SIN Vol 25 Issue 04 by SIN Newspaper University of Galway

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

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Student Independent News Nuachtán saor in aisce · Vol. 25 Issue 04 · 22 Jan. 2024

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Thousands of students to be impacted by maintenance grant increases By Rachel Garvey Students ranging from undergraduates to PhD are able to financially benefit from the new 2024 budget that brought into effect the increase in student maintenance grants. Postgraduates can expect the return of an increased grant for their courses which has not seen an increase in over a decade, while PhD students will be eligible for a €3,000 increase for their funding. The Citizens Information state, “maintenance grant rates will increase by €615 for all non-adjacent rates and by 10% for adjacent rates from September 2024 and a pro-rota increase will be available from January 2024”. The cost-of-living prices is leaving a large percentage of students suffering and unable to afford basic needs while accommodation prices are still high. Student accommodation in Galway on campus stands at €5,895 for a private en suite double and €3,285 for a standard

twin room in Corrib Village, €6,525 for an en suite single and €6,660 for an en suite double in Goldcrest Village. Students can explore other options and rates on the Student Residences section on The University of Galway’s website. The grant increase will alleviate the pressure of contribution costs to over 96,000 students, but it will simultaneously be a small financial benefit to relieving the pressure off cost of accommodations. SIN spoke to University of Galway’s President, Ciarán Ó hOgartaigh, who stated: “I welcome this increase and continue to encourage the Government to go further, particularly for students in need. We have been to the fore advocating for students.” Ó hOgartaigh highlighted, “We contacted the department to alert them to the fears that people had that the rent-a-room scheme would impact their eligibility for SUSI grants and medical cards. The department amended the scheme as a consequence to increase accommodation available to students.”

A proposition was made to the scheme being developed to provide government subsidised accommodation to SUSI grant-holders and continue to work with the government to bring it to fruition in Galway. Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris stated, “The-cost-of-living has had a real impact on families. I’ve been working really hard to reduce fees for tens of thousands of students and their families right across Ireland.” Harris numbered the amount of students that would benefit from the new increase: 10,695 students in Trinity College Dublin, 10,794 students in University of Limerick, 10,225 students in University College Cork, 15,187 students in Dublin College University and 10,926 students in University of Galway. Simon Harris also shared, “If you’re an undergraduate student, you will see your fees reduced by €1000”, the student Continued on Page 2

News · Nuacht

Editorial By Caoimhe Looney

Editor

Hello readers, and a happy new year! Welcome back to the fourth issue of volume 25 SIN, and the first issue back for semester two. A special thank you to all the new contributors; we’re glad to have you join the team. Congratulations also to all of our SIN regulars who have done fantastic work on their pieces. Our front page focuses on the new increases in maintenance grants for students as announced in the Budget 2024. In News, we have stories both national and international. Over in Features, there is some information on the newly returning RAG week. Opinion has some takes on books versus kindle, meanwhile in Arts and Fashion there are plenty of movie reviews to give you inspiration on new films to watch! Over in Health and Lifestyle there’s predictions of 2024 beauty and fashion trends, and in Cainte we have a recap of the Golden Globes. In Sports we have a number of pieces on the University of Galway’s sports successes. Finally in Photography Hannah has continued with the student showcase section and have some snaps from Socs Day. Feel free to email photography.sineditor@gmail.com if you want your photo featured in the next edition! If you would like to get involved with SIN, follow the Instagram page for all the latest information and updates. You can also get in contact with any questions or ideas by emailing me at editor.sin@gmail.com editor.sin@gmail.com. You can also find us over on X/Twitter and Facebook to see what we’re up to! For now, enjoy the fourth issue!

An bhfuil rud éigin le rá agat? Cur litir chuig an Eagarthóir. Editor: Caoimhe Looney – editor.sin@gmail.com

@sin_newsug @sin_newsug

Find us online:

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Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Maintenance grant increases Continued from Page 1 contribution fee for an undergraduate student is €3000 and following the new minus figure, it will decrease down to €2000. The Citizens Information website offers straightforward advice about a refund of the difference if you paid the €3000 contribution fee in full by supplying your higher education with your bank details to avail of the refund.” Ó hOgartaigh shared with SIN how he thinks this will urge more students to apply for future courses, “We know the difference the financial aid makes to every single student and we’re urging the Government to go further again to support our students as the University of Galway has the highest amount of SUSI grant-holders.” The Budget 2024’s package highlights what is secured for students for the coming year, “an increase of up to €342 in maintenance grants, a re-introduction of maintenance grants worth up to €2,384 to eligible postgraduate students and a €3000 increase in stipend for PhD researchers funded by the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland.” SIN also spoke with Dean Kenny, Student Union President in University of Galway who said, “This increase is a welcome announcement and surely will benefit a lot of students who are serving the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis, these increases are long over-due.” However, Kenny worries that, “The word ‘once-off’ features in front of every new payment and reduction fees. Minister Harris has failed to tackle our issue and has put a plaster over a gaping wound. There is no longevity in these recent announcements and we are back to square one come the next budget day.”

A huge thanks to our team!

Holly Leech Opinion Co-editor

Caoimhe Looney Editor

Eliash Eze Opinion Co-editor

Chloe Richardson Deputy Editor

Rebekah O’Reilly Arts & Fashion Co-editor

Emma van Oosterhout News Co-editor

Scott Stephens Arts & Fashion Co-editor

Eimear Eastwood News Co-editor

Hannah Martin Photography Editor

Matthew Coggins News Co-editor

Megan Connolly Health & Lifestyle Editor

Rachel Garvey Features Co-editor

Sadhbh Clancy Cáinte Editor

Alexander McCormac Features Co-editor

Dylan McLoughlin

Sports Editor

News · Nuacht

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

INSIDE this issue...

Galway homelessness numbers increase in November as concern grows

News Building for Children, a Galway based volunteer group, have landed in Ethiopia 4

South Africa brings Israel before International Court of Justice, accuses Israel of committing genocide

Features

ISPCA report 75% increase in cases submitted for criminal prosecution

News

Features Raise and Give Week: The Return of a Legend to University of Galway Campus

Society Spotlight – Dansoc

Editor diaries

Opinion Paper versus Pixels: Have Kindles and their convenience replaced the need for physical books? 16 New student accommodation brings hope for students and concern from local residents

Arts & Fashion Oscar Predictions – Oppenheimer likely to win big 20 Love, Action, Drama: 2024’s Top 5 Most Anticipated Movies to blast off your holidays

Movie review: Anyone But You - who said romance was dead?

2024 the year of making dreams reality 14 Opinion

Do I know how to date? 19 Arts & Fashion Movie review: Saltburn scorches screens 22 Photography

Movie review: Priscilla 23 The best screams of ’23

The five best albums of 2023

Poetry Corner: Samhain 27

Health & Lifestyle

Photography Socs Day

Student Showcase 30

Health & Lifestyle 2024 Fashion and Beauty Trends: A Synthesis of Timeless Elegance and Contemporary Innovation 34

Challenges of participating in Dry January

Cainte

Cainte Pop-Up Gaeltacht

Aitheantas d’Éachtaí Aisteoirí na hÉireann ag Ócáid na ‘Golden Globes’

Gaeilge ar champus 36

The future of the Ireland managerial job

Electric Ireland Fresher 1 Hurling Final

Sport

O’ Donoghue and McLaughlin shine as University of Galway bridge 44-year gap

Connaire goal proves the difference as University of Galway edge UL

Sport

Semester 1 University of Galway Sports Results 39

News · Nuacht

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Image by Peter Daly

Building for Children, a Galway based volunteer group, have landed in Ethiopia By Zoé Larroque On January 8, Building for Children, a volunteer group from Northeast Galway, left for Ethiopia. The Irish volunteering team is going for ten days of hard work renovating school dormitories in the Addis Ababa region. Building for Children was created in 2006 by a group of professionals in the Newbridge area. With the willingness to create safe places for children around the world, the association chose to unite its members in diverse volunteering missions. Like this, Building for Children has been very active abroad by building and refurbishing children’s accommodation in orphanages, hospitals and schools in dire conditions all around the globe. For Peter Daly, professional writer and photographer, the adventure started in Eastern Europe, where he travelled with the volunteers in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia to report the association work out there. “Those children from those zones of past conflicts, they are the first people who need help,” he says. In fact, even if the United Nations are putting lots of efforts to protect children during conflicts, they are always the first victims of the wars. According to Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), approximately 468 million children (18.8%, or more than one in six) were living in a conflict zone in 2022.

The regions where the conflicts are really harsh, children undergone immense suffering, both physically and psychologically. By witnessing and experiencing violence, displacement, separation from their families and the loss of loved ones, children have been left with important psychological trauma, especially in the case when of a civil war such as in Ethiopia. That is how, after long years of working in Europe, Building for Children chose to put their effort in Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest province. According to a 2018 United Nations’ report, children in Oromia are more likely to be deprived of more basic needs and services than the national average. Peter joined the Ethiopian volunteering team in 2019 and worked with them to raise funds. From table quizzes to gigs and charity sales, everything was held to help finance the renovation of Sebeta Blind School. The establishment provides education and maintenance for visually impaired children from the Oromia region. Located 30 kilometres from the Ethiopian capital, the residential school homes about 370 blind or visually impaired children, both girls and boys. It is the only school for the blind run by the Ethiopian government. After months of fundraising, the team of volunteers arrived in Sebata. They had to spend €1,000 to get the tools through

customs, but the volunteers understand the reason they are here. “It is horrific,” according to Peter. “It is so hard to describe unless you visited... Children need care and the school buildings are in disastrous condition. You need to touch, to smell, to feel to understand the emergency.” No time to cry, the volunteers began the first phase of their restoring plan: housing 26 blind and visually impaired girls aged between 13 and 17 who were renting rooms in unsafe conditions in Sebeta town. The volunteers built a new dormitory from start to finish but decided that it was not enough, and in January 2023, a second restoring phase was launched. It involved the renovation of two of the six existing dormitories, each home to 40 blind and visually impaired children. The Irish volunteers renovated these dormitories with two new functioning bathrooms with showers, toilets and sinks, new beds, bed linen, doors and lockers. In January 2024, the third phase will be about renovating two more of the existing dormitories, home to a total of 80 children. The aim will be to complete them with working sanitation, safe electrics, fixed-up beds with new mattresses and bed linen and to create and equip an indoor playroom. The truck, loaded with the 80 mattresses arrived on the morning of January 12, bringing the materials and the hope of a fresh start for these children.

News · Nuacht

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Galway homelessness numbers increase in November as concern grows By Fiona Zokou Since November 2023, an increase in homelessness has been reported within Galway with an increase of individuals seeking emergency accommodation, including a number of children. Figures released by the Department of Housing show the number of homeless people has increased from 261 in October to 273 in November, including almost 4,000 children across the country. 72% of all homeless people in Ireland are in Dublin. Comparing this with the west (Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon), where the number is four per cent. For those facing homelessness in the west, the highest number of homeless people are between 25 and 44 years old at 188 individuals, whilst the lowest number are aged 65 years old and older at 10 individuals.

In addition, according to the Homeless Quarterly Progress Report, Quarter 1 2023 one of the highest reasons for households newly entering emergency accommodation was due to Notice of Termination with a number of 238 single households. The second highest rated reason was Relationship breakdown/Family Circumstance for Family Households at a number of 282. However, there are many organizations to turn to in Galway for those risking and facing homelessness. Several of these organisations include Galway Simon Community, COPE Galway, and Galway City Council. The Galway Simon Community, an organization focused on helping those facing homelessness, says the “situation will continue to get worse over the coming winter.” The data taken from the Department of Housing shows a total of 21% non-EEA, 23% EEA/UK , and 56% of Irish are homeless throughout the country.

The CEO of Galway Simon Community, Karen Golden says that “people are having to choose between everyday necessities like food, heat and electricity and paying their rent.” In response, COPE Galway, a homeless and women’s service, is focused on ending homelessness for those aged 18-24 years old through the Youth Homelessness Strategy 2023-2025. Within the strategy, there are several aims: preventing young people from entering homelessness; improve young people’s experiences when entering emergency accommodation; and assisting as they leave homelessness. Including Galway Simon Community and COPE Galway, there are a whole range of other services to turn towards such as Threshold – an advocacy and advice service, and the Social Work Services.

