The College View Issue 6

Wednesday February 7th 2018

www.thecollegeview.com

. Est. 1999 .

New DCU plan for GAA pitches ruffles some feathers Fionnuala Walsh News Editor @fionnuala_walsh

Image Credit: Mark Carroll

President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, speaking at the launch of DCU’s Brexit Institute in The Helix on the 25th of January

560 new student beds in development in DCU Shauna Bowers Editor-in-Chief @shaunabowerss DCU started the development of 560 new student beds on the Glasnevin campus last week.

The new residences will be built on part of the existing soccer pitches with the plan to reinstate the pitches after the construction is completed.

The location of the new relocated pitches has not yet been decided.

Coady Architects has been selected to carry out the work, DCU’s Chief Operations Officer Declan Raftery told The College View.

DCU are also planning on creating an additional 290 student beds on the All Hallows campus.

There were just 2,930 properties available to rent on the first day of

Features

Transistioning through the times Page 13

MIGRATORY geese are a threat to DCU’s plans to build a new astroturf GAA pitch in St. Patrick’s College.

Locals have objected to the plans for the all-weather sports facilities on the grounds that over 1,600 Brent geese flock to the fields over the winter/spring period.

DCU intends to replace the old playing fields on St. Patrick’s Campus with an artificial turf GAA pitch, an all-weather training area and cross-country tracks in the area that spans 9.6 acres.

Although the pitches are not a protected habitat, the numbers of Brent geese in Europe are “vulnerable” and are an amber listing for conservation concern in Ireland, according to Birdwatch Ireland.

Dublin City Council have put plans on hold to seek more information about the birds before granting planning permission. The application is still on an additional information request since December.

“They will have to respond by early March or it will be invalidated,” according to a planning department spokesperson.

Around 40,000 of the small, dark geese spend winters in Ireland, mostly in the coastal and bay regions.

“The birds like to feed on grassland which explains why they can be found on sport pitches like those in Drumcondra,” birdwatch researcher Helen Boland told The Times.

“DCU has been asked for additional information in support of a number of the aspects of its planning application by Dublin City Council which it will be provided by April next,” said Declan Raftery, Chief Operations Officer for DCU.

August 2017, the lowest level ever recorded, according to a Daft.ie report.

DCU wants to ease the pressure students face when trying to attain accommodation for term time.

While DCU are happy that they are making steps to ease the accommodation crisis students are facing, they admit that it is not enough.

“You have 850 beds in the next space which is really far away from where we want to be, we need to get a lot more,” said Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU. “Our numbers at the moment are over 17,000 students which is a growth of over 50 per cent in five years. The demand to get into DCU is growing all the time so I think student accommodation is a big priority for us.”

The university is also in discussion

with other locations to try and secure residential units near the campuses for student use.

“Obviously the ideal thing is to put as many blocks of student accommodation on our campuses themselves but proximity is the next possible thing,” said MacCraith.

One such possibility is the Lidl site in the Ballymun region. Planning permission was granted to build social housing on the site, which could potentially be used as a student block according to university officials.

“We are all the time trying to get significant leaps forward in terms of student accommodation,” MacCraith said.

The construction of on campus accommodation is part of DCU’s €230 million expansion plan which commenced in 2016.

The expansion plan had five

sources of funding but was dominated by low interest rate, long-term loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF).

The plan also includes restructuring buildings to increase the number of lecture halls and the construction of a new student hub which is due to be completed before the end of this academic term.

The student hub was started before the accommodation because of the need to keep construction sites on a campus separate from each other.

The student hub is to become the central place for activity on the Glasnevin campus but DCU wants to make sure that it is a place students from all three DCU campuses can enjoy and utilise.

Sports

Opinion

Gaeilge

DCU to host Harding Cup for first time

The Good Friday Ban, A Modern Approach or a Loss of Identity?

Page 9

Irish 101 - An Chéad MOOC Former UCDSU President Gaeilge seolta ag an Aire receives pro-life award Stáit Page 12 Page 4

Page 19

News

2

Editorial

INSIDE The Hype

Editor-in-Chief

Film/TV

Shauna Bowers

Review of ‘In Brudge’ director’s new film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri Read more on page 4

Editor’s piece

Beauty Tarte Needs to Shape Up Read more on page 11

Facebook: TheCollegeView Twitter: @thecollegeview CORRECTION: Béibhinn Thorsch has gone uncredited as a sub editor since issue 2.

Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief: Shauna Bowers Deputy Editor: Kyle Ewald Production & Layout Editor: Daniel Troy Deputy Production Editor: Amanda Ward Production Assistants: Kyle Ewald, Elsa McEvoy, Fionnuala Walsh, Méabh Riordan & Sam Roberts

Video Editor: Leanne Hanafin Illustrations Editor: Laura Duffy Social Media Editors: Michelle Townsend & Colleen Brady Chief Sub Editor: Niall O’Donoghue

Sub Editors: Leigh McGowran, Edina Zejnilovic, Emily Sheahan, John Morley, News Editors: Kyle Ewald & Fionnuala Orla Dwyer, Aoibhin Bryant, Brendan Walsh Kelly, Emily Donnelly, Róisin Cullen, Deputy News Editors: Elsa McEvoy, Courtney Fitzmaurice, Daniel Phelan, Shauna Coen & Callum Lavery Bridget Fitzhenry, Niamh Dunne, Colin Gannon, Katie Caden, Gabija Opinion Editor: Megan Conway Gataveckaite, Béibhinn Thorsch.

Deputy opinions Editor: Gabija Gataveckaite Contacts Lifestyle Editor: Katie Gallagher editor@thecollegeview.com Deputy Lifestyle Editors: Adam Daly & Rachel Farrell news@thecollegeview.com Features Editor: Orla O”Driscoll Deputy Features Editor: Arthur Velker Irish Editor: Ali Spillane Sports Editor: Alex Dunne Deputy Sports Editors: Gavin Quinn & Christy Dunne Arts Editor: Emer Handly Deputy Arts Editors: Ian Mangan & Ally Daly Images Editor: Mark Carroll Deputy Images Editor: Daria Jonkisz Photographers: Tara Shiels and Sarah O’Neill

features@thecollegeview.com opinion@thecollegeview.com gaeilge@thecollegeview.com sports@thecollegeview.com Printed by Datascope, with the DCU Journalism Society Thanks to Sportsfile, SLC, Office of Student Life Logo design by Lauren McConway

On the first day of a long journey towards obtaining my undergraduate degree, everybody in the Henry Grattan was bright eyed and bushy tailed. We had our brand new backpacks or handbags, pretty stationary, a new, more sophisticated wardrobe and an eagerness that was unrivaled. This is going to be so great, we all thought. Well, that’s what we thought until we met some of our lecturers who, after telling us their names, told us we would never get employed.

“You’re wasting your time. You’ll never get a job. You might as well drop out now.” These were the words of encouragement we received upon entering our new university life. Not exactly what the majority of us wanted to hear let me tell you. Recent coverage of reports by the Higher Education Authority and the Eurostat report really reiterate that point.

Employment rates for graduates are back to “boom-time” rates, the Irish Times recently reported. The report, which was carried out by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), surveyed more than 18,000 graduates from the 2016 class shows that 70 per cent of all graduates are in currently in employment. Some 60 per cent were in Ireland and 10 per cent were overseas.

But that doesn’t mean that all is well and good.

Arts graduates are the least likely to be employed after graduation and when they are employed they earn the least amount compared to all other degree holders. Some arts degree graduates can be on €13,000 a year, the report showed which is under the national minimum wage.

Last month, Minister Bruton made an announcement to change the funding allocation model for third-level education. The new model will allocate more funding to courses that are more expensive to run; which is primarily STEM. Does this mean, that perhaps arts degrees are passing their sell-by date?

In years from now, will arts degrees be as prevalent as they are today?

People will always want to undertake arts de-

grees because they allow for so much flexibility both in subjects covered and in time around lectures. In UCD for example, they have electives so you can undertake modules that may not be directly related to the major of your undergrad.

The flexibility of an arts degree enables students to undertake part-time internships, engage in clubs and societies, volunteer or work a part-time job.

These aspects of university life are just as invaluable as the actual degree itself.

Perhaps, instead of removing arts and humanity degrees completely, we can just alter them to make them more effective in the workforce. The evolution of technology can result in an evolution of career paths. In the BA in Journalism in DCU, for example, we are now learning about analytics, data and entrepreneurialism. Traditionally, these were not considered signature modules of a bachelor of arts in journalism. However, now more than ever they are proving to be integral to establishing yourself within the media landscape.

Furthermore, it could allow students to explore different career paths that incorporate their arts degree. Perhaps they could further their studies in social media, digital marketing, data analytics or even start their own business. This progressive form of arts and humanities degree is what will enhance graduate employability from these schools. This can be exemplified through the BA in Journalism course here in DCU. Some 60 percent of students were kept on in the placement they undertook at the end of their degree. This means, that the majority of the 2017 class had either a full or part-time position in journalism or PR before their graduation in November. That’s not too bad for people who were told they would never get a job.

An OECD report showed that universities need to include more entrepreneurship in the arts. So perhaps instead of tearing down people who have an innate interest in arts and humanities, we could adjust the courses, encourage STEAM and embrace the diverse range of talents that each individual possesses.

News

3

SU’s should advocate for decriminalisation of drug use, says Labour senator

Kyle Ewald Deputy Editor

@kyle_ewald

STUDENTS’ Unions should be working with college authorities to advocate for students caught with illegal substances and campaigning for decriminalisation of drug use, according to Labour Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. Ó Ríordáin said while he understands that colleges must follow government drug restrictions and policies, it is the job of Students’ Unions to ensure these institutions “have a sympathetic view on people who are caught using whatever substance for whatever reason”.

FOIs retrieved by The College View reveal that there was not a single drug-related expulsion from DCU, NUI Maynooth, UCC, UCD, or TCD in the years 2014, 2015, or 2016, despite a 2015 survey that stated 82 per cent of Irish students have tried illegal drugs.

The National Student Drug Survey 2015 also stated that nearly 50 per cent of students had used cannabis in the last 12 months and over 24 per cent had used it in the past week. Over 30 per cent of those surveyed had used ecstasy in the last 12 months, and over 5 per cent had used it in the last week. Ó Ríordáin backs the non-use of suspensions and expulsions to punish students, believing they are ineffective: “[Expulsions and suspensions] are nonsense, what’s the point? Is it going to change their behaviour? Is it going to make them act any differently? I don’t think it is because, we’ve been trying it for years now, if it was successful we wouldn’t have a drug problem.”

“I don’t think it’s going to help

President Higgins calls on EU to embrace diversity

Shauna Bowers Editor-in-Chief @shaunabowerss

A lot of students use illegal drugs.

somebody if you get expelled from an institution for dabbling in a substance because you got caught because there is a huge number of people doing the same thing, they just didn’t get caught,” said Ó Ríordáin.

At the moment, DCU has a “zero-tolerance” stance on drugs, but will develop a new drug policy that will cover “drugs from not only a criminal point of view, but a blanket policy that covers all aspects of drug abuse,” according to DCUSU officer

Credit: Channel 4

Podge Henry.

“There is so much more than the criminal side of drug usage, and this policy will highlight this,” said Henry. Ó Ríordáin said while he has “very little sympathy” for those who are dealing drugs, it is important that Ireland needs to de-stigmatise the idea of drug use and Students’ Unions need to “be more realistic as to why students are taking drugs and be advocating for people who are drug users because they can be a powerful lobby in this debate.”

Opt-In SU referendum petitions invalid not counted as valid.

“It was all a mess,” Behan said.

“They won’t be going ahead simply because the signatures were collected on one question, and that cannot be done. You can’t have two questions on the same sheet.”

The petitions called for the DCU Students’ Union to become opt-in, instead of students being automatically part of the union when they Fionnuala Walsh enrol in the university. The organisaNews Editor tion which called for a referendum, @fionnuala_walsh Students For Fair Representation, felt that the SU were not properly REFERENDUMS for an opt-in representing student interests, and Students’ Union and a second vote that another referendum on the union the college’s stance on abortion will not be going ahead, according to versity’s stance on abortion should called.

DCU Students’ Union president.

A similar mistake with signatures The petition which called for a was made in UCD last year when the referendum was not validated by the first petition to impeach former SU returning officer or the president of the SU Niall Behan. However, a ref- president Katie Ascough was ruled erendum vote on DCUSU’s position invalid by the returning officer. The regarding a united Ireland will be put petition did not include a column for signatures, and was therefore deemed to students at the same time as the not valid under the SU constitution. upcoming Student Union elections.

