College Tribune Volume 29 Issue 5

Independent News for UCD Read More: Visit collegetribune.ie

Image: Seán O’Reilly

Students’ Unions Slam Student Loan Proposal Cian Carton News Editor

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oth UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) have criticised the recent Student Loan Proposal scheme by Ógra Fianna Fáil. The situation has emerged at a time when a government expert group held its final consultation meeting on the financing of higher education in Ireland. Ógra Fianna Fáil has called for the introduction of a loan based system to help fund university education. The proposal centres on two optional loan based schemes to assist students and address the two main issues it sees in the higher education system, “equality of access and a sustainable funding model.”

The first idea is that an annual fee of €5,000 would be introduced for each year of college. The sum would be provided as a loan and could be deferred and be repaid on an income-contingent basis. This would allow students to attend college without having to pay any fees immediately, or during the course of their studies. They have noted that “this model proposes a modest increase on upfront fees of an additional €2000 but defers the cost of the entire fee €5000 over a number of years.”

Pg. 6 Features

UCD Musical Society’s Jekyll & Hyde

The repayment of the loan would begin at a rate of 2.75% when a student starts earning more than €30,000 per year. At this rate, the repayment would be €825 per annum. The percentage to be repaid would then increase by .25% for every extra €5,000 in pre-tax income that a graduate receives. The highest rate of repayment would be a maximum tax of 5% on any salary above €75,000.

They claim that, based on “current participation rates and the money raised by the current student contribution charge, this scheme would end up raising approximately €300 million a year for 3rd level institutions.” In order to assist students during their time in college, Ógra Fianna Fáil has also proposed the provision of maintenance loans, up to a maximum of €10,000 per year.

As part of their campaign, Ógra Fianna Fáil presented their proposal outside the gates of Trinity College Dublin (TCD) on Friday, 23rd October. It resulted in USI issuing a press release about the proposals.

Kevin Donoghue, president of USI, said that “federal 3rd level loan system[s] did not work in the UK or the USA. It would be impractical and illogical to introduce an already broken loan scheme to Ireland.”

He also attacked the nature of the

scheme itself.

“For the majority of students that struggle to find a well-paid job straight out of college, this debt can be overwhelmingly intimidating – like a huge bet they lost. Unsubsidised loans will even build interest while you’re enrolled. For many young people, the lack of financial security will deter even more students from applying to college.”

When asked to comment on the proposal, Marcus O’Halloran, President of UCDSU, stated that they are “proposing a model with a high failure rate. It’s not worked to the benefit of students in the UK or the US.” He said that UCDSU “currently support a stance on free education following a referendum in 2012.

We’d only change our stance following another student referendum. As mandates only last for three years, it will expire at a later date this year.”

O’Halloran said that UCDSU had not been contacted by any students on “supporting anything other than free third level education.” He also stressed that “in terms of the student contribution charge, UCDSU have publicly fought to keep that down.”

With a general election imminent, O’Halloran linked in UCDSU’s efforts on the topic with student voters. He commented that “the onus is on us now to make

Pg. 6 Politics

Fianna Fáil’s Student Loan Proposals

THE TRIB

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Volume Ouvrage Imleabhar Band Eagrán Nummer Issue Numéro Mardi Dé Máirt Dienstag Tuesday Samhain November Novembre Nov.

THE COLLEGE TRIBUNE

Trish McGrath from UCDSVP at the society’s annual Homeless Week Sleepout.

sure that these students are registered to vote nationally. As such, we’re looking to run a mass voter registration drive in November following the success of last year’s effort.” No dates for the event have yet been announced.

While students’ unions and political youth groups are voicing their opinions, the subject is also being carefully considered by the government. Last year, Jan O’Sullivan, Minister for Education and Skills, set up an expert group to report on higher education funding. The Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education is being led

by Peter Cassells, former general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions. One of the members of the group is UCD’s Dr Sara Cantillon, who lectures in the School of Equality Studies. She was also the former Head of UCD School of Social Justice from 2005-2008.

The group is due to present its final report to the Minister by the end of this year. As part of the formation of the report, the group has been conducting consultation forums on the issue. Their final consultation before they issue their report on the matter was held on Friday, 30th October.

Continued on Page 4.

Niamh Crosbie Talks to Eoin Quinn, Star of Irish Horror limp.

EDITORIALS//2 “Hearing Women’s Voices?”

Una Power Editor

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uning into Today FM’s The Last Word one evening I was mildly startled at hearing a guest presenter’s voice. This wasn’t because the usual presenter was missing; Matt Cooper, like any of us, must have holidays and for these occasions a guest presenter takes over the reins. I have heard many people take speak into his mic over the years, so what was it that “startled” me?

The voice itself. It was female. Of course the female voice is not in and of itself unsettling. What was odd was that I immediately noticed the voice in terms of its being feminine, and, perhaps shamefully, it took me a while to adjust to this voice. This latter point is what “startled” me.

Speaking at a National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) event on Tuesday the 11th, journalist Alison O’Connor was able to explain what

had occurred to me, a thing that occurs to many others. We have grown up with male presenters; we have grown up with a media narrative shaped by men. As such the female voice is alien to us, our ear is not attuned to it.

NWCI’s event was to launch “Hearing Women’s Voices?”, a study which “explores the extent and nature of the underrepresentation of women in current affairs radio programming and makes recommendations in relation to how this can be addressed to achieve a greater balance of women and men on air”.

This study, conducted by Dr. Kathy Walsh, Dr. Jane Suiter & Orla O’Connor, examined current affairs programmes on Today FM, RTE Radio and Newstalk over a three week period at the end of 2014.

The research showed – among other points - that on average 72% of speakers were male, that

when women were on programmes they were generally given less airtime than their male counterparts and that men represented the overwhelming majority of “experts” asked onto shows.

Of course criticism was immediately levelled at this study upon its publication. Current affairs is, by definition, time sensitive, and, it is said, the majority of high-level experts, politicians etc are male.

Deadlines prohibit shows from engaging in time-consuming searches for female experts.

But NWCI’s research demonstrates that when an individual show makes the effort, gender parity can be reached. For instance the Sean O’Rourke Show has made concerted efforts to have greater gender balance, and has managed in the past year to almost double its female representation to 44%. Furthermore

Drug Decriminalisation a Step Toward a Safer Future Shane Whooley Guest Contributor

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ast week at the London School of Economics, TD Aodán Ó Ríordáin announced plans to decriminalise drugs in Ireland, and to open medically supervised injecting centres across the country. This progressive shift in drug policy is a reaction to the failure of the ‘war on drugs’, and focuses instead on engaging with addicts, with the hope of reducing harm. This is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, not only in treating recreational users and victims of drug abuse alike with compassion, but also in minimising the risk of diseases often contracted through intravenous drug use.

If Minister Ó Ríordáin’s plans for decriminalisation truly engage with addicts, and the problems they face every day, harm reduction efforts in Ireland, such as supervised injecting centres, will serve as more than just safe places to shoot up: the promise of safe disposal of dirty needles will ensure that the risk of

contracting blood-borne diseases is minimal. Data from the Cato Institute, a think tank based in the US, shows that the decriminalisation of drugs in Portugal has had no adverse effect on drug usage rates.

However in another area the effects have been widely noticed; STI rates have decreased drastically in the fifteen years since decriminalisation. Britain, whose drug policy was also addressed in the discussion, have been reluctant to implement such changes, despite their efficacy in preventing the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis C and B, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The shift in focus towards supervised injecting centres and away from methadone clinics will undoubtedly change the culture of drug use in Ireland. The increase in methadone-related deaths over the last few years clearly demonstrates the impracticality of replacing one addict’s drug of choice with a near identical one. It is apparent that alternative methods of care, like counselling and needle exchange

Inside the Tribune News shows all have access to a list of female experts and commentators compiled by Women on Air. This list proves that there are capable, informed female voices out there; unfortunately the list goes ignored by many programmes.

The question now is, why should women’s voices be heard on radio?

What is the value of that?

As O’Connor said, approximately 1 in 2 people are female.

The agenda shouldn’t be set by men alone; female voices and ideas ought to in our public forums so that we have more representative discussions and debates.

Hopefully programmes take on board the recommendations put forward by this study and we will hear more women on air.

Study Ranks Ireland’s Youth Uneployment at Fifth Highest in OECD - Pg. 3 Homeless Week 2015 a Huge Success - Pg. 4 Are Income-Contingent Loans Incompatible with Ireland? - Pg. 5

Features

Bernie Sanders 2016: Feel the Bern - Pg. 7 Right to Read? Mein Kampf ’s Copyright Expiration - Pg. 8 Scott on Sex: A Hairy Question - Pg. 9

Business

Sproose Up! - Pg. 12 God Save The... Economy Pg. 12

Politics & Innovation

Web Summit Reaffirms Title as the Global Hub of Technology and Innovation - Pg. 13 Government Lacking The Political Will to Tackle Climate Change - Pg. 15 facilities, are proving more effective in reducing harm both among drug users and the general public.

Fears that injection centres could encourage recreational drug use have been quashed by Aodhán Ó Ríordáin who gave his assurance that the centres would not be a ‘free for all’ of casual drug use, but would instead target drug users at serious risk of harm.

5Perhaps unsurprisingly, statistics show that the move towards decriminalisation is also popular among the general public. Due to the prevalence of drugs among young adults, many of us have witnessed or even experienced the power of addiction, and the damage it does

to families and social groups. The National Family Support Network, an organisation that supports families living with substance abuse, recently conducted a poll at their annual conference which indicated that 80% of families in attendance were in favour of Ireland’s bid to decriminalise drugs. The move away from criminalising drug users is a welcome change from prosecuting and imprisoning people for non-violent crimes. Altering the public’s perception of addiction from one of criminality to one of illness is integral to the changing of social attitudes and the de-stigmatisation of drug addiction.

Gaeilge Dhá Bhliain as a Chéile ag an Oireachtas! - Pg. 16

Sport UCD Sport’s Kicks Off Movember Season - Pg. 17 Dundalk win the double in Extra-time Showdown - Pg. 19

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Editors Arts Editor Features Editor Politics Editor Contributors Contributors Special Thanks To: Una Power Emma Costello Sinéad Slattery Jack Power Seán O’Reilly Andrew Grossen Philip Kelly Jean-Paul Frenett

Business Editor Film & Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Ciara Landy Bill Horan Shane Whooley LG18

Adam Hetherington Niamh Crosbie Neil Ryan Corey Fischer Kate Weedy Newman Building, Barry Monahan Ally Murty UCD Eagarthóir Gaeilge Music Editor Tech Editor Charlotte McLoughlin Peter Branigan Belfield, Gearóid Óg Ó Greacháin Kevin O’Reilly Graham Harkness Shawna Scott Darragh McGrath Dublin 4. Luca Lombardo Seán Craddock

Fashion Editor News Editor Turbine Editor Shane Whooley editor@collegetribune.ie Emer Slattery Cian Carton Hans Offerman

NEWS IN BRIEF//3 Copi-Print Falls Victim to Computer Virus

Cian Carton News Editor

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CD Copi-Print has been working to remove a virus on its public computers after it forced them to temporarily shut down some of their machines. In an email to students on Wednesday, 28th October, UCD Copi-Print said that the Copi-Print public access computers in the Newman Building and the James Joyce Library were unable to be used with all USB flash drives, due to a computer virus They noted that they could still be used for printing materials through Blackboard, while the IT Services SUAS computers were available for printing documents from a USB stick. Notices were placed beside affected computers telling people not to attempt to use a USB with the device.

On Monday, 2nd November, Copi-Print sent out another email which explained how the situation had worsened. It said that due to a “persistent infection with a new computer virus, the Copi-Print public access computers in the Newman Building, James Joyce Library and various other locations around the campus have been shut down temporarily. The computer lab and SUAS machines can still be used for printing.” As a result, notices were placed on computers in the affected areas, which stated that they were not working.

By Friday, 6th November, some of the computers in the Newman Building were back in operation.

Further announcements about the situation are available on Copi-Print’s website, at www.ucd.ie/ copi-print.

Study Ranks Ireland’s Youth Uneployment at Fifth Highest in OECD Cian Carton News Editor

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ricewaterhouseC oopers (PwC) has ranked Ireland 29th in a survey of 34 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries for youth unemployment rates and performances in vocational training for young people.

The research is based on statistics from 2014, with the overall ranking on the index determined by eight different criteria. These indicators combine to reflect the “labour market activity and participation in education and training of people aged under 25.”

The survey encompassed some of the wealthiest nations in the world. Switzerland, Germany and Austria took the first three places.

Ireland only managed to beat Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Spain. Commentators pointed out that many small countries fared well in the survey, such as Iceland, which ranked fourth.

PwC noted that many countries saw a decline in rankings between 2006 and 2011, but that many have still not yet managed to recover back to pre-2006 levels. Ciara Fallon, director at PwC Ireland, said that Ireland “has some way to go in terms of leveraging our young people in the workplace compared to many of our trading partners.”

The release of the report happened to coincide with the publication of the latest figures from the Live Register. According to it, unemployment in Ireland for September 2015 stood at 9.4%, while the seasonally adjusted youth un-

employment rate, which counts those aged between 15 to 24-yearolds who are unemployed, at 20.6%.

The two reports were discussed together during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil on Thursday, 5th November. Tom Fleming, an Independent TD for Kerry-South, raised the issue when discussing youth unemployment with Brendan Howlin, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. He mentioned the PwC survey and the CSO statistics, along with the fact that around 65,500 individuals are on activation and training schemes, so they are not included in the unemployment figures.

Fleming asked what joint action was being taken by the Ministers for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Education and Skills and Social Protection to alleviate the situation.

Howlin said that the government was working to address the matter.

He further stated that “there are a lot of young people who do not see the pursuit of normal academic degrees as their future. When one looks at a very successful country like Germany, it highly values apprenticeships and give academic recognition to that.”

When Fleming pressed the issue and called for the government to conduct a survey into how other European countries have successfully dealt with youth unemployment, Howlin replied dismissively.

“I again thank the Deputy and I fully agree with much of what he said. However, rather than rely on a PwC survey, the statistics I have given the Deputy are the official figures for this week from the CSO.”

UCD Med Day 2015 raises over €27,000 For Charity

Med Day 2015 shirts ready to go

Cian Carton News Editor

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he UCD Medical Society (MedSoc) has announced that it raised €27,396.60 from its activities on Med Day, which was held on October 16th. The money raised is to be divided among six chosen charities. This year, the society is supporting Helium Arts, Debra Ireland, Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice, The Mater Foundation, St. Vincent’s Foundation and The Berkeley Fund in Aid of Injured Victims.

The annual event sees medical students take to the streets of Dublin to raise money. As part of its connection with the chosen charities, representatives of all the six spoke to volunteers the night before the event, which was hosted by the MedSoc committee and its auditor, Patrick Short.

