20 things overheard in the girls’ bathroom every Saturday night

Uncategorized

May 26, 2014

Queuing for the bathroom on a Saturday night around the country’s nightclubs can be a soul-destroying time for every girl. You can’t help thinking of all the fun you are missing out on back at the bar and you curse that Tequila Sunrise. Everyone knows OJ is a diuretic – how could you be so stupid!

So now, as you stand in the line of 30 other girls, fighting over the mirror and skipping the queue, you start to take it all in. Here are some things you are likely to hear:

1. “OMG look at the bloody queue!”
On entering the toilet you realise that you’re going to be there for a while.

2. “Sure feck it, we might as well have a Chupa Chups while we’re waiting”.

3. Crouching tiger hidden naggin
The sound of Sellotape being ripped from the thigh as a girl removes her drinks for the evening.

4. “Where is my phone – have you seen my phone?”
This girl only realises she’s lost her iPhone as soon as she gets into the bathroom . “Try ringing it” is literally the stupidest thing you can say at this point.

5. “Can I borrow your foundation? Does anyone have any make up?”
Drunk girls can’t match their shade properly… ‘Sure you’ve got the same skin type of me’ No sweetie, no she doesn’t.

6. Sound of someone puking her ring in the stall
Someone get a bouncer! This chick needs a taxi.

7. “SOMEBODY IS IN HERE” – That awkward moment when the lock doesn’t work

8. Two girls fighting about something neither of them will remember in the morning
“Your extensions look like pubes.”

9. “Hold my drink! DON’T drink any.”

10. “Where is Lucy? LUCY ?!?” *Frantically knocks on every door in the club*
Ah, what’s a night out without a 50 minute search for a friend who’s probably getting with someone in a random corner of the club.

11. Some girl crying by herself in the club toilet
Whether you comfort her all depends on how drunk you are.

12. “OMG I LOVE THIS SONG LET’S GO DANCE!”

13. The middle-aged bitching about ‘young wans’

14. The declarations of love
“Oh my god, I love you – you’re my best friend ever, ever, ever!”

15. Does anyone have lipstick … lipgloss … lipbalm?
Anything moist that I can put on my lips so I can get the shift?

16. “Ehhhhhh sorry??”
When some girl rushes into the toilet before you

17. SELFIE!!!!!

18. “Let’s get shots!“

19. “WHY DOESN’T HE LIKE ME ?? What’s wrong with me?”

20. Hearing a door unlock and a toilet cubicle becoming available
Hallelujah!

via our content partner CT

6 things all student teachers have to endure

Uncategorized

May 21, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Whether you’re in Mary I, St. Pats, Marino, or any other form of “teacher training” college, you know that we as the future educators of our nation’s youth have a variety of problems that others just don’t understand. From placement to assignments, we’re subjected to a variety of problems that you just won’t find anywhere else. So here is just a sample of the many student teacher problems faced every year:

1. The subjects

Upon entering college as freshers, students are expecting to be challenged in terms of learning and amounts of alcohol consumed and while it’s safe to say the latter is most definitely true, the subjects studied can sometimes leave a lot to be desired for.

2. The stale jokes

“Teaching? I suppose you’re only in it for the holidays!” Every. Time.

3. Spotting pupils in public

Don’t make eye contact, don’t make eye contact…Damn. Queue awkward wave.

4. Studying for exams

Nothing is quite like a group of student teachers studying for upcoming exams. Tensions run high, people break down and you begin to convince yourself that primary school Irish has definitely gotten harder.

5. Explaining the course to your friends

There is nothing quite like the look on your friends faces when you explain you can’t go out because you have to make a powerpoint based on two websites for kids. There is little joy in having to explain your course to your friends simply because they will refuse to believe that what you do is tough, which makes the fact you barely passed a module even worse.

6. Placement

This is what every student teacher looks forward to. THIS is why you wanted to do teaching right? To stand up at the top of the class and see students learning material for the first time. You taught them this, they’d be nothing without your charts and materials and worksheets.

