The magic of the GAA

September marks an important month for many people. Children return to primary school, teenagers to secondary and others to college, while some embark for the very first time. For them it is the start of something wonderful. The beginning. For other Irish people, September marks the end of a long year. The GAA year. Those privileged enough to don their county jerseys and step out onto Croke Park’s hallowed grounds know that this is it; the fruition of months, if not years, of hard work, effort and dedication. The culmination. The pinnacle.

Yesterday, Dublin witnessed 82,124 people descend on the capital to see Donegal and Kerry battle it out in both the minor and senior All-Ireland championship finals. Both teams lined out on the pitch with the same aim; to bring the Sam Maguire Cup home. As it turned out it was a victorious Kerry side that emerged claiming the double and writing themselves into the history books.

To sell out a stadium with over 82,00 people for an amateur sport is a pretty big deal. In Ireland, come All-Ireland day it’s the norm. Anyone lucky enough to nab themselves a ticket (because let’s face it, they’re like gold dust) makes the annual pilgrimage to Croke Park to support their team in search of All-Ireland glory.

The buzz on the streets of Dublin before a match is something to behold. You really have to see it to believe it. Stepping into the stadium is even better. The air is electrifying and the crowd is excited. Soaking up that kind of atmosphere is unreal.

That’s one of the things that make GAA so special. There is no money to be made for the players. They are not on ridiculous wages like English Premier League soccer stars. They do it because they love the game, because they're passionate about it, because it’s all they know. For most players and supporters it is a labour of love and many of them go above and beyond the call of duty.

GAA evokes a range of emotions in people, both on and off the field; elation, disappointment, frustration, relief, pride. The last one is, for me, the biggest one and another thing that makes the GAA what it is. As a supporter or as a player, pride is a huge thing. Everyone wants the same thing; to make their club and their county proud.

Growing up in Ireland there’s no escaping GAA. It lies at the heart of every community and has long survived the growing changes of Irish society. Whatever economic or financial troubles we may endure, having an organisation like the GAA is one thing we can always be proud of. It defines us as a nation. It is our sport and our entertainment. It joins us together and, occasionally, pulls us apart. More often than not the conversation in Ireland is not about the recent troubles in Gaza but about the shock defeat of the U21's. The conversation surges through us like blood through veins. When we talk about football we speak with passion, our eyes light up and you can see clearly the love we all hold for this game.

It's all in a name...or is it?

Apparently some celebrities just don’t get enough attention, so they name their newborn baby something ridiculous to stand out. Cue Katie Price revealing the name of her one-month-old daughter yesterday; Bunny. Yes. You heard me right. Bunny. Bunny Hayler.

Forgive me for sounding old fashioned here but I think I’ve heard it all. It just seems unimaginable nowadays that Hollywood’s A-List would send their children out into the world with ordinary joe soap names like Tom or Emma. Instead, celebrities have waged a secret war against each other, in an attempt to come up with more and more ridiculous names, all in a bid to sound more outlandish than the last.

Fruit, cereals, colours, weeds, place names and directions have all been made into actual children’s names as celebrities attempt to outdo each other. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West took the biscuit when they named their only daughter North. The duo claimed it was more “inspirational than directional” and their “highest point” together as a couple. Fortunately, for her, North West joins a long list of unorthodox baby names in celeb land including; Blue Ivy, Apple, Coco and Memphis Eve.

But can someone with a name like Bunny or Apple actually be taken seriously in the real world? After all, a name is just a word. However if you look across the business world, there are hundreds of examples of people who have used their name to add value to their brand. Take a look at Donald Trump. His name is famous throughout the world. It is held with such high esteem that he now licenses it out to other businesses across the world in order to add value to their business and brand name, but would a name like Bunny Hayler have the same effect?  You’d have to wonder…

Former UK Apprentice contestant, Katie Hopkins, known for her deliberately controversial views, took to Twitter today to air her thoughts on Katie Price’s choice of name.

“Bunny? BUNNY? Makes sense I guess, given your dad was going at it like a rabbit with all of mums mates,” she wrote, referring to Price’s recent marital problems with her husband.

The controversial comments are nothing new to Hopkins who seems to thrive off the attention. The TV personality came under fire in July 2013 when she appeared on ITV’s This Morning and admitted she judges children on their first names.

Hopkins hit a nerve with presenters Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield, as well as viewers, when she made controversial comments linking children’s names with social class. She said: “For me, a name is a shortcut of finding out what class that child comes from and makes me ask, 'Do I want my children to play with them?” Katie added more fuel to the fire by listing names she detested like Tyler and Charmaine. "We don't achieve best friend status with Chardonnay," she added.

