Vol. 1. Issue. 2. 11 October 2017
Music
Wonderful Wonderful - not so wonderful?
T by
Colin Gannon
he Killers have many sterling singles to their name but have failed to deliver a vital-sounding LP and Wonderful Wonderful is no different. Their first album in 5 years is not a bad album. It produces some of their best work since Hot Fuss and Sam’s Town. Yet it is also not an inherently great album. They have never really strived to create anything other than catchy, colourful pop-rock. Their greatest hits tend to border on the zany lyrically and even musically, and Flowers does fall flat in that regard here. Purposefully, perhaps, as we see a more vulnerable aspect to Brendan Flowers’ lyrics. The album is largely infused with generic sounding rock balladry and uninspired lyrics but has some impressive moments, usually when the band increases the tempo and the quirkiness, as opposed to the less than impressive attempts at earnest, rock artistry. Man is undeniably the album’s
greatest moment, a well-executed disco track where Flower’s shares his take on his own masculinity. It is a witty and vibrant track that utilises Daft Punk-like synths to bring the chorus to life. Flowers is at his best here, he quips that he is “USDA certified lean”. Dance-floor worthy hyper-masculinity is followed by Rut, a slow-burning ballad that Flowers
“largely infused with generic sounding rock balladry and uninspired lyrics” uses as an opportunity to explore feelings of sorrow and gloom. The album’s refrain rings powerfully in what is probably the best written song Flowers has produced in years, “Don’t you, give up on me // I’ll climb and I’ll climb” are repeated as the song reaches its uplifting pinnacle.
What’s troublesome is Flower’s inability to unshackle his influences - he wears them unerringly, to the point where “Life is Come” sounds unmistakably like an average 90’s era U2 album track. The vocals mirror Bono’s intonations and glare, the unmemorable guitars, the docile and mediocre lyrics, especially the drab “drop-kick the shame” line he repeats throughout. Wonderful Wonderful is a decent opening track but mirrors Depeche Mode with Flowers’ grand vocal delivery meshed over quirky electronicladen layers. It is another example of the band creating something which does not necessarily sound bad but fails to drive home any particular theme or sound without sounding nostalgic. When The Killers hit
form they can craft catchy feelgood pop and Run for Cover is an example of this. Flowers opens the track with his trademark tongue in cheek, “What have you gathered to report to your progenitors? Are your excuses any better than your senators?”. The band sound best when they aim for powerful choruses driven by simple guitar work and the pace of such a tracks compliment the band’s talents successfully. Diehard fans of The Killer’s and Brandon Flowers will love this album. It is a definite improvement on the last two projects and marks a return to a sprightly release sprinkled with pop-rock hits. Overall Wonderful Wonderful remains quite mediocre. It falls where the band themselves often fall: a one-dimensional approach that takes too many influences and executes them poorly.
Foo Fighters - Concrete and Gold
Foo Fighters ninth albulm features some well known names but fails to depart from their usual sound.
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by
Daniel Cox
orld famous and well renowned alt-rock and hard rock group Foo Fighters are back with their latest album, Concrete and Gold, following the generally positively reviewed Sonic Highways from 2014. The band has been known to sell out arenas and cause sweaty adrenaline filled mosh pits aplenty ever since their formation in the nineties, and their influence over alt rock as a whole is formidable. First, we must acknowledge that if this record was a man, it would be a chubby mid22 forties man tending to a barbecue and talking to his other middle-aged
men about golf clubs and meat, because this record is a dad. This is dad rock, no avoiding it; the guitars are heavy but not too heavy, the song structures are unadventurous, and lyrically the record is more focused on what sounds cool rather than having a meaning. Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is himself a dad at forty-eight, so this should come as no surprise. Foo’s have been making records since 1994, so many of their fans are probably dads today. While there is nothing wrong with middle-aged dads in their
forties, it does mean the album is stuck in its comfort zone. Crunchy guitars, repetitive base, Grohl’s signature blend of shouting and singing, these things aren’t ‘full in force’ here. They are more ‘full in keeping everything in order’. Tracks like Dirty Water and The Sky Is A Neighbourhood prove that the Foo’s still know how to pace a song and
“more focused on what sounds cool rather than having a meaning” how to deliver a great chorus. Standout track Run has a remarkable sense of momentum and is the hardest track on the album with its shrill guitars and Grohl screeching until it delivers you to a blissfully melodic chorus. The track Make It Right sounds
almost like The Beatles. (Spoiler: there is a Beatle on this record.) This album has a bizarre set of celebrity cameo’s in it who do not contribute stylistically but are there just because they were hanging around the studio that day. Justin Timberlake is in Make It Right’s warped backing vocals, Boyz II Men lead Shaun Stockman features in the slightly boring title track, and yes, Paul McCartney is on drums for the worst track on the album, Sunday Rain. The song would be mediocre, but it’s fatal mistake is having the drummer Taylor Hawkins sing, who isn’t a terrible vocalist but compared to Grohl, it is like putting the local choirs lead tenor against Freddie Mercury. Foo Fighters are a band which, at their best, create an infectious energy and primality in their songs which all have choruses that urge to be screamed rather than sung. There are touches of gold but overall this album is as dull as concrete.
Music
Travel abroad for the ultimate concert experience
Ailbhe Daly explains why travelling for concerts is worth it. for a very reasonable price. Take for example, a trip to Glasgow to attend a concert in the SSE Hydro, a large venue akin to the 3Arena. Ticket prices clock in around the £50 mark and if you book flights at the right time, it is not unusual to get return flights with Ryanair for under €25. A hotel can range from a
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probably have a mate’s couch to crash on in but if you don’t, a hotel is going to cost you pretty much the same as it would in a city in the UK. Keeping that in mind, a trip up North to see one of your favourite bands play does not seem so luxurious. A good deal at the moment is travelling to Glasgow to see Dua
it is very easy to do a quick jaunt abroad for a very reasonable price
cheap hostel stay for £15-20 a night to a nicer hotel room for a little more. If you are splitting with a friend the step up to a hotel close to the centre is more than worth it because you will not have to pay for transport around the city. It seems simple, but so many people do not realise just how easy it is to take a trip abroad for a gig. Compare to a trip within Ireland, for example. A student return train ticket to Galway will run you €23 while one to Belfast will set you back almost €40. The chances are you
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e all know the feeling – a band you’re crazy about announces a European tour and they leave our little green island out of it. It can be frustrating, but once the feelings of saltiness subside, it is possible to look at attending a show just across the water in the UK.Your college years are the perfect time to treat yourself before you have bigger responsibilities on your shoulders. There are few things in life more enjoyable than singing along to a song you love with hundreds of other like-minded people and it is definitely something that you should try to do in a different location at least a couple of times. Even if you leave the Ryanair out of the picture, Aer Lingus offer flights multiple times a day to smaller UK airports like Leeds Bradford, Glasgow and Birmingham. Ryanair is definitely the cheaper option however, and if you book wisely it is not unheard of to get flights at less than a tenner one way. While going to a gig in the sprawling city of London may initially appear to be the most appealing choice, accommodation and travel can be pricey so looking at other cities is a good option. However, if you are smart about booking, it is very easy to do a quick jaunt abroad
Lipa next April. Many Irish fans were disappointed when her show in the Olympia Theatre sold out so quickly but tickets to see her in Glasgow’s SSE Hydro are just £25? As well as this, return flights with Ryanair are currently £50 for those dates but if you were patient enough to wait for a sale, these could be grabbed for much lower. Split a hotel room with a friend and you have a very budget friendly trip. Once you have your gig tickets, flights and hotel booked, you can do the
remainder on a very small budget if needs be. It is definitely something to take into consideration next time you miss out on tickets for a gig here. Another benefit of attending a show in the UK is that the band may be in a different sized venue to where you would see them here meaning either you get a nice, intimate show in a smaller venue or you have a better chance of grabbing tickets for gigs in a bigger venue. Even if you fancy going further afield to Europe, many bands and artists will play in multiple cities that can be flown to from Dublin easily, many of which boast a very budget friendly environment. With apps like Trip Advisor available offline you can get the lowdown on the city you are visiting and pick places to eat and spend your time that suit a budget. With the new EU ‘roam like home’ rules in place, you will have access to Google Maps to help you navigate the streets of a new city as well as tip you off on places to visit. At the end of the day, life is all about living. It is nice to have a healthy padding in your bank account but as cliché as it is, it is the memories that you make by jumping out of your comfort zone that you will remember more. So buy those tickets and enjoy yourself, carpe diem.