What nobody tells you is that those charts, materials and worksheets take time. Spending 4+ hours preparing materials for the following day became a reoccurring ritual and the sound of a printer churning out worksheet after worksheets can make even the sanest person begin shouting nonsensical abuse at the machine.

Lord help you if you run out of ink or laminator sheets after the shops close.

via our content partner CT

Outdoor games all Irish people played as kids

Uncategorized

May 20, 2014

by Amber Saunders

As kids, we all had TV’s and even PlayStation and Gameboys if we were lucky, but we still played outside A LOT. Here are some outdoor games that will seem familiar to you.

1. Rounders
Rounders always created a rift between those who were batting, and those who were out in the field. And this rift often lasted all week long.

2. Duck Duck Goose
This was mostly played at school and someone always ended up falling on someone else while running at top speed around that circle. Or else someone changed direction. Cheaters.

3. What time is it Mr.Wolf
This one always created so much panic! The second Mr. Wolf said “DINNER TIME” you ran like your life depended on it.

4. Stuck in the mud
You never released someone you don’t like. Ever. That’ll learn ’em!

5. Musical Chairs
This one was an indoor game but who else remembers that time of the party where the mom says ‘okay everyone, it’s time for musical chairs’ followed by a big sarcastic ‘yaaaaay!’

6. Pass the parcel
Yet another party game.. we awkwardly sat there passing around a wrapped present. Holding it for that second longer praying the music would stop on you!

7. 45/Tip the Can
The king of all childhood games! God help the person who was on if they left the pole/wall to see could they find people people it was all systems GO GO GO to run to base and SCREAM “45 I FREE ALL” #legend

8. Mother May I
What a memory game. This taught you manners like nothing else.

9. Knock A Dolly
Not so much a game as a neighbourhood nuisance. Still though, what a rush.

10. Red Rover
The trick to this was to get all the big, strong, vicious, crowd on your side.

11. Chinese Whispers
Ah, the childhood version of how cruel rumours start.

12. Dodgeball
This one is still the best fun ever.

13. Skipping
All the popular girls used to be so good at skipping. If you were good and could jump two ropes at a time, you owned that playground.

14. Kerbs
I think everyone in Ireland played this game… so you took one side of the path and the other took the other side.. and you threw the ball to bounce off the kerb!

via our content partner CT

Is the naked painting party twerking its way to Irish shores?

Lifestyle

May 20, 2014

by Amber Saunders

A new party trend has made its way over from the States, and could very well be hitting Irish clubs in time for the summer.

Nude Body Painting involves a club night where you turn up, strip down, and proceed to dance, drink and paint each other’s naked bodies with UV paint.

But where do we put our purses?!

While getting down to the buff is not mandatory, Nude Body Painting is definitely not a night for wall flowers.

A concept devised by Social Exposure, a New York City-based avant-garde events company, the events have been a massive success state-side and across the world, drawing hundreds of eager thrill seekers in New York, Mexico and Miami.

And now the trend has hit clubs in the UK, with the first ever event of its kind being held this weekend in London.

The idea of the nights is to ‘celebrate inner beauty, positive body image and unity through the arts’.

“Brushes are going every where and you should expect to leave completely covered in paint,” explains founder of Social Exposure, Sally Golan.

Oh my!

The rules for the evening are things such as ‘No inappropriate behaviour’ and ‘respect each other’s privacy and bodies’.

Well, we’d like to think so!

National Time to Talk Day – break the silence on mental health

May 16, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Today is National Time to Talk Day in Ireland.

The Green Ribbon Campaign has set aside today to promote open discussion about mental health and mental health issues.

Many young people today suffer with mental health problems, but they don’t have to suffer alone. Today aims to break the silence that surrounds mental health and mental health issues.

National Time to Talk Day was launched yesterday by former Dublin Rose and broadcaster with 2FM and TG4, Siobhéal Nic Eochaidh, who has experience with mental health problems: “Talking was so important to me when I went through a tough time. It is important that people realise that you don’t have to be an expert to start talking about mental health. All you have to do is let someone know you are there for them and simply listen.”