Call Open for fully funded Hardiman PhD Scholarships at University of Galway Who are these scholarships for? Excellent students starting their PhD in September 2024. The Hardiman PhD Scholarships provide a stipend of €22,000 per annum, plus tuition fees are paid for four years. We seek high-achieving dynamic individuals, who have an appetite for the research world and creativity, who thrive on intellectual excitement, and who will positively shape the future for all in our society. Using your creative energy, your PhD journey at University of Galway will be alive with possibilities and opportunities. To help you find Potential Supervisors and identify the key research interests of our academic staff and researchers, start with our ‘Find a Supervisor/PhD Project’ link. Explore some the research themes, institutes and centres that make our University unique and bring your ideas to life. Further details here here. Successful applicants will be expected to have a first or upper second class honours primary degree or equivalent. Apply Now. Now Closing Date: Friday 9th February 2024 (17:00 Irish Standard Time) Full details and forms available at Hardiman Research Scholarships – University of Galway

Fully funded Hardiman PhD Scholarships Apply Now

News · Nuacht

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

South Africa brings Israel before International Court of Justice, accuses Israel of committing genocide By Rachel Birch South Africa are accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinian population in Gaza in a landmark trial taking place in the United Nation’s (UN) International Court of Justice (ICJ). The hearing, which began on January 11 in The Hague in the Netherlands, opened with a litany of charges against Israel whose conduct of war allegedly violates the UN’s 1948 Genocide Convention, according to South African lawyers. Lo ndo n - b a s e d I r i s h human rights lawyer, Blinne Ni Ghrálaigh is one of two external experts supporting the South African legal team. The prosecuting counsel argue that genocidal intent is being fostered by Israel at the highest administrative ranks and is evident in their use of dehumanising rhetoric, “the targeting of family homes and civilian infrastructure, the bombing, shelling

and sniping of men women and children estimated death toll of 24,000 people, and the lack of access to humanitarian 10,000 of which is reported to have been assistance.” children, according to a new report by the 100 days has passed since Israel charity Save the Children. declared war against the terrorist organTens of thousands of buildings have isation Hamas in the Gaza strip and it is also been destroyed in the wake of the already being condemned as “one of the artillery bombardment resulting in the heaviest conventional bombing cam- displacement of 85% of the population, paigns in the history of modern warfare,” according to UN’s Palestinian relief agency, as said by South African barrister Adila UNRWA. Hassim. “They [Palestinian civilians] are also at Israel vehemently denies the alle- immediate risk of death by starvation, gations and are expected to deliver a dehydration and disease as a result of the counter argument based on the right of ongoing siege by Israel, the destruction self-defence against Hamas, who attacked of Palestinian towns, the insufficient aid Israeli communities on October 7 last year, being allowed through to the Palestinian killing 1,200 people and capturing 240 population and the impossibility of dishostages. tributing the limited aid while bombs fall,” Israeli lawyers are expected to testify said Adila Hassim. that their warfare has been in line with “This conduct renders essentials to life international law and that Israel’s survival unobtainable,” continued Ms Hassim. is at stake so long as Hamas continues to Genocide cases can take years to culoperate. minate but provisionally, South Africa Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netan- has demanded the ICJ to mandate an yahu dismissed the charges in a televised immediate suspension of Israel’s military speech to his nation claiming “the South campaign in the region amongst other African case was based on hypocrisy and measures. lies” and that his country was “fighting Israel will be provided the same opporagainst a genocide that Hamas was deter- tunity to defend their position and a mined to perpetrate against Israel.” judgement will be declared in due course. The war continues to wreak havoc on However, there is no legal obligation for civilian life in Gaza, accounting for an Israel to abide by the court’s findings.

Image of the International Court of Justice, from Wikipedia

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News · Nuacht

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Image by huoadg5888 from Pixabay

ISPCA report 75% increase in cases submitted for criminal prosecution By Emma van Oosterhout

News Co-editor The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has reported a 75% increase in the

amount of cases submitted for criminal prosecution in 2023. The amount of case files has increased from 17 to 33 cases. The ISPCA currently has nine inspectors across the country. When an animal cruelty case

GALENTINES Day PROSECCO & PANCAKE BRUNCH

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gets submitted, an inspector is Dowling said that during the assigned to the case, and they COVID-19 pandemic, there was must investigate the claim. an increased demand for dogs As there are so little inspec- -more people were working tors, the ISPCA reports that it from home and had more time must be very selective in the to devote to raising a puppy. cases they investigate. However, this has led to This means that they can Ireland having too many dogs, only investigate the worst cases and as people returned to due to the lack of inspectors. their workplaces, some aniThe ISPCA has seen a 49% mals have been abandoned or increase in the amount of dogs neglected. surrendered between January This has caused animal and November of 2023, due to shelters to be stuck with rising animal welfare concerns. numbers of animals. The number of cats seized Speaking to Cork’s 96fm, and surrendered increased by Caroline Faherty of the ISPCA 44% in the same period. spoke about Ireland’s cat According to Chief Animal population. Welfare Inspector, Conor She said that Ireland has a Dowling: “Offences under the huge cat population, and peoAnimal Health and Welfare Act ple not neutering their cats has could include failures to care led to this. for an animal properly or failMs Faherty said: “people ing to do anything that causes have this thing where [they unnecessary suffering and not say] ‘it’s not my cat’, a cat providing appropriate food or comes along, could be a stray water of shelter.” cat who’s lost his way, someIf found guilty, penalties can body starts feeding the cat, but include up to five years in prison, they won’t neuter it, because and fines of up to €250,000. they keep saying ‘it’s not my According to the Irish Exam- cat’. iner, one recent case involved Well, if you’re feeding 115 dogs stacked on top of each the cat every day, I’m telling other in wire cages in a house. you, it’s your cat, it’s your The dogs were forced to responsibility.” breathe “highly corrosive While the fact that there has ammonia gas from stale urine”. been such a large increase in This is damaging to their eyes, cases submitted for criminal nose, throat and respiratory prosecution is a good sign, system, and can lead to blind- there is still a long way to go ness, lung damage, and in in regard to cruelty against some cases, death. animals.

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Features · Gné-altanna

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Raise and Give Week: The Return of a Legend to University of Galway Campus By Izzy Tiernan

Image by the Students’ Union

FIRE WALK Siúl Dóiteáin

Can you take the heat this February?

Raise funds for Galway Rape Crisis Centre and Cancer Care West. Limited Spaces

12/02/24

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The return of Raise and Give (RAG) Week to the University of Galway campus is a long awaited, highly anticipated resurgence of a long-standing tradition which students partake in every year, normally around the week of Valentines Day in February. Raise and Give Week is often seen as a week where students go out, party, skip lectures and blow off some steam, while also boosting the nigh-time economy in Galway City and, sometimes, causing headaches for Galway locals and neighbours living in the city. However, RAG Week was not always centred around partying, and for the first year in many years, University of Galway Students Union signed an agreement with University Management to hold official Raise and Give events on-campus again. The purpose of the week is in the name: to raise money for charity, and to give back to the community around us (while having a lot of fun as well!). The Students Union chooses two charities to sponsor each year. For 2023-24, the chosen charities are Galway Rape Crisis Centre and Cancer Care West. It is our hope and our privilege to raise as much money as possible for these fantastic organisations. Running the week of Sunday February 11 to Friday February 16, the Students Union have loads planned, with a diverse range of activities and events for all students. We have a Charity Shave Off where any student can sign up to raise money for the two charities and have their head buzzed (come along to watch two of your full-time officers get the chop as well!), a charity auction, Swiftie’s Sult Takeover where you can listen to your favourite Taylor classics, Galentines day brunch and a massive dance gig that is yet to be announced. As well as all that, there will be a Fire walk, where students and staff will brave an exhilarating walk across hot coals in the spectacular setting of the Quadrangle on Monday February 12. The charity auction will see 20 spectacular items going under the hammer to raise as many funds for charity as possible. There is so much more as well, so make sure to keep an eye out on the Student Union’s social medias to find an event that will suit you. RAG Week can also be a week of excess and a lot of alcohol, so to help students try and stay, we’ll be running a drug harm reduction and information campaign beforehand, with tips and tricks on how to try avoid negative experiences if you choose to use substances. Also, the newly formed Student Safety Watch will be active most nights of the week. This is a group of students who are trained and paid to help students who may come into a bit of bother on a night out. They walk routes on and around campus and hand out water, chocolate, condoms and much more. Make sure to look out for the high vis with the Student Safety Watch logo on the back and ask for help if you need it! 2024 Raise and Give Week is sure to be a spectacular one, with something hopefully for everyone. Even if any of the events don’t suit, you can still donate to the charities by donating to the Shave Off funding pages. Stay safe, have fun, and let’s raise the roof on RAG Week!

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Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Features · Gné-altanna

Society Spotlight – Dansoc By Leona Gilmore It is safe to say that the University of Galway’s dance society, commonly known as Dansoc, is the perfect society for anyone interested in Dance. Founded in 2002, Dansoc is a joyous and upbeat society that absolutely anybody can join. Dansoc holds weekly classes in all styles for dancers of all levels and abilities. Rooted in creativity, vibrancy and inclusivity Dansoc ensures that there really is something for everyone with an incredible variety of ten different dance classes held every week at beginner, advanced and open levels. These classes include dance styles such as; Contemporary, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Irish, Bollywood, Zumba and Salsa dancing not forgetting the weekly strength and conditioning classes also held. The Dansoc classes are very affordable which is excellent for students who are on a budget! The tickets cost five euro which include four weeks’ worth of classes. The society does not only have dance classes, they hold workshops as well. Last semester Dansoc held three different dance workshops in styles including: Heels, K-Pop and Bellydance. The workshops were a huge success among the society’s members. Over the past year in particular Dansoc has been remarkably successful with a striking total of 220 events ran during the course of the last academic year alone. Lucy Deacon, the Auditor of Dansoc, has been a loyal and dedicated Dansoc member since her first year studying at the University of Galway. Lucy took on the role of Auditor this year because she loves being a part of the committee in such an active society. Lucy wanted to do her part in continuing to plan and run the societies classes and events.

“I had been a part of the Dansoc committee for the past two years and have been lucky enough to be part of the amazing work that the society does” says Lucy. Lucy’s decision to take on the role as Auditor was heavily influenced by the people in the society. “I have an opportunity to work alongside so many amazing people on the committee and I appreciate every single one of them and work that they put into the society,” Lucy adds. Dansoc has been a very important part of Lucy’s college experience. She has created many memories and friends from the society, and it has allowed Lucy to continue to explore her favourite creative outlet. “I love being a part of Dansoc as we create a fun, safe environment for people of all abilities to get involved” Lucy says. Lucy hopes that “the society continues to be inclusive and welcoming to all members and that everyone feels encouraged to get involved and most importantly have fun!”. “This semester we have a lot of exciting events happening from workshops, inters, social events and our end of year showcase with CheerSoc.” Lucy speaks about what she is looking forward to this semester within the society and her ambitions for the society. The University of Galway’s Irish dance crew placed first at the Intervarsity competition last year. With this year’s Intervarsity Competition fast approaching the dance crews have been working extremely hard preparing their routines. The happiness and enthusiastic atmosphere found within Dansoc classes and events is astonishingly infectious. You will not want to miss out on the guaranteed fun to be had this semester with Dansoc. If you’re passionate about dance or if you want to try something completely

Classes include dance styles such as; Contemporary, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Irish, Bollywood, Zumba and Salsa dancing not forgetting the weekly strength and conditioning classes also held. The Dansoc classes are very affordable which is excellent for students who are on a budget! Tickets cost five euro which include four weeks’ worth of classes!

”

new whilst making new friends, then Dansoc is the perfect society for you. As Lucy says “it doesn’t matter if you’ve never danced before or have danced your entire life, there is a space for everyone in our society.”

Features · Gné-altanna

Editor diaries

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Image by Biljana Jovanovic from Pixabay

By Rachel Garvey

Features Co-editor

Greetings fellow sinners and a Happy New Year. The year of 2024 has officially begun and with it comes resolutions and a new found purpose for reaching goals and beginning new hobbies. I wonder who took their Christmas decorations down before or after January 6 because it would be fantastic to hear that I’m not alone in taking them down before then; specifically on December 31. One simply must learn to understand the drive to start the new year off with a clean house void of any white bearded men and jolly snowmen and a new organisational structure for the home. Yule is officially over, it’s time to put all of that away for another eleven months. It feels satisfying and relieving to be done with everything Christmas related and to be starting off the new year with a great outlook on the things you would like to accomplish for 2024. However, before 2023 closed its curtains, I was hit with not one, but two deaths. My two babies, my hamsters passed away; Peanut on November 17 and Pipsqueak on December 24. They say you have to take the bad with the good, but no-one deserves to have that grief at Christmas time or any time of the year, but I was beyond grateful that I had the support of my family and that in my babies’ time of passing, I was right there with them. Being a hamster Mam was the best thing in the entire world and quite frankly, they were my world and it’s the hardest thing to say goodbye to a family member. They aren’t just pets. They are family. As each obstacle rears ahead, all we can do is assess each one as it comes and figure out how to get through it. The new year brings a contagious motivation to a lot of people with the promise of a new exercise regime, a new menu for one’s stomach, new career opportunities or starting a journal; you know, that one you always said you would start, but it has been three years now of procrastinating it. I do recommend the journalling because it is highly therapeutic to splay your thoughts on to a piece of paper that need to be written down in order to free some space in your mind. People’s minds need to be minded nowadays. One’s mental health can benefit greatly from keeping a journal and exercising daily. Why not take a walk around town to some of Galway’s bookshops? In amongst the shelves, you might just find your new paper bound partner that would love nothing more than for you to take a pen to its pages. However, a new year can also bring a lot of pressures to do such things. Rome wasn’t built in a day and the Garden of Eden probably wasn’t either, things don’t need to be rushed, things don’t need to change straight away. If you feel the need to exercise, January doesn’t have to be the set month, it could be May by the time you decide you want to accomplish your 2024 goals and that is okay. This pressure that is put on everyone should not be given the attention it does. The whole thing of you have to start now because it’s the first month, it’s pointless to start something after the first month. I’m sorry, but whoever made up that rule will be disappointed for these independent people over here. 2024 is your year, filled with your aspirations, filled with your future accomplishments, filled with your pending plans; the key word in that sentence is ‘your’ because no-one else, not even society gets to dictate your 2024 timeline. Oh, also, three parting words; mind your mind.

