The College View - Issue 9 - Vol XVIII

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Wednesday, 22 March, 2017 www.thecollegeview.com Vol. XVIII, Issue 9

CV

. Est. 1999 .

Campus Residence manager reacts to St. Pat’s accommodation investigation

The College View investigates: St.Patrick’s College accomodation

Poor living conditions despite 38% rent increase this year Hayley Halpin News Editor

THE College View has carried out

an investigation into the living conditions within the on-campus St. Patrick’s College accommodation, following a rent increase of 38 per cent this academic year.

With access to House 3 of the St. Pat’s accommodation, The College View recorded video evidence of conditions of questionable standard throughout the common area, bathrooms, kitchen and bedrooms.

The following content is the findings as of the day of the investigation.

Following the incorporation of DCU and St. Patrick’s College, Campus Residences Ltd, a company of DCU via DCU Commercial Ltd that manages on-site campus accommodation in DCU, took ownership of the accommodation on the Drumcondra campus.

Throughout the investigation of House 3, The College View found that the “common area”, a communal living area for the residents, had broken air vents situated under the couches.

The common area is where two of the four fridge freezers in each house is located, with another two located in each house’s kitchen.

A total of 60 students live in each house.

There are shared kitchens between House 1 and 2 and between House 3 and 4, each respectively for the use of 120 students, which hold an additional five smaller fridges.

The annual rent increased by 38 per cent for the academic year of 2016/17 to €4572, to fall in line with the rent prices of that of Larkfield accommodation on the Glasnevin campus. The annual rent

Hayley Halpin News Editor @HayleyHalpin1

DCU Campus Residence Ltd supplied a reaction to the findings of The College View’s investigation of the St. Patrick’s College on-campus accommodation.

Rent increase of 38%

for 2015/2016 was €3300. A rental hike of 9-10 per cent was seen on all Glasnevin accommodation.

This academic year is the first to have ovens fitted in the student kitchens.

Upon inspection of the kitchens, numerous cupboards were found to have no doors, tiles on the walls were worn and chipped away and there are no toasters fitted. Unidentified brown markings were found scattered across the kitchen ceiling.

“Come peak time when everyone’s cooking at 6pm, you could be waiting about an hour to cook your food in the kitchen when everyone’s in there.

“There’s very little room in the freezers, everyone is just jamming things in. The fridge doors just keep breaking because obviously there’s just too many things in the fridge.

There’s just not enough room for us to hold them,” said Diarmuid Byrne, a first year St. Pat’s student and House 3 resident.

The investigation continued to the bathrooms in House 3, where a strong smell of sewage was evident upon entry to one bathroom.

One bathroom, which has two showers and two toilets, is shared between 8 students on one floor.

One of the two toilets in the bathroom viewed was unusable due to a blockage in the plumbing which, according to residents, has been an issue since semester one.

The usable toilet, with a broken toilet seat, leaves the other toilet on the brink of overflowing when flushed.

“Not only is there not enough equipment but what’s there does not work. Eight people per floor, sharing two toilets and two showers is horrendous,” resident and first year St. Pat’s student Dylan Raleigh Continued on page 3

News

Sport

Library to open 24 hours for exam season 3

DCU beat Athlone in Giles Cup final 20

Although students on the Drumcondra campus saw an annual rent increase of 38% this academic year to bring it in line with the rent price of Glasnevin’s Larkfield, Campus Residence Ltd did not roll out facility upgrades to match Larkfield in time for the price hike.

Upgrade work is undertaken during summer months only

When questioned by The College View, John Caffrey, Campus Residence General Manager said: “Upgrade works can only be completed on a phased basis in the summer period in order to ensure accommodation is kept on-line for the academic terms, such is the demand for accommodation. One accommodation block at a time will be taken off-line during this summer to facilitate the upgrade works.”

Campus Residence Ltd have been aware of the DCU incorporation since its announcement two years ago.

“DCU only acquired the 230 beds on the St Patrick’ campus that were built in the 1960’s on September 1st, 2016, residences which would be considered dated relative to the Glasnevin campus residences and that require substantial investment.

Phase I works in planning

“Campus Residences is working on putting the required finance in place to proceed with Phase I of refurbishment works on the St. Patrick’s Campus which are planned over the summer of 2017,” Caffrey stated.

The College View reported each fault found within the accommodation in St. Pat’s to Mr. Caffrey.

He confirmed that Campus Residence were unaware of any broken air vents and “will investigate this and DCU captain Aoife Norris lifts the Giles Cup following her side’s 3-7 to 0-14 victory over Athlone IT in Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar

Arts

Rusangano Family win Choice Music Prize 2

Features

Gaeilge

Gnó na Síoga Fiacla

Continued on page 3

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The Great Debate 14

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Editorial INSIDE

Lifestyle Mums the word Read more on page 6

AARON GALLAGHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

E

Opinion Repeal the 8th: the deep-rooted issue of women’s rights in Ireland Read more on page 9

Correction A piece written inside our last issue dated March 8th titled “Counselling service launches new student helpline” attributed quotes to Lorna Galligan of Student Support & Development, which was incorrect.

Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief: Aaron Gallagher Deputy Editor: Aidan Geraghty

Video Editor: Leanne Hanafin Deputy Video Editor: Ciara Moran

Production & Layout Editor: Scout Mitchell Deputy Production & Layout Editor: Hannah Kelly Production Assistants: Stephen Keegan, Daniel Troy, Amy Lawlor & Barry O’Sullivan

Illustrators: Laura Duffy, Zoe Ryan Chief Sub-Editor: Bríon Hoban

Sub Editors: Enda Coll, Kyle Ewald Elsa McEvoy, Conor O’ Doherty, Gavin Quinn, Fionnuala Walsh, News Editor: Hayley Halpin & Lauren Ennis, Lucy Mangan, Katie Rebecca Lumley Gallagher, Oisin McQueirns, Liam Deputy News Editors: Paul Dwyer, Ashton, Diana Elena Oprea, Zainab Brein McGinn & Kyle Ewald Boladale, Sadhbh Kennedy & Aoife Marnell Opinion Editor: Shirley Donlon Contacts Lifestyle Editor: Amy Lawlor Deputy Lifestyle Editor: Michelle editor@thecollegeview.com Martin news@thecollegeview.com Features Editor:Shauna Bowers Deputy Features Editor:Orla features@thecollegeview.com O’Driscoll opinion@thecollegeview.com Irish Editor:Cal Ó Donnabháin Deputy Irish Editor: Áine Marie gaeilge@thecollegeview.com Monk sports@thecollegeview.com Sports Editor: Aidan Geraghty Deputy Sports Editor: Patrick Lynch & Gavin Quinn Printed by Datascope, with the DCU Journalism Society Arts Editor: Stephen Keegan Deputy Arts Editor: Emer Handly Thanks to Sportsfile, SLC, Office of Student Life Images Editor: Darragh Culhane Deputy Images Editor: Laura Logo design by Lauren McConway Horan

lection season is upon us. Hustings, manifestos, posters, debates, campaign videos, free food, more posters, celebrity endorsements, cheesy slogans. Yes sir, it’s the annual Students’ Union elections.

I did not cast a vote in my first SU Elections back in 2015. To be quite frank I found the entire process quite polarizing. I didn’t know who the candidates were, what they were running for, why they were running or where to vote (turns out it was on the internet as I searched high and low throughout DCU for some non-existent polling stations).

I doubt I am in the minority in this instance, as the election of student representatives falls quite short in the priorities of any nervous fresher staggering their way through their first year in university trying to navigate their way around campus, understand Harvard referencing, rent a book from the library and submit an assignment on Loop for the first time.

It all comes at you at once and unless you take an active and engaged participation in student politics the entire process can pass you by. But sadly this is not the case for just one fresher caught in a wave of new experiences. It is a wider issue of a lack of engagement across the board.

The turnout at the recent UCD Students’ Union elections, with just 3,237 votes cast for the role of President of the SU from a student body of over 30,000, showed a serious and worrying lack of engagement.

The backlash to Katie Ascough’s victory would have you think otherwise.

Likewise the attendance at our own Students’ Union elections hustings was shocking. Candidates had to stand in front of handfuls of students (there was an estimated 28 students in attendance at one hustings held on the St. Patrick’s campus) and explain why they were the best person for their position.

What must the candidates have been thinking selling their policies and manifestos to a crowd smaller than most everyday lectures? If they were not worried, they should have been, as it will be the job of those who are elected to eliminate this disengaged state of affairs between the student body and a participation in student politics.

The final hustings held on the Glasnevin campus did improve on numbers, as the Business Building lecture hall was packed to hear candidates speak. But the entire process was less than a serious occasion of fraught debate and clashing political ideologies.

The line which stuck with me upon departure was that of Returning Officer Cat O’Driscoll who had to calm proceedings at one point following a jovial exchange. “We want the SU to be taken more seriously, so can we start with the hustings?”, she said.

Student elections bring with it the annual debate of their relevance in our lives. You could, and many do pass through university without the need of their SU. But it is for their and all students benefits that the SU exists.

It is there to represent the students and make their lives easier. In our interviews with candidates over the last week we made it a case and point to ask them sim-

ply what they believed the role their were running for was, as it is a prevailing trend that most students simply do not know what their SU does for them.

As such, here are some helpful tips as we approach the end of election season and you cast your vote: (i) do not be swayed by free food or merchandise, it is a ploy to obtain your vote in a simple and effective manner. Keep in mind that some candidates do not have the financial backing others do and always remember that more substance can be found in candidates words and in their manifestos than in a slice of pizza or free can of energy drink. (ii) celebrity endorsements while funny and eye-catching are also fundamentally irrelevant.

What does it mean if Craig Doyle backs your chosen candidate of their ability to represent students on issues of significance like the strained mental health resources on campus and a sustainable solution to multi-campus lectures? (iii) make up your own mind. The nature of student politics means that you are going to vote for your friend who is running and they are going to get all of their friends to vote for them. Whether or not this is a fair way of electing representatives is redundant, because it happens. If you believe in the power of student politics to enact real and lasting change, then for your and everyone’s else’s sake vote for a candidate who you believe will be best not only for the job, but best for every one of DCU’s 16,000 students. Read the candidate’s manifestos, listen to them speak, ask them questions and make an informed decision on your own valician. (iv) vote. Student politics means a great deal to a small group of people who actively engage in it, while for the majority is passes them by and makes others feel excluded to a union who is supposed to represent them. If you believe in a candidate’s abilities, then vote for them. If you believe the SU has not properly represented you and the issues you feel close at heart, vote. If you want the SU to become a legitimised entity which takes a stance on issues like the Eighth Amendment, the rights of LGBTQA students and Irish unification, then cast your vote. As witnessed in UCD recently, it is very easy to voice your concern afterwards. The most important thing first and foremost is to enact your right as a member of this union, give your voice a platform, enrich democracy and vote.

