Insight Magazine

Insig

ht

Claire ByrneBeing a mother

has made me a better journalist

Too many people want to be columnists rather than reporters

SportHealth

FeaturesINSIDE:

DBS Journalism Student Magazine, Spring 2015

Today FMs Matt Cooper

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3Content

Insight Magazine - April 2015

Lifestyle

We are very pleased to introduce Insight magazine. We have a packed publication with interviews, feature pieces and sport. We have an exclusive interview with RTs Claire Byrne. She talks to Ana about her new TV show, and her busy life as a mum.

We meet with Today FMs Matt Cooper, who chats to Kevin about his broadcasting experiences, while Lavinia explores Debbie Deegans new charity shop, With Love.

Stephen contemplates comic book superheroes on the big screen, and Emma visits Amsterdam for our travel report. Mohamed discusses the rise in popularity of e-cigarettes.

And Rob asks if Ireland can win the Rugby World Cup this year while Cathal takes a look at MMA s Irish stars.

Stephen offers gardening tips and Lukman analyses CBT.

Mohamed did a great job as head designer putting the magazine together.

Finally a huge thank you to Jensine-Bethna Wall and John Lawrence for their hard work on this publication.

Happy reading.The Insight Team

Editorial Letter

Entertainment

Health

Sport

Clontarfs celebrity charity shop 4

Travel tips for Amsterdam 14

In conversation: Clare Byrne 6-7

Interview with Matt Cooper 8

Superheros on film 9

Growing your own food 10

Alternative therapy for the mind 10

The e-cigarette revolution 11

Rugby World Cup predictions 12

MMAs Conor McGregor taking over 13

Insig

ht

Claire ByrneBeing a mother

has made me a better journalist

Too many people want to be columnists rather than reporters

SportHealth

FeaturesINSIDE:

DBS Journalism Student Magazine, Spring 2015

Today FMs Matt Cooper

4In 1998 Dubliner Debbie and her husband adopted a small Russian girl from the Hortolo-va orphanage in Russia. She later returned to the orphanage and saw the terrible conditions the children were living in. She made a promise to her adopted daughter Zina, that she would never forget the children that Zina had grown up with and that she would help them. Debbie then set up the charity To Russia With Love, and a year ago the shop With Love.

I felt that there was definitely room for a charity shop that was gorgeous, not 2 stuff, I hated the idea of that, said Debbie. The charity founder en-tered the retail business from a young age and says the experience she gained, was helpful when it came to opening her own shop. Debbie has a lot of celeb-rity friends, when she informed them of her plans to open her own shop they replied : Great, you can have everything in my closet.

Debbie remembers: It was fabulous, from the very beginning we were getting magnificent Louboutins, Jimmy Choos and Burberry bags that we were all drooling over. When asked if the staff were tempted to buy such items Debbie said: We had to be care-ful that staff werent buying everything so I made a policy that they arent allowed to buy stuff from the shop. The shop contains a combination of high-end clothing and brick-a-brack. Various celebrities donate clothes to the store. They include: Miriam OCallaghan, Marian Keyes and Mary Kennedy. Debbie told Insight: Only last week Mary Ken-nedy sent in around 20 dresses that she was finished with in RTE. When asked about the shops success she replied: The shop is doing well. However it is very difficult for us to expand, due to our lack of money. Thats annoying because I would really love to open more shops similar to this one.

Recently Debbie has been working on designing her own range of clothes for the shop. It will be launched very soon. The range will be called With Love By Debbie. The clothes will be affordable, ranging from 40 to

60 depending on the piece. She describes the range as being quite safe but some of it is quite sexy. The range features dresses, trou-sers, jumpers, scarfs and jewellery. You could wear these clothes

going to a wedding or you could nearly flop around in it and still look gorgeous. The profits from the shop and the charity To Rus-sia With Love all goes to orphan children in Russia. As much of the money as possible goes to the chil-dren Debbie reassures Insight. Re-alistically every 1 that is given, 80% of that euro we try and give to the children, of course there are admin costs involved. However we as a charity do our best.

Aideen Linnane a friend of Deb-bies decorates the eye-catching windows. Our window dresser is

fabulous. She has mad ideas. The decorated windows she creates stop traffic, people stop and look at it. When Debbie was asked if she likes the attention she claimed: I love that kind of attention because shops locally are safe. They dont really push the boat, where we are happy to push the boat and be different.

