Vol. 1. Issue 3. 25th October 2017
35 years after the iconic original, does the sequel do its legacy justice?
Music
Miley Cyrus:Younger Now but more mature
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The star has once again changed her sound and seems to be growing up.
MARI FOODY
f honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom, then 24-year-old Miley Cyrus seems well on the way to becoming quite a wise woman. Her new album ‘Younger Now’ sees the star lean into her Nashville roots and her seemingly unconcerned attitude to radio airplay has resulted in a beautifully simplistic and genuine product. With hit single ‘Malibu’ we see Miley ditch her old hammer-licking ways from her fourth album ‘Bangerz’ as she now twirls happily by the ocean wearing white, likely symbolic of this new hopeful and balanced stage in the young starlet’s life. The song itself is a love letter to fiance Liam Hemsworth and was hugely successful making it her ninth entry into the top ten on the US Billboard hot 100. Miley also dueted with Godmother Dolly Parton on this album to bring us ‘Rainbowland’ in which she expresses her wish for an idealistic world in which ‘we’re free to be exactly who we are.’ Cyrus admitted that she was
saddened by Clinton’s loss and hurt by the strong political divide of her nation. In ‘Inspired’ she begins with her hopes for the environment and reaches out to her fans to enact ‘change’ in the world. Keeping with the element of change, Cyrus’ ‘Younger Now’ tells a story of someone who has grown considerably and is reflecting on life with an attitude of acceptance and peace , reflected in the lyrics “Change is a thing you can count on”. Here we are meeting a more mature Miley who is embracing this new
era and knows that ‘No one stays the same.’ Both ‘Bad Mood’ and ‘Thinkin’ are quite obsessive and dark love songs where she describes in detail feelings of doubt and mistrust. These are sounds from the mind of someone who over thinks quite a bit which can be relatable for many people young and old. She expresses the opposite frame of mind in ‘Week Without You’ where she grabs her ‘old blue jeans’ instead of that ‘silly dress’ - this is a totally feel good song for any lady. In ‘Love Someone’ she admits ‘nothing’s really worth it unless you’re having fun’. This is a really
soulful track that contains undertones of a passionate and angry Cyrus. ‘Miss You So Much’ and ‘I Would Die For You’ are both extremely pure and honest tracks in which she talks about her hard times and overwhelming love for (perhaps) her fiance Liam. Finally, ‘She’s Not Him’ is worded like an apology letter. Miley refers to a lover and addresses her conflict with her pansexuality. It’s a very moving piece containing an overwhelming sense of melancholy and thankfulness as this person ‘gave (her) things you can’t buy back with money’ and changed her life. Overall this album is a reflection of someone who is still growing, changing and evolving. Miley reminds us that we should always embrace change as it’s inevitable. When asked about the album she said it mirrored her journey saying ‘’Anytime I say I’m being myself, I’m always being myself’’ and as we’ve seen, ‘No one stays the same’.
The ten most timeless songs
Ellen Fitzpatrick takes us through the classics that will never be forgotten.
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he hardest thing anyone ever has to do is decide what the greatest song of all time is. There are so many amazing ones but below are a list of the top 10. No matter what your music taste is, these songs are some you could listen to on repeat and never get bored. These are musical gems that you’ll always remember. At number 10 ‘Wonderwall’ by Oasis. You definitely predicted this one but it just seemed wrong to leave it out. The song is listed a classic in every Spotify and iTunes breakdown and no matter where you are and it comes on, it doesn’t take two seconds before you’re belting it out for the world to hear. In at 9 is ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ by Guns N’ Roses. It may be at the very end of the Spotify classics but there is no denying the impact this number one single has on people when they hear it. No one ever said busting out your air guitar was a crime. Number 8 goes to David Bowie’s ‘Changes’. Bowie is an icon and icons create timeless music any age group can enjoy. 2 Upon its release in 1972, Bowie created
something everyone could relate to and as the song grew older it only became more relevant. It even made it onto the Shrek 2 soundtrack; talk about a classic. The number 7 spot goes to ‘Hey Ya’ by Outcast. There is no song in history that gets a room full of people more hyped than this 2003 anthem. It became a sensation after it kept the number one spot in the US for nine weeks straight. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ makes it to our number 6 slot. The song was number one in the UK with its original release in
1975 and made it back there in the US with its 1992 re-release. Queen delivered an absolute masterpiece with this track. At number 5 we have ‘Let It Be’ by The Beatles. It may have been their final song before splitting up but is easily their most iconic and most memorable. This song has been covered over and over showing the lasting impact it has on us all. In at 4 is ‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem. This is the most streamed single in Spotify’s most timeless songs and it never fails to bring out everyone’s inner hip-hop artist. Heading into the top 3 and the spot goes to ‘Mr. Brightside’ by The Killers. It has made a name for itself as one of the most iconic songs in existence. At number 2 we have ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson. Like Bowie, Jackson is considered a legend and ‘Billie Jean’ is just one of his many great songs that will live on in his memory for years. He is not called the King of Pop for nothing. The number 1 spot goes to Nirvana with ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’. This is one song that brings everyone together, no matter what your music taste is.
Mindful Music
M BY IAN
Music
MANGAN
usic is a very powerful thing. Everyone has a taste, a favourite genre, an artist they love more than any other. It’s a form of entertainment that invades every inch of all our lives beyond our own choice some of the time. But it’s still just entertainment, right? Perhaps not and it’s time we really start to appreciate the true power of artists and performers out there. Last month Limerick duo the Rubberbandits released their latest single entitled Sonny and its message was loud and clear. In their ongoing battle to raise awareness for men’s mental health, the song hits hard with its rather blunt chorus “Sonny oh Sonny don’t go hanging yourself”. Now the Rubberbandits are by no means the defining Irish artists of this generation, nobody is saying that, but the point here is that they’re making a statement in a way that is unavoidable. And the truth is it’s needed more than ever and the bandits are being commended for their campaign. However, music wasn’t always seen as this safe haven for those in need. In fact, it was quite the opposite. History has a terrible track record blaming musicians for the deprivation of the newest generation. Elvis Presley was routinely blasted for encouraging for his overtly sexual music that was perverting the minds of American youth. The Beatles followed suit being held as Satanic and pagan brainwashers among the Christian community. Unfortunately, this trend did not stop anytime soon. There was always a new wave of music that threatened the norms of society and unfortunately fell victim to the blame game. In 1984, 19-year-old John Daniel McCollum tragically took his own life while lying on his bed listening to Ozzy Osbourne. Naturally, it was easy to see where his father was coming from. McCollum’s father emotionally claimed
“[He’s] a perfectly normal kid there, who really doesn’t show any signs of any depression at all, and happy and all of a sudden, six hours, he’s dead. No one [could] explain it, the only thing we know is he was listening to this music.” It is easy for us to want to pinpoint one specific explanation but the truth is a lot of vulnerable people take so much solace in the escape that music provides. Ozzy expressed his sadness about the incident on several occasions but never took responsibility and rightly so. These events were echoed in the early 2000s following the fatal Columbine shootings when students Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris
“Music has the power to change lives and the fact that the Rubberbandits are utilising it” murdered 13 people before turning the guns on themselves. Marilyn Manson was the latest scapegoat for this tragedy and among all the controversy it was easy to pin it on one man. We have learned a lot since but it is interesting to note that society did not like talking about the complexity of suicide and mental health. It was quite lamentable to see people who brought a lot of happiness and relief to so many be lambasted in the public eye like this. Yet despite the criticism,
these artists stayed compassionate. When Manson was asked what he would say to the shooters he famously replied, “I wouldn’t say a single word to them, I would listen to what they have to say because that’s what no-one did”. Men in Ireland are particularly unequipped when it comes to the topic of mental illness and there is no denying that. There is a real struggle to face up to problems or even admit they need help which is admittedly easier said than done. Nobody likes to admit there’s something wrong and understandably so with such a stigma around mental health. What is important to notice is that we have grown a lot over the years and understand things a little bit better. The Rubberbandits latest tune has been met with overwhelming support and there is a real lesson to be learned here. Music has the power to change lives and the fact that the Rubberbandits are utilising it to change perceptions, and face the issue head on is a real testament to where we have come when we link music with mental health. Blind boy stated on the Late Late show “My generation are either leaving the country or jumping in rivers”. It is time that we talk about these issues because they are real, they do exist. Music can help either by pushing the subject out into the open or even acting as a stress buster that can alter our moods. One thing we can learn is that these artists are not part of the problem, they are very much part of the solution. Men are almost five times more likely to commit suicide than women in Ireland according to the Journal.ie and if music can play a small part in helping to change that then the Limerick 3 duo are certainly doing something right.