This issue of the paper does not focus on the candidates themselves due to the fact that the day after it has hit the stands the results will have already been decided.

Inside this issue you will find an abundance of features and pieces explaining what the SU is, debating its relevance, arguing whether or not it is popularity contest and explaining how being a part of it can affect a person’s career with interviews with both of DCU’s previous SU Presidents.

To read extended interviews and video features with all of the current candidates head over to thecollegeview.com. Election season is upon us.

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NEWS CRC votes to hold referendum on constitutional changes

Unsanitary living conditions in St. Pat’s student accommodation despite rent increase

Hayley Halpin News Editor @HayleyHalpin1 Continued from page 1

report to the estates office for repair.”

“Any issues with blocked toilets are dealt with as they are across all three campuses, as soon as they are reported they are investigated and resolved by the estates team,” Caffrey said.

However, residents in House 3 stated that they have been experiencing a sewage issue since semester one.

Windows “not operational”

“There are some bedroom windows that are not fully operational and while these are currently repaired on a case by case basis as reported to the estates office we plan to have all windows replaced during the summer,” Caffrey said.

Any issues with blocked toilets are dealt with as they are across all three campuses, as soon as they are reported they are investigated and resolved by the estates team.

Evidence of missing cupboard doors The College View have evidence of missing doors on cupboards in the kitchen of House 3.

When asked about this, Mr. Caffrey only noted missing cupboards in House 4: “In house 4 two doors are missing from the bottom cupboard and this has been reported to the estates office for repair.”

“Campus Residences charge rates that are substantially below equivalent rates in the Dublin area and tries to balance to need to generate income with the need to help upgrade and/or maintain facilities.”

DCUSU VP for Education & Placement Manus McLoughlin spoke to The College View about the removal of the Irish language names on each house in St. Patrick’s College, which this year have been renamed “House 1, House 2” and so forth.

“The four campus buildings in the formerly known St. Patrick’s College were named Lios Mor, Glendalough, Clonmacnoise and Moville,” McLoughlin said.

Irish history and meaning forgotten

“They’re all Irish names and they have a history and a meaning behind them and when DCU campus accommodation came in this year, not only did they increase the price but they also abolished the names of the campus buildings. Now they are house one, house two, house three, house four.”

“Apart from the state of affairs, be it health and safety, or the fact that these services aren’t as good as the Glasnevin campus. Imagine if you changed the name Larkfield and Hampstead to house one and house two,” he said.

Hayley Halpin News Editor @HayleyHalpin1 Continued from page 1

said.

“It’s very hard to live on the campus with the amount of people compared to the level of facilities available,” he said.

“When there’s two toilets between eight people there’s always a block. If there’s two people that need the toilet you’ll either have to run up the stairs or run down the stairs to get to one,” Byrne said.

A number of bedroom windows do not fully close, leaving way for a draught to come in during bad weather.“The windows are like an inch thin so when there’s a really windy night or something you can just hear battering off the window,” Byrne said.

There is a fault with the key card system to get in through the front door of House 3. The swipe system can easily be deactivated by students leaving the building and therefore anyone without a swipe card can walk in.Explaining the issue with the lack of a secure front door, Campus Residence General Manager, John Caffrey said: “In House 3 the key card lock on the front door does work but is unfortunately being deactivated by residents, or their guests, breaking the fire safety break glass unit that deactivates the magnetic locks keeping the doors secure in order to exit the building without having to use their swipe card.

“In order to combat this we are going to replicate the system currently in use in the other hous-

es whereby a button is pressed in order to exit the building.”

Along with the rental increase this year, only two upgrades were

Hayley Halpin

implemented within each bedroom; new beds and shelves.

Renovations are due to take place this coming summer.

24 hour library to be introduced on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s campus for exam period

DCU Library Credit: Vaming

Rebecca Lumley News Editor @RebeccaLumley1

DCU students will have 24-hour access to the library for the coming summer exam period, which will see equal opening hours in the Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s campus libraries for the first time since the Incorporation.

The extended hours will come into effect from May 2nd to 19th and, according to VP for Education and Placement Manus Mc Loughlin, will mark the first time a University library has offered a 24-hour service.

Though the library help desk

will not be manned for 24 hours, students will be able to borrow books at any time. The proposal to prolong the opening hours of library coffee shops is under consideration.

“We are delighted to see extra efforts being made to improve DCU libraries. At the end of the day students come to University to get a degree and there is nothing more useful than a library to help students achieve that,” Mc Loughlin said.

The extension was negotiated following lobbing on part of

the SU, and will prove an important step towards providing equal library hours on both campuses, according to Mc Loughlin.

The O’Reilly library on the Glasnevin campus currently opens from 8:30am until 2am, while the Cregan library on St. Patrick’s campus closes at 10pm. Mc Loughlin is passionate about granting equal hours to libraries on both campuses and argued that such a change would improve the safety of students.

“Students have no choice but

to walk from the Cregan library to the O’Reilly after the Cregan closes at 10pm. Campus Security Guards made the SU aware that students were arriving at the gates of St.Patrick’s Campus at 2:30am, in the middle of the night,” he said.

“DCU Students’ Union do not feel at ease knowing that hordes of students are walking between DCU libraries in the dark of night.”

Students raised concerns that there was a lack of lighted pathways when walking between libraries, while students from the School of Education lobbied for later closing hours on a permanent basis, to facilitate people on placement.

Library resources have come under strain since the Incorporation was finalised last September, as DCU currently has almost 17,000 students, spread over three campuses and two multi-story libraries.

According to DCU Library, they receive 1.2 million visits a year between the two libraries, with the Cregan library receiving a third of visits compared to the O’Reilly.

The O’Reilly library can seat 477 students and holds 192 computers. According to data it has complied, the library’s busiest month is November, followed by March.

NEWS Analysis: DCU Students’ Union Elections 2017 4

DCU sees significant drop in students running for election

Darragh Culhane

Lauren Ennis Sub Editor @thecollegeview

THE number of candidates running

for Student Union positions in Dublin City University has decreased by 37.5 per cent this year and over half of the positions are uncontested.

A total of 25 candidates were nominated for the 14 available positions this year compared to a total of 40 candidates who were nominated for 13 positions in 2016.

The decrease in candidates in this year’s election has resulted in eight of the 14 positions running uncontested, meaning there is only one candidate running for each position.

These eight positions include, Vice President for Education and Placement, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Clubs Officer, Societies Officer, Irish Language officer, Engineering and Computing Faculty Representative, Institute of Education Representative and Postgraduate Officer.

“Unfortunately I can’t really see any particular reason for there being a decrease,” said Cat O’ Driscoll.

“However, I would be looking at the rep system and the class rep council, to look at why the talent that exists there isn’t interested,” she said.

Adding to this, there were

three candidates who had to be excluded from the race because they failed to “meet deadlines.”

One of these candidates was running for Engineering and Computing Faculty Representative and another was running for the Irish Language Officer position.

Both of these candidates missed the deadline for manifesto submission and had to be excluded from the nomination process.

These mistakes resulted in there being “a couple of uncontested positions that shouldn’t have been,” said DCU SU’s current President, Dylan Kehoe.

“There would have been 2 more contested races then which would have made the whole election look a lot better,” he said.

“It is unfortunate that there isn’t (sic) as many people running.”

The number of uncontested candidates will have an impact on next year’s SU said O’ Driscoll.

“Because there will be so many people on the executive who came through without ever going through the same process that we (past SU officers) all did” there will be a significant impact on the SU,” she said.

“Going through the process of debate with another person and mak-

ing sure you have ideas is really important and makes you understand your own ideals and your own ideology in a different way when you have been challenged on it,” she said.

However, candidates who are running unopposed are not guaranteed the position.

The option of Re-Open Nominations (RON) will be made available for each race.

RON is an active vote against nominated candidates if students feel that they are not suitable for the position.

“Everybody has to be elected into their post, they can’t just get in on the nominations criteria,” said O’Driscoll.

“None of the candidates who are running unopposed have automatically received the position, there is the possibility that RON will win a race and I have informed candidates of that so they know that it is a possibility,” she said.

Because of RON “there definitely is reason to vote and there is definitely reason to engage just as if there were 50 candidates in the election because you will get to have your say,” said Kehoe.

“At the end of the day, the cream will rise to the top and the winner will be deserving of it regardless of the position,” he said.

DCUSU Election Hustings: An analysis

Rebecca Lumley

Lawlor’s manifesto respectively.

Due to the renovation of the new Hub, the usual locatiwon of ‘The Venue” was unusable causing the hustings to be held in a small lecture hall in the business building.

Location contributed to turnout

Liam Ashton Sub Editor @thecollegeview

THE second day of the DCUSU Election hustings took place on the Glasnevin campus on March 9th, in which candidates had the opportunity to talk about their manifestos and answer questions from an audience.

With hustings sessions taking place the previous day on St. Patrick’s Campus, candidates had the opportunity to fine tune their speeches.

The hustings were moderated by SU Returning Officer Cat O’Driscoll who kept proceedings smooth and professional. When inappropriate questions were asked to the candidate of VP for Education and Placement Matthew Davey, such as “are you single?”, O’Driscoll was quick to cut it out.

There was an unusual occurrence in both the hustings for VP for Engagement & Development and VP for Welfare & Equality as candidates in each were unable to attend due to work placement.

Shaun Kerrs, running for Engagement & Development prepared a short video explaining why he was applying for the position. Student James Carr read out both his and Welfare & Equality candidate Maria

The location change may have contributed to a poor crowd turnout seen as there were plenty of empty seats in the room by time the main event of the SU President husting began.

The small attendance may also be down to the fact that candidates for eight of the fourteen positions are currently running uncontested including VP for Academic Affairs and VP for Education and Placement.

The candidates for SU president came from different backgrounds in the college: Eimear is already a member of the SU as she is current VP for Engagement & Development. Ricardo is a post graduate international student studying for his doctorate. Sarah comes from a club’s background and is closely working with the gym towards including gym membership in student fees. Niall is also heavily involved with clubs. He has experience with event management and is currently business faculty rep. James

is a fourth year B.Ed student on work placement who has experience in business and event management.

Kehoe questions feasibility

Incumbent SU President Dylan Kehoe tested the candidates by questioning the feasibility of hosting large on campus events which candidates have outlined in their manifestos.

