UCC Express Vol. 26 Issue 7

Domestic violence is an endemic issue worldwide, not least in Ireland However, it is predominantly women who are affected by domestic violence, most notably through gender-based violence and femicide Ireland’s figures that account for the abuse of women through domestic violence, gender-based violence, and femicide make for stark reading Domestic violence can have a profoundly negative impact upon women in a number of different ways It can increase the

number of women which are forced into homelessness as they face the unfortunate reality of leaving an abusive relationship

Between 2015 and 2019, according to Focus Ireland, a 158% rise in women’s homelessness was present, while the National Women’s Council of Ireland found that 92% of homeless women in a FEANTSA European study had gone through some form of violence or abuse throughout their lives This was further

compounded by the lack of women’s refuges. In 2018, SAFE Ireland found that on 3,256 occasions, women and children were not located in refuge spaces because the “refuge was either full or there was no refuge in their areas” Given the lack of women’s refuge spaces for victims of domestic abuse across the country, whilst many of them are likely to be on low incomes, they are without any option but to become homeless

Domestic violence can also have a knockon impact on other innocent bystanders of the family, especially children Accordant with a TUSLA report in 2015, over 40% of cases have been associated with the

Domestic violence can also have a knockon impact on other innocent bystanders of the family, especially children Accordant with a TUSLA report in 2015, over 40% of cases have been associated with the domestic abuse of children, alongside women, either physically or sexually In many cases, the usage of domestic violence by perpetrators can also result in fatalities The number of deaths caused by domestic violence against women which results in femicide are harrowing According to the publication of the Femicide Watch Report of Women’s Aid in December 2022, 252 deaths have been recorded between 1996-2022 by femicide,

Artwork by Emmalene Blake, 2023

CAITRÍONA NÍ CHONAILL | EDITOR IN CHIEF

I hope you all had a restful break over the holidays and are ready for an action packed second semester One of the most interesting events coming up this semester is, in my opinion, the Postgrad Expo happening on the 26th of January As a masters student myself, I know how useful the information would have been to me when making my choice on which masters to choose and all the different stands available on the day will be

able to answer all of your questions about the different courses. Going into my masters in September, I knew that it would be a lot more research-based than my BA had been (obviously), but the lecturers teaching my course have been very helpful in helping me adjust to a more individual way of learning I also didn’t have to do a final year project or a thesis during my BA with Irish and English, so having to undertake a research project with no prior experience other than writing essays has been a learning curve for me Had I gone to this Postgrad Expo when it was on last year, I think it would have assuaged some of my worries about the course and made me more at ease about the elements I had no prior knowledge of

Included in the Postgrad Expo this year are a roundtable discussion with different postgraduate students and their experiences, find out how to fund a PhD, and how to make sure your research will have an effect on the wider world

You can find out more about the Postgrad Expo in the News section this issue, as well as many more interesting articles Dive into the concerning gambling problem affecting Ireland’s young sportsmen in the Sports section, find the connection between forensic science and TV shows in Features and ensure you’re having safe sex, whatever your preference, in the Sexpress section

Happy Reading!

TIME AND MENTAL HEALTH

WRITES CLAIRE WATSON | FEATURES EDITOR

There’s no way to welcome in the new year without sounding a little cheesy At a surface level it’s a made up holiday celebrating a made up concept Years are simply a way to quantify the Earth and our existences Though we’re always ageing, birthdays and New Year’s simply add a bit of routine to the chaos that is existence But, and it's a big but, there is something remarkable about this time of year

When you’re struggling with mental illness, New Year’s can feel like less of a celebration and more like an obligation While trying to look back on the year in fondness it’s easy to become overwhelmed with a sense of regret over missteps and missed opportunities These calendars, dates and holidays make us feel that time is within our grasp, that if we just stopped for a moment, time would stop with us

Then resolutions become a way to gamify time While they work for some, the overwhelming sense of obligation can send us down a deeper spiral Do whatever makes you happy It’s that simple I know I sound like a broken record, but go into this year prioritising you and your time Time may be beyond your control, but your life is still on your terms

There should be no end goal When we achieve what we want to achieve, time will continue flowing right past us It’s not that everything is fake and meaningless, it’s

which is generally considered to be the “killing of women and girls by men” 63% of the murdered women were killed in their own homes, whilst 87% of women, where cases have been resolved, and the perpetrator punished, were murdered by a man that was known to them Even more harrowing was that women under the age of 35 made up 50% of the femicide cases in Ireland In many of these incidences, children were also fatally impacted In cases where the perpetrator was held to account, 20 children died violently in incidents, where women also died These figures highlight and illustrate the need for profound societal change to be brought about throughout the country So, what can be done?

Evidenced by the accompanying sentence, many would argue that it must start with societal change And that means, people, especially men, standing up and being counted in the fight against gender-based violence and all forms of discrimination against women, including sexism The crucial starting point involves the latter Replicating the approach taught by the UCC Bystander Intervention Programme, men can start by calling out any misogynistic or stereotypical comments that are directed in a derogatory manner towards women, whether in the workplace, in a social setting, or in general society Whether these comments are directed by their peers, such as their friends or family, the growth in the number of men calling out such sexist or misogynistic comments will end the normalisation of lad culture and toxic masculinity

In some cases, especially outside the home, where evidence of domestic violence against women is present, men can also call out such abuse Like racism, the greater the number of people that stand up to call out all forms of discrimination and abuse against women, the more likely that these toxic attitudes no longer become accepted in society In some situations, it only takes one person to operate outside of existing norms amongst peers to call out such rhetoric However, this is only the starting point for ending lad culture If we are to end lad culture in Irish society, men also need to look at their own gendered attitudes to their place in society Recently, research obtained by SAFE Ireland concluded that up to 27% of men between the age of 16-25 believe that the head of the household should be acted upon by men, whilst 20% that were surveyed thought that men should be the ones earning the most money in the household. Whilst in the minority,

these staggering figures highlight the continuing existence of support for traditional norms of society While the approaches of men calling out sexist attitudes and looking at their own gendered attitude to their place in society will not end gender-based violence, it certainly has a role to play in bringing about the societal change needed

In cohesion with the above changes, education is essential, especially for younger men, to end the formation of existing attitudes towards women that see them as objects rather than ordinary humans which should be allowed to freely function in society without fear of abuse, either physically, verbally, or sexually This will require change to be led by the Government to prevent the conditions to form for domestic violence against women to take place, and education to prevent these conditions from forming should start from a young age. The latest Government’s Zero Tolerance strategy on gender-based violence commits to tackling domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence At an educational level, the Government promised to update the primary and secondary school curricula to “include consent, coercive control, domestic violence and safe use of the internet” Through prevention, this will be done by establishing a number of awareness campaigns to focus on prevalent attitudes among boys and men In third level education, under the Government’s strategy, the Government indicated that it would roll-out the foundation of an online hub on sexual violence and harassment across the higher education sector

The Government could take inspiration from the ideas espoused under the UCC Bystander Intervention Programme, which has been rolled out in 70 secondary schools across the country, and expand it to every school, both primary and secondary, nationwide The reforming of the current education system to include teachings about areas such as domestic violence and consent, in conjunction with the Bystander

Intervention Programme rolled out in UCC to primary and secondary schools would arguably have the potential to bring about unprecedented generational change at a younger level in Irish society, and that is to no longer accept any form of domestic violence against women in society. On many moral issues such as Marriage Equality, young people were the generation to lead change And by not tolerating all forms of domestic abuse against women, they can be the generation that irons out domestic abuse, and leads a society that champions equality and opposes discrimination

Legal change is also needed Legally, as promised by the Government under its strategy to tackle gender-based violence, harsher sentences will need to be introduced for perpetrators of domestic abuse against women to support the adoption of a zero-tolerance approach to domestic violence of all forms It remains to be seen whether the commitments under this strategy will be

met, going forward Nevertheless, the current Government, under the watchful eye of generations of women across the country, will be hoping that they meet their own commitments to tackle gender-based violence to bring the promised societal change that is needed to honour the many women who have either died or suffered physically or emotionally, as a result of domestic abuse, and prevent domestic violence from continuing to stain this country As we have recently reached the one-year anniversary of the brutal murder of Ashling Murphy, and received news of the killing of Bruna Fonseca on New Year’s Day, these events continue to be commonplace in Irish society Unless societal, educational, governmental, and legal change is brought about, more female lives will be taken and impacted by gender-based violence It is in everyone’s interest for all forms of domestic violence to end Let’s hope 2023 can be the beginning of this process

"87% of women, where cases have been resolved, and the perpetrator punished, were murdered by a man that was known to them."

Bruna Fonesca

UCCON26THJANUARY

WRITES JAMES KEMMY | NEWS EDITOR

A postgraduate information exhibition will be hosted in UCC on Thursday the 26th January The event, which will be held in the Hub from 3-8pm, will showcase over 200 courses that are available in the college for those interested in pursuing further study Over four disciplinary schools, a wide set of talks and workshops focusing on postgrad diplomas and certificates, higher diplomas, and structured or practitioner PhDs will take place in the Dr Dora Allman room and the Shtepps der-based violence and femicide Ireland’s figures that account for the abuse of women through domestic violence, gender-based violence, and femicide make for stark reading Domestic violence can have a profoundly negative impact upon women in a number of different ways It can increase the

In addition to this, there will be representatives present from the university’s Fees Office, the Skills Centre and the Accommodation and Community Life Office to answer any questions from attendees Information on postgrad scholarships will be available too, with details provided on various schemes and application processes A number of career consultants will be present on the Hub’s ground floor to assist visitors with queries relating to their career goals and how to

align them with suitable study courses A special Career Advice Zone will be active in the Career Services consultation rooms, with no booking required

Speaking to Carol Veiga and Catherine O’Sullivan from UCC’s student recruitment team, January 26th’s event is a highly valuable opportunity for anyone seeking to solidify their aspirations for specialised study and career development. Further, UCC is the highest ranking university in Ireland for research income from industry sources, with over 70 different institutes and centres dedicated to innovation, entrepreneurship, research and societal impact On the day of the event, there will be two alumni panel discussions held, where former postgraduate students will lend their insights and speak of their experiences of further study at UCC Similarly, there will be a collaborative roundtable discussion where current students of both research and taught programmes will detail their stories on the reality of postgrad life

Included in the Expo’s timetable is a Postgrad Conversion Course, a session that will provide advice and guidance for people seeking to change direction in their field of study and explore a new vocational field There will also be a 101 on financing PhDs, where expert advice will be provided to students looking to

fund doctoral studies A workshop provided by UCC Career Services will discuss how to write a personal statement within a CV and job application context

With an emphasis on student wellbeing, a self-care session informed by Dr Eithne Hunt’s digital badge programme ‘Everyday Matters – Healthy Habits for University Life’ will be available to attend This session will enable students to explore how to spend time across study/work, leisure, self-care and sleep, and aims to cultivate positive habits of the mind including self-compassion, a growth mindset and joy and gratitude

For attendees interested in entrepreneurial start-ups, there will be an IGNITE information stand showcasing UCC’s flagship programme aimed at providing mentorship and advice to aspiring business owners Student representatives from UCC’s online post-grad journal, The Boolean, which highlights the doctoral research carried out in the college, will also be present - with information available on how students can get their work published in future editions

Undoubtedly, an attractive feature of postgrad study in UCC is the university’s comprehensive alignment of research and learning activity with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is a blueprint of seventeen policy objectives for a more peaceful, prosperous and environmentally viable world

Speaking to the Express, Niamh Guiry, who completed a Masters in Environment and Natural Resources Law in 2021, highlights the benefits of UCC’s dedicated centre for Law and the Environment (CLE), whereby innovative environmental research is carried out Niamh is currently undertaking a PhD project, mapping the relationship between the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and international law “The overall sustainable ethos of UCC allows me to pursue my research, work, and extracurricular activities in an environment that values the student voice and climate action” she says

Another postgrad alumni of UCC, Chris Moran, completed an MSc in Sustainable Development, Agri-Food and CoOperatives, three years after finishing his undergraduate programme in Commerce A course which promotes the emergent link between food and sustainability, Chris says his postgrad served as a “launchpad” for his PhD in sustainable food consumption. “One of the biggest factors contributing to my positive postgraduate experience in UCC has been the people that I have interacted with Both staff and fellow students have helped me to learn and grow both personally and professionally”

Free goodie bags and valuable networking opportunities are also on offer To learn more and register for the event, visit: www ucc ie/postgradexpo

YEARFORIRISHPOLITICS

sharing power with them. Questions remain over Fianna Fáil’s position on this matter however, especially if Martin is to step down as leader following the parliamentary term In the early stages of this Dáil’s second half, Mary Lou McDonald and her strident entourage are likely to revel in the chance to launch fresh attacks on the leadership However, as Sinn Féin edges closer to Government, it will be revealing to observe the consistency displayed towards their manifesto commitments, and how they respond to recent allegations levelled at McDonald over her personal finances and questions over the party’s attitude towards gangland violence

arrangement would be a historic feat but Social Democrats and the Labour Party? And is a Sinn Féin-led alternative Government, exclusive of the two traditional parties, actually feasible? Pulling off such an would surely require concessions to independent deputies and smaller groups such as People Before Profit/Solidarity

WRITES JAMES KEMMY | NEWS EDITOR

The half-way point of the 33rd Dáil presents a ripe opportunity to reflect on affairs and anticipate the political dynamics that will unfold over the coming period With Leo Varadkar reassuming the office of Taoiseach under the unprecedented rotating premiership arrangement, the New Year spells parliamentary significance for several major reasons

Firstly, the Fine Gael leader inherits an executive that has weathered a series of momentous crises, but one which is also marked by meagre progress in tackling Ireland’s largest structural challenges Moreover, a minimal cabinet reshuffle in the week before Christmas either suggests impressive unity for the threeparty coalition, or perhaps a mere jaded continuity, as each group’s political agenda is increasingly diluted through forced compromise. While Micheál Martin was characterised as a Taoiseach of pragmatic centrism, Varadkar is perhaps more explicit is his ideological outlook, a leader unapologetically influenced by pro-market, neoliberal values

There is undeniable decision-making pressure ahead While the State is currently in a strong fiscal position, buoyed by hefty corporation tax receipts, opposition calls for major investments in health and housing will undoubtedly accelerate soon Additionally, an impending economic

downturn defined by a period of stagflation will likely jeopardise consumer confidence and affect small business viability These developments will force the government to either continue with its pandemic-oriented pattern of ad hoc interventionism or to chart a new route, one possibly involving cutbacks and fiscal discipline

Recent chaos in the healthcare sector due to A&E calamity has triggered ferocious backlash, with stories such as that of a 70-year-old’s 57 hour wait on a Cork University Hospital chair filling headlines recently Moreover, demonstrations are set to take place in Limerick to highlight the chronic state of the emergency department there Now there is a creeping sense that housing, too, may be an intractable problem, with a generation of young adults locked out of both acquisition and affordable rental security- ultimately spelling disproportionate levels of emigration. While sound planning is central to tackling the housing issue, the political will to effect lasting change is fundamental

In terms of electoral intricacies, there are several potential scenarios which could unravel, or at least begin to take hold in 2023 With Varadkar at the helm of Government, Fine Gael will certainly take the opportunity to cement themselves as the strongest anti-Sinn Féin party, ruling out any notion of

Consequential too is the potential distribution of political support outside of the largest three parties Take the Green Party for instance- will their base of liberal-left, largely middle-class voters remain solid or shift towards the

Overall, the coming months appear to suggest an increasingly febrile political environment The first chapter of this parliamentary period was defined by crises of an external nature- Covid, the war in Ukraine, and a far-reaching cost of living crisis These were complex, global events that were largely outside the control of a national government However, salient domestic issues will soon come to the fore and scrutiny of the coalition’s decision-making will sharpen, becoming more politicised as public opinion evolves 2023 represents an important political juncture indeed

INSPARKLINGSPANDEX

ARESUPERHEROESTHEDRAGQUEENSWEDESERVE?