TV & Film
BBC’s ‘Overshadowed’ - The truth about eating disorders
The documentary that is receiving a lot of praise for its accurate portrayal of anorexia.
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GRÁINNE JONES
At one point in the series, Anna grabs Imo’s hand he BBC’s new mini-series and they both literally run away from a situation “Overshadowed” casts a unique light involving food – a graphic reminder of how powerful on the issue of eating disorders, a topic an eating disorder can be. that is usually kept hidden in darkness The use of Anna to represent anorexia is a Imogene, a young Irish vlogger living in England, decides to capture every aspect of her life, including unique take on the traditional depiction of eating her new interest in a healthy lifestyle and “best disorders in the media. Overshadowed is one of the only – if not the only friend” Anna. The series shows not only what is happening – television series or movie that explains anorexia around Imogene, who is known as “Imo” to her from the perspective of the eating disorder sufferer friends, but captures exactly what is going within her themselves. Many patients with anorexia, bulimia, and other mind as well. “Think how good you’ll feel when you look in the eating disorders, describe the disorder as a different mirror and like what you see,” Anna says to Imo in entity to themselves, it is an outside power forcing them to behave like they do. the very first episode. These eight short episodes show the impact Anna may be Imo’s new best friend, and although she says otherwise, she is not there to make Imo of an eating disorder on the person and on their family – the turmoil, the anguish, the anxiety and happy. The malevolent force of anorexia appears as the worry. Eating disorders don not only effect the sufferer, flashes in the beginning but Anna stays longer and longer as she takes over Imo’s life and begins to but the outer family and friends. Eating disorders leave a shadow on everyone and everything near destroy it. “Are you actually going to ditch me for him?” the sufferer. Overshadowed manages to capture the Anna asks Imo when she wants to socialise. Eating disorders are known to cause isolation for the problems at home and with friends that happen as sufferer due to their interpersonal behaviours, and a result of the disorder. Imo’s behaviour seems rude and uncaring from the outside observer, but on the their fear of anything that relates to food. Anna starts to shadow Imo more and more, inside she is fighting a continuous battle with her telling her to get rid of people any time her friends anorexia. It is important to remember that having anorexia, try to spend time with her, and bullying her when she or any other eating disorder, is not the fault of the decides to eat. At her sister’s birthday party when it’s time to cut person themselves. It is a mental disorder that the cake, Anna screams at Imo saying “one slice? creeps up and destroys everything in its path, and You’ve come this far. Why not eat the whole f**king Overshadowed has managed to show this brilliantly. thing”.
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This series is so well put-together that it should be used as a teaching tool for family members and friends to explain what is going on with their loved one while they go through eating disorder treatment. It is common that family and friends of a person with an eating disorder simply do not understand what is going on within. The mantra of “just eat a burger and you’ll be fine” is unhelpful and demeaning to those suffering. Better education is needed about eating disorders, as they are the most deadly psychiatric illnesses; one in five patients with anorexia will die as a result of their disorder. Overshadowed provides details about eating disorders that the sufferers generally cannot vocalise until years after they recover from their illness, and this information is crucial to the understanding about what a person experiences. Awareness is out there about eating disorders, but understanding is still lagging far behind. This series has brought understanding on in leaps and bounds, and is helping to shine some light into those shadows made by the illness. The eight-part series is based on a play written by eating disorder survivor and Irish playwright, Eva O’Connor, who also plays the part of Anna in the series. If you or someone you know is going through an eating disorder, or you have been affected by anything mentioned in this story, please contact BodyWhys on their helpline at 1890 200 444 or their website www.bodywhys.ie You are never alone in your fight against an eating disorder. Recovery is possible; that shadow over your life won’t last forever.
Running Ford again
TV & Film
35 years after the iconic original, does the sequel do its legacy justice?
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ANDREW RYAN
hirty five years after Ridley Scott first brought us the sci-fi classic Blade Runner and shaped the genre for decades to come, Denis Villeneuve has been tasked with delivering a worthy sequel which not only improves upon its predecessor but also expands on the universe which was set up three decades ago with Blade Runner 2049.
“a masterpiece, one of the best sequels ever made” Blade Runner 2049 stars Ryan Gosling as “K”, a blade runner who is tasked with tracking down rogue replicants. Along the way, he stumbles upon a revelation that threatens to reshape humanreplicant relations forever. There has been a lot of hype surrounding this film following early reviews. It has been deemed a gamechanger in science-fiction, a masterpiece, one of the best sequels ever made. Well, after experiencing it in person, we can confidently inform you that Denis Villeneuve has delivered all of that and more.
Blade Runner 2049 is a wonderful piece of filmmaking. Every frame is meticulously designed and shot to immerse the viewer in the universe first created in 1982. 13-time Oscar nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins (True Grit, No Country for Old Men and The Shawshank Redemption) once again displays why he is long overdue an Academy Award. His work on Blade Runner 2049 is nothing short of gorgeous. The shot composition, the depth of colours, the foggy neon backdrop, so much about the visual aesthetic of this picture is game-changing when it comes to how sci-fi is presented. It looks and feels like a true sci-fi epic, exactly how a Blade Runner sequel should be. This is all complemented by seamless direction from Denis Villeneuve. The French Canadian has built a formidable CV over the past decade with films such as Arrival, Sicario, Prisoners, and Enemy. The way he balances Deakins’ spectacular cinematography, Fancher and Green’s terrific screenplay, Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer’s spinetingling score, and some of the finest special effects you are ever likely to see demonstrates the hallmarks of a director at the top of his game. Blade Runner 2049 is more than a flashy blockbuster which looks and sounds remarkable. It is also a fascinating examination of the human condition. It encourages the viewer to ask questions
of themselves and the world around them, much like the first film did. The film, which clocks in at 164 minutes, takes its time to set up and pay off its various thematic plot threads, while leaving the door open for possible sequels in the future. Such is the deliberate pace of the picture that when the action hits and the story is paid off, it is both satisfying and highly gratifying. Finally, the ensemble cast. As expected, Ryan Gosling is excellent as “K”. The way he develops from a cold, calculating blade runner to a character facing his own inner existential turmoil is gripping to watch. He is not alone, as Harrison Ford makes his long-awaited return as “Deckard”, and he gives some of his best work in years. He is scarred, tortured, and traumatised from what he experienced 30 years prior at the time of the first movie. Elsewhere, Robin Wright, Sylvia Hoeks and, especially, Ana de Armas impress in the supporting cast, while Jared Leto is wonderfully menacing as central antagonist Niander Wallace. Blade Runner 2049 is an extraordinary achievement from everybody involved. Denis Villeneuve delivers a sequel that serves as its own standalone story, while also expanding the mythology of Blade Runner. Is it better than the first film? That is a subjective opinion but it is a film that should be studied for years to come, a true masterpiece.
