The Compact, Issue 2, 24Th of October, 2005

Technological University Dublin ARROW@TU Dublin

DIT Student Union Dublin Institute of Technology

2005

The Compact, Issue 2, 24th of October, 2005

DIT: Students' Union

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Recommended Citation Dublin Institute of Technology Students' Union, The Compact, Issue 2, October 24, 2005. Dublin, DIT, 2005.

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the compact

4 Canteen Re-Opens 5 Vice-President Academic & Student Affairs 6 Mature Students 7 Students Kicked Out 8 Cocaine Story 10 City Channel 12 Fashion 14 CD / DVD Reviews 16 Musicals Editorial. 18 Brendan Benson Welcome to the Halloween edition ofThe Compact 19 Video Analysis and I hope you all like what we have on display for 20 A Tribute to Shane Brennan you this time around. It has been a busy couple of weeks which has included the infamous FRAG 21 Sports Forecast & Cupla trip to Leitrim, the Freshers' Fair in Aungier St., Focal and the 70's Ball on Harcourt St. just last week. Check-out The Compact's Private Eye and see all 22 Columnists the reviews and photos of what really happened at those events. 24 Just Ask Molly 26 Student Entertainment Our main story this edition is probably the cocaine story that begins on page eight of the magazine. 31 Cartoons Cocaine use is a contentious issue these days and after the hounding of super-model Kate Moss last month, I had a chat with an ex-DIT student and Editor - Cormac Cahill Chris Murphy ofthe Drug Awareness Programme Sub-Editor - Eoghan Morrissey (DAP) in Dublin, to have a chat about their experi ences with cocaine use among young people in this News Editor - David White country. Sports Editor - Andrew Hussey I hope you will notice that the magazine is slightly Fashion Editors - Lili Forberg & Louise Conlon better-rounded this time around, as there has been a good reaction from students to get involved in the Business Editor - Vacant magazine. I would like to personally thank them all for doing this because without them they would Entertainment Editor - Vacant make my job impossible. Science & Technology - Ziang Zhou However, I still need more people to get involved in Sports Correspondent - Vacant the magazine so it can reach its full potential so if you have any good or bad stories about your time News Correspondent - Vacant here in DIT or want to take some photographs at the next college night out just let me know and I'll Fashion Photography - Lili Forberg take a look at it for you. Music Photography - Ruth Medjber So, enjoy the magazine and let me know what you Freshers Fair Photography - Liza O'Riordan all think. FRAG Trip Photography - Sharon Vogiatzi Cormac Cahill, Editor. Front Cover Photograph - Lili Forberg [email protected] Tel; 087 660 1912.

Big Thanks To All Contributors.... Kathy ~asterson, Eoghan MorriBBey, David White, Andrew Hussey, Paddy Reynolds, Maura Fay, Dualta Jones, Louise Conlon, Lili For berg, Nlamh Ingoldsby, Declan Cashin, Catherine Glasheen, Sam Whelan, Majella Lavin, Ruth Medjber, Sharon Vogiatzi, Niall Cahill, Liza O'Riordan, John Rainsford, Mark Doherty, Julie Campbell, Matthew Beaney, Ziang Zhou, Maeve McLaughlin, Dino-Abedin Korcaj, Maura Fay, Valerie Farrell and Trevor Seery. (Let me know if I've left anyone out!)

the compact 3 Food, Glorious Food

ice. We feel as part of a students' union that we are Hungry students in MountjoySq. able to deliver, and we are very orientated towards finally have somewhere to feed service delivery to the students and we want to give their appetites with the return of quality, at affordable prices, to the students". their long-lost canteen. And for those who are watching their waistlines, or who simply have a dislike for lard and want a The canteen, which closed last year due to problems healthy diet, the canteen will have something to within DITSU Trading Ltd, reopened two weeks ago suit you. It is hoped that the canteen will break to the fanfare of hundreds of rumbling stomachs. with the tradition seen in canteens across the city of serving two-day old junk food swimming in The Compact spoke to Maggie Pym, General Man grease. "I firmly believe in buying top qUality fresh ager of DITSU Trading Ltd., to find out what's on foods every day and moving away from the fried the menu for students at the new-look canteen. food that people see as canteen standard. I think the Irish palette is much more refined over the last She is hopeful that the students will return to the couple of years", said Ms. Pym. canteen and that it will regain its friendly atmos phere, "The basement in Mountjoy Square is really At last, the days ofwandering around the north nice; it is the natural hub in the building and is inner city in search of a decent lunch are over for there to attract people. the students of Mountjoy Sq. DITSU Trading have not forgotten the plight they were faced with last "It also provides a meeting place where students year: "I would be very conscious of the considerable and lecturers can mix, as it's the main common hardship caused to all of the students and faculty space in the building", Ms. Pym continued. through a lack of canteen facilities in Mountjoy Sq. last year, and hopefully this reopening can go some The canteen will provide fresh food every day for its way to building bridges and providing a happy diners, as well as the obligatory tea, coffee and pas place for people to enjoy in Mountjoy Sq." tries. After its long absence, DITSU Trading hopes to make it up to Mountjoy's starving students by providing "a good quality, affordable canteen serv-

4 the compact So Far So Good Ihope that you're all enjoying our newmagazine. The whole idea be hind this is that we get all the infor mation to you on what's happening in the college and what you're interested in.

Hi Readers. is without a Rep get into the Student Union and For those of you that let us know so we can don't know me yet, my do something about it. name is Bernadette It's an important job to Farrell and I'm the Vice look out for the inter President for Academic ests ofyour class and and Student Affairs and help decide the direction my job means that I look your course is taking on after a lot of the serious Program Committees. side ofthe Union. Every student in DIT is This week we launch a member of the Stu the 'Survival Guide'. dents' Union; they are The 'Survival Guide' is a also members of the pocket-sized book with Union of Students in lots ofinformation that Ireland (USI). USI rep will be ofuse to you dur resents student issues ing your time in college. at a national level. So Join oosu __.-to sICIy In touch wIlh aI oosu It's the kind of thing when we all moan about _&rec and~! ____...., _disc.....-1 ... that you need to keep how the capitation fee 'just in case'. The infor has gone up again, or mation contained in its the local county council pages has been taken has once again been late from a lot of very repu with your grant money, table sources and put your USI Reps try and together in one handy, do something about it easy to read book. by moaning to the Min ister of Education etc. Grab a copy from the So make sure you get stands or from the Stu value for money and use dent Union and keep it the services provided. somewhere handy. Then Ifyou're not sure what the next time you have we do, then log onto the a problem with your website at www.ditsu. landlord, your course, ie for more info. You can your exams refer to your get more info on USI at helpful 'Survival Guide' www.usLie first, but remember you can always contact us Remember college is personally about any meant to be fun; it's query you have. your job to make the most of it! For the last number of weeks we have been in See ya 'round, the process of recruit ing Class Reps. It's a big Bernadette job and we've had lots of interest this year. As always there are some classes where we still BJ/f{,reann...... _....a:L'. I ...... have to recruit some Class Reps. Ifyour class Study at the University ofLife