Even though Debbie loves her work, at times she feels like giving up. Recently one of the boys that Debbie helped in the orphanage in Russia had a baby that died due to health problems, stirring up many emotions. I dont ever hit walls, I seem to have an endless amount of energy and passion for it. But recently we lost a baby. It was something I didnt want to go through again as I have already buried six children. I wanted the surgeon to know that I was the Babushka (Grandmother in Russian) of the child and that I was there from Ireland to help.

Dealing with loss is hard especially since Debbie has a lot on her plate already: I go from holding a tiny baby who is dying to designing the scoop on somebodies top and then I am taking phone calls about what size coffin we want. I dont know how many children I can bury. Debbie says, orphan funerals are a devastating thing, all the empty grave-yards and nobody is there.

But there are many success stories. We have helped change the lives of thousands of orphans.

If anyone wants to get involved with Debbies organisation they can find more information on www.torussiawithlove.ie or if readers want to buy bargains they can drop in to the shop, With Love, in Clontarf.

LIFESTYLE


From the very beginning we were getting magnificent

Louboutins, Jimmy Choos

and Burberry bags that we were all drooling over

Debbie Deegans new charity shop

by Lavinia Maties

On Vernon Avenue in Clontarf, Dublin, there is a beautifully decorated store called With Love. On some occasions enchanting viola music can be heard down the length of the avenue. This exquisite shop is mysterious, as it resembles a typical boutique, but actually is a charity-based outlet. The main purpose of With Love is to raise money to help orphan children in Russia. The owner, Debbie Deegan, is a bubbly woman and here she shares her passion for the charity with Insight. She also talks about the launch of her own range of clothes.

Dress like a celebrity

Charity shop With Love - 2 Vernon Avenue, Clontarf

Debbie Deegan

5LIFESTYLE


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Grocery stores like Aldi, Lidl, Dunnes and Tesco remind me of, and are very similar to, Bi-lo, Piggly Wiggly, Publix, and Kroger. Ive noticed here in Dublin that fresh bread is not sealed up like back at home. At home the bread and small breaded pastries are wrapped up carefully.

You can walk into a grocery store in Dublin and see the fresh bread inside brown baskets ready to be picked up by customers.

Ive also been fortunate to try dishes that I have never had prior to my being here. Most of the foods that I have tried have been pastries and sweet treats.

Another thing that I have taken note of are the coffee shops and cafs.

I live in a very small town at home, and we dont really have many cafes. However, here there are several coffee shops and cafes. One of the ones here in Dublin is Amelies French Bakery.

Something that I believe to be a bless-

ing and a curse is how long food can last in Ireland.

I have found that food is much more organic and free of being processed like they are in the US.

I love knowing that I am eating a less processed dish that would usually have many calories, added sugar and flavours to it.

Ive tried organic orange juice here at a caf called the Cracked Nut and it was abso-lutely delightful.

The downside of less processed food is that it does not last as long. Every four to five days you have to throw out your food and go grocery shopping.

At home in the States we usually purchase food that can last for months and weeks.

I have about three weeks left in this wonderful city and I am truly going to miss it here.

I believe it is important to visit new places and try things like new food.

It is very important to be open to experi-encing new cultures because without doing

so we will never have options or differentiate what we like and dislike.

My name is Shakora Bamberg and I am currently living and studying in Dublin, Ireland. I love trying unique dishes but Ive noticed the food in Ireland isnt too different from what we eat in America.

Food for thought: IRL v USA

Freshly backed goods in a Dublin Cafe

6MEDIA


Despite not having any journalists in her family Claire Byrne was always interested in the media and current affairs. With the help of a teacher she gained experience from an early age. She got me involved in public speaking and she also organised some work experience for me with the local newspaper.

Wanting to be a journalist since the age of 14, Claire followed her dream in a round-about-way when she, following some career guid-ance, studied Sociology, Politics and Psychology at UCD. But she quickly realised it wasnt for her. The only subject I was interested in was politics, and I didnt have the patience to finish the degree, said the mother of two. So she changed to a journalism course at DIT. However looking back on it now she thinks it might have been better to stay and finish it. So what advice would she give her young self today? I was only 17, so what was the rush? I had plenty of time, so stay and enjoy studying and enjoy university.

