24hr Broadcast 2015

After weeks of preparation and hard work I can safely say the broadcast was a huge success! It wouldn't have been possible without the relentless work done by everyone and especially the committee. I mean raising €6,000 is not a simple task! I must say we did it with an impressive amount of skill (despite the sleep deprivation)

Everything kicked off at 9pm - opening with the Guinness World Records. Which I was (un)fortunate to get roped into. Eating cream crackers under a time limit with no water isn't exactly easy... To the guys who ate an entire raw onion, I applaud you - I wouldn't do that if someone paid me!

Let's not forget the 'behind the scenes' antics. Participating in the 'Oscars' a troupe of five, we ventured off in an attempt to recreate 'The Godfather', 'The Shining' and 'Zoolander'. I have to hand it to the other groups too, I mean the videos produced were so creative and hilarious. 'Ghostbusters' would be a personal favourite of mine - definitely worth the watch!

The Oscars weren't the only behind the scenes madness. Throughout the 24hours there was an unbelievable buzz on the second floor of the Henry Grattan. At any moment a group of people could crash through the doors followed closely by a camera. Lest we forget the Go Pro Wheelie Chair Races when we almost got ran over in the middle of the corridor. Who doesn't enjoy a good wheelie chair race...

5am came and the long awaited Lego Competition went live on air. Presenting with my good friend we embarked on half an hour of lego making! 2 teams of 3 battled it out to become the ultimate lego champions. Creating a car, telling the other team what to create and finally creating their own master pieces. I humbly thank our competitors who managed to stay awake long enough to compete in our competition!

9am hit - the half way mark, and let's just say the exhaustion started to hit. Numbers began to drop and as we attempted to film another video we found ourselves collapsed in a corridor. The world was waking and we were dropping like flies. With very little energy left I decided to adventure around the corridors and rooms filming the sleep deprived students who were 'Half Way There' - I must say that was the moment that I started to wake up again.

Sitting around a table for about 2 hours eating our healthy breakfast which mainly consisted of crisp sandwiches, a box of coco rocks between us and a muffin, we eventually decided it was time to get our act together again and start filming more content. This came in the form of a Make-up Tutorial, which I must say left us all in stitches. When a lad attempts to put on a girl's make-up, it never fails to entertain! I have to admit I've re-watched it myself quite a few times!

Lunch time came and we were re-joined by many who had left to get a few hours of sleep. With that we returned to filming and a group of us joined together to make the 'Broadcast Biggest Fails', or as we liked to see it 'When Jordan Asks for more Content'! This video basically consisted of us acting the fool for a few hours. This video led to the 'Broadcast Dancing King' who caught some of the MPS committee by surprise...

With 3 hours to go we were almost €2,000 off our target of €5,000. With 21hours down, the sleep deprived and delirious students put in the last bit of effort to reach our target. With 1 hour to go we reached our target, and what a feeling that was - the hard work had paid off and this never would have been achieved without the unbelievable team work that was created in the previous weeks and the 24hrs of the broadcast itself.

On Air!

BACK WITH A   BOOM!!

PODCAST

So, today myself and my good pal Caoimhe McGowan decided to adventure into DCUfm. As it is Reading Week our own assigned shows for this week are not running, so we figured exploring the studio while it was quiet would be the best option for us.

After a crash course (no.100 at this stage) around the studio we (nervously) set off. We managed to blab on for about an hour (unfortunately for those listening) about various topics including Irish Traditions, Travel, Events and Movies. 

Myself and Caoimhe both agree that it was an hour well spent! Here's to many more shows with my bubbly companion and sidekick! 

Happy Listening!!!

That Oval Ball Competition Yoke...

Please raise your hand if you’ve spent the past 3 weekends on your sofa watching every rugby match of the world cup so far... Lunch and dinner roll into one as you attempt to throw a quick meal together in-between each match. Starting at midday, you keep track of time as you watch the clock count up 80 minutes throughout each match. It's a marathon, a sofa marathon, a marathon of who can keep their words discreet the longest (even when the referee heads to the TMO for the 100th time). It's a trek of endurance, but in fairness a pretty enjoyable one at that.

