SIN Vol. 24 Issue 06

Seoladh an Fhoclóir Aitigh

Le Barry Ó Siochrú agus Gearóid Ó Droighneáin

Sheol Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe an Foclóir Aiteach mar chuid don tSeach tain Ghaelach agus Traenáil Bhándearg ar Aoine 18 Sam hain sa tSeomra Corribe in Sult. Cnuasach focail atá anseo atá bailithe le chéile ag Tadhg Mac Eoin agus athsheoladh a bhí ann don bhFoclóir Aiteach a sheoladh I 2017.

Ba í Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha a chuir an chéad eagrán le chéile agus í mar Oifigeach na Gaeilge in Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn. Roimhe sin bhí Laoigh seach mar Oifigeach na Gaeilge anseo in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Dúirt Laoighseach “Tá mé an sásta go bhfuil bonn acadúil curtha leis an leagan nua den Fhoclóir, a chruthaigh Tadhg Mac Eoghain le blianta beaga anuas mar chuid dá thráchtas MA. Chonaic Tadhg go raibh feabhsú le déanamh ar

na téarmaí agus chuir sé roimhe leagan úrnua – níos fearr – den Fhoclóir a chruthú,”.

Labhair Finn Ó Muiris ar an oíche faoin tábhacht a bhaineann le Foclóirí den sórt seo chun féiniúlacht an duine a chuir in iúl. Bhí Finn mar cheann de bhunaitheoirí Anseo agus Aiteach, grúpa de dhaoine Aiteacha a thagann le chéile trí Ghaeilge go rialta.

Tadhg Mac Eoin a chuir an eagrán seo le chéile. Scríobh Tadhg a thráchtas ar an ábhar agus chuaigh sé I dteagmháil le Laoighseach chun cead a fháil leanúint ar aghaidh leis an obair. Tá Tadhg tar éis tamall a chaitheamh ar an bhFoclóir ar chuir le chéile. Dúirt sé “Tion scadal iontach tábhachtach a bhí ann agus thug sé comhartha láidir go bhfuil Gaeilgeoirí aiteacha ann agus gur féidir an Ghaeilge a aitiú. Tá saol aiteach na Gaeilge ag dul ó neart go neart ó shin, agus tá sé níos tábhachtaí ná riamh téarmaí dár gcuid féin a bheith againn,”

Ba é Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éireann a chuir an Foclóir ar fáil ach bhí BeLongTO, TENI agus

Bosca Foclora

Seoladh – Launched

An Foclóir Aiteach – The Queer Dictionary

Eagrán – Edition

Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn

– Union of Students in Ireland

Comhaltas na Mac Léinn – Students’ Union Seachtain Ghaelach – Irish Culture Week

Traenáil Bhándearg – Pink Training

Foclóir – Dictionary

Tráchtas – Thesis

Meán Shóisialta – Social Media

téarma.ie bainteach chomh maith.

Tá meáin shóisialta bunaithe ag an bhFoclóir Aiteach (@anfocloiraiteach) agus beidh siad ag tabhairt uasdátaithe ansin faoin gcur chun cinn atá á dhéanamh ag an bhFoclóir, mar sin bígí cinnte faire amach ansin don obair iontach atá ar bun.

Dúirt Tadhg “Ach ní hé an t ea grán seo bun agus barr an scéil. Tá súil agam go leanfaidh An Foclóir Aiteach ar aghaidh ag fás agus ag athrú de réir mar a athraíonn an pobal LADTA+, ionas go mbeidh gach duine in ann iad féin a aithint sa Ghaeilge agus páirt a ghlacadh i saol na teanga ar bhealach atá dílis dóibh féin!”

Ó chlé: Barry Ó Siochrú (Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge le Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe), Tadhg Mac Eoghain (Scríbhneoir an Fhoclóra), Beth O' Reilly (Uachtarán, Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn), Finn Ó Muirris (Anseo agus Aiteach)

By Valerie McHugh Editor

Dearest readers, it is great to be back with you all for yet another fantastic issue! Welcome to issue 6, the final edition of 2022. When we started the academic year, we were still relishing being able to have meetings in person again, and since then, we have loved putting SIN together as a team. Thank you for reading.

Welcome to a few new contributors that have made their SIN debut; we are delighted to have you on the team. Congrat ulations also to all of our SIN regulars who have done trojan work on their pieces, and to SIN’s Deputy Darragh Nolan for helping to put the final touches on this issue.

As you can see, our front page is fully as gaeilge this week! As far as I know, this is the first time this has been done in SIN in recent memory, and we are delighted to showcase our beautiful language at the forefront of this edition. Well done to Gearóid and Barry for their wonderful work!

In our usual housekeeping, if you would like to get involved with SIN, make sure to email editor.sin@gmail.com for more information. You can find us over on Instagram and Twitter too, where you can follow everything we get up to too. We’d love to hear from you, so do get in touch!

For now, here is issue 6. we hope you enjoy all of the pieces! Happy holidays SINners, see you in the new year.

New virtual vegan restaurant opens for delivery in Galway city

By Valerie McHugh

A brand new restaurant serving plant based and vegan food opened in Gal way city last week.

The online restaurant, Vegan Club, offers a selection of rice and bao bowls and vegan coctails and beers.

It’s a part of the Bargin Food Group, who have already launched two Gal way virtual restaurants since June 2022.

Speaking on the Vegan Club, Bangin Food Group manager Evan O’Ceallaigh said: “We’re excited to introduce a fully Plant based concept to our group. The driving force behind Bangin Food Group is to bring inno vate new food concepts to the market so this is a step in a new growing space for us.

“The vegan market is still very small in Ireland at around 2%, however the real goal for Vegan Club is to bring an exciting and delicious offering to the market that everyone can enjoy.”

Vegan Club is exclusively available on the delivery platform Deliveroo, becoming available on other order ing platforms in Galway city in the new year.

Food will also become available for collection from the restaurant, which is located in St. Augustine Street in 2023.

Pink Training celebrates their 30th anniversary

It was organised in conjunction with the Union of Students in Ireland and the college community.

By Gemma Collins News Co-editor

Pink Training, the LGBTQ+ conference, celebrated its 30th year at the University of Galway last week.

The event began in 1992, and is Europe’s largest LGBT+ Conference, seeing over 300 student delegates attend the weekend training.

It provides educational talks, work shops and plenary sessions to discuss all things LGBTQ+, and aims to pro mote activism and campaigning for the community.

President of the University of Galway Students’ Union President Sai Gujulla said: “Pink Training is about all things LGBT+, as well as activism, mental health, campaign ing, leadership, and the diversity of our community. We were so excited to host Pink Training for the USI again this year in Galway. The weekend promotes inclusivity and is also a huge amount of fun.”

To find more about this year’s event, check out our front page which has a rundown of the relaunch of An Foclóir Aiteach (The Queer Dictionary as gaeilge.)

For information on the training, visit https://pinktraining.usi.ie

Left to Right: Joe Mee, Sai Gujulla and Imogen O’Flaherty Falconer

Sexual Health West World AIDS Day Concert – St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway

Thursday 1 December 2022 at 8:00pm

Significant rise in new diagnoses of HIV in Ireland ahead of World AIDS Day 2022

Sexual Health West (formerly AIDS West) will celebrate the annual World AIDS Day Concert once again on Thursday 1 Decem ber from 8:00pm at St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church in Galway. We are delighted that our great friends Cois Cladaigh and Bel Canto will once again be performing. The concert is open to all and admission is free.

“We are delighted to be able to host the annual World AIDS Day Concert once again in the beautiful surroundings of St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church in Galway, and we look forward to welcoming back those who have attended over the years, as well as those who would like to come along for the first time – all are welcome to this wonderful concert and entry is free to all.” says Joe McDonagh, CEO of Sexual Health West.

Unfortunately, there are alarming figures from the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) which demonstrate that new diagnoses of HIV in Ireland are set to reach a record high for 2022. Figures for week ending 18th November indicate that there has been a staggering 140% increase in new diagnoses of HIV compared to figures for 2021 - these figures are of great concern to Sexual Health West. Provisional data from the HPSC indicates that there have been 755 new diagnoses of HIV – the corresponding figure at the same time last year was 314 new diagnoses. We are however very aware that there would have been less HIV testing due to Covid-19, and therefore under reporting across 2021.

There has also been an increase in the number of new diagno sis of sexually transmitted infections so far in 2022 including a rise in Chlamydia (+52%), Gonorrhoea (+90%), Herpes (+24%) and Syphilis (+26%) , therefore it is essential that we continue to implement, support and promote comprehensive education and prevention measures, including the sexual health education programmes that the Sexual Health West WISER team (West of Ireland Sex Education Resource) team have developed – see www.bewiser.ie for more info.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) theme for World AIDS Day 2022 is “Equalize”. The WHO is calling on global leaders and citizens to recognize and address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS and HIV; and to equalize access to essential HIV services for all key populations.

We have been very busy since the last concert – after 33 years as being known as AIDS West, we officially changed our name to Sexual Health West in 2020. We continued to support those living with HIV across the west of Ireland throughout COVID-19, adapting the way we worked to ensure we were accessible and able to give support to all as required. Our WISER team are busy delivering relationships & sexuality programmes in schools, colleges, third level and in communities ensuring that all have access to education and information regarding their sexual health. We continue to offer Rapid HIV Testing in community settings across the region, and we are now a part of the HSE

National Condom Distribution Scheme and have developed a free condoms and lubricant mailing service.

