‘Breaking the Silence’ – Why seeking help is still considered taboo in Irish Society

“We each have a role to play, teachers, friends, parents. We are all developing”

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has announced training for parents of school children as part of the Government’s plan to educate Ireland on the dangers of Cyber bullying.

 It is time for Irish people to step up and play their part in solving one of Ireland’s most frightening problems in the history of the state.

Bullying in schools and the work place has long dominated the Irish existence but the emergence of ‘cyber bullying’ in the past 12 months is a new wave that has gripped society.

As a nation we discussed the economic downturn trying to emerge from the failures of a problem that we chose to brush aside and continued living the Celtic Tiger Lifestyle in which we all had a sense of security within.

The problem which we should have been examining was attitudes to mental health in Ireland and protecting those most vulnerable in society; sadly this did not happen.

As individuals we all struggle to survive from time to time; for many of us it is easy to invest our darkest secrets to those who love us but for many Irish people this is sadly not the case as pre-existing ideology within the Irish diaspora means we are supposed to brush aside the pain and hurt and keep the pretence that life is okay

 Sadly this brushing aside the Irish emotions has tragically seen the rate of Irish suicide increase drastically in the past 14 months in Ireland. The Young Men and Suicide report issued by the cross border Men’s Health Forum in Ireland has found:

Suicide now ranks as a major cause of death among young males in both The Republic & Northern Ireland. The report outlines 12 key recommendations, including the development and promotion of positive models of mental health aimed at young males but this must now be applied on all genders across the island.

In 2012 Cyber bullying was a contributing factor in the deaths of Ciara Pugsley, Erin Gallagher and Minister Shane McEntee who all died by suicide following pressures from online tormentors.

In the Irish context what is needed is to eradicate the ideology of masculine Ireland. Jigsaw Galway is one resource in the West of Ireland that is helping to combat taboo in Irish society regarding mental health.

The organisation particularly deals in teenage mental health issues. It focuses on ‘guided self-help’ and ensuring proper advice and guidance is given to adolescents and parents who have concerns about certain issues facing them and their children.

Research & Community Development Officer at Jigsaw Galway Sarah Simkin says: “Jigsaw Galway is a free and confidential support service for 15 to 25 year olds living in Galway. One of the main aims we have is to help young people to feel stronger and to face whatever difficulty they have.”

The advice coming from JIGSAW Galway and for parents, who have anxieties with the online world that their children are growing up part of, is to approach online bullying the same way as traditional methods were dealt with.

And that official stance was echoed again by Ms Simkin who said:” The approach and advice is very much the same in dealing with online bullying as it was with traditional methods of bullying”. 

Ms Simkin further added: “They best way to deal with online bullying is to ‘block, ‘defriend’, and ‘report’ the online bully.

She further added: “We each have a role to play, teachers, friends, parents. We are all developing”. Incidents of teenage suicide raised an alarming rate at the end of last year. The advice coming from Jigsaw Galway is to talk to a professional.

When a person is distressed enough, they can carry out an act of extreme anger such as suicide. This may be in response to an impulse that may easily be talked out if people break their silence.

Jigsaw Galway has the following advice to offer to people who may have concerns about the behaviour of a friend or family member who may be struggling in life.

“Pick up the phone to Jigsaw Galway or the family doctor and seek advice about how best to approach the situation. Do not be put under pressure to have all the answers, You have to think about what you have noticed, quite often people think everyone is getting on fine but sadly this is not always the case.

Use whatever words are natural for you to that person and this will allow this person the opportunity to open up about issues in their life.

 Often time offering supporting such as attending an organisation like Jigsaw will help to break the taboo that the person may have built up”.

The role Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s) play in the development of a topic such as mental health is vital and the support they offer those falling through the cracks of society.

Another organisation trying to paint a new picture for speaking up and breaking the silence that Ireland has succumbed to for too long is SpunOut Mental Health.

