TRINITY NEWS
Trinity lecturer’s union endorses academic boycott of Israel in BDS win
László Molnárfi Investigative Reporter
Trinity’s lecturers union has passed a motion endorsing an academic boycott of Israel in a significant win for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.
At its EGM on September 26, the Trinity branch of the Irish Federation of University Teacher (IFUT) adopted a comprehensive pro-BDS stance, specifically including support for an “academic boycott and [cutting] ties with Israeli academic institutions”.
The motion was adopted following an emergency meeting called by a petition of union members. Since local branches within IFUT operate with full autonomy, it sought to actualise the commitment to BDS made at IFUT’s May 2024 Annual Delegate Conference.
The motion was brought forward by two Academia for Palestine (AfP) members, and mandates the union to pursue the cutting of all ties, whether academic, supplier or investment to Israel wherever possible with due regards to “contractual obligations and the welfare of TCD researchers”.
It further mandates the union to promote stronger relations between Trinity and Palestinian Universities “and offer support to the rebuilding of these universities in Gaza” and to ensure that Trinity “does not have any institutional partnerships, Erasmus, international mobility or exchange agreements with Israeli HEIs”.
As of last semester, Trinity had two exchange agreements in place with
Israeli universities, the Hebrew University Jerusalem and Bar Ilan University. It also has a memorandum of understanding with Al Quds University, a Palestinian university based in Jerusalem.
“Israeli universities aren’t merely complicit in genocide, they are active participants” said Dr David Landy of AfP.
“30% of the student body in Israel has participated in the slaughter in Gaza, fully supported by their institutions. These universities, through their public statements, their military research, their
training programmes for the IDF, and their social media ‘situation rooms’, have directly participated in the genocide in Gaza.”
Dr. Harun Šiljak added that the new mandate gives substance to IFUT’s “clear pro-BDS position”.
“[It outlines] how to operationalise BDS in relation to investments, suppliers, and institutional academic links. It is based on best practices of other universities that have cut ties with Israeli institutions –Ghent, Barcelona and Galway University among others.”
“We now have a clear framework of action for our IFUT delegates to advance on the taskforce and in other forums.”
The motion was adopted ahead of the upcoming task force on divestment from Israel, set up in wake of the May encampment on Fellows Square. All the unions in Trinity – IFUT, SIPTU, UNITE and Connect –support the international BDS campaign and are expected to have seats on the upcoming task force, alongside TCDSU and TCD BDS.
“
As Israel invades Lebanon, Trinity once
again
fails its Middle Eastern students
Faye Madden Investigations Editor
On the 24th February 2022, Russian military forces began a ground invasion into Ukraine. Within three days of this military action, Trinity had issued a statement condemning the invasion: “Ní neart go cur le chéile. Trinity stands with Ukraine.”
College made its stance unmistakably clear and supports were swiftly offered to any students who were affected by this escalation of violence. However, this statement stands in resounding contrast to College’s response, or rather lack of response, regarding Israel’s recent invasion of Lebanon.
Following a series of attacks on the country, including the targeted detonation of pagers belonging to Hezbollah members, Israeli ground forces entered Southern Lebanon on October 1. Lebanon’s Health Ministry has reported that over 2,000 people, including 127 children, have been killed by Israeli military action in the country and civilian areas have been targeted according to those reporting from the ground. At the time of this article being published, it will have been
Comment page 5
► Academics welcome move ► Motion passed at emergency meeting ► Mandates members to cut Israeli partnerships
Henry Synnott for Trinity News
College to pull funding from Inclusive Curriculum Project
College has stated that the project was only intended to receive one year of funding, despite claims from members of the project advisory board
László Molnárfi and Faye Madden Investigative Reporter Investigations Editor
The Trinity Inclusive Curriculum Project (INC) is no longer to receive top slice funding from the Access fund, according to the minutes of an advisory board meeting in August 2024.
The INC Project, established in October 2020, operates within the Office of the Associate Vice Provost for Equality, Diversity and Equality.
The project aims to implement principles of diversity, equity and inclusion across teaching and learning within Trinity through collaboration with staff, students and academic and support spaces.
The project has been responsible for several initiatives including the Student-Partner Programme which is a committee of students
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from communities which are commonly underrepresented and/or disadvantaged in Higher Education.
This committee, the Student Partner Committee, works to raise awareness of experiences of inclusion and exclusion within curricula at Trinity and collaborates with other student groups including TCDSU.
INC also has been responsible for the running of the Professional Learning Module in Inclusive Practices.
This module, offered to those teaching at Trinity and recognised by the National Forum for Teaching and Learning, is an introductory professional development course, outlining the principles of universal design for learning.
In a statement to Trinity News, a spokesperson for
Trinity stated that the project was only intended to receive funding for a year.
“In August 2024, TrinityINC was advised by the Academic Services Division that there would not be a continuation of top-sliced pilot funding from the Access fund for 2024/25.”
“A minute from the meeting of the Widening Participation Group (June 2020) explains the situation. The group noted that the then newlyestablished EDI Office would house the Trinity-Inclusive Curriculum Project, which would be established and granted funding from a top slice of the HEA Access Funding grant to Trinity for a one-year project.”
“This first year coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic and the initial funding rolled
into subsequent years, with some additional annual funding since 2020 which has sustained the project work and staffing to date.”
Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) Mature Students Officer James Murphy, who sits on the INC advisory board, expressed dissatisfaction with the discontinued funding
“Whatever the justification given, Trinity’s decision to discontinue funding for Trinity INC represents a deeply concerning retreat from what little effort the College has made to turn strong rhetoric of a more inclusive Trinity into concrete actions.”
Murphy confirmed to Trinity News that upon the removal of this funding, the INC Project will conclude its activities by the end of term.
Anger among student nurses after exclusion from €500 subsistence payment
“To be honest, I’m not surprised. They don’t care about us.”
Tara Ní Bhroin
Eagarthóir
Gaeilge
Fourth year children’s nursing students have expressed anger after it was communicated that they will not receive a subsistence payment for unpaid placement this year.
The subsistence payment was introduced in 2023 to support student nurses with the increased costs associated with the mandatory placements student nurses must complete during their studies. Nursing students are given €250 per term to cover the cost of food and lunches.
However, it was announced in September that this allowance will not be available to fourth year student nurses. Speaking to Trinity News, children’s and general nursing student Naomi ButlerFfrench said the situation was “unbelievable”.
“This is another hurdle to [overcome]. Last year, when the subsistence payment came in, it felt like we were finally getting some recognition for
the work we do on placement –and now that’s been taken away from us.”
Communication from the Office of the Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services in the Health Service Executive (HSE) said that the decision arose from the fact that the fourth-year student nurses are approaching their paid internship, and that the subsistence payment is specifically for students on unpaid placement.
But members of the children’s nursing class have said that their internship will not begin until May 2025, before which they have 18 weeks of unpaid placement to do.
This is the longest period of placement throughout all years of the degree; in first year, students must complete 10 weeks, while second and third year students must complete 16 weeks.
Nursing student Katie Foley summed up her classmates’ sentiments: “To be honest, I’m not surprised. They don’t care about us.”
This announcement comes after a year of questions and upset. After the subsistence allowance was launched last autumn, there was an unexplained delay of three months in the payment of the allowance to students.
Student nurses were due to be paid €750 in November, however the students did not receive this payment
“ This is the longest period of placement throughout all years of the degree
until March, after a battle for answers and clarity, with many questions left unresolved or acknowledged. The Student Allocation Liaison Officer (SALO), who oversees the clinical allocations aspect of the nursing degree, praised students for their proactivity in raising the problem with the HSE, adding: “Hopefully changes can occur as soon as possible.”
Students are still waiting for communication from the HSE with an answer as to why they must complete 18 weeks of placement without the subsistence allowance prior to starting their internship next May.
Explainer: Why the Residential Tenancies Board deemed Trinity’s overnight guest policy “unenforceable”
The Residential Tenancy Board’s (RTB) recent adjudication of the college’s overnight guest policy as “unenforceable” prompted celebration from TCD Renter’s Solidarity Network, and an appeal of the decision from the College. The group, alongside Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU), with then-president László Molnárfi at its helm, had advanced several arguments as to why the policy should be repealed, charging risks to student welfare and hypocrisy, among other arguments; the RTB’s decision ultimately rested on much narrower legal reasoning in light of tenancy legislation to which College as a landlord is subject.
Arguments Advanced
Former TCDSU president László Molnárfi, now an investigative reporter with Trinity News, submitted a claim in February of this year to
Conor Healy News Analysis
Co-Editor
the RTB on behalf of the TCD Renters’ Solidarity Network, seeking to find the College’s Overnight guest policy unenforceable, on the basis of three distinct arguments.
The first argument was that the policy endangered invitees of residents of the college’s student accommodation, who may find themselves in vulnerable positions late at night if they were not allowed to stay overnight. Molnárfi’s proposal squared that there was a certain duty of care on the part of the college towards these invited guests to the college residence. The RTB adjudication rejected this argument, not on the grounds of the proposal itself, but rather on a matter of scope, determining that the invitees of the residents were not a direct party to the Residential Tenancies Act 2004, and therefore could not be the grounds on which a claim of unenforceability could be raised.
The second argument raised
was one of hypocrisy; a claim that it was a hypocritical stance on the part of the college that members of faculty who reside on campus were not subject to the same overnight guest policy restrictions, and that it was therefore an “unfair policy”. This argument was also dismissed by the RTB, on the grounds that there is no obligation on a landlord to provide the same terms of residency to different tenants. Indeed, they commented that if there was a complaint of the nature that the difference in policy application to faculty and to students could be discriminatory, then the RTB would also not be the appropriate medium by which to resolve this issue.
However, Molnárfi’s third argument, the argument which proved successful, was that the college’s overnight guest policy was “paternalistic and imposes an arbitrary control over the tenants based on the values of the landlord rather than on any objective logical criterion”. This argument was fleshed out in the adjudication by the RTB with reference to the rights of tenants laid out in the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (The 2004 Act).
Successful Argument
The argument here, as delivered by Threshold who represented Molnárfi in the proceedings, was able to ground itself legally via the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2019. This 2019 piece of legislation brought Student Specific Accommodation under the remit of the 2004 Act, which lays out, amongst other things, certain obligations and rights on the part of both landlords and tenants in a relationship of tenancy. As a result, residents of Trinity College accommodation such as those living in Trinity Halls or on campus, who are in licence agreements with the College, are able to avail of all the same
protections that tenants may under the 2004 act, with the exception of the right to security of tenure, meaning that the college can arrange tenancies of fixed durations to line up with the academic year.
Since students can avail of these protections, the judgement disregards arguments made by the college suggesting that they can impose these obligations as they are primarily an educational institution, and rather focuses on the rights of the tenant here like in any other standard tenancy agreement.
Thus, Molnárfi’s third argument of paternalism could be attached to the 2004 Residential Tenancies Act, and more specifically, provision 12 (1)(a), which allows “the tenant of the dwelling to enjoy peaceful and exclusive occupation of the dwelling”.
This central right to peaceful and exclusive occupation of the dwelling is bolstered by other provisions in the 2004 Act, such as section 18, which states that “no provision of any lease, tenancy agreement, contract or other agreement … may operate to vary, modify or restrict in any way section 12 or 16.” Furthermore, while section 18 allows for additional obligations to be placed on the tenant in any given contract, such obligations may only be applied “if those obligations are consistent with this Act”.
Thus, the judgement
“ Paternalistic and imposes an arbitrary control over the tenants based on the values of the landlord...
outlined an inextricable right on the part of the tenant in student accommodation to the right of peaceful and exclusive occupation of their dwelling, and as such, the question became not one of whether they had a right to such peaceful and exclusive occupation, but rather one of whether the college’s overnight guest policy was objectively interfering with this right in a way that was inconsistent with the 2004 Act.
On this latter question, the judgement found that there was an objective interference with this right. Numerous aspects of the college’s overnight guest policy were listed in the judgement;
“Any visitor or guest within accommodation after the designated time will be deemed to be an overnight guest... Residents may only host one overnight guest at any time and for no longer than the number of nights stated in the Residents’ Handbook without the permission... Permission should be sought at least 5 days prior to the guest’s arrival...Any resident who hosts overnight guests with what the relevant College Officer considers to be excessive frequency may be required to obtain advance permission for each occasion that an overnight guest is to be hosted. The permission may be declined… the relevant College Officer may prohibit a resident from hosting further overnight”.
Upon stating these, it was found they were an objectively “unreasonable restriction” of the tenant’s rights to peace and exclusive occupation of their dwelling. Most specifically, there was a comment on how the obligation on the part of a tenant to disclose the identity of their invitee to the accommodation in advance may constitute a breach of privacy that was inconsistent with this right.
As such, it was found that the aspect of the licence agreement in Trinity college student accommodation contracts that refers to the overnight guest policy was unenforceable.
This judgement is currently under appeal by Trinity College, in a “bid to maintain more clarity”, as they claim the overnight guest policy is “a pragmatic policy designed primarily to protect students living on campus”, and that it “is in line with sectoral norms”.
Jimena Alvarez for Trinity News
College launches public lecture series on democracy in the 21st century
The lectures are to be delivered by academics from the economics and sociology departments, as well as outside visitors
Rosie O’Mara Contributing Writer
Trinity is launching a new public lecture series, entitled “Democracy at a crossroads”, which will discuss the contemporary challenges democracy is facing around the world, such as populism, economic inequality, and AI. Further topics to be dealt with include the increasing wealth divide and its impact on 2024 elections, the role of social media in democracy’s maintenance and disintegration, moral political issues that cause disturbances in democracies and analysis of important elections taking place this year.
There will be four lectures in the series, running each Thursday between 3 and 24 October. Each lecture will cost €7 to attend and can be booked on the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy website. They will take place in the JM Synge Theatre in the Arts Block from 7pm to 8:30pm.
The talks will be delivered by Trinity academics, including Dr Marvin Suesse from the Department of Economics and Dr David Landy from the Department of Sociology.
The first lecture deals with how economic inequality affects voter participation, while the second and third lectures discuss the “moral limits of democracy” and social media’s role in this.
The final event, entitled “Election Watch 2024: A Global Perspective”, will consist of a panel discussion of political scientists who will offer analysis of the current state of global democracy as well as predictions for its future.
This series of lectures comes after a wave of electoral victories for right-wing parties across Europe, most recently with Austria’s Freedom Party in the country’s legislative elections and Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland winning in two state-wide elections.
The ladder’s win marks the
first time a far-right party has won an election in Germany since the Nazi Party held power.
Head of the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy wrote in a statement that “with
significant elections taking place in 2024 and democracy facing unprecedented challenges, this series offers crucial insights”
“By examining these issues
from multiple perspectives, we aim to foster meaningful dialogue and deepen public engagement with these important topics”, he concluded.
President of Vietnam visits Trinity during state visit to Ireland
President Lâm was welcomed on campus at Trinity by Vice Provost Orla Sheils
Luna Michelis Contributing Writer
President of Vietnam Tô Lâm visited Trinity last week during his official state visit to Ireland. Vietnam is a one-party state, and Lâm simultaneously holds the presidency and the leadership of the national
communist party, making him “the most powerful figure in Vietnamese politics”.
He was welcomed by Vice Provost Orla Sheils and attended events in the Old Library, the Book of Kells exhibition and the Public Theatre. Minister for Further and Higher Education Patrick O’Donocan was also present.
President Lâm delivered a speech on campus entitled “A Vision for a New Era of Viet Nam - Ireland Partnership for Peace, Cooperation and International Development”.
In his speech, he said that his “past two days in Ireland have been a special experience”, adding that he is “grateful to the leadership of Trinity College Dublin and Asia Matters for organising this significant meeting”.
“Reflecting on nearly 30 years of relations, I am deeply
confident that in the decades to come, and even further into the future, the relationship between Vietnam and Ireland will continue to be strengthened and elevated to new heights”, he concluded.
College wrote in a statement that “the visit builds on strong links between Trinity and Vietnam”, adding that “Trinity currently has 29 registered students from Vietnam across Dental Technology, Digital Media, Pharmacy, Physics, Engineering and Computer Science”.
While touring campus, there was a considerable visual police presence, with walkways between Front Square and New Square being closed down for periods of time.
President Lâm was also hosted by the President of Ireland at a state dinner in Áras an Uachtarán.
Arina
Pravato for Trinity News
Photo: Trinity College Dublin
Comment: As Israel Invades Lebanon, Trinity
once again fails its Middle Eastern students
seven days since Lebanon was illegally invaded and it will have been seven days of no public response to this violence from Trinity. Trinity boasts a close relationship with the American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanon’s leading university and one of the most prestigious universities in the Middle East. For several years, College has held an exchange student programme with the Lebanese university, with four Trinity students most recently spending a semester there in Autumn 2023.
Last week AUB Vice President of Administration, Mary Jaber Nachar, issued a statement following the Israeli invasion expressing a desire to “remain united through this latest series of challenges”. He continued by saying “we know that the situation is volatile and what applies next week might not apply the following one,
so we will continue to communicate with you to provide updates as we monitor the situation”
Many classes within the university have been moved online as more people continue to flee Beirut and schedules have been “modified” to allow staff and students to return safely home to avoid bombings.
As we watch a close partner university endure a situation beyond comprehensible difficulty, Trinity’s public silence only becomes more disappointing and quite frankly baffling. We remain unable to ignore that there appears to be a pronounced contradiction between how College treated the invasion of Ukraine and the current invasion of Lebanon.
Speaking to Trinity News, a Trinity student who is of Lebanese origin shared that she currently has family in Lebanon. In the midst of the anticipated
invasion, her family members have fled Beirut to escape the increasing violence. Additional elderly family members, who were unable to flee to the mountains of Northern Lebanon, have been forced to take refuge in neighbouring countries, anticipating the then impending invasion.
Following the invasion of Ukraine, Provost Linda Doyle stated in a college-wide email that “all students in Trinity who list Ukraine as their nationality were invited to a meeting at the weekend attended by the VP for Global Engagement, the International Student Experience manager, the President of the Students Union and the Pro Senior Tutor”
This meeting discussed practical support for students affected by Russia’s invasion and all College tutors “with students in their chambers
from impacted countries” were contacted. When asked if she has received any sort of correspondence from Trinity regarding her welfare, the Lebanese student answered no.
These contradicting scenarios paint a damning picture of College and which students they show concern of welfare for.
Trinity Business School released their own statement in February 2022 condemning Russia’s military action and expressed concern regarding “the violation of human rights and atrocities unfolding in Ukraine”.They also have yet to release a similar statement regarding Israel’s occupation of Southern Lebanon and the continued indiscriminate bombardments of Beirut.
Though there may be private support being offered to students affected by the violence in Lebanon that Trinity News
is not currently aware of, the lack of public solidarity sends an unmistakable message to the wider college community - nationally and internationally.
Lebanon, more specifically AUB, has been a source of incredible cultural immersion and a high standard of scholarship for many visiting Trinity students. Trinity students who have spent time in Beirut have built deep connections with the students, faculty and local communities there and were afforded incredible learning opportunities.
Trinity has a responsibility as not only a partner university but also as a leading European university to condemn Israel’s illegal invasion of the country and stand in solidarity with AUB and the wider nation of Lebanon as they suffer unimaginable violence and destruction. Anything else would be a abdication of responsibility
Fógraíonn Caifé AML lascaine 15% ar orduithe trí Ghaeilge
Tá an lascaine ar fáil ar an margadh béile
Tara Ní Bhroin
Eagrathóir Gaeilge
Tá Caifé Aontas na Mac Léinn
Coláiste na Tríonóide (AMLCT) tar éis lascaine a fhógairt do mhic léinn a dhéanann a n-ordú trí mheán na Gaeilge. Gheofar 15% as an bpraghas nuair a roghnaítear an Ghaeilge a úsáid.
Tá an lascaine seo ar fáil ar an margadh béile atá sa chaifé- tóstaí, criospaí agus deoch ar phraghas €4.99/€5.20
Tagann an feachtas seo i ndiaidh bliana rathúla don Ghaeilge an bhliain seo caite. Chaith mac léinn na Tríonóide vóta chun láithreacht na teanga a fheabhsú is a mheadú san Aontas. Tá toradh an chinnidh sin le feiceáil go soiléirbíonn gach cumarsáid ón Aontas dátheangach, le imeachtaí dátheangacha agus Gaelacha á reachtáil acu. Anois, is é seo an chéad céim eile chun an Ghaeilge a spreagadh ar champas agus spás do Ghaelgóirí a cruthú.
Tá an caifé suite i Halla Goldsmith agus ar oscailt ó Luain go hAoine 9:30r.n4:30i.n.
“Tá AMLCT tar éis lascaine a fhógairt do mhic léinn a dhéanann a n-ordú trí mheán na Gaeilge
Libraries to close for second consecutive weekend amid ongoing electrical issues
Charlotte Kent College News Editor
Libraries have faced intermittent closures for two consecutive weekends amidst ongoing electrical faults.
Kinsella Hall and the 1937 Postgraduate Reading Room were closed from 4pm Saturday evening to facilitate “essential electrical work”, following unexpected closures the previous weekend.
In a student-wide emaill announcing the closure, College apologised for any inconvenience caused to students.
The Hamilton Library served as an alternative 24/7 study for students, remaining fully open from 4pm Saturday until 9am Monday.
The library complex which consists of the Ussher, Lecky and former Berkeley libraries, was forced to close two weekends ago due to an electrical fault.
Reportedly, the electrical issue also caused the temporary closure of the Old Library, affecting tourists.
On X, the College library confirmed that the Ussher has “been experiencing intermittent electrical issues”.
Speaking about the closures on social media last weekend, Trinity College Dublin Stu-
dents’ Union (TCDSU) President Jenny Maguire criticised College for “spending millions on new facilities while our current spaces crumble,” adding that students and staff should be prioritised more than “flashy builds”.
“The library team do amazing work – College must act to reflect this,” she added.
A year of solidarity in photos
9 October 2023
Hundreds attend emergency rally for Gaza as Israel begins airstikes
USI VP for Campaigns Zaid Al-Bharghouthi calls on attendees to take a stand against war
14 October - 16 December 2023
Thousands take to the streets of Dublin weekend after weekend in displays of support for Gaza
Protests call on the government to implement sanctions on Israel
8 November 2024
Students blockade Front Arch in protest against College’s ties to Israeli universities
18 November 2023
At a demonstration, red paint is daubed on the Department of Foreign Affairs building
29 February 2024
Students block access to the Old Library and new Book of Kells Experience in protest against Trinity’s silence on Gaza
It was one of five times protestors would use the tactic throughout the year
18 April 2024
Academics for Palestine hold caps outside graduation, with each hat representing 100 students killed in Gaza
They continue to call on Trinity to cut ties
3 May 2024
Around 60 students set up an encampment in Fellows Square, demanding College cut ties with Israel
Numbers in the encampment grow to over a hundred by the second night
4 May 2024
Alumni and members of the public rally outside campus in support of the students
8 May 2024
Students celebrate as Trinity commits to full divestment from Israel
It is the first victory of its kind in the world
4 October 2024
Students parttake in a minute’s silence for Gaza in Front Square almost one year on from the beginning of the bombardment
5 October 2024
Thousands attend national rally in Dublin as Israel begins ground invasion of Lebanon
Photos: Rory Chinn, Niko Evans, Jimena Alvarez, Quintin Lawlor, Ellen Kenny, Henry Synnott, Gordii Kodubovskyi, Neasa Nic Corcráin
The Winners and Losers of Budget 2024/25
In the months leading up to the release of Budget 2025, many came forward with their propositions for what the government’s fiscal forecast ought to prioritise.
Submissions came in the form of a compelling email from Provost Linda Doyle, budget proposals from the Union of Students Ireland (USI), and straightforward requests from students themselves.
As October 1st arrived, eyes turned to the Department of Finance; yet despite being labelled as the biggest giveaway budget prior to its release, Ireland’s Fiscal Watchdog branded the €9.1 billion budget as ‘short sighted’.
The day left many wondering who exactly were the winners and losers of Budget 2025 - and where do students stand in the fray?
USI response
To determine the student position, one must first determine where student representatives lie on the scale of winner to loser.
Unfortunately, USI faced disappointment.
In a statement issued following the Budget’s release, USI addressed their key critiques for the package.
Their three main pre-budget submissions suggested were to fund the building of the 30,000 bed shortfall in student accomodation, reduce the student contribution fee while introducing a plan to eventually abolish the payment, and to establish free public transport for all students.
These proposals were unfulfilled.
The reduction of the Student Contribution Charge, though offering an immediate source of relief, was met with criticism.
In the statement issued, it was said: “The repeat of the €1,000 reduction in the Student Contribution Charge is again only a once-off measure as part of the overall cost-ofliving package.”
“USI had called for a €1,500 reduction now and the introduction of a plan to abolish fees over the next few years.”
“The only measure that will help some students is the increase in the renters’ tax
Conor Healy News Analysis Co-Editor
relief, but it is a drop in the ocean compared to the overall cost of student accommodation currently.
USI president Chris Clifford also voiced his disappointment.
“In their speeches today,” Clifford said, “both Ministers Chambers and Donohoe talked about the importance of education and young people in our society, and yet they did nothing for third-level students.”
“They talked about wanting to make Ireland the best place in the world to be a child, but between the cost of going to college, the lack of student accommodation and no mention of specific supports for students, it seems like they want to hand young people a plane ticket along with their Leaving Cert results.”
Provost Linda Doyle and higher education Despite USI’s position, there will be a tentative celebration on the part of those who advocated for increased Higher Education funding, including Provost Linda Doyle.
Provost Linda Doyle voiced her hopes and expectations for the 2024 budget in a college-wide email sent in mid September, calling for government adherence to the Funding the Future plan conceived in 2022, and the Irish Universities Association (IUA) pre-budget submission.
In their pre-budget submissions, the IUA called for “significant acceleration of Government’s commitment to provide €307 million in additional annual core funding for the sector, as well as provision for the funding of public sector pay awards.”
