University Express - Volume 26 - Issue 2

THOUSANDSATTEND

COSTOFLIVINGPROTEST

INCORKCITY

Ademonstrationofapproximately 3,000peoplewasheldinCorkCity lastSaturdayafternoontoprotestthe risingcostoflivingandmake demandsoftheGovernment regardingtheupcomingbudget.Itis

estimatedtohavebeenoneofthe largestprotestsinCorkfordecades, accordingtoCorkBeo.

Themarchwasorganisedbythe nationalCostofLivingCampaign,a broadcoalitionofactivists,political groupsandvolunteersaimedat highlightingunsustainableprice increasesanddecliningliving standards.Takingplaceat2pmon GrandParade,theeventinvolved

rousingspeechesfromSolidarityTD MickBarryandSinnFeinTD ThomasGould,bothofCorkNorth Central,amongotherradicalvoices demandingsubstantialactionfromthe Statetotackletheseissues.Beginning onGrandParade,thegroupof protestorssubsequentlyproceededup PatrickStreet,downOliverPlunkett StreetandultimatelybacktoGrand Paradewherethefinalstatements weremade.

Saturday’sdemonstrationsawabroad rangeofparticipantspresent,as increasingcohortsmakethedifficult choicebetweenheatingandeating, withmanyfearfulofthesituation worseningaswinterlooms.From studentgroupstopensionersand tradeunionstodisabilityrights campaigners,thescaleanddepthof thiscrisiswasonfulldisplay.There werealsomanyfirst-timeprotestorsin attendance,signallingaprofound senseofsocialindignanceand discontent.

JamesKemmyreportsonCork’s large-scalerallyanditsindicationof deepersocietaltensions

WRITESJAMESKEMMY

FIRSTYEARNERVES&FRESHER’SFEARS

WRITESCAITRÍONANÍCHONAILL EDITORINCHIEF

Hithere!I’dliketowelcomealltheincomingfirstyearstoUCC -Ihopeyourfirstweekhereisn’ttoostressful!

Whetheryou’remakingnewfriendswiththepersonsittingnext toyouinalecture,tryingoutstudenteventsforthefirsttime, gettinglostintheORBorsigningupforrandomsocietiesbecauseyoufeelitwouldberudenotto aftertakingsweetsfromtheirtableonSocietiesDay-wefeelyou!Everystudentgoesthroughthis awkwardperiodofsettlinginandwecanallrelatetoyou!

Mybiggesttiptosettleintofirstyearwouldbetojoin(andthengoto!)societyandclubevents,You gettomeetloadsofpeoplewiththesameinterestsasyou,butindifferentyearsandcourseswhoyou wouldn’totherwisemeet.Peoplewhoareinvolvedinsocietiesaresomeofthenicest,mostpassionate andkindestIhaveevermetandIhavemadesomeofmybestfriendsthroughvolunteeringwith them.SoIwouldstronglyencourageyoutogotoevents,andeventoapplyforapositionatanEGM ifyouwanttobemoreinvolved!

WecoverthefirstdaynervesinourFeaturessectionthisissue,aswellasmanyothersubjects.You canreadabouttheRoadmapToSuccesswiththeSkillsCentre,beginyourgamingobsession,get somenewethicallyproducedclothingorviewtheamazingVioletClubbandinactioninour Photographysection.

Happyreading!

BUCKLEUPANDTAKEOFEACHOTHER

WRITESJAMESKEMMY NEWSEDITOR

IssuetwooftheExpressarrivesataprettyturbulentand downrightinsanemomentforsociety,withstudentsandyoung peoplenodoubtattheforefront.

Iknowthereturntocampusandcollegelifemaybeexcitingfor manybutitcanalsobeoverwhelmingandanxiety-inducingforothers.Inaneraofcrises,therising costoflivingnowthreatenstodestabiliseoursocialandeconomicspheresevenfurther.

Andasayounggenerationwhohaveendured,andarguablybornetheworsteffectsof,austerity, Covid,climatebreakdownandhousingmisery,itwouldbeeasytofeelapatheticanddesensitisedto thechaosseeneverywhererecently.

Perhapsthestarkestsummationofyoungpeople’sdiscontentistheNationalYouthCouncilof Ireland’srecentfindingthat70%ofyoungadultsinIrelandintendtomoveabroadforabetterquality oflife.Asacountry,wehaveaninfamoushistoryandtrendofemigration,butnowasoneofthe wealthiestandadvanceddemocraciesintheworld,onehastowonder:howonearthisthisstillthe case?

Despitethis,Ibelieveourgeneration’sbesttimesareyettocome.Wemaycurrentlybeburdened withdebtandexistentialanxietybutwearealsobuoyedbyhopeandtheconvictioninabetterfuture. Idon’tbelievetherehaseverbeenacohortofpeopleastunedin,sociallyaware,politicallycharged andempatheticasours.Weneedthesetraitsnowmorethaneverthough,becausewhilewearejust recoveringfromonemajorcrisis,wenowenteranother-oneofdeepfrugalityanduncertainty.

Inthisissue,wehighlightanatmosphereofpoliticalchange,risingpublicdiscontent,thesinister effectsofelevatingextremistvoicesonsocialmedia,andabreakthroughmomentforwomen’ssport. It’sawildtimerightnow,buckleupandtakecareofeachother.

THOUSANDSATTENDCOSTOFLIVINGPROTESTINCORKCITY

“Freezetheprices,notthepeople” wasthekeymessageoftheday, alongsideotherfrequentchantssuch as“thecostoflivingisrisingandso arewe”.Callswerealsomadeby demonstratorstohaltrentincreases, bantenantevictions,andbringkey industriesintopublicownership.

Suchmessagingspeakstothe perceptionofawideningdisparity withinIrishsociety,withcallsfrom oppositiongroupstoimplementa windfalltaxoncorporateprofits, somethingwhichtheGovernmenthas nowagreeduponunderanew EuropeanCommissionproposal. SpeakingintheDáilduringlast week'sLeadersQuestions,Catherine Murphy,co-leaderoftheSocial Democratssaid,“itisgrotesquetosee thelevelofobsceneprofiteeringby energycompanieswhichis accompanyinganenergycrisis”.

Alsoinattendanceonthedaywere CorkCityandCountyCouncil’swater workers,promotinggreaterworkplace democracyandresistinga privatisation-ledtransfertowardsthe IrishWatergroup.Theseindividuals providedapotentmessageofdissent againsttheirowntradeunion,SIPTU, claimingthattheorganisationhas brokenkeypromisesregardingtheir transfertothecompanyand demandingareferendumonsucha move.Throughouttheafternoonthere wereseveralmentionsofthe successfulnationalcampaignagainst waterchargesin2014/15,onewhich ultimatelyforcedthegovernmentto dropthepolicyofinstallinghousehold watermetersaltogether.With industrialunrestontheriseinthe UK,itisveryplausiblethatIrish tradeunionscouldsoonfollowsuit andpursuesimilartactics,whereby enhancedpayandconditionsare demandedinthefaceofdeclining real-termscircumstances.

Otherdominantissuesoftheday includedthepromotionoffoodprice controlsandbacklashagainstthe incremental80criseinthenational minimumwageto€11.30perhour,an increasewhichMickBarrysaid “wouldn’tbeenoughtofeedthe pigeonsthesedays”.Similarly,ina statementgiventoRTÉ,theLowPay Commissionsaystheincreasewillnot compensateforinflation,whilethe ICTUGeneralSecretaryhassaidthis rise“failsthetest”ofprovidinga sustainablefoundationtopreparefor thelivingwage,settocomeinby 2026.

ValerieCondonwasanothernotable speaker.AformerDebenhamsworker andmemberofthehistoric redundancystrikeinthecity,she spokeoftheESB’srecordhalf-year profitsof€390millionascitedinthe group'srecentbi-annualreport.On thesameissue,DeputyMickBarry accostedtheenergycompanyfor recording“twomillioneuroinprofita day”andarguedthatenergycredit

measuressimilartothoseinlastyear’s budgetwillbeinadequatetoalleviate thefinancialconstraintonthepublic.

AlsovocalwasAntoinetteBurkeof FamiliesUniteforServicesand Support(FUSS),whohighlightedthe difficultyandexpenseinvolvedin accessingessentialhealthservicesfor thoselikeherdaughterwhohas cerebralpalsy.

Burkespokeoftheincreasinguseof GoFundMe,theprivatefundraising platform,forthoseseekingbasic surgeriesandmedicalequipment,as theycannotaffordsuchservices amidstrisingprices.Accordingto HSEdatarecentlyobtainedbySinn Féinhealthspokesperson,David Cullinane,therearenowover1.36 millionpeoplewaitingforsomeform ofoperationorprocedure,ortoseea consultant–thebiggestbackloginthe historyoftheState.

Onauniversity-relatednote,there wasastrongshowingfromUCC’s StudentUnion,withCommunications andEngagementOfficer,Sinéad Roche,highlightingthecurrentstate oflivingconditionsforstudentsatthe microphone.Specificallymentioned wereunsustainablerents,scarceand precariouslevelsofaccommodation, andcontributionfees,whicharenow thehighestintheEUfollowing Brexit.TheUnionofStudentsin Ireland(USI)havecalledfora50% reductioninfeeswiththelong-term viewofabolition.

Suchmessagingcomeswiththesense thatthird-leveleducationinIrelandis becomingincreasinglyinaccessibleto many,andthatcosts,particularlyfor accommodation,areaccelerating rapidly.Asagenerationseemingly lockedoutofhomeownershipand assetobtainmentgenerally,young adultsandstudentsareundoubtedly oneofthemostaggrievedsocial groupswithinthiseconomic environmentandconsequently,oneof theloudestgroupvoicesat demonstrationssuchasCork’slast weekend.

Undoubtedly,thereisanincreasing atmosphereofsocio-economic discontentwithinIrishsociety, somethingunseensincetheheightof the2008financialcrash.Thiscanbe seeninthevastandrisingnumberof civicdemonstrationsheldinrecent months,sparkedbycitizens’financial uncertainty.AlthoughIrelandisa relativelyprotest-shynationin comparisontoEuropeancounterparts suchasFranceandBritain,therenow appearstobegreaterlevelsofcivil disobedienceandanemerging grassrootsmovementaimedat buildingamoreegalitariansociety wherebythepubliclyownedentities directandoperateagreatershareof economicoutput.Whileinstancesof large-scaleprotestinIrelandhave typicallybeencentredonspecific,

isolatedissues,recentdevelopments pointtoamoregeneralsocietal grievanceandanexpressionofa widespreaddesireforreform.

RecentsuggestionsfromTDslike RichardBoydBarrettandPaul Murphythatcustomerswouldbe justifiedincancellingtheirdirect debitstogasandelectricitysuppliers, similartothatoftheUK’s‘Don’tPay’ movement(whichissettobeginfrom October1st),havesparked controversy.Respondingtothese commentsinaninterviewwith NewstalkBreakfast,MicheálMartin warnsof“chaotic”outcomesifpeople aretogodownsucharouteand claimsthatthisactionwouldonly triggerfurtherfinancialturmoiland debtforconsumersdowntheroad. Speakingtoreporterslastweek,the TaoiseachannouncedthatEU interventionswillstabilisetheenergy industrysoonandthattheupcoming budget’sinclusionofanovelcostof livingpackagewillhelpreducethe burdenonhouseholds.

Thebudget,tobedeliveredtomorrow byFinanceMinisterPaschalDonohoe andPublicExpenditureMinister MichaelMcGrath,issettocontainthe greatestannualriseinpublic expenditureinthestate’shistory.€1 billionhasbeensetasidetocreatean

unforeseencostoflivingpackage, givingthesensethatthisyear’searly budgetisbeingdeliveredinan emergencyenvironment.Thestakes couldnotbehigherforthe governmentatthisgreatly consequentialtime,withopposition partiesandthepublicmountinghuge pressureonthecabinettooffsetthe costoflivingandpreventdeprivation intoandbeyondthewintermonths. Undoubtedly,thegovernmentwill seektodistributethebenefitsoftheir fiscalpoliciesacrossvarious demographics,astheytrytomaintain politicalsupportandcombatSinn Féin’srisingpopularity.

ThenextCostofLivingCampaign protestinCorkwillbeheldon SaturdayNovember12th.This followsthelarge-scaledemonstration heldinDublinlastSaturday afternoon.Itwillnodoubtbe interestingtoobservethecollective mindsetofthepublicfollowingthe highlyconsequentialupcomingbudget andwhetherornotpeople’sneeds havebeenperceivedtobeaddressed. Regardlessofpotentialbudgetary handoutsfromthegovernment,itis likelythatinstancesofdirectaction willpersistintothewinterassocietal hardshipendures,possiblyindicating aneweraofengagementbetweenthe publicandgovernment.

WRITESJAMESKEMMY

IRELAND’SPOLITICAL LANDSCAPEISCHANGING

JamesKemmydiscussesthenation’s shiftingpoliticalmindsetandthe potentialemergenceofanewelectoral paradigm

Themostrecentnationalopinionpoll, conductedbytheRedCresearch group,findssupportforFineGaelat arecordlow,withSinnFéin maintainingaclearandrelatively dominantleadon35%.Thisrevealing survey,whichwascarriedoutinthe midstoftheRobertTroyproperty controversy,findsTánaisteLeo Varadkar’spartyatanapproximated electoralnadirofjust18%-the poorestoutcomeforthepartysince theSundayBusinessPostpollseries

beganin2005anditsthird consecutivepollingdecrease.Fianna Fáilstandson17%,indicatingaslight riseinsupportoverthesummer months,withthirdcoalitionpartner theGreenPartysittingon5%.These findingscomeontopofeight successivesamplingindicatorsofSinn Féinleads,withthenationalpicture nowsuggestinganalmostevensplit, consistingofthetwo,traditionally dominant,centre-rightpartiesin conflictwithanascendantforceof leftistpopulism.Lookingbeyondthe biggestplayers,supportforLabour andtheSocialDemocratswasfound tobeat4%each,withPeopleBefore Profit-Solidarityon3%,Aontúon2%

andindependentcandidateson12% collectively.Thenumberofundecided voterssitsat9%.Unusuallyforamidparliamentarytermpoll,mostofthese findingsexpresssimilarattitudesand intentionstotheresultsproducedat thelastgeneralelectioninFebruary 2020.Inaddition,thissurvey producedveryexhibitivedataon attitudestowardstheupcoming budgetandvariouspolicytrade-offs. Withseverallarge-scaleissues dominatingIreland’spolitical discourserightnow-namely,the risingcostofliving,housing, healthcareandtheenvironment-there appearstobeareignitedappetitefor robuststateinterventioninthe economy.Forinstance,just26%of peoplesurveyedbelievethatthe governmentisdoingallitcanto addressthecostoflivingcrisis. Accordingtoseniorlecturerand

electoralbehaviourexpertatUCC’s DepartmentofGovernmentand Politics,DrTheresaReidy,theIrish publichavealwaysbeenquite pragmaticinthisregard,withthe issueofgovernmentinvestmenta relativelyvariablefeaturewithinthe votermindset,andonewhichgained amorefavourableviewagainwiththe “majorre-engagement”ofstate activityseenforthelasttwoanda halfyears.FromthePandemic UnemploymentPaymenttothe introductionofvariousstimulus schemesforbusinessesandfamilies duringCovid-inducedlockdowns, therenowappearstoberelatively solidconsensusbehindalargerstate model,withthelaissez-faire, deregulatoryapproachoftheCeltic Tigereralosingfavoursignificantlyin recenttimes.SinnFéinseemstohave effectivelytappedintothis

psyche,withitspoliticalagendain 2022sharplycentredonthedelivery ofpublicservicesandpromisesto acceleratesocialhousingconstruction. Furtherdatarevealedinthe SeptemberRedCpollfoundthat,ofa staggering70%ofpeoplewhoare generallystrugglingtomakeends meet(thisfigurewasjust33%last year),anearmajorityintendtovote forSinnFéin.Consequently,itseems unlikelythattheirsupportwill significantlydissipateinthenear future,withMaryLouMcDonald’s frontbenchnowseriouslypreparing forgovernmentafterhavingcemented themselvesasapotentandoutspoken oppositioncauseforthelastseveral years,aidedbyanumberofeffective spokespeopleandastrictlyunified organisationalapproach.

AccordingtoDrReidy,SinnFéin’s recentsuccessesarenotmerelythe resultofpoliticalopportunismwhilea tenuousandfragmentedcoalition persists,butofalongertermstrategy andincrementalgains.Sheargues thatoverthelasttwentyyearsorso, thepartyhascreatedadistinctive profileforitselfbyvigorously presentingFiannaFáilandFineGael aspoliticallyinterchangeableand equallycomplicitinproducing,orat leastfailingtoalleviate,thecountry’s socialandeconomiccrises.Similarly, McDonald’spartyhassoughtto presentitselfasstronglyantiestablishmentandanti-elitist,with keyfigureandhousingspokesperson, EoinÓBroin,claimingthathisparty is“unashamedlypopulist”inEurope’s NewPoliticalEconomyPodcast, despitethenegativeconnotationsthat suchatermmayhave.Althoughits definitioniscontested,populismis generallydescribedasapolitical

strategythataimstoattractordinary peoplewhofeelignoredor disregardedbypowerfulelites.

