UCC Express Vol.26 Issue 12

STUDENTCO-OPERATIVEHOUSINGEVENTHELDONCAMPUS

Up next, four guest speakers offered their insights and detailed their experiences of housing co-operatives, promoting such alternative models and outlining the prospects for them in an Irish context

Dr Scott Jennings, Vice-Chair of Student Co-op Homes, a collective of UK and Irish-based co-operatives described the lessons he has learned in founding the Nottingham student housing co-op Dr Jennings is also a Director of the Confederation of Co-operative Housing and the Co-operative Housing International organisation

WRITES JAMES KEMMY | NEWS EDITOR

Last Tuesday evening, a public discussion on the issue of student cooperative housing was held in UCC Organised by the college’s Cooperative Society alongside the Cork Student Housing Co-operative group, the event was held in the O’Rahilly Building’s CACSSS seminar room from 6-8:30pm and brought together several guest speakers with stakeholder expertise on the topic

The aim of the evening’s conversation was to highlight the increasingly intense and unsustainable housing situation faced by students in Cork today and to promote alternative cooperative models which see communal and democratically-operated living arrangements implemented, seeking to overcome the reliance on private landlordism and the profit-centred rental system generally

Opening the event, UCC’s Student Union Welfare Officer, Alannah O’Connor and MTU president, Isobel Kavanagh spoke of the current state of student housing in Cork, citing the various complaints and concerns they receive on a daily basis from the students they represent

O’Connor described certain instances of mushrooms growing on students’ bedroom walls and described her feelings of helplessness, whereby she can usually only offer assistance from the likes of tenants unions such as CATU or the anti-homelessness charity, Threshold

Kavanagh meanwhile spoke of the proliferation of luxury accommodation blocks that have been built in recent years which are inaccessible to the majority of students The MTU president also claimed that international and Erasmus students are being exploited by rogue online scammers who are taking deposits of over €1,000 and then disappearing from contact With rents soaring over the last few years, students were described as having to work every available hour, negatively impacting their grades and wellbeing Subsequently, AJ Nagle from the campus’s Co-op Society cited certain examples of Cork’s luxury accommodation takeover, with average rents in these complexes standing at roughly €900- €1,100 Contrasting this, it was highlighted that the average national income of third-level students is just €754 a month

Speaking to the room, Scott explained the seven general principles of co-ops and how student groups can help them get off the ground Referencing several successful examples internationally, including Sweden and Austria, and several in North America, the socioeconomic and democratic capacities for these arrangements, whereby students collectively own, run and maintain the properties they live in was promoted. According to Mr Jennings, the extractive element of the rentier system is circumvented by co-ops, where decisionmaking processes and voting mechanisms are rooted in transparency and consensus

Ryan Harling, founder and current secretary of the Belfast Student Housing Co-op explained the transformative process of co-op mobilisation in a Northern Irish context, whereby his group set up their project in the deprived Holylands area of inner-south Belfast. The ultimate goal of Ryan’s group was to enable students to access dignified accommodation and overcome the housing-related powerlessness experienced by young people today

In terms of financing housing cooperative projects, both speakers discussed the opportunities provided by credit unions and local authorities, citing broad stakeholder buy-in as crucial to success in the early stages Community Finance Ireland was mentioned as a significant lending body that can assist

these groups and Co-operative Housing Ireland, an Approved Housing Body, was urged to develop a greater share in the housing stock

Following these presentations an informal discussion panel was held Dr Noreen Byrne from the UCC Centre for Co-op Studies, Dr Frank O’Connor, founder of the Derelict Ireland Movement and Cllr Lorna Bogue from Cork City South-East contributed to a dialogue on the housing crisis and how co-ops, as a socially innovative substitute could improve prospects for citizens and students

During this conversation, the panellists spoke about cultural barriers to the growth of housing co-ops in Ireland Lorna Bogue spoke of an ideological favouritism towards privatisation in local government and weak consultation efforts with the public over the use of State land, giving the example of a “nonsensical” procurement process at a site on North Main Street in the City Noreen Byrne argued that the current housing situation is unsustainable and unfit for purpose for all stakeholders, including small landlords, and therefore, co-operative housing can serve as a robust long-term solution

The audience were then invited to ask questions, one of which raised the issue of student homes as opposed to merely “accommodation” The panellists viewed this distinction as significant, with Noreen Byrne identifying the “transient” nature of student tenancies as stymying efforts to improve housing in the longterm However, the major student presence in Cork, comprising 24,000 people across various institutions, was cited as a powerful tool for mobilising co-op action

Frank O’Connor also urged an effective business model for Cork’s housing co-op groups seeking to effect change The legacy they create will be consequential for the state of student housing into the future and will hopefully help to end the “epidemic” of vacancy and dereliction as he described it

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THE END OF AN ERA

CAITRÍONA NÍ CHONAILL | EDITOR IN CHIEF

Hi there,

I’m finding it hard to believe that this is the last thing I’ll write for the University Express! I’ve been a part of this paper for two years now, and have really enjoyed working with the respective teams I’ve learnt a lot from everyone, but also about myself When taking on this role, I knew I could write, but I was uncertain as to my ability to instruct other people as to how to get the best out of their own writing Turns out, with the team I have around me, I didn’t need to give much instruction

They were all brilliant already, making this job a lot easier! It has been a pleasure to read and edit the variety of articles every fortnight, to see the design of each issue come to life and to celebrate our successes along the way So, to James, Claire, Max, Emer, Cian, Eoin, Atakan, Kate, Conor, Jack M, Alison, Béline, Orla, Nathan, Rosie, Kellie, Cormac, Ciara, Luke, Sarah, Mark and Jack K, thank you all for making this job one of the most enjoyable and rewarding I have ever had From the newsroom chats, late night texts and photoshoots, to celebrating people’s successes in awards and cheering each other on in ventures unrelated to the paper, I am glad to have been able to work with you all and call you my friends and colleagues I wish ye the very best in the future and can’t wait to see where you all go next!

In this issue, the team reflects on our year of writing in the Opinion section, look at student housing in our News articles, have an ode to that stalwart Sicilian Delights in the Food & Health section and discuss drag with our Arts & Lit editor

Happy reading and slán from me!

JAMES KEMMY | NEWS EDITOR

And that’s a wrap! With issue no 12, we bring to you the final installation of the Express ‘22/23 :(

Over an eventful term we witnessed renewed energy on campus emerging out of the pandemic By documenting stories that defined the past seven months in UCC and beyond, we have hoped to capture powerful moments and offer thought-provoking journalistic insights for our student audience

From current affairs, sport, sex, food, Irish and opinion-oriented writers, the Express brought together a diverse breadth of journalists this year, each contributing their original voice and promoting student interests throughout On the technical side of things, our designers and social media staff ensured we had an aesthetically compelling and wide-reaching publication With an over twenty-strong team alongside various contributing writers, UCC’s media sphere is undoubtedly in a strong place right now

Above all though, our greatest achievement would be if the Express resonated with you, the reader at some point this year If our stories reflected certain experiences you have had as a student or if they gave voice to an issue generally under-represented in Irish media, our credentials would be bolstered and we would truly feel accomplished

The Express has aimed to serve as a link between student issues and social consciousness, informing and enlightening the student body It would not be possible however without a vibrant campus scene and all the creative and activist work that takes place which we then transcribe, chronicle and produce to be released every second Monday

Ultimately, I want to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read, share and contribute to the paper this year, it’s been such an enriching experience Long live the University Express

THEDYNAMICPOLITICSOFCORK: LOOKINGAHEAD

WRITES JAMES KEMMY | NEWS EDITOR

With approximately eighteen months or so until the next general election takes place, anticipating electoral outcomes in the Rebel county suggests a complex political picture Through a combination of national dynamics alongside specifically local ones, the country’s second biggest city and wider county will likely see interesting results In certain ways, Cork can act as a weather vane for wider political sentiment in Ireland, comprising both a major urban hub and vast rural areas with a diversity of political outlooks

The housing situation will undoubtedly be at the forefront of voters’ concerns at the ballot box, with little indication of a substantial improvement being made soon to one of Europe’s worst domestic crises According to the Residential Tenancies Board, the average rent in the city now stands at €1,413 Inaccessibility and increasing unaffordability for both renters and aspiring homeowners has mobilised major social action over the past period, with the issue likely to define Irish politics through the 2020s

Recent developments have manifestly inflamed the housing issue too, with the Government’s highly controversial decision to lift the eviction ban meeting fierce opposition. According to the RTB, this plan will trigger 500 notices of eviction in Cork from April 1st, with 1,000 people in immediate jeopardy of homelessness

Taking place last Saturday afternoon at 12:30, a demonstration opposing the eviction ban organised outside Parnell Place The Northside TD Mick Barry from People Before Profit-Solidarity was a leading voice at the demonstration

Moving onto party-political matters, Sinn Féin will clearly be looking to make gains in Cork, fielding more candidates and aiming to capitalise in areas where they either came close to winning in 2020 or attempting to return two TDs to the Dáil from the same constituency Something central to this effort will be a three-candidate strategy in certain areas, whereby Mary Lou McDonald’s party will attempt to gain votes from other parties and independents on the left with the ultimate hope of dampening the centre-right’s overall standing

However, the decision of former Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada to step away from politics two weeks ago comes as a blow to the party, with much talk of the former Presidential candidate and high profile figure potentially running in Cork North West seeming promising for the party’s potential seat rise

Several individuals of national prominence will also contest and influence the coming election, the most interesting of which is arguably Holly Cairns, the newly instated leader of the Social Democrats Unexpectedly elected to the Dáil for the first time in 2020, the thirty-three year old from Bantry, who had previously been a

county councillor for just one year, now appears to be generating a surge in support for her party’s ascendant brand of fresh, centre-left politics What effect this will have in the medium term remains to be seen but it may pose electoral danger for the Labour Party and Greens particularly

In Cork South Central meanwhile, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath represent the same constituency With Sinn Féin’s Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire achieving a stunning first-place victory there in 2020, it will be revealing to see if a second candidate from the party could achieve a major upset over one of these Cabinet TDs in the near future

Further issues and campaigns that have emerged as influential in Cork’s political landscape lately include those centred around refugee rights and climate change These are highly salient issues among an increasingly broad socio-demographic base, particularly the student population

Cork has not been immune to the rise in anti-immigrant and insular rhetoric visible nationwide in recent months. The wider populist right is undoubtedly gaining traction in Ireland, seen through isolated but striking incidents such as the verbal abuse levelled at staff recently over the presence of LGBTQ+ reading material in the City’s public library Just last week a graffiti display in Farranferris in the north side of the city depicted shocking racially-driven slurs which Gardaí are now investigating Countering such developments, an anti-racist demonstration took place last weekend on Grand Parade Organised by the group ‘Cork Says No to Racism’ on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a United Nations initiative, the rally gathered at 2pm on Saturday to promote the values of diversity and social inclusion

Support for climate action is on the rise too, particularly among younger voters Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan has recently opened a new office on Washington Street and City Councillor Lorna Bogue of An Rabharta Glas has maintained an active eco-socialist presence in local government As the climate issue grows in prominence, manifesting in a Cork context primarily through devastating flood damage, the environmental agenda will influence politics inevitably in the county and beyond

On the whole, Cork’s political scene at the moment suggests any outcome is up for grabs The next year and a half will be electorally instructive, with the youth vote likely playing a key role in shifts from the status quo

THESLIPPERYSLOPEOFIMPARTIALITY

Recent weeks have seen a row surrounding impartiality in public broadcasting erupt in England in response to a tweet made by Match of the Day presenter and former footballer, Gary Lineker, commenting on the language used by the British Government in relation to immigration In this tweet, responding to a video message by the British Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, relating to the prevention of people crossing the English Channel in small boats, Mr Lineker likened its language “to that of 1930s Germany”. Consequently, just days after the tweet, Lineker had been asked to step down from his duties in presenting Match of the Day for that coming weekend by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) The BBC’s reprimand of Lineker for a tweet on an issue of significant importance for him, personally, sparked considerable uproar