Youth Engagement Officer with SpunOut Ireland John Buckley explains that “Over the past five years we have been in a position where by we provide health information online and give young people an opportunity to have their voice heard in a different way.

The organisation has seen a rise over the last year in aggressive and abusive behaviour online. The role of SpunOut mental health is to give young people a place to express themselves around that behaviour but to also make sure people have access to good quality information and advice to deal with cyber bullying or any online abuse.

The advice Mr Buckley is offering to those affected by online bullying is “Under no circumstances is such abuse acceptable. No one deserves that kind of abuse put on them

“The second piece of advice would be to talk to someone, a trusted adult or friend. The third thing is to record it, take a screen shot on your phone or laptop and save it or print the messages”.

Echoing the message from Jigsaw Galway John adds: “report, block and walk away from it”. The key thing to remember is that when we engage in an online sphere we need to do it in a place we feel safe.

Mr Buckley urged people “Before you click send or type that message think about the impact your words can have on someone, because your words do have a very big impact on other people”. The Youth Engagement Officer spoke of the hurt and pain words can have and can lead to a detrimental effect on people’s mental health who may be struggling.

The advice to parents on issues relating to bullying and mental health is to engage from an early age with your young person. It can be difficult for parents to do this SpunOut realises as young people are the experts in the online sphere and this can take parents a little getting used to.

He urged parents to set good firm boundaries and to ensure children have human empathy. The most important thing to do is to keep dialogue open and trust your young person. The Youth engagement officer further added: “The main message is that under no circumstances is it your fault or is it acceptable” (Cyber bullying).

In the wider mental health spectrum we are vulnerable people, we are all sensitive. In the Irish context we have to have a sense of wellbeing. John Buckley summed up the debate on Irish mental health attitudes “The Heathers {band} have a song “It’s all right not to feel okay”. If only more Irish people would realise this concept then perhaps one of the country’s worst problems would be solved.

Oranmore Native Nuala Keher to spend 6 months volunteering in South Sudan

“I’m at an age in my life and I have been very lucky and had a very successful career, I have done lots of things here in Ireland so I just felt it was the right time

Many of us see retirement as the silver lining to years of hard work and excelling in careers. For many who are now forced into early retirement the thought of endless days of not having their daily routine is quite a daunting prospect. Instead many people are opting not to pick up the golf clubs for endless days on the golf course but instead are using their years of expertise and skills and venturing on a new path, of volunteering abroad

Nuala Keher, originally from Oranmore in Co Galway is about to embark on a six month volunteering programme in South Sudan with VSO Ireland.

The executive Director of EQUAL Ireland and former director of NUI Galway’s open learning centre and CEO of the Lionra Network is taking a career break and moving to one of the world’s newest countries, namely South Sudan in East Central Africa.

Nuala is well known in education and training circles in Ireland. Speaking of the upcoming journey and of the inspiration and influence behind her decision to become a volunteer with VSO Ireland.

 Ms Keher said: “I’m at an age in my life and I have been very lucky and had a very successful career, I have done lots of things here in Ireland so I just felt it was the right time.

“I had the experience and skills and VSO are looking for people with these skills, and they are very interested to transferring those skills to developing countries.”

VSO Ireland is an international development organisation that works through volunteers. Their approach to working and volunteering abroad is quite different to working for other Non-Government organisations.

The oranmore native affectionately referred to her daughter as a “role model” who inspired her to make the decision to go to Sudan and use her expertise to help others. Ms Keher’s own daughter has spent time volunteering in Ethiopia and Kenya. She added that her family have been extremely supportive in her decision as has her employers at EQUAL Ireland.

The Galway educator will be working with the Department of Education in South Sudan and will assume the role and responsibility for teacher training and for developing the capacity of the department to deliver training throughout the country. Her work with EQUAL Ireland has provided hundreds of adults with routes back into education.