In the wake of Budget 2025, any body that had endorsed the Funding the Future Plan will have been sated by the government’s plan to provide additional funding for the sector, rising from €50m in 2025 to €150m extra by 2029 under the Funding the Future process.
In a statement released by the IUA following the budget, they said the additional funding would “enable the universities to invest in the necessary staff and supports to underpin the continued delivery of highquality graduates for the
the conscientious nod to the higher education sector, it nevertheless is a big win for those who advocated for increased sectoral funding.
The everyday student
workforce”.
This addresses key issues raised by Provost Doyle in her email such as poor student to staff ratios, and can largely be regarded as a win on her part.
Indeed, the additional funding for the higher education sector is not merely coincidental to the pleas for increased funding from the past few months.
Speaking on Tuesday, Minister for Higher Education, Research and Innovation
Patrick O’Donovan said “This Budget addresses the core funding gap in Higher Education raised as part of Funding the Future”.
“This is something the Higher Education sector has been crying out for, and the Government has listened.”
In a sense, the additional funding for the higher education sector was indicative of the government trying to explicitly award a “win” to higher education institutions across the country.
This suits the narrative of Budget 2025 being a giveaway budget - an attempt to appease ahead of an imminent general election.
However, whatever the political rationale behind
In a budget which seems to have rewarded the higher education sector, but not have given as much leniency to demands made by the USI, where does this leave the everyday student?
Despite explicit disappointment from the USI, most students will be relieved by many of the provisions made in Budget 2025. Most notably an increase in minimum wage will see the working student €13.50 an hour, an increase of 80c from the current rate.
Another win for students will be the one-off reduction of the student contribution fee by €1000. Despite the hopes of the USI, the one-off payment will still be warmly welcomed by students.
Additional wins for students include that the standard for the SUSI grant is to be amended, and increased stipends for PhD students.
Despite this, issues surrounding student housing were in the shadows of the Budget.
The Department of Further Education has been allocated funding to ‘support the activation of more than 1,200 student accommodation beds’, however the decision will do little to chip the 30,000 national deficit.
However, echoing the Fiscal Watchdog’s remarks of a ‘short sighted budget’, the
“ The forecast fails to address more existential student concerns, with the Budget perhaps not as successful
forecast fails to address more existential student concerns, with the Budget perhaps not as successful as it was in appeasing the higher education institutions.
Moves to increase the minimum wage and increase the rent tax credit are welcome steps, but contextual consideration leaves much to be desired.
Following the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation of a minimum wage of €14.50 per hour, and the fact that students availing of programmes such as the Housing Assistance Payment or Rent Supplement Payment are not entitled to the increased rent tax credit, it can be reasonably surmised that students are still being left with the short end of the stick.
It is inevitable, when creating the Budget, that there will be certain “winners” and “losers”.
The third level education sector has been granted an injection of vital funding, with conscientious expenditure on the Funding the Future programme, leaving the IUA and all who endorsed their proposals as the tentative winners of this year’s budget.
However, reading between the lines of this funding and seeing what was excluded, the position of students themselves leaves many wishing for more.
In this sense, the provisions of Budget 2025 paint the students as winners, but in the context of Ireland’s landscape today, these temporary wins don’t outweigh the long-term losses that remain firmly on the backs of students across Ireland.
Photo: Department of Finance
First year business students tell of experience studying new sustainability module
Enacting Sustainable Development is a new mandatory module for all first year business students
Anna Cordellini
Contributing Writer
Approximately 600 first year students have enrolled in a new sustainability-focused module at Trinity this semester.
This comes a year after the launch of a strategic initiative aimed at incorporating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) throughout the curriculum.
The new module “Enacting Sustainable Development” is now mandatory for all first year students enrolled in Trinity Business School, including Global Business, Business Economics and Social Studies (BESS), and Law and Business students.
This module, which has been in development for over a year, is designed to be “radically
interdisciplinary” consisting of history, science, politics, economics and ethics. It was designed by Trinity Fellows in ESD, which includes academics from all three faculties, alongside student interns.
The module aims to equip students with the “competencies and skills needed to grapple with the global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss”.
Associate Professor Norah Campbell, who is leading the module, said it offers students a “chance to understand issues not normally taught in Business Schools” including earth science, corporate political activity and colonialism.
Professor Jane Stout, Vice President of Biodiversity and Climate Action added: “By embedding these issues in the curriculum, we can prepare future generations to act as agents of change for sustainable development, in both their professional and personal lives.”
The introduction of this module caught many students by surprise, who did not think they would be attending science-related lectures during their first week in the Business School.
Lea Tsolov, a first-year BESS student, told Trinity News of her experience in the course so far: “I will definitely see benefits in the long run,
even though right now it was a bit of a shock, I was not expecting the module to be so science-oriented”.
“Nowadays these kinds of skills are in demand among companies and a lot of students don’t have enough knowledge on climate change and the threats that it might pose on our planet,” she added.
Lucy, another BESS student, who requested to be named by first name only, echoed Tsolov’s sentiment regarding employability.
“In my opinion, the module provides us with a skill that will make us super employable in the future and with a very unique perspective in terms of sustainability which is
obviously becoming a more urgent and necessary subject”.
Both students feel that the module has broadened their perspectives on the subject matter.
“It has opened my eyes to a much more intricate set of problems than I initially believed we were facing as a society,” Lucy said.
“It made me reflect on the sustainability of my lifestyle, it also showed me a different approach to economics,” added Tsolov.
“In economics, we are often looking for exponential growth, but this module made me realise that that might not always be positive”.
The class size and lecture
length however, presents some issues according to the students: “I think as a group of 530 the content can feel quite heavy, especially given that it’s a two-hour lecture. During the smaller workshops we’ve been able to interact more.”
“Some people have been spotted leaving during our breaks and this week had substantially less attendance than last week, so that probably says enough,” Lucy said.
Trinity plans to make similar ESD modules available throughout college with the aim of providing all students with “the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to promote sustainable development within planetary boundaries”.
Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental speaks to the Phil
Tomi Reichental discussed his path from surviving the Holocaust to becoming a prominent educator after receiving the Gold Medal of Honorary Patronage from the Philosophical Society
Luna Michelis
Contributing Writer
Holocaust survivor and public speaker Tomi Reichantal spoke to the University Philosophical Society (the Phil) last week, after being awarded the society’s gold medal of honorary patronage “for his outstanding contributions to education and Holocaust awareness”.
“It was a great surprise to me when I received an invite from Trinity College Philosophical Society to be presented with their gold medal of honorary patronage. I am proud and humbled to accept this prestigious award,” Reichental said.
Born 1935 in former Czechoslovakia, Reichental was arrested and sent to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at 8 years old where he remained until its liberation in 1945. He has lived in Ireland since 1960 and has been speaking in schools around the country for nearly 20 years.
“I didn’t speak about the
Holocaust for 50 years,” Reichental said. When asked what prompted him to start speaking about his experience in Bergen-Belsen he said “I did speak in the school of my grandson, and it was the first time I spoke, they asked me to speak about it and I realised that here in Ireland there was very little known about the Holocaust”.
“I had to speak. I am one of the last witnesses to this horrific genocide tragedy that happened to my people and that is how I started to speak in schools”.
Reichental recounted some of the atrocities he had witnessed in Bergen-Belsen: “I played among piles of corpses which was part of a genocide,” he said.
“The crematorium couldn’t cope and so the corpses were left all around us.”
“It is a sight that is very difficult to describe.”
Reichental expressed dismay
that “antisemitism is on the rise” in his view.
“We had a proverb after the war that said ‘never again’ and unfortunately since the war we have had repeats, of course,” he said, citing genocides in Africa and Yugoslavia.
“And so even though we said never again, the reality is that it could happen again”.
In 2016, Reichental was awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy from the Dublin City University (DCU).
“Philosophy of course is a very important and powerful tool when we need to overcome the inexplicable,” he told members of the Phil.
He credited philosophy with his discovery that: “Life is a mystery, it contains lessons and tragedies, joy and pain, light and darkness.”
“Just because we are unable to sense God’s manifestation in the darkness should not lead us to dismiss his presence in the time of illumination.”
“ Life is a mystery, it contains lessons and tragedies, joy and pain...
Reichental concluded by saying: “We still have the opportunity to keep the Holocaust alive and keep the memory of our lifetimes alive.”
Reichental is among the ranks of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ruth Bater Ginsberg, Al Pacino and others in receiving this award.
Jimena Alvarez for Trinity News
Trinity Senators to push for action on Palestine, drug reform and disability rights in final months of term
Both Senators Clonan and Ruane have confirmed to Trinity News exclusively that they will run for re-election in the upcoming general election
Stephen Conneely Deputy Editor
Senators Tom Clonan and Lynn Ruane, both independent of any political party, are Trinity’s sole representatives in Seanad Éireann, after former Senator David Norris’ resignation from the post after 36 years in January 2024.
Government is yet to trigger a bye-election to fill Norris’ now vacant seat, inaction that leaves the Trinity panel with one less representative than is legally necessary, and thus opens government to legal challenges and threats.
Both senators have addressed this controversy, and in separate interviews with Trinity News, they criticised Government for its failure to uphold constitutionally mandated standards, however Senator Clonan maintained that “it’s not within the gift of an individual Trinity senator to move the write - so neither myself nor Senator Ruane can make that call.”
He went on to say that government is stalling on this issue “because we’re entering into an election cycle”, and Ruane echoed this sentiment by saying that “time is ticking on now so it would be very hard to have a bye-election if we’re about to go into the general
“The Government’s inaction is an action in itself
- Trinity Senator, Lynn Ruane in regards to delays in reading the Arms Embargo bill
election”.
Ruane was first elected to the Seanad in 2016 after having spent the previous year as President of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union, and retained her seat in the 2020 Seanad election. She’s most known for progressive drug policy and prison reform.
She confirmed to Trinity News that she plans on running for the Trinity panel in the Seanad in the next election, although she had some hesitations about this decision at first.
“I have spent a lot of time thinking about it and making sure it’s the right thing. I do believe that you should only remain in places where you feel like you’re having an impact”, she shared.
“I do feel that there is stuff still outstanding”, she said particularly in relation to drug and penal reform, citing Minister for Justin Helen McEntee’s stalling on legal sentencing and prison conditions legislation.
For the remainder of her term she says she’ll have “a very specific focus on the committee on drug use”, which “will hopefully report in December”, although an interim report “specifically about drug policy - so decriminalisation, depenalisation” is expected sooner.
“Obviously, it’s going to be hard to get the government to do anything at this stage, so really the focus will be making sure that the report is fit for purpose”, she stated.
Clonan was elected in 2022 in a bye-election to fill Ivana Bacik’s seat after she won a seat in Dáil Éireann. He ran on a manifesto primarily focused on disability rights, and as a former Army Captain he has an active voice on matters concerning military neutrality and various global conflicts.
Clonan also confirmed that he is running for a seat on Trinity’s Seanad panel in the upcoming general election. He shared that he “was very surprised to be elected” back in
2022, after running a campaign that he described as “a protest”.
“It’s been a huge learning curve, the last two and a half years”, he said. “There’s no kind of induction, or mentoring or anything like that. Literally the day that you’re deemed elected, that’s it. You’re in Leinster House, and you’ve got to try and make sense of how everything works.”
He credits Ruane for being “a really wonderful colleague and a great mentor”. This mentorship has proved fruitful, with Clonan actively working on two substantial pieces of legislation despite his time in the Seanad not exceeding three years.
“There are some people in Oireachtas Éireann [the houses of the Irish government] who have been here for 10, 15, 20 years and have never introduced legislation. So, I think as an independent senator who’s just new, I would consider that a proven track record”.
They both concern disability rights. Clonan expects to bring the Disability Rights Bill 2023 to the final stage of legislation in the Seanad within the next month, and plans to ask a government minister to introduce it to the Dáil “within the lifetime of this government” for it to be voted into law.
Currently, Irish citizens have a right to an assessment of needs, which “sets out what you need to live as an autonomous, independent person”.
“I know the vast majority of disabled citizens in Ireland, when they get their assessment of needs, they’re just given a piece of paper that says what they need, but they don’t get the services and supports that are set out”, Clonan said.
His bill seeks to “make it legally obligatory for the State to provide” what is listed in an assessment of needs “within the therapeutic window”. He sees this as something that “would revolutionise how we manage disability” in Ireland. “It would go from being a charity bank model to being a fundamental human rights model guaranteed in law”, he said.
His experience in disability advocacy led him to campaign against the Government’s failed referenda earlier this year, specifically in regards to the carers’ amendment. He noted that former TCDSU President László Molnárfi, now an investigative reporter for Trinity News, was one of his most high profile supporters in this stance.
He has also drafted the Disability Personalised Budgets Bill of 2024, which
would afford more autonomy to disability rights groups in the allocation of public funds to their cause, however this bill is in a more preliminary stage.
Shifting to his expertise in international affairs, he spoke to the ongoing situation in the Middle East: “My fear is that between now and October 7, which is the anniversary of Hamas’ genocidal attack on Israel, Netanyahu will sanction a grand invasion of Lebanon”.
He further said that “there’s clear signalling that if [the IDF] go into Lebanon, they’re going to slaughter people on the same scale as they have been doing in Gaza”.
This interview was conducted on September 25. Israel has since conducted a ground invasion of Lebanon, and has heavily increased its bombing of Beirut, killing over 2,000 people.
Clonan continued to say that the IDF “do not adhere to the international laws of armed conflict, and aren’t adhering to the principles of the Geneva Convention”, which he also says neither Hezbollah nor Hamas do either.
Ruane also plans to advocate for Palestine in the final months of her term, particularly honing in on the Arms Embargo Bill.
This bill “seeks to ensure that munitions of war, weapons and dangerous goods are not being transferred to Israel through Ireland”.
In May 2024, Government delayed a reading of the bill by at least six months, effectively freezing it in the legislative process. Ruane wrote in a statement that “the Government’s inaction at this moment is an action in itself, and one that risks imposing further death, destruction and despair on the people of Gaza”.
She has also been a key figure in the Occupied Territories Bill, which would make it an offence to trade with illegal settlements in territories deemed occupied under international law, e.g. Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This is in the second stage of legislation in the Dáil and is yet to be presented to the Seanad for review.
The latest date Government can call a general election, which would also elect all 60 Seanad seats, is March 2025however some speculate this could happen as early as next month.
All Trinity graduates and scholars who are Irish citizens are entitled to vote for the three seats in the Dublin University Seanad constituency.
Photo: Oireachtas offical website
Analysis: “I
can fix him my grade” -
Ireland’s
toxic relationship with shadow education
Easter revision courses, secondary school additions, a students’ side business. Ultra concentrated, distilled versions of coursework, further detail than the classroom can provide. The prevalence of subject grinds - referred to as “shadow education” - is only increasing year on year.
Whether driven by the need for greater points, parental pressure, or personal pride, the need to obtain the top grade in the Leaving Cert brings with it a heavy weight; a pressure on a student already trying to balance seven, eight, or at times nine subjects in their exams. Enter the phenomenon known as grinds.
Promising a structured pathway to the top, students can find comfort in the idea that, with the additional support, they can achieve the coveted 100 points per subject.
Though some non-profit examples of shadow education are present in the Irish landscape, the for-profit market has an estimated value at €60m at second level.
However, although the practice is widely accepted in the modern educational system, the actual effects of shadow education are not as
Emily Sheehan News Analysis Co-Editor
clear cut. In a study carried out by Robin Benz, Marike Dartmouth, and Emer Smyth, the effects of shadow education in Ireland were shown to have varied greatly when analysed in the context of students’ socio-economic positions, and, somewhat unsurprisingly, created a greater chasm between those from a wealthier background.
However, the results revealed that the actual impact of grinds on already highachieving students’ grades is less than one might assume - with RTÉ going so far as to say that “some families may be wasting their money paying for grinds for their children”.
As outlined by the research: “shadow education does not secure an advantage for Irish students whose lower secondary grades were in the highest quintile”. While shadow education helps lowerperforming students to achieve higher grades, in contrast “high-performing students do not benefit from participating in shadow education”.
The analysis, providing a comparative view of shadow education between Ireland and Germany, also calls into question why the practice has
“Evidence suggests that shadow education is a key determinant of higher education entry in Ireland, therefore establishing a quantifiable difference
taken such a strong hold over the Irish education system. One may conclude that the need for this additional schooling to help a student reach the highest possible grade reveals a failure of the traditional education system, which is viewed as “insufficient” for many students aiming for high courses.
Published by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), the findings reveal that 55% of Irish students in their final year of school use shadow education to supplement their studies, with participation more likely amongst female students.
The varied success of shadow education calls into question the commercialisation of the practice - with many students seeing little impact in their overall performance, it leads one to wonder whether or not the practice preys on student insecurity.
In a separate study published in March of 2024, Selina McCoy and Delma Byrne highlight the danger of social stratification as a consequence of shadow education.
The effects of the practice are far from clear - just as student performance differs from year to year, so too does the impact of shadow education. However, the study notes that “evidence suggests that shadow education is a key determinant of higher education entry in Ireland”, therefore establishing a quantifiable difference for those who do and do not partake, and those who find their desired place in third-level education.
The pair note that shadow education poses particular
challenges for policymakers across the world. However, analysing this research with the knowledge that the results of shadow education doesn’t benefit higher achieving students to the extent we might think it does once again calls into question the exploitation, even unintentionally, of student anxiety over their grades.
Student anxiety is inevitable; the sheer volume of information necessary for students to digest and regurgitate during the leaving cert necessitates a precise approach - one often unattainable in the classroom.
This point is noted by McCoy and Byrne, who, having gathered focus groups of students for analysis, quote their direct experience.
Quoting one such student, they highlight that this feeling is most prevalent in maths, which seems to take up “the work of two subjects”. With students in pursuit of higher points courses desperately fighting for the extra 25 points that higher level maths provides, there is no scope for any course material to be neglected.
In their discussion of the subject matter, the pair note that “shadow education is much less about pupils who are in real need gaining support that they cannot find at school, and much more about maintaining the competitive advantages within school for the already successful and privileged”.
The Irish third-level educational landscape would leave anybody grasping for some semblance of control. This is true now more than ever, with inflated grades and random selection throwing a new sense of unpredictability into the ring. However, despite its seemingly good intentions, shadow education does not provide the kind of support which many assume it does.
Aside from subjects which leave students drowning in unexplained coursework, such as maths, there appears to be little inherent need to seek out grinds if a student’s grades are consistently high.
The problem is one to be approached with nuance, of course - distilled notes and concise questions are undeniably very helpful for an exam that seems to pride itself on rote learning.
However, in truth, it is likely that many students simply don’t need the added monetary and social cost of engaging in shadow education. They should try to resist the comforting lull of its embrace and realise that the skills they need can be found elsewhere.
Iarnród Éireann reverses Dublin timetable following weeks of complaints from commuters
“We got it wrong and we are genuinely very, very sorry to our customers”, says Iarnród Éireann official
Gabriela
Gazaniga
Metro News Editor
Iarnród Éireann announced yesterday that it will return to its original timetable from October 14 after weeks of delays caused by the schedule changes.
All changes made to the Dublin timetable on August 26 will be scrapped to “rebalance the timetable” and improve the punctuality of rail services. However, “minor time changes” will be implemented to
accommodate extra services.
Iarnród Éireann apologised for the congestion, saying it “deeply regrets” the “enormous disruption” the new timetable has caused for commuters.
Iarnród Éireann Corporate Communications Manager Barry Kenny said: “We got it wrong and we are genuinely very, very sorry to our customers.”
“[The new timetable] did impact hugely on daily commuters, on their work, education, childcare,” said Kenny.
“That’s why we are making these changes, and going back to the pattern people would have known before. We believe that this will address the issues that our customers have had.”
Speaking on the changes to come, Kenny said: “Essentially, the morning timetable will revert to the same pattern of the old timetable with some minor time changes to accommodate our Intercity and Belfast services.”
Since the new timetable was implemented, commuters have
experienced numerous issues including frequent delays to DART services, overcrowded carriages and platforms, and irregular patterns of services.
“It’s frustrating living in a place that already has relatively little public transport to have supposed improvements
make this public transport unreliable,” one commuter told Trinity News.
Yesterday’s announcement comes less than 3 weeks after Iarnród Éireann issued updates to the new timetable in an attempt to rectify these problems.
Minister for Housing and Dublin TD Darragh O’Brien in a video posted on X said he had communicated with Iarnród Éireann and “pushed for changes” to improve rail services after he received “very serious feedback” from commuters.
Gardaí criticised for heavy-handed breakup of Culture Night street party
Tola Vintage, who organised the event, described Gardaí behaviour as “unfair and aggressive”
Stephen Conneely
Deputy Editor
A block party organised by the well known vintage shop Tola Vintage in Temple Bar descended into chaos on Culture Night after Gardaí arrived at the scene.
The block party was not officially organised with Culture Night, however has run successfully for the past four years with no legal challenges. Tola Vintage told Trinity News that it has always sought permission from its neighbours to host the event.
Three arrests were made by Gardaí, who wrote in a statement to Trinity News that “a number of individuals present,
particularly those who had consumed alcohol, failed to comply and actively disrupted Garda directions for persons to disperse from the street”.
Gardaí claimed that “a large crowd, unsuitable for the street capacity” had formed and “the premises had also not put in any additional public safety measures for the advertised event”.
Gardaí initially engaged with the management of the premises with a view to managing the situation but received limited support”, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána wrote.
“An operational decision was made to manage the developing public safety issue with the increasing crowd on the street. Members of An
“ An Garda Síochána have since apologised...
Garda Síochána commenced to engage with and disperse the crowd in an orderly manner”.
A manager at Tola Vintage, Ayuba Salaudeen, gave his account of the night to Trinity News. At 9:30PM, Saludeen said Gardaí “told us to turn off the music, which we did”.
Honestly, I just think they didn’t like the look of the crowd
There was then a conversation about dispersing the crowd after Gardaí said they needed to be able to drive their van down Fownes Street in Temple Bar. Tola Vintage then began to try to move the crowd to the sides of the street, to allow the van to pass.
“We were on the mic to tell people ‘it’s over, they want us to clear the street’. They (the Gardaí) said we tried to turn the music back on, but we
weren’t”.
“They said ‘actually, move the crowd now’”, to which Salaudeen responded “give us a few minutes to move the crowd - there’s people waiting for friends, finishing their drink, it’s impossible to move this crowd now”.
After this conversation, as Tola Vintage staff were about to tell the crowd to disperse from their microphone, “about ten of them (Gardaí) just rushed. It just kicked off from there”, Salaudeen said.
“Honestly, I just think they didn’t like the look of the crowd”, he said, and cited a similar block party on O’Connell Street, “where people had a DJ deck, and they were there until four o’clock in the morning”.
“It wasn’t fair, it was very, very aggressive… they ruined the night for a lot of people”.
Tola Vintage claim that no noise complaint was made against them.
Salaudeen said that within 15 minutes, around 50 Gardaí were at the scene, although he stressed that he doesn’t “want it to feel like we’re attacking them, because we’re not, of course they do a lot for us”.
Photos and videos from the
incident have since gone viral across social media. One such video shows a group of at least four gardaí physically restraining one man to the ground while a line of gardaí attempt to disperse the crowd off Upper Fownes Street.
These scenes have been described online as “extreme force” and “absolutely unreasonable” behaviour by Gardaí. Others have stated that this was “clearly racialised”.
Black and Irish, a community organising group that aims to “highlight the struggles and celebrate the successes of the Black and Mixed Race Irish community”, wrote in a statement that they “are deeply concerned by the footage and images we are seeing online”. They said that a conversation on the “over policing [of] black owned or predominantly black attended events” must now take place.
An Garda Síochána have since apologised for the incident, according to Tola Vintage. “They accepted that what happened on culture night, should never have happened like that [and] the force they used should have been the last [resort]”, the shop wrote in a statement.
Photo: Irish Rail
Hunt for new HEA underwayChairperson
Minister for Further and Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan has invited expressions of interest for the role
Isabelle Janssen Contributing Writer
The Governing Body of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has announced their search for a new Chairperson.
The Minister for Further and Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan announced the vacancy on September 27, inviting “suitably qualified and experienced” candidates to “lead the Board in setting the strategic direction and priorities for the HEA”.
The successful candidate for the role will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer of the HEA to “ensure that the strategic priorities for the HEA
are achieved and that there is ongoing oversight of the higher education sector in order to protect Exchequer funding”.
The Chairperson will also work with the Minister for Further and Higher Education “to ensure the key priorities for the sector are implemented”.
Announcing the vacancy, O’Donovan said: “A key role for the Chairperson will be to drive excellence in the higher education sector and I look forward to working with him or her.”
The appointment is for an initial term of four years with a remuneration of €11,970 per annum.
The process of filling the vacancy is being managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). Applications for the role will close on October 18.
The previous Chairperson Michael Horgan was appointed in 2016, serving for a five year term. Following the enactment of the HEA Act 2022, Horgan was appointed Chairperson for a further two years ending in July of this year.
The HEA is an Irish government body responsible for the funding and oversight of the higher education sector. The body also acts as an advisory body to the Minister for Further and Higher Education.
Further details regarding the requirements of the position and application information are available at gov.ie.
Dual BA students begin time at Columbia under extraordinary circumstances following encampment
Students are required to go through security to gain access to
campus
Annabelle Wadeson Dept. College News Editor
Students on Trinity’s dual BA programme have begun their time at Columbia under extraordinary circumstances amidst heightened security and restricted access in the wake of unrest which rocked the campus before the summer.
Students are required to show university identification to enter campus, while non-students must be registered as a guest in order to be granted access, after the world’s first Gaza solidarity encampment sparked months of chaos on the site.
Alessandra Masso, a fourth year dual BA student in her second year at Columbia, spoke of the security measures needed to get on campus: “In order to enter any gate you need to scan your ID.”
