The College Tribune

The difference is we’re independent

He means business!

Shane Ross reveals his plans for Dáil Éireann

Ooooh, Ahhhh!

The Klaxons

page 8

Siren pages 7-8

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OMG! Louise of Fade Street __________________________________________________

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Siren page 11

UCD Accused of €6m in Unsanctioned Payments

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Amy Walsh | HEA May Withhold Funding If

UCD Do Not Comply.

UCD subject of Oireachtas

Public Accounts Committee.

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UCD may be forced to repay an estimated €6m in unsanctioned payments, as it is suggested that this amount may be withheld from the funding UCD receives from the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

It appears the previously estimated figure of €1.6m, accumulated through unsanctioned remuneration, is actually much higher. The Chief Executive of the HEA, Tom Boland, told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee on the 20th of January, “We’re talking about €6 million over the period of the

Hugh Brady

unauthorised payments.”

The HEA announced their plans to exact repayment from UCD as a result of the unsanctioned payments to staff. “Pending a resolution of these issues we will actually withhold funding from each of the universities involved.”

There are no legal grounds to ask the individuals who were overpaid to repay the amount they received.

As such the HEA are looking to the University to take on responsibility for the cost of repayment.

UCD Ball Set For Athletics Track

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Donie O’ Sullivan ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The College Tribune can exclusively reveal that this year’s UCD Ball, on Thursday 21st April, will be held on the athletics track beside UCD’s main N11 entrance.

The event, set for the last day of term, is “looking good and everything is going to schedule”, according to Jonny Cosgrove, UCD Students’ Union Ents Officer and organiser of the UCD Ball.

Speculation regarding the location of the Ball had been mounting, due to the lack of feasible locations on campus. In 2009, the Ball was held beside the Sports Centre, but that area is now the site of the new Student Centre currently under construction. Last year’s Ball occurred on the football pitches across from the Quinn School of Business, but this area is now also unavailable as it has been converted to a car park, with a view to becoming the Sutherland School of Law in late 2011. It had also been rumoured that the Ball would take place on one of the pitches near the Clonskeagh entrance to the campus, but it is believed some of the sports clubs would have objected.

Cosgrove explained the situation. “The last day of term, the day the UCD Ball traditionally takes place, is normally a Friday - however, this year that coincides with Good Friday, and as a result the ball will be held on Holy Thursday.”

The Ball will take the same format as other years,

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Continued on page 2

Continued on page 3

University Observer Editor Steps Down From Post

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Rubberbandits to play UCD Student Bar

Colman Hanley

Colman Hanley|Bandits to play Thursday 3rd of February for Seachtain na Gaeilge.

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Bridget Fitzsimons has stepped down from her position as Editor of The University Observer. The decision was taken last Monday, 24th of January 2011.

Speaking to the College Tribune, Ms Fitzsimons said, “I left The University Observer for personal reasons and wish to thank everyone I’ve worked with over the past seven months.”

Paul Lynam, UCDSU President, paid tribute to Ms. Fitzsimons, “I would like to thank her for her work and her commitment throughout the years and I would like to wish her the best of luck

The “Horse Outside” duo who feature on RTÉ’s Republic of Telly will be the headline act of Seachtain na Gaeilge which is taking place next week.

Speaking about the Rubber Bandits first visit to Belfield, UCDSU Entertainment officer said, “obviously, we are delighted to get the guys here. They are going to put on a great show on what promises to be a great night, and a great main event for Seachtain na Gaeilge.”

News 1-7

Features 8-12

in the future.”

When asked by The College Tribune for the reasons why Ms. Fitzsimons left her post, Lynam responded; “She resigned for personal reasons, and that is all I am willing to say, anything else is purely speculation.”

“She was not forced to resign, the only person who could force her to resign is me or the IAB (Independent Appeals Body), and we did not do that.”

The newspaper, based in the corridors of UCD Students’ Union in the student centre, is “editorially independent” from UCDSU. However it does

Gaeilge 13

Opinion 15

receives €50,000 a year in funding.

Ms. Fitzsimons was paid €450 per issue, while the paper employs two other paid staff, the Deputy Editor, Paul Fennessy, and the newspaper Designer, who both receive €400 per issue.

The University Observer were unavailable for comment when directly contacted by The College Tribune on Monday night. It is yet unclear who will take the editor’s position at the paper for the remaining five issues they are due to produce this semester, however Fennessy is widely anticipated as the natural successor.

Sports 17-20

January 25th 2011 | Vol. 24 N o 6

News

UCD Accused of €6m in Unsanctioned Payments

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Amy Walsh

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Continued from cover It has been suggested that a sum may be withheld from the annual recurrent grant allocation of the university for the year 2011.

UCD President, Dr. Hugh Brady, has labelled such a sanction as potentially “inappropriate, counter-productive and of dubious legality.” The proposal could put at risk student services in UCD. Furthermore, the proposed sanction could be deemed discriminatory as similar allowances were paid in UCC and DCU. “The University does not accept that the HEA can withhold a portion of the 2011 recurrent grant allocation. To withhold part of the core grant would be discriminatory if imposed selectively on UCD given that similar practices existed in other Irish universities,” said a UCD spokesperson.

UCDSU President, Paul Lynam, said, “We are researching all correspondence between the HEA and UCD and conducting our own investigation. But we firmly believe that if UCD are forced to repay 6 million euro it must not come from the student services fund as it has already been hit by cutbacks.”

UCD is not the only University who allowed unsanctioned payments to staff, as it is estimated that a further €1m is owed from other Irish Universities, thus bringing the total over expendi-

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Donie O’ Sullivan ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The UCD Fashion Show is to return next month after a three year absence, with UCDSU Ents Officer Jonny Cosgrove hoping the event will take place on Wednesday, 23rd February. The Fashion Show had been one of the biggest events on the Dublin social calendar in the past, held in venues as big as the Point and the RDS. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

UCD has some great facilities on campus and we might as well use what is here, and show how proud we are of the place. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Clockwise from left: Hugh Brady, UCD President; Tom Boland, Chief Executive of the HEA; Paul Lynam, UCDSU President.

Buckley, The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG). The report published in September 2010 outlined problems with remuneration in the university sector. It highlighted remuneration policies adopted by UCD which the HEA deemed unlawful under the Universities Act 1997.

Under this act, Universities do not have the power to determine

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LYNAM: “We are researching all correspondence between the HEA and UCD and conducting our own investigation. But we firmly believe that if UCD are forced to repay 6 million euro it must not come from the student services fund as it has already been hit by cutbacks”.

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ture to €7m.

“In 2008 the Government’s own Review Body Report 43 endorsed the need for higher responsibility allowances and the Minister approved allowances in UCC and DCU, where they now form an integral part of the remuneration structure. The other universities wrote to the HEA in 2009, requesting that the recommendations of this report be extended to all universities. To date no reply has been received from the HEA,” said a spokesperson for UCD. The HEA and UCD talks can be traced back to September when a report was published by John

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UCD Fashion Show set for return

the level of pay for staff, above the position of professor. The remuneration for all positions held above that of professor is set by the review body. The remuneration of staff is subject to approval by the Minister for Education and Skills with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

The report highlighted a number of instances in which UCD had entered contracts with staff amounting to more than the review bodies’ recommendation.

These unauthorized allowances amounted to €1.6m over a ten year period. A further €266,000 was paid in performance bonuses

between 2005 and 2008, shared amongst 12 people.

In September, these findings sparked talks between UCD and the Higher Education Authority (HEA), which have been ongoing.

According to the report, UCD’s President, Hugh Brady received a remuneration package that exceeded the figures recommended by the review body, once benefit-inkind was taken into consideration.

The benefit-in-kind payments included life assurance, income protection premium and private health insurance. On-campus residency accounted for a substantial 80% of the benefit-in-kind payments for the year 2005 – 2007.

“With regard to the President’s remuneration, the Accounting Officer noted that the provision of life assurance, income protection and private health insurance formed an integral part of the contract of employment entered into by the University. The benefits-in-kind amounted to additional remuneration which was not sanctioned,” noted the C&AG. Furthermore, between 2005 and 2008 almost €266,000 was paid in performance bonuses to twelve senior staff at UCD. “The Accounting Officer noted that there is no provision for the payment of a performance bonus to staff in the university sector. UCD neither sought nor received sanction to apply a scheme of additional performance related payments,” stated the report.

The department clarified that the Universities Act takes precedence over contracts entered into by the

University and thus any payments made were in breach of the Act, “both the initial making of the payments and their continuation was contrary to the Universities Act, 1997 and as a consequence ultra vires and a breach of public sector pay procedures and norms,” says the report.

In the report, when asked why allowances not authorised by the Ministers were paid, UCD stated that “these allowances have been the subject of very extensive correspondence between UCD and the HEA over a considerable number of years.”

In the C&AG report, Dr Brady “drew attention to the nonexistence of any prescribed process for seeking and granting approvals under Section 25 of the 1997 Act. However, he noted that details of all allowances were returned to the HEA on a regular basis and that no major issues were raised during the period 1997 to 2007 about the legitimate capacity of the University to contract with employees in respect of duties covered by those allowances.”

“UCD believed itself to be fully compliant with the required approval process (in the absence of any prescribed format) through the mechanism of its regular and unchallenged reporting to the HEA,” states the report.

In relation to the unsanctioned payments by UCD, the report highlights the universities position. “These posts are a critical management layer within the University structure and are a key component in generating non-

Exchequer income. A fundamental aim of the UCD strategy is to ensure that there is less of an emphasis on core Exchequer funding,” says the report.

“The university has - as a result of many of the changes facilitated by the appointment of staff to key positions – earned between €50 and €87 million in non-exchequer income during the period referred to by the HEA,” said a spokesperson for UCD. UCD has suggested that payments made to staff were generated from non – exchequer income.

“It matters not a bit that the funding comes from public or private sources,” commented Tom Boland.

“It remains the Department’s view that in the absence of sanction there was no legal basis for the payment of additional remuneration to senior staff, including the President,” states the report. “The payment of allowances for positions of responsibility at UCD was discontinued in 2009. The HEA contends that the university did not have approval for certain allowances. UCD is keen to resolve the issue and continues to communicate with the HEA and the Department of Education & Skills on the matter,” said a spokesperson for UCD.

“We are still finalising things and everything is going ahead,” said Cosgrove, who revealed to The College Tribune that this year’s event is likely to take place in O’Reilly Hall. “We are bringing it home to the campus this year, UCD has some great facilities on campus and we might as well use what is here, and show how proud we are of the place.”

“We hope to see the show going back to its old format, with a preview show the night before, a matinee show so schools and that can come in, and then a gala show on the Wednesday night as the big event,” he said.

Cosgrove added that more details about the show will be released very soon.

Rosanna Davison & Ray Shah pictured at the UCD Fashion Show in 2005.

News

UCD Ball set for Athletics Track

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Donie O’ Sullivan

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Continued from cover with two stages and an array of international and Irish acts. Organisers are remaining tight-lipped regarding the line-up, but according to Cosgrove: “We can promise students that the day is going to be a lot of fun!”

Last year students paid €35 to gain access to the event, allthough ticket prices for this year’s Ball have not yet been confirmed. Cosgrove did confirm, however, that Early Bird tickets would be going on sale at a reduced price, most likely sometime in the second half of February.

When asked by The College Tribune who they would like to see perform at this year’s event, students had plenty of suggestions. Second year Commerce and Italian student, Lauren Reilly, said she would like to see Two Door

Cinema Club and the Rubberbandits play, while third year Law and History student, Conor O’Hanlon, agreed. “Definitely the Rubber-

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Olivia Reilly ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Highlights include the rescheduled Xmas Ball... as well as the RAG Ball.

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bandits, and then whatever they can afford.” Second year Business and Law student, Brendan Lacey, suggested Mumford and Sons and the Saw Doctors.

Meantime on campus, RAG Week, organised by UCD Ents in conjunction with the various societies on campus, is taking place this week. Highlights include the rescheduled Christmas Ball in the bar, where Five and S Club will perform, as well as the RAG Ball on Thursday night, and a sponsored jump off the 40 Foot in Dún Laoghaire on Friday morning.

UCD Ball

USI & UCDSU Look Forward to General Election

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Donie O’ Sullivan | De Brún hopes to register 4,000 UCD students to vote.

Redmond & Co. to travel across country on “USI Election Express” tour bus.

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The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and the UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) have indicated the role they will be playing in the upcoming General Election. At the time of going to print, the USI plans to launch a national campaign next Monday, January 31st, with hopes to complete the registrations of 50,000 student voters in time for the General Election.

Gary Redmond , President of USI, revealed to The College Tribune what role the organisation will play. “[Over] the coming weeks we will campaign on every single campus across the country... Our focus for the first two weeks of the campaign beginning on the 31st will be voter registration.”

However Pat de Brún, UCDSU Campaigns and Communications Officer, pointed out: “There is now some difficulty surrounding the whole area of voter registration, due to the uncertainty of how long the government will last.

The events of recent days, with the resignation of Brian Cowen as leader of Fianna Fáil, has thrown things up in the air to an extent, with the possibility of a successful motion of ‘no confidence’ in the government in the coming days. Much of the success of the campaign, both in UCD and nationally, will rest on the timing

“Get Real” about Emigration says USI

of the election.”

De Brún stated that if the election date were to take place on 11th March, UCDSU’s “registration campaign will be launching on Monday February 7th, and we will be aiming to register at least 4,000 UCD students to vote.

This will be no mean feat, but we are fully committed to what is a hugely important issue.”

Redmond also revealed that representatives from USI will be travelling across the country in an Obama-style campaign bus, coined as the “USI Election Express”, a method that is normally only utilized by political candidates themselves.

“USI will be running a bus tour, similar to the way politicians do.

We will be visiting every single campus and will be creating a buzz...having a huge amount of media attention on us.”

Redmond promises that there will be plenty of information available on all campuses regarding voter registration and said: “For students who still have to register, they need to get a RFA2 form.

Every Students’ Union will have them, and that form needs to be signed by a member of An Gardaí Síochána and sent back to your local authority.”

The USI hope to have a Garda

USI hope to have an Obama style campaign bus travelling across the country.

on campus for the fortnight-long voter registration campaign, in order to ensure that students can register without much difficulty. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

USI will be running a bus tour, similar to the way politicians do.

