UCC Express Vol. 20 Issue 7

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UCCExpress.ie | Volume 20 | Issue 07 | Tuesday January 17th

Controversial UCC Conference Page 5 - News

Apple’s Hollyhill campus in North Cork, the workplace of many UCC graduates.

Info Comm orders UCC to release information about links with Apple Ciaran O’Halloran, Deputy News Editor eign direct investment.

what interests are at play.”

UCC has been instructed by the Information Commissioner to provide details of support, financial or otherwise, it has received from Apple.

Right to Know said in a statement on their website that “While there is absolutely no indication whatsoever that Apple exerts influence on UCC, we felt that it was important that any financial or other support that Apple gives to UCC is known given the public controversy over its operations in Ireland.” In September Right to Know filed an FOI (Freedom of Information) request with UCC, looking for full details of any support it received from Apple since January 2011. The university failed to issue a decision within a four-week deadline stipulated under FOI legislation, and also did not respond within the same timeframe when Right To Know appealed the original refusal.

Apple is one of the largest employers in Ireland, and the largest employer of graduates from UCC. The American company was at the centre of one of the most significant European state aid cases of all time last year when the European Commission ruled that Ireland’s tax arrangements with Apple were illegal. The result is that Ireland must recover over €13 billion from the American electronics company in foregone taxes. While the case is now set to be appealed, the finding is considered by many to be an attack on Ireland’s tax system, which is designed to attract for-

Given the importance of the Apple state aid case, the transparency organisation Right To Know set out to discover what supports, either financial or otherwise Apple was providing to UCC. Such supports are commonplace and rarely controversial, with large companies often sponsoring research and cooperating with universities in order to potentially attract graduates in the future. Similarly, large corporations often want to give something back and will contribute philanthropic money to universities and colleges. Right to Know spokesman Gavin Sheridan said the views of universities and academics are often reported without question as independent and objective,“to maintain that reputation, transparency in respect of private funding is important so that the public can know

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Sexpress Returns

Page 31 - Sexpress

Interview: Bry Byline Magazine

NEWS INSIDE TODAY: 2

NEWS

FROM THE EDITOR call them, neo-nazis, the publishing of the article highlights that the Irish Times have failed to find a way to adequately respond to the slow-creeping death of journalism.

03 UCC owed over €200k in fees 05 Two Socs Exec Officers resign

FEATURES

07 The low-down on the J1 08 Timeline of New Year’s Resolutions

INTERVIEW

31 Interview - Janet Ní Shuilleabháin

BYLINE

15 Portait of the Aritst: Dali 23 Byline’s Games of the Year

SPORT

39 UCC victorious in Canon Cup 39 Munster’s return to form

EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-in-Chief - Robert O’Sullivan News Editor - Chris McCahill Deputy News Editor - Ciaran O’Halloran Graphic Designer - Beth Alexander Features Editor - Mary Collins Deputy Features Editor - Ciara Dinneen Photographer - Emmet Curtin Sports Editor - Dylan O Connell Deputy Sports Editor - Darragh Walsh Eagarthóir Gaeilge - Aoife Nic Gearailt Marketing Executive - Sarah Dunphy Online Editor - Evan Smith Byline Editor - Lauren Mulvihill Byline Associate Editor - Sarah Ryan Fiction Editor - Sophie Mckenzie Gaming Editor - Jonathan Soltan Music Editor - Cailean Coffey Film & Television Editor - Aaron Frahill Fashion Editor - Kenneth Nwaezeigwe Style Editor - Iris Maher Food Editor - Xander Cosgrave Staff Writers: Eoin Doyle Stephen Spillane Laura O’Connor Sarah McInerney Jill Kingston Niamh O’Reilly Méabh McMahon

Print Media Dangerously out of touch Robert O’Sullivan, Editor-in-Chief

An odd headline for an editorial in a print publication? A bit, yeah.

About two weeks ago, the Irish Times published an article by Nicholas Pell discussing the altright movement, giving a glossary of terms typically found on Twitter. Regardless of your opinion on the alt-right, or as some would

The newspaper of record has failed to catch up with what some would see as the future of journalism: bite-sized globules of information shrouded in glitz, glam and attention-grabbing headlines. In the past, when publications like The Sun utilised tactics like this, all the broadsheets had to do was stand steady and stick to its guns, knowing that while a front page that reads “THE TRUTH” in big bold blood-stained letters may sell more copies initially, people would come back to them eventually to find out the real news, to find the facts. In today’s ‘digital world’, however, the Times has failed to adjust itself to the online platform, and being unable to use headlines like the aforementioned Sun, or new outfits like Buzzfeed or Breitbart, the Times has opted to use the same tactic as that ‘edgy’

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

friend we all have on Facebook: putting something ‘controversial’ out there, seldomly with no more comment than “thoughts?”

This article shows that the Times have moved beyond the bottom of the barrell, and are currently about halfway scraped their way to China.

The article by Pell, presented essentially as fact, couldn’t have seen much scrutiny by the editorial team, as some of the definitions were just wrong. Pell described a “snowflake” as “a person with an unusual, potentially dubious, gender identity.” Not only is this a totally offensive, transphobic comment, but it’s wholly wrong, no matter what your outlook. For the paper of record to let something like this slide, is unacceptable. If you’re going to print neo-nazi propaganda, at least do a fact-check first.

Robert O’Sullivan

FROM THE NEWS EDITOR

Snowflake Generation?

Chris McCahill- News Editor I wrote this because it was snowing outside.

It’s a name attributed to millennials and seems synonymous with young people today. In the past I would have argued against this generalisation of my generation as maybe unfair or inaccurate. However more recently I’ve come to understand why older generations, or even our own generation attribute that name to us. It’s because we’ve be-

come more close minded and then we find ourselves unable or maybe even unwilling to comprehend why someone else might think differently than we do. Despite attempting to portray ourselves as liberal or open minded young people, in reality, we’re rather the opposite. We saw this with Brexit and with Trump, young people refusing to accept the results, failing to understand why people could vote the way in which they did or the reasons behind them.

We saw protests and movements with both attempting to overturn the results, which to me seemed neither fair or right. You may argue if either or both were flipped the situation would have been the same, possibly, even likely, but even still, the point still stands, we’ve become close minded and can’t or won’t accept when things don’t go the way we want. Social media is doubtless a major factor in causing this, we can and, in some cases, are even encouraged to create echo chambers online, we surround ourselves with like-minded, people, groups, views etc. And unsurprisingly we then find ourselves out of touch with reality and with other people and

groups. What makes it worse still is our reaction to that, we become angry and upset, we insult those with contrasting views, dismiss alternative ideas and don’t take the time to consider them, we then retreat back into our self-made echo chambers and then the cycle continues. I feel this is a major reason why so many young people struggle to deal with the world today: we create a vision or idea of what the world is like and while this illusion may hold for some time it is inevitably shattered, and then we find ourselves unable to understand why.

Chris McCahill

NEWS

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Story Continued from the Front Page...

In its response to Right to Know, UCC only informed the group after it had sought a review by the OIC that it was refusing the request on the basis that its accounting system did not record the requested information on Apple. It also claimed that it was refusing the request on the basis that conducting other searches would cause a substantial and unreasonable disruption to its work.

The Office of the Information Com-

missioner (OIC) has ruled that the response of the university was inadequate to a request made under freedom of information legislation, and ordered it to reconsider the request for such information. The OIC said it was clear that UCC’s searches for the requested information had fallen well short of what was required under FOI legislation. They further stated that the fact the university had also relied on a section of legislation that related to time spent on searching for infor-

mation indicated that UCC believed the relevant records might well exist.

It ruled that UCC’s efforts at simply running a search on its accounting system was not enough to satisfy the requirements of the FOI Act. It ordered the university to annul its initial ruling and consider the request for information on Apple afresh.

UCC can lodge an appeal against the OIC decision on a point of law to the High Court within four weeks.

Ecosia and Yes Trees in UCC

Michelle Beazley, News Writer A group known as ‘Yes Trees UCC’ are currently campaigning to add a new search engine programme to every Student IT Centre computer in UCC. The search engine, known as Ecosia, plants trees using revenue generated through advertising sold on the service.

The campaign’s Facebook page received more than 50 likes within 24 hours of being set up in early January. The campaign team have reached out to UCC’s Deputy and Campaigns Officer, Kate Moriarty, for assistance with developing a referendum to implement Ecosia. The search engine has already planted nearly six million trees worldwide, and continues to plant more each day. Efforts to raise awareness of the campaign have been similarly eco-friendly, with the campaign re-using the blank sides of 84 outdated posters collected around UCC. The campaign argues that, given UCC’s status as the world’s first green campus,

adding the search engines to all student computers is the obvious next step in its efforts towards maintaining that eco-friendly position. As students at UCC make thousands of searches every day on computers across the university, implementing Ecosia would have a significant impact on the environment.

Per the campaign’s Facebook page, “[i] t’s a no-brainer that a Green Campus should promote the best use of these searches for tree-planting, rather than corporate profits.

There is a big opportunity for students to make a big difference by doing nothing othe r than what they’d already d o

anyway.”

The campaign hopes that, if UCC adopts the tree-planting search engine, other universities and colleges would soon follow, triggering a positive domino effect. In order to call a referendum to implement Ecosia, the campaign will have to obtain signatures in favour of the referendum from 500 students. We contacted students involved in the campaign for further comment, but they were unable to respond before the editorial deadline.

“[i]t’s a no-brainer that a Green Campus should promote the best use of these searches for tree-planting”

Around the Universities: TCD: Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have made a significant breakthrough which could help improve the social skills of people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A team of international researchers based in the college have discovered activity in an area in the brain which may explain why people on the spectrum may “endure social deficits and fail to respond appropriately when unexpected events unfold.” It is hoped the discovery will lead to the development of new therapies.

NUIG: A protest was held a NUIG over the relaxing of the requirement for the president to speak Irish.

Supporters of the Irish language are gathering at NUI Galway on the 11th of January for a céilí protest over the college’s decision to drop the requirement that its president be fluent in Irish. Late last year, NUIG’s governing authority decided to change the recruitment criteria for appointing a new president. The majority of members felt the requirement was restricting the potential number of candidates for the position. However the decision was not unanimous, with some members of Údarás na hOllscoile vehemently opposed to the move.

CIT: Cork’s housing crisis could be solved in three years if the state’s Housing Agency was allowed to borrow from the European Investment Bank, according to a Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) economic and social policy expert. Dr Tom O’Connor said that allowing the agency to borrow billions at a low cost, and off the state’s debt and deficit books would allow it to build more than 8,000 low-rent homes in Cork. He said this would eliminate the social housing waiting lists. In addition, Dr O’Connor said that Cork’s problems would also be much easier to fix than Dublin’s.

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NEWS

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

UCC owed hundreds of thousands in unpaid fees and charges

Ciaran O’Halloran, Deputy News Ed- largest university, UCD, was unable to provide a breakdown of how much was itor owed under this category, as was NUI More than €560,000 is owed to the Galway.

country’s seven universities, as well as “UCC itself had approximatethe State’s largest institute of technology ly €231,000 in charges left DIT, in library rental and late return fees alone, according to documents obtained unpaid prior to the current

by The Irish Times newspaper. Furtheracademic year” more, they are owed more than €1.3 million of outstanding debt in Student ConFirst introduced in 1995 at a nominal tribution Charges. rate of £150 (€190), student fees were UCC itself had approximately €231,000 gradually increased over the followin charges left unpaid prior to the cur- ing years, and rose at a more accelerrent academic year, spread between 150 ated rate during the late 2000s as part students, while just over 100 students of of government-imposed austerity meaDublin City University owed €165,000 sures. Today, the charge currently stands between them. NUI Maynooth had the at €3,000, although about half of the largest amount of money owed to it, third-level student population is exempt with almost €450,000 of Student Con- from payment due to household income tribution Charges left unpaid by October status.

1st, 2016. Other large amounts under the same heading include legacy debts of €208,000 at UL, €176,000 at DIT and €110,000 at Trinity College Dublin. The overall figure for unpaid charges is likely to be substantially higher as Ireland’s

When it came to library fees owed, Maynooth was also on top, with a bill of €170,000. Only UCC came close, with a debt of €135,000. When asked why such large amounts remain outstanding under the categories of student charges

and library fees/fines, an NUI Maynooth spokesperson said the university does not write off the debts, and it does not prevent students from graduating if they have a negative account balance. The spokesperson added that the library debt is spread between 14,000 past and former students, almost 10,000 of whom owed less than €10. When asked if third-party debt collection agencies are used to recoup amounts owed by past or present students, only UCD and DCU said they hired external agencies. The rest, including UCC, perform the function in-house.

The responses also revealed a large burden related to unpaid on-campus accommodation fees. Despite enlisting the services of a third-party collector, UCD still had an outstanding balance of €380,000 for unpaid accommodation fees; Trinity was owed €114,000, and NUI Maynooth €60,000. Other institutions responded that on-campus accommodation is either not offered to students, or the units are managed by a separate management company, whose finances are not subject to Freedom of Information requests.

The current funding regime for third-level institutions has come under intense scrutiny in recent years since the financial crisis. The situation has been given a sense of urgency by the faltering performance of some of the country’s top universities in international rankings tables.

Heads of Irish universities often claim that the high levels of fee income generated by international universities, which then invent those fees into the university, are a major reason for this faltering performance.

“The responses also revealed a large burden related to unpaid on-campus accommodation fees.”

The Government is currently assessing the outcome of a report by former trade union secretary Peter Cassells. In his report Cassells gives various options for the third level sector, including the possibility of implementing a student loan scheme and the potential elimination of the Student Contribution Charge.

NEWS

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

UCC involved in row with Israeli Embassy over conference Chris McCahill, News Editor Plans to hold similar conference at UK university were cancelled over ‘safety concerns’.

A major row has been sparked following the announcement that UCC will host an academic conference which will debate the legal legitimacy of the State of Israel involving several Jewish lobby groups and the Israeli embassy. The conference was originally planned to be held in the University of Southampton in 2015 but was cancelled on the grounds of health and safety, over fears of protests and demonstrations which would disrupt the conference.

Organisers of the conference argue they are standing up against what they deem is the “chilling repression of academic freedom” in the UK, and contend that Ireland is a safer location due to its “different political culture.” On the other hand, opponents of the conference, including Jewish lobby groups and some UK cabinet ministers, have criticised the attempt to host the event in the University of Southampton, with Ronnie Fraser of Academic Friends of Israel describing it as an “anti-Israeli hate fest” in a quote to the Times of Israel. Furthermore, the Israeli embassy in Dublin issued a statement, citing that they were “deeply concerned” over the plans to host the conference in UCC instead, and further claimed that activists were seeking to promote an “unbalanced agenda within academic institutions, that seeks to demonise and de-legitimise Israel.” The embassy also stated “the prejudiced approach of such ‘activists’ serves only to propagate hatred of the state of Israel and its people.

It is incompatible with the values of democracy and goes against the essence of academic discussion.”

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Socs Guild to appoint two new OCMs Chris McCahill, News Editor

UCC’s Societies Executive has announced it is seeking to elect two new Ordinary committee members following the resignations of Sean and Clodagh from their respective positions as Training Officer and Community Engagement Officer.

this publication, asking them not to host to conference, stating the possible damage that could be done to the reputation of the university if it was to go ahead.

However, UCC has issued a statement saying that no approval had yet been issued for the conference stating that “the University management has issued no approval for the event, has sought information on the details of the proposed conference from the organisers and will determine its position following appropriate consideration.”

see attempts by university departments to use the thinly veiled guise of academia to spread hate and often use lies and twisted facts to denigrate the state of Israel.

“These conferences only play into the hands of those who look to delegitimise Israel’s very right to exist. It is absolutely incredible that, with all of the atrocities taking place in the world not least in Syria or Yemen, Cork University has chosen to hold a conference on Israel, the one Jewish country and the only true Prof Bowen said it was important to de- democracy in the Middle East.” fend academic freedom, especially in the face of pressure from governments with “It is absolutely incredible a “vested interest in preventing examthat, with all of the atrocities ination of uncomfortable issues.” Prof taking place in the world not James Bowen also praised the decision to least in Syria or Yemen, Cork host the event in Cork saying “academic freedom is still fairly well protected, unUniversity has chosen to hold like in the UK, where it seems to have a conference on Israel” come to be regarded as a disposable luxury.”

The Cork event will feature at least two “academic freedom is still speakers who are known for their pro-Israeli views. The conference organisers fairly well protected, unlike include Israel-born law professor Oren in the UK, where it seems to Ben-Dor and Prof Suleiman Sharkh, have come to be regarded as a who grew up in Gaza.

In response, one of the conference’s organisers, UCC professor James Bowen, said the embassy’s reaction indicated a fear of any examination of how the Israeli state conforms to international law: “Fearful of any debate on the issue, the Israeli lobby tries to prevent pro-Israel speakers from participating in such events,” he said. Bowen also added that one of the pro-Israel speakers, Prof.

Geoffrey Alderman, a British Jewish academic, was very pleased the conferdisposable luxury” ence was going ahead in Ireland. Prof Alderman is due to deliver a paper titled: “Jews, Judaism and the Jewish state: eth- Arieh Miller, Executive Director at the nic rights and international wrongs.”

Zionist Federation, attacked attempts to justify the staging of the conference on UCC’s Governing Body also received a the grounds of academic free speech. Mr letter, a copy of which was also sent to Miller said: “Time and time again we

The conference, called International Law and the State of Israel: Legitimacy, Responsibility and Exceptionalism, will feature speakers on various sides of the debate will reportedly run from March 31st to April 2nd this year.

When asked about his decision to resign, Sean made the following comments: “Following reflection over Christmas, I submitted my resignation, which was accepted early in the new year. I made this decision for personal reasons, largely because of the difficulties in juggling the position with being in Fourth Year Medicine, including being on placement in hospital for the remainder of the academic year. I decided this was the right time as the busiest period for my portfolio (Training) had passed, and there would be sufficient time for the Executive to replace me early into the new semester. I would like to wish the Executive, including the new members, the best of luck for the remainder of the year.”

The Societies Executive, as a result of the resignations, have announced that due to fact the resignations have come before second semester, that the filling of the positions will be by co-option.

The positions are available to any registered UCC student (unless they are currently a Chairperson or Finance Officer of a UCC society). Interviews are scheduled to take place this week, with applications for the positions closing on Sunday. Anyone with queries or questions is advised to contact the Societies Guild President, Pat McCarthy, at President@uccsocieties.ie, or any other members of the Societies Executive. The President of UCC societies will for the time being be the acting rep for the Social and Activism, Debating and Political Groups.

Furthermore, UCC Societies & Clubs will host a second Clubs and Socs Day on Wednesday the 18th of January in Devere Hall. Clubs and societies alike will be in the Student Centre from 10am-3pm for anyone who wishes to join up. For more information go to the Clubs (sport.ucc.ie) and Societies (societies.ucc.ie) websites.

Est.

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FEATURES

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

Science Corner: Correlation does not equal causation.

