Tird year student
Faith Olopade was elected CSC Chair following the mixup
THERE WAS CONFUSION AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) OF THE CENTRAL Societies Committee (CSC) at the end of last month when the
wrong candidates were mistakenly announced as elected before being promptly unelected.
According to those present at the AGM, the results were incorrectly read in reverse order so that the candidates with the least amount of votes were thought to have won their respective races.
Shortly thereafer, it was announced that a mistake had been made and the correct winners were announced.
Speaking to Trinity News, one society treasurer who was present at the event said: “ Tey had basically inverted it. So in races where there were three people, the person who they had read out had actually come third, not frst. So it all got fipped.”
“It was quite an intense moment. Te whole room was like ‘Oh my goodness’”, the treasurer added. Te CSC has not responded
to Trinity News’ request for comment.
Following the mix up, Faith Olopade was elected CSC Chair. Olapade, a third year Computer Science student currently serves as an ordinary member on the CSC executive.
Henry James, who is also a current ordinary member of the executive, was elected Treasurer. While Jack Palmer was elected Secretary and Conor Grimes was elected Amenities Ofcer.
Martha Ryan, Anna Sawicka, Bernice Guerrero, Leah Weldon, Conor Casey, Rachel Doyle, Fáolan Doeke-Launders, and Florentina Chelaru were elected as ordinary members of the CSC Executive Committee.
Te CSC is the College body responsible for the funding and recognition of societies on campus.
Tis year, a record-high nine
societies were granted provisional recognition by the CSC for Hillary term, including three societies who were previously derecognised.
DU Dance, PoolSoc and the Geographical Society (GeogSoc), who were derecognised afer failing to submit accounts for two years, were among 14 who applied for recognition by the CSC.To be provisionally recognised, a society must present a petition with 200 staf and student signatures to the CSC.
Provisional recognition by the CSC lasts for eighteen months. Provisional societies are eligible for grants. To gain full recognition, societies must submit accounts of the income and expenditure of at least one year, a constitution and evidence showing that the society has 50 or more fully paid-up members.
THE PART-TIME OFFICERS (PTOS) OF TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN STUDENTS’ UNION (TCDSU)
along with other positions for 2024/25 were elected at the last council of the year on April 2, with 10 positions elected uncontested.
Other positions elected this evening include chair of council, three faculty convenors and Chair of Trinity Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Implementation Group (Trinity BDS).
Current LGBTQ Rights Ofcer Nina Crofs was elected citizenship ofcer afer running unopposed.
Construction of the main stage of Trinity Ball (T-Ball) on Front Square began on Friday, April 5, as students prepare for the annual campus ball taking place this Friday. Access to New Square, the former site of the event’s main stage, has been lost due to the new Book of Kells experience.
T-Ball tickets sold out in approximately eight minutes this year. Trinity Ball will be headlined by British indie rock artist Bakar.
Other acts to play at the ball include HorsegiirL, kingfshr, Charlotte Plank, SHEE, Te Cope, and Bruising Shins.
Aisling Dillon and Patrick Keegan were elected of-campus ofcer and international ofcer, both running unopposed.
An emergency motion to establish a specifc student carer ofcer position was passed without opposition, with Katelyn Mullan Galvin being elected in an uncontested race.
Te position was created to allow the union to continue supporting student parents when a
student parent is not elected.
Current Citizenship Ofcer Ella MacLennan was elected housing rights ofcer, running against Lorenzo Cheasty.
Current Junior Common Room (JCR) President James Carey was elected Engagement Ofcer, running against Colin Harper.
Reuben O’Neill was elected LGBTQ rights ofcer, defeating Em Davis. O’Neill, the current Junior Common Room (JCR) LGBTQ rights ofcer, ran on a campaign of “spreading awareness and discussions terminology” on social media.
Current JCR Welfare Ofcer Emer Munnelly was elected disabilities ofcer afer running against James Murphy. She promised to address the government’s current proposed Green Paper on Disability and “extortionate accommodation costs” on campus for students with disabilities.
Murphy was subsequently elected mature students ofcer afer running uncontested.
Sam Brooks will take over from Nathan Hutchinson as environmental ofcer. He ran uncontested for the position.
Sole candidate Sarah Selfati Harte was elected access ofcer, while current Access Ofcer David Treacy was elected volunteer coordinator afer running uncontested for the position.
Amy Kennedy was elected gender equality ofcer, afer running against Aoife Sharkey, Chaya Smyth, and Aashanna Yadav. Kennedy aims to ofer a fresh perspective, helping students of all gender identities through empowerment and representation.
Yadav was subsequently elected ethnic minorities ofcer afer running uncontested.
Sean Tim O’Leary was elected union archivist, running unopposed.
Quinn Katz Zogby was chosen as chair of Trinity Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (TCD BDS) through a motion, while Elisa Zito was selected as secretary.
Giulia Villa was elected Arts,
Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) Convenor, running against current Deputy AHSS Convenor Sam Brooks.
Ruaidhrí Saulnier was elected Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Convenor afer running against current Electoral Commission Chair Conchúr Ó Cathasaigh. Tis will be Saulnier’s second year in the position.
Ó Cathasaigh was subsequently elected unopposed to serve as Undergraduate Studies Committee Representative.
Incumbent Rarosue Emakpor was re-elected to Health Sciences Convenor in an uncontested race.
Sole candidate Daniel Walsh was elected chair of the EC.
Te EC and Oversight Commission failed to fll all positions available.
Additional reporting by Ellen Kenny, Stephen Conneely, Gabriela Gazaniga, Evan Skidmore O’Reilly, Kate Henshaw, David Wolfe, Conor Healy, Emily Sheehan and Kay Williams.
President
László
Molnárf said this year will be remembered as the year “the student movement at the 11th hour woke up”
AMOTION TO REVIEW CHAPTER
1.4 OF THE TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN STUDENTS’ UNION (TCDSU) constitution concerning the political nature of the union passed at the fnal council of the year on April 2.
Te incoming sabbatical ofcers are now mandated to bring a proposal to change the wording of constitution during the next Michaelmas term, with a possible referendum in Hillary term.
Te motion said: “ Tis wording should allow the union to criticise political ideologies and political parties, but will have the necessary
safeguards in place to prevent abuse of power.
“Safeguards should include having to put any possible no confdence motions in the government to a Long-Term Policy (LTP) referendum, and the Union should be prohibited from afliating to political parties.”
Te passing of this motion marks a year of debate surrounding the political nature of the union.
Motions to hold a referendum to change the wording of the constitution failed twice, and while a referendum was scheduled to take place afer campaigners got the necessary amount of signatures, it was then cancelled due to concerns of discrimination.
Te motion was proposed by TCDSU President László Molnárf and seconded by Citizenship Ofcer Ella MacLennan.
Speaking to Trinity News, Molnárf said “the past few weeks have demonstrated mass student support for our grassroots, radical and political union”.
“As a result of the conversations surrounding the walkout and the impeachment petition that failed, members of council came to realise, and came to an agreement, that a referendum is needed to settle the question, and as such voted through at council a motion that, if all goes well, will see the ‘apolitical’ stance in the constitution put to referendum in Hilary term of 2025,” he said.
Presenting the last president report of the year, Molnárf said that this year will be remembered as the year “the student movement at the 11th hour woke up”.
“Students realise that we don’t have to lay there and take it,” he said.
He noted that an “agreement” had been reached between himself, the incoming sabbatical board and two class representatives that had launched a petition to impeach him two weeks ago.
Molnárf said he is “very happy that this question has been debated”.
“It has been a turbulent year, with issues of contention having been put rightly so at the forefront of students’ minds,” he said.
“Our legacy will be the birth of a new radical student union.”
Regarding direct action taken by TCDSU over the past year, Molnárf said it was “nowhere near the mass movements of the past – we are merely moving towards that”.
Molnárf also went on to say that “we hope to have sparked an inevitable start” towards further action, and that “the reason this year will be remembered is the same reason it will be forgotten”.
Polling by Trinity News indicates 44.3% of voters believe the union “should be able to take explicit political stances” while 38.36% were against.
TCDSU announced it would not hold a bye-election for education ofcer, contrary to constitutional obligations
ON MARCH 26, TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN STUDENTS’ UNION (TCDSU) EDUCATION OFFICER
Catherine Arnold resigned.
In an email seen by Trinity News, they requested the minimum four weeks’ notice be waived and they can instead leave on April 2.
Arnold said it has been a “privilege” to serve as a sabbatical ofcer.
Tey said: “Despite a fraught year with consistent issues of a toxic workplace environment and workplace bullying with particular cases pertaining to dignity and respect as well as employment law, I have endeavoured to support all students to the fullest extent of my ability and have achieved all of my mandates where possible.”
Tey said they are “concerned about the capacity of all other ofcers to ensure that student welfare is put to the forefront until
the end of their term” following their resignation.
“My resignation has so far been delayed due to concerns for my own welfare regarding how it would be received by my employer.
“I request the college supports me during this interim period,” they said.
Arnold said they will send a full handover in the form of a written document to incoming Education Ofcer Eoghan Gilroy “as soon as is feasible”.
TCDSU ruled it will not hold a bye-election to replace Education Ofcer Catherine Arnold following their resignation.
Te union said the Electoral Commission (EC), Oversight Commission (OC), and sabbatical ofcers, with the support of TCDSU staf and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), “decided that it would not be in the best interests of students to run a byeelection”.
“
Te EC, OC, and part-time ofcers (PTOs) are full-time students, and as the exam period approaches, the wellbeing of everyone in the Trinity community is paramount,” it said.
“To run an election at this time would be asking a massive commitment of union volunteers, and of the student electorate.”
Te EC also said a new EC will be elected at the last TCDSU council meeting of the academic year on April 2, the same date Arnold will ofcially step down.
It said the new EC “would therefore be expected to run a sabbatical election in their frst/ second week of ofce without the support of the secretary to the EC”, which is the education ofcer.
“In ordinary circumstances, we would run the bye-election
– however, it is not practically feasible in this instance,” it concluded.
According to the TCDSU constitution, in the event of a sabbatical ofcer’s resignation, a bye-election must take place.
Te EC must open nominations for a bye-elections for one to two weeks, and the election must take place within two weeks of nominations closing.
Tis decision comes amidst a ferce debate within TCDSU over the sanctity of the constitution.
A motion of censure was brought against TCDSU president László Molnárf last week following an OC recommendation due to repeated breaches of the constitution, which he argued were in the best interests of students.
Te vote did not take place afer several union members including Molnárf staged a walkout, leaving council below the minimum amount required to vote.
Te union said it has been proposed that Education Ofcerelect Eoghan Gilroy will take ofce from June 1. In an email sent to union ofcers and senior members of College staf, Arnold has said they will provide a handover “as soon as feasible”.
In the meantime, the union has said the casework of the education ofcer will be taken up by sabbatical ofcers with support from USI members.
PTOs may also be asked to assist “where appropriate”, according to the union, and will be compensated for this work.
Students are advised to email casework@tcdsu.org. Emails sent to the education ofcer’s email will automatically redirect to this email.
“We have a plan in place to
ensure that there will be no lapse in casework or service provision in this interim period, and will support the outgoing Education Ofcer with the handover process,” the union said.
Final year law and politics and Arts Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) Convenor student Gilroy was elected education ofcer with 65% of votes afer running against Deputy
STEM Convenor Sé Ó hÉidhin.
Arnold ran unopposed for the position of education ofcer and won with 81.99% of frst preference votes.
A former sociology and philosophy student, they are currently serving as Deputy Arts, Humanities and Social Science (AHSS) Convenor. Tey have previously served as Joint Honours Convenor of TCDSU.
Molnárf assured council that the “SU will continue to support and represent students”
UNION PRESIDENT LÁSZLÓ MOLNÁRFI
DENIED ACCUSATIONS OF a “toxic workplace environment” in the union at the fnal Trinity College Dublin Students Union (TCDSU) council.
Te allegations were made by Education Ofcer Catherine
Arnold in their resignation statement.
Speaking “on behalf of all of union forum,” Molnárf said that “TCDSU denies the allegation of a toxic workplace environment, and points to the work that has been done”.
Arnold issued their resignation notice on March 25, including a statement alleging “consistent issues of a toxic workplace” and “workplace bullying” during their year as sabbatical ofcer.
Tese claims were refuted by Molnárf, who spoke to defend the union and confrm that remaining sabbatical ofcers “have complete confdence in the union”.
Te resignation, described by Molnárf as a “shock in the middle of USI Congress”, will not be followed by a bye-election.
In a statement issued by TCDSU, the decision not to hold a by-election was upheld by the Electoral Commission (EC), Oversight Commission (OC), and
the Union of Students of Ireland (USI), which determined that it would “not be in the best interests of students” to run the election due to the added pressure it would place on the EC, OC and students facing exams.
Despite this, Molnárf assured council that the “SU will continue to support and represent students”. Casework usually assigned to the education ofcer will now be divided between PTOs in order to ensure student concerns are addressed.
In their resignation letter
Arnold said: “Despite a fraught year with consistent issues of a toxic workplace environment and workplace bullying with particular cases pertaining to dignity and respect as well as employment law, I have endeavoured to support all students to the fullest extent of my ability and have achieved all of my mandates where possible.”
Tey said they are “concerned about the capacity of all other
ofcers to ensure that student welfare is put to the forefront until the end of their term” following their resignation.
“My resignation has so far been delayed due to concerns for my own welfare regarding how it would be received by my employer.”
Te role of education o shall remain vacant until the Education Of Gilroy takes o
Final year law and politics and Arts Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) Convenor student Gilroy was elected education ofcer with 65% of votes afer running against Deputy STEM Convenor Sé Ó hÉidhin.
Arnold ran unopposed for the position of education ofcer and won with
81.99% of frst preference votes.
A former sociology and philosophy student, they are currently serving as Deputy Arts, Humanities and Social Science (AHSS) Convenor. Tey have previously served as Joint Honours Convenor of TCDSU.
Go dtí seo, ní raibh dualgas ach ar an n-Oifgeach Cumarsáide an t-ainm Gaelach a úsáid
D’ÉIRIGH LE RUN
AG COMHAIRLE
AONTAS NA MAC
LÉINN COLÁISTE
NA TRINOIDE (AMLCT) ag órdú go mbeadh an t-ainm Gaelach do Teach 6 úsáidthe amháin i gcumarsáide oifgiúil san aontas.
Mholadh an rún ag comhairle deireadh na bliana mar chuid den iarracht atá san aontas chun an Ghaeilge a thacú agus a cur chun cinn.
Iarainn an rún ar oifgigh Fóram Aontais, chomh maith le hoifgigh an Choimisiún Toghchánaigh agus Coimisiún Maoirseachta, an t-ainm “Teach 6” a úsáid i ngach cumarsáide oifgiúil, agus chun na baill eile san aontas a mholadh an rud céanna a dhéanamh.
Roimhe seo, ní raibh dualgas ach ar an n-Oifgeach Cumarsáide an t-ainm Gaelach a úsáid.
Chuir Pádraig Mac Brádaigh, Oifgeach na Gaeilge AMLCT, an rún chun cinn. Tá Mac Brádaigh ceaptha mar an gcéad Oifgeach na Gaeilge lán-aimseartha san aontas don chéad bhliain acadúla eile.
Tacaigh Fórám Aontais a rún.
“Tugann an chomhairle faoi deara go bhfuil oifgí agus seirbhísí AMLCT lonnaithe den chuid is mó i dTeach a Sé (Teach Mandela), An Chearnóg Tosaigh.
“Tuigeann an chomhairle iarrachtaí leanúnacha Oifgeach na Gaeilge, in éineacht leis na hoifgigh agus baill Aontais eile, an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.
“Tuigeann an Chomhairle freisin an gá atá leis an nGaeilge a bheith i ngach cuid den Aontas agus nár chóir í a imeallú go réimse an Oifgigh Ghaeilge.”
Bhuaigh Mac Brádaigh na toghcháin sabóideach le 2,095 vótaí.
Ag labhairt le Trinity News, dúirt Mac Brádaigh: “Mothaíonn sé ar feabhas, tofa mar chéad Oifgeach Gaeilge in Aontas na Mac Léann Coláiste na Tríonóide. Tá mé iontach bródúil as an éacht atá bainte amach againn, go bhfuil Oifgeach lánaimseartha againn le freastal ar phobail Ghaeilge Choláiste na Tríonóide.” “Mar an duine a bhí i gceannas ar an reifreann agus an duine is mó a bhí ar an turas go dtí seo, tá sé ar feabhas go bhfuil sé ar fad bainte amach againn.”
Te outgoing higher education minister condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza
MINISTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
SIMON HARRIS HAS PLEDGED to provide more student accommodation and afrmed the government’s readiness to recognise a Palestinian state in his frst speech as Fine Gael leader at the party’s Ard Fheis in Galway.
Harris, who is expected to be elected Taoiseach on Tuesday, referenced the lack of afordable student accommodation and emphasised the need to fx the housing crisis “for once and for all”.
“We need more student housing so students are not competing with young families for a place to rent. Under my leadership, we will build more student accommodation,” Harris said.
Harris said that 1,200 student beds will be provided in Dublin as part of an initial “kickstart”, and that the Rent Tax Credit should be increased to over €1,000.
“ Tis will put money back in your pocket and make it easier for young people to set aside some money to save for a mortgage,” he said.
Citing his experience as Minister for Higher Education since 2020, the frst Cabinet member to take on such a role, Harris highlighted the need to “break down the barriers” to education.
“Imposing costs on accessing education locks people out of full participation in society,” he said.
“I have worked tirelessly over three years to cut college fees because nothing should stop a person from reaching their full potential.”
Harris also said that his government will build more schools and apprenticeship facilities, as well as expanding upon the provision of special education facilities.
Harris’ speech also addressed the ongoing bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces, which he described as a “humanitarian catastrophe [worsening] before our eyes”. “We condemn the massacre carried out by Hamas in October and again call for the release of all hostages. But we cannot stay silent
on the actions of Israel either.”
Saying that reason had been “replaced by revenge and by the bombing, maiming and death of children”, Harris said that the outbreak of famine was a “spectre no Irish person can bear”.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Irish people could not be clearer. We are repulsed by your actions. Ceasefre now and let the aid fow safely,” he said.
He reiterated the desire to see a two-state solution, but vowed that Ireland “stands ready to recognise the state of Palestine”, to applause from delegates.
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Support for business and farmers, climate action and immigration were also raised by Harris during his address to party members.
Reacting to Harris’ speech, Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin said the Taoiseachelect had “efectively trashed his own government’s housing plan targets” whilst continuing to pursue the “same failing policies”.
“His Ard Fheis speech ofered nothing new in terms of tackling rising homelessness, rising rents or rising house prices,” Ó Broin said.
“Increasing the renters tax credit without a ban on rent increases will simply mean that landlords will pocket the increase with rent hikes. Te renter will be no better of.”
Ó Broin said that more radical policies were needed to tackle the housing crisis, including the delivery of higher numbers of social and afordable housing, a threeyear rent increase ban, and the utilisation of emergency planning and procurement powers to deliver housing for those in emergency accommodation.
“Soundbites from a wannabe Taoiseach will not fx the housing crisis created by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Only a general election, a change of government
and a change of housing plan can do that.”
Te Fine Gael Ard Fheis took place in the University of Galway. A number of students protested the conference in an on-campus demonstration organised by the University of Galway Students’ Union (UGSU).
Harris is expected to be elected Taoiseach by a majority of TDs in the Dáil on Tuesday, afer he secured the public backing of fve independent deputies.
IN THE WAKE OF THE UNEXPECTED AND ABRUPT RESIGNATION OF FORMER TAOISEACH
LEO VARADKAR ON March 20, Simon Harris would go on to run uncontested for the leadership of the party and will be presumably elected Taoiseach today, April 9.
Harris has never shied away from potentially procuring the role of Taoiseach saying in November of last year how he has “never hidden my ambition, but that’s certainly something for the future”.
Te future has now become the present for Harris but does his track record indicate a promising future for Irish politics?
Te future of Fine Gael under Harris.
With the latest Business Post/ Red C poll indicating a one-point drop in support for Fine Gael bringing their estimated backing to 19% and a general election looming, there is a defnite need to rehabilitate the party’s image. Harris, well known for his attempts to engage with the younger electorate via his social media presence, was perhaps the safest and least controversial candidate when it came to selecting a new
Hoping to breathe new life into Fine Gael, Harris was quick to hit back at criticisms against the party when he announced his candidature: “To anybody who thinks this party is tired, to anyone who thinks this party lacks energy, you ain’t seen nothing yet”.
Harris is hoping his leadership “is a moment for Fine Gael in government to reset, for Fine Gael in government to reconnect, for Fine Gael in government to renew our commitment to the people” and vowed to prioritise matters of business, farming and law and order to name a few”.
It’s clear Harris is already attempting to appeal to a wider proportion of the
electorate then his predecessor however, does his previous governmental escapade suggest he will come through with his promises?
A positive track record?
First entering the Dáil in 2011 at the age of just 24 Harris has held a myriad of positions during his time in government, serving as a junior minister between 2014 and 2016 and then minister for health between 2016 and 2020.
While minister for health, he attracted much criticism for incorrectly stating on live radio that there had been 18 coronaviruses prior to Covid-19 in what he coined to be “awful booboo”.
Harris was also praised, however, for his strong social media presence during the pandemic, informing on updates surrounding health and travel restrictions and regularly hosting Instagram lives to answer people’s questions. Combined with attempts at humour such as posting about needing a haircut, his online presence has already earned him the title of the “TikTok Taoiseach”, although it’s not clear how much this translates into gaining support among young voters.
Harris has also expressed the importance of the upcoming inquiry into how the government handled the Covid-19 acknowledging it is “really important”.
Afer regaining his seat upon the 15th count during the 2020 election for the Wicklow constituency, Harris was assigned as the minister of the newly created Department of Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science as a part of the coalition government including Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.
Higher education: Student welfare
During his four-year tenure as higher education minister, Harris attempted to appeal and garner support from college students. Tis can be seen through consecutive Budgets containing fnancial reliefs for students.
In his time, €20.9 million was designated to fund mental health services across the sector of higher education. 77 counsellors for universities were also hired in 2022 under Harris.
2023 saw 17 institutes of higher education across Ireland receive an additional €5 million in mental health funding. It
was his self-proclaimed ‘on the ground approach’ which saw him prioritise the psychological needs of students: “Since I became minister, I have travelled to almost every college campus in the country and one of the consistent messages I receive is that students need support in this area.”
Despite the extra funding allocated to college mental health services by Harris, a recent report by Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) revealed wait times for College counselling
Increasing accessibility to education was a repeating motive under Harris’s tenure. February 2024 saw Harris declare his intent to establish ten new college courses for students with intellectual disabilities. Set to commerce during the upcoming 2024/25 academic semester, the roll out will see 150 students enrolled within the frst year. Along with this, Harris announced the deployment of €1.8m to fund the implementation of sensory maps across college campuses and anti racism measures.
Higher education: Funding
Funding allocated to the sector of higher education under Harris was plentiful, including €4.5 million announced for regional campuses and a €113 million cost of education package for students under Budget 2024. Tis included a €1,000 reduction in undergraduate fees reducing college costs for 96,000 students.
€17 million was also allocated by Harris and Minister of State Niall Collins in order to expand apprenticeships across higher education equating to 132 apprenticeship craf training blocks.
In lieu of these measures the former higher education minister was subject to heavy criticism in the lead up to Budget 2024 over the €307 million funding gap present within the higher education sphere.
be covered by the Housing Finance Agency (HFA). Tis scheme has yet to materialise despite being announced in October 2023.
Despite these measures being put in place, there is an overall sense of inadequacy from Harris when it came to tackling the student accommodation crisis with the Union of Students Ireland (USI) claiming in January 2024 that the government has been “engaging in smoke and mirrors in relation to student accommodation by announcing and reannouncing the same ‘news’ and ‘policies’ without any concrete plans or information”.
With Vulture Funds owing more student accommodation in Dublin than Trinity, Dublin City University (DCU) and University College Dublin (UCD) combined at 7,538 beds in comparison to 5,602, it is hard to negate his failure to do more to regulate the sector despite students’ pleas.
A 2023 National Survey on Student Digs carried out by the USI detailed that the popular alternative to the private student housing sector was equally as bleak with 39% of respondents detailing that they had no written agreement of their residency with a further 8% facing imminent eviction from their rented residence.
services have doubled since 2017, suggesting a level of inadequacy within Harris as his work fails to reach into students’ daily lives.
Following on from his eforts to increase psychological support for students, Harris also attempted to address the prevalence of bullying in higher education. A report, originally confrmed by Harris back in 2020, detailing the fndings of a survey into bullying across institutes of higher education was launched by him in September 2023.
Te survey found that 18.4% of students were subject to bullying during the frst semester of the 2022/2023 academic year. It concluded by recommending a number of ways to combat the prevalence of bullying across colleges.
Speaking at the launch of the report Harris thanked “all the students across the country who took the time to engage with this survey and share their experiences of bullying with us”.
Te fulflment of this report is a positive indication of Harris’ ability to hold true on promises.
Tis issue had been carried over from Budget 2023 which saw €40 million allocated to the sector, accounting for a mere 13% of the €307 million gap. A statement issued by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) at the time called the lack of funding “very disappointing”.
Harris in higher education Student Accommodation When evaluating Harris’ competence it is crucial to examine the current state of student accommodation across Ireland.
February of 2024 saw Harris state his intention to amend legislation in order to stop student accommodation providers having mandatory 51 week long leases. Tis came following prolonged backlash from students where many of whom were being forced out of leases pertaining to the 40 week academic term. Te legislation amendments were brought to Cabinet in March, with Harris promising it will be enacted before the government’s summer recess to ensure the new tenancy protections are in place before the new academic year.
A €434 million plan for 2,700 afordable student housing beds to be built on college campus was announced by Harris afer obtaining €200 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB) with the additional €234 million to
Harris’ failures when it comes to student accommodation are further solidifed when considering that 92 of 300 students who deferred their start at the University of Galway in 2022 did so due to housing related issues.
In the same year Trinity College Dublin (TCD) saw 10% of students defer their round one CAO ofers citing the same reason.
While Harris’ record of following through on his promises suggests his tenure as Ireland’s new Taoiseach will see plentiful policy changes in the eyes of many, especially students, his legacy as Minister for Higher Education is to be defned by the ongoing and worsening crisis within student accommodation.
Harris’ constant and continuous attempts to appeal and reach the younger electorate through his online engagement have arguably yielded his little success. A recent poll conducted by Trinity News showing student support for Fine Gael stands at just 10.4% suggesting the ‘TikTok Taoiseach’, despite his best eforts, faces a uphill battle rehabilitating the party’s image.