Med Day 2015 opened with an early morning bucket collection, and Short described how teams of volunteers spread out across Dublin, with students collecting money “from Dalkey to Donnybrook and Jervis Street to St. Stephens Green.” Afterwards, MedSoc’s committee organised a breakfast for them at Dtwo on Harcourt Street.

This year, Med Day also featured a second round of collections. Short explained how they divided the city into nine zones, with a committee member overseeing each zone. As a way to make it more exciting, they introduced a “Gumball Challenge” as part of the collection. He described how it featured challenges such as “performing a 10 second dance to C’est La Vie or giving a donator a rose with spot prizes,” which helped to “promote friendly

Image: via UCD Medical Society

interaction with the public in order to raise more money and also encouraged interaction between [students from] years.”

Short was delighted at how the public responded, and explained how he felt they received a “great reception from everyone all throughout the city,” and noted how “people were very keen to support our student-collectors, who were clearly dedicated and motivated.”

Dublin’s Q102 radio station was on hand for the day, due to their affiliation with the Laura Lynn charity. They interviewed collectors and provided regular updates to listeners about how the day was progressing. Ryan Tubridy also dropped by to lend his support to the cause. As part of their social media campaign on Twitter and Instagram, MedSoc managed to get the hashtag #UCDMedDay trending on Twitter for most of the day.

Short said that the MedSoc’s committee wished to acknowledge the “hard work of all the members who collected, busked or contributed in any way to the success of Med Day 2015,” along with thanking the School of Medicine & Medical Science for its ongoing support, as well as Med Day sponsors Bank of Ireland and the Medical Protection Society.

MedSoc is one of the most active societies on campus, and runs activities every week. It is set to host its annual Med Ball on the 21st November in the Double Tree Hilton Hotel. For those interested in joining the society, students can contact MedSoc representatives in their year, on the group’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages, or by emailing them at medical.society@ ucd.ie.

NEWS IN BRIEF//4 Students’ Homeless Week 2015 a Huge Success Unions Slam Student Loan Proposal (continued)

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hey prepared a discussion report for the meeting, which is available on the Higher Education Authority’s website www.hea.ie. This meeting focused on funding education, and participants discussed its report, entitled “Funding Irish Higher Education— A Constructive and Realistic Discussion of the Options.” Dr Bahram Bekhradnia, Director Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) in the UK, also prepared a paper and spoke at the discussion.

Methods of financing higher education in Ireland discussed included a student loan scheme, similar in nature to what Ógra Fianna Fáil are proposing. However, the group has noted that there is set to be an increase in the number of third-level students over the coming years, which will place a larger burden on the Exchequer to fund “free fees” or deferred payment methods of financing higher education. As a result, the possibility of the re-introduction of fees among other options has been raised as a solution to the issue.

The Kevin Barry Cumann, the local youth branch and political society of Ógra Fianna Fáil in UCD has been contacted but was unavailable for comment at the time of going to print.

A poster by Drawsoc advertising the Homeless Week events at the bottom of the AD stairs in the Arts Block.

Cian Carton News Editor

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CD St. Vincent de Paul has expressed delight at the success of its Homeless Week 2015. From the 2nd to the 5th November, the society ran a series of events which were designed to raise awareness about homelessness in Ireland.

Homeless Week was launched on the 2nd of November with a series of guest speakers from organisations such as the SVP National, Teach Mhuire (a homeless hostel in the city centre), the UCD School of Social Science, and Housing Action Group. Following the launch, there was a Games Night in conjunction with UCD’s English and Literary Society (LitSoc) and the Games Society (GamesSoc).

On Tuesday, the concourse was filled with buskers who performed at the camp site, while members of the Juggling Society, TradSoc and the Music Soc choir all came out to perform. The night ended with a film screening of the Pursuit of

Happiness. Similarly, the Musical Society’s vocal group sang a selection of songs in front of the library on the following day.

As part of their campaign to raise awareness about homelessness amongst the student body, UCDSVP held a debate with the Literary and Historical Society (L&H) on Wednesday evening about the subject. Entitled, “This House Would Say Sorry No Spare Change”, it featured guest speakers such as Tamara Kearns, Housing Action Group, and Aideen Hayden, a Labour Party Senator, and chairperson of the Threshold Housing Agency. The events finished up on Thursday evening with an Open Mic Night, hosted by the Comedy Society in the Clubhouse Bar, alongside a fashion show with Cumann Gaelach and a charity wax.

The most recognisable part of the annual event is UCDSVP’s camp site, which it sets up on the concourse, outside the James Joyce Library. Every year, students brave the cold conditions to spend the

night outside on the concourse.

Dozens of volunteers took up the challenge and participated this year.

Ciaran Kelly, Auditor of UCDSVP, spoke of the positive reaction the society received from students who passed by their camp.

He said that “most students seemed very interested in what we were doing, and quite a few decided to get involved in Homeless Week and the activities we run throughout the year.”

Kelly noted that some people “raised concerns about the fact that sleeping out in front of the library is not like being truly homeless and were perhaps more critical of Homeless Week for that reason.”

While he accepted this point, he stressed that Homeless Week is “more about trying to raise awareness about the homelessness crisis amongst UCD students and try and make them think about issues they may not otherwise be confronted with.”

He was delighted at the €3,850 that was raised for Homeless Week,

Image: Seán O’Reilly

and thanked those who made donations. The money will go towards financing activities the society carries out, such as the soup runs it holds four times a week. He said that it would also go towards supporting youth clubs and homework clubs that they send volunteers to, and for hosting their annual Christmas Party for the residents of the Little Sisters of the Poor retirement home.

Kelly said that UCD SVP is always looking for new members, and will be organising many more events throughout the year, such as a Christmas pub crawl. They will also be participating in both the Hell and Back charity run and a skydiving charity fundraiser, along with undertaking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Stephane Blouin, Vice-Auditor of UCDSVP, also confirmed they would be involved in Jailbreak 2016.

Anyone interested in getting involved can contact the society on its Facebook Page, or through email at svp.society@ucd.ie.

NEWS IN FOCUS//5 Are Income-Contingent Loans Incompatible with Ireland?

Students march on Leinster House in protest against raises in the student contribution in November 2011.

Cian Carton News Editor

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he front page of this issue of the College Tribune mentioned a consultation meeting held by Expert Group on Future Funding for Higher Education.

The documents prepared for this meeting, namely their report, “A Constructive and Realistic Discussion of the Options,” and Bahram Bekhradnia’s “Funding Higher Education in Ireland – Lessons from International Experience,” contain valuable information and analysis on the possibilities as to how best fund higher education in Ireland.

As proposals for an income-based contingency loan are topical, one can look at the discussion of such a scheme in the papers.

References to education refers to third-level education, unless otherwise specified.

The group discusses research on student fees in their paper in section

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rates of participation in education by different social classes.

An income-contingent loan was also mentioned. The group noted that research on such systems “underlines the importance of the mechanisms of loan collection and demonstrates that the state revenue system is far and away the most cost-effective, simple, efficient and transparent way to collect loan repayments.” What that means, should one ever be set up in Ireland, is that the method of repayment will probably be the most fiercely contested and debated aspect of such a scheme.

The matter is examined in detail in Bekhradnia’s paper. In his role as Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute in the UK, Bekhradnia and his group have advised over 25 governments on higher education policy. He prepared a draft paper for the consultation meeting which examines methods of financing higher education in detail.

Most countries, including Ireland, balance the costs between students and taxpayers. This balance is where the debate begins

2.2.2. It says that a study from the EU Commission has shown that an increase in fees dis not necessarily have a negative impact on participation in education. The paper notes that the increase in fees in the UK to £9,000 per annum supports this point. For the reverse, UCD’s Kevin Denny, who lectures in the School of Economics, has argued in his 2010 paper, “What did abolishing university fees in Ireland do?”, that removing fees in Ireland in 1996/97 had no significant change in the

”

He firstly sets out the principle of paying for higher education.

Most countries, including Ireland, balance the costs between students and taxpayers. This balance is where the debate begins. “There is a question about the proportions to be paid by each partner, and what support should be available to students from disadvantaged backgrounds to ensure that the payment of their share does not cause them and their families undue hardship, and at worst act as a barrier to par-

ticipation, but that question is not one of principle.”

Bekhradnia discusses income based contingency fees at point 12 in his paper. The main advantage of this proposal, according to him, is that it keeps education free at the point of entry. He notes that as the monthly repayment rates on these loans are fixed (5% in Chile, 9% in England, and up to 8% in Australia) that the less a graduate earns the longer it takes to repay. “Since there is a real rate of interest payable, low earners will ultimately repay more than higher earners.” England has a 30 year cut off point, after which the outstanding amount is forgiven. However, surely one would not want to be paying off student debt when they are in their 50s.

Since 2012, England’s model is based on a high annual fee (£9,000) supported by an income-contingency based loan system. He has noted how this system keeps the financing of higher education “off the national balance sheet. Government borrowing to provide loans to students was not counted as public borrowing to the extent that it could be claimed that it would be repaid.”

He also identified a recent ideological shift in England on the subject, in which the government attempted to further remove itself from direct intervention in university affairs, and to help create a market for higher education. In many respects, this is a moot point, as the majority of universities are charging the highest fees possible, so there is no market in which they are competing in for students.

Bekhradnia says that higher education is subject to the “Veblen effect”. As it can be viewed as a good in some respects, education happens to be one which is attachedto status, and is judged by its cost. This serves as a disincentive for universities to have lower

fees, for it carries an implication that they will be judged negatively.

Therefore, there will never be a price war over university fees. Rather, any such competition on price would involve charging the highest fees possible while maintaining attendance numbers.

Disadvantages of the system are clear. The major point with this system is that the government receives deferred income, yet still has to subsidise the costs up front to universities. This appears to be a major obstacle for its potential implementation in Ireland. The current debate points to the rising costs in supporting education under the “free fees” scheme. All projections indicate an increase in participation in higher education over the coming years. Both the current model and income-contingent loan require the government to pay for

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Image via boomingback.org

problem with it, naturally, is that if there is too much governmental assistance by way of a subsidy, the entire system becomes unsustainable. Similarly, such an occurrence would completely undermine the ideology behind the system.

EU membership may also hinder a loan-based system, as all EU citizens would be entitled to loans if they studied in Ireland.

Bekhradnia sums it up perfectly.

“Pursuing nonpayers who return home to other EU countries will be very challenging, as has been discovered in England, as it will be also to pursue nationals who go abroad to work after graduation.

The tax systems in other countries cannot be used to collect payments due in the country where the loan was provided.” Add in Ireland’s relationship with emigration, and the scenario appears to be like throwing

He also identified a recent ideological shift in England on the subject, in which government attempted to further itself from intervention

the full costs up front. A small way around that is in operation in Australia, but may be removed in the future. It involves a 10% early repayment bonus on loans. However, it has been criticised for benefitting the wealthier, through a system which was designed to provide equal access to all.

Social and political factors have combined to make the issue of student fees a difficult topic for governments to address. Any increase in education costs risks being heavily criticised. The necessity of a government subsidy for fees has been identified by Bekhradnia. The

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fireworks into a bonfire.

The aspects of the reports raised above are designed to provide information and facilitate discussion on a topic which is becoming increasingly relevant in the political sphere. It is clear that the financing of higher education in Ireland will be left to the next administration.

Therefore, expect political parties to jump aboard with their own proposals, just like Ógra Fianna Fáil already have. Being informed is the first step to finding a suitable solution to a subject in which so much is at stake.

FEATURES//6 “It is one thing to mortify curiosity, another to conquer it. ”

1880s era poster for the production.

Features Editor Sinéad Slattery sat down with Chris Casey, Final Year Medicine Student and Producer of UCD Musical Society’s November show - Jekyll and Hyde to discuss the upcoming run.

Sinéad: So, Chris – can you tell us a little bit about the Jekyll and Hyde storyline?

Chris: Set in 19th century London, the show tells the story of Henry Jekyll, played by Aidan Byrne. Jekyll is a doctor on a mission to find a cure for his father’s illness and discover the essence of what makes a person good or evil. His quest for knowledge leads him down a dangerous path, which will have serious consequences for himself as well the citizens of London in general.

Complicating matters even further are the two women in his life, his fiancé Emma, played by Clodagh Lalor, and a prostitute named Lucy, played by Aly Coyne. Both women’s lives will be changed forever through their association with Jekyll. You’ll have to go see the show to see what happens!

Sinéad: Can’t wait to see it! How many people are involved in this production overall?

Chris: Well, there are 29 people in the cast. Then we have a director, producer, associate producer, vocal director, musical director, costume department, set department, hair and make-up department, front of house, the committee itself.... So a lot!

Sinéad: You’re the producer – what exactly does your job involve?

Chris: It’s best to explain it like this: the director decides what goes on stage – she has the vision for the show. The producer’s job is to make that vision a reality.

The producer is in charge of picking sub-managers – out of 7 managers, 2 were new to the committee, so students should never hesitate to get involved. My behind-the-scenes work includes booking rehearsal room times, liaising with the committee – for example, with the treasurer regarding the budget and with the PRO to ensure the show achieves maximum publicity. It’s kind of like tying everything together. Once the show starts, the director has done her work – it’s up to the producer to make sure everything goes to plan.

Sinéad: What’s been your favourite thing about working on the show?

Chris: Definitely seeing it all come together after working so hard getting it ready!

Sinéad: Have you always had an interest in musicals?

Chris: In school I did a few pantos; I was involved in a student production of Les Mis. I first joined the UCD Musical Society in 2010 and to be honest that’s when I got really involved - I’ve been involved in at least one musical every year since.

I’ve been in the cast, backstage, stage manager, associate producer and now producer. The tech side of things is one part I wish I had done more with. It’s such a skilled area.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Sinéad: How can someone get involved in the society?

Chris: There’s a vocal group that meets every Monday – there’s no auditions, you just come along. We also have regular Open Mike Nights.

We’ll also be looking for people to help out with our production of Legally Blonde in Semester 2. Keep an eye on our new website and our Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram pages for news and updates!

Sinéad: Last but not least, when is Jekyll and Hyde on and how can we get tickets?

Chris: The show runs from Tuesday 10th November – Saturday 14th November (the Thursday night has a gala reception) Tickets are available on our website www.ucdmusicalsociety.com and from our stand in the old Student Centre. There’s a raffle on every night during the show’s run, with all money raised going to Barretstown. There will be final draw on Saturday night using the names of everyone that entered during the week – you could win a signed Ireland rugby jersey from the World Cup. You can also enter the raffle at any time at our stand in the Old Student Centre. www.ucdmusicalsociety.com www.fb.com/UCDMUSICALSOC Twitter: @UCDMusical Snapchat: ucdmusicalsoc Instagram: ucdmusicalsociety www.barretstown.org

FEATURES//7 US Presidential Elections Bernie Sanders 2016: Feel the Bern

Student Cooking Superfood Salad Plate

Andrew Grossen Features Writer

O

ctober 13th saw the first debate between the Democratic Party candidates for the 2016 presidential election. It was the first time front-runner Hillary Clinton, who also ran as a candidate in the 2008 Presidential Election, has come face to face with her closest rival in the polls, Senator Bernie Sanders.