After the announcement of Lineker’s suspension by the BBC, his Match of the Day presenting colleagues, including former players Ian Wright, Micah Richards, Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott, and Alan Shearer, quickly declared support for his actions, and stepped down from their roles on the show for that weekend Without any available presenters on March 11, the BBC were forced to alter the format of the infamous Match of the Day instalment A twenty-minute compilation of the goals scored in the Saturday Premier League matches was shown without the traditional recap of the important moments of each game by the presenters. Meanwhile, other football-related programmes including Final Score and Football Focus were also cancelled on the broadcasting service, as was Match of the Day 2 the next day because no presenters were available due to their boycott in solidarity with Lineker

Just two days later, the British broadcasting forum was forced to overturn their decision to suspend Gary Lineker Instead, they announced that he would return to his presenting duties for Match of the Day, the weekend after According to BBC director general, Tim Davie, “an independent review of BBC social media guidelines would be carried out”, and he denied it had backed out on the issue Nevertheless, this debacle certainly highlighted the slippery slope surrounding impartiality in public broadcasting Even though Lineker was suspended for what the BBC saw as him breaking impartiality guidelines, BBC guidelines themselves do not apply to his position at the broadcasting network. According to BreakingNews.ie, “Lineker is a freelance broadcaster for the BBC, not a permanent member of staff, and is not responsible for news or political content, so does not need to adhere to the same rules on impartiality” His tweet of criticism on the language towards immigration used by the British Government, therefore, was made in a personal capacity Lineker himself, has consistently utilised his Twitter account in the last number of years as a platform for speaking out on issues important to him, such as those surrounding immigration, and in these cases, no punishment was ever handed out to him

Even so, Lineker’s agent, Jon Holmes, suggested that Lineker thought he had a special agreement with Tim Davie on matters related to immigration and refugees In an article for the New Statesman, Mr Holmes stated that “Gary takes a passionate interest in refugees and immigration and, as he saw it, had a special agreement with Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, to tweet about these issues”. The slippery slope surrounding impartiality was illustrated by the BBC’s double standards when it employs impartiality rules on different matters Many have pointed to the role of the BBC chairman, Richard Sharp, in supporting Boris Johnson when he was British prime minister At a time when Sharp was applying for the position of BBC chairman, he was under investigation over his role in securing an £800,000 loan for Boris Johnson No further action has been taken against him so far despite calls within the broader public and from some MPs for his resignation

Others have also pointed towards tweets by Alan Sugar, businessman, and presenter of BBC show, The Apprentice, discouraging the public from voting for the Labour Party in the 2019 General Election Despite publicly backing Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party in that election, Sugar never faced any sanctions from the BBC, nor was he called upon to step down from presenting The Apprentice These multiple scenarios in which the BBC did not apply their vague social media guidelines paint a clear picture as to how and where they employ impartiality Other broadcasters have come under fire in recent days in England for their application of impartiality. In a fiery interview with general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers’ Union (RMT), Mick Lynch by presenter, Jayne Secker on Sky News, Mr Lynch accused Secker of being a ‘government mouthpiece’ This was after Secker accused Lynch of “striking your own way out of a job because you’re going to contribute to the railways becoming less popular, less reliable, [and] people are going to stop relying on the railways” Secker took offense with Lynch’s accusation of her being a ‘government mouthpiece’, and responded by saying that “I’m a journalist and I’m talking to you about conversations I’ve had with people I know”, which has got nothing to do with the government, she claimed

That interview continued a trend of increasing questions being raised against public broadcasting forums for their application of impartiality rules in Britain This comes in the wake of a declining role for public broadcasting, itself With the growth of the social media age, dominated by a Gen Z audience, the prominence of public broadcasting is arguably dwindling Whilst the public may have formerly relied upon traditional sources of media such as the BBC to avail of the latest news on a number of daily matters, this is no longer the case As a result, the events of the past few weeks give us, in Ireland, an important opportunity to reflect upon the role of traditional sources of media such as RTÉ and their place in providing public broadcasting and journalism

It also allows us to consider the importance of impartiality and its application in public broadcasting and journalism As I write my final piece as Deputy News Editor of University Express, impartiality is undoubtedly an important feature of public reporting and journalistic integrity The role of both broadcasting and journalism is to report on what happens, not what you subjectively believe in That goes for everyone, no matter where one resides However, whilst important, crucially, and ideally, it should be employed on a consistent basis without any evidence of unconscious bias or double standards The chaotic events in response to a tweet, made by Gary Lineker in a personal capacity, by the BBC were not ideal It spiralled an issue of credible importance to Lineker out of control, and opened many people’s eyes to the selective employment of standards by the British Broadcasting Corporation These accusations are only likely to further increase, unless the organisation carefully reviews how it enforces such rules on its broadcasters Events like these mean that it is essential for all public broadcasters, including RTÉ and Virgin Media News in Ireland, to maintain impartiality at all times, and learn from the lessons displayed by the BBC

WE'REALLDOOMED! AREVIEW

song grows darker Each segment features a comedy set, often accompanied by games that allows Daniel to interact with his audience Throughout his show he uses humour to dive deep into serious subject matter, and as a way to cope with the terrors of the world.

Daniel states, “Every day when I wake up, I reach over to my phone, terrified to see what is happening in the world The doom scrolling begins.” Between sets, Daniel swipes through different videos projected behind him, initiating the act of scrolling mindlessly through TikTok’s For You Page The show’s structure builds upon this, as Daniel swipes through different topics like a dystopian slot machine It introduces a variety of topics, from the climate crisis, to the rise of the far-right in British media, to the death of privacy As we open our phones and are bombarded with horror story after horror story, the ordeal of going online can be emotionally draining Daniel continues, “In the face of all this unstoppable horror, it is tempting to give up but we can’t We are all so critically important to shaping the world around us You matter.” While the internet makes the world seem a terrifying place, Daniel reminds us of the brightness of the world.

One of my favourite moments from the show was Daniel going through his old tweets, building a silly conspiracy that he killed the Queen of England with a joke he made back in 2011 However, as he projected an image of Queen Elizabeth to the screen, the theatre was filled with two-minutes of Irish booing The tweet reads, “the queen is so nice, I want to put her in a box ” Daniel walked out of Vicar Street heralded as an Irish hero, avenging our ancestors

WRITES CLAIRE WATSON | FEATURES EDITOR

After ending his five year hiatus, Youtuber Daniel Howell prances onto stage, greeting Vicar Street through song and dance As he sings of happiness and how great the world is, an animated sun interjects with existential quips reminiscent of Dan’s usual sense of humour Before long, the opening number crumbles into a downward spiral as he’s no longer able to ignore the harsh, frightening reality we live in

Daniel has always been known as the sardonic youtuber who makes edgy, selfdeprecating jokes that separates him from the pastel positivity of ‘Brit-Tube’ He was the dark counterpart of lifestyle guru Zoe Sugg, artists PJ Liguori and Dodie Clark, and of course, blogger and skit writer Phil Lester 13 years ago Daniel posted a video titled Hello Internet to youtube, and built himself a career of content creation wherein he worked for BBC Radio, published 3 books, and has just wrapped up his 3rd world tour But after the end of his 2nd world tour, Interactive Introverts, his Youtube channel went quiet In the midst of his hiatus, Daniel announced his sexuality in a video titled Basically I’m Gay and explained being closeted as part of the reason for his absence

After 5 bitter years, where I finally made peace with the fact I’d never see Daniel upload again, he posts the video titled Why I Quit Youtube Published on May 4th 2022, Daniel discusses the real reason as to why he stopped uploading In his hiatus he begins a journey to better mental health, and publishes the book You Will Get Through This Night, guiding readers to survive through mental illness As part of his personal journey, he discovers his love for creation At the end of the video, Daniel announces his return to Youtube and a world tour titled We’re All Doomed

The official trailer to We’re All Doomed shows Daniel walking through an apocalyptic forest, as he jokes about the robot invasion of Amazon’s Alexas He brushes aside the body of a dead bee, which becomes a symbol of his tour, and sits down to watch a meteor crash into the Earth The tour coincides with a new series on Dan’s channel titled Dystopia Daily that calls back to Dan’s classic sardonic humour, but focuses on creativity, connecting with other people, and overall smiling in what might be the face of the apocalypse

The set design is simple, but effective A giant ring light set at the back of the stage evokes the ancient iconography of Danisnotonfire, while also referencing the staging of Dan’s Dystopia Daily The ring doubles as a screen that Daniel uses throughout the show, to engage with the audience, share memes, and to structure the show In the opening number an animated sun accompanies Daniel as he sings, inverting as the

Daniel uses the stand-up comedy model to highlight societal issues, making his arguments both enjoyable and engaging He draws attention to wealth inequality, using bubbles as a sensory-engaging way to illustrate the incomes of the average person, versus that of the 1% Despite the stark difference, watching Daniel run across the stage, screaming and filling Vicar’s Street with bubbles had everyone laughing and smiling While at once Daniel is playing upon our powerlessness in changing the world, he invites us to laugh anyways It's cathartic, but it’s also refreshing as his humour has evolved from the self-deprecating existentialism that he’s built his platform on

Act one of the show ends with a sudden return to Daniel’s usual bleakness however A h di th l f li t h th h ’ t i b ht b k t

A set change marks the beginning of act two, as a bunch of cubes lay strewn across the stage. Die-hard fans will recognise these cubes from the set of The Amazing Tour is Not on Fire Their placement lends to the dystopian tone that Daniel has been building since his return to youtube, as they resemble the undistinguishable ruins of an explosion Throughout the show Daniel references his history as Danisnotonfire, the community he built with his fans and also the toxicity of his fandom that invaded his personal life This tour concretely marks the end of that era of Youtube

The humour swiftly returns, however Act two presents us with a post-apocalyptic world The trailer’s meteor has hit, and now we’re left picking up the remains of the world He takes us through “Dan’s Declassified Apocalypse Survival Guide,” a humorous set that details how we might survive the apocalypse by riding around on scooters with cacti stuck to our bodies This set softly leads into a more serious discussion as Daniel wonders what we can do when all of the world’s problems seem beyond our control.

The show ends with a deep monologue as Daniel sits down with his audience and shares his journey with mental health He makes light of his depression, talking through his experience with logging his mental state through emojis Trying to stay positive during the different crises of the modern day can be a struggle, and Daniel doesn’t ignore this Instead he draws attention to what really matters He pulls up an old video of his, titled Existential Crisis, wherein he says “You decide what you want to achieve, what you love, what you dream and come up with your own meaning, embrace the void and have the courage to exist ” As he sits down on the stage with his audience, he celebrates their existence The world’s problems might make us feel small, but there is nothing more powerful than existing despite it

The show was both humorous and artistic, and it was quite emotional getting to see how much Daniel has grown, and how we’ve all grown with him As an anxious and depressed teen myself, I was drawn to Daniel’s channel because he made me feel less alone Seeing someone who was as weird as me flourish online, filled me with hope for the future After his final words, “You matter,” I felt emotional leaving the theatre, thinking how proud I was that he, myself, and the audience had made it this far

UCC Feminist Society Chairperson, Hayley, speaking at a Vigil in remembrance of victims of gender-related violence

WHAT’SNEXT?

WRITES KATE O’FLANAGAN | DEPUTY FEATURES EDITOR

The flowers are back on campus I always look forward to this time of year, to the pockets of yellow and purple lining the quad I looked forward to it this year The flowers still brighten my day on my walks to and from the Hub But, this time, the feeling is coloured with the particular kind of sadness that only comes with an awareness that time is running out

Preemptive nostalgia is a funny thing I’m in my fourth, and final, year at UCC Most of my friends are finishing up this year too, and it feels like we’re all walking around with the same spectre hanging over us Going through the steps of our daily routines while in the back of our minds we know that what is mundane now will someday, probably soon, be something that we miss.

