Verge Issue 3

VERGE

ISSUE III

​​​ of the East ...... There’s something about Aoibhinn​......... ​The anticipated adaptation of Gone Girl ..... ​U2’s Apple Album Release Iris ............ C ​ ork as Fleadh Cheoil hosts ............. Paddy McKenna on a new chapter with Storyfold​................ ​Wham! Bang! Pow! .................​​ The Great Irish Authors ............ In Need of a Hero​..............The Verdict on Velocity 2X .............. Beautified: Back to College Essentials...... ..........​“It’s all in like, Swedish or something?” ........... ​Style Gentlemen, Please........

Delhi Catchlights I Photo by Luke Feighery

Editor’s Letter Living on the Verge

Diverged

Claire Fox

The Interview - Eoghan

Welcome to Issue 3 of Verge – hope you like it! I mean you have actually bothered to pick up the magazine and are reading this section, so that has to be a good sign, doesn’t it?

It’s not often that an American comedy film has the potential to set off World War 3 but that appears to be the case with Seth Rogen and James Franco’s latest film The Interview. The film follows Franco’s TV presenter and Rogen’s Producer as they set out to interview the supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, but soon find themselves roped into an assassination plot by the CIA. As you might imagine, this hasn’t gone down too well with North Korea, who issued a warning to the US back in June threatening a “resolute and merciless” response unless it banned the film outright.

As we say goodbye to September, the harsh reality of juggling college work along with extra-curricular activities is becoming quite real for a lot of students out there. This fortnight I’m asking is it really possible to get the perfect college life balance or will something, be it your study or social life, eventually suffer?

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This idea really began to brew in my mind upon watching actress Emma Watson speak to the UN as part of the ‘HeForShe’ campaign recently.

I mean does anybody else wonder how she does it? She achieved excellent A-levels while filming the Harry Potter Series, and managed to front a Burberry campaign and continue acting while she completed her undergraduate degree.

She’s not the only one either.

In this week’s music section, Verge speaks to the charismatic radio presenter Paddy McKenna, who cohosts a radio show while touring with his band Storyfold. Another example, also from this week’s Verge, is the beautiful and brainy Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, who works hard

September treats - Robbie teaching in the halls of UCD by day, while in her spare time dabbling in broadcasting and other media work.

So what is the answer? Do these people hold special powers that us mere mortals could only dream of possessing? Or do they secretly have a time machine that allows them to be in two places at once?

To be honest, I don’t know.

All I know is that as we delve deeper into university life, we’re going to learn a lot about the art of balancing work and social activities. So don’t feel pressure to be perfect: just be practical; unless there’s a party on…

Did somebody mention a party!?

Editorial Team Contributors Verge Editor: Claire Fox

Cathal Dennehy

Film & TV: Eoghan Scott

Daniel William Sheehan

This September has been the best month in recent memory for great music. Electronic music fans were treated to the surprise announcement of Aphex Twin. One member lighter, Alt-J’s sophomore effort, This Is All Yours, finds the band rejecting the allure of popularity and threading a darker path than ever before. U2’s thirteenth studio album has some decent moments while the long awaited LP from Hozier, with its slew of familiar tracks, sounds more like a greatest hits than a mere debut. So my advice? Go and try what aural treats September has to offer.

One Summer, America: 1927 They say never judge a book by its cover but it’s pretty hard not to be tempted by the gorgeous design on the front of Bill Bryson’s most recent offering, One Summer, America: 1927. The book covers a dizzyingly vast amount of topics ranging from Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic, to the controversial trial of Sacco and Vanzetti. This is a great read to dip in and out of, with every page offering some gem of information about the decade that gave us cocktails, jazz, flappers and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Threes!

Threes!, developed by Sirvo, is a puzzler that will have you addicted quite quickly.

With a smart, intuitive and overall simple interface (you basically just slide tiles together to combine them and score points), Threes! is the perfect game to play while you’re pretending to pay attention – which I have never done in the unlikely event that any of my lecturers are reading this. Promise! Threes! is available on iOS and in the Google Play store for about €2, so you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck as well.

Campus Style

Music Editor: Robbie Byrne

​Rory Manning

Arts & Lit Editor: Molly Forsythe

​Andy Forsythe

Name: Fifi Coughlan

Gaming Editor: Steve Barry

Colm Furlong

Course: Commerce with Spanish

Fashion Editor: Nicole Clinton

​Ryan Collins​

Favourite shops: Vintage clothing stores

Design: Kevin Hosford

​Jonathan Soltan Aoife Gleeson​ ​Niamh Cleary Aoife Stapleton​ ​Marita Moloney​

She chose this outfit because it was a sunny day and the outfit was appropriate for the weather. Also because it is practical yet stylish.

Photograph by: Aoife Cheung

Verge gallery presents

Iris of the East

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Photos by Luke Feighery, a third-year Graduate Entry Medical student.

The photos feature a selection of portraits taken over the past three years in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and, most recently, India.

There is a personal story behind each of these photographs - from the vigour and pain of Delhi's homeless people, to the tranquility of a young Buddhist monk.

Feighery's first exhibition, Iris of the East, runs in Brookfield's Jennings Gallery until the

16th of October.

The best (and worst) book-to-film adaptations adaptations of which I’ve both seen the movie and read the book]

Successes…

There isn’t much else to be added to this one, with everyone able to attest to how much of a cultural milestone the Harry Potter franchise is.

Cathal Dennehy Adapting a book to the big screen is a tricky task, mainly because books are a literary medium and films are based on sight and sound. Plus people tend to have much more subjective personal views and interpretations of books than they do of films.

As it turns out, a large portion of Hollywood films are adaptations of literary sources, many only loosely based on the original material. The success of adapting books can mean very different things to people; to some a good transition from page to screen means as accurate and close a depiction of the book as possible. To others it could mean doing something completely new with the story, something you may have never thought of from reading the book.

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So ahead of the upcoming Gone Girl film adaptation, some of the best pageto-screen adaptations are brought to mind, as well as a few whose appearance onto the big screen wasn’t as exciting.

[Note: I am, of course, basing this list on

than their big screen counterparts, as the film series really only kicked off with the Alfonso Cuarón helmed third instalment.

Lord of the Rings Series Compulsory again: who would ever have thought that the epic three-part novel series about tiny people walking halfway across the world to throw some jewellery into a volcano would have led to some of the most beloved movies of the past decade?

The Harry Potter Series It’s got to be in there. The immensely popular book series by J.K. Rowling spawned the even more immensely popular film series, and went on to become one of the defining pieces of pop-culture for our generation.

The films, like the books, got progressively darker. However the books tended to be slightly more consistent

Similar to the Harry Potter series, this is another franchise that people our age (and any age really) will remember for the rest of their lives. I know I count myself lucky to have been at an age when I could really appreciate the hype and enthusiasm people felt for these movies upon their release.

The LOTR series is the best book-to-film adaptation on this list, possibly the best ever, as it brought to life such a dense, imaginative world in the most incredible way. Simply put, this is a journey no one is going to forget anytime soon.

The Shawshank Redemption Based on the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, the Frank Darabont version is one of those rare movies that just gets better every time you watch it.

The two contain all the same major plot points and even a large amount of dialogue, so the film basically just strengthens the character development and really builds up an emotional heft by the end credits. Very little is changed in the film, bar the fact that Morgan Freeman’s Red is a white Irish guy and not, well, Morgan Freeman.