Before his Presidential campaign kicked off this year, Sanders, 74, was almost unheard of outside of his home state of Vermont.

However, his brand of democratic-socialism has been drawing capacity crowds of people excited to hear his vision of the future of America. Alongside this, on social media, whilst still not yet a quarter of Hillary Clintons’ 4.6 million, his twitter followers numbers have been increasing at an unprecedented rate. His campaign messages are hitting home with younger voters in particular, highlighting income inequality and education costs in his thick Brooklyn accent.

Sanders attended the University of Chicago in the 1960’s, where he was actively involved in social justice and political groups, including becoming a member of the Young People’s Socialist League.

He was active in the Civil Rights

Movement as a student, leading protests and sit-ins against segregated campus housing, branding the policy an ‘intolerable situation’.

Sanders, alongside being active in peace and antiwar movements, was one of the 250,000 who took part in the March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King gave delivered his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.

His political career began in earnest when he was elected mayor of Vermont’s largest city, Burlington, serving for eight years. Following this, he was a member of the House of Representatives for sixteen years, and became a senator in 2007. Whilst Sanders runs as an independent, he has been endorsed and supported by Democrats for many years, including being included in the Democratic Caucus in the Senate.

Unlike the majority of presidential candidates, Senator Sanders stands alongside controversial Republican nominee Donald Trump in refusing to accept funds offered through Super PACs, opposing what he says is ‘a political situation where billionaires are literally able to buy elections and candidates’. Instead, Sanders campaign has sought out ‘grassroots’ support, relying on small donations from individuals contributors. More than 77% of the $30.7 million raised so

far has come from individuals who gave less than $200.

The first Democratic debate saw Sanders and Clinton agreeing on one point, an end to the mentioning of Hillary Clinton’s email scandal: ‘Let me say something that may not be great politics. But I think the secretary is right. And that is that the American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails!’.

Senator Sanders talking points on the night highlighted his position as the most liberal of the candidates, including raising the minimum wage, universal healthcare, campaign finance reform, expanding social security, criminal justice reform, pro-choice and LGBT rights. Sanders has however been critised by both Clinton and fellow liberals for not taking a stronger stance in relation to gun-control.

Despite his quick rise to 25% in the polls in recent months, Sanders is still very much trailing to Hillary’s 47%. However, with Hillary’s support falling in recent months, the skepticism surrounding the ability for a socialist to be elected president is being replaced by tentative talk of a political revolution in the United States. The first Democratic Primary takes place on the 1st of February, with elections scheduled to continue until late June, 2016.

Ciara Landy Features Writer

Ingredients

Method

•

1. Cube the butternut squash, removing the skin and any pith or seeds. Spray with olive oil and lightly season with 1tsp of coriander and cumin. Place in a non-stick baking dish and cook in a preheated oven at 205 degrees for approx. 35-40 mins.

Half-way through the cooking time, turn over the pieces and re-season.

1 can of chickpeas, well rinsed I medium carrot, grated ½ medium butternut squash Cumin Coriander Coconut oil Handful of cherry tomatoes Olive oil spray Mild French mustard Balsamic vinegar 250g cooked beetroot 25g goats cheese

• • • • • • • • • • •

Serves Two

Preparation Time One Hour

Optional extras • • • • • •

Mung beans Green or red lentils Chia seeds Linseeds Cashew butter Carrot or cucumber sliced into batons

2. In a large bowl, place the chickpeas, carrot and finely sliced cherry tomatoes and mix through. Pour 2tbsp of balsamic vinegar, 1tsp of melted coconut oil and ½ of mustard into a small jar. Shake well and add this dressing to the bowl, stirring well until well-distributed. Add mung beans or lentils if desired.

3. Thinly slice the beetroot and serve with a sprinkle goat’s cheese and the chia and linseeds.

Optional: Add a drizzle of melted cashew butter for a sweet and creamy garnish

FEATURES//8 Right to Read? Mein Kampf ’s Copyright Expiration

Mein Kampf as published in Ireland by Pimlico on a bookshelf among other books related to the study of German.

Corey Fischer Features Writer

I

t’s a legal literary quandary with no easy answer and a troubled past. In less than two months’ time, the copyright of Adolf Hitler’s manifesto Mein Kampf will expire, sending it to the public domain to be used and printed by anyone and everyone. This has sparked contentious debate in Germany, which was handed the copyright by Allied forces following the end of World War II. For the past seventy years the government of the German state of Bavaria has refused to allow the manifesto to be republished in any form as a means of paying respect to the victims of Hitler’s Holocaust. By not allowing the book to be repub-

lished in any form, Germany has banned the book in a roundabout way without infringing on freedom of speech or the press, two things which the current German republic has enshrined and protected many times.

But for now, like it or not, Mein Kampf is set to re-emerge next year.

This has prompted scholars from around the nation to petition the government to revoke the current ban and instead allow the 800-page book to be published as is or even, as is the case with historians at the Institute of Contemporary History of Munich (otherwise known as the IFZ), as part of an annotated text designed to “deconstruct and put into context Hitler’s writing.”

The IFZ has announced that this version of Mein Kampf, which

will be composed of two separate volumes dedicated to the work, will debut in January provided the ban is not renewed.

Wary of any negative consequences associated with Hitler’s jail cell manifesto, many in the German Jewish community have been pleading to Bavarian and German federal officials to renew the ban, saying that even an annotated version is dangerous and likely to have unintended consequences in the minds of readers. As Charlotte Knobloch, the president of the Jewish community in Munich and Upper Bavaria put it: “One does not know what’s going on within the reader’s mind.

It is the ideological basis of the mass, industrial extermination of the Jewish people. It paved the way for the Holocaust.”

It is constantly said that those who do not learn their own history are doomed to repeat it. And to support this, Hitler’s foolhardy invasion of Russia after Napoleon’s own failed and damning attempt at that same task a century earlier proves to be a powerful example.

And to be fair, it should be mentioned Germany is not ignoring their history outright; indeed denying the Holocaust’s existence is a crime and German history is taught in schools.

Many nations have pasts as troubled as Germany’s. Many other Western industrialized democratic nations have skeletons in their closets they do not like to talk about. The United States is one of them. Generations of enslaving African-Americans followed by gen-

Traveling home to

Donegal or Derry?

Image: Seán O’Reilly

erations of segregation and abuse once they were finally free; racially motivated forced relocation of Japanese-Americans following the attack on Pearl Harbor; decades of ignoring the rights of homosexuals and preventing them from being who they are; these are America’s sins. There comes a point in every nation’s development where these atrocities need to be addressed and acknowledged and talked about so society can truly heal. Mein Kampf ’s copyright expiring is more than just the reintroduction of troubled literature. It is a chance for Germany to face its past in a new way and heal old wounds in a new way. But whether the country is ready and willing for that is open to question, and the government’s actions and reasoning remain to be seen.

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FEATURES//9 Magic Mushrooms: Scott on Sex: A Hairy Question What’s there to know?

Image via Lindsay Leggett

B The College Tribune is running a series of articles giving information about drugs that students may or may not come across during their tenure at university. While we don’t promote the consumption of illegal drugs, we accept that a number of people will try such substances regardless of the law. In this series we seek to provide advice to those people, with the aim of hopefully reducing the harm they face.

T

his week we’re looking at Psilocybe Cubensis, better known as Magic Mushrooms. These are mushrooms which contain the psychedelic chemicals psilocybin or psilocin. Their use by humans stretches across thousands of years across the world.

Recent anecdotal studies building on research undertaken in the mid-20th century has shed light on the potential medical uses for Magic Mushrooms. Currently in trend is the use of ‘micro-dosing’ for the relief of migraine and cluster headaches. This anecdotal research also points towards some usefulness in treating substance addiction and habit-breaking.

Magic Mushrooms are in season in early to mid-autumn when weather conditions are just right for their growth. Picked and dried, they grow across Ireland in green areas ranging from parks to woodlands.

The possession of mushrooms containing psychoactive chemicals has been prohibited only since 2006.

The effects of Magic Mushrooms are dependent on dose, body weight and stomach contents. They include a lift in mood, sensations of interconnectedness with those around you and with the universe and an increase in creative think-

ing. Higher doses can result in what have been described as spiritual experiences which can be uncomfortable for novice users.

Both closed and open eye visuals and patterning can be expected. These can include rainbow and kaleidoscope like patterns.

Negative effects can include nausea and dizziness, rapid shifting in body temperature and dissociation. The physical effects of mushroom use are described as the ‘body load’ and can differ significantly from person to person. Mushrooms are known however to have a significantly more physical element to them than many other substances.

What an individual experiences under the influence of an active psychedelic compound such as those in magic mushrooms is heavily influenced by their own mind set.

If you are experiencing emotional difficulties, it is advised that you do not use any psychedelic drugs as visuals may take an undesired form, creating fear and paranoia, while the user can feel overwhelming negative emotions. If you are on anti-depressants there may also be an undesired interaction between them and the psilocybin; it is advisable to avoid mixing the two.

Magic mushrooms are typically sold dried any by weight. Dosages range from .25g, at which threshold effects can be felt, to 2.5g or more which will produce intense sensations and feelings. Onset of effects can take up to one and a half hours with a plateau of between two and four hours. As you increase the amount taken the effects will be more intense, especially with regard to close eyed visuals and emotions.

So it is to be recommended that, if trying this drug, you limit yourself to a lower dosage.

ody hair and hair removal can be a very divisive topic.

There has been a clear trend in the past 10-15 years for both women and men to remove some or all of their body hair. Some believe that the lack of body and pubic hair in pornography affects and dictates trends in, for lack of a better phrase, “real life.” But whether or not a preference for little to no body hair on women is influenced by an underlying misogyny in the culture, the fact of the matter is that hair removal is a huge international industry and for many customers, hair removal is a great confidence booster. I recently sat down with Lindsay Leggett, the person I call on when I want my bikini area done, to talk about her job as the only Sugarist in Ireland (at the Hive Salon on South Great George’s Street) and her thoughts on the culture of hair removal.

Could you tell us a little about sugaring? What are the differences between sugaring and waxing and the history behind it?

Sugaring removes hair from the root, using a paste of cooked sugar, water and lemon juice. The paste goes on against the direction of hair growth, and is removed in the direction of, so all the hair is coming out, and can’t stick to your live skin cells, so it hurts less than waxing. Because it’s not adhering to live skin, most people have much fewer ingrown hairs or irritation, if any. The paste can also grab hairs as short as 1/8in, 7-10 days from a shave!

The exact origins are unclear, but it originated in the Middle East a long time ago, maybe Ottoman Empire? It’s not as well-known as wax, but it’s gaining popularity, it’s really common in some countries in Europe, Finland, Germany, and now here!

When I come in for my appointments, you give me a lolly-pop.

Apart from being a tasty treat, why

do you do that?

Ahh yes, Gate Theory. A sound physiological principle, the idea that your brain’s sensory processing centre can only process so many stimuli at a time, like if a herd of cows are going through a gate, only one or two can go at a time. Likewise, when your brain is being asked to do breathing exercises, talk to me, and eat a lolly, it has less energy to focus on me flicking hair off your body.

You and I are both from Seattle.

We’ve chatted before about the huge differences between Seattle and Dublin in terms of the sex toy industry. Is there much difference between the two when it comes to the beauty industry and hair removal?

Well, Seattle is so laid back in terms of beauty. I was the “fashion-y one in my group of friends back home, and my going out wear there is day to day wear here! The biggest difference is how few male clients I have here. A solid 30% of my practice in Seattle was male clients, including men getting Brazilians.

You used to be a scuba instructor.

What inspired you to take your career in such a different direction?

Well, initially I wanted to get into hair removal to be able to live full time on a tropical island. HA! I got the island part at least. But really, the lady who did the waxing/hair cutting on that island had a great life. Also, I’m a picker by nature, so the immediate gratification of hair removal is amazing, I love to tweeze, it’s so easy to do a good job because it’s so fun for me. I really do love my job – not just for the picking, but also because I meet so many interesting people! Just the other Saturday I had not one but two biochemists in.

There’s a growing concern that more and more women are having their pubic hair removed to adapt to a certain expectation that we should

mirror what we see in porn. What’s your opinion of the situation? Do you think it’s an issue that warrants concern or have we better things to be worrying about?

Well, that’s hairy question! I’m ok with porn, I have much bigger issues with a society where porn is ubiquitous, but nobody respects the performers. We’re all ok with wanking to people we don’t respect? That’s something to be concerned about. I am opposed to The Beauty Standard as it exists, as a patriarchal structure that makes money off of us feeling shame about normal life / body things, and tells people that they are only valuable if they look and behave a certain way, but in that same vein it seems silly and controlling for me to have a much of an opinion on anyone’s pubic hair-do. I think it can be used as a divisive tactic among women, when we are arguing over lipstick and Brazilians, we are not talking about pay equity or parental leave policies.

One thing I’ve noticed about people who do hair removal for a living, is that they seem to be the least bothered by body hair. Do you find that to be true?

Well, it seems to go either one of two ways, one either starts to care A Lot, or one stops caring completely.

What do you love most about living in Ireland?

Tea, definitely tea.

If you’d like to know more about sugaring or would like to book in an appointment, you can drop into the Hive Salon on South Great Georges St. or contact Lindsay on her site: lindsaythesugarist.com.

If you want to learn more about Shawna and her mission to bring bodysafe, well designed sex toys to Ireland check out her website at sexsiopa.ie

THE TRIB Arts & Culture Supplement // Issue 5 // 15.11.15

Gigs to Look Forward To The Shades // Rock ‘n’ Roll | R&B // 13th November // The Grand Social

Highasakite // Indiepop // 22nd November // The Olympia.

Daithí // Trad | Indie | Electro // 11th December // The Workman’s Club

Colm Mac Con Iomaire // Trad | Orchestral // 17th December // Vicar Street

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// // Kevin O’Reilly, Music Editor

If you need to combat the November blues with some upbeat rhythm and blues then the Grand Social is the place to be.

Head in on Friday the 13th to see Dublin lads The

Shades launch their Debut Single ‘I Give Up’. The lads have discovered an Irish interpretation of rock n’ roll somewhat akin to The Riptide Movement or The Strypes and have added

their own dimension with tidy guitar riffs and rustic vocals. Their new single ‘I give up’ more fast-paced and wild and more reflective of traditional rock n’ roll roots. The perfect

get-up-and-go music, their launch party is bound to be an exhilarating one and the perfect way to wind down on a Friday night.