Mary Collins, Features editor

It’s statistics 101 and yet it is one of the most common errors people make, in journalism, in science; in life. Let’s break it down. An instance or action can cause another, for example, I ate something that made me ill; or they can correlate together, e.g. I ate something and happened to get ill later. If one thing causes another, then they are correlated together. Although it can be a strong indicator of a relationship of some kind, just because two things occur together does not mean that one causes the other.

There is lots of academic literature backing up the belief that the human brain is designed to seek patterns, sometimes in random information, a phenomenon called apophenia. This tendency can lead to logical fallacies, such as cum hoc ergo propter hoc. This is Latin for “with this, therefore because of this,” (literal translation) and is the idea that because 2 things tend to happen together, one must start the other. The other logical fallacy most commonly associated with correlation vs causation is Post hoc ergo propter hoc, or for the non-latin speakers “after this, therefore because of this,” the idea that if A happens before B, then A caused B to happen.

Take, for example, the much publicised study published in 1999 (1) that said; “Young children who sleep with the light on are more likely to be short-sighted in later life. Therefore, sleeping with the light on causes short-sightedness.”

Seems fairly cut and dried, yes? Well no, actually: another study (2) found that infants who sleep with the light on aren’t more likely to become short-sighted. It did, however, find a strong link between short-sighted parents having short-sighted children. Additionally, short-sighted parents were more likely to leave the light on in their children’s rooms so they can see

what’s going on. Therefore, parental short sightedness is the cause of both leaving the light on and the children’s short-sightedness.

There are many tests to establish varying degrees of correlation (if Pearson’s correlation coefficient rings a bell, you are a fellow SPSS monkey and have my most sincere sympathies. If it doesn’t, be happy) but clear causal relationships can be hard to establish beyond all scientific doubt. For any two correlated instances, there are a variety of ways they can be linked: • • • • • •

A causes B; (direct causation) B causes A; (reverse causation) A causes B and B causes A (cyclic causation); A and B are consequences of a common cause, but don’t cause each other; A causes C which causes B (indirect causation); There is no connection between A and B; the correlation is a coincidence.

So how do we establish what event causes the effect? The most effective way is a controlled study. This is when two groups of people who are comparable in almost every way are given a single different experience (or as those of us in the biz call it, a variable). For example, think of the children mentioned in the study above.

You have two almost identical groups of short sighted children, a random sampling across every socioeconomic group, every race, every background. The only difference between the two groups is that one will sleep with the lights on and one with the lights off. If the outcomes of the groups are different, then we can say that the variable is the cause for the difference.

Sometimes it’s simply not ethical to perform controlled studies. You can’t exactly force feed a group of people cigarettes for

years while denying them to another group in your quest to prove that cigarettes cause lung cancer - but we know cigarettes cause lung cancer, so how did we prove it? Epidemiological (or observational) studies are studies where large groups of people and their behaviours/outcomes are followed over time. Although it can be hard to pull a direct cause-and-effect relationship from the data, it is sometimes possible. When scientists were investigating whether smoking causes lung cancer, many other causes were considered (examples including excessive drinking and lack of sleep), but each one was deemed inadequate compared to the prevalence of smoking in causing the development of lung cancer, leading scientists to conclude that smoking does indeed cause lung cancer.

The distinction between correlation and causation is somewhat lost in many mainstream media stories, with some outlets using words that clearly imply causality without actually saying it. Saying there is a “correlation” between something doesn’t really mean anything, just that two events seem to appear in tandem. However, saying that there is a “direct correlation” infers that there is a relationship, although you haven’t actually clarified what is causing what. This ambiguous language is how people can bend correlations to fit their own narratives.

Publishing phenomenon that clearly aren’t linked as though there is a correlation between them is just as bad. A news story saying that house prices in Washington D.C. correlate to a child’s reading ability emerged a few years ago, saying that increased house prices are linked to increased reading proficiency in children (3).

Although there is a correlation, few people would be willing to say there is a direct link between reading proficiency on someone’s child and the price of their house. It’s

far more likely that more expensive houses are in higher income areas that have access to better schools, which improves a child’s reading ability. Meanwhile, an article titled “30 years of research found a positive correlation between family involvement and a student’s academic success” (4) sounds a lot more plausible when referring to the causality between the two phenomenon, partially because it is backed up by additional literature, but also because it conforms to our own bias about what could be affecting the child’s academic achievements.

We’re simple beings - we like patterns and explanations for everything, but we must be careful not to be misled by lacklustre reporting and clever use of language.

Unless the proof of causality is clear and overwhelming, never assume more than a correlation exists. After all, correlation does not equal causality.

References 1. Quinn, Graham E.; Shin, Chai H.; Maguire, Maureen G.; Stone, Richard A. (May 1999). “Myopia and ambient lighting at night”. Nature. 399 (6732): 1134. doi:10.1038/20094. PMID 103 35839.

2. Zadnik, Karla; Jones, Lisa A.; Irvin, Brett C.; Kleinstein, Robert N.; Manny, Ruth E.; Shin, Julie A.; Mutti, Donald O. (2000). “Vision: Myopia and ambient night-time lighting”. Nature. 404 (6774): 143144. doi:10.1038 /35004661. PMID 10724157.

3. h t t p s : / / w w w. w a s h i n g t o n p o s t . com/blogs/all-opinions-are-local/ wp/2015/07/22/the-correlation-between-test-scores-and-home-prices/?utm_term=.ff288a5b8c41 4. http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/ florida-wants-dads-to-take-kids-toschool/235269848

FEATURES

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How to be more assertive.

Mary Collins, Features Editor Assertion is just expressing your thoughts in a clear appropriate way.

It’s also respecting who you are speaking to enough to be honest about how you feel.

The Art of Never Settling and the Importance of Staying Hungry Aoife Nic Gearailt - Irish Editor For all those who have ever felt less than they are, and all who have been my friend when I couldn't be my own.

How many times have we let someone walk all over us? How many times have we let someone take advantage of our good nature? How many times have we settled for less than what we deserve?

For me personally, I cannot even attempt to contemplate how many times I’ve let myself, and someone else, put me into these situations, where I end up accepting less than what I merit, and usually, 11/10 times, I will bawl my eyes out to Enrique Iglesias. What’s comforting is the knowledge that I am not the only person in this boat, but in all honesty, this is a boat that no passenger should find themselves embarking upon.

Each of us wake up every morning, taking it for granted. We are only a couple of chosen billion in the existence of Earth who have been given the opportunity to live on said day - so why do we spend the day stuck in a rut, not achieving our potential? Why are we not out there striving to overachieve in every aspect of our life, falling in love with ourselves, and making the most of every opportunity that comes our way? Here’s where I get a little Mammy-esque - there is so much suffering in the world today, we hear about it and read it, day in day out. Between the horrific refugee crisis and refugee camps, children dying in Africa due to malnourishment, to

the recent Death Flights in Argentina, we are so fortunate to live in a country which is so safe, so prosperous and as free from war as it is. We should be making the most of every opportunity, maximising our opportunities. As one philosopher, Eminem, once said, “You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime,” so the next time this song comes on in the Hanover and you’ve had maybe one or two too many, stop and listen to the lyrics because I’m telling ya, he’s onto something.

Here’s one for us young wans: college is the only time in our lives where we have little constraints placed on us, where we have minimum responsibilities, where we get to have adult rights but not technically be mortgage paying, weekday working, pension saving, worrying adults. Treat yo’ self. You need to stay free, strong and to enjoy your life and be uncommitted to anyone but yourself. Travel and be happy and kiss boys/girls/people and forget about them the next day (“Hi mum, sorry mum!”). You never know what day is going to be your last, or the last day of someone you love. Fall recklessly in love with whomever, whatever you want - it’s your life, and the one lifetime you will ever get in this world. Learn how to be content with yourself, be the best you that you can be for yourself and the people around you.

Conquer your fears and learn how to really and truly breathe. You have to live with yourself for the rest of your life, make sure you know how to love yourself.

Take the time to get to know you, find yourself, ignore what people say and do what makes you smile and feel fulfilled.

Never let anybody tell you that you don’t deserve something or treat you as such because each and every human deserves the world and so much more. We are all so precious and worthy and it breaks my heart when I hear of people undermining themselves and not seeing how beautiful they are - I too am guilty of this. No goal is unattainable. If you believe in yourself, surround yourself with encouragement and positivity, and treat others with the uttermost respect and kindness, the world is truly your oyster.

“You have to live with yourself for the rest of your life, make sure you know how to love yourself.”

Basically, we need to keep hustling, keep achieving our potentials, keep fighting for what we deserve. Don’t listen to people trying to bring you down. It’s ok to have a bad day, but know how to combat your sadness. Know your priorities and morals and stick to them. Never settle for less than you deserve. And most importantly: never, ever let someone treat you in a way less than you deserve. Treat others how you want to be treated; respectfully, kindly, sensitively. Anyone who treats you less than this is not worth your time. Invest your emotions, your time and your effort smartly. Life is too precious, and the fact of being alive is worth more than words can convey.

1. Understanding assertive communication. Being assertive is often confused with aggression, but being aggressive is based on winning. Assertion is based on balance and respect.

2. Learn to say no. Practise in the mirror if you have to. Recognise your boundaries and needs and stick to them. You can’t please everyone & you have to be ok with that.

3. Acknowledge that people are responsible for their own behaviour. If you respectfully & assertively say something and someone gets disproportionately upset, that’s on them, not you.

4. Learn to express negative emotions in a healthy way. If you’re angry/upset, take a few deep breaths before responding; give yourself a chance to see the situation clearly. Say what’s on your mind, but learn to say it in a way that is mindful of the other person’s feelings.

5. Learn to take compliments. It’s a cultural thing in Ireland to brush off praise, but if someone goes through the effort of telling you something positive about yourself, thank them and take it.

6. Learn to take criticism. Getting defensive and flying off the handle, or accepting it and bitching loudly 20 minutes later are churlish reactions (though we’re all guilty of them). Breathe. It’s ok to ask for help, or say you disagree with their comments.

7. Change your language. We tend to use can’t, need, have to, should, but they sound negative.

Try saying won’t, want, choose to and could.

8. Give yourself time. Being assertive is a skill; give yourself time to develop it.

Est.

8 1997

FEATURES

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

New Year, Old Traditions; a brief timeline of ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ Mary Collins, Features editor New Year, new semester, new you... right?

Everyone is clamouring to squeeze into the overpacked gym because for the 5th year in a row, they’re absolutely going to get rid of the winter chub before March, sales of cigarettes are dropping as quick as sales of travel books rise, and the avalanche of messages from people you don’t speak to anymore (purposely or otherwise) appear in your inbox; “OMG, it’s been ages! Let’s meet up!” Yeah, sure…

The most common New Year’s resolutions, as you can guess from above, are things like losing weight, get fit, live more healthily and spend more time with family and friends. However, it’s mid-late January, and you know as well as I do that most New Year’s resolutions have fallen apart by now. So instead of getting on a soapbox and preaching about how you can maintain your New Year’s resolutions, I thought it might be more interesting to delve in the history behind this tradition.

“ it’s mid-late January, and you know as well as I do that most New Year’s resolutions have fallen apart by now.”

Fádo Fádo…..specifically 4000 years ago, the Babylonians kicked off New Year’s Resolutions with a 12 day festival extravaganza, Akitu, at the start of the year.

Their year began at the end of March/start of April in our calendar. Akitu was to celebrate the sowing of the barley, and also paid tribute to Marduk, the patron god of Babylon, and his success in war. A new king was crowned, or the old king shed his finery and went before the gods to reaffirm his devotion in a hardcore ceremony where he had to be slapped so hard his eyes watered. (He promised that he hadn’t deliberately sinned against the gods, and then got a wallop for unintentionally sinning anyway. There’s no winning, is there?) The people promised the gods to repay their debts and return anything they had borrowed and if they kept their word the gods would grant them favour for the coming year. The very first New Year’s Resolutions were born.

From one great fallen empire to another, we shoot forward to the Romans, who also contributed to New Year’s traditions.

Like the Babylonians, the Roman calendar started in March, but the year was changed

to begin in January 1st at some point, probably around 300 BC, and this was carried forward to Julius Caesar’s calendar. There are varying theories, one being that military generals/commanders were sworn in on the first day of the year. As the best time for military campaigns was spring/ summer, March was too late in the year to swear people into their new positions, so New Year’s was moved to January, or ‘Ianuarius’. Another, more flowery explanation is March was named for Mars, the god of war. As the Romans progressed and became less war-like (aka; as they beat down those around them to annex every country touching the Mediterranean Sea), they changed the start of the year to January, named for Juno, sister/wife of chief god Jupiter, but linked to Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions.

Disregarding why they changed it, the year starting in January leads us to the next stepping stone towards modern day resolutions; Janus was the two faced god, with one face looking towards the past and one towards the future. The first feast of the year was thrown in his honour, where Romans made sacrifices and promised to behave well for the next year.

Moving westward again, we end up in Medieval England, around the time of Richard the Second (late 1300’s), who also known as Richard of Bordeaux. His father, Edward the Black Prince, had a penchant for chivalry (not that it stopped

him burning down entire villages when he felt like it). Although Edward died when he was very young, Richard seems to have taken this dedication to chivalry on board, with the “Vow of the Peacock.” In these days, Christmas really was a 12 day affair, with feasts on every day until the 6th of January. On the last day of the Christmas, a peacock would be brought out, not by a servant, but by the highest ranking Lady present. Sometimes the peacocks were alive, and usually they had already been plucked, skinned, roasted and redressed in their feathers, which were considered the height of fashion and beauty for the time.

A rag was dipped in alcohol and stuffed in its gold-leafed beak then set alight. One by one, each knight present would come forward and lay their hand on the bird, then pledge themselves to the ideals of chivalry for the next year in front of the whole court. Once it had been presented to every knight in turn, the peacock would be served.

Staying in England, we come to 1740, when John Wesley introduced the concept of watchnight services. Wesley was the founder of the Methodist church, and these services, then sometimes referred to as Covenant Renewal Services, were held late at night. They were supposed to be a wholesome alternative to partying the night away on Christmas Eve and New Year’s eve, ending after midnight. They also gave believers a chance to renew their covenant with God. Modern day Method-

ists still hold watchnight services on New Year’s, with singing, spontaneous testimonials and scripture readings.

These days, the idea of New Year’s resolutions is largely a secular concept, and one that stretches around the world. I think it’s a normal thought to have at this time of year, to look back on our histories with nostalgia, to look forward to our futures with hope and determination. For some, the changing of dates is an arbitrary concept, but I think many of us have deadlines and milestones we want to achieve by certain times/ages, and nothing reminds us of how quickly time flies like the beginning of a New Year.

“ These days, the idea of New Year’s resolutions is largely a secular concept, and one that stretches around the world. ” The statistics behind New Year’s resolutions vary wildly, and aren’t exactly encouraging, with an 8-12% success rate.

However, when surveyed, most people said that the reason they failed is because they set their goals too high. Maybe the key to success isn’t to be the hare, but to be the tortoise; slow and steady wins the race, after all.

To those who have made themselves promises towards self-improvement, I wish you all the success in the world.

FEATURES

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

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The Top 5 Podcasts You Should Be Listening To This Year hosted and created by Irish stand-up Jarlath O’Regan. It takes the format of a long-form interview between the comedian and a different Irish person every week, each with a story to tell. Some are from the world of comedy, some are from the world of sports, some are from the world of literature, but all have the common ground of having been Irish people living abroad at some point in their lives. Some guests of note include Dylan Moran, Ronan O’Gara, Fergal Devitt, Louise O’Neill and David McWilliams. The result is spellbinding.

Joseph Griffin, Features Writer I’m a really big podcasts guy. I get my fix where I can - while I work during the day, when I go out for a run in the evening (okay, sitting on the couch relaxing, whatever), and often when I’m drifting off to sleep at night. There is a never ending supply of interesting subjects, and people to learn about. Now that my confession is out of the way (and boy do I feel unencumbered) I have to share some of my favourites with you. My podcast tastes tend to be eclectic so I’ll cast as wide a net as I possibly can, covering everything from sports to erotica.

Hardcore History History buffs look no further, because this is the podcast for you. Hardcore History, presented by Dan Carlin, gives an in-depth analysis of historical events. His passion for the subjects he is covering is clear as soon as you hear his voice. The podcast is very low on production values, instead relying solely on Carlin’s voice to take you away to another place and time. He has a terrific capacity to speak at great length about a subject, forming a narrative thread which keeps you hooked for hours on end.

My favourite topic covered is the Mongol Empire (not because of all the talk of harems, I swear) titled “The Wrath of the Khans.” You might think that listening to a single voice talk about the Mongol Empire for around eight hours would be hard going, and you’d be wrong. Definitely not one for the faint of heart, though.

Second Captains Live If you need your sporting fix, then Second Captains is where you need to be. The irreverent team of Eoin McDevitt, Ken Early, Mark Horgan, Ciarán Murphy and Simon Hick bring a compelling mix of sporting discussion and light relief.

The former Newstalk crew created a stir in the Irish media world in 2013 when they left the station and struck out on their own, and they’ve never looked back.

Recognised for its excellence - it’s been voted one of the top 10 podcasts in the UK and Ireland of all time by iTunes - and it’s well deserved, as these Irish boys provide sporting analysis of the highest standard.

What I love particularly about the show is its willingness to poke fun at itself and its members; Early, in particular has a talent for this. Recently dismissed on a rival podcast as not being a “Football Man” by Johnny Giles, the “Second Captains” team spent an entire episode mocking their teammate mercilessly. It is this level of camaraderie that sets it apart from its competitors.

My Dad Wrote a Porno Most people, on discovering that their father has written an erotic novel that makes your average Mills and Boon novel look Shakespearean, would do the respectful thing and ask the ground to swallow them up.

Jamie Morton, the presenter of “My Dad Wrote a Porno” has embraced this occurrence. Every week, Jamie and his friends do a read-through of a chapter of his father’s erotic novel - Belinda Blinked. The read-through breaks down in laughter regularly, how could it not with lines like this: “The now devastated Belinda was immediately led to a hosepipe near the stables where the Duchess stripped her of her torn skirt and tennis shirt and hosed her down.

She roughly fondled Belinda’s tits and ass in the washing process with a long handled brush and pushed her, still naked, into a horsebox.”

What’s clear, if you hadn’t guessed from the above, is that the presenter’s father has a very tenuous grasp of what erotica actually is. He is the everyman, who upon seeing the success of Fifty Shades of Grey, said “I could do that” and he really really couldn’t.

An Irishman Abroad An Irishman Abroad is a weekly podcast

One of the most profound episodes is with Paul McGrath: it is an audio portrait of a man who has achieved a lot at the highest sporting level, but who has also seen the bottom of the well; it is an intimate conversation about drowning in addiction, depression, fear of abandonment, and ultimately trying to get above all of that, and managing to take a breath.