Gavin explains his reasons for just gone back there in Septem The number ofmature coming back to education. "I was ber and they were working or on students returning to thinking long-term. My girlfriend the dole and 1 told them to think had a degree and 1 was thinking about the long term and not the education has multi 'what will 1 have?' so 1 took the short term," says Gavin. plied over the last ten decision to get a good qualifica tion and a good job," he says. Kevin also agrees that those who years. Here in DIT there return to college will be support is a proud tradition of Kevin also realised the long-term ed all the way, "Don't hesitate; practicality of going back to col your peers will support you, your helping and assisting lege: "I always knew that it was loved ones will support you and it mature students as the the sensible long-term choice. 1 can offer you new aspects in life just knew that in order to have a because it's easy to stagnate in a make the transition progressive life you really have to professional mode where you get from a working life keep learning and the opportuni into a loop." ty that the college experience will to the student life. lead you to have a more devel It is important to support those oped, less stagnant life." who wish to make a better life 1 spoke to Kevin Kirwan and for themselves and one person Gavin Kelly, who are both third Settling into college can often who is directly responsible for year students of Electrical Serv be the hardest part and this is encouraging mature students ices Engineering FT010 in Kevin often accentuated when there are here in DIT in Leslie Shoemaker. Street DIT. 1 talked to them about mature students involved. Gavin She is a trained psychologist, what they did before they came outlines his view on this: back to college, their experiences who now teaches professional "I thought it was going to be skills to mature students to help of the student life and the rea hard because 1 had a poor Leav sons they returned to education. them acclimatize to college life ing Cert and as 1 got closer to and to prepare them for the work Kevin explains what he did before coming back 1 was fearful 1 would environment. She says that ma pull out around Christmas time, he came back to college. "I knew ture students sometimes surprise but 1 had good backing behind themselves with how well they 1 could just work in a bar or me and I'm still here now." something and decided to travel manage the adjustment back the world. 1 worked in one of the into education, ''A lot ofthem richest countries in the world "If1 had been living in Dub- are actually surprised to realise (Norway) for six months and also lin instead of commuting from that they have the skills to study. in one of the poorest countries in Drogheda 1 would have enjoyed it They just have to translate it into the world (Mozambique) for six more. The grant of 325 a month a different environment but a lot months and 1 picked up a lan doesn't last long so 1 didn't really of students are self-conscious and guage and spent my time in enjoy college life," he elaborates. have concerns about not fitting a diverse but fulfilling way," in," she says. he outlines. The lads here in Kevin St. both ad vise others to return to education. "The Mature Students' Society is "I have recommended it to my there to help students meet each friends and some of them have other and to discuss their tran-

6 the compact sition into college life. But the mature st~dents find balancing The landlord of the Kelly's work, famIly and an education COLLECiE NEWS Corner apartments, Brian the hardest sometimes- it can be BY CORMAC CAHILL Smith, was on holidays at the quite a balancing act." time ofthe Court Order was issued and is believed to be Leslie believes that additional Students Kicked returning on 25th October. support services should be put in place to encourage more mature Out ofDigs A representative acting on be students to come back to educa It has emerged that over forty halfof Brian has agreed to pay ~ion. "There are support services students have been asked to back deposits to the students m place and other services such vacate their apartments in a who no longer wish to stay as councillors and chaplains. But new development at Kelly's there. we must also realise that mature Corner near Dorset Street on students have a different set of safety grounds after Dublin The Students' Union in DIT needs so having a mature stu City Council successfully won have been asked to get in dent society is important, they a ~~ order restraining the volved and Vice President for can organise to get together and buildmg from being used for Academic and Student Affairs have fun," she adds. residential purposes. Bernadette Farrell, has said ':1 am currently working on this It seems that there can be a Some DIT students have been case with a number of stu great advantage to prospective directly involved in the saga dents that have requested that students in waiting a few years, and have already left the the Students' Union become before deciding what course premises that are believed to involved. 1 am liaising with they want to do, as opposed to be partially completed with the landlords' agent and repre traditional students who come the top floor still to be finished sentatives from Threshold and straight from the Leaving Certifi and have loose wires all over the Private Residential Tenan cate cycle without any prior real the floors. cies Board (pRTB) and 1 have life experience. found some alternative accom However, it is understood. that modation for those that have 1 asked Leslie were mature stu the DIT students who were requested this." dents at an advantage over other staying in the residential com more traditional and younger plex have also complained that The identity ofthose DIT students. "Well, everyone is dif their course work has been students remains confidential ferent but I find that mature stu affected too as their equip and The Compact understands dents are very clear, very driven ment and books were locked in that the apartments will not be and very focused and they really the complex when they were completely finished for three know what they want because ordered to leave without any to six weeks but the students they have been out in the real notice. could be facing a long battle to world," she answered. get compensation for the upset caused to their personal and DIT has a good reputation among college lives. mature students in Dublin and I asked Leslie why she believes that more mature students want to come to DIT. "It has a good reputation with it being both a practical college and an academic college. I think the locations all over the city appeal to a lot of people and also the diversity of the students that we have as well as a growing population of in ternational students and mature stUdents," she says.

The mature students who go back to college will obviously benefit the country as more graduates enter the workforce. It seems obvious that additional ~upportingblocks should be put m place to encourage more and more mature students to return to education. After all, it's never too late.

the compact 7

A new low-budget Dublin based television channel broadcast for the first time on Tuesday, October 4th, to an audience ofover 100,000 viewers on NTL Digital from Dundalk to Greystones.