With the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) already issuing Harris a warning that he must follow through on all unfulflled promises he made while Minister for Higher Education and coining the lack of funding toward the education sector in recent years “shameful”, the pressure is already building on Ireland’s newly appointed Taoiseach.
WHEN RUNNING FOR TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN STUDENTS’
Union (TCDSU) president last year, László Molnárf made clear that the “union needs to be strong, grassroots and … call out the government”. If nothing else, he has lived up to this promise. One scroll through the TCDSU Instagram and it is safe to say protest announcements, government accountability, and reports on College’s shortcomings make up the majority of posts.
Problems have arisen, however, when Molnárf’s attitude and actions in pursuit of his goals have been called into question by the Electoral Commission (EC) and Oversight Commission (OC), the bodies responsible for upholding the union’s constitution. A year of “warnings”, as the OC described them, culminated in a lengthy
report of Molnárf’s constitutional breaches and a motion to censure him at TCDSU council last on March 19. Te ensuing discussion was not an argument of whether the union president broke the rules, but whether the rules should be broken.
Section 1.4
Te heart of the confict between Molnárf’s presidency and the current constitution, developed in 2014, concerns the ability to take political stances.
Section 1.4 outlines the aims and principles of the union and states these objectives shall be pursued “independent of any political, racial or religious ideology”. According to interpretations by the OC, section 1.4 protects against the politicisation of TCDSU to cater to students of all backgrounds and beliefs.
Molnárf has been involved in campaigns this year to change this wording to one that allows the union to pursue its aims through “radical and egalitarian” means, arguing the current wording
restricts the actions and stances of the union.
Te motion to hold a referendum on 1.4 failed to reach a majority vote twice and was withdrawn on another occasion for potential religious discrimination due to a reference to “Christian extremists”. To pass, the motion required more than a simple majority.
Despite this, Molnár he would “keep being political in defance of 1.4”, a promise criticised by the OC for failing to uphold the current constitution.
Constitutional violations
In the OC report presented in council on March 19, Molnár preferences for his own principles over the traditional processes of the union were laid out.
Te OC highlighted Molnárf’s constitutional breaches and clari 1.4 does not prohibit the union from taking stances on government policies which may harm students. Instead, 1.4
prohibits the overall expression of political ideologies.
Section 1.4 has not been interpreted to mean that TCDSU cannot engage in topics of a political nature. If that were so, student groups like Trinity Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (TCD BDS), for example, would not be permitted to exist. A referendum took place to enshrine TCD BDS within the union, as is the case with many other policies in the union. In application, 1.4 merely prevents mass mobilisation of the union under a particular ideology.
According to the OC, the
direct consequence of Molnárf’s commitment to overriding 1.4. On a previous occasion, he admitted to breaching the constitution various times and stated that his “faction is too strong” for him to be impeached.
Te OC acknowledged that Molnárf’s breaches are not tied to his stances on the government, but rather how the union executes their political agenda. In specifying the breaches, the OC detailed when Molnárf held a voter registration campaign calling on students to “evict this government”. Te OC determined this campaign to be an unconstitutional cial statement of the union’s position on those parties and politicians” under section
Tis year’s JCR elections saw the highest number of candidates running in fve years
AIBHE MCBRIDE WAS ELECTED JUNIOR COMMON ROOM (JCR) PRESIDENT ON THE FOURTH count with 36.6% of frst preference votes following an election with the highest number of candidates running fve years. McBride beat Gráinne Ní Ailín, Amir Sallachi, and PJ Cronin followed, who received 23.8%, 22.3%, and 16.2% of frst preference votes, respectively.
A Business, Economics, Political Science, and Sociology major from Mayo, McBride’s campaign focused on integrating societies with events located at
Trinity Hall (Halls) and improving common spaces, especially study spaces.
“I want to maintain, if not better, the fantastic reputation, network and status the JCR have with the local community, accommodation ofce and Trinity,” McBride said.
Te results of the JCR elections were announced in Mother Reilly’s pub in Rathmines on March 28.
Remi Laloy was elected vice president/treasurer on the fourth count, receiving 42.5% of frst preference votes. Candidates Isabelle Janssen and Maria Kopyeva were eliminated in the second and third rounds, and Laloy beat Lila McNamee in the fourth round.
Laloy, a Law student from Wexford, based his manifesto on “promoting the unforgettable experience that is frst year.”
He seeks to establish fnancial counselling, sponsorships, and brand partnerships, as well as increase funding for casual, nondrinking events.
Mia Taylor was elected secretary, beating Agathe Seiler in the frst round with 65.7% of the votes.
A Biomedical student from Mayo, Taylor’s campaign centred upon creating a bottle deposit
return scheme, study sessions, and JCR-sponsored walks to bus stops and Halls from nights out.
Abhainn Obaoill-Coyle was elected welfare ofcer on the fourth count, beating Finn Baneham, Miriam Greenwood, and Maela Hanot-Renvoize.
Obaoill-Coyle, a Political Science and Social Policy student from the Mourne Mountains, hopes to create a Welfare Team that “creates an internal welfare support network to help distribute the workload and protect each other’s wellbeing as well as the nonwelfare [team] Halls residents.”
Freddy Ofereins was elected ENTS ofcer, winning 88% of frstround votes in an uncontested race. Ofereins, from Kenmare, Kerry, plans to involve residents more in planning events, choosing themes, and picking music.
Ofereins wants to add diversity to the JCR events: “I am exploring more options in Dublin such as Farrier and Draper, which provide a more exclusive and elegant feel to Dublin’s nightlife, but not forgetting to get down and dirty in Dtwo or Diceys,” Ofereins’ Manifesto said.
Alisha Shivnani, a Biomedical student from Spain, was elected international ofcer on the third
count, receiving 43.5% of frstround votes.
Shivnani plans to host a fresher’s diversity workshop, create a group chat for international students, and organise the Halls international trip well in advance in hopes of a higher attendance rate.
“I want to be an international ofcer that makes a diference, not just someone who organises events, but someone of support for all the newcomers,” Shivnani said.
Ryan Gallagher was elected sports ofcer in the third round, receiving 44.1% of frst-preference votes.
Gallagher plans to expand the fve-a-side soccer and basketball events, raise funds for better gym and sporting equipment, organise healthy eating classes, and establish live sports viewing in Halls.
Sean Power was elected music ofcer in the frst round, receiving 77.3% of votes. Power has already started to prepare for next year’s Halls musical.
“I can’t wait to start planning for Hallschella, the next big Halls music festival, which will feature bands and artists from Halls and Trinity,” Power said. Halls accommodates 995 Trinity students, including frst years, most third-year scholars,
and members of the Irish Language Residency Scheme (An Scéim Cónaithe).
Several outgoing JCR members have now progressed to take positions in Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU).
Current JCR Ents Ofcer Peadar Walsh was elected TCDSU Ents ofcer at the end of Februrary. Te frst occasion in several years where the Ents race has been uncontested, Walsh was elected with 1,982 votes.
Outgoing JCR President Carey was also elected engagement ofcer at the last council meeting of the year, taking over from the current ofcer Conor Dempsey. At the election, he emphasised his experience as JCR president in his goal to increase engagement among frst years.
Current JCR Welfare Ofcer Emer Munnelly was elected disabilities ofcer afer running against James Murphy. She promised to address the government’s current proposed Green Paper on Disability and “extortionate accommodation costs” on campus for students with disabilities.
JCR LGBTQ Rights Ofcer Reuben O’Neill was also elected TCDSU’s LGBTQ rights ofcer.
Defending the right to break rules
During council, the OC formally delivered the report on Molnárf’s constitutional breaches and recommended a motion of censure in lieu of impeachment.
STEM Convenor Ruaidhrí
Saulnier promptly proposed the motion.
Supporters of the OC underscore the importance of constitutional integrity and holding those democratically elected accountable for abuse of process. Tis is especially salient as Molnárf has received various warnings throughout the year from stepping outside his bounds of power.
On the other hand, Molnárf supporters emphasise the need to be able to hold the government accountable in order for the union to work efectively. If the purpose of the union is to protect students’ rights, they believe that a critical step in achieving this is the ability to call out harmful government policies.
Molnárf’s defence of his actions have not hinged upon trying to claim he did not break any rules, but that the rules must be broken and changed.
In defence of the campaign, Molnárf said: “[Government] representatives deserve to be held accountable in a public way, exposed, shamed and embarrassed
in the press”.
Speaking in support of Molnárf at council, TCDSU President-elect Jenny Maguire also said: “To punish László would be a contradiction of everything this union has stood for.”
constitution. Te fact of the matter is that he did, and there are no grounds for debate. Te confict is about whether the rules need to change to accommodate student infuence and union engagement with external politics. And when it comes to changing the constitution, the EC and OC struggle to make a decision.
Te next steps
Molnárf and a number of his supporters demonstrated their protests against the current constitution once again at a council meeting on March 19 when they staged a mass walkout in response to the censure motion against Molnárf based on the recommendations of the OC. When leaving, they called for quorum, which immediately prevented the vote from happening as council no longer had the minimum amount required to vote.
Just before the walkout, Molnárf stated that “he will not stop being radical” and that the government is “the enemy”.
balance has appeared to have been reached addressing the concerns of some TCDSU members regarding the proposed constitutional amendments while ensuring the eforts of other TCDSU members to alter the political aims of the union carry on beyond this union’s term.
At the fnal council meeting of the year, a motion to review chapter 1.4 of the union’s constitution concerning the political nature of the union passed successfully. Te incoming sabbatical ofcers are now mandated to bring a proposal to change the wording of constitution during the next Michaelmas term. Te motion said: “ Tis wording should allow the union to criticise political ideologies and political parties, but will have the necessary safeguards in place to prevent abuse of power.”
“To anybody who thinks this party is tired, to anyone who thinks this party lacks energy, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”
“Go out and get some fresh air! Stop crying in your room with the curtains closed. Do something better with your life.”
Tree members of the Coiste Gnó were reelected to their posts, whilst two others will assume new roles within the USI’s executive
“When a procedure stops a college ofcer from fully and unapologetically saying that this government doesn’t care about poor people… then let’s break them.”
Te confict here is not about whether Molnárf violated the
In response, TCDSU class representatives launched a petition to impeach Molnárf, which received over 160 signatures in the frst two days. It noted Molnárf compromised the democracy of the council by staging a walkout to evade accountability and thus must answer to the entire student body. For an ofcer impeachment referendum to be held, however, a minimum of 500 signatures is required. Te petition did not reach these required signatures in time to hold a referendum in the academic year.
Following the petition, a
Speaking to Trinity News afer this decision, Molnárf emphasised this year’s growth in support for a grassroots movement and said an “agreement” had been reached between himself, the incoming sabbatical ofcers and the class representatives who launched the impeachment petition that a “referendum is needed to settle the question” of the union’s political nature.
Te decision to open the constitutional change to consultation, however, also refects the tumultuous year of debates about the union’s political decisions confned to a select few. Tis debate will no doubt carry into the next academic year as union members decide the best way to represent its students.
“Leadership is knowing when the time has come to pass on the baton to somebody else, and then having the courage to do it - Tat time is now.”
CRHIS CLIFFORD HAS BEEN ELECTED UNION OF STUDENTS IN IRELAND (USI) president for a second consecutive term.
Te results of the election for the members of the USI Coiste Gnó, the executive branch of the union, were announced at USI Comhdháil, which itself was held
in the Clayton Hotel in Sligo from March 25 to 28.
In a post on social media following the results, Cliford said he was “delighted” to be reelected president.
“Working with the team this year has been an amazing experience and I am looking forward to continuing this for the next 15 months.”
Cliford won over two other candidates: Dublin City University Students’ Union (DCUSU) VP for Academic Life Eoin Crossen, and Technological University of Dublin Students’ Union (TUDSU) President Brian Jordan.
Bryan O’Mahony was also reelected vice-president (VP) for academic afairs, having stood unopposed.
Te race for VP for welfare was won by Niamh Doherty, the current VP for Welfare in Munster Technological University Kerry Students’ Union (MTUKSU).
Nathan Murphy, the incumbent VP for the Dublin region, was elected VP for Campaigns. He succeeds Zaid Al-Barghouthi, who formerly served as Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) international ofcer.
Two incumbent ofcers from
DCUSU have been elected to the next Coiste Gnó. Te union’s VP for wellbeing Sarah Fitzpatrick was elected VP for postgraduate afairs, whilst VP Emma Monahan has been elected VP for the Dublin region.
VP for the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) Region Aoife Hynes was elected VP for equality and citizenship vice-presidency.
Technological University of the Shannon Students’ Union (TUSSU) Deputy President for the Midwest Niamh Kennedy was elected VP for the Southern Region, with University of Galway Students’ Union (UGSU) Postgraduate Research Ofcer
Christopher Stewart elected VP for the BMW Region.
Bláithín Nic a t-Sithigh was re-elected to her post as leas uachtarán don Ghaeilge.
No TCDSU members stood as candidates in the elections.
Among the motions passed at Comhdháil included a proposal from the Postgraduate Workers’ Organisation (PWO) mandating the USI to only collaborate with research funding agencies if they pay postgraduate researchers “at a level equal [to], or higher than, the prevailing living wage”, and who provide adequate sick and parental leave where required.
A TCDSU motion defning rent afordability as being up to 30% of a monthly minimum wage was also passed by delegates, as was a separate motion pertaining to electoral reform within the USI, including a commitment to assessing the feasibility of holding direct elections for Coiste Gnó positions.
“Varadkar? I hardly knew her!”
“ Te work should be bigger than yourself. When you don’t recognise this, you lose touch with the people you’re actually trying to afect.”
“ Te past few weeks have demonstrated mass student support for our grassroots, radical and political union.”
“Yer Da is running for Europe in the midlands northwest constituency in protest against woke Met Éireann and the plastic bottle deposit return scheme” “Bye”
IGCROÍLÁR CHOLÁISTE NA TRÍONÓIDE, TÁ
TIONSCNAMH CIÚIN ACH SPREAGÚIL AG
CUR NA GAEILGE CHUN cinn i measc na mac léinn. Is í an aidhm atá ag an Scéim Cónaithe (an Scéim) ná húsáid na Gaeilge a thacú agus a mhéadú sa Choláiste. Ní hamháin go soláthraíonn an clár seo lóistín, ach cuireann sé deontas €1,000 ar fáil do mhic léinn a thapaíonn an deis an Ghaeilge a labhairt mar chuid dá saol laethúil.
Roghnaítear mic léinn chun bheith páirteach ar an Scéim tar éis próiseas iarratais. Is féidir leat cur isteach uirthi má tá Gaeilge agat agus má tá tú sásta í a labhairt go lánaimseartha i d’arasán. Mar chuid den Scéim, tá dualgas ort comhlíonadh le coiníollacha difriúla ar nós imeachtaí a eagrú, freastal ar chruinnithe agus tuairiscí a scríobh. Tá na harasáin lonnaithe i mBá na Luibeolaíochta ar champas agus i Halla na Tríonóide i nDartraí. Má tá grá agat don Ghaeilge, moltar duit cur isteach uirthi - is deis iontach í seo bheith páirteach i measc pobail Ghaeilge an Choláiste. De réir Pádraig Ó Brádaigh, mac léann ceathrú bliana agus an t-Oifgeach Gaeilge d’Aontas na Mac Léinn, “Is é an chuid is fearr bheith i mo chónaí le Gaeilgeoirí eile agus a bheith ábalta mo shaol ar fad a mhaireachtáil trí Ghaeilge san árasán.” Bhí Ó Brádaigh ar an Scéim nuair a bhí sé sa chéad bhliain chomh maith, ach luann sé gur “toisc an phaindéim a bheith ann, is cinnte go raibh taithí éagsúil agam le mar a bhíonn ag daoine de ghnáth.” Is dócha gur athrú mór a bhí ann ó bhliain na paindéime, agus tá Ó Brádaigh “á feiceáil sin go hiomlán i mbliana.”
Tá Gráinne Ní Ailín, iníon léinn sa chéad bhliain, ar an Scéim i Halla na Tríonóide i mbliana. Nuair a chuirtear ceist uirthi labhairt faoina taithí ar an Scéim go dtí seo, deir sí go bhfuil sí tar éis “fíor-taineamh” a bhaint as. Eispéireas difriúl atá ann do mhic léinn na céad bliana, toisc gurb é seo an chéad uair a bhfuil siad ina gcónaí as baile de ghnáth. “Táim in árasán le seisear cailíní eile
agus réitimid go léir go maith le chéile. Tugann an Scéim deis duit buaileadh le a lán daoine eile agus cabhraíonn sé seo go mór leat agus tú ag socrú síos san ollscoil.”
Déanann Ailbhe Ní Nuanáin cur síos sách difriúl ar a taithí ar an Scéim. Tosaigh Ní Nuanáin ag foghlaim na Gaeilge ag tús na bliana agus mhothaigh sí neirbhíseach nach mbeadh an caighdeán céanna aici agus a bhí ag na baill eile. Ach, dar léi, ní raibh sé sin fíor ar chóir ar bith, agus go bhfuil “chuile duine ar an Scéim an-deas!” Luaigh sí freisin go mbaineann sí taitneamh as na deiseanna a thugann an Scéim di chun dul i ngleic le teanga nua. Deir sí go bhfuil “an-chuid brainpower” de dhíth agus tú i do chónaí trí mheán na Gaeilge don chéad uair riamh, ach tá sí “i bhfad níos compordaí leis an teanga anois.”
Gan amhras, tá an Scéim Cónaithe mar chloch tábhachtach i mbunús cultúrtha agus teanga Gaelach sa Choláiste. Dar le hÁine Ní Shúilleabháin, Oifgeach na Gaeilge Choláiste na Tríonóide agus stiúrthóir na Scéime, “Tá an Scéim Cónaithe tar éis próifíl na Gaeilge a ardú i gColáiste na Tríonóide thar na blianta agus léiríonn sí gur teanga bheo í i measc dhaoine óga agus san ollscoil.”
Trí thacaíocht a thabhairt do mhic léinn atá díograiseach faoin nGaeilge, cintíonn an Scéim go mbeigh glúin nua de Ghaelgeoirí ann a bhfuil bródúil as a dteanga dúchais agus atá tiomónta í a chur chun cinn i measc an phobail acadúla.
Léirigh Ní Shúilleabháin go mbíonn na mic léinn a ghlacann páirt sa Scéim ag feidhmiú mar “ambasadóirí don teanga agus cruthaíonn siad deiseanna do
mhic léinn eile an teanga a foghlaim agus a chleachtadh.” Deir Ní Shúilleabháin go bhfuil an Scéim “an-tábhachtach don ollscoil sa bhealach ina gcuireann sí le saol bríomhar na Gaeilge,
feiceáil ar an Scéim Cónaithe ón gcoláiste le cinntiú go bhfuil siad ag cloí lena gcoimitmint chun an Ghaeilge a threisiú.”
Aontaíonn Ní Ailín leis nuair a deir sí go bhfuil “an Scéim de dhíth chun an Ghaeilge a spreagadh i gColáiste na Tríonóide cinnte.” Cuireann sí leis an rud a deir Ó Brádaigh, go bhfuil sé “antábhachtach a bheith ag úsáid na Gaeilge….ionas go gcloisfdh mic léinn eile an teanga agus iad timpeall ar lucht na Scéime.” Ag smaoineamh orthu siúd nach bhfuil taithí leo leis an Ghaeilge, measann sí “go gcabhróidh sé sinn le dearcthaí daoine faoin nGaeilge a athrú agus a feabhsú.”
Protestors asked prospective students: “Do you want to attend a university that is neutral on genocide?”
agus an tacaíocht a thugann sí do mhic léinn a saolta a chaitheamh trí Ghaeilge.”
Nuair a fafraíodh de na mic léinn an bhfuil gá leis an Scéim sa Choláiste, d’freagair siad d’aon ghuth. Mhol Ó Brádaigh go bhfuil spás de dhíth chun an Ghaeilge a labhairt, go háirithe toisc gur teanga mionlaithe í. Deir sé, “Is minic a ghéilltear an Ghaeilge ar mhaithe leis an mBéarla agus maraíonn an drochnós sin an teanga de réir a chéile. Is pobal ceart é an pobal Gaeilgeoireachta agus ba mhaith liom méadú a
Míníonn Ní Nuanáin go dtugann na himeachtaí a eagraítear spreagadh do dhaoine páirt a ghlacadh i saol na Gaeilge. Cuireann sí béim ar an obair thábhachtach atá ar siúl leis an gCumann Gaelach, le hOifgeach na Gaeilge Aontas na Mac Léinn agus le hOifgeach na Gaeilge an Choláiste chun na himeachtaí seo a eagrú. Deir sí go raibh “daoine ón Scéim ag déanamh turais den champas trí Ghaeilge ag an Oíche Cultúir, agus beidh muid ag obair ag an lá oscailte freisin!” Is léir ó na hagallaimh go bhfuil na baill lán le paisean agus go bhfuil díogras orthu a róil ar an Scéim a úsáid chun an Ghaeilge a chothú agus a chur chun cinn sa Choláiste. Aontaíonn na mic léinn ar fad gur fú go mór é bheith páirteach sa Scéim má tá suim agat inti. Molann siad an Scéim go crannaibh na gréine. Admhaíonn Ó Brádaigh lena chlaontacht nuair a deir sé, “Is fú go mór an Scéim a dhéanamh má tá Gaeilge agat agus tú ag iarraidh í a labhairt go laethúil ar bhealach neamhfoirmiúil le roinnt de na daoine is deise sa choláiste.” Déanann Ní Ailín cur síos ar na buntaistí atá ag baint léi. “Bíonn deis agat freastal ar ócáidí cosúil leis an gCiorcal Comhrá agus bualadh le daoine leis na suimeanna céanna leat. Chomh maith le sin bíonn ort tionscadail agus imeachtaí a chur ar bun, rud a forbraíonn scileanna tábhachta agus úsáideacha don Ollscoil.” Ar deireadh, luann Ní Nuanáin nach go bhfuil “go leor spásanna Gaeil i mBaile Átha Cliath,” agus go bhfuil “an deis seo antábhachtach,” di. Ní féidir a shéanadh go gcuireann an Scéim Cónaithe go mór le forbairt na Gaeilge i gColáiste na Tríonóide. Tugann sí deis do mhic léinn an Ghaeilge a labhairt agus a chur chun cinn go laethúil ina saoil. Ina theannta sin, cuidíonn sí leis an teanga a forbairt agus a chothú. Má tá suim agat iarratas a dhéanamh ar an Scéim Cónaithe don bhliain seo chugainn, tosóidh an próiseas iarratais san earrach.
TRINITY BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS (TCD BDS) IN COLLABORATION with the Trinity branch of Academia for Palestine (AfP), held a protest at the annual Spring Open Day event against College’s refusal to cut ties with Israeli institutions and its neutral stance on the confict in Gaza.
Protestors stood on the steps of the Exam Hall with a banner that read: “Trinity is Complicit in Genocide”.
Te society’s production of Sweeney Todd won three of the top Musical Teatre Intervarsities awards
TRINITY MUSICAL THEATRE (TMT)
WON THREE OF THE TOP AWARDS AT THE MUSICAL THEATRE Intervarsities national competition in Mullingar on March 25. Tis comes just two weeks afer they won Best Society in Trinity at the CSC Society of the Year Awards.
Te society performed a 20 minute showcase of their production of Sweeney Todd: Te Demon Barber of Fleet Street as their entry, with judges including former Britain’s Got Talent contestant Leah Barniville.
Barniville, speaking afer the
Members of the group held several Palestinian fags and other signs echoing a similar message, including: “Trinity is complicit”, “Blood on your hands”, and “You can’t be neutral about genocide”.
On open days, prospective students, mostly in sixth year of secondary school, tour the campus and meet with current students, alumni, and lecturers to learn about College.
Protesters handed fiers to open day visitors detailing College’s engagement in “unethical investment practices”.
In a direct message to prospective students, the fier read: “Do you want to attend a university that is neutral on genocide?”
“Today, Trinity will present itself to you as an open, accepting and diverse environment for its students,” it continued.
“It will claim to foster a space where its students feel seen and heard”.
Following this statement, the group listed several Israeli institutions and corporations involved in the war industry that College has ties with, including the Weizmann Institute of Science and Tel Aviv University.
Te Weizmann Institute has ties to Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries and supported the development of
Israel’s nuclear arsenal, while Tel Aviv University developed the Israeli Defence Force’s ‘ethical code’, and has “trained lawyers to defend war crimes”.
Tey also noted three frms “blacklisted by the UN” for human rights failures, Bank Leumi, Shapir Engineering, and Energix, that College has continued ties with College.
event, congratulated TMT for “the most incredible production of Sweeney Todd”, adding that she had to pick her jaw up of the foor afer watching it.
“However, Trinity has ignored all student and staf calls to cut ties with Israeli institutions.”
Te fier concluded with a message stating that the College’s neutrality afer repeated calls for
“In light of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza, where to date over 30,000 individuals have been murdered and millions are at risk of starvation, these connections are immoral and despicable,” the fier said.
solidarity with Palestine shows it has “little to no concern for the views of its student and staf population”.
Members of TCDSU also took part in an online campaign, commenting on social media posts from College with #RipOfTCD and criticism of College regarding its stance on Gaza, fees and other issues.
TCD BDS also recently projected images of solidarity with the Palestinian people on the Bank of Ireland opposite Trinity, as well as “the names of all the children who have been murdered in Israel’s latest genocidal onslaught on Gaza”.
Te images the Palestinian fag and the phrase “Free Palestine”.
TCD BDS has called on College repeatedly to cut ties with Israeli institutions since the recent escalation of violence resulting in thousands of Palestinians being killed. In November, members staged a sit-in Regent House overnight.
Tey also most recently staged a protest at the Book of Kells Experience on New Square. Protestors frst gathered in the Book of Kells Experience gif shop before moving to block the main entrance, preventing tourists from entering. Videos show tourists clashing with protestors.
Te musical was directed by Luke Reid, with musical direction by Erica O’Reilly, and was vocally assisted by Philip Walsh. Megan Harte O’Kelly produced the performance, with Ali Lyons choreographing it. Erica O’Reilly won individually for Best Musical Direction at the intervarsities, with TMT posting their reactions to the announcement on their Instagram story, calling it “deserved”.
O’Reilly previously won Best Individual at the CSC Society of the Year Awards, held two weeks ago, alongside the late Jack O’Grady, a member of the St. Vincent de Paul society.