“They won’t be going ahead unThe problem with the opt-in less they can validate what they have union and abortion petitions is that submitted which they can’t,” Behan both questions were asked on a said. “I haven’t been approached single petition, and not on seperate about it.” pieces of paper. You cannot vote The referendum on the univeron the two different issues with the sity’s stance on Irish unity will be same answer, and the signatures were

The two groups who submitted referendum petitions

put to students in the 6th week of the semester. This will be held at the same time as regular elections for student union positions and conducted through the student portal Loop.

“The united Ireland one was

Credit: Sinn Fein Republican Youth and SFFR

put on my desk and I verified it and that’s perfect. The way it was presented, all signatures seemed to correlate with the people that signed it,” he said.

THE President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, said that the EU needs to embrace diversity and promote social cohesion.

Speaking at the launch of the DCU Brexit Institute, the keynote speech by Mr Higgins focused on the need for politicians to dissent against the division of people due to religion, race and nationality.

“In the absence of an adequate and inclusive discourse and emboldened by those who seek to mimic the language of the far-right for shortterm electoral advantage, these political forces – exploiting and drawing on the despair, alienation and anomie of citizens – seek to divide us against one another on the grounds of ethnicity, religion and nationality,” he said.

He said it is imperative that the EU draws on this diversity and uses it as a tool to rebuild the union.

“What matters now is whether the project of European integration is capable of drawing, or willing to draw on this diverse array of institutions, and in its project of integration be sustained and enhanced by recognising diversity, and whether such an integration can meet the demand for social justice and social cohesion,” said the President.

The conference was also addressed by the Chairman of the UK House of Commons Committee on Exiting the EU, Hilary Benn.

Mr Benn said that, in order to prevent future states leaving the EU, the Union should ask itself why they lost one of their member states.

“But it will be for European citizens, the ‘European Street’ to decide, and in making that choice I hope the EU will, at some point, pause and quietly ask itself how it came to lose one of its most important member states,” he said.

The British MP said that it is ‘astonishing’ that Britain has not decided on its relationship with the EU, 19 months after the referendum.

“We are two-thirds of the way through the process and yet we haven’t even yet started negotiating our future relationship with the European Union. It is frankly astonishing,” Benn added.

News

4 News in Brief 2018 to be ‘Year of the Irish Language’ Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced at the end of 2017 that 2018 would be the ‘Year of the Irish Language’.

The concept was developed after the highly successful tourism initiative, ‘The Gathering’ in 2013 in which over 5,000 special events aimed to engage people across the entire country were hosted.

2018 marks the 125-year anniversary of the language revival movement which was set up by Eoin MacNeill an Irish language enthusiast and nationalist activist.

Just like in 1893, the aim of this campaign is to get the wider public involved with the Irish language and to try and create a culture among people who wouldn’t normally use the Irish language.

DCU is getting involved with the campaign, through Cumann Gaelach – the Irish speaking society who promote the use of the language throughout the university. They plan on marking the ‘Year of the Irish Language” through a series of events.

Bruton targets career breaks Restrictions are set to be put in place that will affect career breaks for teachers in Ireland, according to Education Minister Richard Bruton.

Speaking at the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) last Friday, Bruton expressed concern that there are a “growing number” of teachers working full-time, often abroad, while on career breaks.

His department will be advising school boards that career breaks should only be granted if the school is in a position to fill the temporary vacancy that would be created and only on the basis of the permitted reasons.

“The purpose of the career break scheme, as set out on my department website, is to facilitate personal development, voluntary service overseas, childcare or self-employment,” said Bruton.

DCU appoints former NYT editor as adjunct professor History and Literature. The former Times magazine reporter worked for The Wall Street Journal for nine years, acting as Deputy Washington Bureau Chief and an investigative reJILL Abramson, former Executive porter covering finance and politics.

Editor of The New York Times, has Most notably, she worked for The been appointed as an Adjunct ProNew York Times where she served fessor in DCU’s School of Commuas the first female Executive Editor nications. for the newspaper. Abramson taught Abramson’s role will be primarily at Princeton, Yale and is currently supplementary and is not expected to teaching journalism at her Alma work directly with students over the Mater, Harvard. course of her two-year term with the “In her role as Adjunct Professor, University. Her duties include being Jill Abramson will bring her wealth the keynote speaker for an interof experience as DCU revamps national conference which will be its teaching in the area of media, hosted by DCU later this year. journalism and communications,” “She is one of the most emisaid Professor Kevin Rafter, Head of nent journalists in the world and DCU’s School of Communications. her involvement with the school “Staff in the School were is bound to help the reputation of informed of the appointment in an the programme and, therefore, of email on January 25th last. The its students and its graduates,” said intention to appoint was flagged to DCU Professor Steven Knowlton me verbally at a meeting last Decemwhen asked about the appointment of ber,” said Professor Paul McNamara, Abramson.

Chair of the Masters in Journalism Professor Knowlton, who programme in DCU. freelanced for the New York Times The full extent of Abramson’s during his journalism career, regards responsibilities is presently unclear the publication as “one of the world’s in her position as Adjunct Professor, great newspapers”. He added that Jill however Professor McNamara hopes Abramson inherited this reputation that journalism students would reas its Executive Editor. ceive “priority access given her area Jill Abramson was Arts Editor of specialism.” for her college’s newspaper The Harvard Independent, while studying

Cáit Caden Sub Editor @thecollegeview

Credit: News Week

DCU president criticises under-funding of third level institutions

UCC to give refugees full scholarships University College Cork has been granted the status of “University of Sanctuary” and will provide seven asylum seekers and refugees with full scholarships from September.

The scholarships will cover full fees and tuition, in addition to travel and expenses.

The university joins Dublin City University and the University of Limerick who have previously received University of Sanctuary status from Places of Sanctuary Ireland.

Applications for the scholarships will open this summer.

Students can apply via the CAO system and must be under 23 years of age on 1 January 2018 to apply.

UCC’s Senior Vice President, Professor Caroline Fennell says its Sanctuary Status is a marker not just of what has been achieved in UCC “but an indicator of the need for sustained and creative work to support asylum seekers and refugees locally and internationally.”

She was the first female editor of the New York Times

Shauna Bowers Editor-in-Chief @shaunabowerss PRESIDENT of DCU, Brian MacCraith, thinks Minister Bruton’s new funding allocation model avoids the biggest issues of funding third-level institutions.

MacCraith is critical of how this could really benefit the institutions when there is still “gross-underfunding” in the education sector.

“The bottom line is the ability for us to deliver high quality higher education for students. That comes right down with whatever way one looks at it. If one compares worldwide, it comes down to the resources that one can invest per student,” MacCraith said.

Ireland was just below the OECD average for resources invested per

student before the economic crash and in 2014 it was well below the average, ranking 17th out of 34.

The Cassells report put forward three options to increase funding for third-level; an income-contingent loans scheme, state-funded education, or the continuation of a student contribution fee with increased state funding.

MacCraith is agnostic in terms of which suggestion is taken up but he thinks that the Government needs to start dealing with the issue.

“I don’t mind which one is applied.

What’s the biggest importance is that the government recognises that its a critical issue to fund the higher education system,” he said.

“I’m worried that nothing will happen and that’s the biggest worry.

There’s no evidence that they’re going to change anything and the fact that it’s taking so long for the Oireachtas committee on the Cassells report to release their report is a worrying sign.”

While MacCraith is critical of the new allocation model, he does welcome two aspects in particular. He believes that the recognition of students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and the recognition of

Brian MacCraith, President of DCU

flexible delivery courses align with the commitments of the university.

DCU currently have over 1,300 students on their Access programme. Every one of the students on that programme receive a scholarship and mentoring throughout their time at the university.

In the past, these scholarships were largely funded by the university themselves so they welcome the financial support that this

Image Credit: President’s Office

new allocation model will bring.

“We absolutely welcome that and it is completely consistent with our commitment to educational opportunity,” he said.

DCU recently launched Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC) for the Irish Language and it has over 7,000 participants. The people on these courses will now be recognised in the same way as on-campus students.

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6

News

Conservative paper comes to DCU

Arthur Velker Deputy Features Editor @tweetofarthur A CONSERVATIVE publication based out of Trinity College has expanded to DCU in what its editor called an attempt to provide a diversity of opinion in student-related matters.

The Burkean Journal, which was funded by right-wing businessman Declan Ganley, was set up in Trinity College last September to provide

students with an opportunity to report on political issues from a conservative viewpoint.

The online-only publication is run by students of the university and its editors are currently looking to recruit writers, with the magazine holding a public stand in the Glasnevin campus on February 31st.

“We know that there is a quiet demand for conservative thought and discussion on our campus,” said Christine D’Arcy, the magazine’s DCU based copy editor.

“Ultimately, conservative students are under-represented on campus and in social media. We want to change that, and take responsibility in order to create a positive, thought provoking, and ideologically diverse platform.”

Chief editor of the publication, Trinity Honours student Guillermo Dillon, said clashes over recent issues like the Katie Ascough

impeachment in UCD and calls for an opt-out Students’ Union in DCU have prompted demands for an alternative voice in the student media.

He said there is a prevalence of left-wing reportage and in both of Trinity’s student newspapers – University Times and Trinity News – opinion writers are by large subjected to a progressive liberal ideology.

“They have to lower down the tone because they feel they won’t be published if they say what they truly believe,” he said.

He said since starting the publication, the team received lots of praise and feedback from conservative students who did not feel confident in taking a stand on dominant issues themselves.

Despite being based in Trinity College the publication is not affiliated with Trinity Publications. Dillon said the publication hasn’t sought

DCU students march for transgender rights

The logo of the conservative paper

funding from the institution in order to retain its independent coverage.

D’Arcy said the staff’s work over the coming months will consist of putting up banners, hiring staff and advertising the publication throughout campus.

Credit: Mark Carroll

Eventually the Burkean Journal plans to expand to all national universities. It’s currently looking for university ambassadors in Limerick, Maynooth, Galway and Cork.

DCU creates online Irish learning tool

Prof Mairéad Nic Giolla Mhichíl from DCU’s Irish language school

Bridget Fitzhenry Sub Editor @thecollegeview

A picket sign from the march

Leigh McGowran Sub Editor @thecollegeview STUDENTS from DCU’s LGBT society marched to support the Transgender Healthcare Protest on the 20th January.

Dean O’Reilly, the chairperson of DCU’s LGBT society, said that there were roughly 25 students from DCU who showed their support in the march.

“Events like this are mainly created by organisations like the Union of Students in Ireland, but this one was organised by two students: Luke Daly and Noah Halpin, which I feel is really important for the community,” said O’Reilly.

“It’s started a conversation, particularly in the student realm. It has helped to bring up Transgender discussion in the country,” he said.

The organisers of the protest,

Credit: Thomas Hall

Luke Daly and Noah Halpin, explained the importance of the march, and shared a similar belief in its impact.

“The march alone will not solve these issues, this is a long haul fight that we will continue to pursue every day until it’s solved.

“But what it has done is that it’s opened up and started a dialogue between everyone. The dialogue is now open, next step is to open it up even more and make even more people aware,” Daly said.

There were roughly 300 students involved in the march from around the country. Daly said the support of the USI “both drove and reinforced that”.

The protest, which began at Merrion Square and ended outside Leinster House, was organised to raise awareness on a number of transgender issues. These include

long waiting lists for hormone replacement therapy, the need for a psychiatric diagnosis to receive the replacement therapy, and a lack of physicians who support hormone replacement therapy.

Many transgender people want this treatment to be handled by general practitioners.

78 per cent of trans people have thought about ending their lives and 40 per cent have attempted suicide, according to statistics from Transgender Equality Network Ireland.

“We are meeting with several politicians on an ongoing basis,” Daly said.

“But it’s not just Noah and myself who are going to be meeting with politicians. Everyone should get out their email, book an appointment with their local TD and bring the issue up.”

Credit: Irish Times

include cultural elements in the course because “you can learn about the rules and structure of a language, but you can’t divorce language from DCU has launched a new online plat- culture and context.”

The site caters to “absolute form for learning Irish.

Irish 101 offers users an “introduc- beginners”, so they have taken user feedback about the difficulty of the tion to Ireland’s culture by learning course into account. the basics of the Irish language”.

“If you’re in Nepal and never had Users can learn about literaan opportunity to hear about Irish ture, dance and storytelling, while or Irish culture, you have no idea, studying the fundamentals of the language, including the alphabet and so slowing down “Mairéad is ainm dom” is really important to do.” pronunciation.

Its target audience is the Irish The massive open online course, diaspora who want to engage with or MOOC, is free and is running the language. in conjunction with FutureLearn, a “One of the interesting things that digital education platform. It is part I found on the platform was where of the Fáilte ar Líne project, which people introduced themselves to each is funded by the Irish government as part of its 20-year strategy for the other and have a “ciorcal comhrá” or meet up with people in their area Irish language. to practise Irish”, said Nic Giolla Dr Mairéad Nic Giolla Mhichíl, Mhichíl.