Ms Keher says:” The work I am going to be doing is about is about training people there, who in turn will train others” adding to this: “I feel it is the right time to make a contribution, if I can, to people worse off than ourselves, I know this will not be easy but equally I am convinced that it will be worthwhile” said Ms Keher.

The Galway woman spoke of what an exciting opportunity it is for her and added; “I’m hoping from my experience I will leave behind some skilled people who can maybe train others and be able to establish a good education system for their people”.

Ms Keher says:” I am nervous, but also looking forward to it, VSO Ireland has done a lot of training around the culture change”. Adding to this she says:” You never can be prepared for everything”.

The temperatures will be soaring into the high 40’s so this is one part of the journey that will take some getting used to for the Galway woman.

Marketing and Communications Advisor Donnacha Maguire with VSO Ireland explains that the NGO works in 19 countries across Africa & Asia. On an international level VSO is working in over 33 countries. The main area of focus is within health, education and securing livelihoods ensuring people have an adequate income to pay for education and health services.

A key focus area under these three sectors is gender equality and climate change which are interwoven. The NGO wants better equality in terms of women in developing countries and to ensure young girls have access to education.

An emerging trend in volunteers for overseas projects has seen a surge in early retirees applying. Mr McGuire remarks on the change in image of the type of volunteer they now receive. This has seen a shift towards early retirees offering up their services as public sector redundancy plans in the past two years have awarded such people the options to spend time volunteering. Adding to this he said: “This has increased the pool of applications,” he says

 With the current economic climate still at a low, people’s commitment levels have changed. There are now people who cannot commit to voluntary programmes because they have mortgage repayments to meet, and other such obligations to fulfil.  A lot of people are struggling to meet mortgage repayments in this country. VSO has seen increases in private sector applications and a lessening to the public sector. This is largely to do with our economy at present in Ireland.

“We feel that sending people skills and abilities over the developing countries have a far greater and longer lasting impact in terms of fighting poverty than simply sending cash resources” says Mr McGuire.

Echoing this sentiment says: “We feel a person’s time and skills and resources are of far greater importance than the cash they can raise”. 

VSO organise fundraisers prior to volunteer’s departures to raise awareness of the organisation. VSO do ask volunteers to do some fundraising which is about 1500 euro.

One of the striking elements is that people being forced into early retirement due to fears to cuts in redundancies and pension plans are not ready to retire in the majority of cases. Work is often a social element to many people’s lives and the keen upsurge in retirees going abroad to volunteer shows their willingness not to be defeated by bureaucracy.

Those who are choosing to volunteer through VSO will be lucky enough that the NGO supports their volunteers financially throughout the duration of the project. VSO provide a living allowance for volunteers while they are working in a country to fund such things as work, travel, vaccinations and on-going care.

VSO Ireland looks at the ‘long term’ as projects are usually between one and two years in duration. Mr McGuire says “We send volunteers for longer periods as it has greater impact”. In comparison to other NGO’s VSO don’t send teachers to teach in a class or nurses to work directly in a hospital. We would send those professionals to work in either the teaching training or nurse’s colleges to help train other professionals. This helps improve the overall standards of care and education.

The vision for 2013 from VSO Ireland is to increase the number of volunteers going to Africa and Asia.

“Ireland has a strong tradition of volunteering overseas, historically through the missions but lately through lay organisations” says VSO’s Marketing and Communications Advisor.

Adding to this Mr McGuire adds:” I think despite economic conditions in Ireland there is still considerable interest to volunteer overseas and to improve, share skills and improve the lives of people

“I think it’s something within the Irish psyche that we like supporting other countries and developing organisations because we know how hard it is to get off the ground and get going as a country”.

VSO Ireland is currently recruiting experienced, qualified professionals in the area of health, education, business management and IT for one or two year placements. If you are interested in finding out more information on VSO Ireland visit www.vso.ie or call 01 640 1060. To support Nuala Keher’s vision you can visit her mycharity.ie to make a contribution

Thatching Ireland – A Return to tradition or a dying dynasty?

