The University Express - Vol.23, Issue 7

University Volume 24 | Issue 7 | Tuesday 21st January 2020

Express UCCExpress.ie

“Justice for Hamza”: Intervention for UCC Student

Writes Samantha Calthrop, News Editor

On Tuesday 14th January, UCC staff and students gathered at the quad in solidarity with UCC student Hamza Khan— who, along with his parents, three brothers and sister, was issued a deportation order after having spent three years in Ireland’s Direct Provision system. The Khans’ deportation order was revoked through intervention by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan on the 16th, the morning before a demonstration was set to take place in Cork.

RIC Farce Highlight Contemporary Divisions

Page 5 News

Hamza is a 2nd year Computer Science student, and one of UCC’s Sanctuary Scholars. He attended Coláiste Éamann Rís/Edmund Rice College, where he received a number of school awards before being awarded a scholarship to attend UCC. His three brothers are currently at secondary school in Coláiste Éamann Rís. The family’s academic and sports achievements have also been praised.

The Khan family attracted national attention after their deportation order was instituted, with a petition online by UCC’s Student Union gaining almost 7000 signatures and a petition by the boys’ secondary school gaining about 3000. UCC Pres-

Portugal and Drugs: A Guide

Page 10 Features

ident Patrick O’Shea, SU President, Ben Dunlea, and staff from both UCC and Edmund Rice all wrote letters to Charlie Flanagan, urging him to intervene.

that a number of different, and potentially conflicting narratives are circulating publicly on this issue,” it reads, “Proceedings have been issued by the family’s legal representatives, seeking a judicial The Khans are seeking asylum review of the case. Under High from Saudi Arabia, and were due Court rules the Khan family canto be deported to the UK, where not be removed until these prothey travelled through to get to ceedings are determined. There Ireland. The family originally has been no statement by Mincame from Pakistan, and had to ister Flanagan regarding a poflee Saudi Arabia after anti-Saudi tential Ministerial review. Since citizen laws were introduced that the family’s future in Ireland reforced the Khans’ sons to stop at- mains uncertain, we are seeking tending education to earn money. clarity from the Minister on his intentions regarding this case.

UCC Student Union and Sanctuary Working Group have released a joint statement clarifying the Story Continued on Page 3 Khan’s legal position. “We note

Sexual Tourism in Amsterdam

Page 28 Byline

Opinion Piece: GAA Scheduling Farce

Page 38 Sport

Editorial

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Issue 7 | Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief – Ciaran Dineen (Editor@UCCExpress.ie) News Editor – Samantha Calthrop (News@UCCExpress.ie) Designer – Fiona Cremins (Design@UCCExpress.ie) Features Editor – Róisin O’Donnell (Features@UCCExpress.ie) Sports Editor – Jack Maguire (Sport@UCCExpress.ie) Opinion Editor – Elisha Carey (Opinion@UCCExpress.ie) Online Editor – Edel Lonergan (Online@UCCExpress.ie) Proof Editor - Chloe Jesse (Proofing@uccexpress.ie) Marketing Executive – Ciaran Dineen (Marketing@UCCExpress.ie) Webmaster – Jonathan Hanley (Webmaster@UCCExpress.ie) Photographers – Caoimhe Leahy, Eve Harrington (Photographers@uccexpress.ie) Byline Editor – Cian McGrath (Byline@UCCExpress.ie) (Deputy Editor) Eagarthóir Gaeilge – Hugh Ó Raghallaigh Mac Gearailt (Gaeilge@UCCExpress.ie) Food & Health - Katie Kelly (Food@UCCExpress.ie) Arts & Literature Editor – Fiona Keely (Arts@UCCExpress.ie) Gaming Editor – Jack Coleman (Gaming @UCCExpress.ie) Music Editor – Fiona O’Connell (Music@UCCExpress.ie) Film & Television Editor – Eoghan Creedon (Screen@UCCExpress.ie) Sexpress Editor – Caoimhe Battault (Sexpress@uccexpress.ie) Fashion Editor - Katie Burke (Fashion@UCCExpress.ie) Deputy Sports - Sam Curtin (Deputysports@uccexpress.ie) Deputy News Maeve O’Sullivan (Deputynews@uccexpress.ie) Deputy Features - Molly O’Rourke (Deputyfeatures@uccexpress.ie)

No Words

Writes Ciaran Dineen, Editor-in-Chief I have to admit that this is without doubt the toughest editorial that I have ever had to write over the course of the last 18 months. Sometimes I find it hard to think about what to briefly discuss here, as the clock counts down towards our printing deadline, however on this occasion I know exactly what to talk about but find it almost impossible to convey.

I wish I could start like most would in their first edition back after Christmas, ‘welcome back, Happy New Year, resolutions, new year new me’, all that jazz. However, while I of course wish good fortune and will to all students this year, I must instead reflect on a truly tragic event that many students in this university and our friends in CIT will never forget.

The appalling incident that occurred last Thursday on Bandon Road in which a young man was killed has left classmates and neighbours in shock and horror, while friends and family can only be devastated and heartbroken. Perhaps in reality for those close to Cameron Blair, there are no words to convey their emotions.

This terrible loss of life in such a horrendous, callous and disgusting fashion is incredibly sad and distressing and unfortunately it has breached the doors of the Express with the affect on one of our writers. Due to the type of person and Editor I am, I have found this particularly poignant and I am left angry and upset, perhaps given that I see our team of excellent writers as a family, of whom I care for deeply. Alas this is why I believe I have found it so difficult to put words onto paper because there are simply, no words.

All we can hope for is that justice is served and that those responsible, no matter who they are, face the highest levels of severity for their actions. The people of Bandon Road and students from all walks of life in Cork must now stick together more than ever and remain in solidarity for those who have lost so much. The thoughts of mine and the rest of the us here at the Express are with all those who knew Cameron in Ballinascarthy, Bandon Grammar, Bandon Rugby Club, his friends and of course his parents and brother. Rest In Peace Cameron.

In this week’s paper we highlight the upcoming election, react to the events surrounding the RIC, remember two broadcasting legends and much more. Make sure to pick up your copy and check us out on social media, particularly as we ahead towards student elections!

Until next time, Take care, Ciaran.

editor@uccexpress.ie

How to Learn to Draw

Writes Samantha Calthrop, News Editor Spoilers: I can’t actually teach you how to draw right now. I can draw, and I’d like to teach you, but this is my editorial, and I’m reasonably sure my visual influence here is limited to that photograph of me over there, the same one that’s always there. I can, however, give you some advice on how to learn everything else. Bear with me.

I’m guessing many of you made New Year’s Resolutions, and I’m guessing a lot of those involve taking up some new thing. I guess it’s exercise for many, but it’s a hobby for some— drawing, programming, writing a page a day, what have you. I do what many people would like to learn to do: I draw cartoons and comics and do it well enough that at least some people are foolish enough to pay me to do it. So I’ll outline how I learned to draw, and you can just substitute in whatever it is you want to learn to do. (Unless it’s something like, “love yourself”, or “stop falling in love with crap guys”. Out of my league.)

I had this conversation with my boyfriend, who remarked that learning to draw as an adult is a terrifying process. Certain people can draw and others can’t, and there’s such a long learning curve between learning to draw and being able to draw, and it feels so bad to have started drawing something and to have it never go right. It’s such a long road to travel to get the point where you can make something you’re happy with, and that’s a daunting thing to hang over you when you’re just at the start of the How To Draw book.

Here’s the key thing: if you want to learn to draw, you have to want to draw. You can’t just want the ability to generate good drawings, wherever you like. You can’t like the idea of drawing. You have to find what you like about the process of holding a pencil and making shapes, and then hold on to that thing. And if there is nothing about drawing, nothing whatsoever, start to finish, that you enjoy it enough to want to do it again…Why do you even want to learn to draw?

There’s plenty of sentiment around right now, I’m sure, saying that you just write something every day, no matter what. Or you just force yourself to fill a page of your sketchbook every day. Whatever. It seems like that’s very effective advice for either learning to draw or a very good method to… beating yourself up for not drawing every day.

Don’t worry so much about improving yourself this new year, okay? I think you’re doing just fine as you are. Follow your bliss, keep it real, and don’t forget that you have an editorial to write several hours after your deadline.

news@uccexpress.ie #uccexpress

Samantha

Issue 7| Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express Cover Story Continued....

“We will be continuing a public campaign in the coming weeks to support Hamza and the Khan family’s case to remain in Ireland. We call on all public representatives, including current candidates for election in Cork city, to support us.”

The announcement of their deportation order’s reversal was welcomed by UCC and Edmund Rice officials, although social media has been skeptical of Minister Flanagan’s motives in the wake of the general election.

The solidarity display last Tuesday attracted a modest number of students, with around 100 gathered by 2pm. It was attended by national media, as well as President O’Shea, Director of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Unit Karl Kitching, and UCC Administration staff member Gary Hurley, who helped organise the event.

Students and staff chanted, “Justice for Hamza, justice for the Khans!” and, “One race, human race!” for gathered photographers.

“Hamza is studying here and it’s all going incredibly well, and the idea of sending him home at this stage is shocking, and not something that we want to stand by and allow here at UCC,” said Gary Hurley, speaking at the event. “We stand up for our staff, we stand up for our students, and we want the best for them. That apples to Hamza, who is very happy here.”

Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in UCC, Karl Kitching said, “We’re a university of sanctuary. We support people who are seeking sanctuary, who are seeking asylum. Hamza is a sanctuary scholar, which means he is part of an undergraduate scheme to

support asylum seekers. When an asylum-seeking student’s ability to continue their studies is put at risk like this, we have to come out and show support.”

President O’Shea echoed these sentiments, pointing to Hamza’s high academic achievements.

“We’re very, very supportive of Hamza, he is a fantastic student, as he demonstrated at his school. he is doing reality well here. If he is removed from Ireland, he loses his scholarship. He won’t be able to continue in third level education. It’s disruptive, to him and his family, who’ve suffered so much. We are a global university, we want to attract students from all over the world, and those who seek to learn here should be given the opportunity to learn here. We chose Hamza because he is a fantastic student, and he would be a great benefit to Ireland. He would give back more than he consumes with this scholarship, he would give so much back, culturally and economically, to society.“ There are currently 7000 people in Direct Provision across the country, with an average waiting time of 24 months before they are granted either leave to remain or receive a deportation order.

Some remain in the system for up to 12 years. “My own personal view is that Direct Provision is inhumane,” said Mr Kitching, “Deportation is inhumane…

These people should live in communities like everyone else.”

When asked if he had a message for the students supporting him, Hamza said, ““I would like to thank them I really appreciate the support. I have no words to describe the support, it is priceless...I realy love them. That’s all I can say. I really love them.

Thank you so much for all they are doing, it means a lot to me.”

News

3

BT Scholarship Extended Writes Samantha Calthrop, News Editor

Just before the 56th BT Young Scientists Exhibition, the Irish Universities Association (IUA) announced two additional scholarships to be available to winners.

Since 2015, entrance scholarships to seven NUI universities have been awarded to winners of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, with over 40 students having received the awards since their beginning in 2015.

Two more scholarships of 1000 euro have been established for the overall individual and group runner-ups, bringing the total of winnable scholarships up to six.

Lewis Purser, the IUA Director of Learning, Teaching and Academic Affairs, said, “The university scholarships are designed to encourage and support the participation by ambitious groups and individuals across our post-primary schools in all fields of science and technology, so important in addressing the major societal challenges which Ireland and the world are currently facing.”

The BT Young Scientist Exhibition was founded by two UCD professors, and has since risen to prominence among Irish second-

ary school students and internationally. Winners also recieve a cash prize in addition to the available entrance scholarships.

Two transition-year students, Cormac Harris and Alan O’Sullivan, won first prize in this year’s exhibition with research into gender bias in young children. By surveying 356 children between 5 and 7, they found a significant trend of gender stereotyping, particularly in young boys. Runners-up include projects on LDL cholestrol and the effects of smartphone usage on mental health by Oscar Despard and Ava Hynes respectively.

“The BT exhibition is one of the finest examples of organisations working together on the shared goal of encouraging school students’ interest in science and technology,” said Shay Walsh, the managing director of BT Ireland. “We are incredibly indebted to the universities for providing entrance scholarships to 40 students since 2015, and today’s expansion announcement is a further boost to the positive impact we can have on young peoples’ education and lives.”

In This Issue....

Features RTE Mourns the Loss of Media Heroes Food & Health The Saucy Seven...For €7 or Less Film & TV Cats: The Cinematic Equivalent of Drinking Bleach Gaming Speedrunning, a Gaming Art Form

Page 9 Page 19 Page 20 Page 30

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News

Issue 7 | Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

General election called for February 8th

Writes Samantha Calthrop, News Editor Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced that a general election will be held on Saturday February 8th.

It takes place four years after the 2016 General Election, which elected the Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil alliance that currently heads the Dáil.

Writes Samantha Calthrop, News Editor

This is the first election since 1918 to be held on a Saturday. “I do so knowing the inconvenience to families of a polling day on a weekday during school term - time off work, lost income, increased childcare costs,” said Leo Varadkar, “I also want to make it easier for students and those working away from home to cast their votes.”

Fine Gael’s popularity has suffered following the RIC celebration controversy, where the party insisted on supporting a commemoration of lives lost from the RIC during the Rising, against the advice of an advisory committee. Fine Gael Ministers Simon Harris and Eoghan Murphy have also suffered in popularity, as the issues of the healthcare and homelessness crises have been widely documented and condemned during their term. Eoghan Murphy, Minister for Housing, has been the target of criticism after a homeless man was severely injured in Dublin, when an industrial vehicle attempted the move the tent he was sleeping inside. Eoghan Murphy later removed one of his election posters from the site where the man was injured.

A motion of No Confidence was also signed against Simon Harris shortly before the date of the election was announced. The Social Democrats, Green Party, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have all formally launched their campaigns at the time of writing, all largely concerned with the key issues of housing, health, and the environment.

In particular, Leo Varadkar pointed out that Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher plans to vote against the The EU Withdrawal agreement, saying, “Thankfully Fianna Fáil hasn’t much influence in Europe.” Fine Gael also promised to address healthcare, homelessness and childcare cost issues.

Flu and MMR vaccines available for UCC students

Cases of mumps are rising in universities and colleges across the country, with 132 reported cases last week.

The HSE has urged students to check their vaccination status and receive the full dosage of the MMR vaccine.

Fianna Fáil largely focused on blaming Fine Gael for the problems of the past five years, with Michéal Martin stating that Fine Gael claimed they could not address problems with homelessness and healthcare because they were handling economic issues.

He described a Fine Gael government as “more of the same for the next five years,” and described Fianna Fáil as “campaigning for change.” He also criticised “silly attacks” on the topic of the EU, saying Billy Kelleher was voting out of concern for Northern Irish Citizenships.

Other parties have been quick to blame the current FG/FF coalition for current social issues.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald accused FG/FF of “defending the status quo”, and promised housing reform, rent freezes and a lower retirement age, among others. When asked about Fine Gael’s new campaign, she said, “I think most people are dealing with the entrails of Fine Gael’s past and their past performance… I think it is very difficult to convince us or anybody else that Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael will do anything differently than they have done before.”

The Green Party have released a manifesto under the slogan, “Want green, vote Green”. Party leader Eamon Ryan stated, “We

want to change the entire transport system, energy system, industrial system, waste system, food system - for the better - to tackle the climate & biodiversity crises we face, and ensure that delivers social as well as ecological justice.”

People Before Profit tweeted that people should “vote to break the cycle of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil”, focusing particularly on ecological and homelessness issues.