Ciana Meyers, a third year student who is at Columbia University for the first time this term, talked about the inconvenience of entering a campus for the first time amid these new security measures.
“Especially because it was my first time studying on Columbia’s campus, I would make sure to get to campus quite a bit earlier, ID [at the ready].”
Meyers added that during orientation week, many new dual BA students hadn’t yet received their university IDs necessary to scan, and so instead had to use a QR code to access campus which she said could be “intimidating and nerve wracking”.
This system of using a QR code to be granted access to campus is similar to the protocol for bringing a non-student guest on campus. Meyers commented “we are Columbia students but during orientation we didn’t have our IDs, so we were categorised as people who needed QR codes”.
Meyers added that the experience has been “quite smooth overall” but that the security presence is “very hard to ignore”. She added “that concept of freedom of speech is so discussed and talked about,
and I think there’s a feeling that Columbia is not endorsing that right or not supporting students in being vocal”.
“ The security presence is very hard to ignore
Students in Columbia sparked a global wave of protests when they set up a Gaza solidarity encampment on the lawn of the university in April. Months of chaos followed, including the arrests and brutalisation of protesters by New York City police, culminating in the resignation of university president Minouche Shafik in August.
Masso, on how the security was affecting campus culture, said that she hasn’t experienced any problems with the security, but she added “you know that they’re hired there to prevent student expression”.
The students also spoke of how the closure of campus to the general public has affected the atmosphere of campus. Masso said ““you used to see a bunch of kids playing, with families” but now there is no one from the surrounding neighbourhood on campus.
Meyers said “this is not what you expect a college experience to look like, especially when American college campuses really pride themselves on campus culture.” She highlighted that this strong campus culture is supported through Columbia’s academic structure of continuous assessment, with which “you’re really back and forth to the library” because “your campus is completely your home”.
Under Trinity’s dual BA programme with Columbia, students spend the first two years of their degree in Dublin and their final two years in New York.
Columbia’s increased security comes in the wake of a two week Gaza Solidarity Encampment that resulted in the arrests of over 100 students by the NYPD.
Former Columbia University president Minouche Shafik, before her resignation, was considering implementing peace officers on campus, or public safety officers with the ability to make arrests without contacting the police department.
NYPD Lt. Darrin Porcher told CBS News that peace officers “no longer have to cross-connect with the NYPD to make an arrest”.
A demonstration took place on the first day of classes outside Columbia’s gates which was peaceful but resulted in the arrests of two students.
On the same day, protesters poured red paint on the Alma Mater statue that sits outside Low Memorial Library.
Photo: Stella Ragas (Columbia Spectator)
Jiimena Alvarez for Trinity News
Is léir gurb é teachtaireacht ghlan shoiléir Kneecap ná go bhfuil sé dodhéanta a bheith suntasach gan a bheith radacach
Le Méadhbh Ní
Cheallacháin
Scríbhneoir
Gheall an grúpa ceoil Kneecap scannán siamsúil lán le conspóid óna mbeart bolscaireachta ag a bpremière Sundance ag tús na bliana lena scannán nua Kneecap (Rich Peppiatt, 2024) le lasracha agus fiú Landrover PSNI fuadaithe i láthair. Is cinnte nár lig siad síos muid. Míníonn a scannán an caidreamh casta a bhfuil ag grúpaí éagsúla in Éirinn leis an nGaeilge. Déileálann an scannán le téamaí troma ag cur grinn agus neart mustair i bhfeidhm chun an scéil “niche” Gael a roinnt ar scála domhanda. Taispeántar gur teanga laethúil í an Ghaeilge i dtuaisceart na hÉireann, agus gur rud “cool” – agus dána fiú – le script cliste agus fuinneamh tógálach chun achan dream a mhealladh. Ag labhairt le Niamh Nic Giolla Bhríde, Gaeilgeoir dúchasach Bhéal Feirste ag déanamh staidéar ar an nGaeilge agus socheolaíocht i gColáiste na Tríonóide, d’inis sí dom go raibh fáiltiú dochreidte ann do scannán Kneecap i gcathair Bhéal Feirste. Bhí ticéid go hiomlán díolta amach ar fud an chontae agus bhíodar ar bís na ‘inside jokes’ agus na háiteanna aitheanta uilig a fheiscint i rith an scannáin. Bhí sé ‘aisteach’ di scéal banna ceoil áitiúil a d’fhás sí suas ag éisteacht le a fheiceáil ar stáitse domhanda agus creideann sí go bhfuil sé tábhachtach go bhfeicfidh deisceart na hÉireann comhluadair i dtuaisceart na tíre ag labhairt Gaeilge go laethúil mar is léir fós go bhfuil míthuiscintí ann maidir le ról na Gaeilge i dtuaisceart na tíre agus go bhfuil “daoine fós i ndeisceart na tíre a gceapann nach labhraítear Gaeilge sa Tuaisceart ar chor ar bith”. D’fhreastail mé féin agus beirt chairde Gael ar an scannán nuair a bhí sé úrnua in amharclann Páláis i gcathair na Gaillimhe. Bhí idir óg agus aosta i láthair le grúpa seanbhan uasal ina shuí taobh thiar dúinn ag comhrá trí Ghaeilge. N’fheadar cad ina thaobh go raibh siad ag súil leis ach déarfainn nach raibh cleachtadh maith acu ar na radhairc ghrafacha a bhí le teacht. Deirim seo cé gur bhuail mé le beanrialta sa Cheathrú Rua cúpla seachtain roimhe sin a bhí an-mhór le Kneecap. D’inis an tSiúr Uí Chualáin dúinn gur “buachaillí maithe iad” na leaideanna ag
an am ach dealraíonn sé gur príomhchuspóir an scannán seo ná an taobh dána den Ghaeilge a thaispeáint.
Dá mba leantóir den bhanna tú cheana féin bheadh a fhios agat gur scéal drámata í an plota le ficsean mar chuid mhaith den scannán beathaisnéise ceoil seo. Cé nach scannán dáiríre í seo bhí an scannán plódaithe le téamaí tábhachtacha ar nós cearta teanga, tionchar na dTrioblóidí, meabhairshláinte, ról na Gaeilge agus tuairimí maidir le drugaí in Éirinn sa lá atá inniu ann. Le blianta fada anuas rinne an comhluadar Gaelach iarracht íomhá ghlan na Gaeilge a choimeád ach is léir go bhfuil an teanga ag briseadh saor uaithi seo agus cuid mhaith den scannán ag taispeáint na leaideanna ar na ribí amach is amach.
Dúirt Brendan Gleeson i rith agallamh le déanaí; “ní teanga shoiscéalach anois í an Ghaeilge a thuilleadh agus ní cóir go mbeadh sí” agus tá an ceart aige. Déarfainn go gceisteoidh an lucht féachana an ndeachaigh an scannán thar fóir ach ní féidir a shéanadh gur comhartha de nua-aoisiú na Gaeilge í an taobh brocach den teanga a fheiceáil sna meáin. Is ceannródaí é an scannán a dtaispeánfaidh nach gá go mbeadh cuspóir chun an teanga a shábháil nó a bheith álainn in achan léiriú di. Mar aon le hachan teanga eile is féidir leat drugaí a dhéanamh agus an Gaeilge a labhairt fosta. Níl an dá rud comheisiach agus níl an teanga seo coimeádta do dhaoine foirfe sotalacha amháin. Cuireann DJ Próvaí é seo in iúl i rith an scannáin lena allagóire; go bhfuil an Ghaeilge cosúil le dódó i gcliabhán i músaem. Nár chóir dúinn “í a choimeád gan láimh a leagadh uirthi... caithfimid an dódó a ligean saor le go mairfidh sí.”
Gné amháin den scannán nach raibh mé ag súil leis ná áilleacht cineamatagrafaíocht an scannáin. I rith an chéad radharc cuirtear baisteadh Caitliceach i láthair le blas miotas Ceilteach nasctha le tionchar na dTrioblóidí i mBéal Feirste. Arís taispeánann Peppiatt a stíl eicléictiúil ag tús radhairc foréigin nuair a bhíonn Móglaí Bap agus Mo Chara ag pocáil sliotar lena chéile sula dtroideann siad na “Radical Republicans Against Drugs”. Is tagairt í seo den arm Gaelach Na Fianna a rinne traenáil roimh chathanna tríd iomáint a imirt fadó fadó. Is fiú a lua freisin an chaoi chruinn inar léirigh siad eofóiria na ndrugaí i rith an scannáin, mar shampla; ag cur i bhfeidhm dearcadh na
‘snaoise’ nuair a théann sé suas a srón. Seo coincheap iontach neamhghnách! Bíonn an scannán lán go béal le haicsean, grá, greann, agus ní thig liom dearmad a dhéanamh ar an bhfuaimrian den chéadscoth. In ainneoin téamaí agus cúinsí gruama an scéil seo is scannán thar a bheith greannmhar í mar a shíltí go mbeidh sé óna liricí deisbhéalacha fite fuaite ina n-amhráin. Déanann an scannán briseadh síos ar a liricí conspóideacha cuir i gcás nuair a mhíníonn Mo Chara teideal a n-amhrán ‘Get your Brits out’ dá ‘situationship’ Protastúnach. Insíonn sé di gur aidhm an cheoil ná chun fáil réidh le cumhacht choilíneach na Breataine, ní na Briotanaigh iad féin. Is comhartha leighis í an chumarsáid seo eatarthu mar thaispeánann sé nach bhfuil réamhchlaontaí ag daoine óga. Le fíor-scannánaíocht óna
gceolchoirmeacha feicimid an t-atmaisféar a chruthaítear, a thugann faoiseamh do dhaoine ag nascadh iad le ‘mosh-pits’ agus tírghrá.
Is léir go raibh baint ollmhór ag na leaideanna i scríbhneoireacht an scannáin de bharr an bhéalagair nádurtha agus aitheanta do Bhéal Feirste. N’fheadar an mbuafaidh na buachaillí Oscar óna dtaispeántas aisteoireachta, beannacht Dé orthu, ach ón méid fuilibiliú gan choinne sna meáin faoin mbanna ceoil seo, níl sé dodhéanta! Fiú bhí Noel Gallagher ag moladh na “Northern Irish street kids” go hard na spéire ag rá nár chreid sé cé chomh taitneamhach is a bhí a dtaispeántas Glastonbury. Thabharfainn leantóir Kneecap orm féin roimh an scannán a fheiscint mar bhí ar a laghad ceolchoirm amháin dóibh feicthe agam agus bhí curfá a n-amhrán C.E.A.R.T.A.
ar eolas de ghlanmheabhair agam ach b’éigean dom admháil nach raibh aithne rómhaith agam ar stair an bhanna nó na buachaillí ar bhonn indibhidiúil sula bhfaca mé é. Ba dheas an t-ábhar iontais é an caighdeán aisteoireachta a bhí acu. Ach go háirithe bhí DJ Próvaí mar réalta umhal an scannán dar liom. Seo an cineál scannáin a bhfágann tú ag crith, is ag scipeáil síos an bóthar le bród mar mhothaigh tú an misneach agus an grá lena raibh sé déanta. Freisin gheobhaidh tú cic ardphléisiúr ó bheith in ann bunteanga an scannáin a thuiscint agus scaoileann tú breis ón díalóg fosta. Ina bhfocail féin deir Kneecap go gcoinneoidh an scannán seo siar an ghluaiseacht teanga na Gaeilge cúpla bhliain ach dar liom beidh baint mhór ag an scannán seo ag laghdú éilíteachais sa chomhluadar Gaelach ar a laghad.
Photo: Kneecap official website
International, but not diverse
Ruby Murphy Page 16
What life looks like behind the bar of the ‘Pav’ Swantje Mohrbeck Page 18
Degrees of discontent: the reality of a career in academia
Trinity has become increasingly reliant on precarity to run its courses for less
Hazel Mulkeen Deputy Features Editor
The Postgraduate Workers’ Union have made students all too aware of the exploitative working conditions of PhD student researchers and workers in recent years, but it’s still easy to assume that a postgraduate’s troubles are over once they graduate with their doctorate. In reality, the search for a permanent job in academia can mean years of instability and endless relocation, all for less than minimum wage.
As an undergraduate, the people teaching you can be at any level of seniority. The most senior, “professor of (a subject)”, are paid as much as €175k annually according to Trinity’s human resources department.
The least senior, language assistants, can make as little as €31,842 for a year at Trinity – less than a TCDSU (Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union) Sabbatical Officer.
In the middle of that hierarchy are assistant professors, typically the first point in an academic’s career where their position is permanent. At Trinity, a job offer might read “four-year contract, tenure track”, which means you’ll most likely be offered a permanent job after four years working here. But tenure track positions are increasingly rare. Dr Alison Fernandes, assistant professor in Philosophy, told Trinity News that “there’s a very sharp distinction” between the permanent and non-permanent
staff. For those who get that title of professor, you’re supported through promotion grades and the pay increases that follow. Meanwhile, a teaching fellow – just one rank lower – has no chance of promotion into a professorship. Once their contract with Trinity ends after years or months, they have to move somewhere else.
“There’s no obligation to support your career”, she said. “These are very much stopgap contracts.” Irish employment law stipulates that after four years, any employee becomes permanent, but teaching fellows and language assistants can rarely work in any one institution for long enough to earn that security. This is what is called precarious employment, and since this kind of short-term contract means a cheaper employee, Trinity has become increasingly reliant on precarity to run its courses for less – despite collecting a cool half billion in revenue in the 2022/2023 year.
An assistant professor will likely have worked for years on these stopgap contracts, known as “fixed term”, after they finish their PhD. Before Dr Usherwood became an assistant professor in Classics, she had four fixed-term jobs, meaning she had to move to a new university five times in four years. This included one contract for just five and a half months, shorter than the six month minimum that most rentals require.
Before getting these contracts, she did “hourly work” at two different institutions for 18 months after she finished her PhD. Hourly work is essentially “gig work” – you’re offered an hourly rate to give a lecture or mark papers. “The difference is, unlike what we’re sold about the ‘gig economy’, people don’t have other options,” Dr Usherwood said. Teaching experience is necessary for any tenure track job, creating a situation where doctoral graduates take any gig they can get.
Trinity’s rates of pay for hourly work are publicly available, and claim to be “inclusive of preparation and review time”, but this isn’t always the case. Ten years ago,
Dr Usherwood might have been paid £50 in a UK institution for one lecture, but this wouldn’t include the hours of preparation that might go into an hour’s class when you’re just starting out. Factoring in travel and accommodation costs, you might not take any money home. “It cannot work out in a way which compensates people at minimum wage”, she told Trinity News.
“ The more time spendyou fulfilling your job requirements, the worse prospects become for your career
Once they’ve secured a permanent job, a professor’s lifestyle might seem desirable to students when we only see them teach a few classes each week. In reality, teaching is irrelevant to career progress, and a small fraction of how they spend their time: what really matters is research. “I’m not going to get promoted unless my research develops further”, Dr Usherwood said, “and I’m okay with that currently because I’m permanent … a couple of years ago, I really felt the pressure”. On a fixed-term contract, you might be hired as a teacher or a researcher: if you’re hired as a teacher, it’s almost impossible to get time to research. As a researcher, you’re often expected to teach for free. Academia is unique in that the more time you spend fulfilling your job requirements,
the worse prospects become for your career.
There are other ways of getting ahead once you’ve reached professorship. At Trinity, one of the first ways a junior staff member can prove his or her worth is to become a personal tutor – but it’s a risky responsibility to take on.
Students come to their tutors in their worst moments, and you need to have the time and capacity to help. If you’re dealing with health issues, or “any other life commitments that might come into play”, Dr Fernandes told Trinity News, it “makes even just doing your regular work hard”.
Taking administrative jobs in your department or school can help you get promoted, but Dr Fernandes explained that this is done “relatively informally”. Navigating opaque systems can be especially hard for staff with disabilities.
“When those informal mechanisms are in play”, she added, “biases have more of an opportunity to have a role”.
Women make up the majority of what the Irish Federation of University Teachers calls “precarious staff”, which includes both hourly-paid and fixed-term workers.
“There’s a lot of elements that go into making the hierarchy as gendered as it is”, Dr Fernandes explained. “Women can be passed over [for promotion]. They won’t necessarily put themselves forward strongly enough.”
In Ireland, you have to have worked somewhere for two years to get maternity leave;
women are forced to make difficult choices between their personal lives and their careers. Dr Usherwood watched male colleagues start families while on fixed-term contracts, which would be “utterly impossible if they were having the babies themselves”. Most students aspiring to a career in academia today will never become professors. Many will go into industry research, the civil service, or university administration. “We need to make sure those are not framed as failures”, Dr Usherwood told Trinity News, “because far too many people do PhDs for the jobs that are available”. Even in the immediacy after your PhD, the post-doctoral funding for a research project flows freely, giving new graduates unrealistic expectations.
“I want to tell them how hard it’s going to be”, she said. “The system treats you like you’re disposable”. For both assistant professors, the one thing an aspiring academic should be is cautious. “At each step”, Dr Usherwood said, “reevaluate what your priorities are, what the cost has been to you, and whether you’d like to proceed”.
“Most people I know have had to move – at least cities, and probably countries – to pursue jobs, [because] there just isn’t a lot in the area. By the time you add in the time to get a PhD, you’re looking at a lot of instability in the prime of your life”, Dr Fernandes said. “There’s a question of: ‘do you really want this thing enough for what it’s going to cost?’ And I think the cost is significant.”
Jimena Alvarez for Trinity News
International, but not diverse
How do we measure diversity at Trinity?
Ruby Murphy Deputy Features Editor
There is no question that Trinity is an international college; ranking the 31st most diverse college in the world in 2024, according to Times Higher Education. But is it a diverse one? In Trinity’s Strategy 2020-2025 plan, the first goal is to “foster an ever more diverse and inclusive community,” but what does that look like in practice? The Strategy aims to have 30% of the student body come from outside of Ireland by 2025, a goal which the college has easily surpassed in 2024, with 35% of its students coming from abroad.
At first glance, one might think that these statistics translate to a diverse student body. But this is not necessarily the experience of students and staff. In the same Strategy, Trinity aims for 25% of undergraduate students to be from what it deems are “underrepresented groups.” These include Trinity Access Programme (TAP), Disability Access Route to Education (DARE), Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) and mature students. Yet, as 35% of students are stipulated to be international - as stated in the plan - the imbalance of 10% demonstrates that the college is still prioritising international students, with 2212 more international students than there are students who are underrepresented (as of 2023).
A Trinity Spokesperson expressed to Trinity News that “the pathways into admission to Trinity are themselves diverse. We have admissions via the CAO, we have HEAR, DARE and TAP. We have the International Foundation programme, the Sanctuary Scholarship programme, as well as direct applications.” While there may be diverse pathways to admission,diverse pathways to admission do not necessarily reflect diversity in practice. To provide some comparison, 35% of UCD’s student body is from underrepresented groups.
This raises the question; what does Trinity mean when it talks of ‘diversity’, and what supports are there for these students? For TCDSU
Welfare and Equality Officer
Hamza Bana: “my definition of diversity is: I want to walk into a room and not feel I have to act a certain way. I do not want to be the only ethnic minority person in that room... I would not feel safe in elitist clubs or societies because they are all White… For me the term diversity means I can walk into a space and feel I belong there.”
One point to note is that the terms ‘ethnicity’ and ‘race’ are not once explicitly mentioned in the Strategy 2020-2025 plan for increasing inclusion and diversity. However, the importance of international students is repeatedly mentioned throughout. For Bana, this is an issue: “just increasing the International Community does not mean I (as a Black student) will feel more safe. If you’re just going to bring in Americans, Australians, for example, I’m not going to feel more safe. If I don’t feel safe, if I don’t feel I can talk the way I want to talk... there’s no diversity in that.”
Other students who identify as ethnic minorities spoke anonymously to Trinity News about the perception of diversity on campus. “A lot of the international students are white Americans or Europeans,” said one student. “Increasing the amount of international students doesn’t necessarily equate to increasing diversity since, as much as there are many international students, I find that there is a heavy concentration of white and Asian international students, rather than a variety of BIPOC,” another student expressed.
In fact, there is very little data available when trying to uncover the full picture regarding ethnic minority student numbers at Trinity.
In Bana’s experience; “There weren’t many resources to say ‘Hey these are the amount of POC or Ethnic Minorities on campus’.” Yet, many students that Trinity News spoke with expressed unease at the prospect of Trinity recording the ethnicity of students.
The lack of concrete data however, presented as an issue for Bana when he spearheaded the Ethnic Minority Support Group in 2023; “The only reason I was able to figure out if there was a demand for an ethnic minority support group was because I made a survey myself in partnership with László. And obviously surveys aren’t perfect.” However the College has, in Bana’s eyes, “finally recognised that being able to figure out who needs the most amount of help, and how many these people are [would be useful]. It’s a great step in
the right direction - but this should have been done months, years ago!”
When asked why he felt the need to create a support group for specifically ethnic minority students, Bana replied; “before the ethnic minority support group they had the International Chats to talk about where [students] came from... They tried to introduce an ethnic minority support group before, and I was speaking with two staff members there who said we did that, we tried it, but we felt that we couldn’t really [continue it] because we’re white, which is so fair!”
While international students have a support network in place, staff are less confident in providing support to their ethnic minority students due to, as Bana described, being themselves, majority white. A certain lack of confidence in acknowledging and discussing race seems to be a theme for the Administration. When asked if he thought the college was explicit enough when it came to discussing race, Bana exclaimed that “100% the college could be more explicit [when talking about race]. I think there’s a little bit of hesitation when it comes to race, but not saying anything at all isn’t going to help.”
by Bana. This can be reflected in TAP student statistics: approximately, American students (8% of all students) are double the number of TAP students (3.9%). This indicates that the college is more ‘international’ than it is ‘diverse.’
While international students have a networksupport in staffplace, are less confident in providing support to their ethinc minority
For Bana, not saying anything could lead to an attitude within the administration of “‘we don’t see colour, anyone can come to Trinity.’ But there are still barriers in coming to Trinity, and that’s the work of TAP [to help with], they’re doing a great job.” There was an effort to address this culture by College, highlighted in the Racial and Ethnic Equality Working Group 2021-2022. The first of its kind, their report directly investigated racial and ethnic equality in Trinity. Among a list of thought-out recommendations, the report calls for more “enrollment of underrepresented groups, who can potentially take up lecturing positions as a first step towards the broader inclusion within the HEIs.”
Clearly, the recommendations of this report are largely yet to be implemented when it comes to underrepresented groups in students, an issue also raised
Unfortunately, this is also reflected in the lived experience of students, with one ethnic minority student stating; “I feel as if the college doesn’t seem to acknowledge their support for BIPOC students like myself, and especially with the rise in racist and anti immigration rhetoric nowadays, the college has made little effort to address an important issue facing the community.” Bana described how “As a Trinity student, I feel I belong here. But as a Black person on Trinity campus I still feel unwelcome.” Yet, he expressed that “I’m hopeful, I am hopeful.”
For the college’s part, Trinity’s spokesperson did acknowledge that “internationalisation activities are one aspect of how we achieve diversity in the community in Trinity. Diversity is a far broader issue, covering geographical and socio-economic issues, gender, religion and faith, sexual orientation, disability and more.” With Strategy 2020-2025 drawing to a close, and the college is supposedly developing a new policy on race, diversity may take on a new meaning for Trinity. But, as it stands, should the student body be asking: are we content with how the college measures diversity? Or is it time to start demanding more from Trinity?
Jimena Alvarez for Trinity News
Our generation’s work-life balance condundrum
Page 3
In conversation with Roddy Doyle Page 11
Denial is a river in relationships Page 14
Lady Gregory returns to the Abbey with Grania Gaelic revival
Photo: Ros Kavanagh
Living at home: free but at what cost? page 4
Is it possible to be a vegetarian foodie in Dublin? page 6
Dublin Fringe Festival reviewed page 8-9
Chemsex amongst students page 12
What do women really want? page 15
Crossword page 16
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One degree of change: a slight shift in career trajectory
Laila Banerjee interviews Deepa Rakshana—an architect turned naturalist—about the challenges of changing college course and career later in life
Most people contemplate changing their degree or career at least once whilst in college. I definitely have! Some believe their chosen degree aligns perfectly well with their goals, while others change their degree halfway into the year or switch to a completely different career path after graduating. In all honesty, the expectation that one must have their life figured out by the age of 20 seems quite frightening to those of us who don’t. This article is therefore for all those individuals considering a change in their degrees or careers but finding themselves hesitant to take the first step.
I recently participated in a three-week long course on wildlife conservation in the middle of a jungle in India and learnt so much more than I could ask for. I also made some great friends there. One of them was my mentor, Deepa. The reason I mention her is because Deepa used to be a confused 20-year-old like many of us, before completely changing her
David Wolfe
Kate Byrne
Ciara Chan
Cat Grogan
Emma Lueders
Maisie Greener
Sajal Singh
Nina Crofts
Alice Matty
Layla Banjaree
Zaynab Zaher
Gregory Cusworth
Libby Marchant
“ One factor that tends to influence a lot of our decisions is judgement
career after graduating college. She was all set to become an architect and work in the city. Her inclination, however, had always been towards the jungle. It was only during her final year internship that she realised architecture was not the field for her. Deepa now works in wildlife tourism as a naturalist for the Pugdundee Safaris in India. She spends all her time at the camp, knows almost everything about any animal, and enjoys sharing her knowledge with guests whenever she can. Yes, it does sound perfect, but this shift in her career has not been all that easy. This article serves as an insight into how Deepa dealt with the challenges that come with such a change.