It is hoped that parallel channels will be launched The man behind the channel, former 'Crimeline' in both Galway and Waterford in the near future. presenter, David Harvey, emphasized that City And, with NTI':s customer base growing by 5,000 channel was a local channel dedicated to the people sUbscribers every month, the audience is set to of Dublin. increase rapidly. "The sheer range of topics which we feature in City Channel is advertised as a lifestyle channel of our programmes will guarantee interesting televi fering a wide variety of programming from motor sion viewing relevant to local audiences-and this is ing, property, local, government, culture, what's where we can offer something that other channels on, shopping, travel in addition to transport and cannot," he said. weather updates. With a range of presenters that will include ex-Big Unfortunately, one of the channel's main features Brother contestant Ray Shah, Irish Independent is the nightly live broadcast ofthe Adrian Kennedy property editor Cliona O'Donoghue, Fair City ac phone show, once famous for its vulgarity and tress Orlaith Rafter, as well as a variety of off-peak controversy. Although this is one of Dublin's most programming aimed at the emigrant population, popular late-night radio shows with a listener ship the channel deserves credit for being a station that of over 10,000, the programme itself can be badly will be true to the demands of its audience. produced and will compromise of a single web cam in the FM104 studio. With only a little under half of the programming produced in-house this is not necessarily a place for However, this is probably the channel's only major young Irish producers and creators to exhibit their downfall, with programmes such as 'Free to Ex work. However, City channel does offer new com press' tapping into a culture, which has until now, mercial opportunities to 99% of Dublin traders who been almost completely ignored by Irish television. previously have not been able to afford television advertising as a method of promotion. This is Ireland's first television programme aimed at and produced by, the gay community. The pro This is all due to the low running costs of the sta grammes presenter, Eddie McGuinness, said that tion. With a full-time staff ofjust la, Harvey pre he was delighted to be involved in such an exciting dicts the costs to be even lower than those of local initiative and that this will be an opportunity for radio stations. With a mix of advertising and spon a wider audience to understand the make-up and sorship, Harvey had already, within the first week, diversity of Dublin's gay and lesbian scene. secured €lm worth of funds to cover the €750, 000 running costs. SPAR INTERNAT 0 AL S AR STORE: 1-4 Lower Camden Street,Dublin 2 DEll ORDERS OW TAKEN BY PHONE FOR COLLECTION. (before 11.30am & after 2.30pm) Tel: (01) 4758036

DINNER TONIGHT: New Ready made quality meals available - Freshly made only €5.95 FREE DRINK! Get a Free Beverage (can of coke/diet coke) WITH A FRESH FILLED BAGUETTE PURCHASED FROM OUR DEll valid until 30th Nov 2005 Valid on presentation of this voucher Must show student ID Student No .. One Voucher Per Student , All Dressed Up and Nowhere To Go? Its time to weed through the ward robes, trawl through the charity shops and empty out your local party shop, as Hal loween is fast approaching.

I \SIII():\

BY LOUISE CONLON

Fashion is all about the individ ual, escapism at its finest, and Halloween provides the perfect cover for those ofyou with secret fetishes to bare them in public. Be it a pirate wench, a glamour witch or a comical chicken, whatever 'floats your boat' there is something for everyone this Halloween.

Ladies, leave the boys in a state ofmouth-watering devastation with a beautiful burlesque bustier, fishnet stockings topped off with lash ings of mascara and a cheeky A Halloween costume such as and visit www.fancydress.ie. for smile. It's the season to vamp this one will be an investment. A the Internet's take on Halloween it up! Visit La Petit Coquette sharply tailored suit is a timeless costumes, you won't be disap and Miss Fantasia, both on classic and an absolute must have. pointed! Clarendon Street, to take care It doesn't have to break the bank ofall your burlesque needs, or either, vintage shops like Harle All dressed up and nowhere to better still, head to Agent Pro quin on Castle Market are a treas go? This cities offering of things vocateur in Brown Thomas, ure trove with pieces like this just to do this Halloween is endless. the end word in burletta chic. waiting to be discovered! The 'Horrothon' Halloween Horror Festival (27-31 October) is taking Boys, to catch the attentions For those who prefer the more place in the Irish Film Institute, ofthese beautiful burlettas traditional Halloween attire, there and is definitely worthy ofa visit. think slick and go gangster. is no end to shops for you in the It's all about pared down so city. Anyone looking to pay tribute Meeting House Square in Temple phistication and razor sharp to the 70's should head straight to Bar is screening hair raising scary tailoring this Halloween. Wild Child on Georges Street for short films from some of Ireland's Make like Bonnie and Clyde the most authentic 1970's collec most talented short film makers in a 1940's style pinstripe suit tion; from afro wigs, moustaches on Friday 28th October from 7-9, with a tilted fedora hat - just and sideburns, to tiki shirts and the perfect start to your horrifying leave the smoking gun at fabulous shift dresses, Wild Child horrific Halloween celebrations! home! has it all! Alternatively, go virtual

12 the compact Are you ready for Halloween? closet.comlfakeeyelashes.html eye, try MAC pigment fuch- TOP RIGHT ft Make-up ideas, which will Make-up by Anne Morrissey for sia, and soften with pink eye Apply brown eye shadows, try make you, stand out on the LA Make-up Academy shadow, try MAC eye shadow MAC eye shadows in Brun, night! Pink Freeze. Apply these two Mulch and Espresso, and black OPPOSITE PAGE colours in a line under the eye eye liner, and try MAC Eye Kohl FRONT COVER Outline eye area with black again with an angle brush. Ap in Smolder. Finish the look Apply foundation to match the eye liner, try MAC Eye Kohl ply MAC eye shadow Black Tied with four small gem stones skin tone, try Lancome Pho in Smolder. Fill in with red Velvet on the natural crease Make-up by Jennifer Jones for togenic Ultra Naturel. Apply eye shadow, try MAC Paints in of the eye and blend it with LA Make-up Academy Shades of browns and bronzes Flammable. Finish otT with long the other colours for contour to the lid of the eye, try Bobbi black and red strip eyelashes. ing. Apply a thin line of Bobby BOTTOM RIGHT Brown Eye shadows in Ma Make-up by Anne Morrissey for Brown liquid eyeliner for the Apply black liquid eyeliner, hogany and Smoke. Define eye LA Make-up Academy eyelid. Finally before adding try Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Using black eye liner, try MAC the crystals, apply a lengthen Liner, and a face bronzeI', Eye Kohl in Smolder. Add long ing mascara, try MAC Pro Long try Laura Mercier Shimmer strip eyelashes. Finish the look ABOVE LEFT Lash Mascara. To apply the Pressed Powder. by using a white grease paint Keep the base simple; try a crystals, try Swarovski Pink Make-up by Joan Roche for LA with a fine brush to create a net MAC foundation full coverage Crystals, use tweezers and Make-up Academy across the face while adding a NC30. temporary eyelash glue. Apply few gem stones. Highlight cheekbones using each individually placing them Words & Photography Lili For To fit fake eyelashes carefully MAC Tantone Sheertone Blush. around the eye with the tweez berg - www.misslili.net place them along the lash line With brown eye shadow, try ers. Finally, apply a lip liner Make-up by the LA Make-up resting on your own eyelashes. Bobby Brown Mahogany, go fol1owed by a lip-gloss, try MAC Academy - www.lamakeupacad A selection of false eyelashes is over eyebrows with an angle Underage Lipglass. emy.com aVailable to order at My Diva's brush to define them. Apply Make-up by Una Farrel1 for LA Closet - http://www.mydivas- eye shadow to the base of the Make-up Academy

the compact 13 ·{;rtrtrtrt.r TERRIBLE ***{;:r{;:r GOOD *{;:r{;:r{;:r{;:r POOR ****{;:r EXCELLENT **{;:r{;:r{;:r AVERAGE Reviews ***** UNMISSABLE ---