Labour leader Brendan Howlin has promised more social housing and affordable homes if the party is to be elected into a coalition. The Social Democrats have launched their campaign with focuses on housing, health and transport. At their campaign launch, the Social Democrats twitter posted, “The solutions are simple. The Social Democrats have them, it’s in social democracy; it’s in building for the future.”

Aontú, lacking any state funding, have launched a private crowdfunding campaign to fund their running for the next Dáil after they failed to win a single seat last time. Opinion polls suggest that political opinions are in much the same place they were in 2016, although the Green Party have experienced a surge in popularity recently. The new Dáil Éireann is set to meet for the fist time on Thursday February 20th.

Many 15 to 30-year-olds are prone to Mumps, which requires two doses of the MMR vaccine to provide full immunity. Free MMR vaccines are available from the UCC Student Health Centre for students who have not completed the vaccine program.

Influenza rates are also rising, with flu season set to last several more weeks.

Free influenza vaccines are available for vulnerable students at UCC. Reported cases of mumps quadrupled in 2019, likely due to low uptake of the MMR vaccine.

Information on these can be found on the Student Health Centre’s website, https://www.ucc.ie/ en/studenthealth/flu/.

Issue 7| Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

News

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RIC Farce and Stormont Success Highlight Contemporary Divisions Writes Ciaran Dineen, Editor-in-Chief

It took just 10 days into 2020 for two incredibly significant moments to occur on the green fields of this Island, reminding us all that we are far from ‘united’.

Plans for a controversial commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) were deferred by the Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, following a significant backlash from much of the public and other political parties.

The Government had been forced into a corner and had no alternative but to concede to a sobering U-turn, having seemingly misread public opinion on the matter, not ideal preparation heading into an election to say the least.

Throughout the debacle Fine Gael, headed by the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, have remained resolute over their stance on the now postponed event. Nevertheless, despite this solidarity the executive only have themselves to blame as it was later revealed that a list of commemorations for 2020 made its way to Cabinet before the Christmas break, but that there was no mention of the RIC event. Subsequently Mr Varadkar somewhat reluctantly admitted that “perhaps things could have been handled differently”. Upon the announcement of the event, which was due to take place on the 17th of January, the Government and Minister Flanagan were immediately criticised by vast swathes of the public, with many suggesting

that this highlighted a failure to understand public sentiment.

The RIC were established in 1914 and operated with around 10,000 officers until 1921. While many of those that were a part of the force would have identified themselves as being Catholic and Irish, the RIC’s link with the Black and Tans has damaged their reputation. 100 years later it seems that many Irish people have not moved on and still hold the officers and organisation with contempt. Minister Flanagan later said that he felt the commemoration was “the right thing to do”, suggesting that it is important to recognise the Irish people who served, even if they did so to protect British occupation of Ireland.

Up the road in Belfast there was much better news as it emerged that after over 1000 days of absence, Northern Ireland would finally see a Government form in Northern Ireland. Included in the negotiations was An Tánaiste, Simon Coveney, who continues to maintain his credible record in office, spoke to the Andrew Marr Show following the announcement on Sunday morning. He was keen to make the important point that this was a very important moment for relations between parties in Northern Ireland and with the wider United Kingdom.

A resolution through compromise seemed to be key and Mr Coveney suggested that this was the only

way to achieve “true reconciliation in Northern Ireland”. He was also quick to dismiss the observation made by the host, Marr, who suggested that the DUP no longer had any alternative, following the results of the UK General Election. The Tánaiste was intent to get his message across on the situation before being cut-off and he went on to say, “I’ve been on your show a number of times over the last few years and most of the time we’ve been talking about tensions and differences between the UK and Ireland. Can I just say this weekend we are celebrating something that is hugely positive and that both British and Irish Governments have worked together on and we should celebrate that”.

At a time when the future relationship of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK has been so uncertain following Brexit, this triumph in Stormont should be celebrated.

However, with Ulster Unionists criticising Minister Flanagan for his back-track, the champagne has gone back on the ice, perhaps indicating that we remain far from ‘United’. Speaking to the University Express was Dr Anthony Costello, from the Department of Government in UCC. Dr Costello, who has interests in Northern Ireland and conflict resolution, responded to comments made by the Taoiseach on how the reaction to the event potentially damages prospects of a ‘United Ireland’.

He said, “I believe our nation needs to reflect deeper on what a United Ireland actually means.

It is near impossible to envisage a United Ireland where we could claim to peacefully integrate with Unionists, when we can’t even accept a mere commemoration for those many men of the nation who served in a colonial police force nearly a century ago. If the word traitor still hangs over the graves of RIC men, then what word will hang over the heads of living ‘Unionists’ in a United Ireland?” The response reveals that there remains deep cultural divisions on the island and when this was suggested to Dr Costello he replied, “I think that if a United Ireland became a reality anytime soon, ‘true unity’ would be confined in a geographical and constitutional sense only. Here in the Republic, reactions toward the commemoration tells us that the complexity of our political history still divides our people.”

As the days have past it has become clear that this was a ‘solo’ effort by Mr Flanagan, one that he and his party could rue when it comes to the ballot box in just a couple of weeks, with opinion polls showing that the incident has been disastrous for Fine Gael. However, given the hatred emanating from social media in particular for the RIC, and the failure in any way to consider their independence from the Black and Tans, perhaps there are more to blame than just Minister Flanagan.

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Features

Issue 7 | Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

Unanswered: Jo Jo Dollard Part 1 Writes Roisin O’Donnell, Features Editor ‘Fears were openly expressed ‘Fears were killer openlywas expressed that a serial operatthat a serial killer was ing, either alone or withoperatother ing, either alone or with like-minded predators, in another area like-minded predators, in an area of the country where instances of of the country where instances of female disappearance had befemale had been become so disappearance common that it had come so common that it had been dubbed the ‘Vanishing Triangle’.’ dubbed the ‘Vanishing Triangle’.’

Alan Bailey, ‘Missing, Presumed’.

Alan Bailey, ‘Missing, Presumed’.

the payment from the post office at Harold’s Cross. The journey to and from the Callan was a long one, this was partly because of the wait time between buses. Once Jo Jo had collected her money, she met up with friends she had made around Dublin, taking advantage of being stranded in the city. She spent most of her day in Bruxelles, a pub in the south inner area The unsolved disappearance of Jo of the city. One of her old Dublin The unsolved disappearance of Jo friends worked there as a barman.

Jo Dollard was followed Imelda Jo Dollard was followed Imelda Keenan’s disappearance on 9th She sat up at the bar chatting to Keenan’s onJo9th Novemberdisappearance 1995. This made Jo him. The pub regulars drifted in November 1995.

This made Jo Jo and out joining the conversation. the sixth member of the Vanishthe sixth member of the Vanishing Triangle. Josephine “JoJo” ing Triangle.

Josephine Dollard, (sometimes spelt“JoJo” DullDollard, (sometimes spelt ard), was 21 years old whenDullshe After lunchtime, someone else Jo ard), was 21 years old when vanished. Her disappearance she be- Jo knew entered the pub. An unvanished. disappearance gan with aHer normal day just likebeso named man who she had spent gan with a normal day just like so her last few months romancing many other nodes of the Triangle. many other ofofthe Triangle.

The day gavenodes no hint what was to in Dublin with. It was not as awkThe day gave no hint of what was to ward as seeing an ex usually is. Jo come and provides no answers come and provides no answers to Jo welcomed it. And after a few the who, whys and hows of the case. the who, whys and hows of the case. drinks, their old fondness of each other started to grow back. A hoBefore this, Jo Jo had spent two tel room was booked under their Before Jo Joashad spent two names. Jo Jo had planned not to years inthis, Dublin a beautician years in Dublin as a beautician student. She lived with her best return home that night. Long afstudent.

She Cullinane. lived with Together her best ter the last bus of the day, the six friend Mary friend Mary Cullinane. they struggled to keep upTogether with the o’clock bus, had left the terminal they to Dublin keep upand withtheir the the man’s girlfriend arrived at the costsstruggled of living in costs of living in Dublin and their course fees. Temporary waitress- pub. She was less than happy to course Temporary ing did fees. not make enoughwaitressmoney. see Jo Jo. The man had been living didfactors, not make enough These along with money.

Jo Jo’s ing with this woman at the time.

These factors, along with Jo’s A fight ensued between the coufailed romance with an Jo Amerfailed romance with an American, influenced the pair to re- ple and ultimately ended with the ican, influenced the pair to re- man going home with his girlturn to Callan, County Kilkenny. turn to Callan, County Kilkenny.

This was the place that Jo Jo had friend. Jo Jo, now getting hazy This was thatsafe.

Jo JoEven had with drink and probably highly grown upthe in place and felt grown and leaving felt safe. though up sheinwas theEven big annoyed, was stranded in Dublin. though was leaving city andshe returning to the the landbig of city and returning to the land of hills and potholed back roads, Jo hills and potholed back roads, Jo Jo was happy with this fresh start. She headed to the bus terminal Jo was happy with this fresh start. looking for a bus to bring her closer to home. At 9 pm, she decided She was enthusiastic about re- to take the last bus of the night as She wastoenthusiastic re- far as Naas and hitchhike back to turning her siblingsabout who she turning her siblings who Her she Callan. Jo Jo fell asleep on the bus shared atoclose bond with. shared a close bond with.

Her and woke up to the driver telling siblings made up her family. siblings made up her family.

Her father had died while her mother her to get off. The bus had arrived father had diedwith while her mother was pregnant her.

When Jo in Naas around 10 pm. Off of the was pregnant with her.

When Jo bus, she hitchhiked a lift to KilculJo was ten her mother then passed Jo was ten her mother then passed away. Due to the tragedy, Jo Jo was len. Still a long way from Callan. away. theolder tragedy, Jo Jo was raisedDue by to her siblings and The male driver advised her to raised by her older their siblings and give up on the journey for tonight was passed between houses. was passed between their houses. and book herself into a hotel. Jo Jo November the 9th was social wel- decided to continue hitchhiking November theday.

9th was wel- when the driver could bring her fare payment Jo Josocial travelled fare payment day.

Jo Jo travelled to Dublin using the bus to collect no further. She had already startto using thethe buspost to collect theDublin payment from office ed the journey there was no point

in stopping. She next hitched a lift from a man going to Moone which meant Jo JoShe stillnext washitched not halfway in stopping. a lift to Callan.

By now it was 11:30 pm. from a man going to Moone which The driver her offnot at ahalfway phone meant Jo Joleft still was booth.

It was the only source of to Callan. By now it was 11:30 pm. light on the deserted street.

She The driver left her off at a phone went thethe phone booth.inside It was onlybooth. sourceShe of left widestreet. enoughShe to lightthe ondoor the open deserted stick thumb out of itbooth. hoping to went her inside the phone She catch another lift.

She rang Mary left the door open wide enough to in Callan, telling stick her thumb outher of itwhere hopingshe to was.

Numerous cars passed her. catch another lift. She rang Mary According statements, the drivin Callan, to telling her where she ers now wished they had stopped. was. Numerous cars passed her.

Jo Jo seemed calm whenthe talking According to statements, drivto Mary on the phone.

She filled ers now wished they had stopped. her friend in oncalm the news had Jo Jo seemed whenshe talking heard at on thethepub.

She She stopped, to Mary phone. filled she told Mary to give her a minher friend in on the news she had ute.

Mary could hear the phone heard at the pub. She stopped, booth’s door to shutting. moshe told Mary give her Aa minment later, Jo Jo returned to the ute. Mary could hear the phone phone.

She quickly told Mary ‘I booth’s door shutting. A mohave lift. I’m off.’ and hung ment alater, Jo Jo returned to up. the phone. She quickly told Mary ‘I have a lift. I’m off.’ and hung up.

And that’s it. The last known whereAnd that’s it. The last known abouts and contact from whereJo Jo. abouts and contact from Jo Jo. A witness would later come forA witness latershe come ward and would say that sawfora ward and say that she saw a woman getting into a typical woman getting into a typical 1990s car, a Toyota Carina.

Oth1990s car, a Toyota Carina. Other witnesses told Gardaí they er witnesses told Gardaí they had seen a ‘strange’ female walkhad seenstreets a ‘strange’ femalevillage. walking the of Moone ing the streets of Moone village.

ing everyone Jo Jo knew. She then rang the Gardaí. Her worry grew, she something wasgrew, not rang knew the Gardaí.

Her worry right.

She called the Garda stashe knew something was not tion more the times until stashe right.several She called Garda felt her report wasn’t being taken tion several more times until she seriously.

She called perfelt her report wasn’tthere beingintaken son.

Three days after the missing seriously. She called there in perperson’s report a Garson. Three days was afterfiled, the missing da investigation was launched. person’s report was filed, a Garda investigation was launched.

The Gardaí, Army and Defence teams workedArmy together search The Gardaí, andtoDefence the main roads for any clues that teams worked together to search would lead themfortoany Jo Jo. It that was the main roads clues not long before the public startwould lead them to Jo Jo. It was ed their conclusions.

The notmaking long before the public startnames of the two drivers became ed making their conclusions. The public knowledge and a became part of names of the two drivers public suspicion – this was only public knowledge and a part of encouraged by the media.

The public suspicion – this was only second driverbywas politician’s encouraged the amedia.

The son.

He was the focus of the rusecond driver was a politician’s mours. public believed he son. He The was the focus of the ruhad taken Jo public Jo andbelieved had buried mours.

The he her in his father’s backyard.

Othhad taken Jo Jo and had buried ers she was in a drainher believed in his father’s backyard.

Othage ditch that was being cleared ers believed she was in a drainat time and others conagethe ditch that was beingthe cleared crete foundations of a cattle byre. at the time and others the concrete foundations of a cattle byre.

Mary Phelan, also Jo Jo’s sister, the Garda Marycalls Phelan, also investigation Jo Jo’s sisinto her sister’s disappearance, ter, calls the Garda investigation ‘a complete mess’. disappearance, This comment into her sister’s could easily be applied to other ‘a complete mess’. This comment members of the Vanishing Tricould easily be applied to other angle such as Eva Brennan and On the 10th of November, Mary members of the Vanishing TriOn the 10th of November, Mary Keenan.

TheBrennan closest thing arrived for work at the local pub Imelda angle such as Eva and arrived for work at the local pub we have to an answer is theories in Callan. She was starting to grow Imelda Keenan. The closest thing in Callan. SheShe washad starting grow and possible witnesses.

They have concerned. nottoheard we have to an answer is theories concerned.

She had not heard weightwitnesses. than theThey rumours anything else from Jo Jo. When more and possible have anything else from Jo Jo. When about burial sites.

But what can she learnt Jo Jo did not show up more weight than the rumours she learnt Jo Jo did not show up be deemed reliable?

These acfor her shift at the pub that con- about burial sites. But what can for her shift at the pub that conwill be explored in the cern grew to fear. She contacted counts be deemed reliable?

These accern grew to fear.

She contacted next instalment of Unanswered.

Kathleen, one of Jo Jo’s sisters. counts will be explored in the Kathleen, one of no Jotime Jo’s in sisters.

Kathleen wasted ring- next instalment of Unanswered.