TheresaReidyclaimsthereisnow clear“evidenceofpopulistattitudes” withinIrishpolitics,althoughsucha phenomenonisnotnecessarilynew, withFiannaFáilemployingsimilar tacticsinthe1990sunderTaoiseach BertieAhern.Inthesameinterview, ÓBroinlikenedhispartymovement tothelikesofSyrizainGreece, PodemosinSpainandtheUK LabourPartyunderJeremyCorbyn, wherebyalarge-scalegrassroots movementismobilisedwitha socialist,andinthiscase,republican, agendaatitshearttocombat conventionaleconomicliberalism.

Interestingly,thesepolling developmentspointtothepossible emergenceofIreland’sfirstreal ideologicaldivide-onebetweensocioeconomicclassesandgenerations.

Thiswouldintroducesomethingofa structuralclasselementintoIrish politics,aphenomenonwhichhas beenlargelyabsentinourcountry’s electoralhistoryduetothedefining Treaty-basedschismofour traditionallydominantparties.

Similarly,itispossiblethatIrish politicalculturecouldnowevolve fromaparochial,localisedstyletoa morenationalissues-focusedone, wherebyintergenerationalloyalties aredeemedlessrelevant.

Undoubtedlyhowever,distinct demographictrendsarepresent withintheIrishelectorate,withthe oldergenerationmostlikelyto supportFiannaFáil,middle-aged, middle-classandurbanvoters supportingFineGaelandoccasionally

theGreenParty,andyounger,lowerincomegroupslargelybehindSinn Féin’srise.

Relatedtothisarenewideason Ireland’sfiscalmodelfromthe CommissiononTaxationandWelfare, particularlythedesignofitstax burdenandplanstoshiftitawayfrom incomeandontoassets.Withrecent findingsfromtheNationalYouth CouncilofIrelandrevealingthat70% ofyoungIrishpeople(18-24year olds)plantoemigrateforabetter qualityoflife,this,andother Commission-endorsedproposalssuch ashikinginheritanceandsavings taxeswouldappeartoalignwith muchofSinnFéin’spolitical messaging.However,therearealso severalinstancesofSinnFéin’stax plansclashingwiththeCommission, notably,theparty’soppositiontolocal propertyandcarbontaxesandits promotionofathirdrateofincome taxforearnerson€140,000and above.Asaconsequence,andasSinn Féinedgesclosertogovernment, thereisincreasingscrutinyontheir policyframeworkandaccusations fromopponentsthataspectsoftheir plansareinfeasibleanddisingenuous, suchasthepromisetobringthestate pensionentitlementagebackto65.

Returningtomoreelectoralissues,it isclearfromendlessSinnFéin statementsthattheirpreference followingthenextelectionwouldbe toformanewgovernmentwithout thetwolargecentre-rightparties, insteadoptingforaleft-wingcoalition ledbyMaryLouMcDonald. However,lookingatthemathematics andpracticalitiesofgovernment formation,thingsmaynotappearas

straightforwardasSinnFéinwould like.Inthe2020election,various smallleft-winggroupsand independentsbenefittedfromthe party’stransferpatterns,enabling betterthanexpectedresultsfor PeopleBeforeProfit-Solidarity amongothers.However,with McDonald’spartyplanningtorun morecandidatesinthenextelection, andpotentiallytwoinmost constituencies,itisalmostcertainthat ariseinSinnFéinseatswillcomeat theexpenseofthesesmaller progressivefigures,potentially leadingtoparliamentarydeadlockand anintenseformationprocesswhich maybereliantoncertainpolitical concessionsandtheinvolvementof independentrepresentatives.

Despitethesweepingshiftinpublic opinionregardingpartysupport,Dr Reidyclaimsweshouldbecareful aboutwritingoffFiannaFáiland FineGaelintoirrelevance, highlightingtheiralmostcenturyold survivalandprovidingexamplesof theirresilience,suchasFiannaFáil’s comebackfollowingitsdisastrous 2011generalelectiondefeat.She assertsthatlargepartiesareflexible, andthattheirroleswillshiftand evolveunderanewpoliticalera. Meanwhile,ifSinnFéinistoleadthe nextgovernment,itwillfacenosmall taskindeliveringuponitsmanifesto promisesandrestructuringtheIrish economytoamoreinterventionist, publicservices-orientedmodel.Either way,itisclearthatIrishpoliticshas cometoaveryinteresting,defining moment,wherebythereisagenuinely competitiveelectoralbattleandawide arrayofideologicalviewpointsover howtobesttacklethegreatestissues ofourtime.

IRELAND

THELANDOFATHOUSANDWELCOMES

ManyconsiderIrelandtobetheland ofCéadMíleFáile,Atayoneis acceptedregardlessofrace,colour,or sexualorientation.Alongwiththis, ourlonghistoryofemigrationfirst presentduringthefamine,since associatedwitheconomicreasonsdue tothelastrecession,hasoftenbeen usedtoarguethatracismisnotpresent inthiscountry.

However,evidencefromthepasttwo yearswouldsuggestthatracism, whilstnotdominatingIrishsociety,is ontherise.Reportscarriedoutbythe IrishNetworkAgainstRacism (INAR)inthepasttwoyearswould suggestthatracismandracially motivatedincidentsareincreasingin number.Accordingtothe2020report, iReport.iereportedanoveralltotalof 700racialincidentswhichwasa30% riseonfiguresrecordedin2019. Includedinthesefigureswere60 Coronavirus-relatedincidentsinthe firstfourmonthsof2020.These figureswerethehighestlevelsofracial

incidentsofanyINARreport.

Thesefiguresdidnotdrastically changein2021.Accordingtotheir 2021report,whiletherewasa decreaseinreportedlevelsofracism, “overallreportnumberswere impactedbyadropinreportingof onlineandotherformsofhatespeech from2020”.Thelattermayindicatea lackofconfidenceinreportingracial incidentstoAnGardaSíochána.This washighlightedinthe2021report, whichacknowledgedan18%decrease inreportingofracialincidentstothe Gardaí,comparedto2020.Whilst lockdownsevidentlydecreasedthe numberofrecordedin-personracial incidents,theINARfoundadramatic increaseinonlineracism.Coupled withaworldwidegrowthinanti-Asian racism,acommondenominator appearedtobeagrowthintargeted assaultsandattacksontheAsian communityinIrelandwith16%ofthe 700incidentsbeingtargetedagainst them.

Outlinedinthelatestreport,and commentingontheriseinanti-Asian racism,Úna-MinhKavanagh concurredthat“reportslikethisallow ustolearnandgrowandthoughthe factsmaybeuncomfortable,theyare invaluableastheyofferusatrue insightintoavitalaspectofIrish society”.Thiswouldsuggestthatthe Covid-19pandemichasplayedarole inincreasinglevelsofracismin Ireland.Commentingonthisincrease, SeniorLecturerinContemporary IslaminUCC,Dr.AmanullahDe Sondy(whohasbeenregularlythe targetofracism)concurredthat peoplebecame“reallyawarethatitisa pandemiconapandemic”. Furthermore,Dr.DeSondyoutlined thatthepandemic“allowedustosee someofthosepainfulnarratives” [racismagainstmembersoftheAsian community].

Racismagainstmembersofthe travellingcommunityhasalsobeenon theriseinthepastfewyears. AccordingtoNiamhO’Sullivanof TASC,“travellersinIrelandcontinue tofacediscriminationandracismboth intheirdaytodaylivesandona systemiclevel”.Reflectingupon

discriminationagainstthetravelling community,Dr.DeSondyarguedthat “issuesraisedbyIrishtravellershavea verylonghistoryandhasn’tbeendealt withcorrectlyforsometime”.

Discriminationagainstmembersofthe Africancommunityisalsoonthe ascent.Inconjunctionwiththerisein onlineracism,disinformationand misinformationhasplayedakeyrole intheriseofracismagainstthis community.Anotableexampleofthis wasevidentinJanuary2021,where misinformationspreadaboutthe murderof27-year-oldmanofcolour, GeorgeNkencho.Themisinformation evidentonsocialmediaassociatedhim withallegationsagainsthimof previouscriminalconvictions,which provedtobefalse.Untilastatement wasreleasedfromAnGardaSíochána whichvindicatedMr.Nkenchoofany illbehaviour,theseallegations illustratedtheextenttowhich misinformationcausedby disinformationcanunderminethe fightagainstracismandinequality.

Takingallofthisintoaccount,does thissuggestthatIrelandisreallythe

landofathousandwelcomes?

Ifwearetobeconsideredto stillholdthattitle,solutions needtobefoundedtoaddress thisgrowthinracialand discriminatorydiscourse.So, whatcanbedonetoendracism andallformsofdiscrimination inIrishsociety?Manyfrom thesecommunitieswhichface racismandotherformsof discriminationwouldargue thatthechangestartswiththe government.Oneofthemain areasinwhichtheycan intervenetoaddressissues associatedwithracismandall formsofdiscriminationis throughtheenactmentofhate crimelegislation.AsofJuly 2022,theMinisterforJustice, HelenMcEnteeannouncedthe amendmentoftheIncitement toHatredandHateCrimeBill whichwould“makeiteasierto secureprosecutionsand convictionsforcrimes motivatedbyhate”.

Whileitisduetobebrought forward,thisautumn,the Governmentcouldconsider bringingforwardthis legislationasamatterof urgency.Dr.DeSondy,who stronglyarguesforthe introductionofthislegislation conveysthat“gettingthehate crimelegislationthrough governmentwillpushthat structuralchange[toaddress racism]”.Thislegislationwill certainlyhopetoadoptazerotoleranceapproachtoracism.

Theworkoftheanti-racism committeecanalsocontribute tomakingrecommendationsin combattingracism.However,it isnottheonlysolutionthatcan addressthesystemicissueof racism.Anotherareathat manyfromdiverse communitieswouldargue, needsaddressingistheissueof reportingracialcrimestothe authorities,notablyAnGarda Síochána.

Acknowledgedinthevarious INARreports,oneofthemain issues,flaggedisthelackof confidenceinreportinghate crimessuchasracismtothe Gardaí.Dr.DeSondy,who suggeststhattheauthorities didnottreatinstancesof racismseriouslywhen reported,andtoldhimhis emotionswere“runninghigh”, urgestheneedfor“more training,moreawareness[of racism].Requiresreal conversationswithintheforce onracism,anti-racism,and victimsupport”.

Moreanti-racismtraining wouldarguablyincrease awarenessofsystemicracism andironoutanypotential faultsintakingcomplaintsofa racialnature,seriously.Victim

support,alsomentionedbyDr. DeSondycanpotentiallyhelp victimsindealingwithracism, whichcanbeofatraumatising natureforthem.Commenting onanotherpotentialsolution, ataneducationlevel,Dr.De Sondyarguesforthe introductionofabystander interventionforanti-racism,as a‘similarsolution’tothe interventionprogrammerolled outatthirdlevelinstitutionsin relationtosexualharassment.

Emulatingthesuccessofthe bystanderintervention programmeforsexual harassment,thispotential programmecouldhelp diversifyattitudestoracism andallformsofdiscrimination. Likethecurrentprogramme againstsexualharassment,this programmecanberolledoutin secondaryschoolsandfurther afield.Furtheronwards,many mayalsoargueforachangein representationinIrishpolitics, whetheritisatalocalora nationallevel.Whileblack/ Asianethnicminorities representasizableproportion oftheIrishpopulation,at around20%,just2TDs,have orcurrentlyserveasTDsin DáilÉireann,whilstjust2 membersoftheOireachtasare fromthetravellingcommunity, and9outof949membersof localauthoritiesare councillors.

Possiblesolutionsthatcanbe consideredtoboostthelevels ofrepresentationofpoliticians fromethnicminority backgroundsincludethe introductionofquotas,like thatofthecurrentgender quotasorreservedseats wherebytheseatsofcertain constituenciesarereservedfor suchcandidates.Thissolution hasthepossibilityofincreasing thediversityofIrishsociety, andensuringourpolitics representsthebroader descriptionofsociety.Last,but notleast,andarguablythe mostimportantsolution,isfor everyone,andeachoneofus, collectivelytotake responsibilityandstandupto racismwhereverweseeit presentinsociety.

ThisisacknowledgedbyDr. DeSondywhostatesthat“itis uptoeveryoneofustodothat onadailybasis”.Manywould arguethatifwehavelearnt anythingfromthepast2years, itishowoursocietyisdeeply unequalandmany communitiesincludingthe African,Asian,andtravelling communitiesfaceanongoing battleintheirdailylives.

Ifwecantakethatforward, andhelpcollectivelytoaddress suchissues,thenitispossible thatabettersocietycanbe broughtabout.

OVERCOMINGSENSORYOVERLOAD

College,whileformanyamilestone experience,canalsobeincredibly stressfulandoverwhelming.Asan academicandsocialspace,there’sa lotofpressureonstudentstoperform tothebestoftheirability.Burnoutis somethingweseeoncampusnearly everyday.It’saformofphysicaland emotionalexhaustionasaresultof overworkingoneself,anditcanoften leadtoincreasedanxietyand depression.Foralotofstudents, there’sanotherissuethatstudentlife simulates,andthat’ssensory overload.

WhatisSensoryOverload?

Sensoryoverloadcanaffectusall,but itcanbemomentarilyworldshatteringtoneurodivergentpeople, suchasthosewithautism,ADHD, andPTSD.So,wehaveourfivemain senses:touch,taste,smell,sight,and sound.You’reinalecture,laptopor notebookready,whensomeone behindyouhasasqueakychair. Everytimetheymove,whichseemsto bealot,there’sthemostear-piercing

soundoverpoweringeverythingelse. Yourlectureristalking,butyoucan’t concentrateontheirvoice,onlythe squeaking.Yourbraincan’thandle thissuddeninput,andgoesintopanic mode.Maybeyou’reinastudyroom, andalightstartsflickering,people besideyouarewhisperingincredibly loud,orsomeone’sjustsprayeda wholecanofthemosteye-watering bodysprayyou’veeversmelt. Everyonecanbeannoyedbythese things,butforthosethatexperience sensoryprocessingdisorders,these supposedly“little”thingscantrigger anemotionalresponse.

“Dealing”withit

Wecanoftentalkourselvesinto mantraswhereweconcludethatthe issueisnobigdeal,andthatit’llpass, andwecangetoverit.Wefailto recognisehowimportantitistobe kindtoourselvesandalleviateour stressors.

Forpeoplethatexperience

sensoryoverloadregularly,itcanbe helpfultodeterminetriggerfactors. Thisiseasiersaidthandone,butit canbeusefultokeepajournal, notepad,orevenusethenoteson yourphonetorecordwhenandhow youaretriggered.Don’ttrytodothis whenyou’reinthemiddleofapanic attack,waituntilyou’recalmanduse itasareflectiveexercisetobetter understandyourself.

Often,removingthestressorisa possibility.Personally,Ifindsounds tobeincrediblydistressing,soI decidedtoinvestinapairofearplugs. Somepeoplemayfindthatlistening tomusicmayhelpdrownoutthese triggeringnoises,butforothersthis justincreasestheimpactofthe trigger.Ifapersonisthecauseofthe trigger,thenwecanpolitelyaskthem tostopwhatitisthattheyaredoing, ortobemindfulthatwhattheyare doingisupsettinganotherperson. Makingthepeoplearoundyouaware ofyourtriggerscanbeahealthyway toestablishboundariesthatwillhelp youintheireverydaylife,whilealso showingthatyoucantrustsomeone toaccomodateyou.Ifsomeone refusestorespectyourboundaries, thenperhapstheyaren’tsomeoneyou shouldbespendingtimewith.When

wecan’tremovethestressor, however,that’swhenit’stimeto removeourselvesinstead.

Ofcoursethisisn’talwayspossible, butthere’snoshameindoingitwhen itcanbedone.It’seasytoworrythat peoplewillperceivethisasrude,but there’snothingrudeaboutdoing what’sbestforyourself.It’simportant torememberthatnomatterhow intensethesourceofyouroverloadis, youwillbeabletoleaveandcarefor yourneeds.Allowyourselftocancel orrescheduleplansifyoufeel overwhelmed,andlearntomake accommodationsforyourself.Evenif youcan’tleavealecture,ashift,ora busrideearly,youwilleventuallybe somewhereyoucanrelaxand recover.

SafeSpaces

Onceyou’veremovedyourselffrom thesituation,recoveryisessential.If wekeepmovingfromonetriggerto another,theseinstancesofstressgo unresolvedandpileontopofeach other.Thiscanthenleadtoburnout, andifyou’reastudent,chancesare you’veenoughofthattobedealing withalready.

FEATURES

Identifyingsafespaceswhereyoucangoand alleviatethisstressisanimportantpartofcaringfor yourneeds.Perhapsit’sassimpleasgoinghome andclimbingintobed.Ifyouexperience understimulation,perhapstalkingitoutwitha friendisenoughforyoutorecover.Stim-toyscanbe agreathelpinthesesituations,andwhileweseethe trendsoffidgetcubes,fidgetspinnersandpop-its comeandgo,theyareimportanttoolsthatcanhelp alleviatestressinthesesituations.