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

2024 the year of making dreams reality By Latisha McCrudden Most people entering a new year set a new goal or resolution for themselves; I am no different. I am a first-year student at the University of Galway, and for me personally and academically, I want 2024 to be my best year yet. Academically, I aim to do as well as possible in my semester two assignments and exams to be in a good position heading into the second year. There are such great opportunities academically and for my future career in the college, I currently am a first-year representative on the Law Society, auditor of the Politics Society, and vice auditor of the Minceirs Whiden society. I aim to be as involved in these roles and to learn from the peers around me also. I also hope to work in a solicitor’s office during the summer to gain as much valuable training and knowledge for my future career. Personally, I want 2024 to be the year I turn my dreams into reality. I have been doing karate since age four and am currently a first-dan black belt, but I aim to grade for my second-dan black belt this year. I am also an activist, so I have big plans and ideas for what this year can hold for me with that. I hope to attend as many events, protests, and meetings as possible in 2024. I have previously been asked to speak at events and conferences, so I’m also hoping that that continues into the new year. I’ve also spoken before in the Oireachtas, so it’d be delightful if another opportunity came up like that again this year. My plan is also to fundraise for organisations and groups that are important to me. Mindfulness-wise and physically, I want to end the year better than I started. Mental health has been a significant factor in my life over the last few years, and I hope by the end of 2024, it won’t be as big of a factor. I am doing different things to implement this: journaling every night before I go to bed, going out for a walk in the fresh air every day, hitting my step target, doing more self-care this year. These are all just things I enjoy and bring me happiness. Without a clear and healthy mind and from experience, every other part of your life decreases, and you do not want the essential things in life anymore. Physically, it connects back to my mental health. Running brought such a clearness to my mind, so I am picking it up again. Some races are booked for later in the year to motivate me on this journey. I hope to get everything sorted for myself this year with my driving, such as driving lessons and tests, and I hope to save as much money as possible. 2024 is the year I put myself first. My mum always tells and encourages me how I can afford to be selfish at this point in my life, so I will go for as much as I can. My goal for this year is when December 31 2024, hits; I can look back and say, “damn, all that hard work was worth it.” You can be anything you want to be in life, and I always live by the quote “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” so live your year and life the way you want to live it.

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Features · Gné-altanna

Prepare for your future career with a postgraduate qualification Postgraduate open day taking place on February 6th University of Galway is pleased to extend a warm invitation to our current undergraduate students to explore the possibilities of postgraduate education at the upcoming Postgraduate Open Day, taking place on Tuesday, February 6th, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Bailey Allen Hall. Embarking on a postgraduate journey is a transformative step that not only broadens your knowledge but significantly enhances your employability. Research indicates that individuals with postgraduate qualifications experience notable career progression and an increase in earning power (Source: Comparative Starting Salaries and Career Progression of Graduates). Here’s why a postgraduate degree could be the key to unlocking your future success:

Career Advancement:

• A postgraduate qualification adds a valuable credential and highly sought-after skills to your CV. • Research shows that postgraduates experience substantial career progression and increased earning potential.

There is a Path for Everyone:

The University of Galway provides an extensive array of courses catering to diverse areas of interest: • There is a diverse array of full-time and part-time postgraduate programmes available at the University of Galway, including taught and research masters, as well as doctoral research options. • There are over 200 flexible, online, and blended learning options on offer.

Our commitment to postgraduate education reflects our belief in the transformative power of advanced learning and research. Join us on February 6th to explore the possibilities that await you.

For further information, please contact: pgopenday@universityofgalway.ie

Employability Boost:

• 91% of our postgraduates are employed or in further study just nine months after graduation, underscoring the high employability of our graduates.

The Postgraduate Pay-Off: A Lifetime Investment:

Investing in a postgraduate qualification yields a significant pay-off, not just in immediate financial return, but throughout your career: • Postgraduate starting salaries are, on average, €8,000 more than undergraduate starting salaries. • Over a lifetime, master’s degree holders can expect an increase in earning potential of €146,000, while PhD holders can anticipate a remarkable €222,000 increase (Source: Irish Universities Association Impact Report, 2018).

Scholarships, Funding, and Educational Loans: Your Path to Success

We understand the financial considerations of postgraduate study. To support your ambitions, EU students graduating with a First Class Honours (or equivalent) undergraduate degree are eligible for a €1,500 scholarship toward their master’s course fees (application required).

Career Development Centre Support:

We acknowledge the challenges that come with applying for a postgraduate degree. To ease this process, our postgraduate department is here to assist students, ensuring a seamless application experience amidst their busy schedules. • The Career Development Centre (CDC) at the University of Galway is here to guide you in selecting the postgraduate course that aligns with your interests and career objectives.

University of Galway Postgraduate

Open Day

6 February 2024 12–3pm Register Now universityofgalway.ie/ postgraduateopenday

Opinion · Tuairim

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Image by Nikolay Georgiev from Pixabay

Does college prepare us for the real world? By Holly Leech

Opinion Co-editor The real world is a scary place. As a child it was a lot easier to dream of one day becoming an astronaut, a ballerina, or a superstar. Nowadays, what was seemingly simple and achievable, has become out of reach and unrealistic. Growing up is learning that hard work is required to make those dreams happen. And even then, it’s probable that those

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dreams will be confined to the walls of a childhood bedroom – from within which the world seemed so vast. It’s normal to not recognise a past version of ourselves. The older we get, the further removed from our younger selves we become. Our childhood selves could not fathom the realities of this world from behind the protective shield of imagination. As we move through the different stages of life, we learn that some of our experiences have prepared us better than others. This is unique to each individual. For some, primary school prepared them well to integrate into secondary school, which in turn was an asset when they graduated into third level education. For others, it may have been sport or other extracurricular activities that assisted in teaching them skills for what was yet to come. The real world is not as predictable as we may like. There is no foolproof plan to prepare us for working in a full-time job. I suppose it’s one of those instances where the answer is really that it all depends. It depends on what course someone is studying, what career they are looking to pursue. It’s dependent on how active someone is in participating in college life, and how much they may rely on stability or routine. But asides from that, there is the fact that the regular working world does not have a month-long holiday in winter, or a four-month break over the summer. Showing up in the regular working world is not optional in the way that attendance in college is arguably becoming. A job has much more responsibility associated with the role, and usually requires taking initiative and developing a broad skillset. From being raised during the digital age, to being trapped indoors during the ‘COVID years,’ the current generation of youths have experienced unprecedented methods and measures of social restriction during the primitive years of development. The long-term implications of which are yet to be revealed. As it already stands, college can be a lonely and isolating time in a young person’s life. It is a time of self-discovery, of adventure, and of a lot of change. During the three or four years that a student is studying in their undergraduate degree, they are settling into a different pace of life. One requiring fluidity, flexibility, and constant shifting. It can be demanding to move straight into the rigid structures of a corporate work environment. College life is quite different to real life. It is likely to be a shock to the system when graduates are entering their first corporate jobs. While college does not necessarily prepare us for the real world, it sets us up with a pretty strong foundation for entering the next phase of our lives. That, paired with the experiences gained through travel and exposure to different cultures, can be all that one needs to turn the page for a new chapter to begin.

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Opinion · Tuairim

Paper versus Pixels: Have Kindles and their convenience replaced the need for physical books? By Aine Feeney

eyes did not strain like they would if I was looking at a screen. The juggernaut of digitisation has brought Apart from physical features, Kindles many technological alternatives to every- also have lots of experiential features. day items. Smart watches are now the You can annotate, highlight, or look up default in comparison to analogue. iPads words by tapping on them. You can also and Apple Pens have become a stand in for link your device to a Goodreads account pen and paper in classrooms and lecture to help you keep track of what you’ve read theatres all over the world. So too have throughout the year, a comforting thought books been met by a digital counterpart: for bookworms who set themselves high the Kindle. and ambitious reading goals each year. Since its release in 2007, the Kindle has However, it’s important to look at what become a popular Christmas gift item for the reader misses out on by opting for a both children and adults. The Kindle has Kindle over a regular book. While reading brought so much convenience to read- on a Kindle helps you get through books ers’ lives, giving them access to an entire faster, you miss out on the satisfying library in one slim, portable package. But feeling of sticking your bookmark at the can the Kindle act as a complete replace- halfway point of a long book (or dog-earment for books? ing the page, if you’re that way inclined). I received my very first Kindle this past One of the main reasons that I wanted Christmas. After years of swearing that I a Kindle was to save space on my shelves, could never read on a screen or give up but on the other side of that, I also miss the smell of a brand-new book, I caved to out on curating a physical collection of convenience. I got a Kindle Paperwhite, books that I love. I read Dolly Alderton’s one of the most popular models, which Everything I Know About Love last year has adjustable screen lighting, a ten-week in paperback format and immediately battery life, and enough storage to hold passed it onto a friend, who then annothousands of titles. tated it with her own thoughts and sent Unlike phones, tablets, and laptops it back to me. You can’t do that with a which emit blue light through a backlight, Kindle. newer models of Kindles have a front There’s no denying that buying books light. This means that the light is pointed in Kindle format is a much more cost-eftowards the screen rather than towards fective option; Kindle eBooks range from the reader’s eye. I was apprehensive, until €0.99 - €5.99 and you can also avail of I got my own Kindle and found that my Kindle Unlimited for €11.75 per month,

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

giving you access to an unlimited number of books. However, it can’t mimic the joy of wandering around a bookshop and stumbling across a random book you end up falling for. As the old saying goes, you should never judge a book by its cover. But as humans we are constantly stimulated by visuals, colours, and illustrations, meaning that most people are drawn to a book by its cover design. While Kindle shows you the covers of books, they are in black and white, so they don’t have the same visual appeal. In my own experience, I rarely stumble across new books on my Kindle and I instead use it to read books that I already had on my “to be read” list. As is the case with most modern iterations of technology, there’s a price to be paid for convenience. A smart watch will never mimic the aesthetic appeal of an analogue watch. An Apple Pen will never replace the satisfying ink scribble of a pen and paper. A Kindle will never truly match the satisfaction of walking to a bookstore and serendipitously stumbling across a great new read to add to your collection. The great thing is, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. The Kindle is a great tool for readers but physical books will always be there when you want to escape the world of technology and truly immerse yourself into a new place.

There’s no denying that buying books in Kindle format is a much more cost-effective option; Kindle eBooks range from €0.99 – €5.99 and you can also avail of Kindle Unlimited for €11.75 per month. However, it can’t mimic the joy of wandering around a bookshop and stumbling across a random book you end up falling for.

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Opinion · Tuairim

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

New student accommodation brings hope for students and concern from local residents By Fiona Zokou A plan has been proposed to add 257 bedrooms to a lot in Terryland which had already been approved for further student accommodation. While this is a positive sign for students, many locals have voiced their objections to the new addition. The housing crisis in Galway City has been a constant frustration for many, especially students, as they struggle to find housing. This is why the plan to increase the size of the student accommodation, which has already been approved by Galway City Council, is a very much-needed addition.

Image by Catkin from Pixabay

Stated by the Connacht Tribune, the how “the development would be ‘completely accommodation is set to be located beside out of character’ with its surroundings and the Crestwood estate on Coolough Road. could lead to antisocial behavior” described There were originally supposed to be by the Connacht Tribune. 248 single bedrooms, however with the While these concerns are valid, for new plan, there would be an addition of students, it is the least of their concerns. nine rooms, a raised height on one of the As the number of new students increases 37 blocks, increased parking and accessi- each year, the lack of affordable housing ble apartments, to name a few changes. grows more and more dire. However, for local residents, these changes The creation of the 257 new beds brings are of great concern. Recently, 18 objections hope for students and could be of great have been submitted over the project, includ- importance to the University of Galway. ing by the Crestwood Resident’s Association. More students would have access to higher A reason cited was that the neighborhood education, and it could offer further stability is comprised primarily of bungalows, two- to all students, Irish and international, who story houses and family homes. Locals stated do not always have the luxury to travel home easily if accommodation fails to be found. However, this can only be achieved through affordable housing because the creation of the new student accommodation is meaningless if the average person cannot afford the price. A survey taken in September 2023 about accommodation within Galway, saw over 2,000 students responding. It described how out of all of the respondents, there were “over 600 students who don’t have suitable permanent accommodation” and “those students range from people that are sleeping on friends’ couches, staying in hostels or commuting more than half an hour each way from college.” Even with the new on-campus accommodation: Dunlin Village and Goldcrest Village, it is still not enough. The going rates are at almost 10,000 euros for luxury apartments which students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds and the average student or family cannot afford to pay. Third level education is already a privilege in itself to receive and with the exorbitant fees, for many, university education has become unattainable. In 2023, it was released to the Connacht Tribune that there was an 11% dropout rate, three per cent higher than during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the ongoing crisis, there have been many demonstrations, such as the sleep-out which took place in September. Hosted by the University of Galway Students’ Union, students took to the street, sleeping overnight in Eyre Square to protest the homelessness problem among third-level students. But the question remains: why should students have to protest in the first place? If priced reasonably, the new accommodation could offer a sense of relief for many students at the University of Galway. Coming from near and far, every student deserves an equal opportunity education, no matter the cost.