Kathleen wasted no time in ing everyone Jo Jo knew. Sheringthen

Issue 7| Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

Features

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A Little Friendly Competition Never Hu...Wait A Second Writes Caoimhe Coleman, Staff Writer

“A little friendly competition never hurt anyone”, or so the saying goes. The emphasis here should definitely fall on the word friendly. Remove that one word and it makes all the world of difference - but more on that later. Competition can, in fact, hurt, maybe not always physically but definitely emotionally and mentally.

results. The classic “what did you get?” was a common phrase in my repertoire. I’ve always loved school and admittedly I’ve always been a high achiever, which probably makes me biased in my affection. Nevertheless, I found I needed that validation of comparing my grades to others, constantly. I would get a weird kick out of the fact that I got the secNow don’t get me wrong, compe- ond or third best grade in the tition is normal and healthy to a class and for some reason, I recertain degree. It is probably root- sented the person who got that ed in some remnant of our prim- top spot. As I grew a little older, itive survival instincts. You know I realised I tended to resent this what they teach you in Leaving person even more so if it was a Cert Biology about plants and an- fellow female classmate. Not very imals competing for space and re- feminist of me, I know. This begs sources? Something like that. But the question: why do we pit ourin reality, we aren’t primates any- selves against other women like more and for most of us, thank- this? Shouldn’t we be boosting fully, survival isn’t something each other up instead of secretwe need to worry about 24/7. ly wishing failure on our classmates? If we look at it simply on a Here’s a confession: I can put my human level, it’s immoral. I defihand on my heart and honestly nitely should have, (and probably say that I was one of those kids in have), gotten some bad karma primary school who used to bad- for all those negative thoughts ger my classmates for their test I had surrounding other people

and their academic achievements.

In secondary school my tendency to inquire of others exam results definitely subsided a bit and I found the tables had turned on me.

I had one friend specifically who was very competitive and could be seen visibly seething at the success of others over her. Again, I noticed it was more so with girls than with boys. This toxicity wasn’t long rubbing off on me and on others.

I often found myself spiralling in the triangular abyss of jealousy, self-doubt and validation.

Thankfully, now that I’m in college, I’ve settled quite peacefully with the fact that my grades are mine and mine only. I can share them if I want to, but more often than not, I don’t, and I don’t ask other people about theirs. Here’s the cool thing about college: it has none of the homogeneity of primary or secondary school.

Sure, myself and a friend may write an essay on the same novel but we will each have our own

unique approach. I’ve discovered my niche topics to be Gothic Literature and Horror. My friends’ interests vary from Old English to Modernist Poetry. Now, going back to that word friendly.

Competition between friends should be exactly that: friendly, and never toxic or damaging.

Recently, a friend of mine was having an awful time in her job and so decided to hand in her notice. When she successfully found a new job within a matter of days, we (when I say we, I mean the infamous “groupchat” that every friend group has), were all delighted for her. I thought to myself: how nice is it to be a part of something so genuinely encouraging and uplifting? It’s not easy coming to terms with the fact that someone else’s success does not equal your failure. Like any kind of progress or healing, it is also not linear; there are going to be setbacks and difficulties. But once you arrive at a place of self-acceptance, it is a beautiful place to be.

Features

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Issue 7 | Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

The Amazing World of Animals writes Aoife Gleeson and Daragh Brown

Photo Credit: Sadhbh Horan

Has anyone ever read “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle? Yes? Well, for once, so have I! The book was the absolute fascination of my childhood, and caterpillars do seem to be very hungry. For those of you who are avid readers of The University Express, you may remember Daragh and I from the previous issue where we sparked your curiosity of the animal kingdom, (fingers crossed), or at least grabbed your attention with our butterfly shenanigans.

I’d also like to add that no caterpillars or indeed butterflies were actually harmed in the making of this second article. If you have absolutely no idea what we are referring to, pick up a copy of the last edition, if you can find it around campus or source it on the black market, etc. Right, enough about all that, though. You are here for the fantastic facts written by myself and, as per usual, sourced and provided by Daragh, aka UCC’s very own David Attenborough.

And yeds, she is still relishing in the title. To kick off this article, here is our first fun fact for this issue, brace yourselves! Did you know that electric eels are not actually eels, but instead belong to the order of South American knifefish? With that to dwell on, I’d like to officially introduce the second article in our new mini-series on this amazing world of animals. Round of applause please Daragh...sorry, Attenborough.

Ireland is well known for its luscious landscape basking in the

glory of gushing rivers and calm, smooth lakes, even with all the rain and mist and drizzle and fog and Daragh’s luminous wellies.

You get my point. Putting the complaining aside for now, this magnificent landscape can indeed hold a plethora of wildlife. One little guy that has captured my attention is the freshwater pearl mussel. This mollusc can live up to 132 years, (yes, even older than Michael D. Higgins), and can have a maximum shell size of 145mm, (yes, even smaller than myself and Daragh.) However, this species is highly endangered as it can only live in pristine, undisturbed rivers which, unfortunately, are becoming a rarity in Ireland. It is estimated that there has been a 90% decrease in population numbers of the freshwater pearl mussel in the last 100 years, which is utterly devastating.

nation of conservation measures and a mast year for the Rimu tree, which produces the rimu fruit which Kakapos need to breed.

New Zealand is so obsessed with Kakapos that the government assigned one Kakapo, called Sirocco, to be the official spokesbird for conservation. Sirocco has his own special ‘pen’ in parliament and even gets to fly with dignitaries on their private jets! All I can say to this is that if environmental science doesn’t work out for me, I will be officially moving to New Zealand and becoming a Kakapo.

I can safely say that Daragh will end up joining me on this quest.

Has anyone ever heard of the megafauna that roamed the planet thousands of years ago? As their name suggests, these animals were very large indeed. Giant sloths were part of this group.

Modern sloths are well known The Kakapo is another highly en- for their slow, carefree nature. dangered species that lives life However, approximately 10,000 in the slow lane. The Kakapo is years ago, giant ground sloths a nocturnal parrot found in New that lived in Patagonia were 3m Zealand. It is perhaps one of the tall! Their Latin name is Mylodon longest-lived bird species in the darwinii, named after Charles world where lucky individuals Darwin, (who would’ve thought). can live up to 90 years. Imagine Another animal that was part of that! Kakapos are flightless due to this megafaunal group was the being the heaviest parrot species Giant Irish Elk. This species’ Latin the world, with males being in name is Megalocerus gigan2.2kg on average. However, all is teus, which literally translates to not yet lost with this parrot. Al- “big big deer”. In case you haven’t though still critically endangered, already gotten the message, this 2018/2019 breeding rates were deer was one big boi. In fact, it at an all-time high with 71 chicks was probably the largest deer spesurviving to the juvenile stage. cies to have ever lived. It was 2m This was mainly due to a combi- high, 3m long and had an average

weight of 700kg. On top of that, it had massive 3-5m long antlers that weighed approximately 35kg!

Many people don’t seem to know that extinction is a natural process. More than 97% of the species of animals that have ever lived on earth have become extinct, with it being very rare for one to survive more than 10 million years. The average lifespan of a species is 2-3 million years, after which it usually goes extinct for various natural reasons. However, this rate has accelerated since the emergence of humans, especially in the last century. We are now facing a mass extinction crisis with no corner of the planet an exception.

Experts have called this new era “The Sixth Extinction”. For those of you wondering, all the previous five mass extinction events were of natural consequences. Not to turn this article into a gigantic rant, (you are all here for the fabulous facts after all), but we should all take a leaf out of an ostrich’s book.

What am I harping on about now you may wonder? Well, ostriches actually don’t bury their heads in the ground at all! Although, they do sometimes lay their heads flat on the ground. If we lay our heads on the ground and listen to what the planet is trying to say, maybe this amazing world of animals will continue on for millennia.

This is a metaphor of course. Daragh and I aren’t fully crazy...yet!

Issue 7| Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

Features

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RTE Mourns the Loss of Media Heroes Writes Molly O’Rourke, Deputy Features Editor Gay Byrne, Marian Finucane, Larry Gogan. The last few months were ones of significant loss for Ireland’s national broadcaster as it bid a final farewell to three of its lasting legends. Their years of experience, wisdom and professionalism allowed them to become national icons, known for the power of their voices and compassion for their work. With the loss of these three personalities also comes the loss of a generation of broadcasters who helped build RTE up to the stature it holds today. On November 4th last year, the country heard news of Gay Byrne’s passing. Remembered by most for his position as the first Late Late Show host, in which he played a huge role in tackling social issues in Ireland, Gay Byrne tackled issues such as homosexuality, abortion and the Catholic Church. He was, undoubtedly, a legend in Irish broadcasting; with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar describing Gay as “the most influential broadcaster in the history of the State”.

ing Women Today, a radical new show which brought women’s voices to the fore; discussing taboo issues from reproductive rights to discrimination in the workplace. In her role as presenter, Marian drove the movement in opening up the restricted lives of Irish women and their concerns.

Marian’s programme often came under scrutiny from members of the Catholic Church; howThe second blow arrived on Jan- ever her colleagues remember uary 2nd, as news of Marian Fi- her as being “brave when it was nucane’s sudden passing at the hard to be brave”. In 1986, she age of 69, reached us. During her moved to a new, phone-in radio career, which spanned almost five show, Liveline, (a show which decades, Finucane was a champi- Joe Duffy would later take over). on for women’s rights and resided Here, she again used her skills to at the forefront of social change put people at ease, allowing them in Ireland. She tackled social is- to speak their minds on national sues and gave not only the wom- radio. In recent years, her weeken’s angle, but also the human end slot, The Marian Finucane angle, always remaining unbiased Show, was a regular among the and fair towards her chosen top- top ranks of RTE highest listenic. Marian’s deft skills were evi- ership. Throughout her career, dent in her approach to her audi- Finucane’s warm, charismatic ence; she was always aware of the demeanour, combined with her questions that hung on their lips. unwavering professionalism and empathy, allowed her to conduct Having originally studied architec- some memorable interviews with ture in the College of Technology, prominent Irish characters. From Marian moved into media in 1974, her charity-work in South Africa when she was hired as a commu- to her love for her family, Marinity announcer. From there she an Finucane brought a warm, unwent on to co-present a books pro- flappable style to everything she gramme and worked as a report- did, and she will be missed by the er on Day-to-Day, a radio current nation. As former president Mary affairs programme. In these po- Robinson said, Marian was imsitions she showcased her skills, portant because “she was a trailhaving the ability to take a foren- blazer, she was honest….. she sic approach to her topics and al- wasn’t afraid of Church or State”. ways asking the right questions.

In 1979 Finucane started present- With the country still shocked by

Marian Finucane’s sudden death, news of Larry Gogan’s passing was broadcasted on January 7th.

Aged 85, he passed away in Dublin, surrounded by his family who remember him as a fantastic father, husband and granddad; with his daughter saying they had “won the lottery to have him as a Dad”. Gogan’s career with RTE lasted almost six decades, from 1961 to 2019. During this time, he was an icon on our radios, earning the nickname “the man with the golden voice”. Always one for the public stage, Gogan dreamed of becoming an actor from a young age. In his teens he performed at the Gaiety and Olympia theatres, sometimes appearing alongside a young Gay Byrne. This changed in the 1950s, when Larry heard Elvis Presley being played on Radio Luxembourg. He held a huge admiration for the DJs playing the music and was determined to become a DJ himself.

His persistence and ambition eventually landed him a job with RTE in 1961. His inherent skill behind the microphone allowed his career to progress through the ranks of the broadcaster; jumping from radio to television and back again. In the 1970s, Gogan turned his focus back to radio; he wanted to create a new channel for younger listeners who were tuning into pirate stations around the country. His weekly Disc-a-Gogan show was already airing pop and rock songs, but Gogan and other presenters recognised the need

for a dedicated pop channel. From this came RTE Radio 2, which first aired on May 31st, 1979. Later renamed to RTE 2FM, this channel would become Gogan’s home for the remainder of his career.

While the younger DJs took a tongue-in-cheek approach to their music shows, Gogan remained true to his passion for music. He played hits from the charts as well as new, Irish music; often introducing Irish acts to daytime listeners for the first time. One such act that he started with is U2, and he remained good friends with their drummer, Larry Mullen. Changes to his show were made over the course of his career, but one constant remained; Gogan’s famed delivery and uplifting personality. This unassuming friendliness carried over outside of the studio; he is remembered by family and friends as genuine, without fault and always smiling. While Larry Gogan certainly became a celebrity in the eyes of his audience, his commitment to his family never faltered, turning down opportunities in Luxembourg and London to keep his family in Ireland.

With the loss of these three memorable presenters comes the loss of a generation in RTE. They each paved the way for the next wave of hosts, presenters and DJs, inspiring those coming after them and earning a place in Irish history for their charisma, professional prowess and notoriety.

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Features

Issue 7 | Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

Portugal and Drugs: A Guide Up until the mid-1970s, the European nation of Portugal was a drug free zone. The change came with the death of their colonial dictator Antonio Salazar in 1970, who ruled over Portugal and their African Colonies for over 40 years. In the coming years, his death was followed by the subsequent revolution that saw his old government officially overthrown on the 25th of April 1974. It was only after the demise of Salazar and his party’s conservative authoritarian regime that the country saw the introduction of opioids, cocaine and cannabis into the largely naive communities of Portugal’s towns and cities. In contrast to the rest of the world, Portugal had never experienced the counter cultural revolution (characterised by war protest and drug experimentation) of the 1960’s themselves under Salazar’s strict conservative rule.

Following the end of the old establishment and the end of Portugal’s Colonial wars, hundreds of thousands of Portuguese troops began returning home from overseas. This brought more unforeseen problems than Portugal could have anticipated. This was due, to the fact that a great deal of the Portuguese troops had developed serious drug problems, as a result of the trauma they had suffered during conflict abroad.

In the years that followed, Portugal’s drug problems increased exponentially, and rates of HIV and Aids sky-rocketed due to needle sharing and a lack of safe injection equipment for users. To curb these problems, Portugal began using harsh punitive measures to punish those involved in drug use, hoping to arrest their way out of the addiction epidemic. Much like the U.S. model, they began punishing users and addicts with harsh prison sentences, which only added to the trauma many had already experienced in war.

These measures also reinforced the emotionally oppressive, authoritarian sentiment that the citizen population had previously endured under Salazar’s rule.

Families were being torn apart, people were spending years in prison for personal use drug of-

fences, and rates of addiction and HIV were only getting worse.

By the late 1990’s, Portugal had 100,000 problem drug users and over 360 overdose deaths per year, with a population of only 10 million. Statistically speaking, this meant that 1% of the entire country’s population was addicted to drugs (predominantly heroin). And in 1998, reported HIV cases in Portugal were at a record high for the time, with 971 cases or 1 in every 10,000 people. Portugal was at a point of crisis which they’d never seen before, and it was clear they had to take radical action. In that same year with seemingly nothing to lose, the then Portuguese Prime Minister, António Guterres brought together a team of judges, psychologists, doctors and drug addiction experts to convene on what could be done to tackle the growing crisis.

Led by decriminalisation pioneer Dr. João Goulão, they travelled to different countries, interviewed experts in the field and observed how different systems were dealing with the issue of addiction. Be it punitive measures, treatment-based approaches or a combination of the two. What they found by observing other systems was that the issue of addiction was a public health issue and could not be solved by punishing the addicted person. In fact, punishment only exacerbated the problems facing addicts, so they developed a health-based approach instead. And so, after much campaigning, the Portuguese government, under pressure from the public and med-

ical professionals approved the treatment model. And in 2001, personal drug use, as well as possession of personal use drugs was decriminalised in Portugal.