Colm Lombard won second place in the Best Performer category for his role as the titular Sweeney Todd.
TMT won the Best Ensemble category for the third year in a row, having won last year for their rendition of Cabaret and the year previous for Mamma Mia.
TMT also won the biggest award of the night, Best Overall Show, this time for the second year in a row.
Luke Reid, director of the production, said that despite he “cannot be more grateful to the team who saw (his) vision and matched (his) passion” for the show.
“I am flled with so much pride in what (the cast) have done with this piece and what I saw on stage”, he continued, concluding that he “couldn’t have asked for more” from them.
TMT was up against similar societies and clubs from universities and colleges in Dublin, Galway, Belfast, Maynooth and Limerick.
TMT also recently won the top
awards at the Central Societies Committee’s (CSC) annual Society of the Year Awards. Te society won Best Medium Society and Best Overall Society at the award ceremony in the Radisson Blu last night.
Trinity News staf receive 20 nominations from the National Student Media Awards
TRINITY NEWS WAS NOMINATED FOR 20 AWARDS AT THE 2024 NATIONAL STUDENT MEDIA Awards (Smedias), including Newspaper of the Year. Staf covering current afairs, sport, science and culture were recognised by the annual award celebrating across 39 categories. Along with Newspaper of the Year, Trinity News was also nominated for Website of the Year. Editor-in-Chief Kate Henshaw was nominated for Editor of the Year.
Deputy News Editor Aoibhinn Clancy has been nominated for Journalist of the Year along with Deputy Comment Editor Kate Byrne and Deputy Sex & Relationships Editor Emma
Whitney. Deputy News Analysis Editor Gabriela Gazaniga has been nominated for Journalist of the Year - National Media.
Trinity News dominated the Feature Writer of the Year: News and Current Afairs Award, with Features Editor Ruby Topalian, Deputy Features Editor Sam Walsh and contributing writer Hazel Mulkeen receiving three out of fve nominations.
Trinity News staf have received two nominations for collaborative journalism, with Gabriela Gazaniga and David Wolfe nominated for their article on College’s ties with Israel and Ellen Kenny and David Wolfe nominated for their piece on students stuck on campus overnight during the Dublin riots in November 2023.
Life Editor Abby Cleaver was nominated for Journalism Relating to Road Safety and was nominated for Journalism Relating to Travel for work outside Trinity News.
Arts & Culture Editor Jayna Roshlau also received two nominations for Satirical Writer of the Year and Short Story of the Year.
Social Media Deputy Editor
Aideen Lanigan and Jack Delaney were nominated for the newlycreated Virgin Media Digital Content Creator Award.
Sports Co-Editors Jane Prendergast and Séaghan Ó Domhnalláin were nominated for Sports Writer of the Year. Henshaw said she was
“absolutely delighted that Trinity News has been recognised in this way by the national student media awards”.
“Our staf have put a huge amount of work into the paper this year so I am very proud that the staf have had that work recognised on a national level. We received a record breaking number of nominations,” she said.
“ Te nomination for Newspaper of the Year in particular emphasises how hard all of the staf have worked to make the paper such a success. I am really looking forward to the awards and wishing all Trinity News nominees
the best of luck.”
Last year, Trinity News won Website of the Year.
Te National Student Media Awards has for the past 23 years celebrated student journalists from colleges and universities across the country. Tere are 39 categories of awards to celebrate student broadcast media ranging from newspaper of the year to radio DJ of the year.
Te award ceremony will be held on April 10 at the Mansion House in Dublin.
Trinity News last won Newspaper of the Year in 2015.
Trinity News, Ireland’s oldest student newspaper, has a long history of high-quality journalism. Many of our alumni are currently working in media, having spring-boarded their careers with the newspaper, and we are always welcoming new contributors to our written and multimedia sections.
All Trinity students are welcome, regardless of experience. Our editorial staf regularly issue prompts for contributors to work on and we also accept cold pitches for articles. For more information, see trinitynews.ie/write-for-us.
University of Limerick will record a defcit of €700,000 in its accounts for the last fnancial year, despite having anticipated a year-end surplus of €7.5 million, Te defcit is the result of the university overpaying by millions of euro for student accommodation. Last week, it emerged that UL President Kerstin Mey had declared herself to be “incapacitated” to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), some three weeks ahead of a scheduled appearance. It came afer a letter to staf which stated that the university had overpaid to the tune of more than €5m for 20 houses at Rhebogue, about 2km from the campus, and that the matter was to be investigated.
Technological University of Dublin
President David FitzPatrick is to step down amid a controversy over a multimillion-euro funding defcit incurred by the institution. FitzPatrick told staf that the time had come for “new energy to take the reins”. He said he would be leave at the end of May to take up a post as provost and chief executive of the University of Nottingham Malaysia, thus “furthering a long-held ambition to live and work abroad in an international education setting”. “However, in the time before I stand down, I’m committed to ensuring that we develop a fnancial recovery plan that will demonstrate a sound fnancial footing,” he said.
Miranda Bauer was elected University College Dublin Students’ Union (UCDSU) President on the frst count with 2,327 votes. She will enter the role in June, taking over from current President Martha Ni Riada. Speaking to the crowd afer her win she said: “I hope to see the energy [I am seeing now] in council next year. I’m excited to work hard next year alongside other sabbaticals.” Saskia McCormackEife was elected Campaigns and Engagements Ofcer on the frst count with 2,240 of the votes. Neo O’Herlihy was re-elected as Events and Entertainments Ofcer on the second count with 1,631 votes. Ciara Donohue has been elected to the role of Welfare Ofcer on the fourth count with 1,223 votes. Current Health Science College Ofcer Tia Cullen was elected to the role of Education Ofcer on the frst count with 1,891 votes. Mental Health Campaigns Coordinator Kylie McCardel was elected on the frst count with 545 votes.
Joe Downey
Jonathan Wang
Kasia Holowka
Laila Banerjee
Miles Crossen
Roisin Ferguson
Ruby Murphy
Shreya Padmanabhan
Tana Elshaaf
Tom Comer
Maggie Larson
Niko Evans
Rory Chinn
Copyeditors
Ayushmaan Kumar Yadav
Gordii Spellman
Henry Synott
Jimena Alvarez
Neasa Nic Corcráin
Shannyn Corcoran
Maya Mann
Rory O’Sullivan Sexton
Kate Blackwood
Alice Gogarty
Meabh Scahill
Faye Dolan
Jessie Huang
Emma Doherty
Evelyn Doyle
Saoirse Corbett
Lindsey Brown
Maeve Hopkins
Aoife Doheny
Eimear Feeney
Louise Cullen
Lucy Garretson
Maisie Mould
Miranda Gallacher
Raina Bosniac
Suibhán Stockman
Zaynab Zaher
With special thanks to alumnus Randal Henly, who curated our crosswords this year
Applications for 2024/25 executive, editorial and multimedia staf opening soon
Trinity News investigates the smoke and mirrors of how campus accommodation is allocated
“Igot told by a few Southside friends ‘use your granny — you’re thick not to.’” Sean, under pseudonym, spoke to Trinity News about his experience applying for on-campus housing, the rejection that meant he commuted for three hours every day, and the phenomenon of using a false home address — or the address of a relative — to secure a room.
Sean thought he was a shoo-in: “I thought I was [involved] enough in a big enough [student] society [to get accommodation]. I wasn’t actually worried about it at the time — I thought I didn’t need to lie on the form because I’d get it by merit. But that just didn’t happen at all. Tat pissed me of when I looked back at it — you’ve got people who do literally nothing in college who got it.”
Sean is not alone; many fnal year commuters had a similar experience. Open now to hopeful third-years wanting to live oncampus for the last year of their degree, the application form is unclear in its criteria for assigning rooms. Geography plays a role — international students seem to be given priority — and so does involvement in college: one part of the application asks for a supporting statement specifying how the accommodation would support the applicant’s academic and extracurricular activities. But the impact of each of these factors remains ambiguous.
Te competition for these rooms is stif, and they don’t come cheap. Applications become strategic and even falsifed as students do whatever it takes to get accommodation. Tis creates a
moral dilemma, yet Sean explained from his experience last year that it was “a really common thing of using grandparents’ addresses to get on-campus accommodation. I’ve got family in Cork, I could have done that, but I wasn’t really happy with doing that.”
Trinity News spoke to László Molnárf, TCDSU President and one of the founders of the TCD Renters Solidarity Network on the matter, who confrmed that “we don’t have clear criteria from the Junior Dean and the accommodation ofce on how places are selected for student accommodation.”
When Trinity News approached the accommodation ofce, they declined to comment, redirecting any questions to Trinity Communications — an ofce unrelated to the allocation of accommodation — and the Junior Dean was unavailable for comment.
Rhys Rowlands, a fourth year history student from Dublin, resident in the Pearse Street houses, spoke to Trinity News about who is to blame for the falsifcation of addresses: “there should be a bit more social responsibility [taken by] students from Dublin to realise that their [peers] need the accommodation more.”
Rhys also suggested, however, that this “social responsibility [lies] with the government to provide housing for students in the frst place,” and that “geography [shouldn’t] have anything to do with it.” He continued: “I think what the people who live on-campus should show is a commitment to the spirit of Trinity.”
Rhys credits his own allocation of on-campus accommodation to his involvement in college, as well as a strategic approach to the application: “I tried to fgure out which bedroom people want the least, like, I have an address in Westmeath, I have been involved, but I still think they’re gonna favour people [further away], like a lot of my mates from Cork, which is so fair that they get it above me, 100%.
“I did have an option to live in Dublin if I wanted to, but I decided to try to pursue Trinity [accommodation] not thinking I would get it … I was known for doing the Trinity Trails for a year … but I think what really stuck was the fact that I was in the Hist and
DUBES. I didn’t get it originally, then I kept emailing throughout the summer and persistence pays of, I got something.”
Another student from Dublin — Sharon, under pseudonym — is a resident of New Square and discussed the “big stigma around being from Dublin and moving onto campus”.
Sharon explained: “I was born in Dublin and my parents moved to Dublin 30 years ago. Tey moved back [to mainland Europe] when I started my frst year of college. I moved into an apartment in Rathgar with my brother, and he was studying in UCD … because we needed something for both of us [my parents] decided to get us an apartment.
“He then, a year later, dropped out and [moved overseas] so then I was just in the apartment by myself. I kind of looked for someone to live with, but I couldn’t really fnd anyone because it’s quite a nice apartment so the rent is higher than other [places] people could get. So I found it really hard to fnd someone who was willing to pay the rent for it, and also who I was comfortable with.”
Sharon described feeling isolated in the apartment as the reason for her applying in the frst place: “I would go home and it would just be silent for the rest of the evening. Tat’s why I really wanted to live on campus for fnal year.”
In Sharon’s experience, students keen for accommodation exaggerate their involvement in and geographical distance from college: “I know people who lied about being involved with things on campus. And I know a few people from Dublin who would have put down an address of a family home they have in Mayo. Or in like, Kerry. I think it works — I put my family’s address [abroad]. I thought I maybe wouldn’t get it [otherwise]. I know a few people who put addresses in the countryside and got it.” Sharon considered the ethical question of using her [European] address, saying “I did feel a bit guilty applying considering I had an apartment in Dublin. If I didn’t get it, I’d still have somewhere to live.”
Both Sharon and her fatmate, however, “were kind of concerned” about their “involvement” in college not meeting the, albeit arbitrary, requirements.
She also spoke of the judgement she received from her “social circle” in which “no-one really understood why [she] was giving up this apartment to live on campus. [She] just constantly felt like [she] had to justify it.”
She continued: “Everyone wants to move out … for the experience of living outside of the family home. People who live in Dublin, because of the high rent, will never really get to do that until their late twenties, so it’s a good enough opportunity to get cheap enough
accommodation for a year. I know a lot of my friends [from Dublin], their parents would pay for them to do fnal year on campus.”
Te students who spoke to Trinity News on this issue remain divided on whether exaggeration on the accommodation application form is a ‘don’t hate the player, hate the game’ situation. However, Trinity’s campus dwellers and commuters are united in their criticism of College’s lack of transparency on the criteria of the room allocation. As one student put it: “College has a lot to answer for.”
By maintaining the ambiguity of the process of assigning accommodation, College pits students against one another. Molnárf touched on how students should be able to access accommodation not only because it helps to enable the bare minimum of efective, manageable study, but also because “it makes perfect sense for people to want to move out, to have their own life, to live autonomously.” Students were also ofen united in their interviews by an overwhelming sympathy for one another.
Annie Neil, a fnal year European Studies student from Belfast currently living in Goldsmith Hall said: “I understand [exaggeration on the application] because Dublin is just so hard to get anywhere… the panic that you feel is like you would do anything to get somewhere.”
Was this year’s “Green Week” really an efort to systematically make Trinity greener or was it simply a College greenwashing initiative?
lunchtime, whether they liked it or not, heard Senator Norris or Mary Robinson, or whoever the guest speaker was, talking about it. Te societies are not all involved yet again to coordinate stuf we’ve even got out of the habit of having either the Sunday at the start of Green Week or the Sunday at the end of it, the Chaplaincy involved so that they centred their Sunday services and homelies ... around a theme of environment … everyone’s gotten out of the habit of automatically knowing where things are and automatically doing them.”
committee. Tis means that whenever its work has an impact, College gets much of the credit. Many may not know, for example, that the reason that college catering ofers dairy-free milk options is because of an initiative launched by GCC during a previous green week.
Trinity Student Union
Environmental Ofcer and GCC
co-chair Nathan Hutchinson Edgar expressed frustration about this, emphasising that lack of payment or recognition leaves students unmotivated to do more:
one real success of [this year’s Green] week was the sculpture competition. I really liked it, I think it forced us to confront alternative imaginings of the world. It also engaged everyone who went through campus.” However he emphasised how it was reliant on the volunteer work of one individual, Trevor Woods: “if he hadn’t done the work it wouldn’t have happened.”
On the week of March 11, a number of interestinglooking sculptures made from recycled materials could be found on campus from Front Square to the Watts Building.. Te sight of the hanging bee outside of the GMB, the bog oak sculpture in the Watts building, and the interactive art piece on the rugby pitch would have lef the average passerby somewhat bafed. Tey were, however, part of Trinity’s annual “Green Week”.
Part of the Green Campus Committee (GCC) set up by the late Professor Simon Perry in 1992 to promote environmentally friendly initiatives and climate education on campus, the frst “Green Week” was held in 2003. Tis year, however, some students felt it missed the mark. Te few sculptures scattered around campus, a second-hand clothes swap in the Arts Block, and a rather small metal “Green Week” sign leaning on the Campanile, lef some feeling as though it was merely an attempt at greenwashing by the College administration.
By the week’s end, the metal sign had been vandalised and many were calling on college to focus on tackling systemic changes including divestment from plastic producer Coca Cola. So, what did it take to plan Green Week and could there have been more done to quell student frustrations?
David Hackett, the college Environmental Services Coordinator, is the current vicetreasurer of the GCC and has been involved on the committee since its inception. In an interview with Trinity News, he admitted that this year’s Green Week, and indeed all those since Covid-19, haven’t been as impactful as they could be: “ Te launch used to be on Front Square on the exam hall steps and there used to be someone notable launching [so that] even people walking through Front Square at
Since the pandemic, the College has opened an ofcial Sustainability Ofce with paid employees dedicated to planning educational events year-round. Part of their job is to help the GCC realise its goals for Green Week. When Jane Hackett, the ofce’s sustainability manager and GCC co-chair was asked about accusations of greenwashing, she said: “I actually get kind of slightly upset about that. Te people involved in running these types of events, you know, we’re not doing it to greenwash, we’re genuinely trying to get students engaged in the topic.” She added that in order for Green Week to be a success, students also need to be doing their part: “What I fnd is you run loads of events and the student population doesn’t turn up… For instance, I ran an event with a panel discussion trying to inform the student population about Trinity’s observer status at the recent COP. And we had a big lecture theatre there and only about 35 people or so turned up. So it’s really hard without having communications with every student member of the college to see what would get them interested in the topic.”
Despite this, many students involved with GCC believe that levels of student engagement would be higher if the committee itself wasn’t run entirely by overworked volunteers. Current GCC Secretary Nicole Hennessy explained that the committee “just meets monthly and every month is just kind of like a recap of … what’s happened in the past month. But at the end of the meeting, there’s very rarely proper actions for anyone to take up. Someone might have brought up a great idea, but no one’s actually going to take that idea and turn it into a reality because everyone is just kind of like, well, I’m too busy for that.”
Furthermore, while the committee is part of the national Green Campus program run by the state’s national trust, An Taisce, it receives no funding from the state or College. Tis means it must either seek out sponsorship or raise money from its own events. Tis limits the committee’s capacity to make its ideas a reality.
Tough the committee receives no funding from College, it is still regarded as an ofcial college
“ Tere is no decision making power, accountability from college or signifcant fnancial support for GCC. Yet on college sustainability documents they are both suggested as the only forum for input by the college community into the sustainability strategy and as a key part of implementing this strategy. Tis is ridiculous because college is essentially underfunding the sustainability ofce while simultaneously relying on the unpaid labour of staf and students to implement its plan,” he said in a statement to Trinity News.
For Hutchinson Edgar, “ Te
However, most of those involved on the Committee who spoke with Trinity News stressed that a lot of work is done behind the scenes: “When Green Campus started in ‘92, there was only one or maybe two streams of waste. Tere are now 18 streams of waste on campus. Te University has set up all of these diferent ways of managing the waste,” Hennessy said. David agreed, citing the recent refurbishment of the Rubrics: “they put geothermal in that whole building. Because it’s … a listed historic building, they can’t change the windows, the facade, but they did make it environmentally friendly and efcient in its heating.”
Many student activists, however, believe that College ofen does not prioritise green issues. Tis is particularly the case with regards to the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation treaty (FFNT). FFNT – signed by over 100 cities globally – is an initiative focused on accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. While College administration could sign it, they haven’t. Trinity News received a statement from one student activist who expressed their frustrations with College leadership over this issue: “Trinity’s failure to sign the FFNT - a treaty which is global South-led and confronting fossil capital - is a symptom of the fact that their engagement with sustainability has been incredibly superfcial,” they said. “ Tey are complicit in
genocide through their ties to the war industry, particularly Israeli institutions, and their commercial partnership with Coca-Cola, the world’s largest plastic polluter. Tey demonstrate disinterest in environmental justice by perpetuating the current housing crisis which makes Dublin an unlivable city. Trinity seems to think that students – who have always formed an integral part of both environmental and social justice movements – will be pacifed by some ribbons and a sign. Tis is evidently not true.” they said.
David explained that divesting from environmentally harmful industries has been difcult for the College, particularly in light of state budget cuts in recent years. However, he agreed that on the college level, there are ofen administrative roadblocks. For example, GCC called for the campus bins to be upgraded so that they comprised of two compartments, one for recycling and one for litter. While these were eventually installed and exist throughout campus today, their appearance made them controversial with College administration.
With all of this said, the few committed students and staf involved in GCC want to see Green Week expand in years to come. Tis year, as secretary, Hennessy has created a number of subcommittees with more targeted goals. She hopes that this will hold people accountable and keep them focused on turning their great ideas into reality.
Jane shared a similar optimistic outlook, explaining that “I think all we can do is try … And that’s what we’re doing…engaging students and staf members to think about a topic that is complex and overwhelming, but in a positive way, and in a way that supports people to take action.”
Trinity News speaks to the students leaving Ireland in search of a better life
By many accounts, the story of modern Ireland is one of rags to riches. It is the story of a poor agrarian country on the fringes of Europe transforming into a highly-developed economy; from a dramatic bust in 2008 and a still more dramatic recovery from 2013 onwards, Ireland is, by GDP per capita, among the richest countries in the world. On this basis, an outside observer would be forgiven for assuming that the days of Irish people leaving in their droves to fnd a better life, were, at last, over. Tis, however, is not the case. According to the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), emigration rose by 14% in 2022 with 64,000 people leaving the island. Tis increase was accompanied by reports from the Irish Youth Council that 7 in 10 Irish people between the ages of 18 and 24 are considering moving abroad. So what is the cause of this trend ? Why, in a country in which youth unemployment is a third of what it was ten years ago, are young people so keen to leave?
Tis paradox is not lost on the Trinity students in the process of planning their escape: Careerswise, I probably would be better of staying here,” said Josh (whose name has been changed) with a mirthless laugh. Josh moved to Dublin from Donegal to study PPES in Trinity in 2020. He now intends to complete a Masters degree in Paris where he spent a year on Erasmus. Tough he recognises that his employment prospects in Dublin are good, he is very reluctant to stay in the city: “It never has actually managed to materialise into a home,” he told Trinity News. He described how his hopes of emerging into a vibrant Dublin post-lockdown were thwarted by the cost-ofliving crisis in the city: “It’s very hard to live a young person’s life in Dublin,” he explained. Te greatest pressures come from the cost of rental accommodation, but they don’t end there. Josh explained that “It is so expensive just to go out and socialise…you have to limit your social interactions based on your budget.” Tese constraints have lef him worried that he will
spend the limited years of his life in which one is supposed to be “of having the craic…working really hard, trying to climb the ladder.”
Anna (whose name has also been changed), a fnal year European Studies student, has similar fears about life in Dublin afer college. She told Trinity News how little the city has to ofer her once her time in Trinity ends. Like Josh, she too spent a year studying in Paris and found that while life was still expensive, it ofered much better “value for your money.” Anna is in the early stages of planning her move abroad, seeking out opportunities in a variety of cities and keeping her options open. As she has lived at home for much of her college life, she feels a move is essential to help her leave the 68% of Irish people aged between 25 and 29 who, according to Eurostat, are still living with their parents.
Both Josh and Anna painted a picture of post-college Dublin as lifeless and dull: “My social network disappearing is a huge part of it,” Josh told Trinity News. He continued: ‘A big part of the sadness is that the whole community is kinda leaving and with that network gone there really isn’t much lef for me in … Dublin.” Anna agreed: “the only ones that are staying here for defnite are the ones that already have jobs lined up.”
life for two years,” she said, “or I could move to the Netherlands and pay a ffh of the tuition fee that I would have to pay if I stayed in Ireland.” Tis frustration at the cost of education was echoed by Josh. According to FindMasters. com, the average annual tuition fee for a Masters degree in Ireland is between €4,400 and €10,000. In the Netherlands, it is €2,143, while French public universities only charge €243.
Te choice for Darragh, who also studied Sociology at Trinity, was similarly stark. Having moved back to Belfast afer college, she lef to pursue her “dream” internship with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. “I would bet my life that if I’d stayed at home I would still be working in my wee supermarket job,” she said, “Or I would have just settled for something that I wouldn’t have wanted. I would have just grasped at any job.”
Tis sense of exodus is not unique to this year. Trinity News spoke to two students from the graduating class of 2023 who have since lef the country. For Fern, who wanted to pursue a Master’s degree having completed her bachelor in Sociology and English Literature, the choice afer leaving college was really no choice at all: “I could work and have absolutely no social
However, for Darragh and Fern, educational and employment opportunities are only half the story when it comes to moving abroad. It’s also about lifestyle. “I would never ever ever have this life if I stayed in Belfast or if I’d stayed in Ireland,” Darragh told Trinity News. Having lived either at home or with an Aunt in Dublin for much of her time in college, she now lives in her own space for what, by Dublin’s standards, is an extremely reasonable price: “I don’t have a shitty landlord. Tere is no damp on my walls.” Indeed, while neither herself nor Fern live in cities known for being cheap, neither fnd the cost of living to be as crippling as in Dublin. Much
of this comes down to value for money: “It’s expensive to live here too. I’m not disregarding that at all,” Fern said, “but the benefts you get for that money that you’re paying are just so much more.”
Both have gone from living in suburbs or commuter towns to the very centre of major cities, where work and social lives are now a metro or bike ride away:“I just feel like I can be majorly independent here,” Fern said.
Considering all of this, it seems reasonable to ask whether these emigrants, or prospective emigrants, ever expect to return. For Josh, being away “does feel quite permanent.”. Both he and Anna were quick to emphasise how much they love Ireland and Irish people. But, as Anna pointed out, “your twenties are for having new experiences” and the familiarity of home will only get you so far. For Fern, this familiarity
became stifing. She described the feeling of moving from a place in which she was “bombarded by sameness” to one which welcomes diversity in all its forms. Darragh has had a similar experience. She said that although she appreciates Irish culture, “it’s exactly the same every time you come home. I know that if I come home in six months time, six years time, everything is going to be exactly as I lef it. I don’t feel that I miss it in that way because it’s always going to be there.” It is perhaps unsurprising then that those who have already lef are even less willing to commit to a return home. “I don’t think Ireland has what I’m looking for at the moment,” Darragh conceded, “when I think about what will eventually draw me back, I’m in my thirties. I’m not my 24-yearold self.”
And so, Irish youth continue to leave at increasing rates, and they may never come back. It is a familiar sight. But in the current moment it feels diferent. Unlike in the past, those interviewed are not leaving in the hope of fnding a job; they’re leaving in the hope of fnding a life; of fnding a place where they can aford to live in their own spaces and avail of a functioning public transport system; a place where their work is valued above and beyond its ability to contribute to a ballooning GDP or a percentage point in an employment statistic; they leave to get away from the intense, allconsuming precarity of Dublin, of Belfast, or of the commuter belt. Tey have lef, in Darragh’s words, to fnd a life “you just don’t get at 23 if you live in Ireland. Unless you’re very, very lucky.”
Working with those experiencing homeless trying times, and against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis and radicalising intolerance
school, by participating in soupruns in the city since the age of 15. For McCarville, joining Trinity’s VDP Initiative was “a natural transition.” McCarville is an activity leader on VDP’s Street Outreach Initiative, which provides supplies and conversation to the homeless twice a week. For him, this is “just a regular part of my week… I really love it… there are a lot of great chats. It’s one of the main things that keeps people going back.” Te outreach
Walking through the streets of Dublin, it is hard to miss the occupied sleeping bags nestled in doorways, or the tents pitched precariously under the steps of a suburban DART station. Homelessness in Ireland has risen at an alarming rate in the past decade. Te issue has been infamed by an enduring housing crisis and increasing costs-ofliving. According to a report from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, there was a record-breaking 13,841 individuals homeless in February 2024 - an increase of approximately 46% from the same month in 2022. Of this 2024 statistic, 4,170 are children – an all-time high.
