College Tribune Volume 27 Issue 4 - Full Paper

COLLEGE TRIBUNE The www.collegetribune.ie

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Is social media leading the charge?

Features, page 7.

SINCE 1989 - VOLUME 27 - ISSUE 4 TUESDAY OCTOBER 22 2013

Budget 2014

How students will be affected News, page 6.

Inside T+ Hozier Interview

Andrew Hozier talks to Thérèse Walsh T+, Pages 5 - 6.

O’BRIEN CENTRE FOR SCIENCE GETS ITS GRAND OPENING Phase two of the Science Centre was opened last Friday afternoon in a ceremony that included a lecture by Professor Brian Cox. At a cost of €175 million the centre will be the hub for over 2,000 undergraduate and more than 500 graduate students in UCD. Also in attendance at the opening were Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn, along with businessman Denis O’Brien, who the new building is named after.

The Science Centre will be the single largest capital investment in science in the history of the State with approximately €300 million being spent on the building. Funding for the project came from the state, university funds and a number of philanthropic sources.

Pro - Life Group Plan To Leave Students’ Union if Demands Not Met

stance that would legalise abortion in Ireland.

Speaking to the College Tribune, A group calling themselves ‘UCD the groups spokesperson Samuel Students Against Abortion’ has O’Connor said that they will be stated that its members will request petitioning UCDSU president to leave UCD Students’ Union if Mícheál Gallagher to request that the union does not repeal its current the union retract their current stance on abortion. stance. This petition will outline This follows on from the aborhow the groups members feel - that tion preferendum, in which students they “are no longer represented by voted to see the union adopt a

Ronan Coveney Editor

the union” and that it was “beyond the unions power to even conduct such a referendum.”

O’Connor continued by stating that if the union are unwilling to change their stance it will leave the groups members with “no choice” but to seek to withdraw their names from the list of union members.

Every student in Ireland is automatically a member of their

universities or institutes of technologies Students’ Union. Speaking to the College Tribune on the matter, UCDSU president Mícheál Gallagher stated that the “disaffiliation of an individual member is an issue that is, to the best of our knowledge, yet to happen in an Irish or British University and therefore has not been tested legally.”

O’Connor pointed to the fact

that UCD Students’ Union “want democracy to be enforced in this respect but they don’t want democracy to be enforced in the respect of students and their rights as to whether or not they are members... they also have to respect students democratic rights to no longer want to associate.”

“I’m quite happy for the union to continue in its undemocratic Continued on page 2

2/NEWS

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

22.10.2013 Contents NEWS

Chicago Man Standing Trial Over Vicious Assault on UCD Student | Page 3

TRAVEL

We head off to London Town and expierience what one of the biggest cities in the would has to have on offer | Page11

BUSINESS

Where now for the Irish Property Market? As the rest of the economy enters recovery, what of Ireland’s tumultuous property market for 2014?

| Page 17

SPORT

Ireland have an easy win against Australia in International Rules | Page 18

Pro Life Group Plan To Leave SU Continued from front page nature so long as concessions, similarly undemocratic concessions to unite people because they don’t rule by decree, they rule by consent and the only reason they’re in power is because the students consent to the union being their representatives and if they want to go along this line of policy there’s going to be a large number of students who no longer consent to be members of the union.”

However, responding to the criticism, UCDSU president Micheál Gallagher, stated that there are many benefits of student union membership, including “an official means of communication between yourself and the university, welfare office and other valuable services.

If a student disaffiliated they could in theory lose the right to representation at a plagiarism hearing or access to emergency funds.”

“In reality the University would still expect the Union to represent students on such important issues and as an organisation committed to supporting students UCDSU would not leave students in crisis without a voice.”

If the group is unsuccessful with the petition they have stated that they will be writing to University officials, to ask that their names be removed from the list of union members and that the fees which the university currently place in the union on their behalf be no longer paid.

O’Connor stated that “I’d like to stress that it isn’t a matter of money, I think everyone involved in the campaign would be quite happy for the money which otherwise would have went to the union to be spent on university funds or to be spent on a charity of the universities choice.”

“I don’t want this union to speak for me and I don’t want to have a voice in this union if they are going to pursue this abortionist agenda.”

UCD Life society are also supporting the reasoning behind the petition and speaking to the College Tribune they stated that they do not believe the SU “had any mandate to hold a preferendum on such a divisive issue.” The Life Society

also made the point that their members are paying fees “to a Student Union that does not represent us, our views or our morals yet plan to speak on our behalf, as ‘pro-choice’ students.”

UCDSU President Mícheál Gallagher stated that “If students

do have a very strong opinion on any matter we encourage them to campaign on the issue at hand and to come to Council to hold the Executive to account and bring motions where they will debated and ultimately passed or defeated.”

“Ultimately, UCDSU is a de-

The UCD O’Brien Centre for Science, which was officially opened last Friday.

Contributors:

Editorial Team: Editors: Ronan Coveney Amy Walsh News Editor: Rachel Carey Sport Editor: Sean Cummins

Features Editor: Ciara Roche Arts Editor: Daniel Nolan Music Editor: Thérèse Walsh Fashion Editor: Lauren Tracey

Business Editor: Shane O’ Brien Eagarthóirí Gaeilge: John Mac Conchoille Aisling Ní Shírín College Knowledge Editor: Niamh Crosbie

Tech Editor: Kate O’Brien Turbine Editor: Matt Knight Photographer: Sean O’ Reilly Illustrator: Robert Mulpeter

Peter Branigan Diarmuid Burke Adam Duke Patrick Fleming Emily Kielthy Aifric Kyne Richard Mitchell Íde Ní Rodaigh Emily O’Brien

mocracy and we encourage people to get involved and to help shape the SU in the way that they want it. We do not expect all students to agree with every position the Union holds and we again encourage them to hold us to account at Council.”

IMAGE: Laur Ryan

Darragh O’Connor Dónal Ó Ghallachóir Jack O’ Halloran Ayisha Ogbara Caitríona O’Malley Darragh Moriarty Daithí Ó Muirceartaigh Geneva Pattison Stephen West

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THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

Chicago Man Standing Trial After Vicious Assault on UCD Student Diarmuid Burke News Writer A man has appeared before the Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago charged with the attempted murder of a UCD student on the 23rd of April 2010. Heriberto Viramontes, 34, is also facing 23 other charges for assault that left then second year MRUP student Natasha McShane fighting for her life in the emergency room of Illinois Masonic hospital.

The Silverbridge native, who was visiting Chicago as part of an exchange programme with the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, has been left in such a condition that she can no longer speak properly as a consequence from the brain injuries she received when Viramontes

pummelled her with a baseball bat as part of a street assault.

Dr Marius Katilius, the on duty trauma surgeon when McShane and her friend Stacy Jurich were first admitted, told the Court that the medical team treating her “pulled out a stone from the back of the throat.”

Dr Katilius also noted that McShane had also lost a great deal of blood, which was discovered inside and outside her skull, as well as on her face, on her scalp and in her hair. In addition to these injuries, those working on her found three separate lacerations. The damage done to the Armagh local’s body was found to be so serious that a brain surgeon was notified as soon as she was admitted to hospital.

“She was not moving on the ground. The blood started

coming out of her head,” Stacy Jurich, McShane’s companion on the night they were attacked on North Damon Avenue, told the court. Jurich also stated that she never saw the face of her attacker, as she had been focusing on McShane. However, she noted that she did hear him mutter “stupid bitch” as he stole her purse and then ran from the scene.

Sheila McShane, Natasha McShane’s mother, also testified, revealing to the court how her daughter’s disabilities are so severe that she is unable to walk without support and scarcely able to communicate. In addition to this, she suffers from multiple infections and seizures. Her family also explained that they have not told her about the on-going court case and that they are unsure whether she truly understands Natasha Mc Shane, a UCD student who was attacked in Chicago in April 2010 much of her surroundings.

UCDSU Feed 500 on World Food Day Stephen West News Writer

All the food that was prepared on the day was made from “wonky” or “misfit” veg that would have been UCD Students’ Union helped to thrown away. feed 500 students last week on

Food was also given out at campus. the event that could not be sold due

The event, which was orto the it’s short shelf life. Donnelly’s ganised by UCD SU Environment Fruit and Veg, and Wholefood Officer Mara Jacob alongside BIWholesales both provided food for OSOC was run on World Food Day the event which took place in the to raise awareness of food waste.

UCD Clubhouse Bar.

Students queue to take part in World Food Day outside the UCD Clubhouse Bar.

In the evening the event also saw a panel discussion on the topic.

World Food Day is run by the United Nations (UN) and the aim of the day is to help increase understanding of problems and solutions in the drive to end hunger.

The event was started by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN in 1979.

Five €2,000 bursaries on offer

by IFUT

23 run for UCD GA Elections

Ronan Coveney Editor

Over twenty members of staff are running for 14 seats on the governing authority in postal elections that will close on the 12th of The Irish Federation of Univer- November.

The 14 members of staff sity Teachers (IFUT) has anwill hold office for five years startnounced details of five €2,000 ing from the 1st of February 2013. bursaries that are on offer to

The list of nominated third level students across the candidates is as follows: country. The bursaries are Professorial Staff Panel (six seats): available for both undergraduAlan Baird, Joe Carthy, Orla Feely, ate and postgraduate students David FitzPatrick, William Galand are intended for use to lagher, Patrick Guiry, Imelda Maher provide financial support for and Dermot Moran. travel and research in connecOther Academic Staff Panel (five tion with a student’s studies and seats): publications.

Kieran Allen, Joseph Brady, David

Applicants are required Browne, Marie Clarke, John Dunto submit a title of a proposed nion, Helen Gallagher, Eileen project including a full descrip- Gibney, Russell Higgs, Wolfgang tion along with an academic Marx and referee. For an application form David Timoney. head to www.ifut.ie Non-Academic Staff Panel (three

The bursaries are to seats): Margaret Brindley, Robert French, celebrate the 50th anniversary Paul Harkin, Hugo O’Donnell and of the Union.

Brídín Walsh.

Ronan Coveney Editor

4/NEWS

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

‘Thinking Big’ Launches in UCD

Rachel Carey News Editor Thinking Big is a student organised event which will take place in UCD on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th of November. This one and a half day forum will discuss some of the biggest issues and challenges of this century.

On Friday a series of talks and panel discussions will take place on topics such as urban planning, energy sustainability, climate change and global food security. Saturday will be dedicated to workshops, where attendees will have a choice of what they attend. These include integration within the EU, the pension crisis and water scarcity. Coordinator of the event, Eóin Flaherty, told the College Tribune that the idea behind the forum was to “get people thinking about these things that are seriously going to affect us but no one is talking about them enough.”

At present the event has seventeen speakers with the The Fitzgerald Chamber, where ‘Thinking Big’ will take place on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th of November. addition of former politician Michael McDowell being a posbe attending to give an update on Chamber in the student centre to attract people from across sibility. The speakers come from his work with the intergovernand workshops will take place the country to the event, with a wide range of backgrounds mental panel on climate change in the seminar rooms. Tickets students being their main target including people from business, and will also discuss how bad the for the event are currently being audience. people from the public sector situation has become. sold through the event website

Flaherty told the College and people from think tanks.

The event, which is with tickets going on sale around Tribune “some of the topics are Joint recipient of the 2007 Nobel sponsored by UCD Innovation, campus nearer to the event. pretty striking”, referring to disPeace Prize, John Sweeney will is being held in the Fitzgerald The organisers are also hoping cussions on having a zero carbon

society by 2050. The organisers decided to run this event to get people thinking about issues that they have not considered and asks them to consider ways to improve society. These recommendations will then be sent to the government.

UCD Business Programme Ranked 81st in the World Stephen West News Writer The UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School’s Executive MBA programme has been ranked 81st in the world, according to the 2013 Financial Times Global Executive MBA Rankings. It continues to be the only Irish business school to be included in these global rankings and is one of less than 50 schools worldwide to have been consistently ranked over the last 13 years.

“As Ireland’s global business school, we are proud to, once again, have the quality of our MBA programme recognised in these prominent rankings,” said Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Dean, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

“As the only Irish business school to have its programmes ranked, it further strengthens the school’s reputation in its commitment to excellence, allowing us to compete with the

other premier business schools in the world.”

“Interpersonal and com-

munication skills, leadership ability, self-awareness and confidence are all enhanced by the UCD

The UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School on the Blackrock campus.

Smurfit School MBA experience and the business, peer and alumni networks created while studying

for an MBA can be invaluable,” he said.

The UCD Smurfit School is one of a number of elite business schools in the world to hold the ‘triple crown’ of accreditation from the three international centres of business and academic excellence – EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB. 47% of students attending UCD Smurfit School are international.

This year, UCD Smurfit School has had a number of its programmes recognised globally.

The Economist acknowledged both their full-time MBA programme, which ranked 68th out of 100 of the world’s leading MBA’s, followed by its Executive MBA programme which is ranked 57th out of 100 world leading Executive MBA’s. The Financial Times recognised its Masters in Finance, ranked 34th out of 40 included in the survey, and their Masters in Management ranked 56th out of 100 of the leading business masters programmes in the world.

6/NEWS

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

Budget 2014.

What Budget 2014 Means For You....

Here is a quick summary of what this year’s Budget means for students..

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The government has once again reiterated that it is 100% committed to maintaining its 12.5% corporate tax rate. While on the face of it this may not seem to benefit students directly, the retaining of our relatively low corporate tax rate continues to make Ireland an attractive place for large multinationals to invest. Considering the large number of Irish graduates hired by these firms, and the importance of continuing FDI, this is without a doubt very positive news.

UCD Investors & Entrepreneurs Society

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The reduced rate of jobseekers allowance of €100 has been extended to those currently on it aged 18-22 and to 24 for new entrants after 1st January 2014. The reduced rate of €144 will apply to those reaching 25 from January 2014. Opposition members have accused the government of pushing more and more of our young people abroad, suggesting for some migration was their only option. For those that are unable to find work, another reduction in the jobseekers allowance to €144 is seen as extremely harsh.

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The government has increased the excise duty on both a pint of beer or cider, and a measure of spirits by 10 cents, and on a bottle of wine by 50 cents. The price of a packet of 20 cigarettes has also increased by 10 cents.

For students with interest-earning savings, the rate of Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) has increased from 33% to 41%.

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For agriculturally minded students, the government has also announced that it is extending the Young Trained Farmer Relief.

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The rates of income tax and universal social charge remain unchanged.

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All VAT rates also remain unchanged.

Some of the other main talking points of this year’s Budget are:

---------------A new annual €150m contribution from the banks to the Exchequer. This has been the cause of some debate, as it is being suggested that the banks will quite simply pass this cost directly onto its customers in the form of bank fees and charges.

---------------The government have again been accused of preying on the most vulnerable in society, with the elderly being hit by a range of new cost-saving measures. These include the abolition of the Telephone Allowance (which the government may be forced to make a U-turn on very soon), the €850 bereavement grant, as well as being subject to the above-mentioned increase in DIRT to 41%.

