expliCIT, CIT's Student magazine

CIT Students’ Union Magazine Volume Twenty One, Issue 9

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SPECIAL EXAMS ISSUE: Great tips for studying remotely Stress control during exams Enter our Competitions to WIN cash!

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Your Union Your Voice

T

UPDATE TO ALL CIT STUDENTS

FROM THE REGISTRAR AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, DR ÁINE NÍ SHÉ Dear student, Over the past number of weeks, we have all been dealing with a level and pace of change that none of us could ever have imagined, and we will continue to do so for the weeks to come.

While there are signs that the measures which the government has put in place in relation to COVID-19 are having a positive effect, it is clear that various restrictions will remain in place for some time and that we must all work together to continue to ‘flatten the curve’, for the good of all students and staff of CIT, and in order to protect our families and friends and the wider society.

WORKING TOGETHER

During challenging situations, it is really important that we continue to work together for the greater good of all. While this recent period has been very challenging for us all, we wish to reassure you that we (CIT management and staff, in partnership with CITSU) have been working hard to safeguard your education and protect the quality of your learning experience while doing our best to help students and staff to keep safe and well.

WELLBEING

Your health and wellbeing continue to be our primary concern. Like all of us, you have had to adjust to a new way of studying and learning. Many of you have adjusted very well, staying connected to your programmes of study and your lecturers, and working on your assignments and assessments.

Some of you may be experiencing additional challenges. Please stay connected to CIT and ask for help. Your lecturers, Class Co-ordinator, and Head of Department are contactable through Canvas and by email. CIT’s portal https://covid19.cit.ie/ contains information and contact details for the various student services and supports which you may need at this time.

We have great support services at the Institute, for example, Counselling, Access and Disability, Careers, Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy, to name a few. While you will not be able to access these in person at this time, my colleagues in Student Affairs are happy to assist you through phone and online.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

Our focus to date has been to ensure that remote Teaching and Learning be facilitated to the greatest extent possible, while recognising that this may not always be universally or uniformly achievable. We wish to acknowledge the efforts of students and staff alike for engaging so willingly in this restructured format.

Canvas also enables you to stay in touch with your lecturers and to seek advice and feedback from them. Please ensure that you check Canvas and your @mycit.ie email account on a regular basis for any class announcements and updates. If you need any further information about Canvas, please check out the website of the Department of Technology Enhanced Learning – http://tel.cit.ie for further information and training resources which have been

developed especially for students. Academic Success Coaching continues to provide academic coaching using telephone, Skype and email. For further information or to arrange an appointment, please visit https://studentengagement.cit.ie/asc.The Academic Learning Centre ment.cit.ie/asc https://studentengagement.cit.ie/alc/remote continues to provide assistance in a range of subject areas, including Maths and Statistics, Accounting, Economics, Mechanics and Thermofluids, Physics, Computing and Chemistry.

The Academic Learning Centre can be contacted directly at academiclearning@cit.ie CIT Library continues to support online teaching and learning during the campus closure. Support on using library resources can be found at https://library.cit.ie/supports

INDIVIDUAL EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES (IECS)

CIT’s COVID-19 portal contains an online form https://covid19.cit.ie/important/iec-form which will allow you to inform your lecturer/s and Head of Department of any extenuating circumstances which you feel are impacting on your study. Examples of such circumstances include: death of a close relative, illness of self or close family member, sudden disruption of your personal life. Please note as follows: 1. At this time, the scope of the Institute’s IEC Policy has been extended to include Individual Extenuating Circumstances relating to COVID-19 and IT issues. However, in accordance with the Institute’s policy, the demands of paid or unpaid employment will not normally be considered to be valid IECs. All students, particularly full-time students, should note this very carefully.

2. If you believe that your particular circumstances constitute IECs, then you should you complete and submit the online IEC form at the earliest possible opportunity. Once submitted, the completed IEC form will be forwarded to your department for consideration by all relevant lecturer/s and/or Examination Board/s.

3. Should you wish to submit a claim in relation to IECs, then it is very important to note that it is your responsibility to ensure that you complete and submit the online IEC form at the earliest possible opportunity. https://covid19.cit.ie/important/iec-form 4. If there are issues anticipated with an upcoming assessment or exam for any reason OR if you have more generalised IT issues, then please contact the relevant departmental staff/ IT Servicedesk in the first instance as there still may be a way to accommodate for this.