Te topic has received renewed attention following the government’s decision to transport asylum seekers from the makeshif camp outside the city’s International Protection Ofce (IPO), to Crooksling in the Dublin Mountains. It has been speculated that this was an attempt to clear the street ahead of the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Te slashing of these emptied tents outside the IPO ofce by a hooded man echoed an atmosphere of intolerance all too reminiscent of the riots of last November. Te government’s decision was met with disgust from a host of activists in Ireland who criticised politicians for failing to consider long-term solutions. It also exposed the government’s shortfalls in its dealings with those sleeping rough, and has shown that it is Ireland’s charitable organisations – which directly interact with these marginalised groups – who are their main advocates.
One of these volunteers is Jamie McCarville, a second-year BESS student at Trinity, who has worked with Dublin’s homeless community since secondary
particularly in the winter: “No one should ever be on the streets, but especially then. Tat was really hard to see.”
Selma Catibusic, a thirdyear history student and member of Trinity’s VDP, emphasised the psychological impact of “sleeping rough” for prolonged periods: “ Tere’s a bigger sense of desperation in the winter,” she stated. “It’s cold and wet, and there are more people about, leading to more isolation from society.” Te heightened sense of distress among these groups following the displacement caused by the IPO decision was also highlighted by Catibustic, who said that “It’s disquieting because the issue [of homeless refugees] is not an aesthetic thing and [the government] they’re not proud of it. And they haven’t come up with a solution because it’s not their priority.” She underscored the hypocrisy of the government’s decision to make tourism and St Patrick’s day their focus because it “brings in socio-economic value”, while simultaneously failing to invest in a problem they just “hidden.”
Yet, for these homeless asylum seekers, moves can be made to prevent the formation of these temporary tented accommodation in the frst place, which have limited access to supplies and are highly susceptible to disease.
programme consists of a North and South route, and provides supplies ranging from sandwiches and chocolate, to toiletries and clothes. McCarville hopes to see more of the latter consistently available,
Méabh Bonham Corcoran, an Occupational Terapist and PhD student at TCD studying occupational injustice experiences of refugees in Ireland, as well as their integration, pointed to the
fact that asylum seekers must remain in the country “for 6 months before they can apply for a work permit. It can take another four to six months to receive it.”
For Bonham Corcoran, this is a “great loss to the Irish economy” and an “unnecessary wait for those who would like nothing more than being able to work, earn a living
and give back to the economy”.
Unsurprisingly, all interviewees echoed the need for improved social housing built for the public good as opposed to private development. As Bonham Corcoran argued, “stable housing is the foundation on which people are able to build their lives.” Alternatives, such as temporary shelters or emergency accommodation, are unsustainable and, in McCarville’s words, “not safe environments for people.” During their time at the Irish Refugee Council, Law postgraduate Ciara (name changed) anonymously described the harrowing stories of asylum seekers who had been forced to live without housing or in shared accommodation: “People are subjected to all sorts of horrifc abuse… they have been assaulted, abused, had their belongings stolen. Tere were cases of people with very serious medical needs who can’t have those needs met because they were not registered in hospitals.”
Te recurrence of physical trauma is a problem McCarville has witnessed frst-hand. On the streets he has met people who should “by no means be walking, let alone staying in town. People recovering from broken backs, legs, or from being bruised.” Despite their vulnerability and need for urgent shelter, Catibusic stated that some wait as long as “seven years” to get accommodation, while “most, if not all, hostels in Dublin are full 90% of the time. If you can’t get into a hostel, they’re just lef on the streets.” Tese
waitlists also extend to other services. In her view, “the drug and alcohol abuse and rehabilitation services in this country are so bad. So many waitlists… even if it’s just for seeing someone, the waitlists are just insane. So, then you’re on a waitlist for rehabilitation and a waitlist for housing. It just needs to be changed.”
In recent months, frustrations with overcrowding have caused an uptick in xenophobia as many blame this problem on immigrants. Tese tensions erupted in the riots of 23 November 2023, when farright prejudicial hate lef a visceral mark on the city, both physically in the charred remains of burned vehicles and within collective memory. As McCarville observed, “ Tere were fewer service users on the streets because obviously town didn’t feel as safe… [especially] people of colour.” Catibusic, McCarville, and Corcoran all pointed to a visible antagonism between white Irish citizens and non-Irish groups co-existing on the streets afer the riots: “I’ve had some interactions [on the streets] where people [redirect their] anger [with the state] at some immigrants and refugees and it’s hard to respond to that because you’re there to listen,” McCarville said. Corcoran concurred adding: “there is generally just a lack of understanding [and] fear present.”
Refective of deep-seated social ills, the polarisation in the discourse has also afected the safety of volunteers. Te day following the riots, Muslim Sisters of Éire stated that it would be unable to provide its typical support for the homeless on O’Connell Street due to security concerns for its workers. Trinity’s VDP services were afected too. McCarville stated: “we took a pause a week afer and started just doing our South side route
with limited volunteers just to be as safe as possible.” Catibusic attributes much of the hatred to people’s desperation regarding
their circumstances: “it’s just kind of a frustration afer they see some people getting accommodation… or opportunities and resources that
aren’t available to them because the government isn’t helping them.”
Despite the difculties in the past year, all volunteers pointed to the immense pleasure they take from their work. “I’ve met some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.” said McCarvile, explaining that “it can be quite intense, so it’s nice… that… I’ve met some friends that I think will be in my life for a long time.” Catibustic agreed, and explained how “no one loses out on Street Outreach. Everyone benefts from it.” While she recognised that her eforts may not alter the national statistics, she was clear that this is not what she set out to accomplish: “I don’t think I went in with a mindset of ‘I want to change everything’, but more ‘I want to do something to help’ and now it is something I really enjoy doing... you don’t really see the impact of what you do but you do feel kind of warm afer.”
Catibusic believes that systemic change is necessary, but that small acts of kindness go a long way too: “Recognising homeless people as people is so important, rather than just continuously ignoring them which is so bad for mental health,” she argued. “You don’t have to give them a fver every time but you could just ask them how they’re doing, or how their day’s been.”
While acknowledging that this can be intimidating at frst, for Catibusic, having a conversation can make a big diference, as even if “you have nothing to ofer, you have a bit of time.”
Trinity News sits down with leaders of various Trinity branches of Irish political parties to discern whether students are moving away from rigid party afliations
“Quite a lot has happened.
We have managed to get a kettle.” Tis announcement produced brief applause at Trinity’s Young Social Democrat’s monthly committee meeting. Te Social Democrats are one of several student political parties active on the Trinity campus. Chaired by Seán Tim O’Leary, a second year PPES student, the group’s schedule covers a wide range of events, including voter registration drives, cofee mornings, movie nights, and attendance at the senior party’s National Conference (afer which, the committee proudly notes, they received a shoutout from RTÉ).
Te relationship between students and Irish political parties is dynamic. On the one hand, young Irish people seem to be passionate about causes ranging from housing to Palestine to gender equality. Tey don’t shy away from discussing current afairs online, or amongst friends. Students make political memes and TikToks go viral, and they are active when it comes to organising and attending protests.
On the other hand, voter turnout for Irish 18 to 25 year olds has consistently been below the European average. Few young people are registered members of mainstream political parties. Te way in which this age group interacts with politics has changed. “People have their opinions, and people want to articulate them, but [many] feel that parties don’t suit them for whatever reasons,” according to Tim O’Leary. “A big part of that is that parties seem, sometimes, too clique-like.”
Te Trinity Social Democrats Chair explained that one of the things which drew them to the party was that it came across as the most welcoming and inclusive. Tey also cited the “mysticism” which surrounds the policies of established parties as a repelling
factor. Te suggestion is that larger, more established parties seem to rely on their historical position in the public’s political imagination, rather than policies themselves, to attract voters.
Such a tactic does not seem to convince Trinity voters. According to a poll conducted by Trinity News, only 12.7% of students would cast a vote in favour of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, two of the parties which make up the current coalition government. In contrast, smaller parties such as the Social Democrats, the Green Party, and People Before Proft combined receive 46.7% of frst preference choices.
If historical weight and established tradition does not win parties much support, does this mean that policy is the most important factor for young people when deciding how to vote? Cutting politics down to bite-sized pieces is not new—“it’s the economy, stupid”—but it can be dangerous in an age of social media in which political education ofen starts and fnishes with a 20-second viral clip.
For Eric Betts, third-year civil engineering student and member of TCD Young Greens, the onus lies on the parties to communicate their policies to young people as clearly as possible. Not having had any previous experience of politics, Betts was drawn to the Green Party because of his interest in the environment: “I joined not knowing much about it, knowing I’d probably vote Green [because] I’m a big fan of green infrastructure.” Rather than delve into the fner details of a party’s policy documents, he stated that,
“I think maybe sometimes [young] people are voting just based on the vibes.”
He stressed the importance of policy over personality when it comes to enacting real change: “Work has to be done… [but] is it being done?” Betts paused,
struggling”, stating that successive governments have been unable to solve problems in areas such as housing or healthcare, which over time has fostered mistrust.
Tolentino explained that they were drawn to PBP as a “grassroots” organisation which carried out work at a local level in tangible ways: “Whenever I’d be interested in an issue, or there was a problem in my area, it was always People Before Proft who were protesting or organising something.”
Smaller parties defnitely draw a large proportion of votes from Trinity’s population, but even they admit to struggling with efectively communicating their messages. Despite calls for change and a desire to enact improvements, there remains the general impression that a fnger still has not been put on the pulse of the problem. Tis is made harder by the fact that increasing political engagement is a broad goal, at times too broad to be tangible.
then added with a laugh, speaking through clenched teeth: “You know when you put a task in the background when it isn’t that pressing, and suddenly it’s too late? I think the pain is not big enough for people to notice sometimes.”
Lean Tolentino, a third year maths student and secretary for Trinity People Before Proft (PBP), expressed a similar sentiment: “I fnd a lot of the time people might have opinions or views, but most are sceptical of politics in general.”
Tey argued that politicians fail to truly understand that “students are
Echoing other interviewees, Tolentino stresses the need for cooperation: “If you try to approach things from a collective level, and get everyone involved, that dichotomy between who would be successful in politics or not … is no longer relevant.”
Diarmuid Smith, Chair of the Trinity wing of Young Fianna Fáil, also believed that listening and co-operation is the key to success. While stressing that he enjoyed the buzz of debate and the social element of student politics, he also noted that “you shouldn’t blindly trust anybody—never mind politicians.” When speaking on the issue of public distrust in the political system, underlying
frustration is a big theme. “People might feel that politicians aren’t listening to them. People get angry about that. Tey come to distrust the whole system and think that the whole system is working against them—which, I don’t think it is. I think that’s a bit irrational.”
Smith emphasised the importance of rationality and calm at several points during his interview. “You can’t lose your head in politics. You have to stay calm.” While this view of politics might seem out of place in this age of polarisation, it is a sentiment echoed again and again by those interviewed. Smith dismissed polarisation as a future direction for Irish politics, arguing that politics is a platform where difering opinions can be shared in a passionate but respectful manner. He was reluctant to dismiss the whole system as broken.
Following an exchange of eighteen emails, and one missed appointment (due to Leo’s surprise resignation), Trinity News fnally managed to speak with Kuruvilla George, a representative from Trinity Fine Gael. A PhD student studying Artifcial Intelligence, George explained that what drew him to the party was its “traditional” nature.
Tis emphasis on historical personality is not unfamiliar to many Irish voters, and could be a reason for younger voter’s disenchantment with politics in general. George pointed to the “psychology” of students, whom he characterises as “usually lefleaning” in contrast with the “major parties”, described as “centre, centre-right.” He didn’t necessarily consider this a bad thing, pointing out that diferent platforms can be used to raise diferent social issues.
Tere is one party in particular which is very publicly handling the precarious balance between old traditions and modern appeal. Sinn Féin never responded to an invitation to interview for this series, but they are by far the party attracting the most attention from younger voters. Last November, an Irish Times IPSOS found that Sinn Féin was considered the frst choice of 44% of 18- to 24-yearolds, an increase from 35% in 2021.
All interviewees emphasised the need for tolerance, commitment, calm, and levelheadedness. All stressed their view of politics as a way to help others and create real improvements in society. Without hesitation they were able to point to the highs of being involved in student politics—connecting with others, organising events, being involved in tangible change on an individual level. Although none envisaged themselves as entering a political career directly afer college (some more emphatically than others), this is an admirable ethos for our generation to bring to the political table.
Is Dublin losing its soul as businesses close down across the city?
Independent businesses in Dublin have been closing at a staggering rate. Simon’s Place, a café located in Georges Street Arcade, was in business for over 25 years before closing in December of last year. It was a refuge in a busy city, where you could enjoy a fresh cinnamon bun and sit with friends as long as you liked. Vegan Sandwich Co., an award-winning vegan restaurant, was as much a centre of community in Rathmines as it was a delicious sandwich shop before closing in October of 2022.
All My Friends, a queer-owned and run bar in the Liberties, showcased young queer artists in exhibitions, as well as having a student deal for an afordable pint. It closed in January of this year. Losing independent businesses like these is evidence of a wider issue at play in Dublin. It is a creeping rot plaguing the heart of our city, the ramifcations of which go beyond those felt by the struggling owners of these businesses. Te replacement of these institutions, some of which have been in business for decades, by large multinational chains is leaving our city increasingly commercialised and robbing it of authenticity.
Tese café chains and bars, owned by impersonal, almost identical private companies, have become something of an extension of the corporate world. How ofen do you walk into a café that is part of a chain, and feel like you have stepped into an ofce? Tese premises are, more ofen than not, full of people working on laptops, sipping €5 cofees, and sending emails with Wi-Fi they had to pay to use. Gimmicky cocktail bars mimicking authenticity serve as places for work-drinks and ‘casual’ venues for a meeting. Tese places are not welcoming to students, or indeed, anyone who happens to be outside of the small, afuent, sect of young ‘professionals’.
In modern cities like Dublin, American sociologist Ray Oldenburg argues for the necessity of what he terms ‘third places.’ Tese ‘third places’ are defned by Oldenburg as spaces which exist outside of home and work environments which ofer a place for ‘social interaction’. Tey must be afordable and open to people of every class. He cites cofee shops, pubs, local shops, etc., as examples
of these places. Tese are exactly the type of local businesses that have been shutting their doors around Dublin.
It is no coincidence that these businesses integral to socialisation have been struggling afer the pandemic, which has had lasting efects on our ability to socialise freely. Students are one sector of the population that has been feeling the loss of such social spaces most acutely. Tis is refected by the fact that 9.7% of the 16-29 age group in the UK report feeling lonely. Tis is the highest percentage of loneliness compared to any other age group, according to the U.K’s Ofce for National Statistics. For students, the closure of an independent business goes beyond the loss of a place to get a sweettreat or a pint. When a ‘third place’ closes, so too does a place to fnd human connection in the city.
When asked by Trinity News, the majority of students identifed pubs and cofee shops as their go-tos when it comes to fnding ‘third places.’ One interviewee told
Trinity News that fnding these places is becoming harder: “Before it was cofee shops and pubs, but in the city those places are getting more and more expensive and some places are actively discouraging students, purely because we can’t aford to buy a lot.” Trinity News conducted an informal survey amongst 36 students across a variety of Dublin universities, including Trinity, National College of Art and Design (NCAD), Dun Laoghaire Institute Of Art Design + Technology (IADT), and Dublin City University (DCU), to assess whether the opinion of this interviewee is a common one. 45% of respondents agreed that Dublin City is not welcoming to students.
Ideally, the city should ofer third spaces free of charge - think social centres like the ‘Complex Dublin’ or public parks like St Stephen’s Green. However, due to the current neo-liberal government’s unwillingness to invest in the city, access to public spaces is increasingly limited. For example, the absence of public toilets in Dublin City Centre acts as a deterrent to avail of public spaces which lack basic hygiene facilities. Tis defciency is justifed by the government as arising from a fear of ‘anti-social behaviour’. In reality, this means that many people only have access to a third place in the city if it is a private business. Tus, it comes as little surprise that when asked whether they felt money afected their ability to socialise, most of the 36 respondents from the Trinity News survey answered “defnitely.”
With this in mind, it is telling that the businesses which have actively worked to reduce their prices in the face of the cost of living crisis have generally been independent. Heartbreak Social Club and the Silk Purse cafés both ofer cofees for €2 to €2.50 respectively, a rarity near campus these days. Te owners of these
cafés both cite the cost of living crisis as their reason for reducing their prices. Tis attitude is in stark contrast to chains like Insomnia and Starbucks, which, despite the fnancial security provided by their colossal customer base in Ireland and beyond, have only increased their prices in recent years.
Trinity News spoke to local business owner Elaine Fallon of ‘Brookwood Pottery,’ located in Fairview, about how businesses are responding to the cost of living crisis. When asked if she felt supported by the government in the wake of Covid-19 and recent infation, she responded: “No, not until recently ... it’s really been a case of just hoping for the best.” Elaine recalls the ‘shop local’ slogan that developed during Covid. In her opinion, “people have forgotten [it] since returning to the workplace, and we’re back trying to compete on a global market.”
When asked why she feels it is important to shop local, Elaine explained that “it maintains the ecosystem of the social climate on the street.” She describes the symbiotic relationship between people living in an area and the local business, stating: “When a customer buys something from our shop, they usually have been sent down by the local cafe owners, where they’ve bought a cofee on their walk, then come down to us. Tat’s a social connection between friends and owners, between the public and business.”
To get a perspective on how students connect to businesses that serve as third places, Trinity News interviewed a former Events Ofcer of a Trinity society about their experience interacting with local businesses. “Generally speaking, cofee shops are much more accommodating than bars and pubs … Personally, I’ve had a good experience with KC Peaches and Cloudpicker,
the smaller [cafes] are generally more accommodating.” When asked why the bars and pubs are more difcult to work with, they responded that they “tend to assume the worst in students” and “don’t understand when things are student-led”. Notably, the bars and pubs which the interviewee referred to, such as Lost Lane and Farrier and Draper, are not strictly independent; independent pubs are increasingly rare in the city centre.
Te diference between independent and corporate businesses’ relationship to students was summed up by Elaine, who stated: “When a student buys something from us, it means just that much more. Te fact they have a limited budget and still choose to support our small business means the world, it really touches me.” In a city that is becoming increasingly gentrifed and alienated from its own inhabitants, the spaces that independent businesses provide are integral to maintaining a sense of humanity. Te student community and the feeling of community provided by these third spaces are inherently linked, and depend on each other’s well being. When small businesses thrive, so do students.
Leo Varadkar held the record for the youngest Taoiseach in the history of the State, and although Simon Harris has since eclipsed him for this title following the Fine Gael Ard Fheis, this is something for which Varadkar will be remembered.
While the adjectives “young” and “progressive” very ofen go hand in hand in politics, Varadkar is a clear outlier to this rule. He notably said last week while on high-profle engagements in Washington, D.C., that he is not “woke”, although he continued by saying that he has “never really been fully sure what woke and anti-woke means.”
His recent resignation from the ofce of an Taoiseach sent shockwaves throughout Irish society. To put it simply, nobody, including the most well connected journalists and his closest advisors, saw it coming, even
forecasted battering in the upcoming local and European elections, it is understandable why Varadkar wanted out with little notice.
Tis contrast may prove to represent Varadkar’s turn as Taoiseach, as well as his political career more generally. He perhaps is an amalgam of contradictions that, when looked at collectively, makes sense.
As a gay man of colour in conservative-leaning politics, some have viewed him as an outsider, or at least a departure from the typical Fine Gael leader mould. He has ofen leaned into this by using it to his advantage. However, even within the party itself some insiders say he never quite ft in – using a rather bizarre example of him not enjoying 10pm chicken dinners on Friday nights with coalition colleagues to illustrate this.
Some claim that many of his policies as Taoiseach have efectively treated students, and more broadly young people across Ireland, as an aferthought, a belief that can be traced back to the government’s admittedly poor treatment of young people
each and every chance.
some parents having little choice but to pay for private schools.
Furthermore, there has been a steady decrease in working conditions and standards for postgraduate workers, an issue
is has not stopped his image, however, from being one of the future: as an explicitly middle-class, openly gay man of colour in Ireland, he was cast as the embodiment of personal opportunity and societal progression nest. On the other hand, critics would say that he has pulled the ladder up behind him at
In many ways, he has. In his role as Taoiseach or Tánaiste in this coalition government, he has done little to deal with the current cost of living crisis — the lifing of an eviction ban in 2023 may even point to an efort to achieve the exact opposite — and there has been tangible decay in public services and state-run operations. We are all too familiar with issues surrounding public transport, the health service, and the education system, to name but a few areas.
Tis undoubtedly leads to the less than favourable views that many students hold of him. However, he isn’t to blame for the crisis experienced by secondary school students during the pandemic. It was Micheál Martin who appointed Norma Foley, who had less than three months Dáil experience at the time, to the ofce of Minister for Education. In spite of this, Varadkar has a less-than-stellar record when it comes to education. He resigned during a time of mass oversubscription in secondary schools in major towns and cities, owed to the consistent underfunding of the sector and poor pay for the profession, amongst other factors. Tis can lead to students having to travel unreasonable distances for their education, or
strongly afecting third-level institutions across the state.
In fact, the Trinity branch of the Postgraduate Workers’ Organisation in January
announced plans to strike in the fnal weeks of Hilary Term, saying that their core demands of a living wage, improved workers rights amongst other things have not been met.
In his resignation speech outside of Leinster House, Varadkar listed “investment in technological universities” as one of his major achievements, and by extension an achievement of the two governments which he has led. People across the state, however, may be likely to credit soon-to-be former Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris for these eforts.
Furthermore, while he may take credit for the achievements in education, the buck stops with Varadkar on all of these issues, and as the frst Trinity-educated Taoiseach, who also attended the King’s Hospital School, some students fail to be surprised at the state of education afer 7 years of Varadkar’s leadership.
But he was once a student himself. Here in Trinity, he initially studied law for a brief stint before switching to medicine. Furthermore, while his time in Trinity perhaps wasn’t the easiest, he has established an (apparently) “failed Hist committee member candidate to Fine Gael party leader” pipeline, a career trajectory that nobody is yet to follow.
When reporter Charlie Bird began his career at RTE, he carried a dictionary in his pocket. He found himself constantly searching for the spelling of words, and also their meaning, to make sure he was using them correctly. When I began my job as deputy comment editor of Trinity News, I googled synonyms for various words, fearing I was coming across too strong in my articles, trying not to upset anyone.
My plan, unfortunately, did not work. In fact, I have upset some of the subjects I have written about. Following the publication of my article about the campaign of TCDSU Welfare and Equality Candidate Nathan Harrington, he made a post discussing “misleading and defamatory” articles within the press. When grilling Brídín Ní Fhearraigh-Joyce about the
had been sent to her in advance.
Despite this, these are the two articles of mine that have received the most attention, feedback and discourse this year. Had I attempted to sofen my language, or had I followed through with the cancellation of that interview, those articles would not have come to fruition.
Upon his death in March, Charlie Bird was described by RTE as the “man who brought the world to so many living rooms”. Acting as the IRA’s sole point of contact with RTE during the Troubles, Bird scrawled the details of their ceasefre announcement into a pocket sized notebook, before announcing it to the rest of the country. I can only dream to achieve a position similar to that of Bird’s in the sphere of journalism.
and an opinion piece, I fear for the future generation of voters.
As the Union becomes more political, in particular with the handing over of power from Molnárf to Jenny Maguire, it has, and will continue to, push the boundaries of what student journalism can achieve. Tis is not limited to the role of student journalists, but the role of the students in their interactions with student media. Te Trinity News Instagram, in recent weeks, has seen comments telling journalists to “touch some grass”, or calling articles “disgraceful”. Whether you agree with an opinion piece or not, telling the journalist to “touch some grass” does little to foster political discourse, and does more to silence the valuable voices of student journalists. When you place the value of composing a witty comment above recognising fact as fact and opinion as opinion, you move further away from the democratic ideals encouraged by our Union, rather than closer. Maguire’s election will certainly continue the pattern of increased political discourse in the College, be that on campus, or within the comment pages of Trinity News. Her commitment to carrying on the work of Molnárf, while also being the “loudest, most annoying voice” in the room, will certainly be contested by many students. How we, as student journalists, decide to approach such debates, will be a testament to our integrity within our roles. As the Union attempts to move away from the Constitution’s apolitical stance, student journalists at Trinity will certainly be kept on their toes. How you, the reader, reacts however, is also a testament to your own democratic values.
mechanics of her manifesto in the race for University Times Editor, I threatened to cancel her interview mid-way, due to her scrutiny of my questions, which
I may never bring the world to any Irish living room. For now, however, I can bring the Student Union closer to students. I can also bring political afairs closer to the uninformed student. Tat, at this point in time, is my goal.
Bird described his journalism as “political, without a capital ‘p’”. Tough he was driven by a “social conscience”, his aim was
to bring the facts to the Irish people. In an interview with the Irish Times, he noted that he grew up amongst injustice. He saw “people in Dublin without proper housing, the Vietnam War, the anti-apartheid movement”. Tis, to him, was the “backdrop of [his] life as a teenager”. Tough driven by these injustices, he was aware that he had a job to do when it came to reporting: deliver the facts in an impartial manner.
Of course, this is no longer the era of Charlie Bird. Pocket-sized notebooks have been replaced by audio recordings made on phones, and paper dictionaries have been replaced by Google. To describe journalism as “political without a capital ‘p’”, especially as a student journalist, simply feels wrong today. Amidst increasing political participation, in Ireland and abroad, people don’t just want the truth laid out for them, but an opinion for them as well.
Young people, in particular, crave actionable intelligence. Tey want to get the most liked comment under a news post, or to sound intelligent in a tweet about the goings-on of the world. We no longer search for the
facts, we search for conceptions, from which we can confrm our own bias about a story, or from which we can argue against.
In the search for conceptions, we have lost the ability to recognise facts for what they are. When Trinity News reported on a petition was launched to impeach TCDSU President László Molnárf, one comment accused the paper of becoming “Fox News”, while another accused journalists of showing “allegiance” to the “interests” of Ireland’s biggest news companies. Neither commenter acknowledged that the paper was simply reporting on the happenings of the college, but both comments received likes of approval from other students.
Tis is not to say that the media, including Trinity News, should not be subject to scrutiny. If we cannot foster discourse, then what is the point of our vocation at all? People have a human right to access information, and as journalists, we play a role in facilitating this. But rights come with responsibilities. Political discourse can only be efective when we seek the facts.
If students can not recognise the diference between a report
It is these challenges, however, that make student journalists better at their jobs. Never did I expect to be the one being grilled during an interview that I was conducting. Nor did I expect my work to be described as “defamatory” when I was referring to statements made by the person I was writing about. I also never expected students to message me to thank me for highlighting the issues I was writing about either, or mentioning that they had discussed my article with their friends at lunch.