While many of us dismiss the controversial comments as nothing more than ignorant, snobby and

narrow-minded, Katie Hopkins does force us to re-evaluate our own preconceptions. Do we think less of someone with an unusual name? Do we think we know what kind of background they come from or what their parents are like? Or is there anyone out there who agrees with Katie Hopkins?

We might not like to admit it but maybe Katie Hopkins has a point and maybe we subconsciously judge people on their name or where they’re from or what social class they fall in to. Maybe, deep deep down, Katie Hopkins is right and her outspoken and blunt opinions are what we’re all secretly thinking in private. Maybe.

When social media becomes antisocial...

It’s the first thing I do in the morning and it’s the last thing I do at night. Most of the time I don’t want to do it but I fall victim to the temptation. I’m an addict.

It’s like every drug; there are highs and there are lows. Sometimes I feel good after doing it and sometimes, more often than not, I’m left with a dull, empty feeling, and I wish I never bothered with it.

But there’s no escaping it, and that makes it hard to quit. The whole world is consumed with it. Social media is my drug and I am an addict.

Yet I’m not alone; far from it in fact. The latest social media statistics show more and more people are signing up and getting involved in the cyber world. What started out as a low key college project for one American college student is now the biggest social media platform with 1.28 billion monthly active users on Facebook. Twitter has also seen a boost in popularity in the last few years as more and more journalists see it as a strong platform for breaking news stories. The site now has 255 million active viewers and an average of 500 million tweets are sent everyday. 78% of Twitter’s active users are on mobile and almost half of these users tweet at least once a day.

Snapchat is the latest phenomenon to grab the attention of social media users. The photo messaging application, initially released in 2011, now has 30 million monthly active users, with an average of 400 million snapchats being sent every day. Similarly Instagram, another online mobile photo-sharing app, has also gained popularity in the past year. To date, over 20 billion photos have been shared on the site and 23% of teenagers consider it their favourite social network.

So how do we pull ourselves away from our phones and laptops? For many people it’s not as easy as just logging out. Most college students have a class Facebook page where they get information on whether a class is on or not or what topics people are studying for a certain exams. By not having a Facebook page you miss out on some important information. Likewise, your actual social life could also be missing out if you deactivate your Facebook page. Gone are the days of sending out handwritten invitations. Today people are invited through the events calendar on Facebook. So, if you don’t have a page you might not get the memo! 

For journalists it’s even harder. In an age where print media is declining, digital and social media is where we now look to. So how do we limit the amount of time we spend online when that’s where we now have to look to for breaking news, current affairs and all the latest happenings from around the world? As a journalist I find it difficult to distance myself from social media when it’s one of our main sources of information. But at the same time I have to wonder at what cost are we simplifying our lives by communicating through such sites?

And that’s maybe where the addiction starts. You say you’re just going to log on for a minute and check if there’s anything important you need to know and suddenly, you’ve wasted two hours scrolling through your news feed. It’s so easy to get addicted to looking at other people’s lives, both celebrities and people you actually know. They look like they’re living the dream and having a great time with all their statuses, photos and snapchats…but are they really? The problem with social media sites is that people only show the good side of everything they’re doing. So, the next time you get jealous while creeping on someone else’s Facebook, Instagram or whatever it may be, just remember; they may not be having as good a time as you think.

 

But most of us can’t resist and we all crave attention in some way, shape or form. By posting on

social media networks we satisfy that craving when we get a ‘like’ on our new profile picture, a retweet on Twitter, or a match on Tinder. We are a world that has become dependent on social media in order to feel good about ourselves and that’s not healthy.

Pubs and nightclubs, once full of people actually talking to each other, are now full of people glancing at their phones every two minutes, taking pictures on snapchat or creeping on Facebook. I have decided to make a conscious effort to distance myself from social media when I am on a night out or in the company of others. It’s just not necessary most of the time. I’m gonna try that old fashioned thing called talking. It can’t be that hard…can it? 

Embracing Erasmus

 

In January of this year I moved to Glasgow to begin my Erasmus semester abroad. Although it was only across the water, packing up and moving to Scotland was still a daunting decision. The girl that left for Scotland in January couldn’t find her way around an airport, lift her own luggage and was too afraid to ask for directions. The same girl that returned to Ireland five months later was a far cry from the often shy and quiet girl that left. Somewhere along my Erasmus journey I changed. Living abroad strengthened me, matured me and changed me for the better. It gave me independence like never before, allowed me to appreciate what and who I have in my life and it altered my perspective on life and how I choose to live it.