On Claire Byrne Live she talks to politicians, activists and the pub-lic alike about topics such as water taxes, childcare and the housing crises, offering the public informative, engaging and entertaining

debates, she says. I try to have a very open mind and I try to think about things the way my audience might see them. I try to ask the questions that my audience would like to have asked. Shes pleased that the show is going very well. I would watch it if I wasnt present-ing it. Nonetheless, Claire considers that she has a lot more to still do, both on radio and television. She said she would hate to think that at the age of 39 she has accomplished everything she would like

By Ana Sousa

Many people may already know her voice from her RTE Radio 1 programme on Saturdays and now they can see her on TV on Monday nights as well. The blonde presenter returned to air only 10 weeks after having her baby to host the television show.

People see you as sort of tough person who is just focusing on

work all the time, but Im really a big softy

The new face of RTEs latest current affairs programme, Claire Byrne, tells Insight about motherhood, her current show, and fame.

Claire Byrne

Courtesy of RTE

7to. She says: I am not finished yet, but Im very happy doing what Im doing.

However, under the confident, strong woman image, there is an-other side of Claire that probably audiences dont know. People see you as sort of tough person who is just focusing on work all the time, but Im really a big softy. She loves going for a walk with her dog, a Labrador called Rosie, more than anything. Animals are her passion, which should be no surprise as she grew up on the countryside.

Motherhood is another important part of Claires life now. She is the mother of two babies, Patrick who is 16 months old, and daughter Jane who is near-ly six months. She confesses it isnt easy. She gets more stressed out about things at home than at work.

Dealing with two young children is tricky. I find that quite challenging. My greatest stress is probably trying to get my children to go to sleep at night. I just take it day by day, otherwise its overwhelming. They would be my biggest stress I suppose, but they bring my biggest joy as well.

Claire says that motherhood has changed her worldview and that it has had a positive impact on her job. Being a mother has made me a better journalist. She has a greater understanding of many of the issues that she would deal with, because now she has been through them herself. When Im now talking about children who are having to wait for medical care I think I empathise a lot more because I have my own children. Being a mother also taught her how to balance is-sues better. As a mother you spend all your life being guilty if youre not there. And then, if youre like me, you need to work because its so important to my life. So youre juggling a lot more.

Elsewhere, Claire says Ireland has had many strong feamle broad-

casters through the years. She does admit though that she has had a few bad experiences on air because there are sexist people every-where. But she considers herself confident enough to be able to deal with any man who would have a problem with women in the work-place in a very definitive way.

I just discount man who would have any issue with women I think theyre not worth even talking about to be honest. However, although Byrne declares that having women on its guests is something that RTE strives for, she believes that guests should be chosen based

on their merit as opposed to their gen-der. I think I would hate to see us hav-ing women or men on just because they are women or men. Lets hear from peo-ple who are interesting. However, this becomes a problem, as many industries dont encourage women to enter their field, so when the media is looking for a mixed panel of spokespersons it becomes difficult to find women to represent the

topic because they dont exist. Fame came as a surprise. Claire never expected to be well known as

a result of doing the job she loves. When I was growing up in school I never really associated being a journalist with being a well known person. It still surprises me that people are interested in my life and on what I am doing.

MEDIA


Byrne

As a mother you spend all your life

being guilty if youre not there

Claire Byrne Live airs on Monday nights at 10.35pm on RTE One.Saturday with Claire Byrne on RTE Radio 1 is every Saturday from 1-2pm.

Courtesy of RTE

8KH: What would you encourage aspiring broadcasters to learn? MC: The most important thing for any broadcaster or journalist to have, is the de-sire to find out. I spend my time asking ques-tions, not making statements. It does not mat-ter what I actually think. Its about what the people I interview think and what they can tell. And the most important thing for any presenter is to keep asking questions and not to make assumptions.

KH: Do you ever get nervous before you go on air? MC: The day that your not anxious, or mo-tivated, your going to be in trouble and your going to make mistakes. You have to be aware and you have to be alert. Of course when it comes to the big interviews, you are going to be nervous, be it a Taoiseach or a minister a billionaire or a sports superstar.

Sometimes the ones that are most difficult are the important lifestyle stories of people that have been through a crisis, through a trauma, and you have a responsibility to get the most out of those people, without upset-ting them, and causing unnecessary hurt or pain. Those perhaps, are the ones that you are most nervous about.

KH: As a radio host would you find

yourself extremely flexible?

MC: That is part of the job. You could have the whole programme set up early in the day.We go at half past four, and anyone can pull out. Now its rare that that has happened, that is down to my production team.