The softly-spoken Jarlath knows the right questions to ask, sometimes prodding the guests gently, but never trying to lead them down the garden path. He gives them space and time to tell their story. It’s a podcast which is real, heartfelt and the perfect insight into the Irish psyche - as beautiful and broken as we sometimes are.

Stuff You Should Know Stuff You Should Know has been around for a long time - over eight years. Twice a week, episodes are released which educates listeners about a wide variety of subjects.

The episodes typically last about 45 minutes, with subjects covered including “science, history, urban legends, and pop culture, with the occasional conspiracy theory thrown in for good measure.” It owes much of its longevity, and success, to the cordial, laid-back chemistry of the two hosts - Josh Clark and Charles “Chuck” Bryant. They both have a wide-eyed, innocent fascination with the world and how it works. What makes this show so charming is the hosts are not experts on the issues they are talking about, they have just researched subjects to a level where they can speak confidently about it. With the massive back catalog of episodes, you will never run out of fun subjects to learn about.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: - This American Life - The Stand - 99% Invisible - Into the Dark - Revisionist History - OSW Review - Joe Rogan Experience - Monday Morning Podcast with Bill Burr - Serial - How I Built This

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY Lorna Laurent, Staff Writer 17th January: This day in 1943 became advertised as ‘Tin Can Drive Day’. A campaign was begun to encourage the residents of Dayton, Ohio to donate used tin cans to help the war effort. Two tin cans contained enough tin for a syrette, which was used for administering sedatives on the battlefield to help prevent shock. They also were used on airplane instrument panels, aircraft bearings and to transport food overseas. This first concentrated effort to collect tin yielded approximately 172,000 pounds, or about six railroad carloads, of tin.

18th January: Dr William Price is arrested as he attempts to cremate his son Iesu Grist in 1884. As burials were considered the only appropriate deposition of corpses in the 19th century, Dr Price was tried for the murder of his son before an autopsy concluded Iesu Grist had died of natural causes.

The media attention dedicated to these trials set a precedent for cremation as a burial custom, leading to the Cremation Act of 1902 and the opening of official crematoriums. Upon his death in January 1893, Price was, unsurprisingly enough, cremated.

19th January: L’Auto, France’s second largest sports newspaper, announces a six-stage bicycle race in 1903: the Tour de France. Set up by business people such as Édouard Michelin, the newspaper decides to hold this nationwide race in order to up their sales – the expected result far exceeds expectations; sales doubled and the race extended far beyond the two years it was planned for (obviously), only ever interrupted for the two World Wars.

Est.

10 1997

FEATURES

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

J1 Visa: the who, the what and the how Mary Collins, Features editor So you’re just back and you’re already plotting your escape; here is the low down on a J1.

J1 refers to the ‘J1 Summer work and Travel Visa’ which allows 3rd level full time students to work in the US for a maximum of 4 months, between the 15th of May and 15th September. For many, it’s a rite of passage throughout their time as a student, and one of the most exhilarating experiences of their lives.

Who can go?

Obviously, you have to be at least 18 at time of application (or 18 by 15th of May with parental permission included with the application form). Students who are completing a full time degree program of two years duration minimum may apply, and final year students can apply for the Summer after completing their course, but they must prove their intention to return to Ireland at the end of their stay (usually either to further education or to full time employment). If you have gone on J1 before, you can go again as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

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Reminder: Last year new regulations were brought in that state you MUST have your seasonal job approved before you travel/your visa is issued, so get cracking on that CV and start applying.

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Generally how it works, step by step: 1. Most people book their J1s through USIT or SAYIT. Both have offices in Cork City (both are on the Grand Parade) so you can drop in if you want to have a chat about how it all works or to book your “package.” These

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cover administration costs and, depending on the package, can cover things like helping you get a job.

Once you put down the deposit for your J1 package, you’ll get an online account where you pay for expenses, send messages and book flights.

Submit documents, such as confirmation of registration to prove you’re a student, and a copy of your passport.

Book your flights.

Look for a job. You can get help through your travel agency, but there is no need to wait, you can contact employers and look on your own terms if you prefer!

Once you get a job, it must be vetted and approved by the CIEE, Council on International Educational Exchange. They are the J1 US Sponsor, and on behalf of the US Government they issue all DS-2019 Work Authorisation Documents (the official form that allows you to work in the US when paired with a J1 visa). Depending on your travel agent, they do this for you, or you can do it yourself by contacting the CIEE. Once your DS-2019 papers are issued, you must attend an interview in the US Embassy in Dublin.

You must also complete the CIEE orientation online. It just briefs you on some rules and regulations, tips for having a good J1 and gives you guidance on some of the requirements once you arrive on US soil.

Fly out to the US. Within ten days of the start of your J1 program (the date will be on your DS-2019 form), you must register for SEVIS, a computerised system that the Department of Homeland Security uses to manage information about

international students in the US. 10. Once that is completed, you must apply for a social security number (the US version of a PPS). In order to work legally in the US, you must either have a SSN or show proof that you have applied for it (they can take 3-5 weeks to arrive; not much use when you’re there for 16 weeks max) Okay, all your paperwork is done, time to work hard, and probably party harder.

You may have noticed accommodation was not included in the step by step guide above, and that’s because it can be a tricky one. Some people like to book it when they settle on a location and book their flights. Some like to book a hostel for the first few weeks of their stay, and book a place when they can see it in person. It’s personal preference, really.

Tips, tricks and reminders: 1. Book everything EARLY. The earlier you book, the more time you have to plan if anything goes wrong.

2. Booking early can also save money on things like flights. Between the travel agent, insurance, embassy fees and more, you’re looking at €10001500, and that’s before you book flights and accommodation.

3. If you decide to stay at a hostel when you get there, and book accommodation on arrival, be sure to book a hostel for longer than you think you will need it; better to lose some money in cancellation fees than be homeless in another country.

4. Even with a job waiting for you, you need to have a minimum of $800 available to you when you leave. You have to have proof of this as well as a

completed CIEE Job Offer form with you on arrival in case immigration asks to see it.

5. Some places/jobs are forbidden on a J1 visa. Do your homework before you go so you don’t end up getting caught later.

6. Once your J1 program has finished (end date will be on the DS-2019) you can stay for a maximum of 30 days but only as a tourist. You are not allowed to work during this period, but it’s a great opportunity to see the sights. Rent a car and go on a road trip across the country. Get lost on Route 66 and end up the inspiration for a movie about the Route 66 Slasher, I believe in you! (Editor’s note: please don’t actually die) 7. Many people go on J1 with their friends, which can be a great experience: out with the lads in sunny California sounds like a blast, right?

The problem is many people get too comfortable, and don’t try to socialise with people outside the group, or immerse themselves in the local culture. If you wanted a girly weekend away, Killarney is only down the road like! You’re in MURICA, land of the free, home of the Trump - get out there and talk to new people, make new friends and contacts, try to become besties with someone who has a REALLY nice apartment.

That way you can go “visit” for your next J1!

A J1 is a wonderful opportunity, and anyone I’ve known who went always had a whale of a time. If you can scrounge the means, it’s definitely worth it, and now is the time to go before the Trump administration wreaks havoc on foreign visas...

FEATURES

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

Toddlers and Transcripts

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY CONTINUED

Lisa Ryan, Features Writer “I wish I could go back to college, life was so simple back then.” Oh, Avenue Q, you sum it up so perfectly... In the four years since I graduated from UCC, I’ve discovered one big fact about life: being a grownup sucks. There are never emails to cancel work, beans on toast every day stops being socially acceptable and going on nights out for the opening of an envelope? Not so great when you’ve got an early start. Let’s not mention the lack of parental funding. Best to ease ourselves in there gently.

When I graduated, I made the decision to take a year out. I was burnt out from my final year exams, and in no fit state to head straight back into academia. Nor was my bank account - masters degrees do not come cheap, and I was working for minimum wage part time. So, a year out it was.

Definitely just one though. The fact that I’m writing this four years later and still haven’t stepped back into a lecture in the Boole or gotten lost in the ORB can tell you how that plan went. I became pregnant. I got a full time job. I got made permanent in that full time job. I had a baby. Three years went by, and I’m now sitting here looking through prospectuses with the thoughts of going back. I want to go back to my Alma Mater, UCC, to study for a postgraduate degree. This time though, it’s set to be a bit different. My priorities are different.

My student experience will be different.

Here’s some differences between student life as a free childless undergrad, and the mature student with a kid in tow.

Diet There were many weeks in my undergrad where I lived on what could only be called “Freezer Surprise.” Chicken Rolls from Kiwi (remember Kiwi?) were a staple of my diet, and not unlike most students I was surrounded by, my alcohol intake was probably what the WHO would count as “binge drinking” on a weekly basis. Since I’ve spent a lot of the last three years staring at sugar levels in processed food with the thought process of “how

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little sleep is feeding him this going to give me?”, I can only hope that the diet of beans on toast is a relic memory. I’ve got other people to feed now, people who aren’t in any way shy of telling me my food is substandard. Also, as anyone who has ever spent time with a toddler can tell you, the hangovers simply aren’t worth it. No, my ‘studenthood’ second time around will be much less likely to end with my gaining scurvy and liver failure, and more focused on the miracles of batch cooking. Here’s hoping anyway.

Time I did an Arts degree. I fought the stereotype of Arts for three years, that we did nothing, and in final year I probably made up for my conforming to that stereotype the previous two years. I had ten lecture hours a week.

I lamented 9am lectures. Oh, the cruel slap of the real world was sore indeed. I also spent quite a lot of time (and my part-time job income) in Coffee Dock, whiling away the hours that I wasn’t in the library. With Small Child in tow, I am at the mercy of the childcare. They don’t work weekends, bank holidays or Christmas holidays. Trying to study with him around is like trying to clean a china shop while a raging bull is racing around in the background. All that decently nutritious food from the above point is likely to not come cheap either, which means working at least part time to supplement our family income will be necessary. All that doesn’t really leave much time to get

college work done AND lounge around in Coffee Dock for a few hours. Sigh.

Subject Choice Back when I was in college and contemplating postgraduate courses, I looked at a variety of things. There was the quarter life crisis where I decided I wanted to be an accountant. The contemplation of heading into Philosophy, Religion or Ancient Languages fascinated me from time to time. I was lost and unsure of what to do, which simply isn’t good enough when you’ve someone else depending on you to get an actual real life bill paying job from the end of it. The economy has improved since 2012, when I graduated, but there’s still not likely to be a plethora of jobs out there for a very academia focused subject like Celtic Studies or Philosophy, certainly not ones which are getting handed out. The subjects I choose to study for my postgrad all have to be deeply thought out, unlike the ones I chose for my undergrad, two subjects which I’d never thought I’d wind up studying in third level education. They’ve to at least aim at a career path with an actual paycheck at the end of it, to make it all worth it on the days I’m ripping my hair out and wondering why I decided to study in the first place. I know those days are coming, the least I can do is try to put them away by having a plan in mind.

Sleep I used to think a single all-nighter was an achievement. Then I had a baby. Yeah, finals, bring it on: I’m ready for you.

Mature student applications for the CAO apply to those aged over 23 on 1 January 2017, and close on 1 February. If you’ve got questions about applying, email mso@ucc.ie, or call over to the Mature Student Office in 1-2 Brighton Villas, Western Road.

20th January: Britain’s most controversial monarch takes the throne in 1936. From the beginning of his reign, Edward VIII demonstrates little regard for the conventions of the throne and caused nationwide controversy when he proposes to American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

When it became clear that he would not be permitted to marry Wallis and keep the throne, Edward abdicated, making his reign one of the shortest in British history – 326 days long.

They don’t make men like Edward anymore, am I right ladies?

21st January: In 1903, Hungarian-American illusionist Harry Houdini rose to fame through sensational acts. His escape from Halvemaansteeg police station in Amsterdam on this day as the start of his ‘jail break’ tour of Europe saw him rise as the most famous stunt performer in the world. This led to more memorable acts, such as his escape from special handcuffs before an audience of thousands. and his being buried alive, from which he barely escaped. Houdini died of a ruptured appendix as a result of his claim that blows he received to the stomach had no effect on him – clearly a misplaced claim.

22nd January: America’s beloved president-to-be Donald Trump weds Slovenian Melania Knauss in (are we surprised?) a million-dollar wedding at Palm Beach, Florida, in 2005. The wedding is attended by 350 of America’s most prestigious citizens, with only three other Slovenians – Melania’s parents and sister – present. Little does Melania know at the time that this wedding will later make her the first immigrant First Lady since 1789. Interestingly, one of the most popular photos from this wedding are of the couple laughing with former president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary - but you didn’t hear that from me.

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INTERVIEW

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

Interview - Janet Ní Shuilleabháin What is the ARC, and what is their role in the campaign?

Méabh McMahon, Staff Writer

Janet Ní Shuilleabháin is a prominent Irish human rights activist, sci-fi convention organiser and feminist, and was named one of the BBC’s 100 Women of 2016. This interview was originally conducted in November, following the publishing of the BBC’s list.

Express: You received wide media coverage for your time on the @Ireland Twitter account, which you used to speak about your own abortion. What kind of reactions did you get to the series? Do you think that Twitter does a good enough job controlling abusive speech?

Jan: I think that online abuse needs to be taken more seriously by platforms, and also by society as a whole, but for every abusive remark I got that week, and in the weeks after, they were greatly outnumbered by the support I got and the messages from other people who had traveled to the UK to have an abortion. I am one of 170,000 women who traveled and gave an Irish address, and the support and solidarity I get on twitter every week far outweighs the occasional nastiness. However I do wish that internet service providers and social media platforms would enforce their own terms and conditions, which do have clauses about personal abuse.

Exp: Do you think that the Repeal campaign is winning people over who might still be on the fence on abortion, or does it just appeal to those who are already on-side?

ing and discrimination is not mentioned.

The false binary around sexuality needs to be broken, especially as statistics show that Jan: The thing is polls have shown again bisexual people tend to outnumber LG & T and again that the majority of people do people within the general population. want a change to the laws around abortion in Ireland, and so want increased abortion Exp: You've also spoken about having aurights - it's just that being pro-choice was tistic children. Do you find that there are stigmatized for so long in this country, pro- unique challenges facing autistic children choice people haven't realized we are the in Ireland today, especially in education? majority. We haven't been allowed to have Do you think that attitudes around autism the conversations we need to be having are becoming more positive, or does the about reproductive rights in Ireland until binary of 'you are either a math genius or very recently, not just about abortion but completely nonverbal' still exist? also about medical consent in pregnancy.

Jan: Currently there are no specific serCurrently there isn't an official Repeal vices for children on the autism spectrum, Campaign, there is a coalition of groups they get refereed to their local Child and who are looking to lobby for a referendum, Adolescent Mental Health Clinic, which but there isn't an actual formal Campaign, are incredibly understaffed and undersame way as the Yes equality campaign funded. The services when you get to use only came about when the referendum date them are good, but the waiting lists are was announced. However I am a founding long and I found I had to do a lot of reading member of the Abortion Rights Campaign and finding ways to work and manage my (ARC), and one of the goals of ARC is to children myself. repeal the 8th amendment so that we can legislate for barrier-free access to abortion We are getting better at understanding in Ireland. We believe that services should neuro-diversity but there is still a long way be free, safe and legal for anyone who needs to go. I am very lucky my kids have been one, no matter their gender. able to stay in mainstream school with some additional supports, but again these Exp: You campaign on behalf of bisexual supports have been cut back over the last awareness. Do you think, as a mother, that few years. It's takes, as a parent, being willpeople are less open to the idea of people ing to engage and at times fight the system being bisexual beyond 'experimentation' to get your child seen, and get them the in college? Do you think there's a different supports they need. Parents with special stigma attached to identifying as bi in later needs kids have it tough enough without years, or is it just another symptom of gen- the system making it harder. eral prejudice?

Exp: Do you think fandom is a space for Jan: Bisexual erasure is rife: that is, saying women and queer people to create narrathat your sexuality shifts to gay or straight, tives that better reflect them, or is it still a depending on whom you are in a relation- male-dominated space that can be hostile ship with. There is still a lot of stigma and to female voices and their criticism? silence around being bisexual, and while we have come a long way in creating programs Jan: Fandom has always been diverse, it which target homophobic and transphobic has always had queer and female narrabullying & discrimination in schools and tives. I grew up reading books by amazing workplaces, biphobia and biphobic bully- women like Ursula Le Guin, Andre Nor-

ton, Anne McCaffrey, reading comics and watching Wonder Woman on TV. Video games, comics, books have always been diverse, but when they went mainstream they became less so, but thankfully we are seeing a return to that diversity. I am the convention director for this year’s Octocon, the National Science Fiction Convention, I have helped run the last two, and a Eurocon. In these spaces I have not found hostility towards female fans and female creators. Actually, we have had the occasional issue of our gender balance being skewed to not having enough men on panels!

Exp: Are you still engaged with paganism?

Can you explain to the unacquainted what those beliefs are? How did you get involved with all things 'wyrd', and what do you think it has taught you?

Jan: I am pagan, but my practices and worship has been personal over the last few years, rather than group or community based. I am not a Christian, the deities I have a connection with are mostly native Irish ones and I celebrate the main pagan festivals here at home with my family. I am a member of Pagan Life Rites Ireland, who offer services to the pagan community. and I was at this years pagan gathering, Féile Draíochta.

I went searching for the divine feminine, for a spirituality which would sit better with me than Christianity, and I thankfully found it. It's taught me personal responsibility for my actions, being mindful of my intent when I do things and a connection to a vibrant community, not just here in Ireland but also in other countries. My activism is not at odds at all with my religion, but is part of it, and I have had wonderful support from the pagan community.

For more about Janet, follow them on Twitter, @JanetOS_, or by going to Janet. ie.

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issue 6 issue 7

Editorial

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R*solutions and learning to be happy Welcome back! Off to work we go; once again into the breach, and all that. Here’s hoping we can all work together to make the second semester of the current academic year as two-riffic as possible (I’ll go ahead and start by never, ever making a pun that awful again).

I don’t know whether any of you have made a start on the dreaded r*solutions yet - or whether you’ve made them at all, for that matter - but if you have, fair dues, because I haven’t. To be fair, I, and many others don’t really make r*solutions anymore. The word itself has become so stigmatised in my mind that I’ve gone so far as to censor it in this very editorial. The thing is, I don’t really know of anyone who’s managed to stick to one of those clichéd “new-year-new-me” r*solutions that you have such high hopes for on the 1st of January, and then abandon halfway through the month once you’ve realised you might have been a bit too idealistic. That’s partly because very few people have the kind of iron-clad self-motivation skills to go from couch potato to marathon chip within a few weeks, and partly because people don’t tend to dramatically transform within a short period of time (even if that period of time is a whole year).

Anyway, it’s not about creating a “new” you, is it? It’s about realising the potential inside “current” you. I’ve found that oftentimes if we’re not too fond of ourselves the real problem is less about how we actually are and moreso about how we perceive ourselves. A low self-opinion is a very difficult thing to navigate, though, so we’d all be forgiven for letting it

win over sometimes.