ASSESSMENT

In relation to assessment, we have worked on new and innovative ways to assess your learning in this context. Given the current circumstances, continuous assessment approaches have been used to the maximum extent possible. The revised assessment plan for your programme has been reviewed and approved through CIT’s academic quality assurance systems. Please continue to check your Canvas Announcements and

your @mycit.ie email address on a regular basis for any assessment updates. If you are a student who is registered with the Disability Support Service (DSS), please ensure that you contact dss@cit.ie if you have queries on supports for online assessment.

CIT’s Academic Council has agreed that all examination boards will carefully consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and of the changed format of teaching, learning and assessment on student performance during this period. It has also approved a number of other special regulatory measures for the forthcoming examination session. Further information on these measures will be sent to your @mycit.ie email and will be posted on the Institute’s website later this week.

ACADEMIC HONESTY AND INTEGRITY

While we appreciate that the move to online assessment might be unsettling for you, we ask that you do your utmost to ensure the integrity of your own work. Academic honesty must be fostered and protected in order to protect the integrity of the academic qualifications awarded

by CIT. It is your responsibility to ensure that you abide by the Institute’s Policy Governing Academic Honesty, Plagiarism, and Infringements Relating to Examinations and Assessments and by the supplementary policy which has been approved for this period.

Further information on these and related procedures will be sent to your @mycit.ie email and will be posted on the Institute’s website.

For now, please be advised that it is the expressed policy of CIT that there is no acceptable level of plagiarism, collusion or other infringements and that appropriate action should be taken in relation to each and every instance detected.

We would like to thank you, our student, for your assistance in ensuring that academic honesty and integrity are observed and upheld at all times across CIT so that everyone will continue to have confidence in the qualification which you aspire to achieve.

YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS

CIT’s goal is to provide you, our student, with the maximum opportunity to accumulate credit this academic year, while adhering to all relevant CIT quality assurance and Health & Safety standards. Accordingly, we are now asking you to continue to engage in your studies to the very best of your ability as you work to complete all remaining assessments for this semester.

Do your best, we will continue doing ours and we will get through this together.

Dr Áine Ní Shé, Registrar

CONTENTS 4 TIPS FOR STUDYING REMOTELY

12 FLYNNERS FLYING COLUMN

8 H OW TO FIND STUDY RESOURSES OUTSIDE CIT LIBRARY FOR EXAMS & ASSIGNMENTS

13 LIVE CIT, LOVE SOCIETIES

9 STRESS CONTROL

An online programme from the HSE

10 TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT

Great tips from Anseo Student Engagement Office and the Academic Success Coaching Office

Glasgow

CIT’s entrants in the upcoming BICS Awards 2020

14 ONLINE GIGS

www.cit.ie/coronavirus REFERENDUM RESULTS

A few handy links to online ents in these Covid times

15 COMPETITIONS Hard cash on offer!

APRIL ISSUE COMPETITION WINNERS: Brainteasers - Veda Mandavkar; Say What You See - Eleanor Cooke; Suduko - Cliodhna Bowen Feb issue competition winners will be announced as soon as attendance on CIT campus is allowed again

Good luck in your exams... & Stay Well.

CIT Students’ Union, Bishopstown, Cork.

Tel: 021 433 5274 Web: www.explicit.ie CITSU

CITSU

expliCIT Production, Design & Advertising Keith Brown, supublications@cit.ie CIT SU President Aaron Buckley supresident@cit.ie

VP Education Aisling O’Mahony sueducation@cit.ie VP Welfare Cian O’Driscoll suwelfare@cit.ie Projects Officer Felix Milner dg_citsu@cit.ie Communications Officer Conor Flynn supublications@cit.ie Entertainments Officer Aoife MacGaley Event@cit.ie Entertainments Manager Mick O’Mahony Event@cit.ie

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Our copy deadlines, advertising rates and technical specifications are available from our website www.citsu.ie and upon request from the Publications Office in hardcopy or via email. expliCIT magazine is published monthly by CIT Students’ Union. The views expressed in the magazine are those of their authors and are not necessarily those of CIT Students’ Union. All articles and pictures are the property of their respective owners and should not be reproduced without their permission.

