Life can hit you with a suckerpunch sometimes...

Some things really do happen too close to home. Early this morning, an 18-year-old girl was killed in a single vehicle accident down near Clonakilty at 5am, only a matter of minutes from my house. I was oblivious to this news until 8.30am this morning, when Mam informed me of the accident. She had received calls from family members wondering if she had heard the news. Since it was so close to home, everyone is always concerned as to whether our own children and/or relations were safe and well.

After a few minutes, word was beginning to filter in that it was a Fleming girl from the Timoleague direction..Instantly, Kate Fleming’s name sprung to mind. “Please don’t say it’s Kate”, was the one thought circling around my head. I wouldn’t be very good friends with Kate, but any time we were both out with friends, we’d say hi and we’d chat. She was also a fresher in UL, a Law and Psychology student. Sher I was only chatting to her the other day outside the Spar shop on campus, she was giving me an awful slagging for heading to the library when I should have been heading out in town! Kate was that kind of girl, always friendly, bubbly, and always had a smile on her face.

It’s now a few hours since I heard the tragic news, and I still can’t believe it. When Mam told me it was believed to be Kate, the first thing I did was cry. That’s all you can do sometimes, and even then it doesn’t help. My first cousin was in the same class as Kate, and they’re all in bits, which is, of course, completely understandable. Everyone that knew Kate just seems to be numb with shock, myself included. The only way I could think of expressing my emotions was through this particular blog entry. How does one come to terms with such a tragic loss? Their family must be truly heartbroken.

From what I gather, Kate was out with friends last night and she was giving some of those friends a spin home last night. That’s testament to Kate’s character though, and it really shows her kind and caring nature. This is just tragic, and it’s going to take some time for people to get over this devastating news..For now, all we can do is stay strong and support one another..

RIP Kate Fleming x

More Axe Factor than X Factor?

SO it seems that this year’s X Factor isn’t attracting the hype that was anticipated. As you all probably know by now, three new judges were introduced to the show – Gary Barlow (Take That), Kelly Rowland (formerly of Destiny’s Child) and Tulisa Contostavlos (N’Dubz), with the ever reliable Louis Walsh also invited back for yet another year.

Everyone thought that these three new faces would inject some life, vibrancy and indeed passion to the show – however, the ratings don’t reflect this. Since the show began airing this season, it has seen a dramatic drop in viewership figures. According to the Daily Mail, the first live show this year was watched by a peak audience of 12.7million on the Saturday night – a huge drop on the 13.5million who tuned in for the first live show of last year’s series.

To add insult to injury, the Guardian newspaper reported that last Saturday night’s edition of The X Factor pulled in 9.8million viewers (a 38 percent share) between 8pm and 9.55pm, more than two million viewers down on the 12.01million who tuned in at the same stage of the series last year.

As well as that, in the 15 minutes when the show went head-to-head with Strictly Come Dancing between 8pm and 8.15pm, the ITV singing competition averaged a mere 8.3million, in comparison to the 9.5million viewers that the BBC dancing show attracted.

I think that the problem with The X Factor is that it is becoming utterly predictable. Week after week, one can be almost certain that one of the judges (usually either Tulisa or Kelly) will break down after another “truly emotional” performance, or bickering and bitching will ensue between Gary and Louis, or Louis and someone...typical Irish!

This year, I don’t think there are any particularly outstanding contestants..fair enough, Misha B and Craig have impressed thus far, but they don’t have as much of an impact as Matt Cardle, Rebecca Ferguson, One Direction or even Mary Byrne had on viewers last year.

Why’s this? I think the bickering and constant media attention on the judges have turned viewers off, if I’m being honest. It’s not about the contestants anymore..People tune in to see what Kelly and Tulisa are wearing, or what ridiculous comments Louis will blurt out – last year, it was based all on talent.

Plus of course, we had the added attraction of the sharp and cruelly honest tongue of one Simon Cowell, who is now overseeing procedures in The X Factor USA.
So where does this leave The X Factor? In not such a good position, I’m afraid. It seems to be going from bad to worse for the ITV show, which was up to this year, the only reason to stay in on a Saturday night..Now it’s competition time, and I’m not just talking about the contestants..

Let the battle commence..

The Presidential Race - is it all just a waste of time?

The upcoming Presidential campaign has turned into nothing but a complete farce, if you ask me. The seven candidates – Michael D Higgins, Sean Gallagher, Martin McGuinness, David Norris, Gay Mitchell, Dana Rosemary Scallon and Mary Davis – don’t stand out as outstanding frontrunners at all, and I don’t have the intention of voting in two week’s time. That said though, that’s not really my fault either – I think it’s a bit ridiculous scheduling the election on a Thursday – what about the thousands of students that live away from home during the semester? A bit silly, if you ask me.

