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Vol. XVIII, Issue 8
Features:
Farewell Father Jack
Opinion:
If the catholic church is to survive, reform is essential
Wednesday, 9 March,, 2016
Sport: DCU too strong for Queen’s in quarter-final See back bage
THE COLLEGE VIEW Read more on page 16
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DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY’S ONLY INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1999
The DCU Dance Jazz group performing at the Dance Inters in Trinity College Dublin on March 2. The group came in third place. Credit: Colin Tonge
MacCraith gets grilling at CRC Katie O’Neill Deputy Editor @Katie_ONeill
OVERCROWDING in the computing faculty and campus accommodation rent hikes were among the issues Class Rep Council (CRC) brought to DCU President, Professor Brian MacCraith.
MacCraith put himself in the hot seat and invited questions from the reps in attendance. Three students raised the issue of overcrowding and underfunding in the computer sciences faculty.
With one final year computer applications student describing the situation as “dire”. “Does it concern you .. us going out to workforce with DCU degrees that aren’t up to standard because of the lack of funding that we have?” She probed MacCraith. “There’s more people than there has ever been and it’s so evident in the lecturing capabilities and resources in the labs,” another student from the faculty added. MacCraith admitted the faculty was under strain, but said the quality of degrees have not
suffered. “I’ll accept that we’re operating at maximum levels but I don’t think we’ve crossed that line yet and that’s why I say there’s need for investment.” “There are no messages coming to me from industry that the quality of our graduates are diminishing. Our computing students are the most in demand computing graduates of any Irish university and continue to be so.” The rent increases in campus accommodation were also raised. Economics, Politics and Law student, Sean Cassidy criticised the university’s decision to raise campus rents for a third consec-
utive year. “I’ve been doing some analysis on the increase happening in campus res over the past couple of years. Two years ago it was 3 per cent, last year it was three per cent this year it was 10 per cent, actually for DCU students it’s a 10 per cent increase, for anyone sitting in St Pats it’s a 38 per cent increase,” he claimed. However MacCraith challenged these figures, claiming the rent was set to raise Full story on page 4
INSIDE THE SUSS
THE SUSS COVERS LEOʼS BIG WIN AT THE 88th ACADEMY AWARDS
THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
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Editorial Catherine Devine Editor-in-Chief @CatherineDevin1
DCU Dance at the intervarsities Credit: DCU Dance Facebook
DURING the General Election it was common for politicians to think that Millennials had a lack of engagement with the world. How can we be compared to the spirit and intention of student activists of the 1960s? Tensions are running high in DIT with the threat of legal action as a trans-activist, Toryn Glavin, accused Boni Odoemene, a candidate running in the DIT SU presidential race, of transphobia and homophobia. While the bitter controversy is based on hearsay, it’s a reminder to students of the role they have in social progress. Campuses are designed to be a place for free speech, for students to grapple with social issues before they reach the wider world. Many students are being confronted with issues such as equality, sexuality and clashes of beliefs and cultures. It’s a time when we are exposed to new ideas and norms and emotions run high, but students have the time and surroundings to foster a sense of communication. Students for generations have been vanguards for social issues. Following the two wars and the discrimination towards the black community, the youth were dissatisfied with the world they inherited in the 1960s. The University of Geor-
gia (UGA) in Athens had a dedicated community of activists during the 1960s. In April 1968 students held a three day sit-in at the Academic Building to protest the unequal treatment of female students. The dress code and curfew rules were stricter for women than for men. Women, unlike men, were banned from living off campus and from drinking. In Paris in 1968, students protested against capitalism, consumerism and traditional institutions, values and order. It then spread to factories with strikes involving 11 million workers, more than 22 per cent of the total population of France at the time, for two continuous weeks. It was the largest general strike ever attempted in France. Campus activism has long been a means for students to personalise, contextualise and make sense of what it means to pursue social change. Last year, Emma Sulkowicz, a student at Columbia, pledged to carry a mattress on campus to protest the school’s refusal to expel her alleged rapist. Soon, hundreds of her classmates joined her, as did those at 130 other college campuses nationwide. Following the shooting of 18-year-old black student, Michael Brown, by a white Ferguson police officer in 2014, students at the University of Chicago held a social-media campaign to raise awareness about institutional intolerance. A “Hands Up Don’t
Shoot” walkout was staged by hundreds of Seattle teenagers. Some 600 students lay down in the middle of traffic in December for four and a half hours; the amount of time Michael Brown’s body was left in the street after being shot. Students at numerous other colleges did the same. Today we see groups such as ‘students against fees’ who tackle one of the biggest issues of our generation. We also see students demanding a referendum on repealing the 8th Amendment. Students are the largest group in the country that want a referendum on the issue. We also see campaigns such as UCD’s ‘slut walk’ where hundreds of UCD students came together to take a stand against sexual harassment. It’s important for us as students to raise concerns over issues close to us, especially as our own SU elections are taking place. We need to bring more light than heat to these conversations and foster a place of discussion on campus. Universities provide us with much more than classes and assignments and have a primary role providing us with a place to grapple with social issues before we enter wider society. We need to have serious, enthusiastic heartfelt discussions about the issues close to us and foster a community of discussion and free speech. As students we can start our political participation in society now.
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THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
DCU not eligible to vote for three seats during Seanád election
Breinn McGinn News Reporter @thecollegeview
DCU’S further exclusion from the Seanad electorate is “neither rational nor fair” according to DCU President Brian MacCraith in an article on the The Irish Times website last week. The article, which was written by DCU graduate Brian Mooney in his “Ask Brian” segment, highlights the fact that DCU, UL and IT graduates are not eligible to vote for three seats during Seanad elections despite a promise made by Enda Kenny in 2013 to tackle the issue. The graduates that are allowed vote come from two constituencies. One being any university under the NUI banner and the other being Trinity College. MacCraith is disappointed with the situation and feels that there should be an all-or-none
policy when it comes to graduates electing Seanad members. He said, “While the rationale for specific representation of university graduates in the Seanad is itself arguable, the current exclusion of DCU and UL graduates, when representation is offered to the other five universities, is neither rational nor fair.” It is incredibly unlikely that the promise made by Kenny will be dealt with when the incoming government forms as the Seanad’s importance has been questioned over the last number of years, as seen with the referendum to abolish the body in 2013. DCU politics professor Gary Murphy explained that the constitution was amended back in 1979 to allow DCU, UL and IT graduates to be included, but the amendment has never been legislated for due to a “lack of political will by politicians”. “For two decades working in this university I have argued for the 7th amendment in the
Faculty of
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Humanities & Social Science welcomes
new courses Hayley Halpin Deputy News Editor @HayleyHalpin1
Credit: oireachtas.ie
constitution to be legislated for and I was involved in the Seanad campaign to keep the Seanad and have it significantly amended but obviously nothing has happened. It’s a rather sad state of events really,” said Murphy. Another lecturer of politics in DCU, Dr. Deiric O’Bri-
on, believes that the vote is an outdated elitist ruling and offered alternate solutions. He said, “Maybe an obvious reform is to abolish the university panels completely and allow the Taoiseach to appoint an additional 6 or allow councillors elect an additional six?”
Laura Harmon,former USI president runs for Seanad Election Hannah Kelly Deputy News Editor @thecollegeview
FORMER USI president, Laura Harmon announced she will run as an Independent candidate in the Seanad Eireann elections. She is running for a position on the National University of Ireland panel, which consists of three seats. In an interview with The College View, Harmon expressed she wanted to see reform in the Seanad. “I voted for retention of the Seanad and I think people who voted for that voted because they wanted to see a reform in the Seanad. We didn’t see any reform,” Harmon said. She explained how she believes every Irish citizen should be entitled to vote in the Seanad elections. This includes “not only all graduates, but all citizens including votes for citizens abroad”. “I want to see an online voting system like in the UK, this would make it easier for people to vote,” Harmon said. One issue she feels passionate about is an accessible education system. Ireland has the second highest college fees in Europe. Harmon fears that if this continues Irish students will leave and study abroad in countries that offer free education. She believes education should be publicly invested in and “accessible at all levels from primary school all the way to third level.” During her time as USI presi-
News
NEW Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses are being added to the DCU Faculty of Humanities & Social Science, following the amalgamation of St. Patrick’s College (SPC), Mater Dei Institute of Education and DCU. A new incorporated BA (Joint Honours) Arts programme has been introduced to the available Undergraduate courses in DCU as a result of the different BA programmes in DCU, St. Pats and Mater Dei. Included in the new BA (Joint Honours) subjects are English, Geography, History, Human Development, Music, Theology and Religious Studies, which were previously taught in St. Pats and Mater Dei. The new Postgraduate courses in the Faculty include Children’s Literature, Irish, History, Theatre Studies, International Theatre Studies, Music, Theology and Poetry Studies. These were previously called the Taught MA in Humanities, in St. Pats. It has not yet been decided which campus the classes will be delivered on, according to Dr. Jennifer Bruen, Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning, in the Faculty. “Sometimes students could end up on both campuses, but we try to minimise that as much as possible,” Bruen said. The Faculty said they will not face any issues with a rise in students due to the new courses, as the the BA Arts classes will be spread throughout the three campuses. “The masters courses don’t tend to be huge, they range in numbers but they’re not in the hundreds,” Bruen said. “There isn’t really a numbers issue with them.” The new BA Arts programme began running last September. The Postgraduate courses run as two year part time programmes, with half of the new courses running since September. The other half of courses will begin next September. Theology and Poetry Studies run every year. “It’s lovely to have all the new ideas and new programmes in the Faculty,” Bruen said. “It’s a huge advantage for us. It’s a great choice for students as well, to have a good mixture.”
Credit: www.irishtimes.com
dent, Harmon worked with over 300,000 students across the country. She hopes the experience she gained from this experience will help her if elected. “I’ve learned about a lot of issues facing young people, their
views are often not represented,” she said, “I’ve received amazing support from individuals in Student Unions and from students.” Along with accessible education, Harmon wants to focus on environmental issues such
as climate change as well improving the support for the arts. “I want to be a Senator who represents the views of modern Ireland,” Harmon told the Irish Times.
Credit: dcu.ie
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UCD to vote on whether they will rejoin the USI Aisling McCabe NewsReporter @thecollegeview
UCD STUDENTS will face a referendum next Tuesday and Wednesday on whether or not their college should re-affiliate with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). A group of students led by the national Labour Youth chair, Grace Williams, created a petition and collected names from well over the 3.5 per cent of the student body needed in order for the referendum to go ahead. “The reason that we have called this referendum is to make sure we will have an impact after the general election”, Williams said. Students will be asked to answer the following question: “Shall UCDSU affiliate to the Union of Students in Ireland, subject to an increase in the Student Centre Levy of €5 per full-time student and €2.50 per part-time student?”. Students in UCD voted to leave the USI in 2013 after it was disclosed that the union was in €1.4 million debt due to poor accounting practices. The students who favoured the disaffiliation from the USI thought that UCD Students’ Union should start to focus more on local issues.