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TIPS FOR STUDYING REMOTELY A helpful guide which explains how to study and revise remotely and effectively.

With thanks to CIT Library https://library.cit.ie

YOUR STUDY SPACE Many students would normally find themselves studying in one of CIT’s campus libraries in the run up to exams. Unfortunately, this isn’t an option this year.

As a result, it’s important that you identify a suitable place to study while you’re at home. If you’re fortunate enough to have a desk, that’s great, but any work-surface such as a kitchen table, counter space or even an ironing board or your bed – any space where you can sit comfortably and take notes - will also be fine.

The important thing is that your space works for you.

It might also be a good idea to let the rest of the people you are living with know that this is your personal

“

Do your best to keep this study space as clean and as orderly as you can. Keeping your space organized can help create a clear mind and help you be more effective when studying. But don’t worry if that is not case.

Keep all the things that you need for study close at hand. This way you won’t waste valuable time looking for such items as books, study notes, your laptop or stationery.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

Studying remotely places different demands on you in terms of what you need to do your work.

Before you begin to work do a quick check and ensure that you have the necessary tools for remote study: 1. A device to work on e.g. computer, laptop or tablet.

2. A reliable internet connection.

3. The right software to complete your assignments.

If you don’t have these tools, contact your lecturers to see if alternative arrangements can be made for you.

The CIT Covid 19 Support Portal also provides some excellent and in many cases essential resources for online learning, these can be viewed here... https://covid19.cit.ie

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study place as we approach exams.

Theodore Roosevelt

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ESSENTIAL TOOLS Our colleagus in The CIT Disability Support Service (DSS Department) also have a wide array of software that CIT students can avail of remotely, these include: - Narration (Text To Speech) Software - Dictation Software - Flashcard / Quizlet Software - Maths & Chemistry Writing Software - Equatio - Online Mathematics Resource - Touch Typing Tutor Software - Mind Mapping Software.

For more information on these software packages, please contact our colleagues in the DSS Department. http://www.mycit.ie/access_disability/disability-support-service

ONLINE LEARNING CANVAS is the space where you are most likely to find the most useful remote learning resources for your modules or find answers in relation to end-of-term exams, assignments, course content, notes, or presentation slides. https://its.cit.ie/canvas

What’s expected of you in an online learning environment will be differ-

ent than what has been expected of you in a class or lab setting on campus. Find out as early as you can what this means for your modules.

Course Module Descriptors

https://courses.cit.ie are also a great way to find out what’s expected of you, explore course content, recommended reading and much more.

Library staff are now online from 9am until the later time of 8.00pm Monday to Friday starting on Monday 11th May until Friday 29th May to answer student queries.

In the run up to exams we’ll also be online on Saturday 16th and Saturday 23rd May from 9.00am to 4.00pm. library.info@cit.ie

Quick Tip: Don’t forget about the Library, TEL, Student Engagement and Disability Support Services. Each have expertise and resources, all of which are accessible remotely plus they’re always eager to help!

ENGAGING ONLINE At this critical time of the year with assignment deadlines and end-ofterm exams on the horizon, it’s important that you continue to engage with your coursework online.

It may be tempting but try not to treat this time as though you are “off.” Set out your day in a structured way as you would on campus.

This is a challenge, as our environment influences our actions, but it is worth pushing through the discomfort to ensure you keep up with your work.

During your online lectures, take notes and ask questions when something is unclear. It’s also important that you continue to read all material that is recommended by lecturing staff and supervisors.

You should also read all prescribed reading material that is listed in the Course Module Descriptors lists. https://courses.cit.ie Quick Tip 1:

Quick Tip 2:

Keep notes that will be available to you offline. Things can go wrong like an internet connection being temporarily unavailable, your device not working or the resource you need being checked out of the library. Having a back up plan can alleviate what is already a very stressful time.

Any notes that you take while reading may also prove useful at a later stage and during online Open-book Exams /Quizzes.

ENGAGE WITH CLASSMATES You can interact with fellow students via e-mail, mobile phone, social media or whatever online platform that works best for you.

you use this resource so that the collaborative aspect of your course can be maintained while the Institute remains closed.

Your lecturers may already have set up a place for your class to engage on the CANVAS Learning Management System. It’s important that

Using resources like Canvas, you and your classmates can collaborate on individual documents, share notes and much more.

