TheCity

Author: The City’s Newshound

Opinion: Legislation must be introduced to ban ticket touting

By Alastair Magee

When Coldplay announced an Irish date for their ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ tour next July at Croke Park, die-hard fans across the country beamed with joy.

Thousands, including myself, waited patiently by computers while many others queued for hours outside ticket booths awaiting the 9 AM release of tickets.

(Source: Pixabay)

The concert sold out within 30 minutes and those lucky enough to capture the golden tickets forked out over €90 for an opportunity to witness the tour which has captivated North and South America over the past year.

Ticket prices are always a topic of debate, but loyal fans of bands and singers are willing to meet the demand for an opportunity to see them live.

But a growing problem is evident in Ireland. Ticket touts are becoming an epidemic, capitalising on the needs of the consumers who are left with no choice but to pay three or four times the price of the actual ticket.

‘Ticket touting’ is when tickets are bought from licensed sellers then sold on for a price determined by the individual or company in possession.

The problem that seems to be occurring is that these individuals or companies are purchasing an ever larger percentage of allocated tickets meaning that the actual fans are left with less and have to succumb to the extortionate ticket tout fees if they wish to attend.

At present there is no legal prohibition on ticket touting in the country, although there’s been many private member bills on the topic introduced over the years.

Most recently, Fine Gael TD for Dublin North West, Noel Rock, intended to publish a bill which would end the practice of ticket touting for sport and music events.

(Source: Wikipedia)

The bill would end ticket touting for profit, which had been supported by many sporting organisations and companies such as Ticketmaster.

Over the summer we witnessed a ticketing scandal involving the Olympic Council of Ireland with investigations currently under way both in Ireland and Brazil.

This should never be allowed to happen, especially involving an organisation, which essentially should be ensuring transparency in both foreign and Irish sporting circles.

The proposed new law may not have prevented this saga from happening but it would go some way to ensuring that everyday ticket touts at concerts and sports events in Ireland would face consequences.

Other countries such as the United States and England already have legislation in place to tackle the problem.

The law in England forbids the sale of tickets near sports grounds.

Ireland secured the rights for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2017 and Dublin will be a venue for four matches in the 2020 European Football Championships. The IRFU are also in the process of bidding for the right to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

With so many major sporting events being brought to our shores, there should be a greater emphasis on ending ticket touting before they take place.

I believe legislation on the topic is of great importance to end the current situation which is ruining the enjoyment value for real fans and putting more money in the hands of ticket touts.

We must come together to tackle the problem and punish those who wouldn’t think twice about making healthy profits at the expense of ordinary people.

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October 20, 2016
Ten Years On: A New Heart For Dublin

By Conor McNally

It may be ten years old, but the ‘A New Heart for Dublin’ planning proposal put forward by the Progressive Democrats in 2006 still remains the most radical re-imagining of Dublin city.

(Source: Progressive Democrats)

In 2006, Ireland was nearing peak property boom with astronomical house prices throughout the country and especially Dublin city. Thousands of houses were being built in the western suburbs and satellite towns surrounding Dublin. However, a finite amount of land meant there was a limit to the number of houses that could be built within the city itself.

This was where the Progressive Democrat plan came in. They proposed moving Dublin’s port out of Dublin to Bremore, a stretch of coast north of Balbriggan in North County Dublin. The area in Dublin freed up by moving the port would become home to a new neighbourhood made up of shiny high rises suitable for the young, upwardly mobile inhabitants of Dublin circa 2006.

“This new quarter could house upwards of 80, 000 people who would live and work in an area designed to suit modern life. Amenities such as parks, marinas and waterfront walkways would be close at hand, while the offices and businesses which locate here would allow most residents to simply walk to work,” the 2006 plan proposed.

Niamh Moore-Cherry, an associate professor in Geography and Urban Planning in UCD, said earlier this year, “It was never realistically going to be built”.

(Source: Progressive Democrats)

“It would have been incredibly expensive and difficult and I have had people tell me that they never did any significant inspections on the land banks they proposed to build the high rise buildings on so building the proposed high rises may not have even been possible. There is also nothing in the plan about the facilities that are needed for families and that build a community,” said Moore-Cherry.

“The plans fit with a lot of what was being proposed in Dublin at the time, where there was a real emphasis on building high and there was a lot of crazy stuff going on,” said Moore-Cherry.

Reading ‘A New Heart for Dublin’ it’s hard to discern how much in-depth planning went into the plan beneath the striking graphical representation. The poster child for boom time madness in Dublin was the sale of the old glass bottling plant in Ringsend, which valued the 25 acres site at €412m. If you do the sums, that breaks down to €16.46 million per acre.