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For students who are already registered to vote but will not be able to make it home to cast their vote, Redmond suggests that they avail of the option of transferring their vote from their local constituency to their Dublin address, or to avail

of a postal vote.

However the time frame on registering for a postal vote is restricted to 48 hours after an general election is called and the Dáil is dissolved.

“If enough students vote, after the election we will be able to go to politicians and say, ‘Listen, students are interested in politics, they are interested in the future of the country.’ That will give the USI and students’ unions a lot more power, because at the end of the day politicians worry about their vote,” stressed Redmond.

Redmond was asked if this strategy would be effective, as the likely Labour-Fine Gael coalition will have different policies to their individual manifestos, and students may fall victim to broken promises, like those experienced by their counterparts in the UK under the Lib Dem-Conservative coalition. “Obviously when political parties go into coalition, policies can go out the window, but at the moment we are focusing on students registering to vote, and as it gets closer to elections we will be focusing on policies.”

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has called on political parties to “get real” about the mass emigration that is occurring and is projected to continue from this country. Figures released recently by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ERSI) show that around 50,000 Irish people will emigrate this year as a result of the economic crisis. The agency also predicts over 25,000 people will lose their jobs during the coming months. During the first quarter of 2010, 65,300 people emigrated from Ireland, where Irish graduates are becoming an asset to foreign economies. Gary Redmond, President of USI said, “The State has invested millions in education to create graduates that are renowned across the globe for their expertise and academic calibre. Therefore, it can only be seen as ludicrous to deny our graduates any opportunity to repay that investment by forcing them to emigrate or suffer the social effects of long term employment.” Ireland has the highest emigration rate in the European Union according to the Central Statistics Office with nine Irish people per 1,000 emigrating. Ireland’s emigration rate is almost double the emigration rate of Lithuania. In comparison, at the peak of the Celtic Tiger, Ireland had the second highest immigration rate in the European Union.

Despite these figures, none of the main political parties have produced a comprehensive strategy to deal with the ever increasing Irish graduate emigration. Redmond said, “It is absolutely disgraceful that young people are being forced to emigrate to find a decent standard of living. The continued brain drain of our best and brightest threatens to delay the economy’s recovery and undermine public services.” “These lost graduates have been educated at great expense to the Irish taxpayer. They should represent our best hope for economic recovery. It will be these graduates who reignite the fire of economic growth. However a lack of jobs, particularly for the younger generation, is causing many people, who don’t want to emigrate, to leave their families in search of a new start.”

Redmond called on all political parties to ‘come to terms with the severity of this crisis before we allow another generation to become mere emigration statistics.’

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News

You’re Hired!

Students Embroiled in Ski Sex Resort Scandal

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Donie O’ Sullivan | Trinity College launch investigation.

Some UCD students may be involved.

Donie O’ Sullivan | Q-Soc’s annual Apprentice

Competition to launch next week.

Open to all UCD students,

with a grand prize of €2,500.

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The Sunday Independent last weekend reported that an investigation was underway in Trinity College after some of its students were involved in a series of “outrageous incidents” at a popular French ski resort. However, reports have now emerged that a number of UCD students may also have been involved.

More than 300 students attended a trip organised by Trinity’s “Dublin University Snow Sports Club” (DUSSC) to the popular ski resort, “Les Deux Alpes.”.

The College Tribune understands that a handful of students began, what they called, a “spend-athon.”

In a demonstration of their wealth, they would spend thousands of euro on alcohol each night, burn, eat and smoke €50 notes, and one student reportedly threw his mobile phone into a river. More lewd acts that are alleged to have happened on the trip include the spray painting of Swastikas on the walls of the hotel the students were staying in, and the most serious allegation that a girl woke up to

three male students masturbating in her room.

Trinity College confirmed last week that they were “investigating a series of alleged incidents which took place at Les Deuz Alpes.”

“In the event that Trinity students perpetrated certain alleged acts, they will be duly disciplined, and sanctions will be imposed. The College is unable to comment further on the matter while its inquiry is underway.”

However sources within Trinity claim that most of the alleged trouble was not caused by the DUSSC delegation, but by a separate group who did not travel as a part of the official Trinity coherent.

The group is believed to have been predominantly made up of former students of an all male seconday school who now study in TCD and UCD, while a group of young female students from a nearby all-girl south Dublin secondary school, are also believed to have been part of the group.

A video uploaded on YouTube

on January 16th that has now received almost 4,000 views, entitled ‘I’m just a stupid UCD c***’, that is believed to have been filmed on the ski trip, features a man who claims to be a UCD student. In the video he says, “I wish I had the intelligence to be in Trinity” and claims, “I f***ed my phone down the river, because I was trying to impress my friends.” Sources within TCD claim this man was not a part of the DUSSC delegation.

DUSSC ski captain Rory Farrell was not available for comment.

Pictured: Individual from the skitrip involving both UCD & Trinity students.

Captured from YouTube.

Q-Soc are set to launch their annual Apprentice competition in the Quinn School of Business next Monday evening at 6pm.

The competition, which is in its fifth year, will see students from all schools in UCD compete in teams for the overall prize of €2,500.

Eddie Fox, auditor of Q-Soc, explained to The College Tribune how the competition will work; “There will be three rounds, in the first round teams must sell tickets for our Q-Soc’s ‘Stockbrokers and Secretaries night’ which will be held in a venue in town and the money raised will go to a local charity. The eight teams who sell the most tickets will progress to round two, where they will be presented with a case study, essentially people will be asked to find the best way to introduce a new product or service.”

The four successful teams from round two will progress to the final round, which takes the format of a ‘simple Dragon’s Den pitch.’

Teams who make it to the final round will be judged by a panel of well known entrepreneurs, last year’s panel included the likes of Denis O’Brien (pictured right) and

Bobby Kerr (pictured above right).

The competition is open to all UCD students and team registration will take place next Monday at 6pm in the Quinn building, teams must consist of at least two, but no more than four members.

Mr. Fox stressed that the competition is open to all students. “Students from courses that are not business related have performed very well in the past and have been able to bring their own perspective on matters.”

“I think it is a fantastic chance for people to show off their entrepreneurial skills, the people who have competed in it in the best always say how much it has helped them get jobs, employers are always very interested when they hear that a person has been involved in something like this,” added the Q-Soc auditor.

the event had been a success in his eyes. “A few of my mates couldn’t go out but most people did. My

housemate had an exam the next morning and he still went to the Student Bar”.

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As well as the Apprentice Competition, Q-Soc in conjunction with C&E will be organising Com Day on Wednesday, 16th February.

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Slack Monday as Exams Curtail usual Opening Day Celebrations

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Ciaran Breslin | Reduced attendance in Student Bar due to rescheduled exams.

No major incidents of bad bahaviour reported by UCD.

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The usual college wide event known as “Black Monday” was somewhat subdued by the rescheduling of several exams for both Monday and Tuesday of last week.

The harsh weather conditions that saw the final two days of exams postponed resulted in exams from several major schools in the University being sat this week instead, including Arts, Science and Business modules. This significantly reduced the number of students who participated in the traditional start of semester celebration.

Black Monday marks the social start of the semester, and the online facebook group attracted over a thousand members. Despite numbers being down, the UCD Student Bar was filled to capacity by the evening and clubs through-

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out the city centre were said to have been ‘packed’. The event, in comparison to last year when ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I’m not joining in Black Monday, I have a semi final this week.

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both ambulances and An Garda Síochána were called onto campus, attracted few incidents this time.

A UCD spokesperson, commenting on the need for disciplinary action for the event said, “UCD security attended several displays of poor behaviour over the course of Monday night. In each instance, students co-operated fully with UCD security to resolve the matter without delay.”

Similarly, many of the students

questioned about the event by the College Tribune were less enthusiastic than in recent times, with many people citing the exams as a reason for the underwhelming mood. Third year Economics and Finance student, Darren Connolly, when asked about how he felt about having exams during Black Monday, simply replied “a pain in the arse.” Acknowledging the unfortunate timing, he agreed that many students would be put out.

Some students on the other hand were unperturbed about missing the event, with Katie Flood, second year Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology, commenting that the timing of the exam was useful and simply gave her more time to prepare. Similarly, second year Neuroscience student and

Cavan under 21 footballer, Ciarán Fitzpatrick, was happy to miss out, insisting “I’m not joining in Black Monday, I have a semi final this week”.

Despite this comparative apathy, many students did partake in proceedings. Patrick Wolohan, a second year History student on an athletic scholarship, praised the event and the role of the SU and Class Reps in organising it.

“It was a great night, the bar was packed. It’s a really good idea for the start of term. The Class Rep for History [Cillian Hegarty] was brilliant too, he got us drink tokens and guestlist for Club M”.

When asked about whether he thought the exams had affected the turnout for Black Monday, Mr. Wolohan instead insisted that

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UCDSU Sabbatical Officers Hold Open Meeting __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Donie O’ Sullivan | Sabbatical Officers questioned on cost of ‘high’ exam re-sit fees.

UCDSU cite the extension of library opening hours as one of

their best achievements this year. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The five man UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) sabbatical team held an open meeting in the Student Centre last Thursday. The meeting, that was originally due to be held before the Christmas break, but was rescheduled due to the bad weather, was attended by some 60 students. Paul Lynam, UCDSU President, spoke at the start of the event outlining his administration’s achievements thus far, including the reintroduction of a seven day a week library, the introduction of the SU Loyalty Card in SU shops on campus, cutting class representative training costs by 50% and the introduction of a semesterised registration fee.

Students who attended the event asked the sabbatical team a number of questions on various issues ranging from the cost of alcohol in the student bar to the lack of parking spaces in the university.

James Williamson, Education officer, was challenged on why more electrical sockets had not been introduced in the library and why the cost of repeating an exam in UCD is more than any other university in the country. Williamson stated that the €230 cost of repeating an exam was to cover the administration fees associated with ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We wanted to hold this meeting to meet everyone, outline what was achieved in semester one and what our goals are for semester two.

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organising a re-sit of a module.

Lynam was asked why he failed to deliver a 24 hour study area for students, which he had promised would be introduced by September last. Responding, the UCDSU

President said that a 24 hour study area would be available in the new Student Centre which is due to open next October.

Lynam viewed the event as a success. “The reason we conducted this meeting was as part of our campaign to make the Students’ Union more accountable and increase the visibility of union personnel and campaigns on campus.”

“The first step in our process of making the Union more open was to make all our reports, manifestos and budgets available online. You can visit www.ucdsu.ie and download any of them.”

Lynam added, “We hold an executive council every two weeks, with each sabbatical officer and executive officer compiling reports on what has been happening in their area and all these reports are available for you to download.”

“We wanted to hold this meeting to meet everyone, outline what was achieved in semester one, what our goals are for semester two but also get feedback from the students and what they wanted the Union to focus on for semester two.”

However not all students who attended the open meeting were impressed.

Speaking shortly after the event, second year History and Politics student Aidan Connolly said, “I think the small turn out shows just how disengaged most students are with the Students’ Union, I’m not sure there is a need for there to be five full time sabbatical officers who cost UCD students over €100,000 each year, I think the Union could be made a lot

more transparent, approachable and cheaper to run if it underwent structural change.”

Elections for next year’s sabbatical team are due to be held on Wednesday, 30th March and every UCD student is entitled to run for any of the five available positions.

Each sabbatical officer is currently paid a €400 a week salary by the Students’ Union.

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News

UCD Ordered to Pay Out €5,000 on Discrimination Charge ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Donie O’ Sullivan | 63 year old school head advised not to apply for professorship.

UCD deny allegations of ageism at Equality Tribunal. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

UCD has been forced by the Equality Tribunal to pay €5,000 to a staff member who accused the University for discriminating against him because of his age.

Dr Ian Cornelius, former head of the School of Information and Library Studies, decided to apply for the post of Professor in the School in 2008 at the age of 63.

“She advised him not to, that UCD would not appoint someone so close to retirement, and that it was intended to be a new blood position not intended for internal candidates.”

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She advised him not to, that UCD would not appoint someone so close to retirement, and that it was intended to be a new blood position not intended for internal candidates.

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Dr Cornelius, who was head of the School until August 2009, has held academic posts in Australia and at Columbia University in New York.

When Dr Cornelius made his intentions of applying for the post known to the College Principal of Human Sciences in October of that year, the report by Equality Officer Hugh Lonsdale noted:

Despite being “extremely upset” after the meeting, Dr Cornelius continued with his application, but was told on 25 November 2008 that he had not been shortlisted for the post, although external assessors had wanted him

to be shortlisted.

Responding to the allegations, UCD denied that it had engaged in an act of ageism.

According to the university, Dr Cornelius had not been considered “competitive for the chair”, and this was based on having not met other essential criteria, not due to his age.

Mr Lonsdale dismissed this, saying he did not understand why the College Principal of Human Sciences would tell Dr Cornelius he was too close to retirement age to be considered for the post, if, in fact, the reason he had not been shortlisted was because he had not met other essential criteria.

Mr Lonsdale said that knowledge used to assess whether Dr Cornelius was suitable for the position was personal knowledge about him, and that “the shortlisting process was tainted” by the remarks of the College Principal about his age.

“This amounts to discrimination on the grounds of age,” said Mr Lonsdale, and ordered UCD to pay Dr. Cornelius €5,000 in compensation for the “discriminatory treatment suffered”.

News in Brief

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Michael Phoenix

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Here come the geeks! Ireland set for first all science film festival UCD has agreed to back an all science film festival to take place next summer. The event is envisioned to coincide with Dublin’s tenure as European City of Science in July 2012.

The college hopes to host several screenings in the new UCD Science Centre in Belfield. The success of the application is however dependent on the approval of the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF). Venues in Dublin city centre are also expected to host screenings.

It is as of yet unclear what the all-science film festival would consist of exactly, although UCD professor of Molecular Medicine and the Colleges Vice-President for Research in Science Prof, Des Fitzgerald, claims the event would be about more than competing Star Trek sequels.

“My interest in the science [film festival] wasn’t to have science

fiction or documentaries about science but more about the scientific process, what these people [scientists] are doing or thinking about.”

