The Suss - Issue 7 -Vol III

Vol. 3. Issue. 7 22 February 2017

THE SUSS THE COLLEGE VIEW’S ARTS & LIFESTYLE SUPPLEMENT

Arts

Sussed: Albums of 2017

BY EMER HANDLY

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espite being a year that most people would prefer to forget, when it comes to music releases, 2016 was lit.

Kanye’s Life of Pablo, Queen B’s Lemonade, Bowie’s Blackstar, Frank Ocean’s Blonde, The Rolling Stones’ Blue & Lonesome, and Panic! at the Disco’s Death of a Bachelor are just a select few of the many albums released in 2016 that took the music world by storm. It’s a new year, however, which only means one thing; new music. In January The XX blew us away with their new album I See You, kicking this year off with a bang. Here’s a look at what genius 2017 has in store.

ED SHEERAN DIVIDE There’s no way you could leave this one out of the list.

After taking an entire year away from social media to focus on experiencing life and songwriting, Ed is finally back from his hiatus. In January he released the singles “Shape of You” and “Castle on the Hill” which threw fans into a frenzy. It is undoubtedly the most highly anticipated album of the year. The full album will be released on March 3rd, be ready.

be even more of an emotional rollercoaster than any of his previous works. It will be very personal, grappling with topics like finding yourself again after losing someone you love.

He released singles “To Be Without You” and “Do You Still Love Me?” which fans adored, but the most popular has been DUA LIPA “Doomsday”, considering it’s DUA LIPA timely release- the day before Trump’s inauguration. The Last year powerful and moving album she teased will be released on February fans of her 17. upcoming work by releasing the track “Blow your CHARLI XCX mind (mwah) ”. This June she will release her full self-titled This girl is most well known album which will include previ- from her single “Boom Clap” ous singles “Be the One” and which appeared in The Fault “Hotter Than Hell”. Fans can in Our Stars. This May she will expect to be really impressed. release her third full studio album and she has promised RYAN ADAMS she tried to make “the best PRISONER pop album of 2017.”

This will be his DRAKE 16th studio MORE LIFE album and it is exThis pected to album was

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promised to be released at the end of 2016. To the dismay of his fans, the album was delayed until early 2017. Nothing to worry about as Drake did release some of the tracks last November, like “Fake Love”, so fans can be reassured that when the full album eventually comes, it will not disappoint.

ture huge names like Sia, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj and Travis Scott. “Cold Water” featuring Justin Bieber was released last year and became one of the biggest hits of 2016, so we can only imagine what the full album release will bring.

These are only a few of the highly anticipated albums of 2017, but there are many TINIE TEMPAH other albums set to be anYOUTH nounced for release this year and there are even more This whispers about new albums album is that may or may not be comset to be ing soon. The Vamps released released on 31 “All Night” which hinted at an March and will include varialbum with a more EDM focus ous collaborations. Appearing than before. Niall Horan and on the album are hits such Louis Tomlinson, ex-members as “Not Letting Go” featurof One Direction, have both ing Jess Glynne, “Girls Like” come out with solo music featuring Zara Larsson and since the band’s split, giving “Chasing Flies” featuring Nea. fans the expectation of solo While some of the tracks have albums. And surely Jay Z will already been released, there release a counter album to is still much more to look for- Queen B. When life gives you ward to. lemons, you make lemonade...

When your wife gives you MAJOR LAZER lemonade, you better start MUSIC IS THE explaining. Other artists WEAPON like Taylor Swift, Calvin Harris, Snakehips, Avicii, There is The Chainsmokers, Zara still no conLarsson, Martin Garrix and firmed reSia have all been rumoured lease date to have albums in the works for this one, but what and coming out at some we do know is that it will be point in 2017. It’s set to be an amazing. The album will feaincredible year for new music,

Arts

Emotional significance made The Simpsons great

BY AARON GALLAGHER

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other Simpson’ is not the greatest episode of The Simpsons, but it is my favourite. It presents the defining feature of what made its first ten seasons the greatest animated show and sitcom in television history; investment and subsequent payoff in the viewer’s emotions.

In the episode, Homer’s estranged mother returns having thought her son had died. Homer, too, had lived under the guise that Mona had died, having been told so by his father after she had fled the authorities. “It was either that or tell him his mother was a wanted criminal”, Grandpa explains.

Homer’s character is of the everyman; he is dumb, dull, lazy, arrogant and self-regarding. Only, when it comes down to it, he is a loving father and devoted husband. Look only to the episode ‘Lisa’s Substitute’, starring Dustin Hoffman, to understand why his wrought relationship with Lisa reveals the deep self-awareness of his own flaws.