Read more about how Canvas can help you at the following link... https://its.cit.ie/canvas

By staying in contact, you can help each other get through the semester and limit the level of isolation you may be feeling.

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TIPS FOR STUDYING REMOTELY CONTINUED...

CREATING A TIMETABLE Creating a timetable will help you organize your time, schedule your breaks and is especially useful when you have multiple subjects to study.

Write your schedule down so you can remember it and refer to it often.

Set reasonable limits for how much time you spend studying each day and break your study session up into manageable amounts of time.

It might also be a good idea to use a timer to help you keep track of time and to make sure you stick to the timetable that you’ve created.

Microsoft Outlook & Google Calendar can also be used to help you manage your study time more effectively.

You could also download a dedicated Planner App that will allow you to create and manage your study timetable. Check out this usful list of top rated Planning Apps...

The Union of Students in Ireland also provides a useful and free study guide and timetable which you can download here...

https://appgrooves.com/rank/productivity/day-planner/best-day-planner-apps

https://usi.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ReCharge-Study-Guide-English.pdf

ACTIVE STUDYING Active studying is as simple as asking questions before, during, and after study time. Not only does this help to give your study session direction, but it also helps keep you on track and reflect on how to improve for your next study session.

Questions that you should ask yourself before starting your study session - What am I about to learn?

- What do I already know about this subject?

Questions that you should ask yourself while studying

- How does this information fit into the bigger picture of my module or assignment?

- Do I understand what I have just read?

Questions to ask yourself when you’ve completed a study session - What can I take away from this study session?

- What do I need to review or learn during my next study session?

- Can I paraphrase it?

- Are there any key words or ideas that I need to write down? Why are these words and ideas important?

TAKING BREAKS Taking regular breaks when studying is essential. Now that you’re studying remotely you can build you study schedule around what works best for you in terms of your productivity but it’s still important to take regular breaks.

lows you to stay mentally focused and ensures that you don’t become exhausted. Step away from your study notes and laptop once every hour and get some fresh air, talk to a friend over the phone or grab a tea/coffee.

Don’t try to force yourself to study when your brainpower isn’t at its peak. Try to study when you’re most alert, so you can process and retain the information that you are studying.

It’s also a good idea to take in some exercise between your study sessions to avoid back ache and pains related to staying in the one position for too long. Students can find some useful and simple exercising tips to avoid aches & pains at the

Taking regular breaks from study al-

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following Link... https://bit.ly/35V5J1x After a day of study, it’s a good idea to remove your study materials from your work area until the following day and enjoy the rest of your evening.

HEALTHY EATING & DRINKING Your body and brain requires fuel and hydration to function efficiently. It can be difficult to focus when you’re hungry or dehydrated so remember to eat healthy food and take regular fluids to keep your mind and body in peak condition when studying for long periods of time in the run up to exams.

Healthy Ireland provides very useful guides for healthy eating, maintaining your mental health and keeping active. Visit their website here... https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/healthy-ireland/

IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP Students should aim to get a minimum of eight hours of sleep every night as we approach exam season. It’s the best way to ensure that the brain is refreshed and ready to process the information learned during the day.

It may be tempting to stay up late and cram, but it’s far more beneficial to get enough rest. A full night’s sleep is especially important the night before an exam, a good night’s sleep makes you more alert and improves memory for test material, leading to better test results.

BE KIND TO YOURSELF This list is provided as suggestions of what may help you study. It isn’t definitive because there is no perfect or “right” way to study.

If you feel things are getting on top of you the CIT Counselling Services has created a resource that may help you get through as best you can. You can find it here https://bit.ly/2Wrkrdv If you would like to avail of a session with the Counsilling Service you can email them at, counselling. admin@cit.ie. Emails are responded to during working hours, Monday -

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Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm.

This is all new and you are learning how to adjust to your new study arrangements, so be kind to yourself, don’t put pressure on yourself.

There is no particular way that you are expected to react to this situtation. Just try to keep going as best you can.

Experiment with some of what we have suggested and see how it feels. If something doesn’t work move on and try something else.

Below is a sound piece of advice about how to work through a daunt-

ing task. Break the task down and just take it one step at a time.

Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report written on birds that he’d had three months to write, which was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books about birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.