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The government have also ordered a review of medical cards, and are lowering the level of income at which over 70’s would become ineligible. One pensioner said of the abolition of the bereavement grant, “We can’t afford to live in this country, and now we also can’t afford to die.”

The Government have also introduced free GP care for all children under the age of 5, which is a step on their pathway to free GP care for all. However, this has been come in for criticism as no means-testing has been announced so far.

Budget 2014: A Bad Day for Students?

It has been widely publicized that budget 2014 was bad for the young, women and the elderly.

This budget saw a cut in the job seeker’s allowance for young people, which is reduced from €144 to €100 for those aged 18-22 after the 1st January 2014. For individuals over 25 years of age, it has been cut from €188 to €144.

Many commentators have argued that the cuts in jobseekers allowance are not adequately counterbalanced by adequate investment in the Youth Guarantee Scheme.

Sinn Fein’s Youth Affairs spokesperson Senator Kathryn Reilly said that “young people aged 21 to 24 will lose almost 33 per cent of their weekly payment while 25 year olds will lose 25 percent of their payment.

“To add insult to injury the much talked about Youth Guarantee scheme is been given a paltry €14 million. This is just 4 per cent of what is required according to best practice across the EU,” she added.

Opposition members have argued that the government are choosing young people as an easy target. Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams suggested that Fine Gael are making emigration a policy, “this government, like its Fianna Fáil predecessor, has embraced forced emigration as a policy choice.”

Opposition members drew attention to the department of Social Protection’s policy of sending letters advertising jobs in other countries to job seekers. Fianna Fáil’s Michael McGrath said that “job creation in the private sector has played a role in the reduction in the number on the live register, but so too has forced emigration. In the last two years for which we have full data, 2011 and 2012, almost 170,000 people emigrated. Of those, almost 90,000 were Irish nationals.

“No town or village in the country has been left unaffected by the scourge of emigration. The harsh reality is that the Government is actively encouraging people to emigrate. I have a letter here that was sent by the Department of Social Protection to somebody on the live register who was formerly employed in construction. The letter tells him about a job vacancy in his area, not in Cork, Limerick or Dublin, but in Canada.”

Lastly, the proposed hike in the student contribution charge of €250, bringing it to a grand total of €2,750 euro, will take place this year. Meanwhile, the Union of Students in Ireland have welcomed the budget, celebrating the government’s decision not to cut the student maintenance grant.

“This budget marks a turning point. After four cuts to the maintenance grant in four consecutive budgets, the Government has accepted that struggling students and families can take no more.

“Minister Quinn and the Government have listened to students across the country who told them clearly that cuts to the maintenance grant would force students to drop out,” said USI President Joe O’Connor.

“While this budget reconfirms that the Student Contribution Charge (SCC) will increase again this year as outlined by Minister Quinn in Budget 2012, we will continue to campaign for this fee to be benchmarked against economic recovery and reduced to pre-crisis levels,” he added.

FEATURES\7

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

As more and more employers chastise our generations obsession with social media, Ciara Roche look at the global revolutions that could not have occurred without the help of these apparently time-wasting websites.

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Social media has come under fire lately for a range of different reasons. Cyber bullying through sites such as Facebook and the anonymus Q&A site ask.fm has resulted in the tragic suicides of Ryan Halligan and Megan Meier.

There is constant stories of employees who are fired after they share a degrading message about their business or a customer over social media. A case in Canada provoked outrage after a 16 year old was raped at a party and pictures of the attack were posted online the next day. Ireland can even boast it’s own social media downgrading after #slanegirl bypassed the internet and became a prime time news worthy story. Infamously exploding all over twitter to the dismay of anyone with a tweet of decency, the scandal provoked much discussion of the ethics of social media and how it is negatively affecting our youth culture.

One can’t deny the negative allegations that are coming up against various social media sites.

The most ardent fan of facebook must admit it promotes a high level of vanity and encourages one to simply, and quickly, judge people on small controlled pieces of information. Time recently published an article lamenting the millennial youth as “The Me Me Me Generation.” Focusing his scorn on our obsession with sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr, 42 year old journalist Joel Stein decried the effect of these sites on the youth of the world. It was suggested that the The Me generation was concerned solely with their own views and shared them to their friends through various social sites. They believed that their opinions mattered just as much as everyone else and they found a forum where they could constantly promote them.

However, what if our opinions weren’t so simply occupied with what was on television or with taking pictures of our food. Social media advocates a free avenue to express oneself as one pleases with speed and ease. In the past, social injustice fired up revolutions through printed pamphlets and risque newspaper articles, however, social media allows individuals to express themselves and their own views in real time. The Me generation are obsessed with promoting their own opinions, but they have also found an avenue where one person’s simple opinion,

or one person’s short tweet, could actually matter. The use of social media in the 2009-10 election protests in Iran, the 2011 Egyptian revolution, and the 2011 Tunisian revolution showed how social media could be used for more than just passive entertainment. More commonly known as ‘The Internet

We use Facebook to schedule the protests, Twitter to coordinate, and YouTube to tell the world.

Generation,’ Gordon Brown once referred to our era as “more tumultuous than any previous economic or social revolution….. you’ve got the possibility of people building alliances right across the world.”

The 2009 Iran election protests were one of the first indications to the power of social media.

After President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was controversially elected, claims that the results were manipulated and the voting rigged manifested into mass protests across the nation. As the disputed government attempted to quench any signs of revolution, protesters availed of the speed and ease of communication that Twitter offered. Using it to organise gatherings and spread word of the injustices taking place in a country clamped down with censorship, the ‘Green Wave’s’ use of social media truly reestablished the revolutionary tactics of the modern world. The Iranian government had succeeded in controlling the traditional media and modes of communications amongst its citizens, whilst completely obliterating access for international news organisations. Yet, it’s attempts to control the power of the internet and social media was futile. Twitter had a planned technical overhaul that would temporarily render the website offline.

However, Twitter delayed this planned shutdown because “events in Iran were tied directly to the growing significance of Twitter as an important communication and information network.” Twitter, and subsequently the rest of the world, were awoken to the true power of social media as a mode of communication that far surpassed just spreading cat pictures and poking your friends.

Twitter also gave media outlets outside of Iran access to content and information that was blocked because of censorship from the government. Major news networks such as CNN and the BBC, many of whom were blocked in Iran, gained much of it’s coverage through information shared through Twitter and Youtube. The Iranian elections weren’t on the front pages of the daily newspapers but through its relentless place on top of the worldwide trending topics, the struggles of the people of Iran was widely publicised.

The election wasn’t just being talked about by those in Iran, but was being spoken out and supported by people around the world who used the hashtag #Iranelections to continue the spread of information.

Online activism began in Egypt with a simple Facebook page supporting the striking of workers

police custody, and influenced growing discontent amongst Egyptian citizens in the weeks before the revolution. Facebook and the

in El-Mahalla El-Kubra in 2008.

‘The 6 April Youth Movement’ page began to grow in followers whilst demonstrations and protests were organised through the page. Social media was used by many public activists to promote an uprising and civil disobedience in light of censorship, police brutality, government corruption and high unemployment. Another Facebook page, ‘We are all Khaled Saeed,’ promoted the injustice of the death of Khaled Saeed whilst under

continued to occur and social media enabled them to be quickly and easily organised. One Egyptian simply summed up the modes of communication utilized by the rebels, “we use Facebook to schedule the protests, Twitter to coordinate, and YouTube to tell the world.”

Similar to Iran, Egyptian activists utilised social media to share the turmoil of the revolutions with the rest of the world and major news outlets availed of this information as well as utilising social media

The Me Generation are obsessed with promoting their own opinions, but they have also found an avenue where one person’s simple opinion, or one person’s short tweet, could actually matter. page offered a forum where people could safely gather and share their frustration with their government.

On the 25th of January 2011, the page called for a protest that saw hundreds of thousand of Egyptians flood the streets to demonstrate their discontent with the murder of Saeed, and the corruption within the countries top forces. These demonstrations

to cover the events themselves.

Reporter Sharif Abdel Kouddous from American network ‘Democracy Now!’ liveblogged events from the protests in Tahrir Square which helped to raise awareness amongst the world media. The consistent coverage through social media also stopped the forces from inciting violence in order to control the uprising.

The 2011 revolutions in Tunisia followed Egypt’s lead in utilising social media to promote and gather demonstrations amongst the general public. Protesting the President Ben Ali’s 20 year rule, Tunisians promoted their outrage at rampant unemployment, rising food prices and government corruption to the point where Ben Ali fled the country. Tunisian forces began blocking websites used to promote civil unrest and added code to sites such as Facebook that enabled the forces to delete government-defying accounts and posts. Subsequently, political bloggers began to be taken into police custody for allegedly inciting rebellion. The arrests and the Tunisian government’s blockage of the whistleblower site Wikileaks caught the interest of anarchic internet group Anonymous. Anonymous targeted the Tunisian government, leaking documents on Ben Ali’s great expenditure that enraged the Tunisian public. After the fleeing of Ben Ali, an Al Jazeera reporter praised the influence social media had on the revolution and wrote “we are living history. Tunisians have given us the best gift ever.”

Whilst Iran, Tunisia, and Egypt show how social media can promote and gather people bound by revolution, the negative side of this can be seen reflected in the London Riots. Many media outlets lamented the gathering of the rioters in locations as promoted through Facebook, Twitter and through the untraceable messaging service BBM. The London Riots lasted for 3 days and saw huge destruction in one of the mostdeveloped cities in the world.

Social media, similar to all media types, has it’s positives and negatives. It is up to the individual to harness the power they so simply have at their fingertips as they drink a cup of tea and sit on the couch. The internet and social media has provided an enormous global link that we can not take for granted.

8/FEATURES

Is RTÉ Worth the Licence Fee?

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

As more students fail to own a television, Ciara Roche looks at what RTÉ needs to do to capture the next generation of licence fee payers...

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Regarded by the Irish Times as “RTE’s best ever drama,” Love/ Hate has returned to our screens on Sunday nights to much anticipation. However, the title of the program may also reflect the rocky relationship many young adults have with the state funded television network and its programming.

Although Robert Sheehan kept tight-lipped about Darren’s killer on his recent trip to UCD, his visit did show how big a hit the programme has become with the young adults of Ireland. Showcasing gritty crime drama that could have been ripped right out of the pages of the Sunday World, the show was praised as worthy of competing with, and almost beating, the American crime programs that smother the schedule of RTÉ.

Yet much of the praise for Love/ Hate stems from how it clashes with the most popular channel in Ireland’s usual schedule. Whilst Love/Hate’s slick production values and contemporary edge are worthy of acclaim, they throw the banality of much of the surrounding schedule forward.

UCD students showcased their overwhelming interest in quality television when UCD Film Society put on four screenings of the Breaking Bad finale due to unprecedented interest. Societies such as L&H and LawSoc have chosen international television stars such as Patrick J. Adams of Suits, and Martin Freeman of Sherlock as prestigious guests. Quality programming has a clear audience amongst students and young people under 35. Figures from social media sites, where this age group are the most prolific and engaged users, show that television is still the most trending daily topic on most sites. Although the methods by which we watch television may be rapidly changing with many students opting for the ease of online players and illegal streaming sites, our interest in television shows has not waned.

Television in the past decade has risen to unprecedented heights. Quality programming now attracts respected writers, actors and budgets that were once reserved for television’s older brother, film. Programming now stands on an international stage where shows can be extremely lucrative for a station when sold on the global market. Love/Hate has already been sold to Channel 5 in the U.K

and hopes of a breakthrough for RTÉ on the international television market are abound. The commissioning director of drama in RTÉ claims that the commissioning of Love/Hate was a direct reaction to the recent upsurge in quality television drama, “we would want our drama to be of a global standard.

We would want it to sit alongside

Regarded by the Irish Times as “RTE’s best ever drama,” Love/ Hate has returned to our screens on Sunday nights to much anticipation. However, the title of the program may also reflect the rocky relationship many young adults have with the state funded television network and its programming.

‘Homeland’ and whatever other series the audiences are interested in.”

Yet where in the RTÉ schedule can we find any other examples of this drive for competitiveness with established stations such as HBO and BBC? RTÉ Two, which is aimed at the 35 and under audience, achieves only an average of 7% audience share. Filled almost entirely with imported shows, RTÉ Two is seemingly failing to establish its own identity. When many of RTÉ Two’s programmes may be viewed on the internet faster and easier than watching them on a television set, many would ask why is there an oversaturation of these obviously failing shows? The last RTÉ Two produced drama was Raw in 2008 which after being moved to RTÉ One was subsequently cancelled this year to leave room in the budget for fresher drama. Raw, whilst sometimes having up to 250,000 viewers, received mixed reviews that lamented RTÉ’s

reluctance to leave behind it’s oldfashioned image. This image has stayed with the station. Father Ted writer Graham Linehan laughed off claims that the show was rejected

by RTÉ back in 1996, and suggested that the network’s reputation completely obliterated any doubts that they would commission such a controversial show.

This could spell trouble for RTÉ in the future. RTÉ is funded predominantly by the tv licence and as such, it needs to keep proving to viewers that the €160 fee is worthwhile. For young people beginning to pay bills for the first time, forgoing a television set in order to skip another bill is fast becoming the norm, “we are all big fans of english channels such as E4 and BBC three but none of us ever really watch RTÉ,” claims 3rd year student Ellen O’Leary. “I associate the channel with old-fashioned shows such as The Late, Late Show and Reeling in the Years... I don’t feel there is much for me to watch on Irish television,” she added.

RTÉ’s attempts at securing a young market has received mixed success.

Reality soap Fade Street followed the plot of enormously popular MTV show The Hills - young girls

RTÉ Two was failing to deliver to its young audience. Comedy and entertainment output has also found itself with mixed reactions.

The biting satire of The Savage Eye may have given RTÉ Two a surprising contemporary edge, but with stereotype-inducing acts such as the Rubberbandits and Hardy Bucks strolling onto the schedules years after they became popular on the internet, RTÉ has continued to fail to find an original hit.

RTÉ may be joining the modern age by investing in the iplayer and realising that television viewing habits are changing, but for a state sponsored broadcaster, its failure to represent and appeal to the entire nation can not be ignored. The budget for RTÉ has steadily reduced in recent years, and it’s claimed that the recession has adversely affected funding for the programming RTÉ produces. Yet TG4 uses its tiny licence fee budget to produce original programming with much greater success. Reflecting the interests of Irish speakers, young and old, the channel also offers independent producing companies the chance of commission.

TG4’s rare imported shows include

rival of RTÉ, his is an ever increasing opinion. Should RTÉ become a fully commercial station, sever its ties with the state and get rid of the licence fee? Journalist Martina Devlin urges that as payers of a licence fee to an Irish state owned station we are “entitled to distinctively Irish content” yet we may “search in vain for any originality.”

RTÉ is based on the same model the internationally famous network BBC who is also currently facing criticism and the suggestion that it be privatised from the Tory Government and Britain’s biggest selling newspaper, The Daily Mail.

However, content speaks for itself and the international appeal and critical acclaim of much of BBC’s output greatly contrasts with RTÉ’s current reputation.