Acrosscampusthereareafewspotsdedicatedto beingwind-downzonesforstudents,andafew morespotsthatI’vefoundtobesafe-havenson thosestressfuldays.Forincomingstudents,I’dlike togothroughafewofthesespots:

CalmZone

TheCalmZoneorAnCeantarCiúinisaspace designedforthosewhoexperiencesensory overload,inparticular(thoughnotlimitedto)those withautism.Thespacewascreatedaspartofthe AutismFriendlyUniversityInitiative.TheCalm ZoneiswheretheOldBaroncesat,andhasbeen redesignedtoincludedifferentspacesthatcanhelp studentsinavarietyofways

OpenPlanArea:Theroomisequippedtokeep noiselevelslow.Therearedifferenttypesofsoft seatingthatcanbemovedbyindividuals.Workshop Space:Thisspaceincludesbeanbags,andyoga mats.Whennotinuse,thedoorsareopentoserve asanextensionoftheopenplanarea.Whenthe spaceisinuse,thedoorsareshuttokeepsound

levelsataminimum.Workshopsonwell-beingand stressmanagementaredeliveredhere.Sensory Rooms:Therearetwosensoryroomsinthecalm zone.Studentscanadjusttheseroomsbydeciding lightinglevels,addingcolouredlights,playing music,orbywearingnoise-cancellingheadphones. SensoryRoom1canbeusedbyseveralpeopleat once.Herestudentscandimlights,andusethe providedbean-bagstowinddown.SensoryRoom2 issmalleranddesignedstrictlyforoneortwo people.Studentscancustomiselightinginthisroom tofullymeettheirneedsandstimulatethesensory experiencetheyneed.

RespiteRooms:Finallytherearetworespiterooms thatcanbebookedbystudentswhoareregistered withDSS.Theseroomsallowstudentstoeatand restinacalmenvironment.Thisspaceincludesdim lightingandsoundiskeptlow.Thesespacesare importantforthosewithsensoryissues,butalsofor thosewhoexperiencemigrainesorepilepsy.

SensoryGarden

BehindtheO’RahillyBuilding,acrossfromthe StudentUnionCommonroomandDisability SupportServices,isasmallsensorygarden.The gardenhasasmallpathwithtallfoliageprovidinga littlebitofprivacy.

Student’sUnionCommonRoom

Whilenotasensoryspace,thecommonroomallows studentstowinddownwithsomeboardgames, videogames,andteaandcoffee.Eventsand

activitiesareoftenheldinthisspace,butinbetween theseitcanbealovely,calmenvironment.

Chaplaincy

AcrosstheroadfromtheStudent’sUnionisthe chaplaincy.Thisspaceisdesignedtoletstudents winddowninbetweenclasses.

Thereareopportunitiesforstudentstoengagein reflectionortalktoaChaplain,butotherwiseitisa quietspacewherestudentsareprovidedwithtea, coffee,andsomeboardgames.

TheGlucksman

Whilenotanobvioussensoryspace,Ihaveusedthe Glucksmanafewtimestotakeabreatherwhen thingsgetalittletoomuch.Whetherthat’sjust sittingonthebenchesoutside,whicharehidden frompassers-by,orwanderingthroughthegallery, it’saquietspaceawayfromcrowdsofpeople.Also, it’sacoolgallery.

Itcanbefrustratingwhensensoryissuesgetinthe wayofcollegelife.Thisiswhyit’simportantthat universitiesmakeaccommodationsforstudents,so thateveryonehasequalaccesstothird-level education.

UCChasdoneagreatjobandmadecampus accessible,thougheveryoneplaysapartinmaking theworldasafe,accessiblespaceforthemselvesand forothers.

COLLEGE

THEFEAROFFAILURE&FRIDAYNIGHTLIGHTS

I’vebeenwatchingalotofFriday NightLightsrecently.Overthe courseoffiveseasons,I’vefollowed theexploitsoftheresidentsofthe fictionaltownofDillon,Texasasthey cheeronthebeatingheartoftheir community,theirhighschoolfootball team.Theshowtackledvariousissues andthemesbeforewrappingupits runin2011,butonequestioncropped uprepeatedlyastheteenage charactersascendedthroughhigh school–whataboutcollege?

Unconcernedwiththeminutiaeof collegelife,charactersarelargely writtenoutastheyageoutofhigh school,theshowfocusesmoreon whatcollegerepresents.ForBrian

'Smash'Williams,withdreamsof makingitbigandgivingbacktohis mother,orLukeCafferty,desperately wantingtobreaktraditionandleave thefamilyfarmbehind,collegeisthe promiseofa“wayout”.Forthem,and manyothers,thewayoutisacollege degreeleadingtoajoband,hopefully, acareer.TheHigherEducation Authority’sgraduateoutcomessurvey fortheclassof2020showedthat76 percentofhighereducationstudents intheclassof2020hadjobsnine monthsaftergraduation,while14per centwerepursuingfurtherstudy. However,thewayoutmayalsobe morethanacareerpath.

Collegecomeswiththepotentialfor

reinvention.Maybeyouhatedyour secondaryschoolbecauseitwasa pettyenvironmentbasedonnarrow notionsofconformity.Ifso,welcome tothirdleveleductaion.Herethereis nouniform,norulessurrounding bodymodificationsormakeup,no principalbreathingdownyourneck onthelookoutforanyminisculestep outofline;youcanbeanyoneyou want.Personaldiscoverydoesnot havetostopwhenyougraduate,but universityisaspaceuniquelyripefor experimentation.Tryondifferent clothes,opinions,musictastes;take themoffwhentheynolongerserve you.Thedesireforchangeiswhat drivesTyra’scharacterinFriday NightLightsandultimatelyformsthe centralargumentofhercollege application.Tyrahasdreamsand desiresthathingeonthe“possibility thatthingsaregoingtochange”

offeredtoherbygoingtouniversity.

Thetransitiontouniversitycanbea difficultone.Awayfromhomeforthe firsttimeandthrownintoclasseswith hundredsofstudents,itcanbe overwhelmingtryingtofigureout wheretobeginincraftingyour collegeexperience.Mymost importantpieceofadviceisthis:You cannotdoitalone.Theimageofan academicinthezeitgeistisasolitary one.Thescientistputtinglonghours inatthelab,theresearcherholedup behindstacksofbooksinthelibrary, thestudentcramminguntilthecrack ofdawnonexamday.Whenitcomes downtothewire,totheexams themselves,you’reonyourown.This isnottherealitytherestofthetime. Incollegeyou’resurroundedby peoplewhoaregoingthroughthe exactsamethingyouare–the

FEATURES

lectures,thedeadlines,the uncertainty.ThankstoCOVID, muchofoursocialisationoverthe pasttwoyearshasbeenrelegatedto screens,butUCCisbackinfull swingthisyear.Lecturesarebackin person,andit’snotjustfirstyears beinggreetedbystranger’sfaces. Taketherisk.Gatherthecourageto reachoutthroughtherandomnessto someoneyoumayneverhaveseen before.Whetherit’sjoiningaliteral teamthroughoneofthemanyclubs, gettingstuckinwithasociety,or formingfriendshipsinourcourses, we'reallinthistogether(*cue singingandcheesyHighSchool Musicaldancemoves*).

Foranarrativewherecollegelooms onthehorizon,FridayNightLights doesnotshyawayfromthereality thatcollegeisnotforeveryone.Tim Riggins,theunfailinglyloyal fullback,goestocollegebecauseit’s whatisexpectedofhim,becausehis

brothernevergotto,becausehe’s fastandstrongandcanplayfootball andthat’swhatyoudoinTexaswhen you’refastandstrongandcanplay footballandtheuniversitiescome knocking.Hedoesn’tlastasemester. There’snonarrativecomeuppance forthis,nopunishmentorpresenting Timasafailure.Collegesimply wasn’ttherightpathforhim.

ThereisapervadingsenseinIrish secondaryschoolsthattheLeaving Certificateistheend-allandbe-all, thatwhatyouchoosetostudyin collegewilldefineyoufortherestof yourlife.Alongwiththeunspoken assumptionthateveryonewillgoto college,thispresentsseventeen-and eighteen-year-oldswiththenear insurmountablefeatofknowing whichcareerisbestforthem.This pressurepresentscollegeasan obligation.

Thebareminimumlipserviceispaid

toalternativeroutes.Thisover-focus onuniversityiswhyIrelandhasone ofthehighestdropoutratesamong firstyearsinEurope,thoughtherate issteadilydeclining.Withadecrease from16percentalmost10yearsago tojust9percentamongnewentrants in2019-2020andtheapprenticeship populationincreasingto24,212with arecord8,607newregistrationsin 2021,thiscultureofpresenting collegeasaonesizefitsallpathway foreveryonemayfinallybewaning.

Regardlessoftheirthoughtson college,whethertheygoornot,or whattheywanttodoafterwards,the charactersthatpopulateDillonall wantsomething–tobepromoted,to getthegirl,towintheState Championship.Wantingsomething isscary.Tryingisdownright terrifying.

Theshowitselfacknowledgesthis whenTyraadmitsherfearthat

“wantingwouldleadtotryingand tryingwouldleadtofailure.”Asa perfectionistwhograppleswith impostersyndrome,Iknowfirsthandhowvisceralandparalyzing thatfearoffailurecanbe.Maybe that’swhyamaelstromof bittersweet,heart-achinghopefills mychestaftereveryepisodeof FridayNightLights.

Thiscoach,hisboysandtheirtown continuallyshowupforeachother, demandmoreofeachotherand nevergiveup.Coachthrowsthe gauntletdownathisplayers'feet:be better.Notjustonthefootballfield, butinlife.Sometimestheysucceed. Sometimestheydon't.Eventhen, whentheyfallshortofthestandard they'recapableofreaching,itdoesn't erasetheirvaluebacktozero.

It'snotaboutbeingthebest,not really.It'sabouthavingthecourage totry.

THEFIRSTDAY

THEEXPRESSTEAMREMINISCEONTHEIRFIRSTDAYSATUCC, ANDHOWTHEYOVERCAMETHEIRFEARS

people,andthebeginningofmy studies,allofthesememories contributetoawhirlwindofafirst day.”

It’sdaunting.Theentiretyofyour educationhasledyoutothis. Everyonetellsyouthattheseyears arethemostimportantyearsofyour life.There’ssomuchpressuretohave agoodtime,getgoodgrades,andnot haveabreakdownweekly,that collegebecomessomejugglingact. Everyonegoesthroughtheirfirstyear differently,soIdecidedtoreachout tomembersoftheExpress,andgetan ideaofwhattheirfirstdaysatUCC werelike.

“Iremembertheanticipation,”says Atakan,ourDeputyNewsEditor. “Afterbeingdiagnosedwith Addison’sDiseasein2017,thereality ofgoingdirectlyontothirdlevel educationseemedimpossible. Walkingintotheclassroom,the amountofpeoplewasoverwhelming.

IstartedtoquestionwhetherIwas makingtherightdecisionby embarkingonthisthirdleveljourney. Atthatmoment,Iwasreadytowalk awayandavoidfacingmyfears.ButI stayedandIrefusedtoquit;I survivedmyworstdayincollege.My advicetotheincomingfirstyearsisto takeitonedayataonetime.Myfirst daywasmyworstdayincollege. Everydayafterthatwasbetter.”

Béline,ourOpinionsEditor,says“I rememberhowlivelyandthe atmospherewas,watchingallthe studentssigningupforactivities, queuingforfreebiesandheadingto lectures.Therewassomuch excitementasIwasattendingmy classesforthefirsttime.Fromgetting lostoncampusinthemirror-like buildingoftheORB,meetingnew

Sheadds,“Ihopeallthenewstudents getthechancetomakegreat memoriesfromtheirfirstdayandthat manygreatopportunitiescometheir way!”

GamingEditorLukedescribeshis firstdayasbeing“prettysurreal.”He says,“MyfirstdayatUCCwasn’t actuallyatUCC;itwas2020,soI spentitwatchinganonlinelectureat myhousewithafriendwhowas doingthesamecourse.Idon’tthinkI setfootoncampusaftercollectingmy IDcard.Ayearlater,Iendedup droppingoutandswitchingcourses. Butwecelebratedourfirstday‘at’ collegewithaglassofwhiskey afterwards.”

IwasinthesameboatasLuke.My

firstdayofcollegewasablurina whirlwindofdaysspentstaringata laptopscreen.Panoptocrashedmy veryfirstday,andtherewasnothing Icoulddo.Allmylife,Ihaddreamtof college,andhereIwasstuckathome andfeelingbitter.

Despitethat,Iwasluckytohavemet someotherstudentsonline.Atthe endofsemesterone,wemetinperson forthefirsttime,andwe’veallbeen bestfriendseversince.Icouldn’t prepareforthisdisastrousfirstyear, butImadeitthrough,andthat’swhat counts.

Attheendoftheday,it’snotabout grades,oraboutgettingasplastered asyoucanpossiblyget,orabout beingthemostlovedpersonon campus.Ifyou’reafirstyear,thenjust gettinghereisanincrediblefeat,and youshouldbeproudofyourself. Lookafteryourself,andthatwayyou cantrulyenjoycollege,forallitsups anddowns.

FEATURES

YOURSEPTEMBER

HOROSCOPE

WRITES COLMOFTHECOSMOS MANINTHESTARS

ARIES (MAR21ST–APR19TH)

It’sSeptember,andyouknowwhat thatmeans:disease.Germsfromall overthecountryareconveningat UCC,themumpscapitalofIreland. Youcantryandavoidit,butit’syou versusGod.Youmayaswelljustget onwithitandembraceyournew, lowerstandardofhealth.Appeasethe spiritsbygettingyourfreeMMR boosterfromthestudentmedical centre.

Taurus (Apr20th–May20th)

MovementsofSaturnmeanthat you’regoingtobedoingprettybadly inyourassignments,unfortunately. Yes,collegejuststarted.Yes,you probablyhaven’tsubmittedany assignmentsyet.Don’tworry,though. It’llhappen.Thebadgradeswillfind you.You’dbeshockedatthethings thatcanbedonetoyourSummer ExaminationsRecordafterthefact.

Gemini (May21st–June21st)

Conflictisinyourfuturethismonth, whichmeansyou’vegottogetthe droponthoseruffiansbeforetheyget youfirst.Nexttimesomeoneeven remotelydispleasesyou,startafight. Resorttoviolence.Whenyou’re arrested,showthemthishoroscope andthey’llletyougo.(Trustme.)

Cancer (June22nd–July21st)

You’llbeinjectedwithconfidence andbraverythisweek,andit’sagreat timetotrynewthings.Trygrabbing thaturaniumfromtheKane.Takeout yourphoneattheHigh-B.Buythe dehydratedsalamifromTesco.Takea bite.Luckisonyourside.

Leo (July22nd–Aug21st)

It’satimeforchangeinyourlife,and UCCisagreatplacetoembracea new,sexyformofpoliticalextremism. It’suptoyouwhethertoswingleftor right,buteitherway,setyour FacebooktobevisibletoFriends Onlybeforethepeopleyourespect startpostingpassive-aggressive memesaboutyourviews.Yourlucky politicalmovementofthemonth:drug decriminalisation.

Virgo (Aug22nd–Sept22nd)

Thestarsareshiningbrightforyou thismonth,andyournatural attractivenessandcharmwillcome through.Strangersonbusesallacross Corkarelookingatyouandidly wonderingwhereyougotyourshoes. HavefunatNewBar,butdon’tforget thattoomuchoftheshiftatUCCwill giveyoumumps.

Libra (Sept23rd–Oct22nd)

You’vebeenstuckinarutforalong time,andit’stimeforyoutopush yourself.Joinasociety,goout dancing,dotheassignedreading. PleasestopplayingTheSims4. You’rejustgoingtoplayitforaweek anddropit.Andplease,uninstallthe modwiththedirtydancing.Youdon’t needitinyourlife.

Scorpio (Oct23rd–Nov21st)

You’vewonaBRANDNEWCAR! (Termsandconditionsapply.)

Sagittarius (Nov22nd–Dec21st)

Thismonth,youshouldkeepyour headdownandstaysteady.Don’tdo anythingcrazy.Thinkbeforeyouact. Thestarsareouttogetyou,and they’rehuge,burningballsofgas biggerthanplanets,soyou’renot goingtowanttostrikeoutonthis one,trustme.

Capricorn (Dec22nd–Jan20th)

You’llbeimbuedwithvitalityand energythismonth,butremember,you can’tsurvivesolelyonadietofpasta andketchupforever.Thescurvywill catchupwithyoueventually.Try channellingyournewpassionintothe Mardyke.Don’tmindthelooksthe oldpeopletheregiveyou:remember, theyhavetopayforitandyoudon’t.

Aquarius (Jan21st–Feb19th)

Yourfortunethismonthistoo raunchytoputonpaper,butletitbe said:UCCwon’ttreatyourinjuries forfreeunlessyouinjureyourself playingforaclub,soyourtimetojoin theTae-Kwon-Doclubisswiftly approaching.Tryingtoexplainhow yougotthoseinjuriessparringwillbe humiliatinganddifficult,butdon’t worry:thetruthisgoingtobeworse.

Pisces (Feb20th–Mar20th)

You’lltrytoattendtheUCCAn Chuallachtevents(theIrishlanguage society)andmakeafoolofyourselfin frontofalltheGaeilgeoirs,butdon’t worry:it’snotyourgraspoftheIrish language.It’syourpersonality.You maybeanainmhíallta,butyou’re fromnoteochrasa.

Withsemesteronewellunderwayby now,weattheSkillsCentrehope everyoneissettlinginwell.

Weintroducedourselvesinthelast editionasateamofstudentsandstaff dedicatedtoprovidingapositive student(andstaff!)experienceacross alluniversitydisciplinesthroughour peer-to-peerworkshopsandone-toonesessions.Thecoreobjectiveof thesesessionsistoenhancestudent learninginacollaborative environmentandhelpyoutodevelop theskillsyouneedtosucceedin professionalanduniversitysettings.