Another significant development has been the publication of our new book entitled ‘Sex Educated’. Joe McDonagh outlined that “the book idea came from answering thousands of ques tions over the years of teaching RSE in classrooms, giving our WISER (West of Ireland Sexuality Education Resource) team a unique and invaluable insight into the minds of young people; their worries, their curiosities, and fears and what information they are unearthing on the internet. This book meets the needs of young people in Ireland right now, and tells them what they want and need to know with evidence-based, factual, age-ap propriate information.” Sex Educated is available on our website at https://sexualhealthwest.ie/

World AIDS Day became the first-ever global health day 34 years ago on 1 December 1988. It has developed over the years and is now an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.

If you would like to find out more about any of our ser vices, the concert, our book Sex Educated, or speak to someone at Sexual Health West please call 091 566266 or e: info@sexualhealthwest.ie for more information.

Women’s Aid website launched to give support to victims of relationship abuse

ex partner, but one in five young people in Ireland have never heard of the term before.

By Rachel Foster News Co-editor

Women’s Aid is launching a new website to create awareness around relationship abuse and provide support to those who may be suffering from it.

The ‘Too Into You’ website runs alongside their #toointoyou campaign, which aims to teach young people in particular about red flags in relationships.

Mary Hayes, who leads the Too Into You project at Women’s Aid, says she is passionate about the need to educate all young people in Ireland about abuse and highlights the purpose of the new website. She said “At our dedicated website toointoyou.ie young people can learn the red flags of abuse, take our healthy relationship quiz, and learn how to help a friend they are worried about.”

“If it’s your first relationship it can be difficult to know what acceptable behaviour, especially if you have nothing to compare it to. If young people don’t know how to spot the early warning red flags of abuse, they are at risk of finding themselves drawn into, and being trapped in abusive, coercive and controlling relationships.

“We also know that many young women suffer in silence and don’t tell anyone about the abuse they are subjected to.”

It is estimated that one in women in Ireland aged 18 25 have been subjected to coercive control by a current partner or

Workshop Tackles Harmful Behaviour in the Arts Sector

By Seán Lyons

A workshop aimed at combatting rampant levels of bullying and intimidation in the arts sector took place in Galway this month.

“Safe to Create” was established following the 2021 “Speak Up: ACTiON” survey conducted by the Irish Theatre Institute (ITI) which invited workers across the arts sector to “provide informa tion on workplace experiences of bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, humiliation, victimisation, assault and sexual assault”.

Of the 1,300 workers surveyed, 70% said they had experienced harmful behaviour and 53% said they had witnessed it. Of those respondents, 37% said the behaviour was occasional and another 37% said it was repeated.

The alleged perpetrators were 67% male as identified by respondents.

Speaking after the workshop, Niamh O’Donnell, the director of ITI, said that “the power dynamic is problematic” between employees and employers in the sector and highlighted the vulnerability of individual artists who experience harmful behaviour from their superiors.

“It’s really difficult to raise concerns because of the fact you may not ever be rehired or you might not get another job. That’s the big fear”, she said.

A professional freelance ballet dancer in attendance said that issues she has had in the past have rarely been resolved because “the person you would need to bring it to is the person you would have the issue with”.

In her experience, this often results in the individual feeling “very, very isolated in the workplace” and occasionally leaving the job. She

Women’s Aid defines coercive control as, “when your partner assaults, threats, humiliates and intimidates you to frighten, harm, or punish you. It traps you in your relationship and makes it impossible or dangerous to break up with them.”

Coercive control has been a crime in Ireland since January 2019, yet 23% of young people do not believe that it is a criminal offence.

Sarah Benson, the CEO of Women’s Aid has said that “Coercive control can feel like invisible chains and a fear that creeps into all elements of your life. It deprives you of your freedom and independence and reduces your ability to move freely in your life and make decisions for yourself.”

Women’s Aid hopes their new campaign and website will reduce stigma and victim blaming culture around abuse, which 64% of young people have named as a reason for victims not seeking support.

Over half of young people also believe that a lack of knowl edge about the supports available also creates a barrier to those seeking support, and it is hoped that the #toointoyou campaign will combat this.

Should anyone need support or information, there is a confiden tial instant messaging support service available on the new website (toointoyou.ie) where the Women’s Aid Helpline Team can provide this. Women’s Aid also has a 24hr National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900.

said that when she has experienced harmful behaviour in the past in jobs, she has “felt the want to leave in a few places and left in one”.

The workshop was part of the “Safe to Create” programme which is run by the Irish Theatre Institute and funded by the Arts Council through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

The workshop took place in the Harbour Hotel and was facil itated by marketing and communication consultant Jane Daly with contributions from O’Donnell and ITI co director Jane Daly.

Workshops also took place throughout the week in Dublin, Cork and Sligo.

Commenting on the difficulties in “getting the right people in the room”, O’Donnell said that “obviously the people who sign up first aren’t the problem but they are the people who can actually make change”.

O’Donnell emphasised that “Safe to Create” is not solely focused on targeting the most harmful behaviour but is also dedicated to making arts working environments generally more compassionate and respectful.

“Not everybody’s a predator”, she said. “We’re not just talking about the worst of the worst. We’re talking about sometimes very simple and easy changes being made to how we approach our work. Just making it better”.

Christmas Day far from Galway

By Tom O’Connor

I did not have high expectations for this this year’s Christmas Day. I was in Toulouse, which is over 1,000 kilometres from Galway. It turned out to be very special.

Redmond O’Hanlon (“Red”) was one of the Erasmus students who organised a special Christmas Day for us in Toulouse.

“The festive spirit, the comradeship, the boozing and of course the token Christmas dinner,” Red replied when asked why he arranged it, “what is there not to love?”

“It’s a great opportunity to celebrate Irish culture,” Molly Don nelly said, “and to celebrate Christmas”.

“Explaining it to our British and Northern Irish counterparts was a strange one,” Red declared, “I still don’t think they exactly understand what was going on”.

The day was enjoyed by all, even though some may not have understood the concept.

“With every person who showed up came an extra added bit of excitement,” Red said. “Spirits were high, laughs were loud,” he continued, “and not a single Toulousain knew what was going on.”

The event was sort of a small secret for those from Ireland and the UK. It was also nice to not have to compete with the whole of Galway to buy the best Penney’s Christmas jumpers.

A turkey was the one thing that was missed. Madi Hayes and Emily Crowe, however, saved the day with rotisserie chickens.

“I think having the Christmas dinner with the six people that I came over here with was really fun,” Molly said.

Unfortunately, the dinner had to be prepared, devoured and cleaned within 90 minutes between mandatory classes. “Short and sweet would be how I would describe it,” Róisín McGrath said.

It was a unique Christmas Day in Róisín’s opinion because it was “very much a student celebration rather than just an Irish thing.” Erasmus students from all over the UK and Ireland got involved.

Alexander Gavin (“Gav”) studies at the University of Sheffield. He has Irish roots but had never heard of College Christmas. Gav was delighted to experience his first one in Toulouse.

“It has been a lot of fun,” he said, after agreeing to be inter viewed at midnight. However, he remarked that it was “a bit odd having celebrated Christmas Day on the 17 November.”

Gav is committed to bringing the College Christmas concept to Sheffield, Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham where he believes people “will embrace it wholeheartedly”.

“It’s so fun,” he declared enthusiastically. “It’s obviously not good for our health,” he said, “but it’s good for our soul.”

Gav thoroughly enjoyed the prize giving organised by Red. “I should have won the ‘Worst at French’ award,” he noted though, “because I can’t actually speak French.”

The Rachel Diaries

By Rachel Garvey Features Editor

The last few weeks have been an absolute whirlwind, more chaos than peace. A move to the countryside just before Halloween as renting in the city was proving to be a strain on the bank accounts, but the move also had to result in a change of occupation.

My boyfriend and I managed to secure a job in a new super market opening up out in our new countryside town, but our luck was short lived as our timetable showed us working six days in a row with a 2pm – 11pm shift with only one day off in between before plunging us back into another six days in a row.

As someone who deals with anxiety and depression, it’s dif ficult. Keeping a balance between work life and having a life outside of work is important to me, but now the work side of things on the scale is heavier than the personal life side.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a working professional or a student, but people need to be able to live their lives, they need to be able to have a life because we only have one and that can’t be wasted working for long hours every day. Also, what do you do when you bring up this personal problem only to be completely dismissed. I’ve often had jobs where I’ve been dismissed and treated badly; it’s something I’ve been trying to escape from, but there’s the difficulty of acquiring a new job in the area when there’s so little being posted.

We were hoping for some good news as we texted our landlord, asking politely if pets were allowed. We have been wanting to welcome a dog or a cat into the family for some time, but our requests were always denied. It brought a real downer on our lives.

However, efforts have been made to establish some form of positivity in our lives until we get things back on track; efforts like visiting the Christmas Market in Eyre Square with my two younger siblings and squeezing in time to buy affordable Christmas presents.

There’s a certain feeling of humour and embarrassment while waiting at the bus stop with your 17 year old sister and 13 year old brother as they’re killing one another by smacking and kicking each other; they love each other, really.

We treated our taste buds at the market with Nutella crepes and fudge while taking in the lights and the Ferris Wheel. It was news to me that my brother is truly terrified of the Ferris Wheel as when we hit the top of the structure, the ride came to a halt and we would have taken in the beautiful scenes below us, but it’s hard to do that when the wind is blowing a storm and your brother is screaming for the ride to move lower.

There’s also the excitement of preparing our home for the Christ mas décor to go up soon. We are aiming to have it up towards the end of November. If there’s one thing I love, it’s putting up the Christmas tree and decorations while Christmas music plays in the background.