Originally described as a “neurological disease of essentially demonic cause”, nostalgia was coined as a term in 1866 by Swiss doctor Johannes Hoffer The phenomenon was observed in Swiss mercenaries abroad, and military physicians speculated that it was caused by earlier damage to the soldiers’ ear drums and brain cells by the unabating clanging of cowbells in the Alps In the decades following its first recorded wide scale occurrence, nostalgia was considered a potentially debilitating and sometimes fatal medical condition - homesickness brought to a lethal extreme It was pathologised under various names throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, from “immigrant psychosis” to “mentally repressive compulsive disorder”

It was not until Dr Constantine Sedikides at the University of Southampton began to investigate nostalgia in the early 2000s that its historical reputation was challenged, and a shift occurred in how we talk about and conceptualise the emotion. Sedikides found nostalgia to be a universal phenomenon, with a study exhibiting the commonality of the experience and its effects in eighteen countries across five continents Assumed to uniquely affect adults, the work of Sedikides and his contemporaries showed that children as young as seven also experience nostalgia, looking back fondly on birthdays and family holidays (Interestingly, a 1995 study found that younger people felt greater nostalgia for pets, toys, and holidays than older people, who felt greater nostalgia for music.)

Not only was the experience of nostalgia universal, so were the topics of reminiscences - friends and family, holidays, songs, sunsets, lakes However, nostalgia is not a simple exercise in cheeriness As anyone can attest, it is bittersweet The central paradox of nostalgia is that it is most often triggered by negative events and feelings of loneliness, it does not exacerbate the feelings Instead, it galvanises people, acting as a slave for negative moods and a defence mechanism for unhappiness A

2006 study found that provoking nostalgia not only improved people's mood, but also strengthened their social bonds and boosted their positive feelings about themselves Similar research throughout the 2010s and into the 2020s has shown that feeling nostalgic can strengthen the sense of life's meaning, increase spirituality and optimism, and even lower an existential reaction to the idea of death

Even with all its positive impacts, there can always be too much of a good thing An overindulgence in nostalgia, a mythologising of the past into an unreachable and untrue version of the 'glory days' has contributed to the society-enforced narrative that university consists of the best years of your life Or, perhaps, you've heard it said about other predetermined periods of time Certain secondary school teachers were fond of reminding my year group that the best years of our lives were currently happening to us as we sat through eighty minutes of Higher Level Maths Or, maybe, it'll be your thirties The thirties are the new twenties are the secret, real best years of your life

Any response to the deification of time spent at university that simply seeks to move the goalposts, positing that the narrative is simply mistaken and it's a different period that is the best, is missing the point The idea that any rite of passage, any arbitrarily chosen chunk of time, is the best that you will ever be isn't just inaccurate It's depressing And demoralising It's not about what any one person did or didn't do; whether they preferred university to secondary school, their twenties to their thirties, or any other comparison No singular chapter of your life has any greater inherent worth than any other chapter Your life is your life, no matter what age you are or what you're going through

As my final few weeks on campus wind to a close, I reflect on the memories I've made here And call to mind a verbal mantra, a talisman of sorts, that's steered me since I was a teenager

The year I was sixteen, I watched all one hundred and fifty-six episodes of The West Wing Aaron Sorkin’s depiction of the fictitious Bartlet administration rewired my brain in a way no other piece of media has Like most people who watched, and loved, the show, it made me politically minded in a way I hadn’t been before It lit a fire under my desire to write more, and to write better (A special mention to the sticker of Toby Ziegler, the administration’s communications director, that lives next to the touchpad on my laptop ) But, the most important thing I took from the show, what I consider to be one of the central ideas underscoring the whole thing, is this: what’s next?

The phrase is frequently used throughout the show’s seven season run “When I say, ‘what’s next’ it means I’m ready to move on to other things,” President Bartlet says in the season two opener, “So, what’s next?”

The question isn’t a dismissal or indictment of what’s come before It doesn't raise expectations of what's around the corner It’s an k l d t th t thi ti thi i i It ill

THEEXPRESSTEAM: WHYWEWRITE

WRITES BÉLINE CHAN | OPINION EDITOR

As this is the last issue of the academic year, I wanted to dedicate this article to the Express itself and some of our wonderful editors behind all the articles you are reading, and why we love to write To start off with myself, I’m Béline and I am so lucky to be the Opinion Editor of the Express this year I have always had a passion for writing and reading, ever since I was a young child. I always wrote my own mini books; I would write poems and re-write songs I always had space in my heart for literature, and it has always been an important factor and creative outlet in my life As it is my final year of my undergraduate degree, I wanted to take every opportunity to showcase my love for writing and share my thoughts and other student’s opinions with everyone Being part of the Express team has given me such a wonderful experience and has helped me improve as a writer We have the loveliest team that radiates positivity and kindness Everyone is always so supportive of each other, and I will miss being Opinion Editor a lot Being an editor for this newspaper will always be a core memory for me when I graduate from UCC, and I am grateful for all the opportunities

“I’ve had a keen interest in journalism since before I even knew how to spell journalism. My parents can attest that I would make homemade newspapers and write up stories about local news and what my family was up to that week for my loved ones to read I guess that’s why I signed up for the Express this year; to make my inner child happy It’s been amazing to work with so many talented, strong minded and opinionated young people The team is incredibly encouraging, and it’s been a pleasure to share the pages with people I can call my friends Big thank you to our Editor In Chief Caitríona Ní Chonaill who has been a rock through all the chaos of final year and been an amazing tutor and guide for me in my endeavours with student journalism I look forward to seeing where this journey will take me next, but the Express will always be one of my first loves” Rosie, Film and TV Editor

“My name is Jack Kelly, and I am the Deputy Sports Editor for the UCC Express I started in UCC last September as a Mature student, and I decided to contact the Editor (Caitríona) about potential roles with the paper as I had always wanted to get involved in writing Then when I heard the role of Deputy Sports Editor was available, I could not wait to start I love writing and had always hoped to pursue a career in sports journalism but being a writer for the Express has confirmed this for me I love taking a break from my college work by researching and writing about various topics in the world of sport There is so much freedom when writing for the Express and the team is such a supportive, positive group Over the summer, I will miss piecing together my articles, but I hope to continue in my role going forward!” Jack, Deputy Sports Editor

"This is my second year writing for the Express I first joined as Film Editor and found the freedom to write about anything film related to be enthralling The standard of my fellow writers and editors always blew me away and encouraged me to elevate my own pieces Now, as the Music Editor, I have enjoyed writing about the local music scene as well as collaborating with other writers to provide students with a broader view of the music culture within UCC” Cormac, Music Editor

“The reason why I took on the Sports Editor role is that I wanted to develop my English writing skills and boost my CV. However, in the last year I’ve enjoyed every second of my time with the Express team I’ve collaborated with the editor of Gaeilge, my incredible deputy Jack Kelly as well as guest editor Eoghan O Sullivan

I’ve been delighted to have the experience of leading the sports section of the paper and hope my articles have provoked some uncomfortable conversations in the world of sport” Mark Cooper, Sports Editor

“I first got involved in student journalism as the Fashion Editor for Breac in its first edition I really enjoyed being involved in an editorial team, collaborating to achieve the shared goal of a student-empowered publication At the start of my second year, a vacancy cropped up for the role of News Editor with the Express, which I applied for, and was fortunate enough to be offered the position Since then, I have been actively involved in the Express It has been really special to write in both English and Irish. I look forward to seeing where the road takes the Editorial teams I have worked with, I have made truly incredible friends throughout my 2 years with the paper ” Orla, Irish Editor

“Since I've first got involved with UCC Express in October 2021, I've had great memories writing with fellow contributors on matters from sports, college affairs to contemporary political issues The Express means a lot to me because it gave me the chance to write for an important component of student media and student life at UCC It also means a lot to me because of the enjoyable times I had, working with fellow contributors, and the excitement of having bi-weekly deadlines I'm sure the future is in safe hands for the Express, going forward” Atakan, Deputy News Editor

“When I first applied to write for the University Express, I was shocked to find that it featured an entire section solely dedicated to gaming; I'm hoping to write about video games professionally for a review outlet eventually, so the experience the Express was offering was like a dream come true! I've had an amazing time writing for the Express and reading the fantastic pieces our team creates as soon as they're published every two weeks I can honestly say that if you're interested in journalism or even just writing in general, there's no better place to do it than the University Express” Luke, Gaming Editor

“I fell in love with writing from a really young age as a form of escapism and an outlet for creativity It is such a cathartic activity for me where I can gather my thoughts from a mind that often seems too muddled As I grew older, and my passion for social justice developed, it also became a space for me to platform important issues Writing allows me to engage in activism by telling stories that encourage people to face their biases. Student journalism has given me the courage to stand up for what I believe in and speak my mind This has transformed my confidence and helped me to overcome self-doubt If I have any piece of advice for aspiring writers at UCC, it is only to put yourselves out there There’s no such thing as failing, only improving with each step!” Sarah, Arts & Literature Editor

“As long as I can remember I’ve always loved stories and writing was a great way to experience new worlds If I ever got bored of the books I was reading or if no one had a story to tell me I could always turn to my imagination, which I often did Writing just felt like a natural progression of that I love being able to create worlds and people so when I started writing for the Express, I found it so entertaining to try and mix journalism with fiction which was probably my favourite part of writing for the Xxpress The express made me take my writing seriously because when you have deadlines and other people relying on you it makes it feel all the more real, even if the only change was really from pen and paper to laptop screen I’ll always be so grateful to the Express for taking students' opinions and their work seriously and for the chance to work with others who also had a passion for writing”

Kellie Fashion Editor

“I have written things down from a young age - I wrote stories (which never had an ending), poems and diaries, which I still keep today I think diaries where the way through which I found I truly loved writing, as a diary gives me the opportunity to release my emotions onto a page in an unfiltered format, and a diary can’t judge me or give me an unwanted rebuttal I found the world of reading mesmerising too and would be given out to in maths classes for reading under the desk! As I’ve gotten older, the magic of reading hasn’t faded, but my attitude to writing has When I was younger, I wrote short rhyming poems with a strict rhythm, usually in verse form kept writing creatively as I grew up, and I still write poems (though they have gotten longer through the years!), short stories and have even written for the stage However, most of what I write tends to be in Irish, so I have found writing in English to be more challenging at times because of the wider possible readership find solace in writing and putting my thoughts onto paper, whether that be in a personal sense in a diary, or in a public sense in a paper or a blog. The power to communicate through words on paper has never been lost on me and I find it a lo easier than speech sometimes! In my role as Editor in Chief I have immensely enjoyed seeing what everyone else has chosen to write about week to week Seeing what other people select as the most important topic to be discussed in their section that week has opened my eyes to a range of topics I would never otherwise hav been exposed to and given me a deeper appreciation of this paper as a whole.”

Caitríona Ní Chonaill, Editor In Chief

We are so fortunate to have an outlet that enables us to express our creativity opinions, and interests, and it also would not be possible without UCC students supporting us as well The Express has undeniably given us all a fun and positive experience, and it has been a great year of writing

“I got my start in the paper through a Staff Writer position, where I got to write about things I'm incredibly passionate about like film and theatre Then when the position of Social Media Manager opened, I applied immediately. Managing social media pages and getting to play around with graphic design and video making is something that I really enjoy I absolutely love my job because I get the opportunity to work with all the incredible people involved with the paper every single week” Eoin, Social Media Manager/ Staff Writer

"Being News Editor of the Express for the past year has been a really informative and rewarding experience It has given me the chance to document important stories on our campus and present other issues that are relevant to students In student journalism you can give a voice to those who normally wouldn't have one and pursue a perspective not usually seen in major media The dynamic and creative aspects to reporting are what I have enjoyed the most over the last few months I would really encourage anyone interested in writing to put themselves forward for a role like this!" James, News Editor

“During lockdown my friend sent me a message suggesting we both apply to the Express We had no idea what that text would kickstart I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but I genuinely couldn’t believe it when I got accepted onto the team I’ve been through a lot with this paper, and I can’t thank it enough for giving me the opportunity to write You guys have no idea how much I’ve laughed and cried in this newsroom The opportunity to work with so many creative people has been tremendous, and I can’t thank this paper enough” Claire, Features Editor

WRITES CONOR O'DRISCOLL | SKILLS CENTRE

As the semester begins to wind down, the Skills Centre would like to take this time to advertise a number of our drop-in services which can be used by students having issues of any variety Specifically, we host dedicated IT-Clinics at set times every week as well as dedicated drop-in clinics, also held every week at set times

If your issue is mainly IT-related, do not hesitate to drop-in to these Similarly, if your issue is more generic, a drop-in clinic is perfect for you In these, we help students in addressing all sorts of problems These sessions are hosted in-person in the Skills Centre We are in Q-1 in The Boole Library; just follow the yellow footsteps

If you cannot make it to campus for some reason, you can also book a one-to-one virtual appointment with a tutor These sessions are held at many times throughout the week If you would like more information on any of these, the best place to find us is our website (just Google “UCC Skills Centre”), in our workspace in Q-1, or by scanning the QR code in this image.