It’s wonderful that such a short book gave us one of the best films ever made.

The anticipated adaptation of Gone Girl Daniel William Sheehan In modern cinema the book-tofilm adaptation has an ubiquitous presence. While lacklustre Young Adult adaptations such as Divergent and Twilight may have given the genre a bad name in recent years, books have provided the groundwork for countless classic films throughout the past century, and that trend is undoubtedly showing no sign of stopping. One of the most highly anticipated films to be released before the end of the year is Gone Girl, an adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s 2012 bestseller of the same name.

Gone Girl tells the story of married man Nick Dunne, who finds himself as the number one suspect when his wife, Amy, mysteriously disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary.

The book is a suspenseful page turner from start to finish as we slowly learn the truth about the pair’s marriage and ask ourselves ‘did Nick really kill his wife?’

But let’s not get too into the details of the book; this is a film article after all!

Plus, while positively received source material like Gone Girl is always a good place to start, it does not guarantee a good film (The Golden Compass, The Da Vinci Code, etc.).

The next thing the film needs is a director capable of smoothly translating the book

“while positively received source material like Gone Girl is always a good place to start, it does not guarantee a good film” into a successful film. Luckily Gone Girl is in the safe hands of David Fincher, director of several modern classics such as Fight Club and Se7en, with the latter showing he definitely has the aptitude for making electrifying thrillers. This is necessary if Gone Girl is to live up to it’s

potential.

Couple that with a strong cast lead by Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike and Neil Patrick Harris and I think you can see that this is one of the most keenly awaited films of the year for good reason.

Hopefully all of these good signs will

in the end give us yet another excellent contribution to the vast book-to-film adaptation collection. The mysterious, enticing and pulsating trailers that have been released thus far have proved satisfactory, so there is really nothing left to do but wait patiently for the film to arrive!

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World I see Edgar Wright’s 2010 adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series as an absolute success. It’s a brilliant movie, full of Wright’s usual visual brilliance, wit and frantic energy.

It’s also got more heart and youthful passion than almost any other teen coming-of-age movie (which I guess this is at its centre).

“they squandered this chance and made one of the least inspiring and most embarrassing comic book films of the last 15 years.”

More importantly, its incredible visuals really give the viewer a sense that they’re watching a comic book come to life before their eyes. Screenwriters Wright and Michael Bacall do the seemingly impossible and cram six graphic novels’ worth of story into less than two hours of film. What’s more is that they do so without losing any of the weirdness or the dry humour of the sources.

Watchmen The collected Watchmen graphic novels, Alan Moore’s seminal tale of an alternate 1980s America on the brink of World War 3, was often said to be un-filmable, too dense a story to fit comfortably into

one feature film. But Zach Snyder was undeterred and his 2009 adaptation proved to everyone that, yeah, it pretty much was un-filmable!

The film falls prey to a common pitfall of adaptations: being too faithful. It seems that Snyder, who genuinely seems to love the source material, was such a fan of the book that he couldn’t bear to leave a single image or line of dialogue out of the final cut. Unfortunately, while it works extraordinarily well on paper, some things just don’t translate all that well to real life. For example a lot of Rorschach’s noir-style voiceover just sounds a little silly in the finished film.

with his being comparatively less well-known, should have allowed the filmmakers plenty of room to create an imaginative and creative superhero film.

Instead they squandered this chance and made one of the least inspiring and most embarrassing comic book films of the last 15 years. The story, acting and visual style all feel flat and forced, with none of the spark of the Marvel films and none of the epic atmosphere of the NolanBatman films.

The Last Airbender Cheating a little here since it’s based on an animated series rather than a book, but no list of bad movies, no matter what the criteria, would be complete without at least a mention of the now walking punchline M. Night Shyamalan.

Why I bring this film up is that, despite its flaws, Watchmen is a visual treat.

Even more so than Scott Pilgrim, this is the best visual interpretation of a comic book seen on the big screen to date. It looks and feels like we’re really on the scummy streets of Moore’s New York City and Dr. Manhattan and Rorschach, the most visually interesting characters, just look fantastic. Kudos to the film for also improving upon the ending of the book, making it fit much more neatly into the tone of the story itself.

...Failures

The Green Lantern

2011 saw the release of the somewhat long-awaited film adaptation of the DC’s greenest superhero. Generally the Green Lantern is one of the second-tier members of the Justice League, never hitting the popularity heights of Batman or Superman.

The fact that the hero’s main power effectively allows him to imagine anything using his super-ring, combined

His 2010 adaptation of the beloved Nickelodeon series Avatar: The Last Airbender left a particularly bad taste for fans of the cartoon.

As the film goes on, it becomes more and more unintentionally funny, ensuring that any hopes of being drawn in by the action are lost to Peter Sarsgard’s scenery chewing.

Ryan Reynolds came out of this one particularly badly, showing that he just didn’t have what it takes to carry a film like this, and it seems that his career took a serious knock in the few years since. Overall, a particularly poor effort.

While the original series was fun, creative, full of wit and had great character development, the film is flat, dull and full of Shyamalan’s now trademark wooden dialogue and acting.

Combine this with a ton of baffling casting decisions (most notably the casting of Caucasians to play the Inuitinspired leads of the show), it makes for a clumsy and generally boring slog of a film. It really is a shame that a series as hugely entertaining as Avatar was adapted into a film so stiff and lifeless.

Netflix pick of the fortnight: The Brass Teapot Eoghan Scott For anybody who has ever felt a strain on their wallet, which just about includes every college student in the world, The Brass Teapot (featuring rising star Juno Temple) should certainly hit home.

A young married couple, Alice and John, are struggling to make ends meet.

The landlord is constantly at the door looking for rent, while John is getting nowhere in his dead-end job and Alice is constantly missing out on job opportunities to those who have more experience. What’s worse is that they’re surrounded by friends who seemingly have it all.

One day the couple come across an old brass teapot in an antique shop, which Alice is inexplicably drawn to and subsequently steals.

When John loses his job and is unsure of what to tell his wife, he goes home to find her bloody and bruised in the sitting room. It soon transpires that the teapot is a magical object that dispenses money... but only when the owner is in

pain.

What follows is an interesting and original story about desperation and greed, wherein John and Alice’s relationship is

tested and poses the question: how far would we go for the sake of money?

So the next time you find yourself scrolling through Netflix, looking for

something to while away those long hours between not studying and not studying some more, you could certainly do worse than watching this little gem.

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Was U2’s Apple Album Release a good idea?

Eoghan Scott & Robbie Byrne debate the implications of U2 releasing their latest LP for free

No

by Eoghan Scott Three weeks ago U2 released a very good album. No, actually... Three weeks ago U2 released a great album. Okay, I may as well admit right here and now: I like U2.

As part of Apple’s unveiling of the new iPhone 6 and Apple Watch, U2’s thirteenth album, Songs of Innocence, was released directly onto the iTunes account of every Apple customer (for free, no less!); whether said Apple customers actually wanted it or not.

This is where I remind you once more that I, for one, actually like U2...

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But clearly this is no longer the popular opinion as, almost immediately upon its release, the Twitter backlash occurred, along with all the obvious put-downs and jokes that come with it: “New U2 album is definitely worth the price,” quipped one commenter.

The thing is though, as much as I like U2, this backlash was well deserved.

They were completely wrong to simply give their album away.