Associate Professor and Senior She said the response has been Research Fellow with the National Institute of Digital Learning in DCU, “absolutely phenomenal” and there are already thousands of users in 125 developed the idea with the late Dr countries, including in the Middle Peadar Ó Flatharta.

East and Asia, since its launch on “We’re very lucky that we’re January 29th. working with the National Institute They now aim to get over 10,000 of Digital Learning and Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge, so we have the dis- users and further develop the platform for different levels of capaciplinary expertise and we have the digital learning expertise” Nic Giolla bility, so participants can complete different aspects which DCU will Mhichíl said. recognise for a degree.

She said it was important to

News

DCU sports scholarships falls by 62 per cent Sinn Fein MEP has criticised the government for treatment of students Colin Gannon Contributor @thecollegeview

Credit: Daria Jonsikz

A DCU sports pitch

Fionnuala Walsh News Editor @fionnuala_walsh NUMBERS of students entering DCU through an Elite Athletic Scholarship have dropped by 62 per cent since last year, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request obtained by The College View.

Only thirty five students received an Elite Athletic Scholarship for the

year 2017/18, compared to 93 recipients in 2016/17. The Elite Sportsperson Academic entry route is “reserved for outstanding candidates who have achieved a very high level of sporting performance,” according to their website.

Recipients of the DARE scholarship also fell by 16 per cent from 163 in 2016/17 to 137 in 2017/18. DARE, or The Disability Access Route to Education, is an admissions scheme for students with disabilities who may not meet the competitive CAO points for the programme of their choice.

The number of students receiving DCU Access scholarships also dropped by 9 per cent from last year, with 345 receiving scholarships this year versus 381 last year. The Access service is an entry route for students from socio-economically disadvan-

taged backgrounds. Their family income must be on or below the specified threshold, and must meet other criteria based on financial, social and cultural means.

There are three main academic scholarship programmes at DCU: McAleese Scholarships, Elite Athlete Scholarships and DCU Academic Scholarships.

DCU offers academic scholarships to students achieving 550 or greater CAO points in their Leaving Certificate, and all students achieving the stated grades are offered the scholarship, according to the Freedom of Information request.

In 2017/18, 124 entrants have been offered this scholarship, in 2016/17 114 entrants, and in 2015/16 117 entrants.

A SINN Fein MEP has slammed the Government for treating students like commodities and called for a scale-back to third-level funding cuts which she says feeds income inequality.

Ireland South MEP Liadh Ni Riada was speaking at a hearing on the EU’s Youth Strategy in the Culture and Education Committee, on which she sits, when she made the commodity comments.

Speaking to The College View, Ni Riada made clear her feelings that the current education system is faltering and criticised the State for inaction, which she says will result in a legacy of inequality and students being saddled with debt post-education.

“Their worth to the institution they are in is measured only in the fees they pay. Cuts to education budgets as well as cuts to and in some cases the removal of bursaries, funds and other schemes designed to help less well off students have pushed people out of education.”

“This is an equality issue. When any young person decides not to pursue their education because they feel they cannot afford it the state has failed them.”

The Oireachtas Education Com-

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mittee tasked to compile recommendations for a new higher education funding model is still considering the Cassells Report which detailed the systematic, chronic underfunding of the third-level sector.

According to Ni Riada, the decades-old “pendulum swing of power between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael” that the current coalition carries on, is to blame for deprioritizing education funding, despite bailing out the banks during the financial crisis and turning a blind-eye to large-scale corporate tax evasion.

Sinn Fein have long called for an education system which promotes free and equal access for all. Ni Riada admits that while it is certainly an ideological position of the party, it is by no means unfeasible financially, name-checking free-education pioneers in Finland, Norway and Germany.

Last October, Budget 2018 revealed a €47.5 million increase in funding for higher education. Ni Riada claims that this announcement failed to combat years of underinvestment and radical reform is required.

“What is required to address this crisis is the same thing that is required to address the housing crisis, the trolley crisis and the mental health crisis; political will.”

Impeached former UCDSU president receives pro-life award “As someone who is pro-choice, I would take issue with the entire concept of the award rather than Ascough accepting it which is to be IMPEACHED UCD SU president expected considering she has been Katie Ascough received a pro-life very outspoken about her views. I award from a UK anti-abortion personally don’t think it’s right to group in January. award someone for working against Ascough was chosen as this year’s awarding human rights, but it’s not winner of the Westminster award surprising in the slightest,” said Faye by the ‘Right to Life’ group for her Helen Butler, a second year UCD work on the pro-life campaign. The arts student. award recognises “extraordinary and The ‘UCD for Choice’ group notable work and achievements that declined to comment on the award. safeguard the dignity and right to life Ascough was in the third year of human beings”. of her science degree in UCD at The award is given each year the time of her impeachment. She in honour of the group’s founder, has said that she plans to finish her Phyllis Bowman. Previous winners degree in the future and then move include a Chinese human rights onto journalism because “that’s what lawyer who challenged the coun[she’s] interested in”. try’s one-child policy and Magnus Ascough said she is “confident MacFarlane-Barrow of the charity the Irish people, with knowledge Mary’s Meals. and thought, will ultimately and Ascough accepted the award on fundamentally reject” abortion being the 23rd of January in London. available up to 12 weeks.

“I wished to accept the award on “I look forward to engaging in behalf of every person who believes respectful debate over the next few children not yet born have the right months,” Ascough added. to life but who finds themselves facShe was impeached from her ing hostility and backlash when they former role as UCD Students’ Union share or speak up for this value,” president in October 2017. The said Ascough to The College View. referendum for Ascough’s removal

Orla Dwyer Contributor @thecollegeview

Katie Ascough, Former UCD SU President

took place after she removed a page containing abortion information from ‘Winging it’, a UCD magazine circulated to students. This was following legal advice and is estimated

Credit:University Observer

to have cost the SU around €8,000 in reprinting costs.

The information removed included the prices of abortion in other countries and advice on how

to get an abortion pill. It is lawful to provide information in Ireland about abortions abroad, however strict conditions are in place.

8

News

Students frustrated 50% of Arts graduates feel their degree was irrelevant with the hidden fees from J-1 agencies

Elsa McEvoy Deputy News Editor @ElsaMcEvoy Callum Lavery Deputy News Editor @callum_lavery HIDDEN fees and strict rules are making working in America on a J-1 increasingly difficult for Irish students.

Every year 7,000 students head across the Atlantic to spend the summer in America under a J-1 work and travel visa. Unlike other visas, an American Visa application cannot be made directly to the American embassy but must be done through designated agencies.

These sponsor agencies help students with insurance, locating work and getting through customs.

There are currently five agencies operating in Ireland. They are: USIT, SAYIT, J1 Ireland, Smaller Earth and World Wide Cultural Exchange.

However, Irish students are complaining that the prices of using these agencies are misleading and exorbitantly high. Third year journalism student, Colleen Brady said that she felt deceived when she went to San Francisco last year through the company SAYIT. “I actually can’t remember exactly how much it cost me but for the visa, embassy appointment, Devi’s, insurance, it was like €800, but then you have to pay for your flights as well.

“I definitely felt misled about how much it would cost; the fact that you have to book your flights through the company is a joke. If I was able to book my flights independently they would have cost me maybe €300-€400 return but for a J1 you have to book flights through the company and they ended up being another €800.”

Sponsor companies have been criticised for hiding the full cost of working in America.

On the USIT website for example, the cost of a J-1 visa without aid securing work was €279. However this price excluded the cost of flights, insurance, Sevis fee, USA Embassy Fee, Luggage Tag, USA Sim card and Postal Fees, meaning students could be paying up to €1,291.43.

Second year geography student, Sorcha Donnelly, felt misled with her visa application.

“This year I got the ‘€99 deal’ yet I’ve already been forced into paying €300. I was also forced to reserve flights through USIT... that worked out at €1100 when on sky scanner they were €370.

“I called USIT a few days ago to cancel my booking because I found a cheaper company...

Even if I did decide to go with the other company and take the €300 loss it’s probably still cheaper than going with USIT.” Both USIT and SAYIT did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.

HALF of Arts graduates feel their course is relevant to their current employment according to the Higher Education Authority.

A new report published by the HEA surveying graduates of the class of 2016 revealed that 50 per cent of Arts and Humanity graduates found their course ‘relevant or most irrelevant’ to their current employment.

These were the highest number dissatisfied with their qualification followed closely by Social Sciences, Journalism and Information graduates, of which 46 per cent found their qualification to be irrelevant to their jobs.

DCU’s Humanities and Social Sciences Representative Craig McHugh said that despite these figures, that employers are no longer just looking for STEM graduates but shifting their focus on STEAM, incorporating Arts graduates.

“It was originally the perception that big tech companies only needed graduates from Stem subjects but now there’s a growing need for people with Arts degrees,” he said.

McHugh went on to talk about how students in the BA Joint Honours programme

A happy graduate in Trinity college

“don’t feel appreciated” and said, “something needs to be done about the perception of Arts Students”.

He explained that this devaluing of Arts courses doesn’t stem from a college level but that it is a societal perception that has to be changed.

“The reason we respect doctors so much is because they spent a lot of time getting their degree and they’re held up high in society but who says we shouldn’t respect teachers in the same regard,” he said.

“They were at one stage one of the most re-

Credit:Mark Carroll

spected professions in the country but for some reason, in the last couple of years, that seems to have deteriorated and I just don’t know why that is.”

The HEA report titled ‘What Do Graduates Do?’ focuses on the class of 2016 and also revealed that Arts graduates are the lowest earners, of which 15 per cent start at €13,000 a year where as 38 per cent of Health and Welfare graduates start earning at €29,000 a year.

This leaves current Art students and those thinking about studying Arts wondering whether or not their degree is worth doing.

Arts graduates lowest earners according to HEA Sabrine Donohue Contributor @thecollegeview NEW arts graduates may earn as little as €13,000 a year, according to a HEA report.

But most CAO applicants opt for arts and humanities degrees at 22 per cent, while 16 per cent choose science degrees, according to 2012 figures.

Arts degrees provide a wide range of skills ranging from critical thinking and psychological understanding to problem-solving, which fill the skills gap in areas of science and technology. They also prove optimal for those who are unsure of which path to take.

“An arts degree should be seen as a very valuable stepping stone, which can then be converted, if desired or required, into a masters with a more specific career focus,” says Dr Dervila Cooke, Lecturer in French studies at DCU. “Many social and political leaders are arts graduates … this also applies to people between 30 and 40 years of age in high positions - the age group where a technology and business focus supposedly took over from the arts.”

Partnering an arts degree with a further specialization proves optimal in acquiring a job. In Trinity College Dublin for example, 12 percent of arts postgraduates are unemployed; compared to 25 percent of science, engineering or maths graduates.

The Irish Humanities Alliance underpins the importance of the arts in teaching an emotional

CAPTION

understanding and appreciation of cultures – ‘It is music, poetry and dance that are a soul for science’ writes contributor Orlaith McBride.

Recent graduate of the BSc in Multimedia at DCU Amy Mahony says that while her degree has a high employability rate for fresh graduates, landing an internship is difficult for those that lack in key skills such as editing and web design.

In Amy’s case, the cost of living in Dublin paired with the lack of job prospects for media-related public relations at the time of graduation prompted a move to Taiwan.

She currently teaches English at a kindergarten level, earning enough to live comfortably and have pay left over each month.

Credit:Mark Carroll

“I earn enough money to make me happy, but money isn’t everything,” she said. “I had to give up family and friends to live a decent life.”

Graduate of the BA in Communications, Aisling Loughlin emphasises the importance of excelling in extracurricular work during college to obtain first-hand experience early.

“I got my job out of an internship I did while I was in college … I chose it [the BA in Communications] because I knew it did allow for a lot of extracurricular work,” she said.

She enjoys the versatility of the degree in its broad spectrum for job prospects, but feels luck plays a huge role: “It worked out well for me but for others I know they struggled”.

9

Opinion

The Good Friday ban, a modern approach or a loss of identity?

After lifting the ban on the sale of alcohol on Good frday, Amy Rohu looks at the history of the ban.

Amy Rohu Contributor @thecollegeview

O

n the Thursday before Good Friday it isn’t uncommon to see people in the supermarket or off license stocking up on alcohol.

Sometimes it seems as though alcohol won’t be available for weeks with the sheer amount of it that’s sold as customers fill their trolleys with bottles of wine like there’s a drought coming, when it’s only unavailable for one day.