The closest thing to a r*solution I’ve come to this year is just to be a little bit nicer to myself. My plan is to do more of the things that make me happy, work harder to get what I want, and maybe be a bit more sociable (does anyone else, by the way, feel like this whole ‘Refreshers Week’ thing is a bit directed at them? Like, instead of having a hip ‘n’ happenin’ Freshers week back in September, you hosted one house party and were still in bed by 12? Just me? OK). I’ve always been the type to get frustrated if I can’t do something well the first time around, so I’ve had to reprogramme my brain over the last few weeks to make sure it knows that we’re going to have some work to do if we’re going to make this process happen.

The thing is, developing a good self-image is hard work, but so is everything worth doing. The deepest and most personal relationship you’re ever going to have is with yourself, and so I’d argue that learning to love that person is one of the most important things you can do. There’s no one way to do it, either: some rare unicorns of people do manage to wake up one morning with a new lease on life, but for most of the rest of us, we have to start small. Write down one thing you like about yourself each night, maybe, and keep expanding on that list until you start to believe what you’re writing.

Surround yourself with things and people that make you happy. If needs be, seek professional help from a counsellor. Baby steps, my friends. After all the flack you’ve taken from yourself over the years, you deserve to be happy.

And as always, be nice to each other. Keep an open mind, be empathetic - oh, and don’t let fascism win. Again, welcome back to semester two; I hope it’s your best one yet!

Lauren Mulvihill

HOROSCOPES Aries (Mar. 21st - Apr. 19th) - As Mercury is in retrograde, some bad shit is about to go down. Your sports team will lose, the sky will turn a nuclear shade of green and you’ll stub your pinky. Bummer.

Lucky item of the week: Don’t bother mate, you’re already fucked, just try survive the week.

Taurus (Apr 20th - May 20th) - As Mercury is in retrograde, some unfortunate shit is about to go down. Stay away from anybody called Olaf.

Lucky abbreviation of the week: VFD. Gemini (May 21st - June 21st) - As Mercury is in retrograde, some mediocre shit is about to go down. I’m talking finding a penny outside the Main, getting 69% on that exam instead of the usual 68% - some good but *not great* stuff.

Lucky purchase of the week: A lotto ticket.

You’re not getting the jackpot, but you’ll probably win a tenner.

Cancer (June 22nd - July 21st) - As Mercury is in retrograde, some generic shit is about to go down. You will have a week.

Things may happen. Yes. Wrestler of the week: Sami Zayn.

Leo (July 22nd - Aug. 21st) - As Mercury is in retrograde, some saucy shit is about to go down. Get that Tinder swiping, buy some condoms or some dental dams because you, you lucky sod, will get laid.

Lucky item of the week: An ice pack. You know why.

Virgo (Aug. 22nd - Sept. 22nd) - As Mercury is in retrograde, some planetary shit is about to go down. Like shit, Mercury may slam into Uranus (don’t laugh) Lucky celestial dwarf of the week: Pluto *sad emoji*.

with Medium phil

Libra (Sept. 23rd - Oct. 22nd) - As Mercury is in retrograde, some ‘conservative Ireland’ shit is about to go down. Blame Dev, I guess.

Lucky document of the week: The Anglo-Irish Treaty. Suck it, Eamon.

Scorpio (Oct. 23rd - Nov. 21st) - As Mercury is in retrograde, some good shit is about to go down. That’s what I’m talking about right there right there. mMMMMMM Lucky pasta of the week: copy.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22nd - Dec. 21st) - As Mercury is in retrograde, some audio-visual shit is about to go down. Child, go forth and watch a show that isn’t RuPaul Lucky service of the week: Netflix.

Capricorn (Dec. 22nd - Jan. 20th) - As Mercury is in retrograde, some murderous shit is about to go down. Best to stay out of the CPT. Lucky clock sound of the week: Tic Toc, Toc Tic Toc Tic. Aquarius (Jan. 21st - Feb. 19th) - As Mercury is in retrograde, some shit shit is about to go down. I’m talking poop, here. Bring spare underwear on that date, trust me.

Lucky clothing item of the week: That spare underwear. Trust me, dude.

Pisces (Feb. 20th - Mar. 20th) - As Mercury is in retrograde, some fishy shit is about to go down. Be on the lookout for all things suspicious, especially bad puns.

Lucky items of the week: Binoculars, a trench coat and a nice hat.

I must leave you all know, beautiful people of UCC, as Mercury is in retrograde, and you know what that does to my colon. That hack Mystic Greg should be back next issue to coddle you with puppies and stale memes.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

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Portrait of the Artist: The Life and Times of Salvador Dalí Sarah Ryan, Byline Associate Editor

“Each morning when I awake, I experience a supreme pleasure - t hat of being Salvador Dalí” A madman. An extraordinary artist. A fame-obsessed, money-obsessed maverick. Whatever your conceptions about Salvador Dalí, there’s no denying that the man led an exceptional life, and it’s a life that has produced some of the most thought-provoking artwork of the 20th century. From melting clocks inspired by runny camembert, to lobster telephones, to films that are still making stomachs churn today - Salvador Dalí was certainly on another level. In this week’s Arts and Entertainments section, we’ll be exploring the life of this wonderful weirdo.

“there’s no denying that the man led an exceptional life” Childhood Dalí, a massive fan of the work of Sigmund Freud, was quite aware of the effect his childhood had on him. Born to two deeply loving parents in the town of Figueres, Spain in 1904, Dalí’s childhood was charmed, to say the least. According to the artist himself, when he awoke each morning he was asked by his mother “Sweetheart, what do you wish? Sweetheart, what do you want?” Absolutely, this sort of treatment planted within Dalí the seed of what would quickly blossom into his entitled, superior attitude of a little prince which would remain with him his entire life, even as an old man: “I am Da-lí. Da-lí.

You must bring me presents. I adore presents.”

Though not academically talented (at one stage in primary school he actually forgot the alphabet), young Salvador’s talents were quickly noticed by his teachers, and he was sent to drawing school in Figueres where his ability flourished. Later, however, when Salvador got older and moved

on to study in Madrid, he felt restless and smothered by the rigid, classical teachings of his professors. He wrote: “[I] immediately understood that those old professors covered in honours and decorations could not teach me anything.” He believed them unworthy of judging his work. Nonetheless, this time was a formative one in Dalí’s life, because it was at the Resí, the hall of residence, where the artist would meet his closest and most influential friends.

Friends and Muses At the Resí, Salvador befriended filmmaker Luis Buñuel and poet Frederico García Lorca. Intense friendships no doubt, the relationship between Dalí and Lorca was particularly fiery. Both would be driven to rage by trying to compete with the other to become the leader of the group, and Dalí was intimidated by Lorca’s brilliance.

Soon, they became infatuated with each other. Lorca wrote beautiful poetry addressed to the artist, and Salvador would paint Lorca as the divine figure of Saint Sebastian. Frederico did eventually try to seduce Salvador, but according to Dalí,who came from a devout Catholic household, nothing happened.

Salvador Dalí loved celebrity culture. He famously dined with Andy Warhol & met him at his Factory, and celebrated socialites Nanita Kalaschnikov (yes, that Kalaschnikov) and Amanda Lear were lovers and muses. The Beatles were Dalí-obsessed, too; famously, George Harrison hopped the wall at Salvador’s Port Lligat home and asked for a hair from his moustache (Good thinking, George. Hairs from Dalí’s notorious moustache would later be worth around $300,000).

Film and Photography Though he’s best known as a painter, Salvador Dalí had a keen interest in film and photography, and was fascinated by the camera’s ability to capture its subjects with such precision. With his close friend, Luis Buñuel, Dalí created what is still regarded as one of his most startling pieces of work, Un Chien Andalou. Film and cinema were still only at their early stages, and the artists’ creation was horrifying for many of its audience. Scenes from Un Chien Andalou include ants crawling out from a hole in a man’s hand, a donkey corpse rotting on top of a piano, and - perhaps its most disturbing scene - an eerily calm man slitting a seated woman’s eye open, leading to an outpouring of fluid (the scene was created by superimposing a shot of a dead animal’s eye being cut open upon the woman’s face).

Worried that the horrendous film might cause the audience to become violent, Luis Buñuel showed up to the film’s premiere with rocks in his pockets.

with her to dispense in bank accounts around the globe.

Gala was a formidable character, and Dalí was enamoured by her his whole life.

She was ten years his senior and they had an open relationship. At one stage, Dalí bought Gala her own castle. Here, Gala would live with a string of lovers, such as Jeff Fenholt, and Dalí could only visit if he had received an invitation. When was invited, he always brought beautiful presents. Despite their separate living arrangements, Gala and Dalí reigned as king and queen of their own little court, the monarchs of some devoted groupies who were given loving nicknames like ‘Louis VIV’ (This was Nanita Kalaschnikov) and ‘Christ’ (usually applied to male models).

The end of Gala and Dalí’s life together was bleak - subdued by prescription drugs and unable to paint when Gala died, Dalí locked himself in her room and refused to eat. Dalí was consumed by mourning, ‘like Dalí and Gala a child abandoned by his mother’. He died As a child, Salvador Dalí was fascinated a few years later, soon after being visited by his teacher, Esteban Trayter’s, art col- by the King of Spain at his hospital bed. lection. One day, Trayter brought into his class a fine painting, of a young Russian Remembering Dalí girl wrapped in luxurious furs, to show his Salvador Dalí remains one of the most students. Dalí was enthralled by this paint- groundbreaking artists of the 20th cening as a young boy, and later believed it to tury. He inspired the next generation of be a painting of his darling future wife, artists, including Damien Hirst and Jeff Gala.

Koons, and his is a name that evokes images of the weird, the wonderful, and the Dalí and Gala were an infamous couple, no downright disturbing. It is not one that is doubt; despite being poor as beggars and easily forgotten. Dalí’s legacy is even surnever paying their taxes, they travelled the vived by a crater on the planet Mercury, world living a lavish lifestyle full of fine which is named for him. A fitting tribute, clothes, feasts, and wild parties. Allegedly, since I think it can be universally agreed Gala would travel from place to place, tow- that Salvador Dalí’s was a character that ing massive suitcases filled with money did not seem to be entirely of our world.

Film & TV

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Just Released La La Land is finally in cinemas around the country. Go see this if you’re looking for something to fill the musical craving - highly rated by critics and audiences alike, this might be the movie for you.

Sing Street is a musical that fits the same category, not that I’m pushing that or anything.

New To Netflix Loads, so here’s a quick-fire round: Sing Street, Whiplash, the Green Room, Die Hard, Fight Club, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and Bone Tomahawk, among other lovely things Coming Soon (Oscar Special) Manchester by the Sea and La La Land will be just out by the time you’re reading this, but keep an eye out for other releases over the coming month, including Jackie and Moonlight.

Person of the Week Donald Glover. That’s how you make a speech, future Lando! Picking up two awards and getting to thank everyone in the room for being an inspiration for creating the magic he never had at home growing up – he is my hero.

My Favourite Film of 2016 – Sing Street Aaron Frahill – Film & Television Editor

Sing Street – what did this movie do to me?

I’m writing this at 3:20 on a Sunday morning because I’ve been left stunned by its impact: the energy, emotion, and optimism that it brings, packaged with an inspired soundtrack. In a year that has seen so many critically recognised films with sensitive topics and dark atmospheres, e.g. Manchester By The Sea, Moonlight, A Monster Calls, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell Or High Water, etc., a void have been left for a movie that focused on the positive aspects of life, even when things may be falling down around us.

Sing Street opens in 1985 Dublin, and it paints a snapshot of the time and location so well that when I finished watching it with my dad (I made him watch it) he was impressed most by how they captured the setting. Props must go to the costume design team, because they must have spent too many days digging through old wardrobes full of memories and horrible clothes in order to perfectly fit this place and time.

What this setting mainly accomplishes is facilitating the soundtrack: the time frame given fits exactly within the rise of the likes of MTV and Top of the Pops, so when it comes to the band that Conor (our protagonist) establishes, we can see the influences in the style of the songs they make. The creation and introduction of new songs are the set pieces that make Sing Street excel – we continuously see the musical development of young Conor thanks to his brother Brendan, whenever he sticks on another vinyl, and this keeps you anticipating what’s next.

I was enamoured when a new song was be-

ing written and then performed.

While Sing Street is a musical of sorts, I would argue it is more of a study of relationships. This is displayed through Conor and his eagerness to learn from his brother Brendan; his craving for Raphina; and his dedication to his friends, especially Eamon. Jack Reynor (Brendan) has the best performance in the film undoubtedly - his unbound commitment to ensuring his younger brother follows the correct path in life is the greatest strength of his character.

The damage that Brendan has suffered in his life is obvious, and he is so far removed from the wider world that you do pity his character, but must respect him for his noble efforts concerning his brother. The development of his character was the most emotional thing for me, and by the time the first words appeared on screen once the story faded to black and the credits rolled, it was clear that Carney directed the movie with the focus of this relationship in mind, arguably more so than the one between Conor and Raphina.

Our dealings with Raphina, on the other hand, are part of a narrative that has been seen before, and I’m not going to attempt to say this is an innovative version – but does that make it a negative for the film? I don’t think so, considering the movie very much uses this relationship to forward its plot.

The complexity of the relationships that exist within Sing Street create a focus that gives you a genuine interest in the characters at hand, and gives you a reason to be constantly focused on the film.

From a filmmaking standpoint, I consider

the writing to be of such a high standard, due to primarily how self-conscious Sing Street is. The most glaring example would be the conversation about Conor being “happy-sad” – this idea of being surrounded by a number of issues, which are simply shit, but ignoring the negative impact of those problems and making the most of what you have. “Happy-sad” is possibly the best description of Sing Street’s tone and its message. When you observe Conor throughout the movie he has actually always followed this ideology. The first indicator to this is the opening scene, where Conor just plays the guitar away mockingly, imitating the argument his parents are having downstairs – what does this say? It is not easy to see your parents growing farther apart and having a dysfunctional marriage, but Conor has his guitar and his ability to create music, which he does believe can bring anyone happiness, and bring people closer together. Sing Street’s greatest expression is that there is a correlation between emotions and music, although the film never directly recognises this.

As the editor of the Film and TV section, I would be doing a disservice to the Irish film industry if I didn’t tell you to watch Sing Street. I have to thank John Carney for delivering a movie that has given me a source of happiness and joy that I haven’t felt in film for a long time now – I know a movie is moving when I have sat through the credits and the screen fully fades to black, and I think: That ended perfectly, and I want to feel those emotions again. But where can I find the same experience anywhere else?

If you want to experience Sing Street, it is now available on Netflix.

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FILM & TV Editor - Aaron Frahill

The Golden Globes – A Post-mortem Aaron Frahill – Film & Television Editor

I stayed up until 4am watching the Golden Globes this year - and it was honestly a bit of a waste of time to stay up that late - but I need to talk about the consequences of the Globes on the rest of the awards season, and wider fields.

If anyone is a regular reader of the section you might notice I’ve been hyping up La La Land to get a load of awards for months now, and here we are: the first film to win seven Golden Globes. This is an incredible feat, and while I haven’t seen the movie yet (it’s out on the 12th, so I will have seen it by the time you’re reading this) its distinct, purposely artistic style is a call back to Old Hollywood.

The real question is, will La La Land do the sweep elsewhere? Looking at it, the Globes is a different beast to other ceremonies, as the “motion picture – comedy or musical” has the ability to nurture certain movies, and La La Land is the film to reap the greatest rewards from this consideration. I assume that when we get to the Academy Awards we will see a sim-

ilar dominance, but its battle with other in a room of celebrities. My biggest gripe films will be much tougher due to a re- with the speech was that, if you look at the duced opportunity for wins. acceptance speeches after this award, it reduced the time awarded to others - not The drama section of the awards, as usu- enough time to deliver the message they al, was swamped with immense quality deserved to give. I thought it was a disgrace this year, and I think that the biggest that The Crown, which won Best TV Series casualty of this crowd was Hacksaw for a drama (one of the highest accolades Ridge. Mel Gibson’s so-called return to that the series could receive) was played form was snubbed at the Globes, and off so quickly. I am of the opinion that, for makes you wonder where it can squeeze someone winning a lifetime achievement anything out going forward. Moonlight award, they should be focused on thankwill pick up a greater amount of awards ing those who make art and have changed at the Oscars, starting with Mahershala lives - including themselves - and then Ali for Best Supporting Actor, because I trying to inspire others (i.e. the audon’t see Aaron Taylor Johnson holding dience at home who is watching both the Golden Globe and the Acade- you, that should be why it’s telemy Award. Also, Casey Affleck has the vised) to make art. She is undeniOscar locked down in my opinion, and ably a good actress, but to stand up Best Actress is a toss-up between Natalie and discuss a privileged white man, Portman and Emma Stone. when she herself is a multi-millionaire actress who surely hasn’t felt Now, Meryl Streep. I couldn’t talk about the issues of the common perthe awards ceremony without mention- son for years, in a room ing her, and - someone hold my drink, that has a majority of I’m going to get all political – I wasn’t a white males that all fan of the speech. Please hear me out be- cheered and apfore you sharpen your pitchforks, and plauded? It just please understand that this is just my kind of felt opinion on something that happened weird.

But,

again, that’s all just my view on the speech, and no one can deny that Streep deserved a lifetime achievement award for her contribution to the industry.

MUSIC

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Kanye Story of the Week As a child, Kanye was taken by his mother, Donda, to China after she was offered a yearlong teaching position in the country. The children in Kanye’s class in China were so bemused by his skin colour that they kept rubbing him to check if he was wearing paint. Leaving China, Kanye was fluent in Chinese, and had realized the horrors of racism.

Albums on the way 1. The XX – I See You ( January 13th) 2. The Flaming Lips – Oxcy Mlody (Jauary 13th ) 3. Big Sean – I Decided (February 3rd) 4. Train – A girl, A bottle, A boat (January 27th) 5. Lower Than Atlantis – Safe In Sound ( February 3rd )

Ed Sheeran’s record breaking return Cailean Coffey, Music Editor

Unless you were living under a rock for the past two weeks, you will know that Ed Sheeran has returned from his year-long hiatus to deliver new music. At 5am on the 6th of January, Sheeran released two brand new singles, and at 7am appeared on BBC Radio 1 for his first public interview in a year. The two singles, “Castle on the Hill” and “Shape of You” flew almost instantly to the number one and two spots in the UK, Ireland and across the world.

“Castle on the Hill” is an ode to Sheeran’s hometown in Suffolk, and speaks of his fond memories and love for friends from home. With a stomping beat and acoustic feel, as well as Sheeran’s slightly shouted vocal line, it can be quite moving, even if to just hear Sheeran be so honest again.

“The Shape of You” is almost the exact opposite: originally written by Sheeran for Rihanna, it tells the story of Sheeran meeting a woman in a bar and their seduction process. With the normal looped, guitar-produced percussion and a simple piano line, it’s clear that it would have been highly successful no matter who sang it. “The Shape of You” is the club hit out of the two, but both are already successful. They have both broken Spotify’s record for most streams within 24 hours of release, with 13 million combined streams. The previous record was held by One Direction’s “Drag Me Down”, which was streamed 4 million times: both of Sheeran’s songs had more than 6 Million streams.

