New beginnings ISSUE THREE
Contents 4 Meet Our Team & Contributors 8 Letter from the Editor 9 Celebrations of Girl Talk 12 Nature Walks 14 New Beginnings 18 Ghostie Photoshoot 20 International Day of the Girl 22 Black Lives Matter 25 Nature Walks 26 Diary Entries 28 Meet Our Newest Staff 30 Current Affairs Worldwide 33 Guest Submission 34 Christmas Movie Reviews 38 Book Recommendations 43 Album Review 45 Our Own New Beginnings
MEET OUR TEAM
Anna Lee Dowling Chief Public Relations Officer This issue is my first time contributing written articles, which I’m excited for!
Nate Dowling Junior Public Relations Officer My job is to work together with Ali to bring the latest info to you guys, our other members and create the posts you'll be seeing on social media.
Niamh Kelly Writer I’m so excited for you to read our newest issue and join us in celebrating the end of this very long and trying year. We’ve all put in a lot of work and hope that you love it as much as we do!
Aaron Mitchell Writer Hey everyone, since Christmas is on its way, this issue I reviewed some popular Christmas movies.
Carly Fagan Writer
Katie Dunne Photographer Hi! As well as being a photographer, for this issue I also wrote two articles, and contributed some art as well as providing the photograph for our cover.
Bridget Reidy Dundon Photographer Hi! My name is Bridget and I’m 14. I’m excited for you to see all of our hard work and for you to read this issue. My favourite Christmas film is the Grinch!
Our Contributors
Thank you to our wonderful volunteer and right-hand man Jimmy as well as Eilish for guiding us through this issue. As always, we are forever grateful for the staff at Youth Work Ireland Laois for supporting our dreams.
See what the team is listening to by scanning the Spotify code!
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR What a year. Our third issue very much reflects the desire I think we are all feeling to leave this year behind and move on to better things, and that is exactly where our theme of New Beginnings comes from. In these pages you’ll find stories of those new beginnings, journeys began and journeys continued, and, as always, the unmoving talent of the young people we are lucky to be surrounded by.
I have been a member of this place – Youth Work Ireland Laois – for three and a half years now, and have been the Editor of this newspaper for just over a year. At some point in all our lives we must find our own new beginning, and I couldn’t be more hopeful or trustful than I am leaving this project in the hands of its current team who can only be described as the most talented young people I’ve had the privilege of meeting. This newspaper will continue to grow and mould throughout the
oncoming years as new teams are formed and new Editors take their place on this page. It cannot be understated, however, the talent, dedication, skill, pure stubbornness and love the first team members have shown since October 2019 through to right now, despite having to deal with the toughest circumstances. This issue represents every young person who joined this project at some point or another
because they wanted to both share their own stories as well as listen to what others had to say. So, to Aoife, Marta, Jill, Mac, Aaron, Katie, Niamh, Bridget, Carly, Nate, and Ali – you have been the foundational pillars to this project and have all given purpose to something that can be so important to young people who need their voices heard; for that, us oldies will be forever grateful. Without further delay, please enjoy another issue showcasing just what this generation is capable of.
The Celebrations of Girl Talk Anna Lee Dowling On 29th October 2020, I had the pleasure of accepting a Garda National Youth Award on behalf of Girl Talk. We won an award under the Community Safety category. We were the only award winners from Laois this year.
The Garda Youth Awards, at Divisional and National level, celebrates outstanding young people aged between 13 and 21 years, and recognises the good work they are doing throughout their communities. The first ever Garda Divisional Youth Awards was created by a local Juvenile Liaison Officer in West Cork in 1995. He noticed that the young people in the community were doing
tremendous things which deserved recognition. The awards has grown in leaps and bounds since then. In 2019, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris launched the first ever An Garda Síochána National Youth Awards saying “The inaugural Garda National Youth Awards will be a showcase for the positive contribution young people are making in their communities. The awards at national and divisional level are a great way for Gardaí to develop strong relationships with community groups and young people in their area.” This year the ceremony took place online. We were first welcomed by Cork Gaelic Footballer and Garda Tony Davis. Garda Commissioner
Drew Harris presented awards to seven young people from the Individual category. The group awards were presented by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. She recognised that this year has been a “challenging year for young people” and commended us on our “perseverance, strength and determination that [we] have shown during the last few months.” Acting Deputy Commissioner Anne Marie McMahon presented the Special Achievement Awards. Entrepreneur and Dublin Gaelic Footballer Bernard Brogan presented Girl Talk with our Community Safety Award. “Girl Talk Youth Group from Laois/Offaly is a
group of 15-21-year-old women from various backgrounds who come together to a safe place where they can empower, support and encourage each other and those in the wider community.” Over the past few years Girl Talk has provided young women in Laois a safe place to discuss feminine issues and to support each other through life’s obstacles and celebrations. We would meet weekly over a cuppa. There were many tears and laughs as we grew up together. In 2019, we raised money for Laois Domestic Abuse by participating in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon. We also started a fitness program at Ladies Only Lifting gym in Laois with Yvonne.