Today in Portugal, once a drug user is caught with a small amount of personal use drugs, the threshold being 10 days-worth or less, they will not be arrested but referred to the Dissuasion Commission. This commission consists of a social worker, a psychologist/ psychiatrist, and a solicitor. Combining their skills and knowledge, the commission make an evaluation based on a thorough psychological and medical assessment, while engaging with the patients’ wants and needs through every step of the process. If the patient is found to have a drug-problem they will be offered treatment, but this is not mandatory, it is up to the patient to decide (treatment is free/government funded). If the patient does not have a drug problem, then they will be offered education on drug use and its effects, and the risks posed by addiction. After many repeat offences the person then may or may not be given a menial fine or community service, but there are no courts and no convictions. Unlike the form of decriminalisation that is currently being proposed in Ireland today, the Portuguese model does not have a limit on the amount of times which the drug user can be reported to the dissuasion committee before receiving a conviction. In Portugal, a criminal conviction is never on the table. Once in treatment, the addicted person is put through a thorough detoxification and reha-

Writes Fergus Damery

bilitation programme. Here they will receive emotional support and counselling in order to get to the root of their addictive behaviours and address the trauma which is causing their addiction. As well as cognitive rehabilitation therapy through group exercise classes, which also helps with their social reintegration. They will also receive methadone treatment throughout the process if needed.

The difference regarding the Irish model proposed, is that, on the third occasion that a person is caught with a personal use quantity of drugs, they will automatically be charged and convicted in court. The first time they are caught, they would, like the Portuguese model, be reported to a dissuasion committee with a board of registered health care workers and professionals. The second time it is left up to the discretion of the individual garda on the case, whether or not to charge the personal use drug offender and send them court.

And again, as before mentioned, the third offence would result in a criminal conviction. Unfortunately, for the person with severe addiction issues, such measures would not offer an effective deterrent. Conditional policies like the one above, fail to recognise that drug addiction is a health problem. And one that is largely out of the user’s control, unless they are provided with the proper support and treatment to deal with it.

Most addicted drug users actually want to stop using but are unable to do so. Such conditional policies also fail to recognise that someone who is addicted is not in a ra-

Issue 7| Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express tional state of mind, and most often does not respond to negative consequences, including job loss, loss of friends and family, and/ or punishment/imprisonment.

Portugal’s system also provides methadone treatment to their opioid dependant patients after their treatment, to alleviate the craving symptoms caused by their dependency. Methadone satisfies opium cravings but does not induce the psychoactive high that heroin does, allowing patients to work a job, and function in family life and day to day living. Now it will be argued that more extensive methadone and drug treatment programs in this country will be expensive and hard on the taxpayer. However, in actual fact, the economic cost on the state due to the symptoms of drug addiction are far more costly than the treatment itself, when you take healthcare, imprisonment and policing into account, not to mention social services. In another study published by the NIDA, it was found that, the average cost for 1 full year of methadone maintenance treatment is approximately $4,700 per patient. Whereas 1 full year of imprisonment, according to the

Vera Institute of Justice costs approximately $31,000 to $60,000 per person. This doesn’t even take into account the massive cost that the public health care system/ taxpayer is met with in dealing with the vast array of health problems that go along with addictive drug use. Ranging from overdose recovery and sclerosis of the liver, to limb amputation and HIV treatment. In a medically reviewed column published by ‘verywellmind’, they estimated, that the cost of illegal drug abuse to the taxpayer in the U.S. was over $193 Billion dollars annually.

Another important part of Portugal’s drug treatment model is its approach to harm reduction.

Although originally implemented in Canada, Portugal soon followed suit when they saw its beneficial results. Harm reduction is an approach which is rooted in practicality and looks at things the way they are. Acknowledging that people in our communities are addicted, whether we as a society like it or not. It is based on the premise that it is better to alleviate the risk that addicted individuals face, pre-recovery and during their recovery, by providing safe facilities for them to use

Features drugs in and safe equipment for them to use drugs with. While also minimising drug use in public places. In Portugal, they have many safe injecting facilities for heroin users (safe injection sites), this again ensures that heroin users have a safe place to inject, and are not injecting in the street, in public parks and public bathrooms. This also avoids the potentially dangerous scenario of people coming into contact with used needles. Portugal also have a mobile syringe exchange programme, where volunteers and workers drive around their communities collecting old needles and dispensing clean needles/syringes to the more marginalised drug users in their cities. And just like in Canada, Portugal provides designated syringe disposal bins in most public bathrooms.

When decriminalisation and its treatment methods were implemented in Portugal in 2001 its drug addiction number has fallen from 100,000 cases to the current figure of 50,000, and most of these are receiving treatment. Yearly occurrences of HIV and Aids have fallen from 1,497 in 2000 to 56 cases in 2012, and have continued to fall since. Most strikingly,

11 overdose deaths have gone from 360 deaths per year, to an average of 30 per year more recently.

That is a 1200% decrease in overdose deaths. The three-strike decriminalisation system currently proposed in Ireland is a step in the right direction, but it will not serve those who are addicted.

The damage that addiction causes to families and communities is at this point undeniable, and the statistics on decriminalisation’s success in Portugal speak for themselves. But until we learn to see the addicted person as a human being, who is struggling with an affliction that is outside of their control, and until we prescribe treatment accordingly, then the current rates of addiction will remain the same and continue to increase. There is no reason why a person who is addicted to heroin or cocaine should be treated any differently to the person who is addicted to alcohol, or any other legal substance that is deemed to be more acceptable. Decriminalisation shows people who are addicted compassion, and it allows them to ask for help without fear and if we give them the space to do so, then they can begin their journey on the road to recovery.

Opinion

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Issue 7 | Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

“Write What You Know” is Rubbish Advice Writes Elisha Carey, Opinion Editor

A brave Tumblr user once wrote, “if we want to call ourselves writers, we have to submit to the mortifying ordeal of actually writing.”

This, sadly, is true.

One day, when I was about 7 or 8, I sat down at a computer, learned how to place my hands on the keyboard, and started writing.

I wish I could say that every day since then has been easy, that I’ve relentlessly pursued my dream of being a writer every chance I got and worked non-stop to improve my writing ability. But, alas, this life isn’t like the flash mob scene from ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ with everyone leaping about happily and carefree, it’s more like the boat scene from ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.’ A goddamn psychedelic nightmare with unpredictable twists and turns.

Like every mere mortal who attempts to pursue their passion of writing I’ve had many a terrible tango with writer’s block and threatened to throw in the towel.

My relationship with writing has always been one of a love-hate nature. I’m quite fickle you see.

I love the feeling of completing something to perfection but find it seldom actually happens.

My writing process involves me working on something for days or weeks on end only to delete it and start again when I inevitably change the focus or subject-matter or simply cease to “like it” anymore. The whole thing is as frustrating as settling down for a good night’s sleep and finally finding the optimum sleeping position only to find one corner of the bed sheet has come off the bed. I’m faced with a difficult or rocky patch in my, (amateur), writing career. I am met with a chorus of “just write what you know” from family and friends.

Boy, if I had a penny for the amount of times, I’ve heard the wise old adage “write what you know”, I’d be richer than a famous 14-year-old on TikTok. It’s a neat and pearly bit of wis-

dom but here’s why it’s wrong….

If the key to writing was already knowing things, we’d all be out of a job.

When I sat down at that computer at 7 or 8, I began writing a “novel” about a girl who travelled through magical portals to some sort of fantasy land where there were princesses and princes and talking animals. Had I ever used a magical portal to travel anywhere before? No. Had an animal ever actually spoken to me before? Unfortunately, no. Did I have any significant understanding of the role both princes and princesses play in a monarchy? Most certainly not.

But that’s the beauty of it. If I had to write about what I knew I’d be extremely extremely limited in what I could write.

There’s an insurmountable number of crazy things going on all over the globe every second of every day. From Trump’s impeachment to Australia being literally on fire for months now. Every day, I’m provided with an endless stream of things I could give my opinion on... if only I knew enough about them. Truth is, I don’t follow politics well-enough to give you my two cents on Brexit or Trump, I don’t watch anything on telly that’s #trending, everything I could possibly say about the climate catastrophe has been

done already and then some. I don’t understand the intricate complexities of the Budget 2020 or the housing crisis or whatever’s going on with our hospital system at the moment and I literally squirm at the idea of picking up the Sports section of the newspaper. But I’m not going to let that stop me from writing about certain issues. I can learn and I will learn, because some things are too important to ignore. My own ignorance frightens me. But if I let not knowing things stop me from writing I’d have never written anything at all. Sure, writing what you already know loads about is easier but the pay-off is simply non-existent.

I much prefer Ruth Gilligan and Colum McCann’s version of the mantra: “write what you want to know.” This is the approach I’ve endeavoured to take during my time here at the Express and I must say I’m most definitely better off for it. Ruth did extensive research into the Irish-Jewish communities in Cork and Dublin in preparation for her fourth novel ‘Nine Folds Make a Paper Swan.’

Ruth wasn’t herself part of the community and therefore knew nothing about it starting out.

The process of writing outside of one’s self was incredibly daunting for Ruth, but she was spurred on by her passion to learn more about this community and her deep empathy for its members.

When it comes to fiction, at the heart of all good storytelling is humanity. By virtue of being a human I believe you already know enough things to write at least a hundred good stories. If you’ve ever had your heart broken so badly that you laid on your bedroom floor listening to Nat King Cole’s ‘Smile’ on repeat for hours or if you’ve experienced the butterflies-in-your-stomach fireworks-going-off moment of kissing the person you like for the very first time, you already have the tools to create characters and situations that resonate with people. Because even if your story takes place in outer space on the moon, or something to that effect, the alien characters are bound to have relationships or thoughts or feelings that in some way mirror our own.

Just like Chef Gusteau from Disney’s epic ‘Ratatouille’ believed that anyone can cook, I believe equally that anyone can write.

You don’t need to know things.

You just need to have an interest in knowing things. It’s that simple. Or at least it should be.

And where you choose to write something that’s going to take copious amounts of research, for the love of God, make it something you’re passionate about.

So, get on it, dudes. That magnum opus isn’t gonna write itself….

Issue 7| Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

Unfinished Business Writes Elisha Carey, Opinion Editor

On the 26th of May 2018, the people of Ireland held their breath awaiting the results of the referendum on the eighth amendment of our constitution. In a landslide victory for the yes campaign, the eighth was repealed by 64.4 percent yes to 33.6 percent no votes.

It is now just over a year since abortion services commenced in this country, yet the abortion issue is not done and dusted.

Far from it. The current legislation is not fit for purpose. People are still travelling to avail of abortion services, those lucky enough to avail of the limited abortion services in Ireland are greeted with intimidating mobs outside the hospital doors as proper provision for safe access zones has not been taken seriously. This is not yet a closed book.

There are clear gaps in the availability of abortion services in the country. So far, only 347 GPs have signed up to provide abortions.

While the HSE regards this as “a good geographic spread”, this figure actually only represents 15 percent of all GPs in Ireland. As well as this, only 10 out of the 19 maternity units in the country are offering full abortion care. Co Sligo is a service blackspot with no providers in the whole of the county.

Women are still travelling. Only now it’s from rural areas to urban

Opinion you consider that a woman only has 12 weeks from the date of her last period there is a danger that many women who sorely need the service will be unreasonably delayed. There are still barriers to access, they are just less obvious.

areas. With the state of the transport system in this country this is no easy feat and can involve multiple buses with expensive fares. On New Year’s Day just gone, an estimated crowd of 100 peoThe mandatory 3-day waiting pe- ple gathered outside the Nationriod is another aspect of the new al Maternity Hospital on Holles legislation which causes difficul- Street in Dublin to voice their opties. There is no medical reason position to the provision of aborfor the requirement, and it creates tion services in this country. The a barrier to access for women who so-called “vigil” featured protesare already travelling from rural tors wielding crosses, small cofareas, pushing them further and fins and posters emblazoned with further towards the strict 12-week unsavoury images and messages cut off. The Irish Council for Civil describing the hospital as a “death Liberties say the 3-day waiting pe- camp”. One man held a sign quesriod does not comply with inter- tioning “5,000 dead, where are national human rights standards the bodies?” The images surfacand that it “reinforces patriarchal ing online from the protest were notions of women as incapable beyond disturbing. Many online of making decisions regarding commentators pointed out that their own health.” For women this was all unfolding outside a in abusive relationships, women hospital where women would be living in remote areas or those in leaving having had miscarriagdirect provision, having to trav- es, stillbirths or after being givel to access abortion care as well en a diagnosis of severe or fatal as having to abide by the 3-day foetal abnormality. Minister for waiting period can create signif- Health, Simon Harris received icant obstructions to their abili- reports of women who had misty to actually access the services carried or were miscarrying, bethey need. A lot of these women ing asked by protestors if they do not have the financial means planned to “murder” their baby to afford two separate doctors’ upon entering and leaving the appointments. When you consid- hospital. The lack of basic human er that hospitals and GP practices compassion here is astounding. will only be operating these services on certain days of the week, the mandatory 3-day wait can easily become a week and when

Even if some of the women visiting Holles Street that day were accessing abortion services, this

13

was likely to have been a difficult and deeply personal choice for them to make, they do not need the added distress of an angry mob greeting them when they arrive for their appointment. These women are simply exercising their legal right to abortion and no amount of scare tactics is going to make the provision of abortion services illegal again.

It is clear from scenes such as these that the abortion issue has some substantial unfinished business. Safe access zones were originally meant to be a feature of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 but when, during the drafting process it emerged this would not be a straightforward endeavour and in the interest of progressing the legislation, legislators decided that the question of safe access would be dealt with in a separate companion piece of legislation to be decided upon in 2019. We find ourselves now in 2020 with no such legislation having been enacted and religious groups planning further protests right outside the doors of our maternity hospitals. The 3-day waiting period is a medically unnecessary barrier to women receiving the care they need, and we should push to have it removed when the Act comes up for review in two years’ time. With the general election mere weeks away, we must make it clear that these are issues we care about so that they stay on top of the government’s agenda.

BYLINE “Second Time” - Lucan Brun

Editorial

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What’s cracking guys, good to have ye reading again and it’s good to be back! Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and is fresh for another semester. It’s actually (probably) my last semester in UCC, which is quite scary, and unfortunately, I won’t really get to enjoy the Hub for as long as so many of ye will. I think it was due to open this time last year, but after a lot of bouncing between homes, it’s great to see that Student Media has finally got such a nice home on campus.

To think that we are entering a new decade is quite scary isn’t it? I can’t quite believe that 2010 is 10 years ago, but I’m not going to even attempt to summarise what’s happened in the last 10 years. Instead, I’m just terrified as to where I’ll be in a decade’s time! 31 is probably the age where I’ll finally begin to accept that I’m an actual adult with responsibilities… Just as in 2010 I don’t think I would have believed that I’d be where I am now, I hope what lies ahead is just as surprising. I hope that whatever lies ahead for any and all of us treats you well!

As always, this week’s Byline section is packed to the brim with some fantastic content. If you’re struggling to find motivation to cook, like me, check out Food & Health for some great recommendations of local eateries. We’ve also got a review of the terribly excellent Cats from Eoghan, and of David Keenan’s new album from Fiona! There’s plenty more to come from Byline this semester and I can’t wait to show you what we have to offer.

At the end of this month, Netsoc members, myself included, will be jetting off to Brussels for a 4-day trip to visit the FOSDEM conference.

It’s been a busy year all-in-all, so I think we deserve the break! It should be an excellent time for all of us. As always, we’re recruiting for Esports in UCC, so hmu if you’d like to take part!

Shout-out to Lucas Brun, former Express Staff and Motley Editor for his excellent Byline Photo, for once an executive decision

by Ciaran to which I made no contention! Also, if you’ve come this far, I’m sure you have an interest in Journalism. This Thursday JournoSoc have their EGM, so if you want a nice way to get involved get on down to that. Details are on their social media.

Questions and complaints can make their way to byline@uccexpress.ie, and don’t forget to register to vote!