Perhaps, my boyfriend and I will visit my parents, who live just down the road, and help them put up their Christmas décor too. My mum is a huge Christmas fan, her range of décor is greater than any amount of Christmas stock in a shop. In times of severe change, it’s important to focus on the positives that are still in your life, it’s easier said than done, but the positives are what get us through.

Photo by Lisa Hamilton

The hidden jewels of the west

By Rachel Garvey

Galway is known for its culture, its history, its hidden treasures. The rich history of the Claddagh combined with the various hotspots that leak cultural representation are overwhelming to the many tourists as well as the locals, but this overwhelming variety is a good thing.

Galway itself is a jewel; a beautiful rich with history city with carpets of green fields that lead to Connemara. However, there are hidden treasures within the city that behold the most beautiful crystals and Tarot decks. Studying Demonology, Occult, Witchcraft and crystals, stumbling upon shops like these is a treat.

Here are some of Galway’s hidden gems that you must visit when you have some free time from lectures and studying.

Amber –Holistic products & gifts

Standing cosily in the Mary Street district, just off Francis Street, this little orange gem is a pride to visit when work or study becomes too much. Our mental health needs looking after; your anxiety disappears as soon as you walk in the door and are embraced with the smell of incense and the light sound of ‘ding ding’ or ‘clonk clonk’ of their windchimes which hang overhead in the store and

outside the store, the sounds beckon you to come inside.

The store is filled with incense bot tles and sticks, hand made bags, a wide selection of crystals, mini and large dream catchers and beautiful pentagram goods that’ll make a white witch happy. The staff greet you when you step inside the door and are always willing to help you; it’s safe to say that you’ll feel at home there.

Rocky Road Minerals

A new crystal shop that opened up in Galway’s Eyre Square Shopping Centre just a few months ago and people have fallen in love with it. A bright interior with spacious sections for each of the variety of products they have; a table for tumbled and tower crystals, a table full of Tarot decks and decorative bags and candles and sections where they have a named crystal, Rhodonite for example, and have various little statues that have been carved out of the crystal.

Their opening was one of success and as a thank you to their support ers, the Rocky Road gang put together boxes of crystals and held a giveaway on their Instagram that lasted for hours. The Eyre Square Centre now holds two crystal stores; both of which are greatly appreciated by the public and lovers of crystals.

Healing Earth – Holistic Gifts

A store that has been standing tall since I was a child, sitting snugly in the Eyre Square Centre’s ground level, now situ ated across from JD Sports. The shop is small, but cosy and they have a beautiful range of products from crystals to oracle cards to books, dream catchers and salt lamps. They also offer therapies, courses, counselling and help in personal life events. A lot of consumers have this idea that retail therapy involves clothes and manicures, but crystals and oracle decks is the perfect kind of retail therapy. The store must be on everyone’s list of places to visit; you’ll leave feeling wholesome and full again.

The crystal market for Galway city is a tad bit sparse; only three major stores dotted around the city centre while the rest of crystal goods can be accessed online that are not in Ireland. However, we are lucky that Galway has these three gems and it is our duty to support these small and big businesses in order to keep them alive and thriving in a fast paced city setting. Taking a visit into one of these outlets will be a wholesome visit and for those who don’t know much about crystals or tarot or anything related to holistic products, you’d be surprised how quickly an interest can be sparked.

Photo by Alina Vilchenko on Pexels

Galway and Climate Change: Converting waste to bioenergy

By Tom O’Connor

Are you passionate about climate change? This article will inter est you. Although the words ‘converting waste’ and ‘bioenergy’ may seem rather complex, this local project aims to conserve the earth’s resources, which is a concept we are already familiar with.

Piet Lens is an established Professor of New Energy Tech nologies and he and his team are currently working on a Galway based project using microbes to discover new ways to convert organic and inorganic waste into bioenergy.

Professor Lens regarded the project as an “opportunity to work on a topic that is now very topical”. In a world of so much waste, he wanted “to see to what extent the planet can be conserved”.

Research has traditionally focussed on organic waste such as vegetables. Inorganic waste, including metal based products and some electronics, has been more neglected.

However, Professor Lens’ group works with both despite the increased complexity.

‘Green Mining’ is an example of the work being done as part of the project. One of the environmental issues associated with mines are “toxic metals” from rocks, according to Professor Lens.

These metals, such as zinc and copper, affect water systems around mines. The “toxic metals” are now caught through biore fining and bioprocess engineering as part of the project.

Separately, the team noticed a significant amount of seaweed on Irish coastlines. The observation prompted Professor Lens and his peers to ask “can we convert [the seaweed] into something useful; something that can create a benefit?”

Through organic biorefinery, the team has been able to extract sugars from seaweed that are used in coffee and for some med ical purposes.

The work does not stop there. Professor Lens’ initiative aims to maximise the utility of waste.

Seaweed is also processed via anaerobic digestion to create the sustainable fuel biomethane, which can otherwise be quite expensive to produce.

Additionally, the project is looking at combining seaweed with green mining by using inorganic refinery to extract metals within.

“Very often in the past, these processes were too expensive to apply,” Professor Lens noted.

He furthered that the rise in gas prices and oil prices coupled with inflation have been “a huge driver for many processes that are more environmentally friendly”.

“[S]ince the war in Ukraine,” Professor Lens emphasised, “processes that were not viable at that time, they are now commercially viable.”

Although the conditions are ripe for the project, the team still encounters difficulties. Compartmentalising “is one of the greatest challenges to overcome,” according to Professor Lens.

It is also difficult for new biobased processes to compete with established petrochemical based models that have been optimised for over 100 years.

Professor Lens is cautious about completely departing from those existing processes though. “We want to get rid of the petro leum dependency,” he declared, “but we are putting ourselves in a metal dependency”.

Completely switching to electric cars, for instance, could simply shift our dependence from fossil fuels to batteries.

“It’s very important to make the people aware about this,” Professor Lens noted, “there is not a simple solution for the energy question.”

In any event, Professor Lens believes in trying to recycle met als rather than having to constantly extract them from the earth.

Sustainability is at the core of his project, which strives to value waste by incorporating it into a circular model.

You can learn more about the project discussed in this article by listening to Tom O’Connor’s interview with Professor Piet Lens here

PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR VOLUNTEERING

“ Professor Lens’ initiative aims to maximise the utility of waste. Seaweed is processed via anaerobic digestion to create the sustainable fuel biomethane, which can otherwise be quite expensive to produce.

Photo by Junior Louis Jean on Unsplash

American democracy breathes a mid-term sigh of relief

By Darragh Nolan

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” Dr Martin Luther King Jr famously said.

Suffice it to say that a threat to one democracy is a threat to all democracy, as well.

This is why an increasing global popular interest in American politics is to be applauded rather than dismissed. Our growing obsession with CNN, John King and his magic wall, though in good fun, has a practical justification.

Many were worried about the trend towards Trumpism. The trend away from truth. A brewing recipe for the fall of a once great, 245 year old democracy.

Mid term election results in the United States allow American democracy, and the world at large, a brief moment of respite.

Aside from the scores of gubernatorial races and the entire House of Representatives going up for grabs along with half the seats in the Senate, the various Secretary of State races in swing states across the U.S. have garnered less attention but may prove the most pivotal in the 2024 presidential contest and beyond.

Each Secretary of State has significant power and influence as an election official and the fear was that election denying MAGA candidates could overturn the 2024 race in Donald Trump’s favour, even if his opponent won the vote legitimately.

But every Secretary of State race in a swing state featuring a election denying, Trump endorsed Republican candidate

was won by the Democratic opponent. These were victories for truth. Victories for democracy. Victories for hope.

The Democrats held in Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan and gained in Nevada, all narrowly won states for Joe Biden in 2020 that could have come under threat had GOP candidates prevailed.

These races above all represent not an endorsement of the Democratic Party; indeed, President Biden currently lays claim to the lowest approval rating in American history. This was a rejection of Trump’s attempts to erode freedoms.

In more practical political terms, the Republicans taking the House back means they can delay legislation and block much of Biden’s agenda for the next two years. That the majority is slim and no red wave arrived means hardline MAGA represent atives like Georgia’s controversial Marjorie Taylor Greene hold an inflated amount of power.

The far right of the GOP could leverage threats of not holding the party line on votes to push the party further back towards Trump and his agenda.

As for the upper chamber, holding the Senate majority means the Democrats can continue appointing their own judges and officials at a pace no administration has managed before.

No red wave ever came. This was the best by the numbers mid term performance for the party in control of the White House in 20 years.

And yet still Donald Trump lingers. His 2024 run at taking back the Oval Office has begun. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has thrust himself upon the international stage and may prove a worthy challenger for the Republican nomination.

For now though, democracy breathes perhaps its first sigh of relief in far too long.

Image by Gerd Altmann on Pixabay

Qatar World Cup: Why has the loss of alcohol

overshadowed the loss of life?

By Anne-Marie Brennan Opinion Co-editor

In 2010 Qatar was chosen as the host for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Since then, con troversy has been an unrelenting constant for both FIFA and Qatar. The most recent

imagined, so to an extent I understand. Yet, how have we allowed this decision to overshadow a much greater loss?

In 2021, The Guardian published a report that revealed that since the beginning of construction for the Qatar World Cup, over 6,500 migrant workers have died.

It was also found that the families of these workers, many of whom were the primary breadwinners, did not receive any compensation.

As recent as Saturday night, there were reports that security guards working at the World Cup events are being paid as little as 40 cent and are given only one day off a month, according to The Guardian.

Effectively the World Cup is operating under a system of modern slavery and the outrage around it is nowhere near sufficient.