This year, for the first time in Ireland since 1927, the ban on alcohol being sold on Good Friday will be lifted and the pubs will open their doors. For a lot of people in Ireland, Good Friday is a day off and a great excuse to wind down with a glass of wine and for many it is a social occasion, with the ban on alcohol being an inconvenience to them, resulting in the need to stock up the day before. A lot of people also argue that as a religious holiday, Good Friday should not interfere with the state itself and therefore businesses shouldn’t close.

Do these people feel the same about Christmas or is that different because we get presents?

Pubs only close for two days a year and as part of Irish culture, this trend has been here for all of our lives, with this ban being lifted we are becoming more modern but at the same time it has to be asked, are we losing a part of

our identity? It isn’t about being ‘backward Ireland’ or being ‘controlled by religion’, it’s about having deep rooted traditions and being proud of them. Good Friday is a religious day and if you aren’t religious then perhaps you don’t want the inconvenience of pubs being closed. However other countries still honour similar traditions and tourists or those who don’t wish to take part have to just get on with it because the country chooses to hold on to its cultural identity. It seems as though we have different values here and that’s a shame.

makes “youItwonder

why we can’t go without alcohol for one day of the year

The lift on the ban which has been in place since 1927 is set to come to immediate effect.

It makes you wonder why we can’t go without alcohol for one day of the year, why is there such a panic and uproar that pubs get a day off and Tesco won’t serve you your beer along with your groceries. As a society are we that obsessed with alcohol that the idea of it not being available is that horrific? Or is it a case that it’s just the principal of the matter and we feel that we need to at least have the option? It is worth taking a step back and thinking about it; what is the big deal with the

Image Credit: Daria Jonkisz

ban?

Commercial pressure influenced a similar change in Ireland in the 1960s when the sale of alcohol was permitted on St Patrick’s Day. With the ban being abolished now for Good Friday, the only day left for pubs to close is Christmas Day. This news makes you wonder when that ban will be lifted and whether or not in a few years pubs will be open 365 days a year.

Prohibition is not the answer Following the uproar from Irish parents about the safety of children on smartphones, is there a suitable solution to protect children online ?

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If parents want to protect their children from the dangers of smartphones, then they have to come to a mutual understanding with each other and educate them on the dangers that exist.

Megan Conway Opinions Editor @thecollegeview

T

here was a wave of shock and worry across the country this week as a 26-year-old man was convicted for using social networking apps to groom girls as young as nine years old and for possessing thousands of child pornography images.

Parents were outraged and began calling for changes and reform to legislation to protect children using social networks. Some experts even recommended a nationwide ban on smartphones for children under the age of 14.

Although the shock and upset from Irish parents is completely understandable, prohibition is not the solution. Taking away what children want most will only lead to children going behind parent’s backs, lying and eventually ending up in a situation that is uncontrollable for a child.

Millennials are capable of outsmarting their parents when it comes to technology. Accord-

Experts have said that Irish children under the age of 14 should not have smartphones.

ing to the Education Research Centre, nine out of ten of children in sixth class who are aged 12 will have a smartphone. If parents want to protect their children from the dangers of smartphones, then they have to come to a mutual understanding with each other and educate them on the dangers that exist. Denying them a phone and a chance to understand the digital world will only create a hunger in the child to see what they are missing out on.

If parents can explain the dangers and tell them how to address the situation if it ever arises then the child will know what to do when the situation arises and will be comfortable enough to talk to their parents. However, a child who was denied access to social

Image Credit:Tara Shiels

networks but manages to go online will be too afraid to go to their parents if they find themselves being groomed or threatened.

It’s important to realise that children need to be protected, but they need to be given the opportunity to mature and learn. When they reach the correct age to use smartphones and social networks safely they should be allowed to do so but also accept that their parents will monitor what they are doing. Every family in the country needs to make their own decision whether their child is online or not and if parents are aware of their children’s activities, they can protect them.

Denying a 12/13-year-old access to social media means that they are only learning about

the dangers and the risks when they are old enough to actually be physically independent from the parents. This increases the risk of a paedophile meeting the teenager in person.

The internet is unavoidable but the risks involved are not. Instead of changing legislation the government should focus on funding internet safety education in schools. Let children be part of the digital world but show them how to do so safely.

Children’s internet safety is an international problem and there doesn’t seem to be one clear and feasible solution. However, it is up to every parent to monitor their own children’s internet use. Education is key when it comes to internet safety, and the sooner a more open discussion happens with children, the sooner they will identify risks and become more responsible online.

10

Opinion

The danger of normality

Following the recent criticism of Irish influencers, Cathal Mc Cahey looks at the dangers they have caused for their young followers.

Cathal Mc Cahey Contributor @thecollegeview

O

Over the last number of weeks, the Irish blogging scene has been tormented by numerous Instagram accounts who are addressing influencers for editing their pictures and showing a lack of transparency to their followers for a number of reasons.

One name kept popping up, an Instagram account which apparently posted the edited and original photos side by side. The account has since been deleted however the criticism continues. While I don’t keep up to date with these so-called ‘influencers’ I was amused and wanted to see more. The difference between some of the photos is shocking.

At the end of the day, I really don’t care if someone chooses to Photoshop their photos and many people share this sentiment too. But the more I thought about it the more I began to care. These people are called influencers for a reason, they influence.

It would be wrong to criticise these influencers for editing photos because we all do it.

When you throw up a new Instagram post, of course, you’re going to use filters and do some basic editing. To assume that people with a large following are going to put up raw unedited photos would be foolish. But to alter your own image drastically in a clear and devious attempt at passing it off as ‘normal’ to your

followers is just wrong.

According to the National Suicide Research Foundation, the highest demographic for selfharm in Ireland last year was girls between 15-19 years old at one person in every 131.

This statistic only refers to the people that were hospitalised due to their self-harm and excludes those who have not been admitted to hospital. Body image is a massive cause of self-harm and this is where this connection is made. It’s no secret that young people are incredibly impressionable, especially young girls. With the growing dominance of social media in young people’s lives, influencers need to recognise this as they are a big part

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With the growing dominance of social media in young people’s lives, influencers need to recognise this as they are a big part of young people’s lives.

Irish influencers are being called exposed on Instagram for editing their pictures and creating unrealistic standards.

of young people’s lives. These photoshopped images have a lasting impression on young people, they see these images and perceive them as normal.

This is the problem, this idea that we have to be normal. There is no ‘normal’, everybody is unique. Instead of altering images of yourself to create this image of ‘normality’, aka a tiny waist with flawless skin, how about you embrace your uniqueness? Show your followers that you’re not afraid to embrace it and help make a lasting positive impact.

If being ‘normal’ is your objective, then

Image credit:HubSpot Blog

you’re going to be chasing it for a long time.

Everybody has different characteristics which make them who they are. Some people are taller than others, some people are bigger than others, some people are more social, some prefer their own company. The list is endless.

While it is also wrong to tell people that they are not allowed edit their pictures, influencers with a large following need to be aware that the content they publish is accepted by some as ‘normal’ and this can be dangerous for impressionable people.

Is net neutrality a positive thing?

Méabh Riordan looks at the impact of an internet controlled by big corporations and not by the people.

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Image Credit: Techspot.com

Little did I realise it is in fact what sustains an open and democratic internet, a principle which I think we take for granted every day we ‘log on’.

duct.

Exhibit number one: Verizon blocking out Google Wallet in favour of a similar app called ISIS – an example of paid prioritisation.

On top of this, in 2014 Verizon responded to the question of investment and how Net Neutrality would impact investment. Francis J Shammo, Executive VP and CFO of the server came out and said “this does not influence the way we invest. We’re going to continue to invest in our networks and our platforms.”

Both of the cases made by Pai for repeal can be disputed easily and the corporate

society in which we live in raises suspicions about his suggestion for voluntary agreements

by ISPs to deter misconduct and manipulation of users.

The general consensus is that Net Neutrality protects the diversity of voices and ensures internet traffic is treated fairly and equally.

Senator Ed Markey has joined with 15 other US senators to content repeal through the Congressional Review Act. This united consensus and advocacy for an open, equal internet has confirmed my support for Title II, Net Neutrality; and to ‘keep the internet in the hands of the people, not big corporations’.

Méabh Riordan Contributor @thecollegeview

M

y eyes and ears were first opened to the internet with what is now the antiquated and nostalgic modem dial up tone. The routine unwind of the Ethernet cable led to the silencing of the ringing telephone and the beginning of an infinite quest and curiosity for an abundance of online freedom; to access, view and experience a plethora of online content.

On December 14th of last year the Federal Communications Commission, FCC, voted to repeal Net Neutrality. Prior to the hype generated by the FCC’s rescindment of the law, I was ignorant as to what exactly Net Neutrality was. In fact, it is what sustains an open and democratic internet, a principle we take for granted every day we ‘log on’.

The explanation of Net Neutrality by savetheinternet.com may seem of exclusive interest to those who understand the technology behind the web. However, the correlation between technological actions by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and user control during their internet experience is blatant. The web server regards Net Neutrality as: ‘a basic principle that prohibits [providers] from speeding up, slowing down or blocking any content, applications or websites you want to use.’

Ajit Pai, now chairman of the FCC and

Ajit Pai was designated Chairman of the FCC by President Trump in 2017

former lawyer for Verizon – an American ISP – spoke of the benefits of repealing Title II, aka Net Neutrality, and how as a result of the regulatory bill there was no room for competition within the industry. Along with this, Pai directed public interest towards the extensive drop in investment within the industry stating this will only ‘exacerbate the Digital Divide’.

John Oliver explained how competition between ISPs will only result in manipulation of content on Last Week Tonight. Pai has retaliated with an absence of evidence showing past competitive miscon-

11

Gaeilge

#Níl Sé Ceart Go Leor Feachtas Twitter tosaithe ag Ciara Ní É ag léirú an drochmheas a mbíonn á bhfulaingt ag Gaeilgeoirí

Ní shin le rá go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ag fulaingt nó ag dul aon áit. Mar a feictear tríd fás an Gaelscolaíocht agus na Coláistí samhraidh is leis an ghlúin óg todhchaí an teanga.

Mar sin cén fáth an mbíonn ar Ghaeilgeoirí barraíocht ama a chur amú ag míniú a rogha teanga?

Agus mé ag éisteacht agus ag léamh faoin díospóireacht le déanaí tháinig smaoinemah chugam. Cén Ali Spillane fáth a mbíonn an díospóireacht i Eagarthóir Gaeilge gcónaí faoin nGaeilge agus aigead @thecollegeview rialtais a chur amú. Ní minic a liain úr atá ann ach chloistear gearáin faoin airgead a ní shin le rá go bhfuil cuirtear ar fáil le haghaidh an lucht gach rud athraithe. siúil atá ina mionlaigh in Éirinn Rud amháin atá chomh maith. Is tríd an eagraíocht díreach mar an státurraithe Pavee Point a dhéantar gcéanna ná an tseandíospóireacht cosaint ar a gcearta mar mhionlach faoin nGaeilge. Ní raibh seachtain agus a bunaítear feachtais chun caite againn i 2018 ach bhí ceist oideachas agus a leithéid a chur chun na Gaeilge á phlé ar chlár Ciara cinn sa phobal. Níl fianaise ann le Kelly ar Newstalk. Mar is ghnáth rá go bhfuil na feachtais oideachas bhí gach duine gnóthach ag roinnt a go hiomlán rathúil. Fós tá cuid gcuid tuarimí ar na meáin shóisialta. mhór den phobal sin nach fhanann Ach ba fhear amháin a luaigh ar scoil chun Ardteist a bhaint narbh fhéidir leis ubh a bhruith mar amach. In aineoinn cuile iarrachta gur chaith sé blianta ag foghlaim is corr-dhuine a leanann ar aghaidh na Gaeilge ar scoil, a chuir idir ar oideachas triú leibhéil ach fós níl ionadh agus éadóchas ar dhaoine. aon duine ag gearán faoi. Dar liom, Mar thoradh, cúpla lá i ndiaidh sin is maith an rud é sin. Má éiríonn thosaigh Ciara Ní É feachtas Twitter leis na feachtais fiú don corr-dhuine iontach leis an haischlib #nílsécgl. ní cur amú é. Má taispeánann na Le tamall anuas tá na céadta treochtanna go bhfuil dul chun cinn Gaeilgeoirí ag roinnt a scéalta faoi á dhéanamh, fiú feabhsú bheag, ní míthuiscintí atá ag daoine faoin chur amú é. nGaeilge agus a taithí ag déileáil le Ach cén fáth nach bhfuil an rud maslú faoina dteanga. Coincheap céanna fíor ó thaobh na Gaeilge neamhchasta atá i gceist leis, ní mór de? Is í an príomhtheanga oifigiúil duit ach an scéal a insint ach teanga sa tír. Is teanga oifigiúil den eile a chur ann in ionad an Ghaeilge Aontas Eorpach í. Tá sé deacair ann. le tuiscint an fáth go gcuireann sé Tá réimse leathan ábhar ar fáil isteach chomh mór ar daoine nuair ann idir ainmneacha Gaelacha agus a labhraítear í mar ghnáththeanga úsáid na Gaeilge sa mhórshaol. Cé labhartha. Is maslach an rud é nuair go bhfuil sé thar a bheith greannmhar a deirtear gur chúis le heaspa dídine agus siamsúil chuirfí ionadh ort nó le fadhbanna san chóras sláinte í na rudaí a deireann daoine do an infhestiú a dhéantar sa Ghaeilge.