Anne Lamott

ASK FOR SUPPORT At this busy time of the year for students and especially with the current coronavirus restrictions, please remember to talk to somebody if you need advice, support or assistance. Lecturing staff, library staff and other CIT

Contact CIT Library Staff

E: library.info@cit.ie Contact CIT TEL Department https://edtechstudents.eu.helpdocs.com

”

Support Services are online during the week to offer you essential support and guidance. Useful Support Services for Students that are all available to contact remotely...

Contact CIT DSS http://www.mycit.ie/access_disability/ disability-support-service

Contact CIT Counselling Services http://www.mycit.ie/counselling

Contact CIT Student Engagement https://studentengagement.cit.ie Contact CIT Student’s Union

http://www.citsu.ie E: citsu@cit.ie

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FINDING STUDY RESOURCES FROM OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY FOR YOUR EXAMS & ASSIGNMENTS

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iven that many students are now sitting Open Book Exams or completing their coursework through assignments and with access to physical library resources not possible we anticipate a greater demand on our digital resources. With that in mind here are some tools that may help you access scholarly information that can support your study.

REPOSITORIES AND SEARCH ENGINES The resources you have access to through the library website are paid for so that staff and students can view them freely. In addition to this many institutions provide access to the work of their lecturers and researchers on their openresearch repositories. This provides access to millions of pieces of research around the world.

SWORD: South West Open Research Deposit

SWORD is CIT’s brand-new open research repository and already holds work by CIT lecturers that is relevant to your own studies.

Digital Commons Network

Digital Commons is the provider for the platform for SWORD and it is one we share with nearly 600 other institutions around the world. The Digital Commons Network allows you to search within all of these open-research repositories at once to find scholarly information.

BASE: Bielefeld Academic Search Engine

BASE is the biggest open access search engine one the web. From here you can search for scholarly work from nearly 8000 sources.

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BROWSER PLUGINS AND EXTENSIONS Often you may stumble upon an article you want to read through a general Google search or in Google Scholar and discover you don’t have credentials to read it. If CIT Library does not have access to this content browser plugins are a convenient way for you to find out if there is an open access version of the article available

Unpaywall

Unpaywall is a plugin that, once installed, pops out of the side of your screen. If you go to the article’s page you see the green lock logo that means that there is an open access version of the article available. Simply click on the green lock and it will take you to the article.

Open Access Button

Open Access Button is like a search engine and plugin combined. You can go directly to the Open Access Button site and search for an article or you can install the plugin to your browser and when you are on the article’s journal page, like the example in the picture, you can just click on the Open Access icon beside the search bar. If an open access version of the article is available it will take you to it.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES Libraries Ireland have a wealth of online resources that can be utilized remotely. Depending on your area of study they offer e-books & e-magazines that can help you with your work.

To find out more, check out the Libraries Ireland website.

The Stress Control Online programme has started. The programme covers topics including: • how stress affects our bodies and our thoughts, • skills to overcome panicky feelings.

• and tips to getting a good night’s sleep.

This programme includes six modules which will be broadcast at scheduled times for 3 weeks. Each module will be broadcast 4 times, either on Monday and Tuesdays or on Thursdays and Fridays at 2pm and 8.30pm as per the timetable above.

Go to https://stresscontrol.org and subscribe at no cost to the Youtube channel so you will be updated when the next module will be broadcast.

At this very challenging time Stress Control is a proven and effective way to improve your mental wellbeing.

You may wish to share the information about this programme with your family and friends aswell.

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Take Your Best Shot

As you face into and complete the final assessments of this academic year, remember that keeping focused and maintaining all the good habits you have developed during the year will help you to successfully cross the finish line.

Some of you will be doing online assessments, others will be finishing assignments or project work, no matter what your final days of the semester include keep on trying, give this your best shot.

You are nearly there!

TAKE YOUR BEST SHO

There is no “exact” way to prepare for assessments. You may find things that work for others will not necessarily be helpful for you. It is all about yourBook individual approach. a session with a Coach by e

academicsuccesscoach@ci

Staying positive and maintaining a growth mindset when you approach these final assessments can positively affect your experiences. With a growth mindset people believe that they can improve through dedication and hard work, which creates a resilience that is essential for success. Positive affirmations you might use: • I can handle this.

• I’ve succeeded in assessments in the past.

