter account, calling the decision by RTÉ (who, in the same week of hiring Greg O’Shea, published that they were working on a deficit budget) an ‘absolute joke’. Similar sentiments were published by other trainee journalists that I follow. Despite this, actual working journalists in the media retweeted my tweet, saying that it would be the graduates who didn’t ‘bitch and moan’ that would be the ones to get the jobs over those who did. More than one, too, I may add.

This begs the question: are student journalists forever expected to grin and bear it when training for their dream jobs? Just because it’s been the default for years, does it mean we should forever have to work for just experience, instead of being paid whilst in training? Considering recent events, and public reactions from already qualified journalists, it seems so. It seems that we’ve to put up the good fight and hope that someday we’ll get lucky, just like Greg O’Shea did. It shows that attitudes to journalism need to changeinstead of abusing young people’s time and skills, we should reward them for their efforts.

Until then, however, I might just get started on my Love Island 2020 application…

Travel Junkie: Nice, France

By Anastasia Burton I have recently spent a week in Nice, France and thought it would be fun to give our readers some tips as to which destinations are worthwhile if you are planning a trip to this beautiful city!

Firstly, you must keep in mind that the city is split into two parts, the old city and the newer, more modern city. Both sides of the city are beautiful in their own unique ways, though I, personally, fell in love with the old city.

Of course, the main attraction would be the pebbly beaches! The water is a magnificent, rich, baby-blue colour, with waves for days, which makes it very fun to chill in the water and just enjoy the view. You would be surprised how quickly your body heats up in the sea! A major pro-tip is to buy beach shoes that you can wear inside the water. This is very important to remember, due to the entire beach being stonebased, which can make it very painful to walk in. Trust me on this one; if you’re visiting the beautiful Nice beaches, you should get the shoes!

If you are a fan of museums, you’re in luck!

There are many student free-entry museums,

including one of the most popular museums in Nice, the Musee Massena. This museum contains beautiful paintings and little knickknacks, as well as Napoleon’s death mask, which attracts tourists from all over the world. However, there are also modern art, human anatomy and music museums for the more cultured among us! Most museums are located around the inner city, meaning you can easily walk to them, rather than having to take public transport.

Another tip would be to visit Monaco and Monte Carlo while in Nice. You can get train tickets for as cheap as €2.50, travel for about 20 minutes and visit one of the most expensive places in Europe! Now, unless you are planning a massive expensive shopping spree, you will be quickly bored of the city in less than a day. You could visit the castle and a small museum, which are located close to each other, as well as the Monte Carlo Casino.

However, you should be conscious that Nice and Monaco are both quite expensive places to stay in, so, if possible, try to stock up on food from supermarkets.

A place in Nice that you absolutely must visit is Castle Hill. Beware of the stairs! There is the option of taking the elevator before 6pm and this saves you the steep stair climb.

The view is breathtaking and amazing for photo opportunities. There is also a waterfall, which you can admire close-up! Something I found cool was that you could see this waterfall from the beach. So, when you decide to go for a swim, look to the side and you will see the Castle Hill and the beautiful waterfall.

The last thing you should do in Nice is simple: just walk around the old city. It’s very easy to get lost, due to the vast number of alleyways, which all lead into different areas, but, honestly, you will be blown away by the stunning architecture and cute little cafes and shops. The old city is very charming, while the new city is more tourist-orientated and heavily consumer-based. You will find branded clothes stores on every corner, as well as overpriced ice creams and souvenirs!

I hope you enjoyed this little guide. Be sure to check out everything that Nice has to offer on your next European getaway!

Bain na Bacainní!

Thursday 3rd October, Dublin Déardaoin, 3ú Deireadh Fómhair, Baile Átha Cliath Depart Galway: 10:00am from the Cathedral Depart Dublin: 4:00pm from Wilton Terrace, Dublin 2 Return to Galway by 7:00pm (approx.)

Tickets: €2

NUI Galway Students Only Mic Léinn de Chuid OÉ Gaillimh Amháin

www.su.nuigalway.ie

facebook.com/NUIGalwayStudentsUnion

twitter.com/NUIGSU

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SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

FILM REVIEW: IT Chapter 2 will have you floating to the edge of your seat

By Rachel Garvey

WARNING: Spoilers lie ahead…

On September 6th, IT Chapter 2 was released in cinemas across the country. It is supposedly the second and last chapter in Stephen King’s story about Pennywise the clown. The story continues 27 years later, with Pennywise returning to the town of Derry, to feast upon its residents, torturing them by using their own fears against them.

27 years previous, he was defeated by the losers’ club, who had made a blood pact to come back if Pennywise ever returned. The childhood friends have now gone their separate ways and are each living away from Derry, apart from Mike Hanlon, who has stayed. After a number of people go missing one by one and turning up dead, Mike calls the others for them to return to Derry as soon as possible to defeat Pennywise for good. All the members of the losers’ club return to Derry, except for Stanley, who dies by suicide after the phone call with Mike. They begin to experience

a bit of amnesia because of how far they moved away from Derry, but their childhood memories and fears soon resurface once they reunite together in a restaurant and are later informed of Stanley’s suicide.

After Eddie, Richie and the others threaten to leave Derry, Mike informs Bill that he met with a Native American tribe, who showed him a vision of how “IT” arrived on earth, as well as the knowledge based on a ritual on how to destroy “IT” forever. As part of this ritual, each member of the losers’ club need to find an artefact from their past. Bill is reunited with the paper boat he made for his little brother Georgie, a previous victim of Pennywise 27 years ago, Beverly finds the love note written by Ben, Richie finds an old token from the arcade, Eddie comes into possession of an inhaler, Ben finds an old torn out page from his year book that Beverly had signed, Mike has a rock that started the rock fight with Henry Bowers all those years previous and then, together, they all encounter a shower hat in their old clubhouse that was an idea of Stanley, which is used as Stanley’s artefact.

With a running time of 2 hours and 45 minutes, the majority of viewers were well satisfied, and reviews were pouring on to social media, with many people sharing their thoughts on the movie: “IT Chapter 2 is a terrific companion to IT Chapter 1. Similar vibes, great ensemble chemistry w/ a nice mix of humour and horror. Part 2 plays heavier in tone, dealing w/ defeating the burden of childhood trauma, & I definitely teared up at the very end.

Bill Hader steals it”.

Despite the fact that IT Chapter 2 is classed as a horror, it contained some very touching scenes, as well as being humorous in some parts.

The movie also dealt with a lot of controversial problems; domestic abuse, suicide, childhood trauma and homosexuality and how there are a lot of people still against it. Beverly manages to break free from her abusive husband, which ties in with her childhood trauma of having an abusive and manipulative father. Stanley’s suicide had the audience in disbelief and his reason for taking his life had viewers in tears. Richie’s unexpected revelation of being a homosexual had viewers smile in surprise at the unexpected

twist in his life’s timeline and then tears were shed during the end scene where we lose Eddie during the end battle with Pennywise. Richie clings desperately to his deceased friend, begging the others to take Eddie with them so that he can be saved, but it’s too late and Eddie is left behind, while the members of the losers’ club drag an uncontrollably crying Richie from the cavern below Neibolt house, as it collapses in upon itself, Pennywise below in the cavern finally dead, his heart crushed as the losers’ club fired insult after insult at him, making him feel small, which took away his power to overcome them.

The movie teaches viewers that it’s okay to be afraid, but once you stand with friends, then you can get through even the toughest times. A promise was made 27 years ago, a promise that was kept by nearly every member. Even though people grow up and drift apart, once reunited, the lost memories start to resurface and we remember who our true friends really are. It is truly a movie worth watching, as it teaches us that the bond of friendship is the strongest force of all.