The proposed plan from the Progressive Democrats valued the reclaimed land at: ‘Up to €50 million per acre’, meaning that, ‘Dublin Port’s land bank of 660 acres could release between €25 billion and €30 billion at 2005 prices’. That €50 million is €33.5 million more than the per acre value of the glass bottling site, widely considered one of the worst deals in the whole property boom.

‘A New Heart for Dublin’ can be viewed through a couple of lenses. It’s a relic that in a two page planning proposal perfectly encapsulates the flagrant greed of a time when, as a country, we collectively lost the run of ourselves.

Or you could see it as a radical proposal that, although not perfect, was a noble stab at re-imagining a city which had been the victim of muddled and corrupt planning for most of its history.

Whichever way you choose to see the plan, it is hard to look at Dublin now without seeing those skyscrapers.

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October 19, 2016
Tuesday’s Tops: Dublin’s Top 5 Alternative Activities

By Colm Phelan

Footee

(Source: Footee)

Based in Tallaght, Footee is one of many “footgolf” courses around Ireland. This novelty game has all the basic principles of golf, but as the name suggests you use your feet and a football instead (and of course, the hole is bigger!)

Far cheaper than a normal round of golf, Footee is a fun way and inexpensive activity to get out of the house and spend some time outside with friends or family. It’s suitable for all ages.

You can bring your own football or rent one for just €2. Football or astro-turf boots are recommended.

Jumpzone

(Source: Jumpzone)

Based in Santry and Sandyford, Jumpzone is exactly what it says on the tin, somewhere to go and jump!

Boasting to be the first of its kind in Europe, Jumpzone is a large open space with trampolines on the floor and walls, including a dodgeball court and jump pit.

Whether you go for a birthday party or just with a few friends for a day out, Jumpzone is a great activity which is certain to get your heart-rate up.

At just €12 per hour, which includes grip socks if you don’t have a pair already, it won’t break the bank either.

Zipit

(Source: Zipit)

A bit more daring than Footee and Jumpzone, Zipit is a forest adventure centre based in Tibradden, fifteen minutes drive from Dundrum Town Centre. The second of this franchise in Ireland, Zipit boasts ninety one total activities and will take up to four hours of your time to complete.

Zipit is appropriate for all age groups, with circuits of one to three meters available for kids, to the most advanced at twenty meters for those more daring.

Be warned however, the highest circuit is quite challenging! It’s a hard upper-body workout.

Delta Force Paintball

(Source: Delta Force Paintball)

At €30 per person for entry, equipment and paintballs, Delta Force paintball is on the pricier end of this top five but is an exhilarating way to spend your day.

However, for the price you pay you do get one of the best paintballing experiences you can get in Ireland. They pride themselves on their safety, and the facilities look like they could be on the set of a movie.

You will certainly do a lot of running around so be prepared for that. On the plus side, the adrenaline will take away from the pain of being shot!

Metro Golf

(Source: Rate My Area.com)

Again on the more expensive side, Metro Golf is an indoor golf centre and bar based in Dublin 4.

Ideal if you are starting a night out, for €17.50 a person you get two hours of golf simulator fun, beers and some nachos and dips.

The golf simulator is extremely high tech and is a lot of fun when having a few drinks with friends. Don’t worry if you’re not a golfer, the relaxed attitude inside the venue makes it fun for everyone, even those who have never swung a club in their life!

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October 19, 2016
A Break from The City: Florence

In the first of our series of photo essays on city breaks, Lily Joyce visits the vibrant, artistic Florence and tells you how to visit one of Italy’s most iconic cities on a budget.

Florence is a relatively affordable city but due to the amount of tourists the city greets every year, there are areas where restaurants, cafés and shops take advantage of their convenient locations and charge extortionate prices. Below is an in-depth list of how to spend smartly in the Tuscan capital.

(Source: Lily Joyce)

GETTING THERE & AROUND THE CITY

Ryanair don’t fly directly to Florence but they do fly to Pisa and Bologna, two neighbouring cities, which are around one hour and thirty minutes away from Florence. This gives you the option to book a return flight ticket to either city or to book one way to Pisa and the other from Bologna. Journeys can cost around €60 – €80 for a round trip, if you’re smart with your flight logistics. Buses to Florence from these locations can cost as little as €5, and although this makes the journey a little longer than if you were to catch a direct flight, it does save you a nice lump sum in the long run.

Florence is a rather big city but because everything is so close by it’s very easy to walk everywhere. If you stay in the city centre, there is no need to spend any extra money on public transport.