Nonetheless, there appears to be a light at the end of the television screen. The recent commission of a drama based on the controversial political life of Charles Haughey injects some much needed contemporary, topical storytelling into the Irish schedule. Love/Hate is enthusiastically backed by RTÉ One and producers are already in talks about a fifth series. RTÉ may be slow to catch up

making it in the big city and the dramas that come with it. However, the show did not successfully generate an audience. Appearing like a cheap and unsuccessful copy of American television trends, the show only reconfirmed claims that

critically acclaimed dramas such as Oz and Breaking Bad, establishing the station a surprising young audience. Chief Executive of rival Irish station TV3 has claimed that RTÉ’s state support is “excessive and anti-democratic.” Although a

with the rest of the world’s upsurgence in quality content, but don’t discount the tiny island responsible for some of the greatest authors and playwrights just yet.

FEATURES\9

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

The Final Shutdown?

As the U.S begins to repair after the recent 16 day Government shutdown, Patrick Fleming discusses an unstable political system that appears far from full recovery...

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What does it look like when a 226 year old political system has a nervous breakdown? The abject figures of the U.S Congress have been seen wandering the sites of past glories in the U.S capitol for the past few weeks. Of the witnesses to this scene, some look on with pity for the poor hunched and stricken creatures while others try to avoid eye contact in the hope that they could escape any kind of embarrassing interaction. The once self-proclaimed role-model for the world has been reduced to a husk.

A façade of legislative pomp and parliamentary circumstance strewn about it in a thousand pieces revealing the empty posturing, cynical power plays and unceasing avarice eating it from the inside out.

The government shutdown finally came to a conclusion after sixteen days on Wednesday.

However, the entire incident bears many of the hallmarks of a complete emotional breakdown.

The accumulation of numerous internal crises (sequester, threats of debt default and mass government spying revelations to name a few), an inability to face reality and the inevitable loss of control over major functions, has called the entire structure of the U.S government into question. The most telling symptom of the dire position that U.S. politics has found itself in, is the rampant denial that has characterised the reaction to the shutdown.

The “Us vs. Them” mentality cherished by the American political elite has been central to this denial. The belligerent nature, indicative of the way U.S. politics is practiced and portrayed in the media, has a degree of spectacle more generally associated with sporting events. This did not cease during the course of the crisis. The divide between Democrats and Republicans had become stronger than ever with the primary motive for those involved being to not back down from the standoff. The vital return of hundreds of thousands of federal jobs, war veteran pensions and the regular service of ‘non-essential’ government amenities such as national parks and museums has been undermined by the need to beat the opposing side.

After a compromise was reached to end the shutdown, John Boehner, Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, continued the adversarial rhetoric, stating “we fought the good fight, we just didn’t

win.” In such an unstable political climate, phrases like “compromise” and “reaching across the aisle” are little more than bywords for “why won’t you just shut up and let me do what I want to do?”

The problem is compromise. Specifically, congressmen compromising their beliefs and

What does it look like when a 226 year old political system has a nervous breakdown? the needs of their constituents for the benefit of the party ideology.

Nonetheless, the American population has also been brought into the farce. During my time studying abroad in Seattle last year, I got to experience first-hand what an American election season is like, and I got to meet many people and talk to them about the election. To suggest that I could group even that small subsection of the American population into just two opposing political standpoints would be ludicrous. Why does American politics always come down to a choice between one of two ideological pigeonholes? For one, there is the factor that regardless of how unsatisfactory the two main parties’ candidates are, a vote for a third candidate will inevitably be thought of as a “wasted vote.” This is just an offshoot of the broader problem in which having winners takes precedence over having trusted representatives. The result is that elected officials are under no obligation to truly represent their constituents because their constituents themselves feel forced to support whatever is best for the party.

A recent study from Berkeley University attempted to represent the discordance between the political beliefs of voters and the beliefs of their political representatives by comparing polling

data of constituents’ political opinions with politicians’ perceptions of those opinions. The paper, entitled What Politicians Believe About Their Constituents: Asymmetric Misperceptions and Prospects for Constituency Control, was written by graduate students David E. Broockman and Christopher Skovron. The study showed that on issues such as universal health care, same sex marriage and welfare programs “conservative politicians systematically believe their constituents are more conservative than they actually are by over 20 percentage points, while liberal politicians also typically overestimate their constituents’ conservatism by several percentage points.”

This reveals a systematic disregard for the interests of the population by the political elite, and also the inability on the part of the general population to adequately communicate their politics to their representatives.

An interesting demonstration of this disconnect was seen in relation to the Wendy Davis filibuster in the Texas senate during the summer. The filibuster was to stop the passage of a draconian bill to close all but five of the state’s abortion clinics. To stop this bill Wendy had to extend the debate against the bill for eleven hours till after the deadline for the passing of the bill at midnight. The dramatic filibuster proved to be effective up until fifteen minutes before

the deadline, when some rather dubious wrangling of parliamentary protocol by her opponents forced Davis to cede the floor and

This reveals a systematic disregard for the interests of the population by the political elite, and also the inability on the part of the general population to adequately communicate their politics to their representatives. sit down. The senate then quickly moved to try and vote on the bill but the large crowd of protesters in attendance drowned out the proceedings with chants. This effectively delayed the vote past the deadline and killed the bill.

An odd, but interesting moment was when Kirk Watson, one of a number of Texas Democratic senators, came out to address and thank the crowd of protesters and spoke of “turning Texas Democrat,” in future elections. On a night when people were fighting for human values and not a party, the

sentiment seemed distinctly inappropriate. The protesters quickly grew tired of his canvassing and proceeded to drown him out with chants of “hell no, we won’t go.”

Such demonstrations still remain too isolated and their impact too small to threaten the status quo.

The “peoples’ filibuster,” as some commentators on the night dubbed it, had been relegated to a mere oddity of a story by morning. The media highlighted the events of the night as that of the woman Democrat who held up the Texas senate – extraordinary in itself, but still well within the bounds of the conventional political narrative.

This undermined the cause Wendy Davis fought for and the human rights issues behind her actions.

Within a month the success of the night became an irrelevancy.

The Texas senate, better prepared for any parliamentary pushback, passed the abortion bill in its entirety with relative ease.

The U.S. Congress has managed to recover and pull itself back from the brink of collapse.

Yet, if the current disconnect between the American population and its political forces continue to grow, it seems inevitable that more situations like this one are bound to occur again where it may not be so easy for normalcy to return. If this were to happen it would seem inevitable that things will have to change. However, how that change will unfold remains to be seen.

10/COMMENT

Budgets and Bungles

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Budget 2014 was another bad day for students in Ireland. The cut to the jobseekers allowance for under 25’s, inadequate investment in the Youth Guarantee Scheme and a €250 rise in the student contribution charge all further impact students in Ireland.

These moves have been widely criticised by both the mainstream media and opposition parties and labelled as another harsh targeting of young people and students. Students have already been faced with a steady rise in the

student contribution charge which is set to rise to €3,000 by 2015, a figure that has doubled since 2010. Students have been further affected by cuts to the grant, overall education cuts within the higher education sector and less availability of part- time jobs to buffer these increased costs.

In this context, the Union of Students in Ireland’s reaction to the budget seems too upbeat. They have announced on their website that the “USI welcomes budget decision that protects vulnerable

#UCD

students and families.” They are referring to the decision not to cut the maintenance grant for the first time in four consecutive budgets.

Although this is indeed a crucial move on the government’s part, to protect vulnerable students who have already been hit too hard, the tone of the USI’s reaction fails to criticize adequately the other elements of the budget which targets students.

This is most clear in their Budget Guide which reflects on the hike in the student contribution charge, stating that the “USI is committed to campaigning for this charge to be reduced to pre-crisis levels in line with economic recovery.”

The tone of the guide feels self - congratulatory and disengaged. In light of the hit that young people in Ireland have taken in recent years, it is important that representatives of students critically engage with all of the implications of this budget.

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UCD’s Commerce and Economics society has come under fire for its decision to host a night entitled Rappers and Slappers, advertised through a provocative poster and a Facebook event.

The Facebook page announces that the “C&E bring you more rap than a Southern Californian prison & enough slappers to keep Ashley Cole & John Terry happy! Think you could put Jay-Z or Jordan to shame? Or have you got more bling than Diddy? Why not show us and have the chance to win our best dressed competition?”

The decision to host this night has been criticised by individuals on Facebook, while in the past, similar events have caused advertisers to disassociate with the societies involved.

This event is clearly in bad taste. In particular, the use of the word ‘Slappers’ is both suggestive and sexist, relegating women

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

into this problematic category, while the overall tone of the poster is both suggestive and tasteless.

It is unfortunate that such a large and representative university society has chosen to market their event in this way.

22.10.13

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[Hozier]

Contents

T+ 22.10.2013

Arts edi

tor - Da niel Nola n

Music e dit

or - Tras

ditor - L

auren Tr

acey

Arts

Music

Fashion

3 Upcoming Events Guide

5 Hozier Interview

9 Fashion Icons

4 The IFI Horrorthon 2013

7 Music Analysis: Re: Issue

10 Beyond Fashion: Anna Wintour

4 Film Review: About Time

8 Album Review: Like Clockwork

10 The irrelevance of Body Image

Eds pick of the week.....

Hozier Thérèse Walsh caught up with Hozier to talk about the Wicklow man’s new viral music video, Take me to Church, anti- homophobia and what is really in that black box...

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a Walsh

Fashion E

Social Guide

22.10.2013 T+

8×8 Documentary Film Festival

The Critical Take – Film Debate

21-25 October

Wednesday 23rd Oct

12:30 – 22:00

18:30

The Hub, DCU

Irish Film Institute, Temple Bar

The 8×8 Documentary Film Festival is organised by Suas Educational Development.

The free IFI film club The Critical Take will be looking a variety of films including Woody Allen’s new rave review film, Blue Jasmine.

Walking Tour: Haunted Liberties

Free

October 25th 15:00 - 00:00

The Ferocious Mingle Marcade Thursday 24 Oct 11:00 – 18:00 This flea type market is an exciting fusion of stalls, music, excellent food and a great atmosphere. On Sunday, it is fancy dress - what is not to love?

Nothing to do? Hot date?

Broke and bored?

See our social diary...

30 - 31st October

Eds pick

This tour of the haunted liberties is very seasonal.

Spooky.

Free

Film Screening of Coco Before Chanel

Blue Jasmine Screening

Dublin Web Summit

Europe’s biggest tech conference draws together some of the biggest names in the industry.

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin 8

Wednesday 23 Oct

October 24th

14:00

18.10

Chester Beatty Library

Irish Film Institute Woody Allen’s new film is a must see.

Symbolism of Colours – Café Culturel Wednesday 23 Oct 18:30 Alliance Francaise, 1 Kildare Street Bruno Tosi talks about the meaning of colours in stained glass windows.

Pierre Strauch LectureRecital: Cello Wed 23 Oct 18:30 – 19:30

Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity College

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Arts

T+ 22.10.2013

Upcoming Events Guide Aifric Kyne points us towards a variety of upcoming events that were in danger of slipping beneath our collective radar...

MISSION HIGGS - The CERN travelling exhibition October 9th-28th UCD Centre for Science (ie. the Science Hub) On our own humble campus

Celebrating both the opening of the science building and the massive discovery of the Higgs boson last year, this exhibition promises to educate even the most deficient Physics noobite. CERN provides extensive knowledge on Science’s most important breakthrough and presents an overview of the CERN project itself and even attempts to recreate the Large Hadron Collider experience with large graphic panels, on screen displays and videos.

Those worried for their poor, poverty-stricken student pockets needn’t worry because it’s admission-free and everyone is welcome. Admission started 9th October and runs through to the 28th.

PROTEST WARNING/ GUIDANCE 22nd October

SEASONS GREETINGS The Haunted Forest Walk- Samhain/Hallowe’en 2013.

Sunday 27th October 15:30-20:30, Marlay Park

Senior citizens will be fighting their corner/ rampaging the Organised by DLR Events, the walk ensures that people will be feeling suitably Hallowe’eny with streets in rage of the Budget cuts 2014. A possible walk“spooky thrills, chills and frights.” Lots of Freaky Fog and witches, pumpkins etc. ing stick massacre will be on the agenda so steer clear of The walk encourages fancy dress and will be 1.5km. Suitable for all ages and admission is free with Kildare Street 22nd October, 13:00- to possibly midnight, if wrist bands to be collected at the Coco Market the previous Saturday, 19th October, and Saturday you’d like to avoid being angrily tripped up. the 26th.

Brought to you by the Irish Senior Citizens ParliaVisit www.dlrevents.ie for more information ment.

FEMINIST PROSE 22nd October Exchange Dublin, Exchange Street Upper In the unlikely event that you’ve had your fill of elderly people protesting, you can head along to this event on the very same day- provided you’re female. Only women welcome unfortunately but sure to be an experience. A meeting for women of all ages (as long as you’re 18 or over) and an opportunity to “celebrate femininity, share, heal, discuss philosophies.” Encourages you to embrace and celebrate your inner Goddess!

Goddess Group, Exchange Dublin, Temple Bar 20:00-22:00, if that’s what you’re into.

UKULELE TUESDAYS The Stag’s Head, Dame Lane This is a weekly event that takes place in the Stag’s head, every single Tuesday from 19:45-22:00.

Ukuleles, other toy musical instruments, even their owners are all welcome. A tropical experience in midst of the cold, confused climate that is the Irish Autumn. Free admission.

Visit their Facebook page for more info- UkuleleTuesday

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BRAM STOKER FESTIVAL Dublin More Hallowe’en amusements with the Bram Stoker Festival on the 26th-28th October. The festival will be scattered throughout various locations in Dublin from the Hugh Lane Gallery to Trinity College and Dublin Castle. Celebrating the legacy of Bram Stoker, the festival will include all things macabre and supernatural with pop up performances and chilling street theatre, spooky open-air movies, and other blood chilling, Bram Stoker-y happenings.

Guaranteed some good ol’ fashioned Hallowe’en fun, and if Hallowe’en isn’t what you’re into go regardless for some primo Goth Spotting opportunity.

Check it out at www.bramstokerfestival.com

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Reviews

The IFI Horrorthon 2013 Darragh O’Connor builds the suspense for the IFI’s annual Horrorthon....

Ladies and gentlemen, it is coming close to the best time of the year for both great and brilliantly bad films: Hallowe’en. Every scary idea is often milked this time of year from vampires to possession, and of course the clichéd neoslasher. These will be gracing the silver screen’s of large cinemas throughout the country.

Instead of running this gambit, I would suggest heading over the Irish Film Institute for their annual Horrorthon which will be taking place from the 24th to the 28th of October.

This offers horror fans an opportunity to experience the best selection of horror films from around the world in one place for four days of thrills, blood spills and

chills. This year, in my humble opinion, is the best lineup yet. The IFI have thought of everything; no matter which day you chose, you will not be disappointed. Let us look at but a few of the films on offer this year.

It offers horror fans an opportunity to experience the best selection of horror films from around the world in one place for four days of thrills, blood spills and chills....

your funny and gorier slasher romp.