Anyway, this campaign, in my opinion, has developed from what should be a very serious matter, to a constant bickering between the seven candidates. Each is trying to frequently belittle their fellow candidates, whether it is in relation to past experiences, or current issues, or their future ideas.

The constant sniping and bitching has culminated, I think, into what is now a very childish campaign, with a lot of people stating that they wouldn’t like to see any of the seven candidates elected as President. I agree. If it’s not the candidates fighting like little schoolchildren, it’s the constant attacks from the media – ie Dana’s US citizenship, or the now infamous issue with David Norris and his ex-partner. I know that it’s the media’s role to bring out this information to the public, but at the same time, it’s becoming increasingly pettier as the campaign draws to a close, thus leading to many people questioning why they should even bother to vote.

Why can’t they act as mature adults for once? Fair enough, the whole issue with David Norris was probably justified (what I mean is that the media coverage was justified) but it’s time to forget about that now, and to stop dragging it up in media debates. The same can be said about the other candidates – what does it matter if Dana had US citizenship? Jesus, just get over it like!

The recent polls make for interesting reading though. Before the whole Norris debacle came to light, he would have probably gotten my vote. However, his performances on the recent televised debates were far from impressive and his general demeanour hasn’t really appealed to me. I do think it’s going to go down to the wire with Higgins and Gallagher.

Gallagher has the advantage of being known to the younger voting population through his involvement with RTE’s Dragon’s Den, while Higgins is looked at being too old, to put it simply. Michael D spoke here in UL a few weeks ago though, and he did impress me. Though a seasoned campaigner, he has a lot of political experience and that could sway it, particularly with the older voters.

It’s going to come down to transfers I think, and I’m going to say that Michael D could win it. Don’t rule McGuinness out either though..he won’t be too far from Gallagher and Higgins, but I don’t think that he is as popular as the aforementioned duo. My fiver would be thrown on Higgins to win. With odds only a few days ago of Higgins at 4/9 to win, and Gallagher of 9/4 to win, there’s not much between the two. One thing’s for sure though - it’s going to come down to the very wire.

Who’s getting your vote?

Me and the Glucksman..we've got a thing going on..

LIBRARY...the one word that I have never used or mentioned very often up to this year, but sadly my life now revolves around the Glucksman Library in UL. Up to this, I reckon that I was doing very well to be in the library a few times per semester to study for exams, or to get assignments done and dusted. This semester however, is a completely different ball game already.

It’s only Week 5, and already I’ve been stuck in this dreaded building for hours on end. Before, once I finished my lectures or tutorials for the day, my first thought was “Hmm..what to do now?”...Now, it’s a case of “Right, home for lunch/dinner, and back to the grindstone for another couple of hours of work”. That’s if I haven’t gone straight from my lectures to the library. Ugh, I’m even typing this blog in the library at 10pm on a Tuesday night. Any other year and I would be drinking with my friends in preparation of a great night out. So far, I’ve been out three times since the semester started...Pathetic, to be fair. But sher, who wouldn’t be able to resist the sweaty, uncomfortable atmosphere and continuous tip-tapping from the cluster of surrounding keyboards in the library? Yeah, you got me.

I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I will be spending pretty much all of my free time in this dreaded place, and I’m embarrassed to say that after less than a week of daily visits to the library, I now have a “usual spot”..Lord Jesus, what’s wrong with me! I was never like this. Before, I never questioned what I would do once I finished college for the day..there were always a multitude of options..Maybe watch TV, chill with friends, go for a run..Now, the good old Glucksman Library is, and will be, paramount to my forthcoming plans this semester, and indeed college year.

I guess that’s the joys of fourth year, but it’s only week five and already the library is pretty busy on a daily basis. One can only imagine how chaotic it will be, come exam time. Excited first years desperate to nail down a decent QCA will come up against stressed fourth years, seeking to further push up their QCA to seek the grade they want. It’s all ahead of me.

In first year, when we were encouraged to read the recommended weekly readings, one might glance over the introduction, main body and conclusion from time to time. Nowadays, it’s your loss if you don’t keep up to speed with the weekly readings, as they are really the basis to many assignments and/or presentations. If only they were slightly shorter...the thought of facing into pages upon pages of politics on a weekly basis isn’t the most enticing feeling, I’ll be the first to admit that.

But it has to be done..I just hope it’s all worth it come next summer. But for now, we’ll battle on and try and get through it. The thoughts of sitting in this bloody spot for the foreseeable future is making me slightly queasy though..Stupid fourth year..Ugh.