An Focal (XXIV. Edition 2) by An Focal ULSU

VOL. XXIV Edition 2

SEPTEMBER 2015

INTERVIEW: UL’S FUNDRAISING QUEEN

CYCLE AGAINST SUICIDE

INTERGLACIAL HURLING IN THE ALPS

PAGES 16-17

PAGE 18

PAGE 22

#limerickhour

140 characters isn’t enough to describe #Limerickhour BY SEÁN LYNCH LIMERICKHOUR has become a regular for many Limerick tweeters, including many students and staff of UL. The very ﬁrst Limerickhour took place in February of this year, continuing since then on Thursday nights, 9-10pm. Limerickhour’s host, Annette Doran, is a huge twitter fan and sees the potential of this platform for companies who wish to promote themselves to the local market: “I spend my night giggling to myself at the hilarious comments.” The number of students getting involved is growing every week, including those in all three third level institutions in Limerick. Annette Doran spoke about UL students’ involvement in Limerickhour: “Why should students of UL get involved? You guys are tomorrow’s entrepreneurs who already embrace Twitter and see the value of promotion via social media. “Apart from the possibility of winning dinner, or a freebie of some value, you get to know the other people on Limerickhour and ﬁnd out what’s going on in Limerick city and county.” Jennifer Purcell, UL student and Limerick Leader intern, has been tweeting with the hashtag Limerickhour weekly since it started: “Limerick hour is fast growing as one of the biggest networking events on social media! “It’s a chance for businesses to promote themselves, for people to interact and for genuine relationships to be made. I’ve made a lot of contacts from Twitter. For one hour a week everyone practically stops what they’re doing to spend an hour promoting Limerick. I think it’s incredible.” Ms Purcell added: “It’s so heartening to see and there’s always such a buzz having everyone get together and sharing their views. It would make you real proud to be from

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Limerick.” Speaking about the success of the online gathering, Ms Doran said: “Limerickhour has a witty, Twitter-loving audience who have embraced the power of Twitter and share in the pride when we trend in Ireland. We don’t guarantee our sponsors that we will trend, but it seems to happen most Thursday nights.” The trend has even taken top spot as the number one trend in Ireland at times, despite taking place at the same time as Dublinhour, Westmeathhour, KilkennyHour and Roscommonhour. Quickest Fox Marketing, part of a small start-up company, ran the very ﬁrst Irish regional county tweeting hours. Phillip Gleeson, owner and entrepreneur, started the hashtags Galwayhour, Donegalhour and Corkhour a year ago. Mr Gleeson believed that this was something great, something fun and a really valuable platform for SMEs and businesses to promote themselves online via Twitter to a local audience. The 3 initial counties had performed so well that he felt it was time to take it to the next level, bringing on a team of hosts to start up some more counties, thus, starting Limerickhour, along with several other counties. Sponsors can ‘hire’ Limerickhour for an hour between 9-10pm on a Thursday night and they will be promoted intensely with at least 20 tweets during that time, providing the audience with a lot of information about that sponsor. The sponsor will provide a prize for the evening and this encourages people to tweet and retweet more often. The prize winner will have to have used both the hashtag of the sponsor and of Limerichour. Ms Doran sees the hour as a new way to engage with local people: “The response to Limerickhour has been phenomenal and it is very competitively priced for a business to get its message out to the market. Where else

would you be able to engage with your market audience so intensely as during this hour? You can tell them all about your service, product or event and have lots of craic while doing it?” She added: “We have 20 counties live now and are in the process of getting the remaining counties up and running. The object is that we

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can offer a large organisation the opportunity to promote their business, product or event for a whole week across all 26 counties. Just imagine that! Intense tweeting all day every day for a week. Beat that, print media!” Limerickhour takes place every Thursday, 9-10pm. For all the updates, follow @limerickhour and #LimerickHour on Twitter.

@anfocal_UL

September 2015 NEWS

Fresher’s Week 2015: What it says on the tin EVAN BLEASDALE AS the new cohort of students arrived in UL, as did the anticipation for Fresher’s week, and for many the ﬁrst week of freedom. For the Students’ Union, the task was to provide a week jam packed with events, day and night, to set the standard for the next four years of their college, and they did not disappoint. With activities day and night to keep new students entertained, a highly enjoyable week was had by all. As Monday morning came around, the ﬁrst taste of college for the newly initiated students began. In between lectures students assimilated in the SU courtyard, with a live DJ setting the mood with some music to entertain the college’s patrons. Alongside this, the atmosphere was enhanced with freebies from various companies, such as the Odeon Cinema, The Delivery Guys, and Oxygen.ie who dished out free popcorn, BBQ and goodie bags to the eagerly awaiting students. As the college day came to a close, the anticipation rose as the eagerly awaited Foam Party came around, with Ireland’s largest foam cannon, The Beast shooting foam over the students. A wild night was had by all who attended to start off a crazy four years in UL. Every day in the SU courtyard free food and vouchers were handed out to students, varying from free pizza to bus tickets, chocolate to magazines. You couldn’t walk through the throng of students and promotions and not come out the other side laden with gifts. Not only were there free gifts, but also the opportunity to win even better prizes through various challenges. JustEat.ie was a good example of this, testing your brawn with high striker, or Bank of Ireland,

CREDITS EDITOR: Tomás Heneghan News editor: Evie Kearney Lifestyle editor: Cora Power Clubs & Societies editor: Seamus Toomey Sports editor: Marisa Kennedy Photo editor: Holly Kenny Social media admin: Caryl Faye Yulo Survey admin: Aisling O’Connor CONTRIBUTORS: Seán Lynch, Gearóid McCarthy, Evan Bleasdale, Liz Gabbett, Lina Ryan, Ciara Corcoran, Colin Clarke, Marian O’Donnell, Ciara Gordon, Seán McKillen, Peter O’Neill, Emma Taylor, Sally Gorman, Laura-Ashley Ní Shuilléabháin, Seamus Toomey, Aisling O’Connor, Gearóid McCarthy, Cian Dalton, Derval Cleary, Edmund Gerard Ryan, Carla Heeran, Mairead Long, Aoife Willis, Caroline Breen, Maria McGrath, Killian Stokes, Michael Daniel O’Donnell, Pauric Bannigan, Clodagh Doyle, Amy Doran, Sandra O’Malley

with a ‘The Cube’ like challenge. The highlight of the week for many was the Wednesday night, also known as the Fresher Fest, with the headline act The Riptide Movement. With a carnival like theme, the atmosphere

was electric. Warming up the night were Mike Scala and his band, and the Knights of Leon, an astoundingly accurate tribute band. The act the masses came to see was the Riptide Movement, known for their hit ‘All

works out’. A huge crowd gathered in the end, leading the lead singer, Malachy to crowd surf over the eagerly awaiting fans. Every night after all of this entertainment, the students migrated to Crush 87, the

student’s nightclub of choice. With a selection of genres playing throughout the nightclub, the students gathered and mixed with the rest of the city’s students, and capped off the night with a bang.

This will be a week these new students won’t forget easily, as it was their ﬁrst taste of real freedom. Fantastic music, promotions and an atmosphere that was felt by all. A ﬁne welcome indeed.

C&S Recruitment Drive CARYL FAYE YULO ON the day of the Clubs and Societies recruitment drive, I walked into the UL Arena with fivers ready in my pocket and a check list at hand. The C&S drive, taking place on Wednesday of Week 1, is one of the highlights of the first academic month in UL. Each of the 71 clubs and societies had prepared for this event for several weeks, thinking up all the ways they could entice new members to join. Their stalls were guarded by current members eager to tell you about their club, activities and meeting dates. When asked why one should join a club, each person recalled their favourite experiences, the friendships they made and the memories they’ll never forget with great fondness and laughter. The queues for the stalls were long enough, but nothing could beat the almost infinitely regenerating lines for both the International and Tea Appreciation societies, which stretched all

the way to the entrance at peak times. Standing in line seemed a chore at ﬁrst, but it was really a blessing in disguise. It was a great way of making friends with other students because we already had one thing in common - the society we were both about to join. It was great to see how interactive the C&S drive was this year. The Skydiving Club, in their gear, explained the ways of packing a parachute while the Rowing Club organised a speed competition with their machines. At the very back of the room, the Parkour Club set up a metal maze, while the stretch of springs could be heard from the Trampoline Club’s demonstrations. I would like to say a big massive thank you to all the kind volunteers at the help centre for their guidance on the day. If not for them, I wouldn’t have been able to sign up for any of the clubs and societies. Also, thanks to the guy at the International Society stall that had to type in my password because technology hates me.

Continued success: Out in UL’s first meeting GEARÓID McCARTHY OUT in UL, the University of Limerick’s LGBTQ society, held its first members’ meeting on Monday 14th September, ahead of what promises to be another successful year for the society. Having been crowned Ireland’s best LGBTQ student society at the GALAS in March, Out in UL can take a great deal of confidence from what has been an amazing 2015 so far, both for the society and for the wider LGBTQ community in Ireland. In May, the people of Ireland voted in favour of marriage equality in a historic referendum that marked a watershed moment in LGBTQ history, both national and international. This was not the only legislative development for the benefit of Irish LGBTQ people, as the past month has seen the enactment of the Gender Recognition Act, which gives long-awaited recognition to transgender people living in Ireland. It is hoped that these positive changes to Irish society will offer encouragement and inspiration to LGBTQ students of the university. I, myself, feel as if I have experienced a monumental enhancement to my quality of life. These legal advancements were accompanied by a cultural revolution which has occurred in the past year, which has made Ireland a more equal and inclusive society. For the first time in decades of LGBTQ struggle, wider Irish society came to recognise and embrace our community. Of course, I should not neglect to mention the massive role young people played in the success

of the referendum. This is particularly true for students of the University of Limerick, with the Students’ Union officially endorsing a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum. The power of the message of inclusiveness that endorsement sends out cannot be underestimated, and it is a testament to the endeavours of the university and its student body towards equality. For the first meeting of the year, Out in UL’s members gathered in Room 3 of the Students’ Union. Personally, I was struck by the diversity of the group, which contained people from all walks of life. Undergraduates, postgraduates and Erasmus students were all represented, as were a range of different identities under the broader LGBTQ banner. As a first year student who had never really experienced anything similar to Out in UL before, I was initially nervous but I was quick to settle in, with the help of the very welcoming committee and other members. It was primarily an introductory meeting, with the committee introducing themselves and the aims and purpose of the society. The meeting also discussed the events which are planned for the year, including Rainbow Week, an annual LGBTQ awareness week that celebrates our diverse community, and Queerbash, Out in UL’s showcase event. Following the opening presentation, activities took place which allowed members to talk to and befriend each other. In spite of the fact that I am completely new to the society, I can already say with confidence that Out in UL is a wonderful and essential facility for the LGBTQ students of the university. It provides an open

and non-discriminatory environment in which friendships can flourish, and also quite importantly respects confidentiality. Nobody is forced out of their comfort zone and what is said in the group stays in the group. I hope to benefit from the society’s many services, including its befriending service and its hangout space on Thursdays. The efforts of Out in UL to improve the university experience of LGBTQ students is commendable and it is without a doubt one of the more crucial societies of the University of Limerick.