“Maybe I can’t explain it”, he says of his feelings, “but I can fix your dollhouse for you.

At least I’m good at monkey work…”

Homer does not possess the vocabulary or the communication skills to express his emotions but does so in his actions and in putting his wants and needs after those of his family. He is the breadwinner, the protector and the provider.

Four words: Do. It. For. Her. But Homer is a vulnerable and complex character beneath his brash exterior. On repeated

occasion he alludes to how important popularity is, how his father never said he was proud of him and of seeing his colleagues succeed while he remains in a fixed state of financial insecurity and career stagnation.

Much of why this is can be directed towards the absence of a maternal figure in his childhood. Scenes in ‘Mother Simpson’ show Homer as a child being adored by his mother before she left, being given the devotion and attentive care all children require to be equipped in the fragile environment of growing up.

When this warm and loving presence slipped away in the cloak of nightfall, a hole was created in his heart which would never heal until she comes back – those childlike feelings return and Homer becomes briefly nurtured and fulfilled once again.

Only it does not last and

slumbered. “I thought I dreamt that kiss”, Homer explains later.

Secondly, the final pieces of dialogue between mother and son equip Homer with the relentless devotion and presence of love in his life which he has needed all along, and which he has gone 39 years without until this point.

Mona says to him: “Remember: whatever happens you have a mother and she’s truly proud of you.”

They embrace for a final time, with the relief and happiness flowing through Homer’s facial expression no less than a work of animated art, summarising in one utterance of happiness the breaching well of emotion Homer has kept at bay his entire adult life.

Heartache is free flowing at this point, with Homer’s final words to his mother: “Don’t forget me”, uttered as if he truly believes this is a possibility, showing that perhaps he believed she had forgotten about him all these years, meaning he had gone through each stage of life thinking he was not good enough to deserve even his own mothMona must again flee once er’s love — that love which the police have caught up with is supposed to be irreverent, her. The final scene presents unquestionable and neverus with two instances of emo- ending. tional heartache. Firstly, when Mona drifts into the desert Mona prepares to hitch her horizons, leaving Homer alone ride and is forced to say her once again to return to the goodbyes to Homer, he says to pit of emptiness he has lived his mother: all along. The final shot has “At least this time I’m achieved iconic status: simply awake for your goodbye.”

Homer sitting on his car, with Mona’s first departure saw nothing left to do or say but her say goodbye to a sleeping look longingly at the stars, Homer, planting a soft kiss mourning the loss of his loving on the child’s forehead as he mother for a second time.

“Homer is a vulnerable and complex character beneath his brash exterior.”

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Arts

Arts

T2 Trainspotting

BY SCOUT MITCHELL

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hoose regret, denial and rekindling old friendships. Twenty years later, Mark Renton (Ewan Mcgregor) returns to Edinburgh following the death of his mother; Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), Begbie (Robert Carlyle) and Spud (Ewen Bremner) have not forgotten his betrayal.

A trip to his hometown kicks Renton’s mid-life crisis into full gear as he is confronted by the skeletons in his closet head on.

T2 Trainspotting is enjoyable, nostalgic and humorous — an excellent effort by Danny Boyle to reimagine the boys, now ‘men’, long past their period of excusable recklessness. It does not, however, possess the punchy energy of its generationdefining predecessor.

The story begins on a treadmill in Amsterdam reflecting the modern aesthetic of the film.

T1 closed on Renton’s declaration to choose life and it would appear he has done just that. But a twenty year stint in software development and one wife later, it hasn’t exactly worked out. A recent divorce has made Renton question his life choices and much to the delight of Simon (Sick Boy), he has found himself at a standstill as to what exactly he should be doing.

An opportunity presents itself in the form of a leisure club, but will it be followed by betrayal? This is a recurring theme and line in the film that reconnects the original to the current storyline as Renton deals with the aftermath of ripping off his friends all those years ago.

A good portion of the film is spent exploring the relationship of Renton and Simon. We discover that Simon blames Renton’s actions for his failures in life. His

IMMA programme launch

BY CONOR O’DOHERTY

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grudge is weak when compared to that of Begbie who (once he has escaped from prison) is on the rampage for murderous revenge. Carlyle’s portrayal of the violent sociopath is one of the highlights of the film, but a special mention must also be given to Bremner’s role as Spud, who undergoes extensive character development with the lovable idiot proving his insight through pen and paper. Performances are excellent across the board but the disappointment of getting old is not nearly as exciting to watch as the glamorous drug infused past.