Some might say the emphasis on the beer ban in the media is the way of the news cycle. But this isn’t some political rivalry or celebrity scandal. Modern slavery isn’t just a new story for clicks. These people are suffering, and we don’t seem to have the

fact Qatar was chosen in the first place has drawn great speculation, but what has stopped them from reversing their decision?

A few months ago, Russia was stripped of the Champions League final and For mula One dropped the Sochi Grand Prix. There’s no reason that outweighs the loss of 6,500 lives which would prevent FIFA from taking the World Cup from Qatar.

But let me be devil’s advocate for a minute, the World Cup is a massive event. I’m not naïve to the logistics and plan ning involved. So, you could argue that it wouldn’t have been realistic for FIFA to find a new host on such short notice.

Even if FIFA can’t strip Qatar of the World Cup, how were working conditions so poor that so many people suffered? If the host country can’t guarantee the safety of the workers who are building stadiums, then FIFA need to take on that responsibility.

We can’t allow ourselves, FIFA, Qatar, or the media to forget about this neglect for human life. A ban on alcohol, no matter how shocking, doesn’t deserve more airtime

“ Some might say the emphasis on the beer-ban in the media is the way of the news cycle. But this isn’t some political rivalry or celebrity scandal. Modern slavery isn’t just a new story for clicks.

Main Image: Lusail Stadium, Qatar. Photo by Visit Qatar on Unsplash. Overlay: feet on Qatari sand, Jose Aragones on Pexels.

Spineless FAs show protest in sport is not what it was

By Darragh Nolan

Protest is meaningless without risk. Without sacrifice. Without standing up for what you believe in spite of whatever consequences might come your way.

Iran’s national team showed England exactly what that means ahead of their opening World Cup game in Qatar.

By refusing to sing their national anthem, they drew the ire of an entire state and risked harm, imprisonment or worse.

They did so in steadfast support of the Mahsa Amini protests taking place across Iran regardless of how their country’s lead ers might feel about it.

On the other side, England’s Football Association had decided, alongside six other European nations, that their captain Harry Kane would not be wearing the One Love armband featuring rainbow colours in support of the LGBT+ community.

FIFA threatened to issue instant yellow cards to captains donning that armband

when the organisation you’re protesting doesn’t like it. They strong arm you.

Looking back the great activists of sporting history faced worse than a yellow card and yet, they persisted.

Muhammad Ali was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War in 1966, refused to serve and was stripped of the heavyweight championship of the world. He spent more than three years away from the ring.

Colin Kaepernick effectively sacrificed the last few years of his NFL career by taking the knee in protest against racial injustice and police brutality. Ironic that the gesture he popularised was used by an England team that had just bowed to the whims of FIFA before the Iran match.

So much of the recent debate has emphasised sympathy for the players. They were thrown into the fire of a contro versial World Cup by FIFA. We can’t blame them for Qatar’s human rights record. It’s not their fault. They’re just doing their job.

All of that may be true, but do individu als not have a responsibility to take a stand

commitment to this cause was strong enough, would he not have found a way to wear the armband, take the yellow card on the chin and make a powerful statement that he won’t just stand by and accept Qatar’s abhorrent laws?

Look no further than the Germany squad. No armband, no problem as they donned rainbows on their warm up gear and boots ahead of their clash with Japan. So small a gesture the players made by covering their mouths for their team photo but the spotlight it drew was enormous.

Be it the football associations, the other players or the captains themselves, so many other people had a chance to make a similarly powerful statement. Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk said he doesn’t like playing on a yellow card.

Imagine the criticism FIFA would draw if one of the biggest stars in world football was booked at kick off for standing up against homophobia, made a rash tackle early on in the game and got himself sent off.

Main Image: Lusail Stadium, Qatar. Photo by Visit Qatar on Unsplash. Overlay: painting, Steve Johnson on Pexels.

Taylor Swift’s Midnights Review

6/10 Swift proves change is not always an improvement on her 10th album

By Scott Stephens

“A concept record” is how Swift refers to her newest original album. It is a collec tion of 13 sleepless nights throughout Swift’s life. With this, Midnights lightly hops across different sounds, but is all held together by an overarching moody, stylish feel. With Jack Antonoff once

Following this track is ‘Snow On The Beach’ with acclaimed singer songwriter Lana Del Rey. While this song is a beauti fully crafted story of two people falling in love, it is not executed as well as it could have been. The song suffers from what Swift normally does when she collaborates with other artists, and that is not giving them enough room to perform. Lana Del Rey is relegated to background harmonies, which do work well, but it is unfortunate given the potential this collaboration had.

FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?. But this track is simply trying too hard to be edgy and echoes the embarrassing Reputation These songs are also not helped by the fact that Swift’s lyricism is seriously lacking. “Karma is my boyfriend/Karma is a god” is a far cry from some of the poetic lyrics heard on Folklore and Evermore

again at the production helm, Swift’s style changes to something she has never done before. The dark drones, synths, and heavy editing on vocals are an interesting depar ture for the songwriter, but many parts of the album leave much to be desired.

The first two tracks of Midnights, ‘Laven der Haze and ‘Maroon,’ while a deviation from Swift’s usual work, are bland both lyrically and musically. In the song ‘Anti Hero,’ the songwriter reveals some of her deepest insecurities. After all, she did say this was her “most biographical” album yet. It is also as close to a typical pop tune we get on the album.

Midnights is at its best when it is the most personal. ‘You’re On Your Own, Kid’ is the most lyrically developed track on the album, with Swift making the reassuring transi tion of at first being afraid, but then being confident in independence; “You’re on your own, kid/Yeah, you can face this”. The song leaves traces of classic Swiftian themes; unrequited love, a small town home, per sonal insecurities. It even refers to some songs from elsewhere in her discography, with ‘Exile’ and ‘Getaway Car’ hinted to; “The jokes weren’t funny, I took the money”.

This new sound, undoubtedly influ enced largely by producer Jack Antonoff, comes through best on the song ‘Labyrinth,’ which concludes with Swift’s voice deeply altered accompanied by rising synth sounds, reminiscent of a Bon Iver song. The production, however, gets unpleasant to the ear on tracks like ‘Karma’ and ‘Bejew elled.’ A much darker mood is displayed on ‘Vigilante Sh*t,’ which sounds like a track straight from Billie Eillish’s WHEN WE ALL

Towards the end of the album is the song ‘Sweet Nothing,’ a charming love ballad which was co written with her partner, Joe Alwyn. Strangely, some of the best tracks are left to the deluxe, or ‘3am Edition.’ In the song ‘Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve’ Swift details a past toxic relationship that befell her at a very young age. She delivers one of her most intense vocal performances of her career with lyrics that would make your stomach churn; “Living for the thrill of hitting you where it hurts/Give me back my girlhood, it was mine first”. The songs “The Great War” and “Bigger Than The Whole Sky” also portray more sincere emotions then heard on the original album.

Midnights has traces of Swift doing what she does best, sincere and intimate song writing, but is let down in many parts by poor lyricism and jarring production. The album promised a genuine and mature documenting of 13 sleepless nights, but it fell short on the execution. This is cer tainly not her worst work, but it may just be the songwriter’s most inconsistent. However, knowing Taylor Swift and how many times she has changed her genre, this sound is unlikely to be here to stay.

“

Midnights has traces of Swift doing what she does best, sincere and intimate song writing, but is let down in many parts by poor lyricism and jarring production.

Artwork via Universal Music

Flirt FM Galway Events Guide

Courtesy of the team at Flirt FM

For inclusion, email info@flirtfm.ie. Times correct at publishing, check before you head out.

Repeating Events

Silent Disco

Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 8PM

@ Róisín Dubh

Silent Disco every Tuesday and Wednes

John Conneely Inc.

Every Sunday at 11PM @ Róisín Dubh

John Conneely Inc. shuffle through musical genres with ease and with a setlist that spans

day at the Róisín Dubh with Ted & gugai playing music you love, music you love to hate and all your guilty pleasures.

She’s Electric Monthly Wednesdays at The Ol ’55

DJ Doolittle’s Indie Disco

Tigh

He-He : A pop-up comedy club

Every Thursday at 8pm @ Róisín Dubh

A pop up comedy club, featuring the very best of Irish stand up comedy Blush Thursdays at @ Róisín Dubh

Blush is a multi genre clubnight focused on platforming women, lgbtq+ and non binary Irish artists and Djs

decades you will hear them performing big band arrangements of Django Reinhardt, Nina Simone and Cab Calloway alongside fresh interpretations of more contemporary songs from the 80’s and 90’s. Featuring some of Galway’s finest musicians the multi cultural lineup includes Keyboards, Saxophone, Dobro, Flutes along with many guest musicians.

Open Mic Night

Every Sunday at 9PM @ Róisín Dubh Open Mic Night at Róisín Dubh

Christmas Market Beer Tent VIP Ticket Daily 5PM and 8PM @ Christmas Market Beer Tent

This ticket guarantees you entry and a seat for Over 18s only.

Thursday 1st December

Absent Galway

8PM @ Cellar Bar

Introducing Galway’s new alternative night out. Live music & DJ’s playing rock, pop punk, metal and emo

Saturday 3rd December

Get the Funk Out!

9PM @ The Galway Rowing Club

A fun night of Funk, Soul, Disco & Reggae in Galway’s favourite venue. Oíche den scoth, ceol den scoth! Bop til you drop! All welcome.

THE CROWN

Season 5 review: nothing new under the sun

By Darragh Nolan

An Emmy Award winning Netflix phe nomenon, on a roll since it launched in 2016, may finally be nearing its sell by date. The Crown has a recency problem.