Speaking on the sound of his new album, he described it as “a schizophrenic album” with lots of “weird, different sounds”, including Irish music, which was recorded when Sheeran invited Irish Trad group Beoga to record at his house, songs that were written on The Queen Elizabeth II boat, and a song written in Twi, an official Ghanaian dialect.

“They have both broken Spotify’s record for most streams within 24 hours of release” From early signs, Ed Sheeran seems to be preparing himself to take over the world once again.

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music Editor - Cailean Coffey

“Lorde is expected to release a followup to her debut ‘Pure Heroine’ "

Albums to Look Forward To In 2017 Cailean Coffey, Music Editor

2016, despite the doom, gloom and deaths, was one the best years for music in modern times. Nearly all of the biggest acts in the world released an album or a single, or went on tour, and every album released had reasons to claim to be album of the year.

From the confessional “Lemonade” to the genre-defining “The Life Of Pablo”, surprise releases from both Frank Ocean and Bon Iver, and the mesmerizing offerings of musical icons such as David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, and Radiohead, 2016 was such a good year for music that it left a lot of people wondering what could be left for 2017.

We have tried to answer just that - here are the albums to look out for in 2017.

Rock There is a lot to look forward to on the rock circuit in 2017 and this year is looking like it will be as big as 2016. U2 are scheduled to release part two of their “Songs Of Innocence and Experience” double album, and given the response to the release strategy of part one (sneakily dropping it into everyone’s iTunes) we can all expect a more traditional release this time around. Also due a release is Haim’s sophomore LP - it’s been three years since their debut “Days are Gone” took off across the world, and if the wait time is anything to go by we could be in for one of the biggest albums of the year.

The Jesus and Mary chain have confirmed the March release of their first album since 1998; Nine Inch Nails are definitely up to

something; and one of the biggest rock bands in the world at the moment, Arcade Fire, have scheduled festival dates throughout the summer and are said to have been recording in Paris during their off-time, so we can expect new music from them in some way, shape or form. LCD Soundsystem are also set to finally release new music, while a Beck project is also in the pipeline.

with Drake in order to produce an edgier, Hip-Hop-influenced sound, so results could be interesting. Lorde is expected to release a followup to her debut ‘Pure Heroine’, while Katy Perry is also in the studio. Charli XCX and Jason Derulo are getting ready to take over the summer charts, and crooner John Mayer is also gearing up for a new release.

It’s most likely that 3 out of the 5 original members of One Direction will release Heavy Metal something or other, with Niall and Louis al2017 is looking like the year of the ready releasing singles and both Harry and long-awaited returns heavy metal fans have Liam said to be recording. As for the quality been asking for. 90s band Tool have been in of these projects... Well, we’ll have to wait the studio, and it’s expected that they will be and see. releasing their first album in a decade some time this year. Also set for a return is Sys- Rap tem Of A Down, who have been teasing fans 2016 was one of the biggest years for rap in with pictures from the studio for quite some decades, with releases from Kanye, Drake, time. The band’s last album was in 2005, Travis Scott and Chance the Rapper being and their return has the potential to be one some of the highlights. This leaves many of the biggest stories of the year. Mastadon wondering: who is left to release new muare also in album mode, along with Marilyn sic in 2017? To begin with, Drake is about Manson and Five Finger Death Punch. to release his self-titled “Playlist”, and there are talks of a Kanye collaboration Pop album in the works. In terms of collabEd Sheeran’s album “÷” will be the most orations, we are also still waiting for the talked about release of the year when it fi- Chance The Rapper and Childish Gamnally comes out and there is absolutely no bino album, which has been talked about question that it will be the best-selling al- for well over a year - could 2017 be the bum of the year. Despite almost everyone time we finally see it? The ‘will he, won’t expecting her to release an album in Oc- he’ of the year is Jay-Z, who is expected to tober, Taylor Swift is still set to release the release a response album to “Lemonade”, follow-up to 2014’s ‘1989’. Whenever that and it’s got to be one of his most personal does come out, it will take over the world no albums yet if he wants to make anyone sit matter how good or bad the quality of the up and listen. Eminem has confirmed that music is. She’s apparently been in the studio he will be releasing his eighth album this

year, and Nicki Minaj is most likely set for a return to the limelight. There have been hints, but no concrete confirmation, of Jay Electronica releasing his highly anticipated debut album this year. There is also a possibility of Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music label collaboration tape “Cruel Summer” getting a release following the song “Champion” being confirmed as the album’s first single. In order to continue his meteoric rise, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a Desiigner album hitting the shelves sometime this year too.

Irish Artists Dublin singer/songwriter Farah Elle has created quite a storm online, and has been in the studio prepping for the release of her first album for almost all of 2016. Her feature on a song on Irish producer Bantum’s album was one of the highlights of the year, and she is expected to do big things in 2017. Dublin rap group Hare Squead are one of the brightest talents in the country at the moment. Having just released their first EP in December after being signed by Columbia Records (the home of Beyoncé and Hozier) the sky’s the limit for the group in 2017. Irish rap’s trailblazer, Rejjie Snow, is also set to release his first album since being signed, which will inevitably be one of the most interesting Irish releases of the year. Irish rockers Val Normal are also an act to watch, as their live shows are something to behold. If they ever come to Cork, do everything you can to see them you won’t regret it.

Interview

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Bry On Tour Feb 06 The Leadmill (Sheffield) Feb 07 Club Academy (Manchester) Feb 08 Welly Club (Hull) Feb 09 The Key Club (Leeds) Feb 11 O2 ABC 2 (Glasgow) Feb 12 Electric Circus (Edinburgh) Feb 13 Riverside (Newcastle) Feb 15 Mama Roux’s (Birmingham) Feb 16 The Globe (Cardiff) Feb 17 O2 Academy 3 (Leicester) Feb 19 The Waterfront (Norwich) (Sold Out) Feb 20 Komedia (Brighton) (Sold Out) Feb 21 O2 Academy 2 (Islington) (Sold Out) Apr 17 Les Etoiles (Paris, France) Apr 18 Luxor (Cologne, Germany) Apr 19 Knust (Hamburg, Germany) Apr 21 TBC (Poznan, Poland) Apr 22 Musik Und Frieden (Berlin, Germany) Apr 24 Paradiso (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Apr 25 De Roma (Antwerp, Belgium) Tickets available on BryOnTour. com

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Bry finally set to take center stage

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Interview by cailean coffey Cailean Coffey, Music Editor

YouTube is one of the most popular and most valuable websites in history. On average, 4 billion videos are viewed every day, featuring anything from car videos to parenting tips, pandas sneezing to football blunders, and almost every genre of music known to man. Since its creation in February of 2005 it has made celebrities from everyday people, giving them their moment to bask in the limelight of attention (and more often than not, the laughter) of the world. Throughout YouTube, the tag “Music” is by far the most popular. Almost from the beginning, musicians realized the potential for YouTube to bring their music across the world, and to make it accessible to everyone, and it’s through Youtube views and subscribers that record companies find new talent.

If a musician has one million subscribers, and every video they upload has over 500,000 views, then record labels will see that as the potential for 500,000 sales. At this moment in time, no record company would turn down 500,000 sales. YouTube has springboarded the careers of numerous acts, including Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Carly Rae Jepsen, The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran and, most recently, Irish act Brian O’Reilly, also known as Bry.

“but as soon as I started getting a following online, thats when

music”

list of things he wanted to achieve before settling into a job. It was at this point that he started his YouTube channel, ‘Things To Do Before You Die’: “I’d just finished University and all my friends were getting jobs,” Brian recalls, thinking back on the early days of his channel, “I’d studied teaching and I decided to not get a serious job like my friends until I finished this ridiculous bucket list, so I made a big list of things and then I decided I want to go to every country in the world, and I decided I won’t think about getting a normal job - but as soon as I started getting a followSat in a cramped backstage area at The ing online, that’s when music happened.”

Academy, two hours before his headline Since that moment, music was all he show is set to start, Bry is trying to keep could think about. busy, making sure everything is in check.

Following a gig in Galway the night be- Around 2011, Bry began uploading covfore, tiredness is beginning to show but ers of other artist’s songs, and also origihe’s nonetheless in a joyous mood. Bry nals. Prior to that, he had released an EP, was born and raised in Malahide in Dub- Swings, featuring music he now describes lin to Mary and Joseph O’Reilly who, he as “childish.” In 2012 he supported Pixie says through laughter, “are shite when Lott in what was then the O2 Arena. As it comes to music.” His Dad “only likes an independent artist, while travelling catchy songs” and his Mum had very lit- the world for his YouTube channel, he tle interest in music. It’s safe to say his would tweet his whereabouts, bringing musical talent isn’t passed down through his guitar to play for whoever arrived. generations. Writing poetry was Brian’s People came in their droves, with 150 first method of expression, but he quick- appearing in Estonia. Off the success of ly realized that putting music on top of these impromptu gigs, he toured Ireland, lyrics was more effective to wooing girls the UK and Australia almost non-stop for in his primary school class. Life in Mala- four years. Looking back on the time, he hide rambled on, Brian sat the Leaving remembers that “as I’d done five AustraCertificate at a young age and was very lian tours in two years and tickets literalsoon facing the prospect of finishing ly went down because people were sick of college. It was around this time that he me.” Bry was signed to Polar Patrol pubstarted to have doubts about the direc- lishing, run by members of Snow Patrol, tion his life was taking, and he attempted but there was even a point after this that to slow everything down. In an effort to he didn’t feel like things were progressing take control of his life, he wrote a bucket fast enough, and in an attempt to push

things on he auditioned for the X- Factor, a decision he has regretted ever since.

Grimacing, he recalls “It was the worst experience of my life. It knocked my confidence afterwards because it’s such a piece of shit.” Since then, however, things have been on the up.

with every week he wasn’t working - then a very unexpected call came through.

Bry was selected as the supporting act for Twenty-One Pilots’ European tour.

Bry was taken all over Europe, playing to thousands of potential fans every night, and the crowd loved him. He, in turn, loved the crowd. “It was the best thing “as I’d done five Austrathat’s ever happened to me, without any lian tours in two years doubt. I managed to sell more tickets in and tickets literally went European countries than I do in Ireland or the UK now because of it.” As soon as down because people the tour was announced, the album was were sick of me.” available to pre-order, and was released Bry had the basis of the album for al- on November 11th. Was he happy with most a year, but it wasn’t until 2015 that its reception? “Overall there was none he was given the chance to work on it. that said it was crap, everything was sevHe was sent by his label to record an al- en or eight out of ten,” he says, content bum with Greg Wells, a producer who’s but wanting more. worked with the likes of Twenty–One pi““It was the best thing lots, Adele, Katy Perry and Mika. Fondly recalling his time in L.A. he smiles, saythat’s ever happened to ing: “It was very nice, I’d like to live there; me, without any doubt..” but my wife won’t go near it because she thinks it’s very superficial. But that’s There’s a voice calling out front and Bry what I love about it, that everyone’s su- is required just to double check that evperficial, and then if you’re Irish they’re erything is in order for tonight’s show. like ‘damn, you’re so honest all the time’. Later that evening, hundreds of people But it was amazing. I spent five weeks (mostly teenage girls) are piled in, awaitthere in an Airbnb and I worked with my ing their hero. As the lights dim and favourite producer ever, so it was great.” the screaming starts, you can see Bry He described Greg Wells as “the weird- side stage, smiling exuberantly. Anothest person that I’ve ever met, he’s a very, er crowd to please, another checkpoint very strange man” but said that “he’s one in the already bumpy journey, another of those people like me where after an thing to tick off the bucket list. hour we’re like your best bud.”

The album’s release was delayed in order to organize a promotional plan. Things looked like they were slowing down once more, and Bry’s confidence was falling

Bry’s debut eponymous album is out now, check out BryOnTour.com for more info. You can follow Bry’s travels on his YouTube and Twitter, @BryOnTour.

GAMING

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Gravity Rush 2 I am just so sincerely excited for this game. The original Gravity Rush is my favourite Vita game of all time and I honestly didn’t expect it to get a sequel - but now it has one!

And Kat is just such a cutie. If you don’t like Kat, then you’re a bad person and you should feel bad.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Fun fact: in Japan this game is called Biohazard 7: Resident Evil. That’s all I know about this game. I don’t play scary games because I’m a big baby.

Digimon World: Next Order So originally, Namco said this game wasn’t coming to the Vita in the west, but then it was, but then it wasn’t. It truly was a rollercoaster of emotions for me and all the members of Vita Island. Takeaway: this game isn’t coming to the Vita and that sucks because Digimon are totally rad (Pikachu is my favourite) Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue That name is just so Goddamn glorious. Look at all those words together. What do they mean? And that number: 2.8. How can something be the 2.8th game in a franchise? What secret Japanese tech allows this to happen? Hopefully, playing the game will reveal all.

Five Games to Look Out For In 2017 Kieran Barrett – Gaming Writer

The New Year has just begun, and it brings with it the usual hype train of players looking forward to their most anticipated releases of the year. These are the 5 games that I’m most looking forward to in 2017.

5. Horizon Zero Dawn.

Some of my excitement for this game stems from the fact that I just upgraded to a 4k TV, and this is one of the titles which supports 4k on the PS4 Pro. I was blown away

by Horizon Zero Dawn’s visuals, even while watching the trailers in 720p on my 5-inch phone display, so the potential to play it in 4k on my television has me extremely excited. One of my favourite movies when I was younger - even today - is the original Jurassic Park, and how fantastic the effects were - how good did the dinosaurs look? What’s better than Dinosaurs, you ask? Robot Dinosaurs. The game takes place in a dystopian future where Humanity lost the war to the robots (John Connor apparently called in sick for this one) and robot dinosaurs now rule supreme. I hope this game doesn’t suffer from the hype train that is building, as it has the potential to be a Game of the Year contender.

but I found it lacking - perhaps because Konami decided to fire Kojima before development finished - so I have high hopes that Death Stranding can scratch that itch for a Hideo Kojima masterpiece. The game looks like a typical Kojima game, if they can be described as typical. I’m guessing you play as Norman Reedus’ character from the trailer, with Mads Mikkelsen (who seems to be in everything nowadays) playing the antagonist. There have been two lengthy trailers thus far, though neither explained very much. That, though, is why Kojima is so fantastic: you don’t know what is going on while playing his games, but you love every second of it. I’m optimistic for a 2017 release for this one, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t come out until 2018 at the earliest.

3. God of War I realise that both Death Stranding and God of War are PS4 exclusives, but I play on PS4 so I apologise to the Xbox and PC players out there. The E3 trailer for the newest God of War was stunning: the live musical performance; the slow reveal of Kratos; the epic Norse Mythology-style setting and enemies - somewhat reminiscent of Skyrim - all sent shivers down my spine, and I didn’t even play the original God of War trilogy. The 4. Death Stranding game seems to focus on Kratos and his son, (Gaming Editor’s note: My money’s on who he is trying to develop a relationship 2019 for this one, but I admire Kieran’s with, and there is an interesting dynamic optimism) between them as Kratos struggles to conI don’t know too much about this game, tain his Spartan rage, while also needing other than Hideo Kojima is making it. to provide guidance for his son. The game Metal Gear Solid 3 is possibly my favourite seems to adopt a grittier feel; I don’t want to game of all time, even though I could not say more realistic, but certainly not as overexplain the plot of Metal Gear if my life de- the-top violent as the original trilogy. We pended on it. Metal Gear Solid V was good,

can expect more quiet moments of character development in this one.

2. Mass Effect: Andromeda The only reason this game isn’t my number one most anticipated game is because I don’t have much longer to wait. The game finally has a release date as of the recent CES expo (March 23rd in Europe). I have already written a full page in this paper before about Mass Effect and why I’m looking forward to it, but there’s a little bit more information out there now. The story is still pretty vague, you travel to the Andromeda Galaxy to find a new home for humanity, blah blah blah. New details have emerged about the class system, as in the original trilogy you picked a class; soldier, technician, etc. and played through the whole game with that class. Now it seems you can change this up on the fly to adapt to the situation. The game looks visually stunning, and it has 4k support.

1. Red Dead Redemption 2 Mass Effect: Andromeda is my most anticipated game at the moment, but Red Dead Redemption 2 is my most anticipated game in the long run. I have written a full page breaking down a one-minute trailer for this game before, and nothing new has emerged about it since, but it’s Rockstar and they know what they are doing, so I have faith that this is going to be a Game of the Year contender. We can speculate until the cows come home about the story of this game, whether it be a prequel or a sequel, but regardless of whether Rockstar choose to continue the story of John Marston, I look forward to seeing what they do with the game.

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gaming Editor - Jonathan Soltan

Game of the Year 2016 Doom Eoin Doyle, Staff Writer 2016 was a pretty decent year for games.

We got Final Fantasy XV after waiting 10 years, we got the sequel to my favourite game of the last 10 years in Dishonored 2 and we got the biggest surprise in gaming when ID Software released DOOM, after scrapping the original plans for DOOM 4 and reworking the title completely. The fact that, after a complete rework, ID made a wonderful homage to the original two DOOM titles while adding it’s own little twist and modern take blew my mind. I never had the chance of playing the original DOOM games when they came out due to not being born yet, but having played them since it’s clear that the way in which 2016’s DOOM plays is a perfect way to update the series. DOOM deserves an amazing amount of recognition, and I think it rightfully gets my vote for best game of 2016.

Titanfall 2 Aaron Frahill, Film & TV Editor I think it’s fair to say that the First Person Shooter genre had reached its peak of saturation in 2015. If we look back at that year, originality was basically dead, so what 2016 has done for the genre is nothing short of immense. While I played Doom and Battlefield 1, and both are brilliant for their own reasons, I do think that Titanfall 2, even with the plainest appearance compared to

the other two games, is the most exciting and invigorating. The campaign has some of the best levels in an FPS since the original Modern Warfare, as the clever level design and the refined character movement make for a great experience. What the game tries to do with its characters is give heart to a robot, which is definitely a trope of modern video games at this stage, but the witty dialogue that takes place between the pilot and the titan definitely leaves you asking for more of the duo by the end of the campaign.

Also the DLC is free (except for the cosmetic stuff) and this is something we need back in our lives because season passes can piss off.

Dishonored 2 Jonathan Soltan, Gaming Editor I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy the original Dishonored back when I played it a few years ago. I don’t really like stealth games, but once I started playing, it really got me hooked. By the time I finished it, I loved it.

I was also extremely hopeful for a potential sequel, and even though I loved the original, I knew that Arkane could improve on certain aspects. After beating Dishonored 2 once so far, I can already confidently say that it’s better than the original. So far, I’ve only played as Corvo, so I haven’t even touched on all the cool new powers that Emily has, but Corvo feels as cool as ever blinking behind oblivious guards and choking them out never gets old. The thing that really knocked this game up a notch for me,

though, was the verticality of the levels. I wrote a whole article last year about how Deus Ex: Mankind Divided did verticality well - and it did - but Dishonored 2 is on a whole other level. The Clockwork Mansion in particular is a masterclass in level design.