Boyle manages to return some of the nostalgia with

Dick, and American filmmaker Nan Goldin.

“The current display will close at the end of October and a new contemporary intervention to the he Freud Project at the Freud Project, and how it relates to Irish Museum of Modern works in the overall IMMA CollecArt (IMMA) will be expanded tion, will open in late November... this year, director of IMMA Sarah We are also delighted to announce Glennie revealed as part of the a new Freud Residency for 2017, launch for the 2017 programme. which invites cultural practitioners The programme also hosts artto explore, contest, complement ists never displayed in Ireland or radicalise the work currently on such as Jac Leirner. display,” Glennie said.

Leirner, one of Brazil’s most Funding for the arts is often celebrated contemporary artists, cited as an issue, which Glennie had designed her pieces specifically alluded to during the launch, howfor the space in IMMA, a response ever she praised the Hennessy Art to the architecture of the exhibition Fund. In the case that IMMA’s paid rooms. exhibitions, Glennie said “people IMMA secured curatorship of are very supportive of our need to the Freud pieces for five years charge”. and Glennie wishes to expand the Throughout the year Glennie collection further, citing Freud’s said she wishes to draw a theme realism and skill for crafting exof history with the 50 year anpression for his enduring popuniversary of ROSC, the first major larity. Glennie also plans to host series of international art exhibirenowned Irish filmmaker Vivienne tions in Ireland, which is being run

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uneasy camera angles, snippets of ‘Born Slippy’ and an improvised performance by Renton and Simon of a song about The Battle of The Boyne that encompasses the buzz of the original, but reminders of the present contribute to its failure to deliver as a classic. The modern buildings and social media references reinforce that we have left the wonder of nineties Leith in the past. The closing scene sees Renton dancing in his boyhood bedroom to “Lust for Life” in an attempt to immortalise the boy who caused all the raucous and you can’t help but want to watch him not choose life all over again.

run in association National Irish Visual Arts Library (NIVAL).

The IMMA announced they will continue their residency programme on the grounds, which hosts artists with free accommodation and materials to create and innovate.

“Throughout 2017 we will continue to develop new platforms in our programme through which we can support artists.”

“We saw in 2016 the valuable role contemporary artists can play in helping us to understand our times, and the opportunity for their work to create a space for reflection, debate and difference,” Glennie said.

Glennie also announced As Above, So Below: Portals, Visions, Spirits & Mystics which explores spirituality in the modern day.

The exhibition will feature over 200 works from Grace Weir, Alan Butler, and international artists Hayden Dunham and Stephan Doitschinoff.

Sussed out: The Oscar’s best pictures

Arts

BY FIONNUALA WALSH

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fter last year’s #OscarsSoWhite controversy sparked outrage on Twitter as well as from the actors themselves, the academy have made an explicit effort to recognise diversity in this year’s films. This can be seen in the nine nominations for Best Picture, the most anticipated award of the night, which exhibits a broad range of unique stories.

The frontrunner for the award is La La Land, the charming story of an aspiring actor and a failing jazz musician who faces the challenges of love versus ambition and compromising dreams of wealth and stability. The film is nominated in 14 categories, tying with Titanic and All About Eve for most nominations ever. Damien Chazelle’s dazzling tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood is undeniably worth the hype, due to its beautiful cinematography, score and masterful performances from both Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.

Historical biographic film, Hidden Figures recently overpassed the box office success of La La Land in the US, grossing $132 million, compared to the musical’s $126 million.

The heartwarming film tells the story of three ingenious black women who were instrumental in NASA’s mission to send man into space, overcoming tremendous racial obstacles to excel in their fields. Octavia Spencer is nominated for best supporting actress and leads a stellar cast including Taraji P. Henson and two of Moonlight’s stars Janelle Monáe and Mahershala Ali. Despite a relatively low box office turnout, and lack of BAFTA wins, another Oscar favourite is Barry Jenkin’s unique

and bold film Moonlight, earning eight nominations overall.

A groundbreaking exploration of African-American life, Moonlight tells the story a black man’s lifelong struggle to accept his sexuality throughout his harsh childhood and into his adult years. Extraordinary performances from three actors capture Chiron’s journey into adulthood, as well as showstealer Mahershala Ali. Arguably the best sci-fi film of the year, Arrival tells the story of Louise Banks, an expert linguist tasked with communicating with the aliens who mysteriously arrive on earth, despite the mounting panic spreading as the world’s governments fail to work together to figure out the threat.