RlaTMUllC We Got Music New Dawn Mono Band Just Another Day Hybrasil The Walls Mono Band Wire Daisies By: Trevor Seery By: Amy Tighe By: Hugh Lydon / By: Declan Cashin David Lydon ***** ***** ***** Hybrasil hail from Co. The disjointed begin- ***** Cornish five-piece Wire Wicklow and a brief his- nings of The Walls first Noel Hogan, best known Daisies launched this, tory of the band takes album in five years for his song writing and their debut album digit- us back to 2003 when a draws you in and in- guitar work whilst a ally last year and it recording studio nick- forms you that this is member of the Cranber- went straight into the named "The Clinic" was something in which you ries, returns here with iTunes album chart (no finally built in Wicklow want to be involved. his new outfit Mono 3 in UK) and have built town. Band and an eponymous up considerable acclaim Sly digs at the music debut album. ever since. Their EP has 4 songs industry are delivered which kicks off with the here throughout the Following a break from So are they worth all the title song 'We Got Mu- blithe and optimistic the Cranberries, Hogan fuss? It really depends sic'. Some catchy guitar 'Passing Through', the has decided to embark on your tolerance for and oozing vocals get cheerful and carefree upon a new direction melodic soft-rock. In the tune going and has mood reinforced by the with Mono Band and fact, I'd wager that a you nodding your head refrain "Don't wait until here Noel experiments Wire Daisies song will along to the beat. Lyr- you hate it." with new diverse sounds pop up somewhere on a ics get you feeling like including electronic radio near you. going out on the town: The crooning sounds beats and string ar- "the weekend is my play- and gentle guitars of rangements. The opening tracks ground and it's into save 'Black and Blue' show- 'Make Everything my life, the chemical case the sound The The opening song Change' and 'Everyman' persuasion making mov- Walls were hoping for 'Brighter Sky' illus- are a good introduction ies through the night" on this album - stripped trates the diversity that to the band's style. They .All in all a catchy gem down to just the bones has fuelled Mono Band are followed up by 'The of a tune. and soul of a song, as as Indian-style vocals Great Outdoors', which with 'Know Your Love combine with dance could have been penned The final tune called 'Hy and Ghosts'. style drum patterns that by the Stereophonics Fy' is an instrumental could easily sit along- themselves and the su- with a weird and wacky This album perfect for side tracks by Basement perlative 'Billy Boy', the array of sounds to guide listening to on some J axx or the Chemical undisputed highlight you into a trance which sort of portable device Brothers. of the album. In this definitely sounds pretty while kicking your way Celtic-influenced song, a cool. In all I liked Hy- through crunchy au- Overall the album is an gentle acoustic backs up brasil and I think I will tumn leaves; blasting enjoyable listen with the beautiful vocals of go and see them when out while having a night easy listening moments lead singer Treana Mor- they are next in Dub- on the town; or even for and sing along guitar- ris. Are the Wire Daisies lino Every one wants to kicking back and enjoy- based songs however just another band? I discover a new unknown ing an album as infec- often Hogan relies upon guess we'll have to wait so here's your chance. tious as bird flu. an acoustic guitar style and see. which often doesn't fit.

14 the compact The West Wing Complete Sixth Season By: Declan Cashin ***** The global fascina tion with last year's US Presidential face-off found expression in the intense media coverage that sorrounded it has found its way onto this DVD.

The sixth series charts the rise ofthe nominees from the very hum- ble beginnings right through to the Conven tion, focusing particu larly on the Democratic underdog, Latino Con gressman Matt Santos (the effortlessly charis matic Jimmy Smits).

It is that aspect that marks out this series as one to group with The West Wing's astonish ing first two seasons. It is like a fictional reconfiguration of 2004 where real debate and real ideas stem from two impossibly quali fied, likeable, intelligent leaders, who inspire confidence and hope in the electorate.