Every environment in the game is just so enjoyable and satisfying to explore. Once I start playing the game, I find it incredibly difficult to stop. It might not be the most polished, high-budget game, but it’s the one I had the most fun with, and for that, it’s my game of the year.

Titanfall 2 Kieran Barrett, Gaming Writer My Game of the Year for 2016 is Titanfall 2, the first person shooter / giant robot beat ‘em up from Respawn Entertainment.

To say this game flew under the radar is an understatement, as the marketing geniuses at EA decided to sandwich it between the year’s biggest releases in the genre, Battlefield 1 and Call of Duty: Mars Attacks! This severely hindered the game’s launch, and even I didn’t purchase it until a month after its release (on Black Friday, when it was down to half price). However, due to word of mouth and critical praise, the player base is growing, and it is easy to see why.

My first 30-35 hours spent in the game

were focused on the game’s multiplayer, as is usually the case with FPS games. Remember the movie Pacific Rim? Where those two lads got in a giant robot to punch an alien for two hours? That’s how Titanfall 2 makes you feel. You start off on foot, kill a few enemy players, and earn your Titan.

The ultimate satisfaction arises when you drop your Titan on another player’s Titan and blow it up (I admit, I am guilty of the occasional tea-bagging of my opponent when this happens, but that’s all part of the multiplayer scene).

I then decided to dip my toes in the single player pond, and I was surprised by how fantastic it was. The creative minds at play here are the same as those responsible for the CoD 4 campaign, and there are moments which may fall into gaming legend alongside that infamous “All Ghillied Up” mission. The gameplay of Titanfall 2 is smooth and it rewards you for attempting those long wall runs and complicated maneuvers, and couple that with the fantastic multiplayer & free DLC and it becomes an easy Game of the Year in my opinion.

Honourable Mentions: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, The Last Guardian, Hitman, Overwatch, Attack on Titan, Watch_Dogs 2, No Man’s Sky and Super Mario Bros 2.

fashion

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2007: The Mini Fashion Report Iris Maher- Fashion Editor Ten years ago, at aged (almost) 12, I was as much into fashion as I am now. Despite the young age, I was an avid fashion magazine reader and makeup wearer - although my dad heavily disagreed with me wearing makeup at 11 years old.

• Three-quarter length leggings in every colour under the sun graced my wardrobe. They were to be worn under everything, from dresses to skirts, and even shorts!

• Following this trend, I very vividly remember owning a pair of tweed three-quarter length • trousers that were very “Vanessa Hudgens from her music video “Come Back To Me.” • What would look better with those trousers? None other than a matching waistcoat/vest. In hindsight, I think I just copied whatever Vanessa Hudgens was wearing that year • W i d e belts, which a r e now back i n fashion!

Embracing Natural Hair: The evolution of a movement Tosin Makunjuola, Fashion Writer

Afro natural hair has always been a hot topic for discussion; the way it looks, the texture, the kinks, the curls, the diverse styles, the manageability - and, of course, the shrinkage!

ers, all while embracing their natural Afro ish pictures of women and girls in their hair. Their confidence, courage, and beauty fashionable attire, rocking their awesome has served as an inspiration. natural hairstyles. This further led to more people not only embracing Afro hair, but Why is courage is mentioned, you might considering it fashionable. ask? It seems that today that, although Afro hair is often embraced and respected, it Furthermore, in spite of the obstacles it nonetheless seems as though it takes a cer- faced, natural Afro hair appears to have tain type of courage to stand by it. South found a way to create its own separate lane.

African girls protested against school pol- Its fierceness, the boundaries it breaks, icy that did not approve of certain styles its distinctiveness, its individuality including natural hair and cornrows. This means that it definitely requires its own sort of predicament causes setbacks and in- space, especially in the fashion industry securities that may hinder the progression which, after all, is all about being unique of the natural hair movement. and risky.

Nevertheless, natural Afro hair is seen as both beautiful and mysterious to some, because of how different it looks, how it’s styled, and how it’s managed. However, the uniqueness of natural hair has often led, and still leads to, countless controversies, mainly because of how it is portrayed in the media, and how it is perceived in everyday life: professional life and, of course, in the The fact that some may consider natural fashion world. hair to be inappropriate for a professional setting, or even for a fashionable setting, Throughout the years, the natural hair has further warranted the question: what movement has progressed and flourished is ‘appropriate’? In the words of the Chris - why? It’s flourished because countless peo- Rock movie, Good Hair: “What is ‘good ple are now truly embracing it: an average hair’?” girl who wears her natural hair out will wear it with confidence, knowing that she had As much as natural hair has never ceased styled it well, along with her outfit. It almost to be controversial, it’s also a way of expeseems like the ‘average girl’ has become an riencing oneself. It could be considered as a icon for the natural Afro hair movement. fashion statement because of how diverse it is and how stylish it can be. It almost seems Moreover, celebrities are also embracing like the accessory that will complete an outtheir natural hair: Lupita Nyong’o, Viola fit. Furthermore YouTubers, bloggers etc., Davis, Solange Knowles, Alicia Keys... the have made it much easier to learn how to list goes on. These women have graced the manage and style Afro hair. red carpet with their beautiful gowans, de- Instagram has also made a great impact in signed by award-winning fashion design- how it is portrayed, with numerous styl-

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FASHION Editors - Kenneth Nwaezeigwe and Iris Maher

EMBROIDERY FADED DENIM

2017: The Fashion Report Iris Maher- Fashion Editor

A new calendar year often leads to many vowing to clear out their existing wardrobe and start afresh, but that doesn’t have to be the case. With new trends and styles evolving from the previous season, a few key pieces can transform your current collection of clothing - bringing your wardrobe right into 2017.

Belts over shirts At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about this one, but it has definitely grown on me.

What is the belt over shirt style? It is not a belted shirt, but a large, oversized belt (sometimes even a corset-like structure) placed over a tradition style shirt. The shirt is often loose fitting with rolled up sleeves and open at the neck. The tight belt offers a wonderful contrast to the relaxed fit of the shirt. This ‘look’ was seen at Milly’s Pre-Fall (Autumn) 2017 collection.

Yes, the fashion world is already worrying

about what everyone will be wearing next autumn. Belts were not the only item of clothing to be teamed over a shirt: bralettes and other structured tops also featured at the Milly collection. Yasmin Wijnaldum embraced this trend in an editorial for Vogue China in January 2017. A new belt paired with an existing shirt will have you ready for this season’s latest fad.

Uneven jean length (raw hems) Struggling to find the correct name for this one, but jeans with a distressed look are going nowhere. Jeans with frayed ends have been in fashion for quite a few seasons now, but 2017 will continue to see this trend rise in popularity. First brought out by the high end clothing line Vetements, the jeans seen so far have made use of faded denim, with straight angle edges to their cuffs. Often the the front of the cuff would be longer than the back, or vice versa. It is easy enough to transfer this look to a current pair of jeans, especially if you are petite and your jeans are already too long!

Flared jeans are decreasing in popularity, but they did not seem to have reached great heights in Ireland either way.

Frills and Bows Frills are everywhere and they are not just reserved for ‘romantic’ style dresses anymore. Zara’s new Spring/ Summer 2017 Collection has placed a great emphasis on frills, with frills being seen everywhere from the cuffs of sleeves to the end of trousers.

FRILLS AND BOWS

Similar to the frills, bows have been used to add to plain-structured clothing and accessories. Bow and frill detailing has really added something extra to this seasons clothing.

Embroidery Embroidery was huge last year, and continues into 2017, except we are now seeing it used on unconventional materials, like faux leather.

The classic black biker leather jacket has been given a revival with embroidery, with colourful motifs of roses adorning many of the jackets appearing on clothing websites such as Topshop, Missguided and Boohoo. Embroidered ankle boots are another trend for 2017, and one of my personal favourites.

Humour

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Weather: RTÉ weather-reporting staff fear redundancy as Accuweather becomes startlingly accu Politics: Marine Le Pen and Matteo Salvini battle it out for coveted spot as fourth horseman of the apocalypse Fashion and Culture: i-D hopes to increase nipple content by at least 10% this year, sources say Music: Listening to Mumford and Sons set to move into ‘so uncool, it’s cool’ phase in 2017 Health and Fitness: Waiting until Chinese New Year to start new fitness regime deemed totally acceptable Science: NASA discovered to be full of sadistic assholes as the organisation extends excruciating year of 2016 by one whole second TV Listings: RTÉ Two, Wednesday @ 8PM: RTÉ presents a new dating reality show to connect Irish men & women with sexy single neo-Nazis in their local area.

Hosted by Irish Independent columnist Ian O’Doherty, ‘AltRide’ premieres this January.

Conor McGregor Ends UFC Career to Pursue Yoga Dream Sarah Ryan, Humour Editor

eaten like fifteen Quest bars before going in and I was still bate by the end of it. Do Early morning sunlight streams through you know how hard it is to do a Half-Lothe windows of Conor McGregor’s home tus Crow? Really fucking hard. Going in Ladycastle, County Kildare. The former 5-rounds with Nate Diaz is like senior-citUFC star breathes deeply as he poses, butt izen pool aerobics compared to that shit.” up, in a beautiful downward-facing dog stance. It is here, on his paisley-patterned McGregor credits the practise of yoga yoga mat, that he looks truly at peace. with the transformation that has come about in his temperament. Infamous for It came as a blow to UFC fans across the being well-versed in trash talk and rowdy globe last month when McGregor an- behavior, the fighter recalls a UFC confernounced that he would be ending his ca- ence in which he showed up, late, head to reer as a mixed martial artist in order to toe in designer clothing, ranting and ravpursue his dream of becoming a Bikram ing- “I’m a fucking pimp! Rocking Gucci yoga teacher. The Crumlin native had an mink!” Conor appears regretful. “Christ, extremely successful career in the Ulti- I was such a gobshite. But, yoga it..it realmate Fighting Championship, which pro- ly helped me distance myself from that. motes the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, Calmed me right the fuck down.” winning the titles of the Featherweight and Lightweight divisions. A now serene Conor says it was around the time he McGregor, stunningly balanced in an ele- started forgetting who people were, ingant Tree Pose, tells us that those titles are cluding people who he was literally about “nothing” compared to the inner-happi- to fight, whose names would be displayed ness he feels now when his chakras are in on massive posters in front of him at perfect balance. conferences, that he realised something was wrong. “I’d When asked what brought about such a be there shouting, ‘Who? change, Conor says, “I started listening Who the fuck is that? Who to the teachings of my Soul.” He speaks the fuck is Eddy?’ and in a thick Dublin accent about his first Eddy Alvarez would encounter with yoga. The burly fighter be right next to me. accidentally wandered into the Himalaya Eventually it startYoga Centre, thinking it was the weights ed happening with room of a local gym. “It was like nothing family members, I’d ever experienced before. I’d literally too. My mam

would tell me my granny had called over for a visit, and I’d be there screaming ‘Who? Who the fuck is granny?’ right in her tiny wrinkled face. I knew something had to change, but I didn’t know what to do.”

The fighter says he believes he found the practise of yoga through his sacral chakra, the chakra of accepting new experiences, guiding him to the yoga centre.

“I’m really excited for this new phase in my life, and I think my family and friends are too. All that cocky, machismo attitude was probably getting a bit old.”

He laughs. Oh, Conor, you have no idea.

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HUMOUR Editor - Sarah ryan

World Mourns Death of Generic John Sarah Ryan, Humour Editor

often on Fair City - but almost immediately, you could see the talent within John. I’ve The world is in mourning this week after the been getting my hair cut - short back, short death of one of the most beloved stars of the sides, slightly longer on the top - the same 21st century, Generic John. way ever since, just so I can look like him.”

John McNamara, or more commonly known by his stage name, Generic John, won the hearts of millions back in 1989 as an extra in the popular soap opera, Fair City.

Neighbours sat around and reminisced at the kitchen table of John’s home in his native Ballyhoura. A close friend, Mary McCarthy, said of John that “he always let me borrow a cup of sugar when I needed it.” Charitable as Brown hair, brown eyes, of medium build always, it was discovered after John’s death and average height, John’s was a look that that he had a secret Trocáire direct debit set would inspire generations to come. One fan, up, in which he gave three euro every week Terry Gilmore, recalled seeing the star for to disadvantaged children in Zambia. “The the first time: world really has lost one of its best. Bowie, George Michael… now John,” said a neigh“I remember it very clearly, because he casu- bour. ally walked past as one of the other stars pretended to look shocked, and the actress acted World leaders were quick to sympathise very well - which isn’t something you see too with the grieving family. British Prime Min-

ister Theresa May offered her condolences: “We remember Generic John here in Britain as one who brought light into the hearts of many, and was always there to provide inspiration when needed. Though we only ever saw him the once in that shite re-run of Fair City, it is clear that he has made an impact on so many throughout the world.”

Kardashian, the eldest of the three Kardashian sisters of Keeping Up with the Kardashians fame, visited the McNamara’s semi-d in the centre of Ballyhoura, and is quoted as saying that the star’s death was “just like, so not fair.” Other celebrity grievers included Elton John and Jennifer Lawrence. Lawrence in particular credits John with inspiring her to pursue her acting career. She revealed to this publication that she watched John’s Fair City episode and knew that if a man so ordinary as John could become a world-renowned celebrity, so could she.

Tensions ran high between U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, over who would be responded to first by McNamara’s family. John’s mother, Josephine McNamara, chose to answer the Chinese It is clear that we have lost yet another president’s call first, saying she’s “not a fan one of the greats. Rest in Peace, Geof the tangerine tan look off that other fella.” neric John: we hope that you’re up there in heaven, smoking the unreal Ordinary people and celebrities alike were rollies that probably caused your deincluded among the mourners. Kourtney mise with Jesus and the lads.

Lena Dunham’s Crucifixion Date Decided Sarah Ryan, Humour Editor

It was announced last Thursday that Girls star Lena Dunham’s crucifixion date has been set for the 24th of March.

This announcement was met by roars of cheers from lynch mobs, people with pitchforks, those who “just like being part of a gang,” and active Twitter users alike, who screamed insults at the star as she left her hearing at the Court of Shame.

Dunham got herself into hot water a few weeks ago for some insensitive comments she had made about abortions. On her podcast show, Women of the Hour, the star declared that while she’d never had an abortion, she wishes she had. At first, this statement was rightfully met with the criticism it deserved. Then, the internet got wind that Lena Dunham had fucked up, and social media users in their thousands rushed to the Twittersphere to get in their most cruel, fierce and totally witty comments about the Girls producer.

“the star declared that while she’d never had an abortion, she wishes she had.”

women. The episode in which Dunham made her comments was dedicated to the subject of reproductive choice in America, but unfortunately our reporters were unable to find sources, or anyone realLena Dunham is widely known for her ly, who knew anything else about what rapid rise to fame as writer, producer, was said or any stories shared by women director and star of her HBO show, Girls. during the hour-long show.

She also hosts the podcast show Women of the Hour, which intends to raise In relation to the announcement of her awareness of the work of females of ev- punishment, Dunham says she guesses ery type as writers, poets, activists, busi- she should have known she had it comness owners, and overall share the stories ing when she decided to become a sucof the struggles and achievements of cessful young woman. Lena Dunham has

always been a dedicated campaigner for women’s rights, especially reproductive rights, and when she was made aware of her blunder, she apologised profusely, saying: “I would never, ever intentionally trivialize the emotional and physical challenges of terminating a pregnancy”.

The Court of Shame hopes that the ruling will send a message to all young women who want to make a difference in the world: That no matter how noble your efforts are, fuck up once, and we will tear you apart.

Fiction

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What I Know I Was Told Sophie Mckenzie There are small deaths and cruel deaths.

Here, this is a slow death.

Nurture it, be careful, be gentle, These things are all on you, You know.

And remember It’ll be there when you fail And are alone.

You needed this, You know.

I don’t remember ordering this I know.

We know.

Yet here it is.

And we tell you all the same And every day You need to move You know.

The shackles don’t exist And don’t forget To feed your fault Here, there’s some fear.

You just need to try You know.

I know.

Yes, you know How often we tell you And will tell you Really, it’s not that hard.

Listen, listen, always heed Us, care for that empty vessel That second heart, that hides in the corner?

I tried shooing it out the door It always comes back.

But I know this I won’t feed it any more.

I think It makes the writing harder And I know It empties me out I know.

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FICTION Editor - Sophie Mckenzie

food FOOD Editor - Xander Cosgrave Traditionally (stereotypically) Oirish Food 2929

450g of Spuds.

75G of flour 150mls of Milk (Or buttermilk, if you feel like it) Salt & Pepper to taste Butter for frying (Or other stuff I suppose.)

Extras Fried onions Parsley Strong cheese/ Parmesan

Xander Cosgrave - Food Editor

in, and has been cooked by people for time immemorial. The meat is usually beef or Welcome back to the Express food section! lamb, although it’s been cooked to disinThis week, under the assumption that the tegration so you can never really tell. Flaonly people who actually read this far into voured lightly with rosemary and thyme, it the paper are either my die hard fans or is an ideal comfort food.

Exchange students, I’m going to talk about traditional Irish Food, and give you a recipe 3.Colcannon for Boxty, as well as go through some staple This one comes out of the left field to a lot Irish food. ‘Boxty’ is a potato pancake that of people, but it really has picked up again was traditional, fell out of fashion, and was in popularity, and my earthy countryside then revived by airbrushed celebrity chefs upbringing had this as one of its staples. and hipsters, but is actually really delicious. It is mashed potato and kale. Sometimes there’s nettles, sometimes cabbage, but it Traditional Irish food is generally hearty, is undoubtedly the attempt by someone to and represents a style of cooking that was get some green into their life, no matter the basically making do with the basic ingre- cost. It’s also great, because finely chopped dients that were easily able to grow on a and lightly braised greens are pretty delirock floating in the North Atlantic ocean. cious on their own anyway, and it makes Spuds, with their ability to grow up on the eating a bowl of potato almost fancy. side of the Andes, had a natural advantage here, and tend to feature heavily in recipes. 4.Puddings Here’s a few of my favourites, listed in no No, not chocolate ones, and if you eat the particular order. ones that look like chocolate expecting something sweet, you will be surprised.

1. Soda Bread White and Black Puddings are sausages Soda bread is pretty ubiquitous in Irish made with Barley and the leftover bits of cookbooks, tv shows, and grandmothers pork. White puddings are made from meat houses. It is simple, dense bread made us- and suet, and are generally fairly inoffening, surprisingly, Bread Soda as the primary sive and hard to screw up. Black Puddings rising agent, as opposed to yeast. Tradition- are blood sausages, and while good ones are ally served toasted and slathered in butter sometimes hard to find, (Look to TJ Crowes and jam, it is the ideal accompaniment to and Clonakilty for fine Cork brands) they tea, breakfast, and everything else you’d are absolutely worth it, and if eating blood serve toasty bread with. Editor’s Note: if sausages makes you queasy or something, you use any other bread than Soda for open maybe you should stop eating meat you sandwiches, you’re doing it wrong. hypocrite.