The Spectacular Spider-Man Trilogy

By Owen Kennedy

Spider-Man (2002) Directed by Sam Raimi Starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, James Franco, Rosemary Harris It’s been a turbulent time to be a fan of Spider-Man these past twelve or so months. The webslinger’s had some big highs, from Spider-Man PS4, SpiderMan-Into the Spiderverse and Spider-Man: Far From Home, to lowest of lows, such as the untimely death of his co-creator, the great Stan Lee. Spider-Man fans like myself are now faced with the split between Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios that will see Tom Holland’s iteration of the character leave the Marvel Cinematic Universe and, according to Sony, pursue his own escapades in his own universe, with his own rogue gallery from the comics. With this sudden division between the two over everyone’s favourite webhead, the Sam Raimi trilogy from the early 2000’s has seen a resurgence in popularity, with people claiming it to be the greatest piece of live-action Spider-Man media (note I said live-action). So, does Sam Raimi’s classic Spider-Man trilogy still hold up?

Starting off, Spider-Man portrays the origin of Peter Parker as Spider-Man with incredible faith to the original source material. It’s perfection seeing the panels basically come to life through the film. The protagonist that is Peter Parker is also written in a really engaging manner. It is evident that David Koepp and Sam Raimi knew their stuff about Spider-Man before going into this film. Almost the entire film is seen through the eyes of Peter Parker, which allows the audience to completely relate with him. Now, if Tobey Maguire was a good casting choice, I might sing higher of its praises. Maguire’s performance isn’t bad, so to speak, but there are times where his delivery is off or awkward. It doesn’t help that Maguire is sup-

posed to be 16 in the film, but he looks like he’s 30.

I can’t rip on Maguire too much though, as almost everyone in his ‘high school’ looks way too old.

But what casting specialists, Lynn Kresseland and Francine Maisler, did hit the nail on the head with was J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson and Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn. There’s a reason Simmons was brought back for a cameo in Spider-Man: Far From Home. He is, without a shadow of a doubt, the best character in the trilogy, even though he has little over 10 minutes of screentime over the three movies, which I highly recommend you search up to watch on YouTube. Even when I read the comics, Simmons’ fastpaced and booming voice is what I always hear when I see Jameson. As for Willem Dafoe, he is relishing every second of his performance to give us an unforgettable Green Goblin. His performance is impeccable and iconic. That being said, Green Goblin can cross the line between threatening and just plain silly at times, dressing up as an old woman scream included, which is what he’s like in the comics, but not to this extent.

Speaking of silly, I hate to say this, but this film is so poorly dated. The CGI looks about as bad as Will Smith’s genie and a lot of the humour is… of its time, to say the least. See the cage match scene and you’ll know what I mean. Another point I have to take off the film is the fight choreography, a superhero film is only as good as its fights and, whilst there are amazing action pieces, like the scene from the Brooklyn Bridge and the final fight between Green Goblin and Spider-Man, the fight at the Thanksgiving Day Parade is a sight to behold in how stilted the combat is.

In conclusion, Spider-Man is a dated piece of media, with an engaging story and compelling villains at the core. Whilst it isn’t the best of the trilogy, it is my favourite, as I feel it has the most amount of rewatchability out of the three. I would say check it out, but you probably already have.

7/10

C U LT ÚR

September 24 2019

Euphoria Review: Honesty at its core and compassion at its heart

By Harry King Euphoria, the eight-part series, written and directed by Sam Levinson, with the indie production agency A24, has been both heavily acclaimed and criticized this past summer. The story is told from the perspective of the life of a drug addicted seventeenyear-old girl called Rue, who is played by Zendaya. The series follows a group of teenagers who try to establish relationships and friendships in a world seemingly full of sex, drugs and trauma, with social media as an underlying social construct. It has been critically acclaimed, due to its innovative approach to tackling a range of complex issues and the stellar performances of its young cast. It has a series of graphic scenes in each episode, which don’t hold back and have attracted criticism, due to the triggering effect they could have on viewers.

In an unnerving opening monologue, Rue explains how her substance abuse came about and we learn that she spent the summer in rehab, after an accidental overdose. She also explains what drugs make her feel like: “Everything stops, your heart, your lungs and finally your brain. And everything you feel and wish to forget, it all just sinks... Over time, that’s all I wanted - those two seconds of nothingness.” Straight away, we are introduced to a very complex character with a range of conflicting emotions. Throughout the series, Rue also narrates her way through her mental illness in a way that invites the viewer to root for her sobriety and happiness, rather than use judgement.

The extremely explicit exterior of the show has terrified parents, as it includes full-frontal male nudity and statutory rape, however there’s a theme of tenderness and compassion for the characters, who face shocking challenges. Whilst it uses beautiful photography to capture what is, in the most part, a very bleak world, there are moments of hope in the series that are explored in an equally artistic way.

The acting across the board was nothing short of remarkable, Zendaya led the way, in what feels like a breakout performance, and it would not be a shock to see her collect an Emmy for it. The ex-Disney star had a scintillating performance, despite the character portrayed being worlds apart from any role she has done before. Her

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13 Reasons Why: Season 3 Review Friendly warning: This article spoils the season 3 finale of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why

By Ciara Brennan

scintillating performance was enhanced by her co-star Hunter Schafer, who plays Jules, a transgender girl who has just moved to town and becomes Rue’s crush and carries her own baggage.

Oddly enough, Euphoria is primarily a love story between Rue and Jules, both trying to figure out who they are. It also follows the school’s top athlete Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi, who represents an image of student perfection, but has a dark past, which has led him to a very troubled present and it’s not just due to your typical self-obsessed toxicity. Euphoria investigates into the truths of many characters, most of whom have experienced the most horrible of teenage stories. It tries to represent an honest depiction of the crazy world we live in.

There’s no doubt it’s a tough watch and a trigger warning wouldn’t go amiss in most episodes, as it does have some disturbing scenes. Zendaya her-

For three seasons, the Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why has offered us a compelling, disturbing representation of teenage life—but who, if anyone, is this story meant for? The Netflix drama, originally created to focus on the growing concern of teenage suicide, has since lost its purpose and its flare.

The gripping first season followed the aftermath of the death of Hannah Baker, who dies by suicide after enduring a torment of bullying and sexual assault from her so-called ‘friends’ at Liberty High School. Highlighting such a controversial topic produced break waves in the mental health epidemic and greatly increased awareness for teenage suicide. Clap on the back for that. However, after exhausting this topic for the first and most of the second season, the series has had to take a new direction to keep its viewers engaged.

The third season follows the mystery surrounding the death of Bryce Walker, a serial rapist who

self gave this message to her fans on Instagram on the night of the premier; “It’s a raw and honest portrait of addiction, anxiety and the difficulties of navigating life today. There are scenes that are graphic, hard to watch and can be triggering. Please only watch if you feel you can handle it. Do what’s best for you. I will still love you and feel your support.”

Euphoria takes graphic risks unmatched by virtually any other TV show and hence, it has

drawn criticism but, at the same time, it takes a non-judgmental look at widespread problems and therefore inspires compassion.

In truth, the show itself can be likened to the stage the characters are at; young adulthood.

It’s a roller coaster - you feel sad, you feel happy, it’s crazy and it’s wonderful and sometimes, there’s so much going on, you lose track of what you’re meant to be focusing on. I couldn’t recommend it enough.

assaulted Hannah and Jessica and never faced any consequences for his crimes. We learn about a very different Bryce, someone unrecognizable to the character we have grown to hate over previous seasons. The rich popular kid, who did whatever he wanted, is now on the search for redemption. We are left asking ourselves, how far is too far for forgiveness?

In his attempt to prove he’s a better person, he tries to fix everyone’s problems with a bizarre set of solutions. He gives Alex steroids and brings him to a prostitute to build his confidence, he gives Justin opioids as a replacement for heroin, he even makes Jessica a tape to apologise for everything he has done. There is just one bizarre plotline after another in this season, from Bryce’s attempt at salvation to the decision of framing Monty for Bryce’s murder – the whole season just takes the biscuit really.