WRITES CLAIRE WATSON | FEATURES EDITOR

In a world rife with hardships, good entertainment goes a long way in allowing audiences to escape from reality Flicking on our favourite movie or series, tucking into the latest comic, or pouring our hearts into fandom can be a pleasing way to end a stressful day Superheroes allow us to slip out of our world and into one full of extraordinary moments

Superheroes, even if we are hesitant to admit it, are known for their flashiness From the bright pages of their comic books, to the high-budget, CGI extravaganzas of the latest Marvel films, superheroes are created to be as aesthetically pleasing as they are powerful Could Scarlet Witch feasibly have such perfect hair and make-up all while flying around and warping reality? Not at all, but that only makes her even more fantastical and exciting to watch. It's this flashiness that brings such joy

It’s for the same reason that so many people, especially those that do not identify as LGBTQ+, have been drawn to the art of drag There is an

attractiveness to the sequins, the gravity-defying wigs and the make-up I argue that watching drag performers lipsync for their lives on RuPaul’s Drag Race is just as tense as watching Thor and Hela go head to head And sidenote: Thor is lucky that he’s not lip-syncing against Hela, because Cate Blanchett is simply that powerful

It’s not just that drag and superheroes are both incredibly popular sources of entertainment in current culture I believe that they’re two sides of the same coin One side typically represents hyper-femininity, and the other hypermasculinity From the historical roles drag performers and superheroes play in our society, to the exploration of gender norms, to the artistic impact of these two forms, there are many similarities that join drag and superheroes together

A HERO IS BORN

Drag queens have historically flung themselves into mainstream media with their positions at the forefront of many queer liberation movements Though

they have existed for centuries, the art of drag is born by a need to disrupt social norms During the mid 20th century, drag pageants and balls were hosted across the world to provide LGBTQ+ folk with safe spaces to express themselves Drag artists such as Marsha P Johnson and Stormé DeLarverie played a crucial role in the Stonewall riots Where there is political anxiety, there is the art of drag, fighting for liberation

Superman’s identity as a Jewish superhero is contested, with many trying to funnel him into the all-American poster-boy that can be easily slapped on a bit of merchandising without thinking of the character’s social implications Regardless of the debate, his creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, are Jewish and the hero is born as a direct response to the anti-semitism spreading across the world His home destroyed, Superman escapes to Earth in hopes of building a better future, a reality many Jewish people faced during the 1940s Though an immigrant, Superman becomes a national, and even international hero

Many critics compare the hero to the figure of the Golem A creature of

Jewish folklore designed to have super strength and serve as humanity’s protector. In literature, the Golem becomes a vessel to explore social anxieties through Similar, though unique and equally important, origin stories can be applied to many of our beloved heroes The point is; where there is a societal issue, superheroes are created to uplift those whose voices have been marginalised and to look cool while doing it

Becoming cultural icons, superheroes and drag artists alike play an important role in swaying the public’s perception by shining a light on those that have been pushed into the dark

THE NAME, THE MASK, THE WIG

The costume is a core component of the superhero Often, it's the hero themselves putting it together We see a montage of Toby MacGuire’s spiderman sketching different suits; toned figures raising their arms to reveal a parachute made of spider-web, flexing as they sail through his notebook He writes, “needs more colour!” and with a bit, or a lot, of blue and red he brings his alter-ego Spiderman to life

Finding the name and the costume is an expected trope in superhero stories In video games, designing and upgrading the hero’s suit becomes a major gameplay mechanic, and sometimes even a plot device Suiting up sees the hero becoming the character they’ve created They shed their everyday clothes to become something that breaks our expectations of reality

Like the superhero, the drag performer’s alter ego transforms them from a mere human into something spectacular The name, sometimes tied to the legacy of a drag house, sometimes marking their journey, or sometimes just a camp pun, brings power The wonder of seeing a queen strut down the street in 10 inch heels, or seeing a king’s sparkling abs popping out of spandex, is perhaps the closest we’ll get in reality to seeing humans fly

MASCULINITY

AND GLITTER

Though drag encompasses a plethora of gender identities, drag begins as a way to play upon mainstream representations of femininity. It takes the patriarchal view of AFAB (Assigned Female At Birth) bodies and plays with it Female icons like Grace Jones and Liza Minelli rise to fame among drag performers for their dandiacal plays with gender Dissatisfied with representations of masculinity, many queer men and transwomen find comfort in popular, feminine icons and choose to embody them through drag

Through stereotypically masculine characters such as Batman, Captain

America, Wolverine and many more, cisgender men find this same comfort Robert Pattinson’s recent portrayal of Batman brought a deeper emotional element to the character Pattinson’s Batman expresses masculinity through a lens tinged with trauma To see this represented in something as mainstream as DC echoes society’s changing understanding of expressions of both gender and emotion

On the topic of DC, while Suicide Squad is nothing short of a disaster, the way Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn embodies feminity in a way that is cute, colourful and threatening, just screams camp Birds of Prey portrays her gender as a force to be reckoned with

THE ARTIST AND THE ALTER EGO

With our first looks at Across the Spiderverse, it feels relevant to discuss the artistry of Miles Morales By studying the history of comic books and their various art styles, Into the Spiderverse revolutionised animation Along with beautiful scenes of Miles swinging around his hometown, Into the Spiderverse uses visual effects to tell a story of self-discovery

These adaptations show superheroes for what they are; works of art Much like drag artists, behind every superhero there is a creative process seeing this character to fruition For every colour palette, spandex, stitch and rhinestone, there is a narrative at work Sometimes

it's Spidermen, sometimes it's Glamazons Showing Miles as an artist helps highlight the artistry of heroes, and the spidersonas that followed this movie showcase heroes as forms of selfexpression

While I propose that superheroes are the drag artists of a hyper-masculine gaze, I will note that many heroes, including Miles, stray away from this hypermasculinity that is so often toxic Taking this to the extreme is Deadpool

Through the gore, explosions, and katana blades, Deadpool remains camp and unabashedly queer. His design is purposefully masculine, and yet his humour plays upon ideas of fragile masculinity He defies expectations As drag performers break expectations of gender, Deadpool takes on the superhero genre and makes it his own Despite the movies, Deadpool is canonically pansexual, providing queer people with the camp superhero - or anti-hero - they deserve His character design leans into typical, masculine superhero tropes, yet feminine expressions provide those who are so often oppressed such macho-masculinity with a safe space

IS THIS THE REPRESENTATION WE DESERVE?

Mainstream media often waters down the political power of drag, with shows like RuPaul’s drag race playing to a cisgender and heterosexual audience’s perception of social conventions The same can be said for Marvel Loki’s

explicit queerness in his comic books is barely mentioned on the silver screen After publicly questioning why Peter Parker couldn’t be bisexual, Andrew Garfield felt pressured into apologising for his remark America Chavez’ queerness is shown on-screen with a pin despite her comic’s efforts of explicitly presenting her as queer and to normalise LGBTQ+ existences

Comparing superheroes to drag queens is a fun way to understand the mainstream media’s representation of gender However, this is not to obscure Marvel’s and DC’s lack of adequate representation

STREAMING:ASTORYOF OVERSATURATION

WRITES CLAIRE WATSON | FEATURES EDITOR

Dark nights illuminated by bright screens Catalogues of documentaries, films, musicals and TV shows, some new, some nearly lost to time, flicker before your eyes Netflix’s familiar drum reverberates throughout your living room Disney’s logo glitters across your TV A notification sliding across the top of your phone indicates five new titles coming to Amazon Prime Movie posters smear into colourful blurs as you scroll through their different libraries, until suddenly you hit the end, and there’s just a black screen and your reflection, decorated by a trademark

What feels like an age-old question, has become a dizzying nightmare “What to watch on Netflix?” now diverges across different streaming platforms The choice of what to watch feels unlimited We are overwhelmed by variety and the immediacy at which we can access it So, why do we spend our evenings like this; scrolling but not watching?

According to CSO, in 2020 the total household expenditure on video streaming was €211 million When it comes to digital services, video streaming takes up the highest percentage of expenditure We funnel so much money into these services only to be sat staring into black screens, switching on films just to turn them off as quickly. Consuming media has never been easier, yet has it always been so desolate?

In January 2007 Netflix launched its streaming service The company had operated previously as a rental system To compete with the American chain Blockbuster, the company began to offer videos on demand Now there are over 200 platforms for consumers to choose from What seemed to be a competition between Netflix, Hulu, and HBO has expanded massively Disney Plus, NOW TV, and Paramount+, are just a few of the big names to enter the

pool of streaming services With all these platforms, our choice of what to watch should be unlimited Yet with the cost of subscriptions and the constant shifting of films and TV series between platforms, it feels as though our decisions are less our own and more the market’s

Before Netflix turned digital, movie rentals were all the rage Passing through small towns I still see remains of that bright yellow Xtra-vision sign, and the smells of popcorn and plastic box-sets come rushing back Though the company ran into financial difficulties a decade before I was born, I still remember the excitement of popping into Xtra-vision The shelves lined with movies and video games seemed endless, it was like a pocket-dimension had been crammed into this small Irish town Despite Xtra-vision’s popularity, its rental service meant that after expansion the company struggled to maintain the cost of its growth

Renting movies was much cheaper than buying DVDs, and there was the ease of simply walking up to the section you

wanted to peruse and having everything laid out before you But it’s not this ease I miss, it’s the social aspect Besides renting movies and games off of real human staff, I have fond memories of going to friends’ houses after school, dropping off our bags and then heading down to Xtra-vision Reminiscing on the company, I’m flooded with memories of running around with my brother, likely fighting over what movie we were going to take home It reminds me of sitting with my family, ordering takeaway pizza, and getting ready for that week’s movie

Now watching movies at home no longer has that appeal It’s so easy to queue a movie on your phone or to throw something on in the background, not even looking at the screen Digital streaming is so isolated Services like Netflix, though not cheap, fade into the background When watching films with friends, it’s hard to avoid the awkward silence that comes with scrolling through that catalogue, knowing what’s there and not wanting it. When we all have the same services, it’s harder to bond over watching something new for

the first time If you’re anything like you’re months behind the latest shows your friends have already watched twice over

Yet, I can’t say that streaming has completely eradicated the closeness of sitting down and watching a film or TV show with friends Like most people during lockdown, myself and my friends turned to Netflix Party for comfort If you’re lucky like me, you’ve a friend that’s made out a list of titles to watch and you’ve been skirting down the list without any time left for hemming and hawing Maybe you’re sitting down to watch a series, giving your friend livereactions as you finally catch up with them There are ways around this silence

I’ve never been great at watching movies Instead, video essays are my go to If you watch video essays, you’ve likely heard of CuriosityStream Philosophy Tube is a favourite of mine, and when she was sponsored by CurisoityStream, I wanted to support her by using her link The link gave me bonus access to Nebula, a streaming service dedicated to video essays and podcasts It was, seemingly, perfect No ads, exclusive content and incredibly affordable - how could I say no?

Maybe I’m too fussy, but it doesn’t take long to reach the end of CuriosityStream and Nebula’s supply of content The documentaries are mostly American produced, which is fine, but it’s a specific perspective that even when being objective, is difficult to shake On Nebula, as the majority of content creators are also YouTubers, I had already seen a lot of the content I had signed up for I didn’t feel cheated, but I felt I should have researched the content I was signing up to before subscribing I felt it had been mismarketed

This is the issue with streaming services It’s not the content itself, but how it's given to us Ultimately, it's a market Our decisions are influenced by what is relevant, by what will make people sign up The recent migration of Marvel Shows to Disney Plus illustrates the economy of streaming Suddenly the viewer’s power to control what they watch, is taken Companies like Amazon and Disney are neck-deep in controversies, and makes me wonder if by signing up for their services, I fund their misdeeds Subscribing becomes political, the content provided is affected by its platform

Digital streaming is not a total dystopia Going beyond the movies and TV,

platforms like Twitch and Youtube have allowed creators to make careers out of their passions Streaming has given artists control over their content For years I had been an avid watcher of College Humor, so when the company initially collapsed, I was somewhat heartbroken But by turning themselves into a streaming service that allowed their creators full artistic control over what they produced, their company became stronger than ever Dimension 20, Um Actually, and Game Changer are just a few examples of Dropout’s incredible shows that would not have been possible without the ability to stream and subscribe

Metaphorically speaking, the immediacy of the internet has rewired our brains to want content on demand TV Providers have been progressing towards this for years, and I don’t think that this innovation is a terrible thing But it’s costly We spend money to sit and decide, and when something is bad we turn it off or zone out The library model fails when it becomes oversaturated, and yet this oversaturation is exactly why we sign up.