Cian McGrath

Gaeilge

Hugh Ó Raghallaigh Mac Gearailt

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Úna-Minh Kavannagh: Aoí Fé Agallamh Scríobhann Hugh Ó Raghallaigh Mac Gearailt, Eagarthóir Gaeilge Iriseóir agus guth láidir i saol na Gaoluinne ar líne is ea Úna-Minh Kavanagh. Rugadh in Hanoi, Vítneam í i 1991 ach is cinnte gur Ciarraíoch í tríd tríd. Uchtaíodh í agus í sé seachtain d’aois agus thug a máthair singil cróga abhaile í go Trá Lí, an áit ina fhoghlaim sí a teanga máithreacha, an Ghaoluinn.

B’in í an Ghaoluinn teanga an tí de dheasca an áit as a tháinig a seanathair: Báile na nGall i gCorca Dhuibhne. Scríobh sí leabhar le déanaí agus tá sí an-ghafa leis an gcuir chun cinn atá i gconaí bainteach le seoladh leabhair.

Thóg sí ábhairín ama amach as an sceidil gnóthach atá aici na laethanta san chun cainte liom.

Chuireas ceist uirthí i dtosach báire fén leabhar. “Tá ag éirí go maith leis” a d’inis sí liom “Ní raibh ach trí mhí agam chun é a chur le chéile agus bhí ana-bhrú orm, ach bhaineas go leor sult as.” Fiú má’s rud é nach raibh ach trí mhí aici is léir go bhfuil an-chuid molta tuillte aici sa thréimhse gairid atá sé tar éis a bheith á dhíol. Fuair sí cuireadh chun labhairt ag an gCéad Féile Litríochta thiar sa Daingean

i mbliana. Is cinnte gur phróiséas faidéalach a bhí ann, ach dhein sí an beart “Tá foighne de dhíth faoina choinne agus caithfidh tú aird choinneáil ar an ngnó.”

Bhí óige suimiúl aici cinnte dearfa ag fás aníos i dTrá Lí mar dhuine ó chúlra neamh-thraidisiúnta Éireannach: “Nuair a bhíos níos óga, cinnte sheasas amach i dTrá Lí” a mhínigh sí dom “uaireanta bhí san deacair domsa a thuiscint toisc go rabhas, i mo thuairimse, cosúil leis na leanaí eile ar scoil.

An t-aon difríocht ná gur duine de dhath mé.” D’fhreastal sí ar scoil lán-ghaeilge i dTrá Lí agus b’in í an t-aon dalta amháin le craiceann donn, rud nár chur isteach nó amach uirthí formhór an ama.“Do chualas rudaí amaideacha cúpla uair fé mo shúile nó caiteadh maslaí cine sa chlós ach bhíos in ann déileail leis.”

D’éirigh sé níos measa nuair a bhog sí go Baile Átha Cliath, a dhúirt sí liom, agus tá sé deacair di bun nó barr a dhéanamh de toisc go bhfuil “sochaí ina bhfuil éagsúlacht chultúrtha againn anois in Éirinn.” Cíonn sí gan

agó go bhfuil “cloch sa mhuinchille ag [lucht an ciníochais] do dhaoine cosúil liom fhéin atá ‘difriúl’.” Is léir go n-éiríonn sí bréan dos na ceisteanna uilig féna féiniúlacht agus den ciníochas leis. “Ídíonn sé an neart atá sa chorp” a ádmháileann sí.

Gan amhras, tá sár-obair á dhéanamh ag Úna-Minh ó thaobh na Gaoluinne de comh maith. Is bhean mhór cluichí ríomhaire í, agus ‘sé an rud a dheineann sí ná go mbíonn sí ag beo-chraoladh na cluichí agus í ag imirt thairis suíomh darbh ainm Steam. Is í Úna-Minh an t-aon dhuine amháin atá a dhéanamh i nGaoluinn binn um an dtaca seo. “Chonacthas nach raibh éinne ag beo-chraoladh ar Twitch I nGaoluinn” a dúirt sí liom “agus mar sin dheineas an cinneadh chun trial a bhaint as.”

Bíonn líon mhór dhaoine ag faire ar na ‘streams’ a dheineann sí, agus is léir gur slí éifeachtach é an Ghaoluinn a chur chun cinn.”

Ba mhaith leithí nithe a bhaineann leis an nua-aois agus an

teicneólaíocht a chur amach ar líne as a teanga dúchas chun rudaí a chur le fáilt don ghlúin óg, is fiúntach é, dar leithí “fiú muna bhfuil toradh le feiscint ar dtús.”

Cruthaíonn Úna-Minh físeáin leis ar Youtube a bhaineann le ábharacha éagsúla ar nós an íostachais agus sealgaireacht feamainne. Is é an sprioc atá aici “stuif neamhghnách a chruthú” atá suimiúl do líon leathan daoine ó chúlraí difriúla.

Tá blag iontach taistil aici lena máthair, ina léiríonn an beirt acu conas taisteal go héifeachtach, ó thaobh an airgid agus an ama de. Tá meas an-mhór ag ÚnaMinh ar an sean-dhream, a máthair agus a seanathair ach go háirithe. Nuair a cheistíos fé na rudaí a d’fhoghlaim siad uathú beirt, d’inis sí liom go raibh “ceann dos na ceachtanna is tábhachtaí” a d’fhoghlaim sí uathú “ná gan a bheith chomh dáiríre píre fé gach uile rud.”

Mhínigh sí nach “gá dhuit é a ligint fén gcroí ort” agus “bíodh meas agat ar do cheannsa”

Úna-Minh agus a máthair Noreen.

Food and Health

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New Year, New… Vegetables?

Writes Katie Kelly, Food and Health Editor

For most of us, the New Year brings New Year’s resolutions.

This is generally a positive thing, as it encourages us to re-evaluate aspects of our lives which we can improve upon. However, the arrival of January can also trick us into thinking that we suddenly have superpowers which can transform every aspect of our diet, health and fitness. This may cause us to make resolutions that can’t be sustained for a week, let alone a year. Setting unrealistic resolutions can cause us to fall at the first hurdle. When it comes to making realistic and sustainable resolutions, less is often more and making a few very small changes to your regular routine can be a lot more effective than making huge changes that can only last a few days.

In recent years, Veganuary has become popular among those who want to try out a vegan diet for the first month of the year.

Last year, 250,000 people signed up to the movement and it is likely that many more participated without signing up. This challenge can provide great insight

into a vegan lifestyle and increase the amount of plants which people are eating. However, it can be a dramatic change in the diet of most people taking part, and can be a bit overwhelming for their mind and body, from the huge changes taking place and the sudden increase in fibre intakes.

Instead of making the huge leap from your regular diet to a vegan diet, a more realistic New Year’s resolution could be to increase your intake of fruit and vegetables by one portion a day. Many of us struggle to reach the recommended 5-7 portions of fruit and vegetables each day and college life can make this particularly hard to achieve. Working a few small changes into your everyday routine can be the easiest way to achieve this, so here are some ideas for fitting an extra portion into your day: • Be prepared - You can only eat what is available to you, so make sure you chuck some fruit and veggies into your trolley when you’re doing your weekly shop. Offers on

fruit and vegetables such as Aldi’s Super 6 can be a great way of keeping variety in your diet. Try not to be overly ambitious when doing your groceries and only buy what you think you will actually eat to avoid them going off.

• Add some extra - When preparing dinners or lunches, try adding one extra vegetable than usual. This could be something simple, such as adding peppers, courgette, aubergine or mushrooms to a curry or Bolognese, or simply adding tomatoes or spinach to a sandwich. Keep an open mind and try different combinations to see what you like and what works for you.

• Make frozen your friend It can be difficult to keep fresh fruit and vegetables for one person without them going off. This is where your freezer can become your new best friend! Try using frozen berries to add to porridge or adding frozen vegetables to your dinner. They’ll always be there in your freezer ready for you to use them and you never have

to worry about them going off, which is ideal for college life.

• On the go - Fruit can make the best snacks for in between lectures or in the library and can be a simple way of increasing your intake.

• Variety is the spice of life - Challenge yourself to try a new fruit or vegetable each week or month. A good way of doing this is seeking out what’s in season or on offer in supermarkets. You might even discover some of your favourite foods along the way without ever intending to.

• Blend it up - If you’re finding it hard to eat fruit and veg, try blending them up to make a smoothie. January usually brings special offers on products such as smoothie makes and juicers, but a standard hand blender can do the job just as easily. Try blending spinach, berries, banana, orange juice and natural yogurt to make a smoothie, or whatever takes your fancy!

Editor: Katie Kelly

19

The Saucy Seven…For €7 or Less Writes Laura A. Edgerton, Ballymaloe Graduate

2020 is ushering in a new era in frugal, foodie-approved nosh with a slight increase from 2019’s Six Under €6 budget. I’ll be serving up seven new food features, the Saucy Seven…for €7 or less. These features will continue last year’s focus on great food, local producers, supporting Cork City businesses and the best way to utilize a small budget.

CoMix Café highlights their ethos in their name, “co” refers to countries of Ireland and Poland, while “mix” highlights how they combine the cooking from these two countries together. The prices at this café are reasonable and all the food is homemade.

They offer breakfast all-day and delicious Polish specialty items like homemade perogies (dumplings) for €6.50. If you’re looking for filling meal for €6.95, try the sausage, fried onions, gravy and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes are creamy, and the fried onions punch up the flavor.

Loving Salads puts the best of Irish produce on colorful display with a changing array of salads to suit different palates.

An outstanding value in the city center is the €5.75 large salad tub, where you get to choose five salads, layered into a large compostable tub from the varied daily options. Typical choices include grains, potato, rice, pasta, and veggie salads all of which come topped with homemade hummus and toasted seeds. This filling and healthy lunch is bursting with flavor and goodness.

Farmgate Café is located on the on the second floor of the English Market and recently celebrated a 25-year anniversary. This café features both a formal lunch menu and a from the counter menu and either option will provide you with a premium seat for people watching at the cafe. There are three sandwiches available at the counter for under €7, each filled with locally sourced ingredients. A hardy choice is the baguette with fresh baked ham and a whopping portion of creamy, smoky Ballinrostig cheese that you can get with either regular or Tabasco mayo for €6.90.

Novecento on MacCurtain Street is an Italian restaurant that prides itself on serving up authentic pasta and pizza. At lunch time they offer a fantastic deal with a massive slice (equal to a quarter of a pizza!) for just €3, with toppings to suit carnivores or vegetarians. Don’t mistake Novecento’s slice size as a matter of quantity over quality, as their rustic charred pizza with tangy tomato sauce is some of the best in Cork.

The Fish Wife doesn’t advertise student specials inside their Grand Parade or MacCurtain street locations but step up to the counter and order the fish of the day student special. For €7 you’ll get fresh, fried fish with meaty chips, or if you’re not a fish person try the chicken or sausage with chips which is also available for the same price. The student deal is available at lunch or dinner with the same pricing 7 days a week.

Café Torino fuses the best of local Irish producers with Italian delicacies. A short walk from UCC, the café offers a classic Italian coffee menu as well as breakfast and lunch bargains. The €3.50 panini bite is much more than a bite; it’s a small sandwich with a delicious olive oil and sea salt dressed side salad. If you’re looking for something to satisfy a bigger appetite, you can get two for just €6. The fillings change daily, but offerings like pesto, organic red peppers and cheese along with Parma ham and Caciotta black pepper cheese (made in Tralee) are often in rotation.

Sonny’s Deli on Albert Road is probably one of the smallest takeaway shops in town, and you’ll often see a queue to get into the tiny shop. Once you’ve made it inside you will be met by a variety of salads, sides, sandwiches and baked goods packed into a compact display area and made fresh daily. Whether or not you’re a vegetarian the €3 mushroom “sausage” roll with walnuts, goat cheese and thyme is worth a taste. The pastry is divine, and the unique filling is bursting with umami flavor despite its (unnoticeable) lack of meat.

Film & T.V.

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Cats: The Cinematic Equivalent of Drinking Bleach Writes Eoghan Creedon, Film & TV Editor

The adaption of famous stage musicals to the big screen has had a mixed history. For every success like Mamma Mia, you have a failure like Les Misérables.

The latest culprit to try its hand at it is Cats. The famous Andrew Lloyd Webber musical has recently been adapted into a film, and it is truly awful. The film directed by Academy Award winning director Tom Hooper is truly a unique cinematic experience.

Cats is a film that should be seen by everyone, but also a film that should be avoided at all costs. Its mind boggling to say the least.

The musical Cats is known for not having a cohesive story as it is based on a series of poems by T.S Elliot entitled ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’. This film stays true to its source material by also not having a cohesive story. The general structure of the film has a character mention a different character, then a song is sung about that character. Then another character is mentioned, and they sing a song about that character. That happens for two hours and that’s the entire film.

That is not an exaggeration.

Faithful adaptions from text to screen are always a difficult task, just look at any video game mov-

ie ever made. However, that is no excuse. Cats had a budget of $95 million. It would be fair to say that at least some of that should have gone to a team of writers in order to create a compelling story, or any story at all. Instead, it can be safely assumed that the majority of the budget was spent on the cast.

The cast for Cats boasts quite a few stellar names. Cats sees legends of the industry Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen take to the screen in what is both of their worst performances in their esteemed careers. Modern powerhouses Idris Elba and Rebel Wilson are joined by the likes of Taylor Swift and James Corden to round up this all star cast.

However, a great cast does not always equal success, and that is an understatement with regards to Cats. There is not one stand out performance from the film. Each performance is just as bad as the next. This film reduces Ian McKellen, SIR Ian McKellen, an actual Knight, to utter the words “meow meow meow meow” in the middle of a song. James Corden sings a song about how fat his character is whilst eating the entire time and is almost never seen again.

Rebel Wilson’s character eats cockroaches with human faces

in the middle of her big musical number. Pop stars Taylor Swift and Jason Derulo (you sang his name, admit it) each sing one song and are never seen again.

Why bother spending all of that money on a star-studded cast if you’re not going to use them?

Cats is visually striking, in the worst way imaginable. The CGI is laughable and horrifying all in one. Whatever little budget was left from hiring the cast was spent on trying to animate human beings to look like life sized cats.

Yes, it looks just as horrendous as it sounds. In the stage musical the actors wear cat suits and cat make up and it works just fine.

It allows you to suspend your disbelief the maximum amount a musical about singing cats can allow you to. There is no reason why the same approach could not have been taken for the screen adaptation. The CGI is unbearably distracting, and the character models are extremely inconsistent. Each character has a human face, human hands and human feet. However, some cats wear shoes for no reason and some cats wear clothes without explanation either. Ironically, all items of clothing seen are made of fur, so it isn’t unreasonable to assume that the cats who wear

clothes skinned their own kind to make a nice coat for themselves.

Not only is the movie painful to watch, it is also painful to listen to. Whatever way the songs were mixed, it led to the vocals being completely inaudible in most songs. Each song is roughly five minutes in length and they take up about 95% of the two-hour run time. Imagine sitting through two hours of straight musical numbers. Not particularly desirable.

Now imagine sitting through two hours of straight musical numbers where you can’t understand anything that is being said, you’re in tremendous amounts of pain, you question your life choices that led you to sitting through this train wreck of a movie and you now find yourself longing for the sweet release of death. That’s pretty much Cats in a nutshell.

Cats gave me not one, not two, but three separate headaches in the space of 90 minutes. It was so bad that I had to step outside for almost 10 minutes just to gather myself mentally and emotionally. This movie broke me on so many levels. I can safely say that Cats is without a doubt the worst film I have ever had the misfortune of seeing.

I give it 10/10.