(Source: Lily Joyce)

The city prides itself on its vast collections of museums and basilicas brimming with culture and art. If you are staying in Florence for three days or more, the Firenze card, which is the equivalent to a master key for access to all the galleries, museums and basilicas, is a convenient and hassle free option. The card costs €72 and is valid for 72 hours which works out at €24 a day and allows priority access to over 60 buildings in the city. This card saves time and money. Tickets for the Uffizi Gallery alone cost around €24 – €30, regardless of whether you book ahead or buy them at the ticket office. The card also offers a three-day transit pass so if you are staying that little bit out of town, it covers you for your journeys in and out.

WHAT TO DO

As noted earlier, Florence is an artist’s city. The main attractions include galleries, museums and cathedrals hosting works from some of the world’s greatest artists like Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.

The Uffizi Gallery is the heart of the Renaissance, showcasing art from the floor to the ceiling. Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’ and ‘Primavera’ can be seen in the Uffizi along with some works by Caravaggio. The rooftop terrace also has a great view over the Dome of the Duomo.

(Source: Lily Joyce)

The Academia gallery hosts the famous ‘David’ sculpture by Florence’s own Michelangelo along with many other sculptures from other artists. There are two lines to enter the Academia – one for those who don’t have a booking and another for those who pre-booked and those who have a Firenze card. Don’t be daunted by the queues – if you have a Firenze card or have booked in advance, the line moves quickly.

Pitti Palace is adorned with the riches of the Medici family who were the most powerful family in Florence during the height of the Renaissance. In here you’ll find old and modern art exhibitions throughout the palace. The Boboli Gardens are located at the back of the building and offer great views of the city and also a quiet retreat for some down time.

The Bargello is situated in the impressive Palazzo del Bargello. Famous works such as ‘Bacchus’ and ‘Apollo’ by Michelangelo and Donatello’s bronze ‘David’ reside in the museum.

The Cathedral di Santa Maria del Fiore, AKA The Duomo, is the most prominent building in Florence, with its ornate architecture and sheer size making it one of Italy’s largest churches. The Duomo offers two locations for a bird’s eye view of the city either from the top of the dome in the main building or one from the top of the bell tower. The bell tower is the better option as it’s much quieter and gives you a view of the dome as well as a 360-degree view of Florence.

The Ponte Vecchio Bridge is lined with shops on both sides and with buskers dotted throughout strumming classical Italian music. Avoid buying anything in the stores as they’re aimed at tourists with money to spend. You can also grab a wonderful view of the bridge from anywhere along the Arno River.

(Source: Lily Joyce)

Visit Piazzale Michelangelo, a square atop a hill which boasts a panoramic view of the city. Catch the number 12 or 13 ATAF bus (tickets cost about €2 per person and are valid for 90 minutes) from the Santa Maria Novella train station to the top of the hill. You’ll get a beautiful 20 to 30-minute ride over the Arno River through the Florentine countryside to the scenic square overlooking the city, complete with a replica of Michelangelo’s ‘David’.

TIP: In July 2014, the Italian government launched an initiative offering free admission to museums, galleries and cultural sites on the first Sunday of each month. Though the top tourist attractions tend to get packed out, it’s a rare opportunity to visit world renowned galleries such as the Uffizi and the Academia for free.

WHERE TO STAY

PLUS Florence hostel is situated near the Santa Maria Novella train station and charges €16 a night to sleep in a dorm room. It’s within walking distance of all the main attractions, provides free Wi-Fi and also has indoor and outdoor pools.

(Source: Lily Joyce)

Hostel Santa Monaca is situated near the Basilica di Santo Spirito. Here you can pay up to €52 for a private twin room or as little as €12 in a 16 bed dorm.

If hostels aren’t your thing, Airbnb listings in Florence offer central apartments for around €25 a night if you book early. Some listings charge less for midweek stays too.

FOOD

Trattoria Mario – A firm favourite amongst locals, a meal costs from €8 – €15. There is usually a waiting list so head over to give your name to the Maître D’ before you get hungry and go back out and explore the nearby Basilica di San Lorenzo.

Da Nerbone – Located inside the Mercato Centrale this is another local favourite for takeout paninis. Grab one of their trademark sandwiches to eat while people-watching on the steps at piazza di San Lorenzo. Prices are between €7 and €12.

Trattoria Mario (Source: Lily Joyce)

Coquinarius – An off the beaten track restaurant with a sprinkling of tourists and locals. The menu consists of cured meat dishes and delicate pasta. Make a reservation or arrive early to ensure you get a table. Prices on the menu go from €12 to €25.