Embarking on a new experience abroad is, undoubtedly, an amazing opportunity. The idea of setting up a new life abroad is an exciting prospect and one that should be looked upon with enthusiasm and positivity. However it is perfectly normal to feel isolated and alone during the first few days of moving away from home. For many students it is their first ‘proper’ experience living away from the comforts of home and fending for themselves. Once the initial excitement subsides loneliness often creeps in and throwing yourself headfirst into a new environment is daunting. Being away from your nearest and dearest can be challenging.Ireland to Scotland would be, albeit for just a few months.

There is no Irish mammy around to land your dinner on the table in the evening, no reliable taxi man (dad) to collect you from the nightclub at half two on a Saturday night, you even miss having no annoying younger siblings around to fight with. Living away from friends and family was a lot harder than I anticipated and during my first few weeks abroad I felt l would never settle. I had misjudged how difficult the transition from Ireland to Scotland would be, albeit for just a few months.

It took me a while but eventually I realised it’s not meant to be easy. Moving to another country, starting a new university and making new friends is a lot to take in. I realised it was ok to feel a little bit lost and unsure and I also realised that it’s perfectly ok to ask for help. As American author Henry David Thoreau once said; “Not until we are lost do we begin to find ourselves”.

How right he was. It was in between doing the grocery shopping myself for the first time, improving my cooking skills, washing and ironing my own clothes and getting lost on numerous occasions while wandering around the city of Glasgow that I changed. I became the person I needed to become. I gradually became more and more independent. I learned how to handle weird and wonderful situations I found myself in and I learned to appreciate people and places I may have taken for granted at home. One of the most important things I learned was how lucky and blessed I am to be able to live the life I do, study the profession I love and take advantage of wonderful opportunities afforded to me such as studying abroad.

My advice to anyone lucky enough to be considering Erasmus would be to grab it with both hands. The benefits of studying abroad extend far behind the classroom walls and can really and truly have a positive impact on your life.

My Erasmus journey has left me with an insatiable hunger to travel and experience different cultures and customs around the world. Erasmus gave me a renewed confidence to try new things, travel to different places and, as I continue to grow, my destinations will hopefully continue to change.

Top Ten Tips for College

Moving away from home for the first time is no easy feat and the transition from school to college life can be a tricky one; even for the most confident, self-assured students. Starting a new university, moving into a new house and living with random people is a big change and many first year students experience loneliness, stress and anxiety when they first leave the comfort of their home. However once you get your bearings and find your feet you will soon realise how much university has to offer.  Undoubtedly college years are the best years of your life; a time to seize opportunities, socialise, make lifelong friendships and work hard for your dream job. Here are my top ten tips for making the most of the best four years of your life!

The best way to make new friends!

Get Involved 
College life is not just about academia and extends a lot farther than the lecture halls and classroom walls. During the first few weeks everyone is in the same boat; no one knows anyone and everybody is looking to make new friends and just have the craic. Clubs and societies are a huge part of college life and most universities have an abundance of clubs and socs to choose from. Throw yourself into everything during the first few weeks, join clubs that suit your interests and hobbies or, instead, learn new skills. Fresher’s week will also be jam packed with activities including UV nights and silent discos so make the most of everything thrown your way.

Mind yourself
Looking after number one in college is harder than you might think. There is no mammy looking after you, ensuring you’re eating all your vegetables and getting eight hours sleep every night. Do yourself a favour from the get go and start as you mean to go on. It is all too easy to slip into bad habits in college and before you know it you think eating leftover pizza for breakfast is acceptable. It’s not and never will be. Most colleges have gym and sports membership you can avail of at a student discount so make the most of what’s on your own doorstep. Try to get enough sleep and eat healthy as well. Your body will thank you for it.

Orientation

Getting lost is inevitable but orientation will help!

A must do for all incoming first year students. Orientation usually occurs a week or so before college
officially starts and it gives students the chance to take in their new surroundings and familiarise themselves with their new home for the next few years. Orientation guides are on hand to help with any questions or difficulties you may have so don’t be afraid to ask, no matter how silly you think your question is. Do your best to attend all the events going on throughout orientation week and utilise the free offers of pens, notebooks and food.

Plagiarism
For anyone who might not know, plagiarism, in its simplest form, is copying someone else’s work and claiming it as your own. From the moment you step into a lecture hall your teachers and tutors will warn you against it. Please take heed of what they’re telling you and never, ever try it, no matter how under pressure or caught for time you may be. Lecturers will spot it a mile off and will feel no remorse awarding you an “NG” or “F” grade.