The simplicity of Louise’s core personal story is what makes the film stand out, something that recent sci-fi movies such as Interstellar have tried and failed to achieve. Amy Adams is a joy to watch in her second star performance of the year, following her role in thriller Nocturnal Animals.

Lion is the remarkable true story of a young boy in India who gets accidentally brought thousands of miles away from his family by train and ends up lost in a city he doesn’t recognise or speak the language.

Young Sunny Pawar carries the first hour of the film practically single-handedly as he searches for his beloved brother amid the teeming streets of Calcutta.

Dev Patel plays an older Saroo, now adopted by an Australian family and pursuing a career in hotel management when he becomes obsessed with finding his lost family and uses google maps to retrace his childhood journey with only a handful of

memories. Patel won a BAFTA for best supporting role, but Pawar’s childish vulnerability is what makes the film so heartbreaking and deeply moving.

Mel Gibson’s ruthless Hacksaw Ridge provides the most action the nominee list has to offer in a true story of a soldier who goes into battle in World War Two without touching a gun. Andrew Garfield plays Desmond Doss, an army medic religiously motivated not to train with a rifle, who ultimately saved 75 people in the bloodiest battle in the war. Where the film lacks a little subtlety, the gore is worth enduring for Garfield’s performance.

Fences tells the grim story of a sanitation worker trying to support his family during the racial tension of the 1950s.

Although the film doesn’t quite make a good transition from stage to the screen, it acts as a showcase for the two leads Viola Davies and Denzel Washington, who were both nominated for their powerful performances.

Manchester by the Sea is worth watching for Casey Affleck’s performance alone, as the reclusive Lee Chandler whose empty life is interrupted by a family tragedy which leaves him with the custody of his difficult nephew Patrick, played by newcomer Lucas Hedges.

Hell or High Water explores the merits of great dialogue and script writing in the cops and robbers chase movie with a western twist. Jeff Bridges plays Texas Ranger pursuing a spate of bank robberies by a pair of brothers determined to steal back their future from the bank that is foreclosing their family land.

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Arts Lifestyle

Style, Savvy, Shaylyn Amy Lawlor talks to DCU student Shaylyn Gilheaney, vice chair of style society who landed the job of

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dreams, as assistant stylist on RTE’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’

trip to the cinema cemented Shaylyn Gilheaney’s ambition to pursue a career in fashion after falling in love with the iconic film ‘The Devil Wears Prada.’ “I even got a fringe after I saw it,” she said, mimicking the hairstyle actress Anne Hathaway sported during the film.

Shaylyn (21) has just begun her final chapter in DCU as she enters her last semester studying communications. She chose to study communications instead of delving into an institute of design because she felt as though ‘the fashion industry valued experience in the form of a qualification and found that the communications course provided by DCU would allow her to pursue other avenues if she ever decided to branch into an industry other than fashion.’

Her first styling career blossomed following a talk she attended that was hosted by DCU’s Style Society. The society had

first experience working with the stylist.

Her first experience as an assistant stylist was on the set of Xposé from which she gained valuable knowledge of how the styling process was conducted.

Impressed by her work ethic, Justine recommended Shaylyn to one of her friend’s and stylist Clementine MacNeice, who was in search for an assistant to help her out on the set of ‘The Voice’, Ireland.

Entering her second year of college and after securing an assistant stylist role with Clementine, Shaylyn was elated. Her mentor had worked on the set of The Voice for five years and was a perfectionist in style, “Clementine is such a professional nothing would go wrong under her eye,” said Shaylyn.

Shaylyn thrived in the fastpaced working environment that she had become accustomed too while working on The Voice, “There was a lot of people to