There is no doubt that The Rugby World Cup 2015 has been one of the most interesting in recent years. With Japan making history beating South Africa 34-32, Whales beating England, and Australia killing England's chance of making it out of the pool stages. The first time in the history of the rugby world cup the home team didn’t make it out of the pool stages - which cost the English economy 3 billion pounds. (Twitter reaction) All in all it's been quite a shocking turn of events for many teams. Personally, I wouldn't have it any other way! It brings the passion back into the game of rugby. The last 2 minutes of the Japan vs. South Africa match were unbelievable, I watched it on repeat a few times basking in the indescribable emotion displayed by the Japanese. We can't forget to mention the videos that made the rounds online capturing the Irish reaction to the win, you'd almost think Ireland had won the entire World Cup! (Irish Reaction)

As an Irish fan, I've quite enjoyed the matches so far. Under the incredible skill and talent of Joe Schmidt, there is no doubt that the Irish team have excelled in every shape and form over the past year. Despite losing two of their warm-up matches against Whales and England, very little was uttered against Schmidt. O'Driscoll reassured the public at the time, revealing a conversation with Schmidt "He didn't want to show their hand," he said, "He wasn't concerned at all about the results... Any time there was an open session, they would do defensive sets or fitness. They were showing nothing at all." (Interview) In spite of this reassurance, O'Driscoll is still convinced the All Blacks will beat the Irish in the final... Not quite sure how I feel about that one... 

The Irish team embarking on the world cup this year are a strong mixture of young and old, with the legendary Paul O'Connell captaining the squad. As his last journey with Ireland, there's no doubt he will want to go out on a high. Various players with the likes of Tommy Bowe, Simon Zebo and Jared Payne battle it out to make it onto the team each week. However, there's no doubt Bowe and Zebo showed their talent against Romania last week assisting and scoring 2 tries for Ireland. An undeniable trust is evident throughout the country for Schmidt. It seems the consensus is, that if anyone can take the Irish team to the final, it's going to be the legendary man himself. 

Paulie Scrum Surfing

There's something quite satisfying about watching the underdogs mess up the predictions of the entire world. Japan shook up the odds of the outcome but despite the wealth of talent across the world of rugby, the bets are still high on the All Blacks. I mean, it's like watching Kilkenny win the Hurling every year, it just gets boring!  

So, get ready for another day of sofa surfing tomorrow and here's to hoping there will be a few more shocking events along the way! It's not over yet lads! (Although maybe it is for England...)

You Know You're A Lifeguard When...

Summer months; those endless carefree days of adventure and exploration... Or that's how it is for some people. For others, the summer is simply those 3 months when the kids are outside 'til all hours' and it might not rain as much as it does for the other 9 months of the year (although this year it rained more than it does in January if you ask me) This summer I decided to actually make myself useful and get a job. Adventuring into the world of 'responsibility' took it's toll when getting up at 7am for work destroyed your sleep-till-10am-in-the-summer policy. Don't get me wrong! It wasn't all bad, I mean I was getting paid. 

So, I hear you ask, what is this job she refers to? Well, I spent my days sitting in 35 degree heat, beside a pool, watching people break every pool rule in existence - lifeguarding. You'd be surprised how many times you have to tell somebody to stop diving in a pool so they don't crack their head off the bottom! 

I got the job at the start of the crazy summer months, a goal I had been working towards for many years. Swimming has always been my great escape to the deep blue, leaving behind any niggling fears or worries. However, when I realised that lifeguarding was the complete opposite, it was quite a shocking discovery. Sitting on a high chair for hours on end with only your thoughts for company, leads you to lose any sort of critical thinking. I personally resort to playing long piano pieces repeatedly in my mind while my fingers tap out the melody. While others prefer to pack their suitcases for their upcoming trip abroad, going through each individual sock in their mind, and some prefer to sing songs out loud despite the odd stares from the bathers. While cleaning isn't my favourite past-time, when boredom sets in after 5 hours, anything will be attempted to pass the time and prevent the inevitable insanity that would ensue.

For years, lifeguarding has been presented to the population as a glamorous job (I blame Baywatch). The job title is met with "Ohhhh that sounds so cool" or "Do you get to wear a swimsuit all day?" Just to clear up the second question, no. No I don't walk around a swimming pool all day in a red swimsuit carrying a torpedo buoy. (not everything is like the movies) People view a lifeguard from the outside, watching them staring at the water or pacing up and down the deck, constantly watching. However, what they don't see is the strong unity among the team. Working together constantly, recognising any unusual actions or gestures. As cheesy as it may sound, I've made some great friendships along the way.

Honestly, you would be surprised by the crazy things people attempt to do in a swimming pool. I mean, half of these stunts don't even exist on the 'Swimming Pool Rules' sign. For example, when you attempt to clarify why someone can't do a backflip into a pool 1m in depth full of children, you're usually met with a round of 'why not's?' and 'I'll be careful'. At times I'm often attempted to reply with a simple "I will kill you if you don't kill someone else first", but we all know that would breech the boundary between worker and customer. Let's not forget about all those people who like to 'play dead', if you could all just do that somewhere else that would be great thanks. I've lost count of the hours I've spent shouting at kids to stop running, only to watch them slip and slide along the deck with a look of utter horror on their faces as if they had no idea such a thing was possible. And as for the kids who shout 'help' for the craic... don't even get me started on those. But, the best kids are the ones who look around to see if you're watching them, right before they attempt to do something they know is against the rules.

