University Express Vol 25; Issue 9

University Volume 25 | Issue 9 | Monday 14tH February 2022

Express

UCCExpress.ie

Bystander Intervention Week at UCC

ORLA LEAHY News Editor

include reflections by students and staff who have completed the Bystander Intervention Digital Badge. The Bystander Team have termed the exhibition as, “a stunning mix of poetry, prose, artwork, film and music, demonstrating the impact of the programme.” Visitors to the Boole during the week will have the opportunity to view the reflections at the exhibition space on the ground floor of the Boole Library.

Bystander Intervention Week is set to take place at UCC from Monday, February 14th, to Friday, February 18th. The Bystander Team have stated that the week, “will highlight the issue of gender-based violence and sexual harassment both on and off university campuses.” The last Bystander Intervention Week on UCC’s campus saw the development of a mural on the side of the Boole Library, in 2019, seeking an end to both Other highlights include the Consent Tent, gender-based violence and sexual harassment. where a number of NGOs will be present, in This year’s week will include a variety of events front of the Student Centre, from 12pm to 2pm to raise awareness about gender-based violence daily, to offer support and advice to students and and sexual harassment that occurs both on and staff. Alana Daly Mulligan from the Bystander off UCC’s campus. Professor Louise Crowley Team, has stated that, “it doesn’t matter where has stated that the week functions,“as a really you are on your journey to understanding good platform to raise the profile of not only Bystander Intervention, we will meet you the training in UCC, but the importance of the there, and we want to bring you along the way.” training in UCC, to highlight the really serious Themed focus sessions at 11am daily, “will work and prevalent issue of sexual harassment and to explain and enhance create awareness around violence, and to speak to all people of campus… specific issues, where effective intervention from so that they know they are seen…and that we bystanders can make a significant difference.” recognise this is an issue for our students.” Confirmed guest speakers include, Mary Hayes, One of the highlights of the week will be the who is the ‘Too Into You’ Project Lead at Women’s exhibition in the Boole Library, which will Aid, and will address intimate partner violence. Eve

McDowell, Co-Founder of Stalking.ie will consider stalking awareness, and UCC’s own Professor Louise Crowley, Director of the Bystander Intervention Programme, will discuss the aims and impact of the Bystander Intervention Programme.

Professor Crowley notes that the week has been composed, “in a manner that ensures that it is not just the Bystander Team that people can talk to… but we are bringing other support services, a range of them, onto campus…to provide that care, that trauma-informed support to those that may need it.”

For students and staff that only have time to attend one event, their time would be best spent taking up the Bystander Training. The week itself functions to, “shine a spotlight on the training”, and the Bystander Team believes that the best possible outcome of the week would be that, “on Friday evening, at 5 o’clock, everyone had taken the training.”

The essence of the Bystander Intervention Training, according to Professor Crowley, “is that we are responding, and that we have a responsibility to respond, as a community, so that we can demand Continued on Page 2

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EDITORIAL

Issue 9 |MONDAY 14TH february 2022 | University Express

Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief – Imasha Costa (Editor@UCCExpress.ie) News Editor – Orla Leahy (News@UCCExpress.ie) Designer – Aoife E Osborne (Design@UCCExpress.ie) Features Editor – Maeve O’Keeffe (Features@UCCExpress.ie) Sports Editor – Sam Curtin (Sport@UCCExpress.ie) Opinion Editor – Claudia Zedda (Opinion@UCCExpress.ie) Eagarthóir Gaeilge – Caitríona O’Connell (Gaeilge@UCCExpress.ie) Online Editor – Edel Lonergan (Online@UCCExpress.ie)

LOVE IS IN THE AIR Welcome back to the University Express, we are back with Issue 9, dedicated to celebrating Valentine’s Day. We, the editorial team, are super excited to share with you all our hard workand stories that we think you might enjoy.

This semester has been a whirlwind already and its only week 4. I can feel the weeks just pushing past us quickly and I feel at some point there will be no full stop, just a constant playbutton all the time. Things are coming back, I am excited to see the things that I haven’t seensin ce first year.

Which is 3 years ago to be exact. Its insanity, the fact that I am almost done with my degree. It scares me a lot, but we are almost there, we are on our last few moments, the last few weeks. We got this.

This issue covers a range of topics from Bystander Week happening to Intimate Relationship abuse within our Bystander Column. I am super excited to share with you my article on Online Dating as well, where many people shared the experiences with online dating, the good, the bad and the dirty. I had so much fun writing that article.

Marketing Executive – Imasha Costa (Marketing@UCCExpress.ie) Photographers – Méabh Lonergan; Jack Murphy (Photographers@uccexpress.ie)

Until our next issue, Love and Solidarity,

Imasha Costa Editor-In-Chief

editor@uccexpress.ie

Byline Editor – Jack Coleman (Byline@UCCExpress.ie) (Deputy Editor) Food & Health – Nathan Carey (Food@UCCExpress.ie) Arts & Literature Editor – Cian Pierce (Arts@UCCExpress.ie) Gaming Editor – Chloe Barrett (Gaming @UCCExpress.ie) Music Editor – Florrie McCarthy (Music@UCCExpress) Fashion Editor – Claire Watson (fashion@uccexpress.ie) Film & Television Editor – Cormac McCarthy (Screen@UCCExpress.ie) Sexpress Editor – Emily Osborn (Sexpress@uccexpress.ie) Deputy News – Ciara Browne (Deputynews@uccexpress.ie) Deputy Features Editor - Sarah O’Mahony (DeputyFeatures@uccexpress.ie) Deputy Sports - Atakan Uzun (deputysports@uccexpressie) Staff Writer: Billy O’Connor

PACING OURSELVES Welcome to issue 9, and happy Valentine’s Day! This issue, I interviewed Professor Louise Crowley, and Alana Daly Mulligan, in advance of Bystander Intervention Week 2022 at UCC. The week kicks off today, see my article for a list of events, and how to sign up for Bystander Intervention Training. Ciara explores Ireland’s new Speak Out Tool launched by Minister Harris, and Opinion Editor, Claudia M. Zedda, teams up with student contributor, Ronan Keohane, to explore Refugee Week at UCC, happening at the end of this month.

It’s hard to believe that we’re almost at the halfway mark for this semester. I’ve spoken to a lot of students recently who are overwhelmed by the increasing pace of this term. Within the last year, times have changed greatly. Less than a year ago, many of us had never even set foot inside a lecture theatre, our only college experience existed online. September came, and with it, the return to many aspects of the traditional college experience, including in-person classes, Socs and Club events, as well as many aspects to students’ social lives. Now, with almost all restrictions gone, the pace of our lives continues to increase.

Juggling college work, part-time jobs, Soc and Club activities, with a social life, and some downtime, can be challenging.

Many students that I have spoken to, have more than one, if not more than three, balls/debs lined up before the end of March. At about week 7 or 8 last semester, students were starting to feel overwhelmed with exams and deadlines approaching. This semester, it’s different, students are feeling overwhelmed already due to the increased pace of life, now that restrictions have eased. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, reach out to someone, a friend, family member, or a colleague. We have more freedom than we’ve had in the last two years, but let’s pace ourselves, and let’s look out for one another.

Best wishes,

Orla Leahy News Editor

news@uccexpress.ie

Issue 9| MONDAY 14TH February 2022 | University Express

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Bystander Intervention Week at UCC ORLA LEAHY News Editor

Cover story continued absolute respect amongst us all, and that we can dictate the type of society that we want to live in.”

Bystander Intervention Week comes at an appropriate time, in the midst of increased awareness of gender-based violence, following Ashling Murphy’s death, and the recent reports of the HEA on the National Surveys of Staff and Student Experiences of Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment. The Irish Universities’ Association has recognised these reports as, “an important step in building the evidence base in relation to sexual violence and harassment, to identify areas for improvement, and against which to assess the impact of targeted initiatives across the higher education system.” The Bystander Team have acknowledged that in light of recent times, there

has been “great appetite” by the general public for accessing a form of education, and empowerment, akin to Bystander Intervention Training.

Ultimately, the week will also showcase the university’s tireless efforts to implement every aspect of the “Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions: Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive – Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions.” From consent training to student counselling services, the efforts to implement the National Framework can consistently be seen across campus. The university will also be implementing a number of new services to support students and staff over the next number of months.

Professor Louise Crowley, in advance of the

week, has stated, “Whilst sexual harassment and violence is perpetrated by the minority, it is essential that everyone plays a role in establishing a shared rejection of all forms of abuse and collectively demand a new norm of dignity, respect and equality. We look forward to engaging with the UCC community and beyond during Bystander Intervention Week and to engaging with the UCC community and beyond during Bystander Intervention Week and to securing a safe, respectful experience for all.”

All information about Bystander Intervention Week, and a full schedule of events, including links to the online events, can be found on the Bystander website, bystanderintervention.ucc.ie, and social media @BystanderUCC. Bystander Intervention Training can also be accessed on the website.

Image Credits: UCC Bystander

NEWS UCC Launches Speak Out Anonymous Reporting Tool 4

CIARA BROWNE Deputy News Editor University College Cork has launched the Speak Out Anonymous Reporting Tool which is a new online tool that will allow students and staff at UCC to anonymously report incidents of bullying, cyber bullying, discrimination, harassment, coercive behavior or control, assault, stalking, sexual harassment and assault, and rape. The tool was launched in UCC on February 8th 2022.

In October 2021, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris launched ‘Speak Out - the Anonymous Violence and Harassment Reporting Tool’ for higher education institutions. Mr. Harris said at the time that he was “delighted to launch this incredibly important initiative. The creation of this innovative and supportive online platform will provide a safe and anonymous medium for students and staff to report incidents of bullying, assault or sexual violence in a trauma-informed environment.”

Mr. Harris has said that these are issues that his department is acutely aware of and that they are delighted to be in a position to provide funding to the vital project. Speak Out represents a national approach to tackling these issues by

Issue 9 |MONDAY 14TH february 2022 | University Express raising awareness, and by providing a means of recording instances, which will assist in achieving a zero-tolerance culture.

The project is set to be rolled out across 18 higher education institutions throughout this academic year (21/22) for students, staff and visitors. The Psychological Counsellors of Higher Education Ireland (PCHEI) are leading the project, and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is funding it. The HEA Centre of Excellence for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion has also supported the project. The 2019 “Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions: Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive- Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment” in Higher Education Institutions outlined the need for data to be collected on the incidence rates of sexual harassment and violence across the Irish higher education sector.

The data collected through this tool will be used to inform policy and targeted educational initiatives.

The data collected through this tool will be used to inform policy and targeted educational initiatives. It was the goal of PCHEI to provide a trauma-informed tool that would provide users with support services relevant to their experience. The Speak Out Tool project is a ground-breaking initiative which is underpinned by an ethos of cross-institutional collaboration in response to such incidents within higher education

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Image Credits: UCC Speak Out

institutions. Gertie Raftery, Chairperson of the PCHEI, and Project Leader, said that he was delighted to have led on behalf of PCHEI, the “development of Speak Out which provides a voice for students and staff in Higher Education to speak out about their experiences of sexual harassment, violence or intimidation of any kind,” (The Irish Times).

Several other Irish Universities are using the Speak Out Tool, to allow a safe work and student environment for staff and students, among them are University of Limerick, University College Dublin, Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin, National University Ireland Galway, and Technical University Dublin.

The data collected in this tool is completely anonymous, meaning users will not be identifiable, also meaning that users’ data cannot be returned, should they request it. The Speak Out Tool allows universities to direct students and staff to helpful supports, and provides information relating to a range of options that can assist users in dealing with the incidents mentioned previously.

UCC President Professor John O’Halloran welcomed the launch, saying that at University College Cork, we want to, “ensure a campus culture of dignity and respect is fostered and maintained. We have a zero-tolerance approach to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination or any form of

misconduct. We want to ensure our University is a safe, inclusive and welcoming place, where everyone feels they belong.”

Dr. Avril Hutch, Director of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit, added how the Speak Out Tool will allow for the information gathered to be used to help inform policy, education and training initiatives across the university.

Student Union President, Asha Woodhouse, said that “The Speak out Tool is an incredibly important initiative.”

Not only will it allow students and staff to disclose experiences of misconduct and unacceptable behavior through a safe and anonymous platform, but it will also inform how we as an institution can develop a trauma-informed and zero-tolerance approach to such misconduct and unacceptable behaviors…

Data collected through the Speak out Tool will play a pivotal role in development of policy and targeted educational initiatives both at local and national level.” (UCC.ie) To report an incident please go to the UCC Speak Out Tool webpage and click, “Make a Report”. More information on the Speak Out Tool can be found under the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Unit section of the UCC website (UCC.ie) and students and staff may also email ediunit@ucc.ie, in confidence, for further information.

To report an incident please go to the UCC Speak Out Tool webpage and click, “Make a Report”. More information on the Speak Out Tool can be found under the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Unit section of the UCC website (UCC.ie) and students and staff may also email ediunit@ucc.ie, in confidence, for further information.

NEWS Refugee Week 2022: What’s coming and why your attendance matters

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Issue 9 |MONDAY 14TH february 2022 | University Express

CLAUDIA M. ZEDDA Opinion Editor

The UCC Fáilte Refugees Society, in collaboration with the University of Sanctuary Working Group, the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit and many more, are currently organising an exciting and large series of events for the annual ‘Refugee Week’. This week will span from Monday, February 21st until Saturday February 26th 2022.

Refugee Week will take place through both online and on-campus events. Its purpose is to raise awareness amongst the UCC student body and UCC staff at large about issues concerning refugees, to fundraise for refugee NGOs, to rally in the interest of refugee rights, as well as to encourage others in the general public to get involved with the UCC Fáilte Refugees Society and their mission. As a highly active UCC Society dedicated to welcoming the migrant community on campus, it is in their best interests to provide refugees with a platform during this important week.

After last year’s Refugee Week being mostly online, the society is really looking forward to expanding their presence on campus, and beyond, this year. “This year’s Refugee Week is reaching out to and welcoming people from around Ireland and the world to Cork. We will discuss the future of Irish identity, and celebrate the contributions of asylum seekers and refugees to our society”, explains Amano Miura, Chairperson of Fáilte Refugees Society.

“We will be engaging with these topics through discussion, through entrepreneurship, through film and through art…it is something we are really proud to be able to present this year.”

There is an exciting array of different events lined up, which includes a community market with various vendors, a poetry gig with some amazing performers from the refugee community, a Korean Defectors webinar (including a North Korean author as a guest speaker), a Rohingya Genocide documentary screening, a community walk/run with Sanctuary Runners, many speakera community walk/run with Sanctuary Runners, many speaker panel events and the annual Refugee Conference. These will provide any interested student, or staff member, with the opportunity to learn more about a complex set of issues, as well as gain invaluable first-hand insight from different perspectives.

“The most important thing this year was to bring together different groups, different societies, different strands of university life, with a huge emphasis on inclusion, equality and diversity” explains Amano Apart from the working groups previously mentioned, other groups. involved are the Glucksman Gallery, the Sanctuary Runners, and

RONAN KEOHANE Student Contributor other UCC societies such as the Environmental Society, Korean Society, Co-Operative Society, International Development Society, Economics Society, Japanese Society and Chinese Society.