Workplaces, schools, colleges and homes across Ireland are being encouraged to start talking about mental health as part of Time to Talk Day.

Here are some tips on how you can start a positive conversation with your friend or parent on mental health:

Ask how you can help – everyone’s experience is different
Just listen – it’s ok not to say anything or not to have the answers
Avoid clichés – “Cheer up”, “Pull yourself together” and “I’m sure it will pass” will not help the conversation
Show support – check in, text, ask how they are doing. Tell the person you are there for them and mean it.

The Green Ribbon Campaign is using the month of May to hold hundreds of local and national events to raise awareness about mental health and to get people talking about it.

Director of See Change, John Saunders, welcomed these campaigns, saying: “It is inspiring to see more than 50 ambassadors coming forward to openly talk about their own experiences of mental health problems as part of the Green Ribbon Campaign. Anyone of us can go through a tough time but the silence around mental health stops people seeking help and can make the experience of being unwell even harder.”

To join in on the Time to Talk Day on Twitter, simply use the hashtag: #TimetoTalk.

Adventure centres in Ireland

Lifestyle

May 13, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Looking for a bit of a challenge this weekend? Instead of heading to the pub hit these adventure centres instead and give yourself a bit of a challenge.

Carlingford Adventure Centre, Co. Louth
If being strapped into a giant plastic ball and rolling down the hill is your idea of fun, then Carlingford is just for you. however, zorbing is not the only thing on the activity list, there is laser combat, sailing, rock climbing, abseiling, and Canadian canoeing to name a few – phew!

Kippure Adventure Centre, Co. Wicklow
Set in the Wicklow Mountains, Kippure Adventure Centre offers a wide range of activities including high and low ropes challenge course, climbing, abseiling, orienteering and archery. There is even paintball and clay shooting, hillwalking and bushcraft survival – now you can be like Bear Grylls

Killary Adventure Company, Co. Galway
There is loads to do at Killary Adventure Co. both land based and water based including paintballing, water trampolines, kayaking, turf challenge, water skiing, rock climbing, zipwire and gorge wwalking to name but a few.

Xtreme Adventure Centre, Co. Dublin
With blindfold driving, off road buggies, aerial trekking and giant swing just some of the activities on offer, this place is definitely not for the faint hearted!

So, grab the girls and head off for a weekend of challenges and heart pounding!

Exciting news for Ed Sheeran fans!

Celebrity

May 12, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Did you miss out on tickets for Ed Sheeran’s Irish tour dates in October? Then fear not!

Ed has just added another date to his tour in Ireland and will now be playing the 3rd of October as well as the sold-out dates of the 4th, 5th and 6th.

Tickets will be going on sale this Friday, May 15 at 9am and will be available from Ticketmaster.

Better set that alarm if you want to grab these bad boys – we reckon they’ll sell out in no time!

The announcement comes not long after Ed played a secret gig in Dublin’s Vicar Street which was live streamed on his website.

It looks like he just really loves us, you guys!

Ireland fails to make it to the Eurovision final

May 9, 2014

by Amber Saunders

We really are gutted for Kasey and Can-Linn.

Last night’s Eurovision semi-final featured Austria’s drag artist Conchita Wurst and promised to match the drama of Tuesday night’s Ukraine-Russia tension.

There were the usual crazy acts, bizarre performances and cringe-worthy songs that also featured in the first semi-final, but Irish viewers were more invested in this show as our own was to take to the stage.

While Kasey gave it her all, Ireland’s performance faded into a medley of very similar songs and performances, so it wasn’t all that surprising we didn’t make the final cut.

After the results were announced, the singer said: “We were delighted we got to represent our country on a world stage,” Smith said after the results were announced. “Being in the final would have been a bonus but you can just never predict how these things are going to go. We put our heart and soul into it and gave it our all. It’s given me a real taste for being on the stage and as far as I’m concerned, this is only the beginning for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.”