Ghaeilgeoirí.

Athrú meoin atá uainn. Is álainn Agus Bliain na Gaeilge buailte an rud é deis bheith agat an Ghaeilge linn tá neart daoine den tuairim gur agus an cultúr saibhir atá leí a bheith cur amú airgid é. Nach fiú airgead a agat. Is nasc le stair na tíre agus na infheistiú chun ár dteanga dúchais daoine a ndeachaigh romhainn í. Is a spreagadh a scaipeadh agus a rud Éireannach í nach bhfuil ag an cheiliúradh le muintir na tíre. Tá an gcuid eile den domain. Thar aon rud argóint ceannann ceánna faoi Pheig eile, is teanga dúchais í do na mílte agus pionós corpartha agus iad ag Éireannaigh sa tír a rugadh agus a tuar deireadh na Gaeilge mar theanga tógadh le Gaeilge iad. Níl sé níos beo fós i mbéal an phobail. Agus fearr nó níos measa ná Béarla nó aon muintir na Gaeilge bréan den teanga teanga eile sa domhain. Ach tá sé a chosaint agus a taobh den argóint difriúl. a insint.

Do na daoine nach gcreideann Cinnte go bhfuil na ceantair na tuairmí thuasluaite agus a bhí Gaeltachta ag streachailt, ach níl gránn acu don Ghaeilge. Ní fadbh aon duine ag rá nach bhfuil siad. é sin muna chuireann tú isteach ar

B

Tvuíteanna faoi #Nílsécgl

na daoine nach bhfuil den tuairim céanna. Fiú muna dtaitníonn an Ghaeilge leat nó muna fhéidir leat í a labhairt, ní bhíonn ort ach meas a bheith agat ar an duine a labhraíonn í. Ní hé go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ag bagairt stádas an Bhéarla nó na daoine a labhraíonn é. Is féidir leis an dá teanga a bheith beo sa tír céanna ag an am céanna. Ach #Nílsécgl go bhfuil drochmheas ag daoine ar lucht na Gaeilge. #Nílsécgl milleán fadbhanna an domhain a leag ar teanga mionlach neamhchiontach nach bhfuil freagrach as. Agus #nílsécgl go bhfuil gá leis an fheachtas agus na mílte tvuít seolta faoi rudaí nach bhfuil ceart go leor i saol na nGael i 2018- Bliain an Gaeilge.TG4 ar na meáin shóisialta.

Tá beirt láitheoir iontach acu idir Chaitlín Nic Aoidh agus Micheál Ó Ciaraidh atá lán le fuinneamh agus spraoi ar an gcuntas Snapchat. Is fiú go mór iad a leanúint (tg4tv).

Tá go leor vlagadóirí Gaelacha ar Snapchat chomh maith @ caoimhechats ina measc. Iriseoir físe le meon eile ag cur fuithi i mBéal Feirste bíonn sí i gcónaí feiceálach ar na méain. Freastlaíonn sí ar fhoghlaimeoirí agus ar chainteoirí dúchais idir óg agus aosta. Tá vlag aici den ainm céanna ar Youtube

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Image Credit: Twitter

Agus Bliain na Gaeilge buailte linn tá neart daoine den tuairim gur cur amú airgid é. chomh maith. Agus anuas ar sin tá sí mar leath den chaineal Youtube TusaTube. Cursaí saoil a bhíonn á vlagáil aici ar na gréasán uilig, agus é go hiomlán trí Ghaeilge. Ach bíonn fotheidil Béarla ar na Snaps chun freastal ar na bhfoghlaimeoirí.

Ag muid leath bhealach tríd an liosta ba chóir dom aird a thabhairt ar aipeanna Gaeilge atá ar fáil. Cúpla mí ó shin seoladh aip darb ainm ‘Loinnir’. Tinder na nGael a thug neart daoine air. Bhunaigh Dónal Ó Catháin agus Edmond Ó Floinn é tar éis Hackathon i UCD. Agus é faoi agallaimh ag an Oireachtas

dúirt Dónal gurb ‘meascán de Tinder agus myTaxi é.’ Is é an t-aidhm atá leis ná gréasán na nGael a chruthú agus chun é a dhéanamh níos éasca teacht le chéile le daoine eile a bhfuil Gaeilge acu. Tá sé ar fáil ar android faoi láthair saor in aisce.

Is aip eile atá ag freastal ar fhoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge timpeall an domhain ná Duolingo. Is féidir go leor leor teanga a fhoghlaim ar an aip idirghníomhach seo. Ach tá an-tóir ar an nGaeilge. Tá níos mó ná 2 milliún duine ag foghlaim an Ghaeilge ar an aip, níos mó na leath den uimhir sin thall sna Stát Aontaithe.

Is gréasán domhanda iad na Gaeil. Tá leithéidí an grúpa Gaeilge Amháin ar Facebook iontach chun iad uilig a thabhairt le chéile. Is féidir le daoine idir fhoghlaimeoirí agus cainteoirí dúchais ceisteanna a chur ar a chéile agus smaointí a scaipeadh eatarthu ann. Tá fáilte roimh gach duine bheith páirteach ann. Is é an t-aon coinníol atá ann ná go mbíonn ort an Ghaeilge a úsáid agus an Ghaeilge amháin.

Is réimse iontach mór de na meáin faoi láthair ná blaganna.

Bíonn blagadóirí de gach aon saghas ann, blagadóirí Gaeilge ina measc. Is é an chéad blag atá le clúdach anseo ná Gaeilge le Glam. Blag faisin atá inti bunaithe ag ceathrar múinteoirí Gaeilge ó Gaillimh. Bíonn cursaí stíle agus faisin i measc na n-ábhar a bhíonn á phlé acu. Bíonn siad gníomhach ar na meáin shóisialta chomh maith ar an gcuntas Snapchat ach go háirithe.

Is é an chéad bhlag eile atá ar fáil ná ceann dátheangach ag Ursula Savage dar teideal, ‘Ag smaoineamh os ard’, oiriúnach don fhoghlaimeoir os rud é go bhfuil cuid den ábhar as Béarla. Ní hé go mbíonn gach uile rud aistrithe ó Ghaeilge go Béarla nó a mhalairt. Uaireanta bíonn sí ag scríobh as Béarla, uaireanta eile as Gaeilge a bhíonn sé.

Den stíl céanna, is é an ceann deirneach ná blag dátheangach ‘As an Nua’ le Siún Ní Dhuinn (as Beo ar Éigean). Cuid den am as Gaeilge a bhíonn an t-ábhar, amanntaí eile as Béarla a bhíonn sé. Bíonn gach réimse ó stíl agus faisean go feimeanachas agus leabhair agus ealaíon pléite ann.

Mar sin is féidir a rá go bhfuil an Ghaeilge beo sa 21ú hAois ní hamháin sa Chlub Conradh nó ag an Oireachtas nó ar Raidió na Gaeltacha ach ar líne, ar na meáin shóisialta agus sa Ré teicneolaíochta freisin.

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Gaeilge

Irish 101 - An Chéad MOOC Gaeilge seolta ag an Aire Stáit Foghlaimeoirí ó níos mó ná 100 tír cláraithe don chursa úr ar líne athfhoghlaim an teanga. Ach go mbeidh fás agus forbairt ag teacht ar an tionscadal amach anseo.

Ag caint ag an seoladh, dúirt an á Irish 101 seolta ag an tUachtarán ar DCU, an tOllamh Aire Stáit don Ghaeilge, Brian Mac Craith; ‘I mbliain seo na don Ghaeltacht agus Gaeilge tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil do na hOileáin, Joe eolaíocht na hoiliúna, nuálaíocht McHugh. Ar an Máirt, sa bhfoghlaim, an teicneolaíocht bailíodh na Gaeil le chéile i dTeach féin agus grá dár dteanga ag teacht Uí Chonaill, i gCearnóg Mhuirfean le chéile chun an teanga sin a chur chun an tionscadal nua a cheiliúradh chun cinn.’ Lean sé ag caint faoin agus tús oifigiúil a chur leis. tábhacht a bhaineann as an teanga Is MOOC nó Massive Open a chur chun cinn agus í a thógáil Online Course atá i gceist le Irish ‘trasna na dtonnta’ go dtí gach cearn 101. Foireann de chuid Fiontar & den domhan.

Scoil na Gaeilge i DCU atá freagrach Agus é ag labhairt ar an éacht as an ‘togra spreagrúil stairiúil,’ atá bainte amach ag DCU leis an mar a thug an tAire air. Tá an cursa curtha ar fáil faoin scáth-ghrúpa Future Learn. Dar le Mark Lester ó Future Learn, ‘tá DCU anois mar chuid den chlann le níos mó ná 100 ollscoil eile timpeall an domhain.’

Tá sé mínithe ag an gCeannscoile ar Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge, an tOllamh Ciarán Mac Murchaidh, go bhfuil siad ‘ag tosú go bog’ agus ag díriú ar an ‘diasporra’ agus ar an té atá ag tosú amach nó ag

Ali Spillane Eagarthóir Gaeilge @thecollegeview

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Deirtear go bhfuil na mílte duine as na céadta tíortha sínithe suas don chúrsa

tionscadal seo, dúirt Mark Brown, Stiúrthóir ar an NIDL (Institiúd Náisiúnta ar fhoghlaim dhigiteach) go bhfuil DCU ag déanamh sár iarracht chun bealaí isteach chuig an Ardoideachas a chur ar fáil. Rinne sé ard-mholadh ar an Dr. Mairéad Nic Giolla Mhichíl agus a foireann a bhí i bhfeighil ar an tionscadal úr seo, an chéad MOOC le DCU. Is ar chultúr na Gaeilge agus an teanga atá Irish 101 dírithe. I láthair ag an ocáid bhí go leor de na bhfoghlaimeoirí a bhí páirteach sa chlár píolótach den chursa. Bhí meon thar a bheith dearfach acu agus bhí siad sásta a taithí a roinnt le daoine ann.

Deirtear go bhfuil na mílte duine as na céadta tíortha sínithe suas don chúrsa soar in aisce seo a bheidh ag dul beo an tseachtain seo chugainn agus tátar ag tuar go mbeidh na mílte eile cláraithe roimh tús an chúrsa.

Cúrsa trí seachtain atá i gceist leis.

Is daoine thar lear den chuid is mó ó gach tír ó Mheiriceá go Taiwan atá cláraithe go dtí seo. Is féidir clárú anois ar https://www.futurelearn. com/courses/irish-language

An Seoladh Oifigiúil i dTeach Uí Chonaill

Image Credit: Ali Spillane

Seachain na Rúin - Bealaí Eile an Bhliain a Cheiliúradh Molann Méabh bealaí éagsúla buaicphointí na bliana a cheiliúradh Le déanaí chonaic mé físeán le cara liom ar Facebook. Chuir sí é le chéile as a stuaim féin agus ba súil siar ar a bliain 2017 é. Rinne sí an s fuath liom Oíche Chinn cinneadh taifead beag a thógáil ar a Bliana. De gnáth caitear an himeachtaí laethúil gach uile lá. Is oíche i dteach tabhairne dubh cuma leis dá mbá rud é gurbh iad le daoine, cé, do fhórmhór rudaí leadránach iad, ar nós obair a nach dtaitníonn leat, ag dhéanamh ar a téis nó ag féachaint ar fánacht de hailí a fháil ar athrú mór sheafóid ar an teilifíse, mar dhírigh dá shaol. Ag fánacht ar rud éigean na físean ar na pléisiúir beaga ina cosúil le heipeafáine chun feabhas theanta lena turais thar lear nó fiú a chur ort féin de bharr an bhliain síos go dtí Loch Garman. Cuirtear ag teacht roimhe. Ina theannta le faoi dhraíocht or magus dúirt mé seo, bhí mé ag smaoineamh ar dom féin: ‘Féach ar an méid a rinne chúis go gceapfadh daoine gur sí le linn bliana.’ Is dóigh liom is slí tús tábhachtacht é póg na hoíche níos fearr é sin chun cuimhniú an le duine anaithinid ar an oíche tréimhse caite agat. In ionad caint cinniúnach. Conas ar tháinig ar an faoi céard nach ndearna tú breathnú réiteach saoil sin ar conas ar chaith tú an bhliain agus Tá mí amháin den bhliain úr thart ceard gur thaitin leat. B’fhéidir ba agus thosaigh mé ag smaoineamh é siúlóid feadh na Life nó an cupán ar an gnáthphróiseas thuasluaite. caife cúrach déanta le mise le meas.