13 Reasons Why originally stressed the importance to viewers of understanding and facing up to the consequences of your actions, but I

think this season has completely lost sight of that. The PSA at the beginning of the season merely attempts to “help viewers start a conversation” with the hope that viewers will be able to make better decisions in their own lives. In my opinion, the series as a whole has definitely overlooked the consequences of decisions made, particularly by vulnerable characters, and downplayed the effects such decisions would have in real life contexts. For example, the treatment of Tyler’s mental state and the aftermath of his school shooting attempt was unrealistic and careless. As these are such topical issues in America today, more care needed to be taken in how it was dealt with and represented.

Season three deals with many previously discussed issues, such as sexual assault, substance abuse, suicide and bullying, but it has also taken on some new relevant concerns, such as abortion, illegal immigration, gun violence and marginalisation based on sexual identity. The combination of this array of matters in one tight-

ly-packed season degraded the importance of each issue. This was particularly realised through Chloe’s abortion. Something that is an extremely sensitive topic among young women today was given half an hour within the 13-hour season.

There was no follow-up on the issue or connection to the storyline, as we know nothing about Chloe or how she felt. She simply disappears, not to be seen again until the final episode. More could have been done to effectively represent issues such as these throughout the season.

It was frustrating that they were being explored but not to the level of which they deserved. The season took on more than it could chew and the quality of content suffered because of it.

Season three, overall, did not give me much satisfaction, there was no gripping hold over my attention or no remorse in my viewing.

Series with a strong first season such as 13 Reasons Why rarely improve once they move forward and it is unfortunate that this is just another example of that.

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SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

What’s on in Galway Tuesday 24 September – Monday 7 October

By Sarah Gill Time to dust off the dancing shoes again! Now that college has started to get that little bit more intense, you’ll definitely need to blow off some steam. Fear not, there are plenty of events taking place throughout the city that will keep you going for the next couple of weeks...

Boiler Room: Galway Wednesday 25 September

Stopping off at The Loft for the Galway leg of their upcoming UK & Ireland tour, Boiler Room is one for the ravers among us. With a lineup still to be released, they’ve assured us that there will

be an unreal cast of burgeoning artists from all corners of the scene appearing on the night.

KNEECAP tour: ‘Your Ma Hates Ya’ Thursday 26 September

The infamous Belfast trio will be transforming Monroe’s into a sweatbox this Thursday night as part of their biggest national tour yet. Bring your cúpla focal because absolutely nothing beats roaring along to a bit of rap in your mother tongue. Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Provaí know how to put on a show.

The Seattle Grunge Experience Friday 27 September

If you’re more of a rocker than a techno head, Monroe’s is where you’ll want to be this Friday night. Following on from an unreal show at the start of the year, The Seattle Grunge Experience performs the music of all your favourites, from Nirvana to Pearl Jam. It’s the ultimate live tribute to the iconic grunge scene so you know you won’t be disappointed.

Celaviedmai Saturday 5 October

The genres of hip-hop and rap have long been acknowledged as the uppity offspring of Jazz, with DJs mining the beats, hooks and samples from its deepest seams. As part of Galway Jazz

Festival, Celavied Mai will be taking to the stage of Electric for a night of rap, hip-hop and electro music. Drawing influence from far and wide, Mai speaks with a distinctly original voice, and it’s sure to be a serious night on the tiles.

All Tvvins with Somebody’s Child Saturday 5 October

It’s likely that the majority of people reading this will have “Darkest Ocean” feature in one playlist or another, so what better way to spend your Saturday than in the Black Box, watching All Tvvins bring their signature sound to the stage?

If the tunes of Somebody’s Child aren’t on your radar yet, go and listen to “Toes” right now!

The Handmaid’s Tale and why it’s important

By Saoirse Higgins The long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale was finally released on September 10. The sequel, The Testaments, follows the story of three women fifteen years after the story of The Handmaid’s Tale. As people begin to read this new story from Margaret Atwood, it’s a good time to

reflect on what The Handmaid’s Tale has contributed to its many readers and to society over the past few years. For those of you who don’t know, the story, originally published in 1985, is set in a near-dystopian future, where a totalitarian government has taken over the United States of America. This new government severely restricts the rights of its citizens, especially women.

We experience the novel through our protagonist, Offred. She is a handmaid, a woman who is forced to reproduce for the ruling class of men, and we watch her struggle in this patriarchal society.

The novel explores a range of different themes from women’s oppression in a ruling patriarchal society, to privacy and surveillance and relationships between people in a class-based society.

I would thoroughly recommend reading this novel if you haven’t yet, it is a delight to read. And if reading is not your thing, the award-winning 2017 television adaption of the novel is a show I would recommend for everyone. The relevance of this novel in our current political climate is undeniable. As the far-right political movement gains more power, with figures like Trump and Putin in presidency, this dystopian future feels a bit too close to home. Although, thankfully, women have more rights than ever before, we must take steps to make sure we don’t revert to an old system of oppression, which people have fought so hard to break free from. The Handmaid’s Tale’s terrifying totalitarian government came into power due to the collapse of the government that was in place before it.

The TV show adaption of the novel first aired in 2017 and deals with this idea that the collapse of our current government could very well happen at

any time. The critically acclaimed adaption is set in modern times, emphasising that this dystopia could happen at any moment. What is also interesting about this novel and its tv show adaption is that it draws on events from the past to create the dystopia. Margaret Atwood, in her article in the New York Times, said; “one of my rules was that I would not put any events into the book that had not already happened”. It is shocking to realise that events in this book, such as the hanging of the executed on the Harvard walls and the government approved rape, occurred in our history. Although, The Handmaids Tale isn’t meant to be a prediction for the future and only using events that happened throughout history grounds this fiction in reality. It shows us that if they happened in our past, there is a possibility of it happening in our future.

The novel forces its readers to reflect on our society and compare it to the one we see in The Handmaid’s Tale. This is important, as, even if politics is not in your interest, we all have to face the consequences of the decisions made by people in political power and the novel really shows how awful those consequences could be. Hopefully, Atwood’s new novel, The Testaments, will be as groundbreaking and revolutionary in its feminist and political commentary as its predecessor and I am most definitely looking forward to picking it up.

Sensational singer Sam Smith has changed their gender pronouns to ‘They/Them’

By Sarah Gill In an expression of gender neutrality, the “Dancing With A Stranger” singer took to social media to announce that they will be changing their gender pronouns to ‘they/them’. Identifying as gender non-binary - which refers to a spectrum of genders that are not strictly confined to either the male or female binaries - Smith opened up about what taking this step means to them.

“After a lifetime of being at war with my gender I’ve decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out”, Smith wrote in both a Twitter thread and an Instagram caption. “I’ve been very nervous about announcing this because I care too much about what people think but fu*k it! I understand there will be many mistakes and misgendering but all I ask is you please please try. I hope you can see me like I see myself now. Thank you.”

Sam Smith goes on to say that while they are in no place to talk in great detail about what it means to be non-binary at the moment, they are hugely looking forward to being able to express these feelings.

Finishing off the statement, Sam mentions a few

activists and leaders of the non-binary and trans community that have helped and inspired them on their own journey. Among the fifteen mentions are Queer Eye’s Jonathon Van Ness, actress and LGBTQ+ advocate Laverne Cox and Stonewall UK. While, as always, internet trolls and closeminded people adamantly expressed their distaste for and lack of understanding of the whole announcement, there was an avalanche of love, respect and support for Smith from a number of fans, friends and fellow celebrities. There was a similar response earlier in the year, when Smith came out as non-binary, expressing that they are “as much a woman as I am a man”.

If you’re reading this and do not understand - or are refusing to understand - that people deserve to choose whatever pronouns best reflect who they are inside, it’s important to remember that we, as humans, each deserve the same level of respect. It takes nothing to use the correct terms. ‘Sam Smith is courageous’, ‘their bravery is commendable’, ‘I respect them for their musical talent and self-expression’. See? It’s easy. Now, go stream “How Do You Sleep?”.