Unfortunately, many of our plans and hopes for 2020 have been dashed with the pandemic, however that didn’t stop us from encouraging and supporting each other!
There will be 1000 failures before success.. Use these as energy and opportunities for success. Bernard Brogan
It has certainly been an empowering experience that I will never forget. Many thanks to all the members of Girl Talk, our youth workers Elaine and Simone and all of the staff at YWI Laois for the support and happy memories.
Picture by Katie Dunne
Nature Walks Bogwalk, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois
Picture by Eilish Short
Nature Walks Glenbarrow Waterfall, Slieve Bloom Mountains
New Beginnings Katie Dunne Exploring life and education beyond the Leaving Cert
After the whole debacle that was the 2020 Leaving Certificate, I was more than happy to leave secondary school behind and move to further education. It had always been my plan to do a PLC before going to university, and with all the uncertainty, I am definitely glad that I made this
decision. In September I began Level 5 Art, Craft, and Design in Abbeyleix. While many colleges have moved their courses 100% online, this wouldn’t work for art due to the highly practical nature of it. That is not to say that there haven’t been any changes because of COVID – far from it! Of course, we all have to wear face masks, as I’m sure we are all used to by now, but there are other measures in place to ensure our safety; we all have allocated seats two metres from other students, with partitions
between us. In the case of shared materials or supplies, anti-viral wipes are freely available for use to wipe things down once we’re finished with them. While this might sound like a lot of change, especially for anyone who has done the same course in previous years, I suppose it hasn’t been too difficult to adjust to the new COVID regulations, because this is my first experience of further education – I’m sure it must be very strange for the Level 6
students! It hasn’t been too difficult to adjust to doing a PLC after finishing secondary school. I was lucky in that I knew a few people in my class before the course started, and it is a fairly small class of very friendly people. One thing that I and a few others in the class found a little strange at first is that we refer to the tutors by their first name, rather than ‘Sir’ or ‘Miss’. The learning in adult education is also far more self-directed than in secondary school, and you have much more freedom; it felt very strange at first to not have to ask permission to use the bathroom! In comparison to a secondary school art class, the art PLC offers much more freedom of expression, as well as the opportunity to work with a wide variety of mediums. I enjoy that we are encouraged to be as wild and creative as possible, and that our work won’t be censored, and that the tutors are open to any off-the-wall ideas we may have. Practical classes in the studio don’t feel so much
like a teacher standing at the top of the room, telling us what to do, but rather a fellow artist sharing their expertise with the class. As well as practical work in the studio, we also have the more theory-based subjects of workexperience, communications, and art appreciation. Compared with art history and appreciation in secondary school, we have more freedom to research artists and art
movements we are actually interested in. We spent our first week in Abbeyleix bog, recording the landscape; we are very lucky to have such a beautiful place to draw so nearby! Then for the next two weeks, we each had to bring in an object, which we used to learn the basics of drawing. After those two weeks, I feel like I’ve drawn more pictures of garlic than any one
person would ever need to do in their life! We also had three one-week workshops in painting, ceramics, and textiles / combined materials, where we were taught the basics of each of these disciplines. This is so we have the necessary skills to complete all of the assignments we will be given throughout the year. Although I certainly don’t have a natural talent for most of the techniques I tried out during these three
weeks, I am certainly glad to have had the opportunity to experiment with different ways of making art. While the situation we are in has certainly made things different, and it may have taken a little while to adjust to the differences of a PLC, I am very excited to have started this course. For me and the people in my class, it is the beginning of our careers as artists, and the start of our journeys through 3rd level education.
Ghostie photoshoot Some of the newspaper’s team members took on the recent viral TikTok Ghost Photoshoot trend. Below is the code to the song that accompanies the trend, which you can scan on the Spotify app and listen along while flicking through!