Not because Season 5 has moved the show’s timeline too close to the present, making the viewing all too uncomfortable as the curtain is pulled back on the lives of people who are still alive and in the public eye.

There’s simply nothing new under the sun. The circumstances of Prince Charles and Prin cess Diana’s divorce have been uncovered and analysed with fine tooth combs over and over again by endless streams of books, column inches and Channel 5 documentaries.

The Crown’s great appeal, leaving aside the spot on casting and exquisite costum ing and set design, was bringing to a new generation of viewers a fascinating history of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Past highlights included Season 1’s look at Lord Altrincham’s hand in modernising the monarchy and Season 2’s study of Charles’ troubled education in Scotland. ‘Aberfan’

from Season 3 took us back to a significant yet largely forgotten controversy.

The one thread binding these episodes together: the subject matter was some thing much of the audience were learning about for the first time.

Imelda Staunton shines just as Claire Foy and Olivia Colman did before her in the role of Elizabeth – when she’s allowed to. Writer and creator Peter Morgan appears to have allowed Season 5 to grow into a manifestation of his own obsession with Diana. The real star, the woman who wears the crown, is very much in a supporting role this time around.

Even when the Queen is the centre of attention again in Episode 4, ‘Annus Horribilis’, it is to showcase perhaps the most well known moment of the latter part of her reign. Staunton takes the stage to imitate that famous speech in true “say the line Bart!” fashion.

The flashpoints of the late Princess of Wales’ final years are beyond well docu mented. There’s no intrigue in an episode zoning in on Martin Bashir’s pursuit of his bombshell interview with her. No

new ground is broken by delving into her romance with Hasnat Khan.

The audience knows exactly what’s coming and when any show reaches that point it’s time to say goodbye.

Season 5 is at its best when it recommits to illuminating lesser known stories. ‘Mou Mou’ covers Mohamad Al Fayed’s origins, his entry into British high society and the inspiration he drew from King Edward VIII. The episode subtly ties things together by briefly introducing Dodi Al Fayed as well, a nod towards things yet to come for Diana.

But it is the episode’s titular character at the heart of things. His relationship with Edward’s former butler Sydney Johnson is heart warming amidst a season of cold, salacious exposés.

The Crown ’s strength was never in accuracy but it was at the very least a thoroughly entertaining lens through which to learn something new about the British monarchy.

Now we now exactly what’s coming next when Season 6 releases next year. Merci fully, it will also be the show’s final outing.

Photo via Rotten Tomatoes

The “Blonde” bombshell: should Marilyn Monroe’s legacy be simply laid to rest?

By Syakira Nazri Arts & Fashion Editor

Blonde (2022) has become a heavily criti cised film among contemporary admirers of Marilyn Monroe, and not without reason. Hitting number one on Netflix in Ireland, it is interesting to see how this film held up to expectations for its long awaited release.

Taking only 45 days to film after ten years of consideration, Andrew Dominik has successfully created a talking point with Ana de Armas at the centre of it all.

The novel Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates is the basis for the eponymous movie as directed by Andrew Dominik. What’s made clear from the beginning is that this is a movie first, leaning into fictional storytelling and not intended as a documentary of Marilyn’s life.

The film is undoubtedly aesthetically pleasing. It pairs de Armas’ skilful portrayal of the golden era Hollywood starlet with live ac tion recreations of some of the most famous pictures of Monroe throughout her life. The contrast between the black and white and

colour moments on screen creates an effec tive ambiance, where the lines are blurred between what is real and what is fantasy.

The brief shooting period is somewhat shown in the emphasis of some slightly gaudy post production elements such as Niagara Falls in the background of a threesome, the morphing faces of a crowd of men at the shooting of The Seven Year Itch and a talking fetus in Marilyn’s womb.

Marilyn is seen to call her husbands “daddy” throughout the film, and her father’s absence in her life is made a focal point of the film. Her mother is hospitalised for psycho logical issues, leaving Norma Jeane with no role models present in her life, growing up in an orphanage and landing her first well pay ing job in modelling for photographers.

There are many ways that Blonde serves to offend the memory of Marilyn

end. It also doesn’t serve much of an orig inally creative element in that it doesn’t portray Monroe in any novel way that hasn’t been seen before. No great effort is made to change the already existing narra tive of the hypersexualised bombshell other than to highlight her alleged “daddy issues”. What might have humanised her more as a person here would be recognition of her intellect, heart and talent. Both artistic and entrepreneurial, she formed her own com pany away from the restrictive contracts that previously way underpaid her work rel ative to her co stars and which subsequently gave her creative freedom in filmmaking. A supporter of the civil rights movement and a trailblazing thespian, she showed great promise before her early death.

“No great effort is made to change the already existing narrative of the hypersexualised bombshell other than to hi alleged “daddy issues”. What mi humanised her more as a person here would be recognition of her intellect, heart and talent.

Photo via Rotten Tomatoes

What Christmas in Galway Looks Like to Me

By Lisa Hamilton Chief Photographer

Since moving to Galway as a bright eyed nineteen-year old 2018 one fact has always remained true, Galway is at its brightest and most magical during the Christmas season. The hustle and bustle of people darting between shops searching for that perfect Christmas gift, the bright lights and decorations adorned on every shop face and pub in the city, the smells of Chimney Cakes, Burgers and mulled wine being served in the Christmas markets, it all brings a warm fuzzy feeling to the soul. Now in my fifth year as a resident of Galway city I feel I’ve come to realise just how much I treasure this time of year in the city. Yeah, the drive to wade through huge crowds to get some fudge, ride a Ferris wheel and the sight of 30 Christmas jumper adorning students lining up for hours for a pint in the beer tent may seem a tad ridiculous to some, but as a student who saw these Christmas traditions disappear during the pandemic, to see them all back to their full glory is heart-warming to say the very least. The city is alive again and I for one could not be more thrilled.

Having had a mind-numbing four weeks in the library scrambling to finish assign ments, last week I sought out refuge from my stress in the oasis of the Christmas mar kets. Armed with my camera and Christmas jumper, I was determined to peruse like I never had before and snack myself into a sugar coma to reward for this semester’s hard work thus far. One may call it a pro crastination trip, I call it a work opportunity!

1 & 2: On my way to the Christmas mar kets, I had a wander through the city itching to get some shots of Galway’s famous Christmas lights. As usual the shops and pubs of the city really pulled it out of the bag this year with my two personal favourites ‘The King’s Head’ and the ‘treasure Chest’ taking top prize for their displays.

3: Once I reached the markets, my first stop, as always, was the Man of Aran Fudge to get my annual supply of Malteser fudge. This man has been a staple of the markets for years and is an absolute gent. As the name suggests, he’s a man from the Aran Islands who makes an incredible spread of mouth melting fudge. Definitely worth the stop for a great chat and some sugary goodness if you’re at the markets.

4: Next, I stopped by my favourite goodies stand ‘Chimney Cakes’ to get, as you probably have guessed, a chimney cake, topped with chocolate. Absolutely delicious and worth the annual pilgrimage in the wintery Galway weather to try one of their many Chimney cake creations – the Apple one is incredible too!

5: One fan favourite of the Christmas markets is the Mini Doughnuts stand which is definitely worth a visit if you’re passing. At this stage, I was hitting my sugar coma phase so I handed off the taste-testing responsibility to one of my friends who had joined me on my, ‘cough’, work trip!

6: Have gorphed down a hot chocolate from Café Nero, I spotted some members of the Irish dancing, Tik Tok phenomenon ‘A Cairde’ filming a TikTok in none other than the Galway Christmas markets so of course I had to say hi and the lads were that sound they even got in a photo for me.

7: With my sugar cravings satisfied for this trip, I ended my trip to the Christmas markets how it should always be done, on a trip on The View Ferris Wheel. For a fee of €6, you get incredible views of the city and a bird eye view of Galway looking its best – in lights!

Make sure to check out the Galway Christ mas markets which run in Eyre Square until the 22nd of December and check opening hours can differ during the week.

Thanks for joining me on my Christmas tour of Galway – Happy Christmas and roll on 2023!

Tick, Tick… Boom – DRUMS Collab Musical

By Lisa Hamilton

I had the pleasure of attending the dress rehearsal of the annual UG Dramsoc/ GUMS collab musical Tick, Tick..Boom before it opened to sold out audiences on the Tuesday the 15th of November.

Tick, Tick.. Boom, which many may know from the Andrew Garfield film of the same name released back in 2021, follows the semi-autobiographical story of aspiring composer Jon Larson, who, on the cusp of his 30th birthday, starts to feel the pressures of time passing him by as he struggles to write the next great American musical that will launch his career in the theatre. Jon navigates love, friendship and pressure as he begins to rethink his place in the performing arts while trying to finish his sci-fi musical Suburbia.

Having loved the movie adaptation and been a fan of Larson’s work in RENT, I was excited to finally get the opportunity to see this show on stage and I was not disappointed.

Killian Cogan’s turn as Jon delivered a nuanced performance showing an incredible range in his embodiment of this multi-fasceted composer as well as his vocal range which matched this diverse score perfectly.

Cogan’s Jon was accompanied per fectly by Susan, Jon’s girlfriend, played by Saorla Fenton. While delivering an epic performance in this role that is sure to be remembered for years to come, Fenton shifted seamlessly between different roles throughout the show including Jon’s mother, his agent and artist Karessa Johnson. The cast was completed by the incred ible Samuel Tuohy who brought the complex, high-spirited but devastating Michael to life. Tuohy had to dig deep to deliver notably the most dramatic and emotionally driven character arc of this entire show and he did so with such flair and humility that it was difficult not to feel like you were on that journey with him. To add to his impressive perfor mance, Tuohy also took on the roles of Jon’s Dad, his agent and my personal favourite, the office intern, overall bring ing an incredibly delivered comic relief to the entire production.