C U LT ÚR

September 24 2019

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Best film and television soundtracks

By Robyn Kilroy

The Graduate (1967)

The Shining (1980)

There is a point to argue that, quite often, the soundtrack is one of the most iconic features of a film or TV show.

Whether it’s a catchy song or eerie score, a good soundtrack has the potential to solidify a film or TV show as a cult classic or a smash box office hit. In many cases of film criticism, the soundtrack is often left behind in favour of acting, directing or design. It’s often treated as the icing on top of an already delicious cake. But when a soundtrack is composed or placed well within a scene, the results can be excellent. And during this current ‘golden age’ of television, many TV shows have invested more effort in creating or obtaining excellent soundtracks to match the quality seen in many films.

Here is a list of the best examples (in my opinion) of film soundtracks, both current and throughout the years.

The Graduate explores the very relatable struggle of finishing college and not knowing what to do with your life. In the opening title sequence, we see Dustin Hoffman’s journey back home to California after finishing college. He walks through the mundane airport to Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘The Sound of Silence’. Its melancholy sound translates perfectly to Benjamin’s feelings of uncertainty and isolation as he moves back home and has no idea what to do with his life. The inclusion of Simon and Garfunkel songs throughout the film also provokes a counter-cultural tone to the film, relating well to the sense of defiance the younger characters have against their parents and society.

It’s the perfect soundtrack to your next collegerelated existential crisis.

One of the most powerful examples of music-implying-tone in a film is undoubtedly seen in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. During the opening, we see the Torrance family drive through the scenic mountains towards The Overlook Hotel. During this, the audience is subjugated to the foreboding sound of Wendy Carlos’ score, with a low synth playing the ominous main theme. While the visuals on screen may be beautiful, the music itself implies that what is to come will terrify you. The music throughout is chilling, ultimately adding to the sinister place that is The Overlook Hotel.

BROCKHAMPTON – Ginger Album Review

By Daniel Brennan Another year has brought another album from the now Los Angeles-based rap collective, Brockhampton. Ginger is their fifth studio album in two years and marks an interesting crossroads in the group’s history, following on from last year’s emotional and excellent Iridescence.

Ginger is the group’s most mature and well-rounded project to date and seems to be a more measured and focused response to the group’s past controversies, namely those involving former member Ameer Vann, than the raw emotion shown on Iridescence.

Opening track, ‘NO HALO’ is the group’s poppiest single to date and feels like their own take on a Post Malone-like low-key hit – except executed much better. The guitar riff that seeps throughout the song is complimented by excellent performances by Matt Champion and Merlyn Wood on the first few verses, joined by an excellent spotlight-stealing feature from Dev Never on the hook as well.

The other singles from the album, ‘BOY BYE’, ‘IF YOU PRAY RIGHT’ and ‘I BEEN BORN AGAIN’, also follow a more low-key approach, compared to some of the high-energy bops the group has become famous for – but the excellent and colourful production, combined with a mixture of catchy, funny, imaginative and insightful verses, more than makes up for it on each of the tracks in question.

‘SUGAR’ is one of the group’s catchiest tracks to date, with Bearface, Kevin Abstract and Ryan Beatty all laying down some of the most infectious bars in the group’s history. The song sounds like it would have been a massive RnB hit if it had been released 20 years ago and it’s one that’s absolutely guaranteed to get stuck in your head as soon as you hear it.

British artist Slowthai, who burst onto the international scene following his highly impressive debut album, Nothing Great About Britain, earlier this year, also features on the album. He gets a one minute and change song all to himself on ‘HEAVEN BELONGS TO YOU’, laying down verses very much of the quality you’d find on his own solo material.

Stranger Things (2016 – ) In this current climate of ‘80s nostalgia, Stranger Things has gained a lot of traction and this is mostly thanks to its soundtrack. The music, created by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, is a mix of ambient and hard-hitting synth beats that match well with the show’s aesthetic and tone. And, of course, the main theme heard at the beginning of every episode is so captivating that most viewers refuse to skip the title sequence.

Dark (2017 – ) Dark is a show that many have compared to Stranger Things, mainly because it’s also a sci-fi show involving kids on bikes and a large portion of the show is set in the ‘80’s. However, the Netflix German TV show really differs in its tone, especially when it comes to

‘DEARLY DEPARTED’ has several great performances from Kevin, Joba and Matt, but the absolute highlight is Dom’s verse – perhaps the angriest, most emotion-filled verse from the band’s discography, giving his opinion on the Ameer controversy with a personal twist – revealing that Ameer was behind the robbery of a friend of Dom’s, just after he moved to Texas to make music with Brockhampton. His audible mic-drop and door slam at the end of the verse only adds to the impact of it too, putting a metaphorical full stop on the events of the past year.

Another stand-out feature comes on the closing track, ‘VICTOR ROBERTS’, where Victor Roberts, a relatively unknown rapper, gets the spotlight to tell his story. He talks about growing up as a young kid in a house surrounded by crime, parental drug use and police raids, in one of the most emotive verses of the year so far, before Ryan Beatty and Bearface both lay down angelic singing verses to end the track and album.

Ginger is the most complete Brockhampton album to date and a fitting tribute to how much each of the members have been forced into growing up over the past 12 months – and that development very much bleeds into their music too, not only as a theme of the album lyrically, but also when looking at the project as a whole. It also marks another complete change in their sound from their previous records, the group and their fantastic producers, Romil and Jabari, proving once again how versatile they can be as a collective.

Score: 9/10

its music. Australian composer and producer Ben Frost applies his experimental style to Dark, creating an ominous atmosphere that comes with every twist in this show. Dark also employs songs from German experimental musician Apparat and US vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth, to convey a chilling undertone to the bleak German town of Winden.

Star Wars Franchise (1977 – ) Now, I can’t really have this list without including John Williams somewhere, as his work on Star Wars truly made him a household name. The opening theme is so explosive that it already has you glued to your chair and excited by the time the opening crawl is finished. The ‘Imperial March’ perfectly represents the evil Empire in all its vastness and glory. The addition of ‘Rey’s Theme’ in The Force Awakens to the overall soundtrack of this franchise provides a beautiful, humble-sounding contrast to the brasher themes heard throughout.

Mindhunter (2017 – ) Mindhunter’s original soundtrack, composed by American producer Jason Hill, is just as chilling as the plot of the film. As Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Holt McCallany (Bill Tench) visit prisons to interview real-life serial killers, Hill provides a soundtrack consisting of haunting strings and an unnerving piano-based opening title theme song.

If the plot of this TV show already makes your skin crawl, wait until you hear Hill’s music.

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SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

The limelight and social media: A toxic duo

By Conor Brummell The toxicity of social media and the pressure of young people being in the limelight has recently become prominent once again. A series of famous faces, such as Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and Jesy Nelson from Little Mix, have spoken out about the difficulties they’ve had throughout the years due to the ups and downs that come with stardom. Being young and growing up famous is extremely difficult; every little action and flaw is scrutinized by the millions of people who follow their every move. Young people all over the world idolise their every move and this always means they have to be perfect and this can have detrimental effects on their physical and mental health.

Justin Bieber was the first person to talk about the struggles he’s had whilst growing up. After being discovered at 16, he catapulted to fame and he said, by the time he was 18, he had more money than sense. He made mistakes that triggered abuse online since he was not supposed to be rebellious whilst growing, but when he did rebel, he wasn’t afforded the same liberties as someone who wasn’t famous. He said he could see how the highs and lows of performing turned people to drugs, as your mental state can’t deal with the fluctuation of happiness and sadness and you search for that high in other places. He said that having to stay on the straight and narrow, when he had too much temptation, was difficult, and, to make it worse, online hate drove him to depths of despair. I couldn’t imagine when I was 16 having to monitor my actions, in fear of receiving abuse online, and for it to happen to someone so publicly, even worse.