When Charlie Bird stopped carrying that dictionary around with him, he became Ireland’s best known reporter. From showing up on the doorstep of disgraced Anglo Irish banker David Drumm, to being violently attacked at a Loyalist March in 2006, he stopped at nothing to bring a story to the Irish people. When I stopped anxiously googling synonyms, I found my voice. When I pressed for questions, I got the answers. Some of my best articles of this year were only written when I stopped overthinking, and approached them with passion, anger and a determination to contribute to student discourse. Te best thing I’ve done for my journalism career so far was to take a leaf out of that pocket-sized notebook.
In the lead up to my 18th birthday, two things were top priority on my to-do list: apply for my age card and register to vote. Troughout my years in school, I developed a deep interest in politics, fostered by my Politics and Society class. Te 2020 general election was a riveting time, I recall the drama of the leaders’ debate when Leo Varadkar awkwardly responded to Pat Kenny’s question regarding taking illegal drugs. We got a real kick out of that in class the next day.
During the 2020 election, I was so frustrated that I was under the voting age and since turning 18, I had been counting down the days until I would be able to exercise my right to vote. Te opportunity came this year, with the recent Family and Care referendums. However, there was one major barrier — I would not be in the country to cast my vote. As a European Studies student, I am currently on my mandatory Erasmus year.
Postal voting is permitted in Irish elections under specifc circumstances. Irish diplomats and their spouses who are living abroad and members of the Defence Forces are eligible for postal votes. Tose who cannot make it to a polling station on election day for numerous reasons, including illness or disability, as a result of their occupation, or as members of the Garda Síochána, may also be eligible. Students who are in full time education in an institution in Ireland away from where they are registered to vote, may also be granted postal voting rights. As an Erasmus student who is still registered at Trinity College and studying abroad as an obligatory part of my degree, I believe we should be included in this postal vote. Personally, I will not be able to vote in the local or European elections in June, as I will be taking exams. With opposition parties calling for a general election in the face of Leo Varadkar’s resignation, I could potentially be excluded from voting for the next government also, despite the fact I will return to Ireland at the end of the same month.
However, the number of Irish students on Erasmus is nothing compared to the number of Irish
citizens who have emigrated in recent years. Emigration is at its highest since 2016, with over 60,000 people leaving Ireland to live abroad in the year to April 2023, according to the Central Statistics Ofce. Tose who emigrate remain on the electorate for 18 months and are permitted to travel back to Ireland to vote, provided that they ultimately intend to return to Ireland. Tis legislation exemplifes some of the most restrictive in terms of overseas voting rights in the world. An International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance global democracy report published in 2021 highlights how Ireland remains exempt from 125 states and
territories that allow emigrants to vote in legislative elections. Te existing barriers to overseas voting implies that emigrated citizens are, in a sense, considered less Irish. Teir votes are not valued.
Emigration is part of the shared cultural experience of millions of Irish people, many of whom would prefer to and intend to establish their lives in Ireland, but are unfortunately being forced out of the country in search of job opportunities and better living standards in the wake of the housing and cost of living crises that we currently endure. Tere is evidently a desire from the Irish diaspora to be granted overseas voting rights, as seen through the #HomeToVote campaign during the Marriage Equality and Repeal the Eighth referendums. Expecting Irish citizens to “vote with their feet” has economic implications that not everyone can bear, especially given the concentration of Irish people in geographically distant countries like Australia. With half of those emigrating being in the age group 25–44, many of Ireland’s young voices are not being heard in elections. Te expansion of voting rights and the introduction of a postal vote would combat this and represent a step forward in creating the future Ireland that they yearn to live in.
Tere is an argument against the expansion of postal voting and granting overseas voting rights. Phrases such as “no representation without taxation,” and “one
person, one vote” are outlined by votingrights.ie as common opposition remarks. Some may envision an American who has never been to Ireland who claims
they are Irish just because their great-great grandmother was. However, other European countries like France have seats
in parliament for citizens abroad, and multiple countries have an extended period for voting while not residing in that country, six years in Australia, which can be renewed, and 25 years in Germany.As of November 2023, the Electoral Commission, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, has a draf research programme which proposes to examine postal voting. In 2013 the Constitutional Convention recommended that citizens living outside the state should have the right to vote in presidential elections.
Te subsequent year the European Commission accused Ireland of “disenfranchising” those living abroad, further conveying Ireland’s rigid voting legislation in comparison to other EU Member States. Te government has committed to holding a referendum on this issue, yet this has continuously been pushed back and is now scheduled for 2025, to the dismay of advocate groups such as the aforementioned votingrights.ie, who continue to support the cause.
Whether by postal vote, or by visiting embassies, extending voting rights to citizens abroad is a matter the Irish government must consider going forward. Emigration is only going to increase with the current social and economic climate of Ireland, and these citizens deserve their voices to be heard and votes counted in creating the country that they ultimately aspire to call home.
Tá sé éasca a rá go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ag fás is ag forbairt timpeall linn sa lá atá inniu ann. Leis an reifreann a bhí againn le déanaí chun Oifgeach na Gaeilge lánaimseartha a thoghadh, agus an gníomhaíochas atá déanta leis an bhfeachtas BÁC le Gaeilge, feictear go bhfuil todhchaí rathúil ag ár dteanga náisiúnta. Áfach, tá sé tábhachtach chun a bheith réasúnta agus a thuiscint go bhfuil mórán fós le
an meon go bhfuil an Ghaeilge bunaithe ar ár gcóras oideachais. Tá béim mór curtha ar Ghaeilge mar ábhar acadúla, ach anois ar na meáin tá dáltaí agus mic léinn in ann an Ghaeilge a feiceáil mar teanga atá spéisiúil agus pearsanta dóibh féin.
Ag brath ar Spotify, tá neart bealaí chun Gaeilge a aimsiú go héasca agus an chuid is mó d’iad saor in aisce! Tá na hamhráin clasaiceach as na 2010s a d’aistrigh TG Lurgan ann chomh maith le ceoltóirí cosúil le Síomha agus Clare Sands. Ach, ar ndóigh, is é an ceol is cáiliúla as Gaeilge ná ceol Kneecap! Grúpa rap as Béal Feirste atá ag
faoi cad é an Ghaeilge, nó cé hiad Gaeilgeoir. Leis an gceist sin, cé hiad Gaeilgeoir, tá sé níos tábhachtaí ná riamh ionadaíocht de dhaonra eile atá in a gconaí in Éirinn a dhéanamh. As mo thaithí féin agus ag labhairt ar son muintir Boisniach atá i mo cheantar áitiúla, bíonn sé deacair suim a choimeád sa Ghaeilge fú má raibh sé d’ábhar is fearr nuair a bhí tú sa mheánscoil. Uaireanta, mothaítear nach bhfuil fíor cheart agat an teanga a úsáid i do gnáthshaol toisc nach daoine “Lán-Éireannach” muid. Tá saol difriúla againn ná atá le feiceáil sna charactair atá sa sraithphihctiúir, nó na daoine atá sna scéalta insan gcóras Ghaeilge. Ach tá rudaí ag éirí níos fearr leis an méid plé faoi stádas na Gaeilge, agus tá cultúr éagsúla le feiceáil sna cláir atá ar fáil ar TG4 agus timpeall na meáin sóisialta chomh maith! Leis an meon sin, tagann píosa faitíos faoi cothabháil na Gaeilge
a bhfuilimid ag déanamh plé ar an nGaeilge, caithfmid a bheith reasúnta. Baineann críochnú scoile le críóchnú úsáid na Gaeilge do mórán daoine. Níos mó ná sin, i ndaoine óga idir 20 agus 25 bliain d’aois, labhraíonn níos lú ná 5,500 daoine Gaeilge gach lá. I gcomparáid, as an sampla céanna dúirt thart ar 50,000 daoine nach labhraíonn siad Gaeilge ar bith lasmuigh den córas oideachais sa tír seo. Cé go feiceann na fíricí seo drámatúil, is sampla d’Éire go hiomlán é agus tá sé fós tábhachtach an teanga a mhisnigh agus í a chur chun cinn do dhaoine óga chun an Ghaeilge a foghlaim agus a úsáid ina saoil. Bíonn sé éasca a argóint go bhfuil ganntanas eolais, agus mar thoradh easpa suime, idir daltaí meánscoile post a fáil trí meáin na Gaeilge. Ach, rinne an Voluntary Tutor Programme (VTP) suirbhé anaithnid idir daltaí Ardteiste i meánscoil i mBaile Átha Cliath agus ní fíor é an meon sin. Dúirt dalta amháin: “Tá an méid de na cursaí ollscoile agus na gnéithe atáim ag smaoineamh faoi tríd Béarla… níl clú agam cá háit eolas a fáil faoi
déanamh chun suim sa Ghaeilge a choiméid beo in ár gceantair áitiúla i mBaile Átha Cliath.
Is minic a feictear Gaeilge ar na meáin sóisialta. Úsáidtear an Ghaeilge go minic i bhfíseáin ar TikTok agus Instagram mar teanga beo. Cruthaítear ábhar ag miniú frásaí Ghaeilge coitianta atá úsáideach gach lá i saol. Tá an taobh sin de na meáin anthábhachtach chun suim sa Ghaeilge a spreagadh i ndaoine. Is gearrfiseáin iad, agus cabhraíonn na cruthaitheoirí níos mó eolais a chur amach faoi conas níos mó Gaeilge taobh amuigh den corás oideachais na hÉireann a aimsiú. Cabhraíonn na meáin seo leis
éirí níos aitheanta in Éirinn agus thar lear leis a gceol dátheangach. Léiríonn ceol Ghaeilge as na amhránaithe nua-aimseartha go bhfuil sé thar a bheith éasca an Ghaeilge a bheith páirt dár gnáthshaol. Leis an cineál cumhachtach atá ag na meáin a úsáidimid, tugann sé deis iontach don Ghaeilge chun fás i gcaoi nua-aimseartha!
Anuas ar sin, tá freagracht orain an teanga a chaomhnaigh don chéad gliúin eile, go háirithe i mBaile Átha Cliath. Tá an deis againn íomha nua a chruthú
idir
daoine óga. As Daonáireamh na hÉireann 2022, dúradh gur chríochnaigh 50-60% de dhaoine i mBaile Átha Cliath oideachas triú leibhéal. Ar ndóigh, is staitistic iontach é sin, ach nuair
gairmeacha as Gaeilge, seachas múinteóireacht ach níl suim agam sa mhúinteoireacht.” Seachas cursaí múinteóireachta
agus staidéar ar an nGaeilge, níl a lán roghanna de daltaí a bhfuil suim acu an Ghaeilge a úsáid ina bhpost tar éis an choláiste, go háirithe sna hollscoileanna i mBaile Áithe Cliath. Mar shampla, níl deiseanna ar bith timpeall an chontae cúrsa ETIM a dhéanamh trí meáin na Gaeilge! Go hidéalach, ba bhreá linn an rogha cúrsa ar bith a dhéanamh sa choláiste trí meáin na Gaeilge. Leis an tóir atá ag méadú leis an teanga tríd na meáin sóisialta, ní bheadh sé aisteach ardú i suim na teanga sa shaol acadúla fú sna deich mbliana atá amach romhainn. I láthair na huaire, tá sé orainn gairmeacha Gaeilge a chur chun cinn don chéad ghliúin eile, agus an fíric go bhfuil Gaeilge úsáideach tar éis scoile a athdhearbhaigh. Chomh maith le sin, táimid in ann brú a chur ar institiúidí éagsúla - más comhairle áitiúla nó ollscoil atá i gceistan Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn tríd imeachtaí sóisialta agus oideachasúil, go háirithe idir daoine óga atá críochnaithe le hoideachas dara léibhéal. Má feicimid níos mó Gaeilge timpeall ár gceantair áitiúla i mBáile Átha Cliath, mar atá an feachtais BÁC le Gaeilge ag triáil, is dócha go dtabharfadh níos mó meas agus gairmiúlacht don Gaeilge.
Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) has been nothing short of controversial this year.
Compared to previous years, this cohort of sabbatical ofcers has been the most politically active in recent history. As the face of the union, President László Molnárf has expanded political engagement on the premise that radicalism is the only viable path toward change. From rent freeze strikes to Book of Kells protests to Free Palestine sit-ins, and more, Molnárf has steered the union further towards direct action and radical disruption.
To his credit, the union has been successful during his tenure largely because of his advocacy for students’ rights. When it comes to what the union fghts for, it’s undeniable that it has tangible positive efects for the future of students, such as ensuring a rent freeze on campus following the Book of Kells blockade.
However, several persistent issues have severely undermined the reputation and public perception of the union, predominantly stemming from the asynchrony of the sabbatical ofcers and Molnárf’s execution of his political aims.
Only a series of novels adapted into flms would be the appropriate length to address every move the union has made this year. So I’ve compiled a highlight and lowlight reel outlining the victories and misfres of the 2023/24 student’ union.
Highs of the union
Despite likely giving her multiple headaches, even Provost Linda Doyle had to give this year’s union its fowers. Following the 2024/25 sabbatical elections in February, in an email addressed to all members of College, Provost Linda Doyle said: “In my time at Trinity, the 2024 SU elections have been the most documented, most discussed, and most contested elections”.
It’s no coincidence that the most “discussed” and “contested” election trails the heels of Molnárf’s “radical lefist” union. His grassroots and radicalism have swung open a door inviting students from every corner of
Trinity’s campus to voice their concerns and take action. Tis door is unlikely to close and is susceptible to chaos, but that’s something for later.
From day one of his presidency, Molnárf made clear that he would not be silent and subservient to unsuitable policies and he would encourage as many others to do so. By not remaining silent, they’ve
that feeds them”. An interesting comment to make given the burden of exorbitant academic fees and accommodation prices put onto students by College.
A week later, an open letter addressed to the Provost demanding a two-year rent freeze and “threatening [further] disruptive action” if not complied with by October 11.
Finally, on October 26, College agreed to a rent freeze for the 2024/25 academic year. Tis rent freeze afair took place within the frst month of this academic year and has been hailed as a major success. In many ways, however, the behaviour of the union in the months that followed can be tied back to the rent freeze strike.
By disruptive and escalating actions, in one month TCDSU was emboldened by concessions from College. If a path has led to success, why would you risk doing anything diferent? As the saying goes: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fx it”. Although the rent freeze led to a positive outcome for students, perhaps it also marked the undoing of the union as it solidifed its rebellious ways.
Apache Pizza.
Although this year’s union has had many other triumphs, the last of its hall of fame is likely the instating of the full-time Oifgeach na Gaeilge (Irish Language Ofcer) within the SU. Te referendum which created the position also granted the Irish language ofcial constitutional status within the union. Tis not only incentivizes students of all backgrounds to engage with the Irish language but gives it equal status to English within College, an undeniable positive step for inclusion.
Lows of the union
by a leader installed to represent 20,000-odd people.
TCDSU President-elect Jenny Maguire said if the rules don’t work to Molnárf’s advantage, they should be broken.
Students, aside from his small faction, never implored Molnárf to commit illegal acts, stage a mass walkout, or be a symbol of radicalism for College. With recent events, Molnárf has surpassed civil defance for progress and entered anarchy and rebellion.
Just two weeks ago, Education Ofcer Catherine Arnold resigned, citing “consistent issues of a toxic workplace environment”. In recent history, no sabbatical ofcer has ever resigned before their term ends. Although we may never fully understand why Arnold chose to resign, and no one else has come forward to afrm their claims, it begs the question of whether this year’s sabbatical team was ever really unifed in its political demonstrations.
not only been covered by student media but also gained national recognition for their protests in the Irish Independent, Te Journal, and more.
Like a prophecy studied for centuries in the future, in the beginning there was the frst crowning jewel of this sabbatical team: the rent freeze.
In early September, Molnárf and other protestors gathered on the steps of the Long Room and blockaded the Book of Kells entrance for hours on the premise that “if they take money from the students, then the students will take money from College”. Tis came afer College announced in June that accommodation prices were to be raised by the maximum legal limit of 2%.
College, on the other hand, was very displeased. Dean of Students Dr Richie Porter told Trinity News: “ Tey’re biting the hand
Te union was also praised for its handling of the Dublin riots back in November. Amid the riots, the union, in collaboration with societies and the broader College, worked to provide food and shelter for over 100 students forced to seek refuge on campus. Tey worked to ensure students’ safety and keep the College community updated. A terrifying ordeal for many, the union was quick to denounce the far-right extremist groups that orchestrated the riot and lef Dublin reeling.
Molnárf and the union have also been outspoken on the confict in Gaza, unwavering in their support for Palestine and eforts to push College of its neutral stance. From sit-ins, to other Book of Kells protests, to fag drops, and more, it’s admirable how the union will not surrender on matters it wholeheartedly believes. When Dominos, a former TCDSU sponsor, made posts supporting the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), the union wasted no time reevaluating its afliation with its longtime headline sponsor. Although false claims were initially made that ending the partnership would result in a “billion-dollar” lawsuit, ties with Dominos were formally ceased in early December, replaced with
Te TCDSU Constitution lies at the heart of this year's union controversies. Troughout the year, Molnárf has been involved in several campaigns to alter the wording of section 1.4 of the constitution which identifes the aims of the union and afrms its objectives must be pursued “independent of any political, racial or religious ideology”. Te Oversight Commission (OC) stated section 1.4 regards the union as apolitical to protect students of all backgrounds, but they’ve never applied this strictly. If that were the case, groups like Trinity Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) wouldn’t be allowed to exist.
Molnárf aimed to change the wording to allow the union to act through “radical and egalitarian” means to facilitate TCDSU political involvement. Te alteration would further include a prohibition of far-right groups and policies within College. Although the motion failed several times, Molnárf said he would “keep being political in defance of 1.4”, even afer he received several warnings and strikes by the OC.
If rules are not efective, the democratic process allows for alterations to be made if the majority chooses. Te cornerstone of democracy is the voice of the people. A president is made to refect people’s interests, not to solely promote their own agenda. Te motion(s) on section 1.4 failed and this cannot be misconstrued.
Te OC was accused of basing Molnárf’s violations on a longstanding precedent which is “undefned”. Perhaps the malleability of section 1.4 is problematic. But even so, it doesn’t absolve abuse of process. Afer all, Molnárf admitted to violating the constitution and stated his “faction is too strong” for him to be impeached, a concerning remark
In turn, the question we should all be asking ourselves is whether our SU should act of its own volition or by the will of the students. Civil and political defance are tried and true tools
to promote change, but everything has its limits. Many would rather have a strong, unifed union that acts in accordance with students’ wishes, than one steered by a misguided ofcer, albeit with good intentions.
What comes next?
It’s safe to assume that next year’s sabbatical team will maintain a politicised union. With the successes of this year’s team, continuing with an outspoken and passionate union headed by Maguire means we will likely see another year of a union rightly holding to account the institutions dictating students’ quality of life. Whether they will follow Molnárf’s footsteps of also defying the institutions it is held accountable to remains open.
College is a training ground for young people, but in Trinity’s culture that training ground can come at personal cost. In Trinity, I have been in various positions in societies and Trinity News. I have achieved my frst year dream of being editor of this paper and I have made the most wonderful friends from the last fve years. I have also been consistently scrutinised, slut-shamed and insulted by some of the most powerful people on campus with zero regard for myself, my feelings or the people around me.
I do not write this piece seeking sympathy, though I am sure there are many other people in this college who can relate to what I say. In fact, in writing this piece, I hope to fnally refect on my time in Trinity, both the good and the bad. A good friend of mine changed the trajectory of my college experience in second year. It was the middle of lockdown and I had spent the year fnally getting involved in college life including in this paper. I reached a point where I didn't know if I wanted to continue in college roles or go back to who I was in frst year, focusing completely on my degree and removing myself from the other aspects of college life like societies and student media. He made the point that college is a training ground for the real world. He warned me about how brutal that training ground could be, but nevertheless encouraged me to
continue down this path. I don’t regret any of the positions I’ve held in college. Tey have given me the life, friends and job I now have. Tat being said, I never could have predicted just how brutal of a training ground this side of campus could be.
When you take on a public role in Trinity, be that as a journalist, student politician or society head, there is an entire section of campus
come up to me to discuss things I had apparently done the weekend before, the month before or even the year before. Te fact that so many of this campus feel entitled to this kind of information about their peers, and so entitled as to attempt to embarrass them in a public setting, is one of the nastiest aspects of Trinity culture. My friend was right, this does prepare you for a public facing job later in life – however that does not minimise the impact it can have on the person. In colleges like Trinity, we all live in a bubble. It is a microcosm of the real world and the campus itself feels like an island in the middle of Dublin. To even attend this college is a huge privilege and one that is not lost on me. However, the negative experiences I have had in Trinity are very much refected in the “real” world. Particularly as a woman, my college experience was the frst time I had experienced public slut shaming. It was the frst time I felt scrutinised in this way and it has taught me a lot about how women in these positions are treated in their communities. Tis is not just applicable to Trinity, this happens to women on every level of public life. Tis is not something that any woman should have to “train” for, but I was trained nonetheless.
who not only know who you are but feel entitled to every piece of information that goes around about you on this relatively small campus. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve had someone I don’t know repeat nasty gossip about myself back to me. People have
Life in the training ground has also taught me that College should be a time to make mistakes. In speaking to younger students, particularly those on the Trinity News staf, I have always emphasised that this is their time to make mistakes as budding journalists. We are fostering a new generation of talent and I have been so consistently amazed by the
people in this paper. However it is a very strange position to be in. To be the one asked for advice, for guidance. It’s one I feel incredibly privileged to have but one that came with far more caveats than I ever anticipated. Te people in these positions, including myself, are either the same age or slightly older than the students they help and mentor. It is ofen the most fulflling part of the job but it is also the most emotionally challenging. I don’t feel like I hold any of the secrets of the universe or that I am particularly good at ofering advice on students' biggest decisions but that is the role I ended up in. Te fact that my staf have felt comfortable coming to me with these issues this year is one of the things I am most proud of. Any student who ends up in one of these positions knows that mentoring is a crucial part of the job. I am still learning and as much as I’ve loved helping other students explore their passions and reach their potential, it is very strange when I don’t feel that I have fully reached mine.
I have been in Trinity for a long time. I am one of the last people on this campus that remember what Trinity was like before the pandemic. Five years is a long time to spend in any place, but in college, fve years may as well be 20. Trinity is a very diferent place than it was fve years ago; when I came into the college I was surrounded by people whose parents and grandparents went to Trinity. Tey all seemed to know the ropes before they even walked through the door. Tey knew what big societies to join and where the student spaces were. In a way COVID levelled this playing feld. During the pandemic, far more people got involved in the things they actually wanted to do in college. In a year when you had to make so much more efort to stay connected, the existing connections people had to Trinity became much less important. I don’t think I ever would have started writing for this paper if the pandemic didn’t happen because I found reaching out and getting involved to be so intimidating. It’s a lot easier to put yourself out there over email than in an ofce in a building you don’t know the layout of. I hope my legacy in Trinity News is one of removing some of these barriers for students and making it all a little bit less scary.
Tough I have found some aspects of the culture of this college
to be nasty at best and straight up harmful at worst, my experience of this College is something I will never forget. Trinity has many issues, some are college specifc and many more are a refection of general struggles of modern Irish society. It is flled with wonderful people for the most part but it is let down by a culture of scrutiny. I am grateful for my time here and the friends I’ve made. I am proud of everything I and Trinity News have achieved this year. My friend was right; the roles I’ve had have trained me for the real world, both the good and the bad. For every nasty comment that has been made about myself and my friends, there has been as much support from those around me and other members of the college community. To the members of the college that have tried to bring me down over the years with their nasty tactics: I am a stronger person today as a result of your feeble attempts to stop me in my tracks.
I can’t wait to see what the people and the paper do next. I will be watching proudly from the sidelines cheering them on as they surpass everything I’ve done and more. In my time spent here,
I hope I have impacted some of you in a positive way, be it within the paper or outside. I hope I have provided some of you with the mentorship I was so grateful to receive from others before me. Right now it's all feeling a bit like that Derry Girls monologue for me: “ Tere is a part of me that wishes everything could just stay the same.. but things can't stay the same, and they shouldn't.” I hope the next generation of students get as much out of Trinity as I have. To my staf, you are all more talented than you will ever know, I can’t wait for the day when you’re all taking over the world and I can proudly say I knew you. Goodbye Trinity and goodbye Trinity News.
At the fnal Council of his term as president last week, László Molnárf proclaimed the successes of a year in which “the student movement woke up at the 11th hour”: “Students realised that we don’t have to lay there and take it.”
Indeed it has been a watershed year for our students’ union. Its blockade of the Book of Kells set the tone for a year in which direct action went from near-taboo to a regular means of protest in dealing with College and government. A series of smaller but no less visible instances of direct action punctuated the union’s campaigns, from a coordinated fag drop in Front Square and a sit-in at the junior dean’s ofce, to the overnight occupation of Regent House, all with the same message: We’re serious about this.
Of course – and thankfully –these haven’t been uncontroversial. College labelled the Book of Kells blockade “counter-productive”, while the Dean of Students told Trinity News that students were “biting the hand that feeds them” by participating in the blockade. Te protest would not have been efective had College welcomed, or even sanctioned it; the efectiveness of direct action lies in its disruptiveness.
Yet beyond College’s unsurprising response, the move was met with resounding support from students across the board. Ordinary students showed up to participate in the blockade which lasted for eight hours; online, students praised organisers and participated and echoed their demands for a rent freeze and for College to properly engage with students' demands. Even members of staf privately expressed begrudging admiration for the protest, which struck at a vital artery College’s revenue.
Polling conducted by Trinity News in February revealed that over three quarters (76.6%) of students agree that direct action had been at least somewhat efective. While this was stronger among lef-wing students, a majority of students who indicated a preference for centre and centreright parties also agreed that
not followed through on. With students excused from class, the nationwide student “walkout” organised by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) generated the optics of collective action with none of the direction; it was over in time for students to make their next class, and was followed up by nothing more than a weak attempt to “lobby” government TDs by phone and email. While paying lip service to the plight of students, College continued to raise rates in its accommodation units across the board.
Direct action has granted students leverage when it comes to bargaining with College. By backing up rather reasonable demands with credible threats of repercussions for nonengagement, TCDSU has forced College to reckon with the student voice in a way which it simply did not before. What's more, the consistency with which the union has employed such tactics has meant that College can no longer weather out the storm when it comes to formal demands; it knows well enough to take students seriously in the knowledge that pressure will otherwise be brought to bear.
direct action had been efective. Irrespective of its many ups and downs and internal disagreements, one conclusion is certain at the end of this year: direct action is no longer a radical idea.