We wish you all the very best in your exams

SAOLTHARLEAR: SLÍBHEATHALEISANNGAELAINN

tar éis na tarna bliana, agus mé buíoch as an dtacaíocht a fuaireas ó lucht Quercus le dhá bhliain anuas

Cén tionchar a bhí ag baint le do chuid ama; sa Chumann Drámaíochta; sa Chuallacht, agus do phost mar Chathaoirleach, ar do shaol acadúil féin?

Bhíos sáite sa Chumann Drámaíochta ó thús mo thréimhse san ollscoil, agus tá mo chuimhní ar na drámaí a dheineamair ar na cuimhní is gile dá bhfuil agam ón gColáiste Is é an dála céanna ag an gCuallacht é - níor chraic go dtí é - agus bhí dream iontach suas in UCC lem linn, go háirithe an bhliain seo caite Bhíos ar Choiste an Chumainn Drámaíochta sa chéad bhliain agus im chathaoirleach ar an gCuallacht sa tarna bliain Bhaineas ana-thaitneamh as an obair sin ach mar sin féin, agus fé mar is eol d’éinne a bhíonn ag plé le haon chumann nó club spóirt, slogann na cúraimí sin an-chuid ama Théadh sé deacair orm an dá thráigh a fhreastal, cúram a dhéanamh don staidéar agus dualgaisí an Chathaoirligh a chomhlíonadh, agus ní i gcónaí a d’éirigh liom sa mhéid sin, ach is leor ó Mhór a dícheall agus tá súil agam go ndeineas é sin

LEORLALEAHY|EAGARTHÓIRGAEILGE

San alt seo, cuireann Orla agallamh ar Dharragh Ó Caoimh, alumnas nó céimí de chuid Choláiste na hOllscoile

Corcaigh atá in Montana Mheiriceá i mbliana, agus scoláire a bhí ar an gclár faisnéise Céim Chun Cinn ar TG4 le déanaí

A Dharragh, a chara, tá súil agam go bhfuil tú go maith. Tuigim go bhfuil céim bainte amach agat sa Dlí agus sa Ghaeilge, agus go bhfuair tú scoláireacht Quercus ón gColáiste Dlí agus Gnó in 2020 Inis dhom faoi do chuid ama i gColáiste na hOllscoile

Corcaigh agus do chuid staidéir féin.

Conas taoi a Orla? Go raibh míle maith agat as ucht an chuireadh chun labhairt leat Sea, bronnadh céim sa Dlí agus sa Ghaeilge orm mí Dheireadh Fómhair seo caite, tar éis dom ceithre bliana iontacha a chaitheamh cois Laoi Thánag go Corcaigh ar dtúis siar in

2018 díreach tar éis na hArdteiste In Áras Uí Thuama a bhíos ag fanacht, agus an t-ádh dearg liom a bheith in aontíos le ceathrar iontach an dá bhliain a raibh lóistín agam ann Thaitin an cúrsa féin thar barr liom Mar is eol duit féin, tá togha na léachtóirí ag UCC sa dá ábhar agus luíos isteach ar an obair acadúil go fonnmhar Is iontach an péire an dlí agus an Ghaeilge, ní hamháin toisc an chomhréim atá acu ó thaobh an dlí bhunreachtúil nó dlí an Aontais

Eorpaigh de, cuir i gcás, ach toisc a dhifriúl is atáid chomh maith Tugann

ábhar amháin faoiseamh duit ón gceann eile Ní bheadh an dlí chomh cruthaitheach leis an nGaelainn uaireanta, abair, ach bheadh gearradh níos mó sa dlí ansan uaireanta eile Bhí sé ina ghruth is ina mheadhg agam dáiríribh Ba mhór an onóir dom ansan glacadh leis an scoláireacht Quercus

An méid sin ráite, is dóigh liom gur chun leasa mo shaoil acadúil gach dá ndeineas lasmuigh den léachtlann Is fíor san i gcás na Gaeilge go háirithe Na díospóireachtaí Oireachtais, na drámaí, an iriseoireacht, na cláracha raidió, na hoícheanta sóisialta, Bál na Gaeilge, an fhilíocht srl , b’fhearrde mise mar dhuine agus b’fhearrde mo chéim na rudaí sin go léir Ba é an dála céanna ag an dlí é; na bréagchúirteanna agus na hócáidí sóisialta, is dlúthchuid de shaol an mhic léinn dlí iad agus molaim do dhaoine bheith sáite iontu a oiread agus is féidir

Tuigim go raibh tú mar intéirneach le Fiontar sa tríú bliain agat? Cén saghas oibre a bhí á déanamh agat ansin?

Bhí beirt againn ón gcúrsa ar thaithí oibre le Fiontar; mise agus cara dom, Muireann Ní Mhurchú Fómhar na bliana 2020 a bhí ann agus an Víreas Corónach in airde láin, agus is age baile i gCeann Toirc a thugas faoin intéirneacht dá bhrí sin In ainneoin san, bhí an-chúpla mí agam le Fiontar Bhí Cathal Burke ag déanamh cúraim

dúinne agus níor lách agus ghnaíúil go dtí é B’iontach an comhbhádóir í Muireann agus bhuailimis le chéile ar Zoom go minic, rud a choimeád an taonaránachas ó dhoras Ghiorraíomar beirt bóthar na paindéime dá chéile measaim

Is meitheal taighde nualaíoch cheannródaíoch é Fiontar, agus iad lonnaithe in Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath Táid ar thús cadhnaíochta ó thaobh na ndaonnachtaí digiteacha agus na Gaeilge de, agus suíomhanna ar nós dúchas ie, gaois ie, téarma ie, ainm ie agus logainm ie forbartha acu Fuaireas éachtaint mós luachmhar ar na tionscadail éagsúla san, agus thug lámh chúnta do na foirne a bhí ina bhfeighil, bíodh san i ngort na logainmníochta, an aistriúcháin, na téarmaíochta, nó na teangeolaíochta corpais Thugadar anscóp dúinn ó thaobh taighde de chomh maith; bhí cead ár gcinn againn ó thaobh léitheoireachta de agus ba mhór an deis í sin chun eolas a chur ar réimsí éagsúla de léann na Gaeilge

Cad a bhíonn á dhéanamh agat in Montana na laethanta seo?

Táim in Montana ó mhí Lúnasa seo caite i leith Is in Missoula, fé scáth Shléibhte na gCreag in iarthar an Stáit, atáim im chónaí agus mé ag teagasc na Gaeilge in Ollscoil Montana; a bhfuil a champas ar an mbaile anso Bead anso go ceann dhá mhí eile agus ceangal orm filleadh ar Éirinn ansan de réir coinníollacha an víosa agam

Conas gur thit sé amach gur tugadh an deis sin duitse?

Ghnóthaíos Duais Fulbright chun a bheith im Chúntóir Teagaisc le Teangacha Iasachta (FLTA), agus fuair post mar theagascóir Gaeilge anso i dTír na Spéire Móire, mar a tugtar ar Montana Tá an clár FLTA ar siúl ag Fulbright le blianta fada Seanadóir Meiriceánach ó Arkansas a bhí in Fulbright, agus rún aige solas an léinn a scaipeadh sna ceithre harda tar éis uafáis an Tarna Cogadh Domhanda Bíonn scoláirí Meiriceánacha ag imeacht thar lear i mbun taighde agus cuid acu ag múineadh Béarla Déantar an comhar a dhíol leo ansan agus bronntar scoláireachtaí ar na céadta scoláire ón iasacht agus iad i mbun máistreachtaí agus dochtúireachtaí in ábhair éagsúla, nó ag léachtóireacht agus i mbun taighde, nó ag teagasc teanga iasachta

Chuireas iarratas isteach go dtí Coimisiún Fulbright Éireann agus bhí lúcháir orm gur éirigh leis Deichniúr FLTAanna ar fad atá abhus anso i mbliana, a bhformhór ar an gcósta thoir Mise agus mo chomhghleacaí Eilís Ní Iarlaithe (Corcaíoch eile!) is sia siar

Má tá éinne á léamh seo is gur mhaith leo níos mó eolais a fháilt i dtaobh Fulbright, bíodh siad i dteangmháil liom agus míle fáilte

Cad é an rud is suimiúla faoin nGaelainn in Montana? Chualas go bhfuil beirt as an tríú bliain den rang Dlí agus Gaeilge in Montana chomh maith i mbliana?

Is fíor dhuit! Tá Shay Evans agus John Dineen ag caitheamh an tseimeastair anso sa Scoil Dlí agus iad ar intéirneacht le breithiúna feidearálacha leis Go deimhin, tá an triúr againn in aontíos agus sinn ag tarraingt go maith le chéile Is deas comhluadar Gaeilgeoirí a bheith anso

Maidir leis an nGaelainn agus Montana, is ceist ana-shuimiúil í sin Nuair a deirinn le daoine go rabhas ag ardach na seolta is ag triall ar Montana chun Gaelainn a mhúineadh, is iad an dá cheist chéanna a bhíodh ar a mbéal ag beagnach gach duine: cá bhfuil

Montana, agus cad ina thaobh, in ainm Dé, go mbeifeá ag múineadh Gaelainne ann? An rud nár thuigeas nó go dtána anso amach go bhfuil na Gaeil seanbhunaithe sa taobh so tíre agus scéal agus stair ríspéisiúil á leanúint

Cuirim i gcás Thomas Francis Meagher, Gael agus náisiúnaí a rugadh i bPort Láirge ag tús an naoú haois déag Bhíothas á chomóradh in Éirinn le déanaí mar gheall gurbh é an chéad duine a chroch brat náisiúnta na hÉireann, i an Trídhathach Daoradh chun báis é tar éis Éirí Amach 1848 ach laghdaíodh an bhreith agus seoladh go dtí an Tasmáin ina ionad san é D’éalaigh as san is sheol go NuaEabhrac, mar a gcuir Gaeil na cathrach sin na fáiltí geala roimis Bhí ina ghinearál in Arm an Aontais le linn an Chogaidh Chathartha Is é fé ndear dom a scéal a roinnt gur cuireadh i gceannas Dhúiche Mhontana ina dhiaidh sin é, de bharr a ghaiscí ar pháirc an chatha, agus deirtear gurbh é an chéad Ghobharnóir ar an áit seo é, cé ná raibh Montana ina Stát i gceart go dtí 1889

Bhí borradh ag teacht fén ngeilleagar anso fén dtráth úd, mar bhí saibhreas thar meon aimsithe faoin dtalamh acu Raidhse óir, airgid, agus thar aon ní eile, an dúiche chopair. In Butte is mó a bhí

na mianaigh, agus tharraing na Gaeil ar an gcathair sin ina mílte is ina mílte chun dul ag obair iontu, dream mór ó Bhéarra go háirithe. Cainteoirí dúchais

Gaeilge ab ea cuid mhaith mhór acu

Bhí Seán Ó Súilleabháin, nó “Seán Irish”, ar dhuine de na cainteoirí sin, agus b’é siúd a d’fhear fáilte i nGaeilge roimh Éamon de Valera ach a dtáinig sé ar cuairt go Butte in 1919

Maireann an sprid Gaelach go láidir anso i gcónaí, agus na scórtha mac léinn ag gabháilt don Ghaelainn san ollscoil fé choimirce Ionad an Léinn Ghaelaigh, a bhfuil Traolach Ó Ríordáin (Corcaíoch eile fós) ina stiúrthóir air Tá cumann iománaíochta ar an bhfód anso le deich mbliana leis, agus an corn náisiúnta ollscoile buaite acu ceithre huaire Beam ag triall ar Kentucky do chomórtas na bliana seo ag deireadh mhí na Márta

Tuigim go raibh deis den chéad scoth agat a bheith páirteach i gclár faisnéise ar TG4; clár a bhí ar siúl nó a craoladh i mí Eanáir. Comhghairdeas as an deis sin. Inis dom faoi led thoil.