“For Fáilte Refugees Society, this is our first time welcoming panellists from overseas and from outside Cork,” adds Chairperson Amano. “For our annual Conference, we have Femi Bankole, founder of Black and Irish, and we have singer and songwriter Pearl-Natasha coming to speak to us. We are really honoured to be able to welcome such incredible guests”.

When asked about what the objective of Refugee Week is, Amano said, “hopefully we will send a message to our political community that young people of Cork are truly concerned about migration issues in Ireland; and to the refugee community that they have the full support of us and that there is a space for them to speak their truths in UCC.” Updates regarding Refugee Week will be published through social media outlets in the course of the next few days, and will also be widely promoted throughout campus.

Why is Refugee important?

Week

so

Migrants and refugees who come to Ireland in search of international protection are located in places called Direct Provision Centres. In these centres, groups of people that have never met before, with completely different backgrounds, cultures and habits, are forced to share a room and give up their privacy for what is intended to be “a temporary solution,” of a maximum of six months.

However, the average length of stay in Direct Provision is 24 months, as reported by Doras, with some residents having spent up to 12 years living in these conditions. As a result of this, many residents experience declining physical and mental health, self-esteem and skills. Many children born inside the walls of Direct Provision Centres have never experienced what it means to have their own room or private space. Most of these centres are located outside city centres and in remote areas, where they are marginalised and isolated, with no chance to interact with their surroundings and wider communities.

Direct Provision has been described as “a human rights scandal” by Amnesty International, as the system does not take into account any of the state’s obligations towards vulnerable individuals seeking protection. Traumatised by past experiences in their own country, asylum seekers arrive in Ireland with the hope that they’ll be able to build a new life, but instead, their

Issue 9| MONDAY 14TH February 2022 | University Express

trauma is perpetuated by a system that is supposed to help them.

The Covid-19 situation brought to light how inhumane the Direct Provision system is towards their residents, and why this system needs to end. People living in Direct Provision have experienced the worst aspects of the pandemic, as they had no way to isolate themselves in case of a positive Covid case.

The congregated settings they are living in meant that they had to face additional barriers to adequately protect themselves from the virus, including barriers to following Covid-19 public health preventive measures advised by the government.

The UCC Refugees Society believes that university students have a huge power to speak and change the narrative.

Solidarity and support are key in these situations, particularly for those who are marginalised by our own institutions.

Attending even just one event, sharing a post on social media, or starting a conversation with family or friends can really make a difference.

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For a long time, asylum seekers and the migrant community have been neglected and overlooked by society. They were denied a job, recognition of their own national degrees and driving licences, negatively impacting their self-esteem,confidence and sense of purpose. It also prevents them from building a life and being part of the community.

Over Refugee Week, UCC has the opportunity to enhance their voices and to celebrate diversity in Ireland’s communities more than any other time of the year. The university has the chance to show support, and make the migrant community feel welcome, accepted and celebrated.

UCC also has the visibility needed to raise more awareness on issues related to the migrant community that are often left out in political settings.

Students who are around campus any day between the 21st and the 27th of February are encouraged to check Failte Refugees’ Instagram, @uccfailterefugeesoc, or to Google “UCC Refugee Week 2022” to see what events are on, where and at what time.

With more than 10 events in only six days, Fáilte Refugees are looking forward to seeing students take part in what they believe will be the best Refugee Week in UCC’s history.

Image Credits: UCC Fáilte Refugees Society

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BYSTANDER FEATURES

Issue 9 |MONDAY 14TH february 2022 | University Express

Intimate Relationship Abuse: Supporting Victims MAEVE O’KEEFFE Features Editor

Following recent allegations of rape and sexual assault, Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood is under investigation and has been suspended from the club. Videos and images which were shared by the victim on social media gave a stark depiction of intimate relationship abuse, with photographs of the victim’s bruised body and a recording of Greenwood demanding sex with the victim, despite her protests. While we wait for justice to run its course, this case highlights the prevalent issue of intimate relationship abuse.

A 2020 survey in Ireland revealed that one in five women had experienced intimate relationship abuse, and yet it is still frequently overlooked. The stereotype of “stranger danger” still permeates our culture, without due recognition that in the majority of cases of rape and sexual assault, the perpetrator is known to the victim.

Last year, Women’s Aid ran their Too Into You campaign to raise awareness of intimate relationship abuse to help us recognise its signs, manifestations, and the supports available to victims.

Though Women’s Aid’s list of signs of relationship abuse is not exhaustive, it draws attention to how forceful, manipulative, and controlling behaviours can underpin relationships, and be utterly detrimental to the victim’s wellbeing and safety. Some of the indicators of intimate relationship abuse may seem obvious, such as physical violence, threats of physical violence, and forcing sexual acts. That said, it is worth remembering that marital rape was only criminalised in this country in 1994. Some people fail to understand that being in a relationship does not imply unconditional consent, and that rape can, and does occur in relationships.

Aside from overtly violent or forceful behaviours, intimate relationship abuse can also be underpinned by subtle, manipulative actions. As a character on BBC drama Call the Midwife explained in a recent episode, “Violence is always abuse, but abuse is not always violent.”

For instance, when one partner tries to dictate how the other dresses, or who they spend time with, the relationship could be described as toxic or abusive. Many survivors of intimate relationship abuse describe the relationship as akin to “walking on eggshells,” in fear of their abuser’s unpredictable moods, temper, or backlash. The abuser may also control their partner by inducing feelings of guilt or humiliation, which can manifest in accusations of cheating, threating to hurt themselves if the victim tries to end the relationship, or degrading comments.

In February 2020, the first conviction and sentencing of coercive control was made in Ireland, yet many people are still unsure of what exactly constitutes coercive control. Coercive control can be almost undetectable initially, but gradually leads to an insidious decline in the victim’s self-esteem and personal freedom. The victim of coercive control can be left feeling lonely, powerless and fearful of their partner, who exerts a persistent, debilitating abuse of power over them. This can involve isolating the victim from their friends and family, or making them give up work and alter their routines to comply with the demands of their abuser. Given the two years we have spent with varying levels of social isolation due to Covid-19 restrictions, many victims of coercive control may not even realise the extent to which their partner acts controllingly towards them.

Given how difficult it can be to detect cases of intimate relationship abuse, a Bystander Intervention perspective on the issue is vital. If you are concerned that a friend is being coercively controlled, or is a victim of intimate relationship abuse, it can be hard to know what to do. In fact, research conducted last year revealed that 20% of males and 8% of females believed

that it was not their place to intervene if they suspect abuse in the relationship of a friend. While these numbers are not incredibly high, the study showed how hesitant young people feel about intervening, even when they feel a responsibility to do so. Fears about exacerbating the situation, overstepping boundaries, misinterpreting the signs of abuse, and a general lack of awareness of how to help and what to say were all identified as concerns that might prevent someone from intervening in instances of intimate relationship abuse.

Intimate relationship abuse can begin with subtle behaviours such as incessant texting, but over time can morph into totally limiting and isolating behaviours. If you have noticed a friend acting more distant recently, or that they are tense around their partner, then they might be a victim of intimate relationship abuse or coercive control. Identifying concrete instances of abuse can be tricky, as these behaviours can often go on behind closed doors, but as the Too Into You website assures, “If it feels wrong, it probably is.” One of the most important things you can do if you suspect intimate relationship abuse is show emotional support towards the victim. This means listening to them, without judgement or blame, and showing them that you believe them.

Be aware that you cannot force them to leave the relationship - it is ultimately their decision - but the knowledge that they are believed and supported can help give them the strength to do what is best for them.

The important thing to know is that support is available, and the law is there to protect victims of intimate relationship abuse. In 2018, the Domestic Violence Act was changed to include intimate relationships, as opposed to offering safety orders exclusively to people who are married or living together. This means that if you, or a friend, are in an abusive relationship, they can apply for a safety order that would protect them from their abuser.

In terms of practical ways you can support victims of abuse or coercive control, Womens Aid have a 24 hour national free helpline, which can be contacted via 1800 341 900. As well as this, you could help accompany them to the gardai, their GP, or their solicitor, depending on what course of action they decide to take.

Giving them phone credit, or linking your card to the taxi app on their phone can also be helpful should your friend find themselves in an emergency situation. Once again, the golden rule of Bystander Intervention is only to intervene is safe to do so, so keep this in mind.

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FEATURES

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Online Dating: The Good, The Bad and The Dirty The day of romance and love, Valentine’s Day – I don’t especially enjoy this day, as I think it just an excuse to fall for the lies of capitalism. One of the biggest lies that capitalism plays is the fact that love can only be found from online dating.

With the days of getting Tinder Gold or even Bumble Boost, where users would pay an extra fee a month to gain access to premium features such as who has liked you, replay previous user, and unlimited amounts of super likes - the list goes on. I have unfortunately used online dating apps to try to find a bit of “romance” and I have not had very great experiences with it. The thing with online dating is that it is not always guaranteed that you may find love, that you may find your match. I took a break from Tinder for a whole year before deciding to get back into it late last year. Not even a month had passed before I thought that this was the worst thing that I have ever had to endure.

And I think what made it worse was the fact that I went on the worst date from hell after meeting someone on Tinder. I will not get into too many details about the person, but I will say that it put me off dating for a long time. It ended up with me having to get rescued by strangers and to get the bartenders to drop the bill and then an eventual block and un-match. I was horrified.

I did not know how to think, what to say, or even react. “The girl was too stunned to speak.”

The fact about online dating that I seem to keep missing out on is that people are never really what they seem to be unless you set your boundaries out in the beginning.

IMASHA COSTA Editor-In-Chief

With such wholesome vibes that comes out of this experience, I also had a few people share bad/ dirty conversations that have come out of the result of online dating, marking these as the worst of the worst: ‘I told a guy I was getting a haircut once and he asked me to send him a box of my hair.’

‘The worst thing I’ve ever had was I matched with a lad in the navy and we’d been snapping for 3 days before I realised he knew exactly where I was all the time. I always keep my snap maps on like and I remember going to [a friend’s house] and he asked if I was “in that house with my lad friends” again and I was like what the – ?’ – Jess, 23

An anonymous submission came in that shared an amazing experience of the result of their online dating: I thought it best to meet my Tinder dates with the disclaimer that I wanted to have our first date primarily as friends, and see how things go from there, so as to get the vibe of the person and their intentions. This was a great strategy as I did not feel the pressure of the awful “obligatory” kiss after a date. This is how I met one of the best people in my life right now.

We met as friends, after talking for a few weeks on the platform, and for our first “date” had a perfectly innocent walk for close to four hours just circling the park because we didn’t want to stop talking. It was nice to get to know someone without thinking about sex, although that being said I couldn’t help thinking he was so much more attractive in person than in his photos.

It was a pleasant juxtaposition to the classic catfish (which had happened in the first case I may add). On our second date we kissed, and it’s now been nearly four months of lovely, nonmonogamous bliss with someone who I will no doubt have in my life indefinitely. It really goes to show, it’s worth getting to know someone, and their true character and vibe, before letting them into your life. You deserve only the finest vibes, so bestie, find someone who cooks for you.

boundaries and didn’t possess a modicum of respect for women, neither for their words or their bodies. He called my culture “cold” and did not hesitate to start trying to coerce me into things I was not comfortable with by date two. He proceeded, upon his hearing that I no longer wanted to see him, to take this as a sign to show up at my residence unannounced and message me completely disconcerting things despite me saying I’d rather we cut contact. I’ve never blocked someone so quick. Never trust a man who mocks you for not eating meat. – Anon

Online dating terrifies a lot of people, and in my opinion, not everyone gets the love story that they wish that they could get. As my friend likes to say, “straight tinder” is the most terrifying place in existence. However, online dating experiences vary for different people, it doesn’t always have to be as bad as another, and not everyone’s experience can be used as a model for online dating. As long as you are looking out for your safety, and monitoring whether the influx of likes that you get are not from creeps, catfishes, or even sextraffickers, you may find some good out of it.

The beginning of my Erasmus stay was marked

by Tinder experiences that were good, bad, and ugly. Starting with the latter two compiled into one horrendous mix, my first date upon my arrival was with someone who I may say, was very lovely to begin with, but showed their true colours pretty quickly. We got on in terms of interests, as the messages we had exchanged had indicated, and so the first date passed nicely enough. After *staying the night*, it became clear that this man had no regard for

On the flip side, I know for a fact that I will be staying out of online dating sites for a really long time, and go on dates with people that I like as friends. Who knows, maybe I am already doing that.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone, it may feel like a time of loneliness if you are not spending it with a significant other, or may be a time of romance if you are, but, remember, it’s a day that has also been commercialised a lot.

I hope you find solace in being with another person – even if they are a friend, today.

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FEATURES Love: A tentative post pandemic view

Issue 9 |MONDAY 14TH february 2022 | University Express

SARAH O’MAHONY Deputy Features Editor

In recent times work, family and romantic relationships were navigated differently.

New technology connected us all while a dark cloud of anxiety hung over our actions.

Do you feel you understand how this has truly affected us? Also, in light of this time of year, it is useful to examine how our basic human desire to be loved can help transition us back into a reopened society.

me a long time to recognise that my mental health had taken a major hit at the beginning of 2021. The stress of widening the small circle of close relationships we maintained over lockdowns can make us feel disorientated. Never mind processing the feelings of loneliness you may have felt.

However, our connections can sometimes help us to understand ourselves more

A recent widely circulated article by District Magazine discusses in detail Irish mental health services and the multi-faceted issues that impede the sector. For me, the standout line is that Ireland now has the ‘third highest rate of mental illness in Europe’.

Conversations regarding mental health in Ireland are now weighed down by the years of stagnation of services and the repetitive nature of such conversations. Unfortunately, it is clear that the pandemic has exacerbated existing issues. A report from the HSE cites that 20 percent of the population has significantly increased psychological distress on account of the pandemic and the associated restrictions.

As a country we may be sick of talking about reforming the sector, nevertheless there has never been a more appropriate time for change. However, while waiting for structural change, self-soothing techniques as well as reaching out to family, friends and partners is needed to plug the gap. Feeling loved whether it be platonically or romantically can motivate us to address our needs in relation to our mental health. The damage that has been done will only truly come to light the further away we move from the pandemic. Reaching out to those we trust can help speed this up.

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ideas.

Along with reaching out to others to help adjust to the reopening of society, youth mental health organisation Jigsaw recommends regularly asking yourself whether or not your thoughts are constructive or contributing to worry. They also recommend relaxation, mindfulness and grounding techniques to stay in touch with yourself.

The rhetoric out there is that young people have lost out on time to build relationships, both platonic and romantic, and collect experiences. Now is the time to catch up. This rush brings new contentions to light. Many see college as offering the most opportunities you’ll ever have to find a romantic partner.