The international day of the girl Aoife Dunne
It’s hard to deny that we are living in a digital era. Now more than ever we are using social media to stay connected and living out our lives online. For many people, this is a liberating experience. But not for everyone. To a huge number of young girls worldwide, having an online presence means becoming targets for online bullying, harassment and abuse. Sunday the eleventh of October is International Day of the Girl (IDG)
and it is being celebrated this year by Plan International, a global development organisation, active in over 70 countries with a focus on the rights of girls. IDG is an annual event which gives girls an opportunity to amplify their voices and speak up on issues of importance to them. This year, Plan International Ireland is focusing on the pertinent theme of Equal Freedom for Girls Online. The internet is a scary place for
for girls today. Research from Plan shows that more than half of the 14,000 girls surveyed around the globe have experienced some form of harassment online, and the rates are even higher in Ireland at 68%. One in five girls is left feeling physically unsafe after being targeted online. In a qualitative interview, one respondent said: “Mainly [the harassment] just gives me disappointment in humanity.” The research also found that this harassment starts young, with some girls reporting experiences of abuse from as young as 8 years old. Social media harassment was found to peak between the ages of 12-18. Plan has heard from girls who have been body shamed, racially abused, threatened and sexually harassed. And it only gets worse when they use their voices and share their opinions.
Most worrying of all is that this online violence is serious, causing real harm, and silencing girls’ voices. Just over a fifth of the girls surveyed said that they had limited their use of social media platforms or stopped using social media altogether as a direct result of the harassment that they face. But this is simply unfair, especially in the middle of a pandemic that sees us all moving more and more online. Girls should not have to silence themselves to exist in the online sphere. With our growing reliance as a society on the internet and social media, these girls are at risk more than ever. Girls deserve better. They deserve to know that there is a place for them online. They deserve to know that if they are abused or harassed, they can report it and be listened to – that perpetrators will be
held accountable for their actions. Because, right now, this just isn’t the case. Everyone has a part to play in this fight for freedom onlinegovernments, families, friends and communities. But especially the social media companies themselves. The power lies with them to stop the abuse that girls are subjected to each day. Girls from around the world have written an open letter to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter, calling on them to create ways to report abuse and harassment that work for girls. The power is in our hands to create a safer internet for our girls. To sign the open letter to social media companies and find out more information, visit https://www.plan.ie/fre e-to-be-online/
Black lives matter Carly Fagan We are living through a historic civil rights movement, where black people are making their voices heard. At the time of me writing this 4,444 towns and cities have held BLM protests worldwide since 25/5/2020. Black Lives Matter is a movement founded in 2013 by Alicia Garcia, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi, in response to the acquittal of the killers of Travon Martin. Their mission is to “eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on black communities by the state and vigilantes.� Despite the movement being active since 2013, it is only recently being given public and government attention internationally. The main causes of the recent mainstream attention are the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain by law enforcement and the fact that those murdered by police rarely receive justice. 874 people have been killed by police in the US in 2020, 28% of those being black. The murder of George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin on the 25th of May sparked protests around the world. The public and government reaction has been mixed. While some see Black Lives Matter as an opportunity for black people to have their voices heard, others believe the movement is only dividing society more.
No matter what you believe, we must admit that racism plays a factor in people's everyday lives, not just in the US, but here in Ireland as well. When we talk about racist systems, we usually mention America, not realising that Ireland has its own racist systems which oppresses black people and people of colour, while also helping white people. Direct Provision is the most obvious of these systems. Direct Provision is meant to be accommodation for asylum seekers. While the government has said it is only meant to be temporary, the average length of stay is 2 years, with some having been in direct provision for 10 years. Residents have no facilities to cook for themselves, live in shared accommodation - some living in rooms with up to 8 people. Residents are given an allowance
rooms with up to 8 people. Residents are given an allowance between €29-€38 to buy items such as food, clothes and hygiene products. Asylum seekers are also not allowed to access third level education. According to Doras.ie, 7000 people are currently living in direct provision, children making up 30%. This system is preventing mainly people of colour (POC) from becoming a part of Irish society and being able to live happy and fulfilling lives. This is only one example of how the government is actively making people’s lives harder due to their ethnicity and race. While these systems are the most obvious examples of racism in our society, we also need to begin addressing casual and subtle racism that can be seen day to day in Ireland. Asking where someone is ‘really from’, calling a black person aggressive or oversensitive for just being angry, when a person of colour commits a crime and saying their race is the reason, are all examples of subtle acts of racism that far too many people are guilty of.