Sci-fi movies being rediscovered
Benedetta Geddo talks us through the sci-fi classics that are being remade and why.
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t seems like all Hollywood can do at the moment is look skywards, eyes tracking the stars. The interest in sci-fi has never been higher than in the past few months, and the titles coming out keep proving it. Reboot, adaptation or sequel, you name it. For example, these days you are guaranteed to catch Ryan Gosling’s broody-but-determined face plastered on every Dublin bus, the title Blade Runner 2049 shining orange. Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the 1982 Ridley Scott cult film stars Gosling as Agent K and Harrison Ford reprising his iconic role of Rick Deckard. The movie opened worldwide on October 5th, but it’s just one of the many love letters to the sci-fi genre currently available. Star Trek has made its grand comeback as well, returning to the tv with Discovery, created by Bryan Fuller and a prequel to The Original Series. Discovery stars Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnam, a human girl raised on Vulcan by Sarek and his wife, Amanda. Fans are still speculating whether some version of Spock will make an appearance, but they seem to be enjoying the show so far and reviews are overall excellent. And what about Star Wars, preparing to take cinemas by storm in December with The Last Jedi? Luke Skywalker will finally be back in action, and
the hype is very much real. But that’s just the franchises; Nolan’s Interstellar came out in 2014 and Cuarón’s Gravity in 2013, while last year Arrival (Villeneuve’s previous cinematic work before replicants) received a Best Picture nomination. What, then, is so compelling about sci-fi? Is it that “you get to wear socks all the time,” which is what Rotten Tomatoes asked Ryan Reynolds and Jake Gyllenhaal during their Life press tour? Maybe, but the appeal of the genre probably goes a bit beyond that. It is not just escapism or visual entertainment either, although they are both great and everyone should let their mind wander away in deep space while wondering at digital effects every once in a while. Deep down, the core of the question is this— sci-fi calls to
our innate desire for knowledge and exploration by making us face the great “final frontier”. Sci-fi makes us think, always, even when it’s not particularly accurate and has fiery explosions in the vacuum of space. Every sci-fi story prompts its audience to imagine and push their limits, to question our worldview and where we’re headed with it, to create— maybe something like cell phones, inspired by Star Trek’s communicators. That is why the genre is still so popular, and why it always be. Sure, we are talking about Hollywood— money is always in the picture. Genre and franchise movies tend to be blockbusters, generating buzz and merchandise. We remain idealistic, though, and believe that we love sci-fi because it reminds us of what Neil deGrasse Tyson, genre commentator extraordinaire, said: “We are in this universe, but the universe is also in us.”
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Books
AILBHE DALY
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John Green dives all the way down
he sixth book from criticallyacclaimed author John Green Turtles All The Way Down follows sixteen year old Aza Holmes as she and her best friend pursue the mystery of a disappearing billionaire. Or at least, that is the information you will gather from reading the blurb. However, what Turtles All The Way Down offers is something far more than two teenagers looking for a fugitive – it delves into the intricacies of anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder and just how difficult they can make life. Green is well-known for crafting stories with immense emotional depth, as 2012’s The Fault in Our Stars illustrated. However, in Stars and other Green books, when things got dark there was a comedic release to soften it. The same is not to be found in Turtles All The Way Down. When Aza is at her worst, the reader gets caught in this descent too and
experiences it with her. Around Aza are a cast of incredibly articulate teenagers that flesh out her world. In comparison to the subdued and introverted protagonist, her best friend Daisy is classically loud and tends to completely blow things out of proportion. The contrast between the two is explored throughout the book, with a climactic argument coming towards the end that results in Aza’s OCD spiralling out of control to levels that make it almost difficult to read. Turtles All The Way Down explores loss and bereavement in a way that only John Green can. All the characters have their own struggles and tribulations to endure during the course of the novel, but it’s how these issues interact with each other that really sets Turtles apart from other YA novels The son of the fugitive billionaire, Davis, is an intelligent boy who is utterly fixated with astronomy. Upon Aza and Davis meeting for the first
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it delves into the intricacies of anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder time since they were children, an immediate attraction grows. While Aza enjoys texting Davis, her OCD causes her to struggle with physical contact due to her overwhelming fear of bacteria and the chances of her contracting clostridium difficile. At times, it can be difficult to read as Aza’s OCD causes her to spiral into irrationalities; all things that she is very much aware of. Aza’s OCD taints what should be memorable experiences of her youth with a dialogue that is intent on destroying her and when reading, you really feel for Aza. A culmination of plot-lines comes
in the closing chapters of the book when Aza and Daisy make a discovery that directly affects Davis and his younger brother, Noah. The stretches spent inside Aza’s head as she wars within herself can be a troubling read, especially seen as the rational side of her attends a therapist and takes medication. There is an inescapable war raging within her head and how she deals with it (or doesn’t, in some cases) is something that manages to be very dark and unexpected in a young adult novel such as this.
Kazuo Ishiguro wins 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature The 62-year-old was honoured and slightly shocked to receive the award EMER HANDLY
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azuo Ishiguro is a British novelist and screen-writer who originates from Japan. On October 5th, he was announced as the recipient of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature. Kazuo is a superb writer “who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world,” the Nobel Prize Committee said. He is most famously known for his novels ‘The Remains of the Day’ and ‘Never Let Me Go’. Both were
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adapted into highly praised films. “He’s created an aesthetic universe of his own. All his books are wonderful. They are really truly exquisite,” said Professor Sara Danius, Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, who made the announcement of the esteemed literature award. When he heard the news, at first he did not believe it: “I thought it was a hoax.” Kazuo is admired for his realistic writing even though it is fiction. His
stories bring history into the world of fiction and shine a light on how nations try to bury the uncomfortable memories from the past. “I hope that these kinds of themes will be in some small way helpful to the climate we have at the moment because I think we’ve entered a very uncertain time at the moment.” said Kazuo. The Nobel laureate was born in Nagasaki is 1959. His mother survived the atomic bomb there in 1945 and this is one of his inspirations to write about history. He studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia. If you have never read any of his works, you should. He is a phenomenal writer and beautiful storyteller. ‘Never Let Me Go’ is a must read. Kazuo is interested in understanding the past and why societies must forget some events in order to move forward. His other works include ‘A Pale View of the Hills’, ‘An Artist of the Floating World’ and ‘When We Were Orphans’. “This is a very weird time in the world, we’ve sort of lost faith in our political system, we’ve lost faith in our leaders, we’re not quite sure of our values, and I just hope that my win of
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His stories bring history into the world of fiction the Nobel prize contributes something that engenders good will and peace,” he said. “ It reminds us of how international the world is, and how we all should contribute things from our different corners of the world.” Margaret Atwood, Haruki Murakami and Cormac McCarthy were all speculated to win the award so the choosing of Kazuo took the literary world by surprise, but it was a pleasant one.“Between genius and gentleness he has taken his measure of the world, and is himself a measure of the best that humankind can be. How delightful that the Nobel has alighted in his garden,” said novelist Sebastian Barry. Kazuo Ishiguro has some tremendous works of literature. His passion for bringing the world and its people together during times of darkness makes him more than deserving of the award.
Video
Videos are more than viral trends Jonathan Joly and other influencers are starting to speak out about being sexually assaulted.