Firstly (and easily the main gripe against the release with working musicians everywhere), this act simply devalues the worth of music in an already fraught industry for artists. Sure it’s easy for a band like U2 to give away a free album, what with it already being one of the biggest bands in the world and in no need of money as it is – of course, this all goes without even mentioning the comfy €100 million paid to them by Apple. What hope do struggling Indie

bands have in this kind of industry?

Somehow I can’t imagine Apple paying any old (or should that be ‘young’?) band even a tenth of what U2 were given for any similar ventures.

Going back to the actual quality of the album once more – as I’ve said, it’s a great album. Unfortunately U2 have shot themselves in the foot with their release strategy.

Rather than discuss the album itself, everybody has become so wrapped up with this whole release hullaballoo that U2 have managed to overshadow the quality of the music with their own arrogance. In assuming that everybody in the world obviously loves them, they’ve managed to drive away more fans than they have won.

They were arrogant to release the album for free, they were arrogant to name a song after Joey fucking Ramone and they were arrogant to force the album onto everyone’s iTunes.

So don’t delete the album – it’s free, after all. Listen to it. Enjoy it. Just do all this in spite of U2, in spite of Apple and in spite of their arrogance.

Yes

by Robbie Byrne I, unlike the majority of us Irish, have feelings of indifference towards U2.

Neither dedicated fan nor manic hater, I’ll be first to admit that Achtung Baby was a masterpiece and Pop was a misunderstood gem, but also that U2 are not the musical tour de force they once were.

Can Cork host the Fleadh Cheoil?

Rory Manning The Fleadh Cheoil is Ireland’s biggest annual festival. Yet never in its 63-year existence has the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil been held in Cork City.

For me that is a staggering statistic. But don’t despair: officials in the City Council are making an official bid for Cork to host the 2016 All-Ireland Fleadh.

This is long overdue as Cork has had some of the most influential traditional

musicians in the country. Seán Ó Riada, the man who brought about the revival of Irish music, was a Cork man, as is Conal Ó Gráda, one of the few real flute masters left in the country.

The largest crowd to gather at a Fleadh Cheoil was 430,000 in Derry last summer. There is no doubt that Cork, with its accessibility and ammeities, would be looking to equal or surpass that number.

This is why giving Songs of Innocence away for free was a masterstroke for U2.

Their last effort, No Line On the Horizon, boiled the group’s irrelevance down to one work – bloated and outdated, the album failed to garner new fans along its way to becoming a sales disaster.

Bono once said, “punk rock was always about being in your face. Even if you weren’t looking for us, we were there.” In essence this is why U2 performed this PR stunt. While the Internet may resemble the Wild West right now, its ability to promote remains unparalleled. What U2 have done is create not a product, but a promotional key to open doors to a younger audience for more profitable products past and future.

As I write, this promotional key is opening a gateway into their illustrious discography to a generation born after Joshua Tree. 24 of the band’s titles are now inside the Irish top 200 charts, while U218 is inside the top 10 in 46 nations.

Despite these impressive statistics, sound recordings lie at just 6% of an artists revenue, making Apple’s much

condemned payment of $100 million to U2 small change in comparison to the substantial boost to ticket sales when Bono’s inevitable world tour comes along – giving the band another chance to profit from their newfound tech savvy audience.

The mass giveaway was also an equally necessary one for Apple. Use of their iTunes application has ceded to Spotify’s slick online streaming service in recent months, making Apple’s once flagship software programme seem as irrelevant as the cassette tape was a decade ago.

Like Bono and Co., Apple also needed a means to become relevant again and while many will argue that one didn’t need a corporate behemoth and the other an aged rock band to do so, it cannot be denied the venture is something fresh and innovative – an increasingly hard feat in today’s world.

So in twelve months’ time, when the first world problems debacle concerning owning a semi-decent album you didn’t pay for has wound down, U2 and Apple will be the only ones reaping the rewards.

Opening a new chapter with Storyfold Robbie Byrne talks to 2FM Radio Presenter, Paddy McKenna, about his real day job Chances are you’ll recognise the voice of Storyfold frontman Paddy McKenna.

A 2FM regular on the aptly titled Weekenders with Ruth & Paddy, a former Den presenter and onetime crime reporter for the Sunday World, there are few aspects of the media sphere that have escaped the Leitrim man’s reach.

Few know that the vast majority of McKenna’s time today is devoted not to radio broadcasting or column writing, but rather fronting Storyfold – an anthemic indie-rock outfit who have just released their sophomore album, It’s Later Than You Think.

Storyfold is far from a product of indulgence sustained by the fame of the 2FM presenter; instead McKenna explains that Storyfold must be isolated from the day job: “It’s completely separate because it needs to be.

Every band must be a mini democracy and in our case each member of the group has an equal say – fame can’t alter dynamics.

While Storyfold thread sonic similarities with straightforward Irish indie acts such as Ash with a hint of The Killers synth-rock, McKenna asserts that the band was born in a way befitting of the 21st century: “Basically we threw a few posts up on Irish music forums for a drummer and keyboardist from which we got a huge response. Coincidently Sean, the first guy who auditioned, won us over and is still our drummer today.”

We were originally called Runkid, but some Christian rock band from Illinois made the very unchristian move to sue us unless we changed our name before joking, “It became pretty serious with solicitors letters from their record label so we backed down and called ourselves Storyfold, a name that carries its own pronunciation problems – we’ve been called everything from Storyshow to Gloryhole!”

”Every band must be a mini democracy and in our case each member of the group has an equal say – fame can’t alter dynamics.”

Other than a famed frontman, some innovative recruiting and a near brush with the law, Storyfold’s story is unnervingly similar to that of every other band trying to make it in Ireland today. Their first LP, Rocket Science, was funded by a tireless gigging schedule.

Produced by Greg Haver of Manic Street Preachers and Bullet For My Valentine fame, the end product failed to live up to the promise brought by a run of successful singles.

“While Greg was great to us in helping us cut costs, we went in with eleven songs on paper and came out with eleven songs on record. In retrospect, that should have been an indication that making the album came a bit too soon.”

Than You Think.

“For Later we took our time; two and a half years to be exact. Everything about us has improved since then and we wanted the record to reflect that

“We were originally called Runkid, but some Christian rock band from Illinois made the very unchristian move to sue us unless we changed our name,” progression.” And it is a claim that holds credulity. A preview of the forthcoming LP reveals absorbing sonic detail, tighter lyricism and better hooks than the group’s previous effort.

Kasabian’s Tom Meighan at his most primal.

It’s a polished and unashamedly commercial compilation, made more so by the hiring of U2 associate Ger McDonnell for production duties. “He is a genius producer and gave us a feel for our music. We learned from past mistakes and had 30 songs written, of which Ger whittled down to a dozen. The guy has an amazing ability in extracting a sound orbiting around our heads and it placing onto record.”

Speaking on the eve of the album’s release, McKenna delights in the fact that sample tracks have been received with enthusiasm by several broadcasters: “One dark cut from the album, ‘End of Youth’, is getting a great reaction, especially with US producers and it looks like the track could be close to getting played on a TV show in The States – that would an unimaginable break for us.”

Lead single ‘Dynamo’ fizzes with vitality thanks to an earworm chorus, while ‘The Underpass’ finds McKenna channelling

Storyfold’s desire to do what few Irish acts have achieved in the past and break America is testament to the group’s ambition, one that compels me conclude on McKenna’s raring words: “Just watch this space.”