Evil Dead III - Army Of Darkness: This may be the defining movies of Bruce Campbell’s career, and not without good reason. The last in the Evil Dead trilogy has it all: “Boomsticks,” stop-motion effects paying homage to the work of Ray Harryhausen and flying evil zombies. Do not miss the final part of Sam Raimi’s trilogy on the big screen.

The Mummy: Halloween would not be complete without a few Hammer films. This Hammer classic, directed by the great Terence Fisher, has Christopher Lee as the Mummy seeking revenge on Peter Cushing for disturbing his tomb.

This is a pre-Hallowe’en treat from the Hammer vault.

Antisocial: Antisocial is one of the highlights from the latter part of the Horrorthon and is a novel concept explored.

A virus is spread from social networking to humans one New Year’s Eve. Five friends trapped in a house try to survive. It has been hailed as an “impressive and gripping work” - the IFI only brings the best for its Horrorthon.

The Borderlands: One of the more unusual films in the festival is essentially a ‘found footage’ movie, but with a twist. The plot follows the Vatican investigators examining reports of paranormal activity in a remote church.

This is a new approach on a well-worn formula and one for fans of the genre.

Delivery: First-time mother-to-be Rachel, star of a pregnancy reality show, comes to believe that her unborn baby is possessed. This will recall Rosemary’s Baby to most but looks to be no mere clone and something rather unique.

A highlight of the season, I am sure.

These are only a few of the most promising attractions. The line-up is superb, and I didn’t even mention the “Surprise Film.” You can find the whole programme online or at the IFI itself. This event is once a year and is not to be missed. The programme showcases the best of new international horror alongside some judiciously chosen classics and little-known treasures, the majority of which are receiving their first screening in Irish cinemas.

For full programme and more detailed information, visit www.ifi.ie/horrorthon.

Hatchet III: Last year’s guest of honour Danielle Harris makes her “Scream Queen” return, as Marybeth once again faces Victor Crowley in the Louisiana bayou. This is

Film Review: About Time

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There is a trend in modern cinema which presents romance as being only of value if there is obvious emotional drama to be dragged kicking and screaming from it.

‘True romance’ is presented as being this torrid, painful affair, full of heartache and loss for all those involved. The motivation behind such stories is obvious; producers assume (unfortunately all-too-often correctly) that we as viewers will see no value in a story that lacks these components. What makes About Time just so brilliant is that it ignores this trend and instead chooses to find the glory present in the everyday and the ordinary; here is a story about time travel that uses this central gimmick not to force us into moral, Butterfly Effect-style quandaries but to make each of us question what we take for granted each day and remind us

Richard Mitchell gives his thoughts on Richard Curtis’s strike for post-Boat That Rocked redemption, and arrives at some drastic conclusions...

that we should look for happiness in the little things.

Yes, time travel. This is a tale straight from the realms of science fiction, and the premise is one that anyone can find deeply alluring; males, in protagonist Tim’s family, can travel back to any previous point in their own individual timelines and relive the past, tweaking it howsoever they please.

Tim chooses to use it to win the love of his life Mary and to spend time with his family. Tim is played wonderfully by Domhnall Gleeson; clumsy, charming, affable and sweet, he is reminiscent of Hugh Grant in Notting Hill. Watching him learn the limits of his newly-discovered powers and the life-lessons they teach him along the way is a charming and deeply rewarding experience.

There is so much to love in this film. Gleeson’s Tim is joined by many other likable characters, from the delightful Rachel McAdams as Mary to Bill Nighy as Tim’s father; the cinematography is some of the best of director Richard Curtis’ career; and the screenplay itself is just achingly romantic, without ever descending into schmaltz. Watch this film. Find someone you love and watch it with them.

4/5

Sit in the cinema and let the small, curious magic of ABOUT TIME remind you of what it is to be loved and to be in love. If, somehow, you leave the cinema without a smile on your face, you are a cold, soulless wreck of a human being.

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Andrew Hozier sits patiently in the Central hotel, Dublin while a line of journalists eagerly await a chat with the emerging star. I just happen to be one of them and I can hardly wait to ask one little question. The Wicklow musician has been on the scene for a while, playing music since his teens and experimenting with his sound for years. However, this summer Hozier’s song, Take me to Church has gone viral, launching his music and his personality into the spotlight. For anyone familiar with the video for this song, the video utilizes the motif of a little black (unopened) box. What’s in the box? Why is it important? Where did the idea for the video come from? I’m eager to find out.

Hozier’s new album Take me to Church is a four track EP that has made musical waves in Ireland. Some of the EP was recorded live at 6am on an abandoned hotel rooftop with the first track Take me to Church nearly entirely produced by Hozier himself.

Hozier is the epitome of polite and before I even sit down he’s offer-

ing me tea. We launch into the interview and it becomes clear that he has a unique story to tell. Hozier was briefly a Trinity student, however, ironically he decided to leave his studies because his own music was interfering with his music degree, “I was recording demos with Universal Ireland when I was in first year and I ended up having to miss a few exams.” We began chatting about music in education and the lack of practical elements in most Irish universities.

We agree that most university music degrees are made up predominantly of theory, “the only real practical elements in Trinity were when the students organized it themselves,” he says. Hozier made his mark by singing popular music sections with the Trinity orchestra, “I really only took part when they were doing there popular music sections, so I was the soloist for Pink Floyd and Arcade Fire and Stevie Wonder covers.” However, from humble beginnings Hozier’s music is really taking off.

Take me to Church is the opening track on his new EP and it has gained considerable attention online and in the press in the last number of weeks. The video, directed by

Brendan Canty, currently has over 300,000 youtube views.

The video juxtaposes images of a gay couple in love, kissing and enjoying their life with images of one of the gay men being hauled

5

Thérèse W Wicklow m anti- hom

Walsh caught up with Hozier to talk about the man’s new viral music video, Take me to Church, mophobia and what is really in that black box...

off by a mob of men, who, holding a knife to his throat and videotaping their actions, beat him beside a fire, while his agonised lover stands helpless in the distance. The images are accompanied by provocative lyrics such as “every Sunday’s getting more bleak, a fresh poison each week, we were born sick, you heard them say it, my church offers no absolutes, she tells me worship in the bedroom, the only heaven I’ll be sent to, is when I’m alone with you, I was born sick, but I love it.”

The song wasn’t written from a place of sexual orientation, it’s not gay or straight - it’s just on the base of what’s natural, what’s human.

It is clear to see why this thought provoking video has gone viral. Part of the reason that the video has garnered so much attention is due to its anti-homophobia message which is deemed by Hozier to be a “shout out to LGBT in Russia.” Hozier states the song itself “is a love song, a song about humanity and how we express that humanity through sexuality, I mean the song wasn’t written from a place of sexual orientation, it’s not gay or straight - it’s just on the base of what’s natural , what’s human.”

With poetic lyrics like “the only heaven I’ll be sent to, is when I’m alone with you,” you can see Hozier’s sense of humanity is recognised through music. Angel of Small Death, is the second track on the EP and takes the form of a gospel song while Cherry Wine has a really interesting sound.

This is an EP which has brought Hozier into the spotlight, and rightly so.

So whats next for the star? His music is taking the country by storm and there are rumours abound that music industry heads are flying to Ireland to get a piece of this Irish musical talent. Meanwhile, Hozier is playing some of the best venues in Ireland with his debut EP making sure gigs sell out fast. Hozier’s plans for the future are sure to be influenced by his recent success, “in truth I don’t know but I’m going to go back into the studio in November for the next few songs,” he says.

Many of his December gigs have already sold out due to demand, but he’s set to play Cork’s Pavillion on the 21st of December and the Roisin Dubh in Galway on December 22nd.

As the interview drew to a close, I finally got to ask my question “What was in the box?”

Hozier looks down and smiles, “well that’s for you to decide.”

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Music

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T+ 22.10.2013

If one wanted, it would be possible to purchase new music from long established acts such as the Clash, Nirvana, Elvis, Sly Stone and the Band, among others, despite the fact that these artists have been inactive for extended periods of time.

Well, to say that one could get new music from them might be wrong. “Previously unreleased” is a far more apt term.

As record sales are dropping and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for new artists to establish themselves commercially, it has become all the rage for record companies to reissue classic albums, giving us a chance to hear demos, alternative mixes or discarded material all together. While some of this can be interesting, and while I can sympathise with the record labels, reissuing material leads to some serious issues.

The two most high profile reissues this year have been Geffen Records reissuing of Nirvana’s swan song, In Utero, with five discs giving us a chance to hear demos, al-

Re: Issue.

Adam Duke explores the ways that old school acts are being reissued or recycled for profit.... ternative mixes and alternative versions of the songs, and CBS The Clash Strikes back, an eleven disc retrospective on the Clash. While these will no doubt be interesting, it seems to go against the artists wishes, and it comes across as very disingenuous.

When Nirvana started to plot a follow up to their breakthrough (and game changing) Nevermind, Kurt Cobain set out to make a departure from the album that had made him and his band superstars. Seeking to create a sound that was more raw, primal and ultimately more personal, Nirvana went into seclusion with Steven Albini (the man behind abrasive luminaries such as the Pixies, the Rapemen, Big Black, PJ Harvey and the Jesus Lizard), emerging after two weeks with a record that was both a departure and a logical step forward from Nevermind. However the band then feared that Albini’s mix was too raw, the sound too much of a departure and they spent several months working on the sound, with

REM’s producer Scott Litt remixing much of the album.

Kurt Cobain was obviously a deeply sensitive artist, and clearly he worried about In Utero. For a record company to release embryonic versions of songs, mixes that the band was unsatisfied with, and versions of songs that they might have been embarrassed by, seems like a deep invasion of privacy.

As record sales are dropping and it’s becoming increasingly difficult for new artists to establish themselves commercially, it has become all the rage for record companies to reissue classic albums...

The Clash first came to prominence during the original wave of punk rock, a time of economic and political uncertainty, and they sought to create music that challenged these times, asking questions of society. They wanted to make their music available to everybody, often fooling CBS records into releasing music at a low price - most notably with their 1979 opus London Calling, a double album sold for the price of a single album, a fact that CBS weren’t aware of until the record physically came out.

With a mentality like this, an expensive reissue just seems wrong, as the price keeps it out of the hands of most fans. What makes the Clash and Nirvana reissues particularly disturbing is the fact that in both cases key songwriters and artistic leaders of the bands are deceased.

The image of a vulture picking at a corpse is all to vivid, as Kurt Cobain and Joe Strummer no longer have control over what they created, and the idea of a reissue goes against ideals they where known to profess.

Without getting too bogged down, the Clash and Nirvana both represented a change in the musical guard, rallying against an industry that had become bloated and excessive. Sadly the main point to be taken from these reissues is that to some, music is just a business.

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Released earlier this summer, the sixth studio album from Californian five piece, Like Clockwork, sees Queens of the Stone Age’s triumphant return to feral form after a several year hiatus.

Josh Homme’s decision to reintroduce former bassist Nick Oliveri and powerhouse drummer, Dave Grohl into the mix has proved a fruitful fusion. The usual musical trademarks of past QOTSA albums are present, including the particular instrumental heaviness, Homme’s melodic, authoritative vocals and ferociously dark and dejected lyrics inspired by a near death experience which left Homme hospitalised for several months. Correlating the album with his traumatic experience, he expresses that he has “always thought of music as separate from reality, but there’s no escaping the reality of where this album started. I had no choice but to deal with it.”

Another great quality of the album is the artwork, created by talented UK based artist Boneface.

The cover is adorned by a starkly coloured grisly image inspired by a still from the 1931 film Dracula. Boneface’s work also appears in several videos for the band. The video for the song I Appear Missing depicts a gruesome bloody animation of a bandaged man in a suit gliding across the desert. Although it may not be to everyone’s taste, it certainly is a fabulous experimental piece and

Book Review

much suited to QOTSA’s accomplished style.

The album opener, Keep your Eyes Peeled, provides an eerie intro of battering chains over a grinding synth leading into the main heavily distorted lick of the song. Accompanied by a steady and ominous drum section, building to Homme’s final declaring shriek of the chorus, “wake me.” Then the tense cycle begins again. A strong atmospheric inaugural track, which sets the scene for the entire album.

I Sat by the Ocean is a fantastic quasi-love song of sorts. Erogenous slide guitar merging harmoniously with irate lines such as “closer and closer, we’re just crashing ships in the night.” It is especially reminiscent of past QOTSA songs melodically, however, lyrically, it shows a newly attained maturity.

The first release from Like Clockwork, My God is the Sun, is tantamount to an orchestral piece in ways. High pitched guitars playing in unison, an octave apart, the menacing rise of tempo leading to a slower more spent false ending culminating in a final explosion of noise, “Heal them, like fire from above.”

A deviation from the usual QOTSA formula takes shape in the song The Vamypre of Time and Memory. This song is a slow, mellow piano accompaniment with Homme’s voice taking an equally laxer approach to deliverance. Again, lyrically it is a more observant and melancholy variation on QOTSA’s past works.

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Eds Pick

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E p lest e o em si um r u d id m at em aud uc o i v i s d a m i um ad oles n is vo e ti is e qu ex les t, v um au t v e ce ed er la t o vo atu ita nat ute lat lor lu r m co q m qu et pitio olu nse uisq adi ia as r te q ui ut im m mo m. uis rec as i e , s U al t Fa nt inct mo t e ige em ce vo ia lu x e nd ex s re lore sum pta xpl itis pe sti st r c iq ve lign is s ut ere usa uia a nd a m d m n m re ebi v us elle rep on iu s u ol su n ud d m e sit e t di nim nt v it ae fu at llo re o h bu pa ris rum ilit lum ga. s rci de la es eu m qui l il i lece cca cid m in de us r te it a i offi hic rsp ae n ferfe pro ut e t c e l u ri vi offi ime m q in llab am t, si c nt ui cu o qu ca id u acc que llori rrum ise s nd a s d q lu i co eliq turis it er em uipt n u i . a s i e re A do t a equ a ne rup , cu xile lig is m ta s Vo cus nis im q vo e q est lo d ad u les ue co rep em es assi ti b et ne tam is tr nit er m et , i mi untu lau aeai o q un n r td om s c ui tia cus and o, u a m m s no u it di olo re so ns nt q ata or re m lu eq u p ov upt m v qui taq uia ae. id at en bu ui po es eliq ur m e c s et co re m u o on al ns tia olu i ut dip po ibu ed m p vo su rp sc As , om tae lup nt e ore ius, m m a tio t f q do inv ol tur . Ut uga uolu en up al qu . F sin pta da s taq iqua isin eris er o ui m n Op au ae lum cup la on fa it nt ti d ce q us m ant am pt ua v o in a c i m atu lup qu tius l l o r? ta ia .

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Album w e i v e R

Album Title: Like Clockwork Artist: Queens of the Stone Age Release Date: June 3rd, 2013

ti a ve lle s

Music

22.10.2013 T+

Like Clockwork features a multitude of guest collaborators including Sir Elton John, Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) and Brody Dalle (The Distillers). The now critically acclaimed album is available through Matador Records.