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Opinion · Tuairim

Do I know how to date? By Rachel Garvey This article is far from the confessions of a Galway girl. Think of it more as a Galway girl’s advice about this small city’s dating scene and about the other categories involved with such a topic. There are questions one must know the answers to; lessons that one needs to learn before plunging into the pool of new loves and regretful date nights that they have spent hours anticipating only to be drowned by boring one-way conversations and those visible glances at one’s phone screen to see if they can hint at the old: Oh my, look at the time, I must get going. Literally. Questions of; is this thing we call ‘dating’ difficult? Are dating apps seen as an asset or a liability when it comes to the well-being of one’s heart when searching for love? How can one come to a healthy balance when integrating a new relationship into their life? And lastly, college is a sure way to meet new people and establish new connections quickly, but can they lead to relationships being too intense, too serious? Galway is such a compact city, bustling with anyone and everyone, where even strangers become friends quite quickly. In this little haven, relationships blossom and new loves meet. With that statement, there leaves little room to doubt the question of the level of difficulty that there is when it comes to dating. Simple answer; dating is not difficult unless you make it difficult. I think a lot of the difficulty stems from people having unrealistic standards when it comes to their perfect match. One’s physical appearance shouldn’t matter; at the end of the day everyone is the same with a beating heart that wants the same thing we all do; to find someone. One should also consider not forcing themselves onto the dating scene, to let it happen naturally. Mother Nature does it so well, why not try her style and let a natural path lead your significant other straight to you. Oh, we all love a good dating app, don’t we? Perhaps this is the part where I subtly slide in my Galway girl confession; I used to be on numerous dating apps to better my chance at finding somebody and every time I was disappointed. I was trying too hard. I put in too much effort. It was all for nothing until I stopped trying so hard. I wasn’t rushing to my phone every time it pinged, and I was rewarded handsomely with my person, the one I’m still with today over two years later. It is up to you to decide if these apps help us or break us by the way we use them. Perhaps you don’t like the online forums and that is perfectly okay. Perhaps you prefer the in-person speed dating events or meeting someone in the coffee shop.

Lastly, there is such a thing as too serious too fast and that can have a lot of consequences especially when you’re new to a person. When you meet someone and you click perfectly, you don’t have to be talking about your wedding date and the number of children you’d like to have because it’ll scare them. As students, you have priorities that tie you to studies, but not only that, you have a priority to learn how to be independent in a new place. You have the chance to find out who you really are. If you have found who you are and what you would like to be then amazing, you did a good job. But if you’ve yet to find out who you are then amazing, you did a good job also. No-one moves at everyone else’s pace; you all move at your own pace. College is a time to find out about yourself in a lot

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay of ways and until you know yourself well enough then you should be able to take that and share it with someone else because I have heard it before, “I need to be able to be by myself and be an adult alone for a while.” Adventure, explore, learn and thrive. You’ll know when it’s time to meet your person, but that’s one bit of advice I won’t explain about because like I said, everyone is different. You’ll know when the time comes.

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Arts & Fashion · Cultúr 7 Faisean

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Oscar Predictions – Oppenheimer likely to win big By Emma van Oosterhout

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With the Golden Globes taking place on January 7, a clearer picture emerged of who might be successful in claiming an Oscar statuette – the most coveted awards in Hollywood. The biggest award, Best Picture, recognises the best film of the year, and was last year awarded to Everything Everywhere All at Once. The films most likely to receive a nomination are Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, Barbie, Poor Things and The Holdovers. Of these, Oppenheimer seems to be the favourite to win among critics and betting sites alike. The award for Best Director usually goes hand in hand with Best Picture. Following on from the Best Picture predictions, we can probably assume that Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Martin Scorsese (KotFM), Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things), and Greta Gerwig (Barbie) will all receive a nod. Nolan will more than likely emerge victorious, earning him his first win at the Oscars. Moving over to the acting categories, for Best Actor, possible nominated actors will include Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer), Bradley Cooper (Maestro), Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers), Leonardo DiCaprio (KotFM), and Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction). Barry Keoghan could be a wildcard pick for his performance in Saltburn, as he received a Golden Globe nomination for his role. Murphy and Giamatti both won Golden Globes for their respective performances, so one of these two should be bringing home the Oscar. There were a lot of captivating female performances in the past year, so the Best Actress category could be one of the most competitive this year. Lily Gladstone delivered a beautiful performance in Killers of the Flower Moon, and would be a worthy winner. If she wins, she would be the first Indigenous American actor to win an Academy Award. Other nods will probably go to Emma Stone (Poor Things), Carey Mulligan (Maestro), Margot Robbie (Barbie) and Natalie Portman (May December). For Best Supporting Actor, the race will be between Robert Downey Jr (Oppenheimer) and Charles Melton (May December). The competition for Best Supporting Actress will more than likely go to Da’Vine Joy Randolph for The Holdovers. In the two Best Screenplay categories, Best Original Screenplay could see The Holdovers and Past Lives fighting for the statuette. Best Adapted Screenplay will be a tight race between Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon, which were adaptations of non-fiction books by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, and David Grann, respectively. Best International Film could see either French courtroom thriller Anatomy of a Fall or Spanish Society of the Snow, a film about the Uruguayan 1972 Andes flight disaster, crowned winners. For Makeup and Hairstyling, Maestro is a shoe-in. Kazu Hiro worked on the prosthetics for the film, and has previously worked on Darkest Hour and Bombshell, winning Oscars for both. For Costume Design, Barbie or Poor Things are likely to win. Barbie’s costumes were designed by Jacqueline Durran, who worked with Gerwig on Little Women, for which Durran won an Oscar. Poor Things’ costumes were designed by Holly Waddington, who was already received a number of nominations this awards season. It is hard to know who will receive nominations, and more interestingly, who will win Oscars this year. All will be revealed when the nominations are announced on January 23, and when the awards ceremony is held on March 10.

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Arts & Fashion · Cultúr 7 Faisean

Love, Action, Drama: 2024’s Top 5 Most Anticipated Movies to blast off your holidays By Swathi K Radhakrishnan

Mickey 17 (March 29)

Deadpool 3 (July 26)

2024 has a lot to offer and entertainment this year will see a mix of colors. As everything from Bob Marley’s biopic to the most awaited sequels to Dune, Deadpool, Joker, Gladiator, Inside Out and many more gets released, it will indeed be a historically remarkable feast to all the cinephiles out there. Since most of the releases are adaptations and sequels, there is a promising thrill in the tight competition anticipated. The excitement in familiarity is likely to overwhelm the curiosity for the unknown. Nevertheless, art is in the air. Here are the top 5 most anticipated movies of this year cherry picked to keep your creative mind amused. Some equally After the Oscar winning South Korean thriller entertaining, worth-mentioning films are Parasite (2019), Bong Joon-ho’s adaptation of Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, Jon M. Chu’s Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel Mickey 7 expects a musical Wicked, where Ariana Grande will grand reception this year. Starring Robert Pathopefully have more power like Camila in tinson, the film is about an expendable clone 2021’s Cinderella; Alex Garland’s action sci-fi sent to colonize the distant planet of Niflheim. Civil War; Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice 2; and the Disposable clones like him are exploited until prequel horror film A Quiet Place: Day One. they die, and then new bodies are regenerated Also films delayed due to the WGA and with the old ones’ memories. The film promSAG-AFTRA strikes will finally be released ises to be both a scientific and a philosophical this year. So sit back and enjoy. exploration of futuristic inventions.

With Ryan Reynolds’ Merc With the Mouth and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, Deadpool 3 will be no more than this year’s biggest treat to the MCU, X-Men fans. Wolverine and Deadpool team up in this sequel to defeat a common villain. The film also brings back Jennifer Garner in her role as Elektra.

Dune: Part Two (March 15)

Challengers (April 26)

Joker: Folie à Deux (October 4)

The sci-fi saga sequel to Dune (2021) gets released this March. Fans of the original Frank Herbert books will find the Denis Villeneuve adaptation further exciting this time as he centers the narrative on Zendaya’s character Chani. In the film, Paul Atreides, played by Chalamet, befriends Chani and the Fremen, as he seeks revenge against the destroyers of his family, and faces a terrible choice that concerns the fate of the universe.

Luca Guadagnino aims for a large young audience this year with the Zendaya-starring steamy romantic film Challengers. Unlike his famous films on romance like Call Me by Your Name (2017) and Bones And All (2022), Challengers is a sports drama with a female lead. Nevertheless, as the storyline and the trailer suggest, the film will explore romantic relationships, in an even more complex and nuanced way. It will all start when the tennis prodigy Tashi make her husband Art play a challenger match with her ex boyfriend Patrick.

Joker is back with his lady. Joker: Folie à Deux is the most anticipated film of this year, owing to both the Oscar winning acting of Joaquin Phoenix as Joker and the appearance of Lady Gaga in the film as Harley Quinn. Sequel to the 2019 film Joker, the film will be an amazing treasure to all the Joker and comic book fans out there. After James Gunn and Peter Safran’s appointment as co-CEOs of DC Studios, it is known to be decided that Joker: Folie à Deux will exist independent of the DCU.

Arts & Fashion · Cultúr 7 Faisean

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Movie review: Saltburn scorches screens By Shannon Moore

Elordi), Oxford’s most popular, after help- brings their best performances. A particular ing him out with a flat tire on his bike. The standout was Alison Oliver, who plays Felix’s Saltburn, which released in theaters this past two become fast friends, and after tragedy sister; the monologue she delivers towards November, shocked audiences and critics befalls Oliver, Felix invites him to stay at the end of the film will bounce around your alike. The latest from director Emerald Fennell his home in the country for the summer: brain for weeks. (Promising Young Woman), the film is a sexu- Saltburn. But, as with any gothic thriller, Outside of the performances, Saltburn ally charged psychological thriller. Saltburn things are never as they seem. Thus begins is a visually stunning film. With stunexplores themes such as power, wealth, and a wickedly twisted tale, characterized by ning shots of the English countryside, greed, and is certainly not for the faint of heart. wealth, greed, sexuality, and power. gorgeous buildings at Oxford University, The movie starts like any good gothic The main character and the shining star and utterly grand displays of wealth, it’s novel. A period piece taking place in of Saltburn is Ireland’s own Barry Keoghan. hard to take your eyes off the screen. Each 2007, poor and lonely Oliver Quick (Barry He plays a meek, bitterly intelligent man shot is a visual feast, with thoughtful shot Keoghan) begins his first semester at Oxford with more than meets the eye. As the film composition and clever lighting foreshadUniversity. He befriends Felix Catton (Jacob goes on, his motivations become clearer; the owing what’s to come. Aided by composer character you thought you knew transforms Anthony Willis’ alluring score, and a in front of your very eyes into something soundtrack chock full of early 2000’s hits, much more sinister. It gets harder and Saltburn is a feast for the eyes and ears. harder to root for Keoghan as the film goes The shock value of Saltburn comes from on, but you find yourself wanting him to its sexually charged scenes. As the movie win anyways. Keoghan’s performance has goes on, Keoghan’s character seemingly garnered vast critical acclaim, earning him makes it his personal mission to seduce a Golden Globe nomination; perhaps there’s everyone in the household. Such scenes an Oscar nomination in his future? have gone viral on social media apps like Beisdes Keoghan, Saltburn has a star-stud- Tik Tok, aiding the thriller’s popularity. ded supporting cast. With heartthrob Jacob Audiences are split, with the Guardian Elordi (Euphoria), Oscar-nominated Richard asking the question; “Is Saltburn the most E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?), Ireland’s divisive film of the year?” Alison Oliver (Conversation with Friends), No matter what your personal opinand Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl). The latter ion is on the film’s lewd nature, Saltburn was also nominated for a Golden Globe is sure to be remembered for years to for her performance in Saltburn as Felix’s come. Due to its visual appeal, powerful unfiltered, utterly rich mother. While performances, toe-tapping soundtrack Keoghan and Pike are the only two actors to and shocking scenes, Saltburn is one you garner award acclaim, everyone in the film won’t want to miss.

Movie review: Anyone But You - who said romance was dead? By Naomi Hamilton O’Donnell

and running to Sydney Sweeney in front of the Sydney Opera House seemed to Loosely based on the Shakespeare play confirm what so many have been hoping “Much Ado About Nothing”, Anyone But for: the renaissance of the romantic comYou is a romantic comedy starring Syd- edy. Rumours also began to swirl that the ney Sweeney (Euphoria) and Glen Powell main stars of the movie were romantically (Scream Queens) in the leading roles. It is involved behind the scenes. With so much directed by Will Gluck and Sweeney is also build up and the expectation that this would an executive producer. be the movie to ‘bring back’ the romcom, Sweeney plays Bea, a law student who how does the film actually measure up? happens to meet charming Ben, played Sweeney and Powell are certainly strong by Powell, in an awkward run-in. Sparks leads with clear chemistry. They suit the fly between the pair and it’s all going so romcom setting with ease and could well be well – until a misunderstanding quickly the new go-to for casting directors. Despite turns things sour. A couple of months later some genuinely funny moments between they’re reunited and it’s clear neither of the pair, most of the film’s laughs come from them are ready to reconcile. They’re then the eccentric and interfering parents. The forced together for a destination wedding supporting cast is mostly unfamiliar, with in Australia – where the appearance of the exception of Alexandra Shipp (Barbie) each other’s exes and meddling from fam- and Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever). ily and friends leads the pair to pretend to The scenery is spectacular (do not be a happy couple. Yet they still can’t stand encourage anyone thinking of moving to each other, so how’s that going to work? Australia to watch this movie – they’ll be out The hype for Anyone But You started last the back door of the cinema and on the way summer when footage from the movie to the airport). There are epic moments that circulated on social media. An epic clip of are the epitome of romance. The plot feels a Glen Powell jumping out of a helicopter bit silly at times and it can be hard to keep

up with the supporting characters, but this doesn’t intrude too much on the main story. While it might not be revolutionary, Anyone But You is certainly a lot of fun that will leave you swooning like a hopeless romantic. The romcom might well and truly be back!