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TV & Film
Review: The Confession Tapes
T by
Emily Sheahan
The new Netflix documentary series is based on true crime stories which makes it even more fascinating.
he latest crime documentary series released by Netflix, The Confession Tapes, will leave you on-edge and full of doubt. The documentary takes us through real life cases of false confessions. You could never imagine admitting to a murder that you didn’t commit; to killing your own daughter in a house fire, or
“It can be grim and gaudy but you will not look away.”
murdering your entire family with a bat, until now. The Confession Tapes maps out not just how possible this is, but how often it occurs. This is not to say that all those we see convicted over the six stories were completely innocent. What links these stories is the fact that the perpetrators were all convicted largely based on confessions given in extreme circumstances. The series gives an insight into methods used by law enforcement in getting a confession; not all ethical, not all legal. It raises the question of where to draw the line in coercing people into confessing. In one episode for example, an FBI
undercover investigation has an agent disguised as a mobster befriend a suspect over a period of time eventually coaxing a confession out of him. The agent led the 19-year-old to believe the right answer was yes, he did kill those people. How deep is too deep to dig? The series makes the viewer think about the human condition and about how much control we actually have over our own selves. It shows us just how possible it is to convince an innocent person they did something terrible. In each of the seven episodes, intense manipulation sees suspects transitioning from “I don’t know” to “I don’t remember” to “well maybe...”. As one suspect put it “I apparently did it.” It can be grim and gaudy but you will not look away. What is more enticing than brutal murders and bloody crime scene photos? The use of original footage, recordings, and interviews brings home the fact that these are real cases and as shocking as it is, the American Justice System does work in this way. Among all the blood and guts, the series will pull on your heartstrings in the most confusing of ways. Listening to parents give accounts of their children’s time in prison all while not knowing
whether or not they were guilty; watching the testimonies given by both the perpetrator and the families of the victims; hearing evidence and being convinced of one thing and then being shown just as convincing evidence from the other side will leave you a confused mess in 45 minutes. While the few reenactments allow the viewer to gain a better understanding of how the situation occurred, they can sometimes make it seem a little less realistic. When shown side by side with real footage they seem somewhat out of place. Despite the few awkward scenes of acting, the suspense and drama of this series will kill you. Or will it?
King’ comes in at 8 for teaching us that intense sibling rivalry never has a happy ending. ‘Silence of the Lambs’ climbs its way up to 7. The thriller that earned itself five Oscars has a timeless chilling effect created by the reptile-like Hannibal Lecter. Its horrifying effect is still evident now, Hannibal’s cell is nicer than most student accommodation.
during the troubles are understandably biased towards one side. The palpable portal by Pete Postlethwaite and Daniel Day-Lewis as the falsely imprisoned father and son duo showed us the desperation of the British government at the time and the ruthlessness of the Provisional IRA. ‘Spotlight’ shines at number 4. The film, released in 2015, has become a timeless classic. It brought one of the biggest scandals of our time back into focus and magnified the importance of original story tellers; journalists. At number 3 ‘The Godfather’, originally released in 1972, remains one the most sophisticated crime dramas ever created. At number 2 we have ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, a timeless tale of patience, perseverance and friendship in an institutionalised environment. Sounds like college but more poignant. Finally, we have our ultimate timeless film. Ranking at number 1 is ‘Schindler’s List’. The epochal drama delves intimately into all aspects of one of the most shameful periods in civilisation. Its loyalty to the stories of Holocaust survivors makes it one of the most phenomenal films ever made. It serves as a constant reminder not to let history repeat itself.
The ten most timeless movies
D by
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Cáit Caden
on’t make me choose. I can’t” is the eternal quote from the film ‘Sophie’s Choice’, one of the greatest films of our time. The haunting phrase is an appropriate response when asked to narrow down a love of movies to 10 timeless classics. Movies can make us laugh, cry and most importantly, think. While many are enjoyable, there are some that stay with us forever. ‘Gone with the Wind’ ranks at number 10. It is the highest grossing film ever made. The provocative drama for its time recently faced controversy due to its “insensitive” depiction of slavery during the American Civil War according to a Theatre in Memphis. The classic is a timeless love story but some elements of it should remain in the past. At number 9 we have ‘Rocky (1976)’. Rocky is thought to be one of the greatest sport 4 films in history. ‘The Lion
“There are some that stay with us forever.”
Although not a favourite of Hollywood, ‘Billy Elliot’ is one of the greatest underdog films ever made and makes its way to number 6. The simplicity of the movie which takes place in downtrodden Durham draws you in so much you feel part of the story. The fact that it’s a true story makes it all the more inspiring. ‘In The Name Of the Father’, missed out on seven Oscars but wins the number 5 rank. Most films about the relationship between Britain and Ireland
TV & Film
Doctor Who: becoming a woman The casting of a female in the role of Doctor who has caused quite a controversy in the nerd world.