DCU President reveals plan to combat overcrowding Katie O’Neill Deputy Editor @Katie__ONeill
Continued from page 1
Credit: beginningdubli.com
The results of the last referendum saw students voting to leave the USI by a margin of 64.5 per cent. In January 2015 former UCDSU President Míchéal Gallagher launched a “Rejoin USI” campaign
and USI President Kevin Donoghue told UCD’s student newspaper that they would “very much welcome any move from students to re-affiliate”. DCU’s Student’s Union voted
to re-affiliate themselves with the USI three years ago at the same time UCD voted in favour of disaffiliating themselves.
O’Sullivan accepts end of Labour Aura McMenamin Deputy News Editor @thecollegeview LABOUR SHOULD not continue in government, according to outgoing Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan. The Labour TD from Limerick City barely hung onto her seat in this election. She gained the final seat on the sixth count, failing to meet the vote quota and scraping by on transfers. “We were in government and were offering to continue fighting for equality, for those services we think are important, and people decided they didn’t want us,” she told the Irish Examiner Thursday. Election 2016 ended Labour’s time as the country’s second biggest party. The number of seats they occupied dropped from 33 to 7, making it the worst election in their 104-year history. When Jan O’Sullivan was appointed Minister for Education and Skills in 2014, she faced an uphill battle to regain the trust of students. Ruari Quinn, who preceded her as Minister, signed a pledge that the government would not continue to hike fees in 2011. Ten
THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
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months later, €250 was added to cost of education in the new budget. Jan O’Sullivan’s short time as Minister oversaw two budgets. In the 2015 budget, there were no cuts to the maintenance grant and €25m was restored to higher education funding. However, the fees rose to €3,000 and rent prices had risen
by 17 per cent in Dublin that summer. There was no mention of third-level funding except for €3m towards the Student Assistance Fund in Budget 2016. The SAF is a form of financial aid for disadvantaged students in third-level. Another €2m was added for developing Technology Universities in Dublin and Munster.
With the main focus falling on primary and secondary schools, the USI surveyed students and said that “80 per cent of students would not vote for the current government after the new budget.” The Higher Education submitted a report to the Dept. of Education calling for tax breaks on the Local Property Tax and zero VAT to ease the cost of building these sites. As the College View reported, The Department rejected these proposals, saying they were unjustified. In February she refused to rule out more fees. She said: “We are not ruling anything in or out. We want to have that debate, but I want to stress again that Labour will not have barriers to moving forward in education.” Student loan systems were recently suggested in leaked reports, something the USI has insisted will cause ‘crippling debt’. Labour’s poor showing in the election suggests students were unimpressed by these proposals.dum saw students voting to leave the USI by a margin of 64.5 per cent. In January 2015 former UCDSU President Míchéal Gallagher launched a “Rejoin USI” campaign and USI President Kevin Donoghue
by three per cent. “The figures you have don’t agree with the figures I have and I’m not going to get into a battle with you on that.” Despite being faced with a barrage of difficult questions, MacCraith said he wouldn’t shy away from addressing students’ issues. “If asked by CRC, I’ll always be available. I’ll never avoid questions. I’ll always be available in that regard. I never want senior management to become disconnected,” he said. Another rep quizzed the president on the merging of timetables after the amalgamation. MacCraith said the DCU timetable will be the base for the academic calendar going forward with one exception, “We’d like to bring the completion of semester one exams before Christmas,” he said. During his presentation, MacCraith revealed major renovations planned for the campus. “All of the contracts have now been signed. We will be announcing a campus development plan worth over €200 million for primarily this campus.” “We’ve hit capacity problems you’re probably seeing that yourselves in some of your lectures. We need more lecture space. We need more student accommodation. We need more laboratories and so on. To allow that growth, this is loan finance so we’ll take out loans. We’ll negotiate with the European Investment Bank and the Irish Strategic Investment Fund.” The professor told students plans for the reconstruction of the student centre are at an “advanced stage of the design”. “It’s going to transform this campus and the student experience on this campus for many decades to come. He briefly outlined some of the plans for the space, “leadership and life skills centre will be in there; a whole chunk of the floor will be innovation and entrepreneurship; a global section for our global student community; arts and culture spaces; the various media elements of the campus itself will have a section there; clubs and socs of course; the Students’ Union. It’ll be a fantastic building on the campus itself. We start breaking ground on that in June.” Students will be tasked with naming the new centre. “There will be a competition for students to name the building that will run through the SU.”
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THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
FUJO host review of General Election online coverage
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Paul Dwyer Deputy News Editor @thecollegeview
A REVIEW of online coverage of the general election was hosted by The Institute of Future Media and Journalism (Fujo) in the School of Business in DCU’s Glasnevin campus last Thursday night. ONA was co-founded by Áine Kerr of Storyful and Liam Corcoran of Newswhip. Their objective is to bring the worlds of technology and journalism together in a collaborative environment. The event was hosted by Jane Suiterandfeaturedpanellists including Mark Little, Twitter’s Vice-President of Media for Europe and Africa and Mary Regan, the Political Editor of UTV Ireland. Each of the panellists spoke for 10 minutes on a particular topic that social media had an impact on during the election. Afterwards the panellists took questions from the audience. Speakers Kevin Doyle and Dr Eugenia Siapera both discussed how GE16 was a truly digital campaign that saw traditional parties compete with new parties and how tradition-
al media collided with social platforms. Mr. Doyle also said that opinion polls held by The Irish Independent found that repeal of the 8th amendment was not a major concern for voters during election time. The Irish Online News Associ-
ation, in partnership with Fujo, organised the event to give students the opportunity to hear from the panellists some of the interesting facts that they discovered during the General Election. For example, Sinn Féin received the most negative press out of all
Gender quotas worked in GE16 but 4/5 of new TD’s are male Aine Marie Monk Gaeilge Editor @thecollegeview
A RECORD number of female TDs were elected to the 32nd Dáil Eireann, which has been credited to the introduction of gender quotas. The Union of Student’s in Ireland (USI) welcomed the impact the introduction of this legislation had on the formation of the next government. president, Kevin Donoghue: “The new 32nd Dáil has the highest ever number of female TDs – 22 per cent, up from 15 per cent, an increase of 47 per cent,” said USI President, Kevin Donoghue: He added that four in five politicians are still male, but the quota creates a diversity of voices in Leinster House, leading to more robust decisions and aiding the creation of a more equal, broader and more dynamic society in Ireland. Ireland currently ranks joint 86th of 140 countries worldwide in relation to political representation of women, alongside North Korea and South Korea. Ellen O’Malley Dunlop hopes to be the first female candidate elected since Gemma Hussey in 1981. She was the first female candidate to announce her running for the NUI Seanad Election 2016: “The Seanad needs to move closer to Gender balance. It’s beginning to work in the Dáil and it will work in the Seanad too.
Female political representation between 1977-2011 suggests that it’s not the electorate that is biased against women but that women’s under representation in the Dáil is rather linked to the candidate selection process, cash, child care, confidence and culture.” The introduction the Gender Quota Bill in 2011 increased the female candidates elected in the 2016 General Election. Section 42 of the bill halves the state funding of political parties who fail to ensure at least 30 per cent of their general election candidates are women and 30 per cent are men.
Ellen O’Malley Dunlop with President Higgins Credit: Fiona O’Malley
the political parties and the Social Democrats used Twitter and social media the most to communicate with their followers. Mark Little said that social media allows regular people to put more pressure on politicians to answer for their decisions.
“Social media asks the questions that politicians are not willing to and do not want to discuss,” he said. The night concluded with the panlelists opening up a dialog with the audience by taking some of their questions.
We field Adult and Underage GAA teams (Hurling, Gaelic Football, Ladies Gaelic Football, Camogie). So if you would like to know more or would like to get involved visit www.stbrendansgaa.com
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DCU do Seachtain na Gaeilge Aine Monk Gaeilge Editor @thecollegeview
SEACHTAIN na Gaeilge is a nationwide campaign backed by organisations who aim to promote Irish. It takes place the week before St. Patrick’s Day each year. Whilst great emphasis is put on the campaign in schools across the country, third level institutes also opt to take part in the festivities. Chairperson of An Cumann Gaelach DCU, Caoimhe Ní Chathail, praised the work done to make the campaign a success this year: “Seachtain na Gaielge involves so much planning from our committee but also cooperation with the likes of the SU and St Pats Cumann Gaelach. The week was launched brilliantly by a broadcast on DCUfm with Raidió Rí Rá and the rest of the week looks set to be fantastic. We are particularly excited this year for our inter-society event ‘How Gaelach Are You’ which sees society representatives battling it out to be crowned DCU’s most ‘Gaelach’ student. The presence of Irish on campus and across social media is something which we’re pushing a lot this year and it’s brilliant to have an entire week dedicated to the language.” Seachtain na Gaeilge is run by An Cumann Gaelach in DCU, alongside DCUSU. The week is filled to the brim with Irish-themed events and students are encouraged to speak Irish as much as possible. This year the events conNew additions to the schedsisted of Shite Nite Gaelach, Tie-dye and Bricfeásta Gaelach ule included Granny Biongó in in the 1838 restaurant, run in the Old Bar, a DCUfm broadassociation with DCU Alumni. cast with Raidió Rí-Rá and
Credit: Cumann Gaelach Facebook
Paineal na Meáin, featuring Bláthnaid Ní Chófaigh, Shane Ó Curraighin and the ladies behind Irish beauty blog, ‘Gaeilge
Over 350 students attend DCU blood donation clinic Hannah Kelly Deputy News Editor @thecollegeview Over 350 students attended DCU’s blood donation clinic run by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, last week. The clinic was open from the 29th of February to the 2nd of March and is the first DCU clinic of the year. The IBTS runs similar clinics in UCD, Maynooth and DIT. Ashling O’Brien, the Donor Recruitment manager from the IBTS, stressed how crucial links with colleges are. “Links with third level students are exceptionally important to get our message out and to recruit new donors”, O’Brien said. She explained how students are more likely to spread the message of donating blood as they graduate and move into working new communities. This generates more donors and lengthens their
Credit: Laura Horan
donation panels. The deferral rate for students is about 37%, this is for a number of different reasons related to the lifestyle of young people. “Students travel a lot, they get piercings and tattoos too”, O’Brien said, “it’s right across the board for younger people”. She explained how regular donors are less likely to be turned away and the percentage is so high as it includes a lot of first time donors. She encourages people to check their eligibility on giveblood.ie before attending a donating clinic.