The truth about it is this; being a lifeguard is not easy. There's no other way about it. Despite the amount of crazy people we have to deal with on a regular day, there are also some lovely people who reduce the boredom levels for a while. You might even meet the odd toddler who decides you're their new best friend! Sure you could say everyday is the same, sitting in the same seat, watching the same pool, rotating at the same time... but everyday you'll be met with different people and various challenges. 

So below are a list of ways on how to survive as a lifeguard;

1. Try not to get too angry at someone - even if you've blown the whistle at them 100 times

2. NEVER forget your water bottle

3. Find an air vent, it's your new best friend

4. Watch out for those people who like 'playing dead' - they're sneaky 

5. Don't twirl your whistle despite absolute boredom, there's a strong chance it'll fly into the pool or onto a bather's head             

6. Slides are the bane of a lifeguard's job - enough said

7. Don't have a shower before shift, it's a waste of time

8. Sometimes you won't recognise people outside the pool fully dressed, believe me, it happens...

Add these to your Bucket List!

Freedom!

Nothing is sweeter than the freedom after the wonderful journey of the Leaving Cert! However, it seems with all this freedom, I seem to have absolutely no idea what to do! I spend my days off from work imagining all the wonderful things I could be doing... Yet, it seems I continue to spend my days watching movies and dancing around my house to music so loud the floor vibrates!

Transfixed by the slow slippery raindrops as they slide down my window, I'm instantly transported to the basking heat of foreign lands. Some places I've journeyed to and some I've yet to discover...


FLORENCE
Florence is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. The true heart of Italien art, the narrow streets and beautiful sights, are wonders to everyone who adventures through the city. A small city bursting with life, both fresh and historic. The essence of the historic city, lies in the deep roots established by the Romans and the endless stories surrounding the wealthy Medici family. The beauty of Florence is endless and the short time I spent there proved that.

PISA
A small quaint city, which is well known for the famous 'Leaning Tower of Pisa', Pisa lies only a few kilometres from the seaside. The main shopping street which leads to the tower is a constant buzz of life, both tourists and residents of the city. Although it seems the main attraction lies in the tower alone, and therefore the city lacks any other tourist spots.








ROME

When in Rome, do what the Romans do! The wealth of history and attractions in Rome are simply endless. A short visit is simply not enough to explore the beauty that Rome has to offer, however a lot can be done in 4 days if you're prepared to do a lot of walking! The Colosseum is a must see, along with The Vatican City (however, be prepared for some crazy tour guides!) The masterpieces that are spread across the entire city are simply stunning; Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci.... A return trip will be taken in the future!





PARIS

The city of love... Or so it is said! Although quite young when I ventured to Paris, it is an unforgettable city! I have always loved the musical language of the French people. (However, if you wish to practise your french, perhaps somewhere with less tourists would be advised) I spent much of my childhood travelling this beautiful country and while Paris is a destination on most people's bucket list, I have always preferred exploring the true depths of the country. It is only in the small areas that you truly experience the rich culture of the french. La vie est belle!



PRAGUE

At a young age I had the wonderful experience of travelling to Prague to visit my aunt and uncle who live there. My uncle 'the lego man' as we've always referred to him as, has a high position in the Lego company  which allowed us to take a V.I.P tour of the Lego factory. A thrill my brother and I will never forget. Aside from that we walked over the Charles Bridge, the well known bridge that goes over the River Vltava and viewed the famous 'Child of Prague'. A trip down the river in a boat and an exploration through the markets is a must-do when visiting Prague. It is a city I would really love to return to.



SWITZERLAND
The Winter Wonderland. Skiing down the slopes of the Alps was one of the best trips of my life without a doubt! Staying in Leysin a small resort one hour from Geneva, I spent a week skiing (and falling) down the snowy slopes. A quaint little town bursting with life despite the icy conditions. The town revolves around the ski resort which dominates the enterprise of the town. Staying in a hotel only a 5minutes walk from the Ski lifts it was the perfect spot. Spending the day skiing down the Alps is a true wonder. However, a warning, be prepared to spend money as Switzerland is not a cheap country!