Perhaps, the issue with immediacy is our fears of wasting time Seeing a subpar film in the cinema is annoying,

sure, but it’s the experience that keeps you going back The cinema isn’t the solution to streaming For many people, it lacks the accessibility that draws people to home-viewing I don’t propose that we recreate these cinema experiences at home, but if we’re subscribing we should get our money’s worth, and not fear wasting time As movies and TV shows are produced by streaming services, the incentive to visit the cinema is disappearing

Staring at the end of a catalogue, trying to think of what you want to watch is anti-experience We envision an evening spent watching a life-changing film, but we’re too scared to jump into the deep end and risk watching something bad But consuming bad media is an experience, and experience is all we have There’s hundreds of things to watch out there, all you have to do is hit play

CSI:WHATDOYOUREALLYKNOW ABOUTFORENSICSCIENCE?

For as long as crimes have been committed, investigators have strived to use science to secure convictions The first written account of using medicine and entomology to solve criminal cases is attributed to a book written in China in 1248 – the book of Xi Yuan Lu by Song Ci As science has advanced across the centuries and scientific methods of inquiry have been standardised, forensic science as a whole has been improved, with new investigative techniques being adopted This advancement also led to established forensic practices having been re-examined, with some being discarded completely

Infamously, American serial killer Ted Bundy was convicted on the strength of bite mark evidence in 1979 Bundy bit one of his victims, Lisa Levy, twice The first bite showed a full and complete bite mark while the second was rotated and gave two impressions of his lower teeth Photographs and impressions of the wounds were compared to castings of Bundy’s teeth and deemed a match; both indicated a distinctly crooked bottom set of teeth and a chipped left incisor with three peaks Combined with eyewitness testimony, this was enough for Bundy to receive the death sentence

two dozen convictions based on bite marks being overturned due to DNA evidence, has seen bite mark analysis largely abandoned and condemned by several scientific bodies

Forensic dentistry as a whole is not unfounded, however It remains a useful tool in the identification of unidentified human remains In the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, dental records were the primary identifier for 46 2% of identified victims As for bite marks, in some cases, they may prove forensically useful by providing assailant DNA in the form of saliva or blood

The core tenets of forensic science as it stands today are forensic chemistry and forensic biology Peer-reviewed, validated chemical and biological analytical techniques are used throughout the discipline –chromatography for explosives analysis, spectroscopy for drugs of abuse, polymerase chain reactions (PCR) for genetic fingerprinting As technology and science have improved and developed, non-traditional matrices such as saliva, human nails, and hair have become valuable sources of toxicological information, as well as DNA

WRITESKATEO'FLANAGAN|DEPUTYFEATURESEDITOR

Most people have, at the very least, an awareness of forensic science; the discipline having entered the zeitgeist via crime fiction crime scene investigators in white PPE being shown on the news But beyond these popular images, what does the general public really know about forensic science? What is the reality of this discipline? And how has its increasing presence in fiction impacted how people think about it?

The CSI Effect refers to the way in which the portrayal of forensic science on crime television shows influences public perception First coined in a 2004 USA Today article, the phenomenon takes its name from the show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-2005) Though the original definition

specifically referred to the belief that jurors have come to demand more forensic evidence in criminal trials, it can also be used in reference to the misconceptions surrounding forensic science held by the general public The exaggerated, glamourised depictions of the discipline risk heightened, false expectation of what forensic science can deliver While CSI has been criticised by scientists and legal professionals for its influence on public perception, it may also have had a positive impact Over the five-year period from 20042009, the number of undergraduates studying forensic science and crime scene science in the UK more than doubled; a third of students taking the degrees said they had been inspired by TV coverage of the profession

We know, undoubtedly, that Ted Bundy was guilty He ultimately confessed to thirty murders committed in seven states between 1974 and 1978, though his true victim count may be higher However, if his trial were held today, the bite mark analysis would not be enough to convict The discipline has drawn increasing criticism since the ‘90s Used in legal proceedings since 1870, it is based on two hypotheses: Every person’s teeth leave a unique bite mark, and human skin is capable of preserving those marks in such a way that they can be definitively matched to a specific person A lack of empirical evidence supporting these hypotheses, and up to

Forensic genealogy has emerged as a rapidly growing field in forensic science It first came to public attention in 2018 when it was used in the successful identification and arrest of Joseph James DeAngelo Jr, the Golden State Killer. It can be used to identify perpetrators of violent crimes, as well as unidentified human remains The process involves uploading a crime scene DNA profile to a genetic genealogy database to trace, and ultimately place the unknown sample within, its corresponding family tree This identification is done through analysis of identity-by-descent sections of DNA that indicate shared ancestors As of September 2020, forensic genealogy has led to the discovery of over 150 suspects of murder and sexual assault

Technological advancements have resulted in devices that were once constrained to the lab due to size are now portable, often handheld, and can be brought to the scene of the crime for

"a third of students taking the degrees said they had been inspired by TV coverage of the profession."

in situ analysis While this cuts down on the sample processing time, it may raise questions about the quality of analysis Specialised technology increases the need for highly trained scientists due to the potential implications of substandard analysis being performed But, in Ireland and across the world, the forensic scientists are not always present at the scene

Forensic Science Ireland (FSI), originally the Forensic Science Laboratory, was established in 1975 to provide a scientific service to the Criminal Justice System via analysis of crime scene samples and providing evidence in criminal trials In its early years, it was customary for a forensic scientist to also carry out a crime scene examination This has fallen to the wayside as Ireland has adopted a twostep approach to forensic investigation

When a crime occurs, Crime Scene Examiners (CSEs), trained members of An Garda Síochána, are dispatched to the scene They take fingerprints, photograph the scene, and seize any samples or exhibits present The critical in forensic investigations as it can inform where and what types of evidence is looked for and how the results fit into the bigger picture Stronger links between CSEs and scientists would illuminate this context and increase the efficiency of both forensic collection and analysis

However, problems also arise from full integration Outside of Ireland, funding issues have led to police forces forgoing forensic scientists entirely and carrying out their analysis in-house This drastically lowers the quality of analysis being done as not all police scientific facilities are internationally accredited, nor are all members of the police specially trained scientists Greater levels of confirmation bias have been observed in cases where police handle the forensic analysis How impartial is the scientific evidence if it was analysed and presented by the party that benefits from a conviction? A 2009 report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in the United States recommended that forensic science should be removed from the administrative control of the police and prosecution While all external suppliers of forensic services were already obliged to have accreditation, the NAS also recommended that there should be mandatory accreditation of all forensic laboratories and certification of all forensic practitioners

Forensic science is an ever-evolving discipline Sitting at the intersection of science and the law, it is impacted by both scientific innovation and legal doctrine The marriage of these two disciplines creates unique challenges for forensics The legal world moves much slower than the scientific world; the criminal justice system must keep pace with scientific advancements in order to implement scientifically robust methods to analyse and collect evidence While it may not be the ‘magic bullet’ it is presented as in popular fiction, forensic science is an integral and important tool in criminal investigations

HOMELESSNESSIN IRELAND

Families and individuals of any age are left to live on the streets or hop from one unstable and temporary home to another They are left to struggle on the streets or sleep in various hostels, hotels and Airbnb’s, where they have no stability or guaranteed safety

Aside from the financial aspect to homelessness, there are many other factors which can significantly alter someone’s domestic circumstances, these factors include:

Domestic abuse Drug abuse. Alcohol addiction Relationship separation Lack of employment Discrimination and immigration Severe mental health issues

According to Eurostat, Irish electricity bills are the fourth most expensive in Europe For families with stable incomes and homes this has proven a struggle to maintain So, imagine the situation of those who are homeless, and how difficult it is to get out of the cycle

There are many ways in which you can help those who are homeless and struggling with domestic stability :

Many charities and homeless organisations have food banks where you can donate pre-made food (i e , packaged food from supermarkets, canned foods etc) and you can also make freshly cooked meals, bakes and beverages

You can donate items to charity, such as clothing, sleeping bags and toiletries

WRITES BELÍNE CHAN | OPINION EDITOR

I find it difficult to fathom how thousands of Irish people are currently sleeping on the street, or are moving from hostel to hostel, without any domestic stability They have been stripped of their basic human needs of shelter, food and company The issue is only getting worse as the numbers of homeless people are rising each year, as well as the rate of homeless deaths

According to the Peter McVerry Trust and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in 2022 alone, there have been over 11,000 people who have tried to gain emergency accommodation in Ireland, and it is important to note that this

figure excludes those who are sleeping on the streets and couch surfing Average rent in Ireland has increased by more than 82% over the past 12 years, compared to the rest of the EU with the average of 18% According to the Simon Communities in Ireland, in January of last year, the large figure of homeless people was comprised of 1,119 families, 4,788 single adults and 2,563 children Ireland currently has the highest rate of homeless people since records dating to 2014, and family homelessness has doubled With the rising cost of products and rent due to inflation, there are simply many families that cannot withstand the cost of living

Homeless people can often face a poor support system, as they have no support from their relatives, they lack aid from the government, and Ireland has a struggling mental health support sector The pandemic also created difficulty as organisations were not able to run as smoothly and homelessness was rising furthermore To lessen their struggles, those experiencing homelessness can avail of the HAP (The Housing Assistance Payment) if they meet the requirements This aids those who are struggling with housing stability, and according to HAP, they are a social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need The issue is that due to the lack of affordable rental homes, and the declining numbers of landlords accepting those with HAP, there is no place for the homeless to go, and those who already have HAP and that are in rental homes, are unable to leave, as there is no stable and longerterm option available for them There are many known cases of those being discriminated against due to their HAP status, where landlords must pay the victims thousands of euros to compensate Last year for example, a tenant was paid 10,000 euros as he was refused HAP because of his landlord and had therefore been discriminated against under the Equal Acts Statement According to Daft ie, rent has gone up by over 14% in comparison to 2021 Gas bills have also risen by over 30% in the last year, not even including energy bills and the cost of food and petrol

Fundraising is a great way to financially aid charities and organisations, which in turn helps the homeless get a better chance at finding shelter and having meals and clothing

You can also donate money to charities, it does not even have to be a large amount, any donation is welcome, appreciated and is helping an important cause

Volunteering at charities and homeless organisations such as food banks is a great way to get firsthand experience in helping those in need I had a great experience volunteering for the Homeless Drive in Cork, where a team of volunteers hand out clothing, essentials and a wide variety of packaged and fresh meals and beverages to the homeless I highly recommend volunteering as it is a very effective way to make a change and you get to see that change first hand

Even if you do not have the time or the funds to help charities, everyone can spread the word by educating each other on how serious the homelessness situation is in Ireland, and by letting others know of the

HOMELESSNESSIN IRELAND

charities available and what they can do to help

The homeless face a lot of issues due to their domestic situation, issues ranging from:

No shelter from severe weather conditions, especially during the winter months

Lack of safety as they are a target of violence and discrimination Lack of sanitary and health resources, which makes them more susceptible to illnesses.

Malnutrition

Turning to alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism for their situation

From my experience with volunteering for the homeless, it is not just those who are sleeping on the streets that are in need of shelter and the basic human necessities such as food and a support system, but also young children, young adults and students The cost of living has increased to the point where students cannot afford student accommodation and the cost of meals Many families are struggling, including those with young children and pets, as well as young adults who face serious drug and mental health issues

Provisional figures to date in 2022 highlight that An Garda Síochána has received in excess of 49,250 domestic abuse reports with at least a 9% increase since last year According to Drink Aware ie 1 in 4 drinkers now engage in binge drinking whenever they drink, and it is the third year in a row

that over half of Irish adults’ drink alcohol on at least a weekly basis With the rise in alcohol, domestic violence and rent, these factors contribute to the rise in homelessness in Ireland

Ideally, the government themselves should take some financial action to

help those who are homeless and those facing domestic instabilities, and they should be prioritising the homeless and vulnerable, but is it realistic that there will be a significant change?

Here are some helpful links to some organisations that help with homelessness in Ireland:

It happens too often where matters are taken seriously only after the issue has gotten dire and serious harm is done How long do we have to wait for those in power to make changes that will benefit the people? If the cost of living keeps rising, then how can the rate of homelessness decrease? A positive outlook is that with the growing the aid of volunteers, charities and organisations, we are making as much of a difference as we currently can to those who are homeless The effort does not stop here, as we should strive to bring down the numbers of homeless people and create a better support system for those in need https://homelessnessinireland.ie/

Homelessness in Ireland is an educational online resource on homelessness in Ireland It is created

and delivered by the national housing and homelessness charity,

Peter McVerry Trust Here, you can find personal stories from those who experienced homelessness, advice tips, information on homelessness and much more.

https://ie.depaulcharity.org/ Depaul is a charity that provides resources and support to those who are homeless, including beds and accommodation

https://www focusireland ie/

Focus Ireland is a voluntary organisation that provides resources and support to the homeless and aids in

preventing those in danger of homelessness

https://www simon ie/understandinghomelessness/

The Simon Communities of Ireland are a network of independent communities that aid the homeless by providing housing and treatment services, information and advice to those in need

Other helpful resources: https://www drugs ie/ https://www drinkaware ie/ https://www youth ie/advocacy-andrepresentation/youth-homelessness/

AnFhrainc,AnEilvéis,AnIodáil

in Annemasse mar áit chun stopadh ann ar do shlí chuig Chamonix Is suimiúil gurb é Annemasse an áit is mó sa Fhrainc atá dlúth leis an Eilvéis

I gcuid a haon den aiste ‘Taisteal san Eoraip’ cúpla mí ó sin, bhíos ag caint faoi Lyon, cathair ghleoite a deirtear go minic atá mar chathair Chorcaí de chuid na Fraince Tá súil agam go spreagann an chuid seo do chuid pleananna taistil i mbliana

Áiteanna Áille sa Fhrainc

Thóg mé eitilt ar ais go Lyon roimh Nollaig, agus an deireadh seachtaine sin, chuamar ar thuras timpeall réigiún amháin, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Molaim duit turas cosúil leis seo a dhéanamh má bhíonn tú sa réigiún seo de chuid na Fraince

1. Bus chuig Annecy

Deirtear go mbíonn Annecy mar Veinéis de chuid na Fraince, cathair álainn lán le canálacha, droichid, agus sráideanna draíochta Bhí gach uile shráid agus gach uile chosán go haoibhinn ar fad, na foirgnimh ag pléascadh le gach dath a fheictear i mbogha báistí Molaim duit siúlóid a dhéanamh timpeall na cathrach sin chun an méid seo a fheiceáil

a An Loch

Tá loch ollmhór ag deireadh na canála agus na habhann. Bíonn roinnt binsí ann chun suí; is féidir leat sos a thógaint in aice an locha agus féachaint ar na sléibhte agus ar na héin. Is ann atá Pont des Amours, chomh maith.

b. Vielle Ville

Bíonn an Vielle Ville, nó an Seanbhaile, mar an gcuid is aoibhne sa chathair, lán le díoltóírí sráide agus stallaí margaidh, chomh maith le bláthanna agus plandaí den scoth.

c. Palais de l’île

Bhí sé seo mar chaisleán agus phríosún uair amháin, ach tá sé mar mhúsaem ealaíne agus staire na laethanta seo. Tá an foirgneamh seo suite ar chanáil amháin.

d. Le Pâquier

Tá páirc álainn in aice na habhann le radharc maith ar na sléibhte anso.

e. Caisleán

Tá caisleán meánaoiseach suite ag barr na cathrach le radharc iontach ar an gcathair.