Trattoria da Rocco – A bustling restaurant with more locals than tourists, which is always a good sign. Dishes are very simple and start from €4.50, definitely one of the best bargains around.

Finisterrae – located along Santa Croce square, this place offers a wide selection from pasta to pizza. An average meal would cost around €15. Avoid any of the main piazzas if you are looking for a reasonably priced cup o’joe. You can be charged up to €5 for a small cup of coffee whereas some cafés further afield charge as little as €1.

(Source: Lily Joyce)

Volume Café – Located along Piazza Santo Spirito, this place caters for the hipster, with mismatched leather armchairs and old books lining the walls. Americanos are served small and strong at the cost of €1.

La Loggia degli Albizi – Known for its reasonable prices and friendly atmosphere, this is a firm favourite amongst locals and tourists for coffee and pastries for breakfast.

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October 17, 2016
What to do this Hallowe’en

By Chelsea Tyler McNeill

Looking for some ideas for what to do this Hallowe’en? Look no further than this list of the top activities happening in Dublin and its surrounding areas this October.

The Bram Stoker Festival: at venues across Dublin City

(Source: Vimeo)

This Hallowe’en festival runs from the 28th to the 31st of October with lots of scary fun for everyone. Over the course of four days, there will be events including scary movie screenings in The Light House Cinema, Dracula’s Disco, scary music trail and a horror expedition. You can find all of their events and book tickets through their website.

Farmaphobia: Causey Farm, Navan, Co. Meath

Warning, this is not for the faint hearted. For those of you horror lovers who truly want a fright this Hallowe’en, Farmaphobia is for you. Less than an hour’s drive from Dublin city centre, you can prepare to be chased by clowns, go down to the mutilation morgue and find your way through mazes where you won’t be alone. Tickets begin at €18, depending on the time you go at and the activities you want to do. Further details can be found at http://www.farmaphobia.ie/

Pumpkin picking: Airfield Farm, Dundrum, Dublin

(Source: Flickr)

What would Hallowe’en be without carving your own pumpkin? Airfield Farm in Dundrum is the perfect day out for the whole family, with children’s play areas and a farmers market. Get in the spirit of Hallowe’en by picking your own pumpkin and enjoying all of the autumn food and beverages from the farm. Admission is €10 for adults and €5 for children (under threes are free) or you can look online for family packages and deals.

Dublin Zoo Hallowe’en Spooktacular: Phoenix Park, Dublin 8.

For the kids who can’t wait until Hallowe’en night for the festivities to start, bring them down to Dublin Zoo where from 12pm to 2pm, there will be Hallowe’en festivities dotted all around the zoo. There will be arts and crafts, spooky zoo keeper stories, face painting and monster music. Admission fee is the usual, €17 per adult and €12.20 per child (under three is free), family packages are also available online.

Masquerade Mystery in Malahide Castle: Malahide, Co. Dublin.

(Source: Flickr)

Malahide Castle are inviting families to come dressed up in their scariest costumes for a spooky masquerade mystery tour. Families will be brought around the haunted castle to go ghost hunting and for other spooky festivities. It costs €12 for adults and €6 for children but family packages are also available. Find out more at MalahideGardens.ie.

Witches lair at the Leprechaun museum: Jervis Street, Dublin 1.

The leprechaun museum are taking us back to the roots of Hallowe’en, and at the witches lair you will hear stories of old Irish folklore and ancient witchcraft. There are day time events for under 18’s and night time events for the overs. The night time tours cost €16 and the prices of day time events vary, see all the information here.

The Dublin Ghost Bus: Dublin City and surrounds.

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Hop on the tour bus and see the most terrifying sights in Dublin, this is a Hallowe’en night out that won’t disappoint. For €28 per adult you go all around Dublin to castles, graveyards and haunted sites with actors playing their roles from beginning to end so you really feel like you are in another world. It is a two hour tour beginning at the Dublin Bus headquarters on O’Connell Street. It is not suitable for children under 14. For more visit their website.

Tayto Park: Ashbourne Co, Meath

Tayto Park is less than an hour outside of Dublin and it offers day and night events throughout the month of October to celebrate Hallowe’en. Tayto Park after dark is open for 14 year olds and over, and for €20 per person you get a pass for all the rides plus you get to experience a 5D horror move. During the day, kids over eight can come to the house of horrors which is €6 per person. The park will also be open to all ages for different activities during the days like face painting and craft making. For more visit their website here.