In preparation for the running of the event, UCD has forged an alliance with Imagine Science Films, the organisers of a three-year running New York science film festival. The now annual festival shows both feature length and short science related films.

What’s my name?

Universities rejects plan for staff name tags A plan for university staff to be forced to wear name tags when dealing with the public has been flatly rejected.

NUI Maynooth brought forth the proposal as during talks between Ireland’s universities on implementation of the Croke Park Deal. The aim of the idea was to increase accountability within the education system and to provide for better service for students.

If fully implemented, the proposal would have resulted in professors among other university staff having no choice but to wear prominent identity badges throughout their working day.

The proposal, along with others including a requirement that all voicemail messages be returned within a 4-hour time frame, have provoked unfavourable reaction amongst The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) who are involved in separate discussions with Ireland’s seven universities regarding implementation of the Croke Park Deal.

IFUT general secretary Mike Jennings claimed the IFUT had been given assurances by the departments of Finance and Education that the agreement was being implemented in the name of financial preservation, and as a result the union would refuse to consider “harebrained” proposals put forward by the universities.

Over 150 academics have signed a petition in an attempt to rally against the deal, believing its implementation will alienate academic freedom.

UCD Staff Face Mandatory Redeployment

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Amy Walsh | Over 150 Academics Protest At Croke Park Deal Implementation Mandatory Redeployment of UCD staff as part of the Croke Park Agreement sparks protest. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Irish federation of University Teachers (IFUT) as well as other representative Unions are currently in discussion with universities regarding the implementation of the Croke Park Agreement.

Proposals for implementation in UCD include the compulsory redeployment of staff within the University. Further proposals include a review of UCD’s Performance Management and Incremental Progression system.

“Under the Croke Park Agreement, the university is proposing that re-deployment, re-organisation and rationalisation be applied in accordance with 6.2.3 of the Public Service Agreement or within the context of staffing changes arising on foot of budgetary decisions or academic restructuring within the university.

Mandatory re-deployment within UCD will apply with implementation no later than the expiry of

6 | www.collegetribune.ie

6 weeks of formal notice,” said a spokesperson from UCD. Over 150 academic staff, led by former Teachers’ Union of Ireland president Paddy Healy (pictured) held a public meeting on Saturday in Dublin’s Gresham Hotel.

Mr Healy, a candidate in the forthcoming Seanad elections was one of 150 academics who submitted a letter to the Irish Times last week, highlighting the threat to academic freedom which the Hunt report and The Croke Park Agreement represented.

“There is now a serious threat to academic freedom, Irish scholarship and indeed, Irish democracy, arising from the proposed implementation of the Croke Park Deal in third-level institutions,” states the letter sent to the Irish Times.

Irish Universities were represented with signatories from UCD, TCD, UCC, DCU, NUIG and NUIM. Other colleges included NCAD

and IADT as well as support from DIT and other influential Institutes of technology around the country.

The Croke Park Agreement, an agreement between the government and public sector unions, forecasts widespread reform in the public sector.

This campaign highlights academics fear that the recently published Hunt Report and The Croke Park Agreement donate a shift in atti-

tudes to academia which will have negative effects for academics.

The proposals may also implement a different contract system whereby academics can be sacked due to a lack of performance and the introduction of performance related pay.

“The right to permanency and tenure to retirement age is the bedrock on which academic freedom rests. This is now under threat,” says the letter.

The Croke Park Agreement and the Hunt report propose longer working hours, shorter holiday periods, as well as an emphasis on a more business orientated model.

“The imposition of managerialist structures and business models is to be greatly intensified.

These proposals have far wider consequences than worsening of conditions of service, though this is extremely serious and related to the above matters.”

From UCD, signatories included, Prof Tom Garvin (Retired), Political Science, UCD; Dr Kathleen Lynch, Prof of Equality Studies, UCD; Dr Cathy Leeney, Lecturer in drama Studies, UCD; Prof Theresa Urbainczyk, School of Classics, UCD; Prof Emeritus Stephen Mennell, School of Sociology, UCD; Mary Gallagher, Associate Prof of French Studies, UCD; Dr Thomas Unger, Lecturer, School of Mathematical Sciences, UCD;Dr Russell Higgs, Senior Lecturer, School of Mathematical Sciences, UCD; Dr James O’ Shea, School of Philosophy, UCD; Dr Shane Whelan, Actuary, UCD School of Mathematical Sciences; Dr Timothy Mooney, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, UCD; Dr John O’Sullivan, Lecturer in Civil Engineering, UCD; Dr Sarah Parlane, School of Economics, UCD; Alice Feldman, Lecturer, UCD School of

Sociology; Geraldine O’Donnell, PHd Student, UCD School of Geography Environmental Policy; Dr Holger Falter, Lecturer, School of Architecture, Landscape and Civil Engineering,UCD; Gerald Mills, Senior Lecturer, School of Geography, Planning Environmental Policy, UCD; Dr Roland Erne, Lecturer in International Comparative Employment Relations, School of Business, UCD; Dr Debra Fern Laefer, Lecturer in School of Architecture, Landscape and Civil Engineering, UCD; Piaras; Dr Aude Doody, Lecturer in Classics, School of Classics, UCD; Christina Haywood, Lecturer and Curator of the Classical Museum, UCD School of Classics; Dr Crystal Fulton, School of Information and Library Studies, UCD; Dr Seán L’Estrange, School of Sociology, UCD; Dr Katherine O’Donnell Director, Women’s Studies Centre, UCD.

News

Students Encouraged to Use Their Cúpla Focal ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cailean Mallon ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

UCD Student’s Union Seachtain na Gaeilge, the weeklong event organised in order to promote Irish culture and the Irish language, is set to take place at the start of next week, 31st January to 4th February.

For the second consecutive year running, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh will begin the week at the lake on the Belfield campus at 1 o’clock. Carnival themed facilities, including popcorn and candy-floss machines, will be set-up nearby. Other high profile events to occur during the week are the visits of John Spillane, a Christy Moore tribute band, and a visit from the Rubberbandits.

A big part of the week, as has been the case in the past two years, will be the ‘No Béarla’ campaign in which students try to get through ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The proceeds raised from the campaign will go to Crumlin’s Childrens Hospital.

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at least one full day in UCD by communicating completely through Irish. Students can take part in the campaign by purchasing a sponsorship form in the Newman Building (Arts Block) this week.

Should €16 be raised, each participant receives a ‘No Béarla’ hoody and a wristband which entitles someone free entry to events before 10:30pm in the UCD Students’ Bar. The proceeds raised from the campaign will go to Crumlin’s Childrens hospital.

Sarah Ní Mhuirí, the current UCDSU Irish Language Officer, urged people to get involved in the weeks activities. “No Béarla has been growing since it was begun in 2009.

800 people signed up in the first year and over 900 in 2010.

Many of these were not Cumann Gaeleach members, showing that the event is drawing in students not usually involved in the Irish language.”

Auditor of the Cumann Gaelach, Edel Ní Bhraonáin, also urged people to get involved and the Irish language as “it’s something that’s unique to us” and “part of our culture, our history”.

She stressed that Irish is often taught badly at school, but people should not let these experiences put them off and she encouraged people to use their “cúpla focal”.

Boots, and the Morning After

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Timothy Potenz | Timothy Potenz explores how Boots selling the morning-after pill will save women in danger

and asks whether this reflects a society moving forward or staying behind.

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Accidents happen. Emergencies hit us out of the blue. Even the most prepared of us can be knocked down by a crouching, unforeseen, hidden catastrophe.

Boots, one of the largest pharmaceutical chains in the country, has made the decision to sell the morning-after pill over the counter, a landmark event for the distribution of birth control.

For the price of €45, Boots now offer the pill along with a oneto-one consultation session with a pharmacist. While GPs have the ability to refuse to supply the pill, Boots pharmacists cannot do so as long as the customer is over the age of 18 and partakes in the consultation service.

The pill is now easily accessible.

Those who find themselves in an emergency now have a much needed means to reducing some of the risks involved. Previously, there have been barriers to the morning-after pill that some have found unacceptable. A price of €60 at most Women’s Clinics and up to €70 at GPs has acted as a deterrent to those on the fence about taking the pill. Sinéad Ahern of Choice Ireland describes the GP as “a potential barrier” to the contraception due to their ability to refuse access on moral grounds.

Most importantly, however, there is the issue of time.

“Time is of the essence for emergency contraception,” according to Kate Healy of Slievemore Clinic in Stillorgan. “It becomes less effective for every hour you wait. Women need to be able to get to it as soon as possible.”

While Ms. Healy welcomes the move by Boots, saying it empowers young women, she expresses concerns that those in need do not receive as much from a pharmacist as they would from a GP. “Pharmacists do not have the

“The pill only works up to four days after, maybe 5,” offered Hazel Carlton, a third year Philosophy student.

“It’s a form of abortion so it can be painful,” adds Jennifer Mathews.

Sarah McNulty, a second year student of Medicine confidently asserts that “It works by causing a hormone imbalance so you shouldn’t take it right before your period.”

Unfortunately, none of the above answers are completely correct.

The morning-after pill works, at maximum, 72 hours after sex; it can be taken anytime during your menstrual cycle; and, to a few people’s surprise, is not a form of abortion. If you are already pregnant, the pill will do nothing.

Why are we so uninformed about all this? Several students said that they had gotten their information from things they have “heard around,” mostly from friends.

Parents seem unapproachable and schools simply do not do the job.

“We had no sex ed at all and it wasn’t even a Catholic school.

There was an STI talk once, but it was more a scare scenario than anything informative.”

At a time when sexual freedom and ability is on the rise, the lack of education is concerning. Choice is our most valuable and inalienable resource, but uninformed choice seems simply dangerous.

What should come first here: freedom or education?

“One without the other is pretty useless,” comments Sinéad Ahern.

“People need options, but awareness of options as well to become responsible for them.”

Responsibility is a pressing issue here. Some might say that this move by Boots reflects a society that is stepping up to the plate, ready to take more control and charge of the serious issues that

means to prescribe more suitable and effective forms of contraception. While they would give out medical information, it wouldn’t be the same as what a GP can offer.”

“It would be great for women to get medical advice, but GP’s still potentially act as a barrier,” reiterated Ms. Ahern. What sort of advice do young women need about this pill? Is there really much more to know other than what we know already? Actually, what do we know already?

come with an active sex life. On the other side of things, however, there is the reminder that the morning-after pill is not a normal kind of contraception.

“Condoms and the contraceptive pill are a way of being responsible,” commented one student.

“By taking them and refusing to have sex without them you really are taking control, so we should have those things available all the time. But the morning-after pill is different, taking it usually means you’ve messed up big time.”

There are undoubtedly incidences when safe sex fails and pre-sex responsibility is just not enough to do the job. However in many cases, women seem to feel embarrassed about their need to fall back on the morning-after pill.

“I went to the GP and it was so uncomfortable. They asked so many questions about why I ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Unquestionably, this move by Boots enables women.

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needed it, it made me so uncomfortable. I’d had unprotected sex, but that’s not their business. It was just embarrassing,” commented one student.

Availing of the pill over the counter at Boots in a no-questionsasked environment will surely overcome this problem for women.

However, one must ask whether or not this is an entirely positive thing. Will the easy access to the pill make it seem like an acceptable form of contraception? Would it desensitize women to the dangers

of unprotected sex?

“I suppose being so embarrassed at the GP kind of made me not want to get into that position again.

Having the morning-after pill so available would make me feel less terrified after unprotected sex. I’d still be worried but I know I’d be able to sort it out.”

“What about STIs?” I asked.

“Oh ya....”

Unquestionably, this move by Boots enables women. It provides a quicker and easier way of accessing emergency contraception which gives them more control over their health and bodies. It possibly offers an empowerment of minds and attitudes as well. Seeing the morning-after pill on a shelf alongside condoms and the contraceptive pill, instead of behind closed doors in a GP office filled with ailing patients, might make us more comfortable and open with our sexuality.

Rather than reflecting an openness and advancement of our society, a historic move showing we are more cosmopolitan, uninhibited

and in-line with European norms could develop. Could this event reveal something else about our community? What Boots have effectively done is to provide us with the ability to secretively, without question or need to be open, purchase the pill in as an impersonal manner as possible.

Sinéad Ahern of Choice Ireland echoes a similar sentiment. “There is something quite sad about women being embarrassed about asking a GP about getting the pill and talking to him/her about their sex lives.”

This can be seen as a move forward, or an admission of our backward state. If easy, quiet access to the morning-after pill is in high demand then it must be made available, though maybe its demand says more about our education, openness and responsibility then we would like to admit. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Slievemore Clinic can be found opposite Oatland’s College on the Old Dublin Road in Stillorgan.

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Features

From Seanad to Dáil

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Greg Acton| Increasingly known for speaking out about the banking crisis, Senator Shane Ross is now set to run for Dáil Éireann.

Greg Acton asked him the questions that students want to know. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Shane Ross has had a long career as a journalist, author and senator. He is the business editor of the Sunday Independent, where he writes a weekly column, and has been in the Seanad since the 1980s. He is the best-selling author of ‘The Bankers’, about the banking crisis, and ‘Wasters’, about the excesses in the public sector. Now, as the country’s future looks bleak, he has announced his decision to run as an independent in the upcoming election in the constituency of Dublin South. Ross is hoping that he, along with other like-minded independents from other constituencies, will be elected with a view to changing the entire political system. He is calling for an end to ‘tribal politics’, which he believes plagues politics in this country, and an end to the culture of ‘cronyism’, which he says is evident among our major political parties.

Asked how big a personal decision it is for him to run for the Dáil, “vast” was the first word. He continued: “Lots of people said to me, why don’t you get down and dirty, if you’re serious about the things you say you’re serious about, which is basically the economy, the electoral system and cronyism, you should be in the Dáil.” Despite his belief that the Seanad was operating quite well for the independents, he reluctantly concurred that running for the Dáil would be a worthwhile move. “At the end of the day, a group of us got together and said we’re going to have to give this a go, because in cur-

8 | www.collegetribune.ie

rent circumstances, if we’re going to be effective at all, it’s going to be in the Dáil.”