The questions that came from current sabbatical officers, members of the audience and from Twitter tested each of the candidates giving a diverse range of questions. The audience engagement picked up with the presidential hustings as there were considerably more questions being asked than in previous sessions.

Allocating time between campuses

The main questions put to the candidates were how they would allocate equal time to each of the DCU campuses, what separated them from the other candidates and why they believed they were best suited to the role.

Although it was apparent to all involved that the event wasn’t at the same scale as previous years the hustings efficiently carried out its role in introducing the candidates to the student body. While there were testing questions and heated debate between candidates there were none that stumbled over questions.

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07/03/2017 11:17

NEWS

First years to receive preference for postgrad accommodation

Lydia McKay News Reporter @thecollegeview

POSTGRADUATE

accommodation leases have been changed to prioritise first year PhD students and only allow 1 year occupancy licences on DCU campuses.

Campus Residences will give preference to PhD students in their first year of research instead of current registered postgraduates starting with the 2017/2018 academic year.

The DCU accommodation company are now applying the same application process for postgraduate residences as for all others on-campus, meaning that registered PhD students must apply for accommodation for each academic year.

Before this, postgraduate students could obtain a lease lasting for the duration of their degree.

The updated system will allocate successful applicants accommodation during July of this year, giving unsuccessful applicants only over a

month to find their own place to live.

Students’ Union Postgraduate Officer, Allan Stevenson, has already begun building a database of continuing PhD students who may be in need of alternative accommodation should they not secure an on-campus room.

“The recent email proposes that post-doc researchers will not be able to continue their residency on campus. Unfortunately, these individuals are not represented by the Student’s Union and our main priority is to ensure that none of our student body is left without a home,” said Stevenson.

Regarding the new occupancy licences, Stevenson said: “Doing a PHD is hard enough without having to worry if you are going to have a place to sleep or become homeless, “In the new agreement with Campus Residences PGs will only know in July if they will have a roof over their head or will have to move out in August. Furthermore, they are not guaranteed to have the same room for the coming year or what the rent increase will be.”

DCU’s postgraduate centre

can’t currently house over 100 PhD students but plans to provide 560

new rooms for postgraduate and undergraduate students on the Glas-

6

Jack O’Toole

nevin campus, as well as 300 more rooms on the All Hallows’ campus.

Postgrad event celebrates Postgraduate maintenance grants to Irish language with host return for the next academic year of guest speakers

Orla McGing News Reporter @thecollegeview

THE

Postgraduate Society’s monthly Pizza and Research event kicked off last Wednesday, an event in which postgraduate students showcase their work and research to an audience of people from each DCU school.

Irish language theme

This month’s theme of Irish language and culture was chosen in light of St. Patrick’s Day. The event was host to four guest speakers, each of whom gave short presentations on their work and research with the Irish language.

Amongst the four was DCU Irish Language Officer and Ráth Cairn Gaeltacht native, Siobhán Seoighe. Speaking the longest out of all the speakers, Siobhán has a great deal of experience working with the Irish language. She is currently an appointed member of the Comhairle RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Advisory Board, which is an advisory capacity to RTÉ, regarding all aspects of broadcasting policy and legislation. Likewise, in June 2015, she was appointed to the Board of

Údarás na Gaeltachtain, which is the regional authority responsible for economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht.

The event was also host to guest speaker, Jamie Murphy.

Murphy currently works in Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge as an Assistant Researcher Editor and language teacher and he is also currently researching the Irish language translation of Harry Potter.

Teresa Lynn from the ADAPT Centre in the School of Computing was one of the four guests welcomed to this month’s Píotsa & Staidéar. Lynn is a Postdoctoral Researcher, whose study centres on the development of technologies for the Irish language. Her key area of focus for the event was on her research with regard to the use of the Irish language on Twitter.

The Postgraduate Society was pleased to finally welcome Justin Ó Gliasáin to speak at this month’s Píotsa & Staidéar. Justin is a research assistant with Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge, who has been highly involved with work regarding the Place Names Database of Ireland at logaimn.ie. Justin also currently teaches the module on Irish Name Studies here in DCU, whose research in regard to the Irish language primarily focuses on minor place names in Kildare.

Aoibhin Byrant News Reporter @thecollegeview

THE Department of Education

has confirmed the restoration of the SUSI maintenance grant for postgraduate students, commencing in the academic year of 2017/2018.

Last week the Department of Education announced that the maintenance grant for postgraduate students will be reintroduced after it was cut under the previous coalition’s austerity measures back in 2011. This decision to cut the grant was condemned by the Union of Students in Ireland who warned it would force people in pursuit of higher education onto the dole.

In August 2016 Fianna Fáil education spokesman, Thomas Byrne, stated that measures to increase financial support for postgraduate students were “absolutely essential”.

Cathy McLoughlin, the senior officer of Dublin City University’s Access programme, said that the government’s recent decision was “wonderful news”.

According to McLoughlin, by reintroducing the maintenance grant, the government has “opened up further education opportunities for everyone, especially people from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

To be eligible for the maintenance grant, students must be an Irish, EU, EEA or Swiss National and must have been in residence of said nation for three of the last five year.

Susi

Furthermore, the maintenance grant will only be available to students who already meet the criteria for the special rate of grant awarded

by SUSI. Students who only qualify under their ordinary rate of grant scheme may not necessarily be eligible for the renewal of the maintenance grant for post graduates.

The funding will only be made available to students at postgraduate level for a certain amount of years and will depend on the student’s previous education, according to SUSI’s website.

It is expected to cost the government an estimated €50 million in order to restore the grant measures that were previously axed.

Both the Department of Education and SUSI were unavailable for comment at the time of writing this article.

NEWS

7 Nursing down 10% Larger voter turnout for UCD abortion referendum as first preference than SU presidential election choice on CAO

Kyle Ewald Deputy News Editor @thecollegeview

MORE students voted in UCD’s

abortion referendum last year than in this year’s UCD Student Union presidential election.

Pro-life campaigner and activist Katie Ascough was elected president of UCD’s Students’ Union which voted to maintain their pro-choice position on abortion last year. 3,237 votes were cast in the election, while 4,726 were cast in the referendum to maintain UCD’s SU pro-choice position after calls for a neutral stand were made in November.

One UCD politics and economics student, who wished to remain anonymous, said students need to reflect on the lack of voter participation in the SU election.

“Everything in the Union has checks and balances, so I

think the onus is on next year’s Council to make sure that everything is discussed, debated and accounted for,” the student said.

“In my opinion, Council has been quite dull the last few years and has lacked serious debate, so if Ascough getting elected is what’s needed to spark some healthy debate and invigorate discussion, then that can only be a good thing.”

The student went on to explain how while such debate may be helpful, the reaction on social platforms such as Twitter to her election thus far has been “vicious”.

“I do understand that people were extremely upset and do feel genuinely isolated and disenchanted, but some of the names and comments about [Ascough] were very personal and hurtful,” the student said.

Ascough, a third year UCD Science undergraduate and member of Students for Life, commended her fellow students for not dismissing her for personal views on abortion and vowed to represent all students in a speech following the campaign.

“I love UCD, it’s an inclusive place. I know I came here with opinions that might not be the norm, I understand that, I have run for this election knowing that,” said Ascough, “and I have now been elected UCD SU president and I am very aware of that, and I will be a presi-

Aine Conaty News Reporter @thecollegeview

THERE has been a significant drop in the number of students applying to study nursing degrees in college, according to a recent poll done by the Central Applications Office (CAO).

Ten percent drop

The College Tribune

dent that represents everyone.”

The UCD SU president-elect is currently deferring interview until she takes office in June, but said in a previous interview with The University Times that she will “be communicating with the rest of the SU team, as to what my position should be in the repeal the eighth campaign,” and “would like to delegate the campaign to the welfare officer and to the [campaigns and communications] officer where appropriate.”

Ascough writes a column in the monthly Catholic magazine Alive! and her father sits on the Iona Institute board of directors, an institute that promotes the place of marriage and religion in society.

The poll showed a ten per cent drop in the number of students putting nursing as their first preference on their CAO. Similarly, teaching has decreased by three per cent, while engineering and technology is down by five per cent. However, there had been an increase of four per cent for science degrees.

There was a total of 74,424 applications made by the initial closing date of February 1st which was an increase of 1,300 applications compared with last year.

Result of poor pay and working conditions According to lecturers in DCU’s nursing school, the decrease in the number of students applying for nursing is a result of poor pay and working conditions.

When asked why she thinks students are not choosing to study nursing in college, Dr Siobhan Russell, Mental Health Nursing lecture, said that, “general standards and conditions need to better,”

and that, “payment is a big thing.”

39 hours a week Nurses can work up to 39 hours a week and earn an average of €31,315 a year, factors which may influence students’ choice to become nurses.

Professor Anna Keogh of psychology and nursing also said they are, “not paid enough,” and that they, “are too young for that commitment.”

Protests took place last year as the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) lobbied for incremental credits to be restored to nurses who had graduated between the years of 2011 and 2015. Over 7,500 nurses were due to see renewals of up to €1,500 by January of this year.

Threaten of strike action

Last month, nurses threatened strike action that would take place in early March. This was deferred by the INMO pending a ballot of members.

While many believe the poor conditions pushing nurses to strike is causing the drop in CAO points, Mark Kelly, a lecturer in General Nursing, said it was too soon to speculate.

“It is too early to draw any conclusions regarding the reduction in CAO first preference applications for Nursing. We would need to see the final figures and the closing date for the ‘change of mind’ process is not until July 1st,” adding that “our BSc in Nursing programmes are highly sought after with demand remaining consistently strong over the years.”

UCD Fashion Show producer defends use of just two black people in Black Civil Rights section

Stephen Keegan Arts Editor @MacAodhagainS

THE producer of this year’s UCD Fashion Show has come to its defence after the Black Civil Rights Fashion section of the show only featured two black models.

Photos of the section posted to Twitter and Facebook that attracted negative comments were “a bad choice,” producer Dave Finneran said.

On Twitter, former UCD Politics and Economics stu-

dent Nicholas Ndlovu wrote: “UCD Fashion show put up a picture of their black civil rights sectionfeaturing not one, but a whole TWO black people what a fucking joke.”

In a statement to The College View, Finneran said: “The Show was a celebration of social change movements. White people should celebrate the black civil rights movement and also look to it for inspiration. They shouldn’t be prioritised for casting for it and weren’t, I can assure you.”

In addition, Finneran stated: “we did have a diverse cast for the different sections of the Show.”