“First time donors are not as prepared, knowledge is an advantage”, she said. To donate blood, donors must be aged between 18 to 60 and weigh between 50kg and 130kg. Smokers can donate but should wait at least an hour after smoking a cigarette before donating. The IBTS does not accept blood from men who have had sex with other men. 1 in 4 people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives. InNovember2015, the IBTS suspended some female donors,who had donated blood in the past 18 months, from donating blood. In July 2014 IBTS introduced a new non-invasive way of checking haemoglobin levels but this turned out to be not as effective in showing some donors low levels. “It will affect donation levels for the next 6 months as more people are being deferred”, O’Brien said. The deferral times vary depending on the individual donors haemoglobin levels, but could be between 3 or 6 months.
le Glam.’ Another event added various societies within DCU to the agenda was a gameshow battled it out to claim the title dubbed ‘How Gaelach Are You’ of ‘Most Gaelach Student’. whereby representatives from
NUIG first to appoint Vice President for Equality and Diversity Paul Dwyer Deputy News Editor @thecollegeview NUI Galway became the first ever Irish university to appoint a vice president for Equality and Diversity when they awarded the position to Prof Anne Scott last Friday afternoon. Professor Scott is currently Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Community in Liverpool John Moore’s University and she previously held the post of head of the school of science and deputy president registrar from 2000-2012. Professor Scott is an active mentor for the Aurora women only leadership development programme in the UK; she has been recognised by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) through the Ireland’s Most Powerful Women. The position of VP for Equality & Diversity has been introduced by
the University following the establishment of a Task Force on Gender Equality by the University’s Governing Body in February 2015 after an Equality Tribunal ruling in November 2014 found Dr Micheline Sheehy Skeffington had been discriminated against in being passed over for promotion by the university. The creation of the post now held by Prof Scott was one of four major recommendations made by the task force, led by former Trinity College Dublin vice provost Prof Jane Grimson. President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne said: “I am delighted to announce this appointment today at NUI Galway and I very much look forward to welcoming Professor Scott to this new role which will lead on addressing issues of equality and diversity across the University.” The creation of this new post reflects the University’s commitment to transformational change and putting an end to discrimination within the college.
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DCU dance over the competition Jennifer Purdy News Reporter @thecollegeview DCU DANCE Society took home five awards at an inter varsity competition in Trinity College Dublin, last week. The society achieved first place in their mixed piece and hip hop piece. The competition saw colleges from all over the country compete across five sections; irish, contemporary, jazz, hip hop and mixed piece. DCU placed second in Irish, third in Jazz and hip hop. Competitor Franz Kwan also snatched up a best performer award. DCU was one of the largest participants at the event with 66 dancers taking to the stage in total. Sinéad McCool, Chairperson of DCU dance, was delighted that all the hard work from the dancers paid off. “One thing that people don’t see is the hours of rehearsals that are put into these routines. We’ve been practising for weeks but at the end of the day it’s completely down to the judges and what styles they like on the day. We ticked all the boxes this year so everyone’s hard work has paid off which is great to see”, she said. Last year DCU placed second
THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
DCU researchers recognised by President’s award Clara Hickey News Reporter @thecollegeview
DCU Dance crew Credit: Chai Brady
in the mixed piece category which much it meant to the society to have involves dancers putting together the trophy back. a routine incorporating all dance “Coming second in the mixed styles. McCool went on to say how piece last year was a blow after a five
THE ANNUAL President’s Award for Research was awarded to Professor Gerry McNamara, Dr Prince Anadarajah, and Professor Jens Ducree for their outstanding work in their fields of research, last week. The award in the fields of Humanities, Social Sciences, Business and Education was awarded to McNamara, reiterating his research’s national and international reputation.
year streak but to win back the title Education this year is an incredible feeling and I couldn’t be prouder of all the choIn his previous posts, such as a reographers and dancers”, she said. teacher and curriculum developer, McNamara has been committed to the idea that everyone who encounters Ireland’s education system deserves the highest quality of a service no matter what their background is. Anadarajah received the first ever award in the President’s Award in the Research Staff Category.
Ex convict leads enactus bootcamp
Digital Data His research on high-speed photonic and optical networks has allowed increasing amounts of digital data to be transmitted more quickly and over longer distances. Ducree, DCU School of Physical Science, was awarded the President’s Research Award in Science and Engineering for his work in the field of microsystems. Ducree’s research is based on miniature devices included in cars and smart phones, which measure location, speed, and acceleration. Such as the filters used on Snapchat which can show your speed and location from sensors within your smart phone.
Research
Alison Ring News Reporter @thecollegeview DCU ENACTUS Society launched a fitness boot-camp conducted by a former prisoner as their latest social enterprise project, last week. ‘Prison Break’ is run in conjunction with charity,Care After Prison (CAP), which aims to provide employment to former prisoners. Prison Break takes place every Wednesday in Albert College Park
In 2015, DCU spent €40m on research by allowing researchers like McNamara, Anadarajah, and Ducree, to explore and solve current and future challenges in our society. This investment resulted in a new blood test for bowl cancer being created and a new technology DCU student, Conor Hawkins getting fit with the enactus bootcamp Credit: Lucy Mangan being founded to help understand more about our galaxy and how it instructed by ex-prisoner and CAP same model here, provide Kieran out but also laid back enough for was formed. member Kieran. with a source of income, and get fit you to enjoy it.” “We want to get rid of the stig- in return!” Each class costs €5 with €3 goma that people have around ex-prisKieran describes the classes as, ing directly to Kieran, €1 to the Care oners, we’d love to see a second for- “an intense hour of circuits and the After Prison charity and €1 to Enacmer prisoner get involved and really games at the end for a bit of fun, tus DCU for operational costs. enable Kieran to achieve as much as like wheelbarrow races and relay Enactus chairperson Roisin possible”, said Enactus team leader games.” Nestor said: “It’s going really well, Mark Farrelly. He said he was surprised at the we had a big interest from students “We met the guys from Care Af- fitness level of the students in week already. It’s empowering for Kieran ter Prison to discuss how we could one, and is looking to make it harder. and the participants, myself includwork with them and we heard KierParticipant, ConorHawkinssaid: ed. We’d love to see more students an was teaching a fitness boot camp “I thought it was very enjoyable. It getting involved and maybe even to other ex-prisoners. was tough enough for you to feel getting a second class started.” We knew we could apply the like you were getting a good work
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THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
Opinion 9
If the Catholic Church is to survive, reform is essential
It has been at the centre of shocking scandals over the past few years. Hannah Moran explains what she thinks the Catholic Church needs to do to regain the trust of its followers.
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THE role of the Catholic Church in society has become something of a debate in recent years. Is the church relevant to life in this day and age? Should we believe in an institution that has abused the trust of its followers in the past? Will there ever be a day when the church is regarded with respect without the cloud of judgement and wariness which we have recently become accustomed? With any new generation beliefs and rules are called into question, no more than with the younger generation of today. The revelations concerning the church, which have been brought to the forefront of society in the last 10 years, have led to a lax in trust in the church amongst millennials. The way in which our grandparents and parents were taught about religion differs dramatically to religious education in schools today. This has led to a generation divide between what we were told as children and what we have learned through school. Although, the change in how the church influences education may not be a bad thing. Perhaps it is easier for
teenagers to make an informed decision on religions and whether they should play a role in their life, if they have been given the opportunity to study each in equal measure, independent of bias. There are several reasons why, in my opinion, young people are less inclined to be as dedicated to the church as their elder relatives. For one thing, the same-sex marriage referendum last May was heavily supported by students, and was of course against the views of the church. This year the repeal of the 8th amendment and abortion laws are huge topics of interest among students and again the church has taken a firm stance against changing the law. Perhaps a lack of understanding in terms of the opinions and beliefs of the younger generation is preventing the church from gaining a fresh following. Maybe the church, which still appears as an unwavering and unyielding force in terms of progression, should reconsider its rigid convictions. Spotlight, winner of Best Picture at the recent Academy Awards is a prime example of the
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In my eyes, the biggest issue in regards to the church involves admitting to fault
lengths the church has gone to in the past to appear faultless and without blame. After the Boston Globe published its findings on alleged sexual abuse cases involving the Catholic Church in Boston in 2002, the investigative team was inundated with calls from people wanting to tell their own stories. Following this revelation there was a shift in how people viewed the church, which has led to a tense relationship with the generation which grew up with the church in the headlines, for all the wrong reasons. According to a recent case in Pennsylvania in the U.S, two Catholic bishops allegedly covered up the sexual abuse of hundreds
of children by over fifty members of the clergy. With stories like this becoming more apparent it becomes difficult to defend, or even find reason to support, an institution which would allow a crime of this nature to go unreported not once, but hundreds of times. Perhaps the biggest issue was that people, particularly in the 20th century, didn’t know what to do, they had no voice. In the case in Pennsylvania the victims were allegedly threatened with excommunication, they would have been shunned from their community if they dared to defy the church. Now the axis has spun in reverse and it is the church that is left ashen and disbelieving of how it is now viewed by society. It was only after allegations against priests in Ireland came to light in the media that it became a topic of discussion that was no longer taboo. For an established institution such as the church, with such a profound grip of power over the people of this country, it was the beginning cracks in an already outdated ideology. Irish people have never been
the most forthcoming when it comes to sharing; we tend to insistently keep our problems to ourselves. I have always thought that in Ireland it seems like people think that talking about an issue is a sign of weakness, when in fact it is a show of strength. In my eyes, the biggest issue in regards to the church involves admitting to fault and making a conscious effort to evolve and adapt to change as society changes, something I feel the church has yet to do. For there to be progress there must first be change. If the church is going to remain a part of Irish people’s lives, and not just something our ancestors used to believe in, it must reform in order to become something younger generations will want to believe in. Whether the church will fully recover from the scandals it has faced over the last few years remains to be seen. One thing that is certain however, the power the church held in society and in particular in the lives of Irish people has lessened and will likely never return to its previous strength again.
THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
10 Opinion
Breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health
As the number of students with mental health issues reaches an alarming level, Sarah Magliocco discusses how stigma is preventing people from seeking help. WITH one in 20 Irish students rating their mental health as poor or very poor, and an average of 131 students dying by suicide each year, it is now more important than ever to look at the mental health facilities that are available to young people. Ease of access to mental health information and support has improved hugely in recent years, with counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy becoming available free of charge to those with medical cards for up to eight sessions. Free counselling services have been made accessible in most universities across the country, DCU included, and almost every bathroom door on campus is host to an advertisement for Niteline, a free and confidential listening service. With all of this affordable and accessible mental health care, why is it that still 55 per cent of students would rather deal with their issues alone, and over one-third would try to ignore their problems all together?This is because there is still a stigma attached to mental health problems. No one wants to
be thought of as that guy with depression or that girl with anxiety disorder, and with the pressures and time constraints of university life, students don’t want to focus their time and energy on their mental health. The ‘ah sure, it’ll be grand’ mentality is still very prevalent in the attitudes of young people, with depressive episodes being written off as bad days and panic attacks being put down to having a nervous disposition. Students need to know that university is a highly stressful and transitional period of life, and that there is absolutely no shame or stigma in needing a little extra help to get through those tougher and more problematic spans of life. Transitioning from secondary school to college where you know no one and have to adapt to brand new way of academic process can cause feelings of isolation, loneliness and fear, which can easily trigger underlying mental health problems. College studies, relationships and finances are cited as some of the biggest stresses for students. Research from the Royal
“ Why is it that 55 per cent of students would still rather deal with their issues alone?