KH: Do you find that your flexibility

has transcended into your writing?MC: Before turning to broadcasting I was a newspaper editor, so I had my start in print media, where I worked for 15 years, and a newspaper editor at The Sunday Tribune for six of those years. I was a writer first and fore-most before I ever started in broadcast media.

Radio is a totally different medium, I think it is underestimated in the media as to how different they actually are. I had to change the way that I did things after the first couple of

years. This helped me to become more of an inquisitive broadcaster as well.

This idea that everyone can be a multi-

media practitioner does not work. There are some people who are great writers and who are terrible broadcasters and vice versa. And I know some broadcasters who can barely write their name.

KH: What would you encourage other aspiring journalists to do in relation to their career choice?MC: I would encourage people to be accurate and inquisitive. I saw this in journalism when

I started, for myself. Too many people want to be columnists, rather than reporters. They wanted to write opinion pieces. Just go out and f**king report, and then you have a lot of information to do what you want with.

KH: How would you describe yourself in one word?MC: God I never thought of that. I dont know, maybe Im not going to answer that haha.

KH: Matt Cooper thank you very much?MC: No problem, happy to help.

MEDIA


The Last Word with Matt Cooper airs on Today FM weekdays from 4.30pm - 7pm.

Q&A:With Matt CooperToday FMs Last Word presenter, Matt Cooper, talks to Kevin Higgins about the pressures of his job, his career, and advice to journalism students.

I know some broadcasters who can barely write

their name

DBSs Kevin Higgins Pictured with Today FMs Matt Cooper

9ENTERTAINMENT


In the past decade, the contemporary cin-ematic box-office smash hits have had a rather comic book focus, with the likes of Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight tril-ogy and virtually any Marvel adaptation has proved to be the quintessential money maker in this golden age of cinema.

In the coming weeks, the much anticipated sequel to Marvels The Avengers, The Aveng-ers: Age of Ultron will be released globally and most likely, similar to its predecessor will break box office records. But what is it about these franchises that audiences find so appealing and why do they continue to see them? Irish com-ic book salesman in EN,TH comic store on Georges Street, Feidhlim Malone - who has been a hard-core comic book fan for the past 10 years - believes that it is down to the charac-ters and the writing. Every hero, whether its your typical boy-scout type Captain America or Superman, or if theyre the anti-hero type like The Punisher, theres something human about them no matter what. It doesnt matter how powerful they are or it doesnt matter how rich they are, theres always a human element to them. There are things that people like to latch onto. He added: There are people who are tired of it already but to be honest, I think the writing is still good.

Of course, comic book adapted films have been present for a number of decades, includ-ing Richard Donners Superman from 1978 and Tim Burtons Batman in 1989, both of which were hugely successful. But the super-hero boom is only starting to come into effect in the modern day as technology and special effects are improving all aspects of story- tell-ing. With the mutual agreement that there will

be superhero/villain crossovers in both Marvel and eventually DC comics, Mr. Malone claims that: The comic books themselves are a mas-sively expanding universe and I think its an interesting experiment, Id like to see how far it can go. I dont think it has actually gotten to the breaking point yet. The Dark Knight Rises pulled in a whopping $1.1 billion in 2012, while Iron Man 3 took home $1.2 billion in 2013, but although there could be typical cynics who believe it is just a phase of aimless stupidity within the money milking side to cin-ema, it is difficult to see how comic book mov-

ies are going to slow down as no other genre has ever captured audiences in these ways be-fore, as the proof is in the numbers, and criti-cal reviews.

It is also creating a positive aspect for geek culture and comic book sales themselves Fei-dhlim believes. Its definitely only making people more interested in comics I believe. Comic book sales have improved drastically since these movies came out, and when the first Iron Man movie came out, Iron Man wasnt doing very well in the comics back then because of the Civil War events and Iron Man

was kind of made out to be more of a villain. But the Iron Man movie saved the character and I think that every time a big movie comes out, that characters comic sales improve dras-tically. He says that: Everythings geek cul-ture now on TV.