The band are also scheduled for a gig in Dublin in the O2 arena this November 2013.

Geneva Pattison.

Book Title: This is a Call Author: Paul Brannigan About: David Grohl

A couple of years ago, I picked up a copy of the biogra- of Cobain. It is quite touching when Grohl says that, to him, Kurt was just a best friend, phy of Kurt Cobain, Heavier than Heaven by Charles rather than the tragic icon he has become for millions in the years since his suicide in R. Cross, in my local library. It was an excellent and 1994. engrossing read, but there was one drawback. There

When Nirvana’s life ended with the death of Cobain, Grohl was in limbo. He were no interviews with Nirvana drummer, Dave released some solo work as he pondered what to do next. He did what any hard-working Grohl, who joined the band for their second album, musician would do and forged another band, rising from the ashes of Nirvana with the massively successful and genre-defining Neveraplomb and a new band, Foo Fighters. Their first album was well-received and Grohl mind. managed to crawl from the shadow of Nirvana’s legacy. It’s a testament So, naturally, when I to the man’s perseverance that he managed to form a new band after From his early teenage being in a band as legendary as Nirvana. That’s Grohl, though. He has stumbled upon a biography of Dave Grohl, years, people noticed rabid determination and a love of making music that burns deep. Foo This is a Call by Paul haven’t been without their share of drama. Taylor Hawkins, Dave Grohl. He belted at his drums Fighters Brannigan, I felt compelled to buy it. After all, Dave Grohl their drummer, almost died of an overdose at one point. This must with a passion and intensity like no surely have been an unpleasant reminder for Grohl of the demons that has led a thrilling life: he’s bashed the skins for Nirvana and Queens of the Stone Age and has fronted Foo Fighters other and many at gigs noticed him plagued Kurt Cobain in years gone by. Hawkins managed to get clean since around 1995. His is a life that many dream of but few and so the band continued touring and recording albums. It has to be over the lead singer. are fortunate enough to live. Grohl is known as the nicest said that the book focuses far more heavily on Nirvana than Foo Fightman in rock, and that certainly comes across in interviews. ers, and Grohl’s stint with Queens of the Stone Age also doesn’t feature Brannigan charts Grohl’s life from his childhood in Viras much as his time on the drum stool with Nirvana. Still, that’s to be ginia, to the split of his parents, to his first tentative steps expected. After all, it was Nirvana that catapulted Grohl into supersinto rock ‘n’ roll. Grohl’s older sister supplied him with tardom. A weakness in the book is that Brannigan writes in too much many of the records which he grew to love and he often detail about other bands that broke through in Grohl’s hometown in went to gigs, going insane with throngs of teenagers to the grubby tunes of local bands. the ‘80s. It’s a bit excessive and I found myself wondering at times if the book was about Grohl’s first major stint in a band was with a group called Scream. Later, when Nirvana these bands or about Grohl. However, this would be my only real criticism and it is a was searching for a drummer, Grohl seemed like the obvious choice. From his early teen- small one. age years, people noticed Dave Grohl. He belted at his drums with a passion and intensity Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Dave Grohl seems to genuinely deserve like no other and many at gigs noticed him over the lead singer. The book chronicles the title of nicest man in rock, and his story is a gripping one which is well worth delving Nirvana’s unprecedented success and the sad consequences of that for the mental health into.

A

Caitríona O’Malley

8

Fashion

F

Fashion involves following, watching and innovating. We see styles we love on catwalks, on celebrities and on the streets.

Creating our own personal looks means taking what we see and making it something more. But even with our individual and genius ideas, where would we be without heroic fashion icons? Those historical figures that made it possible for us to wear what we wear and love what we love. The fashion world of today allows us to express ourselves in ways that the people of the past could never have imagined.

Last summer, I started a fashion blog. It was something that I had wanted to do for years, but somehow I had never had the confidence. What eventually pushed me to do it was all the amazing women on the blogosphere.

Looking up to Minnie from TheStylishWanderer.com, I realised that every girl with an influential, powerful voice in the fashion world had started off like me, just sitting at home with a mind full of ideas and ambitions. She gave me a new outlet and hobby that I could channel my creativity through,

something to make me feel like I was participating. Everyone has their own personal fashion icons, and they encourage us to come out of our shell and express ourselves in ways we otherwise couldn’t have.

In tune with personal icons are the ones who we get to know. These fashionable characters tug on our heartstrings and pull us along in their story, looking drop-dead fabulous all the while. Carrie Bradshaw is both my life idol and fashion idol. Her philosophy of friendship, creativity, city-living and her weakness for high fashion is something which I can relate to on a human level, as well as on an artistic one. Watching Sex and the City makes me feel like I could run away to the fashion capital of the world and live a dream lifestyle, all the while coveting the Dior purple skirt she wore in Abu Dhabi. I have an equally strong desire to have been born in America in the 1920s, into an old-money family with enough riches to buy me the wardrobe of Daisy in The Great Gatsby. I would certainly make a beautiful little fool.

These personal idols that we all hold close are

9

Fashion Icons matched by a bombardment of global fashion stars that connect us all. During the fashion weeks of the world, loyal followers flock to be involved and to keep updated. This unification is vital to the happiness of any fashion follower. Icons bring us together in the simplest and best of ways. When we first saw Cara Delevinge’s amazing, dark eyebrows, we could go proudly without plucking our own and admire other people’s natural fuzziness. Icons give us this power to break taboos and feel comfortable doing so. People with porcelain skin can be proud of their complexions thanks to leaders such as Nicola Roberts, who makes this skin tone a symbol of beauty. So, just like any other aspect of culture, the fashion world requires inspirational leaders to change society’s view of a topic. In every part of life, people band

Everyone has their own personal fashion icons, and they encourage us to come out of our shell and express ourselves in ways we otherwise couldn’t have.

together in opinions until selected cultural figures such as Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart or Claude Monet strive to change them.

Like these awakenings, the art of fashion calls those who stood out in history to alter its course. Before icons such as Audrey Hepburn, the idea of women in flat pumps was unheard of. Similarly, Coco Chanel brought black out of mourning by making it an everyday colour, rather than it just being for funerals and grief. The colour now stands as a symbol of power, mystery, strength and much more.

Without these two icons, the wardrobe basic that is the black ballet pump may have never been acceptable.

In modern times, we have fashion icons that break down barriers and flirt with disaster every time they appear in public. While for us it may be difficult to imagine Lady Gaga’s famous meat-suit or Kermit-the-Frog costume being inspirational to the future of fashion, and we may laugh at the idea of the next generation seeking out Madonna’s conebras, the beauty of fashion is its unpredictability. Much like society may have been appalled by Twiggy’s risqué microminiskirts in the sixties, our society put its head down in shame as we watched Miley’s bear outfit parade around the stage. In the century to come, the daring trends of our grandchildren may shock us, and there may be outcries of “have they no shame?”

However, the allure, fascination and wonder of the fashion world is never knowing what comes next, and wanting to hold onto our mother’s old vintage pieces just in case we find that we cannot live without them someday. These potential future fashion icons keep us on our toes with an open mind and a light heart.

Emily Kielthy

22.10.2013 T+

Fashion

T+ 22.10.2013

Beyond Fashion: Anna Wintour It is safe to say that Anna Wintour is one of the most influential style icons in the world. Undoubtedly she embodies everything the fashion world has to offer. Believe it or not it is Anna who decides what everybody is wearing today and what everybody will be wearing tomorrow. Not only does she run the most powerful fashion magazine in the world, Anna Wintour makes and breaks careers. She gives aspiring designers such as Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors and even the iconic Alexander McQueen the ‘big break’ that they all once craved. To put it simply, scouting fabulous fashion designers is one of Anna’s many talents. Nuclear Anna or not, it is impossible to be unaware of the power and control this style icon has.

So how can one person have so much power over such an immense industry? As editor in chief of Vogue U.S, Ms. Wintour elects what designers get published and what ones fail to make the cut. Each year she makes her cutthroat selections on what pieces designers should feature in their collection at New York Fashion Week. Young fashion designers such as Alexander Wang and Tykoon worship the ground she walks on. Except what happens when a designer objects to Anna’s opinions? They don’t because they know Anna is always right. After all Anna Wintour is fashion.

By choosing what clothes are featured on the runway in the fall and spring seasons, Anna determines the clothes all high street stores are selling.

How is this possible? High street stores such as New Look, Zara and Pennys base their stocks on trends featured at fashion week.

One has to seriously admire Anna’s unshakeable work ethic - one needed to produce so much work in so little time. Like every successful business guru (and that she is), Anna does not waste a single second of her day. She doesn’t spend more than 10 minutes at any given event simply because she doesn’t have the time - after all she has an entire industry to run.

Known to most, Anna Wintour possesses the qualities of a style icon - creativity, innovation and fearlessness. Having only gained her position as editor in chief of Vogue U.S, Anna abolished the tradition of putting plain ridged over dressed models on the cover of Vogue. None of the other main fashion magazines agreed with her rash decision of putting a girl with a smile in simple Guess jeans and a vest top on the cover of Vogue. However, this turned out to be a major success leading Anna to start putting celebrities instead of models on the cover of Vogue and like she predicted, sales skyrocketed and the world of fashion changed forever.

Whilst she manages the fashion bible of the world and sets ever lasting trends, it must be pointed out that Anna exudes self-confidence. By wearing whatever she likes, whenever she likes, she proves to young girls and older women that fashion is all about self-expression and no one does ‘individuality’ better than Ms. Wintour herself. To phrase it clearly, Anna Wintour is not merely a style icon she is simply beyond fashion.

U

Ayisha Ogbara

The 1920s were an age of glitz, glamour and parties in the USA. Out of this era, fashion was reinvented as a symbol of lifestyle and culture. Visionaries and artists became the world’s first fashion icons, and among these Zelda Fitzgerald stands out as the embodiment of the inspirational decade. Having become known as the first flapper, Zelda’s desire for a unique creative identity was achieved through her paintings, books and career as a ballerina.

With a rich and powerful southern family, Zelda led a wild lifestyle of partying, binging, smoking and spending nights away from home. Much to the disgust of proper society, Zelda sought freedom and new creative outlets in her world. She married Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, in the year 1920, and the ‘it’ couple began a life of style and innovation. Although superficially perfect, the marriage began to rapidly break down.

Fitzgerald had glorified her by using her as an inspiration for his work but Zelda yearned for independence. Refusing to become the typical housewife of the time, she broke away from conformity and became an ambassador for the Jazz Age. Her new, loose and flapper-style dresses were considered extremely risqué in comparison to the corset-orientated looks of the time.

However, Zelda Fitzgerald succeeded in making an impact with her short bobbed hair, revealing outfits and cigarette companions, all of which were to become the must-have trends of the 1920s. As one of the first fashion icons, she opened society up to a new world of self expression and inspired the people around her, thus fuelling what could be considered the most fabulous fashion era of all time.

Emily Kielth y xo

The Irrelevance of Body Image

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for, well forever, you must have noticed how we are constantly bombarded by the media with images of ‘ideal’ feminine beauty.

With every new issue of Now Magazine or Harper’s Bazaar comes the latest notion about what constitutes the ideal body, the essence of femininity. One week we’re being instructed that “thin is in,” the next we’re lamenting our lack of curves because they’re imperative for a ‘real’ woman. Beyoncé has praise heaped on her for her athletic physique while Coleen Rooney gets red circles drawn around her cellulite. Does this strike you as a little unfair?

For as long as I’ve been poring over fashion magazines, their central tenet has been that lithe, toned limbs and washboard stomachs are the epitome of female success. Undoubtedly, some of their readers were glancing at their tummies and thighs wondering why they didn’t rival Kate Moss, and devising drastic measures to attain the desirable form of the fashion world.

And then, all of a sudden, you were nothing if you weren’t endowed with ample cleavage and a shapely derrière. Kelly Brooks and Christina Hendricks became the belles du jours, and celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow were ridiculed for their slender frames.

Glancing back through the decades, it becomes clear that, when it comes to innate style and elegance, body shape goes out the window. Elizabeth Taylor was voluptuous and beautiful with striking violet eyes, her enviable couture wardrobe and her sparkling jewellery collection. Infact, she was celebrated at the Museum of Style Icons this year. On the other hand, it is impossible to speak of style without mentioning the diminutive Audrey Hepburn.

Championing the elfin and the chic, Hepburn oozed sophistication in classic black shift dresses, delicate ball gowns and sharp cigarette pants. But it was her lovely brown eyes that captivated the world, not her dress size.

And even today, despite the ever-brightening glare of the paparazzo’s flash standing ready to capture any glimpse of imperfection, we have our own style icons, for whom the size of their hips matters little when it comes to their

Kelly Brooks and Christina Hendricks became the belles du jours, and celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow were ridiculed for their slender frames.

brand of style. A personal favourite of mine, Olivia Palermo, is consistently criticised for her slim figure. Yes she is slim, but so what? She knows damn well how to pull an edgy outfit together, and who isn’t envious of her hair? Then we have Salma Hayek, whose stunning red carpet looks flatter her curves to perfection and never fail to reflect the glamour of the occasion.

Today, people have enough in their lives to be worrying about without obsessively measuring our thighs and pondering the mysteries of the weighing-scales. For men and women, body image has become such an unnecessarily important fixation that the consequences are sometimes devastating. It would take a strong person not to be affected by what we observe everyday. A woman might not fit the media’s ideal, but she is no more or no less a woman than Jennifer Aniston or Katie Taylor or any other female icon that one might care to mention. If she is happy and healthy, then she is an icon to herself.

Emily O Brien

10

advice

22.10.2013 T+

‘

Let Al reach out and touch you

with

Al Porter

Tallaght’s local treasure Al Porter kindly corresponds to those who write to him seeking advice. To the needy it is an exercise in kindness; for most, an exercise in schadenfreude.

Howya Al, Chanelle here. Hope yer well, chicken? Heard ye on Chris Barry the other night, gas! C’mere, I’m havin’ problems with compulsive lying...I just can’t stop! Every weekend I post on me facebook “X Factor and a Chicken Curry #livingthelife” or the other night, “pyjamas on, Love/Hate night #dontneednoman”. I’m lyin’ Al. I’m fucking lonely. I do need a man. I’m not in college, I haven’t the money to go out (on the rock ‘n’ roll) and I don’t know where to meet lads. How do I stop the lies?!

Dearest Chanelle, Please don’t fret. We all do this. Maybe you could turn off the television, start your own business and use it & its profits to meet contacts – both professional and personal!

What about nail art? That seems very popular? Lots of cute pictures of nails that are painted like the flags or lady birds? I mean, it’s not just nail painting or beauty or even therapy now, it’s actually art. Tax wise, you might get an artists exemption? I hear they’re opening a National Museum of Nail Art soon, so I say go for it! Yours, Al.

Al Porter hosts Rammed on Monday’s fortnightly in the Woolshed on Parnell Street. Tickets €5 for students.

11

Q: Dear Al, I write to you with a moral dilemma. As I make explicit in my own columns for a renowned newspaper, I consider myself a spiritual leader and guardian of Irish Catholic taste and decency. In the past I’m proud to have voiced concern over the dangers of the internet and gay marriage.