Bartlet's successor adds acute poignancy to this series, because viewers know that once they switch off their DVD player and turn over to the news, they will be Painfully reminded of the sorry state ofAmeri can politics in today's crisis-ridden world. reflecting the tones of Leontes observes how most Smiths songs. affectionate his wife and best mate are behaving. The vocal abilities of Fearful of playing the each of the performers cuckold he sets in mo were exposed during tion a series ofevents fine performances of that will bring his king 'How Soon is Now?' and dom to its knees. 'What She Said'. The star of the show for me This sets the scene for was Katie Brayben when desperate assassination she stood up and sung attempts, vicious accu 'Please Please Please Let The Wmter's Tale sations, mad monarchs Me Get What I Want', and wild bear attacks. the audience was left in Abbey Theatre Director Edward Hall Some Girls Are amazement at her won By: David White makes good use of the Bigger Than derful vocal capabilities Abbey's special effects and sheer talent. department - thunder Others booms, lightning crack The arrangements of les and the stage is Dublin Theatre the songs were widely I've noticed an odd trend in the Abbey wreathed in thick fog. Festival varied from the jazzy Theatre recently. The However, these devices 'What She Said', the By: Liza O'Riordan Winter's Tale is an all are only used to set the highly choreographed mood and never upstage 'Barbarism Begins at male Shakespearean production. The previ the actors or the story. Home', to the brilliant ous show was an ad ***** toe-tapping version of aptation ofThe Impor The actors are excellent When one thinks ofThe 'How Soon is Now?' A - apart from an over-ex Smiths, they usually tance of Being Earnest big screen at the rear played entirely by men. uberant Autolycus who have an image in their of the stage, constantly threatens to tip the play heads ofMorrissey on A few months ago I saw showed images vary Improbably Frequency, into leather-trousered stage flinging around ing from young boys, mayhem - with Leontes a bunch of flowers to women and cloudy a musical that featured a goose-stepping Nazi and Hermione standing singing "punctured skies, emphasised the dominatrix. out in particular. Espe bicycle..." They will also drama ofwhat we were cially good use is made remember the genius of seeing on the stage. Is it just me or is the Ab of Mamillius, a minor the Morrissey/Marr writ character on paper, ing partnership, which All through the show, bey in danger ofconsist ently putting on enter but one who takes on included such gems as the string quartet and taining and original a greater significance, 'This Charming Man' band seemed to shadow acting as the play's con and 'Heaven Knows I'm the general sentiment shows that the general public actually want to science and the innocent Miserable Now'. on stage, using agitated observer of his home's discords and with the see? dark secrets. When Andrew Wale and huge cheer the per Perrin Manzer Alien formers got at the end But these are ques tions for another day. Shakespeare's attempt decided that they were of the show, I could to marry tragedy and Tonight's play starts. going to do a musical see that even the most comedy feels awkward featuring Smiths songs, avid Smiths fans were by dropping the audI ence straight into the and forced. In the the true fans were prob pleased with the show. climax ofthe second ably trembling at the intrigues that dominate the palace of Leontes, half he introduces a prospect of a 'Mamma I had the image of Mor bizarre and unsatisfy Mia'-esque version of king of Sicilia. Leontes rissey tossing gladioli is basking in his good ing plot device, which is their beloved songs. around wearing a dodgy a shame after he takes But with a blessing from fortune - he's mar- cardigan and an even ried to Hermione, she's such pains to establish Morrissey himself, Some dodgier pair ofglasses his characters and their Girls Are Bigger than pregnant with his child but the "real" fans can and his best friend, relationships. To Hall's Others was conceived. breathe a sigh of relief Polixenes the king of credit he manages to that their treasured undercut the play's hap Halfan hour into the Smiths songs have not Bohemia, is staying at the court. Leontes' son py ending and introduce show, I was still wonder been ripped to shreds in a measure of ambiguity. ing what the actual sto a tacky, sequin-covered, and heir, Mamillius, is ryline was or whether shiny happy musical, a happy child, though a he does have a strange Overall it was an enjoy it was just a showcase la Tonight's the Night or able play that's typical of Smiths songs. Love, We Will Rock You, which affection for creepy wooden puppets. of the current quality lust, desire, despair as we all know, was not of the Abbey Theatre and sadness are the what The Smiths were The cheerful mood is and the Dublin Theatre overwhelminglyobvi about. Festival in general. ous themes in the show, swiftly skewered when

16 the compact If so, you could pocket a cool €200 for doing what you do best. All you have to do is buy the Irish Independent compact edition and complete 5 different Sudoku puzzles over the next 5 days and you could be €200 richer. It couldn't be easier!

Don't worry if you need alittle extra time to grease your grey cells because we11 be running this competition with the €200 prize fund in EVERY ISSUE of 011 throughout the year.

Once you have completed the puzzles, drop them into your Student's Union office, addressed to Compad Irish Independent, DIT Sodoko Competition, Alt. Ciara Spelman. The true hero of the night in terms of musicianship was drum mer, Matt Aljian, who is the best drummer I've ever seen play live. He looked like someone at the top of his profession and remi niscent of Clem Burke of Blondie and I could have watched him all night.

'Gold Into Straw' and 'Spit it Out' showed that Benson was not going to stand back and be unappreciated. In both songs he showed himself to be an extreme ly accomplished guitarist. His voice has been on better form, but this was an extremely good mid-tour performance. Lead gui tarist Michael Horrigan pulled his guitar out of the way to pro vide the keyboard intro to 'Tiny Spark', which ignited an eruption in the crowd as they bounced along to this great pop song.

Another disappointment was 'Metarie' which, due to the reac tion after the first chords were struck, is undoubtedly a fans' favourite. This highly band-fo cused version took away from the frail beauty ofthe quiet, mainly acoustic track to be found on Lapalco, Benson's second album. Brendan Benson But still the best song played on Vicar St. October 6th. the night. By: Niall Cahill the melodies you hum along to; After an interval, which roused when you see the band work in a slow clapping and chants of ***{::{{::{ live setting, you realise how the 'More! More!', Benson and his Brendan Benson emerged from instruments work together to band returned for four more the side ofthe stage without create this overall sound. When songs. The set ended with :Jet swagger or a pretentious wave you listen to the songs again, you Lag' and 'You're Quiet'. The to the crowd; put his guitar on, have to check that it's the same former was a beautiful perform walked up to the microphone ~,d recording; you're not humming ance, Benson alone on acous said: "Oh, Ireland ... thank you. along anymore, you're listening tic guitar with some keyboard After that, we were in his hands. intently to every note, to every accompaniment until the last shape and shimmer of sound. chorus, the words of which the The set-list began with 'What', crowd quickly got the hang of 'Good to Me', 'Feel Like Myself', Songs such as 'What' and 'Cold ('Ba-da da-da da-da ...'). 'You're 'Folk Singer' and 'Get It Together' Hands (Warm Heart)' highlighted Quiet' was a fitting song to end - all brilliant songs with rousing some terrific bass playing, giv on; a brilliant performance from choruses. The breathtaking pace ing both songs a rolling underly this impressive band. at which the songs were played at ing momentum, reminiscent of and the length ofthe breaks be early Beatles recordings, while Overall, the gig was a display of tween them (barely long enough 1\lternative to Love' - title track how some sections of contempo to let the applause from the from Benson's third and most rary music - all 19 songs per previous song to die down) made recent album - encapsulated the formed were written by Benson you think you were witnessing a tight playing ofthe entire group. - are in very good hands. In 'Cold pre-concert rehearsal- an excel These four people come together Hands (Warm Heart)', Benson lent rehearsal. to make a fabulous sound; the sings: 'It really shouldn't be this songs are full of wonderful intri hard.' Great song-writing really Merely listening to the albums cate drum-rolls, fantastic bass shouldn't seem this easy. doesn't emphasise just how well lines and infectious guitar hooks. the band play together. When you get to know the albums, it's

18 the compact a professional's. So kids can then copy Johnnie Wilkinson's kicking technique for example and you can actually overlap the two of them," he explains.

The Dublin Gaelic Football team decided to try out the Dartfish equipment for this year's 2005 All-Ire land Championship run that saw a gallant effort until beaten by eventual winners, Tyrone, at the quarter final stage ofthe competition.

Robert Carroll outlines their decision to use the new equipment. "They already had a video coach but they were using more paper statistics than video content. They were watching tapes of games but it was in the old-fashioned manner of stop, play and fast-forward. But after they saw Dartfish, we worked pretty much in conjunction with them for the Championship and now that they have the basic knowledge of it they want to take it to the next level."