After that whoever gets sufficient votes moves onto apply at a national level, where, for example, Cork must see off the likes of Galway.

This was music to my ears because I have no doubt that there is no better place in Ireland to host such a tremendous event. The decor of the art rooms and equipment will serve as a great asset.

I also find it quite romantic that our ancient music should be brought to such a highly recognised institute; portraying a symbolic compound of old and new.

University will be used for the group competitions, such as céilí sessions and set-dancing.

world stage for Irish music and dance.

All in all, Cork has been waiting 63 years.

We shouldn’t have to wait any longer.

But will the year long wait be enough for the Cork City Council to organise

It is also reported that Cork Opera House, the City Hall and our own

For the first time in 65 years Cork will get to embrace its Irish heritage on the

Storyfold’s infancy wasn’t all plain sailing however and, only months after those auditions, the group found themselves at the centre of a lawsuit courtesy of an American Christian rock group.

Having stated all this, we are still in danger of putting the cart before the horse. The All-Ireland Fleadh being in Cork is by no means a forgone conclusion.

Firstly Cork must apply at a provincial level and see off any competitors. Even Ennis plans to thwart Cork’s plans.

Today finds the Leitrim man promoting the band’s sophomore effort, It’s Later Ireland’s biggest festival? Sources inside the Council have indicated to Verge that the Cork School of Music may be opened up to host the majority of the festival.

Let’s make it happen. Corcaigh Abú!

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There’s something about Aoibhinn Claire Fox

I

ntelligence, ravishing personality and radiant beauty are just some of the many glowing qualities that broadcaster and overall science and maths genius Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin holds. Last week, while speaking with the former Rose of Tralee, I was reined in by her charming demeanour and well-spoken voice, making it easy to see why she has indeed become a national treasure since winning the competition in 2005.

A native of county Mayo, Ní Shúilleabháin credits her passion for science and mathematics with the surrounding rural landscape that she found herself growing up in as a child.

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“Living in rural Ireland and looking at the night sky gave me a really good view of the constellations,” says Ní Shúilleabháin philosophically. “Looking at the stars gave me an awareness that this is all bigger than you and the earth, and I was fascinated by the thought of a solar system and galaxies. This really was my initial draw into physics.”

Ní Shúilleabháin’s passion for physics resulted in her studying Theoretical Physics in UCD and receiving a First Class Honours Degree in the subject.

Her overwhelming love for the subject saw her work as a teacher of both Maths and Science in Tallaght, something which she had to give up due to deciding to complete a PhD in Maths Education in Trinity College.

This was not an easy decision for someone so obviously passionate about encouraging young people to develop their knowledge and explore ideas.

“Oh yeah, I loved it. I loved teaching and there’s always that draw back to the classroom,” Ní Shúilleabháin says enthusiastically. So was it hard for her to leave teaching? “It was difficult, but it would have been difficult to complete a PhD part-time and that was the best decision for me at the time.”

Since winning the Rose of Tralee in 2005, Ní Shúilleabháin’s passion for the fields of maths and science has been allowed to flourish. She has co-presented the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition with Ray D’Arcy and was ambassador for Dublin City of Science

2012. She has also been a key facilitator in the Project Maths Programme.

For Ní Shúilleabháin, however, one the most exciting adventures she has had in science has been her role as lead presenter on RTÉ show, The Science

Squad. The programme, which she copresents along with Kathriona Devereux and Jonathan McCrea, is entering its third series this October.

“I’m really proud of it. I’ve learned a lot about all different types of science in all

different fields,” says Ní Shúilleabháin, who as part of the third series travelled to Uganda to find out about a rainwater project that, if successful, could result in heathier pregnancies and births for women in the country.

“I’ve learned so much about how research can impact all people around the world, in particular through the social project in Uganda. I’ve learned about plants which mightn’t exist in 50 years’ time here in UCD and about plants that will grow in the space station in UL. There really is a plethora of research around Ireland.”

While Ní Shúilleabháin is obviously completely infatuated with all things science and maths related, figures for girls studying both subjects in university are lower than that for males.

“The numbers are improving, but research does show that there is a requirement for female role models. I mightn’t have had a lot of role models, but I watched a lot of Sci-Fi films and read books and within those there were a lot of female characters,” chuckles the Mayo woman.

For Ní Shúilleabháin, encouraging both girls and boys to take an interest in maths and science should begin at an early age. “Talking positively about it and giving a positive experience of it in primary school helps.”

While in conversation with Ní Shúilleabháin, it is clear that she prefers a hands on teaching approach, encouraging young people to explore ideas for themselves, rather than the usual run-of-the-mill rote learning method generally pushed in Irish schools.

“It’s important that we encourage more qualified teachers, who aren’t afraid to take risks and while I miss it, it’s important to research so more teachers can learn,” states Ní Shúilleabháin who is currently working in UCD as a researcher.

Having put teaching on the back burner while completing her PhD, Ní Shúilleabháin managed to expand her broadcasting CV. Having previously worked on shows such as The Panel, Fleadh Cheoil and The Reel Deal, Ní Shúilleabháin elieves broadcasting provided the perfect equilibrium for her strenuous study lifestyle.

“To be honest I enjoyed having a different mental space. Broadcasting does require socialising a bit more which is a real antithesis to the life of a researcher. It gave me more balance.”

Her broadcasting work covers a wide range from current affairs and the Irish language, to entertainment and travel in the show Getaways. Now an esteemed name in Irish media, does the Connaught native shy away from her Rose of Tralee roots or credit it for her success?

“I’m always appreciative of my involvement in the festival, otherwise I would never have thought of media work. I fell into it by accident and it’s something that has just grown and grown which has been delightful.”

Humbled by her success in the media, in the last couple of years Ní Shúilleabháin

has added the medium of radio to her list of broadcasting achievements, something she believes complimented her studies extremely well.

“Radio is a great medium and is really intimate. Oddly enough it relates well

“there is a requirement for female role models.

I mightn’t have had a lot of role models, but I watched a lot of Sci-Fi films and read books and within those there were a lot of female to the life of a researcher due to facts and qualitative research. There is a real cross-over between media and the life of a researcher in that respect.

“I love doing radio. I did some work on Newstalk and Raidió na Life and had my own show on Radio 1 last year, which was great.”

Having mentioned her work on Raidió na Life, the fluent Gaeilgeoir gives about her opinion on the Irish language.

“To be honest it’s not something I’ve engaged with in recent years. Yes it’s my first language, but I’m not actually from the Gaeltacht and I do actually find that that’s a point I’m reminded of sometimes!”

While speaking about the Irish language, it’s obvious that Ní Shúilleabháin doesn’t believe that the Irish language should be limited to those who are only from Gaeltacht regions. “It’s a point I had to work on and I don’t think that we should only encourage people from the Gaeltacht and those who speak grammatically correct Irish to only speak the language.”

Ní Shúilleabháin‘s interest in all things Irish is indicative in her membership of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann along with her brothers while growing up, while her mother was principal of the local Gaelscoil, making it easy for her to be immersed in the language. However the language is primarily about culture for Ní Shúilleabháin: “In secondary school learning Irish should be about music, dance and storytelling. We are focusing on the language too much.”

As my conversation with the striking Ms. Ní Shúilleabháin comes to an end, I must admit that in her I have found a new girl crush. Her beaming personality and brainy ways have only been enhanced since her Rose of Tralee win. While a few years ago girls may have struggled to find a role model in maths and science, now all they have to do is take a glance across the river Shannon to admire what Ní Shúilleabháin has achieved.