The Black Civil Rights feature began with a white model, which the University Observer’s Otwo magazine’s writer Shane Cullen said: “at first to a confused audience seemed odd… (but) it indicated the show’s inclusion of a range of cultures and ethnicities.”

While the segment focused on the fashion of the Civil Rights movement of the 60’s and 70’s, a number of parallels were made to the present day Black Lives Matter movement.

Footage of Donald Trump and

protests played behind the models and a performance by Newbridge hip-hop artist JyellowL followed the feature - he covered Somali-Canadian rapper K’naan’s “Immi-

grants (We’re getting the job done)”.

The suffragette movement and the LGBTQ+ Pride movement were amongst the other social change movements featured in the show.

This year’s UCD Fashion show was held on the 15th and 16th of February in UCD’s Astra Hall. This year was the show’s 30th year in production and proceeds from the night went

NEWS

8

DCU students raise close to €30,000 for Temple Street

Laura Horan Deputy Images Editor @thecollegeview

TWENTY eight DCU students raised over €27,00 euro for Temple Street Children’s Hospital during a fundraising initiative called 100minds.

The 100minds initiative challenged 100 students in colleges across Ireland to raise €1,000 each. Students were paired with a recent graduate in their sector so they could organise a fundraising event of their interest.

The overall scheme successfully passed their target of €100,000 and raised a total of €140,552.

The money raised from the scheme this year is going towards

a new satellite classroom for St. Gabriel’s neurosurgery ward. The Ward specialises in neurosurgery and craniofacial surgery, but often cares for patients with both general and medical conditions.

Declan Egan, a former UCD student, founded the 100minds social enterprise project in 2013.

Over the last three years the project has raised more than one million euro for Irish charities including Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Blossom Ireland, Barnardos and ISPCC. The students organised a variety of fundraising events and activities, including sponsored bagpacks, art exhibitions, live gigs, and swimming and cycling challenges.

Robert Byrne was DCU’s best fundraiser.

He single-handedly raised €2,500 through a variety of activities including a jersey raffle, coffee morning and Christmas swim.

Robert is an engineering student from Ballymurn in County Wexford. He said he “joined 100minds this year as I wanted to give back, and I thought that 100minds gave me the best opportunity to do so. It is such a great opportunity to raise funds for a worthy cause like Temple Street that I couldn’t turn it down”.

Irish Times

Lucy Mangan Sub Editor @thecollegeview

THE government is planning to

introduce new laws that will prosecute firms who offer to write assignments for students in exchange for money.

Plagiarism criteria

From 2013 until June 2016 Declan Egan ran the 100minds project with different Irish charities but then handed it over to Temple Street Foundation, the charity he worked with in its first year.

Denise Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of Temple Street Foundation said, “We are incredibly proud of our 100minds participants - who took on their fundraising challenges

with enthusiasm, energy and creativity. This year’s participants raised over €140,000, surpassing their target by a phenomenal €40,000.”

“The funds they have raised will go a long way to making our planned satellite classroom for St. Gabriel’s Ward a reality – so we can ensure children who are bed bound don’t fall behind, and can keep up with their friends in school,” she said.

New lab-on-a-chip centre to be built in DCU

DCU

Amy Lawlor Lifestyle Editor @thecollegeview

A new lab-on-a-chip centre at Dub-

lin City University is to be built and will be known as the Fraunhofer Project Centre (FPC). The centre is to be co-funded by the German research institution and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI).

This includes €2.5m from SFI, as well an additional €2.5m to be matched by Fraunhofer over the next five years.

When speaking in relation to the significant funding the new centre will receive Professor Jens Ducrée, director of the new FPC said, “While 5 million sounds like a lot of money, it is spread across a range of individual projects; it also needs to be considered that the FPC covers the rather costly stage of taking technologies from their proof-of-concept stage, as a typical outcome of academic research, to industrialisation.”

In a certain way microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip systems represent the equivalent to modern electronic gadgets such as mobile phones.

While computing power has

emerged from a few select largescale facilities into our chest pockets, Lab-on-a-Chip systems take the detection of biomolecules testing from bulky and expensive equipment located in centralised laboratories to compact and portable devices.

These devices can, for example, assist the nurse at the bedside of the patient, the GP or vet in his office, and even empower the citizen at home, e.g. to monitor a disease, advise drug dosage or even check his food and drinking water.

Plans to prosecute firms who offer paid for assignments for students

This partnership with the renowned Fraunhofer IPT will amplify the transformative impact of DCU’s expertise in the application of microfluidics to the life sciences. “Impact and transformation, both societal and economic, are central to our research vision and the mutual benefits of this new collaboration will deliver impact that transcends geographical boundaries,” said Professor Ducrée.

The aim of the FPC will be to focus on contract and collaborative research, and projects ad-

dressing cost-efficient design, development and manufacture of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip designs.

In collaboration with industry and academia, the Fraunhofer Project Centre for Embedded Bioanalytical Systems at Dublin City University will develop “fit-for-industry” solutions for decentralised “point-of-use” testing for application in areas such as medicine, the life sciences, drug development and production, agriculture and environmental monitoring.

The Department of Education is hoping to combat the production of these essays as they fit around the plagiarism criteria in many universities and ITs. Online systems, such as TurnItIn, are used to detect whether a student is copying academic work or another student’s previous work rather than detecting a new essay produced for the student.

VP for Academic Affairs, James Donoghue advises students not to “get caught in the trap, there are lots of supports there. Don’t take that option and talk to somebody about sustainable options.”

New guidelines

In a statement given to the Irish Times, a spokesman for the Minister for Education Richard Bruton, said Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is going to develop new guidelines for this type of plagiarism. He also stated that a new bill would give the QQI “specific powers to prosecute ‘essay mills’ and other forms of cheating”.

He also stressed that the new guidelines would not be developed without advice from students, providers and other relevant parties and would also be informed by recent research carried out in the UK regarding ‘essay mills.’

1000 reported cases Since 2010, there have been 1,000 reported cases of plagiarism in colleges, although the real number is likely to be much higher, with UCD, UCC and Maynooth University not providing figures. However, this type of plagiarism is much harder to scale.

Staff and academics in DCU had previously warned students not to avail of services such as these when posters advertising assignments for money were posted across the campuses last November.

Students were encouraged to reach out to the writing centre, the Student’s Union and academic support staff that are available within the college if they needed extra help.

Donoghue also emphasised the importance of doing the work yourself as “you learn skills by doing work and if it’s not your work, then you’re not learning the skills.”

When asked if the use of essay mills may be a concern for next year’s VP for Academic Affairs, Donoghue responded that “Yes, I think it’s a concern for anybody working in the third level academic sphere.”

9

OPINION

Repeal the 8th: the deep-rooted issue of women’s rights in Ireland

SHIRLEY DONLON OPINION EDITOR

O

nce upon a time contraception was illegal in Ireland.

It wasn’t until members of the Irish Women’s Liberation Movement (IWLM) travelled to Belfast by train in 1971 to buy contraceptives, bringing them back to Dublin, waving them in the air as they passed through customs, that the ‘taboo’ element of discussing contraception was addressed.

Today, the Catholic Church still holds power over the stigma of abortion in Ireland.

But not for long.

“Get your rosaries off my ovaries” Thousands of people took to the streets to

march for a repeal of The Eighth Amendment earlier this month.

International women’s day took place on the 8th of March which also harboured a national protest for Strike4Repeal; a campaign promoting that The Eighth Amendment to be repealed in order to allow abortion services in Ireland.

However great it is to see so many people get involved in these marches, protests and organised demonstrations in order to raise awareness for the need of a repeal of The Eighth Amendment, the frustrating element of why we still have to go to so much trouble to get such enormously important issues recognised by the Irish Government is absurd.

“We won’t wait, repeal the eighth!”

According to Amnesty International UK, at least ten women travel from Ireland to the U.K. every day to receive abortions and roughly 4,000 women make the journey to Britain or elsewhere in Europe every year.

The fact that Irish women spend so much money travelling abroad to different countries to receive a service that should, without a doubt, be facilitated here in Ireland is time consuming, often traumatising and cruel.

Ireland has been falling behind most European countries in regards to its treatment of women and women’s rights for years.

“My body, my choice.”

The recent discovery of the mass graves where the remains of roughly 800 dead babies and young children were found in Tuam, Gal-

way, highlights the influence that the Catholic Church has held on Ireland for too long.

Magdalene Laundries operated from 1765 to the late 1990s, keeping many women who had children out of wedlock prisoner; working and living in terrible conditions.

The Magdalene Laundries are a great indication of the corrupt society in which the Catholic Church has guilt tripped people in Ireland into living for many, many years.

However, today we live in a different world.

People will no longer accept ideals, rules and legislation forbidding them to be granted not only their rights as women, but rights as human beings.

Ireland has had years of making backward

Shirley Donlon

decisions and focusing on issues that aren’t nearly as important or vital to be addressed as the issue of abortion rights.

We need not wait for another case like Savita Halappanvar to happen, who died of septic shock after being refused an abortion by her doctors in hospital in Galway, before we step into action.

Women are no longer willing to accept that abortion is something that shouldn’t be spoken about. It is time for the issue of abortion in Ireland to be addressed, solved and practiced.

Abortion is a human right.

As human beings, women deserve the right to choose what way they wish to make decisions about their own body. Simple as.

Parties versus profession: The story of a Students’ Union president MICHELLE MARTIN

DEPUTY LIFESTYLE EDITOR

T

he time of year has come again, when students across the country judge their peers for running in what most see as a popularity contest. Yes, I’m talking about student union elections.

Those who are running as candidates are often seen as real life Van Wilders, Ryan Reynold’s movie character who refused to leave college and its lifestyle behind.

Despite their reasons or naivety entering into their role, there is no chance your student elect escapes the year without working and improving on attributes worth noticing in a potential employee.

And even if they are running for an unlimited supply of free condoms, campaigning in itself is work. It involves more than just walking around the Nubar with posters of their faces. Candidates are required to produce a manifesto, debate their ideas against their opponents as well as discuss them in front of varying amount of students in the classes that they choose to address. This alone draws attention to desirable professional qualities like organisation, writing skills and public speaking abilities.

Last year’s SU president Kim Sweeney was very aware of the stigma that came with the role.

“Some people are of the opinion that SU positions are just another year in college but I always make sure to explain it was my full time job and explain the work involved” she said. “People are always interested to hear about your experience

Laura Duffy

but you must be able to use your experience to answer competency based questions which most companies will ask you”.

Like anything you put on your CV, what is important is what you can take from it.