A recent restoration project in Co Laois led to the question being raised as to where traditional craftmanship falls against the back drop of post Celtic Tiger Ireland. With so many young people emigrating will traditional craftsmanship become a dying trade?

SET in the majestic Laois countryside, the backdrop to this  thathching restoration project on a once family home built in the 1800’s has captured the attention of a community as it is a rarity in our current economic climate to see a tradition such as thatching in action.

The once occupied rural cottage has been in The Dunne family since the early 18^th century and is now a protected landmark within the locality. The small cottage still has the crisp essence of traditional Ireland.  As you unlock the yellow half door and walk into a kitchen you are instantly transported back to what life in Ireland used to be like.

The dusty plates on the dresser and the pots hanging over the open fire are a testiment to what life was like for a generation pre Celtic tiger.

At the height of the Celtic Tiger, Ireland’s building trade was at the tip of the economic boom. All tradesmen had a plentiful supply of work as housing estates and office blocks appeared to spread further throughout Ireland.

 The harsh reality is that most building work has long since ceased and developers have now gone into receivership. Ghost estates lie empty and workers who once occupied the offices are signing on in their local social welfare office.

It raises a valid question in a fledging economic crisis is Irelands craft  industry about to see a surge in traditional means of earning a living or will such trades become a distant memory as so many of young Irish people must now emigrate in search of a work.

The process of thatching truly is a tradition deep rooted in most Irish communities but sadly many people let the tradition die, and the sight of a thatched building in the majestic rural landscapes of Ireland is now a rarity.                    Attitudes towards conservation of such building perhaps lie more with the older generation of Ireland, more so than the “Celtic Tiger babies” who are now, readjusting to a more simpler Ireland than the one they were conceived in.

None the less such projects are of great importance, however like most things in Ireland, keeping a tradition alive comes with a hefty price tag which is no real great shocker in Irish society.

The Department of Environment offers some assistance towards the financial implications of such a project, a grant of two-thirds of the approved cost of renovatiing thatched roofs of owner occupied houses.

A further level of financial assistance is available up to 5,714 euro for houses on specific offshore islands. The Department of Environment issues houses with a medical card with thatching grants of up to a maximum of 6,350 euro.

However locals in Co Laois, they critised the emerging new generation of thatchers which the FÁS scheme creates. The new generation are just out to make a “quick buck” says one disenchanted farmer by trying to charge astonishing prices in comparasion to what it used to cost.

The FÁS Thatcher Traineeship aims to provide unemployed people with a grounding and necessary skill basis to gain practical experience in the sector. The course is 51 weeks in total with 35 weeks off the job training and 16 weeks on the job training. However Carmel Higgins of the Galway FÁS Branch explained how costly the course was on them and that placement was hard sought. She adds that the course has not been run in recent years and was not in the “pipeline for 2013”.

Criticism however, for such emerging new “skill sets” comes with a price tag that is just not feasable against the current economic climate.  Is this why we see so little of traditional Ireland in our cosmopolitian landscape?

Paul Johnson is one local thathcher based in Co Galway who has his thatching business part time as there is just not enough money in it nowdays to pay the bills. He also works as an electronic engineer. Paul was formally trained in the UK to become a master thatcher that can take six years.

Mr Johnson spoke of the FÁS scheme to train Irish thatchers. He is dismayed at how young thatchers are not inspired by the craft, which is seen as a means to get them off the dole and then move on to another course.

The system in Ireland however does appear to have flaws. If it takes a six year process in the UK to become a master thatcher and learn the heritiage behind the crafsman ship then how can FÁS be training people in a 52 week period?

Local people in Laois spoke of the “cowboy” system so perhaps learning a trade in such a quick period of time is alluding to this generalisation with all traditional craft in the Emerald Isle.