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Arts & Fashion · Cultúr 7 Faisean

Movie review: Priscilla By Alíona Hamilton

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With her recent film adaptation of Priscilla Presley’s memoir Elvis and Me, Sofia Coppola has managed to answer a question Kubrick posed over a half-century ago; how could they ever make a movie of Lolita? But she has left us with a new one, why didn’t she? The biggest challenge facing Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla was its ability to tackle the themes of the memoir, the story of Priscilla Presley’s relationship with Elvis walks along the balance of being a story of beautiful infatuation and a story of predation and abuse, and in this, its greatest challenge the film succeeds. These themes are handled masterfully in all aspects of the film. From the casting of our two main characters to the cinematography, dialogue, and costumes, every aspect of the film comes together to create a simultaneous sense of awe and anxiety. We are placed firmly in Priscilla’s shoes and find ourselves compelled by her feelings towards Elvis and invested in the love story she believes in, while being constantly reminded of the fundamentally unequal and predatory nature of the relationship in question. In approaching these themes so effectively and compellingly this film achieves something few before it ever has, with this film Sofia Coppola comes within an inch of making cinematic history, but unfortunately, while this film succeeds in being beautiful, emotionally compelling and complex, and thematically cogent it simply fails to be interesting. The plot of this film is underwhelming. It lacks any real sort of grit or bite. The standout performance in the film is undeniably Cailee Spaeny’s performance as Priscilla Presley, she is absolutely phenomenal. This actress in her mid-twenties managed to convincingly play a precocious 15-year-old girl infatuated with an American icon and a 27-year-old mother, years into an abusive relationship. With gradual and subtle changes in costuming and acting she transitions remarkably from a child who thinks she is grown to an adult who feels like a scared kid, and when she finally becomes a grounded independent woman, it is entirely believable. It is a shame the story leaves something to be desired as it would be unfortunate for Spaeny not to get her flowers for this fabulous performance. Jacob Elordi’s star will not be dulled or shined by this film, his performance as Elvis was entirely adequate. It was a refreshingly understated depiction of a pop culture icon but is one of his less impressive recent performances. This film was beautifully soundtracked; the Presley families reported denial of usage rights to it was a blessing in disguise. The lack of Elvis’ music in the film was perfect, its inclusion though an intuitive choice would have proved distracting and its distinct and noticeable lack brought into focus a key aspect of this film; that while it is a film about Priscilla and Elvis Presley, it is first and foremost a film about a girl and a man. The soundtrack’s anachronism with the time period of the events gives it a timeless feel drawing it away from being a period piece which serves the narrative and themes beautifully. Stand-out musical moments are Dolly Parton’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ over the ending of the film and beginning of the credits and the Ramones’ cover of ‘Baby, I love you’. It’s hard not to conclude that Priscilla Presley’s personal involvement in the film may have contributed to the plot feeling so neutered, which prompts one to think why adapt Elvis and Me at all? Why not tell a fictional story with a little more meat to it? This film is definitely worth a watch for most cinephiles and Sophia Coppola fans, and most audiences will enjoy it, but it is unlikely to make a real dent in the cultural zeitgeist or live for very long in the minds of its audiences, which is a real shame because it so very could almost have been something absolutely incredible.

Arts & Fashion · Cultúr 7 Faisean

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

The best screams of ’23 By Rachel Garvey

instalment in the franchise proving to be a favourite among Ghostface fans as his knife slices through the Big Apple, wielding closer and closer to the Carpenter sisters. Scream VI hit cinemas on March 10, scoring a 76% on Rotten Tomatoes and the audience saying; “Building upon the requel and even improving on it with the lovable ‘core four’ and some gnarly kills, this sequel is a total scream.” A slasher franchise that begun in 1996, it is one of the longest running franchises in the world of horror with Ghostface making it in the Top 10 slashers on Entertainment Weekly.

While the year of 2023 housed phenomenal movies in its timeline that audiences around the world anticipate, it was host to a lot of great horror movies too. One simply cannot forget Oppenheimer and Barbie being released on the same day, or Napoleon, Foe, Anyone but You and Saltburn that made great impressions among cinemagoers, 2023 was a memorable year for new movies.

Evil Dead Rise

Thanksgiving

Slasher director, Eli Roth brought new meat to the table with this horror that featured actresses Addison Rae and Gina Gershon and actor Patrick Dempsey. Michael Myers and Jason Vorhees need to make room for this well-dressed killer as his attire consists of a John Carver mask and a glinting axe; the Carver mask becoming a popular pun as the film is centred around America’s Thanksgiving holiday and the fact that it is not just turkeys getting “carved”. After a Black Friday riot in the town’s store RightMart turns into a bloodbath of fatal injuries and death, the town is plagued by the presence of someone who is seeking revenge for the tragic night. Is a waffle iron worth that much trouble? It scored an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and an audience score of 79% with reviews stating “some entertaining kill scenes make it a lot of fun for horror fans, even if it isn’t all that scary.”

The Exorcist: Believer

A direct sequel to the 1973 film, this movie could not afford to disappoint horror fans as it released on October 6. Director David Gordon Green, whose other projects involved the Halloween franchise, put a

great deal of work into this movie, but unfortunately a lot of fans disagreed. It scored a 22% on Rotten Tomatoes with the audience calling it “a halfway decent possession thriller”. However, there is such a thing as being too critical, but the movie brought back the return of Chris and Regan MacNeil and the original actresses that played them in the ’73 film which was nostalgic for fans. The possession scene of Katherine and Angela was so powerful and horrifying that it grabbed everyone and pulled them towards the edge of their seats. This movie deserved a higher rating, and the end lesson in the final scenes is sure to stick with people; our selfish choices have consequences.

Another horror franchise that has been running a long time, since 1981, with the latest instalment introduced on April 21. Perhaps there are some books you don’t read, some records that shouldn’t be played, some places that are buried for a reason, but in a horror movie all these things must be done. Audiences are in for a gore packed one hour and thirty-seven minutes when sitting uncomfortably to watch this new addition. The movie scored a

Scream VI

This well-known slasher always has a screaming ovation, their sixth

whopping 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and there are a few lessons we will learn from it; you can’t always trust your mother, never eat glass, and always hold on to your ponytail. A new year of horror has just begun and the genre has some exciting new projects in store; Night Swim which is out now in cinemas, Founder’s Day, Imaginary, Abigail, The Strangers: Chapter 1, and loads of others.

BÜMBLÊ & REBOOT EVENTS PRESENTS GALWAY’S LARGEST EVER STUDENT EVENT 3,000 Students – 2 Stages – 10 Acts Festival Level Production RAISE AND GIVE WEEK 2024

SOS 13 February 2024 | Venue: Sult & Áras na Mac Léinn 7:00pm – 12:00am | Over 18’s Event | ROAR

A University of Galway Students’ Union and University of Galway Societies Event

Arts & Fashion · Cultúr 7 Faisean

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

The five best albums of 2023 By Scott Stephens

Arts & Fashion Co-editor Looking back on a year of music is always an odd endeavour. There is an incredibly wild variety of music, and yet when you pay attention to what is going on in the world of music for a whole year, everything looks almost cohesive. Music does not operate in an independent culture, it’s weaved into our lives in so many ways that ends up making us look back on the records released in 2023 and thinking that all those albums, while so different, just feel so 2023. As art’s solitary purpose is to be criticised and ranked against each other, here are the completely objective top five albums of the year that was 2023.

5. Lankum: False Lankum

While only 5th on this list, False Lankum would definitely win in the “Best albums of 2023 to soundtrack my nightmares” category.

fire/In another life, we were arsonists/How long’s the chevy been on cinderblocks?” But the record is not without its danceable tracks, such as ‘Not Strong Enough’, which will leave you having a personal crisis but at least youll be having a groove to the addictive “Always an angel, never a god” bridge. The true misery will come on the song ‘Cool About It’, which if you have somehow not heard yet, I will leave as an unspoiled sadness surprise for you.

3. Lana Del Rey: Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd

The opening track ‘Go Dig My Grave’, is the band’s spin on the folk song ‘The Butcher’s Boy’, a haunting ballad telling the story of a girl who takes her own life after being abandoned by her lover. The track slowly builds to a nightmarish instrumental which eventually fades into the next track ‘Clear Away in the Morning’, and with that we are launched into Lankum’s world of folk, trad, and a bit of ambience. Just when you think you’ve settled into the traditional music on ‘Master Crowley’s’, all of a sudden, the band hits you with their experimental twist. Lankum have mastered everything to do with their music, the instrumentation is brilliant, the tunes are gorgeous, but their crowning glory is Radie Peat’s vocals. Her voice, particularly on the tracks ‘Go Dig My Grave’ and ‘Newcastle’ is suited perfectly to the bands style. False Lankum is far from an easy and light listen, but it is an essential for anyone with a love for trad.

4. boygenius: the record

Following on from their EP, boygenius have delivered their first album together, and make sure you bring a box of tissues. A band that has proven that they are better than the sum of their three parts, boygenius have burst into the mainstream with the record. Members Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus show that they can showcase such personal experiences on such brilliant songs. The imagery of the record leaves you truly in awe of their songwriting skills; “To the T-bird graveyard where we play with

Helped by famed producer Jack Antonoff, Lana Del Rey has created some of her best tracks since the critically acclaimed Norman Fucking Rockwell. Not to give Antonoff all the credit, while the production is fantastic, and his own feature on the album is a highlight of the record, Del Rey is certainly the mastermind, showing off her incredible songwriting skills. The song ‘A&W’, one of the best songs of the year, is a long ranting track detailing a progression from childhood to a depressed sex addict, with the speaker seeing herself as useless for anything

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Arts & Fashion · Cultúr 7 Faisean

in a relationship except sex. Another high on the album, both in terms of quality and title length, which Del Rey seems to be a pro at, is ‘Grandfather, please stand on the shoulders of my father while he’s deep-sea fishing’. This track has Del Rey’s usual gorgeous vocals with her signature complicated lyrics. The track details her desire to reach spirituality, but Del Rey is not making it easy for us. No way anyone is going to get that metaphor from just the title. But where the songwriter succeeds best is on her love songs. The feelings of love and admiration are most present in the tracks ‘Let The Light In’ and ‘Margaret’. The former features Father John Misty, with the two performing an amazing duet. Ocean Blvd certainly marks a new step in Del Rey’s career, her ninth album under that name, and it will be exciting to see where the songwriter takes her work next.

2. Sufjan Stevens: Javelin

If you think the record was a tough listen, strap in for this one. Stevens, now a veteran of the sad folk genre, has been through an incredibly tough time prior to this album. His partner sadly passed away and he was later diagnosed with Guillain-Barré

syndrome (GBS), an auto-immune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. Stevens has lost his ability to walk and is now learning again through physical and occupational therapy. What is striking about Stevens’ work is his ability to transform his personal pain and suffering into beautiful music, but this is nothing new with the artist. Take Stevens’ album Carrie & Lowell, which surrounds the death of his mother. It is one of the saddest and most beautiful albums of the 21st century, and Stevens has once again turned personal tragedy into art. ‘Goodbye Evergreen’, the opener to the album, sets the tone for the album with Stevens bidding farewell to someone he thought was going to be a permanent fixture in his life, his evergreen. At no point in the album does Stevens allow the emotional weight to falter, with it perhaps reaching its peak on the track ‘Will Anybody Ever Love Me?’. Bolstered by elegant production, poignant lyrics, and a general feeling of sincerity, Javelin is Sufjan Stevens at his best.

1. Geese: 3D Country

This time last year I had never heard of Geese, and moreover, I certainly did not predict that my best album of 2023 would be about a cowboy taking psychedelic drugs, getting lost in the desert, and reflecting on the world around him. 3D Country is, at its heart, a rock record, but clearly displays its retro influences, and at parts sounds like it’s been taken out of a rock musical. Cameron Winter,

POETRY CORNER

the main vocalist, proves himself adept at different singing styles, from the shouty declarations on ‘2122’, to his loving performance on ‘I See Myself’. The latter is one of the best parts of the album, a sincere love song where the Winter urges his partner not to be scared to be vulnerable in front of him; “You don’t need to hide from me/I don’t want you to say anything/I see myself in you.” The role of the rest of the band cannot be understated either. The instrumentation and production makes all the songs have a “full” sort of feeling to them, like all the performers are putting their all into the music. All these parts of the album culminate perfectly at the climax of the final track, ‘St. Elmo’. A climactic arrangement plays out as the singer, now at the end of his adventure in the desert, declares that while he does not know the answers to the world problems, he will still comfort the person he loves; “In the fire when war is over/Make believe I know the answers.” 3D Country may sound like a daunting record, but it is the most enjoyable listen of the year and is far more than a simple collection of bluesy rock tracks.

Samhain By Ray Angel Spiller I watch the Sunlight became rare, Precious like you. That makes me miss you more. I light candles, then breathe And watch prettier people live their lives through a screen. Romanticise my quiet life, Of walking then, stopping Rehearsing and rushing. I sit and sometimes clean I rest and never read I brush my hair but ignore my teeth. I weaponise as I resist the dark, Armed with my lamp And vitamin C.

Socs Day Photos by Rebekah O’Reilly and Naomi Hamilton O’Donnell

Photography · Grianghrafadóireacht

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

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Bí i do cheannaire CÉIM don bhliain 2024/25 Help incoming 1st year students transition successfully to University of Galway, get up to speed on coursework and meet new people!

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CEIM.SU.UNIVERSITYOFGALWAY.IE CÉIM is based on the proven Peer Assisted Learning model and is a joint initiative of various Schools/Colleges and the Students’ Union. CÉIM is funded by the students of University of Galway. Tá CÉIM bunaithe ar Shamhail na Foghlama Piarchuidithe, a bhfuil dea-theist uirthi, agus is comhthionscnamh é idir Scoileanna/Coláistí éagsúla agus Comhaltas na Mac Léinn. Tá CÉIM maoinithe ag mic léinn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.