Up to now, TCDSU, for all its constitutional complexity and organisational prowess, has lacked the ability to back up its words with actions. Desperate pleas in open letters fell on deaf ears; threats of escalated action were
In response to this new momentum, College has claimed that “students have every right to protest peacefully and we are always willing to listen to their views and engage in dialogue”; the Dean of Students called it “a sad irony that the TCDSU chose to block the entrance to the Old Library” Some will argue that an increase in direct action comes at the expense of constructive conversations. While any sensible person would favour open dialogue over disruptive protest, this wasn't a choice previously available to students or their representatives; the only real options were protest and be heard,
or speak and be ignored. Students tried open dialogue; every time it came to fees, it failed. Instead, they have chosen to be heard, whatever the route. An “all ears” attitude suddenly materialised only in the wake of a more invigorated and disruptive student movement, willing to stand up for what it wants. College merely wishes that students would stick to “peaceful protests” in the manner of sanctioned walkouts so that it can continue to ignore the demands being made. Students are past that stage. A year of consistent direct action has levelled the playing feld and forced College to the table on several issues. If it tries to step away again, students won't hesitate to use the means available to them to force it back.
Simultaneously, it falls to a new cohort of students to continue this precedent. We need not jump to occupy a campus ofce at every opportunity – perhaps afer this year College will indeed be more receptive to straightforward dialogue and compromise, in the knowledge that students really mean business. For this to remain the case however students must in fact mean business; we mustn’t leave it to a select group to carry out direct action every time the need arises, but must all be ready to contribute to the change we wish to see. For College to continue to feel the weight behind student demands, the buy-in and
engagement of this year must continue. Tis paper welcomes the fact that direct action is no longer a radical notion, and commends those that have made this the case. If students contribute to direct action on issues they care about, then the future of the student movement is bright; indeed, what has been achieved this year “will pale in comparison to what is yet to come”.
Five
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Nine-point victory over UCD secures
Colours honours for newly relegated Trinity
UCD took the majority of the spoils in an actionpacked weekend of racing
The academic year is coming to a close – dafodils bloom, lunchtime picnics draw in the more audacious seagulls, and there will soon be a fne stretch in the evenings. Te air is thick with nostalgia, while sighs of “Ah, trinners… woe is me,” waf through the upper foors of the Ussher where fourth years do their fnal footnoting, referencing, and spell checking. Tis is it. Tere remain but a few weeks – enough time for a victory lap of the Pav, a fnal weepy scroll through StellaSearch, and the misty-eyed realisation that you loved the Buttery dinners all along.
Parting from Trinity is like a painful, but amicable, breakup. A breakup with a partner who cost you several thousand euros each year, drove you to mild alcoholism in the frst year or two of your relationship, and maybe (defnitely) lef you with a bit of an academic god complex. But nice memories all the same.
Before long, this rose-tinted lens will be shattered by the questions of some well-meaning relative: “So what job are you going to do now?” As if I chose a literature degree for
its employability prospects…. If anxiety over graduation has been causing you sleepless nights, breaking down your options into
pros and cons can provide clarity. So let’s weigh up the three paths that (most) graduates choose between: Straight in the Deep End: Te 9 to 5
Feeling a touch of existential distress? No worries, that void will soon be flled with cover letters and Zoom interviews. A navel-gazing
young grad can learn a lot from, say, a career aptitude test. Find out if you are: A. a team player! B. a natural leader! or C. a great communicator! Te slightly more intense management consultancies and law frms will have you do a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test to fnd out whether you are a thinking person or a feeling person, whether you’re more into judging or perceiving, etc. Job hunting is a trial of willpower. Your inbox is full of rejection emails, the LinkedIn recruiters aren’t taking the bait, and the Big Four have all said that you’re just not their type. In this situation, all you can do is press on. It can take 3 or 4 months of applications to get one decent ofer (I can’t cite this, it’s just something that employed people say).
Once you have secured a post it might happen that afer four years of 8-contact-hour weeks, your new 9 to 5, soul-sucking grad scheme will be jarring. Entering the workforce today, you’ll fnd, on the one hand, a surfeit of ‘bullshit jobs’ (a term coined by anthropologist David Graeber, describing the absurdist modern proliferation of pointless bureaucratic jobs - pen pushing, box-ticking, middle management) and on the other hand, enormous competition for these roles, as educational investments become more and more fnancially costly. In an especially bleak turn, I am starting to get more notifcations from LinkedIn than I am from Instagram. Tis must be what
doing things a little diferently. Kim Kardashian put it best when she said that “nobody wants to work anymore.” If you are of Generation Z, the iGen, a post-millennial, a Digital Native – or however you want to put it – you might recognise yourself in this. Disillusioned with a corporate lifestyle, uninspired by the new secular cult of overwork, and queasy at the thought of an Excel spreadsheet, you could join the ‘anti-work’ movement (the subreddit r/antiwork currently has 2.8 million members) and take the coming year to ponder your next move. As a fourth year about to leave the fold of university, symptomatically, you might be feeling less girlboss and more girlrest, or girlrot.
… emigrate?
are well-worn. You might spend a year in London and come back with a faux Cockney accent and some lovely notions to match, innit. East London is awash with ‘Irish in London’ types, gone over on the ferry if they are traditionalists, ready to return home in fve years to be accused of having become West Brits.
A common experience of the Irish university graduate is waking up three months afer graduation and fnding that half of your friends have emigrated. Te paths that lead from Dublin to Sydney, London, and the States
Taking a year to travel and “fnd yourself” is a popular option for the young graduate of means. Slow travel is one way to mitigate the damage inficted by such forms of mass tourism as the ‘Ten European Cities in Ten Days’ model of backpacking. Slow travel emphasises lingering in a place and travelling overland to get there. My most memorable holiday was not the whistle-stop tour of European capitals I took afer the Leaving Cert, but the summer months of 2022 that I spent working on a vineyard in France. I found the job on Workaway, was told by email to simply “arrive in time for the harvest,” and took my time getting there by a combination of walking, hitchhiking, and cheap regional train lines. Of course, not everyone has the luxury of running of to France for three months, but if you are considering taking a year to travel, doing it slowly can be incredibly rewarding.
Avoidance and Denial
If all else fails, do a procrastination masters. It might be a comforting notion that no matter where you go, Trinity will always be here. Tat said, academia is not all glamour. I can tell you from where I am sitting right now in the 1937 Reading Room that further study seems to mean less academic enlightenment and more Pot Noodle dinners in the library and falling asleep with your face on your keyboard. Which comes frst, the PhD application or the insanity? As the Trinity motto says Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam – ‘It will last into endless future times.’ Tat sounds, suddenly, like a threat.
Tere is no fnal word on what happens afer graduation. Once you have four years worth of work in the form of a scroll in hand, your friends will scatter around the world and you will have to choose a direction. Whether you choose to jump immediately onto a career track, do some travelling, or continue to study, no decision is defnitive, and a little uncertainty is both scary and exciting. In any case, there are still exams to be gotten through, aren’t there?
Disclaimer: for the purposes of this article, male bodies will refer to people who are assigned male at birth and identify as a man/demi-guy.
The conversation surrounding body positivity is an important part of our social discourse. Te harmful ideas about what is the “ideal body” are being openly debated, criticised, and done away with. However, within the body positivity movement, there are topics that are less touched on, due to their perceived “taboo” nature. One of those more shied away from topics is that of the male body, and in particular, penises. Tere are many factors that play into our misconceptions of the male anatomy: inadequate sex education, pornography, and general cultural attitudes. All three of these reasons are frmly interconnected. Due to inadequate sex education, young people (particularly young men) turn to pornography as a source of information regarding sex. As is well known, pornography
attitude regarding penis size: “Bigger is better”. But because of the ease of access to pornography (and the continuous lack of adequate sexual education), it has only exacerbated the issue. Here are the facts: the average penis size across the globe is estimated to be 5.1-5.5 inches or 12.95-13.97 centimetres, with an average faccid length of 3.5 inches or 8.89 centimetres. It is important to note that most men are well within this range, +/- 0.5-1 inches; however, it has been found that most people still overestimate the average penis size. Additionally, another study found that 68.3% out of 200 men surveyed were concerned about their penis size. On top of all that, there is a stigma surrounding circumcision. It is estimated that only 0.93% of males in Ireland are circumcised, making it “abnormal” in Ireland to be circumcised, in comparison to the U.S., Ghana, Azerbaijan and other countries where the majority of men would be. Tough seemingly rare, there are Irish men who are circumcised, potentially for religious reasons but ofen for medical reasons regarding phimosis. Online discourse began surrounding the ethics of circumcision, which eventually devolved into people telling circumcised men that they are mutilated and not “whole”. If you are a young boy/young man on the internet, and you see people talking this way about your body in a society where it is already uncommon to be circumcised, it is incredibly damaging and hurtful. It creates an additional amount of self-consciousness that shouldn’t even be there in the frst place. But even though these statistics are relatively well known, unrealistic cultural attitudes and expectations prevail. Why? Te patriarchal expectations placed on young men to conform. Tere is a prevailing idea that young men need to be the “ideal man”: a ladies’ man, immediately excellent in bed, knows exactly what to say and do, etc. Tis “ideal man” is portrayed in flms, television shows, books, advertisements, and adult entertainment. As such, there is prevalent societal pressure placed on young men to conform to this idea, so much so that it creates and perpetuates toxic masculinity.
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is not a positive nor accurate representation of all types of bodies and healthy sexual relationships. However, because this is such a widespread phenomenon, it fuels a cultural expectation with regard to how men (and women) should look. Tis cultural expectation is why so many young men seem to focus on and draw their worth as a man from their penises. Now, this is not a new thing, as there has always been a prevailing
And no young man is immune to this idea either: there are similar issues very prevalent within the queer community as well. Tese heteronormative ideals map themselves onto queer men, too: masc4masc, DL, toxic queer gym culture, “size queens”, etc. Tis hypermasculine, hyper-straight “ideal man” is also expected of queer men, despite them never being able to achieve that ideal. Tis perpetuates both external homophobia and internalised homophobia, as well as a culture
of body shaming. Anyone who has been on Grindr or within predominantly white queer spaces can attest to both the body shaming and the hypermasculinity. So what can we do to fx this?
We can start by fostering open communications about our bodies. Te stigma surrounding the discussion of penises contributes to the toxic ideals and expectations perpetuated within our society. Luckily, our generation has become more open to these discussions (usually occurring over pints, but progress even so), but in order for there to be real change, a cultural shif needs to occur. More importantly, sexual education in secondary schools must be far more comprehensive. Part of the reason why young people, in general, turn to pornography is that there isn’t a wealth of comprehensive, detailed information at their disposal. Tis is particularly prevalent in the queer community as queer sex ed is less common than a unicorn. Additionally, we must include discussions about penises within the body positivity movement, and in doing so, we must be inclusive of all sizes, shapes, and types. Being able to have open and honest conversations about our bodies is important for both our physical and mental well-being. But we cannot do that until we are able to openly talk about every part of our body. Tere is a time and place for every conversation, but currently, there isn’t any place for this conversation, and that needs to change.
An bhfuil grá don Ghaeilge caillte agat tar éis do thréimhse sa mheánscoil, agus an dteastaíonn uait an grá a fáil ar ais? Seo meabhrúchán sciobtha ó ardchumacht (dalta le spleodar sa Ghaeilge!) chun do chuid Gaeilge a úsáid níos minice Ní mór dom a admháil nár thaitin an Ghaeilge liom mar ábhar Ardteiste in ainneoin gur tógadh mé i dteach dátheangach agus gur freastail mé ar ghaelscoileanna. Cosúil le go leor Gaeilgeoirí míaibí eile, ba bheag meas a bhí agam do mo chuid Gaeilge agus mhothaigh an teanga cosúil le dua. Ní raibh fonn orm an Ghaeilge a labhairt ar chor ar bith agus chuir sé mearbhall orm nuair a dúradh liom go gcaillfnn an drochmheon tar éis an scoil a fágail. Dar ndóigh, bhí an ceart acu, agus anois táim anseo mar saoi na teanga chun meabhrúchán báúil a thabhairt daoibh faoi thábhacht na teanga.
Tá an cultúr ceilteach i bhfaisean arís agus léiríonn sé go bhfuil daoine óga ag mothú an ghrá dár gcultúr agus gur gá dúinn sin a shásamh.Tar éis roinnt mhaith ama a chaitheamh thar lear, tuigimid uile brí an sin ‘grá’ i bhfad níos doimhne. ‘Sé an mothúcháin a ritheann linn nuair a theastaíonn uainn amhrán na Cranberries a cheangailt lenár gcuislí nó nuair a bhímid do chupán tae. Is cuid dár gcomhdhéanamh géiniteach é an focal, sa chaoi chéanna ina bhfuil ‘an chraic’ nasctha lenár n-anam. Mothúchán éagsúil í an nóisean Gaelach den “grá” do rud a chinnt nach dtuigeann tíortha eile. Is ionann é agus bá a mhothú do rud ach mothaítear i do chliabhrach é. Faoi dheireadh, táimid ag léiriú na dúile seo dár gcultúr tríd an athbheochan Ghaelach sa tír. Bhí seo le feiceáil le déanaí leis an méid sin
rannpháirtíocht i bhFéile Bríde agus Seachtain na Gaeilge, agus atá follasach mórthimpeall na cathrach. Tá seodra ceilteach á caitheamh ag daoine óga, tá céilithe ag éirí níos coitianta, agus bhí TradSoc fú roghnaithe mar taispeántas do Bál na Tríonóide ar na mallaibh.
Tá an Ghaeilge nasctha go láidir leis na píosaí is suimiúla agus is éagsúla dár gcultúr- an ceol, scéaltaíocht, rince; na rudaí a spreagann sonas ionainn. Ní haon ionadh é go bhfuil daoine Éireannacha chomh maith sin ag insint scéalta de bharr an bhéaloidis fadó, agus an draíocht a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge nach mothaítear leis an mBéarla. Leis sin, is é an chéad fáth gur chóir dúinn uile níos mó Gaeilge a labhairt ná chun aithint níos fearr a chur orainn féin. Tá roinnt mhaith dúinn trína chéile ag oibriú amach ár gcuspóir sa saol seo agus do dhaoine áirithe cabhraíonn sé neart eolais a fáil ar ár stair. Ní raibh daoine ar an oileán seo curtha ar an bhfód chun an Béarla a labhairt, mar sin tá daoine ag siúl timpeall na háite gach lá ag labhairt teanga a bhí brúite ar a muintir fadó. Samhlaímid mothúcháin dhiúltacha leis an mBéarla i ngan fios dúinn ach atá dosheachanta de bharr na brúidiúlachta lena bhfuil sé ceangailte. Déanann sé dochar sicheolaíoch a bheith curtha chun cultúr a thabhairt suas agus dar ndóigh tá saoirse ar leith ag baint lenár dteanga dhúchais a thógáil ar ais arís.
Cuid is mó den am, bíonn imeachtaí na Gaeilge ag spreagadh cruthaítheachta, nuaaimsearthacht, agus féinléiriú; tá na gnéithe seo tábhachtach inár saolta chun muid féin a chur in iúl. Ag na himeachtaí seo, mothaíonn daoine catairsis agus iad ag léim, ag luascadh agus ag sceamháil. Is féidir linn céilithe agus ceol traidisiúnta a nascadh leis an nGaeilge. Ag freastal ar imeachtaí cosúil leis An tOireachtas, Féile na Gealaí, agus imeachtaí idirollscoileanna, feicimid méid an comhluadair Ghaelaigh agus an bheocht a bhaineann leis an teanga. Bíonn spleodar ag na himeachtaí seo mar feicimid na daoine a n-úsáideann an Ghaeilge fós mar céad teanga. Tuigim go mbíonn imní ar dhaoine freastal ar imeachtaí
Gaelach agus lá i ndiaidh lae is gá dom cur in iúl do chairde liom go bhfuil i bhfad níos mó
Gaeilge acu ná a cheapfaidís sibh, mar i ndeireadh na dála rinneadh
staidéar ar an teanga ar breis is sé bhliain!
Mar is eol dúinn uilig, is rud gnéasúil é an paisean, agus níos gnéasúla fós a bheith dátheangach! Is Gaeilgeoirí iad cinn de na daoine is críonna agus lách a bhfuil aithne agam orthu. Tá siad lán le paisean ag tacú teanga nár chóir go mbeadh morán seans aici agus ag troid ar son cúise atá níos mó ná iadsan. Ní caitheamh aimsire í an Ghaeilge dóibh ach slí bheatha agus lionsa chun a saolta a feiscint. Is beatha teanga í a labhairt, mar sin, déan iarracht bheith mórthimpeall Gaeilgeoirí cruinne eile mar le cabhair osmóis súnn d’intinn Gaeilge chruin i ngan fios duit! Le sin a rá, impím oraibh gan lig do “garda gramadaí” chur asaibh agus iad ag ceartú do chuid Gaeilge agus a bhíonn sibh ag labhairt! Ar ndóigh, tá ardnós ann fós sa lá atá inniú ann ó thaobh canúintí de, in aghaidh iad siúd nach as an Gaeltacht iad. Gan amhras, bíonn caighdeán na Gaeilge labhartha atá curtha i gcló thar a bheith tábhachtach. Ach maidir le cumarsáid labhartha Gaeilge neamhfoirmiúil; is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste mar a deirtear. Is meon conspóideach í seo ó dhalta i mbun céime sa Ghaeilge ach bíonn teangacha ag athrú an t-am ar fad agus ag éabhlóidiú.
Lena chois sin, mura bhfuil tú cinnte fós ar chóir duit infeistiú i do chuid Gaeilge tar éis an t-alt seo a léamh, cuimhnigh ar stair na teanga agus an streacailt gur sháraigh sí. Mhair sí go dtí seo tar éis an iarracht ollmhór chun í a scriosadh. Le hardú ar an méid inimircigh sa tír tá daoine Éireannach ag lorg nasc lena dtír agus a bhféiniúlacht tíre. Mura bhfuil cultúr againn, cad a dhéanann idirdhealú eadrainn agus na Sasanaigh agus na Meiriceánaigh? Coimeadann an teanga muid nasctha le hanam na tíre, an t-anam carthanach, agus an comhluadar ionainn chun bailiú le chéile in ainneoin éagóir.
If there’s anything I hate, it’s overly sentimental columns in which elderly twenty-somethings refect wistfully upon their college experience. Nevertheless, as I prepare to leave Trinity, the time has come for me to write an overly sentimental column in which I refect wistfully upon my college experience. In particular, journalism has proved pivotal for my personal growth within the last year.
Granted, I’m not twenty. Tus I thought it would be better advised to save the refections for the actual wizened elders. Instead, I opted to conduct an investigation into best practices from real journalists. Anyone who knows me can attest that I am a bastion of journalistic integrity and a warrior in the fght against misinformation, which informed my selection of these three nonpartisan, unproblematic and highly factual documentaries.
Don’t get involved when you have a preexisting confict of interest.
Te frst documentary testifes to the importance of ethical responsibility. We follow a seasoned cultural critic known for her unfinching and courageous coverage of the New York culinary scene who gets a tip that a man’s life is under threat. He’s about to make a shady deal and no one but her realises his life is at stake. Tus she has a responsibility to weather this storm alone, fy into the windy city and report the scandal of the century.
She has a personal stake in the issue. She used to work with him, but that’s not the only issue. Troublingly, she has had a working relationship with this former colleague which exceeds the boundaries of the strictly professional. Still, our narrative subject is determined to clear his name from the scandal before he walks down the wrong aisle and faces annihilation. His interests are misaligned with the shady deal he is about to undertake, but he remains infatuated with the evil ways of his new business partner. One tactic she utilises to dissuade him is to fool this
predator into performing badly at karaoke. Unfortunately, this terrible performance at karaoke serves as a chillingly efective exercise in corporate bonding. Our narrative subject also brings in her editor to impersonate her fancee in a bid to raise the attention of the former colleague to an alternative possibility that has been right in front of him this whole time. Tis also fails.
A last-ditch attempt at an intervention takes place on a boat in which the journalist nearly saves the colleague’s life by selfessly revealing that his life is in danger and she is the only person capable of saving him from imminent doom through mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Despite this, he still seems set on ruining his life and eventually the journalist accepts that her intervention will not accomplish anything. She emerges from her covert role to give a moving speech and dances with friends at the funeral of her colleague in measured acceptance of his doom.
Tis documentary, ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’, refects the reality that as an undercover journalist it is imperative to be an unbiased observer of events. Even if you want to intervene in the stories you see unfolding, remember that you won’t attain the desired outcome. It doesn’t matter if you’re delusionally selfconfdent. It doesn’t even matter if you bear a curious resemblance to Julia Roberts. Te rules are the rules for a reason.
You should never put your heart before your headlines. Even when our narrative subject senses she would be able to save this former colleague’s life, she realises that accomplishing her aim would be pointless when the methodology has been unscrupulous. Although she realises the error of her ways, it’s too late. She has shown a singular lack of character in pursuing a story in which she has a clear confict of interest.
Maintain strong personal boundaries / Never give in to fnancial pressures
Tis last case study features a magazine journalist breaking new ground as she interrogates a fery fgure from a malevolent advertising frm. Te interviews take place over a ten day period at various public and private locations throughout New York City. Te interview subject is dangerously charismatic and aims to sway her into supporting his political agenda. Te journalist doesn’t realise but he has a fnancial incentive that will be completed if he manages to sway her as a representative of the media.
Meanwhile, the journalist has a distinctly diferent aim that he does not realise, which is to manipulate him into hating her for a column. Te tension throughout this narrative documentary revolves around the question: will they or won’t they succeed in sabotaging the other person’s career?
Afer staging the frst interview at his fat, the executive is convinced that he has the upper hand. However, adopting a fctitious undercover persona generates excellent content for the magazine journalist. Her behaviour genuinely takes the executive aback as he must respond to unconventional prompts and situations.
Her interviews are collaborative eforts employing the local community. One high-pressure interview takes place in a crowded movie theatre. Upping the stakes, the audience vocalises their unhappiness at the interview being conducted during the flm. Relentless in stamina, the journalist forces her subject to engage in hand-to-hand combat with an audience member, which adds an intriguing dimension of fear to their professional relationship.
Despite the journalist’s commendable dedication, her mission is also doomed to failure. Te executive lures her into a false sense of intimacy through unprofessional interview settings, such as his family compound in Long Island where she is surrounded by allies. Her interviews become biassed. Te lines between personal and professional ties become blurred. Tragically, the advertising executive has won over our interviewer.
Tis turn of events serves as an ominous portent of the crushing
weight of fnancial pressures on journalism these days. He crushes her career like a bug. It’s very sad. She can’t even retaliate through publishing an expose, which she also sings in karaoke form to emphasise her disgust upon realising his duplicity. Even following the series of interviews, when she’s pursuing a new job in Washington DC, he chases her taxi down and makes her return to face a future without nonpartisan reporting and thus no hope.
Te documentary ‘How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days’ speaks to the difculty of navigating a feld determined increasingly by corporate interests. It is all too easy to give in to the demands of an advertiser or outside authority, particularly when the advertiser looks like Matthew McConaughey from 2003. Yet the survival of local reporting depends on the strength of journalists who are hellbent on withstanding such sinister forces. Always maintain strong personal boundaries. Tis tip applies especially with choosing the right setting for interviews. For instance, it is inadvisable to have the frst interview at his apartment. Especially when Dawson has so many cafes.
Find Colin Firth Tis famous nature documentary is set in the unpleasantly damp urban jungle, London. Our guide in this ravaged landscape is a highly versatile British publisher-turned-TV journalist seeking her path in the heart of darkness. Always meticulous, she documents her observations throughout the year. Te specimens she observes are all exemplary of that highly volatile and predictable creature, the British man. She must choose between employing herself in the study of a fashy and non monogamous species or Colin Firth.
I like you very much. Just as you are. You shouldn’t feel the need to dress up the facts. As cliche as it sounds, the most interesting story may be the one undressing right in front of you.
Emerging from my research, I can confdently say that I don’t regret sacrifcing the currency of my youth at the altar of Trinity News. You should too. Following in the footsteps of Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, these three women are the dauntless pioneers that have taught me everything I need to know about journalism. Break stories, not hearts.
Trinity is home to a plethora of societies and anyone involved in these societies is no stranger to working with the Central Societies Committee (CSC). Te CSC is the main committee that oversees the larger workings of the societies around campus. Tey handle allocating grant money, reviewing secretary reports, providing training, and all around ensuring TCD societies are up to running standard.
While they are in charge of existing societies, they also are responsible for approving or disapproving a new society proposal. I was recently given the great opportunity to sit down with Zara-Grace and discuss her struggles in proposing a new society to the CSC, and the hard work that preceded her pitch.
While she only spoke to the board last year, the motivation of the pitched society dates back to online zoom classes during the shutdown from Covid-19. During online classes Zara discovered that there was more participation from women in online classes vs in person. From this discovery, in her own time she conducted research and concluded that this was not a phenomenon happening only in her course. Tat instead there was an increase in participation behind the screen.
With this insight, she began her journey to create a space to
harness this wave of enthusiasm and continue to push for women to exercise and harness their skills in business (business meaning anything career/goal related). Tis space would lead to the creation of Te Female Lead.
It did not start out as a large group, it was an idea that grew and grew. Zara recalls that when it was in the beginning stages and they simply had a google doc for people to sign up to join, “we were so overwhelmed with the responses of 100 plus girls being like ‘I want to help’.” Once the idea was promoted, it was met with overwhelming support from the female community.
From here they spent months researching and preparing to present their idea to the CSC. Te Female Lead was to be a place to connect all of the resources for women inside and outside of Trinity. When refecting on preparing for the pitch she says, “I couldn’t have done it alone… I needed the girls.”
During the process of preparing the pitch, those involved really
started growing into themselves. Tere were members who were once quiet in the beginning, but were now sharing their own prompts and setting their own pitches. Te development of the team behind the pitch was a success in and of itself.
“Afer we pitched it to the CSC I was on cloud 9 because something had already been accomplished,” Zara said. Women had already been encouraged, the momentum had been harnessed, and the space to practise taking initiative had been created. Tey met weekly to prepare for the pitch and create a brilliantly organised society.
It was soul crushing when the society was not approved.