The new technology could also represent a small business venture for the teams that take it up. Video Analysis "Some sports coaches we talk to say 'That's a lot of money', but it's more about what it can add to your team; not only now but in the future. It could be Points to the come a business model in the form of a subscription based on-line service. Ifyou were a past pupil of Terenure or St. Mary's, for an annual fee you could Future log-on and see all Terenure's tries in the Senior Cup matches, so working with Dartfish also becomes a money generator as well," he explains. Why isn't the Eircom League any good? Why isn't Ireland regularly How would this work here at DIT? I spoke to DIT ~ports .Officer, Herbie McClelland, about the chang qualifying for international football mg attItudes towards technology in sport. "Every tournaments? The reason could be body now is getting a bit more professional but it ~sn't all about winning; it's about competing. But it very simple: football coaches in this IS about competing at a very high level and in the country generally shy away from last couple ofyears soccer, especially at third level, has gone very professional. The days are gone when using video performance analysis stu~ents would jump onto the bus with a black bag, equipment. a bIt of gear and maybe one ball; those days are gone. Now you have to have your manager, your The equipment enables the coach to create a back physio, your medical kit," he says. catalogue of a team's strengths and weaknesses - and also that of their opponents. This information "It's like the Roy Keane thing when everyone said, is then transferred onto a DVD for future reference. 'yea let's make things a little bit better', and tech All you need is a laptop, a video analysis program nology is now part and parcel of the game now, like and someone who can videotape games to base the I said earlier those days are gone when you get on analysis on. the bus with no manager and no coach; and thanks be to God it's gone," continued Herbie. Many English Premier League and Championship football teams now use some form of video analysis It certainly seems that here in Ireland we need to to enable them to stay one step ahead of the com look at better ways of developing players and de petition. The new technology is also being used by veloping them from a younger age as well. The use rugby coaches, athletes and golf professionals, and of video analysis equipment seems obvious and will even by teachers in classrooms. surely become more commonplace in the future.

I spoke to Robert Carroll, a distributor of the Dart Sports coaches, professional or non-professional, fish video analysis program in Ireland, about the should raise their expectations and consider play benefits of the equipment. "Basically the equipment ing catch-up with what other coaches in Europe has a team application and an individual applica consider as standard. tion; the team application marks the events as they happen and the individual application is more for For more information on Dartfish contact individual skills. It breaks down a skill, compares www.dartfish.com or ring Robert Carroll on and contrasts someone's performance to that of 087 65 90 357.

the compact 19 In Memory ofShane Brennan

I think it's ironic that I sit here writ "a happy go lucky lad but he also had a steely inte rior and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. ing about one ofthe college's most He had an astute football brain and great leader ship qualities and by always giving ofhis best he talented footballers as the country would demand and always bring out the best in oth is on tenterhooks regarding our Na ers. The best compliment I can pay Shane is that he was a credit to his parents Johnjo and Margaret a tional team's chances ofqualifying lovely lad who gave and received respect wherever for the World Cup in Germany 2006. he went." Shane, at the age of 23, had achieved far more on Though football was extremely important in the field offootball than most could have dreamed Shane's life, it is clear after talking to his lecturer of. He had proven himself an excellent footballer and Head ofhis course, John Jameson, that Shane amongst the many who try to live their dreams in also gave full attention to his academic career. one of the world's most popular sports. Shane had Shane had handed in all his work before he passed played with three Eircom League teams, Longford away, and when the results came in Shane achieved Town, Monaghan United and was playing with Ath a First (1.1). "Which to me is a clear indication of lone Town before his tragic accident. his dedication to his education and the structure ofthe course and its teachings," according to Mr. Shane Brennan was a final year student in Retail Jameson. He also told me about Shane's qualities and Services Management in 2004/2005. He was as a student, "top notch, and well rounded," he was also captain ofthe college team for his final year in also committed to helping out his fellow students DIT. He died tragically in his home town of New and the college. townforbes in Co Longford last May. He had com pleted his exams and was waiting to finish Shane's legacy to the college has been cemented his degree. with the Retail and Services Management School creating an academic award in his honour. From With Shane's help and guidance DIT's football team this year the best academic performance by a final left the lower divisions and entered the premier year student will receive the 'Shane Brennan Me division ofthe Colleges' league. Yet the good times morial Gold Medal'. Shane's parents have been in of DIT football did not stop there under Shane's vited to receive his degree parchment at this year's tutelage. In 2004 the team won the Collingwood award ceremony and may present the medal in his Cup Plate, the inter-varsity football tournament name to the successful student. within Ireland, beating UCD on penalties. On this form Shane was then picked for the Irish Colleges To finish I would like to quote John Jameson who football team with whom he played two successful summed up Shane as an inspiration to other DIT seasons and was vying for a place on the Combined students. "Shane was a model student whose behav Irish Colleges team for the World Student Games in iour and achievements should be an example to all Turkey last summer. Tony O'Connor, Shane's coach the students at DIT" for the DIT team, summed him up as

20 the compact Sports CuplaFocal Forecast SULT:'An olche is annamh is iontach' Score Forecast in Kindly DIT Sports Department Sponsored by AIB Bank. has joined forces with Mas olche urnua,culturtha ata uait tre mhean The new season of Score AIB Bank to offer this na Gaeilge nl feidir an club olche 'Sult' a sharu. Forecast will begin in FREE Score Forecast Blonn se ar siul gach dara Deardooin sa 'Castle the next week so all competition to all DIT Inn' i dTeampall Chrlost idir Mean F6mhair those who fancy a flutter students and staff. agus Bealtaine. Beidh an chead seisiun eilear should log-on to www. The Sports Unit is ea siul ar an 20u la de Dheireadh F6mhair. Beidh dit.ie to register for the ger to raise awareness seisiuin eile ar an 3u agus 17u Samhain agus potential cash wind fall. among the students of beidh an olche dheireanach roimh Nollaig ar competitive sports clubs an 1u Nollaig. The game will take place who compete at the on a weekly basis and highest level throughout Na blgl buartha muna bhfuil m6ran Gaeilge players will have to cor the sporting season. agaibh,is do gach einne le suim sa chultlir rectly guess the results Eireannach,agus I gcultuir eile chomh of a number DIT, na Ifyou would like to try maith,ata se. tional and international your luck in this fun sporting fixtures over a competition, just fill out Is deis iontach e chun bualadh le dooine eile le period of six weeks from the short Registration suim sa traidisiun Gaelach. Mar siamsa blonn 25th October to 9th De Form on www.dit.ie and reimse m6r de cheol traidisiunta agus blonn cember. follow the links to the DJs do chuid Raidi6 na Life ann chomh maith. sports department. Mar bharr ar sin, blonn damhsa mar chrollar The fixtures are com an eispeiras le hoon stil6 Samba go Sean-n6s piled from a wide range The fixtures are posted le fail. of sports including Soc every Tuesday and you cer, Rugby, GAA, Basket will have until 6pm on Gearrtar costas €5 ar mhic leinn agus blonn na ball, Badminton, Team the following Friday to doirse oscailte ag 9.00pm. Geallaimse dooibh Handball and many log on and make your nach mbeidh oon da olche mar an gceanna ann. more. forecasts. Is iad na hEireannaigh is treise 6 thoobh olche Points are awarded for den scoth de. each correct prediction All the important DIT, and prizes are awarded national and internation Blaisigi ar gcultur agus nl bheidh oon dul amu to the player with the al sporting fixtures will oraibh! highest weekly scores be covered. and the top scores at the Sam 6 Foolain end of the overall compe Feeling lucky? Well go tition. on to the DIT website and register.