Photography · Grianghrafadóireacht

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Coole Park in January - Hannah Martin

Ula Gołębiowska

Hannah Martin

Coole Park January Bird – Hannah Martin Ryan Wilson

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Student Showcase

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Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Photography · Grianghrafadóireacht

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Coole Park Deer – Hannah Martin

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SU ELECTIONS Full Time Officers • President • Vice President / Education Officer • Vice President / Welfare and Equality Officer • Vice President for the Irish Language Nominations Open: 10:00 Wednesday 28th February 2024 Nominations Close: 17:00 Wednesday 6th March 2024 Election Day: Thursday 14th March 2024

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Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Health & Lifestyle · Folláine 7 Nós Maireachtála

Challenges of participating in Dry January By Roisin O’Neill

“

2024 will mark the 11th year that Alcohol Change UK has been running their Dry January campaign, which invites us to take a break from drinking for the month of January! The campaign aims to make people aware of the harmful effects of alcohol and shows us how much healthier we can feel if we cut down on our alcohol consumption even for just one month. According to Alcohol Change UK’s website, the idea came about when Emily Robinson signed herself up for a marathon in 2011. Robinson realized she wouldn’t be able to train for the marathon if she continued to drink at her current level and so, decided to give up alcohol for the lead-up to her race. The results astounded her. The next year she brought her experience to Alcohol Change UK where her idea was shaped into what it is today. The benefits of cutting back on alcohol are proven and numerous, including mental, physical, and social wellness. It could also save you a bit of money over the thirty-one-day haul. However, as a student, it can be hard to make the decision to “try dry” when the majority of social spaces are centred around alcohol. For many students, the consumption of alcohol can seem unavoidable. Talking to students about their experience, one reported, “I wanted to do Dry January because personally I was drinking a bit much and wanted to start the year out on a good note.” They noted however that they find it hard in Galway’s social scene, stating that there’s “often not much else to do”. Another student talks about some of the alternative opportunities to socialise. “Of course, there are societies which are great, but most young adults want to socialise during the evening when most societies finish.” Another concern they shared relates to the lack of opportunities for young people to dress up, or wear ‘party’ attire. “The only time I really get to glam-up is for a night out. I don’t have an office job and I don’t want to be wearing my Sunday best to university. I think if you’re not going to a club or pub there isn’t anywhere to dress up.” At an age such as this it can be so easy to give in to the pressure

Of course, there are societies which are great, but most young adults want to socialise during the evening when most societies finish.” of what everyone else is doing. Being the only one in a group who isn’t drinking can be extremely isolating. But more people than you might think are taking part in Dry January and finding new ways to take part in the city’s social life while still abstaining. There are several resources on Alcohol Change UK’s website to help you navigate this month’s events! For local news; Instagram page ‘Galway Sober Sallys’ is working to provide social spaces for young people where no alcohol is involved. More and more young people are challenging their relationship with alcohol through the Dry January campaign every year. Perhaps January 2024 will kickstart a change in Galway’s nightlife scene towards a healthier social environment.

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Health & Lifestyle · Folláine 7 Nós Maireachtála

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

2024 Fashion and Beauty Trends: A Synthesis of Timeless Elegance and Contemporary Innovation By Kaia MH As we stand on the threshold of 2024, the trajectory of fashion and beauty trends promises a transformative journey, seamlessly amalgamating nostalgic nods with futuristic twists. This year is poised to introduce a diverse array of trends that not only redefine classic aesthetics but elevate them to a level of modern sophistication. Let us delve into the forecast for 2024, highlighting style elements anticipated to shape the year. Colored Tights: Colored tights, making a triumphant return, are set to inject a burst of vibrancy into ensembles. This trend elevates the traditional accessory into a statement piece. Whether opting for bold primary colors or pastel hues, colored tights provide a striking focal point to any ensemble. Hair as an Accessory: The year 2024 emphasizes the transformation of hair into a dynamic accessory. From tasteful clips to sophisticated scarves and intricate braids, hair becomes a canvas for personal expression. This trend allows individuals to experiment with textures and patterns, seamlessly integrating hair as an essential element of the overall look. Modular Clothing: In fashion, the emergence of modular clothing in 2024 signifies a crucial shift towards sustainability and versatility. This trend not only addresses environmental concerns but also encourages individuals to become conscious curators of their style. By mixing and matching modular pieces, this ethos promotes the concept that transcends the fleeting nature of fast fashion.

The fun thing about this trend is you can take pieces from all seasons, and layer them endlessly into a sickening look. Creative Layering: The year 2024 heralds the era of creative layering, where dresses and tees become artistic building blocks. This trend revitalizes wardrobes by offering endless possibilities for combining textures, colors, and patterns. By reimagining traditional layering techniques, fashion enthusiasts can create visually intriguing ensembles that transcend conventional boundaries. Ribbons and Makeup Trends: Ribbons emerge as versatile accessories in 2024, adorning clothes, hair, and serving as unique makeup embellishments. This trend adds a touch of whimsy to style, while makeup trends, from Pantone-inspired hues to nude blushes, usher in an era of refined expression. The marriage of ribbons and makeup allows for a seamless integration of accessories with beauty, resulting in a cohesive and polished look. Evolution of Blush Trends: Makeup guru Patrick Ta leads the charge in 2024, signaling the comeback of muted blush tones. Doll-like blush is making a return, bringing a hint of romanticism to makeup palettes. This shift signifies a move towards bold and expressive makeup, steering away from subtlety towards a more pronounced, glamorous look. Rise of Lip Liner - 2000s Style: Lip liner, reminiscent of the noughties, is experiencing a resurgence. This trend not only adds definition to lips but also contributes to an overall retro aesthetic. The rise of lip liner complements the return of bolder makeup

choices, allowing individuals to embrace a statement-making lip that harks back to the glamour of the early 2000s. The Matte Resurgence: As we enter 2024, the beauty landscape anticipates the resurgence of the matte skin look. This departure from the soft girl aesthetic signifies a return to glamour and sophistication. Pore care takes the spotlight in skincare routines, with a focus on achieving a balanced and velvety complexion. Ingredients like niacinamide and retinol alternatives become prominent in skincare, promising skin renewal without compromising sensitivity. In conclusion, 2024 is poised to witness a notable shift in beauty and fashion trends, combining the elegance of the past with the innovation of the present. These trends redefine contemporary style, offering a canvas for self-expression that transcends conventional boundaries. Get ready to embrace a year of eclectic and elevated fashion and beauty statements!

SU ELECTIONS Will You Run?

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• Mature Students • Clubs Captain • Societies Chairperson • International Students Officer • Gender and LGBT+ Rights Officer • Disability Rights Officer • Postgraduate Taught Officer • Postgraduate Research Officer • Ethnic Minorities Officer • Environmental and Sustainability Officer • Convenor of the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies • Convenor of the College of Science and Engineering • Convenor of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences • Convenor of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law Nominations Open: 10:00 Wednesday 21st February 2024 Nominations Close: 17:00 Wednesday 28th February 2024 Election Day: Thursday 7th March 2024

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Cainte

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Gaeilge ar champus Le Faye Ní Dhomhnaill Haigh a chairde! Faye Ní Dhomhnaill anseo, do LeasUachtarán don Ghaeilge le Comhaltas na Mac Léinn. Baineann mo ról le gach rud Gaeilge ar champas, agus mar sin, seo na haiseanna ar champas gur féidir leat Gaeilge a úsáid!

Sult, Smokeys agus an Siopa

Is leis an Comhaltas na trí gnó seo ar champas. Mar sin, cuireann an foireann ann lán fáilte roimh Gaeilge ar bith!

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Cumainn le Gaeilge

Tá 2 cumainn lán-Gaelach anseo i Ollscoil na Gaillimhe; An Cumann Gaelach agus An Cu-mann Rince Seite. Anuas ar sin, bíonn cumainn éagsúla ag baint úsáid as an Gaeilge ar bhonn rialta, mar shampla TradSoc. Freisin, tá an scéim “Gradam Gaelach” i bhfeidhm I mbliana freisin. Seo na cumainn a bhfuil suim acu níos mó Gaeilge a usáid. Coinnigh súil amach do na cumainn a faigheann duais ag SocsBall, nó más ball don choiste do chumann eigean thú agus tá suim agat pairt a glacadh, déan teagmháil liom ag su.gaeilge@ollscoilnagaillimhe.ie

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Seachtain na Gaeilge

Beidh Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl ó 1ú go dtí an 15ú Marta 2024. Beidh go leor imeachtaí ar siúl agus bheas an-buíoch as do aghaidh áille a feiceál! Má tá aon moltaí maidir le cén imeachtaí gur mhaith libh a feiceál, déan teagmháil liom ag su.gaeilge@ollscoilna-gaillimhe.ie

Mé Féin!

Is é Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an t-aon Comhaltas in Éireann le Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge Lán Aimseartha! Mar sin, táim anseo chun cabhrú libh le rud ar bith a teastaíonn uathu! Ná bíodh drogall ort teagmháil a déanamh liom le moltaí nó smaointe! Táim anseo chun cabhrú leat!

Pop-Up Gaeltacht Le Sadhbh Clancy

Cainte Editor

Is féidir an comhartha don Pop-Up Gaeltacht a fheiceáil go minic, i tithe tabhairne, i gcaife nó in áiteanna eile, agus d’aithneofá de bharr an cosúlacht idir é seo agus an comhartha don cheantair Gaeltachta. Ó bunaíodh an Pop-Up Gaeltacht i 2017, d’éirigh sé mar bhealach rathúil chun Gaeilge a labhairt go sóisialta agus go réchúiseach. Bhunaigh Peadar Ó Caomhánaigh agus Osgur Ó Ciardha an Pop-Up Gaeltacht sé mbliana ó shin i mBaile Átha Cliath chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn in atmaisféar gan brú ar Gaeilgeoirí le cúpla focail amháin. In agallamh leis The Irish Times dúirt Ó Caomhánaigh go raibh siad ag iarraidh Gaeilge a chur sa gcathair mar tá daoine óga le Gaeilge ag fágáil na Gaeltachtaí. Leis an Pop-Up Gaeltacht tá siad an ábalta an Ghaeilge a cleachtadh taobh amuigh an tí. Ó dtús an Pop-Up Gaeltacht bhí an-tóir go deo ar an gluaiseacht sin in Éirinn agus go hidirnáisiúnta. Is minic gur mbíonn Pop-Up Gaeltacht ag an Cumann Gaelach in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, ar gcampas nó sa cathair, ceann amháin a bhí sa Dew Drop Inn ar an 10 Eanáir. Is áit ina raibh daoine óga ag ceiliúradh a dteanga féin agus ag glacadh leis an ceol traidisúnta, damhsa agus an craic, go hiomlán trí Gaeilge. Ina theannta sin, bíonn an Pop-Up Gaeltacht le feiceáil ar fud an domhain. Ar Instagram agus Facebook bionn cuntais ar fail faoin Pop-Up Gaeltach i Londain, Filideilfia, Melbourne, Vancouver agus go leor eile. Is féidir l’éinne Pop-Up Gaeltacht a dhéanamh ach is cinnte go bhfuil moltaí airithe ag Conradh na Gaeilge. Mar shampla, molann siad teach tabhairne a bhfuil tóir air chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun tosaigh sa háit agus gan dabht dean cinnte go bhfuil na sínithe go léir as Gaeilge. Tá #PopUpGaeltacht ina úsáid sna meáin sóisialta. Tá tuilleadh eolais ar fail ar https://cnag.ie/ en/?view=article&id=1167&catid=145

Cainte

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Aitheantas d’Éachtaí Aisteoirí na hÉireann ag Ócáid na ‘Golden Globes’ Le Roisín Gallagher

agus is anailís iad roinnt de na fiseáin eile ar an siombalachas agus ciall atá ag baint le teachtaireacht an scannán. Bhí rath mór ar aisteoirí na hÉireann i 2023, agus deimhníodh Tá ceol an scannán anois le chloisteáil i gclubanna oíche go é seo Dé Domhnaigh seo chaite ag ócáid gradaim na Golden forleathan agus tá an amhrán Murder on the Dancefloor de chuid Globes a bhí ar siúl i gCalifornia. Bhí Cillian Murphy, Barry Sophie Ellis-Bextor sna cairteanna arís den chéad uair ó 2001. Keoghan agus Andrew Scott i láthair ag an ócáid agus iad i Bhí Andrew Scott i láthair ag na gradaim dá ról sa scannán gcomórtas lena chéile le bheith mar ‘an aisteoir is fearr i scan- All of Us Strangers. Cé go bhfuil an scannán sa chomórtas i nán’ i mbliana. mbliana, ní bheidh sé le feiceáil in Éirinn go dtí an 26ú lá Cillian Murphy ab ea an buaiteoir i mbliana dá aisteoire- den mhí seo. acht in Oppenheimer de chuid Christopher Nolan, a eisíodh De réir Scott in agallamh a fhoilsíodh sa Business Mirror, is I rith an samhradh. Ghlac sé an príomhról, Robert J. Oppen- scéal leochaileach agus pearsanta atá ann, ach ní beathaisnéis heimer, sa scannán agus léirigh sé an caraictéir eirmiúil, é ach oiread. Dar ndóigh ní hé Scott an t-aon aisteoir cáiliúil in aisteach, agus amanta cruálach, a bhí ann go cumasach. All of Us Strangers, tá Paul Mescal, Claire Foy agus Jamie Bell le Ghlac sé an gradam go humhal agus ghabh sé buíochas dá feiceáil sa scannán chomh maith agus is cosúil gur sár taipseánfoireann scannáníochta, dá foireann gníomhaireachta agus tais a chuireann siad ar siúil, má chreidtear an scór ar Rotten dá teaghlach. Tomatoes de 94%. Chaill Barry Keoghan agus Andrew Scott amach ar an Tá Paul Mescal go mór i mbéal an phobail faoi láthair agus ngradam maraon leis na haisteoirí eile a bhí ainmnithe- Bradley seans gur bhraith daoine gur mór an trua a bhí ann nach raibh Cooper, Leonardo DiCaprio agus Colman Domingo. In ainneoin sé i láthair in éineacht le Scott ag an searmanas ach seans nach sin, tá a scannáin faoi seach thar a bheith maith agus is mór an raibh sé i ndán dó an bliain seo de bharr an droch léirmheas a moladh atá faighte acu. tugadh dá scannán eile i mbliana, Foe le Saoirse Ronan. Ainmníodh Barry Keoghan sna Golden Globes dá ról I Saltburn Is léir gur mór an dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh i dtaobh na scannán de chuid Emerald Fennell atá tar éis an-chuid aird scannánaíochta de in Éirinn faoi láthair; is mór an éacht é go a tharraingt ar na meáin sóisialta, TikTok ach go háirithe. Tá raibh leath don phainéal don ‘aisteoir is fearr i scannán’ ónár níos mó ná trí bhilliún fhíseáin le feiceáil faoin gclib ‘saltburn’ tír beag féin. Is maith an chomhairle é don mhéid atá le teacht ar TikTok anois; measann roinnt de na físeáin go bhfuil roinnt chomh maith agus is cinnte go mbeimid ag súil le hionadaíocht radharcanna sa scannáin déistineach nó peacúil fiú amháin Éireannach sna Golden Globes arís i 2025.