Although he makes it clear that local issues in his constituency are of great importance, Ross is really focused on wider national issues. When it was pointed out to Ross that independents in the past haven’t been very successful at having an impact on national issues, he quipped: “No-one’s tried it! Independents have tended to be local issue candidates. I’ve talked to a large number of people, and what I’m hopeful of is that we’ll have a very strong group of independents, who will declare on a common platform when it comes to national issues and principles.”

I wondered what real difference there was between this group of independents and a political party. “Issues on which we agree would probably be limited, and on those that we don’t, there

wouldn’t be any party discipline.

What we envisage is an alliance of independents agreeing on a common programme, but outside that programme there would be no pressure to agree.” Ross points out that, naturally, the greater the numbers in the group, the better chance they have of having a major impact on affairs. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There is no difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in essence.

It’s effectively still two families at war.

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Apart from campaigning for his own election in Dublin South, and hoping that like-minded independents are also elected, I wanted to know what he felt was the best possible outcome of the election for the country. “There has to be a change of government, no doubt about that. Irish politics is deeply tribal. It’s still civil war politics. There is no difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in essence. It’s effectively still two families at war.”

Ross criticises the opposition’s comments on the bailout.

“They’re simply messing around about the detail in the difference. They’re both agreeing about the big issue, and when the op-

position parties say they’d renegotiate the deal, they are being dishonest. They may mess around with where cuts happen, but basically the figures will remain the same.” He is stressing that we would see very little change in real terms if the opposition replaced the current government.

One thing that is always a sticking point for Shane Ross is cronyism in other words, the appointment of long-standing friends to positions of authority. He says he has seen it for the past twenty years, and that it is practised by all the major parties. Obviously, the clearest examples in recent years are from within Fianna Fáil during their long period in power, but Ross argues that Fine Gael were just as guilty when they were in the same position. He says that he “would hate to see a swap of Fianna Fáil cronyism for Fine Gael and Labour cronyism”, which he believes is extremely likely. He argues that cronyism is partly at fault for the banking crisis, and is certainly responsible for the stories that came out of FÁS and other semi-state bodies.

Ross clearly believes that our political system will not work as long as tribalism and cronyism are evident in our major parties.

He wishes for a change to the entire system. To what extent is this possible? In an ideal world, how would he go about this reform? “Well you’d have electoral reform, and you’d have reform on appointments. If we were to get enough people in there to organise

a group, and force something to happen - first off, you’d have to reform the Oireachtas. Get rid of all the five seat constituencies. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In an ideal world ... you’d have electoral reform, and you’d have reform on appointments.

If we were to get enough people in there to organise a group, and force something to happen - first off, you’d have to reform the Oireachtas. Get rid of all the five seat constituencies.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There has to be a system where politicians aren’t constantly looking at their running mates and acting as messenger boys. In single seat constituencies, politicians can become legislators - some will get a majority and be allowed [to] legislate.”

On the reform of appointments, Ross advocates cutting by at least 80%, maybe more. “Some of the quangos were just created to give jobs to ‘the lads’... All state appointments have got to be done in a way that isn’t [ just] a minister directly appointing someone. We need an Independent Appointments Commission. The appointees then have to go before an Oireachtas committee, and in front of the television cameras, and explain why they’re qualified. And if they’re wrong for the job, they’ll be exposed.”

Writing for the Sunday Independent whilst being in the Seanad has allowed Ross to have a say both inside and outside of the political system. I asked whether he would have to sacrifice this in the event of his election. “There’s no guarantee I’ll get in, so not to write for the paper just because I’m standing wouldn’t be right. There’s no lack of transparency or conflict of interests, if I get elected I’ll then address the issue.” On whether he enjoys the Sunday Independent as an outlet, he said: “Yeah, it is nice to have, but it’s sometimes difficult being a journalist and a politician, because some people around here avoid you! It’s never really been an issue though, because I express the same views in my articles as I do in the House.” Ross also pointed out that there’s no doubt that you get your opinion across quicker by being in the paper then you do in the Seanad.

I ended the interview by asking the Senator why UCD students should vote for a Trinity graduate, and a man nominated to the Seanad through Trinity. He laughed: “Oh dear, that’s a good point, I hope they vote on the strength of my policies!”

Senator Shane Ross firmly believes that if enough like-minded independents are elected, they can form a technical group and have a real impact in the Dáil. It will be interesting to see who these independents are and how many get in.

Ross wants large-scale reform of our political system. Is he the man to bring it about?

Features

What We Might Expect

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Conor McKenna | With the General Election on the immediate horizon, Conor McKenna examines what the Irish public can expect from our electoral candidates. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It might be prudent to comment, as many will doubtless do, on the present government regarding their many failures, ineptitudes and general wrongdoings. However it now seems more important to focus not on the past, but the future. There is little doubt among the public, academics and politicians that Ireland is in dire need of change. Expectations are high for Fine Gael and Labour, both of which have turned out great support in the recent widely publicised poll conducted by Red C research.

Hopefully this election could signify something of greater importance. If we take the Red C poll as an accurate prediction of the election pattern, then it will be the first time since its inception that Fianna Fáil will have had fewer candidates elected to Dáil Éireann than Fine Gael. Polls aside however, there is very little doubt that Fianna Fáil will retain seats in many constituencies across the

country. This may have huge repercussions on the way we look at politics in Ireland. A big loss here could effectively remove Fianna Fáil from the political scene for the foreseeable future. Traditionally small parties in Ireland have had limited success and often disappear after relatively few elections - the Progressive Democrats being the most recent example. Should Fianna Fáil be relegated to small party status, it will be highly unlikely that Ireland will see another government under their leadership in the near future. Many readers might applaud the idea of a Fianna Fáil-free state, but might not fully understand the ramifications their absence could have on party politics in Ireland.

Ireland’s current political system is based around a piece of paper signed in 1922, and an oath to the monarch of our former ruler Britain. Some might argue that all this is in the past and that the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil of

today do not represent the results of a bloody civil war: the days of bickering like schoolboys over who should play the bad guy is finally over. And yet it seems that despite minor differences on party lines, which boil down essentially to preference for certain areas, both parties represent a centrist approach to politics, with fluctuations towards the left or right on certain pivotal issues. So what Ireland has at present is a political system that shows overwhelming support for two parties, both of which are associated with very similar policies.

PR-STV was introduced in 1918 under the British, and was arguably a countermeasure to the rise in Irish nationalism that had dominated the latter and early parts of the 19th and 20th centuries respectively. However, where PR has been used across Europe it has yielded very different results: seven party systems are not uncommon in parts of Scandinavia. The man-

ner in which PR developed in Ireland has meant that a two (or three including Labour) party system has emerged, with either of those two parties taking government after Election Day. Is there something inherently wrong with our PR system? At first glance, it may appear so: it’s needlessly complicated, and despite compensating for some of the problems posed by Britain’s First-Past-the-Post system, it often under-represents proportions of society. Could Ireland’s Civil War party system be solved with another variant on PR? It’s doubtful.

This is perhaps why this election might be pivotal for Irish politics: the removal of the two-party system leaves the political sphere open for new smaller parties to take a more active role in Dáil Éireann. Ireland is under-represented at the national level: big parties do not serve the diverse nature of Irish society anymore.

Those who argue that multi-party states are less stable than two-party

systems need only look at our members in the EU to find bright examples of where diversity fosters better health care, better transport and better living standards. By opening the gates to small parties, we open ourselves up to a more diverse set of ideas, a different way of looking at things, and a a society that sees change as a good thing rather than taking a pessimistic outlook. At any rate, even if Fianna Fáil remains a small party with a voice in the Dáil, it is unlikely that their support base will shift dramatically between this election and the next - the scars of recession and banking disasters will be remembered long after the anticipated political demise of Brian Cowen.

So-called family voting has been active in this country since the foundation of the state. The question is where will the Fianna Fáil voters go? Will they cross the line and support Enda Kenny and his coalition with Labour? Or will

they stick doggedly to their party till the bitter end? Small parties won’t emerge for this election; they will take time to work themselves out of the woodwork.

It is often when times are hard that people turn to politics to find solutions. Those that don’t like what they see will form new parties to ensure their voices are heard.

For those of you who are at a loss at who to vote for, do yourselves a favour: read the manifestos and decide. Don’t vote the way you think everyone else will because you don’t want to be left out of the election party. Students need to get out and vote, but most importantly, make educated votes.

Don’t throw away the right to rule on a whim - there is little doubt that this election will be the most pivotal in Irish history. It’s time to show that all those politics electives were worth something.

Let’s show our voice, and in doing so, change politics here for good.

Cartoon

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by Dan Daly

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Features

The Hangover

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Donie O’ Sullivan | Red Bull, bananas, Berocca, Panadol, the breakfast roll – with RAG week upon us, students will find themselves testing all

different hangover remedies to help them survive the week. Our reporter Donie O’Sullivan spent the Christmas break

figuring out the best cure – all in the name of student journalism, of course. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You’re lying on your bed, looking up at the ceiling. The room is spinning, your mouth is dry, and you can physically feel that shoulder of vodka you downed last night resting on top of your brain.

Your hands smell of Jagermeister, bodily fluids and shame. You have three different nightclub stamps on your arm, an odd cut on your knee, and as you look at your sent messages and dialed numbers, you react: “What the f**k?”

It’s 8am on a Thursday morning.

The sound of your alarm clock pierces through your head following your two hour slumber. You definitely were not going to go out last night, because you hada lab at ten the next morning that was worth 30%. But at 9.45pm, your alcoholic housemate convinced you to go out, assuring you that you would be “grand” for the following morning, and that they had loads of friends who also hada 30% lab at 9am and they were still going out (because they “aren’t dry”, and unlike you they “haven’t changed”).

Caught up in the hysteria you experienced by making it to your nearest off licence for the infamous 10pm deadline, you decided to celebrate by buying one or two (or five) extra cans for yourself – sure, what harm?

Six hours later. you’re manhandled by members of the Algerian mafia that make up the security staff of a well-known chipper on Camden Street, having jumped on one of the tables there on hearing Five’s “Everybody Get Up.” The distress caused by the fact that you “didn’t even get to finish your taco fries” - which you insist on telling everyone around you cost a fiver – of course reminds you of how much of a bitch your ex-girlfriend is, and you decide it a good idea to text her to let her know, in no uncertain terms, exactly how you feel – which you accidentally send to your mother, twice.

So what can you do? Organisations who promote sensible alcoholic consumption will tell you that it takes one hour to break down each unit of alcohol consumed, but unfortunately for you, you have consumed enough units to see you early into next week.

However, time is not on your side, and in 40 minutes you will be in a lab completing an experiment

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worth 30% of your module. The irony that the experiment involves fermentation resulting in the production of alcohol is not wasted on you.

So is there any way of even easing the effects and the pain of a hangover? The ancient Romans used to eat raw owl eggs and fried canary after a heavy night on the town. Two thousand years later, in America’s Old West of the nineteenth century, hangover remedies were equally as outlandish, as cowboys used to shake off the morning blues by gathering rabbit droppings and boiling them into a tea, which they would drink the following morning – most likely a precursor to garlic cheese chips.

Sicilian men, meanwhile, relied on dried bull’s penis to help clear their heads. One can only hope that they were still drunk when trying such concoctions.

Although I don’t think I will ever experience a hangover so bad that I have to resort to chasing a canary around the garden, catching it and throwing it on the frying pan, or find myself drinking a rabbit dropping smoothie or even munching on a penis – I did try some of the more conventional hangover cures for this investigation.

I drank roughly the same amount of alcohol each night, which I will not specify for fear that someone will contact my GP (or ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The first hangover remedy I tried was one that I could never understand - “the hair of the dog,” whereby one tries to cure the effects of excessive alcohol consumption by consuming more alcohol... ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

my mother), but I can assure you that I am “an absolute tank” and, of course, “a complete legend”, and drank enough to get even our Taoiseach (at the time of printing) sufficiently intoxicated.

The first hangover remedy I tried was one that I could never understand – “the hair of the dog,” whereby one tries to cure the effects of excessive alcohol consumption by consuming more alcohol.

I’m sure that Our Lord, when he was finished playing dead on the cross, was pretty sore after his

venture up the hill, what with the whippings, repeated falls, and the whole nails going through his hands gig. But I am also pretty sure that after it, no one said to him: “Jesus, do you know what would be a great way to get rid of all that pain from being up on the cross and all..... To get up on it again, not for too long, just for a small while, it’ll make you feel much better.”

Yet somehow today, we see it rational to cure the pain of a hangover by indulging some more in the source of our pain.

I gave it a go. A pint of cider.

Although not easy to stomach, it did relieve me of some of the head throbbing I was experiencing for some time. However, almost as if my body had given me the two fingers for inducing more poison into it, two hours later the headache was back - but a lot worse. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Berocca contains all sorts of funny sounding things like Cyanocobalamin, Nicotinamide, and of course who could forget, the bad boy, Pyridoxine hydrochloride. On the pack it recommends to take one a day, but I took two – I’m just that sort of guy!

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Perhaps the most popular remedy at the moment is Berocca, an energy supplement which is also subtly marketed as a hangover cure.

Berocca contains all sorts of funny sounding things like Cyanocobalamin, Nicotinamide, and of course who could forget, the bad boy, Pyridoxine hydrochloride. On the pack it recommends to take one a day, but I took two – I’m just that sort of guy!

It didn’t work at all.

Then I moved onto what I guess what one could call a modern day version of the Italian’s bull penis cure – Red Bull.

I couldn’t finish the can, and unlike its slogan’s promises, I did not develop wings. This turned out to be quite ironic, as the same substance mixed with alcohol only a few hours previous had convinced me that I was certainly capable of flying if I put my mind to it.

Along with loaves of bread, coupons, Pot Noodles and condoms (what more could a student pos-

sibly want?), fresher’s packs had a new addition this year, samples of “Lifeline” tablets – a form of hangover prevention produced by an Irish company.

The tablets themselves look like the rabbit droppings that the cowboys use to be so fond of. The description on the back of the pack claim that by taking two of the ugly looking tablets within an hour of your first drink, things should be rosy the next morning.

However the instructions also suggest that you drink water in between each drink, and also drink sensibly – surely if I was doing this, I wouldn’t have a hangover in the first place.