Miley Cyrus also spoke out regarding haters online, after she and husband Liam Hemsworth broke up. With allegations that she cheated circling online, she felt she had to defend herself publicly. Admitting she’s made mistakes in her life, from getting fired from Hotel Transylvania due to taking a picture with a penis cake when she was 17, to experimenting with drugs and being overly sexual in the media, she said there was no way she had cheated on Liam and for haters to back off. When she discarded the golden Hannah Montana image, people jumped on the “Wrecking Ball” phase of her life, disgracing her for the fact she was rebelling. That’s one of the problems of being in the media; people believe they own aspects of you because of the entertainment you gave them when you were younger. Look at the likes of Macauley Culkin and Lindsey Lohan - veterans of receiving hate online and the struggle they had after they dropped their nice kid images. Both turned to drugs and

essentially ruined their careers as a result of online abuse and not being able to transition into adulthood without judgement and strife.

Jesy Nelson also made a documentary this year about her struggles with abuse in the media, entitled Odd One Out. In it, she details the abuse she received from her time on the X-Factor, and the fact that people labelled her the ‘fat one’ in Little Mix. She also became explicit about the fact that, as part of their contracts, she had to have social media and be active on it. This left her vulnerable to online hate from trolls, which damaged her self-image and confidence. It took her a long time to come to terms with it, and the strength she shows in the documentary proves she’s a brilliant role model to young girls all over the world. Look at the cast of Geordie Shore, and

the plastic surgery they’ve had done, due to people hating on them throughout the years. Charlotte Crosby, Marnie Simpson and Chloe Ferry are almost unrecognisable shells of themselves from when they started on the show.

Online hate has done too much damage to famous people and it is time to rethink our social media usage. The fact that the stars above have started this discussion recently gives us the leverage to change our attitudes. It’s easy to say something in the moment, or anonymously, but that something, no matter how frivolous, could have a lasting effect on someone. As James Corden posted online in a video about fat shaming, we need to begin to think about what we’re saying as we never know the reasons behind somebody else’s appearances or actions.

CREATIVE CORNER

CRUSHED

By Mehar Luthra I stand crushed, I stand trodden upon, I stand hunched against the glare, Caught in a whirlwind of the sharpest emotions, The most monstrous eddies, The clingiest of stabs, The mightiest of waves, The loneliest of caves, I surrender to your depths, I surrender to your abyss, I bow down to the lowliest of mammals, For he who chooses to survive has more strength than me, I capitulate to the reediest of reptiles, For they who crawl reek of stamina, I stand having bludgeoned my will of reason, I have gouged my pride and stand bleeding happiness, Every contact is joy, Every prick is pleasure, What wanton being am I? Who cannot but be?

Gather your wings and blunt your knives, For I give myself thee.

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30 SPORT

Kleyn inclusion calls fairness of residency rule into question

By Darragh Nolan Focus on head coach Joe Schmidt’s selections for the Irish squad at the Rugby World Cup has centred around one decision in the second-row.

Devin Toner’s omission would’ve drawn plenty of scrutiny regardless of who got on the plane to Japan ahead of him. That South African-born Jean Kleyn replaces the 6’11” Leinster forward only adds to the intrigue.

Kleyn’s ability is not up for debate here. He’s a fine rugby player. Indeed, he’s capable of playing international test rugby. I have no doubt that he’ll relish the chance to shine on the biggest stage.

Rather the merits of the residency rule allowing Kleyn to play for Ireland at all add to the questionability of the decision. His inclusion over a figure as experienced as Toner raises concerns over the fairness of the rule.

The idea of fairness may not be conducive to any sport, especially one as physically unforgiving as rugby. Sport is the ultimate meritocracy, a dog-eat-dog environment founded upon beating out the competition.

Kleyn is admittedly the better option from a pure rugby point of view. He’s preferable on the tighthead side, where Toner is more comfortable operating behind the loosehead prop.

At 26, Kleyn ought to be more reliable in terms of fitness.

The 33-year-old Leinsterman has been relatively free of injury over his career, but Irish fans know all too well how the injury bug can strike, after the disaster suffered in 2015.

The decision to bring Kleyn to the World Cup is justified by his own ability, by certain attributes he possesses over Toner. Much of what makes this decision stand out is unfortunate timing.

Devin Toner was already reaching the point where his days in an Ireland shirt were numbered. James Ryan and Iain Henderson have been developing a partnership as the first-choice second row. Kleyn has only gained eligibility recently and made his Ireland debut on August 10. It’s hard to go wrong with any of the aforementioned at lock.

What may render the choice of South African Kleyn over Irish Toner a mistake, though, has nothing to do with the former’s eligibility. This was more of a choice based on youth over experience, as opposed to one nation over another.

For context, Kleyn has played 63 times for Munster since joining in 2016. Devin Toner has 67 caps for Ireland alone.

Kleyn has made 108 professional appearances, whereas Toner has 299, including 232 for Leinster on the way to winning four European Cups and five Pro14s. There’s a huge gulf in experience between the two men.

Toner has three Six Nations, including a Grand Slam, to his name. Kleyn has never faced the pressure, the immensely difficult task of test rugby against the world’s elite. There’s no telling how his talent will carry over into those big moments.

The residency rule isn’t perfect. Should it be tossed out entirely? Absolutely not. Bundee Aki and C.J. Stander are world class additions for Ireland, who have become fan favourites. Jean Kleyn could to follow in their footsteps.

The rule could be improved somewhat. Perhaps players with very little experience for Ireland, like Kleyn, should need to compile a certain number of caps in Summer and Autumn tests before being allowed to play in the Six Nations, or travel to World Cups.

Should foreign-born players be allowed to play for Ireland? Yes. Should a newly eligible player get on a World Cup squad ahead of one with 67 caps? That is the real issue.

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

Keane comments on Walters indicative of a bygone era

By Graham Gillespie No should ever be made feel ashamed for grieving the loss of a loved one. That basic, and hard to argue with, statement seems like a good starting point to discuss Roy Keane’s recent comments in about Jonathan Walters.

In a live Off The Ball interview at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre in Dublin, Keane remarked that Walters was “crying on the TV about his family situation, as if he’s the only one … do me a favour.”

The family situation Keane referred to was the death of Walters’ mother when the former Stoke forward was just 11-years-old.

Walters eloquently described how this personal tragedy affected him in an emotional Late Late Show interview on RTÉ.

Following these comments and that Stephen Ward WhatsApp audio message, one could argue that Roy Keane’s approval rating with the general Irish public has never been lower. Don’t get me wrong, many Irish football fans certainly disliked Keane after Saipan, but during that debacle, there was also perhaps an equally substantial group of people who backed the ex-Manchester United midfielder.

Furthermore, those on Keano’s side could even make a coherent and convincing argument to defend the Irish captain’s decision to abandon his teammates and country on the eve of a World Cup. Coming up with a defence now for Keane’s far too frequent personal attacks is considerably more challenging.

Both Keane and Walters’ interviews also reveal how society’s view of men discussing their feelings has changed. During his conversation with Ryan Tubridy, Walters’ referenced how, when he was in secondary school, he felt talking about the loss of his mother was a “taboo subject.”

Such bottling up of emotion was, and to some extent still is, a hugely toxic element of masculinity, which has prevented men in need from seeking help for their mental health problems. It appears likely that this ‘man-up’ culture, which has been especially prevalent in English and Irish football, has been a contributing factor as to why, according to the World Health Organisation, suicide rates are over three times higher for men than women throughout the much of the world. In Ireland, men are four times more likely to die by suicide than women.