September 2015 EDITORIAL

Time to extend that grá to women? TOMÁS HENEGHAN EVERY once in a generation we as a country face a burning social issue: Divorce, abortion, same-sex marriage. But for our generation, growing up during one of the greatest economic crashes in the history of the State, we are facing into two of these burning issues. We are the generation who made global history, legalising same-sex marriage by public vote. Are we also to be the generation who undo the constitutional mistakes of the past? Politicians from all sides of our Oireachtas are now calling, in unison, for one more historic constitutional change: Repeal of the 8th Amendment. The Amendment reads: “The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.” To many this statement appears positive, life-affirming and clear as glass. As we have seen however over the past 30 years, it’s far from the image the sugared words of the amendment would paint. Where there should be clarity in medical decision-making by doctors, there is confusion and fear. This exists because of the simple fact that no

matter how clear we attempt to make our 8th Amendment, it is impossible to continue in its shadow with certainty. Why is this? Pregnancy and all that goes with it is medical. For no other medical issue is there a constitutional provision setting limitations and outrightly setting a ban. Medicine is, by its nature, always evolving and many medical issues are never certain. Bunreacht na hÉireann on the other hand is unchanging, stern and ambitious to the extent of being unrealistic in many cases. The two simply cannot mix and forcing them to do so has left this country and its citizens in a 30-year disaster zone of uncertainty, fear and damaging maternity care. The Amendment, which is now on the chopping block for another referendum in the near future, is not merely an ‘anti-abortion’ provision. We saw this last December when a dead pregnant woman was being artificially kept alive to sustain the growing foetus inside her - she was being used as nothing more than a human incubator. We saw the same 30-year fear and uncertainty from medics and lawyers about the equal right to life of the foetus inside this deceased woman. Ultimately the courts sided with rationality and humanity but this does in no way clarify other similar situations. We’ve also seen in recent times Bills to allow for termination of pregnancy in cases

UL Fan Forum to hold film screening for migrant initiative UL Fan Forum are to hold a film screening on Thursday, October 1st at Scholar’s Bar. The charity screening of ‘The Good The Bad and The Weird’ will begin at 7:30pm and aims to raise funds for the Limerick to Calais Migrant crisis initiative. There is no charge for attending the event but all donations for the initiative are welcome.

of fatal foetal abnormalities. These failed, primarily due to the uncertainty of what the 8th Amendment actually outlawed. Could the unborn have an equal right to life if it had no chance of life outside the womb? Who knows for certain? No one, because once again the provision is simply not clear. If such legislation was passed the courts would once again face the decision on attempting to clarifying the amendment further. Ironically, it is the very same 8th Amendment which legalised abortion in Ireland in 1992. This should have been no great surprise. In 1983 when the Amendment was introduced, former lawyer, Alan Shatter TD denounced it, saying: “The irony is that I have no doubt... that if it in its present form becomes part of our Constitution it will essentially secure a constitutional judgment in the not too distant future requiring the House to enact legislation to permit women to have abortions...There is not a member of this House who can categorically state that if this matter were dealt with before our courts this year, next year, or in 20 years time, one of these interpretations to permit, and indeed constitutionally require, abortion would not be accepted.” Students have always been a great part of

social change in our society. From abortion to LGBT rights (something proven within the past year alone), students have led the charge for the great social changes our generation demands. Will students stand in the front line of the march for repeal of the 8th too? UL’s law school is playing its part challenging the Amendment, with lecturers drafting legislation on the issue on more than one occasion in recent times. The Union of Students in Ireland has pledged itself to campaigning for repeal but UL stands outside this and so you, as students of UL, are left to decide what you want. Do we fight to hold to or replace such a significant legal flaw as the 8th? Or do we fight to utterly repeal this flaw and allow our Oireachtas to deal with madeical law through legislation as it should always have been? Will you stand up and say: “Our parents and grandparents made a mistake. We want to fix it.” This is not a ‘pro-choice’ versus ‘pro-life’ issue, this is an issue of legal and medical clarity and rational responsibility in national law-making. Last May we made grá the law, will we now extend this grá to women as equal citizens too?

September 2015 NEWS

UL Intervarsity BioBlitz 2015 LIZ GABBETT What is a BioBlitz? It is a 24-hour event where teams of volunteers, scientists and students ﬁnd, identify and record as many species of plants, fungi, animals, birds, insects and microorganisms possible in a deﬁned area. It is a snapshot in time of an area’s biodiversity.

Why a BioBlitz in UL? The UL Environmental Committee want to raise awareness of the rich biodiversity that is here on our beautiful campus. It’s a fun event where scientists, students and the general public get together to learn how wildlife is studied and recorded. We will also be competing against other colleges for the title of Intervarsity BioBlitz 2015 champions.

When is it? It takes place from 5pm on

Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, Cruidín, COURTESY OF KEVIN JOHNSON

Thursday 24th September to 5pm on Friday 25th September (Week 4 in UL speak). Keep an eye on www.ulsu.ie and www.ul.ie for more information on nature walks closer to the date.

Where does it take place? The entire campus is our study area and Dromroe Village Hall is our control centre where the data is uploaded.

Instagram to upload a picture of a plant, animal, insect or bird you see on campus, in the description insert #ulbioblitz2015, the name of the species (if you know it) and where you found it. You can even start now if you wish to practice. We will have nature walks with experts on birds, plants, insects, water habitats etc. that people can attend during the 24-hour period. As these walks are weather dependent, a timetable of events will be posted closer to 24th September.

Did you know that UL has an orchard? It can be found behind Kilmurry Village.

Who can take part? All students and staff are invited to take part. We particularly welcome and need people, not necessarily UL members, who can record speciﬁc species types. The organising committee would really appreciate your help to identify and record the wildlife on campus. Please get in touch at ULBioBlitz@ul.ie if you can help out.

How can you take part? Bee Orchid, Ophrys apifera, COURTESY OF JOHN BREEN

Anyone can take part by simply using Twitter or

Banded demoiselle Calyopteryx splendens, COURTESY OF JOHN BREEN

The Origins of BioBlitz BioBlitz started in the USA in 1996 and since then national parks all over the world have run an annual BioBlitz as a fun event to get members of the general public involved and inform them about biodiversity in their local area. The ﬁrst Irish BioBlitz took place in 2011 and the Irish National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) have run annual BioBlitzes since then. In 2014 the Green Campus national committee and NBDC organised the ﬁrst intervarsity competition where NUI Galway were the victors.

anyone can download from the App Store. This App has three sections: Campus Art Trail; Arboretum Trail; and Flora and Fauna Trail. The Flora and Fauna trail is a sample of the wildlife that can be found on

Get involved in #ulbioblitz2015

UL Environmental Initiatives Here in UL we have the most beautiful campus in Ireland and it is a serious contender for the title worldwide. Our founders picked a beautiful location beside the majestic Shannon, giving a wide variety of habitat types and ample expansion space for our university. UL has many environmental gems you may not be aware of… Did you know that UL has an orchard? It can be found behind Kilmurry Village. We have a rooftop vegetable garden in the Main Building, D Block, first floor. There is a honey bee apiary just behind the fisherman cottages down by the river. A UL Masters student, Yuki Jiang, with support from UL Arts Office and UL Buildings and Estates, developed an App called UL Trails that

Mute Swan and her cygnets, Cygnus olor, Eala bhalbh, COURTESY OF JOHN BREEN campus. Each year members of the UL Environmental Committee together with outside volunteers do a riverside clean-up. The UL Kayak club also do a river clean up, including the islands you can see from the Living Bridge. Last year the UL Environmental Committee, together with UL Photographic society, ran a competition for the best photo of wildlife found on campus. For these and other reasons, UL is ranked 11th in the world for its efforts towards campus sustainability. This UL BioBlitz is about encouraging you to learn more

about the natural environment around us here in UL and you don’t need to go far to explore your inner David Attenborough tendencies. We all need to take responsibility for the quality of the environment we live and work in and to do that we need to understand it a bit more. So get involved in #ulbioblitz2015. By the way, if you see people scouring the grassy areas in Week 4, they are probably looking for bugs and not magic mushrooms as was roared out of a Dromroe resident’s window while I was surveying for bumble bees last year!

Smarter Travel facilities demonstrated at GreenCampus Assessment SEÁN COLLINS THE University hosted a panel of Green Campus assessors selected by An Taisce as the ﬁnal part of the GreenCampus Assessment process on Wednesday, 9th September. UL is hoping to join a number of Irish universities such as UCC, TCD and DCU that already enjoy green ﬂag status. ‘Travel & Transport’ is one of the themes under which the university is seeking this prized acclamation. The other themes are ‘Energy and Biodiversity’. The An Taisce panel had already read about the smarter travel initiatives that have

been carried out in UL in a Green-Campus Application report but they had a chance to review the facilities ﬁrst hand during their cycling tour of the campus last week. Following a meeting with President Don Barry, the panel of six visited the Roof Garden, the state of the art Analog Devices plant room and the Arboretum before taking a walk over the Living Bridge and hopping on a number of the UL Fleet Bikes. From bikes, the panel enjoyed a visit to the Apiary, the Secure Bike Hub and the new ESB e-cars charge points before stopping at the Smarter Travel stall for a brief presentation on the smarter travel semester-start

events. The panel offered their congratulations to Ross Higgins, UL Smarter Travel Coordinator, and Sean Collins, UL Smarter Travel Deputy Coordinator, for their efforts in encouraging the campus community to use alternatives to single-occupancy driving. The University recently won the Smarter Travel Campus of the Year Award, the Cycling Campus of the Year Award, the Students’ Union Campus of the Year Award and the RSA Leading Lights Award following the implementation of a range of measures aimed at encouraging smarter travel. One of the panelists, Dr Michael John O’Mahony from

An Taisce, added: “UL is such a beautiful campus with great facilities; why would anyone

consider not cycling?” Chris Fogarty, UL Energy Manager led the University’s

application and is hopeful of a positive judgement from An Taisce within two weeks.

September 2015

Patrick Nulty joins UL TOMÁS HENEGHAN FORMER Independent TD, Patrick Nulty is to begin teaching students at the University of Limerick next week, almost 18 months after his resignation from the Dáil. A source inside the university confirmed that Mr. Nulty has taken up a fellowship in the Politics and Public Administration department. The fellowship includes a €15,000 scholarship. Mr. Nulty resigned his position as a TD for the Dublin West constituency in March 2014 after it was revealed he had sent inappropriate Facebook messages to a teenager and two other women. Although he originally denied the allegations, Mr. Nulty later admitted that he had sent the message to the 17-year-old while under the influence of alcohol. Upon resigning as TD, Mr. Nulty said the message was “entirely inappropriate” and he took full responsibility for his actions. He added: “For this reason I have decided to resign my seat in the Dail. I set myself the highest standards personally and politically. Unfortunately due to personal

mistakes I have not met those standards in this matter and I will take responsibility for that. “I still believe passionately that Ireland can be a fairer and more just society based on equality and social justice but at the present time I believe to resign is the correct and right course of action.” In June this year a PhD Teaching Fellowship was advertised by the department of Politics and Public Administration at the university to commence this academic year and which will last four years, subject to a “satisfactory academic performance.” The Fellowship was advertised as including a scholarship of €15,000, along with an EU fee waiver. Former head of the the Politics and Public Administration department at the university, Dr. Bernadette Connaughton confirmed to An Focal that Mr. Nulty has taken up the position as advertised. Dr. Connaughton said the position was widely advertised and Mr. Nulty went through a selection process and was subsequently awarded the fellowship. She also confirmed

he would be conducting research and that part of the fellowship included some teaching responsibilities. Mr. Nulty was elected as a Labour Party TD in the 2011 October by-election in Dublin West following the death of Fianna Fáil’s Brian Lenihan. He then resigned from the Labour Party in 2013 due to

a number of opposing positions to the party. Upon Mr. Nulty’s resignation as a TD last year, Ruth Coppinger of the Socialist Party was elected in the subsequent 2014 Dublin West by-election. Ms. Coppinger had previously come in third place at the 2011 by-election which Mr. Nulty had won. Eamon Cregan and Friends enjoy a lovely meal in Ballyclough after a round of golf in the UL GAA golf classic

UL GAA Club Annual Golf Classic LINA RYAN

Charity Week Construction Nominations underway on new CIARA CORCORAN WE all love a bit of fundraising for charity here in the Students’ Union, and this year is no different! The SU are currently looking for applications for charities to be a part of Charity Week 2016. Funds raised over the week will be donated equally to all the chosen charities. Last year over €30,000 was raised for 4 charities: Console, Share a Dream Foundation, Rape Crisis Midwest and Novas Initiatives and now it’s your chance to get a say in what those charities are! The way it works: If you know of any charities you’d like to nominate please forward me (Ciara) a bio of what the charity does and where the money would be going if selected. You can send them to suwelfare@ul.ie before Thursday of Week 5 (October 8th). We go through the extremely difficult process of shortlisting the nominations down to 8 and these are then presented to the SU Executive where the charities are voted on and selected. No matter what the charity, big or small, local or national, submit a nomination and you never know what could come next. There are hundreds of charities out there, each as worthy as the next. There might be a charity that you have a close connection with or has touched you or someone you know in some way, or one you’re involved in and know what these valuable funds would be used for. So tell us about them, we don’t know about them unless you tell us! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any more information. Get nominating!

NEWS

Munster Training Centre in UL

THE Annual 2015 UL GAA Golf Classic generously sponsored by Torpey Hurleys Six Mile Bridge, took place in the beautiful Limerick Golf Club, Ballyclough of Friday August 21this year. The sun shone and the crowds turned out. The course was in immaculate condition and huge credit must go to the ground staff at Limerick Golf Club for that. After a long day and some great golf, Justin Cahill, Thomas Cleary and Niall O Meara emerged as the winners from approximately 40 odd teams. UL GAA has a proud history and in the 2014/2015 college season they lifted the Fitzgibbon Cup (hurling) the O’ Connor Cup (Ladies Football) and

the Fresher’s hurling. UL GAA were delighted that for the second year in a row the classic was sponsored by John and Sean Torpey. The wider GAA community came along to play golf on the excellent course and to enjoy a catch up with old friends and even some foes. Kilkenny’s Eddie Kehir, Limerick’s Eamon Cregan and Tipperary’s Liam Sheedy to name but a few. The Golf Classic is the main fundraiser for the GAA Club and is hugely beneficial in ensuring that the club can make a serious attempt at achieving more success in 2015/2016. A huge amount of work goes into organising the golf classic from organising tee times to sponsorship and getting out into the communities and getting teams to participate.