The capsules are quite expensive, and in my experience offer an empty promise. However the company are currently running a promotion whereby each pack of Lifeline comes with a free drink spike detector pack, so as well as looking like an eejit knocking back rabbit dropping capsules after your first drink, you’ll also be able to whip out the chemistry kit to test you and your friend’s drinks for ketamine – you party animal, you.

Another “cure” I tried was recommended to me by a seasoned drinker – a can of Coke and a ham sandwich. Although it was enjoyable, and easy to stomach, it didn’t work. It may be a more impractical cure than it initially seems – what student house is likely to have both fresh bread and fresh ham at the same time? Also, perhaps more importantly, how many UCD students know how to make a sandwich?

My scientific research was in vain, as no remedy proved to be an effective “cure”. In fact the only thing that even helped slightly was a banana, which did have a noticeable positive effect on my zombie-like state, but nothing too significant Thus The College Tribune can exclusively reveal that the best way to fight a hangover is lots of water and lots of sleep. Either that, or you could save your money, retain your dignity and refrain from binge drinking – but we are Irish, and we are students, and it is RAG week. “Sure everyone else is going out!”

Happy Hangover!

Midnight...

2am...

Next Morning...

Features

Where Taboo Meets the Status Quo

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Lee Maguire

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Amsterdam is famous for far more than its tolerance on prostitution and drug taking, as I discovered on a recent visit. Travelling to this city is relatively easy, with Aer Lingus and EasyJet ferrying passengers from Dublin and Belfast International Airport respectively.

It is important to remember that Holland, otherwise referred to as the Netherlands, is GMT+1, so expect a two hour flight outbound and approximately one hour inbound. To reach the city centre, take one of the numerous trains available, with journeys rarely exceeding 30 minutes.

The magnetic effect of Amsterdam leads to an influx of tourists from the four corners of the world, all of whom can be accommodated, irrespective of budget concerns.

We opted for the small family-run Hotel De Munck, a short stroll from the city centre, which had pleasant rooms and a delightful continental breakfast where you could eat to your heart’s content.

Before setting out for your first day in the city, I would suggest you purchase an “I Amsterdam Card”, which allows transport,

used to disguise the entrance to the attic, the famous diary where Anne detailed her emotions daily to ‘Kitty’, and the wall in which Anne’s father recorded his daughters ascending heights over the two year period.

The Netherlands is renowned for its famous artists, notably Rembrandt and Van Gogh, who have large galleries that showcase and pay tribute to their beautiful paintings. Due to time constraints, I decided to visit the Vincent Van Gogh Museum, and witnessed the compelling but disturbing work.

As with so many creative individuals, Van Gogh only received the recognition he deserved posthumously, with his iconic work, Sunflowers, sold for millions of dollars in the 1980s.

Amsterdam is also a melting pot for countless cultures, all of which have contributed to the cuisine available, including food from South-East Asia, which is highly recommended. Like so many cosmopolitan cities, Amsterdam’s streets are adorned with French, Italian and Spanish eateries, to name but a few. The Dutch

entry to museums, along with numerous discounts. To become truly acquainted with the Dutch capital, walking or cycling is advised, as both help you become familiar with your surroundings at a leisurely pace. The bicycle is a quintessential part of life in this city, and bike hire shops are easily found. Alternatively, take the tram or metro which serve all the main sights.

The city’s main square, Dam Square, is a beautiful area within which lies the official residence of the Dutch monarch Queen Beatrix and her family, open daily to the public. A short distance away is the Anne Frank Museum, which I cannot recommend highly enough. Arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon, as lengthy queues form during peak times. It was in the attic of this building that Anne - a German Jewish teenager - and her family sought refuge from Nazi persecution. Between July 1942 and August 1944, eight people concealed themselves in the tiny annexe, but following their betrayal, seven died in concentration camps. Only Anne’s father Otto survived. Be warned, this museum is a very emotional experience. Visitors are shown the bookcase which was

influence can be seen in vast parts of the world, including New York, which was named New Amsterdam prior to the English occupation.

Of course, Amsterdam is also universally known for its Red Light District, which the majority of tourists visit at some stage during their stay, which includes an abundant supply of bars, clubs and cafes. If you walk along the streets of the Red Light District, show decorum. Refrain from taking photographs and behaving inappropriately, as the atmosphere in the area is quite calm and subdued.

Alternatively, if one prefers to party into the early hours, head back to Dam Square where a selection of bars and clubs are available. To experience the real Netherlands, go down a random street off the centre and you will find a more authentic Dutch experience.

The following day in Amsterdam, take breakfast in a scrumptious pancake house located a few doors away from the Anne Frank House, followed by a guided tour which can include a visit to a Clog factory. My visit was followed by a stop at a windmill, but it was the last stop on the tour that was most exciting. We were escorted around a cheese factory which involved a

step-by-step demonstration of how it is created. The tour concluded with a selection of free samples of numerous flavours circulated amongst the group, with the majority us enticed to buy some cheese as souvenirs. Back in the city centre, we visited a local cafe for a delightful hot chocolate, which soothed our aching bones

after a long cycle. If you believe cycling isn’t your thing, take a boat tour of the canals, where one will be guided around many of the sites. Amsterdam has been nicknamed “the Venice of the North”, but there is far more to this city than its beloved and iconic canals.

Now go and experience it for yourselves.

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Opinion

Let it Go, Let it Go, Let it Go

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Amy Walsh | Adverse weather conditions saw many people struggle to get home for Christmas. Amy Walsh reflects on her own battle to get through the airport. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

People keep telling me to let it go.

But I’m finding it difficult to forgive Ryanair, Heathrow Airport, or meteorology for that matter.

I received a text message from Ryanair on the Tuesday before Christmas to inform me that my flight from London back to Dublin had been cancelled due to snow.

Calling the airline, I was told that no flights would be available from any London airport until the 26th of December.

At this, I naively presumed that there would be an abundance of empty ferries available, housing a few lonely environmentalists. Apparently not. All the major ferry companies from Wales to Scotland told me that due to unprecedented demand, unless I was the Queen, I should snuggle up and settle down where I was. I’ll be frank, I don’t even like Christmas, but from the dark airy chasms of my soul sprung a warm tinsel-clad feeling.

How could I miss the warm festive gaiety? The mince pies? Santa?

This simply would not do.

And so come hell or high water, I braved the airports to await a flight. Two days later I realized I could have been shacked up in a hotel and the airline would have footed the bill, but enough of that.

After 52 hours, and some strongly worded encounters with staff, Stansted Airport saved the day. I grabbed the first available flight for the day before Christmas Eve. Informed that Dublin Airport would be open, we boarded the plane.

Seemingly it is beyond the capacity of forecasters in two countries

less than an inch apart to forecast the next forty minutes of weather.

We sat on the plane for two hours and flew around Dublin for a further three, as air traffic control decided our fate. Anywhere but Cork I said. Eventually we landed and I began to appreciate the uproar that three inches of the fluffy stuff could inspire.

So looking at the positive side of things, I decided to look into the experiences of people who had it far worse off. All across Europe this Christmas people did not get home. Furthermore, they spent time and money they didn’t have trying to make it back. Many UCD students were forced to await the end of exams despite the worsening weather conditions. As a result, they had to fly home close to Christmas.

Emma, a second year student, was flying home to Luxembourg.

“I left home at ten o’clock in the morning on the 23rd of December, and I got home at one o’clock in the afternoon of the 24th. It took me 27 hours. I got my plane on time, but we ended up waiting on the plane for 2 hours.”

Emma was flying from Dublin to Brussels Charleroi Airport.

A connecting flight and several hours later, the plane landed in Oostende. The flight, “instead of taking an hour, took over three hours, to land in a different airport to the one that had been booked.”

“We missed the last bus to Luxembourg...We ended up getting four trains, which took us just over three hours. By the time I got

home it was one o’clock on Christmas Eve.” “It was an absolute disaster.

Charleroi Airport, that we were in, was absolutely packed, I think somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 people. It’s a tiny airport.

We waited there all night. The Red Cross had to come in, because there was no food left to serve, no drinks, none of the shops were open because it was night-time.”

Peter was stuck in Gran Canaria, the week before Christmas. “My flight was cancelled on Tuesday so I didn’t go to the airport. I went onto Aerlingus.com and changed my flight to the Thursday. It got to Thursday and that flight was cancelled as well, that was two days before Christmas.”

“I went straight to the airport anyway, Las Palmas Airport... where I could get a flight from Air Contractors for €200, or a free flight with Aer Lingus to Cork and a free bus to Dublin Airport...I arrived at 5am on Christmas Eve in Dublin Airport.”

Travellers were faced with two unsavoury options. Either they could brave the hazardous itineraries concocted by airlines - which included connecting flights, hours in the air, long queues and customer services that had been pushed to their limit - or they could stay where they were, missing Christmas and perhaps decorate their villa, UCD residence, or portion of the airport bench as appropriate.

This festive failure had me pondering why airports were so

unprepared to deal with what is a predictable annual occurrence. 52 hours of my life down the drain, and the icy incident had left a bitter aftertaste..

Tens of thousands of people were left stranded across Europe in the run up to Christmas, as Heathrow Airport reached capacity, leaving people outside in the freezing conditions. The customer service elsewhere wasn’t much better.

Thousands of cancelled flights left people in airport limbo, competing for seats at a time of year when prices are through the roof and seats are few and far between.

Even on Ryanair.

Airport management companies like the Dublin Airport Authority, and BAA in Britain, faced mounting pressure as the media highlighted the position of tired, hungry passengers. A lack of de-icing fluid, manpower to clear runways, and staff to manage customer services were all cited as failures of the airlines. Furthermore, a lack of basic facilities such as camp beds and food made a bad

situation much worse.

The airlines suffered appropriately, while Dublin Airport was forced to open early on Christmas Day to deal with the back log generated over the previous week. A widely reported lack of preparation forced closures at Heathrow, one of the busiest international airports in the world, which affected an estimated one million people. British airlines lost £50m, roughly £10m a day in the run up to Christmas. BAA’s chief executive, Colin Matthews, agreed to give up his 2010 bonus following the disruption. The weather over the week leading up to Christmas is estimated to have cost the UK economy up to £1.2bn a day, with a total cost of £13bn.

The prize for the least prepared airport of the chilly season goes to the Parisians, where 40% of flights were cancelled in Charles De Gaulle Airport because the factory which produces de-icing fluid went on strike. My personal favourite headline read: “Snow on roof of Charles de Gaulle forces

A Positive Outlook for 2011

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Jack Carter | Chair of UCD’s Please Talk Committee, Jack Carter, talks about our mental health issues at the start of the year ____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It’s a new year. Well it’s a strange sort of a new year. Instead of the customary New Year hope and happy expectations we are presented with financial despair and worse personal prospects.

However this still has the same old trapping of previous ones. Many of you have made the usual New Year’s resolutions, to lose weight, have a golden semester, etc. No doubt that many of you have already broken your resolutions, and to those who haven’t, well done. I know it’s a bit late but perhaps you could make another

12 | www.collegetribune.ie

one; a resolution that you will care for your mental health. As I mentioned before, this New Year is a strange one and it is for this reason that we need to look after ourselves. Never before have we had to face such a negative outlook for the year. Amid this negativity, it’s important that we maintain positive mental health.

When we talk about mental health, there’s a tendency to treat it as a negative issue. There is a lot of talk about mental health illnesses, such as depression. Of course these topics are important but what is

important to all of us, all of the time, is positive mental health.

Positive mental is more than just a nice, neat, pleasant phrase. It’s about a general well being. We are often told to look after our physical health, to keep our weight right, to look after our heart and so on. We also need to look after our mental health in the same way.

There are a number of ways we can do this. It is important that you are happy in your daily life.

Be happy with college, make sure to acknowledge your own achievements and successes. Last

semester’s results are out soon and many people focus on the negative aspects of their results. This time, be sure to take the positives from what you get. Viewing your results in this way will enable you to maintain a positive frame of mind while also doing what is necessary to achieve the grades you want.

Friends are important to our mental health. We are not designed to go through life and all its experiences alone. Those around you, be it friends or family, are important.

We need people to listen to us from time to time. Talking isn’t

easy but with friends around you it is easier. The relationships we have with other people are vital to how we get through the problems we have.

Being creative is a great help to our mental health. It provides an outlet for both emotions of happiness or stress. This creativity does not have to be fine art. We can be creative in many ways but the point is to have an outlet that has a result that you can see. This would equally apply to sports. A new hobby or sport provides people with something to focus their

airport closure.” Nice.

The weather has improved, and my heart is thawing. My eyes are even drawn back to those €20 Ryanair flights.

No doubt heroic efforts were made by airlines to get customers home for Christmas, I myself benefited from an last minute flight put on

by Ryanair. But extra flights and tents erected outside Heathrow do not compensate for what was a complete and utter lack of preparation for predictable weather conditions.

Airlines need to employ seasonal manpower, which can be drawn upon in bad weather. Airport authorities also need to invest in large stocks of de-icer and snow clearing machinery. There should be an emergency customer service framework which pre-empts the scenarios that occurred this year.

To encourage this, airlines should be fined for cancelled flights at such a busy time of year.

One thing is for sure, people need to start rethinking the lyrics of “let it snow”!

efforts from outside of the stresses of work or college. With refreshers week coming up you have a new chance to make such a change.

It’s a lot easier said than done but if we can manage to look after this part of ourselves then we stand a good chance in 2011 despite what the economists think. These are simple thing outlined in this article. Simple things are what we need for good mental health. It is probably one of the easiest parts of a human being to look after because it all comes from within.

Not everybody can be happy all the time. It’s not possible. However we can be happy a lot of the time.

We all have mental health. We all need to look after it.

Gaeilge

GUBU Abú!

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Jack O’ Leocháin

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Ábhar Dochtúra: Córas eaSláinte

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Eoghan O’ Murchadha

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Tá an tír i ndrochriocht is ní fios fós an mbeidh aon leigheas uirthi.

Cowen imithe is breis is leathdhosaen airí eile bailithe leo, Mary Harney ar dhuine acu. Stoitheadh na glasraí fiú. Gach seans go mbeidh an rialtas ar fad imithe faoin am ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cowen imithe is breis is leathdhosaen airí eile bailithe leo, Mary Harney ar dhuine acu.