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College of Surgeons shows that one in five young people are experiencing a mental disorder, and this combined with the stresses of college life can easily contribute to a worsening of symptoms. People who have dealt with issues in the past may see those issues reappearing and may not know how to cope with their problems in this new phase of their life. It is important that powerful demonstrations like the Send Silence Packing display at Trinity College Dublin, where
131 empty backpacks were lain out on the lawn at the campus, each to represent one student who has been lost to suicide in the last year, keep happening. These demonstrations remind students that stigma and silence are dangerous and damaging, and that no matter how deep your problem, talking to someone is always the best answer. Mental health is as precious and important as physical health, and shame should not be a barrier to students to access help when they need it.
Kesha is giving a voice to victims of abuse With the high profile court case between singer Kesha and producer Dr Dre capturing the attention of the public, Conor Martin explains why he thinks it’s an example of the prominent existence of rape culture. THE significance of singer-songwriter Kesha’s injunction denial goes deeper than contracts and making a profit. In 2014, Nashville native Kesha Rose Sebert, formerly known as Ke$ha, began a legal battle to stop working with her producer at Sony Music, Dr. Luke. Kesha wants out of her contract because she says that over the course of the ten years they worked together, Dr. Luke allegedly drugged, raped, threatened, and manipulated her, both emotionally and creatively. Dr. Luke was the executive producer for both of Kesha’s albums. A New York judge recently denied Kesha a court injunction that would have allowed her to record new music outside of her record label, Sony Music, and working with producer Dr. Luke. She still remains the creative property of the man she says raped her. The 28-year-old singer is practically being punished for standing up for her basic human rights. She isn’t even asking for her allegedabuser to be punished, she just wants to be free to create music and move on with her life. However, Kesha has become a product and
an example of how the legal system can easily go against the underdog. Kesha’s injunction request read: “I know I cannot work with Dr. Luke. I physically cannot. I don’t feel safe in any way.” As women’s rights advocate, Lena Dunham, said in an open letter dealing with the case: “what’s happening to Kesha highlights the way that the American legal system continues to hurt women by failing to protect them from the men they identify as their abusers”. For anyone who has difficulty in identifying rape culture, or doubts its existence, this case is an accurate example. We are living in a culture that is consistently reluctant to believe survivors of abuse, leading to many victims not speaking out about their ordeal. The figures on this speak for themselves, as 68 per cent of victims in the US will never report their abuse to the police. The case between Kesha and Dr. Luke may be continuing, however, it will have a positive impact on many people. Female artists including Lorde, Grimes, Lily Allen and Kelly Clarkson have publicly supported the singer-song-
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Kesha has become a product and an example of how the legal system can easily go against the underdog writer. Taylor Swift has agreed to give the singer $250,000 to help with any financial needs and Adele publicly supported Kesha in her acceptance speech at The Brit Awards. Lady Gaga also posted a video on her Instagram account of fans protesting in favour of the #FreeKesha Movement. The demographic that these stars will reach worldwide will hopefully give many people the confidence to speak out. As a society we need to learn from the Kesha case, not only because she is famous but because she is a person who is trapped in her own version of hell.
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THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
Gaeilge 11
Teicneolaíocht Nua: Tapadóir
Credit: dcu.ie Áine Monk Eagarthóir Gaeilge @thecollegeview
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taighde agus tionscadail nua-theicneolaíocht idir láimhe ag taighdeoirí agus saineolaíthe lonnaithe in ionad taighde ADAPT anseo in Ollscoil Chaithair Bhaile Átha Cliath. Baineann na tionscadail taighde leis an tecneolaíocht, aistriúcháin, na meáin shóisialta, an oideachais, cúrsaí ríomhaireachta agus mionteangacha cosúil leis an Ghaeilge. Is tionscadal ‘Tapadóir’ a bhí tosaíthe i mí Eanáir 2014 agus atá maoinithe ag an Roinn Ealaíon , Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta (DAHG). An príomh-aidhm is mó atá ag Tapadóir ná forbairt a dhéanamh ar luas aistriúcháin ó Bhéarla go dtí an Ghaeilge, tríd úsáid úirlisí haistriúcháin uathoibríoch. Tá ainm an tionscadal bunaithe ar an bhfocal ‘tapa’ i nGaeilge, a chiallaíonn ‘fast’. Is teanga oifigiúil na hÉireann í an Ghaeilge, agus de réir Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003, caithfidh gach doiciméad rialtas agus comhlachtaí phoiblí na hÉireann a bheith dhátheangach. Cuireann an acht seo an-bhrú ar aistreoirí proifisiúnta an rialtais doiciméad dátheangacha den ard-chaighdéan a chruthú go tapa. Is é an aidhm is mó ag Tapadóir ná cabhair a thabhairt do na haistreoirī seo na doiciméad seo a chruthú go tapa trí usáid a bhaint as úirlisí aistriúcháin uathoibríoch. San Aontas Eorpach, tá maolú i gceist maidir le haistriúcháin
na Gaeilge. Míníonn é seo nach gcaithfidh an Aontais Eorpach gach doiciméad oifigiúl a aistriú go Gaeilge, i ndairíre. Ach beidh deireadh curtha leis an maolú seo i 2022. Ón bpointe sin amach beidh éileamh mhór ar aistreoirí na Gaeilge - agus is dócha go mbeidh éileamh ar áiseanna aistriúcháin ar nós Tapadóir chomh maith. Tá an tionscadal teicneolaíochta seo idir láimhe ag taighdeoirí agus saineolaíocht in ionad taighde ADAPT, suite in Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath. Tá comhpháirtíocht idir ADAPT, Fondúireacht Eolaíochta Éireann agus taighdeoirí eile. Cuirtear béim ar thionscadal nua a bhunú, a bhfuil bainteach le hanailís ar na meáin shóisialta, logánú, inneachar agus na meáin nua-aimsearthangan in éineacht le foghlaim foirmiúil agus neamh-fhoirmiúil a éascú. Is uirlis thar a bheith reabhlóideach le haghaidh dóibh siúd ag obair leis an nGaeilge é ‘Tapadóir’. Cuireann sé go mór le cé chomh tapa is a bhfuil duine in ann cáispéisí á aistriú ó Bhéarla go Gaeilge. Glacann sé páirt croí-lár i gcóras atá i bhfeidhm sa chomhlacht nó Roinn cheana féin - mar shampla, i dtaobh an líon costas agus cruinneas an aistriúcháin a bhfuil mar thoradh as. Thug aistritheoirí in DAHG aiseolas an-dhearfach do thaighdeoirí in ADAPT tar éis an teicneolaíocht nua a thrialladh le déanaí ag tá foghlaimíonn Tapadóir ón stíl aistriúcháin atá acu tar éis tamaill a chaitheamh ag déanamh an obair. Ach ní stopann Tapadóir ag an nGaeilge. Bíonn aistriúcháin
“ “Is teanga beo í an Ghaeilge, atá á úsáid sa ré dhigiteach agus mar gheall ar sin, caithfidh áiseanna
uathoibreach i gceist go minic i dteangacha eile timpeall na cruinne, go háiríthe sna teangacha móra, cosúil leis an bhFraincis agus an Ghearmáinis. Aidhm amháin atá ag an tionscadal digiteach seo ná háiseanna cosúil le haistriúcháin uathoibreach a chur ar fáil do lucht labhartha na mionteangacha, go háiríthe an Ghaeilge sa chás seo. Beidh an teicneolaíocht in úsáid ag daoine fostaithe ag an Rialtais sa tír seo agus ag aistritheoirí faoi stiúir ag an Aontas Eorpach. Déanfar uasdátú ar an gcorpas in úsáid sa teicneolaíocht nua seo go minic, chun chinntiú go bhfuil an stór focal cruinn agus i gceart. An rud is mó atá de dhíth ag córas aistriúcháin uathoibríoch cosúil le Tapadóir ná data - agus is é an ábhar is mó atá i gceist ná corpais dhátheangacha a bhfuil den cheád caighdeán. Chuaigh Meghan Dowling, céimí ríomheolaíocht agus an Ghaeilge i gColáiste Tríonóide, agus í ina cuntasóir taighde ar an bhfoireann Tapadóir in ADAPT anois, chuig an Pholainn, chun cur i láthair a dhéanamh faoin teicneolaíocht: “Is teanga beo í an Ghaeilge, atá á úsáid sa ré dhigiteach agus mar gheall ar sin, caithfidh áiseanna teicneolaíochta a bheith ann di. Leis an obair seo, bhí muid ag iarraidh áis úsáideach a chruthú do aistreoirí gairmiúla na Gaeilge agus tá muid an-sásta leis na torthaí agus an aiseolais a bhfuireamar.” Chuir Meghan alt faoin tionscadal Tapadóir chun cinn ag an gcomhdháil in Poznan anuraidh, ag déanamh cur síos ar na hiarrachtaí déanta chun an
Ghaeilge a spreagadh timpeall na cruinne tríd an teicneolaíocht nua agus uirlisí nua-aimseartha. Cuireadh modúil eile leis an uirlis aistriúcháin seo chun déileáil leis an ghramadach sa Ghaeilge. Tagann laghdú ar bhotúin ghramadaí tar éis an uirlis seo a chur i bhfeidhm. Cuireann na taighdeoirí in ADAPT béim ar an gcaighdeán Gaeilge maidir le Tapadóir agus iad ina nGaeilgeoirí freisin, mar shampla, ceartaíonn an chóras na botúin seo a leanas: ‘le mé’ go ‘liom’, ‘le an bean’ go ‘leis an mbean’, agus mar sin de Dúirt an Dr. John Judge an méid seo faoi na feabhsúchán seo: “Leis an obair seo le teicneoilaíocht dhigiteach, tá ár bhfoireann ag cuir cumas ar chruthaíocht níos éasca áiseanna dhigiteacha na Gaeilge. Dearbhaíonn é seo stádas an teanga mar an céad teanga náisúnta agus chomh maith leis sin, feabhsaíonn sé cumas an saoránach gnó a dhéanamh leis an Stáit trí Ghaeilge. Ag an am céanna, feabhsaíonn sé an táirgiúlacht agus cuireann sé laghdú ar an gcostas a bhaineann le seirbhisí phoiblí trí Ghaeilge.” De réir scrúdú le déanaí, tagann torthaí agus aistriúcháin i bhfad níos cruinne ó Tapadóir in aghaidh Google Translate agus é fós ag fás agus ag feabhsú. Tá sár-obair déanta ag Tapadóir agus le teacht 2020, nuair a stopann an maolú san Aontas Eorpach, beidh muid ag braith ar an teicneolaíocht seo ach go háirithe chun an Ghaeilge a dhéanamh go hiomlán oigifigiúil agus ar an gcaighdeán is feidir a bheith muiníneach as.
THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
12 Gaeilge
Ón bpáirc imeartha chun na hAstráile Ciara McCabe Scríbhneoir @thecollegeview
“IT’S unreal, it’s a dream come true, I know it’s a cliché but it is 100 per cent true – I’ve always dreamed of being a professional sportsman.” Sin na focail a dúirt Colin O Riordan nuair a shínigh sé conradh chun peil Astrálach a imirt le Sydney Swans i mí Dheireadh Fómhair an bhliain seo caite. Dúirt Kinnear Beatson, a bhfuil i gceannas ar an earcaíocht don chlub le haghaidh an foireann, go bhfuil siad iontach sásta go bhfuil O Riordan mar bhaill de na ‘Swans’ anois. “Colin came to the club early this week for trial and had a training session with members of our academy where he instantly impressed us.’ Ní hé O Riordan an taon imreoir amháin a bhfuil aistriú den saghas seo déanta aige. Níl sé ach ainm ar liosta fada d’imreoirí a bhfuil imithe ann chun an taithí nua a fháil le Cumann Peile na hAstráile. Thosaigh ‘Triail na hÉireann’ nó ‘The Irish Experiment’ i rith na 1980idí agus ba thionscadal neamhfhoirmiúil é ag Melbourne Football Club ach in ainneoin cúpla imreoirí ar nós Jim Stynes, níor éirigh leis go dtí na 2000idí, nuair a bhí Tadhg Kennelly earcaithe le Sydney Swans tríd a liosta amaitéareach. Bhí sé anrathúil mar imreoir AFL, toisc
gur bhuaigh sé cluiche ceannais AFL agus ba é an chéad Éireannach chun bonn phríomhroinne a bhaint amach sa bhliain 2005. In éineacht leo, shocraigh imreoirí ar nós Ciarán Kilkenny ó Bhaile Átha Cliath go raibh sé ag imeacht chomh maith. Shínigh sé conradh leis an bhfoireann Hawthorn i rith 2011 ach tar éis ceithre mhí, tháinig sé abhaile ar chúiseanna pearsanta chun a ghairm a leanúint le Baile Átha Cliath agus a chlub, Caisleán Cnucha. I ráiteas tar éis, dúirt Kilkenny gur bhain sé taitneamh as a thaithí san Astráil agus ghabh sé buíochas le Hawthorn as ucht an deis a fháil a bheith ina lúthchleasaí profeisiúnta. “As much as I enjoyed the lifestyle of a professional Aussie Rules player and relished the challenge of achieving in a different code, I realised that it would never matter as much to me as the sense of community and joy I get from togging out and playing alongside the people with whom I grew up and live.” I rith 2007 agus 2008, labhair Jim Stynes agus Tadhg Kennelly go poiblí faoin meadú i ngníomhaíochtaí earcaíochta, mar thosaigh go leor clubanna ag seoladh spotálaí tallainne chun féachaint ar imreoirí CLG. In éineacht le sin, bhunaigh bainisteoir agus imreoir AFL,Ricky Nixon, líonraí earcaíochta in Éirinn chun cur leis na clubanna le imreoirí Éireannacha cheana, mar shampla Collingwood, Carlton agus Brisbane Lions. Labhair Uachtarán an CLG, Nicky Brennan
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Ní hé O Riordan an taon imreoir amháin a bhfuil aistriú den saghas seo déanta aige. Níl sé ach ainm ar liosta fada d’imreoirí a bhfuil imithe ann chun an taithí nua a fháil le Cumann Peile na hAstráile
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in aghaidh gníomhaíochtaí earcaíochta i mí Mheitheamh 2008. Bhí go leor díospóireachtaí idir an CLG agus AFL faoi theorainneacha a chur ar earcaíocht imreoirí. Le linn 2008 chomh maith, foilsíodh alt ag Cillian De Búrca ag caint faoin nasc idir peil na hAstráile agus an Cumann Lúthcleas Gael. Bhí scaradh cinntí idir Kevin Sheedy, bainisteoir ar fhoireann idirnáisiúnta na hAstráile agus Mickey Harte, bainisteoir Thír Eoghain. Deir Sheedy nach gá do mhuintir na hÉireann a bheith buartha ar chor ar bith, ag rá, cé go tharlaíonn an aistriú anois is arís, nach bhfuil sé chun a bheith rialta in aon chor. Ar an taobh eile, bhí Mickey Harte á rá gur chóir don CLG
gach ceangal atá aige le peil na hAstráile a ghearradh. Tá sé in am dúinn díriú ar ár gcluichí féin. Is gá dúinn a bheith ag spreagadh daoine na cluichí Gaelacha a imirt, níor cheart dúinn nasc ar bith a bheith againn le AFL. In ainneoin go raibh Setanta Ó hAilpín ag éirí go maith le Carlton, tharla laghdú i suim earcaíochta le go leor imreoirí ag cur a gcuid conarthaí ar ceal agus ag filleadh ar ais go hÉireann i rith 2010. Ó shin, d’imigh imreoirí mar shampla: Ciarán Byrne, Contae Lú, Cian Hanley, Contae Mhaigh Eo agus Paddy Brophy, Cill Dara go dtí Carlton, Brisbane Lions agus West Coast Eagles faoi seach idir 2013 agus 2014 agus tá siad go léir amach ansin fós.
GaeilgeEXPO 2016 le Cumman Gaelach Cal Ó Donnabháin Scríbhneoir
thecollegeview
MÁS rud é go raibh tú sa Hub in OCBÁC ar an 18ú Feabhra ag am éigin san iarnóin, tá seans an‐mhaith gur thug tú faoi deara go raibh rud as an ngnáth ar siúl ann ‐ ach b’fhéidir nach raibh sé soiléir duit cad go díreach a bhí ag leanúint ar aghaidh. “GaeilgeEXPO 2016” a bhí ar siúl, ócáid a bhfuil ráite a bhfuil ar nós ‘Lá na Gaeilge’ le haghaidh na hOllscoile. Eagraithe ag an gCumann Gaelach, an príomh‐ aidhm a bhí ag an móraonach ná deis a thabhairt do mhic léinn labhairt le mór‐charachtair agus eagraíochtaí na Gaeilge. I measc dóibh siúd a bhí i láthair don ócáid, bhí lucht Fiontar, as a dtagann suíomhanna ar nós Téarma.ie, Logainm.ie is Ainm.ie, agus Fulbright Ireland, a thugann scoláireachtaí do mhic léinn tríú leibhéal dul thar lear go Meiriceá chun staidéar, léachtóireachta agus taighde a dhéanamh. Labhair Cathaoirleach an Cumainn Gaelaigh, Caoimhe Ní Chathail leis an College View ag rá; “B’iontach an rud é an oiread sin suime a fheiceáil ó ghrúpaí lasmuigh ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge a
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Eagraithe ag an gCumann Gaelach, an príomh‐aidhm a bhí ag an móraonach ná deis a thabhairt do mhic léinn labhairt le mór‐charachtair agus eagraíochtaí na Gaeilge chur cinn anseo ar champas agus an suim sin a fheiceáil i measc na mac léinn in DCU. Lá bríomhar a bhí ann leis an Ghaeilge go feiceálach ar champas.” Bhí an cuma ar an scéal go raibh 2016 mar an bhliain is mó don mhóraonach riamh in OCBÁC, ag tarraingt go leor suime i rith an lae. Chinntigh an Cathaoirleach an méid seo ‐ “Tháinig fás ollmhór ar EXPO na Gaeilge i mbliana le beagnach 20 grúpa éagsúil ag teacht le chéile sa Hub.
Credit: DCU Facebook
Chuir siad ar fad eolas ar fáil faoi na bealaí ar féidir an Ghaeilge a úsáid go laethúil in DCU agus lasmuigh.” , a dúirt Ní Chathail. Cuireann an rath seo in iúl dúinn go bhfuil athbheochan na Gaeilge linn, le méadú ar an éileamh di ‐ ranganna breise curtha ar fáil, comhlachtaí nua‐thosaithe ag baint tairbhe as an nGaeilge, Ravelóid, féile lán‐Ghaeilge, san áireamh, agus an teanga ina nideog i measc grúpaí áirithe in Éirinn. I ndiaidh an lá ráthúil, le
buíochas mór tuilte ag Siobhán Seoighe a d’eagraigh cuid mhór d’imeachtaí na hócáide, chuir Ní Chatháil an meon ginireálta i dtaca leis an móraonach chun cinn ‐ “Chuir sé bród mór orm agus tá mé fíor‐bhuíoch as Oifigeach na Gaeilge Siobhán Seoighe agus a cuid ullmhúcháin ar fad don lá.” Seachtain tar eís Gaeilge EXPO 2016, i ríomhphost seolta chuig baill an chumainn, bhí teachtaireacht curtha amach, ag dul siar ar an lá. Bhí “an imeacht i bh-
fad níos mó ná an bhliain seo chuaigh thart.’, dar leis an gCumann. ‘Mar sin, tá muid ag súil le feiceáil cé chomh mór agus a bheidh sé an bhliain seo chugainn!”. Cinnte, thug an ócáid comhartha ar leith don chumann ‐ tá OCBÁC fós sásta tacaíocht a thabhairt don Ghaeilge, agus go bhfuil suim ag na mic léinn inti. Is cosúil nach mbeidh dúshlán ann dóibh an rath sin a bhaint amach an bhliain seo chugainn arís.
Credit: Alan Pace Fushion Shooters
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The Great Debate
THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
Features 13
“Should Gender quotas exist? ”
Credit: journal.ie
The general election saw more women elected than ever before, but this is still only 20 per cent of the Dail Jordan Kavanagh Contributor @thecollegeview
FOR
GENDER quotas were introduced in the general election for the first time ever. Political parties needed to have 30% of women and 30% of men running in the general election or state funding would be halved. Public opinion is split on gender quotas, but I believe there is need for them. They are the most effective way of achieving a better gender balance in politics. Although it will take several elections before we see the full effect of gender quotas, the results from GE16 already show that we have elected more women than ever before, with at least 32 seats going to females. Though that is a success, it is still only 20 per cent of the total 158 seats available in the Dáíl. So it is a step in the right direction but men still make up the majority of the government. Ireland has always had female role models, and has been progressive in certain aspects. For instance Countess Markievicz, as minister for Labour in 1919, was the first ever woman to hold a cabinet position in the world. And we elected two female presidents in succession from 1990, with Mary Robinson, and Mary McAleese. So Ireland has always had strong women in politics, yet we have never had a female Taoiseach and there is only one woman who is the leader of a political party. So with more women entering politics, the chances increase for female Taoisigh and leaders. One of the biggest pros for gender quotas is that it encourages women to run in politics, it helps break down the image of “an old boys club”. If it encourages women to run, because they think “well a woman has to get it, why shouldn’t it be me?” Then it is a huge success. A counter-argument to quotas are they are discriminatory and it passes up men who may be better. They are not discriminatory, they instead try to compensate for an already existing discrimination against women by giving them more opportunities. Finally, if a specific man really is the best for the job, then he would be on the ticket without hesitation, so it encourages more competition between candidates be-
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One of the biggest pros for gender quotas is that it encourages women to run in politics, it helps break down the image of “an old boys club
cause there are now less seats available to men. We won’t see the full effect of quotas for another 2-3 general elections but I believe they’re the right way to go.