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Wham! Bang! Pow! C

omics seem to be everywhere nowadays. Every blockbuster, every TV show and every video game appears to have started life as a humble comic book.

This year alone we have seen superhero flicks ranging from the retro espionage thriller Captain America: The Winter Soldier, to the weird and wonderful space romp Guardians of the Galaxy, while The Walking Dead and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D are taking over our TV screens at home.

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So why not give them a try? With over thousands of comics to choose from, it may seem like an impossible challenge, but fear not! Verge has donned its cape and is coming to the rescue! Read on for a beginner’s guide to some of the very best comics available at the moment.

V Batman Year One Frank Miller & David Mazzucchelli

An Introduction to Comic Books by Molly and Andy Forsythe Gotham Central

Saga

Hawkeye

Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

Matt Fraction & David Aja

“This will probably end up being another in a long line of emotionally crippling misadventures... but let’s try to have some fun along the way,” is how Brian K.Vaughan opens the first issue of Saga.

First described to me as; “Like Romeo and Juliet, but with more swearing;” Saga follows Marko and Alana, a pair of star-crossed lovers from a galaxy far far away, as they try to protect their baby from not one, but two corrupt empires on top of a seemingly never-ending cast of bizarre assassins.

What does a superhero do in their downtime? That’s the question behind the most recent reincarnation of Hawkeye, who you may remember as possibly the most unfortunately under-equipped member of The Avengers.

Ed Brubaker & Greg Rucka The best way to describe this series is to imagine The Wire, but rather than chasing drug-dealers and moneylaunderers, the cops hunt mad scientists and super villains instead. Gotham Central may be set in the Batman universe but feels a million miles away from capes and spandex. The multiple accounts of ordinary beat cops and detectives of the GCPD provide a fresh perspective on Gotham’s never-ending war on crime.

Gotham Central’s realism of style and thoughtful character-development gives the series an impressive depth.

Ms. Marvel G. Willow Wilson & Adrian Alphona Since its announcement in the New York Times, the all-new Ms. Marvel has become an international sensation. The book follows the kooky adventures of Kamala Khan, the first Muslim character to headline her own comic book.

Do you like Batman? Of course you do – everybody likes Batman! Frank Miller’s (Sin City, 300) version is the definitive retelling of Bruce Wayne’s journey to becoming one of the most iconic figures of our age. Miller’s introduction of a noir atmosphere and twisted psychological edge revolutionised the caped crusader’s image in popular culture.

Ms. Marvel is a modern-day super origin tale that is at various points thoughtprovoking, sweet and downright hilarious. Ms. Marvel is the perfect antidote to the depressing realities of college life. C’mon, if Kamala can defeat the villainous clone of Thomas Edison who also happens to be a giant cockatiel, you can finish that essay on time!

Key to Year One’s success is the gritty and cinematic artwork provided by David Mazzucchelli, whose work set the tone for every Batman comic that followed.

This series serves as the ideal jumping off point for those who loved the adorkable antics of Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spiderman.

Poetically Speaking

Personally, I would consider myself predominantly a prose writer. That being said, the medium of the poem is one I have always been drawn to.

Saga can be as eye-wateringly funny as it is gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking.

No character is safe and the twists are completely unpredictable.

you.

Poetry is an art which contains beauty in its lines. Writers present imagery beyond imagining, writers provide inspiration from the Colm Furlong The poem allows the writer the most mundane of objects. Poetry perfect vessel for the release of is a muse which calls out to all.

“Poetry is to prose as danc- that which is hidden inside; while In my personal experience, the ing is to walking” still allowing him the opportunicreating of stories within those ty to gloss it over in cryptic and stanzas has been some of the most - John Wain metaphorical terms. As such, I rewarding writing I’ve ever done.

There is a certain beauty to the art have always found that the poem Poetry is not just for the masters; of poetry that is largely non-ex- offers a means of divulging your poetry is for the lyricists, for the novelistent in other forms of writing. very soul onto the page in front of ists, for the journalists, the playwrights,

The wise-cracking hero must deal with unexpected repercussions of a onenight stand, never-ending medical bills and an annoyingly precocious protégé.

Featuring 1960s mod style art and a story from the perspective of Pizza Dog, what more could you possibly want from a comic?

the screenwriters and for the ordinary citizen.

Writing poetry allows you to get your message across without the necessity for reams of words and paragraphs. Poetry is truly a gift to all. Poetry is, from my perspective, one of the most thought-provoking entities on this earth. Poetry has been the saviour of many of my friends throughout their lives; and it has certainly kept me sane on many an occasion.

The Great Irish Author Claire Fox If ever there was a Eurovision Contest for the country with the most talented and acclaimed writers, Ireland would win hands down. But then again, Eurovision was always our thing, wasn’t it? Well, at least until Dustin the Turkey got in the way! However, while our credibility in Eurovision continues to wane, our reputation for producing world class writers, journalists and poets continues to soar. Why is it that a craggy country on the edge of the Atlantic has such an epic writing tradition?

It goes as far back to the Celts, but we also have the British to thank for the wondrous writers our tiny nation has produced. Writing provided some escapism as our ancestors battled our way through the Famine, religious

suppression and various wars. And, most importantly, they came through all those tribulations, making writing a symbol of survival for the Irish people.

When it comes to the crème de la crème of Irish authors, the list is endless, but one is worth a major mention.

W.B. Yeats, Ireland’s most celebrated poet, was not only a gifted wordsmith, but a hopeless romantic which I’m sure many of us unlucky in love can relate to. After spending the majority of his life in unrequited love with patriot and philanthropist Maud Gonne, he has her to thank for some of his greatest literary works, most notably his dreamlike poem ‘He wishes for the cloths of Heaven’.

While Yeats and other writers such as

Beckett, Joyce and Shaw are undoubtedly the ringleaders of the Irish mob of writers, post-independent Ireland didn’t fail in producing a plethora of fantastic writers either.

Even when we had received political freedom, there were still more issues than ever to put pen to paper about.

Think of John B. Keane putting the spotlight on rural life in 1950s Ireland and poets Derek Mahon and Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney expressing the conflict in Northern Ireland through the art of writing. Even more recently the recession was the mainspring for Donal Ryan’s Man Booker Prize nominated novel The Spinning Heart.

However let’s not get mistaken in thinking that the pantheon of Irish writers is solely made up of testosterone.

Feeling Wilde?

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“I have nothing to declare except my genius.”

Molly Forsythe

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“I can resist everything except temptation.” (Lady Windermere’s Fan)

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“A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.” (The Critic as Artist)

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“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”

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“I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.” (The Happy Prince and Other Stories)

This October, Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde will be celebrating his 160th birthday. The wise-cracking Irish-born author gave us some of the funniest and most beloved pieces of literature ever written. Over the course of his career, the multi-talented writer built an impressive collection of plays (The Importance of Being Earnest, Lady Windermere’s Fan), essays (The Critic as Artist), poetry and a single novel (The Picture of Dorian Gray).

Mired in scandal and controversy throughout a large portion of his life, Wilde died in Paris in 1900 exiled and impoverished, aged just 46. Wilde’s legacy however has been kept alive through the years and he remains one of the most popular writers of all time.

Evidence of this adoration can be seen in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris where you can see the lipstick stains left on his grave by hundreds of admirers each year.