D by
Emer Handly
octor Who has been around for centuries. Its fans, young and old, are very particular and protective about the character of The Doctor, who since the show’s beginning in 1963, has always been a man. Last July, Jodie Whittaker was announced as the 13th Doctor. For the first time in history the new Doctor is a female. This has drawn a lot of attention and a lot of mixed opinions. Some ‘Whovians’ were outraged, some were thrilled. The big question is; is this a step forward in symbolising gender equality or is it a mistake that will rip out the roots of one of the best TV shows ever made? There are many arguments for each side, but
“This completely new version of the Doctor could be a way to give the show’s characters and stories a new lease of life.” really it comes down to your own personal opinion. Some fans cannot imagine the Doctor to be anyone other than the male hero that shaped their childhood. To them The Doctor is and will forever remain a man, and this new direction in the character may lead to them no longer watching the show. You can’t blame them. If something has been a part of your life for years, something you have loved for so long and something that has taken up a lot of your time suddenly changes in a dramatic way, it can be hard to adjust and let go. Yet, The Doctor is never the same after a regeneration and a lot of fans are used to it. There was absolutely no one who wanted David Tennant to stop being the Doctor. He was extraordinary and no one would ever be able to replace him. Then along came Matt Smith who won the hearts of every single viewer and fans no longer resented the change. The next Doctor came in the shape of Peter Capaldi, who was nowhere near as phenomenal as Tennant or Smith but still did the character justice. It is also worth mentioning that the doctors companions change all the time too. So how can you be annoyed about a change in a show that is constantly changing? Some
people are acting like Whittaker becoming the Doctor is as bad as Trump becoming president. Another thing to note is that we kind of saw it coming. Or at least if you were smart enough to catch the writers foreshadowing. The Master, The Doctor’s best friend and worst enemy, became The Mistress. The only other living Timelord (that we know of), became a woman. Michelle Gomez who played the role played it exceptionally. It worked for the Master. It could work for The Doctor. The argument that this decision is an example of feminism ‘taking over’ is pretty ludicrous. It is not like the show is going to be pushing some hidden agenda for feminism. It is about a show evolving and challenging itself. In the most recent season, fans have been disappointed by the storylines that were written for Capaldi. This completely new version of the Doctor could be a way to give the show’s characters and stories a new lease of life. “Doctor Who has an amazing future, and I’ve seen part of it. I’ve seen Jodie’s first scene as the Doctor, and trust me we are in for a thrill ride. She is already brilliant,” said show writer Steven Moffat. If anything, the success of this dramatic change will heavily rely on the writing and on Whittaker’s performance. Some fans are extremely sceptical. But with roles in TV hits such as Broadchurch and Black Mirror, many have faith in her acting abilities. “Anyone who has seen Jodie Whittaker’s work will know that she is a wonderful actress of great individuality and charm,” said her predecessor Peter Capaldi. “She has above all the huge heart to play this most special part.” In over 50 years of the show it has never been written in any episode or spoken about in any interview that The Doctor cannot become a woman. So he can, and he has. Doctor Who is and always has been absolutely bizarre. The Doctor is an alien who travels through time and space in a time machine that is disguised as a police phone box, has two hearts and can
regenerate instead of dying, has had multiple faces and personalities over 50 odd years on screen and the part you cannot come to grips with is the fact it can be a woman. Really? No matter what their opinion on Jodie Whittaker becoming the new Doctor, every Whovian will be turning on BBC One on Christmas day to see this new beginning for an old legend. The generic but honest answer to whether or not casting a female Doctor was the right decision is; we will have to wait and see. Jodie Whittaker could take Doctor Who to amazing new heights or, simply put, she could destroy a legacy.
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Books
bookstores dehumanise book buying Ashleigh Nolan takes a look at the reasons behind Amazon opening physical bookstores and why it takes away the human aspect of it.
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mazon is a multi-billion-dollar company that has been around for over two decades. They stream music and TV shows, sell everything from cameras to Halloween costumes and have revolutionised reading with the kindle. They also began by selling books online. When Amazon was set up, many bookstores feared for their future. E-books then began to gain serious ground. Why shouldn’t they when they were significantly cheaper? You can have dozens of the latest titles all on a device that weighs ten ounces, which is the weight of one soft back novel Now that same company that had digitised the book buying process, has begun to open brick and mortar book stores around the U.S. While there is an unlimited supply of book stores, Amazon feels they can offer a different experience to consumers. More importantly, they can sell differently. Using the data that they have collected over the years as an online retailer, they can choose titles that they know will sell. They have boiled your whole consumer experience, your likes and dislikes, your
interests and disinterests, down to an algorithm. While Amazon has been keen to say that the data is not the sole influence in their book selections, - Jennifer Cast, Vice President of Amazon Books called it “data with a heart” –there is no doubt it will play a significant role. The stores stock approximately 6,000 titles. This is less than most book stores as they display the books face out as opposed to the traditional spine out used in the industry to give customers a better browsing experience. Do not be fooled though, Amazon has not suddenly stepped away from the online experience.The books at these physical book stores are the same price as their online counterparts, prime membership discounts included. In order to check the price of a book, you can use the app or use one of the in-store scanners. The stores are littered with a selection of Amazon’s electrical products including the Fire T.V. and Kindle e-readers. Below most titles is a review submitted by one of Amazon’s millions of users. So what does that mean for independent book stores?
Some of the charm that comes from these independent book stores is the local knowledge that can be implemented in title selections. The human interaction that comes from being on the front line of selling books, dealing with actual people and seeing their browsing first hand can be invaluable for book store owners.
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Amazon is an allconsuming force to be reckoned with
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Can Amazon’s algorithms actually compare to real, human interaction? There is the theory that Amazon can have more of an influence on publishers than independent bookstores. They are already doing it. The “Big 5”- Penguin Random House, Hachette, Harper Collins, Pan Macmillan and Simon
& Schuster- in the world of publishing have been complaining about Amazon for years. Large bookstores have been negotiating what is called co-op fees with publishers for a very long time. Publishers pay these fees for more favourable product placement. In Amazon’s world this means paying tens of thousands of dollars to have their book featured on the home page The catch with Amazon is that they are a company that is shrouded in secrecy and as they said in a statement, they don’t discuss business negotiations with publishers. In other words, publishers hand over this money without any evidence as to how this money impacts the sale of their book. Perhaps Amazon’s bookstores can set a tone for other independent bookstores and the approach they need to take with publishers in order to increase profit margins again. You have to give credit where it is due to Jeff Bezo, Amazon’s founder. These brick and mortar book stores started popping up at a time when book sales were on the up and e-book sales were
declining. According to figures released by the Publishers Association, in 2015 there was an increase of 8 per cent in book sales and a 3 per cent decrease in eBook sales. This is the first time eBook sales have decreased since the beginning of the digital age. There’s no doubt that Amazon is an all-consuming force to be reckoned with. Bezo originally named the company Relentless. com- that web address will still take you to the Amazon site today- which says a lot about the company. Amazon Book stores have been popping up around America since 2015 and there is no sign of them slowing down. In their eyes, the change in bookstores and how they operate was inevitable. Bezo has insisted in the past that “Amazon is not happening to bookselling.
Art and Video Games
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Art exhibition in aid of mental health by
intan O’Byrne is an Irish artist who recently hosted an exhibition of his artwork in aid of Jigsaw, Ireland’s National Centre for Youth Mental Health. Jigsaw’s mission is to bring about significant change in how Ireland thinks about, responds and supports young people’s mental health. Fintan admires this vision and decided to donate 30 percent of all sales from his
art exhibition to Jigsaw. O’Byrne believes that art plays “a huge role in Irish culture and in raising awareness for mental health.” Art has helped him find a sense of identity and a sense of exploring his place in the world, therefore he is honoured to bring art into the dialogue of mental health. The artwork in the exhibition, Extensions, have a very modern and unusual yet quirky look.
EMER HANDLY
“These paintings and prints represent an attempt to take in the world around me, be that from my immediate physical environment, personal life or from internet and mass media. I am constantly curating ideas as they arise, looking for ones that have the potential to surprise me, ones that have a sense of the unfamiliar but which I feel speak to my own experience of the world and to our current cultural moment. I like to commit to those types of ideas and get them back out into the world as artworks.” At the event there was a special guest speaker; Brent Pope. Pope is a rugby analyst on RTÉ who is also
an art enthusiast and a mental health ambassador. He has had his own battles with anxiety and depression and was honoured to be asked to speak at the event. “What Fintan has done here is remarkable. It comes from the heart and to actually see it up is such an achievement. He is not doing it for financial gain. He is doing it out of pleasure and donating proceeds to charity. That is what art should be.” “In this day and age youth mental health awareness is more important than ever.” Other artists at the event praised Fintan’s work. “The colour scheme and palette is so interesting,” said Annabel Potterton. She also remarked that donating proceeds to Jigsaw
SNES Mini:
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The Lowdown
ot long after Nintendo’s NES Mini was released last year, the SNES Mini was confirmed. Boasting a library of 21 games, improved audio output and the inclusion of a second controller as standard, this new iteration of the iconic console sold out quickly when it was launched on September 29th. The SNES was Nintendo’s second home gaming system, originally released back in 1990. In an era of 3D gaming with many new generation consoles having impressive frame rates and high-quality resolution, it is good to know that the SNES can still hold its ground.