We have ignored our racism whether it’s our government systems built to oppress people of colour or our own casual acts of racism. I interviewed Eric Ehige and Sinead Dunne on their views about BLM and what Irish society needs to do in terms of their own racism. Q. How do you feel about the recent attention to the Black Lives Matter movement? Eric: I’m extremely happy about how people are finally paying attention to issues regarding racism and discrimination. Far too long, people who have been subjected to racism have been neglected and their voices have not been regarded - but our nation is finally paying attention to these people and making it a priority to unify our nation - regardless of the identity of its citizens- and bringing people together on grounds of modernity and equality. Sinead: I feel that the recent attention to BLM is a very good thing because it’s making people aware that racism is still a very big issue in today’s world, and we’ll need to come together as people to put an end to racism. Q. In your opinion, with BLM making the world focus on its racism, what does Irish society need to address? Eric: I would like to see Ireland address our asylum seekers system which disproportionately marginalises a lot of people of colour and strips them away from basic civil rights that should be
basic civil rights that should be available to all people living in our nation. I’d also like to see the education system morph into one that encompasses more stories which culturally reflects the diversity in the modern Irish classroom. I believe we need to see more representation of people of colour, women and under-represented groups in politics and public life also. This can be secured by creating an open and enabling space for these people and uplifting their voices. Sinead: I, as a white person, have never experienced racism. White people, not only in Ireland, need to realize their white privilege and how they benefit off systems that oppress people of colour. White people need to stop ignoring that they have more opportunities solely based on their race and that the playing is not even at all.
their white privilege and how they benefit off systems that oppress people of colour. White people need to stop ignoring that they have more opportunities solely based on their race and that the playing is not even at all. Q. What actions can Irish people take to educate themselves on racism in society and their own casual racism? Eric: To educate oneself about racism, it’s important to converse with those who are victims of racism but most importantly try to objectively understand the nature of racism. If you aren’t one who has been treated in a racist way, that doesn’t mean your voice is less significant than those who are. Try to learn about the history of racism, how it impacts modern-day society and the role you can play in minimising racism within Ireland, as it affects us all in one way or another, whether we realise it or not.
way, that doesn’t mean your voice is less significant than those who are. Try to learn about the history of racism, how it impacts modern-day society and the role you can play in minimising racism within Ireland, as it affects us all in one way or another, whether we realise it or not. Sinead: Irish people can educate themselves by researching using the multiple resources available to better understand what racism is. Irish people can also talk to people of colour and listen about how racism affects them. By educating ourselves instead of ignoring racism, we can make a small difference. It is always hard to look at ourselves and confront the mistakes we have made, but racism isn’t a thing we can sweep under the rug. Even if you have never been a victim of racism, it doesn’t mean you have the right to ignore it. It’s not just harmful comments or slurs; racism can be seen in our government systems and if we don’t try to fix this, people of colour will continue to suffer. Recent events aren’t an excuse to think racism is finally coming to end, it means now we have no excuse to be ignorant and we need to do better.
Picture by Bridget Reidy Dundon
Nature Walks Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Diary Entry – New Beginnings Bridget Reidy Dundon
21/11/2020
Looking back now, I realise why I hated my first day of school this year so much. It was extremely difficult. I mean, now I can see why in a different light. I’m used to it. It isn’t that bad. Walking into school that first day everything was different. I mean, I spent my first two years in my secondary school mixing with the other years, being able to hug my friends, doing group projects in class. But now that wasn’t the same. I had to wear a mask (which was fine, I felt so much safer doing so!), constantly had to hand sanitise, sanitise my desk before and after use, and I was alone at my desk a metre between the people around me on each side. At first, the isolation was nice, I mean, I didn’t have to worry about someone bugging me all class to chat. But then, after a few weeks I began to feel sad. I wasn’t able to do group projects. I wasn’t able to move seats to sit near a close friend, or away from someone I wasn’t really thrilled to sit near. Everything was so restricted. You know, my school has only had once case. And it was a teacher. So we’re doing something right. We’re being as safe as we can be in a time that’s extremely difficult to navigate. It’s not easy. It’s extremely hard to not be able to talk to the first years and help them in their journey to settle in and transition to a new school. But, of all this, a plus side for me was that I reconnected with
an activity that I truly loved to do; Debating. I debated a bit in primary school, and I did the Soapbox competition last year. I dipped in and out of the debate club but I forgot about the meetings and spent my lunchtimes doing something else that didn’t really matter. But now that I didn’t really have as much to do, I had time to rekindle my love of debate and public speaking. I do debating in school and it’s really, really fun. I really enjoy it. It can be hard speaking in front of a group of people but it’s actually really fun. I mean, I get to talk and learn about things I didn’t really learn or dare to think about before and I get to hear about both sides! I really enjoy that. Being back in school has been tough, but it’s had its pros. I mean, we gotta get on with life some way or another. We gotta adapt and overcome.