eyo food and juice co 22 Wexford Street,Dublin 2 Student Offer Free large coffee/Can with any self serve sandwich, pizza, large salad

Also applies to our €5 Meatball Baguette creo e your own Mexican Chicken Wrap FOOD &JU CE COMPANY eyO Pizza (2 toppings) offer valid until 30/11/05 bility, pressure or anxiety. Maybe Icry at the that's partly why I've come back to college. Another four years of playing pool, mystery tours, X-Factor Christmas breaks and long sum mer stretches spent on a J1 in I've just moved home the States or a drink-fuelled I enjoy watching pro party-resort in Europe. grammes like 'The OC' But the first month of college and 'One Tree Hill'; I has gone pretty smoothly, apart from the initial German class. knacker-drink on the bu It had been five years since I'd when I'm going out in touched the language and in the first class, the teacher, Sascha, Dublin; and I cry at the asked me what was the last film X-Factor. I'd seen. Unluckily for me, it was 'The 40-year-old Virgin'. I started You see, I just don't want to grow to describe it in German, older. I wish I could stay at a place where there's no responsi-

most frugal of individuals in to a Finance frenzied state.... Or at least that's the way it -V- Freshers. should be so in an attempt to banish those festering issues I've Freshers week; reputed compiled an alternative angle to as being five day ofun the week's festivities. adulterated debauchery, Monday: This brings a pillow with only a sprinkling challenge (pillow being my hand, challenge being can I keep my oflecture and enough eyes open for long enough to booze and partyin to catch my falling face before it knoc a Tro·an horse. smacks with terminal velocity off the desk) DJ & band (courtesy of A week where Stella Artois is the the dodgy air conditioning unit. only French culture worth dab Mter an evenings work this can bling in and an available array leave you with some impressive of free goodies likely to send the nasal stalactites or reduce you to

Punchestown racecourse, he got Government in his car, drove the wrong way up the Naas dual-carriageway while being three times over the Must Deliver legal blood alcohol limit. The Fianna Fail TD for Donegal A two-year driving ban Northeast admitted: "To get and a €750 fine for driv behind the wheel in my condition ing the wrong way up the was a disgrace". Naas dual-carriageway TDs (and Fianna Fails TDs in particular) in this country are locked out ofyour mind? not held accountable for their You must be joking! actions. Remember Martin Cullen

I III .1 1)( I JI I . 1 , and the e-voting disaster that , Jim McDaid got the soft arm of cost 52m? He is now Minister I:Y 1\1AlJHA "'AY the law last Wednesday when he for Transport. That was a slap on was convicted of dangerous and the wrists for him. drunken driving. In April, after spending the day drinking at

22 the compact "There is a 40-year-old man who Another ache inflicting itself on And since I am a "ma-CHOOOR" is a virgin and his friends want the poor students in this ominous student, I shall inject you with him to have sex..." October weather is Homework some words of wisdom that I jot At that point, Sascha began with a capital H. We all thought ted down when enrolled in the to chuckle:"You just said 'His we'd killed it off completely when University of Life: friends want to have sex with we set fire to our Maths copies on themselves!'" Enough German the afternoon of our last exam. "Remember your mortality. How banter for me then! But, oh no, it's managed to infect important is it? Enjoy your life, third-level education too! friends, family, and nature. Do So, I've taken to reading. Two what's needed but don't kill your newspapers a day is the staple The assignments are beginning self." diet for any budding journalist. I to pile up just as the nightlife do this on the long bus-ride to and is kicking off and the clubs and I know I won't. At my age, I need from college, regularly smacking societies are begging for mem to do all I can to delay the onset myself and my fellow passengers bers. A number of unsuspecting of wrinkles, even though they do about with the giant Irish Times' freshers are beginning to show show character, y'know?! pages. It's painful! Ever had a pa the early tell-tale signs of stress. per-cut on your ear?

"Earth worm Jim" as you sweat long, dark evenings and lack of all at the same time it's normally half your body mass) people to play with leaves little only the alpha male who manages chance for soloing anything aside to devour the delectables. Wait Tuesday: Yet another DJ (please from your stress balls. A close ing until the crowd disperses can refer to Mondays air conditioning second is normally noting down sometimes be beneficial as there and add in irritating noise from the number of minutes left on a may be a single Danish pastry vending machine) F-RAG trip postit using horizontal stokes. As with only a small bite taken out (that would be the bus journey the second hand starts to shimmy of it still awaiting its fate. Leav from college to work. As Stella past twelve a stroke must be ing aside the moral not to men was not available to accompany crossed out. Just like in short tion hygiene issues this throws me with prior engagements on hand, to achieve dexterity akin up. the Shannon, my tipple of choice to a seasoned card player this was a hip flask of Bovril like cof skill should be practiced each and Friday being the Sabbath of a col fee) every day!) lege week, the babes rested.