Editor: Eoghan Creedon

21

Not So Little Women: Review of Greta Gerwig’s Little Women (2019) Writes Holly Buckley

Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the classic novel Little Women may be one of the freshest and wholesome films of the year. To this day, there has been countless adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s well-known novel, but Gerwig’s unique interpretation stands out by a mile. She excels in creating a seamless balance between keeping loyal to the original text and constructing her own individual modern lens. It is amazing how this film makes a novel published in 1868 feel so alive and present in our modern world.

Little Women is a homage to females. The film follows the March sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy, as they transition from childhood to womanhood during the aftermath of the American Civil War. The film encounters their struggles and their relationships are tested. The sisters are determined to live life on their own terms and although they are all different, they are always bound together by love no matter what. What I found most striking about the adaptation is Gerwig’s choice in restructuring the narrative timeline. She takes the story out of its

chronology and consistently cuts between the warm-lit, saturated optimism of the past and the colder oppressive present. Her shots frankly capture the whimsical dreaminess and optimism of childhood and juxtaposes this to the harsher, bleaker adult reality joined hand in hand with societal responsibilities. This is what makes the film so light-hearted and fun while at the same time it tackles gloomier themes like death, class, poverty, injustice etc.

Looking back at older adaptations, Little Women can be played as a romance film for example, others focus on that back and forth, -will they/won’t they? – between Jo and Laurie. This is not a ‘retelling’ but Gerwig’s artistic decision and vision. She enhances the story by pushing certain themes and characters into the spotlight. Hence why her version concentrates on Jo’s ambition to be a writer, Amy’s desire to be the world’s most famous painter, Beth’s adoration for music and Meg’s desire for a family. In a world where women are expected to marry young and wealthy, Gerwig captures this new dimension

of these not so little women and their desire to have a voice and to be heard in a world that mutes them.

There are many notable performances in this film. Gerwig has an extraordinary cast, including names such as Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Timothée Chalamet and Meryl Streep… to name a few. But Ronan’s depiction of the impulsive outspoken tomboy Jo March is both memorable and magnificent. Jo is an unusual character for a book published in the nineteenth century – she’s human. She is rebellious – she uses her passions to defy her oppressive society. When she is pitching her stories to an editor in the opening scene, he tells her that if the stories focus is on women her fate must result in either death or marriage.

For Louisa May Alcott this was sadly a reality, and, in the novel, she writes a husband for Jo even though she states multiple times that she has no desire to marry – like Alcott herself who never married.

Gerwig’s ending is perfect. We are presented with a parallel sequence, one depicting the books ending and secondly, Gerwig’s alternative

where she argues that the real happy ending is Jo’s book being published. Here we see the parallel between Jo and Alcott.

Gerwig cleverly inverts the original ending to become only just part of fiction, she knows that it was not the ending that Jo deserved, for her true love is her novel and her sisterhood. Gerwig makes a powerful statement but also a universally human one. Her ending is both creative and bold, but it is also a serene tribute to Louisa May Alcott.

To end, if you have not seen Little Women yet, I strongly urge you to do so. Although it is a very old text, you will be amazed at its modern spirit. Greta Gerwig’s directing style is amazing and her contemporary twist is bold and refreshing. The cast is amazing, it’s witty, it’s emotional – it is everything HUMAN and more. It is just that uplift that moviegoers need, and I could blabber on but save your time and just go see it…and give Greta Gerwig an Oscar, please!!!

Music

22

Dreaming of Summer Already?

A Compilation of Irish Music Festivals You Should Attend This Year Writes Fiona O’ Connell, Music Editor As we form a collective slump through the doors of the Boole, a little on the plump side from all the Roses and the stuffing sandwiches, and a little on the sleepy side from relentless ‘casual’ catch-ups in the local, it’s difficult to refrain from dreaming of the next break, unrestricted by assignment deadlines and lectures. While it may seem a bit of a stretch to be talking about Summer and all that it brings already, I think it’s important to always have something to look forward to; be it that next road trip, exciting holiday destination, or even a festival. Festivals aren’t exactly on the cheap side nor is travelling to get there, so here is a compilation of our own little island’s top festivals that you should consider attending this Summer.

Body & Soul is one of Ireland’s longest-running and most successful music festivals. Nestled in the heart of the woods, Body and Soul provides a truly unique experience for attendees. What once catered for a very niche market has grown and expanded into an ever flourishing wonderland, filled with art installations, workshops, trucks filled with various global cuisine, and of course, a wide array of interesting indie music acts both from all over the world. Playing host to just under 10’000 visitors last year, Body and Soul has gained a reputation as one of the highlights of the Irish Summer. With a shifting focus between inspiring musical performances, rejuvenation and wellbeing in the form of seaweed baths and wood-fired hot tubs, the festival also places a strong emphasis on sustainability with their banning of single-use plastics on site. Just this year Electric Picnic announced that the Body & Soul arena of their festival would not feature in the 2020 edition of the festival in Stradbally. This was lamented on various online forums and social media as many

Electric Picnic goers saw the area as one of the best features of the festival - in case you needed any more reason to visit the actual festival in its all of its glory.

Where: Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath When: 19th-21st June All Together Now is one of those festivals that feels as if it has been around forever as a result of their hugely impressive global lineup as well as its reputation as one of the most exciting, eco-friendly, and all-round enjoyable festivals this country has ever produced.

In reality this year’s edition of the festival is only its third but is already highly anticipated after the whopping musical performances of the last two years featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, and Fleet Foxes. It is worth noting that the festival has an over 21’s only policy, ensuring a slightly older crowd as well as welcoming families with young children to

enjoy all the festival has to offer.

Sustainability is a primary focus of the festival and has been since it’s birth in 2018. With a total ban on single-use plastics as well as partnerships with Bus Eireann and GoCar to promote the use of public transport and carpooling to the site, the festival organisers are truly doing all in their power to provide an environmentally friendly and sustainable festival experience. While many festivals have begun to limit their plastic use, ATN really does seem like one of the most-forward thinking and progressive festivals in their policies and efforts towards a sustainable festival experience.

Where: Curraghmore Estate, Co. Waterford When: 2nd-4th August If you’re looking to remain within the Cork region whilst still straying from city life, It Takes a Village could be the festival for you.

Taking place in Trabolgan at the very start of the Irish summer, this festival provides a unique experience in that instead of tents, attendees are encouraged to rent a house on site or drive into the festival in campervans providing an extra level of comfort whilst still ensuring the craic-filled campsite atmosphere is maintained. With a significantly smaller attendance than the likes of Body & Soul or All Together Now, ITAV provides a family-friendly experience with a focus on promoting up-and-coming Irish talent; last year the festival played host to Junior Brother and Pillow Queens who proceeded to have incredible festival seasons only furthering their progression as ones to be watched in the Irish music scene. An intimate and entirely one of a kind festival, this one is certainly not to be missed.

Where: Trabolgan, Co. Cork When: 8th-10th May

Editor: Fiona O’ Connell

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Album Review : David Keenan - A Beginner’s Guide to Bravery Writes Fiona O’ Connell, Music Editor

For those unfamiliar, David Keenan is one of those acts who often flies under the radar yet exudes a musical individuality and creativity that has led to the revering of like-minded artists such as Jeff Buckley or Bob Dylan. Whilst this is Keenan’s debut full-length album, he has released four EPs to date, including demos of some of the tracks featured on this album.

Notably, this almost full-hour long debut was recorded in just a week in the Dublin mountains.

Opening with one of the Dundalk native’s most popular tracks ‘James Dean’, this debut feels as exciting and huge as it feels intimate and laid-back. With a single guitar as backing to Keenan’s gorgeous, and massively ornamental vocal style, this track is the perfect opening to the album; introducing us to his genius, whilst hooking us listeners instantly.

‘Unholy Ghosts’ and ‘Altar Wine’ have both been released as sin-

gles in the run up to the release of the album. Both showcasing a different side to the musician; a softer, more tender and vulnerable side, versus a hot intensity both in the heavier instrumental and darker, emotion-fuelled lyrical content of ‘Altar Wine’. There is something significantly Irish about Keenan. This quality can be attributed to many features of his music; the use of the fiddle on almost every track on the album, references to the likes of Irish Rail and his hometown in Dundalk, or perhaps just the sean-nos like, ornamental quality of Keenan’s vocals. Regardless there is something quite endearing about this showcasing of the musician’s heritage and home, whether intentional or otherwise.

Two of Keenan’s most obvious strengths are his storytelling abilities; to tell a tale in both the most literal and metaphorical sense, with an ease that a rare few possess, as well as his capti-

vating way of telling these stories - there’s an urgency in Keenan’s vocals. Intense and passionate, his presence can be felt in each lyric, even down to the simplest of hooks. In one of the most tender tracks on the album, Keenan delivers one of his most powerful lines in its most basic form. ‘Wish me luck, I’m in trouble again. I’m in love with a woman friend’.

While Keenan’s lyrics feel deeply-rooted in his own experiences - the life he has experienced thus far on our small island - there is something hugely idealistic about this musician’s perception of the world. There is something quite endearing about this view, and through this ambitious and quite certainly brave debut, Keenan allows us to see this world through his own two eyes. The same can be said for Keenan’s live shows during which he riles up his crowds, shuns the use of smartphones, and encourages his audience to be present,

reaching out to each other in a fearless pursuit of feeling alive.

A staggering debut, filled with emotional courage, moments of calm that swirl into an almighty chaos are reflected in the Dundalk native’s shouts and screams of rage. One to be watched, David Keenan appears to be part of a new Irish folk revolution of sorts, joining the likes of more traditional Lankum and Junior Brother, as well as Lemoncello and Ye Vagabonds.

Listening to Keenan’s collection of songs feels like a wise old man’s imparting of wisdom, all of which he has collected through his travels and experiences of the world as he saw it. While this may come across as constrained or perhaps superficial from any other twenty-something, Keenan pulls it off with a level of ease and class that can only come from an old soul trapped inside a young man’s body.

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Photos

Issue 7 | Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

University College Cork Campus

by Caoimhe Leahy, University Express Photographer

Issue 7| Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

Photos

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Photos

Issue 7 | Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

Main Campus at a Glance

by Caoimhe Leahy, University Express Photographer

Issue 7| Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

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SEXPRESS

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Sexual Tourism in Amsterdam Writes Caoimhe Battault, Sexpress Editor

Amsterdam has proved an extremely popular destination for many demographics: stag parties, lads holidays and young couples alike. Particularly around this time of year, people are drawn to the centre of Amsterdam to experience the culture as well as the unusual legalities. The city is well known for its decriminalised drug use and sex work. However, currently the government are trying to change this, no longer happy with the crowds and behaviour it draws from The Windows which line the Red Light District.

The history of sex work in Amsterdam is a long one and the city has many attractions surrounding this. Although this work originally centred around sailors who would seek comfort in Dutch women after a long period of time at sea, now the city is streaming with museums surrounding sex,

novelty gift shops, sex toy retailers and live sex shows. This was done on purpose, with the government pouring funding into the tourism trade in order to attract people to the unique culture of Amsterdam. However, they may have been too successful, and are now struggling to keep residents happy as the city becomes overcrowded with tourists. While they have introduced a new “tourism tax,” other measures are being discussed in order to combat certain behaviours in the Red Light District in particular. There are many arguments for and against these possible actions.

Since the legalisation of brothels in the city in 2000, the Red Light District has attracted many people to the area, both customers and gawkers. The windows are plastered with warnings not to take pictures or videos of the

workers, blatantly denying consent to this yet thousands of people every day disregard them.

Drunken men rap on windows like small children at an aquarium and show blatant disrespect for the women, a surprising amount spitting at them. Being behind the windows might feel safer for these workers than being on the street, however its clear that you still need a thick skin to put up with some of the outrageous behaviour. While walking the street, countless times you will encounter sex workers opening doors to tell disrespectful men to leave them or their colleagues alone.

Others may simply disappear into another room when confronted with disgusting behaviour. In the Red Light Secrets Museum, you are advised to consider how awfully these women are treated and what they put up with on a regular basis. They are still

clearly seen as objects to be used, rather than service providers.

Amsterdam’s first female Mayor, Femke Halsema, wants to put a stop to the disrespect tourists have for the cities sex workers.

Halsema doesn’t want to ban sex work completely, but she does want to change it. The city has managed to stop tours which pass through the Red Light District, believing that viewing and commodifying sex-workers to be outdated and unfair. Many sex workers found the banning of these tours worrying as they bring in business “I don’t have to like sex-work. It’s irrelevant.

Because there is a market,” Halsema told Time in October of last year, however the mayor does see a benefit in moving the windows from this area or removing windows all together. She has suggested a sex work hotel where

Editor: Caoimhe battault customers may be screened before purchasing the service. But many sex workers have disputed this idea, with protests being held about sex workers’ rights.

Other suggestions, like covering the windows, create the idea that sex work, although legal, is somehow shameful and should be hidden. “Its not just about tourism, it’s a moral issue,” one sex worker told The New Yorker late last year, “People are saying its no longer of-this-time that sex workers are on display… They say they are put on display like this is not a human being who can think for [themselves].” The threat of these new policies have brought about the creation of groups such as Red Light United, a union for the sex workers of Amsterdam.

This group claims that more than 93% of sex workers are against moving the brothels from this famous area and suggests that any way the government take action against tourism is to take action against sex workers of the country. The sex workers suggest that the government aim to tackle the disrespectful use of photography instead, how-

ever how will this be possible?

With Halsema’s suggestion to remove prostitution from the Red Light District early in her career, many sex workers and unions disregarded this idea as impossible as prostitution would just be forced into a more unsafe and underground environment. This wont work for the city as the mayors aims are to create a quieter life for residents as well as safer conditions for sex workers. It is clear that safe conditions are essential for these women, with violence against sex workers always being a rampant epidemic.

Figures have shown a massive increase in victims within brothels since the legalisation of the sale and purchase of sex in 2000.

These figures went from 228 in 1998 to 1,711 in 2012. Within the Red Light Secrets museum a memorial is in place for the sex workers who have been murdered, and this isn’t a problem isolated to Amsterdam. The risk becomes even higher for transgender and gender diverse workers. Just last year 331 trans people were murdered around the world, Mexico

having 130 of these deaths. It is also argued that there is near to no way of combatting sex trafficking in Amsterdam, with over 90% of sex workers being from Eastern Europe as well as places dealing with immense poverty in Southern Africa and South America.

“While not all of them are trafficked, you can question their free will, because there is a huge need for them to feed their families elsewhere,” Halsema told Time in the aforementioned article.

It seems the question on how to make the life of sex workers safer, while still treating their jobs with respect remains unanswered. It is important that we, as tourists, respect the workers and remember that they are not a tourism attraction nor an object to be spit at, as surprising as that fact might sound. It can be difficult, even for the most progressive and sex positive individual to walk through the Red Light District and not feel like these women are being displayed as things, not service providers. However, is it not more important to listen to these women? What they want and what the believe is right for them?

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The Sexiest Albums of the Decade

Writes Caoimhe Battault, Sexpress Editor FKA Twigs – LP1 (2014) This person exudes a sexual energy unmatched. Loud, tantric artsy sex energy. And this album feels the same way “Pull out the insides/ and give me two weeks/ you won’t recognise her” is the type of lyric that both turns you on and scares you a little. Which is cool.

Rihanna- ANTI (2016) Robyn Rihanna Fenty is the unparalleled sex goddess. Everything the women produces drips in sex. Some of those songs have been scientifically proven to be better than the act of sex.

Don’t look that up, just trust me.

Miguel- Wildheart (2015) Nothing is sexier than a soulful mixture of R&B, psychedelic rock and new wave music. If you don’t believe me listen to “waves” and try fight me on it then.