Lately Al, it’s the weather that has me worried. Met Eireann are predicting persistent heavy showers for the week ahead – with this, and the recent budget, it’s logical to think God is punishing us, right?

I’ve had a vision, but should share it with the world? They might think I’m mad.

There is going to be a flood. This flooding will disrupt flights, begging, dog fighting, drink driving, woodland dogging and other activities indicative of our society’s sick nature.

‘

And I’m building an ark. I’m building it even as I contact you now by combination of divine intervention and the witchcraftery of email. In recent chats with God, He has disclosed to me his fury at Irish society and its secular, open minded ‘modern’ agendas.

This flood will devastate our nation, as it deserves! I lust for Doomsday to cleanse us all. But, I must ask – should I warn the Irish people? Writing about this in my next column would be a serious decision that might change the course of history? Am I Ireland’s Saviour?

Yours, Joe of Ark Dear Joe, I’d hate to be a sceptic but your vengeful God theory seems a bit like Old Testament drivel. Surely, it’s just a few October showers?

To answer your question, I do think you should publish your predictions. Nostradamus did and he’s kept publishers, conspiracy theorists and hack fortune tellers in business for centuries. I do think you’ll need to elaborate on the ark idea though. Will it be two-of-every-creature? I am familiar with your writings, and presumably it will be two of every creature with exception, of course, to atheists, gays and those who advocate rational thought. Such detail could give more weight to your argument.

All that being said, the soggy demise of Irish civilisation remains to be witnessed. But, I’m sure that you will keep us all wide to the Malahide with the facts of redemption, should the heavens open nationwide.

Yours, Al.

Send your questions to

al@collegetribune.ie

TRAVEL\11

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

London on a Shoestring.

With the economy in crisis, part-time jobs few and far between and the cost of third level education rising, it is no wonder that student travel is fast becoming an occasional luxury. This series explores travel plans which save money and maximize experience. We will even tot up the cost for you….

I often forget how close we are to London, which is a hub of cultural, commercial and historical vibrancy. London has so much to offer and it does not have to come with the price tag so often associated with it. Here are some tips and tricks that I picked up to make travelling on a budget in this great city a piece of cake.

Flights.

When you are booking flights, try the handy price comparison website, skyscanner, to find your cheapest flights. You have a choice of two airports in London that you can fly into, Heathrow or Gatwick. Flights to Gatwick are usually cheaper but you have to factor in the £30 charge for the Gatwick Express train to get you into the city centre. The Gatwick Express leaves every 15 minutes and takes about half an hour to get to London.

Alternatively, if you book Heathrow you only pay about five pounds to get the tube into central London. Weigh up your options and book what works out cheaper for you. Book your flights out early in the morning and leave your destination late at night. This allows you to gain a day either side without paying for accommodation. Remember to factor in the cost of travelling to dublin airport as well.

Travel.

The tube is a really handy but quite expensive way to travel get an off-peak travel card for about £7.30 a day and just plan your travel off-peak, the tube is horrendous in rush hour anyway. The tube will get you everywhere you need to go and the strolls in between stops will give you a great view of the city.

Accommodation.

London hotels are notoriously expensive. If you are staying in London during the summer, one of the best accommodation tips I ever got was to head to Imperial College London, who let their student accommodation to the public out of term. The accommodation is great quality, really central (beside South Kensington station) and breakfast is included. Prices start at about £35 pounds a night for a single en suite. Outside summer try the Clink 78 hostel, which is a highly recommended youth hostel in central London, beside King’s Cross. Dickens used to work as a scribe in this 19th century building, the Clash made an appearance there in 1978 and if that doesn’t endear you, the colourful decor and underground bar should. The prices for this kind of accommodation varies wildly, from €57.00 to €140.00, mixed dorms are cheapest and private ensuites cost the most. How much you decide to spend really depends on how many of you are going or how comfortable you are with sharing a bathroom. A twin private with a private ensuite bathroom is about €136.00 euro or €46.00 quid per night. Whereas if you go with four people and don’t mind sharing a bathroom, it could be as little as €22 quid a night. Whatever you decide, it’s pretty good value for central london accommodation.

Stuff to do.

There is lots of really cool free things to do in London, like travel around on the tube, explore the south bank, walk down Oxford street, trail around the markets and stroll around

Top Travel Sites www.londonuniversityrooms.co.uk www.timeout.com www.lonelyplanet.com www.skyscanner.com famous London streets in areas like Soho and Covent garden where you can soak up the atmosphere and rummage through the quirky shops. Lots of iconic London attractions are free to look at, like Westminster, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, the change of the guard at Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Oxford Circus.

Some of the best museums in the world are in London and are free like the British Museum, the Science Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Gallery, the Tate Modern and the V&A. Check out any free exhibitions before you go. Time Out do good reviews of what is on in London, so check them out online before you go.

Lastly, pop over to Hyde Park or Regent’s Park for a walk about or check out the second hand shops and markets for cheap books.

Food and Drink.

For super cheap grub grab lunches on the go from Tesco or Sainsburys - afterall you are there for the experience not for the cuisine. If you want to find some cheap eats, try Camden market for an incredible mix of international cuisine from chocolate delicacies to Vietnamese food on the go. If you are running around central London my favourite spot is Maoz in Soho which is THE greatest vegetarian falafel bar I’ve ever come across. Mix falafels with salad, hummus or deep fried aubergine in a little tub late into the night for a couple of pounds. Winner. If you are going to eat out, check Time Out for London’s best cheap eats, and remember to try and sample some of the international cuisine the city has to offer. If your drinking, buy cheap bottles of wine or beer to bring home to your room, or drink in hostel bars, which are well priced and full of banter and travellers.

Cost The cost of flights to Gatwick booked three months in advance is about €50.00

+ Gatwick Express: cent off)

€28.30 (booked online with 10 per-

+

Travelling to Dublin airport on the Aircoach from the UCD area:

€14.00

+

Clink 78 hostel accommodation (dorm room, shared bathroom): €47.50

+

Tube travel (four full day tickets):

+ Food on a budget: €60.00

€35.00

Total: €234.80 *Based on Saturday 18th to Tuesday 21st of January 2014 (the flights leaving early morning, about 7am on the Saturday and arrive back at about 10pm on the Tuesday - so you get four full days in London).

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

Unpopular Culture!

COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE\13

Niamh Crosbie explores some of the strange things that make you popular in college...

C

College is a strange little unit in a world already full to bursting with nonsense – and you know what’s even stranger? College students. Those guys are into all sorts. And I’m on a mission to find out exactly what you need to know so that you can make interesting conversations, blend in, and have them chanting “One of us!” in no time.

Despite popular belief, it’s handy to have more than a run-down on the week’s chart toppers, or an in-depth knowledge of the Breaking Bad finale. Being in college means that a lot of things that were considered socially unacceptable, are now some of the best ways to make friends with some of the coolest people you will meet during your time here.

++++++++++

[The-Nerdy-Stuff -You’reNot-Supposed-To-Like.]

As a young one you swore you’d take it to the grave. You couldn’t bring yourself to ever destroy the evidence, but you hid it away. You know what I’m talking about. That comic book. Those movies. That card game. Newsflash – this is college. That stuff is awesome now. Watching Star Wars a hundred times or collecting Pokemon cards just means that you had a cooler childhood than most. You feel that? That’s your inner nerd. Let it out.

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[Classic Literature.]

English literature student or future doctor, mature student or genius fourteenyear-old, chances are you’ll be able to name who wrote Alice in Wonderland, swoon over your favourite portrayal of Mr. Darcy or Mr. Rochester, or, at the very least, rant about how Shakespeare destroyed your life.

Love it or hate it, great literature isn’t going anywhere in our lifetime.

of the topic of food. I don’t think anybody really knows why. Paranoia about weight gain, or being labelled a ‘hom,’ no doubt. But those days are long gone. In college, food is no longer needed only for sustenance (or for spending unholy amounts of money on). It is something much, much more – whether you’re a genius in the kitchen or decide to set out with your buddies in search of the most exotic dishes known to Dublin. Top tip – be friends with a guy who knows about food. You will not regret it.

++++++++++

Being in college means [Cartoons, and Disney that a lot of things that movies.] were considered socially And no, I don’t mean the ridiculous fluff they’re churning out by the hour for the unacceptable, are now next generation. I’m talking about the good we grew up with. You will, at one point some of the best ways to stuff or another, find yourself and your friends make friends with some deep in conversation about the fascinating cross-references in Disney-Pixar movies, of the coolest people you looking back on Ed, Edd and Eddie with nostalgia, or belting out the theme tune to will meet during your Phineas and Ferb or the Teletubbies on your way home at three o’clock in the morning. time here. ++++++++++

So brush up on your cartoon and Disney knowledge – this is ten times more crucial than that MCQ you have next week.

[Food.]

During those awkward teenage years, there’s a bit of a deliberate avoidance

I WANT

WRITE

@1littlebluedove

14/GAEILGE

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

Roibéard Ó Siodhacháin IMRAM Féile Litríocht ag an L&H Gaeilge 2013 Diúltaíonn sé go bhfuil aon suim ghrá aige faoi láthair; cinntíonn sé go bhfuil Agus mé ag caint le mac léinn ón Nicholas Cage as a mheabhair; agus tá sé deas-cháirdiúil agus spraíúil ó thús nGearmáin le déanaí, d’inis sé dom go bhfuil siad ag múineadh Dlí, Leighis deireadh.

Buaileann smaoineamh amháin mé agus mé i mo shuí sa Halla Ad Astra ag fanacht ar Roibéard Ó Siodhacháin: tá thart ar chúig chéad duine anseo agus ní dhéarfainn go bhfuil níos mó ná caoga fear.

Tá Ó Siodhacháin (25) cáiliúil dá obair sa chlár Sasanach Misfits mar Nathan, agus sa chlár Éireannach Love/Hate mar Darren Treacy, chomh maith le scannáin agus cláir teilifíse eile. Is aisteoir den chéad scoth é. Ach, i measc na gcéadta atá anseo, tá an chuid is mó acu (OK, OK, againn) ag fanacht chun aghaidh dhathúil a fheiceáil.

Níl díoma ar éinne nuair a shiúlann sé amach ag a fiche chun a sé (osclaíodh na doirse ag a cúig ach bhí jab thar a bheith deacair ag foireann an L&H suíochán a fháil do chách). Le seaicéad leathair, cosúil lena charactar Darren, agus brístí gearra an-fhaiseanta, tá stíl fhoirfe aige agus cuma fhoirfe air, nach mór, agus tá idir fhir agus mhná sásta é a fheiceáil.

Nuair a stadann na feadanna agus na béiceanna, tugann sé oráid ghearr dúirt sé go raibh sé an-bhuíoch as an “onóir”, go háirithe mar nach dóigh leis

féin go bhfuil aon rath bainte amach aige sa domhan “litríocht(a)”; is é an méid leabhar atá scríofa aige, dar leis, ná náid.

Níl aon fhalsacht ina fhocail; is léir, ó láithreacht a mhuintire, go bhfuil sé seo tábhachtach dó.

Tá agallamh aige le Reachtaire an chumainn, Alex Owens agus an Cisteoir Oinigh, Sorcha Kinder. I ndiaidh sin, freagraíonn sé ceisteanna ón lucht féachanna. Tá náire orm; bhíos ag súil le fear atá sotalach, nach raibh sásta a bheith ann; ní fhéafadh sé gach bua a bheith aige, an bhféadfadh?! Bhuel…

Féadfaidh. Tá sé ar a chompórd. Tá scéalta greannmhara aige (an buaicphointe ná scéal faoi chomhrá a bhí aige le Nick Cage i gcaisleán iargúlta faoi leipreachánnaí agus an chaoi a aithnítear iad). Rug sé barróg ar bheirt chailín (bhí duine acu os mo chomhair; shuigh sí síos agus ba bheag nár thit sí i laige ag croitheadh).

Tá díoma orainn nach bhfuil fírinne ag an ráfla gur mionimreoir é san iománaíocht le Contae Laoise, ach tá scréacha inchloiste nuair a chinntíonn sé gur fear singil é (“agus táim saor anocht”). Déanann sé píosa beag name-dropping (“bhí mé ag caint le Brian Cox, Richard Curtis, agus Jonathan Ross aréir…”), ach tá sé oiriúnach don cheist.

Tugtar Ánracht Oinigh dó agus deirtear linn ar fad suigh síos ionas gur féidir leis an léachtlann a fhágáil. Tá sé sásta, áfach, stopadh ar a bhealach amach chun barróig, croití láimhe, agus pictiúir a thabhairt agus a ghlacadh .

Tá todhchaí mór os a chomhair mar aisteoir; tá breis is $75 milliún tuillte ag a scannán is déanaí The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. Má leannan sé ar aghaidh ar nós an fhir cairdiúla, deabhéasaigh a chonaic muid ar fad inniu, tá todhchaí os a chomhair mar ambasadóir foirfe don tír seo chomh maith.

Daithí Ó Muirceartaigh

agus Eolaíochta trí Bhéarla anois sna coláistí triú leibhéil thall. Dúirt cara eile liom, a chuaigh go Munich le Gearmáinis a fhoghlaim, go raibh sé deacair uirthi taithí cainte a fháil mar labhair an oiread sin daoine Béarla léi. Ní hionann sin is a rá go bhfuil Gearmánaigh ag tréigean a dteanga dhúchais is ag iompú ar an mBéarla. Níl siad. Ach tuigeann siad go bhféadfaidís buntáiste a bhaint as teanga eile.

Tá an tuiscint chéanna ag IMRAM, Féile Litríochta na Gaeilge i mbliana. Tá tionscadal díreach críochnaithe ag filí, scríbhneoirí, is scoláirí - leithéidí Liam Uí Mhuirthile, Gabriel Rosenstock agus Chathail Phóirtéir, saothar cheoil Leonard Cohen (Túr na n-Amhrán) agus Van Morrison (RéDhamhsa) i mBéarla a aistriú go Gaeilge don fhéile agus beidh torthaí a saothair á gcur inár láthair ag oirfidigh de leithéidí Liam Uí Mhaonlaí, David Blake agus Hilary Bow.

Leantar leis an téama seo – aistritheoirí ag cur saothair cheoil ó chultúir eile os ár gcomhair trí Ghaeilge – le Tionscadal na nGormacha, amhráin chlasaiceacha sa seánra seo ó Bhessie Smith, John Lee Hooker, Blind Willie McTell agus Billie Holiday, á gcasadh dúinn ag an Mary Ryan Blues Band, i dteannta Mark Braidner (giotár is guth), Simon

Templeton (pianó) agus Tim Creedon (cnaguirlisí).