SANTIAGO DE COMPESTELA

The final destination of the Camino de Santiago, this city in northern Spain is flowing with a constant buzz of pilgrims who arrive into the city after their journey along the Camino. I had the honour of venturing to this city last year after walking 130km of the Camino. Spotting the city from a few kilometres outside the city I remember my dad saying "I've never been so happy to see a church in my life". At this point we had walked for many days to reach our destination. Although a constant flow of tourists (pilgrims) move through the city, the Spanish culture is still strong. However, by the time these pilgrims from around the world have reached Santiago after 800km of walking, they have been integrated into the Spanish culture already!

LONDON
What a city. The wealth of museums and historical sites are simply endless in this city. However in my opinion the true gem are the various theatres that litter the city. A trip to a musical or ballet is a must when venturing to London. Of course don't forget to bring some cash for fine dinning and a wild shopping trip! However, advice to all, don't get lost on Bond Street, I'm pretty sure the only item of clothing you'll be able to afford is a pair of socks!

While I've travelled to many places I still have many more to explore. The above cities are only a taster of the many places I've been in my life so far. I owe this wonderful exploration to my parents who have given my brother and I the priceless gift of exploration.

Florence - An Unforgettable Trip

From a young age, our parents brought us travelling. We were never the type of family who sat by the pool or beach all day, instead we liked to explore the area and often needed rest on our return home from holidays after the adventures we embarked on! At this point, I have travelled the length and breath of France, explored many cities, Island hopped, skied through the Alps, walked the Camino de Santiago and this coming summer hope to jet off again on a new adventure. 

So... Why am i telling you this? Well, I have caught the travelling bug and I completely blame my parents!
When the opportunity arose a few months ago to embark on an Art Trip to Florence, Italy, I didn't hesitate. A small city bursting with life, both fresh and historic, it wasn't long before I felt at home among the artists who inhabit the city. The essence of the historic city, lies in the deep roots established by the Romans and the endless stories surrounding the wealthy Medici family. The beauty of Florence is endless and the short time I spent there proved that.

On arrival, a night walk around the city is definitely in order! Florence at night is a spectacle never to be missed. The moonlight and stars light up the buildings. The city comes alive and dances under the moonlight. The end of our walk brought us to The Dumo, Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in the centre of the city. The view is incredible and is sure to take your breath away...

The art which floods this city, is the main attraction that draws thousands of people to it's doorstep. Works  As enthusiastic art students, we were eager to view as much art that we could. We were lucky, five days was the perfect amount of time to fit everything into our schedule. In my opinion, the top 5 places to see while in Florence would have to be:
by Michelangelo, Massacio, Botticelli, Donatello, Brunelleschi and Raphael dominate the galleries and streets of Florence.

1. The Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral

2. The Uffizi Gallery

3. The Ponte Vecchio

4. The Accademia

5. The Medicci Palace

You can't travel to Italy and not experience the real Italian Gelato (although in our case it became an addiction) As we are teenagers (with no money) we spent time searching for the largest quantity ice-creams for the cheapest price. Something, I may say, we became quite talented at. So, if you're looking for some delicious gelato at a reasonable price I recommend:

1. Gelateria La Carraia, Florence 

2. Gelateria Perché No!

While we're on the topic of food, pizza is a must have at least one night (well, there's no escaping it anyway) Try something different! Don't go for the typical Margarita that can be found anywhere in the world. Looking for something 'Typically Italian", we found a fabulous little restaurant called MaMMa Mia Pizzeria. This restaurant served a range of gorgeous Italian food and only a five minute walk from The Duomo. I can't forget to mention the service, or I would be disowned by my friends. As only Irish girls can be, the seven of us spent our time trying to catch the eye of the lovely (really hot) waiter who worked there. So, if you're looking for some delicious food and eye candy, MaMMa Mia is the place to go.

Firenze or Florence, is one of the most picturesque places you'll ever visit. It's an Art lovers paradise with endless opportunities to view some Renaissance art. If you've never shown any interest in art before your visit, be prepared to fall in love with the statue of David by Michelangelo... So, if you're wondering where to visit this year, Firenze is a city worth taking some selfies in!

The Irish and their weird ‘Traditions’

It’s a well known fact around the world, that us Irish are well known for our various ‘traditions’. I mean, every country has their own crazy traditions, but it seems no matter where we go, we simply can’t escape them! Emigrants fill their suitcases with Barry’s Tea, Cadbury’s Chocolate and Tayto Crips rather than clothes they might actually need. The detachment from the Emerald Isle forces them to eat food they probably never ate when under Mammy’s Roof (I mean who buys all those branded products are you crazy?). 