MARISA KENNEDY CONSTRUCTION has begun on the new state-of-the-art single Training Centre for the Munster rugby squad beside the existing Sports Arena at the University of Limerick. The project, estimated to be costing in the region of €9.5 million, is being designed by Dublin architect, David Lennon of Reddy Architects and Urbanism. Construction is being managed by Glennman Corporation LTD. It is expected that the Munster squad will move into their new base in July 2016. According to the Munster Rugby website, the new facility will be adapted to the more demanding and physical needs of rugby and will include weight rooms, medical and physiotherapy rooms, as well as offices, audio visual suites, meeting rooms and a 50 seater lecture theatre. The agreement between Munster Rugby and the university on the location of the Training Centre was officially signed earlier this month. The Centre will also house the Greencore Munster Academy and North Munster domestic games operations. The Munster Rugby administrations will remain in their base in Co Cork.

Kilkenny and Cork together. I wonder who won Eddie Kehir and Mick Murphy after the UL GAA Golf Classic

September 2015

President’s Update COLIN CLARKE WHAT’S the craic lads? I hope you all enjoyed your ﬁrst week back in college. Now that Freshers’ Week

is over you can start focusing on getting involved. Many of you were at the recruitment drive, over 4000 of you actually and many of you will have signed up to a few clubs and societies. I remember signing up for 8 of them in my ﬁrst year. If you’re sitting at home debating whether to watch another episode of impractical jokers or to go kayaking in the arena or football practice, pick the latter. It’s very easy to sit at home

all day and do sweet fack all but you will end up regretting it. The social evenings and general craic that is had when you get involved is immense, trust me. At the start of Week 2, we had our class reps training. We had over 100 class reps turn up and it was a very successful night. It was much improved from last year with record numbers and the fact that I didn’t get egged in the eye while waiting for the bus

outside the stables probably was a major factor. In fairness though when I look back at it, it was an Eggcellent shot! So whoever you are, cracking shot again and you may want to look at joining the cricket or Ultimate Frisbee team. We had some great events for Freshers’ Week and I know you will all be looking for another excuse to go out so here it is. On Thursday of Week 4, we have a brand new event “the wolves go to the

dogs” at Limerick Greyhound Stadium. So lads get suited and booted and girls dress to impress. If you’re interested in naming a race for your class or naming it after something completely random we will be releasing more details soon but in the meantime call into me for more information. On another note, look after yourself and talk to people if you’re feeling down. College can be an extremely lonely and difﬁcult place if things

are not going well. Keep an eye out for your friends as well and ask them if they are ok. Looking after your mental health is so important and if you are feeling down don’t drink too much as drink is the biggest depressant there is. There is help there so don’t be afraid to ask for it. Once you make that initial courageous decision to seek assistance, things will start to get better. Believe me I’ve been there myself. Anyway, hope you’re all ready for an amazing semester. Stay classy! Colin

Marian talks student reps MARIAN O'DONNELL HI Guys! Marian Your Academic Ofﬁcer here. Many people don’t realise that it is part of my role to help with the student representation side of the SU. As VP Academic, it is my responsibility to work with Liz Gabbett, our Democracy and Development Manager, in order to maintain the Class Rep system and ensure that you get the most out of your

CIARA CORCORAN HI everyone! Happy week 3! I hope you’re all settled (back) into college life and having a great time! It’s been super busy here in the Welfare Ofﬁce since our last edition. Orientation Week and Freshers’ Week were amazing to say the least. It was great meeting so many of you during Orientation Week and seeing you all enjoying yourselves in Freshers’ Week. I have to say that Fresher Fest gig was one of the best gigs I’ve been to in UL. As I’m writing this it’s still Week 2 and I’m busy preparing for our ﬁrst Welfare Team meeting this evening. Over 70 people signed up at the recruitment drive meaning that the common room will be buzzing tonight and we’ll have the man

Students’ Union. Student Representatives are the driving force behind all aspects of student life on campus. Whether they represent a class of 15, a department of 500 or a faculty of 3000 their input is important. Their voice provides a vital link between the student body, the Union and the University as a whole. Student Representatives provide frontline feedback from the students and highlight any and all issues that arise. It is my role to represent students’ views on both academic committees, which govern the education of the University and dealing with conﬂicts and

problems that may emerge with lecturers. There is no problem too large or too small so if at any time you run into problems or have a brilliant idea call into the Students Union, our door is always open! Anyone wondering how our Student Representation system works? It’s made up of Class Reps, Student Council and Exec.

What is a Class Rep? Class Reps are an essential part of the Students’ Union structure. They are our eyes and ears on the ground and work as a point of contact for

the class, the lecturers, tutors and of course the Students’ Union.

What is Student Council? The Student Council is made up of 54 students who discuss and vote on Union policy. As representative of all UL students they direct Executive on what to do. Council meets every second Tuesday at 6pm in the Library boardroom.

Who makes up Student Council? All members are UL students, 28 are elected

Look after yourselves power to get stuck into loads of welfare issues this year. For anyone who hasn’t signed up but wants to get involved keep an eye on our Facebook page for our next meeting or send me an email. Week 1 was World Suicide Prevention Week so to mark the event a UL Cycle against Suicide was run on Wednesday. The Cycle Against Suicide initiative aims to tell people that it’s ok not to be ok, and it’s absolutely ok to ask for help. A successful coffee morning started the day followed by 16 people taking off on their bicycles in the afternoon. I want to take this opportunity to say a huge well done to Caroline Rafter and all her team in organising such a fantastic event and hopefully we can continue it in the future.

Department Representatives for each of UL’s academic departments, 15 are Interest Group Representatives with particular responsibility for speciﬁc student life and welfare areas. The 11 Executive members attend Council. Only the non-sabbatical members have a vote. The President, Welfare and Academic sabbatical ofﬁcers do not have a vote.

What is the SU Executive? The SU Executive are a working group of 11 students who are elected by you to help implement students’ ideas,

run Union campaigns, support student led activities and represent students’ interests with the University at every level. The ULSU General Manager is also a member but does not have a vote.

Can I get involved? If you want to get involved as a Class Rep, on Student Council or even as an Exec member there are still some vacancies - If you have any further questions about the work involved or positions available you can contact Liz Gabbett at Liz.gabbett@ul.ie or myself at suacademic@ ul.ie.

Let’s Get Physical!!

Let’s Get Physical in week 4 CIARA CORCORAN

Day to Day stuff has been busy too. I’m glad to see that lots of you know where we are and are coming in to talk to us with regards to so many issues. I’ve had a lot of accommodation and ﬁnancial queries in

the past few weeks. The childcare bursary applications have opened this week. You can call into me for a chat or get a form behind reception. Look after yourselves, Ciara

LET’S get physical, physical; I want to get physical, physical…… The wise words of Olivia Newton-John that you’ve all got stuck in your head now! In conjunction with UL Sport and the First Seven Weeks programme, week 4 will be dedicated to the promotion of physical health across campus. There will be events happening everyday with the occasional freebie thrown in! We want to get our campus moving, keep healthy and get active. Keep an eye out on Facebook, emails, and poster boards for what’s happening. If you’ve any suggestions of activities you’d like to see on campus drop me an email on suwelfare@ul.ie and we’ll see what we can do.

September 2015 CIARA GORDON I recently went home from Limerick and one of my family members told me that they had been at a disco the week before and had shifted ﬁve different people during the night. My ﬁrst reaction was: “Are you ok? Was it consensual? Did you enjoy it?” and after that my thoughts were: “Fair play, I wish I could do the same!” Now that probably says a lot about me, but we’ll move on. Fast forward to a few hours later and I was being told that that kind of behaviour was disgraceful, and said person was going to get a bad reputation for themselves and get called a slut and I needed to have a word with them. Now, the person in question is admittedly young and probably should not get into the habit of doing this too often. But still, I honestly could not get over this reaction. It’s 2015, do we seriously still live in a society whereby your reputation is more important than enjoying yourself? Well yeah, I knew that was still a thing but it’s a pain in the ass when I see just how much of a thing it still is. The word ‘slut’ is one that is mostly used to refer to any girl between the ages of about 12 and 30 who has done anything

LIFESTYLE

“Boo, you whore!” from wear a skirt above their knees, to have sex with more than one person in the space of a couple of weeks. Yet, usually if a male was to do the same thing he would be either just ignored or celebrated, and be known as a ‘stud’ or ‘pimp’. God only knows how many songs there are with singers talking about what a pimp they are because they have so many ‘hoes’. Oftentimes, even when someone calls out a man for getting with too many people they’re referred to as a ‘manwhore’ or ‘man-slut’, making it clear that these kinds of words are inherently feminine. Just because I’m a girl, society has programmed those around me to refer to me as a slut because I want to wear a cute crop top or kiss three people in one night. On top of this, getting slut shamed is almost a given for anyone who is bi/pansexual. Because obviously someone who can be attracted to more

than one gender wants to have sex with everyone, right? No. Just because someone is polysexual (meaning they’re attracted to more than one gender), it doesn’t mean they are polyamorous. I mean monosexual people are often attracted to more than just one person, and it’s the same thing for bi/pan people. Your sexuality has zero bearing on how actively sexual you are as a person, it depends entirely on what you yourself want. No sexuality is ‘sluttier’ or more promiscuous than any other. The fact of the matter is, it has no bearing on your life whether or not someone wants to have sex with three people in one night or show some cleavage. These words are used simply by petty or jealous people, myself included, but at the end of the day, ‘slut’, ‘whore’, ‘hoe’ and all the others need to become redundant words, because there is simply no need for them to be used anymore.

Your union Your views Your newspaper Want to comment on any of An Focal’s stories?

New Letters to the Editor section

Email anfocal@ul.ie to have your say! (*Include ‘Letters to editor’ in the subject line of your email)

September 2015 LIFESTYLE

PSU’s AGM

SEÁN McKILLEN HI everyone, I hope you are all settling in well to the autumn semester. The deadline for the Childcare Bursary applications is Friday 9th of October (Week 5). To apply, you just need to come into the PSU and collect a form from my office and I’ll go through the steps involved. It would probably be best to try and book an appointment with me first so that we can work out a time that suits all. The Hardship fund application forms are also available from my office,

but there is no deadline for these applications. Just note that the Hardship fund cannot be used to pay academic fees. The PSU is hosting its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday 30th September. It will take place at 6pm in the PSU common room. All postgrads are encouraged to attend. Items on the agenda at present include: the election of a new PSU Council & Executive, the establishment of Faculty and general research forums, as well as changes/amendments to the PSU constitution. You can suggest changes to the constitution to me at any stage up until Friday 25th of September. If you want to send on any suggested changes, please use this address: sean.mckillen@ul.ie. I’ll keep everyone updated in the run up to it, and I’ll be making use of the social media accounts to publicise it. I would appreciate if you could spread the word as well.

The positions available include: V.P./Treasurer, Events and Publicity officer, Faculty representatives, Students’ Union representative, Clubs and Societies officer, Chairperson of PSU Council, PhD officer, International officer, and finally there are general Council positions available. You can find information about each of these positions at ulpsu. ie and I’ll be in touch to explain

this further during the week. This promises to be an exciting year in the PSU. My term will be spent helping to coordinate a national strategy of opposition to cuts to postgraduate funding, as well as highlighting the precarious and often exploitative conditions that postgraduate students work under. I hope you will consider joining the campaign to make the postgraduate community a stronger presence on the national political scene. If you are interested in any of the above, then feel free to pop in and see me in the PSU.

PETER O'NEILL

But first, let me take a selfie! CIARA GORDON SOME time ago, like most university students, I was being very productive my spending my free time on social media, in particular Instagram. On my main page I realised that almost every single photo was a selﬁe. And it made me so happy. And it makes me sad that other people see this as an inherently negative thing. I Googled the term ‘selﬁe culture’ and got a list of articles which slammed my generation

Coming back from the brink with The Libertines

for our so-called ‘personal obsession’. Selfies are also apparently the reason behind an increase in eating disorders, depression and anxiety in young teens. This fills me with the rage of a thousand white hot suns. A selfie is nothing more than someone taking a picture of themselves, that’s it. Yes, I would be the first one to condemn a magazine for tampering with a model’s picture to the point where they’re depicting impossible beauty standards. Yes, constantly seeing pictures of drop-dead gorgeous people who have spent hours prepping themselves and have used every filter known to man can be triggering for some people. And yes, some people take it way too far (there is a time and a place for selfies. And a funeral is neither). But for me, taking a selfie is simply someone sharing a moment with the world when they felt beautiful or confident or happy. Did anyone ever stop to think that maybe the apparent increase in mental health issues in teens is because we’re being told that we’re a self-obsessed, narcissistic generation when really we simply want to feel good about how we look? Or that maybe we need to up the amount of mental healthcare facilities for teens and young adults in Ireland? Or how about actually pushing forward the movement of reducing the stigma around mental health, rather than just occasionally mentioning it in hushed tones now and again? Because trust me when I say that constantly being told I’m self-absorbed and in love with myself is a lot more detrimental to my mental health than seeing a picture of a pretty girl in XX Pro or Valencia.