Hocus Pocus at the big drive in cinema: Cherrywood, Co. Dublin

(Source: YouTube)

On Hallowe’en Eve, drive down to Cherrywood Business Park to watch Hocus Pocus on the world’s largest outdoor LED movie screen. You can watch this Hallowe’en classic in the comfort of your own car and even listen to the movie through your radio. So bring your friends, get some food and get into the Hallowe’en spirit. There will also be screenings of other classic movies like Grease and the Lion King at the end of the month, head over to their website to get your hands on tickets.

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October 15, 2016
Interview of Interest: Leah Kelly

By Kieva McLaughlin

Leah Kelly, a 20 year old up-and-coming singer from BIMM music college in Dublin, sat down with The City’s Kieva McLaughlin to discuss where she is now with her music and to tell us her plans for the future.

Leah is currently the lead singer in the band ‘BASQ’ along with guitarist Enda Cahill, bass player Conor King, Jake Richardson on keys, and Colin Lyons on drums.

(Source: RuthlessImagery)

Leah has millions of views on YouTube from her days singing with well known Irish singer ‘The Eden Project’, but is now focusing on finishing writing her newest album with her band ‘BASQ’.

“We play all our own originals, we have written six songs for this album that we are happy with, but we want two or three more before it will be ready. We sing R&B, soul, funky kind of music,” Leah revealed.

Leah and Enda write the music and lyrics before bringing it to the rest of the band to see what they can all do with it.

“It is taking [longer] than we would like because we are all so particular. We took a break for the summer, and when we came back we even started changing one of the first songs we finished because we were hearing it with new ears. We just want everything to be perfect before we start recording it. We are hoping it will be ready in November,” Leah told us.

Leah became interested in music at a young age through her Dad, but was always really nervous about singing in front of people. “I would have to sing in school in front of my class, but I really didn’t like it up until I took part in a fourth year school musical. For some reason once I was on stage I wasn’t nervous anymore, it felt different somehow,” she said.

(Source: RuthlessImagery)

Leah explained how she met ‘EDEN’, formerly known as the ‘The Eden Project’, and how they started singing together. “I was singing in a play in school that Eden was a part of. He was in a band outside of school and asked me to play a few gigs with them so that is how we made friends,” Leah explained.

“After that he asked me to record a few songs with him, it was more for fun than anything else, he had a little recording studio in his room so I just went to his house to do it, it was all very casual at the time,” Leah recalled. Eden went on to gather a huge fan base and Leah began to notice her popularity spiralling as well.

“Our videos hits just kept going up and up on YouTube – it was so surreal to think [that] millions of people were listening to me sing. Even just my name being on the songs is making a big difference to my career,” Leah said.

“A lot of people send me songs asking me to sing on them, I just need to figure out which is right for me. One guy even sent me a whole album of tracks without vocals on them and told me I could choose any song to sing on, it started to get a bit messy with his label though so I said I would just leave it.”

It is not only musicians messaging Leah but fans as well. “I really love it; I always make sure to reply to everyone. Some people would just be like ‘I love you Leah’ but other people comment the most bizarre things under my photos. I remember one time I put up a photo of me and my friend (who is a guy) on Instagram and a girl just commented in big block capitals ‘YOU BITCH, EDEN FOLLOWS YOU’. I just have to laugh at that kind of thing.”

(Source: Leah Kelly)

Leah isn’t sure if she would ever go solo yet because she is really enjoying being a part of her band ‘BASQ’. “They are all so good individually, and I play piano but I don’t play guitar, so I feel I need someone playing with me. As well as that Enda, the guitar player, and I are very good at writing music together, so we just work.”

Leah not surprisingly finds her inspiration from singers such as Mary J Blige and Beyonce. “I am just really into all strong female singers like Tory Kelly,” she said.

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October 14, 2016
Following the Presidential Election: A Weird Week in US Politics

By Cáitriona Murphy

In the second of a series of articles looking at the US Presidential Election, Cáitriona Murphy takes a look at the last week in the US election, including the second presidential debate.

Yes folks – it’s gotten dirty, almost as dirty as the Irish presidential election circa 2011 which, if you don’t remember, involved allegations of mismanaged finances and murder accusations.

However, unlike the Irish presidential election, the US election doesn’t have someone hanging back in the race avoiding scandal, as Michael D. Higgins was. The citizens of the US are not provided with seven candidates to choose from as the people of Ireland were. No, instead the election system in America has a two-party system. Americans have to choose between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and as this week comes to a close – one month before the election is to take place – people in the US have an extremely difficult decision to make.