Everyyear,theSkillsCentre publishesaroadmapforsuccess, wherebytimelyskillsareintroduced tostudentsthroughoutthesemester.

Thefirststopsonthisroadmap concern beingacollegestudent,managing yourtimeeffectively,andnavigatinglecture material/recommendedreadings.Tohelp youdeveloptheseskills,wehost workshopsonTimeManagement, GoalSettingandMotivation,Note Taking,andClassroomEtiquette.

Atthispointinourroadmap,wewish toshowyouthatgoodorganisation andrealisticgoalsettingcanmake yourlifeinuniversitysignificantly easier.Furthermore,weillustratehow goodorganisationgoesgreatlywith

notetaking,reading,andstudyskills. Inthisregard,weprovideworkshops which:

[1]Introduceyoutotechniquesthat canhelpyoumanageandbalance youruniversity,social,andworklives.

[2]Provideguidanceontackling collegeworkwhenmotivationislow.

[3]Illustratevariousmethodsofnote taking,alongsidehowtoorganise thesenotestoformstudyaidsand howtoreadforuniversity.

Theseworkshopsshowthat developingtheskillsofgood organisationandmethodicalnote takingearlyinthesemesterputsyou inagreatpositiontosucceedinexams andassessments.Ourworkshopsare runweekly,andiftimetablesclash, youcanalwaysavailofaone-to-one session,soitisnevertoolatetojoin us.

Inthese,tutorsworkcollaboratively withyouonanyissueyoumaybe havingregardinguniversitylife. Currentlyonourroadmap,wehave reachedanewstop.Thisstop concernseverythingtodowith assignments.Everyassessmentstarts withaquestionwhichyoumust answer.Often,thesequestionsare

nuanced,complicated,andmultifaceted.Subsequently,throughour workshopsweprovideguidanceon howstudentscanunpackthese questionsandevaluate precisely what theyarelookingfor.Additionally,we showyouthatoncethisisachieved, planningyouressaybecomesmuch morestraightforward,andwegive youthetoolsnecessarytoexcelatthis planning.

Onceyouunderstandyouressay question,thenextstepistostart writingananswer.However,writing inuniversityinvokesanalien, unfamiliarstyleofwritingknownas academicwriting.Thevocabularyyou use,thewayinwhichyoustructure yoursentences,andhowyououtline yourparagraphsallrequirecareful considerationwhenbuildingan academicargument.Asaresult,we provideacomprehensivescopeof workshopsonacademicwriting,essay structuring,andconstructingan argument.Theseworkshopsprovide

studentswiththebuildingblocks necessarytoexcelatessaywritingin university.Ifyoulikethesoundof these,andthinkyoucouldusethe help,Iurgeyoutobookinfora session,orpopinforachat.Allour upcomingworkshopsareinQ-1inthe library,andtofindusyoujustfollow theyellowfootsteps.Ifyoucannot findtimetodropby,thatisperfectly fine,followusonFacebook,Twitter, orInstagram@UCCSkills. Alternatively,youcancontactus throughourwebsite.JustGoogle UCCSkillsCentre.

Asmentioned,weareapproachingthe stageofourroadmapwhere assignmentsareonthehorizon. Subsequently,wehavenumerous workshopscomingupwhichwill provideyouwiththefoundations neededtoexcelinthese.Belowisa sample,andamorecomprehensive calendardetailing all ourworkshop schedulescanbefoundonour website.

PHOTOSBYJACKMURPHY PHOTOGRAPHER

GIVINGPOWERTO THEWRONGPEOPLE ONSOCIALMEDIA

WRITESBÉLINECHAN OPINIONEDITOR

Technologyisevergrowingand improving,andthereisnodenying thatithasinfluencedthewaywe viewsocietyandpeople.

Whilesocialmediacanhavea positiveimpactandenablescreators tosharetheircreativeideas,thereare alotofnegativesthatcomealong withit.Oneofthebiggestissuesthat wefacewhenitcomestosocialmedia isthepowerthatnegativeinfluencers have.Influencersusesocialmediaas theirplatformtosharetheiropinions andideas,whilegaininganaudience andbenefitting(usuallyfinancially) fromit.Unfortunately,thesepublic figuresarenotallpositive.Arecent controversywhichhasgained immenseattention,whichI’llbe discussingasanexample,isthe AndrewTatesituation.Tate’svideos sparkedoutrageonlineduetohis misogynisticandviolentopinionson

howtotreatwomen,whichbecame widelypopularonvariousapps.He hasessentiallyusedsocialmediaasa meansofraisinganarmyof misogynisticandviolentmen.Tate postedvideosonsocialmedia platformssuchasTikTok,YouTube andhispodcast.Ihavewatchedhis controversialvideosforthesakeof thisarticleandherearesomeofthe harmfulthingshehassaidabout women:

[Triggerwarning:hatefulandviolent speechtowardswomen,mentionof sexualassault]

“It’sbangoutthemachete,boomin herfaceandgripherbytheneck”. Tateexplicitlydescribeshowwomen shouldbetreatedifmenarecheated on.Thisso-calledadviceisviolent andisnotanappropriatenorrational

waytotreatsomeoneforbeing unfaithful,yetithasbeennormalised byhisfollowersonlineandhehas beenpraisedfordoingso.

“Ithinkthewomenbelongtothe man”.Tatebelievesthatmenown women,andthattheyhavetheright todoso.Heseeswomenasnothing morethanproperty,andproperty thatmenhavetherighttoownand control.Byspreadingtheseideas, he’slettinghisfollowersbelievethat menshouldbeincontrolofwomen, andthatwomenshouldlivesilently withthis.

“Ifyou’renotgoingtohavechildren, whatareyougoingtodowithyour lives”,“WhenIspeaktosomeofthese feministswho’relike‘Idon’twant kids’,Ithinkyouarethemost miserablestupid[_]intheworld”. Tate’smentalityisridiculouslyonesidedandbackwards,ashebelieves thatallwomenshouldstayathometo cleanwhilethemengoouttowork, asifthereisnoimportancewhenit

comestowomenhavingcareers.He thinksthatallwomenshouldhave childrenandthatit’sselfishtonot havethem.Asidefromthefactthat womenhavetherighttonotwantor havechildren,hehasn’teven consideredthefactthatnoteveryone isintherightsituationormindsetto havechildren,duetosocial,mentalor financialsituations.

Therearealsomanywomenwhoare happybeinghousewivesastheirown choice.ButtheissueisthatTate doesn’twanttogivewomenthat choice.Hebelievesthatit’samust. Everythinghesaysisone-sided,but hebelievesthatheisfair,eventhough hedehumaniseswomen.Women can’twork,butmencan.Women shouldclean,andmenshouldn’t. Womenaren’tcapableofbeing successfulbutmenare.

Hewantstotakethefreedomaway fromwomenandistryingtofind everyreasontoconvinceusthatthis isthewaythingsshouldbe,even

thoughthereisnowaytojustifythis. Tateissofixatedongenderandthe non-existent“rules”thateveryonehas tofollow,thatheisn’tabletothink rationally.

ItisevidentbynowthatTatehassaid avarietyofhurtfulandinappropriate thingsaboutwomenand unfortunatelyhehasnolimit.Hehas explicitlyexplainedforvarious reasons,astowhyheprefersyounger girls(19yearolds)tosomeoneolder orhisage“She’sfreshandIcanput myimprintonher”.Heuses predatory,vulgarandexplicit languagewhenhespeaksabout women,andhegenuinelybelievesthat whathe’ssayingiscorrect.Ontopof this,hebelievesthat“Ifyouput yourselfinapositiontoberaped,you mustbearsomeresponsibility”and that“I’mnotarapist,butIlikethe ideaofjustbeingabletodowhatI want”.

Consentisclearlynotsomethingheis capableofunderstanding,andheis teachinghisfollowersthatit’sokayto ignoreit.Thisisaseriousissue,as womenarealreadyatahigherriskof experiencingdomesticviolence,abuse andsexualassault.Thisisteaching menthattheyhavetherightto women’sbodies,thattheyhavethe righttobeviolenttowardswomen, andthatvictimsofsexualassaultare

theonestoblame.Itissimply incomprehensible.

“Womencannotcompeteatthelevel mendo”“Lifeasamanisfarmore difficultthanlifeasawoman.”Tateis fixatedoncomparinggenderroles, whichleadsmetobelievethathewas broughtupinanenvironmentwhere toxicmasculinitywasinstilledinhim, orhewasputdownfornotbeing masculineenough.

HisfollowershighlypraiseTateforhis ‘advice’anddeclaretheiradmiration loudlyonlinewithcommentssuchas “Thisguyisspreadingsomuch wisdomtotheworld.Trulyinspiring” and“Tateisincrediblyintelligent,his perspectiveonlifeisadmirable”.

Thequestionis,whyweren’this videostakendownimmediately?Why washeallowedtocontinuouslypost contentlikethisontheinternet?

Followersgivehimviewsand comments,inturngivinghimmore attention.Whetherthecommentson hisvideossupporthimornot,his videosgainmorepopularityandstart totrend.Thereactionssuchasshares, likesandcommentsboosthis popularityonline,andallowhimto spreadhatefulvideoslikethis.But whyarepeoplelookinguptohim? Whyissomeonewhoisspreading

harmfulideasbeingseenasan influencer?Tate’svideosaregenerally directedatmen,givingthem“advice” onhowtotreatwomeninorderto becomea“real”man.It’sclearthatthe fanswhofollowhimareinsecurewith theirmasculinity,andfeeltheneedto provethatthey’rea“realman”by controlling,dominatingand mistreatingwomeninordertobeseen asauthoritative.

Whenvideoslikethisareplastered overallsocialmediaplatforms,it reachesanaudienceofallages,and whenyoung,impressionablemenare beingrecommended“advice”videos formenwhoaregoingthrougha periodofinsecurity,thisiswhatthey trulybelieveisright.Hisviewerssee how“successful”heiswithhis numerousgirlfriends,hiswealthand hisoveralllifestyle,andbelievethat theycanreachorachievewhathehas, bymistreatingwomen.Peopleon socialmediacanbetooeasily influencedandaremadetobelieve thattheycanachievetheir“dream life”byfollowinghisviolentand misogynisticways.

Tatepurposelytargetedyoungmen whowerestrugglingwiththeirselfesteem,andbecamearole-modelto them.Thiserasesanysortofrational thinkingfortheaudience,astheyare desperatetoreachthesuccessand

levelofhappinessthatTatehas, ignoringtheredflagsthatarebeing ingrainedinthem.

WheninfluencerslikeTategaina supportivecommunity,ontopofbeing inthespotlightforcontroversy,the attentionequalssuccessforboththe influencerandthesocialmediaapps.

SocialmediaplatformsandTate benefitedfromthecontroversythathe created,whichledtotheprolonged banningofTatehimselffromsocial mediaplatforms.Ultimately,the viewers,thefansandthesocialmedia platformsthemselves,allcontributeto thesuccessandpowerof inappropriateinfluencers,whichcan spreadharmfulideastoviewers. Socialmediaplatformsmusthave stricterrulesinplaceforinfluencers, aspublicfiguresshouldn’tbegettinga bypassfortheirbehaviourjust becauseoftheirsocialstatus.

Ifvideosmadebyproblematic influencerswereregulatedmoreoften, theninappropriateinfluencersthat senddangerousmessagescouldbe minimised,insteadofplatforms benefitingfinanciallyfromharmful controversies.

TAISTEALSANEORAIP

EAGARTHÓIRGAEILGE

Taréisuairnapaindéime,bíonnan chuidismóagainnagiarraidhníos mótaistiladhéanamh,ama chaithfearigcathrachagleoite,agus áiteannanuaathaisceáladh. Caitheannanairteagailseosolasarsé áiteannaáillesanEoraipabhíonn iontachadonalaethantasaoire.

DúnÉideann

MullachnahAlban,iscathairfíorcháiliúilabhuíochasasangcaisleán mórilárnacathrach.Nuaira shroichfearanchathair,feictearan caisleándochreidte.Suiteag deireadhdenMíleRíoga,le HolyroodPalaceagandeiridheile, bíonnanmhíleseosaibhirlestair. Mholfainnturasleisclostreoraía thógáilsadááit,cuirfeartrínó ceithrehuairearandtaobhchunna turasannaseoadhéanamh.Ina theanntasin,bíonnna‘GuruWalk

FreeTours’’inDúnÉideannden chéadscothchunníosmóeolaisa fháilfaoinchathairagusbeartanó firicífánachaafhoghlaimfaoinMíle Ríogaagusanchathairnuachomh maith,cosúillescéalGreyfriars Bobby.Agdeireadhanturais,íocfar anméidacheaptaratáceart. Mholfainncuairtathabhairtar ArdeaglaisSt.Giles’agusPrinces StreetGardenstaréisanturais.

Chunnaradharcannaisaoibhinna fháildonchathair,mholfainnCalton Hilladhreapadh.Níthógannséach deichnóiméadchundulsuasaran gnocsin.Feictearnaseanshéidchomharthaíarbharranchnoic, agusbíonnradharcdeasanngo Arthur’sSeat.

MábhíonnsuimagatArthur’sSeata dhreapadh,tabhairleatdobhróga reatha,agusbacheartcúplauaira’ chloigachurgoleataobhchundul suasagussíosancnoic.Anuasairsin,

bíonnradharcannaáillelefeiceáilas díonCameraObscura,tarraingt turasóraleiomhánnaoptúlaargach úrláragusdíonspásmhararbun.

IsféidireitiltgoDúnÉideanngo fuiristanois,bíonnroinntdeiseanna annchunláamháincomhlíontacha chaitheamhsachathair,nódeireadh seachtaine,nóníosfaide.

Smaointeeilenáláachaitheamhi nGlaschú,cathairnachbhfuilach dháuairóDhúnÉideannaranmbus. Bíonnroinnttarraingtturasóra,mar shampla,anArdeaglais,an Necropolis,Kelvingrove,agus FinniestonCrane.

Mábhíonngrádonspórtagat, tabhairtcuairtarMurrayfieldinDún Éideanndonrugbaí,agusCelticnó RangersinGlaschú.

FéacharCathkinParkchomhmaith, áitinabhfaighteartaiseandaraPáirc Hampden.

Bia:MholfainntheScranandScallie dondinnéar.

Lyon

Deirteargombíonnanchathairseo marchathairChorcaísaFhrainc, cathairlánleturasóiríachnach mbíonnagpléascadhleo,mara bhíonnBÁCnóPáras,cathair chairdiúil,aguscathairshaibhirisea í.Cégodtéannanchuidismóchuig PáraschunanEiffelToweragusan ArcdeTriompheafheiceáil,bíonn níosmóledéanamhinLyon,agusi rithantsamhraidh,bíonnanaimsir dochreidte.

Ganaonagó,bíonnséfíorthábhachtachamachaitheamhsa VieuxLyon,anpháirtissinesa chathair.Faightearnasiopaíis suimiúlaagusisuathúlaansin.Bíonn ArdeaglaisSaintJean-Baptistein Vieux-LyonagusalánBouchon, bialannatraidisiúntaLyonnaisann. SuasVieuxLyon,seasannan BasiliqueNotredamedeFourvière agusanáitálainnFourvièreina bhfuilanLugdunumagustaise Rómhánach.Bíonnmúsaemden chéadscothanninaiceleisan Lugdunum,deischuntúsgodeireadh naRómhánachiLyonafhoghlaim.

Taréisduitbheithagsiúlsan Ardeaglais,molaimgurcheartdulin aicenaardeaglaiseagféachaintanuas arParcdesHautreschunanradharc dochreidteafheiceáil.

Bíonnanmúsaemagbaintleisna Confluencesfíorcháiliúilabhíonn suiteinaiceleisan‘Sponge’agusan ‘Sharpener’,dháfhoirgneamh speisialta,igcruthspúinseagus bioróira.Isféidirleatníosmóeolaisa fháilfaoinanthropolaíochtsa mhúsaemsin.Doscoláiríagusdaoine ógaatáagiarraidhdulamacharoíche shóisialta,faightearanclubcáiliúil,

LeSucre,sacheantarsinchomh maith.

Bíonnansnámhmarspórtmórsa Fhraincagusbíonnlinnesnámha iontachalefáilsachathair,goháirithe CentreNautiqueTonyBertrand.Má bhíonntúaglorgsnámhiloch,tógan buschuigGrandParcMiribel Jonagechunsnámhsalochagusbolg legréinadhéanamharantráinaice leisanloch.InaiceleisanRhonesa chathair,ináitAvenueGrande Bretagne,faighteartrábheagchomh maithchundoscíthaligint.

Mholfainndaoibhsiopadóireachta dhéanamhinWestfieldLaPart-Dieu, foirgneamhsiopadóireachtaollmhór legachbrandaasAdidasgoHollister. Leníosmóná200siopaílehéadaígo troscángobia,bíonnrudanndogach duine.

Mábhíonnsuimagatníosmó taisceálaíochtaadhéanamhtimpeall nacathrach,mholfainndulchuigLa FresquedesCanuts,RainbowStairs, timpeallLaCroix-Rousse,La FresqueVégétaleLumière,La FresquedesLyonnais,agusL’horloge Charvet.Bíonnnafreascónnaden

chéadscoth.