Your lemonade stand back in the day probably hasn’t made your resume, but even it highlights

some positive qualities such as independence, initiative and drive.

Kenneth Browne, DCU SU President 2014/2015, sings the same tune. “I don’t think it matters whether you have a 1.1 or a 2.2 these days - what have you done to demonstrate initiative and independent growth that sets you apart from the pack?” he asks.

Having emigrated to America shortly after his term ended he soon realised even the reputation surrounding the words Dublin City University carried little meaning.

“The Americans I’ve met have no idea what DCU Students’ Union is or the role of the President” he said, “On paper I may as well not have included it. I think it’s the elements that you can’t quantify on paper though that are the real assets - such as public speaking, confidence, leadership skills, [and] management skills, how you carry yourself in room full of seasoned professionals - all of these personal developments have been invaluable”.

Kim started an internship just two months after leaving her position and is now fully employed as a business analyst within the same company in Dublin. Kenneth now makes Television commercials for an agency in Chicago, and has his own production business on the side.

Before you leap to criticise this year’s candidates, calling them ‘time wasters’ or ‘memory chasers’, consider how your CV will look next to theirs.

10

OPINION

Your Students’ Union: An entity for real change Lifestyle Editor, Amy Lawlor, takes a look at the different changes the DCU SU have implemented over the past two years in a comprehensive review of the DCU SU.

AMY LAWLOR LIFESTYLE EDITOR

W

ith DCU Student Union Elections right around the corner it only seemed fitting to take a look back on what changes this year’s and last year’s SU made to enhance

student life.

Last year Student Union President Kim Sweeney addressed a bullying problem within DCU campus generated by the app Yik Yak, Sweeney issued an email to the student body urging students to use the app responsibly or otherwise face academic reprimands.

Under the watchful eye of the SU and other faculties, DCU became Europe’s first Autism friendly campus, with the SU educating the student body on autism by issuing regular emails.

The introduction of a postgraduate officer was seen for the first time on DCU’s Class Rep Council (CRC), after a motion put forward by Education Officer, James Donoghue passed.

On the down side Clubs’ Officer Thomas O’Gorman resigned from his position within the Student Union, after withdrawing from his course which caused disruption within the SU leaving them with no choice but to re-open the position.

The 2015/2016 SU also received criticism by academic staff member[AL1] Helen Sheehan after they refused to allow her to send an email to students, regarding a leftwing seminar on Greece. The SU citing the seminar ‘it wasn’t relevant to all 12,300 DCU students.’

This year it’s safe to say DCU SU made significant changes that have benefited students across the board.

The most recent change saw DCU add a Jobbio feature to their website which will allow thousands of students to access potential employers through the Student Union.

This feature was part of DCU SU President, Dylan Kehoe’s manifesto as he wanted to use his contacts within Jobbio to benefit students who are seeking employment.

The new Jobbio feature will be a ‘huge improvement’ in contrast to the job listing from the newsletter sent out by DCU careers’ section according to Kehoe.

Another a key difference Kehoe made to the student body was the introduction of a student microwave allowing commuting students to heat up their lunch rather than having to buy food on campus.

As well as this Cody Byrne, DCU’s Vice President for Welfare and Equality has been busy this academic year.

In light of the Strike4Repeal campaign that took place on March 8th, Byrne organised a peaceful picketing session outside both Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s campus, a walk-out of class that saw hundreds of students march around DCU Glasnevin campus, showing solidarity to repeal the 8th amendment.

As part of Byrne’s manifesto he wanted to incorporate an alternative counselling service for DCU Students and he succeeded by initiating the DCU student personal support line that operates after hours for students seeking counselling services on a Tuesday and Thursday evening.

As well as ensuring the standard STI checks were in place, Byrne also contributed to reducing Hazelwood’s weekly rent by €15 bringing it down from €175 a week to €160.

However, one of the not so finer moments of this year’s Student Union was the rental of the marquee to facilitate student events, which ended up costing the SU €25,000 to rent for a four week period, taking a significant chunk out of the SU’s budget.

“

Under the watchful eye of the SU and other faculties, DCU became Europe’s first Autism friendly campus, with the SU educating the student body on autism by issuing regular emails.

Darragh Culhane

By implanting tiny electrodes deep within the brain and stimulating neurons, muscle tremor can be reduced and movement restored.

Our research will ultimately lead to better approaches to treating Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders.

GAEILGE Laochra Spóirt Inár

11

Chas Aidan Geraghty le beirt de laochra spóirt na hollscoile, na peileadóirí iomráiteacha Ciarán Kilkenny agus Muireann Ní Scanaill

Sportsfile

Aidan Geraghty Leas-eagarthóir @Aido1895 leas-eagarthóir

I

s athfhoilsiú é an t-alt seo ó Scáthán 2017 Brú, brú, brú de shíor.

Léachtaí, staidéar, tionscadail, scrúduithe—agus fós tá mic léinn inár measc a bhfuil cáil orthu as éachtaí iontacha spóirt, ceoil nó imeachtaí eile a éilíonn a lán lán dua agus ama. Chas Aidan Geraghty le beirt de laochra spóirt na hollscoile, na peileadóirí iomráiteacha Ciarán Kilkenny agus Muireann Ní Scanaill.

Tá dhá thraidisiún beo bríomhar i nDroim Conrach inniu mar a bhí riamh anall, traidisiún na peile agus traidisiún na Gaeilge. Is mic léinn oideachais iad Muireann Ní Scanaill, atá ar fhoireann na mban do Bhaile Átha Cliath—foireann a chaill cluiche ceannais na hÉireann 2016, agus an-chonspóid faoi sin—agus Ciarán Kilkenny, atá ar fhoireann na bhfear do Bhaile Átha Cliath, a bhuaigh Craobh na hÉireann anuraidh.

Tógadh an bheirt acu le Gaeilge freisin.

Shroich Muireann agus a foireann an cluiche ceannais in 2016 don tríú bliain as a chéile—agus chaill siad i gcoinne fhoireann Chorcaí gach uair.

Ní raibh duine ar bith in ann argóint a dhéanamh faoin toradh in 2014 agus 2015, ach in 2016 d’éirigh conspóid faoi chinneadh maoir a bhronn an bua ar Chorcaigh.

“Tá sé deacair labhairt faoi fós,” a deir Muireann.

“Ní rud maith é, ach tharla sé agus caithfimid déileáil leis. Le cúnamh Dé, ní bheidh an fhadhb sin ann arís sa todhchaí.”

Cé gur imríodh an cluiche i bPáirc an Chrócaigh, ní raibh an córas ‘Hawk-Eye’ ar fáil toisc nach bhfuil cead ag Cumann Pheil na mBan (CPB) é a úsáid. Dar le Muireann, beidh an craobhchluiche in úsáid ag an CPB agus iad ag iarraidh a thaispeáint do lucht rialaithe an Chumainn Lúthchleas Gael (CLG) chomh riachtanach is atá Hawk-Eye. “Beidh an CPB in ann a rá gur gá an teicneolaíocht seo a chur ar

“

“Le pointe amháin a bhuaigh Corcaigh an chraobh—ach bhí pointe tuillte ag Baile Átha Cliath sa chéad leath nár comhaireadh toisc gur chreid an maor go raibh an liathróid imithe amú”.

Focail na seachtaine Síog na bhFiacla - Tooth fairy Craobh na hÉireann - All-Ireland Championships Comhchoibhneas - Correlation An Milleán - The blame Baineadh Geit - To be shocked/startle

fáil dúinn don chraobh mar is féidir le daoine botúin a dhéanamh—agus déanann na botúin sin an-difríocht.”

Tá Ciarán Kilkenny ar fhoireann na bhfear le Baile Átha Cliath. Tá trí bhonn Uile-Éireann aige, cé nach bhfuil sé ach trí bliana is fiche d’aois.

Bhuaigh na sinsir craobh eile i 2011 sula raibh sé ag imirt leo, ach níl suim aige fós i gcomparáidí idir an fhoireann seo agus foireann na seachtóidí.

“Is deacair comparáid a dh éanamh go fóill. B’fhoireann iontach inspioráideach foireann na 1970idí, spreagadar agus chruthaíodar an cultúr agus an stíl imeartha atá againne inniu.”

“Bhí imreoirí den scoth acu agus ceannairí láidre, agus is cinnte nach mbeimis chomh rathúil gan iad.”

Chomh maith leis an rath a bhí air ó thús a ré idirchontae, bhí bliain den scoth ag an chlub, Caisleán Cnucha, i gcraobh Bhaile Átha Cliath. Shroich siad cluiche ceannais an chontae mar ar chaill siad in aghaidh Naomh Uinsionn.

“Ní dóigh liom gur féidir le haon imreoir amháin glacadh leis an

gcreidiúint ar fad,” arsa Ciarán, nuair a ceistíodh é faoin ról a bhí aige sa rath seo ar an gclub.

“Ní féidir le haon imreoir amháin glacadh leis an milleán ar fad ar an lámh eile, nuair nach bhfuil rudaí ag dul go maith.

“An chúis gur éirigh chomh maith linn i mbliana ná gur ghlac gach duine ar an bpainéal le freagracht astu féin.”

Agus ní féidir riamh suí siar ná bheith sásta leis an méid a bhaintear amach le linn séasúir amháin.

“Beimid ag tosú ón tús arís an bhliain seo chugainn agus beidh orainn ar fad oibriú chomh dian agus níos déine fós.”

Beidh an meon ceannann céanna ag Muireann agus ag foireann na mban freisin. An tréith is suntasaí ag foirne Bhaile Átha Cliath, fir agus mná, ná an diongbháilteacht atá acu araon—an diúltú sin glacadh le cailliúint cluichí.

Feicfimid an tréith sin arís in 2017 agus is féidir a bheith cinnte go mbeidh siad san iomaíocht go tréan do Chraobh na hÉireann arís.

12

GAEILGE

Gnó na Síoga Fiacla Pléann Méabh Riordan stair na Síoga Fiacla agus gnó an charachtair ficseanúil

Méabh Riordan Scríbhneoir @thecollegeview

T

hosaigh an tsraith smaointe seo ag an deireadh seachtaine. Bhí mé féin agus mo Mham ag cur caoi éigin ar an gcistin nuair a thit rud éigin ar an urlár. ‘Céard é sin?’ arsa Mam. ‘B’fhéidir gurb é ceann do do chuid fiacla?’