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EMER HANDLY
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n influencer can be anyone; from being Hollywood famous to being well-known on the internet. While many aim to entertain the public, some use their creative platforms to do more than this. They speak out about taboo topics to shine a light on them and get others talking. Jonathan Joly is an Irish YouTuber living in London. His channel ‘SacconneJolys’ has over 1.8 million subscribers. He posts vlogs along with his wife Anna Saccone and three children Emilia, Eduardo and Alessia about their daily lives. The family are in the public eye, but they really are just ordinary people Jonathan is known for talking about subjects such as mental health and raising awareness for a number of different charities. Anna has also spoken about her experience with an eating disorder. Yet, On October 11, Jonathan posted a video that shocked everyone. He posted a video titled ‘I Am A Victim Of Sexual Assault’. The video outlines the details of sexual abuse he suffered at the age of 19. The incident happened 20 years ago, and before making the video, the only person Jonathan had told
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I think that shame is what makes people not
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was his wife. “It haunted me. It still haunts me. It affected how I felt intimately with other people,” said Jonathan. He explains how you try to brush it off and think it was nothing, but it’s constantly still lurking in the back of your mind. It is a heavy video that is difficult to watch but it is so important. In the 14 minute long video, Jonathan struggles to get the words out and this shows how hard it is for people to speak about being a victim of sexual assault. “I want to make the video and I want to share the story, but at the same time I don’t want anyone to watch it.” Yet he does make the video and he does share his story with over a million people. He knows that talking about his personal experience on his creative platform with a huge number of viewers will help so many people. “I am in a position of influence. I am quite well known and I have a platform and an audience. I feel compelled to share this story, this cautionary tale, for young people out there. And not just girls, for boys and girls. For anybody out there.” Jonathan talks about the shame victims feel and how it stops them from telling anyone. They feel as though somehow it is their fault. But it is not. “I felt so dirty, ashamed and shocked. I didn’t know what to do. I just went home, had a shower and never told anyone.” “I’ve always felt too ashamed to every tell anyone about it because I feel like it’s my fault. I feel like I must have done something wrong. Did I lead
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If I don’t say something, if I don’t tell my story, other people aren’t going to tell their stories
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him on, did I suggest to do this?” “I think that shame is what makes people not talk about it. That’s the point of this video. If I don’t say something, if I don’t tell my story, other people aren’t going to tell their stories” Jonathan decided to come out about his experience as a result of the sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein. More women have come out accusing Weinstein of sexual harassment and rape,
including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cara Delevingne. Alyssa Milano recently launched the #Metoo twitter campaign which is another great example of how an influencer can use their creative platform to raise awareness.
“If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me too.’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem,’” Milano wrote in her note that introduced the #MeToo campaign. America Ferrera, Melanie Lynskey, Viola Davis, Debra Messing, Anna Paquin and Pauley Perrette are just some of the many influencers who have used the campaign to speak out about their experiences with sexual assault. “The way somebody is made feel is so inadequate and shameful because this has happened, you just don’t want to tell that it anyone
happened. Therefore by not saying it happened, it did not happen and therefore it continues to happen,” said Jonathan. His bravery in speaking out is incredible and inspiring. Sexual assault is a topic that needs to be talked about, and influencers like Jonathan Joly using their creative platforms to spark this conversation is a massive step in the right direction in making a change. The platform you use for your art can contain so much more than just art, it can contain pieces of who you are. Art is a window into the soul of the creator and we should not be ashamed of sharing that. “If I can be brave, then maybe other people can be brave and other people can speak up. The more we talk about something the less likely it is to happen again. So speak up, tell your stories, don’t let people in power abuse you, don’t let people have
control over you or your body or your actions.”
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Health & Beauty
The world of SFX and prosthetics at Halloween
Lifestyle editor, Katie Gallagher spoke to some makeup artists trained in prosthetics and sfx makeup coming up to a busy Halloween period.
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reativity is your best makeup skill, don’t be afraid to experiment” - Pat
McGrath. The world of makeup and beauty has evolved enormously in the past decade. Anyone with a passion for beauty can become makeup experts today with endless amounts of makeup tutorials on YouTube and intense shortterm courses available. Halloween is no exception. In fact, it’s an excuse to unleash all that trapped creativity and use every colour and tool you’ve ever purchased for your collection for these special occasions of unlimited creativity. They say anyone can be a good makeup artist with the right brush but there are some people who just have a flair for creativity and it really shines around this time of year.
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Alanna Gormley, a freelance makeup artist from Donegal has been doing ‘31 days of Halloween’ on her Instagram account since the beginning of October. This is a social media trend where she posts new Halloween style makeup on her Instagram every single day coming up to the big night. This is not a task to take on lightly, especially with the amount of time and effort spent planning and creating each and every look which are all so different and out there in their own respect. “I could spend days preparing prosthetics for a look. It can be a long process. I could spend a day sculpting, a day casting and running the prosthetic, and a few hours to get the finished look ” she said. While some people may just add a little bit of
fake blood to their regular makeup routine and pop in some plastic fangs for their Halloween look, there is a massive market at the minute for more detailed gory looks and complete transformations.Your average Halloween costume can look cheap or generic at times, usually due to flimsy, shiny material and bad sizing but the use of prosthetics means a complete makeover into a whole new character,
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Halloween makeup is a huge trend that grows year on year. We find people are being more brave and really going all out for Halloween.
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not just pulling on a black cape and a witches hat.
The freelance makeup artist said it was this realism that really got her hooked on the popular makeup phenomenon. “I got into sfx makeup and prosthetics when watching Grey’s Anatomy and horror movies. I developed an interest for stimulated gore and realism so I decided to start playing around with it,” she said. The art of makeup can be tricky for the best of us. While some can go from a five to a solid ten in one makeup application, others just about know how to apply some mascara, so something as complicated and time consuming as sfx and prosthetics takes a lot of practice and training to perfect. “I’m still learning prosthetics. You’re never finished learning” according to Alanna who trained in the art after she left school. Makeup is generally an application of layers and layers, first you prime and set your skin then you apply your base and build on from there as you please but prosthetics and sfx requires you to go even further than that which is what makes it such a hidden craft. Speaking of the challenges artists face with prosthetics, Gormley said “there’s so many stages in a makeup that involves the use of prosthetic and not every step will suit someone’s talent. There’s sculpting, moulding, casting, painting and then applying, so to be amazing at every step is hard.” The freelancer, who goes by the name of Alanna Gormley MUA on social media, said she’s had people booking in for her Halloween services since August.
But the interest in prosthetic makeup applications does not stop in Donegal. Emma Farrell, owner of EF Creative Studios in Dublin, said the trend is getting bigger and better every year. “Halloween makeup is a huge trend that grows year on year. We find people are being more brave and really going all out for Halloween. In the past we have done everything from the basic skeleton to a full body painted Avatar character to a prosthetic two-faced Halloween makeup” she said. “People usually come in to us with a picture and then we would use creativity to make a character inspired by the photo, but personalising it to the person we are making up. Appointments take anything from an hour to four hours for our more advanced characters” Emma continued. It appears clowns are taking over this year especially since It was released, so you can expect to see some more realistic versions of Pennywise floating around next week as Alanna said it was already a popular request. However, she said her favourite look so far, from a technical point of view, would have to be her ‘pig woman’. “It was my first ever two-part mould, so I’m really proud of that one.” If you are thinking of getting made up as a character this year, Alanna said she tried to keep it affordable with her pricing for a full body paint starting at €25 and her full on prosthetics coming in at around €35. That’s cheaper than most costumes online at the minute and could be the solution to going all out at Halloween without spending loads of money doing it.