Travel
One of the most exciting opportunities college presents you with is the chance to travel and explore the world. A lot of courses require students to take up an Erasmus or study abroad semester. An increasing number of students are readily availing of student summer visas to the States, while other students are taking up TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) in countries such as Thailand, Japan and China. Your college years are the perfect time to be selfish, so say yes to new opportunities and experiences. It is only the things you don’t do that you will end up regretting.

Attendance
In the midst of socialising, joining new clubs and societies and making new friends, it is easy to forget the real reason you’re in college. While going to that 9am lecture might not seem too appealing make an effort to attend and keep on top of your assignments. Slacking off lectures and tutorials and constantly playing catch-up is no fun and just makes life a whole lot harder for you.

Budget
Learning to budget your money is one of the hardest things you will learn during the first semester of college. The first few weeks are always the most expensive and, for many people, it is the first time they are in control of their own finances. No one wants to be living off toast and beans by the end of every week/month so do your best to budget your money. It makes life that little bit easier, trust me.


Buying books
Speaking of budgeting…buying books second hand, or not buying them at all, is one of the best tips I can give in relation to saving money. University textbooks cost a small fortune so, if the book is a must have, then go to the Students’ Union and see if you can get it second hand. Chances are there will be previous students only dying to get rid of it. Now, some lecturers will tell you that certain books are compulsory and you need to have them, but this is not always true. If you can source the book out in the library or find extracts of it online then you might get away with not buying it at all and save yourself a few extra dollars.

Trying new thing
There is no time like the present and no better place than university to try out something you’ve been putting on the long finger. College is where you find out what really makes you tick so seize the moment, experiment with new ideas and discover who you really are.

Home sweet home
Just as it is a huge change for you, it is also a huge milestone for your parents. Don’t forget to check in with them and let them know how you’re getting on and what you’re up to. No one worries more about you than your mam and dad so keep them in the loop and everyone will be happy. 

The rebirth of Belfast

Once considered one of the four “B’s”, alongside Bosnia, Beirut and Baghdad, as a place to avoid, Belfast has transformed itself beyond recognition. Today Belfast is a prosperous, thriving and successful city. The economy of the city is once again blossoming; new industries are being created and it proudly boasts one of the largest, brightest and most-educated workforces in the world. Investment into regeneration projects in recent years has seen the city of Belfast really come to life. The administrative capital and largest city of Northern Ireland is now one of the most visited cities in the U.K. and second most visited city on the isle of Ireland.

Tourism in the city has seen a huge boost in recent years with attractions such as the Titanic Quarter, Ulster Museum, Belfast City Hall and the Victoria Square shopping centre enticing tourists in their droves.
For anyone visiting the city, Titanic Belfast is a “must-see”. Located in the Titanic Quarter, alongside the historic site of the iconic ship’s construction, Titanic Belfast is the world’s largest Titanic visitor centre. Visitors journey through an interactive exhibition of nine galleries in the exemplary six-floor building and can relive the full story of this world renowned ship; from her conception in Belfast, through her construction, launch, voyage and ultimate fateful end. Tickets are reasonably priced ranging from £7.25 per child and £15.50 per adult. Children under five go free and there are also special discounts available for students, senior citizens and families.
As well as housing Titanic Belfast, the Titanic Quarter also boasts one of the sets of Game of Thrones, where production for seasons one, two and three were filmed. So if you are a Game of Thrones fan and happen to be holidaying in Belfast you are in luck. This summer the Game of Thrones exhibition will take place at the Belfast Waterfront from 11^th-15^th June. The exhibit, which is free of charge, is designed specifically for fans of the acclaimed TV series, and aims to bring the captivating and magical world of the show to its viewers. This is the second year the exhibit will run in Belfast and, if reviews of last summer are anything to go by, fans are in for an unforgettable experience.

As well as enjoying the sightseeing and cultural attractions Belfast has to offer, if you’re looking to fit in some retail therapy, look no further than the Victoria Square shopping centre. Located in the heart of the city centre, this state-of-the-art shopping complex is home to over 70 stores including Hollister, House of Fraser, River Island and Tommy Hilfiger to name but a few. Opened in March 2008, this is a partly enclosed, partly open air shopping centre, offering customers a vast array of eateries such as an oyster bar, Spanish Tapas bar, McDonalds and O’Briens as well as many coffee shops, cafes and grill bars. If it’s not shopping you crave Victoria Square also has an impressive Odeon cinema, with eight screens, located on the second floor of the shopping centre.