A viral video that was doing the rounds a while back featured a young pre-fame Peter Doherty being interviewed in-store at the 1997 release of Be Here Now by Oasis. The most striking thing about watching this, aside from the obvious wit the man already was displaying, is how different he appears. This is before The Libertines, before the fame and obviously judging from his facial features, before he ever indulged in hard drugs. Sadly, despite being in one of the best bands of the last decade, the singer/guitarist would become more famous as a junkie on the cover of British tabloids than any of his songs ever did. This was one of the main causes of the eventual break-up of the band, and his estrangement from Carl Barat, a close friend and fellow songwriter/vocalist in the Libertines. It was often thought of during the years between the end of and eventual reunion of the group, that they would never properly get back together unless Doherty sought help with his many addictions. Surprisingly and happily, considering the extent of his indulgence in every Class A drug under the sun, him doing exactly that, appears to have been the spark that started their come back and the release of a new album, Anthems for Doomed Youth that came out on September 11th. The primary theme of this record, unlike other Libertines releases, is happiness and empowerment. Where Up the Bracket (2002) and The Libertines (2004) contained bittersweet regret even at the most joyous occasions, Anthems harbours tales of putting yourself back together and “being a better man that that”, with Doherty assuring the listener to “Hold on to your dreams, however bleak it seems”. Coming from a man who is lucky to be alive, this is truly inspiring. Bar, “You’re My Waterloo” (which was on old Libertines demo re-recorded for the new album), nearly every song has a message of trying to be ok in a messed up world no matter how bad it gets. Even though, this doesn’t mean all of the demons are conquered, at least they are ﬁghtable, and Doherty should be commended for at least trying to get clean,even if he never fully defeats his addictions forever. More evidence of this, are the YouTube videos that the rehab facility in Thailand that he attended have uploaded. Doherty seems to have regained the youthful hope that he displayed as a young Oasis fan. Not only does he now speak coherently, but he seems to have a much healthier outlook on life, which again is evidence in his newest songs. If a man who was this close to the brink and even though he states “You'll never fumigate the demons”, has been able to achieve happiness and face his weaknesses head on, surely we all can. That goes for not just addiction, but anything detrimental in life that we all my face at one point or another, such as anxiety or other mental health issues. All we have to do is try.

September 2015 LIFESTYLE

Fresher’s Diary: The First Week

my room on Sunday night and last week. That Monday made my view change drastically. I no longer worry about annoying my roommates with my random chattering or if I should sit in the kitchen to drink a cup of tea. I have no fear of using the oven or messing up my cooking because I know they’ll laugh with me, not at me. The rest of Fresher’s week was lost in my lectures, buying books which was a horrifying experience in itself. I don’t think I’ll be heading off on any trips anytime soon after that.

EMMA TAYLOR

IT’S always been hard to start something new, especially when you’re stepping out of your comfort zone. When I arrived back in my house on Sunday night, the week ahead of me seemed torturous. I knew no one in my course, I barely knew my roommates and the idea of being one face in a crowd after years of small class’s intimidated me. The University of Limerick is such a big campus that I was terrified I get lost in the crowd, especially since I come from a small town and my friends have splintered off in different directions. Fresher’s Week I was told would be ‘the best week of your life’ but to me in my room on Sunday night, it felt like I’d was entering a war zone with only my iPod and books to save me from this loud and intimidating place. Monday left me waking up at seven thirty in the morning with nervousness. I was scared about finding my classes, getting there on time and meeting new people. Social interactions aren’t my biggest skills unless I’m comfortable in my surroundings. The walk to the college left me feeling lonely and sick. The entire walk was filled with other first years, just like me, yet they had their friends with them laughing and talking with excitement. I was another story with my ear phones in and my eyes counting the cracks in the pavement before me. It also didn’t help that my first lecture had been moved to another part of the campus. All I can say is thank you to the Seven Days people. You really saved my life this week and made settling in to the vast campus a lot easier. I was able to follow their directions, get my head around the various building and find my class without much difficulty. They helped me to feel better about getting lost with their jokes and smiles, I’m sure there are other people who are just as thankful to them as I am. Monday flew by for the rest of the day. Although I was just a face in the crowd the lectures made me feel interested and alive, as if I wasn’t just a scared little fresher trying to disappear into the sea of people. They were interesting and friendly with the right amount of sternness to show me what I would need to do this semester to survive. The foam party was where everything started to look up

Some days went slowly as I found that I had a little too much time on my hands and not enough to do. It’ a big jump going for being a dependant student with a set nine to three timetable and a study timetable to being responsible for yourself and managing your own time. I think that’ll be one of the many challenges that I face this year. I had so much time on my hands this week that I managed to rematch an entire season of The Walking Dead to kill the boredom in between my lectures. for me. That night I got to know my roommates better, they made sure I came down stairs and it was as if I was with my friends. They didn’t leave me out of the conversations, they listened to what I had to say and made me laugh. It was the first time that I felt capable of settling in of finding a foothold. I shared stories, laughed and got to know the wonderful people I’ll be sharing my house with this year. I wasn’t alone. The actual foam party was a lot better than it was described to me as being. I’d heard a lot of complaints about getting sore throats, colds and feeling miserable but I felt alive. I screamed along with every song, danced with my new found friends and just had fun. It was relaxing and exciting. I felt so much better once the whole thing kicked off, all my negative feelings were erased when we were smothered in foam. I even made friends with other girls who felt like they knew no one in UL. I didn’t care by the time I was walking home that I was soaked to the bone or that my makeup was probably running down my cheeks, I could still feel the buzzing of the music in my ears and I had people who understood the feelings of uncertainty and loneliness that had kept me in

Diary of a mature student LINA RYAN THIS is the last year of a four year journey and every year is the same. There was a fantastic buzz coming in the courtyard on Fresher’s Week to see the amount of students there, young, old, not so old and of all nationalities. The colour was fantastic. We all start back full of enthusiasm and then you get your course outlines for each module, assignments, deadlines and then by the end of week two, the panic sets in but only temporarily. There are always the modules that you like so this year I have decided I am going to allocate time early in the week, when hopefully I am more alert, to work on my

least favourite modules. I’ll keep you updated on how that works. This year once again

I am joining a new group and like first year mature students it can be daunting but I just go in introduce myself and you only have to do it once and after the first class while everyone won’t know names, faces will register. I was delighted to catch up with old friends whom I haven’t seen during the summer and enjoy a leisurely coffee in the Stables and with the weather being nice to sit outside and chat. At the end of last semester I joined the mature students club and a great club it is too, you get to meet fantastic people and the club organises great social events for us “oldies”. We need our down time too. “Can’t let the young ones have all the fun now can we!”

As I sit here, awaiting week too with the hopes of another great week and writing this article, I’m reflecting on advice for other homesick first years. The first thing I can say to you is you’re not alone. If this week taught me anything it’s that there are other first years who are just as scared, anxious, lonely an as homesick as you’re feeling right now. It’s okay to be sad and maybe not understand just quiet yet why everyone says first year is the best year of your college life. I suggest that you start by really getting to know your roommates. Go down to that kitchen, boil the kettle and offer them a cup of tea, there’s no quicker way to start a conversation then a good old cup of tea. I can guarantee that once the two or three of you are sitting down on your couch or at the table conversation will just start to flow. You will find someone to talk to, to do things with and roommates are the place to start. I can already feel myself forming an amazing friendship with mine, it made my week so much easier to have another person to talk to. So smile. Hope is on the horizon and you’re not alone. I hope you enjoy your second week at UL as much as I enjoyed my Fresher’s Week.

September 2015

Erasmus Diary SALLY GORMAN BY the time you guys are reading this I will be living it up in Manchester. Yes my Erasmus has come around, very quickly may I add and I am now officially a student of The University of Salford. The last couple of months have been hectic. I’ve been booking flights, finding the right accommodation and choosing my modules. It’s all been very hands on but very exciting. I am a third year Journalism and New Media student and when it came down to choosing my Erasmus destination Salford seemed right up my street. When I heard MediaCityUK was part of the campus I was sold. With the BBC and ITV studios based there what more could a future broadcast journalist want? Let’s not forget a bit of Coronation Street and Jeremy Kyle thrown in for good measure. I could be hitting Rovers for

one or two at the weekend! Me? I’m a bit of a home bird so the UK seemed like an ideal destination for my study abroad semester. I actually think I’ll feel closer to home in Manchester than Limerick. As crazy as that sounds Manchester is only a 50 minute plane journey away whereas being from the Midlands meant I travelled over two hours to get to UL. This I won’t miss. I still can’t comprehend that getting to Dublin Airport was more costly than flying to Manchester. Yes, believe it or not, a one way ticket to Manchester only set me back €9.99. Thank God for Ryanair. Realistically, with flights at that price I could come home every weekend if I wanted to but I guess that takes the good out of an Erasmus doesn’t it? So far I am super impressed with how efficiently things are ran in Salford. When I booked my flights the Erasmus office there kindly arranged for someone from their team to meet me at

the airport and take me to my accommodation. This I was delighted with as it’s hard enough landing in a new city and not knowing where to go especially when you’re weighed down with bags, bags and more bags. I will be living on campus in Salford. I will be resident of The John Lester and Eddie Colman Courts for twelve weeks to be precise. Not only is this my ﬁrst time to stay in campus accommodation but also my ﬁrst time to move in with strangers.

I’m not going to lie but this is what’s stressing me out the most – the fear of the unknown! As far as I am aware I will be living with three post graduate girls, here’s hoping we get along. It’s all part of the package. For the ﬁrst time in my life I will be donning a single bed and that’s not the worst part. I’ll also be sharing a bathroom with four others. Maybe I’m just being picky or else Limerick has spoiled me the last two years but this

is something I’m just not used to. That will all have to change. My accommodation looks basic but very clean and offers a free bus service to and from college every day. Thank God because from what I’ve heard it’s always raining in Manchester! I’m also excited about the free gym in my complex. I hope to come back a new woman, unrecognisable but hey, how many times have I said that at this stage? On a serious note I am looking forward to getting back into my own routine. I find that when cooking for one and shopping for one it’s so much easier to be healthier. Staying on campus is quite expensive. My first deposit cost me £500, which seems fairly standard until you convert to Sterling – a whopping €725 but it will be worth it. It put my parents at ease knowing that there is 24hr campus security there too. With the exchange rate being so bad at the minute I was stressing about money. Because I am studying in Europe I am entitled to a study abroad grant of €250 a month which all sounds rosy in the garden until you do the maths and realise that really isn’t so much in Sterling. How and ever I plan on finding myself a part time job over here. I don’t expect it to be too difficult as shops will only be getting busier in the run up to the Christmas season so fingers crossed. I’ll keep you posted. I have my heart set on a jewellers in the Trafford Centre.

Maybe I’m being a little unrealistic but with five years’ experience in this line of work I have a shot right? The Trafford Centre will be my second home while I’m in Manchester no doubt! I’m also really looking forward to sporting my United jersey and going to a soccer game in Old Trafford. I’m not even a soccer supporter but when in Rome and all that jazz? I think this is what my friends are most looking forward to and are planning their visits around. The most difficult part to date has been deciding what to pack. I’m a terrible packer of a normal time so you can imagine how hard it was for me to pack for a twelve week stint. Do I bring bed clothes or do I buy them out there? How will I find my warmest winter coat? Choosing which shoes to leave behind…torture! My Mam and Dad are flying out a day after me just to make sure I’m fully settled and of course to bring anything I may have forgotten. The only thing I have to remember is that whatever we bring out I will have to bring home alone so I can’t go overboard. I’ll have to unpack the kitchen sink! As far as I know I will only have to study three modules in Salford on a pass/fail basis. SO I shouldn’t really be saying this but it looks like I will have a lot of free time to enjoy, create and explore. Here goes! Wish me luck...