One factor that tends to influence a lot of our decisions is judgement. We prefer to follow societal norms, as it helps us feel more accepted by the people we grew up around. In many cultures, having a “safe” job in fields such as architecture is preffered over more “novel” jobs. This mentality is especially prevalent in Indiaso switching from architecture to wildlife tourism was quite drastic for Deepa. It was not too difficult convincing her parents, but Deepa recalls
“ In many cultures, having a “safe” job in fields such as architecture is preffered over more “novel” jobs
“not having enough support” from her friends or relatives. She says: “they were not discouraging but they weren’t the most encouraging either.” The low representation of women in this particular line of work also made Deepa’s family apprehensive and unsure about supporting her career choice. It was a tough decision; however, nothing could deter Deepa from pursuing it. When asked
Jessie Huang for Trinity News
what prompted the change, Deepa said: “I remember telling myself that when I retire, I want to be able to say that I lived my life to its fullest and sitting at a desk and designing buildings was definitely not the life I wanted.”
It all seems easier said than done. A lot of people are reluctant to change their degree or career for fear of failure. Identifying what one truly wants to pursue can be quite a challenging task. Deepa, however, has a very simple answer to that. She explained: “Rather than trying to identify what I could do, I used very basic logic. I chose happiness. For me, nature and art made me happy. In the process of understanding myself, I realised I wanted to do what made me happy every single day.” Deepa’s answer made me wonder: is it really as simple as choosing happiness? We tend to always choose the complicated path because it is challenging. We are used to believing that attempting something challenging must have a good outcome. Maybe choosing happiness is easy but also the right way forward.
One would assume that the process of changing your degree/profession is the hardest part of the journey. People rarely talk about how to cope with what comes after that change. Deepa did take a leap of faith, but the struggle did not end there. She recounted how all her friends had stable, well-paying jobs while she was struggling to find a footing in her profession. Grappling with the knowledge that your peers are doing well while you struggle to find a job can be a disappointing feeling. It can take a toll on your confidence. “The key is to trust yourself, stay focused, and take it one day at a time”, says Deepa.
Deepa made a decision, but it was her determination and courage that got her this far. She thoroughly enjoys her job and meets people from various walks of life on a regular basis. Her perspective of life is quite refreshing and is a result of a lot of her experiences along the way. When she looks back, she can barely recall all the tough times. She may have changed her career, but she is highly appreciative of architecture and what it has taught her. Alongside being a naturalist, she hones her artistic skills as an illustrator. Deepa’s journey has definitely given me perspective and I hope the same for others. Changing paths can be extremely scary, but as Deepa said to me: “I’d rather risk it than regret it.”
“I’m a student, but I’ll only be young once!”: Our generation’s work-life balance conundrum
Raina Bosniac explores how we can balance our college responsibilities with a desire to be young and free
While in first and second year, college seemed more
like a simulation of what we believed college would look like, however, becoming upperclassmen shifts that reality slightly. I remember in first year, as I dragged myself to a 9am lecture after having gone out the night before, I saw what was supposedly a group of final years waiting for the Berkeley to open and I thought to myself, “why would you possibly choose to come to the library so early?” Lo and behold, currently in my third year, I routinely get to the library at 9am while partying is now only reserved for truly celebratory occasions. As college becomes more “serious” and college takes up more and more of my time, I can’t help but wonder, am I missing out on my youth because I want to do well at university?
Live life to the fullest without adhering to expectations of what people our age should be doing or embrace the safety of this pre-ordained path, while fully aware that things are being missed out on? “
For many of us, attending college after graduating could be considered the norm, and while this gives us ample opportunities to figure out what we want to do later in life, the path it puts us on is oftentimes restricted: go to university, maybe do a master’s degree and then find a job. While finishing college is a joyous occasion, the dreaded question of “What next?” looms over everyone’s head. Endless possibilities are at our fingertips, but only a handful of them are truly palpable. While a lot of us would rather spend a year travelling through Asia, that is oftentimes not realistic. So, while we could spend our study breaks in the library researching how to best backpack the Gold Coast, we look into internships, and get caught up in the endless cycle of application forms and interviews. Thus, the shackles and privileges of third level education might leave us asking what our duty to ourselves is. Live life to the fullest without adhering to societal expectations of what people our age should be doing or embrace the safety of this pre-ordained path, while fully aware that some things are being missed out on?
What sheds some light on this topic is hearing final-year students talk about their time in college. Either they look back on college life with nostalgia as they are coming down with a serious case of senioritis, or
maybe they simply realise the worth of appreciating where we currently are in life — stopping to smell the roses, as some might say. None of them seem to dwell extensively on the stress of grades and exams — or they just do a good job at hiding it. They would rather spend their weekends going for swims in the sea, hiking in Howth, or simply catching up with friends.
I was talking to a friend who recently started working as a barrister after years of studying, first for an undergraduate degree, then a master’s, then the bar. When I asked her for any advice, I definitely did not expect to be told that I should party more while in college. Heeding these nuggets of wisdom might be beneficial as the consensus of final years and college graduates alike seems to be that they never wish they had studied more, but rather enjoyed their youth more. So maybe we should try and learn something from them and adopt a more laissez-faire attitude towards college. We all know “balance” is key when it comes to having a lot on one’s plate, however this is all easier said than done. For many students, balancing college, a part time job, and a social life is the norm and it can oftentimes get too overwhelming and perpetuate the feeling that there is no time left to pursue the things that might make us really happy. In times where essays are due, exams are looming and
college work seems to haunt us wherever we go, it can be hard to try and implement what everyone’s cliche advice when complaining of stress is — do one thing at a time. Knowing when to turn your laptop, as well as your brain, off is becoming increasingly difficult in today’s society, however we all need to learn to work a little less and make more time for ourselves.
“ Knowing when to turn your laptop, as well as your brain off, is becoming difficult in today’s society, however we all need to learn to make more time for ourselves
Jessie Huang for Trinity News
Living at home: free but at what cost?
Aoibhínn Clancy explores the trials and tribulations of living in one’s family home during their college years
Residing a mere 25 minute bus journey from town meant the notion of me moving out for college was non-existent. A friend actually once remarked how I arrived quicker to college than she did from Trinity Hall. Whether the reasons were geographical or economical, no relocation ever made sense.
I am not in the minority. Many young people still live in their family homes. The 2022 Census revealed that 522,486 adults over the age of 18 were living with their parents, an increase of 19% on 2011 figures.
Whether it’s through personal experience or knowledge of friends and family struggling to obtain and maintain a fixed abode, I’m sure we are all well acquainted with the nation’s worsening housing crisis.
The security of tenure which comes with continuing to live at home with my mam, dog and cat is not lost on me. I have never had to fork up an excessive 1,200 euro a month for a mouldy box room, face eviction mid semester, or haggle with acquisitive landlords. I am extremely lucky that I am not among the thousands of students who have had to defer their education as a result of failures by successive governments to curb vulture funds.
In lieu of this, there is always this tingling feeling that I have missed out on some rite of passage by not having fled the nest–that a quintessential aspect of the college experience has been lost on me.
Back in my college infancy, Trinity Hall was an unknown oasis in my eyes. I was constantly jealous of my peers who lived there and the close bonds they formed due to forced proximity. Now, in my final year, this notion seems rather silly and I realise one does not have to share a flat with people in order to make friends.
arise in which I feel smothered, as though my independence is being impeded upon.
These frustrations were only heighted upon my return home from a 6-month stint in Prague for Erasmus. As someone who originally considered attending college in Galway in order to move out, I was not going to let the possibility of Erasmus pass me by – there was no way. After many gruelling months of retail, along with the much appreciated support of my family, I was in a position where the prospect of studying abroad was financially achievable.
things, my time spent on the continent came to an end.
Although I was back living between the walls I had called home for many years, I felt like a complete stranger within their confines as I readjusted to my old life. Forgotten feelings of suffocation became intensified as I was thrust back into constant scrutiny and micromanagement.
There are, however, ways to combat the manifestation
“ It takes patience and dialogue between you and your parents to establish new boundaries when you are an adult living under their roof “
I was constantly jealous of my peers who lived in Halls and the close bonds they formed due to forced proximity
That being said, the trials and tribulations of cohabiting with your family during college can run far deeper than simply feeling as though you are missing out on the social aspects of life. Living at home can come at the cost of your privacy, personal space, and loss of reason. What you save in rent you often pay in mental sanity.
Having your parent as your college roommate is unfounded territory for both parties. In my experience, there have definitely been some noticeable growing pains which derive from trying to redefine the mother-daughter dynamic. At 21, I see myself on the cusp of full-fledged adulthood. My mam, on the other hand, still sees me as a mere 16 years of age. As a result, situations often
Once abroad, I found creating boundaries between myself and my mam much easier– which is perhaps to be expected, due to the 1,858.9 kilometres distance between Ireland and the Czech Republic. By virtue of our separation, I was able to approach our relationship on my own terms.
My home in Prague was a space which I could fully make my own - within the terms and conditions of my lease of course. Outgrowing one’s childhood bedroom is only natural, however bittersweet that may be for parents to hear.
While away, I was at last able to experience the independence I so desperately craved. It did leaps and bounds for my development and allowed me to live life solely for myselfhowever selfish that sentiment may sound. But alas, as all good
of such emotions and create a more hospitable home environment. It takes time, patience, and communication between you and your parents to establish new boundaries and understandings when you are an adult living under their roof. This is a situation many young people and their families face across Ireland. Discussions around boundaries are often uncomfortable for all involved however, it is paramount to have them in order to alleviate feelings of resentment that inevitably build on both sides. In the months since my return I have tried to instigate such conversations withto limited success, but, as they say, “i ndiaidh na chéile a thógtar na caisleáin” (Rome wasn’t built in a day).
It is our parents’ first time living too and, despite how it may feel sometimes, they truly do have our best interests at heart. They are simply trying their best to navigate the uncharted waters of getting to know their children as adults. While I am set to graduate this year, and becoming another Irish expat has never appealed to me, the prospects of me being able to move out are incredibly slim due to the extortion and ever-increasing prices of rent in Dublin. Regardless of where I lay my roots, a myriad of emotions such as comfort, safety, and frustration will always be attached to my family home.
Anna Sofia Scheele for Trinity News
What I’ve learned in the transition to postgraduate study (so far)
Zaynab Zaher
describes the complexities in transitioning from an undergraduate to a postgraduate degree
Making the decision to continue along the pathway of academia was a fairly easy choice for me. To be completely honest, it wasn’t necessarily the fact that I identify as an academic, or that I live and breathe to do readings. For me, pursuing a Master’s degree was a way to extend my thirdlevel education and reclaim the time I had lost because of the lockdown. I didn’t feel too ready to face the real world just yet, and so, I decided to hide within the sanctuary of academia for just a little bit longer. What came as a surprise, however, was how shocking the transition from being an undergraduate student to a postgraduate can actually be.
I mean, obviously, I had been warned about the workload beforehand. I’d witnessed how tired my teaching assistants constantly were during my undergrad. Having done a B.A. in History and Political Science, it seemed like a nobrainer that pursuing a M.Sc. in International Politics would include a certain period of adjustment, and would require greater effort than my undergrad. After all, I’ve repeatedly been told that doing a master’s degree is basically four years of an undergraduate degree condensed into one year (or two, if you’re a parttime student). As postgraduate students, many of us are relatively used to settling into a new university, navigating issues like adapting to the campus layout and college grading system isn’t necessarily tremendously challenging. Still, I find that certain aspects of this new, (yet somewhat familiar), experience continue to surprise me.
To begin with, everything just feels so much more adult. It’s not just the fact that we’ve already completed three or four years of an undergrad. M.Many of us have evenhave even pursued careers before returning for our postgraduate
degrees. I think the best way to put it is that you’re on a closer level to your professors than before. Obviously, they’re still your teachers, and you’re still their student, however, you’ve now completed thirdlevel academia once before and so you know more than you did during your undergrad.
“
It felt like I had entered a new club I wasn’t privy to during my undergrad, in which the veteran members were more than happy to share a few trade secrets
Youundergrad. You are, therefore, treated differently — that is, as a relatively experienced academic.
The moment it really sank in for me that things were different than during my undergrad was when I was invited to a mixer for postgraduates and the department staff. Naturally, since undergraduate classes can reach a number of 200 students, such gatherings weren’t possible in the initial phase of my third-level education. Now, however, I was attending events not just with my fellow classmates, but also, with my old professors and teaching assistants. It felt like I had entered a new club I wasn’t privy to during my undergrad, one in which the veteran members were more than happy to share a few trade secrets. MoreMore than anything else, the greater opportunities for engagement in postgraduate programmes are what truly took me by surprise.
This can also be reflected within the learning aspect of
one’s degree. Due to the large number of students per class, an undergraduate student could spend their entire degree without having to ask any of their lecturers a question. Meanwhile, postgraduates are expected to be much more involved, with many classes taking on the seminar structure previously reserved for tutorials. On the one hand, this could just mean that you’re more likely to do your readings, since you know you’re more likely to be called upon. Indeed, I can confirm that I am now more consistent with my readings than I ever was during my undergrad, simply because it’s what my postgraduate programme demands. On the other hand, many feel more excited to cover certain topics than they would’ve been during their undergrad. Topics are delved into more deeply due to the prior knowledge most postgrads have on these issues. Even if you didn’t major in the same subject for your undergrad, you can often still enrich classroom discussion through bringing a more unique perspective to the table. This, combined with the greater diversity of students in postgrad programmes, makes for an enriched learning environment. While one can undoubtedly meet students of various backgrounds during their undergrad, postgrad makes for an especially interesting mix, as you can more easily find classmates from different stages in life. As a result, different students bring their own unique experiences to class, applying them to the core materials and
For most people, pursuing an undergrad degree allows some breathing room, a chance to explore your interests and find out more about what makes you tick “
making discussions all the more stimulating.
For most people, pursuing an undergraduate degree, while a serious undertaking, allows some breathing room, a chance to explore your interests and find out more about what makes you tick. Moving on from this stage to that of postgraduate studies feels a bit like stepping out of the kiddie pool and into the deep end. This is especially the case for postgrads who not only have to navigate their degree, but also have additional responsibilities, such as working as teaching assistants and facilitating
undergraduate learning (or, even more challenging, having a job outside of campus, which is something we’ve been repeatedly advised against, due to the heavy workload we’re subjected to).
Despite such pressure qualifying as a cause for concern, I’d say that once the initial shock from the transition to postgraduate studies wears off, we should be okay. Every new experience comes with its initial problems, and our familiarity with academia means that we already have the tools we need to manage the challenge at hand.
Niko Evans for Trinity News
Is it possible to be a vegetarian foodie in Dublin?
Libby Marchant discusses the difficulties of being a vegetarian food critic in Dublin
When I told my parents and relatives that I was going to be a Food and Drink editor for Trinity News, they were confused. They didn’t realise it was possible to be a food writer and critic as well as a vegetarian. Honestly, I’m not sure if it is either.
Cooking and food travel shows are my ultimate comfort watch. There’s nothing better than curling up with a cup of tea and watching Alison Roman make pasta in her rustic country home or Florence Pugh make a charcuterie board for British Vogue. Many hungover mornings have been spent in front of Somebody Feed Phil and Parts Unknown. But none of this iconic food related content makes any effort to not promote meat, or even just include a vegetarian option. My favourite food news site, CHAR Magazine, also primarily focuses on meat based content, despite its audience consisting mainly of Millennials and Gen Z. These cohorts have the highest rates of vegetarians and vegans, according to a recent Statistica study. CHAR also continuously reports on food sustainability and ethical food practices, yet posts about the chicken fillet roll and chicken spice bags continuously as if these processed meats are not contributing to the very problem they supposedly care about stopping. Of course it’s not just CHAR doing this, nearly every food publication focuses on meat with little time spent on where the meat was sourced and whether a vegetarian option is available.
Food writers, for better or worse, dictate what’s hot and what’s not when it comes to eating and they have a responsibility to consider whether they absolutely need to promote meat in every piece of content they create. People are constantly being bombarded with information telling them that eating meat is killing the planet and their bodies, but if you want to be considered a real foodie, you’re expected to munch down on wagyu beef, oysters and pâté. Due to the overwhelming evidence of cruelty, health and environ-
mental reasons, it is unethical to promote bulk manufactured meat in any way. Of course, there are so many meat farmers in Ireland trying to produce meat in an ethical and sustainable way. One such example is Organic Meat, a small farm in Co.Laois where the meat is produced only when its ordered and sold at markets twice a week. In this model, meat is a special treat as it takes a huge amount of energy to produce it. This is a similar model to what exists in some Asian countries such as India, where meat is far more expensive and therefore only eaten on special occasions (see Food privilege: The unfortunate truths of veganism, for more information).
In an ideal world, being a meat eating chef and food critic would be the niche, and being a vegetarian would be the norm, this is the system that over half of the world’s population use. But in the West, meat is seen as a right, not a privilege. And part of the reason for this perspective is every time you read a restaurant review or watch a cooking show, meat is always the main focus with vegetables delegated to side dishes. We need to get to a place where every single cooking show, every single restaurant review and food think piece, includes
at least a vegetarian substitute. Meat needs a major rebrand as “Not Cool”, and it’s up to people who love and care about food to spearhead this way of living. Not every food critic has to be a vegetarian, but they absolutely need to sample the
“
In an ideal world, being a meat eating chef and food critic would be the niche, and being a vegetarian would be the norm
vegetarian dish of whatever restaurant they are reviewing as well as what they usually try. Oftentimes vegetarian dishes are sidelined as gimmicky or niche, not deserving of critique, analysis or cultural impact. This simply is not true.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m aware of the huge importance that well-prepared, sustainably sourced meat has in every culture. After spending a summer in Spain watching people get emotional over Serrano ham and of course growing up in Waterford where to most people a life without a rasher and sausage blaa is not a life worth living, I know that something important would be lost if we all became vegetarians tomorrow morning. But including meat should be an intentional choice, not a necessary element.
When I went on Dublin’s brand new Devour Food Tour, I was prepared for the tour to be extremely meat centric; it is, after all, designed to show off the best of Irish food, which most people consider to be our meat and fish. But I was pleasantly surprised because only half of the stops on the tour were about meat and in each of those places, there was a fantastic vegetarian option. In one of the top
twelve steak restaurants in the world, Hawksmoor, I had their famous cheese toastie and I can confirm that it absolutely lives up to the hype. Using Bread 41 sourdough, Gubeen, mozzarella and cheddar cheese as well as jalapenos, it was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. Putting crushed up Tayto crisps inside, drizzled with scallion mayonnaise, was a touch of genius.
Food tours like this, alongside Happy Pear products (however you feel about the twins, you can’t deny they make fantastic hummus) and vegetarian based restaurants like Umi Falafel and Cornicopia keep vegetarian food critics like myself very busy, I just wish they were featured as a main piece, rather than an ‘alternative option’.
Generally speaking, restaurants in Dublin have stepped up their game and are making some of the best vegetarian food in the world, and nearly every establishment in this city will provide numerous delicious plant based options on their menu. On the other hand, food writers continue to promote meat and write about vegetarianism as if it’s some kind of strange disease. Why are food writers so unwilling to adapt?
Photo: Unsplash
Introducing: the hostess with the mostess
Alice Moynihan
delves into the how to of hosting
What is a host?
Consecrated bread, the victim of a parasite, a large number of something, or an individual who entertains guests, whether that be by culinary means or general entertainment. Hosting, as with most other domestic activities, is still associated, almost exclusively, with women and mothers. It is easy for men to feel left out of the ritual of crafting and throwing such an event.This is a tragedy. Everyone can be a host: the Last Supper, Jay Gatsby’s extravagant soirees and Tsar Nicholas’s final ball. Men can, and have historically hosted, with a great deal of success!
The true meaning of the word ‘host’ cannot be explained without exploring the many facets of their role. It is not simply to greet, feed and bid farewell. In order to leave a lasting impression upon your guests, their bellies and their hearts, thoughtful attention to detail must be paid.
“ With the cost of living soaring... young people have turned to hosting at home to avoid a hefty bill
With the cost of living soaring, and the price of a night out with friends approaching levels of financial ruin for students, young people have been turning to hosting at home to avoid a hefty bill. Though the expense of a dinner party can often be surprisingly high, split among friends it is a very agreeable alternative to a night on the town, and one your bank account will thank you for.
The barefoot contessa
herself put it beautifully, ‘When you acknowledge, as you must, that there is no such thing as perfect food, only the idea of it, then the real purpose of striving toward perfection becomes clear: to make people happy, that is what cooking is all about.’ Ina Garten’s words truly summarise what it is to be a host. Ultimately, a host takes pride and enjoyment in seeing people come together. Your guests appreciate that the food and entertainment provided is done in earnest, out of care and appreciation of their company, no matter how extravagant or casual it may be.
It is, however, easier said than done, so here is a ‘how to’ on all things hosting!
Pick a theme
To spice things up and make the evening even more entertaining, pick a type of cuisine or culture to explore. Japanese, Italian, Moroccan, there are hundreds of choices. Do your best to find authentic recipes from creators who know what they are talking about. Tik Tok, Instagram and BBC Good Food are great resources if you do not have ready access to cookbooks. If you don’t really care about what food you serve, just that everyone will eat it (including the picky eaters), your theme could be a colour or a season. You could even formulate a menu around your favourite show, featuring dishes that have popped up throughout the seasons. There are no rules here, though the importance of variety must not be understated. When looking back on dinner parties past, a central and varied theme to each one helps in distinguishing one meal from the next.
Prep
Few other things can set you up for success more than thorough preparation. Often beginning a couple of days before, this includes making lists, designing the meals with respect to your guests dietary requirements, arranging place settings, shopping for groceries and other necessary accoutrements and finally, physically preparing the meal. Chopping, sauteing, sauce making, washing, and peeling. My suggestion: enlist a sous chef. The bulk of the effort put into any dinner party is done in the days leading up to the event itself: anything you can prep beforehand, you should!
On the day
An early riser you must be, for an organised morning you must have. If, for example, your guests are due to arrive at 7.30pm, the hours before should be well organised. This needn’t be a stressful experience. If you
get too worked up, or indeed are too overworked, by the time your guests arrive you will want to go to bed. The goal is not just to create an enjoyable evening for your guests, but also for yourself. Given the amount of time and effort a host puts in, it would be ludicrous for them to not take as much enjoyment out of it.
Make it your own
Whatever the evening may consist of – a dinner party, board game night, BBQ, an aperitif evening – it must be authentic. If the event is not injected with our own personality and style, it will not leave a positive impression nor will it be enjoyable for you. Pretending to possess certain airs and graces that you do not is exhausting. In addition to the expected tiredness you will feel once you bid farewell to your guests, coming back down to your own level, having spent an evening ‘faking it’, will leave you utterly depleted and unlikely to host again for a considerable period. If your guests do not feel a natural
comfort in your home, they too will have to fake niceties and may think twice about accepting an invite in the future. Remember, it’s not that serious. If you are not someone who enjoys hosting an extravagant sit down dinner, then don’t. A board game night or simple drinks and nibbles may be more suitable, and ultimately more enjoyable.
Ask for help
If you yourself are not an experienced cook, enlist someone who is, or teach yourself some simple but tasty dishes. If you’re not skilled in the art of mixology, ask a friend who is. Rally your guests to pitch in and bring a course so you don’t have too much on your plate (pardon the pun).
Organise your entertainment. Most dinner parties need not be overcomplicated with games or antics. The rare exceptions where I would suggest that they are absolutely necessary are New Years Eve and Halloween. These nights tend to stretch for much longer than your
average dinner party, often extending into the early hours of the morning. Charades, apple bobbing, or guessing each other’s new year’s resolutions are all activities that people get really animated by. For any other evening, not affiliated to either of these occasions, a pub quiz or game of mafia are always crowd pleasers.
Most importantly
Create a guest list of your nearest and dearest for your first few dinner parties, those who will not pay any mind to charred food or overly salted soup. Regardless of the food on your plate, people are what make a host’s job so rewarding. And for any guests out there, if the evening is not a potluck, or BYOB, please remember to never come empty handed. This I believe is one of the few and most important rules: appreciate your host!
To provide inspiration for when you next host, a sample menu like this is sure to leave your guests with full bellies and happy hearts.
Alice Moynihan for Trinity News
Bad Girl
Emma Coyle
reviews Bad Girl’s nuanced depiction of transgender voices
Felix O’Connor’s one man comedy show, Bad Girl, is one of the many stellar performances to come out of the Fringe Festival this year.
O’Connor, a Dublin native and co-founder of Hysteria, a comedy collective primarily residing in Sin É, explores the nuanced experience of being a closeted transgender man in an all girls secondary school. Using a blend of comedy and more serious tones to explore his experiences, O’Connor
gives one of the most hilarious, poignant, and moving performances I’ve seen in a long time.
Situated just above the ornate Bewleys Café, up three flights of stairs and through the herds of tourists pouring in from Grafton Street, you’ll find The Bewleys Café Theatre. It’s a cosy space that houses a plethora of innovative shows throughout the year. The space provided the perfect setting for this intimate show, with its small collection of tables and chairs scattered around a small stage.
Bad Girl is, in essence, a portrayal of a trans queer adolescence, and the journey of working through your own deeply repressed identity.
O’Connor explores this with witty humour mixed with an incredibly powerful
emotional aspect, two modes of expression he moved fluidly between throughout the show. He explores the complexities of discovering your identity in youth; his delivery is raw and genuine, staying grounded in his own personal experience throughout, allowing for an incredibly authentic portrayal of queer adolescence. By far the most introspective aspect of his show was his use of a second offstage persona that chimed in to critique his representation of the transgender community. This domineering “voice of reason” perfectly encapsulates the nuances of queer representation, and the dichotomy between your own personal experience and the experience people want to hear. It stands to show the difficulty of wanting to represent your
Sorry You Felt That Way
Kate Byrne reviews Harry Butler’s award winning play
Showcased between September 12-15 at the Project Arts Centre, Sorry You Felt That Way is a timely, thoughtprovoking piece about the things we wish we didn’t know about our partners.
The play follows Emma, who has just moved into her partner Adam’s apartment, after only 6 months of being together. They are at different stages of life, Emma in her final year of college, Adam already in the middle of a successful law career. It’s Emma’s first night in the flat, and Adam is out at the cinema. Unannounced, Adam’s ex, Eloise, shows up at the flat, and tries to warn Emma about Adam’s toxic behaviour.