Donadaoinelesuimsaspórt,isféidir leatdulchuigcluichesacairag GroupamaStadium,idirOlympique Lyonnaisagusfoireanneilesa Fhrainc.Bainésintaithíden atmaisféariontachsapháircle suiocháindo80,000.Cosnaíonnna ticéidíissaoire€10.

Bia:MholfainnLaRépubliquedon dinnéar,táanbhialannseosuiteináit lehatmaisféariontach.

Beirlín

Iscathairlánlestairthábhachtaché Beirlínganagó.Mholfainndodhuine taighdeadhéanamhroimhthuras chuigBeirlín.

Anuasairsin,mholfainndulchuigan TVToweragusticéidíafháilchuig barranTVTowerchunféachaintar angcathairagusnaháiteannais suimiúladuitafheiceáilsulaaon thurasóireachttimpeallnacathrach.

Bíonnradharcannaiontachaann,go mórmóragdeireadhanlaenuaira bhíonnanghrianagdulsíos.Isféidir leatféachaintarangcathairirithan lae,agusagdeireadhanlae,agussan oíchechomhmaith.

Araontslí,ceaptargobhfuilna háiteannaseoarnacinnistábhachtaí chuncuairtathabhairtorthu:

A)ArdeaglaisagusOileánan Mhúsaeim

Áitspásmharleroinntmúsaem,agus faightearrudéigindogachduine anso.

B)EastSideGallery

Anpíosaisfaideabhíonnina sheasamhdeFhallaBheirlín.Isféidir siúlinaiceleisagusanealaína bhíonnarnafallaíafheiceáil. Cíoscháinshochtiseaé.

C)GeataBrandenburg

Nageataímóraabhímarshlíisteach saphálásabhíannuairamháin.

D)Reichstag

AnpharlaimintimBeirlín.Tógáildo phasnócártaionnannaischundul isteachagusgodtíbarran fhoirgnimh.

VictoryColumn

IsféidirleatdulisteachsaVictory Column,séadchomharthaacuireadh suastaréisancogaidhidiran DainmhairgagusanPhrúisa chríochnaighsabhliain1964.

Mábhíonntúaglorgionad siopadóireachta,téighchuigceantar Alexanderplatzagusfaightearroinnt siopaídegachsórtansin.Áiteilenach raibhamagamdulchuige,faraorab eaanOlympiastadiom,áitabhí tógthadonaCluichíOilimpeachasa bhliain1936agusaatámarchuidden Olympiaparksaláatáinniuann.

Bia:MholfainnBeimestereiby Lemke,áitcomhaimsearthaan-ghar d’Alexanderplatz.

SmaointeEile

Anraibhafhiosagatnachbhfuil PrágachceithrehuaireóBheirlínar andtraein?Cathairghleoitele foirgneamháille,sráideannalánle siopaícaifeagussiopaí turasóireachta.Bíonnanabhainn

Vltavaan-oiriúnachdonabáidagus naturasannatimpeallnacathrach, faoiCharlesBridgeagusnadroichid eile.

ÁiteileiseaBrugge,atácáiliúilasa habhainnagusacanáil.Mholfainngo hardnaspéireamachaitheamhsa chathairseomábheidhtúsa BhrúiséilnósaBheilg.

Bíonnbialannadeasa,agusalán siopaíseacláideagusbocairítimpeall ancheantair.Níbhíonnséachuairan chloigasanmBrúiséil.Isminica fheicfearbannaceoilagseinmceoil denscotharnasráideanna.

Agdeireadhanlae,táalánáiteanna áilleagusgleoitean-ghardúinnanso inÉirinn.Mholfainngachcathairgo hardnaspéire,mábheidhtúaglorg turasdondeireadhseachtaineamháin nónalaethantasaoirefiú.

Mábhíonnmoltaítaistilagatféin,is féidirleatíadasheoladhchugamd’alt eileabheidhagamníosdéanaísa bhliain.IsdeacairCorcaighashárú, áfach.

ONEPOT WARMERS

WRITESNATHANCAREY FOOD&HEALTHEDITOR

Withasuddenturninweather conditions,thatfamiliarautumnchill hasstartedtosetin.

Thelastfewleavesarebrowningon branchesandfloatingdowntothecold ground.Whispersofrainfilltheairas youmakeyourwayhomeandyou're cravingawarmingmeal,eaten wrappeduponthecouchwatching yourfavouriteshow.

Theonlypartofthisequationthat

hasn’tbeenworkedoutiswhat’son themenu.Insituationslikethesethere isbutonesolution.

One.Pot.Meals.Ormakethatonepotandone-panmeals.Recipeslike thesehavesavedthedayinsomany situationsovertheyears.

Theyaretheperfectmealstoprepare whenyou'retired,havelimited cookingtimeordon’thavetheenergy towashawholebunchofdishes.I’ve

includedbothaonepotandonepan recipeinthisarticletoaddabitof varietywitheachdishfocusingon warmingingredientstohelpkeepyou cosyintheautumnmonths.

Bothrecipesinthisarticlehavebeen designedinawaythatallowseach ingredienttocookeffectivelyand ensuresthatnoelementgets overcooked.

Withsomesimpletimingyoucan createdeliciousmealswithminimal effort.

Beforewegetcooking,asmallnoteon

thekindsofpotsandpansIliketouse fortheserecipes.Heavybottompots suchasenamelledcastironareagreat choice.

Thesepotsheatquicklybutmore importantlyretaintheirheatfarbetter thanathinwalledpot.Thisensures thecontentsofthepotareevenly heatedthroughoutthewholecooking process.

Asforsheetpans,higherwallsarekey. Thesewillensureyouringredients don’tstartslidingoffasyoutakethe paninandoutoftheoven.

WarmingCodCurry

Thisfishcurrymaycometogetherinonepotbutitdoesnotskimponflavour.Arich tomatobasedsauceisspicedwithgroundcuminandcoriandertobuildaperfectbasefor chickpeasandflakywhitecod.

Ingredients

Method

1-Diceonionandaddtopotovermediumheatwithenougholiveoiltocoatthebottom.

2-Cookonionsfor5minutesuntilsoftenedthenaddmincedgarlicandginger.Fryforafurtherminute.

3-Addcurrypowder,cuminandgroundcoriandertothepotandstirconstantlyuntilthespicesarefragrant (about30seconds).

4-Addbothcansoftomatoestothepot,reduceheatandbringtoasimmer.Allowtosimmeronmedium-low heatfor10minutesuntilthickened.

5-Usinganimmersionblendergentlyblendthecurryuntilmostofthetomatoeshavebrokendown(youcan skipthisstepifyoulikeachunkiersauce).

6-Zestlemonandaddtopotalongwithonecanofrinsedchickpeas.

7-Carefullyplacecodfilletsintothepot,nestlingthemontopofthesauce.Placealidonthepotandcookfor

8-10minutesoruntilthefishisfullycookedthrough.

8-Gentlystirthroughthefishtakingcaretonotbreakupthefilletstoomuch.

9-Ladleintoabowlandtopwithasqueezeoflemonandsomechoppedcoriander.

10-Thiscurryisamazingonitsownbutifyou’dliketobulkituptryservingwithyourchoiceofriceorgrain.

PiriPiriSheetPanChicken

Aquickmarinadebuiltonthepanitself,2minutesofslicingandasimplejostlebringsthis sheetpandinnertolife.Withsucculentchickenthighs,roastedpeppersandcorncooked allononepan,thismealwillleaveyoufullandwithonlyone(!)traytocleanup.The ingredientshereareveryinterchangeableandmostofthetimeIdon’tevencheckhow muchofeachI’madding.Leftoverbroccolistemsinthefridge?Slicethemupandadd themtothepan!Thisistheperfectwaytouseupleftoverbitsandpiecesfromtheweek.

Ingredients

-4boneless,skinlesschickenthighs (drumsticksalsoworkhere,oracombinationofboth)

-Ahandfulofbabypotatoes

-1redpepper

-1greenpepper

-Onepunnetofcherrytomatoes

-2largecobsofcorn

Marinade

-1tsppaprika

-1tspchiliflakes

-1tsporegano

-2tspbrownsugar

-2limes

-5garliccloves

-1redchili(de-seededifyouwantlessheat)

-Acoupleofglugsofgoodoliveoil

Method

1-Roughlychopgarlicandredchilibeforeaddingtoalargesheettray.

2-Addspicesandsugaralongwiththezestandjuiceoftwolimes.

3-Addenougholiveoiltocreateathinpaste.

4-Checkchickenthighsforanybonesorcartilageandaddtothepan. Massagemarinadeingredientsintothechickenuntileverythingiswell combinedandeverythighiscoated.Ifyouhavetheforesight,andtobuild extraflavour,youcanstickthewholetrayintothefridgeandallowthe chickentomarinateforupto12hours,butcookingstraightawayworksjust aswell.

5-Preheattheovento180degreesCelsius.

6-Roughlychoppotatoes,andpeppersintobitesizepieces,addtotrayand coatinthemarinade.Nestlecornontothetraybeforeseasoningeverything withsaltandfreshlycrackedblackpepper.

7-Placethewholetrayintotheovenandcookfor35minutes.

8-After35minutes,carefullyremovethetray,flipthechickenandcornand nestlecherrytomatoesinbetweentheotheringredients.Youcanleavethem onthevineforeasierplating.Placethepanbackintotheovenforanother 10minutes.

9-Oncecooked,topthetraywithchoppedcorianderandflakysaltforthe perfectfinish.

Asalwaysifyouareinspiredbyormakeanyoftherecipesfeaturedin theExpress,wewouldlovetoseethem!Youcanpostapictureon InstagramorTwitterwiththehashtag#ExpressCooks.

3FILMS

3REVIEWS

WHERETHE CRAWDADSSING

REVIEW

Iwentintothisfilmwithoutany preconceptionsorexpectationsasI hadnotreadthebookoreven watchedthetrailerforit.Isometimes likeapproachingafilmthisway becauseitmeansmyonlyimpression ofthefilmisfromwhatisdirectly presentedinfrontofme.Imustsay, thisfilmcaughtmeoffguardandI founditunexpectedlyenjoyable.

Althoughitcategoricallyfitsintothe ‘thriller’and‘mystery’genres,there wassomethingaboutthepacingand thelandscapesinthefilmthatcreated acomforting,cosysortoffeelingfor me.However,thisisafilmfilledwith theloomingthreatofsomething terribleabouttohappen.

SeeingKayaasayoungchildgrow upinanabusivehousehold, abandonedbyeveryonesheloves,is verydistressing,butthereisan undeniablepowerthatemanatesfrom herdespitehertragicupbringing. Ostracisedandalienatedfromher peersforbeingthe‘MarshGirl’, Kayarejectssocietalnormsandhas anextraordinaryconnectionwith nature.Thisiswhereherpower comesfrom.

Earlyoninhertumultuouslife,Kaya

meetsTateWalkerinthemarsh. Theirromanceistenderand nurturing,andTateseemstotendto Kaya’swoundedinnerchild.Though thelovestoryinthisfilmisbeautiful, itdoesnottakefromthemainplotor thecentrefocus,whichisKayaand howsheisgoingtousehersurvival skillstomakeittoahappyendingin thefilm.Asaviewer,Iwasless concernedaboutTatebeingapartof herhappyendingandmoresoabout whatwouldtrulymakeKayahappy, whichIthinkisacredittothefilm’s abilitytonotdiverttheattention awayfromourfemaleprotagonist withacheaplovestory.Instead,the themeofromanceisgentleand actuallylendstotheoverallstory, whichIappreciated.

DaisyEdgarJonesdoesa remarkablejobofportraying characterswhowalktothebeatof theirowndrum.Shegracefully balancesKaya’svulnerableinner childwithherunwaveringsenseof self.Whiletherewasadangerofthe plotbecomingtooupsetting,with darkthemesandsomegraphicscenes ofviolence,IfoundEdgarJone’s portrayalofKaya’sinnerstrength movingandempowering.Taylor Swiftfeaturesonthesoundtrackwith ‘Carolina',asongshewrote specificallyforthefilm.Featuring Swift’ssongwritingwasaclever choiceassheisknownforhersongs aboutfemaleempowerment,revenge andjustice.Thethemeofjusticeisan importantoneinthefilmasKaya

ELVIS

REVIEW

HowcouldIwrapupthebiggest filmsofthesummerwithout mentioningBazLuhrmann’sElvis? Thisfilmhasbeencritically acclaimed,andtherehasbeenalotof hypesurroundingtheproductionon socialmediawithsnippetsofAustin Butler’sperformancemashedupinto editswithglorifyingmusicoverlaid. WhileIagreewiththemassesthat thereisaveryhighproductionvalue onthisfilm,Iwonderwhetherthe glossinessofitallcouldbepartofits downfall.

facesamurdertrialforthe mysteriousdeathofChaseAndrews. Thereisalotofcomplexityand nuanceinthismurdertrialandI enjoyedthewayKaya’snarration continuouslyrelatedeventsbackto nature.‘Wayoutyonder,wherethe crawdadssing,themarshknowsone thingaboveallelse;everycreature

doeswhatitmusttosurvive’.

Iwouldrecommendyouwatchthis filmifyou’relookingforsomethingto completelytransportyoutoanother worldandtakeyourmindoffreality forawhile.Perhapsyou’lldecidefor yourselfwhetherornottherereallyis adarksidetonature.

ThestoryofElvis’lifeistoldthrough averytaperedlens,whichmarksout Elvisasavictimoftheentertainment industry,exploitedbythevillainof thefilm,ColonelTomParker,whois playedbyTomHanks.Hanksis unrecognisableashedepictsElvis’ managerasanevilringmaster, manipulatingthenaiveElvisinto workinghimselftodeath.Ienjoyed Hanks’sinister,sleazyinterpretation oftheroleasitlendedtotheoverall disturbingundertoneofthefilm. However,IfeelasthoughTom Parkercouldhavebeenplayedwitha bitmoresincerityratherthanthe caricature-esqueperformanceHanks gives.Thatsaid,Ididappreciatethe over-the-topcampnatureofHanks’ acting;hisaccent,prostheticmakeup andlargecigarfitinwiththecircus

themewell.Myconcernisthatthe filmistooblackandwhiteinpointing outwhothegoodguysandbadguys are,insteadoflettingtheaudiencedo somefiguringoutforthemselves.

Thisfilmisaratherglamorous retellingofElvis’life,glossingovera lotofhispastinawaywhichmakesit veryclearthatthisisnota documentaryonthesinger’slifeby anymeans,butmoresoafilmwhich givesnewlifetoElvis’discography andachievements.Ifwelookatthe filmasameanstopromoteand celebrateElvis’successincreatinga revolutionwithhissingingand dancing,thenthefilmdoesa fabulousjobofconveyingthat.There isarealsensethatthemanwasaone

ofakindperformer,anditisexciting tofeellikeyou’rewatchingthereal Elvisinthepeakofhiscareeron stage.Nevertheless,Ithinkit’s importanttorecognisethatthistype offilmismadefroma cinematographicanglethatdoesn’t prioritiseaccuratelyorhonestly portrayinghislife.

AustinButlerhasbeencommended forhismethodactingand‘hypnotic’ performanceinthisfilm.He transformshimselfremarkablywell intothe‘KingofRock’andisvery compellingtowatch.Withthe spinningrecordsandgamblingtable transitions,it’shardnottofeelina trancewhilewatchingthisfilm. Despiteitsfaultsbyveeringtowards caricaturesandglossiness,thefilmis amesmerisingwatchanddoesElvis’ tophitsjustice,givingthemanew life.Nodoubtyou’llbehumming JailhouseRockfordaysafterward.

WRITESROSEMARIEO’BYRNE

FILM&TVEDITOR

FILM&TV

ofakindperformer,anditisexciting tofeellikeyou’rewatchingthereal Elvisinthepeakofhiscareeron stage.Nevertheless,Ithinkit’s importanttorecognisethatthistype offilmismadefroma cinematographicanglethatdoesn’t

prioritiseaccuratelyorhonestly portrayinghislife.

AustinButlerhasbeencommended forhismethodactingand‘hypnotic’ performanceinthisfilm.He

THOR

REVIEW

IfyoucomealongtoseeaThorfilm,you’rehopingforcomedy,actionandabit ofheart.Myexpectationswerehighandthankfully,Thor:LoveandThunder didnotdisappoint.FeaturingthemuchbelovedGuardiansoftheGalaxyteam andloveinterestJaneFoster(playedbyNataliePortman),Thordeliversinthe wholesomedepartmentbyemphasisingthebeautyofloveandfriendships.The soundtrackisupbeatandupliftingandtheoveralltoneispositiveand lighthearted,whichisexactlywhatIwantedfromthisfilm.

However,I’llbehonestandsayIspentthefirsttenminutesofthefilm convincedIhadgoneintothewrongroominthecinema.Thisisbecausethe supervillain,GorrtheGodButcher(playedbyChristianBale)isgenuinely terrifyingandhadmequestioningwhetherIwasinahorrorfilm.

IpoweredthroughmyfearsandIamverygladIdidbecausetherewardsto reapwerebountiful.Nonetheless,Gorrgivesthisfilmadarkedge,andI

transformshimselfremarkablywell intothe‘KingofRock’andisvery compellingtowatch.Withthe spinningrecordsandgamblingtable transitions,it’shardnottofeelina trancewhilewatchingthisfilm. Despiteitsfaultsbyveeringtowards

caricaturesandglossiness,thefilmis amesmerisingwatchanddoesElvis’ tophitsjustice,givingthemanew life.Nodoubtyou’llbehumming JailhouseRockfordaysafterward.

wouldn’tbetooquicktobringchildrenalong(oranyone‘faint-hearted’forthat matter)incaseyou’reexpectingaharmlessfamilyfriendlyadventure.

Whilethisfilmdoesn’trocktheboattoomuchintermsofbreakingnew boundaries,itdoesoffersomefoodforthought.Theideathatthereare problemswithinjurisdictionsystemsandputtingthoseinpoweronpedestalsis presented.Thefilmraisesthequestionaboutwhatasocietyconsidersmost sacred,anditappearstobehealthandchildren.

Thoughthereareheavierthemesofterminalillnessandchildendangerment discussed,thereisanicebalanceofplayfulnessandjokesaswell.Iwouldn’t considerthejokeslaughoutloudmaterial,butthey’reenoughtomakeyou smile,andforme,thisfilmhitthespotbygivingmeanewcomfortwatch.

WiththeloveablegoofinessChrisHemsworthinjectsintothischaracterand charismaticenergyofTessaThompsonplayingValkyrie,Iwouldcategorise Thor:LoveandThunderasafeel-goodfilmthatwouldbegreattowatchasa pick-me-uponagloomynightinasthewintermonthsfastapproach.

LuckilyforanyonewithDisney+,youcanjustopenanewtabandbeginyour watchingnow!

ELECTRICPICNIC

THREEGLORIOUSDAYSINTHEDOLDRUMS

Thereisnosignthatsummerhastruly cometoanendquitelikethe proverbialemailfromthecollegefees officeinformingusthatitstime,once again,toforkoverthedough. However,beforewekeeloverand lapsebackintothatlingeringMonster addiction,theluckiestofuscan transitionintoautumnwiththe behemothofafestivalthatisElectric Picnic.

Throughyellowwindandrain warningsandmudpathsdeepenough tobankruptthewelliesindustry,the hardiestbravedallthreedaysand cameouttheothersideprofoundly changed.Myfestival

experiencestartedwithatraintoLaois fartooearlyonFridaymorning, arrivingathalfeight,surroundedbya fewhundredorsobleary-eyedfestival goers.Whiletheyallstampededforthe shuttlebusestotakethemthe4-mile journeyfor€7each,Iconvincedthree otherCorkonianstoshareataxi betweenthefourofusforthegrand priceof€6apiece.Whatamoney saver!Already,IcanhearRTÉ puttingmyconsumeradviceshowinto development.WearrivedandI quicklyseparatedfromtheladswith suchsweetsorrow.

Goingthroughsecurity,Icouldseea lotofsheepishfacesaroundme,

nervouslyhopingacertainpartoftheir bagwouldn’tgetsearched.Iglanced aheadtocatchsightofmanypeopleon theothersidewhowerenearly collapsingwithrelief.“Sorrylad,we’re checkingeverythirdperson.”the bouncersays.Hegavemeapatdown whichwouldrankveryhighlyin WatchMojo’slistof“Top10Most LacklustreSecurityChecks”.It’sa goodthingtooonaccountofthelitreI hadinmybackpack.Ieventuallymet upwiththerestofmygroupafter walkingforanhourorsotofindthem inthecampsite.TheyhaddrivenandI gotthetrain,soitwasonlyfairthatI carrythetent.Myarmswereaching, butIwashappyjusttofinallylie down.

Everyonearoundmelookedlikethey hadjustcomeofftheredcarpetforthe firstdayofthefestival;alldolledupto

thenines.Certainly,afarcryfromthe welliesandponchocombothatwould veryquicklybethehottestthingto wear.Ierectedthetentwithsuccess.A properonemindyou,withactual waterproofing,notoneofthose glorifiedinstantgazebosthatleakrain likeasieve.Ihadpassedabunchof ladsearlierholdingasignearlierthat said“HavingTroublewithYourTent?

We’llpitchitfor€20!”Ihadinitially smirkedatthethoughtbutlookingat thepuzzledfacesaroundme,Isoon realisedthattheymaygohome millionaires.Weallsettledintothe festivaleasilyenough.Westrolled aroundtostart,exploringtheareaas bestwecould.Withmorethanthirty stagesaroundtheplacewewere spoiledforchoice.Itwaslogisticalhell tryingtodartbackandforthbetween theactsyouwantedtosee.

MUSIC

Iwasdressedlikea1980schildren’stv host,Hawaiian-shirt-cladintheearly daysofSeptemberandwithoutahint ofironyaboutme.Thefirstactwas 100Gecs,anactthatIwasropedinto goingto.Describedasahyper-pop duowithpulsatingenergybythe festivalapp,theybroughteverylast dropofenergytheycouldmuster. Theywereperfectforthemomentas whileeveryonewassettlingin,within twosongstheyhadmanagedtoget everyonethereupanddancinglike theirrelative’skidneydependedonit.

Followingthem,IwenttoWillow,the daughteroffamousRock-SlapperWill Smith.Despitetheaudience’s restlessnessfromwaitingfor“Meet MeatOurSpot,”thesetwentwell. ThePixiesplayedafterinthesame tent,soIstuckaround,clamberingmy waytowardsthefront.Armedwitha newbassist,theygavetheaudience everythingtheywanted,playingallthe hitswhilesprinklinginanewersong ortwohereandthere.

Ihurriedovertothemainstageto catchtheendofMeganTheeStallion’s set.Impressivethoughitwas,Iwas determinedtoseelocalbandTheLove BuzzperformontheMindfieldstage. ItwasasiftheregularpatronsofAn BrógonOliverPlunkettStreethad takenthetripupspecificallyforthat gig.

Onceagain,Iscurriedoffassoonas theyfinishedtoseeDermotKennedy serenade60thousandorsofestival

goerswithhissultrytones.Sensingthe firstdropsofrainonmyshoulderI strolledhomebeforetheworstofit started.Theothersscoffedatmy intentiontoturninatmidnight,butI knewifIwantedtobeabletoeven walktothetrainstationonMonday,I wouldneedtherest.Igotbacktomy tentjustintime,withtherainalready peltingagainstthecanvas.

OnSaturday,myfriendsandIawoke unscathedinourtent,eagertoseethe damagethathadbeendonetoall otherswhohadn’tbeensolucky.We hadn’tgottenmuchsleep.Thetent nexttoushaddecidedtoplayThe Prodigy’sentirediscographythrough theentirenight.Itwasliketryingto fallasleepwhilebeingshoutedatbya slightlymuffledprisonguard.

Thefirstactwesawthatdaywas BeckyHill.Thenumberofgigsshe hasduringthecalendaryearis astoundingandshestillmanagesto putononehellofashow.Thanksto 96FMbeingthedesignatedradio stationduringthedayinapreviousjob Iheld,Iwasfamiliarwithmost,ifnot all,ofherset.Ihadintendedtosee TheseCharmingMenbutinallthe confusion,Imistakenlywenttosee Anne-Marieinstead.“Howbad?”I thoughttomyselfasshefinishedup, havingbeenenjoyablyentertainedfor anhourorso.

TheKooksfollowedonthemainstage. Aftermanagingtosqueezeourwayto thefrontofthepack,theywereonly

reallyplayingforusaswegaveitour all.Toproveit,Imanagedtocatch LukePritchard’sguitarpickwhenhe threwittowardsthecrowd(onaside note,Iamalsocurrentlycharginga eurotoviewthisluxuryitem).

Feelingthelethargy,wetookabreak beforeTameImpala.Theiractwas moreofalightshowaccompaniedby musicbut,nevertheless,theybrought theirA-game.Wewereunfortunate enoughtobestandingnexttoa passionatefanoftheirfirstalbumwho wasevidentlyoftheopinionthat anythingelseshouldbeincinerated. Hewouldthrowfitsofeitherdelight orutterragedependingonwhichsong theychosetoplay.Tomakematters worse,Imadethemistakeofbumping intohim.

Thiswasfollowedbyalectureabout thepurityoftheirolderstuff.Inodded alonglikeyouwouldtoatoddlerwho hasjusttoldyoutheirfavouriteflavour ispurple.

Sundayarrivedingoodspirits.I managedtocatchaphotowitha slightlydisgruntledDavidMcCullagh outsidethepodcastingtentandam currentlychargingatennerfora signedcopy(Mysignaturenot David’s).

Everysinglecamperhadfully committedtothewelliesbythisstage. Withbagsunderoureyesbigenough tocarryourbelongingshome,I

decidedtotakeiteasyinthemorning withaBeachBoyscoverband,agroup ofpiratesperformingsea-shantiesand alittlebitofcrazygolf.Thatevening theraintrulysetin.Throughan almightygale,Ibravedaquadruple billofJoyCrookes,SnowPatrol, KhruangbinandArcticMonkeys.

Therecouldnothavebeenabetter endingtotheweekend.Withthe aforementionedArcticMonkeys playingawhoppingtwenty-onesongs, itwasmorethanthecrowddeserved. Theyplayedahealthymixofhitsand rarelyheardalbumtunestocapoffa fantasticnight.

Thankfully,Mondaymorningcame withclearskies.Hadtherebeenrain, wemayhavecried.Afterpacking everythingupandsayingoursweet goodbyestothefriendswemadealong theway,myfriendandImadeourway tothetrain.

Overall,Icouldnotrecommendthe festivalenough.Itbeingmyfirstone,I canunderstandhowsomeonemightbe turnedoffbytheincessantrainandthe unpredictablenatureofthefestival.

However,atLaoistrainstation,I overheardawomansayingthatthe festivalwoulddefinitelyrankinher top5ElectricPicnicFestivalsthatshe hasbeento.

AllIcouldthinkofwasthatIwanted tobeherwhenIgrowup.

SPEAKINGOFSEX

sex,vulnerabilityandcommunication

Communicationisthefoundationof anyrelationship,andanynumberof thingscanbothpositivelyand negativelyimpacthowwe communicatewithourpartners.Sexis generallyconsideredtobeoneofthe bestwaysofimproving communicationofneedsand boundarieswithinrelationships,butis thisreallyaonesizefitsallconcept?Is sexreallyacontributingfactorinour abilitytocommunicatewithpartners?

Emotionalvulnerabilityisthekeyto communication,andalackof emotionalvulnerabilityisthedownfall ofmanyromanticrelationships.We mayfindourselvesbottlingup anxietiesaboutourrelationshipsfor fearofupsettingapartner,andfind ourselvesdrowninginfearand insecuritywhenwehearapartner laughatsomeoneelse'sjoke.

Vulnerabilitycanbeaterrifying concepttoopenuptoandtoembrace inrelationships.However, vulnerability,asscaryasitsounds,is paramountinallareasofrelationships, frommentalcomforttophysical pleasure.

Butwithallofthatconsidered,why arewesoafraidtobevulnerable?

Vulnerabilityisascaryword, especiallywheninaconversation aboutsex.Whenwehear‘sex’and ‘vulnerability’together,wejump straighttoahorrorstorythatweare allfamiliarwith.Abuseofpower, sexualabuse,andweaponisingthe vulnerabilityofothers.Andit’strue, vulnerabilityisterrifying,butwhat canwedotomakeitlessscary?

Iwouldsayweneedtocontextualise it.Thecontextofphysical vulnerabilityissoimportant,andin thiscasethatvulnerabilityaidsboth yourowncomfortandpleasureand thatofyourpartner.Inmyopinion, thereisnothingsexierthanconsent andcommunication.Communicating yourwants,needs,boundaries,and desirescanbeempowering.Tobe vulnerableinasexualcontextisto takewhatmanyseeaspowerless,and touseittoempowerbothyourselfand yourpartner.

Communicationduringsexisthe biggestkeytopleasureand satisfaction.Theabilitytorelayneeds andboundaries,andtolistentoyour partnerandwhattheywant,isso importantinsafeandconsensualsex. Creatingasafespaceinwhichpeople cansharedesireswithoutjudgement setsatoneofopennessand understandinginotheraspectsofthe relationship,assexisoftenatime

duringwhichpeoplefindthemselves themostvulnerable.Thisbegsthe question,canyourabilityto communicateaboutandduringsex impactyourabilitytocommunicatein otheraspectsofyourrelationship? Studieshaveshownthatthemore comfortablepeoplearewith communicatinginasexualcontext,the happiertheyareinmanyotheraspects oftherelationship.(Babin,Journalof PersonalandSocialRelationships 2013)

Vulnerabilityisallowingyourselftobe seenbyothers,whichmaysound simpleintheory,butisknowntobe verydifficult.Sexitselfputsyouina positionofphysicalvulnerability,a vulnerabilitythatyouaretrustingyour partnerwith.Inahealthyrelationship, thistrustcancarryitselftootherareas oftherelationship,andthistrustand vulnerabilitycancreatenotonlymore thoughtfulandsatisfyingsex,but moremeaningfulandsatisfying relationshipsoverall.

Icouldkeeptalkingabouthow importantitistoallowyourselftobe vulnerableandcommunicatewhenit comestosex,butthatwon’tmakeit easier.Sowhataresomewaysyoucan makeyourselfcomfortablewithbeing vulnerableandcommunicatingwhat youwant?

Theideahasbecomenormalised throughbothpornandmainstream mediathatsexisalwaysperfect,and thatifit’snotabsolutelyperfectthe firsttimeyouhavesexwithsomeone thenthey’renot‘theone’.This, however,isdefinitelynotthecase.It’s ananomalyforthefirsttimetobe perfect,orthesecondorthird.Asa generalrule,sexwithanewpartner startsoutleavingthingstobedesired, andthengetsgood,andthengets reallygood.Regardlessofhowmany timessomeonesaysthey‘knowwhat they’redoing’,theycan’tinstantly knowhowtodothatforyouandvice versa.

Ithinkit’simportanttorememberthat notwopeoplearethesame,andnoone istelepathic.Notwopeoplehavethe exactsamedesiresandfantasies,and boundariesaresoincrediblyimportant todiscusswitheverypersonyouhave sexwith.Sometimeswefeellikewe’re undersomuchpressuretogetitright thatwe’reactuallyscaredtoaskanyof theimportantquestions.Sexasa conceptistiedtoshameforsomany people,andthatmakesmanyofus afraidtoaskifwe’redoingthings right,ortooafraidtotellotherswhat wewouldlikethemtodo.

Despitewhatpeoplemightthink,one oftheworsttimestotalkaboutsexis probablyduringsex.Duringsex,we cangetsoconcernedthattheother personisenjoyingthemslvesthatwe don’twanttoruinthatforthem.Sex probablyalsoisn’tthebesttimetotell yourpartnerthatyouhatethatthing they’vebeendoingformonths,itkills themood.Ifyou’resomeonethat’snot completelycomfortabletalkingopenly aboutsex,that’sokayandthereare alwayswaysitcanberelevanttothe conversation.Evenwhenwatching movies,there’snothingwrongwith asking‘howwouldyoufeelabout that?’duringasexscene.There’s alwaysachanceitcanbeawkward, butasyougoonitbecomeseasierand easiertoopenupabout.

Givenhowdifficultitcansometimes betostartconversationslikethisin relationships,itgoeswithoutsaying thatonenightstandsmaybeeven hardertonavigate.Sometimes,it

mightjustwork.Onrare,lucky occasions,youmightbeintothesame thingsandknowhowtonavigateeach other'sbodiesandrespondtobody languageaccordingly.However,many peoplewilltellyouthatthisis definitelynotalwaysthecase.Many peoplemightnotfeelcomfortable announcingthattheyliketobe handcuffedtosomeonethey’vejust met,andsometimesjustbeingwith someoneyoudon’tknowcanbefunin itself.

Giventheextenttowhichwe’retaught tobeuncomfortableinconversations aboutsex,itmakessensethatalotof peoplemightnotberunningatthe chanceofhavingopenandhonest conversationsaboutit.Talkingabout sexonapersonallevelrequiresa certainlevelofthatvulnerabilitythat we’resoafraidof,butitcanbeso empoweringtohavethese conversations.Somepeoplemightnot knowwhattheyenjoy,andevenjust

openingupyourendofthe conversationcanleadtoexperiences you’venevereventhoughtabout,and thatyouenduploving.Thekeyin sexualvulnerabilityandthe empowermentofitisknowingyour boundaries,andtrustingtheperson you’rehavingsexwith.Safewords, aftercare,trust,andrespectareso importantinempoweringthat vulnerabilityandmakingitenjoyable foreveryoneinvolved.Consentissexy, andbeingsafeandtakingprecautions doesnotmeanthatyoucan’thavefun. Thisvulnerabilitycanbementally exhaustingforpeople,andtakingcare ofyourselfandthepersonyou’rewith isincrediblyimportantwhenitcomes tonewexperiences.

Whetheryouhavetroubletalking aboutwhatitisyouwant,oryoujust don’tknow,allowingyourselftobe physicallyandemotionallyvulnerable andcommunicateyourneedsdoesnot comeeasyformanypeople.Any

numberofreasonsfromsocial conditioningtonegativepast experiencescanmakeitdifficultto communicatewhatyouwantand manypeoplefinditeasiertosimplygo alongwithwhatevertheotherisinto.

However,justbecausethatcanmakeit easy,doesn’tmeanit’sgood.Itjust mighthappenthattheotherperson feelsthesameway,andanhonest conversationabouteverythingfrom likesanddislikestokinksandfantasies canmaketheexperiencesomuch moreenjoyableforeveryoneinvolved. Talkingisoneofthefirstthingswe learntodo,andtheolderweget,the harderwefindit.Whilethereare manywaystohavethose conversationsanddifferentwaysto incorporatethemintoyoursexlife,I willalwaysadvocateforthefactthat sexleadstobettercommunication, whilecommunicationalsoleadsto muchbettersex.