The Irish have three main topics of conversation. They’re used during the lull in a conversation or towards your Daddy’s third cousin twice removed who’s name you still can’t remember. They are:1. Politics2. Religion3. The weather. (Although nowadays I think the ‘religion’ topic is best referred to as our dedication to the pub!) I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a conversation about Gerry Adams Twitter account. 












*Especially when you read the tweets in his voice



Honestly, why do Irish people have an obsession with the weather? And no, it’s not just the sun we obsess over. Hail, rain or sunshine, we find a way to stitch it into every aspect of life. December passes without a drop of snow and the entire country hides away in the darkness for two months. May arrives just in time for ‘Leaving Cert Weather’. I can guarantee you, that no other country in the world refers to the incredible heat at the end of May as weather associated with a set of exams. We live in a country closer to Iceland than the equator and people are still disappointed when the temperature doesn’t reach the mid thirties during the summer months.



Now, remember lads, in April let’s not get too carried away with the summer ambitions. I’ve often spotted a few pasty looking shirtless lads trying not to shiver when the Spring wind blows. Also let’s not forget about the short shorts which have been pulled out of the back of the wardrobe and barely cover one asscheek never mind two! The Irish summer is on it’s way so brace yourselves one and all! Before long we’ll witness the classic ‘Irish farmer’s tan’ and the baby oil routine so many girls think is a sensible idea for a ‘quick and simple tan’. We’re Irish. We burn, suffer the pain, and shamefully return to our natural shade of snow white. (apart from the lucky few who go a nice shade of next-to-brown)

Even though we’re a small nation, we’re capable of throwing incredible celebrations! We all know this, and it seems the wider world do too. Watching a video on St.Paddy’s Day last year, I was shocked by the large percentage of foreigners who don’t understand the reasons behind this national day. According to some, it’s the traditional day the leprechauns come out to dance…. Mmmm ok. Other’s said it’s a day every Irish person in the country gets drunk! Well, they’re not too far wrong with that concept, but honestly how can you celebrate something if you don’t even know why you’re celebrating it! Spending St.Patrick’s Day in the US, my cousin was convinced by a few people that he was their 6th cousin five times removed… Don’t get me wrong! I myself am truly passionate by our small country and how we’ve managed to spread our traditions around the world. But maybe on our travels, we can teach people about St.Patrick, the legend himself!



It seems that Irish people and their unusual traditional ‘Gaelic’ names was quite a trending topic across social media in 2015. Two videos were released, and in them a group of Americans (link), an Australian girl and a British girl (link) attempted to pronounce Irish names; both girls names and boys. Watching them makes you realise that in fact outside of Ireland, Irish names are quite unique. It’s often hard to remember this when you have a name like ‘Niamh’, so common in Ireland at this stage that everyone on the island has at least one friend by the same name. As I always say, “Niamh is the next Mary in this country!” I mean, who doesn’t have an aunt, or a granny or a mam called Mary? As for boys names, there’s no doubt we’ve all met a Ciarán, Seán and Eoghan! It’s quite an interesting experience in foreign countries when my name gets mispronounced as ‘Leeve’… I mean where did the ‘L’ come from? The Irish and their weird language!

The truth about it is this; we’re Irish and we have crazy traditions. Even getting fried in the summer seems to be a rite of passage in this country! If you think travelling abroad is the answer to escaping the island, that is where you are quite wrong my friend. There will always be someone who is only delighted to meet an Irish person; it’s their one and only chance to perform their rendition of ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘Molly Malone’. You might even surprise yourself and join in!

90 Days To Freedom!

If you ask me, finding inspiration for blog posts these days is quite a challenging thing to accomplish.  Each of my 'totally original' ideas usually end up resembling a period from my history book and I've prepared for so many orals at this stage the examiner knows more information about my family than my friends do! I also feel it's best to steer away from poetry at the moment; the world really doesn't need another depressed poet complaining about life. There's no denying; the Leaving Cert destroys people in ways they would never have ever imagined possible.

But... Everyone already knows that, so there's honestly no point complaining about it at this stage. Only a few weeks left now fellow 6th years. Count down the days. It's motivational (and terrifying)
Just keep reminding yourself of the many many many people who have all survived this horrific year.
Remind yourself that all those little breakdowns will be worth it in the end (not too many though...)

So, instead of writing another long boring paragraph about the horrors we all know to be true, I've compiled a list of motivational quotes.

Chin up and Power on.... 90 days to freedom

"To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself when nobody else will" Sugar Ray Robinson

"The struggle you're in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow"

"You have to get up every morning and tell yourself I can do this"

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try"

"If you can dream it. You can do it" Walt Disney

"Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do" Benjamin Spock

"Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle"