I am officially a published writer in a newspaper! Eek. The first issue of An Focal for semester two came out today. I was hugely excited let me tell you. Two weeks of solid work had come to this. I refused to look at the pdfs before hand. I wanted it all to be a surprise, despite having meticulously read and edited each piece. But let's go back to the beginning. How in the name of God did I get here?



I started co op in the SU in UL on the 13th of Sept . I wasn’t nervous until the morning I started. I woke up with large butteflies in my stomach and nervous 'ol me was like "Oh dear, why I have done this?" It truly felt like starting a new school for the first time. I live literally a fifteen minute walk into the college, so bringing my bike to Limerick made the journey even shorter.

My first day was spent being inducted into the position of someone working for the Students' Union. We were shown around the SU, the canteens, all the offices. Places that a regular student would not have access too which was really exciting. I discovered people I knew already had also gained positions in the SU which delighted me. 

I actually had an idea of what I was going into as Deputy-Editor of An Focal. I write for a number of different publications already, ranging from this blog to a website aimed at college students (Campus.ie). I am a self-confessed writer, I spend a lot of my time screenshotting and saving pieces of writing that I find while reading books, newpapers and reading things alone. Words hold so much power so I was very excited for this opportunity.



I pride myself on having good spelling and grammar so I knew that would benefit me going into this position. Something I was really looking forward to was actually getting to read other people's work, seeing their passions and getting to put their words into print. 

I was worried that going into the position that I wouldn't have any ideas. Sometimes as a blogger and writer I find myself lying in bed at night, wracking my brain for some inspiration. I can usually cure this with some music. I always find the best writing comes from you when you're emotional. 

Flash forward to being in the position and I know that I have learned so much already. While I have a lot of writing under my belt, I had some much to learn in terms of structuring writing to suit a newspaper. I realised my having studied Media Law had not gone to waste as I had to phrase emails under different acts and ask for FOIs (Freedom of Information). Writing for a newspaper, even a student one entails formalities and technicalities but also lot of fun.



One of the huge perks is getting on with your co-worker. The editor of An Focal Tomás Heneghan already writes for his own blog, various newspapers and I admire his strong interest in politics, something I really lack. We can joke and laugh together which suits me right down to the ground. I feel really comfortable in the office with him, Killian and Aidan.
I personally don't understand why you wouldn't be excited about submitting work to An Focal or any of your university newspaper. Firstly it'll look great on your CV, you're contributing to your own college and it's something you can hold in your hands, keep forever and be very proud of. I personally am calling on people to send in their best instagrams of UL. I joined Instagram about nine months ago and quickly realised that for me it was not about likes it was about taking really pretty photographs. But we do pride ourselves on getting nice photos for the paper. We do our best to include writing and photos of the highest quality.



If you click the links below they will take you to our social medias and believe me we really do appreciate every like, share and follow!

An amazing achievement for Ireland. The 14th of January was a record day for the country. Ireland received nine nominations for the 88th Academy Awards, being held on the 28th of February. You might have wondered why I was raving so much on Twitter, Facebook and my blog's Facebook page. Nine nominations is phenomenal for such a small country and it's a record too. I was eating lunch in The Stables bar in the University of Limerick when the nominations were livestreamed from the US. The nominees are the following:




I have been waiting years for Saoirse Ronan to be recognised by the international film industry, the way she suddenly is now thanks to the Golden Globes and the Oscars. It is so well deserved. Michael Fassbender is punching above his weight with roles in films such as "Shame", "12 Years A Slave", "Macbeth" and "Steve Jobs". Lenny Abrahamson has been in my line of vision since I watched "Garage" for my Leaving Cert. Other excellent films he has worked on are "What Richard Did" and "Frank". So for him to be recognised for "Room", a film adapted from Emma Donoghue's novel of the same name is just fantastic. Emma Donoghue's excellent novel was adaptly perfectly by the author herself.

Irish directors, John Crowley and Lenny Abrahamson up for Oscars this year.

I think why I'm so happy is because Irish films I feel have a uniqueness to them, I say this with some bias but honestly if you watch even one or two of them you'll know what I mean. I grew up watching the likes of "The Field", "Into the West", "War of the Buttons", "Mickey Bo and Me", "Garage", "In America" and "The Wind That Shakes the Barley". All beautiful and unique films in their own right. Directors such as Jim Sheridan ("In America", "The Field", "In the Name of the Father", Gerard Barrett ("Glassland" and "Pilgrim Hill) Liam Cunningham, Cillian Murphy, Domhnall Gleeson and Brendan Gleeson, Jack Reynor, Ciarán Hinds, Sarah Bolger, Aidan Gillen, Andrew Scott and Robert Sheehan etc) There are so many more talented actors/actresses, not just those on screen, but on stage too. Not to be mention producers, cinematographers, those involved with sound, lighting, scriptwriting and costume design. All important components of a film.

Saoirse Ronan and Michael Fassbender

So I suppose this post is again me letting you know that I still am in love with Irish film, I always have been and always will be. I get a burst of  immsense pride when I see someone in the Irish film industry being recognised internationally. I talked about Cartoon Saloon last year, a Kilkenny based two time Oscar nominated animation studio. I am part of my university's filmmaking society, whose members are among the most passionate people I've ever met. I keep up with young filmmakers on Youtube and Twitter. As you can see I can rave about Irish film for a very long time.

Think of all the amazing films/tv shows that were partly filmed here. Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Game of Thrones and Vikings are among some of them. I think the Irish Film Institute should try entice filmmakers to the country to make their films here. We do have the facilities. A new film studio is being built next to the University of Limerick and for that I am extremely excited. A new PhD has been introducted to UL, called New Media and Film. People are starting to produce really good amateur films, preferring quality over quantity. This way the industry is expanding and is enriching itself.

Ahch To, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. (Skellig Michael, Co Kerry)

Take a look here at all the film/tv projects ongoing in this country: in production.

The Irish are natural born storytellers, at times we tend to exaggerate but we are capable of weaving intricate scéals of times long ago. We still hear stories from our ancient past, the Tuatha de Danann, the Fianna and the legends that come with that. Oisín in Tír na nÓg, Gráinne Mhaol, The Salmon of Knowledge. My family tell me stories of the Troubles in the North of Ireland, my grandparents told me of the 1916 Rising and the part our families played in it. Some stories not worth of film but worth telling all the same.

When there is an Irish film in the cinema I beg you to go and see it, your money is going into Irish jobs, providing employment for Irish people. If these filmmakers have money they will continue to produce amazing films, based here in Ireland. It is a good thing to support your own. We really can compete with Hollywood, I feel. We just need the support of our own Irish people.

I won't say who I think will win at this year's Oscars. Regardless I think we all need to applaud those in our talented film industry. PLEASE I am encouraging you to create your own films. Challenge yourself. Write a script, shoot a short film, record your own music from a film or design costumes. I am longing for some new young filmmakers to support and follow. Could it be you? Once again I want to congratulate all the Irish nominees on their amazing achievements, we as a country really couldn't be prouder. And I hope this sort of standard in Irish filmmaking lasts. I really wish the best of luck to all of them.

Inspired largely by seeing models like Kendall Jenner rocking the fake freckle look on the runway, natural freckles are starting to be embraced by both the fashion world and the rest of the world. However not everyone feels the same, frantically searching for methods to "permanently remove" their natural freckles.