Meet the Newest Staff Members of Youth work Ireland Laois Hi! I’m Natalie the Positive Laois Co-ordinator. This involves co-ordinating different programmes for young people, such as life skills, holistic wellbeing, and resilience. I started working at YWI Laois in December 2018. I definitely miss the face-to-face interactions with young people. In person we could have a cup of coffee and chats, however I think we have adjusted to online youth work quite well. During the first lockdown in particular, I really enjoyed the Murder Mystery games that our young people Saoirse, Niamh and Ali created. It was a nice break from the seriousness of the pandemic, and we could just have a bit of a laugh together. It is both sad and happy watching a young person grow up and move onto the next chapter of their life. I feel proud watching young people achieve their goals. Compared to other organisations, we are a small team, but we have big aspirations.
Hi! I’m Jimmy the Laois Youth Traveller Worker, and I also work with the YVY Press team. I started working here in September 2020. It has been a bit of a struggle adjusting to online youth work. I’d love to meet young people in person, but I know it’s more important that we all feel safe. It’s difficult starting a new job anyway, but even more so when you’re trying to get to know young people through a computer screen. I love being able to put a smile on someone’s face when they have been feeling down. The talents, vibrancy, and enthusiasm that young people have are quite amazing to see. We are constantly coming up with new ideas and plans to connect with more young people in Laois.
Current Affairs Around the World The American Presidential Election America faces a new beginning at the moment through the election of former Vice President Joe Biden, officially dethroning President Donald Trump. Along with this, the first ever woman – and woman of colour, at that - Vice President has been elected, coming from a family of proud immigrants. The next four years will be of extreme interest to the rest of the world, and, of course, we’re sure there will be the usual dramas to come with it.
Decrease in Global Pollution From March, world-wide scientific organisations saw a dramatic drop in pollution levels as the world entered lockdown.
NASA recorded a 20year-low pollution level in India, of which the capital of New Delhi saw a 60% decrease in only the first week of lockdown. Though it can be viewed that this progress will be diminished next year once we resurface back to our old lives, organisations and governments have taken notice, and some don’t intend on letting go of this progress easily; encouraging us to not give up hope.
Same-Sex Marriage in Costa Rica Marriage between a couple of the same gender was legalised in Costa Rica in May this year, becoming the seventh country in Latin America to do so. This was followed by the country’s Supreme Court ruling in 2018 the act declaring the illegality of equal marriage ‘unconstitutional’, giving the government eighteen months to present the court with a strong reason as to why the act should stay in place. After failing to do so, same-sex marriage became legal on the 26th of May, the President of Costa-Rica saying, “You have begun in law what has existed in love.”
Baby Yoda The tiny green child continues to climb in popularity all over the world as season two of The Mandalorian is released. Reports claim that Baby Yoda was discussed more in media in the past months than both American presidential candidates combined! The adorable baby also left to explore space as the first Space-X rocket to be sent to the International Space Station brought a Baby Yoda doll on board as their gravity tester.
Xbox Vs. PlayStation November saw the official release of the two most played gaming consoles in the world, the debate between which is better growing even more heated just in time for the holidays. Whether a fan of the Xbox or PlayStation, all fans united when the first look at the new consoles came out, agreeing that it wasn’t really a debate between consoles but rather a debate between a minifridge and a wifi router.
Animal Crossing In late March of this year, the newest Animal Crossing game on the Nintendo Switch was released just in time for all our freed-up schedules! This therapeutic, chilled game lets you visit friends islands and play together, uniting people of all ages around the world in a time where they couldn’t visit each other physically. With its bright colours and calming music, this game is truly one of the good things to come out of 2020.
NEW BEGINNINGS – GUEST SUBMISSION Kate Knowles I’ve been oil painting and found the therapeutic value and inspiration of Abbeyleix bog-walk last year. I’ve just started the art, craft and design course in Abbeyleix LOETB in September. New beginnings is my way of life it seems.