Te Female Lead had been a project of years of hard work and diligent research and dedication. Like any other society it was designed to empower a group of people, and in this instance a specifc minority as well. Te group who had proposed this society had to come to terms with the fact that the CSC did not see a need for a society like this, and it was disappointing to say the least. Women deserve a place for their voices to be empowered and to have easy access to all of the
resources available to them. Not only was this going to be a place for women to be empowered, it would have been a place for others to learn how to empower female voices.
Regardless of their hard work, it felt like it was set in stone that the society was already not going to get approval from the board. Without a formal reason given as to why the society was not approved, it was disheartening. For Zara, this had been a project of years in the making, all beginning with her classes online during Covid. It is not an easy task to create a society of any kind, and the emotional toll it can take is brutal when there is not a light at the end of the tunnel.
However, her hard work was not lost.
A separate group of women within Trinity sought to establish a chapter of Te Women’s Network, and Zara was able to share her journey with them so that they could learn from the mistakes made with Te Female Lead. She encouraged them to, “Celebrate the little wins,” and reminded them that even if it was not approved it was not their fault. Te Women’s Network is now established and running within Trinity, which was news she was more than happy to hear about afer the pitch was approved. Tis is a great resource that you can learn more about on their instagram page @ thewomensnetwork_tcd.
Polish cuisine is ofen overlooked when talking about the best European culinary traditions, but what singles it out from the rest are the incredible aromatic dishes, which every Polish person would be able to recognize with their eyes closed. Tey are a melting pot of diferent culinary traditions from ethnic groups who at various points lived in Poland. Hence Germanic, Hebrew, Lithuanian, Ukrainian, and TatarTurkish infuences can be found in Polish cuisine. T with a distinctive taste and aroma, which varies from region to region.
So, what should you be on the lookout for on your next trip to Poland? And for those who haven’t thought about visiting, these dishes will make you pull up the Ryanair website in a “Bigos” is a popular one-pot dish, which is usually prepared using meat and sauerkraut as a base, although it can vary from region to region. You can expect to f with fresh cabbage, sausage or pork fat, and garnishes such as dried prunes, bay leaf, tomato puree, and allspice. If you love spicy and fermented foods, bigos is defnitely for you. served all year round, this dish is traditionally associated with the wintry months, especially because it is flling, warming and full of rich and sweet f
“Gołąbki” or, directly translated, “pigeons” is a popular way Poles trick foreigners into thinking they’re eating actual pigeons from the street. In reality, it’s just minced
If you’re not a fan of cheesy desserts, “Makowiec” is the perfect alternative. It is a Poppyseed cake, lling prepared from poppy seeds, sugar, almonds, raisins, and spices. Although it is traditionally a Christmas pastry, it is popular all year round as a dessert for special occasions. Personally, I could eat it every day for breakfast or tea. Te ingredients make it quite heavy, fer a meal I would recommend it on its
If you’re feeling and want with a
“Sałatka jarzynowa” or literally vegetable salad (to make sure people know Poles eat vegetables) is one of the few salads in Polish cuisine. It is made from cooked root vegetables, usually le from cooking broth or chicken soup, with the addition of apple and pickled cucumbers and mayonnaise. I know what you’re thinking, what is an apple doing in a vegetable salad? It’s best to try it out for yourself, the fruit actually adds a tart twist, making the dish surprising and all the more enjoyable.
Now let’s move to the really interesting bit: desserts. Poles love cakes but they also pride themselves on their desserts being “not too sweet”. Whatever you might think, it is a compliment if a Pole says that about your baking and will be happy to hear it about
cheesecakes, as well as poppyseed or meringue cake. Polish desserts, baked or not, are ofen served with seasonal fruit, which is great because it keeps things interesting all year round.
“Sernik” or cheesecake is one of the most popular desserts. It is prepared with cottage cheese, egg, sugar, and additives like rum favouring, vanilla, or nuts. It can be baked in diferent variations: with or without a crumbly bottom, on biscuits, with white chocolate, cocoa, or peanut butter. It is one of those desserts, which never gets boring. In fact, the food rating site TasteAtlas gave it 4.5 stars, positioning it as the best in the world.
an important part of the holiday table. It can be eaten with butter and jam, or on its own.
It may come as a surprise but Poles enjoy not only baked goods but also quick, few ingredient desserts. Tese are quick to prepare and can be bought in shops all around Dublin! Tey are my personal favourites, because as a student, let’s face it, I don’t have time to turn my kitchen into a full-on bakery. If you’re looking to try something from the foods mentioned, these are the easiest to get your hands on.
“Budyń” or pudding is a classic of Polish cuisine. It is a sweet dessert prepared on a base of milk, sugar, and four. Not many prepare it from scratch as it can be easily found in every shop. It comes in a sachet, which you simply pour into a pot of boiling milk and stir till it becomes thick. It can be served cold or hot, ofen with the addition of whipped cream or fruit, chocolate glaze, or jam. I like it hot with cereal, but nobody in Poland understands my vision.
One of the globally recognised desserts is “Galaretka” or Jelly. Poles like to prepare great amounts of it in big bowls, mixing diferent colours and tastes. It can be served with or without fruit and always makes for a light dessert ideal for summer days. It is prepared from gelatin, fruit juices, and sugar. I have fond memories of it as my grandma always prepared a rainbow jelly with each layer being a diferent colour.
“Kisiel” is my personal favourite. It is thick and sticky and is made from pureed fruit, potato, corn four, and sugar. Kisiel is sometimes served as a light and refreshing dessert or as an accompaniment to other sweet dishes. I have it whenever I’m sick and I swear it works as a medicine! It only takes a minute to prepare, is best eaten hot, and is a great alternative to jelly.
If any of these strike your fancy, let’s look into where to fnd Polish food in Dublin. Shops like Polonez (a chain) or other smaller businesses, like the Traditional Polish Bakery, which prepares fresh baked goods everyday. Almost everything mentioned above can be bought there.
Tere is a dearth of Polish restaurants in Dublin, but I know one called “Smaczne go!”. Tey have delicious pierogi and panko chicken. Te service is kind and helpful if you want to try something you haven’t heard of in this article. Tey have 4.9 stars on Google reviews and serve traditional Polish dishes. I highly recommend going and trying the food how it would be normally prepared in a Polish household.
In November 2022, Dr Caroline Campbell made history when she was appointed as the National Gallery of Ireland’s frst ever female director. Just over a year later, I joined Campbell in the gallery’s iconic courtyard to refect on her personal journey: from fnding a safe haven in her adolescence within these walls as a Belfast-native growing up at the height of the Troubles, to becoming a trail-blazing, internationally renowned art curator taking the reins. Bathed in sunlight and the familiar ambient chatter of tourists, I got to know the woman at the helm of this long-standing institution and much-beloved feature of Dublin’s cultural landscape.
As a young girl, Campbell had fond memories of day trips down from Belfast to Dublin. She described her frst visit to the National Gallery of Ireland as a formative moment, one which seems to have helped shape the strong sense of public purpose that is the main motivating factor in her role as director today. “ Tis was one of the places that really
made me begin looking at art and loving art”, she said wistfully, recalling her frst encounter with the gallery – a welcome break from dress-hunting for her school formal.
Visiting the gallery, for Campbell, acted as a form of escapism at a time when security and tensions were extremely heightened in Northern Ireland, and it was almost inconceivable to her teenage self that she could freely enter such a public space without being stopped and searched: “When I came here frst with my mum when I was sixteen, my overriding impression was: ‘Why is nobody asking me to show anything or to say who I am?’”
“I always felt from my very earliest visit here that this was a very welcoming place. So when the job came up, I thought ‘My goodness, I have to give this a go!’” Te infuence of this experience clearly stuck with Campbell for years to come, helping to form her aspirations as director today: “I want this gallery to still be a place that’s welcoming and open, where a teenager can walk in and just think ‘Yeah, that’s a place for me’”, she added.
Taking a tour around the gallery, Campbell shows me some of the pieces her mother introduced her to on that very frst visit; Sir John Lavery’s Te Artist’s Studio remains a frm favourite. Tis year is a momentous occasion for the National Gallery of Ireland, which is celebrating not one, but two, signifcant anniversaries. January 30 marked the 160th anniversary of the gallery’s ofcial opening, which was commemorated
through a series of special tours and talks. On August 10, it will be 170 years since the gallery’s establishment under the National Gallery of Ireland Act 1854.
Expanding on her ideals, Campbell emphasised the importance of fostering an accessible space for the gallery’s public collection. “What I loved about museums then and what I love about museums now is that everything is for a public purpose and for a public goal. You’re never in an ivory tower – if you are in an ivory tower, you should get out.” Tis, she says, is “the thing that really excites me about working in this area and has done” since she frst began to work in museums and galleries over 20 years ago.
It is reassuring to know that, like most eighteen year olds, Campbell wasn’t sure what direction she would take in life. At that time, a career in politics or public service was on the cards for her. It was only whilst completing a “stage”, or traineeship, with the European Commission in Brussels that Campbell truly frst got a glimpse into her future, but not in the ways she expected. “I came to the end of it and I thought, I have really enjoyed this but the thing I’ve really most enjoyed has been visiting museums”, she said, her face lighting up. Campbell described spending every free moment she could get “travelling around Northern Europe, visiting museums.”
On returning from the continent, Campbell expressed her newfound desire to study art history to her parents – who were quite taken aback. She reenacted the conversation: “Honestly, why on earth do you want to do that?” they asked incredulously. Campbell’s parents’ main concerns about pursuing a career in the art world were two-fold: frstly, art history had, and still has to an
extent, a reputation for being a very elite subject; and secondly, would their daughter ever be able to fnd a job? Campbell’s decision to pivot towards art history came as no surprise to her tutors at Oxford, where she was completing her undergraduate degree in history: “We could have told you this two years ago!”
Afer graduating from Oxford, Campbell obtained an MA and a
she landed her frst museum job in the prints and drawings study room at the Ashmolean, where she had been volunteering. As a very public-facing role, this solidifed Campbell’s keen interest in “the idea of art for public purpose”.
Campbell went on to enjoy great success as a curator, working for her other alma mater, Te Courtauld, as well as the National Gallery in London, where she held the position of Director of Collections and Research prior to her appointment as director of the National Gallery of Ireland. Speaking of how it felt to become the frst female director of the gallery, she said the feeling was one of astonishment “to have this opportunity to lead a gallery that has meant an awful lot to me over the course of my life.”
“I feel there’s a real onus on me to really, really succeed and do the best that I possibly can”, she continued, telling me that she comes from “a family of incredibly strong female role models” who constantly inspired her to persevere and believe in her own abilities.
PhD from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, gaining some work experience by volunteering there alongside her studies, as well as on her old turf at the Ashmolean in Oxford and Belfast’s Ulster Museum. Despite being highly qualifed, Campbell’s career journey was by no means smooth sailing; she spoke candidly about facing multiple rejections when job searching afer college, even considering abandoning her dream job in favour of a more stable career in law at one point. Eventually
As we reached the end of our tour around the gallery, I wondered if Campbell had any words of welcome and wisdom to impart on students hoping to visit the gallery for the frst time. Her main piece of advice is that “you don’t need to look at everything at one moment”. If you’re a frsttime visitor, why not take a leaf out of the director’s book and focus on appreciating a few pieces at a time – as she does each morning –returning when you please to view a diferent aspect of the collection. Afer 160 years the gallery remains as public a space as ever and can look forward to welcoming new visitors for many generations to come. Who knows, maybe one of the gallery’s future directors has just walked through its doors.
speaks with the Hist and the Phil to ask how they achieved a star-studded list of guest visitors this year
Over the years, both the College Historical Society (The Hist) and the University Philosophical Society (The Phil), have been known for their array of impressive guest speakers. From American senator Bernie Sanders to Irish influencer Keelin Moncreiff, both societies have been busy over the past year compiling and hosting speakers that appeal to a broad range of interests. It’s only natural to wonder about the behindthe-scenes processes of securing and hosting such high-status individuals. That’s why I sat down with Áine Kennedy, auditor of the Hist, and Jack Palmer, President of the Phil, to get the inside scoop on how exactly the process works.
There are a variety of reasons an individual can be invited to either society. Sometimes, guests get directly involved in the heart of these societies: the debates. “Probably the one that a lot of people will remember for this year is our event with Leo Varadkar and Laszlo,” noted Áine. “It’s not always about doing a Q&A and address.” The former Taosieach, who was a keynote speaker discussing the importance of student debate, was met by Trinity College Dublin Student Union President Laslzo Monarfi, who gave an address sporting a “Fine Gael Out, Fianna Fail Out, Greens Out” t-shirt. Such events are symbols of the Hist’s commitment to fostering public discourse, which is the very essence of what the society stands for.
Other times, guests are invited to receive an award from the respective society. For Jack, anyone who has “done well in their respective fields” is worthy of an Honorary Patronage (Hon Pat) from the Phil. He noted that at the start of the year, he “deliberately” invited people that would be “somewhat interesting with the crowds”, while others may not have been “fun household names, but people who are super interesting to listen to, and our members could learn a lot from”.
One of these lesser-known figures includes Munroe Bergdorf, who particularly left her mark on Jack. The Phil President described her level of public speaking as “by far the best” that he had seen during his time in the role. “That was the kind of address you’d expect out of, not just a politician, but a president
or prime minister.” Bergdorf, who was the first transgender model in the UK for L’Oreal, was described by Palmer as a better public speaker than “Bernie Sanders, who is a politician”.
He recalls: “I was just like, this is amazing.”
This feeling is shared by the Hist, with Áine mentioning that, “sometimes the most coolest, or most interesting speaker events can often be actually people that maybe don’t have the same name recognition.” She added that “it’s sort of a shame, the sense that sometimes you don’t want to invite a guest and then put them into an empty room.” She cited Lea Ypi as one of the most interesting guests of the year, who documented the experience of communist to postcommunist Albania in her book Free.
turnout of students.
It is perhaps the actual securing of these guests that has most of us curious, given their high status and busy schedules. Jack from the Phil acknowledged that “they’re such busy people that actually finding a date is hard.” He added that “we don’t pay them,” so “if they get a gig that comes up, they’ll prioritise that.” While sometimes someone has “a connection” to the guest, the societies have reached out themselves to invite guests. In the case of Bernie Sanders, Jack contacted the American Embassy after seeing he was visiting Ireland. He described the process as something that “can be chaotic”. He discussed emailing Dr. O’Meara-Sanders, wife and adviser to Bernie Sanders, while “on a zoom call with my girlfriend” on Valentine’s Day. He looks back
wanted to hear some gossip about the guests that the societies have hosted over the years, but neither person had a bad word to say about anybody. Áine said that “I kind of wish I had some goss to give,” but “they’ve all been really lovely.” She added that “often we bring guests for dinner, and like, I’ve never had a bad or awkward dinner at all.” Jack echoed this, saying that he got “really lucky with all the celebrities this year”. He was pleasantly surprised by actor Simon Pegg, who stayed at a dinner with members of the Phil until quite late. “We got a few courses, but then were also ordering coffees at the end, [he] stayed chatting, drinking the coffee for ages.”
I guess it’s safe to say there’s no short answer to how the Hist and the Phil pull it off year after year. Neither Áine nor Jack had a clear-
When it comes to pleasing the crowd, these societies have hit the nail on the head. Áine noted that some people have a “cult following” which can be “quite funny”. She said that in the case of Rory Stewart’s visit to the Hist, some people were fan-girling, while others “hadn’t heard of him”. Stewart, known for his podcast ‘The Rest is Politics’, drew a crowd of “probably 90% men. It was really interesting, the audience.” She added that it was “really unfortunate” that the visit of Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand had to be a closed event due to “privacy concerns and security concerns, given that she was a ‘dream guest’” of Áine’s, and likely would have garnered a large
on this moment fondly, saying “the fact that it all came together, I was like, okay, that was a lot of work on that one … I’ve got that one Hon Pat in my year that was just huge”. Áine shared this star-struck feeling when dealing with potential guests, saying that “normally you’re dealing with a diary manager or a personal assistant,” but actor Hugh Grant, who intends to visit the Hist in the future, was emailing Áine himself. He wrote in one of his emails that he was “very flattered” by Áine. When talking about this, Áine simply smiled and said: “Hugh Grant is flattered by me.” She described this as a “drop your phone moment”.
Being my nosy self, I of course
cut outline of how they secure their guests. What is clear is the sense of fulfilment, pride, and satisfaction that comes from securing such extraordinary people, whether it was a personal hero or a crowdpleasing celebrity. While as a student body, we may remember high-profile guests such as Desmond Tutu, Noam Chomsky, or Martin Scorsese, it’s evident that a big name does not necessarily equal a big impact on the hearts and minds of these societies’ members. This is a reflection of these societies’ commitments to give voice to as many people as possible, platforming various issues, and, of course, fostering discourse.
Innovative food creations are not uncommon in the culinary space. However, social media, particularly TikTok, have caused a rapid rise in food content creation and thus the creation of hybrid foods. In the pursuit for virality, many food influencers attempt to bring about new food concepts to boost their engagement and popularity. The audience is captivated by these foods as they often blend different elements from popular or traditional foods together to create new and intriguing flavours. We owe some of the most popular recent dessert creations to the hybrid food concept, including the crookie (cookies and croissants),
Amidst the ongoing turmoil in Gaza, Irish artists are taking a stand and their voices are resonating loud and clear. In a powerful display of solidarity, over one hundred artists, including the likes of Irish artists Kneecap, Mick Flannery, Sprints, Guerrier, and Chalk, have united in boycotting the SXSW festival due to its sponsorship by the US military and other related military-industrial companies. The protestors’ message is simple yet profound: Art should not be tainted by associations with oppression.
Northern Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap, released a statement explaining: “This decision will have a significant financial impact on Kneecap, both on lost income and on logistical costs already incurred. But it isn’t an iota of hardship when compared to the [unimaginable] suffering being inflicted every minute of every day on the people of Gaza.” This
brookie (brownie and cookie), cronut (doughnut-like croissant), cruffins (croissants and muffins) and much more.
Crookies are the most recent viral sensation, a fusion of the beloved croissants and cookies, which have captivated everyone online. It combines the lightness and flakiness of croissants with the chewiness from cookies to create a mouthwatering mix of textures. Creating crookies involves filling cooked croissants with cookie dough and then baking them until golden. The result is a delightful dessert that has the best of both worlds- a buttery, flaky pastry pastry with gooey, chocolatey cookie dough.
Crookies have truly taken social media by storm, garnering millions of views and leading to bakers recreating the viral dessert in their own bakeries. Despite the popularity of the crookies, many have found the idea absolutely unappealing. Instead of improving both desserts by combining them, some say both are ruined. The croissant can become soggy instead of maintaining its flakiness and the cookie dough never fully cooks through before the croissant
is burned. Some think that each should be fully enjoyed in their usual way instead of constantly trying to mix foods for social media craze.
Compared to the recent fame of crookies, cronuts have become a classic hybrid dessert. Since the term was coined in 2013, cronuts have been consistently featured in bakeries worldwide. An ingenious cross between a croissant and a doughnut, the cronut features laminated croissant dough fried to crispy perfection and filled with cream before being glazed. This results in a pastry that is both flaky and sweet, creating an indulgent experience that has been steadily popular over the years. The variety of flavours adds to the appeal and love for the humble cronut.
Another equally popular
pastry is the cruffin, a hybrid pastry that uses the shape and convenience of a muffin on a croissant. This decadent treat is made by rolling croissant into a muffin shape and baking until golden brown resulting in a pastry that combines the layers of croissant with the convenient shape of a muffin, making it a popular choice among foodies looking for a new twist on a classic. Although hybrid foods are often well received, there are a few which cause horror rather than interest, such as sushi doughnuts. While sushi is
traditionally a savoury dish made from rice and fish, people have created a playful sweet twist that involved topping the rice with fruits and candies and moulded it into a doughnut shape, before being covered with a sweet sauce. The result is a visually stunning dessert that offers a contrast of colours, flavours and textures. This recipe has received mixed reactions as some appreciate the innovation while others are not amused by the sensational use of the idea of sushi and doughnuts while the dish only vaguely resembles either. This is often seen in foods that hold cultural significance. Recipes which are an integral part of a cuisine are more likely to cause a negative reaction than more modern foods. The world of hybrid desserts is truly filled with endless options. These innovative creations help to push the boundaries of world cuisine by
offering exciting new flavour combinations and textures. Experimenting with hybrid foods is a creative outlet for many and helps to create exciting new foods. This helps to create different foods with varying flavours and textures. As food trends become more popular more foods are developed, ensuring there is always something new and exciting to discover in the culinary scene.
sentiment was echoed by Gurriers’ drummer Pierce Callaghan, who voiced that: “We as Irish people have a lot of solidarity with the people of Palestine as we share a history of occupation and oppression by colonialist countries. It is inherently wrong to taint the celebration of art with links to the genocide going on in Palestine.” The boycott has sent shockwaves through SXSW. Many are even calling for a broader boycott in 2025 if SXSW’s sponsorship and funding model is not altered. As the pressure mounts, the festival faces a crucial decision: stand by its controversial sponsors or heed the call for change.
Dublin-based muralist Emmalene Blake has captured international attention with her evocative street art. Her most recognised mural is inspired by the infamous photo of a Palestinian woman cradling the dead body of her tiny niece. In her mural, Blake replaces the child’s death shroud with a Palestinian flag. A few days after the mural became internationally acknowledged, Samia al-Atrash, the woman in the photo, reached out to Blake, and now the two fundraise for Gaza together. They sell prints of Blake’s mural and donate the proceeds to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Blake was also approached by Middle Eastern diner Shaku Maku to create a mural in memory of the thousands of children who have been killed in Gaza. Blake offered her talents free of charge, creating a mural of a young child against the Palestinian flag. Following the unveiling of the mural, the owners of Shaku Maku reported receiving a sudden influx of poor reviews, all brief, single sentences, including “very bad” and “dirty food and place”. The owner, Adnan Shabab, said it was “obvious” the reviews were an orchestrated effort following the restaurant’s proud display of solidarity with Gaza. Neither Shaku Maku nor Blake were deterred by this backlash, with each continuing to campaign for ceasefire and relief efforts in Palestine.
Crucially, it’s not just individual artists taking action–Irish organisations are also making a tangible difference in activism and fundraising. Irish Artists for Palestine is a coalition of artists organising and engaging in various solidarity events nationwide. Founded in November last year, their resolve remains steadfast as they champion the belief that “art plays a crucial role in opening hearts and swaying minds.” In the face of adversity, Irish artists are proving that art is not just a reflection of society–it’s a catalyst for change.
sits down with the team behind the rocket launch and discusses their struggles and triumphs
Opening a new route to the sky, the Trinity Space Society reveals its journey towards the construction of its model rocket. I had the wonderful opportunity of sitting down with the genius team behind the making of this rocket – Grace Madison, Nathan Besch (Rocketry Ofcer), Alexander Farren, and Oskar Garcia de las Heras – and unravelling the tedious process behind it.
Te team, formed in 2023, recently succeeded in their venture to reach amazing heights by organising a rocket launch on January 28 in County Wicklow. Te team describes their end goal as launching the rocket, but also establishing a team that is capable of building a working rocket.
Jyotsna: What was the inspiration behind the project?
A movie! Te inspiration for the project is loosely derived from the movie October Sky (1999) based on the Sputnik 1 launch in October 1957. Te team watched it together last year as a part of the bonding experience, Farren may or may not have forced the issue which made this possible.
“ Te rocket was named Pufn 1 because it’s painted black and white and it has a kind of a yellowish thing on the top, so we thought it looked like a pufn,” says Madison.
“We named the rocket Pufn 1 because of the colours but also in reference to [October Sky], in which the rockets are named Auk afer a bird which cannot fy. So, we decided it would be fun to also pick a bird that cannot fy,” adds Farren.
Jyotsna: What was the process behind building the rocket?
Te teamwork and determination of the team members is what ignites inspiration in others around them. Te foundation of the project were the weekly meetings held in a room located in the museum building. Teir initial priority was fnalising the design for the rocket. Afer taking into account a vague idea of the height they wanted it to reach, they started collecting the various parts required to build it.
Besch comments that “Grace’s expertise was crucial on this. I don’t think we would’ve been able to build it if she was not here.”
Te team was able to print custom 3D printed parts thanks to Garcia de las Heras with help from the Mechanical and Civil Engineering departments.
“Once you collect the parts, it becomes about the building process, which is not as long as you think it is, but it is delicate in terms of the order of assembly of the parts,” said Madison. Te entire building process only took about 3 or 4 hours.
Another important aspect of building the rocket was constructing the launchpad. Normally, launchpads are bought, not built, which only made the team’s experience even more unique and fun.
“We actually ended up with a wooden cross that people had to carry. I had to carry it all the way from that place, down the canal to the bus stop, on the bus and then all the way home,” said Farren.
Te motor for the rocket was as big as could be without breaching regulations. Te design for the rocket was based around it, with the aim being to make the rocket go as high as possible.
Jyotsna: What were the challenges you faced while making the rocket?
With a huge triumph comes major difculties. Te main challenges the team faced were with organisation. Since the team had never built together before, they had to learn and coordinate the team as the project progressed.
Another one of the challenges they faced was fnding the parts and importing them to Dublin. “ Tere were lots of issues. Te main parts of the rockets were
explores social media’s form of connectivity
The international student population in Trinity takes up around 30% of the student body. Having a diverse social pool has a plethora of benefts with its diferent backgrounds and perspectives such as giving students the chance to learn about new cultures, try new foods, and celebrate new holidays. Te downside? When summer rolls around, they’re hopping on a plane.
brought in from the US, and what we couldn’t bring in was made using a 3D printer or custom parts we could get here,” said Besch.
Trough every obstacle, they never gave up! As a group, they overcame each and every challenge one by one!
Jyotsna: How did you feel when you realised your project had succeeded?
5th time’s the charm! On the day of the launch, the motor wouldn’t ignite, which is a pervasive problem in model rocketry! Not only is it inconvenient, it could potentially prove to be hazardous. Te team eventually launched the rocket on the 5th try in a very joyous moment!
Farren recalled, “ Te rocket actually few upwards, but then at some point instead of continuing upwards it started falling down towards us! So we actually succeeded, but I was also pretty scared. We were also standing right underneath it and we could just see a rocket dropping downwards like an arrow pointing at us!”
Te incredibly tedious and enlightening process of building this rocket hopefully kicks a tradition to be carried on by the next generations of Trinity STEM students. Feel free to check out the Space Society’s Instagram and Twitter for more!
Te team behind it all!