Go raibh míle maith agat, a Orla! Sea, dob iontach a bheith páirteach in “Céim Chun Cinn”, sraith faisnéise cheithre chlár a léirigh Aniar agus a craoladh ar TG4 Is éard a bhí i gceist gur leanadh mise agus triúr eile agus saol an scoláire á chaitheamh againn Léiriú ar shuáilcí agus duáilcí an mhic léinn a bhí ann; cé gur mhó go mór na suáilcí a bhí ann domsa buíochas le Dia Bhaineas anashult as a bheith rannpháirteach sa tsraith chéanna.

Cad é an rud is suimiúla a bhí ag baint leis an gclár sin?

Domsa, as a bheith ag féachaint ar scéal an triúir eile Níl aon aithne agam orthu agus níor bhuaileas riamh le héinne acu Ba mhór idir taithí an cheathrair againn, cé go raibh rudaí áirithe againn i bpáirt Ach chuireas ana-spéis ins na caithimh aimsire a bhí acu: an chaid, an rothaíocht, an ceol, agus ins na tuairimí a bhí acu i leith an tsaoil agus i leith na hollscoile Tá súil agam go gcasfar ar a chéile amach anso sinn

An bhfuil aon phlean eile agat an Ghaelainn a chur chun cinn thar lear?

Tá ambaist Beidh cad é bús anso do Lá ʼle Pádraig agus cúpla rud ar siúl againn Is é an rud is mó go bhfuilim ag siúl leis an Oíche Éigse Éireann Beidh daoine ag léamh dánta le scoth na bhfilí ó fhearann Fódhla; i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla Ba cheart go mbeadh cuileachta mhaith ann!

Go raibh míle maith agat as do chuid ama, a Dharragh. Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat amach anso Is féidir le léitheoirí féachaint ar an gclár céanna ar sheinnteoir TG4 anois, dar ndóigh

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ANODETOSICILIANDELIGHTS

AIINTHEFOODINDUSTRY

BY NATHAN CAREY | FOOD & HEALTH EDITOR

Artificial intelligence has become a hot topic of discussion in the last decade Its application has been applied to numerous fields from retail to analytics However the general public’s perception of AI is still shrouded in misunderstanding and confusion When most of us hear the words artificial intelligence our minds jump to movies and video games where AI characters are often painted as a villain These characters are usually based on the notion of robots revolting against humans and trying to annihilate humanity, but that is unlikely to happen right? The term artificial intelligence was first coined in the 50s and described as “a machine that behaves in such a way that it could be considered intelligent” More refined definitions describe it as the capability of a computer to mimic the thought processes of the human brain. As a neuroscientist, the world of AI fascinates me, but as someone who is interested in the food industry and cooking why should I care?

Interestingly AI has been popping up all over the food world Particularly in large scale production lines When foodstuffs are being prepared in factory settin control is of upmost importance and AI tools are being utilised to recogniz defects in products These processes are being streamlined to reduce food improve on quality Another area where AI is impacting the food we farming sector Farmers are using artificial intelligence to gain precise infor weather trends, soil conditions and plant health High resolution camera ba are being used to survey large fields from above and detect crop diseas early stages to prevent complete loss However AI is also creeping in to ou cooking habits.

If you’ve been online in the last year, no doubt you’ve seen people messi with AI tools that can create images based on word prompts or write entir pieces based on one sentence While these tools are fun to try out, they are ethical concerns These applications draw from large databases of images a and pull out what they think is the best match for the prompt The databas these tools are composed of millions of images and words available online they can choose pieces to base their results on without any express permis has been a huge area of contention with artists worried that their works wil or morphed into some kind of “AI art style” In a similar vein AI has sta used in recipe writing The most popular tool in use currently is OpenAI This neural network can learn skills through the examination of enormous This in itself is a limitation of the technology, as it can only rehash a version of what has already been written By telling the programme abou what kind of food you like and your favourite flavours, the bot can sift thro

millions of recipes picking out the parts that align most closely with your original prompt Because they are morphing recipes that already exist, many of the results are plausible recipes that work on paper However when cooked and tasted these recipes fall through There is a lack of heart behind them and it shows Priya Krishna has a very insightful video about this whole topic, going one step further and cooking the recipes – definitely check it out if you're interested! In a less dystopian, more useful application, programmes have been developed that help choose what dish you can cook with the ingredients available to you. Simply insert the ingredients you have and these tools can match them to recipes that feature those ingredients This is a great way to use up leftovers or come up with a quick dinner idea

When it comes to AI and food, its main advantages lie in the food production stage When it comes to recipe writing and flavour combinations, computers cannot beat that human touch While it’s fun to try out these new tools and let them inspire us, we are far from a world where we rely on them every day

EVERYTHINGEVERYWHEREALLATONCEWAS

ANA MCGUIRE | STAFF WRITER

It’s that time of year again! A time where we celebrate not only the actors and directors of films but also sound mixers, screen writers, costume designers, make-up artists and all the behind the scenes people who put hours of work into making these Oscar nominated films perfect I believe that the Oscars are a great event for this very reason Often when audiences watch films, they are focused on the plot and the characters but there is so much more that goes on behind the scenes and this is an evening where the hands that made these films are rewarded.

The Oscars are always a massive deal in the film industry as people are rewarded for a year of hard work at a very prestigious event It is a big event for families and friends watching from home too as they gather around the television for Oscars watch parties, ready to wind down for five hours At the Oscars every year, there is always some drama, an issue that needs to be solved In 2022, it was Will Ferrell slapping Chris Rock for insulting his wife In 2017, it was La La Land being announced winner of Best Picture when it was really Moonlight that won However, in 2023, the event ran smoothly and history was made with the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once bringing home seven out of the eleven awards it was nominated for Everything Everywhere All at Once is an American science fiction drama movie that was released in May 2022 and has taken the world by storm The film follows Chinese American immigrant Evelyn Wang as she connects with parallel versions of herself in order to stop a powerful being from destroying the multiverse It stars Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang and Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis and Ke Huy Quan in supporting roles This film is unique as it mixes multiple genres such as comedy, drama, fiction and fantasy, just to name a few. It is directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert In case you are living under a rock or are just without social media, I will be going through each of the awards that Everything Everywhere All at Once was nominated for, all the awards it won, and why it won them:

Best Picture

Starting off this article and ending the night, the genre twisting movie took home the biggest Oscar of them all, the Best Picture It was a favourite to win this award ever since the nominations came out ahead of the award ceremony The other nominees included The Banshees of Inisherin, The Fabelmans, Avatar: The Way of Water, Tár, Top Gun: Maverick, Women Talking, Triangle of Sadness, All Quiet on the Western Front and Elvis

Best Actress

Michelle Yeoh took home the Oscar for best actress, making history as the first Asian woman to receive the award In her acceptance speech, she empowered women to never give up and to not listen to anyone who says that you are past your prime “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight this is a beacon of hope and possibility,” she said, before adding: “Ladies, don't ever let anybody tell you are ever past your prime ” She called out gendered ageism in the film industry in her speech but she reminded everyone that you are never too old to work and live out your dreams She is a symbol of hope for many people around the world She was up against Cate Blanchett, Andrea Riseborough, Michelle Williams and Ana de Armas

Best Supporting Actress

Stephanie Hsu was nominated for her supporting role as Jobu Tupaki in the picture and while she did not win, she gave an astounding performance in the film She is most well known for her roles in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021 and the Marvelous Mrs Maisel in 2017 However, I know her from performing in the Broadway production of Be More Chill as Christine The other nominees were Angela Bassett, Kerry Condon, Hong Chau and Jamie Lee Curtis, with Jamie Lee Curtis taking home the trophy So even though Hsu did not receive an award, Everything Everywhere All at Once still took home the Best Supporting Actress award This is her first win at the Oscars since she started acting in 1977 Her acceptance speech is a reminder that genre films deserve recognition too. Her chosen genre, horror, has always been considered beneath the Academy’s notice and Curtis highlights this “To all the people who have supported the genre movies that I’ve made all these years, the thousands and hundreds of thousands of people, we just won an Oscar together!” However, this shows that the Academy prefers giving awards to white women Curtis only had a very minor role as the female while Hsu played the secondary main female character This is an example of the still ongoing prejudice within the Academy and film industry.

Best Supporting Actor

Ke Huy Quan also made history at the 95th Annual Academy Awards on the 13th of March by taking home the Best Supporting Actor Award He is most well known for his roles in The Goonies and Indiana Jones but when the 21st Century rolled around, his acting career grew cold and he turned to stunt work. So this was a dream come

Best Director

Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert and Jonathan Wong won best director for Everything Everywhere All at Once Daniel Scheinert thanked his mother for being so open and letting him so creative as a kid: “We want to dedicate this to the mommies, all the mommies of the world Specifically to my mum and dad, thank you for not crushing my creativity when I was making really disturbing horror movies and dressing in drag as a kid, which is a threat to nobody, by the way” Exploring your creativity and different ideas is exactly what you should be doing as a kid and no one should have the power to destroy that Destroying a kid's creativity is destroying a dream in the making Daniel Kwan addresses his kid while accepting this award: “You rearrange my DNA every day You should never have to live up to this standard; this is not normal This is kind of crazy I will love you no matter what.” Living up to the legacy of a parent with an Oscar can be tough but there are no expectations set hischildren, they are meant to live their dreams and carve a path for themselves They were up against Martin McDonagh, Todd Field, Ruben Ostlund and Steven Spielberg

Best Film Editing and Best Original Screenplay

Paul Rogers accepted the Academy Award for Best Film Editing of Everything Everywhere All at Once He seemed to be overwhelmed by the whole experience and receiving an award saying “This is too much. This is my second film, y’all, this is crazy ” He was up against the film editors of Elvis, Top Gun: Maverick, The Banshees of Inisherin and Tár The Daniels, the affectionate nickname for the directors of Everything Everywhere All at Once, accepted the award for Best Original Screenplay, bringing their total of Oscar wins up to seven! They were up against The Fabelmans, The Banshees of Inisherin, Triangle of Sadness and Tár

On top of winning seven Oscars, Everything Everywhere All at Once was nominated for Best Original Score for Son Lux, Best Original Song for Ryan Lott, David Byte and Mitski and Best Costume Design for Shirley Kurata Winning seven out of the eleven nominations brings this film to a tie for the number of Oscars won by a science fiction movie Gravity in 2014 won the same amount of Oscars

Nevertheless, this sweeping of the awards by Everything Everywhere All at Once has made history at the 95th Annual Academy Awards

AWARDS:WHATARETHEYGOOD FOR?ABSOLUTELYNOTHING?