2. Traein chuig Annemasse

Ní cathair mhór í Annemasse, ach tá sé go deas le roinnt bialanna agus clubanna do scoláirí agus do dhaoine eile Molaim duit tamall a chaitheamh

3 Traein chuig Chamonix Is féidir leat traein a thógáil as Annemasse chuig Chamonix, an áit is áille ina raibh mé sa Fhrainc riamh Feictear meascán sléibhte ann; Mont Blanc ina measc Bíonn roinnt sneachta ar na sráideanna Is rud aoibhinn é siúlóid a dhéanamh timpeall na cathrach Bíonn gach foirgneamh difriúil óna chéile, agus feictear roinnt chalets nó seallaí mar déarfá ina theannta sin

Bíonn roinnt músaem ann chun níos mó eolas staire a chur ar fáil ach is é an rud is annamh is iontach mar a deirtear Bíonn traein ann chun dul isteach sna sléibhte, chuig ardán a thógáil ann le siopa, tigh itheacháin, agus músaem faoi stair na leice

Deirtear go bhfuil an taithí seo mar Mer de Glace Ní fhaca mé radharc cosúil leis sin riamh, na sléibhte is iad coinnithe le sneachta agus spéir chomh soiléir sin Is féidir leat bus a thógáil díreach ar ais go Lyon chun eitilt a thógáil abhaile le hAer Lingus

Bia: Níl aon bhricfeasta chomh Francach agus chomh fiúntach mar an mbricfeasta in Josephine’s in Chamonix Faightear macarons den chéad scoth is de gach saghas blas ó Anncy Chocolatier, Chamonix chomh maith!

An Eilvéis

1 An Ghinéiv

Is cathair fhíor-speisialta í an Ghinéiv Bíonn roinnt mhaith páirceanna chun caitheamh aimsire bheith ag duine, agus bíonn na foirgnimh go hálainn ar fad Bíonn an liosta seo mar chuid shuntasach don chathair

a An Scardán

Bíonn an Scardán ar an loch fíor-cháiliúil Is le seisear pinsinéirí an Scardán, agus is féidir leo é a chur ar siúl nó a stopadh más mian leo I rith na hoíche bíonn sé lasta dearg; rud dochreidte atá le feiceáil, go mór mór ag barr an rotha mhóir!

Caisleán d’Annecy a luaigh mé thuas Bíonn sé suite ag tuaisceart an locha, is caitheann duine a chuid súl ar an uisce ón gcaisleán Bíonn an treoraí cluaise mar áis den chéad scoth chun an caisleán a thaisceáladh. An pháirt is fearr liom is ea an stair agus an tsiúlóid go dtí geata an chaisleáin Bíonn na radharcanna dochreidte ar fad Bíonn an caisleán suite uair a’ chloig as an mbaile, ar na cosáin in aice an locha, nó cúig nóiméad ar an dtraein; a bhíonn ag imeacht gach uair ar bhuille na huaire

Tar éis sin, is rud iontach é taithí an bhanna cheoil, Queen, a scrúdú. Deineadh roinnt mhaith dá gcuid n-albam a thaifeadadh in Montreux, i bhfad amach ó shúile an phobail i Londain Shasana Ní thógann sé ach uair a’ chloig chun dul timpeall na háite: an taithí, na póstaeir a léamh agus na físeáin a fheiceáil Foghlaimíonn na turasóirí a lán faoin mbanna agus a gcuid ceoil is oibre as an dtaithí seo, gan aon agó

b

Ardeaglais Naomh Pierre Bíonn an Ardeaglais seo mar fhoirgneamh cumhachta Is féidir leat dul síos faoin ardeaglais chun an suíomh seandálaíoch a thaisceáladh Tá an ardeaglais ann le fada agus is taithí iontach é an suíomh a fheiceáil agus na físeáin atá ag baint le seandálaíocht san áit sin, chomh maith

c Bain des Pâquis

In aice leis an Scardán, bíonn píosa talaimh ag síneadh amach sa loch Ar an gcosán so, faightear fondue nó fondú blasta i mbialann amháin, agus faightear folcadh cáiliúil - an folcadh Turcach Is féidir leat dul ag snámh sa loch ón bpointe seo; rud a mholaim gan amhras!

d Parc des Bastions

Sa pháirc álainn seo, faightear an falla cáiliúil - The Reformation Wall Ar an bhfalla seo, tá inscríbhinn agus snoíodóireacht na leasaitheóirí is mó

e Palais des Nations

Is rud iontach é seasamh os comhair an fhoirgnimh láidir seo, le bratach gach tír a bhíonn sa Náisiún Aontaithe a fheiceáil Cloistear rudaí maithe faoin gcuairt timpeall an fhoirgnimh, ach molaim duit é a chur in áirithe cúpla mí roimh do thuras chuig an nGinéiv Bíonn éileamh ollmhór ann Os comhair an fhoirgnimh, faightear an Broken Chair, rud atá mar shiombal de leochaileacht agus neart, neamhchinneacht agus bhuanseasmhacht, bhrúidiúlacht agus dhínit

Molaim do dhuine siúlóid timpeall na cathrach a dhéanamh chomh maith chun na rudaí seo leanas a fheiceáil, cloig na mbláthanna, Brunswick Monument, Monument National, Basilica Notre Dame agus Place de Bourg de Four Bíonn na háiteanna seo amuigh san aer go hálainn chun sos a thógáil ann agus sult a bhaint as an nádúr, île Rousseau, Baby Plage, Quai du Mont-Blanc, agus Promenade sur les Quais Is suimiúil go mbíonn Mont Blanc le feiscint anseo agus in Chamonix, mar atá luaite thuas

2. Montreux

Bíonn Montreux suite uair a’ chloig ar an dtraein ón nGinéiv, agus bíonn an turas traenach go haoibhinn ar fad, le radharcanna dochreidte ar Loch na Ginéive Nuair a shroichtear Montreux, is fíor a rá go mbaineann an loch agus an méid atá mórthimpeall an locha d’anáil díot

Níl sé riachtanach níos mó ná lá amháin a bheith agat in Montreux, agus molaim duit dhá rud a dhéanamh an lá sin in Montreux Ar dtús, bíonn an Caisleán de Chillon fíor-speisialta, caisleán meánaoiseach; cosúil le

Bia: An bhialann is fearr san Eilvéis gur chuaigh mé ann ab ea Buvette des Bains ar Bain des Pâquis sa Ghinéiv

Milano

Tá Milan nó Milano suite san Iodáil Is cathair iontach í, saibhir le stair agus foirgnimh áille. Is deas an rud é siúil timpeall chun na suíomhanna seo a fheiceáil; Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio; Teatro alla Scalla; Sempione Park; Arco della Pace; Bosco Verticale agus Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore.

Bíonn Navigli mar áit iontach chun bia agus deochanna a fháil Má tá suim agat sa tsiopadóireacht, molaim duit am a chaitheamh ag siopadóireacht agus siopdóireacht na bhfuinneog in Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle II a dhéanamh Bíonn roinnt mhaith píosaí ealaíne ón Athbheochan ann mar shampla Il Cenacolo, an Suipéar Déanach le Da Vinci, nó i gCaisleán Sforzesco, tá an dealbh dheireanach de Michelangelo, Pietà Rondanini, le feiceáil ann Má bheidh ticéidí agat don chaisleán, beidh tú ábalta an Pietà a fheiceáil, ach bíonn sé níos deacra an Suipéar Déanach a fheiceáil Molaim duit do thicéidí a cheannach ar líne chomh tapaidh is atá fhios agat go mbeidh tú ag dul chuig Milano An rud is fearr liom in Milan is ea an Ardeaglais, an Duomo Molaim duit ticéidí a fháil chun dul chuig díon na hardeaglaise Ní dhéanfaidh tú dearúd ar an ailtireacht go deo D’aon leantóir peile, ní mór turas chuig an San Siro a eagrú nó dul go cluiche sacair mar thaithí den chéad scoth Bíonn slua nde 80,000 duine sa San Siro is é lán go béal nuair a bhíonn AC Milan nó Inter Milan ag imirt

Bia: Bíonn an bia san Iodáil fíor-bhlasta agus molaim Ratanà, bialann den chéad scoth gan amhras Molaim duit gelato a cheannach i siopaí gelato timpeall na cathrach chomh maith

Bain súp as do chuid taistil i mbliana, ach ná déan dearúd ar cé chomh hálainn is atá ár dtír féin, agus molaim duit am a chur ar leataoibh chun níos mó taistil a dhéanamh timpeall na tíre seo, chomh maith Bliain nua fé mhaise dhaoibh ar fad, a chairde

Food & Health

MEATLESS MENU AResolutionYouCanKeep

WRITES NATHAN CAREY | FOOD & HEALTH EDITOR

With a new year upon us, many people will be looking towards making changes to their daily habits in the form of New Year’s resolutions These promises to ourselves often only last a couple of weeks with over half of people giving up within 6 months according to recent studies The number one reason for weaning off our new habits is that the goals are too ambitious Keeping resolutions smaller and more manageable increases the likelihood of keeping them up Resolutions should be clear and measurable so that they can be readily ticked off a list or quantified In the realm of food and health, fad diets and strict eating plans are a culprit of unrealistic goal setting and usually create more harm than good If you’re looking to improve your diet heading into this new year, reducing meat consumption is a great option as it is manageable, measurable, and great for the environment The consumption of meat worldwide accounts for almost 15% of greenhouse gas emissions In the food industry specifically, 57% of greenhouse gases produced are from the processing of meat products, with red meat such as beef taking up the largest percentage Of course, individuals’ habits alone will not affect major change, but increased interest in global warming and the importance of reducing our emissions has led to increases in plant-based products being produced and readily available in most major supermarkets

Towards the tail end of last year, I began to see a spike in advertisements for greener living and altering our eating habits to consume less meat The rise in popularity of plant-based diets can also be seen by taking a walk through your local supermarket with far more options available now than even 5 years ago Personally, I have been making a conscious effort to reduce my meat consumption by incorporating more vegetable-based meals into my weekly dinner plans

During the holiday period, I was tasked with making a ‘nut roast’ for a Christmas party as one of the guests was vegetarian I had heard relatively little information about this dish beforehand and so it was a great opportunity to research and develop a recipe that worked for us The nut roast is designed to evoke the nostalgia of a classic Sunday roast with deep umami flavour from roasted mushrooms and (of course) nuts! This is a

great example of a substitute you could make during your week to consume less meat I’ve seen the question ‘Why do vegetarians and vegans try to recreate meat?’ come up a lot in online discussions about plant-based eating While each person’s reasoning for adopting the diet is different, many people make the switch for environmental and health reasons and not because they don’t like the taste of meat Using vegetable-based ingredients to recreate meat dishes is a great way of transitioning between both ways of eating and can help with cravings that may occur due to the change With all this in mind, vegetables are a great canvas themselves and can be utilised to create delicious tasting food all on their own

Diets containing higher levels of plant-based foods have been linked with reduced blood pressure, reduced risk of heart conditions and lower cholesterol levels Almost the exact inverse of these measurements is seen in diets containing high levels of meat consumption. The consumption of extra plants in your diet also means that the amount of fibre and vitamins that your body is getting is increased. Fibre is essential for digestion and smooth functioning of the digestive tract Vegetables and fruits also contain high levels of polyphenols Polyphenols are a class of compounds found in plant-based foods that include molecules such as flavonoids, phenolic acids and lignans. These compounds have recently been linked with protection against diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. These molecules also have strong antioxidant properties and are being heavily researched for other potential roles in our bodies

With all this in mind, I’m challenging you, the reader, to consider how you could reduce meat consumption in your diet this year As mentioned earlier this is not an all or nothing situation. Small changes throughout your weekly meals can add up to a lot over a year A great place to start is by dedicating one or two days a week to vegetable-based meals Maybe cutting out meat at lunch works better for you or if cutting out meat is just not an option, sticking to fish and poultry will already contribute to less emissions than red meat (and its better for you too!) To help you get a head start I want to share some meatless recipes that are easy to make and taste delicious The first is a weeknight staple of Butternut Squash Curry This hearty dish will fill you up after a long day and keep you warm until the weather starts to pick up. The second is a great lunch option and fully customizable in the form of a Buddha Bowl I hope these two dishes can help you get creative in the new year and incorporate less meat into your diet.