Scandinavia has long been a massive exporter of great music and the latest band to follow the footsteps of these musical giants is Norwegian group Highasakite.

Having shared the stage with Of Monsters and Men

and the likes the indie pop band have been developing their theatrical electrifying sound while retaining their northern roots. They combine refined synth melodies with raw vibrating vocals and honest lyrics.

Their Triple J cover of Bon

Iver’s ‘Heavenly Father’ says everything that you need to know about the band. Celebrating the release of their latest single ‘Keep that Letter Safe’, Highasakite will stopover in Ireland on the 22nd of November. Having

captivated audiences all over Europe with their entrancing performances, the chance to be trapped in the confines of the Olympia with these guys is not one to be missed.

Daithí Ó Drónaí is doing some incredible things using a fiddle and a synthesiser. His music is distinctly house but with hints of traditional Irish music peeping through.

It seems like a strange

combination but it works and it sets him apart from all the others. Collaborations with big names like the Corona’s Danny O’Reilly, Raye and Jesse Boykins III have helped him stretch the breadth of his

music. There is no doubt that the Ballyvaughan man is set for incredible things, his brazen Irish/ electronic sound is one that can certainly catch on overseas so it’s best to see him now while he’s still

relatively small and humble.

If for some reason you’re finished exams crazy early you can catch him in Workman’s but if you can’t wait Daithí will play Galway’s Roisín Dubh on November 20th.

The perfect way to wind down after exams and escape the pre-Christmas rush is to catch exFrames violist Colm Mac Con Iomaire in the intimate setting of Vicar St. What this man does with a violin

can only be described as a warm comforting duvet of music that wraps you up and transports you to some mystical place. His style is slow and calculated almost orchestral but still retains a traditional

Irish-ness. He manages to skilfully and seamlessly work well-known trad songs into his own compositions. Colm is doing just fine for himself, carving out his own niche in the Irish music scene with appear-

ances around the country and on Other Voices. Join him on the 17th of December in Vicar St. for the perfect winter warmer.

One to Watch: Jack Garratt Kevin O’Reilly, Music Editor

Review: Janet Jackson - Unbreakable ////////////////////////

//

Barry Monahan, Music Writer

Janet Jackson’s eleventh studio album ‘Unbreakable’ sees her continue with a winning formula through collaborations with multi award winning producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. After abandoning the project in 2009 and while working with producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, the release sees her fashion an album that doesn’t fit neatly into perceived RnB mainstream trends.

Sounding unnervingly similar to her late brother as her vocal timbre matures.

The release opens up with the title track, a suggested tribute to her hardcore fans, catchy yet not disposable. The floor stomping chorus of ‘Shoulda Known Better’ and its ballad-ier verses lyrically seem a call to action for social justice inclusive of gasping vocals, exposing raw emotion Guest appearances from J. Cole and Missy Elliot don’t really add much value. ‘Burn it up’ featuring Elliot with a chorus line beginning “Hey Mr DJ” is

the only tack that seems out of context and dated, Elliot even sounds like she recorded over the phone.

‘No Sleep’ featuring Cole being one of the strongest tracks on the album but Cole’s outgoing monologue is highly unoriginal.

The track ‘Damn Baby’ is another highlight and has a distinct 90’s West-Coast feel with a trade mark Jam and Lewis bassline.

The vocals are brilliantly syncopated with Jackson’s minimalist falsetto locked into a slick groove.

The album has entered the U.S. Billboard charts at number one, if Jackson and her management can be forgiven for the insistance in adding career-wavering artists to the roster, it could be described as a tightly arranged package that sparkles. Like the majority of her output, this latest offering might be influential in pop and RnB circles for generations. “Unbreakable” was unleashed on the 2nd of October.

You might be asking; who is Jack Garratt? But I can guarantee you that come the end of 2016, his will be a household name.

With a unique voice sometimes resembling a tiger growling in a tin can that often switches to falsetto he instantly captivates and gets right inside your head. The impressive thing about Garratt is that he is a one-man music machine, providing all the vocals, instrumentals, mixing and producing himself, the result is a surprisingly impressive and professional sound.

Fans of Chet Faker will take quickly to Garratt however his songs are unlike anything else out there. His style of

song-writing is brazen and original. With several EP’s and singles under his belt already he is set to rocket to worldwide renown with the release of his debut album ‘Phase’ in February.

Preceding tracks ‘Breathe Life’ and ‘Weathered’ offer tantalising glimpse of the magic and musical mastery that will be unleashed on this album. Jack Garratt played the Electric Picnic earlier this year where he was named by the Irish Times as ‘Best Newcomer’ and will support Mumford and Sons here in Dublin’s 3Arena in December. If you haven’t had the pleasure yet give Jack Garratt a listen and get ahead of the crowd because this guy is about to blow up!

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One from the Crate: Glimmermen

//

Seán O’Reilly, Editor

A - I’m Dead, Last Song, Ex=Out, Angels & Devils, There was a Boy B - This Town, Belive Me, Peace at Last, Home If you want something to cheer you up, this is it. Glimmermen’s sound is a punchy, bombastic mix of ska and old school rock and roll.

The trio behind the tunes have a long history in the music business here in Ireland with all the confidence that goes with time and practice.

The album’s title track is sure to get you moving and features some strikingly profound lyrics in tandem with a bobbing bassline and cheery horns. This kind of juxtaposition flows right through the record and makes for some very interesting listening.

Standout tracks include the aforementioned ‘I’m Dead’, ‘This Town’ and ‘Home’.

Though it has to be said, there’s nothing here that could be described as filler material. With lyrics as powerful as what you’re getting here, there’ not a second wasted.

For around €15, you get one 180gm black record and a digital download. The lads are preparing to head into the studio in early 2016 to record a follow up album, so snatch up a copy of this while you still can.

2-3 // Music

//

THE TRIB // Issue 5 // 15.11 Arts & Culture Supplement

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European Film Review: Revanche: Spielmann, 2008

Irish Film Review: limp. Ryan, 2013

Review: Crimson Peak Guillermo del Toro, 2015

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//

Barry Monahan

Critically acclaimed director Götz Spielmann’s 2004 release divisive Antares, which delved into the sex lives of Vienesse couples, split critic’s opinions when it screened at Cannes. His 2008 work Revanche, also set in Vienna, takes us in a more nuanced, less polarising direction.

Alex (Johannes Krisch) , a petty thief, convinces his girlfriend Tamara (Irina Potapenko), a Ukranian prostitute, to accompany him in a bank robbery. It seems that Alex hopes this to be his big break; and so his final foray into crime. Running alongside Alex’s scheme is the story of a couple - police officer (Andreas Lust) and housewife (Ursula Strauss) - whose middle class existance is shrouded in sadness; they are failing to conceive a much wanted child. Alex’s life crosses paths with the couple while seeking refuge with his grandfather, a farmer mourning his late wife in a brilliantly subdued cameo from veteran Hannes Thanheisser.

As both couples lives intertwine, misjudgement and desire culminate in dramatic consequences

on all sides. Andreas Lust gives a career defining performance, conveying existential crisis with ease while Strauss’s character wears a stoic veil to mask her maternal desperation.

Never predictable, the story escalates into a dark psychological thriller abound with complex character study. The performances excel as the plot plays out and manages to have the viewer rooting for both sets of charchters on boths sides of the law; a device that director Spielmann fleshes out with an abundance of naturalistic patience.

Winning multiple awards at the Berlin film festival 2008, as well as being nominated for the Academy Award’s Best Foreign Language Film of the Year, this feature offers the best of European cinema in a taut and brooding fashion while never short on narrative development and action sequences. It’s been decades since Hollywood produced such a work and should take note; but please, no remakes.

//

Niamh Crosbie, Film Editor

This independent, small-budgeted production blew my expectations of Irish filmmaking right out of the water. It is the directorial debut of Irish filmmaker Shaun Ryan and in its short running time (around 57 minutes), limp. crams in a complex and artistically woven plotline, some stunning visual craftsmanship and a heart-wrenching lead performance from star actor Eoin Quinn. Far from conforming to the mainstream productions of Hollywood, limp. goes out of its way to establish itself as unique, thought-provoking and – of course – disturbing.

The film opens with shots taken from the surface of the sea, which overlay shots of houses. A young boy’s voice tells a story about his encounter with another young boy, who has apparently seen some horrible things that a child shouldn’t have to see – things which are not clarified until the last few moments of the film. The waves fade in and out of the shot just as they move toward and away from the shore, dragging the viewer deeper and deeper into the world of the film.

The narrative follows the mysterious and disturbed Mr. Grot, a lonely man who goes to extreme lengths for companionship. We follow his

movements extensively; as he moves from room to room within his apartment, the camera pans slowly down the hall, revealing his life to the viewer inch by inch. An incredible tension arises as Mr. Grot goes about his daily life; presenting his girlfriend with presents, preparing a romantic dinner, taking things to the bedroom…. It would all be very romantic if it weren’t for the fact that his girlfriend is a corpse, played by Anne Gill.

The film achieves a high level of intimacy with its protagonist, making it an incredibly psychological and unsettling experience.

As Mr. Grot zones out of a conversation, so does the viewer. As Mr. Grot grows panicked and realises the gravity of his situation, so does the viewer. Even when it is clear that he has committed horrible acts, it is difficult not to feel a little compassion for the distraught and lonely Mr. Grot as he attempts to fix the mess he has made.

Evidently, the making of this film involved a great number of risks, from its cinematography to its taboo narrative. However, limp. was well-received here in Ireland, as well as across the water in the United States, and can be viewed online for free.

//

Niamh Crosbie, Film Editor

Most modern ghost stories have updated the idea of the gothic space; in recent times, we have seen sprawling country mansions replaced by one-bedroom apartments, and baroque, atmospheric interiors replaced with technology and white wallpaper. Master of the fantastic, Guillermo Del Toro presents audiences with a refreshing imagining of the traditional Victorian gothic tale, with romance, murder, betrayals and supernatural entities hiding around every corner.

Our heroine, Edith Cushing, played by the hauntingly enchanting Mia Wasikowska, is an aspiring author, and the daughter of a wealthy businessman.

Thomas Sharpe, played by the quietly charming Tom Hiddleston, is a shady yet dashing stranger from England, and from the first moment they meet, it is clear that these two are destined for either domestic bliss or horrendous tragedy. She is swept up by him and his sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain) and is taken to their crumbling manor house, where Thomas attempts to invent a machine which will revolutionise the family’s clay mine, which lies just beneath the house and dyes the surrounding grounds a ghastly red and makes the faucets appear to expel blood.

As a horror movie, Crimson Peak sprinkles just the right amount of jump-scares on top of a layer of intense creep-factor, as Edith unearths the horrors which have occurred within the house, and the horrors which are continuing to happen while she lives there with her new family. As a gothic romance tale,

Peak draws the viewer right into its underlying love story. Hiddleston’s performance as Thomas is in equal measure endearing and suspicious, as he must have indeed appeared to our heroine as she unlocks the secrets of the house and the family.

Crimson Peak is quite self-referential as a work of gothic fiction, as Edith has written a novel and constantly must correct her readers that it is not a “ghost story”, but rather a “story with ghosts in it”. This adds an interesting new layer to the film, by having the main character state outright that ghosts are “a metaphor for the past”, and forcing the viewer to consider the ghosts as memories and not merely as monsters.

However, del Toro’s ghosts are fantastically creepy and grotesquely beautiful, and nothing like the invisible, door-opening, hair-pulling, technology-interrupting poltergeists that have become the norm in the modern horror genre.

With its layers of horror and romance, its compelling narrative and stunning visual style, and its blending of the beautiful and the grotesque, Crimson Peak ticks all of the boxes for a film about the fantastic. The only downside is that the film takes its time reaching its inciting event, but the opening is nonetheless enjoyable. Fans of del Toro’s previous work as well as readers of classical gothic fiction will especially appreciate this film, but generally I recommend this film to anybody looking for a colourful yet creepy cinematic experience.

Niamh Crosbie chats with up-and-coming Irish actor Eoin Quinn, who has gone from Fair City to gritty horror, and doesn’t intend to stop there.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Who or what would you say was your biggest inspiration growing up?

It would probably be my dad. He writes novels and poetry, so he’s very artistic as well. I always looked up to him and I still do.

What made you decide to go into acting?

Well, years ago – years and years ago – I was in my nativity play. I remember that was the first bit of acting I ever did, if you could call it acting back then! I don’t even know how old I was, five maybe.

But I just kind of got into it and enjoyed it, and I’ve always been a bit of an entertainer or a messer or whatever. So I just started messing around, and thought, here I’ll give it a go. So I did training here (Dublin), and I was lucky enough to get onto Fair City, and then I trained in Los Angeles for a while, and then I came back. I trained with Margie Haber over there; she trained the likes of Brad Pitt, Vince Vaughn and Kelly Preston.

So I came back with a real sort of zest. I was just lucky I got a part in nearly every audition I went for after that, and it all kind of took off from there.

What’s been the most exciting experience in your career so far?

There’s been a good lot of people I’ve met, people I’ve worked with. I did an acting course with Kathy Bates, which was amazing. That was fairly intimidating – she’s lovely, it’s just that she’s so iconic, you know? I

just loved the people I’ve worked with – I did a film called limp, and that was very well received here, and in the States, and that was a good feeling, an accomplishment.

What would be your dream role?

I’d love to play somebody iconic. I’m not sure it’d be the right word for this

roles in horror, but I’ve done comedy as well and I’ve enjoyed that too. I’d definitely like to do more comedy. But I do like to get my teeth into horror.

It’s one of my favourites. I haven’t seen (The Devil’s Woods) yet, it’ll be a first for all of us, and I’m looking forward to seeing it with the rest of the cast. I’ve seen snippets of it alright, but I haven’t seen the film in its entirety, so it’ll be an experience. It’ll be my first time going to see a film before everybody else.

It’ll be the audience’s first take at it as well – I think everybody overly-criticises themselves and their performance, and this time it’ll be raw, because you won’t know what’s coming.

a lot of great feedback on it. Then we went over to Seattle in the States with it, and just seeing the Americans’ take on it, with them saying “Awh, man, it was awesome!” and all that.

You just know you’ve done a good job, it’s a good feeling, when you’ve been well-received, and the film’s been well-received.

What do you do to unwind when you aren’t working?