The Beauty Review
Health & Beauty
His and Hers: a skincare guide
Amy Rohu recently discovered her boyfriend’s face scrub. Since then, male skin care products have been her go to beauty buys. She gives us a rundown of her favourite new products.
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e’ve all been there. The bank balance is getting low and we need to prioritise. But looking after our skin is still vital and not something we should skip. Whether you live with your boyfriend or at home, did you know that there are lots of products both guys and girls can share? Plus, products for guys tend to be cheaper and without the ‘pink’ tax. My boyfriend recently picked up a bottle of ‘Bulldog’ face scrub and one morning I used a little bit of it in a hurry. Ignoring the ‘skincare for men’ slogan, I scrubbed away. I was expecting the smell of aftershave or tight skin afterwards, but it was one of the best face scrubs
I’ve ever used, with a very pleasant fragrance and ingredients such as tea tree and green tea. Ever since then, his scrub has become our scrub. It costs €6.99, which is less than €3.50 each, leaving us with more money for the important stuff, like wine. This got me thinking of what else is out there that guys and girls can both use. Everyone knows the Nivea Men post-shave balm and, used as a primer, because of its tacky finish, it makes for the perfect makeup base. Some people online have even described it as the best primer they’ve ever used. Only a little bit is required and at only €7.39 for 100 ml, that’s a huge saving and can be thrown into your trolley
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the ‘Nivea for men post shave balm’ and used as a primer, because of its tacky finish, it makes for the perfect makeup base.
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with the food shop. Speaking of the supermarkets, they are bargain central when it comes to his and hers skincare, so keep an eye out for brands like Nivea and Simple for great offers. The best things to look out for is plain, simple packaging and basic ingredients. The man in your life will certainly not
want to use a glitter-infused strawberry shower gel as much as you might not want to try his manly coal-scented scrub. Original Source is another fantastic brand that caters for everyone, plus their products are all natural, cruelty free and vegan. At around €3 their shower gels are a bargain and come in loads of amazing scents such as mint, lime and coconut. Unless you have a particular hair type, look out for shampoos such as TRESemmé or Pantene and their classic, basic formulas or 2-in-1 versions of shampoo and conditioner. These are usually suitable for everyone
and retailing around €3 - €5 for the large bottles, they will also last ages. All the products listed are available to buy in most Tesco, Dunne’s Stores and Boots stores nationwide.
Stressed out skin
The life of a student can be very stressful and our skin can suffer as a result. Rachel Farrell tells us how to deal with stressed out skin.
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ith exams and constant deadlines, the life of a student can be extremely stressful. Throwing in financial worries, relationships and perhaps a part-time job on the side, it’s no wonder that Irish students find exam time more stressful than their European counterparts. Two thirds of Irish students experience anxiety even if they’re prepared for an exam, according to research by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development. That’s higher than the European average. Like the body, the skin can react to stress in many ways. Niamh Hogan, CEO of natural skincare brand Holos Skincare, says that
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Being stressed can have a knock on effect on our daily life, which in turn can impact the skin.
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inflammation appears to be closely related to stress. “Conditions like rosacea worsening or even just appearing for the first time can occur during stressful times,” Hogan said. She explained that people who get the redness and dryness from rosacea may also experience acne. Rosacea is a skin condition that is often associated with red cheeks- a permanent ‘rosy’ look. La Roche-Posay’s
‘Rosaliac’ range is designed specifically for those with rosacea. The range aims to neutralise redness and strengthen the skin. Prices start at €15.99 for the makeup remover and €22.99 for moisturiser. Being stressed can have a knock on effect on our
daily life, which in turn can impact the skin. “Stressful times can be accompanied by unhealthy practices like unhealthy eating and alcohol consumption, all of which can can affect our skin,” Hogan said. Students may notice that their hangover is accompanied by dry skin, something that is caused by the dehydration alcohol causes, so drinking lots of water is key. While rosacea and breakouts are one of the obvious side effects of stress on the skin, one of the lesser known impacts is frown lines. According to
Hogan, “tension is often a symptom of stress, holding muscles right in the back, neck, shoulders and even in the face. Tension in the face can literally lead to furrows and frown lines. It’s important to smile to work the muscles of the face and help promote circulation to the muscles and the skin”.There are many brands with products catering for different types of stressed skin. If your skin is dry and lacklustre, Superdrug’s ‘Calm Skin’ 2-in-1 serum and moisturiser is a bargain at less than €5. If stress causes you to breakout, a targeted spot treatment could do the trick. Neutrogena’s ‘Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control’ could be for you, with the face wash retailing for €6.29 in Boots. 9
Food
The blogger who cried nutritionist
Instagram has become a forum for much more than pretty pictures with many bloggers giving out nutritional and health advice without qualifications. BY
I
ADAM DALY
nstagram has become a popular market for businesses to advertise, with 80 per cent of Instagram users now following at least one business page. These statistics come from Sprout Social, but they don’t include bloggers and influencers. Who in
increase in the number of selfproclaimed nutrition practitioners emerging from informal courses, which are not recognised by the state or Irish universities, is on the rise. Nutritional therapists can be found online but also in private clinic
“When it comes to online personal trainers, proteins in powder form can big a big part of their agenda.” their own right, are businesses. Health and fitness bloggers of Instagram are trying to make commercial gain out of their celebrity status, with most not having adequate nutritional training from a university, according to Dr Mary Rose Sweeney. Real nutritionists and dietitians are working in an academic setting with international collaborators, operating from the perspective of what the evidence says works, Dr Sweeney, Senior Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Human Sciences in DCU, explained. ‘’A strong grounding in nutrition is needed but also in things like biochemistry, anatomy, physiology and genetics but above all in research. You need all these skills to advise others on what the evidence says. A sample size of one, of what works for you, is not evident of what will work for others’’ Dr Sweeney said. The Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute warn of people who claim 10 10 to be nutritional therapists. The
settings. Some may offer nutritional tests such as food intolerance testing which is not evidence based within conventional medicine. Some may also offer treatments such as supplements, detox diets, and food exclusions for which there is little scientific evidence. Since 2015, only those who have applied or registered with Coru, Ireland’s multi-profession health regulator, are entitled to practise using the title Dietitian. If someone does misuse a protected title under this law, it is a criminal offence and on conviction, they may be liable to a Class A fine and/ or six months imprisonment. However, as Dr Sweeney points out this law does not cover the use of the title of a nutritionist. There is currently a campaign underway to change the law surrounding that title. Dr Sweeney has a PhD in nutrition and has worked in that area since 1996, with international peerreviewed work. Before taking the advice of a nutritional therapist people should check if they have a BSc or
MSc in Public Health Nutrition, Human Nutrition or Nutritional Science, Dr Sweeney warns. Rosanna Davison Nutrition, the website run by the former Miss World, offers a host of recipes and meal plans. The Instagrammer is also the author of the cookbook Eat Yourself Beautiful. Davison recently posted to her 147k followers on Instagram to thank the University of Limerick for inviting her to speak about nutrition as part of Mental Health Week. Davison graduated from University College Dublin with an Arts degree in sociology and art history. A few years later she obtained a part time degree in nutrition therapeutics. The thing that Dr Sweeney wants people to remember is that online influencers are able to put every moment of everyday into losing weight and staying lean in order to obtain their brand. “The average members of the public have to work or raise families. They have responsibilities. They can’t obsessively exercise.’’ When it comes to online personal trainers, proteins in powder form can big a big part of their agenda. From a safety point of view, Dr Sweeney says orthodox trained nutritionists and dietitians would not advocate that. “We like people to eat real food, in the right amounts, to get a blend of nutrients. There is a risk of over-consuming powder protein which puts extra strain on your
kidneys, as it has to be broken down by the body.’’ she said. The use of celebrity to endorse products is something that Dr Sweeney thinks should be used to promote healthy living. “Paul O’Connell’s ad for the Irish Dairy Council has been quite successful, maybe we need to work with celebrities who will spread our message rather than their own.’’ But for now, most Instagram feeds are full of endorsements for detox teas. Teas that Dr Sweeney says are full of caffeine which increases the body’s metabolic rate resulting in a quick fix to losing weight. Many people to turn to social media for nutritional advice to lose weight because if you are in any way overweight it is a lot more difficult to put yourself out there and go to a professional dietitian or nutritionist. But this is something that professionals are aware of, Dr Sweeney said. RTÉ’s Operation Transformation is something that Dr Sweeney recommends watching for someone who may not want to go see a professional but who still wants to lose weight healthily. “The advice is evidence-based, with a lot of good tips and menu plans there. It’s a safe way to lose weight. They recommend one to two pounds a week, rapid weight loss we all know isn’t sustainable.’’ Dr Sweeney said.