Paul Johnson expressed concern of having to compete with FÁS trained thatchers: “We have been competed with by FÁS trainees who have not even a year experience under their belt, who are going out and underpricing us”, he says

“They are providing services with vey little or no experience, very little portfolio work and basically undermining the skills set needed to do something that is highly experience based, a craft that takes years to perfect

He adds:”There is no regulatory body in Ireland, so you can go out tomorrow and set yourself up as a thatcher and use customers as guinea pigs”.

A Work in Progress but at what cost?

The restoration project in Co Laois, takes about 250 bundles of straw. The straw has to be specially cut with an old type binder and put into a rick and trashed. It is a process that has long been carried out in a piece of heritiage such as the Laois cottage.

The last person to live in the house was William Dunne who was the grandson of William SR and Elizabeh Dunne. Tragically William died   just a few hundred yards from his home, stepped in local history following a road traffic accident in 1994.

Mr Johnston voiced concern to attitudes in Ireland nowdays. He said:”In Ireland, in a recession people think, some people; spending little money will save them lots of money but this is not always true”.

There appears to be the traditional Irish couple he explained who have lived in the traditional sense of Ireland all their lives and thatching their house is a necissity, but sadly have little to pay for restoration.

There are those on the middle ground, who are willing to take out perhaps a loan to carry out essential maintenance and perhaps go a little further. Lastly there are those who see thatching as an invesment particularly in a new build.

The question lies though should thatchers not be willing to set prices that adhears to the tradition it represents and perhaps that 80 year old man or woman who need the maintenance but can only afford so much?

Celtic Tiger Ireland saw tradition go out the window. People stepped over pennies on the street. Now we see people search the streets to pick up those fallen coins.

The image of a traditional Ireland and perhaps taking thatching as an example was as Mr Johnston put it “A fella pulling up with a donkey, a bottle of poitin and a bag of spuds” This was the man that would thatch the roof for a fair price.

In today’s cosmopolitian Ireland, an Ireland that is batting through the latter half of a recession, when emigration is rampant perhaps one solution to solving Ireland’s problems is a return to traditionalism?

Traditional Ireland was not materialistic in Celtic Tiger Ireland. The tradition was always the family and the home.

Restoration efforts such as the Co Laois project is perhaps one step in the right direction of keeping alive a part of Ireland that seems to be forgotten about.

After all it’s not a house that makes it a home, it’s the family inside. As the great great grandson of William Dunne it was a proud moment to see three generations stand around and watch a house become alive again even if it was just a new straw roof.

Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson said last week: “That Ireland will emerge stronger from the current economic crisis” is true.

It’s the Irish tradition to keep the faith and perhaps a return to tradition is what this country has been missing.

Mary Robinson – “The visible face on the shoulders of so many”

“Be Confident, be confident in your ability, know that your country will be better served by all of you”. Words of wisdom from one of Ireland’s most influential women. Writes Sean Dunne

Having served as the seventh President of Ireland, Mary Robinson made history by being the first ever elected female President. This week I had the honour of an exclusive interview with one of Ireland’s most iconic women.

 Ms Robinson walked into the room with composure and a striking smile one would expect for such a respected Irish figure.

Shaking hands in a warm and affectionate manner put any pre interview nerves at ease for this young journalist. Sharing a joke and an affirmative handshake with her husband Nicholas Robinson, it gave great insight into the support Ms Robinson has always felt in her career as she would later tell me about.

As a student journalist one really must exhaust all means necessary to get ahead of the game. With so many competing media organisations, I was confident in my ability to get this far and to land my biggest interview to date. ”. Accompanied by friend and fellow student journalist Órla Ryan, we were about to land our first ‘scoop’.

Sitting down next to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, truly was an honour. An engaging interview of almost ten minutes would follow. It was not the usual rigid interview that student journalists are often times subjected too.

The poise, the character, everything down to the matching pearl earrings and necklace made my time with the former President an enthralling experience. Asking Ms Robinson her view of how society has engaged with women in politics since the end of her term as president she spoke in her soft accent of how some things have gone well and others had not.