As ‘Louder Than Words’ reached its final notes, two thoughts came to mind, the first, this show is incredible and the second, which I found myself uttering, whoever put these three actors together was a genius. Congratulations to the cast and production team behind Tick, Tick Boom! It will definitely be a show that will be remembered for years to come, this reviewer certainly will!

SU Christmas Day

Health: Benefits of Ginger in your diet

By Ewelina Szybinska Health & Lifestyle Editor

Ginger might be the vegetable you’ve been missing out on. The benefits are truly worth it and not to forget to mention that it is quite budget friendly to incorporate it into your diet.

Photo by Joris Neyt on Pexels

What

is it in ginger

that

holds the magic? Gingerol is a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also holds antioxidant properties.

Stop a cold in its tracks

Tea lovers listen up. Ginger tea with honey and lemon might be your new favourite drink during the cold season. Not only does the sweet and spicy taste warm your body up, it is a great way to fight signs of a cold. Choose a fresh root rather than dried powder to gain from its antiviral effects. I drink gallons of hot ginger tea. Cut up fresh ginger, there is no need to peel. Pour hot water over it. Add honey, fresh lemon and viola. The perfect winter drink.

Digestive System

Just like everyone else, I suffered from an upset stomach before. Was it ginger that helped me? Who knows? All I know is that after consuming ginger, within a few minutes my stomach settled. Ginger is known for its soothing properties. It works wonders for your intestinal tract. Just something to consider next time.

Morning Sickness, Nausea?

Another uncomfortable condition to be in. Let ginger take care of it. It is unlikely it will affect vomiting, but it should help with the feelings of nausea. Still not convinced why ginger is so great?

Reducing menstrual pain

Have I got your attention now? One of the traditional uses of ginger includes pain relief. I have looked at a couple of studies to make sense of this. Studies showed that ginger is as effective as drugs such as ibuprofen. Now, for some that may not be of any help especially if ibuprofen does not change a thing. Maybe going the more organic way could have a different effect? Worth a shot.

Recipe time!

Spicy Ginger Chicken

I am about to share a big secret of mine with all of you. I have dis covered a recipe for spicy ginger chicken from the website Food52. I’ve made some adjustments to suit me. Now, if I’ve somehow convinced you to try ginger and you need a way to introduce it into your diet, I got you. Obviously, ginger tea is the easiest way to start, however, let’s have a look at a proper, nutritional meal. Stir fry lovers, this one is for you. It is also budget friendly. If you’re wondering about the taste, I would say it’s sweet, spicy and sour.

Ingredients:

• Fresh Orange Juice – 1 cup

Soy Sauce – ¼ cup

Fresh grated ginger – 3 tbsp

Fresh Garlic – 2 tbsp

• Sriracha – 2 tbsp

• Oil – up to you

• Rice Vinegar – 1 cup

• Brown sugar – 2 tsp

• Orange zest – 2 tsp

Cornstarch – 1 tbsp

Skinless chicken breast cut in strips – as much as you’d like!

Rice of your choice or quinoa

• Handful of chives/scallions

Method:

1. For the sauce take a bowl and whisk all liquids, ginger, garlic, sugar, orange zest.

2. Place chicken strips into Ziploc bag and add 1/3 of whisked mixture to act as marinade. Refrigerate for an hour.

3. Add oil into wok and heat. Cook marinated chicken until golden brown.

4. Remove chicken from pan and add 2/3 of whisked mixture (bring to boil).

5. In another bowl, mix cornstarch and one tbsp of water. Whisk into marinade and boil for one minute.

6. Return chicken into wok and cook for a minute or two.

7. Serve over rice and sprinkle with scallions or chives.

Photo by Kleine Byers on Pexels

5 beauty & makeup items to put on your Christmas list

By Ewelina Szybinska

Christmas is fast approaching and what a great time to treat yourself. I have set my eye on three items that sparked my interest. After reading loads of reviews, I thought I should try them out for myself. Here are my top five items I hope to try out.

1. EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF

This tinted facial sunscreen has become popular since Hailey Bieber posted her glowing skin tutorial. After reading reviews, I am very interested in how it would work on my skin. The importance of SPF might be ignored during the winter time. Remember that although we may not see the sunshine, radiation occurs all year round. I like how it is tinted. A simple and quick way to even out the skin tone and look refreshed.

2. Ami Colé LashAmplifying Mascara

I have heard so much about this mascara. It was a recent winner of Allure Best of Beauty. It is praised for its delivery of high impact definition and length. Being clump free while also being buildable makes it a real winner. I also like the fact it helps to soften and condition the lashes because of its shea butter and jojoba oil.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer

I appreciate a good cream bronzer. Cream bronzers also act as great eyeshadows. A lot of makeup is recently incorporating skin benefits. This sun kissed glow bronzer is no different. Hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin leaving it glowing.

4. E.L.F. Cosmetics Acne Fighting Putty Primer

This primer is formulated with acne fighting ingredi ents. It aims to control acne and prevent future breakouts. The ingredients listed include Salicylic Acid, Zinc, and Kao lin. The product smoothes over pores and soothes irri tated skin, all while prepping your skin for makeup that will last all day. The product also claims to be 100% vegan and cruelty free.

5. Soft Pinch Liquid Blush – RARE Beauty by Selena Gomez

It is described as a “weight less, long lasting liquid blush”. From the reviews, people say it lasts all day and gives a natural flush of colour. Supposedly, you only need a little dab and you’re good to go! When I look for blush, the one thing my eyes scan for in reviews is how well it blends. I was happy to see that most reviews mention the product to be doing that very well.

Donate to the Hygiene Bank today

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An Banc Sláinteachais

Tabhair

Déanaimis ár gcion féin le deireadh a chur leis an tearcrochtain sláinteachais.

When in Rome

By Anna Falk

In a few weeks, I will be returning to one of my favourite places that I’ve visited; Italy. In the spring of 2018, my family and I took a week long vacation to Rome and Florence. We toured all the important sites. However, upon my return to these cities, I will be attempting to visit some attractions that are bit more off the beaten path.

One of these places is Vicus Caprar ius, an archaeological site close to the Trevi Fountain. This site features the remains of a Roman home and aqueducts, as well as a collection of ancient Roman artefacts including over 800 coins.

I studied Latin before coming to university and being able to step back in time and see how the ancient Romans lived will be fascinating. Visiting Vicus Caprarius only costs a few euros, it’s not too far off the beaten path of other popular attractions and it offers a look at life in the city a few thousand years ago.

Another place in Rome I am looking to go to is the Capuchin Crypt. Below the floors of the Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, are several tiny chapels decorated with the skeletons of over 3,700 Capuchin friars. As macabre as this seems, the decoration of friars’ remains is meant to be a reminder of our mortality.

While there is a chapel free of skeletal remains in the Capuchin Crypt, there are five other rooms decorated in this way. Three out of the five are devoted to specific skeletal structures: the skull, pelvis and leg bones. As an international student from the United States, I don’t often get to see things of this nature, and I’m very excited for it.

In terms of Roman sites, I also want to visit a few modern places. One of these is La Casa del Caffè Tazza d’Oro. When I first went to Italy, I did come here, but I didn’t learn to like coffee until after I had returned home. Despite this tragedy, I have a great desire to return.

Not only is this conveniently located near the Pantheon, but it is also one of the oldest coffee shops in the world. The walls of this café are decorated with gold detailing and mir rors, making this a must visit

Photo by Lalasza on Unsplash

I hope you buy a plant after reading this

By Ewelina Szybinska

“

I adore enclosed spaces that provide a home for plants. The sudden ambience and relaxation sinks in. Plants breathe life and colour into any dull room. Extra space? A place for a plant. Decorating? Think about a plant.

Here are my reasons for why you should own a plant!

Boost your mood during the fall and winter months

Dark weather calls for a little boost of positivity. The colour green escapes us usually until Spring comes back around. I’m not fully sure what secret lies behind plants improving one’s mood, but it most definitely works for me. Especially if your room consists of cool tones, it will bring that bit of life inside. I must recommend wooden furniture! If you’re looking for a plant stand or shelf, try going for dark, wood. Trust me, it will look good.

Increasing your concentration and productivity

As much as I love cold weather, my mind runs to thoughts of lying in a cosy bed. This makes it particularly difficult around exam season. Plants, funnily, seem to aid concentration and produc tivity. When I’m trying to get some study done at home, concentration can be low compared to studying in the library. I researched whether this had any merit. I have read that people appear to perform better at attention based tasks when they are surrounded by plants. Personally, they fulfill my décor expectations and make me feel productive.

Philodendron silva

Red spider lily

The right plant for the right room

Philodendrons highlight the beauty of liv ing rooms. Not only are they air purifiers, but they hold a lot of scope in relation to how to incorporate them into your space. I’d recommend vining. It brings me back

water at least once a week and live their best life when placed on a windowsill. As simple as this is, it’s what kept mine alive for so long.

What about bathrooms? Ferns and air plants! Air plants are basically impossible

just rub the gel filled interior of the leaves for an instant cooling. Other than that, they look great!

Finally, offices. I think the spider plants occupy office space perfectly. They are called spider plants because they have

Photos via Pixabay

Athbhreithniú na Seachtaine Gaelaí

Le Barry Ó Siochrú agus Gearóid Ó Droighneáin

D’eagraigh Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe clár imeachtaí don tSeachtain Ghaelach, a bhí ar siúl ó Dé Luain an 14 Samhain go Dé hAoine an 18 Samhain. Spreag an tseachtain seo mic léinn agus baill foirne ar fud na hOlls coile cibé leibhéal Gaeilge a bhí acu a úsáid ag imeachtaí spraíúla, saor in aisce, cuimsitheacha.