In much the same way that his Brian Clough inspired ‘proper football man’ style of management is dated, Keane’s views on emotional expression make him look like a relic of the past. However, it can hardly be a surprise that he holds such opinions, considering the dressing room environments that the Cork man was a member of in his playing days.

Perhaps the two biggest influences on Keane’s playing career were Clough and Alex Ferguson. Both men were undoubtedly brilliant managers, but they were also

often unsympathetic and volatile figures.

This volatility would sometimes manifest itself in aggressive violence, such as Ferguson’s infamous boot-throwing attack on David Beckham.

In the case of Clough, Keane himself was the victim when the then-Nottingham Forrest manager punched the midfielder after an FA Cup loss. When Jon Walters refers to how discussing one’s feelings was “taboo”, no more so was this the case, than in the workplaces Keane encountered.

Despite clearly being wrong in what he said, it’s still hard to not feel at least a bit of sympathy for Keane. Especially when it’s considered that he himself has faced personal tragedy recently, with the sad passing of his father, Mossie, in mid-August. With this and his playing background in mind, the “as if he’s the only one … do me a favour,” part of his comment on Walters comment feels almost heart-breaking, given what Keane must have been going through personally in the past few weeks.

Thankfully, today there is less stigma around mental health and, as Walters has shown, men talking about their emotions has become normalised.

Indeed, Keane, as well as all the rest of us, should take note of one particular piece of advice the ex-Burnley player gave in his Late Late Show appearance, “the more we speak about it, the better it is.”

Dominant Dubs conquer Kingdom to complete historic five-in-a-row

By Darragh Nolan Dublin and Kerry played out another classic in the All-Ireland Final replay, as the boys in blue stormed to a record fifth Sam Maguire in succession.

Tenacious Kerry defending in the drawn game kept the danger men quiet; this time Con O’Callaghan took his first score inside 20 seconds.

The opening 20 minutes of the game were typical of this Dublin side. Movement at pace, runners off the ball and unselfish play defined that familiar free-flowing attack. It took just nine minutes for Dublin to canter into a 0-05 to 0-01 lead.

Kerry settled into the game in the latter stages of the first half. Paul Geaney was once again a Colm Cooper-esque distributor, picking out teammates with wonderfully kicked passes. David Clifford managed to improve on a magnificent performance in the draw and kept Kerry in the game, at a time where it could have so easily slipped away.

The inspired play of the Kerry forwards roared the game to life. It became a breathless end-to-end battle, Clifford drawing the Kingdom to within a point, with two fine scores in under two minutes. Where scores had been so easy to come by for Dublin early, they now found themselves hounded by the Kerry press.

The early lead wiped out, the sides entered the break level at 0-10 apiece. Game on. Or so it seemed.

Kerry won the second-half throw-in only for disaster to strike. The ball broke straight to Eoin Murchan, a late inclusion in the Dublin starting XV. He ran through the Kerry half virtually untouched, his goal a dagger through Kerry hearts.

The underdogs remained in touch for much of the remainder, but Dublin weren’t to be stopped this day. The attacking trio of Paul Mannion, Ciarán Kilkenny and O’Callaghan scored just 0-03 between them in the first game.

Each of them matched or surpassed that total by themselves in the replay; Kilkenny with 0-05, Mannion with 0-04 and O’Callaghan with 0-03.

That ability to share the load epitomises this great Dublin side. Dean Rock and Manof-the-Match Jack McCaffrey shouldered the brunt of the load previously. Rock was relatively quiet in the replay, scoring 0-03 compared to 0-10 the first day out. McCaffrey was taken off at half-time.

Kerry simply hadn’t it in them to overcome their brilliance. Too many chances that Dublin would kick for fun were wasted by Kerry. Stephen O’Brien’s goal chance was perhaps the crucial moment where they might have turned the tide.

Ultimately the defeated Kerrymen fell away in the final 10 minutes, as Dublin

cruised home to yet another All-Ireland triumph. Perhaps they’ll feel hard done by the eventual six-point loss, in what was a fiercely competitive encounter. This is an exciting young Kerry panel and they’ll surely be back in Croke Park for many Septembers to come.

Regardless, 2019 belongs to Dublin. The fabled five-in-a-row, never done before in senior men’s intercounty GAA, has at last been completed. This group of players had already cemented themselves in the history books amongst the greats of football past.

To win five successive Sam Maguire Cups affords them a particularly special place in the annals.

Perhaps even more remarkable is the possibility of six-in-a-row and beyond. Kerry have shown themselves over both finals to be worthy usurpers to the throne, but it will be a monumental task to beat this team at Croke Park.

The young Kingdom team will surely have their day to lift Sam Maguire. How far down the line will they have to wait for the unrelenting all-time greats of Dublin to let their foot off the gas? That very question is what makes Dublin the very best in Gaelic football history.

They are ruthless. They won’t rest on their laurels. They won’t stop. Five-in-a-row may have never been done before, but Dublin will want so much more than that.

SPÓ IRT

September 24 2019

McGregor’s dilemma

By Gary Elbert ‘How bad do you want something in life?’ can often mean ‘how bad is your life?’ Desire is either fuelled by deprivation or stifled and mangled by dysfunction.

The strong link between socio -economic disadvantage and extreme physical pursuits, for example, is the foundation for combat sports culture, from the rickety Muay Thai gyms of Thailand, to a decaying backstreet boxing club which can be found anywhere.

Hard times make or break spirits and souls in the concrete jungle. Comfort breeds egoism, entitlement, passive-aggressive narcissism. Luxury builds ego.

Hence why identity politics remains the domain of privileged middle-class individuals, seeking to camouflage their existential bitterness with disingenuous moral vanity, while our tower blocks and council estates continue to seek solace in the blurry warmth of a pint glass, the defiant dead eyed nihilism of the needle or the mini Colosseum of a combat gym.

Poverty is often the fuel behind the most thrilling stories. Many fighter’s origins begin in adversity. On the council estate, in the playground or even in the home. The kind of brutal merging of disadvantage and limited circumstance that ensures no boxing world champions will ever emerge from leafy middle-class suburbs like Blackrock or Notting Hill.

To be a fighter is to raise a middle finger to the random bad luck life has dealt you and to remain resolutely defiant, fuelled by hunger, anger and a burning sense of injustice. Such a flame, however,

can rarely burn for long, especially when a fighter reaches the pinnacle of his profession.

Conor McGregor burst onto the mainstream MMA scene in a blaze of cheeky grins, joie de vivre, Bruce Lee quotes and hyperbolic trash talk, in a package that most Irish millennials either found endearing or hair pulling.

We had never seen anybody like him in this country.

An Irish sports star who spoke, behaved and fully believed that he was the best in the world and did nothing to disguise this sense of superiority? This was unheard of. This is a country where a stoic, battle-hardened, grizzled type of sportsman is the standard bearer for athletic behaviour, where a GAA man mumbles a few clichés along with a “ya know yourself” and doesn’t say anything controversial in the post-match interview, unless complaining about something. A country where an ecstatic young dairy farmer says “f***” on national TV, to the delight of the viewers. Yet McGregor flew over to Rio, took off his top in a bar, ripped apart a picture of then champion Jose Aldo and told a whole South American country he controlled their lives.

Now McGregor is in a perilous state. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s triumphant win over tough-as-nails Dustin Poirier ended with the Dagestani phenom leaping the cage and embracing Dana White, as rich Middle Eastern Muslims looked on approvingly.

The lightweight champion inserted a dismissive “bullshit guy” jab, in a post-fight speech which focused on returning MMA to its respectful and

Ireland will have to play ugly to keep Euros dream alive

By Danny Casserly Ireland kept their quest for Euro 2020 qualification in their own hands, following a 1-1 draw against a much-favoured Switzerland side in Dublin. The visitors took a deserved lead midway through the second half, when Fabian Schar made a marauding run through midfield, before coolly slotting into the bottom corner past Darren Randolph. However, a deflected Irish cross was met by the head of David McGoldrick five minutes from time, whose first international goal guaranteed a point for the home side.