Daoibh siúd a thaitníonn litríocht Mheirceá leo, is féidir blaiseadh di a fháil sa seó ‘La nuit est ma femme’/ Is í an oíche mo bheansa’, Tionscadal Jack Kerouac. Béarfaidh muid ar IMRAM dhá-theangach, ( an Fhraincis a bhí ag Kerouac mar theanga dhúchais) ó Nua Eabhrach go San Francisco i gcuideachta na bhfilí mór le rá Gearóid Mac Lochlainn agus Gabriel Rosenstock. Gabh ó dheas ansin chun na Brasaíle, (ar an gcúigiú tír is mó ar domhan, le 190 milliún duine) i gcomhluadar an scríbhneora Alex Hijmans, agus cuir aithne ar phlódchathair Sao Paulo nó bailte beaga ar bhruach na hAmasóine ina leabhar nua “Splancanna ó Shaol Eile”. Tá éagsúlacht mhór chiníocha sa Bhrasaíl- tionchar Afracach, Portaingéalach is Meir-Indiach- agus tá thart fá 180 teanga Mheir-Idiach á labhairt inti. Déan IMRAM mar sin chuig an bhfíor-Bhrasaíl sula mbaineann sluaite Chorn an Domhain agus na gCluichí Oilimpeacha an tír amach.

I dteannta n-imeachtaí thuasluaite, tá léamh trí-theangach ó shaothar Shomhairle MhicGhill-Eain - Oirféas na hAlban, Tionscadal Ludwig Wittgenstein- fealsamh mór an 20ú aoise, ceiliúradh ar Shéamus Ó Grianna - fear pinn iomráiteach Ghaeltacht Thír Chonaill agus léacht “ ‘Idir Dhá Shaol’ - gnéithe idirnáisiúnta de litríocht chomhaimseartha na Gaeilge”, le Máirín Nic Eoin.

Dán le Dónal Ó Ghallachóir

Íde Ní Rodaigh

Tá Dónal sa chéad bhliain ag déanamh staidéir ar an nGaeilge

Is deacair a bheith áthasach

agus sin an fáth go mbíonn mo chroí i mbaol

Nuair a bhíonn gach rud chomh suarach

Déantar gach rud chun é a réiteach

Leantar é mar a bhíonn sé

Ach níl sé ag obair, táimid ró-chóngarach.

Ach níl áthas ann, ag deireadh an lae

Faraor, ní thógfaidh mé mo dheis.

Brón, an rud is treise i mo shaol

Mar is eol dúinn, ní éiríodh leis.

Nuacht an Chumainn Ghaelaigh UCD Seachtain fíor ghnóthach a bhí againn an tseachtain seo caite, agus seachtain ghnóthach eile le teacht! Dé Máirt tháining an t-údar agus an t-iriseoir Alex Hijmans chuig COBÁC chun labhairt linn faoina leabhar nua ‘Splancanna Ó Shaol Eile’. Is ón Ísiltír dó ach bhí conaí air sa Bhrasaíl ar feadh tamall fhada, agus is sin is cúis leis an méid sin scéalta a bheith aige. Bhaineamar ar fad an-taitneamh as an ocáid, bhí sé thar a bheith suimiúil agus muid ar fad gafa leis. B’fhiú go mór a chuid saothair a léamh.

Dé Máirt tá díospóireacht: “Creideann an teach seo gur iad na fir a scrios an tír seo” ar siúl ag a 5in i Seomra Fitzgerald in Ionad na Mac Léinn, agus ina dhiaidh sin tá “Céilí Soilse Tráchta” ar siúl i mBéar na Mac Léinn. Seans eile dos na buachaillí na línte “chat up” sin a úsáid! Beidh ceol againn ó Trad Soc arís, is cinnte gur oíche iontach a bheidh inti.

Ach anuas ar sin uilig, s’í ocáid mhór na seachtaine ná an Turas Rúnda leis an Aontas Oíche Cheadaoin bhí Cupid i mBeár na Mac Léinn linn don Scóráil Sciobtha. Oíche ar an Déardaoin an seachtú lá déag!! Dár ndóigh, níl a fhios againn cá bhfuilimid ag den scoth a bhí inti , le spotduaiseanna, deochanna agus grá freisin! Bhí na buachaillí dul, ach is é an turas leath na craice! Tá ticéid á dhíol faoi láthair agus is féidir iad i mbarr a réime, agus na línte “chat up” á gcleactadh acu! a cheannach ag aon ocáid den Chumann an tseachtain seo. Níl ach costas €15 orthu agus gach rud seachas bhur ndeochanna san áireamh leis sin. Oíche den scoth ar An tseachtain seo, bígí réidh, tá an-chuid ullmhaithe againn daoibh! Már is gnách, €15, níl aon leithscéal agat! Níl aon dabht ach go mbeidh sé ar an oíche is fearr den beidh Caife agus Cómhra ar siúl ar an nDéardaoin ag a haon sa Seomra Caidrimh bhliain.

(B207) in Arás Newman. Buail isteach agus bíodh cúpán tae agat linn!

ROLOLfficer R A C M A D A ti o n a te E d u c a u U n d e rg r a d

Hey Guys, It’s Adam here, your undergraduate officer.

As part of my brief I’m in charge of the Grindsfile.

What is Grindsfile you ask? Well it’s very simple actually.

We take your name and email address and what subject youare able and willing to give Grinds in and then we allow people who are struggling in their subject to contact you.

With the restructuring of our website we have decided to put out a call for anyone who is not currently on our list!

If your interested and want to make a few euros drop me an email at education@ucdsu.ie and I’ll put you on the list and put it up on the website where people will be able top get in contact with you.

Grindsfile isn’t only for university students, if you want to give grinds in leaving cert subjects or you have a specialist that isn’t covered in UCD and you want to get your name on a list that people can easily access we can accommodate you too.

We’ll be promoting it both on our Facebook and website at ucdsu.ie so make sure to get in contact if you want to share your wisdom with other students!

IS T A H W E “ L I F S D GRINASK?” YOU

If you’re interested in sponsoring the Arts Bl ock we’ll give you a statue this high

It’s Satire, STUPID!

INSIDE “Hugh Brady to construct Stargate between China and UCD” “Economic shock; Merkel declares Ireland German colony, reinstates Deutschmark” “Thousands flock to see Dowling’s Pussy” “Weapon deprived Israeli Armed forces create the Mazeltov Cocktail” “Michael J. Fox to return as cameraman for ‘Catching Fire’ as fans request more shakey-cam” “Doctors confirm stalking athletes keeps you fit”

Pro-Lifers to Abort Students Union following Preferendum outcome The strongly contested preferendum to decide the Students’ Union’s stance on abortion led to the student body electing to adopt the policy of legalising abortion. But the drama has not stopped since the ballot boxes were emptied. A group of pro - lifers in UCD are attempting to secede from the Students’ Union in protest of the democratically selected outcome in a manner similar to de Valera storming out of the Dáil in 1922.

The group is unwilling to be a part of any society or union that advocates abortion, as they believe that abortion is murder. Many of them follow this path due to reli-

gious reasons, as they claim the bible speaks out against abortion. The Turbine delved into this deeper and discovered that the bible does not explicitly say abortion is wrong. However, analysis into the scriptures can enable someone to join some dots and hence declare that abortions are ungodly and evil.

T his is the first time in UCD history that a group has opted to leave the Student’s Union since the ratification of their new constitution. The Union prides itself on representing the student body in the fairest and most open manner possible, which is an adequate explanation as to why having a preferendum on such a sensi-

tive topic was vitally important to their goals as a union. Few societies have come out in support of the Union in this issue, as it seems that they have better things to do with their time.

‘UCD Students Against Abortion’ are currently composing a letter to our esteemed President Hugh Brady with the request to abandon their Union and the plethora of perks that go with it. The Turbine was unable to find any of these perks that were worth publishing in this article, but the Union assure us that membership is highly beneficial for all of its clientele. President Brady is yet to respond to the Lifers, and will probably wait until the is-

sue has died down before doing so.

This conflict is unlikely to go away anytime soon. Similar issues are usually resolved within the first few months of their discovery, but the longer the pro-lifers are left to wait, the harder the decision, as they become more and more attached to the Union.

UCD Students Against Abortion’s style of democracy may have been taken directly from Éamon De Valera, but we at the Turbine hope that a Civil War will not follow any secession as it followed our ex Taoiseach’s.

Disaster at UCD Gym Our precious UCD gym, subject to much praise in the past, has been left devastated following a student riot last Thursday. Initial reports indicate that much of the damage is irreparable and has prompted Ben Dunne himself to intervene, promising replacement of much of the damaged equipment.

The riot was caused by an unsuspecting Cork student who wandered into the gym at approximately 11:00 on Thursday morning. The

student, who wished to name anonymous, was sporting his counties home jersey as he arrived for a session of cardio and weightlifting. CCTV footage reveals where it all went wrong, as it shows the frequent gym goers stiffening as soon as he entered the room, and they began to circle him, pawing at the floor.

The muscle-bound regulars appear to have been agitated by the Corkonian jersey in a manner experts believe to be similar to a bull’s attraction to a waving flag. The explanation to this can only be

found in the similarities between the brain development and skull structure of those who visit the gym frequently and consume protein, and those of a bull in heat.

The angry gym-users proceeded to hurl weights effortlessly at the poor student, leading to a full scale brawl as the Neanderthals began to engage in what only can be described as pitched combat.

The CCTV footage is has been deemed too distressing to be released to the general public, although photographs of the aftermath

are widespread. The scenes of carnage are being published around campus, and the participants are basking in their infamy. Truly this is the gyms nadir.

Despite Ben Dunne’s pledge to replace equipment using some of the vast wealth accumulated from the prices charged to non students, it appears that the gym shall be closed for further notice. One can only see the irony in the fact that its most frequent customers caused its downfall.

BUSINESS\17

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

Where now for the Irish Property Market?

As the rest of the economy enters recovery, what of Ireland’s tumultuous property market for 2014?

2014 Irish Property Market The Irish economy is showing signs of life again, with many of the key metrics with which we view economic health illustrating the nation’s steady emergence from the worst per capita financial crisis in developed world history.

The construction sector is (whisper it) on the rise again, with growth in output of 11.7 per cent in the year to June. Over the same period, unemployment fell from 15.1 per cent to 13.3 per cent and Irish 10 year bond yields dipped below sub 4 per cent, the best in class of all the European bailout countries. Crucially, Ireland has met its 2013 current deficit target of 7.5% per cent, putting the public finances back on a sustainable footing with the country on the cusp of regaining economic sovereignty.

However, with the country’s labour force so reliant on building and construction, the performance of the Irish property market remains as fundamentally important as ever to national prosperity.

Residential Market

The Irish Residential market is one of two tiers; capital values and rents are rising in Dublin but in decline in the regions. Up to now, Dublin prices have fallen by 55% since 2007, as opposed to 48% for the rest of the country, but also due to the relative attractiveness and productivity of Dublin property. The Dublin market has seen rents increase by up to 10% in 2013, primarily due to a scarcity of houses in popular central and urban areas, according to a recent Daft.ie report. This shortage is pushing up rental yields (the percentage of total property value earned by the investor through rental income) on prime residential property (property in the most financially lucrative locations).

UCD students are most affected too. Savills have reported price increases of up to 20 per cent in a collection of prime residential neighbourhoods in south Dublin. This arrival of inflation may trigger some potential buyers into acting now, a development being factored in to the majority of large estate agent outlooks for 2014. Indeed, UCD students may turn to on-campus accommodation as a safe haven from rent price hikes in the coming years.

International Interest Ireland has seen a surge of international investor interest in the office, industrial and retail markets since the downturn.

Prime office space in Dublin is yielding investor returns of up to 12 per cent as of October 1, while those with holdings in industrial and retail property in prime Dublin locations can expect returns of 17 per cent and 12 per cent respectively. This compares favourably to the 3.62 per cent return on Irish 10 year bonds and the meagre 2-3 per cent returns for savers in Irish banks. The figures prove even more appealing given Ireland’s low inflation rate of 0.2% according to the CSO. With a range of retail and residential property portfolios coming on the market in recent weeks, interest in Irish property has become a main focus of the global investor community, particularly among top asset managers and private equity firms. This increased appetite for Irish property is correlated to the extra liquidity in global financial markets, but also to renewed confidence in Ireland as a credible investment location after swallowing a five-year long austerity pill and eradicating our financial illnesses.

Outlook

Market consensus points to sustained interest in Dublin’s prime property across all property classes.

Due to a scarcity in prime industrial and commercial property in Dublin’s business districts, one can foresee either a return to speculative development in the Capital (what with the increasingly attractive returns to investors and lenders) or an increase in demand for new locations in the secondary Dublin market and prime regional locations in Cork, Limerick and Kildare. This commentator predicts the former, with the likely emergence of another property bubble, confined to the prime Dublin market.

Contrast both the emergence and dangers of the booming Dublin market with the continuing mortgage and negative equity crisis countrywide and the contradiction that is the Irish property market becomes even more compelling. All of Ireland’s notorious developers seem to have moved on from Irish property. A return to the property game for many of them would be impossible in any case.

The next year will likely deliver a new wave of capital into Irish property, the result of which all of us ought to monitor.

Shane O’Brien

18/SPORT

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

Ireland Ease to Opening Series Victory Against Australia in International Rules kicked three points for the Irish who now lead by 24-9.

Munnelly and Cavanagh both Munnelly, the Laois star, added to the home sides tally beDonegal ace and Irish captain Mi- fore the break. Cavanagh contribchael Murphy drew the first blood slowly began to express himself and Ireland began to dominate uted with an excellent 50m over. with a free in the first minute of proceedings. The Laois forward The sides left the park at half time play. was majestic in his ability to read with the home side leading 28-9.

It took Australia three

The second half continminutes to respond when Stephen the play and was getting out in front for every ball. ued as the first and Ireland began Motlop tapped a free over the Australia opened the to dominate. Excellent work from bar. However, from the following scoring with Motlop adding one Tyrone’s Seán Cavanagh saw him kick-out the ball made its way to point while Jack McCaffrey scored through on goal but much to the Murphy who made no mistake and smartly fired over to give the a behind to extend the home side’s dismay of the Irish supporters the shot was smothered by the home side a four point advantage. advantage to 13 points.

McCaffrey and Paddy Australian keeper McGrath.

The opening exchanges

Zac Tuohy scored the were sloppy with both sides vying McBrearty combined in the first 10 minutes of the opening half first goal of the match. The Laois for control and it took five minbut the Donegal forward was native moved with ease through utes before either side added to the visiting defence and left their tally when an opportunistic carried out over the end line McGrath with no chance in the Lance Franklin hit a one-pointer. and the opportunity was wasted.

The game seemed to be slipping Australian goal. The Laois man

Ireland slowly began away from the Aussies when both who had spent a spell in Australto assert and had a nine point Aidan O’Shea and Ciaran Byrne ian extended the home advantage advantage when Munnelly and the early exchanges and seemed

Begley both pointed to give the

IRELAND........................57 un-phased by the Australian war home side a distinct advantage AUSTRALIA....................35 dance which opened proceedings. within the first quarter.

Sean Cummins Sports Editor Ireland overcame a quick Australian side in Cavan in the first test of the international rules series.

The home side were victorious and a 22 point margin divided the teams at the final whistle.

