DkITimes

The DkIT Institute Newsletter VolVol 55 IssueIssue 1515 DKITDKIT StudentsStudents ROCKROCK OUTOUT inin aidaid ofof LocalLocal CounsellingCounselling ServiceService

DKit Year 3 Events Management students present " Have You Got The Battle Factor" 2011. The Event will be held on Wednes- day the 2nd February, at 1pm in The New Black Box Theatre on DKIT College cam- pus. All funds raised will be donated to Turas Counselling Services Ltd.

College bands will battle it out to win a slot to play during Rag week 2011, winners will be chosen by a guest judging panel with the results being announced at 3.30pm in the college bar.

The nominated Charity Turas Counselling Services provide Professional Therapeutic Counsel- ling Services specialising in the area of drug and alcohol depend- ency, its existence is essential to the recovery of many who find they are struggling to cope with the diffi- cult life issues associated with de- pendency.

For more information in relation to the event contact haveyougotthe- [email protected]

For more information on the ser- vices that Turas provide or to make a donation please feel free to con- tact Turas Counselling Services Ltd, 59 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth P: 042 93 38221 / 042 93 38224 F: 042 9338225 E: [email protected] www.turascounselling.ie DKIT GRADUATE NEARLY HALF WAY ACROSS ATLANTIC ON WORLD RECORD ROWING ATTEMPT – WORLD RECORD CURRENTLY HELD BY THE CREW FOR MOST NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS (12) ROWING 100+ MILES!

Adam Burke, 28, recently graduated from the BA(Hons) in Community Sports Leadership in DKIT, is part of a 6-man strong team attempting to row the Atlantic from Morocco to in a purpose-built rowing boat called Sara G. Currently, Adam and and crew have rowed an incredible 1,400 miles (approx) and have just over 1,800 (approx) miles left to go! They departed Tarfaya port in Morocco on Wednesday January 5 th at 1.30pm and have to arrive in Barbados not later than 7.30pm on February 9 th in order to beat the current world record of 33 days, 7 hours, set by the crew on board the boat, La Mondiale, in 2008.

Operating a gruelling 2 hours on-2 hours off schedule over a 24 hour period, the crew of 6 are surviving on minimal sleep. Each 2 hour rest period requires the 3 crew who are not on the oars to take care of daily business, such as cooking. Each crew member has one food ration pack per day that can contain up to 5,000 calories and bearing in mind that they could be burning up to 10,000 calories each per day, it is of the utmost impor- tance that the ration pack is finished. It contains 3 packets of freeze dried food, to which water needs to be added, along with high energy snacks like chocolate, peanuts, etc. Water on board comes from the watermaker which can take in salt water from the sea and desalinate it for drinking. This watermaker can produce more than the required amount for 6 thirsty crew memnbers on an average day. Electrics on the boat are pow- ered through both solar panels and wind energy, allowing the crew to recharge not only their own batteries, but also their much-needed ipods, cameras, etc!

Adam's shifts are 12midnight-2am, 4am-6am, 8am-10am, 12noon-2pm, 4pm-6pm and 8pm- 10pm. According to him, the 4am-6am is the hardest shift and the crew find it very hard not to fall asleep on the oars at this time. The crew have kept in contact with home using a satellite phone which can also be hooked up to a small laptop to send and receive emails. Other crew members on board are Rob Byrne (, coastal rower from Bray), Matt Craughwell (UK, skip- per and owner of the boat), Dr. Graham Carlin (UK), Thomas Cremona (Malta) and Fiann Paul (). Every hour, the boat's position is updated via satellite tracking so friends and family at home can keep aware of their progress.

Adam is taking part in the row on behalf of Irish charity, Energy Action, who address the thermal needs of the elderly and needy, and provide training and employment opportunities for long-term unemployed.

You can find out more about Adam, including reading his regular updates and tracking the boat's position at his Ocean Ambition website: www.oceanambition.com - donations are also still very welcome via Paypal or credit card at www.oceanambition.com/sponsors.htm

You can find out more about his charity, Energy Action, at www.energyaction.ie

You can compare the progress of Sara G with the current world record holder (La Mondiale) at the Ocean Rowing Society's site http://www.oceanrowing.com/SaraG_2011_comparative.htm

You can find out more about the WORLD RECORD for rowing the most consecutive days at 100+miles (now 12, previously 9) at the Ocean Rowing Society's site http:// www.oceanrowing.com/SaraG_distance.htm

You can find out more about the crew at www.worldoceanrowing.com

4th year project from the BA(Hons) in Video & Film Production se- lected for the prestigious Celtic Media Festival

Split Thread, an final year interactive narrative project cre- ated by David Thorpe, Aidan Gibson and Ciaran Foley, re- cent graduates of the BA(Hons) in Video & Film Production, has been selected in the Digital Media section (for the Kieran Hegarty Award For Interactivity) at the prestigious Celtic Media Festival.

The project was created during their Practice-Based Re- search Project module and was exhibited at the Fís exhibition in Carrolls in June 2010. The Celtic Media Festival, held in Newry last year, exists to promote the cultures and lan- guages of the Celtic countries in film, on television, radio and new media. It will take place this year in the Western Isles in Scotland in April 2011 and is now in its 32nd year. You can find out more at http://www.celticmediafestival.co.uk/

Congratulations to these students

In other news, 3 rd years students on the BA in Video & Film Production are currently in the midst of their 3-week long intensive Cinematography module, delivered by renowned Cinematographer, Tim Fleming, whose work can be seen at www.timflemingcinematographer.com . For the first time, students are shooting on the high-end digital RED camera and will process their footage in-house due to an upgrade of the main edit suite in PJ Carrolls. We look forward to seeing their material!