Especially with the return to in person learning, there is almost an anxious feeling in the air as people search for their college sweetheart while graduation looms over their heads. The annual arrival of new confession pages has also brought a heavier wave of thirst submissions this year. The college is happy to be back on campus and even happier at the thought of finding their new library boyfriend or girlfriend. In my view this is what will deliver us from the emotional withdrawal of the pandemic. A bit of thirst and enthusiasm!

Of course, it is important to keep Jigsaw’s advice in mind with this. Stay in touch with your emotional needs and what makes you feel appreciated. Online learning has taken fundamental coming of age experiences from students and they are now catching up.

Nonetheless, it’s a good idea to take a step back every once and a while and sit with your emotions. Forget about wondering if they like you, do you like them? Do you feel comfortable around them? What type of romantic connection do you want?

Along with the very obvious surge in mental health problems during the pandemic, ‘touch hunger’ or ‘touch starvation’ also compounded the issue. This of course sounds like something a drunk person would yell out as justification for their unwanted advances towards you.

Ignoring the sexual connotations associated with the phrase, it does have standing in the psychology community. Research can be traced back to a 1973 publication in The American Journal of Nursing. The main evidence is biological; physical contact promotes the release of ‘happy’ hormones.

Serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins all have a role to play in our wellbeing e.g. the reduction of the stress hormone cortisol. The lack of intimacy during the last two years undoubtedly cast harm on our lives. Coming out of the isolation of this period, it is likely that some of us are only now realising exactly how our emotions were affected. Personally, it took

The need to feel loved is central to the human experience. It is on the third level of Maslow’s hierarchy, that pesky triangle diagram you just can’t seem to shake ever since CSPE in Junior Cert. What makes us feel loved is as unique as ourselves. Some feel cared for when the other person notices small things about you that you thought went unnoticed. Some when their feelings are validated and they are comforted.

Although there are five love languages, there is a whole spectrum of what truly makes us feel loved. It is not as black and white as it may seem. In my opinion, acknowledging this individuality is key to romance and relationships in general post COVID. Don’t jump at the first opportunity of a partner or friend, stake it out a little. You deserve it.

Image Credits: Annie Spratt (Unsplash)

FEATURES Sex and the City in 2022

Issue 9| MONDAY 14TH February 2022 | University Express

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MAEVE O’KEEFFE Features Editor

And Just Like That, the highly anticipated reboot of HBO’s Sex and the City has recently concluded. The series had a lukewarm reception, with many fans of the original show disappointed that Kim Cattrall’s hilariously salacious character Samantha did not return for the spin off. The hype around And Just Like That prompted many to return to Sex and the City, which first aired in 1998, out of nostalgia. However, Sex and the City’s recently revitalised popularity is not just about Gen X reminiscence, with many younger fans discovering the show for the first time. As a twentyyear-old, I was compelled to see what the fuss was about, and soon found myself immersed in the lives of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha as they made their way through heartbreaks, humiliations, and humorous encounters in the metropolis of Manhattan in the 1990s and 2000s.

It would be tragically unoriginal for me to lambaste the dated attitudes towards sexuality on Sex and the City, yet several moments left me astonished as a viewer in 2022. There are a number of episodes that simply would not make it past the writer’s room in this day in age. The characters frequently display homophobic and transphobic attitudes, and the show also features clumsy storylines about race and class that can make the viewer feel quite uncomfortable. There is an abundance of internalised misogyny and slut-shaming for a programme about sex, and the horrendous fat-shaming that some of the characters endure at various points in the series is shocking.

In a sense, it was reassuring to see the progress we have made when it comes to what is acceptable on television and in society more generally. For every time I cringed at Carrie’s comments about “not being sure bisexuality even exists,” or every time the characters leaned into dated and limiting stereotypes, the outlandishness of it all by today’s standards was reflective of how such problematic attitudes are no longer tolerated in our media. I am thankful that in 2022, plotlines in popular television shows would not revolve around problematic tropes about people of colour, members of the LGBT+ community, and women, in the way that Sex and the City so frequently did. And though the progress we have made as a society is in many ways encouraging, I was also intrigued by various ways in which our society’s understanding of sexuality has changed, and not always necessarily for the better.

For instance, in one episode of season 3, Charlotte is left horrified when she begins a relationship with a man who calls her a “fucking bitch,” and a “whore” in bed. As Dolly Alderton and Caroline O’Donoghue contemplated on their popular podcast series Sentimental in the City, would a younger generation of women be so surprised, let alone bothered by these names, given the proliferation of “more hardcore kinks” adopted from more broadly consumed pornography today? And without wishing to disrespect individual preferences, one has to wonder how this language has become more standard and accepted while other forms of derogatory name-calling on the show have been rightfully reproved in the years since.

In another episode, Carrie is amazed to learn of what a Brazilian wax is. She is appalled by how she is left “like one of those hairless dogs,” after a bikini wax, and Samantha, her sexually savvy companion has to inform her of what a Brazilian wax is. It’s strange to think about

how evolved our vocabulary for grooming pubic hair has become in the 22 years since that episode aired. Perhaps the increasingly common understanding of the differences between a Brazilian and Hollywood wax could be dismissed, but one might be inclined to question how removal of body hair has become an increasingly normalised component of our beauty standards in recent years. Why is it that men are not expected to shave their legs or armpits, when from early adolescence it is a beauty standard imposed on young girls?

Of course, the practice of removing body hair predates Sex and the City by decades, and the show was never revolutionary enough to show Carrie or the girls with tufts of armpit hair or fuzzy legs. That said, it’s interesting to juxtapose how much more normalised the full removal of pubic hair has become since Sex and the City was first broadcast. After all, there is no reason why women should shave aside from arbitrary socially informed norms. It is not unsurprising that our society still has standards of beauty that both women and men feel pressure to conform to. In an era in which we are exposed to more and more visual media, from online dating to Instagram, it feels as though standards of attractiveness are somewhat inescapable. But of all the beauty standards to have become more commonplace since Sex and the City was on air, the normalisation of removing every inch of pubic hair is baffling.

There is an evolutionary logic that underpins some beauty standards for men and women. Certain attributes, for instance muscularity in men, can be seen as an indicator of heritable fitness and protection, so it makes some sense that this would be perceived as attractive to potential mates. However, the removal of pubic hair is somewhat less logical. Why is it that women are expected to alter their bodies to look pre-pubescent? Yes, some women say they find it prevents discomfort during sex, or that they feel it looks neater to have shaved their pubic hair. Many women are empowered by shaving their hair, but the idea of sexual attraction to a body as hairless as a child’s is incomprehensible to others, particularly when one considers how recent a phenomenon the removal of female body hair is. Removal of body hair is a choice, and one that I know not all women choose. That said, anecdotally, many young women report an expectation from sexual partners, or even beachgoers, that their nether regions be totally hairless, whereas Carrie couldn’t comprehend why anyone would voluntarily get a Brazilian wax in 2000.

The show, for all its many flaws, is deliciously entertaining. It is consistently humorous, with some of the best styling in television, and some great acting performances. For a light-hearted programme, Sex and the City has moments of profound poignance, as the female protagonists navigate heartbreak and setbacks, supported by their intimate friendships with each other. The show’s portrayal of female friendship is beautiful, with the comforting reassurance that no matter how messy the breakup, the women always rally round to support each other. Ill-informed and problematic as it was, comparing Sex and the City to the societal norms and standards we hold today can go both ways, and it would be close-minded to assume that all of our society’s changes since 1998 have represented burgeoning equality, when the reality might not always reflect that.

Image Credits: Indy de Bruijn (Unsplash)

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OPINION

Issue 9 |MONDAY 14TH february 2022 | University Express

A World Betrayed: The Burden of Younger Generations in Ireland CALLAN QUINN Student Contributor In Jean Paul Sartre’s novel Nausea, there is a pivotal scene where the novel’s protagonist, Antoine, is on a bus. In typical French fashion, he begins to focus on the innocuous empty seat beside him and is immediately sent into an existential crisis, causing him to question the nature of reality and his very sense of self. I recently underwent something similar in a supermarket. I was in the drinks section holding a bottle of French wine, which tends to induce an altogether different type of nausea, when my wandering eye drifted over to a promotional sign atop a mountain of crates. Like the Eye of Sauron, baleful and orange, the sign was advertising an eyewatering price of almost fifty euros. I was genuinely aghast, and I am not even a beer drinker. The very notion that you could charge that amount of money for beer seemed to me beyond extortionate, and beyond that. The effect was disorientating in the extreme, and I too began to question the very nature of my own reality, the reality of a being a ‘younger’ person in Ireland.

I use the word younger loosely, as who indeed could cling to the innocence of youth in the face of the thankless task that is being a young person in Ireland. Minimum Unit Pricing is just another in a long series of broadsides into an already sinking ship, a capstone on a truly grotesque monument dedicated to the ruination of prospects for an entire generation. My issue is not even with the logic behind the idea, although the results of such measures would seem to be mixed where it has been implemented. My rancour is with the casualness with which policymakers and indeed the wider public accept that once again younger people are to be collateral damage in another great leap forward towards an ever more perfect state.

And perhaps, the fact that we as young people seem to accept this conclusion ourselves with resignation. Sacrifice is only noble however, when the cause itself is noble, otherwise it is simply folly.

This prevalent and systemic campaign against the very existence of young people and their livelihood has been long in the making, and deep in its roots. It stretches back to the carnage the followed the 2008 crash, the legacy of which continues today to cast long shadows on daily life in Ireland. Through systemic mismanagement and a wider societal apathy, we have arrived at a not dissimilar juncture albeit by a different road. An international pandemic has not necessarily exasperated this problem in my opinion, but only forced

us to confront it. We have a political system currently controlled by a cohort utterly detached from the reality on the ground, possessed by fear and hesitancy that has distanced it from their electorate, their ideals and even their own parties. We have an ineffectual opposition which although popular, I fear has nothing more to offer than naked populism, which apparently sweet at first leaves an empty and bitter aftertaste. Further left is an ever-splintering cadre of factions, splitting themselves in binary fission in the grand old socialist tradition. On the right lies only madness, a tribalism entirely derived from the lunacy that one laughs at abroad. But above all there is no concentrated voice or representation for the young person. The average age in the Dail is 48.5; only a quarter are women. A wasteland indeed.

But bad politicians are tolerable if times are good, but these are not good times in any respect. Much has been written about the housing crisis, but it is telling that so little real attention is given to young people save at the beginning of a new semester. The choice is stark; either stay at home and lead a shadow of the life you should or try and find an overpriced room pitted against an ever more desperate pool of other searchers. In the casino that is the housing market, the deck is stacked against the young person; students can’t claim HAP, landlords gouge and the RTB are an unknown entity.

The result is always the same; the house always wins even if you don’t get the house. The pandemic has shown an uncomfortable reality in modern Ireland; young people are expendable. We are a necessary evil and nothing more. Someone must staff shops and hospitals in order to prevent a societal implosion, but the narrative will always fold back to we are the cause of the spreading virus.

How dare we, who have received every vaccine and adhered to every restriction, try and live. To curtail our lives in every respect, to sacrifice the major milestones of our youth is not enough for the nation it would seem. We must cease to be human in any meaningful capacity and become scaffolding to support an indifferent society.

Not just in housing, but in higher education too one sees the traces of a growing detachment and indifference between universities and the students in their charge. To the credit of certain departments and organisations, student welfare is a priority to some, but the overarching institution seems to be consumed entirely by the need to make profits. The cost barrier of third level education grows wider with every passing year, and as Covid highlighted the service provided for this high cost can differ wildly; 1500 euro for a semester’s worth

Image Credits: Lauren McConachie (Unsplash)

Issue 9| MONDAY 14TH February 2022 | University Express

of glorified PowerPoints scarcely feels like a sensible or worthy investment, particularly when compounded with the weight of accommodation and the cost of living. The monolithic and faceless bureaucracy that surrounds universities has widened this distance further and has created the impression of a corporation rather than a place of learning. And although life is returning to the campuses at long last, hopefully not to be removed again, questions around the delivery and funding of higher need to be looked at with the student in mind.

Although pessimism is the bulwark against which I shelter from the thrashing waves of a grim reality, it is not entirely called for. I sense a growing awareness of the egregious wrongness which prevails in our current society, and more importantly a sincere desire to rectify it. This call to action transcends political or ideological alignment, or for that matter class or sex; the goal after all is not create a utopia, but simply to obtain what is equitable. Nor are the demands of young people extravagant or unfeasible, making the struggle all the more frustrating.

Our perception of the status quo is warped further by the emergency we have lived in for the last two years, but like I have mentioned earlier these problems existed before the pandemic and have only now been brought into focus. However, seeing protests like the ‘F*ck the Fees’ tells me that the will is there for change, and that the will is

OPINION

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strong. And where the will exists, the way will surely open before it.

So, as I sip French wine in my mouldy bedsit, I ask the question softly to myself ‘Who indeed would be a young person in Ireland?’.

Masochists. Heroes. The damned and the dazzling. A generation more resilient, more educated more talented than any who have come before it, because after all it is only under pressure that diamonds are made.

And despite its hostility and indifference, Ireland can take credit for creating this new generation of thinkers and doers. But ironically it will reap any of its crops. Like so many before them, forced into exile they will scatter around the world, improving the nations they land in immeasurably in the fields of science and business, art and culture.

Settling somewhere where they can go to a bar and have a cheap drink unfettered, and then return to their reasonably priced apartment to sleep soundly and banish the memory of an altogether more unfriendly island. This has already been set into motion, it is merely a question of how quickly the nation will act to try and reverse it, if it all. As we enter out of the pandemic era, much remains to be seen.

And as the plane lifts off into the sky and we look out wistfully at a home we thought would shelter us we will ask ourselves ‘Was it betrayal that led us here, or merely apathy?’. Between the two lies an ocean of debate, but ultimately, the result is the same.

Image Credits [Working clockwise from top left]: Dimitry Anikin, Andrew Ridley, K Mitch Hodge, Mark de Jong (Unsplash)

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BYLINE VOLUME 7 ISSUE 9

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EDITORIAL

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Issue NINE Hello! Welcome to another wonderful edition of Byline, this time with romance!

That may have been the bubbliest sentence I have ever written in my life. I think if you read only these editorials you’d think I was a very upbeat person when in reality I am a bit of a cynic. But nobody wants bad vibes in the entertainment section of a student newspaper so I will keep using exclamation points indiscriminately.

It’s Valentine’s season and you know what that means, consumerism, marketing but most importantly love! Whether you have a significant other, several significant others or you’re engaging in self-love this week, remember to enjoy yourself and not to take the event too seriously.

For our cover this week, I’m once again using one of Bantry artist Danny Vincent Smith’s works.

This time it’s wine because there is no more romantic alcohol than a nice bottle of red wine. You can check out more of Danny’s work and potentially make a purchase at dannyvincentsmith.com.

Without further ado, it’s time to get in the Valentine’s spirit! You can read my piece about love stories in gaming, Emily’s article about why people experience low libido (it’s nothing to be ashamed about!) or perhaps Claire’s deep-dive into the Love-Core aesthetic and so much more to get you in that romantic mood.