Shauna Bowers Contributor @thecollegeview
AGAINST
The introduction of the Gender Quota Bill back in 2011 was and still remains an insult to women in politics. Enda Kenny, Michael Martin and many other politicians claim that it’s a way to ensure women are part of the cabinet but it is utterly demeaning to imply that women cannot enter Government without the aid of enforced regulations. It is an insult to women such as Countess Markievicz, Mary Robinson and Máire Whelan, who earned their positions through hard work, determination and their own personal merit. Furthermore, why would a woman be a better candidate just because she is a woman? This idea perpetrates inequality on the other prospective candidates who could be just as qualified and perhaps even better suited to the position. The forced Gender Quotas will result in mass amounts of men who want to run as a candidate being prevented from doing so. Male candidates are neither more nor less entitled to run for election and these Gender Quotas are unfairly inhibiting them. Brian Mohan was recently overlooked for candidacy because a woman was required more. He was just as suitable for the position but he did not receive it and the only reason he was passed over is because he is a man. It also can and has resulted in parties seeking female candidates purely to reach gender quotas. This was seen in the controversial case of Fianna Fáil headquarters giving a directive for the selection of a female candidate in the Longford-Westmeath constituency. Political parties should be working on ways to improve their policies to encourage the growth and recovery of our economy. They should not be focusing the majority of their attention on which constituencies need more female candidates. The reason there aren’t enormous numbers of female candidates is not because they are unable to do so, it is because they do not have the right support behind them. It is common practice that if a woman has children and they’re sick, then generally the mother takes time off work to care for them. This is not something that you could do if
“ Male candidates are neither more nor less entitled to run for election and these Gender Quotas are unfairly inhibiting them you’re in Government and that’s one of the bigger issues. If we want an increase of female candidates then we must break down to social and personal barriers that are preventing them from doing so. Such as childcare, and a decline in the patriarchal political system which we currently have in place.
Life with Diabetes
THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
14 Features
Elsa Anderling Contributor @thecollegeview
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Little did I know that the urinary infection I thought I had caught was in fact Diabetes and the beginning of a new life for me
WHEN the word ‘Diabetes’ commonly pops up in an article or in a conversation most people think of it as something connected to obese or old people, a disease that has, and will have, nothing to do with you unless you start spiralling down towards a really unhealthy lifestyle. The more rare kind of Diabetes is type 1: a disease you most commonly get diagnosed with at an early stage in life – for no, yet, known reason. For many kids who have this disease, or any other disease that makes you “different”, it is something well connected to shame. Growing up, my friend was diagnosed at a very young age with diabetes type 1. We watched her struggle, having to think twice at many decisions, decisions that for others were obvious. Can I do this? What do I need to do that? Feel, plan, prepare. We also watched her at her very lowest, literally, was something that occurred fairly when she sometimes was hit by a often. sudden dip in blood sugar level and For us, her friends, this was went into a coma. In periods, this partly chocking, partly confusing
and maybe most of all, scary. The worst part of all was probably to witness her shame of having to deal with everything that no one else had to deal with, things that for her were vital. To explain this a bit further to those who aren’t familiar with Diabetes type 1: at some point, for unknown reason, your body’s own immune system sees the insulin producing cells in the pancreas as foreign and starts attacking them. Without insulin, you can’t use the glucose taken into your body for energy. Instead the sugar stays, and builds up, in your blood and your body’s cells starve from lack of glucose. When not staying on top of things by taking a sufficient amount of insulin every time you eat food with carbs – or when not eating enough carbs when low – Diabetes is life threatening, both long and short term. Little did I know two years ago, carelessly walking up and down the rows of wine grapes in New Zealand while filling up baskets to keep my traveling going, that the urinary infection I thought I had caught was in fact Diabetes and the beginning of a new life for me. Just over night
Credit: Bill Cheyrou: Alamy
I got to know the unfamiliar feeling of not longer being “normal”, and all the plans I had were suddenly not so certain anymore. The amount of times I’ve felt forced to run into the bathroom just to do an injection and instead skipped it, to not eat anything when on the go because I would have to ask others to
stop and wait, or to ask for help when my blood sugar is running low - it’s not worth it. This isn’t an attempt to convince anyone of how horrible it is to have Diabetes, or any other disease of the kind, but rather how important it is to ditch shame and take care of your self.
The changing world of children’s toys Lego now makes wheelchair figurines proving that diversity is finally being represented in toys
Megan Roantree Contributor @thecollegeview
TOYS are changing, while some people may worry that tablets and smartphones are taking over and that young children are becoming dependent on technology, in the opposite direction, many toys are becoming more suitable and appropriate for children every day. As diversity and inclusion is now rightfully expected and campaigned for it seems that toys are changing things up to represent realistic people and positive role models for children. We now have more realistic body shapes and sizes on the recently revamped Barbie doll. American Girl dolls are available in different ethnicities and all come with inspiring expectations like the desire to travel or become a doctor. It is clear that diversity is becoming more sought after among parents. Gender specific toys are now taking a back seat to welcome toys without stereotypical assumptions. Lego recently announced its first ever wheelchair figure at the beginning of this year, which is
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When it was announced that Lego had responded to their plea, organisers of the campaign said that they had ‘genuine Credit: CNN
tears of joy’.” a huge step in the right direction for representation of disabled children. This news did not come from nowhere however, as campaigners had been fighting since last year to see this come into effect. A change.org petition was launched last year urging Lego and other toy makers to ‘please positively represent disability in your toys’. The petition has over 20,000 signatures and is accom-
panied by a viral hashtag called #toylikeme. One supporter of the petition wrote “I’ve been disabled my whole life, and as a child I would have loved toys that were disabled too. “ When it was announced that Lego had in fact responded to their plea the organisers of the campaign said that they had “genuine tears of joy”. While is it just one small toy it is a huge step in the right direction. This is hopefully only
the beginning of a long line of inclusive toys for the world’s biggest minority with over 150 million disabled children worldwide. In Ireland there are over 595 thousand people living with a disability according to the 2011 census. This makes up over 13% of the country. John O’Sullivan, National Director of Services, Enable Ireland says that they welcome any recognition of the people with disabilities in our society. He said: “Lego
is one of those universal toys that every child plays with so it’s a powerful tool in helping children to see people with disabilities as part of society as a whole.” With the high praise and publicity that this received it is likely and it is hoped that this is the first of many types of disabilities that is represented by Lego and other toy companies. These toys are now making playtime more realistic and inclusive for all types of children.
THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
Features 15
Inspirations: Pat Divilly
Pat Divilly has inspired people across Ireland to become more physically and mentally fit.
Credit: Pat.Divilly
Orla O’ Drioscall Contributor @thecollegeview
THE first time I interviewed Pat Divilly a 29 year old Galway native, I used the “G” word, and his reaction told me all I would ever need to know about his humility. “I’m just a man who believes you can achieve by the power of positive thinking.” Pat’s name is synonymous with success for his online fitness program and as a motivational speaker across the country; but it has been his Galway Ted Talk, which has garnered a new bevvy of followers who admire his simple, raw emotional honesty. And while the Guru word may evoke images of long deceased men with exotic names, and experiential wisdom; for me it fits. Pat has been the driving force in raising over €200,000 for the National Cystic Fibrosis Charity and Console the national suicide charity as their youth ambassador. This man who contemplated giving up on life, has given so much back, but what exactly defines him as an inspiration? Four years ago, Pat thought
that he had taken everything life had to throw at him and he wondered if he was good enough to be here. After a failed attempt to create the ‘next big thing’ in fitness in Dublin, he packed up his hopes and having to borrow the bus fare, he left Dublin with the sting of failure about him. It was during his time in Dublin, with his imagery of success plastered on social media, and while the reality saw him broke, and looking at the dark murky depths of the harbour that he reached his lowest point. “Back then I walked this city and I only found myself in the dark places. A feeling in the pit of my stomach so bad it’s just hard to explain it. Everyone says ‘oh I was depressed about this or that’, and it does cause a different reaction in everyone. I don’t know if you can label it depression, and I can’t say it was about suicide, but f*ck I was low.” The feeling of not being enough, of not having achieved what he told everyone he would achieve ate him up and almost spat him out, but his dream of a Fitness business would not be quietened.
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Pat’s name is synonymous with success for his online fitness program and as a motivational speaker across the country
As a last resort, he used a week’s wages and had 2000 flyers printed, which he slapped on every surface he could get near, inviting readers to train on the beach. On the first day he arrived an hour early, packed to the brim with anxiety he waited; the immensity of the ocean a backdrop to his dreams, just abstract footprints on the sand. The first morning there were 5 people. “I couldn’t have been happier, I was genuinely ecstatic. There were people there, it hadn’t failed, someone had come, and they wanted this, they had come because I could give them something, I could help them. That was enough for me.” Like all success stories, it wasn’t something that happened overnight, but some of the darkness began to lift. “I remember a man on the beach used to walk by every day, and this one time he came over and asked what we were doing. So I said, we are training, it’s a fitness thing. He was like, ‘well how much do you charge.’ I said €75 and he looked at me like I was
mad, ‘sure I can get a sauna and everything in a real gym and pay that a month’. He really thought that was all there was to it! It’s not just about being fit in body; it’s about learning what you can achieve. It’s about your mental wellbeing, your social contact, that doesn’t just come from running on a treadmill or following 100 steps on a sheet of paper. It’s about so much more than that.” The first week there were only five but there were more every week, Pat, his believers, and a few plastic cones: “I was on the beach five times a day. If one extra person came, I would cycle home even faster to tell my Mum.” Two books later, a thriving fitness business and a request to guest on the Late Late show, Pat has done his utmost to leave the darkness behind, he knows about failure and shattered pride. He believes every conversation can effect a change. He credits his change with one conversation where a little bit of motivation became enough to lift his head from the darkness, and while he knows there is no quick fix, there is always the chance to keep moving forward.
THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
16 Features
He could’ve been Pope, Ted: Farewell Father Jack
Glen Murphy discusses the talent and the life and of actor Frank Kelly Glen Murphy Contributor @thecollegeview
FRANK Kelly passed away last month at the age of 77. Kelly had a long and varied career spanning music, film, TV, radio and theatre. No wonder it felt like he was always around. And I don’t just mean the constant Father Ted reruns on Channel 4. Coincidentally he passed away on the same date as his former clerical costar Dermot Morgan’s 18 years later. Last year Kelly revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Originally from Blackrock, Co. Dublin he was the son of cartoonist Charles Kelly who was also the founder of the political satire magazine Dublin Opinion. Kelly’s earliest roll in film was in 1969’s The Italian Job as an un-credited prison guard in the opening scene. He went on to appear in RTÉ programmes such as the classic Wanderly Wagon and Anois Is Aris, which focused on people learning Irish. Above all else he will be best remembered for his role as
the foul mouthed, drink loving, profanity shouting Father Jack Hackett. He followed this up with a stint on the RTÉ drama Glenroe as well as a brief tenure on Emmerdale. Father Ted originally ran on Channel 4 in the UK between 1995 and 1998. Seen as nothing but pure blasphemy at the time, Kelly along with his co stars Dermot Morgan and Ardal O’ Hanlon poked fun at the Church in an era when views of organised religion were beginning to shift the world over. Father Jack may have been a gross exaggeration of the clergy but he was undoubtedly memorable. In his most iconic role he cemented his place in Irish and UK pop culture. Even now reruns of Father Ted always draw in a large viewership and the annual TedFest celebrations on Inis Mór is a testament to this. On stage he varied his roles as much as possible. Here he found his personal favourite role. He played an homosexual man in the Matt Crowley play The Boys in the Band during a run in the Olympia Theatre in Dublin. Another iconic stage
“ Frank Kelly
will always be remembered as a constant source of joy in Irish media
Credit: News Group Newspapers
role was when he starred alongside The Wolftones in Zoz. The comedy musical told the story of a balladeer in Dublin’s Liberties during the early 18th century. He turned his hand to music making with the 1982 Christmas track Christmas Countdown as well a music comedy album Comedy Countdown. More than anything it’s fair to say that Frank Kelly was one of the greats of Irish acting. He made a name for himself the
world over, making his marks on all forms of media. Last year he released his memoirs, The Next Gig in which he reflected on his career and his memories of acting alongside greats of the screen such as Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan. Frank Kelly will always be remembered as a constant source of joy in Irish media. He was a multitalented man with bags of charm and the all rounder ability to match.
Observations of accidental adulthood
College can be a confusing balance of having fun and growing up Sarah Magliocco Contributor @thecollegeview
AS Virginia Woolf once said, ‘growing up is losing some illusions in order to acquire others’. You may no longer believe in Santa (or you may, each to their own), but you can somehow make yourself believe that those letters marked ‘urgent’ about your student loan repayments are not even there. Transitioning from student who eats pasta straight out of the saucepan to a real-life, fully fledged adult can be a difficult and tricky time, but often the evolution can happen without you even thinking about it. You slowly develop full financial independence from your parents one pay day at a time and the frequency of the ‘so have you met anyone yet’ comments increase to such a crescendo that you have become an expert at deflecting it. It’s the little things that catch you out, the everyday normalities and opinions that have you in awe at the realisation that it sounds like something your mum would say. You also genuinely feel that 2007 was only about three years ago. You buy things like brown rice and avocado in Tesco rather than filling your cart with ready meals and Doritos.
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It’s the little things that catch you out and have you in awe at the realisation that it sounds like something your mum would say
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There are people around you (mostly on Facebook) who are getting engaged and having babies and you still can’t commit to a phone contract or keep a plant alive but this is totally normal, you just keep doing you and one day that cactus will surpass a life expectancy of one month. You give out about kids these days and move out of sync with the constant churn out of chart music. I do not know who Shawn Mendes is but his combined social media following of 19million teenagers hints to me that he might be kind of a big deal. The annual budget and elec-
tions suddenly become an actual interest to you as you realise that they legitimately have an impact on your life. Hangovers start to last two days and how you will feel on a Sunday morning becomes the decision maker for how you will spend your Friday and Saturday nights. Bed at 9pm is a blessing rather than a punishment and you genuinely feel bad for how much you opposed to afternoon naps as a child, they are now a rarity. You start to wonder why you spent all of that time in secondary school trying to act like you
were really cool and look back on old photos and cringe at vintage you. As an adult you no longer care what people think of how you live your life but you still upload humble-brag pictures to Instagram and Facebook because in reality that’s what those platforms are for. Being an adult doesn’t always necessarily mean you are ready for long term commitment or mortgages, it’s about being able to make the best decisions for you to live your too it’s best potential and maybe even winning an argument with your parents from time to time.
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THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
Sport
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Cathal Pendred: a pioneer of Irish MMA David Clarke Deputy Images Editor @cvsport I noticed training became a chore and I wasn’t improving as much, I just wasn’t it as much, my heart wasn’t it in it as much, and fighting is the last thing you should be doing when that’s the case.” Despite a relatively short career in the UFC, Pendred will be one of those who go down in Irish sporting history for laying the foundations for what it takes to make it in the sport. Outside of the United States, the sport is still maturing and is only now beginning to reach a mainstream audience. At the time when Pendred was determined to pursue a career Funding in MMA, he had no footsteps in MMA fighter Cathal Pendred which to follow. turned professional while he was Trailblazer studying at DCU. He was unable to receive a Unlike sports like football scholarship because the sports and rugby where you can look to council doesn’t recognise it as a the likes of Roy Keane and Brisport and was forced to work part- an O’Driscoll for inspiration –he time. He admitted it was difficult admitted succeeding in a sport to balance everything. where there was no platform for Reflecting back on the lack success in Ireland was his greatest of funding, the analytical science achievement. graduate told The College View “I think the proudest thing out that: “It was extremely difficult, of it all is the fact that I did someand I found it very problematic. thing that hadn’t really been done Especially because I was compet- before. I had a dream to go someing professionally when I was in where, to do something that at the DCU. time I chose to pursue it, nobody “I remember I approached had done before.” DCU looking for help, seeing if “Myself, Conor [McGregor], I could get sponsorship just to Paddy [Holohan], Ais [Aisling make things a bit easier for me be- Daly], we all had this dream but cause I was training full time, and there was nobody we could look in a full-time course. I also had a to and aspire to say that’s how part-time job as well, so I found you do it, so that’s the footsteps it extremely difficult for the last we need to follow. Now kids can years of my course. I had no so- turn up at an MMA gym and decial life, I didn’t see my friends,” cide they want to become a UFC he added. fighter, they have people to look at, they have a path to look at and Retirement say that’s the way I need to go,” he The 28-year-old retired from added. the sport last October after falling Science to English star Tom Breese, and he acknowledged that the fact he’d Despite never using his scibeen contemplating retirement ence degree, he spoke of its imfor a few months leading up to the portance and how it gave him an fight may have had an impact on advantage over other fighters – his performance. but he doesn’t think he will ever He said that, “it definitely cor- use the degree to pursue a career related when I did stop enjoying it. in the field. PROFESSIONAL sport can be a cruel game in which to get your break. Regardless of talent, funding is a necessity for the continued development of athletes and sport in Ireland. For DCU graduate Cathal Pendred, his journey to the Ultimate Fighting Championship didn’t come without a struggle. Despite the surge in popularity of mixed martial arts in Ireland, and the success stories of fighters like Cathal Pendred, Paddy Holohan and particularly Conor McGregor – the Irish Sports Council still refuses to categorise it as a sport.
Credit: ISportsfile
“I think the proudest thing out of it all is
the fact that I did something that hadn’t really been done before. I had a dream to go somewhere, to do something that at the time I chose to do it, nobody had done before
Cathal Pendred beats Gasan Umalatov on split decision at UFC Fight Night 53 Credit: JOE.ie
“Science is always something that I’ve been interested in, and having a great understanding of it has given me an advantage in things such as dieting. That is something I had to be very knowledgeable about being a fighter and when it comes to cutting weight etc. I had an even better understanding than most in my position because I had studied science and had a deeper knowledge of what dieticians were talking about to me,” he said
Future Since retiring from the sport, Pendred has been jabbing at other areas as he looks to the future. He will open his own branch of the healthy fast-food outlet Chopped, later in the year - and he spoke of his desire to do some media work.
“I’ve been doing a bit of writing since I retired, it was something I’d been doing while I was fighting, but I’m still doing it - I’m actually doing stuff as we speak now with the impending Conor McGregor fight - I’m doing a lot of stuff on that. He even wants to take to big screen and try his hand at acting. “In terms of the acting, I’ve been busy at that - I’ve taken some classes, I’ve actually picked up a few roles which I’m really looking forward to.” He may not have reached the heights of his teammate Conor McGregor, but then again, who has? He will go down in history however, and his path is there to be followed by the next generation of Irish MMA fighters.
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THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
Sport
Maynooth storm to Fresher C title
DCU 2-11 Maynooth University 2-16 Fresher Football ‘C’ Championship Final Aaron Gallagher Deputy Sports Editor @AaronGallagher8 DCU’s fresher Gaelic football team was firmly beaten 2-16 to 1-11 in this year’s Fresher C Football Championship final at the hands of a confident Maynooth side where a dominant opening half from the hosts was cancelled out by a resurgent second half fight-back from the Kildare college. This was the third DCU freshers team to make a final this year as the college’s fresher a team previously completed a historic win over UCD in Croke Park on February 15th with the competition duly named the Corn Daithi Billings in memory of the late Dave Billings. This affair was not to have the same victorious outcome however as second half goals either side of half-time from Aaron McCarron and Marc Sharkey sealed the win for Maynooth. DCU began brightly from the first whistle however, with Ian Caffrey’s clever dummy on the perimeter of the Maynooth defence – throwing off the challenge of defender Patrick Lehey before kicking over – registering the game’s opening score. This was followed by Emmet Rogan’s converted free from close range before Dean Newsome got his side’s first score of the game for Maynooth. Persistent windy conditions would have a major part to play in the duration of the game, with the moving of the game’s location to DCU’s 3G all weather pitch meaning long balls and ambitious shots from range were not to prove successful as the game wore on. DCU maintained their steady lead in the opening half with clever hand pass exchanges between Caffrey and Rogan ending in a well manoeuvred point for the latter after Maynooth levelled proceedings from Paddy McAleer’s free kick that crashed off the inside of the post to fly over. DCU, led by a management team featuring Sigerson player and Monaghan inter-county forward Shane Carthy, pulled into a 0-7 to 0-3 lead. Rogan added another score while Shane Rogers and midfielder Elliott Craig too contributed. Maynooth were heavily afflicted by the unfavourable weather conditions meaning supply to its half and full forward lines were not forthcoming as they momentarily submitted to DCU’s confident display. They did however claw the score-line back to within a point of the hosts with Paddy McAleer’s pointed free from off the ground while corner forward Marc Sharkey too lowered the deficit with a smart turn and kick from a wayward angle. The visitors pushed into a higher gear towards the end of the first half when half-back Aaron McCar-
“this was the third DCU
Fresher team to make a final this year as the college’s ‘A’ team previously completed a historic win over UCD ron found himself in the right place Maynooth took hold of this newat the right time to catch a loose found confidence to pull further ball fumbled around inside the DCU away after the interval. penalty area to smash home a goal A total of 1-5 without reply from from close range. Maynooth preceded DCU bringing
Shane Kelly in action for DCU Freshers Credit: Cóilín Duffy
a much-needed air of balance with a goal of their own – exchanges between Kevin Gilmore and Emmet Rogan worked the ball toward Elliott Craig who drove the ball home past goalkeeper Tadgh Foley to bring the score back to 1-8 to 1-11 to Maynooth. More points from a now bolstering Maynooth forward line brought them into a 1-9 to 1-15 lead before the final nail was rooted into the Glasnevin side’s coffin. Hope of a comeback was resolutely extinguished when a remarkably misplaced free-kick from goalkeeper Shane Rice was gathered by Maynoothhalf-forwardRonanGearaghty who worked the ball toward corner forward Marc Sharkey along the ground. The ball bobbled momentarily before the 19-year-old side-footed the ball instinctively past Rice in the DCU net to bring the score beyond the hosts – 1-9 to 2-16.