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GUBU - Arrachtúil, dochreidte, áiféiseach, agus gan réamhshampla. B’shin an cur síos a bhí ag polaiteoirí na tíre seo ar f horbairt úrnua i bpolaitíocht na hÉireann ach tar éis eachtraí na seachtaine seo caite beidh nath nua ag teastáil do chluichí Fhianna Fáil. Agus an ESRI ag fógairt na hanailíse a bhí acu ar gheilleagar na hÉireann agus ar an eisimirce, bhí Fianna Fáil gafa leo féin. Má tá tréith ar bith ag polaiteoirí Éireannacha, agus is annamh a léirítear aon rud eile uathu, is é go bhfuil saint i gcóir cumhachta in ionad idéeolaíochta chun tosaigh ina gcuid intinne tromlach an ama.

An mó am a chualamar faoin bpáirtí le seachtain anuas? Ar leas an pháirtí a dúirt duine amháin.

Ar son an pháirtí a scread duine eile. Bhí an chuma ar an scéal go rabhamar inár gcónaí sa tSín nó domhan Orwell agus an plé seo ar an bpáirtí ag dul ar aghaidh.

Agus ar an Sathairn, nuair a bhí sé soiléir go raibh Fianna Fáil ar tí a bheith scriosta ar fad, thit an tua agus d’éirigh an Taoiseach as

a phost mar uachtarán Fhianna Fáil. In óráid dheas a tugadh in óstán trasna an bhóthair óna roinn féin, d’f hógair Brian Cowen go mbeadh sé seo ar leas an pháirtí.

Nuair a tháinig an IMF go hÉirinn an bhliain seo caite, ní raibh sé i gceist ag Cowen éirí as; nuair a bhí sé le feiscint go raibh leas an pháirtí i mbaol, d’éirigh sé as.

In Éirinn, tagann cumhacht roimh pholasaithe, tagann an post sula mbíonn cáilíocht.

Agus ní tréith é a bhaineann le Fianna Fáil amháin. Fiú an tseachtain seo cuirfidh Fine Gael agus Páirtí an Lucht Oibre brú ar an gComhaontas Glas agus ar Fhianna Fáil an bille airgeadais a bhrú tríd laistigh de sheachtain. Ba mhaith leo go mbeadh an toghchán ar siúl chomh luath agus gur féidir ach mar f hreasúra, ní hé an t-aon ról atá acu ná an dream eile a chur as cumhacht. Tá dualgas ar bhaill an Oireachtais scrúdú ceart a dhéanamh ar dlíthe a thagann ós a gcomhair; is cuma cé leis an bille. An f hadhb a bhí againn, de réir lucht an f hreasúra

le deich mbliana anuas, ná go raibh easpa measa ag an Rialtas ar an bpróiseas parlaiminteach in Éirinn sa tslí nach raibh a ndóthain ama acu billí a phlé i gceart. Bhí athrú €6 bhilliún i gcáinaisnéis 2011, athruithe cánach san áireamh.

Is é an Bille Airgeadais 2011 an ionstraim dlí atá ag teastáil chun go mbeadh fórsa an dlí ag na hathruithe ollmhóra a d’f hógair an tAire Airgeadais, Brian Lenihan TD, i mí na Nollag.

Tá dualgas ar pholaiteoirí an bille seo a phlé i gceart, mar leis an gcuid seo den dlí gearrfar pá, cuirfear an cháin in airde agus sásófar an IMF ach tá lucht an f hreasúra sásta an bille seo a chur tríd an Oireachtas i seachtain amháin.

Ná dean dearmad ach oiread nach suíonn an t-Oireachtas ach trí lá i rith na seachtaine. Más féidir an méid sin ama a ghlacadh le bille mar seo, bille atá tábhachtach do thodhchaí na tíre seo agus a dhéanfaidh an difríocht idir bia ar an mbord agus goile folamh do roinnt in Éirinn, cad is fiú breis agus bliain a chaitheamh ar dlí faoi chlúmhilleadh. Ní féidir scrúdú ceart a chur ar dhoiciméid atá chomh fada seo laistigh de sheachtain.

Is í aidhm na polaitíochta freastal a dhéanamh ar dhaoine. Cinnte, tá sé níos éasca é seo a dhéanamh agus tú i gcumhacht ach uaireanta is gá dearmad a dhéanamh ar chumhacht a lorg ar feadh achair ghairid agus ról an pholaiteora a chomhlíonadh trí bhealach eile.

An tseachtain seo, tá gá le páirtithe atá sásta reachtaíocht an rialtais a léamh, a phlé agus a athrú más gá ach mar is gnách i bpolaitíocht na hÉireann, tá siad ar fad gafa leo féin, leis an gcumhacht, agus iad ar fad chomh dona lena chéile.

go léann tú seo. Ach cad a éiríonn as na héirithe as don chóras sláinte?

Tá ráite go bhfuil billiún le baint as buiséad na sláinte. Córas agus roinn atá ag lúbadh faoi ualach oibre cheana. Táthar ann a deir nach féidir é a dhéanamh, nach leor an €13 billiún féin.

Rud spéisiúil is ea buiséad seo na sláinte, duibheagán gan ghrinneall ar bhealach, is minic ráite gur cuma cé mhéid airgid a chaitear isteach ann nach líonfar choíche é. Íoctar thart ar dhá dtrian den tsuim iomlán seo mar thuarastail oibrithe; glantóirí, maoir, teiripeoirí, dochtúirí, altraí, fisiteiripeoirí, lucht riaracháin, agus bainisteoirí ag fáil a riar.

Nuair a bhainfear billiún as an mbuiséad iomlán, bainfear ón 30% eile é ar an gcuid is mó, rud a f hágfaidh go ngearrfar seirbhísí go smior is go géar. Mhéadaigh caiteachas an stáit ar chúrsaí sláinte an phobail ó €3.6 míle milliún sa

Máire Ó h-Athairne.

bhliain go breis is €12 billiún faoi 2006. Caithfear suim an bhuiséid seo a thuiscint i gcomhthéacs an chaiteachais iomlán de thart ar €50 go 60 billiún, mar a bhí le dornán de bhlianta anuas.

Mar sin, táimid ag caitheamh méid uafásach mór ar chúrsaí sláinte agus is cosúil go bhfuil cúrsaí níos measa ná mar a bhí riamh.

Cad as a thagann seo? Dar liom go bhfuil cúpla freagra éagsúil ar an gceist, mar atá, na cinn choitianta; an iomad bainistíochta is riaracháin, easpa ceannaireachta, easpa inf heistíochta i mbonneagair na sláinte ar bonn pobail chomh maith le sláinte an phobail a bheith ag dul in olcas agus an lucht orainn féin. Ní dóigh liom, áfach, gur féidir a áiteamh nach bhfuil an buiséad mór go leor, cé gur luaitear seo ó am go chéile. Ainneoin sin ar fad déantar dearmad de threocht atá ag athrú an chórais agus tuiscintí an phobail ó bhonn, sé sin ionchais nó súlachtaí an phobail i dtaobh an leighis gan a bheith réadúil.

An bhfuilimid ag súil leis an iomarca ón réimse eolaíochta seo?

Tá fadhb mhór ag teacht chun cinn go hidirnáisiúnta ó thaobh an costas a chuireann roinnt cógas ar chórais leighis, cógais a bhfuil éifeacht leo ach atá fíorchostasach, Avastin, Gleevec agus Herceptin mar shamplaí. Dhiúltaigh an NHS (sa RA) cóir Avastin a a chur ar

fáil mar nach dtabharfadh sé ach 6 seachtainí breise d’othair, ar an meán, ar costais £21,000. Chuir feachtasóirí ina choinne seo go mór, agus thuigfeá dóibh. Níl sé chomh héasca, áfach, an caiteachas seo a chosaint nuair a thuigtear nach bhfuil a ndóthain le nithe ag 925 milliún duine ar domhan, is nach bhfuil ach dollar amháin ar radharc pháistí a chosaint le ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

An réiteach is fearr a d’fhéadfadh an leigheas a thabhairt ar fhadhb an leighis go ginearálta ná caighdeán saoil dhaoine a fheabhsú, go díreach roimh bhás dóibh, ach gan breis a chur le saol an duine a fhaigheann bás de thoradh ghnáthchúinsí.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

vitimíní agus go bhfuil sluaite gan áireamh nach bhfuil rochtain acu ar chóir leighis sna tíortha forbartha fiú.

Tá tairngreacht ag scata eolaithe go mbeadh saol an duine méadaithe go mór, ag éirí as bunthurgnaimh ar luchóga. Is féidir go mbeadh an duine daonna in ann tionchar mór a imirt ar ghéinte agus ar dhul in aois an duine trí theilimíreanna a ionramháil.

An réiteach is fearr a d’f héadfadh an leigheas a thabhairt ar f hadhb an leighis go ginearálta ná caighdeán saoil dhaoine a f heabhsú, go díreach roimh bhás dóibh, ach gan breis a chur le saol an duine a f haigheann bás de thoradh ghnáthchúinsí. Ní f héadfadh comhshaol an phláinéid seo nó an domhan eacnamaíoch cos a choinneáil le fás rábach úd na tairngreachta.

Cuimhnítear leis, go ngearradh feabhsaithe i sláinte an phobail abhus, ó thaobh aistí bia sláintiúla, aclaíocht rialta, agus eolas maith sláinte, an costas sláinte atá orainn mar thír. Ar an drochuair níor chualathas an glór seo os ard i gceart ag aon pháirtí fós. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Gluais: Ionchas - rud a bhfuil duine ag súil leis.

Rochtain - bheith in ann rud a fháil.

Teilimír - cuid den ADN (DNA) ag deireadh na gcrómasóm.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

www.collegetribune.ie | 13

Pat de Brún

Scott Ahearn

Paul Lynam

Jonny Cosgrove

James Williamson

Campaigns & Communications

Welfare

President

Ents

Education

E: president@ucdsu.ie P: 01 7163110

www.ucdents.com E: jonny@ucdents.com P: (01)-716 3113

E: campaigns@ucdsu.ie P: 01 7163122

E: welfare@ucdsu.ie P: 01 7163112

E: education@ucdsu.ie P: (01)-716 3111

UCD SU LOYALTY CARD Small card - big rewards

Sign up today

www.ucdsu.ie/loyaltycard YOUR STUDENT CARD IS TRANSFORMING, IT’S NOW YOUR SU LOYALTY CARD TOO • BIG REWARDS ALL OVER CAMPUS IN STUDENTS’ UNION OUTLETS • SPECIAL OFFERS FOR LOYAL CARD HOLDERS • CHANCE TO WIN SU ENTS GOLD CARD • REWARDING YOU IN MORE WAYS EVERYDAY

The special SU card is free to use and entitles you to earn points on purchases in SU outlets. From ENTS events to your Crunchie, the SU card is the key to big rewards

DO YOU WANT TO QUIT SMOKING . .

On Thursday 27th 12pm in the Blue Room come along to the open meeting about how you get start the journey to quit smoking!

WANT TO GET YOUR ACADEMIC LIFE IN ORDER.

Dr.Feargal Murphy is giving a Study Skills Workshop

Thursday 27th 4pm in A109 & Thursday 3rd of February in A109

Student Support Fund Finding it hard to pay for college books, are you on placement and you cant afford the travel costs.

Applications are been accepted for the Student Support Fund, to collect one you can pop into Scott Ahearn the Welfare Officer in the Student Center Office G18 or email him on welfare@ucdsu.ie.

Applications can't go over €100 and you must be research the price of the books you want.

Deadline is February 7th 5pm.

LIBRARY UPDATE Following the Students’ Union proposal on a seven day library, I am pleased to announce that the James Joyce Library is now open on Sundays starting from the week of the 17th.Deadline is February 7th 5pm.

the postponed

CHRISTMAS BALL @ the Student Bar Tuesday 25th january

feat:

THURSDAY 20th January STUDENT BAR Bar!

€3 tcfokr atllsebvleenotsn

e S CLUB &spe5ciaivl guests bs) (Scotty & A

djs

Late

om availa Ents.c UCDSU Shopasr all e SU B & th

UCDEnts proudly sponsored by Vodafone & in association with SPIN 103.8 presents

E NOT

re befo m must fromfrobutas et kets keets valid istm l tic in th op ll tic ar hr AlA us as gedt m e sh e tm rechCanbu thY! or thinAR foex Chris bebe dNU Unionge JA valid 21st Union areents'AYan Stud exIDch s' beFR dent Bar BY

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Bashing out your favourite #1's from the 90s

UCDEnts proudly sponsored by Vodafone & in association with SPIN 103.8 presents

R.O.A.R. / Over 18’s GOV I.D. Req.

proudly sponsored by

proudly sponsored by

Get on board now at vodafone.ie/redline

14 | www.collegetribune.ie

ar late b

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tckts € for 10 all avail events UCDEable on all SUnts.com & the Shops SU Ba r

R.O.A.R. / Over 18’s GOV I.D. Req.

Editorial Contributors List:

Míle Buíochas:

Olivia Reidy, Matthew Costello, Chris Bond, Greg Acton, Jeremy O’Hanlon, Ciarán

Datascope Printing (Kevin Mitchell, David Walsh, Trina Kirwan and everyone else),

Leinster, Timothy Potenz, Conall Devlin, Graham Luby, Conor McKenna, Róisín

Emmet Farrell, Niamh Hanley (Mo Laoch), Donie O’Sullivan, Amy Walsh, Philip

Sweeney, Laura McNally, Kellie Nwaokorie, Kate Brady, Daniel Nolan, David

Connolly, James Grannell, Sam ‘Yiddo’ Eager, Jim Scully, Lorraine Foy, Dáire Brennan,

Murphy, Ciara Murphy, Simon Mulcahy, Tracey O’Connor, Ashling O’Loughlin,

Danny Lambert, Dan Daly, Aoifa Smith, Mark Hobbs, Ryan Cullen, Amanda Barton,

David McManus, Dan Binchy, Declan Hegarty, Michael Phoenix, Aonghus McGarry,

Ciara Murphy, Conor McKenna, Ryan Cullen, Eoin Ó Murchú, Dáire Brennan,

Eoin Ó Cróinín, Aisling O’Grady.