Voice and asked would she assist her in styling an advertisement for Bacardi. Up until this point, Shaylyn had worked without pay but this project offered a wage which was an extra bonus for the young stylist. “Bacardi was really unique Shaylyn thrived in the fast paced working because, the shoot I did initially with Justine King was very high environment that she had become fashion and then The Voice was everyday kind of clothes whereas, accustomed to while working on The Voice Bacardi was more commercial, fun and simple clothes which was really interesting to see that there arranged for industry profesdress especially during the battles is another strand of the styling sionals to come in and speak to which were shot over three days world, she said.”Shaylyn’s attenstudents who had an interest in and there were about fifty-five tion to detail, willingness to work entering their field of work. One contestants, which meant fiftyand sense of style left Clementine of Ireland’s most well-known five different outfits”, she said. “A eager to have her help out restylists Justine King was one of huge part of having a smooth run gardless of the project. the guest speakers that evening, was organization and having every Now in her final year and “I was really impressed by her,” outfit for every person ready to go degree focused Shaylyn didn’t said Shaylyn. Following the talk for the fitting, dress rehearsal and expect to receive a call from CleShaylyn anxiously approached then the live show…. but I loved mentine in early January asking Justine and asked could she help every minute of it and everyone her to assist on RTE’s Dancing out on her next shoot, to which that I worked with,” she contin- with the Stars. Being a big fan of Justine was happy to oblige. “It all ued. the glamour and nature of Strictly kind of snowballed from there,” Clementine contacted Shaylyn Come Dancing, Shaylyn jumped said Shaylyn as she recalled her shortly after the wrap up of The at the opportunity to get her foot

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on set of the Irish version of the dance show.

“All of the contestants are just so nice, they are just so genuine and down to earth, it’s a really good atmosphere there,” she said.

Head stylist Clementine has the task of dressing Dancing with the Stars presenters, Amanda, Nicky and Blaithnaid, and although a glamorous business Shaylyn puts in grueling hours, but finds it more than rewarding assisting Clementine dress the judges.

“Come Monday evening I am wrecked but I wouldn’t change it for the world”, she said.

As college draws to a close, Shaylyn looks to her future career in styling, “I’d love to be a head stylist on my own project someday”, she said. She is open to other vacancies surrounding fashion but to date she’s enjoyed styling the most and we’ve no doubt you’ll be seeing her name attached to the outfit on the front page of Vogue in a few years to come.

Lifestyle Arts

Abuse it and Lose it

BY RACHEL FARRELL

Holiday season will be soon upon us and if you’re one for low-cost holidays Ryanair is always the safest bet. But, the airline best known for it’s cost efficiency may be getting rid of it’s second bag on board.

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yanair are considering getting rid of their two bag allowance to stop people abusing the system, according to Chief Financial officer Neil Sorahan.

The company currently allow one cabin bag as well as a small bag or handbag, a system that means people don’t have to pay to bring a small suitcase on.

Ryanair are renowned for their cheap flight prices, making them a favourite amongst students and those

on a budget. Previous flight sales have included return flights to the UK for four euro making it cheaper to fly abroad than a return trip on Dublin Bus. When a flight is full and cabin baggage space is limited, airlines will often offer to place it in the hold baggage for free, a fee that ranges from €10 to €40 when booked online in advance.

Complaints have been made

about people abusing the system and bringing bags larger than the allowance in hope that their bags will be put under the plane for free.

There’s nothing worse than being stuck at the end of the queue to board a flight, then realise when you get to your seat that there’s no space left in the hold area above. In an interview with BBC Radio Five Live, Sorahan admitted that Ryanair was a “victim of its own niceness”.

By getting rid of the free second bag, Ryanair would be putting a stop to delayed take offs and larger bags, but they would potentially lose a lot of business. Competitor airlines like Cityjet and Aer Lingus also offer a free cabin bag, but their flight prices are typically much higher.

This will have a negative impact on broke students looking to go on cheap weekend breaks abroad. Many say that you get what you pay for, but for a forty-minute flight over to Manchester, paying an extra forty quid for a small suitcase will definitely hinder many students travel plans should the proposal be put in place.

Europe’s first underwater museum

BY AINE MONK

Discovering artwork from a different perspective is what Europe’s first underwater museum allows you to do, writer Áine Monk discusses whether or not the

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laya Blanca in Lanzarote now has more to boast about than it’s sunshine-filled days and chilled out nights as it has become host to Europe’s very first underwater sculpture museum.

Museo Atlántico Lanzarote is home to many sculptures, such as those of Jason deCaires Taylor and would certainly entice any art lover into some deep sea diving. deCaires Taylor has man-

innovative museum would be a worthwhile visit. aged to portray a heartbreaking message through these pieces under the sea, hitting home that marine life is in danger and that we must make changes in the present in order to preserve the environment for the future.

Visitors must dive twelve metres below sea-level in order to enjoy the exhibition held at this museum, a fact which I assume acts as a unique selling point to tourists eagerly seeking out excitement, adventure and without a doubt, something

they certainly will not find at home (unless they live nearby of course!).

According to its founders “This museum project will create a huge artificial reef made up of a series of pH neutral cement sculptures which, over time, will help the marine biomass flourish and facilitate the reproduction of species on the island.”

This means that not only do the sculptures highlight the current crisis affecting the

marine environment and its inhabitants, but it also acts as a kind of safety net for endangered species.

Although visitors can only spend a maximum of one hour at the underwater exhibit, it certainly seems like an unforgettable and once in a lifetime opportunity for people of all ages and I expect it will be an experience that is making its way onto many bucket lists as we speak.

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Arts Lifestyle

Room to Improve

BY MICHELLE MARTIN

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e are almost at that time of the year again. The time where many of us begin to taste the bitter, sugarless, childhood memory that is five weeks without sweets. I will admit, like so many of us who grew up in Ireland, I to have grown accustomed to associating Lent with negativity; forced religion and a non-understanding of why we had to change our beloved habits for forty whole days, and forty whole nights.

When really, religion aside, lent serves as nothing more than a healthy reminder that we can always be a bit better. Here are just a few things you could do throughout the month of March that could only bring positive change to your life.

At the very core of the concept, give up something. If you’ have been dying to cut down the smokes, great. If you want to swap your nightly 3-in1’s for the cash equivalent, here is your motivation. If you are a ‘perfect on paper’ non-smoker, who exercises daily and eats nothing but greens, give up something anyways. Whatever your reasons are, it is not important. Self-control acts the same way a muscle does, if you do not use it, you will lose it. Studies have shown that those with

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good self-control have a larger decision making capacity, as well as better focus and impulse control (not that that is anything new).

On the opposite end of the spectrum, take up something. We can all think of a hobby or skill that we have wanted to hone in on for a while, but the daily grind of collegework-home (sesh) gets in the way, or at least that is what we tell ourselves.

For the coming month, I encourage you to, nay, I challenge you to pick up that guitar, or jump on that uni-cycle, for just one evening a week and see where it takes you. Not only do hobbies expand your thinking in a new area and possibly connect you with a new community, but studies show that external focus on something you enjoy are associated with lower blood pressure, body mass index, as well as lower levels of depression. Mind, body and soul, is that not what they say.

Having said all that, hobbies are something we can take pleasure from all year round. The idea of a Lent-like challenge presents an opportunity to take it one step further and do something we would not be pushed to do otherwise. As college students one month into second semester, one thing we could push ourselves to do

How to help the Homeless

BY MICHELLE TOWNSEND

it extra-curricular reading twice a week. It always seems unnecessary now but we are constantly kicking ourselves when we realise the workload in January and May. Apparently it takes just twenty-one days to make something a habit so that is just half of the whole forty days-forty nights thing.

In keeping with the idea of self-improvement, I also recommend giving meditation a go. Throw your image of a crossed legged hippie and the chant ‘ooohhm’ out the window and look at the information for a second. Our ancestors cracked onto the benefits of meditation early, I am talking ‘BC’ time periods. But scientists have only recently found that the practice deactivates the part of the brain that is thought to be responsible for brain ‘noise’, unnecessary and distracting trains of thought, as well as reducing intrusive thoughts that come into our heads when we are trying to concentrate. Nowadays there are so many free apps to teach you to take a just five minutes for yourself each day, so no excuses.

Lent is a concept that is foreign to many of us at this age, but the idea of challenging ourselves and improving ourselves is something that should not be shunned.

It is a sad but true fact that homelessness in Ireland is a growing crisis. Here are three different charities that you can get involved in to help tackle the issue.

Focus Ireland Being the largest homeless charity in Ireland, Focus gives people plenty of opportunities to get involved and take action against homelessness.

They recruit volunteers for their Community Service Volunteer programme on both a short term and long term basis, to suit your schedule. Focus also encourages people who would like to help by organising their own fundraising events by listing event ideas on their website.

Simon Community The Simon Community are always accepting donations for their charity shops in Dublin city.

Donating your old and unwanted possessions such as clothes, DVD’s and jewellery to their charity shops goes a much longer way rather than sending them to a recycling centre. The charity also accepts cash donations which can be made in person, online or through the post.

Peter McVerry Trust All proceeds made from DCUtv’s 24 Hour Broadcast last semester were donated to this charity. If you are interested in helping out and enjoy exercise and sports, the trust plans many physical fundraising events throughout the year such as the Long Walk Home Series, the Camino de Santiago in Spain and the Fr. Peter McVerry Rugby Cup. Not only are you raising money for charity, your health and fitness levels benefit too.

More information can be found on www.focusireland.ie, www.dubsimon.ie and www.pmvtrust.ie