Jack Coleman Byline Editor

byline@uccexpress.ie

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Gaeilge

18 Ceardlann Fostaíochta na Cuallachta CAITRÍONA O’CONNELL Eagarthóir Gaeilge

D’aon mhac léinn ollscoile, ceist a bhíonn á cur go minic ná “cad atá le teacht i ndiaidh na céime?” Más rud é go bhfuil inspioráid uait i dtaobh an réimse postanna atá ar fáil do Ghaeilgeoirí, seo cad a dúirt na haoichainteoirí ag ceardlann fostaíochta de chuid na Cuallachta le déanaí. Comhghairdeas le hAntóin Ó Trinlúin is leis an gCuallacht as an ócáid iontach a reáchtáil. Léigh leat!

Liadh Ní Riada Thosnaigh Liadh amach mar Oifigeach Gaeilge do Shinn Féin agus de réir a chéile bhí sí mar Fheisire do Pharlaimint na hEorpa (FPE) le haghaidh Shinn Fein ó 2014 go dtí 2019. Agus í ann, bhí sí páirteach i roinnt coistí éagsúla agus chuir sí an Ghaoluinn chun cinn agus í ann, go háirithe lena stailc teanga cháiliúil nuair nár labhair sí ach Gaeilge chun stádas oifigiúil na Gaoluinne ag an am a chur chun cinn. Mar a deir sí, chuir sí an Ghaoluinn chun cinn i ngach slí is go raibh sí in ann agus í i bParlaimint na hEorpa. Chabhraigh a foireann léi é seo a bhaint amach agus Gaeilgeoirí a bhí san fhoireann go léir. Mar sin, bhíodar in ann an Ghaoluinn a labhairt go laethúil agus an stádas ann a fheabhsú. Ó Iúil 2020, bhí Liadh mar Phleanalaí Teanga do Ghaeltacht Mhúscraí go dtí le gairid.

Labhair sí go fuinniúil faoi mhuintir na Gaeltachta a spreagadh chun líon na gcainteoirí dúchais a ardú agus mar gheall ar an ról atá ag plean teanga sna Gaeltachtaí. Mar phleanálaí teanga, d’eagraigh sí imeachtaí le muintir na háite ach d’fhógair sí chomh maith an easpa deiseanna a bhí ann mar phleanálaí teanga féachaint chun cinn go fadtéarmach. Tá post nua faighte aici le déanaí mar Stiúrthóir ar Ionad Cultúrtha an Dochtúra Ó Loingsigh i mBaile Mhuirne.

Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh File nótáilte is ea Ailbhe, ach deir sí gur thosnaigh sí ag scríobh i gceart nuair a d’fhreastail sí ar cheardlann scríbhneoireachta le Pádraig Ó Snodaigh nuair a bhí sí ní ba óige agus chabhraigh sé léi a leabhar filíochta Péacadh a chur le chéile. Chuir sí béim ar cé chomh cabhrach is atá sé aithne a bheith agat ar dhaoine eile i bpobal na Gaoluinne ionas gur féidir tacaíocht agus cabhair a thabhairt dá chéile. Léirigh sí go bhfuil an-chuid taitnimh le baint as an bhfilíocht ach nár cheart a bheith ag smaoineamh go mbeidh tú in ann do bheatha a shaothrú aisti! Léirigh sí na buntáistí atá le baint as Máistreacht sa Nua-Ghaeilge i gColáiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh, chomh maith, agus í mar léachtóir i Roinn na Nua-Ghaeilge. Léirigh sí gurb iad na bunmhodúil An Scríbhneoireacht Acadúil, Scileanna Taighde agus Cumarsáide agus an Miontráchtas. Is iad An Fhiannaíocht, Beirt Bhanfhile, An tAistriúchán, Traidisiún na hAmhranaíochta, Filíocht Mhúscraí ón 18ú Céad anuas agus An Scríbhneoireacht Chruthaitheach na modúil roghnacha atá ar fáil. Má tá níos mó eolais ag teastáil uait faoin scéim mháistreachta sin, téigh chuig an nasc seo: https://www.ucc.ie/en/modernirish/postgraduate/ma-taught/

Jen Chadwick Is taidhleoir í Jen atá ag obair i Roinn na nGnóthaí Eachtracha faoi láthair; sa státseirbhís. Dhein sí staidéar ar an nDlí agus Gnó i gColáiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh agus bhí sí ag staidéar lena bheith ina dlíodóir le linn 2020 agus strus nach beag uirthi. Chonaic sí an fógra don phost ar Instagram agus chuir sí isteach air is gan smaoineamh go bhfaigheadh sí é, ach tar éis 5 bhabhta agus + go leor agallamh, fuair sí an post i Márta 2021. Bíonn sí ag plé le cúrsaí idirnáisiúnta, ag iarraidh cinntiú go bhfuil polasaithe á gcur i bhfeidhm sa slí go mba chóir agus ag tabhairt cúnaimh is ag iarraidh cabhrú le daoine sa mhéid is gur féidir léi. Ta sí páirteach in Acht na Gaeilge i dTuaisceart Éireann, chomh maith. Is breá léi an post toisc nach mar a chéile aon dá lá agus is post fíorshásúil é. Deireann sí gur buntáiste mór í a bheith in ann Gaoluinn a labhairt ina post féinig agus sa státseirbhís go hiomlán agus go mbeadh sí fíor-úsáideach d’éinne a bheadh ag iarraidh post a fháil san earnáil sin.

gaeilge

19 Síomha Ní Ruairc

D’fhreastail Síomha ar Ollscoil Má Nuad, áit ar bhain sí amach céim sa Ghaeilge agus sa Cheol.

D’éirigh léi post a fháil le Conradh na Gaeilge díreach tar éis di an ollscoil a fhágaint. Tá sí ag obair leis an gConradh le 5 bliana anois agus rólanna mar Eagarthóir Sheachtain na Gaeilge, Bhliain na Gaeilge, Chlár Teicspace agus anois mar Chomhordaitheoir na nÓg aici thar na blianta. Sa ról is déanaí aici, bíonn sí ag plé le Seó Bóthair Chonradh na Gaeilge, an Comhordaitheoir Tríú Leibhéil agus ag eagrú an Chomórtais ‘Dúshlán’ atá díreach seolta don bhliain seo. Bíonn Síomha mar láithreoir ar TG4 chomh maith, post a deir sí nach bhfuair sí ach trí sheans trí chasadh le daoine i bpobal na Gaeilge. Ina theannta sin, tá Síomha mar léiritheoir ar BLOC TG4, a dheineann ábhair dos na meáin shóisialta mar chomhfhiontar idir Conradh na Gaeilge agus TG4. Bíonn BLOC ag cur ábhair ar fáil don aoisghrúpa idir 16-30 agus deir Síomha go dtaitníonn an taobh cruthaitheach den bpost léi mar bhíonn uirthi cruthaitheoirí a aimsiú, ábhair a chur i láthair agus an eagarthóireacht a dhéanamh air ionas go mbíonn ábhar snasta mealtach curtha ar fáil do Ghaeilgeoirí. Is breá le Síomha an cairdeas agus craic gur féidir a fháil i bpobal na Gaoluinne agus molann sí go mór a bheith páirteach; pé slí gur féidir.

Eoin Ó Catháin D’fhreastail Eoin ar an nGaeltacht go rialta agus é ag fás aníos i gContae an Chláir agus ansin d’fhreastail sé ar Choláiste na hOllscoile Gaillimh chun staidéar a dhéanamh ar an nGaoluinn agus ar an bhFraincís.

Molann sé go mór a bheith i do cheannaire i gColáistí Samhraidh sna Gaeltachtaí agus tú i do mhac léinn toisc go gcabhraíonn sé i dtaobh líofachta agus féinmhuiníne maidir leis an nGaoluinn a labhairt. Tar éis dó bliain a chaitheamh ag múineadh i Má Nuad, chuaigh Eoin go Ottowa i gCeanada leis an scéim ICUF. Tháinig sé thar nais go hÉirinn agus thug sé faoi mháistreacht sa pholaitíocht agus ansin amach leis chuig an mBruiséil agus an tAontas Eorpach. Leis an mBreatimeacht i 2016, bhí go leor tuairiscí ag teastáil agus mar a deireann Eoin féinig, bhí sé san áit cheart ag an am ceart agus thosnaigh sé ag déanamh tuairiscí do Raidió na Gaeltachta. Bhíodh trí nó ceithre thuairisc ag teastáil gach seachtain ann agus tar éis dó chúig bliana a chaitheamh sa Bhruiséil, tháinig Eoin abhaile go hÉirinn i 2021. Anois tá sé mar eagarthóir polaitíochta do Raidió na Gaeltachta i mBaile Átha Cliath. Molann sé d’éinne le Gaoluinn súil a chaitheamh ar phostanna aistritheoireachta, ateangaireachta agus go leor eile sa Bhruiséil, chun taithí agus seans taistil a fháil leis an nGaoluinn.

Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh Rugadh Muireann ar Inis Oírr agus de bharr post a hathar, bhí ar an dteaghlach bogadh go hOileán Chléire agus ansin do shocraíodar i gCorca Dhuibhne. Labhraíonn Muireann go ceanúil faoina hóige sa Ghaeltacht agus gabhann sí buíochas go raibh an Ghaoluinn agus ceol i gcónaí mórthimpeall uirthi agus í ag fas aníos. Chuaigh sí ar scoil i nDún Chaoin agus sa Daingean agus ansin d’fhreastail sí ar choláiste ealaíne i mBaile Átha Cliath, áit ar dhein sí cúrsa sa mhínealaín.

Chuir sí aithne ar go leor ceoltóirí éagsúla agus í ann agus thosnaigh sí ag seinnt ceoil ar fud na cathrach. I ndiaidh di an chéim a chríochnú chuaigh sí go Luimneach chun máistreacht sa cheol traidisiúnta a dhéanamh. Tar éis di an mháistreacht a chríochnú, chuaigh sí ar an mbóthar leis an mbanna ceoil Danú agus chaith sí trí bliana déag ag taisteal agus ag seinnt i gceolchoirmeacha agus ag taifeadadh ceoil leo. Nuair a tháinig a cuid leanaí ar an saol, bhog Muireann abhaile go Corca Dhuibhne agus tá sí ag tógáil a clainne trí Ghaoluinn. Bíonn sí ag cur cláracha ceoil i láthair ar TG4, le Port agus Gradam Ceoil TG4 ina measc. Is láithreoir raidió í ar Raidió na Gaeltachta chomh maith, ar na cláracha Malairt Poirt le Muireann agus An Braon Gaelach. Tá an-chuid dóchais aici i dtaobh thodhchaí na Gaoluinne agus molann sí a bheith bainteach le han-chuid rudaí trí Ghaoluinn; an líon is mó agus gur féidir agus a bheith páirteach agus mar chuid de phobal na Gaoluinne.

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Valentine’s Special: The Greatest Love Stories in Gaming JACK COLEMAN Byline Editor

Back when I was on Motley last year, I wrote an article titled “Joker & EDI: The Greatest Love Story in Gaming?”. The article focused on the slowburn romance between Mass Effect characters Jeff “Joker” Moreau and his ship’s onboard artificial intelligence EDI. Since this is our Valentine’s Day issue, I thought it appropriate to revisit this idea but this time to expand my scope to gaming at large rather than just Mass Effect. Strap in, you’re about to hear some tearjerkers. Needless to say, there are spoilers ahead.

Final Fantasy X Tidus & Yuna Final Fantasy X is an incredibly organic love story. We all know about shoehorned romance, where two characters seem like they can’t stand each other for the entirety of the plot but suddenly declare their love for each other near the conclusion. Final Fantasy X is not like that.

Tidus is a champion Blitzball player who is attacked by the creature Sin, the game’s primary antagonist, during one of his matches. After he escapes this event, he encounters the summoner Yuna who is preparing to defeat Sin. And the rest, as they say, is history.

At the conclusion of Final Fantasy X, the adventuring party save the world from Sin. But through the usual complex mechanisms of Final Fantasy lore, Tidus was actually an inhabitant of Dream Zanarkand, a reconstruction of a destroyed city created from the memories of its former inhabitants by trapped souls called Fayth.

Once Sin was defeated, the Fayth were released from their obligations and stopped dreaming of Dream Zanarkand.

Consequently, Tidus disappears and Yuna is left without her beloved.

In Final Fantasy X-2 (X was the first instalment to get a direct sequel), the player plays as Yuna who is still searching for her lost lover. At the conclusion of the journey and depending on player choices, Yuna may ask the Fayth to revive Tidus. If this path is followed, Tidus will wash up once again on the beach where he will be greeted by Yuna. Yuna worries that if Tidus is just a dream, then he may disappear again, but Tidus says they should just cherish the time they have together which I believe is a good mindset to have.

Throughout the game, we see Tidus and Yuna falling progressively deeper in love with each other. That’s the beauty of this love story, we can see the whole thing unfold right from the beginning. Final Fantasy X is often mocked for its cheesy cutscenes but one can’t deny the chemistry between the two characters and watching some of Certainly, other Final Fantasy instalments depict romance, but none are those cutscenes back for this article, I found myself smiling fondly. quite as central to the plot as the relationship between Yuna and Tidus.

Dragon Age - Female Warden & Leliana The Dragon Age series is a sprawling tale with innumerable decisions that affect the overall world state from game to game.

Since the player plays as three different highly customisable characters throughout the three games of the series, there are seventeen different characters to romance depending on gender, sexuality and race. Every player has their favourite romance storyline, many people are partial to the possible romance between a male Warden (‘Warden’ is the name people use to refer to the protagonist from Dragon Age: Origins) and Morrigan, the Witch of the Wilds because it has implications for the game’s downloadable content and Morrigan plays a prominent role in the series’ story after

Origins. An underrated love story, however, is the one that can occur between a Female Warden and Leliana, an Orlesian Bard.

Leliana is a Bard from Orlais (the Dragon Age equivalent of France) whom the player meets at a Chantry (church) as they are fleeing the Darkspawn hordes descending on Ferelden (England).

Leliana is a curiosity, she is posing as a simple Lay Sister of the Chantry but it’s clear she has knowledge and ability beyond her station. The Warden accepts her in the party upon her request and as the pair travel together, Leliana’s past comes to light.

Leliana was taught the ways of the bard by Marjolaine, a crafty widow whom Leliana eventually fell in love with as the pair travelled across the world. However, things went sour when Marjolaine set Leliana up to be captured, fearing that her student had become too powerful and would soon betray her. She escapes and flees to Ferelden where she sees a vision from the Maker and

21 and dedicates herself to the faith. This is when the Warden meets her.

Leliana is flirtatious but she doesn’t engage in flings, she will only engage with the warden physically once the pair are in love. In order to achieve this, the Warden needs to be supportive of her and help her settle her old beef with Marjolaine. After the pair get together, they remain loyal to one another for the rest of their adventures through Origins. If the Warden survives the events of Origins, they will disappear without a trace. However, it is implied in later games that the Warden remains in contact with Leliana throughout their travels, always letting her love know that she’s safe.