Grub Guide: Aqua restaurant, Howth
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Food
Alison Rothwell reviewed Aqua Restaurant, a seafood restaurant in Howth rating it on price, location and service.
hen it comes to wanting the freshest seafood, stunning views and an overall luxurious dining experience, there’s only one choice; Aqua Restaurant, Howth. The last time I dined here was while I was celebrating my 21st birthday and with the combination of the staff, the atmosphere and the spectacular food, it was amazing. The staff go the extra mile while serving and attention to detail is paramount. Location This is definitely a destination restaurant; with the stunning sea views and the top class food, it’s
provided with an assortment of nibbles and can order a drink while you wait. This is a lovely introduction to your dining experience. The Food One of the aspects I really like about the menu choices here is that they change so frequently depending on what top quality seafood they have at the time. A lot of the seafood used is caught locally and all of the salads are made using ingredients from their own garden on Howth Hill. They offer stunning vegetarian options and despite not being vegetarian, I opted for a vegetarian main course because it sounded so appealing. While you wait for your food, you are given fresh sourdough bread
“Aqua overlooks the bay in Howth, and with it being right on the water, it gives the illusion that you’ve just stepped into the dining hall on the Titanic.” a place that requires a visit. Aqua overlooks the bay in Howth and as it’s located right on the water, it gives the illusion that you’ve just stepped into the dining hall on the Titanic. With Lambay Island across the sea and the rest of Howth in the distance, if you’re lucky enough to have dinner here and witness the sun going down it makes for a spectacular dining experience. Howth is only a 15-20 minute drive from the city and is accessible by Dart and bus. For special occasions, like a graduation, it is ideal. Atmosphere The sea views are enhanced with the floor to ceiling windows. It still has a warm, cosy atmosphere even though you feel so exposed to the elements. A reservation is vital and even when you have one, you will most likely be waiting for your table. The waiting area is a gorgeous bar beside a fire, where you are
accompanied by gorgeous pesto and sea-salted butter. This combo is almost too nice and I had been previously warned not to fill up on this, as it’s a little too easy to do. Mussels are hard to make amazing, but the starter option of mussels I got were by far my favourite dish. They were so flavoursome, with loads of garlic and butter sauce all over. The starter size is huge and it is accompanied by some more gorgeous freshly made bread. By the time main course came around I was starting to feel full. I chose the pasta dish; rigatoni alfredo with baby spinach, black olives and parmesan. The pasta was perfectly al dente, and the sauce was creamy but not overpowering. My brother got the classic fish and chips option and my God, I was so jealous when I tasted it. They were hands down the nicest fish and chips I’ve ever had. The cod melted in your mouth, with hand cut chunky chips, it was to die for. However, he did have to order a side order of chips because
the amount he got was laughable. I have only had a crème brûlée once before and my previous opinion was that it lacked flavour. This one was lightly blowtorched at the surface and creamy and delicious on the inside. Melts in your mouth. It’s accompanied by gorgeous baby meringue and raspberry sorbet. Service The whole floor staff came over to our table when it was time for dessert, with a personalised dessert for my birthday. This does make you want to slide under the table at the time, but it’s a nice touch. The waitress who was looking after our table couldn’t have done enough for us. They were so accommodating to the people with dietary requirements, nothing was too much for them. Her knowledge of each dish was noticeably excellent and seemed to be giving us her genuine opinion of each dish when asked. Value for money The price you pay is very reasonable
for the dining experience you get and you will be so stuffed, you’ll struggle to walk down the gorgeous curved stairs on the way out. The a la carte menu has so much variety and they offer a very reasonably priced early bird menu; 2 courses for €25 or 3 for €30 including tea/coffee, Tuesday-Friday 5:30pm-7:30pm and Saturday 5:30pm-6:30pm. On Sundays there is a lunch menu from 12pm-5pm. We went for the Sunday lunch menu and for a lunch menu it had a lot of variety.
Ratings Atmosphere: 8/10 Food: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Value for money: 8/10 Location: 10/10
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Travel
Halloween around the world Halloween is getting increasingly more popular in Ireland but it’s celebrated very differently in other parts of the world.
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AOIBHIN BRYANT
alloween has become a holiday celebrated across most of the world despite having its humble beginnings on our own little island. Originally a pagan festival believed to be when spirits would make contact with the physical world, people would don masks to scare these pesky spirits off and thus, a tradition was born. When Irish civilians emigrated to the United States of America for a variety of reasons, they kept up these traditions that would lead to an en masse participation in our spooky festival. We’ve all seen the films, we know that Halloween is a big deal in America and is possibly more celebrated over there than it is here. Intertwined with England’s Guy Fawkes night, at first Halloween was merely a day for young whippersnappers to play pranks and get up to general mischief. However, in the 1920s, this became a widespread problem with many using the holiday as an excuse to participate in criminal activity, including the KKK. The American Boy Scouts began the practice of trick or treating in order to stop children from going down the path of delinquency. This proved popular and by the 1930s, rates of vandalism had steadily decreased. Nowadays, it’s a huge event with many counting down the days until they can dress up as their favourite superhero or relevant political figure. Ryan Witherspoon, a student in Whitman Student, Washington but originally from Southern California, adores Halloween. “It’s a pretty big deal over here, there’s always so many parties you 12can go to and it’s always a great
night whether you’re dancing until dawn or chilling at home watching scary movie marathons, it’s lit.”