(Source: Flickr / DonkeyHotey)

If commentators thought the first presidential debate was a disaster for Trump’s campaign, the video that leaked of Donald Trump talking derogatively about women a few days later was absolutely catastrophic. As one of the moderators at the second presidential debate, Martha Raddatz, said: “In just 48 hours, it has become the single most talked about story of the entire 2016 election.”

For those who somehow managed to avoid the highly controversial video, the video captures Donald Trump having a lewd discussion about women as he prepares for his appearance on “Days Of Our Lives” in 2005 with the host Billy Bush. Bush is also the younger brother of George W. Bush and cousin of Jeb Bush.

In the video, Trump bragged about kissing and groping women, saying that “when you’re a star, they let you do it”. Of course, this video received a huge amount of backlash and a large portion of the debate on Sunday night was dedicated to the topic.

Trump, along with his PR team, played it as best they could. Trump issued a short video statement saying, “I said it, I was wrong, and I apologise”. However, in the same video, he took the opportunity to turn the issue of sexual assault around to attack Clinton. He said while he may have said foolish things, “Bill Clinton has actually abused women,” and that Hillary bullied her husband’s victims.

However, this tactic did not seem to work and Trump publicly lost the support of many GOP (Republican) leaders. This included the most senior member of the GOP, Paul Ryan, who is the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He has said he will no longer defend Trump, and instead will focus on “maintaining the party’s majority” in congress.

Many other senior members have called for Trump to step down, and if this were to happen, the Republican National Committee would replace Trump with his running mate Mike Pence.

(Source: Twitter)

At this point Trump has run out of defensive tactics. He has apologised and has been asked to step down, so he switches to his offensive game and wages a massively publicised attack on Hillary and Bill Clinton. Not only does he mention Bill Clinton’s history with various women, he held a press conference with some of Bill Clinton’s accusers, Kathleen Willey, Juanita Broadrick and Paula Jones.

This line of attack was a low blow from Trump but it managed to take some of the heat off him in the debate. When he was accused of sexual assault or misogyny, he was able to deflect the heat to Hillary Clinton over her husband’s history.

Donald Trump was backed into the corner and somehow managed to come out fighting, once again attacking Clinton over the email scandal, saying that if he was president she would be in jail. “I hate to say it, but if I win I’m going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation,” he said.

(Source: Flickr)

While Clinton was put under a huge amount of pressure as Bill Clinton’s accusers were sitting in the audience, she managed to hold her ground. She was thrown into the bear pit but emerged with just a few scratches, and even received a round of applause with her response to Trump’s attack at her husband. “When I hear something like that, I am reminded of what my friend Michelle Obama advised us all. When they go low, you go high.”

All in all, not much was gained from the second presidential debate, apart from the candidates demonstrating how dirty they are willing to get to win this election. The whole point of the second debate being a ‘town hall format’ was to make it easier for the uncommitted voters in the audience to ask the candidates questions. However, the focus of the debate and of the media coverage following the debate was not on these voters or their questions, but rather on the personal poisonous pasts each candidate has had.

The only time foreign policy issues arose, there seemed to be problems in Trump’s corner. He admits that he disagrees with his running mate Mike Pence, who declared last week in his debate against Tim Kaine that the United States should be prepared to use military force if needed in Syria. After Martha Raddatz puts the question about the humanitarian crisis in Syria to Trump, he immediately said: “He and I haven’t spoken and I disagree. I don’t like Assad at all, but Assad is killing Isis. Russia is killing Isis.”

(Source: Flickr)

Following this, Clinton took the opportunity to accuse Russia of trying to tilt the 2016 presidential election in Mr Trump’s favour with a series of email hacks. “They’re doing it to try to influence the election for Donald Trump,” she said.

Entertainment value was ten out of ten, but on the democratic scale, this debate lost big time. This may have been the most tweeted about event of the whole election but no clear winner has emerged, according to the post-debate polls. Similar to the polls following the first debate, they are unreliable sources of information. Overall, Clinton appears to have the lead at the moment but with how this election is unfolding it is still unclear who is in the lead, and I believe it will remain as such until the last ballot is cast.

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October 13, 2016
Opinion: Why Conor McGregor is the greatest showman in sport since the unrivalled Muhammad Ali

By Liam McInerney

The recent UFC 205 New York press conference was a memorable spectacle. Conor McGregor, as has become convention, created, and then stole the show.

Braggadocious boasting and witty prose attacking the identity of fellow fighters; ‘The Notorious’ delivered the entertainment.

Everybody’s eyes, be it those inside the arena, or those streaming online, were fixated on the character with the sunglasses sitting beside his employer. Conor McGregor has a powerful and infectious aura.