Thuig mé nár rinne mé aon gealltaí Is dóigh liom go mbeadh dearcadh bréagach nó folamh dom féin, an-dhifriúil agus níos dearfacha ar an mar a dhéanaim, agus b’fhéidir mbliain má bhaintear triail asat – ag ba chóir? Cinnte go mbíonn na tugadh aire don laethúil. pleananna leathan agus aindréimeach In ionad an easpa rudaí nach ach b’fhearr le soirbhuíochas, ndearna tú céard faoi na ratha agus nach fhearr? Is rud dearfach é go na buaicphointí. Chuala mé le déanaí dteastaíonn uaim cuspóir a tharraingt faoin choincheap ‘bullet journal’. Is ar son mo fhorbairt féin, nach bhfuil? bealach eagair iontach é ina theannta

Méabh Riordan Scríobhneoir @thecollegeview

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Is é an Bullet Journal cunspóid nua chun tuiscint a thabhairt ar do ratha

Is rud dearfach é go dteastaíonn uaim cuspóir a tharraingt ar son mo fhorbairt féin

le háit gur féidir leat tarraingt ar cheann do riain. Slí cruthaitheach ina scríobhtar rudaí le déanamh agat ón taobh postíntacht nó jabanna laethúil agus rudaí ba mhaith leat éirigh leis, mar shampla leabhair a dteastaíonn uait a chríochnú nó plean chun teacht ar forbairt maidir le cúrsaí airgeadais nó chun leanú ar nósanna agus ná chailleadh tuairisc orthu.

Tá a neart rud is féidir linn díriú

Image Credit: Boho Berry

air chun brathnú ar ár ratha nó agus muide i mbun athbhreithniú na bliana. Ní gá dúinn chur ár n-aird iomlán ar mheáchan nach caillfear.

In ionad sin céard faoi sraith álainn d’íomha agus físeán a chur le chéile.

Tagann feabhas agus forás óna rúdaí beaga. Coiscéim bheaga a mholfainn daoibh.e

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FEATURES

Transitioning through the times The LGBT community and trans people have journeyed a long way, but the boundaries to those wanting to access hormone treatment remain monumental. One student hopes to change that.

“He’s at the forefront of an emerging

Noah Halpin intends to take his fight for rights back to the Dail if required.

Stephen McCabe Contributor @thecollegeview

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reland has blazed a trail when it comes to the advancement of LGBT rights. The marriage referendum was the first time gay marriage was achieved by popular vote.

Ireland is one of only four countries to allow a person to legally change their gender by self determination and is debating widening the legislation to include non binary people.

Despite this, when it comes to the medical treatment of trans people, the state remains wedded to a medical diagnostic model which requires obtaining a psychiatric diagnosis before they can access hormone or surgical treatment. Hormones are only prescribed by two doctors in the entire state despite GP’s being able to prescribe them to cisgender people, as a diagnosis of gender dysphoria is required for transgender people.

In essence, the diagnostic model requires asking for the permission of the state. Before permission can be granted, trans people must navigate an incredibly time consuming and expensive terrain, which in some cases can last years, before beginning the process of actualising their inner selves.

more radical trans movement which is sure to make waves in 2018.

Hoping to change this is Noah Halpin, a 26-year-old student and trans man who earlier this month spearheaded a protest outside Leinster House to demand adequate healthcare for trans people, and to advocate for the rejection of the diagnostic model in favour of an informed consent model. This would enable trans people to access healthcare without jumping through hoops proving that they are deserving.

Halpin says their demands are simple. They’re not asking for anything new. Just an improvement of existing services and a widening of those who can prescribe hormones which would naturally reduce waiting lists.

Halpin is part of a young new breed of trans activists. Frustrated at the slow pace of change and the

lack of responsiveness from the HSE to the demands of more established advocacy groups.

He’s at the forefront of an emerging more radical trans movement which is sure to make waves in 2018.

Halpin says, “TENI [Trans Equality Network Ireland] do great work, fighting from board level. I guess our type of activism is different as we are asking the community to come together, be visible and push from citizens point of view”.

He does not subscribe to the notion that having a gay Taoiseach is prima facie a positive thing for gay people.

“I don’t think we should give him a free pass because he’s queer.

You’re good or you’re not. He has the audacity to march with us at pride, stand up on that stage and say he’s going to make life so much

better for LGBT people but have we seen anything?”

The journey for the young activist has not been an easy one. For many years he had a sense of himself as being different and it was not until he saw a documentary about a trans person in his early teens that a light bulb went off and he finally had a definition for what he was feeling internally.

“When I did realise what I was it took me ten years to come out. I was terrified. I finally came out to a few queer friends and they were like ‘this makes a lot of sense’ and the more people I told the more sense it made to them.”

Coming out was the easy bit for Halpin. “Once I came out, I had to figure out where to start. So I cut my hair. I remember coming out of the hairdressers at the time, as I was too

Credit: Noah Halpin

afraid to go to a barbers, and looking in the mirror and loving it. I thought this is it.”

“Then you have to change your wardrobe which is really exciting but then it gets to the point where you have done all you can for yourself.

You need medical intervention.” This step in the process angers him as he feels that the state is failing in this regard.

In regards to his journey, he says he is most proud of his friends and how they have adapted to his changes but he is equally proud of himself for not succumbing to the stress which is inherent to the diagnostic model.

“I’m proud of the fact that I am still here. There was a time when I thought I wouldn’t be... I went through a really bad period two years ago but then I realised that instead of sitting back and waiting and letting everybody else decide my fate let’s get up and do something.”

And from this pain the activist was born.

The year 2018 will see him and his fellow activists directly engage with politicians to raise trans issues within the Dail, which they hope will pressure the government to implement change. Depending on the pace of that change he says he won’t hesitate to take to the streets again.

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FEATURES

Food tech and the search for disease cures Food tech is seen as the next generation of Scientific research, and a Dublin company is leading the field with AI and DNA investigations.

Dublin startup Nuritas uses advanced digital hardware to unlock dormant food cells with profound health benefits

That area is food tech.

Dublin-based enterprise Nuritas is making big advances in the field of genomics (the study of DNA) by uncovering masses of hidden food molecules that improve disease-fighting capabilities, called bioactive peptides.

Bioactive peptides are small proteins found in living organisms – from plants to humans – that provide a virtual barrier to harmful cells. In Arthur Velker mammals they are generated in parts Deputy Features Editor of the body most likely to be ex@tweetofarthur posed to harsh conditions: the eyes, lungs and skin.

One of the many marvels of e are what we eat. peptides is they can protect against Or so goes the a range of cardiovascular and other popular adage. In no types of diseases. other circumstance Certain types, namely cationic is this more evident and hydrophobic peptides, inhibit the than in our drastic rates of non-com- virus from entering the organism by municable diseases (NCDs). interacting with host cells. One parNCDs are defined as chronic illticular example is mucroporin-M1, nesses caused by genetic, physiolog- a cationic peptide found in scorpion ical, environmental and behaviours venom, which has shown to defend factors, such as diabetes, obesity and against measles. cardiovascular diseases. NCDs kill But as peptide research demands 40 million people globally each year a delicate extraction of key compoand in Ireland alone, they account nents, it has proven to be a lengthy for 90 per cent of all national yearly and painstaking procedure up to now. deaths. But medical solutions are Nuritas plans to solve that with their thriving in an area rapidly emerging new AI-powered platform. as the next generation of scientifTheir method consists of outlinic research; it is part of a wave of ing a list of desired health effects innovative new startups by young and running their query through a entrepreneurs who want to use the database of recorded everyday foods power of new technologies to transusing a digital algorithm, which form the world. identifies the appropriate peptides

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for the requested function. After that they can extract the peptides at a more efficient and quicker rate.

In fact, the company claim they can identify bioactive peptides ten times faster and 500 times more accurately than traditional methods.

“A lot of it used to be done through what was called random screening,” says CEO Emmet Browne. “Effectively if you want to imagine it, it was like looking at a door. People knew they wanted to treat an illness but they were

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The company has exciting times ahead.

Credit: Arthur Velker

shown only glints of molecules that exist within a door without anybody opening it.”

“Through random screening you’re just sorting key after key after key, hoping that they’re the right shape to enter the lock and open it. Occasionally – very, very, very occasionally – you had a 0.1 percent chance of actually finding a key that went into a door and opened it,” he says.

“What we’re able to do it use artificial intelligence to look much deeper at the door itself – in this case the illness we’re looking to treat – and then with the information that’s correlated back are able to return and identify and eliminate countless others so we actually increase the prediction rate.”

Their research is a meld of science and tech that plans to revolutionise both the food and health industries on a global scale. The company has received funding from a variety of investors who recognise the potential for its revolutionary platform – among them U2’s Bono and The Edge.

In December, Nuritas announced the close of its final stage funding round after raising €16 million towards their research, bringing their total fundraising value up to €25 million.

One of the company’s key focus areas is diabetes. With nearly half a billion people suffering from the disease worldwide and a global shortage of medicinal supply, there is a vast

demand for efficient treatments.

The company plans to achieve it by collaborating with health professionals and pharmaceutical experts to develop natural medicines capable of reducing the risk of the disease.

But it isn’t their only agenda.

Peptides possess key antimicrobial properties that fend against fungus and other types of bacteria that infect food. This prompts a huge demand for them within the agriculture industry, as they can be used as efficient substitutes for chemical food preservatives.

In Nuritas’s case, the company wants to cast their net as wide as possible in order to push their research to its full potential.

“What really interests me and a number of external individuals about Nuritas is that it’s not just about one-shot-on-goal, but that there are so many industries and so many peptides to work with,” Browne says.

This year the company is set to launch an anti-inflammatory sports supplement in the US, which the company’s founder, Dr Nora Khaldi, says will be the first ever healthcare ingredient fully sourced with artificial intelligence.

The company has exciting times ahead. As technology expands the possibilities of DNA research, Nuritas is fully embracing change with their pioneering digital platform.

AI is benchmarking a new era of science; as far as the company is concerned, we will all reap the benefits.

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FEATURES

Meet the athletes making a racket on the court Tennis players are proving their ability by partaking in the sport and competing at international levels. always say ‘ready’, and your opponent would say yes or no. Before I hit the ball I say ‘play’ so she knows that it’s coming and then it’s down to the sound of the ball. Different players will have more vision than others and obviously everybody uses what they can.”

The players use sound balls that jingle when they move so that they Fionnuala Walsh can be easily detected from across News Editor the court. Tactile lines are used so @fionnuala_walsh that players can feel where the edges of the court are. very Monday eveThe sound balls are imported ning from outside the from Japan, and a certain amount of National Tennis Centre bounces are allowed according to in DCU, you can hear your level of vision. shouts of encourageThe atmosphere in the club is ment, instructions being called, the welcoming and friendly. The players, clash of rackets and a strange jingling noise. For many of the players coaches and volunteers help guide each other to the court and set up the on the court, these sounds are all they need to play a competitive game tactile lines for drills. They gush over a player’s guide dog and ask about of tennis. each other’s weeks as they get their Blind, or visually impaired rackets ready to play. tennis is “all about playing to peo“We’re actually some of the most ples strengths”, according to Sarah competitive people you’ll meet,” O’Donohoe, one of the coaches in Sarah joked before they began, and the club. this becomes apparent even before Sound really is the key to it, the first ball is thrown. The players according to O’Donohoe: “Across tease each other good-naturedly the game the starting person would

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Blind tennis participants train at the National Tennis Centre DCU.

throughout the training, reminding their opponents of which tournaments they won against each other and against other clubs.

The sport caters for the fully blind to visually impaired people, categorising their ability so that matches are as fair as possible. The categories go from B1 to B5, with B1 being completely blind and B2 and B3 being visually impaired.

“If you’re in the B1 category you have no vision or light perception, you play on a smaller court with tactile lines as the base line. Then if you’re in the B2 or B3 category you play on a three quarter court,” O’Donohoe said.

“I come every Monday, it’s absolutely brilliant,” said Alba Hession, who has been coming to practice for nearly two years. “It’s good for your health, and it’s good for your mind and all over.”

Alba first got involved at Mayfest, an event organised by Vision Sports Ireland, which exhibited many blind and visually impaired sports.

“I love sports, always did since day one,” she said. “I was doing the rowing, I was doing the blind tennis,

crazy golf, there was blind football there was a few other things that I tried out tandem cycling too.”

The game was launched by President Michael D. Higgins at an exhibition event in Dublin in May 2016, and has been described by Vision Sports Ireland as the “fastest ever growth of any sport played by the blind/vision impaired community”.

Two pilot programmes began Dublin in the summer of 2016 in the National Tennis Centre in DCU and at Shankill Tennis Club.

Since then the sport has grown rapidly, with clubs establishing all over the country, with branches opening in Belfast, Sligo, Navan and Cork last year. Further expansion is expected for the start of 2018 in Dundalk, Galway, Waterford and Killaloe.

The second Irish national championships will take place in February this year and on April 29 and 30th Dublin will host the Takei Cup, named after Miyoshi Takei, founder of Blind Tennis. They hope that teams from Asia, Europe and Africa will take part in the event.

In May last year the first Irish

Blind Tennis team composed of eight players competed at the International Blind Tennis Association’s world games in Alicante, Spain.

“Some of those players from Japan who have been playing for twenty or thirty years were just incredible,” Sarah said. “Players from the UK who were playing for about 10 years, and then everywhere from Mexico to Singapore, all over the place.”

“I love it, I really look forward to it. It’s a great way to unwind after all of the stress in college,” said Emma Currens, a second year occupational therapy student from Trinity. “I saw it on the Vision Sports website and I was just looking for a sport to get involved in. I thought I’d try tennis and if I didn’t like that I could try something else, but I ended up loving tennis so I stuck with it.”

Clare Whelan jokes with the other players about being the oldest one there, “but I’m enjoying it the most”, she says.

“I love the energy it has and I get from it. I never played tennis as a sighted person, I was never interested in it, but now I like it all”.

Credit: Wiki Media

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FEATURES

Re-opening the old wounds of the Kerry Babies scandal The scandal of the Kerry Babies rocked a staid Ireland over 30 years ago, but it took technology and science to clear a woman tarnished with a baby’s murder.

The then and now of Ireland - evolution cannot be measured.

in 1983. Eileen Flynn was fired from a Catholic school because she was unmarried and got pregnant in 1982.

Joanna Hayes worked in the hen ‘Official town sports complex and was in a Ireland’ was a relationship with a married man, land of saints and Jeremiah Locke. At 25 years of age, scholars where she was raising a daughter. She got contraception and pregnant at the same time as Locke’s divorce were illegal, the Kerry Bawife, Mary Locke. On the 13th of bies scandal shook the nation. Joanna April 1984, Hayes gave birth premaHayes found herself at the eye of turely in a field beside her home and the hurricane that was a torn Ireland, her baby boy died. A day later, newwhere times were slowly beginning born Baby John was found stabbed to change in public mindsets, but not to death in Cahersiveen beach- the yet officially. first Kerry baby. The Hayes family Hayes wasn’t the only one was taken in for questioning and trapped in the transition. Anne confessed to the murder. The day Lovett was a 15-year-old girl who after, Hayes’ baby was found on the gave birth beside a statue of the farm, wrapped in plastic - the second Virgin Mary and died in 1984.

Kerry baby. Hayes claimed that Sheila Hodgers was refused cancer this was is her baby and her family treatment because of her pregnancy retracted their initial statements,

Gabija Gataveckaite Deputy Opinions Editor @thecollegeview

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Credit: Evoke.ie

explaining that the guards had been ‘harsh’ in extracting their confessions. The Garda Síochána have recently announced plans to revisit the infamous Kerry Babies case and examine the question that was left unanswered- who killed Baby John in 1984?

Dr Mark O’Brien, who is a journalism history lecturer at DCU and was a teenager in Tralee during the controversy, gives his insight on whether the murder squad forced confessions.

“The interrogation of Hayes and her family took place at a time of very serious concern of how the Garda Síochána was dealing with crime,” he says. “In light of last week’s state apology, people need to make up their own mind on how she was treated while being questioned. We know that several

“Hayes spent longer in the

witness box than any other person in the republic. She sometimes had to be sedated to be able to testify

of her interrogators went on to star in later Garda controversies such as the killing of John Carty and the Donegal scandals of the 1990s.”

A tribunal investigating the case launched in October 1984. Hayes spent longer in the witness box than any other person in the republic. She sometimes had to be sedated to be able to testify, which saw her rest her head on her microphone with her eyes closed when speaking.

The judge, Kevin Lynch, believed that this was a case of superfecundation - that Hayes was impregnated by two different men, gave birth to twins with different fathers and was responsible for both of their deaths. Only ten cases of superfecundation have ever been recorded.

Nell McCafferty writes in ‘A Woman to Blame’ that the tribunal saw five months of 43 men giving their opinion if the woman brought before them had achieved ‘the unlikely’.

Supporters all over the country sent Hayes yellow roses as a sign of solidarity and support. O’Brien recalls the flowers. “I remember the silent protests outside the council chambers in Tralee where the Tribunal sat. Women would give flowers to Hayes as she went in and out of the hearings.”

“Mary Holland of the Irish Times noted that the Kerry Babies saga perfectly summed up Irish society at the time because everyone knew that ‘women were to blame because women tempt men, conceive children and make an unholy mess of things when nobody wants to be left

holding the baby’,” he adds.

The report from the tribunal in 1985 implies that Joanne is still responsible for the death of her child.

It contains ‘widely disputed findings’, according to the Irish Times.

Re-opening the case now means ripping back the wounds that Joanna Hayes has spent more than 30 years nursing, possibly to no avail.

Women were viewed as ‘fourth class citizens’ in the 20th century, according to O’Brien. Hayes was called a ‘woman of loose morals’ during the Tribunal - capable of anything, even a pregnancy as rare as superfecundation. McCafferty noted that the tribunal examined the source of the great corruption that was ‘womanhood itself’.

The 33-year-old case is still as important today as it was back then. Women have come a long way in fighting for equal treatment, since those dark times in the 1980s.

Women’s marches and the MeToo movement show that times are changing once again. However, we mustn’t forget the battles fought to get to where we are today- the war between women and how they were- and still are- treated in society.

In 1984, Judge Lynch was greeted with hundreds of women when he left the council chambers after a day of hearings. They frustrated him. “‘What have I got to do with the women of Ireland in general? What have the women of Ireland got to do with this case?” he raged.

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DCU hosts first leg of Irish Submission Grappling League DCU MMA well represented as countrywide tournament makes Glasnevin stop.

Hugh Farrell Contributor @thecollegeview

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MA clubs from around the country gathered in DCU to compete in the Irish Submission Grappling League on January 27th.

DCU hosted the event and were well represented by DCU MMA. The Event saw C-MAC Mulhuddart win with 135 points followed

by SBG Tullamore at 127. Shaolin MMA Galway managed 124 points while the Royal Grappling Academy BJJ Dublin and Navan finished on 122 points apiece.

The points breakdown saw a team gaining 1 point for registering, 5 points for a bronze medal, 10 for a

silver and 15 for a gold.

Less than one gold medal separated the top four in points with SBG Dublin coming 5th with 71 points.

The tournament was open to experts, intermediates, novices and beginners, with DCU MMA members advancing to the quarter and semi-finals of their respective levels. Competitors could enter more than one division if interested as long as they are not too experienced.

Weight classes were divided up into 5 categories.

The concept of sandbagging (entering a division you are too advanced for) was prohibited and in the case of uncertainty, the recommendation was to challenge yourself and attempt the greater difficulty.

The rules of the competition prevented slams, neck cranks, strikes, gouging or small digit manipulation

Credit: Irish Submission Grappling League/Facebook

(bending toes or fingers). Specific regulations were put into place for leg-locks depending on the difficulty level being attempted.

Oisin McCabe, who is head coach of DCU MMA, said “DCU MMA was well represented on the day as well as alumni.

“Lots of the clubs members took their first steps in competition which was great to see and we even had a visit from one of martial arts living legends in Carlson Gracie Jr who was visiting Ireland from the US.” Carlson Gracie JR, of the famous Gracie Jiu-Jitsu association, is a legendary figure in the grappling world.

The second leg will take place in the Spring, with two more legs to follow, and for anyone interested in taking part, dates will be announced this week with entry costing 20 euro.

than one gold medal “ Less separated the top four in points.

The Irish Submission Grappling League Trophy on display at DCU

McEntee wins gold in National Boxing Championships In the ultimate round McEntee, who was victorious against Patryck Adamus of Drimnagh boxing club with a score of 5-0, claimed the 60kg title with ease.

Micheál Ó Scannáil Contributor @moscannail17

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ne of DCU's up-andcoming boxing stars, Terry McEntee, claimed gold at November's Senior National Championship in the National Boxing Stadium.

After beating Eoin Meaney and Craig Bonney en-route to the final, McEntee claimed the 60kg title with ease, beating Patryck Adamus of Drimnagh Boxing Club by unanimous decision. The ultimate round saw McEntee dominate from the off, forcing Adamus to take a count in the first round.

The second round was much of the same. Terry remained on top, and Adamus was boxed into taking another count. McEntee went up another gear in the third. Adamus was fading but managed to last until the fifth. The judges crowned him champion by unanimous decision.

“

[McEntee] said that he is hopeful of representing Ireland in Olympics to come.

Credit: David Maher/Sportsfile

McEntee (L) boxing in the National Stadium

A member of DCU Boxing since September, the Monoghan man attributed much of his success to his period in the club and particularly the sparring opportunities it had given him.

"The coaches are brilliant," he said. "It really brings you on as a boxer."

The Old School clubman was narrowly defeated in the under-22s

National Championship semi-finals by a score of 3-2 against Francis Cleary. The eventual winner was Patryck Adamus who McEntee had easily beaten only a month previous.

Though the loss must have come as a surprise, McEntee said that he is "only back to training after Christmas break". Speaking of his future in boxing, McEntee didn't rule out a career in the sport. Although employ-

ing his usual modesty, he said that he is hopeful of representing Ireland in Olympics to come.

"Training is going well. It's tough to get there, it takes a lot of hard work but I'll try my best and hopefully I'll get there in the end."

McEntee's next big meet will at be in the Inter-varsities at the National Boxing Stadium in March. Last year DCU were the most successful Uni-

versity at the competition, claiming eight titles.

The DCU Athletic Boxing Club will hope to emulate that success.

McEntee is optimistic for the tournament and is hopeful of a St. Patrick's Day victory.

It is clear from McEntee's ability and dedication that he is an exciting and bright prospect in boxing.

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LIT win a “huge victory,” says Eoin Roche DCU Hurlers “not content with just getting to the quarters” as Roche looks to reach first semi final in over 20 years.

John Morley Contributor @thecollegeview

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CU hurling boss Eoin Roche described his side’s 3-15 to 2-17 victory over LIT as a “huge victory”, as his side beat Davy Fitzgerald’s side in the group C opener of the Fitzgibbon Cup. The DCU hurlers followed up the win against the favourites with an impressive win of 2-22 to 0-08 win over Garda College.

Dublin’s Donal Burke and Waterford’s Patrick Curran inspired DCU against the Treaty men with Burke bagging 2-3 and Curran 1-6.

The 20-point beating of Garda College means the DCU contingent will now look forward to a home quarter-final against the winners of NUIG and last year’s champions

Mary Immaculate.

“They were two good wins.

We’ve never gone past the quarter-finals of the Fitzgibbon in recent years, so the LIT victory was huge,” said Roche. “They (Curran and Burke) were very good, John Donnelly had a great game for us from half-forward but maybe the score-sheet just didn’t reflect that.

“They are two very strong squads.

Mary I have Cian Lynch and Luke Meade in their squad and NUIG have All-Ireland winners in the Mannions and Conor Whelan, so either side will pose a great challenge.”

Roche also identified UCD and Carlow IT as strong contenders in the race for the Fitzgibbon Cup. “Carlow are going very well and UCD also had a great win so its great for the competition and it’s great for Leinster hurling,” said Roche.

After bowing out of the competition at the quarter-final stage in previous years, Roche is determined

to guide his side further in 2018, and he pinned progress by the DCU seniors as the fruits of the labours at underage level in the college.

“We’re not content with just getting to the quarters, if we win, it would be our first semi-final since 1997 I think, so it would be huge for hurling in the college,” he said.

“It’s a combination of successful freshers teams in the last few years.

You have to start tradition some place. If you look at Waterford (WIT) or LIT they only pushed on in the late 90’s, early 2000’s.”

Roche was delighted with the home draw of quarter-final for hurling fans.

“Its great for Leinster hurling people,” he noted.

“There’ll be people from Dublin, Wexford, Carlow, and from parts of Munster too with a huge interest in this game.”

The quarter-final takes place on the 7th of February.

DCU hurling coach Eoin Roche during the universities’ win over LIT

Credit: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

Confident back-to-back performances secure DCU a place in Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals Progression for Eoin Roche’s side was secured after defeating LIT and Garda College

Christy Dunne Deputy Sports Editor @thecollegeview

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fter their demolition job of Garda College at home finished the week two for two, DCU ensured passage out of Group C into the next round of the Fitzgibbon Cup. With their fate secured, DCU will have the added benefit of more preparation time over their quarter-final counterparts, who will emerge from the highly competitive Group D. DCU began the week with their toughest fixture with a trip to last year’s semi finalists, Limerick IT. With Thomond Park serving as the backdrop, DCU came out of the blocks and set the pace early on, establishing a 2-5 to 0-3 lead with goals from Donal Burke and Patrick Curran.

After the restart, LIT imposed themselves on the game but could not pull level, finding themselves 3-14 to 1-14 down in the closing stages.

However, a late rally by the two-

Fergal Whitely of DCU in action against Robert Downes of LIT

time champions saw the game allsquare entering injury time.

With the clock ticking, Curran marked off an excellent individual performance with the winner in the 62nd minute for DCU. After the fiercely contested LIT game, the following task was much more straightforward throughout.

A hard fought first half against a physically imposing Garda College

side put the home side ahead by a score line of 0-10 to 0-5 at the interval.

Burke found the back of the net for the second game running midway through the second half, helping DCU to a comfortable 2-22 to 0-8 win.

The result made DCU only the second side to guarantee their place in the Quarter Finals, following IT Carlow’s win against NUI Galway earlier

Credit: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

that day. DCU will now look towards the 7th of February where they will have home advantage over the runner up of Group D. With IT Carlow already claiming top spot in Group D, DCU await the result of Thursday’s fixture between Mary Immaculate College Limerick and NUI Galway.

Both sides have enjoyed similar campaigns so far. Having lost to IT

Carlow by a goal each, the two sides comfortably beat Trinity College Dublin to set up what can be considered a straight play-off for second place in Limerick. Mary Immaculate enter the competition as reigning champions and will no doubt prove to be DCU’s toughest test should they see off NUIG’s challenge.

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DCU to host Harding Cup for first time Declan Roche’s side will defend their title at home this year

Alex Dunne Sports Editor @alexdunnesf

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CU are set to host the 2018 Rustlers Irish Universities Football Union Harding Cup for the first time in the college’s history.

The three-day freshers football tournament will see Declan Roche’s defending champions take on UCD in the opening game of the quarter-finals in the AUL Complex on Thursday, February 22.

The semi-final will take place in the complex on Friday before Tolka Park – home of Shelbourne FC and close to DCU St Patrick’s campus – hosts the final on Saturday.

Roche led DCU to their first suc-

The Harding Cup team celebrating their success last year

cess in the tournament last year, when extra time goals from Jack O’Connor and Conor McKenna saw them overturn UCC 2-1 in the final in Trinity College.

“It’s a great thing to look forward to, hosting it, after winning it last year,” Roche told The College View.

“As I’ve said time after time, if

you’re going to win any of the majors you’re going to have to beat UCD. We beat them in the semis [in last year’s Cup] and went on to win it.

It’ll be no different this year.

“We’re delighted to have it in DCU. We had a great reception last week and it’s great to have the final in Tolka Park - we’re very grateful

Credit: Fran Butler

to Shelbourne for that - so we’re all looking forward to it.”

DCU’s Director of Sport James Galvin and last year’s winning captain – and St Patrick’s Athletic star – Jamie Lennon, conducted the draw which paired up the home side with their opponents from last year’s semi-finals.

On that day, two goals from O’Connor – who topped the tournament scoring charts with five goals in DCU’s three games – sent the north Dublin university through to the final.

The draw, along with pitting DCU against UCD, will see last year’s hosts Trinity College take on Mary Immaculate College Limerick, last year’s runners-up UCC face NUI Galway, and Maynooth University play University of Limerick.

“On behalf of the Irish Universities Football Union I wish to congratulate DCU Soccer Club on offering to host the 2018 Rustlers Harding Cup,” IUFU chairman Terry McAuley told the FAI’s official website.

“It’s a big undertaking for them but with the full support of DCU President Professor Brian MacCraith, Director of Sport and Healthy Campus James Galvin and Ken Robinson Chief Executive DCU Sport plus the expertise of Soccer Development Officer Fran Butler, his Head Coach Declan Roche and the DCU Soccer Club committee I have no doubt that it will be a very enjoyable and successful three days of football for first year students to experience.”

Carthy and DCU primed for UCD showdown

A hard fought victory over a ‘resilient’ DkIT in round 1 set up the Quarter Final clash, Dublin’s Shane Carthy explains

philosophy certainly. From what we understand and see has stayed the same with UCD and possibly for ourselves,” Carthy told The College View.

“With the (inter-county level) league this weekend, it’s about the lads getting over that and making sure that any knocks and niggles are cleared by Monday and start reviewing it from there. It’s a kind of hectic Gavin Quinn period during Sigerson (Cup) and Deputy Sports Editor League but from Monday onwards @gavinquinn97 we’ll dig in and see what we can iall Moyna’s DCU ad- expose of them and I’m sure they’ll vanced to the Quarter be doing the same,” he said.

Finals last Wednesday Preparation hasn’t been ideal; after a battling 1-07 third level institutions in Leinster to 0-07 over Dundalk did not take part in the O’Byrne Institute of Technology to set up a Cup. The O’Byrne Cup in the past clash with old foes UCD in a repeat had provided third level teams a of the 2016 Sigerson Cup Final on chance to play competitive games in February 7th. early January in the build up to the Dublin and DCU footballer, Sigerson Cup. Shane Carthy is just one of several The lack of the competition is who played in UCD’s 0-10 to 2-2 something Carthy feels has been diftriumph in Jordanstown two years ficult for DCU but is also somethig ago. The Naomh Mearnóg midfielder has allowed some inter county playis keen to right the wrongs of that ers impress their county managers in defeat and even though the vast ma- pre season. jority of players on both sides have “It’s the first time in I don’t moved on, feels there is still lessons know how many years (that Leinster to be learned.

Colleges were not in the O’Byrne “We would look back to learning Cup). Our last competitive game was from that game, I know it’s been a in November, so naturally enough couple of years now so obviously in you want to get the lads together for terms of personnel it’s a bit different, competitive games, there’s only so

N

Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Shane Carthy in action for Dublin

much training you can do,” he said.

Perhap’s for this reason, DCU narrowly avoided a first round scare against DkIT. An impressive display from Éanna Ó Conchuir that saw him score 1-3 of DCU’s 1-7 in a ‘patient’ display according to Carthy; “From our point of view, we had to stay patient. We knew they were

going to be resilient from the very start and we knew gaps would start appearing as they did in the second half.,” he said.

“With Sigerson (Cup), it’s always going to be tight regardless of who you play. We knew that as well coming into the game that going away to Dundalk was going to be

tough.

“Just from a starting point, getting through that first round is all important because there have been a couple of shocks already so in our mind it was getting that win whether it was three points or thirty points.”

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INSIDE

Confident back-to-back performaces secure DCU a place in Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals

Late O’Sullivan strike leaves University of Limerick licking wounds as DCU progress to CUFL league semis Two goals from the DCU striker saw them through

Alex Dunne Sports Editor @alexdunnesf DCU 2 UL 1 College & Universities Football League Premier Division quarter-final An 87th minute winner from Alan O’Sullivan saw DCU overcome UL in their CUFL Division One quarter-final match in St. Claire’s on Wednesday afternoon.

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he home side had held much of the ball for most of the game, penning UL back inside their own half, but couldn’t find the finishing touch until a 77th minute penalty from O’Sullivan put them ahead.

Fionn Hurley would nod UL back in front from a free kick after getting free at the back post, but a wonder-

ful solo effort from Sullivan saw him precisely finish into the right bottom corner after shrugging off two markers to send DCU through.

UL took up position deep in their own half early on as DCU’s midfield pairing of Jamie Lennon and Sean Cronin controlled proceedings, with their first big chance coming eight minutes in, but Ross Taheny’s effort from a Mark Walsh cross was misguided.

O’Sullivan executed a gorgeous Cruyff turn on UL centre-back Conor Sinamonn before driving in a low cross to no-one, which summed up DCU in the first half - always left wanting in the final third.

Lennon banged a great shot in from 25 yards in the 33rd minute that required an excellent stop from UL’s Sean McNamara. Meanwhile O’Sullivan also stung his gloves and Tristan Noack Hoffman directed a header just wide, to close out a half in which the Limerick side’s first effort on target didn’t come until the 37th minute.

But they had an electric start to the second half, nearly scoring in seconds when Oisin McMenamin almost caught DCU napping, before O’Sullivan’s 52nd minute breaking effort drew another top save from McNamara.

Trevor Daly and Brion Moriarty broke forward for UL in the 63rd minute as DCU opened wide, but

Alan O’Sullivan nets the winner

they wasted their chance with a sloppy pass and Taheny recovered.

A Walsh corner in the 75th minute was knocked back towards the UL goal by Noack Hoffman, which started off an almighty goalmouth scramble that ended with Hurley

Credit: Mark Carroll

and McNamara somehow keeping O’Sullivan’s point-blank effort out of the net.

But the home side wouldn’t have to wait much longer for the vital breakthrough as, with just 13 minutes left, Dylan Sheahan caught

O’Sullivan in the UL box while the DCU forward attempted to dispossess him. The referee pointed straight to the spot and O’Sullivan comfortably dispatched the penalty in the bottom left corner to give DCU the lead.

UL went close twice soon after as DCU dropped off, before a free kick from McMenamin screwballed off the head of Shane McCann from the right hand side, and Hurley ghosted in to snatch a goal back.

Walsh missed from six yards out right after as DCU’s chance looked to have slipped away, but then McCann rolled in O’Sullivan on the break, and he outmuscled both Stephen Collins and Sheahan before classily finishing into the bottom right corner, rolling the ball under McNamara before it went in off the post.

DCU: Shane Fagan, Dylan O’Rourke, Eric Whelan, Ross Taheny, Tristan Noack Hoffman, Craig Dowling, Jamie Lennon, Sean Cronin, Shane McCann, Mark Walsh, Alan O’Sullivan. SUBS: Sean Tomble, James Rice, Ruadhan Feeney, Lee Doyle.

UL: Sean McNamara, Stephen Collins, Conor Sinamonn, Dylan Sheahan, Fionn Hurley, Ethan Bevan, Trevor Daly, Colm Barrett, Rian Brady, Oisin McMenamin, Brion Moriarty. SUBS: William Quaid, Ryan Doonan, Donal O’Connell.

“Everything is on in this tournament” - Declan Roche The Collingwood Cup, the most prestigious cup in third level football, kicks off on February 5 in Queen’s University in Belfast

Alex Dunne Sports Editor @alexdunnesf

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CU soccer manager Declan Roche is targeting a first Collingwood Cup victory for the university in the upcoming showpiece tournament.

The Collingwood, the most prestigious cup in third level football, kicks off February 5th in Queen’s University in Belfast, where DCU open their campaign against University Ulster Jordanstown.

“Our targets are, when we’re playing in everything, to try win everything,” Roche said.

“We’re in the semi-final of the league, and the quarter-final of the Collingwood, and our focus now is going to Belfast and playing Jordanstown.

“The Collingwood is a difficult competition, tight margins, one-odd goals, late goals, everything is on in this tournament. We’re just hoping we’re on the right side of it on day one to get us to the semi-finals.”

UUJ sit two divisions below the DCU side they’ll come up against, but Roche maintains Collingwood Cup competition is very different and his side have to be wary.

“The Collingwood is different,” he stated. “[NUI] Galway came here in the league and it was a 7-0 game, last week in the Collingwood it was a 1-0 late game.

“Jordanstown will be no different.

The Collingwood means a lot to a lot of people, a lot of the focus is on the Collingwood for a lot of universities.”

Roche was without a few key players for the visit of UL, with Gavin Kearney ruled out with a hip flexor

injury, Rory Feely with a groin problem, and Jack O’Connor ill, but he expects a full-strength squad for Belfast.

He also noted the strain placed on players at this time of the season, with League of Ireland side’s pre-season programmes in full swing.

“I don’t foresee too many problems, all the teams always have their best players there,” he said.

“The release of players can be a contentious issue with clubs sometimes, but I’m trying my best to work with all the managers to try get a balance.

“We have a lot of players on scholarship, and their scholarship duties entail that they’ve got to play for DCU in important games.

“It’s a short window, the season is over in two weeks and it doesn’t affect them again until October, so that’s all we ask of them.”

DCU Soccer manager Declan Roche during his side’s 2-1 win over UL

Credit: Mark Carroll