Youve got The Big Bang Theory - youve got Stan Lees World of Superheroes, Game of Thrones, you know? He also believes that it is an optimistic time for TV also, as many TV shows such as Gotham, The Flash, Arrow, and the new upcoming Daredevil series being released in June, only adds more for audiences to delve into. I think itll help the whole epi-sodic nature of comics and I do think theyll make more money but I dont think theyll ever beat the box office sales of the films. It is a fascinating thought that most of these beloved characters being put onto the big screen have actually been with us for decades, some even since the 1930s. Mr. Malone believes that su-perhero movies will not ultimately destroy the art of cinema and he totally disagrees with such claims that dispute it, adding, Not at all! (laughs). No, because there is still so many other kinds of films coming out that people are going to see. I mean, in the 70s and 80s, sci-fi was hugely popular, there were still other types of movies and in the late 80s and early 90s, there was a big boom of action movies with secret agents and cops, and that type of genre didnt destroy cinema. And even look at the universal cycle of monsters way back in the 30s, 40s and 50s, that didnt destroy cinema and those guys were everywhere and again, it was a shared universe. So I dont think itll destroy cinema, if anything itll only open up new doors to other genres.

The Avengers: Age of UltronAnt-Man

By Stephen FinlaySilver Screen Superheroes

The comic books themselves are a

massively expanding universe and I think its an interesting

experiment

10

Anxieties depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), stress and phobia are some of the issues faced by many in society. These issues can really have an impact on peoples personal and social life.

Kathleen Horne, a therapist at Mind and Body Works in Dublin believes that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the best solution for these issues and it has become very common because people feel it is the best answer.

Cognitive behavioural Therapy was originally designed to treat de-pression. Now it is used for a number of mental illnesses. A doctor can usually refers patients. Although CBT places patients in a step-by-step process, Ms. Horne explains: The procedure varies with different pa-tients.

Various methods are put in place to support the patient, these meth-ods include journaling, finding ways that ground them into the present moment, rationalising their nega-tive thinking and beliefs, using positive affirmations and learning to be compassionate with them. In order for someone to overcome these symptoms they must know the cause of it. Kathleen Horne explains: As therapists, we give the clients a good understanding of what causes anxiety and stress. Patients go through breathing techniques, relaxation, and meditation and are advised on how to read situations.

CBT has become a common practice and some people feel it is the answer to their anxieties. People tend to think anxiety and depression makes them abnormal and this can lead them to be sceptical and live in denial. One thing they need to know is anxiety does not mean one is crazy or disillusioned. Kathleen Horne defines anxiety as anticipat-ing something that will happen in the future and she also states, a lot of people live with anxiety and when something happens in their lives they could spiral out of control.

In order for a client to overcome their anxiety they must engage in the fear to take the fear out of it. CBT is a step-by-step process, but procedures vary with different clients.

HEALTH


With summer on the horizon, now may be the time to think about getting out the shovels and start working in the garden. The message is simple: ditch barren lawns and tedious flowerbeds. Instead think about growing your own food. Growing your own is not hard and does not need to be expensive. It can be adventurous and it can be a creative. With a little bit of imagination it can be surprising what can be achieved. We are blessed in this country as we have a climate thats good for growing almost everything and its a shame that its wasted on grass! The process of food from the ground to the plate has been-lost in recent generations. There is however something we can do about this and that is growing our own food.

It Does Not Need To Be ExpensiveStarting a own food garden does not mean that it has to break the bank. There are a variety of places such as Woodies and B&Q that sell equipment such as, compost and containers very cheaply. This is great for starting. But for someone who is interested in something a bit more technical, it is possible to buy specialist equipment online. Old milk jugs and plastic bottles can be reused as containers and trays for plants so dont feel like it has to be too extravagant. It really is up to personal preference. Seeds can be bought cheaply from a local garden centre but most of the fruit and vegetables we buy in the shop can be repurposed from cuttings and which can be used to grow new tomatoes, peppers and

strawberries. This is often a more delicate procedure and can be tricky, so be aware of that before starting off.

Any Space is Good SpaceWhether its for an apartment or in the home there is always space to grow food. Food can be grown almost anywhere-windowsills, balconies and any sunny spots in the home will do. As with most things to do with gardening the experience is better with time.

VarietyThey say variety is the spice of life, and for good reason. A varied diet is proven to be an excellent way of getting key nutrients into peoples diets. Not only is it healthier but sowing different varieties of vegetables will make gardening at home more exciting as it helps break up the timing of your harvest. It will also look

better as the different colours in the garden will give it a better aesthetic.

Growing herbs

Growing your own By Stephen Phelan

Tomato seeds germinating

Various pots ready to be used again

Finding help through CBTBy Lukman Borokinni

These issues can really have an impact on peoples personal

and social life

For more information visit www.mindandbodyworks.com or visit their office at 15 Wicklow St, Dublin 2, or phone 016771021.