Christmas Movie Rankings Aaron Mitchell
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Home Alone Love, Actually The Polar Express Miracle on 34th Street Elf
Christmas movies are a huge part of the holidays. After people who put their decorations up way too early, Christmas movie channels returning, and Christmas movies being added to Netflix are some of the first signs that Christmas is on its way. They are an essential part of each December and today I’m going to talk about some of my favourites and some of my least favourites; so beware, I may slate your favourite. *Spoiler Alert*
(Home Alone-1990) Home Alone is one of those movies that everyone talks about when discussing Christmas movies. The first movie was released in 1990 and has spawned four sequels. Honestly, I personally wouldn’t bother watching past Home Alone 2. The film focuses on Kevin McAllister, a bratty eight year old who, after his family forgets him when they go on holiday, must
Love, Actually – 2003 I’m gonna be honest and say that Love, Actually is probably my favourite Christmas movie. The movie follows nine sets of characters in the weeks leading up to Christmas. All of these characters are linked with the exception of one set - a washed up musician and his manager. Though, the film cleverly has him playing on other characters’ radios or televisions. The film is well worth a watch but some parts of it really don’t hold up to 2020 standards and shouldn’t have been approved in
2003. There are many instances of fat shaming particularly with Martine McCutcheon’s character, a member of the prime minister’s house staff. The character’s weight is constantly pointed out by minor characters throughout the film. I didn’t realise it the first time that I watched the movie but the storyline following Juliet, Peter and Mark is quite creepy. Mark loves his best friend’s wife from afar and records videos at their wedding solely of her. The ending of their storyline is nice enough but Mark as a character is quite problematic. The
defend his home from burglars. Kevin basically spends an hour or so terrorising these burglars (mostly because they won’t quit and just move on to the next big house). There is a side plot about not judging people by appearances which has a few nice moments but this film is hilarious and well worth a watch and for very obvious reasons has become a family favourite.
film is excellent and it is usually the first one that I watch every year but take it with a pinch of salt.
The Polar Express 2004 The Polar Express is a movie that a lot of people my age become nostalgic over. However, even as a child, this is one that I hated. I hated the main character, I hated the conductor and I found the story incredibly boring. Most of my opinions still hold up years later. This film stars Tom Hanks as Hero Boy, Tom Hanks as Hero Boy’s father, Tom Hanks as The Conductor, Tom Hanks as Ebenezer Scrooge and Tom Hanks
Miracle on 34th Street1994 Miracle on 34th Street is a remake of a 1947 film. Having never seen the original, I will be reviewing this movie solely as a movie and not a remake. The casting in this movie is stellar. The main character is played by Twitter Goddess Mara Wilson, of Matilda Fame. Richard Attenborough who plays Kris Kringle is everything that you would expect from a Santa Claus. The movie is everything you would want from a Christmas movie. It is charming, heart-warming and has a
cast of characters who are actually likeable. The plot basically centres on a child and a lawyer trying to prove that a mysterious man is the real Santa Claus after he assaults a man. (It is actually quite family friendly, I promise). The film has the best portrayal of a Santa Claus that I have ever seen and honestly for Richard Attenborough’s performance alone this film is well worth a watch.
as Santa Claus. The motion capture in this movie is very impressive. It is also quite terrifying, particularly the man who rides the train for free. One of the most searched questions regarding The Polar Express is “Why is The Polar Express so scary?” I feel like this isn’t ideal for a children's movie. I will say that whenever I bring up my dislike of The Polar Express, I am usually in the minority so it has obviously done something correct.
Elf – 2003 Elf follows Buddy the Elf, a human who has been raised by the elves in Santa’s workshop. He is played by Will Ferrell. Eventually Buddy leaves the North Pole to meet his birth father in New York and due to his lack of understanding of the human world, chaos ensues. The film also stars Zooey Deschanel as Buddy’s love interest. The film is honestly incredibly funny and the casting is excellent. It has become a favourite due to the fact that it
appeals to both adults and children. Will Ferrell manages to turn what could’ve been an incredibly annoying character into a charming and funny one. The supporting characters and smaller characters in this movie are also amazing. Zooey Deschanel does a great job playing Jovie, and characters like Buddy’s family are great in the scenes that they are in. The movie is full of humour and the comedic timing is excellent.
So here are some of the best Christmas movies in my opinion. Honourable mentions include The Holiday and The Family Stone. Dishonourable mentions include Fred Claus and Deck The Halls.
BOOK RECCOMENDATIONS Niamh Kelly During these trying times, many people are turning to the worlds of fiction in an effort to escape our own. In a world and a time when simply leaving your front door is unsafe, books allow us to escape our narrowing worlds and explore ones we couldn’t even imagine. Below I’ve compiled some of my favourite worlds to escape to in the hopes that at least one of them will provide you with that same escapism and adventure that we all need.