September 2015

tindermania

LIFESTYLE

LAURA-ASHLEY NÍ SHUILLÉABHÁIN

TINDER is one of those golden age things that you either love or you hate. Like anything else it has its upsides and its downfalls. Tinder can be a bit of banter but there’s a very thin line between being creepy or cute and seeming charming or desperate. On the off chance that you don’t know what tinder is you need to do two things - Firstly get out from the rock that you’ve been living under and secondly go get yourself a social life. No I’m just kidding. Tinder is a social media platform where you put in your preferences in a ‘companion’ and then swipe left to reject and swipe right ‘for a good time’ as they say. Then if you match with a person you can chat away with them. I suppose it’s up to the individual what exactly they want to do with the app. In some ways it depends on where you live as well. There’s a big difference between using it at home (especially if you’re in a more rural area like myself) and using it here in UL. If you live in one of the big cities then you’re grand. You can set your location preference with however many miles radius that you want without worrying that you’ll see your geeky next door neighbour’s profile and then you can avoid feeling bad when you reject him. However if you live in the country or in a small town (and the app actually decides to work for once) then seeing your neighbour’s profile is a daily struggle. It’s so hard to find people near enough to you that you don’t already know. You either have to change your km location range or your age range - although I’m not sure if being matched with 25-year-olds can really be counted as a negative thing. It’s a total different story in UL though. You’re settings could

literally be on any random thing and you’ll still find plenty of people to chat away with. You don’t have to worry about the awkward ‘weren’t you in my primary school?’ moments or the ‘I think you dated my older brother’ fiascos. When you’re at home you also have to look out for the parents. Nothing more embarrassing than having to explain what tinder is and why exactly you’re on it to dear old mom and dad. At college you can whip out your phone and be showing off all your matches to your friends without them judging you because they’ll be showing you their matches two seconds later. As corny as it is to use the ‘there’s plenty of fish in the sea’ line when it comes to UL it’s actually true. There’s plenty of people to choose from and even if you only use it for a bit of the craic then nobody’s going to judge you. I know from experience that if you use the app in a more rural village/town that everyone will look at you as

if you’re on the hunt for your future husband and they need to hide their eldest son from you. When you’re in college on a night out there’s no fear of meeting one of your matches because there’s too many people in the club to try and distinguish your match from your friends. At home? If you go to Aldi it’s like you’re expected to have a full face of makeup on for fear that you run into one of the guys you’ve matched with. Sometimes I think tinder is more trouble than it’s worth but at the end of the day it’s just for the craic. Is it likely that you’ll meet your signiﬁcant other on it? Probably not. But it’s a chance to chat to people with the same interests without the hassle of having to get all done up to meet for coffee. I have to ask though, what’s with those occasions where you keep location turned off? I’ve been paired with guys from Berlin for god’s sake! I’ve just taken it that Tinder wants me to be alone forever. Thanks Tinder. Thanks a lot.

September 2015

cULtuRe

SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2015

@UL

A Guide to University of Limerick Visual Arts and Arts Office Events

September 16, 7.00pm

CSG-01

September 18, 12.30 – 2.30pm CSIS Building, UL

The University of Limerick’s Creative Writing programme presents a reading by Pulitzer prizewinning author Richard Ford, introduced by Joseph O’Connor, Frank McCourt professor of Creative Writing, UL

Selfies - Open House

Admission is free but reservation is essential. To reserve a seat/seats please email Claire.Ryan@ul.ie no later than Friday 11th September Supported by University of Limerick Arts Office and Limerick City and Council Arts Office

Bourn Vincent Gallery, Foundation Building To celebrate Culture Night the Student Affairs Division invites you to an open house at the Selfies Exhibition. Experience live life drawing from 12.00 with artist Marie Claire Boothman, enjoy a few tunes from UL’s house band Cruinniú and a cúpla focal from Eoin Devereux, professor of Sociology in UL and author of the academic bestseller Understanding the Media and co-editor of David Bowie: Critical Perspectives (with Aileen Dillane and Martin J. Power). All washed down with tae, hang sandwiches and MiWadi!

September 22 – 23, 8.00pm

Waiting In Line Jonathan Swift lecture theatre, (B1023), 1st floor, Main Building WAITING IN LINE is a fast paced social commentary on the ‘social welfare culture’ that has been created in Ireland over the past 25 years and is presented by Honest Arts Production Company. Performed by Pius McGrath, Eva O Connor and Johanna O’ Brien and directed by Tara Doolan. it combines Artistry and the latest in 3D mapping technology. This fast paced, thought provoking, physical theatre piece was nominated for Best Set Design at the Irish Times Theatre Awards 2015 and winner of Cutting Edge Artist award at the Toronto Fringe Festival, 2015 Admission €10; €5 concessions Enquiries and booking details at ularts.office@ul.ie, Eventbrite or 086 8930919

September 22 – December 8, 8.00pm

Life Drawing Classes Dromroe Village Hall Weekly life drawing classes with the Limerick Figure Drawing Society Free introductory class on September 22nd Enquiries to ularts.office@ul.ie

September 2015 Thursday, October 22, 1.15 - 1.45pm

4:33

September 24 – October 31

Hyphae

Bourn Vincent Gallery, Foundation Building A performance by Softday of John Cage’s iconic 4.33 (with kind permission of the John Cage Foundation for Contemporary Arts)

Bourn Vincent Gallery, Foundation Building An exhibition featuring The Mushroom Book with work by John Cage, Lois Long and Alexander H.Smith; Acouscenic soundmaps by Softday and new work by Helena Grimes

Wednesday, September 30, 1.05 - 1.55pm

October Lunchtime Talks and Lectures Bourn Vincent Gallery, Foundation Building

Curated by Yvonne Davis and Patricia Moriarty The Mushroom Book is on loan from the Limerick City Gallery of Art

“Naturizing the UL Campus“ A lecture by Professor John Breen giving his view of what can be seen on campus. [Irish Seed Savers Mushroom foraging course competition winners announced]

October 19 - 22

SoULArtsFest

November 3 – December 31 University of Limerick Campus Series of events celebrating the activities of UL Wolves Societies. OUR HOUSE competition winners announced Full programme details available on Soul

Gaze Bourn Vincent Gallery, Foundation Building A selection of artist’s films including works from the National Self Portrait Collection of Ireland

Full programme and competition details at: www.ul.ie/visualarts and

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September 2015 LIFESTYLE

'Its all about changing your SEAMUS TOOMEY

GARY McGowan is a second year studying Physiotherapy in UL. He’s also an advocate of healthy living and a fan of the sport of bodybuilding. Invested in the subculture of the ﬁtness world including powerlifting, bodybuilding and various other sports and trends, Gary has developed some strong opinions and acquired a substantial amount of knowledge during his own leisure and through his coursework. This being said, Gary is not a doctor and his thoughts in this interview are his opinions and beliefs on what is healthy. Gary’s opinions are not to be taken as gospel or fact and are part of a human interest interview conducted by An Focal.

So why should you listen to him? Well for a start he looks the part - he’s muscular and ﬁt looking and sports impressive

numbers on his lifts, moreover he’s been doing this for more than four years and he offers online coaching as well as having a following of 3,545 people on his Instagram and has his own YouTube channel. While Gary himself will warn about listening to someone based solely on their popularity or beauty, I invite you to enjoy some of his insights and at the

very least this will get you thinking about your own health and where it falls on your list of priorities. If you do want to follow him on Instagram you can ﬁnd him at @skinnygaz

The basics to being healthy - what would you consider them to be?

People are going and they’re buying pizzas in boxes, readymade meals all this stuff, that’s the stuff that’s expensive.

Without being too cliché, the ﬁrst thing is lifestyle. Sleep is probably ahead of everything and it’s completely underutilised - athletes, students and everyone. If you were to do nothing else to make yourself healthy but sleep 8 to 10 hours a night consistently then that can actually make a massive difference to psychological wellbeing, physical wellbeing and productivity, which all carries over into your health. If you consider chronic pain, the main contributor to that is not injury or blunt trauma, it’s usually due to lifestyle factors like rest. If you have a really stressful period in your life, let’s say you left your girlfriend or your kids are going through school or things are really difﬁcult for you in your job, then that stress will bring any existing or previous pain further and that in turn will affect your sleep and your sleep will affect it back. Lifestyle is probably number one to being healthy, after that just general exercise and nutrition. Not everyone likes to lift weights, not everyone wants to

eat a certain way, but if you’re just mindful in eating your fruits and vegetables then eating a bar of chocolate at the end of the day won’t do you any harm. If you’re doing your half hour to an hour of exercise every day and if you just implement those three things - eat kind of good, exercise kind of regularly and sleep really well - the overall difference it will make to your wellbeing is just so much greater than you’d think.

poisoned the idea of what it means to be healthy because you have all these people who look absolutely amazing but give terrible advice, but everyone wants to look like them so they take their advice. The way I look at it is, I want to keep health as my primary focus and with that other things will come in the future. If I look at my goals ten years down the line - so for me

There are people who look incredibly good but undernea th it all feel horrible.

People often believe being healthy equates to looking good and vice versa Is there a distinction between body image and health? They are two different spectrums - of course there is a correlation but that doesn’t equate to causality. You can be really healthy and not look like the lifeguard or that skinny girl you see in the media. There are people who look incredibly good but underneath it all feel horrible. If you look at 90% of diets that are popular, like Weight Watchers, they’re all quick fixes, no one wants to look at health. If someone comes to me (for online coaching) they generally want a quick fix and I have to bring the harsh reality to them look I don’t want to give quick fixes, you might not necessarily see the changes immediately. In regards to body composition, you can lose weight by eating less or exercising more. There are certain situations where that doesn’t apply but if you’re a female and you’re eating 1500 calories or less and you’re not losing weight, and you drop that to 1200 calories and you stop losing weight again but you still want to lose 4 more stone it’s not practical for you to continue dropping calories and it’s going to affect your personal life, your mood, your results in college and all of those things are health. All those things are primarily psychological. If you look at Instagram, it’s kind of

my goal is bodybuilding - that doesn’t mean I have to look good every day. Looking good doesn’t really mean that much to me and it sounds ridiculous because the whole sport is based on body composition but primarily for me it’s all about just being healthy, living a productive lifestyle that allows me to, and if you follow me on social media you’ll know my motto is: “Always be happy - just chase that happiness and that’s where health is.” So for example Matt Kroc coming out as transgender and transitioning into Janae Marie Kroc… That to me is health. [She] is so happy in [herself], [she] is comfortable. You hear all these clichés - do what you want to do, and be you, do you. All the girls have these posters but everyone is afraid of what other people are thinking. Even if you think your lifestyle is healthy, it’s probably not because people follow crowds in student life. If you don’t want to go out on a Thursday night chances are all your friends are going to force you to go out - you tell yourself it was your choice but maybe it wasn’t and chances are the next day you wake up and feel like shit.

What do you need to do to look good and what do you need to do to be healthy? If you put being healthy as the primary short term goal, and with the daily focus on that, will come the body composition changes and looking good.

September 2015

lifestyle' Looking good isn’t going to be the same for everyone - social media brands it as looking aesthetic or there’s a certain female physique. You can be healthy as a male and be 15% body fat but that in the bodybuilding world is fat. There’s a massive difference between, chasing optimal health and looking good.

even realise they do it - and of course going out drinking. If you just make the lifestyle changes then the body composition will come. Most people that chase looking good will go to that quick ﬁx: Weight Watchers, Unislim, Slimfast, all these things - if you look at within 5 years, 95 percent

One of the signs you’re not getting enough sleep is simply not being able to get out of bed in the morning.

A year or two in the ﬁtness world is short term. If you get someone to focus on exercising regularly, drinking lots of water then that’s primarily looking at health but with that builds up the good habits of “I’m sleeping better, I’m eating less processed foods but if I really want them I’ll have them, ok.” If you can break the cycle of sleeping until one o’clock in the day, eating what’s convenient and binge eating - binge eating is a massive thing and people don’t

of people who lose weight gain back more weight than they lost. The American government don’t even use the words ‘weight loss’, they use the term ‘weight management’ because they’ve more or less accepted weight loss is not actually possible and they’ve said if you don’t want to be fat don’t gain the weight originally. People don’t look at long term plans, they look at short term ﬁxes. As a result, you end up damaging your metabolism and you’re eating really low calories

LIFESTYLE

– Gary McGowan chats to An Focal and it’s just not sustainable. You have to find something sustainable for you long term if you want to make those changes. Anything that promises quick changes in six to twelve weeks, I’m sorry but you’re just going to end up looking worse and less healthy. If you can choose something you enjoy, then you know that’s sustainable long term. That is the much better option for you than wanting to train like me or someone else. It’s all individual. The diet that works for me might not work for another person. That’s why the calories in calories out tracking your macronutrient has become so popular because it’s all about flexible dieting so you have your goals for calories for the day - within that you consume 80 to 90% of that from whole-foods and that doesn’t mean it has to be chicken and broccoli. You might prefer turkey, white potatoes over sweet potatoes, basmati rice or brown rice, its whatever you enjoy doing and it’ll be sustainable for you. If I get two people and they’re the same weight, everything is the same, and I put one person on a chicken and broccoli diet and the other on a bar of chocolate and a slice of pizza and every day fit it into their macronutrients, the first person is going to hate themselves and will binge, and binge bad when they do so and anyone that tells you that you can’t put on a lot of body fat just from one binge, its bull - I went on holidays two years ago to Santa Ponsa, I put

on 26 pounds in one week.

Can you be healthy for cheap? Is a gym necessary? It’s really not as expensive as you’d think to eat well. It’s not really expensive at all - if you look at my diet, its mainly just whole foods, chicken breasts are cheap, potatoes are so cheap, go to an Indian shop and you’ll get 10 kilos of rice for €10. It’s so cheap. People are going and they’re buying pizzas in boxes, readymade meals, all this stuff, that’s the stuff that’s expensive - alcohol is expensive. Keep in mind I eat a lot more calories than most students. I could buy my food for the week on the price of one night out for the majority of students.