His verbal exploits outside the octagon reach global territories with compelling effect.

But a man even more notorious than Conor McGregor initiated this extravagant method of fighter conduct.

That, of course, was Muhammad Ali.

(Source: Fightstore Media)

As Thomas Hauser writes in his phenomenally insightful biography of Muhammad Ali, “Before Clay’s fight against Sonny Liston, championship bout weigh-ins had been fairly standard and boring. But Muhammad Ali reinvented the rituals of boxing, and after the show he put on in Miami Beach, weigh-ins would never be the same.”

Ali screamed wildly across to heavyweight champion of the world Liston of how he would beat him that night.

It was psychological warfare. Before the opening bell sounded, Ali had tampered with his opponent’s mindset.

The fearless Liston later admitted he was unsettled by Ali; a man he thought was “crazy”, and therefore perilously unpredictable.

McGregor employs the same aggressive mental torture at pre-fight events.

Back in March 2015, featherweight champion at the time, Jose Aldo, travelled to a hostile Dublin press conference where Conor McGregor outraged his Brazilian opponent.

McGregor claimed he was the “King of Dublin” before callously reaching across a table to pry away Aldo’s gold world title belt and lift it as if it were already his.

The crowd were ecstatic, and the media present knew that they were witnessing UFC history.

Aldo reacted emotionally, and before they even set foot into the octagon, McGregor was 1-0 up.

Muhammad Ali was the master of trash talking in the 20^th Century and McGregor has profitably extended that art into MMA. Only McGregor can remotely compare to Ali’s pre-fight bravado.

(Source: Wikipedia)

But what makes Ali and McGregor stand out is their ability to put their bold words into action.

Both were forced to overcome adversity in their combat career; Ali when he lost to Frazier and McGregor when he was choked out by Nate Diaz.

The two special athletes didn’t go about their rematches modestly either, they were just as daring and confident leading up to fight night.

Ali overturned his defeat with a points win over Frazier as did McGregor over Diaz.

Another common trait between the competitors is the generous time they provide to their fans.

At the SBG Tallaght gym opening this year I witnessed first-hand the appreciation McGregor has for his followers.

As he made his anticipated entrance, hundreds of people surrounded their champion.

Despite the claustrophobic and intense environment, McGregor smiled, posed for photos, and thanked anyone who offered words of support.

It was a frenzy that lasted over an hour but ‘The Notorious’ never once complained, a key indication of what the man is like when TV cameras aren’t present.

The ‘Louisville Lip’, as Muhammad Ali was once called by the press, also granted his supporters indelible moments.

In Hauser’s biography of Ali, promotor Don Elbaum tells the story of a training camp in Toronto.

At his hotel after training, Ali would accommodate the kids who came to see him by organising races where he gave the winners and losers money.

Elbaum asked Ali could he call the press so they could write a story about his benevolence.

Ali replied, “Please don’t. I’m having too much fun. If the papers come and write about it, my people are going to get upset and I won’t be able to do it anymore.”

Self-promotion is a crucial aspect of the fight game and Muhammad Ali devoted his abilities into gaining as wide an appeal as possible.

His influence came to the fore during a New York newspaper strike which inspired Ali to travel around the city preaching to anyone who would listen about his upcoming fight.

(Source: Wikipedia)

McGregor also works tirelessly to increase ticket sales and generate interest although social media platforms like Twitter have helped ‘The Notorious’ in his promotional quest.

He tweeted on 19th April 2016: “I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya’s later.”

This one tweet resulted in news stories and debates worldwide.

Nobody can outshine the greatest showman of them all, Muhammad Ali. But Conor McGregor is transcending the sport of MMA like nobody before him.

Ali’s legend stands above everyone. His impact on racial and political issues during a turbulent era of American history is staggering.

However, in a sporting sense of how a fighter carries himself, Conor McGregor is the closest equivalent to Muhammad Ali that we’ve witnessed.

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October 13, 2016
Darts: An Unconventional Sport on the Rise

By Alastair Magee

Often criticised as not being a ‘real sport’, darts were cast in the shadows once upon a time, but in recent years its stock has risen to become one of the major sports broadcast on TV.

With millions of fans worldwide and huge sums of money available in prizes, the sport is growing in popularity, inspiring a next generation of players.

Stars such as Michael Van Gerwen, the world number one, and Gary Anderson, the current world champion, perform at the highest level week in-week out, travelling across the world to bring the sport to its fans.