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket I’m sorry to say that the book you’re holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing. The first book in a series of 13, this read will keep you hooked for a long time. If you’re not in the mood for that much commitment, however, this could certainly be read as a standalone. In writing this book Snicket does something other authors seem to neglect - taking kids seriously. His use of mystery and witty literary references appeal to precocious children toeing the line between child and adult fiction, and searching for a darker alternative to the fairy-tales and happy endings that are forced on them.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll After a tumble down the rabbit hole, Alice finds herself far away from home in the absurd world of Wonderland. As mind-bending as it is delightful, Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel is pure magic for young and old alike. A beloved classic that everyone should read at least once in their lifetime, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is brilliant for children, but with enough hilarity and joy for life in it to please adults too. It’s a lovely book with which to take a brief respite from our overly rational and sometimes dreary world.
Every Heart A Doorway Seanan McGuire Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else. But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children. Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world. A short book of only 100 pages, this book can be read in a day, but will stay with you a lot longer. The world the story is set in is captivating, lush, interesting, endlessly deep, and unpredictable all at once. McGuire has created a fascinating system of realities and the people who visited them, providing a new exploration of ‘after ever after’, bringing into question what happens when Alice returns from Wonderland, or Dorothy from Oz. This idea sets the backdrop for a murder mystery like none other seen before, complete with a wonderfully eccentric and complex group of characters. This makes for a refreshing, captivating book you won’t be able to put down.
Children of Blood and Bone - Tomi Adeyemi
A Very Large Expanse of Sea Tahereh Mafi
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Riders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
It’s the year after 9/11, and Shirin has just started at yet another new school. It’s a difficult time, especially for a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who wears a hijab. Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. When Shirin meets Ocean James, he’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know her - and it terrifies her. Shirin has had her guard up against the world for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down...
Set in a fantasy world modelled around West African Mythology, this first installation in a trilogy has been described as where “Fantasy meets Black Lives Matter”. Adeyemi set out to create a story with a cast of unmistakably black characters. In Orïsha, she explicitly invokes a nonWestern tradition, and a transparent parable of oppression, with distinct comparisons to the world we live in.
A heart wrenching story that hits all the wellworn beats readers have come to expect from teen romances, but it’s able to reframe a familiar story through the lens of a culture too rarely humanized on page or screen. Mafi provides Muslim representation in young adult literature, something that is severely lacking, and does so with a thoughtful, personal and powerfully emotional story.
The Book Thief Markus Zusak
The Diviners - Libba Bray
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist - books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.
Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is posi-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult. Evie worries her uncle will discover her darkest secret, but when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.
As a story about death being told by Death himself, you’re exploring a rather unique perspective. This is a tragic, rather heavy tale about World War II, but being set in Germany it does an amazing job at showing us the civilians on the other side of the war - the ones we rarely hear much about. This is a book I’d recommend to anybody not only for the beautiful writing and character exploration, but to open your eyes to a different side of history.
Bray’s depiction of 1920’s New York hosts a rich, complex and addictive story-line full of mystery, magic and horror. It’s vivid character building creates a community of diverse, complex characters from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and religions. The way that this supernatural story of mystery and horror is integrated into the already fascinating history of New York in the Roaring Twenties makes for a truly thrilling and gripping read.
The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon A world divided. A queendom without an heir. An ancient enemy awakens. The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction – but assassins are getting closer to her door. More than eight hundred pages are quite the feat if you are not used to such lengthy novels, but don’t be discouraged, because The Priory of the Orange Tree is more than worth your time. Through her vivid world building and character development Shannon creates, in the most natural manner, a society led by pure, untainted equality. In her world, no one is belittled or raised differently for their identity, no matter their gender, race or sexuality. It stands on its own in the fantasy genre for being able to create a societal system that doesn’t fall prey to the same mistakes as our medieval forerunners. Having been called the “feminist successor to Lord of the Rings” this is the perfect read for somebody looking to satisfy their needs for high fantasy without having to see women get the short end of the stick.
Pet Sematary Stephen King When the Creeds move into a beautiful old house in rural Maine, it all seems too good to be true. As a family, they've got it all. But the nearby woods hide a blood-chilling truth-more terrifying than death itself-and hideously more powerful. The Creeds are going to learn that sometimes dead is better. Pet Sematary has been an icon of popular culture for over three decades, and, as with all of King’s novels, it is about so much more than just a typical tale of horror. It explores themes of death, what is natural and unnatural, relationships; it is about the people as much as the terrible events that occur. The book reads quickly, with short chapters driving the story forward in the typical style of King, but the level of detail, the slow building suspense, the humanity and lack thereof are exactly what makes this whole book work. King’s writing is genius, despite the fact that it is utterly disturbing.