When Leliana meets the Inquisitor (protagonist) in Dragon Age: Inquisition after romancing the Warden, she refers to the Warden fondly, saying she is “always in her thoughts” and she refers to her as “my love”. After the Inquisition saves the World, Leliana plans to join the Warden on her adventures so they can be together for good. After the events of Inquisition, if Leliana ascends to become the new Divine (essentially the Pope) then she will maintain her relationship with the Warden despite public scandal. “Love finds a way” as Leliana now known as Divine Victoria says. If she does not become Divine, she plans to finish her affairs at the Inquisition before she joins the Warden for good.

What I enjoy about Leliana’s romance with the Warden is how genuine and wholesome it is, the pair support each other unconditionally and neither is using the other. Dragon Age has plenty of great love stories but I thought this one was worthy of highlighting.

byline focus Halo - Master Chief & Cortana

Okay yes, I’m including another romance between a human and artificial intelligence. It’s 2022 people! Get with the times. The love between Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 and his artificial intelligence companion Cortana is one of the most understated yet powerful romances in fiction. The Master Chief is a very closedoff individual, not expressing much emotion as per his Spartan training. The irony of the relationship between Chief and Cortana is that Cortana is the one who seems to express much more emotion than Master Chief despite her being an AI. You can feel the concern in Cortana’s voice when Master Chief sets out on an impossible mission. She adores John and it’s very clear that these feelings are reciprocated when Chief is forced to leave Cortana behind after the Battle of High Charity, promising that he will come back and save her. You can hear the heartbreak in his voice.

Cortana showed complete devotion to Master Chief above and beyond what she was programmed for. It’s clear that the two had developed complete attachment. As Cortana faces her demise in Halo 4, she touches John’s face as a life-sized hologram, admitting that she’s always wanted to do it. Even as she transitions to become the antagonist of Halo 5: Guardians, Cortana never becomes angry at Chief despite them being on opposite sides. Though Cortana develops her own agenda which is in direct opposition to Master Chief’s, she never loses her affection for John and likewise even when Chief knows the most efficient route is to eliminate Cortana he still believes he can reason with her, an emotional weak spot in the armour of this super-soldier.

The romance between Chief and Cortana is subtle, it’s a relationship between an emotional artificial intelligence and an emotionless human. This contradictory connection is one of my favourites and as a player, I greatly appreciated the pair’s dynamic throughout the series.

Honourable Mentions Some couples I didn’t have space to expand on include: Geralt & Yennefer from The Witcher, Manny & Mercedes from Grim Fandango, Ellie & Riley from The Last of Us and Max & Chloe from Life is Strange. Usually, romantic subplots in movies tend to bore me, but for some reason, I engage with them a lot more in games. Perhaps because games allow writers to flesh out relationships so they are more organic rather than a movie where dynamics are often forced because of time constraints.

photography

quiet moments a series by méabh lonergan

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THE INK

THE LAST LIGHT

photography

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THE MONARCH

THE TORCH

THE SEARCH

THE PEACHES

FILM & TV

24 The Rise and Fall of the Rom-Com Genre CORMAC MCCARTHY Film & TV Editor

He wakes up from a night of sullen drinking.

It’s then that he realizes that it was her he loved all along. She completes him. He jumps out of bed and, glancing at his watch, realises that her plane is about to board in just ten minutes. He rushes out onto the street. He hails a taxi and tells the driver to step on it.

Meanwhile, she is boarding the plane and looks back full of melancholy hoping against hope that he might have come. He arrives at the airport and hastily checks which gate she is boarding at. Number 22. He rushes through security at which point he is tasered and taken to a facility for suspected terrorists and spends the next ten years of his life in a detention facility.

It’s not the best rom-com but the most realistic interpretation we have.

Throughout the history of cinema, romantic comedy has always pulled its weight in box office numbers. Classics like It Happened One Night (1934), The Philadelphia Story (1940) and His Girl Friday (1944) are frequently lauded as some of the greatest films of all time. Audiences flocked in their droves to see their favourite stars bashfully flirting in dialogue riddled with every double entendre imaginable.

The theme of flirtatious love is as universal to audiences as vengeance and greed.

Moving on through the years, directors such as Billy Wilder, Melvin Frank and Woody Allen brought their own eccentric charms to the genre with entries such Some like it Hot, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Apartment and Annie Hall.

These films set the foundation for the modern rom-com as we know it where the bumbling male lead thwarts every chance he gets with the prim female lead but, through his effortless charm, he wins both the girl and the audience.

It is in the period of the late 1980s to the early 2000s that romantic comedy was at its peak.

Here, the romantic comedy became an industry unto itself, similar to that of the Marvel film franchise, where it didn’t matter what the film was about because you’d be entertained either way.

This is the period in which Meg Ryan, Hugh Grant, Sandra Bullock, Reese Witherspoon, Colin Firth and Julia Roberts became household names.

It is here where conventions such as the contrived meeting, the disastrous wedding, the friends to partners pipeline and the “love/ hate” relationships all are stretched, squeezed

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It kicks off with films such as Sixteen Candles, Four Weddings and a Funeral and When Harry Met Sally. The latter of which, in my opinion, is not only the greatest romantic comedy of all time but quite possibly the best film of all time.

When Harry Met Sally is as near to the perfect rom-com as you can get. Nora Ephron’s question of whether or not men and women can be friends delightfully entertains with marvellous wit and heart. It takes its time to effortlessly charm the audience into believing the romance without ever being overly sanguine or patronising. If only Billy Crystal was as good-looking as Meg Ryan.

And from these films, the genre exploded.

The studios loved them as they could be made on the cheap while still drawing in millions upon millions of tickets. Here, directors such as Richard Curtis and Judd Apatow churned out classics such as Bridget Jones’ Diary, Notting Hill and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

And, like the Superhero genre, or the Western genre before it, the cinemas slowly but surely became overly saturated with romantic comedies. Audiences began to grow weary of the same, tired plots drawn out over and over again. Into the late 00s, the lack of originality became too much and the genre began to slowly peter off.

Every now and Eternal Sunshine Pilgrim vs. The but these films to be appealing

then a gem such as of the Spotless or Scott World would emerge were often too quirky to a mass audience.

While every now and then, in recent years, a stellar rom-com emerges, they are sporadic and often derivative of a far better film made previously. Romance still exists in films but it often takes a back seat to the main action or adventure plot. It often feels as though the filmmakers don’t care about it and throw it in as an afterthought.

But this Valentine’s Day, don’t be disheartened, because you can be guaranteed that there is a classic that you haven’t seen yet that you will surely love. Sit down in front of the television and just be enthralled.

FILM & TV

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A NEW START FOR PERCY JACKSON CORMAC MCCARTHY Film & TV Editor

In 2005, Rick Riordan, an American author released a novel based on the bedtime stories he would tell his son where he blended the modern world and the ancient Greek myths. With some changes, the series Percy Jackson and the Olympians was born, fast forward seventeen years and Riordan’s books have covered the Greco-Roman, Norse and Egyptian pantheons, with crossovers between series, companion books and an imprint where authors from different cultures could uplift their mythologies and stories through an urban fantasy setting. To add to this not-insignificant list of achievements, on January 25th the Disney+ Twitter account released a short video where Riordan (affectionately dubbed “Uncle Rick” by his fans) announced that a TV adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians had been greenlit by the streaming service.

script-worth of notes on things they got wrong. The movies had Logan Lerman playing the role of Percy, Alexandra Daddario playing Annabeth and Brandon T. Jackson playing Grover.

Where in the first book, Percy is 12, the movies aged him up to 16. It is not unusual to age-up book characters for movie adaptations, but this was the first in a long line of inaccuracies and downright disrespect towards the original novels. The second movie ended with a cliff-hanger ending, introducing a major character in the series hopefully leaving the door open for a third instalment, this did not happen as the movie adaptations were universally hated. The first book was also adapted into a musical, which by comparison was significantly more faithful to its source material and loved by fans!

News of the Disney+ series being given the “Green Light” comes after almost a year of negotiations and discussions with Disney, and the deal we got seems pretty good as even Rick described Disney as “smart folks” so maybe they’ll be more inclined to take his advice with the series! As for details of the show itself, we still have not received any news on decisions regarding casting, shooting locations or directing but we do know that the pilot will be written by Rick Riordan himself and directed by James Bobin (Muppets (2011), The Mysterious Benedict Society (2021)). Bobin’s work speaks for itself, and the fact that his daughters are fans of the book series gives me high hopes he will create something incredible!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a pentalogy of fantasy novels comprised of “The Lightning Thief”, “The Sea of Monsters”, “The Titan’s Curse”, “The Battle of the Labyrinth” and “The Last Olympian”. The series focuses on the titular Percy Jackson, his friends Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood and the demigod, hybrid children of mortals and the Greek gods, as they try to prevent the rebirth and takeover of the ancient Titan king, Kronos. Their adventures take them across many parts of the real and mythological worlds including New York, the Underworld and Mount Olympus itself! The series was incredibly popular, and it introduced many children across the world to the classics and mythology through the accessible lens of fiction With the greenlight confirmation we are promised at least one and easy to read language (granted, they are children’s books) season of the show, presumably, each season will handle a book that are as entertaining now as when I read them at age twelve. of the pentalogy. We have also been told that the series will have age-appropriate casting, so if the series succeeds it is likely that This will not be the first time the series has been adapted. In 2010 we will see the actors grow into their roles just like we got to do and 2013, movie adaptations of “The Lightning Thief” and “The with the Harry Potter movie series! Hopefully, the series will be Sea of Monsters” were released, directed by Chris Colombus a success and more of Riordan’s series will receive proper liveand Thor Freudenthal respectively. The movies were almost action adaptations, but for now, we rest happy in knowing heretically bad. In fact, when Rick Riordan was shown the that Percy Jackson and the Olympians has been script of the first movie, he sent back almost double the given a new start!

FOOD & HEALTH

26 Fermentation: The Hidden Microbial World Behind Some of Your Favourite Foods NATHAN CAREY Food and Health Editor

In recent years there has been a surge in the popularity of fermented foods such as sourdough breads, artisan beers, kefirs and kimchi.

There is no doubt you’ve walked past some new hip bakery selling nothing but sourdough treats and kombucha to wash them down.

For thousands of years, humans have used fermentation as a way of preserving foods like meats and dairy. While the process of fermentation has been around for a while, advancing technology and scientific evidence has helped create these delicious treats in an easier and more controlled manner. Fermented foods are defined as foods that have been created using controlled amounts of microbes that enzymatically change the structure and taste of the original food. There have long been murmurings of miracle effects from these microbial concoctions, and while first believed to be nothing more than fiction, the scientifically-backed evidence of the benefits of consuming fermented foods on the regular is growing.

Many of the health benefits associated with fermented foods are linked to the compounds present in them and how they interact with our bodies, specifically our gut microbiota. Almost 80% of the microbes present in our bodies hang out in our gut. This staggering fact is driving scientific research in the area of gut health and how it can impact our overall wellbeing. Fermented foods have been shown to contain metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, that can interact with certain gut hormones like ghrelin. Ghrelin has been coined by many as the ‘hunger hormone’, but in just the last 5 years research has shown that ghrelin may play a much larger role in our overall health. Ghrelin receptors located in our stomach can have their rate of secretion altered by short-chain fatty acids, hence decreasing the amount of ghrelin in circulation. Therefore drinking a glass of kombucha or munching on a slice of sourdough bread, both of which contain small amounts of short-chain fatty acids, may alter many of the processes in our bodies.

Besides this, fermented foods also contain a myriad of probiotics that have been proven to improve gut health. You may be asking yourself, how is our gut so important in so many regulatory systems in our bodies? This question can be answered by investigating the gut-brain axis. This axis is a bi-directional communication system between our gastrointestinal tract and our central nervous system - both the brain and gut can send complex signals and instructions to each other that influence our mood and behaviours. One way in which both your gut and brain can communicate with each other is through the vagus nerve. This nerve may sound familiar as it is the 10th in a series of 12 pairs of nerves known as the ‘cranial nerves’.

This nerve serves as the longest nerve in the autonomic nervous system, responsible for involuntary physiological processes such as our blood pressure and heart rate. When changes in the makeup of our gut microbiota start to occur, the vagus nerve communicates with our brain and alters neurotransmitter release. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers (usually amino acids) released from neurons that tell our brain networks how to function. In short, changes in our gut microbiome can change signalling pathways in our brains.

All this sounds great, right? While the rationale is all there, extensive studies on the actual changes caused by fermented foods have yet to be completed. Hopefully, over the next couple of years, more research can be completed to add credence to the health benefits of these funky foods. Aside from their host of effects, fermented foods also just taste great! While more complex processes like kombucha need to be explained in a much longer piece of writing, quick lacto-fermented vegetables and kimchi are a great way to start your fermented food journey at home.

These processes are fairly straightforward and yield amazing results.

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Kimchi This staple of Korean cuisine is probably top of the list when people talk about fermented foods. Traditionally it’s made from napa cabbage that has been mixed with chillies, garlic, ginger and spring onions. It’s a great side dish and can also be added to salads or broths for ramen and other noodle dishes.

This recipe uses gochujang which is a fermented Korean chilli paste. I’ve chosen this as it is relatively easy to find in your local Asian grocery store. While you’re there pick up a head of napa cabbage (sometimes called Chinese leaves).

Lacto-Fermented Pickles When people think about pickles, the long green cucumbers in a jar most often come to mind. However, most firm vegetables can also be pickled and taste amazing when they are. The process of lacto-fermentation makes use of the lactic acid bacteria that is already present in most vegetables. When oxygen is taken away and the vegetables are placed in an environment where the microbes can grow (lots of salt) the bacteria can convert the natural sugars in the vegetables into lactic acid. This is what gives fermented and pickled foods their sharp acidic bite. Lactic acid acts as a preservative and allows the pickles to stay safe for consumption for up to 3 months. To start you will need to create a brine solution of water and salt. The ratio can vary but I usually choose a 2% brine solution, in this case, 15 grams of salt for 750ml of water.

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Add chopped vegetables of choice to a glass vessel, mason jars are a great option. Keep the pieces a uniform size so they ferment at a similar rate.

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Pour over the brine solution until the vegetables are completely submerged. Leave a small bit of headroom for any carbonation that may occur.

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Fit a lid loosely onto the vessel and place in a bowl or on a plate to catch any spills. Leave the vegetables at room temperature for 24 hours after which you can lift the lid off and look for the tell-tale fermentation signs.

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There will be some small bubbles on the surface and the vegetables should smell slightly sour. If these signs are not present you can place the lid back on and allow them to sit at room temperature for a further 24 hours.

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Once you see the signs, the lid can be tightened and the vessel can be placed into the fridge to slowly continue its fermentation process for 2 weeks.

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The pickles are good for up to three months and are a great addition to any salad or as a topping on meat dishes.