Featuring classic titles such as Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario World 2, F-Zero and A Link to the Past, there is something on the console for just about anybody – casual gamer or not. Underneath the hood the SNES Mini features an Allwinner R16 system on chip, the same chip that the NES Mini had, offering the same 720p signal via HDMl. The base resolution for most games is equivalent to the NES at just 256x224. If you run it side-by-side with an original system hooked up to a CRT, the original just feels far more crisp than the SNES Mini due to the issues that come with upscaling.
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was wonderful. “Art gives you a sense of purpose especially when you are going through a dark time.” The successful and praiseworthy Extensions exhibition was held in The Copper House Gallery and was sponsored by Arekeibo. Jigsaw are very grateful for Fintan’s kind donation and help in raising
BY AILBHE DALY
Another big plus is that us Europeans get to experience everything in 60hz as it is built on American code offered at a slightly higher resolution. Starwing is also now Star Fox, dropping the odd EU title. A true gem
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Art gives you a sense of purpose especially when you are going through a dark time
for the nostalgia alone, it is truly impressive
of the games on offer is the incredibly difficult and addictive Contra III that sees either one or two players taking on aliens in a difficult side scrolling world. Quick reaction times are essential. Making it slightly further before you’re mowed down gives you a rewarding sense of achievement that you just don’t get with modern day games. It also means that Super Mario Kart and F-Zero retain 60fps and run incredibly smoothly. The Super FX version of Yoshi’s Island show the systems accelerator capabilities off with some enemies featuring a range of animations. It makes it feel like a game that could have
been released on a later console. It is little things like this which make the console feel that little bit special and praise has to be given to Nintendo for achieving it so seamlessly. The SNES Mini serves as an excellent follow-up to the NES Mini. Though it is essentially just an emulator within a SNES chassis, it feels like the original in so many ways and for the nostalgia alone, it is truly impressive. It is a console that is very transportable due to its small size. There are adventures to brave alone as well as intense multiplayer classics to wage7 war with your friends over.
Health & Beauty
Chasing health and happiness
Fitness vlogger and snapchat star, Siobhán O’Hagan spoke to students last week about how she took the risk of quitting her job to pursue health and happiness.
L by
Katie Gallagher
ooking up at a halffull room of students and followers in the massive T101 lecture hall, Siobhán admitted how crazy it was to be there, in a room she once avoided every Friday for maths lectures, to tell her story of success. Accumulating over ninety five thousand followers on Instagram, running her own online business and giving talks to students on health and happiness, Siobhán O’Hagan returned to DCU last week almost unrecognisable from the girl she was when she graduated only a couple of years ago. Siobhán O’ Hagan is a personal trainer and social media star, known to many as ‘Instagram Goals’. Over the course of a few short years, she has traded in a life of working in an office crunching numbers Monday to Friday to become an online influencer and work for herself in her dream job. Most students filling the seats had some sort of gym gear on, meaning most were probably there to avail of her coaching expertise. However a few of us were intrigued as to how someone studying maths ended up as a sought after PT with her own online coaching course. 88 “Initially the change came from a place of misery,”
Siobhan said when asked why she left her old life behind. Once a financial and actuarial maths student, Siobhán always felt something was missing and knew deep down it wasn’t for her. She joked about how she thought it would be a good decision. “Actuary was the top paid job in Ireland” she said, but still she found herself booking a flight to Portugal to escape her own reality at any chance she got. Determined to achieve both health and happiness, the fitness coach said that the sense of freedom she feels now is the biggest change for her from living the nine to five office life. Having her own business and a massive media presence now is almost as if a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. “Not having to fit in with society and realising you don’t have to climb this career ladder, it doesn’t matter how much you’re earning or what your title is, and I think it was when I finally realised that, I had more freedom” she said to our reporter after the talk. Beginning her talk, she spoke of her early days in DCU, continuing on to the
career she began afterwards, which she says she did because she thought she had to adhere to the socially accepted and expected ideal of having a ‘real job’. Through years of dreading work in the morning, meeting deadlines and occasionally booking flights at any opportunity, Siobhán explained how unfulfilled and unmotivated she felt at the time. Speaking of her decision to
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It doesn’t matter how much you’re earning or what your title is, and I think it was when I finally realised that, I had more freedom.
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change her lifestyle in terms of health and fitness, she admitted she always had an issue with wanting to change her weight, stemming back to when she was younger, even though in hind sight she was never ‘big’ to begin with. Admittedly trying every fad diet under the sun growing up, she explained how it was lifting weights and learning about body building that
ultimately changed her life for the better both health and career-wise. What began as a new fitness regime has catapulted her into major success as an online body coach and fitness inspiration to many girls, including many in the audience of T101. As questions rolled in about counting macros and calorie deficits, Siobhán kept referring back to how to her, it is now much more about changing your lifestyle and mind set than just calorie counting and fitting a certain weight category. When asked about her decision to pack up and leave her permanent job and stable contract for a career of uncertainty, Siobhán recalled a moment she realised she had no idea what would come next, but she knew she had to follow through with reaching her potential. Luckily, with 10,000 followers on Instagram behind her, it wasn’t long before Siobhán had built up enough of a following to keep her new career as a PT thriving.“I stayed on track with my fitness because I wanted to be my own advertisement, because I wanted to make this my career because I really wanted a change.”
But again, she found herself working endless hours, barely maintaining a social life and all for the dream job that was supposed to bring a new-found freedom. With a touch of the travel bug and the desire to achieve a her goal of finding freedom in her work, Oh Fitness factory was born, followed by Oh Fitness Furnace, her own online coaching business. These were her key to living her life and achieving her goals while helping hundreds more more clients achieve theirs. As the hour came to an end, students began to pack into the lecture hall for their next class. The loyal followers escorted Siobhán downstairs to get some pictures and chat in person and while we waited for our interview and watched, it was apparent during the selfie session that Siobhán was at a point of realisation about how her life has evolved since she last visited DCU. It can be easy to settle for something that may appear easier or safer but in order to live a fulfilled life, it’s important to never lose sight of what makes you happy. In ‘Chasing Health and Happiness’, the title of her talk, Siobhán achieved what she came to do in “showing people that whatever they want, it is achievable”.
Health & Beauty
The Beauty Review Skinny Tan
by
Katie Gallagher
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an has become a part of Irish culture with us girls and it’s kind of one where you have to try a few before you find the one for you During the summer, Lifestyle were kindly sent a package from ‘Skinny Tan’. This new tan launched in Boots this summer and comes in a wide range of products, from instant tan to shimmer oils. One of the products we received was the exfoliating mitt and the Skinny Tan Primer. This scrubs off your tan nicely but is also quite gentle and creamy, leaving your skin soft and smelling of coconut. With the primer coming in at €13.50 and the
mitt at €8, it is quite pricey for an exfoliator, especially as you do use quite a lot of the product at a time. The second item we tried was the ‘Express Mousse’ using the velvet mitt that came with it. The colour payoff is a medium to natural tan with an olive-brown tone but is buildable depending on how long you let it develop. The tan claims to be streak-free and smooth in application but there were parts of the arms and chest that the tan just clung to and dried onto weirdly even after exfoliation. Overall I would try this tan again, but probably only because I got it for free. This retails for €38 which is not only out of reach for many student budgets, but
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Overall I would try this tan again, but probably only because I got it for free.