11

HEALTH


More and more Irish people are opting to puff on vapour from electronic cigarettes. In recent years, it has been estimated that the industry is valued at $2bn.

Lorraine Carolan of Irish Vape, an e-cigarettes store in Navan, explained the demograhic of her daily customers. She asserted the majority to being middle-aged vapors. According to Ms. Carolan, nine out of every 10 e-cigarette users were tobacco cigarette smokers before shifting to what they believe is a healthier option. The vaping industry in Ireland has managed to target all age groups, but appeals to the 30 to 50 year olds in particular. But, the question still remains. How have e- cigarette companies successfully promoted their product without the aid of advertisements? The answer is simple - through word of mouth, the great-est marketing tool in the history of mankind.

Electronic cigarettes are made up of three main components: battery, atomizer and tank. The tank is used to store the e-liquid, the coil within the atomizer vaporizes the e-liquid, and in order for this process to initiate, the battery is an essential key player. In order to vape and create flavored clouds, an inhala-tion routine triggers the atomizer (coil) creating intense heat, which results in vaporizing the e-liquid. The mechanism of each e-cigarette may vary slightly, de-pending on

the brand, size, and personal desires.In the 1960s the concept of the elec-

tronic cigarette emerged. However, due to the popularity of tobacco cigarettes at the time, smokers were not interested in trying the product. It was only back in 2003 when Hon Lik, a 52-year-old Chinese pharmacist, reinvented electronic cigarettes. He decided to develop them, as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes, after the death of his father from smoke related illness. He was a heavy smoker, and lung cancer victim.

Recently the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) re-vealed that there are approximately 134,000 electronic cigarette users in Ireland. This statistic was part of a broader research pa-per on e-cigarettes and their effect on health. However, the ICS concluded that research into the long-term effects of their using e-cigarettes is not yet available. Dr. Hassan Al-Bayyari, a GP in Dublin, agreed that available tests show the levels of most dan-gerous chemicals produced by e-cigarettes to be a fraction of what youd get from a real cigarette. This is partially due to the moder-ate amount of substances found within the e-liquids being vaporized. An e-liquid consists of propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), natural or artificial flavorings and nicotin. If above zero milligrams, some (brands) use distilled water, and organic ingredients; others use alcohol in place of PG, said Lorraine Carolan of Irish

Vap.Despite the

results obtained from different research, e-cigarettes

still prove to have side effects on the us-ers. Initially, nicotine being an essential com-ponent in vaping is by itself hazardous, seeing that its a very addictive substance in addition to the possibility of it affecting the brains function. Apart from the nicotine, other ma-jor side effects include popcorn lung, a very severe permanent condition, which surfaces through the inhalation of a butter flavouring diacetyl. The illness is caused by damaging air sacs in the lungs, resulting in a bad cough and shortness of breath. Dr. Al-Bayyari also acknowledged other less serious side effects including dry skin, dry mouth, rashes to the face, itchiness, puffy eyes, headaches, nausea, hiccoughs and minor blood nose issue.

Although we now know e-cigarettes, just like normal tobacco cigarettes, are harmful to ones body, they seem to be ever growing in popularity across Ireland. Lorraine Carolan said there has been an increase in sales over the past couple of years.

Revenue accumulated by the tobacco in-dustry giants may gradually decrease, as e-cigarette companies swiftly expand.

Other major side effects includepopcorn lung, a very severe permanent condition,which surfaces through the inhalation of

a butter flavouring diacetyl

Puff in smokeBy Mohamed El Kahlout

In recent years electronic cigarettes have been on the rise in Ireland. The future is all about vaping, not smoking.

Vaporisers and E-Juice. Photograph taken by Mo-

hamed El Kahlout

12

After Irelands performances in the Au-tumn Internationals and the Six Na-tions, Ireland look to be serious con-tenders for the World Cup when it kicks off in September this year. While a slip up against Wales in Cardiff showed some frailties in the Irish side, they were very strong throughout the tournament particularly in the back to back home wins over France and England and their dominating performance over Scotland which ultimately brought the Six Nations title back to Dublin for the second year in a row. The Wales game did show that Ireland could be lacking in pace when on the attack as they struggled to break down a resilient Welsh defence, but one defeat doesnt mean that Ireland arent still one of the favorites going into the World Cup after successfully retaining their Six Nations Cham-pionship title.