What are signs to watch out for in regards to health? What would be a red light to you that you’re not healthy? Just general things, things that your GP would ask you, like sleep quality for me is one of the big tell-tale signs you are not healthy because stress is one of the major factors in chronic diseases, and stress and sleep tie in together massively. If you’re stressed you are not going to have good quality sleep, and in turn that’ll carry over to other things throughout the day, like your energy levels. It’s all individual but if you can get six to ten hours of sleep per night then

you’re in a good position - and to be fair I don’t mean six to ten hours from 5am until 12, that’s not the same thing as going to bed at eleven and getting up at 6am. You have something called your circadian rhythm and that’s your body-clock so to speak. That adapts and it’s habitual so it gets used to regular sleeping patterns. Eventually you won’t need an alarm clock if you’re used to the same routine. One

not healthy and no matter how nice I can be about it it’s not healthy and you need to address it. That does not mean you have to be incredibly lean and have a six pack or be like the poster girls or poster boys but just be in a healthy range of body fat and as soon as you start to focus on that you’ll notice all of these various things begin to improve, even the way your mind feels when studying or in a lecture.

I could buy my food for the week on the price of one night out for the majority of students.

of the signs you’re not getting enough sleep is simply not being able to get out of bed in the morning - to me that’s something I can’t understand anymore. After that, things like the colour of your urine, how regularly you’re going to the bathroom, your skin, just all general health qualities that you’ll hear from a doctor. At the same time I’ve sugar coated a lot of the body composition points in this interview. Body fat percentage does matter - being obese or overweight, it’s

One of the major turning points in my life was starting to go to the gym and eating healthy because from my junior cert I didn’t get any ‘A’s I was a very mediocre student and I had always been told that I had such potential but it had never been used, but getting into a routine and eating better foods I ended up getting 540 points in my leaving cert, so you’re looking at mainly ‘A’s there. That was for me not a massive extra effort that I had put in but it was just the lifestyle changes I made.

September 2015 LIFESTYLE

Jennifer Purcell: From the President’s Volunteer Award to suicide prevention work and Darkness Into Light, this third year journalist has a dedication to charity work unrivaled by many her age. Now on work placement at the Limerick Leader, working alongside other current and former UL journalism students, Jennifer Purcell talks to An Focal about her work and experiences. SEAMUS TOOMEY Were you surprised to win a PVA? Yes! I didn’t think I’d win the gold one because you have to do ridiculous hours - it’s like 60 hours but you can only get counted for three hours a week max. So a lot of my hours from different charities overwrote each other. So I didn’t think it would add up. It was more than 60 and I just applied for it anyway but I think because it was so many different charities they gave me the gold.

How many hours did you do in total? I don’t know, it was more than 60 anyway. I did it for eight different charities.

What charities/companies were those? Corbett Suicide Prevention, Marine Search and Rescue, Pieta House, Darkness Into Light, Spina Biﬁda, ULFM, An Focal, the Simon Community.

Was it hard to apply for? I had no intentions of applying for it because my way of thinking was I don’t want to be awarded for volunteering, that defeats the purpose but it’s a really good thing to have on your C.V. and all it does really is put a stamp on the fact that you’ve done a good job and it goes on your degree and it’s nice to be able to say you’re an award winning student for charity. Tony Sheridan, encouraged me to do it and said the whole team that worked on Darkness Into Light should apply and we can all go together and it would be a great achievement for all of us because it was the ﬁrst year that Darkness Into Light was brought to the college in UL. It was also the ﬁrst time they had a

sub-committee. I was the chairperson of the subI don’t want committee so it was my job to to be awarded for get the student body involved volunteering, tha which I managed to do and t Darkness Into Light raised the defeats the purp ose most money it ever has on a bu t... all it does really is campus. So it was a pretty successful day, getting people put a stamp on the involved. fac

Did the hours get in the way of college or social life?

t that you’ve done a good job

Yeah, a bit but I kind of wanted to do it and I did a lot of it in my own time and a lot of stuff I did I was able to add to my PVA. I was only applying because of Darkness Into Light but I said I might as well throw in any other hours I did - I did fundraising for suicide. That’s mainly what I did and the great limerick run I did for charity as well. So the most time consuming would have been Darkness Into Light because there was so much planning. Our event was on campus for one day to get as many people as we could to sign up and that took a lot of planning. I was under 32 people as a team that I had to tell them: “Can you come on the day? This is your job, that’s your job, can you hand out ﬂyers?” It was hard to get a day that they were all free and use their time. We had 5 social media coordinators - we set up an Instagram account which actually became the ofﬁcial Darkness Into Light Instagram. Tony and I had to make sure that the girls were updating stuff and brining the whole of limerick into Darkness Into Light through social media so it was tough going trying to plan things. But it was worth it in the end, it was a really gorgeous day and everyone came out and got involved. It was a relief when it was over though.

Where did you get this sense of charity from? My dad worked in Spina Bifida for a good few years. I’ve been going in and out of Spina Bifida since I was in fifth year in school. I did my work experience there and you see, it’s a good feeling being able to help people and you think you have problems but you don’t when you see people in wheelchairs that play basketball and they can drive and get around and they’re just so happy all the time. You take things for granted. When I really started fundraising it was for suicide just simply because I thought something needed to be done and I wanted to help. The Marine Search and Rescue and the Corbett Suicide Prevention, I said I’d put them together and do a big fundraiser for them. I learned so much from it and I got to go around the whole Marine Search and Rescue - they told me all these stories and to see the stuff they do and they do it all off their own bat, they don’t get paid, they just give up their time at three or four in the morning, frozen, in minus temperatures and just try and help someone else. So it’s nice to be able to help them and say you appreciate them and what they’re doing. We had 26 miles for 26 heroes which in the end fell through. The learning process of that though was I got to know a lot of other charities I didn’t even know existed and what they do and hopefully when I’m finished co-op here I’ll get to work with some of them because I don’t have a lot of free time right now. They’re amazing local charities that do so much.

Do you think you’ll be fundraising for the rest of your life? Probably, yes - it’s something I’ll always want to do. I do want to have another big charity. I was contemplating it for this year but it does take a lot of planning and a lot

September 2015 LIFESTYLE

UL’s Fundraising Queen of time and I learned a lot We set up from the charity event I an Instagram held last year because of account which ac trying to get the media tually and big names involved became the officia - I was a nobody, it was l Da rkn ess Into Light very new to me. I think if I did it now I’d have Instagram learned from mistakes I made so it would be bigger and better. People always ask: “Why are you so passionate about suicide, you must have lost someone?” but I haven’t. I don’t have a sob story behind it - I’m fortunate enough not to have lost someone. Everyone knows someone that has [died by] suicide, I don’t have anyone that close to me that would have and I’m lucky in that sense but other people aren’t and the work people do to help those families, I think they deserve to be recognised more.

It doesn’t take much to giv e a few hours of your tim e even for the smallest little things, like helping awarene ss

Would you like to see more people get involved? Yeah, I think it’s a wonderful thing to get involved with. It doesn’t take much to give a few hours of your time even for the smallest little things, like helping awareness. Donating money is one thing - you might pass people in town with buckets and always insist you give a few pound and that’s a great deed to do but actually being there with the kids or with the families and you see how passionate they are with what they do, it really makes such a difference. It changes your perspective on things. When I went into the Marine Search and Rescue they were like: “We’ll show you around” but you really get a sense of they’re showing you equipment that they used to get people out of the river and they tell you stories

about people they’ve saved - happy stories. They’ll tell you really horrible stories and it’s just normal to them. You think to yourself, you wake up in the morning and you complain about the most stupid things - it really changes your outlook on stuff.

Tell me about the various jobs you did with the various charities. I held a fashion show in the Strand, and raised €2,000, but then minus €500 on the cost of renting a room and prizes, which annoyed me as I was determined to make the €2,000, so I sold off clothes at the Christmas market and I did another one of them elsewhere. I was donated a plot that usually costs money, which was really helpful. I had so many clothes left over from the fundraiser - all of the clothes I got were donated to me by people from limerick, people I didn’t even know and I thought I wouldn’t have enough. I ended up absolutely overflowing with clothes in my sitting room and my mother, god bless her, ironed everything and washed them all. That was an amazing night. The Marine Search and Rescue and Corbett Suicide Prevention lads came down and we had music and a raffle and so many spot prizes donated from businesses all over limerick. There was also the sleep out challenge, and we made posters and got a team for the great limerick run. We slept out in the gaelic grounds - the idea was a night in the life of the homeless. It was a great night and we raised money through sponsors. Willie O’ Dea did it as well. We made him stay up and talk to us because sleeping is cheating. I also wrote an article for the Simon Community asking for food donations because they had a food crisis and that was my first published article and it was with them.

September 2015 LIFESTYLE

UL cycles against suicide CIARA CORCORAN A number of UL organisations recently collaborated to organise a week of events to mark World Suicide Prevention Week. The Cycle Against Suicide initiative was the brainchild of entrepreneur Jim Breen to help raise awareness of mental health in Ireland and direct people in need to the supports available for suicide prevention across the country. As a variation of this national cycle we aimed to make our own small step in UL towards combatting the growing issue of suicide in Ireland. The events began in Week 1 with a number of volunteers painting bicycles orange for display around campus. Seven bicycles and numerous layers of orange paint later, the awareness campaign began with the placement of these bikes around campus. As the orange bikes drew attention, Wednesday’s events were kickstarted by a coffee morning in Plassey House. With the East Room packed, music provided by UL’s Traditional Band – Cruinniu, and tasty treats plentiful it can be said that the goal of getting people talking was well and truly met. The afternoon saw the campus dotted with orange t-shirts as the day’s cycle departed from the Main Plaza. The route took 16 people along the river for a gentle cycle ending at the Arena in time for the C&S recruitment drive. With the kind support of UL Sport, the SPINNING ® Programme was run in the arena foyer for the whole week as part of the University of Limerick’s support for the national Cycle Against Suicide Campaign and also part of the First Seven Weeks initiative. The support for this was incredible with all 18 spaces ﬁlled in all nine classes. The aim of this event was to let people know that it’s ok not to be ok; and it’s absolutely ok to ask for help.

September 2015 LIFESTYLE AISLING O'CONNOR THE Stormy Teacup was located within Foxes Box in Limerick and opened its doors in April of 2014. After a year and a half of service, the tea haven closed for good on Saturday, September 12th. However, it went out with a

A not-so Stormy sign-off bang by hosting a farewell gig consisting of 4 musicians: Ann Blake, Kevin Quigley, Synead Twomey, and Jared Nadin. With plentiful teas on the menu, shelves overﬂowing

with books and eccentric ornaments, the place was oozing with character. It proved to be a bitter sweet day with music playing and customers savouring their last

beverages. I’ve never seen the little café so packed in all my time going there, as I spend my day perched upon the window ledge. Yet, it remained cosy nonetheless.

Thanks were expressed, quite a large mug for donations to help ease the ﬁnancial burden on the owners, and the day ﬁnished with customers writing their fondest memories

on sticky notes which were incorporated into an improve song by Ann Blake. The Stormy Teacup hosted movie nights, book clubs, gigs, gatherings from UL’s very own Tea Appreciation Society, and the likes of Treaty Comedy. It was more than just a café.

Farewell to Stormy AISLING O'CONNOR THE ﬁrst time I visited The Stormy Teacup was the July 2014. I’d normally walk past it as I went through Foxes Bow and regard it curiously but never entered, not until a friend of mine and devout regular introduced me to the place. I wasn’t much of a tea drinker at the time, although I think the place converted me to a lover of herbal teas, so I’ll admit to being overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of tea being served and was even more confused when a movie started playing. Evidently, it was a Tuesday, and Tuesdays meant one thing in the Stormy Teacup: movie night. For a while I would just order whatever was recommended or what someone else got, but eventually

GEARÓID McCARTHY ON Saturday, September 12th Limerick lost a cultural luminary when the Stormy Teacup closed its doors for the final time. The artisan tea and coffee shop affectionately known as Stormy was quite possibly the nucleus of the city’s alternative scene, located on Foxes Bow in the city centre (next to what was Cellar Door, another artsy café which sadly closed less than a year ago). Its award-winning teas and quirky atmosphere attracted a unique clientele, but unfortunately it was not enough for Stormy to remain open. To the very end, Stormy remained true to its independent spirit and its individual style gave it an enchanting quality. Whenever I climbed the stairs to the first floor, I felt as if I had been plunged into a brand new world. The colourful bookshelves and artworks

fell in love with their Cherry Tea, which I was devastated to discover was no longer available over summer. However, I replaced this with Detox Tea which tasted much better than it sounds. I spent a large portion of this summer in the Stormy Teacup and now that it’s closed I ﬁnd myself feeling somewhat lost. Some of my fondest memories are stored within its tea glasses and unusual artifacts, such as the stormy (excuse the pun) July night of the post-Stanzas Treaty Comedy Event, or being taught Magic downstairs and completely destroying my friend. It was cosy, it was special and for a lot of customers it was like a second home. Limerick may contain a myriad of cafes, but none are quite as quirky and unique as the Stormy Teacup was, nor do any feature the likes of Friendly Tea on the menu. With its closure, I feel Limerick is losing a part of itself.