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also a lot more expensive than some of the better tans out there that do just as good a job, if not better, for a fraction of the price. Finally, I tested the gradual tanner. This was a little strange. The product came out in a rather thick, creamlike consistency which proved tough to spread evenly on the skin. It dried in quicker than anticipated and
after wearing it overnight it developed into a beautiful, sun-kissed looking tan with the slightest orange undertone. However, the downfall is in the price as you just have to question if it’s worth paying €20 for an average gradual tanner. As a broke student I don’t think I will be repurchasing, but I will probably use the remainder of this complimentary bottle.
Garnier Active Skin
Seventeen’s contour kit
Skincare is such an important step in your daily routine so Ellen reviewed Garnier’s new skincare range, Active skin to test if it is worth it.
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Ellen Fitzpatrick
o matter how many products you try, it’s always a struggle to find a skin care product that truly works for each skin type. Garnier have released the Skin Active range of face washes, moisturisers and balms, with one that works immaculately for each skin type. Whether it’s oily, combination, dry or sensitive, there’s one for you. Starting with sensitive skin, the rose water collection hydrates and radiates the skin and balances out the natural moisture that is lacking in this skin type. The rose water products offer a moisturiser, cleansing milk, toner and balm. For dry skin, the honey flower collection repairs dry and damaged skin and balances out the oils that dry
skin requires. This collection of products supplies a toner, balm, moisturiser, face wash and cleansing milk. Next is normal to combination skin and the aloe vera collection which works to maintain natural hydration and recharge the skin’s moisture. The aloe vera products come in a cleansing milk, face wash, moisturiser and toner. Lastly is for oily skin and it’s the green tea range that reduces natural oils to mattify the face and leaves it fresh and rebalanced. This comes in a face wash, moisturiser and toner. Each product does wonders in correcting any imperfections on the skin, no matter which type you have and allows for a cheap and simple new skin care routine. Each product costs under
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Contouring is a massive trend in the makeup world so Elsa McEvoy reviewed an affordable contour palette she’s tried recently.
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Each product does wonders in correcting any imperfections on the skin, despite which type is yours and allows for a cheap and simple new skin care routine.
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€8 and they are now available in pharmacies and supermarkets across the country.
Elsa McEvoy
ontouring is a trend that’s been around for a while now and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. However, if you’re a beginner or not a fan of harsh lines on your face, this product is for you. Seventeen’s Define and Conquer contour kit is a powder duo with a lighter banana shade to set and brighten under eye concealer and a darker shade to define the cheekbones. This powder is wonderful. It never looks blotchy or cakey and can be used alone for a subtler contour or on top of a cream contour shade to keep it in place and add that little bit extra definition.The only downfall
of this kit is the shade range. It only has a fair and a medium which isn’t helpful for those whose skin tone falls somewhere in between. Otherwise, the powder is smooth, it doesn’t crumble or break easily and the packaging is slim with a nicely sized mirror which is perfect for touch-ups, or even to take your daytime makeup to evening glam. I give this contour kit 8/10 and that’s for its lack of shades, because it simply can’t be beaten on quality and more importantly price, which is massively important on a student budget. It also goes to show that you don’t have to drop a lot of money to be a contour queen. This powder is an absolute staple for any collection and is available for only €8.50.
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Food
Grub Guide: Juniors Paulie’s Pizza
Continuing our grub guide with a student-friendly restaurant review, Tess O’Connor tells us about her experience at Paulie’s Pizza.
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by
Tess O’Connor
izza is one of the most satisfying and simple foods in the world. Yet it is so hard to find a good decent one in Dublin. The base is either too thick or doughy, the cheese resembles plastic and the topping choice has just gone outrageous. Most ‘authentic’ pizza places in Dublin just have an over-decorated menu and cost an arm and a leg. However, from the get go, you know Paulie’s is going to be good. Located on upper Grand Canal Street, it’s the closest thing to a proper Italian Classic you’ll ever find.
variety of pizzas that are separated into either Italian or New York Style. The toppings are standard run of the mill, however, it’s the combinations that make it so delicious; double pepperoni or the Hero (Parma ham, Pepperoni, Salami, Red peppers, Mozzarella & Tomato sauce). The real testament to its tastiness? Paulie’s Pizza don’t serve garlic dip, and the mind-blowing thing is, it absolutely does not need it. Speaking from a regular pizza eater who orders garlic dip with a side of pizza as opposed to the other way around, their chilli oil is more than enough for this soft, perfectly baked pizza. The starters are also equally as tasty, but I recommend only ordering
“While it isn’t dirt cheap, it is ideal for those looking for a nice night out without breaking the bank and its relaxed vibe makes it casual but trendy. ” Atmosphere The venue itself is tiny and extremely cosy. The tables are practically wedged together but it only adds to the Italian vibe. The huge wood-fired oven radiates heat throughout the entire downstairs seating area, even as far as their covered outdoor patio (my favourite place to sit, personally). Its dark setting makes it ideal for a casual date night or dinner with friends. The relaxed atmosphere continues upstairs with space that is ideal for families with small children. However, the venue, while quaint, is small. So be sure to book in advance. The Food The menu is simple, but it is more than enough. With different variations of pizza, pasta and antipasti plates, there is guaranteed to be something on the menu that will leave you feeling more than satisfied. 10 10 There are actually a large
a pizza or pasta main if you aren’t absolutely ravenous because the portions are more than generous. The drinks are another reason alone to visit Paulie’s. The large selection of wines, craft beers and cocktails make it suitable for everybody’s taste buds. The jugs of cocktails for four people are ideal for those out with friends who want a cheap and cheerful night while still eating a high quality meal. The dessert menu is also a testament to itself, the homemade tiramisu is of perfect consistency and is beyond tasty. If you’re not feeling an actual desert, well, the expresso martinis are the perfect substitute. Service The service is excellent. I had reserved our table but when we were seated, we were too warm near the wood-fired oven, so we requested to be moved to the outside area. They immediately set us up a table
and were more than pleasant. The waitress serving us explained what she liked the most on the menu and gave us an in-depth description of the wines. When we asked which she would recommend she didn’t advise the most expensive one - service at its best! Value for Money Paulie’s Pizza is more than reasonable for the experience you are getting. A standard Margherita would set you back €13, however one of the fancier topping pizzas would only set you back around €15. They do jugs of their most popular cocktails that serves four people for €26, a glass of house white or red is €6.50. While it isn’t dirt cheap, it is ideal for those looking for a nice night out without breaking the bank and its relaxed vibe makes it casual but trendy. Unfortunately Paulies don’t offer a set menu and they only open for lunch on Friday from 12pm and Saturday and Sunday from 2pm. Location The restaurant is located on Upper Grand Canal Street (near
Bath Avenue). While it’s slightly out of the way for northside living DCU students, it’s a four minute walk from Grand Canal Train station and makes an ideal spot for anyone doing INTRA in any of the tech offices near by such as Google or Facebook. While it can be seen as a trek out too, it really makes for a great evening and, as it is on the outskirts of town, parking is more accessible. Overall, I can say hands down that Paulie’s Pizza is the best pizza I’ve ever had in Dublin. The second best in Ireland after ‘Dough Bros’. The atmosphere, the food, the drinks and the people creates the recipe for a great night.