The ten countries to make it through to Saturday’s final are Switzerland, Norway, Greece, Slovenia, Poland, Romania, Malta, Belarus, Austria and Finland.

Exciting news for Ed Sheeran’s Irish fans!

Celebrity

May 2, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Oh. Em. Gee. Ed Sheeran is reportedly playing a gig in Dublin’s Vicar Street this coming Monday, May 5th.

While the gig is being held in Dublin, it will also be streamed live from his website, beginning at 9.30pm.

The gig will give fans a chance to see Ed perform some songs from his upcoming album, ‘X ‘or ‘Multiply’ which is set for release on June 20th.

Dublin isn’t the only city to get a surprise Ed Sheeran gig as he will also perform in London and Ipswich also.

Ireland will never be number two for homesick 1D star

Celebrity

Apr 25, 2014

by Amber Saunders

It’s not Barry’s Tea or Tayto crisps that remind Niall Horan of Ireland – it’s the smell of cow dung!

Despite having jetted all over the world, the One Direction superstar said that Ireland is “100% home” to him, and it’s the smell of cow poo en route to Mullingar that assures him he is heading home to his mammy.

Niall, who lives in London, said he rarely gets to spend time at home thanks to his globetrotting job.

He said, “When I get off the plane and it smells like cow poo I know I’m home. Ireland (still) is 100% (home).”

The only Irish member of the biggest boyband on the planet insists he hasn’t allowed all the hype to get to his head.

It is estimated the band will earn almost €750m during their upcoming Where We Are tour, although humble Niall laughed this off.

“If people are hiding money from us in offshore bank accounts than I want to know about it,” he joked.

3 must-do cycling routes in Ireland

Lifestyle

Apr 22, 2014

by Amber Saunders

If you love nothing more than the wind in your hair than a cycling day is just for you. Ireland is an abundance of beautiful bike trails and the road less travelled, so pop on your helmet, grab your bike and hit one of these beautiful trails:

Kingfisher cycling trail
The Kingfisher cycling trail is a route covering over 480km so it is definitely not for the novice cyclist, although you could probably hit one of the shorter trails if you didn’t think you were up to it. Te route takes you through lakelands, mountain climbs, canals and country lanes. The route is signposted and if you get tired you could always bunk into one of the many accommodations along the way.

Killarney National Park Loop
This is a great route if you haven’t been on your bike in a while, as it only covers a distance of about 28km. Most of the cycle track is on pavement and you will get to see a whole host of attractions including Ross Castle, Muckross House and Torc Waterfalls.

Ring of Kerry
Bet you never thought when you were in school that you would ever consider cycling the Ring of Kerry! Over the 62km you will be taken through the interior of the Iveagh Peninsula, down deserted roads and through beautiful countryside.

4 of the best places to go for a drink in Ireland

Apr 18, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Ireland may be famed for its drink culture but have you really experienced the best bars in our little country yet?

Vintage Cocktail Bar, Co. Dublin
Vintage Cocktail Bar in Temple Bar is a pretty cool place to go for your cocktails. True to its name, the bar is a throwback to the golden age of the forties and you will feel you have stepped back in time. Grab some food and take your pick from the extensive cocktail menu.

De Bara Folk Club, Co. Cork
De Bara Folk Club is located in Clonakilty and is self proclaimed as Ireland’s No. 1 Folk Club. There is live music everyday and a mix of traditional, rock’n’roll and folk music can be heard there.

Foxy John’s, Co. Kerry
Foxy John’s in Dingle is a pretty unusual pub to say the least. It is not just a pub as it doubles up as a hardware store. Random maybe, but it comes in handy if your bike gets a flat on the way there.

O’Connell’s, Co. Galway
O’Connell’s in Galway is full of character and reatains all its original features. you can get lost in cubby holes while scanning through the historic photos on the wall. It’s one for the whiskey lovers among us.