Summer Sunshine!!

It is amazing that as a race, the Irish people rejoice at any sign of sunshine. Last week we were treated to the first good weather of the year and even though it is stll early in the year, people started hitting the beach. Although I cannot confess to being one of these brave beach-goers, I must admit that I too began to rejoice. Filled with plans and ideas for a sun soaked summer, I was brought back to earth with a thump this week, or at least by the steady banging of rain on my window.

The truth is, that however much we plan and hope for a glorious summer,  we live in an unpredictable country with unpredictable weather. However when it is bad it can be very bad but when it is good it is brilliant. The below advert is for Discover Ireland and throughly shows what Ireland has to offer to its fullest extent:

As a nation we have learned to make the most of our good weather for the short time it lasts with Bulmers evenings, barbeques and beaches. I for one have started planning my sunny summer days already and to be honest I wouldn't have it any other way

Celebrity Insanity!!

Why is it that in celeb land the more crazy you are the more popular you are? Case in point; Charlie Sheen.

Who else in the world could set up home with two women, go on drug fuelled tantrums and lose his job due to his unpredictability and still be admired by fans all over the world. In fact in 2011 he set a new guiness world record for "fastest time to reach 1 million followers on facebook". Basically we all want to know what Charlie Sheen is doing.  He has never exactly been the quite, retiring type but his latest antics would put Lyndsey Lohan to shame.

After countless rehab stays, arrests and blond haired beauties it seems as though Charlie Sheen is in a downward spiral with no way out but who is to blame? Of course a grown man must take responsibility for their own actions but the people who have pampered him and catered to his every whim over the years also deserve some of the blame. These celebrities are given everything they could possibly ever want; they are never told no. Soon they come to believe that they are indestructable. We have seen this happen with a number of different celebrities; Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan even Christina Aguilera of late. You can't help but think if someone doesn't knock some sense into Charlie Sheen soon, this story could have a disastorous ending

Here we go again....

Here we go again...as April approaches we are once again entering into our study month. Unlike other years however I will be hoping to make the most of this one, in other words I will not be resorting to cramming in the last week as I have in previous years..........I hope.

It never ceases to amaze me that the most menial tasks can look attractive when faced with the task of studying; as one of my lecturers commented last week "student accommodation is never as clean as it is during study month. I must admit that I am no different. I would easily clean my kitchen before I would sit down to study. After that my room needs to be tidied (you can't study in a messy room). Once I do sit down at my desk to study, I have to organise my notes which of course can take a full day.

Procrastination is definitely my enemy but now I have identified it, I think I can overcome it this year. Otherwise you will see me cramming in the library late into the night on the 30th April.

St Patrick's Pride.....

That one day has come and gone once again when we can all say we are proud to be Irish. In these bleak economic times full of distress and uncertainty, I for one am glad that we can raise a glass on St Patrick's Day and toast ourselves as a nation.

As a small nation we have a much achievements to be proud of and we are appreciated throughout the world. As president Bill Clinton once said "Ireland is one of the best brands in the world." The video below which is a advertisement for the new terminal in Dublin Airport in which many of our accomplishment as a nation are explored. You cannot but help be proud of ourselves as a country when watching this:

Not only do we as the nation of Ireland celebrate this day but also do countries all over the world; from New York to Tokyo people have taken St Patrick's day into their hearts.

Green River in Chicago for St Patrick's Day

Irish Dancers walking in Parade inTokyo

Pipers walking in Parade in New York



Young children walking in parade in Tokyo

We should be able to at least once a year remember that as a nation we have much to be proud of and also look upon our achievements instead of our failures.

Election time is near......

With the election nearing with every minute that passes the question must be asked "Who will be our new Taoiseach?" and better yet "Will they be any better than the last?" Little else has featured so prominantly in the media over the last few weeks and I must admit I will be happy once the election is over....at least then all the fighting, sniping and mud-slinging in the press will be over.

A poll on the Irish Independant website today showed the ranking of parties in the polls:

Election 2011

Tuesday February 22 2011

Which party will get your first preference?

• Fine Gael 40%
• Fianna Fail 14%
• Labour 16%
• Sinn Fein 13%
• Green Party 2%
• Other 7%
• Undecided 8%

If we are to belive these, then it would be clear that Enda Kenny will be our next Taoiseach but  can these pre election day polls be deceiving?...Only time will tell!!

It's that time of year again.....

Once again that iconic time of year is approaching, one week once a year when it is acceptable to go out every single night of the week. I must admit however that a certain sense of melancholy accompanies this RAG week as it is of course my last. I suppose I can't complain however as by the time my college days are over I will have enjoyed four epic RAG weeks the likes of which will never be bet.

Of course over the years the true meaning behind RAG week may have been lost and the week has earned a poor reputation with people all over the country. It has become associated with general anarchy and divilment.

http://irishexaminer.ie/ireland/gardai-to-lead-ucc-rag-week-crackdown-111352.html

It should be remembered however that while a small proportion of students are running wild there are many that are doing their best to stick to the true values of raising and giving. The measures that some students will go to raise money for charity is amazing:

I for one cannot wait for RAG week and I believe everyone should experience it at least once in their lives. All I can say now is.......Bring It On.

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding

Switching aimlessly around the tv channels the other day there was one program which caught my eye. The colour, the extravagance and the tradition means that this program is my new guilty pleasure.

The dresses are flamboyant and colourful and while they are something that most of us would never wear, there has to be some respect for these young women who know just what they want.

Along with the extravagance of the wedding this documentary gives us a great insight into the lives of young gypsies living in England today. These girls are getting married at 17 or 18 years of age and some are as young as 14 when they get engaged. In today's world it is amazing to see how driven by tradition these people are and how they live their lives by the history of their people. It is also interesting to see how they handle discrimination against them and how they deal with discrimination on a daily basis.

The serious issues of this documentary are very much balanced by the glitz of the weddings and this ensures that this is one program which will have my attention for a long time.

http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/813871-my-big-fat-gypsy-wedding-was-a-show-to-remember