Chun tús a chur leis an tseachtain bhí Tob Ghaeltacht maidin Dé Luain ag Túr Tumadóireachta na Carraige Duibhe in

éineacht. Beidh Comhaltas na Mac Léinn ag obair i gcomhar le snámhóirí na cart hanachta Coldvember ag an ócáid seo, chun an Ghaeltacht a thabhairt chun na farraige agus chun cuidiú leis na mic léinn iad féin a théamh suas tar éis bheith ag snámh le seisiún ceoil traidisiúnta. Bhí Corn Liam Mhic Cárthaigh agus Corn Sam Mhic Uidhir ar taispeáint in Oifig Chom haltas na Mac Léinn Dé Luain freisin, agus bhí lucht leanúna uile CLG ar an gcampas ag breathnú orthu.

Bhí an bhaint ag an gCumann Gaelach agus an Cumann Trad leis an tSeach tain chomh maith. Le linn Gaeilge 24,

(feachtas náisiúnta a eagraíonn Conradh na Gaeilge) bhí seisiúin Trad i Smokey’s agus Céilí Mór i Sult le hos cionn 120 duine ann. Oíche Chéadaoin bhí Oíche Chultúir Ghaelach sa Téatar in Áras na Gaeilge agus bhí 18 amhránaithe, damhsóirí, filí agus ceoltóirí ar an stáitse. Oíche iontach a bhí ann agus léirigh sé go maith an talann iontach Gaelach atá againn in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.

Bhí an Déardaoin á chéiliúradh againn le Lá Nollag agus tháinig cuairteoir álainn go dtí an champais. Bhí Daidí na Nollag linn!! Agus cuireadh deireadh leis an tSeachtain álainn le seoladh an Fhoclóir Aitigh (níos mó eolais ar an gclúdach)

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Sai Gujulla, Uachtarán Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn: “Tá lúcháir orainn imeachtaí na Seachtaine Gaelaí a eagrú chun pobal na hOllscoile a spreagadh níos mó Gaeilge a labhairt in atmaisféar spraíúil agus suaimhneach. Is sinne an chéad Chom haltas Mac Léinn sa tír a bhfuil Oifigeach Gaeilge lánaimseartha aige agus níl ár straitéis Gaeilge ach ina tús leis na hime achtaí seo.”

Dúirt Leas Uachtarán Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn don Ghaeilge, Barry Ó Siochrú: “Bhíomar ar bís chun fáilte chroíúil a chur roimh an nGaeilge sa champas i rith na Seachtaine Gaelaí. Beidh comhoibrithe iontacha ag cabhrú linn leis an tseach tain a reáchtáil, agus iad ag cur seónna Flirt FM i láthair i nGaeilge, agus ag reáchtáil tob sheisiún ceoil traidisiúnta, oíche de chultúr Ghaelach agus ar ndóigh Céilí Mór ag Sult. Seachtain spraíúil a bheidh inti!”

Where next for Galway United?

By Joseph Murray Sports Co-editor

So near, yet so far, for Galway United.

Rewind to July and you will find John Caulfield’s side sat second in the League of Ireland First Division, two points behind Cork City with a favourable run of games to come, giving them a genuine shot at a league title and automatic promotion to the Premier Division.

Yet, a calamitous run of six points from their next seven games quelled any hopes of a late title push. The Tribesmen ultimately finished third in what was arguably a two horse race for the league title, with Waterford FC climbing above them into second.

Optimism was replenished somewhat in the stands at Eamonn Deacy Park through

a hard fought 2 1 comeback victory against Cork on September 16th – hard proof that the side could hold their own when it mattered. That optimism, however, was misplaced. A shock 2 1 loss to basement side Athlone Town in the penultimate home game of the season re exposed the side’s frailty and was a preview for the disappointment to follow.

Despite a resounding 6 3 aggregate victory against Longford Town in the First Division promotion play off semi finals, the demoralising 3 0 loss to Waterford in the final showed how far John Caulfield’s side still has to go to challenge for silverware.

Now, as the dust settles on what proved to ultimately be a hugely disappointing sea son for Galway United, fans are left with the abject, yet familiar question of, where next?

John Caulfield’s position is, controver sially some may say, not under threat, given that he still has another season to

run on a two year deal he signed at the back end of the 2021 season.

The future of some of the players, on the other hand, is much more uncertain. Several of United’s players performed admirably in spite of the team’s overall inconsistency, and will undoubtedly have admirers across the two divisions.

Given the nature of the league, where players rarely sign deals that last longer than the duration of a single season, United could, in theory, field a completely new team next season.

That, of course, is unlikely. United are one of the few teams in the division that can offer full time professional football, and with a minimum wage of €430 per week for full time professionals set to be introduced for the forthcoming season, United are well posi tioned in the market relative to their peers.

Even still, several players would be well within their rights to seek pastures new, either through feeling as though they’ve outgrown the league, or to seek a new envi ronment after several ill fated attempts at promotion to the Premier Division.

An early departure has been Conor Kearns, who left the club after two seasons to join Shelbourne in the Premier Divi sion. The 24 year old goalkeeper certainly

won’t be the last to go, although trying to replace him with a player of similar quality is bound to cause headaches in the recruitment department at United.

The picture will also become much clearer on the incomings front once the transfer window officially opens on 1 December, with United in need of a reset after losing several key players during the summer window.

An overhaul of some areas of the squad is much needed, particularly out wide, given the departures of winger Shane Doherty and Newcastle’s latest prodigy, Alex Murphy, during the season.

Whatever the outcome of the winter transfer window, the bottom line is that three successive campaigns have ended in play off defeat for Galway United, another repeat in 2023 would be hugely damaging.

Off the pitch, Galway United have everything they need to be in the Premier Division. On the pitch, most importantly, they now need to prove they belong there.

As the dust settles on what proved to ultimately be a hugely disappointing season for Galway United, fans are left with the abject, yet familiar question of, where next?”

4 November 2022; Bastien Héry of Galway United after his side's defeat in the SSE Airtricity League First Division play-off final match between Waterford and Galway United at Markets Field in Limerick. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Exam Tips

Before The Exam

1. We all learn differently, try different study methods and find out what works for you. 2. Focus and systematically work through each topic, question by question. 3. Do past exam papers and practice questions. 4. If you need help with a topic - reach out to your class mates or your lecturer. 5. Know when your exams are - check out your personalised timetable on the University of Galway exams website. 6. Know what type of exam you will be sitting - open book, MCQ, 2 hour written paper etc. if you are unsure – ASK.

During The Exam

Yourself

personal goals.

Take each day as it comes - don’t be disheartened if you have a bad exam or study isn’t going well.

Match Report: Ireland Vs Australia

Ireland 13 –Australia 10

By Ciarán Ó Flaithearta Sports Co-Editor

Ross Byrne shows composure to slot a late penalty seeing off a well drilled Australian side in an all around unconvincing win in Dublin. After 4 years the Wallabies faced Ireland in the Aviva Stadium in the final game of the Autumn Inter nationals with Mack Hansen facing his country of birth for the first time.

With Johhny Sexton being withdrawn before the game Jack Crowley made his first

International start at out half with Ross Byrne joining Bun dee Aki on the bench.

Poor Irish defense along with ill discipline was a run ning theme in the first half with Ireland lucky not to have conceded early with a try being disallowed due to a neck roll in the build up.

Australia dominated the first half with most of the game being played in the Irish 22. But the tied began to change with the Wallabies being reduced to 14 when Fain ga’a saw yellow for repeated ill discipline at the breakdown, it would be Ireland through a Jack Crowley penalty kick that would see Ireland with a 3 0 lead at the half time whistle.

Ireland came out of the break with the wind at their

backs and Crowley began to pull together some threaten ing attacks that almost broke the deadlock, one of which a Gibson Park try ruled out with Hansens’ foot being in touch before the offload.

A Bernard Foley kick saw the sides level 3 3 in the 55th minute.

A clever lineout move from Ireland and strong carries from the pack led to Bundee Aki crossing the whitewash for the first try of the game which Crowley comfortably converts. With Ireland in the lead 10 3

Just as the Irish looked to be on the home stretch Australia fought back through Petaia who scored a well earned Wal labies try. Foley who’s earned the nickname “the Iceman” for his composure under pressure makes no mistakes and lots the

kick from out wide bringing the sides level for the second time.

Ireland earned a 75th min ute scrum penalty out wide near the 10 meter line. Ross Byrne having just come off the bench moments earlier locks eyes with the posts, steps up and slots the kick for Ireland.

In the dying minutes, Aus tralia attempted to go for the win by setting up a maul but they are pinned for being off side and Ireland come away with the win.

Byrne who was Ireland’s fifth choice out half had only been called into the squad on Monday says that scoring the winning kick “Is a special moment, it’s kind of what you dream of. You just have to prepare yourself for games like these and be ready it’s all you can do”.

Photo by Ciarán Ó Flaithearta

Match Report: University of Galway Maree continue winning ways with victory over Moycullen

University of Galway Maree 68 — Cumann Cispheil Mhaigh Cuilinn 46

By Cóilín Duffy

Zvonimir Cutuk led the way with a new season high 18 points, as University of Galway Maree never trailed during a domi nant Galway Derby victory against bottom side Moycullen on Saturday evening.