Ireland’s opponents in their qualification group have often spoke of the frustrating nature of playing Ireland. And it’s that frustrating the opponent that Ireland, under Mick McCarthy, have learned to do so well. The final whistle at the Aviva was cheered as if Ireland had won; and for good reason, as the Boys in Green knew they had stolen a point. With only 40% possession and three total shots, David McGoldrick’s header felt somewhat undeserved.

Mick McCarthy referred to his side’s performance as “very Irish” after the match, seeming to indicate that this sort of conservative, eleven men behind the ball approach is how Ireland will play against better teams, hoping to score from counter attacks or set pieces. This mentality may result in McCarthy taking some flak from those who want to see Ireland play flowing, expansive, attacking football. However, the veteran coach seems to realise his side’s limits and has designed the style of play to suit their strengths, namely looking for the towering figure of centre back Shane Duffy on set pieces.

Ironically, it has been McCarthy’s return to the post of manager that has resulted in a breath of fresh air for the Ireland team. The team is playing to their

own standard, realising they cannot expect to succeed if they keep trying to outplay superior teams. And with McCarthy set to be replaced by Irish under-21s manager Stephen Kenny in 2020, there isn’t an overwhelming sense of expectation around the Irish setup under McCarthy, something that can’t be said for Giovanni Trapattoni’s time at the helm.

With three group games to go, Ireland sit top of their qualifying group, two points clear of Denmark and three ahead of Switzerland, although the latter are expected to take over top spot given their game in hand over Ireland. Ireland’s runin is not favourable, with away games against Georgia and Switzerland coming up before the last game at home to Denmark. While Ireland remain in pole position for now, it’ll be a huge achievement for the boys in green to qualify ahead of either Denmark or Switzerland, who are both major tournament regulars.

If Ireland are to qualify, they will need to add more threat going forward. The decision to start David McGoldrick over Shane Long, an international veteran, who is very experienced at leading the line for Ireland, paid off against the Swiss, but more support needs to be given to the striker, particularly from the midfield.

Conor Hourihane and Jeff Hendrick can both get forward effectively and need to do so more.

If injury-prone midfielders Robbie Brady and James McCarthy can stay fit, it will provide a massive boost to a midfield that resorted to 35-year-old Glenn Whelan against Switzerland.

Defensively, if Ireland continue to get heroic performances from the likes of Shane Duffy and Darren Randolph, they’ll give themselves every chance to defy the odds and qualify for their third consecutive European Championships.

31

“It’s hard to get up and go running in the morning when you’re wearing silk pyjamas”— Marvin Hagler humble martial arts origins, after the crass deviation of the McGregor years. The Crumlin boy is now yesterday’s man. The circus of bad taste, bad language and street thuggery that McGregor offered last year now looks juvenile, pathetic and inferior.

Khabib has asserted himself as the greatest lightweight champion in MMA history and as one of the all-time greats. In that process, he has taken the shine off the McGregor sheen and diluted the Irishman’s achievements.

Boxing a savvy old man in a pub with that pistonlike left hand of his has come very close to destroying McGregor’s already crumbling reputation. Gone are the hungry young eyes of the contender, reciting Bruce Lee and practicing kicks in a cramped hotel room and now, we are left with a man who has fallen into a common trap set out for many working class men; the identity trap of don’t give a f*** tribal, tattooed, don’t-trustanyone, Facebook memes, gangster hardman-ism, where every perceived slight must be answered, lest ones reputation is tarnished by whispering gossips.

McGregor should have become the happy-golucky professional CEO, but instead he has slipped into multi-millionaire paranoia - reduced to late night bravado tweets that suggest a now marginalised personality struggling to come to terms with the new MMA order. He turned into Tony Montana, snorting coke while staring at the pelicans.

McGregor must return and square off against Poirier or Gaethje and win in style.

And he can do that. People forget that the Dubliner is

the most dangerous fighter in the sport for the opening two rounds before the cardiovascular deficiency kicks in.

A signature win over a high-ranked opponent alongside a more sober and humble approach will win back admirers and generate new interest in a Khabib rematch. McGregor must adapt and ease off the street scumbag bravado that has stained his media engagements in recent years.

Sure, his stock is low right now, but forgiveness, as a human emotion, has evolved for a reason. Everyone loves a good comeback story. Redemption is an intoxicating narrative. The issue, however, here is - how badly does a man with one hundred million in the bank and two kids really, really want it? When you have accomplished your life goals, hunger will subside. Preserving and amplifying a dog mentality when there is no material need to do so is difficult.

You have climbed the mountain. Why would you want to live in the gym, endure gruelling fight camps and drain and starve your body to make weight?

Times have changed in MMA. The sport is lacking crossover personalities, although the fights are more entertaining than ever and the younger generation emerging are more well-rounded and talented than past practitioners.

McGregor’s window of opportunity continues to shrink as his lay-off extends.

He needs to remind everybody what being a fighter is all about. Or else, step aside and assist the development of the next generation of Irish warriors.

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32 SPORT

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

Sarah Dervan lifts the O’Duffy Cup. Photo credit to INPHO/Bryan Keane. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Congratulations to the Galway Senior Camogie team, who have been crowned All-Ireland champions after beating Kilkenny, in particular to those involved with links to NUI Galway, namely Aoife Donohue, Emma Helebert, Carrie Dolan, Sarah Spellman, Maria Cooney, Laura Ward, Molly Mannion and Ciara Donohue

Galway celebrate at the final whistle. ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson

September 24 2019

SPÓ IRT

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The Galway Intermediate Camogie team, who lost out to Westmeath in the All-Ireland Final. Well done to all involved in doing Galway proud, in particular to those with links to NUI Galway, namely: Laura Ward (Captain), Ciara Donohue, Molly Mannion, Rachel Hanniffy, Niamh Black and Ciara Helebert. ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson

Emma Helebert of the Galway team and NUI Galway. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Galway team celebrates after the final with the O’Duffy Cup. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Sarah Spellman of the Galway team and NUI Galway, in action against Kilkenny’s Meighan Farrell in this year’s All-Ireland Senior Camogie Final. ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

34 SPORT

SIN Vol. 21 Issue 02

The road to Super Bowl LIV runs through Foxboro

By Darragh Nolan After 36 football free weeks, America’s game has returned to grace our lives once more. Week 1 of the new NFL season didn’t disappoint, with plenty of fourth quarter drama, overtime heroics and stunning comebacks around the league.

Football is often the hardest sport to predict. The turnover of playoff teams from one year to the next is over 50%.

The only consistent factor in recent seasons, indeed since the turn of the millennium, has been the dominance of the New England Patriots.

2019 is proving to be no different thus far. The reigning Super Bowl champions bullied the Pittsburgh Steelers on the way to a 33-3 win. Tom Brady is showing no signs of his advanced years entering his age 42 season. Head coach Bill Belichick has put together a defence that looks to be the Pats’ best since the days of legends Ty Law and Tedy Bruschi.

The course of the new season begins and ends with New England. They’re favourites to hoist a record 7th Lombardi Trophy. The rest of the AFC is murkier. It’s a top-heavy conference, with Kansas City shaping up to be the only real challenger to the throne.

2018 MVP Patrick Mahomes and offensive genius Andy Reid will have spent the long hard months of the offseason obsessing over their loss to Brady and Belichick in the AFC title game. The frightening passing attack of yesteryear has added even more speed.

Sammy Watkins exploded for 198 yards and two scores at Jacksonville, perhaps showing he’s ready to live up to his lofty expectations. Rookie Mycole Hardman is proving to be something of a Tyreek Hilllite, although ‘Cheetah’ himself will miss time with an injured collarbone.

Entering the season, the Cleveland Browns looked to be staking a claim in the AFC picture, having traded for superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham.