“I thought; we were on a clearer path, to women really taking their full place and their full responsibility and actually it hasn't happened and there are struggles now younger women have to fight” said Ms Robinson

Speaking of the tough lesson Ireland has been through in relation to the economic crisis, the former President realized it was hurting people like never before but gave hope that she believes we will emerge stronger and fairer.

The engagement throughout my interview with Ms Robinson was a very warm experience. There was a smile on the Mayo woman’s face as I asked certain questions. It does not surprise me that she is still held so affectionately in Irish hearts.

Speaking on emigration and her lighting of the lamp famously in Áras an Uachtaráin, Ms Robinson spoke perhaps as a parent, of the harsh reality for parents, who have to saygoodbye to children, who are being forced into emigration.

Ms Robinson alluded to the culture of “thinking about it” in reference to questions raised on recent suicides in Ireland. Ms Robinson said that now more than ever, we had to affirm especially to young people that “we believe in you”.

The former President called herself the ‘visible face on the shoulders of so many’. At every stage in her life she has had support and this is something that she is greatly appreciative of.

She spoke of her delighted that Ireland ‘actively sought’ to be a member of the human rights council and this is something she sees as a modern values in Irish society.

Her position now as a former President is to regenerate a sense of pride and real commitment to equality and to human rights. She acknowledges in her book the help she has received throughout her career and life.

Adding to this Ms Robinson said, “I have done what I have done because it has been part of a wider sense of achievement and I will always acknowledge that”.

Following the interview the warm and affectionate Mayo woman happily posed for a picture or two and signed her autobiography.

Concluding the interview it struck me why this woman is still held in such affection by the                 Irish public. She is a remarkable Irish figure and one that set the tide on Irish politics but yet has the human empathy that fails so many iconic Irish leaders.

Healthy Minds for 2013

As we plan our New Years Resolutions, top of the list should be making looking after our mental health writes Sean Dunne

As we recover from the festive season of eating too much turkey, over indulgence in all things bad for us and for many hitting the bottle too hard, it's time to take stock of what is important.

Many people get the post-Christmas depression blues following the festive period when we are surrounded by friends and family. The anti-climax to the festive season can leave many people feeling alone and vulnerable. This is why we have to look for warning signs in people who may be feeling fragile as the approach to the New Year looms.

While many of us make plans to "Give up smoking" and "Get into shape" with the infamous list of New Years Resolutions, perhaps spare a thought for those struggling with a much bigger issue. Mental Health.

The impending start to a New Year can leave certain members of our society with a feeling of no hope or prosperity. Some may face the New Year with concerns over money following the big Christmas spend, others simply will see no point in facing another year but what people need to know is that there is hope and there are people there to talk to.

Samaritans Ireland provides 24-hour support for anyone who needs to talk, one thing that we need to generate in 2013 is the need for society to realize there is no shame in seeking help. Everyone needs to talk at some stage, it is a natural and healthy aspect to life and one; Irish people need to learn to accept.

Educating young people on the aspects to a healthy mind and healthy body should be a top priority for the Irish Government in 2013. The failure of society to recognize the anguish that Irish teenagers were facing in 2012 tragically saw death by suicide on the rapid increase in Irish Society. Educating out Young Irish minds on what a health mind should be is as important as learning ones reading and writing.

The need for an education on Mental Health has been long sought for and hopefully as we reach the start of a New Year, we can turn the tides on the alarming suicide rate in Irish Society. Exercise is a great form of exercise for our Physical and Mental health. For anyone reading this who is feeling vulnerable and anxious. There are support services in place for you to talk to and surprisingly going for a run listening to some good music on your i-pod can put things into a different perspective and it may not seem so bad.

