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co n t e n t s 3 mystic mittens Soapbox
letter from the editors
4 arts&culture news WHWN 5 travel 6 f ood 8 games 10 film&tv photo: Martin healy
14 creative writing
IT wasn’t easy, and at times it seemed downright impossible. There was stress, sweat, tears, and even a badly bruised wrist. But we finally got here, and we now find ourselves on issue 4, the final issue of the first semester. Here at OTwo, we think that this milestone is cause for celebration, so much so that we’ve dedicated an entire issue to the idea. And what better time to celebrate? With Christmas just around the corner, the prospect of escaping the concrete expanse that is Belfield for a month is just the push most need to get over the finish-line. For those of us who need that bit more, though, there is OTwo. This issue, we are celebrating all things arts and culture, highlighting the importance of both enjoying and supporting what Dublin and further afield have to offer. Celebration is often a time to come together and to be thankful for all the positives we have in our lives. It is important, however, that we celebrate previously unrecognised aspects of our society too, and it is this duality that shows OTwo in all its glory. Our centre this issue, a moving and emotional interview with activist, archivist and journalist Tonie Walsh celebrates the hidden voices of Irish LGBTQ+ history, and his work on the AIDS Memorial project. Our Games section celebrates the best, but previously overlooked, games of 2016, while Film celebrates the importance of the media in a passionate and stirring Op-Ed piece. Food continues to salute the thriving food scene in the city, with a review of a new chicken-wing bar, while also looking ahead to Christmas, offering up the best of vegetarian festive snacks. Music continues to celebrate the bubbling hot-pot that is Dublin city. Irish titans, We Cut Corners, stop by for a chat, while Radar features SpudGun, the intergalactic space-travelling band that have made Dublin, and Earth, their temporary home. Music’s feature article also addresses the need to Katie Devlin Arts & Literature Editor support and increase opportunities for Ireland’s struggling musicians. Music Editor Ezra Maloney Fashion, meanwhile, celebrates the idea of the style icon, not just as someone who dresses well, Luke Sharkey Creative Writing Editor but embodies an entire lifestyle, while also lauding high-fashion houses’ successful transition to Games Editor Chiamaka Amadi accessing wider audiences through social media. Aaron Poole Online OTwo Editor Arts and Literature, similarly, highlights the importance of celebrating up-and-coming voices, Film & TV Editor Melissa Ridge and the diversity that both the written and spoken word can represent. Owen Steinberger So while things may seem stressful right now, in the lead-up to exams and looming deadlines, we hope that this issue brings you at least some hope, and the realisation that, however small, there is Alice Kelly The Honourable M. Mittens always some cause for thanks and celebration. Rebecca Kelly Cian Montague Ailble Keenan Sinead Mulcahy Kate Lalwani Conor O’Boyle Jake McPartland
16 Tonie wals h 20 music 24 fas hion 28 arts&lit
31 fatal fourway 32 aperture OTwo Credits Editor Roisin Guyett-Nicholson Deputy Editor Martin Healy OTwo Co-Editors Seán Hayes David Monaghan
Art & Design Editor Louise Flanagan Chief of Photography Camille Lombard Food & Drink Editor Rachel Gaffney Fashion Editor
OTwo Contributors Ause Abdelhaq Barbara Borges Elena Brady Shane Cullen
Eithne Dodd Alexander Glover Anna Graham Aoife Hardesty Orla Keaveney
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Happy Christmas! David + Seán