2. Stew Not just any stew, Irish Stew. This is the sort of the thick stew that you can stand a spoon

5.Tayto's Chips, for the Yanks reading this, are called crisps here. The best ones are Taytos, and

are so good they have their own theme park.

If someone offers you King crisps, remind them politely that we had a war to become a republic thank you very much, and won’t be supporting the monarchy anytime soon. *Fun fact* Taytos were the first crisp/chips to be flavoured in the world, with people previously gnawing on thin fried potato disks.

There are huge numbers of other Irish dishes, absolutely try chowder if you can find a decent seafood pub, which are all around the county because we live on a tiny island.

Coddle is something people may bring up, but it’s from Dublin so it’s okay at best. And if you’re outside a proper chipper in Cork (Editor’s note: Jackie Lennox’s on Bandon Road) you should be able to get a Potato pie, which is a deep fried ball of mashed potato, and is the greatest achievement of mankind since a mad Scotsman decided to deep fry a burger.

Boxty It’s a potato pancake. Yep. You’re in Ireland now mate.

Serves Well uh it makes four? So like half a person?

It scales up really easily though.

What you need A decent grater.

A spoon A cup A bowl A frying pan A clean cheap (thin) tea towel.

Ingredients

How to make it.

1. Grate the spuds. You can peel em beforehand but I never bother because #effort. Once you’ve grated them, you want to squeeeeeeeeeze them so you get the liquid out, I use a tea towel to make life easier, but if you don’t have one, just use your hands and drain the liquid down the sink.

2. Throw everything into a bowl. Mix. Add more flour or milk to get to a desired thickness. I like it where it’s dropping off the spoon quickly, like chunky thin pancake batter, but if you want it thicker that’s cool, just add more flour, or if you have it, some leftover mash.

3. Use your cup and pour some of the mixture into a hot oiled pan. Cook it at a medium-to-high heat, because it’ll cook fast enough and you want it a slightly dark brown. If you’re using a thinner batter, spread it around a bit so you can have a big one that’s essentially a potato crepe.

4. Poke at the edges, flip them up and look at it, once it’s browning on the bottom and the top has started to cook through from the bottom, flip it over. Once that side has gotten lightly golden, take it out of the pan. This lets you roll it up by stopping it from being too crispy.

5. Fill it with whatever you want. I use bacon, cheese and mushrooms as my go-to, though pretty much anything works.

Tips.

You can use any flour. So if you’re coeliac, just use buckwheat as a thickening agent. You can also add basically anything to it: I grate parmesan through mine, add a little chopped parsley and fried onion. You can also add an equal amount of mashed potato and a half teaspoon of baking soda, to make thicker, but still fluffy, American-style pancakes.

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SEXPRESS

ISSUE 06 | UCC SExpress

New Year, New You

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It’s a New Year, and as your normal Sexpert is otherwise occupied, it’s a new columnist at the helm here. I did ask them what they wanted to touch upon, they gave me a few quick notes, and I’ll try to stick with where they wanted to go. Don’t worry, dear readers, they’ll be back next issue (and even more so in February - I’ll get back to that later).

As I’m sure is discussed throughout this issue, this is the time of year for resolutions; ‘New Year, New You’. And while I’m sure they all mean well, and though I’m not saying you shouldn’t look at this time of year as a prime opportunity to improve your life in whatever grand way you see fit, I will say that you may be looking at this the wrong way - it’s not ‘New Year, New You’ it’s ‘New Year, Love You’. We, as a generation, as a society, tend to look at ourselves more negatively than we do positively, and spend decades of time on anxiety over our appearance, on changing ourselves, and to that I say: fuck that, love yourself.

If you find yourself among the legions now descending on the Mardyke for the first time outside of exam time, in brand new (or seldom worn) gym wear, then I salute you. The first cut is the deepest, and let me tell you, the muscle-pain after that first gym session is some of the worst

pain you’ll feel, but you’ve got to move through it...or don’t. What’s important is you take a look yourself, and find what you is the real you; find what ‘you’ you can love, and work towards that version of you.

This attitude, of learning to love yourself, is an important philosophy to try to apply to your sex life. When talking about self love in the realm of sexuality, it’s not just about masturbation, though that’s also

quite important. Generally, in the world, anything about sex is spoken about in hushed tones, if at all; Ireland is especially guilty of this quite frankly mortal sin, with sexual education being lacklustre, if present at all, in Irish schools. Unless it’s illegal, sex is nothing to be ashamed about. Use this ‘New Year, New You’ feeling to think about your attitude to sex & sexuality, and figure out what works for you. Maybe try out some new (safe) things in the bedroom with a consenting

partner of your preferred gender; maybe buy that pair of vibrating underwear you’ve been eyeing in Ann Summers; maybe realise that you’re actually gay, or bi, or pan, or ace; maybe you’re a virgin.

Sex positivity isn’t just about having lots of sex, it’s being comfortable in your sexual life and feeling no undue shame.

So if you must make a new year’s resolution, make it a pledge to love yourself, in all meanings of the phrase.

Glossary of Sexual Identities Straight: heterosexual, ie sexual attraction to the opposite gender.

Gay/Lesbian: homosexual, ie sexual attraction to the same gender.

Bi: bisexual, ie sexual attraction to more than one gender.

Pan: pansexual, ie sexual attraction regardless of gender.

Ace: asexual, ie lack of, or a diminished level, sexual attraction.

Queer: a reclaimed slur, now used as an umbrella term for all members of the extended LGBT community.

Cis: cisgender, not a sexual identity, but often confused with ‘straight’.

A cis person identifies as the gender they were assigned at birth.

Trans: transgender, also not a sexual identity. A trans person identifies as a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth.RTE Guide yet?

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GAEILGE

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

‘Pop Up Gaeltachtaí’ ag ‘Popping up’ gcuntas Twitter agus Facebook chun a nimeachtaí a scaipeadh agus fuadar a chruthú roimh don Gaeltacht a oscailt.

Luaigh Peadar liom go rabh “cloiste againn (Peadar agus Osgur) go minic sna meáin chumarsáide gur cur amu ama agus airgid í an Ghaeilge agus nach bhfuil sí le clos in aon áit. Bhí a fhios againn nárbh fíor sin, ach go raibh muintir na teanga b’fhéidir scoite amach ón bpobal i gcoitinne agus i bhfolach i bhfoirgnimh éagsúla. Bhíomar ag iarraidh sort “takeover” de bheár “Béarla” a dhéanamh agus pobal na Gaeilge a mhealladh amach”.

Aoife Nic Gearailt - Eagarthóir Gaeilge Mar atá atá cloiste againn leis na blinata beaga anuas go bhfuil Gaeltachtaí na tíre seo ag dul i mea agus nach bhfuileadar ag treisiú fé mar a mba cheart dóibh. Is iad Osgur agus Peadar , bunnaitheoirí agus cruthaireoirí an togra, ag iarraidh an dearcadh sin a scroiseadh. Tar éis dóibh an smao-

ineamh a fháil chun Pop-Up Gaeltacht a bhunú uair sa mhí, táthar tar éis dhá Pop-Up Gaetacht a oscailt ar faidh na hoíche i dteach tabhairne eagsúla i lár cathair Baile Átha Cliath.

Suite i gcúige nach bhfuil fiú Gaeltacht ar bith, bheartaíodar na Gaeltachtaí seo a chuir i gcríoch mór thimpeall na cathrach. Buailaid le chéile go míosúil chun caint craic agus comhrá a bheith acu, trí mhéan na Gaeilge. Úsaidtear a

Cruthaíonn na Gaeltachtaí seo spriod na Gaeltachtaí in áit nach mbeadh Gaeilge cloiste go rímhinic nó nach mbeadh an cultúr tipiciúl Éireannach ar fáil. Neartaíonn siad an Ghaeilge agus ár deis í a úsáid go héasca. Spreagann siad daoine nach bhfuil Gaeilge acu ar a dtoil nó go dteastaíonn uathu a gcúpla focal a chleactadh “Is turgnamhaíocht atá i gceist anseo”, a luaigh Peadar. Táimid ag iarraidh breathnú ar pé tréithe a éiríonn as an gcéad cupla Pop Up Gaeltacht. Is oíche amuigh í Pop Up Gaeltacht do mhuintir na Gaeilge i láthair amháin. Roghnaítear

teach tabhairne nach mbíonn ócáidí gaelacha ann de ghnáth agus cruinníonn pobal na Gaeilge ann ar an oíche. Níl aon rialacha, níl aon siamsaíocht eagraithe. Is oíche don phobal í, agus tarlaíonn pé rud ar mian leis an bpobal.” Ní hé an ócáid féin amháin a mbíonn an craic, ach ar a leathanach Facebook, agus a gcuntas Twitter @ PopUpGael, áit ina spreagann Peadar agus Osgur ár dteanga i mbealach beomhar, anamach.

Bunáitear Pop Up Gaeltacht eile i Nua Eabhrac ach maidir leis na Pop Up Gaeltachtaí taobh amuigh den phríomhchathair. De dheasca easpa foinsí, ní bheadh an beirt in ann Pop Up Gaeltachtaí a fhorbairt mór thimpeall na tíre. “Is foinse oscailte an Pop Up Gaeltacht. Cheana féin bhí Pop Up Gaeltachtaí i Nua-Eabhrac agus i Georgetown, Washington DC. Níl ar duine ach áit a roghnú, fógra a chuir amach agus Gaeil a mhealladh le teacht le chéile. Samhlaigh Pop Up Gaeltacht a eagrú sa Flying Enterprise!” a chuir Peadar i bhfriotal. Níl ach dream de Gaelgóirí paiseanta, craiceailte agus teach tabhairne eigin agus is í sin do Phop-Up Gaeltacht bunaithe!

Bliain Nua, Duine Nua Aisling Ní Ghealbháin, Scríbhneoir Gaeilge Tosnaíonn bliain nua amach sa slí céanna. Bíonn sé mar rún na hAthbliana ag gach duine go mbeidh siad níos slántúla, níos aclaí, go stopfaidh siad ag caitheamh tabac nó alcól nó rudaí eile mar sin de. Tosnaíonn siad amach leis an rún agus bíonn siad ar fheabhas ach tosaíonn an iarracht ag laghdú diaidh ar ndiaidh thar na seachtaine.

Tuigim féin an streacailt. Nuair a thosnaíonn laethanta saoire na Nollag bímid go léir ag ithe an iomarca, eirímid an-leiscúil agus dá bharr téann an uimhir beag ar na scálaí meáchain i mhéid. Ach cén fáth a dhéanaimid é seo?

Tá tradisiún ann go bhfuil sé ceart is cóir chun an-chuid bia a ithe, bia míshláintiúl de háirithe agus tá fhios agam go bhfuil daoine ag ceiliúradh am Nollag ach an bhfuil sé ceart chun am Nollag a úsáid mar leiscéal chun a bheith míshláintiúl?

10 Focail FAILTEARAIS Gach bliain tarlaíonn an rud céanna, bíonn an-chuid daoine tinn i rith an gheimhridh le slaghdáin agus casacht, mar sin bheadh daoine i bhfad níos fearr as a bheith ag ithe níos slántúla ná mar a itheann siad don chuid eile den bhliain mar is léir nach bhfuil a gcóras imdhíonachta ábalta deileál leis na drochfridíní a bhíonn timpeall orthu.

Ach ní bhíonn daoine ag smaoineamh ar na rudaí sin. Ní bhíonn sé ar intinn ag daoine ach chun a tslí a ligint agus taitneamh a bhaint as na laethanta saoire.

Is fáinne fí é, agus anois tá sé in am

dúinn a bheith sláintúil agus aclaí arís.

Tá am Nollag thart. Don chéad mí nó mar sin le teacht beidh gach ionad aclaíochta beagnach lán, daoine ag dul ar ais go Slimming World nó Weight Watchers, ag iarraidh a “seanléim” a fháil ar ais. Ní bheimid ábalta folaigh faoi na geansaithe móra scaoilte i bhfad eile! Tá plean déanta amach agamsa cheanna féin ach tá sé fós le tosnú agam mar sin tuigim cé chomh deacair is atá sé do dhaoine nach bhfuil róspórtúil nó slántúil. Ach is féidir leat é a dhéanamh ach díriú air, tig leat é a dhéanamh má chuireann tú i do cheann é. Is féidir leat do rún a choimeád.

New Year, new me - Bliain nua, mé féin nua New Year’s Resolutions - Rún athbhliana Start of term - Tús na tearma Refreshers - Ath-mac léinn céad bhliana Winter - An Geimhreadh Semester two - Seimeastar a dó To try and find motivation - Ag iarradh inspreagadh a lorg I can feel the tears coming on Braithim na deora ar a mbealach To change module - Modúl a athrú Here we go again - Ar aghaidh linn aris

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#BoojumCorkLike boojummex.com/cork

New burrito bandito arrives on the scene Terry Pete, Burrito Expert

Boojum, the award winning place that already has stores in Belfast, Dublin and Galway, is set to open in Cork in the next few weeks. Cork will be the first new city for Boojum in 4 years, and their 3rd new store to open in the past 12 months.

Boojum first opened its doors in Belfast in 2007, bringing Mexican food to the masses. Boojum’s popularity quickly soared, with queues famously stretching beyond the door, and the Boojum Addict t-shirt becoming a highly coveted item that belongs only to the most loyal of customers. It’s grown to become Ireland’s best-known Mexican fast casual brand, with seven stores across the island (soon to be 8!).

We caught up with Boojum owners David and Andrew Maxwell, who elaborated on the reasons for their success;

the Boojum model is simple: food is freshly prepared from scratch every morning using authentic Mexican spices, with their chefs mashing avocados for their famous guacamole, preparing spicy salsas and roasting meats to perfection in every Boojum kitchen. They claim to always be fast and convenient, saying that “at Boojum there is no table service. Just walk on up, customise your order and chow down. Our lines move really fast. We promise.”

“The new store, scheduled to open in February, is approximately 2700 sq ft over 2 floors, seating 50 people. We will eventually offer a delivery option alongside the in-store experience,” said Andrew, referring to their Winthrop Street premises, which native Corkonians will remember as Ginos.

“Cork has been on the Boojum radar for some time,” noted David, “we just wanted to wait until we found the perfect location.” The new store will be

located on 7 Winthrop Street and according to Andrew, “will offer a trendy yet comfortable layout keeping in line with our new design guidelines, all of which aim to ensure a great experience for our customers”.

“at Boojum there is no table service. Just walk on up, customise your order and chow down. Our lines move really fast. We promise” The popular brand has almost completed recruitment for their crew. David tells us, “We ran a really successful recruitment drive in the last few months, we loved meeting so many of the Cork locals, what a great bunch of lads.” Boojum is well known for their positive crew; teams of people in every store who bring energy, expertise and passion to their job. This creates a really unique atmosphere for people

to both work and eat in. “Exceptional food and customer service is at the heart of what we do,” said Andrew.

On the back of recent success, Boojum expect to open multiple new stores in Ireland over the next 12 months, but for now David tells us that it’s all about Cork: “We are complete burrito addicts and genuinely love what we do.

We can’t wait to get stuck in and meet our new neighbours. The city is buzzing and we hope we can add something special to Cork”.

“Exceptional food and customer service is at the heart of what we do,” Keep an eye on the Boojum Cork Facebook and twitter accounts for more info on the launch, loads of competitions and ‘craic’ in the run up to the opening.​

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

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into our e m a c o h w l ie springer span ld o tated. h t u n p o m a m e 9 b a o t is d e e Bell jured it need in ly d a b o s g le the joys of f o ll fu is e h care with her s ou can see, y s a rything d e n v a e , g d e in t o p d o r d e a h w p o N g doesn’t sto le g in s is m r e h spring, and can do. y p p u p r e h t o y an

Thor is one of our long term fosters who has a health condition which means he will need to be on medication for the rest of his life. He is looking for a forever home also, but we will make sure his me dication and vet bills are covered into the future.

Fosterers often fi nd that previous ly rescued dogs a brilliant at welco re ming and helpin g c are for the new recruits. Often b ringing them out of their shells an d helping them fee l safe.

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Cork Dog Action Welfare Group was founded in 2007 by a few like minded individuals whose mission was to rescue abandoned, abused and neglected dogs, and to rehome every dog that was rescued.

The organisation is completely voluntary, and our sole source of income is fundraising. Unfortunately, since we formed, the need for our services has doubled year-on-year, and raising enough funds to help every dog in need is becoming more and more difficult.

on Thursd n u o f e r e ies that w p p u box in p d t r h a ig o e b f d r o a o c These are tw doned in a duct taped acle were ir m n a a s b a a w , t t day nigh owhere. I n f ely foso v e o l l d in id y m h t e l h a t py and he a field in p a h w o n e r hey a found, and t ter homes.

Predominantly we place our dogs in foster care with a family who will nurture and love the dogs, and prepare them for their transition to a new “forever� home. Many dogs are abused, injured and neglected, and so they frequently need considerable vet care before they can be rehomed; others need behavioural therapy and some TLC to get them on the road to recovery. Our greatest asset is our volunteers, and the phenomenal strength of character & their capacity to love unconditionally that they have for all of the dogs that come to stay in their homes. I can’t express strongly enough how difficult this work is, but how enormously rewarding it feels when you see a one of your damaged fosters go off with their new family for a life of long walks, cuddles and afternoon naps of their forever couch more than makes up for the hard work.

Some dogs will never be rehomed due to ill health or behavioural difficulties, and these dogs are in permanent foster care with us. Many are old timers, who were cast aside in their golden years for a younger model.

Tiny is our mascot dog, and was rescued three years ago after he had been badly injured in a car accident. He is the cuddliest, kindest and most gentle boy ever, and adores being hugged by all of our donors. Here he is fundraising with a pal.

We are always looking for new and unique ways to raise awareness and much needed funds for the work we do. If you would like to contact us with any fundraising ideas, or to volunteer to help out at an event or indeed to foster a needy dog then feel free to contact us on Dogactionwelfaregroup@gmail. com, or go to our website, dogactionwelfaregroup.ie, or our Facebook page.

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SPORT

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

Editorial: More than Just a Football Club Dylan O’Connell- Sports Editor

guire shot passed Gary Rodgers to bring the FAI Cup back to Turners Cross for the first time since 2007. In a moment of sheer raw emotion; tears where running down my cheeks, my throat was torn, my grandfather had his arms around me and in a minute I was catapulted into euphoria.