Renowned for his sharp tongue and arch sense of humour, Wilde is without doubt the king of the one-liner. As Dorothy Parker rightly pointed out: “If, with the literate, I am impelled to try an epigram, I never seek to take the credit. We all assume that Oscar said it.”

So, in no particular order, here are my Top 10 Wilde wisecracks. When reading this list please bear in mind that there are a huge amount of lines that I could’ve picked and the best way to really enjoy Wilde’s work is simply to read it.

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“I never travel without my diary.

One should always have something sensational to read in the train.” (The Importance of Being Earnest)

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“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.”

The deceased Maeve Binchy undoubtedly paved the way for women writers in Ireland today and her books, Circle of Friends and Light a Penny Candle are must-read coming of age books for young women even in the 21st century.

Ireland’s history of great writers is a bestseller story in itself. With modern writers like Joseph O’Connor and Marian Keyes flying the Irish writing flag, it’s safe to say the next chapter of our story is in good hands.

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“One should always play fairly when one has the winning cards.”

(The Ideal Husband)

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“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” (The Picture of Dorian Gray)

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“She...can talk brilliantly upon any subject provided she knows nothing about it.” (The American Invasion)

Blog-eat-Blog World: Hark! A Vagrant Molly Forsythe The web-comic, Hark! A Vagrant, was launched in 2008 by history graduate, Kate Beaton. Her love of history and experience working in museums provided the inspiration for the webcomic. Since then she has been featured in the New Yorker, published a book (also titled Hark! A Vagrant) and has received numerous awards. Beaton is an inspiration for all Arts students and is proof that you really can do anything with a degree in the humanities.

Hark! A Vagrant is a treasure trove of nerdy jokes about history and literature.

If you’re the kind of person who guffaws at the idea of Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac playing eye-spy during a long road trip, then this blog is for you. If you chuckle at the thought of Nikola Tesla as the Tom Jones of science, then this blog is definitely for you. If the notion of Edward the Black Prince as a total bro makes you howl with laughter, then put down this paper right now and read this blog!

Beaton’s website makes a point of featuring many of the forgotten (and usually female) voices of history. The blog serves as a fantastic jumping-off point to delve into the fascinating stories of obscure characters. She writes about

Mary Seacole, a black nurse who set up hospitals during the Crimean War and whose work has been largely forgotten in favour of Florence Nightingale.

Another interesting figure is Rosalind Franklin who made significant advances in the field of DNA only to have the credit taken by other scientists.

There’s plenty of silly content too; my personal favourites being the impossibly adorable Fat Warrior Pony or the Working Girl inspired 1980s Business Woman.

If you’re looking for a way to skive off study and not feel too bad about it, then

you really can’t do better than the often intelligent and always hilarious Hark! A Vagrant

In Need of a Hero Ryan Collins Games evolve. The vast majority of what you play today, despite nostalgic impulses and reminiscence on childhood through rose-tinted glasses, is, in more ways than one, a vast improvement on what you fiddled hours away on 15 to 20 years ago. Storytelling is better, plot depth and writing is (usually) better, graphical fidelity is awe-inspiring in places and even popular indie titles like Towerfall and Fez, which adopt and adapt the retro aesthetic of lore, are mechanically smoother and superior to their distant relations.

However it’s a character-driven world we live in and so protagonists have had to evolve as well.

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In mainstream gaming, a plot is often a shallow excuse to show off the engine, a platform for breath-taking set pieces (see Call of Duty), or so relentlessly baffling that it’s redundant. The supporting characters are fun to write, because gamers are not often looking for the character depth that you can get from other media. A quirky remark here, an off-kilter emotional scene there, and you have your cast, especially in today’s environment where triple-A games barely reach eight hours in length.

The rules are different for JRPGs, like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, and the more modern American RPG (Skyrim/ Fallout), where countless hours of entertainment are buffered by lengthy cinematic cut-scenes and near-endless experimentalism respectively.

With regard to the protagonist, games have such a heavy reliance on a singular, player-controlled character, that that character becomes the anchor of a title. Gaming hasn’t caught up with the current trends in other media like multiple protagonists purely because that is beyond the current scope of play. It presents you with a protagonist, puts her/him in your hands and lets you control their fate. As games evolve, this connection to the protagonist will hopefully become stronger as writing and animations improve.

Mario, Link, Samus and Sonic are arguably among the first wave of great gaming heroes, later joined by Lara Croft, Spyro the Dragon and Crash Bandicoot, who many of us will remember from childhood.

Their common feature? They were mascots and not really much else. Sonic and Crash do not exactly promote the idea of dynamic, character-focused experiences. Thankfully, some of these characters, and even more fortunately the female characters of Lara and Samus, have evolved recently, but gaming was – and is – primitive, so it can only be expected that its lead characters were too.

Japan and, specifically, Squaresoft, as has so often been the case in the games industry, got it very right, very early.

Terra, a green-haired sprite from Final Fantasy VI, stood out in a game that was designed with no primary character in mind. Cloud and Squall, from VII and VIII respectively, proved to be the first real iconic protagonists of depth in gaming.

They were the prototype for the emo/ renegade character that proliferated through the medium for years to come and their complexities of character have inspired many countless cosplays and copycats, in both games and anime alike.

The developer continued creating archetypal and popular protagonists for fun over the subsequent iterations.

Zidane, as perpetually underrated as the game in which he stars, Final Fantasy IX, was the snarky thief with a heart of gold; a familiar, even grating stereotype until a revelation sends him in an entirely different direction.

Tidus, from Final Fantasy X, was an even more challenging sell: the boastful jock tossed into an alien world where he knows nothing. This was a further evolution of the gaming protagonist, as the player would live vicariously through Tidus. Their knowledge levels are equal at the beginning and as Tidus’s

knowledge grows, so too does the player’s. It was revolutionary at the time and facilitated stronger player-character relationships and, as a result, a more moving story.

We more recently saw the largest leaps in writing and protagonist development yet while, oxymoronically, featuring great regressions.

“They were mascots and not really much else. Sonic and Crash do not exactly promote the idea of dynamic, character-focused experiences.”

The rise of the silent protagonist, pioneered by Half Life’s Gordon Freeman, was seen in atmospheric and immersive games like the original Dead Space and the infamous Bioshock.

Incidentally, the latter critiqued the art of gaming protagonists with its ‘Would You Kindly’ spectacle, which hauntingly pointed out the flaws of creating likable, player-controlled characters when most protagonists are gun-toting, mass murdering psychopaths that follow orders. This meta-critique of the paradoxical nature of videogames is more relevant in light of the rise of the military shooter, in which every protagonist is a gruff, head-shaven badass, each one as unique as a Stormtrooper.

While Bioware have allowed players to take the wheel of their characters with their morality systems and Rockstar

have masterfully created characters like Tommy Vercetti, a homage to Tony Montana, and John Marsten from Red Dead Redemption; no one is better than Naughty Dog. They seem to have a stranglehold on the craft of creating protagonists.

Nathan Drake, the most likable man in the world, forced other writers to up their game in the manner that Uncharted 2’s linear, cinematic gameplay pushed a myriad of copycats, like 2013’s Tomb Raider reboot. Not inclined to rest on their laurels, the mercurial Naughty Dog continued to enhance the spectrum with The Last of Us, which has aptly been given the moniker of ‘the Citizen Kane of games’. Joel and Ellie are the two most realistic, subtle and wellwritten protagonists in gaming and, minor spoilers, the section where Ellie is playable is a hallmark moment in the medium. Their relationship is dynamic, complex and intrinsic and one imagines only Naughty Dog have the capabilities to top themselves, again.