The build up to a New Year is an exciting prospect and lets hope 2013 is the year when we begin to educate more on mental health. Make sure to look at for those who you feel maybe loosing the faith in society and life. Life is precious and for living. We only get one chance so be sure to be happy. For anyone wishing to talk You can call Samaritans in Ireland on

1850 60 90 90 or Child-line on 01 6794944.

Do not be afraid to speak up. There is always another option

What makes a Hero?

"How do we rejoice in the face of so much sorrow?"

This is the question that was asked by the Rev Peter Cameron as he stood at the pulpit of the sleepy American town  in Newtown, Connecticut. The name of the Sandy Hook Elementary School has become the latest American school that will be remembered not for the happy memories an elementary school should bring, but instead will be remembered as one of America's greatest tragedies and loss of the youth of America.

As Parents dropped their children off at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday morning, they as so many other parents across the world waved goodbye to their sons and their daughters. For some they got to see those children again but sadly for some parents it was the list time to see those children alive.

The quiet southern New England town was shattered as a lone gunman dressed in black descended on Sandy Hook Elementary, in what has been one of the greatest acts of violence in American history and an act so horrific that it has left the world questioning why such acts of violence take place.

"How do we rejoice in the face of so much Sorrow" words echoed from the Rev Peter Cameron, a man that no doubt as all American's have done so since the shooting, questioning his faith. We are led to believe in a greater power and one we seek solace from in times of great pain and anguish but it makes it so incredibly difficult to believe when the lives of 20 innocent children and 6 adults were wiped out in a sea of bullets in a place that is supposed to a safe haven.

We all have attended an institution of education where we believe we will be safe but I find it difficult to reaffirm the faith when such senseless acts of violence can occur. All of the children killed in the massacre - 12 girls and eight boys - were first-graders. These children had everything to live for, the first years of their education many of whom would have grown up to achieve greatness but sadly this was denied.

Some children were hit up to 11 times with bullets that sprayed the air as other cowered in terror, hid in closets, prayed for their lives. Their teachers acted as their parents would have by having that parental instinct to protect them just as their own parents would have done.

"Evil visited this community today," Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy said of Friday's massacre.

 Indeed the darkest form of evil did visit the community and sadly it is exactly this evil which will become synonymous with Sandy Hook Elementary. Reading like everyone else the grief and raw emotion in the newspapers and TV reports truly brings a great sadness to me tonight as I write this. What is one of the most anticipated times of the year for children the arrival of Santa Clause and the excitement of Christmas, it's unspeakable to think that 20 families must now come to terms with preparing for 20 funerals of America's youngest school goers. They must lay to rest the future of America, a further six funeral of teachers who have been hailed hero's for giving up their own lives to try and save those of their students.

Why the shooter decided his destiny was to become America's next mass shooter and taking the life of his own mother is a question that everyone awaits to know but sadly this answer will not bring back the lives of the innocent victims. No doubt there will be some underlying factor that was missed and the media will be put under scrutiny for the sensationalist effect of the need to report on such an issues and the public's want to know on such an issue.

A hero is somebody who, no matter what the odds, will fight to do what is right.

 Children died victims, teachers died as hero's, the tragedy is that if America was willing to change the laws surrounding weapons then perhaps tragedies like this may be prevented. Of course all tragedy may not be prevented but it is the question echoing through America after this horrific act of violence.

President Obama fought back tears as he addressed the nation,
"Our hearts are broken today."

"The majority of those who died today were children. Beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old," he said.

These tears the President fought back will soon see him face a battle to enforce stricter gun laws across America. It's time to take action to prevent another school from becoming a symbol of American heartbreak just as we remember Columbine High School and Virgina Tech.

 Having attended Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, Boston, this too was a sleepy town and as I strolled through campus with another Irish classmate. We discussed what would happen if one of the shootings that have become so recognized with American education were to happen. It was a scary thought and to read the reports of how such innocent children  died on Friday morning and the educators who tried to shield them, my only hope is that they did not suffer.