I like to travel actually, whether it’s around Ireland or abroad. I love New York, love the States. I love to just travel, and read, and I watch a lot of documentaries actually, like Inside the Actors’ Studio and things like that, so when I’m not

“

I just kind of got into it and enjoyed it, and I’ve always been a bit of an entertainer or a messer or whatever. So I just started messing around, and thought, I’ll give it a go.

guy, but he made history – I’d love to play Hitler, or someone like that. He was….twisted, to say the least, but he’s just so wellknown and it would be such a challenging role to play. Any challenging role is just a good role to play, you know?

“

How does it feel when something you’ve done is so well received?

It’s a great buzz, because you know you’ve done your job right, and you’ve done a good job of it. When we had the premier of Limp

working I’m still keeping in touch with the acting scene and all that.

Who would be your ideal dinner guest, living or dead?

I would say, probably, Robert de Niro. I’d love to

I’ve been offered a lot more roles in horror, but I’ve done comedy as well and I’ve enjoyed that too. I’d definitely like to do more comedy.

Which genre have you enjoyed working in the most?

I like horror actually – I’ve been offered a lot more

in February last year (See Our Review Opposite - Ed), just to see peoples’ reactions to it – I don’t really watch myself on-screen, but I was lucky enough to get good reviews, and got

just sit down with him for a few hours. I know he’s not a man of many words, but I would have him grilled! I just – I think he’s just brilliant. I’m actually reading a biography on him at the

moment, and it’s just brilliant how he got to where he is, and how he prepares for roles and how deep he gets and things like that.

He’s just one in a million, you know – maybe him and Al Pacino. The two of them are fantastic at what they do.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In five years, I’d like to have branched out into a lot of different genres; I’d like to have done a lot more comedy. I’d definitely love to try to break the U.K., and to do well over there, and then see what happens, you never know, maybe head over to the States.

But just for the moment, I’m going to concentrate on Ireland, and see how things go here. I’d definitely like to be winning awards in four or five years.

What’s on the horizon for you for 2016?

I’m hoping for good things!

I got a new agent there, a few months ago, Neil Brooks is his name, and he’s been great for me.

He’s very well-connected and very good – as I said, horror is kind of what I love doing, and he could see that when I was in limp.

There was a film about a serial killer, and I was the first person he thought of, so he’s great for that kind of thing, and he’s good for pushing you as well. There are things coming up in the New Year that I’m looking forward to getting into, so it’ll be a busy year for me. I’m looking forward to working with Eamonn Tutty, he’s an up-and-coming director, I’ve worked with him on a few things, and we’re starting a new feature in the New Year. And there are one or two things that I can’t really talk about yet because they’re not exactly definite, but I am looking forward to 2016, and hopefully it’ll be a good one.

4-5 // Film

An Entertainer and a Messer

THE TRIB // Issue 5 // 15.11 Arts & Culture Supplement

Interview: Eoin Quinn

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Old clothes, New Life

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Have you ever asked someone where they got that gorgeous vintage top they’ve got on, only for them to reply that it was a bargain they found in a charity shop? There is little more satisfying to the

thrift enthusiast than being that person. This issue, our theme is the glory of second-hand. We teamed up with An Cumann Gaelach UCD and UCD St Vincent de Paul - who recently collaborated to organise

a very successful charity clothes drive- for our second-hand themed photo shoot. All the clothes featured in the shoot were donated by students and will be sold in the future in SVP charity shops. This issue,

// Emer Slattery

we’re advocating the environmental, economic and general-fabulousness benefits of building a second-hand wardrobe. Think charity shops, upcycling and vintage and you’re on the right track.

THE TRIB // Issue 5 // 15.11 Arts & Culture Supplement

6-8 // Fashion

Contributors: Ayo Arogundade Aidan Byrne Amy Cunningham Katie Devlin Máire Hanrahan Ailbhe Hennessy Oisín Kyne Eoghan Mac Domhnaill Katie Murphy Clíona Ní Bhriain Séamus Ó Ceannainn Saoirse O’Dea Gearóid Óg Ó Greacháin Emer Slattery Lorraine Stack Amy Thomas Sorcha Quinn Photography: Seán O’Reilly Special thanks: Gearoid Ryan Mac the Dog

Continental Christmas European Comics: An intro in the Celtic Capital Berlin’s colour ful Christmas market stalls are capped in uniform white by fresh snow. The wrapped-up locals stroll from stall to stall, stealing tastes of gingerbread, sausage and festive treats, naturally washed down with warming Glühwein (mulled wine). Good food, decorations and contented smiles bring out the child in everyone, some can only express it through snow tubing nearby!

The German Christmas market and, of course, Oktoberfest have become synonymous as large celebrations of German culture each year, and are quickly becoming annual traditions throughout Europe, with Ireland of course no exception.

For seven years running, Oktoberfest has delighted Dubliners and visitors to the city alike.

Last month, the German reputation for bad food continued to become an ever more distant memory.

The taste of Bratwurst and Schmalzkuchen (mini German donuts that taste like sugar crack) washed down with good German beer was greeted as perfection! Putting an Irish spin on it, the Dublin scene also saw LBTQ+ nights, industry offers and wacky Wednesdays to complete one of the biggest and best food and drink festivals of the year.

No longer the isolated, mid-Atlantic isle of times past, Ireland is now home to a plethora of different cultures and identities.

With Ireland striving to become ever more European, alongside record immigration in recent years added great flavour to the Irish cultural melting pot, with ‘Polski Sklep’ now commonplace in even remote Irish towns.

This of course has done nothing to dull our own traditions. An Irish Christmas wouldn’t be right without jumping into the sea on Christmas Day, decorating everything, including the dog, with tinsel, and lacing

Charlotte McLoughlin the Christmas pudding with plenty of brandy.

Traditions from the rest of Europe only serve to make the Christmas season bigger and better than ever. The Norwegian Christmas not only involves the usual Germanic traditions of the market, mulled wine and gingerbread but also weird gnomes that bring presents and will eat your animals if you do not leave them porridge. In Bergen, Norway, they build the biggest gingerbread city in the world. The whole community gets involved, building houses, stadia and mountains out of sweets, gingerbread and icing. One year the smell and temptation of this exhibit was too much for one man, who managed to consume and destroy a third of it drunk.

However, many people are choosing to celebrate Christmas early by going on a Lapland trip or visiting Austria’s famed markets.

The Independent, the Irish Times and the Sun all publish a guide of the top 10 markets in Europe every year that often leaves out Ireland’s own rich festivals.

Christmas Festivals are a great way to pick up interesting ‘prezzies’ from local artists. This year will see the return of the Dublin of the Christmas Market.

St. Stephens green, Dame Street and George’s Dock will all hold a variation of the European tradition. At these markets, they will be showcasing Irish crafts, food and alcohol. Last year the official Christmas Market in St. Stephen’s Green brought 726,600 people to Dublin’s City centre. Featuring a hog roast, Cornude Popcorn (marshmallow popcorn) and plenty of bling (provided by artisanal jewellers rings and things).

This year, celebrate Christmas in style and invite your Gran to get drunk on some Glühwein and tuck into some mince pies. All the Christmas markets mentioned will begin by the middle of this month!

When it comes to comic books, many of us have a specific picture in our mind; the American superhero comic. This style of comic has grown in popularity over the last couple of decades, especially with the growth of Marvel and DC in the last few years thanks to film. But there are more than just superhero comics, and especially a lot more than just American style comics. For many mainland Europeans comic books have a much different face than those across the Atlantic.

by his best friend, Fantasio, and his squirrel, Spip, Spirou has been able to entertain kids and adultsfor over 70 years!

Kidd Paddle This comic focuses on a young boy named Kid, an avid gamer, and his immediate family and friends. From nerdy jokes to over the top gore, this comic book is a must for any video game enthusiast.

It has a very limited cast, reaching a maximum of 8 or 9 recurring characters.

It also often shows Kid’s in-game avatar, simply named the little barbarian, which goes through his own share of adventure and mishaps. This BD shows what a more modern approach to BD’s looks like.

Spirou Spirou is one of the oldest European comics, dating from 1938. Its titular character was initially a lift operator in a hotel. But today Spirou has more than 50 albums, ranging from simple adventures as a reporter to more modern and futuristic ones including time travel and nanotechnology. This has made Spirou into one of the classic comics, often seen as what the ideal ‘BD’ should be. Accompanied

Luca Lombardo

Asterix Originating in France, this series is one of the more common and well known European BDs. The story follows the exploits of a village of stubborn Gauls as they fight against the Romans. The reader focuses mainly on the protagonist; Asterix, the story’s namesake. With his friend Obelix, the two lead the good fight. Asterix is quite a small man, so to give him the strength to tackle the Roman occupation, the village Druid, Getafix, brews a potion.

This magic potion gives the recipient superhuman strength. This comic has been around since 1959, and is still being produced today. Targeted towards children, it is still a favourite among adults who grew up reading the series. The slapstick humour is one enjoyed by all!

Marsupilami The final comic on my list is one of the more eccentric ones. Focusing on the marsupilami, an odd creature living in the jungle of a tropical country named Palombia. Generally light-hearted and upbeat, the marsupilami also often raises questions about real life issues. Poaching, deforestation and pollution all come up in the form of various evil characters.

Highly recommended for anyone with a love of cute cuddly animals. Extra bonus: there are also baby marsupilamis!

9-12 // Arts

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THE TRIB // Issue 5 // 15.11 Arts & Culture Supplement

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Early one morning Erich Honecker, the East German leader, arrives at his office and opens his window. He looks out over the socialist paradise he is charged with protecting and says “Good morning, dear sun!” “Good morning, dear Erich!” the sun replies.

Again in the afternoon, he rises from his desk, goes to his window and says “Good day, dear sun!” the sun replies “Good day, dear Eric!”

In the evening, having finished his work for the day, he throws open the window once more and says “Good evening, dear sun!” Hearing no response, he says again: “Good evening, dear sun! What’s the matter?” A moment later and from quite a distance, the sun replies: “Fuck you, I’m in the West now!”

25 Seán O’Reilly

A quarter of a century ago this week, the Berlin Wall fell. The events that unfolded and what’s happened since are well known at this stage. Less obvious are the changes that have taken place in the German capital since reunification.

While there’s a wealth of filmed material and personal accounts to draw on, visualising Berlin then and Berlin now is difficult. Many of us have seen the satellite imagery which shows Berlin still divided between east and west. But what does this look like at street level?

In the summer of 1989, just weeks after the Wall had come down, my parents visited the city.

25 years later I followed in their footsteps armed with the negatives they brought back from their trip. Over the course of three days, I visited 40 sites and set up their shots again. A selection of these are presented here.

AA

AB

1989 Images courtesy of Eileen & John O’Reilly. Modern Images

by Seán O’Reilly. Quote from Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s 2006 oscar winning drama ‘Das Leben der Anderen’. Back Cover - Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe A - Neue Wache Monument at Unter den Linden.

B - Intersection of Zimerstraße and Axel Springer Straße.

C - Sowjetisches Ehrendenkmal, Tiergarten.

D - Intersection of Leipzigerstraße and Charlottenstraße fac ing east.

BA

E - Ovens at Sachsenhau sen Concentration Camp Museum & Memorial.

F - Municipal Water Fountain at the intersection of Kurfürstendamm and Bleibtreustraße.

G - Border Station between the American and Soviet occupied zones of Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie.

Facing the Soviet Sector.

H - Border Station between the American and Soviet occupied zones of Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie.

Facing the American Sector.

BB

CA

CB

DA

EA

DB

EB

GA

FA

FB

HA

HB

TECH & SCIENCE//11

You Wreak What You Sow: A History of Irish Company Havok Shane Whooley Guest Contributor

K

nown for their incredibly prevalent physics engine found within the vast majority of video games, Havok was founded in 1998

by Hugh Reynolds and Steven Collins of the computer science department in Trinity. While working on a project to recreate crystal glass rendering, the group

decided to shift their focus to physics in educational games.

Naming themselves after a team member’s favourite superhero, the company made their commercial debut at the Game Developers Conference in 1999.

A year later, their physics engine featured in Davilex Games’ poorly received racing game, London Racer, and by 2003 more than 20 titles were created using Havok Physics technology.

Many of these games featured a form of advanced ragdoll physics which, when combined with their animation techniques, created believable character and object movements.

Halo 2, Bungie Studios’ critically acclaimed bestselling sequel, featured Havok software, and interest in the company skyrocketed. By 2006 almost 50 titles had been released using Havok Animation/Physics, and a

year later the company was acquired by Intel. It was arguably Havok’s state of the art technology that instigated the rise of award winning physics-based games, such as Bioshock, Portal, and HalfLife 2, ensuring the company the Technology & Engineering prize at the 59th Annual Emmy Awards.

The very same year, the company added two new engines to their repertoire: Cloth and Destruction.

Havok Cloth is used to animate fabrics and hair, while Havok Destruction is used for creating destructible environments (and sometimes even body parts!).

Havok’s expertise even extends beyond the jurisdiction of video games; their products have been used for special effects in films such as The Matrix, Troy and Kingdom of Heaven.

A decade on, over 650 video games across over a

hundred publishers have used Havok technology, and the majority of AAA titles use at least one of Havok’s engines. Now celebrating their 15th year, the brand will continue to grow, thanks to Microsoft’s acquisition of the company, and when you’re in the business of creating physics engines, the sky really is the limit.

Graduate Profile - Ph.D. in Nanotechnology Philip Kelly PhD Graduate One of my father’s fondest memories is me in the garden shed, in one of his old shirts, mixing paint colours in test tubes. Nowadays he tells me that was the moment he knew I would be a chemist.

For most of my teenage years I didn’t know what I wanted to do after the dreaded leaving certificate.

When applying for courses I became interested in Nanoscience, not because I knew anything about it, but because it sounded cool. My undergraduate education

took place in DIT taking, at the time, the only course in the county on nanoscience. This gave me a broad education in science with a strong grounding in Physics, Chemistry and the intricacies of the nanoscale. It was also during this time I got my first taste for research and the scientific method. I was fortunate to be awarded a place in the EUREKA programme.

Jumping at this opportunity I spent the summer of my second undergraduate year in a lab carrying out work investigating nanomaterials and how they interact with their environment.

I graduated from DIT in

2011, top of my class, and was awarded an IRC scholarship to carry out a PhD project in UCD. My chosen topic involved understanding nanomaterials further; objects which are millions of times smaller than a full stop. In particular I was interested in how they interact with their surroundings, especially when these surroundings have clinical relevance e.g. blood or bodily fluids. To date I have co-authored around 7 published articles; several in high impact journals. Some of my recent work involved developing techniques to analyse how molecules arrange on the surface of

If you have any questions for Philip and his time at UCD, you can contact him at: philip.kelly.m@gmail.com.

nanomaterials. Specifically I established a methodology for assessing the orientation of proteins and bio-molecules when attached to nanoparticles. I was excited to see this work published earlier this year in Nature Nanotechnology.