Ode To Stormy Teacup provided a beautiful backdrop, as did the jars of tea organised behind the counter. The staff’s manner was atypical yet hospitable, adding a more personal dimension to my experiences at Stormy that I would not have had at any other café. For its final day of business, Stormy was as lively as it ever was. Regulars gathered to listen to live music, say a final goodbye and admire the distinctive crafts and neatly organised bookshelves. It was perhaps an emotional farewell me more so than many people, as Stormy lay at the centre of my universe for much of the past year. It was at the top of those ridiculously steep stairs where many fond memories were had. Friendships were solidified and new acquaintances were

made. It was an environment in which intellectual discussion thrived and creative ideas were spread. One of Stormy’s distinguishing aspects was the relaxing music, which generated a very special aura. The memories I associate with Stormy aside, some of the ﬁnest days I had were spent simply soaking up the tranquil ambiance with a mug of tea or white hot chocolate in front of me. It is dispiriting to see Stormy close for more reasons than my personal afﬁnity for the place. As the lights decorating its lane off Foxes Bow are switched off, it seems as if the once rich alternative culture of Limerick is in decline. For a city that hopes to bid for European City of Culture in 2020, Limerick has a lot of explaining to do when

the likes of the Stormy Teacup cannot stay open and more chain stores and franchises are moving into the city. How can we call ourselves a city of culture if we do not support the most creative cultural enterprises in our community? Sadly, none of this idealism will bring Stormy back. Now there is nothing left to say but thank you. Thank you to Ruth Crean and Martins Punculis for their amazing contribution to Limerick. Thank you to all the people who donated to the crowdfunding page in the earliest beginnings of Stormy and made Ruth and Martins’ idea possible. Lastly, thank you to everyone who supported the Stormy Teacup over the past year and a half, for you all made it the special place it was.

Rubberbandits go Worldwide CIAN DALTON IT was in 2011 when the nation, and some parts of the world, became aware of Limerick’s very own Rubberbandits. Consisting of Blindboy Boatclub and Mr. Chrome (Dave Chambers and Bob McGlynn), the comedy and satirist duo formed years before, selling CDs that they had made of themselves pranking local

businessmen and schoolteachers to their friends. Some skits, such as the hilarious prank phone call to A.I.B. on Henry Street in Limerick city, feature on their album, “Serious About Men”, released in 2011. While Horse Outside garnered a nation’s love for the comedians, it also brought some unwelcome attention, according to an interview with The Guardian’s Brian Logan in 2013. The pair described themselves as being seen as “the

voice of the poor” as Ireland were attempting to seal an austerity agreement with Germany at the time. All they were doing was singing about a horse, not basing a struggling nation on a horse. Despite that minor attempt at belittling them, the Bandits have risen to new heights over the years with the aforementioned song nearly reaching the Christmas number one in Ireland in 2011, as well as the album doing well in the charts,

satirising drug use and violence in the country and featuring an interesting song about shifting Ice Cube. The band is still prominent around Ireland and England, touring both countries in previous years. They also use their brilliant Facebook page to post humorous statuses but also to promote and support social and political issues in Ireland, such as the Yes vote and homelessness around the country. They are busy men and

recently made waves in Japan at a Group Show in the Space Theatre in Tokyo that aimed to ‘showcase a contemporary Ireland beyond cliché and stereotype’, that also featured the

satirical website Waterford Whisperer’s News. It is clear to see that these lads will be around for a very long time, and thank God for that.

September 2015 LIFESTYLE

Making friends makes such a difference

DERVAL CLEARY HI, my name is Derval Cleary. I'm in my second year at UL where I am studying politics and psychology through the Arts (Joint Honours) course here in UL. I found starting university to be both a daunting and exciting experience. Going into a new environment surrounded by people I didn't know, and choosing to study subjects I wasn't sure I'd like, felt overwhelming... until I made some friends. Then it turned into the best experience of my life. I had so much fun from then on and I haven't looked back since. My advice to first year students is to say yes to as much as you can and to make the most of every experience the year will throw at you. It's the beginning of a

new, crazy, exciting journey, so why not step outside your comfort zone a little and make some funny memories. (Also attend lectures and tutorials - they tend to come of use sometimes). My role as a peer advisor involves assisting students during their first few weeks in the University of Limerick. For the first 4-6 weeks of the semester I, along with my fellow peer advisors will be in the library available to answer any questions or provide solutions to any problems that students using the library may have. I love my job as a peer advisor as it allows me to interact with people and help them find solutions to problems, which is something I thoroughly enjoy doing. My advice for incoming students with regards to both studying and using the library is to simply keep on top of your workload, and to try and get access to any core texts that may be in the library in the weeks before the panic of exams and assignments and when the demand is often low. If students need help and support throughout the year, feel free to contact any of the services within the library and the college. Within the library students have access to faculty librarians, the information desks, the peer advisors and a dedicated first year librarian named Michael Smalle who are on hand to help you with anything that you need in the library.

Use the support services available

CARLA HEERAN HI, My name is Carla Heeran. I am a 4th year student studying Public Administration. I am currently majoring in Law and Sociology. Like many I was the first of my family to venture off to University. I found starting first year a complete learning curve. I very quickly found myself making loads of different friends and having a really good support network for any help I needed. I found my lectures really introduced me to each module at a pace that was appropriate for me as a first year and most importantly I felt I could talk to them about any problems or difficulties I was having. My advice to a first year student in

UL is to use the support services available for students in UL like the Writing Centre, Access and Disability offices. There are also librarians available for appointment in the Library. And remember that everyone in 1st year is starting off on the same page and has the same fears and doubts. As a peer advisor I am there to help you as a first year in UL. Remember that you are going to meet so many incredible, articulate and life changing people over the next four years in UL so savour every moment. Any difficulties you are having I am there to help you. I enjoy being a Peer Advisor because I can really relate to you and everything you as a first year are going through. I would really recommend you make yourself aware of how to reference early on in semester one as it is very important to avoid plagiarism. Michael Smalle is available in the library for help on referencing and avoiding plagiarism. Finally, for any help you may need during the semester keep an eye on the UL Library Facebook and Twitter pages for instant updates on help/support the library is offering this semester.

Peer Advisors at the Glucksman Library 2015 – L-R Niall Devitt, Derval Cleary, Siobhán Brassil, Aaron Cusack, Mairead Long, Edmund Ryan, Robert McCarthy, Carla Heeran.

Returning to university after many years away from the books EDMUND GERARD RYAN AFTER returning to college after many years away from the academic life, I can say without hesitation that it was the best decision I have ever made in regard to my future. I will admit that I was somewhat nervous when considering if I would fit in so to say, realizing that most of the students would be

a decade or two younger than I. Any hesitation regarding same was very soon proven to not be the case. Choosing UL has changed me as person in many ways. Within the university, you build a new approach to life and academic achievement. The support network throughout the university is one of support, maturity and a general respect of the student as focus for achievement through academic knowledge and excellence. My advice to first year students would be to make use of the endless facilities made available to you, in supporting your studies, initially through your lectures, but also through tutorials, the Maths Learning Centre, the Science Learning Centre and many other support networks on Campus. The advice I gave to the first years I met during Orientation week was use every service and support made available to them on campus and to never be afraid to ask for help. Life is about

learning and understanding and saying that, I can confidently say that this is the approach I found in UL. In my opinion, the library is one of the most outstanding resources available to students on campus. Through my own experience of the library during the 2014/15 academic year and now after working as a Peer Adviser in the Glucksman Library during 2015 Student Orientation Week, the library and its facilities will be one of the most important supports throughout my degree programme. In using the library, both for study and for sourcing materials, I would advise all incoming students to make plenty of use of the support network within the library, be it the Information desks, ITD desk, your dedicated Librarian for your specific area of study, and all resources available to you, enabling you to achieve your best.

Establish a support system

MAIREAD LONG

HI there, my name is Mairead Long and this is my fourth year at the University of Limerick. I study Applied Languages; French and Spanish. For me, starting University was the best experience of my life up to that point. I was so excited to meet new people and learn new things, and UL did not disappoint me. I think one of the most important things for first years is to meet new people and establish a support system. Join clubs and societies, get involved in activities and make sure to have fun. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, what’s the worst that could happen? Remember, everyone else is in the same

boat. As peer advisors, we are here to help you all settle into using the library and to answer any questions you have. We are happy to help! I love being a peer advisor because I have already met some amazing people and I like helping anyone who might be a bit overwhelmed or just doesn’t know where to go. A study tip: read some study skills books to help you maximise your time and learning. It will benefit you for the rest of your time in UL! But most of all, enjoy your years here; they will be the best of you life!

September 2015 CLUBS & SOCIETIES

International Society’s jam-packed year AOIFE WILLIS

WELCOMING 718 members to their Wolfpack, UL’s International Society had a busy week one. Along with the large signups, the society also had its ﬁrst trip to the beautiful Aran Islands and under the leadership of this semester’s new president it is sure to be an extremely busy few months. Stiofán Mac Brádaigh explained: “Even though we're only at the beginning of the semester, we are busy planning more events, more trips, and more everything so that our members get the most from UL International Society. “If you're interested in joining, check out our Facebook page, pre-register online on the UL Wolves Clubs & Societies page and then come meet any of our committee members who can sign you up.” He added: “If you have any ideas for something we could do, let us know and get involved with us. Join the UL International Society today, it'll be one of the best decisions you ever make.”

The society’s main aims are to give both Irish and international students a chance to meet new people from both Ireland and all around the world, to form new friendships and to make all of its member’s time at UL, no matter how long or short, memorable. To make these goals a reality the society organises several trips and events throughout each semester.

Trips This semester’s trips are overseen by the highly energetic and passionate duo, Edward Corbett and Daniel Del Blanco. A trip to the beautiful Aran Islands off the coast of Galway, which was made up of 108 students, kicked off this year’s proceedings. According to Edward this was “Just awesome” and went “without a hitch”. International students Evelína and Emma described the trip as “amazing” and said they “enjoyed the trip very much”. Trips will run every two weeks throughout the semester with the next one setting off to Dingle and the Dingle

Peninsula on the 26th of September. Future trips include a medieval tour of Tipperary, a weekend trip to Belfast, Blarney Castle and Cork City and a mystery tour closer to the end of the semester.

Events Events are a huge part of the society’s semester. This semester the society is looking forward to taking part in SoUL Week (Week 7) where they will

100 students flock to Aran Islands AOIFE WILLIS DOLPHINS, ferry boats, shipwrecks and laughs, all in the day of an International Society trip. Although dolphins, ferry boats and shipwrecks are possibly unique to a trip to the Aran Islands, laughs are most certainly a staple of every trip organised by the society. These trips are made possible this semester by this year’s returning trips ofﬁcers Edward Corbett and Daniel Del Blanco. Saturday’s proceedings started at 8am, almost sharp - there’s always a straggler or two that early in the morning - when 108 International and Irish students piled onto two

buses. Arriving at the remote sea side town of Doolin the students swapped a bus for a ferry and headed to Inis Oírr. There

the students had the opportunity to check out the sites which included castles, a lighthouse, a shipwreck and the local cuisine served in pubs and cafés across Inis Oírr. Arriving back in the evening, the trips leaders were sure the students truly made the most of their day and their ﬁrst taste of an International Society trip. The sea air and immense variety of things to see and do on the island seemed to take its toll and there were many a drooped head as many of the students dozed on the return bus journey. If anyone has any questions regarding future trips run by the society please email us directly at tripsulinternationalsoc@gmail.com.

be hosting an international food fair. This is an opportunity for both Irish and international students to put some of the delicious delights their country has to offer on show, and of course there will be the opportunity to taste these wonders. If you miss out on this there is always the chance to take part in our ‘International Come Dine with Me’ - be wined and dined by some of your fellow

students in exchange for one night of hosting and pleasant dinner conversation.

International TGIF The gem in the society’s crown is the weekly International TGIF Night hosted by The Stables Club every Friday. International TGIF is without a doubt the best night of the week in UL and with each week having its own theme, each night is sure to be a memorable

one. Some of these themes will include Oktoberfest, Halloween, Thanksgiving, ABBA (Country Colours) and more. Be sure to check out the society’s Facebook page each week to ﬁnd out what fantastic theme is in store each Friday. The International Society is looking forward to the semester ahead and is excited to welcome all its new and old members alike.