Having faith in times of great tragedy is one thing people cling too and that is some comfort but I really don't see how this acting of violence could have been part of the "bigger picture"

My deepest sympathies are with the families and victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School R.I.P. 

It is know time for the American Government to enforce legislation that may help prevent a further U.S School shooting.

Female Objectification and the need for change in Society….

The need for change in attitudes and behaviour towards women in the mass media is now upon us….

Female objectification is an issue that never really gets the media focus it should, while we all know it takes place, how many of us really care to consider what it must feel like? To live in oppression and in many cases feel like a second class citizen.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women took place on November 25^th. The day also marks the start of 16 days of Activism that will lead up to The International Human Rights day on December 10^th.

 These dates may seem insignificant in your life but what about if you were not allowed to read and write or to live freely, how would you feel then?

 Just imagine taking a breath; and not being allowed to live your life, the harsh realities of the world where females are subjected to widespread violations of their human rights comes crashing down around us.

It comes crashing down like a prison cell and this is the life so many women are forced to live. Such women are forced to live in purgatory by being subjected to violence by those who deny these women the most basic of human rights.

The campaign to end violence against women is another reminder that violence against women is one of the most widespread human rights violated on a world wide scale. The reality is there are women and young girls suffering from widespread and horrific forms of violence.

This violence occurs on a local, national and international basis. It could occur to your mother, sister or girlfriend or it could happen to you. The manifestation of this violence is that it is most prevalent in domestic and sexual violence.

The NUI Galway Feminist Society marked The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by hosting an event entitled "A Night Full of Pictures". The aim of the event was for to highlight the issue of misrepresentations of women in the mass media.

Speaking at the event Mags Morley an independent curator said: “I selected a series of short film and video works that female artists have made that deal with political issues from all around the world” Adding to this she hoped “The night would help people get a lot of different approaches from the same medium”.

The Feminist Society in Nui Galway saw the event as a chance to mark the day with a subtle but powerful presentation on everyday forms of gender violence. The films featured included the works of Elaine Byrne, Nina McGowan and Carol McCarthy.

“Discussion is perhaps the first step towards change in attitudes” says Patricia Prieto Blanco. Patricia a PhD Candidate at the Huston School of Film and Digital Media and one of the organisers of the NUI Galway event.

Adding to the discussion she said “There is still a long way towards equality, and right now we are in a very good moment, we all have access to means of production and this allows us to raise our voices that will potentially be heard”.

The Feminist Society feels that the 16 days of activism highlights not just physical violence but other kinds of violence that happen every day. The event shows that “we belong to the wide network of events being organised around the world.

The organisers of the activism days encourage groups to go local, and to speak to local audience and this is why the NUI Galway society wanted to bring this event about “Our Women”.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is not the only form of female objectification to come under the spotlight in recent times. Objectification of women in the mass media is something that has been scrutinised in the media this year.

Lucy Anne Holmes began a campaign to end the objectification of women in the print media industry. She believes that the female objectification of page 3 girls is there for no other reason except to sexually gratify men.

The page 3 campaign has gained a steady pace in recent months and is not something that is going to go away. Patricia added to this by saying “The discussion is encouraging many other women to take action by themselves”.

In the 21^st century when young minds are so easily influenced it is questionable as to what editors in Newspapers see a topless woman brings to the news content of the publication. The objectification of women in the media through tactless publications of such images leads young men seeing women as sexualised objects and many young girls think they have to aspire to be like these women.

Talking about ending objectification to women and acting on it are two sides to the coin. Newspaper Editors glorify headlines in the print industry highlighting the issues but fail to realise that they are part of the problem, by allowing images of females in their paper that expose their bodies.

We have to end the generalisation and taboo surrounding female objectification and the easiest way to do this is by having a voice and supports events on a local grounding such as “A night in Pictures” in Galway. On a national level we must rally behind the page 3 campaigns that objectify women in the mass media.