Grace Madison (Maths) Nathan Besch (Astrophysics) Oskar
Garcia de las Heras (Mechanical Engineering)Alexander Farren (Teoretical Physics) Patryk Cwik (Engineering) Jan Wawrzynek (Physical Sciences) Leo Zimbalatti (Chemical Sciences).
It can be hard to think about your friend group parting ways for the summer months. If we're lucky, college allows us to develop close relationships with new people from all around the globe - by trauma bonding over assignments and messy nights out, to eating dinner together, and skipping lectures to drink cofee and gossip. People go from strangers in a lecture hall to someone you feel like you've known your whole life - and then summer comes and all of a sudden you’re a plane ride away and not a ten minute bus. No more spontaneous nights out, no more debriefs over cofees and pastries afer the 9am lecture you somehow dragged yourselves to. Te people you see more than your own family are suddenly halfway across the globe.
I mean, sure, having friends all over the world does certainly give you the incentive to fnally go on that interrailing trip you've been planning since you were ffeen, but life gets in the way. Even the thought of making the four hour trek from Donegal to Dublin is enough to make me content with not seeing my friends for those summer months, let alone travelling across continents.
In light of this, we're lucky to live in the age of technology, where even across time zones, you can contact them in milliseconds; but how efective is social media in maintaining meaningful friendships?
Social media promotes itself as a way to connect with people - but is this really the case? Most of the casual friends you made during the year will become faces on the Instagram stories you mindlessly tap through, maybe stopping to send a like, and you’ll hear fragments of their life on their private story, but you'll not feel the same connection as you did the night you walked home drunk together, spilling all your secrets, or gossiping about the campus celebrity you share an unhealthy obsession with.
College friendships can ofen be lef feeling ‘situational’ - you
spend so long living in a fat with someone, or going to seminars with someone, and then you both go home for summer and communication efectively ceases. But is this truly the fault of the friendship or the fault of the digital culture we live in?
Social media eliminates the emotional aspect of connectiondouble tapping an instagram post without a second thought takes almost the same brain activity as breathing these days.
In a world defned by our digital presence, relationships can quickly spiral to superfcial. We're constantly bombarded with meticulously curated images and projections of how we want other people to view us. Scrolling through your friend’s feed can
give you snippets of their lifebeachside photos on their trip to the Greek Islands, the lunch they had at some bougie cafe in their hometown, their family dog you’ve never met, a night out with their school friends you’ve also never met.
Sending a few messages back and forth, posting some witty comment on their Instagram post, forwarding a TikTok that reminds you of that inside joke you told to death over the semester - these are quick and convenient ways to keep a friendship going, but does mindless digital communication operate solely to create an illusion of connection? Maintaining a relationship entirely on shared media consumption poses a danger of surface level interaction. As you open another wordless Snapchat selfe, almost identical to the past twenty that you and your friend have been sending back and forth for two days, chances are you won’t feel any closer to that person. Of course, there are ways to combat this. Before you can feel the scrolling-induced brain rot seeping in, contemplate the productiveness of how you engage with people online. It's not easy to rewire your brain against the casual digital culture, but emotional connection trumps the amount of likes your Instagram
story will get any day. Plus, the last thing you want is for the next academic year to roll around and you're back to awkwardly trying to reignite the spark with the people you spent every waking moment with this time four months ago. Set aside a day and time you’re both free every week to facetime (a hefy task with time zones and busy summer schedules getting in
asks
what is it that draws us to Bread 41
It’s 11:50 a.m., and every Trinity student is scrambling to fnd something to eat in between lectures. If you’re close to the Business School, you’re in luck. Look across the road outside, and you might see the inviting shop windows of what has become a staple of Pearse Street: Bread 41.
Finding it is one thing; ordering is another. Te warmth, the sof lighting, and the delicious smells all combine to create a welcoming atmosphere, but here, you’re only one of many students queuing up for a sweet treat to get you through the day. A long queue has formed, stretching along the counter, with people eagerly looking around in the hopes of scoring a seat just as someone else is leaving. Six staf members are busily engaged in tending to the growing number of customers. But where did they all come from? What is it that draws us to Bread 41?
Unlike most spots in Dublin, Bread 41 usually opens at 7 a.m. and closes as early as 3 p.m., signifying that this is a bakery, not a café. When the business students drop in before noon, the bakers have already been up for many hours. Bread 41’s main selling point is just that: bread. Bread that is more well-made than anywhere else in Dublin. What meets the eye as you walk through the door are shelves of every kind of loaf imaginable, and when you turn towards the counter, the shelves continue.
An unexpected culture shock
of moving to Ireland was the apparent lack of bakeries. Tere’s no shortage of cafés or cofee shops, but fnding fresh bread has proved more difcult. Unlike many places across continental Europe, Ireland does not boast a bakery on every street corner. Of course, most
ready-milled four matter less than the fact that it mills four at all. It builds trust in the bakers and, in turn, the company. Bread 41 becomes a bakery that supervises its bread-making process from start to fnish.
More broadly, it fts into Bread 41’s bid for sustainability. Among the many café chains, Bread 41 and its list of all the Irish farms that supply it with ingredients must feel like a breath of fresh air for most customers. A major part of its strategy is establishing itself as a local, Irish company, and convincing customers that in supporting Bread 41, they are supporting Irish farmers.
the way, but manageable), organise group calls (Covid prepared us for this), or fnally bite the bullet and book that plane ticket. We are both privileged and unfortunate to exist in a digital age - social media can make or break you, and it's up to you to create a digital space you can thrive in.
grocery stores contain a small bakery. But picking up a bread loaf from Tesco does not compare to doing the same at a bakery. You lose out on the experience of walking into a bakery, interacting with a server, and sitting down for a moment of peace while enjoying your chosen snack. Exposed brick, concrete foors, and wooden furniture combine to create an industrial style not commonly seen in bakeries. Capitalising on current trends, the interior caters to young people and makes up an important part of Bread 41’s marketing strategy. Te rustic aesthetic plays into the idea that Bread 41 makes everything from scratch. Granted, it is one of few bakeries to mill its own four, something that according to its blog makes all the diference in both the quality and favour of the bread. Te suggested benefts of
But bread is not the only thing Bread 41 ofers. Far from it, there is a whole range of pastries on display on the counter. Of particular interest to international students are its holiday-themed and seasonal baked goods. Arriving in Dublin in late January afer spending the holidays at home in Sweden, I had little hope of fnding a semla that would, by then, have flled every Swedish bakery. But to my surprise, Bread 41 had just what I was looking for. Over six years, Bread 41 has successfully established itself as an alternative to generic cofee chains. While it advertises itself as a simple bakery that focuses on using few, quality ingredients, its business strategy has many more components. It has found an untapped market in central Dublin’s bakery scene and it is not going anywhere soon. On the contrary, Bread 41 is currently expanding its business to Greystones, and its website suggests several other locations are in the making. But 41 Pearse Street will continue to be the staple for Trinity students in need of a sweet treat to get through the day.
You know the story: a college student in their early twenties, exploring the depths and breadths of who they are, experimenting with the opportunities they come by, and maybe there is a lesson or two to be learned along the way. Sure, the student learns a few new things about themselves, but really, at this stage, they surely know, at least generally, who they are, and they certainly know who they like. The awkward stage and all that icky angst and teenage confusion has been packed away, along with their adolescence.
That is the story we expect from our lives, but no two stories are the same. Our stories unravel at their own pace, and on their own terms, and this incessant expectation to have conformed to a label totally spoils our coming-of-age vibe! I should be allowed my messy, A24esque introduction to adulthood, damn it.
Labelling today goes further than the labels we are accustomed with; the classic titles we know include gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, non-binary, and so forth. However, there are smaller, lesser-known microlabels that hyper-focus on certain minutiae, labels that are often self-created to describe the exact nuances of one’s sexuality. Labels like these may not inherently make sense to the masses, but if they represent and affirm one’s experience of queerness, I say right on.
Tiktok micro-labels are a whole other can of worms, though — they seem to be more focused on aesthetics and presentation, ranging from cottage-core lesbians, granola lesbians, chapstick femmes and most bewildering to me, the femme-faced masc! You’re telling me I must go through the rite of passage that is the
excruciatingly passionate sapphic first love and decide what
common experience pertaining to bisexuality and adjacent orientations, where despite the very nature of the orientation in which attraction is not limited to gender, how one “performs” bisexuality is questioned and judged as if the individual in question is on the lineup for the Spanish Inquisition. We roll our eyes at edgy bisexual girls with the soft boyfriends, leer at bisexual boys who may or may not have preferences for men and share knowing looks -- “he’s just in denial!” –, jeer at the butch and femme couple and accuse them of perpetuating heterosexuality or trivialise the validity of two feminine women who happen to love each other.
When we start to categorise gender presentation to such an extreme (Pointing fingers at you, the futch scale), are we then just perpetuating the binary we, and especially our queer elders, have fought so valiantly against?
The obsession with labels like they are a commodity to collect and show off is certainly overwhelming, and there are tired jokes about infinite genders and attack helicopters that can be made, but I would like to think that we are all better than that. The devil in me rolls my eyes, but the anxious, closeted teenager in me aches too — that was me once. I spend a lot of time in the bubble I have found since coming to Trinity, but I have got to remember that just a few measly years ago I hadn’t a single queer friend to my name. I remember making
awkward eye contact with other visibly queer people practically it may have been, in retrospect (did anyone else have a messy discord group chat? oof!), you are provided with this feeling that can never truly be replicated. There
forgotten or dismissed. The queer circle in Trinity is large and so commonplace that I feel we can forget our privilege and how lucky we are to have such a normalised community. Our elder queers needed these signifiers to find each other, to actualise and find a family and home amongst one another. There are such rich histories and cultures surrounding subcultures like the Leather Daddies and Dykes on Bikes!
There is this idea about how selfactualisation for many is a privilege, and that for those who came before us, and far too many people today, especially those outside of the Western World, self-actualisation is a luxury because survival is still on the line. I think it does help, when stuck in the agony that is soul-searching, to remember just how lucky we are to even be able to ask ourselves these questions. What a joy it is to be able to explore the extent and nuances of our queerness in a path that the generations before us macheted down, built bridges, and grew flowers in, for us.
In a New York Times article, butch lesbian artist and queer figure Alison Bechdel was asked about her experience regarding gender performance and masculinity. Bechdel writes about how there hadn’t been the space to address such intricate nuances outside of the binary when the public sphere could barely tolerate a tomboy. She writes that she likes “being this kind of unusual woman. I like making this new space in the world.”
is that sense of belonging, that unbridled love and excitement, that every queer person deserves to experience. It should never be belittled, that realisation that to be queer is not such a lonely thing, and that it can be something so incredibly beautiful.
Flagging, and the use of other queer signifiers,, shouldn’t be
What we can take from Bechdel’s philosophy is the embracing of a space that is your own, one that does not have to conform to anything in particular, as long as it is yours. There is love to be found within a community, and love to be found even in the uncertainty, and certainly within ourselves. Being queer can be so hard. Let’s not make it harder for each other. We repeat it like a mantra that no longer has any meaning, but love is love. Why diminish, confine or dismiss something that should be so simple?
So, for the college student who doesn’t have it all together and might find themselves lost in the great mess of it all, I pass on a line from a Rilke poem that may bring some comfort -- “Let everything happen to you/Beauty and Terror/ No Feeling Is Final.”
conlcludes their time in Trinity by looking back at the love, the the heartache, and everything in between
The curtain is slowly closing on my time in college, and from the beginning of the year I have been in perpetual review-mode of all of my memories made in college. From the prison-esque, Covidtimes Halls experience, to the freedom of second year, the lows of third year and now, the final year. I have especially been reflecting on the naivety of every single person that I have been in college when it comes to love. XYZ.
As a hopelessly lovesick romantic whose most rewatched movie on Letterboxd is Pride and Prejudice (2005 version obviously), my view of life coming into college was solely based on romance. The kind of love that would make you walk through a field at dawn to tell someone that they have bewitched you body and soul.
I fully believed that in college, my wallflower days would be long behind me and I’d ride off into the sunset with an emotionallymature college student (yes, I went to an all-girls school).
Any kind of fruitful interactions with boys came in my second year of college when I’d settled in. Covid was seemingly no more and clubs presented ample opportunities to test the waters. The age of situationships, hook-ups and ghosting was upon me like a rash. Gone was the hopeless romantic and in her place was a cynic who didn’t quite believe or understand why I was so impossible to love.
Then I was thrust into my year abroad in America. I was suddenly leaving behind my life in Dublin. I’d engaged in emotionally risky behaviour before I left and I caught feelings, not flights. I’ll spare you the gory details but it wasn’t pretty. It feels silly and embarrassing now, but that was my first real heartbreak. I’d never had that before nor had I hoped that I could feel that
way. I know now, more than ever, leaving college, that I can hope for something better once I’m gone but I’ll never feel like that again, like I could hook a string around the moon and hand it off to someone no questions asked. I still mourn that feeling.
3000 miles away from home and the only people I really wanted were my friends. I kept wishing for there to be a how-to manual on how to deal with it all. I did just deal with it because I didn’t have
in college, perhaps it just wasn’t on the cards for me (I say as I delete Hinge for the umpteenth time). I did learn that soulmates are real. My soulmates come in multitudes and everything I’ve ever learned about love and fate and kindness and joy has come from my friends.
a choice; but this was undoubtedly the hardest year of college for me.
When I look back now, I remember all the little things my friends at home did to make me feel better. My friend invited me to her birthday pre-drinks; it was small but I still remember how loved it made me feel. I spent most of my time gearing up to see them again at Christmas and looking forward to the summer when I would feel like myself again.
In the loneliest year of my life, yet I felt more love than I had before in college.
So although I didn’t find the romantic love of my life
From my first friend ever in college who I met on a Legally Blonde Zoom Drinking Game organised by LawSocm, to my first year flatmate (I sat on Molly’s floor the day she moved in and yapped until she had no choice but to be my friend.) We still live together now and I find new reasons every day to know that she is the coolest person I have ever met and new reasons to know why I’m not worthy to be in her presence.
My other first year flatmate, Peter, for Valentine’s Day bought us flowers, chocolates, cards and lined our kitchen with tealights. I was headfirst into my first rejection in first year and on the inside of my card he wrote, “P.S. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not good enough because we both know you’re the best a
I found that card when I got home from my year abroad and read it. Then re-read it. Then read it again until it was burned into my corneas.
My friends in my course, also people I bombarded to be my friends. The friends I met through Trinity Women’s Rowing who stuck by me throughout the trials and tribulations of training, my year abroad and just about everything
in between.
I started counselling this year. When I began I thought that I would recount the trauma of how much I desperately needed love and craving to be loved in the way
I wanted it; the simultaneously earth-shattering but make-me-acup-of-tea when we come home
kind of love. Instead I realised that I’ve always been surrounded by it. Like many other women, I sometimes get blinded by men and the horrors that come along with modern dating when my friends are there offering more love than that emotionally unavailable, lowkey (highkey) loser can offer.
A wonderful friend of mine recommended Annie Lord’s Notes on Heartbreak in April 2023. I read it on the plane home and it really did remind me that heterosexual women can be overly male-centric; our love interests (regardless of the duration of a relationship) often become the focal points in our own story, with everything else becoming completely secondary. Rather than coming away from Lord’s book thinking about how to conquer heartbreak the next time it showed up on my doorstep, I think it taught me something completely different; people will show up in your life, out of the blue, and they will teach you something about yourself that you didn’t know before. They will open you up, they will tear you down, when they go it feels like the world is black and white but they force you to see the world in technicolour for the first time.
What I’ve realised now is that I’ve loved my friends more than words can say, and actions can tell, too. I’ve learned that even when your love life is a shambles and it’s the most misery you may have felt yet, you aren’t without the love you think you deserve – it just looks different from what you think it will be.
My time in Trinity and this article, I hope, is a love letter to my friends. To the people that make me feel like me. It feels like a breath of fresh air when I’m with them. And that’s love, surely.
explores our estranged relationship with home while living abroad
Nil aon tinteán mar do thintean féin.
Tere’s no place like home. Or is there?
As I refect on this, Erin’s monologue at the end of “Derry Girls” has been trending all over TikTok for the last few days.
“ Tere’s a part of me that wishes everything could just stay the same that we could just all stay like this forever ... but things can’t stay the same and they shouldn’t, no matter how scary it is …”
Te sound has been used by hundreds of people sharing footage of their fnal moments in whatever chapter they are in their lives, such as graduating from college or leaving a job. However, the most common usage is people
sharing moments from their fnal weeks in Ireland before emigrating abroad.
And it makes sense, in those fnal weeks, it’s easy to look at your hometown and everything you’ve known for so long, for all your life, and refect thinking: ‘well it’s not that bad is it?’ In those fnal moments, it’s easier to romanticise the country knowing it’s not going to be your permanent life for much longer.
We tend to forget the reasons why we booked that one-way fight to begin with and pretend that the “cons list” we had for moving away wasn’t that bad...
Tat romanticisation doesn’t stop once those fnal few weeks have passed and we have moved countries. We keep this romanticised picture alive as we yearn for this home. However, the home you’re imagining isn’t the home that you and so many other young people chose to move from. It’s especially not the home that had 21,000 citizens attain working holiday visas to Australia last year. Te highest recorded number in 16 years.
It’s the home we see through rose-tinted glasses.
An ironic refection of this is St. Patrick’s Day abroad. Personally,
this Patrick’s Day marked my ninth week of living abroad in Prague on my Erasmus exchange. In these nine short weeks, I somehow have become a huge Irish patriot. I rocked a pair of shamrock-shaped sunglasses on the day, walking around the streets of Prague, making sure everyone knew it was “Lá Fhéile Phádraig”.
I might as well have wagged
my passport at everyone. “See that harp on the front of the cover? I’m Irish” ( just-in-case-you-couldn’ttell-by-my-accent-where-I-join-a -hundred-syllables-into-oneword).
But my previous 20 Paddy days living in Ireland? Te closest I’d come to celebrating it was having a glance at the RTÉ showing of the parade on TV. Let alone rocking some jazzy shamrocks.
I now have an Irish playlist full of traditional music too. I’m ofcially in my trad girl era and the most important question revolving around my head of late is whether or not “Whiskey in the Jar” will make its debut feature in my Spotify Wrapped later this year.
Irish people abroad become extremely proud of their identity – more so than other countries if I may say. Is it because of the Irish pubs littered around every corner of the street constantly reminding us of our identity? Is it because when someone associates us with English people, we have the urge to chant back in a demonic tone “NO!!!!” and automatically label them as public enemy no.1? Whatever the reason, we have a powerful sense of community instilled within us. And coming from an island with such a small
population compared to the rest of Europe, it’s understandable. While others may be more connected with their town or city, our connection becomes intertwined with our country, not just our hometown.
However, as the saying goes: there’s a fne line between love and hate. Myself and so many other people can continue to romanticise Ireland, but it’s the last place we’ll be booking a fight to. While many Erasmus students might go home for Easter or a short weekend, I have no intention of entering the arrivals hall of Dublin airport until the end of my Erasmus. While I am not permanently away (I do have to come back and fnish my degree, committing my life to the Lecky Library for a gruelling year), I’ve been given a glimpse into a life that so many other Irish people abroad live permanently. As a result, it is a life that is looking all the more intriguing and promising to me post-college.
And yes, I desperately miss my family, the friendliness of the Irish people (smiling at strangers when you’re going for a walk is a foreign activity here), the fact you never have to travel long distances to get to the sea, and the range of food in the supermarkets (Tayto I
What is it about women’s bodies that have made them subject to continuous scrutiny, objectifcation and control? Like many other feminist issues, people can be quick to put sex workers in a box, to label them as “good” or “bad”, to blame them for the exploitation of sex as a commodity, or to vouch that they should simply quit the profession. Te view of sex work as black and white and the belief that sex work is always a choice is a simplistic
stance that ignores the nuanced realities of working in the sex industry.
So what exactly is sex work, and what does the decriminalisation of it look like? Sex work is employment in the sex industry, which can include direct or indirect contact or communication between buyers and sellers. Sex work only refers to voluntary transactions between consenting adults. Te decriminalisation of sex work calls for the removal of all laws and policies that make sex work a criminal ofence. In the Irish context, these ofences are detailed in the Criminal Law (Sexual Ofences) Act 2017, and criminalise acts such as the selling, buying or organising of sex work, as well as solicitation, renting premises, or “brothel keeping”. However, the question begs as to whether criminalising sex work is a progressive step in protecting those in the industry.
Te question proves one of the most divisive within the feminist discourse - to criminalise or not to criminalise - with Ireland being no stranger to that debate. Ireland’s current legislation has been criticised for being out of date and for not considering much of what sex work entails, such as selling nude images and porn. However, the legislation may in fact work
against the people which it claims to protect. A key argument within feminist discourse for the decriminalisation of sex work is that of self-determination, which holds that allowing women the power to choose what they do with their bodies is an act of empowerment, and not something
that should be restricted by others. According to the argument of selfdetermination, decriminalising sex work fosters some of the core values of feminism like responsibility, self-esteem, empowerment and self-care.
Yet sex work is not as simple as a matter of empowerment or
restriction. Te context in which sex work takes place needs to be considered. Te decision to sell sex isn’t necessarily always a choice made out of a feeling of enhanced body positivity and autonomy. Although this may be the case, it can also largely be infuenced by economic necessity. In reality,
miss you dearly). Although, would I trade that for what I have here? Efcient public transport that costs me only 15 euros for 3 months around the city with my student card? (I don’t miss having my late-night breakdowns at the Abbey Street bus stop when Dublin Bus wouldn’t show up, let me tell you that …) Accommodation
most sex workers are women, and many choose the profession because of poverty. On top of that, women are more likely to earn less, exacerbating issues such as poverty, which is already at a high due to the economic crisis, and making them more likely to avail of less traditional means of making an income. Sex workers in Ireland are subject to a range of human rights abuses mainly from people they meet as their clients. Tese include physical attacks and threats, sexual violence, thef, stalking, verbal abuse and harassment. Te reality is that many sex workers live in poverty, and their work can leave them vulnerable and exposed to abuse, putting these people in particularly precarious and marginalised positions within society. Criminalising people who sell sex in these circumstances may only perpetuate this marginalisation.
Tis marginalisation and stigmatisation of sex workers is undeniable. It was only upon reading an interview with Irish infuencer Keelin Moncrief, who has worked on OnlyFans, that I realised just how nuanced the arguments for and against decriminalisation were. While Keelin held that: “ Tere is nothing shameful about having to resort to any sort of sex work as a means of living”, it was also necessary to examine “the structures that puts people in that fnancial situation in the frst place.” She also held that while sex work “can empower individually… it is not
prices that don’t put one into an overload life-commitment of debt?
A plentiful range of nightlife?
Weather that isn’t gloomy 24/7?
Okay, while not much can be done about the weather, these other aspects can be improved greatly. Terefore, it becomes extremely difcult for young people to move back home afer experiencing a diferent culture that ofers these benefts, especially given the fact that there is little hope of improvement coming in the near future for Ireland. Choosing to move back home automatically opens up a path of battling with an internal confict. It reminds oneself of what could have been if they had continued living that life, a life very far removed from Irish society.
I think it helps us to romanticise Ireland because we know what it could be, but it’s overburdened by so many social and fnancial problems that we have to keep our distance. It’s like a fantasy, like how 15-year-old me romanticised my favourite celebrity falling in love with me (I hate to break it to you Emma but that doesn’t exactly work out) ...
It’s a lot easier to keep the fantasy alive by imagining it in our heads a safe distance away.
empowering collectively”, and in place of empowerment, what Keelin gained from her time in the industry was the reinforcement of the belief that men think they own women’s bodies: “ Tat they deserved it and this is the only
So,
motivation of empowerment or economic necessity, there is an argument for decriminalisation in both circumstances. At the moment, the criminalisation of sex work has dire efects on those who choose the trade. Sex workers have a lack of adequate and accessible housing because landlords can be prosecuted for renting premises to sex workers. Tey fear reporting crimes to authorities. Aspects of provisions on sex work such as brothel keeping, prevent sex workers from working together, placing them in increasingly unsafe positions. As well as that, sex workers have less access to healthcare. While decriminalising sex work wouldn’t necessarily fx all of these issues, it would certainly be a step in the right direction.
of the issue and have to endure the industry’s most perilous consequences? Yes, those who exploit sex work must be dealt with, but we can’t make the marginalised sufer even more as a result. While sex work may not be empowering for many, criminalising it only further leaves people on the outskirts of society and places increased barriers in place for them in accessing their fundamental rights.
Te dialogue of shame has always followed women and their bodies around. A woman’s social and sexual experience is constructed as part of her identity, and in such a way, she becomes less valued when she does not
arguments for the criminalisation of sex work may have the good of the women and people who do these jobs in mind, these arguments don’t go nearly far enough in protecting the rights of the people at the front line. Te reality is that sex work happens, whether out of choice or necessity. While there are still systems in place where some people have to resort to sex work as a means of income, it is counterproductive to criminalise it. Before even thinking about its criminalisation, we must collectively take a look at the wider systems in place which make sex work a necessity for many.
thing we’re good for.”
Perhaps the self-determination narrative is quite a privileged view to take on sex work, and maybe ignorantly turns a blind eye to the circumstances in which sex work ofen takes place: in a system of oppression. But whether through
Meanwhile, there have been strong arguments against the decriminalisation of sex work, such as those made by the Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik, who sees sex work as sexual exploitation. Tis argument is based on the idea that the decriminalisation of sex work would in fact provide grounds for further harassment and abuse to take place, and that this could encourage trafcking and legitimise those who exploit women for proft. Tese arguments have some merit: the system of sex work is ofen exploited by those who proft from the commodifcation of women’s bodies. However, what does keeping it a criminal ofence do for those who bear the brunt
1,2. One of the four thoroughfares that converge at the southern end of the 5 down bridge (12,6)
3. Another of those thoroughfares (5,4)
4. Te third of those thoroughfares (1’5,6)
5. Irish patriot, hailed as Te Liberator, and afer whom a Dublin street and bridge are named (1’7)
6. Plural pronoun (2)
7. Sir Francis, the Irish hydrographer, who created the scale of wind speeds, that bears his name (8)
9. Capable of being located, from T. B. A. Clarke (9)
14. Te thoroughfare that runs west from the front of College (4.6)
15. A 1983 James Bond/Roger Moore movie, or a restaurant in Howth (9)
23. Te Count that was created by Irish author Bram Stoker (7)
26. Device that detects a physical property (6)
27. Tis institute houses the map library in College (5)
29. Dear Me! (4)
33. A short exclamation of surprise in a phone
34. 501 in dining! (2)