GETTINGINTOGAMING

AGUIDEFORBROKECOLLEGESTUDENTS

It’sthestartofanotheracademicyear atUCC,andnewbeginningsare plentiful,whetheryou’restartinga newcourse,makingnewfriends,or pickingupnewhobbies.Ifyou’rea newstudentatUCC,chancesare you’replanningondoingallthreeof these;ifyou’reareturningstudent, well,maybethelattertwoaremoreup youralley.Assumingthatmostpeople havethewhole‘startingacourse’bit coveredatthispoint(ifnot,you shouldreallylookintothat),you’re stillgoingtohavetomeetpeople,and pickingupahobbyisagreatwayof doingso.Besides,it’snicetohave somethingtospendyourtimeonapart fromcourseworkanddrinking.Tothat end,whynotdelveintotheworldof gaming?Acrossmultipleplatforms andcountlessgenres,you’reboundto findsomethingyouenjoy,andthere’s opportunitiesforsocialisation, entertainment,andrelaxationaplenty.

However,onerathersignificant blockadecanscaremanywould-be gamersoff:theentryprice.Indeed, brandnewgamesconsolesstartat around€400thesedays,andgaming PCsmightbetwiceoreventhreetimes thatmuch.Giventhatmoststudents havetheirhandsfullwithrent,college fees,andothergeneralexpenses,it’sa steepcosttoaskofsomeonewhoisn’t evensureifthey’llstickwiththe hobby.Butthere’snoneedtodive straightintothedeependhere;there’s plentyofaffordableoptionstotryout beforeyougoshellingoutyourlife savingsonaPS5andafewgames. Evenifyou’rewellacquaintedwith videogamesandthecoststheyentail already,it’spossibletocutdownonthe amountyouspendwithoutsacrificing thequalityofgamesyouenjoy.

Yourfirstportofcallhereisgoingto bechoosingaplatformforyour gamingneeds.We’vealreadyruledout theideaofbuyinganoutrageously expensivePCsetuporconsole,so wheredoesthatleaveus?Inmyeyes, thebestchoiceistorepurposeanongamingdeviceyoualreadyown,such asalaptop,mobilephone,ortablet. Thiswillcostyouagrandtotalof0€, leavingyouwithlittlesunkcostshould youdecidethatvideogamesaren’t yourcupofteaafteryou’vetriedouta fewofthem.Ofcourse,choosinga gamingplatformthathasn’tactually beendesignedforthepurposeof gaminghasitsdisadvantages;the averagecollegelaptopisn’tgoingto haveasmuchprocessingpowerasa built-for-purposegamingrig,andso you’llhavetosticktolessgraphically demandinggamesunlessyouwant yourcomputerburstintoflames.You mayalsoneedtopickupafew

accessoriestoenhanceyour experience,althoughacheap computermouseistheonlyonethat’s reallymandatory(attemptingto controlanin-gamecharacterwitha laptoptouchpadisnofunatall).Other optionalpurchasesincludeanexternal keyboard,mousemat,and headphones.

Whenitcomestomobiledevices,you cansafelydownloadandplaythe majorityofgamesavailableontheapp storeforApplesystems,butbewaryif youchoosetouseanAndroid;itis possibletoinstallmalwareontoyour deviceunknowingly,whichwill severelyimpactyourabilitytouseit forvideogames,somakesureto approachyourdownloadswitha healthydegreeofcautionandonly installappsfromtrustedsources. Again,mobilephonesandtablets aren’tquiteaspowerfulastailor-made gaminghandhelds,butinthiscase, youwon’tneedtoworryaboutnot beingabletorungamesonyour device,asmobilegamesareuniversally designedwiththesamehardware limitationsinmind.Instead,you’lljust havetokeepaneyeonthatbattery level;mobilegamescandrainyour poweratanalarminglyfastrate!

Now,then,you’vechosenyour platform;let’stalkgames.Ifyou’re lookingforgamesyoucanplayon yourcollegelaptop,you’llfirstneedto downloadagamestorefrontfrom whichyoucanstarttoprocurea collectionoftitles.Themostpopular oftheseisSteam,adigitalstore programmethatwillhouseyourgames neatlyandgivesuggestionsongames youmightliketoplaynextbasedon whichonesyou’veenjoyed.The Steamstoreregularlyhostsseasonal salesthatwillallowyoutosnagsome titlesatafractionoftheirusualprice; lookoutfortheupcomingHalloween saletowardstheendofOctober.

Somenewlyreleasedconsolegames commandawhoppingpriceof80€,a figurethatseemstorisewitheachnew consolegeneration.Fortunately,the gamesI’llberecommendinghere won’tcostyouevenaquarterofthat. Intheinterestofcoveringasmany basesaspossible,I’llmentiongames thatspananumberofgenres,whilst alsostickingtotitlesthatshouldrun onlesspowerfulhardware,although you’lllikelyhavetoturnthegraphics settingsdownabit.Additionally,ifa gamehasademoavailable,itnever hurtstodownloadthatfirsttocheckif yourlaptopcanhandlethegame beforebuying.Keepinmindthatthe Steamstorefrontallowsplayersto

GAMINGEDITOR

GAMING

Somenewlyreleasedconsolegames commandawhoppingpriceof80€,a figurethatseemstorisewitheachnew consolegeneration.Fortunately,the gamesI’llberecommendinghere won’tcostyouevenaquarterofthat. Intheinterestofcoveringasmany basesaspossible,I’llmentiongames thatspananumberofgenres,whilst alsostickingtotitlesthatshouldrun onlesspowerfulhardware,although you’lllikelyhavetoturnthegraphics settingsdownabit.Additionally,ifa gamehasademoavailable,itnever hurtstodownloadthatfirsttocheckif yourlaptopcanhandlethegame beforebuying.Keepinmindthatthe Steamstorefrontallowsplayersto refundgamesaslongasthey’veplayed nomorethantwohours.

I’llstartwithInscryption,agame releasedtocriticalacclaimin2021.It defiesclassification;it’ssimultaneously acardplayinggame,apuzzlegame, andahorrorgame.Therereallyisn’ta wholelotIcansayaboutInscryption withoutspoilingitsmanytwists,butif anyofthepreviousdescriptorssound appealingtoyou,definitelygiveita shot(anddon’tletthe‘horror’label

frightenyou;there’snothingtoo nightmare-inducing).Moreinterested inrole-playinggames?TryPersona4, whichtakestheformofaturn-based actiongameattimes,onlytothen throwyouintomundanesituations likenavigatingclassroomsand workingpart-timejobs.Persona4’s excellentmurder-mysterystoryline andwellwrittencharactersaresureto keepyouinvestedthroughoutitsmany hoursofcontent.Ifyou’renot interestedinaplotandsimplywantto havesomefun,looknofurtherthan BattleblockTheatre,amultiplayer2D platforminggamethatcanonlybe describedaswhimsical.

BattleblockTheatrecanbeplayed alone,butit’sbestenjoyedwitha friend;you’resupposedtowork togethertoprogressthroughoutthe game’slevels,althoughit’sequally enjoyabletosabotageyourpartnerby attackingthemwithavarietyofsilly weaponsincludingdeadlyfrisbeesand explosivefrogs.Noneofthesegames requirequickreflexesorpreciseinputs fromplayers,soalackofgaming experiencewon’tputyouatmuchofa disadvantage.

Admittedly,mobilegamesaren’tquite myforte;however,PCgamesare,and thankfullymanyofthemhavereceived high-qualitymobileadaptationsfor youtoenjoyonyourdeviceofchoice. Mostoftheseportsarealsomore reasonablypricedthantheirPC counterparts,sothey’llrarelysetyou backmorethanafiver.Firstonthelist wehavePapersPlease,agameabout inspectingtraveldocuments.Sounds boring,maybe,butPapersPleasetells anintriguingstoryofpoliticalturmoil andclassstrugglewhilstalso providinganaddictinggameplayloop. Ifthatsoundsabittooheavyforyour liking,giveCryptoftheNecrodancer ago;it’sagamethat’sallaboutmusic, requiringyoutodoeverythingtothe beatofthegame’ssoundtrack.

Youcanslayenemieswithrhythmas youlistentoin-gamemusic,oryoucan connectyourownsongstogivethe gameapersonaltouch.Cryptofthe Necrodancerisabitmore mechanicallychallengingthanthe othergamesI’vespokenabout,so don’tbediscouragedifittakesawhile togetaccustomedto.I’ll

finishoutwithapersonalfavouriteof mine,butbewarned:you’llneeda Netflixsubscriptionforthisone.Into theBreachisanexcellentstrategy gameinwhichyoufightoffinvasions ofcolossalinsectoidmonstersusinga combinationofshrewdtacticsand giganticwarrobots.It’sincludedas partofNetflix’snewlylaunchedgames scheme,whichcanbefoundby scrollingdownonthehomepageofthe mobileapp(it’sunderstandableifyou hadn’theardofitupuntilnow;Netflix releaseditseeminglyunannounced, andit’sstillunclearwhattheyhopeto gainfromthewholeproject).

Thislistofgamesisinnoway exhaustive.Infact,I’vebarely scratchedthesurface,consideringthe vastoceanofgamesavailableonboth laptopsandmobiledevices,butyou’ll hopefullybynowhaveadecent understandingofwhattolookfor whenstartingoutyourgamingcareer. Ifyou’retrulyinterestedingettinginto gaming,thentreatthisarticleasa steppingstone;godoyourresearch, tryoutlotsofdifferentgames,and aboveall,havefun!

BEKINDAPPAREL

SUSTAINABLEANDETHICALCLOTHINGRIGHTONOURDOORSTEP

WRITESKELLIEMURPHY FASHIONEDITOR

Sustainablefashionisadeepinterest ofmine.asI’mobsessedwithshopping andanxiousaboutclimatechange,and sustainableclothingseemslikeagreat wayformetodealwiththisissue.Fast fashionhasagrossimpactonthe environment.

TheBBCstatesthataccordingtothe UNthefashionindustryaccountsfor eighttotenpercentofglobal greenhousegasemissions.TheBBC goesontodescribewhatsomeofthese causesarewhichincludetheirraw materials.Cottonproductionforthe fashionindustryusesabouttwoanda halfpercentofglobalfarmlandwhile productionprocesseslikedyingneeds forty-threemilliontonnesofchemicals ayear.

Thesearesoberingstatistics,especially whenbuyingclothingisusuallytaken forgranted,wemightconsiderthecost andthequalityoftheclothingitembut howoftendoweconsidertheethical costofourcloset,andhowmuch damageitcausestotheearth?

OneCorkbasedclothingcompanyis heretohelpchangethings.BeKind Apparelisasustainableonline leisurewearstorethatisbasedin Glanmire.Statistareportedthatthe salesshareofsustainableclothing productsontheglobalmarkethasonly increasedfrom2013,whichbodeswell forthisclothingsector.2013hada 2.1%salesshareandit’sonlyrisen fromtherewith2022boastingofa 4.1%salesshare.Fastfashionfollows trendsandusescheapmaterialsin theirproductionaccordingtothe BBC.

Thishasanegativeimpactonthe environmentforreasonsI’vealready explainedandfortherathersimple one:itproduceswaste.Becausefast fashionfollowstrends,whenthose trendsgooutoffashionveryfewbuy thoseclothesanymore,peoplewant thenewtrendyclothes.Outoffashion clothesarediscarded,andnewclothes areproduced,andthecyclecontinues. ButBeKindAppareldoesn’t subscribetothesemethods,instead theyfollowasustainableandethical guidewhenitcomestotheproduction oftheclothingbrandwhichhasa positiveeffectontheplanet.

Todelvedeeperintofastfashionand itsnegativeeffectsontheenvironment andcontributiontoglobalwarming, thewebsiteEarth.orggivesadetailed accountofthecostoffastfashionand itisdishearteningtosaytheleast.A soberingcomparisonofglobalcarbon

emissionswouldbetotheEuropean Unionwhichproducesasmuchasten percentoftheEarth'scarbon emissions.Thisisonparwiththe fashionindustryandmuchofthisis downtofastfashion.Earth.org describeshowthefashionindustry negativelyaffectstheenvironmentand afterreadingthisIlookatsustainable fashionwithanevenmore appreciativemindandtheireffortsto minimisetheireffectsontheearthis needed.Earth.

Orgstatesthatuptoeightyfive percentoftextilesendupinlandfills eachyear.Thesetextilesarewhatis calledfastfashionandit’samainstay ofthefashionindustry-theantithesis toethicalethos.Earth.orgaccountsfor howfastfashionproducesmasswaste throughouttheirproductionprocess fromdesigntothesalesrack,for exampleZarawhowereabletodesign, produceanddeliveranewproductin twoweeks.Thisproduceswaste becausemoreclothesarebeingmade thanwhatisneeded,whichiswhyso manytextilesinthefashionindustry endupinalandfill.BeKindApparel countersfastfashionbecausethis brandcommitstohighsustainable standardsthrougheveryprocess, unlikefastfashionbrands.

BeKindApparelpromisesthatthey workwithalltheirsupplierstoensure theymeettheirethicalandsustainable standards,frompackagingthatis madefromrecyclablematerialstotheir garmentsupplierthatisrecognised internationallyforsustainability production.Thisisindirectcontrastto fastfashionastheirtextilesareusually notboughtwithsustainabilityinmind accordingtotheQuantisInternational 2018report.Oneofthemaincausesof pollutioninthefashionindustry includedthedyeingandfinishingof textileswhichaccountedforthirtysix percentofitspollution.BeKind Appareltakesactiontominimiseits pollutionandworksagainstthis mindlessconsumptionandexcessive productionbyensuringthateverystep oftheirproductionanddeliveryiskind totheplanet.

BeKindApparelisalocallybased clothingbrandanditsfocusison kindnessand,fromthelookoftheir clothing,comfort.Justaquickglance attheirwebsiterevealscosyjumpersin bothcalmingandvibrantshadesof blue,yellow,pink,green,lavenderand somuchmore.Thejumpersalsohave correspondinglycolouredT-shirtsand sweatshirts.Theirclotheslookso comfortable,andIcanpicturemyself wearingthemforanythingfromawalk

onthebeachtomeetingupwithmy friends.Tobehonest,BeKind Apparelsclotheslooksocosy, leisurewearisanaptdescription.The brand’smainmessagethoughisn’t sustainabilityorethicalweareven thoughthey’rebothhonest descriptionsoftheGlanmirebased brand.Theirmainmessageisactually kindness.BeKindApparelswebsite revealstheircommitmenttoethical andsustainableclothingwiththeir goalbeing“apremiumethicaland sustainableproduct”.BeKindApparel writesthatthey’vecommittedto maintainingthehighestsustainable standardsineverystepofproduction, includingshipping.Theirproductsare certifiedtothehighestinternational standardsforsustainabilityandethical productionandtheyworktolimittheir impactontheenvironment.Thisis followedbyalistofcertificatesof approvalincludingonefromFair WearandanotherfromGlobal OrganicTextileStandard,proving thatBeKindApparelreallyisethical andsustainableintheirproduction. WecanseethatthisCorkbusinessis

consciousofhowthefashionindustry candamagetheplanet,andthey’re takingstepstoensurethattheir companyalleviatesclimatechange ratherthanmakesmattersworse.

Thisclothingbrandfollowsthrough ontheirmessagefromtheirnamein regardstotheirethicalproduction, andevenmore.BeKindApparelstates ontheirwebsitethattheydonatefive percentofprofitstofivelocalcharities.

Ithinkthisissoheart-warmingthata localbusinesscarriesontheirmessage insomanyways,notjusttothe environmentbuttotheircommunity.I thinkthisisawonderfulwaytogive backtoyourcommunityandIlove thattheleisurewearbrandowners GreggandErichavesustainedthe spiritofwhatbegantheirlocal business:thecreationandhighlighting ofkindnessthatexistsaroundus.

BeKindApparelisasustainableand ethicalbrandthatworkstominimise thefashionindustriespollutionlevels butoneoftheirdrawbackswouldbe

BeKindApparelisasustainableand ethicalbrandthatworkstominimise thefashionindustriespollutionlevels butoneoftheirdrawbackswouldbe pricing.AsIwritethis,thehoodiesare listedas€54.99.

TheT-shirtscost€22.99whilethe sweatshirtsare€47.99.Thisisn’t affordableforcollegestudents,atleast notforanythatIknow,butindefense ofBeKindAppareltheyarenot unusualforhavinghighpricesfor sustainableclothing.

Sustainablefashionoftencostsmore thanfastfashion,andthisisforseveral reasonsfromqualitytothecostof labour.

Forexample,sustainableandethical fashioncanbemoreexpensivebecause itprioritiseslabourandprotectsthose thatworkforthemintheirproduction line.Ethicalbrandsaremorelikelyto prioritisefairwagestotheirworkers andthiswouldimpactthepricingas

thiswouldfallunderproductioncosts. Thiswouldincreasethepriceofthe garmentasthebusinessstillneedsto makeaprofit.

ThiscanbeseeninVogueIndiawhich reportsthatsustainablefashion focusesonwell-madegarmentsanda longerleadtimeinfactorieswhich leadstomoreconsistentpaymentof wages.