The centre partnership of DArcy and Hen-shaw looked shaky in the Guinness Series match against Australia, with the Australian backline cutting through the Irish defence seemingly at will. The start of the Six Nations saw Irish coach, Joe Schmidt put his trust in the young pairing of Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne which has paid off as the Irish defense looks stronger than ever and played a major part in Ireland retaining

their Six Nations title, with Henshaw making the most tackles throughout the tournament, for the first time since the current competition

format was introduced. Throughout the tourna-ment Ireland proved themselves to be one of the top teams in the Northern Hemisphere and a major contender in the world cup considering it will be hosted just across the Irish sea in Eng-land.

Ireland will have to face two of their six na-tions rivals in Pool D. France and Italy should prove Irelands sternest test in the group stage. But Ireland can take confidence from their vic-tories over France in the past two Six Nations

Championships and a dominating second half performance over Italy in the first match of this seasons championship. On the surface it looks like a fairly straight forward group for Ireland and they should top the pool and progress to the quarter finals.

With New Zealand and Argentina in Pool C, Irelands most likely opponent in the Quarter Finals is Argentina who Ireland beat twice in Argentina last summer. The form Ireland have shown since Joe Schmidt took charge means that Ireland should comfortably make it past the Ar-

gentinian side into the semi finals.Irelands most likely opponent in the last four

is Australia. Ireland most recently played Aus-tralia in the Autumn Series where Ireland came out as winners with a score of 26 to 23. It was against Australia that Ireland showed some de-fensive frailties with Australias quick passing catching Ireland out, particularly in the centre. Ireland looked a lot more solid in defence during the most of the Six Nations but looked suscepti-ble to counter attacks during their match against Wales in Cardiff which ultimately cost them the Grand Slam and Triple Crown titles. Australia would be Irelands toughest test of the tourna-ment up to that point but the fact that Ireland proved they can beat Australia and the Aus-tralians subsequent defeat to England, Ireland should make it to the final if they show the form theyre capable of in the past few years.

If Ireland manage to get all the way to the final, they will more than likely have to face New Zealand who over the past decade have estab-lished themselves as the best team in the world and a team that Ireland have never beaten in test rugby. Ireland may be showing their best form in years but overcoming a team like New Zealand will need a perfect game plan from Joe Schmidt and execution from the players on the pitch. Ire-lands chances of winning the World Cup might be better than theyve ever been, but at the mo-ment its still New Zealands tournament to lose.

SPORTS


Irelands chances of winning the World

Cup might be better than theyve ever

been

Green Giants: Can Ireland win the Rugby World Cup this Year? By Rob Breadon

Credit: Dan Sheridan - Inpho

13

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as a sport has become huge in Ireland and it is all down to one man - Conor McGregor. The Notorious McGregor is one of the biggest names in the Ultimate Fighting Champion-ship (UFC), which is the biggest MMA company in the world. Conor McGregor is undefeated in the UFC and on July 11th is fighting for the UFC Feather-weight World Title agaunst Jose Aldo. McGregors personality, passion and cocky brash attitude has gained the attention of eve-ryone in Ireland and elsewhere. And has made him one of the most famous people in the coun-try at the moment.

Many people would like to see McGregor lose to Aldo as they cant stand his trash talking and his inflated ego. Of course McGregor is not the only top level MMA fighter we in Ireland there is also Cathal Pendred, Paddy The Hooligan Hooli-han, Neil Seery and Paul Red-ser Redmond. All of these fight-ers are signed with the UFC.

Cathal Pendred and Paddy Hoolihan have been very suc-cessful. Paul Redmond was de-feated in his fight in the UFC, but what he went through be-fore his debut was unbelievable. Paul had to lose 36 pounds in two weeks just to make weight for his fight. Paul said: Pretty tiring, we knew exactly how hard it was going to be to get it off alright but its not everyday the UFC come calling so I took the opportunity. I just thought I could perform a bit better on the night.

Paul, who still works as a plumber said it was an opportunity he couldnt pass up, something he will never forget I thought s**t I got 36 pounds to cut in 13 days. Its only now its done I look back and think I fought for the UFC in front 30,000 people, thats something Ill always remember. Pauls de-but was in Stockholm, Sweden, on a big bill.

He has another fight coming up in the UFC and has said if he losses again that will be his chance with the UFC gone: Im not here to play games Im in there to win fights. I know another loss and Im gone.