I recently completed my viva voce which consisted of a challenging and stimulating scientific dialogue. My panel reflected the pinnacle of scientific excellence, achievement and integrity; it is a day I shall remember fondly for the rest of my life and an apt conclusion to four years of hard work.

Looking back at my time

in UCD, I remember fondly all the help and support which I have received from the staff of UCD, for which I am deeply grateful. If I could write to my younger self and offer words of support and guidance then it would be as follows.

Science is at its core the pursuit of knowledge and discovery. Trust your intuition and never make a statement you cannot support. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal it is the courage to continue that counts “- Winston Churchill. Finally ask questions, make mistakes and always act with integrity.

BUSINESS//12 Sproose Up! Bill Horan Business Writer

S

proose is a relatively young company that offers an on-demand laundry service. Users can schedule a pick up and return time online, with Sproose collecting, cleaning and returning clothes within 48 hours. The company was founded by 3 UCD graduates; Conor Wilson and Cormac Lavelle, both of whom graduated in 2014 with MSc Petroleum Geoscience, and Pat McKenna, who graduated in 2014 with BSc General Science (Comp Science Major).

According to Conor Wilson, the idea for Sproose came about while he was doing a household task that most of us would switch off our brains to complete, unloading the washing machine after a day at work. While wishing for an easier option, the idea for Sproose clicked in his mind, like cogs in an engine,

and so the idea to develop the app was born.

Naturally, such a bold idea would require a lot of market research to see if there was even a need for it in the Irish market. Conor says that there was an intensive week of market research combining a blend of street surveys in Dublin, and some market research revealing that the average person spends 92 minutes per week doing laundry, resulting in the birth of Sproose as a limited company which began trading in October of this year.

The company had a “soft launch” earlier this year, which consisted of a flyering campaign, a social media campaign and the classic word of mouth approach.

Using Google Analytics to track traffic to their website Sproose has been able to identify their key demographic (tech savvy students and young professionals). Then, they were able to fine tune their advertising to cater for this market ahead of the company’s “hard launch” by offering student discounts and deals

God save the… Economy?

Bill Horan Kate Weedy

I

n the EU Commission’s Winter Economic Forecast it states that Ireland’s economy will grow at the fastest rate in Europe with a predicted GDP growth of 4.5 per cent in 2016. This is a significant increase when compared to the statistics which were published by the Commission in May. They had previously stated that Ireland would experience a 3.5 per cent growth, but are now saying that this figure is

more representative of 2017, when Ireland’s growth rates will begin to slow down. This growth can be explained by Ireland’s strong recovery which was initially driven by net exports but is now based more so on domestic demand across economic sectors. Ireland’s SMEs are also exporting more due to the weak euro and the improved access to finance.

However, the Commission has warned that these figures “should be read with some caution given their typical volatility.” This is especially true now that the talk of a Brexit is becoming increasingly prevalent.

for professionals entailing shirt/suit combos, all of which will be advertised on social media.

Conor also has some advice for aspiring young entrepreneurs: “just go for it, and not be afraid. Many

people have great ideas, but just do not act upon them and that is what sets people like the Sproose founders apart from others. Dublin is one of the best hub cities in the world for fostering start-ups and

there has never been a better time to try. Besides, even if you fail, you can learn from it and try again. What have we got to lose?”

With the possibility of a Brexit looming darkly in the background, a long period of uncertainty for Ireland and Irish recovery may lie ahead. The Economic and Social Research Institute has warned of grave consequences for Ireland if a Brexit was to become reality and while at the moment Ireland’s recovery is the strongest in Europe, a British exit from the EU could cause some major problems for the Irish economy.

There would be a significant blow to trade, which would in turn lead to rising prices and falling wages, and ultimately have an extremely negative impact on Irish business and the Irish appeal to

foreign investors. As the UK is our closest neighbour, it is only natural that it is our largest trade partner.

Brexit could result in higher prices on imports, due to new trade restrictions on the movement of goods that could come into force.

It has been estimated that the drop in bilateral trade between the two economies could result in a drop of up to 20% of total trade flows.

However, trade is not the only economic driver that will be affected, with the possibility of border controls between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland becoming stricter, meaning that it may no longer be possible to cross the border without having a passport.

Northern Ireland itself would also face some negative consequences were this situation to arise due to the Single Electricity Market, which has existed on the island of Ireland since 2007. This allows Irish electric companies to sell electricity in Northern Ireland, without which Northern Irish electricity companies might be unable to meet the demand of their customers.

Others who stand to be adversely affected by the UK leaving the EU are the hundreds of thousands of Irish emigrants living in the UK for work and studies as their right to residency in the UK , and the right to residency of UK nationals living in Ireland could be thrown into question should the Brexit occur.

This situation is entirely dependent on David Cameron’s ability to get an agreement from EU leaders to present a deal which would reframe Britain’s membership of the union which not only satisfies the government’s demands but also poses as an attractive offer to British voters in a referendum. Ireland’s economic fate seems to be in the hands of the British people and EU leaders. However Enda Kenny must place himself in a position in which he works with Cameron to ensure that a deal which serves Britain’s interest – indirectly serving Irish interests – is proposed by the EU. So while 2016 has been predicted as a positive year of economic growth for Ireland it also has the potential to be a year of uncertainty and panic as the future of Ireland’s outstanding recovery could be demolished by our closest neighbour.

INNOVATION//13 The Web Summit Reaffirms Title as the Global Hub of Technology and Innovation Jack Power Innovation Editor

T

he Web Summit has become, over the last four years, one of Dublin’s greatest home-grown initiatives, moving from small ideals to one of the most noted tech conferences globally. The event presented a diverse roll call from the technology, information, data and online scenes around the world, attracting over 30,000 attendees. The politics surrounding the Summit had been plagued with personal spats between Enda Kenny and founder Paddy Cosgrave after the conference’s decision to move to Lisbon for 2016 was announced this autumn. But politics was sidelined at the Summit’s opening, with ideas and innovation taking centre stage for the conference’s duration.

The format of the conference this year saw the talks and discussion grouped into 21 different summits, under headings such as content, fashion, sport, and society.

In opening the showcase on the Centre stage Cosgrave billed the Summit as a coming together of “people who are trying to build things and create things” and routed the success of his idea to an “intimacy, powered by great design and powerful data analysis”.

In exploring the various Summits the underlying theme was the influence of technology on all aspects of the advancing world.

The Society Summit looked with particular interest at how technology and information sharing could help tackle the current European refugee crisis. Paula Schwartz, activist and founder of Startup Boat outlined the vital nature of being connected for many refugees and migrants – “they hold onto their phones for their lives, and the first thing they do is ask for Wifi, they contact their families to tell them ‘I’m safe, I’m alive’”. In addressing the possibilities of alleviating the crisis Chris Fabian of UNICEF was adamant connecting these vulnerable people online was crucial, “it’s about access to information, ability to make choices”. Writer Mike Butcher at TechCrunch also felt that the tech sector has the ability and responsibility to help where they can, “there is data coming out about how smugglers operate. [So]

you put information into people’s hands about how to legitimately migrate into European countries … there are refugees who are educated, but lose all their documentation and can’t prove what they’re capable of in their arrival country. You could keep all of that information on the cloud … that could be ratified by European universities”. The utility of information to empower those who have previously been powerless will no doubt be a key factor in combating future crises, but the current humanitarian institutions have not yet been able to harness that potential resource.

The role and future of media played a focal part in the talks of the Content summit. Information and news has evolved massively over the course of the digital revolution, with the boom of online outlets and decline of print being the prevailing narrative. The consolidation of news online has seen a fundamental shift in consumption, with most people relying on their smartphones now for access to news and information. Storyful, which started in Dublin, has been one company who was born into and kept pace with this ever-morphing scene. CEO Rahul Chopra outlined in a talk the surge in user generated content, cat videos, gifs, Vines etc. The instantaneously shareable nature of the content has seen it become a staple of all our newsfeeds. For Chopra, “user generat-

ed content is the natural resource of the day… when you combine user generated content and created content, you get a lift of engagement by 30%.” The media and the online scene has been democratized, as the line between those who create and those who consume content has been blurred, and the future of media will be dominated by those who best adapt to this development.

The Web Summit’s engaging and thought-provoking array of talks shared the show with rows and rows of start-ups, each looking to pitch, share, and network their idea. The Wifi problem resurfaced to the ire of the Summit organisers, with connectivity patchy at best in the Main hall of the RDS. Yet the Summit reverberated a persistent buzzing from the ceaseless conversations between start-ups, investors and attendees. The Tribune spoke to three unique start-up companies who were looking to ignite their idea in the minds of a potential investor over the course of the Summit.

Student Tenant Find was a startup founded to link up empty rental units with students looking for accommodation. “It was founded in Birmingham as a university startup, basically it’s a student accommodation agency, so it provides a property base across the UK… with hopefully an expansion into Dublin and the EU market. At the moment it has 2.5 million students seeking

accommodation, and an inventory of about 40,000 properties. There is a referral and rewards system, so if you refer another student and they secure a property off the website with a landlord you can get paid £20, and if they refer on further you receive a further £5 pound. Students are happy and the landlords also benefit”.

Adway+ is a start-up aimed at countering the trend towards Ad blocking online, which costs websites revenue. “We solve the Ad-blocking problem for publishers, what we do is to help the publishers to display the ads even though people have Ad Block; we are bypassing it. This is our first day; it’s super interesting to be here.

There are so many companies here and so many people, if you want to network this is the place to be at.”

DropShip Commerce is a US

company set up by Jeremy Hanks, looking to address surpluses and deficits within retail stock and supply. “My company is Dropship Commerce; we’re here at Web Summit [as] part of the Start Programme. DropShip provides a supply chain integration platform for retailers and for their suppliers to share inventory or invoice information. We’ve been talking to quite a few different people, sometimes they may be a customer; they may be a partner; they may just have great ideas.”

The Summit closed the curtain on its time in Dublin on Thursday night, having now grown to be considered one of the key conferences for promoting and spreading tech ideas and innovation. Yet now like so many of Ireland’s best and brightest it unfortunately moves on to different shores and wider horizons.

POLITICS//14 Funding Higher Education: Ógra FF Propose Student Loans Scheme and an Increase in Fees to €5000 Jack Power Innovation Editor

T

he unsustainability of the current higher education funding model will become further strained with the demographic increase in third level students projected in the coming years. The Cassell’s expert group on higher education is expected to report on the options available to the government in December 2015. Fianna Fail youth wing Ógra have come out to start the dialogue with a policy proposal for a dual income contingent loan scheme to provide for both maintenance grants and the registration fee. To source the anticipated shortfall in higher level funding the document also proposes a rise in fees to €5,000 per year.

The Tribune interviewed the Ógra policy director behind the document – Ian Woods.

“This is a proposal that will bring in an Australian style Student loan system into Ireland, and there are two key parts; we want to bring in a government funded low interest maintenance loan for students that can’t afford to attend college and can’t get grants. The other part is we want to bring in the same loan system for the current registration fee, and at the same time increase the registration fee by €2,000. This will make education free at the point of access. The key part of the loan system is that its income contingent, which means you don’t start paying it until you start making money.

The cost of providing university education at the same level for the next four years will skyrocket. And nobody is really talking about what that means for our current fee structure. The fairest way we’ve come up with is that we’d ask students to pay a bit more. But they don’t have to pay it up front and they’d only be paying it back when they could afford it”.

The criticism was put to Woods

that such a scheme would, while being income contingent, burden students with considerable debt later in life. Taking a conservative estimate a loan for partial maintenance through college (20,000) and a loan for the registration fee for a three year degree (15,000) would amount to €35,000. Ógra launched the scheme as being free at the point of access, thus opening college up to people who currently can’t afford the registration fee. But the gamble on taking out such an extensive overhead of debt it could be said would be an even greater inhibitor and disincentive for someone from a lower socio-economic background. Woods was adamant however that repayment would not be overly cumbersome or exhaustive. “Because its income contingent and the rates you pay are set, it can

never become over-burdensome…

We admit that any student loan proposal is going to increase student debt. The option now for student is to go to banks, get charged much higher interest rates, and if they are from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds and can’t get grants they don’t get to go to college.”

In examining Student Loan models in effect in other countries the issue of student debt is clearly a problem. The US student debt bubble stands currently at $1.3 trillion, higher than mortgage or credit card debt. The New Zealand loans system has also afflicted students since being introduced. Rory McCourt, the President of the New Zealand Union of Students Association spoke to the Tribune about the malignant consequences of an extensive student loan scheme has had in their country. “The loans scheme has allowed fees to rise without protest by students. There is a general feeling that since the cost isn’t met up-front (and that it is interest-free) that it’s not ‘real money’ we’re borrowing. Under the scheme student debt has doubled every ten years on average… reaching $15 billion in February. We think this way of funding tertiary education is extremely unfair, and ultimately unsustainable if we want a society where individuals and families own

wealth, not debt.”

The Australian system, while fairer than the New Zealand or US models cannot simply be supplanted onto the Irish education structure. In their system fees are set at different rates for different courses, so an Arts course may be cheaper than a STEM course, which is reflective of the estimated ‘return’ on that degree. In Ireland, with fees being standardized, there would be no reflection of the potential future earning discrepancies between degrees. So the burden of debt while manageable for a STEM graduate may not be so for an Arts graduate. When put to Ian, himself a Biotechnology PhD student, that there might be different fees for different degrees he stated – “We don’t think it should be part of the [Irish] university system.”

The Ógra model put forward, while alleviating the up-front registration payment places the onus of funding third-level institutions on students themselves. The loan scheme taken in isolation provides a solid mechanism to enfranchise students who cannot immediately afford the registration fee or the cost of attending college. However in tandem with the €2,000 hike in student fees it sets a dangerous precedent to shift the obligation of meeting the indefinite rising cost of

third-level education away from the state and towards students. Woods came out in strong disagreement with this suggestion. “Under our plan the government pays more money than it does now. The 300 million fee [raised by the €2,000 increase] won’t get us to where we need to be, it’ll pay about half and we want to see that matched by the government. The ideological argument is that it’s a public good so the government should pay for it. But so is social housing, so are primary schools, so are secondary schools, so is infrastructure. There’s no guarantee that students will come ahead of any of those concerns. I think some sort of student contribution is the most realistic position.”

The government report on the future of higher education funding to be released in the next month will likely reinvigorate the debate on third level fees. The Irish state’s trend since the recession has been to retreat from the public sphere and pass the shortfall of funding public institutions, like education, onto the individual’s shoulders. Students therefore should be wary that if they do not engage and inform themselves in the debate they could be left funding the indefinite upward obligations of higher education into the future.