The performance is staged in the round, on a set which simply holds a couch, a mat and a stool. the audience cannot help but be immersed
The audience cannot help but be immersed in the world that is created by the two actors
in the world that is created by the two actors. I felt as though I was almost invading Emma’s personal space, just as Eloise did. Dressed in pink pyjamas and a fluffy dressing gown, Emma could have been anyone; a friend, a sister; or even myself. Listening to the actors to-and-fro about cheating, transactional relationships and emotional abuse, I felt I wanted to get on stage, open a bottle of wine, and join their conversation. Credit must be
given to Butler’s incredible script, which deals with such heavy topics in a conversational colloquial manner. It is not difficult to see why this play won the Dublin Fringe’s Fishamble New Writing Award.
The stage set-up allowed me to glance across at fellow audience members, sharing looks of sympathy as we listened to Emma grapple with the challenges of a relationship with an older partner. The living room setting was excellent for conveying how toxic patterns of behaviour can be considered “normal” when one is living with them. I became invested in Emma’s struggle to make her relationship work, and felt the waves of her inner conflict throughout the play. When the lights went up, however, I was faced with the seriousness of the topics dealt with, and knew what the right thing for her to do was.
This is a play that is mandatory watching, no matter what stage of your life you are in. Forcing the audience to reflect on
community in a respectful and empowering way, while also acknowledging the subtleties of each experience, and that not every queer person can be the perfect representation of every other queer person. O’Connor expressed this perfectly, shifting between humour and humble honesty.
At the end of the show, he performs a compelling duet with a YouTube clip of his younger self - the perfect tone to end the show, that inevitably had everyone wiping their eyes on the way out. Overall, this was an incredible piece of writing and performance from Felix O’Connor. He kept the audience engaged the whole time, and had everyone laughing and, by the end, crying. He’s definitely one to watch in the Dublin creative scene.
relationships past and present, I left the theatre feeling like I had just come out of a therapy session. The relatability of the characters, in particular Emma, who is at the same stage of
life as me, is what made the performance so impactful to me. This play is a must-see with a group of friends, as it is sure to provoke some important postshow conversations.
Photo: Project Arts Centre
Cat Grogan reviews FILTH! Theatre’s depiction of the professional mental health services in Ireland
This Too Shall Pass “
Running from 19 to 21 September in The Pearse Centre as part of Dublin Fringe Festival, THIS TOO SHALL PASS is the debut production of FILTH!, a brand new theatre company composed entirely of Trinity students and alumni.
Lead actor Lucy Holmes plays Erin, a young woman who has spent her teenage and young adult life attempting to access professional mental health services in a system ill equipped to deal with the ailments of its people.
The immersive performance first places the audience in a psychiatrist’s waiting room, forcing us to witness up close the struggles of a young wom-
The best art, I think, has the power to make us deeply uncomfortable
an attempting, and failing, to get an appointment with her psychiatrist. Following this uncomfortable and distressing exchange we are ushered into Erin’s bedroom, a depression cave strewn with clothes, Diet Coke cans, empty medicine packets and letters from the Health Service Executive. The audience is forced to occupy the troubled realm of Erin’s mind as she questions how it is that she is supposed to get better in the face of a system that repeatedly fails to provide her with the professional services necessary for her recovery. We see Erin’s teenage years pass by until she is 21 and attempting to live in the adult world without any better a grasp on
how it is that she is supposed to live. The production ends in the confusion of a disco rave, the room made heavy by the pounding bass and the palpable frustration of all the characters. THIS TOO SHALL PASS offers people the chance to glimpse at the challenges of attempting to get mentally well in Ireland when the system in place is not adequate to facilitate healing. The show’s
This Too Shall Pass offers people the chance to glimpse at the challenges of attempting to get mentally well in Ireland
relatively short run time of 50 minutes was not proportionate to the power of the performance. The best art, I think, has the power to make us deeply uncomfortable, and to
It Was Paradise, Unfortunately
Hazel Mulkeen reviews It Was Paradise, Unfortunately’s celebration of theatre’s queer roots
It Was Paradise, Unfortunately (Paradise) is disarmingly casual: ushered into a conference room off one side of the Goethe-Institut, you might well wonder if the friendly duo armed with an overhead projector are what you’ve come to see. Produced by The Collective, a Dublin-based interdisciplinary theatre group, Paradise promises to tell the story of playwright Raphael Khouri’s “investigation into the mystery of Dionysus”, the Ancient Greek god of wine, ecstasyand theatre. If Paradise doesn’t push at the boundaries of what a play can
be, it certainly shrugs at them.
The entire work is an autobiographical by the charmingly earnest Khouri, with the occasional visual cue slide on screen by Myrto Stampoulou.
The staging is sparse and the costuming - T-shirts reading “Fuck Aristotle” - is similarly lax. Childhood photos, family letters and screenshots of Tin-
der messages on an old phone tell us the story of Khouri’s life without it being performed to us. The central desires that run through his life, Khouri tells us, are synchronous. His desire to act, his love for the theatre, and his queerness are tied together. From his childhood in Jordan - a place characterised
by its isolation - to his furtive adolescent self-discovery and escape to a new life in an accepting diaspora, they’ve always played the same role. Art and queer identity, his students learn, as handouts are passed around and excerpts of Lady Chatterley’s Lover are read to us, are intertwined with one another and always have been. Theatre means transcendence of our bodies.
It’s a performance that feels
the extent that this production managed to achieve that, it is exceptional art. With a debut of this calibre, I am excited to see where the FILTH! theatre company goes.
It’s a manceperforthat feels more like a TED Talk than Fleabag
more like a TED Talk than Fleabag, eschewing dramatic tension in favour of an exploration of identity in the
framework Khouri knows best - media analysis. A lecture centred on someone else’s life might sound dry, but it means that when Paradise takes a few tentative steps towards conventional theatrical staging, the effect is all the more electrifying. At one high point, Stampoulou hands out cardboard masks and we’re invited to imagine the Dionysia of Ancient Greece: festivals in honour of the wine god, where ecstatic, risqué parades culminated in dramatic performances. As the lights dim and low electronic music starts to pulse, you could almost believe you were part of that rapt audience at the very first theatre festival. It was hard to buy into the idea that theatre has been stripped of its queerness while attending Dublin Fringe, perhaps the most unapologetically queer space in Ireland outside of Pride itself. Khouri’s attempts to tie everything together and assign a greater meaning are just that, attempts - and just like in real life, a satisfying “answer” doesn’t present itself. But it’s the loose ends in his story - the career anxiety, the dreams crushed by Covid-19that make it lovable.
Photo: Filth! Theatre
Photo: The Collective
Lady Gregory returns to the Abbey
Kate Byrne and Cat Grogan review Caitríona McLaughlin’s production of the 1912 play.
120years after it was first written, Lady Gregory’s play Grania runs for the first time in the Abbey Theatre. With Lady Gregory herself having founded The Abbey alongside WB Yeats, this debut performance carries a certain degree of weight. Director Caitríona McLaughlin does not shy away from the challenge, uncompromisingly depicting a
The set design by RichmondColin and lighting by WallaceSinéadis outstanding, creating an enchanting glimpse of an old Ireland.
tale of lust and love fought for, won and lost.
outrun Diarmuid’s father. A haunting atmosphere is enhanced by the voices of two wanderers (Laura Sheeran and Sean Boylan), who sing the words of A Woman’s Sonnet, Last Gregory’s address to her own lover. Dressed in modern clothing which jars somewhat with the costumes of the three protagonists, the singers are also placed so as to signify the displaced in modern Ireland. However, at times their singing is difficult to understand, and the use of modern props such as a tent and a boxed sandwich disturbed the magical atmosphere curated by Richmond’s set. This nod to the political climate, though noble in its aims, falls somewhat short of its mark owing to the vagueness of the character’s presence in the play. This lack of conviction means that it would be easy to miss what it is that these wanderers are supposed to represent. Their presence is instead a somewhat clunky addition to what is otherwise a holistically well-rounded play. The most striking scene by far comes in the second act, when we witness the intimacy of Gráinne and Diarmuid’s daily lives on the run as they bathe, completely nude, in a pool amidst the rushes. Gráinne’s character is perhaps best captured in this exchange. She longs to be touched and held by Diarmuid and cavorts her body so as to command his attention. She is aware of the limitations of his desire for
her, however, for his wanting was only awakened when he grew jealous of the attention showered upon her by another man. And yet she also yearns for more than the life she has, as evidenced by her entreaties to Diarmuid to bring them back towards society so that she might not live out her youthful days in isolation with only wild animals to gaze upon her. Whilst Hylands depiction of Gráinne holds up in this scene, there are other moments when it feels that the nuance required to capture Gráinne’s particular position is lacking. Whilst Gráinne is stubborn and steadfast and commanded by her own will, she lacks the agency to define herself in any way separately to the men in her life. She is fierce and com-
“
With little to model the production off of, McLaughlin has done a good job at reviving this story.
mands attention, but at times it felt difficult to understand her. Nevertheless, it was certainly brave to showcase Gregory’s 1912 play on the Abbey stage especially as she refused to allow this play to be staged in her lifetime. With little to model the production off of, McLaughlin has done a good job at reviving this story. A modern audience will of course be challenged by the cadences of Gregrorys’s script, given that it mirrors a mythological tale. Lady Gregory faced the challenge of re-telling Irish mythology to a 20th century audience. So, to successfully communicate this story to a 21st century audience, and even make us laugh at times, is not only a commendable decision, but ultimately a victory.
The set design by Colin Richmond and lighting by Sinéad Wallace is outstanding, creating an enchanting glimpse of an old Ireland. River reeds encircle our protagonists Gráinne (Ella Lily Hyland), Finn (Lorcan Cranitch) and Diarmuid (Niall Wright) throughout. Hyland, (a graduate of the Lir), is dazzling in her depiction of Gráinne. It is her that your eyes are drawn to as you watch the three characters toy with the opposing forces of their desires, responsibilities, and moral codes. Gráinne’s father, the king, has determined that she will marry the older Finn, yet she finds herself enraptured by Finn’s son, Diarmuid. What ensues is a seven year chase through Irish country as Gráinne and Diarmuid try to
“ Whilst Gráinne is stubborn and steadfast and commanded by her own will, she lacks the agency to define herself in any way separately to the men in her life “
Photos: Ros Kavanagh
In conversation with Roddy Doyle
Maisie Greener sits down with Roddy Doyle to discuss his latest release.
By any measure, Roddy Doyle is more than a player in Ireland’s literary landscape. It would be no exaggeration to say he is to national literature what The Pogues are to Irish music, Yeats is to Irish painting. Doyle’s recurring character, Paula Spencer, is equally beloved and revered. Doyle and Paula have seen each other through major events in Ireland’s recent history. She was first envisioned for television, appearing in RTÉ’s Family. Doyle’s unflinching and gritty portrayal of a deteriorating family unit had an unprecedented impact. For every admiring review there was its reproving other. Aired just days after Riverdance’s seismic debut at Eurovision, Family brought a euphoric nation sharply back to earth. Doyle’s Family, and subsequently Paula Spencer, muddied the waters of nationalism, inopportunely, when they were at their strongest. While The Woman Who Walked Into Doors (1994) and Paula Spencer (2006) saw the returning figure through the duration of the Celtic Tiger years, the most recent iteration of Paula, in The Women Behind the Door, fittingly sees her through the pandemic. Doyle reminisces on the beginning of his literary fascination with Paula Spencer. “I was quite curious about Paula because Family was limited to a few months in her life and we only saw the end of her marriage. I began wondering what it was like in the early days. Was it always bad? What was it about Charlo that she fell in love with? What was the charm?” Her characterisation, now unfurling across a cumulative 750 or so pages, evidences his extreme curiosity. Perhaps surprisingly, there’s nothing chronological or scheduled about when Doyle revisits Paula Spencer. He says that he’s “never thought in those terms”. There seems to be, however, a serendipitous impulse behind how she was most recently revisited. Doyle reflects that when he was getting vaccinated at the Helix Theatre at Dublin City University, it occurred to him that the same venue had staged a production of The Woman Who Walked Into Doors years
before. “That put Paula back in my mind,” he says. Subsequently, Doyle abandoned his current project, deeming it somewhat redundant and dwarfed by this new normal. Like every post-pandemic writer, Doyle was confronted with the decision of whether to include Covid-19 in his novel. Ultimately it was his steadfast commitment to social realism and, as he candidly admits, the financial imperative of writing for a living that led Doyle to not only include the pandemic, but to structure his novel around it. On a logistical level, the lockdowns accounted for Paula and Nicole being under the same roof where they could no longer elude sensitive topics. It’s these fraught conversations that unravel across the novel’s pages.
When the conversation came to titles and specifically, why he chose to circle back to the 1996 title in The Women Behind the Door, Doyle revealed that he normally begrudges these more arbitrary aspects of writing. “I am really poor on titles,” he confesses, instead he typically defers to his agent who is particularly gifted in that department. Nevertheless he finds the intertextuality to give the novels a “rounded quality” that at once encapsulates the constants and variants in Paula’s life.
One such constant in the Paula Spencer corpus is that of doors. Doyle comments that “they do serve a practical purpose but I think they have a symbolic role as well”. He continues that whether a door is open or closed carries significance beyond the physical door itself. The Woman Who Walked into Doors, for instance, evokes the excuse commonly used by domestic violence victims to conceal their injuries. Although the door motif is consistent, Paula’s relationship to it is not. In the earlier novels, she is afraid of the door bell and the hallway is the site of
her beatings. This time round, Doyle masterfully inverts his own motif. He offers that “the door is different in some way. It protects them”. Ostensibly, it protects them from Covid-19. Paradoxically also, this time behind the door is the potential for reconciliation and healing as Paula’s daughter returns home, seeking refuge from her own domestic issues. The relationship between the private and public continues to preoccupy both Paula and Doyle. When asked whether any contemporary issues in Ireland, besides Covid-19, informed his
TheCertainlyWomen Behind the Door concerns itself with a second kind of pandemic, that being rampant hatred of women. “
“As a fixture of the Irish literary scene for 30 years, Paula Spencer has earned her stripes as one of the country’s most iconic fic- tional characters.
On a more analytical level, Doyle elaborated on the dynamic between comedy and tragedy in The Women Behind the Door. He admits that he finds this question a peculiar one as “that hand in hand stroll of comedy and tragedy seems so natural. The older I [he] get, the more natural it seems”. He
considers that this duality is particularly pronounced in Ireland where, historically ‘“anything that’s comic is right next door to something that isn’t”. Paula’s colleague and friend, Mary, best embodies this doubleness as she turns Paula’s otherwise tedious cleaning job into a source of joy.
As a fixture of the Irish literary scene for 30 years, Paula Spencer has earned her stripes as one of the country’s most iconic fictional characters. Accordingly, to “Which Irish literary character would you like to see Paula in conversation with?” Doyle almost instantaneously responded with Ulysses’ protagonist, Leopold Bloom. “I would love her to meet Leo Bloom. He’d be almost giddy talking to Paula. Almost childish in the company of this woman.” He imagines Paula and Edna O’Brien’s Cait Brady and Baba Brennan as possible friends; before confidently endorsing that “She would hold her own against them all”. It seems premature, with The Women Behind the Door having been released just last month, to push about another Paula Spencer instalment. Similarly, it’s too soon for Doyle to know whether, let alone when, there will be one. “The next one, I haven’t a clue if there’ll be a next one,” he admits.
The relationship between the private and public continues to occupy both Paula and Doyle
writing, Doyle reasoned that he “tends to think of people, not issues”. With this being said, he admits the formative effect that misogyny would've had on Paula. He cites her tendency towards self depreciation as symptomatic of a culture of sexism at large. Specifically, Nicole’s moment of crisis after hearing her brother-in-law make a sexual comment about his niece is borrowed from Doyle’s own encounter with misogyny. He remembers overhearing a man call his younger female relative “hot” once, recalling that “even though she didn’t hear it. He said it. The violence of it lingered”. Certainly The Women Behind the Door concerns itself with a second kind of pandemic, that being rampant hatred of women. The novel also pertains to generational trauma as Doyle elaborates on the psychological fallout of the Famine and the Cromwellian conquest. “Going back to the Famine really isn’t that long ago. That has to have a huge impact on the psyche,” he elaborates. Its reverberations endure in Doyle’s fiction and Irish society alike.
Photo:
Chemsex amongst students
Kate Byrne considers how students are using drugs to enhance their sexual experiences
Chemsex refers to the use of one or more drugs, in any combination, to facilitate or enhance sexual activity. The most common drugs used during chemsex are Methamphetamine (Meth), Mephedrone (Meph) and GHB (G). Ketamine and cocaine, especially in Ireland, are also frequently used by those who partake. There’s no set way to do it; it can be with a romantic partner, a one night stand, or in a group setting at a party.
While people of all sexual orientations have used drugs to amplify their sexual experiences, the specific term ‘chemsex’ has historically been associated with men who have sex with men. The term originated from a nickname (‘chems’) which was used by gay men when communicating with drug deals via text in the 1990s.
The term ‘chemsex’ has come to be an incredibly important one, from facilitating Facebook groups surrounding the phenomenon to allowing governments to identify the uniqueness of the activity in creating public health policies. It’s not just men who have sex with men that use drugs during sex, though ‘chemsex’ does refer to a deep historical and cul-
tural practice.
People that intentionally incorporate drugs into their sex lives have reported feeling more relaxed, closer to their partner(s) and more grounded in the moment. But, of course, as with any type of drug use, the risks are immense. The side effects of drugs used during chemsex include unconsciousness, psychosis, chronic depression and even death. On top of this, when any kind of substance is mixed with sex, the lines of consent can become
“ It’s happening amongst students of all sexual orientations, to the point of normalisation
blurred, leading many to question their actions the next day. When you see it written out like this, the use of drugs during sex can seem like something very scary, and distant from our own lives. But the fact of the matter is that it’s happening amongst students of all sexual orientations, to the point of normalisation. If you’re a Trinity student, you have probably been offered a line of cocaine or a sniff of a popper at some stage during your time here. Drugs are simply a part of student par-
ty life. It shouldn’t be surprising that they have found their way into our sex lives.
It turns out that we’re pretty shy to talk about it, though. Bringing up the topic to my friends, I was met with blushes, diverted eyes and ‘I don’t knows’. I was told that people ‘might know someone who does it, but they might not want to talk to you’. Others claimed not to know anyone who does it all. When I expressed my frustration to one of my fellow editors, she said ‘I find it hard to believe that people aren’t having chemsex at Trinity’.
And she was right. People of all orientations and preferences are using drugs during sex. . But they’re reluctant to talk about it. It wasn’t until I opened up an anonymous questionnaire that people disclosed their experiences of mixing drugs and sex.
The majority of people who responded to my questionnaire were students aged 21 and 22, of varying gender identities. Cocaine was the drug of choice for the majority of people. Others have tried ‘poppers’ (amyl nitrite), cannabis, ketamine, HHC, GHB and speed (amphetamine). The majority of people agreed that the use of drugs during sex is happening much more than people think, but some were unsure about how common it is. Others were unsure about whether people are taking drugs for the sole intention of having sex. Aoife* tells me that ‘I think people do so many drugs these days and end up having sex, but wouldn’t set out to take drugs to enhance sex’.
Harry, who has had sex with both men and women while using drugs, says that cocaine and ketamine ‘enhance your sexual
stamina to the point where you can have sex for hours’. However, he added that he struggles to climax. ‘Girls who I have shared chemsex experiences with have never had a problem climaxing it seems, but for me, when on stimulants, it really is close to impossible’. He believes that there is a big difference between drunken sex and sex under the influence of drugs. For Harry, using drugs during sex makes the activity ‘far more passionate and intense, because of the increase in energy’.
When it comes to the consent part of it though, Harry said that more than once he has agreed to sex ‘while being under the influence of drugs’, and ‘second guesses’ his level of consent when sober. Alex, who has used poppers, speed and cannabis during sex says that drugs can ‘definitely lower inhibition in terms of sex’, and that they would ‘definitely seek out situations (they) would be more hesitant to when sober’. Sarah, who has used HHC with her partner, noted that if she ‘wasn’t in a relationship’, she’d be ‘wary to have sex while on drugs’. Shane, who has used GHB during sex, says he ‘blacked out and woke up on the streets’ after the experience.
What comes after? Harry said he has felt ‘a sore head usually accompanied with shame’ after mixing drugs with sex, and other students note they feel a similar ‘comedown’ the following day. Shane said that to try to prevent this, people should ‘proceed with caution when mixing anything, especially counteracting weed and coke, downers and uppers’. Aoife feels that drugs ‘can take away any sort of caring side to people, especially when it’s strangers having sex’.
Based on the experiences of these students, it seems that if chemsex something you are
“
If we continue to shy away from abouttalking these things, we only further the stigma surrounding it
engaging in, the best thing you can do is to plan ahead. Set boundaries before sex, and if you can, check again for consent during it. Carrying your own protection and lube, and getting checked for STIs is the way to go. The majority of students that answered my questionnaire are not getting regularly checked for STIs. As students, if we continue to shy away from talking about these things, we only further the stigma surrounding it. Opening up conversations about chemsex allows us to protect ourselves from others from the risks surrounding it. It could even save a life.
*All names have been changed to maintain anonymity
Photo: KKassu (Flickr)
Photo: Jim Baur (Flickr)
“You don’t owe anyone anything”, and other lies
Sadhbh Long dives into the online discourse of what we owe one another
On social media, selfcare sells, and the discourse of the day is the notion that you do not owe anyone a single thing.
Looking up examples to pull for this article, the phrase autocompleted itself in every search bar. I was greeted with streams of pastel-toned infographics, their clean-lined calligraphy informing us boldly that “you don’t owe anyone anything”. Thousands of tweets delivering the same message begin: “I don’t know who needs to hear this, but…” Such a sentiment hasn’t remained within the confines of our online world, either. More and more, the idea that we owe nothing to anyone is being thrown around in everyday conversation, be
it an argument with a friend or a conclusive statement about protecting one’s peace. As prevalent as it seems to be, this notion is one I must wholeheartedly disagree with.
I think that two key cultural conditions have led to the salience of this phrase. The first is the internet’s bastardisation of therapy terminology. In online self-care discourse, many discussions begin surrounding legitimately useful psychological language. However, as with much language on the internet, these ideas become quickly estranged from their original meanings, pieces of context and layers of nuance lost between every post. One example is the term “gaslighting”, a form of psychological abuse that leaves victims questioning their sanity, devolving into another term for “lying” through online misuse. As with an understanding of any therapeutic advice, realising that you do not owe someone a particular thing can be genuinely empowering to certain individuals. From those in unhealthy relationships, to individuals with peoplepleasing tendencies, to
realising you do not owe your boss labour outside of your contracted hours. The issue with this online platitude arises when we apply this sweeping statement to all cases - cases in which maybe, certain conduct is due.
Secondly, the “you don’t owe anyone anything” mentality appeals particularly to our over-individualised culture. The notion of community has been under threat for centuries. As Western societies move increasingly further from collectivist culture, our ever-growing autonomy has pushed us away from our peers, physically and emotionally. Today, we believe we should consider our families and wider communities less in our conduct than ever before. The fact is, however, to live without others is truly impossible. A world that believes we owe each other nothing is one desperately removed from the realities of the networks that keep us going every day. Without others producing our food, clothes, housing, and medicines, the means of our very survival, none of us would be here at all. This goes
for our interpersonal lives, too. In an interview for the 2018 Louisiana Literature festival, author Sally Rooney stated on such ideas: “The idea that you can move through the world as a self-sustaining individual, it’s a fiction.” We are social animals by design, and in all social interactions, those we interact with must be considered.
In fact, the question of what we owe to one another is the basis of morality itself.
In his book What We Owe to Each Other, philosopher T. M. Scanlon presents the concept of contractualism, defining interactions as moral when participants act in ways that neither party could reasonably object to. Separately, in Kwame Anthony Appiah’s The Politics of Identity, he discusses “morality - by which I mean what we owe to one another”. He states that in leading our individual lives “we need other people: respect for individuality is not an endorsement of individualism”. While stating that “you don’t owe anyone anything” is far from true, we are still individuals with our own life course to follow. Acting true to our individuality,
however, does not require us to act in ways towards others that they could validly object to. Our options for conduct in social interaction are limitless. Maybe the answer to the question of what we owe one another is not one of everything-or-nothing, but something unique to each of the varied relationships we experience throughout our lives.
While the idea that we do not owe anybody anything would be a quick fix for all social tensions, this same
“While there is no debt collector showing up at our doors to tell us what we owe to one another, there shouldn’t have to be
notion is what robs us of social connection in the first place. Mutual respect and genuine good will towards one another are the foundations of all fruitful relationships, and I am so lucky to owe so much to so many for the community they have brought me. While there is no debt collector showing up at our doors to tell us what we owe to one another, there shouldn’t have to be. In fact, in all of my most cherished friendships, we go far beyond the contractionalist ideas of what can be reasonably expected of one another. My friends surprise me with coffees in the library and send me texts when something reminds them of me. They walk me home from parties, they celebrate my highs, and they don’t leave my side in tougher times. While I would never expect such generosity, these little gifts of time, effort, and headspace sustain us. They bring the kind of joy I would hope I can give back to others. These things we do not owe, but choose to give anyway, are maybe the most precious gifts of all.
Jessie Huang for Trinity News
Denial is a river in relationships
Mia Craven analyses whether or not it really is over really is over
Iknew it was over because he told me so. He wrote me a letter while he was bedridden with a fever. “I cannot this relationship,” it read. I hoped the broken English of the English student signified that the fever was getting to his brain. He didn’t mean it, I told myself. He’ll come crawling back once he heals. It seemed to me a logical conclusion to draw at the time, but now I see that I was experiencing nothing more than the first stage of grief: denial.