Ratings Atmosphere: 4/5 Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Value for money: 3.5/5 Overall: 4/5
Diabetic diet on campus
Food
Eating on campus can be more complicated than just deciding whether to go to the canteen or Nubar, for some with dietary needs such as people with diabetes it can be a total inconvenience.
“ And making the right choices when it comes to food – really shouldn’t be that hard. ”
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Elsa Anderling
nother autumn has crept up on us, which means another year back in the DCU corridors and classrooms. Some of us are now entering our third year and maybe this year we’ll actually manage to stay on top of life, that means less partying, eating bad food, and focusing more on college work and spending serious time at the gym. The concept seems possible, even achievable, and you manage to make all the right decisions – up until you set foot in the canteen on the first Monday back. The long summer break was apparently long enough to forget what the selection looked like. What we have to work with here is still frozen and bland pieces of avocado in the tiny salad bar, still barely any genuinely healthy snacks and still no microwaves. It might be easier said than done, to make these healthy life choices happen. If what you’re looking for in a lunch is lasagne, chips, roast turkey with stuffing or creamy pasta with bacon, you’re sorted, but if you are diabetic, have certain allergies or if you simply try to cut sugar and carbs out of your diet, you’ll have to choose between a soup and a salad. There might
also be an option of chicken or fish with vegetables in the cooked food section, if you want a bigger meal. The salad bar, first of all, needs more options, but also better quality in what’s already there. Do the pumpkin pieces, the tomatoes and the avocado really need to be nearly frozen? DCU student Sarah McAdam who is a pescatarian and eats mainly fish, vegetables, beans and certain grains always gets her salad in the sports centre instead, where they have a better selection. “For me, there is nothing really healthy there,” she said when asked about the food in the canteen. Snack wise – would it be possible to sell snacks that don’t come packed in tiny plastic bags and contain 10 nuts, probably covered in chocolate, and to also offer bars that aren’t in fact packed with sugar, although being displayed as a “healthy option”? How about adding little bags of carrots, chia puddings, berries or just mixed vegetables with a dip or a hummus? For the soups, maybe an option of a full grain cracker or protein bread to go with it could be added, instead of a baguette? Last but not least: microwaves. Where are they? As a student at one of Ireland’s biggest colleges
– and in many aspects, one of the best – you’d really think bringing your own food would be possible. More than ever if the restaurants on campus don’t offer options that suit you. “My diet would be something I take seriously,” DCU student Luke Bailey said as he finished his homemade meal, a habit he’s sticking to most days of the week. On the question “should the canteen provide microwaves?” a majority of the students asked answered with a “definitely” or “totally”. For Bridget Fitzhenry, who has Type 1 Diabetes and Coeliac Disease, a microwave would “be really useful,” especially ever since the Coeliac salad bar was removed. Now she mainly brings her own cold food. It’s also a matter of money, something most students generally don’t have a lot of, so the option of bringing your own food with you to college should, no doubt, be a given. According to Joanne Leeper who’s been working in the canteen for 20 years there is nothing left to be asked for when it comes to the canteen product selection and menu: “It’s lovely. There is a choice for everything.” And microwaves? Well, there is one, but using it seems to be a staff privilege. Due
to ‘contamination’ from lunch boxes that are “laying around in people’s bags all day” it is not allowed, she explained. “We’re not allowed to bring in outside food,” she said. The students on the other hand, seem to have a slightly different opinion on the canteen selection, at least the ones who are trying to maintain a healthy diet. When it comes to the salad bar, the overall opinion seems to be that is needs more options, and better ones. It’s clear that DCU needs to step it up a few notches when it comes to nutrition awareness. According to several studies, by reducing your sugar and carb intake you will; lower your blood pressure (high blood pressure can lead to heart diseases), reduce the risk of inflammation by cutting carbs that contain C-reactive protein (that is a known marker for inflammation), and on top of that you will stop feeding your sugar addiction which is suggested by scientists to be just as habit-forming as cocaine or nicotine. For Edina Zejnilovic, who got diagnosed with diabetes type 1 during the summer, diet has suddenly become an all-day-everyday query for her and a good selection of healthy, low carb, food is crucial: “I feel like I can’t eat there anymore”. Not only is the current level of knowledge making it an unnecessary challenge for diabetics and special dieters to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but the value for anyone of eating right should be considered. Making the right choices when it comes to food really shouldn’t be that hard. 11
Travel
The travel tales - Nightmare on Maine street
Travelling is supposed to be exciting and fun but sometimes it doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. Shauna Bowers told of her travel disaster this summer. When January hits, the Facebook posts of people checking into Dublin Airport soars as students take advantage of the long winter break and go experience different cultures in different countries for a few days. Then college returns and there are mid-term excursions to Amsterdam, Prague or maybe just down the country. Once the academic year ends, the onslaught of J1 announcements begin all over social media. Some people go interrailing, some visit Thailand, some just go away for a couple of days but no matter what, students really like to make the most of their time off by exploring different places. Travelling has become just as interwoven with student life as attending lectures, coffee breaks and nights out but sometimes travelling as a student isn’t as glamorous as you think it might be. With money constraints and bad treatment sometimes travelling can really have some nightmarish elements. I spent the summer in Maine working at a summer camp. On one of our days off, a group of us rented out a house so that we could have a few drinks and just
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get off camp because we spent pretty much all day, every day there and we needed a break. We found the place through AirBnB and the owner wanted us to pay him in cash so we forked out the whopping 800 dollars and had it ready for our arrival. We finished working at camp at 9:30 that night and then we drove for an hour and a half to the house we had booked. It was a massive house, with five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a huge living space. There were 15 of us meant to be sharing the house which meant there were was plenty of space for us all. When we arrived at the house we all went inside, and got set up when suddenly there was quite an aggressive knock at the door. One of my friends opened the door and he was greeted with two very big, muscular men and their alsatian and they were not happy with us. It was almost midnight at this stage and they were absolutely furious. They didn’t realise we were so young and said that we should have mentioned that when booking the house. They then changed
“If student travelling has developed into a huge industry, then why is it ok for us to be treated differently than those who are not students?” their story and said we were trying to fit more people into the house than we had originally planned which was untrue. It all became heated very quickly and the kicked us out of the house. It’s half 12 at night at this stage, we’re an hour and a half away from camp and have nowhere to stay. We were all in absolute hysterics as most of us were from overseas and didn’t have a phone that worked in America so we couldn’t ring around different hostels. At 2am, we finally found a Comfort Inn that still had some rooms and so we booked in there for the night and all just passed out from the stress of the night. The owners figured out we were young students, that weren’t from America and so they just kicked us out but that should not be allowed. According to statistics from Student Universe, the growth of the student-traveller demographic is augmenting each and every year. It
represented 15 per cent of global tourism in the 1990s, 20 per cent in the 2000s, and it is expected to grow to some 25 per cent of total tourism in the coming years. If student travelling has developed into a huge industry, then why is it ok for us to be treated differently than those who are not students? I believe one of the issues is that there is a pre-conceived notion that all students want to do is get black-out drunk and leave a mess of destruction in their wake. While yes, students do enjoy partying, that’s not the main reason they go travelling. According to a 2014 report by SKIT, the most attractive part of travelling to students is getting to visit the historical and cultural sites that the location has to offer. When I went to Galway with my longterm boyfriend after receiving my Leaving Cert results, we went to check in at the hotel and we were looked down on with complete and utter disdain. The receptionist was completely rude and unhelpful. We were treated as though we weren’t as deserving to stay in their establishment and an older couple who were somewhere in their 30s were treated in a completely disparate, much kinder manner. So yes, travelling as a student can definitely have some drawbacks but don’t let that get in the way of experiencing some of the best moments of your life. Don’t let anybody treat you like you’re lesser just because you’re a student. Go out, enjoy different cultures and don’t let any bad experiences hold you back.