POLITICS//15 Government Lacking The Political Will to Tackle Climate Change Ahead of Paris Climate Conference Charlotte McLaughlin Politics Writer

T

he Climate Change Conference in Paris (COP-21) will take place next month, bringing together world leaders to make a universal, legally binding agreement on climate change. The UN is hopeful that leaders have the political will to do so and definitive agreements will be made. However the Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly said Ireland will not reach its emissions targets by 2020 and he has called on the EU to offer us an extension till 2030. The environmental doomsday clock is moving closer and closer to midnight, with time running out to combat climate change. Leader of the Green Party Eamon Ryan said Mr. Kelly would regret these words.

Speaking to the Tribune, Mr. Ryan said “The planet is everything” and Ireland would be “seen as the bad guys” who will stop the European Union meeting their climate goals.

Mr Ryan is certain that such a move would tarnish our reputation internationally.

The EU is strongly committed to reducing emissions to below 20 per cent of 2005 levels by 2020. Unfortunately the strain of the recession has made it difficult for the coalition to provide resources for meaningful change. Kelly’s line of response has been that adjusting our emissions would put a strain on our primary economic sector, agricultural. The focus of the Minster has been preoccupied with the Irish housing crisis, with the environment taking a backseat in policy formation and the recent Budget. Fianna Fáil spokesperson on the Environment & Local Government, TD Barry Cowen has also stated housing is his main priority.

However, making things sustainable and environmentally friendly is cost effective, according to UCD’s Dr. Marcus J. Collier, a senior researcher in Environmental Policy.

It has long been a fact that renewable energy like solar panels can save money as once installed they pay for themselves and allow people to sell energy back to the grid. Dr. Collier’s own research at UCD suggests that the best way to

achieve real change is at the local level. Looking at small communities, he said when you “involve people in the collaboration process they believe they can change their lives for the better”.

Thankfully there is still time to turn the clock back. Many Eastern European Countries have reached their emissions targets to date.

According to the European Environmental Agency, Bulgaria has already made 16% of their energy consumption renewable. Compared to Ireland it is a very poor country and only has a half of the wealth of we do, yet it has come a long way.

The government says it is trying to improve things; Fine Gael has told the Tribune that they will work with European leaders to get a binding commitment. They have said that during COP-21 they will seek a commitment to at “least 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on 1990 levels by 2030”.

The Labour-Fine Gael coalition has committed to a climate bill that says we need an 80% reduction in emissions and makes a strong commitment to climate justice. Unfortunately it does not say when any of this will take places or provide a time-line for implementing change.

This is maybe the biggest problem with our politicians and the EU, they make unfulfilled commitments - but the time to act decisively is now. In the next election if the parties are serious about addressing the environment then they will have to set out clear policies with a timetable of implementation. They have to remember when the clock strikes midnight it will be too late.

Rivers of Rotting Waste Add Fuel to Beirut Residents’ Anger with Government Barry Monahan Politics Writer

T

he capital of Lebanon, Beirut, has been without any rubbish collection services for five months, and the situation has begun to threaten the political ruling elite’s hold on power. After months of rubbish piling up in the streets of Beirut, heavy floods, caused by recent rains, have created what has been described as deep rivers of garbage. Since rubbish collection ceased in the Lebanese capital in July, due to the closing of the city’s main landfill, over two million people’s household waste has been piling high in the streets. “The result is catastrophic” said one resident. “The waste smells toxic.

It’s putrid and indescribable” said another.

The landfill site at Naameh opened in 1997 to cater for two million tons of rubbish amidst warnings of under capacity, finally closing because it had taken in between fifteen and eighteen million tons of rubbish. With the government claiming they are unable to find a new site, demonstrators and activists have speculated that the government’s flaccid response has more to do with vested interests than the lack of an appropriate location.

A wave of violent protests since August has become the main vehicle for outrage by citizens in the city and its suburbs. “They can’t even give us our basic rights which include water and electricity” said

a demonstrator, “How can we live like this?” Members of the You Stink campaign say that the political class has no interest in a new environmentally safe and logical solution, as this would end all deals between politicians and business. As the protesters have been demanding a clean-up operation, there is no doubt that this crisis is as much about politics as it is about waste.

The second main movement, WeWantChange, is demanding complete political overhaul alongside sorting the waste crisis.

In 2012, Lebanon saw a similar crisis with the closure of the Ras Al-Ain landfill in the south.

Another small capacity landfill, Ain el-Baal, was opened but reluctant to take waste from the migrant Palestinian communities forced into south Lebanon. The problem was that these communities of migrants did not pay taxes and therefore were

not included in municipal service remits. Lebanon has been without a president for a year and political power is shared between major religious groups including Christian, Shiite and Sunni Muslims, each separate group deflecting the real argument and accusing the protesters of targeting their religious order.

The Lebanese civil war came to an end in 1990 with a shaky political power sharing settlement, which has up until now been able to retain a tentative stability.

In a complex mix of corruption, mismanaged governance and angry residents, the current situation makes for a muddled view of the future. While Palestinian and other migrants have little or no voice in relation to effecting change, the vast majority Lebanese citizens do. Never has the appetite for an overhaul of the Lebanese political system been so prevailing.

GAEILGE//16 4. Bia

Cinéal seirbhís poiblí atá ann.

Áiteanna maithe don chailín bán claisiceach

Ar eagla nach bhfuil a fhios ag daoine carbh

ná, Moosh, Boojum, Donnybrook fair srl.

as duit bain úsáíd as an hashtag seo go minic.

Nuair a théann tú chun ithe bíonn ocras an

#(do náisiúntacht)girl

domhain ort agus roineann tú é sin le do chairde ar fad ach thart ar leath bealach trí

7. ‘Brón’

do bhéile ní fhéadfadh tú rud ar bith eile a

Is béile é ‘brón’ a bhíonn idir bricfeasta agus

ithe toisc go bhfuil tú chomh ‘petite’ agus ní

lón. Itear go minic é tar éis an ranga ióga.

ainmhí thú. Bí cinnte go bhfágann tú bia ar

N.B. Bí cinnte go luann tú go raibh tú ag rang

do phláta ag deireadh na béile.

ióga nuair a chuireann tú d’instagram suas mar gheall ar ‘bhrón’.

5. Bróga

Conas a bheith i do chailín bán claisiceach

1.

Yoga pants

Tá ort yoga pants a chaitheamh fiú muna leag

Is cuma má tá sé 30 céim Celsius lasmuigh, tá

8. Oiriúintí

Uggs oiriúnach. Bróga eile atá oiriúnach ná

Is oiriúint an tábhacht é an iphone. Cosúil le

bróga arda dubha. Níl said ró-ard nach féidir

Máire Ní Chathasaigh, ní féidir leat ligint do

leat siúl ach ard go leor ionas gur féidir leat

d’iphone a dhul i ndorcacht na síoraíochta

breathnú síos ar dhaoine eile.

gan tú féin a dhul in éineacht léi.

palappadappcappacinno le bainne veigeán, soighe, gan ghlútan a cheannach.

tú cos san ionad spóirt riamh i do shaol. Is

Oiriúint eile atá de dhíth ná mála Michael 6. Instagram

Korrs. Tuigim go mbíonn said costasach ach

Bí cinnte go bhfuil na hashtags i gceart agat.

ní féidir leat praghas a chur ar an stádás ‘cailín bán claisiceach’.

cuma, níl a fhios ag na daoine atá ag breathnú

3. Smideadh

Fiú más griangraf de chupán caife ó starbucks

ar do thóin é sin. Is infheistiú iontach iad na

Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go gcaitheann tú an

atá ann bí cinnte go n-úsáídeann tú #starbucks

yoga pants. Bí cinnte go mbreathnaíonn tú

smideadh is costasaí atá ar fáil. Tá sé fíor fíor

ar eagla nach na cailíní mí-bhána-claisiceach.

9.

mar go bhfuil tú réidh dom gym i gcónaí,

éasca an difríocht a fheiceáil idir daoine a

Tá sé tábhachtach go gcuireann tú grianghraif

Seo na coinníollacha do do bhuachaill cara :

fiú más é ag siúl suas na staighrí i Quinn an

chaitheann smideadh costasach agus smid-

de chuile bhéile a bhíonn agat amuigh gach

1. Imríonn sé rugbaí

méid is mó aclaíochta a dhéanann tú gach lá.

eadh saor, ní chreidféa é!!! Ní ligtear isteach

lá nó beidh daoine fíor buartha ná ith tú an

2. D’fhreastal sé ar scoil phríobháideach

i Quinn thú muna a bhfuil cúpla céad euro

lá sin.

3. Corp maith

2. Starbucks

ar d’aghaidh. Bíonn Gardaí an smididh faoi

Aon uair atá tú i Starbucks (gach lá má

4. Úsáideann sé frásaí cosúil le ‘BP (ballpark)’

Dar ndóigh tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbíonn

cheilt mar mhic léinn i Quinn, níl tú ag iar-

leanann tú na céimeanna seo) bí cinnte chun

agus Fairlingus.

cupán Starbucks i do lámh i gcónaí, follamh

raidh go mbéarfaidh said greim ort. Dar

grianghraf a chur suas faoi, go háirithe má

nó lán is cuma. Ní féidir le daoine féachaint

ndóigh níl aon phointe leis an smideadh muna

litríonn said d’ainm mícheart, mar ní thar-

10. Cúrsa

isteach sa chupán. Rud eile tábhachtach ná

bhreathnaíonn tú cosúil le go bhfuil tú díreach

laíonn sé sin go minic ar chor ar bith.

Muna bhfuil tú i gcúrsa i Quinn nó Sutherland

nach féidir leat díreach gnáthchaife nó tae a

tagtha ar ais ó shaoire sa Mheánmhuir le do

Cuir tagairt ionspóiróideach suas go minic.

bog chuig cúrsa ann go tapaidh.

cheannach. Tá ort rud éigin cosúil le Frap-

dhath gréine iontach!

Seo tusa ag roinnt do chéile le daoine eile.

Le Gearóid Óg Ó Greacháin

lacháin agus Cathal Póirtéir an moltóireacht

B

ar an gcraobh. Bhí ar fhoireann an Choláiste

Dhá Bhliain as a Chéile ag an Oireachtas! huaigh foireann díospóireachta an Choláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Claith,

Buachaill cara

Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath dul tríd réamh-

Craobh Náisiúnta Gael Linn ag Oireachtas

bhabhta Átha Cliath chun a bheith sa chraobh.

na Samhna don dara bhliain as a chéile. Ba

Rug siad bua ar Choláiste na Trionóide agus

í duais an chomórtais seo ná €100 an duine.

Coláiste Naomh Phádraig sa réamhbhabh-

Bhí an craobh ar bun i Citywest, Baile Átha

ta seo. Ba é an rún a bhí ann ná “Anois an

Cliath. Ba iad Oifigeach na Gaeilge, Dónal

t-am dár gcuid eisimirceach filleadh abhaile

Ó Catháin agus Reachtaire an Chumainn

go hÉirinn”. Labhair an foireann ar son an

Ghaelaigh, Seamus Ó Ceanainn a bhí ar an

rúin. I measc na dtopaicí a bhí á bplé le linn

bhfoireann. Is é seo an triú bliain as a chéile

na díospóireachta ná geilleagar na tíre, rei-

gur ghlac Dónal Ó Catháin páirt i gCraobh

freann comhionannas pósta, an ghéarchéim

labhairt ar son an rún freisin. Ba iad Cormac

Náisiúnta Chomórtas Díospóireachta Gael

sláinte agus an aimsir! In iomaíocht leo bhí

Ó Mainnín agus Ann Hallissey a bhí ar an bh-

gur thréimhse oiriúnach é ceiliúradh 1916

Linn. Rinne Kevin de Barra, Sinéad Ní Ual-

dhá fhoireann ón gColáiste Ollscoile Cor-

foireann sin. I ndiaidh óráidí na gcainteoirí,

filleadh abhaile go hÉirinn.

Dónal Ó Catháin (Oifigeach Ghaeilge Aontas na Mac Léinn ar chlé ) agus Séamus Ó Ceanainn (Reachtaire an Chumainn Ghaelaigh ar dheis ).

caigh agus foireann Átha Cliath (cainteoir ó

labhair aoichainteoir Ciarán Ó Feinneadha,

COBÁC agus cainteoir ó Choláiste na Tri-

Bainisteoir Stiúrtha Comhairle Chánach Teo,

onóide). Bronnadh an dara áit do fhoireann A an Choláiste Ollscoile Chorcaigh, a bhí ag

leis na cainteoirí agus an lucht tacaíochta.

Léirigh sé gur aontaigh sé leis an rún agus

UCD Sport’s Kicks Off Movember Season

U

CD’s Sports stars were out in force as they came together to support Movember 2015. A fantastic cause and foundation, UCD Sports Georgina Dwyer brought together some of UCD and indeed Irelands biggest stars to show their support as Noel McGrath, Tipperary hurler and UCD graduate joined in the fun for a cause so close to his own heart.

Supporting Movember tonight was UCD, Leinster and Ireland’s Luke McGrath, Garry Ringrose and Josh Van der Flier; UCD and Leinster and Ireland Women’s Rugby Elise O’Byrne White was there with UCD Women’s rugby Captain and Vice-Captain Jennie Hunter and Sinead Corbett. UCD’s Olympian, Senior European medallist Mark English was there with team mates Irish National champion Ciara Mageean and UCD Athletics Captain Stephen Gaffney; UCD’s European

stars Sammy Belhout and Niall Corbet and UCD Waves and Senior International star Dora Gorman showed their support. Finally All Ireland winner with Dublin, Senior Player of the year and UCD’s Sigerson Captain Jack McCaffrey was with Monaghans Ryan Wylie who has been nominated as Young Player of the Year and Kilkenny Camogie star Grace Walsh.

The Movember Foundation is a global charity committed to men living happier, healthier, longer lives. Since 2003, millions have joined the men’s health movement, raising €485 million and funding over 1,000 programmes focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity.

This year in UCD, organisers of Movember want to firstly emphasise the importance of activity in people’s lives both in preventing disease and in the recovery of illness and have also expanded Movember to include ‘Mo Sistas’ as it has been recognised that it is often the women in the men’s lives that encourage them to keep their health in check.

An interest free loan for academics

Talk to Paula Gaffney Bank of Ireland Montrose Student Store 076 6231264 bankofireland.com/student

Volume Twenty Nine Issue Five

in association with

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1 7

Celtic Slow to React Defensively Ally Murty Sports Writer

L

osing a player of Virgil Van Diijk’s pedigree was always going to be difficult.

Celtic had conceded 7 goals in only 3 matches, rooting them to the bottom of their group.

The Dutchman’s replacement, Jozo Simunovic was always going to take time to settle, only arriving from Dinamo Zagreb on the 1st of September. The Croatian’s fitness was in question prior to the showdown with group leaders, Molde. And the Celts’ job was made even more difficult when he was brought off early on. This after Griffiths had 2 goals chopped off in the opening 15 minutes for offside.