Denial drives you to dream “
Denial is ruthless. Denial deludes you and pumps you full of unrealistic expectations. Denial drives you to dream. I dreamt of him a lot this past summer. Every spare moment was lent to a fantasy. I would sit in my back garden on sunny days, eyes closed and imagination wide. I dreamt of seeing him in September for the first time since the breakup. I hoped his eyes would brighten when he saw me. He would approach me tentatively and breathe a sigh of relief when I reciprocated his advances. We would live happily ever after. All would be well. Denial makes life so much worse. I was convinced my fantasies would actualise, that I was a master at manifesting exactly what I desired. But when that fateful September day rolled around and I saw him again, I experienced the most heartbreaking rejection of my life. He didn’t even acknowledge me. After all we had been through together, my presence didn’t warrant even an eyebrow raise or a head nod. I was forced to confront my denial head-on. He was standing firm on his decision, and that would not change no matter how hard I denied it. Before he broke up with me, I knew our relationship was a ticking time bomb. I knew this because I was fighting for him, resisting the inevitable end. He couldn’t love me the way I needed him to, but I begged him to regardless. I sunk all
the time and money I had into him, hoping it would keep him around. I apologised profusely for all the parts of me that I could tell irked him. I told him I didn’t want to be that way, that I wanted to change. I assured him that I would change if he would stay around long enough. My grand gestures and self-deprecation were a pitiful last resort. I was exhibiting a sort of acceptance that our relationship wasn’t working, but
“ No one wants to accept that all they have is not enough
a brash denial of the
notion that it had to end. I felt pathetic. Is it ever worth fighting to
keep a relationship alive? For me, the answer is no. But reason never stopped a woman in love and in denial. The very notion of “fighting” to maintain a relationship is absurd in my case. I am nineteen. Life grants me myriad options of romantic partners. Adult discontent and obligation cannot mess with my relationships just yet. I am young and so I am lucky. Love is not a calculated decision I ought to make. Loving is not what I, a rational economic actor, should do to maximise my returns. I am free to surrender myself to love and its whims. When you are young, you love because your body tells you to, because of genetic diversity, pheromones, soulmates and happily ever after. You don’t love because you have a house to hold together. You love because you can’t remember how it feels to do anything else. I suppose the problem between him and me was that he could imagine himself doing something other than being in love with me. His love for me was optional, occupying only one
of many paths that stretched out before him. My yearning had been wholly one-sided. I
“The slimmest possibility brings the greatest comfort
was crushed by this realisation. When he broke up with me, he had meant it. It was over. It is no wonder denial is the first stage of grief. Love is a markedly vulnerable thing that prompts you to offer your whole self over to another.
“Here I am, this is all I have to give, please accept me and love me for all that I am.” No one wants to accept that all they have is not enough. But we hopeless romantics must respect both ourselves and the
objects of our affection. No means no and no degree of denial will change that. If you feel you love someone, you ought to respect them and keep your denial to yourself.
I feel it is, in a certain way, vital to let go immediately. If a person no longer wants to be with you, it is unlikely that any pestering will change that. It is important to let go in a way that respects the other person’s decision. This means, in essence, leaving them alone. But letting go completely, letting go of all the hopes and dreams that flood your mind, is another thing altogether. I’m finding it difficult. I still use the same deodorant as him. I use the body wash he had in his shower while we were together. I think of him while I hold my teddy bears and drift off to sleep. I still hold out hope that we might have something of a chance, sometime in the future. I know we don’t. I know I’m in denial. But I can’t accept it just yet. The slimmest possibility brings the greatest comfort. Denial keeps me warm at night.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BAMBINO
Jessie Huang for Trinity News
What do women really want? On sex, desire, and performance
Cat Grogan considers Gillian Anderson’s new book Want and the space it creates for women’s sexual fantasies
What are women thinking about, but not talking about, when it comes to sexual desires? What is it that women really dream about? In her new book Want: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous, actress Gillian Anderson has set out to tell us. Compiling the anonymous submissions of women from around the world, Anderson’s book unsparingly chronicles 174 women’s sexual fantasies in all of their lurid detail.
Want is based on My Secret Garden, a book in the same format compiled by Nancy Friday over 50 years ago. At the time of My Secret Garden’s publication in 1973, it was still largely believed that women didn’t experience sexual desire in the same way as men did. For the first time, the secret yearnings of women were shamelessly spelt out. The entries were racy, and nothing was held back. Section titles included Pain and Masochism, Domination, Masturbation, and The Thrill of the
Many women might have no idea that other women desire things just like them “
Photo: Amazon UK
Forbidden. Chapters of Want include Rough and Ready, To Be Worshipped, The Captive, Kink, Gently, Gently, and Power and Submission. From fantasies that centre on the suffering of immense pain to those which hinge on love and gentle desire, the diversity amongst entries carves out space for any form of women’s lust. This is crucial, given that women’s sexual desire is still rarely prioritised as much as men’s. How many of you have been a part of a sexual interaction that ended promptly when the man came?
It’s safe to say that there have been some seismic changes since My Secret Garden was published half a century ago. Some of the women who submitted to Friday’s collection were my age – 23 –at the time of writing and had already been married for five years. One contributor, though married, had only for the first time recently discovered her clitoris. Yet while the fantasies in Anderson’s book have shifted with the tides of modernity and a far wider array of sexualities are included, the crux of the fantasies have, in many ways, remained largely the same. They are sexual
“It is about fantasies that actually belong to the woman, not the man who holds the camera and directs the scenes
fantasies from the woman’s perspective, something that we rarely see in mainstream pornography which is created by men, for men, with the man’s pleasure and desire central to the depiction. It is painfully rare to see sex scenes in which the woman acts as the subject rather than as the object being acted upon. Friday talks about how men are allowed to desire embellishments and costumes and all sorts of appendages to vanilla sex in order to get off, whilst women, historically,
have not been granted the same scope of imagination. Without these books, many women might have no idea that other women desire things just like them.
Want, at times, makes for uncomfortable reading. It isn’t necessarily the type of book you want to whip out on the bus. But discomfort, when caused by an engagement with writing, is, in my opinion, a good and worthwhile thing. There are moments in the book in which efforts are made to dissect where it is that these
“
these books are filled with pages in which shame has no place
fantasies stem from. I think that this can be meaningful –it is important to think about
why we want what we want. Is it because we have been trained to want it? Have we internalised the male gaze’s desires as our own? Oftentimes yes. Other times no. An important point that is conveyed in both books is that, even in the fantasies in which women cede control, it is still, crucially, the fantasising woman who controls the scene. While the images and fantasies discussed aren’t always traditionally feminist, giving space to women’s sexual desires certainly is. It is about fantasies that actually belong to the woman, not the man who holds the camera and directs the scenes.
It is difficult, sometimes near impossible, to separate what we want sexually from what we have been trained to want. But at least here, in these books, the narrative voice lies with the woman. There is no “wrong” form of consensual desire, and Want makes sure that the reader knows that. In a world where women are constantly shouldered with shame, these books are filled with pages in which shame has no place. They tell us that women are allowed to want – we are even allowed to want what we want.
Photo: Official Gillian Anderson website
Crossword
Spotsolas Sochaí: An Cumann Gaelach
Déanann Ursula Ní Fhiach cur síos ar an gCumann Gaelach agus na buntáistí a bhaineann leis
Ursula Ní Fhiaich
Deputy Features Editor
Cad é an cumann is fearr ar champas? Le níos mó ná 120 cumainn de gach sórt, is deacair an cheist sin a fhreagairt. Áfach, creidim gur fíor a rá gurb é an Cumann Gaelach ceann de na cumainn is fearr atá ann. Is é ceann de na cumainn is mó ar champas, agus eagraíonn siad imeachtaí éagsúla chuile seachtain! Ach cad é an Cumann Gaelach, agus cén fáth ar chóir duit páirt a ghlacadh ann? Bhuel, is í aidhm an Chumainn Ghaelaigh ná ‘an Ghaeilge agus an cultúr Gaelach a chur chun cinn i gColáiste na Tríonóide’. Cuireann an Cumann spásanna agus deiseanna ar fáil chun do chuid Gaeilge a úsáid i do shaol
laethúil, idir ar champas agus thaobh amuigh den champas! Tá spás ar champas ag an Chumann Gaelach ina bhfuil daltaí in ann caint as Gaeilge le chéile, obair a dhéanamh nó cupán tae a ól! Seomra na Gaeilge an t-ainm atá ar an spás seo, agus is tearmann ar champas do mhóran dáltaí é an seomra seo. Tá an seomra ar oscailt ó Luan go hAoine i rith an lae, agus mar sin is féidir dul ansin idir ranganna i gcómhar do shos, nó is féidir cúpla uair a chaitheamh ansin ag déanamh oibre (nó gan obair a dhéanamh agus caint is cómhra in ionad oibre). Bíonn caife, tae, bainne agus brioscaí i gcónaí ar fáil, agus uair amháin bhí méid aisteach ketchup sa chuisneoir – ní cheapaim go raibh a fhios ag éinne cén fáth... I rith na n-imeachtaí a eagraíonn an Cumann is féidir do chuid Gaeilge a labhairt – agus is cuma cén leibhéal Gaeilge atá agat, tá fáilte roimh chách. Má tá tú ag iarraidh do chuid Gaeilge a fheabhsú, nó ag iarraidh a bheith ag caint le Gaeilgeoirí eile, is é seo an Cumann foirfe duitse. Tá labhairt na Gaeilge i gcroí an Chumann Ghaelaigh, agus mar sin is iad imeachtaí an chumainn an deis fhoirfe bualadh le daoine nua fosta. Ní gá Gaeilge fhoirfe
a bheith agat – ná bí buartha faoin ghramadach nó mura bhfuil tú líofa, tá an cumann ag iarraidh go bhfuil gach duine in ann ár dteanga a labhairt! Ní hamháin labhairt na Gaeilge atá tábháchtach, tá irisleabhar ag an Chumann ann fosta, darb ainm ‘Tuathal’. Is féidir píosa ealaíne, filíochta nó rud éigin cruthaitheach a ullmhú don irisleabhar!
Tá a fhios agat anois gur féidir leat do chuid Gaeilge a úsáid leis an Chumann Gaelach – ach cad iad na himeachtaí atá ar siúl? Gach seachtain, bíonn ‘Anraith agus Arán’ ar siúl – ní deacair a thomhais cad atá i gceist leis an imeacht seo. Bíonn an t-imeacht seo ar siúl gach Céadaoin ag am lóin i Seomra na Gaeilge, agus nach bhfuil sé ar fheabhas an lón a fháil saor in aisce? De ghnáth bíonn imeacht nó dó eile ar siúl gach seachtain- anuraidh bhí ‘péint agus prosecco’, ‘oíche púl’ agus díospóireachtaí i measc na n-imeachtaí a bhí ar siúl.
I rith na bliana tá cúpla imeacht mór fosta – An t-Oireachtas, an ceoldráma agus an turas bliantúil, chun tagairt a dhéanamh ar chúpla ceann! I mí na Samhna, eagraítear turas go dtí an Oireachtas i gCiarraí, agus gach bliain bíonn
an chraic, na scéalta agus na feistis ar fheabhas ar fad. Ansin, i Márta, bíonn an ceoldráma ar siúl. Má chonaic tú an seó seo anuraidh, tá a fhios agat gur grúpa cumasach é an Cumann Gaelach, agus má chonaic tú é dhá bhlian ó shin, tá a fhios agat gur grúpa giota craiceáilte iad. Is deis é an ceoldráma chun do chuid Gaeilge a úsáid ar an stáitse, agus tá rólanna eile ann nach dteastaíonn an stáitse. Ag
deireadh na bliana, eagraítear turas leis an chumann, in Éireann nó thar lear! Ag an phointe seo, beidh aithne agat ar na daoine eile sa chumann, agus mar sin is féidir dul ar an turas seo leis na cairde nua a rinne tú i rith na bliana. Agus sin é! Is dóigh liom go bhfuil cliú agat anois cad atá i gceist leis an Chumann Gaelach, agus go bhfuil tú ag iarraidh dul isteach ann!
Lawlor for Trinity
Quintin
News
Are lecturers Luddites? The effects of Artificial Intelligence on the labour market
Exploring the effect of AI on the job market
Mia Allen Contributing Writer
“AI” was Collins Dictionary’s word of the year in 2023, and this ambiguous buzzword in many industries seems to be humming around the ears of many. Is it possible to predict the implications AI may have on the job market, and should students be aware of its looming presence on their future livelihoods? What effects will AI like Chat-GPT have in academic settings? Within global capitalist economies, the advent of AI has made labour markets — such as Ireland’s — a prime target; 30% of jobs could be in danger. Are students prepared?
The prevalence of AI in the
“ The prevalence of AI in the labour market will unilaterally affect every job to degreesvarying
labour market will unilaterally affect every job to varying degrees. According to the Irish Department of Finance’s report on AI, people in the fields of hospitality and retail are the most at risk of losing their jobs. Female-dominated fields are primary targets, with nearly 40% of jobs carried out by women found to be in danger.
The report also notes AI will reduce the demand for labour,
with administration and dataentry level tasks the most vulnerable to be absorbed by the technology. This will, in turn, enhance the competitiveness for entry-level positions.
Natalia Timulakova, a fourth-year psychology student from Dublin, stressed the need for regulation and education.“I don’t see AI going anywhere,” she said. Her primary experience with AI mainly encompasses trying out Chat-GPT, but her friends in “tech-related fields and businesses would hear more mention about how private companies are investing in AI”.
Erik Larkin, a fourth-year computer science student at Trinity from Slane, said that: “whilst AI has always been there in the computer industry, it is becoming unavoidable nowadays”, citing how: “experience with it is essential in a competitive labour market”. But there is no AI widely-available on the market that could capsize humanity. “Trusting AI is like trusting a parrot (granted, a parrot who has heard an awful lot of words),” Larkin said. “I think knowing that helps to ease the existential dread”.
Timulakova similarly noted the impossibility of AI removing humans from the workplace just yet however, she did note the dangers of avoiding the technology entirely: “When the internet first came about, there were similar worries about its misuse and effects… with time people learn how to look out for red flags”.
Brian Kelleher, a thirdyear economics and maths Naughton Scholar at Trinity, has extensive experience in the mechanics of AI as the founder of Micro-doc, a “digital assistant for doctors” with a specific language model that offers automated services for medical paperwork. He believes that in our lifetimes, AI will uproot much of the labour market, with even white collar or “safe jobs” potentially in danger.
“This technology probably already exists [to replace mankind]. The challenges are much more to do with adoption, legal frameworks, and regulation impediments, than any technical ones. It’s a question of integrating this technology into the existing structures in our life.”
Without compounding into an existential crisis over doomsday sci-fi scenarios, or dismissing AI as a temporal phase, what are the red flags we should be on the lookout for?
The National Council of
Skills Preliminary Report emphasises the importance of working with these technologies. The solution offered by this research is to restructure education, and to develop different skills to work in tandem with this technology. Has this been implemented yet?
Talk of Chat-GPT floods nearly every introductory lecture, with warnings of its use being regarded as plagiarism. However, detection is difficult, and it is increasingly easy for students to “cheat” with proper use of such language models. Many lecturers may cite their disappointment with its impact on essaybased assignments, and feel the need to shift to sit-down examinations to avoid blatant abuse of the programmes, but do not address how one could proactively use AI in an ethical and acceptable way. “I think it is more important to adapt to the new opportunities that the technology provides, I could definitely see it being useful in helping students manage more mundane tasks,” Timulakova said. The changing labour market provides an opportunity to give “humans more nuanced tasks, with the tedious jobs left to artificial intelligence”, essentially enhancing the efficiency and output of many industries.
Kelleher also recognised AI’s potential. However, he is of “two minds” when it comes to its use in education. While for him it could be viewed as a “personalised tutor in your pocket” for “filling in gaps of understanding”, he stressed the potential dangers.
“Mastery and innovation require a deep understanding of the fundamentals so that you can apply them in novel and unexpected ways.
If you abdicate that deep understanding in AI, you will never innovate.”
The question of how to use
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The question of how to use AI without completely giving up on your own education and knowledge is integral to the future
AI without completely giving up on your own education and knowledge is integral to the future. In the meantime, developing a strong ability to understand and operate AI systems is a necessity.
“Already,” Kelleher said, “we are seeing superintelligent AI systems like O1 from OpenAI surpass even the most intelligent people in reasoning capabilities, so it’s not unreasonable to think that this progress will continue, and our capacity to innovate will become redundant.”
His work with AI started at just fourteen. From building machine learning models to predicting house prices, to working with a startup in
Dublin at eighteen to create image recognition models for weighbridges, Kelleher knows both the positives and the negatives of the rise of AI.
“Even anecdotally, I find in my everyday life that I’m ten times more productive when using AI than I was before.” He has found that AI can increase productivity across the board, in turn automating even “traditionally white collar professions, such as doctors and lawyers”. Consequently, the economic imbalance as a result of the increasing development of AI by the minority must be considered. As Kelleher proposed: “I think certainly we’re going to have to have extremely aggressive redistributive taxation policies because the existing unequal effects of contemporary capitalism will be intensified with AI”.
This economic element is key to the introduction of artificial intelligence. AI’s production of better services and better medical care has the enormous inverse potential to majorly and irrevocably reduce the earning power of some professions, as well as the complete elimination of certain occupations for humans. However, Kelleher stressed that provided there are strong safety nets, the expansion of AI may be worthwhile. Thus, the result of this question of automation, while potentially revolutionary or apocalyptic, will not be due to the tech itself, but because of a capitalistic means of production by humans.
To ignore AI therefore: “is an exercise in ignorance, and a fool’s errand”. AI’s increasing imposition in people’s daily lives, at college or in the workplace, good or bad, is not a far off reality.
Jessie
Getting a pint: what life looks like behind the bar of the ‘Pav’
What’s life really like at The Pav for those who keep its wheels turning?
Swantje Mohrbeck Contributing Writer
Nestled at the southeastern corner of the College’s campus, overlooking the cricket fields, the Pavilion Bar — or The Pav, as it’s affectionately known — has long been more than just a place to grab a pint. For students, staff, and alumni, it’s a cherished gathering spot, an emblem of community and a student friendly employer. But what’s life really like at The Pav for those who keep its wheels turning?
The Pav stands at a nexus of Trinity’s social and sporting culture, with a history stretching back to the late 19th century. Once a simple cricket pavilion, it has since transformed into a student pub that channels portions of its profits back into the college’s sports clubs. Trinity News sat down with General Manager Aidan in the middle of a mid-morning
bustle that slowly brings the pub to life, to elaborate on the Pav’s history and aims as an institution, as well as what sets it apart from the many pubs that dot the streets of Dublin.
Managing the Pav’s quirks amidst the ebb and flow of student life, according to Aidan, is all about relationships. “My goal is to build relations with college, with sports clubs and societies,” he explained. It’s a place where students gather, societies hold functions, and friendships are forged. As Aidan summed up: “We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t have students.”
For the bar staff, the dynamic nature of working at The Pav is a big part of its charm. Jack, one of the bar staff, shared that the bar’s location makes every day unique. “It’s different every day because it is the focal point on campus,” Jack explained. “You get whoever throughout the day. Some people come in every day, and others you’ll only see twice a year.”
Freshers’ Week, in particular, offers its own brand of chaos and charm. “It’s so many people’s first time in a bar,” Jack said, recounting a few memorable moments. From students misunderstanding how to pour a proper Guinness, to quirky drink orders — like one student’s request for half a Smithwick’s and half a Guinness in the same glass — Jack’s stories paint a vivid picture of the learning curve many first-year
students experience when they step into The Pav for the first time.
Beyond the occasional mishap, what Jack appreciates most is the sense of community that grows at The Pav, especially as societies begin to make use of the space. “It’s so nice seeing fourth years talking to first years and telling them stories,” he said, reminiscing about his own time as a student at Trinity. “It’s so nice hearing the same stories being told in those first events, and it’s always such cool stuff.”
Aidan, for whom Freshers’ Week is a particular highlight as well, added: “What I like about Freshers’ Week is that it’s an extension of our bar.”
“We’re essentially running two bars rather than one, and students come back and engage with each other,” he added. The DJ events and Irish dancing nights are among the most popular, drawing students together in a festive atmosphere that defines the week.
Pop-up events, like the clothing store, also make their mark. “That was a massive success as well,” Aidan recalled with a smile.
For both Aidan and Jack, working at The Pav is about more than just serving drinks. It’s about being part of the fabric of Trinity life and helping to create a space where students can relax, socialise, and make memories. It is a hub of activity which even witnesses the visits
of external non-TCD students, adding a measure of variety.
The Pav therefore plays a pivotal role in the everyday lives of Trinity students. “We rely heavily on departments and staff for bookings and orders,” Aidan noted, emphasising that the bar’s success is largely a result of its integration with the wider college community.
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The Pav’s role doesn’t end when the academic year quiets down
And The Pav’s role doesn’t end when the academic year quiets down. As Jack shared, one of his most memorable experiences was when an entire Trinity academic department rented out the back room for karaoke over the summer. “I’ll
tell you, it wasn’t the music department,” he laughed. “They were having the time of their lives. I had some of them as lecturers, and was just constantly thinking, ‘Oh my god, you can sing Whitney Houston in the back room of the pub as well?’”
The unpredictability of the job is part of what keeps things interesting for Jack. From the karaoke sessions in the backroom, to watching the student body evolve over the years, there’s always something happening at The Pav. “It’s nice seeing how the whole community kind of comes together in one space,” Jack stated. “It is that social third space that everyone gets to enjoy.”
Jack fondly recalled moments of camaraderie, like the time he ended up stewarding the women’s bathroom queue during a particularly busy day. “We’re just having chats. And then I was seeing the girls in the queue the next week, and they were like, thanks for letting us into the bathroom,” he laughed.
In many ways, The Pav is more than a bar — it’s a reflection of the vibrant, multifaceted life at Trinity College Dublin. Whether it’s Freshers’ Week, a society event, or just a regular evening after lectures, the bar serves as a social space where students, staff, and faculty can connect. From its historic roots to its role in supporting sports, to its place as a social hub, The Pav remains an essential part of what makes Trinity unique.
Jimena Alvarez
The lessons to be learned from the Cuban education system
University has been made accessible to every student who wishes to attend, although the system is far from perfect
Ixim Dagge Hernandez Contributing Writer
In a lesser-known feature of Trinity’s many study abroad programmes, some of us are lucky enough to spend a semester abroad in Havana, Cuba, as part of our college’s collaboration with the CASA Programme. This gave me the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse myself in an education system vastly different from anything Ireland has to offer. One of the most impressive aspects was the way in which a country such as
Cuba can maintain a free education system, one that renders great results on an international scale despite suffering from a 62-year long blockade from the US, and therefore constantly facing fuel, food, and water shortages. The contrast I found with the Cubana and Irish systems is stark and has made me question many things about the approach to third level education in Ireland.
In an interview with the CASA Programme director, Dr. Rainer Schultz, we spoke at length about how the ideals for education of the 1959 Cuban Revolution have been addressed over the past 62 years. Dr. Schultz, whose doctoral thesis at Harvard focuses on the transformation of Cuba’s education system post-Revolution, highlighted the commitment of the Cuban state to provide “access to education in real terms”. But what does “real terms” actually look like?
As Professor of History in the University of Habana, Dr. Paula Ortiz explains that it means radicalising the material conditions of students in order for them to both have access to education regardless of their socio-economic circumstances, and to be able to fully focus on their studies without having financial worries throughout
their time in college. A series of radical measures have been put in place to realise these ambitions.
To begin, all third level education in Cuba is completely free. All materials, such as copybooks and lab equipment, are provided for free by the universities. There are no registration fees, either. If a student chooses to study in a university outside of their province, of which Cuba has 15, or if their home is far away enough that they can’t reach the university via public transport, they are offered a scholarship that offers them free accommodation in one of the many state-owned student residencies for the duration of their time in college.
“The residencies were one of the first things to be built after the revolution, and they were a result of a long-held aspiration of the FEU (Federación Estudiantil Universitaria, the national Students Union)”, Dr. Ortiz pointed out, adding that “every third level institution in the country has its own residencies. They offer a room, free breakfast and dinner every day, and in some cases free transport to and from the university during weekdays. For lunch, there are student dining halls located throughout all universities where students can take up
“ The political will to uphold these values towards free universal education overcomes the economic defects
a free meal.”
Dr. Schultz continues in explaining that the system is simple, yet it covers basic needs, and it underlines an approach to education where the student is prioritised. The political will to uphold these values towards free universal education overcomes the economic defects that face the country. Daniel, a second-year philosophy student and scholarship recipient, highlights this commitment, saying: “In my two years at the residency, the conditions have always been acceptable, reasonably clean,and well-organised. As a country, we’ve had difficulties with food shortages during my time in university, but that didn’t stop us from getting our breakfast and dinner at the residency every day. I think that speaks volumes of the system, and it is a structure that the students have fought for through the FEU”. Through the FEU, the culture of academic engagement and student activism is visible in everyday student life, as I witnessed a campus where students are constantly in discussions with professors and administration alike. There exists a system of dynamic participatory decision making since the FEU works as an essential part of the running of the university.
Cuba has been in economic recession for years now, and the situation has been heavily aggravated by the pandemic. When asked how the state has been able to keep up the scholarship programme since then,
Dr. Ortiz acknowledged that it has been very difficult, since the state budget has been very low since the pandemic. On top of the existing problems, the blockade looms large in all areas of Cuban life, as it impedes the state’s capacity to bring in more resources. Despite this, Dr. Ortiz makes it clear that it has always been the state’s interest to uphold the assistance given to students, in whatever form that might take. She attributes a significant effort of resilience in trying to find the means to ensure the supports keep coming. What we see at play in Cuba is a culture geared towards universal and high-quality education that is the result of both revolutionary ideals and continuous active participation of the students. The educational programme has extended beyond state politics, as the more people I spoke to, the more I realised that, for Cubans, getting a good education is a right in itself and a given. This is the realisation of collective efforts of a country that has been looking for its own ways to develop itself, on its own terms.