Water is Life Lunchtime Seminar

The next lunchtime seminar as part of the Water is Life Seminar series

shall take place this Thursday (27^th January) in Room N122 at 1pm.

The seminar is entitled

*Renewable energy options in Uganda*'

and shall be given by Dr. Paul MacArtain, CREDIT, DkIT.

All are welcome, please see further information below:

Uganda has a number of renewable energy options which will have impacts at international, but not necessarily local levels. A focus on the renewable energy resources available at national, regional and local levels gives an insight into the way in which sustainable energy policies will be challenged in coming years. What may be good for the country may not be good for the people. This talk will focus on the hydro, solar, wind and bio energy resources available to the Ugandan nation and will identify the possibilities for supporting sustainable development in the future. Launch of Tour D`Boyne – Land Of Legends Challenge

Last Saturday, GAA All Star and Louth Midfielder Paddy Keenan launched the Tour D`Boyne – Land Of Legends Challenge in the Aura Leisure Centre, Drogheda.

Paddy took time out from his preparations from what we all hope will be a busy year for the Louth man to lend support to an exciting challenge coming th up on Sunday the 20 of March in Townley Hall, Drogheda.

Drogheda based charity, Development Perspectives have organised a 10 KM run and 45 KM cycle to take place around the historical and scenic Boyne Valley as well as having fun activities such Bouncy Castle, Treasure Hunt, Archery, Food and Drink and many more surprises and attractions for all the family on the day. Registration for either the cycle or run costs 25 euro or 40 euro for both if you really feeling energetic.

Entry forms and an information sheet can be downloaded from www.tourdboyne.ie . Event Manager of the Land of Legends Challenge, Stephen Clinton wanted to thank the Business Support Unit of Louth Local Authorities who have supported this initiative whilst also paying tribute to Aura Leisure Centre and the D Hotel for sponsoring the event as well LM-FM who are the media partner of the Tour D`Boyne.

All proceeds from the event go to Development Perspectives (DP) who are based in Barlow House, Narrow West St. Drogheda. Established in 2006, DP tackles poverty, inequality, conflict and injustice at home and abroad. For CeolCeol Oirghialla’sOirghialla’s ChristmasChristmas ConcertConcert

One of the few events which took place in spite of the extreme weather conditions before Christmas was DkIT Music Department's Christmas Concert in the Redemptorist Church, Dundalk.

Those who managed to make it through the snow, like Good King Wenceslas, were treated to a feast of seasonal music by the 135 voice choir, soloists and DkIT Chamber Orchestra.

Mr. Mick Murphy, the Mayor of Newry and Mourne and Mrs. Carol Murphy were guests of honour. Fr. Richard Delahunty welcomed the students and their guests, many of whom had travelled a long distance to the church.

The main work on the programme was the beautiful Vaughan Williams An tAthair Clement MacManuis, Chaplain DkIT, Fantasia on Christmas Carols. with prize winners of the Eamonn Ó Gallchobhair Siubhán Ó Dubháin's arrangements of Composition Competition - Mike McNicholas and three Irish carols received its premiere Andrew Greally. performance also.

Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Caitriona McEniry Roschke performed Mozart and Monteverdi, while the Chamber Choir sang the beautiful Ó Magnum Mysteriumby 16th Spanish renaissance composer, Victoria.

The winners of the annual Éamonn Ó Gallchobhair Composition Competition were announced with a delighted Mayo student Mike McNicholas taking first place. Final year student Andrew Greally was runner up. The Prize was presented by an tAthair Clement MacManuis MA. whose scholarly work on the great Dundalk composer has received wide critical acclaim. The Christmas Concert is always an emotional occasion for the outgoing fourth year students, many of whom were soloists on the night. The concert ended with a rousing performance of Christmas carols in which the audience participated. Adele Commins, Head of Music Programmes, thanked the Redemptorist fathers for their hospitality and kindness. Mr Mick Murphy, Mayor of Newry and Mourne and his wife Mrs Carole Murphy with staff from Ceol Oirghialla, Department of Music and Creative Media

Choir and Orchestra of Ceol Oirghialla in the beautiful setting of the Redemptorist Church, Dundalk Letter to the Editor

Dear editor,

have the rules changed for the upcoming student elections?. In the last two years votes were effectively bought with t-shirts and goodies rather than substance. This is not right as it places students who cannot muster sponsership at a severe disadvantage and was mentioned on the hustings last year.

Were does the money for the campaign come from? If elected is the candidate then beholden to their sponsor? Let us not take the chance and ban outside sponsorship out- right. If we do not we are allowing the type of cronyism that has got us into so much trouble at a national political level. We should level the playing field for all candidates. It is not really fair for some candidates to spend thousands getting elected while others make do with home made posters.

Let us decide on substance rather than who has the most money to spend on their campaign to 'buy' votes.

Yours etc.

Mark O'Connor, ASC3.

It’sIt’s CaptionCaption CompetitionCompetition TimeTime

1. The life of Brian 2. Pinky and the Brian 3. Beavis and Butthead 4. "Goebbels, you're in charge"

Well done Shane Cranny.

And next weeks….

Send your suggestions to [email protected] and we’ll publish the best ones in our next edition.