Many people think Conor McGregor is a loud mouth and just in it for the money but speaking to Paul he says thats not the case.

Ive trained with him before and hes a monster, hits like a truck, and a pure nice guy.

Talking to other guys in the fight game they only have good words to say about the man from Crumlin. Irish heavyweight box-er Martin Rogan, who has sold out the Odyssey Arena in Belfast many times, said: I think Conor McGregor is doing amazing. He is the talk everywhere, social media, TV, everywhere. He goes about things in a controlled ag-gressive way and gets the job done.

Undefeated heavyweight boxer and former MMA fighter Lucas Big Daddy Browne says that McGregor is good for the fight game.

I think guys like him are what keeps fighting in general interesting and keeps the sport thriving. There always has to be someone like that to keep the thrill alive.

MMA and especially UFC is getting bigger and bigger in Ire-land, the UFC recently put on a show at Dublins 3Arena which sold out in record time.

Conor McGregor is the man who put UFC and MMA on the

map in this country he has a huge following here and all over the world. And if he wins the world title in July he will get bigger and bigger with more UFC shows coming to these shores which can only be a good thing for the economy, fight fans and Irish sport in general.

The other Irish fighters in the UFC are also pushing their way to the top and proving themselves against the best. The UFC now has a strong stable of Irish fighters they have signed seven fighters over the last two years which is great for Irish mixed martial arts.

SPORTS


The Fighting Irish CONOR MCGREGOR: WERE NOT HERE TO TAKE PART, WE ARE HERE TO TAKE OVER!

BY CATHAL JENNINGS

Ive trained with him before and hes a monster, hits like a

truck and a pure nice guy

Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo mural in Dublin City / Cathal Jennings

14

LIFESTYLE


Bike Tour: The city loves bikes. In fact its likely that theres more bikes than people in Amsterdam. A good way to explore the city is to rent a bike and spend countless hours cycling the streets, stopping off to take in the cafes, parks museums and canal views. Its a busy place so make sure to drive well.

Cruise the canals: Amsterdam is all the more spectacular seen from the water. The canal cruise is a comfortable trip through the citys spectacular views within an hour. Its the most relaxing way to get to know Amsterdam. With a tour guide on board embark on an amaz-ing journey learning the history of the city. Westerkerk church, Anne Frank House and the narrowest house in Amsterdam can all be seen from the cruise.

Anne Frank House: Anne Frank is a rare spine-tingling experience. At times it feels like being back in the Nazi occupied 1940s. Take in the history of Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank with a guided walk through the house. Dont be disappointed and make sure to pre-book tickets online to avoid the long queue for the house.

Rijksmuseum: The Rijksmuseum is one of the most breathtaking museums in Amsterdam. It exists for more than two hundred years,

holding contemporary and historical artworks. With a beautiful promenade surrounding, sitting out and enjoying Amsterdams delicious waffles is a must do. The iconic I Amsterdam letters that is an attraction itself, is just outside the museum where tourists are gathering from all over. Definitely a go to spot when the sun is shining.

Van Gogh Museum: This may be one of the most popular attrac-tions in the city. The museum features many of Dutch post-impres-sionist artist Vincent Van Goghs best artwork alongside with paintings of famous artists like Monet and Matisse. Its a treasure of European art and one that should not be missed.

Vondelpark: Amsterdams largest and most popular park is a great place to walk, cycle, people-watch or relax after a visit to a local cof-fee shop. With its ponds, lawns and colourful gardens on a sunny day there is no better place to observe the lifestyles of the Dutch.

Flower Markets: For an array of springtime colours, a visit to the Dutch flower market will lift hearts. With Holland being famous for tulips, the spring tulip season is a perfect time to find myriad varie-ties of bulbs, exotic plants and brightly coloured flowers alongside the Singel canal. With so much to see, plan it well to get the most of this dam beautiful city

Looking for a city break, go to where you will find iconic scenery. With Amsterdam being one of the most beautiful cities in the world it wont disappoint. Its not just about its red lights and coffee shops, there is much more to this city. With its brick buildings, open skyline, countless canals and its history, this Dutch city is perfect for a long weekend.

Famous Dutch chocolate waffles

Rijksmuseum and I Amsterdam sign Night falls in Amsterdam

Amazing Amsterdam

Words & Photographs: Emma Swift

Its not just about its red lights and coffee shops

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