Cheap city breaks by
ORLA DWYER
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heap flights are no longer few and far between. Every few weeks, Ryanair or Aer Lingus seem to come out with a flash seat sale that lasts about thirty seconds. You can go to places like London, Amsterdam, or Paris for as little as €9.99 each way. While that may seem like an incredible deal, it’s easy to forget that there are other costs involved with travel besides the flight. Just because you got the flights for next to nothing doesn’t guarantee your accommodation, food, public transport will be as cheap. Look into all of these aspects before making any quick booking decisions to ensure you don’t end up spending a fortune because you wanted to save some money on your flight. First of all, try and avoid tourist areas as much as possible. The food and drinks are always overpriced. You could have to pay admission
Travel City breaks are more tempting than ever with Ryanair and Aer Lingus regularly announcing seat sales but be careful to consider the added cost of travelling were refined to spring or summer.
into wherever you’re visiting. culinary adventure, use Tripadvisor Instead, search for free things to to get the best price for restaurants. do in your chosen destination. Visit Try to avoid restaurants right on the local parks, museums, beaches main city streets of wherever you visit anything that will keep your bank and instead go off the beaten track to account from shedding a tear. discover some amazing places to eat All the fun with minimal cost. that will also save you some valuable Accommodation is often the money to spend on tacky souvenirs. biggest cause of a seemingly cheap Another big cost is transportation. holiday being sneakily expensive. Tourists can easily be fooled into While paying “While the idea of staying hostels are more the obvious money in somebody else’s home choice for the than they might be a bit weird it can lowest cost need to in be very inexpensive.” place to stay, a foreign Airbnb country, is another option to consider. While especially when a language barrier the idea of staying in somebody exists. Use public buses or trains else’s home might be a bit weird whenever possible and try to book it can be very inexpensive. You your tickets online to save money. also often have access to cooking However, make sure you check facilities which will save you what time public transportation ends money on dining out as well. for the night. You don’t want to end When you do venture out on a up paying €100 for a taxi after you end up stranded outside the Eiffel
tower at 2am because you were distracted by the pretty lights. It might sound boring, but if you really need to save some cash then do your research before booking a ‘cheap’ holiday. Don’t be fooled by cheap seat sales and make sure you’re getting the best price for everything. As important as saving some money is, don’t let it be the sole focus of your holiday either. Remember to relax as you take a sip of that sweet, sweet free tap water.
Weekend adventures in Ireland
If there is no room in the budget or time to plan a trip away at the weekend, there are always plenty of places worth visiting at home to pass the weekend.
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by
Méabh Riordan
ith reading week on the horizon you’re hedging your bets on whether or not to book them pre-Christmas-Market flights to Krakow, sit by the baths in Budapest or to relish a taste of currywurst by the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. All enticing considerations, but perhaps with the current Ryanair fiasco, or ‘pantomime’ as some are calling it, maybe now is the chance to look a little closer to home for that much needed weekend away. Iarnród Éireann have taken care of what they’re calling your ‘dream trip’; with student fares as low as €11.49 from Dublin to Galway, one way, and advance booking up to 60 days prior to travelling. Here are four more ways Iarnród Éireann travel surpasses air travel and them ‘ready for take-off’ snaps. (Yes Mary, we presumed after the inflight safety
demonstration we partook via ‘your story’ that take-off was imminent.) 1)If your plans change or you’re running late you can travel on an earlier or later train that day. 2)Flexibility exists between train operator and customer. One can freely cancel or amend their booking online up to 90 minutes before you travel, honestly; life getting in the way suffers no extra cost. 3) They offer free seat reservation leaving no more smug priority boarders. 4)And free Wi-Fi! There’ll be no live snaps from Mary 35,000 feet in the air… Convinced of train travel the only question now is where to go? With the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival in its fortieth year running, there’s no better place to be than Cork City. The festival kicks off October 27th-30th and is hosted by the Metropole Hotel; overlooking the River Lee and only a
stone’s throw from Cork City’s world renowned food market. An added bonus for the newly converted train travellers, the hotel is only a ten minute walk from Cork (Kent) train station and trains leave Dublin every hour from 6:20am. The weekend’s entertainment taps into a myriad of genres including swing, funk, groove and blues, opening your mind and ears to a potential new favourite Spotify playlist. (If you’re the concert goer or music lover who prefers to be primed fear not; www.guinnessjazzfestival. com have compiled a playlist of some ‘musical gems’ so you can ‘slide’ into the weekend’s blowout. This year’s score features an exclusive linkage with what is regarded as the world’s most famous jazz club - Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club from London’s Soho; ‘presenting the finest jazz since 1959.’ A full itinerary of the weekend’s
soundtrack can be found at www. guinnessjazzfestival.com, with tickets for the gathering available for purchase online at The Metropole Hotel Cork website. Tickets are required to attend Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th evening jazz sessions for a mere €25.00 each, plus booking fee. Admission is free on all days, to all afternoon sessions within the hotel and there is no charge to attend evening sessions of Friday 27th & Monday 30th October. The festival is regarded as Europe’s biggest jazz party and with a multitude of diverse acts and events taking place across the city there is no doubt it’ll be a crackin’ long weekend. So immerse yourself in the electric atmosphere of the city, snap away without the trepidation of incurring data roaming charges 13 and while you’re at it have a
Fashion
Young Irish designers seek success overseas
With six Irish designers showing at London Fashion Week this season, we question whether or not there is space for young Irish fashion and design graduates to have a by RACHEL FARRELL career in Ireland
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ondon, New York, Milan and Paris - four cities that play host to fashion week at least twice a year. Dublin doesn’t feature in that list, but Irish fashion designers are among the hundreds of designers displaying their collections each season. For many, September means back to college and another summer over. In the fashion industry, September is fashion week month worldwide. Designers from every corner of the earth prepare their seasonal collections to debut at a week of runways in the major ‘fashion cities’, like London. At London Fashion Week last month, six Irish designers displayed their autumn/winter collections to buyers, press and industry professionals alike. Simone Rocha, following in the footsteps of her renowned father John, debuted on the LFW scene back in 2010. The NCAD graduate completed her
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There are very few Irish designers that really make it big and the majority of well known Irish designers are in London as there is a greater platform and more support for them there
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masters in fashion at the prestigious Central Saint Martins College in London months before. Similarly, Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson pursued a degree across the pond at Central Saint Martins before establishing his brand JW Anderson in 2008. While all these designers are making waves on the fashion scene abroad, it brings the question of why so many of Ireland’s homegrown talent are seeking careers outside the country. For some, it’s the difficulty in creating a self-titled brand in a small industry. Bríd McDonald, part of the design team for Paul Costelloe at Dunnes Stores, says that graduating with a fashion degree is not as glamorous as it sounds. “After graduation you are thrown into the big bad world where ‘fashion jobs’ in Ireland are like gold dust. Starting out on your own in Ireland is extremely tough. There are very few Irish designers that really make it big and the majority of well known Irish designers are in London as there is a greater platform and more support for them there,”