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Oifigeach Páirt-Aimseartha

• Oifigeach na Mac Léinn Lánfhasta • Captaen na gClubanna • Cathaoirleach na gCumann • Oifigeach na Mac Léinn Idirnáisiúnta • Oifigeach um Chearta Inscne agus LADT+ • Oifigeach um Chearta Míchumais • Oifigeach na nIarchéimithe Teagasctha • Oifigeach na nIarchéimithe i mbun Taighde • Oifigeach na Mionlach Eitneach • Oifigeach Comhshaoil agus Inbhuanaitheachta • Tionólaí Choláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sóisialta, agus An Léinn Cheiltigh • Tionólaí Choláiste na hEolaíochta agus na hInnealtóireachta • Tionólaí Choláiste an Leighis, an Altranais agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte • Tionólaí Coláiste an Ghnó, an Bheartais Phoiblí agus an Dlí Osclófar Ainmniúcháin: 10:00 Dé Céadaoin 21 Feabhra 2024 Dúnfar Ainmniúcháin: 17:00 Dé Céadaoin 28 Feabhra 2024 Lá an Toghcháin: Déardaoin an 7 Márta 2024

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• Uachtarán • Leas-Uachtarán / An tOifigeach Oideachais • Leas-Uachtarán / An tOifigeach Leasa agus Comhionannais • Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge Osclófar Ainmniúcháin: 10:00 Dé Céadaoin 28 Feabhra 2024 Dúnfar Ainmniúcháin: 17:00 Dé Céadaoin 6 Márta 2024 Lá an Toghcháin: Déardaoin an 14 Márta 2024

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Sport · Spóirt

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny before the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and New Zealand at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The future of the Ireland managerial job By Ronan O Donnell Failing to qualify for the last four major tournaments have seen many Irish supporters frustrated, although most would argue that the pool of talent is simply not there. Failing to beat nations such as Finland, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan and Greece in recent times have left many angered. As soon as it was confirmed that Stephen Kenny was leaving the role, there was no real shock, as many pundits felt there was no option but to see the 52-year-old leave. Lee Carsley appeared to be one name that was fancied to take up the role. The Birmingham born man played 40 times for the republic side between 1997 and 2008. The 49-year-old led the England under 21 team to European success last year with his side going the whole way to glory without conceding a single goal. As he did a remarkable job with a young England u21 squad, could the former Everton man do the same with a relatively young Irish squad? A more experienced name linked to the job includes former Brighton manager Chris Hughton. The former republic international has lots of experience as he has also managed Newcastle, Birmingham, Norwich and Nottingham Forest. He is currently the manager of the Ghana national team in which he took the role in February 2023.

One of Ireland’s greatest ever players The former Chelsea star would be seen as who has expressed a return to man- a shock appointment but it’s clear that agement is Roy Keane. The Cork man’s he’s interested. management career is yet to take off as The man that I think is best suited to he has only managed two clubs, Sun- become the next Irish manager is Neil derland and Ipswich. Both of these jobs Lennon. The former captain of Northern only lasted two years and they were in Ireland has been out of work for the last 2006 and 2009. Most recently he was the year after he was sacked by Cypriot side assistant to Martin O Neill, where they Omonia. Lennon has lots of managerial led the national team from 2013 to 2018. experience where he has managed Scottish The 52-year-old who is well known as a sides, Celtic and Hibernian. The 52-year-old pundit on Sky Sports where he often says won ten trophies with the Glasgow giants it as it is. as well as silverware with Hibs and Omonia. Another Irish footballing legend who When Martin O Neill exited the Irish job in is linked to the job includes the current 2018, Lennon was linked to the role but Shelbourne boss, Damien Duff. He has was content to stay manager of Hibernian. done a decent job so far for the Dublin- As he is currently out of work, a first tilt ers as they are now a stable side in the at international management could well top division. The former premier league be on the cards. Lennon has become the winner with Chelsea led Shelbourne to a bookies favourite in recent weeks as the cup final in his first year although they speculation has spiced up. With names such came up short against a good Derry city as Steve Bruce and Sam Allardyce linked, I Side. The 44-year-old was previously on hope the FAI don’t go for well-known estabboard as a coach under Stephen Kenny lished men as I feel the next boss should be and had issues with the FAI when a video relatively young and ambitious. incident in which Duff was involved in I feel it’s a crucial time in Irish Football relating to the history between Ireland history to get this appointment right as and England got out and as a result it’s evident there are young players comthe Dubliner resigned shortly after the ing through which in the next few years controversy. show their talent as they hopefully can A surprise name who threw his hat play football to their full potential. Players into the ring for the job is current Greek including Evan Ferguson, Andrew Moran, manager, Gus Poyet. His side beat Ireland Festy Ebosle and Kevin Zefi are names that twice in recent times including when they could inspire Ireland to a more successful shocked Ireland with a 2-0 win in Dublin. period compared to recent times.

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Sport · Spóirt

Semester 1 University of Galway Sports Results Athletics: Sports Scholar, Fiona Everard Judo: The Judo Club secured three gold excelled at the National Cross-Country Cham- medals, three silver medals, and one bronze pionships, winning the Senior Women’s title. medal at the Connacht Judo Championships Fiona, an Irish cross-country runner, made on October 20. her senior international debut for Ireland Weightlifting: National Age Grade Chamat the European Cross Country Champion- pionships 2023: UG Weightlifting Club had ships in Brussels on December 10 2023. She several top performers (September 23 2023); finished 34th in the senior women’s 9000m Celtic Nations Weightlifting Championship: Sports Report Highlights: 2023 race, marking a significant achievement in Yan Leydon represented Ireland, and Team Equestrian: Jill McGettigan, represent- her career. This event was her first senior Ireland placed second overall (November 18 ing the University of Galway and Ireland, international cap for Ireland, and she aims 2023); Cork Open: Yan Leydon placed second secured a spot in the Student Rider to return to the European Cross-Country in the -102kg category (October 21 2023). Nations Cup World finals in Basketball: The University of Galway France. Her notable achieveMystics secured their first win this season ments include an individual against Portlaoise Panthers by 75-61. gold medal for Ireland at the Golf: Liam Nolan, representing the Student Rider Nations Cup University of Galway Golf Club, displayed Sweden in August 2023. exceptional skill in winning two matches Rugby: Men’s Preseason during the Walker Cup, becoming the first Rugby Tour to France: University golfer from a Galway club to participate in of Galway won against Gradigthis prestigious amateur team competition. nan RFC with a score of 5-0 Taekwondo: The University of Galway (September 19, 2023). Taekwondo Team students, Vickie Popoola, Sailing: The University of Sapphire Guilfoyle, Admir Music, and Aoife Galway Alumni Team claimed McKeagney, won three silver medals at the the top spot in the 2023 Sailing World Championships in Birmingham in League, followed by the UniJuly 2023. versity of Galway Gold Fleet Muay Thai: Giulia Comini participated in Equestrian: Jill McGettigan, representing the in second place, and the Unithe Unified World Championships in Carrara, University of Galway and Ireland versity of Galway Silver Fleet Italy, securing four gold medals and a bronze in third. in various categories. Congratulations on her Kayak: The Kayak Club showcased Championships in the future to improve impressive performance at the Unified World exceptional performance, with Laoise on her performance. Championships. Plunket, the former club captain, securMountaineering: The Mountaineering Cricket: University of Galway won the ing 1st place in the women’s Boater X Club completed its annual ascent of Mweel- DCU Indoor Cricket Tournament (November competition. The University of Galway rea, Connaught’s tallest mountain, marking 18 2023). has been chosen to host the upcoming the end of a successful year of hiking. WomHockey (Women): University of Galway Intervarsities in early 2024. en’s Climbing Nights were organized to 1 and University of Galway 2 teams achieved In the Xtreme Pantin European Champi- encourage female climbers’ participation. several wins against different opponents onships, Megan Gamble, serving as the Safety (October 1 - November 12 2023). Officer, achieved an impressive second place Table Tennis: Cillian Kirby in Surf Kayaking, contributing significantly had a successful run in the to the club’s success in extreme kayaking. Advanced Tournament, winning GAA - Mens Gaelic Football: The all matches (November 24 2023). Men’s Gaelic Football team made history Fencing: University of Galway by winning the Division 1 League for the Fencers achieved success in first time since 1979. various competitions, including Women’s Soccer: On November 29 bronze placements in the Inter2023, the Women’s Soccer team secured mediates and gold in Schull 2023 a historic victory by being crowned Pre(September 30 and November 4 mier Division League champions with a 2023). 2-1 victory over Ulster University in the Badminton: at the recent final at Athlone Town Stadium. Expleo Ulster Premier Open, stuArchery: Trinity Campanile Cup: Univerdents Richard Kong and Adam sity of Galway archers performed well, with Daynes (badminton captain), Eveline Nee winning gold (October 21, 2023); participated in the men’s douSailing Club: Training trip to the Claddagh, Sept 2023 DCU IV: University of Galway archers domibles discipline—a competition nated, with multiple top finishes (November graded as Premier, the highest 4, 2023); Irish Indoor Open: Dominik Pazdan, Rowing: Brian Colsh won a gold medal level. They secured a commendable second Szymon Kozak, and Stephen Treacy achieved in the World U23 competition, marking a place, clinching notable victories, including success (November 11, 2023); In the second significant accomplishment. one against the former sports scholarship leg of the ISAA Indoor League on November Volleyball: The University of Galway athlete Callum Thomas. 25 2023, the University of Galway Archery Men’s Volleyball team won the Varsity comThese highlights showcase the diverse and Club continued its impressive performance petition, earning the opportunity to represent impressive achievements of the University with 27 archers achieving notable positions the university in an international competi- of Galway’s sports teams across multiple in various categories. tion in the UK. disciplines during Semester one. We are excited to announce that the university’s sports teams have had an incredible semester, achieving remarkable results across various sports. Our teams have been putting in countless hours of hard work and dedication, and their efforts have certainly paid off.