Simonuvic’s replacement, the inexperienced Manchester United loanee, Tyler Blackett then failed to clear properly with a header leaving it on a plate for unmarked Mohammed Elyounoussi to break the deadlock.

But Celtic responded swiftly, Kris Commons deflecting the ball with a superb strike past an unassuming Ethan Horvath in nets. More indecision at the back however brought the

Celtic Manager Ronny Deila

visitors back in front before their frailties forced Nir Biton covering from midfield to commit a professional foul on Karim Kamara.

With this defeat the odds appear stacked against the Hoops. While they don’t lack attacking threat; Griffiths and Biton were unlucky to not score past Hervath and they more than held their own against the group favourites, Fenerbache and Ajax putting 4 past them collectively, their defence lacks composure and leadership. Deila must sort out these deficiencies. Otherwise the Scots face another early exit.

Borrow up to €1,500 interest-free over a 12-month period, with the option of deferring the first 3 monthly repayments.

Pochetino’s Spurs definitely one to be watched Darragh McGrath Sports Writer

Valentino Rossi

Tempers Flare at Malaysia Grand Prix Seán Craddock Sports Writer

M

otoGP is something I’ve followed for many years. I grew up watching Valentino Rossi as he won nine world championships. I count him as a legend of the sport.

But when he clashed with Marc Márquez at the Malaysia Grand Prix, I have to admit, I lost a bit of respect for the Italian.

Rossi came into the weekend with an eleven-point lead over his Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo. At press conferences throughout the weekend he accused Márquez of deliberately slowing Rossi at the previous race in Australia in order to help Lorenzo win the championship.

In the Malaysian race, after Rossi’s accusations, the pair came together on track again, passing each other lap after lap in what many were saying was a tremendous battle.

Rossi on the other hand took it to be another attempt to slow him.

What happened next is what has divided opinions up and down the MotoGP paddock.

After swapping positions yet again, Rossi dove down the inside of Márquez and blocked the racing line, forcing the Spaniard to stand the bike up and brake harder. As the two approached the edge of the circuit, more than 12 metres away from where they should be, the two made contact and Márquez crashed

out of the race.

Rossi’s foot and Márquez’ front brake lever made contact. Some believe Rossi kicked Márquez’ brake lever, others think Márquez hit Rossi’s foot. Regardless of how the bike fell, what’s certain is that this wouldn’t have happened if Rossi hadn’t pushed Márquez wide.

This is why I am not on Rossi’s side in this.

He was leading the championship, and even finishing behind Márquez wouldn’t change that. There was no need to retaliate. If you’re not happy with Márquez then tell him off the track, confronting him in front of world media proves nothing. The track is for racing, and at that moment, Rossi didn’t want to race.

He let his emotions get the better of him.

Rossi was found guilty of deliberately forcing another rider off line, and was given three penalty points on his license, meaning he would have to start last on the grid at the next race, the season ending Grand Prix of Valencia. All but ending his championship fight.

In the end, Lorenzo won in Valencia, and even Rossi’s incredible fight from the back of the grid to fourth wasn’t enough to prevent Lorenzo taking the title. Whether starting nearer the front would have allowed Rossi to finish second and win the championship will never be known. One thing is for sure though, the Sepang clash will be talked about for years to come.

November 10th Tuesday

in association with

SPORT

1 8

Harry Rednkapp recently took umbrage with fellow pundit Raphael Honigstein’s suggestion that Tottenham Hotspur used to be easy to beat, pointing out that his teams won quite a lot of games, but there is a case to be made that this Spurs team is more difficult to beat than Redknapp’s vintage. That Spurs was likely to smash you, Modric, Bale and van der Vaart were better players than any now at the club. That Spurs team was electrifying, quick and exciting in attack. They were also exhilarating in how they could concede from anywhere and at any time, they would never be described as hard to beat.

The current edition is exciting in a completely different way. They have so much potential. The youngest team in the Premier League, they are unbeaten in 11 matches, including fixtures against the top two. Spurs are thoroughly ‘unspursy’, and Mauricio Pochettino, the first Spurs boss to avoid defeat in his first three matches against Wenger, deserves a lot of praise. They have one of the best defences in the league, where the Belgian duo of Alderweireld and Vertonghen have picked up from where they left off at Ajax, and formed a solid partnership. There is a steely coldness to this team, flowing from the stoic Argentine in the dugout. Gone are the days where Alex Ferguson’s famous “Lads, it’s Spurs” team talk could prove their undoing.

After leading against Arsenal, Spurs were on the ropes after conceding an equaliser. In the past, Spurs would lose from here, but now they managed to calm the onslaught and protect

Spurs Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino

their streak.

Dele Alli is the perfect symbol of this Spurs team. Confident, young, energetic and talented. The 19 year old was man of the match against Arsenal, and for a player that young to be dominating such big games in the centre of midfield is stunning. The popular belief would be that he needs experience next to him, but while Eric Dier offers support in a multitude of ways, the 21 year old cannot be claimed as an old hand. Pochettino was ruthless in clearing out players with questionable attitudes in favour of people willing to give everything for the cause. Eric Lamela epitomises this. He picked up his fifth yellow card of the season at the Emirates, and it is frustrating to see him portrayed as a luxury player in the media. Ask any regular Spurs watcher, no one works harder for the team.

There has been markedly less hype about this team than there was in the Redknapp days. Pochettino has been a breath of fresh air, rarely saying anything of note in interviews, which is a welcomed change after the bumbling Sherwood, the whiny Villas Boas and, well, ‘Arry. They are flying somewhat under the radar at present but look one of the four best sides in the division and could be en route to the Champions League.

There are a couple of doubts hanging over them. Harry Kane is their only striker and, while he seems to have rediscovered his scoring form, a back-up will be a priority in January. The second is more intriguing, and less easy to solve. Pochettino is a keen disciple of Bielsa, and his teams press and run hard as a mark of this. Bielsa’s teams famously seems to run out of steam before the season’s end.

Image via BBC Sports

Dundalk win the double in Extra-time Showdown Peter Branigan Sports Writer

D

undalk claimed the double as they defeated Cork City at Lansdowne Road on Sunday afternoon. These two had drawn twice in the League this season, and it took extra-time to separate them in a scrappy encounter in Dublin. Richie Towell, as he has so often proved to be over the last couple of seasons, was the hero for Dundalk in the end.

Dundalk dominated for the first fifteen minutes, but they couldn’t test Mark McNulty as first Ronan Finn, and then Brian Gartland, put chances wide. Cork began to settle and a long ball from Billy Dennehy in the seventeenth minute was headed across the Dundalk goal by Darren Dennehy. Sean Gannon had to be alert to head the ball out for a corner.

Cork forced another corner two minutes later.

Rogers failed to claim the ball cleanly, and a scramble in front of the goal could have seen the ball end up anywhere.

Dundalk would have been relieved to be able to win a free out. Cork continued to push and Alan Bennett’s header in the twenty-second minute, from a Miller corner, was only just wide to the right of Roger’s goal. At the other end Darren Meenan’s cross was met

by Andy Boyle. Mark McNulty always had his looping header under control, and the ball went harmlessly wide. With thirty-five minutes on the clock Meenan was the provider once more, but his dangerous cross had too much pace for Dave McMillan to meet.

The game was gaining a bit of an edge as the half wore on, and the first yellow card of this final duly arrived in the forty-first minute as Liam Miller caught Meenan late

Dundalk team celebrate after winning the double

Volume Twenty Nine Issue Five

in association with

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on the right touchline. The first really big chance of the game fell to McMillan in the forty-eight minute. He had been played in by Dave Massey, but his effort was well touched over by McNulty. Ninety seconds later McMillan was played through again, but a heavy touch allowed McNulty to get down low and claim the ball.

A great solo effort from Daryl Horgan after sixty-five minutes saw him bring the ball from just inside the Cork half all the way to the Cork box, but his effort, similar to Tow-

Dundalk - 1 Cork City - 0 ell’s was saved low by McNulty. A neat move

by Dundalk, involving Massey, Kilduff, and Towell, nearly saw them snatch it in the ninetieth minute. Towell’s effort didn’t match the composure shown in the build-up however, and Cork were able to clear.

Dundalk had the first chance in extra time as Ronan Finn ran powerfully at Cork down the left flank. His final effort was once again held by McNulty. Richie Towell finally made the breakthrough for Dundalk in the third minute of the second-half of extra-time, but huge credit must go to Daryl Horgan.

The winger ran at Cork down the left, before pulling the ball back. Towell had the simplest of finishes from eight yards.

Cork weren’t going to give up and Darren Dennehy very nearly equalised for the Leesiders as the game entered its final ten minutes.

Dublin come out top at GAA / GPA All Star awards Neil Ryan Sports Writer

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ublin footballer Jack McCaffrey and Kilkenny hurling ace TJ Reid have been honoured by their fellow players by being named GAA/GPA Players of the Year for 2015.

Along with the senior honours Young Players of the Year Awards were presented to Waterford’s Tadhg de Búrca (hurling) and Mayo’s Diarmuid O’Connor (football).

Reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin have secured seven awards in this year’s GAA GPA All-Stars sponsored by Opel. In a list that includes nine first time winners – the most since 10 were nominated in 2012 – Dublin secured four in defence, one at midfield and two in attack.

Defeated All-Ireland champions Kerry come next in the pecking order with four.

Brendan Kealy, Shane Enright, Anthony Maher and Donnchadh Walsh all receive awards for what is the first time.

The remaining awards go to Mayo (two Lee Keegan and Aidan O’Shea), Monaghan (Conor McManus) and Tyrone (Mattie Donnelly) meaning a total of five teams are represented in the stellar line up. No 2014 winners are included in the 2015 line up.

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael

Dundalk had cleared the initial danger from the corner, but the ball came back into the box and Dennehy forced his header goalbound.

Agonisingly for Cork, the ball hit the crossbar and went over. The goal was Towell’s third in the FAI Cup this season, and coupled with his twenty-five league goals, it will do nothing to

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Brendan Kealy (Kerry) Shane Enright (Kerry) Rory O’Carroll (Dublin) Philly McMahon (Dublin) Lee Keegan (Mayo) Cian O’Sullivan (Dublin) Jack McCaffrey (Dublin) Brian Fenton (Dublin) Anthony Maher (Kerry) Mattie Donnelly (Tyrone) Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin) Donnchadh Walsh (Kerry) Conor McManus (Monaghan) Aidan O’Shea (Mayo) Bernard Brogan (Dublin)

Aogán Ó Fearghail congratulated the award winners. He said: “The All-Star awards occupy a coveted place on the GAA landscape and when you see the list of players who have been honoured down through the years it is not hard to see why.”

“I congratulate the best of 2015 who join that honours list and laud them for their respective contributions to our championships Continued on Next Page

dampen interest in him from across the water.

For Stephen Kenny, it gives him his first ever League and Cup double as a manager. But Sunday was about more than these two men, and it gives Dundalk their third ever League and Cup double. It caps off a fantastic season for the club.

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Record-breaking All Blacks beat battling Wallabies to World Cup Ally Murty Sports Writer

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his All Blacks team managed to make four new records in Twickenham. They are the first All-Black team to win outside of New Zealand, the first side to win three World Cups, the first to defend a World Cup and the first to win fourteen consecutive Rugby World Cup matches. Their dominance is so absolute it’s worrying for the game.

This is not to take away from the brilliance of New Zealand who raised the intensity to a level Australia could not match. The game opened with a physical breakdown war, as New Zealand came roaring out of the blocks and only the con-

sistently excellent poaching skills of Ashley Cooper and heroic tackling kept their try line intact for most of the first half. However, it was Dan Carter, playing in his first Rugby World Cup final on his last Test rugby match, who slotted over a three pointer after David Pocock’s infringement at the ruck.

Perhaps it was due to the injuries suffered by Matt Giteau and Kane Douglas respectively that had weakened the Wallabies, but Kepu left Nigel Owens with no choice after a high tackle on Carter, who always seemed to be at the centre of things.

The latter made no mistake and the All Blacks retook the lead at 6-3.

An uncharacteristic lineout misfire meant that the Wallabies failed to capitalise on a good attack-

New Zealand - 34 Australia - 17 ing position just outside the New Zealand 22 and they were made to pay moments later when a pacey run from Milner-Skudder caught Will Genia offside and the lead was stretched out to 9-3 but, at this point, Australia were doing well to still be within a converted try of the defending World Champions.

Then came the first try of the final and an apparent hammer blow to Australia’s Webb Ellis trophy hopes. From a scrum in the Australian 22, the eggshell was shipped to

147-times capped McCaw who sent Milner-Skudder into the corner. A sublime conversion from the touchline from Carter once again gave the All Blacks a deserved 16-3 halftime lead.

In the second half, what many thought was a nail in the coffin was dished out by New Zealand through Nanu, who took an offload from Sonny Bill Williams, ran a beautiful inside attacking line, sidestepped Beale and beat Mitchell to score.

Full credit to the Wallabies for how they fought back, though. In a sinbin period resulting from Aaron Smith’s illegal tackle on Mitchell, a lineout maul from a penalty was driven over the line for Pocock to score. Nine minutes later, a perfectly weighted kick by Bernard Foley

allowed Kuridrani to gather and score. At 21-17 it was game on.

Being a constant thorn in the side of the Wallabies, it was Dan Carter who responded with a drop goal in almost identical fashion to the one scored against South Africa in the semi-final to make it 24-17.

That lead then stretched to ten as the iconic New Zealand number 10 punished a collapsed Australian scrum.

The final try of the tournament was a fitting finale to a great tournament. A fumbled pass from Australia right on the All Blacks’ line allowed New Zealand to break down the blindside. The ball was then kicked clear downfield and Barret then burned Pocock to gather a favourable bounce and touch down.

Dublin come out top at GAA / GPA All Star awards (continued) this year.

GPA Chief Executive Dessie Farrell added: “Congratulations to the GAA/GPA Football All-Stars who have made such a telling contribution to the 2015 football season.

“To become an All-Star a player must show tremendous character and ability and while no-one can claim that accolade without the collective support of his squad, it is important we pay tribute to the special individual performances throughout the campaign.

“Congratulations also to Hurler of the Year TJ Reid and Tadhg de Búrca and Footballer of the Year Jack McCaffrey and Diarmuid O’Connor on their enormous achievements in being honoured by their fellow players here tonight. Thanks to our All-Star selection committees and to all the county players for participating in the selection process.

Finally a huge thanks to our longtime sponsors Opel Ireland and MD Dave Sheeran for their loyal support of the Awards Scheme and players.”

Jack McCaffery - Player of the Year

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