• Being a little nervous is helping me to stay alert and get on with doing my best.

• There are people I can turn to for advice and support.

Explore what works for you so that you can take your best shot!

Increase doing what has been successful for you in the past: • Practice relevant past exam papers.

• Use the free subject support available through the Academic Learning Centre • Make a realistic, balanced study plan • Maintain wellbeing by drinking lots of water and having good quality food and sleep • Have a session with an Academic Success Coach • Use the grinds that are advertised on the Students’ Union webpage • Use the free referencing support available on the library website

Talk to the right people: Although the CIT campus is closed, our virtual doors are open! We are working and are contactable via email.

Visit https://covid19.cit.ie/ • Class Coordinators/Lecturers/Heads of Department can give you information about your assessments and direction on how to study specific to your course • CIT’s Academic Success Coaches can explore your strengths and set goals • Academic Learning Centre where you can get subject support specific to your modules • CIT Students’ Union Education Officer who can offer guidance • CIT Access Service • Your peers who you can study with and support along the way • CIT Chaplaincy

https://studentengagement.cit.ie/

AnSEO - The Student Engagement Office, Office of the Registrar and VP for Academic Affairs, CIT

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• Family and friends who know you best and can support and motivate you in your studies • CIT Counselling Service

“Best of luck to everyone as you face the final weeks of this Semester. The end is in emailingsight so make a realistic plan for your remaining academic work, focus on what it.ie needs to get done, include plenty of breaks and mini-motivators, use your support network (friends, family, lecturers) and above all be kind to yourself.

You can do this.”

Cliona Hatano, Academic Success Coach

OT ...

“I would like to wish all students the very best of luck with finishing assignments and assessments over coming weeks. Remind yourself of the work you are doing and have completed so far, and maintain the good habits that you have in place.

Focusing on the actions you can control, every step counts and make sure to take regular breaks from your work.”

Joe Murphy, Academic Success Coach

Avoid doing what has been unsuccessful:

Top tips for final assessment success!

• Prioritizing ineffectively

• Ensure you have everything you need for the online assessment - chargers for devices, - bottle of water - quiet space - that people know not to disturb you.

• Spending too much time on social media, Netflix etc.

• Overworking in a job • Not seeking help • Leaving everything until the last minute • Negative thinking

• Get a good sleep the night before and have had a good nutritious breakfast.

• Answer the question that is being asked.

Academic Success Coaching is a space for you to discover where you are at and where you want to be by: • having purposeful conversations with your coach • identifying your goals and challenges • developing strategies and skills to improve your academic performance For further information on any of the above, make an appointment with an Academic Success Coach by visiting https://studentengagement.cit.ie/asc/book

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Flights of Fancy…

Flynner’s Flying Column

Hopefully, in the near future, things will get back to normal and travel will be possible again. With this in mind, please read about Flynner’s adventures in Glasgow and we all look forward to happy travel times ahead.

O

Glasgow

n March 19th 2010, a good 4 years before I would hit CIT, I landed at Cork Airport. With three good mates – local legends Veggy, Tony and Denis - we decided to hit Glasgow to see Glasgow Celtic F.C. face St. Johnstone. This was deffo going to be a treat for myself, for two years ago from then (2008), I received an all-expenses paid trip to Glasgow to see my childhood soccer team as a gift from these chaps for my 30th birthday, and though I was by then 32, it was not too late for sure!

After a few relaxing drinks in Craft Lane Bar, we boarded the flight to Glasgow International and took the train to the city centre, passing Hampden Park and Rangers’ stadium at Ibrox before arriving at Holiday Inn at Stockwell Street, where myself and the boys took the time to unwind before hitting the town for dinner and drinks.

While more people flying from Cork to Scotland choose Edinburgh as their fave destination on account of the Scottish capital having more old world charm and beauty, Glasgow can have its sense of fun as well. It is Scotland’s largest city, is also it’s main shipbuilding and industrial centre and it is renowned for the fierce soccer rivalry between Celtic - which identifies itself as Catholic, pro-Irish and Independent Scotland – and Rangers – identifying as Protestant, Unionist and representing the United Kingdom . This rivalry can allso-often get ugly, especially in Northern Ireland, and the ‘Old Firm’ Derby rivalry days are when it is at its most intense, but as long as one is sensible, you will be grand. Glasgow also has a thriving music scene. Native acts include Simple Minds, Primal Scream, Texas, Travis, Franz Ferdinand, Paulo Nutini, Glasvegas and Calvin Harris.