A 30-point loss at the hands of Tennessee firmly put the brakes on the hype train.

It’s very much an open race. The Patriots will win the East with ease, but there’s a three-horse race between Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cleveland in the AFC North. The AFC South is anyone’s division after Andrew Luck’s shock retirement from the Indianapolis Colts.

The NFC is a far more loaded conference. There are at least ten teams vying for just six playoff spots. Any one of

them could enter the post-season as the top seed.

The NFC East will be a battle between two stacked rosters in Philadelphia and Dallas. The Philly offense has added explosiveness with DeSean Jackson, and their defensive line is arguably the best unit in football.

The Cowboys have a young, athletic defence to go along with the triplets of Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliot and Amari Cooper.

Two elite teams sharing a division like this could leave one of them on the outside looking in at the post-season picture.

Elsewhere, the Bears, Packers and Vikings will compete in the best division in football in the NFC North. Chicago look to keep their crown, led by Khalil Mack and the defence. Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in football. Minnesota is well rounded, and their running attack already looks dangerous with Dalvin Cook going off for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

The Falcons suffered a 28-12 drubbing thanks to Cook and the Vikings, but they have every chance in the NFC South. The Saints were 2018’s #1 seed but Drew Brees’ age and a lack of depth all over the field raise concerns. Cam

It’s very much an open race. The Patriots will win the East with ease, but there’s a three-horse race between Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cleveland in the AFC North. The AFC South is anyone’s division after Andrew Luck’s shock retirement from the Indianapolis Colts.

Newton and Carolina have stumbled to an 0-2 start but have too much talent not to rebound.

Indeed, they were unlucky to lose their home opener against the Los Angeles Rams. That 30-27 finish showed that last year’s Super Bowl losers may not be hitting the same heights. In the West, the Seahawks could be in for a step back.

An injection of youth at receiver and secondary has the San Francisco 49ers on the ascent.

The AFC is a clear-cut battle between New England and Kansas City. Who represents the conference in the Super Bowl will come down to who can compile a better regular season record and have homefield advantage?

In the NFC, Philadelphia, Dallas and Los Angeles are in a tier of their own above the rest of the playoff hopefuls.

Recent history shows that homefield is the most important factor in determining who makes it to the big game. Both conferences will come down to seeding.

The beauty of football is that we have no idea what’s coming. We’re in for long touchdowns, huge hits and nail-biting finishes. Who captures a Super Bowl ring at the end of it all is impossible to predict.

Is this Ireland under-21 side the new golden generation?

By Darren Casserly The Irish under-21 side has never qualified for the Under-21 European Championship. They have participated in every qualifying campaign since 1992, 15 attempts 15 failures.

However, there is now a sense that this time could be our time. We have started the campaign with a 100%

record, with victories over Luxembourg, Armenia and Sweden. The victory over Sweden has shown that this outfit has class that hasn’t been seen from this age group ever before.

The talk around this new bunch of players has definitely been focused on the attacking options, such as Aaron Connolly and Troy Parrott. Since there has been a notable lack of attack-

ing options at senior level, since the retirement of Robbie Keane, this is not surprising. However, this team is not as top-heavy as it looks, this is a strong team with quality all over the park.

It is not only the results that show that this team is special, but also the way that the team is playing. They play a possession-based game that is alien to the traditionally defensive men-behind-

the-ball Irish playing style, that we are all too used to seeing from the senior side.

This squad’s change of fortune, as well as playing style, has coincided with the appointment of Stephen Kenny, who will be over this team for this campaign and then take the reigns of the senior team. This will undoubtedly give extra encouragement for players to impress now as a gateway to the senior squad.

Galway Ladies Football Team All-Ireland Finalists

The Galway Ladies Football team that lost out to Dublin in the All-Ireland Final. Well done to all involved in doing the county proud, especially alumni: Olivia Divilly, Lisa Murphy, Sinead Burke, Sarah Conneally, Mairead Seoighe, Róisín Ní Chonghaile and current student Kate Geraghty

However, some of the squad may not even have that long. Current senior manager Mick McCarthy has singled out Aaron Connolly and Midfielder Jayson Molumby for their performances against Armenia. Saying that, if there wasn’t any under-21 matches, he wouldn’t hesitate to bring them into the senior set up. The fact that these players have featured in the EFL Championship and even Premier League gives them more of a case to be involved in the next senior squad in October.

It wouldn’t be surprising if several players from this side were called up.

Even in the last extended squad, McCarthy included under-21 players like Troy Parrott, Nathan Collins and Michael Obafembi - so it seems it’s a matter of when and not if for some of this group.

This young team, however, is yet to face its biggest challenge, that being Italy in a months’ time, where we will see how we fare against the best Europe has to offer. The new Irish playing style will be put to the test here and we’ll discover whether it can compare to Brian Kerr’s Euro-winning under-18 side or if it’s just a false dawn. This is an undoubtedly talented side, made up nearly entirely of Irish born players, that want to play and fight for the jersey. However, only time will tell if this golden generation can make the step up that so many think they will - but, there is reason to be hopeful.

CO MÓ RTAS

September 24 2019

WIN 3 FREE PIZZAS ALL TO YOURSELF FROM SULT* Crossword Clues ACROSS 1 – Careful not to pull this muscle on your way to the oldest part of the campus (4) 3 – A place to park your car outside your house (8) 8 – Precisely (7) 9 – Synonym for happen (5) 10 – City that hosted the opening ceremony and game of this year’s Rugby World Cup (5) 11 – Weekly newspaper based in Tuam (6) 13 – Prominent Irish music festival of the 2000’s (6) 15 – A spot of temporary rain, known to last quite long in Galway (6) 18 – Which came first – the colour or the fruit? (6) 20 – The _____ of Terror was a brutal period of French history between 1793 and 1794 (5) 23 – Important tool for an archer (5) 24 – A herb with some debate over its pronunciation (7) 25 – “_____ That I Used to Know” - 2011 hit from Gotye (8) 26 – _____ in the Wall, ATM and popular Galway pub (4)

DOWN 1 – What to ask when you’re confused in lectures (8) 2 – Something shocking might have you taken ____ (5) 4 – A strong, regular repeated pattern of movement or sound (6) 5 – The Garden County (7) 6 – Oft-used slang to convey enthusiastic approval, originated in Limerick and propagated by the Rubberbandits (4) 7 – You could always do with shaving a _____ off of your golf game (6)

9 – What a rower uses to move themselves forward (3) 12 – Take the 404 from Newcastle and you’ll end up here (8) 14 – Standing too close to the speakers in nightclubs can lead to a ruptured _____ (7) 16 – “_____ shake” was a bizarre dance trend on social media in early 2013 (6) 17 – “To infinity and _____!” (6) 19 – Something old, something borrowed, something blue and something _____ (3) 21 – US state with Boise as its capital (5) 22 – Found in the sea and in three-piece bands (4)

ISSUE 1 SOLUTIONS

Congratulations to our winners from Issue 1, RACHEL BURKE and ANNA HALL

P A N T H E R C L A S S

I G E O N C Y A P A R S T I E O M R I S E A R P A Y O Y A L S C A M O N T I N E N K R N L E X A L A E T O I S T E R C

O R R I B O O L M E T O O P U W H O N E S D O B A L T P H T E M U I X N M P A R D A M E L O S E R

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All you have to do is complete the crossword, then take a photo of the completed crossword page.

Send your photo in an email to editor.sin@gmail. com, with the subject “Crossword Competition Entry”, before Saturday the 28th of September at 5pm.

Winner to be selected at random and will be announced from our Facebook page, Student Independent News, NUI Galway, on Monday September 30th.

Please keep an eye on the page in case this is your lucky week!

*The pizzas are redeemable at Sult up until, and including, Monday September 30th.

HOT DINNERS At Our Carvery

From Only €6 BURGERS DRESSED FRIES PIZZA SPICE BAGS

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