Thismakessensewhenweconsider whatI’vewrittenaboutadozentimes; thatthey’resustainableandprioritise theearthintheirproductionand kindness,soofcoursethiswouldfall underthefairpaymentofworkers, especiallywhentheyworkwithall theirpartnerstoensurethattheymeet thesameethicalstandards.I’mvery excitedthatthereisanother sustainableclothingbrandIcanobsess overfortheforeseeablefuture.

CANGOOGLECREATE

THENEXTVANGOGH?

WRITESSARAHKENNELLYARTS&LITEDITOR

Inthelast20years,thetechnological triumphsthatwehaveachievedwould havebeendeemedunimaginable. FromFaceIDtoRobotVacuums,it seemslikethereisnolimittowhatwe cancreate.Therapidevolutionof ArtificialIntelligenceisatestamentto this.AIteachescomputershowto thinklikeus,imitatingtheinner workingsofourbrains.Still,itis widelybelievedthatitcouldnever reachourlevelofintelligencebecause wehavesomethingitlacks-creativity. Thisfascinatingfacetofthehuman brainissomethingthatcannotsimply becoded.However,thesoaring popularityofAI-generatedartis beginningtocontestthis.

In2016,ResearchersattheUniversity ofTorontosuccessfullyachievedthe impossiblewhentheytaughta computerhowtogenerateanimage fromtext.Intheshortsixyearssince then,AIartwebsiteshavepoppedup ineverycorneroftheinternet.They havebeenespeciallypopularamongst Twitteruserswhousethemtorender unthinkablememeslikeKarlMarx gettingslimedattheKid’sChoice Awards.Theseprogrammesareused forfunbymostbutothershavestarted tousethesoftwareinamore sophisticatedwaytocreatefineart.

Infact,anAI-generatedimagecalled “ThéâtreD’opéraSpatial”hasalready wonfirstprizeataColoradoart competition.Thecreationdepictsthe sceneofanoperaperformancein space,drawingonthebeautifully intricatepaintingsoftheRenaissance. Theartist,JasonAllen,describes himselfasadigitalcreatorwhosimply usestheprogrammeasatoolinhis creativeprocess,similartoa paintbrush.Hehasassertedthathe

putinweeksofwork,usinghundreds ofimages,toarriveatthefinal product.

DespiteAllen’shardwork,thewinis notsittingwellwiththeartindustry.It hasattractedmuchcontroversywith artistsacrosstheglobeobjectingtothe newartform.Theyhavearguedthat AI-generatedimagesrequirelittleto noeffortorcreativeexpertise.Some haveevendubbeditthe“deathof artistry”sinceusersofthesoftware don’thavetorelyontraditionalartistic skills.Ifwecancodecreativityintoan algorithm,whygototheeffortof creation?Itisworriedthatthisnew toolcouldde-incentiviseartistsfrom creatingphysicalartworksifa computercandoitinunderaminute.

Thesoftwarehasalsocausedconcern overcopyrightissuesbecauseofthe databaseitisbuiltupon.Inorderto createthisart,thecomputeris programmedtoscanthroughimages ontheinternetsoitcanimitatethem. Thismeansthatausercanrenderan imageofCorkCityasifitwaspainted byVanGogh.Thegeneratorcarefully studiesthebrushstrokesandpatterns ofhisworktoveryconvincingly recreatethem.Thisallowsanyone withaccesstoacomputertocopythe uniquestylesofanartistontoanimage thattheydidnotcreate.Althoughthis goesagainstallethicsofcopyright,the lawsarenotinplacetoholdAI generatorsaccountable.

Othershavecometoembracethe software,assertingthatitisjust anothermodeofmodernartlike photography.Theyarecomparing thesecritiquestothebacklashthat paintershadtowardsthecreationof thecamera.ThedefendersofAIart

believethatweshouldinsteadseeitas atoolthatcanenhanceanddiversify ourartisticcapabilities.Itispossible thatthisnewsoftwarecould encourageartiststobemore innovativeratherthanrelyingon artistictrendsofthepast.

giventhescopeofitspotential. Withoutproperregulation,itwill evadecopyrightlawsandduplicateart whichbelongstosomeoneelse.The strugglesofartiststoestablisha platformisdifficultenoughwithout havingtocompetewithacomputer.

ThenegativeeffectAIcouldhaveon theworthofartworksisundeniable,

Thehopeisthatwecanfindawayto usethissoftwareasatoolratherthan animitator.Ifwecancreateasystem ofaccountabilityforthesegenerators thenitcouldbecomethegreatest innovationtheartcommunityhasever

SPICYBOOKSTHATWILL

KEEPYOUWARM THISWINTER

WRITESSARAHKENNELLYARTS&LITEDITOR

BookTokhasgivenusmanythings: JackEdwards,weirdlyspecificbook recommendations,andthegreatestof all,spicybooks.

Regularporncanoftenbecheesyand problematic,leavingyouwithafeeling ofdissatisfactionorlowself-esteem.If you’relookingforsomethingnewto satisfyyourneeds,eroticnovelsoffera muchbetterrepresentationofwhat sexactuallylookslike.

Youcanreplacethosefakeorgasms andunrealisticbodytypeswiththe heatedromanceyouhavealwaysbeen lookingfor.Whetherit’skinkyor somethingsweeter,thisgenrehasa bookoutthereforeveryone. Naturally,itismydutytoprovidemy readerswiththeperfectbeginners guidetospicybooks.

Firstoff,wehaveCountYourLucky StarsbyAlexandriaBellefleur,the idealnoveltoeaseyouintothesteamy worldofbooks.Itfollowsasapphic lovestorybetweentwobestfriends whowantasecondshotatlove.

Thesexualtensionbetweenthese opposites-attractloversispalpable, urgingyouontoreadmore.

IfyoulikeAstrologyanddirtytalk, thisisthebookforyou.Itisthe perfectcombinationofromance, humour,andspicewhichishappily complimentedbyBellefleur’s wonderfulwriting.

Next,isasimilarlyentry-levelbook, SomethingFabulousbyAlexisHall. Thisisaswoon-worthyregencydrama thattellsthestoryofadukewhofalls inlovewithhissoon-to-bebrother-inlaw.Itisawittyandover-the-top romancethatwillhaveyougigglingin yourseat.

Despiteitshumour,Halldialledupthe heatinthesexsceneswhilststill keepingthemfunandflirty.Ifyou’re lookingforahilariousbookwithaside servingofsteamyromance,lookno further.

Thosewhoareinthemarketfor somethingalittlesexierwillloveTessa Bailey’sItHappenedOneSummer.It isaSchitt’sCreekinspiredrom-com whereaspoiledsocialitefallsforthe

hot-temperedfishermaninhernew hometown.Althoughtwopolar oppositesmightnotalwaysmakethe perfectmatch,theycertainlyhave greatsex.

Theundeniableattractionbetweenthe twocharacterswillmakeyouswoon. What’sevenbetteristhattheraunchy sexscenesareplentiful,guaranteeing you’llwanttoturneachpagefaster thanthelast.

ThePrincessTrapbyTaliaHibbert takesthisraunchinessjustastep further,featuringaplotwhereaonenightstandturnsintoalotmore.

Theprotagonist,CherryNeita,has swornoffmenforlife,vowingthat theyareallignorantand disappointing.Muchtoherdismay,a PrinceCharmingcomesalongand fulfillseverydesireshehaseverhad.

Theauthoremphasisestheimportance ofmutualrespectandcarethroughout thenarrativewhichisarefreshing changefromthemainstreamporn industry.Theexplorationofkinkis sexybutalsoconsensual,whichmakes thisromanceevenhotter.

LastbutnotleastisPartyFavoursby ErinMcLellan.Thisisthespiciest bookonthelistbutdon’tletthatscare youoff,itisamust-read.

Itfollowsanonlinebestfriendsto loversplotfilledwithbothtenderand heatedsexscenes.

Thiseroticadeliversonitspromiseof spicebutalsohasasurprisinglygreat plot.Thestoryistoldthrougha brilliantlysex-positivelensthatseesits charactersexploringpraisekinkswith consent.Itisthesexiestholidaythemedreadyoucanfind.

Theretrulyareeroticromancesout thereforeverykindofreader.

Thislistshowsonlyafewofthemany fantasticbooksinthespicygenre.

Whatisgreataboutthemisthatthey allpresentsexinapositiveand consensualmanner.It’simportantto rememberpeople,consentissexy!

PASTANDFUTURE

1921followingcrowdsof56,000 peopleattendingatanunauthorised gameheldatGoodisonParkin LiverpooljustafterChristmastheyear previous.

Withtheprospectofafirstmajor internationaltournamentonthe horizon,manyhavebeguntospeakof theremarkableriseofwomen’s footballinIrelandunderthe stewardshipofDutchmanagerVera Pauw.Itmayseemthatwomen's footballhasseenanexponentialand unprecedentedriseinpopularityand performanceinrecentyears,thelikes ofwhichIrelandhasneverseen.Some haveattributedthisrisetothedrastic changesmadefollowinganinfamous 2017pressconferenceinrelationto workingconditions,duringwhichit wasclaimedthatthewomen’snational teamwasnomorethan“thedirtoffthe FAI’sshoe”.However,thereisafar deeperhistorythanmanywould realisewhichhasledthewomen’s gameontheislandreachingits positiontotheforeofIrishsport, sellingoutstadiumsandinspiring futuregenerationsofgirlsingreen.

VICTORIANBEGINNINGS

Withthesportoffootballoriginating acrosstheIrishSeainthe12th century,itwasnotuntilthe1700’sthat

wecanfindrecordedreportsof womenengagingwiththesport.A women'sgameof“Foot-Ball''was mentionedaspartoftheentertainment atafestivalina1726editionofthe IpswichJournal,with“sixyoung womenofaside”battlingitoutbefore thecrowds.However,thesportdoes notappeartohavereachedIrish shoresuntilmuchlater.

In1895,amatchwasplayedbetween IrishandEnglishteams,withthe BritishLadiesFootballClubvisiting Belfastonagrandtourshowcasing theirtalents.Thiswasfollowedthe nextyearbyareturnoftheteamtothe island,thistimetofaceaDublinteam onJones’Road,wheretheeventwas reportedasa“greatsuccess”.Thetwo WorldWarsalsomarkedan opportunityforthewomen’sgameto develop,withmenacrossthecontinent fightingonthefrontlines,many groupsofwomencametogetherto entertaintheircommunitiesthrough themediumoffootball.

TheFootballAssociationofEngland instatedabanonwomen’sfootballin

However,thisattempttoexercise controloverthewomen’sgamedid littletodeteritsdevelopment,andmay infacthavehadtheoppositeeffect.

OnSt.Stephen’sDay1917,two selectedteamsfromIrelandand Englandfacedoffinafiercecontestin Belfast,markingthefirstmodern internationalwomen’sfootballgame foranIrishcontingent,withthegame promotedas‘IrelandvEngland’.In Mayof1927,theappetiteforwomen’s football,inspiteofthereturnofthe gentlemen’sgamefollowingthe conclusionoftheGreatWar,was clearlyillustrated.

Anexhibitionmatchwasplayedoutin GlenmalureParkinDublinbetween IrishandScottishdelegations,with over12,000peoplereportedtohave beeninattendance.A1936 internationalagainstFrancewas anothermonumentalstepinthe developmentofcompetitivewomen’s footballbeingplayedacrossthe continent,andnotjustbetweenthe twoneighbouringislands.

Inspiteofsuchsuccesses,onesuspects thatascepticismremainedatthe highestlevelsoftheFootball AssociationofIrelandinrelationtothe women’sgame.Manyofanolder generationgrewuptobelievethat womenweretoofrailanddelicateto playthesport,andshouldbeprotected frominjuryratherthanencouragedto play.Whilethegamecontinuedto growanddevelopintoorganisedstreet leaguesandlocalparkgames,itwasas yetnotgovernedbyanyofficialbody, withrulesorstructures.Itwasnot untiltheJeyesFluidFactorysenta hand-pickedIrishteamonafourmatchtourofFrancein1972thatany realcallsforanorganisedwomen’s gameinIrelandbegantobeheard.

Thefollowingyear,theLadies FootballAssociationofIrelandwas founded,withtheLFAICupbeing wonforthefirsttimein1973by ‘Avengers’ofDublin,defeating ‘Evergreen’ofKilkenny.

In1991,followingprolonged negotiations,theLFAIbecame affiliatedwiththeFAIin1991,before itwasrenamedtotheWomen’s FootballAssociationofIrelandin2001 andultimatelybecameabranchofthe FAI’soverallstructure.Thesewerethe firststepstowardsamoreprofessional women’sgameinIreland.

WRITESSARAHKENELLYARTS&LITEDITOR

WRITESMARKCOOPER SPORTSEDITOR

EARLYVICTORIES

Attheturnofthemillennium,there appearedtobeanupwardtrendfor theperformanceoftheIrishwomen’s nationalteam.Irelandwerevictorious inthe2000CeltCup,afour-team tournamentbetweenthemselves, Scotland,NorthernIrelandandthe IsleofMan.Thiswasacompetition playedoveronlyoneweekend however,andgeneratedlittlemediaor publicinterest,withlittlenational recognitionoftheteam’s2-0final victoryoverNorthernIreland.In 2002,ShamrockRoverswerethefirst women’steamtomaketheleapinto Europeancompetition,with qualificationforthegroupstagesofthe UEFAWomen’sCup.

Acrossthewater,Irishinternationals begantomakegreatstrides,with EmmaByrneandCiaraGrant winningtheUEFACupwithArsenal FCin2007,atestamenttothe developmentoftheIrishgameat grassrootslevel.Manymayalsohave seenagoalscoredbyStephanieRoche forPeamountUnitedFCinaWomen’s NationalLeaguegamein2013,which drewworldwideacclaimfromsuch PremierLeagueiconsasMattLe Tissier.ThegoalshotIrishwomen’s footballontotheglobalstage,withthe viralcliplandingRocheaspotatthe FIFAPuskasGoaloftheYearawards night,beingbeatentotheawardonly byaJamesRodriguezwondergoalat

the2014WorldCup.Therecertainly seemedtobeanairofpositivity surroundingthewomen’sgamein Ireland,butfewknewwhatcracks wereformingbeneaththesurface, particularlyintheinternationalgame.

ANEWDAWN

OnthemorningofthefourthofApril 2017,thirteenmembersoftheIrish women’snationalfootballteam gatheredforapressconferenceat LibertyHallinDublintoairtheir grievanceswiththeFAI,duetowhat thePFAIclaimedwastreatmentakin to“fifthclasscitizens”.

Dissatisfactionwithappearancefees, facilitiesandequipmentwereallraised bytheSIPTUrepresentativesofthe teamaswellastheplayersthemselves, withformerPuskasnominee StephanieRochefrontandcentrein makinghercallstotheFAI.Players reportedthattheywereforcedto changeoutoftheirteamissued(and required)tracksuitsinpublictoiletsin ordertoreturnthemtotheequipment manager,asplayersweren’tallowedto keepthemandtheywouldbereused. Grievancessurroundingpaydisparity betweenthenation’smen’sand women’steamwerealsoaired,with claimsbeingmadethatfemale internationalfootballerswerebeing forcedtoleavethegamecompletely duetofundingshortfallsandrising

SPORT

expenses.

TheFAIwasgivenanultimatum: Reachanagreementsatisfactorytothe women’steam,ortheywouldrefuseto playaninternationalgameagainst Slovakiathefollowingweek.While thegoverningbodyissuedalessthan sympatheticstatementinresponseto thepressconference,theyultimately satdownwiththeplayer’s representativesandthedisputeswere rectified.

Thefocusfortheplayerscouldnow restsolelyonperformance,andwith thearrivalofmanagerColinBellin 2017,therewasamarked improvementintheteam’s performanceonaglobalstage. Finishingarespectablethirdintheir groupbehindNorwayandthe Netherlands,withamemorable4-0 winagainstNorthernIrelanda particularhighlightinthecampaign. WithasurpriseexitforBellin2019, therewasanopportunityforanew headcoachtocomeintotheset-upand continuetobuilduponthegoodwork oftheprecedingyears.Dutchmanager VeraPauwwasthatperson.

Inthepasttwelvemonths,Pauw’s chargeshaveenjoyedfamousvictories overthelikesofAustralia(beaten TokyoOlympicfinalists),Georgia(a record11goalmarginofvictoryfor anyIrishfootballteam)andmost

Thesewinsallcameonthebackofan historicequalpaydealwiththeFAI, wherethewomenandmen’snational teamswillreceivethesamelevelof compensationforinternational appearances.ThereiscertainlyafeelgoodfactorsurroundingthisIrish team,withthenear7000spectators whosoldoutTallaghtStadiumonlya fewshortweeksagoatestamentto thatsupport.Thefinalhurdleforthe women’snationalteaminreachinga firstWorldCupisavictoryovereither ScotlandorAustria.

Fortheyoungwomenwatchingover thenextfewweeksasthelikesof Cork’sownDeniseO’Sullivan,Megan Connolly,andSaoirseNoonan prepareforthefinalandgreatesttest, therehasneverbeenabetterexample of“Ifyoucanseeit,youcanbeit”.

Foralmost150years,womenhave beenplayingfootballinIreland,andit isonlynowtheyaregettingthe recognitiontheydeserve.Onehasno doubtthatthetrailblazingwomenof thefirstgamein1917,tothosewho playedinDublinin1927aswellasthe touringteamof1972willlendtheir spiritandbraverytoVeraPauw’s chargesastheyseektocreatetheir ownhistory.

recentlyFinland(tokeepWorldCup ambitionsalive).