If none of these eateries tickle your fancy then the Golden Mile will sort you out. Starting at Great Victoria Street, it offers a vast array of restaurants, bars, pubs and nightclubs to suit everyone.
For those interested in the history of Belfast and Northern Ireland, the Ulster Museum is the perfect place for you. Like the Titanic experience, this is an interactive museum, designed to showcase the history, art and natural sciences of the North. Entry is free so if you can visit it is definitely worth it.
Another historical attraction worth seeing is Queen’s University. Located in the city, Queen’s University Belfast, was founded by Queen Victoria in 1845 and is the ninth oldest university in the U.K. The Welcome Centre, based at the university, is an ideal spot for tourists as its offers a regular programme of exhibitions and serves as an important information stand for visitors unfamiliar with the area.

If you are holidaying in Belfast for a little bit longer and want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a day then a trip to the Giant’s Causeway is the solution. Although it is situated in quite a remote area on the Antrim coastline, it draws in almost three quarters of a million visitors every year to admire its breathtaking landscape.

 Belfast has something to offer everyone and, if you are thinking of making your summer holiday a little more local, then a trip to the North is the perfect answer.

Today Belfast, and Northern Ireland as a whole, is a far cry from the troubled and conflict-ridden area it once was. Today the people of Belfast are discovering pride in their country. They have found a new cultural vitality and optimism and are eager to share it with the rest of the world. Today they are confidently looking forward to building a future together.

Glasgow: Scotland's second city has just as much to offer

Scotland’s second city was given a welcome boost at the beginning of the year when it was named one of the top tourism destinations on the planet for 2014. Now preparations are well underway as the city of Glasgow gears up to host one of the world’s biggest sporting celebrations, as well as one of the most anticipated music events in the industry later on this year.  

According to Rough Guides, one of the world’s leading travel guidebooks, Glasgow is rated as one of the must-see cities of 2014. This may be partly due to the fact that the renowned Commonwealth Games will take place within the city this summer. The Games will run from 23^rd July until 3^rd August and, according to the official website of the Commonwealth Games, the event has been described as “A Cultural Celebration for all of Scotland”. The Games will highlight the city’s extensive sporting and events infrastructure and it is hoped that they will provide a boost to the city’s tourism industry and, in doing so, pave the way for more cultural events throughout the year. 

As well as the Commonwealth Games, the arrival of the £125 million SSE Hydro arena in Glasgow last year has helped accelerate the city’s growing status as a “cultural powerhouse”, as stated in Rough Guides. This year will see the arena host the opening gala for the Ryder Cup golf tournament in September, as well as the 20^th annual MTV Europe Music Awards in November.   

If sporting or music events aren’t really your thing then don’t dismiss Glasgow just yet. This modern European city has an abundance of attractions sure to entice any visitor including its arts and culture, vast array of restaurants and bars, excellent shopping facilities and must-do bus tours. 

If art and culture rouse your interest then the outstanding Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, located in the Bohemian West-End of the city, offers visitors the chance to view some of the finest art exhibits in Europe for free. During its refurbishment between 2003 and 2006, £28 million was pumped into the museum and it has since become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Glasgow.  

As well as the Kelvingrove Museum, the Riverside Museum, Glasgow’s Museum of Transport, is another must see. Since its opening in June 2011 the museum has gone from strength to strength. It now features over 3,000 exhibits and last year was named the winner of the 2013 European Museum of the Year Award.  

Speaking of transport, Glasgow is one of the most accessible cities and their public transport system is very reliable and easy to use.  Unfortunately the weather is very similar to Ireland and so, open top bus tours are not always a good idea. However, if you get a chance to ride on the hop on/hop off bus tour around the city then take it and embrace it. The tour gives a brief, but excellent, audio guide of the city and some of its main attractions including; George Square, Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow Science Centre, Botanic Gardens, Kelvingrove, The Royal Concert Hall and many others.     

 

Once all the obligatory sightseeing has been done some retail therapy is most definitely in order, and where better to do it than Glasgow City Centre? The city boasts it’s very own ‘Style Mile’; a square mile in the centre of the city that is home to over 200 shops. Glasgow is home to every fashion style, from designer to vintage and niche to mainstream. The city also boasts top of the range shopping centres including the Buchanan Galleries, St. Enoch’s Centre, House of Fraser and Princes Square. 

Once the shopping and sight-seeing has been done and your belly is beginning to rumble then don’t fear. Like most cities, Glasgow is overflowing with fantastic restaurants, traditional bars, cafes and nightclubs to suit the taste and budget of every visitor. 

So if you're bored of the usual beach holidays or you’re just craving a night or two away, then make the trip across the water as this sassy Scottish city is an ideal destination.