It took some searching for a good venue for a tasty meal at first but eventually we found the local Wetherspoons (they had

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a higher status back them somewhat) where I tucked into a massive meal of chops and chips to sort the hunger there!

Then we went to Baird’s Bar, a legendary Celtic pub where I started on the Tennants Lager. Afterwards we went to King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, the city centre niteclub famous for Glaswegian music mogul Alan McGee (a Rangers fan) giving a certain pub band called Oasis a 6-record contract with Sony in May 1993 that would make the Gallagher brothers (both Celtic fans) global superstars 2 years later.

The next morning it was down to business. A tasty breakfast was had, then it was time for shopping in the Celtic superstore at Buchanan Street, where I picked up a beer pitcher, a DVD, a retro-jersey, a pennant and a Hoops scarf (it came in handy in Euro 2016). Then after a lunch at Wetherspoons, we hit the black cab to Paradise/Parkhead/Celtic Park (the choice of name is all yours). But first, it was the pre-match drinks at a lovely bar called The Vogue. Tony decided to experiment with drinking a pint of lager with a straw and Veggy challenged me to eat the Scottish National Dish: Haggis. I promised him that the following day. And Denis was simply taking the moment in, like all of us. But suddenly we had to hit the stadium. And 3pm kickoff! ‘Hail-Hail-TheCelts-Are-Here’ opened the two teams coming on the pitch and Celtic won 3-0, including a penalty taken by Republic of Ireland legend Robbie Keane (then on loan from Tottenham Hotspur). Half time saw me take in the mural paying tribute to the Lisbon Lions, the team of Jock Stein which saw them win all their domestic competitions and become the first team in Britain to win the European Cup (now Champions League) in 1967, and remain the only team to win 5 trophies in a single season. The interior of the stadium was simply breath-taking.

Match over, it was back to The Vogue for the Six Nations Rugby between Ireland and Scotland. It was pretty surreal to see two sets of Celtic fans, one set shouting for Ireland, the other for Scotland! Ireland

won the match in the end. Then back to the hotel to change (for your own safety, DO NOT show your team colours in the weekend scene after the match, for Glasgow can get violent) before we headed out for dinner. I was not yet ready for my haggis, so in the Clutha and Victoria Bar and Grill, it was for some fine dining over beer, burgers, fries and dessert and a few relaxing ones to wind down the weekend before hitting the hotel bar for a nightcap.

Sunday morning and time to get ready to go home. But after checking out and leaving baggage at reclaim, we headed for a walk along the River Clyde. The bridges were very impressive – some modern and some Industrial Revolution-era – with plenty of colour. Then off to Wetherspoons for our final meal where I fulfilled the bet for the boys and had my meal of Haggis… and it was very tasty! All while a few hundred Rangers fans were packing the bar before the Scottish League Cup Final against Motherwell kicked off that day! Nervous? Nah! Too busy relishing my meal!

Then it was the black cab to the airport and had the Bhoys- I mean boys, howling with my impersonations of Simpsons character Troy McClure before, at the airport bar, we had a last drink prior to boarding the plane back to Ireland. Back home to Macroom and a few scoops of Guinness with my Celtic goodies on show and I can honestly say that it was a well worth trip! Glasgow, I certainly will be back someday! And I will never forget these boys I was with for the birthday gift, and the banter to go!!

Fly from Cork with Aer Lingus Regional: www.corkairport.com www.aerlingus.com www.holidayinns.com Celtic FC: www.celticfc.com, On Facebook, Twitter & Instagram King Tuts Wah Wah Hut: On Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