Bíonn scéalta agus traidisiúin dhifriúla bunaithe ar Shíog na bhFiacla ar fud an domhain. Dúinne anseo in Éirinn, cuirtear fiacla faoin bpiliúr mar mhalairt ar airgead agus leantar an seanchas seo ar fud domhain an Bhéarla. Dealraítear gur bunaíodh an traidisiún seo ar an ‘tand-fé’, nó táille fiacla, luaite sna scríbhinní is luaithe faoin Tuaisceart na hEorpa. Áfach, bíonn nósanna eile ar fud an domhain, agus ceann de na nósanna is suimiúla ná sa tSeapáin agus i dtíortha san Afraic, an duine ag caitheamh na fiacaile ar díon an tí más ó bhonn an bhéil agus ag caitheamh na fiacaile ó bharr an bhéil ar an talamh.

Creideadh gur chur seo na fiacla ag fás níos tapúla agus sláintiúil.

Faraor, is dóigh go bhfuil formhór do dhaoine níos aithnidiúla leis an mbronntanas airgid faoin bpiliúr.

Ach cén costas nó luach a chuirtear ar fhiacla sa tsochaí inniu?

Ag éisteacht leis an raidio maidin amháin, chuala me aibhéil faoin méid airgid a thugtar do pháisti mantacha nach gcreidfeá.

Spreag an tuairisc mé chun taighde a dhéanamh ar ábhar ‘síog na bhfiacla’ agus d’éirigh liom an spotsholas ar an meid airgid a caitear ar fiacla gach uile bliain sna Stáit Aontaithe, a thugadh tuiscint duit ar scála éigin. Rinne Delta Dental, an scéim fiaclach is mó sna Stáit Aontaithe, a léiriú bliantúil agus nochtaíodh an t-eolas seo a leanas; • D’íoc “Síog na bhFiacla” $290.6 milliún ar fiacla sa bhliain 2016 • Ar an meán, cosnaionn fiacail amhain $4.66 • Duirt 89% de theaghlaigh go bhfágann síog na bhfiacla bronntannas airgid dos na páistí • Ta comhchoibhneas ann idir fás na scaireanna ‘S&P 500’ ar an stocmhargadh agus an méid a thugann Sióg na bhFiacla do pháisti sa tír Ní sna Stáit Aontaithe amháin a bhfuil fás tagtha ar an méid a dháileann síog na bhfiacla, áfach.

Feictear ardú sa Bhreatain chomh maith agus is léir go bhfuil fiacla ag éirí níos costasaí! Le déanaí roinn nuachtán The Mirror torthaí suirbhé cosúil leis an gceann déanta ag Delta Dental agus cinnte go raibh níos mó airgid faighte ag páistí sna ceantair is saibhre. Ar an meán, is é £2.10 an méid a fhaigheann páistí na Breataine ach faigheann duine as deichniúr £10. Fuair The Mirror

an t-eolas seo as suirbhé déanta ag an gcomhlacht fiaclóireachta Carisbrook Dental i Manchain, iarthuaisceart na Breataine. Chomh maith le seo, rinne siad suirbhé ar 1,000 tuismitheoirí ag freastal ar a gclinicí agus nochtaíodh seo leanas; • Faigheann 12% dos na páistí £5 ar son a gcuid fiacla agus faigheann 9%, £10 • Feictear na híocaíochtaí is airde i Londain agus san oirdheisceart. Tugtar go fial, flaithiúil agus de ghnáth bíonn £50 le fáil faoin bpiliúr tar éis oíche chodlata agus gan an fhiacail a

bhí ann le feiceáil níos mó.

• Na páistí a fhaigheann an méid airgid is ísle ná muintir na gceantar ina bhfuil méid mór den aicme ar a dtugtar an lucht oibre, cosúil le Newcastle. De réir an taighde, ní fhaigheann na páistí ann ach £1 do gach fiacail, i gcomparáid leis na ceantair eile.

Le sin, is léir go bhfuil tionscal na Sióige Fiacla ag forbairt agus ag méadú agus is cosúil nach bhfuil sé/sí ag sracadh leis an gcúlú eacnamaíochta a thuilleadh! Ach roghnaigh mé an focal ‘tionscal’ go feasach.

“ Baineadh geit asam agus muidne sna trithí gaire. Thosaigh mé ag smaoineamh faoi ‘Síog na bhFiacla’ agus an raibh mórán á dhéanamh aici na laethanta seo

Rud suimiúil eile ná go raibh lá tiomnaithe do Shíog na bhFiacla. Bíonn ‘National Tooth Fairy Day’ ceiliúrtha ar an dara lá is fichid de mhí Lúnasa agus i bhFeabhra ar an ochtú lá is fichid.

Ina theannta bunaíodh na mílte comhlachtaí - doras na síog ina measc. Bhí dóchas ann don leagan in Éirinn agus is dóigh go raibh toisc ráth an chomhlachta ‘The Irish Fairy Door Company’ agus tnúthán ioncam an-ard acu sa bhliain 2014, é ráite gur thuill siad gar le €2.6 milliún le 2016.

Cinnte go bhfuil tionscal cruthaithe anois as an ‘sísheanchas’ ag breathnú ar an méid tuillte ag cuid comhlachtaí agus ar thaobh na teicneolaíochta feictear go bhfuil aip áirithe ann ar fáil bunaithe ar Shíog na bhFiacla! Tá sé dírithe ar thuismitheoirí agus é nasctha le Visa agus an suíomh idirlín practicalmoneyskills.com.

Ach cad é sprioc na haipe? Scríofa ar a leathanach Facebook tá sé molta acu dos na húsáideoirí an méid a thugann siad d’fhiacla a thabhairt don aip chun go mbeadh an ráta reatha ar fáil do thuismitheoirí eile.

D’fhill mé ar an gcistin Dé Domhnaigh, ag breathnú ar mo chuid fiacla ar an urlár, nó b’fhéidir gur le mo dheartháir iad, mo mháthair mí-chinnte.

Chuimhnigh mé ar na litreacha chugam ó Shíog na bhFiacla, an dúch ón bpeann glóthaí bándearg, an bonn aonarach corntha i gciarsúr. Draíocht an óige ag dul i ngleic orm arís. kiplinger.com

FEATURES

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FEATURES

What does the SU do for you?

As the 2017 SU election results loom, the underlying function of the Students’ Union is a topic which most sudents question MEABH RIORDAN CONTRIBUTOR

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ccording to Union of Students in Ireland (USI) the students’ union is an organised body of ‘willing wouldbe activists’ whose primary focus is defending the rights of the student, as well as enabling and furthering travel opportunities for Irish students abroad.

A cohesive force that first came together on the 19th of June 1959 now represents over 354,000 students across 40 Irish third level institutions. Today the USI continues to be an active and progressive representative of the student body with protests ranging from student support from the government.

This includes grants, student assistance funds and increased accommodation availability, to joining with Amnesty International in calling on the government to repeal the 8th amendment. As is common knowledge each third level institution has its own union which represents the student body who offer a range of services, advice, support and aim to have the voice of the student heard.

As part of the ‘Behind the Headlines’ series organised by Trinity

College a panel discussion was held on the topic of ‘Abortion in Modern Ireland’ earlier this week.

Professor Ivana Bacik, a barrister, professor of law and Senator for the University of Dublin, was present to share her views on the issue and in doing so referred to her time spent in the TCD SU. Some twenty-eight years ago Professor Bacik served as President of TCD Students’ Union. She spoke about the infringement on students’ and women’s rights during her time as President when it was illegal in this country to distribute information on abortion. A court case was taken against her by pro-life group SPUC (Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child) for distribution of this information.

At this time the Student’s Union was the only body where such information and support was readily available, despite the legal implications and challenges its members faced. Monumental responses by the Students’ Union like this made me consider and question the active and persevering role of DCU’s Student Union.

As the second semester came to a close last year it was all go on

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resentative attempted to bring the matter further.

Nothing materialised. A ‘Gaeilge agus Iriseoireacht’ (Irish and Journalism) student shares her sentiments on the participation and support of the SU at this time: ‘many members showed an ignorance and disengagement with Irish students concern about the incorporation and move to All Hallows’.’ With more publicity being given to the infamous fifth goujon endeavour on the DCU SU facebook page, the question of ‘what has the Student Union done for Irish language students?’ niggles at me.

The DCU SU’s website clearly outlines the role and supports offered by the organisation along with making elected representatives easily contactable. Two manifestos that stuck out were: ‘to help you better your time in DCU’ and ‘make sure that you have an unforgettable experience in DCU.’ The SU are renowned for their promotion and organisation of events, workshops and talks in DCU. This semester Careers Week, Body and Soul Week - advocating mental, physical and nutritional health and Seachtain na Gaeilge

What the SU does for students comes down to the students the Glasnevin campus with final assignments and summer exams impending and the canvassing for next year’s Student Union representatives. Fiontar, DCU’s Irish faculty, were ambushed with some unsettling news on the departments upheaval to St Patrick’s College and All Hallows as part of ‘The New DCU.’ Students of Fiontar were up in arms about the furtive decision and sought out the SU to defend their right to remain on campus for the duration of their degrees. As most are aware the resistance was futile.

Aspiring candidates seeking votes included Fiontar’s strife in their manifestoes and a former SU rep-

were some of the events shared on the SU Facebook page. However, speaking to some students on campus there was a consensus that this year’s Student Unions involvement has been somewhat muted.

A previous class rep and LGBT student contrasts this notion and cannot praise the impact and efforts of the Student Union enough for their participation within her community; from the funding of ‘Pink Training’, a weekend of gender and sexuality workshops along with the SU’s intention to provide all access bathrooms for use by all staff and students of all genders. ‘Without the SU we wouldn’t have been able to attend this incredible educational and empowering training.’

The Student’s Union is a central aspect to college life, a support system to get you over the hurdles of student life. In theory it provides the first taste of democracy and advocacy of rights. The SU can be a platform for the student body to make their voice heard and challenge their everyday injustices.

Their impact and priorities vary from year to year in correlation with its members; as is the case with most political parties. In the end what the SU does for students comes down to the students, how they avail and persist for the support of the Union and in turn persevere with their own cause.

FEATURES

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FEATURES

The Great Debate:

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Are SU elections just popularity contests?

The Students’ Union represent all students in our university, but on what basis do we elect our officers?

FOR MICHEAL O SCANNAIL CONTRIBUTOR

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tudents are bombarded with free food from the friends of Students’ Union election candidates. We once again must decide who we want to make up the new SU, who we want to represent us. Whether you are the kind of person that says “sorry I’m in a rush” or like me, you embrace the freebies, it is hard to look past the notion that the election is somewhat a popularity contest.

The idea of free food is almost like they are trying to bribe students, to convince us that we should vote for them because they gave us that free Maom bar one time.