Football is a funny game. To anyone off the street it is the simple notion of kicking a ball into the back of a net and your supporters go wild. Once it’s broke down; that’s it really. 90 minutes on a field, you wear your scarf they where they jersey and you al sing and shout and go home afterwards. Nothing Any given Sunday I would have been at work. Then; in thirty seconds everymore to it really. thing washed all over me. Every disOn the afternoon of the 6th of Novem- appointment, every regret, every failber 2016 my words and look changed ure. I stepped up and became someone towards the beautiful game. To anyone more, part of something bigger. The who does not know; I am a Cork City club I has sweat and bled over, travFC supporter. Born and raised minutes elled the country with and shone off to from the spiritual home of Cork soc- ever friend and ex was now at the nacer in Turners Cross, nurtured in the tional stage.

Shed End and christened to the verses and songs of our false Gods. It was At home my Grandmother; with a bad always something to do. Friday nights back and walking stick, ran across my was always Cork City night. You fin- front room and into my mother’s arms. ish school, you get dressed, have your According to family she was weeping. dinner with your grandparents and then It was a unified moment of happiness watch the game, Go home afterwards and solidarity across 200Km. either contempt with the win or moan to your grandparents over tea about the Cork City FC: FAI Cup Champions.

Two weeks later was a different story. referee.

It was a simple picture of a game so Rushed out of bed at five in the morning, I was awoken to find my Grandcomplicated. mother was in hospital. While, stories That Sunday in November; Sean Ma- of our health were always commas on

my childhood and our ever evolving friendship, this felt bad. Something felt final. Awake and in a haze of frustration I watched Sean Maguire’s goal back.

After twenty minutes I was called to the hospital. After forty minutes I was next to her bed. I wore my City jersey jumper for luck. The same tops I wore in Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, St, Pats and the Final. It had been lucky then and maybe lucky now.

saw City win the cup was there that morning in the hospital. The memory of that ball crossing the line the pillow as I drifted into a haze driving along the terraces of Turners Cross to the wake.

Weeks later I held the cup. Exactly a month later I got my hands on the much coveted FAI Cup and felt the weight of the past few weeks and the hop going forward. For every fan lost; there was this goal. This one piece of silverware.

In every life we all have our symbols and passions. Things which get us through the darkest and worst moments. At the end of every working week many of us; tired and stricken of life’s worries and woes; turn to the turnstiles of Turners Cross.

I do not want to divulge into things.

But after a polite word; of thank you, and a simple word of goodbye my Grandmother passed away. My oldest friend. The Cork City FC fan from the shadows; who watched and felt every There we are not cashiers and painters game; was gone. and plasters; but a face in the crowd al united and joint in a single cause. A city I never understood what a football club united in 90 minutes. With the good was until that moment. What such a comes the good. With the bad comes symbol meant. In all our club is three the bad. What remains is the memories. colours; green white and red. The co- It is does that we truly take on board, lours many; including myself, have tuck away as a snack for when we truly travelled the country with. miss them.

At our lowest moments it was a mo- While I miss my Nan, the memories ment of hope. It gave something to remain. The club down the road will keep going; to keep fighting on with. remain. Our support remains; defiant.

The symbol of luck and defiance which

SPORT

ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

Success Crucial for Colleges in 2017

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Dylan O’Connell- Sports Editor

Preparations are well underway for the 2017 Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cup ahead of this year’s competitions. For UCC they will be chasing their first Sigerson title since 2014, and first Fitzgibbon title since 2013.

Following an abysmal 2016 for both college teams, which saw UCC failing to make the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon weekends, and means both sides will surely be rearing to go in January. While the words ‘famine’ and ‘drought’ have been commonly used terms when talking about Cork GAA in recent years, successes for Cork’s institutions are most important for both the present and future of GAA in Cork.

Currently UCC is bursting with GAA talent, such as Cork stars Ian Maguire, Alan Cadogan and Stephen Cronin, as well as Tipperary’s Peter Acheson and Conor Sweeney, Kerry’s Shane Enright and Paul Geaney, and Kilkenny’s John Power. If UCC are to provide a solid foundation, and attract some of the brightest prospects in GAA, a strong winning mentality is crucial.

UCC teams year after year; what is achievable is year-on-year title challenges, and featuring regularly at the latter stages of the competitions, hopefully off the back of strong league campaigns.

With this consistency institutions like UCC can continue to attract some of the finest names in GAA.

Between the colleges there is a strong tradition is alive of successes, but Dublin’s superstardom in football, and the rise of It is an unrealistic challenge to set both hurling in Limerick, threatens to grab of

some of the games’ top players. Names in Dublin such as Sigerson winner Jack McCafferty have become household names in Dublin, while Kilkenny players Cillian Buckley and Laois hurler & All Star nominee Donie Kingston have all been selected to play for UCD. Hurling’s rise on Shannonside through Limerick Ard Scoíl Rí’s Harty Cup successes and Limerick’s All Ireland under-21 success in 2015, right up to UL’s Fitzgibbon successes in 2015, have all brought a new aura of success to one of Cork’s biggest

rivals. They are counties and institutions where success and opportunity has become one, with GAA in Cork and UCC in danger of being left behind.

The old proverb “success breeds success” rings true for GAA institutions and Cork: to lure players into Cork, and to play for UCC, a culture of a winning mentality needs to develop and solidify itself - not just to attract players, but to keep the successes and traditions alive on Leeside.

Clonakilty Food Co and Cork City FC invite schools to enter season-long rewards programme

Dylan O’Connell - Sports Editor

Pride in your Jersey’.

Clonakilty Food Co., home of Clonakilty Sausages and the famous Clonakilty Black Pudding, and Cork City FC have announced the launch of their schools programme: ‘Clonakilty Take

Centred around supporting young Cork City FC fans and families in the community, ‘Clonakilty Take Pride in your Jersey’ is inviting primary schools across the county to be in with a chance

to take part in a season-long initiative strong sense of pride in where they’re that will reward and inspire students, from are values that Clonakilty Food their teachers and their parents.

Co. and Cork City FC share, and both believe are core to their success. In orWinning schools will have a special der to be considered for the programme, visitor from the Cork City FC senior schools must enter a competition to deteam who will spend time talking to sign a football jersey for their school to the children about what it takes to be- win one of the 25 available places each come a top athlete, the importance of month. The jersey should reflect the working as a team, core skills to work shared values of Cork City and Clonon if you want to make it to the top akilty, demonstrating how tradition is and more. The player will also present at the heart of their school. and why a prize to the Clonakilty Take Pride in they are proud of where they’re from. your Jersey Student of the Month who will not only receive a hamper full of Colette Twomey, Owner Clonakilty Clonakilty goodies but also a Family Food Co. was ecstatic at the announceTicket to attend a Cork City FC home ment, saying that she is “excited to see match that month. the creativity of our county’s young people come to life in their jersey deCork City FC are also offering €1 Entry signs and demonstrate the same pride Tickets to Turner’s Cross Derrynane in their School that we have in our Stand, the newly-named Clonakilty community and in Cork City FC.” Schools Stand, for all the children in the Student of the Month’s class to at- Entries should be submitted by 27th tend the match.

January, and winners will be announced on 1st February.

Upholding traditions and having a

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ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

Munster Centre of Excellence Launched

Dylan O’Connell, Sports Editor

The Football Association of Ireland, Cork County Council and FORAS together launched the project to develop a Munster Centre of Excellence for football in Cork.

At an event in Cork County Hall, details of the project were announced for the football facility, which will support the provision of training, participation and playing facilities for players of all ages, coaches, referees and administrators, and one which aims to nurture and develop Irish talent.

The site in question will also provide training facilities for Cork City Football Club at a 30-acre site in Glanmire, 8 kilometres outside Cork city. Away from the domestic game, the proposed facility has also been identified as a potential Training Camp for teams competing in the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.

This vision, led by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and supported by both FORAS and Cork County Council, will act as a catalyst to unify the different strands of the game in Munster. Work on the project is expected to begin in 2017, and is expected to be completed within two-and-a-half years.

FAI CEO John Delaney was quick to pay

tribute to the partnerships which are nurturing this project, commenting that, “I would like to thank Cork County Council and Cork City/FORAS for the great work that has already been done on this exciting project.

“This is a multi-partnership project, which will include the FAI, Cork County Council, Cork City FC and FORAS, local businesses, a potential naming rights partner, UEFA and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, and I look forward to working with all parties in the months and years ahead.”

Away from the national game, the FAI CEO always stressed Cork City FCs connections to the facilities, and the wider

Cork Community: “as well as being a training centre and base for Cork City FC, this will be a community facility which will be open for players of all ages, coaches, referees, volunteers and administrators. This will be there for all levels of the game, from our grassroots to our professionals.

Pat Lyons, Chairman of Cork City FC, said today: “I am very pleased to be attending this launch on behalf of FORAS and Cork City Football Club.

The history of League of Ireland football on Leeside has had many ups and downs, but no club has ever truly established a permanent base. Since FORAS assumed control of the club in 2010, this has been a key aim of ours

Seeing Red

Declan Gleeson,Sports Writer

Three months after the untimely death of Munster rugby’s beloved coach and captain, the effect of the loss of Anthony Foley seems to have revived the club’s competitive edge. Exceptional displays of skill and force, have driven Munster towards a European cup and domestic league challenge.

Following an abysmal few years, which saw Munster underachieving in both competitions, a real sense of optimism surrounds the red jersey heading into the knockout phase of the Champions Cup. This run of form has reignited the passion of the Munster faithful, one of the proudest sporting families in the world, and the crowd have been an integral cog in this revived Munster machine.

European games have always been special occasions at Thomond Park, and wins against Glasgow and Leicester, as well as an emotional victory in the rescheduled

Racing 92 match, sent Munster to the top of their pool, and near certain qualification.

The defeat to old rivals Leicester in the return game was unlucky, and neither side played to their full potential. The victory in Glasgow sends Munster into the knockout stages once again, and a home game against a despairing Racing side should see Munster finish in style.

Domestically Munster have been on fire too, as all three derby games against the Irish provinces ended with Munster vic-

tories. The side will face stiff competition from Leinster and Ospreys for the top spot, but few would be surprised if Munster come out on top in the coming months.

Over the course of the last few years, Munster have struggled to find their best line-up. Ian Keatley has been disappointing since taking over from O’Gara, and there have been many shuffles and changes in the wing and centre positions.

In recent months Munster have found a

and we are delighted to see the progress that is being made.”

Construction work on the project, which is currently at an advanced planning phase, is expected to begin in the coming months, and will contain three full-size natural turf pitches (two of which will have floodlighting installed), one full size artificial turf pitch with Floodlighting, three small sided floodlit artificial turf pitches, and a goalkeeper training area The Centre will also house a purpose-built pavilion with viewing area, which will include a classroom, gymnasium, dressing rooms, physiotherapy, a medical room and team rooms, as well as a community area, and other purpose built facilities. system and a group of players who understand each other’s games marvellously. Tyler Bleyendaal has outshone Keatley with ease, and is fast becoming a fan favourite.

Simon Zebo has established himself as a world class fullback. Rory Scannell and Jaco Taute have dovetailed beautifully in the centre, one with a light touch and delicate skill, the other an endless source of brute force and determination. Darren Sweetnam has settled in about as well as anyone could have asked for, and magnificent aerial ability and pace have made him a sure starter. Conor Murray needs no introduction as the commander-in-chief of the squad. The forward pack is as good as it has been in years and they specialise in set piece tries. The back row of O’Mahony, Stander, and O’Donnell have drawn comparisons with the legendary trio of Quinlan, Foley, and Wallace, which truly is the highest of praise for any Munster men.

Hope has been rekindled in the hearts of the Red Army, and Munster seem to be on the glory trail. If the squad can continue to assert themselves as they have done recently, it will be hard for any team to come between them and the trophy.

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ISSUE 07 | UCC Express

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Lifetime Award for UCC’s Billy Morgan

Dylan O’Connell, Sports Editor

Cork footballing legend Billy Morgan was honoured last month at the UCC Alumni Achievement Awards for his 50 years of service to UCC GAA at a special awards night at UCC. The award recognises the former Cork manager’s commitment to UCC GAA as a player-turned-manager in his development of young players and his drive in winning various footballing titles at the College.

Mr. Morgan has enjoyed an illustrious career at UCC stemming back to 1965, where he was instrumental in the college winning the Sigerson Cup for the twelfth time, and again in 1966, a period described as the “golden years” for the College.

After completing his BA in Arts and a Masters degree in Higher Education in 1968, Morgan’s focus returned to his club Nemo Rangers and to Cork GAA, where he won the 1973 All Ireland Senior Footballing

Championship at both club and intercounty level. In a career spanning 50 years he has amassed five further All Ireland medals and 9 Munster titles, including one All Star and five Railway Cup medals. Most recently Billy Morgan was the mastermind behind UCC’s 21st Sigerson title in 2014, where the college beat University of Ulster in Belfast. Mr. Morgan is one of the stand-out figures of GAA in UCC and Cork, having nurtured the careers of many future Cork Stars such as James Masters, Paul Kerrigan and Stephen Cronin, as well as other intercounty stars from Kerry and Tipperary.

Speaking on the award; UCC Footballing Club President Dr. Con Murphy was ecstatic at the award for Mr. Morgan, commenting that “fifty years after he started with UCC, Billy’s enthusiasm, his desire to add value to the lives of young footballers in the college, his will to win and his continued desire to contribute substantially to college life sets him apart as an extraordinary figure in the history of UCC Gaelic Football Club.”

For Mr. Morgan attention now turns back to the 2017 Sigerson Cup campaign for UCC, and the 2017 Cork Senior Footballing

Championship following an impressive preseason in the Higher Education League.

Other awardees on the night included: Barnardos CEO and political campaigner Fergus Finlay; RTE broadcaster Donncha Ó Dúlaing; biochemist Richard Palmer, who is credited for leading the way for IVF reproductive treatment; and Emeritus Professor in UCD Anne Buttimer.

The event was sponsored by Boston Scientific, Bank of Ireland, Henry Ford & Son and PwC, and was organised by the UCC Development and Alumni Office.

UCC Dig Deep to Win Canon O’Brien Trophy

Dylan O’Connell, Sports Editor UCC dug deep to see off stiff opposition from Cork in the annual challenge game at the Mardyke last week.

It was UCC who laid down an early season marker, outplaying the Rebel County with a scoreline of 0-22 to 1-13. While both teams were left stiff & a bit rusty from the Christmas break, both were focused on the near future, with UCC having their eyes set firmly on their upcoming Fitzgibbon Cup campaign, and Cork on their Allianz

National League campaign. On the day, however, it was UCC who shone the brightest.

Impressive performances from Alan Cadogan of Douglas and Brian McCarthy of Thurles Town saw the pair rack up an impressive 13 points between them.

Cork were not without their stars too.

Conor Lehane, Midleton’s star player of their victorious 2013 Cork Senior Hurling Championship campaign, managed a reasonable six points in a wet

and windy night on Leeside.

Despite the star quality of both sides, it was UCC who would dominate the game from start to finish. Early on, UCC ran away with a five point lead, but Lehane’s efforts for the county were in vain, as the College retained their five point cushion at the interval.

In the second half UCC were on fire right out of the gate, springing to life and running out 0-17 to 0-9 midway through the second half. A late surge from the Rebels thanks to goals from Thomas O’Connor was not enough, and UCC finished the game with a comfortable score of 0-22 points to 1-13 on the night.

Attention now turns to the Fitzgibbon Cup for the college. With one trophy in the bag, all hands are on deck to bring back the cup to the college for the first time since 2013.

UCC: D Desmond (Éire Óg); I Kenny (Ballygunner, Waterford), C Spillane (Castlelyons), S Roche (Shamrocks); N Motherway (Dungourney), C Gleeson (Fourmilewater, Waterford), R Cahalane (Ballymartle); J Barron (Fourmilewater, Waterford), R O’Shea (Carrigaline); M O’Brien (Ferrybank, Waterford), B McCarthy (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary), S Hegarty (Dungour-

ney); A Cadogan (Douglas), J O’Flynn (Erin’s Own), A Spillane (Castlelyons).

Subs: J Barry (Castlelyons) for Desmond, G O’Brien (Roanmore) for O’Flynn (both half-time), D Hannon (Newmarket) for A Spillane (44), N Cashman (Blackrock) for M O’Brien (50), C Browne (James Stephens, Kilkenny) for O’Shea (55), D O’Brien (St Ita’s) for C Spillane, B O’Sullivan (Ballygunner, Waterford) for Cadogan (60).

CORK: P Collins (Ballinhassig); J Sheehan (Erin’s Own), E Gunning (Na Piarsaigh), D Browne (Kanturk); D Dooling (Glen Rovers), A O’Callaghan (Blackrock), C Murphy (Mallow); C O’Leary (Valley Rovers), B Hennessy (St Finbarr’s); C Lehane (Midleton), L Meade (Newcestown), D Kearney (Sarsfields); T O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), M O’Halloran (Blackrock), D O’Driscoll (Carrigtwohill).

Subs: C Walsh (St Finbarr’s) for Walsh, T O’Connor (Inniscarra) for O’Mahony (both half-time), J Cashman (Blackrock) for O’Callaghan (40), D Dalton (Fr O’Neills) for Collins (42), I Cahill (Cloyne) for O’Driscoll (47), E Murphy (Sarsfields) for Sheehan (51).

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UCCExpress.ie | Volume 20 | Issue 07 | Tuesday January 17th

UCC and UCD boxers trade blows at the 2016 Novice Intervarsities in Dublin. (Photo: Nathan Mayes)

UCC Shows Their True Colours

Nathan Mayas, Sports Writer

It has been an impressive winter for UCC Boxing, who travelled to and won big in Dublin at the 2016 Novice Intervarsities in UCD. Despite stiff competition from the other colleges, UCC ran away the big winners of the event.

disposed of his Trinity counterpart. Next in the ring for UCC was secondary super heavy competitor Gavin O’Herlihy, who was matched against Michael Stapleton from UCD. This also proved to be a hugely entertaining and exciting matchup, and here again UCC were successful in securing their second win at the event.

UCC opened the weekend with some impressive wins in the super heavy category. Josh Barnes opened up the campaign when he took on David Mays from Trinity. The UCC super heavyweight put in an excellent performance, and easily

Paddy Kelly boxed at light welterweight against Eoin Codd from UCD – after a difficult first round, many felt he went on to win the remaining two rounds, but lost controversially by split decision to his Dublin counterpart.

Cathal Power was narrowly beaten by Ross Ward from Trinity later on in the afternoon. Success was redeemed by Eoin O’Sullivan, who boxed at 81kg, against Theo Ward of UCD. This was one of UCC’s finest moments of the weekend, with the Leesider winning by unanimous decision Michael Burke boxed at cruiserweight against Stephen O’Brien of UCD. This was a closely contested match-up, and Michael did enough to secure a majority decision victory with his strong last

round performance.

Barry Lynch was very effective at light heavy, with impressive second and third rounds to gain a victory against Denial Shields of Trinity.

Ciaran Fagan, boxing at 91kg, slipped to a defeat at the hands of Karl Devenay of UCD. UCC Boxing Club is the oldest club in UCC, and trains on Monday from 8.30 to 10.30pm, Wednesday from 5 to 7pm and at the same time on a Friday.