Late points from DCU including a last-gasp effort from Emmet Rogan five yards from goal failed to materialise beneath the crossbar as Maynooth’s full-back line remained defiant and resolute in the game’s final stages to see the game out 1-11 to 2-16 winners and reign home this year’s Fresher C Football Championship. DCU: Shane Rice; Michael Murphy, Mick Daly, Aidan Dunne; Greg Fitzsimmons, Shane Kelly, David McMahon; Elliott Craig, Nessan Lenehan; Ian Caffrey, Emmet Rogan, Shane Rogers; Kevin Gilmore, John Duffy, Conor Dennehy. Maynooth: Tadgh Foley; Patrick Lehey, Daniel McDonald, Bobby Gonoud; Aaron McCarron, Ronan Sheehan, Liam Molloy; Sean Burke, Oisin Shiels; PJ Graham, Ronan Gearaghty, Paddy McAleer; Marc Sharkey, Dean Newsome, Conor Shine.
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THE COLLEGE VIEW Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
Sport
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DCU defeated by ten-man Trinity as UCD claim 43rd Collingwood crown DCU Trinity College
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Collingwood Cup Aidan Geraghty Sports Editor @Aido1895
DUBLIN City University’s senior football team suffered a quarter-final exit in the Collingwood Cup for the second successive year, as they went down 1-0 to a ten-man Dublin University AFC, the representative of Trinity College. The competition, which was hosted in Cork this year, has not been kind to DCU of late. The Northsiders exited at this stage last year too, cruelly losing to NUI Galway in extra time. It was a local derby this time though, even if it was played 200 miles away from either team’s home ground. A typically cagey first half produced a lot of tension but nothing on the scoreboard as Trinity had their stall set out from the off. The second half was marginally, if at all, more entertaining than the first but the balance appeared to swing in DCU’s favour shortly after the restart when Trinity were reduced to ten men. John Delahunt was sent off after misjudging a 50-50 ball between himself and the DCU goalkeeper. Declan Roche’s side almost made the man advantage pay as Mark Walsh found himself oneon-one after a weighted ball from Rory Feely of St. Patrick’s Athletic but his shot went inches wide. The Glasnevin side dominated the rest of the game but couldn’t make their good football pay as they conceded in the 89th minute.
DCU’s 2016 Collingwood Cup team Credit: Fran Butler
Trinity’s defensive strategy allowed space for Rónán Hanaphy on the break and he found the net to send Trinity’s cross-city rivals home empty-handed. For the Southsiders, the competition didn’t last much longer as they were beaten 2-1 after extra time by the University of Limerick in the semi-final.
They, in turn, met University College Dublin in the final who had previously defeated Queen’s University Belfast on penalties in the quarter-final and followed that up with a 1-0 victory against Maynooth University in the semi-final. The Mardyke in UCC was the venue for the final as UCD came from behind to beat UL 2-1 in the
dying moments. It was the Shannonsiders who took an early lead through Athlone Town striker Garbhan Coughlan and they carried that lead into half-time. Ten minutes after the restart, however, George Kelly equalised for the Dubliners after a period of sustained pressure.
Despite enjoying a dominant second half, UCD didn’t take their well deserved lead until injury time. Despite the treacherous conditions, substitute Mark Boland got on the end of a perfectly timed pass from Gary O’Neill to bring the Collingwood Cup back to Belfield for a record 43rd time.
Fresher hurlers beaten in final by CIT DCU 0-13 CIT 1-13 Fresher hurling c’ship Cormac O’Shea Deputy Sports Editor @cvsport DCU were beaten in the All-Ireland Fresher Hurling final by Cork Institute of Technology in the Cork College’s sports
grounds on Thursday, March 4th. The Leesiders ran out winners on a scoreline of 1-13 to 0-13 points, holding off a late push from DCU to lift the trophy. Having beaten Waterford Institute of Technology in the semi-final and University College Cork in the quarters the Northsiders were unable to beat another Munster college and win the competition. DCU were beaten in the league final by Limerick Institute of Technology earlier in the college year and would have been optimistic of winning the final this time around after opening the game with two unanswered points. The home team struck back however with a goal and two points in quick succession to
open up a three point lead with 15 minutes played, a lead they didn’t relinquish for the rest of the game, the goal coming from Liam O’Keefe who went on to score 1-7. Gary Tynan, Aaron Maddock and a great score from Harry O’Connor kept DCU in touch with the Leesiders. CIT went in at halftime with a three point lead, 1-6 to 0-6 the score. DCU were backed by a strong wind in the second half but it was CIT who began the half the stronger opening scoring four points in the first ten minutes compared to the one point Gary Tynan added to the DCU tally. DCU were brought to extra time in their quarter-final win over UCC and left it late to overcome
WIT in the semis by two points so when a Gary Tynan brace brought the deficit back to four points the Glasnevin college looked primed to come out on top. Points from Maddock and Harry O’Connor brought the lead down to just two points with five minutes to play but Eoin Roche’s men were unable to bridge the gap as CIT scored the final point of the game to run out three point winners. This was the DCU fresher hurlers second final defeat of the year and despite a brave effort they were unable to match their Gaelic football counterparts who won the Fresher A title at Croke Park earlier this month.
DCU: Robbie Gillen; Conor McSweeney, Sean McCaw, Darragh Brennan; Aaron Maddock(0-02), Conor Delaney, Ciarán Brady; Martin Kelly, Cathal Doran; Jason Byrne(0-03, 2fs), Liam Fahey(0-01), Gary Tynan(0-04, 1f); Harry O’Connor(0-03), Donncha O’Connor, Eoghan Conroy. Subs used: Sean Hickey, Matthew Joyce, Sean Quinn, Aaron Murphy. CIT: Patrick Collins; Kevin Galvin, Daragh Fanning, Diarmuid Feeney; Eoin Healy, Conor Prunty, John Buckley; Conor Browne, Ronan Heffernan(0-01);AndyMolumby(0-02), Kevin Duggan, Shane Cummins(0-01); Robert Long(0-02), Paul Geary, Liam O’Keefe(1-07, 6fs). Subs used: John Good, Billy Lyons.
Sport
INSIDE
THE COLLEGE VIEW
Wednesday, 9 March 2016
David Clarke chats to ex-UFC fighter Cathal Pendred
www.thecollegeview.com
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DCU Ladies qualify for O’Connor Cup weekend Aishling Sheridan DCU Credit: Sportsfile
DCU 3-18 Queens 1-11 O’Connor C Emma Duffy Sports Reporter @cvsport DCU qualified for the O’Connor Cup weekend on Thursday night, February 25th, after seeing off Queen’s University Belfast in an exciting encounter. It was an injury to Queen’s and Armagh star Aimee Mackin in the second half that was the main turning point of the game. St Clare’s played host to a tight encounter until that stage but DCU finished strongly with the forward line putting on an admi-
rable display. The Belfast side were first off the mark but DCU retaliated immediately through a Sarah Rowe free and a well-taken goal finished by Niamh Rickard. Full-forward Aishling Sheridan’s early attempt on goal was ruled out by referee Colm McManus, despite the ball hitting the net. Queen’s looked dangerous in attack but the DCU defence dealt well with any threats. Leah Caffery added to the tally with an impressive point as a result of a powerful run from corner-back.
Longford’s Michelle Farrell curled a free kick inside the posts and slotted another over from play before Mackin cancelled it out at the other end of play. Meanwhile, Queen’s were reduced to 14 players but DCU failed to fully use this to their advantage. The half-time score stood at 1-5 to 0-4 in favour of the Northsiders but it looked like anyone’s game. Queens levelled the game within five minutes of the second half, edging a goal past Emer Ní Éafa despite her previous outstanding save and Caffery’s efforts to clear the line. DCU stepped up to the mark, taking the lead again through scores from Rickard and Sheridan, while the two half-backs Kate Fitzgibbon and Lorraine O’Shea added their names to the list of scorers. Queen’s converted two frees but Éabha Rutledge and Michelle Farrell replied almost immediately.
It was Farrell who set up DCU’s second goal, winning the kickout before offloading to Rowe who made no mistake in finding the back of the net. Captain Siobhán Woods and substitute Carol Hegarty added to the DCU lead as they appeared to comfortably take control. Emma Colgan was also introduced to play, putting the ball between the posts with her first touch. Rutlege and Rickard fired over several more scores while Queen’s battled hard, but a thirteen-point turnaround was too much to ask. DCU’s fatal blow came in the dying minutes of the game as Colgan smashed their third goal over the line. Queen’s finished proceedings with a well-worked point but failed to secure an all important goal due to immense pressure from the DCU defence.
Semi-Final
With a 3-18 to 1-11 win and a dominant second half performance under their belts, Stephen Maxwell’s side can confidently look forward to the O’Connor Cup weekend. After a defeat in last year’s final to the University of Limerick, DCU travel to Tralee on March 11th in search of their first championship since 2011. DCU: Emer Ní Éafa; Gráinne O’Loughlin, Deirdre Murphy, Leah Caffery (0-1); Lorraine O’Shea (01), Bríd O’Sullivan, Kate Fitzgibbon (0-1); Karen McDermott, Lauren Magee Reilly; Michelle Farrell (03), Siobhán Woods (0-1), Éabha Rutlege (0-2); Niamh Rickard (14), Aishling Sheridan, (0-1) Sarah Rowe (1-2). Subs used: Carol Hegarty (0-1), Aisling McAuliffe, Emma Colgan (1-1), Phillipa Greene.