ALBUM REVIEW Post Human: Survival Horror by Bring me the Horizon Katie Dunne 4/5
Following the success of Bring Me The Horizon’s 2019 Grammynominated album ‘Amo’, one might have expected the Sheffield rock band to repeat the bright, synth-heavy formula that worked for them in this 2020 release. However, the opposite is true. In ‘Post Human: Survival Horror’, the first EP in what will be a series of four, BMTH have taken a darker route, with heavier guitars, screamed vocals, and a revisit of the sound of some of the band’s earlier work now redone with a pleasant modern twist. This EP opens with a bang with ‘Dear Diary’, furious onslaught which sets the scene for the industrial, cyberpunk inspired sound of the record. Fans of the band’s 2008 release ‘Suicide Season’ will be happy to hear a return of this heavier, more
more aggressive tone from the band. With sentiments of referencing isolation and the end of the world echoing throughout the record, it is not just the sound and instrumentation that will be all too familiar to listeners. From the dark, enchanting ‘Parasite Eve’ to the Linkin Park inspired ‘Obey’, to the industrial sound of ‘Ludens’, the singles for this record were promising releases, leaving fans optimistic for ‘Post Human: Survival Horror’ and it certainly did not dissapoint! On all three, and indeed on just about every song on the record, we hear modern BMTH at their best - catchy choruses and hooks, with powerful guitars effortlessly combined with a modern electronic feel, which will leave any fan listening counting down the days
until concerts are allowed again, and the songs can be heard live. Lyrically, ‘Post Human: Survival Horror’ is heavily inspired by the pandemic, as well as general political themes and the fight for climate justice. With lyrics such as “when we forget the infection, will we remember the lesson?” and “don’t wake up and smell the corruption”, this record is an anthem for the modern day. Having said that, no one could accuse lyricist and frontman Oliver Sykes of being overly poetic; he is at times, to the point and very on the nose (“it’s not the end of the world - oh, wait”, “I think I’m losing my mind”), and so this record may simply fall flat for those who enjoy listening to the lyrics. The featured artists on this EP help it to excel - from Yungblud to Evanescence’s Amy Lee, these collaborations help to keep it sounding new and fresh. The former does surprisingly well on the anti-establishment anthem ‘Obey’. Japanese metal band Babymetal add exuberance to ‘Kingslayer’, with the fantastical lyricism making it sound like an anime
opening, and rock duo Nova Twins work perfectly with the nu-metal inspired ‘1x1’. The EP closes on the powerful ballad with a ridiculously long title, wherein Amy Lee is a voice for Mother Earth singing to the world, in a song cleverly disguised as a typical love song. Through returning to their earlier sound, yet adding a modern twist, this EP is brutally relevant for today, and perhaps the cyberpunk future of tomorrow. One thing is for certain - if this first EP in the ‘Post Human’ series is anything to go by, we may be entering an exciting new era of music from BMTH.
OUR OWN NEW BEGINNINGS
Katie In the New Year, I am looking forward to continuing and completing the art PLC that I am doing. I am also looking forward to starting to study architecture in UCD, and (hopefully) moving out of home for the first time. Like most people, I am looking forward to, and am optimistic about, a vaccine against the virus that shall not be named. Most of all, I am looking forward to concerts being allowed to take place again!
Aaron As a person who will have turned eighteen this year, I guess my new beginning is adulthood.
Nate
Bridget A new beginning for me is that I’m beginning to debate again and I’m really excited for that!!
A new beginning I've recently been lucky to have been given is starting a 2 year course! I'm three weeks in and I'm already enjoying it and the people so much. With the continuous chaos of 2020 it feels awesome to return to some form of normality even if it's nothing too big. I hope everyone out there is enjoying them as much as possible and I know one day things will change for the better and we’ll all be able to go and see our friends and family! Stay strong everyone we love you all!
Anna Lee My new year’s resolutions for 2020 are to explore Galway city and to make the most of my last year as a teenager!
Niamh The one thing I’m excited for in 2021 is hopefully getting to see all of my friends and family again. I can imagine that this year, once a vaccine is widely available and it’s safe to do so, the entire world will be celebrating and we’ll once again be able to do all of the things we once took for granted. As terrible as 2020 has been, it seems to be ending on a slightly better note. We are closer to beating Covid, Biden has won the US election, and spirits have been raised. There is, of course, still so much fighting to be done - and this year has pointed out a lot of the things we have been doing wrong. Hopefully 2021 will give us a fresh start, allowing us to work together and fight for the rights of those whose rights have been neglected.
Charlotte A new beginning for me at the moment is that my dream career has (once again) changed, possibly for good this time. I hope we can move into next year grateful for what we have learned these past months and focus on the positive and the future rather than anything else.