Ireland’s fluency, understanding of the round ball, their high technical ability and excellent fielding allowed them to get the better of Australia. Early indications from the travelling Australian squad indicated that they aimed to out play the Irish with a noticeable lack of heavy hitters and the inclusion of excellent footballers.

Ireland faired best in

to 24 points.

Australia narrowed the gap with a well taken goal from Jack Neade. Australia added three points from the boot of Jetta and it was now a 16 point game.

Excellent Australian play saw the gap narrow further to 8 points.

Motlob was unlucky not to rattle the onion bag and an over from Stokes narrowed the divide. The Australians now seemed a serious threat to the Irish side but Irish captain Murphy was quick to respond with a behind to ease the pressure on the home side.

Kevin McLoughlin’s late goal ensured an Irish victory, Mcloughlin fired passed McGrath and the Australian keeper had no chance. Ireland take a 22 point advantage into the final game of the series which takes place next Saturday at GAA headquarters.

More Questions than Answers for the FAI

Darragh Moriarty Sports Writer

As Ireland slipped this week to number 60 in FIFA World rankings and the possibility arose that Noel King could remain on as interim boss for the two upcoming friendlies, Darragh Moriarty reviews Ireland’s final two games in the world cup qualifying campaign.

Noel King’s brief spell as interim manager saw his side entertain Kazakhstan at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday last. Following on from Ireland’s defeat in Cologne the previous Friday, King looked to rejuvenate his team ahead of a clash where nothing but a win would do.

Ireland could not have had a worse start after a wonder-goal by Dimitry Shomko in the opening fifteen minutes. Ireland though, who had controlled the game in the early exchanges, stayed calm and within three minutes of going behind Robbie Keane levelled from the spot after a daft handball from an Andy Reid set-piece. The jitters of going behind were fully out of the system after John O’Shea latched on to some poor goalkeeping to calmly claim his first international goal in ten years. Andrei Sidelnikov in the Kazakh net should have dealt better with Richard Dunne’s initial header from yet another Reid delivery.

Ireland controlled what was left of the first-half from then on.

In the second half the game became somewhat of a dour affair, this was

compounded by what looked like a serious injury for Darron Gibson.

It later emerged that the Everton man suffered knee ligament damage which could see him miss a large chunk of the season. This seemed to resonate with many of the players as perhaps they realised with threequarters of the season left to play they didn’t want to risk injury in a nothing game against Kazakhstan.

It wasn’t until Aiden McGeady’s introduction late on that the game took off again, a winger playing in his natural position proved to be too much for the Kazakhs to handle. His direct runs and

surprisingly measured final ball led to an own goal. Robbie Keane stood in wait but a Kazakh touch forced the ball into the back of the net. The Tallaght man left cursing his luck as his fantastic international tally remained at sixty-one.

The game will go down as a comfortable, forgettable victory and nothing more. Noel King, a loyal FAI servant was given an opportunity over two games to promote himself and show the public what he can do as a manager.

Instead, his brief rein in the hotseat will be remembered for his assault on RTE’s ‘comedy panel.’ The

prickly character looked as if he belonged in a pub row rather than in an interview as an international manager when he locked horns with RTE’s Tony O’Donoghue. The respected, longstanding football correspondent was well within his right to ask the manager why he saw fit to play strikers in wide positions.

In Cologne, we were beaten by a superior team that will go to Brazil next summer as one of the tournament favourites. There is absolutely no shame in losing that game. A deflected effort, a beautifully crafted finish and a late

counter attack are goals that any team could have conceded. The problem with the game and indeed the Kazakhstan game was King’s team selection. He changed to the more conventional and continental 4-2-3-1 that Irish supporters were crying out for under a certain rigid Italian. But this alone is not enough. The right players have to be played in the right positions.

Under Trapattoni we had Simon Cox on the wings and under King we had Glenn Whelan, Kevin Doyle and Anthony Stokes. In the space of four days he managed to frustrate Irish supporters as much as Trapattoni did during the whole qualifying campaign. McGeady made a huge difference last Tuesday as a late substitute, James McClean and Robbie Brady were all left watching from the bench in Cologne. The reintroduction of Gibson and Reid are positives going forward. Under a new manager Ireland will look for that deep-lying midfielder who can dictate the pace of the game. Both Reid and Gibson are players that can potentially fulfil that role.

The restoring of previously discarded players and the first phase implementation of the 4-23-1 system are the only positives that can be taken from the last two games. We are no closer to finding the personnel that will ultimately fit into that system and take Irish football forward into the next campaign. The next manager has it all to do.

SPORT\19

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE 22.10.2013

Leinster Survive Brush With Mediocrity LEINSTER.......................19 to come to terms with the new scrum mechanics, in particular the CASTRES...........................7 re-emphasis on hooking the ball.

In one notable scrum five metres out from the Castres line, Cronin’s clumsy boot only managed to kick The old cliché goes that if you can the ball right back out of the scrum, play poorly yet still win, that is the in turn wasting a rare opportunity mark of a champion. In that case to strike from close. bookies may as well just pay out on For yet another week, the once Leinster becoming the next Europe- potent Leinster back line failed to an champions now because on Sat- ignite. The problem seems to be urday they well and truly stunk. Yes, primarily one of distribution, with despite coming away with the four the chances provided to the three points against Castres at the RDS quarters and outside backs being there was very little for the Leinster severely limited. In looking for the faithful to feel good about after a cause of this, one must look at the game where the Irish side benefithole left by the departure of Johnny ted greatly from French indiscipline Sexton. While Jimmy Gopperth’s more than anything else. boot has certainly been pinpoint ac Indeed, there was scarcely curate for the most part this season, an area of Leinster play that could questions still remain over his atbe said to have been without fault at tacking acumen as a stand-off in the the RDS on Saturday. Set pieces for Leinster set up. That said, as far as instance were a particular source of distribution goes, Gopperth could grief with Sean Cronin struggling just as easily shift the blame onto his throughout with crooked lineout half back partner in Isaac Boss who, throws, often squandering valuable at the very least, deserves the blame attacking positions. The scrum fared for the Castres try when he abanlittle better as inconsistency plagued doned his defensive duties behind it throughout. Again, a large part of the scrum leaving Fergus McFadden the criticism deserves to be levelled to deal with Rory Kockott and the at Sean Cronin who, like many sniping Castres back row by himself. hookers this year, has struggled

Patrick Fleming Sports Writer

One of the most revealing facts was that for the opening 20 minutes of the second half, the ball nary touched a blade of grass inside the Castres 22 metre line. To Leinster’s credit though, the way they dealt with the unceasing onslaught of French pressure during this period should be praised. The true value of Sean O’Brien and the rest of the Leinster pack was brought to the fore as they disrupted ruck after ruck and denied Castres the quick ball they required for their open attacking style.

Frustration at the lack of progress Castres had managed on the scoreboard considering their dominance may partially explain the madness that was Remi Lamerat’s no armed tackle on Dave Carney. Not only was it a ridiculous lapse in discipline but it was also terribly timed because it coincided with Leinster coming slightly more into the game and inevitably the sin-binning helped to definitively swing the balance in Leinster’s favour, inevitably resulting in the vital try.

As for the try itself, a great deal of praise has to go to Gordon D’Arcy. As mentioned earlier, chances for the back line were fairly few

and far between, but with what little possession he did have, he demonstrated that he still possesses a great deal of that magic that made him such a fan favourite over the duration of his tenure in the Leinster first team. As for his contribution to the try, it was only a subtle delay in giving the pass to McFadden for the break, but that slight hesitation was enough to draw in the last Castres defender in turn exposing a broad running lane for McFadden to exploit. It was an easily missed contribution, but it summed up the kind of poise that D’Arcy provides in the Leinster midfield when given the chance.

It was a lone glimpse of the kind of rugby Leinster are capable of within an 80 minutes mostly dominated by mediocrity. Nevertheless, the win, which came on a day when the three other Irish provinces also won, leaves Leinster sitting pretty atop Pool One with Northampton in second after their bounce-back win against the Ospreys. How long the pool will stay that way will rest primarily on how well Leinster can fix some of the problems which beset them on Saturday. That or they could just continue to ride their luck as far as it will take them.

LEINSTER XV Kearney McFadden Macken D’Arcy Kearney Gopperth Boss Healy Cronin Moore Toner McCarthy McLaughlin O’Brien Heaslip (C)

UCD Edge Closer to Regulation Play-Off UCD...................................1 the referee didn’t hesitate before awarding the penalty. McCabe SHAMROCK ROVERS...4 took the penalty and his two-part Peter Branigan Sports Writer

UCD slipped perilously close to the relegation play-off following their first Airtricity League defeat to Shamrock Rovers this season on Friday night. In atrocious conditions at the UCD Bowl Rovers scored a soft first goal early on before being awarded a penalty which was duly converted by Man of the Match Gary McCabe. UCD didn’t give up and pulled one back early in the second half, but two quick goals from Rovers soon killed the game off as a contest.

Rovers scored their first goal from their first attack in the seventh minute. A dangerous ball from Gary McCabe on the right was not dealt with by UCD’s central defence and Shane Robinson finished from six yards.

Rovers doubled their lead two minutes later. O’Donnell slid in on the on rushing Thomas Stewart, who went down easy, and

UCD team and they created two very good chances in the opening quarter of an hour of the second run up had O’Donnell diving half. Russell’s free-kick in the before the ball was kicked. forty-ninth minute found Robbie

Rovers continued to Creevy. The midfielder’s header, dominate and a free flowing move frustratingly, didn’t trouble Brush. in the eighteenth minute, involv On the hour Benson ing Conor Powell and Richie crossed a dangerous ball into the Ryan, saw the former cross, from Rovers box which found its way to the left, for the latter to hit a sweet Mark Langtry. The former Rovers volley. The effort was just over wing back didn’t quite get his foot the UCD bar. A deflected cross around the ball and it went wide from McCabe four minutes later to the right of the target. fell perfectly for O’Connor but

UCD weren’t to be denied the midfielder somehow found however and they pulled one back O’Donnell’s arms with his header in the sixty-fourth minute. Rusfrom five yards. sell’s corner from the right was

UCD, to their credit, touched on by Creevy. Benson began to pass the ball more in the reacted quickest to smash the ball last five minutes of the half. In the to the roof of Brush’s net and the fortieth minute Craig Walsh got game was back on. away from his man in midfield

College were only in it before laying it off for Robbie Ben- for five minutes as Rovers soon son. The winger’s super touch put scored their third. UCD failed to him in space and he did everyclear a ball from the edge of their thing right, hitting it hard and low own box and it eventually fell to towards the Rovers goal. Brush’s McCabe, who took one touch below save was particularly impres- fore hitting a tremendous low shot sive given the greasy conditions. which skidded off the surface and

This little spell of passing into the bottom left corner. seemed to instill confidence in the

As in the first half, Rovers quickly scored another. Robinson was given far too much space on the edge of the UCD box and he shot. The effort was parried by O’Donnell but if fell straight to Stewart who finished from all of three yards.

UCD had the better of the final exchanges. Second-half sub Tom O’Halloran ran in from the left wing in the seventy eight before unleashing a pacy, low shot.

The effort was wide to the right of the goal. College had a much better chance in the eighty fourth minute as Creevy unleashed a screamer which beat Brush all ends up. Unfortunately for the midfielder, the ball bounced back off the crossbar. It fell to O’Halloran and his powerful effort from seven yards was somehow saved by the Rovers keeper.

The final whistle brought to a close an entertaining game.

UCD must travel to already relegated Shelbourne next Friday and at least match whatever result Bray manager against Dundalk at the Carlisle Grounds.

UCD XI O’Donnell Langtry Coyne O’Connor Leahy (C) McCabe Walsh Creevy Clarke Russell Benson Yellow card: Creevy 72 College Tribune Man of the Match: Gary McCabe (Shamrock Rovers)

UCD LOSE AT HOME TO SHAMROCK ROVERS - FULL MATCH REPORT >>>>>> > >PAGE 19

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“THEY CAME FROM A LAND DOWN UNDER” Ireland Beat Oz

MATCH REPORT: PAGE 18

UCD Involvement in Leinster ‘A’ Victory which made it 19-7.

LEINSTER ‘A’ ...............................24 The home side doubled their advantage when Thomas converted a penalty for a high Leinster who appeared to have a MOSELEY......................................22 tackle on the 22. mountain to climb slowly began to creep

Shortly afterwards, Gilsenan was sin-binned for a late hit on Thomas.

The UCD man was exiled to the bench and forced to watch as Thomas took the Leinster ‘A’ enjoyed a two point victory over 50m penalty with ease, striking it directly Moseley on Saturday evening at Billesley between the posts. Thomas was again called common. The Leinster squad was bolstered to duty as the Birmingham’s pack forced a by seven UCD players and was captained by needless penalty when out-scrummaging the Collidge’s Conor Gilsenan.

Leinster front row. Thomas had no diffiThe Leinster side continued their unbeaten culty in converting and Moseley led 12-0. run in the British and Irish cup. Girvan

Gilsenan returned to the pitch and Dempsey’s side struggled to get to grips with Leinster were handed a gilt edged opportunitheir British opponents and trailed for the ty. Clumsy play from maul following a line majority of the game. Despite playing into out resulted in a Leinster scrum. Leo Auva, a strong wind for the opening half, Leinster the wainuiomata native and Old Belvedere remained in touch trailing 12-7 at the break. back row took a quick tap and exploded

Leinster almost opened the scoring through a weak home defence to cross the early in the first half when Daly was bundled end line in the 28th minute. Marsh converted into touch. Excellent work from Marsh and and the void between the sides narrowed to Gilsenan saw the ball reach Daly but the five at the break.

Under 20’s Ireland international was forced Ollie Thomas, the home side’s talisman widover the touch line. ened the gap once again following the break to land the Birmingham sides only try. A Moseley, spurred on by the missed chance, quick reversal by Hooley saw Thomas cross capitalised at the other end when Ollie the line un-phased and the former Cornish Thomas kicked a seventh minute penalty.

Pirates man made no mistake in converting

Sean Cummins Sports Editor

back into contention. The visiting side opted to use brute force and mauled a kickable penalty. The maul was held but a quick 15m pass from Marsh to Collidge’s CoughlanMurray saw the UCD man cross the end line.

Marsh made no mistake and converted.

Thomas, now the thorn in Leinster’s side and having an excellent game converted another penalty to draw the home side eight points clear.

In the 69th minute the visitors came to life. An excellent break from Cooney and brilliant control from Fanning allowed the Leinster side in for another try. Marsh’s conversion sailed over the post.

Fanning was once again involved in the final try. The home side had a five point advantage before the opportunistic St Mary’s man crossed to draw the side’s level. Marsh made no mistake and converted to continue their unbeaten start to the season. Marsh had a 100% conversion rate and this strike was the first time the Irish outfit lead in the B&I cup match. Leinster face Cross Keys RFC in Donnybrook in their next B&I cup game in December.

LEINSTER XV Hudson Coughlan-Murray Farrell Daly Fanning Marsh McGrath O’Connell Tracey Furlong Beirne Denton Marshal Gilsenan Auva’a