McDonald says. After graduating, McDonald sold her graduate collection in Om Diva, a boutique in Dublin’s creative quarter that stocks upcoming designers. “There are very few shops that have been
extremely supportive to young designers. Ruth, the owner of Om Diva, couldn’t be any more supportive, she is just full of positivity. It really gives you an insight into the Irish market place and if you think you’re ready to go out on your own and make it big.” The future of Irish design isn’t all that bleak, with various events emerging to give designers a platform for success on Irish soil. Dublin Fashion Festival, an event from the team at Dublin Town, is a yearly weekend event that showcases some of the best fashion in the city. One of the events is
the Young Designer of the Year, with Naomi Ajetunmobi crowned the 2017 winner. A student of the Grafton Academy of Design, Naomi made it to the finals last year before emerging as this year’s winner. Her winning design was chosen by a judging panel made up of some of the leading experts in the industry, including Bairbre Power, fashion editor of the Irish Independent, and fashion photographer Barry McCall. “I believe that with hard work, patience and a never give up attitude, we Irish young designers will succeed,” said Ajetunmobi when asked for her thoughts on the presence of fashion designers in Ireland. A similar student-run project occurs in DCU every year. As part of DCU Style Society’s annual fashion show, Project Young Designer is a competition for design students nationwide to participate in. Last year’s finalists were from colleges all over the country, including the Limerick School of Art and Design, NCAD and Griffith College Dublin. Design courses in Ireland are still in demand, with CAO points increasing in
Limerick School of Art and Design over the past two years. LSAD, part of Limerick Institute of Technology, is one of the leading colleges for art and design at the moment. In Dublin’s NCAD, students must study one year of general art studies before specialising, with both fashion design and textiles offered as further options. John Mangru, a fashion design student in NCAD, says he is still “really excited” to be studying there, and doesn’t think the Irish design landscape is all that bleak. “I do believe there are opportunities in Ireland- even if it’s starting out as interning for existing designers or doing a further qualification,” Mangru says. However, to develop further skills and improve as a designer, Mangru does agree that going overseas can be beneficial for new ideas. “To gain a broader experience it’s good to travel abroad to see what’s going on in the world,” said Mangru. While experienced designers appear to go abroad to take the next step in the career, it seems that younger graduates and students are content with the industry here. It’s a smaller market, but one that both veteran and new designers are proud of all the same.
Fashion
The Autumn/Winter Style Guides: Boots:
Michelle Townsend talks us through the most fashionable winter boots of the season BY MICHELLE TOWNSEND
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ith autumn well and truly underway and winter only around the corner, it’s time to (reluctantly) bid farewell to warm weather and adapt our footwear to a colder climate. If you’re looking to buy a new pair of shoes in the coming weeks, a good pair of boots will be a worthy investment and see you through to next summer. And with a wide range of styles to pick from to suit any occasion, shoe lovers will be spoiled for choice this season.
CHELSEA BOOTS:
Chelsea boots have been circulating the fashion world for quite some time now, but have remained popular due to their stylish design, level of comfort and ability to match with most outfits. Boohoo.com seems to be the best place to buy these at the moment, with the Tia Chunky Cleated Heel and Matilda Block Heel boots both on sale for the affordable price of €29. Team them up with a skater
Coats:
Niamh Dunne looks at different styles of coats that are in fashion this season. BY NIAMH DUNNE
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ow that we are officially into autumn, it’s time to swap our kimonos and denim jackets for trench coats and faux fur jackets. With a new season comes new trends, and this A/W is no different. Whether it’s outrageous patterns or a timeless classic there are plenty of jackets and coats for you to choose right on the high street.
PUFFER JACKET: The first trend that is dominating the high street is the puffer jacket. The puffer jacket or sometimes referred to as the bubble jacket, seen throughout all the major stores. There is an ample amount of selections from pink, black blue or for a vibrant splash of colour why not try red? While this jacket may be one of the more edgier trends, if you’re looking to step outside of your comfort zone then this is the one for you.
SHEARLING COAT: Another trend that has returned to the rack is the shearling coat. The fur lining with a brown shell jacket made famous by Zara, is back again. Except this time around its not just the brown and white fur combination that we see. Stores such as Bershka and H&M have put their own spin on the hottest trend this season. Bershka has several
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Now that we are officially into autumn, it’s time to swap our kimonos and denim jackets for trench coats and faux fur jackets.
dress or dress them down with skinny jeans to create a stylish and sophisticated look.
CALF BOOTS:
Calf boots have been dominating shoe shops all over the country in recent weeks and it is easy to see why - they are flattering, feminine and guaranteed to make any outfit stand out due to their unique design. Korky’s are currently stocking gorgeous black calf boots for €40 - a fair price for a practical style of boot which you can wear over and over again. These look best worn with skater skirts, playsuits and culottes.
BLOCK HEEL BOOTS:
Pointed block heel boots are beginning to gain popularity in recent weeks and for the foreseeable future due to their ability to add a sense of sophistication and style to classic daytime outfits. Office are currently stocking both suede and leather versions. They are currently priced at €100
colours in the shearling jacket from pink to yellow, the choice is endless. H&M on the other hand offer a combination of a classic with a trend with a leather shearling jacket.
TEDDY BEAR: The Teddy Bear jacket is another coat that can be seen in nearly all high street stores. Now for those of you who need something to keep you warm on those cold winter nights, this is the jacket for you! These jackets aren’t one to miss as they are perfect jacket to keep you cosy, yet fashionable. While it might not be the most practical jacket for the temperamental Irish winter, the Teddy Bear jacket is one not to miss out on.
and although this may seem steep the high quality and wear ability of the shoe means you definitely get your money’s worth. These boots look best worn casual so wear them with a pair of jeans to add something extra to your outfit.
OVER THE KNEE BOOTS: Over the knee boots have been around forever seemingly, and although they remain extremely popular to this day, why not have some fun and experiment with them? This year, instead of opting for or rewearing your classic over the knees, instead invest in an eyecatching pink satin or red suede pair, both of which are currently stocked by River Island. Like the block heel boots, these shoes are again on the pricier side - the pink satin pair cost €113 and the red suede pair €114. However, if you want to treat yourself next payday these are definitely worth an investment to make you stand out from the crowd on any night out - and look incredibly stylish while doing so.
more adventurous. Some may say tacky, yet stylish is the word used by many of those in the fashion industry. So whether you’re looking for a just simple jacket to keep you warm and cosy on that bus ride home or something bold for your wardrobe, you are spoilt for choice. For this winter, not only will you be warm but fabulous too.
CHEETAH PRINT: The Cheetah print jacket is one that has been around for quite some time. Well this autumn is no different. The Cheetah print jacket is a trend that will never go out of style. This coat is another bold choice for your winter wardrobe. If the puffer jacket is too much out of your comfort zone, then this a great option if you want to broaden your style and be a bit
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EXPOSURE
Notting Hill Carnival: A performer at Europe’s biggest street festival shows the crowd a stern face. Image Credit: Colin Tonge
Look up: A kayak floats by along the Croatian coast. Image Credit: Niamh McKeown
Pink: A pink building contrasts against the pale Prague sky. Image Credit: Sarah O’Neill
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Girl Power: People rally at Trinity College Dublin for the March for Repeal last week. Image Credit: Mark Carroll
Empire State Building: “There’ll always be somebody there for you. And you’ll never be alone.” Image Credit: Andrew McConnell
Image Credit:
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