So the question is, where do protagonists go from here?

Gaming continues to evolve and, due to the special nature of the medium and the fact that the playable protagonist is unique to games, the opportunities are endless. Tetsuya Nomura’s great creation Kingdom Hearts gave rise to no less than six playable characters across seven games and, with the current saga ending in 2016, look for innovations similar to GTA V. Naughty Dog will continue to push the barriers of character writing with Uncharted 4 and The Last Of Us 2, and Hideo Kojima, with his showcasing of the viral phenomenon P.T., will usher in more immersive techniques with his incarnation of the silent protagonist. It’s only going to get more interesting from here.

The Verdict: Velocity 2X

the sceptics leading up to the launch of the game, and thought that these sections might ruin the flow. How wrong I was.

The platforming sections feel like a natural extension of the game and fit in perfectly. I’d almost go so far as to say that they feel smoother than the standard spaceship sections. It’s got all the shooting and teleporting of the standard game, but with the fun addition of portable ‘telepods’. These are little teleportation nodes that are thrown like grenades and are essential in getting past some of the tougher platforming sections.

Jonathan Soltan Velocity is a series with a strange history.

It started out as a PS Mini back in 2012, before being totally remade a year later for the ever popular PS Vita (hint: I’m being sarcastic). Now, in 2014, Futurlab have given us a full-fledged sequel: the fantastic Velocity 2X. With some stunning new graphics and an amazing techno soundtrack, Velocity is back and better than ever.

Velocity 2X is, at its core, a game made for people who like going fast. However,

in every one of the game’s fifty main levels, not only do you want to get to the end quickly, you have to pick up various collectibles along the way.

If you don’t, you won’t earn enough experience to unlock the later levels. All of this is accomplished with superbly tight controls and Velocity’s signature teleportation mechanic. An exciting new addition is the ability to leave your ship and run around in some 2D platforming action.

If all this sounds like a bit much, fear not, the game does a nice job of easing you in to everything. If anything, it eases you in a little too slowly.

Velocity Ultra threw you in right at the deep end and had you working your thumbs to the bone from the word go.

After an hour with its sequel, I was worried that Futurlab had lowered the difficulty for their Playstation 4 debut.

My fears proved to be unfounded, however, as after level 20 or so the game starts to feel like classic Velocity. In fact, some of the later levels are more difficult than anything in the previous title; with levels branching far to the left and right and with sections on foot on top of all of that.

Speaking of the on foot sections; they’re great. I’ll freely admit that I was one of

In closing: Velocity 2X is hard not to like.

It’s got everything: gorgeous graphics, great music, fun, tight gameplay and a stupid sci-fi story involving aliens and black holes. It can be played in short chunks or you can plough through ten levels in a row and its scoring system will keep you coming back to replay levels again and again until you get that elusive ‘Perfect’ rating.

And the best part is that if you’re subscribed to Playstation Plus, Sony’s subscription service (which you absolutely should be, I mean, what are you doing with your life?), then it’s yours to download for free right now!

Not only that, but you get full cross-buy and cross-save functionality with that Vita that you don’t own!

Get Into Gaming – Bastion In the second part of our series of affordable games, Aoife Gleeson looks at the aural treat, Bastion Gaming is become a more talked about hobby than ever before. Advertisements are everywhere and sales are huge, making video games are the fastest growing entertainment industry in the world right now; so, when better to try them out?

Available on: iOS, Google Chrome, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360.

Price Point: €5 - €15 (Varies by platform).

Before we begin, the first and most important tip for playing Bastion is this: Wear headphones. Boasting one of the best soundtracks in a game that I’ve ever heard and a narrator that’s the vocal equivalent of rich honey, Bastion is

an audio treat. Seriously, your ears will never be the same.

In Bastion you play as ‘The Kid’; a small, dazed boy that wakes up in the crumbling ruins of a recently besieged floating city. Surrounded by dangerous, psychedelically-coloured enemies and unable to recall how you got into this mess, you set out to discover what happened to the city, an event which the Narrator only refers to cryptically as ‘The Calamity’.

The enthralling tones of the Morgan Freeman-like narrator will guide you through the beautiful, dying city and the sparse story, with the game allowing

you to infer most of the plot from the information that the narrator provides.

In this case less is definitely more, as you slowly figure things out for yourself.

You’ll be left thinking about Bastion’s plot and its small, but fascinating, cast of characters for a long time after you stop playing (plus, you’ll still be listening to the soundtrack).

The combat, on the other hand, is the antithesis to the slow and contemplative story. Its fast and frenetic nature will ensure that you’re constantly tapping your screen (or your mouse) in a frantic effort to stay alive. You’re able to choose and customise the weapons that you use from a wide array of choices, ensuring

that you never get bored.

In short, come for the great music and visuals, stay for the deceptively deep story and challenging combat. Bastion doesn’t disappoint.

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Beautified: Back to College Essentials ically enhances your eyes causing them to look wide and awake. My favourite high end mascara, and definitely one to put on your Christmas wish list, is Lancôme Hypnose Mascara. A great alternative for a fraction of the price is the Rimmel London Lash Accelerator which retails for €10.99.

Niamh Cleary

Concealer

It’s that time of the year again when college commences and we all want to look our best on an everyday basis; but I’m sure you will all agree that this is a lot easier said than done. Here are some make-up and hair tips that won’t break the bank and certainly won’t require you getting up an hour earlier in the cold winter mornings!

Another product that is perfect if you’re in a rush is concealer. We are all only human so we each have our own imperfections when it comes to our skin, so whether it is under-eye circles or a break-out from too many pizzas, don’t fret; just pop on some concealer. A great version you can get that is simultaneously affordable and functional is called Collection Lasting Perfection concealer, from the Collection range of cosmetics.

This concealer retails for €6.49 in Boots and is one of the most raved about products among the beauty community on YouTube.

Mascara If you belong to the group of girls who stumble out of bed just in time for your dreaded 9am start, then allow yourself just a minute to apply some mascara. A product that I can’t live without, it mag-

A/W 14 Trends Now if you are not one of the girls who struggle leaving your bed in the morning, first of all I envy you, and second of all, here are some autumn trends that are circulating right now that I am sure you will have time to follow.

A hair trend that is on all the catwalks at the moment is the glossy ponytail. For an effortless finish, keep one strand of hair away from the ponytail, secure the rest of the hair and then wrap the strand around your pony and conceal with a hair tie. This hairstyle was showcased by Kenzo, Hugo Boss and Valentino on the catwalks.

A huge make-up trend this season is metallic eyes. Backstage at Valentino and MaxMara sheer washes of metallic eye shadow were rampant. A great palette that has various tones of metallic eye shadows is the Sleek Storm Eye Shadow Pallet which retails at €9.99 on the Sleek website. The pallet has 12 shades so you’ll be spoiled for choice regarding which one to use first!

There’s a look to suit everyone this A/W college season, whether you’ll be rocking a slick glossy ponytail, embracing your shimmer side with metallic eyes or simply popping on some mascara!

“It’s all in, like, Swedish or something” 14 V

Aoife Stapleton details the Swedish invasion of the fashion world.

Over the past number of years the country has been producing some of the most sought after collections with brands like Acne, Monki, Cheap Monday & Other Stories, COS and H&M dominating the credits under the outfit posts of international fashion bloggers.

With Swedish clothing brand COS opening its first standalone store in Dublin last April, there’s no doubt the famously minimalistic Swedish style is quickly creeping its way into the wardrobe of the Irish fashion fanatic.

We generally associate Sweden’s reputation for clean lines and pared back design with its modernistic furniture and homeware, owing to the introduction of IKEA to Ireland. But from a fashion perspective Sweden appears to be putting itself on the map in recent times, using similar aesthetics, principles and design qualities through its fashion designers.

token, structured pieces. A style often deemed as being a “marriage between architecture and fashion.”

What started out as simply a jeans brand has prospered into an internationally recognised fashion house and it could be considered for the most part, responsible for the rise in demand for this polished Swedish style.`

“most of us are oblivious to the fact that what we are buying is influenced by this Swedish minimal design.”

Already famous for its street-style, Stockholm has given us some of the most popular fashion bloggers to date and is quickly becoming one of the goto fashion cities of Europe. Bloggers like Angelica Blick, Carolines Mode, Amanda Berg and Fanny Lykmann are all influencing the styles of the moment, most notably through social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest and Tumblr.

They take on a modern twist on the ‘less is more’ approach to fashion, with simple colour palettes of black, white, grey and navy, timeless basics and

the Swedish minimalist design, with structured clean lines, yet also showing experimental qualities.

As a nation of shoppers, we have become very familiar with H&M since it opened its first Irish store back in 2004. But despite the fact that it has been here for ten years, most of us are oblivious to the fact that what we are buying is influenced by this Swedish minimal

One of Sweden’s most well-known designers, Acne Studios, has developed a name for being one of the biggest fashion powerhouses of the moment and, with a flagship in Brown Thomas, Irish shores are no stranger to it. With celebrities like Rihanna and Alexa Chung regularly being papped wearing pieces by the brand, it’s no wonder its status continues to rise. Their designs are a characteristic representation of

design. An advantage to this growing custom is the fact that it’s an inexpensive style to adhere to as it can be built on a foundation of good quality basics.

Although some may deem it as a ‘trend’, it is no fashion fad due to its timeless and classic look.

Sweden is undoubtedly leaving its mark on the fashion world and it seems evident that their reign is only beginning. With their designs being an interesting mix between architecture, art and fashion, their innovation leaves you refreshed and optimistic about the future of the industry.

Is haute couture cooling down?

Marita Maloney “Haute couture should be fun, foolish and almost unwearable.”

So says Christian Lacroix, the Frenchman famed for his exuberant designs and who presented his final haute couture show in 2009, after more than two decades of being Paris’s father of frivolity.

Haute couture, while having a simple translation of ‘high fashion’, is in fact anything but basic, as it requires intricate needlework, embroidery, and dressmaking, as well as the artistry and creativity that only a few visionaries possess.

Dating back to the 1660s, this élite institution is supervised today under the stringent rules of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, a division of the French Ministry of Industry. With stipulations including, amongst others, an obligation for the designer to present collections bi-annually in Paris and to construct the garment specifically on a client’s body or identical dress form, as well as dictating that an unauthorised use of the label “haute couturier” by a humble dressmaker can result in arrest; it is no surprise that only 11 such authentic couture names currently exist.

However these strict guidelines may need to be revised, as constantly a question regarding viability permeates the industry. Is this extravagant and grandiose trade, albeit a frequently nonlucrative one reserved for the oligarchs and Sheiks’ wives of the top one percent, really on a dodo-esque scale of obsolete?

Following September 27th, when Jean Paul Gaultier showcased his last ever ready-to-wear show to focus instead on his perfume and haute couture business, the latter which allows him to “express again [his] creativity fully and without constraints,” the declaration du jour will now undoubtedly be “Vive La Haute Couture!”

With many observers predicting the demise of fashion’s headline-grabber, and even Hubert de Givenchy commenting decades ago that there could be “no future” for the craft, the designers and fashion houses themselves are proving the critics wrong. Looking at the 2014 sales figures for couture’s biggest players, Chanel reported a 20% rise in revenue from their spring/summer 2014 show, while Valentino’s projections are a substantial increase of 30-35%.

Dior’s €758 million turnover in the second half of 2013 can largely be attributed to the ‘Raf effect’; that is Dior Couture’s Creative Director and fashion’s

Style Gentlemen, Please Nicole Clinton Actor Dane DeHaan’s style choices do not differ greatly from his film role preferences. His taste portrays an ‘indie’ spirit that mixes a superficial boyish innocence with intellectual sophistication and a sense of inner conflict. Quietly confident, he takes risks on the red carpet, avoiding the traditional black tux and white shirt in favour of subtly coloured suits and printed shirts instead. His often preppy look is perfectly balanced by his tousled dirty-blond hair, which adds an air of careless attitude without appearing scruffy.

current maestro extraordinaire, Raf Simons. According to WWD, Simon’s magic touch at Dior has decreased the age of the house’s couture client from mid-40s to early 30s.

His spring/ summer 2014 collection seized upon the fact that couture consumers are now predominantly coming from the East, Gulf Countries and Russia, and so he featured looks varying from Asia and Africa to Europe and the Americas. He therefore tailored and catered the show’s drama to the customers of economies who can afford to pay up to $250,000 for a piece of sartorial perfection.

Design houses, after the initial spectacle in Paris, are increasingly presenting subsequent showcases in Tokyo, Singapore and beyond in a similar drive for sales, and designers such as Elie Saab are further strengthening the foundations of couture’s future by creating fantastical, ethereal gowns that bring in the big money: wedding and red carpet dresses. By combining decadent pieces with a ready to wear aesthetic, the legacy created in the fashion laboratories of Paris will not be buried in the archives, but will thrive instead. Haute couture’s future is positively sizzling.

the black suit was ornamented with a thin gold pinstripe, loaning the dark colour a subtle shine. His penchant for patterns could be observed again in his black shirt with white speckled print. He dons the shirt buttoned up to the top, but decided to ditch the tie, producing a preppy effect akin to the ‘nerd’ look that experienced a surge in popularity in recent years.

Off the red carpet, DeHaan continues to experiment with current fashion trends while also exuding an independent, effortless sense of style. He channelled grunge while hanging out in Utah for the Sundance Film Festival 2014, combining a black and white skinnystriped top with a fawn, oversize duffele coat. He completed the casual look with black jeans and aviator sunglasses, adding a touch of cool flair to the neutral ensemble.

DeHaan demonstrated how men can break away from the classic monochrome colour palette when selecting formal attire, when he opted for a midnight blue, two-buttoned suit at the Gotham Independent Spirit Awards in 2013.

alternative, fresh take on the punk trend.

His play with colours displays a youthful interpretation of the formal suit while still appearing smart.

The Prada creation (the design house that he has been modelling for over the last two years) was paired with a blue, white and lemon checked shirt and a deep navy, skinny tie. The check shirt injected a cute, fun tone and presents an

The Paris premiere of The Amazing Spiderman 2 last April saw the actor implement another innovative take on the classic tux, by portraying how black does not always constitute the safe option. Another Prada number,

Therefore, Dane DeHaan highlights how men can step away from conventional black-tie dress without appearing too flamboyant, by employing slight colour changes and fun prints. His style, like his film characters, presents us with an alternative version of ‘cool’. It possesses a complexity as it is simultaneously playful and cultured and, while it is exhibiting the most current trends, it still manages to express individuality.

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