year goes by without any sort of spooktacular holiday. “We do have a Halloween-esque
“It’s a pretty big deal over here, there’s always so many parties you can go to and it’s always a great night whether you’re dancing until dawn or chilling at home watching scary movie marathons, it’s lit” It is estimated that America spends around $6 billion on Halloween each year, marking it as the second largest commercial holiday right after Christmas. In the States, it’s almost mandatory to decorate your house and leave pumpkins outside your door. It’s seen as a cardinal sin to not get in costume and to refuse to partake in any Halloween customs. Despite the holiday originating here, the American attitude has made its way across the Atlantic and there is no doubt that we celebrate Halloween in a slightly different manner than our ancestors would have. However, not all countries have immersed themselves in the Halloween spirit quite like the United States. The 31st of November in Lithuania is unmarked on most people’s calendars and the day goes by without much to record. Although this does not mean that the Lithuanian’s
celebration in early February” says DCU student Gabija Gataveckaite who now resides in Roscommon. “This is called Užgavėnės, and is the festival of banishing the winter away”. Lithuanian winters are very cold, with lots of snow and extremely low temperatures. Užgavėnės sees the people ‘scaring’ the winter away by wearing masks and dressing up in costumes, hosting bonfires. At these bonfires, an effigy of Winter, known as Morė, is burnt to mark the end of the cold season. Staged battles between Lašininis men of winter and the Kanapinis men of spring are usually held, where they duke it out until Spring reigns supreme. Children also enjoy going trick or treating on this day, but instead of dressing up as a witch or vampire they opt to go as gypsies or fortune tellers, threatening to curse the
homes of people who refuse to give them sweets. In Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, many of these celebrations take place on Gediminas Avenue and is a major event at the Rumšiškės open air museum. In the United Arab Emirates, Halloween is largely unheard of except for in the large and populous city of Dubai. Due to the high population of Western expatriates in the city (around 80 per cent), many have brought over their Halloween traditions from back home. Trick or treating and decorations are now a common occurrence although it hasn’t made its way to the surrounding nations, such as Saudi Arabia. “You wouldn’t look like a freak if you went out dressed up because a good few people do it” according to Emily Sheahan, a DCU student who has lived in Dubai. “There’s not as big of a drinking culture around it because of the strict laws so Halloween Balls or parties wouldn’t be as big of a thing as they are here.” In Dubai, the legal age to drink is 21 years old, a license is required to buy alcohol and can only be bought at restaurants or hotels. There is absolutely zero tolerance for drinking in public or public drunkenness so it’s perhaps best to layoff the Halloween themed cocktails. Despite this, Dubai now hosts a number of events for Halloween due to the Western influence in the past century. Despite its Pagan beginnings, Halloween has become a secular holiday for everyone from all walks of life to enjoy. So get out there, buy your sexy fidget spinner costume and pig out on the three for €2 offers on multipacks of sweets that’s going at the moment, the whole world will be applauding you.
Travel
Things to do in Dublin for Halloween 1 2 3
We’ve found the best stuff to do over the entire festive season in Dublin to make it worth while blowing the cobwebbs off your witches hat. BY
TESS O’CONNOR
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THE SPOOKY STUFF: The Nightmare Realm at the RDS This extreme walk-through horror house will trigger every fear you have. Bigger and better this year, the RDS is home to ‘Charlie Chops 3D Clown House’, ‘The Nightmare Realm Hostel’ and ‘Gruber Asylum’. Danger lurks in every shadow here so be prepared to scream. Student tickets cost €20 during peak times and €18 during off peak. However, to guarantee entry and for a cheaper fare book online - €18 during peak times and €16 during off peak. Hellfire Club Dublin Tour Known as ‘The most terrifying walking tour experience in Dublin’ by some, the Hellfire Club tour promises to make you shudder. The excursion lasts 2.5 hours and a private bus brings you up to the Hellfire club - infamous for its connections to ‘Satanism, the supernatural and the occult’. This tour is only available during Halloween week (26th to 31st of October).
FESTIVALS: Samhain Samhain combines the native pagan festival with the spook of Halloween. The weekend festival takes place in Weston Airport Hangar, Lucan and will hold acts such as Annie Mac, 2 Many DJs and Liam Gallagher. Tickets for the Saturday cost €49.50 and unfortunately Sunday is sold out, but you can always scope out Facebook event pages or special offers to try to win some last minute deals. Metropolis Usually held at a later date, Metropolis comes back to Dublin this year for the October bank holiday. Now a must on the Irish festival scene, this indoor festival is a guaranteed memorable night out. It will be located in the RDS and acts such as Bonzai, Adam Beyer and Jungle will take the stage. Weekend tickets costs €119.50 and Sunday tickets cost €69.50 and a booking fee.
DAY/NIGHT: Xico nightclub One of Dublin’s hottest clubs is hosting a ‘Dia De Los Muertos’ festival. Meaning Mexican Day of the Dead, which is when the gates of heaven are opened and deceased spirits arrive to reunite. With tunes pumping and €5 frozen margaritas, Xico promises a festive Halloween night out. Although, attendees should try to leave a bit early to dodge the inevitable holiday queue. TeaHouse of Horror - TeaParty v Techno & Cans Special Hangar, Andrews Lane are hosting a Halloween night full of techno music. This will be a night guaranteed to have the best and worst fancy dress imaginable and great drink deals all night. Acts including Jake Noland and KETTAMA will be taking the stage and entry will be €8, not a night to miss.
Things to do around Ireland for Halloween BY
AMY DONOHUE
The origin of Halloween began in Celtic Ireland. Traditions have changed in Ireland throughout the years, so here are some modern Halloween activities around the country. Tayto Park, Co. Meath Tayto Park’s Morbid Manor is a place of death and it’s tricky to get out once you step inside. It’s open from 20th-22nd, 25th-30th October: 7:30pm – 11pm. Tickets are €30 and must be pre-booked online. The tickets include: a night ride on seven attractions like the Cu Chulainn Coaster, a carnival and a 5D horror movie. Farmaphobia, Co. Meath Farmaphobia is a scream park based in Causey Farm, County Meath, offering five haunting experiences; The House of Dolls,
Dead and Breakfast, Vamporium, Field of Screams and Mutation Morgue. Depending on the day, tickets range from €18-€32. Drive-in movies, Co. Meath ScreamFest Drive-In Movies Navan is on from 29th-31st of October. They will be showing the best Halloween movies for children during the day and for adults at night. Scream, Friday the 13th, The Conjuring, The Goonies, and Dirty Dancing are some of the movies that will be shown. The event costs €25 per car. Belfast, Co. Antrim Radio Q are the media partner for Belfast’s biggest Halloween event and fireworks display on Sunday 29th of October from 4-7pm at Titanic Belfast. There will be carnival capers, spooky street theatre, music, workshops and fire juggling. 2017’s
theme is Day of the Dead and there’s many activities available for all ages. The event is free and tickets are not needed. There is a free ghost shuttle bus to and from the event. Alright Pumpkin, Co. Meath There’s nothing cuter or more authentic than picking your own pumpkin from a patch. The Alright Pumpkin patch in Meath has been growing pumpkins for three years and invite you to come and pick your own pumpkin there this halloween. They started it after they visited their first field of pumpkins and pumpkin patch while working on farms as a harvester in America. They wanted to bring the fun and colour back here to Ireland so why not go and hand pick your own pumpkin this year and have the real american experience.
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There will be carnival capers, spooky theatre, music, workshops and fire juggling
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Kinsale, Co. Cork Charles Fort in the Summer Cove part of Kinsale, Co. Cork is haunted by the ghost known as the Lady in White. The famous ghost story is describes a wedding that led to three funerals. The Lady in White was a new bride who committed suicide after her husband was murdered on their wedding night. He was murdered by her father, who then shot himself. It’s known to be one of the creepiest places in all of Ireland.
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Fashion
If you got it, haunt it: Halloween Highstreet Halloween:
For a higher budget, ASOS is the place to look with more intricate graphic tees and jumpers. They also stock festive trousers - skinny pants embellished with pumpkins and black skinny jeans with blood dripping from the knees. Bloody shirts, top hats and even bat capes: for the more ambitious man, ASOS has it all. Visualise a simple outfit idea, or get inspired by flicking through menswear pages, you never know what you’ll find. If you’re going all out or putting as little effort in as possible, remember every rule in fashion is there to be broken. Inject your own personality and style in whatever you wear - just put a little
Although some may like hours and hours of costume planning and immaculate perfection of their outfits for that special party, dressing up isn’t for everyone. By scouring sites like Boohoo and ASOS, the only casual style guide you’ll ever need is right here. BY
festive twist on a casual outfit. Accessories are key and can spice up any outfit, any time of year.