1 butternut squash (about 1kg)

1 red onion

6 cloves of garlic

2 cans low fat coconut milk

2tbsp curry powder (mild or hot depending on your spice tolerance)

100g kale

Olive oil

Fresh coriander

1 lime

Pumpkin seeds

Rice to serve (wholegrain is a great option here)

ButternutSquashCurry

Method

Preheat the oven to 200°C

Peel and chop the squash into large cubes (its easier to cut the squash into sections first to make it more manageable) Add to a bowl with 2tbsp of olive oil and season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Roast until cooked through and slightly brown (about 30 minutes)

Finely chop red onion and fry with 1tbsp olive oil in a pan over medium heat

Once softened (About 5 minutes) add finely chopped garlic, salt and pepper

When garlic is fragrant, add curry powder and fry for 1-2 minutes ensuring to stir constantly so it doesn’t stick

Add both cans of coconut milk and bring to a simmer over medium heat

Roughly chop kale and add to simmering curry, stirring to combine

When the squash is fully cooked through, add it to the pan along with freshly chopped coriander and the juice from 1 lime Serve with rice

BuddhaBowl

There are infinite possibilities when it comes to making this dish. These nutritious bowls usually consist of a grain, a protein, vegetables, a dressing, and some sort of topping like nuts or seeds While quick to prepare, these bowls pack a flavour punch and look great to eat This particular recipe is one of my favourites Buddha bowls work great for a packed lunch also, just reserve the dressing in a small container to drizzle on top when you are ready to eat!

Preheat oven to 180°C

Chop tofu into cubes, slice mushrooms and cut the onion into chunks before placing all on a baking sheet with some olive oil, salt and pepper Bake for 20-25 minutes

Meanwhile cook the buckwheat according to package instructions

Mix a 2:1 ratio of tahini and soy sauce for a quick dressing.

Once the protein and vegetables are done roasting and the buckwheat is cooked through you are ready to serve Place each ingredient into a shallow bowl in sections

Scatter pea shoots and pine nuts on top and drizzle with dressing

Fashion

THEBEAUTYAND RESILIENCEOFPEARLS

WRITES KELLIE MURPHY FASHION EDITOR

Pearls are a precious stone that have withstood the test of time Pearls are a timeless and classic object used in jewellery, often associated with royalty and elites, giving the gemstones an eternal association with wealth and opulence Pearls have moved along with the passing of time, from Botticelli’s Venus emerging from a shell like a pearl, to the Vivian Westwood pearl choker necklace It would be a stretch, but it can still be argued that Princess Diana’s favourite tiara, the Cambridge lovers knot, was a part of the media’s presentation of Diana as a pure, innocent and ethereal beauty My overarching point is that pearls have a rich symbolism that has adapted to fit the present day while being a timeless classic, they have kept in fashion in jewellery styles through the centuries and in the 21st century have been reimagined to fit modern tastes

Right now the current trend of pearls is a funky reimagination of jewellery design, creating an eclectic style that I hope will be carried into 2023 There has been a change in the view of pearls since my nana’s time, who lovingly responded with a warning that “pearls are tears” when I excitedly said I wanted a pearl necklace someday Thanks Nana The rise in popularity of pearl jewellery can be attributed to several things, including Harry Styles Love or hate his style, Harry Styles is a global superstar and his fashion sense has often caused headlines Besides his skilful and beautiful lyricism, Styles is also known for his clothes which are often forward thinking and adventurous, he proceeds to express himself despite criticism, like his choice to wear a dress on the cover of Vogue, receiving hateful comments in return for his disparagement of fixed gender roles His style changes often, leading his fans to characterise it as “eras” Fans of Harry are prone to emulating his clothing, creating trends, which can be short lived or create a lasting impact on the fashion world One of these trends is pearl necklaces During his “Fine Line album era”, Harry styles completed this albums debut with wide legged trousers and a pearl necklace that was

to create a trend of men’s jewellery While not long lasting, it did aid the rise in popularity of pearls It transformed from a very stately image to something alternative and sexy and helped influence the way jewellery is viewed as a gendered item. Another cause for the pearl revamp and the love Gen Z gave to it is also the Bridgerton series Bridgerton is a Netflix series set in the Regency period centring on a fictional noble family, and the family members in their search for love The costumes are gorgeous with loud colours, beautiful dresses, and absolutely horrifying hairstyles á la Cressida Cowper Beautiful jewellery is found across the cast which is a small but important part of a period drama. Bridgerton made its debut during the pandemic, which led to it gaining a wide audience along with popularity for its refreshing take on the expression of physical intimacy in period dramas Bridgerton caused a craze in the fashion industry, which included jewellery. The use of pearls in jewellery takes clear inspiration from this period, not being completely accurate but presenting a classical, vintage look in simplicity that was pretty. Pearls infiltrated jewellery designs from many areas, from the Harry styles angle and the regency period as seen in Bridgerton, which led to a dainty design in jewellery using anything from white stones to pearls

All the attention on pearls in jewellery design has raised interest in a reimagination of pearl jewellery. The style of pearl jewellery has transitioned from the settled, Jackie Kennedyesque style of the past The current trend of pearls still includes a classical style, but I have noticed that some designers aren’t afraid to throw some colours into their pieces or think of new shapes Pearls are a constant statement, often the centrepiece and focal point in designs The current trend in jewellery is no different For example, the Vivian Westwood pearl choker was one of the highlights of the fashion industry in 2022 It is unlikely to persevere into 2023, but it was a statement piece With a severe, beautiful line of pearls covering your neck, coming together through the Westwood logo, it’s a reimagination of the classic pearl necklace The focal point of the necklace isn’t another gemstone but the brand logo itself, putting an irrefutable claim on this particular design, making Westwood’s most popular item so distinctive as the necklace gained traction in 2022 The necklace took inspiration from jewellery popular in the 19th century, when chokers were abundant but today they have been reimagined and pulled into the 21st century with the brand being the centre point, the pearls

constituting the whole necklace but not drawing attention to themselves There has been a departure from the stately pearl jewellery to create rejuvenated, critical appraisal of jewellery designs using pearls This has resulted in looks like the Vivian pearl choker, which is sexy, simple and opulent Designers have not shied away from using colour, using playful and bold pearl design in their jewellery The Raucous is one of these designers. This is a small New Zealand jewellery business where each piece is designed and handmade using semi fine jewellery, all pearls used are freshwater pearls On The Raucous’ website they state their designs “meld fine materials with a playful boldness and raw uniqueness in every piece.” They’ve reinterpreted the use of pearls with colours and unique patterns in their necklaces, twisting modern styles to fit the lasting

idea of pearl jewellery One necklace uses pearls shaped as love hearts, breaking up the otherwise never ending loop of pearl beads. Another necklace uses refreshing pops of colour to revive the bland image of pearls Called the checkerboard pearl necklace, multiple colours are used to create colourful pieces, making it a playful and new way of designing pearl jewellery

The pearl harvesting industry is difficult to regulate Pearl cultivation is the farming of oysters or mussels to find pearls and there are differences between the two, influencing their price Saltwater pearls are formed in oysters and are considered more beautiful, which raises their price as well as the difficulty that is caused when trying to cultivate them Freshwater pearls are found in mussels who live in lakes, rivers and ponds and are the most common pearl you can cultivate, coming in a variety of colours If farmed sustainably and humanely, saltwater pearls are considered environmentally friendly as they’re produced naturally by oysters as a defence mechanism when an object enters its shell However, there is difficulty regulating the pearl harvesting industry due to the industry transforming from pearl hunting to a farm system of cultivation Culturing is surgically opening the oyster and inserting the irritant, less then half of them survive this Stress is subjected to the oysters and after the extraction some oysters repeat the process while others are killed A solution to this unethical treatment is to buy fake pearls but of course this is resisted by customers and designers, who want to design jewellery with luxury pearls to gain profit through the high price it would guarantee Customers also desire real pearls and are perhaps unaware or uncaring of the unethical practices of pearl cultivation

I hope that pearls continue to enjoy popularity this year but the use of pearls in the fashion industry should be subject to more scrutiny I hope the fashion industry begins to change their relationship with pearl cultivation in the future

Gaming

AREN’TASBADASYOU’VEHEARD

Over Christmas break I’ve been neglecting sleep, college work and many other important aspects of my life in favour of playing through Pokémon Violet, and it’s the most conflicted I’ve felt about a game in a long time Most reviews and articles written about the game (and its counterpart Pokémon Scarlet) focus on its most obvious problem: the performance issues They’re right to do so; these games run terribly, even for Nintendo Switch titles, and combined with bugs and poor graphics it can be hard to see what the new Pokémon games have going for them As divisive as they are, do Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet deserve a second chance?

Since Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, the sixth generation of games that were released in 2013, the series has been in stagnation Mainline games have seen a drop in Pokémon design quality, as well as a lack of innovation and unnecessary simplification of major game mechanics, while remakes have suffered from lazy design choices and the removal of important features from the original games they’re based on Long-time fans of the series have clamoured for change, but GameFreak, developers and part-owners of the Pokémon franchise, have traditionally preferred to do things their own way, leaving feedback by the wayside Many players consider the last generation of Pokémon, heralded by the release of Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, to be an all-time low for the series These were the first games to omit Pokémon from previous generations, a controversial change that turned many away Pokémon Sword and Shield also saw a steep decline in the quality of writing and characters in the series, and featured yet another poorly-received gimmick in the ‘Gigantamax’ mechanic

It’s easy to see why members of the Pokémon fanbase are wary and weary, at this point, and the new games don’t do much to assuage fears at first glance Lag is a huge problem, with frames-per-second dropping severely in certain areas of the game The games struggle with the limitations of their hardware, and the switchover to a more performance intensive openworld format doesn’t help matters on this front Even after their first venture into the open-world genre earlier this year with Pokémon Legends: Arceus, GameFreak still have little experience developing (and optimising) these types of worlds, and it shows These performance issues could be somewhat justified if Pokémon Scarlet and Violet were graphically stunning games, but they’re not; low-quality textures are frequently reused and the games’ animations and models leave a lot to be desired

Sounds like a whole lot of negatives, right? Critics and fans alike have expressed their disdain for the state Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have launched in, with the games receiving lower review scores than ever before

Still, I went ahead and purchased a copy of Pokémon Violet, despite warnings from said reviews, and I was pleasantly surprised I soon found that the performance issues, while an annoyance, are just that: an annoyance, not an insurmountable roadblock After I learnt to ignore the unimpressive graphics and frame drops in order to focus on the gameplay itself, I was quickly hooked Scarlet and Violets’ open-world maps are what every child has ever dreamed of in a Pokémon game, and the freedom they afford players gives rise to the best Pokémon experience in years Exploration is unrestricted, and the games’ three sprawling storylines can be experienced in any order This means that players looking for a challenge (which has long been absent from the series) can opt to take on more difficult areas early on, but those seeking a more traditional Pokémon experience can follow the beaten path and take things slow The Pokémon designs themselves are much improved on previous generations, apart from a few outliers; I immediately found a favourite in Nacli, a cuboid salt-based creature that I encountered early on (get it? NACL-i? Salt?) Most of all, I was delighted to find that the games’ writing team seems to have rediscovered their spark, with Scarlet and Violet featuring an engaging plot and well-written characters Pokémon games have been known to broach some surprisingly dark topics (for a kid’s game) in the past, but I was still taken aback by some of the games’ plot beats this time around

I don’t mean to make excuses for the abysmal technical state of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet; the world’s highest-grossing franchise has no business putting out half-finished games, and the Nintendo Switch’s hardware can’t be used as an excuse when other titles like the Zelda series’ Breath of the Wild have fared so much better with the same limitations However, if (and that’s a big if) GameFreak and Nintendo can resolve these issues, we might be left with the best Pokémon game in years, and a ray of hope for the future of the series

Image Credit: Nintendo

Gaming

WRITES LUKE CONDON | GAMING EDITOR

2022, while not the busiest year for gaming, marked a significant recovery for the industry after the pandemic-induced drought of new releases in 2021. This was demonstrated mainly by the success of several high-profile blockbusters like Horizon: Forbidden West, Elden Ring and God of War: Ragnarok, but indie developers also had an excellent year, with games such as Sifu, Stray, Cult of the Lamb and more performing particularly well sales-wise.

I’m happy to report that this upward trend is set to continue in 2023. Many highly anticipated titles that were previously hit with delays have finally broken out of development hell and are set to launch this year. What’s more is that 2023’s release schedule is nicely spread throughout the year, rather than being heavily concentrated around the holiday season or any other point in time, meaning that you’ll be able to enjoy games at your own pace all year long. Here's a small sample of what’s to come for gaming in 2023:

Starfield

It’s been too long since we’ve had a new Bethesda RPG to enjoy; their latest game, Fallout 4, released almost eight years ago It can get a little confusing, as Bethesda Game Studios is just one part of the larger Bethesda Softworks, a group of companies that has been responsible for titles like Doom, Deathloop and Dishonoured in recent years Nevertheless, BGS is by far the most influential developer under the Bethesda umbrella, both celebrated for their world-crafting abilities and scorned for their infamously bug-ridden game launches For the first time in living memory, Bethesda’s flagship series have been put on the backburner in order to give a new title a chance to shine That title is Starfield, Bethesda’s first foray into outer space Early looks at the game have been extremely promising; Bethesda seem to have taken criticism of previous games onboard, removing the voiced protagonist and reintroducing a more robust speech system, amongst other changes With 1,000 planets to explore, Starfield seems set to provide gamers with a whole universe of entertainment when it releases during the first half of 2023.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Hollow Knight: Silksong

This list’s indie representative has been in the works for quite some time Team Cherry, a duo of developers from Australia, created the ‘Metroidvania’ platformer game Hollow Knight in 2017, and it soon became a cult favourite The base game was bolstered over the following two years with four free expansion packs in total, adding new bosses, game modes and quests that enhanced an already-complete product This post-launch support allowed Team Cherry to build an unwaveringly loyal fanbase, who have been patiently awaiting Hollow Knight’s sequel for years now

Unfortunately, given the small size of Team Cherry, work on the new title has been slow (although they’ve now gained an additional member to become a trio) After an excruciating three-year wait following the sequel’s announcement in 2019, Hollow Knight fans were thrown a bone: a new trailer during the 2022 Xbox Games Showcase that confirmed Silksong will release in 2023 Players can look forward to taking control of Hornet, a supporting character from the first game, as she fights her way through the underground with an updated skill set and powerful items made using the game’s new crafting system

Image Credit: Bethesda

The original Spider-Man PS4 game likely holds the title of best superhero adaptation game of all time (sorry, Arkham Knight) A PlayStation exclusive, it blew fans away upon release in 2018, with fluid web-slinging mechanics and engaging combat systems that made swinging and sweeping your way through Manhattan an absolute joy In 2020, a follow-up game was launched, this time focusing on Spider-Man’s young protégé Miles Morales, and while it possibly would have worked better as an add-on rather than a full game, it was still met with high praise The developers of Spider-Man, Insomniac Games, have been hard at work since then; in 2021 they managed to produce another acclaimed title by the name of Ratchet and Clank: A Rift in Time Not the type to rest on their laurels, Insomniac unveiled their next two projects just a few months later: a sequel to Spider-Man, as well as an all-new Wolverine game We’ve yet to hear anything else about the latter, but Insomniac’s parent company Sony have recently confirmed that Spider-Man 2 will come out in autumn this year In the meantime, we’ll likely get a gameplay trailer and more details about the game’s plot; villains Kraven the Hunter and Venom are expected to feature prominently, and the story will likely also place significant focus on the new partnership between Spider-Man and Miles-Morales

Image Credit:Eurogamer

21

YOUNGROYALS:

NAVIGATINGADOLESCENCEANDANODETOFIRSTLOVES

WRITES ROSEMARIE O’BYRNE FILM & TV EDITOR

Young Royals has been described as a cross between Heartstopper and The Crown because of its LGBT+ relationship and ‘prince and pauper’ storyline However, I was surprised to realise that this series is so much more than that From realistic characters to phenomenal representation, this emotional series is layered with meaningful nuances To deal with matters of adolescent love and the issues of being a young person in the modern world is tricky to master in television It can be difficult for a team of adult writers to connect with what it really feels like to be a teenager, especially since it is an ever changing concept with social media and the digital age Young Royals is the first series I have watched that has offered me characters who reminded me of what it is like to be a teenager navigating the world, and it did not disappoint The naturalistic style of acting in the show is insanely refreshing and this is only supported further by having the roles played by actual young people whose real skin texture is visible and no filters used to gloss over the actors and make them conform to conventional beauty standards The first step to making things such as acne and body diversity normalised in real life is by making it normalised on TV screens Skin texture was a non issue in the plot and just something which every character had, therefore why wouldn’t it be normal? The representation in the show is in terms of giving nuanced and interesting stories to otherwise marginalised characters is wonderful

So often in Young Adult media the script writing succumbs to tokenism and while a series may feature a storyline involving people of colour or LGBT+ people, they will be the token best friend of the main character Young Royals offers the stage to Wilhelm and Simon’s original, pure and tender romance that steers clear from clichés Rather than teasing gay characters or queerbaiting, the show decidedly plunges its audience into the world of queer main characters, unapologetically, if you will The boys encounter real life struggles like questioning one’s identity in adolescence and navigating social relationships in school, along with the negative effects of social media and online cyberbullying Each time that I found myself holding my breath in particularly tense or stressful scenes, I was once again comforted by the dynamic between Wilhelm and Simon as their connection meant they could get through whatever else was thrown their way, and therefore I, as the anxious viewer, could put my trust in them to some extent

The complexity and depth to each character is a delight to watch due to the tremendous amount of well developed characters in the series Each character makes you care about them deeply as you are brought into awareness of how vulnerable and emotional each of them are beneath their masking It’s possible you’ll feel a parental instinct to guide them in the right direction but realise it’s better to let them make their own mistakes for themselves As well, this is a foreign language series as it is a Swedish

production Though there is the option to follow it along with the dubbed version, the amount to be gained from watching the actors perform in the original language is simply bountiful Therefore, choosing the subtitled version is a more enriching experience to avoid missing context or sentences diluted in translation Every sigh, breath and tut is important to catch

This series is raw, fresh and real, and it is so exciting to see upcoming actors with a passion for diversity in the media The show deals with important themes while focusing on love, and the type of love that is outcasted by others for being different which makes it all the more emotional and empowering to watch There are great efforts made by the production crew to make the show inclusive with neurodiversity visibility and one character taking medication for ADHD The series feels truthful, including the realities of grieving the death of loved ones and the layers of mental health, especially as a young person launched into the adult world suddenly responsible for one’s life choices Class, race and privilege are not only acknowledged in the series but dealt with wonderfully to make well developed characters finding their footing in the world The gripping acting makes it a binge worthy series but I savoured each episode with care The charm and charisma of Edvin Ryding and Omar Rudberg is a pleasure to watch and the story of their characters feels as though it could be a true one Season 2 of the series has only recently been released on Netflix so there’s plenty of time to dive into the cruel and beautiful world of teenag romance

THEBANSHEESOFINISHERIN:

AFEVERDREAMOF‘FECKS’ANDIRISHFOLKLORE

If you’ve ever fancied a film that combines the tragedy and depth of a John B Keane play with a smattering of Tarantino-esque dark humour, The Banishees of Inisherin is an apt choice This film, written and directed by Martin McDonagh, takes place on the fictional island of Inisherin and follows the story of Padraic (played by Colin Farell), a self-confessed ‘gom’ who is devastated to wake up one day to find that his best friend Colm (played by Brendan Gleeson) has grown tired of their friendship and is no longer speaking to him Padraic endeavours to right this seemingly meaningless wrong and win back his friend’s favour, only to become embroiled in a bitter feud that will leave audiences feeling morose

The Irish Civil War is the backdrop for this film, both literally and figuratively The bombing on the mainland is a recurring motif of the reminder of what is happening behind the scenes Interestingly, there are

parallels between Civil War feuds and the feud between the film’s central characters As the tagline of the film reads, everything was fine yesterday Much like the Civil War, which divided families overnight, Colm’s sudden dislike towards Padraic seemingly comes out of nowhere In a gruesome ultimatum, Colm threatens to cut off one finger for every time Padraic tries to interact with him This is a promise which he keeps, leaving Padraic and the audience equally disturbed and puzzled

Colm cites Padraic’s dullness as his reason for shunning him, resolving to spend the rest of his expected twelve years of life reflecting and musing, writing his music He would prefer to be on his own than to indulge Padraic’s idle conversations that focus on nothing of substance Loneliness is a theme which echoes through this film from start to finish Colm’s rejection of Padraic’s friendship is a sign of his acceptance of his fate on the island The only characters who break this cycle of isolation are Padraic’s sister Siobhán (played by Kerry Condon) and the ‘village idiot,’ Dominic (played by Barry Keoghan) However, their respective departures from the island and from the lives of their fellow characters come about through tragic means

This film is full of unexpected aesthetic clashes The opening credits feature stunning cinematography, showing a birds eye view of the island, accompanied by a chilling score This does not suggest to the viewer that there will be comedic elements to this film The dynamic duo Pat Shortt and Jon Kenny (known to most Irish people as the d’Unbelievables) provide a much needed humorous respite from the bloody feud Likewise, the simple minded Dominic who clumsily tries to win over Siobhán gives the audience a glimpse of the innocent side of island life

These clashes between the humorous and the dark are confusing and sometimes blur the plot as the viewer can’t tell whether to empathise with Colm or Padraic, who each have their own justifiable reasons to be bitter However, by the end of the film, there is a mutual feeling of acceptance between the characters and the audience that this is the way things are In the closing scene, the two men meet on the beach for their final interaction, where Padraic finally accepts that his relationship with Colm is over Life on the island of Inisherin is a dull and lonely existence and resisting this way of life will only lead to tragedy This is a harsh lesson that Padraic learns as he finds himself entirely alone by the end of the film, not even with his beloved donkey Jenny for company

This stunning tragicomedy is well worth a watch, not least for its dark humour and talented writing, but also because of its delivery by an ensemble of legendary Irish actors who form this quirky cast of eccentric islanders that you will be sorry to part with once the credits roll

WRITES CORMAC MCCARTHY MUSIC EDITOR

The landscape of the music industry is an ever changing behemoth. Artists are getting paid record- low royalties for their songs, record companies have a controlling mandate over what can be played on radio stations and what acts can perform on festival line-ups. The ability for artists even on the higher end of the scale to make a living is becoming increasingly difficult.

Nevertheless, the music scene, in particular the Cork and Irish scene, has never seemed so rife with talent. As we shake off the dust from the many lockdowns, the general public are increasingly eager for art that is fresh and energetic

As a result of this, I offer up five new year’s resolutions that will benefit both yourself and those that you listen to

1) Go to a local gig

It might seem like the most obvious thing in the world but there is quite an astounding amount of both current and aspiring talent in Cork City and further afield Every night of the week, there is music, poetry, comedy, performance art and many more to be seen The variety of communities and subcultures that perform in the city to such a high standard is marvellous

We can’t let Dublin or Galway have all the fun Venues like Fred Zeppelin’s, Spailpín Fánach, The Roundy, The Crane Lane and many more have always endeavoured to have the finest facilities possible for local artists to showcase themselves The majority of entry to these types of gigs usually cap out at a fiver and will oftentimes be free Many of the larger acts in the entertainment got their start playing a free gig in their local pub Sonic Youth once played a gig with a little known Seattle-based band known as Nirvana in the now defunct Sir Henry’s for the grand price of 2 pounds You never know, you might catch the next global star playing in the Courthouse Bar for free on a Tuesday evening

Even if you’re not the type of person that particular likes the environs of such venues, I would recommend trying it once

2) Beware of the Streaming platforms

In 2016, American funk band Vulfpeck released the album ”Sleepify” consisting of 10 tracks of completely silent music They then encouraged their fans to stream the album on repeat while generating royalties from essentially nothing in the process This act became a viral sensation at the time and the band used this publicity to draw attention to the pitiful amount that artists earn per stream on Spotify, Apple Music etc On Spotify, an artist can expect to earn around one third of a cent per stream of their song, on Apple Music it is just above a half a cent

This may be slightly feasible for a globally present artist but not so much for the artist on thelower end of the scale Other streaming platforms like Bandcamp are a much better alternative for these artists Started in 2007, the platform gives a far greater portion of sales to the artist allowing them to profit from their art directly If there is a lower level artist that you are a fan of, the chances are that their work is available on Bandcamp The same goes for Patreon, another service that allows you to support independent creators

3) There’s nothing like the real thing

Following on from streaming platforms, the hard copy sometimes is always a healthy option for both enjoying an artist's music and ensuring they get a large sum of the profits.

As well, you’d be surprised at the amount of time and labour that goes into the artwork on the cover of EPs, CDs and for it all to become unseen on a tiny phone screen. Album art is not just a means of packaging and marketing the music itself, it assists in delivering the artist's message alongside the music. It becomes part of the iconography itself and the legacy of the musician.

Further still, artists, even those on large record labels, will always promote their merchandise From hats to t-shirts to novelty socks, they are all revenue streams for the artist It may seem like something small and insignificant but collectively it benefits them to a huge extent Not to boast but I myself own a few t-shirts from various bands around Cork that have no more than a thousand monthly Spotify listeners

4) Give it a go

Moving away from ways to support other artists, sometimes its best to support yourself In the modern age, life can often move too quickly for us to ever get the chance to pursue our own passions There are many out there who have written dozens of songs in their own bedrooms, but would never dream of playing them in front of a crowd It’s a damn shame for all that artistic talent to be left without an audience to enjoy it

Now, by all means, I would never force anyone to perform if they felt quite uncomfortable doing so Yet, I know there are those who have always wished to give it a go

The open mic nights around Cork are perfect for those kinds of people looking for a safe environment to do so The various music societies around UCC are a great opportunity for any student out there who has always wished to do even 2 minutes of a performance The only regret you would have is that you hadn’t done it earlier

5) Break your taste

We can often be stuck in a rut listening to the same old playlists/albums from the same artists/genres that we have been listening to for years I am guilty of it myself.

It can be very difficult to break from this pattern when streaming services like Spotify will only ever recommend the same genres of music back to you. This is algorithmically done in order to keep the listener on their site for as long as possible.

Similarly, pop radio stations have their own issues. Both local and national are in the pocket of the big record companies who pump serious money into radio play. These stations are also at the behest of the general public who respond to the familiar.

There are many remedies to this dire situation. By simply looking up the lists of the top albums of the year in Ireland, there are reams of groundbreaking work being made up and down the country. This year, emerging artists such as CMAT, Stephen James Smith and electronic duo Telifís all gained serious acclaim to their profiles and are sure to be ever present in our culture for years to come .

Find a festival line-up for this summer and pick three acts at random to listen to. You’d be very surprised at what you might find.

GIG CORNER

As a way to support local artists, I am starting a little column printed here sporadically The section will be a way of engaging the readers of this paper with local young artists in Cork City.

15th

January - Arty’s Bar

Michelle O’Dwyer

-This Tipperary-born singer has been gaining an increasing amount of popularity in recent months Known for her hybrid of power ballads with elements of Irish rock, Michelle’s performance is her key attraction, bringing a frenetic energy to her performances

20th -21st January – Cyprus Avenue

Cork Rising 2023 Showcase

This event is a showcase of eight Cork artists, each working in a different genre of music to each other From electronic dance to hip-hop to acoustic folk, the variety on display is absolutely sensational and is sure to have something for everyone

28th January – Cyprus Avenue

The Cliffords, with Skies Behind and Gerron

Last year’s UCC Battle of the Bands’ winners, The Clifford’s have had a tremendous year, releasing their debut single, Anti-Hero, and now headlining Cyprus Avenue. With support acts Skies Behind and Gerron, this a gig for anyone looking for some energetic indie-rock.

3rd February – Fred Zepplin’s

Doc Roe, with Kill em’ Charlie and Stone Orchid

Playing the legendary rock venue are the alt-rock infused Doc Roe. After releasing their much-acclaimed EP, Soldiers and Artists, in early 2022, they are ready to gig once again

They are supported on the night by veteran indie-rockers Kill em’ Charlie and the quiet but deadly Stoned Orchid

LGBTQ+SAFESEXGUIDE Sexpress

WRITES CIARA BARRETT | SEXPRESS EDITOR

A press release published by HIV Ireland in December confirmed that positive cases in Ireland have more than doubled since 2021 HIV is a heavily stigmatised sexually transmitted infection initially seen in gay and bisexual men, and this increase in positive tests shows that we’re still lacking information and education surrounding safe sex for the LGBTQ+ community As of 2022, the Department of Education had only initiated the process of fully implementing comprehensive sexual education in Ireland, including an LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum As the current curriculum focuses solely on heterosexual relationships, there are several issues left unaddressed These include HIV testing and methods to avoid contracting HIV and other STIs, as well as information on HIV as a whole The most important thing to remember is that HIV is not always transmissible If a HIV positive person is up to date on their medication and has an undetectable viral load, the infection cannot be transmitted Regardless, it’s still important to take steps to prevent the spread of any other infection

The most commonly taught method for avoiding STIs is the use of condoms However, due to the structure of sexual education in Ireland, condoms are first and foremost marketed as a method of contraception This marketing lends itself to the idea that men do not need them if they are having sex with other cisgender men, as there is no possibility of pregnancy becoming a factor This is dangerous, as it is still highly possible to contract an STI Condoms are the most prominent method of avoiding STIs, and although they can be expensive, they can be accessed for free from the UCC Students Union Welfare Office on Main Campus (up to three a day) The full price breakdown is available from the UCCSU website under Our Services When using condoms, always remember to use a water-based or silicone lube, as oil based lubes can break down latex and increase the risk of the condom breaking

While condoms should always be the first form of STI prevention used, it’s important to remember that they’re only 95% effective at preventing infection While these are good odds, there are other steps that can be taken

to prevent HIV infection The primary medication used to treat possible infection is a 28 day course of antibiotics known as post-exposure phylaxis, or PeP The course must be started within 72 hours of possible infection PeP is free in Ireland, and available from sexual health clinics across the country There are several clinics in Cork City where people can access PeP, as well as clinics in Mallow and Bantry A full list of clinics across the country is available on sexualwellbeing ie While UCC Student Health does not carry the antibiotic, they have rapid STI testing available However, HIV specifically is less likely to show up in a rapid urine test than it is in a blood test Blood tests are available from the Student Health sexual health clinic weekly on Friday mornings Similarly, pre-exposure phylaxis, or PrEP can be taken by HIV negative before sex as a preventative measure This is also freely available from the HSE

While the groups most cited in the conversation around contracting HIV are sexually active gay and bisexual men, anyone who is sexually active is at risk of infection regardless of gender HIV can also be spread through the blood, such as accidentally ingesting the blood of someone who is infected Regular STI testing is important, and the HSE offers free at-home testing kits for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C Always test yourself between sexual partners, and ensure that the people you’re having sex with do the same

Although condoms are the best method of STI prevention, external condoms are not always an option For people with vaginas, another option is internal condoms These are less publicised than typical external condoms, and are more difficult to access Unfortunately, there is no quality standard on internal condoms as there is with external condoms, due perhaps to the heteronormativity of sexual education and research

Another downside of these is that not all trans women who have gotten affirmation surgery as their use is dependent on the depth of the vagina While there is not as much research on internal condoms as on external condoms, they are thought to be just as effective in preventing orally transmitted STIs Internal condoms are most readily available online or from some sex shops, although not all carry them

There are some instances where information on avoiding infection gets a bit confusing For example, for oral sex or anything using your hands, you should never brush your teeth beforehand, but you should always wash your hands Our hands are everywhere, all the time, and they are one of the easiest parts of the body to contract an infection from On the other hand, brushing your teeth puts you at risk of developing microscopic tears or cuts on your gums and tongue, putting you and your partner at a higher risk of infection If you feel like you should do something, use mouthwash before sex, and brush your teeth afterwards

While this applies to everyone, it is especially important for lesbians, bisexual women, non-binary people who were assigned female at birth, and trans men Always wash your sex toys after every use, regardless of whether you have multiple partners or not Most strap-on dildos as well as other sex toys are made of silicone, and as they are generally wet after use, there’s a much higher likelihood of hair or dust sticking to them Even though silicone is the most popular, there are a variety of materials toys can be made from and therefore a variety of ways each material needs to be properly cleaned after use Make sure you know exactly what everything you have is made from, and research properly how to clean, disinfect, and store your toys

When discussing safe sex for the LGBTQ+ community, pregnancy is also an important factor to consider The main thing to consider is if anyone involved is at risk of getting pregnant Trans men on testosterone who have not undergone gender affirmation surgery can get pregnant, although the risk is greatly decreased. You should always act under the assumption that pregnancy is a risk unless explicitly told otherwise by a healthcare professional.

Aside from STIs and pregnancy, there are other parts of having safe and fun sex. One of the most important of these is lube. Lube makes everything more comfortable and more enjoyable, and should especially be used during penetrative anal sex. Using lube prevents friction and tearing inside the anus, both of which are extremely uncomfortable. Similarly, it is important that if you’re using any toys that they absolutely must have a flared base. No base, no trace. If the toys you’re using do not have a flared base, there is a risk of them accidentally getting lodged up there which would make for a very awkward A&E visit.

With physical safety considered, it is also important to look after your mental health. Don’t allow anyone to put you in a situation you’re not comfortable with, and always ensure that your partner is comfortable. Always ask for consent for various sex acts and implement a safeword to make sure that everyone involved can safely and comfortably stop what they’re doing if things get a bit too much. If sex is making you feel uncomfortable, dysphoric, or ashamed among other things, talk to your partner or a professional about it. Sex should be both safe and fun for everyone involved. If you do find yourself in a position where you need to talk to a professional, seek out queer and trans inclusive specialists. The website Psychology Today is a great resource to locate therapists and psychologists, as queer and trans inclusive users of the website have this criteria listed on their profiles. Looking after your health while having sex is as much about keeping well mentally as it is about staying safe physically. Queer sex can be scary for some people as it is not as widely discussed as heteronormative sex, and access to information on it is just as important to your health as anything else.

2023 is set to be an amazing year for theatre in Ireland There truly is something for everyone and this article will highlight some incredible shows to watch out for in Cork Kerry, and Dublin

Sister Act

31st of January – 4 th of February at the INEC Arena in Killarney The much-anticipated brand new production of the Broadway and West End smash hit musical is coming to Killarney from the 31 st of January to the 4 th of February! In Sister Act, disco diva Deloris’ life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Placed under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she shouldn’t be found – a convent. Encouraged to help the struggling choir, she helps her fellow sisters find their true voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. Featuring songs inspired by Motown, soul, and disco, the musical features the soaring songs “Take Me to Heaven” and “Raise Your Voice”. Sister Act is the must-see show which raises spirits and warms the heart time after time!

Matilda

11th – 12th of February at the Everyman Theatre in Cork Cork's very own Centre Stage Drama School has an upcoming production of Matilda set to play in the Everyman Theatre in Cork City on the 11 th and 12 th of February Matilda is a Tony Award winning musical inspired by Roald Dahl’s classic children’s novel that tells the remarkable story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand, and change her own destiny Matilda features songs by Tim Minchin, with some of the most well-known songs being “Naughty”, “When I Grow Up”, and “Revolting Children” Matilda has won over 99 international theatre awards, including 24 for Best Musical and has been captivating audiences in London’s West End for over a decade and is an entertaining show for all ages

All Shook Up:

UCC Musical Theatre Society

Following on from last year’s incredible production of Little Shop of Horrors, the UCC Musical Theatre Society’s semester two production is

the Elvis-Inspired musical All Shook Up The jukebox musical is set in a small American town in 1955, where a guitar-playing young man changes everything and everyone he meets The musical is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and features classic Elvis Presley songs such as “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Hound Dog”, and “Jailhouse Rock” Keep an eye on the UCC Musical Theatre Society’s social media pages for information about their production’s venue and performance dates

Six

4th – 8th of April at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin

The crowning glory of Broadway, the West End and beyond is making its return to Dublin from the 4 th to 8 th of April From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the stage to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a high energy concert that you won’t want to miss Six is the winner of both the 2022 Tony Award for ‘Best Original Score’ and the 2022 WhatsOnStage Award for ‘Best West End Show’ Six’s soundtrack features the catchy songs “ExWives”, “No Way”, and “Don’t Lose Your Head” With this upbeat soundtrack and incredibly talented cast; Six is a royally good time

Heathers

25 th of April – 6 th of May at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin

Following on from two smash hit West End runs, a record-breaking run at The Other Palace in London, and winning the WhatsOnStage Award for ‘Best New Musical’, the rock musical (based on the cult classic 1988 film) is back in Dublin from the 25 th of April to the 6 th of May Heathers tells the story of Veronica Sawyer, a high school nobody who dreams of a better life But when she becomes friends with Heather Chandler, Heather Duke, and Heather McNamara, otherwise known as The Heathers, her dreams of popularity start to come true When she starts dating mysterious teen rebel JD, she learns that her newfound popularity comes with a murderous price With a wickedly funny script and electric songs such as “Candy Store”, “Shine A Light”, and “I Say No” Heathers is a great night out at the theatre

Image

WRITES EOIN O'BRIEN | STAFF WRITER

West Side Story

12th – 24th of June at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin

A thrilling new production of the daring, relevant and radical classic musical is set to play in Dublin from the 12th to the 24th of June In West Side Story, trouble is brewing in New York’s Upper West Side: rival street gangs, heated rhythms, a bitter feud and, in the midst of it all, a great love fighting but tragically failing to overcome the obstacles standing in its way The musical features Leonard Bernstein’s immortal melodies “Maria”, “Somewhere”, and “America” Partially inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, this timeless musical has lost none of its allure and fascination

Shrek

15th – 20th of

August at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin

The unlikely hero Shrek and his noble steed Donkey are embarking on a big, bright, musical adventure in Dublin Featuring the beloved Princess Fiona, the evil Lord Farquaad, a host of magical fairy-tale characters and fabulous songs including the smash hit “I’m A Believer”, Shrek is a musical extravaganza for everyone! The multi award winning musical is a perfect night out for the young at heart You are guaranteed to laugh along with Shrek and Donkey as they endeavour to complete their quest, finding unexpected friendships and surprising romance along the way

Dirty Dancing

15th – 19th of August at the Opera House in Cork, and the 5th – 16th of September at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin

The classic story is back on stage, exploding with heart pounding music, breath-taking emotion, and sensational dancing Following an incredibly successful run at the Dominion Theatre in London, Dirty Dancing is coming to Cork in August and Dublin in September This worldwide smash hit tells the story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds, who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives The show features over 35 hit songs, including the classic “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” See the hit film come to life before your eyes with this impressive stage show

Annie

29th of August – 3rd of September at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin

The smash-hit West End production of Annie is coming to Dublin Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, a brave little girl named Annie is forced to live a life of misery at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage Her luck soon changes when she gets chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks Meanwhile, spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family With its Tony Award winning score, including the unforgettable songs “It’s The Hard Knock Life”, “Easy Street”, and “Tomorrow”, and the show’s extremely talented young cast this show will be a great night out

The Lion King

28th of September – 11th of November at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin

Disney’s award-winning musical returns to Dublin for six weeks With an incredible cast of more than fifty actors, singers, and dancers, the story of The Lion King roars into life using spectacular masks, puppets, and costumes The Lion King tells the story of Simba’s journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands Having played performances in more than one hundred cities in twenty countries on every continent except Antarctica, The Lion King’s worldwide success exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or any other entertainment title in box office history The stage show has all the classic songs you know and love from the original movie including “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”, and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” This six-week run of The Lion King includes sign language performances, audio described performances, and captioned performances making the show incredibly accessible A special relaxed performance on the 9 th of November is specially adapted to be accessible to those with autism, those with learning disabilities or anyone with a sensory predisposition, with extra trained staff on hand and dedicated quiet areas inside the theatre should anyone need to leave their seat during the show.

Image Credit: Bord Gáis Energy Theatre

Image Credit: Bord Gáis Energy Theatre

Sport

WHO’SYOURMONEYON?

THEGROWINGEPIDEMICOFMOBILESPORTSBETTING

WRITES MARK COOPER | SPORTS EDITOR

As an avid sports fan (and enthusiastic sports writer), it was a true joy to enjoy a spellbinding winter of sport From the fairytale of Lionel Messi in Qatar, to the exploits of Jack Kennedy at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival through to the heroics of Michael Smith at the recent World Darts Championship, there never seemed a dull moment However, when all was said and done, discussing the December of sport with colleagues, friends and teammates often did not focus on the stories, performances or personalities of our sporting heroes In fact, far more time was spent dissecting the many winning (or more often losing) bets which had been placed on their choice of mobile betting app over the course of the various tournaments The sheer scale of the online betting world had never personally seemed as apparent as this past Christmas, and it prompted this editor to take a step back to determine whether what was taking place was simply harmless entertainment or something far more sinister

GAMBLING REVOLUTION

When the Betting Act of 1854 standardised the English and Irish laws of “Races, Sport, Games, or Exercises”, it is unlikely that the legislators of the time could have envisioned the behemoth that modern sports betting would have become The modern gambling world has grown to much more than simple games of cards and horse racing With the emergence of the digital age, a 24-hour cycle of sporting (and gambling) activity has emerged, not just in Ireland but across the world To take one of the most powerful consumer bases in the world, the US market is one important indicator of global trends In spite of restrictive laws across half of the country, our trans-Atlantic neighbours are still expected to see 8 billion dollars wagered in online sports betting in 2023, with New York only opening its doors to the web-based sportsbooks in this past year Closer to home, the Irish betting industry is booming, with the 2019 figures suggesting the Irish gambling market sees wagers of between 6 and 7.5 billion euro Considering the relatively small population of the country, this statistic seems deeply unsettling However, this figure appears less surprising when one learns that Ireland has been a leader in developing the global sports betting industry for decades Irish companies have even outgrown Ireland, pushing its gambling products into emerging markets such as North America and Eastern Europe ‘Flutter’ is registered in Dublin, and owns such brands as ‘Paddy Power’, the European ‘PokerStars’ and US focused ‘FanDuel’, making it one of the most powerful betting firms in the world The fact that such a powerful company as Flutter is headquartered within our borders may explain why updated legislation such as the proposed Gambling Regulation Act has taken so long to be adopted There have been few changes in the last twenty years since authoritative legislation was first proposed

THE NUMBERS

National newspapers have covered many stories of high-profile problem gamblers such as GAA player Oisín McConville, soccer player Aaron Traynor and postman Tony O’Reilly (who stole over 1.75 million euro from An Post to feed his addiction) Nevertheless, a damning 2022 report by the government’s Health Research Board concluded that only 1.2% of those who gamble are considered at moderate to severe risk from gambling While this is generally accepted by the international research community, the figure is misleading in that it considers those who purchased lotto tickets, scratch cards or play the occasional game of bingo once over the course of a year “gamblers” Amongst the younger population, who are more likely to engage in online sports betting, the estimate of those who become “problem gamblers” rises to almost 10% The most concerning recent revelation revolves around Irish youths, and the manner in which they are being targeted by betting companies on social media, on television and at sporting events A study conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found that one in ten people today will open and use an online betting account before the age of twenty The point of particular concern arises in relation to young males, 8% of whom are considered active online gamblers, placing at least one bet a month over a twelve-month period In fact, this number rises to 12% if that young man plays a team sport These statistics do not make for pretty reading, but would appear on the low end based on the personal experiences of this editor Having been an avid sports person throughout school and into young adulthood, one would be far more likely to find a young peer with an active betting account than without.