WRITES CORMAC MCCARTHY | MUSIC EDITOR

I’ll let you into a little secret Queen never won a Grammy award As mad as it sounds, it’s entirely true Neither have ABBA and neither did such acts as The Beach Boys, Nicki Minaj, Tupac Shakur, Lana Del Rey, Bjork and Jimi Hendrix The list is endless, filled with artists who have all become household names in their own right All of them may occupy thousands of bedroom walls and may have influenced both their own and the next generation of music that follows them, but no Grammy award on their mantelpiece

But what does this say about awards in general? If their purpose is to recognize the artistry on display, shouldn’t that be self-evident in the critical and commercial acclamation that an album/single/artist receives Or even if they are there to definitively recognise the single best candidate in a category, then surely that notion is so blazingly subjective that it ceases to become necessary

In any case, music is neither temporary and nor does it exist in a vacuum A song constantly finds new audiences, enters new communities and adopts new meanings to different people

For example, the folk song “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan, became an anthem for anti-war protesters during the height of the Vietnam war, transforming the song almost into a manifesto for the times However, it received mild acclaim upon release What makes Dylan’s music so captivating is not their initial impact but for their long-term impacts on all facets of humanity Anyway, Dylan didn’t win a solo Grammy until 1980, 20 years after his first album release

Awards ceremonies themselves are quite a peculiar thing The concept only began in the early to mid-20th century in the United States during the media boom of the 1930s It was a means of added promotion for the project, giving it increased press coverage, legitimacy to the art form and funding to the production company The Grammys were initially founded when executives tried to get musicians added to the Hollywood walk of fame, but when realising the sheer amount that was required to be included decided instead to create their own awards ceremony

Thus in 1959, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences was created as the governing body of the Grammy Awards Over the next few decades, more and more awards ceremonies cropped up, each more niche than the other, each with their own governing body with their own rules for submission and selection Today there are just over five thousand separate music awards ceremonies worldwide

This oversaturation of industry laurels has led to the slow dwindling of prestige for each award As each new committee/magazine/governing body creates their own

award, it diminishes the overall significance of the others The artist isn’t really going to care about missing out on one award if they’ve already been honoured in some other field

Furthermore, it creates an industry around the awards, where the winning artist is often the one whose campaign budget is the largest or whichever committee member has the deepest pockets Previous Music Editor Florrie McCarthy has previously touched on this in the past It creates instances where the deserving artist just doesn’t have the public profile quite yet, even though they may enter the levels of superstardom in years to come

The grandiosity and prestige of these awards ceremonies have been declining rapidly in recent years The Grammys have seen a decline in their own audience, with their television viewing figures a third of what they were ten years ago. This is a trend in awards ceremonies in general where their status has been slowly diminishing

Before the world of on demand streaming, when the entire history of the world’s music wasn’t available at the touch of a button, these awards existed to sell albums and gain radio play The average listener may have only bought one album a week and their choice of purchase would have been almost entirely dependent on which album had swept the awards category

However, with the dawn of streaming, the listener can curate their own tastes While a Grammy win may boost some listens overall, the vast majority will continue to return to their own individual preferences Nowadays, new music often reaches new listeners through algorithmically generated recommendations on these streaming platforms and through seeing what their friends are listening to

Music has become an incredibly personal affair where artists' albums have largely been replaced by user’s own playlists; the modern-day version of a mixtape There’ll be no Grammy for best playlist any time soon as each and every one is inherently personal to the listener While there is always room for analysis, there is a dwindling amount of space for superlatives The concept of the “Best Album” is slowly becoming a relic of the past

If ever there was proof, this year’s winner was Harry Styles’ “Harry’s House” so make of that what you will

ABEGINNER’SGUIDETORECORD

culture where media can often feel disposable and easily forgotten Vinyl can help us to appreciate all of the little nuances that go into producing music I myself am guilty of mindlessly scrolling through TikTok or flicking through my Spotify recommendations without a second thought This is not to say that these platforms are without value, as they can be very helpful in providing artists with the freedom to market themselves and reach a wider audience But, vinyl is an excellent way to directly support the artists you enjoy while also deepening your own understanding and appreciation of their music

Starting Out

First of all you'll need a record player This can be daunting, as online vinyl communities can be rife with purists who will insist that you absolutely must fork out upwards of €500 on a full setup While these high end models will yield a better audio quality and last for longer, I don’t think there’s any harm in starting out with a more simple and affordable setup when you’re just figuring out what you like Audio Technica provide very reliable and affordable models with great sound quality

It should be noted that different players require different speakers, so it’s always important to check if yours needs active or passive speakers (active speakers will need their own power source while passive speakers do not) Some speakers will also boast a range of features like aux or USB compatibility, Bluetooth and more

WRITES EMILY DOLLERY | CONTRIBUTOR

Record collecting has significantly grown as a hobby among music lovers Since the mid noughties, vinyl has undergone a revival of sorts This is especially interesting considering the rise of mass media streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer; one would think that the convenience and accessibility these platforms lend us in discovering and appreciating new music would be the very downfall of physical music media

The sustained popularity of vinyl could be attributed to a number of factors many will cite the increased personal connection to a physical copy of an album, or a willingness to support artists given the fact that artists are often vastly undercompensated by streaming platforms Vinyl also possesses a unique sonic quality; there’s definitely something to be said for the feeling when a well–loved record takes on its own unique series of crackles and imperfections when played

I was just turning 17 when I received my first record player for Christmas I became interested in record collecting during my Transition Year work experience, where I spent a week organizing CDs and records (and occasionally repeatedly playing Pixies riffs on the fancy Fender basses) in Steamboat Music in Limerick City

I have fond memories of finishing up band practice at Music Generation and traipsing over to the Golden Discs on Cruises St to spend my babysitting money on records like Either/Or by Elliott Smith, The Velvet Underground and Nico and Bjork’s Debut I would take on recommendations and discover new bands through the other geeks I met at Music Gen For me, owning a physical copy of an album felt like a way of forming a deeper connection with the music I loved While this new hobby wasn’t good for my wallet, it undoubtedly helped to broaden my horizons

In writing this article I hope to spread the idea that record collecting doesn't have to be expensive I think it's a really special way to form more personal connections to music to really stop and think about what you're listening to, especially now in a

It must be said that Cork City is an excellent location when it comes to record shopping. Independent shops like Plug’d on Cornmarket street and Bunker Vinyl on Coal Quay, stock a diverse range of new and second hand records and are incredibly supportive of the local music scene such as albums from great Cork bands like Pretty Happy, The Altered Hours and The Love Buzz The people running these places are highly passionate and always willing to recommend music to shoppers If supporting local talent is important to you, then it’s always a good idea to have a nose around the merch table after any gig, as touring bands will often sell records after their shows You can rest assured knowing that your money is going towards maintaining and supporting our vibrant and diverse music scene

Larger shops like Golden Discs are great for beginners as they tend to stock a mix of the newest releases and classic must-haves (sure, which record collector doesn’t own a copy of Rumors?) They also stock a range of record players and music stations which can make getting into the hobby that bit less daunting

Other secondhand shops, flea markets and charity shops have weird and wonderful well-loved records for a reduced price, with some real gems hidden in the mix Another good place to look is your own attic. After a bit of rooting around in my grandparents’ house, I found a Depeche Mode compilation album, a Batman film soundtrack composed by Prince and a Dream Theater CD that nobody has come forward to claim just yet Part of the appeal of record collecting is the eclectic mix of music you’ll come across that might not always be promoted on streaming platforms

If you’d like to know more, I would always recommend browsing online forums or just popping into your local music shop and asking the staff what they’re into You’ll often be surprised by what you might find

SEXTRENDSYOUSHOULDAVOID

WRITES CIARA BARRETT | SEXPRESS EDITOR

For the last Sexpress article of the year, I’ve decided to give some advice for any summer trysts that may come up Everyone has a story about a place they’ve had sex, or a position they’ve tried out because they saw it in a movie, heard about a friend who did it, or read a tweet about it and got curious More often than not, these are so very overrated, and more often than not they’re more effort or trouble than they’re worth I’ve gone through countless movies and social media platforms to find these clichés, and explain why you absolutely should not bother with them

1. Sex on the Beach

While it’s often framed as ‘romantic’ to have sex underneath the sunset on the sand, it is really not worth the effort First of all, there’s the sand to contend with Sand

Everywhere Not only is it extremely uncomfortable, but getting sand in your vagina creates a breeding ground for bacteria, and any subsequent infections are definitely not worth the risk Secondly, the rocks Buried under the sand, behind you, hiding you, wherever they are you will absolutely end up hitting your head, or any other body part off of them really It will definitely hurt, and you will definitely regret it

It’s also impossible to be spontaneous or have fun with You have to plan for where it’ll be, who else will be there, the environment, towels or blankets, the works There’s so much to figure out that the prep work isn’t worth it Finally, and most importantly, having sex on the beach is illegal Don’t do it, stick to the cocktail

2. Shower Sex

First and foremost, it’s as uncomfortable as all hell Despite what people may think, water is not a lubricant, it’ll end up completely washing it away, and the whole thing will end up just increasing the friction and making things so uncomfortable Similarly, water actually makes condoms less effective. Due to the increased friction from the water they’re more likely to break, and there’s also a much higher chance of the condom slipping off Next of all, have you ever showered with someone and had the temperature exactly right for the two of you? No, that’s what I thought Before anything even starts, one of you is too hot and one’s too cold and no one is having any fun Then we come to positions There is no way to be comfortable having sex in the shower No matter what way you try, the shower isn’t big enough and the wall is too hard and the shower door might open or you might grab the shower curtain, rip it down, and give yourself a concussion on the edge of the shower itself Nothing about this is a good idea

3 Risky Business in the Driver’s Seat

We’ve all seen it in the movies, someone’s driving, the passenger starts to do questionable things, they get pulled over, the scene is comedic relief Either that, or they crash the car, sometimes injuring other people, and it was very clearly a bad idea That should be enough to turn you off However, if that isn’t enough, consider how uncomfortable that would be The brakes or the gear stick digging into very uncomfortable places, that seatbelt alarm blaring, your head accidentally hitting a random button and now the radio is blaring and by now it’s too embarrassing to give up Don’t do it It is absolutely never a good idea

4 Sex in the Driver’s Seat

In a similar vein, having sex in the driver’s seat while the car isn’t moving I promise you that the space between your back and the steering wheel is not as big as you think it is You’ll just end up hurting your lower back, and not in a fun way

5 In a Pool, or a Lake, or a River, or Any Other Body of Water

Similar to the shower, there’s too much friction, risk of condoms falling off, and

generally being too cold or too hot However, in an outdoor pool or any other body of water that isn’t kept chlorinated and away from contamination, there’s a very very real risk of dangerous infection, and fish or insects ending up in any number of places you absolutely do not want them to be Even in a chlorinated pool it is definitely not healthy One of the most difficult things for swimming pools, especially public ones, to get just right is the level of chlorine that impacts the pH level It can be really damaging to have the pH level of your vagina affected, and it puts you at a really high risk of bacterial infections This one is just genuinely awful for your health, and is absolutely not as fun as it looks

6. Sex Against the Wall

This is a very common sex position seen in movies, and it should stay there No matter how much you fantasise about it, do not bother First of all, whoever is against the wall is going to have a completely bruised back for the next two weeks You won’t be able to lie down You will regret it If you are not the person against the wall, there’s no way you’ll be able to hold that position for more than a minute without dropping your partner Well, unless you’re training as a bodybuilder It’s painful, and uncomfortable, and your arms will go numb There is absolutely no point in even trying it, you’ll be too tired to even think about anything else afterwards Having sex standing up in general is pretty not worth it honestly Back pain, thigh cramps, arm cramps, do not bother

7 Spontaneous Sweeping

There really doesn’t seem to be a name for this, but you know in the movies when people are either really happy or really horny, so they sweep everything off of the counter or the table or the desk and go at it there and then? That No matter how romantic or spontaneous it may seem, the last thing you’re going to want to do is clean all of that up afterwards If you can get past that, even the surfaces are uncomfortable If you need to sweep everything off of it in order to have sex on it, it’s too solid and will definitely hurt your back, knees, head, and anything else it happens to come into contact with Last but certainly not least, do you know what’s on that table? Is it fragile? Is it expensive? Did you just show up at your partner's house and sweep their grandfather's ashes all over the floor, shattering the urn it was in? If you want to do something spontaneous just carry someone to bed or something, you don’t need to eviscerate the kitchen on the quest for something fun

And last but not least:

8 Pretty Much Anything That Looks as Though it Requires Stretching Beforehand Look, they are literally paid actors They stretch beforehand, and that’s why they’re okay Even if it is logistically possible, is it really worth it if you need 10-15 minutes of yoga before and after just to make sure you don’t pull a hamstring or something? Pretty much any position that shows actors with their legs behind their ears is guaranteed to make your legs shake in a terrible way It’s an injury waiting to happen I know that if I had to stretch for 15 minutes every time I was going to have sex, I’d be too tired by the time I was warmed up Unless you’re willing to stretch beforehand, don’t bother

At the end of the day, feel free to try whatever you want, but do so at your own risk, and make sure you understand the risks first Just because someone did it in a movie or a story you heard, doesn’t mean it will be worth it Sex doesn’t need to be cold, or sandy, or dangerous, or illegal, or acrobatic for it to be fun or interesting If you’re bored in your sex life, add a vibrator, don’t bother increasing your risk of a yeast infection

AFAITHFULGAMINGADAPTATIONATLAST(OFUS)

WRITES

Very minor spoilers

HBO’s The Last of U House of the Dragon it’s safe to say that t alike Of course, th original game, releas and potential for a lo justice On the other have expected a lack games as mindless surprising both coho

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Amongst a cacophon video game series to source material Thi games, and indeed blatantly callous tre picture One could g transposing written word to the screen, considering the vast difference between the two mediums Those adapting video games have no such excuse, however In many cases, the only difference between a good story-focused game and a movie is the presence of gameplay mechanics; if you remove them and recreate what remains, you have a competent adaptation already

Thankfully, there’s been an upswing in the quality of video game adaptations in recent years Beginning with Detective Pikachu in 2019, a wonderful live-action depiction of the world of Pokémon, adapters have slowly begun to appreciate the value of respecting video game source material After a disastrous reveal trailer, the 2020 film Sonic the Hedgehog surprised everyone when the final product turned out decently, as did its 2022 sequel In the last two years, Netflix subscribers were blessed with two excellent series: Arcane, an adaptation set in the world of online battler game League of Legends, as well as Cyberpunk Edgerunners, a story that takes place in the same universe as the somewhat controversial role-playing game Cyberpunk 2077 (itself an adaptation of a tabletop game) Both were excellent, but they also highlighted a common feature of this new wave of gaming adaptations: all of them tell new stories that simply share a setting with their respective video games, rather than retell an actual video game story They’re spin-offs, which can still easily be considered adaptations, but don’t quite fit the criteria for many gamers wishing to see the events of their favourite game unfold on the big (or in the case of television shows, medium to small size) screen

Upon the release of The Last of Us first episode, it quickly became clear that the show was taking a different route The action-packed instalment, depicting the moments before the world descended into a fungal apocalypse, mirrors the beginning

of the video game almost perfectly, replicating the exact same camera angles and lifting dialogue word-for-word The show feels like a love letter to fans; even obscure gameplay details like scouring containers for items and sneaking past enemies from cover-to-cover are shown The mycelium monstrosities known as ‘clickers’, who serve as The Last of Us substitute for zombies, behave in a near identical manner to the video game, allowing their iconic clicking noises to inspire just as much dread in the show’s audience References to the video game are abundant in each and every episode, but they’re not just cheap fan service; their inclusion is an essential component of the adaptation, ensuring that the show retains the spirit of the video game it owes its existence to

Most importantly, HBO’s The Last of Us is unique amongst adaptations of video games in that it leaves its original storyline and characters mostly untouched This can be attributed to both of the series’ showrunners: Neil Druckmann, who knew exactly what made the original video games tick after his work on them as a creative director, as well Craig Mazin, who made the rare decision to actually listen to those responsible for the source material’s success As a result of this, series leads Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal are able to bring one of gaming’s most beloved duos to life, and have rightfully been lauded for doing so The fact that Ellie and Joel’s relationship is just as compelling in the show as it is in the game speaks to their immense talent, considering the actors achieve this with less than half of the screen time the characters share in the game The important beats of their story are all present in the television show, and while that does lead to a somewhat predictable experience for fans of the original game, you’d be hard pressed to find one upset about it

That said, HBO’s The Last of Us does have a few tricks up its sleeve to keep fans of the game on their toes, and to make the story more suitable for television viewing For one, this means scaling down the amount of brutal murder significantly Video games need gameplay to be enjoyable, and in the original game this comes in the form of mowing down endless swarms of raiders, soldiers, and infected It’s not meaningless violence story-wise, as it contributes to the bleak atmosphere of the game, but most television shows would be pressed for runtime if they had to squeeze in high-stakes clashes every five minutes Accordingly, HBO’s The Last of Us is more sparing with its fight scenes, and it’s all the more watchable for it; when violence does make an appearance, it stands out and leaves a lasting impact There’s still plenty of blood and guts to go around, but the relaxed frequency of these occurrences frees up time for character development and dialogue, which serve as the real soul of the series Other minor changes to facilitate the game’s conversion to television include a general streamlining of exploration segments, cold openings that explain the background of the apocalypse, and the sadly necessary removal of collectable items; as fun as it was in the game, nobody wants to watch Joel running around collecting comic books for an hour every week

Another significant but ultimately beneficial deviation in HBO’s The Last of Us can be seen in its treatment of side characters In the original game, players’ perspectives are near-exclusively bound to Joel and Ellie as a result of their roles as protagonists and playable characters This means that the presence of other characters is limited to scenes shared with either Joel or Ellie However, the show’s omniscient perspective allows us a glimpse of these side characters on their own, giving additional insight into the world of The Last of Us The series even dedicates an entire episode to a relationship between two side-characters that is only briefly mentioned in the game, and the resultant subplot bolsters the themes of the main story while simultaneously expanding on one of the game’s untold tales to create a poignant standalone narrative.

Those who have yet to experience the story of The Last of Us can’t go wrong with either playing the original game or watching the TV show; for the first time in history, a television adaptation of a video game has managed to deliver the same quality of storytelling as its source material Nevertheless, it’s worth doing both if you can, and those who are too impatient to wait for season 2 of the series can access it in video game form With season one wrapped up, and the recent release of remake of the first game, there’s never been a better time to jump into the delightfully dark world of The Last of Us

PUTININDRAG:QUEERARTISTS CALLINGFORCHANGEINRUSSIA

WRITES SARAH KENNELLY | ARTS & LITERATURE EDITOR

It’s been over a year since Putin launched the violent Russian invasion of Ukraine Within this short span of time, thousands of innocent civilians have been displaced, killed in combat, and forced to flee from homes they may never see again Although the flames of war have slowed in some parts of the country, they continue to burn in places like Bakhmut where Russia is fighting for territorial gains

The city, which is located in the Donetsk Oblast region of Eastern Ukraine, is said to be of strategic importance to Russia because of its regional transport and logistics hub These resources would give Russian forces the capabilities to advance two bigger cities in the region; Kramatorsk and Sloviansk However, after the recent eruption of conflict, it is widely agreed that the destruction of the city’s infrastructure depleted its military value to Russia This has turned Bakhmut into the site of Russia’s war of attrition, aimed at wearing down the Ukrainian army through slow and savage combat

The Wagner Group, which is formed of Russian mercenaries, is at the front line of this fighting, aiming to exhaust Ukrainian forces However, its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has criticised Russian leadership for its poor military defence strategy that has left his squad with little ammunition Given their dwindling artillery stockpile, low-ranking soldiers are acting as human shields against Ukrainian counter-attacks According to Prigozhin, Wagner Group has suffered significant losses as a result of this, depleting his trust in Putin’s strategy

The brazenness of this opposition comes as a surprise to everyone who is familiar with Putin’s ruthless track record against dissenters It is not often that someone from within the Russian forces publicly scrutinises his policies In fact, there are newly established War Censorship Laws that could criminalise Prigozhin’s statements for failing to align with the beliefs of his superiors It is likely that this will be framed as an attack on Putin’s authority because it undermines his status as the righteous leader

This feeds into Putin’s carefully curated cult of personality that portrays him as the pinnacle of masculine excellence Through state-sponsored propaganda he has crafted an image that is powerful, macho, and all-knowing This identity is integral to his position as leader because it justifies and glorifies his tyrannical rule

Along with Putin’s programme for masculine dominance comes his relentless attacks on the Russian LGBTQIA+ community who threaten it Although, historically, Russia has always been hostile to its queer citizens, Putin has drastically escalated

institutional homophobia in the last decade This began in 2013 with the passing of a law banning “gay propaganda” which is the spreading of nontraditional sexual messages to minors It acted as an integral part of the government’s plan to invisibilise queerness and strengthen support for sexual prejudice This meant that the rainbow was essentially banned in public media because it could be construed as support for Queer lifestyles. Anyone convicted of this offence would be heavily fined or jailed if they were brought to court This helped to further reinforce anti-gay values into the Russian legal system It also led to a rise in homophobic attacks across Russia because it justified violence against Queer people

In retaliation, Queer artists created portraits of Putin featuring drag makeup, rainbows, and multiple other iconic symbols of the LGBTQIA+ Community The most famous of these renditions is “Gay Clown Putin '' which sees the leader in neon pink lipstick, blue eyeshadow, and exaggeratedly long eyelashes The photoshopped masterpiece was first published on Tumblr in 2013 following the upsurge in anti-gay propaganda Other recreations depict Putin riding rainbows, dressed as Care Bears, or incorporated into Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon'' album cover This prompted the establishment of the Dutch campaign putininarainbow.com which acts as a collection of all the images featuring Putin adorned with rainbows It is a testament to the courage of Queer artists that stand against the anti-gay propaganda that Putin spews in a bid to vilify their community

These images have been very effective in achieving their objective of humiliating and subverting the leader’s image as a hyper masculine role model Their colourful and whimsical backdrops aim to emasculate Putin and call his sexuality into question This is seen as an unforgivable insult to a leader whose personality is rooted in machismo that is steeped in homophobia Queer artists are fighting back by using Putin’s anti-gay rhetoric against him to showcase both the shallowness of his claims and undermine the strength of his wisdom

Although these images may seem like simple memes to some, they are regarded as a national security threat in the eyes of their government This is because they are interpreted as an attack on the moral and religious values of Russian society They are said to promote “alternative sexual relations” which is outlawed in the region In fact, the distribution of the images became so widespread, that in 2017, Putin banned the image It became the 4,074th item on the list of banned “extremist” materials in Russia, many of them queer-related Putin criticised it as a product of Western intervention in Russian affairs This stems from his fear of Europe’s liberal policies on gender and sexual expression, labelling it a “Gayropa” because of its so-called moral deviancy

Although the image now has legal sanctions against it, this has not stopped the upsurge in its popularity following the Russo-Ukraine War There has been a revival of Gay Clown Putin and Drag Putin both in Europe and Russia This comes as a form of activism through art which seeks to denounce Russia’s violence and Putin’s cruelty When it comes to public dissent, this is one of the most important and prevalent images used by anti-war protesters from Russia

Unfortunately, the resurgence of Putin’s rainbows also came with the establishment of laws that further ban freedom of expression in regards to sexuality The timing of this homophobic rhetoric is strategic given the major losses that the Russian army continues to face in this losing war With the destruction of the country’s economy, infrastructure, and social stability, a scapegoat was needed for the Russian government to place the blame on The Queer Community is the first target of these attacks, with an increase in anti-gay propaganda to shift attention away from Putin’s failings as a military leader

With more than 200,000 Russian troops killed or injured and a country suffering from international economic and political sanctions, Putin’s strategy is becoming increasingly unpopular The rise of opposition from military personnel and social activists is a challenge to his authority in a time where his leadership must be strong This is prompting viscous reactions from his government in an attempt to silence dissenters and further his prejudiced agenda

STREAMINGWARS-SPORTSEDITION

WRITES EOGHAN O’SULLIVAN | CONTRIBUTOR

There has long existed a close affiliation between the sporting world and money. The unavoidable relationship is complex in nature, and is often heavily criticised for murky backroom deals and controversies In recent years the symbiotic affiliation has entered its newest leg; the battle for sports viewership bragging rights

Accelerated by the pandemic, a variety of laudable streaming services rose to prominence in quick succession Led by Netflix, conventional companies such as Apple, Amazon and Disney have all launched their own streaming services (Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Disney+) in an attempt to gain streaming superiority The corporate world’s gaze quickly turned to sports as they recognised the ‘home run’ potential live sports broadcasting possesses and have gone all in to disrupt the historic domination of cable television with progressive live streaming Driven primarily by the aforementioned American technology companies attempting to diversify their already gargantuan revenue streams, these conglomerates have capitalised on the recent streaming phenomenon craze, all hoping to establish a sizable market share by delivering a competitive service

It is not difficult to see why these companies have entered the market of sports broadcasting after analysing the figures surrounding the industry Taking the domestic television market as an example, recent figures have revealed that live sport dominated Irish television screens in 2022, with nine of the top ten most watched programmes free-to-air sport The Late Late Toy Show being the sole outlier ahead of the pack (1,532,000 viewers) with a compilation of GAA, soccer and rugby programmes sweeping the rest of the top ten The All-Ireland Senior Football Final played between Kerry and Galway netted the top sporting spot (872,000 viewers) and was the second most watched programme overall on national television in 2022

The figures follow a similar pattern in a global context, with sport proving just as popular all around the world as it is here in Ireland Unsurprisingly, the sports with the largest fan bases and viewership levels garner substantial live sports streaming rights packages Soccer is the outright leader when it comes to popularity, with 3.5 billion viewers worldwide This is largely as a result of its near-universal participation Cricket comes in second place, with an enormous global audience of 2 5 billion, largely led by Asian and Middle Eastern interest US sports also dominate the viewership list, with baseball, basketball and American football amassing spectator levels of roughly 400 million each worldwide, concentrated primarily within North America

The numbers involved in live sports broadcasting rights are just as astonishing as the viewership levels they attract A recent Barron’s insight estimates the annual value of TV and streaming sports rights in the U.S. at a staggering $26.6 billion in 2023, up 75% from 2015 These technology giants mean business, committing heavily to the industry In 2022, Apple announced a deal worth $2.5 billion with US Major League Soccer (MLS), giving the organisation the sole rights to stream every game over the next 10 years The California based firm also entered a 7-year contract with Major League Baseball (MLB), worth $85 million annually to bring ‘Friday Night Baseball’ to Apple TV Similar agreements can be seen between Amazon and the NFL, with an 11-year $13 2 billion agreement giving Amazon Prime exclusive media rights to Thursday Night Football Alphabet, the parent company of YouTube have also entered the streaming wars with a $14 billion 7-year contract with the NFL for the exclusive live streaming rights for American football’s prized ‘Sunday Ticket’ to be broadcast through YouTube TV The story is analogous closer to home

multi-year deals with DAZN, worth $2 4 billion and $2.5 billion respectively France’s Ligue 1 partnered with Amazon in 2021, in a 3-year contract worth $250 million annually for Amazon Prime to hold live rights to eight fixtures per match week

Taking an alternative approach on the matter, streaming pioneers Netflix have decided to bank on sporting storytelling, rather than live events Focusing on developing top-quality fly on the wall productions rather than streaming live games, their strategy comes in at a considerably smaller cost than licensing rights to live games As previously outlined by Sports Editor, Mark Cooper in a November article on the topic, a myriad of sports docuseries’ have been produced by Netflix in the past five years Shows such as ‘Drive to Survive’ and ‘The last Dance’, documenting recent Formula 1 seasons and the famed 1990’s Chicago Bulls team led by the legendary Michael Jordan respectively, are renowned pieces of picture, near cinematic quality filmmaking.

The impressive quality of the storytelling in those particular shows have allowed Netflix to even attract non-sporting enthusiasts into the audience Although rumours surrounding Netflix’s entry into the live sports arena have been rumbling since the start of the year, with the prospect of an exciting new sporting deal very much on the table, the actions of the streaming giant seem to suggest a commitment to doubling down on their successful documentary-focused strategy, rather than opting to invest heavily in what currently appears to be an over-saturated and over-priced market Netflix’s focus appears to be firmly set on the branch of sporting media currently offered on their platform, especially given the recent investment in two new behindthe-scenes series, “Full Swing” and “Break Point”, covering the world of top-level golf and tennis respectively

The size and duration of the contracts indicate strong intent to commit to live sports broadcasting by streaming networks Only time will tell whether live sports streaming is a commercially viable investment for these companies It is nonetheless imperative to highlight the importance of how we watch the sports we love. Although having no explicit impact on the outcomes of the games or leader boards themselves, broadcasters hold a critical link in the chain connecting fans to the sports, teams and players they love The current transition in the US is evident, and the question appears not to be if, rather how long we must wait until the same can be seen here in Ireland The GAA have already sold the streaming rights to some hurling and Gaelic football fixtures to Sky Sports, as well as launching their own paid global streaming service GAA Go If the trends in the United States are to travel across the Atlantic, how long might it be before the All-Ireland Finals of our national sports are played out behind a paywall? As a lifelong sports fan, one fears it might be closer than we imagine

in Europe, with many of the largest soccer leagues in the continent following a similar path to the US Spain’s flagship La Liga and Italy’s Serie A both signed multi-year deals with DAZN, worth $2 4 billion and $2.5 billion respectively France’s Ligue 1 partnered with Amazon in 2021, in a 3-year contract worth $250 million annually for Amazon Prime to hold live rights to eight fixtures per match week

Taking an alternative approach on the matter, streaming pioneers Netflix have decided to bank on sporting storytelling, rather than live events Focusing on developing top-quality fly on the wall productions rather than streaming live games, their strategy comes in at a considerably smaller cost than licensing rights to live games. As previously outlined by Sports Editor, Mark Cooper in a November article on the topic, a myriad of sports docuseries’ have been produced by Netflix in the past five years Shows such as ‘Drive to Survive’ and ‘The last Dance’, documenting recent Formula 1 seasons and the famed 1990’s Chicago Bulls team led by the legendary Michael Jordan respectively, are renowned pieces of picture, near cinematic quality filmmaking

The impressive quality of the storytelling in those particular shows have allowed Netflix to even attract non-sporting enthusiasts into the audience Although rumours surrounding Netflix’s entry into the live sports arena have been rumbling since the start of the year, with the prospect of an exciting new sporting deal very much on the table, the actions of the streaming giant seem to suggest a commitment to doubling down on their successful documentary-focused strategy, rather than opting to invest heavily in what currently appears to be an over-saturated and over-priced market Netflix’s focus appears to be firmly set on the branch of sporting media currently offered on their platform, especially given the recent investment in two new behindthe-scenes series, “Full Swing” and “Break Point”, covering the world of top-level golf and tennis respectively

The size and duration of the contracts indicate strong intent to commit to live sports broadcasting by streaming networks Only time will tell whether live sports streaming is a commercially viable investment for these companies It is nonetheless imperative to highlight the importance of how we watch the sports we love Although having no explicit impact on the outcomes of the games or leader boards themselves, broadcasters hold a critical link in the chain connecting fans to the sports, teams and players they love The current transition in the US is evident, and the question appears not to be if, rather how long we must wait until the same can be seen here in Ireland The GAA have already sold the streaming rights to some hurling and Gaelic football fixtures to Sky Sports, as well as launching their own paid global streaming service GAA Go If the trends in the United States are to travel across the Atlantic, how long might it be before the All-Ireland Finals of our national sports are played out behind a paywall? As a lifelong sports fan, one fears it might be closer than we imagine

THEBBCMUSTACKNOWLEDGETHE INTERSECTIONBETWEENSPORTANDPOLITICS

WRITES JACK KELLY | DEPUTY SPORTS EDI

In 1776, Edward Gibbon wrote a comprehensive history about the collapse of the Roman empire entitled Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire A seminal piece, the six volumes illustrate the multiple internal and external factors that led to the eventual collapse of the greatest empire in history A case can be made for the empire’s economic decay or perhaps the weakening of its once all-conquering army being the main causes of its fall, but the political instability within the empire is frequently mentioned by historians as being central to the collapse of the Roman empire; it eroded civic morale and divided the military and population Similarly, another major empire witnessed a shaky period of sorts due to inner political turmoil: the BBC (A bit hyperbolic? Definitely )

Obviously linking the decline of the Roman empire and the BBC’s recent troubles is a stretch But the BBC’s mishandling of the Gary Lineker political tweet controversy- if you would go as far to call it that- has raised the question for the umpteenth time: Is sport political? It undoubtedly is But a new question has been raised in the last few weeks: does the BBC as the national broadcaster need to evolve and embrace football's new role in politics and society? Most would say yes

But only a matter of months after the Qatar World Cup (one of the most politicised, controversial sporting events in history), it is perplexing that Gary Lineker, who was praised for being one of the most outspoken critics of Qatar’s authoritarian regime hosting the World Cup, is being vilified for criticising the British governments abhorrent immigration policy; a double standard beyond belief

Under Rishi Sunak’s government’s plans, adults arriving in the UK on small boats or in the back of a lorry would be denied the right to claim asylum, even if they had come from a war zone or faced persecution in countries well known for human rights abuses Instead people would be sent back to “a country or territory to which there is reason to believe [they would] be admitted”, the country that they had embarked from to the UK, their country of origin or another country where they held a passport, according to the draft bill This bill was seemingly enacted by the Conservative government to deflect attention from the fact that the UK is deteriorating

In response to this, Lineker tweeted ‘There is no huge influx, We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30’s’

The uproar that followed was remarkable and naturally the furore that ensued was populated by the far-right commentators who are usually immersed in the battlefields of free speech - but only when they are defending Jeremy Clarkson’s jocular racism or his calls for striking workers to be shot (on the BBC) or Nigel Farrage’s flippant xenophobia Strangely, the ‘you can’t say anything anymore’ brigade are slow to jump to Lineker’s right to defend asylum seekers Bit ironic?

But it is somewhat apt that it is Lineker who has stirred this debate As a broadcaster, Lineker is articulate and charming but it's his record in addressing wider issues within football and society that has set him apart He has long been an advocate for using football as a means of tackling societal issues by regularly sharing his views on politics in the UK As mentioned, he received widespread acclaim for his monologue on the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup critiquing FIFA’s decision to

award Qatar the competition. He also spoke at length with BBC pundits Alan Shearer, Alex Scott and Ashley Williams about Qatar’s human rights abuses and discriminatory LGBTQ+ laws

Lineker stated “It’s the most controversial World Cup in history, and a ball has not yet been kicked Ever since Fifa chose Qatar back in 2010, the smallest nation to have hosted football’s greatest competition has faced some big questions.’’ Before adding “From accusations of corruption in the bidding process to the treatment of migrant workers who built the stadiums, where many lost their lives ’’ There was no discussion to remove Lineker from his broadcasting role for criticising the Qatari government then so why has that changed?

For a programme that is known for staying in its lane as a highlights and analysis show, Match of the Day has now indeed been politicised Especially following the announcement of Gary Lineker’s exit along with his fellow pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer declaring that they would not participate in the show on the 11th of March 2023 as a show of solidarity

But this is a new epoch for football Politics and football are now inherently linked For example, state owned clubs with questionable human rights records are using clubs and, consequently, the game to cleanse their problematic images This is a popular weapon of foreign policy employed by petro-states and oligarchs And now with growing Qatari interest in the biggest club in English football, Manchester United, it cannot be ignored anymore

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Early in the week of his eventual suspension, Lineker had been told that there would be no action taken against him but due to the changes in events, many are suggesting that pressure from the government forced the BBC to change its stance It is likely that most would not have expected the situation to go this far Most would have imagined Lineker making a witty quip about the commotion following his tweet and the programme would have continued with Liverpool losing to Bournemouth but the BBC’s calamitous handling of his tweet has led to this spiralling out of control Ironically, the very nature of Match of the Day has changed during this incident even though the show has consistently veered away from politics within sport

In the end, Lineker was reinstated and the BBC had egg on its face. But going forward, with up to seven million weekly viewers across its Saturday and Sunday shows, the discussions that take place on Match of the Day fill the living rooms of households all over the UK and Ireland with conversation and snippets of information thus by ignoring the indiscretions within society, politics and football, the BBC are choosing to be as complicit as the likes of FIFA in ignoring human abuses similar to those Lineker denounced during the BBC’s World Cup coverage A football broadcaster has got the world talking about the UK’s immigration policy Is this a start or is this the end of the football-political dialogue?