Today in History Helping

our furry friends

CAROLINE WILLIAMS WITH an almost entirely new and unquestionably enthusiastic committee, this year looks set to be a promising one for UL History Society. Most notably, major commemorative plans are already underway in order to mark the centenary of the 1916 Rising (watch this space!), but that is certainly not all. During the course of the year we will play host to several guest speakers and lecturers, with topics ranging from Ancient Egypt to Nazi Germany. We are always eager to hear where our members’ historical interests lie and will always do our utmost to ﬁnd a way to incorporate these interests into our schedule. After the success of last year’s IHSA Conference, UL History Society looks set to host the event once again in 2016. That said, we are far from purely academic. We plan to do a historical walking tour of Limerick for our international members early this semester as well as a Rising themed walking tour of Dublin, as part of our commemorative celebrations. Another exciting advancement is our much anticipated return to History Society’s old tradition of attending the Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle in County Clare. We hold social gatherings

MARIA McGRATH Animal Welfare Society

on a weekly basis in which we encourage historical conversation – undoubtedly opinionated! Also on a weekly basis is our ‘Cards Against History’ game night, based on the vastly popular ‘Cards Against Humanity’, but with our own unique twist. We also post a ‘Today in History’ column daily on our Facebook page, to remind you of all those events that shaped where we are today. If you would like to get in contact with us or ﬁnd out more about the society, you can do so through our Facebook page – UL History Society – or through our email – ulhistorysociety@ gmail.com. We look forward to an action packed year.

THE animal welfare society continues to grow as it generated a signiﬁcant amount of interest at the recent C&S Recruitment Drive. We met many enthusiastic students who shared our ideas on the promotion of positive animal welfare. During this semester we have many weekly activities planned including movie nights and experimenting with vegan food evenings. We will also be having a trip to an animal shelter as well as making a difference with fundraisers and awareness campaigns. We are a new society that is open to different ideas and different people. Our overarching goal is to make a positive difference regarding attitudes towards animals. New members of the society are always welcome. Please like our Facebook page (UL Animal Welfare Society) and/or email us animalwelfaresocietyul@gmail. com if you have any queries!

September 2015 CLUBS & SOCIETIES

Alpine interglacial hurling SEAMUS TOOMEY THE Outdoor Pursuits Club made a video of their trip to the Alps this year and with a couple of hurls, an editor’s eye and the help of a glacier they’ve gone somewhat viral, being featured on many Irish news websites including joe.ie. What they did was bring a couple of hurls over to the Alps - a great idea given to Ryan Hanlon (the man behind the video) by Cormac Kelly. Ryan O’ Hanlon who donated his time to the making of the video said: “Yeah, the idea was that Kilkenny were playing the All-Ireland - the initial idea was maybe to get it up for the match or something crazy like that. It got like 800 shares and joe.ie got another 200. “It wasn’t really planned, we just said we’d send it in, I gave it to a fella

on joe and he said it was an amazing video and we did an interview and they posted it up and that was cool. We hit it off.” With this simple idea and about 5 days worth of editing (as well as a month long trip) Ryan managed to get the club plenty of advertising and this was seen at the recruitment drive. Ryan mentioned the amount of people that brought it up when joining saying: “Multiple people came up not just to me, to the other guys saying ‘Ohh I’ve seen your video can I join?’” If you haven’t seen the video I implore you to watch it now, a quick google of “hurleys glacier” will ﬁnd it. It’s about four minutes of joy and my personal favourite part comes right at the end. As revenge for a slap into the face that split Ryan’s lip open he added in a short clip of Clare man Tim Quinlan

struggling to climb to the “summit of [Tim’s] dreams”. Tim who has now been seen by a large portion of UL has been humiliated but in Ryan’s own admission Tim had the wrong crampons on and the video is “deceitful in that there is actually a large overhang there, so we just lowered him down and walk of shame out of there”. Poor Tim. It was Ryan’s first video and bar the “lack of jerseys” he was very pleased with it but the editing was a difficult process. Ryan explained: “First I made an attempt at the GoPro software - it crashed on me. I had the whole video already made and it crashed and lost everything. “Then I downloaded Sony Vegas pro, very detailed , it’s a fairly tough ol’ thing but ploughed on with it and got it done. I easily sat down for five days and did it because three days were wasted on the last one. It was totally worth it.” So when did they film? Ryan explained: “If we knew we had a little window of two hours or an hour we’d bring up the hurls with us and puck around for a bit just for the craic really - that was the main idea. It was just pucking about but it got serious. I got a dirty slap to the face and I was bleeding. My lip got split open by Tim Quinlan, the Clare lad.” Somehow I still think Tim got the worse deal. #PrayForTim.

A Capoeira é bonita! New Science Society enters the Wolfpack BY KILLIAN STOKES, MICHAEL DANIEL O’DONNELL AND PAURIC BANNIGAN

UL CAPOEIRA CLUB THE UL Capoeira Club is back training again after a long and rainy summer off. Come and join us to learn some beautiful moves while improving your fitness, strength, balance and coordination. Capoeira is a beautiful game of exchanges of attacks and defences with acrobatic moves thrown in for good measure. Never done Capoeira before? No problem! Not very strong, fit or flexible? No problem! Just keep turning up and you'll get there in the end, guaranteed. We will very soon start planning our ‘Brazilian Party’ fundraiser hoping to emulate last year’s fantastic fun night in a jam-packed Stables Club. We'll also be deciding soon

where we will go for a group Capoeira weekend - will it be Dublin? Will it be Cork? Will it be Galway or Killarney? Cast your vote. We meet and practice in the main gym in the PESS Building every Tuesday and

Thursday 7-8:15 pm and all are welcome, without exception. Wear comfortable, ﬂexible clothes, use shoes or go bare foot, whichever you prefer and be sure to bring a bottle of water. We’ll see you there.

DID you know that if you were to remove the empty space in the atoms which make up the human race, every human could fit inside an apple? Well whether you are the kind of person who is now trying to calculate if this is true, or the kind of person who is currently googling what an atom is, Science Soc is the society for you. It was started as a social group last summer to bridge the gap between the groups in the MSSI - an unofficial society you could say - and was very well received. On account of its success and popularity among the postgrads we saw the opportunity to further develop this ethos and to unite the science-based undergraduate students. Over the summer we held weekly social events, including everything from paint-balling and bowling to karting and quizzes, and everything in-between, catering for pretty much everything our members want to do to unwind and let off some steam. Now that we are officially a society, sitting pretty at approximately 80 members, our aim is to keep the fun flowing with these types of social events and to also organise science themed events. These will include but are not limited to: guest speakers, science ball, science quizzes and a lot of events running through science week. For students looking to fight the boredom of summer holidays and students here over the Christmas holidays, we are glad to say we are active all year round - mainly because postgraduates don’t get holidays. We are very excited to be given this opportunity to run Science Society as it was something we felt UL was lacking. Many of our founding members did science undergrads here in UL and all agreed that it would have been great to have a society focused on the love of science. So if you do see yourself as the next Walter White, Einstein, Newton or the next Hans Sloane (the Irish Doctor who invented chocolate milk), or even if you want something fun to do all year round, join Science Soc today. If

not, enjoy your daily apple, wondering if you are in fact eating a shrunken civilization. Make sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@ ULScienceSoc).

JUMP AROUND! CLODAGH DOYLE IT’S that time of year again where we welcome new arrivals into our wonderful club! To jumpstart the year we held our ﬁrst outdoor bounce in the courtyard. It was a huge success, so a massive thank you to anyone who took part. It was fantastic to see so many enthusiastic newcomers at the recruitment drive in Week 2. We can’t wait to see all the

new faces at training during the weeks ahead - Tuesdays 7-9pm and Thursdays 7-8:15pm in the PESS building. We have some awesome activities planned for you guys so be there, or be square. We’re welcoming all new members to bounce along and join our ULTGC wolf-pack. And don’t forget to check out our Facebook page (UL Trampoline Club) or our Snapchat (ultrampclub) for all our latest updates.

September 2015 SPORT

Welcome to UL GAA Club IT’S with great excitement and pleasure that the UL GAA Club welcomes all new students to the University of Limerick and more specifically, to the University of Limerick GAA Club. UL GAA is one of the largest and most successful clubs in the university with 16 teams participating in Hurling, Football, Camogie and Ladies Football. UL GAA Club is coming off the back of a successful season across all four codes. The club won two of the four Senior Intervarsity titles; The Fitzgibbon Cup (Hurling) and retained the O'Connor Cup (Ladies Football) while our Fresher Hurlers annexed the Fresher 1 Hurling Championship for the first time. UL is lucky to have a number of inter-county stars participating across all four codes and we

also pride ourselves on having some of the best coaching and management teams in place to better aid our players perform to their best. As a member of the GAA Club on campus, you will have the opportunity to avail of the extensive on-campus facilities to develop your game and reach your potential both on and off the pitch. The personal benefits of joining UL GAA Club are immeasurable as you will form lifelong friendships and camaraderie with people of similar sporting interests and passions.

Who can join? We support all levels of participation with a common aim of developing and improving performance.

All codes have teams competing at Fresher, Intermediate and Senior grades, so there is a grade to suit everyone. For the elite player, those wishing to make their mark on prestigious and high profile competitions such as Fitzgibbon, Sigerson, Ashbourne and O’ Connor Cups, then UL GAA Club will provide you with that opportunity. Matches will begin in early October, so be sure to sign up soon to be involved from the start. Our Facebook page will keep all members updated on all of the clubs activities and matches so be sure to give us a Like and come out and support all our players.

So how do I get involved?

You can become a member of the club by registering your details at www.ulwolves.com and joining UL GAA Club. Alternatively, all interested students could call into the GAA Office under the Sports Bar at any time. To fully activate your membership, you must pay your membership fee which covers your GAA Insurance Fee for the year and this must be paid prior to training or competing for the college: • €20 for 2nd years up. • €10 for Freshers for trials membership • €30 for Freshers for full membership which includes UL socks and shorts UL GAA is also looking for budding journalists and photographers to help the club enhance its social media presence, an

initiative that proved very successful last year. Anyone interested can contact us through our Facebook page. More details will be made available on the clubs website www.ulgaa.com, our Facebook

page www.facebook.com/ulgaa and our Twitter account @ ul_gaa. Weekly updates will be available on our blog https:// ulgaaclub.wordpress.com/.

Athletes row, everyone else plays games

SANDRA O'MALLEY NEVER rowed before? Give it a go, you won’t regret it! Down at the boathouse we have just started our beginners ‘learn to row’ programme. This is a 10 week course that teaches boat handling skills, rowing technique and how to use a rowing machine properly. Training is twice a week on Monday or Wednesday and Thursday, 6-8pm. If

you are interested in joining, it is not too late, just email irow@ul.ie and let us know - We will sort the rest from there. Our boathouse is on campus so you can row right on your doorstep. We have fantastic training facilities which include an indoor rowing tank, plenty of rowing machines, weights and bikes. There are changing facilities with secure lockers too for members’ use. Rowing is great physical exercise for a total body workout but it can also be a demanding mental workout - a great

way to forget about labs and lectures for a couple of hours. Teamwork is number one so you are guaranteed to meet a great bunch of like-minded people to haul each other down the river and to head out with after training.

ULRC COXSWAINS NEEDED Coxswain: ‘member of a crew who steers the boat, motivates the rowers, and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers’.

Get on your high-horse AMY DORAN WELCOME back to all our members both new and old. We hope everyone is as excited as we are about the upcoming semester. We have so much planned for the Equestrian club this year that our committee will be sure to be kept busy. The year ahead is looking successful already if the number of people who signed up at the recruitment drive is anything to go by. With Tetrathalon only around the corner and

Intervarsities to look forward to in second semester, we are keen to get preparations under way to

help UL regain both titles. Activities for this semester will kick off this week (Week 3) with our weekly lessons out in Lough Derg Equestrian Centre. All levels of riders are catered for and all gear (boots, helmets, body protectors) are provided. A trip to Coolmore Stud in Tipperary is next on the cards, and following that will be a weekend beach trek. These trips are a great opportunity to get involved with the club, meet new friends and are guranteed to be great craic! Also on the agenda for this

Coxswain characteristics: - Usually stands around 5 ft 2 in. - Has a voice that can be heard for miles. - Is seen toting around water bottles, shoes, socks, and the ever popular cox box. - Has a mysterious tan line in the middle of his or her forehead from the strap attached to the microphone on the cox box. - Upon winning a race, the coxswain is thrown into the (often very dirty)

semester is to do some fundraising for the club - maybe a bake sale or table quiz - and to finally get club hoodies. After that, preparations for Tetrathalon will be well and truly underway. Tet is a national competition between colleges in November and consists of a weekend of running, shooting, swimming and show-jumping. If competing isn’t up your alley come along anyway as a supporter and enjoy the themed fancy dress party on Friday night and the ball on Saturday night. For anyone interested we hope to have team trials in October. Between all this we hope to have a few ‘bonding sessions’ in the Stables. We are always welcoming

water. - He or she is in charge of directing practices, calling races, and making certain that the €30,000 boat does not hit any other objects such as a bridge, floating log, another boat, or a dock respect the cox! Great coxswains are part strategist, part coach and part cheerleader. If this sounds like you and you fancy steering eight people down a river at full speed, now is your chance! Again, email irow@ul.ie if you are interested.

new members. Membership for the year is €10 and for anyone who is interested, just message the club on Facebook or send us an email at ul.equestrian@ hotmail.com. Between all that, keep up to

date with everything that’s happening in the club on Facebook (UL Equestrian Club), Twitter (@ULEquestrian), Instagram (@UL_Equestrian) or even Snapchat us at Ulequestrian.

September 2015