Sport · Spóirt

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Electric Ireland Fresher 1 Hurling Final By Michael O’Connor

University of Limerick 0-11 University of Galway 1-29

Pictured: Frank Lohan, Mark O Donnell, Tommy Fahy and the Michael O Connor. Image from University of Galway GAA on X

HOT MEALS Made Fresh Everyday

After a gap of 18 years, University of Galway claimed a Hurling Fresher’s on their home turf in Dangan with a comprehensive win over a luckless University of Limerick (UL) side. There was no sign of a one-sided contest in the early exchanges. In fact, UL reeled off two quick scores for an early advantage. Sharpshooter Liam Collins was in ominous form however and he soon levelled the scores. His colleague Colm Molloy then took over. He shot four fabulous scores from play in the second quarter. Collins and Gavin Lee also chipped in with big scores as Galway amassed a six-point lead that could have been more were it not for six first-half wides, a fine save from ‘keeper Conor Hanly and the intervention of the post. UL clung on in the tie, largely thanks to some inspired shooting from Sean Rynne. He shot three superlative efforts from almost the sideline. Hanly and Michael Fitzpatrick also scored late in the half to cut the margin to a manageable four. However, University of Galway were devastating in the second half. Collins would end up with 1-13 in total, 12 from placed balls as he punished Limerick for nearly every free conceded. Lee hit another massive score. Charlie Mitchell and Liam Leen scored a pair of crackers each. When Molloy teed up Collins for an emphatic goal in the 48th minute, it left a monstrous gap of 14 points between the teams. The home team registered a stunning 1-14 in the second half. Limerick tried everything and emptied their bench. Nonetheless, they could only muster four points in response. They simply had no answer for a Galway side littered with players with every chance of further special evenings in maroon. Scorers for University of Galway: G Lee 0-2, C Daniels 0-1, C olloy 0-4, D Neary 0-1, M Molloy 0-1, C Mitchell 0-2 (1f), L Collins M 1-13(12f), L Leen 0-2 Scorers for University of Limerick: C Hanly Clarke 0-1 (1f), M Fitzpatrick 0-1, R O’ Connor 0-1, S Rynne 0-4, K Smyth 0-3 (3f), Adam Fitzgerald 0-1, A Leydon 0-1 University of Galway (Galway unless stated):T Fahy (Clare),C Shaughnessy, E Morgan, F McDonagh, B Haverty, G Lee, C Daniels, C Molloy, D Neary, M Molloy, C Mitchell (Offaly), L Collins, M O’Connor, L Leen, F Hanney Subs: S Fallon (O’ Connor, 45), S Gilligan (Hanney, 45), E Enright (Neary, 57), P Kearns (Daniels, 60), M O’ Dwyer (Molloy, 60) University of Limerick (Limerick unless stated): C Hanly Clarke, J Hoctor (Offaly), I McNamara (Clare), E O’ Leary, O Walsh (Waterford), J Conneally (Clare), M Fitzpatrick (Tipperary), R O’ Connor (Clare), J Fitzgerald , S O’ Neill, S Rynne (Clare), S Killeen (Cork), D Keane (Galway), K Smyth (Clare), A Fitzgerald

MONDAY-FRIDAY • 12pm-3pm

Bacon and Cabbage • Vegetable Stir fry • Roast Beef Las anga • Chicken Vol au Vont • Turkey and Ham Fish and Chips • Savoury Quiche • Sweet and Sour Chicken Fish and Chips • Savoury Quiche • Salmon Fish Cakes

From Only €6

Subs: D Kennedy (Killeen, 22), J Collins (Keane, 30), A Leydon (Fitzgerald, 37), G Rowsome ( J Fitzgerald, 45), L Dennehy (O’ Neill, 49) Referee: Niall Malone

Refreshers

Fair

11:00-15:00 0th of Tuesday 3 é Máirt D | y r a u n a J 30 Eanáir Áras na Mac Léinn

Seachtain na nAth-Fhreisear

• Freebies • Inflatable Games • Food Trucks • Vintage Clothes Sale • Music

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Sport · Spóirt

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

O’ Donoghue and McLaughlin shine as University of Galway bridge 44-year gap Ryan Cup Division 1 third level Football league final By Michael O’ Connor

University of Galway Ulster University

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One of the coldest nights of the season greeted football followers to the GAA centre in Abbottstown as old rivals University of Galway (UG) and Ulster University (UU) met once in the Ryan Cup final with UG emerging successful to bridge a 44-year gap since the 1979 success that was followed up the 1980 Sigerson/Fitzgibbon double for the college. In recent seasons they met at the same stage and on that occasion the Ulster kingpins were in the winner’s enclosure. As is the norm unlike years pervious both colleges were missing key players who will be featuring for their counties in the 2024 league and championship. However, those from both colleges who had worked hard to get their sides to this stage had the ideal opportunity to stake a place for Sigerson cup action in mid-January.

Image from NUI Galway GAA on Facebook In the semi-finals University of Galway had too much for St Mary’s Belfast whilst Ulster University edged past UL by the minimum to set up this eagerly awaited decider. Wides were not in plentiful supply in Abbottstown as controlled play and indeed good accuracy once both sides got into the groove did ensure that a low scoring first half did evolve into a positive second half albeit dominated in the main by the Western College. Clare man Mark McInerney opened the scoring after seven minutes that saw UU kick two wides as opposed to one for UG. Most of the play in the opening half was centred around the two 45s as both sides were testing each other out as UU were

playing a solid defensive game that at times frustrated UG before the hard working Danny Fullerton equalised for UU after 11 minutes with Rory Canavan was a thorn in the UG defence but did not score early on. Ryan O’ Donoghue who was the powerhouse for UG after 17 minutes gave his side the lead. Three minutes later and Canavan levelled the final before James McLaughlin who played an influential role in the second half replaced Diarmuid Kilcommins who was carrying a leg injury into the game. With the rain falling and such a pristine surface in Abbottstown players at full speed were losing their grip and unforced errors were in vogue. It would be fair to acknowledge that UG were as defensive as UU when the need arose and indeed they broke down a number of strong UU attacks. Danny Fullerton added two scores for UU before Cian Monaghan had the final score of the first half as UU held a (0-4) to (0-3) half time lead. There was little evidence bar the reality that the UG defence had a grip on the UU attack that the second half story would be so one sided. Two minutes into the second half Ryan Monaghan levelled the game as Conor Corcoran replaced Conor Dunleavy and was very much to the fore for the second half. Evan Lyons and Canice Mulligan were also powerhouses for UG in the central defensive positions as they began to seize control of midfield. Ryan O Donoghue sent UG clear before James McLaughlin with a booming effort before Tommy Conroy made in three in a row and now UG from being one in arrears were three ahead. Danny Fullerton pulled one back for UU and it was now time for Ryan O’ Donoghue to step up and he kicked two in three minutes to leave UG (0-9) to (0-5) ahead by the end of the third quarter. A superb score from UU centre back Ryan McGill gave home to Paul Rouse’s men as they did exert five minutes of pressure on UG but another monster effort that went high into the sky and over the bar. This score seemed to be the score that finally broke UU resistance despite a response from UU after 48 minutes. Danny Fullerton narrowed the gap to two points but it was all University of Galway as the hardworking Liam O’ Conghaile who has shown up well all season for UG and McLaughlin once more were on target to leave UG (0-12) to (0-8) clear entering the final eight minutes.

Cian Monaghan and Rory Canavan with UU’s last score traded points as four points was too much of a deficit for UU to haul in. The final two scores of the game went to UG substitutes Dan O’ Flaherty and Cillian O Curraoin to seal a deserved sixpoint win. Best for the winners included Conor Corcoran, James McLaughlin, Canice Mulligan, Rory Egan, Paul Kelly, Liam O’ Conghaile, Ryan O’ Donoghue if just for the superb point with his back to goal and the Monaghan brothers. UU have players such as Conor Glass, Ethan Doherty and Darragh Canavan to bring back to the panel so it will be a far stronger side that they will bring to championship fare. Following the game chairperson of third level GAA Michael Hyland, a native of Salthill presented the Ryan Cup to University of Galway captain Cathal Sweeney. University of Galway scorers: Ryan O’ Donoghue (0-4), James McLaughlin (0-3), Cian Monaghan (0-2), Liam O’ Conghaile, Ryan Monaghan, Tommy Conroy, Dan O’ Flaherty, Cillian O’ Curraoin, Mark McInerney (0-1) each University of Galway: Liam Brady, Ramor United, Cavan, Conor Dunleavy, Balla, Mayo, Evan Lyons, Shamrock Gaels, Sligo, Colin Murray, Mountebellew/Moylough, Galway, Rory Egan, Edenderry, Offaly, Canice Mulligan, St. Patrick’s, Sligo, Cian Monaghan Oughterard, Galway, Diarmuid Kilcommons Annaghdown, Galway, Paul Kelly Moycullen, Galway, Liam Ó Conghaile An Spidéal, Galway, Tommy Conroy The Neale, Mayo, Ryan Monaghan Oughterard, Galway, Mark McInerney Eire Óg, Inis, Clare, Ryan O Donoghue, Belmullet, Mayo, Cathal Sweeney, Salthill Knocknacarra, Galway (Capt). Subs: Cillian O Curráoin, Michéal Bhreatnach, Galway for McInerney, Conor Corcoran, Moycullen, Galway for Dunleavy, Dan Flaherty, Salthill Knocknacarra, Galway for R Monaghan. Ulster University scorers: Danny Fullerton (0-6), Rory Canavan (0-2), Ryan McGill (0-1). Ulster University: Ronan McGeehan, Darragh Curran, Ronan Boyle, Seamus Kelly, Finian O’ Brien, Ryan McGill, Peadar MacCartan, Bertie McCarron, John Cunningham, John Ellis, Cathal Diamond, Oisin McCann, Conor Cush, Rory Canavan, Danny Fullerton. Referee: David Gough (Meath)

Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024

Sport · Spóirt

Connaire goal proves the difference as University of Galway edge UL Electric Ireland Division 1 hurling league final By Michael O’ Connor

It was abundantly clear that whoever struck first for a goal early in the second University of Galway 1-18 half would assume control of the game. Conor Walsh worked hard and added a University of Limerick 1-14 sequence of scores along with a long-range Friday night lights and action in Dangan as effort by Patrick Burke with a sole response the exams ended in University of Galway and from Diarmuid Hannify as UL were (0-12) in full flow in University of Limerick (UL) saw to (0-8) in arrears after 38 minutes action. the two sides who have been amongst the Adam English who was causing trouble powerbrokers in third level hurling over the without scoring in any great regularity past decade with another trophy for collec- added a 39th minute. tion. UL defeated SETU Waterford to reach Kilcormac Killoughey’s Charlie Mitchel the final as Galway accounted for MTUC in was introduced and played a telling part in Dangan in their semi-final meeting. the remainder of the game. He sent over a As is the norm with the leagues and 40th minute score as his side went (0-13) demands on inter county activity both squads to (0-9) ahead before Alex Connaire capiwere missing a number of well-known play- talised on indecision in the UL rearguard ers. Conditions were ideal in Dangan as the to pounce for the game’s first goal and late inclusion of Alex Connaire was to prove now the home side were seven clear. instrumental in their overall performance. Colm Molloy and Colm Cunningham The perfect start was enjoyed by the who had been moved to midfield pounced Galway college as UL were left in second immediately after the goal for extra Galgear. Alex Connaire with a quickfire brace way scores and now UL were (1-16) to (0-12) of scores, Greg Thomas, Colm Molloy and ahead entering the final ten minutes. UL defender Dan Loftus were on the score- had hit back with scores from Hannify, sheet to open up a five point lead for the Conor O Flaherty and Brian O’ Sullivan. home side after ten minutes. The visitors appeared to be out of conGalway natives Sean O’ Hanlon and their tention in the 59th minute but a close best player on the night Diarmuid Hannify range free was blasted to the University eventually brought UL into the game with of Galway net by Colin Coughlan and once two points each by the 20-minute mark. again the game was alive with University Even with most of the play in the first of Galway leading (1-17) to (1-14). However, quarter University of Galway did not look a late salvo of attacks resulted in the winconvincing as UL had still to show their best. ning score for Conor Walsh and soon after Neither goalkeeper was tested to any the league title was staying in University great effect in this game as point taking of Galway for the coming year. appeared to be the objective of both sides. Best for the winners included Dan Loftus, Max Hackett was amongst the scorers Colm Cunningham, Mark Gill, Alex Confor UL in the final ten minutes as Conor naire, Conor Walsh, Charlie Mitchell, Gavin Walsh added scores near the end of the Lee and Kieran Hanrahan. University of Limfirst half to give University of Galway the erick worked hard but suffered in the third narrowest of leads, (0-8) to (0-7) facing into quarter before finishing strongly with Conor the second half. Flaherty, Cormac Ryan, Adam English, the University of Galway div 1 senior hurling league champions

excellent Diarmuid Hannify, Sean O’ Hanlon, Colin Coughlin and Killian Sampson. Following the game Michael Hyland, Chairperson of Third Level GAA presented the Division 1 league cup to University of Galway captain Colm Cunningham from Moycullen GAA Club

Colm Cunningham receives div 1 league cup from Mike Hyland (third level chairperson) University of Galway: Cormac Kenny (Cappagtagle), Mark Hardiman (Athenry), Pheilm McCann (Clariinbridge), Dan Loftus (Turloughmore), Patrick Burke (Oranmore Maree), Colm Cunningham (Moycullen), Mark Gill (Castlegar), Liam Leen (Clarinbridge), Kieran Hanrahan (Loughrea), Alex Connaire (Sarsfields), Cillian O’ Callaghan (Castlegar), Ruben Davitt (Oranmore Maree), Colm Molloy (Kilnadeema Leitrim), Conor Walsh (Turloughmore), Greg Thomas (Castlegar). Subs: Gavin Lee (Clarinbridge) for Davitt, Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac Killoughney) for O’ Callaghan, Adam Clarke (Craughwell) for Leen. University of Limerick scorers: Diarmuid Hannify (0-5), Colin Coughlan (1-0), Adam English Sean O’ Hanlon (0-2) each Brian O’ Sullivan, Conor O Flaherty, Max Hackett (0-1) each, University of Limerick: Conor Hanley Clarke (Kilmallock), Conor Cadell (JK Brackens), Conor Flaherty (Carnmore), Ian Shanahan (Ballinakill), Killian Sampson (Shinrone), Ross Hayes (Crusheen), Cormac Ryan (Doon), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown), Brian O’ Sullivan (Kanturk), Max Hackett (Moycarkey Borris), Brian O’ Grady ( Kilteely/Dromkeen), Sean O’ Hanlon (Turloughmore), Diarmuid Hannify (Oranmore/ Maree), Adam English (Doon), Donnacha O’ Dalaigh (Monaleen). Subs used: Phillip Wall (Kilbrittian), Conal Moran (Shannon Rovers), Ben Herlihy (Castletown/Ballygran), Dara Maher ( Referee: Niall Malone (Eire-og, Inis)

Comhairle Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn 4 Class Reps Council 4 18:00 Monday 29th January | Dé Luain 29 Eanáir O’Flaherty Theatre, Arts/Science Concourse All Class Reps are asked to attend

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