Ingredients: 1 head of napa cabbage Salt 5 spring onions 1 carrot 2 garlic cloves Thumb sized piece of ginger 60ml fish sauce 100g gochujang •

Cut the cabbage down the middle to halve it, then down the middle again to quarter it. Slice the quarters into 1-inch pieces and place into a bowl. Sprinkle salt all over the cabbage (you will need more than you think here). Squeeze and toss the cabbage until the salt is incorporated. Allow to sit for 1 hour.

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Chop carrot and spring onions into bite-sized pieces.

Add garlic, ginger, fish sauce and gochujang into a food processor and blitz until combined.

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After one hour, thoroughly rinse cabbage and ring out any excess liquid. Add to a large bowl with the chopped vegetables and chili paste. Thoroughly mix all ingredients together until all the vegetables are completely coated.

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Add the mixture to a glass vessel like a mason jar and push it down using a muddler or spoon. It is important to make sure the kimchi is very packed into the jar to prevent oxygen getting trapped in the jar.

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Once pushed into the jar add a loose-fitting lid and place the jar somewhere safe for about one week. You can check in on day 2 and 4 to ensure that the cabbage is fermenting, look for the same signs as previously discussed.

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After one week the lid can be tightened and the jar can be placed into the fridge.

As always if you make any of the recipes featured in the Express, we would love to see them!

You can post a picture on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #ExpressCooks.

MUSIC

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Romance Für Elise FLORRIE MCCARTHY Music Editor For this Valentine’s Issue, I’m using a bit of a cop-out in deciding to take this themed piece to explore the Romantic Era of music, which is not entirely about romance and love.

I thought of trying to touch on all the music that has been written with the love of a person or thing as an inspiration, but that couldn’t be summarized with thirty volumes. There is undoubtedly much music from the Romantic period that is actually about love anyway, and some of it may make for entertaining reading, so it’s not entirely cheating.

When most people hear the words “classical music”, they immediately picture “old, fancy music”, played by a swathe of people with curly white hair on violins. While scenes like this could undoubtedly be found in many upper-class establishments around the world in the Classical period, that specific name only lends itself to a certain stretch of time, while the texture or sound of music that is associated with instruments and settings like this extends into other time periods as well. That is, the Classical period dates from the mid-1700s to around 1815-30. The Romantic period is known as everything from then up to about 1900, which I suppose might be the starting point for what we might call modern history(not a historian). The Romantic period in music is mostly called so as it developed as part of what is referred to generally as Romanticism in Europe. This is described as a widespread intellectual, philosophical, artistic and literary phenomenon that manifested itself in the development of the ability to harness emotional power and range in art and music, with more focus on the beauty of nature and stories of old, as well as engagement with concepts like individuality and nationalism in philosophy and intellectual discourse.

In music, this meant writing works that more effectively relayed specific emotional images, painting vivid images to invoke a sense of catharsis with whatever theme the composer had in mind. In essence, there arose a trend of trying to express non-musical ideas through music, handling such weighty themes as the love of nature, a sense of nationalism or a general discontentment with older standards and systems of regulation and correspondent conformity, in many aspects of culture. That’s not to say that this was never done before, of course, it was, but many factors that changed as the Romantic period came about stretched the boundaries of how composers expressed ideas through music. This last concept showed itself in the most direct, tangible sense as one of the defining differences between music from the Classical period and new Romantic music. Those who did Leaving Cert music may be familiar with the concept of sonata form from studying set works like Mozart’s piano concerto no. 23 in A major(composed 1786). Sonata form, deceivingly not related to sonatas,

takes a few ‘themes’, or short melodies and repeats them in different ways, altered by different instruments, multiple instruments or in different ranges or tempos in neat, formulaic verses and passages that fit together as perfectly square blocks that form a nice neat chain. Classical music was full of this type of work, which came in neat, clear structures, and Romanticism was exhausted with this and broke these barriers, shifting and adapting this form to create new song structures. Romantic music used wider ranges of dynamics, more complex instrumentation, had a greater focus on melody as an expressive element and featured more chromaticism(creepy melodic movement of tiny steps).

Out of all the factors that define the difference between Romantic and Classical music, this is probably the strongest and, in my research for this piece I discovered, by this same facet of the transition between the Classical and Romantic periods, that the advent of the Romantic period cannot really be discussed without considering the death of one great composer whose name itself would be another of those rudimentary buzzwords, like “violin”, that might come to mind when anyone thinks about Classical music: Beethoven.

Ludwig van Beethoven was baptised (his date of birth is

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not officially known) in December of 1770 and died on the 26th of March, 1827, aged 56. It is known by experts of the history of this period that there is a relatively clear line in the development of musical structure and form that aligns with his death, around when composers felt that sonata form, the string quartet and the symphony had been exhausted to their artistic capacity. Beethoven was born in Bonn, on the Rhine river in Germany and began taking music lessons from the age of 5. They were famously quite harsh under his father, who recognized prolific talent in the young boy – his first public performance was at the age of 7 and his first works were published when he was around 13. He spent much of his teens performing and teaching to feed his troubled family, but moved to Vienna in 1792, taking lessons under Joseph Haydn, another giant, and composing more and more work, some of it in the style of Mozart, as he was being likened as a successor of the recently-deceased genius. He made a name for himself in Vienna by duelling other virtuosos and performing for the noblemen of the region. He published much music here in his twenties, which was maturing and impressing the musical community with unmatched melodies, use of musical techniques like modulation and emotional depth.

Beethoven was one man for whom the romance did not always work out very well. In 1799, when he was still in Vienna, he gave piano lessons to two daughters of a

MUSIC Hungarian countess, the younger of which he fell in love with. Josephine Brunsvik was 20 years of age at the time, when he would have been around thirty. He was desperately obsessed with the woman, and though she was interested in him, her family denied forbidding the romance to realise on part of Beethoven being a commoner. After divorcing her first husband she was properly in love with him but again her mother and sisters put pressure on her to end the passionate exchange of letters. Through the same family, he met another young countess, Julie Guicciardi. He was deeply in love with her as well, but again through class differences, this love could not be. This heartbreak poured itself into one of Beethoven’s most famous works of all time, Sonata Op. 27 No. 2, better known as the Moonlight Sonata, which is dedicated to her. It was around then, from about 1800 on, that Beethoven started to experience deafness, which just got worse over the next ten years. After suffering from a series of other ailments in 1811 he was advised to spend time in a spa in a small town in Teplitz. In Teplitz he wrote a ten-page letter to an unnamed “Immortal Beloved”.

It is still not known exactly who it was and some believe it could have been either of the two above, but some scholars reckon it was another woman altogether. Beethoven also composed another piece, the famous bagatelle titled “Fur Elise”, for a secret mystery woman, possibly the same one, although this was published after his death. The poor man clearly did not have much romantic success.

It would seem that Beethoven was actually displeased with the leaning away from the clear structure that trended as the Romantic period came about in his contemporaries, but he was still known as one of the most important transitional composers, definitely being the greatest of his time anyway and demonstrating unmatched ability to express emotion with his work. Of the composers who came along with the Romantic era, Frederic Chopin is probably the most famous. Born in Poland in 1810, Chopin is known for having composed works of many different formats, mostly for solo piano, which included etudes, mazurkas, preludes, polonaises and nocturnes. Much of this work is technically advanced and pushes to the limit of what a piano can do to express deliver emotion in music. The polonaises and mazurkas, based on Polish traditional songs, are a perfect example of nationalistic pride making its way into the common themes of music as a trait of the Romantic period.

The nocturne is an interesting concept for us to look at here actually. It was made famous and developed by Chopin, sure, but it was actually invented by a famous Irish composer, John Field. Field publish 18 nocturnes in total, among his other work, the first of which was published in 1812, when he was 30. The nocturne proved to be one of the most important structures of the romantic period. And created by an Irishman - who’da thought?

GAMING

30

Microtransactions: Are They Selling Unfinished Games?

CHLOE BARRETT Gaming Editor

The topic of microtransactions is becoming a popular one to pop up in conversations.

A few years ago, they were more commonly seen in mobile games, but have now made their way over to main consoles and some very popular titles.

Microtransactions were frequently seen in free to play mobile games. There is often small print under the title on the App Store, stating that in-app purchases are available and may be offered to the player. These transactions vary from speeding up ingame tasks, purchasing limited edition event items, and even booster packs for a random chance at rare items. While they were promoted as optional advantages, there was no denying that many players found the fun draining from gameplay as they were required to wait many hours to progress while playing freely. However, the issue was mostly shrugged off apart from a few complaints, as the games were mostly free to download in the first place. But, in recent years, developers have decided to add microtransactions to console games, and that is where the problems occurred.

The standard price for new mainstream console games averages out at around 60 euros. Even though this cost is average, it is still undeniably expensive. Depending

been staying away from the concept of microtransactions until recently when they introduced purchasable kits in The Sims 4. These kits enabled players to spend money in order to receive items such as clothing and furniture, a change that many players noticed and called out the developers, Electronic Arts, for. Nintendo is no stranger to this practice either, as they introduced Spirit Packs to the bestselling franchise of Super Smash Bros. The packs are separate from the familiar purchases of additional characters, meaning that if you want to purchase everything the game has to offer, it will become quite pricey very quickly, especially on top of the 60 you will have to drop on the actual game.

on your income, that could be your savings or even a day of work. Now, when you boot up your brand new game with a joyous smile upon your face and navigate to the menu, you see an option for the store or an expansion pass. You may shrug it off or click on the prompt with curiosity, but it is still being promoted to you.

Battle royale games are commonly offering season passes so you can participate in events, competitions and even collect a variety of characters through completing missions. Fortnite is probably the best example of this, even though the game itself is thankfully free to download. There are many cosmetics you can purchase with ease, often promoted with bright colours and accompanying trailers, especially drawing the eyes of younger children who then dote upon their parents for the unlockable skin or weapon.

Usually, these cosmetics offer no unfair advantages whilst playing a game against others, they are for visually aesthetic purposes only, but they still draw many players in and successfully fund the game.

The Sims has often provided options for buying additional gameplay features. From different worlds to pixel pets, they are no strangers to the gaming market. They had

A common debate within the subject is offered with two perspectives. Some players are glad for these extra options, as it gives them the ability to further devote time to their favourite games, unlocking new adventures while they eagerly await the next instalment in the series. On the other hand, different gamers feel they have purchased an unfinished game, and understandably cannot afford to put any more money into a singular game. Many even argue that it takes the fun out of gaming as more features are being locked behind paywalls.

GAMING

31

Replay Value - A Must Have?

CHLOE BARRETT Gaming Editor

Another factor is the concept of alternative endings. Depending on the decisions you take in particular games, you may be greeted by a totally different ending than the first time you played. By making different choices over the course of your game, with even the smallest ones having an impact, you can change your whole game around. Many gamers have completed games like these dozens of times and either recorded or written down the precise steps needed to access these endings. You could search them up and just watch someone else do them, but where is the fun in that? Games with cool alternative endings can be found in Until Dawn, Life is Strange, Resident Evil, Doki Doki Literature Club!, The Dark Pictures Anthology, Detroit: Become Human, Cyberpunk 2077 and Papers, Please.

Have fun discovering the many endings that may await you.

Those two were only a few reasons why you might feel the need to replay a game. Some may have a more personal circumstance to replay games such as one that gamers have a personal connection to. Beautiful graphics can draw gamers in for a need to experience more. Speedrunning is the popular gameplay style of completing a game as fast as possible, meaning you will most likely have to replay it a few times to achieve your ideal score. Even strategy and roleplay games can be revisited, especially if you want to try things out a different way. Any game can be replayed, as long as you are having fun whilst playing, that is the main thing.

That strange period in time that occurs after you have finished a game is a common one. You have just devoted hours of your life to complete a game, yet you just sit there thinking ‘what now?’ Replay value is the idea that after completing the game, is it worth going back and doing it again? It can be a subjective query and depending on who you ask, you could get a different answer. However, is it a must-have?

Keeping in mind that is it an ambiguous concept, there are indeed some big factors that could influence your opinion on whether you want to replay a game. Open-world games are quite often replayed by many gamers because there is so much to do within them. The way you played an open-world adventure could be entirely different from the approach that I took. Perhaps I took more short-cuts to get to a dungeon while you took in the scenic routes. There is a high possibility that you will not discover everything on your first, or even after a number of play-throughs. Some gamers devote hundreds of hours to just one game and still come across new aspects. There might be secret characters hidden in certain areas that you did not pay attention to or even visit, and that convincing factor can pull you back in for a replay. Some of the most popular open-world games are The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Red Dead Redemption 2, The Elder Scrolls, Minecraft, Assassin’s Creed, Grand Theft Auto, Mad Max and Fallout, just to name a few. All are great games that you will spend countless hours enjoying.

SEXPRESS

32

Sex Machine

EMILY OSBORN Sexpress Editor

“There are so many penises in here.”

While recently in Prague, my friend and I had some spare time and decided to visit Prague’s semi-famous museum of sex machines through the ages. Neither of us are prudish by any means, we are both feminists and would describe ourselves as overall sex-positive. Suffice it to say, we were both caught off guard by the sheer number of machines and other objects people had invented solely for the purpose of sex.

The exhibit starts off with a large collection of dildos and vibrators, from every decade and from across the world. The oldest one, described as the ‘prehistoric phallus’, is estimated to be nearly 30,000 years old and had to be reconstructed piece by piece by archaeologists. The dildo collection doesn’t stop there, however, with leather dildos from later centuries, and antique dildos from France, fitted with a miniature picture frame to place to photo of a lover in. With each passing decade, the dildos and vibrators got bigger and stranger looking than the ones before, with the most recent ones being neon in colour, and an average of about 10 inches in length.

We then moved on to a room full of various chastity devices.

At this point my friend and I were growing more embarrassed, realising that the main demographic of the museum seemed to be mainly young couples, walking hand and hand while gazing at the various phallic objects and giggling with one another. We felt out of place, as were the chastity devices in a museum devoted to sex. The devices were suited for both men and women, including one ‘anti-masturbation machine’, that could be hooked up to an adolescent while they were in bed, and if the machine detected masturbation of any sort, it would automatically ring a bell in the parents’ room, alerting them. For women, a pair of iron underwear with sharp metal teeth to cover the entrance of their vagina, preventing anything from going in. Perhaps my favourite part of this room, were Reformation-era nightgowns, his and

hers, with openings only above the genital area, preventing the couple from touching anywhere else during intercourse. The nightgowns were also embroidered with the words; “God would want it this way”, in German.

Moving upstairs, the bulk of the sex machines are housed in large glass cages. The machines on this floor are large and have many parts to them. Among these, an exercise bike with a hole in the seat, connected to a large dildo that moves up and down while the user is cycling. This floor also contains the BDSM portion of the museum, with a large glass shelf showcasing various full-face leather masks, getting increasingly more unusual the further up the shelf. On the far wall opposite, a large leather wheel, with straps. The other exhibit cases in this area host leather straps and metal objects of various descriptions. There is also a wall of the different genital piercings a person can get, and I find myself wincing at the sight of them. By this point, my friend and I are laughing, and red in the face. It only gets worse.