TRIALS AND TIPSTERS

Take the recent World Cup held in Qatar for example. A great variety of online sports betting sites offered so-called “No-deposit sign up bonuses”, which essentially amounted to free, no risk bets for new customers. These bets ranged from five to twenty-euro stakes, and allowed the user to take a free punt at any World Cup match. Customers could bet on match results, first goal scorer or even the number of throw-ins awarded. This incentive to take on an obvious good deal was taken up by a great number of other nongamblers, who presumably did not simply cash out their accounts after their free bets had long been won or lost. Likewise, the recent PDC World Darts Championship saw similar sign-up offers and promotions, all the way through to the thrilling final between Michael Van Gerwen and Michael Smith In-play bets were advertised on social media, meaning punters could even make bets once the match had already started However, these promotions and offers are not a new phenomenon, and while effective, are largely understood and controlled A new trend has emerged which appears far more harmful to the youth of today; The Professional Tipster Across social media, in particular Instagram and Tiktok, a variety of personalities have begun to garner large followings by offering a series of free tips on horses, soccer and darts, encouraging people to make large bets in order to

“Beat the bookies” One such Irish tipster, (who will not be named for legal reasons) claims to be the largest tipster in the world, and produces a series of over-the-top videos on the short video platform Tiktok These often go viral, in particular if the suggested bet turned out to be successful However, the crux of these tipsters turned influencers is that they offer a paid service through which would-be bettors can chase their fortunes in a "safer” manner Based on the comments of these tipsters’ videos, there is undoubtedly a skew towards young males, the very group identified as most vulnerable to problem gambling by the ESRI

The concern in relation to this emerging industry is that it is viewed as a secure way to make money With traditional online sports betting companies, there is no implied guarantee of success or financial gain While there may be underhanded tactics used to try to addict consumers, most prudent users will understand that the betting firms will likely come out on

top in the end and wager with that knowledge in mind However, with the overwhelming confidence of these social media sports tipsters, people may be lulled into a false sense of security and bet beyond their means

One fears that the younger, more vulnerable demographic of those digesting the content of these personalities will create more young problem gamblers, at a time when governmental regulations seek to curb the influence of betting firms on those very same people

WHERE ARE WE HEADED?

So, what can be done? Well, governmental regulation is coming, and is supported by the independent lobbying group ‘Extern Problem Gambling’ Under the proposed Act, social media advertising will be prohibited unless users ‘opt-in’ Sponsorship by betting companies of sports clubs will be prohibited if said club has juvenile members Incentives such as “free bets”, loyalty schemes, free credit, and free hospitality will be outlawed A “watershed” ban on TV and online advertising between 5.30am and 9pm is also proposed as well as a ban on children being in gambling premises. Credit card betting will be banned, in a bid to curb gamblers putting themselves into debt. There will be a national exclusion register established.

If a problem gambler “opts out”, every licensed gambling company must ensure that gambler does not have access to that service. However, unless the laws are implemented (with harsh penalties), they may not amount to much more than governmental posturing. With the strong presence of gambling giants in Ireland, as well as industries backboned by the betting industry such as horse racing, there may be too much political pressure to fully implement the proposals. Irish gamblers lost approximately €1.36 billion in 2020, with that figure likely to have risen greatly in the past two years. There is great importance that the regulations are not watered down, so as to protect those most vulnerable to addiction. As a society, we must decide if we truly wish to protect our young people from the perils of online gambling. The alternative is to allow them to become the next national headline, stealing from their family or employer, ending up bankrupt or in prison. This may be the only chance the government has to “Beat the Bookies”, the only question is whether they will take the punt.

Sport

THEIRISHCONNECTIONTO ARGENTINIANFOOTBALL

Unless you have been liv assume that the vast majo Argentina to victory at the people around the world w living in a state of const Argentinians (the Saudi A was evidence of this Wh goalkeeping of Emiliano perhaps it was the industr the eye, the football world the South Americans in blu

However, as the nation simultaneously butchered off the tongue with eas midfielder with a surnam Messi’s hunt for the World had an added impetus to s of our own’ and it did n Donabate, County Antrim

His cousin, Noel Mac All RTÉ and explained the fa ‘The Mac Allister’s are in to Argentina in 1865 ’

Noel also went on to explain how by a chance reading of a certain paper led to him realising that there was still Mac Allister’s in Argentina "I got a call one morning from Frank Mc Allister a cousin of mine who's since died and he said did you get the Times? There's a photo from the Times get it And it was of Dick Spring, the minister of foreign affairs at the time, in the hurling club of Buenos Aires Argentina, with the President of the hurling club Dickie Mac Allister " Noel tells a story of how they sent a letter to the hurling club in Argentina's capital asking for some information Much to their surprise, a return letter arrived from the club detailing the Mac Allister family's history all the way back to their time in Donabate Amazingly, the Irish connection to one of the most successful nations in the world does not end there Alexis’ father, Carlos, was a professional footballer too and he represented the biggest team in Argentinian football: Boca Juniors

Still the most successful team in Argentina, Boca Juniors boasts a rich history of having some of the best Argentinian players in history to have worn its colours It is the club of Carlos Tevez, Juan Roman Riquelme, and

none other than arguably the greatest footballer of all time: Diego Maradona And right at the beginning of the club's illustrious past is an Irish man from Cashel, Co Tipperary

Paddy McCarthy was at the forefront of the establishment of Boca Juniors and without him the club itself may never have existed Of course, an alternative would have inevitably been founded in what is such a football crazy city However, Paddy McCarthy was the mentor to five Italian students in the La Boca district of Buenos Aires in April 1905 who subsequently formed one of the most recognisable football clubs in the world

McCarthy arrived in Argentina from Cashel aged 29 in 1900 and was teaching PE by 1905 The five Italians who eventually created Boca Juniors were his students A boxer in his past and an all-round sports fanatic, McCarthy became the club’s first coach McCarthy was also given the title of ‘president’, which he held for seventeen years

Interestingly, one theory that began to circulate was that the famous blue

and yellow colours worn by Boca were derived from the colours of McCarthy’s native Tipperary This is merely a happy coincidence as the club's colours were obtained from a Swedish ship sailing into the port of Buenos Aires in 1913

It is fascinating to explore the life of this man who was so central to the formation of such an iconic football club In his youth, McCarthy attended the Christian Brothers School in Cashel Consistent with Ireland at this time, not much is known about his parents or what they did as the records do not exist Like the Swedish ship mentioned above, McCarthy had the same landing in 1900 in Buenos Aires port

McCarthy’s journey was not direct and was somewhat arduous He first had to go to Southampton to sail to Lisbon then onto the Cape Verde Islands before arriving in Buenos Aires The city’s population was rapidly rising during this time with population numbers growing from 180,000 to 660,000 between 1870 and 1900 Many Irish had settled in Argentina at this time due to the high availability of land in the country There was also an Irish covenant in Buenos Aires from 1856 with many Irish having left from the midlands throughout the latter half of the nineteenth-century

McCarthy was listed as a ‘crew member’ on the ship that sailed to Buenos Aires It is reasonable to suggest that he worked on the boat in order to reach his destination Upon his arrival, he worked on the port before he met Reverend Henry Brady who had set up a Seaman’s Mission The pair set up a boxing festival in Buenos Aires

By now McCarthy was teaching English in a local Commerce School, a school that had an Irish man as school principal, James Fitzsimons McCarthy fitted in seamlessly in South America

At this time, Buenos Aires was a relatively young city and organised football was also in its infancy The game was introduced to Argentina by the travelling English and Scottish who were working there Although Cashel was not soccer mad during this era, there remains a high likelihood that McCarthy would have played the game at some level An excellent book by David Toms called Soccer in Munster provides evidence on how soccer was not simply a garrison game back then thus there remains the possibility that McCarthy could have played at some stage He had enough of a grasp of the game to coach and played for several clubs while in Argentina- such as Central Athletic, Estudiantes and Lobos, which was set up by a few Irish immigrants

The game was amateur during this time and turned professional in 1931 But amateur football was flourishing and in 1910 McCarthy set off to Brazil with Estudiantes for a tournament that eventually morphed into the Copa Libertadores (the modern day South American equivalent of the UEFA Champions League) In 1913, he stepped in as referee in what is now one of the most hostile, fiercely contested derbies on the planet: Boca Juniors against River Plate A derby referred to as ‘Superclassico.’

McCarthy refereed soccer matches in Argentina for eighteen years and his time officiating matches overlapped with a period in which football and Argentinian culture became intertwined This was the beginning of a passionate love affair that still exists today Think of Argentina and immediately the blue and white colours of the national team spring to mind One only needs to look back at the plethora of videos shared during the World Cup hero's welcome last month The unforgettable scenes of millions of overjoyed Argentinian fans lined the streets to create a carnival atmosphere for the team as they undertook a fifty-mile open-bus trip around Buenos Aires tell you all you need to know about the importance of football in this South American country

As for Paddy McCarthy, it is unknown whether he ever returned to Cashel or not but what is certain is the legendary status he lived out the rest of his life with He became an icon and someone particularly important visitors were photographed with, namely the Duke of Kent and the former US president Theodore Rosevelt who gifted him a jacket with Y on it (for Yale University) Paddy McCarthy died in 1963 and was buried in Chacarita, but his grave has not yet been located

From Paddy McCarthy to Alexis Mac Allister, it is astonishing to consider the effect our little island has had on one of the greatest footballing nations in the world

WELCOMEBACK!

WRITES CONOR O'DRISCOLL | SKILLS CENTRE

As we ease ourselves back into the routine of university life, we at the Skills Centre would like to welcome you back with some words of encouragement and details on how you can get the most out of yourself this semester

The Skills Centre is a learning space within UCC that is committed to providing a positive student experience across university disciplines Our job is to facilitate your development of professional and academic skills in a collaborative peer-to-peer learning environment

At this stage, many of you may be waiting for exam results to be released Some of you may be in no rush to find out how you got on And others may already know what went wrong and what went right in Semester 1 Either way, the first two weeks of the semester are the ideal time to right some of these wrongs

Speaking on behalf of all the Skills Centre tutors, I can promise you that a significant chunk of most academicrelated problems you encountered last semester stem from some lack of organisation Be it messy note taking, improper time management, or an addiction to cramming, we provide services which introduce you to daily habits that allow you to become more efficient in the ways you work, study, and prepare assignments

Throughout the academic year, we provide workshops and one-to-one sessions on a multitude of academic issues We schedule our workshops inline with the university calendar For

instance, exam-specific workshops do not usually get scheduled until later in the term What this means is that the next two/three weeks will be full of workshops dedicated to foundational skills like note taking, reading, and organisational skills

Our tutoring and workshop portfolio covers all academic bases If we do not have a dedicated group workshop for the issue, students can avail of one-toone sessions with experienced tutors to work on the problem with you For more information on these services, simply google “UCC Skills Centre” or come and chat to us. We are based in Q1 in the Boole Library Just follow the yellow footsteps on the floor

Aside from these services, we provide a multitude of virtual services, which in my opinion are totally underrated and complement our workshops Perfect for this time of year The most readily available service is on Canvas, which is accessible to every one of you via the “UCC Success Zone” window Here, you will find all sorts of great stuff Introductions to Student Services Tips and tricks on developing Digital (IT) Skills Information on Library Services, Exams, and UCC’s Career Services Details on important initiatives like the Bystander Intervention and how to acquire Digital Badges in transferable skills, like public speaking It's all there

The Skills Centre also has a section in this window on Canvas Here, you will find short videos on how to develop and refine your academic writing, study strategies, and professional skills while

also introducing you to key concepts like critical thinking and organisational skills. Complimenting this, our website (Google: UCC Skills Centre) provides free downloadable handouts that offer advice on academic issues, such as writing assignments, working in groups, constructing arguments; the list goes on

Similar services which we provide include the “If I Knew Then What I Know Now” blog series This is a series of blogs whereby experienced tutors, like myself, offer advice on tackling various academic issues students may encounter, such as using the internet for academic assistance and planning assignments We also provide audiovisual services like our “Gimme Two Minutes” video series which focuses on concepts related to academic writing

academic assistance and planning a and preparation skills, while our “Write Here, Right Now!” podcast focuses on student literacy and addresses recurrent issues experienced by students All of these can be best accessed through our website Check them out!

Finally, because The Skills Centre is dedicated to strengthening core learning as well as providing the scaffolding and building blocks for independent and critical thinking, faculty members can utilise our services to ensure that students are connected and engaged when they need to be In this regard, you can refer a student directly, request tailored workshops for your specific classes, or we can provide you administrative support if hosting digital badges