Cutuk, who recorded nine points against Ballincollig last weekend, asserted himself early and often with silky moves in the paint and a conscious desire to score through traffic.

Despite not getting any foul calls for his efforts, he didn’t need them. Rapid ball movement featuring Eoin Rockall and Jarett Haines helped open up a 10 4 lead at the 6:42 mark.

Haines’ steal and score in transition typified a suffocating defensive display by the hosts, who led by 11 at the end of the first quarter.

Moycullen missed consecutive three point shots in the same possession as the game became more open, something which only strengthened Maree’s purpose ful start.

Rockall and Stephen Commins dis played good off ball defence once the visitors aggressively tried to cut the deficit, before Cutuk scored successive triples to give them a 21 11 lead.

That persistent individual defence cut ting off driving lanes and baiting them into difficult shots ensured Moycullen failed to get into any real rhythm.

Commins drilled a corner three and while Cathal Finn’s interceptions won’t show up in the box score, they were deci sive as the visitors looked increasingly demoralised.

More turnovers were forced by good anticipation and timely positioning, as Commins and Rockall combined before the latter’s layup.

Paul Freeman displayed good antic ipation in the paint to score shortly afterwards, before Rockall absorbed con tact and finished at the hoop to give them a 16 point half time cushion.

Cutuk continued snatching rebounds after the restart as Maree’s pressure con tinued, with the lead starting to balloon.

Haines scored nine third quarter points, while Joe Junior Mvuezolo and Rockall were among those also sinking baskets as Galway led by 27 at one stage.

Having only conceded 33 points after 30 minutes, this game was essentially over with a quarter still to play.

The healthy lead allowed extended min utes for the likes of John Burke, Matthew Sweeney and a Garry Fernane cameo as they eased to victory.

With seven made triples, this display also marks the second time in eight matches they’ve made more three point ers than their opposition. Speaking of...

The league leaders next face a trip to Tralee Warriors next Saturday (7.30pm), with the hosts eager to make a statement

and atone for a 95 85 defeat by Ballincol lig confining them to a 2 5 start this season.

They were the first team to be out scored from long distance by Maree and lost by a 20 point margin in the reverse matchup last month, so will this one be any different?

Scorers for University of Galway Maree: Zvonimir Cutuk 18, Jarett Haines 16, Eoin Rockall 11, Stephen Commins 8, Rodrigo Gomez 5, Matthew Sweeney 3, Paul Free man 2, John Burke 2, Joe Junior Mvuezolo 2, Zach Light 1.

Scorers for CC Mhaigh Cuilinn: Mateo Liberatore Dargam 17, Grant Olsson 10, Ayberk Taylan 8, Kyle Cunningham 8, Rory O’Sullivan 3.

University of Galway Maree:

Starting line-up: Eoin Rockall, Rodrigo Gomez, Jarett Haines, Joe Junior Mvuezolo, Zvonimir Cutuk.

Bench: Stephen Commins, Matthew Sweeney, Paul Freeman, John Burke, Zach Light, Garry Fernane, Cathal Finn.

CC Mhaigh Cuilinn:

Starting line-up: Dylan Cunningham, Kyle Cunningham, Joseph Tummon, Grant Olsson, Mateo Liberatore Dargam

Bench: Ayberk Taylan, Rory O’Sullivan, Dara Kenna, Brian Gaffney, Donagh McDonagh, Kevin Nugent.

University of Galway Maree's Paul Freeman and Moycullen's Mateo Liberatore Dargam battle for possession during their Superleague game.

Photo by Michael Gough.

Dylan Meets: Ryan Manning (Professional

Ryan Manning is from Galway and is a professional footballer with Swansea City and the Republic of Ireland. He made his senior international debut in November 2020 against Bulgaria in the UEFA Nations League.

Was it always a dream of yours to be a professional soccer player?

Yeah, I always wanted to be a professional footballer ever since I was a kid. As soon as I could walk, I was kicking a football. It’s every young kid’s dream to play for their country, so it was a special moment for me and my family.

When did you turn pro and what did that mean to you?

I played professionally in the League of Ireland when I was 16 and it was surreal to be getting paid to do what I love.

What was it like to get a call up to the national team and make your debut? It’s every young kid’s dream to play for their country, so it was a spe cial moment for me and my family.

Who has been your biggest influence in your career so far?

Definitely my parents. They drove me all over the country as a kid to all my train ing sessions and matches and are still there supporting me now every step of the way, so they are definitely my biggest influences.

Who is the toughest opponent you have come up against?

The toughest team I’ve played against would be Man City in the FA Cup and the toughest player I’ve played against would probably be Wayne Rooney. Even though he was a bit older then, you could see just how talented and good he is and how good he must’ve been back in his day.

What is the best stadium you have played at to date?

I’d have to say St James’s Park in Newcastle. It’s a huge stadium and the atmosphere is unbelievable.

The Parents of Sport

By Ciarán Ó Flaithearta

Parents are the driving force behind every sport, for every underage team a parent if not parents are the coaches, but they have so much more involvement and impact on the games we love than anyone gives them credit for.

The other evening as I finished up an evening of coaching I watched a parent kick the rugby balls back to her son who was determined to be the best kicker in his age group. This wasn’t the first evening I had seen this lady at the pitch after training, or before waiting on her son as he continued to kick the leather off the ball.

“Those are his third pair of boots this season”, she laughed as we both knew she was the one paying for them.

Growing up I played with a great bunch of lads, but behind the scenes was a great team of parents and that’s partially why we were so good as a team. Our three coaches were parents of lads I played with giving up a minimum of three days a week to not only their children but to the children of others, and it didn’t stop at that; there were lifts to and from training and matches,

there were trips organized abroad and so much more which wasn’t always easy dealing with 20 to 30 teenage boys.

Niall Beatty spent six years as Head Coach of an underage side in his boyhood club Galwegians RFC. He said: “I have been immersed in Galwegians all my life having played from a very young age, through an underage system to Senior Rugby. My son Jack is also very keen so it was an easy decision to coach him and this group at the time.”

During his time as a coach, he and his team won a Connacht shield, two back to back Connacht cups, and in his final year the Connacht U17 league, becoming one of the most decorated underage teams in the club. He says he had too many favourite moments before listing a few; “the com radery that we built amongst the squad, the wins, the losses, the away trips, the trophies, getting to know the children’s parents….I could go on”.

But it wasn’t always easy for him, ded icating so much time to the team, and commuting four days a week to Dublin for work sacrifices had to be made elsewhere in his life “I have three girls and probably didn’t get to see them playing their sports

as much as I would have liked to. How ever I’m making up for that now and am a regular hockey “parent” supporter every weekend, as long as they don’t ask me to coach”.

When asked if it was all worthwhile he said: “Absolutely, some of those kids I coached are now playing for adult teams in the club and some are now coaching the underage teams themselves. The most rewarding part of all is when I meet these young adults now be it at the club or in town and the “hello” I get from them.”

But coaching isn’t the only way parents influence the game. There is so much out side of training and matches that parents put up with for their kids to enjoy every inch of the sport. Someone who knows all about the goings on off the pitch is Stallworth of the club Debbie Joyce. Deb bie spent 18 and a half years driving to Galwegians with her three sons, two of which still play there today.

She spent years helping out in the clubhouse, after games she would serve food when there were trips she would organize fundraisers be it bagging groceries in Dunnes or carol singing at Christmas time.

22 March 2022; Ryan Manning during a Republic of Ireland squad portrait session at Castleknock Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Footballer, Swansea City & Republic of Ireland)

Which soccer players did you admire growing up?

I was a Man United fan growing up, so a lot of the Man United players, but probably Cristiano Ronaldo in particular.

What is the best advice you would give to an up-andcoming soccer player?

You’re never the finished article, always keep practising to get better.

What is the best thing about being a professional footballer?

Getting paid to do what I love every day and playing in front of thousands of fans every week.

Do you miss Galway?

I definitely miss Galway; I miss my friends and family as well as Supermac’s and chicken fillet rolls.

Have you any hobbies?

I love playing golf. I try to play it at every chance I get but the football schedule does make it tough. The plan is to get down to scratch one day!

What are your ambitions going forward?

To play in the Premier League and play with Ireland at a major tournament.

What is the standout moment of your career so far?

My international debut and my first goal in the championship for Queens Park Rangers years ago.

She said: “The hard part was probably the first 3 or 4 years when they were younger, getting them all organized on a Saturday morning to get out the door on time, especially when the two smaller ones had to be brought as well as John was working on Saturdays and you can be sure that someone would forget a gum shield or worse still their boots!” and the only thing worse than forgotten boots was having to wash “wet mucky gear”. Debbie overlooked the long drives and the constant washing of gear because her boys enjoyed it so much “I did it for the boys as they loved their rugby and to be honest, I loved watching them play”.

But for Debbie, it was all worthwhile watching the enjoy ment her boys received from playing sport. “It has been very rewarding and I’ve always said that the rugby community is a lovely one to be involved in and has certainly helped keep all of mine on the straight and narrow as they have made the best of friends there. I myself have some great friends that I met on the side of the pitch and shared a coffee with every Saturday morning while the lads trained or played matches. I always felt it was important to have them play team sports and I encouraged them to do this. They say you reap what you sow, and I certainly believe this and that time spent on the side of a pitch is always time well spent.”

Our parents don’t get half enough recognition for the sac rifices they make and the time they put in. Parents will always be there to bake the buns and wash the shorts, organize car pools and dinners after training, they will always be there to have the emersion on and shout about the washing down the shower, and without them I don’t think sport would survive.

Ryan Manning of Republic of Ireland during the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Lithuania at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

December Appeal