Gary Anderson and Michael Van Gerwin in action (Source: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

Indeed it is not a ‘mainstream’ sport and probably never will be, but what darts delivers is unparalleled; it allows spectators to be loud, creative and interact with its stars, establishing an environment any athlete would thrive in.

The Unibet World Grand Prix took place in Citywest, Dublin last week and the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) welcomed 2,500 fans each night to the event, which was televised live on Sky Sports.

The Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious events on the professional darts calendar with the winner taking home GB£100,000 in prize money.

Speaking at the competition’s semi-finals on Friday, Rod Harrington, ex-pro and PDC director, explained how the sport has undergone a renaissance in recent years, moving away from its pub roots to create youth leagues across Europe.

(Source: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

“Years gone by it’s been golf, football and cricket, but now darts comes into that category; money will always breed enthusiasm and support. We’re seeing a lot more youngsters watching the game and wanting to play it so certainly the popularity is increasing all the time,” he said.

“The PDC now have development tours and challenge tours a bit like the way golf operates. We’ve got Steve Brown who’s an ex-pro but still plays; he’s started up academies which we’ve endorsed and helped fund, so through that we now have kids as young as ten years old coming in to learn the discipline of the game,” he continued.

With so many young players now taking part in the sport the PDC created youth leagues and Harrington admits that they’re ‘growing well’.

Michael Van Gerwin (Source: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

In any sport it’s the stars at the top who inspire those at the bottom. At the Unibet Grand Prix, we were lucky enough to witness two of its best, Michael Van Gerwen and Gary Anderson, battle their way to the final on Saturday.

Speaking about their influence, Harrington said: “The way they play the game, the speed they play the game at always makes it exciting and every kid wants to throw the dart quick like them. Everyone sees how much money they’re earning and they’ve become heroes like in any other sport or even actors.”

Ireland hosts two major events on the darts calendar every year: the Unibet World Grand Prix in Citywest and the Betway Premier League Darts in the 3 Arena.

Both events sell-out within days of ticket release due to the loyal fan base across the country.

“We used to have it [Grand Prix] in the main hotel but we outgrew that and now we’re in this convention hall with over 2,500 people expected tonight and tomorrow,” said Harrington.

As the sport continues to grow and develop, the number of people getting involved will also increase. The PDC expect to welcome more and more supporters to their events each year and hope to maintain a positive future ahead.

(Source: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

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October 13, 2016
You Me At Six does not disappoint at The Academy

By Rachel D’Arcy

It’s tough to break the ‘emo’ mould, but Surrey quintet You Me At Six managed to unleash a brand new, gritty edge at their first Dublin show in three years.

(Source: Rachel D’Arcy)

If you’ve never heard of You Me At Six, I wouldn’t blame you. Despite never having particularly hit the mainstream in Ireland, they achieved top ten status with their last two albums at home in the UK, as well as embarking on a sold-out arena tour early last year. Having locked themselves away for a bit to write their newest effort, ‘Night People,’ the five lads embarked on their smallest tour in five years, taking in a night at The Academy last Monday.

You Me At Six haven’t played Dublin since a sold out Olympia Theatre show just over three years ago, so anticipation was at a stratospheric high. Despite it being an 18+ gig, queues formed along the cold, dark street of Middle Abbey Street over an hour before doors at 7pm. With under 18’s and those without ID turned away, those lucky 500 that made it through the doors were treated to what was definitely You Me At Six’s best Irish show yet.

While the ‘Stay With Me’ hit-makers kept true to the classics, sticking to what they knew best, front man Josh Franceschi’s almost guttural vocals brought a new dish to the table. Even ‘Underdog’ and ‘Reckless’, two of the more pop-infused tracks of their back catalogue, were given a darker, more adult revision.

An impressive lighting rig only added to the already impressive show, with blues, reds and strobes brightening the faces of Franceschi (and most importantly, Franceschi’s fantastic two-step during ‘Safer To Hate Her’), bassist Matt Barnes, guitarists Chris Miller and Max Hayler, and drummer Dan Flint. Drum beats were illuminated, riffs electrified and vocals emphasised all by the impressive light show, only adding to YMAS’s talent as performers.

For someone who frequents gigs at The Academy, I’d never seen an audience more in unison than at this gig. The lyrics were screamed along to by all the twenty-somethings reliving their teen years, and by those who are impatiently anticipating the upcoming album. Strangers threw their arms around one another, while friends sat on each other’s shoulders. It was a sight to see, only amplified by the energetic display put on by the band themselves.

With Franceschi teasing a return to Dublin in early 2017, it won’t be one that fans of the band – past or present – will want to miss out on.

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October 12, 2016