Janelle Monae- Dirty Computer (2018) This album holds the stunning “Pynk” and “Make Me Feel” and the fact that Janelle continues to create a beautiful conversation around sex is just the cherry on top.

Beyoncé- Lemonade (2017) This one is kind of cheating, I just fine holding men accountable unbelievably sexy.

Gaming

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Speedrunning, a Gaming Art Form Writes Jack Coleman, Gaming Editor

In recent years, video games have proven to be a more flexible medium than anyone could have originally imagined. When Galaxy Game, one of the first coin-operated video games, released in 1971, not many would have predicted the booming and malleable industry that it would eventually spawn. Put simply, gaming has evolved beyond the act of merely playing the game.

Streaming and esports are both huge entities, proving that there are countless ways to express oneself through gaming. A lesser-known form of gaming expression is the act of speedrunning.

Speedrunning is simple in theory, one must finish a game in as fast a manner as possible. However, in practice, there is so much more involved. The ultimate goal of cutting the amount of time it takes to finish the game is efficiently and relentlessly pursued by the game’s “runners”. To hold a world record, one must become a mas-

ter of their game’s quirks like efficient movement, dialogue skipping, and game-breaking glitches.

That last one tends to be what draws people to speedrunning as a spectator sport, watching your favourite games get broken apart in the interest of saving time is a fascinating spectacle. To put into perspective how important glitching can be, we can compare the staggering difference between how long a casual playthrough takes against how long a speedrun takes in a game like Oblivion.

Oblivion is a role-playing game (RPG) so there is an implication that you’ll be able to squeeze a lot of hours out of a single playthrough. Completing just the main quest will likely take a casual player about 10-15 hours. In comparison, the speedrunning world record is a mere 3 minutes & 20 seconds. This incredible time reduction is a result of a well-known “out of bounds” glitch that is present in each of

Bethesda’s games created on the now-defunct Gamebryo engine. If a player rapidly quicksaves and quickloads near a wall, eventually they will be able to force themselves through that wall and out of bounds, allowing them to traverse the map without being bound by the game’s geography. Once this exploit was discovered, the game’s runners began to formulate a route that could make the best use of it.

It’s amazing what you can discover when you access areas the developers never intended you to reach. The end game of Oblivion takes place in the Imperial City’s Temple District, a location within the game. This area is accessible throughout the entirety of the game but it goes through dramatic changes during the climax of the main questline. Using the out of bounds exploit, players discovered that the loading zone that triggers this change is actually a special door which lies un-

derneath a regular door. When a player advances far enough into the plot, the regular door is replaced by the door underneath.

However, using the out of bounds glitch, the player can enter the special door immediately. This triggers the final quest to begin, skipping almost the entirety of the game. 15 hours reduced to 3 minutes in an instant. This is the essence of speedrunning.

Of course, while breaking a game so thoroughly is interesting, sometimes it isn’t very exciting. This is why run categories exist. The no-holds-barred approach talked about above is known as “Any%”, which means reaching the end of the game through any means available to the player within the confines of the game. For some games, this actually isn’t the most competitive category. Oblivion is one of these games. The most exciting and popular category of Oblivion is “No Out of Bounds” which forbids the usage of the

Editor: Jack coleman aforementioned glitch. This run is approximately 25 minutes long and makes use of the game’s other more interesting glitches, making for better and more exciting viewing. Communities create different categories at their own discretion, there may be different leaderboards for completing specific sections of the game, for example.

The pinnacle of speedrunning is undoubtedly the bi-annual Games Done Quick (GDQ) speedrunning marathon which takes place in January (Awesome Games Done Quick) and June (Summer Games Done Quick).

The event aims to bring together the speedrunning community while raising money for worthy causes. AGDQ is held in aid of the Prevent Cancer Foundation and SGDQ is held in aid of the Doctors Without Borders. Both events span an entire week and the attention to production is incredible, with dedicated teams for reading out donations, keeping the live stream running, approving the runs being showcased, etc. An incredible amount of work is put into Games Done Quick,

much of it on a voluntary basis.

Viewers are encouraged to donate through various means. If a viewer donates over a certain threshold, they are entered into raffles to win various prizes, usually for gaming paraphernalia. There are also “bidding wars” where donators can vote for in-game choices, like making a certain decision during the speedrun or naming the main character. The option with the most amount of money donated towards it is chosen by the runner. A famous example of this is the “Save the Animals” or “Kill the Animals” decision which exists in a Super Metroid run. At the climax of Super Metroid, when the base is exploding, the player can free caged animals which saves them from certain death.

This is slower than simply leaving the base (“killing” the animals) so it would never normally be done during a competitive speedrun, but it has been a regular fixture of Games Done Quick for years.

This choice has spawned a bitter rivalry and raised over $1 million for charity over the years.

Games Done Quick has existed since 2010 and has grown gradually over the years. The contrast between the first event which was held in someone’s house in Virginia and AGDQ 2020 which took place at the decadent DoubleTree Hilton hotel in Orlando is stark.

That first AGDQ raised $10,532 which is in no way a small sum of money and is made more impressive by the ad-hoc nature of the event. AGDQ 2020 which ended on January 12th raised a massive $3,155,189, a new record, demonstrating how much the event has grown since it’s inception.

It’s the ultimate goal of most runners to get on the GDQ stage. It’s almost assuredly a thrilling feeling to show the large live crowd and the even larger online viewership the game you’ve put so much work into perfecting. The community’s most dedicated runners have been known to put over 4,000 hours into their main game, that’s almost 6 months of playing time. Speedrunning is commonly compared to esports and this comparison is apt. Speedrunners are competing against one anoth-

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er and need to work very hard to be the best at their game. In many ways, Games Done Quick is like the speedrunning World Championship. Although it’s not directly competitive, one must have a respectable position on the leaderboard to be considered for the marathon and then, during the event, they must perform in front of more people than they ever have previously. It’s not unheard of for a runner to burst into tears after the conclusion of their run, all their hard work spilling forward in an explosion of emotion.

Speedrunning is a very pure medium. Each game spawns a small community of people dedicated to perfecting a game, there is certainly an element of competition but the process is primarily cooperative. By all accounts, the vast majority of communities are very accepting of new runners and are willing to offer any help required, making speedrunning surprisingly accessible despite it appearing complicated and insurmountable. They say there’s a run out there for everyone, all you have to do is reach out.

Fashion

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Making Work-Wear Work for You Writes Katie Burke, Fashion Editor Regardless of what courses you study, or what professions you want to enter, college is a springboard to prepare and launch us into the world of full-time employment. Many of you may enter workspaces where dress codes will be in place and formal wear could be non-negotiable. However, formal wear doesn’t have to be drab and this article is here to show you that you can comply with the formal wear dress code and still have fun with fashion by playing with colour, texture and different cuts.

in big, brash displays; a small change like a tie can be more than enough to liven up your workwear.

Dresses are another great option for your workwear wardrobe, with many shops offering midi-length options that would be appropriate for the workplace.

Also, in comparison to suits, dresses oftentimes have a wider variety of colour and pattern options if you’re looking to brighten up your workwear and introduce something fresh to your style.

Many dresses are versatile to go from summer to winter, with the option to wear a light polo neck underneath the dress if it suits the style when the colder months set in. Easily accessorised with belts, midi-maxi length dresses would be a great investment for your workwear wardrobe.

Colour is one of the easiest ways to play around with your workwear wardrobe as majority of workplaces don’t have any rules in place against certain colours. Sure, if you’re working in a more serious environment, then neon yellow might not be the colour choice for you, but bright colours are not the enemy. ASOS and Topshop are always good shouts for fun suits. From bright pinks to more muted rusts, these colourful suits will be great for your wardrobe as you can pair them with tops in complimenting colours or in different textures such as a ribbed high neck.

If you work in a more casual setting where there aren’t restrictions on the length of your bottom half attire, then a short suit might be the one for you. Still falling under the formal category, these pieces give off a more casual vibe and are perfect for when your workplace gets too warm.

Similar to the more formal suits mentioned above, you can mix these suits with tops of different textures, different patterns or interesting belts. If shorts are too much for you but you still want to mix it up a bit, why not try a culotte style trousers? Still formal and an appropriate length, this cut might be enough for you to feel like you’re still playing around with fashion at work.

Accessories are key to elevating any outfit, but I feel this

If you’re brave enough, then bringing patterns into your work wardrobe can be a great way to have some fun with expressing yourself. Tartans and checks are a great way to bring something new to the fashion table but can still be muted enough if in neutral colours such as greys as they won’t distract too much if you’re working in a highly formal workplace. If you want your prints to be a bit more noticeable then houndstooth and paisley are great shouts. Texture, Texture, Texture!

can be forgotten when it comes to men’s fashion. If you’re working in an especially formal place, then ties are a great opportunity to inject some fun into your sartorial ensemble. Topman have a great selection when it comes to formal wear and they have an equal-

ly great selection of ties. Such an abundance of choice allows you to play with different colours to compliment your suit, decide between patterns such as paisley or polka dot, and even textures such as knits! Injecting fun into your workwear doesn’t have to come

A final way to inject some fun into your wardrobe is the option of a jumpsuit or boiler suit if you’re workplace clothing rules don’t only allow suits. A comfortable attire option, these pieces are great because they keep you covered and don’t necessarily look ‘sloppy’ even though they could be deemed a more casual choice. With so many options when it comes to colours and textures (from linen to denim), you’re spoilt for choice.

Editor: Katie Burke Lucy Boynton A relative newcomer to the fashion circuit, Lucy has certainly made her mark. The Bohemian Rhapsody star has become a darling of the red carpets thanks to her eccentric, sixties inspired looks, from metallic dresses such as the one she wore at this year’s Golden Globes, to her creatively extravagant makeup. But the thing that puts her on this list? The fact that she looks like herself in these looks and isn’t trying too hard. She’s wearing the looks, not vice versa.

Ovie Soko A Love Island star? You got it.

Ovie was one of social media’s sensations this summer for a multitude of reasons, with one of those being his fashion sense. From his array of hats, to his tropical print co-ords, he proved that men could brave the world of patterns and also rock a hat. All hail Ovie.

Tracee Ellis Ross Tracee has become another darling of the red-carpet, with her style flourishing in recent times leaving spectators never quite sure of what she’s going to wear. What sets her apart from others is that she seems to be having fun with fashion, whether that’s clashing colours to dramatic silhouettes. While others are so hell bent on creating contrived looks in the hopes of going viral on Instagram, Tracee just seems to do it for the love of creativity, and that’s something that has to be admired.

Harry Styles It’s ten years since One Direction burst onto our screens and hasn’t Harry Styles’ fashion sense flourished? Known for his jazzy array of suits, a high sartorial point for Styles was his first appearance at the Met Gala. With many other celebrities following the stereotypical concept of ‘camp’ to be loud and brash, Styles’ black Gucci jumpsuit, accessorised with an earring and heeled boots, was a masterclass in making a theme your own.

2019 Best Dressed Celebrities Writes Katie Burke, Fashion Editor

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Marc Jacobs The famous designer has become something of an Instagram sensation in 2019, posting fabulous brightly coloured looks, with what can only be described as impeccable accessorising. From headscarves to giant hair clips, Jacobs is wearing them fabulously.

Elle Fanning And last, but by no means least is the youngest member of our best dressed list. Serving as a member of the Cannes Film Festival jury in 2019, Fanning lit up the red carpet with her looks which were reminiscent of Old Hollywood stars such as Grace Kelly. From her boudoir-esque peach Gucci dress, to her 1950s inspired Dior look complete with a fabulously wide brimmed hat, Fanning and her stylist Samantha McMillen more than did their duty to keeping red carpets creative and interesting.

Arts & Literature

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Books to Look Forward to in 2020 Writes Fiona Keeley, Arts & Lit Editor

A New Year means new opportunities to rediscover adventures within the pages of books. Literature can take you on many journeys, and there are multiple releases scheduled for 2020 within all genres. Book readers will have the pick of the literature from each of the release dates. These are some of the books that are on the top of my reading list this year.

The Paper Bracelet – Rachael English (27 Feb 2020) From bestselling author Rachael English comes a book inspired by true events, The Paper Bracelet. It tells the story of Katie who in the past worked as a nurse in a mother and baby home in the west of Ireland during a dark time in Irish history. Memories may fade but objects remain, and Katie has kept a box of secrets. The box contains many identity bracelets of the babies she cared for while working in the home. Katie reaches a decision that she had kept at arm’s length for a long time and reaches out on an online forum, determined to reunite these adopted individuals with their birth

mothers. This book is already on my reading list for this year. It reaches back into the past to explore a darker time in Irish history, but it shows the decency in humanity portrayed through Katie.

Our House is on Fire Malena and Beata Ernman, Svante and Greta Thunberg (5 March 2020) Greta Thunberg already made waves across the world in 2019 when she spread her message of school strike for climate. This message spoke to and inspired a generation to follow her footsteps and organise their own school strikes on behalf of the climate.

Now in 2020, Malena and Beata Ernman and Svante and Greta Thunberg recount their story in their book ‘Our House is on Fire’.

It tells the story of how Greta Thunberg worried for the sake of the planet and about how Earth would deal with the consequences of human actions throughout the years. It had become clear that the climate had been changing for years through major weather phenomena and other sources.

A family of four took the weight of the world on their shoulders to deal with one of the biggest threats to humanity today, climate change. While many tried to silence their efforts, the family found that only made their cause stronger. Then one day in August 2018 Greta started a school strike.

The Glass Hotel – Emily St. John Mandel (24 March 2020) From the author of ‘Station Eleven’ comes a new book release named ‘The Glass Hotel’. It is a title that was mentioned to me quite a bit as I researched books for 2020. Vincent is a bartender in Hotel Caiette, located on Vancouver Island, Canada. On the same night she meets the owner of the hotel Jonathon Alkaitis, a cryptic message was left on the lobby’s glass wall; “Why don’t you swallow broken glass”. Leon Prevant, who works for Neptune-Avradimis saw the threat painted across the wall and ordered a drink from the bar to calm his nerves.

Prevant never knew this threat was intended for Alkaitis. Alkai-

tis, a wealthy investment manager, arrives at the bar too late to see the threat. He disappears into the night after he leaves Vincent his business card and a one-hundred-dollar tip. Fast forward a year later and Alkaitis and Vincent are married and living together as husband and wife.

The story jumps location to Manhattan NY where crimes are being committed by Alkaitis as he runs a Ponzi scheme, moving imaginary sums of money through numerous clients’ accounts. Among his clients is Leon Prevant and as Alkaitis’ financial empire begins to crumble along with the rest of the financial world. It devastates many lives and leaves clients penniless, and Vincent disappears into the darkness of the night.

Years after, Vincent finds herself stepping aboard a Neptune-Avramidis ship and subsequently disappears from the ship while it is at sea. This book has mystery, suspense and thriller within its pages.

Editor: Fiona Keeley

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eBooks – When Literature Collides With Technology Writes Fiona Keeley, Arts & Literature Editor

There was a time in history when if you wanted to read a book you had to buy a hardcopy, and that was not too long ago. These days, instead of books many people are now reading their literature from eReaders and as technology has progressed eBooks have risen in popularity. Do eBooks change the experience of reading or simply just the medium of how we consume literature? In 2019, eBooks accounted for 18% for the total sales on the market. While this encapsulates nearly a fifth of individuals who consume literature this statistic shows most readers still prefer to buy a hardcopy book, showing print is alive and well. I will be looking at the history of the eBook, from its early beginnings to the entity it has become today.