There are Victorian-era erotic aids throughout the museum.

One large wooden box is furnished inside with silk and fluffy looking pillows, with windows along the outer wall, the idea being that this box was a sort of portable peepshow for Victorian sex workers and could be brought to markets and circuses.

Another case showed pubic wigs, which were used for cosmetic reasons, and to hide possible symptoms of STIs, for use in early brothels. The final room before the exit was a small, darkened theatre, screening early porn films in black and white. There was a large audience, and we decided to skip this portion to save ourselves the secondhanded embarrassment. On the way out the door, a life-size and shockingly realistic sex doll sits on a throne, with a sign next to her reading ‘with fully functional holes’.

The Sex Machine Museum in Prague draws a large crowd every year, and they update their exhibits regularly enough too. It is worth a visit, both for a cheap laugh, and for educational reasons. Despite our child-like embarrassment, I left feeling like I had learned a lot about people through the ages, and truly realised that from the times of cavemen right up to the present day, people absolutely love having sex.

SEXPRESS

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low libido

EMILY OSBORN Sexpress Editor With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, it’s hard not to feel loved up. Even if you are part of the large population of people that believe that Valentine’s is a capitalist marketing tool

‘low libido can occur for several reasons’ used to sell cards, the lovey-dovey cards and heart garlands can make even the coldest of hearts warm up a little. I love Valentine’s Day, but for many, it’s a day that carries with it a level of stress. Valentine’s Day is one of the only public holidays that often carries with it the expectation of sex at the end of the night. Many people feel like they’re letting their partner down if they are not in the mood for whatever reason, and this can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and inadequacy.

Low libido can occur for several reasons. For people with certain conditions such as Vaginismus, it can be hard to feel excited about sex, when having sex is often accompanied by pain. People with previous sexual trauma often find returning to sexual relationships hard. Many people also suffer from ‘performance anxiety’ during sex, with the idea of being unable to orgasm causing them to want to avoid sex altogether. Other people suffer from body image issues which make having sex a nerve-wracking experience, and for people with disabilities, the amount of extra effort that goes into planning and executing a sexual encounter can be a major turn off.

There’s no solid scientific answer as to why people experience a drop in sex drive throughout their lives. Issues such as substance use, mental illness, and hormone levels can increase the likelihood of experiencing low libido, but this doesn’t exactly offer any solutions for people who are looking for a quick fix in time for Valentine’s season. Many doctors don’t consider the loss of sex drive a valid symptom; despite the emotional distress it can cause. A quick google search reveals the mythology surrounding the question of how to increase your sex drive, with solutions from regular meditation to vaginal exercises using a jade egg being thrown around. The age-old cliché is also found in abundance; ‘Why don’t you try spicing up your sex life?’. These suggestions almost seem insulting rather than helpful, and unfortunately, the answer to ‘fixing’ your sex drive is a lot more nebulous than any of these suggestions would have you believe.

We are living in a sex-obsessed age. The Sexpress section is proof of that. Social and traditional media has been bombarding us for years with sex tips, lingerie photoshoots, gratuitous sex scenes in movies, all of which send the same message; ‘The only way to have a good relationship with yourself and your partner is to have a lot of sex’. But what if this isn’t true?

‘we are living in a sex obsessed age. the sexpress section is proof of that.’

Recent trends online have seen creators picking apart the toxic nature of ‘hook-up culture’, about how women specifically are led to believe that hook-ups and having a lot of sex is liberating.

We are told that having a lot of regular and casual sex is the only way to be strong and independent. However, this isn’t true for everyone. Sometimes, the reason having a low sex drive feels bad, is because we feel like in not having sex, we mustn’t be strong enough, liberated enough, or feminist enough. We are sometimes misled by popular culture into feeling bad for not feeling in the mood, even if we’re happy enough to not have sex.

Most people would describe a good sexual relationship to be one of the pillars of any romantic relationship. However, relationships don’t have to have an abundance of sex to be fulfilling and valid. It can be tough for people who experience a lower sex drive than their partner to explain that they’re still interested, they’re still attracted, they just don’t want to have sex. Conversely, it can be difficult for partners to understand why their partner won’t have sex with them. As with everything in relationships, communication is everything. A good relationship will survive with or without sex, and if your partner makes you feel guilty and not good enough because you’re not having sex, then they are not the one for you.

Whether your Valentine’s Day plans include a romantic candlelit dinner, a night between the sheets, or a night alone watching re-runs, it’s a day of love; self-love is included. Remember that you are worthy regardless of how much sex you have and that your relationship with yourself or your partner is based on more than sex alone.

FASHION

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Love World of Love-Core CLAIRE WATSON Fashion Editor

The name of your crush, emboldened by a red gel pen adorned with pink pom-pom. The sparkly ink blots the page, bleeding through as you swing your rosey diary closed, locking the golden padlock with a heart-shaped key dangling from your neck.

Rooted in 90s chick-flicks and rom-coms, love-core embodies the commercial campiness of the Valentine aesthetic, turning those cheap cards, over-priced chocolates, and fake roses into a fashion trend. Those gradient hearts, clear lip gloss and boyfriend jeans are all essential to the modern aesthetic.

Wearers of the love-core subculture don’t typically view the commercialisation of Valentines as a negative thing. Rather they bounce off of it, using the motifs of the holiday and stretching them to be a year-long show of affection. Not only does this subculture wear its heart on its sleeve, but on its crop-tops, tracksuit bottoms, and bralettes as well.

While the typical love-core aesthetic revolves around modern perceptions of love, there are subcultures of the subculture that like to pop on those rosey glasses and take a look back at the past.

love-core embodies the commercial campiness of the Valentine aesthetic A quill shakes in your hand, as you sign your letter with an X- kissing the page gently as to not smudge the ink. The wax is hot as you seal the letter, a deep-rouge cementing your forbidden passions for your secret lover.

For many, the typical love-core fashions are too bright.

Victorian love-core embodies the aesthetic act of draping yourself across your writing desk, overcome by your heart’s passions. And so, as you pull yourself to your dresser, you wear only the blackest of dresses.

You are roused by the sounds of a window being unlatched.

Has your lover come to visit you? You rush down the stairs, a slender candelabra in hand. The frills of your nightgown swoosh as you hop from step to step. It is dramatic, it is passionate, it is gothic- it is Victorian love-core.

This vein of the aesthetic embraces the darkness of Dracula, and the uncontrollable passions of Carmilla.

It’s moody and mysterious. If it doesn’t look like you’re in Crimson Peak then you’re doing it wrong.

But the Victorian era had its own love language spoken through clothes. In this age, women were expected to hide their bodies (except for their waistlines, unsurprisingly) beneath layers of crinolines, chemises, petticoats, and gowns. Accessorising, therefore, was seen as a way for women to show off their inner selves to the world.

Young women looking to attract male suitors decorated their gowns with bows and flowers and used fans to

modestly communicate their love. Handkerchiefs and hats each had their own love languages associated with them, and the drop of a dame’s parasol means she loves you. If you want the true and accurate Victorian lovecore, then accessories and props are your best friend.

Perhaps Victorian is too moody for you, but the classic lovecore is still way too bright. Why not consider the grandiose feeling of sprinting through a field in a summer evening, surrounded by blooms of blushing flowers and the giggles of nymphs as their robes flow in the dripping sunlight?

Pagano love-core focuses on the wild, fantastical love that is found only within the ancient folk-tales filled with goddesses of love and gods of pleasure. This branch of the aesthetic has a chokehold on floral motifs, and can easily be mistaken for cottagecore, with its loose-fitting clothes, poofy sleeves, and silky shirts.

Flowers have always been associated with love, dating right back to the Greeks. Here are some flowers you can incorporate into your Pagano inspired outfits: Red roses are an icon for love but have a deep tie to Greek mythology. These flowers are believed to have grown from the combination of Aphrodite’s tears and the blood of her lover Adonis. Thus red roses in Greek mythology represent passionate love, as well as mortal beauty. Where would Grecian love be without Sappho herself? Pay homage to the isle of Lesbos, and try incorporating some vivid violets into your look.

If self-love is the thing you’re going for this Valentine’s, then those bright, yellow daffodils may be the thing for you! Just don’t get too entranced by your reflection- okay?

I think this subculture, however, is missing out on some Aphrodisiac imagery, so incorporating some pearls and shells, bringing a Pagano look right to the Grecian coast, where the Goddess of love and beauty herself rose from. f r o m .

Let’s say you want the dark drama of Victorian love-core, but the pastel shades and floral patterns of Pagano, even for you there is a subculture. Journey across fantastical seas, from Sicilia to Bohemia, from Venice to Verona, the Shakespearean love-core aesthetic may be for you.

35

FASHION Really, it was a way of strengthening a hierarchy by clearly marking out who belonged to what class by what they wore.

Purple silk and sable fur were worn by the royal family alone.

The highest nobility, which consisted of dukes and earls, were allowed to wear velvet, with lesser nobles wearing tinseled cloth. These two groups were both permitted to wear clothing embroidered with gold, silver, and pearl. Next down the line, we have those who are able to wear chains and enamelled buttons, as well as silk, satin, and damask. Lynx and civet cat fur were worn by the upper class and wealthy merchants.

Wearing clothing above your rank was often met with public embarrassment, with girls being punished with begging their fathers for forgiveness. So, if you’re opting for the Shakespearean branch of the love-core aesthetic, maybe save yourself the trouble and skip over these statutes.

Combine the dark with the light, adorn your macabre skulls with the liveliest of flowers. Fill your cheeks with a blushing rouge, be the muse of a Petrarchan sonnet. Frilly collars abound, with dresses or suits as puffy as those of Renaissance darlings giggling behind curtains and under fans.

For lovers of gold, this is the aesthetic for you. In this subculture, if it’s not gilded- then toss it aside! What’s most important about the love-core aesthetic and especially its Shakespearean subculture is excessiveness. You are a work of art, ready to be adored.

But bring your rapier, for you are fierce, and never bow down from a fight. You are as cunning as you are pretty, as bold as you are beautiful. This is for lovers who like to fight for their love and do so in style.

From the Irish claddagh rings to matrimonial henna art, each culture wears love in different ways. Embarrassingly, as I was thinking of different articles or accessories that symbolise love, I kept thinking of the amulet of Mara from Skyrim, and how I’d quickly scramble to find one every time I had befriended Serena.

Love-core goes great with different aesthetics, whether you’re channelling your inner love witch, embracing your 90s bimbo, or bringing some pink into punk, the possibilities are endless.

Bring a little love into your life by bringing a little love-core into your wardrobe this Valentine’s. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the lookout for love, happily unavailable, loving yourself, or content with keeping things platonic, love-core is a fun way to brighten up your aesthetic, even if Valentine’s is just a commercial holiday celebrating heteronormativity.

Renaissance art, in all its dramatic glory, adored symbolism. To the point where it may be a little too on the nose at times. We have the obvious pinks and reds standing for purity and once again, passion. However, carnations take the spot of roses in this period, with roses being used as iconography for the Virgin Mary.

But wearer beware! This was the time of the Sumptuary Statutes which aimed to regulate the wearing of clothes through class divisions. These laws prevented people of lower and middle classes from attempting class mobility, by forbidding them from wearing “courtly” or “noble” clothes, as true upper-class men would use their excess money to better the nation- obviously.

But bring your rapier, for you are fierce, and never bow down from a fight. You are as cunning as you are pretty, as bold as you are beautiful. This is for lovers who like to fight for their love and do so in style.

arts & literature

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De-Colonising Fantasy Cian Pierce Arts & Literature Editor

How to define an Orc? J. R. R. Tolkien described them in a letter as “squat, broad, flat-nosed, sallow-skinned, with wide mouths and slant eyes: in fact degraded and repulsive versions of the (to Europeans) least lovely Mongol-types.” Over half a century later, the Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual and Player’s Handbook describe Orcs and Half-orcs as “savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces […] not evil by nature, but evil does work within them.” With some venturing into human-majority societies in order to “prove their worth” among “other more civilized races.”

Genetic determinism, the belief that our behaviours are controlled by our genes or some component of our physiology (generally at the expense of the role of the environment, is an unfortunate staple of the fantasy genre. Traditionally in the genre, all because of the conflagration of race with culture and ability, different groups have been associated with certain professions or characteristics. Generally, dwarves are miners and associated with forging; Elves have otherworldly grace, fair skin, enjoy the arts, and are the peak of fantasy society hierarchies. Genetic determinism has been used throughout human history to justify hierarchies and eugenics or to attempt to explain differences between communities. For example, the contention that African Americans are cognitively inferior but physically superior to whites and should be kept in professions that emphasize physical rather than mental prowess.

This unfortunate racist legacy in the fantasy fiction genre is partly due to the fact that the structures of society aren’t more than just background info for the most part in stories. After all, it would be much less interesting to analyse the structures of society in Middle Earth than it is to follow Frodo in his quest to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. Another factor that contributed to this problem is the deep-rooted fascination that fantasy fiction (including role-playing games like D&D) has with European medieval history. When asked for a comment by The Guardian, Kavita Mudan Finn, an Indian American scholar of early modern European history, said: “It reaches back to a misplaced imaginary nostalgia for a golden age when everyone was in their place and, most importantly, they were happy to be there. A number of extremely talented writers, artists, poets, musicians picked up on this nostalgia and created wonderful works of art that are nonetheless steeped in this highly colonialist, highly racist culture and ideology. In maybe 10, 15, 20 years from now, we will be seeing a more diverse, more welcoming, more realistic, more accurate version of the Middle Ages. This is starting in academic circles, and eventually, it spills out into pop culture, and into conversations about fandom culture and representation.” This fascination with medieval societies and nostalgia for colonial cultures is worrying but in recent years there has thankfully been a shift away from these Eurocentric biases.

arts & literature

37

TO BE HAPPY Sarah O’Mahony Don’t you want to feel good about yourself What about that love did you tell them you loved them?

Not your problems not your torments But the reason you get up in the morning Do you know the reason you get up in the morning?

Maybe you don’t reason the get up in the morning See reason to feel good Some add up the gains at the end of the day You multiply out the joy at the end of the day She watches his catching smile that subtracts the wild at the end of the day

Image Credit: S L (Unsplash)

After the BLM protests, there was a cultural shift and a call for more diversity and awareness in media. Wizards of the Coast, publishers of Dungeons & Dragons, pledged to take concrete steps to make their games more diverse. A first step towards the reckoning of fantasy’s racist undertones was the removal of aspects of races’ alignments as certain races like Orcs and Drow (Elves with black skin and white hair) had previously been assigned evil by default. Adding to this, it is no longer necessary that characters get bonuses to abilities like Strength, Deception or Charisma based on what race they are, in the sourcebook for the game called Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, the norm was changed to allow bonuses to a character’s ability to be up to the player rather than the character’s race.

The appeal of fantasy is, at its core, a desire for escapism. Being able to step out of one’s life and ‘enter’ a realm of magic and adventure has been a major draw for fans since the beginning.