LIVE CIT, LOVE SOCIETIES For full list of societies go to www.societies.cit.ie

Sharan Shaju and Avinash Nagarajan

CIT at BICS 2019

2020 BICS NATIONAL SOCIETY AWARDS CONTENDERS

T

his year gets stranger and stranger as this epidemic Civil & Structural representing us in the Best Departmental continues to affect the regular academic calendar category. The Indian society will be representing their Diwali norm we were all so familiar with. This crisis has led event in the Best Event category. Winners of CIT Society of us to adapt so many of our daily routines to something a the year award 2020, the International Students Society bit more digital. Our Societies are determined to continue to will be representing in the Best Society (Cultural, Academic, operate and have had to adapt to this change quite quickly Social) category. Representing us in the Best Society (Charboth on the staff and the student side. From the Student side ity, Civic) category will be the LGBT* Society. it may mean that large events will have to be put on hold but We have 2 individuals representing us at BICS this year. In for some, weekly meetings have continued online. the Best Fresher category, we have Sharan Shaju. Sharan On the 9th April the CIT Societies Awards were held won the CIT Best Fresher award at our own awards this year. online in a video conference call. Societies Officer Aoife Sharan is an active first year in societies being part of the Kelliher presented and announced the winners of this year’s Photographic society and the Indian society. Next, we have awards. Many of these winners will go forward to represent Konrad Im representing CIT in the Best Individual category.

CIT at the BICS National Society Awards. BICS stands Winner of the CIT Students Societies & Activities Awards for Board of Irish College Societies. This organization is 2020 Supreme Achievement in Society & College-wide made up of the society officers around the country and help activities. Konrad is the chairperson of the LGBT* and has societies on a national level. Every year BICS holds their been active member of the society since he started in CIT. own Society Awards where student and societies from all Konrad had done some amazing work in and off campus over Ireland compete against each other in with the LGBT* Society and this year the varying categories. The CIT representatives society held the GSA Training day for must complete an application for their catsecondary school students which was a egory and create a visual portfolio but this major success. year the format has been changed slightly.

The other societies representing at BICS Instead of an interview, the representatives are Anime & Manga Society in the Best must create a 5-minute video to help show poster category, Musical Society in the off their personalities for the judges. In Best Picture and the Best Promotional the past 10 years, CIT has shown that we Video categories and Energy & Envihave the very best of Societies, winning 14 ronmental Society in the Green Initiative awards at BICS and hoping to win more category. Wishing them the best of luck in with this year’s representatives. the next few weeks as they aim to comSo who is representing CIT this year? In plete both their own college assignments the Best New Society category, we have and BICS applications.

Konrad IM the Sci-Fi Society. This year we have the

13

ONLINE LIVE GIGS H

ow we consume music has changed considerably over the years from listening to vinyl records (back in mainstream culture again by the way) and cassettes and cds right trough to downloads and streaming.

Covid 19 has left us with a new issue – the shutdown of live gigs. Due primarily to the inability to be able to adhere to social distancing safety all live music has come to a halt. All small shows right to festivals have stopped for the foreseeable venue. But the show must go on, right? Absolutely, the show must go on to give people hope and to maintain the feeling of connectivness that live music can give you. Like so many others, DJs and artists everywhere have suddenly been left with no work and no income because of restrictions brought on by the corona virus pandemic. With some health officials and politicians now predicting that large public gatherings may not return until 2021—or at least until there’s both herd immunity and a vaccine.

The advantages of technology has allowed everybody whether you are the person that has picked up an instrument for the first time or Ed Sheeran or DJ Deadmaus to bring your show safely from your home live to the world.

SO IN THE SHORT TERM WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE MOMENT LOCALLY? De Barras Sitting Room Session - https://www.facebook.com/DeBarrasClon

Coughlans Troubadours (at home) Sessions https://www.facebook.com/coughlanslive Facebook live are staging weekly shows with the artists being paid to perform from their homes. There is also an online tip jar if you feel adding a little extra yourself. Another interesting one to check out is be Hot Press Lockdown Sessions

https://www.hotpress.com/lockdown-sessions.

Though primarily for up and coming future talent, Hudson Taylor did take part last month. It’s worth checking out the listings. Check out

https://www.bandsintown.com/c/dublin-dublin-

ireland for best of the national and international shows being streamed.

Moving on to the realms of Djs over the past month, live streamed sets have become so in demand that leading electronic music platform Resident Advisor https://www.residentadvisor.net recently added a new hub called Streamland to its event listings. Resident Advisor includes various podcasts, live DJS shows and much more if electronic music is your thing.

New online shows are being introduced every day so keep an eye on various social media platforms There is plenty of stuff going on out there for free or otherwise...please support by just turning up online. Stay safe at home if you can.

By Mick O’Mahony, CIT SU Ents Manager

14

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