MCD (Rory Murphy and Colm Hanley).

€6 million unauthorised payments a disgrace

Ski Fiasco further destroys the name of students

Last week’s news from HEA chief executive Tom Boland that unauthorised payments

Last Sunday morning saw a further blow to the reputation of students, in what seems

of circa €6 million is damning evidence that change in the higher echelons of the

to be a regular occurrence amongst the student populace, as a student ski trip abroad

University is required. How such a gross amount of money could have been dished

was reported in the national media to have seen students spraying Swastika’s on walls,

out to members of staff is beyond belief. The worst part of all of this is Boland’s

burning €50 euro notes and causing general havoc. Whether it is a national strike

intention to withhold funds to the University until the debt is re-paid. The likely

which ends in a Government department being attacked, regular acts of anti-social

factor in this is surely the cutback of student services somewhere along the line.

behaviour, or an incident like this, we seem to have a knack of creating trouble for

While UCD Students’ Union has said that this situation must not occur in wake of

ourselves. While the blame from the incident in question cannot reportedly be

the news, stronger and decisive action is needed over the next few days, weeks and

blamed to one party in question, the general message is that we need to learn when

months. The College Tribune has previously referred to the lack of action being taken to

to stop. The problem clearly stems from the intake of alcohol, which year after year, is

rectify financial issues such as these, September 28th 2010 in Issue 2,Volume 24 being

proving to be the most accessible drug that is available to us all.

one example. So when, if ever, will action be taken?

Why don’t or can’t we just cop on?!

Editor:

Colman Hanley collegetribune@gmail.com

Designer:

Emmet Farrell emmet.tribune@gmail.com

News Editor:

Donie O'Sullivan news.collegetribune@gmail.com

Deputy News Editor: Amy Walsh

Sports Editor:

Mark Hobbs sport.collegetribune@gmail.com

Music Editor:

Conor McKenna tribmusic@gmail.com

Fashion Editor:

Aoifa Smyth tribune.health.fashion@gmail.com

Photography Editor: Dáire Brennan

Turbine Editor: Ryan Cullen

Eagarthóir Gaeilge:

Eoghan O’ Murchadha

Copy Editor:

Niamh Hanley

Cartoonist: Dan Daly

Translator to the Republic of Ireland’s Manager, Giovanni Trapattoni, Manuela Spinelli (pictured left) shows her support for the College Tribune.

www.collegetribune.ie | 15

It’s Satire Stupid!

Inside Damon Albarn wins Medal of Honour for role in ‘Battle of Britpop’ “Put the can in Cancer” states FF leader vacancy hopeful Brian Lenihan Wu-tang Clan to run for Government Seacthain na nGaeilge casual racism over ‘No English’ jumpers Death to the west” states Hu Jintao after meeting with Obama Carlow man wins right to open up family orientated brothel Pat the Cope: “I whip my hair back and Forth”

16 | www.collegetribune.ie

Forgery surrounds Cowen’s resignation letter Controversy has risen following the discovery that Michael Noonan forged a resignation letter for Brian Cowen, leading the Taoiseach no choice but to step down as Fianna Fáil leader.

After the letter was processed, two members of Fine Gael dragged Cowen from his chair and out the doors of the Dail. The Taoiseach was heard spitting “what the fuck happened” through the lamb fat that was dribbling down his face. Also amongst the people who have resigned this week, was people’s favourite Mary Harney.

Her pension is set to cost the state millions of euros and a further 100,000 euro damage as they had to remove the gable of the dail to let her leave the building. Many people complained at the clauses

and expense of the pension saying that it would damage the state further. Mary Harney is also set to have her ashes scattered over Dublin in the event of her death, with much of the public claiming that due to her obesity, would leave the city like Pompeii. With many of the vacant positions to be allocated via a game of musical chairs, the position of Fianna Fáil leader shall be drawn from a hat with Eamonn O’ Queef, Micheal Martin, the cancer man and Mary Hanafin.

Brian Lenihan has launched his campaign for the leadership of Fianna Fáil by claiming that he has been repairing the consequences of the economic downturn that he has nurtured, like a shrivelled up foetus in a test tube and pledged to work with like-minded parties

on a “radical transformation” of the political system. He stated that “Leadership is about substance,

Why do you think Mary Harney has been so successful.

The most effective method of

leadership is to be frank with the people about what needs to be done, chemotherapy.”

Education Officer Williamson fears for his life After receiving over two hundred death threats due to the cancellation of exams, education officer James Williamson has allegedly fled to Peru this morning, fearing for his life. After being sent fish in the mail and threats claiming that his ears would be nailed to a tumble dryer, James is said to have hopped aboard a Ryanair flight to Lima, leaving behind his devastated new lover.

His lover, whose name we shall not disclose for security reasons, had this to say; “He woke up this morning startled. He shouted something about a horse’s head in his bed. He screamed and ran out. I was so confused as there was no horses head. It was just me in the bed.” After breaking down, the lover spluttered out “maybe he wasn’t ready for a STABLE relationship”. The education officer or “Fuzzy Wuzzy” as his friends call him, was asked recently by our turbine reporter Sukie Bapswent if he thought that education was too expensive, the reply was “to a degree, yes”. Garda are now investigating the letters sent to his residence, in the hope that they can find out the culprits.

The Garda commissioner ‘Daltai Haters‘ has called for every UCD students handwriting to be investigated to find a match. All students are to send “James Williamson fucking ruined my fucking Christ-

mas, the daft useless twat” to the Tierney building by the first of November. In the meantime, the SU are trying to reach the AWOL officer. Welfare Officer

Scott Ahern released a statement this morning stating “We are very concerned for the welfare of James. James usually takes care of

his welfare and when somebody threatens this welfare, we challenge whether the person threat-

ening James welfare, respects their own welfare.

Welfare 4 LIFE!!!”

Sport

The College Tribune January 25th 2011 www.thecollegetribune.net

Down the Line

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Liam Lacey | With league leaders Manchester United maintaining

their unbeaten run this weekend, Liam Lacey wonders

why the “experts” are waiting for their fall. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

uperleague

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Greg Acton | Nevermind the cross-channel football fare; Greg Acton reports

on the league that really has everybody talking. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

a ‘Keano’. The team may not have the guile of Henry and Pires, who were breathtaking to watch on their day, but they do have great mental strength and determination to do well for each other. Even though many pundits proclaim that the depth of the Premiership is getting stronger, and that other teams are catching up on United, the dominant forces of the last

years, yet still find themselves the leading title challengers. Man U may not be playing the attractive, exciting football that fans are used to witnessing, but they are still getting the job done against clubs who, according to popular consensus, should be capable of beating them now.

After Tottenham failed to defeat United in a top-of-the-table clash two weekends ago, their manager, acclaimed wheeler-dealer Harry Redknapp, declared that Man U are not good enough to go the season unbeaten. But surely his comments are a damning remark on the level of many of United’s competitors; while this current side pales to the illustrious sides seen at Old Trafford in the past few decades, they still remain unbeaten into January.

Last Saturday’s facile 5-0 victory over Birmingham was ominous.

Maybe Manchester United are not a vintage side - but even so, who will be good enough to stop them?

Back to college and back to the SUPERLEAGUE, the league made famous by its garish jerseys, bone-crunching challenges and horrendous hangovers. Time to see who has come back strongest after a thoroughly undeserved Christmas break.

First up, the Premier Saturday.

The Back Door Bouncers, who had a measly total of three points before the break, have amazingly resumed their campaign with back to back wins. Their 2-1 beating of Substandard Liege was followed by their 6-0 hammering of September’s 11 this weekend.

Seán O’Connor scored the first after a brilliant piece of play by strike partner Luke Nolan. Their partnership up front is starting to resemble that of Shevchekno and Inzaghi at AC Milan. Midfield maestro Morgan mac Fhionnlaoich got a brace as did debutante Daryl Dodd who instantly wrote himself into Bouncers folklore with a goal from the ‘alfway line!

with a tap-in so simple it’s almost not worth mentioning.

Meanwhile, in Division 1 Saturday, Sauce Pan Celtic produced a thoroughly professional performance against Bayern Hasslehoff, running out comfortable 2-0 winners. Aaron McNulty, who failed to convert two one-on-one chances in the first half, redeemed himself with a stunning goal to give the saucepans the lead. Neill Cowzer then got his name on the score-sheet with a bizarre goal, straight from a corner. After going two up, Celtic never looked worried, and saw the game out with ease.

Division 1 Saturday also claimed the biggest shock of the weekend.

Callary Rovers defeated highflying Virgin Orient 3-0 on a bitterly cold Astro 2, and it could have been a lot more if it wasn’t for some amazing saves from the Orient ‘keeper. Rovers held onto a narrow 1-0 lead for a long time but never looked like conceding.

Orient to just two shots on target, both of which were from long range.

The Premier Sunday is really starting to heat up, with at least five teams looking like they have a serious shot at the title. Olympic Real are out in front at the moment but ABCDE FC, who went into the break having played two games less, hammered Dukes of Biohazard 4-0 last week to put themselves right back in the mix.

Fellow title contenders Sheffield Thursbray started back with a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Scratch Arse FC. This reporter’s prediction: Just Jeff to make the most of their games in hand, and finish top of the pile come the end of the season.

decade are at their lowest level in

The jury is out.

Paul Geraghty completed the rout

Excellent defending restricted

inform us at the College Tribune.

If the Premier League table is viewed with any sort of realism, Manchester United are the team that everyone else is going to beat to win this year’s title. With 22 games played, the Old Trafford side occupy first place with a game in hand - which, if they won, would send them 5 points clear of their closest challengers, Arsenal.

Opinion is divided amongst the so called “experts” in football about whether this current Man U team, hitherto unbeaten this season, can go all the way and match the effort of Arsenal’s Invincibles of 2004.

That side went the full 38 game season without meeting defeat and was widely lauded. With Arsenal, the opinion was that as each game saw them avoid defeat, the momentum increased, helping them to achieve their unbeaten run. However, with Man U, the talk seems to be about when they will finally lose and cancel out the threat of going through this season unmarked. This is due, in no small

card” that United have played on numerous occasions this term, notably scraping by West Brom at Christmas, when defeat would have been a fairer result. This Red Devils team appears to lack a Vieira-type figure that aided Arsenal to their 2004 record, or even

part, to the “get out of jail free

ATTENTION! There was a worrying lack of cards in the Superleague this week.

Anyone with any knowledge on the whereabouts of trigger-happy ref Seán O’Concubhair, please

All Systems Go for Irish Provinces

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mark Hobbs

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The weekend’s European rugby action saw a clean sweep of wins for the four Irish provinces, in what could prove a timely morale boost with the opening Six Nations fixture against Italy on Febuary 5th fast approaching.

Leinster’s imperious form continued with victory over Racing Metro, and the teams remaining in the competition will be suitably nervous about their threat.

Having earned a home quarter final, Leinster will now face Aviva Premiership toppers Leicester in a mouth watering clash at the RDS. The “Blue Magic” was certainly evident at times last Friday, and the recent performances of Sean O’ Brien and Jonathon Sexton means it’s no surprise that the bookmakers now make them favourites to regain the trophy they claimed in 2009.

Ulster’s bonus point victory over Aironi saw them progress to the quarters for the first time in twelve years. They will pair off now with Northampton away from home, in a tie that will prove tricky given the improvement the English side have shown in recent times. The Northern Province is there on merit though, and Ian Humphreys’ long ranger against Biarritz may well prove a pivotal turning point for the club.

The other quarter finals are all French affairs with Perpignan facing Toulon, and Biarritz hosting Toulouse in a repeat of last year’s final.

Three converted tries in the last ten minutes helped restore some pride in the Munster jersey,and while progrssion was impossible the Red Army now at least will face Brive in the quarter finals of

the Amlin Challenge Cup. Perhaps even more interested in their fate than their own fans will be those associated with Connacht.

If Munster were to go on and win the cup it would allow the western side to partake in the Heineken Cup for the first time, thus providing the relative minnows with a huge opportunity to seize.

www.collegetribune.ie | 17

Sports

It’s a Funny ld Game

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Conall Devlin | In what has been an otherwise largely dull January transfer window in football so far,

prolific Premier League striker Darren Bent made a seemingly strange £24 million transfer from high-flying

Europa League aspiring Sunderland to struggling Aston Villa. Conall Devlin recalls ten other bizarre football transfers. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Alberto Aquilani, £20m (Roma to Liverpool, August 2009)

Bought by Rafa Benitez as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, Aquilani never fitted in at Anfield.

He was injured when Liverpool bought him and it took him an age to recover. When he finally did, he needn’t have bothered. It became clear that the anticipation surrounding his debut had hardly been worth it as he looked out of form and off the pace. The Italian’s nightmare lasted just a year as he secured a loan move to Juventus last August.

9. Craig Bellamy- Seasonlong loan (Manchester City to Cardiff City, August 2010)

There’s never been any doubt about his footballing talent, so it came as a surprise to many that, despite interest from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, the speedy Welshman ended up in his hometown of Championship side Cardiff after falling out with manager Roberto Mancini. An even bigger surprise given that Bellamy was in the form of his life and Cardiff City faced a winding-up order from Inland Revenue only the day before Bellamy signed. Sufficed to say Bellamy may not be entirely off Man City’s books just yet…

8. Zat Knight - 30 tracksuits (Rushall Olympic to Fulham, 1999)

The lanky defender - twice capped

by England - made the move from non-league football to glamorous Fulham for the princely sum of 30 tracksuits. Assuming the tracksuits came from Fulham chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed’s shop Harrods, it could have been a then British transfer record.

7. Robinho- £32.5 million (Real Madrid to Manchester City, September 2008)

Manchester City demonstrated their new-found status as the richest club on the planet when they stunned Chelsea late on transfer deadline day by signing the Brazilian from under their noses, a deal which had most in disbelief. The tug of war for the player was so fierce that in a subsequent press conference he said, “At the last minute Chelsea made me a great offer and I ended up accepting it” to which the reporter replied, “Don’t you mean Manchester City?”. Robinho has since left City.