Racism and racial profiling, however more realistic it may make fantasy worlds feel, is not necessary. In the worst-case scenario, the inclusion of these real-life parallels may make players from marginalized communities feel unwelcome. Creators must take care to not thoughtlessly place racist narratives within the genre, the structural racism within the fantasy genre can only be solved through thoughtful, well-researched efforts. When creating art and literature within the fantasy genre, it is important for creators to, as Brennan Lee Mulligan, the Dungeon Master of D&D actual play show Dimension 20, says “strike this balance between making [their] world feel […] as inclusive and rich and diverse as our world is, and then also making sure that [they’re] doing that responsibly by putting the goddamn work in.”

Over there though Over there they can live in the moment, enjoy every minute of our earthly existence Not thinking about the one that comes after There’s no torment over there No dependencies or insecurities Did you see how close they all are Did you see what clothes they all wear Did you see how they all lack to care But what screeches and roars inside Maybe I hold out for their minds struggle makes mine less violent Doesn’t shake me inside out Or over there it crashes and burns inside Over there they’ve learned to smile See I don’t pretend I shout it across the moors of my device I don’t mend I roar and roar Or My struggle is not like over there Over there can smile, nod and take it No I’m crashing and burning Who’s the winner I or over there I, surely I’m living the torment I feel the crash as the wave hits Or over there can breathe, dress, function Over there can reason the rise in the morning To feel good Maybe it’s not I or over there But did we tell that love we loved them this morning

SPORTS

Issue 9| MONDAY 14TH February 2022 | University Express

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Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano: History in the making SAM CURTIN Sports Editor

Katie Taylor will put her undisputed world lightweight title on the line against Amanda Serrano in a blockbuster showdown at Madison Square Garden on Saturday 30 April.

Taylor (20-0 6 KOs) will put her WBC, WBA, IBO and IBF belts on the line for the sixth time against the Puerto Rican native Serrano, whose sister Cindy lost to Taylor back in 2018.

Serrano (42-1-1 30 KOs) is one of the biggest names in women’s boxing and is a seven weight world champion. The 33-year-old knocked out Daniela Bermudez in her last fight back in March.

Both camps have been very positive about the fight despite it taken a number of years to make. Taylor who is managed by Eddie Hearn said that “this is a fight I’ve wanted for a long, long time and I’m just excited for it to finally take place because these are the kind of fights I’m in the sport for.” Serrano added: “It is a dream come true to have the opportunity to headline Madison Square Garden and do so against one of the greatest boxers of all time in Katie Taylor.”

Indeed, this the first time in history that two female fighters will headline a show at the most famous venue in combat sports. It is also expected to be the highest grossing fight in female combat sports history and likely one of the highest in men’s or women’s this year.

Presales for the fight are the second fastest in boxing history which is no mean feat. Serrano’s promoter, controversial YouTube star turned boxer Jake Paul said, that both fighters are guaranteed a seven-figure payday. This is unprecedented. More boxers across the sport should take note of this, tell your promoters you want these big fights.

That’s what these ladies did and that’s why we’re here,” Paul added.

There has been some discussions over which format to use for the fight with Serrano claiming to have proposed a 12x3 minute round fight due to the historic nature of the event. She also claims that this was rejected by Taylor and so the fight will keep to

the traditional format. This is reflected in the fact that although there is mutual respect between the two athletes, there is no love lost between with both angling for this fight for last few years, especially since Taylor became a world champion back in 2017.

While the fight has finally been made, criticism has been aimed at the length of time it took to be agreed which is part of wider issue at present. The main part being that some of the biggest fights in the sport which could be made have been stalled due to issues such as managers, promoters, disagreements on money and many fighters wanting to avoid the risk of losing which In boxing, keeping your “0” is crucial in order to keep your career on a upward trajectory.

The most obvious fight which needs to be made is that between World Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

There was reportedly a two fight deal in place for it to take place but it is yet to happen. This has been further hampered by the fact that Joshua lost his last fight to Oleksandr Usyk and the pair will rematch again this year. Fury will instead fight fellow Briton, Dillian Whyte who previously lost to Joshua back in 2015.

With these issues happening all the time, one can understand the frustration of the fans which is why fights like TaylorSerrrano are so important. This is especially the case when both women are in their sporting prime unlike the time when Floyd Mayweather and Manny Paquiao fought in 2015 which many critics labelled “boring” and both men were in their late thirties.

Overall, it promises to be an historic occasion for boxing and that could potentially propel the sport back into the mainstream on a more regular basis. With everything that has gone on in the sport in the pat couple of years such as potential Olympic omission and links to powerful gang leaders, this is a golden opportunity to win back fans. The world will be watching.

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Issue 9 |MONDAY 14TH february 2022 | University Express

Senegal Wins African Cup Of Nations As Sadio Mane Wins Player Of The Tournament ATAKAN UZUN Deputy Sports Editor

Image Credit: CNN.com

The build-up to the AFCON (African Cup of Nations) final was dominated by eager excitement for the impending battle between Mohamed Salah, representing Egypt, and Sadio Mane, representing Senegal, both of which are team-mates at Liverpool FC. But there could only be one winner between the two of them. However, the tournament was overshadowed by the deadly stadium crush where at least eight people were killed and 38 injured, during the group game between tournament hosts, Cameroon, and Comoros on the 24th of January, outside the Olembe stadium. On Sunday night, the 6th of February, after a closely fought game between both countries in the AFCON final, Senegal narrowly won out on penalties, at the Olembe Stadium in Yaundé, Cameroon, as Sadio Mane scored their winning penalty in the dramatic penalty shootout.

Due to his starring role for Senegal, throughout the tournament, Mane won the award for player of the tournament, while his Senegal team-mate and goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy won the goalkeeper of the tournament award.

This win for Senegal marked their first entire AFCON in their history.

Throughout the game, Senegal appeared to have control of possession and dominated the game. The Senegalese team also had the best opportunity in the first half to go ahead of Egypt. However, in the seventh minute, after Egypt gave a penalty away, Mane’s penalty was saved by the Egyptian goalkeeper, Mohamed Abou Gabal, also known as Gabaski, who played a key role in Egypt’s route to the AFCON final, in the seventh minute. As the second half begun, and went on, Egypt began to be dominant in the final.

However, despite some opportunities for both, neither team was able to score the winning goal. After normal time, the score remained 0-0.

This led to an extra and additional 30 minutes of extra-time to decide the winner of the 2022 African Cup of Nations. Once again, neither team was able to score the winning goal. This led to the tournament being decided by a penalty shootout. Like the EURO 2020 penalty shootout, there could only be one winner. After two penalty misses for Egypt, one of which was saved by Edouard Mendy, and one penalty miss for Senegal, saved

by Gabaski, it was up to Sadio Mane to score the winning penalty for

his country to win his country’s first AFCON. Despite his penalty miss on the seventh minute, Mane failed to disappoint with his final penalty.

He managed to score his penalty, by accurately securing it in the bottom left-hand corner. This secured the AFCON championship for Senegal and coach, Aliou Cisse, after narrowly missing out on the championship in 2019, losing out to Algeria in the final. This is not the last time, we will see Salah and Mane going up against one another for their nations. In March, both are due to play each other in a World Cup qualifier play-off to secure qualification for the World Cup in November. As both Egypt and Senegal are drawn against one another, this means that one of these nations will miss out on World Cup qualification. Based on current form, Senegal is likely to be the narrow favourites to secure World Cup qualification.

With the first leg taking place in Cairo and the second leg being hosted in Dakar, this advantages Senegal, as it will be hosting the second leg of the tie. If either were to secure qualification for the World Cup, it is Senegal which has the best record. Indeed, Senegal were the only African nation to reach the quarter-final stage of the World Cup, which they did in 2002, while they were eliminated in the 2018 group stages based on new fair play rules. Meanwhile, with 2 draws and 5 losses at the World Cup, Egypt has never won a game at the tournament.

It will certainly be intriguing to see which nation goes on to qualify for the World Cup in November. Reflecting on this AFCON tournament, while the unfortunate killings of eight people in the stampede outside the Olembe stadium was a low point in the tournament, there was plenty of high points and surprises throughout the tournament. Not least, the reigning champions, Algeria being eliminated at the group stages, one of the favourites for the tournament, Nigeria were beaten by Tunisia in the last 16. Further, nations such as Burkina Faso impressed and narrowly lost out to the Senegal team in the semi-finals. But undoubtedly, it was a tournament to remember for the Senegalese team and Aliou Cisse, while Mohamed Salah and Egypt will be bitterly disappointed to miss out on winning another AFCON championship.

Issue 9| MONDAY 14TH February 2022 | University Express

SPORTS

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Leona Maguire Makes History As She Becomes First Female Irish Golf Player To Win LPGA Tour Event ATAKAN UZUN Deputy Sports Editor

On Saturday, the 5th of February, Cavan-born golf player, Leona Maguire, made history as she became the first Irish player in the LPGA to win an LPGA event. The 27-year old Cavan-born player won the LPGA event at the Crown Colony Golf and Country Club in Florida, after rounding off on a five-under-par 67 in the final round at the course. Going into the final day, on Saturday, Maguire was tied for the lead with American player, Marina Alex, who were both four-strokes ahead of Brittany Altomare, Stacy Lewis, and Linnea Johansson. But at the final round, she produced a superb 18-holes’ round to win her first LPGA event.

Following her superb final round, interviewed by Sky Sports, she said, ‘you kind of wonder is it ever going to happen. I have a lot of people to thank, and it’s been a long road, but feeling more relief now than anything else. I knew my game was close, I did a lot of hard work in the off season and yeah finally got there in the end. It’s huge for Irish golf, there was never an Irish player on the Tour never mind a winner, so hopefully there’s a lot of people watching at home tonight with big smiles on their faces and little girls watching hoping that they can one day hole a putt like that too’. Leona Maguire’s victory at the Crown Colony Golf and Country Club in Florida, received widespread reaction.

Congratulations for Leona Maguire on becoming the first Irish golfer to win on the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) Tour, have been led by President Michael D Higgins, who described it as an “historic achievement.” The 27-year-old woman from Ballyconnell in Co Cavan was “another fantastic Irish sportswoman leading the way internationally,” he said. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described her win as “a brilliant achievement” while Co Cavan born Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, in offering her “comhghairdeas”, described Ms Maguire’s win as a “great day for Irish golf.” Former Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill tweeted “comhghairdeas Leona

- you’ve done our island proud” while Cavan TD Brendan Smith tweeted “brilliant. What a win and heartiest congratulations, Leona.”

Official Cavan GAA described her win as “a sensational display” and noted it as “a proud moment for you, your family and our county.”

Pádraig Harrington, European team captain at the 2021 Ryder Cup, said he was “delighted” at Ms Maguire’s achievement and that “nobody deserves it more. Years of hard work and pressure have gone into this win. Leona is trailblazing a way for all Irish golf.”

Winning captain of Europe in the 2014 Ryder Cup , Paul McGinley, greeted Ms Maguire’s achievement as a “great breakthrough win” and that “while not unexpected she continues to impress.”

He added “a special shutout too to her caddy Dermot - things have gone to another level for Leona since he started with her.”

In summary, Leona Maguire deserves all the plaudits, she is receiving, since winning her first LPGA event. While Ireland has had a solid history with golf major winners, from the men’s tournament, no woman has ever won an LPGA event. As the famous saying goes, ‘you cannot be what you cannot see’. Let’s hope that women and girls watched her victory with delight, and gives them the motivation and inspiration to begin playing golf. She will be hoping to continue to replicate the form shown at this event and push ahead to secure her first major win at a major championship.

The five major championships that are upcoming, include the ANA Inspiration, which takes place from the 31st of March-1st of April, the US Women’s Golf Open, which starts on the 2nd of June, and ends on the 5th of June, the Women’s PGA Championship, which begins on the 21st of June and ends on the 26th of June, the Evian Championship, which will take place in July, and the Women’s British Open, which is hosted from the 4th of August to the 7th of August. She will also be hoping to continue to move up the LPGA rankings. At the time of writing, Maguire is ranked in 37th place.

Image Credit: Irish Times

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Volume 25 | Issue 9 | Monday 14th February 2022

Ireland Bids for history with 2028 Euros Dream SAM CURTIN Sports Editor

Ireland is set to join forces with the UK in a bid to host Euro 2028. The partnership was originally expected to bid for the World Cup in 2030 was pulled due to Spain and Portugal reportedly being the preferred candidates with UEFA. As a result, the five FA’s including Northern Ireland have reached an historic agreement to push for what is one of the world’s largest sporting events. It would be the first time ever that major tournament football would be held on the island of Ireland after the Euro 2020 matches at the Aviva stadium were pulled due to the covid pandemic and lack of guarantees that fans would be able to contend. A number of Irish stadiums are set to be in contention such as Croke Park and the Aviva down south and possibly a renovated Casement Park in Belfast which would meet the 30,000 capacity required to host major tournament games. According to reports, Ireland would host seven games with England having the majority of 41 matches.

At the launch of the bid last week, the FAI refused to comment on how much it would potentially cost to host the tournament which is set to possibly expand to a 32 team format instead of the current 24 which has been in place since 2016. The bid has been met with mixed reviews especially from a financial perspective with many believing that the money would be better spent on developing grassroots football and growing the domestic leagues. This is coupled with the fact that the FAI are walking a financial tightrope and it is expected that the governing body will require extra funding from the government in order to make the idea happen.

Perhaps another reason in relation to finance why the euros is a more achievable target is that it costs less to host the tournament than when compared to the world cup. In a statement released on the day of the launch, the FAI said “we believe the UK and the Republic of Ireland can offer UEFA and European

football something special in 2028 - a compact and unique five-way hosting collaboration that will provide a great experience for the teams and the fans.”

Ireland would also have to qualify for the tournament which in the past the hosts would traditionally qualify automatically. However with it being a multi-nation hosted tournament, this would not apply. Other countries who are reportedly interested in bidding include Turkey, Russia and a joint bid between Romania, Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria. The winners will be announced in September 2023 which would give ample time for Ireland to improve the infrastructure which would be required in order to host games of such significance. Areas such as accommodation and public transport in particular would need to be addressed in order for the tournament to be successful from a practical point of view but also an economic one.

This news comes in the same time frame that FAI CEO Johnathan Hill published his vision for Irish football over the next few years. This includes plans for a third tier in the men’s League of Ireland while a second tier is planned for the women’s competition. Hill who is nearly 18 months into the job, also revealed that he hopes Stephen Kenny will sign a new contract in the coming weeks. The senior men’s team is also still without a main sponsor but it is hoped one will be obtained before they play world number one ranked side Belgium at home on the 26th of March. The game is more significant than the average friendly as it marks the 100th anniversary of the FAI. Overall, there is no doubt that the past couple of weeks have been a busy period for Irish football with the new regime certainly beginning to take shape. One can only hope that it is a dawn of a new era, one which is filled with transparency and the desire to achieve at highest level, both on and off the pitch. If this comes to fruition, then Euro 2028 could well be on the horizon.