In the timeline of history, eBooks as a phenomenon are part of the late 1990s age of technology. The first two eReaders appeared on the market in 1998. The Rocket eBook, produced by NuvoMedia, was the first product to make it to the market and offered networking capabilities by being able to connect to a PC through a cable.

The user was then able to purchase electronic content on the internet and download it to their device so they could safely and securely read it. The SoftBook Reader was released by Gemstar a few months later and with it the company launched the SoftBook Network. This was a built-in internet connection, so users did not have to physically connect their device to a PC to download a book on it. While the memory on these devices would be considered small in today’s terms, the production of these devices offered potential towards the digitization of literature in the future.

However, this progress did not happen overnight. During the early 2000s some companies who established themselves in the eBook market closed their doors permanently within a mat-

ter of years. A major consulting firm conducted a study on the eBook market in 2000 and they predicted by 2005, eBooks would account for 10% of the print sales figure. In 2006, just after the time of the market prediction, Google entered the market and launched Google Books. This opened a world of possibilities to users as they could now search for any book through the Google search engine. This was only the start of the eBook movement as it began to gain momentum in the public eye. A year later Amazon launched their first version of the Kindle.

This device was a step forward in literary technology as it was able to hold up to two-hundred books at a time, this was a first for this type of technology. Users could also subscribe to other media outlets such as newspapers or magazines and access them from their Kindle. Unlike other touchscreen technologies of the time the Kindle’s screen had no

backlight. This emulated the experience of looking at words on a page rather than on a screen. The inclusion of this feature illustrated the difference between reading from a normal device compared to a device that was dedicated to storing books. It would be included in some eReaders that entered the market in later years.

As people began to consume more literature electronically, many predicted there would be a surge in the eBook market in the 2010s due to the growth in the market in the late 2000s. More literary technologies made their debut onto the world stage such as iBookstore on the iPad which was launched at the beginning of the decade. There were new additions to the market from Barnes & Noble, PocketBook and Onyx Inc. This gave consumers more choice in the eBook market. In the UK, eBook sales did rise during the early 2000s and that figure stayed

climbing until 2015. However, by 2016 their sales decreased by 4% while hardcopy books enjoyed a boost in their sales of 2%.

When the Association of American Publishers released their sales figures in January 2019, they had fallen by 3% in comparison to the same time in 2018.

Despite the fall in numbers in recent years, the fact that nearly a fifth of readers consume literature in electronic format shows that there is still an active marketplace for eBooks. The adaptations featured on eReaders throughout years of production -example: the unlit screen- enhance the reading experience, as opposed to reading text from a normal touchscreen. We have stepped into the second decade of the 21st century and with that change comes more options in the way we can consume literature.

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Sports

Issue 7 | Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

Spike Falls Just Short in Texas Writes Jack Maguire, Sports Editor

For many years in boxing, fighting across the water in the USA was the pinnacle for Irish fighters. Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan made the journey over the Atlantic to Texas last Saturday week to take on Jaime Munguia in what was the Mexican’s first bout at Middleweight having jumped up from Super Welterweight. Although he emerged on the wrong side of the result, O’Sullivan made a valiant effort to end the Tijuana native’s undefeated record. Up until the bout with Munguia, Spike had only been defeated three times, all by World Champions; Billy Joe Saunders, Chris Eubank Jr and David Lemieux. Munguia came into the fight undefeated in 34 contests, his most recent victory being against Patrick Allotey last September. Another Irishman, Dennis Hogan fought Munguia last April, and having watched that, Spike felt he could see weaknesses and vulnerability in Jaime’s fight. Spike vs Munguia was the main event on the Gold-

en Boy Promotions fight night in the Alamodome, San Antonio.

Having won his last two fights, Spike was hoping to continue his winning run and pave the way towards a World Title shot in the future. The fight started close with both men testing out their opponent. Munguia showed his speed and agility early on, dodging dangerous shots from Spike.

The first round concluded with a flurry of heavy hits from Jaime which Spike took well and returned to his corner unscathed.

In the third round when Munguia felt in the driving seat in the closing seconds, while unleashing an attack on O’Sullivan, the Mahon Man replied with a massive right hook which shook Jaime, only for him to be saved by the bell. Munguia continued his aggressive flurries into the fifth and sixth round where he connected with Spike heavily.

Munguia also hit Spike with several blows below the belt and he was eventually deducted a point in the sixth round after Spike had to take a breather. Despite being warned and having a point taken from him, Munguia hit spike with another low blow in the seventh round bringing Gary to his knee. These massive shots below the belt took the wind out of Gary’s sails, and drained some of his energy allowing Jaime to step in and keep the pressure on.

Munguia’s head coach, Erik Morales, arguably one of the greatest boxers of all time’s advice to his fighter solidified his dominance. Moving into the closing rounds of the contest, Munguia began to lead with his powerful jab putting his reach advantage to good use. These powerful jabs held back any Spike advance in the later rounds. The fight came to a conclusion in the eleventh round when Spikes corner threw in the towel as he took heavy punishment from the Mexican.

Munguia showed that although he has weaknesses, he is more than capable shaking up the middleweight division. After the fight, Munguia admitted that at times he did not know whether to defend or attack. Spike put up a serious battle and took him all the way. Munguia also made his intentions for the future clear, he wants to go on to fight the best in the division. Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin contests are on the horizon for Jaime if he keeps progressing at middleweight. As for Spike, it looks like he will return to light middleweight, where Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions has promised him a world title shot.

Golden Boy Promotions have recently signed the reigning WBO Lightweight World Champion, Patrick Teixeira, and it looks as though this could be Spike’s next challenge. There is no doubt Spike will come back as strong as ever and determined to take the title.

Issue 7| Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

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The Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cup Story So far: Teams 0ff to Winning Starts Writes Sam Curtin, Deputy Sports Editor

Both UCC’s Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cup teams made successful starts to their title defences on Sunday the 12th of January on a double bill against NUIG in Galway.

First up were Tom Kingston’s hurlers who edged out NUIG on a score line of 0-19 to 0-17 In Group C. Kerryman Shane Conway was the star of the show with 0-7 including 3 from play in what was an arm wrestle in blustery conditions in Dangan. Evan Niland impressed for the hosts especially from placed balls and ended with a tally of 0-12 with 11 of those coming from frees. Indeed this statistic indicates the edginess and perhaps lack of discipline at times from the champions who despite leading 0-10 to 0-08 at half time, were at times second best.

UCC showed why they will be the team to beat however as they took control of the second half with Mark Coleman and Billy Hennessy shining in particular and took a 0-16 to 0-12 lead going into the final quarter before three Niland

frees brought NUIG back to within a point. Both sides traded a couple of scores before Conway’s tap over free at the death ensuring a two point win to kick off their campaign. UCC are due to face local rivals CIT in the Mardyke on Sunday January 16th at 3pm.

The second part of the double header involved Billy Morgan’s UCC looking to make it two out of two for the skull and crossbones and they did just that after having to work hard to earn a narrow 2-12 to 1-14 win. A slow start from UCC saw NUIG move into a 0-04 to 0-00 lead but a spellbinding 11 minutes saw the defending champions hit 2-5 without reply with Galway native Rory Cunningham and James McEntee getting the goals. Rob Finnerty ( ended up with a tally of 1-9) who was magnificent for NUIG scored a goal of his own to leave 2-07 to 1-09 at half time.

Star man Sean O’ Shea was tightly marked by Mayo full back Eoin

O’ Donoghue and was kept to just 0-2 all afternoon. Colm O’ Callaghan and and Brian Hartnett stepped up to keep UCC in touch going to into the final 10 minutes where the champions showed their mettle with scores from Colm Spillane and Diarmuid O’Connor who had both played for their clubs the previous day, to eke out a 2-12 to 1-14 win. Their reward is another away day where they will play IT Carlow Sunday January 16th at 4pm.

The most eye catching performance of the weekend however was the interview given by Billy Morgan post match. Morgan, a legend in Cork GAA circles spoke out against Croke Park and the GAA accusing it of being ‘elitist’ and only caring about inter county sides. “ It is becoming an elite association and they are just catering for inter-county, while clubs, third- level and second- level are all suffering.” That stats appear to back him up as UCC were short six inter county players for the

clash and with a more congested fixture list this January, that list may grow before the month is out.

There were mixed fortunes for the UCC hurlers and footballers just this past weekend as the former claimed a brilliant victory over local university rivals CIT, while the latter fell to a shock defeat to IT Carlow. Shane Kingston and Shane Conway were both on fire for ‘The College’, but Kingston in particular showed why he has been an inter-county player for some years now after he grabbed seven points from play. In the end UCC finished comfortably ahead of their opponents with the final score showing 0-22 to 0-15.

The footballers unfortunately could not match the result of their counterparts as they fell to a 3-9 to 0-14 defeat against IT Carlow. Kerry’s Seán O’Shea and Nemo Rangers’ Mark Cronin impressed for UCC but they came just up short on this occasion, leaving their dreams of retaining the Sigerson Cup in tatters.

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Issue 7 | Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

Opinion Piece: GAA Scheduling Farce

I, like many others, watched on in horror as the GAA hierarchy announced last November that the under 20 competition, would, along with the injury fund competitions, run alongside the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon cup competitions.

A joke, which just isn’t or wasn’t funny for those young players hoping to be involved in all teams.

follow suit given the numbers of players missing from county panels due to the third level competitions (for a Walsh Cup Semi Final v Galway, Dublin were missing 14 players). This is not as big an issue for bigger counties as the smaller counties, who are ultimately unable to field a squad.

Writes Sean McNicholas

There is no way that two third level competitions should be curtailed into four weeks before the start of the league, at a time when other competitions, such as club championships and pre-season competitions and development panel leagues (under 20s) are now also being run off. Instead of dispensing with Sigerson and Fitzgibbon, they need a new lease of life.

ships) must include no more than 16 teams, in a system of 4 groups of 4 teams. All third level teams (including Fresher level) should play three “group games” in October, as was the case in 2019.

Instead of playing the league off before Christmas, November and early December is when Sigerson Cup should be played. GoThe solution that has been put ing off the 2019-2020 knock-out forward for previous competionly system – Round 1: Must be played on Wednesday or ThursAs a potential five training ses- tions by the GAA is to lessen a competitions value and to, if not sions a week (never mind matchWe all agree that the third level day 4/5 November 2020, Quardispense of it completely, attempt es), turned into upwards of sevyear is very short and therefore ter Final: 11/12 November, Semi en, the anger was seen and heard to fit the competition in so qui- the timeframe in which to play Final: 18/19 November, Final: across all media platforms, from etly that it isn’t seen or heard of, the competitions is very short To be played in Croke Park (folthird level clubs, ex-players, un- that people deny its existence. also. However, there is still scope lowing the Fresher A football fider 20 management teams and The best example of this is the for positive change for the third nal) on 25/26 November. While county board officials. However, Railway Cup, once one of the big- level game, and while everyone this gives value to the compenobody came up with agreeable gest competitions in the GAA’s may not agree with the proposals, tition by seeing it as worthy of solutions and the inevitable hap- calendar, now there is very little I believe that all sides need to en- being played in Croke Park, the pened when Donegal gave a walk- knowledge of the Martin Donnelly gage in a bit of give and take. It is days Wednesday and Thursday over in a Dr. McKenna cup game Inter-Provincial championships. too late for the Spring and Sum- give players still involved in club due to being unable to field a team, mer of 2020, but I believe before championship a minimum, 3 day therefore, denying young players, the calendar is arranged for the rest prior to a Sigerson game, or a and players hoping to be involved The GAA are clearly trying to de- end of 2020 and the beginning minimum 3 day rest prior to the as Spring turns to summer, the crease the value of the third lev- of 2021 that certain solutions next club championship game. chance to represent their county. el competitions, which for some need to be discussed and found. This rules out the club v college reason have appeared to become dilemma faced by players such an inconvenience for many in the as Liam Silke and Kieran MolAssociation.

Losing these comloy previously. I understand that Firstly, all third level competiThis is not a fault of Donegal’s, petitions would, however, be to tions (leagues and champion- this may be an issue as it will and more counties will inevitably the detriment of the Association. mean two Sigerson winners in

Issue 7| Tuesday 21st Jan 2020 | University Express

2020, but in my opinion that is what HEGAA will have to give to take the ‘shot in the arm’ HEGAA competitions desperately need.

While this Sigerson competition is taking place, the third level hurling leagues can be completed similar to 2019, while the hurling “injury fund competitions” must be played off, possibly with the exception of the semi-finals and final in the month of December.

Four team groups must be run off: Round 1: 5/6 December, Round 2: 9/10 December (mid-week game), Round 3: 12/13 December, or in order to give players a sufficient break, games could be fixed for the 5th, 9th and the 13th December.

played on Thursday 21st January, Semi Finals on Tuesday 26th, with the final taking place in Croke Park, following Fresher A final on Wednesday 3rd February 2021.

Should the Fitzgibbon cup change its structure to the same knockout system as football, which I personally would not advise, then the same Wednesday/Thursday dates could apply. I understand that the early midweek games could be an issue for colleges with exams in early January, however, I don’t believe the future of a crucial competition within the Association can rest on the unavailability of 2 or 3 players, while Universities can also work with each other to agree a time for the match to be played.

In January, therefore, the injury fund competition semi-finals can be played on 2/3 of January 2021, with the finals taking place a week later. The Fitzgibbon cup can start on Tuesday/Wednesday 5/6 of January (a week earlier than this year), round 2: Tuesday/Wednesday 12/13 and with all group games finishing together on Sunday 17th January.

Quarter finals should then be

Furthermore, the latter end to the

Sports Fitzgibbon Cup, can be helped by the GAA not starting the National Hurling League in 2021 until the 6th of February. This will mean that prior to the 4th round of league fixtures all inter-county hurlers can have one weeks’ break, while the leagues can still be completed by 27th March to allow counties the entire month of April for club competitions.

While I accept that not everyone will be in favour, I believe that the association is at risk of losing the third level competitions to the back pages of the GAA history books and in order to avoid that this is not just the best option, but in fact the only option. It would also be beneficial to football players, who will be involved with One could also suggest that there a maximum of two teams at one is more scope in January, given time rather than the four that the number of players who will a large amount of are involved still be involved in club competi- with at present. It will decrease tion will be very little. Given that the pressure on young players, all club semi- finals will be played improve the impact on their in December 2020, only two clubs health/mental health and increase in each code would be affected their enjoyment playing the game by this, for a further day’s grace. and in particular, representing their third level college teams.

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Funding Granted for Centre of Excellence in Glanmire Writes Jack Maguire, Sports Editor It was announced last week that the government will allocate over €2 million towards the development of an FAI Centre of Excellence in Glanmire. It is estimated that the building will cost around €11 million upon completion. The FAI are matching the donation of the government and they are working with Cork City FC to oversee the development. Cork City FC Chairman, Declan Carey, said “Our club is constantly growing.

We have five academy teams, senior men’s and women’s teams and an amputee team.

Having a base for all staff and players will be vital, and today’s news is very positive for the future of football in Cork, Munster and Ireland”. The development of the Centre of Excellence was launched in 2016, and it would provide training facilities for Cork City FC at Brook Lodge in Glanmire, only a few miles from the City Centre. A purpose built pavilion with viewing area is one of the main features of the new centre, which also boasts a classroom, gymnasium, dressing rooms, physiotherapy, medical team rooms and a community area.

As well as the fantastic facilities available in the building, there will be three full size natural turf pitches, one full size artificial turf pitch, three small sided floodlit artificial turf pitches and a goalkeeper training area. It is fantastic to see developments such as these going ahead in the Cork area. It will no doubt help the advancement of the club and the community to develop on and off the pitch.