Current SU president, Dylan Kehoe said, “popularity is a huge factor. That being said people will vote for ideas and manifestos that click with them. If you have a combo of both you should have a strong campaign.”

There are some very important issues raised by the presidential candidates like, 24-hour student support, support for mental health and support for students on work placement. The vast majority of what appears on the manifestos, however, is trivial. Candidate Ricardo Valdés-Bango Curell recognised this issue and said that the student unions of the past have been “nothing more than a ‘political games’ for a few, and that no real impact was made.”

It is hard for students to vote for anyone else, but who they are most familiar with, especially when the

AGAINST ORLA O DRISCOLL DEPUTY FEATURES EDITOR

manifestos of the candidates can be so far-fetched or just nonsensical. Some students do not even vote at all. Some 20,000 students registered to vote in the marriage referendum so it is clear that students want to vote for something they believe in. The problem, it appears, is that in SU elections there is nothing to believe in, it is as if we are just going through the motions of an election.

The Student Union, contrary to popular belief, works hard to ensure that student life is as enjoyable and as beneficial as possible. The individual roles in the SU are important so we should focus more on their aims, rather than the size of their circle of friends.

The events run by the SU are pivotal in making student life fun and in raising awareness for sexual health, equality and self-confidence to name a few.

Last week’s repeal the 8th march has proven that the students of DCU can stand for something they believe in and it bodes the question whether it is time for the SU to become a more serious establishment, that not only takes a stance to represent the opinions of the students, but actively sets about changing them.

If the university wants its students to vote not for a candidate’s popularity but for their ideas, it could be time to instill more power in the role and allow them a manifesto that will make a difference.

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heoretically all elections are a popularity contest. If you don’t like Enda Kenny then you simply vote for Michael Martin, or Gerry Adams.

you automatically have an entitlement to seek out your SU rep for support across a wide range of areas. All this happens when the fanfare is over, there are no freebies, or fuchsia T-shirts, this Right? is the reality of how the role operates.

Well not really. It’s not just about the And if entrants only enter because of person, it’s about what the person can some shallow land popularity with little achieve on your behalf, or if you want to substance behind it, the person’s lack apply the ethical utilitarianism perspec- of ability to fulfil the role will soon tive; the greatest good for the greatest become evident. number of people.

This role takes dedication, humility, An expectation that a candidate can time and energy. In his manifesto for the and will fulfill a role, and will bring new coming elections James Rooney says: innovation, interest and energy to the “We can’t let our own ambitions get in role is a given. Those chosen as SU reps the way of what needs to be achieved.” are answerable to those who will walk Student life is breathtaking, along beside and or behind them every exhilarating, dangerous, tempestuous, day. confusing, expensive, isolating, all enHypothetically, if Rhianna were to compassing, and exhausting. Without a run for the role of President of SU at SU to offer practical advice through its DCU, there is a very large possibility advocates, all these experiences become that she might get a fair few votes. much harder to deal with. The SU reps But the reality is, she is going to be bring advice, campaigns, support, and busy doing Rhianna things, in another awareness. They highlight the things country, and she enjoys relative wealth, that students need highlighted. It’s so whether you have the fifth chicken much grittier than a popularity congoujon is not going to disturbia her. If test, because the winner must keep the you spring a leak in your dorm roof, she students happy. may not offer you her umberella ella….

There is a chance that the most popYou get the message. She is a nice girl, ular person is the one who has already and popular, but she is not exactly the done a lot of the ground work, but I commitment type, and taking on an SU don’t believe it’s a popularity contest representative role takes a huge amount based on the person, but based on what of commitment. the person will achieve for all. Now Once you become a student of DCU surely that’s not a bad thing?

FEATURES

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Female engagement in student politics Women are known to be great decision makers, but why don’t they contribute more to student political life?

Aoife Horan Contributor @thecollegeview

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n the Mezz, on couches worn out by students of DCU past and present, an informal talk was held about female engagement in politics. Its attendance counted twice as many men as women.

Being a microcosm of Irish politics on a whole it should come as no surprise that female engagement in Student Union affairs has been lacking throughout the years.

“

This year’s SU’s full time sabbatical team saw one female in its count The previous SU President Kim Sweeney, who served the 2015/2016 students’ union, was the first female Student’s Union president in five years.

This issue was brought to the forefront during DCUSU’s Empowerment Week. This was a week run with the aim of encouraging student engagement in SU politics, particularly for encouraging female engagement. The disconnect and disparity between female engagement in politics was exemplified by its headlining talk,

by USI’s Equality and Citizenship officer, Síona Ní Chátháil, on the subject of women in leadership. Its attendance counted twice as many male students as it did female.

“Women are not running for election, the data is there to prove it so it’s about how we can target that.” said Ní Chátháil, speaking on the evident disparity.

Looking outside the walls of the DCU campus’s and into the chambers of our country’s governance, a Bill was passed which imposed gender quotas. Could it perhaps be suggested that DCUSU do the same?

The 2016 Students Union’s candidacy tells a dire story for female engagement in SU Politics.

Of the seventeen students running for full time sabbatical positions in SU, only two of those were women. The figures of those running in

previous year.

It would be near impossible to propose a quota on the students elected to the SU as there are only 5 positions available for full time sabbatical, although a quota on the candidates for SU could be proposed.

Although this year has seen a marked increase in female candidacy, there is no indication that is a trend that will be followed in the coming years. However, it would be near impossible to put restrictions on the gender of those who may run for SU without restricting the candidature overall.

Though it could be said that success has been achieved in the realm of female political engagement in DCU due to the figures from this year’s Student Elections, looking forward it cannot be certain.

Steps must actively be taken, in the shape of Empowerment weeks, be they futile or not. The lack of female attendance to engagement week speaks of the broader issue, but efforts must continue to be made in order for the SU to better represent its students.

Zoe Ryan

Why is studying our native language so difficult?

The number of people who are exempt in Irish has increased, but these students still choose to study a European language DCU

Ciara O’Loughlin Contributor @thecollegeview

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any students are exempt from studying Irish in school due to a disability. In 2015, 3,592 students had an exemption from sitting Irish for the Leaving Cert because of their disability. Out of these students 60 percent took another language exam such as French, German or Spanish.

Clive Byrne, Director of the second-level National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) said that if a student is exempt from Irish on the basis of a psychologist’s report then there is no problem. However, he said his difficulty is that “they are well able to study French, German or Italian”. He said it is an issue where “a number of students or parents are using the system because Irish is seen as a subject that is not useful, or as a difficult one in which to achieve a higher grade”.

However, The Dyslexia Association of Ireland says that there are

genuine reasons why students with dyslexia should be exempt from Irish. When other students are studying the language it gives students with dyslexia additional time for learning support in order to build their literacy skills in English. They say this is particularly important in primary school and will improve their English skills giving them a better opportunity to be able to study a second language in secondary school.

The Dyslexia Association of Ireland also said that there is a significant difference between the ability a dyslexic person has to learn Irish as opposed to Spanish and Italian. This is because Irish is not a transparent language. A trparent language is one which has a very clear letter to sound correspondence and much regularity.

The Irish language is deep and opaque, complex, and has many irregularities. French is also more opaque as is English. With this evidence the Dyslexia Association of Ireland suggests that if a student with dyslexia opts to study a European language that they should study a transparent language in order to “minimise the impact of their diagnosed learning difficulty”.

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Irish is not a transparent language There has been a significant rise in the number of students who are being exempt from learning Irish whether it is due to a disability or from moving to the country at a later age. Some 20,000 students had exemptions in 2004 and this has risen to 32,000 in 2014. Exemptions due to a disability rose from 7,000 to 19,000. This is a staggering 12,000 more in the space of 10 years.

Most Universities in Ireland, with the exception of DCU, Trinity College and University of Limerick require that students have passed a third language in their Leaving Cert. In the case where a student has been exempt from Irish they must have a language other than English.

There are some exceptions for Engineering and Science courses. With these requirements this may be why 60 percent of students who are exempt from Irish still choose to study a European language.

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SPORT

SPORT

DCU reach O’Connor Cup semi but fall to old rival in UL

DCU’s Aishling Sheridan evades pressure from a UL defender Credit: Sportsfile

AIDAN GERAGHTY DEPUTY EDITOR

University of Limerick 1-15 DCU Dóchas Éireann 2-08 O’Connor Cup semi-final

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enior ladies’ Gaelic football, at the college level, has been dominated by the University of Limerick for much of this decade. When they were defeated by DCU in the 2015/16 Division One semi-final, many commentators expected a shift in power towards the Dubliners.

That hasn’t happened, however. Steven Maxwell’s side fell to the Shannonsiders at the O’Connor Cup semi-final stage for the second year in a row, despite leading by five points with only 11 minutes remaining.

DCU got off to a perfect start. They took only fifteen seconds to move the ball more than 80 yards for Eva Woods to find the back of the net and give her side a three-point lead.

Dual GAA and football star Sarah Rowe was a driving force for DCU, but their next goal chance was forged by Éabha Rutledge.

The Kilmacud Crokes and Dublin wing-forward forced Limerick goalkeeper Lisa Crowley to make a save out of the top-drawer, when anything less might have put the game to bed.

The Munster outfit weren’t without some chances of their own. DCU’s Aisling Tarpey made a series of saves in the closing moments of the first half to ensure that her side maintained a three-

Image caption for All Star story Credit: Laura Horan

point lead at the interval, 1-05 to five points.

After being denied by Tarpey just before half-time, UL’s Shauna Howley caused a scare for Steven Maxwell shortly after the restart. Howley fired a shot past Tarpey, but couldn’t beat the woodwork and had to settle for raising the white flag as opposed to the green one.

The Glasnevin side seemed to put the result beyond doubt soon after. Aishling Sheridan, whose performance in last year’s league semi-final inspired DCU to victory over their Midwestern opponents, won an aerial battle with Crowley just outside the square and punched the ball into the empty net.

Leading by five points with only 11 minutes left to play, DCU were eventually outplayed by a battle-hardened Limerick side who showed incredible patience in settling for points when goals wouldn’t come. In the dying moments Shauna Howley forced an error in possession by goalkeeper Tarpey to score an easy goal.

First year contingent promises bright future for handball in DCU Corey Fay Contributor @CVSport

Continued from page 19

wasn’t enough to overcome DCU’s Ó Dálaigh and Devlin, winning them the gold medal.