18 | www.collegetribune.ie

6. Edgar Davids – Pay-asyou-play (Signed for Crystal Palace, August 2010) The former Dutch and Juventus legend agreed a pay-as-you-play deal with the English Championship club; however at the ripe old age of 37 appeared to have had his best days as a majestic left back behind him. On 8 November 2010, he announced his departure of the club, stating it was “one of the greatest experiences of my life”. Indeed.

5. Bébé - £7.4million (Vitória de Guimarães to Manchester United, August 2010)

This move is the stuff that fairytales are made from. Having once lived on the streets of Lisbon and having been on the cusp of being picked to play in the homeless World Cup, Sir Alex Ferguson signed Bébé.

He even later revealed that he had never seen the 20 year old Portuguese striker play, in person or on video, before asking the club’s chief executive, David Gill, to spend £7.4m signing him (the first time in Ferguson’s 36 years as a manager that he has not watched a player he has signed).

4. Socrates- No fee (Signed for Garforth Town, November 2004) The Brazil legend, aged 50, made headlines all over the world when he signed for West Yorkshire non-league club Garforth Town.

Having captained his country in the 1986 World Cup, he agreed a one-month deal as player-coach as a favour to friend Simon Clifford, who ran a number of Brazilian soccer schools. He made just one appearance, coming on for 12 minutes against Tadchester United but it was enough to draw Garforth’s biggest crowd in 40 years.

2. Sol Campbell- Free (Portsmouth to Notts County, July 2009)

The former imperious English centre back and Arsenal doublewinning captain dropped down three divisions to spearhead SvenGoran Eriksson’s reign as Director of Football at League Two Notts County under new Middle Eastern ownership. However three days after making his debut at Morecambe, Campbell left the club my mutual consent. At least he didn’t wait around.

1.Carlos Tevez/Javier Mascherano – Undisclosed (Corinthians to West Ham, August 2006)

The Hammers pulled of a massive coup to land two of the games most prized assets but their arrival came under a cloud of mystery. Brazilian side Corinthians had a partnership deal with Media Sports Investment (MSI) and it is alleged that the company actually owned the rights to all of the clubs players. In any case, tenacious striker Tevez became an Upton Park hero as he saved them from relegation in the 2006/7 season while Mascherano had to make do with a place on the bench behind the supremely talented Hayden Mullins.

3. Per Kroldrup- £5m, (Udinese to Everton, June 2005)

Everton paid a fortune for the Denmark central defender but then showed no interest in actually playing him amid suggestions they had suddenly discovered he couldn’t head the ball. He made one league appearance before returning to Italy.

Is Darren Bent worth £24 million?

Sports

Marian Make History in National Cup

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Laura Hogan | After victory over the Ulster Elks in the Semi-Final of the Men’s Superleague National Cup,

UCD Marian Captain Niall Meaney talks to Laura Hogan about silverware being one game away.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

UCD Marian made club history when they secured a place in the National Cup Final for the first time following a 80-72 victory over Ulster Elks two weekends ago. The club will now face fellow Dubliner’s, Killester, on Sunday in the final which will be played in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.

Despite a good performance from their Ulster opponents, Marian’s captain, Niall Meany, felt that the fact they “had won all their previous matches against the Elks this year played a role” in their success.

However, that is not to say that they did not have to fight until the bitter end. The first-quarter of the game ended with UCD Marian trailing by thirteen points, the score standing at 20-7.

“We were trying not to panic, we missed a few easy opportunities and the momentum was with them,” said Meany, while also commenting, “Dan James was superb for us in the first-half, he really kept us in it.”

At the close of the second-quarter there was just ten points between the sides, but it was in the thirdquarter that began to display some fantastic baskets from UCD as they found another gear. Back in the game and not prepared to give in, Meany commented on the half time talk in the changing room..

“We were disappointed with our defensive effort and were determined to put the focus back on what had made us successful during the year.” The team came out with a renewed defensive belief that led to a greater confidence in going forward.

UCD Marian were very strong in the opening of the fourth-quarter and it was at this point in the match that Elks really seemed to be struggling on the offensive end.

This was clearly noticed and taken advantage of as we quickly saw the UCD lead reach double digits.

“We were feeling a lot better at that stage” admitted Meany, “we knew after the third-quarter what we needed to do to close the game

out and we talked in the time out that the students will have a full about sticking to that plan.” team for the game. “There is great Elks’ Ben De La Cruz then team spirit here, we are all good brought the gap back to just four mates and knowing that everyone points but the response to this was will be available to play in the final immediate from is massive for us.”

UCD and the The National Superleague Meany also feels healthy lead was Cup final between that the cup run soon restored. has helped the 11890 Killester and UCD Meany felt the club’s normal Marian takes place in crowd support season in the ther National Basketball Super League. was what really kept them going Arena at 3:15pm on “Getting a taste Sunday, 30th of January. of being on the throughout the game saying, biggest stage in “We had a bus load of people Irish basketball will give us that down in Cork and we knew extra hunger to push towards that we couldn’t let them down. We feeling again with the league playwanted the win so badly and they offs at the end of the year, which certainly helped us get over the we are fighting so hard to be a line.” part of.”

The match against defending While UCD has been in the last champions Killester is no doubt four Under 20 National Cup going to be a tough challenge and finals, this is the first time they Meany recognises that they are a have found themselves in the final hugely experienced team. Howat the highest level. “We know ever, he says that UCD “will go in how big the occasion is,” declared there and do everything to win.”

Meany, “and we can’t wait to be a Meany also expressed his delighted part of it.” ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The momentum certainly continued into the weekend, when the students recorded a fine 91-73 away victory against Moycullen,

Neil Baynes top-scoring with 31 points. Should this good form continue, Meaney could lifting the silverware on Sunday.

Dan James rises highest for UCD Marian, Picture: Brendan Moran/ SPORTSFILE.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Students Left Reeling After Mass Exodus

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Patrick Fleming | After the announcement of next season’s fixtures, UCD’s Premier Division side find players are

thin on the ground. Patrick Fleming examines the club’s boom and bust cycle.

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Last October, Greg Bolger took up his place in the UCD midfield for the last game of the 2010 season, a game which ended in a 4-1 drubbing of the Students at the hands of Sporting Fingal. In just over a month, Bolger will again take to the field when UCD travel to Dalymount Park in a repeat of that fixture.

For this season’s opener, however, Bolger will not be lining out in blue. Instead, he’ll be wearing the all-white kit of the Northsiders.

This, unfortunately, has been a common occurrence of the past few years, as he is one of at least ten UCD players who have decided to move on to pastures new.

The Under-23 international is just one of many departures that were influential in keeping UCD in the Premier Division last year, such as goalkeeper Billy Brennan (Distillery), defensive stalwarts Evan McMillan and Brian Shorthall (St. Patrick’s Athletic), midfielders Keith Ward (Dundalk) and Chris Mulhall (Shelbourne), and the heavily lauded Ciaran Kilduff (Shamrock Rovers). Dwayne

Wilson (Waterford United), David McMillan (also St. Patrick’s Athletic) and Andy Boyle (Shelbourne) round up the losses to Martin Russell’s squad this year. The greatest fear for the side is that the list could get longer.

Without a doubt, this exodus cuts right to the heart of the team.

In particular, the loss of Evan McMillan, last year’s captain and influential leader, will be detrimental to its core structure.

But possibly an even greater loss will be that of the prolific goal poacher Ciaran Kilduff. With 16 goals in the Students’ 2009 First Division title run, and a staggering 19 last year in the Premier, he was a large part of the team’s success and will be virtually irreplaceable. He will partner last season’s top scorer Gary Twigg in the Shamrock Rovers forward line next season, and, in doing so, will be part of the most intimidating strike partnership in the league.

The only consolation is the rumoured transfer fee that Rovers have paid for Kilduff, a former youth player with the

Tallaght club.

Unfortunately, this kind of degeneration is part and parcel of running a club such as UCD, which is seen mostly as a stepping stone and a place to hone your ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

But possibly an even greater loss will be that of the prolific goal poacher Ciaran Kilduff. With 16 goals in the Students’ 2009 First Division title run, and a staggering 19 last year in the Premier, he was a large part of the team’s success and will be virtually irreplaceable.

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skills before playing with the top clubs. But with the inability of the club to maintain last year’s playing budget, the departures hardly come as a shock. Regardless, they are a sad reminder of the limits this club faces. There can be no hope of any genuine chance of success if continuity is continually broken and the team is routinely forced to rebuild from the ground up. Yet it

is a most admirable feat that UCD soccer has thrived, despite this burden.

So, just as in previous years, it’s back to the drawing board for Martin Russell and his staff. With no confirmation of any new signings so far, it is not clear whether too many outside players will be brought in before the season starts in March.

Financially, it makes more sense to source replacements internally, especially considering the UCD “A” squad’s highly successful year, taking the Newstalk “A” Championship last November. Still, the squad is going to be a young one, with limited top flight experience.

Perhaps some of the future greats of Irish football will emerge out of this group, like a nebula spawning emergent stars.

And perhaps Martin Russell can even bring together a ragtag group of youngsters as a contending force in this season’s title race.

Even if it takes more than just one season for them to fully blossom, there will be no doubt that the vibrancy and enthusiasm of a young

side will be sure to provide endless excitement and entertainment for the UCD faithful - right up until that epoch too comes to an end and the cycle begins again.

Pictured is former UCD Captain Evan McMillan.

Picture: Stephen McCarthySportsfile

www.collegetribune.ie | 19

Sport

The College Tribune January 25th 2011 www.thecollegetribune.net

Soccer ››

Basketball ››

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Marian set for Final

Why sign him? Worst Transfers reviewed

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Louth Leaves it Late to Defeat Students UCD Succumb to ____________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Colman Hanley | O’ Byrne Cup Semi-Final, Drogheda ____________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Shane Lennon & Ronan Carroll celebrate, Louth defeated UCD by a single point.

Photo Brian Lawless/SPORTSFILE

Louth 2-11 UCD 0-16 UCD’s fine run in the O’Byrne Cup was brought to an end by an injury-time winning point by Louth midfielder Ronan Carroll.

The Students, having beaten Seamus McEnaney’s Meath and Carlow in previous rounds, were left heartbroken as Carroll’s point two minutes into injury time proved the difference between the sides.

Louth edged the opening stages in this encounter, leading 0-6 to 0-3, but it was the impact of Shane Lennon that caused the greatest difficulties. Midway through the opening half, the full forward

20 | www.collegetribune.ie

Late Sucker Punch

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Mark Hobbs | Kilballyowen Park _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Bruff 24 UCD 22 UCD were left cursing their luck after conceding a last minute try and suffering defeat to Bruff last Sunday in the semi-final of the Bateman All-Ireland Cup. The early signs were ominous for the travelling contigent when UCD conceded a penalty try after only three minutes, following infringements in a five-metre scrum.

But the men in blue fought back with three unanswered tries from centre David McSharry, full-back Michael Twomey and captain Andy Cummisky (pictured below), and a further penalty gave them a 22-7 lead.

However in the final 25 minutes, Bruff’s physicality caused problems for the visitors’ defence, notably in the scrum where Bruff completely dominated. Their directness inside the “22” eventually told, as John Shine touched down. Tony Cahill converted, and soon added a penalty, to leave Bruff trailing by just five points.

College tried their best to keep out the Limerick side, but Bruff wing-forward, John S. Shine, broke off the back of an attacking maul, and from just three meters out, touched the ball down under the posts. Cahill converted the simplest of conversions to give Bruff the lead. With time for only the restart, UCD had no chance

found form to leave UCD reeling.

Following a break forward, Louth half-forward Brian Donnelly saw his shot saved by Michael Savage in the Students’ goal, but Lennon was quickest to react and beat Colin Ford to the rebound and score.

60 seconds later and the green flag was raised again, Lennon knocking down a high ball into the path of Mark Brennan, who collected.

All of sudden, the Boynesiders had built a nine point lead.

However UCD showed character and fought back from the two goal set-back. Four un-answered points before the break, and a further four points afterwards left the score at 2-06 to 0-11.

Carroll ended the rot for Peter Fitzpatrick’s side, but UCD remained dogged and when Westmeath born John Heslin pointed for the Students on 65 minutes, it looked like UCD were finishing the stronger.

Louth All-Star Paddy Keenan, and Robert Kelly kept the sides in deadlock with a point apiece, but it was a late save from Seán Connor in the Louth goal from Wexford inter-county star Ciarán Lyng that proved crucial.

Moments later, Carroll ended a fine team move to register his fourth point of the day and put Louth through to the O’Byrne Cup final where they will face

Kieran McGeeney’s Kildare.

For UCD, preparations continue ahead of the Sigerson Cup ahead of their quarter-final clash against either IT Sligo or NUI Galway.

UCD: M Savage; J Hayes, C Ford, M Fitzsimons; C Brady, S Redmond, T Warburton (M McGowan 50); K McGourty, J Heslin; J McLoughlin, C Kenny, L Smith ( J Cocoman 50); C Lyng, R Kelly, D Larkin (M Brazil 40).

Scorers: R Kelly (0-5, 3f ), C Lyng (0-4, 2f ), J McLoughlin (0-2), T Warburton (0-1); J Heslin (0-1); C Kenny (0-1), D Larkin (0-1), J Cocoman (0-1).

Referee: S Carroll (Westmeath).

to snatch a late winning score of their own.

A disappointed UCD coach, Bobby Byrne, was keen to express his pride despite his side’s defeat. “It was an intimidating environment and they had a huge support behind them but our guys played terrifically; the tries we scored were all quality tries and whenever we got a bit of momentum we caused them all sorts of problems. The guys will take a lot of positives from the game and realise that we were just very unfortunate.”

UCD return to league duty at the weekend, as they face Terenure College at home in the Bowl on Saturday, the game kicks off at 2:30pm.

U.C.D. Michael Twomey, John Conroy, Andy Cummiskey (C), Dave McSharry, Andy Boyle, James Thornton, Rob Shanley, John A. Lee, David Doyle, Brian Hall, Brian Cawley, Mark Flanagan, Shane Grannell, Danny Kenny, Kevin Croke.

Replacements: Risteard Byrne for Kenny (64), Kieran Moloney for Hall and Keelan McKenna for Grannell (79).

Scorers: James Thornton, 1 pen, 2 conv. Andy Cummiskey, 1 try, Dave McSharry 1 try, Michael Twomey, 1 try.