Nonetheless, the lack of materials, food, infrastructure, funds, and the increasing migration of young people out of the country are threatening the stability of the education system. As Dr. Schultz points out, “the institutional design is still in place and has been adapted somewhat, (but) the problem is the material conditions to sustain it”. The structural problems have led a part of the Cuban population to lessen their support for the current system. This is the case with Kepa, a recent graduate from the University of Havana, who would like a swift and immediate transition to capitalism, but
The political will and policies educationfor found in Ireland are rather unfulfilling comparisonin “
Photo: Jack Conneely
still wants to keep the current third level education system in place - there is good reason for Cubans to have faith in this system, as UN stats have shown that Cuba has the best performing students per capita in Latin America.
The political will and policies for education found in Ireland are rather unfulfilling in comparison. Whilst we’ve seen that Cuba has the desire but not the means to deliver an education system of the highest standard, the case in Ireland reflects an underwhelming reality.
The 2024 Budget revealed a €307 million shortfall within the higher education sphere. Unfortunately for students, academics, and professors alike, private interests get preference instead of the institutions. The education system is dominated by big financial companies, for-profit educational institutions and institutions that advise against the reform of educational institutions. This aligns with the continuous neo-liberal agenda that the Irish government has been practising for decades now.
The cost of access to education and the cost of living is systematically restraining students all across Europe, and it is particularly noticeable in Ireland as it has been enhanced by the housing crisis. Students not only have to face paying high registration fees, as well as studying in universities that are largely underfunded, but they also must face the increasing cost of everyday life in cities. Rent prices are sky high in Ireland at the moment, and
colleges do not offer affordable accommodation for students, except in some rare instances.
Structural problems are at the helm of the challenges that students face in Ireland. Investment funds, a major catalyst
of the housing crisis, now own more student accommodation buildings in Dublin than the city’s three largest universities put together. The three universities combined offer 5,602 beds, while the large, anony-
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It is part of a student’s duty to foment criticism of their society, and to engage in critical dialogue...
mous cooperative groups own 7,538 beds. Unfortunately, a result of the crisis has been a large number of students having to drop out of college as they cannot find a place to live.
These facts shine a light on the harsh realities of the third level sector in Ireland. While it could be argued that Irish universities could learn from Cuban universities to facilitate and accommodate students to have the conditions to fully focus on their studies and fulfil their potential, it is highly unlikely that a European institution will look towards what is perceived as a poor, underdeveloped country for answers to their own diffi-
culties.
However, this brings up a core issue: the fact that students must question their institutions and governments to hold them up to proper and transparent standards. It is part of a student’s duty to foment criticism of their society, and to engage in critical dialogue that can be transformed into direct action to demand better circumstances. A lot of the student consciousness needed to protest for universal educational access can come from student solidarity with other students who have different realities and might have gone through similar struggles. This is why it is important to share other stories, open our eyes to what other people are or have gone through, and establish links to foment solidarity and shared knowledge.
The image of Cuba is far more than what we perceive or what we are presented with on Western media. Through all of its complexities and difficulties, it has managed to sustain a universally recognized high standard educational system. This has been a key aspect to its drive towards the autonomy and sovereignty of the island, and has gone a long way in gaining reputation as an alternative model of governance and development. If Ireland could learn anything from the Cuban model, it is that with enough political will and determination, greater quality and accessibility in education can be achieved.
Photo: Jack Conneely
Photo: Jack Conneely
Comment
Who's afraid to speak up for establishment
Aidan Cusack
Page 23
New subjects for the Leaving Cert
Nóra Collins Page 25
Editorial: One year into genocide, Trinity's academic boycott of Israel is a welcome, if small, step towards justice
In May, College outlined a number of commitments regarding its ties to Israel following the historic victory of Trinity students’ Gaza solidarity encampment after just five days. These included a commitment to provide scholarships for students from Palestine, and centrally, to divest entirely from Israeli companies. It stopped short of committing to a university-wide academic boycott, tacitly leaving this question to be decided by the task force to be set up for the continued review of the university’s ties with Israel. However, the recent commitment from Trinity’s branch of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) indicates, welcomely, that a full academic boycott will emerge among the recommendations of this task force.
“This
paper welcomes this vital step in disentangling our university from its complicity in the occupation of Palestine, which is inherently entwined and upheld by Israel's research sphere.
This paper welcomes this vital step in disentangling our university from its complicity in the occupation of Palestine, inherently entwined and upheld by Israel’s research sphere. Academic boycott has long been one of the most contro-
versial tenets of the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. Even otherwise-proponents of BDS have cautioned that such a boycott impinges on academic freedom and free scientific enquiry, a core value of academia worldwide. The argument portrays the arena of science as a sacred one, distinct from the profane realms of economics and politics. But this fallacy outright ignores the straightforward realities of research funding globally and in Israel specifically, its near-complete integration into the state apparatus of apartheid and occupation.
Trinity News has been committed to reporting on the ways in which Trinity’s partner institutions in Israel have contributed to human rights abuses across the region. Technion’s development of military drone technologies and remote-controlled weaponized bulldozers used to demolish Palestinian homes’; Tel Aviv University’s creation of the "Dayhiya doctrine", which calls for disproportionate force against civilian infrastructure; and the Weizmann Institute’s open collaboration with the war industry, to name just three examples.
The BDSmovement itself documents these countless examples across every corner of Israel’s higher education system. Israeli universities are without exception complicit in the illegal occupation of Palestine and the violent suppression of its population since 1948, and since October 7, 2024, this has extended to the outright genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
This is of course no coincidence. It is precisely because of the Israeli state’s reliance on surveillance and military technology that its research sphere is a billion-dollar industry. Israel’s inherent insecurity, arising from the violent dispossession upon which it is founded, forces it to invest in research and development for military application. This is blood money; any researcher partnering with Israeli institutions is benefitting directly from the expropriation of Palestinian land, resources and lives.
Israel’s technological advancement also has important effects on its global image. It has fed into Israel’s image as a
“civilised” nation among savage neighbours in the Middle East. Alongside the propagandist claim to be “the only democracy in the Middle East”, it has won the praise and admiration of Western minds by positioning itself as a pioneer in science and technology. It is to be celebrated that Trinity will no longer enable and abet this hypocrisy while the criminal operations of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in Gaza, and now Lebanon, reveal the true face of the Israeli state: violent, expansionist and brutal.
Irish society at large has looked on in disgust as leaders in politics and culture across the West have either passively enabled Israel’s assault on Gaza or actively aggravated their genocide of the Palestinian people. To choose either course of action, this paper believes, is morally inexcusable for any person or institution who concerns themself with basic human rights, equality, and justice. Needless to say, as the death toll in Gaza summits the devastating 40,000 figure, our collective dismay at the continued inaction of those in positions of power and influence has markedly plateaued.
This situation stands in stark contrast to the youth political zeitgeist: one that is fundamentally anticolonial and anti-war in its pursuit of social justice –principles that extend to inform the opinions of even the least politically engaged amongst us. Napoleon Bonaparte is credited with saying that “to understand the man, you have to know what was happening in the world when he was twenty”. It’s with deep regret, and more often than not genuine horror, that this paper recognises that our university years cannot be separated from the world’s first livestreamed genocide taking place.
Trinity News has endeavoured over the past 12 months to accurately document College’s stance on Gaza, its divestment from Israeli firms and boycott of Israeli institutions. The progress they have made in recent months is commendable. We should, however, insist upon a genuine reflection of these feats – it is wholly thanks to the dozens of students who camped outside of the Arts Block on Fellows Square in the middle of exam week that we
can now all benefit from an education provided by a university that, eventually, took a principled stance on what is arguably the issue of our time.
Trinity’s academic staff, in voting to boycott Israeli academia, can now also count themselves among those making tangible progress towards justice.This too proved to be a struggle, however, as members had to launch a petition during an emergency meeting just to hold a vote on the topic. Progress is slow and rarely linear, despite the question at hand appearing simple in it’s broader context
There is no university open in Gaza today. A sliver of the Levant which for millennia has served as a cultural crossroads from the Middle East to North Africa, and which in recent years has boasted a literacy rate exceeding 97% despite obvious
economic and political barriers to this achievement, now sees its potential stripped and citizens slaughtered.
An academic boycott of Israeli institutions is as welcome as it is entirely necessary as Israel commits uncountable war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. An academic boycott will not, however, bring back the 40,000 murdered Palestinians who this paper mourns. We, as Trinity students, understand and benefit from the sanctity of a university education, in which we are free to question and answer as we see fit, both inside and outside the classroom. One year on, it remains clear to most that what we see unfolding will prove to be the defining issue of our time, providing questions that some will struggle to eventually answer.
Stephen Conneely for Trinity News
Who's afraid to speak up for the establishment?
Trinity is undoubtedly culturally, historically, and religiously, alien to Ireland. Once the site of the Catholic Priory of All Hallows, the Reformation in Ireland effectively closed all monastic institutions, though not without resistance. When Henry VIII introduced legislation to the Irish Parliament to legalise the closure of the monasteries in 1537, he faced significant opposition, only succeeding in closing sixteen monasteries out of an estimated 400.
This was, of course, until his Tudor Conquest of Ireland, which granted former monastic lands to local allied Lords, closing about half of the monasteries in Ireland. On its founding in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, it was hoped that higher education would increase British state power over Ireland and strengthen the Protestant Reformation. The Reformation in Ireland gained a markedly different character from Martin Luther’s exhortations against Catholic corruption, abuse of power, and doctrinal innovations, becoming oppressive in its own right.
In Trinity, this abuse of power was clear in its discrimination against Catholics, requiring them to take oaths against the Pope and transubstantiation, as well as barring “Popish or heretical opinion” from being held by students and staff. While barriers to Catholics graduating were removed by Catholic Emancipation, some barriers still remained for staff, but the Catholic Church banned its members from attending the university until 1970.
The Britishness of Trinity, then, and to some extent, now, sticks out like a sore thumb to many. Its history is objectionable to the vast majority of us, being both a symbolic and real representation of the oppression of the people of Ireland. I find it objectionable, however, that people
Aidan Cusack Comment Editor
variously seek to denigrate, destroy, or deconstruct these institutions that have been passed down to us, as well as to forget those characters, many of whom undoubtedly did morally objectionable things, but nonetheless made Trinity a culture of learning.
“believe to be immune from the debunking process”. Our values, a complex interaction between those who came before us and the present conditions of today, will also be subject to harsh criticism in the future. Should we want to be treated fairly by future critics, perhaps we should begin by being fair critics ourselves.
Despite its foundation in empire and oppression, there is some real, tangible, good to Trinity that has existed from the start. We may never know exactly what combination of circumstances and policies produced such a long list of renowned writers and scholars, such as Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, Henry Grattan, and Ernest Walton. Furthermore, if we change the institution, we face the danger of producing mediocrity.
It stands that we benefit from the ideas of those we find morally objectionable [such as] Trinity alumnus George Berkeley “
It stands that we benefit from the ideas of those we find morally objectionable; Francis Bacon’s pioneering of the scientific method helped bring mankind out of
superstition, and into scientific advancement. Similarly, Trinity Alumnus George Berkeley helped reconcile science to religion, and laid the foundations for empiricism, leading to liberalism, and the human rights that we know and love today. Bacon and Berkeley, however, made a number of disparaging and hateful remarks towards Irish people. It would also be wrong of me to mention Berkeley without his practice and defence of slavery in America, the main reason why his name was removed from the soon-to-be-renamed library. These things happened, and these people existed, and whether we like it or not, have had, and continue to have, a great impact on us. The fact that I am writing in this paper in English, and not Irish, is a testament to that. That does not mean that we should fall to pessimism and intellectual dishonesty; the future is ours, not theirs, and through the ideas and institutions that we have inherited from previous generations, it is our task to critically engage with them.
In The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis criticises those who criticise for criticism’s sake, writing: “A great many of those who ‘debunk’ traditional, or (as they would say) ‘sentimental’ values have in the background values of their own which they
From the start, Trinity has been an autonomous institution, governed by an elected Provost, along with Fellows, and Scholars. We should not dismiss Trinity’s harsh, repeated, criticism of government higher education policy; it is a feature of an institution run by those who are passionate about knowledge.
As an academic-led institution, Trinity could act as a bulwark against policy choices variously described as “neoliberalism”,
“managerialism”, and “commercialisation, that nevertheless cause our academic institutions, students, and staff alike, to stagnate and suffer at the hands of the profit motive. It would be a mistake to embrace the student radical vein of idealism. Ignoring their upperclass angst, we should instead gratefully understand our place within a tradition that does not care about our opinions or biases, embracing the positive parts of that tradition that produced, and continue to produce excellence.
We should, instead, gratefully understand our place within a tradition that does not care about our
Jimena Alvarez for Trinity News
New subjects for the leaving cert: A bold step or a misstep?
The Irish education system is set to experience a significant change with the introduction of two new subjects to the Leaving Certificate: Drama and Film, and Climate Action and Sustainable Development. This decision, announced by Minister for Education Norma Foley, is aimed at modernising the curriculum and making it more relevant to students’ interests. However, while these subjects seem timely and progressive, they also raise important questions about their role in the broader educational landscape.
Minister Foley has framed the introduction of these subjects as a response to gaps in the current senior cycle. “Many students do not see themselves reflected in [the] senior cycle experience,” she said at the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme launch this September. “They absolutely do not, and we have really, really talented, creative, artistic students, and they’re not reflected.”
This, according to Foley, is the primary motivation behind adding Drama and Film to the Leaving Cert. It is a way to validate the talents of students who may excel in creative fields, rather than the more traditional subjects. Similarly, the addition of Climate Action and Sustainable Development responds to a growing interest in environmental issues among young people. As Foley notes, “The interests of students, for example, around climate action and sustainability are not reflected sufficiently either.” The Minister sees these subjects as not just a way to engage students, but also to give them recognition on par with those studying subjects like science or languages. It is hard to counter the argument that the Leaving Cert has traditionally failed
Nóra Collins Contributing Writer
to accommodate students with creative talents or those passionate about global issues like climate change. For Drama and Film, students will now have a chance to pursue skills in creativity, collaboration, and innovativeness, all of which are essential in today’s world. Climate Action and Sustainable Development, on the other hand, will equip students to engage with perhaps the most pressing issue of our time—the environment.
“It is hard to counter the argument that the Leaving Cert has traditionally failed to accommodate students with creative talents
However, one of the key concerns surrounding the introduction of these new subjects is the potential for grade inflation. As with any new addition to the Leaving Cert, there is a risk that students could view these subjects as “easy” options, selecting them to boost their CAO points rather than out of any genuine interest. The Department for Education announced that each of the new subjects will include additional assessment components (AACs) that are not a traditional written examination; furthermore, these AACs will be worth at least 40% of the available
marks for the subjects. This is problematic when we consider how grade inflation has already impacted the Leaving Cert in the past, especially in 2020 and 2021, when alternative assessments to the examinations resulted in a significant increase in high grades. 2020, for instance, saw a doubling of the average number of H1s awarded across all Higher-Level subjects compared to the previous nine years. The introduction of subjects that include AACs could further exacerbate this issue of grade inflation.
Another potential issue is whether separating Drama and Film from English studies, or Climate Action and Sustainable Development from existing subjects like Geography and Science, is necessary. Some point out that the Department of Education could have integrated these topics into existing subjects instead.
Drama is already a key element of the English curriculum, with students studying works from Shakespeare to modern playwrights such as Brian Friel. This raises the question of whether it would make more sense to expand this existing framework, rather than create a standalone subject. Similarly, Climate Action and Sustainable Development could be considered natural extensions of Geography or Politics. By creating separate subjects, there is the possibility that we are risking an unnecessary fragmentation of the curriculum, making it more complex without adding real depth.
A deeper question is whether the introduction of these subjects is a tacit admission that the current system is failing to address important issues. Climate change, for instance, is the defining issue of our generation, yet students only encounter it briefly in Geography and Science. Similarly, while creativity is essential in today’s economy, the arts have often been marginalised in the Irish education system. If the Department of Education
acknowledges that drama and film are essential to foster creativity, why were they not integrated into the English curriculum earlier?
The fact that we now need standalone subjects in these areas might suggest that the existing curriculum has not been doing enough.
Minister Foley’s move may be a positive one, but it raises questions about whether we ought to reform the system as a whole, rather than making piecemeal changes. Should we be pushing for a more interdisciplinary approach to education, where subjects like Climate Action are embedded across multiple areas of study, rather than being confined to a single subject? Similarly, should creativity and critical thinking be emphasised across the curriculum, rather than in a standalone Drama and Film class?
The education statistics tell us to be positive. When we look at global comparisons, Ireland’s education system performs well overall.
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022, Irish students consistently performed above the OECD average in reading, mathematics, and science. While Irish students excel in core subjects, there is also increasing recognition that modern education is about more than just traditional academic performance. As Minister Foley has pointed out, “This is an opportunity... to validate [students], so that their achievement in education is on a similar par to...science or languages.” Her point highlights the need to give students an education that acknowledges their varied talents and interests, not just their ability to excel in traditional academic areas.
The introduction of Drama and Film and Climate Action and Sustainable Development to the Leaving Cert is a bold step toward modernising the curriculum, but it is not without
its risks. Grade inflation, curriculum fragmentation, and the question of why these important topics were not integrated earlier all deserve serious consideration.
“While Minister Foley's vision of a more inclusive education system is commenable [...] broader reforms are needed to prevent this form being a surface-level change
While Minister Foley’s vision of a more inclusive education system is commendable, and these subjects may empower students who have previously felt left out of the Senior Cycle, broader reforms are needed to prevent this from being merely a surface-level change. It is a positive step, but it must mark the beginning of a larger conversation about the future of education in Ireland.
Minister Foley’s assertion that the addition of the subjects is a “very positive step forward” will no doubt be subject to strict examination in the future.
This "giveaway budget" is more like a giving-up budget
Headlines over the past week have almost unanimously described the government’s newest budget as a “giveaway” budget, with no shortage of politicians to hammer down their point, with Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall calling it a “giveaway on steroids”. But whose money is the government giving away, and to whom?
Many voters were relieved to hear a week ago that their tax burden would be lessened, with the standard rate tax cutoff rising to €44,000, and the personal tax credit, employee tax credit, and earned income tax credit increasing by €125 to €2,000 each. Thresholds for inheritance tax were also increased, and the 4% rate of Universal Social Charge was reduced to 3%.
Renters were also presumably delighted to hear that they would be able to keep €250 more of their hard-earned cash through the increased rent tax credit, and another €250 decrease in energy bills and extended reduced VAT rate on energy bills will mean more money in the pockets of ordinary people, right?
What is evident to me is a pattern of an inept government, unable to deal with the most serious problems facing this country, has manufactured new, more manageable problems, designed to appease an electorate of goldfish.
Take energy as an example; Ireland’s energy cost is over 55% above the EU average. Demand for energy is artificially high, with more than 21% of our energy being consumed by data centres. Being a small is-
Aidan Cusack Comment Editor
land, our power plants are much smaller than those in larger European countries, meaning they can’t benefit from economies of scale. Investment in renewable energy is costly, with costs being passed on to consumers, and much of that energy generated is wasted due to an outdated national grid system. Through an assorted mix
“
An inept government, unable to deal with the most serious problems facing country,thishas manufactured new, more manageable problems, designed to appease an electorateof goldfish
of VAT, taxes on production, levies, and carbon taxes the government further increases the cost of energy. The news of an increase in carbon tax was overshadowed by the headlines about the budget, and did you know that VAT applies to carbon taxes as well?
By taking with one hand and giving with the other wasteful, bureaucratic, hand, the government hopes to charm voters in the next election by creating the illusion of a “giveaway”. That is until they realise that their household costs increase with added inflation by €1000, as estimated by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC).
Perhaps discouraged by the cost of the new National Children’s Hospital more than doubling to over €2bn, and the Office of Public Works (OPW) somehow managing to spend €336,000 on a bike shed and €1.4m on a security hut, it is evident that the government has reserved itself to the fact that it cannot spend our money efficiently.
In this sense, I cannot blame citizens for delighting in paying less tax: there simply hasn’t been value for money.
However, as a member of the generation that has effectively been locked out of the housing market, I cannot help but despair at the government’s lack of political will to tackle these structural issues.
The government has done nothing for those of us who are lucky enough to hand over more than the average mortgage payment every month for the privilege of lining a landlord’s pockets, watching our friends move from their parent’s spare room to Australia.
Effectively abdicating their spending responsibilities, the government has done nothing to alleviate the homelessness crisis, the inadequate health system, or the increasing inequalities in society.
Students will surely welcome the reduced student contribution and will benefit from the rent tax credit, and the new national minimum wage of €13.50, but the structural barriers to us living adult lives remain.
These once-off, token mea-
“
This budget consists merely of a series of shortterm fixes aimed at pacifying the electorate
sures will do nothing to address any real issues that affect the country. Acting as patches on a deeply flawed system, this budget consists merely of a series of short-term fixes aimed at pacifying a dissatisfied electorate without addressing the underlying causes. These will, in reality, achieve next to nothing in terms of actual progress.
Instead of boldly investing in policies that address housing, education, healthcare, and the cost of living for young people, this government has instead opted for illusory vote-buying. Deeply unaccountable and woefully inadequate, government desperation has led to a budget that can more accurately be called a “giving-up budget”.
Photo: Leah Farrell (Rolling News)
Science supports sleeping your way to good grades
Carmen García Barajas page 29
All eyes on promising gene therapy for glaucoma
A Trinity genetics team is making inroads with new treatment
Alannah Hyland Contributing Writer
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness around the globe. With population growth, aging demographics, and urbanisation, roughly 110 million people worldwide are expected to have glaucoma by 2040. This stark projection highlights the need for effective glaucoma treatment, not always provided by traditional medical techniques. Where conventional medicine fails, gene therapies — drugs with therapeutic genetic material (RNA or DNA) — could constitute an exciting alternative.
Trinity researchers, led by Prof. Jane Farrar, Dr. Sophia Millington-Ward, Dr. Arpad Palfi, and Dr. Naomi Chadderton have designed a glaucoma gene therapy, AAV-NDI1, that has yielded promising results on disease models. This exciting development earned their paper a place in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences last August.
Trinity News spoke to the geneticists involved to understand why the AAVNDI1 gene therapy is needed and how it works. Here is the story of AAV-NDI1 so far.
v A gap in conventional medicine
Glaucoma is an eye condition typically caused by damage to the optic nerve and loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). These cells are critical to communicate visual information to the brain. Hence, glaucoma patients progressively lose their field of vision as RGCs undergo cell death. Lacking obvious initial symptoms, this “silent blinder” can cause early irreversible damage, unbeknownst to affected individuals. Unfortunately, the disease is not yet fully understood, caused by a combination of environmental and genetic
factors.
Risk factors known to contribute to RGC loss include age, family history, lifestyle and increased intraocular (eye) pressure or IOP. Current glaucoma treatments focus on reducing IOP via surgery or laser treatment. The outcomes of these treatments vary, with vision loss often continuing afterward., Phenotypes (symptoms) also vary; not all glaucoma patients have high IOP that needs to be reduced in the first place.
Overall, current glaucoma treatments, while benefiting some patients, do not consistently control disease progression.
However, as our ability to sequence or “read” the 3 billion letters of human genetic code has improved over recent decades, so too has our understanding of human disease. This is the basis for research by the human genetics team at Trinity, who are harnessing the power of our genetic code in order to understand and treat inherited retinal diseases like glaucoma.
Design strategy: An energy boost
The recently published glaucoma gene therapy design (AAV-NDI1) is based on treating mitochondrial dysfunction, a defect commonly seen in neurodegenerative disorders.
Often described as the “powerhouse of the cell”, mitochondria produce ATP, the “currency” of cellular energy. Damaged mitochondria produce less ATP and thus have decreased ability to generate cellular energy and put the cell under oxidative stress.
The retina has one of the highest energy demands of all bodily tissues. As you can imagine, mitochondria feeling ‘under the weather’ has
“The results are exciting for mitochondrial diseases in general
catastrophic consequences for the eye. Mitochondrial damage is evident in the RGCs of glaucoma patients, likely contributing to cell loss. What causes mitochondrial damage is not clear, however. Unlike single gene “Mendelian” eye conditions also involving RGCs and the optic nerve, like Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), there isn’t a singular genetic mutation or ‘typo’ causing mitochondrial problems in glaucoma patients.
AAV-NDI1 thus works “gene-independently”. It does not target a gene that has gone wrong, but instead adds a gene that will help cellular function. As Dr Sophia MillingtonWard, co-author of the paper, explains, the gene added gives mitochondria an “energy boost”. If RGCs are “sick but not dead”, this energy boost could prevent further cell death.
How does AAV-NDI1 work?
AAV-NDI1 therapy targets an important pathway of energy generation: the electron transport chain (ETC). In this chain, electrons are passed from one protein complex to another, gathering energy until ATP can be produced.
Using modified viruses as delivery vessels (vectors), the Trinity team wanted to supply mitochondria with extra copies of a gene coding for a protein that has a similar role to the first protein conglomerate in the ETC, called Complex I. But multiple genes are needed to make Complex I, each separately encoding a subunit (part) of Complex I, so to avoid interfering with the ETC in already weakened RGCs the Trinity team needed to supply
mitochondria with a simpler version of Complex I.
As the ETC is such a vital pathway for energy production, it is conserved across evolution. This means that different versions of the same protein are found across the Tree of Life.
The team used the yeast equivalent of Complex I, called ‘NDI1’. Having only one protein part, NDI1 doesn’t interfere with native human proteins but can still contribute to ETC activity. Therefore, the yeast gene encoding NDI1 can be administered to humans to increase their mitochondrial activity. The team at Trinity created an enhanced version of NDI1, optimised for treatment of optic neuropathies.
The idea of using NDI1 to treat damaged human mitochondria was first suggested in the early 2000s. Since then, NDI1 has been investigated as a treatment for a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s.