GABIJA GATAVECKAITE
For guys:
For Girls:
Halloween style isn’t just for girls, guys can pull it off too. The key is to know what to look for. If you’re heading to an event and are looking for casual costume ideas, perhaps consider chatting to one of your pals who loves makeup. In that way, you can keep your outfit casual, but with some special effects trickery on your face, turn up with cuts, scars or wounds. For the brave, the classic ‘zipper face’ will turn heads. Scour the likes of Instagram, print off a few ideas and recruit a makeup artist. Plenty of student MUAs will do a cheap and cheerful job.
Dressing up doesn’t have to be so literal. There is nothing wrong with taking a casual approach - a simple outfit with a pair of bunny or cat ears never hurt anybody. Inject some Halloween imagery into your pieces; for example, Boohoo stock mesh tops with cobweb embroidery, tights with skulls, classic fishnets. Rework some things you already have in your wardrobe - utilise old black dresses, black shorts and those ankle boots you’ve worn twice. Use accessories to add a festive touchASOS have beautiful masquerade eye masks, embellished in lace or headbands, with creepy black flower assortments. Jewellery never fails; black chokers, bracelets or even skeleton head earrings all add to the theme, don’t break the bank and can be reused year after year. If you’re feeling brave, buy some fake blood and go mad to spice up any outfit. You can even whip out some black eyeshadow and create wounds on any skin showing. If celebrating Halloween isn’t just a one night fling but a month long affair, quirky t-shirts are the answer- with slogans like ‘I got 99 problems but a witch ain’t one’ and ‘Careful I bite’, Boohoo’s got you covered. Pair these with your regular every day style, but add a darker touch, like grungy goth makeup- darker eye makeup, like thicker winged eyeliner or cranberry and brown toned eyeshadows. Invest in a pair or two of stomper boots, otherwise known as ‘man-repeller boots’- loaded in chains and metal pieces, with thick soles and a heavy duty look. Not only will these keep you out from the cold, they will last years and years, and since when have a pair of Doc Martens ever
Talented special effects lads on Instagram include Alex Faction, an American make-up hero who creates unbelievably realistic and frightening designs. Thankfully, Boohoo are offering 40 per cent for menswear, so the time to snap up any Halloween pieces is now. Quirky t-shirts with festive prints like spiders, pumpkins and skeleton imagery will work all month long.
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Makeup: If you’re looking to get serious, they also stock some simple SFX makeup, like fake fangs, Dracula teeth and glow in the dark makeup. Try your hand at some speargum and prosthetics with online tutorials. Even though they may seem slightly challenging at first, the end result will be worth it! Make sure to practice your look once or twice before the big night, so that you can fix any problems.
Go wild with makeup and special effects, if you’re wearing heels bring a pair of flats and don’t forget some makeup remover once it’s all said and done. Don’t throw out any creations you come up with or new pieces, there’s always next year!
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Dressing up doesn’t have to be so literal. There is nothing wrong with taking a casual approach- a simple outfit with a pair of bunny or cat ears never hurt anybody
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Fashion
n costumes that creep it real Pop Culture Costumes:
Today, costumes are a reflection of how up to date you are with popular culture. Helen O’Neill discusses this Halloween’s top sources of inspiration. BY
HELEN O’NEILL
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alloween costumes are no longer just a cut out sheet thrown on to provide a few scares. Today, costumes are a reflection of how up to date you are with popular culture. Recently, Halloween costumes have been mimicking the hit movies, TV shows and celebrities of that year. Even the most talked about, bizarre celebrity rumour becomes a costume. This year’s costume sites are selling a buzzed about Kylie Jenner pregnancy costume, complete with baby bump and slick black wig. While old-school costumes such as a witch and the devil still make an appearance, the real MVP of Halloween are this year’s top pop culture references. 2017 was a scary year in many ways but the stand outs were clowns. The cult following of the year, whether you loved them or cowered at the very sight of them, there was no denying clowns had their moment. Saves on Pinterest for clown make up is up by 941 per cent according to American fashion marketplace Lyst. The hotly anticipated IT remake hit our screens a month ago and instantly
the clown Pennywise became the go-to costume for Halloween. While the costume might look like a lot of effort, a slick of face paint and someone handy on the sewing machine could transform old threads in your dad’s wardrobe to achieve this look. As well as movies, American Horror Story: Cult also jumped on the clown bandwagon to provide even more costumes to choose from. Twisty the clown is a staple for the series and costume sites are selling full Twisty costumes. If you’re partial to just throwing on a mask for Halloween take your pick from the
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While old school costumes such as a witch and the devil still make an appearance, the real MVP of Halloween are this year’s top pop culture references.
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cult of clown’s in Season 7 and you’re set. The popular Netflix show Riverdale is definitely going to make a big appearance on the scene this Halloween. The costumes for Betty, Veronica, Archie and Jughead are super easy with the hardest piece to source probably being a letterman jacket. Riverdale has set up the perfect group costume with minimal effort. On the topic of TV, Big Little Lies have provided a costume within a costume for Halloween. The women of the show go to an Audrey Hepburn party where they each dress as a different Hepburn role. Fans of the show will know that a group of 5 could pay serious homage to the series by each picking an Audrey to portray. Another standout show with a strong costume presence is The Handmaids Tale, which could be tricky to source the capes and hoods but there would be no fear of having an unrecognisable costume while donning those dramatic outfits.
Stranger Things character Eleven was a big hit last year and with the release of Season 2 for October 27th, you can bet money on it that the streets and the parties will be full of Elevens. A pink dress and white shirt complete with either a blond wig or the shaved head look depending of how extreme you want to go will make for an easy and popular costume. Every year the reliable Wonder Woman costume is inevitably seen but this Halloween will see an increase in the superhero costume following the Gal Gadot hit movie release. Think your normal Wonder Woman with an updated uniform and added woman power and you’ll be well on your way to a bold costume. For something a bit more topical, and depending on your political view, potentially frightening, an easy look to recreate if you have enough confidence is that of American president Donald Trump. The true inspiration for the best costume of Trump is not from the man himself but from Alec Baldwin’s SNL sketch. A suit, a few cushions for extra padding and a blond comb over are the key pieces to an inevitable 2017 costume. And of course, don’t forget to invest in a bottle of tan to recklessly splash over your face. The streakier the better. While a lot of Halloween sites will be stocking all the costumes mentioned, they don’t come without the steep price tag. Second hand and vintage stores are a treasure trove for costumes and don’t forget to rummage in your parents or grandparent’s wardrobes. You could find exactly what you’re looking for to piece the perfect Halloween costume together.
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EXPOSURE
Youth: A child gazes out at the sea under a setting sun. Credit: Amy Donohoe
Early Morning Dublin: Commuters make their daily early morning journey
The Great Seal Escape: a herd of seals make their way into the Atlantic Ocean on a
along the quays of Dublin. Credit: Deirbhile Ní Chathail
beach in Kerry. Credit: Niamh McKeown
Towering Grass: This is what a worms equivalent of New York would look like.
River Avenue: a couple walk underneath the shadows of the Yankee Stadium in New York
Credit: Orla O’Driscoll
Credit: Mark Carroll
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Image Credit:
Page 1: BladeRunner2049.com; Page 2: Miley Cyrus, Nirvana; Page 3: Ben Toal; Page 4: Castannettenow.com; Page 5: StarTrek.com; Page 6: Easons, Kazuo Ishiguro; Page 7: Stop Sexual Assault; Page 8:Alanna Gormley; Page 9: Nivea, Rosaliac; Page 10: Elsa Anderling; Page 11: Aqua; Page 12: Emily Sheahan, Getty Images ; Page 13: Hanger, Getty Images; Page 14: ASOS, Alex Faction; Page 15: Yandy.com, Metro.com