Wednesday: The GAA county Thursday: The Freshers Fair (the In the office, the air conditioning colours event (with the work only goodies left lying around continued to hum, there were no place now a testament to our new the office are those left over from VIP's and I had run out of postits. PC culture, GAA is but one sport VIP visits. As the entire office of choice in the office. Alas, the descends on the "one" platter and

So far this year 313 people have out in force with their hairdryer It is a change ofattitude that is been killed on Irish roads. The things there was an obvious required and a stronger chance figure for the same period last reduction in road deaths. Now of people being caught speeding year is 298. It is obvious that things just seemed to have trailed would help induce this change. Irish roads are becoming more off. I can't remember the last time Around 40% of all road deaths dangerous and driver's need for I heard that somebody I know every year are as a result of speed is the primary cause. Why got penalty points. Go to www. excessive or inappropriate speed aren't more speed cameras being penaltypoints.ie and you'll see a ing. The profile of a driver most put up, more Gardai doing speed sign up saying "New site coming likely to be injured or killed in a checks? Wait, who's the Minister soon". car crash is male, aged between for Transport again? Martin Cul 17 and 25 and a licence holder len. In August he announced that Currently there is a backlog of for less than two years. the use of speed cameras is to be over 131,000 people waiting to privatised. sit their driving test. Last year, Each week in Ireland, 250 people an average of 45.5% of those are arrested for driving while The penalty points system was tested failed their driving test. "under the influence". I wonder introduced by then Minister for This suggests that the driving if the €52m spent on e-voting Transport, Seamus Brennan on test is rigorous enough, although would have been better spent on the 31 October 2002. Following Martin Cullen wants to introduce the penalty points system. its introduction, Gardai were a much tougher one.

the compact 23 contact the PRTB at Ifyou are the Class Rep .~• (01) 888 2960 or at and don't know what a ~ www.prtb.ie Programme Committee '.••••. is, read on. 't••••' .. '. You might also think ..... ~, .. about tactfully broach- Programme Commit ~ .. ' ~ ••. h alh .... - .... ~••••,~ mg t e person y- tees are committees that ::::::::::::: •••• ' giene issue with your discuss the direction in .. . ••• friend! " . which your particular ~ ~- course is going.

-.:...... •..•••••••••( - . They might, for exam ..... Dear Molly, ple, discuss issues such as changing the amount My lecturer Just came of continuous assess up to me after class ment for the year from Just Ask Molly and said that I was on a 50% to 25%, and make Programme Committee your end of year exam Etftail your questiot1s to: cotftpact~ditsu.ie and I have a meeting to worth 75% instead of morrow. He said there 25%. Or they might ,.I..-( would be other students discuss when continu ,• there and not to worry ous assessment work is ,, it'd be fine. What's he due and the deadlines talking about? I alwaya involved. "It sounds like we need to get this find it worrying when sorted quickly before you guys lose someone tells me not Programme Committees to worry. Should I are made up of members ye" be worried? ofthe faculty involved with your course and How's it goin' Molly? the local authority, this Dear student of DIT, one student representa Any cralc? Myself and would depend on where tive from each year of the lads found this place you live. Don't worry, be happy! the course, so a 4-year there during the sum business degree should mer. It's alright and the I'm assuming that you First things first, are have 4 student repre rent was cheap, so we have paid all the bills you the Class Rep? As sentatives sitting on the were happy enough. that you are responsible the Class Rep is elected course committee. AB a Then there last week for. Ifnot get them paid. democratically to rep representative you can didn't the water and the resent the class, the have your say on how electricity get switched Ifthe landlord doesn't Students' Union feel you think it should all off. I had to go over to get it fixed then report that they are the most work. my sister's place Just him to the environmen appropriate person to sit to get a wash! The lads tal health officer at your on the committee. So if For more information on are using the showers local authority. There you're not the Class Rep how it all works consult at the gym. I rang the are laws to protect ten get in contact with them the 'Student Survival landlord and he says.... ants from living without and they'll go along to Guide' due out this week well he's not saying the basics. the meeting. or call into the Students' much. So what now? Union. One of the lads says he's AB I always say ifyou running an experiment, have an accommoda something about your tion problem and you body washing itself want to find out what after a while. Help! your rights are con- ~ e/~~(4J tact 'Threshold' at 01 It sounds like we need 6786096. Ifthe landlord to get this sorted quick isn't upholding his side STUDENT SURVI'IJ ly before you guys lose ofthe lease you may also , Academic Affairs io\l GUIDE your sense of smell. consider pursuing him Which can happen if legally for financial com you're exposed to very pensation through the powerful smells for a 'Private Residential Ten while. ancies Board' (PRTB). To put forward a complaint Firstly I would suggest you'll have to fill out a ringing the landlord form and hand it, along again and telling him with €25 into the PRTB. that if the water and You won't have to hire a electricity aren't fixed solicitor, so there are no dit Students' union straight away you'll ring huge expenses. You can

24 the compact

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F-RagTrip Witness Report 1 Bv Dualta Jones

Well, the night started just like they used to. A bag ofcans with your mates beside you waiting with butterflies and beer in the belly for something big, something special... And the night delivered after a rumour fllled bus journey (is it Waterford? No, it's Sligo... No, Leitrim... It's bloody Barcode I'm telling you!) seasoned with the incessant singing ofthose at the back ofthe bus (inherently drunker than you).

The DJ kicked off soon after we got into the club and it was shelf stacking and chioken walking for the remainder ofthe night. A love for Kaiser Chiefs 'I Predict a Riot' perme ated the night with it being played at least... 4 times! The only downside was the night ended as suddenly as it started, that, and the ocoasional over strict bouncer! But that was all forgotten as we nursed hot dogs and piled onto buses for the final trip back to Dublin. At 5 am the night finally ended and 1 was jaded as 1 stumbled down the street looking for a taxi! A Great Night!

Witness Report 2 B Sharon Vo 1 tZl

Rumours bounced off the DIT walls in the oountdown to the F-Rag Trip: last year, they ended up in Wales; one girl was knocked down twice (not by the same car, incidentally) and the seoond time she was in a trolley (or trolleyed, more like!); and one ofthe buses went on fire. Exactly what kind of mysteries had they in store for us?

The olub was huge and funky, boasting a pair ofvery interesting bald-headed statues. The music was good and we bopped away until 'Catoh 22' lit up the stage. They did some excellent covers (I thought it was the actual Killers track being played) and even sang some older favourites like 'Whiskey in the Jar.' The orowd went wild! When we were kioked out ofthe olub ("Are you right there folks, please?!") we managed to shove a hot-dog into our starving gobs before being transported back into civilization (my mobile couldn't get a signal for a whole day after dy ing in Leitrim!) People sang until they went hoarse and then broke into a lovely dawn ohorus ofhearty snores. We pored out ofthe buses in the wee hours of the morning, tired but happy after a night of mystery and passion. Great night. DRINK GOING TO WASTe.. ••'" Nor SO ClASSY•••• ClASSY!!

THE AMAZING HAPPENINGS OF FRESHER FRED

by Mark doherty

the compact 31