Promising results
When tested on glaucoma models, NDI1 improved mitochondrial function.
Human retinal cells displayed increased oxygen consumption and ATP production, as well as decreased oxidative stress. Even low doses provided benefits.
These results are exciting not only for the future of glaucoma therapy, but mitochondrial diseases in general. Dr. Millington-Ward says: “potentially the approach may be valuable for multiple ocular conditions where the mitochondria aren’t working as well as they should”.The lab previously showed the same therapy benefitted models of Age-related Macular
Degeneration (AMD), for example.
Future perspectives
Getting a gene therapy from the lab to the clinic is a long and challenging process. Firstly, improved mitochondrial function is an encouraging indicator of better RCG health but does not necessarily mean prolonged cell survival in glaucoma patients. This can only be confirmed with further research.The therapy must also undergo several safety tests, including toxicology and biodistribution trials.
The competitive drug discovery funnel is difficult, and given the cost of human clinical trials the money needed is in the millions.“What we would love to do is obviously bring it to patients eventually however that requires significant funding,” remarks Dr. Millington-Ward. The lab is up for the challenge, however, as evidenced by the establishment of their spinoff business, Vzarii Therapeutics.
AAV-NDI1 represents a clever gene therapy design which improves the mitochondrial function of RGCs by providing an“energy boost” to degenerating cells in glaucoma patients, preventing further vision loss. Although more research needs to be done, AAV-NDI1’s geneindependent design implies potential therapeutic value for multiple ocular conditions such as glaucoma and AMD.
Though the researchers have challenges ahead in getting this gene therapy further developed and into the clinic, they remain determined to fight for a future with effective and safe glaucoma treatment.
Photo: Dr. Arpad Palfi
“Storytelling is key”: Dr Ailis O’Carroll on science communication and the importance of open research
Immunology
alumna Dr Ailís O’Carroll to discuss her passion for open science and engagement.
Róisín Long Contributing Writer
The general aim of open science, Dr Ailis O’Carroll explains, “is making knowledge and research as open, as accessible, as equitable as possible”. This applies to “every stage of the research cycle”, and it encompasses many aspects including paywall-free openaccess publishing, open peer review, and ensuring articles are accessible. “There’s so many ways of talking about open science”, O’Carroll says. “I really feel we’re only at the beginning and it will get better as our technologies get better.”
O’Carroll studied immunology at Trinity, completing her PhD and two postdocs in Australia, focusing on viruses, protein interactions, and microscopy using superresolution microscopes. It was during her PhD at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney that she “really woke up” to science communication and open science: “You hit upon so many issues in academia”, O’Carroll says, a major one being barriers to the wide dissemination of knowledge.
When COVID-19 hit, O’Carroll moved to Ireland to supervise testing labs, then on to Oxford where she “got really into science communication, working with a company who were making really small super-resolution microscopes that could be used to detect COVID”. Jumping fully into open science, O’Carroll joined eLife, an open-access journal “extremely passionate about making things open and accessible, but also equitable”. She describes her time as eLife’s community manager as “a fascinating three years [spent] understanding how [the publishing system] works, its flaws, the fact that scientists [worldwide] have to spend money to publish and then when you send to the big journals it’s locked away and people have to pay to read the
research. It was so interesting for me to see that it was such a detrimental part of the whole research process.”
Talking of the importance of sharing science publicly, O’Carroll notes: “When you also focus on the sustainable development goals, they all hinge on the fact that knowledge needs to be transferred equitably to everyone. And if we can’t do that, there is no way we’ll hit any of the targets for any of the goals. And when you kind of boil it all back –that researchers publishing in open access journals and focusing on open science, could really, really benefit, you know, someone in a different part of the world to be able to push out of poverty, or to create some sort of solution – it’s always excited me, how we can spread [knowledge] for the betterment of humankind.”
There are many aspects to science engagement, O’Carroll emphasises, from academic writing styles to creating art or videos or giving public talks. It can mean engagement “with patients, or indigenous communities who might be impacted by [your] results”. Importantly, engagement is a two-way relationship. O’Carroll notes, on the one hand “public engagement [is] lacking, [we saw] there wasn’t engagement before the pandemic in what viruses are, and how disease spreads, and I think it’s really, really important for people to trust and believe in fact and science”. On the other hand, O’Carroll feels, engagement is not taught to researchers: “There’s no right way of communicating, it’s how you do it, [and] the more people that can engage with the public on their topic of interest, the better.”
Good science storytelling is key to science engagement. From O’Carroll’s personal experience: “Studying in Trinity, some of the lecturers were really good storytellers… The different characters of the proteins or the molecules [in immunology] came to life in my head because of the way it was told to me.” The pandemic highlighted the lack of public understanding of viruses, “because the story just wasn’t told to them in the right way”, and in her own career O’Carroll hopes to be “the person who could help communicate a dense topic as a story that would relate to more people”. When asked what science engagement work she enjoys, O’Carroll says: “I enjoy taking a topic that people instinctively maybe don’t think will be interesting or fun, and then trying to understand
what they find interesting, and then pairing the two together.” Take using genetics to explain traits, diseases, or discovering your family tree, for example: “People just connect so strongly with that.”
Another motivator for O’Carroll in pursuing a career in open science is the lack of diversity in academia: “As you go higher up, there’s less women and people from [different] socioeconomic backgrounds.... Knowledge, for so long, would have been withheld [from] communities.” O’Carroll feels it is wrong that many groups in science aren’t at the table, and hopes that working in open science she can help in making changes.
O’Carroll’s passion for open science is also driven by a lack of mainstream discussion on academic accessibility problems:
“It’s a Netflix documentary waiting to be made on the billions made – so it’s public funding for your research, which comes from taxpayers’ money or from charities, and a huge amount of that is given to publishers, or is wasted on research waste; repeating experiments that won’t end up actually giving efficient or good results. I just think, with all the crises [going on], it’s a massive scandal.”
“It’s kind of angering, isn’t it? Just to think about all the money being wasted for no reason.”
O’Carroll acknowledges there are some necessary costs in publishing, but regarding open access fees, lack of reviewer payment, and articles being kept behind paywalls despite public funding of research, she feels: “there are so many [issues] that you’d nearly want to break down the full system, and then start again. That system was made [when] there was no way of sharing that knowledge other than making it whole journals. We have the internet now, and we have ways of communicating that are much better than a piece of paper, and I know [many journals] are really trying to go that way.”
On a positive note, O’Carroll believes science is moving towards open access, with big systems getting behind it globally, such as in the United States: “[The White House] have pushed forward to open access policies, where if you get public-funded grants, you have to publish openly.”
O’Carroll adds: “I think the tide is turning, you just need the people who are [reinventing] what open access looks like, to be led by really creative minds. I think more people should get
“Science engagement is a two-way relationship – good storytelling is key
involved in the movement, but, I know researchers are busy, and it’s nearly a publish or perish system.” This system of judging researchers on impact factors, O’Carroll adds, needs change: “We need to be really looking in a holistic way, judging [researchers] on their public engagement,
judging them on how they can manage a team. It shouldn’t just be about publishing.” Additionally, O’Carroll feels training for early-career researchers on peer review, publishing, and their choices, and increasing collaboration and interdisciplinary work, would aid in the move towards open science.
O’Carroll hopes to see a wide variety of open science and science engagement projects going forward: “Ireland is such a beautiful island, and there are so many stories that we can tell, but we all need to work together – scientists, people in technology, artists – and engage as much of the public as possible, having different ways that the citizens of Ireland can get involved.”
It is clear that both the public and researchers themselves have much to gain from the open science movement, and O’Carroll’s hope for a more accessible and engaging scientific community is something that could be realised if we continue to foster this movement.
Photo: Thomas Arnold (Fearless Media)
Trinity study finds low attention span in teenage years linked with smoking habits later in life
Participants with lower attention spans at 14 were more likely to use cigarettes or cannabis at age 23
Róisín Long Contributing Writer
Arecent study conducted in part by Trinity’s School of Psychology and School of Medicine, has found that adolescents with poor sustained attention spans are more vulnerable to substance abuse later in life.
The study, which was conducted alongside the Global Brain Health Institute, found that those who displayed lower attention spans at age 14 were more likely to be consistently using cigarettes or cannabis at age 23.
These findings indicate
that sustained attention spans could serve as a potential biomarker for substance abuse vulnerability.
Substance abuse has previously been associated with low attention spans in adolescents, but researchers could not define the relationship between the two factors, as it was unclear if poor sustained attention preceded substance or was a consequence of it.
The findings of the study were made using behavioural data and neurological scans of 1,000 participants from across Europe as they reached the ages of 14, 19, and 23, respectively.
Attention abilities were calculated using a ‘stop signal task’ and self-reported questionnaires as well as MRI scans.
Professor Robert Whelan who led the research said that, by identifying lower sustained attention as a predictor of substance abuse, the study could “potentially guide the development of targeted educational programmes and cognitive training interventions to improve attention in adolescents identified as vulnerable to substance use”.
“The widespread use of
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“ The study could potentially guide the development of targeted educational programmes
cigarette and cannabis among adolescents and young adults in Ireland and elsewhere is a significant public health concern, with major long-term health implications.”
“This proactive approach could reduce substance abuse risks, improve individual lives, and lessen societal burdens related to addiction,” he added.
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Science supports sleeping your way to better grades
A night’s sleep is better than a night cramming in Kinsella Hall
Carmen García Barajas Contributing Writer
Every student has sacrificed sleep at least once in their academic life, whether it was to study or to finish an assignment. The great importance of a good night’s rest is often forgotten, with the rush of last minute revision being preferred over sleeping longer. Nevertheless, sleep is the key to good health. But why is it so important?
When sleeping, the body is restored and important biochemical changes occur. Among these processes is the consolidation of long-term memory. Our brain eliminates non-essential information, while interactions between the hippocampus and the frontal cortex allows it to maintain the important information. Studies have shown that memory is strengthened 30% more at night than during the day.
This clean-up is not only of memories but also of toxins and metabolic waste. Neurons reduce their size so the interstitial liquid that lies between cells can move in and remove those waste products. This cleansing removes the build-up of harmful proteins, preventing the development of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
What is more, sleep helps the body to grow and develop. While sleeping, hormones in charge of regenerating our cells and tissues are segregated. This also contributes to maintaining balanced hormones, such as glucose, and reinforcing the immune system, as muscle relaxation frees up energy to perform these types of tasks.
Thanks to this care and reset, the body can work properly and follow the normal homeostatic (self-balancing) pathways. Clearly, sacrificing those hours of sleep could end up with very severe consequences.
From a psychological point of view, the effects of poor sleep are numerous: mood changes, irritability, impatience, and anxiety all arise from a lack of proper rest. Sleep renews our mind, making us forget memories that bring us nothing, thus helping us to manage our emotions.
Importantly for students, sleep deprivation significantly
affects cognitive processes, such as receiving, processing, and storing information. Sleep consolidates important information, strengthening memories in the frontal cortex. Lack of sleep makes it difficult for this process to take place properly, making it difficult for long-term concentration, decision-making, attention, and therefore learning.
From a physiological point of view, sleep deprivation has negative consequences for our health. Various studies carried out by Dr Javier Albares, a specialist in sleep medicine, point out that poor rest increases the probability of having injuries. This is due to increased lactate generation, poor oxygenation and loss of motor memory, making it easier to be distracted and reducing coordination. Furthermore, sleep regulates important appetite hormones. Ghrelin is in charge of increasing appetite and leptin inhibits it. Sleep deprivation causes ghrelin levels to rise and leptin to decrease, in turn leading to a feeling of constant appetite, which can result in unconscious weight gain.
Studies have shown that sleep deprivation facilitates infection. This is because lack of sleep impedes the proper
activity of the immune system, making both innate and adaptive immunity interaction fail. According to Dr Marian Rojas Estapé, people who sleep six hours are four times more likely to get sick than those who sleep eight hours.
Chronic sleep deprivation results in a state of constant alarm, facilitated by extremely high levels of the hormone cortisol. This cortisol intoxication leads to hypertension, diabetes, obesity, anxiety, sadness, multiple cardiovascular diseases, brain diseases, and much more.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is recommended to sleep eight hours. But it is also important to get these hours of sleep while respecting the body’s circadian rhythms. The sleep cycle is regulated by the hormone melatonin, with high levels of melatonin inducing sleep and at the onset of sleep these levels begin to decrease until it is time to wake up, activating the brain. The secretion of this hormone also depends on external stimuli, such as light and temperature. Several studies conducted over the last few decades point to the negative effects of using screens before bedtime. Mobile devices emit blue light, delaying the feeling
of drowsiness and making it more difficult to fall asleep by inhibiting the production of melatonin.
In addition, it is important to respect the timings of melatonin levels. Staying awake with high melatonin levels causes strong disturbances in the body, impairing rest and physiological coordination.
As students, our sleep schedules are getting worse and worse, but it’s not too late to improve these habits. The Division of Sleep Medicine, a Harvard based group of sleep experts, presents some techniques and strategies to improve sleep. The main recommendation is to “maintain a regular sleepawake schedule”. To make this possible, it is essential to prioritise sleep in our daily routine. Students often tend to sacrifice sleep for other activities, so setting schedules can be a difficult task. However, if you want to get a good night’s rest, you should work to keep a regular schedule.
To get a good night’s sleep, it is also recommended to avoid chemicals such as alcohol, nicotine, caffeine or other stimulants. Needless to say, energy drinks are included in this list, as in the long term, their consumption can lead to
insomnia. A recent study by Siri Kaldenbach and other doctors, published in the journal BMJ Open, explains how even low consumption of these drinks is linked to sleep problems.
Finally, the Harvard Institute of Medicine states that the sleep environment should be comfortable and pleasant. As mentioned above, light is a very important factor to take into account. Try to avoid bright lights and the use of screens one hour before sleep. If you need to use them, try to activate the night mode and avoid stimulating elements such as social networks or video games.
So, while the temptation may be to spend the night cramming, ultimately a good night’s sleep may offer the greater advantage when it comes to exam time. Sleep is the best tool we have for good memorisation and optimal learning. Having a good rest thanks to appropriate habits, such as a good sleep schedule and avoiding the use of mobile devices and stimulant substances, is essential to be in good health, both physically and mentally. Students should bear in mind that sleep hours will have a better effect on academic results than leaving things to the last minute and sacrificing the essential process that is sleep.
Jimena Alvarez for Trinity News
Sport
Why you should care about American football Harper Alderson Page 30
“It just feels like they don’t care as much”: Frustration expressed regarding women’s five-a-side league organisation
It is not the first time concerns have been raised regarding the treatment of women’s sports in Trinity
Tara Ní Bhroin Eagarthóir Gaeilge
Participants in Trinity’s women’s five-a-side tournament have expressed frustration at discrepancies in treatment between the men’s and women’s leagues.
Issues have been raised regarding the cost of participation, difference in facilities and signup, lack of communication, and lack of readily available information about the women’s tournament.
The five-a-side is a social sport tournament organised and run by Trinity Sport, and is highly popular among the student body. It is categorised explicitly into a men’s league and a women’s league.
Currently, men’s matches all take place in Botany Bay, with a total of 40 time slots available between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.
By contrast, the women’s matches take place in the Sports Hall, with only five time slots available in the whole week from 12pm-1pm Monday to Friday. This is a reduction from last year, when there were seven slots available during the week.
Participants of the women’s league told Trinity News that available time slots are “inaccessible and inconvenient” for most of their team members, describing it as a “major barrier for participation”.
Differences can also be noted in the registration process for the leagues. For the men’s league, registration is completed by the captain on behalf of the team.
The registration fee is €147 per team, with a minimum of 7 players and a maximum of 10 players, meaning cost per person ranging from €14.70€21.
This represents an increase in cost for a second consecutive year – in 2023 the entrance fee was €100 per team, and in 2022 it was €60, an increase of 245% in just two years.
Speaking to Trinity News, Cuan Coleman, an active participant in the five-aside league, called for more transparency regarding the surge in registration fee: “I understand insurance and cost of facilities but I wish there was a bit more transparency for the need of an increase in fees.”
Registration for the women’s league instead happens on an individual basis through the Trinity Sport Clubforce app, at a flat rate of €21 per person, unlike the men’s teams who have the option of including more team members to reduce the price. This fee has also increased significantly, in contrast to €15 per team last year.
Huw Cheng, a fourth year medicine student who
captained her team in the tournament last year, described difficulties in sourcing information about the women’s league: “I actually don’t even know what’s going on… I don’t even know if there’s anyone even in charge of running the [women’s] league.”
Cheng explained that all the registration information for the five-a-side competition on Trinity Sport’s social media pages is only regarding the men’s league, and the women’s teams had to seek out the information themselves.
“I texted the Instagram page asking what the league looked like this year, what the cost is, what the set up is, and just for general information. I was just instructed to download the app for information.”
In Cheng’s view, social sports should be accessible and affordable and currently, she does not feel that the women’s five-a-side tournament is either of those: “Even if someone did want to sign up, I don’t think they’d be able to even figure it out.”
Coleman stated that he does not perceive any barriers to participation for the men’s five-
a-side league. Both individuals expressed confusion as to why the social sport is separated into men’s and women’s teams in the first place.
Cheng further details how last year the women’s teams were upset as the men’s teams were prioritised for Botany Bay and they communicated this to Trinity Sport. Following this “we all assumed it would get better and they would figure it out, but it actually just got worse”.
When describing the discrepancies in treatment between the men’s and women’s treatment, Cheng articulated that it feels as though Trinity Sport “just don’t really care [about the women] as much”.
This is not the first time concerns have been raised regarding the treatment of women’s sports in Trinity. Last year, the women’s soccer team was left without a coach last year despite the men’s team having three coaches.
The women’s team went on to win the FAI Division One College and Universities Football League.
Asked about the discrepancies in organisation
between the leagues, Trinity Sport stated that “All programs are completely beginner friendly and inclusive”.
Trinity Sport explained that prices are based upon sports program length, with four-week programmes costing €10, sixweek programmes costing €15 and eight-week programmes or longer costing €20. All programmes have an additional €1 platform charge. Insurance, administration costs, coaches and equipment were cited as explanations for the fee.
It further added that the time slots and venue for the women’s league were selected based on feedback from participants.
Cheng further highlighted the irony of the situation, telling Trinity News that last year Trinity Sport had asked to interview her as a representative of women’s social sports to discuss how inclusive and enjoyable the programmes are. Cheng said that she showed up for her interview when she received an email stating the interview was cancelled.
The men’s five-a-side league kicked off on September 30, with the women’s league set to begin today.
Jimena Alvarez for Trinity News
Why you should care about American Football at Trinity
An interview with captain, Jack Price, about the challenges, relevance, and spirit of American football at Trinity
Harper Alderson Contributing Writer
To many Irish people, American Football is a fundamentally irritating sport; in short, it’s basically rugby, but they break the one rule of rugby so it’s not, and there’s also less playing time.
But to some, namely Limerick native Jack Price, captain of the Trinity College Dublin American Football (TCDAF) team, and unfortunately a Philadelphia Eagles fan, it’s a lot more.
Price explained to me that
American Football is getting bigger in Ireland, and fast. Part of the reason for this is that since 1988, Dublin has hosted the Emerald Isle Classic: an American college football game played in Dublin, and the first NCAA-sanctioned American college football game played in Europe.
Most recently Georgia Tech faced off against Florida State in the Aviva Stadium. It reached record viewership, up 41% over the previously most watched Week 0 show in 2022, with the 2023 game featuring Notre Dame’s famous “Fighting Irish”.
Beyond college football, the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL were recently awarded the right to choose Ireland as their ‘Global Market’ (similar to how the Jacksonville Jaguars expanded their presence in the UK). Irish streaming services are already fighting to keep up with growing demand for NFL games, with local pubs and bars showing select games on their TVs. According to Price “whether you know it or not, you definitely know someone connected to American football.” He continued “It [American football] is getting more of a place than people realise (...) and it’s not
something we can stop”.
Price explained that these trends can be seen on a locallevel. He fell in love with American football accidentally. Happening across his father watching Super Bowl LIII (Patriots-Rams, 2019), he realised that he understood nothing and thought to himself, as he puts it; “I have to conquer this.” He joined an under-18s team soon after with some friends, trekking from Limerick to Cork on weekends. There were four teams in the youth league at that point, five years later, there are nine, with more to come. Indeed, Price stuck with American Football, alongside his friend, both of whom have had the opportunity to play for the Irish national team.
“Lots of people are very confused,” Price laughed when I asked about how people reacted to his participation in American football. “Couldn’t I just play rugby?” he shrugged. He pays very little mind to such questions, and pivoted to let me know that he cares about the people that say “that is so interesting, please tell me more” (which has increased greatly in recent years).
I asked Price what he thought the spirit of American Football
was, expecting something along the lines of Friday Night Lights, Tailgate parties, or “Brotherhood”. Instead, he said something profound. “Playing is so important to me.” He continued: “There’s no feeling like lining up against someone else and fighting to see who wants it more.” He mentioned that many people are scared of American football when they get hit for the first time, but the first time Price got hit “I was awake.”
The club itself, at Trinity, has sadly faced some challenges. Numbers have been inconsistent, and this year they have had to cut back to exclusively flag football (i.e. no contact). Price is not unduly upset about this change, and is just excited to get people comfortable with the format, rules, and vibe. “It’s a bit of fun. Going for fun this year.”
This is of course in conjunction with “making sure lads, [pause, looks to the reporter] and ladies, are committed.”
This numbers problem is old, in fact TCDAF has existed since the early nineties: thennamed the Dublin University Gridiron Society playing as the Trinity Thunderbirds. The society was doomed by 1995, and was forced to end due to
lack of people and interest.
But the fact is, this new TCDAF (formed in 2008) is different and this year’s batch is especially passionate.
I had the opportunity to join some team members at the Wool Shed for Sunday Night Football before officially meeting Jack Price. I was met with a kind, but incredibly spirited group (so much so that after reaching a baseline level of friendliness with me, they threatened to chop me into bits and throw me into the ocean for being a Dallas Cowboys fan). TCDAF is willing to do everything ittakes for the team to really take off. They’re tracking player statistics during practice fantasy-football-style, as well as making accommodations for Freshers who may need help locating Santry sports ground, and are open to the possibility of this reporter making adorable cropped TCDAF-branded tank tops.
Jack Price left me with some final half-wise words –words that speak to the heart of TCDAF: “Come play for Trinity – and go Eagles.
The views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the reporter.
Photo: Jack Price
DUFC Women’s XV embrace uphill battle after bruising start to season
DUFC Women’s team highlight resilience and camaraderie in a valiant performance against Navan RFC
Matthew Keeley Sports Editor
“I never lose; I either win or learn.” The words of South African civil rights leader Nelson Mandela encapsulate the spirit of the DUFC Women’s XV, a team made up of both firsttime rugby players and those returning to the sport after time away.
The team yesterday suffered a bruising 117-0 defeat to Navan RFC at Wanderers Rugby Club. From the outset, Navan’s speed, size, and skill posed significant difficulties for Trinity, who fought tirelessly to contain their attacks. Navan’s overlapping backline was particularly effective, producing several brilliant tries from their wingers after some initial forward plays in midfield.
The fixture followed a tough loss to Clontarf RFC
DUFC Navan RFC 0 117
in the opening game of the season which highlighted the strength of their opposition, a seasoned, experienced side. It was especially challenging for many of the DUFC squad, who were playing their first game for Trinity, and for some, their first-ever rugby match.
The physicality of yesterday’s game tested the DUFC players, many of whom suffered knocks and setbacks, giving them a firsthand experience of the demanding nature of the sport. Yet, despite these challenges, DUFC applied consistent pressure on Navan’s defence and grew more confident as the match progressed. Just before halftime, Trinity came agonisingly close to scoring, with a series of relentless attacks bringing them within 15 metres of Navan’s line.
At halftime, the team huddled to receive feedback and encouragement from their coaches. This moment underscored the supportive, close-knit environment that defines DUFC. Arms around one another, the players were praised for their
efforts, particularly given the circumstances. In a lighthearted moment, a bag of Haribo sweets was passed around the huddle, a small reward for their resilient performance. The team returned to the field with renewed energy, bolstered by the cheers of their loyal supporters.
During the second half, this reporter had the opportunity to speak with some DUFC players. Piper, an exchange student from South Korea who originally hails from the US, was thrilled to be playing rugby again after a long break. She had first picked up the sport in Oregon during high school and, compared to her previous experience, described the DUFC coaches as “so friendly, welcoming, and encouraging,” which helped reignite her love for the game.
Another player, Amy, shared how DUFC supported her return to rugby after several years away due to injury. This match marked her first game in two years. “My last game, the one I got injured in, was against Navan, so when I realised that my first game back would
be against them, it was a bit surreal,” she reflected.
Both players spoke highly of the positive atmosphere within the club, emphasising how it fosters growth, regardless of the result. They noted that the most important aspect is the welcoming and inclusive environment at DUFC, where
players of all experience levels feel encouraged to join. Nevertheless, the team’s talent and potential were evident in the second half, as Trinity matched Navan physically, showcasing their endurance and determination.
Though the final whistle signalled a 117-0 defeat, Trinity celebrated Navan with a guard of honour and applause, which was graciously reciprocated. Both teams joined together to thank the referees and match officials. In the final team huddle, Trinity’s effort was commended. They had faced a formidable opponent, likely a team of older, more seasoned players who have played together for years, while DUFC’s squad is a mix of newcomers and returners still finding their rhythm.
After the match, both teams headed into the Wanderers clubhouse to share a meal and enjoy each other’s company. For DUFC, this game was more than just a result, it was a learning experience and the beginning of a long journey. “Come back in January,” one of the coaches told me, “and see how good we’ll be then.” It’s clear that the DUFC Women’s XV is driven by a strong, supportive, and determined attitude as they will undoubtedly continue to grow and improve as a team.
Shanny Corcoran for Trinity News
Shanny Corcoran for Trinity News