DCU was represented in the Men’s Open by Niall Joyce and Kevin Diggins who got a bye in the first round, but came against a strong team with Esser and Langmack from MOST who ended DCU’s run in the Open. DCU’s

final doubles team, Neil Hannigan and Alan Hevehan were unlucky to lose to Mogavero and Van Swol from UI. The pair showed great chemistry with it being their first time playing together. They put on a good show forthe spectators with it ending 21-18 and 2117 against them.

While some of the players may have been disappointed with their performances in the tournament, this was still a positive outcome for the Handball club. Given that five of the seven DCU representatives have three further years of eligibility this competition has laid down a good marker for success in years to come.

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First year contingent promises bright future for handball in DCU Credit: DCU GAA AcademyImage Credit: Sportsfile

Corey Fay Contributor @CVSport

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his year’s trip to the United States brought DCU handball club to Phoenix, Arizona. DCU was represented in both the doubles and the singles. This competition saw five of the seven competitors from DCU come from first year, a sign of a promising future for the club.

In the men’s singles competitions DCU was represented in the Open Plate, A1, A2, C1 and C2 divisions by Kevin Diggins, Niall Joyce, Ben Devlin, Alan Hevehan and Neil Hannigan respectively. Diggins had lost his first game in the Open to be dropped in the Open Plate where he won against Minnesota State’s Matt Job. Unfortunately for DCU, Kevin’s singles tournament ended here as he had to pull out of the semi-final due to an injury to his shoulder early in the first game. Niall Joyce also won his first game with relative ease against David Schiller. Joyce made it as far as the quarter final against eventual winner Ricardo Palma who defeated him 21-17, 21-10 in the Men’s A1.

Ben Devlin won both his preliminary games, promoting him to the next grade.

With a comprehensive win in his first game against SBU’s Jimmy Ji, Devlin was faced with UCD’s Emmet Landy in the Men’s A1 quarter final. A very close game between the two brought them to a

tie-breaker where Landy managed to take the win 21-14, 16-21, and 8-11.

In the Men’s A2 Cian Ó Dálaigh started off winning in a tie-breaker against Alex Birge of MOST. Cian was then matched against UL’s Liam Bradshaw who managed to beat Cian in yet another quarter final defeat for DCU. Alan Hevehan who was representing in the Men’s C1 lost in very a close game versus MSU’s Zack Timmerman 21-17, 16-21 and 8-11.

Neil Hannigan, a new-comer to the world of handball, won three successive seeding games moving him up two grades. He was faced with a tough opponent in C2 where he lost to John Conte of ASU, who went on to win the division.

Meadhbh Ni Dhálaigh was the only representative in the Women’s divisions from DCU. Starting off in the Open, she defeated Gretchen Gregory of MOST. The next game was the quarter final. Meadhbh lost against MUN’s Leslie Amminson,

which ended her competition short.

DCU had more luck in the men’s doubles with Cian Ó Dálaigh and Ben Devlin in the Men’s A shrugging off doubles pairs from ASU, UCIN and a strong pair from UL in the shape of Hurley and Bradshaw. They met BC’s doubles team Woo and Lau in the final. They won the first game with ease 21-4, then BC came close in the second game with 21-17, which Continued on page 17

DCU claims all three titles at IUAA Cross Country Championships Gavin Quinn Deputy Sports Editor @CVSport

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ublin City University Athletics enjoyed tremendous success at the IUAA Cross Country Championships on March 3rd at Abbotstown with all three titles going to DCU. DCU retained the overall best college title for an unprecedented 14th time in 15 years with the ladies team triumphing over UL in a close race, their heroic display was matched by the men as they retained their team title with a staggering 10 DCU athletes finishing in the top 25.

“It was unbelievable to get the double for the college and really showed the work we’ve put in over the past few months,” men’s team captain Michael

Carey said. The Tipperary native finished eighth just behind Eoin Strutt in seventh and Kevin Kelly in fifth as DCU easily retained the men’s 8000m title.

The DCU high finishers did not stop there with Jonny Whan finishing in 10th, Adam O’Brien in 12th, Gary Campbell in 14th and Damien Murphy in 15th.

Other high finishers include Niall Cornyn, Pádraig Moran and Eoin Durkan.

“Our main emphasis at the start of the season was to get everyone training together twice a week for the sessions where everyone could work off each others and push each other on,” Carey said. The success also comes with the majority of the team also eligible to compete next year.

Carey spoke about how proud he was of the team performance as the men recorded 56 points on

the day with nearest challengers UCD on 80 points. “Every one of them left everything they had on the course packing nine men in the top 20. A very young team giving DCU one of the lowest ever winning scores and with much more to come.”

The women’s’ performance was equally impressive as former captain Mary Mulhare was inspiring, finishing third to help the team triumph by just four points over UL. Elizabeth Carr and Harriette Robinson were equally impressive finishing fifth and ninth in the chasing packs.

Strong performances with Niamh Corry’s late charge to finish 12th, Orla Boland in 18th place and Niamh Quinn finishing in 20th helped seal victory for the ladies despite IT Tralee’s Shona Heaslip and UL Olympian Michelle Finn finishing in first and second respectively.

“(It was a) fantastic run by the women’s team who really gave it everything and work as a true team on the day and set the bar high for the men’s team,” Carey said.

The women’s team ran unbelievably and 100% fired up the men’s team to do the exact same thing. News broke about the win by one of out supporters while we were lacing up our spikes so we didn’t have much time to celebrate and focus again before we’d be toeing the line ourselves.

“Preparation for both teams was very good, we had great groups for both the men’s and women’s team out in force each week under the lights in DCU Sports Grounds. In the week leading up to the event we lost a few of our key runners due to injury but we didn’t leave that phase us too much,” Carey con-

tinued.

Carey was also quick to praise their coaches and attribute a lot of the success to their hard work. “Special mention to Enda Fitzpatrick and Anne Buckley for their work with both teams throughout the year. One of the main reasons DCU brings home the titles year round is down to these two,” he said.

“Both teams have a lot more in the tank so I’m really looking forward to the outdoors in April and to what next year can bring.

Big shout out to our one year downs who lead the way and have given so much to DCU in their time here,” Carey said.

Next up for DCU will be the IUAA track & field championships in Cork IT on April 7th & 8th. Congratulations and of course best of luck to both the men and women’s teams in April.

SPORT

INSIDE Late defeat for DCU in O’Connor Cup semi-final

Championship dominance continues for college as DCU ladies triumph in Giles Cup AARON GALLAGHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Caroline Nee and Shaunagh Brady of DCU celebrate at the final whistle of their 3-7 to 0-14 victory in this year’s Giles Cup final in Castlebar Credit: Sportsfile

I

t was a surreal moment, perhaps oddly unprecedented. The hard yards had been fought and DCU had clinched this year’s Giles Cup championship with a relentless 3-7 to 0-14 victory over Athlone IT in Castlebar.

It was a coming of age for a squad of players who had finally gotten over the line, blending newly established freshers into a team which will see many depart the college in a few short months.

However once captain Aoife Norris had stepped up to the podium in MacHale Park and completed her victory speech, all that was left to do was hoist the trophy high into the air in celebration of their success.

Only unlike during the preceding 70 minutes of football, the Offaly inter-county midfielder fluffed her lines, leaving the trophy alone and hoistless on the podium, before being shouted back towards it by her team-mates.

Surely a captain had never walked up to the podium and forgotten to lift the trophy?

“It was a disaster,” she laughs recalling the momentary lapse of concentration.

“I think I was just excited to get off the stage, because the hard part was done. But then the trophy was left on the podium... But sure look, I got shouted at fairly quick to go back and get it, so I think I got away with it.”

She led by example in a gruelling game which, despite her side scoring three goals, was never an easily fought final victory against an Athlone side which proved both physical and resillient, taking scores at crucial points in the game as the second half wore to a close.

“They were very physical”, notes the DCU captain.

“That was the main thing we noticed about them, they were very present going into tackles in the game. They were also very good at taking their points when they needed to.

“Even when we scored our goals they kept coming back. When we thought we might have had a bit of lead on them they would come back at us with another two or three points. It was hard work.”

Somewhere in the depths of a nearby woodwork shop in north Dublin a brand new trophy case is being constructed to give a suitable home to the litany of trophies which the college has won over the last number of months.

While both the Sigerson and O’Connor Cup sides fell short of senior success, DCU’s other teams have maintained that continued legacy of winning in both codes of GAA which the college has forged over the last decade.

Prior to last weekend’s Giles Cup success DCU had already lay claim to four gaelic football titles as well as a first ever ‘A’ Hurling Championship That forged winning mentality is something which Giles Cup manager James Costello says is due to the manner in which both coaches and players are treated by the university, both on and off the field of play.

“DCU puts a huge emphasis on the coaching aspect and club and family. Here everything

is top notch, from the facilities to the way people are treated. The girls that are injured are properly looked after and you don’t get that with other colleges. In DCU you get the feeling that everyone matters,” he said.

Now entering his fourth year coaching in the college, Costello has been an integral part of four trophy successes, including a Lynch Cup success and the 2015 Division Three league win which saw his side go unbeaten throughout the entire year.

He said that the nature of the recent Giles Cup weekend, which saw his side defeat Mary Immaculate College in Saturday’s semi-final, took a toll on his squad heading into Sunday’s final 24 hours later.

He said that that apart from captain Marian Farrelly being forced off with a broken nose in the second half of the final, that the game went according to plan in their two point victory in Mayo.

He said: “Goals win games and we were lucky to get three of them in the final. Caroline Nee, who scored the game’s decisive goal is actually from Boston, Massachusetts. So to have a girl from America to score the winning goal is an incredible story in itself.

“Athlone were fantastic opponents. They had bet us by a point in the Division 2B final back in early December, so we used that defeat as motivation to not let them beat us twice. We identified their key players in attack and came up with a plan to nullify that.

“Everything went according to plan until five minutes into the second half when we had a clash of heads and our forward Marian Farrelly (team captain) had to go off with a broken nose.

After that it was up to the girls to hold it together because Marian would be a key aspect of our game plan in attack.

“After she went off we maybe lost our way for 10 minutes, but after that we scored two

goals and it made a big impact.

Alongside many of her championship-winning team, captain Norris graduates this year.

She says that departing college having secured an All-Ireland championship victory with this squad of players was a very special feeling.

“It was a lovely when to finish the year. You spend so much time with this group of girls and it’s lovely to show that you won something together. Your kind of forgotten about if you don’t do well, so it’s lovely to say we all have that trophy together.

“I think it was the bond that was there this year. We all got used to playing with each other in the league. There were players coming in and out and there were injuries before. I think last weekend we just finally got that click together.

“We finally got used to playing alongside each other as a team. We wanted to work hard for one another and we weren’t going to let the chance slip.